Sokka started with a jolt, though he was used to it by now. It had been happening ever since Sozins Comet, he and Toph just barely hanging off the side of a war blimp, the only the between them and a catastrophic death was Sokka's space sword wedged into the side of the blimp. Almost every night since then, he dreamed that he was just barely hanging on to his sword, only this time he's on his own, and instead of dangling over the ground, he finds he's dangling over an endless abyss. Each time he dreamed it, he always let go. He would fall, blunging deeper and deeper into his fears, and never land.
He laid motionless in bed, staring up at the ceiling for a full minute. He sat up and stretched and pulled on his blue and white sleeping robe. Sweaty and wide awake, he decided that a cup of water would calm his nerves. He left his four poster bed and walked over to the open window of his massive bedroom.
The moon was out and it was bright. He smiled a small rueful smile at memories of what was and what could have been. She looks beautiful tonight, he thought to himself. He felt the cool night breeze from the ocean wash over him, instantly clearing up the sweat he had accumulated from his unrestful slumber. But staring at the ocean reminded him that he was still thirsty. He rolled his eyes at the prospect of having to go all the way downstairs to get the water. Does a beach house really have to be so big? I mean where I come from there's no upstairs or downstairs, just...snow.
They had all decided in the Jasmine Dragon, after Firelord Ozai's defeat, that they would try as often as they could, to see each other whenever they were all free -which was not very often-, but they always found found a spot in the year were they weren't so busy with trying to rebuild from the aftermath of the war. They usually made their decision earlier in the year. This year they had unanimously agreed to go to ember island, firstly because Zuko had a massive beach house, secondly because when they had first come they had such a great time and lastly because Ember Island was beautiful. But right this moment Sokka wished Zuko had a small hut because it meant having to go down every night for a small cup of water because he was too lazy to remember to bring one up.
At first he tiptoed his way down the dark stairs, opting for stealth, but then remembered when Katara had told him there really wasn't a point of trying to be stealthy, because even Appa, a Ten-ton flying bison is quieter than sokka when he tiptoed. Frowning at the memory he set his heels down and began to walk normally. If they don't appreciate my trying to be quiet then why even bother.
In the gloom of the darkness, he nearly tripped over his own feet multiple times. Would it be such a bad thing to illuminate this place just a little? I mean they're Firebenders after all. Just as he thought about it he realized how stupid it was because the house would probably catch fire, burning them and everything else in it.
Lost in thought, he didn't see the vase in front of him, and tripped right on it. "Ow!" He whisper yelled as he nearly landed on his face, his outstretched hands breaking his fall. To his surprise, he looked up and the thing was still standing. He had expected it to fall and shatter on the floor and wake everyone up, but it weighed a ton so it had stayed up and sent him spiraling.
As he sat on the floor, foot aching lightly, he couldn't help but laugh as he remembered their last trip to ember island, and how a scenario just like this one had played out, only that time he was with suki when he went down for his usual cup of water, that time he tripped on one of the seats of the massive foyer and nearly broke his neck. That time she had laughed and laughed until everyone woke up and asked what had happened and they had laughed after she told them. That time she had been his girlfriend.
They didn't have some big fight or cheating scandal. They were both very busy; her rebuilding Kyoshi Island, him rebuilding the Southern water tribe. They were both leaders of their respective communities. They had simply grown apart due to their busy schedules and mutually decided that they were both too busy, and would be busy for a while to be in relationships at the moment. So although they had made the mutual decision to break up, and were still really great friends, and weren't awkward around each other, he still missed her. But he couldn't deny that they both needed time and space to themselves.
Breaking himself from his reverie, he remembered the whole point of coming downstairs; for a glass of water. And a quick midnight snack wouldn't hurt, He thought.
He stood, dusting himself off, and with a small sigh, walked behind the small sidestool beside one of the large red seats. He walked into the massive kitchen and began his search for water. The slight illumination from the moon made his search easier. He found the pot of clean water, took a laddle and spooned the water into the red clay cup on the counter. Thanks Yue, he thought with a smile.
After he had gulped down his water, he began to wonder where the all the food was. He had a particular craving of sea prunes and lychee nuts tonight.
He searched the wooden cabinets and found some rice and spices. "This would be just great if I wanted to eat rice boiled in spices." He sighed.
He checked a few other cabinets and found either nothing he wanted, or nothing at all. Giving up, he sighed and rested slightly on one of the cabinets.
"Where can someone have to do to get some sea prunes and lychee nuts around here?" He said tiredly.
"That's quite the combination, You might want to check the storage room for that...though I don't think you'll find any prunes in there."
Sokka shrieked. A high sort of sound that was almost feminine. Shaking, he stepped back and was about to flee until the mysterious voice stepped out of the shadows and into the light. Her dark black hair free from its usual high bun, and her lips bare of its usual peach tint.
Oh, Sokka thought, a frown washing over his features. It's her.
"Sokka would you please shut up! Some of us are trying to sleep and can't do that with you making all kinds of noise!" Toph yelled from her bedroom upstairs.
Sokka yelled back. "We could have all said the same about aang smaking your head against the headboard not granting anyone some peace and quiet!" The anger from being jump scared by her, palpable in his voice.
Toph yelled back even angrier " Don't make me come down there Sokka! Just keep. It. down! Unless you want a rock lodged between your-" She paused. "Just keep it down."
I guess there really are perks to the avatar dating the crazy in the group. Sokka thought, almost smiling, turning back to face the female before him.
"Why did the avatar calm her down? I really did want to see where she was going to lodge her rock." Azula mused with a smirk.
Sokka turned to her sneering, "you would like that wouldn't you?"
"I mean, not to brag, but inflicting and enjoying the pain, suffering, shame and humiliation of people has kind of been my thing for years, so yeah, I would love that very much." she said, her smirk rising high on her face into a slight smile.
He stared at her. Chest heaving, hands shaking and very obviously angry, he just stared at her. He didn't have any response for her, just like he never had any response for what she said. Left to him, he would not talk to her altogether, but she insisted on talking to him constantly, not because she liked or wanted to be friends with him, Oh no, not that at all. Sokka suspected the only reason she spoke to him was to get on his nerves or piss him off.
Everyone had forgiven Azula after due to her efforts of redemption after the war, and even sort of taken her in, even going as far as being her friend...Everyone but Sokka. The simple truth was that he didn't like her, couldn't like her. Not after everything she did. She had imprisoned Suki, his dad and a handful of other men in his tribe, set kysohi island on fire, killed aang, even if only for a little while, and did so much more.
And even after she had "changed" and become their friend, she still pissed him off by the way she behaved like she was better than him, and the way she spoke to him. He just couldn't bring himself to like her.
A week before they had come to Ember Island, he had met with Aang and as they had been talking, he let out his frustration about Azula coming on the trip with them, and Aang had called Sokka hypocritical for not forgiving, because they all forgave Zuko even though he had done multiple things to them, but he couldn't forgive Azula.
He stared at Aang with a deadpan expression as he said " Yeah but it's very different. Zuko was only trying to get to you, and he'd only attack us when we'd get in his way. He was doing it to regain his honor. But Azula, she did it because she wanted to, for her it was just a game. She didn't care who or what she was hurting, as long as she was entertained she didn't care."
Aang had simply shrugged and said "I know its hard to forget, and I'm not saying you have to, but you can at least forgive her. She was a girl being raised by Firelord Ozai, without any proper guidance and direction. She's as just as worthy of our forgiveness as zuko was. And Forgiving her don't change all the things she did, the people she hurt, but it'll make you feel lighter."
"Yeah okay Guru Goody Goody, I'll think about it." sokka said with an amused smile.
"I thought you and Zuko promised you'd stop calling me that!" Aang feigned a frown.
But after a few seconds he had burst out laughing and Sokka had joined him. He had told Aang he would at least think about it, but speaking to and looking at her now, he wasn't sure he'd be able to do it. She was so infuriating. There wasn't a single likeable thing about her, Sokka was sure.
Well, being in front of her now, he knew that wasn't true. The only pure thing about her were her eyes. Those deep pools of glowing amber. Eyes that had seen things. So beautiful, yet so haunting and misunderstood-
Wait, what am I doing? She's still a terrible person even if she had beautiful golden eyes, eyes the color of honey-
"What are you doing here anyways?" Sokka said quickly to jolt himself out of his strange adoration of her eyes.
"First off, its my house," Azula said, a stoic expression on her face, "and secondly, not that I owe you any explanations, but if you must know, I couldn't sleep and wanted to get a snack."
Sokka furrowed his brows, feeling stupid. She always had a way of making him feel stupid. Just a few days ago he found out that she had started calling him The Moron. They had been on kitchen duty after they had left the door open, and a small legion of fire ants got into the house. Aang carried in a tray of dumplings and Sokka was bringing in the egg custard tarts. He was almost at the table when he had tripped on his own feet, the dishes flying out of his hands and spilling on the table, everyone and everything around it.
Azula had sighed, whispering solemnly, "The Moron strikes again..." as she had wiped her face which had been smeared in pudding, and Katara had snickered.
Sokka secretly suspected that she had been calling him that behind his back as well, but his slight - okay maybe not that slight - mistake gave her reason to say it to his face too.
"Is there a reason you're down here? Or are you here to stare at me and pull stupid expressions?" Azula said, snapping him out of his trance.
"Why would anyone in their right frame of mind, come out at twelve midnight to stare at you of all things?" Sokka replied, malice dripping in his voice.
"And not that it's any of your concern, but if you must know, I couldn't sleep and wanted to get a snack." he said, repeating her words, a fake smile plastered on his face.
"Well...aren't we clever?" Azula replied to his mockery, titling her head and staring at his deep blue sea of his eyes, almost black in the darkness, with a content-filled look that matched his perfectly.
Sokka squinted his eyes, about to retort to her sarcasm, before he remembered his purpose for coming down there in the first place.
"Look, I'm not here trade insults with you, I just need a snack. So if you know where I can find some lychee nuts and sea prunes, just tell me, because the sooner you do, the faster we'll be away from each other."
Azula pondered his words for a moment before rolling her eyes and replying, "It's in the store."
Sokka gave her a deadpan stare. "I'm pretty sure no store is going to be open selling Lychee nuts at twelve midnight."
Azula rolled her eyes so far back up her head she thought she saw her brain. "No you idiot, this store!"
She walked over to a seemingly vacant stretch of wall, put her hand in the middle of it as a shot of fire escaped from her hand.
Suddenly, there were different streams of golden-red lines swirling in different directions in an intricateness dance, an indication of fire touching metal.
There was a small creek from the door, and it fell open. She hadn't made physical contact with it, and It didn't have handle bars so he knew it was one of those special fire nation inventions.
Sokka looked surprised as he said, "wh-...what is this place."
"Storage room," Azula replied, "we keep most of the food supply here, and if there's ever an emergency, we hide here...though we've never had an emergency big enough for us to actually hide in here."
Sokka was lost. He'd been a regular at the beach house now, coming here at least three or four times already and yet he had never known of this storage room.
"Has this always been here?" Sokka asked stil surprised.
"Yes it has," Azula answered.
"I've been coming here a while now and I've never-" Sokka started, accusation creeping in his voice.
"Everyone knows about it, except you. We knew that if we told you, you'd somehow manage to get yourself locked in here, and it only opens from the outside so we decided it was best not to tell you."
Sokka was shocked, then angry. Did they think he was too stupid to understand how a door worked?
She must have known what he was thinking because she rolled her eyes as she answered his unspoken question. "Oh don't give me that look. Do you really think that even if we told you how the door works that you still wouldn't have gotten yourself locked in there?"
All he wanted was to get some water and maybe even a snack and instead all he'd gotten was an aching foot and insults. He was really tired and wasn't in the mood for any of this.
"Look, its late, and I want to get back to sleep today. So if you don't mind, could you please tell me where the snacks are so I can get out of here?"
Azula crossed her arms and glared at him for some seconds, but after a beat, sighed and turned to open the door as she said, "Fine. But only because the very sight of you sickens me."
She opened the door as far as it could go, and turned to say to sokka, in a tone full of warning, "Listen. This door is made of metal. Heavy metal. It closes easily if its not held open by something or someone. And as you observed when I opened it, it can only be opened by fire benders. Now what I need you to do is hold it open while I get your...Lychee nuts. All you have to do is hold it open. That seems a simple enough task for you to handle."
Sokka rolled his eyes, offended by her tone, as he said in his own patronizing tone "Azula, I understand how to hold things. It's not a very difficult task to perform."
"Whatever. just hold it open." She said as she walked away from the door for Sokka to lean against.
She lit a small flame in her hand as she walked into the room, towards the extra candles they had stored and lit them.
She dropped some of them in the wooden cubicles close to her, and the rest in cubicles that sat on the other of the room, illuminating things once hidden under the guise of darkness.
The room was surprisingly chilly, and spacious, which was a far cry from what he expected a windowless food storage to be, Sokka reflected, as he rocked on the balls of his feet, watching Azula search, all the while holding open the door.
"Hey why's it so chilly in here? I don't see any windows..."
"Um...i- it...there's ice in the walls." azula stammered, back still turned to him in search.
"Why?"
Azula stiffened as she answered him again "um...this uh..this used to be a freezer, but obviously it..it was never in use so...and my father had most of the ice taken out. But um..but Zuko and I decided that it would be a good place to preserve food because of how cold it is."
"Freezer?" Sokka said confused "but aren't freezers used for punishing offenders in the Firenation? Why would your dad need to make-"
"Could you please stop asking me dumb questions so I can find your dumb Lychee nuts!" Azula interrupted, turning to face him angrily.
"Okay." Sokka said nonchalantly. Jeez, what's her problem? Sokka asked himself. All I did was ask her a question. People from the fire nation aren't particularly known for their patience.
"Thank you!" Azula spat as she went back to her searching.
She searched angrily now, using vigor to move things, making loud noises with the contents of the room while she searched.
There's no way she's this worked up over a question. I think she's crazy. yeah, she's always been crazy, but right now I think her craziness-"
Sokka never got to finish that thought as he was suddenly alerted by the sight of a heavy looking clay pot peeking its head a little farther from the wooden cublicle than Sokka would have liked, and moving closer off the edge as Azula's angry searching rattled the wooden shelves.
It had fallen out of the shelf and was just about to land on Azula's head before Sokka had raced from his place at the door to Azula's side and caught it, holding it above his head, as he rammed slighly into her from the impact.
Azula looked up, adrenaline shooting through her, to find a clay pot had been inches away from her head, Sokka's hand the only thing between her and a really bad headache.
she slightly lowered her gaze to find Sokka's body flush against hers. His chest heaved softly, and his face was so close that she could feel the heat of his warm breath.
She scanned every inch of his face within seconds, like her life depended on it. She knew he was handsome, no doubt about it, but it was usually a his-facial-features-aren't-terrible type of handsome. but being so close to his face, she could see that he wasn't just handsome, he was beautiful.
It wasn't what she was used to seeing and that was what made it so special. His beautiful brown skin against the watery blue of his eyes would usually make for an odd contrast, but on him it was the most spectacular blend of color she'd ever seen, and his lips, they looked like butter, soft to the touch, and perhaps...
She looked back into his deep blue eyes, slightly surprised by the way he stared back at her. He was looking at her like he needed her, like he could feel her, like he could see her. And she never expected it to come from him but she felt, for the first time in her entire life, truly seen.
"I-" she began, barely audible in a breathy whisper, unable to fathom any other words.
"You...?" sokka whispered, his voice deep and husky.
A pot had almost fallen on her head, and he had saved her, and now he was looked at her like he wanted to kiss her and never stop. Of course she was flustered. The only appropriate response to this whole situation, she decide suddenly, was to thank him.
She had just opened her mouth as had a small realisation dawned, still distracted by the way his eyes absorbed her very being. She whispered vaguely, "Wait..if you're here then who's holding the-"
Creeeeeek! The door whined as it shut close with a sudden loud crash.
Jolted by the noise and the realisation of what had just happened, they detached quickly from each other, turned and gaped at the door in horror for what felt like minutes.
As Azula turned to glare at him, he was almost certain he could see flames in her eyes.
Oh crap.
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My first ATLA fic! I originally planned to write about Zutara...but inspiration struck instead from Sokkla lol
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Also that name "Sokkla" just sounds...wrong.
Can we all collectively agree to call it Sazula or Sozula or something? Sokkla kinda sounds like an illness lmaoo
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Please Review :)