Author Note: Enjoy
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 16: Freedom Taking a Stand
Sokka unlocked the door to their room and pushed it open, allowing Azula to enter before him. It was nicer than he expected. There was a big bed in the center of the room made up with red sheets and big fluffy pillows. It looked like a little slice of heaven after sleeping in a tent, on the ground for so long. Sokka walked in and noticed there was a little private bathroom to the side of the room with a deep tub and toilet.
He whistled, "Wow you fire nation people really like to class it up don't you?" He looked down at Azula and caught her rolling her eyes. They set their stuff down in the corner; Sokka removed his sword setting it with their stuff, figuring he'd grab it when they left the room.
"Why do anything if you're not going to do it with class? Plus this ship was once used for the royal family and their guest. No one has more class than the royal family. And," she turned around and grabbed Sokka's hand, pulling him towards the bed, "think of all the fun we can have on this."
Sokka pulled her back before they reached the bed.
"We made a deal Azula, two days until we…we…uh… do it again," he could feel himself blushing slightly.
Why does this make me so nervous to talk about? It's not like it was my first time.
Azula turned towards him, that dangerous glint back in her eyes.
"You created the wait time. Not me, and if I want to do it, then we're going to do it," she said seductively. She was pressing herself against Sokka; he couldn't stop his natural response.
Oh here we go again…at least I locked the door.
"But I don't want to hurt you Azula. Let's just…let's go soak up some sun. Or find some food, I'm rather hungry you know," he said nervously. She had started rubbing her hands against his chest, making him harder.
"I'm hungry too, but not for food."
Sokka was turned around then pushed down on the bed, Azula straddling his waist.
Not good…not good. Talk your way out of this…
"Well this is great and all…but I'm...I'm…what are you doing?"
"Removing your shirt," Azula responded smiling up at Sokka. Sokka watched, stunned, as Azula made quick work of his buttons. He found himself bare from the waist up a moment later.
"I love your chest. I can't get enough of it," she proceeded to kiss and touch him everywhere.
Gotta stop this…I need to stop this…I...oh my spirits what is she doing?
He looked down and found Azula playing with his nipples as he had done to hers the night before. He was surprised to find how much pleasure he got from it. His erection growing and getting harder with ever pass of her fingers.
Screw it.
He pulled Azula from his chest and kissed her soundly. He could feel her shaking lightly from laughter. Then there was just the pleasure of kissing her. He never wanted to stop. She was so giving, her lips so tasty. He pried her mouth open with his tongue, she responded by twisting hers around his.
There was a knock on the door. Both of them stopped and looked at each other.
Who would be knocking on their door?
Sokka gently removed Azula from him. Grabbing his sword he went to the open it. What he found was a plump little old woman on the other side.
"Uhh…Can I help you?" he asked.
"Oh dear…oh dear…I must…yes I must have the wrong room. You're not my husband…although…" she looked him up and down. Sokka remembered that he had his shirt wide open baring his chest to anyone in view.
Thanks Azula…
"I would be damn lucky if you were," the old lady continued. "What room is this?"
Sokka looked at the door, "Room 12 from the looks of it."
"Oh right right, I'm in 21. Don't get old boy, it's a pain in the ass." Sokka forced himself not to sqirm under her admirative gaze. "Well…thanks for the view, I do hope we run into each other again. You know…the deck is a wonderful place to lie out and…bask in the sunlight." She winked at Sokka.
Is she…hitting on me? She's as old as Gran-Gran!
Sokka's gave a small smile, hoping the woman didn't see his feeling of awkwardness.
With one last look over and a sigh, the old lady walked away. Sokka closed the door and turned towards Azula, sitting up in the bed. His awkwardness turned to annoyance as he saw her with both hands covering her mouth, as though trying not to laugh. As he glared at her, she removed her hands and grabbed her stomach, letting the laughter roll out of her.
"You had to unbutton my shirt didn't you?" He said sarcastically. Walking over and putting his sword back by his stuff.
"Hey, I wasn't the one who opened the door half naked. You could have buttoned up…or even let me answer it," she choked out, still laughing. "It looks like I may have some competition on this little ride to the colonies. Hopefully she won't…hey!"
Sokka tackled her to the bed.
"If you think, for one minute I have any interest in that woman, other than thinking she looks like my Gran Gran, you ARE crazy." He kissed her lightly on the mouth.
"Although she did have a good idea about sun bathing, would be nice to just sit in the sun and relax for a bit. Come on, let's get into some basking clothes and go bask in the sunlight."
He jumped off her and pulled her to her feet.
At least this stops the seduction games she had begun. She's needs time to heal, even if she doesn't realize it.
Azula rolled her eyes at him, and then sighed. "Fine," she brushed by him to her bags, "but this doesn't mean we aren't going to have some fun later. I know your weakness, Peasant, and I will use them to my advantage." With that she went into the bathroom to change.
Don't I know it. This was going to be a very long few days.
"I'm hungry," Sokka mentioned several hours later. After changing into lighter clothes, they had taken a tour of the boat and ended settling in lounging seats towards the front of the ship. The old lady had been right; this was a good basking spot.
Sokka wore light red pants with no shirt. Why wear one when you're sitting in the sun anyway?
Azula lay next to him in a short sleeve, mid-drift baring red shirt and a long red and blacked lined skirt, with slits up to her thighs. Her harnesses and knives, he knew, had been left behind. But he also knew she was still packing something…somewhere. They lay basking in the sun, relaxing, knowing that this was probably the only time they would be able to.
"You're always hungry," Azula commented carelessly.
"Yeah well I'm really really hungry right now," Sokka said, moving to get up from his chair. "I think the dining hall is below deck."
"The animals are below deck, Peasant," Azula replied.
"Yeah but the food is below deck, and yet above the below deck where the animals are," Sokka responded, almost childishly. He couldn't help it, he got cranky when he didn't eat.
"Well just don't kill the animals thinking they're the food," Sokka heard the dry humor in Azula's voice and ignored it.
Unlike her, he still carried his weapon out in the open, which he strapped onto his back. Looking down at Azula's smirking face, he replied, "Ha-ha. If I find food do you want me to bring you something?"
Azula adjusted herself in the chair, looking like the royal that she was. "If you find it, then I guess I could go for some spicy komodo chicken with noodles. It's the least you can do, Peasant. Especially after you cheated on me with a little old lady," she smirked at him. Sokka smacked his forehead with his hand.
In an attempt to annoy her, he bowed low to her, and in a servant like voice he said, "Yes my Princess, anything for you my lady. How dare I look upon any but your beautiful face."
When she responded by rolling her eyes, he straighten and walked away to find food, a smile on his face. He did enjoy giving her a nudge now and then.
After walking below deck for a few minutes, Sokka finally found the dining hall. It was a massive space with four different food stations to the right of the entrance. Tables and chairs littered the rest of the area where a few people were scattered throughout the room eating. He groaned as he saw the line for the chicken stand that held the komodo chicken, it was long but seemed to be moving fast. Since it was also a favorite of his, he decided the wait would be worth it.
"I already paid you. I don't have any more to give you," Sokka heard a woman's desperate voice say behind him. He turned to find two heavily built men, one slightly shorter than the other, standing over a young, frightened looking woman. Sokka noticed a child of about three clinging to the woman's skirt.
The men wore civilian fire nation clothing, not of a higher class, but not of the lowest either. The woman was dressed in green, signaling that she was a citizen of the Earth Kingdom.
"The price has increased," the taller man threatened. "You want to be protected, you gotta pay up."
Sokka frowned, they didn't look like any military patrol personal. Not to mention, those kind of people were paid through the government, not directly by the people.
What in the hell…
"But I don't have any more," the woman's voice was getting more desperate. "I've already given you everything I have."
"Then I guess, you'll just have to risk going into the colonies…unprotected. Just you and that little brat clinging to your skirts, in the big bad colonies," the man smirked flexing his oversized muscles as he moved more threateningly closer towards the woman. The child clutched his mother's dress harder, pressing his frightened face into her skirts.
Sokka had had enough.
"Leave her alone. She doesn't owe you a damn thing," he said, placing himself between the woman and the two men, glaring them both down. In his mind he called the taller one General Muscle and the shorter one Lieutenant Braindead. Thinking the guy had to be braindead to be following such an asshole.
"Now why don't you go your merry little way and bother someone your own size," Sokka responded, just as threatening.
The men looked at each other then back at Sokka, sizing him up. "Who the hell do you think you are? Telling us what to do," General Muscle snarled.
"If you haven't noticed, you're a little out-numbered here pretty boy," Braindead laughed maliciously, taking a step closer to Sokka.
Sokka braced himself, ready for the fight ahead. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the woman clutching her child and moving away.
"Just because you have the brawn, doesn't mean you have the brains. Although I do have to give you credit for your ability to count. You see I have been gifted with both brawn and brains. Which actually puts me at quite the advantage," Sokka taunted.
With a growl, Muscle advanced with a punch directed towards Sokka's face. Sokka ducked and delivered his own punch to the man stomach, pleased when the man doubled over in pain. It was short lived as Braindead came at Sokka from the side. Sokka blocked the smaller man's attack with his forearm and gave him a swift kick to his leg, causing him to fall to the floor.
Muscles recovered from Sokka's punch and came back with a vengeance. He bent forward and ran towards Sokka. Sokka allowed Muscles to tackle him to the floor but immediately pressed his feet into the man's stomach. Using the momentum from the tackle, Sokka flipped Muscles over his head, making him land hard on his back opposite from Sokka's head. Sokka flung himself up on to his feet once more and faced off against Braindead.
"You don't know who you're messing with man. We know some strong people in the colonies. They'll turn you into nothing but pieces. Back off now," Braindead smirked. Sokka returned that smirk with one of his own.
"I'll take my chances," Sokka finished his statement with a quick double punch to man's face. Braindead fell to the ground, blood falling from his mouth, groaning in pain. Sokka looked to his left, Muscles was attempting to stand up, Sokka decided to give him a hand.
He grabbed Muscles by his high collar and slammed him against the nearest wall.
"Listen to me and listen well, you leave that woman and her child alone." He pointed at the young woman, still clutching her child close. "You got that? If I so much as hear that you've been bothering her, I will find you and I will cut you to pieces. Do you understand?" He emphasized his statement by pulling his sword from his sheath a few inches.
When the man didn't respond, Sokka dropped his sword back in its sheath and slammed Muscle against the wall. "Do we have an understanding?"
"Yeah yeah. We won't bother her no more," Muscle replied in a freighted voice.
Sokka released him and looked at Braindead who was nodding his head quickly, hatred shooting from his eyes.
"Good, now this was fun and all. But I have a girlfriend who's probably starving by now and wondering where I am, so if you'll excuse me, I need to get some food." He patted Muscle's shoulders and went back to the komodo chicken stand, which gratefully enough, the line had disappeared.
"I'll take two order of your spicy komodo chicken, with two bowls of noodles and a bag of fire gummies. I do like me some fire gummies. Oh and a couple water packs as well," he smiled pleasantly to the food clerk who was looking at him in disbelief, and not moving anywhere near the food.
"You mind making my order? I really don't want to piss my girlfriend off any more than she probably is," Sokka said, trying to stay cheerful although his annoyance was growing.
"Right…right away," the man started assembling Sokka's order.
Sokka looked around and noticed people were just standing there, looking at him. He looked towards the woman. She didn't say anything, nor did she return his smile, she just stared at him with a look of disbelief.
Well you're welcome too. Sokka thought annoyingly.
He paid the man then took the nicely packaged containers and started towards the upper deck.
"You'll regret this pretty boy! Mark my words!" Sokka turned to find Braindead sitting up next to his partner, glaring on Sokka.
"Humph, I highly doubt that," Sokka replied and walked up towards the upper deck, oblivious to the shocked crowd watching his every move.
This better be the best komodo chicken I've ever eaten, or I'm going to be pissed.
"What the hell happened to your hand?" Azula asked angrily, taking the container Sokka handed her.
Sokka looked down at his hand, noticing that it was red and slightly swollen.
He shrugged his shoulders saying, "I made some new friends." He sat on his chair across from Azula and opened his own container. The smell coming out was delicious. Grabbing his chopsticks he took a piece of chicken and started to eat.
"Wow this is really good," he claimed. Digging further into the meal and Ignoring Azula's questioning stare.
"What kind of friends did you make that your hands are red and your clothes and back look like you've been rolling on the floor?" She asked suspiciously.
Sokka glanced at her from his food. He really didn't want to discuss the fight, it really hadn't been a big deal. When Azula just cocked an eyebrow at him, he gave a huge sigh and told her.
"I got in a bit of a fight in the dining hall. Two meatheads were picking on this woman and her child. I wasn't going to stand around doing nothing. So I taught them a few manners, no big deal," Sokka said with another shrug.
"A couple punches and a flip and they were done with. Seriously, I've had bigger fights with Katara."
Azula continued staring at him, not touching her food.
"You know, I went through a lot to get that. You should eat it while it hot," he commented pointing towards the container in her hands.
She shook her head back and forth and gave him a smirking smile.
"You just can't help being the warrior in shining armor can you, Peasant? Always protecting the maiden in distress?" Azula's voice held a hint of humor and admiration.
Sokka shrugged in discomfort. So what if he had a thing for protecting women in trouble, nothing wrong with that. He didn't like when people were getting picked on, particularly if they were helpless looking females.
"What can I say; helping people is what I do. You try traveling with the Avatar and not help a single person. It's hard!"
Sokka looked down at his food and went to take another bite, only to have his chin captured in Azula's hand. She directed his gaze up and at her, noticing she was leaning closer than before.
"You…are a great man. Don't ever change," she gave him a light peck on the lips then sat back, opening her container of food.
Now it was Sokka's turn to stare at Azula in amazement. Her compliment had stunned him.
Great man? He wasn't great, he made plenty of mistakes, but he wanted to be. It was a good start earning her respect.
"Well I wouldn't say I'm great, but I'm working on it," he commented jokingly looking at Azula. Her face was serious.
"No, you are a great man. Not everyone would have 'made a few friends', as you called it, to protect a person they didn't even know. That shows just how great you are. Trust me," with that Sokka watched her dig into her own food.
"This is really good," Azula commented going for a second bite. She let out a little moan, pulling Sokka out from his mental shock. Her words had hit him deep.
"Now you better eat, or your food will get cold. And I'm not going to heat it up for you. Took you long enough to get it in the first place," Azula smirked.
"Hey I was busy being a great man, remember? Plus you didn't think I knew where the food was. I always find food." He dug back into his own meal.
They continued eating and trading insults. Both oblivious to the two men watching them closely from the other end of the deck, waiting for their moment to strike.
Author Ending Note: So we got to see a little bit of Sokka in action Hopefully I wrote it well enough…not really good at the whole fight description thing, but I'll be working on it because there's plenty more where that came from! Onward to the next chapter…to be posted soon…hopefully.
