"So, that's the sum total of my previous relationships. My first girlfriend turned into the moon. The second one… Well, she probably hates my guts for breaking up with her. Unless playing at being Zuko's personal guard proves to be too much of a distraction." He shrugged.
An incredulous stare from large yellow eyes. "Oh, come on, Sokka! That painted bitch is way too bland for you! I've crossed paths with her before, remember? Pretty, but with the personality of a wooden board. Utterly insipid. You're way out of her league!"
Sokka blushed unaccountably. "Well, if you're considering intellectual capacity, I suppose you're right!"
Azula backhanded him lightly across the ear. "No false modesty for my Water Tribe husband, eh? Well, considering that we just went through that ridiculously quaint ceremony with your witchy grandmother as officiant, I suppose that in these frozen backwaters we are what's considered husband and wife. That's why we're having this little chat, Sokka! If you think I buy into the whole I-was-a–virgin-until-I-met-my-last girlfriend crap, then you don't know your wife at all, peasant!"
In spite of the joking tone, there was a dangerous glow in her golden eyes.
"Well, uh, there might have been a couple of other girls… One or two… I mean, purely on the basis of physical needs. You know Azula, even doctors state that it isn't healthy for young people in their prime to remain celibate. It's just detrimental for both your physical and mental health."
The moment the words left his mouth, he could have slapped himself.
Azula regarded him steadily. Her pale oval face was a mask of studied neutrality. A tiny shrug.
"Oh. Ok. Then it's lucky that once I had regained my sanity, I decided to reinforce it as best I could."
He gasped. "You what!"
A tiny shrug and a smirk. A certain spark lit up those gorgeous firebender eyes. "Oh, Sokka. I think you know what I mean."
He floundered on a sea of…. Was that jealousy? Oh, no. This was the kind of drama that Zuko thrived on. Sokka, on the other hand…
"Well, of course I knew you weren't a virgin when we… I mean, the… The first time we had sex, Azula! I realized you had some experience. But I just thought it didn't matter! I mean, the most important thing was us, the way we made each other feel. I mean… Oh spirits, Azula! It wasn't Zuko, was it? If it was, I'd… I'd probably have to challenge him to a… Well, to an Agni Kai or something!"
Azula leaned back against the plush red Fire Nation pillows and laughed, baring her white throat. The laugh was long and hearty, coming from her gut.
"Oh… Oh, but Sokka! You mean this has been bothering you? Why, I had no idea! My poor dear little snow savage! No, oh no! Please, let me set your heart at ease. Zuko and I only ever used to make out. You know, like siblings do. He never quite got around to being my first. Though it did get pretty close…" She gazed out into open space, a distant look on her oval face.
Sokka stared at her, appalled. "Like siblings do!? What the fuck are you talking about, Azula? Katara and I certainly never did that kind of thing! It would never even cross our minds to… ew!"
Azula shrugged nonchalantly and cocked an eyebrow at him. "No? Well, I imagine sister dear is way too much of a prude to appreciate that kind of disgusting physical stuff. I really can't blame Aang for breaking up with her. He's so much better off with Toph."
Sokka shook his head as if to clear it. "So, let me get this straight, Azula? You and Zuko grew up together, and used to… make out. You didn't go quite as far as to actually seal the deal. Am I correct so far?"
His firebender wife nodded. "Yes. I assume we would have, except Zuzu ran off and betrayed the Fire Nation with the lot of you. Talk about timely exits."
"So… So who was your first? I mean, I assume it wasn't… That you didn't let…" Words failed him.
A tiny frown appeared on Azula's smooth brow. "What are you implying, Sokka? Kindly leave my father out of this. He and I have never had that kind of relationship."
He started at the sharp tone. Reaching out, he cradled Azula in his arms and rolled onto his back, pulling her with him.
"Look, Azula! You mustn't ever doubt I love you. It's just that… Well, I just never know what to expect with you! You're just playing in this league entirely your own. If I want to play along, I feel I need to know all about you. It doesn't do to assume things. I just have to ask. You don't mind, do you? Honey?"
She shrugged. "I guess not. We do after all come from widely different backgrounds. As for my experience in physical matters… Well Sokka, the Ember Island Mental Health Facility is like a world unto its own. Hundreds of people pass through it every year, patients and employees. Of course, occasionally attraction strikes. Once I was well enough to recognize myself, I realized that I needed… Well, call it what you like. A case of curiosity. The need to make a clean break with the rules of living that I grew up with. Realizing that people didn't fear or hate me, but were attracted to me instead. That I had found a way of obliterating the memories by means of a whole new world of sensations and experiences. It really did me a world of good."
"Who were they, Azula? Do you… Do you miss any of them?"
A tiny grimace. "Some questions are better not asked, Sokka! I mean, I don't particularly relish hearing about Miss Moon or Miss Fan. I know you've had others, and that's quite all right. I only wanted to know if you ever considered marrying either of them. That's why I asked you in the first place. And if you're wondering, the answer's no. After I was discharged, I never once considered contacting any of them. I just don't see the point."
Sokka traced the smooth white skin of her neck with his fingertips, just above the satin band of the betrothal choker. As he leaned in over her, his heart was beating painfully hard.
"You know I love you, don't you, Azula? I… I never felt like this for anyone before. I just want you to know that."
A minute start went through her. She hid the inadvertent smile by burying her face in the crook of his neck. Reaching down, she untied the gold sash of her red silk, dragon printed robe and slipped out of it effortlessly. Long bare pale arms went up to circle Sokka's neck. He stared down at her naked body, spellbound.
"You can have all of me, Sokka. Inside and out. I just need to know that you accept what you see. That you can take me for who I am and still love me."
A deep breath. "Azula, I've always seen you for who you are. Before, when we were enemies, it used to cause me so much trouble. Because whenever I saw you, I knew."
"You knew?"
"Yes. I knew that I was looking at the love of my life."