He barely got any sleep, even if he had gone to bed at mid-afternoon. The excitement kept his mind racing, rushing through countless thoughts and hopes for what the next day would bring. The more he pondered it, the more delighted he was by the plans that still appeared too fortunate and surreal to truly process: was he really going to spend a whole week alone with Azula and Xin Long?
Upon hearing the unequivocal sound of Xin Long landing in the backyard, he bolted to his feet and glanced out through his room's balcony. He beamed at the sight of the dragon, his outline barely noticeable unless you knew where to look in the deep darkness of a few hours past midnight. Either way, the dragon's presence indicated the obvious: it was time to take off.
Haru was sleeping downstairs already, having arrived on the previous day so he could impersonate Sokka properly through the rest of the week: Song had cut his hair, for Ty Lee, who had accompanied Haru, offered to do so only to scream in desperation and drop the scissors, finding it impossible to cut the long tresses she loved running her fingers through. The young woman had spent the night in the house as well, cuddling against Haru on the couch, the two of them covered with a blanket. The earthbender had yet to shave off his moustache, and Sokka was truly glad he would be gone before it happened, considering how explosively Ty Lee had reacted only with the haircut earlier.
He threw on an assortment of his newly acquired casual clothes, which Rui Shi and Song had bought for him; they had found casual outfits for Azula just as well. The former Captain, ever so cautious and paranoid about Azula and Sokka's escapades, somehow seemed mellow and willingly complicit this time: he had selected surprisingly agreeable clothes for Sokka this time, a black-and-red, sleeveless changshan tunic of mid-thigh length, and Sokka accessorized it with decorative cloths around his wrists and forearms. With a pair of simple trousers and flat shoes to match, he hoped he looked enough like an average Fire Nation citizen to go unnoticed, in general.
His bags had been packed, but he checked quickly one more time to ensure the most important things were in them: he would carry his knife on his person at all times as a precaution, but if they made any stops before Shu Jing, he would have to leave his larger, signature weapons on Xin Long's saddle. Azula was bringing her own knife, the one Zuko had given her, planning to resort to it if they needed to defend themselves at all: she would have to avoid bending altogether, since nothing would give away her identity easier than her unique flames.
But the most important of all things Sokka would bring with them on their trip was the necklace that sat in the outer pocket of his backpack. He smiled as he looked at it one more time, hardly able to contain his excitement: Azula would wear it for an entire week, no less…
He made his way downstairs, pocketing his hair tie and shaking his head so his hair would fall in that graceful disarray Azula was ever enthralled by. That, as well, would be part of his disguise, just as it had been when he had taken up the false identity of Wentai for the first time: if, as Azula had put it, he induced fainting in people because of how handsome he was, that still wasn't something that could be traced back to the Blue Wolf, since no one had fainted at the sight of him in the Capital… that they knew of, at least.
Haru and Ty Lee stirred when they heard the creak of his footsteps on the staircase. Sokka smiled and patted Haru's shoulder with difficulty, avoiding touching Ty Lee. The earthbender came to his senses before long, glancing at Sokka with unfocused eyes.
"Hmm…? You're going now?" he asked. Sokka nodded.
"Good luck this week. Thanks for helping us" he said. Haru smiled too.
"Have fun, Sokka" he said "And… happy birthday in advance"
"Thanks" Sokka chuckled "Don't let Ty Lee be too much trouble for Song, okay?"
"I'll try…" Haru smiled, tightening his embrace around his future wife.
With that, Sokka breathed deeply and made his way out the backyard's door. Xin Long grunted, as though asking him what was taking so long. Sokka smiled and shook his head, climbing the saddle quickly. No doubt few people had ridden a dragon as many times as he had without being bonded to them: it wasn't a privilege he took lightly.
"Okay, buddy. Let's go" Sokka said, once he had buckled in with his hefty backpacks. Xin Long growled in approval and jumped into the sky. They blended into the night, their presence unnoticed by the eyes of the soldiers who were tasked with the protection of the city and its outskirts tonight.
It didn't take more than an hour for Xin Long to fly Sokka to a safe location and return to his refuge. Within another few hours, it was Azula who woke up at dawn and leapt off her bed with far more enthusiasm than she generally did.
They hadn't been planning it for long, and yet it felt like she had been waiting for this moment all her life. She smiled as she dressed in her usual outfit, her golden armor gleaming, her makeup perfect: she had asked Song to buy her a new, lighter shade of lipstick, hoping that as well might help mislead people about her identity, but she would only put it on later, once they weren't anywhere near the Capital anymore.
Ozai had been surprised when she had announced, on the day after their unforeseen spa encounter, that she'd take him up on his suggestion of going on a vacation with her dragon. She dreaded he might change his mind about how desperately she had to unwind, but to her relief, he approved of her decision. He had accepted her report for the first raid and assured her that he would be the one to deal with any difficulties the Enforcers might face, if any serious ones were to arise over the week during which Azula would be absent. His willingness to help her was perplexing, but Azula didn't let her conflicted feelings about her father show anymore. He was, most likely, trying to mend fences with her: she would let him do so, but that didn't mean she'd drop her guard around him altogether.
Either way, Ozai wouldn't be a problem she would concern herself with for the next week, and the Enforcers wouldn't be one, either. Haiyan had assured her everything was going well with the Rehabilitation Center when she had visited her after informing her father of her intentions to travel, and she had wished her luck on her voyage: the Gladiator League would wait until they came back, though Azula guessed their challenges would have piled up considerably once again over the past month. Still… just like everything else, that was something to put on hold for a week. She had better things to preoccupy herself with at the moment, such as how quickly she could take off with Xin Long, so she could leap into Sokka's arms and not leave them for an entire week, if she could get away with it…
She gobbled down her breakfast far faster than she normally did and she picked up her special tea and pocketed it: she still had enough supplies to last her through the week, and she had no doubts she'd need it. The thought brought an inevitable smile to her face – she hoped she wasn't blushing as she made her way to her dragon's refuge.
Azula was surprised to discover Xin Long wasn't alone upon arriving, and at first she panicked unnecessarily, wondering if Sokka had stayed with her dragon rather than sticking with the plan… but it wasn't him who stood near Xin Long: it was Rui Shi.
"Here to see me off?" Azula asked him, raising her eyebrows. The former captain, who wasn't wearing his helmet at the moment, smiled at her and shrugged.
"I just thought you might need help with the dragon armor" he said "You usually want him to wear it for long trips, right?"
"Indeed, otherwise he'll end up quite filthy" Azula confirmed, smiling at Xin Long. The dragon seemed utterly thrilled that Rui Shi had wanted to help dress him, ever having a soft spot for the man.
They worked silently at setting up the armor, and Azula thanked Rui Shi once she had climbed onto her dragon's back, her bags strapped properly to the saddle. She had noticed a strange quality in Rui Shi's eyes throughout their encounter: it seemed he had something to say, but he had kept it to himself so far.
"Is everything alright?" she asked, finally. Again, Rui Shi seemed to want to talk, but he held back once more "We're not going back to old times, now, are we, Rui Shi? Were you going to try to dissuade me from doing this, or…?"
Upon that, Rui Shi smiled and shook his head. Azula raised her eyebrows.
"Well, that's good to know. Because, just so you know, as of today, Jing and Roshi are officially divorced, and that means you don't get to order me around anymore" she whispered teasingly. That actually brought an unusual laugh out of Rui Shi.
"Thank goodness" he said. Azula couldn't help but smile as well "Truthfully, Princess…"
"Yes?"
Rui Shi swallowed hard, glancing at her with uncertainty. She waited this time, but Rui Shi finally released a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"I'll do my best to keep everyone off your trail, is all" he said "As I have so far"
"Well, good. Thank you" Azula said, eyeing Rui Shi with confused uncertainty, but he stepped away from the dragon and smiled.
"Have a pleasant-… ugh, a good journey"
Azula couldn't help but laugh out loud at his verbal misstep, and Xin Long took off before she could say anything else. Rui Shi watched her go, smiling regardless of her laughter.
He had kept his conversation with Renkai a secret ever since it had happened: not even Song knew about it. Just now, he wondered if it might be a good idea to speak of it to Azula, for it had been his first opportunity to talk with her in private since then… but it would have merely burdened her already troubled mind, and that was the last thing she needed right now. This getaway with Sokka was supposed to help her clear her head, after all.
So he kept his secret once again, and his silence. He only hoped it wouldn't come at a steep cost in the future.
Xin Long flew very elegantly, doing loops, spinning in midair, determined to make sure everyone saw he was flying overhead and that he only had one rider today. Azula rolled her eyes at his antics, but smiled as the wind buffeted her hair. It was smart of her dragon to fly with her this way, after all, even if she knew he was mostly showing off, as ever.
Eventually her patience wore thin, though, as she urged Xin Long to bring her to the rendezvous point he had left Sokka at. It was still early in the morning, but she had no doubts he would be watching the skies for any signs of them, and she didn't want to keep him waiting longer than necessary.
Naturally, Xin Long mocked her for her eagerness to be with her lover, saying she'd probably be sick of his company within two days. Azula rolled her eyes and hit the dragon's helmet with her knuckles, prompting Xin Long to chuckle.
"If we do drive each other crazy over a week of being alone, I'll take out my frustrations on you, wicked dragon" Azula declared. Her threat was hollow, and Xin Long knew it, but he still snickered and wagged his tail in amusement as he sped through the same territories he had flown over hours earlier.
The Fire Nation's landscapes were ever beautiful to watch, but Azula was unconcerned with sightseeing this time around. It wasn't until Xin Long recognized the shore he'd dropped Sokka off at that Azula started paying attention again: Sokka was waiting near an empty, rocky beach, and the Princess smiled immediately as she finally spotted him, kicking pebbles to stave off his boredom.
Xin Long chuckled before unhinging his jaws and roaring. The sound reached Sokka, even when they were still at quite a distance, and he stopped kicking the rocks as he searched for them in the sky. Azula laughed softly at the sight of her gladiator, as he jumped and waved enthusiastically, encouraging them to land with him.
The place was secluded, for few people were interested in visiting an inhospitable rocky beach rather than the smooth, sandy ones in many other locations of the Fire Nation. Xin Long had chosen this one, though, because there was a rock wall that would conceal them from most prying eyes easily: there was a grotto within it, formed by natural means, where Azula would be free to move forward with the next stage of their plan…
But as was expected, she didn't do so right away. She jumped off the saddle even before Xin Long had landed, much like Sokka had when they reunited after their scare in the festivals with Zhao: Sokka caught her in his arms, and they shared a passionate kiss immediately, prompting the landing dragon to shake his head and avert his gaze.
Sokka set Azula down before long, though he continued to press his lips to hers as she laughed joyfully. Her body pressed against his, her head was swimming in nothing but blissful thoughts… it was truly incredible that their journey was only just beginning and yet she already had forgotten about most of which had plagued her merely two days ago.
"Hi, Jing" Sokka said, softly, once they finally slowed down their kisses. Azula laughed still.
"Hello, Wentai" she said, fingers trailing over his handsome face "Oh, Wentai…"
She couldn't quite help herself, embracing him tightly and burying her face in his neck. Sokka chuckled, patting her back, and his lips brushed against her cheek and ear.
"We have a pretty great day ahead of us, I'm sure of it" Sokka said, beaming "And we should get started as soon as possible, Azula, sooo…"
"So I have to get naked now. I know" Azula smiled. Sokka didn't even bother hiding his shameless smirk "Ugh, damn you, why are you so appealing to me even when you're being a perv?"
"Must be the hair" he snickered, earning himself yet another kiss as she indeed caressed his soft locks gently.
"Must be that, for sure" she said sarcastically, but she turned and made her way to Xin Long's saddle "Alright, then… make sure no one's nearby, okay?"
"Eh? Can't I just… you know, help you, while Xin Long keeps watch?" Sokka asked, with poorly feigned innocence. Azula laughed and shook her head "Really?"
"Sokka, you'll have a whole week's worth of opportunities to do as you wish with me" she smiled "You can hold back for a few more hours, can't you?"
"Few more hours?" Sokka pouted "Well, we both know it'll be longer than just that… we'll only reach Shu Jing tomorrow, right? Xin Long shouldn't fly too far in a single day or he'll be exhausted"
"And you think the inn we'll stay at won't be a witness to our mischief, really?" Azula smiled. Sokka chuckled approvingly, despite his previous pouts "See? You have nothing to worry about"
"Goodness" he smiled, as Azula made her way to the grotto, with the clothes she'd need for her disguise "We're really going to do this, huh? We'll be… a normal couple in the Fire Nation, for a whole week?"
"Indeed. A normal couple that holds hands everywhere they go" Azula added. His giddy laugh was unbearably endearing.
"Oh, I can't believe this, I… eh, you know what? I'll really help you out" he said, grinning as Azula struggled to undo her armor.
"Sokka…" she said, though her warning wasn't all that serious regardless. Sokka smiled reassuringly.
"I'll behave myself, Princess" he assured her, reaching for the fastenings of the golden armor, which he knew by heart by now "The faster you're ready, the sooner we'll take off again, right?"
"Right…" Azula said, staring at him from over her shoulder after he lifted the armor off her body "And you're really not just looking for a chance to grope me, are you?"
"Who, me? Oh, you mistake me for someone else. I am Wentai, a very respectful man who knows his boundaries" he smirked, reaching to remove her belt.
"Really, now…?" Azula asked, glancing at him as he took her hairpiece, too.
"Yup. Don't believe me?" he said, gathering all her royal ornaments together. To his surprise, Azula sighed.
"Strangely, I do believe you. And probably because I do, I suddenly want nothing more than for you to take advantage of me" she admitted. Sokka snorted and laughed, shaking his head in disapproval.
All the same, they focused on the task at hand, even if Sokka did sneak a few caresses in between taking off all regal garments and cladding Azula in casual ones. She leaned into his touch each time, to his delight, and by the time she was dressed they seemed tempted to start stripping her naked all over again, just for the fun of it.
Yet Sokka held back from doing so, instead choosing to appreciate her figure, clad in a changshan-styled red vest of her own, with matching red arm sleeves. Her baggy white pants ended by the ankles, and she wore lighter boots than the ones she tended to favor.
"So…?" Azula said, raising her eyebrows as Sokka gaped at her, speechless "Am I enough of a commoner like this, or…?"
"You're… you're the most beautiful woman in the world, is what" Sokka said, beaming. Azula bit her lip to contain her laughter as he continued to take in her figure greedily, utterly entranced by her beauty "Goodness, I really am the luckiest bastard alive, aren't I?"
"Well, if you concluded that so soon, just because I'm dressed like this, the rest of our trip will certainly feel superfluous…" Azula teased him, smirking.
"Hell, you didn't think we needed to go on this trip to convince me of how lucky I am to be with you, did you?" Sokka laughed, though he stopped suddenly and pointed at her "Wait! There's something missing!"
"Oh?" Azula said, as he made his way hastily to his backpack.
She couldn't help but smile at the sight of the necklace, more so as Sokka returned to her with the giddiest of grins.
"And now… u-uh, though your collar's tall, no one's going to see it" he pouted a little, but he shook his head before long "Ah, who cares, as long as you wear it it's all good!"
"Well, I could always undo the top binding…" Azula suggested, moving to do so.
Her neck was more exposed now, and the more skin she showed, the more alluring she seemed to Sokka… yet he steeled himself and focused, fastening the necklace quickly: the stone hung just above her collarbone. Another sigh poured out of him, and he offered her yet another goofy smile.
"Yeah, still the most beautiful woman ever. And I mean, throughout all of history, ever since the first beautiful thing came into being, it was nothing compared to you…!"
"How very poetic of you" Azula smiled, picking up her Princess outfit and carrying it over to Xin Long's saddle: she pulled out an empty bag she'd tucked into one of her backpacks and stored everything inside it, struggling to make everything fit, with Sokka's help.
By the time they were finished, Sokka had rambled plenty about just how beautiful she was, but just as she was about to tell him to save some of his endless praise for later, fastening her bag to the saddle's tubes as she was, Sokka's hands touched her hair.
"Though, if I'm wearing my hair down, you should have a ponytail" Sokka declared, proudly "That's how we did it the last time we were Wentai and Jing, right?"
"Right" Azula smiled, closing her eyes as she relished in the hypnotic movement of his fingers over her scalp.
It was over too fast, and she sighed in disappointment when he withdrew his touch: her hair was now all tied up in a tall ponytail, as promised. Sokka chuckled as Azula dropped against him, her back pressing into his chest.
"Of all your secret skills, this is definitely one of my favorites" Azula whispered, turning her face towards him so she could kiss his neck. Sokka snickered proudly.
"Well, Princess, if we ever get bored through this trip, I can give your hair as many fun makeovers as you want me to" he promised. Azula smirked at that.
"Sounds about right" she said, raising her head now and kissing his jawline instead "Ugh, we have to get going or else we really won't be able to hold back"
"Oh, I'm sure Xin Long wouldn't let us get away with that" Sokka chuckled, patting the armored dragon and receiving a grunt in agreement from the creature.
"Okay, okay, then it's time to get going" Azula said, moving to climb on the saddle once more.
Sokka lingered on the ground briefly, merely so he could ensure all their bags were properly and safely fastened on the saddle. The tubes that ran along it, meant to provide the riders with safety, were certainly useful for the purposes of transporting their bags too.
"Alright, we've got everything?" he asked, glancing around himself to make sure they hadn't left anything lying around in the shore.
"I suppose we do" Azula said. Once Sokka had scanned the beach to his satisfaction he climbed after her, slipping into place as ever, arms around her waist.
"Then off we go!" he announced. Azula smiled at him, caressing his face before urging Xin Long to take to the skies.
It was an odd feeling, flying with no restraints, no urgent purposes. The pair of riders merely relaxed, letting the wind dance through their hair, ever holding each other's hands or embracing tightly as they kissed and laughed, above a world that seemed to pass by in a blur below them. They flew around the level of the clouds, hoping they might help conceal the dragon's shape through their voyage, but they did dive down on occasion to make sure their course was true.
"So, we agreed we shouldn't go to Shu Jing on a single trip or Xin Long will rebel over excessive workload, what with the weight of our backpacks and everything…" Azula recounted, while tucking away her portable makeup set: she had switched to the lighter shade of lipstick while they were airborne, ensuring she'd look less like her usual self this way "Meaning, we'll have to stop at another island sooner than later, somewhere we can spend the night at before taking off again"
"Maybe we could stop halfway through the afternoon?" Sokka suggested "Inns might be more receptive if we don't show up last minute, and that way Xin can rest better and make the last leg of the trip easier on himself tomorrow"
"It's a thought" Azula said, nodding. Sokka bit his lip.
"And, uh, there's also the fact that I had a pretty lousy breakfast so if we could have lunch somewhere nice I'd certainly appreciate it…" he smiled innocently. Azula raised an eyebrow.
"Weren't you going to bring food with you and eat here?" she asked. Sokka shrugged.
"I guess I didn't bring enough" he admitted "I'm so excited about this that my body's processing food way faster than it should, looks like"
"Heh, I guess we'll have to schedule stops for potty breaks too, if that's how it is" Azula smirked. Sokka pouted, prodding at her flanks with his fingers as she laughed loudly, both at her successful teasing and his tickles.
"Potty breaks are also necessary! For all three of us, mind you!" he exclaimed, wrapping her in a tight embrace as she continued to laugh.
"In all the years we've been together, I still haven't figured out how to handle your ridiculousness, Sokka…" she smiled. He smirked too.
"Well, if it makes you laugh so much, I sure hope you never do learn" he said, kissing her cheek. She sighed, turning to catch his lips with hers.
"Too smooth for your own good, gladiator…" she whispered once they parted. He snickered.
"Well, good thing I'm not a gladiator anymore, then" he said "I'm just some ordinary servant guy, who stole you away from his old master, Roshi…"
"Indeed" Azula said, though her placid mood suddenly shifted. She didn't seem outright upset, but it was clear the mention of Rui Shi had brought something to her mind.
"Um… Azula? You okay?" Sokka asked, promptly. Azula blinked a few times before glancing at him.
"Yeah, it's just… Rui Shi acted a bit strange earlier" she said, shrugging "I'm not entirely sure why. It seemed like he had wanted to talk about something, but he didn't say anything in the end. I don't know what to make of it…"
"Maybe he was worried about seeing you off for a week" Sokka suggested "I mean, I would have been worried, had I been him… who's to say we won't decide to elope and never return, eh?"
"Huh. Depending on how well we survive on our own, I might take you up on that" Azula smirked approvingly, and Sokka chuckled, hands lacing with hers.
"Well, whatever's bothering him, I'm sure he'll tell you later" Sokka said, kissing her neck softly: with her hair tied up he had easier access to it, and Azula near melted in his arms under the touch of his lips "For now, we ought to focus on our grand trip! Such as figuring out what we'll do once we get to Shu Jing, if everything goes according to plan…"
"What we'll do?" Azula asked, eyeing him skeptically. Sokka nodded, shrugging.
"Well, yeah…"
"Other than each other, you mean?" she asked. Sokka snorted "I mean, honestly, my dream schedule so far was waking up, having sex, then having breakfast, and then sex again until lunch and…"
"And all the way to the next meal, and then again until we pass out?" Sokka finished, between laughs. Azula smiled proudly and shrugged.
"You're not going to say you don't want to try that, are you?" she smirked. He grinned, pressing his lips to her cheek.
"Well, if we don't come up with anything else to do, that'll work" Sokka admitted "But I did want us to go to a beach, right? You brought a swimsuit?"
"I did, I did…" Azula said, nodding.
"Great!" Sokka said, grinning "The beaches in Shu Jing aren't much use, but the river is…! Oh, the waterfall! You have to see it, Azula, I'm sure you haven't! It's so pretty! Piandao took me there before, and he asked me to paint the landscape, as one of my exercises, and…"
"And?" Azula said, with a mischievous smirk. Sokka's easy retelling stopped abruptly and he scowled at her.
"And he said I was a… a versatile and creative swordsman after I was finished with it!" he declared, his voice cracking. Azula snorted and laughed, shaking her head.
"Oh, sure thing. Now I really want to see that artwork of yours" she said.
"Well, you'd be shocked to find you just keep on underestimating me when you shouldn't" Sokka said, with stubborn certainty "Piandao liked it! He was happy that I added a rainbow!"
"Happy about it? You sure?" Azula asked, barely restraining the urge to laugh freely again. Sokka pouted.
"Dead sure! I…! Say, wait a second" he said, blinking a few times before glancing at the woman in front of him again "I know what we have to do now!"
"What, have to?" Azula repeated, smiling uneasily.
"Yup! We are going to finish your swordsmanship instruction" Sokka declared, proudly. Azula raised an eyebrow.
"Finish it?" she repeated "I mean, I did bring Wolf's Bane along, but only as a precaution. If you wanted to train, we could just do it when we come back…"
"No, no, no, you don't get it" Sokka smirked "You forgot already, I'm sure, but when I first started teaching you, you made me skip all the introductory lessons and get right to the point, remember?"
"O-oh… I guess I did" said Azula.
"Granted, that kind of helped me instruct other people faster, be it the Enforcers or Huiwen…" Sokka admitted, but he shook his head quickly, hoping Azula's light mood wouldn't grow heavy at the mention of the Enforcers "But that only means you have yet to finish your instruction, Princess!"
"Okay… what else is there left for me to learn?" Azula smiled.
"Well, we'll have to go fishing, and you'll have to paint the landscape, and stamp your identity on a scroll, and…!" Sokka started, though Azula's smug grin made him pause now "What? What is it?"
"Oh, nothing, really. I'm just not sure I ought to paint anything, you'll become self-conscious about your own work once you see what I'm capable of…" Azula said, with a dramatic sigh. Sokka scowled.
"As if! My self-worth would always be fragile and low, whether you paint something epic or not!" Sokka declared, and Azula's eyes widened, her smile souring immediately.
"Heh. At least you're honest about that, I suppose" she said. Sokka pouted, poking her ribs again.
"Are you really that good an artist, or are you just underestimating me again, Princess…?" he asked, propping his chin on her shoulder. Azula shrugged.
"Oh, I don't know. My entries were part of the art exhibits every year in the Royal Academy for Girls, but I suppose I may just be mediocre, myself…" she said, nonchalantly. Sokka snorted, prompting her to smirk proudly, and far more earnestly.
"Every year you were there, I take it?"
"That's right. From between the ages of six to twelve, if you must know" Azula said, smirking still "I know, it hardly sounds like something worth boasting about, but it was a difficult competition nonetheless"
"You just don't know how to be average at anything, Princess, really" Sokka smiled, nuzzling her neck "It's all or nothing with you"
"And it's all more often than it's nothing" Azula declared "Still… I don't mind painting a thing or two to prove I'm not talking out of my ass. Should be fun to rub in your face what a superior artwork looks like…"
"Well, now, we've only been on the road for a couple of hours and you're already picking a fight?" Sokka asked, to Azula's amusement "Gee, Princess, I thought you'd save it for later. At least for when we're on solid ground, for safety's sake: if I say anything stupid you might just knock me into the water from these heights because of it, and I can't say for sure that I'd survive…"
"I wouldn't do that" Azula said, rolling her eyes.
"Yeah, too much of a hassle to find another gladiator if not me, eh?"
"True" Azula admitted, without missing a beat. Sokka smirked.
"And surely another one wouldn't even be half as good in bed as I am, too" he said. That brought a smile out of the Princess again, whose hand slipped down to caress his thigh.
"Heh, that's the taller order to fulfill, admittedly" she said "What you do in the fighting pit can be learned, whereas what you do between the sheets is the one form of art I can guarantee you've perfected…"
"Hehe, now, now, you were picking a fight seconds ago, but suddenly you're praising me so much? I'll blush, Princess…" he chuckled. Azula smiled, delighted to watch his cheeks reddening.
"Well, it's true. Because, as far as haiku or music go, you certainly have miles of improvement left ahead of you before you can impress me" she finished. Sokka's happy mood deflated quickly.
"That's only because you won't teach me how to sing, which… ha! You have to teach me this time!" he said, beaming. Azula huffed, rolling her eyes and shaking her head "You said you'd give me anything I want this week, and I certainly want that…"
"Yeah, I'm starting to think we're going to stick to plan A. Sex, sex, and nothing but sex…"
"Come on! Azula!"
Their conversation carried on as they flew across the Fire Nation: they didn't stop teasing each other freely while offering new ideas on what they'd do in their destination. Yet as Sokka suggested visiting Shu Jing's weapons shop just to check what was in stock, his stomach rumbled loudly.
"Huh. Sounds like it's time to get you something to eat" Azula said, turning to Xin Long now "Let's see where we're at, shall we?"
The dragon dropped in altitude, revealing their location: they were several leagues deep into the sea, north of the mainland. It was easy to recognize the largest of the Fire Nation's islands, its tall volcanoes unique to its landscape. As the hiding spot Xin Long had chosen was at the north of the Capital, it was expected they would have flown towards the northern waters, over mostly unfamiliar territories for Azula despite Xin Long was well acquainted with them by now.
"Can you hand me the map?" Azula asked Sokka, who obeyed diligently, digging through his rucksack for it.
There was an island not far away, but if they were around the north of the Fire Nation, it would be the one place they had decided against visiting: Azula grimaced as she confirmed through the map that they were, indeed, staring at Ember Island, in the distance.
"Yeah, we're not going to drop by there, not even for a snack, because we're profoundly superstitious when it comes to Ember Island…" Azula said. Sokka chuckled, watching as her finger trailed over the paper to the next island.
"What's that one?" Sokka asked.
"It's a small island, with minor villages and towns. Nothing too unpleasant, I think" Azula said, shrugging "We should be able to stop there for something to eat"
"Cool" said Sokka, grinning "Isn't it weird, but fun, traveling like this? Feels like we're adventurers, rather than, well… us"
"That's the appeal of it, yes" Azula smiled "Maybe we should travel on Xin Long more often, forget the Barge and all the guards…"
"I sure wouldn't mind that" Sokka snickered "Less chances for them to pester us when we want to be alone, right?"
"Right" Azula smiled, but she took a deep breath and stared out into the open ocean once more "Still, if we're to land there, we should be careful with how we approach the island. If we'll fly in from the north we should dive down at enough distance, so that no one can glimpse Xin Long even if they're in the area, so…"
The dragon obeyed her thoughts promptly, and instead of approaching the island he moved further away. Sokka was confused at first, but said nothing as he waited for Azula and Xin Long to decide they were far enough from the island to risk approaching it without being noticed.
"Alright… do hold on, Sokka" Azula said, grinning. Her advice brought a cheeky grin to his face, and he was quite happy to slide his arms around her body, grazing the sides of her breasts. She tried not to react to the touch, but he felt her tensing up in his embrace, eyeing his arms wistfully.
"This enough?" he asked, teasingly. She shook her head.
"Tighter" she said. He snorted before obeying, and she smiled before clasping onto the saddle's railing tubes. Sokka frowned.
"Um, you never grab onto those. What are you two trying to…?" he started to ask, but the final word became an unintelligible scream before long:
Xin Long dove down, speeding to the ocean faster than he ever had flown before. Azula laughed in delight while Sokka screamed in utter shock, his hold on his lover's body entirely urgent and no longer erotic in the least. The water was approaching, fast, way too fast and they were going to crash any second now…
"AZULA!" he squealed, for Xin Long didn't change his body's angle yet…
They were only around ten feet above the water when the dragon abruptly shifted back up to a horizontal position, slowing down expertly. The momentum of the nose-dive was powerful, though, and they found themselves barely a few inches away from the ocean's surface. Azula laughed still, basking in Sokka's panic even if he'd stopped screaming by now.
"Y-you… what the heck, you two!" he screamed now, only furthering Azula's amusement as she dropped against his chest, her entire body shaking with the power of her laughter "What kind of crazy maneuver is that?!"
"Oh, Sokka…!" Azula couldn't seem to stop laughing, and neither could Xin Long, who was gliding happily over the water now, speeding towards the shore while dipping his toes into the sea on occasion.
"I mean, I know, he flies better now than when we first found him and all, but that was…! I thought we were going to be done for!" Sokka said, eyes wide still as he released Azula from his grip, still trembling somewhat.
"Would've been a very undignified death" Azula laughed "We've faced no shortage of difficulties and danger, dying in the open sea because of a miscalculated dive would be embarrassing beyond belief"
"Good thing our spirits won't have to be so embarrassed, then" Sokka said, with a shrill voice. Azula chuckled a few more times, reaching back to pat his knee.
"Since we dove that fast, at that distance, the likelihood of anyone seeing Xin Long is even smaller" Azula explained "Now that we're level with the water, as long as we arrive through a secluded location of the island we'll be safe from any prying eyes, see?"
"T-that makes enough sense but… why did we need to go that fast?" Sokka asked, and only now did Azula glance back at him…
To find his very graceful hair had puffed up in about every direction possible.
Her laughter had been pacified only for instants before it returned at full power, as she snorted and doubled over herself. Sokka blushed and reached up to comb his hair with his fingers, pouting.
"Wicked Princess, thinking my misfortune's funny… I've told you this nice hair of mine isn't effortless!"
In the end, he had to look through his bag for a comb, and he was carefully working through each strand of hair by the time they neared the island's shore. Xin Long slowed by the cliffs, landing carefully on the bright green grass, eyes raking the area for signs of any humans nearby.
The island was beautiful, and Azula smiled approvingly as she climbed off the saddle. Stretching her legs was a welcome break after the many hours they had spent airborne, and she relished in doing so while enjoying the scenery comprised by a forest of colorful vegetation. At the center of the island stood a mountain, tall and imposing, yet its dark silhouette contrasted perfectly against the bright skies just as well.
"Well, if the villages are half as pleasant as our current surroundings, we might even have found a decent place to stay for the night already" Azula announced, hands on her hips.
"Yeah? Can we afford that?" Sokka asked, jumping off the saddle after tucking the comb away: his hair was back to being manageable, as long as they didn't do anything as reckless as their previous fast dive again "I figured this would just be a stop for food…"
"I suppose if we find nowhere to stay, it will be" Azula said, smiling before turning to Xin Long "So, as a precaution, we should bring our bags with us…"
They unfastened their respective backpacks, but they concluded it wasn't a good idea to bring Azula's armor, let alone Sokka's weapons, all the way into any villages they might enter. Xin Long came up with a solution, though: he flew down the cliff, into yet another grotto he had spotted earlier. It seemed he had a liking for such places: the natural formations of rocks allowed enough protection from the elements while not being as deep and dark as the caves and tunnels that had been his entire world back when they had first found him.
It took the better part of half an hour for the pair to sort through their backpacks for whatever they might need at an inn and whatever they shouldn't bring along: the latter group of goods were left in the grotto too, along with Xin Long's armor and saddle, as the dragon had insisted on being relieved from his own luggage so he could enjoy himself in the sea down below.
"You think it's fine to leave everything there, for sure?" Sokka asked, nervously, as they made their way across the cliffs, looking for any manmade paths to follow into a village "I know it's not likely that someone will find our stuff, but my sword's there…"
"If someone found our things and stole them, we'd just have to track them down and give them the whooping they deserve for their crime" Azula said, but she smiled reassuringly "Xin Long will stay close by, so I'm sure everything will be fine, Sokka"
"I hope so…" Sokka sighed, hoping to forget about his worries as they finally spotted a simple dirt road ahead.
They walked together through the forest, occasionally commenting on the sights in the road, their packs fastened over their shoulders. Within around ten minutes they glimpsed a town ahead: it reminded Azula of Ember Island's town, but smaller, even if just as ornate and elegant.
"Huh. That's promising" she said, smiling "There's bound to be a good restaurant in a town of that caliber"
"There better be" Sokka grinned too "Alright then…!"
"Wait"
Sokka had lifted his foot to restart their trek, but he glanced at Azula as she smiled warmly at him. He raised an eyebrow for a moment, but he mimicked her smile quickly when she reached for his hand, intertwining their fingers.
"This time… we'll do it properly, not like last year" Azula said, her cheeks flushing a little "The whole world can see us for what we really are… or, uh, just a town, for now"
Sokka smiled warmly, the sun's glow falling elegantly over his features. Azula's chest tightened at the sight, and she didn't quite know why her heart was racing when he leaned in to kiss her softly. They had kissed so many times, more than anyone could possibly count… and yet right now she felt adrenaline rushing through her body, her mind buzzing as she leaned in when he pulled away, looking for a second kiss, and then a third. His grin was light and sweet, and her heart soared for it.
"I love you so much, Azula" he whispered. She smiled too, pressing her face to his shoulder.
"I love you too, Sokka" she said "But as we're Jing and Wentai now… then I love you, Wentai"
"And I love you, Jing" he followed suit with her idea, chuckling as he did.
He tugged at her hand gently, and they restarted their walk to the town. The closer they came to the ornate streets of immaculate white limestone, and houses with elegant red and gold roofs, the more they impressed Azula. She hadn't expected anything quite so classy in small towns such as this one, but it was a welcome surprise, without a doubt.
"I wonder who's the Mayor here" she said, as she gazed at the elegant streets "Whoever it is, they're certainly doing a fine job at keeping this place beautiful"
"That sign says… Firelight Town?" Sokka read, once they were about to enter the town proper.
"Yeah, if my memory serves me right there are two towns in this island" Azula explained "Well, the other one is a village, but still…"
"Maybe if we have time to spare, we can go look at the other one?" Sokka suggested, smiling "I can see now why you asked if I didn't want to go to new places rather than old ones. It's a really beautiful island"
"It is, without a doubt. One of the most beautiful I've visited, I think" Azula said, nodding. Her thumb rubbed the back of his hand gently, her breath hitching as they were sighted by the first commoner they'd seen on the streets.
The man was preoccupied with some money he was counting. He raised his gaze, took in the newcomers, and returned to his business. Azula released her breath nervously, and Sokka smiled warmly at her.
"Looks like we're not half as suspicious as we feared, huh?" he said "We can just walk hand-in-hand freely, without a care in the world…"
"I guess I need time to adjust to that notion" Azula admitted, but she was smiling too "But whenever I'm with you, somehow adjusting to new things tends to go more smoothly than I expect it to. Feels like your Water Tribe adaptation instincts might be somewhat contagious"
"Well, I sure don't mind sharing them with you" Sokka said, leaning close and kissing the side of her head.
Again, she felt ridiculously self-aware… and again, nothing wrong happened for his gesture. It was thrilling and terrifying on equal measure, and she wondered inevitably if Sokka was as nervous about being openly romantic with her as she was…
"So, where to?" Sokka asked, bringing her out of her daze.
"I suppose the town's main street?" she suggested, shrugging "That's where I'd expect more activity, so there might be a restaurant around there"
"Makes enough sense" Sokka smiled, guiding Azula through the smaller streets to the larger one they could see further into the town.
More people passed them by, and some didn't even glance in their direction. There were no soldiers in sight, so they wouldn't be likely to get scolded for being too affectionate in public, if soldiers actually chided people for that. It wasn't like Azula could know whether they did or didn't, seeing as she had never walked with anyone the way she was walking with Sokka right now. She felt foolish to some degree, for she was acting like a preteen with her first boyfriend, even though Sokka and her had enjoyed a very successful adult relationship for years as it was… but these were the simple pleasures they were usually deprived from, pleasures most people would likely take for granted. She couldn't help but marvel about having a chance to enjoy them now.
Lost in thought as Azula was, she had dropped her guard considerably by the time they heard a young voice calling:
"Watch out!"
They heard a bouncing sound on the street behind them, and Sokka turned swiftly to find a ball speeding towards Azula. His free hand darted off so fast to catch the ball that the boy who had yelled at them now stared at him in open-mouthed disbelief.
Sokka breathed out after catching the ball. Azula blinked blankly, having expected worse than a ball from the urgency of the child's cry. Before long they both grinned at the most innocent threat they'd faced so far, hands still linked.
"E-excuse me, sir! W-we're sorry!" the boy scrambled towards him, nervous about asking for his ball back but courageously attempting to do so all the same. Sokka smiled, raising his eyebrows.
"That was a pretty powerful throw, huh?" he said, offering the ball to the little boy. He took it gladly, though he pouted a little.
"Wasn't me who threw it…" he said, gesturing at a girl a few ways away. By their similar hair and skin color, Sokka assumed they were siblings.
"Ah, I see. You pack good power, but you should be more careful" he said to the girl, still smiling.
"W-we will be" said the boy, nodding shyly.
"There was no harm done" Azula said, startling him. The little boy's cheeks flushed upon being addressed by the beautiful woman "You can go back to your game now"
"T-thanks! Yes!" the boy said, dazed. Sokka raised his free hand in a sign of farewell, and the couple restarted their walk down the street, feeling the children's gazes on them as they did.
Azula glanced up at Sokka, who grinned cheekily at her. His goofy pride was ever a source of amusement, and she laughed before shaking her head.
"You can't stop fighting to protect us, looks like, even against simple playthings…" Azula said. Sokka sighed, though he was just as amused as she was.
"It's not a habit I'll ever break, Azula… u-uh, I mean, Jing. Damn, that takes time getting used to, too" he chuckled. Azula smiled, pressing closer to him and only breaking their handhold so she could wrap her arm around his. The change was agreeable for Sokka, who ever basked in further contact between their bodies.
"Well, I certainly am pleased for it. It's wonderful to have a dependable future husband like yourself, Wentai" she declared. He grinned goofily again "Especially when you project such confidence and strength… those kids must have thought you were the coolest man alive"
"Oh, come on…" Sokka smiled.
"They wouldn't be wrong to think so, of course, but you certainly made an impression. The girl was so dazed she didn't even dare speak" Azula laughed. Sokka chuckled too, kissing the top of her head.
"And I suspect that boy probably will have a crush on you for the rest of his life" he said. Azula snorted, shaking her head "And I sure don't blame him. Never will he find a more beautiful woman, for sure"
"If we're all that extraordinary, Wentai, I fear we won't be able to go unnoticed in this town" she smiled "And yet I'm too proud of us to care about keeping a low profile all of sudden"
"Heh, I see no problem with that" he said, affectionately.
The main street was definitely the most crowded one in the town, with many preoccupied passersby rushing from one building to another. There was a post office, from what Azula saw, along with several stores for different kinds of goods – if they didn't find a restaurant of any sort, there was a chance they could buy some food there. At the furthermost end of the town stood what appeared to be a Fire Sage shrine, modest compared to the opulent temples Azula was used to seeing.
"This is a really nice town" Sokka said, smiling as he gazed around himself in wonder "There are perks to going to Shu Jing, goes without saying, but this certainly is a cozy place just the same…"
"Shu Jing is similar to this town, if I recall right" Azula said "It would be nice if all our stops through our trip were in places like this, huh?"
"Yeah, I'm actually tempted to stick around here for the rest of the day, like you suggested…" Sokka said, but he slowed abruptly as they neared a large building "Oh, hey! A restaurant… and it looks like it's an inn, too. How about it?"
"Looks promising" Azula said, smiling as they stopped at the entrance "I guess if the food's good we might really spend the night here. But at least we can get a good meal, if nothing-… uh, what's that?"
"What's what?" Sokka asked, raising an eyebrow.
Azula's gaze was set on a small announcement that hung next to the door, and he followed it right away. It was a special offer, one they hadn't noticed right away… and they were dumbfounded upon reading the text written across it.
"W-wait, what?" Azula said, inching away from the doorway while Sokka leaned closer, hardly giving his eyes credit.
"Oh, oh, this is amazing!" he exclaimed, beaming "Look at that! 'Eat ten ramen bowls in a row for free'? Whoever runs this place is a genius!"
"Uh, that's not all it says" Azula said, staring at Sokka skeptically, her arm slipping out of his "Did you just deliberately skip the part where it distinctly points out it's SPICY ramen?"
"What about it?" said Sokka, with a derisive grin "I've been living in the Fire Nation for all these years, Jing, I've built up my defenses against spices…"
"Oh, no. You absolutely haven't" Azula said, eyes wide "Sokk-… Wentai! You're never going to survive ten bowls of spicy ramen. I'm not saying this to injure your pride, or to undermine you, but this isn't a challenge to take lightly… and if you don't eat all ten bowls, I'm pretty sure you're getting nothing for free"
"Well, then, it's a good thing I'm that hungry" Sokka pouted "Ten bowls… come on, girl, it's going to hit the spot for sure!"
"Yeah, after you burn your mouth beyond compare?" Azula asked, with a dry grin. Sokka scowled.
"You're just thinking about the spice"
"And you're just thinking about stuffing yourself"
"Well, if this means we can save up money then I think it's worth the shot" Sokka declared, proudly "We might need it for later, who knows?"
"You're being ridiculous" Azula groaned, not expecting Sokka to raise a skeptical eyebrow, his arms folding over his chest.
"Or so you claim… but you know what I really think?"
"Other than believing, for some reason, that you're somehow capable of enduring the strongest of Fire Nation spices?" Azula asked, with a dry grin.
"I think, Princess… I, uh, shouldn't call you that either" he grimaced, but he returned to his accusation quickly enough "I think you don't want to do this because you couldn't possibly eat all ten bowls!"
"Oh, right, this is about me being some sort of food prude who can't eat in ridiculous quantities?" Azula smirked "Did you forget about my mochi stories, by any chance?"
"Oh, no, I remember quite clearly that they ended with you being sick and so full you couldn't eat dinner later" Sokka finished, with a sarcastic smile. Azula's eyebrow twitched as she scowled "Suit yourself, Jing: maybe order something cute and small and bland, but I'm going to take up the Spicy Ramen Challenge!"
"Cute, small and bland…" Azula repeated, smiling in disbelief and shaking her head "Are you seriously manipulating me into taking this ridiculous challenge with you?"
"Well, I admit I'd find it more fun if we do it together, seeing how you're so convinced I'm going to lose…" Sokka smirked "You know everything's more fun if it's a challenge, don't you?"
"Everything's more fun when I win challenges, yes" Azula admitted, raising her eyebrows. Sokka snorted "I suppose it's good that you enjoy losing against me so much, despite all common sense dictates you shouldn't be…"
"Oh, I do, but I'm not going to lose this time, Jing" he smirked "Though, heh, for that you'd have to take up the challenge in the first place, wouldn't you? And ten spicy ramen bowls are just excessive for you, aren't they…?"
Azula scowled before reaching to open the door, her killer glare set on Sokka. He smiled proudly, knowing she had bitten the bait after all. Her insistence that the spice would be too much for him had certainly been outrageous: he had eaten the ridiculously spiced up food her Barge served for years now, and he had survived every time, building up further defenses against spicy meals after each serving. She might not admit she had underestimated him yet, but she would have to do so sooner than she thought…
The dining room and restaurant was located at the inn's vestibule, and it was packed with plenty of customers. No one paid the newcomers much attention at first, something the pair might have been relieved by if they had been thinking about something other than the Spicy Ramen Challenge.
"I think I'll enjoy your defeat better if I'm sitting across you rather than beside you, watching you scramble for palate cleansers while I finish my ramen easily" Azula said, proudly. Sokka snorted, pulling out a chair at an empty table and offering it to her.
"I wouldn't bet on that, Jing" he smirked "You'll probably be struggling with excuses as to why you couldn't possibly eat ten whole ramen bowls by the time we're at the… at the second one, most likely, yeah"
"Excuses, is it?" Azula said, sitting down as Sokka did the same, opposite to her "You'll see who's coming up with excuses for failure when we're through with the challenge, Wentai…"
By now their confrontational attitudes had drawn some eyes, though some people were more curious than others. Someone approached them before long, but caught in their battle of wills, both Azula and Sokka failed to acknowledge him right away.
"Hello, welcome to the Dragon's Casserole" said a waiter, a tall man with a prominent belly "New in town?"
"Indeed, we're passing through" Azula answered, looking at the man with a matter-of-factly smile "Say, we saw the sign outside…"
"Ah, you did, did you?" the waiter said, beaming proudly "That's right, the ten-bowl Spicy Ramen Challenge is available, but only the most adventurous and daring have taken us up on that particular offer…"
"Is that so?" Azula asked, her smile widening. Sokka smirked.
"Well, me and Jing here are feeling pretty adventurous today" he said "Bring on the heat!"
"W-wait, what?" said the waiter, raising his eyebrows "You want to take up the challenge? It's an individual challenge, though…"
"Individual? So, what, we can't compete against each other?" Sokka asked. The man's eyes widened.
"Compete against each other? W-why…? What?"
"Has no one ever tried to do that so far?" Azula asked, surprised.
"Well, it happened once before, but not… not with people like yourselves" said the waiter, raising his eyebrows "I mean, you're… uh, what are you, exactly? Travelers? Are you, well… just acquaintances, or…?"
"Oh, no. We're getting married as soon as we get the chance to" Sokka answered quickly. The waiter's jaw dropped "Are soon-to-be-married couples not allowed to take up these challenges, or…?"
"N-no. Anyone can try to do it, if they wish" the waiter said, though he added, with a cheeky smile "Not anyone can succeed at it, though. So far, only three people have been successful with this challenge…"
"Well, today it'll be four" Sokka said, grinning and glancing at Azula proudly "Only four, though"
"True. You'll be out after the first taste of spice, after all" Azula sighed dramatically. Sokka snorted and shook his head, glancing up at the waiter.
"Give us your best shot!"
By now, most eyes had been drawn towards their table, and a lot of strangers were listening in on the conversation they were holding with the waiter. Most faces were disbelieving, but some were amused and intrigued too. The waiter seemed to be undergoing a mix of all three emotions, himself.
"O-okay, then. Fine. You both want to take up the challenge and compete with each other through it" he said, raising his hands in defeat "I'll convey your order to the kitchen, then"
"Please do" Azula said, glaring at Sokka to further drive across that she had no intentions of backing down. Unsurprisingly, neither did Sokka.
The inn's kitchen was quite busy on any given day, but never as much as when a new challenger arrived. Two challenges in one day were quite the unexpected surprise, but the waiter, Shengkai, expected his wife Jiare would be up to the task.
"Jiare, dear…" he said, slipping into the kitchen, where two cooks were working right now: one, a woman of similar build as him, the other a more slender young man, their teenage son, who would inherit their inn once he was ready "We have two new challengers"
Jiare had been adding the finishing touches to a plate of steamed buns upon hearing the news. She turned towards her husband, his announcement profoundly confusing.
"Two? Y-you just said two? At the same time?" she asked, a slow smile spreading over her face. Shengkai chuckled and nodded.
"They're an odd pair. The girl looks of noble birth, the boy looks like he's a foreigner… I didn't get a good look at his eyes, but they were green or blue" said Shengkai.
"Sounds like a weird match!" said Jiare, rushing quickly to gather her utensils: an extraordinary cooking spree was about to unfold in her kitchen.
"Yeah, even weirder to think they're actually engaged and challenging each other to eat spicy ramen…" said Shengkai, scratching the back of his head. Jiare laughed, though.
"Engaged, you said?" she asked "Well… whether they survive the challenge or not, they already sound like some of the most interesting people to ever take it up!"
"Not like many people have taken it up, to begin with" said their son, Kangkai "Everyone's scared of your spice, Ma'"
"For good reason, too" said Jiare, proudly "I wonder just how resilient those two might be… Ah, well! We'll find out soon enough! Come, Kangkai, come! It's time to make some ramen!"
Shengkai watched with a smile as his wife and son began working diligently. Nothing quite thrilled the woman as much as new challengers, and as she had to prepare two sets of the ten courses it would be a complex process for her, too.
Outside the kitchen, Sokka still held his head high, stubbornly confident of his ability to endure the Fire Nation's strongest spices. Azula, naturally, was just as skeptical as before.
"To be honest, ten bowls might even be too little" Sokka said, cockily. Azula rolled her eyes "I'm starving!"
"You'll be sated when you eat your words, I'm sure…" Azula said, glancing out the open wooden window with a nonchalant grin.
"Oh, yeah? Well, as far as I can tell, you're the one who's going to do that once I, uh… once I out-eat you!"
Azula raised a confused eyebrow at his latest invented term… not expecting a mischievous smirk to spread over Sokka's face now.
"Which isn't the same as eating you out, naturally, but I'm sure I'll be in good shape to do that just the same…" he declared. Heat rose in her face as she glared at him dangerously.
"Say… we didn't discuss our backstories in further detail, despite we said we should" she said, leaning close over the table as she spoke more quietly. She could feel the eyes of many customers on them, and she had even heard a few gasp in surprise at Sokka's latest, bold claim "Are you still a slave, a servant? Or are you like Haru, an Honorary Citizen now?"
"Uh… I wouldn't want to be one" he said, grimacing.
"Ah, but if you're not one, chances are we won't be able to get married" Azula said, with a knowing grin. Sokka grimaced "So, Wentai… are you an Honorary Citizen or not?"
"Well… Wentai's not Sokka" he admitted, with a sigh "So I guess I must be one… OUCH!"
She flicked him right in the middle of his forehead, and Sokka leaned back immediately, looking at her with accusatory eyes. Azula couldn't appear more pleased with herself if she'd tried.
"W-what was that for?!" Sokka squeaked.
"Why, if you were still a slave I couldn't possibly get away with that, Wentai, not with the new laws and all… but as we're of equal standing now I absolutely can flick you" she said. Sokka pouted disapprovingly "Hey, it's better than kicking you under the table. That was my first instinct when you started talking about eating me out when so many people are listening"
"O-oh. That's what bothered you" Sokka said, blinking blankly, though he huffed and scowled "I ought to flick you for flicking me anyhow! Not fair!"
"I didn't say anything crude about you, so I have committed no crimes worth flicking me for" Azula said, proudly. Sokka snarled.
"You're gonna get what's coming for you, Jing…!"
"Good to know you're that fired up for the challenge" said Shengkai, returning to them with a broad smile on his face. Sokka had raised a hand, playfully threatening to flick Azula indeed, but now he lowered it as the waiter returned "The cooks are hard at work now, so I'm here to let you know what the rules are"
"Rules?" Sokka repeated, raising his eyebrows "There are rules to eating ramen?"
"Quite so, my wife would gladly explain them thoroughly if she weren't the head chef" said Shengkai, with utmost pride "Anyhow, beating our challenge isn't child's play, so you two are brave as heck to take it up. First things first, as you read on the sign outside, you only eat for free if you finish all ten courses"
"If not, we have to pay for each dish prepared for us, I take it?" Azula asked. Shengkai nodded.
"Exactly. Now, then… each dish will be different, and spicier than the one that came before" Shengkai said, smirking "Jiare, my wife, learned about many different specialties of ramen by traveling to investigate about them all across the Fire Nation. You will see the results of her work in the bowls you'll eat today!"
"Heh, so it's a whole trip's worth of Fire Nation cuisine in one go? Sounds like that's right up my alley" Sokka said, grinning.
"That being said…" Shengkai declared "You must eat each bowl in less than five minutes"
"W-wait, what?"
"Otherwise the ramen's integrity and flavor will be lost" Shengkai said, closing his eyes solemnly "You'll each be allowed to drink a glass of refreshing water after finishing every bowl, but you can't drink water halfway through the soup bowl, not at all, or that will mean you've failed the challenge!"
"Hey, t-that's not what the door says…" Sokka pouted. Unsurprisingly, Azula was smirking eagerly now.
"Ah, not sure you can handle all that spice all of sudden?" she teased him. Sokka glared pointedly at her.
"I can handle anything! I-it's just a bit extreme, right? Would we have to pay for all ten dishes if we ever do that?"
"Well, usually those who need to drink water halfway through the challenge don't continue all the way to the tenth dish…" said Shengkai, blinking blankly before shrugging "I suppose you could continue eating the rest of the courses, but yes, you'd have to pay"
"Damn. Well, whatever, it wouldn't be all that challenging otherwise" Sokka said, with an awkward grin. Azula's amusement was palpable by now.
"Alright, then! Now you know the rules, so… are you ready for the Spicy Ramen Challenge?" Shengkai asked, with a knowing grin.
Azula didn't hesitate to nod, and Sokka did the same quickly, hoping not to lag behind her, not even for a second. None of the conditions of the challenge had fazed her: they couldn't intimidate him either. As for Shengkai, his smile only widened: regardless of the outcome of the challenge, he could already tell these two customers would make history in the Dragon's Casserole.
A/N:
I can professionally assure you guys that these two never have faced a bigger challenge than the Spicy Ramen Challenge (?).
Alright, alright, jokes aside, I wanted to drop a note here to let you guys know big things are coming on my . Upon a recent suggestion, I've begun work on yet another ambitious art project that hopefully will pay off in time... I may offer a few updates once I make more progress with it. But while I do that, I've decided on holding a new fic-to-art project. My Patrons will get the chance to suggest which scenes of my fics they want to see me draw. I'll finish one artwork per month, while working on the other project too, and of course, I'll be working hard on writing this story too, goes without saying.
In any case, I'm letting you guys know, in case any of you would like to join in with suggestions, or to participate in the voting, which I'll hold starting next week. Hope you enjoyed the chapter, and I really hope you guys will enjoy the next one just as much (it's hard to say that I have a single favorite chapter in this arc... but the next one is definitely one of the chapters I've most enjoyed writing altogether).