Gladiator Brawl
1
Azula smiled as the Head Sage took his seat across her in his private office, setting down a tray on the small table between them. Again, her pride rebuked her for finding any sort of enjoyment in tea, rather than merely drinking it for pleasantries or because she had no other choice. But indeed, she had sunk this low, and she had no choice but to accept her new, tea-drinking reality for the shameful practice it was…
"It's been quite some time since your last visit, Princess," said the Head Sage, smiling warmly at her. "It's always wonderful to see you."
"Thank you for your hospitality," Azula said, bowing her head towards him. "It's good to be back, though, as you must suspect, I've come to ask a few questions."
"Ah, I hope I have answers for them, then," he said, smiling weakly. "I feel like I have seldom been of any help to you…"
"Really?" Azula said, raising her eyebrows. The Head Sage laughed softly.
"I have been vague and unhelpful many times before: even when I told you your fire didn't suffice for the ceremony I couldn't quite explain why," he said. "Truthfully, I've come to notice I've read without learning, and I've observed without analyzing. It's quite a sad realization to come to at such a late age, especially after a life spent studying fire…"
"In all fairness, there have been some unexpected discoveries with fire as of late," Azula said. "I may be the one who has hoped for unreasonable answers from you, and I suppose it may be no different this time as well. All the same, I hope you know I won't hold it against you if you don't have answers this time."
"I'm grateful to hear that," said the Head Sage, smiling more enthusiastically. "Most Fire Lords are… well, far more demanding than that."
"Perhaps it's merely because I'm not a Fire Lord yet, then," Azula said, with a crooked grin. The Head Sage laughed again. "All the same, I was hoping to bring up something for discussion… something I faced not long ago. I don't know if you have heard any rumors about what happened last month in the city…"
"Oh, no doubt, everyone has talked about it," said the Head Sage, frowning and nodding. "All those disappearances… people are still panicking about it to this day, if you'll believe it. They often come to the Temple to ask for advice and for divine protection against being spirited away… if only I could indeed reassure them. But it would be far too irresponsible to claim I can protect them when I don't know what we're supposed to be up against…"
"Well, considering it's been a month since the last disappearance, I hope it means this mess is over now," Azula said, smiling as she struggled to ignore the lurching feeling inside her stomach. She knew there would be no more such deaths, at least, not until her father decided he had to annihilate another batch of enemies whose existences he wouldn't tolerate. "All the same, I meant the part about the intruder at the Palace… did you hear of that, too?"
"Only scarce rumors, but I did," said the Sage, frowning with confusion now. "Is it true? It sounded so vague and strange, all that talk about some hooded creature, I… I don't know, I never gave that particular bit of gossip any credit."
"Well, someone did sneak inside the Palace, and it was a man hiding under a dark hood," Azula nodded. "If that's what you heard, it was accurate."
The Head Sage frowned and nodded silently, sipping on his tea as Azula organized her thoughts quickly. She set down her own cup and frowned, a small crease appearing between her eyebrows.
"The thing is…" she said, an elbow on the table as she covered her mouth with her hand. "That man, he had some strange powers that I cannot comprehend. I don't even know if all of it was bending: truthfully, I doubt it. I… I don't know, perhaps he was fused with a spirit after all, but… but there was something about it that felt like firebending. Else, I… I wouldn't have been able to sense him the way I can sense other kinds of fire."
The Head Sage raised his eyebrows at her last sentence. He made a mental note of the Princess's impromptu revelation of her resonance skills, but it was clear she wasn't here to discuss that. He cleared his throat and stroked his beard slowly.
"What exactly were these powers you speak of?" he asked. "What could he do?"
"He seemed to bend smoke, somehow," Azula whispered. "Beyond that, he could… he could fly, and worse yet, he could be invisible. If other people hadn't witnessed his skills too, I would've assumed I was hallucinating the whole thing…"
"It does sound confusing," said the Head Sage, eyes wide. "That's… a strange set of skills, to say the least."
"And I guess the worst part is that… like I said, he was a firebender, of a sort" Azula explained "But his fire felt… rotten, dead-like. And that makes no sense to me. How could fire feel dead, when I learned that fire is life? As far as I could tell, that's what the Book of Fire intended to explain with Feng Huang's tale, or at least it's what I understood…"
"Ah… well, for once it seems I may help shed some light upon some matters," said the Head Sage, surprising Azula. She raised her eyebrows.
"Do you know anything about rotten fire, then?" she asked. He shook his head.
"Not quite," he said. "But I know a lot about the many interpretations of the sacred texts. Ours is an ancestral culture, Princess, as you well know… and so many centuries of civilization provide people with the opportunity to develop countless theories and different approaches to said ancestral culture. I doubt I know about them all, but… I know about a certain interpretation that, while wildly unpopular when it was first proposed, it may just serve to help you understand what you faced."
"What is it?" Azula asked, frowning as she lifted her teacup to her lips.
"As you well know, fire burns," said the Head Sage, lifting a hand and conjuring a flame. He stood up, walking towards one of his desks and picking up a discarded piece of paper he had left on it. "And the result of said burning is…"
He lifted the paper to the flames in his hand, and it was charred into black cinders quickly. Azula frowned as the Head Sage shook off the lingering ashes from his hands.
"Feng Huang brought fire to us, Princess, and he brought it in its every aspect," he explained. "Fire is, indeed, life. But it's also destruction, and the text may not be too explicit about it, but…"
The Head Sage reached for his copy of the Book of Fire, spreading it open on its first pages. Azula looked at him in anticipation as she waited for him to find the passage he was seeking:
"Ah, here it is," he said, before clearing his throat. "As per the Book of Fire: the light of Feng Huang gave life to the world, but the Phoenix's glow was short-lived. As suddenly as he arrived, he also faded into nothingness. His flames were all-powerful, and even Feng Huang couldn't withstand their might forever. The Phoenix collapsed into ashes and, again, the world was covered in shadows."
Azula's frown was tinged with understanding, even if she was reluctant to embrace those words. The Head Sage set the book back into place before returning to sit before her.
"As you can see, Feng Huang's flames destroyed him," said the Sage. Azula's eyes widened. "Fire is light, fire is life… but fire also creates darkness. Fire also leads to death. When fire burns, it leaves darkness in its wake, in the form of ashes or smoke. The sun burns all across the sky through the day, and then the world sinks into darkness every night. According to the theory I read, the stars and even the moon were Feng Huang's remaining embers, those that would bring him back to life once darkness had run its course. Life can come from fire, no doubt… but so can death, Princess. And seeing how much death we've dealt to the world through the Hundred-Years War…"
"It should've been obvious, yes," Azula muttered, chastising herself mentally for her oversight. "Still… I can't quite comprehend how he could do whatever he was doing. We've killed countless people, and no doubt fire can be used for destructive purposes, but the way he was doing it, it was almost like… like it was a different kind of firebending altogether. My gold fire is still fire, as is my blue. What he was doing was… inexplicable for me."
"Well… this is yet another theory," the Sage said, frowning and tapping his chin. "And it's a dark theory, no doubt. But… perhaps he isn't a firebender quite like the rest of us. Perhaps he is a firebender of a different kind… perhaps his is one of the most fearsome bending arts in history."
"What do you mean?" Azula asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, you see… Feng Huang's appearance in the world provided it with light, remember?" said the Head Sage. "Fire is, essentially, a source of light."
He lifted another small burst of flames, and as was natural, its radiance cast shadows across the room. Azula eyed it with confusion as the Head Sage bit his lip.
"And there was a time when some could bend not merely the flames, but the light that was part of them," he finished. Azula's eyes widened.
"You mean… he's a lightbender?" Azula asked, almost breathless upon hearing this new possibility. "How, though? I… I have seldom read anything about them. I only know that they existed, and they were wiped out, I believe, but…"
"As far as I've been able to theorize, according to what little information has been recorded about them, they were capable of performing a variant of firebending," said the Head Sage, biting his lip. "They could isolate both components of fire, you see: the light and the destruction. They were best known for bending and manipulating light, yes, but I believe they may have been able to control the destructive power of firebending just the same…"
"Destruction and light," said Azula, rubbing her furrowed brow with her fingertips. "Would light manipulation serve to make them invisible, then?"
"Quite likely," said the Head Sage, nodding. "It's not only fire's light that they can control, of course. Light can come from sources different from fire: there are glowing crystals, there are certain animals with glowing properties, even substances in nature…"
"And, presumably, a lightbender could bend all of it?" Azula said. "They could shape other people's perceptions, shift them, lead them to believe they're submerged in darkness even if the noon sun is shining upon them?"
"Indeed, I suspect that's how it would be," said the Head Sage, nodding.
"How about the smoke, though?" Azula asked, frowning. "From what I could see, he seemed to produce smoke too, to mask his movements before hiding in invisibility. Does that fall in the destructive category?"
"Well, no," said the Head Sage, biting his lip. "Smoke is gas, naturally, and a product of fire, which ties this strange bender to firebending. As far as I can tell, lightbenders were capable of working with fire's components by isolating them, but since they've scarcely been linked to firebending… my theory is that their ability to isolate the components makes it near impossible for them to properly bend fire."
"So, do they produce smoke by… attempting to join both components and failing?" Azula asked. The Head Sage shrugged.
"It could be," he said.
"For a man who only observes and scarcely analyzes, you have many theories," Azula smiled. The Head Sage chuckled.
"Oh, they were but fleeting ideas that I've concocted over years of reading. I never thought any of it could be proven true, but… it's certainly interesting to discover I may have been onto something," said the Head Sage, beaming.
"But, say…" Azula whispered, tapping the border of the table with a fingertip. "Lightbenders can't quite bring together light and destruction, but perhaps there's a variant of them that can. I mean… combustion bending is certainly the most destructive variation of fire I've seen, even if what I saw from this lightbender was quite impressive too. But what combustion benders do, it's… it's uncanny."
"Hmm… I actually hadn't thought of that," said the Head Sage, stroking his beard again. "They certainly seem to harness a much more destructive form of firebending than the rest of us, and yet… perhaps they, as well, have some limitations?"
"Perhaps their firebending seeks to push fire to its most destructive potential?" Azula said, biting her lip. "I'm not quite sure what to make of it. No doubt it's closer to fire than what lightbenders presumably do…"
"Indeed, though it's different from our firebending too," said the Head Sage. "I wonder if they can bend fire just as we can, or if they're hindered upon attempting to do so, much as lightbenders are…"
"I suppose Admiral Zhao's gladiator could answer those questions," Azula smiled. "I seem to remember he did firebend normally, through his natural limbs, but I can't be sure. Perhaps I'll ask him once I see him again."
"That should be enlightening, to be sure… though, amongst many rumors, I've heard that you are, well… no longer living in the Royal Palace?" said the Head Sage. Azula raised an eyebrow.
"Where did you hear that?" she asked, curtly. The Head Sage sighed.
"Well, in truth… I heard it from your father," he said, surprising Azula.
"You did?" she asked. "Why, pardon me for being so blunt, but since when does he share his family's conflicts with you?"
"Oh, he didn't intend to share them," the Sage laughed softly. "He merely asked me if you might have visited me over the last month. He was here for his meditation session, and he asked me just before leaving. When I mentioned you don't drop by here too often, he confessed you don't stop by the Palace often either these days, and… well, I figured something had to be amiss. Is it you feel unsafe because of that hooded rogue's infiltration of the Palace?"
"Could anyone blame me if I did?" Azula said, with a dry grin. To think the hooded rogue wasn't as disturbing for her as her father was, at this point…
"Oh, of course not," said the Sage, sighing. "It was a terrible security breach. But you do intend to return eventually, don't you?"
Azula frowned. The thought had crossed her mind, of course, but upon every urge to go home, she'd also felt a much stronger urge to flee from her father and his personal assassin. She didn't want to face him as she was, for with each passing day she grew more certain that he had crossed lines no one ever should have. That he was working increasingly hard towards becoming a worse Fire Lord than even Azulon could have ever been…
"I don't know," she answered, truthfully. Her words took the Sage aback. "Did my father ask you to beg me to come home, by any chance?"
"Well, no," said the Sage, and Azula wanted to chastise herself for feeling her stomach sink upon that answer. Why would she want her father to beg her to come home? What on earth was wrong with her? Craving his acceptance and love had been a fine motivator in life up until she had learned better.
She wasn't all that naïve, of course she wasn't. She had never believed her father was a good man, by any standards… and yet the weight of his latest crimes still hung heavily on her shoulders, an eternal reminder that what he'd done to his people was just as unforgivable as what he'd done to his enemies.
"It's only, well…" said the Sage, crossing his arms over his chest. "I do not know what may have happened between you and your father, but it certainly sounds like you've had a falling out of some sort?"
"If that were the case, you're not required to help us amend our differences," Azula said, curtly. The Head Sage swallowed hard. "I do not wish to be so harsh, but…"
"I don't expect you to amend any differences with your father," he said. Azula eyed him warily. "If anything, I… oh, goodness, whatever he's done to earn your disapproval must have been quite severe, I imagine. Your father has committed no shortage of unforgivable mistakes."
Azula raised an eyebrow now, uncertain of what the Sage was getting at. The memory of how he might have some relation with the White Lotus sprung to mind again, but… suddenly it seemed less likely that he'd be one of them, seeing how Seethus had killed so many of their members without taking out the Head Sage. And the man spoke of disappearances, only… as though he didn't know they were dead. Just as the majority of the city didn't know the true nature of her father's secret hunt.
"Still… selfish as it may be of me to say so, I do believe you must return home, even if you don't wish to reconcile with your father," he said. Azula looked at him in disbelief.
"Why would you want me to return without reconciling with him?" she said, nearly scoffing. The Head Sage lowered his head.
"Of all royals I've met, and… and I've met my fair share of them," he said, eyes darting towards her before he lowered them again. "None has seemed worthier of the throne than you, Princess."
Her eyes widened, a burst of unexpected pride nestling in her chest upon hearing those words. The Head Sage's support was indeed welcome, and it was what Ozai had encouraged her to obtain since years ago… this seemed to indicate she had succeeded at that endeavor. But what did it matter at this point, truly, if she fulfilled her father's missions or not…?
"And, well, others worthier than your father have also lost their right to rule. Some relinquished it, others were robbed of it…" said the Head Sage, closing his eyes. "The Fire Nation has never been stronger, and it has never been weaker. We are leading the world but crumbling from within. Whatever displays of bravado Fire Lord Ozai may show, his leadership is flawed and faulty. But you… you could correct the course of this nation, Princess. You've already proven as much so many times, and… and ever since I saw your gold fire, your fully realized flames, I… I knew you were different. I knew you were… chosen. Touched by fire in a way that… that no one has been in dynasties, at the very least. I have seen many lose their right to rule, and I've abided by it without protest… but when I saw your fire, I thought perhaps you were the true reason why so many others could not rule. So that, when your time came, you would be able to right so many wrongs…"
"That's… quite a lot of treasonous things you've said over the last minute of our conversation," Azula said, with a weak grin. The Head Sage chortled.
"Well, at this point in my life, I count myself lucky your father hasn't had me executed for worse," he smiled. Azula raised her eyebrows, startled: what on earth had the man done to Ozai that her father might want to execute him for? "I don't expect you to run to him with the tale of what I've said, or will you?"
"I won't," Azula smiled, but she bit her lip. "So… you believe I have to go home for the sake of the Fire Nation?"
"For the sake of the entire world, rather," said the Head Sage. "But indeed, the Fire Nation is my priority. I understand it may be a dire sacrifice to make, depending on the gravity of whatever your father has done to displease you, but… I beg you to consider enduring it, if it means you can keep your position as his heir secure. As things stand, Fire Lord Ozai has no other heirs, but… if he spitefully decided to name any random subject his heir because he's been scorned by you, the Fire Nation would turn away from the brightest future to the darkest with just that one decision…"
"I… I guess it depends on who he picks," Azula smiled, but she breathed out and nodded. "Either way, I have thought about returning home, yes. I don't feel ready for it, not on a permanent basis, but… I know there's more at stake than just my personal struggles."
"I suppose that's all I can ask, then," said the Head Sage, smiling weakly. "I know it may be the last thing you wish to hear if you've had a falling out with your father, as perhaps you need some time away from your royal duties… but I certainly believe you can usher forth a new era for us all."
A new era comprised by what? Azula eyed the older man with uncertainty as she nodded, finishing her tea quickly. What on earth did he want her to do? What was he expecting from her, as a future ruler of the Fire Nation? She knew he had been a fanatic of Azulon's, and that he had no love for her father… but in many ways, Ozai had continued Azulon's legacy. If this man still admired Azulon, surely he didn't wish for Azula to end the war… so what did he want? Why was he so hopeful for a brighter future, and why was he so determined to see Azula leading their nation towards it?
Was her earlier assessment wrong? Was he part of the White Lotus after all, and just as Sokka had been a pawn for Piandao, she was one for this man? It wouldn't be too farfetched, considering how the mysterious society worked, but… could that truly be the case?
"I'm sorry for that change of subject, though," said the Head Sage, smiling weakly. "Perhaps I shouldn't have pried into your personal business."
"Perhaps," Azula agreed, with a small grin. "At any rate, your answers regarding lightbending were, well, I suppose enlightening, in some way. Thank you."
"You're most welcome," said the Head Sage, bowing his head towards her as she stood up. "You will take your leave, then?"
"I must. My gladiator has a fight right now," she nodded, as the Head Sage rose to his feet as well. The mention of the gladiator brought his eyes to widen a little, and to eye Azula with uncertainty.
"Ah. I suppose I shouldn't have kept you, then," he said, with an apologetic smile. "You will have to collect him at his house?"
"Not quite, he actually came here with me," Azula answered earnestly. The Head Sage hummed in surprise. "I figured it would be for the best, I didn't know if our meeting would take long."
"I understand," said the Head Sage, smiling. "Well, then, the best of luck to the both of you with your upcoming fight. May you triumph over your rivals, whoever they may be."
"Thank you," Azula said, bowing her head towards the man. "Farewell, Head Sage."
"Take care, Princess," he said, bowing again, his fist against his palm.
Azula strode through the Temple's corridors with uncertainty after leaving the Head Sage's office. Most of what they'd spoken about had been vague, though she hadn't expected otherwise, especially when it came to Seethus and his strange brand of firebending. Still, the explanations that tied him with lightbending sounded plausible, as far as she could tell. Even combustion bending could be explained, perhaps, as a rare mix between lightbending and firebending techniques…
But what worried her most by now were the Head Sage's silences. She hadn't quite stopped to ponder whatever her father had done to displease the man, always chalking it down to the Sage's resentment towards her father for taking the throne away from Azulon's favorite child. Did the man have stronger reasons to hate Ozai than that, though? Only today had she considered that possibility. Only after the man had opened up, perhaps more than he should have, about his hostility towards Ozai.
Was the Sage aware of things Azula could barely imagine? Did he know secrets of Ozai's that she had craved to discover since her youngest years? Was he perhaps one of the few people who knew what had happened to Azulon, and by extension, to Ursa…? Thinking back on how the Sage refused to honor Ursa properly during the Festivals, and considering that Ozai hadn't used his influence as Fire Lord to threaten the Head Sage into making a proper shrine for her…
Azula breathed deeply and strode faster towards the main halls of the Temple. The more thought she gave to these matters, the more likely she was to develop a headache. Discovering Ozai's secrets was not a good pastime to partake in, she had learned as much the hard way only a month ago.
She knew she had to go home, though, and not just for the Fire Nation's sake as a whole: Ty Lee and Haru were still adapting to having Ran living with them, and Azula and Sokka weren't making matters much easier. Granted, the Princess and her gladiator spent most their days at Sokka's place, but they returned to Ty Lee's house without fail, always doing the best they could to protect their relationship by pretending Azula wasn't sleeping with Sokka every night – except that, by all means, she was. Her back was often sore these days and she was starting to fear Ty Lee's cushions would be flattened entirely at this rate, but she still went downstairs every night and slept beside Sokka, indulging in the only perk that had resulted from her current estrangement from her father.
Being away from Ozai had only brought her closer to her lover, if that was even possible. They spent nearly every moment in each other's company, and the notions of spending their whole lives together only grew more appealing with every day that went by. Azula couldn't imagine herself forgiving Ozai anytime soon, but Sokka's support had eased her heart steadily through these last weeks, providing her with the safety she had craved despite fearing she might never feel at ease again. She still checked every night for Seethus' presence, but it was apparent by now that he wasn't following her around. If he had been tasked to do so, he was certainly doing an unbelievably poor job of it, so far.
For she had unpredictably visited the Temple today, but she had dropped by at the Grand Royal Dome consistently, on a weekly basis. She had hoped Sokka's frequent fights would help bring back the Gladiator League's popularity, but it wasn't likely to happen just yet: many people remained uneasy over the disappearances of sponsors, and word was starting to spread about how haunted the Grand Royal Dome was. Even Yang's story, chronicling the investigation of the disappearances, hadn't been enough to revive the Gladiator League's glory: people were quite intrigued by the tale, but until the writer published some triumphant and embellished conclusion, it seemed that the bulk of the common folk planned to stay away from the regal building.
As Azula had kept up with her responsibilities, she had visited Yang and Haiyan, provided them with their salaries and the allotted money they were to devote to taking care of their many charges now, all taken from her own savings. As of late, four of their tenants were attending school, two others had picked up apprenticeships and the last one, shy as he was, had stayed at the house to help Haiyan with the chores. Yang, as ever, was obsessed with his writing, and he had already confessed to Azula that he'd make up some explosive and impressive final chapter for his story on how the disappearances came to an end. Despite she dreaded she'd regret it, Azula had given him free rein with his endeavor, hoping that his conclusion would truly breathe life back into the gladiator business.
In a sense, she liked the less crowded fights. It meant there was a smaller likelihood of being bothered by the Blue Pack, and it meant it'd be easier to navigate the Dome's halls without bumping into massive crowds that kept bowing to her wherever she went. But if the Gladiator League didn't recover, she knew her main source of recognition would fade into nothingness, and that was far more important than her comfort. While she had already built a name for herself, the full acknowledgement she had sought would be out of her reach if the Gladiator League came to a slow, gradual end.
Worst of all, of course, was the fact that she'd have no excuse to keep Sokka around if the Gladiator League vanished, and that was the one thing she refused to endure. Her gladiator belonged by her side in more ways than one, and she'd fight to her utmost to see to it that he could remain with her, for however long he wished to be her partner.
Upon reaching the hall where Sokka had promised he'd wait, she found it empty. Her eyebrow twitched as she glanced around herself: where was he? They had a scheduled fight today, he knew as much: he had even brought all his weapons with him and apparently had been pumped up for it, the last she knew. Had he taken off to the Royal Dome without her? That wasn't likely, considering it was Sokka… no, he probably had gotten distracted with something stupid. Maybe he was riling up another Sage, as he had during Memorial Day…
The sound of a gong alerted Azula that a ceremony was being held in one of the Temple's rooms. Upon approaching the open doorway, she noticed quickly that it was an opulent but private wedding: the bride and groom stood together before one of the Sages, their family and friends watched from the sidelines as the ceremony unfolded.
The Temple was tall, with multiple floors that concealed rooms and balconies of all sorts. A quick glance upwards told Azula that there was someone on the second floor's balcony of this room, from which it was possible to survey the ceremony. She raised an eyebrow upon realizing that, of course, the onlooker was Sokka. He sat cross-legged, watching the ceremony with such interest that he hadn't even noticed Azula standing by the door on the lower floor.
Knowing she would do best not to draw attention to herself, she rolled her eyes and walked to the nearest set of stairs. As expected, Sokka hadn't moved an inch once she reached him, arms propped on the balcony's railing as he took in all the details from the Fire Nation wedding.
"Having fun?" Azula asked him. She smirked when he jumped lightly.
"Goodness, Azula…" he pouted, looking at her in disbelief as she knelt beside him. "I was just watching the wedding, I had no idea how long you'd take with the Head Sage…"
"Well, as you can see, I'm done now," she said, smiling dryly. "We need to go to the Grand Royal Dome, remember?"
"I know, I know…" Sokka bit his lip, turning his head towards the ceremony again. "It's just, well… it's kind of interesting, isn't it?"
"What is? The wedding rites?" Azula asked. "If you're waiting for them to cut their palms open, well…"
"Of course I'm not," Sokka smirked, looking at her in disbelief. "They're going to light a candle together, though, aren't they?"
"Yeah," Azula said, watching as the bride spoke her vows now. "It's the last part of the ceremony, it shouldn't be long before they do it. If they're firebenders, they'll use their own fire. If not, the Sage presiding their ceremony uses his purified fire to light a smaller candle for the non-benders to use when lighting the ceremonial wedding candle…"
"Sounds like a long-winded way to light a candle," Sokka smirked, biting his lip. "Say, do those wedding candles have the same properties as the beacon you lit up in your ceremony?"
"They might. I honestly have no idea," Azula smiled a little. "Why?"
"Oh, just thinking… wouldn't it be neat if I had a candle with your blue fire, and then you used your gold fire, and together we lit up the wedding candle to make it into the multicolor fire?"
Sokka smiled somewhat innocently as he suggested that, and Azula smiled fondly at him.
"I guess that'd be a nice way to do it, yes," she said, reaching out to caress his hand gently. "Though, if we must perform our ceremonies in a unique sort of way, I recommend that we're very careful when slicing our palms open with Space Sword…"
"Wha-…? We wouldn't have to do it with Space Sword," Sokka pouted, as Azula laughed softly and pulled him up to his feet.
"Come on. We'll be late if we dawdle for much longer," she said, smiling warmly at him and intertwining their fingers briefly as she led him back downstairs.
They had taken up the habit of walking through the city, rather than asking Xin Long to ferry them everywhere. On one hand, they enjoyed the chance to go sightseeing together, even if it meant they couldn't be as intimate as they preferred to be, but on the other hand, Azula was still somewhat paranoid about letting her father know where she was. It wouldn't be that hard for Ozai to track her down if he wished to, though seeing as he hadn't tried to force her back home for a month, chances were he wouldn't do that at all. He seemed certain that Azula was throwing a tantrum, that her protests against his methods had been nothing but a whim on her part, but Azula had no intentions of returning to her father's side as diligently as she always did, not this time. She had set her foot down, even if that sort of stubbornness wasn't bound to be wise…
Nevertheless, the opportunities she had acquired by turning her back on Ozai were far more interesting than she had expected them to be. Not only could she indulge in spending most the day, if not all of it, by Sokka's side, but she felt freer, even when their possibilities remained as limited as they were. Wandering the streets with him had been quite enjoyable up to date, and some reckless, impulsive side of herself wished to continue doing as much, for as long as she could get away with it. They couldn't walk holding hands the way Sokka wanted them to, but it was pleasant enough to keep each other company all the time.
It felt like a taste of all which they had always longed for. While they couldn't wake up together properly, for Azula always had to scramble upstairs to her assigned room at Ty Lee's house before Ran woke up, the perks of being together without that many sacrifices were such that it was easy to overlook the occasional problems. Both of them had even indulged in wondering if, perhaps, it was a mere glimpse of what their lives might be like once they were married at last…
Those were dreams they probably shouldn't indulge in just yet, but they helped ease the burden of everything they had discovered over the course of the last months. Often Azula would frown unprompted, in that way Sokka knew meant she was pondering her situation with her father all over again. And sometimes Azula would catch Sokka sitting somewhere alone, his gaze lost in the horizon as he wondered if Rhone would take up a better path from now on. The only solace and escape they had from their concerns was each other. Their tight bond continued to prove itself indestructible, whether as lovers, as companions or as partners in the Gladiator League.
Sokka had aced all his recent fights, both because most his opponents weren't too strong lately, and because his daily training did wonders for him, as it ever did. Often he left his sponsor in awe at the power he was proving to have: he had always been a clever fighter, but his physical prowess had grown even more impressive lately. By now she wondered if he was taking it easy on her when they sparred, for she was starting to suspect her non-bending gladiator was capable of much more than just keeping up with her in the training grounds.
It was why she had very little concerns over his slated fight today, as they approached the Grand Royal Dome. Azula breathed deeply upon entering the building, after Sokka gallantly pushed the door open for her: people were returning, but not with the same enthusiasm as before. Where large crowds had used to gather in the corridors and vestibules of the Grand Royal Dome, there were only small groups and even solitary people this time. Shoji's counter was empty except for the promotional fliers he distributed to whoever wanted to take them.
"Hey, Shoji," Sokka greeted the young man, smiling. Shoji grinned back.
"Hi! Ready to fight today, Blue Wolf?" he asked. Sokka nodded promptly as Shoji worked on their sign-in sheet.
"If I weren't, my dear sponsor here would give me a beating to remember," Sokka said, sighing dramatically while Azula fixed him with a disbelieving leer.
"I ought to give you one just for giving me bad press," she declared. Sokka failed to bite back a cheeky grin, and Shoji chuckled as well before asking Sokka what weapons he wished to use today.
Azula glanced up at the board, fleetingly wondering if there would only be small fights today. Hoping for it, rather: if today was one of the better days this place had seen, the Gladiator Business was definitely in trouble.
And she was quick to conclude that was the case when she read which fight would follow theirs.
"Azula?" Sokka called her, noticing her stiff stance. She huffed.
"How did that happen?" she asked Shoji, pointing at the board and surprising him. "I thought the Millennium Dragon wouldn't come to the Capital as of late. Did Aonu change his policies recently?"
"O-oh, yeah, I guess?" said Shoji, with an awkward grin. "I'm not upset about it, myself… I've wanted to see a rematch between him and Combustion Man for ages."
Sokka hadn't paid the board too much attention until he heard that. He blinked before doing a double take and staring at the board in disbelief.
"Woah… Combustion Man against the Millennium Dragon?" he repeated, eyes wide. Shoji nodded. "That's…"
"A really important fight," Azula muttered, between gritted teeth. "And going by the droves of people who have come to watch it…"
"Yeah, it's as if it was a fight between Fireeater and Flamedrinker instead," Sokka said. Azula raised an eyebrow and looked at him in confusion.
"Who the hell are those?" she asked. Sokka shrugged.
"Just, you know, generic firebending gladiator names?" he said.
"Goodness, I thought most sponsors had your terrible taste for names… but now I stand corrected, yours is much worse," she said, with a small laugh. Sokka pouted.
"Heeey!"
"Well, I know you're worried that things aren't back in full swing yet, but I'm sure they will be," said Shoji, smiling a little. "It's possible that the Millennium Dragon's sponsor was asked to accept this fight to bolster enthusiasm for the League all over again, and if he agreed to do it, all the better, right?"
"Not to mention, this only happened with people from the Capital," Sokka sighed. "While the League is affected here, I doubt things are looking as grim in other Arenas."
"Exactly. So just give it time," said Shoji, biting his lip. "And, well, good luck with your fight now. I think I saw a few members of the Blue Pack heading into the stands not that long ago."
"Heh, so they're coming back?" Sokka said, with a small grin before bumping Azula with an elbow. "See? It's all good!"
"We'll see," Azula sighed, shrugging.
"I do think the League needs to be revitalized, somehow," Shoji mused, biting his lip before reaching for one of his leaflets. "I've always thought events are the best way to go about that, but for some reason the local board refuses to hold good events in the Dome…"
Azula raised an eyebrow and took the leaflet Shoji was offering her. She sighed upon reading the details written across the paper.
"Gladiator Brawl, again? You expect this to be the answer?" she asked. Shoji shrugged.
"It's an event open for all the ranking," he said. "It's brutal, no doubt, but it's the kind of thing that would gain the attention of a large portion of the public, don't you think?"
"Because it's brutal?" said Sokka, grimacing. "This one's held at the Terra Jewel, right? I think I read the flier about a month ago…"
"Yeah, in Si Wong Desert," Shoji nodded, and Sokka raised an eyebrow.
"Truth be told, I wouldn't mind traveling again for something like that," he said, smiling. Azula looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Shoji was showing this to us as an example of what he wants to see in the Dome, remember?"
"I know, but joining this could be fun. We'd said it was a possibility, didn't we?" Sokka chuckled, and Azula sighed.
"You're only thinking that because the leaflet said you'd gain fifteen hundred points if you're amongst the last five standing," Azula declared. Sokka whistled innocently. "Frankly, I think you're more obsessed with points than I am, these days."
"Wouldn't be, if rising in the ranking weren't such a bother as of late…"
"Either way, is The Wraith here yet?" Azula said, sighing as she pocketed the flier for Gladiator Brawl all the same.
"Oh, she arrived about five minutes ago, yes," said Shoji, nodding. "You can go to the stand-by room, she should be ready to fight soon."
"Very well," Azula nodded. "Thank you for your assistance, Shoji."
"You're quite welcome!" said Shoji, smiling warmly as Azula led Sokka away. The Blue Wolf waved at the younger man as he trailed after his sponsor.
Down at the stand-by room, Azula glanced out through the Dome's golden grid gates to catch a glimpse of the audience that would witness Sokka's fight. She didn't do that frequently, but she'd done it more often as of late. Sokka sighed as he stretched, looking at the Princess with uncertainty.
"Well? Is it going to be just five people out there?" he asked, teasingly. Azula smiled and shook her head.
"No, but… it's still not as crowded as your fights generally were. I hate that people are still so frightened, and that they still believe the disappearances are only related to the Gladiator League."
"And yet it's for the best that they continue to think that," Sokka sighed.
The mood grew invariably heavy when they spoke of the many deaths that Azula's father had dealt to his own city. Before knowing their fate for certain, speaking about the victims had been much easier. By now, Azula ached with the painful awareness of how fleeting life could be, how quickly people could forget about others and move on with their lives. It hadn't bothered her before, but it certainly did now. She wasn't prepared to go home as it was, but would she ever be? Would she ever be able to gaze upon her father's face without being acutely aware of the countless deaths that he had actively, eagerly been responsible for?
"Hey… come here."
Sokka's voice snapped her out of her thoughts again. Azula glanced back at him to find he had reached out a hand to her shoulder, pulling her closer so he could embrace her warmly. Azula sighed as he kissed the top of her head, hand rubbing the nape of her neck.
"You'll be able to stop thinking about it all the time," he said. Azula grimaced. "Even if you don't want to, even if you'll hate yourself for it, but… we learn to live with our demons, whether we like it or not."
"I take it you speak from experience," Azula said, caressing what little exposed skin of his arm she could reach. Sokka gritted his teeth.
"If I allowed myself to think about the Amateur Arena all the time, I'd… I'd be caught in such a crippling depression over all the men I killed that I'd be unable to get anything done, altogether."
Azula gritted her teeth before raising her head and cupping his face. He offered her a small smile, and she kissed it off his lips quickly.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, for the umpteenth time. Sokka smiled and shook his head.
"It really doesn't matter to you how many times I say I don't hold it against you, does it? You'll always apologize again…"
"You always apologize about having hurt me eons ago, so I think it's fair for me to do the same," Azula declared stubbornly. Sokka laughed softly and kissed her forehead.
"You shouldn't be allowed to be so cute," he said. She huffed as he embraced her. "Just hold on tight to whatever gives your life meaning, Azula. Grab onto that, and clutch at it as hard as you can whenever you're being overwhelmed by everything else. I can't say for sure that it will help you heal… but I know that worked for me."
"Well…" she said, before shrugging.
He was startled when she wrapped her arms around him tightly, their armors clinking together, her face pressed to his neck. He patted her back, and she smiled.
"I probably should hold on even harder than this, I admit… but I guess I already found what gives my life meaning," she said, smiling. Sokka bit his lip.
"And what might that be…?" he asked, teasingly. Azula laughed and kissed his lips again.
"You know it just as well as I do. I'd be lost without you," she said, cupping his cheek.
Sokka smiled warmly, his heart paining him as he gazed at Azula. It saddened him to recognize the vacant expression on Azula's face, for he'd worn it on his face often, even if he'd actively done his best to stop dwelling on his misery. For so long, Azula had remained innocent, untainted in ways she hadn't quite understood, but that darkness across her features told him she understood his inner demons better than ever by now.
"I'm the one who'd be lost, though," he said, with a sad grin. "You've saved me so many times, in just about every way a man could be saved. I honestly don't know how you're not bored of doing it yet…"
"Bored?" Azula asked, with a disbelieving smile.
"Yeah, you know, it's one of my biggest fears. That the next time I get into trouble you might just shrug it off and say I should deal with it myself because you're tired of bailing me out of nonsense," he laughed. Azula shook her head.
"If only my mind worked that way when it comes to you," she said, caressing his armored chest. "I love you too much to leave you to fight your battles alone. Even when I can't really fight them with you."
"You do, though, even if not physically," Sokka said, smiling warmly and kissing her lips again. "You watch over me, you support me, and since I know you believe in me, I feel invigorated, and I fight to the very best of my ability…"
"Good," Azula said, beaming. "Then I must be doing something right as your sponsor, huh?"
"I'm pretty sure we've established you're the single greatest sponsor there is," Sokka smirked, before sweeping her into a tighter hug to kiss her deeply as he held her. Azula closed her eyes and gave herself fully to their exchange, heart racing as she relished in yet another of their glorious, stolen moments together.
It was easy to conclude that he was the one good part of her life right now, especially when he seemed to do no wrong lately. Azula watched over him as promised ten minutes later, a proud grin on her face as he delivered blow after blow to his earthbending rival. Not only was he always there for Azula, supporting her when she was at her lowest points, but he was also fighting the Wraith with such power, such relentless strength that the older woman kept stumbling back in fear of the Blue Wolf's deadly weapons.
He had won without fail for well over a year now. Rhone had been the last to defeat Sokka, and the Blue Wolf's fighting prowess had only improved since. His reflexes were sharper than ever, his muscles strong and steady, his wit unmatched by that of any of his rivals. As soon as he stood in the fighting pit, he was ready to deliver absolute defeat to his opponents.
She was proud, beyond proud… and yet there was something in her chest, eating away at her, that told her this streak couldn't last. Sokka was a wonderful man, and a brilliant fighter, she knew that by heart… but his luck was fickle and it always ran out fast. She wasn't an optimist, never had been… and thus it was easy to imagine that, sooner than later, a more threatening opponent would rise against Sokka. There were plenty of highly-ranked gladiators in the League they had never faced, and they were bound to start picking fights with Sokka as he rose higher and higher in the ranking…
But she wanted to believe they were better than any challengers they might face. Sokka had already proved he could take on highly ranked fighters before, and she had no doubts he would do it again, when the time came. She would check with Shoji if any such fighters had sent them challenges: if not, she'd have to start choosing them herself. Perhaps it was time to stop playing it safe, or else they'd never reach the top hundred fighters of the ranking.
The Wraith struggled when bending with only one functional arm – Sokka had successfully chi-blocked the other one – and she was overwhelmed by the stream of attacks pouring from her opponent. Sokka had cast a stench bomb, rendering the Wraith as good as helpless when she could barely stand to breathe, and he had been attacking relentlessly with his sword and his boomerang, constantly switching between the two depending on whether he wanted to fight at close quarters or at a distance. Either way, the Wraith was rendered helpless. She wasn't remotely as strong as many earthbenders Sokka had faced, especially not as strong as Toph: she couldn't defeat him if this was the full extent of her power.
Sokka rushed forward and tripped the disoriented woman, making her stumble and fall on the sand, coughing violently under the putrid smell. Sokka was as good as an expert at holding his breath, but even he had his limits. Limits he'd reach quite soon unless he ended the fight here and now: his tolerance for stench bombs was clearly not as good as his tolerance for smoke bombs just yet.
So he stepped forward and struck the woman's head with the hilt of his blade. Once she fell unconscious, he took to dragging her away from his empty bombshell, knowing both himself and his rival would benefit from fresh air.
"The winner is the Blue…!" the megaphone man started, but he froze upon seeing what Sokka was doing. "Uh, the staff members will be there shortly, there's no need…"
"It just smells really bad over there, I'm trying to help her," Sokka answered the megaphone man casually, bringing about surprised laughter from the crowd. No gladiators spoke to the megaphone man as easily as that, for they hardly ever seemed to acknowledge his existence, for starters.
"Oh. Uh. W-well, you still won! Congratulations!" the megaphone man said, with an awkward grin. Sokka grinned at him and gave him a thumbs up.
"Good to know!"
He had as good as embraced his symbol by now. His fans seemed all the more excited whenever he gave anyone the thumbs up and, considering the Gladiator League needed a lot more enthusiasm lately, he was up for offering it. He did feel ridiculous more often than not, but he knew Azula would be happier if they could influence people to return to the Grand Royal Dome, even if in such small ways.
And she was happy indeed, watching him from a distance as her rival sponsor sighed heavily and shook his head.
"I've been defeated thoroughly. Not that I expected any less," said the sponsor, huffing but smiling at Azula. "Thank you for accepting my challenge, Princess Azula."
"Thank you for sending it," Azula said, nodding in his direction as he bowed and offered her the bid's money.
"May you and your gladiator continue to succeed," said the man, smiling as he stood up to leave the balcony.
Azula smiled still as she watched Sokka filing towards the stand-by room again. She was on her feet within a moment, eager to congratulate her favorite warrior on his successful fight. His victories thrilled her, almost making her forget everything that had plagued her recently…
"Oh, uh, excuse me," she heard the Wraith's sponsor's voice behind her again, and she raised her eyebrow upon wondering who he was talking to. "I was just leaving."
"Please do," said another voice, one that rang a bell for Azula, but she couldn't place it right away…
She should have kept in mind that Combustion Man and the Millennium Dragon were fighting next. Her fist clenched when she glimpsed Aonu by the door, as he glared judgmentally at The Wraith's sponsor. The sponsor slipped past Aonu quickly, glancing at him over his shoulder, confused by Aonu's frigid behavior.
He hadn't changed much since Azula had last seen him. If anything, his green eyes were colder than they'd been when they'd met at the Slate, and he strode purposefully towards the assigned chairs for the sponsors without being daunted by Azula's glare.
"I was surprised to know you'd attend a fight in the Grand Royal Dome," she said, wasting no time with pleasantries. Aonu wouldn't care for them, no doubt: he likely only wanted her to get out of the balcony immediately, but her curiosity about his presence in the Dome got the better of her. "I'm quite sure you haven't been here in a while, or had you?"
"Indeed, I hadn't visited the Capital in the last five years," Aonu responded, folding his arms over his chest. "But I had reason to do so now."
"Did they ask you to come so you'd help revive the League?" Azula asked. Aonu scoffed.
"I have no need to revive anything. The League is as strong as ever in the Golden Eye," he said. "Whatever problems the Capital may face are the least of my concern."
"Then why did you accept this challenge? Or, perhaps, were you the one to send it?" Azula asked, raising her eyebrows. Aonu shrugged.
"I'm free to travel where I will," he said. Azula's unwillingness to trust him only increased the more he spoke. He should have sent her away as soon as he entered the balcony, unless he actually had meant to talk to her? He hadn't taken such a long trip, engineered such a dangerous and important challenge between his gladiator and Combustion Man, just to hold a simple conversation with Azula, or had he?
Knowing now that his intentions weren't bound to be quite as pure-hearted as she had hoped gave Azula pause, though. That he hadn't told her to leave yet, that he would visit a city he had avoided for half a decade…
"And I'm also free to challenge whoever I please, be it Admiral Zhao, or… you," he said, and Azula frowned.
"If you intended to send me a challenge you could have done it the normal way. The same way you sent the one for the Slate," Azula said. Aonu closed his eyes and shook his head.
"I do intend to challenge you, but it won't be a normal challenge. Not this time," he said, calmly. "I believe it's necessary for me to make my intentions known immediately, else you might feel inclined to reject my challenge when, from what I understand, you can't afford to do so, under these circumstances."
Azula frowned heavily before asking the question he was waiting to hear. She already felt she knew the answer, but just in case she was being too paranoid, maybe…
"And why can't I?" she said. Aonu opened his eyes, leering at her dangerously.
"Because I intend to request your hand in marriage."
It had to happen, she knew as much. Just as she'd found stability, just as she felt she could endure whatever obstacles came her way, someone would turn up and crush her hopes of peace into nothingness. And it had to happen with Aonu, no less… his gladiator was superior to most, and she had no expectations that Sokka would defeat him a second time around. Not if their fight took place in normal circumstances… which was, no doubt, what Aonu was betting on.
She gritted her teeth, knowing why Aonu was cornering her this way. Understanding, rather quickly, why he had taken the time to travel all the way here… because it wasn't about a fight against Combustion Man. It was about avenging his failure at the Slate, and about annulling Azula as a political figure by taking over all her hard-earned prestige once he became her husband.
"You do realize my father won't approve of this," Azula said. Aonu smirked.
"I suppose he might not, and yet I can't see how he'd refuse once my gladiator defeats yours. Rumors say you've been dodging marriage for years… whatever reasons you may have to do so, you've been able to rid yourself of all your suitors. You know, though, that I won't be defeated so easily."
"I suppose I shouldn't have gotten rid of the Slate's right to challenge so fast," Azula said, curtly. "You might not feel all that emboldened, if our gladiators fought there once again…"
"Unlikely," said Aonu, narrowing his eyes.
"My gladiator is stronger than he used to be," Azula warned him. "And you are aware of the kind of swords he can use. I guess it's entirely possible, yes, that you'll successfully defeat us… but the playing field is a lot more even than you want to admit."
"Or perhaps that's what you want to believe," said Aonu, raising an eyebrow. "Your gladiator cannot expect to successfully overpower mine in different circumstances than the Slate. The Blue Wolf won by a technicality alone…"
"Oh, no doubt, technicalities allowed him to survive and hold his own against the second-best gladiator of the League for nearly an hour," Azula smiled, shaking her head and walking away with confidence she wasn't truly feeling right now. "At any rate, I suppose you came here in hopes that I'd take up your challenge sometime soon?"
"I… can spend a month here, if need be," he said, though his eyes narrowed. Perhaps his funds weren't unlimited…
"Only one month? That's a shame, then," she said, sighing dramatically. Aonu frowned in confusion.
"Why? Do you mean to refuse my challenge? I can just as easily inform your father and…"
"It's not that I intend to refuse it, but unless you can stay for a little longer than that, I doubt I'll have room for your fight in my very hectic schedule…"
"Hectic schedule?" Aonu repeated, looking at her in disbelief. "As much as you may have a few matters to deal with, I'm certain you'll be able to spare an hour or two at some point through the next month…"
"Oh, I will, no doubt. Only, I won't be sparing them here," Azula said, with a dry grin. "I'll be traveling soon, myself, and it may take a little over three weeks. My current week is going to be quite busy already, so I can't make time for you by then. It's a pity, I'm sure, but…"
"Really, now?" said Aonu, glaring at her sharply.
"Perhaps you can challenge me to visit you at the Golden Eye. I won't snub you, if you do," Azula offered, with a shrug, before reaching the doorway.
Aonu would have said something else, perhaps ask if Azula was merely making excuses… but he couldn't do so when Azula nearly walked into Aonu's opponent: Zhao jumped when he saw Azula in the balcony.
"Princess!" he exclaimed, eyes wide. Azula froze before taking a few steps back. "Why, long time no see!"
"That… indeed, Admiral," Azula said, her stomach sinking.
She hadn't given Zhao too much thought over the last months, not even upon reading that Combustion Man would be fighting today, or even after bringing him up in her conversation with the Head Sage earlier. Upon standing face-to-face with him, she wondered if Zhao knew anything about Ozai's dark secret, or if he was just as ignorant about it as Azula herself had been for most her life…
"I've visited the Palace a few times, but you're never home," said Zhao, smiling a little. "I suppose that's how busy you've been?"
"Indeed," she lied as convincingly as she could, smiling back. "It's been a difficult month. Either way, good luck with your fight."
"Thank you, Princess. Congratulations on your victory," said Zhao, bowing his head curtly in her direction. She nodded.
"Thanks. Farewell, then, Admiral," she said, grinning still as she moved towards the door again.
Goodness, she'd done something absurd and she knew it. She would not only have to enroll Sokka in Gladiator Brawl now, for it was the only excuse she could think of to leave the Capital, but she would also need to inform her father of her intentions to travel… and she didn't want to do that. Avoiding him for one month had been liberating and damning at the same time.
But she had to do this. She couldn't simply send Sokka into a fight with the Millennium Dragon without proper preparation within only a month. There was no way she'd do something as thoughtless as that. Perhaps a fight against the firebender wouldn't prove so overwhelming outside the Slate, her earlier bravado notwithstanding, but there was a strong chance that it would. He wasn't the second-highest ranked gladiator in the League for no reason.
She strode quickly to the waiting rooms, glancing inside them in hopes of finding Sokka quickly. The physicians were done inspecting him once she reached him, and he was good to go already. His proud grin waned when he saw Azula's anxious expression, however.
"What? Did I do something wrong?" he asked, but Azula shook her head promptly.
"Not you, I… I'm sorry, I… good work today. You were amazing," she said, her eyes unfocused. Sokka grimaced, confused by her many mixed signals.
"Okay…?" he said, glancing at the door with uncertainty just to be sure that the last physician out had closed the door behind him. It gave Sokka the freedom to place his hands on her shoulders. "Azula, what's wrong?"
"Aonu is. Aonu… the bastard made his move," Azula growled, gritting her teeth. "That's what he was here for, Sokka. That's why he… he just wanted to challenge me. Combustion Man was an excuse, the Dome's state doesn't concern him in the least, he's just…"
"What?" Sokka asked again, confused. "Why does he want to challenge us? Is it he wants revenge for the Slate, or…?"
"He wants to marry me," Azula finally blurted out.
Sokka's eyes widened with genuine fear. Azula glanced at him when he stayed silent, her heart sinking upon registering how desperate, hopeless Sokka looked. He had been determined to defeat the Spawn of the Volcano, and Blast of Death… but this time he was petrified. He was terrified, not only of the prospect of facing the Millennium Dragon in the fighting pit again, but of the much scarier notion of losing Azula to someone unworthy of her.
"N-no…" he said, shaking his head. His grip on her shoulders grew stronger, his fingertips tight around the metal of her armor. "This is… no. I can't… I can't beat him. Azula…"
"You won't have to. Not just yet, anyways," Azula said, closing her eyes. "I… I plan on stalling, even if… even if it's not going to come easy. But we'll be prepared by the time I finally accept his challenge. He wanted to catch me by surprise, but he failed…"
"Do you think you can avoid him?" Sokka asked, curious and worried on equal amounts.
"I do, I've already told him I'll be busy and he said he can only stay in the Capital for a month," Azula said, shrugging. Sokka raised an eyebrow.
"Busy? For the whole month?" he asked. Azula swallowed hard.
"Despite my reservations, it seems that we'll join Gladiator Brawl after all," she said. Sokka blinked blankly. "Yes, it's bound to be dangerous, but it's safer than… than accepting a challenge for you to fight the Millennium Dragon just like that. Training for the Brawl could also help you prepare for fighting him, I'd hope…"
"But I will have to fight him eventually. This isn't the kind of challenge we can just dismiss," Sokka said, gritting his teeth and shaking his head as he dropped his hands from her shoulders. "Curses, if they want to marry you so badly, they ought to get in line. I asked you first…"
"Sokka…" Azula said, with a weak grin, but he wrapped her into a tight embrace and pressed a kiss to the side of her head.
"He's not going to beat me. I don't know what I'll do, but… we'll be ready," he said, closing his eyes tightly. "I'll be ready. No one's going to break us apart as long as we have a say upon the matter."
"And we do. We still do," Azula said, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I'm sorry this came out of nowhere, but I just… goodness, I never expected him to come here for this. I thought…"
"Zhao once mentioned it, though," Sokka mumbled. Azula looked at him in surprise. "That he thought Aonu would try to ask for your hand in marriage. He was convinced that your father would never accept him, though…"
"And I was, too, but… things aren't smooth between me and my father right now," Azula said, gritting her teeth. "I can't say for certain that he'll refuse to let Aonu marry me if the Millennium Dragon becomes the first and only fighter to defeat you under this accursed courtship clause I came up with…"
"He should, though. No matter how mad he may be at you, or you at him…" said Sokka, gritting his teeth. "If you're allowed to marry someone who's not a trueborn Fire Nation citizen, then the one you ought to marry is me."
"I couldn't agree more," Azula said, cupping his cheek. His troubled frown was painful to look at. "But… we'll deal with this. I'll talk to my father, I'll get his permission to travel and…"
"Woah. You… have to do that," Sokka said, eyes wide. "Azula…"
"Yes, it's not the best idea in the world and I'm beyond apprehensive about asking anything from him, but I have no choice. Not when Aonu has pushed me into this corner," Azula growled. "But it's fine. I doubt my father will deny me this, so… I'll tell Shoji we'll join the Brawl once we go downstairs. That's… that's what we'll do."
"Okay," said Sokka, swallowing hard and caressing the back of her hand. "If your father didn't authorize this trip, though… what would we do?"
"Elope," she blurted out immediately. Her answer brought a genuine smile to his face, and she shared it with him quickly. "I think I'm starting to lose my taste for all those ambitions I used to slave over back in the day…"
"Are you now? Just because we're as good as living together?" Sokka smiled. Azula laughed.
"Yes, well, by freeloading off Ty Lee, I suppose, but still…" she said, sighing and dropping her head against his shoulder. Sokka caressed her hair gently. "I do want it all, Sokka, but… I'm not going to sacrifice you just to get away with everything else. It's been years since I've been past the point where I might still have trouble choosing between you and my ambitions…"
"That's heartwarming, but… we're going to do our best so you don't have to choose at all," Sokka said, reassuringly. He rubbed her back gently. "Aonu will be sorry for even trying to challenge you again."
"I hope so," said Azula, with a weak smile. "It's clear as day that he's only interested in this for social advancement, he might even say it outright, if I asked…"
"All the more reason to prove him wrong. You, and the Fire Nation, deserve better than an opportunist like that," Sokka declared, with a silly pout. Azula smiled.
"That we do. We deserve dorks who'll even protect their enemies on the battlefield right after knocking them out," she said, pulling him down to kiss his lips. "That was too gallant of you, Sokka. You need to stop doing things like that."
"Why should I?" he asked, smiling warmly at her.
"Because if you make me fall in love with you even more than I already have, I'll probably die because my body can't take it anymore," she declared. Sokka chuckled and shook his head, hugging her tightly.
"Well, damn, I'll really have to turn into a jerk," he said, kissing her brow. "I couldn't live with having killed my Princess by being too charming…"
"You certainly shouldn't, no," she said, biting her lip. "However shall you get by in life if I'm not around to make fun of you all day long?"
"I have no idea, and I don't care to find out," he smiled, kissing her lips. "We'll handle this, then. Together."
"Like we always do," Azula convened, clasping his hand hard with hers. "Like the team we've always been."
Sokka smiled proudly, his fears assuaged, if just for now. Maybe he'd grow tense and nervous again in a short while, once it sank in that he'd be facing the Millennium Dragon in battle again soon… but right now, with Azula's unconditional support, he felt invincible.
Shoji was startled when the Princess and her gladiator returned to his counter, looking defiant and determined. He nodded promptly when they voiced their intentions, quickly filling their entry for Gladiator Brawl. Then he watched them leave, still confused by whatever might have prompted this turn of events. The Princess hadn't sounded interested in joining the Brawl earlier, so why had she changed her mind so suddenly?
The matter slipped from his mind eventually, as he finished his last assignments for the time being. He couldn't stop glancing at the stairs, though, hoping to hear whatever was happening in Combustion Man and the Millennium Dragon's fight. If only it had been the final fight of the day, he would have been allowed to watch it...
But he was out of luck, especially as cheers reached him even where he sat. He sighed and pouted a little, knowing, already, what the outcome of the fight had been. Knowing, too, that it was already too late for him to enough to enjoy the spectacle.
Within minutes, people began filing through the halls and vestibules. The public was leaving, though a lot of them went to the bets' counter, happy to cash out their money. Shoji waited patiently at his counter for the staff member who would convey the fight's result. Within a few minutes, a man barely a few years older than Shoji himself turned up beside him.
"Record a new victory for Combustion Man, a loss for the Millennium Dragon," he indicated. Shoji nodded as he did as he was told. "Deduct sixty points from Combustion Man for destruction of obstacles, twenty from the Millennium Dragon."
"Sounds like it was a fierce fight," said Shoji, with a weak grin. The staff member shrugged.
"About what you'd expect from those two," he said. "Anyways, I'll be back after the next fight."
"See you in a bit, Yoo," said Shoji, waving his co-worker goodbye.
Shoji was about to start sorting the recently-arrived and filed challenges when a tall figure appeared before his counter. Distracted as he'd been by picking up the challenges from their assigned cabinet, he nearly yelped when he realized the man towering before his desk was none other than the Millennium Dragon.
"A-ah! Hi!" he exclaimed, immediately nervous. The Millennium Dragon smiled and bowed his head curtly towards Shoji.
"A good day to you too," he said. He was barely wounded, something unthinkable for any combatant who fought against Combustion Man. But aside from a few light burns on his skin, the Millennium Dragon appeared unharmed.
It wasn't the Millennium Dragon who had wanted to approach Shoji, though. His sponsor stood next to him, the stern scowl on his face ever daunting for the young man behind the counter.
"I believe you are in charge of receiving all entries for events, aren't you?" he asked. Shoji swallowed hard.
"T-that's... correct."
"Is it also correct to assume that you are free to disclose information about those events to any sponsors who may inquire about them?" Aonu continued. Shoji looked at him apprehensively.
"W-well... I suppose so," he said, for he usually had no choice but to disclose such information indeed. Mostly he was asked by the public about the upcoming challenges for their favorite fighters, which he was always obligated to share. Not a lot of sponsors had taken advantage of Shoji's observation skills, or his willingness and obligations to answer any question if he were asked... but it seemed the Millennium Dragon's sponsor was determined to make use of Shoji today.
"May I ask who has joined Gladiator Brawl so far?" Aonu inquired. Shoji grimaced.
"That's a big list, I..."
"Then never mind. Just tell me who's the latest participant to sign in," Aonu declared. Shoji gritted his teeth.
"W-well... it's the Blue Wolf," he said. Aonu's narrow eyes glinted with malice.
"I see. Please, submit an entry for the Millennium Dragon also. I wouldn't want to miss out on such a grand event for anything," he declared, rolling his eyes as Shoji nodded slowly.
"A-as you'd have it," he said, gritting his teeth afterwards as he withdrew a new form to join Gladiator Brawl, as Aonu had requested.
Before long, the paper was completely filled with all the required information, and Aonu took his leave proudly, with Renzhi by his side. The Millennium Dragon's easy-going, cheerful behavior was nowhere to be found now, though.
"Aonu..." he spoke, once they were climbing down the stairs, on their way to the street. "Are you sure about what you're doing?"
Aonu scoffed and glanced at Renzhi with mild indignation. Even though he knew Renzhi spoke from a good place, Aonu didn't enjoy it in the least when Renzhi defied his orders, even in the smallest ways.
"I am," he responded, bluntly.
"I don't think you are," Renzhi continued, prompting Aonu to walk faster. "Aonu..."
"Leave me be, Renzhi!" he growled. Renzhi huffed.
"We both know why you're doing this, Aonu, but this is not the answer..." Renzhi said, following his sponsor down the street until Aonu turned abruptly and glared at him.
"On the contrary, Renzhi, this is the only answer," he growled. "You are free in ways I'm not, even if you're the slave and I'm the master. You could love whoever you wish to, I can't! My life... love is not in the picture for me, not if I want to succeed. Not if I want to advance. Not if I want all these bastards to look me in the eye instead of scoffing at me from above!"
Renzhi closed his eyes and sighed, as Aonu's chest heaved. His partner stepped towards him and patted his shoulder gently: Aonu gritted his teeth, averting his gaze from his gladiator's own.
"I know why you're doing this," said Renzhi. "But... you're only gonna make yourself miserable, my friend. You know it just as well as I do."
"I'm already miserable," grunted Aonu, shaking his head. "And that Princess is determined to make it harder on me still. But she cannot outsmart me, no matter how hard she may try. I know our resources are limited, but we can reach the Terra Jewel, and you can defeat her gladiator there, whether there are others fighting too or not. If she wants to scurry away from me, I won't let her escape. I'll hunt her down if I must..."
"Hunting someone who's used to being the hunter? You oughtta have a better plan than this," Renzhi huffed. "Because..."
"Really? Why's that?" said Aonu, looking at him accusingly. "Oh, do you plan on losing to her gladiator on purpose, maybe? Do you want to protect my chance at finding happiness with someone else, or would you rather do your job, Renzhi?"
"I... want to protect my friend," said Renzhi, looking at Aonu earnestly. Aonu's fists clenched.
"I don't need to be protected," he huffed. "I only need... I only need the power to change my fate. I only need one blasted chance to prove my worth. And we'll find it in Gladiator Brawl. We'll find it when you beat her, fair and square, even if she doesn't see it coming."
"Even if it means you'll spend the rest of your life in an unhappy marriage?" asked Renzhi.
"I'll sacrifice my freedom if I must, Renzhi. I'm used to it by now." Aonu huffed. Renzhi closed his eyes and sighed.
"You'll at least use your newfound power as Crown Prince to make things easier on those like you, though, won't you?" Renzhi asked. Aonu nodded as his eyes narrowed again.
"That's the plan, Renzhi. That's the plan."
Their argument was far from finished, but they had a long journey ahead of themselves still. They could discuss matters at leisure once they were in private, for it wasn't wise to discuss personal matters in one of the most crowded streets of the Capital...
And indeed, what little they had exchanged had been revealing enough already.
Two sets of eyes had watched their conversation. One of the onlookers had listened in very carefully, and he had a mild frown on his face right now, distaste plain across his features. His companion eyed him carefully, though his third eye, tattooed over his forehead, naturally didn't shift in any direction.
Admiral Zhao smirked eventually, looking at his gladiator with a smug smile.
"He's finally made his move, it seems," he said. "Utterly predictable, isn't he? And yet... of all places to challenge the Princess, whether directly or indirectly, he chooses Gladiator Brawl? So unwise..."
Combustion Man remained stoic, for this matter didn't concern him in the least and Zhao knew it. But it concerned Zhao in enough ways, and the main amongst them was to make amends for a mistake he had yet to correct...
"Well, if that's how it is..." he whispered: new strategies were developing quickly inside his mind and he'd put them into action as soon as possible…