Chapter 2: Breaking Point
Sokka woke up for the seventh time that night, his body still sore from the ordeal, he'd suffered by Azula. He found himself drifting in and out of a fitful sleep, his body was constantly falling in between a state of exhaustion and pain. but attempting to find good rest, proved to be difficult. Hell, even trying to breathe without a shot of pain shooting through his body was considered a feat in of it self. For in every breathe, There was the burning memory of Azula's wet hand clasping around the wound and the pain that followed. She had left it, a damper colour and made him spend the last few hours, watching the blood drip from its center.
Groaning softly, he blinked away the remnants of his restless slumber and strained his ears to listen to the faint sounds reverberating through the prison corridors. At this point groaning or even speaking had been dreadful. The burns caused by her hand was still evident but wasn't as bad as his tongue. He could still taste her fingers inside his mouth, like a burning piece of coal had been placed there. She had a creative way of displaying her cruelty.
The chains offered him no respite and only made his situation more unbearably. His wrists had gone numb as the shackles had been tightened to the maximum. The pain that he felt from his wrists, disappeared completely some time ago and there was small ache in his knees for sitting in the same position for a long time.
Why not just kill me.
As he lay there in total darkness, the faint sound of footsteps reached his ears, drawing his attention immediately to the entrance of his cell. At first, he assumed it might be Azula, finally returning to end this little project, she committed herself to, and he braced himself for the inevitable confrontation. Despite his suffering, He was determined to end this game between them.
She would have to kill him before he would give her any satisfaction, so with his remaining strength; Sokka glared at the door with anticipation.
But to his surprise, the handle never turned and the footsteps halted abruptly, followed by something heavy being placed on the ground. There was a brief moment of silence before the footsteps resumed, gradually fading into the distance.
This continued for three times as he watched the door, anxious about who might enter. The fourth time, he heard a key inserted in the lock, and when the door opened, Sokka had to squint against the brightness of bright light. He struggled to make out the figures that entered, their forms obscured by the blinding illumination. As his eyes adjusted, he could discern three women clad in attire that marked them as something other than the usual prison guards. Their uniform bore the unmistakable red cross insignia of medical personnel, signaling their role as prison nurses. Two of them carried a large box between them, likely containing medical supplies and equipment.
This must've been, what he had heard outside the cell.
They were the prison nurses.
But why were they here?
Before he could voice his inquiries, one of the nurses approached him from behind, lifting him up so that he was as rigid as his chains would allow. Another nurse stepped in front of him, holding a water skin in her hand.
Sokka's throat felt parched and raw from dehydration since yesterday, and his burned tongue eagerly awaited the cool relief of water. As the nurse gently tilted the skin, allowing the liquid to trickle into his mouth, he drank deeply, savoring the refreshing sensation. He swallowed as much as he could every time, the nurse brought the water skin back in between his breaths.
"Enough." it came out barely as a whisper when the nurse stopped and moved back to her supplies to grab something else. Once he had quenched his thirst, Sokka cleared his throat, his voice hoarse from disuse. "What... what are you doing here?" he managed to croak out, his gaze flickering between the nurses.
The nurse who had administered the water gave him a sympathetic smile. "We've been sent to tend to your wounds and ensure your well-being," she explained, her tone gentle yet matter-of-fact.
Sokka's brow furrowed in confusion. "Sent by who?"
The nurse exchanged a hesitant glance with her companions before speaking again. "By Princess Azula," she replied reluctantly.
His eyes widened in disbelief at the mentioning of her name. Azula had ordered the nurses to tend to him? This was perhaps another one of her twisted acts. Memories flooded his mind of the last time she had intervened in his medical care, when she had ordered him to be treated in the infirmary despite the protests of the soldiers.
Of course, the next day, the entire recovery process was disrupted when she decided to tie him up and have him beaten relentlessly.
Killing you, would be a mercy.
"She also instructed us to have you bathed." The nurse's words hung in the air.
Sokka felt a surge of indignation rising within him, as he thought about the idea of being washed by complete strangers, let alone woman. If being tortured and feeling uncomfortable wasn't enough a punishment, this would feel worse in some ways; but he knew better than to defy Azula's orders.
With a heavy sigh, he resigned himself to the inevitable. The woman proceeded with the bucket, and Sokka shivered involuntarily as the cold water cascaded down his chest and shoulders, sending a chill coursing through his body. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to endure the discomfort as the other woman approached with a sponge.
They began their task methodically, starting from his head and working their way down to his shoulders. Any lingering traces of embarrassment he had felt quickly evaporated, replaced by a numb detachment as he stared fixedly at the door ahead of him.
He was angry.
As they continued along his back and chest, he tried to ignore the burning sensation that accompanied each pass of the sponge over his cuts and bruises. They did well to deliver the slightest touches went it came to the main one by his abdomen. eventually they ventured down to his stomach until one of them started slowly removing his prison briefs, the only clothing he had left; instantly drawing his attention back to the job at hand.
"Wait! What do you think you doing?" He protested.
The nurse's response sent a chill down his spine. "Apologies, but Princess Azula insisted that we give you a complete bath." she explained calmly.
"Well tell the princess, That she can go to-."
"She also said that if you were a bit unruly, she would come wash you, herself." The woman interrupted him.
"I see." He cursed under his breath, realizing that he had no choice but to comply.
Comply or things might end up a thousand times worse than they already are.
With a heavy heart, Sokka braced himself for the next indignity as they removed his briefs and began washing his most private areas. He couldn't suppress a gasp as the cold water made contact with his skin, the sensation sending a jolt of humiliation through him. This, he realized, was perhaps the most degrading experience he had ever endured. The only other woman ever to wash him like this was his mother, and that was before he'd learn how to walk.
He tried to distract himself from the discomfort, focusing his thoughts elsewhere as they continued their task in silence. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly as he endured the humiliating ordeal, his mind consumed by a sense of helplessness. He couldn't stop them, couldn't protest for that meant Azula would fall in, where the nurses left off. A small comfortless justification, he'd made himself in order to get by the time.
At least, It wasn't her.
After what felt like an eternity, the nurse attending to his feet finally finished, while the other began mopping up the excess water from the floor beneath him. He felt a small sense of relief wash over him as the unpleasant experience came to an end, but he couldn't shake the discomfort of being completely exposed before two strangers.
His relief was also short-lived, however, as the nurse approached with a towel in-hand and began drying him off from top to bottom. Meanwhile, the other woman went to work on his chains, and Sokka could feel the pressure on his wrists lessen as the metal restraints were finally removed. With a sudden clatter, he fell to the ground, his muscles weak from being suspended for so long. All this time he had been relying on the chains for support instead of his legs.
For the first time in what felt like ages, he was free. He immediately flexed his fingers, savoring the sensation, he had sorely missed. His wrists were red and sore from the confinement in the chains, and the blood was returning to the area around his wrists.
The two women came to his side and helped him to his feet. "Time to check your wounds," one of them said, her voice gentle but firm.
Sokka swallowed hard. There was a moment when those words echoed in his mind, a chilling reminder of déjà vu. But he pushed the thought aside, reminding himself that these women were not Azula
She's not here.
This was not one of her games.
As they guided him to the bed, the nurses wasted no time in fetching the medical supplies and fresh bandages. Sokka watched silently as they started removing the worn-out bandages, he had been given at the infirmary and replaced them with new ones. They also gave him some medication for the pain and a natural remedy for his burned tongue and for the first time he started to completely relax under their care. He was grateful.
"Could I get my pants back?" He asked them.
Sokka heard the woman giggle and soon, they brought him a new set of clean clothes and helped him fit into them.
And after a while, lying there in silence, he finally asked, "Why is she doing this?"
"The Princess said, she wants you in the best condition possible when she comes," one of the nurses replied.
Sokka raised an eyebrow, a sense of unease settling over him at the mention of Azula's impending visit. "When will that be?"
"She will come this afternoon." The woman affirmed.
"Great," Sokka muttered under his breath, unable to shake the feeling of apprehension that gripped him.
"You must really be special," the nurse remarked casually.
Sokka frowned, puzzled by her words. "Why would you say that?"
The nurse hesitated for a moment before responding, her expression unreadable. "She never keeps anyone alive for this long."
Sokka lay on the worn out bed, his body gradually relaxing into the warmth of the afternoon sunlight that streamed through the solitary window of his cell. The soft rays painted a golden hue across the rough stone walls and towards him, hugging him in a warm embrace.
With each passing moment since the nurses left, He felt the tension that had coiled within him begin to unravel, the soothing warmth of the sunlight seeping into his weary muscles and easing the ache of his bruises. He closed his eyes briefly, allowing himself to bask in the quiet tranquility of the moment, a rare reprieve from his perspective.
Half the day had gone when she entered the cell, her gaze, immediately locked onto his, and she paused momentarily, as if caught off guard by his freedom.
Oh Crap.
Her piercing eyes bore into his, assessing him with a mixture of surprise and irritation. Without missing a beat, she turned her attention to the guards standing besides her, Azula's voice cutting through the air like a whip.
"You imbeciles! Why is he not in chains?!" Her tone brooked no argument as she pointed accusingly in his direction.
The guard nearest to her stammered nervously, his eyes darting between Azula and Sokka. "I don't know, your highness. I uh—"
Azula waved away his feeble attempts at an explanation with a dismissive sigh. "Never mind. Correct it immediately."
"Yes, Princess Azula," the guards murmured in unison, their movements swift and efficient as they converged on him, each seizing hold of an arm to lift him from the bed.
"Please, I can't do this again." He pleaded. The sudden intrusion shattered the fragile illusion of freedom, dragging him back into the harsh reality of his captivity. He resisted the urge to struggle against the guards, knowing that any resistance would only invite further punishment.
"Yes, yes you can, Don't be a cry baby." Azula's voice rang out from behind the guards.
As the guards continued with their work on his wrists, The daylight streamed through the small barred window. In its radiance, Azula's features came into sharp relief as she approached to inspect their work. The sunlight illuminated her sharp facial features, accentuating the lines of her jaw and the intensity of her piercing gaze. By some obscure reason, he was reminded of Yue. The princess of the Northern Water Tribe, being in stark contrast to her Fire Nation counterpart and unlike her, whose beauty was gentle and serene, Azula's face hid a malicious intent behind it. Her beauty was captivating yet chilling, like a blade concealed beneath a silk veil.
He always wondered if this was unique to Azula or fire woman in general but spending the past few weeks in the country had told him otherwise.
She was one of a kind.
In addition to her uniqueness, was a distinctive mark in perfect harmony between the two strands of hair that highlighted her jawline. she bore proudly on her forehead. He had initially mistaken it for a birthmark, but he quickly realized that it was something far more ominous as no one could be born with such an elegant streak of flame on their forehead, maybe spirits but not humans.
When she caught him staring. He quickly turned his gaze to the wall, praying to avoid any confrontation by her.
She didn't.
He was grateful.
Grateful for that and for the small amount of time he spent from the chains, however brief it may be. Although it was humiliating to have been cleaned by strangers, he couldn't deny the sense of relief that washed over him as the dirt and grime were washed away.
As the guards left the cell, he'd found himself alone with Azula once more. Her presence loomed over him like a dark shadow, her eyes glinting with a dangerous light as she stepped closer, inspecting the chains that bound him.
"Oh, when I find that maid who let you off the hook, she'll wish-" Azula began.
"Weren't they sent here, by your orders?" Sokka interrupted. It still bugged him as to why She sent those nurses to heal him. Azula's gaze snapped to his, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. She seemed taken aback by his boldness, her composure slipping for a moment before she regained control.
And then, without warning...
Smack!
He had no time to even react, before her hand lashed out, the force of the blow sending him reeling to the ground. The chains stopping him from touching the metal floor. He tasted blood on his lips, a sharp sting radiating from where her hand had struck his cheek.
"Who gave you permission to speak?" she demanded, her voice dripping with venom. "Huh? Peasant? Answer me!"
He looked at her eyes ablaze with a dangerous intensity. She was beautiful, there was no denying that, but her beauty was marred by a cruelty that seemed to radiate from her very being. his one eye squinted a bit." Looks like someone's on edge."
"Of course I am. We've been doing this for a week and my patience is wearing thin."
"Then you really not doing a good job."
Smack!
His face flew to the other side from the impact.
"I thought I'd fixed that unruly tongue of yours yesterday," Azula sneered, her voice laced with contempt.
Sokka swallowed hard, his throat constricted with the weight of his words. "You did actually," he replied, a defiant edge creeping into his tone.
Smack!
Another sharp, resounding smack across his face. The one side burned a little more than the other. He couldn't tell what had set off this sudden erratic behavior of hers but she was different, more desperate than ever before.
"I pray that you choose your next words carefully." Azula said as she held her hand ready.
"I'm useless okay," he spat out, his voice tinged with bitterness. "I told you everything you wanted to know. What else do you want from me?"
Azula's eyes narrowed, her gaze boring into his with a chilling intensity. "I want the location of the Avatar, my traitorous brother, and your merry band of worthless friends," she replied, her voice full of malice.
Sokka met her gaze. "I've told you already, where they are." He insisted, his glare barely matching hers in intensity. It was true, he had given her a location; the third time she interrogated him to avoid suspicion. He gave her a location albeit not the real one.
"No, you haven't," Azula shot back, her voice ice-cold. "You told me, they were camped on the eastern islands, not far from here."
"And?"
"I had a search conducted throughout that entire area." Azula continued, her voice rising with frustration. "And not a single trace of any one of them were found."
"Then they probably moved," Sokka retorted.
"You're lying," Azula seethed, her voice barely contained fury. "I know you're lying. They won't move an inch without you."
his gaze remained steady. "Are you sure?" he challenged, a hint of amusement creeping into his tone. "I'm useless, remember? No bending."
Azula's eyes flashed with rage, her composure slipping for a moment before she regained control. "Oh, right," she muttered, her voice tinged with frustration. "But there's other gifts that you possess. I've witnessed them firsthand."
Sokka raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "What are you talking about?" he asked, his tone guarded.
"The prison break," Azula answered confidently. "I know very well that my brother couldn't escape from this prison if I handed him the keys." He felt a sharp nail touch his forehead as she pointed at him." That, was all you."
"Without Suki and your brother, the plan would've never worked out." He stated plainly.
"It was a brilliant plan none the less." Azula continued, her voice laced with bitterness. "And then there's the day of the invasion, the darkest day in the history of our nation, all discovered, plotted, and planned by a savage."
"Actually, I-" he began, but Azula cut him off with another smack to the side of his face.
"Shut it." She finally came down to face level and cupped his face with both her hands and he started to tremble slightly." I will ask you one more time. Where is the Avatar?"
He still held her gaze, not moving away in the slightest. his defiance unwavering. "I don't know," he answered.
"You will regret this," Azula warned, her voice laced with malice.
With a final glare, she stormed out of the cell, leaving Sokka alone once more with his thoughts and the fading echoes of her threat.
It was dark, when she returned. Sokka was awake, his body hanging limply from the chains, on the verge of falling asleep despite the discomfort. Over the past few days, he had learned to sleep while hanging, mastering a specific position that eased the strain on his joints. It was uncomfortable, but necessary for his own survival. Falling asleep today had seemed much easier than any of the other days of his confinement, mainly due to the medical treatment, he had received. Although his rest lasted a short while, it was well needed.
So despite her threat, He was grateful that Azula had left him alone today, aside from the punishment he'd taken from her. There was no serious harm done, at least not physically. But as Sokka will soon discover, he had spoken too soon.
Once again, Azula was not alone when she entered the cell. Two guards accompanied her, carrying a large bucket of water between them. his eyes widened in apprehension as they approached, and then, without warning, they tipped the bucket over, drenching him from head to toe. Sokka gasped as the freezing water enveloped him, sending shivers coursing through his body. He struggled to catch his breath, his heart pounding in his chest as he glared at the guards.
"What the hell!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with outrage and disbelief.
The guards remained silent, their expressions stoic as they retreated towards the exit, leaving a trail of water in their wake. Sokka's eyes narrowed as he watched them go, his gaze then shifting to Azula, who stood unmoving, her dark eyes fixed on him with a chilling intensity.
He could see the faint outline of her figure in the dim light, the glow of the lamp casting an ominous shadow across her face. There was a coldness to her demeanor, That wasn't there earlier on. As she started her approach, Sokka's muscles tensed, his breath catching in his throat, as he watched the electric sparks dancing between her fingers. Panic filled his entire being as he realized, what her intentions were regarding the water.
"Where is the Avatar?" she demanded, her voice devoid of any trace of humor. his heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing as he struggled to find the right words.
"Please Azula, I-" He started his plea but a split second later, the energy that had been jumping around Azula's fingers shot forward in a blitz, engulfing Sokka's body in a searing inferno of pain. It felt like he was being consumed by flames, every nerve ending ablaze with agony. He gritted his teeth, fighting to suppress the screams that threatened to escape him. The pain was unbearable, far surpassing anything he had endured before. Just before his mind could take no more, the onslaught ceased, leaving him gasping for breath, his body trembling with shock.
"I warned you. Don't ever lie to me again," Azula said with a chilling calmness in her voice. Then, her tone turned sharp. "Where is the Avatar?"
He remained silent, unable to form words through the haze of anguish that enveloped him. It dawned upon him just how painful this electric shock had been. All her previous methods dwarfed in comparison to this new one.
Again, the blue light surged forward, and he felt the shockwaves reverberate through his body. It was as if lightning itself had struck him, coursing through every fiber of his being with merciless intensity. It made all the previous torture seem painless in comparison, each jolt sending waves of pain crashing over him.
This was pure madness even for her.
And then it stopped.
"Answer me!" Azula demanded, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade.
"Please... stop," he pleaded weakly, the desperation evident in his voice. It felt as if his insides were on fire and his body was shutting down.
But Azula was unyielding. His screams broke the silence through out the prison, even the guards stationed at the entrance became empathetic to prisoner. They had never experienced such brutality even with the old warden. The prisoners themselves listened quietly from the rest of the cells. Sokka's scream, a warning to all who opposed the Fire Nation.
When it stopped she moved towards him and in close proximity, whispered to him. This time, it was a plea from her." Please. Don't lie to me, again."
"I'm sorry." He managed to choke out, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Then tell me."
Forgive me.
"Western Air Temple..." He began. "They're at the West Air Temple... Please, I can't take anymore," Sokka finally confessed, his voice barely audible amidst the agony that consumed him. Every word felt like a betrayal, but he knew that he could endure no more. He had reached his breaking point, his resolve shattered by Azula's relentless torment.
Azula gave a final nod to the guards, who promptly left the room, their footsteps echoing in the prison corridor. She waited a moment and when she was certain, they were alone, Azula loosened the chains that bound him. Her expression inscrutable as she pulled his wet body against hers.
"I'm so sorry...I tried to..." He tried to say, his voice cracked, filled with exhaustion and despair. He longed for the pain to end, for the torment to cease, but he knew that it would haunt him long after the physical wounds had healed.
"Shh, don't worry... it's all over now," Azula murmured softly, her arms offering a rare embrace of warmth and comfort. In that moment, Sokka couldn't even comprehend what was happening, only finding solace in her embrace, a fleeting sense of peace amidst the turmoil. It was as if, for just a moment, he could forget the pain and the suffering, and simply exist in the warmth of her presence as death approached. It felt right to be with her in his final moments. He was so tired of it all. He would only hope that Aang and the team would make it out alive. They would have to continue without him.
He wanted to tell Katara, how proud he was, as her brother and...
I love you Suki.
"It's all over," Azula repeated, her voice a whisper and it was the last thing, he heard before the darkness took him.