Another Sokkla Saturdays starts and I am happy to share my first entry with you guys. Enjoy this year's event!
My first entry starts with a sequel. This is the third part of my "Azula joins the Gaang in TDOBS AU". You can find the first two parts on my site as TRUE LOVE: Sokkla Saturdays 2021 Chapter 3; and Wherever you are, there I am: Sokkla Saturdays 2022 Chapter 5.
The island they flew to was nice. Full of greens and valleys.
All of them took their camping equipment. Sokka helped Azula with… well she only had a sleeping bag given by him. But he made a tent for her too, since unlike on the Western Air Temple, there was no roof here.
"So, it's done Princess." he said winking. She rolled her eyes at him, to mask how much she liked it when he did that.
The flight on Appa was eventless.
Katara cooked since it was already dusk. They ate together as always and Azula complained about how she needed to take a bath and that there were no bathrooms.
"There is a waterfall back there, we have soap." Katara said.
Azula looked at her as if Katara went mad.
"You truly expect me to wash just like that with a simple soap?"
"We do that all the time." Katara shrugged provokingly.
Azula grimaced. "And with him around too boot?" she pointed with her chin at Sokka next to her.
"Hey! I will stay here!" he squeaked.
"Yeah, like a believe you." she replied.
"I would never want to sneak and take a look at your... your... yeah you!"
Toph coughed at his comment since it was a blatant lie, and he blushed.
The night arrived and Team Avatar slept soundly. Sokka slept in front of her tent like every night. Zuko wanted to sleep there, since he is her brother.
"She is my sister, why are you sleeping in front of her tent or room all the time?" he asked Sokka an eyebrow raised.
"Well, my words have more weight in this group than yours, and it was my idea to take her with us!" Sokka retorted.
Azula couldn't sleep that night. Her mind was full of unpleasant thoughts. What was her father thinking of her? He knew Zuko wanted to join the Avatar, but she didn't. Did he send his soldiers to look after her, thinking she decided to go with her brother?
She left her tent, carefully walking by Sokka's sleeping figure. He wasn't as good as a guard as he presented himself to be. In the morning she would rub it into his face.
Her feet carried her to the cliffs. The soft breeze of the waterfall was hitting her face. Rain started pouring down vastly soft and she welcomed it.
Sudden footsteps alerted her that she wasn't alone. Was it Sokka or could it be someone else she wondered.
"Azula, it's raining, you'll catch a cold here."
Yes, it was Sokka of course.
"I wasn't trying to run away if that's what feared you." Azula said without turning around to see him.
"I didn't think that."
Sokka stood next to her, not bothering to keep distance. She looked up to him. The usual challenge wasn't there right now. Sokka frowned.
"What's eating your mind?" he asked her softly.
"What's eating my mind?" she chuckled hysterically.
"I am the Princess of the Fire Nation, and I am travelling around with the Avatar and his friends, have to bath in rivers, my brother openly betrayed our father and you're asking me what's eating my mind?" she said.
Sokka looked at her sadly.
"I am sorry Azula. I never meant for you to feel uncomfortable." he spoke, "I just…"
"You just wanted to capture me and show me the so-called truth about my nation and how great you guys are?" she said harshly.
"You know what? It's partly working. I never laughed more than in these last days despite everything. My thoughts keep travelling to my father, and I hate the standards I live in currently, but I am… I… don't feel uncomfortable with …"
Sokka waited eagerly for her to finish her sentence.
"You." she said looking at him earnestly with those gorgeous eyes of hers.
"And it's angering me deep down. I just… I…" she was lost for words when she felt two hands holding her face gently, giving her cheeks warmth.
A raindrop landed on one of his dark lashes. It looked poetic right now she thought to herself.
His thumbs caressed her cheeks.
"Since the moment I caught you, I wished for you to stay by our side, by my side. Something inside me urged me to take you with us, called to believe in you, to protect you. Those things intensified these last days."
"I will always be right next to you if you need me. Even if you don't, I will still be there for you."
She could tell that his words were spoken earnestly.
"Sokka" his name came out as a whisper.
"Azula" he whispered back.
She put her hands on his by almost by reflex, realizing she could feel his breath.
Their lips joined desperately but thorough and soft still. It was the sweetest taste ever. Azula put her hands on his cheeks now as well when the kiss intensified.
Both of them wanted to this from the beginning. Both of them longed for the other. Right now, this felt right like nothing ever felt before.
Even if they would have loved to continue the kissing, they parted still, panting lightly. Azula's eyes were still closed.
"If you think this through, and you still decide to go, if you are sure about it, I… I will not hold you back anymore." Sokka said.
"You won't?" she asked opening her eyes to look into his piercing blue one's.
"I won't even if it will be difficult for me. I so hope you will stay with us Azula. But I have no rights to hold you back." His heart broke at the thought.
They felt a bond from the beginning. But something touched her heart and changed within Azula that night. She enjoyed being near to Sokka, which made her situation easier and more comfortable. And no matter what, she would see that no harm would come to him.
The rain stopped and they walked back to the tent. Azula let the entrance to her tent open, which enabled her to see Sokka right in front of it in his sleeping bag. He smiled at her. Even though it was dark, they fell slowly asleep while looking at each other.