Zhao had been punctual on the appointed day for the High Tier's reunion. Azula had waited patiently for most the day, holding back from visiting Sokka despite she would have rather spent her day with him instead. She had told him about the meeting, and although he hadn't been pleased to hear they would be apart for one day, he had admitted eventually that it was for the best. Too often it warmed Azula's heart to see him as eager to help her obtain acknowledgement as she was. They had both fought to fulfill each other's dreams, whether consciously or not: she had never expected to have a partnership of the sort with anyone, but now that she did, she treasured it with all her heart.
The strength their bond provided her with would help her endure the worst of the noblemen today, she knew as much. Her eyes fell upon the carriage at the Palace gates as soon as it came into view, and she nodded in Zhao's direction once his driver opened the door for her. Zhao seemed amused by her choice in clothing.
"Fully armored, are you?" he asked her. Azula raised her eyebrows as she climbed opposite to him.
"You're one to talk" she said. Zhao chuckled, crossing his arms over his breastplate "Even in my father's most formal events you continue to wear that armor. I honestly wonder if you simply have no other available clothes…"
"I suppose we both feel most comfortable when we're ready for anything" Zhao said "That's why it's funny to see you in armor too. We're likely to be the only ones in such a getup at the meeting"
"Hopefully that shall daunt the most arrogant and obnoxious of them" Azula said, sighing.
The carriage was in motion shortly, and Azula lifted the curtains to gaze out through the windows. Zhao remained silent while they made their way out of the city, and it wasn't until Azula glanced at him again that she found him with his eyes closed, resting against the carriage wall. Her stomach churned, and it took her a moment to realize what the true source of her anxiety was: she had been comfortable, dozing off in a carriage once before, disregarding all vigilance as the wheels brought her closer and closer to a White Lotus ambush.
It was foolish to be so nervous while in the Fire Nation, of course it was, and yet she couldn't help it. She couldn't relax, no matter if she knew her destination wasn't going to be anywhere near as grim as the clearing where Sokka had nearly died.
She needed to think of something else, fast. She had evoked that moment more often than she intended to in recent times, for she didn't want to evoke it at all. She cleared her throat, startling Zhao out of his attempted nap.
"Yes?" said Zhao.
"Is there any further preparation I'll need for this?" Azula asked, trying to sound as casual as possible "Any sponsors to talk to, any to avoid?"
"Hmm… well, you must speak to Yen, of course, as he's the host this evening" said Zhao "But I recommend that you don't give him too much attention, he's ever eager to be in the spotlight and very irritating whenever he thinks he's in it. As for other sponsors you could meet… The Light Bearer's is sure to be there. He lives in Fire Fountain City, but he's been in the Capital for a few weeks, no doubt to attend this event… though, wait, you already know him"
"Do I?" Azula asked, raising her eyebrows "Well, I think I saw him arguing with Shoji once, but…"
She frowned, the memory of the man suddenly bringing her to make a connection that had eluded her before.
"Wait, that's why he was familiar" she said, eyes wide "He's the Dark Rook's sponsor too?"
"That's one nasty story, Princess" said Zhao, sighing "I'd do best to tell you myself, then you can avoid having Koshing boasting about it for hours on end"
"Alright…" said Azula, raising an eyebrow.
"The Dark Rook is the Light Bearer's twin, a non-bending twin to a firebending one" Zhao explained "They aren't slaves, not officially… but their father, a mid-ranked nobleman from Fire Fountain City, caught a very serious disease he's still not fully recovered from. Most his family's funds were invested into healing him, to the point where they even sold their estate… and I believe that's where Koshing took advantage of the situation: he offered to help the whole family by sponsoring the twins in the Gladiator League, agreeing on a deal where a share of the money would be invested in continuing the medical care for their father. You'd think that's quite selfless… but as the pair was so successful, Koshing made more than enough money to buy back their estate without telling them about it. The father has improved under Koshing's care, but he's as good as holding him hostage by now: the Light Bearer and Dark Rook must continue to work and win for him or he'll cut off the medical care for their father…"
"And he takes pride in this?" Azula asked, looking at Zhao with judgmental eyes "Unsurprising, coming from a nobleman, and yet…"
"He takes a lot of pride in it, yes" said Zhao "As far as he can see, his simple scheme to gain a bit more money at the boys' expense has thrown him into stardom. He's particularly hard on the Light Bearer, he's the one with the better chance at dethroning Combustion Man… and yet he stands no chance at all. I have no idea if he ever plans on letting go of those two, but he's corralled them into needing him, all for his own gain"
"I suppose the High Tier is full of such stories, huh?" Azula said. Zhao shrugged.
"Not everyone is as straightforward as I was, it's true" he said. Azula raised her eyebrows.
"You simply hired a former assassin, that was that?" she asked. Zhao smiled.
"He knew it was a better deal than being a killer-for-hire. Especially when his skills are completely unsuited for stealth. He's tall, burly, heavy, his metal limbs and tattoo make him stand out in any crowd, and his fighting style couldn't go unnoticed no matter how hard he tries, so…"
"So, a life as a gladiator suits him better" said Azula "Being flashy, messy and well-known is much more advantageous when combustion bending comprises the bulk of his skillset"
"Indeed. He's not a slave, either" said Zhao "Simply a man for whom our partnership would be very convenient"
"Are there less slave gladiators than non-slave gladiators in the High Tier?" Azula asked "It seems fitting, access to better bending and weapons masters is generally reserved for the upper class…"
"That's so, and you're right to guess as much" said Zhao "But there are still several slave gladiators in the High Tier, official slaves, not like the Light Bearer or the Dark Rook. I believe… well, Writhing Rat is a slave, have no doubts about it"
"Writing Rat" Azula repeated, grimacing "I think I read the name a few times…"
"If you already think poorly of Koshing, well, Cheung Li's is far worse than him" said Zhao "Writhing Rat is an earthbender, Cheung Li keeps him leashed and in deplorable conditions. He keeps advising everyone to be harsher to their slaves, because it's the only way to keep them on their best behavior…"
"That's bound to be rich" Azula said sighing and shaking her head "Is Cheung Li an up-and-coming nobleman, or from the outer islands? I can't remember hearing about him before"
"A merchant, actually" said Zhao "He's made a lot of money in the Colonies, he's in the pottery business. I believe he resides in Omashu, if I'm not mistaken, but has made more than enough money by torturing the slave earthbenders at his service. He singled out the gladiator amongst the many earthbenders in his custody upon identifying he would be useful as a fighter… and that's his story, I suppose"
"And I assume they all love to ramble about who they are and what they do, huh?" Azula asked "I doubt you'd remember all their stories so well after all these years unless that were the case"
"Indeed, I've only been to a few meetings since I came back but they're all happy to regale newcomers with the tales all over again" said Zhao "There's still quite a bit of journey to go, though. I guess I can try to summarize the rest of them as fast as I can for you, that way you can shut them down if they try to use their life's stories to impress you"
"Sounds like a plan" said Azula, smirking a little "Not that I'll enjoy most these stories, I'm sure… but being one step ahead of them could be a useful tool"
"No doubt" said Zhao, smirking too before carrying on with the next worrisome sponsor, this time Salamander Fire's.
They reached Yen's estate by sunset: the enclosure of the large territory was a lavish white wall with the classic Fire Nation red-tiled roof. The building at the center could have been imposing and impressive to anyone who wasn't used to luxuries, but for the Princess's standards, the nobleman's house didn't stand out from the rest of the estates she had visited through her lifetime.
Many carriages were lined up near the building, indicating several guests were already here. Once she climbed off her own vehicle, Azula counted at least fifteen carriages. She doubted every sponsor from the top hundred would attend these events, so she didn't expect the final number of guests to increase much.
"Are you ready?" Zhao asked Azula. She breathed deeply and shrugged.
"It's not bound to be too different from what I'm used to" she said "At any rate, point the Mad Alchemist's sponsor out to me as soon as you see him. I'd rather be done with that matter as soon as I have a chance"
"I doubt he's here yet" Zhao said "But don't worry, I'll make sure to let you know when he arrives. And of course, feel free to let me know whenever you've had enough, Princess"
"If I did, we'd probably only spend five minutes in this meeting" Azula smiled. Zhao laughed.
"That's fair. Then, let me know when you decide it's appropriate for us to take our leave" he said, guiding the way to the building's entrance.
There was no herald nor servants nearby to guide them to wherever the gathering was being held, but Zhao seemed to expect this. He knew his way through the mansion's corridors just fine, and Azula followed cautiously until they reached an open courtyard: lamps lit the small garden and its many tables. Going by the splendid food plates on each table, it seemed the meeting was also a feast. Servants scurried around through the room quickly, all to cater to the group of men sitting at the tables, especially at the largest of them.
One glance at the loudly laughing man with the puffy beard was enough for Azula to single him out as Yen. He sat at the center of the biggest table, and he seemed to take up more space than he really did merely with his large presence and rambunctious laughter. Around him sat many more sponsors, some young, some old, some disturbingly thin, others quite fat. All the kinds of noblemen Azula had grown accustomed to through her teenage years seemed to be here: not only were they unnecessarily overdressed, but a tension in the atmosphere evidenced this was no casual encounter between good friends, despite it was poorly masqueraded as such. This was a silent war, not too different from what had happened in Gladiator Brawl, merely fought with fancy words and pretenses of civility instead of bare fists.
Zhao schooled his face into what Azula recognized immediately as his business façade. He smiled smugly, approaching the crowded table with his head held high. She followed, trying to betray no uncertainty, but keeping her distance all the same.
Eyes followed Zhao from other tables, but soon they fell upon her instead. Mutters began to spread behind her, and the change in the mood brought to attention that a newcomer had arrived.
"Oh, Yen, look who's here" said the man sitting beside the gathering's host; Azula didn't recognize him.
"Admiral Zhao!" Yen said, laughing as he pushed himself up from his seat "Here I was starting to wonder if you weren't…!"
Yen fell silent suddenly, eyes wide when he caught sight of the young woman behind Zhao. She didn't smile, her golden eyes analyzing the room and its occupants carefully. Yen blinked a couple of times before smiling awkwardly at Zhao.
"Admiral Zhao?"
"I'm sorry for my tardiness, though I was sure it wasn't all that late" Zhao smiled, shaking his head "Well, that'll be my bad, if it's so. I had to take a short detour before coming here, there's a new member for us to introduce to this merry group"
Some looked confused, others seemed outright scared. A few looked irritated, but to Azula's surprise, it wasn't many of them. One man stood up too and smiled, looking at her with smug amusement. This time she identified him immediately.
"We meet again, and not too long since our last encounter" said Koshing, bowing his head towards her "Though I don't believe any of us expected you to be amongst us this soon…"
"To be quite fair, I didn't expect to be either" Azula said, with a dry smile "I assume the Dark Rook has recovered well after his last fight?"
"Oh, perhaps. Truth be told, I don't make it my business to ensure he's healed fully" said Koshing, dismissively. Azula arched an eyebrow "If he gets himself killed in battle, that's his problem"
"I suspect you don't quite feel the same way about your favorite gladiator, though" Azula said. Koshing smirked.
"Ah, well. He's a different story" he said "Still, I'm hardly watching over Sei all the time either. I have more than enough things to do rather than busying myself over those two…"
"The Gladiator Business is just a source of entertainment, after all" Azula said, nodding. Koshing smirked.
"Quite so. And it is entertaining, but it should be no one's priority" he said. Azula smiled.
"What is your priority, then, if I may ask?" she said "I fear I hear very little of whatever happens in Fire Fountain City these days. What other activities occupy that much of your time, if I can inquire?"
"Why, I'm in the transportation business" said Koshing, proudly "I have quite a fleet, you see…"
"Koshing, why are you talking to the Princess like that, without introducing any of us?" Yen scolded Koshing, with a playful smile. Koshing frowned as soon as Azula's eyes drifted away from him and to the head of the house.
"Well, I'd expect you'd be perfectly capable of introducing yourself without Koshing's involvement, right?" Azula asked, looking at Yen skeptically. Yen coughed and smiled, nodding promptly. A few of the men at the table smiled at Azula's words.
"Of course I am, Princess, of course" said Yen "I'm Yen, the head of the Zhuge household. I was invited to your birthday feast when you were, uh… sixteen, I believe"
"Of course" said Azula, with a weak grin. That he hadn't been invited since then could only mean Ozai cared little for the man. Knowing as much explained his eagerness to obtain Azula's attention.
"It's my honor to host you, the first woman to ever join a High Tier meeting!" exclaimed Yen, laughing "Welcome, welcome, take a seat wherever you please! There's plenty of food, if you're hungry, and if you need anything at all don't hesitate to ask!"
"How is it you're here so soon, if I may inquire, Princess Azula?" asked a man suddenly. This one didn't stand up: he was one of the few who had frowned upon seeing her "I can't say I pay much attention to whatever happens below the top hundred, but I don't believe you were in a position to join us yet…"
"You don't pay attention to what happens within the top hundred either, from the sounds of it" said Koshing, smirking. Some chuckles were heard in the room, but the man's stern glare proved he found no amusement in the matter.
"The Princess's latest victory awarded her with enough points to rise to the… ninety-eighth position, was it?" Zhao recited. Azula nodded.
"I've scheduled more fights, too" she said "Seeing as my gladiator has been on a victory spree for over a year, I'm quite sure I won't drop off the top hundred anytime soon"
"Sounds like you're quite certain of that" said the man. Azula smiled.
"Sounds like you'd like to contest my claims" she said "Is there any need for such hostility? Are you in the ninety-ninth position, perhaps, and threatened by my rise in the ranking?"
"Not at all" said the man, shaking his head "My gladiator is Torchlight. I'm thirty-ninth, so sixty positions above you"
"For now" Azula said, with a dry grin. The man's momentary confidence was quickly replaced with indignation, though most the men in the room seemed amused by how she'd shut down Torchlight's sponsor with such ease.
"Well, I for one am very pleased that you're here" said another man, a younger one, who got up to his feet and bowed to Azula "My name is Li Chen, and I sponsor The Mammoth. He's quite a strong firebender, I'm sure you must have heard of him"
"Can't say that I have, but I'll take your word for it" said Azula, quickly assessing the man's intentions. He laughed softly.
"Perhaps you would like for our gladiators to acquaint themselves, then" he said "It would only be fitting, of course, for you to challenge stronger enemies if you wish to continue rising in the ranking"
"I'm aware, it's why I've done as much" said Azula, nodding "Seeing as my gladiator has already defeated the Millennium Dragon twice, I think we've very much proven we are fit for this High Tier of yours, huh?"
"O-oh, yes. The Millennium Dragon…" Li Chen said, his smile waning now. Azula smiled derisively, having known her words would have the effect she needed them to: Li Chen was within a suitable age range to look for a wife, but he would be quite foolish to expect his gladiator to overcome Sokka when Renzhi had failed to do so.
"Those are some of the fascinating anecdotes you ought to share with us, Princess" said Koshing, spreading a hand towards an empty chair nearby "Do regale us with the tales of how your gladiator has triumphed for as long as he has. I have a non-bending prodigy of my own and yet yours defeated him all the same…"
"Is it true your gladiator asked for more time in that fight?" asked a man who had yet to introduce himself. Azula raised her eyebrows and sighed, hands on her hips.
"Sometimes I think he hates the Gladiator Business, and sometimes it looks like he's having the time of his life in the Arena" she said "After all these years of sponsoring him I think I still have ways to go before I can truly understand how his mind works"
"Understanding your gladiator? Who would want to do that?" said a bearded, angry-looking man. Azula raised her eyebrows in his direction next, and he nodded towards her "Cheung Li. I sponsor the Writhing Rat"
"Of course" said Azula, with a dry smile "Well, I'd say understanding your gladiator ought to give you a better opportunity to improve their talents so they can become stronger. I suppose it's not apparent to everyone, but demanding for a starving child to overpower a wild boar is an exercise in futility. If your gladiator is, for instance, failing to defeat firebenders, you ought to figure out why it's happening and how to improve their skills… that, I believe is the point in understanding a gladiator. Otherwise, rising to these heights in the ranking would take someone, oh, I don't know, over five hundred fights?"
Her latest comment seared the pride in nearly every man in the room. Nearly, though. Several of them had never been anywhere other than in the top hundred, after all. It was easy to tell apart the ones who had never left the top hundred for the smiles on their faces after her words. The rest of them looked as though she'd slammed into them with a train-tank. No doubt, reaching the point she had in the ranking without even a hundred fights wasn't a feat many of the present sponsors had achieved: nearly everyone in the High Tier had around six hundred fights to their names, if not more than that.
"And that's indeed a lot of wisdom you ought to share with us" Koshing repeated, smirking at the sight of all the indignant sponsors around them "It's quite clear you wouldn't have risen this far if you weren't an accomplished sponsor, so… how did you train your non-bender into even defeating the Millennium Dragon?"
Azula smiled and decided to comply with the man's insistent questions, even though the more she looked at him, the more she disliked him. She took her seat at the table and explained Sokka's training without going into full details about it, explaining as well how his fights with the Millennium Dragon had unfolded. As far as she remembered, Renzhi's only losses had been dealt to him by Combustion Man and Sokka: surely Koshing wanted advice so he could have his Light Bearer overpower the Millennium Dragon one day.
Transportation, though… the man made a living off a civilian fleet that transported goods, surely, between the Fire Nation and the Colonies. If he had many ships then he would have made a lot of money easily, and that would have enabled him to ensnare his two gladiators by as good as buying their father's health as he had. Why did he want gladiators, though? Just to boast, just to take pride in the power he held over others? Something was off about Koshing, about his proud and nonchalant attitude, about his eagerness to watch her tear down others with her words. He reminded her of Zhao, but a lot less subtle about his greed and ambitions.
By the time Zhao nudged her, Yen was rambling about all the different kinds of vegetables and fruit his estate produced. Azula glanced over her shoulder to notice a nervous, old man at the door, covered in a black cloak. His hair was white, his nose was unusually large, and he had a walking stick despite he wasn't using it at the moment. Azula raised an eyebrow, regarding the man with curiosity while the others continued speaking at leisure.
"How should I proceed?" she asked Zhao "Would it suffice to bluntly challenge him, or am I expected to be subtle and cautious?"
"Hmm… I'm not sure" said Zhao, frowning "I suppose the bluntness ought to pay off, or…"
"Ah, Goro is here?" Koshing said, at Azula's other side "Finally"
"You have business with him?" Zhao asked. Koshing smirked.
"No, I'd rather just help the Princess achieve hers" he said, before clearing his throat and calling out: "Goro!"
The old man seemed surprised to hear his name called, but he smiled as he strode towards the main table. Naturally, Yen greeted him rambunctiously, as did many other sponsors, but Koshing merely waited, a knowing, wicked smirk on his lips while Goro smiled politely.
"It is good to see you all, yes" said the man, with a sibilant voice.
"May I introduce you to our newest member, Goro?" Koshing finally said. Azula raised her head as Goro blinked blankly in Koshing's direction.
The Dark Rook's sponsor extended a hand towards Azula, and Goro stared at her cluelessly briefly. It took him longer than most people to recognize the golden armor, and the hairpiece on her head…
"It's my pleasure to make your acquaintance" Azula finally said, smiling "I take it you sponsor the Mad Alchemist?"
"Oh, uh, that's correct, young lady!" said Goro, beaming, before looking at Koshing inquisitively "Is this… your daughter?"
"That… no. In case you forgot, I have no children" Koshing said, with a skeptical grin while most the onlookers laughed. Azula raised an eyebrow as Goro glanced at her again.
"Well, I am Goro, yes!" said the man, nodding "And I sponsor the Mad Alchemist indeed, but, uh, who might you be?"
"I'm the Blue Wolf's sponsor" Azula said, curtly "If you're curious about who my father is, well, it's the Fire Lord"
Goro stared at her in further confusion, while a few chuckles were heard across the table. She stared back at him nonchalantly, until Goro smiled and nodded.
"It's a joke! Ha! A joke! Good one, Yen, you got me good this time! You always do this, but I never…!"
"Goro" said Yen, with a nervous smile, sweat glistening on his forehead "This is indeed who she says she is. It's Princess Azula!"
"Princess…? Really, now?!" said Goro, looking at her closer now, his jaw dropping as he stared at her.
Naturally, Azula inched away from the man by instinct, unwilling to let anyone barge into her personal space as easily as that. Her face was contorted with distaste, something she knew only increased the amusement of the men around this table.
"Well, I'll be damned!" said the man, finally pulling away and staring at Azula as though she belonged to some sort of foreign species "The Princess… and you sponsor a gladiator?"
"This is the first you hear of it?" Azula asked. Koshing snorted and shook his head.
"Not at all, we've discussed you before, but Goro is generally so lost in his own thoughts he forgets everything outside of his workshop fun with his little gladiator" Koshing taunted, his voice mocking. Goro smiled awkwardly and shrugged.
"I mean no offense…" he said "It's merely… I had no idea, none at all! What kind of gladiator do you sponsor?"
"Currently? The second-best non-bender, it would seem" Azula said, bluntly. Goro's eyes widened.
"Is that so?" he asked. She nodded promptly.
"Of course, I'd like to change that, but I can't unless you accept my challenge" she said, smiling "I've asked in the Royal Dome for the past few days and you have yet to accept or decline…"
"Oh, you sent me a challenge?! Ah! I forgot entirely to check!" laughed Goro, shaking his head "Well, do pardon me, Princess! I will give you an answer for sure once I go home and…!"
"Oh, no, not this time, Goro" Koshing said, shaking his head "That's what you told me the last time I challenged you, and you kept me waiting for three months"
"Same as when I did, he just dodged me for half a year" said another man at the table.
"Is that so?" Azula asked, amused "Why's that, if I may ask? Are you not so concerned with the healthy competition between sponsors and gladiators…?"
"Well, that's not…! Not exactly it" said Goro, grimacing. Koshing chuckled before Zhao answered.
"You see, Princess, Goro never really wanted to be as high as he is in the ranking, but his gladiator has been here since the League begun and, for reasons unknown, has always remained within the top hundred…"
"Goro here doesn't want to add more losses to his fighter's history, so the higher and more dangerous the rival, the less likely he is to accept their challenges" Koshing finished.
"If that's so, a fighter who's only ninety-eighth in the ranking should hardly be a cause for concern…" Azula said, innocently. Goro swallowed hard.
"How long has it taken you to rise this high, if I may..?"
"Three years" Azula answered, nodding "Well, around three years and two months to this day, pretty much"
Goro's eyes widened. His bushy eyebrows had generally hidden his small eyes through their conversation until now. Azula looked at him with interest: his reaction brought her to suspect that the man was sharper than many others in this room.
The Gladiator Business meant something different to Goro than it did to everyone else here, Azula could tell easily. As Sokka had suggested, perhaps the Mad Alchemist merely wanted to test his products and inventions… perhaps Goro wanted to protect his partner, and the Mad Alchemist just happened to remain so high in the ranking that, to this day, he was always at risk of being challenged by rivals who wanted to crush him.
There was no doubt Koshing wished to have an opportunity to prove the Dark Rook was superior to the Mad Alchemist, for his insistence on forcing Goro to fight Azula hinted at some sort of resentment towards the man. If Sokka defeated the Mad Alchemist, the Blue Wolf would be the superior non-bending gladiator. That would turn Sokka into the target, into the man to defeat, for all non-bending gladiators…
It was quite likely that, if Sokka became the known top non-bending gladiator, she'd have to deal with Koshing's attempts to assert his non-bending gladiator as superior to her own: just for convenience, he wanted Sokka to defeat the Mad Alchemist. The Princess was ambitious, it was apparent to anyone, and Goro simply wasn't. He didn't take the Gladiator League seriously, whereas Azula did. It was convienient for Koshing to help her dethrone the Mad Alchemist, even if not in terms of points, since Goro surely had spent ages avoiding fighting him and accepting less dangerous opponents instead. Azula wasn't as likely to do that as he was. Suddenly, his behavior during the Dark Rook's fight against Sokka made a lot more sense than it had that day.
"Well that is… that is extraordinary" said Goro, smiling at Azula and nodding towards her "I'm sure you've made your father quite proud with your achievements!"
"Admittedly, he cares little for the League, but he does seem to enjoy hearing I've been successful so far" Azula said, with an earnest grin. Goro laughed and nodded.
"Well, that's all good, then! That's all good. Now, if you'll excuse me… I need to visit the restroom" he said, smiling awkwardly at Yen. Yen laughed and nodded.
"Don't try to escape through the window or so!" said Yen "You owe the Princess an answer, after all!"
"Right, right" said Goro, nodding and walking off carefully. Still, he didn't use his cane. Azula couldn't help but wonder if it was a weapon or a mere accessory.
"Crafty old man" said Koshing, shaking his head once Goro was gone "If he had his way, he'd come to these meetings merely to ask everyone to stop challenging him instead"
"He really seems quite evasive" Azula commented, sipping her drink. Koshing shook his head.
"He's a scaredy-cat, rather" said Koshing "He only accepts challenges when he needs the money to get by, pretty much, and always avoids anyone who's too high in the ranking. He's only breaching the top fifty these days because he kept accepting safe challenges. Never pushing his gladiator into a serious fight…"
"Have your gladiators fought him?" Azula asked. Koshing nodded.
"The Light Bearer won" he said, smirking proudly, though the smile soured quickly "The Dark Rook… unsurprisingly failed. Kei isn't as sharp as his brother on any day, regrettable as it may be"
"You managed to challenge him with the Light Bearer, though" said Zhao, amused "How did you achieve that?"
"Oh, I tricked him into thinking the challenger was the Dark Rook instead" Koshing said, smirking "That's why he refuses to take any challenges by me lately. Such a shame, at that…"
"So, even if your gladiator were strong enough by now to defeat his, you can't really prove it because he won't even accept your challenges?" Zhao asked. Koshing nodded.
"And isn't that pointless, really? We all want to be the best at what we do, that's human nature" said Koshing, shrugging "As far as I can tell, the Dark Rook is already talented enough to go toe-to-toe with the Mad Alchemist… but perhaps you will be the one who will succeed at beating him?"
With that, Koshing glanced at Azula. She set down the glass and shrugged.
"I assume you'll be more than happy to challenge my gladiator again, if he happens to outdo the Mad Alchemist?" she asked. Koshing laughed.
"And this time, I will be sure the Dark Rook is in his very best shape" said Koshing "The best weapons and armor, too…"
"In short, you were counting on him losing the other day" Azula said. Koshing smirked.
"Sometimes you have to play the long game, Princess. A couple of lost fights are meaningless in the face of winning the overarching war. Seeing as your gladiator has lost a few times as well, I'd think you'd understand…"
"I do, completely" said Azula, nodding "You have a curious way of doing things, nonetheless"
"I'll take that as a compliment" said Koshing, chuckling and draining his own drink.
"Now, if you'll excuse me…" Azula said, pushing herself up "Where is, indeed, the restroom? I'd like to make sure Goro didn't escape after all"
Zhao smiled and answered her with the proper directions. Azula nodded and walked off, breathing deeply as she made her way to where the old sponsor was supposed to be. Winning, losing… everything was a tool for Koshing. His gladiators were merely tiles in his own Pai Sho game, not too differently from how Iroh often seemed to carry himself. Though, admittedly, Iroh seemed to genuinely enjoy a few things in life, and by now Azula guessed he truly cared about Toph… Koshing seemed to care for nothing but himself, his pride, his achievements and successes. A typical nobleman, no doubt. Azula grimaced, wondering if the bastard was even married to begin with… if he wasn't, she wouldn't be shocked if he tried to slip in a marriage proposal while challenging Sokka with either of his gladiators. All be it to further himself in society, as usual…
She found Goro standing alone near a window, not too far from the restroom Zhao had directed her to. The man was staring out through the glass, hugging himself, his walking stick tucked in his elbow. Azula breathed deeply and stepped towards him, making as little noise as she could. Even so, the metal soles of her feet eventually alerted the man of her presence. He looked at her in surprise, as though he wanted to run away.
"P-Princess, I was on my way back! I just got distracted with…"
Azula raised a hand in his direction before glancing out the window as well. She raised her eyebrows upon noticing the night sky was clear, with stars glowing brightly above them. It seemed there was no moon tonight.
"A remarkable night sky" she said. Goro nodded promptly.
"And it's barely beginning, too!" he said "The stars put on quite a spectacle in moonless nights. It's the best way to work on celestial maps, but… well, this meeting was scheduled today. I told Takase to keep track of the stars for me, but heavens know if he'll do as I asked…"
"You're an astronomer?" Azula asked. Goro smiled and nodded.
"That I am!" he said "Though, well, it's only because my family fortune allowed me to pursue that career for most my life…"
"Koshing implied you'd use your gladiator to avert money problems…" Azula said "I suppose now that's not quite right, if your family fortune keeps you afloat"
"It does, it does. Koshing is a fool" said Goro, shaking his head "A self-obsessed fool, at that. Most people in that room are, that's for sure"
"I could tell" Azula said, smiling uneasily "Frankly, I've seldom met nobles who behave any differently from this"
"Well, now you have" said Goro, smiling at her "I'd sooner watch stars than fight for power and wealth. My gladiator and I, well… we work together on his inventions. Whenever he's excited about his latest creations we test them in the ring, and curses, has that been risky… but it's paid off more often than not, too. Still… Takase never intended to become as highly ranked as he is. One day we started receiving so many challenges because the highest non-bender at the time, around six years ago, was killed… until then, we hadn't even noticed we were in the top hundred!"
"And I assume that's when this funny lot started hounding you about attending their meetings?" Azula asked. Goro sighed and nodded.
"I only attend them so I won't seem too rude, but…"
"You could drop out from the ranking" Azula smiled. Goro looked at her in surprise "Have your gladiator craft and stock up on new weapons, test them within a year, after you have a chance to return to the League. That way you'll be back in the lower levels of the ranking, and this group will leave you be"
"And that way… you'll be sponsoring the top non-bender, too?" said Goro. Azula shrugged.
"Admittedly, I'd rather our gladiators fought each other" she said "I have the feeling it would be a fight for the ages. But I also have the feeling you're quite tired of the Gladiator Business or, perhaps, of the High Tier. People think you're strange… most everyone I asked about you said you were. Now I realize you're merely a man for whom the Gladiator Business is a secondary interest, a nobleman with no aspirations beyond, well, science, looks like. As far as I can tell, it means you're the most interesting member of this whole group"
"That… that is quite flattering" said Goro, laughing "A beautiful lady saying I'm interesting, what has the world come to, eh?"
Azula smiled as Goro chuckled, shaking his head. Breeze picked up through the windows, brushing through Azula's dark hair gently.
"I can understand if you'd rather protect your gladiator from mine… frankly, I tend to protect mine quite a lot as well" she said "He was, well, quite breakable when our partnership began. And no doubt, he's been through certain ordeals that have left him with some bad wounds… yet I continue to fight, and he continues to fight for me. His resolve is probably stronger than mine in many days, and I'm grateful for it"
"Why?" asked Goro, raising his eyebrows "Why would he want to fight so badly…? Is he one of those violence-loving gladiators, perhaps?"
"Not at all" Azula said, smiling and shaking her head "He is a warrior, that's true enough, but… he likes meeting other warriors like himself, looks like. He enjoys fighting to his best, especially against opponents who will respect him for who he is. As for violent, harsh fights… he doesn't enjoy them at all. But just a few days ago he fought the Dark Rook, and… well, he defeated him quite thoroughly, but the Dark Rook proved to be a respectful, inventive, skilled warrior. Talented in ways his sponsor couldn't possibly hope to be. So… my gladiator was pleased enough to even seal the fight with a handshake. It surprised me, but… I'm not even sure why it would, at this point. He's always been unpredictable that way"
"He sounds like the kind of man Takase would like to fight" said Goro, chuckling.
"Sokka develops weapons of his own, too" Azula said, smiling "Bombs, mainly, but it's still something they'd have in common. If you're afraid Sokka will try to kill your gladiator, well, don't be. He's not going to do something like that unless yours tries to kill him first"
"Eh… that is, indeed, the hazard" said Goro. Azula raised her eyebrows and Goro smiled guiltily "Takase has gone a little too far with his weapons sometimes. He's, well… accidentally killed a few gladiators in the past"
"Huh" said Azula, frowning.
"It's generally not his intent, but… some of his developments are too risky and he doesn't test them properly beforehand" said Goro, shaking his head "Your gladiator sounds strong, though, so… if Takase is foolish enough to pose a real threat, I suppose your gladiator might cut him down?"
"Maybe. Though he prefers destroying the enemy's weapons" Azula admitted. Goro chuckled.
"Then you might as well kill him, he's always devastated when anything happens to his creations" said Goro "Oh, at any rate… it seems our gladiators could give each other the worst fight of their lifetimes, or the best. It's hard to say, eh?"
"If you order your gladiator not to kill mine, I'll gladly do the same" Azula said, smiling. Goro laughed.
"That, hopefully, will convince Takase to hold back, then" he said "And if you win…"
"If I win, Sokka may finally provide you with some respite" Azula said "Even if it won't be official until we surpass you in terms of points, Sokka would become the best non-bender of the League…"
"Are you sure you can put up with Koshing's irritating persistent challenges…?" asked Goro, eyeing Azula cautiously "And the others, too. He's hardly the only one…"
"No need to worry" Azula said, smiling and nodding "As it is… I trust my gladiator won't falter easily. We haven't come this far without facing serious challenges before"
"Such as?" asked Goro.
"Sokka has beaten the Millennium Dragon twice" Azula said. Goro's jaw dropped "And we've also won in the Slate twice… granted, the second wasn't the harshest of fights, but still…"
"That's… goodness" said Goro, laughing "Ah, goes to show I ought to pay more attention to the League, eh?"
"Perhaps you only need to read the Chronicles more often" Azula suggested, amused "A writer has been hired lately to further promote the League through articles that review the best of the League's weekly fights…"
"Why, I hadn't even heard of that!" said Goro, laughing still "Perhaps the Gladiator Business is more fun these days than it used to be, eh?"
"Perhaps" said Azula, smiling "Well, then… will you accept my challenge? If you need more time to ponder it, I won't bother you about it…"
"Oh… you sound more sensible and smarter than all these fools would together" said Goro, shaking his head "I may regret this, if you're merely putting up an act…"
"I was putting up a much bigger act in front of them than you, if you must know" Azula said. Goro chuckled.
"Good. Good" he said "Then… I'll answer your challenge once I'm home, Princess. Three weeks of preparation should be good, yes?"
"Seems reasonable" Azula agreed, smiling "Thank you. Whatever the outcome, hopefully our gladiators will meet a decent match in each other, huh?"
"Hopefully indeed" said Goro, chuckling "Takase no doubt has wanted a worthy rival for years now"
Azula smiled and breathed deeply. This old man was still strange, but not in an unsettling way, at least. Of all her new acquaintances today, he seemed the least dislikeable of them all, quite possibly because he seemed to respect and care about his gladiator rather than merely wanting to use him as a tool to further his social and political agenda.
There was nothing as noteworthy for the rest of the evening, as far as Azula could see. She merely sat back at the table and listened to the men argue, laugh, bicker and taunt each other until she noticed Zhao seemed to have had his fill of the superfluous conflicts. Within less than half an hour since her conversation with Goro, Zhao already excused them both from the meeting and guided her back to his carriage: his driver had been passing the time and boredom with the many other chauffeurs, and he was quick to steer the carriage's moose dragons towards the Capital once more.
"Well, then… was that what you hoped it would be, Princess?" Zhao asked Azula. He looked far more exhausted than she expected him to.
"Quite so" said Azula, nodding "It would seem social events are taking a toll on you lately, Admiral. I can't remember you struggling through them in the past…"
"I admit, these meetings are by far the most tedious I've ever had to attend" he said, groaning and shaking his head "Their usefulness can't be denied, especially if Ozai wants me to deal with an unruly sponsor or two, but…"
Azula's eyes narrowed noticeably. Zhao looked at her with surprise, forgetting his train of thought at her reaction.
"Are you and Ozai still on bad terms, even now?" he asked. Azula lowered her gaze "I thought your problems were long over, whatever they were…"
"I wouldn't say we're on bad terms, no" Azula said "I suppose there are just several problems he has handled in ways I can't quite approve of. But that's neither here nor there"
"I see" said Zhao, blinking blankly.
"Have you had to do it on many occasions?" she asked "Executing gladiators by his command, I mean"
"Oh, well, not too many" Zhao said, shrugging "But every now and then he does send me a message if he needs me to set someone straight, yes. Hasn't done it in a while, though"
Azula nodded, her gaze on her lap. Either her father was trying to restrain himself to avoid antagonizing his daughter… or she was deluding herself and wishing for the impossible. Ozai was incorrigible, she knew as much, and in ways far more dangerous than Sokka's own and renowned incorrigibleness. When the Fire Lord had it in his head that he was doing the right thing, there was no changing his mind. She wasn't strong enough, or scary enough, to daunt him into stopping his unlawful, extra-judicial executions.
"At any rate, you did get what you wanted, didn't you?" Zhao asked "You were gone for a while, and so was Goro…"
"Only time will tell" Azula acknowledged, resting against the back of the carriage "I'd like to think I read him right, and posed my challenge so that he would find it agreeable to accept it… but who knows, perhaps I read him wrong and he's a craftier old man than I think. Until I receive confirmation by the Dome's staff that he has actually agreed to my challenge, I won't assume I convinced him to accept it"
"Fair enough" said Zhao, smirking "I hope you succeeded regardless. Goro seemed a lot less stressed out after his visit to the, well, restroom, so…"
"I suppose he was. And if I misread him today, I guess I'll have to analyze him all over again…" Azula mused, staring through the windows at the starry sky. Despite she wanted to be prepared for anything, something told her she wasn't wrong about her assessment of Goro…
But it was still true that she wouldn't know for sure until later that week, and she would do best to exercise her patience for the time being. Her conversation with Goro had been enlightening in many regards, and she had understood the great risks that could come from obtaining a position like the one they were vying for. It didn't matter if they didn't outdo the Mad Alchemist in the ranking, as long as they outdid him directly in the ring…
It was curious to think that she had once dismissed Sokka's notion of defeating Combustion Man as the quickest way to the top. He had suggested the idea casually, carelessly, and she had said that wasn't how it worked… but now she could see, quite clearly, that Sokka had been right: that was exactly how it worked in the High Tier. The unspoken, underlying battles mattered much more than points and positions and perfect victory streaks…
She wasn't sure what to expect for the next two days, and she spent them with Sokka in hopes to quell her uncertainties about whether or not Goro had accepted her challenge. By the third day she decided she'd waited enough…
And Shoji greeted her at the Grand Royal Dome with a large grin, the Mad Alchemist's accepted challenge in his hands.
Sokka huffed with every movement, sweat dripping down his forehead. His flexed legs were tense, and he gazed up at Azula's eyes every time his body rose to meet hers…
She didn't always help him with his crunches, but she offered to do it this morning. She held down his flexed legs in the backyard, keeping him in place so he'd make each movement thoroughly. The chance to watch him working out like this, up-close, was something the Princess relished in. She was in a good mood, surely because of the big news she'd given him as soon as she had arrived. Sokka was pleased for it too… but all he understood from the developments was that he had to work extra hard for his upcoming challenge.
"Y-you say… he kills by accident?" he asked breathlessly, as he hoisted his torso again, hands behind his head "How does someone… even do that?"
"Beats me, but it shows his inventions are far from safe" said Azula "You have to be prepared for anything, and as much as I am enjoying this show of yours… you know that this time it's going to be a battle of wits rather than brawn, right?"
"Not surprising… but heh, glad you're enjoying it indeed" he said, dropping flat on his back before rising one more time to steal a kiss from her lips. Azula smiled "What should I do, then? Feels like I'll have to be sharper than ever once I'm in the ring… but I can't really prepare for that, can I?"
"You could, by doing the same things he does" Azula suggested, placing her head atop her crossed forearms, which rested on his knees "Ponder how to improve your weapons, or your gear…"
"Should I put spikes in my armor, then?" he asked, with a mischievous smirk. Azula snorted.
"Why is that the only idea you come up with whenever someone suggests armor upgrades, Sokka?" she asked, looking at him in disbelief. He laughed and dropped on the ground again "Keep it up, though. Those perfect abs of yours won't stay as delectable as they are if you don't exercise"
"I know of a couple other ways to keep them toned, Princess" he said, winking at her. Azula smirked knowingly "Just putting that out there, in case you're interested in testing them…"
"After we come up with solid ideas to deal with your new rival, maybe" she declared. Sokka laughed and placed his hand behind his head once more before pushing himself up.
"Fine! Then… new bombs!" he suggested. Azula nodded.
"What kind?" she asked "Stench and smoke? Seems like the only kinds you know how to craft, so…"
"How about… flashy ones?" Sokka asked, eyes glowing with interest when he reached Azula, just before dropping on the ground again "I can't really make… incendiary explosives, but maybe… maybe I could try to… blind him?"
"Blind him with a bright enough explosion from the bomb?" Azula repeated, with interest "Do you have ideas on how to make that happen?"
"Not a one!" Sokka admitted, beaming. Azula rolled her eyes but smiled.
"Dummy" she said, her hold on his legs tightening "Well, I'd say you should make a full on cocktail with a bomb, using stench, smoke and perhaps that blinding idea of yours… it could blind someone at first, then while they're recovering they'll still struggle to see in a cloud of smoke, and the smell…"
"Sounds like a bomb… from hell" Sokka laughed, carrying on with his crunches all the same. Azula smiled.
"It seems only right to fight a crazy alchemist with a crazy weapon" she said "Only problem is, he'll likely bring five crazy weapons instead… you'll surely bring your sword, right?"
"Yeah, though… you can keep Wolf's Bane" Sokka said, breathlessly under the strain of his latest set of crunches "I don't think… it'll be convenient to bring it"
"That's nice to hear" Azula said, beaming "If he has any acidic attacks like the Dark Rook did, I'd rather he melts your sword rather than mine"
"Hey!"
Azula laughed and Sokka interrupted his crunches to punish her for being mean in the best way he knew how: before long they were lying in the grass yet again, as she fell prey to another of his tickle attacks. By now she was used to their fights having such a ridiculous outcome, practically relished in it, and she knew Sokka did too.
"Sokka, stop!" she laughed, as his fingers glided over her flanks recklessly "You're all sweaty, y-you'll stain my armor…! Sokka!"
"You should've known better than to be so ticklish! Ha!" he declared proudly, still unrelenting: making her laugh was ever rewarding.
He finally gave up after a while, raising his eyebrows as she breathed in difficulty on the ground. He chuckled and shook his head.
"You probably got as much abdominal exercise as I did just because I tickled you" he said, smirking "Who's all toned now, huh?"
"Well, you are… though perhaps I am, too" Azula acknowledged, smiling as she gazed up at his shirtless figure. No doubt she'd have her way with him later today, especially when he tempted her in such a shameless way.
Sokka smiled and dropped beside her, looking at her with interest. Azula held his gaze, still grinning after his latest tickle attack.
"How does someone defend from an acid attack, though?" Sokka asked, looking at her with interest.
"Depends on how strong it is, I suppose" Azula said, reaching out to caress his arm. He had already exercised his biceps, leaving her with the opportunity to caress his perfectly firm muscles, to her utmost delight "Some metals ought to withstand the worst of it, but… I wouldn't suggest you test that theory in the battlegrounds, especially with your unique sword and armor"
"Yeah, safer not to" Sokka admitted "But perhaps I ought to wear… an under-armor, or so. Does that make sense?"
"Not sure, but it could be good to have multiple layers of protection" Azula acknowledged "Can't let this ridiculously good-looking body of yours get any holes in it because of acid, now, can we?"
"I'd like to think we can't, yes" Sokka said, amused. Azula laughed and kissed his cheek.
"I love it when you're that smug" she said, and his laughter rang in her ears "I'm not even kidding, it's wonderful for you to be so aware of how handsome you are"
"Well, then, you ought to be equally aware of the fact that you're the most beautiful woman in the entire planet" Sokka declared, draping an arm around her waist. Azula laughed "Do you dare deny it, Princess?"
"Well… no, I guess I won't" she said. Sokka snickered and laughed as he kissed her lips.
"Then, on top of the many reasons we're the perfect match, we also are because we're full of ourselves. Seems perfect, huh?"
"I suppose, but we have good reason to be, if anything. At least we're only so obnoxious about it because it's true" Azula stated proudly. Sokka laughed and pressed his forehead to hers.
"I love you" he said, beaming. Azula smiled too, kissing him gently once again "And I promise I won't let the Alchemist get to me. At least, I'll try not to"
"You seldom wear a helmet these days" Azula said "Maybe we should get you a new one, give it a proper front cover… you know, just so he can't reach your face so easily either"
"That's a thought too" Sokka mused "Shoji said something about that multi-blade contraption?"
"It seems it wasn't all that safe for him to use, though" said Azula "Hopefully he won't have that this time around…"
"Maybe he won't, but if he does I need to be ready" Sokka sighed "Projectile weapons too… I'll have to be as fast as ever to dodge them"
"You're quite fast as you are, but I guess you could use some more training in those regards" said Azula "It may be crazy to hope you'll take him out quickly, but… you did it with other fighters in the past"
"None who were in the top hundred, though" said Sokka, with a sad grin "Either way… I'll try to get along with him. That, if anything, could be the best tool to win this fight"
"I agree. Two crazy gladiators should have it easy to understand each other" Azula said, proudly. Sokka snickered before kissing her again, hard enough that he was soon on top of her. No longer did she seem to care about her armor, for she pulled him closer, eager to embrace his strong and heated body.
"You like that I'm crazy" he whispered against her lips, the brush of his voice sending shivers down her spine. She moaned softly.
"I like you, so… yes, I guess I do" she acknowledged. Sokka chuckled "Either way… if you fail this time, we can try again. It's not unthinkable, not impossible. We're not going to falter so easily over one loss, even if…"
"Even if it were my first loss in over a year?" Sokka asked, raising his eyebrows. Azula smiled and shrugged "You really wouldn't mind?"
"I care more about you than about your record, I thought that was clear since, uh… your first fight with Toph" she said, raising her eyebrows. Sokka snorted "What? I did load you onto my palanquin and carried you all the way through the Dome, so…"
"True enough" said Sokka, smiling warmly "What on earth were you thinking, Princess, helping a complete loser like myself that way?"
"I'd say the best answer to that question is… I wasn't thinking. Not at all" she said. Sokka's laughter was nearly musical now, as he held himself above her while his laughs poured out of him "Well, really, Sokka…"
Her hands moved to his shoulder, to caress the scar Toph had left him with all those years ago. By now it was faded, even if Azula knew its location by heart.
"Considering you used to get beaten up to that extreme, and you haven't since then… I'd say you stand a chance against this Alchemist. Whether you think so or not"
"I'd like to agree" said Sokka, smiling a little "We have less than three weeks for it, though. Whatever crazy new things we're going to try, we'll have to prepare them by then, right?"
Azula nodded promptly, her hand now caressing his face. Sokka bit his lip.
"But… we can start on all that tedious stuff tomorrow, right?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows. Azula snorted.
"Procrastinating on preparing for a fight, you really are shameless…" she said, though she felt the way his hands moved over her body, his blue eyes now aglow with a different light than before.
"There are many other things I can be shameless about, no doubt you're aware of it…" he teased, leaning closer "Will you humor me for today, Princess?"
She didn't need to be asked twice, her fingers already undoing his wolf's tail even before their lips met in a wilder, passionate kiss. One more day of enjoying each other freely, of basking in intimacy that belonged only to them…
And then they would get back to work, harder than ever. They visited the royal blacksmith for the first time in years, and after a few days, Sokka's new, angular, fully wolf-shaped helmet was ready. Sokka looked up how to create a light bomb, hoping to develop an effective enough method to do so, but while some books indicated that there were substances in the world that might just offer him the explosive result he needed, obtaining them was no easy feat. Despite his hopes to build something different, he had to settle for creating an even worse stench cocktail, with a hint of powder just to make the bomb slightly more dangerous, in case his opponent warranted it.
His secondary armor wasn't easily acquired and wearing it underneath his usual armor wasn't exactly comfortable, but the leather-and-metal lamellar armor offered a new layer of protection in case the main one failed to do its job. His newest training drill consisted in running in it, testing if he could still be as quick with new weight to restrict his movements. Before long, he had adjusted enough to the change that he could offer Azula a pretty good fight: if something indicated he was in shape, it was going toe to toe in combat with the Princess without catching fire in the process.
Their upcoming battle was anticipated, promoted, and it would become the most crowded of all their fights up to date. An article had been featured in the Chronicles to spread word of the upcoming combat between the Blue Wolf and the Mad Alchemist, and it seemed more people than expected were stoked about witnessing what could be history in the making: Sokka might rise above and beyond all expectations, and if he succeeded at that, Azula would surely be acclaimed, admired and feared by all those who still had dared be dismissive of her. Her name could be heard constantly in the Dome, the anticipation for this match far more intense than anything Sokka had felt up to date in the League.
He defeated the two opponents Azula had challenged before the fight against the Mad Alchemist, further cementing his position in the ranking by doing so. Yet all he could think of was the fight that might finally push him to new heights, if only he proved triumphant…
They hadn't headed to the waiting room at all, instead choosing to wait directly in the corridors that led to the stand-by room while the previous fight unfolded. The vestibule was about as crowded as it had been when they had first watched Combustion Man fighting in the Grand Royal Dome: avoiding the droves of people would be preferable for Sokka, seeing as he needed to focus right now.
Azula hadn't seen him taking a fight so seriously in a very long time. As stern as he had seemed back when he'd had to save her from unwanted engagements, he usually was more talkative than he'd been today. He stood before the gold grid once the previous fight was over, staring at the sand with nothing but determination in his eyes.
She kept her silence, even as she waited beside him. She wasn't really sure what they were waiting for at this point, but Azula wasn't eager to interrupt his thoughts, and just so, she didn't want to go back upstairs without speaking to him once more. So all she could do was wait, until he breathed deeply and nodded.
"Alright. Alright, I think I can handle this" he said, still looking uncharacteristically tense, still frowning heavily, his helmet under his arm.
"Should I just leave you to continue focusing, then?" Azula asked, with a teasing smile "Or would you like your mandatory good luck kiss?"
Her words seemed to throw off all the seriousness he'd built up for hours now. He smiled too, looking at her warmly. The eyes that had been ice-cold as he stared at the sand were completely different when they looked at her. Even now, her heart raced upon being gazed at with such genuine affection.
"You really expect me to reject that offer, Princess?" he asked. She smiled and stepped towards him, embracing him tightly.
"See, this is why you shouldn't have spikes in your armor. If you did, I'd never be able to hug you like this on fight days" she said. Sokka snorted.
"It's funny how that's your argument… and funnier still how I find it absolutely compelling" he said. Her chuckle only made his smile grow wider "I love you, Azula"
"And I you" she said, reaching up to cup his face and kiss his lips softly "More than anything"
"Oh? Didn't we agree that we're not allowed to prioritize each other over everything else?" Sokka teased her. Azula smiled and nodded.
"We did. And yet we break our promises all the time except for when they really matter" she said, proudly. Sokka chuckled "I don't need you to win today, Sokka. If you can't, that's fine by me. Just… don't get chopped up into bits or something like that. I have no idea what that man's capable of if you anger him, so try not to do that, and… just be careful, okay?"
"You're beautiful" he said, kissing her brow now. Azula only tightened her grip around him "Thank you for not holding impossible expectations, but… I'm still doing my best today, alright?"
"I have no problem with that" she said, smiling warmly "Just come back to me. That's all I ask"
"In one piece, preferably" Sokka taunted her. Azula grunted softly before giving him a biting kiss. Sokka chuckled through it, holding her closely and basking in the happiness he felt with her.
"I'm proud of you, Sokka" she whispered, her lips against his "And I will continue to be unless you do something incredibly stupid, so… don't do anything like that"
"I'll try to avoid it" he said "And you… you should calm down too, you know. I'm getting the feeling you're more nervous than me, and that won't do"
"Someone has to be the unreasonable, irrational fool between us both. It's only right that I play that part once in a while" she said, proudly. Sokka laughed and shook his head.
"Right" he said, caressing her cheek before kissing her again "If we've come this far, it's because you've never given up on us. That the world's wondering if I'm the strongest non-bending gladiator… it's not something that I could achieve all on my own. You're so much stronger than me, too, so…"
"I wouldn't be so sure of that anymore" Azula said, smiling warmly at him. Sokka snorted in disbelief.
"Nonsense" he said, with certainty "At any rate, my point is… I've only made it this far because of you, and I hope you're aware of it"
"Well, I hope you're aware of the fact that, as far as I can tell, this journey isn't over, even now" she said, kissing his cheek and burying her face in his armored neck "We'll make it further yet, Sokka. No one's like us"
"No, no one is" Sokka agreed, beaming and holding her too "And that's why we'll shoot off to the top for sure, you know? Because we're partners like no one else can be"
"That's right" said Azula, smiling and pulling away to cup his face "Go make me even prouder, then, my gladiator"
"I fight for you, my Princess" he said, his confident eyes returning, even if without the ice and steel that had been there before "And you know I always will"
"That I do" she said, her eyes fluttering closed before she kissed him devotedly again and again, as many times as she could before sending him into battle once more.
The gates to the sand pit would open soon enough, and a roaring crowd would welcome him. A powerful rival would stand before him, and the scorching sunlight would glow upon that ring one more time… and he would fight, to his very best, with everything he had in him. No longer was he afraid of what he was capable of, and Azula knew as much as well.
Perhaps they had rushed through this, all over a challenge by Iroh. Perhaps they shouldn't have taken it to heart so quickly… but this fight was a chance to prove how far they'd come since they had first shaken hands in a stand-by room like this one.
Sokka's courage was perhaps nothing but recklessness… but he was determined to fight for victory with everything he had. In these levels of the ranking, he had no doubts his opponent had every intention of doing the same thing.