Author note: So I decided to be awesome and post another chapter so shortly after I've posted the other one Thanks for everyone reading and for the awesome reviews!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any rights to Avatar the Last Air Bender. I did not create it and I will not profit from it in any way, shape or form.

Chapter 13: Freedom Falling

Azula woke up shortly before dawn to silence, it had quit storming sometime during the night. Azula turned over, surprised to find Sokka awake and staring at her.

She lifted her hand to place it gently on his face. Yesterday, she knew, had been hard for him. It had come as a surprise to her that it had been hard for her to hear as well. She had never been affected by the loss around her; but then she had never loved anyone around her to be affected by loss. Her father's death was nothing to her, she never loved him. She just always wanted his acceptance. And look where that got her.

Azula slowly stroked Sokka's face thinking about the day before. They hadn't done much after Sokka told Azula about Suki's death. They talked about the simpler things, made out, talked some more, made out some more, ate, checked on the animals, she had dried them off which turned into another make out session, ate once more, then went to bed. Azula was really starting to get used to Sokka. It should have been strange at how easily they were getting along, but in reality, it felt just right.

"You okay?" she asked softly.

"Yeah, I'm good. Could have done without the tears though, pretty unmanly of me," Sokka replied lamely.

Azula smiled. "It was something you had to do. You had a great loss Sokka. Something like that shouldn't be buried inside." Not that she really knew about that kind of loss, but she did know of loss and had shed her fair share of tears.

"Well let's just say it won't be happening again any time soon." Sokka said stretching out besides Azula. They had shared the sleeping bag. Azula figured by now it was pointless to have one person using it. She enjoyed convincing Sokka to see things that way as well.

"Now, time to get up and get moving. The faster we move, the sooner we'll get to the port and get this thing over with."

Azula felt a little pain shoot through her.

Did he want this to be over with? Was he ready to go home and leave her?

She knew it would come to an end of course, and that what they had wasn't really anything…permanent. But…she was starting to want it to be something permanent.

"Are you okay? You've gone a little stiff. I thought that was only a problem I had?" Sokka said jokingly.

Don't let him see the pain. Play it cool.

"We'll you are older than me. It's not surprising you'd wake up a little stiffer than me. Old man," Azula replied smirking. She sat up and stretching herself a far back as she could while sitting, showing off her flexibility.

"That's not what I meant and you know it. If we had the time I'd show you what I meant. But we'll save it for later," he grinned. "Now up, let's go. We've wasted enough time with this rain. You start packing up in here and I'll get the ostrich horses ready. We leave in an hour. "

With that he stood up, pulled Azula out and up from the sleeping bag, then walked out of the tent.

"Well good morning to you to," Azula muttered. He could have at least given her a morning kiss. He always gave her a morning kiss.

Azula was quiet annoyed that he hadn't given her a morning kiss. Focusing that frustration, she started packing up the sleeping bag. She heard Sokka entering the tent seconds later.

"I'm going as fast as I can oh great scheduler, why don't you…" her statement was cut off as Sokka turned her around and kissed her soundly.

"By the way, good morning," and with that he left the tent once more.

Okay then….that'll work, now what was I doing? She looked around the tent. Packing up the tent…right I'm packing up the tent. Oblivious to the giant grin she wore, Azula continued to pack up the tent.

An hour later, they were on the path towards the fire nation port city.

"We should make port by tonight. Of course, that's if we don't hit any more delays and only take a half hour break for food and potty. How do you feel about eating during potty breaks?" Sokka asked.

Azula gave him a look of horror. No way in hell was she eating while doing her bodily business.

"That's not going to happen, Peasant. There is no way I am eating while going…potty. Not happening. Stop considering it right now." Azula stated firmly, pointing a finger straight at his face. She saw Sokka's shoulders slump a bit.

"But…but the schedule. We're already so far behind. We need to get to the colonies, find your mother, and get back to the Fire Nation palace. Then we can get back to normal life." He whined.

Azula felt that little pain again in her chest. His normal didn't include her. His normal…was normal for him. Her normal was…complicating.

"Even if we get there tonight, the ship still won't leave until tomorrow morning. We're better off staying the night outside the port city. One more night won't harm us, Peasant. We can take the ship tomorrow, get to the colonies, find my mother and then you can go back to your 'normal' life," Azula snapped out. She was hurt from his remarks about ending this journey. Did he feel anything for her?

This is why we have trust issues….no one stays when they say they will.

"Whoa, what's with the attitude? I thought you wanted to get back to your normal life?"

I don't even know what a normal life is anymore….

"I do," she said coolly. "I just don't want to rush into doing it. When you rush you make mistakes. I don't make mistakes. We don't know where she is in the old colonies. It's going to take longer than your schedule can plan out. Your 'normal' life may just have to be on hold for a while."

"I see," Sokka paused. "I guess we'll get as close to the port as possible today, then plan out an idea on how to go through the old colonial cities. Will that work with you?"

Sokka's voice sounded upset to Azula's ears.

What does he have to be upset about? He's the one that wants to get back to being normal. Azula thought angrily. He had family to go back to, family that would welcome him back with open arms. While hers…hers would tolerate her being around them, but no one would be welcoming her with open arms. She wasn't trusted by them and she probably never would be. She glanced at Sokka.

I have so little now…and when you leave, I'll have nothing. Even when she brought her mother back, she refused to fail, Zuko wasn't going to trust her. She proved herself to be too powerful and too untrustworthy.

Will my past ever not come back to haunt me?

"You okay with this Princess? Hello Princess?" Sokka's harsh voice broke Azula out from her thoughts.

"I'm glad you see it my way," Azula said just as harshly. "Have you been to the old colonies lately?"

When Sokka didn't respond right away, Azula looked towards him. His focus was on the path ahead. After a few moments he replied, "I haven't been there recently...Last time I was there was when Suki was killed."

Azula knew her eyes went big at hearing this confession.

But…but he didn't say that's where it happened. Why did he agree to do this? Azula thought in shock.

"But you talked Zuko into having us go there. Why would you do that after…after what you had gone through?" Azula asked shocked.

Sokka looked at Azula, his eyes showing both sadness and annoyance, "Because you needed to take this journey. And I didn't…I didn't want it to be cancelled because of my demons."

He's doing this for me? He's facing his demons for me? Maybe…maybe I've judged him too quickly. Azula felt shameful for her behavior. He had only ever been helpful to her, and all she'd done was bite his head off.

"I'm afraid of what will happen when we get back," Azula admitted quietly, looking down at her hands grasping the harness. "When you said that you're ready to go back to your 'normal' life…I just don't…I don't know what normal life will be for me."

From the corner of her eye, Azula watched Sokka moving his ostrich horse closer to hers. His hand reached out and took the reins, stopping her ostrich horse as well as his own.

"We shouldn't stop. We'll be delaying the schedule. The master planner doesn't like his schedule to be delayed," Azula said trying to add some humor to the situation. She hated this feeling of weakness and vulnerability.

"Don't worry about the schedule. Azula, look at me," slowly Azula raised her gaze to meet Sokka's patient ones. "Don't fear the journey home. When we get back, and you've gained your freedom, we'll figure out what normal is for you."

"Together?" Azula whispered. She hadn't meant to say it out loud. She hated sounding so…needy.

"Together. I won't just leave you when this is all done Azula. I'll help you get to know your new life. I promise."

Sokka's quiet voice calmed the inner turmoil Azula was feeling.

He doesn't want to leave me. Maybe he feels…something for me.

She smiled at him.

"I believe that you mean that. And I'm …thankful for that," Azula took her reigns back and they started moving once more. "But don't be surprised if I'm a little…bossy at first. You know, I haven't had servants in a long time. I've missed ordering them around."

She watched as Sokka smacked his forehead with his hand.

"Of all the things you'll be able to enjoy again, you pick ordering servants around. What about the food? Aren't you excited about the food?"

Azula laughed, "I'll enjoy ordering the servants around as they get me food. Would that be acceptable?"

Sokka gave her a sideways glance, "I guess…I mean it does include food."

Azula smiled, pleased that they were able to find common ground. But then another thought occurred to her.

"If we're going back to the place where….that happened…doesn't that mean the people of World Vengeance will be there as well?"

"Yes," Sokka answered, getting serious once more. "They'll be there. That was another reason why I wanted to go on this journey. I'm going to find the person who killed Suki, and I'm going to end them."

"How will you figure out who did it? I mean, how do you even know it was a member of World Vengeance?"

"I know it was them. They knew we had been watching them and they don't like when people watch them. So they took one of us out. Showing us how vicious they can be. Aang didn't get involved in that city because the battles had ended shortly after we left. You see, they had gone underground, just disappeared. But now they're coming back out, the battles have started again. And I'm coming back and I will remove every one of their heads until I find my answer," Sokka answered, his voice colder than Azula had ever heard him speak before.

There's a savage under all that calm hilarity of a man. Watch it Azula.

To lighten the mood she said calmly, "But if you remove their heads they can't talk. If they can't talk you can't find out your answer." It probably wasn't the best thing to say, but she didn't like hearing Sokka's voice be so cold…so threatening. So close to the tone she once used herself.

"Oh they'll talk. Once I start taking off their heads, they'll start talking to each other, warning each other. I'll have my answer before the third head hits the floor." He looked at her, eyes so cold. "You can bet on it."

"I'd take that bet." She looked directly into his cold eyes and gave him a vow. "You'll get your answer. And if we're really good, which I know we are, we'll bring World Vengeance down." Azula said.

Sokka gave her a curious look.

"What?"

"You're not like anyone else I've traveled with before. If I would have said that to Katara or Aang, they would have been giving me lectures about forgiveness and moving on. You just…accept that I have to do this. That's…refreshing."

"I understand the need to get answers Sokka. I understand that need to prove you didn't fail. We're in this together. And we'll finish this together." Azula said smiling.

"One would think you'd know this. You did travel with Zu-Zu didn't you? Fire Benders go after what we want when we want. And we don't let anything get in our way." Azula said grinning mischievously at Sokka.

"Isn't that the truth," was his reply.

And maybe it's time I went after what I want.

Ending note: Now what could Azula possibly be wanting….hmmm *evil laugh* This chapter is a little shorter than the others,(SORRY!) but this is where I saw it ending. I'll make sure to post the next chapter as soon as I can!