Gladiator

by Seyary-Minamoto

In a world where the Avatar wasn't found, the Fire Nation took over two nations and they strive to overcome the last one. Water Tribe warrior Sokka seeks to fight for his people's rights, but he's captured by his enemies. His life is no longer in his hands as he fights as a Gladiator, and his fate will eventually depend on the Fire Nation Princess, who needs him for her own ends...

192. Chapter 192: Return to Shu Jing 5

Firelight Town was a beautiful town, but as it was small, important happenings were infrequent. Whenever anything important did happen, the entire population of the town would find out within hours, which was why even the villagers who hadn't so much as caught a glimpse of the two newest arrivals had heard about their upcoming nuptials already.

The tavern's customers had rushed through the town, telling their families and friends about the big feast that Jiare and Shengkai were offering to hold for the bride and groom. Sage Ryu had taken off to his shrine, to prepare for the ceremony, struggling to do so under the powerful sunlight that still hurt to look at. And Firelight's most outstanding visitors in years were readying themselves for the ceremony, still uncertain whether this was all a dream of if they truly were about to take this new step forward, together…

As soon as they were done with their breakfast in the Dragon's Casserole, Shengkai had dragged Sokka away to one room of the inn and Jiare took Azula to another one: she was helped by her female friends and neighbors, who were delighted to have a young bride to fuss over, sudden as it might be.

"Now, I know this may not be the best option…" Jiare had said, opening a long box before Azula's waiting eyes "But if you'd be willing, you could get married in my old dress! I think it ought to be a decent fit, but if not…"

"I can lend you mine!" exclaimed one of the women, and Azula smiled as she reached to pick up Jiare's wedding dress.

It was simpler than the few wedding dresses she had seen in her life, all of which had belonged to highborn women. Mai had been wed in an immaculate white dress with delicate gold-and-red embroidery, with many detailed flowers weaved throughout all its fabrics. She hadn't wanted to wear it for longer than necessary – Azula couldn't remember her friend wearing such bright colors ever again. The brides of the noble wedding ceremonies that her father had made her attend had worn similar dresses to Mai's, ornate and striking. This one, unsurprisingly, wasn't quite as opulent and fancy as the nobility dresses she'd grown used to: it was a crimson hanfu with white sleeves, patterned with small fire lilies across the outer layers, with a bright sash of yellow and white meant to keep the outfit in place. Azula was genuinely surprised to find she preferred the elegant simplicity this one offered instead of the complications of highborn traditions.

"I think it's perfect" Azula said, and Jiare smiled brightly.

"Well, then! Take a quick bath, if you would, and once you're dressed, we'll help you with your hair!"

"Oh, if only we had a proper hair comb…" sighed another woman, shaking her head.

"I'll ask Lady Zunyan! She might have one we can borrow!" exclaimed the one who had offered her own dress earlier, and she scrambled out the door right away.

"I guess we are imposing a lot on you, aren't we?" Azula asked, grimacing a little as she glanced at the group of women: their cheerful demeanor suggested they enjoyed being imposed on, however.

"Oh, dear, you have nothing to worry about!" exclaimed Jiare "I wished, for so long, that I might have a daughter of my own to prepare for her wedding… I only have sons, though. I never thought I'd have the chance to help a young woman for the biggest day of her life!"

"Well, that's nice, but I mean, it's all on such short notice, so…"

"Nothing wrong with that!" said another woman, grinning "This is the most exciting thing to happen in this town for years! Don't you worry, we'll get you ready and you'll marry your hunk of a man in no time!"

Azula smiled at that, nodding shyly as familiar warmth nestled in her chest. If things kept going as smoothly as they had today, she'd become the living embodiment of gold fire.

Sokka had been forced to clean up too, and then given Shengkai's own old wedding outfit to wear. For the first time, the Water Tribesman would wear the Fire Nation's most ornate clothing, of the sort that Azula would wear on occasion back home: the spiky shoulder capes he'd often seen on the nobles felt out of place on his own body, he thought, as he stared at himself in the tall mirror awkwardly. Still, the red-and-black outfit Shengkai had provided him with would please Azula, considering she'd always insisted that red suited him perfectly.

He didn't quite know why she'd changed her mind, even now. He had as good as given up on the notion of marrying her, even if he'd sung with the Sage to fulfill his condition – though on great measure he'd done it just to poke fun at Azula, knowing she'd never stop telling him off for his clumsy singing. But she had seemed so determined earlier, so happy upon hearing Ryu's positive response…

Whenever he relived that moment in his mind he couldn't help but smile wildly to himself. It was surreal, just like everything about this crazy trip had been so far. They had signed up for a week of celebrating his birthday, mainly to help Azula relax and unwind… and now they were about to get married after taking up a Spicy Ramen Challenge in a relatively unknown Fire Nation town. Had someone told him this was what he'd be doing for his birthday's celebration with Azula he would have prepared himself better: as it was, he couldn't quite hold back the sudden, overpowering rushes of joy that seemed to take his body by storm.

"So, ready yet?" Shengkai asked, grinning "I was a bit chubbier than you, but not as muscular, so it looks like the outfit suits you just fine"

"Yeah. It's perfect" said Sokka, with an awkward grin.

"All that's left is the top-knot and…"

"T-top knot?" Sokka repeated, his easygoing attitude fading quickly "Oh, no. No need for that. Jing likes me better with my hair down"

"Does she, now?" Shengkai repeated, intrigued "Well… it is tradition, but it's also tradition to get married in your local town and to do it after months of preparation, so screw tradition, eh?"

"Yeah… screw it, heh" Sokka said, with a nervous grin. He doubted anyone in Firelight would recognize him, chances were no one here had ever seen the Princess's gladiator before… but it was better not to take unnecessary risks anyhow. Shengkai chuckled and walked up to him, clapping him on the shoulder gently.

"You're a brave man, you know?" said Shengkai "And a wise one too, I think. You have a great relationship with that girl: you treasure her, and it shows. What you two have is the kind of love you never let go of, no matter what"

"I know" Sokka said, smiling warmly as his mind drifted to thoughts of his Princess "I plan on holding onto her for as long as she wants me to, and apparently she really wants me to, huh?"

"And aren't you lucky for it, Wentai" Shengkai laughed. Sokka chuckled along with him.

"To think I'll be with her for the rest of my life…" he whispered, his voice full of hope "How does a common guy like me live with this kind of happiness, damn…?"

"Ah, you learn to channel it in many ways" Shengkai said, grinning "But I think the best thing you can do is tell her just how happy she makes you, until she pours a bowl of flaming hot ramen in your mouth because you just won't shut up about it…"

"U-uh, I take it Jiare did that?"

"Yep, and seeing how Jing likes spices that much, I suppose she'd be likely to do that to you as well" Shengkai laughed. Sokka snorted, admitting silently to himself that he wouldn't put that kind of flustered reaction past Azula, even nowadays.

Sokka was ready before Azula was, but he didn't go to the shrine right away, choosing to wait for her near the inn's threshold instead. A smaller group of the same customers from yesterday still loitered around, fussing over the wedding and giving Sokka all sorts of unnecessary and mostly unwanted advice on how to take care of his future wife in every possible sense of the words.

Impatient, Sokka wondered if he ought to go upstairs to find Azula, but the noise that drifted from the upper floor suggested she was still busy, so he held back his impulses. He didn't think he could stop twitching, his nerves wrecking him despite there was no reason why they should: Azula wouldn't change her mind about this halfway through, he knew as much. Though there was a chance Sage Ryu would back down on holding the ceremony, terribly hungover as he was, and then…

He didn't have time to reason that the one overwhelmed by all the worst possibilities now was him, rather than Azula, for the women had finally appeared at the stairs, and his eyes drifted in that direction immediately…

He nearly forgot how to breathe as he laid eyes upon her, clad in a dress that was both elegant and simple in its details. Her hair had been done up, though not excessively, and she sported a red comb adorned with a fire lily. She wore more make-up now than she had worn over their travels the previous day, and it only enhanced her beauty, just as everything else did. The betrothal necklace, a splash of blue amidst all the Fire Nation red-and-gold, still hung around her neck.

Azula walked carefully, hoping to keep Jiare's dress from trailing over the floor: the older woman was taller than her, and there was no time to properly trim the hem of the dress. Jiare had been quick to disregard it as something unimportant, but Azula was determined to keep the dress as clean as possible all the same.

She didn't notice Sokka's adoring gaze until she finished climbing down the stairs carefully. The noisy men had fallen silent as she climbed downstairs… nervous that she'd look ridiculous, despite she had thought she didn't look half-bad, Azula sought Sokka out in the crowd quickly.

The expression on his face dispelled all her fears. She swallowed hard but smiled as she mirrored his expression, feeling terribly self-aware and yet delighted for his attention. She wasn't sure he had ever smiled so beautifully, even after the blissful joy he'd experienced in Whaletail Island…

"A-…" he started, but he caught himself again before letting her name tumble from his lips. He laughed, shaking his head as he stepped forward "Jing, you… you look so beautiful I think I'm going to cry"

"Don't people usually save the tears for the ceremony?" Azula asked, laughing softly as she approached him, still careful with her dress "You look beautiful yourself, Wentai. Had I known you'd look so good in noble clothes I would've bought them for you from the moment we met…"

He laughed nervously, and Azula smiled inevitably for it. He was giddy, happier than she had ever seen him before. He had likened himself to a child on his birthday, but Azula now doubted even children would ever display the kind of genuine enthusiasm and wonder that was plain across Sokka's handsome face right now.

"I… I… I think I forgot all words" Sokka confessed, laughing and covering his face with his hands "I should be more eloquent than this! What's wrong with me?!"

"Nothing's wrong with you, silly" Azula laughed too, taking his hands in hers so she could hold his gaze. The blue in his eyes had never been more heartwarming "Calm down, breathe deeply… and then we'll go. Right?"

"Right. We'll… get married. You and I. Married" he said, his grin widening as he spoke.

"And you're definitely not any calmer after saying that" Azula laughed. Sokka couldn't help but join in, leaning towards her and pressing his brow to hers.

"Okay… okay" he said, breathing deeply as she instructed "We can do this. And we're going to do this, screw what everyone thinks"

"Damn right" Azula said, squeezing his hands and nodding "Are you ready?"

"On one hand… I think not" Sokka admitted, chuckling "I'd have liked to savor the knowledge that we're actually going to do this for longer than… how long has it been? An hour?"

"I think so, yeah" Azula nodded again. Sokka snorted.

"But then again, I feel like I could never not be ready to be… to be your husband"

"And I your wife" Azula finished, beaming "Well, that will take time getting used to, no doubt, but… it feels right, doesn't it?"

He laughed euphorically again and drew her in for a hug. The women gasped, dreading he'd ruin Azula's hair, but the bride only laughed and held him closely all the same. As far as she was concerned, it wouldn't have mattered whether she wore a royal dress or a homeless woman's rags, let alone whether her hair was the picture of perfection or a total catastrophe: she was marrying a man who would love her regardless of what she wore, of how she might present herself to the world. He had seen her for who she was, without being fooled by every wall she had ever erected to keep others away… and despite her worst fears, what he'd found beneath all those layers hadn't scared him. If anything, he had found it beautiful, as he found everything about her. And as many doubts as Azula often had about countless things, she had none about the genuine devotion Sokka held for her. She no longer second-guessed their relationship, she hadn't in years: she knew his love was real, and that knowledge filled her with a strength she hadn't known until she'd found it with him. They were better together, and there was nowhere she'd rather be right now than in his arms, relishing in the crazy decision they'd made to swear full commitment to each other today.

Sokka was overwhelmed, unable to reason with the situation anymore: he only pulled away from their embrace to press his lips to Azula's repeatedly. She answered at first, but soon enough laughed at his silly demeanor, just before one of Sokka's new friends shouted:

"Hey, save some for after the wedding, Wentai!"

That seemed to remind Sokka that he wasn't alone with Azula right now. He joined her with his laughter, his face glowing as he held her close regardless. Azula felt she could gaze into those blissful eyes forever.

"Okay. Okay, we're going to do this…" he said, his voice hitching in anticipation. Azula grinned, nodding promptly.

"Ready now?" she asked. He chuckled and breathed before nodding, releasing her from his embrace only to take her hands in his.

"Let's get married" he said, beaming.

They walked to the building's entrance together, fingers still intertwined, and two of the men opened the doors for them. Both Azula and Sokka thanked them quickly before walking out into the streets, with Azula once again attempting to keep the dress from trailing on the dirty behind her. Sokka couldn't seem to get his eyes off her, which prompted Shengkai and Jiare to step forward and guide them, amused as they were by the lovestruck groom and his literally blushing bride.

Curious eyes followed them as they walked together to the shrine, where Ryu waited. Many people were watching them from windows, others had gotten distracted from whatever they had been doing in the streets and now followed them with their gazes. The men and women who had helped Sokka and Azula prepare urged others to join them, and many did as much: by the time they reached the shrine, the street was packed with onlookers, eager to witness the ceremony even if they hadn't so much as met the future spouses.

Ryu still looked hungover, even in his fully formal Fire Sage robes. He commanded respect, even if he was a whole head shorter than Azula: he took his job quite seriously, making it difficult to conciliate this new image of him with his drunken singing spree of the previous night.

"So… you kids ready?" he asked, promptly, when the hand-holding couple stopped before him.

"We are" Sokka said, trying not to let his nervousness show.

It felt like his heart was about to burst out of his chest, even though all his fears had been placated: Ryu would hold the ceremony for them, Azula hadn't changed her mind, there was no sudden storm to dampen the outdoors ceremony… but there was nothing he could do to stop feeling nervous and frantic. It wasn't going to be a legal wedding, he knew, not by any means… but his heart found it as exciting as though it were.

"Well, then… let's get started!" Ryu declared. Azula's fingers squeezed Sokka's hand, showing him she shared in his eagerness and anxiety just as well "We have many witnesses, it seems… Shengkai, Jiare, I take it you're the best man and maid of honor?"

"That… I suppose we could be, if they want us to be" said Shengkai, shrugging.

"This was all your idea, so yes, I'd think so" Azula smiled at the older couple, who appeared fully proud of their role in setting up this wedding today.

"Then…" said Ryu, clearing his throat and spreading his arms out, as though to take in the large crowd "Welcome, town of Firelight, to the wedding ceremony we will celebrate today between… uh, what were your names again?"

"I'm Wentai, she's Jing" Sokka answered, amused yet unsurprised by the question. Ryu had been considerably drunk last night, after all.

"That! Between Wentai and Jing!" Ryu finished "Today, you will make a fire offering to Fenghuang, the Phoenix above us, so that your commitment and love blazes bright and eternal, as does the fire that reigns over us in the skies above. This is no decision to be taken lightly, as you well must know by now: if the strongest respect and the truest devotion guide you, however, you will enjoy a full, blissful life with your chosen partner, for many years to come. Therefore, I ask your maid of honor and best man, Jiare and Shengkai, to vouch for you and confirm that you are making this decision with full consciousness and understanding of what your responsibilities as spouses entail. So, Jiare, Shengkai? Will you confirm it?"

"Of course" said Shengkai, grinning and nodding.

"I haven't met many couples like Jing and Wentai before" Jiare said "It takes but one look to see there's no end of love between them! So yes, I confirm, they are ready and fully aware of the commitment they're about to undertake"

"Then, if this is so, we move on to what comes next…" said Ryu, turning towards his shrine… and drawing out the Book of Fire. Azula knew this was part of the ceremony, but her eager, restless partner seemed confused: was this really necessary?

"Oi, Ryu…?" said Shengkai, staring at him in disbelief, but Ryu cleared his throat.

"As stated by the Book of Fire…!" he began, and a groan was heard throughout the crowd. Clearly, not a lot of people cared for his reciting, and Ryu didn't seem affected by it in the least "Fire burns in the skies above, as well as within our breast. We were born from fire, and to fire we will be given upon death: we live by fire, as do our brothers and sisters with us. When two children of fire choose to share their lives with each other, they choose to share the burning inner fire that nestles inside them just as well: spouses will be connected not only in name but by the flames inside them, that burn as powerfully as…"

"Get a move on, Ryu!"

"Ack, I know this was a sudden ceremony, but you could let me finish!" Ryu pouted, closing the book and scowling at the man who'd shouted this time, not far from where Sokka stood "Curses, you're like wild beasts, all of you…"

"Is it necessary to read a lot of it, though…?" Sokka asked, with a small voice. Ryu scowled at him.

"If you have no patience with the Book of Fire, how do you expect to have any with your wife? Agh, kids these days, I swear…" Ryu growled, shaking his head but, to everyone's surprise, he set down the Book of Fire indeed "Well, then! To summarize, you two are expected to respect each other, looking after one another when you're ill, or when you're upset, to provide for your family and to cherish each other every day for the rest of your lives. Now, then, do swear that you will uphold all these things and then we can move forward, please…"

"Oh, uh, do you want us to repeat what you said, or…?" Sokka asked. Ryu shrugged.

"You can make your own vows, I suppose, but don't take too long…" he grumbled, visibly annoyed by his previous interruptions still.

Sokka smiled before turning towards Azula. Again, she took his breath away with her incomparable beauty. How he wished he could gaze at her forevermore, forgetting himself and anyone but her… he breathed deeply, guessing he ought to be the one to share his vows first. It would have been good to have longer to think about what he'd say, especially to decide how to synthesize his feelings properly…

"Well, I think we've already had plenty of experience with everything he listed, sometimes without our awareness" Sokka said, smiling gently, his hand still firmly locked around Azula's. "You and I have been through more than enough high and lows, but you've listened to me, stood beside me as though I were no lesser than you, even if everyone thinks otherwise… but what always mattered to me was that you wouldn't think so. We weren't born equal, but you never failed to make me feel as though we were. I can never thank you enough for that, for helping me fight my darkness with your light.

"I will always respect you the same way you've respected me, for however long as we may live. I will break my back if it's what it takes to provide for our family, to protect it and look after it in every capacity I can. I will always fight for you, as I have for all these years, and I will be by your side for the rest of my life. The best decision I've ever made was letting myself fall in love with you, and… and if you'll let me, I'll go ahead and do it again and again, every time I lay eyes upon you, every time I hear you laugh, every morning I wake up by your side, knowing we belong by each other's side. I've been yours for years already, but today… today I swear that I will be yours until the end of time"

Azula hadn't known what to expect from Sokka's vows, but she certainly hadn't thought he'd be so openly emotional and bluntly honest. By the time he was finished she could barely hold back the urge to cry.

"Damn" she said, lowering her gaze as an uncontrollable smile spread over her face "I knew I should've gone first"

A soft laugh ran through the crowd as she brushed her eyes with her free hand, her shoulders shaking with either sobs or laughs of her own. Sokka smiled sympathetically, raising a hand to cup her face. Azula breathed deeply before long, though, and she gave him her trademark defiant stare.

"Each time you've asked me one of those life-changing questions, I've hesitated, I won't deny that" she admitted, with a sad smile "I've never been half as good as you are at dealing with change, because I'm always fearful of what might go wrong. But for as long as we've been together, for all those years, every single change has been for the better. I spent my entire life not knowing what genuine happiness was until I found you. I started to think life was truly worth living, chaotic and dangerous and beautiful as it was, once I was living it with you.

"Every bad moment we've had amounts to nothing in the face of the good ones. I wasn't always the best person I could be with you, we both know that, but today… today I swear I will be, for as long as I live. I swear I will respect you, I will protect you, I will take care of you: I will love you forever, longer still if I can get away with it. I won't hesitate anymore when answering your questions, for the only answer I want to give is 'yes'. Whatever changes and challenges may come in our future, I know I can face them without fear, standing side by side with the worthiest, most extraordinary partner I could have ever hoped to find"

A gentle laugh left Sokka's lips, and Azula was relieved, to a fault, to find she wasn't the only one close to tears. Their vows hadn't been quite as thorough as they would have liked, as they surely would have been if they'd had time to compose them properly. But they'd said what mattered most, or at least it felt that way.

"You're amazing" Sokka whispered, leaning close, his forehead meeting hers. Azula smiled, intertwining their fingers as she felt that familiar rush of gold fire bursting inside her. Had she used her bending right now, its gold would have been blindingly bright.

"Eh-hem" Ryu cleared his throat, prompting both Azula and Sokka to grin slightly guiltily now "Your vows have been spoken from the heart, and I'm certain Fenghuang will receive them gladly. Now it's time to symbolize your devotion through the lighting of your nuptial candle, if you would…"

Both Azula and Sokka grinned at each other before turning fully to face Ryu. The man had walked around the small altar before his shrine, and he urged the marrying pair to join him for the next stage of their ceremony.

The nuptial candle was tall, thick and of a bright red color, with a pale stem. There was nothing unusual about the candle's appearance, but it seemed to hold a unique power to it, even if it was a symbolic one. Sokka gazed at it near reverentially, smiling slowly as Ryu offered the two of them a pair of long, thin, white candles.

"Neither of you are firebenders, right?" he asked, and Azula was truly glad the secrets to firebending resonance were mostly lost, otherwise Ryu would have known right away that she had to be a bender: her inner fire was more explosive than an erupting volcano right now.

"No" Azula said, reaching for the candle. It felt wrong to lie about that, especially when she would love to live up to Sokka's old suggestion of mixing her gold and blue fire to create multicolor flames for their nuptial candle… but they couldn't get everything exactly as they'd wanted it, could they?

Sokka took the other candle after Azula, and Ryu spread both his hands in the direction of the candles. He spoke quick, soft words that Azula recognized as part of a flame purifying ritual, and he pressed his fingers to the stems of each candle, lighting them effectively.

"This nuptial candle will be yours to take care of" Ryu explained, gesturing at the thick red candle "You must ensure to preserve it as best as you can, for it symbolizes the beginning of your journey as spouses. Each year, on the same date your wedding took place, you are expected to light your candle again, to rekindle the fire of your love and passion for one another. Most people's nuptial candles run out eventually, of course… your closest temple ought to provide you with another one, if you need it. But that's usually a concern for many years in the future, so… whenever you're ready, light it together"

Sokka and Azula nodded. They raised the candles carefully, hers in her left hand, his in his right: the pale stem soon turned dark when both flames united as one. It was a delicate flame, small and frail once they took away their respective candles, but it reared up slowly as it gained power, fighting to burn brightly as the fire in their hearts did.

Applause rang behind them, prompting Azula and Sokka to grin joyfully at each other. The candle lighting had been brief, but the small gesture had felt grand and invigorating all the same.

"The light of this candle, the fire that burns before us, needs to be nurtured, taken care of!" Ryu spoke over the loud clapping "Just as the fire you share for each other does. You have already sworn to uphold the noblest of loyalties for each other, and you have lit the candle that symbolizes your love. Therefore, it's my honor to allow Fenghuang to speak through me…"

Azula's euphoric smile told Sokka this was it, just before Ryu finished his sentence. The Sage offered them a kind grin of his own, his unpleasant mood seemingly gone by now:

"As I announce that, from this day forward, Jing and Wentai shall be known as husband and wife"

It wasn't the right fire, and those weren't the right names. But none of that mattered to Sokka one bit anymore, for he swept Azula into the tightest hug he could while kissing her lips fully.

The Princess forgot all her shame now, wrapping her arms around Sokka to respond to his kiss with overflowing enthusiasm. She could hear the cheering, more applause, some voices nearby… but she didn't truly listen. All her senses were focused on Sokka, on savoring this first kiss they'd shared as husband and wife: it was the sweetest taste of all, better than mochi, than spicy ramen, than anything her lips had ever been touched by before.

They certainly forgot how to breathe, forced to part from each other only when their bodies demanded for air too urgently to be ignored. Yet Sokka laughed, tears of joy spilling from his eyes now as he hoisted Azula from the ground, as he ever did. The skirt of the long dress floundered in the air after her, and Azula merely rejoiced in the feeling, laughing too as she pressed more kisses over Sokka's face while he twirled them in place. He was her husband now… oh, all legal matters were meaningless compared to this addictive ecstasy. Never did she expect to experience happiness on par with the one the two of them had found today.

It took almost five minutes for Sokka and Azula to let each other go, if just briefly: Ryu had prepared their marriage certificate, after all, and all pertinent signatures were needed to make it official. That he truly hadn't cared for confirmation of their identities was a blissful relief, and as soon as Sokka was done signing, after Azula's turn, he wrapped his arms around her again. Her fingers slid through the hair at his nape, her laughter stirring more joy in his heart than Sokka knew what to do with anymore.

Everything was a whirlwind after that: the villagers rejoiced in the wedding, and they accompanied them back to the Dragon's Casserole. The establishment was packed within moments, and Shengkai and Jiare seemed delighted for it: they served food and drinks to anyone who asked, and their sons helped them keep up with so many customers at such short notice.

Prying Sokka and Azula off each other seemed outright impossible: at the very least, they were joined by linked hands, but more often than not they could be found embracing, lost in their shared bliss. They accepted all congratulations, as well as the introductions of those who hadn't even known them until the ceremony was announced. They toasted to their love, after Shengkai offered a brief speech, and they ate and drank without going overboard this time, often feeding each other without a care in the world. They knew they were being obnoxious, more than they ever had been, but they didn't regret it. The happiness that filled them was out of control, and they only had one idea on how to exteriorize it…

Though Sokka gained a second idea when some of today's customers gathered in one corner of the inn, tuning their respective instruments: they hoped to offer a song or two to honor the newlyweds.

"Heeey, now…" Sokka said, smiling dangerously when he heard the first notes. Azula's surprise didn't mitigate her own grin.

"U-uh… no. We're not going to…" she started, but his radiant, mischievous grin silenced her quickly enough. Well, he was going to have his way, she couldn't possibly fight against him today, let alone when he smiled that way…

The local town's musical group had only begun performing their first song when Sokka yanked Azula to a small but empty space near the musicians. Everyone gasped in surprise, more so when they saw the young man was swaying his body in an outlandish way while his companion tried to keep up, struggling to do so because her laughter was so strong she could barely stand up straight anymore. Their dancing was as awkward and crazy as ever, but their crowd began clapping at the rhythm of the music before long: within minutes there were other couples following their lead, dancing recklessly and carelessly in a manner most unbefitting the Fire Nation's stiff traditions. A few people chose to dance on their own, not bothering to find a partner and preferring to jump at the music's beat on their own terms.

If the previous night had been a riot in the Dragon's Casserole, this one had outdone it by miles. By the time the celebration had wrapped up, Jiare and Shengkai would still be cleaning up the mess left behind by the party, Sage Ryu would have another terrible hangover after drinking too much, and his feet would hurt after dancing and singing for most the night, and once more, several customers would have chosen to fall asleep at the establishment instead of going home.

As for the bride and groom, they escaped the crowd before long, for the second night in a row. The noise downstairs was far louder this time, but they ignored it all the same: they were emboldened by their mutual passion, the purest form of joy rushing through their bodies. They gave themselves to each other completely, round after round, with only short breaks to catch their breaths and perhaps drink some water, all before the caresses turned more intense, and the soft kisses grew addictive and deep. Exhausted, nervous and slightly ashamed for having discarded their respective wedding outfits so carelessly, they lay in each other's arms, free to forget about anything and everything, delightfully lost in one another.

"I'm not sure I can believe it yet…" Sokka whispered, embracing Azula from behind as tightly as he could. His breath brushed her skin pleasantly, his lips pressing against her neck on occasion. Her eyes were closed, fingers entwined with his as her chest heaved, her body still reeling from another climax that had left her with a ghostly tingle rushing up and down her legs.

"Neither can I" Azula answered, smiling "We're… married. Not in the best way, sure, but…"

"But it still counts, huh?" Sokka asked, kissing her ear. Azula chuckled softly and nodded.

"It counts for everything" she said, raising his hand so she could press a soft kiss to it.

"I really wish I could've known we were going to do this, though" Sokka laughed "I would've done better with my vows, I think…"

"Oh, nonsense" Azula smiled "Not only were your vows wonderful, but you're the best improviser I know. You handled it marvelously"

"Not better than you did, my wife…" he said, and the word seemed to tickle him as he spoke it. A small laugh left his lips, and he kissed her neck and jawline eagerly again "My wife, I swear… I never thought I'd be able to call you that for real, not anytime soon anyhow…"

"Well, I didn't expect to call you my husband either" Azula smiled, and just like Sokka, so much as uttering the word made her lightheaded in a way the alcohol couldn't "Oh, goodness, Sokka…"

"One day we'll do it again, Azula. And by then, we'll do everything right" Sokka promised her. Azula raised her head to glance over her shoulder, a teasing grin over her lips.

"Again?" she asked "How many times do you plan on marrying me, gladiator?"

"Oh, every time. I'd marry you every day of the rest of our lives, if it were up to me" Sokka chuckled, kissing the tip of her nose

"I'm drunk on you, clearly…" she whispered, smiling "Because I think I'd let you, every day indeed…"

Sokka laughed again as Azula turned in his arms, kissing his lips fully. There was no rational explanation, she guessed, for why their attachment only strengthened with the passing of time. Their hearts seemed to beat at unison, and their bodies remained locked together, as though maintaining physical contact was utterly vital right now. The euphoria with which they'd entered the room before their wild lovemaking spree had diminished, but it was replaced by a smooth, delightful feeling of contentment that they conveyed through their constant smiles, the touch on each other's bodies, the relentless string of kisses that left them breathless.

"Is it even possible to love someone more and more each day…?" Sokka asked eventually, fingers in her hair. Azula laughed, kissing his collarbone softly.

"I'm pretty sure we're proof of that" she whispered. Sokka chuckled happily "Well, today certainly set a brand-new bar for us, as far as wonderful days go…"

"True" Sokka conceded, fingers trailing over her back. She leaned into him further, her chest pressing into him.

"However shall we outdo that for the rest of this week, I wonder…?" she whispered. Sokka pressed an enthusiastic kiss to her lips, beaming brightly.

"I have no idea, but knowing us, we'll pull it off somehow" he chuckled "Now that we're married, I feel like we're even more undefeatable than ever before"

"It strengthened our powers, now, did it?" Azula asked, smirking. Sokka nodded eagerly "Why, I certainly like the sound of that…"

"Goodness, can you imagine what everyone will say when we get back?" he asked, chuckling still "Their reactions will be amazing…"

"I… don't really know that we should tell anyone, actually" Azula said, biting her lip. Sokka blinked blankly, confused.

"Why not?"

"Can you imagine the shitstorm Ty Lee will give us for it?" Azula laughed now "Not only did we get married without inviting her, but…"

"But we did it before she did?" Sokka asked, amused "When she's been working for over a year to arrange things so she can marry Haru, too…"

"I suppose, in our defense, we were engaged long before they were…" Azula mumbled. Sokka chuckled and kissed her lips.

"Still true that she's bound to kick up a ruckus about it, but Song wouldn't, I'm sure. She'll be happy for us" Sokka said, and Azula nodded "You know, she ought to marry Rui Shi once she gets the chance, too…"

"Knowing him, he'll probably want to retire from serving as Imperial Guard before he does that" Azula smiled "So I guess they might not want to do it yet"

"Well, I don't know why they wouldn't" Sokka pouted, before grinning and squeezing Azula in his arms "Being married is amazing, they're missing out!"

"We've been married for less than half a day, silly" Azula laughed, pressing her brow to his. Sokka snickered.

"It's still been the best… uh, eleven, twelve hours of my life? I don't know how many they have been by now" he said, stroking her hair gently.

"The one thing I'm concerned about, truthfully…" Azula said, after pressing another kiss to his lips "Is my father"

"Oh? You think someone's going to tell him about what we did?"

"Yeah: I might"

"W-wait, what?!" Sokka said, eyes wide as Azula laughed.

"I can't help but think that, the next time he tries to set me up in marriage with someone, I'll just forget all common sense and blurt out that I can't do it because I'm already married…" she said, body curling against Sokka as she shook with laughter. Despite himself, Sokka joined her with his own laughter, rubbing her back soothingly as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"I'm not sure he'll appreciate having me for a son-in-law, but he could do worse…" Sokka teased.

"Oh, so much worse. He even has some respect for you, imagine that" Azula smiled "That's better than what can be said for most his court…"

"Heh, then he shouldn't complain" Sokka declared, proudly. Azula laughed and kissed him again.

"Oh, he would complain, so I'll do my best to shut my mouth about our wedding…" she said "But I'm not sure that I'll manage, honestly. I… I can safely say I've never been this happy before"

"Me neither" Sokka grinned. Azula sighed in bliss, relaxing against him "And it's just the beginning, isn't it?"

"Yeah, just the first eleven to twelve hours of marriage and we're like this" she laughed, arms locked around his neck "We're going to be so obnoxious, going forward… but it's hardly our fault: things somehow always get better between the two of us, don't they?"

"Yeah. We're special that way" he said, with a heart-warming smile.

The next kiss he gave her was sweet and gentle, and even though his hands traveled over her body to arouse her once more, the instinctive desire was blended perfectly with overwhelming love. Their shared passion was set to unfold again, and it would continue to do so as many times through the night as possible, until they were so spent they could do nothing but fall asleep in each other's arms.

By morning it was Sokka who woke first, finding Azula was still tightly wrapped in his arms, her beautiful hair splayed messily over the bedding, her pale body nearly gleaming under the rising sun's light. Once again, the only clothing item she still wore was the necklace.

The night had helped him channel out his rush of feelings, it seemed, for he felt calmer now, soothed, even if just as joyful as before. Lying in bed, limbs tangled with those of the love of his life, proved to be the perfect way to wake up.

He guessed they'd move on today, despite they had been supposed to do that yesterday. Xin Long might even be cross with them, for they had left him to his own devices for two days… but Azula was sleeping so placidly that Sokka didn't dare wake her. He always longed for moments like these, and it would be madness to waste them when they finally had the chance to lie in bed together for however long they wished to do so.

He merely played with her soft hair, which he had undone for her last night. The ornamental comb she had worn was much simpler than the ones she wore in the opulent celebrations at the Palace, but the fire lily had suited her as well as the dragons often did. Sokka suspected he'd have a hard time finding something Azula didn't look absolutely gorgeous in.

And that beautiful woman was asleep comfortably in his arms, on the morning after having professed her love for him would be eternal, in front of everyone in Firelight Town. The thought inevitably brought a smile to his face, and the elation from the previous day rose up in his chest once more. He didn't think the day would come when he might feel worthy of her love, but he knew he would be grateful for it until the end of time.

She sighed suddenly, waking silently and reaching to caress his body as she did. Her fingertips were soft against his flank, and she began humming softly in appreciation of his physique, even if her eyes remained closed.

"Having fun…?" Sokka asked, amused as her hand traveled over his back. Her smile was lazy and inviting.

"With you? Always…" she whispered, leaning in blindly to press a kiss to his skin, caring little about what she kissed at all: she settled on his neck, and Sokka chuckled as he allowed her to work on him as she pleased "Good morning, husband…"

Her voice was teasing, and no less loving for it. Sokka beamed, his hand on the nape of her neck now.

"It is a good morning, my beautiful wife" he declared "For, within a few hours, we will have been married for a full day, and everything has been perfect since then"

"It has, admittedly…" Azula chuckled "One day of successful marriage is an important milestone, I suppose"

"Definitely is" Sokka said, arms tightening around her body "And I can think of a way or two to celebrate it, unless we're both too hungry to take it…"

"Well…" Azula said, raising her eyebrows in that way he found endearing and alluring just the same: it always seemed as though she were a step ahead than him, and he relished in that… but this time, the proud smirk froze on Azula's face before being replaced by a confused frown "Uh… I'm not sure that we can, actually"

"Oh? Why's that?" Sokka asked, eyeing her warily "Are you alright, Azula…?"

"I am, there's no denying it" Azula said, and she smiled again "It's just… I think my legs are in no fit state for our usual fun. We went overboard last night"

"O-oh…" Sokka said, blinking a few times before Azula snorted and laughed against his chest "I guess I was too enthusiastic, huh?"

"I like you enthusiastic" Azula said, kissing his neck again "There's no better reason for having sore legs than tons and tons of sex"

"That's infallible logic, I admit it" Sokka laughed, pressing his lips to her brow "Then maybe… we should clean up instead? You might feel better once you're floating in a tub of warm water…"

"Hmm… that's a tempting offer" Azula conceded.

Sokka grinned and released her from his hold. She was about to protest, unwilling to separate their bodies for however brief a moment it might be, but he was on his feet by her bedside within moments, and he had hoisted her across his arms effortlessly.

"Huh. I suppose you don't need breakfast that desperately if you're still strong enough to carry me like this" Azula said, patting his chest approvingly "And I guess I didn't put on that much weight after the ramen, if you're not struggling with me…"

"You've always been so light" he laughed, walking with her to their private bathroom "And after all the training I do, you only seem to become lighter yet. I could carry you like this all day, but knowing you, you'll demand I don't"

"Well, normally it's better if you don't" Azula smiled, as Sokka set her down on the bathroom stool "But I admit I might let you do that today, of all days"

"Would you, now…?" Sokka snickered, as he readied himself to help Azula clean up fully "Careful, wife. I might just take you up on that suggestion"

It took more willpower than either knew they had to resist from engaging in yet another tryst: washing one another often led them down that path, after all. Yet it seemed last night's satisfaction had been strong enough to keep them sated, to some degree, for the time being, and they only settled for cleaning each other as best they could.

"I suppose we'll leave today, right?" Sokka asked, once they were soaking in the tub together, their hair and bodies glistening and clean, their skin sporting countless love-bites after their wild trysts from the past two days. Azula answered his question with a soft kiss to his shoulder, sitting across his lap as she was "I was just thinking Xin's probably not very happy with us…"

"Eh, he knows he couldn't have been involved in the wedding anyhow" Azula smiled "That being said, yes, he's an unhappy, grumpy dragon regardless of what common sense dictates, so we'll have to appease him somehow, once we meet up with him…"

"By the time we're in Shu Jing he'll be a lot freer than he has been so far" Sokka said "Piandao's mansion was huge and there's no houses nearby… we won't have to keep him away by then"

"He'll be stoked for it, surely" Azula said, hand trailing over Sokka's muscular arm now. A slow smile spread over her face as she gazed at him near-reverently, and the gladiator smirked at the expression on his lover's face.

"Want me to show off my muscles for you, by any chance?" he laughed. She had the gall to smile enthusiastically, at which he only laughed harder.

"By all means!" she said, earning herself nothing but tickles "Hey! T-that's not what I meant! Be a good husband and let me admire your flawless body!"

"Flawless body, honestly…" Sokka laughed, shaking his head and pulling her closer.

"You know I'm a perfectionist who settles for nothing below her station…" Azula teased him, her own hands traveling over his torso now "And you, husband, are far above the expectations for one of your kind…"

"One of my kind? Men, in general?" Sokka asked, amused. Azula nodded promptly.

"I can safely say you're the most handsome marriage prospect I've ever had" she said, smiling, though she raised an eyebrow moments afterwards "Though I guess Chan comes second, even if he was a dolt, but still…"

"Chan?! Heh! What's he got that I don't?!" Sokka pouted, and Azula laughed again, pressing her brow to his.

"I can't think of anything, honestly. Not anything worth having, at any rate. That's why he's second, and you're first" Azula declared. As silly as the conversation was, he still smiled like a proud child to know he had outdone his alleged competition thoroughly.

"Well, then, good on you for picking the better-looking husband you could've found, I suppose…" he said, his voice playful. Azula laughed, kissing his cheek before hugging him tightly.

"I'm not sure it's that good, I don't know how anyone's going to pry my hands off you in the near future" she smiled "Not that I want them to, but still…"

"No one gets to pry us off each other for this week, Princess, and you know it" Sokka said, grinning still "I guess it won't be enough, but still… five days of being married still loom ahead, and no one's going to get in our way!"

"Not if we have a say upon the matter" Azula sighed happily "Let everyone else deal with the Fire Nation's catastrophes in the meantime. Honestly, I'm starting to appreciate being a lazy, irresponsible and selfish fool…"

"Are you? Sounds like you're judging yourself pretty harshly for it…"

"I guess I am judging myself" Azula admitted, still smiling "But for once… for once I just couldn't care less about what's expected of me. Not when I'm with you, as we always should be"

Sokka grinned too, hugging her tightly again and burying his face in her hair. He had already combed it perfectly for her, and she had offered to do the same with his hair too, finding it delightful to tread her fingers through those silky, soft locks.

They soaked together in the tub for around ten more minutes, and they took their time to dress up in clean clothes: the very first item Azula clad her body with, though, was the necklace she'd removed only so she could take her bath: she was growing used to the constant, gentle weight of the blue stone around her neck. Upon seeing her tying up the necklace again, still standing fully naked in the morning light, Sokka couldn't seem to remember what he'd been doing at all, gaping at her with the silliest grin on his face. Azula was quick to tease him for it: he didn't rise up to her challenge, happy to acknowledge she was enthralling to watch at all times.

They fastened each other's clothes carefully, trading no shortage of kisses as they did: after helping Azula lift her hair out of her shirt, Sokka sought her neck and pressed his lips to it eagerly. Such was his enthusiasm that he pinned her to the wall, and she laughed and moaned simultaneously under his reckless affections.

The blissful exchanges halted briefly, though, as they forced themselves to focus on putting away their belongings in their packs once again: Azula's cheeks flushed as she moved to the door, picking up both wedding outfits guiltily.

"Oh…" Sokka said, eyes widening "We did get rid of them pretty fast, huh?"

"I wanted to keep it as clean as possible…" Azula sighed, holding the dress remorsefully.

"I think they'll understand, most likely" Sokka smiled, slinging both their packs over each of his shoulders. Azula's eyes widened.

"Hey! I can carry my own…!" she said, but he shook his head, adamant.

"You were struggling with just walking until a short while ago" he smirked "Therefore, it's time your husband gives you a hand with your bags"

"Oh, my husband is truly impossible, isn't he?" Azula smiled, rolling her eyes as Sokka grinned proudly.

They glanced at the bedroom longingly one last time, as though to memorize its cozy layout and relive the incredible bliss they had enjoyed over the last two days, before making their way downstairs for breakfast. As Sokka was struggling to carry both bags, Azula missed being able to hold his hand wherever they might go.

Jiare and Shengkai were as generous as ever, and they weren't bothered by the state of their wedding clothes at all. The chef offered to brew another cup of Azula's special tea, and the newlyweds ate their breakfast with gusto, ever holding hands over the table. There weren't as many onlookers and leftover customers this time, but the ones around smiled knowingly at the sight of the happy couple.

"Oh, you'll be missed, even if you weren't around very long" Shengkai laughed as they stood by the door, once their meal was finished and their expenses had been paid. Azula and Sokka smiled gratefully at the innkeepers "You two provided this town with the most fun it's had in ages"

"Travel safely, dears" Jiare said, daring hug them, even if it was difficult to embrace Sokka, loaded with both packs as he was.

"You two are the most generous innkeepers we've ever met" Azula said "And… well, as much as I was so hesitant at first, we'll owe you forever for helping us get married. Thank you, and I hope your business is successful for many years to come"

"One day we'll come back for another challenge, Jiare" Sokka said, with a proud grin. Azula smirked approvingly at his promise "By then, I'll be much stronger against spices, and Jing will skip a meal or two, so she's hungry enough to eat all ten courses!"

"Why, be my guests! I would be thrilled for it!" Jiare smiled. Azula laughed, reaching up with a hand to caress Sokka's arm.

"Making promises as easily as that…" said Azula, though she found it an agreeable vow all the same. She truly hoped they'd have the opportunity to make it a reality "Alright, then. We really should get going"

"Good luck on the rest of your travels!" Shengkai said, waving as Azula and Sokka stepped into the streets again, still smiling at the innkeepers over their shoulders "Stay safe!"

"Thanks! You too!" Sokka replied, and with one last quick wave of his own, he turned forward, as good as walking towards the future with his wife by his side.

People were quicker to notice them this time, though they only smiled in approval as they passed. The children they'd met on their first day were on the streets again, playing with a few others: the little boy waved at them, and when Azula smiled at him he gasped in amazement.

Saying goodbye to Firelight Town wasn't too difficult, not when they still had five more days of freedom to look forward to, but Azula still glanced back at it once they reached the forest, knowing she'd remember the place fondly for the rest of her life. Her dreams hardly ever had come true, back in the day: only with Sokka had she dared reach for many objectives she had thought impossible. After what they'd lived in Firelight Town, it seemed like nothing could be an obstacle for their love anymore.

"Azula?" Sokka called her softly. His tone sent shivers of the pleasant kind down her spine: his voice was gentle and caring, perhaps more than it had ever been before. He was barely a few steps away, gazing at her with curiosity.

"Just…" she said, smiling weakly "I guess I was just thinking of something else I ought to have added to my vows, suddenly"

"Ah, I keep doing the same thing" Sokka chuckled "I tell you, they were too short and quick. Granted, it was probably for the best, I was so desperate to be married to you that I probably would've fumbled with something more complicated than that. But still…"

"Surely on our next wedding we'll make them longer" Azula smiled, stepping towards him, her fingertips trailing over his face. Sokka turned it quickly, to press a soft kiss to her fingers "Whenever that happens, that is"

"Maybe… in a bit less than a year, huh?" Sokka said, smiling as they restarted their walk towards the cliffs: Azula looked at Sokka questioningly for his answer.

"Really? You think we can go without marrying each other again for almost a whole year?" she asked. He snorted at her skepticism "No, I think it's impossible. We'll have to do it much sooner, as soon as my father thinks I'm too stressed out again to keep working…"

"Well, I wouldn't mind it if we do it again before then" he chuckled "But… there's the whole deal about me meeting my family again, right? In Whaletail Island?"

"Oh…?" Azula said, surprised by the change of subject. Still, Sokka didn't stop smiling.

"I'm thinking, if everything goes well with my dad, maybe we could travel south, as you suggested… and even if we can't be married in the Fire Nation, we could be in the Water Tribe" Sokka said, shrugging "I know it may not be what you want, but…"

"Wait, are you sure about that?" Azula asked, her heart racing again at the prospect of a Water Tribe-sanctioned wedding "I mean, well, I did say what I said to your sister, but… do you really think they'll approve of our relationship to the point of agreeing to hold our wedding?"

"Maybe" Sokka said, enigmatically "It all depends on how we present our case, I suppose. Come to think of it, we haven't discussed that yet, have we?"

"Discussed what?"

"You know… how we'll explain things thoroughly to them by our next encounter" Sokka chuckled "We left them a bit high and dry, as you might recall… you dropped that bomb on them and escaped before it really sank in. Though it seemed Zuko wasn't all that shaken up by it, surprisingly…"

"I guess I was that obvious about my feelings" Azula smiled "Though if that's the case, it truly says something disturbing about how poorly we've kept our secret. If even Zuko can pick up on it…"

"Katara outright called me out on my feelings, if Zuko didn't do that with you then you're definitely doing better than me" Sokka laughed, and Azula's laughter joined his as well.

"Fine, I concede" she said "But I guess that's not the answer to your question, huh? How will we handle it…? I don't think we should tell the whole truth, personally, but if you'd rather be graphic about things…"

"Wait, you think I want to tell my sister I've slept with you?"

"Not like you were all that shy about telling my friends all about the things you do to me, back in the day…"

"H-hey now! I just wanted to come up with a good anniversary present!" Sokka squeaked. Azula laughed, bumping into him lightly "I didn't do it on purpose, Azula…"

"I know, I know. It's not so terrible that they know, I suppose. At least they must think highly of you for being such a proficient lover" Azula admitted, and the proficient lover in question struggled to stifle a grin at her compliments "Still, I suppose it's much more awkward to talk to your sibling about that, huh? So… we would admit we're together, but we would let them fill the blanks about how far we've gone?"

"Yeah, that seems reasonable" Sokka nodded "Though… I do have to say that telling our story without the sex will probably be a bit odd, huh?"

"Well, why would it be?" Azula smirked "'So, you see, Dad, we had this huge fight because I thought I shouldn't be her gladiator anymore after I lost against Toph, so she tried to kill me, but then I overpowered her in the backyard and… woops! Can't tell you that!'"

"H-hey!" Sokka squeaked at her impersonation of him, and Azula nearly doubled over laughing "Goodness, how did you sound so much like me?!"

"We've been together too long, it's inevitable that I'd learn how to imitate you" Azula smiled, kissing his cheek promptly. Sokka smiled but rolled his eyes.

"I definitely won't tell it that way, though" he said "Seems pretty counterproductive to tell my dad that I want to marry a woman who wanted to kill me just before she had sex with me for the first time. He'll think you're crazy, or well, that we both are…"

"In enough ways, we are" Azula smiled, wrapping an arm around his waist "We take up Spicy Ramen Challenges, we get married on whims… I'm not sure that you can argue much for our sanity and soundness of mind if you factor in all the crazy things we've ever done, can you?"

"Yeah, probably not" Sokka conceded, grinning warmly at her "I'd still not tell him the story that way, mind you… I'd much rather make sure he understands why I love you as much as I do"

"Hmm? And what exactly would you say to that effect?" Azula asked, curious.

"I'd tell him all about how much we messed up, non-stop, when we were starting out, and how much we learned from all of it, yup" Sokka said, proudly "The more I think of it, Azula… the more grateful I am that, of all possible outcomes, our choices led us here. I wouldn't have had it any other way"

"Me neither" she whispered, kissing his bare shoulder "To think we could be missing out on this, had either of us been more stubborn, or had we ever made a different decision… I can't even bear think of it"

"Heh. That's good" Sokka said, chuckling "Sounds like we're coming up with more things to add to our vows for the next ceremony, huh?"

Azula laughed in agreement, still pressed against his shoulder as she walked beside him. They reached the edge of the trees after a few minutes, and they continued towards the cliffs, hoping to find Xin Long nearby. Azula toggled their connection again, to locate him faster… to find her dragon was toying with nature in an unexpected way.

"What on earth…?" she said, smiling in disbelief as she stared at the waves that were washing into the shore.

"Huh? He's in the water again?" Sokka interpreted, setting down the bags momentarily as he tried to follow the path of Azula's gaze with his own.

Before long, Xin Long came into view: the dragon was gliding over the waves at most times, but when he found the right chance for it he would slip right under the foamy crests and fly at full speed, barreling through water tunnels until he came out safely on the other side. Both Azula and Sokka watched him with disbelief and admiration, though it wasn't long before the soaked dragon rushed to meet them by the cliff, once he noticed their presence.

He nearly tackled Azula to the ground, bumping into her as he encircled his rider with his body in a joyful greeting. She smiled and ran her hands through his hair, feeling as though it had been ages since she'd last seen Xin Long. Only one day of being married, and it felt like her entire world had changed completely.

"Yeah, we're sorry we kept you waiting, Xin" Azula admitted, caressing his scales gently "Things got out of hand, but in a good way…"

Xin Long still grumbled, scolding Azula for not letting him know she'd get married so soon. Had she warned him, he would have tried to give her a proper gift as congratulations! Azula snorted in disbelief at the sudden spin of the conversation, though she was relieved the dragon wasn't as upset as she had feared he would be.

"He's not that mad, then?" Sokka asked, with a small voice. Azula shook her head and offered Sokka a reassuring smile, that he reciprocated quickly. Xin pulled out of his rider's embrace, though, and his eyes gleamed with an idea he had only just come up with.

"O-oh? You… huh? You want us to join you with what you were doing just now?" Azula asked, blinking blankly as the dragon conveyed his thoughts to her. He nodded eagerly, his mood improving vastly after his suggestion. Sokka, though, remained puzzled.

"He wants to what, now?" Sokka asked. Azula smiled and shook her head.

"He wants us to play in the waves with him, seems like" she said, shrugging "I guess we can, if just to make up for leaving him alone for one full day…"

"So, we're just going to… ride him while he rushes through the water like he just did?" Sokka asked, amused "Heh, it sounds strange but… why not?"

"Why not indeed…" Azula said, smiling and patting Xin Long's head "We'll need your saddle for that, though"

They gathered all their luggage together in the grotto, where they confirmed all their belongings remained intact. As the sea water seemed to thrill Xin Long, they left him without his armor for now and only buckled in his saddle: as soon as the two riders were sitting on their respective places on the saddle, Xin Long had dashed into the sea at full speed once more.

"I guess my hair's going to be a mess again, huh?" Sokka said, with a dry grin, as he leaned over Azula while the dragon raked the lesser waves.

"That's okay, you look adorable with puffy hair too" Azula declared. Sokka huffed in outrage.

"Adorable, says the cutest girl in the world…" he said. Azula laughed and leaned back, kissing his cheek.

"One day you'll accept your reality for what it is" she said "You can be manly and adorable, Sokka, there's nothing wrong with it…"

"Only if you accept that you're cute as… woah! Xin, be careful!" Sokka exclaimed, as the dragon splashed some water after he slowed down abruptly against a wave.

The dragon's response to Sokka's complaint was, unsurprisingly, dunking both his riders underwater with a short dive, surfacing bare seconds later. Both Azula and Sokka were coughing and gasping, water rushing down their bodies as they scowled at the mischievous dragon.

"Xin!" Azula snapped, and he only laughed proudly for it "Was that all you wanted to do, you wretched troublemaker?!"

The dragon chuckled but shook his head. It was only a quick dousing of their silly arguments, one they deserved more often than they ever wanted to admit. Azula rolled her eyes at that claim, but Xin Long was far in the sea by now, enough that the bigger waves were growing more interesting to race against for the dark dragon.

"This is weirder than sailing" Sokka said, as Xin Long began chasing the waves eagerly "There's no real point to it, is there?"

"Well…" Azula said, squeezing water out of her ponytail just as Xin Long sighted a larger wave in the horizon.

The dragon darted towards it, knowing it would build up with greater power than the rest had. Azula gritted her teeth, clutching at the reins. Sokka would have held on to Azula as he had a couple of days before, but he chose to grab the saddle railings this time, uncertain of what Xin Long's flight would result in. He swallowed hard, sensing they were gaining altitude to accompany the growing wave.

"Shit, it's huge…" he said. Azula nodded, though to her surprise, she was starting to look forward to this, whatever it was…

The wave broke out, foam rushing at the tips of the wave's arch… and Xin Long sped further, all so he could slide down the wave's wall.

"WOAH!" Sokka shouted, glancing at his side in shock at first, then in awe: he had never been so close to such a large wave before. Daringly, he stretched out a hand and caressed the water superficially, a disbelieving grin spreading over his face.

Xin Long kept them at a safe distance from the water as he sped faster through the wave's tunnel, enjoying the thrill as it threatened to finish rushing in on them.

"Go, Xin, go!" Azula roared, though she found herself smiling wildly, her dragon's excitement powerfully contagious.

The dragon sped up, faster and faster, and the water had nearly enveloped them completely, towering over them, but at last, Xin Long broke past the barrier: the wave weakened the further they went, and they escaped the water tunnel safely, laughing in amazed disbelief as Xin Long rose higher above the sea, proud of having shared one his newest sources of entertainment with his two riders.

"We have to do it again!" Sokka exclaimed, grinning madly. His hair was growing frizzy, but he didn't seem to care, stoked by the experience just the same. Azula laughed at the sight of him, leaning close to kiss his lips "I mean it!"

"One day we might, I suppose" Azula said, nestling against his chest as Xin Long made his way back to the grotto "But if we spend all day riding waves we're not getting to Shu Jing anytime soon, are we?"

"O-oh, yeah… we can ride them there too, though" Sokka said, grinning "I can't remember if the waves were that big, but we can check!"

"I'm sure Xin will love that" Azula said, stroking the dragon's hair again. He seemed to chuckle, his long tail wagging with excitement at the prospect of more fun at sea "Thanks, Xin. I guess you were right to say we were missing out on something awesome, huh?"

The dragon was pleased by Azula's gratitude, and he showed himself far more enthusiastic now about restarting their journey to Shu Jing. Azula and Sokka dressed Xin Long in his armor quickly as soon as he flew them back to the grotto, and when the saddle was in place, all packs neatly tied to the metal bars, the three took to the skies once more, gracefully floating above a calm sea, amidst white and soft clouds.

The flight between the mainland and Firelight Town's island had been full of excitement and wonder: this one had a wholly different atmosphere to it, albeit both Sokka and Azula were even happier than when they'd first taken off. His arms were wrapped around her waist comfortably, lips frequently peppering her neck with kisses that heated her skin and warmed her heart. The necklace's weight was ever comforting, and having worn it with nearly no interruptions for almost two whole days filled Azula with a sense of accomplishment of the best kind.

They didn't pause this time as they traveled towards the horizon, not wanting further interruptions until they reached Shu Jing. Azula checked their map on occasion, but it wasn't all that easy to navigate their way towards their destination when there was nothing but blue seas underneath them and blue skies beyond them. They didn't despair or worry, though, as they were still enjoying their private intimacy as best as they could.

"I don't think we're off-course, but I guess we'll know for sure once the first island comes into view…" Azula commented, as she eyed the map carefully. Sokka smiled, fingers trailing over her flanks pleasantly: her body reacted to his touch and he relished in it.

"We've been flying in a straight line the whole time, haven't we?" Sokka asked "We'll get there eventually…"

"Air currents can sometimes interfere in navigating correctly" Azula said, expertly. Sokka chuckled at her serious tone "So I think it's only natural to worry. Else we'll end up in the Earth Kingdom somewhere, after ten hours of constant flight… or more. I don't know how long it'd take, honestly"

"Wouldn't be that terrible, winding up somewhere in the Earth Kingdom with you" Sokka said, holding her closely. Azula smiled, finally surrendering against his charming ways.

"Seeing as we've wound up in many weird Earth Kingdom places so far, I'm not that sure it wouldn't be, but it's not the worst idea anyhow" she said, breathing deeply and folding the map again "Either way, we'll have no choice but to wait until the first strip of land appears in the horizon, whenever it does…"

"Hmm. And while we wait, I must confess…" Sokka whispered, his voice sultry: had they been on solid ground, Azula would have been deeply tempted to pin him down and kiss him until they were both breathless "You're way too attractive for your own good, wife"

"I am, now?" she asked, with a teasing smirk "What brought that about, if anything did…?"

"You're so good at reading maps" Sokka chuckled "It's stupid to find that so appealing, isn't it? But I love maps, and I love you, so I love when you're reading maps, and…"

She couldn't help but laugh too, relaxing in his embrace. Xin Long shook his head in disapproval, warning Azula not to do anything stupid while they were still on his back or he'd dump them into the sea: naturally, that only brought the Princess to laugh harder.

"You're so right for me it's frightening sometimes" Sokka smiled as he held her, his face pressed to her shoulder "I'm not one for believing in destiny blindly as some do, but… when it comes to me and you, I kind of do"

"Ah, were we meant to be, then?" Azula smiled, kissing his cheek "I'm not so sure that we were, personally… if anything, we decided to make each other our destiny, if you want my honest opinion. Our past really may not be the greatest… but our future is quite promising, isn't it?"

"If we're together through it all, no doubt it will be" Sokka smiled, kissing her brow again "But come on, our past has been pretty good in recent times, hasn't it…?"

"Considering how chaotic things seem to chase us everywhere we go, I can't say that I'd agree" Azula laughed "This is by far the easiest, smoothest trip we've ever been on"

"Might be a herald for the trips we'll take in the coming years" Sokka decided, grinning "I did say my life would be calm, and happy, and joyful… now that I married you, I'm sure it can be all those things!"

"Happy, joyful…?" Azula said, smiling with mischief "Yes. But calm…? I question that claim completely, husband…"

"Do you, now?" Sokka smirked "What kind of chaos do you expect to wage upon our lives, then?"

"Only the fun kind, I promise…" Azula said, reaching for his hands so she could lace their fingers comfortably.

"I'll hold you to that, then, mischievous wife of mine" he whispered, seeking her lips for yet another long and thorough kiss.

It still was hard to believe, and yet something deep inside their hearts shifted, burned and changed every time they spoke such words to each other. Being married was exhilarating, even if the difference wasn't all that apparent on the surface: all the same, their souls felt closer to each other than they ever had been.

After around three hours of flight, after which Azula's already sore legs were sorer still, they finally glimpsed land in the horizon. Xin Long gained altitude again, flying above the island at such distance that anyone who might spot him amidst the clouds might mistake him for a vulture or a hawk instead of a dragon.

"Alright… how are we going to make sure it's Shu Jing if we're up here?" Sokka asked, as they coursed through a wide, white cloud. Small droplets of water clung to their bodies as they traversed it, a light shower falling upon their skin.

"I suppose if Xin Long drops altitude very slowly we might–… Woah!"

Azula's answer was interrupted in the least expected of ways: Xin Long turned upside-down, midflight, thrusting his body and those of his riders through the cloud they had been concealing behind. Instinct and impulse kept both Azula and Sokka on the saddle, as the Princess grabbed onto the metal railings while Sokka's arms held firmly around her waist, their legs clinging to Xin Long as tightly as possible.

"What the hell, Xin?!" Sokka asked: the light, breezy spray of water they'd been basking in earlier had left them outright drenched after the dragon's latest stunt through the cloud.

Unsurprisingly, Xin Long merely laughed proudly over his deed as they hung upside-down in the sky, gravity claiming them as they struggled to glimpse whatever details they could of the island. As much as the dragon's mischief had been meant as a prank, most the cloud still camouflaged their bodies in the sky, enough that no one would be able to spot them unless they knew just where to look.

"Uh… I think we're too far south, actually" Azula said, already assessing the situation while Sokka continued to scold Xin Long "This isn't Shu Jing. Just a bit further and we'll make it"

"What is this place, then?" Sokka asked her, moments before Xin Long straightened their flight and shot off to the northeast.

"Come to think of it…" Azula said, biting back a smile unsuccessfully "We could drop by to visit it over the next few days. I think you'll like it"

"Oh?" Sokka smirked. His fingers grazed her abdomen suggestively, and Azula shivered pleasantly at his touch "So it's a surprise?"

"A good surprise. I have a pretty sound plan in mind" the Princess declared, smirking proudly "I'm sure you'll enjoy it"

"Hmm, well, I'm pretty sure no one knows me better than you" Sokka said, kissing Azula's neck softly. Her wet skin hardly seemed to bother her, for it had been a long ride under the scorching sun and the cloud's water had been quite refreshing: thrills rushed down her spine when his lips nipped at her "If the first days of my birthday celebration are anything to go by, you're going to excel at making me happy for the rest of the week too"

"That's the essence of the plan, yes" Azula laughed "How we'll get there is a whole other subject, but it's something we'll deal with once we know for sure whether Shu Jing is available for us or not…"

And they were going to find out soon enough: the rocky island they'd spotted had fallen behind by now, and a new strip of land loomed ahead. They'd never approached Shu Jing from this angle before, seeing as all their previous trips had taken them around the island and to the docks at its easternmost end, but Sokka knew, after having lived in Shu Jing for the few months that he had, that there were no other settlements by the southern areas of the island. Instead…

"Yep, we're here!" he said, grinning proudly and pointing downwards "That's the waterfall!"

Even at a distance it was apparent that it was beautiful, and Azula smiled appreciatively at it, as she guessed they'd visit it as well, so long as Piandao's mansion remained empty for their use…

They set their plan in motion, just as they had discussed. First, an aerial overview with Xin Long revealed there was no one in the mansion's gardens; it stood stalwart and lonely at a cliff in the middle of the island, right over the long, flowing river. Afterwards, the dragon backtracked, hiding in the wilderness near the waterfall, and the newlyweds walked together to the mansion, helping each other traverse the island's ridges covered in wild vegetation.

"I suppose I shouldn't be remembering the first times we hiked through wilderness together right now…" Sokka smiled, as he held out a hand for Azula and helped her down a small cluster of rocks "But I don't think I can help myself"

"Why's that?" Azula asked "Do you think some boarcupine will sneak up on us again? I promise I won't try to kill it this time, if it does…"

"Nice to know" Sokka laughed "But no, I… I was actually remembering how we climbed down that waterfall back then, too. Well, I managed to climb down, but then you fell…"

"And you caught me, oh-so-heroically" Azula said, teasing him. Sokka laughed again, and she smiled fondly at him "Did I even thank you for it?"

"I think so, though you were a bit flustered" Sokka snickered. Azula rolled her eyes but yanked at the collar of his shirt, pulling him close so she could kiss his cheek.

"Well, I'm over that particular fluster of mine by now, so I guess I'll thank you again for catching me" she whispered "Seems to me I'm the hawk who will never drop you, and you're the turtle who will always catch me"

Sokka smiled again, and once more his eyes glinted with that fondness that melted every defense Azula had already dropped for him. When he leaned close to kiss her lips, she couldn't hold back from wrapping her arms around his neck, returning his affections with such passion she nearly made them topple. He laughed against her mouth, but she continued to kiss him all the same, infused by the fire only he could start in her heart.

They could have abused their current freedom, but Xin Long wouldn't allow it: as soon as the first moan escaped Azula's throat the dragon began pestering her mind quite loudly, and while she would have gladly blocked him out to continue enjoying her kiss with Sokka, she knew he had a point. She pulled away unwillingly, though the blissful, goofy grin on her secret husband's face brought a smile to her own.

"We're only halfway there, aren't we?" Azula said. Sokka chuckled and nodded.

"And we can do a lot more of this once we're in Piandao's mansion, yeah" he conceded "We need to focus!"

"Easier said than done" Azula laughed, kissing his lips chastely once more, but urging him to restart walking alongside her.

They carried onwards, fingers intertwined, until they'd climbed the cliff entirely and rounded the mansion to reach the wall's front doors. That, as well, evoked a memory that once had been infuriating and embarrassing for the Princess: now she thought of it fondly, even chuckling to herself as Sokka pushed the door open with his free hand.

"No point in knocking if we think there's no one here…" he said, smirking knowingly at her "So no, I won't humor you by knocking as I did the first time, Princess"

"I admit, I should have lightened up…" Azula smiled "But you were far too incorrigible for your own good. Still are, actually…"

"Now, now, I'm a proper husband, aren't I?" he said, leading her inside the mansion "I haven't done anything bad enough to embarrass you since we got married, now, have I?"

"Oh, sure. One full day of not embarrassing me must be a record for you, but we've mostly been alone through it, so I suppose that's why…"

"Heh! You give me so little credit…" Sokka huffed, shaking his head, but to his delight, Azula laughed and wrapped her arms around his hips, her body leaning into his.

"I've learned many things over the past years with you: one of them is to enjoy your ridiculousness as best as I can" she said, propping her head on his shoulder "So I demand that you continue being embarrassing, for that means I'll have more fun memories to laugh about in the future"

"Heh. If that's truly what you want…" Sokka snickered, wiggling his eyebrows. Again he compelled his wife to laugh, and they shared a quick kiss before focusing again, when Azula was nudged mentally by Xin Long once more.

"Okay, so… the grass is terribly uneven" Azula commented, as they made their way through the mansion's courtyards.

"No open windows this time" Sokka pointed out "That's how I suspected that family was here, the last time we came…"

"And it looks like no one's cleaned up in a fairly long time" Azula said, staring at the training area where she had seen Sokka and Piandao sparring long ago: it was covered in dirt by now, even a few animal droppings here and there – the latter made her grimace in distaste.

"Alright, we ought to check every room thoroughly" Sokka said, smiling proudly "But I think it's empty. I really do"

"And for once, you're stoked about that" Azula smiled. Sokka chuckled and kissed her brow.

"I can barely believe we've come back here like this, but… it's only fitting, isn't it?" he whispered "This is, after all, the place where our relationship began for good…"

"Oh… it is, true enough" Azula conceded, surprised by not having made the connection sooner. Sokka grinned happily and pulled her into a gentle embrace.

"It's been a long time, and we've both changed a ton since then…" he said, stroking her hair gently "But if anything about what I felt that day has changed, it's only because every day that goes by I love you more than the day before. When Piandao left I thought I'd be lost forever without a mentor to guide me: turns out what I really needed was a partner to walk beside, and she'd been there all along, without my awareness…"

"She wasn't aware of it either, mind you" Azula said, fingers caressing his body at leisure until she held his face delicately in her hands "Begs the question if he did know that's what we needed, and if that's why he left… but we've theorized plenty about that as it is, haven't we?"

"Heh. If he really did want us to get together, we're only honoring his wishes by desecrating his mansion as we shall" Sokka snickered proudly, and Azula laughed too as she pressed her face to his chest.

They only separated so they could cover more ground: there were many rooms in the mansion, and they'd be quicker about verifying there was no one home if they split up. What little furniture remained was covered in dust, but otherwise the building was as pristine as it ever had been. The family that had stayed here had left a small message behind, one Azula found in the empty kitchen, asking any newcomers to look after their former home, but other than that, the mansion was virtually the same as it had been when they last visited it.

Sokka checked most rooms in the western area of the mansion, leaving his own for last: it was the first place in the Fire Nation where he'd felt at ease. He'd had a bed for himself, soft and comfy, with enough closet space to store more clothes than he'd had at the time, wide windows through which the occasional blow of the wind helped cool down the generally hot environment of the Fire Nation… that same bed was here now, as well as the same empty closet and the same large windows. Only, the man who would lie on it would certainly not be the same who had been here almost four years ago.

He smiled, inevitably, remembering the early days of his tenure as Azula's gladiator: he had been stubborn, distrustful but ever willing to make the most of the benefits that came from her sponsorship. All along, he had clung to the hopes of finding his way back home to his family one day, even if he wasn't sure they'd want him at all…

Before he knew it, the journey towards that objective had become more gratifying than any experience in his life thus far, to the point where the objective itself had paled and weakened in comparison. The woman who had first brought him here, cold and harsh as she had been, had come back with him now as a warm beacon of light, bright enough to lead not just him, but their entire world out of darkness. She had taken a broken man and helped him grow strong enough on every possible level until he felt whole again: nothing he ever did or said would be enough to thank her for everything she'd done for him.

It seemed fitting to share this bed with her now, after all those years. Letting Azula into his life, into every shadow and crevice, had changed him completely. Back when he had lived in the Water Tribe he had felt restless, uneasy by having no power to affect the world: after being captured, and enduring the horrors of Hui Yi, he had outright longed for a death he lacked the courage to chase after himself. He had never been satisfied with his circumstances, on different degrees… until he had found a purpose by Azula's side. As much as he loved his family, it was inevitable for him to feel that he truly belonged with her, no matter where they might be.

And that should be the ideal reason to marry someone, he guessed, with a growing grin as he left the room, hoping to entice her into it as soon as possible. The more he pondered the way their world had changed since their prior visits to the mansion, the more he longed to take her into his arms and give himself to her completely.

"Azula?" he called her, as he wandered the main halls "There's no one down here! So, any chance I can interest you in a tour of my old bedroom…?"

He teased her mischievously with that last suggestion, hoping that would do the trick, but Azula's response took him by surprise regardless of his intent.

"I'm quite interested!" came her voice, from above. Sokka frowned, stepping out into the open training courtyard, expecting to find Azula in one of the windows of the taller towers "But I think I have a proposition you'll enjoy for now, too!"

Finally, he spotted her… on the roof. Even from several floors down, Sokka glimpsed the tender grin on her face.

"Well, well. Found your way to the roof, did you?" he asked.

"And the sunset's quite a sight to behold, if you must know…" Azula teased him, smirking "Care to join me?"

She didn't have to ask twice. Sokka's wild grin was only visible for a few moments before he raced indoors again, and Azula laughed to herself, knowing he would be with her on the roof sooner than later, the same roof where he had told her, without holding back, that he was in love with her.

Azula smiled as she gazed at the sun as it sank in the horizon, hands on the red gables of the mansion's elegant roof: it was strange that Shu Jing would hold so many fond memories, despite the bulk of their journey together had happened in many other places. Yet this building had become another safe haven for them, one more location where their love could be safe and protected.

She heard Sokka climbing the stairs, and she merely smiled at the sounds while watching Xin Long sneaking into the mansion very cautiously, remaining level with the ground so no one from the village to the east might spot him. There was no doubt he'd be much happier here than in Firelight's island, and he even seemed to prance once he was within the safety of the building's walls: he wasted no time chasing insects through the unkempt gardens, one of his very favorite things to do.

"Woah, that's a sight" Sokka's voice reached her once he was in the roof with her again. Azula smiled and nodded, the purple-pink-and-orange-streaked skies spreading before them.

"Firelight was beautiful, but Shu Jing certainly has little reason to envy it" Azula smiled "You can even see some of the waterfall from here, but I bet it looks better up close"

"Surely, but heh, I wasn't talking about the landscape"

Azula smirked knowingly, rolling her eyes and shaking her head at the sound of his chuckles. His arms slipped around her waist and she melted into his embrace without any resistance. Sokka's lips pressed against her temples, and he closed his eyes while taking in the scent of her hair.

"We've made it, huh?" she whispered. Sokka nodded, a thumb stroking her hip enticingly.

"The first time we came here we were begrudging allies. Now we're married" he smiled "And I, for one, wouldn't have it any other way"

"Nor would I" Azula admitted, turning in his arms.

Perhaps the sunset wasn't all that beautiful compared to the handsome man holding her right now. The lights danced over his features, and his hair fell gracefully over his face. Those gentle smiles he ever offered her, the depth in those blue eyes that had charmed her so easily even in their early partnership, all of it had grown more beckoning than it had been initially. Knowing she was his, completely, filled her heart with a joyful peace she had never known before.

Her hand traveled over his chest before she wrapped her arm around his neck, pulling him closer. Sokka cut the distance between them sharply, his soft lips trapping hers in a delectable kiss that stole her breath away: she wanted nothing less. His heartbeat raced alongside her own, she felt it as her breasts pressed into his chest. Warmth spread inside her, from the very depths of her heart to the tips of her fingers and toes, and again it felt like she was an entity comprised by the purest golden fire. He had cast the most delightful spell upon her senses, one that compelled her to continue kissing him deeply, giving herself completely to him as she felt so close to him their very shapes could blend together into a single one.

The skies darkened slowly, a mischievous dragon kept chasing bugs down in the gardens, and the night-time activities in Shu Jing's town began… but the two lovers remained enthralled, wrapped up in each other's arms, basking in the breathtaking kisses they shared, reaffirming their love through them, as they ever did. One kiss on this roof, years ago, had cemented their certainty that they wanted no one but each other: one more kiss on this roof now was but a promise of further happiness to come, after the sun set on one whole day they had shared as husband and wife.