The Princess just ran as quickly as she could. She didn't know if Zuko and her mother had seen her or not. She just needed to get of there, she couldn't bear to listen to that anymore. Well, it was her fault, she shouldn't have listening their talk anyway. Of course, it was her fault. Everything is my fault, right, mother?

The Princess entered in her room and slammed the door. She tried to control the tears, but failed. Why was she even crying? She knew how her mother felt about her, she always did. Why are you acting as if it's something unexpected?

The door opened, Sokka was there.

"Azula…"

"Get out!" She yelled at him. "Now! I want to be alone."

"I really don't think you need to be alone right now…" He said softly.

"I don't care about what you think. Get out of here, peasant!"

She started to push and punch him. But he didn't move. She groaned in frustration and made a big blue flame with her right hand. Azula glared at him, daring him to stay. But again he didn't move, he just looked at her in a way she couldn't understand.

The flame trembled in her hand, Sokka waited for the worst. But then she closed her fist, making the flame disappear, and just started to sob. And he wondered if being burned would be better than seeing her like this. He suddenly put his arms around her and held her close. He thought she would push him away, but instead she buried her face to his chest and cried more. After a while, she pulled back looking at him, still crying.

"It's not fair!" She looked at him desperate, yelling. "She thinks the only reason I'm here it's because of Zuko's generosity! What about my choices and the things I've done? She actually believes I'm just a charity case?" She laughed sadly. "You know, I thought I could just ignore all this… Ignore the fact she hates me and live my life. But am I supposed to do it when she does things like this? I mean, she is literally poising Zuko's mind! Now, I'm probably going to have to give up on the one thing I actually chose by myself." The words were coming out as she just broke in another wave of tears.

"Hey, Azula, Azula, calm down." Sokka held her by the shoulders gently, he could feel she trembling, and it just made him feel horrible. "I'm sure she doesn't hate you… And that you won't have to give up on anything…"

"What can she possibly want from me?" Azula's voice was low now, she sounded tired and weak. What really disturbed Sokka was seeing that the spark Azula always had in her eyes seemed to be fading away, as the girl looked away from him. "Maybe… Maybe I'm just trying to fool myself. Maybe she is right, you know?" She wept her tears out. "I am monster and I deserve to be far away from here and from everyone…"

He was desperate now, he knew she wasn't the best person in the world and he remembered very well how many times she tried to kill him and his friends in the past. But if all the things she had said were true, she had chosen this path, she had chosen to change. And as far as he knew she was doing it the best she could. Of course, the Princess was still herself, but who would even want her to change that? She was perfect in her own way, wasn't her? Sokka found himself lost looking at the girl's eyes. Even when she was crying, she was so beautiful… Fine, Sokka had to admit it: he was attracted to her. Very attracted to her. But now that wasn't even the issue anymore. The problem was how disturbing it was to see her like this. He would do anything to see her well again.

"No! Azula!" Sokka shook her by the shoulders softly, trying to make her look at him again. "Hey, look me at me." Azula finally did it. Her eyes were sad and still looked empty. "First, you are not a monster." He said firmly. "And now look, I really don't know your mother well to tell what she actually thinks. But… if it is really like you say, you shouldn't be crying about it or you should just really feel sorry for her."

Azula looked very confused at him, but he could see her eyes sparked a little.

"What?" She mumbled. And he continued:

"Yeah, I mean, she doesn't know the amazing person her own daughter is! Come on, you are intelligent, strong and incredibly talented in so many ways!" Azula was looking at him startled now. "And most important, you have that fire within yourself that… And I'm not talking about your bending. Hm, I don't know how to explain it… But well, it somehow inspires people around you to do things… to want to be alive. Well, at least, that's how I feel it, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that! So, if Ursa really can't see that, you should feel sorry for her and not feel bad about yourself. She is the one missing it all!"

Azula's eyes were widened, looking at his. She was frozen, she didn't even know how to react at something like that. Why would he even say those things to her? He couldn't really mean it… But for some reason she liked to hear it, and maybe she also liked the fact that it was him saying that. Azula felt her fingers holding the collar of his shirt really tighten, her heart was pounding so hard she thought Sokka would hear it, and before she could realize what she was doing, her eyes were closing and her lips were already on his.

Sokka froze and widened his eyes. Was that really happening? He felt like his brain was going to explode. Why would she even do that? She despised him so much and this was wrong so many ways… But why must it feel so damn good? Sokka started to lose control and found himself kissing the princess back. He pulled her close by her waist, as the kiss went deeper. He would already admit that he had thought about doing that a few times before, but he didn't expect to be like this. It was like the world had stopped, just for them.

But then… A knock on the door brought them back to reality. Azula broke the kiss roughly and pushed Sokka away quickly.

"Wh-" He mumbled puzzled and dizzy, before Zuko came in.

"Azula?" Zuko went close to his sister with a worried look.

The world was still spinning for the princess when she tried to focus on her brother.

"Yes?"

"You listened, didn't you?"

"What?" She asked, seemed to be unaware of the world around her.

"My talk with mom, Azula!" Zuko sounded frustrated. "I know you listened to it…" But now he looked embarrassed.

"Oh." Suddenly, everything came back to her. All the pain, the shame, and the frustration. She just felt like crying again, but she managed to hold it back. "So what if I listened?"

"Look, Azula…" Zuko began, carefully. "Mom didn't mean all that. She was just… too nervous. And I didn't agree with most of what she said, I was just trying to calm her down." He was looking at her with concern. And Azula didn't know if he was afraid of her snapping or only feeling sorry for her.

"Whatever, Zuko." She shrugged.

"Azula…"

"We have a meeting tomorrow early, don't we? I need to sleep now." Azula said coldly. "Please, leave."

"Can we talk about this in the morning?" Her brother asked softly.

"No. Now, leave!" She crossed her arms and glared at him. "You too, Sokka." The princess said without looking at her guard.

"What?!" Sokka couldn't believe it. Did she actually want him to leave after what happened? Wasn't she even going to explain him what was that?

"You heard me."

Sokka was still confused with everything that happened, when he and Zuko left Azula's room. First she kissed him, then she dismissed him as he was just another guard. But what was he even thinking? He shouldn't have kissed her back in first place! Then, he heard Fire Lord sighing and saying:

"She seemed really upset…" There was a mix of regret and shame in his voice.

"You think?" Sokka said harshly and Zuko's eyes looked surprised at him. "Why were you two even having that talk?" Sokka suddenly realized he was mad at Zuko and Ursa, but mostly with Zuko. After all, Zuko was his friend, so he knew him well enough to tell when he was doing something stupid.

"Uh… I- I didn't even say anything. And I don't know why mom was saying that." Zuko got defensive.

"Why didn't you defend Azula then?!" Sokka knew he shouldn't interfere in Azula's family dynamic, but he couldn't help himself, not after what happened. He couldn't bear to see her like that again.

"I…"

"You want to protect her, don't you? Wasn't that the whole point of having me as her guard after all? I know how you feel, I have a sister too, remember? But crazy assassins aren't the only things that she needs protection from!" Sokka sighed, trying to calm down as he saw Zuko's widened eyes. "Look, I don't want to make you feel bad, but I'm pretty sure she would be less miserable, if you had stood up for her, you know? She would feel less... helpless."

Zuko looked down, clearly not knowing what to say. He knew all those things, he just never heard it out loud from anyone. And that made him feel even worse and guilty.

"Well, I'm going to bed." Sokka finally said it as he turned around to walk to his room. "Good night…"