Air
…Air.
"Oh boy! Awesome!" Aang cheered through a grin that was just a little too wide. "Exactly what I was hoping for!"
"I can tell you're lying," Toph taunted in a singsong voice.
"N-No I'm not!"
"Seriously, Twinkle Toes. I can feel your heart beating from over here."
"You and your stupid feet," Aang huffed, reluctantly standing up. "Okay." He took a deep breath. "I-I've got this, I – I want to help take care of Izumi. For Zuko!"
"You don't have to do this alone, you know," Azula said nonchalantly. "I can go with you – "
Sokka's jaw dropped as he looked up at the firebender standing behind him. Did Azula really just offer to help Aang?!
"No," Toph cut in. "He needs all the practice he can get."
The crescendo of Izumi's howling cry caused the Avatar to flinch.
"See?! We've got to toughen him up before Katara pops one out herself."
"Yuck!" Sokka shouted. "Phrasing!"
Toph cackled.
"She's right," Aang said quietly. "This is something I need to do alone. Besides, Izumi's just one tiny baby, and I've mastered all four elements, so – "
"Hah! He thinks he's mastered Earth!" Toph continued to cackle, now holding her sides.
" – so I can do this. I can do this. I can do this!" Aang psyched himself up as he made his way out into the hallway.
"Should we be worried about him?" Sokka asked, grimacing.
"Duh!" Toph sneered, crossing her ankles up on the table. "Did you see how he reacted to just a little crying? We need to turn that sorry excuse for a soon-to-be father into a real man. Before Katara bursts like a – "
"That's enough," Sokka insisted, holding up his hand.
Smirking, the earthbender patted the chair next to her. "Hey Princess! Come sit!"
"Sure." Azula took a seat next to Toph, across from Sokka.
Sokka wasn't sure how he felt about Azula joining the conversation, but so far she had been on good behavior. Still, he knew better than to let his guard down.
"What do you think of the Avatar spawning a little one?" Toph asked Azula, leaning back in her chair. "Pretty hard to believe the guy with the power to take bending away is afraid of a teeny tiny wittle baby, huh?"
She laughed. "Actually, I get it. He's just nervous because he wants to be a good father. It's not easy being a first-time parent, I mean, you've seen Zuko and Mai. They're total sleep-deprived wrecks, and they have so much help. I'm sure Aang just doesn't want to let Katara down."
Not having expected something so thoughtful to come out of Azula's mouth, Sokka eyed the firebender suspiciously.
"Ugh. I liked it better when you were mean."
"I can still be mean," Azula smirked, nudging one of the legs of Toph's chair with her foot, causing the earthbender to be thrown off-balance.
"Whoa!" Toph yelped, steadying herself before bursting out laughing. "Hey, that's more like it!"
Azula chuckled, and Sokka couldn't help but laugh along with them.
"Hey Snoozles. Don't think you're getting off scot-free. You're about to become an uncle – you're gonna have to help out too."
"I know, I know," Sokka sighed, shaking his head. "I can hardly believe it… my younger sister is about to have a baby…"
"Oh no. Don't tell me you're also having some existential crisis. You all need to get it together."
"I'm not!" The truth was, while Sokka was so happy for Katara and Aang – and for Zuko and Mai as well – he was a tad envious that everyone around him was moving on with their lives, while he was just… floating on by. "You wouldn't get it, you don't have any siblings. Sibling rivalry is real."
"Can confirm," Azula nodded.
"Nah, I just mean about the whole baby craze. I never wanna be tied down with kids. This gal is a free agent!"
"Really?" Sokka asked. "You never want to settle down?"
"W-Well I didn't say that, I mean, maybe if the right person came along… but I'm never gonna be some sappy romantic like Aang and Katara – it's not like I believe in soulmates or anything like that – "
"Me neither," Sokka said at the same time as Azula said, "Neither do I." He could have sworn he saw the princess smile at him, however fleeting. She was… really pretty when she smiled. Her features were softer than he remembered…
" – you know, I did have feelings for this one guy, as oblivious as he was, but I've come to realize that that will never happen." She laughed. "I'm way too good for him anyway."
"Who, Satoru? I don't know, he always seemed like he was super into you!"
"Yeah…" She looked down. "Satoru…"
"You could totally have him if you wanted to. I, on the other hand, have nobody. I always thought I'd settle down with Suki, you know, get married, have a couple kids, teach 'em how to – " He struck a dramatic pose, pantomiming throwing a boomerang. " – WACK-A-POW! But…" He sighed. "…obviously Suki and I are done, and I can't help but feel like I'm never gonna have another relationship like that again."
"Oh," Toph groaned, "because your relationship was just that perfect?"
"No." He shook his head solemnly. "It wasn't perfect. Not at all. Yeah, I know that she was the one who initiated our breakup, but I think I fell out of love with her without even realizing it way before she ended things. I… I got bored. Of Suki! The leader of the Kyoshi warriors! And if I could get bored of Suki, then I'm probably destined to be single forever."
"Ah, you just need to put yourself back out there," Toph said dismissively. "Meet new people. Who knows, maybe your next great romance will be with someone you already know!"
"Yeah… maybe."
"If it makes you feel any better," Azula said with a crooked smile, "no one's love life could possibly be more pathetic than mine, I mean, I've never even had a boyfriend or been on a date."
Sokka looked at her from across the table, and while she carried herself confidently, he could sense a sadness in her yellow eyes.
"Wait… so you've never had sex?!" Toph blurted.
"I – " Azula suddenly got red in the face.
"Toph, you can't just ask something like that!" Sokka scolded.
"Why not?"
"Because it's personal!"
"No, it's okay," Azula exhaled, shifting uncomfortably. "I'm… not a virgin. I had a one-night stand with some stranger on Ember Island after a party. I don't even remember his name, or perhaps that never came up in conversation. He certainly didn't know mine." She laughed softly. "It was… subpar to say the least."
"Aw, and here I was all excited for a juicy story," Toph frowned.
"Sorry to disappoint."
Sokka realized he must have made some sort of face because Azula was now eying him intently. "What?"
"You're looking at me funny. Why?"
"I-I don't know," he said with a shrug. "I guess I'm just surprised."
"Surprised that I'm not a virgin, or…?"
"No. I'm… surprised you've never had a boyfriend." He would have thought as royalty, Azula would have many male suitors. But then again, her reputation preceded her. But then again again… "You're very beautiful."
Her eyes widened.
Wait… did he just say that out loud?! That was supposed to stay in his head, spirits damn it!
She smiled softly. "You really think so?"
He smiled back, laughing to himself and blushing with embarrassment.
Grumbling, Toph pushed herself away from the table and stood up. "All this mushy love talk is making me queasy. I'm gonna go get something to settle my stomach." She marched out of the dining room.
Although Sokka was feeling quite hungry himself, for some reason, he wasn't feeling motivated to follow his friend. He was actually enjoying Azula's company a lot more than he thought he would. Maybe she really had changed. In the past, the prospect of being alone in a room with her would have terrified him, but now…
"I'm sure you're sick of all this 'mushy love talk' too," she snickered.
"You know," he chuckled, "I'm actually not. All those things I said about Suki… felt really good to say out loud. I've had those thoughts swirling in my head for a damn long time."
"Well, for what it's worth, not that I know you very well, but I don't think you're destined to be single forever."
"What makes you say that?"
She shrugged gently. "Well, you're smart, strategic, witty – "
"Devilishly handsome?" he joked, wiggling his eyebrows.
She laughed. " – I was going to say 'funny', but… I don't disagree."
He felt his cheeks flush again, but this time it wasn't from embarrassment. "Well, for what it's worth, not that I know you very well either, but I think you'll find someone too."
"No, no." She quickly shook her head as if the mere notion was preposterous. "I'm not so sure about that."
He looked at her with concern. "Why?"
"Because… no one's ever… felt that way about me before. Not even one-night-stand-guy."
"Then why did you… what made you…?"
"Hm?"
"Why one-night-stand-guy? Why didn't you, you know, want to wait to – "
"What?" she interrupted, scoffing, "do it the right way?"
"Well… yeah…"
"No," she snickered. "The truth is far too pathetic for human ears."
"Try me."
"I…" She sighed. "I just wanted to know what it felt like. To be desired. That's all."
He had too many thoughts all at once, but none of them made it out of his mouth this time.
"I know. Pretty pathetic, right?"
"You know what I think?"
"I'm many things, but clairvoyant isn't one of them."
"I think you need a do-over."
She shook her head, laughing gently. "I don't think it exactly works that way, Sokka."
"Well, why not? I mean, you didn't even exchange names with this guy, so it doesn't count if you don't want it to count. See? Do-over."
"I'll humor you…"
"And I'm not even necessarily talking about sex. Maybe try something more like… a kiss! A kiss with someone who cares about you."
"Sure. Find me someone who does, and I'll kiss him right here, right now."
"I care," he blurted before fully processing the implications of what he had just said.
"You…" She eyed him quizzically. "…care about me?"
"I mean, I… well, yeah! I don't know about you, but I'm really enjoying getting to know you now. And I'd like to keep getting to know you, if that's something you'd like as well."
"I do, and I would," she smiled bashfully. "But, the way you… care about me, I don't think that's the same level of care you to which you were referring with this whole… 'do-over' idea, correct? I mean, that would be pretty crazy, right? If we…"
"Yeah," he chuckled, nervously. Never in a million years would he have thought he'd potentially kiss Princess Azula one day. His head and heart debated within. There were countless reasons why it would be reckless, but… his heart was pounding so hard. "Could you imagine?"
"I can only imagine how your sister would react," she snickered.
"Your brother too… he'd be furious."
She smirked. "You know, that only makes it more appealing."
"I couldn't agree more," he said, gazing softly at her from across the table. "M-Maybe it is crazy, but… I think I want to kiss you."
"I… think I want to kiss you too."
Without saying a word, Sokka propped himself up onto his knees on his chair and reached across the table for Azula's hands. She mirrored him, kneeling and leaning forward to touch his hands. Interlacing his fingers with hers, he pulled her closer to him. They both leaned in, slowly, savoring the moment. He felt her nose brush his as he closed his eyes, feeling as if his heart would burst from his chest. Their lips were a breath away from each other's when…
"Fire flakes, anyone?" Toph offered, crunching loudly.
"I'm good," Sokka squeaked as he and Azula promptly separated themselves.
"No thank you."
"Okay weirdos," Toph teased. "So what did I miss?"
"N-Not too much," Sokka stammered. "We were just – "
"Having a philosophical discussion," Azula finished for him.
"Yawn, boring!"
Azula smiled warmly. "It was actually quite riveting."
"It was," he nodded, returning the warm smile. "In fact, I was wondering if we could continue this thrilling discussion sometime…"
Azula shrugged, smirking. "Maybe in a different timeline."