Author Note: Thank you for the reviews and the followers and the favorites! You keep me writing this story! Hopefully I don't let you down!
Chapter 18: Freedom Mistaken
Sokka was furious. He was furious at the men who kidnapped the child. He was furious with himself for fighting with Azula. And he was furious with Azula for being so damn paranoid.
They were supposed to be in this together. Yet when there was a slight change in the original plan that didn't include her, she freaks out and goes all Controlled Princess on him. If she couldn't accept his need to help people, then how was he supposed to accept helping her need to obtain her goals? It wasn't just all about her in this. And plus if this was a trap, then why didn't she just come along?
She has the skills to stay hidden. She could have been his secret back up. But no, instead she decided to get in a snit and leave him on his own.
It's a good thing this isn't a trap then.
You do remember bitching Azula out before you left though, right? You know, when she had that flash of hurt in her eyes and you left the dining hall…with another woman on your arm, an evil internal voice said in Sokka's head.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. The woman looked up at him with a questioning look upon her face.
"When did this the kidnapping?" Sokka asked, needing a distraction from the evil voice.
The woman hesitated, than replied, "Earlier this morning. I've been searching the ship. I had no idea where you were." She said this accusingly, making Sokka raise his eyebrows in surprise.
"I'm with you now. We'll get this figured out together."
Pretty certain you said the same thing to Azula a few days ago…look how well that's going…his internal evil voice said.
Sokka ignored it and continued talking to the woman, "You'll have your son in your arms by breakfast tomorrow." He patted the woman's arm in comfort, once again surprised, as she moved away from his touch.
Maybe she just doesn't like to be touched…
Azula likes to be touched…not that you'll be doing any touching any time soon…
"So what's your name?" He asked. He was getting annoyed with that evil voice.
She hesitated again than said, "Tai-Lin."
"I'm Sokka. It's nice to meet you, even though the circumstances could have been better." He said with a slight smile. Tai-Lin didn't return his smile.
She's lost her child Sokka. She's not going to be full of smiles right now.
Azula wasn't full of smiles either…when you left her…alone…
"The woman you were with, is she...the princess of the fire nation?"
"Why would you say that?" Sokka asked calmly, they didn't need their cover blown.
"You called her Azula. Isn't that the princess's name?"
I knew code names would have been a good idea. Damn it Azula.
For once, the evil voice agreed with him.
"She was a maid for the princess. Her parents named her Azula to show solidarity and loyalty to the Fire Lord."
"Is she a fire bender?"
Sokka looked down at the woman.
And that would matter because….
"No, she's not," he lied. He wasn't sure why, but telling this woman the truth felt like a bad move.
"She's looks like a fire bender," Tai-Lin commented.
"She's fire nation, many people of the fire nation look like they're fire benders. It's just how they look."
Sokka was starting to get a weird feeling about this.
"Do you think she'll come help you?"
Wasn't that the million copper piece question…
"She's pretty pissed at me right now. Probably thinks I deserve whatever I'm about to get. Not that I think I'll get hurt, I've taken these men down before, and I'll do it again," Sokka stated standing up straighter.
"Yes, you did…once...so why are you going to the colonies?"
Why are you asking so many questions?
"We're traveling through the colonies on our way to Ba Sing Se. She has family there that she hasn't visited in a while." Which wasn't a total lie, Iroh normally did live there, he just wasn't there currently.
"I've never been there. It's supposedly a nice city. Where in Ba Sing Se are you going?"
"The upper tier," Sokka replied shortly. The questions were starting to make him nervous.
She's just distracting herself from the problem at hand. Stop acting like Azula.
Or Azula was right and you have a lot to make up for… the evil voice, apparently, was done being agreeable.
"I see. I hope you surv...make it there safely. I can't tell you how happy I am that you came with me. You're going to keep me safe."
The hairs on Sokka's neck stood up. They were rounding the hallway to the back of the ship. It was filled with wooden crates stacked high. It was deserted and darkened by all the crates and soon the light would be dimmer as the sun started setting. Then there would only be the back lanterns…if those got lit at night.
Good thing this will only take a few minutes. Sokka smirked to himself.
"Once I get your son back you need to leave the colonies, go back to the fire nation. And stay there, where it's safe."
"Oh I'll be safe enough in the colonies now that I got you here. They're quite pleased with me," her voice no longer held any trace of fear. It was calm and collected.
Sokka frowned, what could she mean…he caught movement out of the corner of his eyes. Looking around he noticed men coming out from behind the stacked crates, fully armed.
"What have you done?" Sokka grabbed his sword from its sheath.
Sokka turn in a tight half circle, he was surrounded by four men. The only exit route was the hallway behind him. Even as he turned towards it, two more men dropped down, blocking his path. He was completely surrounded…and outnumbered. He shifted to the side, keeping them all in site as they formed a half circle around him.
"I've done what I need to do to survive," Tai-Lin grabbed Sokka's chin, a small smile on her face. "You should have listened to your woman. A plan may have kept you alive."
Tai-Lin turned towards the men, "I've done my job, now make sure you keep your word as well. His woman is not a fire bender and she won't come to save him. He pissed her off, just like we planned."
Shock filled Sokka as he watched Tai-Lin walk through the men, leaving him completely surrounded and alone.
"Well well pretty boy," Sokka turned to find Braindead walking up to him, swinging a short sword back and forth. Muscles was next to him, flipping a dagger in the air, catching it one handed.
There were two other men besides them, Sokka couldn't see them holding any weapons, but that didn't mean they weren't armed. The two men that had dropped from the roof of the ship also seemed weaponless.
"What's with all the back up? Worried I'd kick you and your buddy's ass again?" Sokka taunted. He knew he was out numbered, possibly out matched, but if he made them lose some control while he kept his own, he may come out of this alive.
Next time Azula says to be cautious, you better be cautious damn it. It was his turn to agree with the evil voice.
Muscles shrugged, "Whatever works. You should have just walked away man. Now you and that sexy bitch are gonna get it." He took a few steps closer to Sokka.
"Leave her alone, she has nothing to do with this," Sokka said coldly.
"You're right she doesn't, but why not have a little fun anyway. Her body looks built for it," Muscles responded, smirking. Then they attached.
Sokka swung his sword in a powerful stroke, making all the men jump back in alarm. With another powerful stroke he sliced through one of the men behind him, causing him to fall to the ground, clutching his bleeding chest.
One down 5 to go
He blocked Braindead's sword coming at him from the left and delivered a swift kick to another man's stomach that was coming at him from the right. That man fell to the ground, with a grunt. With a twist of his arms, Sokka broke the connection with Braindead, pushing the man back into crates.
Sokka went for cover down a hall of crates only to be stopped as knife flew by his leg, slicing his thigh.
He stumbled but caught himself last minute, it didn't feel deep, but it did hurt like a bitch. Turning he swung his sword toward the knife thrower, missing him by inches.
The man dodged then delivered a quick kick to Sokka's stomach. Sokka held firm against it. He swung his sword again making contact with the knife throwers arm, only making him back up. Sokka went to the ground with a sweeping kick, knocking the injured man and another off their feet.
He jumped up and gave another double handed swing of his sword.
It was caught mid swing by Braindead's short sword. Before he could counter act, Muscle's moved in and delivered several swift punches to Sokka's stomach, causing him to double up. As he tried to catch his breath, one of the men Sokka had kicked to the ground, pulled a sweep kick as well, making Sokka fall to the ground as well.
As he fell to his back, he hit the ground hard, his sword falling from his hands. One man kicked it further out of his reach. As the men surrounded him, Sokka used his arms to brace himself and double kicked everyone as he moved in a swift semi - circle.
Several men fell to the ground; Sokka jumped up and went for his sword, only to be kicked in the chest. As he doubled over, a punch was delivered to his face. He met the ground once more. This time, though, he punched out towards one of the surrounding standing men. The man fell to the ground clutching his nuts.
Sokka went to stand up again, only to be kicked in the sides by a sharp boot, then another. One connected with his head, making him see stars.
"You almost done there, pretty boy? You aren't walking away from this you know," Braindead taunted.
Sokka spit out blood and looked up into Braindead's cold laughing eyes. He surveyed the area; five men still stood looking down at him, thinking he was done.
Not even close.
Sokka kicked out once more, knocking two men to the ground. Rolling over them, he avoided the kick another was sending his way, connecting, instead, to one of the fallen fighters.
Using his hands, he flipped himself off the ground, facing his opponents on both feet once more. He gave one of the fallen men a quick kick to the head, trying to take another man out of the fight.
His eye was swollen, his body hurt like hell, but he wasn't ready to quit. He wasn't ready to die.
"Come on assholes let's go," Sokka taunted. "Gee we've been at this how long now? And still the five of you bastards can't take me out. Such a shame." He smirked coldly.
"You fucker," Muscles charged. Sokka ducked his body under Muscles, and flipped him up and over, loving the satisfying smack Muscles made when he hit the ground. Sokka turned and gave him a swift kick to the side.
As he turned back, Brainstorm swung his short sword towards Sokka. He side swept him, only to be tripped by one of the fallen men. Apparently the kick to the head hadn't done the trick.
Sokka fell to the ground and blocked the kick to his head with his forearm. But another was delivered from the other side, blinding and weakening him. Two of the men picked him up by his arms, he tried pulling away, but that was met with a punch to the stomach.
The men pulled his arms behind his back, holding them tightly and painfully, keeping Sokka on his feet.
Shit…clear your mind. Come on Sokka think…think.
Braindead walked up to him, his walk full of arrogance.
"Not so tough now are you pretty boy," he punched out, connecting right with Sokka's chin. Then he swung from the other side. Sokka could barely keep his head up at that point, so he let it hang, blood dripping down his face and dropping to the ground.
"I owed you that. Now look at me." Sokka kept his head down, unwilling to give into any of their demands.
"I said LOOK AT ME!" The command was met with another punch to the stomach and Sokka felt someone grabbing his hair pulling his head back. He looked right into Braindead's eyes, noticing that Muscles was right next to him, grinning maliciously. Sokka was crushed as he noticed the other man was up again as well. It was still five to one.
You put up a good fight ol' boy. At least you're going out fighting for something you believed in…
"You're not so pretty any more huh? Your woman ain't gonna take you back now. But don't worry we'll take good care of her," Braindead said cockily.
Muscles laughed. Braindead looked back at him, then back at Sokka a vicious look coming onto his face.
So Braindead is the real leader behind the group…didn't see that coming.
"Or better yet, why don't we give you a reminder of this little fight. You ever see the new pathetic Fire Lord?"
Sokka stayed silent, no need to feed into this asshole's dominance high.
"Well let's say you and him are about to have a lot in common," a fire ball formed in the man's hand. For the first time Sokka felt real fear.
Shit he's a fire bender!
This was going to hurt, and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it. He tried kicking out; meeting nothing but air, the hand in his hair got tighter holding his head further up.
Braindead laughed maliciously, getting closer, "I see you know what's about to happen, let's see if your girlfriend will take you back after…."
Sokka heard a struggled gasp from one of the men holding him up. The pressure on his arm loosened as the man fell to the ground. Taking the opportunity, Sokka ripped himself out of the other man's grip and pushed him into Braindead. He braced himself against a crate. Bleeding and semi-conscious but he was standing…sort of. Everyone was frozen still.
"Why don't we let the girlfriend decide what she will and will not like, how does that sound?"
She came for me…thank you universe.
Thank you universe?! WRONG! You should be thanking Azula for not completely hating your stupid ass.
Sokka turned, and there she was, looking exotic and sexy as hell. Her hands were placed on her cocked hips, that arrogant smirk on her face. A dumb man would think she was all looks and nothing more.
Good thing there's nothing but dumb men around here….
"Look pretty boy, your girlfriend's come to try to save your ass," Braindead smirked looking at Sokka,"Now watch and learn how a real man treats a woman."
Oh I'm sure I'm about to watch something…but I don't think you're going to like it…Sokka wanted to help, but he was barely conscious and had already lost quite a bit of blood. He feared he'd get more in the way if he fought, than if he just let Azula handle it herself.
She's got this. Just watch.
"You know, I got a big ol' bed that we could have a lot more fun on than out here, baby. We can do some naked fighting…I'll make sure you like it," Braindead widened his eyes suggestively, moving closer to Azula.
Oh that's going to go over like a lead balloon…you know what I'm just going to sit and watch. Yep…the world stops spinning when I'm sitting. Wish I had some fire gummies…
Noticing the blood flowing from his leg, he pressed his hand against it. Whoops forgot about that.
He wasn't too worried about Azula. She knew what she was getting into, she already took out one guy, and she had her fire bending…possibly a plan as well.
Unlike me…Azula plans everything. I used to plan everything…
"Oh really," Azula's cold sarcasm made Sokka's hair stand up, "that sounds…intriguing…"
He watched Azula walk over, an arrogant swing of her hips with every step she took. Anyone who didn't know Azula, would think it was meant to be seductive, he knew it meant she was on the verge of delivering an ass kicking. He chuckled softly.
Yeah she has this under control. Every man's gaze moved to those swinging hips.
She stopped a foot away from Braindead, the other members of the group closing in on her, the dead man forgotten.
They've already forgotten she's killed one of them. And cue the action in three…two…one
Azula struck fast; pulling a dagger from her belt, she slit the throat of the man to her left. Then let out a quick air kick to Braindead's face, knocking him back into the crates behind him. He fell to the ground, clutching his face.
Muscles went to wrap his oversize arms around her, but Azula was faster, she grabbed his arm and twisted, pulling it behind him. She plunged her dagger into his shoulder, Muscles let out a yell, but Azula wasn't finished yet. She used his bent over back as a launching pad and did a backwards air flip over the last man standing.
Sokka watched as she grabbed the man's shoulders with both her hands and using the crates behind him, Azula pushed off and slammed that man into the ground. Sokka flinched slightly at the sound of broken bones.
She summersaulted off the man and was back on her feet. Sokka watched as she observed the damage.
Two men lay dead, blood pooling around them, at her feet. Muscles was sitting up but making mewing noises from the dagger in his shoulder, placed, Sokka knew, strategically where Muscles couldn't pull it out. Then there was Braindead, standing once more.
"You're going to pay for this bitch. Let's see how well you can survive the fire!"
Let's just see how well you can survive the fire….
In the dimming light, Sokka could see Azula rolling her eyes and heard her bored sigh.
Braindead created two fistfuls of flamed, and punched the out at Azula one by one.
Azula simply sliced them aside, "Nice try Simpleton, but my fire bending is a hell of a lot better than my weapon work."
Braindead's eyes grew with fear, he looked towards Muscles for backup, but Muscles was still suffering from the dagger in his shoulder.
"You're…you're not supposed to be a fire bender! He said you weren't a fire bender!"
"He lied," Azula said in a cold quiet voice. "And I don't think fire bending is painful enough for what you've done."
With that, he watched Azula create lighting with her finger tips and blast it towards Braindead, right in his chest. He fell to the ground, twitching as the electricity ran through his body.
A cold malicious smile came over Azula's face as she watched Braindead twitch. She cut the lightening, and then turned towards Muscles, "You don't know what you've done. You'll pay for this…" he started whimpering as she got closer. "I can make it safer for you…just don't hurt me."
Well didn't his tune just change real quickly?
"It seems I've run out of mercy because no on hurts my peasant, no one." She delivered a quick solid kick to Muscles face; he fell to the ground silent and unmoving. Azula reached down and pulled out her dagger, shoving it back into her belt.
Grinning ear to ear, he watched as she calmly approached the first man she killed pulling out her stiletto, carefully placing it in her belt. Lastly, she went towards his sword and picked it up. Then she came towards him.
"Next time I say something isn't right, that means something isn't right, got that Peasant?" She said pointing his sword at his throat.
Grinning Sokka replied, "I knew you'd come for me."
"I always come for you," Azula replied slyly.
"Sadly…I don't think that's going to happen tonight…I don't feel so great."
He watched her roll her eyes, then she tucked the sword back in its sheath still strapped to Sokka's back. She leaned down, offering her shoulder for him to brace himself with. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and with the help of the crate; he pulled himself to his feet. She wrapped her arm around his waist tightly, helping him balance. He tried keeping his weight off her, but it was difficult.
"Lean on me damn it, you're barely standing as it is. I have you." Sokka leaned more weight on her. They started making their way back to their room.
"You're lucky you have decent flirting skills, you look like shit," Azula commented.
Sokka let out a little laugh, which hurt and they continued trudging their way back to the room.
I was so wrong; I will never doubt her senses again...hopefully…
Author Note: Okay so I hope the fight scene was written okay…I'll admit it, I'm not quite sure what I'm doing when it comes to fighting…I'm a lover not a fighter LOL But I hope you still enjoyed it! Next chapter in a few days…maybe sooner….
