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...

193. Chapter 193: Return to Shu Jing 6

She had been so exhausted she hadn't woken up well until midmorning. Her body was sore all over, both because of the long dragon ride and the relentless nighttime action she'd basked in with her lover. The last thought brought a smile to her face as she stretched under the thin sheet that had covered her naked body: she had no idea how many love-bites she'd sport across her skin by now, each of them a small souvenir Sokka had left her over his generous lovemaking.

But as she reached out to her right, seeking him on the mattress, her hand found nothing. She groaned in displeasure, for his absence was one unbearable blemish in what otherwise might be the perfect morning. Where on earth had he taken off to? Had she really been so tired he had gotten up before she did? That was unusual, Sokka was generally so much lazier than her…

Azula sighed and sat up on the bed, allowing the covers to flow downwards over her body. She failed to locate Sokka within the bedroom once she opened her eyes and she couldn't help but pout disapprovingly. Seven days of freedom, and he had decided not to wake up with her for one of them? Unacceptable…

"Where the hell are you…?" she groaned, pushing herself off the bed. Her legs felt hazy and heavy, an obvious consequence of the excessive activity she'd given them recently. She exercised more than most people, yet such had been the overwhelming passion they'd given themselves to over the last three days that her muscles resented her for it. As far as she was concerned, they were free to continue doing as much.

She didn't bother putting on clothes, surprising herself with her own boldness. Yet there was no need to cover up as long as they were behind the walls of Piandao's mansion: showing off her naked body might just be enough to make a point to Sokka about what he was missing out on by getting up without waking her. So she walked barefooted, hearing the soft chirping of birds accompanying the rumor of the waterfall in the distance. The air in the mansion was surprisingly not stale, despite how long it had remained closed up after the last occupants had left. The sun was strong outside, but the fresh currents of air within the building cooled down the temperature, keeping it at a comfortable level for the Princess as she made her way to the kitchen. She had heard some sounds in that direction, and if there was something she had learned about Sokka since the earliest days of their partnership, it was how important meals were for the Water Tribe man.

He was dressed when she came across him, though his shirt hung open as he leaned over the kitchen table. He had several bags with him, and Azula could see the outline of different ingredients in them: she felt a lot more lenient upon realizing he had left to find food for them, and she smiled as she watched him pick through the groceries diligently.

"What a dutiful husband" she said, startling him. He jumped and glanced up at her, cheeks flushing before he offered her a grin of his own "I would give you grief for not being in bed with me, but I guess I can cut you some slack if it was for our breakfast's sake…"

"You… you're really walking around this place naked?" he said, with a disbelieving grin.

"Not quite. I'm still wearing the betrothal necklace, aren't I?" Azula asked, teasingly. Sokka laughed.

"Damn, Azula. You're making it very easy for me to choose sticking to plan A for the rest of the week…"

"Flattering to know" Azula laughed "You ought to be naked too, as far as I'm concerned…"

"I guess I could be, but I had to go into town to buy this and I didn't think it'd be a good idea not to wear clothes for that" he chuckled "Sorry I wasn't there when you woke up, though. I wanted to be, I had everything planned and all…"

"Did you, now?" Azula asked, walking up to him and pressing a kiss to his cheek.

Sokka turned his face quickly, seeking her lips with the same agility he often showcased in the Arena. She smiled, relinquishing the victory for him immediately as she basked in the greedy kisses he placed upon her mouth.

"I really wanted to bring you breakfast in bed" he laughed when he finally gave her some respite "And if it turned into something else, well…"

"No one would've complained, you can be sure of that" Azula said, cupping his cheek gently. Small hairs were growing over his jawline and upper lip, for he hadn't shaved yet.

"I guess we can just do it in the kitchen instead. Not like anyone's going to complain about that either" Sokka snickered, pressing one more kiss to her brow "Slept well?"

"If I sleep with you, I always sleep well" Azula sighed happily, dropping her head on his shoulder "Too well, some might say. I generally wake up earlier than this, but you tired me out as you pleased last night, mischievous husband…"

"Now, now, my old room was begging to be defiled that way" Sokka smirked "Remember how flustered you were when you first saw me shirtless…?"

"Ugh, you'll never let that one go, will you?" Azula sighed, rolling her eyes. Sokka chuckled and shook his head.

"Damn right I won't" he said "You and I both know the only solution for that particular predicament of yours was exactly what we did last night…"

"Oh, I beg to differ" Azula smirked "Last night we were far too loving: at the time I would've likely preferred a wilder kind of tryst instead"

"Is that so?" Sokka asked, with an amused grin "Well, well, Princess. So young and innocent you were, but dreaming of being pinned to walls by southern savages all the same…"

"Hmm, I'm not so young anymore, let alone innocent, and I dream of it just the same" Azula slipped her hands down his body, seeking the hem of his shirt stealthily.

Sokka snickered and wrapped an arm around her waist before kissing her deeply again. His tongue danced around hers, teasingly, temptingly, making quite a strong case for forgetting about the food and doing exactly what Azula had hoped for when she had woken up moments earlier… but she pulled away regardless of her heart's desires. She did want this… but the idea she'd had the previous day would allow for it as well.

"Where'd you think you're going, huh?" Sokka asked, still seeking her lips with his own, eyes closed. Azula laughed as she lowered her head, and his kisses fell upon her cheeks, nose and brow instead.

"No need to worry about where I'm going, because unlike you, I'm bringing you with me" Azula said, stepping away from Sokka "We should eat, the day will get away from us again at this rate"

"But I thought you wanted…" Sokka started, pouting. Azula smirked.

"Yes, I want it… but I gave you a spectacle just now, and I think I deserve one of my own" she said. Sokka blinked a few times, eyeing her naked body before shrugging.

"I mean, sure, I could just take off my clothes and…"

"Oh, no. On my terms, Sokka" Azula declared, proudly. Sokka snorted.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he said, amused and curious.

"It means we're heading out into town together after breakfast, and then…" Azula said, with a growing smirk "Ah, you'll see"

"Will I, now?" he asked, shaking his head "Here I thought my birthday was about pleasing me, huh?"

"Why, you're the one who keeps forgetting that, seeing how generous you've been in bed…"

"Uh, well, pleasing you pleases me, so…"

"If that's the case, you should have nothing to worry about when it comes to humoring this whim of mine" Azula declared, grinning. Sokka snorted and rolled his eyes, but he drew up his hands and shook his head in defeat.

"Fine. You win, like you always do" he said, leaning down to kiss her one more time.

He didn't let her off the hook all that easily, though: he snuck a hand up to caress one of her breasts suddenly, taking her by surprise just before he did the same with her buttock. She gasped breathlessly, looking at him with a mix of arousal and indignation, and he only answered with a knowing smirk, kneading her curves shamelessly… and just as suddenly as he'd started it, he withdrew his hands and stepped away to prepare their meal.

Azula bit her lip and stifled a smile, one fist tightening at the desire he could awaken inside her so easily. On one hand, her dignity demanded that he shouldn't touch her so boldly… but what woman could claim to have any dignity left when she had deliberately sought to taunt her husband by being naked? As it was, she was better off admitting, if just to herself, that she liked it when he touched her so boldly and carelessly whenever she had her guard down.

The lack of protest, of defense banter against his wicked teasing, spoke lengths to Sokka. He smirked as he set the table with whatever plates he had been able to find in the cabinets – he washed them thoroughly before using them – and he gathered the easiest-eaten food, bread and fruit, before calling Azula to him. She was flustered still, but she joined him regardless, biting her lip as he sat before the low table and ushered her to do the same thing.

It seemed as though they were holding an unspoken contest to tempt each other, for Azula chose no better place to sit than on Sokka's lap. He snorted, wrapping his arms around her body as she pressed a kiss to the tip of his nose.

"So… can I get a hint of what's coming today?" Sokka asked, picking up an apple and offering it to Azula. She bit it slowly, eyes set on him all along, and his heart skipped a beat under her golden gaze.

"Hmm… a hint, you say?" she smiled "Here I thought we'd teased each other enough so far through this morning that you wouldn't need that much more of a hint…"

"Come on" Sokka smirked "You just said we'll head into town, didn't you? Therefore, you have something else in mind…"

"Why, who says plan B doesn't feature a few elements from plan A anyhow?" Azula smiled, kissing his lips softly before bringing a small bread bun to his mouth now "Nevertheless, I guess another hint is in order, for enough reasons. And that hint is… you'll need your swimsuit"

"Oh? Really, now?" Sokka asked, an eager grin across his face as he took the bread in his hand. Azula laughed, nodding weakly "We're headed to the waterfall, then?"

"Ah, no, not today at least. Maybe tomorrow, if you're up for it" Azula said, reaching for another bread bun for herself.

"Heh, I'll be up for it. For anything, really" Sokka snickered "Though… I must say, I kind of feel like we should clean up around here, at least a bit? Maybe not all the rooms, but it's probably good to keep the place decent…"

"I suppose, though I'm not much good at cleaning up" Azula grimaced "As you well know, Princesses like myself aren't particularly renowned for how skilled they are at doing chores…"

"Neither are savages like myself" Sokka smirked "Though I must be twice as bad at it as you are, seeing as I'm both a savage and a prince…"

"Oh, sure, you'll keep on trying to pull that on me" Azula said, smirking "I asked Zuko, you know? Back in Whaletail Island. He said neither you nor your sister are treated as royalty because the chiefs down south are chosen by merits, not by belonging to any superior bloodlines, so…"

"Hey, now, you're really going to trust Zuko's word over my own? Your brother, whom you've ridiculed throughout your whole life?" Sokka asked, laughing. Azula sighed and rolled her eyes, though she couldn't mask her amusement.

"I suppose you have a point, but he had no reason to lie, did he?" Azula asked "Not to mention he's no good at it, I would've known he was being dishonest right away"

"Maybe he wasn't lying: maybe he just doesn't grasp the way things work down south" Sokka suggested, with a playful grin. Azula chuckled and shook her head, pecking his lips once again.

"You know what, you stubborn man?" she said "You are a prince, alright"

"Wait, now, you acknowledged it, at last?" Sokka smirked, proudly.

"Because you married a princess, that is. Therefore, you've become a prince through marriage" Azula said, beaming "You've only been a real prince for two days now, but it suits you fine, doesn't it?"

"I… hey now! That's not…! I'm a prince back home anyhow!" Sokka pouted, as Azula laughed and pressed kisses happily against his neck.

They finished their meal amidst jokes and teasing, but the good-mannered and playful banter would turn physical often. By the time the table was empty and their stomachs full, the two lovers were kissing relentlessly on the floor, with Sokka's hands traveling over Azula's bare body lustfully. She responded to his touch constantly, no further thoughts given to protecting her pride or so-called dignity, and he thrived in satisfying the desires she was so in tune with right now. And yet…

"Say… weren't we going to do something else today?" Sokka asked as he nibbled Azula's neck, hands again working on her full breasts. Azula groaned but nodded, pushing him away almost reluctantly.

"Not too different from this, but yes" she said, breathing out with difficulty. Sokka snickered proudly at the blush across her cheeks: witnessing the effect he had on her was always thrilling "Okay. I have to… get dressed. Put on your swimsuit too… and then we're taking off"

"On Xin Long?" Sokka asked, hands still reaching to caress her thighs and hips. Despite her common sense warned her otherwise, Azula closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of his hands over her heated body.

"No, not on Xin Long, at least not right away…" Azula whispered "He'll catch up with us at our destination"

"And how are we going to get there?" Sokka asked, amused. Azula smirked.

"That's just another part of the adventure" she declared, finally reclaiming enough control to kiss Sokka's lips quickly before pushing herself up to her feet "Alright, I'm getting dressed. And you ought to get moving, too"

"Okay, okay…" said Sokka, grinning and following her to the bedroom "You do realize, though, that you're to blame for how easily sidetracked we've been? You can't be so gorgeous in front of your horny husband and expect him not to react to it, Princess…"

"Oh, I wanted a reaction, make no mistake" Azula smiled, pushing the door open "I'm quite delighted to find I have such a powerful effect on you, and if it means you won't know how to keep your hands to yourself, all the better…"

"So, you do want me to grope you inappropriately, huh…?" Sokka smirked, reaching to cup her butt-cheek. Azula moaned softly and leaned into his hand, prompting him to chuckle "My, my. Is this the real difference between marriage and everything else? You're finally shameless about your pleasures, just like I am?"

"Must be" Azula smirked "As fun as it is to fight with you over anything and everything, I think I enjoy your groping far too much to be dishonest about loving it by now"

Sokka snickered but he didn't press on, deciding to give Azula the space she'd need to get dressed. Otherwise they'd certainly fall into bed again to reprise last night's events, and as tempting as that was, Sokka was rather curious about what Azula had in store for him today.

She went all out on him, though, wearing an unusual skirt rather than her preferred trousers, with a top that left her arms, neck and midriff bare. It was, quite possibly, the lightest outfit he'd ever seen her wear, and the most revealing one too. The eagerness to strip her naked all over again was so strong he was nearly overcome by his carnal instincts… and yet he held back, knowing she had something good in store. He would just have to keep any potential erections at bay for as long as possible, even if she made it ridiculously difficult when she was dressed like this.

"Okay… I can be civilized. Sometimes. Most times" Sokka whispered to himself, biting his lip and averting his gaze from Azula as she tried to assemble her hair into her typical half-knot "Just don't look at her much, that's all…"

"What are you mumbling about?" Azula smiled "Get over here and help me with my hair, will you?"

"Ugh, goodness, you temptress…" he sighed, walking towards her and obeying her wishes as he ever did "Why'd you have to go and dress like this for, huh? You'd better have planned ahead for a lot of sex through the day because I don't think I'll be able to survive otherwise…"

"I did, I did. You needn't worry" Azula smiled "You can walk through Shu Jing with a boner just fine, can't you?"

"I… I will have to. Not sure how fine it'll be, but sure…" Sokka said, with a sarcastic smile "And why exactly are you going to make me walk through the town like this, Princess?"

"Because we're headed to the port" Azula declared. Sokka had finished composing her half-knot to find her hair wasn't quite as perfectly neat as ever before. He whistled in surprise at the gentle curls it had acquired "Uh, yeah, it can get wavy when it's very humid, and in really hot days"

"Well, I take it it's a premonition for the really humid and hot day we're about to have, if so" Sokka smirked. Azula laughed and turned to face him, hands moving to his chest.

"Your mind is the filthiest of all, and I love it" she said, kissing him softly "Shall we?"

"Your wish is my command" he said, grinning proudly and offering his hand to Azula, as he ever did.

They walked to Shu Jing's town hand-in-hand. Sokka hoped, truly, that they wouldn't bump into a lot of people, for he wasn't sure his erection was properly concealed under his clothes, but the pleased smile on Azula's face was enough to do away with his doubts and concerns. She was so beautiful his heart ached at times, and so seductive his groin raged terribly often, too. In truth, he never expected love and lust to blend so well within him, but it was something Azula alone could be credited for.

No one in Shu Jing had recognized him earlier when he had bought groceries, and no one did now, either. He had seldom visited the town while training with Piandao, and he guessed he hadn't made much of an impression on the locals back in the day anyhow. As for Azula, without her hairpiece, her incognito identity was always a guaranteed success.

It took them around fifteen minutes of walking to reach the island's port. It was nearly empty, something that worried Azula briefly, but an old fisherman was nearby, hauling in the net with the result of his outing from that morning. The Princess smiled and urged Sokka to accompany her as she strode towards the older man, who was puzzled by the pair of strangers who approached him.

"U-uh, may I help you?" he asked.

"Good day to you. Do you think you could rent us your boat?"

Sokka's eyes widened upon Azula's request. How clear it was that her naked body, and then her suggestive outfit, had done a number on his brain: he should've guessed all along this was what she was up to.

"Oh? My boat? You wish to go fishing, lady?" asked the old man. Azula laughed and shook her head.

"No, I only wish to visit a nearby island" she said "My husband here, he knows how to sail but we've never really had a chance for him to show me his skills. I thought we had a grand opportunity for that today, if you'll comply, that is. We wouldn't wish to impose, and it would only be for one day…"

"Heh" said the old man, tapping his chin before shrugging "Well, as long as you pay me, I guess there's no harm in it. Though make sure not to damage it, eh? And, uh… you're married, you said?"

"That's right" Azula said. The man grimaced.

"For, uh, for how long have you been wed? If I can ask?"

"About two days, actually" Sokka admitted, grinning awkwardly. The old man's eyes widened.

"Gee. Uh, well, just try to keep the boat clean, if you can…" he said. Azula laughed softly and nodded before handing the man several coins.

"Is that alright?" she asked "It'd be the first half of the money, we'd give you the second half once we return"

"Y-you… yes! This is… woah!" said the man, his eyes gleaming with greed now at Azula's generous spending.

Sokka snickered as he made his way through the pier to the only available fishing boat. It was small and humble, but it would suffice for their purposes: it wasn't anywhere near as versatile as a Water Tribe longboat, which were fast and sturdy, but it didn't have to be. The sails and ropes were no more complex than the ones he was used to, and as soon as he jumped aboard he felt at ease, connected with the ocean in a way he didn't whenever he rode on Azula's massive barge instead.

Azula smiled as she watched him inspecting the ship. The old man continued to thank her for the money, reassuring her now that it'd be fine if they were out late with the boat, and even asking if they'd like to rent it some more in future days. She merely smiled politely, letting him know she'd consider his offer before thanking him and approaching the pier while Sokka continued to work on the small boat.

"Think you can do it, then?" she asked. Sokka grinned and nodded.

"Hop on, sailor" he smirked.

Azula laughed and did as he told her: she leapt into his arms, for he spread them for her. She kissed him quickly, the warmth in his smile and eyes stirred her heart like nothing else could.

"Alright. Do you need me to do anything to help you, or…?" she said. Sokka shook his head and smirked, moving to untie the boat.

"Just sit tight, Azula" he said "We're about to sail into…! Uh, where to, actually?"

"The island we flew over yesterday" Azula smiled "Meaning, we'll have to go around Shu Jing completely…"

"That's a lot of shirtless sailing, huh?" Sokka asked, wiggling his eyebrows. Azula's smile was nearly as lecherous as his own "Oh, say what you will, Princess, but your mind's in the gutter just as well as mine is"

"We're newlyweds, Sokka, we're allowed to fuck each other senseless without restraint for a few months. At least, I'd think so" she laughed, as she made her way to the prow of the boat and took her seat there.

"Oh, I sure hope you're right" Sokka chuckled "Though I don't think that would be enough for us, really. Years, maybe, or even a couple of decades… heh, might be we'll need to do it in our next lives, even!"

"Ah, that sounds like a dream come true" Azula said, smiling peacefully as Sokka snickered and pushed them away from the pier.

The boat swayed in the water, proving far more unstable than the ships Azula had ridden on so far. But Sokka knew exactly what he was doing as he steered them out of Shu Jing's bay: only when they were at a fair distance from the port did he remove his shirt, basking in Azula's mischievous laughter as she licked her lips at the sight.

"That's just what a woman needs…" she said, cocking her head sideways as she took in the firm and toned muscles across his body. Sokka couldn't help but snicker at her words, never truly having expected to be every bit as tempting for her as she was for him.

He steered the boat skillfully, working with the wind in the sails, always knowing how to angle them to make the most of the breeze's power. They coursed over waves, and on occasion they would be sprayed by sea water indeed. While Azula couldn't quite enjoy the sight of the spray falling on Sokka's skin, for she was busy shielding her eyes from the droplets, seeing the aftermath was still every bit as stimulating as watching it happen, it seemed. Water glistened over his body under the powerful midday sun, and his skin was bright and inviting. How she longed to run her mouth across him… at times it surprised her that her desire for Sokka would still be so overpowering after all this time, but that toned, strong body, and that deviously handsome face always elicited all her desire, regardless of how many times she had made him hers over the years.

Xin Long caught up with them halfway through their journey, flying over the sea again and racing the waves alongside the boat. The dragon was thrilled to be part of their trip, though he wasn't quite so happy for the charged sexual intent his rider and her lover were currently stemming in. Sokka had enjoyed putting on his sailing show for Azula, but on occasion he'd lose himself staring at her, the line of cleavage drawn up by her current outfit, the cut of the skirt right above her knees, the way her wavy hair fell upon her shoulders… and then it'd take a moment for him to snap out of his daze, usually only possible because Azula outright spoke to him, teasing him or complimenting him on his sailing skills.

By the time Shu Jing was behind them, Azula had decided she'd had enough of sitting on the boat and urged Sokka to teach her the ropes, quite literally too. He hadn't been all that willing to comply at first, for even glancing at her on occasion was wreaking havoc all over his focus while sailing, but he surrendered anyway. He explained the basics of sailing as thoroughly as he'd explained it with the hot-air balloon, and while some part of Azula was mostly eager to be close to him, to feel his hands guiding hers over the ropes as they steered the small vessel, there was an inevitable surge of curiosity from her more bookish side, ever delighted to learn new things, most of all if it was Sokka who taught them to her.

"So… is this it?" Sokka asked, once they were close enough to the island to take in its large rocky walls and cliffs "Doesn't look all that fun from here, Azula… Did you want this to be a sailing exercise or something?"

"Do you think we can dock somewhere?" Azula said, biting her lip "Xin Long will fly us in, you'll change your mind about how fun this place is once he does"

"Heh. I'll hold you to that" Sokka smiled as he worked to steer the boat again.

Azula's hands were raspy after handling the ropes: while Sokka had been working longer than she had, he seemed much more accustomed to that kind of discomfort, enough that he could ignore it altogether. His muscles continued to tense as he led the boat towards a small rocky opening within the island, where he hoped to find something sturdy enough to tie the fishing boat to. By now, sweat and saltwater were mixed over his dark skin and Azula's mouth watered at the sight. This had been a brilliant and terrible idea on equal measure, for she was utterly entranced by her handsome husband and struggling to string together more than two thoughts, one of which was consistently related to how impossibly attractive he was.

"And here we go!" Sokka said, smiling as he jumped off the boat, wading through the water on his way to a sizeable rock on the shore.

"Are you as good with knots as you are with boats?" Azula asked, nonchalantly. Sokka snorted and gazed at her over his shoulder, already working to tie the boat to the rock he'd chosen.

"Why? Are you expecting the boat to glide off while we're not paying attention if I'm not?"

"Well, no, and even if it did I'm sure Xin Long would track it down quickly enough" Azula said, shrugging "It's, uh… academic interest, you could say"

"Academic?" Sokka sneered, staring at her in disbelief "You only ever say that kind of stuff when you're… oh. Huh. We have actually talked about tying each other up, but I don't think we've really…"

"Oh, now, I had the most innocent intentions in mind, excuse you…" Azula claimed, though the pleased smirk on her face betrayed her lie easily. Sokka laughed, shaking his head and returning to his work. Water trailed down his hair elegantly, and Azula longed to run her fingers through those luscious tresses.

Xin Long landed next to Sokka, deciding quite wisely that the boat was a dangerous landing site, therefore, Azula had no choice but to jump into the water so she could climb on her dragon's saddle. The water felt refreshing against her heated skin: the sun truly was merciless around these parts.

"Hmm, what's a savage supposed to do with his princess-wife when she's all wet like that?" Sokka smirked. Azula smiled back, patting his chest and leaning close to him.

"Here I thought you of all men, savage-husband, knew exactly what to do with a wet woman. You've proven it to me countless times so far, after all"

He snickered at her words, just as she knew he would. But before they could move forward any further, Xin Long grunted and urged them to jump on his saddle. Azula settled for a quick kiss to the corner of Sokka's mouth before following suit with the dragon's demand. Once they were both seated, Xin Long flew over the wall of the island, nearly trotting against the rocks as he made his way to the top.

"So, what exactly is it we hope to find here?" Sokka asked, amused.

"Patience, Sokka" Azula whispered, leaning against him. The thin clothes she wore almost made her feel naked against him, and Sokka, daring and bold, dared slip his fingers over her exposed midriff, feeling for her toned abs.

"Hard to be, with a princess-wife as beautiful as you sitting right in front of me…" he hummed. Unsurprisingly, Xin Long jolted and startled him, and Azula laughed as the dragon warned Sokka not to try any of his mating with Azula while they were flying still "Gee, you're a true killjoy, aren't you, Xin?"

"Well, think of it from his point of view" Azula said, raising her eyebrows "If you were carrying a pair of horny assholes somewhere, you'd think they'd at least have the decency not to get on with their business while they're on your back, right?"

"Eh… fair enough" Sokka admitted, chuckling.

By then, Xin Long had risen high enough to pass the top of the island's walls. Tall mountains rose before them, and beyond them stood unusual pillars of stone. Sokka frowned, his curiosity stoked by them. Were they here to study these rocks? Were he any other man he might have found the idea utterly disappointing, but he was genuinely intrigued by the formations.

"That's weird. Looks like the work of earthbenders" Sokka said. Azula shrugged.

"It might have been, who knows? Maybe from ages past…" she said.

"So… we're not here to look at these fancy rocks?" Sokka smiled.

"Well, you're free to do that, if you choose" Azula said "I, for one, was far more intrigued by the hot spring cove up ahead…"

"Woah! Hot springs?!" Sokka exclaimed, beaming. Azula's laughter at his reaction rang delightfully in his ears "Damn, you were right, this is a great idea! Absolutely!"

"This time we can enjoy them properly. Both of us" Azula smiled, kissing his lips softly. Sokka responded to her kiss before nodding enthusiastically, as Xin Long finally reached the massive pool of water.

The dragon dove carefully, landing by the edges of the water. Knowing his rider as well as he did, he urged Azula to relieve him of his saddle first before getting on with her business, and the Princess complied, with Sokka's help: before long, the dark dragon was dipping and diving through the cove, a joyful grin on his face as he bathed in waters warm enough for his liking.

"Well, if Xin Long approves, it's got to be good, huh?" Sokka smiled, glancing at Azula.

His jaw dropped, though, for she was already in the process of stripping down to her swimsuit, a two-piece that exhibited her firm body perfectly for his longing gaze. She glanced over at him innocently, halfway through removing her top.

"You were saying something?" she asked. He looked at her in disbelief before laughing, biting his lower lip in anticipation.

"You're really on fire today, aren't you?"

"Oh, if I were, I could easily put it out…"

"Don't you dare put it out" Sokka laughed. Azula joined his laughter too, finishing taking off the top and undoing her skirt next. The desire in his eyes would have been staggering, if only Azula hadn't borne the same quality of it in her own.

He took off his trousers as well, and he was left in just his swimsuit – his shirt had stayed behind in the boat, after all. Azula had already jumped into the water, swimming in much more relaxation than when they'd visited other secluded hot springs over a year ago. The pool of water was much wider and not quite as hot as the ones from the mainland, enabling them to swim far more freely and openly… and of course, to race each other, as things inevitably developed when Azula's leisurely swim was interrupted by a much hastier swimmer rushing past her.

"Oh, now, this is what we're doing? Really?" she asked, amused. As much as she enjoyed their seductive games, there were few things she found as tempting as challenges issued by the man she loved.

And so, she took him up on his challenge indeed, speeding up and struggling to catch up to him. She was impressed by how fast he proved to be, though it wasn't all that surprising: it seemed fitting for a Water Tribesman to be a good swimmer. By the time they reached the patch of land and rocks at the center of the pool they were panting heavily, the efforts weighing on their already tired limbs, but their smiles were bright and wide.

"Well, well…. Fire Nation Princesses sure can swim" Sokka admitted, laughing as he dropped on the rocky grounds. Azula climbed up to the shore beside him, water dripping down her body: again, his greedy gaze made her stomach flutter in the most pleasant of ways.

"So can Water Tribe savages" she teased "I'd think it's natural you'd know how, but truthfully, I'm curious… how does a Water Tribesman learn to swim in an icy pole?"

"It's already in our systems. We don't even need to practice, we're just perfect swimmers right off the bat" Sokka claimed. Azula snorted derisively and he chuckled "Okay, okay, my dad did take me and Katara to a nearby island for practice, back when we were really young. It's how all our kids are taught. Truthfully, I hadn't swum properly in so damn long… I owe you for that, Azula"

"You owe me nothing" Azula whispered, kneeling beside him "This is a gift, remember? Your birthday's in two days, after all. The more gifts I can give you before then, the better"

"Is that so?" Sokka asked, amused "What else do you have in mind?"

"Oh, off the top of my head…" Azula said, nonchalantly…

Her lips were on his before he could say another word. He laughed against her mouth at first, grateful for this particular gift as he ever was, for few things could make his days better than being kissed by Azula… but it stopped being quite so funny when her hands reached for his thighs, stirring the arousal he'd kept on hold for now.

"Azula…" he gasped, and she moaned suggestively into his mouth.

"You don't think it was all for show, do you?" she asked "Let me make you mine…"

"The hell are you talking about…?" he gasped between their heated kisses "I've always been yours…"

She smiled knowingly, as did he, before diving in for another long kiss, where her tongue jousted against his, their lips locked until they were breathless, only to return to each other's lips mere instants after catching their breaths again. But Azula's hands weren't idle after this: she trailed over his strong legs, moaning in approval at how muscular they were, before reaching into his swimsuit and taking his hardening shaft into her hands.

Sokka broke the kiss then, eyes inquisitive, yet clouded with desire at the same time. Her amused excitement was the only answer he received for his wordless question, for the Princess's full lips began trailing kisses down his jaw and neck, hands pumping his cock carefully. Breaths escaped him as he braced himself against the building arousal, and he wanted to keep his eyes open, so he could make sure he wouldn't miss a second of gazing at her when she was as temptingly beautiful as she was right now, but the pleasure was overwhelming, even when this tryst was barely beginning.

"Oh, you're getting payback as soon as possible, you hear me…?" he whispered. Azula smiled approvingly, her lips lavishing over his collarbone by now.

"Hmm, I'll look forward to that" she whispered, licking at the pearls of water and sweat over his body.

He allowed himself to fall back on the ground fully, and his fingers trailed over her body just as well, caressing her shoulder blades and the sides of her breasts. But Azula was moving over him skillfully, agile and nimble as she seemed to collect every droplet of water that clung to his skin. She took his nipples into her mouth and sucked on them slow and long, prompting Sokka to gasp and groan heartily: the sounds from his throat compelled her to kiss his neck again, to bask in the vibrations of his voice as she aroused him as best as she could.

One of his arms wrapped around her waist now, the other massaged her breast over her swimsuit, and Azula cried out in delighted bliss at the bold touch of his rough hands. The way he thumbed her nipple, larger and far more sensitive than his, was nearly enough to break her resolve, but she kissed him anew before restarting her way south across him. Sokka grunted in near disapproval as she drifted out of his reach, but allowing Azula to ravish all the muscles of his abs was a pleasure he wasn't going to shy away from.

It was then that she yanked down his swimsuit, even if she left it on the level of his knees. His large erection sprung out of the cloth, and she hummed approvingly at the sight. One hand worked on the large shaft, the other reaching underneath it, and Sokka was left with no further self-control at that, moans pouring out of his lips as his hands slipped into Azula's hair.

"To think I once was near-scared of it" Azula mused, her voice high and soft "And now… I can't seem to get enough of it"

"Azula…!" Sokka gasped, but she had leaned in, and her lips were already wrapped around the head of his manhood.

He threw his head back hard enough to hit himself against the rock underneath him. If it had been a bad blow or not, though, he couldn't have cared less: his head was light, his body was fuzzy, and his cock was swelling and reddening under Azula's ministrations.

She had sucked on the tip teasingly, knowing he wasn't near his climax yet, but expecting to push him much closer to it by doing as much. His vocal response spoke for itself, every sound they uttered echoed across the cove's walls, and she licked around the sides now, teasing him further. She suspected he wanted her to take him into her mouth fully, but Azula didn't want to comply just yet: she wanted to have her fun with him thoroughly, one hand still massaging him at the base, the other toying with his balls. It wouldn't be long before he lost himself to pleasure, for, as much as he enjoyed it, Azula seldom offered him blowjobs so generously: the mix of the natural pleasure as well as the stimulation brought on by the sight of his wife working him, rolling his cock over her tongue mischievously, was bound to push him to his edge far faster than he wanted to.

Oh, but why resist? It was, after all, his birthday celebration. As much as he generally wanted to please Azula, right now it seemed she was the one who was determined to please him, and why should he deny her that? Why should he hold back instead of enjoying the excitement thoroughly, when she was giving it so freely?

He spread his legs further, allowing Azula more ease of access to his groin. She smiled approvingly at that, sucking at the sides of his cock as he sighed and moaned carelessly. The abandon with which he was giving himself to pleasure was just what she had been seeking: she wanted to put Sokka in touch with his basest instincts, to be his guide towards fulfilling his desires, for her body to offer him nothing short of paradise through their coupling. She wanted him genuinely savage, raw, carelessly hedonistic, for nothing was bound to make her blood race quite so quickly as Sokka's wilder side could.

She knew she was succeeding, but she certified it once he fisted her hair with a hand, thrusting his cock towards her mouth with quick jerks of his hips. The Princess smirked but complied, spreading her lips open just enough to envelop his manhood and suck on it long and powerfully. Sokka moaned loudly, his head thrown back once more, and Azula couldn't hold back a moan of her own: the taste of his skin flooded her mouth, far more addictive than ramen or mochi or any meals she had ever had the pleasure to devour. Her tongue was restless, gliding over his shaft with every bob of her head once she fell into a rhythm, and she would have smiled if only her mouth weren't busy: Sokka's hips were bucking into her, allowing his cock to brush the roof of her mouth.

Reckless as she was, she wanted to take him in deeper, even if she wasn't sure she could fit him whole in her mouth. By the time she was near his base it seemed it was too much, and her throat protested: her nose inhaled his manly scent, the trail of hair that led up to his navel terribly stimulating in its own right. He was delectable in every way, and the more Azula tried to stir up his wilder side, the more she triggered her own.

She gagged, but she took him in again and again: Sokka worried briefly the first time, but eventually he realized she was relishing in feeling overwhelmed by his girth. Instead of thrusting, his hands went to her silky hair and he took to establishing their rhythm by pulling her back and forth: Azula moaned happily at that, to his surprise, and she closed her eyes as she allowed him to take control of the blowjob, thrusting into her mouth as his erection built up and strengthened enough to reach his first release of the day.

"I'm getting there… Azula…" he gasped. She moaned approvingly and sucked eagerly, prompting a louder cry from Sokka "Azula!"

His calling of her name echoed across the cove: Azula was near breathless too, her mouth begging for respite she was unwilling to grant it yet. How on earth had she grown to enjoy delivering oral pleasure? She had no idea, but the truth was that she did: the wetness between her legs spoke for itself, and she knew that she was only bound to grow wetter as soon as Sokka wrestled full control of their tryst from her, as he was guaranteed to.

How she hoped he would remain so wild, careless and instinctive once the blowjob was over… as much as she thrived in the warm lovemaking they'd enjoyed through their trip, right now she needed him nigh-primitively, her entire body burning with lust and want. Seeing as they were married now, was she supposed to feel any shame in having such impure, desperate needs? She rather doubted it.

Sokka cried out again, warning her that he was moments away from his climax: Azula welcomed it eagerly, sucking harder, taking him in deeper, caring little if she were to choke on him. Her hands had now taken to running over his legs, fondling them eagerly, aiding his rush of arousal on its way to its peak.

And with one last shout of her name, his entire body seemed to convulse into hers. Azula cried out softly as she continued to suck on him, as good as demanding for him to release himself completely in her mouth. And Sokka complied, hands still tightly locked in her hair, his cock twitching while his mind went momentarily numb with pleasure. His lips were wide open, and it took him a moment to realize he had been moaning carelessly as he finished inside Azula's mouth.

By this point in time, it was no surprise that she would swallow it. She didn't have to, and she still didn't quite love the taste of his cum, but nowadays she knew what to expect: she craved pushing him to wild releases as she just had, so much that a little discomfort hardly amounted to anything. Sokka's chest was heaving as he gazed at her through half-lidded eyes, and she blinked quite innocently at him.

"Liked your second gift of the day?" she asked. Sokka had enough strength in him to smile, to his relief.

"Second? That's hardly fair…" he whispered "You've been giving me gifts constantly the whole day…"

"I suppose I have…" Azula conceded, surprising Sokka when she offered one last kiss to his flaccid cock and moved up to kiss his abs.

"That was… the best blowjob ever, Azula" Sokka whispered. She hummed in flattered approval "Shit, I feel… I feel like I've died and the Spirit World is a blissful land of relentless and breathtaking sex"

"If such thing as a Spirit World exists, I suspect it's nowhere near as fun as that" Azula laughed "Nonetheless, you have the right idea of what it should be. You ought to start a religion for it"

"Should I, now?" Sokka smiled "Well, my dear wife… I think I want you to be my first convert. Join me here in the Spirit World of sex, if you'd be so kind…"

"Ah? And what's my initiation rite, I wonder?" Azula asked, teasingly.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe sit on my face and I'll arrange it for you" he smirked, shamelessly. She couldn't hold back the blush that crept over her cheeks, despite she smiled in approval just the same.

"My, my. I do so like it when you're crass and bold" she whispered, kissing under his navel and sucking the skin gently. Sokka grunted, the now dormant arousal rearing its head once more.

"Then let me be crass and bold between your legs, Princess" he said: to prove he wouldn't take no for an answer, he yanked her up to his level and turned them around on the solid ground.

Azula gasped, amused, but Sokka's lips were on hers before she could say anything. It seemed his possessive, aggressive side was all out now: his tongue traveled across her mouth, giving hers no quarter, and it rubbed against its roof, just where his cock had often pressed. She didn't have any control left once he did that, moaning desperately into him as Sokka held her down against the rock, his strong body overpowering hers.

The temptation of being tied up for him to do as he pleased with her increased vastly over his latest display. How she wished they were in better circumstances for that… perhaps tonight it would be possible, if they still had it in them to go for more rounds. But being powerless against him was delectable, addictive in its own way, and she knew he wouldn't stop until she was fully satisfied, even beyond her expectations.

His lips trailed over her face, pressing open-mouthed kisses wherever he could go. Azula's eyes rolled back, overwhelmed by her lustful lover: his hands were under her swimsuit now, squeezing her breasts, pinching her nipples on occasion, prompting her to cry out erotically as his lips trapped her earlobe.

"I want you, Azula…" he whispered, his voice deep. Her legs shook at those words: she was ever willing to hear just how much he desired her "All of you…"

"You have me" she moaned, her voice near failing her under the pleasure of his touch "Take me, Sokka…"

"Oh, payback first, Princess" he said, smirking knowingly "You know how it goes"

She could only let out one soft laugh before he flipped them again over the rock. She straddled him as Sokka sat up and relished in groping her body, his greedy hands traveling over her curves as though he wanted to take her all in at once. Her skin was wet still, but by now it was crowned by more sweat than the pool's water, and Sokka's mouth relished in picking it up, as Azula's own had earlier.

He yanked at her bikini top: he didn't undo it, but he exposed her perked breasts all the same. His mouth latched onto her nipple right away, and Azula sighed blissfully. He had ever been greedy about her breasts, devouring them ravenously and toying with them as he saw fit: she had never quite admitted how much she enjoyed it when he did that, but he surely could tell that she relished in it whenever it happened. This opportunity was no exception: her head was swimming in bliss while he fiddled with her nipple, and she pondered if it was possible to have an orgasm just by feeling her husband's talented mouth weaving wonders upon her breast's sensitive skin.

Just when he gave her a moment's respite, he switched to the other mound, a hand reaching up to grope the free one. If his moans had been unrestrained, hers would outdo them yet: she lost her breath easily, legs already trembling as she straddled his hips. Sokka had the gall to chuckle, and he glanced at her with eyes dark with need: for a short moment Azula held his gaze, the heat between her legs ticklish as she ached for his most intimate touch. But Sokka was determined to torment her, it seemed, for his hands and mouth moved everywhere but her core, and Azula moaned heartily, near begging him to tend to it by thrusting against his leg: he smirked at that, proud of pushing her far enough that she could hardly speak her wishes outright anymore.

"What do you want, Azula…?" he asked, his brow pressed against hers, her heated breath released in puffs against his lips "Tell me now"

"I want you to… to touch me" she whispered "To eat me out, to… t-to fuck me, to… ah!"

His fingers had slipped down her body, traversing the valley between her breasts until they found their destination inside her bikini bottom: just one prod to her clit caused her whole body to jolt in excitement. Sokka snickered with proud malice before rubbing it properly, setting her skin on fire with his teasing caresses. Azula cried out, again the sound rebounded all across the cove, and it was her turn to clutch at his hair, pulling at it with more strength than she'd intended: Sokka relished in it, just as he ever loved to have her nails scratching his back.

"You're so beautiful" he said, his lustful grin furthering her excitement.

Again they joined in a kiss, fire pouring between them in a wild frenzy. The water beyond them ought to help cool down their bodies, for they felt hotter now than they had while underneath the scorching sun in the open sea. Yet the thought didn't occur to them, lips reddening as they surrendered to the basest of human urges: Azula moaned frantically into his mouth at first, but she broke off the contact between them and embraced Sokka fully, nails clawing into his back when she was overtaken by a violent climax that surged within her body far faster than she had hoped it might, courtesy of his talented fingers.

She gasped, soft moans pouring out of her still, and it took her no time to realize the excitement wasn't receding because Sokka wouldn't let it: his lips were on her breasts again, and he suckled and toyed with her nipples until they felt pleasantly raw. Catching her breath was impossible, most of all when he seemed to be about to fulfill her second request bare seconds after finishing the first…

"Sokka…" she gasped, and he smirked while kissing his way down her torso. His hands trailed over her body, grazing her sensually and prompting her to pelvis to jolt once he caressed it. His chuckle was the most enticing sound Azula thought she'd ever heard.

He didn't stop touching her as he slipped inside the water once more, waist-deep, standing before her as she remained sitting on the rock. His lower body cooled, though his aroused shaft was hardly affected by the water. Azula's legs locked around his neck bare seconds before he dove into his grand prize: he pulled the cloth of the bikini bottom aside, enough to expose her moist core, and he devoured her with unquenchable hunger, licking across the wetness of her skin as someone who had walked a desert for days would lap at the water of an oasis. Thoughts coursed her mind in an unintelligible tangle, for she could hardly reason with the world around her when all her body could process was the irresistible pleasure Sokka dealt her. He was every bit as much of an expert at this as at sailing, finding the right angle to prod at her clit as he would to exploit the wind with the sails. Her chest heaved with every new stroke of his tongue, sweat rolling down her skin to no avail: nothing could cool her down, not when Sokka had given her no respite after her previous climax, determined to offer her another one.

She bucked against his face, spreading her legs as far as she could manage to allow him full access to her intimacy, and Sokka was determined to make the most of it. Low grunts poured from his throat, and Azula answered them with moans of her own. The soft splashing of Sokka's movements in the water easily blended with the noises born from his mouth upon her wet skin, and the shameless Princess found that exhilarating. Somehow, she truly had done away with all limits imposed by common decorum and dignity: every visual of Sokka's body was exciting, as well as his scent, sounds and taste. Her senses were heightened to perceive him, and him alone: she found no harm in that, not when her skin burned again with adrenaline worthy of the wildest of races…

Her latest cry of passion broke halfway through, once her excitement burst through her in the best of ways. Sokka lapped at her folds regardless, eyeing her cautiously as the Princess gasped for breath, eyes closed as her mouth remained open, taking in deep breaths with difficulty.

"You alright…?" he asked cautiously, and Azula only answered with a whimper "Azula…"

"T-that's two out of three…?" she asked, spreading her legs further. Sokka snorted "W-what are you… what are you waiting for, husband?"

"I don't know, that sexy moan of yours sounded like you were overwhelmed, but if you insist…" Sokka smirked, hoisting himself back onto the rock: water cascaded down his body, much as it had when Azula had seen him in Piandao's training grounds. The memory brought a grin to her face, as well as the idea she'd had earlier that day.

"A wall… pin me. Do it that way…" she whispered. Sokka hummed in appreciation before scooping her up in his arms and lifting her with nearly no effort.

He kissed her deeply as he returned to the pool: he waded through the shallow edge of the water with her, pacing around the rock until he found the right location to fulfill her request. Azula grinned as Sokka pressed her to the wall, his lips scarcely leaving hers: if they ever did, it was only so he could kiss the rest of her face. Within moments he had angled his manhood into her opening, after pushing the cloth of her swimsuit out of the way, and Azula surprised him by being the one to thrust: he fit perfectly inside her, as a sheath to a blade, but to Sokka it felt as having jumped headfirst into a forge instead. The heat was enough to give him a headrush, and he groaned pleasantly as he thrusted against her body, slowly and carefully for starters, knowing he wouldn't be able to hold that sweet rhythm for long.

"You really do like getting pinned, huh…?" Sokka whispered in her ear, relishing in her moans as she clawed at his back again "Seems to me you like being powerless… so much more than you'll ever admit, Azula…"

"Powerless? Against you…?" she exclaimed, her voice carrying a hint of indignation he was instantly amused by "Always"

Her last word gave him pause, but it fueled him with sharp desire just the same. He smirked before thrusting harder into her, and Azula cried out in delighted bliss, legs trembling as she felt herself crumble in his arms. How delightful it was to feel her in his arms, ever welcoming him when he was most desperate for her… and the Princess's needs aligned closer with his own than he thought they did:

"Harder…!" she gasped, between moans "Faster too, d-don't…! Don't hold back on me, blast it, Sokka…!"

Her request wasn't all that unusual, for she often demanded for him to stop teasing her as much and to give her some respite… but this time he thought he understood what she wanted, above any respite: she wanted pleasure, and after two climaxes she was looking forward to a third, explosive finish.

Seeing as he wasn't all that far from his own culmination, Sokka groaned and complied. His lips sought hers, and amidst wild kisses his thrusting became more erratic: eventually he stopped thrusting, switching instead to jerking Azula's hips towards himself with each hand, his legs firm and steady as he pulled her body closer one, two, three times…

Azula's head swum again in bliss, arms still tight around his neck. He was hitting all the right spots with the expertise she had grown to expect from him, stoking her arousal as one might tend to the lingering embers of a dying fire: the flames would rage again, powerful and mighty, threatening to consume everything around them, just as Azula was consumed altogether by the power of her surging excitement. Sokka only picked up further speed as he held her firmly by the hips, thrusting harder now while still exerting most his strength on moving her body instead.

His kisses slowed, her fingers tangled in his hair, eyes gleaming in grateful amazement: he was charging through her with the might of an avalanche, overcoming every barrier she might have tried to hold against him. But there was no defense against this kind of attack, not that she would have wanted to defend herself if there had been: again he switched to kissing her hungrily, overcome by his instinctive impulses, and he pressed his chest to hers, her erect nipples against his skin. A new peak lay not far from their reach, and Azula thrusted as hard as she could against Sokka, inviting him to go deeper, faster, stronger than every moment before.

He complied, and his latest spree of frantic thrusting threw Azula over the edge: she as good as shrieked by now, nails scratching across his back as he groaned pleasantly into her ear: he hadn't stopped thrusting, but he certainly had thrived in the way her walls had squeezed him… it dawned on her that he wanted to give her yet another release, immediately, and she nearly jumped out of his arms out of impulsive instinct: she was glad to have restrained herself moments afterwards, for the next orgasm was powerful but smooth, enveloping her in the most tender warmth. It was under that final burst that Sokka finally caved in, unleashing his seed into Azula's body with explosive exhilaration. He didn't slow down, riding the climax fully just as they had ridden the waves on the previous day: he pushed harder, heading deeper into the tunnel his manhood was wrapped in, and he leaned in to bite Azula's neck, and his mouth was flooded by the taste of her sweaty skin as he finished depleting his seed inside her.

The silence in the cove was deafening once they slowed down, with only their heavy breathing to fill it, along with the trickle of water that dripped someplace beyond their sight. Xin Long had, unsurprisingly, taken off elsewhere, perhaps chasing critters around the rock pillars – anything, as long as he could be away from his unabashed and inconsiderate riders and their relentless coupling.

"Azula…" Sokka called her, lips barely a breath away from hers: they remained pressed against the rock, the water level with his thighs. Azula smiled, relinquishing her hold on him, dropping into the pool with a soft splash.

"Safe to say… you have your first convert, Sage Sokka" she whispered. He snorted "Spirit World of wild sex, here we come"

"In more ways than one" Sokka smirked, and Azula laughed at his playful pun "You feeling okay? That rock was… well, not very comfortable"

"Hmm, being bruised by a rock can't be as painful as all the scratching I just did to you…" Azula sighed, caressing him gently "Here I'd hoped not to do that to you again anytime soon… I did a mighty fine job of that, didn't I?"

"Don't be so hard on yourself" Sokka chuckled "I like it when you scratch my back. It's the only kind of wound I ought to have across my body, if you ask me"

"I still should help you heal it" Azula sighed "Maybe we'll find a salve of some sort in Shu Jing's town, if we look…"

"You can look if you want, but I already said I like these scratches, silly wife of mine" he said playfully, nipping at her cheek and neck. Azula smiled, fingers trailing into his drying hair.

"You're incorrigible, husband" she answered, dropping her head on his shoulder.

They floated together in the water for a while, still closely wound together even as they drifted with the pool's current. As much as they dove into the water on occasion, dipping their heads fully and soaking their heated faces and messy hair, they remained locked around each other for as long as they remained in the water. Busy as they were relishing in their intimate closeness, they hardly noticed when Sokka's swimsuit slid off his knees, where it had pooled, and he was startled by the realization short moments before it came off altogether.

"Damn, my swimsuit just… give me a second" Sokka laughed, kissing Azula one more time before diving down altogether.

The Princess wasn't pleased by being away from Sokka, however briefly it might be: she dove after him, holding her breath as he struggled to snatch the floating swimsuit. It wasn't easy to see each other through the water, but Azula found Sokka's shape when the sun's rays lit the pool with a gentle golden color. She swum towards him, his body as good as a beacon, and Sokka was startled when her arms wrapped around his waist.

Never before had he kissed someone underwater, but the urge to do so now overtook Sokka mightily: he turned around and sought her lips in his own, embracing her tightly as the warm water enveloped them. They shared their breaths in that tight embrace as they inevitably rose to the surface again: even once they broke out of the water they were kissing relentlessly still, and it seemed, despite common sense advised otherwise, that they would find themselves surrendering to their needs and desires yet again, ever captivated by each other…

---

"You don't really think he's that miserable without her, do you?"

"Well, it's been about a week since we last saw him, right? Sure, we were busy with the slaves, but don't you think he should've dropped by, at least to check on them? He looked so concerned with them when we were in Hui Yi…"

"It's not like he checked on them before the Princess left either, though. Maybe he just doesn't care that much"

"Or he just cares that much more about her? I mean, come on, you've seen the way he looks at her…"

"Everyone has. Goodness, what I'd do if I caught the eye of a man that handsome…"

"U-uh, but he's, well… a Water Tribe guy, right?"

"Yeah, so? That he's Water Tribe doesn't mean he's not as hot as he wants to be…"

Too many conversations in the Enforcers barracks had often versed along how handsome and attractive the Blue Wolf was. The topic hardly interested Mei Xun, who was old enough to be the gladiator's mother. She walked away from the dining hall once the chatter shifted into subjects she didn't care for, but she still frowned as she pondered the man's absence, after delivering her food tray to the kitchens.

It was odd that the swordsman hadn't dropped by at all, there was no denying that. He had a duty to the Enforcers, even if the soldiers were already skilled enough to train by themselves. Nonetheless, new recruits had arrived after news had spread about the successful raid in Hui Yi, and it would have been ideal to have the proper sword master instructing them rather than Mei Xun herself, for she had other duties to handle as well, or other young apprentices, who were hardly qualified to teach anyone else yet.

The first part of the conversation she'd overheard just now had stuck with Mei Xun, though. She'd had the distinct feeling, ever since she first met the Princess and the sword master she had proposed for the Enforcers, that there was something more than camaraderie between them. It wasn't only the way the gladiator looked at the Princess, though: it was the way the Princess looked at him, too. Often, when she thought no one was watching her, Princess Azula would smile with warmth unlike any she'd show other people whenever she gazed upon Instructor Sokka, as he shifted between the routines he had taught the Enforcers: she had never seemed to notice that Mei Xun had seen that expression on her face. Inevitably, she suspected the Princess's heart yearned for something she should never have.

If the gladiator wanted her just as badly, though… Mei Xun bit her lip, wondering if she ought to drop by at his house for a visit, to check on him. Maybe he really was as helpless without the Princess as it appeared he was: Mei Xun could certainly understand the struggle of forbidden love. Perhaps she could offer the man some guidance or advice, so he could continue to uphold the duties Princess Azula expected from him, regardless of how heartbroken he might be by her absence.

Either way, it was only logical to visit him, even if just from a professional standpoint. Everyone had upheld their duties aside from the swordsman, and as the officer in charge in the Princess's absence, Mei Xun needed to figure out why her group had seen no sign of the gladiator in nearly a week. She let Captain Jung-woo know she would be stepping out for a while, and he assured her that he would keep tabs on the Enforcers during the afternoon. Once all was settled, she took off to the city.

Mei Xun traveled to the Palace first, hoping to find Imperial Guards who might know where to find the gladiator's house: Captain Fei Li volunteered directions, though one of his underlings had to chime in and correct him, offering Mei Xun a proper map of the area where the gladiator lived to ensure she wouldn't get lost. After thanking them politely, Mei Xun made her way to the distant house, pondering all possible outcomes of the conversation she expected to have with the gladiator: perhaps he was just lazy, and if that was the case she'd make sure to give him a piece of her mind as quickly as possible. If the hypothesis that he was besotted with the Princess was true, though, they'd likely have a much longer conversation instead…

His house seemed rather conventional compared to the man it belonged to, Mei Xun thought, upon arriving at his doorstep. She knocked hard on the door it thrice before falling into an instinctive resting position, her hands crossed behind her back.

When a young woman opened the door, though, Mei Xun frowned in confusion.

"Oh… good day" she said "I may have gotten the wrong house, but… is this Instructor Sokka's house?"

"Instructor…? Oh! You must be one of the Enforcers!" the young woman exclaimed, and although there was admiration in her features, Mei Xun also identified a glint of nervousness in her eyes "Hi! I'm, uh, I'm his cook and healer, Song…"

"Ah, so it isn't the wrong house after all" Mei Xun said, smiling "Good to know. Is he available?"

"I… I don't really think so? Uh…" Song said, her cheeks flushing. Mei Xun's amenable grin faded.

"Why? Is he in the privy?" she asked, and Song shook her head promptly.

"N-not exactly, it's just, uh, he's very… sad?" she said, with an awkward grin that gave away she was lying. Mei Xun frowned.

"Is he, now? You don't sound so sure…"

"No, he is! He's been sulking and moping all day long because…! W-well, you must know, the Princess left and…"

Song's quick excuses were interrupted in the worst possible way: a long, drawn-out, female moan reached their ears, its source the house's upper floor. Song closed her eyes tightly, fists clenched: oh, she'd told Ty Lee to keep quiet if she really wanted to sneak up on Haru while he napped, why on earth couldn't she have done as she was told?

Mei Xun's face had shifted into a displeased frown by now, though, more so when a male voice joined the female. Song's heart sank at the sight, swallowing hard as she wondered how to save face… but she wasn't sure there'd be any way to do that, not when Mei Xun was, most likely, assuming Sokka had taken Azula's absence as an opportunity to waste his day away sleeping with whatever woman was sharing his bedroom right now.

"And he decided that upholding his duties was unimportant in the face of her leaving. I see" Mei Xun growled. Song grimaced, eyeing Mei Xun warily "Well, do excuse me. I would intervene and ruin his fun, but truthfully, I'm too appalled to do so. Please let him know I intend to have a word with the Princess about his unacceptable behavior as soon as she returns to the Capital"

"I… oh. I'm sure he meant no harm…" Song said, grimacing, but Mei Xun shook her head.

"It was nice meeting you. I'm sorry you have to put up with that" said Mei Xun, before walking out to the street.

Song raised a hand helplessly, wanting to defend Sokka somehow, but knowing it would prove impossible. Granted, this was quite a solid alibi, and now no one would think Sokka and Azula had left together as they had… but she feared Sokka's reputation would suffer profoundly for this, and there was no one to blame for it but Ty Lee and Haru. Of all the times someone could pick to visit Sokka, they just had to choose doing it now…

She sighed and groaned, shaking her head before leaving the house as well. If she didn't put up with Sokka and Azula's intimate encounters, she certainly had no intentions of doing so with Ty Lee and Haru's. Maybe Rui Shi would be free soon, and they could share a drink or two. That might help her forget about the Enforcer's visit, if just until she returned home and told off Ty Lee and Haru directly about the disastrous situation they had brought upon Sokka and Azula now…

---

She didn't notice she'd dozed off until she dropped the empty teacup on her lap. It seemed to Azula as though, with the blink of an eye, the skies had gone from a deep blue to a dark purple, even if it was apparent it had been hours since she had taken her seat at the veranda that led to the mansion's backyard.

They had returned from the hot springs cove when they had grown too hungry to carry on with their wild trysts. Both were bruised by now after their romps in the rocky island, and Sokka had elected to wander the house still shirtless, since clothes were uncomfortable against his scratched back. They had found some lunch in town, and they had eaten while still utterly enraptured with each other. Azula suspected they had made the townsfolk more than a bit uncomfortable by their constant kisses and the closeness of their bodies, but she could hardly care. Once she would have refused to be so open about her affections with Sokka, but being as good as anonymous had done away with all her former reservations. The more time she spent with him, the more she longed for further closeness with him, as she couldn't get enough of having his lips on hers.

It wasn't until they came back home that Azula realized, with a start, that she hadn't taken her contraceptive tea that morning. Sokka had reassured her, telling her that having forgotten it briefly surely wouldn't amount to much, but Azula had been quick to brew it regardless. She had hoped to entice Sokka to sit with her, but he had decided to deal with the chores he had told her about earlier, sweeping the mansion's floors with a broom he'd found in a cupboard, one that Fat used often. Azula had watched him with a groggy smile as she sipped her tea, ever charmed by watching Sokka hard at work at anything, and laughing whenever he struck outlandish poses to impress her upon feeling her gaze on him.

By now, though, he was nowhere in sight and Azula sighed as she realized dusk was upon them. It wasn't as though they'd wasted the day – far from it, her entire body was numb in the most pleasant of ways – but they had already been on the road for four days. Her heart clenched at the thought, dreading their return home even if she knew she shouldn't. But where she ought to have been worrying about the Enforcers, about the Social Rehabilitation Center or about Sokka's gladiatorial record, she couldn't bring herself to truly think about any of those things anymore. Not when she had never been quite as happy as she'd been over the course of the past four days.

Xin Long had been relaxing on the courtyard before her, legs dangling in midair as he watched the clouds gliding past him. Noticing his rider was conscious had prompted him to groan in acknowledgement, his tail wagging gently.

"Hi, Xin" Azula said, stifling a yawn "Goodness, I… I needed that nap"

Xin Long snorted in agreement, flashing her with the shameless memories of what she'd been up to with Sokka only hours earlier. Where Azula should have been embarrassed and defensive, she was smiling with an inevitable blush over her features now.

"What can I say?" she sighed "He's driving me crazy, you told me he would… but in the best of ways, Xin. If what we're doing is madness, I don't care for being sane"

Xin Long was impressed by her shamelessness, admiring her unusual bluntness about her feelings. Back in the day, Xin Long hadn't understood why she'd denied her feelings and refused to act on them, even though her heart had been set on the gladiator who seemed to take up most her thoughts. Nowadays, her soul was free, so much that her inner fire felt truer and stronger than it had ever been.

Sounds inside the building alerted Azula that Sokka was still hard at work somewhere within the mansion. She sighed, pushing herself up to a standing position – her lower belly resented the change of position, and her legs seemed unstable underneath her. She smiled, for Sokka had certainly done yet another number on her today. How she wished she could always give herself to him so unabashedly, as many times as she pleased, with no restraints or concerns about whatever consequences they might face for it…

Yet there was little chance that would happen, considering Sokka had barely rested today, even when Azula had taken her nap. Whatever he was up to now, the Princess was certain he could use a break, even if she didn't know whether she'd be able to finish his current tasks for him or not.

She followed the noises and smiled upon treading into the kitchen again, for the second time that day. As exhausted as Sokka might be, he hadn't stopped at just cleaning up and now was actively trying to prepare dinner for them, even if it seemed he was struggling slightly, going by the stains of flour over his chest and arms.

"And what are you up to now, husband?" Azula called him. He wasn't startled this time, turning to offer her a helpless grin.

"Trying to make dinner?" he admitted "I guess this is the moment of truth. If I can finish a proper meal for us, it'll mean we can successfully elope and live happily ever after"

"Hmm, here I thought we were already doing that" Azula smiled, wrapping her arms around his waist and kissing his back softly. Before she knew it, she was dragging her lips over the scratches on his back, and Sokka sighed happily upon feeling her mouth on his body again.

"See? Why would I need a balm if my lovely wife can kiss me better just like that?" he said. Azula laughed softly, hands traveling over his abs.

"We still ought to get one, no matter what you say" she whispered "Want some help?"

"What? Are you serious?" Sokka asked, with a teasing grin. Azula huffed.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, I'm almost done anyhow" he smiled "But I thought princesses were no good at chores…?"

"You are no good at them either and yet you're trying. Can't lag behind, now, can I?" Azula said, kissing his shoulder before moving to stand next to him "Not to mention you've been working non-stop the whole day…"

"The whole day? Pretty sure what we did at the cove doesn't count as work…" Sokka smirked. Azula smiled and nodded in acknowledgement.

"True enough, but everything else was, even if you enjoyed it" she said "Come on. Let me do something, for a change"

"Like I said, I'm almost done" Sokka smiled "If you want, you can try to cook tomorrow, maybe? Unless we get caught up doing other stuff instead…"

"Huh. Stuff" Azula said wistfully, and Sokka laughed.

"Goodness, we've been unstoppable this week, huh?" he asked. Azula smiled proudly "At this point I fear what will happen when we return to our normal lives… I might not be able to hold back from dragging you to dark corners everywhere to have my way with you in them"

"And I might even let you" Azula said, with a dramatic sigh. Sokka's chuckles continued even as he kissed her temples softly "Say… it doesn't smell like you burned anything"

"Oh, I didn't, actually" Sokka said, proudly.

"That's an achievement" Azula smiled, looking over the food that rested on the kitchen's counters with curiosity "Actually, some of it even looks…"

"Edible?" Sokka guessed. Azula snorted.

"I was about to say 'good', but I suppose you're just that humble"

"In all fairness, I've never been any use at cooking and we both know it, Princess" Sokka laughed "But I did bring a secret weapon with me on this trip… I knew I'd need it, but I wasn't sure I'd be much good at cooking with it anyhow"

"Oh? What's this secret weapon, then?" Azula asked.

Sokka gestured at a small book, open over the counter. Azula raised her eyebrows as she read the gentle handwriting: it didn't take her long to realize she was looking at a recipe.

"You got yourself a recipe book?" Azula smiled.

"Not quite… it's more like I asked Song if she could write down a few of her recipes for me" Sokka admitted "Anything that was within my abilities, as I put it. She insisted that I must report back on whether I succeeded or failed, so…"

"Ah, we mustn't let her down, then" Azula said, solemnly "If I may… I shall sample some of your food"

"O-oh, maybe I ought to be the one who…" Sokka said, as Azula reached for the rice pot and pinched some of it "Hey now, did you wash your hands?"

"Nope" Azula said, smirking. Sokka gasped in indignation as she brought the grains to her mouth.

"How uncivilized of you! And you call my people barbarians …" Sokka huffed, rambling to cover up for how nervous he was about Azula tasting his meal…

She blinked several times before glancing at him in astonishment. He felt his stomach jump, hoping she'd offer him good news…

"I… I'm stunned" she said, and he bit his lower lip "Song's instructions must have been really detailed for you to achieve this level of success…"

"They were!" Sokka exclaimed, beaming "S-so it's good? You think we can eat this and not wind up with a horrible stomachache?"

"Pretty sure we can" Azula smiled, kissing his cheek "Good job, my dutiful husband"

His grin was innocent and genuine, and Azula's chest ached at the sight of it. No man had any right to be quite as attractive and seductive as Sokka could prove to be, just to be adorable and sweet instants later. She gazed at him so lovingly he felt the blood rush to his cheeks.

"Thank you" he said, almost shyly.

She hugged him now, breathing out slowly while resting her head against his chest. Hearing his heartbeat was blissful, a source of relief and comfort in the darkest of times as well as the lightest. Having her approval had certainly lifted his already high spirits, and he embraced her gratefully, pressing soft kisses to the top of her head.

They ate together only half an hour later, sitting by the courtyard so Xin Long could enjoy being with them too. He had caught some prey in the ocean earlier, and he devoured his dinner along with the happy couple: of all the dishes Sokka had managed to make, grilled fish seemed to be his strongest dish.

"All in all… everything was edible indeed" Azula smiled. Sokka snickered proudly, his plate empty long before Azula's own was "You deserve a standing ovation. Comparing this to the crazy meal you tried to make for us back when you first gave me the necklace…"

"Yeah, well, I can learn new skills, some faster than others" Sokka smiled "Then it seems I can cook for us, Princess. Enough for our survival, if nothing else…"

"Then it's about time we start taking our elopement more seriously, huh?" Azula said, leaning against his body as they sat together at the top of the steps that led to the courtyard.

"Oh? Are we really going to start indulging in the temptation of running off and never coming back?" Sokka asked, with amusement. Azula sighed, embracing his arm and closing her eyes. Her hair fell upon her face gracefully, and Sokka frowned: she seemed to have taken his question as more than just teasing "Azula?"

"This was supposed to be a break from our routine, right?" Azula said "A vacation, as my father put it, because the pressures were getting to me. I took advantage of it, turned it into your birthday present, as we know… but now I don't know if I'll be strong enough to go back after experiencing this kind of life with you"

"You've been experiencing a life with me for the better part of four years now, Azula…" Sokka whispered, but she shook her head.

"Not like this. Not with this sort of freedom" Azula answered "We've always held back, we've always tried to be cautious. Anyone who finds out about us needs to be trustworthy or silenced, and as much as we wanted to move forward with our relationship, because we're ready for it… we couldn't. Not until now"

"Well… true. But our circumstances aren't exactly the best, we've always known that" Sokka said, stroking her hair "I was ready to love you at a distance forever, without caring if you and I might never really be together, and instead we've had so much more than that. Maybe most people have more yet, and damn, I wish we could experience everything that comes with a normal relationship… but that also would mean sacrificing a lot of things we shouldn't. Right? Even if it all looks so far away right now, we care about other things, remember? We even agreed that we shouldn't just hold each other as our absolute priorities…"

"A damn fine job we've done of that, huh?" Azula sighed, shaking her head "It's easier said than done, isn't it?"

"I guess" Sokka conceded, biting his lip "I did choose you over going back home with Katara…"

"And now I'm terribly tempted to stay with you in Shu Jing until the end of time" Azula smiled, arms now slipping around his waist "There are so many reasons why we shouldn't do it, but… the better things get, the less I want to leave. Oh, it should be your birthday more often…"

"Heh, that'd be a solution" Sokka said, with a crooked grin, rubbing her arm gently "I know going back sounds awful right now, but… we still have three days left, don't we?"

"We do" Azula conceded.

"Then we can suffer about going back on the last day" Sokka smiled "I mean, you were overwhelmed by pressures and it looks like you've forgotten about them by now… but I'd rather you're not worried about anything at all, and not just your responsibilities. So don't fret, relax, focus on the here and now…"

"Fine, fine…" Azula sighed, closing her eyes and resting against him "I'll focus on my dream husband, thank you very much…"

"Heh, who's that, I wonder?" Sokka smiled "I'll get jealous, Azula…"

"You just can't help but be a goofball" Azula grinned too, kissing his cheek "Truthfully, Sokka, you're unbearably handsome, your body is to die for, your eyes are the most beautiful I've ever seen…"

"Oh, is that so…?" Sokka smirked.

"Back in the day, I think I could have settled for a mediocrely handsome guy?" Azula smiled "If my husband hadn't been outright repulsive I would've been relieved beyond belief. But instead I now find myself with someone who appealed to me in ways I never even thought I could be appealed in. How could I have known blue eyes drove me crazy until I saw yours?"

"I suppose you couldn't have" Sokka snickered.

"But then you took it further" Azula sighed, kissing his neck "You were challenging, constantly forcing me to question my world. Everything between us was a battlefield, and neither of us was ready to yield at any point in time. Truthfully… I think that's still the case"

"Oh? It is?" Sokka asked, amused.

"Indeed. Only, nowadays our challenges are over how much deeper in love we can fall with each other, feels like" Azula smiled. Sokka laughed and kissed her brow.

"So far, I can't seem to stop falling for you, Princess" he said.

"Nor I for you" Azula hugged him tightly, nuzzling his neck "You've become my partner in every way I needed you to be, even in ways I never knew I wanted. So yes, you are my dream husband, believe it or not, because you're by far the best thing in my life, Sokka"

"And you're the best in mine" he whispered, his fingers trailing over her face to tilt her chin up towards him.

He kissed her lips fully, and Azula closed her eyes in a flutter, responding to his lips and tongue, but often allowing him to take control as he swept her off her feet for the umpteenth time. He let himself drop on the floor, bringing her with him as they continued to kiss under the dark skies, and Xin Long was already grunting warnings about how they ought to head to their room if they planned on carrying on with those shenanigans.

Yet they wouldn't quite share in the deepest form of intimacy, not when Sokka was so exhausted he could barely keep his eyes open anymore, even after their long kissing spree ended. Azula smiled, caressing his cheek before urging him to get to his feet. Sokka groaned but complied, draping an arm around her shoulders as Azula walked them to the bathroom. After thoroughly cleaning Sokka up, and sneaking more than a few caresses when doing so, Azula cleaned herself too and joined him in the wooden tub, just as she ever did when they were home. It was fortunate that she had no delusions about how intimate they'd be that night, for Sokka, despite his best efforts, could barely hold a conversation anymore, let alone do more than that. His energies had definitely been depleted, and Azula knew they were both better off resting properly.

"Alright, alright… get into bed now" Azula said once she had helped him all the way to his old room. Sokka hummed, dropping on the mattress and smiling groggily.

"S'long as you get into it with me…" he said, with a sing-song voice. Azula grinned too, hoisting his legs and placing them across the mattress the proper way.

"Where else would you expect me to sleep, if not beside you?" she asked "Or on top of you, as the case may be. You do make the most comfortable pillow, my charming husband…"

"So I'm a… a charming pillow? That's a good nickname to remember, eh?" Sokka asked. Azula chuckled, cupping his face.

"You know… somehow, I've kind of wanted to try those cringeworthy terms of endearment, ever since we've been on the road" she whispered. He hummed.

"You sure…?"

"Yeah. I mean, I'm sure you'll forget this conversation by morning, going by how tired you are, so regardless of the result, I think I'll be able to live with it" Azula said, smirking. Sokka laughed softly.

"So you've got nothing to lose, huh…?" he said.

"It feels like I never do with you… my love" she said, her voice trembling when she spoke the words.

Oh, it was stupid and corny and ridiculous beyond measure… but her already fluttering heart seemed to speed up, her entire body fueled with happy, rushing sensations. The smile on her face was foolish enough she felt like hiding it… but when she was about to do so, she realized Sokka's eyes were open. And he was grinning, too.

"Sokka…" she said, feeling self-conscious around him for the first time in ages.

"That wasn't so bad" he whispered "My love, huh? If anything… I think that's the least harmful one you could've picked"

"Then no doubt you must be disappointed" Azula smiled. Sokka chuckled.

"Never. It might even grow on me" he said, his hand reaching out to tug at hers, urging her to join him in bed indeed "Now, then, my love…"

"Come on…" Azula laughed softly, as he pulled her closer.

"Get over here and I'll… I'll show you the best of times" he said, though his promise was interrupted by a loud yawn. Azula laughed, shaking her head and pressing her face to his chest.

"No doubt. After all the wild sex we had today, I certainly approve of having a long, pleasant rest" she declared. Sokka huffed in disapproval.

"What, we're going to sleep…?" he asked "That's such a waste…"

"Just as it was a waste for us not to wake up together this morning, remember? And we more than made up for it later" Azula smiled, stretching across the bed and wrapping an arm around Sokka's chest. He turned towards her, pouting slightly.

"Then we're getting at it in the morning. Promised thing" he determined. Azula nodded and kissed his lips softly.

"That I can agree with. If my body isn't too sore for more, of course" she smiled "You do realize we've never had so much sex before, don't you?"

"And that's just wonderful, isn't it?" Sokka grinned. Azula laughed and kissed his lips softly again.

"It'll still be wonderful in the morning. Sleep now, Sokka" she whispered, her brow pressed to his. Sokka hummed.

"I love you, Azula…" he trailed off. He was so exhausted it almost seemed as though he had fallen asleep already. Azula smiled, fingertips caressing the handsome face she loved to gaze upon "Good night…"

"Good night… my love" she whispered, her voice faint.

Again, she felt foolish for it… because she felt elated for having spoken the words again. She had denied herself many simple pleasures all her life, to the point where even the silly matter of using terms of endearment was nigh unthinkable for her until now. But with each wall she could break thanks to Sokka's help, Azula found herself relieved of every shackle that had been weaved around her ever since she was a child. Every expectation, every demand, every ideology that she had assimilated without thinking… all of it had fallen to the wayside thanks to him. She didn't think there was anything she could ever do to thank him for that.

Her fingers trailed over his smooth hair, and she sighed blissfully before falling into a comfortable slumber of her own. Her thoughts revolved around him, as did her heart and soul. Nothing seemed to register in her mind other than Sokka, and, despite it meant the end of their romantic adventure was looming ever closer, Azula could only smile upon realizing Sokka's birthday was only two days away…