DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own the rights to Avatar the Last Airbender.
Sooo…it's been a while…super sorry about that. I'm going to try my best to be a little more actively writing to get this story finished. When I started it almost 4 years ago (YIKES!) I thought I'd have more time to write…and that just hasn't happened.
But here's another chapter, no guarantees but hoping to have another chapter sometime this week…hopefully.
Enjoy!
Chapter 26: Freedom Ideas
The next morning Sokka rose to find his arms empty and a burning candle. Rolling out of bed, he quickly dressed and went searching for Azula.
Last night had been a wakeup call. He understood her fear of that prison, thought that that was the only true fear she had. But he'd been wrong. She was terrified of the dark. Terrified of being underground. Why didn't he think to keep the candle lit when they went to bed? He was an idiot.
Following the scent of food, he moved to the kitchen where he found Azula and Ty Lee working together making breakfast. Gone was the fear from last night, in place was the woman he was growing to love. Her hair was parted in two low hanging braids, a smile on her face as Ty Lee chatted about whatever was going through her head.
Before he was spotted, Sokka slipped back down the hallway. He didn't want to interrupt the special reunion. His thoughts moving back to the night before. What could he do to keep her from fearing the darkness? How could he let her know he was with her, even if he wasn't?
Pausing in the hallway, an idea struck him. Running to his room, he went through his bags and pulled out the small Wu-Qi stone Azula had given him on the boat. Sokka twirled it around in his fingers.
She had saved his life with these stones. Eased his pain, and healed it. Maybe now he could use them to help ease her pain as well.
I need some tools...or an Earth Bender.
Tucking the stone in his pocket, he headed towards the kitchen once more. He didn't know where Haru was in the underground house, but Ty Lee would.
Walking up behind Azula, he wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her neck.
"About time you got out of bed," Azula smirked as she leaned further into his embrace.
"Not all of us wake up with the sun," he smirked back, giving her a kiss on the lips as she turned her head towards him. He could get used to this, very used to this.
"You two are just soooo cute together!" Ty Lee exclaimed. Tightening his arms around Azula once more, he pulled away.
"I was going for hot, but cute will work," Sokka smirked, enjoying Azula's eye roll response.
"Breakfast will be another few minutes, why don't you go find something useful to do until then," Azula commented blandly.
"I think I will. Any idea where Haru is?"
"He's practicing his earth bending in the empty room down that tunnel and to the left. You'll hear the rocks hitting the wall. Knock before entering though, one time I burst in and nearly got a rock to the face," Ty Lee stated with a smile.
"And he's still alive?" Sokka asked, smiling as Ty Lee laughed.
"I moved fast enough to avoid the collision. He made up for it that night…and the next…and the—"
"Got it, no more details needed. I'm just going to go find him…" Sokka pronounced. He knew Ty Lee was one for descriptions.
Walking away he heard Azula ask, "How'd he make up for it exactly? Sokka's decent at making up for his mistakes as well you know."
"Ooohhh give me the details!"
Ignoring the bait, Sokka followed Ty Lee's instructions to find Haru.
It wasn't long before he could hear the thunderous noises of rock hitting rock. Sokka knocked on the door and waiting for Haru to answer, he didn't need a rock being tossed at his face.
"Hey Sokka, what's up?" Haru answered the door wearing only a pair of green pants. He was panting slightly but overall in good cheer.
"I have a favor to ask you. Can you create a hole in this rock for some leather to go through?" Sokka held up the small Wu-Qi stone for Haru to examine.
"Sure, let me see it."
Sokka watched as Haru pinched the rock to form a hole, but nothing happened.
"Huh, that's weird. I can't bend it," Haru stated in surprise. Sokka frowned.
"Why can't you bend it?"
"I don't know, what's it made of? It feels like a normal rock but it's not giving at all."
"It's called a Wu-Qi stone. Azula got it from some people on the ship from the Fire Nation. I was hoping to turn it into a necklace for her. We have a bunch of them but this is the smallest one. What's wrong?" Sokka asked. At his statement of Wu-Qi stone, Haru's face had gone white in shock.
"Did she get this from an older looking couple?" Haru whispered. Sokka's body went on guard.
"Yes. Are they dangerous? Should we destroy them?"
"Do you know how rare these rocks are? People have looked for these rocks for centuries."
"Yeah yeah I know. They can only be found under a full moon and the only way to see if they are real is to put them under high heat to test them," Sokka interrupted. "But they aren't dangerous?"
"No Sokka. These rocks are not just found under a full moon, they have to be given to you BY spirits of earth and fire under a full moon. The ones known as Wu and Qi, they are the CREATORS of the rocks themselves. Legend has it they disguise themselves as an old couple and gift them to those who they find worthy of them. And let me tell you, they don't find a lot of people worthy. For Azula to have been given such a gift," Haru paused, "wow. Spirits don't just help anyone Sokka. And the spirits who hold these, they must have seen something in you two."
Sokka was in shock. Never would he have guessed the old couple to be spirits and legendary ones at that.
"Holy shit," Sokka muttered. What was it about this adventure that the spirits were helping them? What had he done to deserve such help?
"I don't know what the real purpose is for you two being here, but it seems the spirits want you to succeed," Haru's voice broke through Sokka's whirling thoughts.
"So it seems," Sokka examined the stone in his hand. "Do you think I could put a hole through it with a chisel and a hammer? Or would that offend the spirits?"
Haru shrugged, "They gave you the stones, what you do with them is up to you. But be careful with it, one wrong crack and it's ruined."
"Noted. Do you have anything I could use to make the hole with?"
"Sure," Sokka braced himself as the earth shifted. Moments later there was a small rock table with a sharp nail shaped stone and hammer. Perfect.
"Why you need a hole through it anyway?"
"I'm making a necklace for Azula," Sokka said absently, setting the stone down on the newly created table. Placing the nail stone towards the upper middle of the stone, he started tapping it lightly with the hammer.
"Like an engagement necklace?"
Sokka looked up at Haru. He hadn't considered that. The implications of giving Azula a necklace, and one made by his hands, was a sign of marriage for his people. All he had been thinking about was giving her something to remind her of him when he wasn't there.
Sokka let out a small laugh. If she took it to be an engagement so be it. He'd happily marry her if she'd have him. Continuing to work on the stone he replied, "It's not meant to be one. But if she takes it as one, I'll be happy with that."
"You're actually considering marrying the Princess of the Fire Nation? What the hell mission have you two been on?"
"A long and dangerous one my friend," Sokka answered, excited that the Wu-Qi stone was giving away to the nail and hammer.
"Must be. What can Ty Lee and I do to help?"
Again Sokka stopped his work to look at his old friend. The mission was secretive, but that didn't mean he couldn't take help when it was offered. They trusted The Rebels with parts of their mission, why couldn't he do the same for Haru and Ty Lee.
"Are you sure you want to help? Just having us here could get you in a heap of trouble," Sokka replied.
"I'm not one to turn down a fight Sokka. This town is full of corruption. If I can change that, I will," Haru said solemnly.
Sokka nodded, "Alright. Help us blend in. Maybe walk around with us until people aren't so suspicious of our arrival. The less people stare at us the better our mission will be."
"Easy enough. We don't go out too much, but when we do, Ty Lee talks to everyone. Shouldn't be hard spreading the word of our friendship."
"Good to know somethings never change," Sokka laughed, then grew serious once more, "but if something does go down. Get out, even if you have to leave Azula and me behind. I won't have my friends hurt over this." Sokka was glad for Haru's help and Ty Lee's as well. But he didn't want his friends lives ruined because of the mission.
"Sokka, you Katara and Aang helped my father, myself and a bunch of Earth Benders escape from a Fire Nation ship. If you think I'm just going to walk away when things get heated, you're mistaken. I don't run from a fight. And I never leave my friends behind."
Sokka nodded, setting down the hammer he held his hand up for Haru to shake, "Spirits bless the stubbornness of Earth Benders. You people are unflappable."
"Ha! Like you're any kind of pushover," Haru replied shaking Sokka's hand firmly. Sokka laughed and picked up the Wu-Qi stone.
Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a thin strip of leather he had grabbed from his bag. Threading the leather through the newly made hole, Sokka held it up by the ends.
"Perfect," he whispered. Azula would always have something reminding her of him.
"Not bad. Just looks like a normal rock on some leather. Great disguise for it I have to say," Haru commented.
"Wait," Sokka set the rock back on the table and picked up the nail and hammer. Several taps later, he picked the necklace up again. Carved into center of the stone was a fire nation symbol surrounded by the water tribe symbols.
"It seems like your art skills have improved over the years too." Sokka grunted at Haru's statement.
"Yeah yeah. Come on, let's go get some food. I'm starving." Pocketing the necklace, they left for the kitchen.
**********************************************************************************]
"So what's really going on Azula?"
Without breaking her stride heating the stove, Azula answered, "I told you Ty Lee. We're here on a mission to gather information for Zuzu."
Azula added some bacon and sausages to the heated pan, refusing to give Ty Lee the full truth.
"What kind of information? Can Haru and I do anything to help?"
Azula looked over as Ty Lee added the egg and vegetable mixture into a heavy metal pan. Without replying Azula took the pan and set it in the heated oven to cook.
"You already are helping us by giving us a place to stay. That's more than enough," Azula stated closing the oven door.
"That's nothing Azula. Come on, we can help you with whatever you have to do."
Frowning at her friends whine Azula replied sharply, "It's too dangerous Ty Lee. I can't ask you to get yourself involved in this mission any more than we already have."
"Dangerous? Really Azula? Since when has anything we've done NOT been dangerous? You set my safety net on Fire years ago when you wanted me to come with you to hunt your brother down. How could this be any more dangerous than that?"
Azula flinched at Ty Lee's angry outburst. She had forgotten about the safety net incident. Softening her tone from earlier Azula admitted, "Ty Lee, I don't know what Sokka and I are getting into. I couldn't ask you or Haru, who I don't really know by the way, to risk your lives over this. We're talking about going against a political system that thrives in the shadows. I don't know what I'd do if you were hurt."
In truth, Azula was shocked by her admission. Before, Ty Lee and Mai were both considered weapons Azula had used for her own purposes. But being with Ty Lee again made her realize how much she had missed her friends. Ty Lee's enthusiasm was captivating and her loyalty admired. Azula didn't want to risk their rediscovered friendship or Ty Lee's life for this mission.
"Oh Azula," Ty Lee cried, grabbing Azula and hugging her tightly. Azula returned the hug, holding to her friend tighter than she ever had in the past.
"I want to help, and I know Haru will to! We don't need to know the in and out of everything, but we can do something to make it a little easier. You're not alone Azula."
"I know Ty Lee. I know. And maybe there is something you can do to help," Azula said quietly still hugging her friend tight.
"Yeah! I knew I'd wear you down. What do you need? An extra spy? A lesson in chi blocking? Maybe I could steal a guardsman and we could interrogate him. Find out who's causing all this corruption."
Azula smirked at her friend as she removed the cooked bacon and sausage from the pan. Ty Lee was known as being the slightly dim, positive and innocent member of the group, but she was just as capable as being blood thirsty and destructive.
"We are not stealing or interrogating anyone, sweetheart."
Both women glanced towards Haru and he and Sokka entered the kitchen area.
"You never let me have any fun," Ty Lee exclaimed with a frown.
"Yes I do. And we're going to have more fun today. We're going into town."
Azula gave a soft 'tch' sound as Ty Lee's face lit up from Haru's response.
"We are! Oh I'm so excited. What are we doing?"
"We're going to take suspicion off Sokka and Azula by walking with them around town," Haru answered, walking past Azula to hug Ty Lee.
"I take it this was your idea," Azula quipped, smacking Sokka's had away from the cooked bacon he was reaching for.
"I was just going to have a piece!"
"Explain first, eat later," Azula replied sweetly, ignoring the soft laughter coming from Haru and Ty Lee.
"I figured if the town's people got used to seeing us around, we wouldn't stand out as much. And we'd have an easier time looking for what we need."
"Not a bad idea Peasant," Azula said after a moment. Picking up a piece of bacon herself, she fed it to him. "Now set the table. We have some people to meet and a mission to complete."
