"I gave you a heads up" Toph said with enough emotion to make Sokka turn. "At the boat"
"You said you had no idea" Sokka replied smiling before Toph sighed biting her mooncake, unsure on what to say. Being in silence seemed a good deal for both as they continued watching Electra mingle with the other high-class citizens and court members.
Sokka wanted to keep up with her and do his job as he should. He came to pick both and make a reliable plan. He wasn't sure the initial one being disguised would do much justice after the new firelady had been revealed to be a non bender.
That would make her a target, a good example of one.
Suki was getting a bit bummed out at all the attention she was receiving, Azula wasn't lying for the first time in her life when describing all the gossip and stares she would receive. Even if the veil hid enough of her features, they immediately picked up she was a foreigner.
She wasn't too sure why Zuko chose to keep the veil on, but it was helping her when her eyes tickled her enough to roll them a bit. She smiled and shook hands with a lot of people she had already worked and butt heads with.
They still had one hour before she was out of the headlight, time passing by slower the more they kept talking to the sages and members of different groups.
Suki gripped his hand to signal some break in the conversations. She was so focused on all the posture/greet/laugh or intimidate that her head was feeling weary.
"Firelord Zuko, Firelady S..congratulations" Electra said reaching to them, a cold bucket of water fell on her head as she panicked at seeing blue in front of her. She was lucky he wasn't there by her side.
"Thank you Electra, for keeping the privacy of my fiancée" Zuko said shaking her hand, Suki followed doing her best to calm her nerves as she waited for the inevitable.
"No need for me to keep it shut, I would worry more about some of those news that will go around the city in no time" Electra joked as Zuko found some humor to it. Suki felt more nervous.
"I see no big deal in getting married" Suki said as Zuko glanced a bit upset, fixing his face with the drink.
"It is not, it's the man you are getting married the big deal" Electra joked winking, rubbing his ego for a bit. She might as well give it a shot, Zuko coughed a bit taken by surprise.
"Uh…oh…thank you" Zuko said struggling to keep a straight face. Suki rolled her eyes.
Would she always get what she wants that easily?
Suki followed at times the ambassador from the North who laughed and mingled with everyone with easiness. Electra at times glanced back with a smirk in her stare.
At her other side Ty Lee and Mai mingled with easiness too. Mai didn't seem to like the whole motive of the party, and in a way, Suki felt guilty about it. She now did love Zuko enough to compromise and her mission to keep the peace.
Even if it cost her sanity and true love that was somewhere roaming in the room.
The green-eyed monster surged briefly as she saw Electra dancing with higher rank nobleman that Zuko needed to keep in his bag.
Either Azula was a bad teacher, or she was a bad student. It hurt her ego either option.
"Excuse us for a brief second, our presence is required" Suki excused them as she grabbed him and walked away from the conversation, feeling overwhelmed and jealous of not doing it easily as them.
"What happened?" Zuko asked searching for whomever searched for them. Suki nudged towards Mai and Ty Lee who were happily chatting with some group of girls. "Oh"
"Oh? Is that all you will say?" Suki asked annoyed as they approached the group. "Greetings"
"Omg! What an exotic accent!" One said looking her up and down "You aren't from around here, must be that girl from the earth kingdom."
"No, they said she was pretty" Another said as Suki kept her smile solid as a rock.
"Don't be rude" Mai defended "It's like beating a dead rhino to a pulp. Be respectful"
"You are the one to say" Ty Lee mocked as she looked annoyed at them "I'm glad you both finally are together in a non-strange way"
"Do tell us more about that strange ways you were together before" The taller one asked as Suki glanced at Zuko whose frown never disappeared "Did you rescue her from somewhere?"
"He did, actually" Suki said recalling the boiling rock experience "It sucked."
"Oh wow, he does have a type. It wasn't goth at all."
"Nidia hush" the taller girl interrupted "Keep talking sweetheart, what was your name again?"
Unspoken rule of her life from now on: never talk to Mai and Ty Lee in public again.
"May the new couple dance please? So, this boring party can be over" Mai saved them, as Zuko grabbed her away towards the center of the room, lowering the lights with a flick of his fingers.
Unspoken truth: Mai was never a bitch; she was trying to cover her guilt and unresolved rage from being captured at war.
"That's why I don't talk to them" Zuko said as he rounded her, liking the music they played for them.
"We need to talk to everybody" Suki replied as they effortlessly danced in the hall. Being the motive of the celebration, everybody gathered around them to see the love and connection of the new linage that would rule the fire nation.
"I do know of someone you are dying to talk to" Zuko said quickly annoyed as she fought her best to not frown.
"Let's not do it here, I have no good memories of your parties" Suki finished the conversation as her stomach turned upside down, feeling way too stressed about something so simple.
The hour felt like her own personal hell.
"Beautiful dance!" Electra said as she reached for the couple and hugged them both, Suki felt a bit of comfort. "Might I break a tradition and add a bit to yours?"
"Do tell" Suki continued as Zuko nodded.
"We would like to dance with the almost married couple" Electra explained, searching in the crowd fast for Sokka who avoided her. Toph came instead. "All of the representants"
"Sure, you are friends to us and my nation" Zuko smiled and picked up Toph's hand first "Time for our trip."
"You will drop dead" Toph grinned and clapped to change the tone of the music, immediately dancing with rhythm and skills.
Zuko was doing his best to keep up, feeling happy to enjoy it.
Electra grabbed Suki's hands and mouthed "follow me."
Suki couldn't be more decided to do it. Miming almost of all her movements with precision, lacking only the appeal and attention of the people around them.
"You don't seem to enjoy this party" Electra said closer to her as they circled a bit before doing a hand game from the north.
"I am, if you can't notice in my smile" Suki said cheerfully as she tried to keep up, feeling at times bested with the switch "Thanks for worrying."
"You might fool Sokka, Zuko and most of the people in here" Electra replied with a smirk "not me. I am still up for our exchange."
"Sokka is not a chip to bargain" the firelady to be exclaimed as most neutral as she could "neither is Zuko"
"That's beside the point I'm trying to make you see" The icy glare made her stop briefly, tensing up. "The councilman is your first worry, what is holding you back?"
"My time!" Toph interrupted as she hips kicks Electra to Zuko who barely slowed down the misstep.
Zuko clapped again and the music was more toned down, a bit tired from the dancing with Toph.
"He is getting old" Toph joked as Suki smiled brightly for the first time in the night "I kicked his ass dancing."
"It's the cape" Suki defended as they laughed manically "I am surprised you didn't step on it."
"I have talent in every inch of my body" Toph laughed "We need to hang out a lot more than this"
"You are always welcome in the palace, no need to reply or confirm your visit before arriving, as you usually do" Suki invited as Toph looked down. "Anytime you want it"
"I would…would like to ask you a question. About something that happened" Toph ordered, a sprinkle of doubt in her tone.
"It seems…important. Let me tell Zuko where we will be" Suki said but was stopped by Toph
"It can wait in the city, let's enjoy this" Toph said as she pumped her fist in the air to the beat, Suki followed with questions in her mind about what could be troubling her friend.
The girls had a pretty good time dancing and jumping around each other, before the music slowed down again.
"Well time for a change" Suki said towards Toph who had darted out of the dance floor. "Toph?"
"Not her, but if you let me dance…as friends of course!" Sokka said clumsily as she looked at him speechless.
It was the best she had seen him in years. Not even at his sister's wedding did he look that good!
"Sure" Suki said trying to play it as cool as she could "You are missing dancing with Zuko too."
"He can wait his turn to taste some good meat" Sokka joked as Suki wanted to bust out laughing "Am I looking clownish, or did I miss the joke in my affirmation madam?"
"You miss all the direct hits, no wonder you had to travel every nation to get some sense knocked into you" Suki hit him as he whistled.
"Low blow" Sokka said dancing without following much the slow beat "But I just needed one stop to finally be a decent fighter, an island actually."
"Really?" Suki asked, feigning ignorance "I am sure that man was decent enough to teach you"
"They were wo-man. One of them was gorgeous, and smart….and really strong too" Sokka said dreamily as Suki smiled cheekily.
"Really? Who was this wonder woman we are talking about?" she asked innocently as Sokka overdramatically put a finger on his mouth, looking at her.
"There she is, behind you" he said as she glanced and saw Karina. She snorted.
"That is great taste buddy" She replied with a smirk. He grabbed her hands, feeling afraid of being closer would make him cause a scene.
Suki let herself be calmed down by his equally, coarse hands.
"You look exceptionally beautiful today, breathtaking. He is really a lucky guy" Sokka complimented with sadness, as they danced slowly "I am glad you have found your happiness and…the compromise you wanted."
"Thank you Sokka" Suki said with all the strength in her, his words making her realize she was having the dreams she sought after when she was a young girl.
"I don't want this to be awkward but…fuck" Sokka whispered "I don't know what else to say. I just want to stay with you, but we can't."
"Right" Suki nodded along, afraid of giving too much information and hopes again, dancing to his own beat, that was off from the music playing in the room.
They continued the dancing with their bodies talking, swirling, jumping briefly, avoiding being too close to each other as their skin continued burning the more time they shared holding hands.
"We could have" Suki whispered, as he smiled "I still have a mission to accomplish here"
Electra wanted to stop the scene, noticing how everyone was gossiping about how they seemed too familiar to each other. It reminded them of another event that happened years ago. She walked among the crowd trying to gain more information about it, as the event was unfamiliar.
"You can accomplish it with my help, our help, Aang it's the balance of the world" Sokka tried to reason as they got closer to avoid talking loudly. "You don't need to carry the weight on your shoulders."
"I can't keep my arms crossed" Suki said as they swinged side by side, her hand posed tense in his shoulder. He tightened the hand on her waist.
"Maybe I can do something about it S..woman. Listen-"
"No, we can't exchange places and we can't keep playing with our friends' emotions" Suki replied annoyed, her heart giving in to the temptation of being together with him. "I will be the future firelady to protect and love him."
"Do you?" Sokka asked worried.
"Sokka" Suki only could reply, as they stopped dancing and looked at each other fondly. She wanted to back out and he wanted to reach for her, being interrupted by Electra.
"Why didn't you tell me you fought with Zuko for her?" She questioned "New strategy meat head."
"So, you are strategizing with her? No wonder I was almost too gullibly to believe you changed" Suki said hurt as Electra grabbed her wrist, she wanted to pull out, but her grip would take more force, more force would mean a scene.
"No! This is a totally diff-"
"Shut up" Electra interrupted "You didn't reply to my question."
"I don't have to be interrogated in the middle of my celebration ambassador Electra." Suki said finally pulling out "Nor I will answer to those questions for your amusement, we are all just working along."
The lights died down as they turned to look at Zuko who was looking disappointed in the trio. He cleared his voice as he walked to the closed curtain on the stage.
"I have another announcement to make, transparency is part of my reign now that I am firelord" Zuko began as Iroh walked to the stage too. Continuing his speech, Zuko smiled "We have successfully achieved a deal and advance in the way our laws are made and implemented."
"What in the freezing sealmoth curls is he talking about?" Sokka asked puzzled as Zuko rambled about the darkness. Suki stood firm and emotionless, looking through Electra, frowning.
"The reason she won't date you" Electra said connecting the dots "Firelady, are you cured?"
"No" Suki replied sharply "I do still have great appreciation, but this is not to be discussed here."
"Another royal member is joining us" Zuko exclaimed as the lights died down, people getting startled. Suki took the opportunity to grab Sokka's hand, with her finger writing in his language.
"Okay you are confusing my feelings" Sokka whispered upset "why would-"
Blue fire, coming from the same door Suki walked hours ago. Sokka's eyes widened as he gripped the shaft of his sword, holding Suki's hand firmly.
She had to tune out, reacting to his touch of comfort and letting him protect her. Electra quickly broke the contact in case somebody was still watching them.
"The princess is reigning again in this castle" Azula smiled wickedly as she modeled towards the main floor, where the trio were halfway standing. "With more gentleness than before of course, I have in mind to obey and serve the family and honor the nation."
Electra remembered from the day before that Ty Lee feared seeing someone, was that someone the fireprincess? She stood out of the floor and pulled Sokka with him, as Toph quickly regrouped with them, her defensive stance on the other side of the ambassador.
"Team avatar! I'm glad to see you in the fire nation after all the small discussions we had back in those days" Azula chatted as Electra had difficulty analyzing whether her words had value. "Ambasaddor Electra, pleasure to meet you and I plan to work on future projects with you"
"Pleasure is ours" Electra talked for them, as they couldn't speak a single nice word for the former enemy. Sokka was the last one to drop the tense posture, glancing at Suki from time to time who seemed to merge in the crowd with the firelord.
"Now now, this was a party to celebrate my brother's engagement with my pea" Azula said mockingly, searching around "Is the avatar not with you today? Now that's not the team avatar I grew so fond of."
"He had other business to attend" Electra replied "We should continue celebrating your brother and future sister"
"Of course, I would love to dance as you did with them" Azula grinned walking towards Sokka who tensed. She stared alluringly toward him, carefully moving a strand of hair from her face. She extended her hand and he gulped nervously.
Electra budged him. He looked at her as if she was high on cactus juice, clenching his teeth. He loosened his jaw and grabbed her towards the dance floor, wanting it to end as fast as it started.
"Thanks for taking me out to dance, normally I wouldn't lay my eyes on your dirty skin and leather."
"Is that supposed to be a compliment?" Sokka said ignoring her gaze, keeping a straight face as he cursed Electra who grinned back at him. It infuriated him that she winked as if everything was going okay.
Azula laughed genuinely at the reply, Sokka oddly followed her dancing tempo, that was perfectly in synch, trying to ignore her.
"Finally, someone with snark, I hate being treated with gloves, they are not even good at treating me as a royal anymore" Azula continued as Sokka struggled with the most complicated dance moves the princess was doing.
"And here us mortals' thought, we are having a bad day" Sokka said a bit tired, Azula laughed again "Why are you so giggly about?"
"You, having a bad day" Azula said scooting closer "There is nothing more significant than me watching you be miserable" the tempo slowed again and Sokka grabbed her
"You were supposed to be intelligent, a mastermind, THE strategist, cunning and a bunch of blab's that your brother used to describe you as. But in our second conversation in our short lives, you can't discern between sarcasm and jokes? Prison didn't do you any good."
Azula scoffed "Cry over the food area, not here."
"Whatever" Sokka replied sighing, looking at the princess who seemed lost in thoughts "I believe people can change for the better."
"That's why you gave me the honor of dancing this tune? How cheesy of you" Azula replied rolling her eyes "I would have preferred a party"
"I didn't even know you were out of your cell. Seems your brother keeps his secrets very well hidden" Sokka said bitterly, looking at Suki and Zuko slow dancing. Azula already knew what he was seeing.
And tonight, she was the fire he needed for the crown to burn. She rested her chest on him, freezing him briefly before he continued.
"He talked about you too" Azula lied partially.
"Only amazing stories, I suppose" Sokka asked interested.
"I wouldn't say they are amazing to you, but amusing to me, at least to keep me entertained" Azula continued as her fingers slipped from his hand and brushed his shoulder, rounding him.
Sokka was numb at this display. There was something about women who overpowered him that he was attracted to. He blinked rapidly, trashing the thought. But looking at Azula was hard not for it to cross his mind.
He was logical but not blind.
"Soo…" He paused "He talked shit right?" He smiled sincerely as Azula grinned.
Suki wanted to push her eyes off the scene, but she was having a hard time.
"Can't we change the music?" She asked her fiancée who sighed annoyed.
"You're nauseous again that we are in public in front of him?" Zuko replied as Suki decided to ignore the comment, turning her head to ignore the couple dancing. She was sure her eyes were right.
She was sure he reached for her hand.
Azula and Sokka continued chatting after the party was over, finding common ground to chat and laugh. He hadn't been this silly and his first thought of doing this wasn't with the fire princess.
"Who knew you actually had a sense of humor?" Sokka replied with a big smile
"I am better at everything, including jokes" Azula said preparing herself to tell one "There was this teashop where a customer ordered jasmine tea"
"Jasmine?"
"It's hard to do"
"Okay"
"But he requested it to be done in his presence. So he walked towards the counter and kept his gaze directly on the teapot. The poor server was scared to mess it up! He sweated like a rabbitpig on summer, trying to look serene.
The customer noticed it and decided to speak
'Miss, are you alright? You are sweating and red faced' he exclaimed worried because this girl was now really really really red, embarrassed. She couldn't keep her eyes off the teapot because the leaves would burn and be just a bushy mess.
She still wanted to keep her status, so she mixed everything! The leaves were now burnt and a mess, she replied
'Leaf me alone I'm bushed!"
Sokka was halfway smiling and cringing, until he remembered that WAS the joke Zuko tried to crack the other day.
He laughed his lungs out, finally getting it. Azula shifted her hair behind, proudly.
"Oh Azula, you just gave me a good laugh, thank you" He said cleaning his eyes amazed at how bad that joke was. Azula glanced at the cup on her hands.
She couldn't open her heart to him. The only loyalty she knew was to the crown and her nation. It wasn't that Azula disliked him, but her friends were now her priority. She had gotten his attention and she had to take the opportunity, they would leave after all, tomorrow.
"Hey Sokka" She asked, "Why did you and Suki break up?"
"Oh wow" Sokka's breath suddenly hitched, exhaling shakingly "We're not close enough for me to tell you that"
"I know" Azula said nodding, doing her best act of not controlling the situation at all. "But the letter I sent was really confusing, she seemed destroyed."
"What letter?" He asked, "Were you spying on her?"
"Not spying. You see, it's been a while since I have been out of my jail room" Azula explained, as Sokka nodded along "Suki and I had gotten…some interesting conversations."
Sokka looked away sighing, Azula grinned as she turned her face away
"It worried me as she was mostly out of her mind. I can be…I was a really bad influence on the people near me, I didn't want to affect her, but the alcohol here can be pretty strong" Azula explained playing with her hair before looking at him, she had decided to return the favor to Mai "She was always so overprotective of you"
"We both are, that's why we are not together anymore" Sokka replied frowning "Well, I'm going to sleep, tomorrow is going to be a long trip"
"That's not what the letter said, are you even capable of reading or those blue marbles are just for charming?" Azula joked annoyed, Sokka grinned at her flirting.
"I don't know what letter you are talking about, but I won't fall for it. I can't seem to understand why Toph would help you" Sokka replied exhausted of thinking about that letter. What letter?
"Take me to my room and I'll show you a copy of the letter, well, the original one" Azula said extending her hand once again.
Sokka walked out of the room leaving her behind, finishing his cup of alcohol.
Suki still felt the effects of the drugs taken the day before, not being able to sleep as tired as she was from the party. She did have a lot of energy to talk but didn't want it to be with him.
She couldn't sleep properly, tossing around the pillows in frustration.
"Are you alright?" Zuko asked mumbling, rolling with a tired expression
"I can't sleep, must have been those stupid drugs" Suki expressed upset, her frown increasing as she looked at him
"Did I do something too?" Zuko picked on sitting on the bed. She pointed at the veil
"Why did you leave in my veil? Wasn't this supposed to be my introduction?" Suki asked as she winced at the word introduction. Zuko cupped her face and gave her a kiss on the head.
"You are not ready" He said "Your mind is not here"
"I can do a lot of stuff, court politic wasn't as hard as you all said it was" Suki whispered tired "Am I holding something back?"
"Yes, you are still so obviously crushing on him" Zuko mumbled sliding in the bed, Suki was now angry.
"Can you stop with that? You were the one that let me be with him most of the time, even more now that we will be in Republic city. Why am I villainized?" Suki fought annoyed as Zuko frowned, not wanting to start fighting before sleeping.
He decided not to reply
She opted to walk out of the room
The halls were welcoming when she was dressed in armor and paint, where she could hide and not be seen at all. She wanted to put her mind in anything else that wasn't the two boys of her short life.
She had a chat pending with Toph, she seemed to need her.
"Come here" She heard on the side of Azula's hall, recognizing her. Her mind wanted to play tricks on her, jealousy bubbling up since she saw them all the party chatting and spending the time together.
She halted and wanted to turn and see what was happening, her training in the wild helped her eyes to easily see her surroundings without having to move her whole head. She could swear blue was entering that room.
She wanted to follow the colors
"Ignore it" she said out loud to herself walking away in the direction towards her friend's room, her heart thumping so loud her ears were about to explode. "Ignore it"
The walk was unsettling her the more she approached the room, a sense of paranoia kicking in as she slowed down her pace. Was she again having an attack? Was she still getting off the drugs and that's why she was seeing things?
It couldn't have been Sokka, he wouldn't disrespect the relationship like that. What relationship? They were just friends, nothing else. Her mind was playing tricks.
Seeing? She made sure to not use Jenamite because of the hallucinations. There were no bright lights or weird patterns, she saw someone. She continued walking instead of knocking on Toph's room.
Another shadow, she needed to play it cool. If the shadow was to her left…She turned to her right and ran towards de curtains, fan ready at her hand. She opened it and kicked the silk; nobody was in there.
She started running parallel to it, seeing the pair of feet struggling to move fast. It was a spy possibly, she would have been killed the moment she discovered her hiding place, she needed to measure how tall he or she was, so she could injure them but not go for a kill.
She grabbed a hidden knife and threw it like an arrow. A small squeak and the body falling on the floor made Suki rush towards it.
"Karina? Oh shit" Suki ran as her friend collapsed, biting her lips nervously "Shit shit"
"Smart" She replied in pain "We don't have armor in our feet."
"Goodness, why didn't you just say you wanted to hang out? There is no need to be secretive about it" Suki laughed nervously as she helped her stand up towards Tophs room and not be in the middle of the halls.
Karina laughed along but didn't reply anything, wincing a bit as they walked.
Sokka sat on the couch playing with his hands, not feeling as calm as he had previously thought. Maybe it was just a lure from the princess, for what he knows she still has her abilities, there goes him dying in a battle.
He died from being nosey. What a pathetic way to die!
"Here is it, Sukka-"
"Azul, stop it with the bad jokes. First laugh was courtesy" He tried to annoy her. They had been talking for hours and she still couldn't get his name correctly.
"Come closer, I won't kill you I promise" Azula said smirking, handing him the paper with an extended arm and devilish smile "Here is it, the original. Want to know what she was thinking about?"
He whispered obscene words as he walked towards the princess, grabbing the letter carefully. For what he knows, maybe it is fake.
"I sent one to you back at your sister's wedding, maybe it didn't land on your hands" Azula replied with an annoyed face.
"You sent that letter to Zuko? Was it this one? He destroyed it" Sokka replied passing it to her. Azula grabbed it and opened it
"I hate you so much-" She began reading before being cut off, Sokka quickly grabbing it and reading it for himself. "Where are your manners mr Sokka"
"Hush" Sokka replied quietly as he looked at the contents.
He could see why Zuko was so flared up the moment he read it. Suki was still madly in love; he wasn't imagining anything.
"This was like two months I think? Before the wedding took place" Azula informed, guilt wanted to trail in her thoughts but was quickly thrown out. She would be a bad sister if the wedding took place.
Everybody knew it, except the trio
"Why are you doing this?" Sokka asked, holding the letter carefully "Why do you plan to ruin Zuko's marriage?"
"I am not doing anything out of malice" She replied proudly
"You see how happy they are with each other, the toll and perseverance it has taken Suki to adapt to your culture and rules. Why do you want to ruin this for them? This was months ago, people change" Sokka defended them, for his sake and work back at Republic office, he needed to believe this was false.
"Believe what you want. Everyone was gossiping about how you danced so in love with the future bride, not even with your girlfriend was there a pinch of love you showed in comparison" Azula put the image on his mind, he gulped. It was probably true
"Love is not enough"
"Power isn't everything"
"YOU are the one saying it" Sokka attacked feeling confused in what to do "For what I know, maybe you wrote both letters to screw with us as friends again"
"oh? Again?" Azula asked interested. Having the gossip served to her firsthand wasn't the same as hearing it from Ty Lee, who was also close to all the parties involved.
"I…I don't have to open up to you, you are…I can't believe I thought you had changed" Sokka replied backing away to leave. Azula glanced upset, pulling down her hairpiece.
"I know, people don't believe me" She turned away "Just like Suki couldn't believe you all this time"
"You don't know what happened between us Azula, let them be happy" Sokka said unconvinced, not taking the digs Azula threw personal, she laughed
"Do what you want, you can now leave my chamber" The princess replied annoyed of not manipulating more to get information. At least she had planted the seed.
Sokka rushed out of the room, being careful not to make more noise and wake up anyone. He needed to talk to somebody, but Electra would want to play with the note, Toph would make him do something about it and the royal couple was out of bounds.
"Damn it" Sokka said to himself, carefully folding it and placing it in his pockets. He opted to walk outside, knowing sleeping at that hour was just an illusion.
The good times invaded his head, finally feeling the crush of seeing her about to be married. Nausea and pain in his stomach were indication of the heartbreak he was indulging in, supposedly to help him process the event.
But she had written this with her hands, she had sent a clear message of their state.
In the end it wouldn't matter, closing his eyes he saw her face. He wished it was with him. He gulped the feeling of vomit and jealousy, kneeling by the tree trying to calm the storm in his body.
He couldn't protect her in any other way than being his friend, and that was alright. It would eventually be alright.
The breakfast was livid, everyone in his group talking about the preparations regarding the wedding and the battle plan they were about to half finish on Republic city. He was quiet, still unable to talk and say something positive as his friends were doing.
Specially not with Azula on the table
"Have you apologized?" Zuko asked her and she nodded "To everyone?
Suki overheard them and sighed, at least having Azula present from now on would be a good memo as to why was she doing all of this. It was a reasonable sacrifice; nobody would be aware why or congratulate her.
But someone had to do it, she also had the best interest in Zuko's wellbeing.
"I already have with Sokka, the rest of team avatar is not here" Azula replied drinking "Are they coming?"
"Right, will they come pick us?" Sokka asked Electra, wanting to just do the battle plan and not hear anything from them in a while.
"Not to my knowledge, we all dumped the work to the Avatar so I don't think It'll be possible" Electra said ashamed as Iroh laughed
"What a nice soul the Avatar is to deal with all the papers" he exclaimed "A three-day trip is fine to keep a clearer vision of what are you dealing with and second actions in case something doesn't go like the original plan"
"Which I say, it's pretty idiotic" Azula said annoyed "Disguises? Do you really think people will just not pay attention to who the avatar was around with?"
"That's part of the plan, we want them looking at us" Sokka defended it "Care to suggest other option or are you willing to snitch on us too?"
"Hey" Electra scolded "That's not-"
"Let him be, seems someone is still hurt that I ruined his plan" Azula mocked smiling, Sokka's blood was rising up, just thinking of the manipulation
"Hey, that was like two avatar cycles ago, you don't have anything else to be proud right? That must be really sad and BORING" Toph defended Sokka, grinning even if she wasn't able to see the princess face
"We should leave the war behind" Iroh interrupted "We have other fights to actually plan"
"When you fail, you will remember me saying this to you" Azula muttered focusing on eating the fruit. Sokka kept thinking on how Azula could easily lie like Electra does. Camouflaging Electra would be extra hard because of her hair
They still needed to think they were having a weak spot, just like that day of the black sun, where they thought the fire nation would be defenseless.
"We should arrive pretty soon; do you want to grab something to eat baby?" Aang asked as Katara brainstormed about the letter found.
"No, if we don't take too much time, we should find them already eating something. Remember how when the sun was this low they were barely awake to eat?" Katara reminisced grinning
"Except your brother, he has some stomach" Aang replied giggling. "I just hope they don't expect us"
"They won't, I covered our traces very well" Katara said sitting down on Appa "Doesn't Appa want to rest?"
Appa groaned
"He says he rather have fresh apples at the palace then rest in the middle of the forest" Aang smiled "I can already see it, don't you?"
"I know Appa adores those apples" Katara giggled "Would you like to try some…papaya?"
"Papaya? I haven't…wel…" Aang mumbled embarrassed "Appa has a weak stomach for other foods"
"Oh? How come you just tell me now?" Katara asked worried "I have been giving him papaya to his fruit salad"
"Appa? Can you explain buddy?" Aang asked, Appa groaned and rushed his flight, the palace closer
"Someone has been eating double fruit bowls" Katara answered "He does have a weak spot, not stomach"
"Well here we are, I can see people waving at us" Aang smiled waving back, Katara prepared her monologue.
Aang signaled the guards to descend close to the barn, were Appa fell to sleep, or to fake sleeping. As Aang helped Katara, the Avatar gave him a small frown.
"We have a pending chat Appa, you just need to ask for the fruit! There is no reason for you to cheat with two meals" Aang scolded, Appa ignored him snoring loudly.
"Let's go honey" Katara said grabbing his hand, the couple being greeted immediately by the guards.
"We are so excited you arrived Avatar Aang, we are right now sending the message to-"
"There is no need to" Aang immediately said as the guard lifted his hand to stop the other guard "We wanted it to be a surprise. Can we wait in the dinning room?"
"Of course! In fact, if we hurry we can catch them eating" The guard said as he stepped to the side, waiting for the couple the walk.
"Weird" Katara questioned "It's a bit early to everyone, specially Toph"
As they rushed towards the room, the guard just signaled them to open the doors to be greeted. Aang opened the doors with an overdramatic entrance, blowing air.
Sokka was already tensed out by Azula's constant chit chat and the royals physical display affection, pulling out his boomerang until he caught the stare of the couple shocked.
Katara immediately put out water in an offensive stance as Aang was caught of guard by Azula sitting on the same room
Next to Suki and Toph
"Uh…what it's going on?" Azula asked innocently, getting tired of the people overreacting "You didn't tell them?"
"We are glad you are here" Suki stood up as polite as she could "There is no need for the offensive stance" She said gesturing Katara's tentacles and Sokka's boomerang
"They didn't tell us anything" Katara replied "Is this why you excluded us?"
"Okay, now you have a shorter ride with more questions to answer" Iroh interrupted the tense ambience "You should all pack up and get ready to go"
"We just arrived" Aang replied suspiciously "Why do we need to leave so soon?"
"Please come with me, excuse my manners" Iroh apologized "Any other questions should be answered in the ride to Republic City"
Katara glanced at Sokka who stared annoyed, rushing to get out of the room. Electra and Toph took their time and followed behind him.
"Have you eaten something?" Suki asked at Katara who stared at disbelief, guessing why Azula was not in her jail.
"We just want to return as fast as we can, now that there is an issue that must be answered" Katara said "I would like to take some books from your library, firelord" she ordered gazing at Zuko who was behind the to be, firelady.
"Sure, do you know where is it?" Zuko asked as Katara nodded and walked away.
"She doesn't seem too happy" Azula mocked as Suki sighed, walking out of the room to board already.
She just couldn't wait to be away from the palace