The kiss was everything Sokka dreamed of. Azula's lips were soft and sweet, and Sokka had never been happier. Not wanting to linger too long, he pulled away, uncertain of the future.

Sokka and Azula made eye contact. Azula's face was bright red, but she said nothing. Her expression, however, betrayed her, showing that Azula was the most shocked she'd ever been. Sokka was sure he'd screwed up completely.

"I.." Sokka started, scrambling for any words.

Azula didn't even let him speak before she kissed him again. Sokka was stunned and ecstatic at the same time. They stayed like that for ten minutes, forgetting everything except each other. When the kiss ended, Azula snuggled up to Sokka. He noticed how rigid her body was. He figured she was so used to a stiff royal posture that anything else seemed unnatural to her.

Sokka held Azula in silence. She hadn't said a word since the first kiss.

"Azula?" he asked in a hushed voice.

"Mhm?"

"Are you okay?"

She nodded, letting out a deep breath. "My ankle hurts."

"Do you want me to take you back to your room?"

She nodded. Sokka picked Azula up and carried her down the steps of the tower. He knew Zuko would not be pleased with either of them, and so he carefully climbed the roof and snuck into the window of Azula's room.

Sokka gently set Azula down on her bed, grabbing an extra pillow for her to elevate her foot.

"Do you want anything?" he asked.

Azula gestured to her foot. "A bandage might be nice."

Sokka nodded. With a wink, he left out the window and re-entered the palace. Not looking where he was going, he almost ran right into Zuko.

Startled, Zuko looked up from the paper he was holding but grinned when he saw Sokka. "Hey, buddy! Long walk, I see."

Sokka smiled. Behind his grin, however, he was panicking. He knew he couldn't tell Zuko he was off making out with the Fire Lord's sister. As close as he and Zuko would become, he knew Zuko wouldn't like hearing that one bit. "Yeah, one could say," he replied.

"You ready for dinner?"

"You know, I'm not really feeling that hungry," Sokka said.

Zuko raised an eyebrow. Sokka could get away with a few half-truths, but that was one step farther than anyone could possibly believe.

"You sure? You're always hungry."

Sokka thought of Azula, but also that he needed to at least be believable. The grumble that came from his stomach made the decision for him.

Zuko and Sokka both laughed. "Let's go, then," Zuko said.

Sokka rushed through a delicious Fire Nation banquet. While he did this on normal days, he was especially enthusiastic to get done with dinner on this night. He quickly said thank you to Zuko for dinner and rushed out, grabbing a bandage and sneaking back into Azula's room.

"What in the world took you so long?" Azula asked, obviously annoyed.

"Azula, I am so sorry. I ran into Zuko and we had dinner because obviously I can't tell him I was with you and I rushed through it as quickly as I could," Sokka replied quickly.

"I suppose you're right about not telling my brother." She pointed to her foot. Sokka took out the bandage and gently wrapped her foot and ankle, compressing the injury. Azula sighed as Sokka finished the wrap and softly set her foot back down on the pillow. Unsure of what to do next, Sokka stood awkwardly near the corner of her room with his hands folded together.

Azula rolled her eyes and gestured to her bed. "Not that I don't like ordering people around, but do you need to be told what to do all the time?" She smirked.

Sokka didn't hesitate and laid down on the bed next to her. "Not all the time," he said as he kissed her. The two stayed in that position for five minutes before breaking off.

Azula giggled.

Giggled.

Sokka didn't know she did that. He couldn't believe she did that. Azula snuggled up closer to him and he held her in his arms. She let out a deep breath. Sokka hadn't realized he'd been holding his and subsequently let out his own. Azula buried her face in his chest and he held her tighter. Minutes and hours passed by until they both fell asleep.