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...

195. Chapter 195: Return to Shu Jing 8

Sokka guessed Azula would be startled by his sincerity by morning, but he had hoped to find curiosity in her gaze as well. Upon recognizing it, he couldn't help but smile enthusiastically.

"Wait just a moment, now…" said Azula, biting her lower lip and eyeing him with uncertainty from her seat beside him at the breakfast table "You were serious last night? That serious?"

"You know just as well as I do that every single time I've asked you to marry me, I've meant it" Sokka said, his smile fond and heartwarming. It wasn't fair that he could be so persuasive, especially when she was already so weak against him…

"Right, but… this is big too, isn't it? About as big as getting married in Firelight…" said Azula, biting her lip and failing to stifle a smile by doing so "You really want us to do the Water Tribe ceremony today, Sokka? The whole palm-cutting thing?"

"All of it" Sokka said, grinning brightly "The palm-cutting, the shawls, the big celebratory feast…!"

"Woah, woah, woah… you never said anything about those last things" Azula laughed "Big feast? I'm sure you could eat a whole feast, there's no denying that, but I don't think we have enough food left to cook all that, do we?"

"That's okay, we still have money, right?" Sokka asked, shrugging "We can just stop by the shops in town and buy cooked food! The bride and groom-to-be aren't supposed to overwork themselves on their wedding day, after all…"

"B-but it's your birthday… shouldn't we celebrate your birthday instead?" Azula asked, looking at him uneasily "I mean, if this is how you want to do it, I won't complain but… I expected you to make all sorts of outlandish demands of other nature instead"

"Like what?" Sokka laughed "You've humored pretty much all my sex-related whims through the week, I have no regrets in those regards"

"Good to know" Azula smiled, raising her eyebrows "Nonetheless… isn't there some Water Tribe birthday celebration rite to be done too? I mean, if there's nothing…"

"There really isn't, unless you want to parade me in every house of Shu Jing to let them know it's my birthday?" Sokka snickered "Everyone in the Tribe used to have something, even if just a small gift, to give the person whose birthday was celebrated. But I'm pretty sure that's not how it works here, especially with a guy who's as good as a complete stranger in town…"

"Oh, fair enough" said Azula, smiling and eyeing him with uncertainty again, though by now she was far more intrigued than perplexed "You're sure, then?"

"I'm always sure I want to marry you, Azula" he said, beaming "The one who always needs to make up her mind about it is you"

"I… I don't need to make up my mind about that" Azula said, shaking her head "But, you know… covering up for the cuts might not be easy"

"We'll do them as shallowly as possible" Sokka declared "And right across one of the lines of our palms, because why not? The scar might be more painful there, but more difficult to recognize for anyone who wouldn't know what they're looking for. Right?"

"Right…" said Azula, breathing deeply before smiling at him "So… we're getting married. Again"

"And this time as ourselves, seeing as we're in private we don't have to keep up appearances with anyone" Sokka chuckled "Also, despite I didn't want Sage Ryu to ramble, I kind of was disappointed by how short that ceremony was, weren't you? I could barely savor the moment…"

"Well, it usually isn't that short when you do allow the sage to ramble" Azula smiled.

"Yeah, of course" Sokka conceded, with a lop-sided grin "Anyways, this is our chance to correct that! And I think you want that just as much as I do, right? So… how about it?"

"How about it, indeed…" said Azula, tapping her chin "You do realize that this is just the second of our weddings, right?"

"Um… yeah? I can't remember it happening more than once before, so what exactly do you mean…?"

"I mean that we'll get married at least one more time, once we're legally able to do it in the Fire Nation" Azula smiled "And, if your Tribe decides they don't want my head on a stick when we go here, it's… it's not impossible, right? You did say you wanted to try your luck with marrying me in the South Pole, if things went well…"

"Then that means we'll have two more weddings to look forward to, at the very least" said Sokka, with a proud smile "Four wedding ceremonies! Heh, I know it sounds insane, most people only marry each other once, but honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way"

Azula snorted and laughed, nearly collapsing on the table in disbelief at the ridiculous notion of a grand total of four weddings. They had finished most their breakfast by then, and she only had some tea left in her cup when Sokka had brought up their late-night conversation again.

"It's insane for sure" she said, still grinning "But I guess we've never been all that conventional, right?"

"We get to have multiple weddings to make up for being forced to keep our relationship secret" Sokka declared "I think we deserve to treat ourselves, and as we're so good at being married…"

"We sure are" Azula said, smiling warmly at him.

"So… you're up for it?" he asked, eagerly "Do you want to marry me again?"

Azula breathed deeply, leaving Sokka stemming in unnecessary nervousness when her answer was already obvious long before she spoke it. Her smile only widened as she stared at him, his near-childish wonderment, so endearing she couldn't help but reach out to clasp his hands in hers over the table.

"You'll ask me every single time you want to… and my answer will always be the same" she whispered "Yes, I will… I'll marry you, the way your people do it"

Sokka grinned brightly before lunging in to kiss her in a burst of happiness. Azula laughed as she held his face in place, letting her heart soar under the softness of his lips. It was strange to do this again, she knew it, especially when the only witness to their union would be Xin Long… but seeing how grumpy the dragon had been about not being invited to their first wedding, it seemed only fitting for him to be their only guest this time around.

"Okay… okay, what do we have to do to get ready?" Azula asked, patting his chest. Sokka bit his lip.

"Traditionally, we're not supposed to see each other all day until the ceremony but that'd be stupid in our situation so scratch that" he laughed "I'm supposed to go hunting while you prepare everything for the ceremony… that is, making sure we could cook for all our guests. But we know we won't really have any so that's not necessary either. Other than that, you'd just be expected to wait patiently until I returned from hunting, while getting ready…"

"That sounds unbearably boring. I'm going with you to… uh, hunt in the Shu Jing marketplace, I suppose" smiled Azula. Sokka snickered and nodded.

"Sounds perfect to me"

"What about those shawls you mentioned? What are they?" Azula asked, cocking her head sideways slightly: Sokka's chest tightened at the sight, ever surprised by how adorable she could be without even trying.

"We have to wear shawls over our shoulders, they're the way to symbolize that we're about to get married, yeah" said Sokka "There are big, old, fancy shawls in the Water Tribe that have been handed down for thousands of years or whatever, but they're really just decoration…"

"Sounds like tradition, rather…" said Azula, with a crooked grin "Can we use something else to replace them, then? Will it work for us to do it with shawls without such cultural and historical significance…?"

"I'd think so, yeah. We will have to go into town to find more food, might as well check if there's anything we can wear" Sokka said, shrugging "And, other than that… you did bring your dagger, right?"

"Oh… yes" said Azula, nodding. To this day it was difficult to think of the weapon as her own, despite she'd had it in her power for the better part of three years now, but she had brought it with her for this trip as a precaution in case anything dangerous happened.

"I wonder if it's better to use that one or my knife… we do have to cut our palms with the same weapon, after all" said Sokka, with a crooked grin "Oh, well! We'll decide when we get to it, no point worrying about it now"

"You're so happy about this" Azula smiled, gazing at him warmly. He chuckled and shrugged.

"I never dreamt about what my wedding would be like, as a kid. Looked like a lot of boring grown-up stuff that I'd see no point to, back then" he said "Ever since our relationship started, though…"

"What, you've wanted to marry me since then?" Azula asked, amused.

"Yeah, whether I was aware of it or not" he chuckled "In all honesty, once things really started between us, I knew for sure that I'd never want to share my life with anyone else. I knew I wanted to belong to you, no matter what. So… in a sense, I've been committed enough to marry you since that moment"

"Oh, goodness…" said Azula, with a happy sigh "How on earth did I get you to fall so deeply in love with me? The more you gush about me, the more I wonder…"

"What's there to wonder?" Sokka laughed, reaching out to embrace her, so her head would fall against his chest "Oh, well, maybe I'll just answer you that question with my vows later, eh?"

"Feel free to do so, but I'll go first this time" Azula said, scowling pointedly at Sokka, who smiled and shrugged.

"Fine by me, but if you're too nice about your vows you can be sure I'll be sobbing like a baby when I speak my own" he said, prompting her to laugh again and tighten her arms around his waist.

"If anything, that's something to look forward to" she smiled, and Sokka chuckled as he kissed the top of her head.

They had grown used to their leisurely lack of clothing by now, to wandering the mansion fully naked or with as few garments as possible: getting dressed almost seemed to be a waste of time, in general, but having to visit the town meant their uninhibited behavior would have to be put on hold for a short time. They let Xin Long know where they'd go, once they had dressed properly, and they walked to town together, ever holding hands, their fingers intertwined.

By now the town had seemed to grow more used to their presence, even if no one seemed to know where they'd come from or why they were in Shu Jing. They were always seen walking from and to Piandao's old mansion, so it was generally understood they were staying there. The last residents of the house had left around two years earlier, and everyone wondered if these two might last longer than that: going by how happy they were together, it seemed natural that they would.

They stopped by a clothing store first, to find replacement shawls to wear in their ceremony. As much as they rummaged through the rows of clothes, finding something remotely similar to the shawls of the Water Tribe seemed utterly impossible, but before long they had found two Fire Nation capes that Sokka decided could replace the shawls just fine. Azula left all such decisions to him, warmer and more permissive than ever before, and Sokka assumed that was just another birthday present she was giving him that day.

Thus, their feast was a lot larger than it needed to be, for Sokka went overboard with the food he wanted to eat to celebrate their wedding. They had to carry it in huge crates, with Azula making fun of him the whole trip back to the mansion for being such a glutton: Sokka took it all as a compliment, however, grinning at her so brightly he seemed to blind her as the noon sun might.

"Alright… do we need anything else?" Azula asked, once they were back in the mansion, tired after the efforts of bringing the crates all the way back across the tall hill. Sokka tapped his chin "I suppose I should've asked you back in the town, but we did have to carry all this back here…"

"Hmm… I think not, at least nothing urgent" Sokka answered "I have enough bandages we can use for the ceremony and afterwards too, so I think we're ready! All we need to do now is clean up and get things started"

"Okay…" said Azula, biting her lip before smiling at him "Care to give me a run-through of how these ceremonies unfold, then? I'd like to know what to expect, exactly…"

"Ah, you don't want to be surprised by the uncivilized rites we perform, is it?" Sokka smirked with malice "It's okay, Azula, we don't offer human sacrifices to ensure some primitive god will bless our union…"

"Why, that was obvious, else we would've looked for someone fitting to be a sacrifice in town and brought them with us" Azula smiled sarcastically, prompting Sokka to laugh.

"Fine, fine…" he smiled "Well, generally it's the tribe's chief who performs the ceremony, but as we have no chief to do it for us today I guess we'll have to take care of it ourselves…"

"Well, Xin Long seems to believe he'll be the one to officiate the wedding for us, so maybe he could do it" Azula smiled at the dragon, who was lounging in the burned courtyard right now, eyeing them eagerly.

"Heh, we'll get married at least four times, it makes sense that a dragon would officiate at least one of them" Sokka smirked approvingly, and Azula was the one laughing this time "Alright, well, he won't have to say much anyhow, I think. Though, uh… damn. I guess I should've paid more attention in the ceremonies I witnessed, huh?"

"Oh?" Azula said, raising her eyebrows skeptically as Sokka scratched the top of his head.

"I think the last one happened at least two or three years before you found me in the South, you can't blame me for forgetting" he pouted "Alright, I think he just has to say some really thoughtful stuff about the meaning of the cuts and how we'll be together until the end of time, you know? Same kind of thing as what the Sage said"

"Well, it would make sense, I suppose" Azula shrugged "Now, then… as for the knives, you asked if I had my dagger and I do, but are you sure that's better than your own knife? Seems like yours might be more appropriate, culturally-speaking…"

"Yeah, it should be, but we could use yours instead… mine would need to be cleaned up thoroughly, after all" Sokka smiled awkwardly "I wouldn't want us to get infected cuts in case the last time I used my knife I slashed someone or stabbed them or…"

"Fair enough, that's as convincing an argument as possible" said Azula, eyes wide "Plus, with all we're changing about the ceremony, this will be as good as a variant of the real deal, right? Fire Nation capes instead of shawls, an Earth Kingdom dagger rather than a whalebone knife, a dragon instead of a tribal chief…"

"Yeah, and I have to say, it's all the more fun for it" Sokka snickered "Anyways, we'll cut our palms, wrap them up together until the whole thing's over, and while we're bound we'll say our vows. Once that's done, we'll kiss and the ceremony's done! We'll unwrap our hands, put proper bandages on them to stop the bleeding, and then we'll eat our feast and…! Oh, oh, actually, we have to build a big fire! Yeah, we'll do that!"

"Ah, I guess we should. Atop the charred White Lotus symbol again, if I may make the suggestion" Azula smirked. Sokka laughed and nodded.

"You say it for the fun of it, but it's actually the best location to do it" he admitted "The part that matters, though… is what we'll do around the fire"

"Oh. Oh, crap"

"No takebacks now, Princess! You must dance with me!" Sokka laughed, as Azula covered her face with her hands, trying to contain her own laughter.

"You abuse your marital rights, Sokka, by making me dance with you as often as you have" she smiled "Especially when there's no music to dance to"

"We can sing! Oh, wait, Xin Long could sing for us! He's tried before, right, boy?"

On cue, Xin Long started to groan in his awkward reptilian way, his tail slapping against the ground as he eagerly tried to carry a tune. Azula's laughter couldn't be contained anymore, though Sokka was quite proud and pleased by the dragon's performance.

"See, it's settled!" he said "And… oh. Uh, I guess we have a tiny issue now"

"What's that?" Azula asked, amused still.

"Gift exchange" Sokka said, eyes widening "I… I didn't think of that until now"

"Oh, so we had to give each other gifts… brilliant" said Azula, her smile receding.

"W-we can come up with something, it's not that big a deal…!"

"What are you fretting about?" Azula huffed, pointing at her necklace "You made this for me already, this is the perfect gift. I'm the one who's empty-handed"

"Wait, really? But…! No, that's a betrothal gift! Not a wedding one!" Sokka pouted, and Azula sighed.

"I guess the best way is to do it without gifts, for now. By the time we do get married down south we'll have come up with something… or at least, I'd hope so"

"We'd better" said Sokka, grimacing "Though giving you gifts is never easy, mind you…"

"Here I thought you had it down to a science, even" Azula smiled "You gave me flowers, on two occasions at least, a huge dragon armor, this necklace… if anything, I'm the one who should've given you more of them, and yet I think I haven't…"

"Not true! Every day with you is a gift on its own!"

Azula rolled her eyes at that, but she pulled Sokka in for a quick kiss and patted his cheek gently.

"Is that it, then? Any other elements of the ceremony we might be missing?"

"Uh, no. That's the only thing" Sokka said, smiling weakly "And well, once it's all finished comes the time to take off the shawls… and everything else we're wearing, naturally"

"Of course" Azula grinned "I take it, in an ideal world, that'd be when we'd consummate our marriage for the very first time…?"

"Ideal? That's definitely the wrong word for a world where we can't have sex before marriage" Sokka laughed "But yeah, according to Water Tribe traditions, we're supposed to have been pure and chaste until marriage, there's no denying that"

"Zuko mentioned that they gave him and Suki quite a hard time for it" Azula smiled "They didn't let them get married until he built their igloo, and until then they were forced to live apart. She was pregnant already, but they didn't care about whatever they'd done before, they weren't allowed to do anything else until they were married"

"Yeah, well, I'd like to think they're not going to know how filthy we've been with each other by the time we get married in the South, right?" Sokka smiled, stroking her hair "I mean, I'd think it's kind of obvious, but unless you were pregnant when we go back, which you won't be, they wouldn't have any evidence that we've been so very inappropriate together…"

"Fair enough" said Azula, leaning in to kiss him again "So… will you go gather the firewood? It'll be really weird to build a fire in this weather, but I figured you could do that while I got started with cleaning up…"

"Oh, what? You don't want us to bathe together?" Sokka asked, both aghast and amused. Azula shook her head.

"If we're getting married, we need to do things the proper way. Just for a bit" she said, winking at him as stepped towards the bathroom.

"Just for a bit, then" Sokka grinned "Alright, alright, I'll arrange the fire…"

The entire ceremony was fully in their control, for it hinged on no one but them… and yet Sokka was starting to feel ridiculously nervous again as he placed dry wood atop the charred White Lotus symbol. What was it about these ceremonies that could get his heart racing like few other things could? The anticipation seemed to drive him crazy, though, to the point where he had gathered far more firewood than necessary. He chuckled and shook his head: this was, by far, the wildest and weirdest birthday he'd ever had, and he couldn't help but love it.

Azula returned before long, fully clean, perfumed, with a light layer of makeup and clad in the finest clothes she had brought on this journey, a light-red tunic with long sleeves. Sokka gazed at her with his usual admiration, captivated by her beauty, and she couldn't hold back a blush, no matter how many times she had been the object of his adoring contemplation.

"Your turn, Sokka" she said, breathing out and taking in the tall pile of wood he'd assembled "Uh… wow. That's a lot"

"I know. I went overboard because… does it make sense for me to get nervous about marrying you when we've already done it before, and when we both know it's going to be amazing?" Sokka laughed. Azula smiled fondly at him.

"Yes, it does" she said "Because I feel the same way, irrational and ridiculous as it may be"

"Huh. Good to know it's not just me" he sighed in relief, grinning at her before leaning in to press a soft kiss to her lips "You're so beautiful, damn it…"

"You'll be even more beautiful than me once you clean up properly" Azula laughed "Come on, the sooner you're finished the faster we'll get started"

Sokka grinned and nodded, kissing her once more before taking off to get ready. He picked up his best clothes in his room as well, and he washed his body thoroughly, treating his hair with the products he'd made sure to bring with him for this trip. He was careful to shave his face neatly, leaving only the stubble Azula liked on his chin. By the time he was finished, he dared gaze at himself in the mirror: his long, blue changshan was the better outfit he had available today, for it was the right color for the ceremony, even. His hair was still down, as it had been throughout the week… and as much as he was as far from the image of a traditional Water Tribe groom, he couldn't help but smile at his reflection. Strange as it might be, he felt more like himself today than ever before.

By the time he left the bathroom, fully dressed and ready for their private wedding, he found Azula staring at the shawls with a crooked eyebrow, struggling to decide which one she preferred. Her attention was stolen away entirely when Sokka appeared in her field of vision and she blinked a few times at the sight of him, failing to conceal how much she appreciated his current look. Sokka smiled, scratching the back of his head.

"Okay, I'm ready now" he said, biting his lip "What do you think?"

"You're… you're impossibly good looking" Azula said, smiling awkwardly "Y-you know, I was pondering which shawl would fit us better, but now I want to skip ahead to the part where we take everything off instead…"

"You can't right now" Sokka laughed, wrapping his arms around her as she smiled warmly at him "Honestly, Princess, it's me who's always that inappropriate, not you…"

"I usually can hold back my impulses better, but you've made it too difficult now" Azula laughed "Damn… my husband is glorious"

"So is my wife" he smiled, kissing her softly. When she tried to pull him in, though, he only leaned back, smirking knowingly "Hey, hey. We ought to leave all the intense stuff for after the ceremony, okay?"

"But… ugh, fine" Azula said, nearly pouting. He chuckled, stroking her cheek gently "You sure like to torment me by being the best-looking man on the planet and depriving me from kissing you…"

"Yeah, well, that's how I feel every day of my life when I can't kiss you every time I get the urge to do so" Sokka smirked "See how nasty it is?"

"I'll dethrone my father as soon as we go home, that way we can kiss all the damn time with no consequences" Azula determined, and Sokka laughed.

"Now THAT would be a wedding gift impossible to top, I must say…" he said, and Azula grinned.

"I'll keep it in mind for the next one, then"

"As for the shawl-capes…" Sokka said, picking up the darker one. Azula huffed and took it from him promptly.

"I'll take that one. You take the light one, suits your outfit better" she declared. Sokka snorted but shrugged.

"As you wish" he said, taking the remaining item and cladding his shoulders in it.

It was an unexpected take on a Water Tribe tradition, Sokka knew that… but it felt right in ways he couldn't quite describe. Blending Water Tribe and Fire Nation together was the better idea when it came to the two of them: they were, after all, a mix of both cultures. They had found balance together, every day he grew more convinced of it, and they had learned how to cherish their differences as well as everything that brought them together. Today was a day to celebrate it all, and he grinned brightly at Azula as she finished fastening her dark cape.

"Okay…" she said, biting her lip and staring at Sokka intently "What now?"

"First… we have to start the fire, actually" he said, grinning "The ceremony always takes place around the fire, after all"

Azula nodded, stepping forward to the pile of wood, tall enough to reach the middle of her thorax. She stretched out her fingers, cautious with her bending so no sparks would catch her clothes. Before long, the gold flames she had evoked had multiplied into a properly strong fire, even if by now they were of an orange color instead. Satisfied by the result nevertheless, Azula turned to Sokka to find him sitting by the fire, smiling warmly at her. Xin Long had snuck up on them too, watching intently and waiting for his turn to participate in the ceremony.

"Alright, sit with me…" said Sokka, and Azula obeyed, taking her place, cross-legged, before him "And now… you have the dagger, right?"

Azula nodded and unsheathed it, smiling as she stared at the detailed craftmanship. Odd to think she had coveted the dagger desperately as a child, only to hardly ever use it once she finally had it in her power. This was the first time she'd actually wield it for a specific purpose, and the biggest irony of the situation was realizing that she wouldn't use it to hurt others, or to defend herself… it was to carve a cut across her own palm, and not for reasons related to war, but to love instead.

"Azula…? You okay?"

"Sorry, I just spaced out for a second. I'll do it, then" she smiled, biting her lip before pressing the knife to her right hand's head line.

The cut stung, but she dragged it out fully, if not deeply. Blood seeped out immediately, but Azula held back from complaining altogether and handed the weapon to Sokka now. He almost appeared remorseful now, as though seeing her bleed at all was near torture, no matter if she had done it willingly. Azula reassured him with a confident grin as he trailed the dagger over his right hand as well, unflinching. It was more painful than the wound to realize that Sokka was scarcely bothered by cutting his own palm because, after all the injuries he'd suffered, this was hardly harmful for him.

"Alright… now we hold hands" Sokka said, smiling and extending his own towards hers.

Azula reached for him, gritting her teeth when her cut came into contact with his skin. As much as she could see the symbolism of it, this seemed to be a terribly unhygienic tradition now. She smiled, though, as Sokka attempted to fasten a thick bandage around both their hands, slightly clumsily.

"Okay, wait, I'm better with my left than you are" Azula said, moving to help him. Sokka grimaced.

"I've got it, you don't have to worry…"

It wasn't Azula who intervened, though: Xin Long grunted before taking the end of the cloth between his teeth, startling Sokka. His claws weren't as dexterous as human hands, but the dragon managed to wrap their hands in the bindings properly by using his teeth and claws interchangeably while tucking the bandage around their hands. By the time he was finished, both his riders regarded him with surprised gratefulness.

"Thanks for that, buddy" Sokka smiled, tugging at the bindings lightly, to make sure they wouldn't slip.

Azula breathed deeply and stared at Sokka. Now that the handfasting was finished, what came next?

"Uh… Xin probably should've said his words before we did this, now I think of it" said Sokka, smiling apologetically at the dragon. Xin Long seemed startled by that, but he puffed up and sat properly between them, his head held high.

With that, a symphony of seemingly random sounds poured out of him, and Sokka couldn't help but chuckle for it. Azula smiled, though it was apparent she was listening intently and understanding the dragon's intentions fully. It wasn't long before Xin Long stopped, though, and Azula glanced at Sokka.

"Well, he says 'My two riders, today you will get married. Again. I don't know what's the difference between not being married and being married, other than that you mate more often now, but as it means a lot to your kind, I will be the first dragon to help two humans get married'"

"Why, thank you, Xin!" Sokka grinned brightly. Xin nodded in his direction and began anew.

"'I am proud of being your dragon, because one of you grooms my mane and the other made me an armor, and if there are ways a dragon can be happy, it's by feeling fancy and by having nice and shiny things…' Xin, are you sure this is what you should be talking about?"

Xin huffed and scowled at Azula, prompting Sokka to laugh again as she stared at her dragon in amused disbelief. The creature shook his head and continued with his train of thought, even harrumphing and clearing his throat.

"'You two humans have been successful at making me happy, so I know you will always make each other happy too. I only wish you would do it in more creative ways than by mating…' Xin! Yeah, yeah, stop that, get to the point! Ugh, stubborn dragon…"

"Oh, he may be exasperating for you, but this is by far the most amusing wedding officiant I've ever seen" Sokka laughed. Azula smiled, shaking her head still.

"Okay, okay, go on, fine, I'll stop intervening" she told Xin Long, who scowled before getting back to his monologue "'Either way, I know you will be able to groom each other too, and give each other shiny gifts, because that's what a proper dragon pair would do. Dragons are supposed to only have one rider, but I always had two because I was luckier than the rest. I was in darkness when you found me, and you showed me a shiny world like nothing I could imagine, and I know you did that for each other too. So, if being married helps you feel fancy and find more shiny things, I will be happy to help you do it. Thank you for inviting me this time too, you jerks, because I deserved to watch the first one too…' yeah, I thought you'd forgiven us for that already, guess not…"

"Xin…" Sokka said, smiling warmly at the dragon, who puffed his chest and groaned once again.

"And now he says 'begin the rambling', which I suppose means we should start saying our vows" Azula smiled, though she reached out with her free hand to pat Xin Long's scales "Thank you, Xin. With every day that goes by, I'm more grateful to have you by my side"

If the dragon could have blushed, he certainly would have after hearing those words. His eyes were wide, his usually slit-like pupils dilating, and he seemed to stare at Azula with uncertainty, so bashful it was uncanny in one as mischievous as him.

"Come on, no need to be so shy" Azula laughed, at which Xin Long chuckled with his creaking reptilian voice and nodded.

The dragon laid down fully on the ground now, watching them intently. As much as he believed they'd ramble, it seemed he was rather curious about what they might say to each other next. They had turned their warm gazes away from Xin Long, more than ready to bare their hearts out, at further leisure than the last time they'd been wed.

"Well… you wanted to go first this time" Sokka said, grinning warmly at her "Feel free to start whenever you're ready, Azula"

"Yeah, I… I will. I will" she said, smiling as well as she closed her eyes and breathed deeply.

As much as she had wanted to say so much more this time, suddenly it seemed harder to find the right words. Sokka could inspire her to deliver speeches she would have never dreamt to give, as he had in the festivals, or even when she had answered Katara's question… but sometimes he took her breath away instead, and it seemed he'd happen to do that in all their weddings. Still, she had to go ahead and do it. She had to gather her wits, or else to speak from her heart, as she only ever did when she was with him…

"This cut, in our palms…" Azula whispered "It's meant to symbolize our full union, the same way the candle did, right?"

"Yeah" said Sokka, nodding promptly.

"It feels a lot more painful than the candle" she said, and Sokka smiled a little "And yet that might just be why it feels more accurate, more genuine. In all our years together, we've faced countless hardships, many of them of our own making, but even at our worst, we've never let go of each other. We've ridden through the storms, endured all obstacles, stubbornly standing by our relationship no matter what it might cost us. All of that… all of it brought us here today, and I can safely say there's nowhere else in the world I'd rather be right now.

"The more years pass us by, the more I think back on who I was when we first met. However you may want to see it, I was… I was no good, all by my own choosing. I had convinced myself that I could never be anything but the monster I thought I was, so I never cared for the consequences of my actions. I took pride in the wrong things, in being strong despite I felt weak and empty inside. I only cared to right the wrongs that befell me… I cared little for whatever wrongs befell others, especially if they were my fault. I can look back now and wish I could take back so many of my mistakes from those days, and it's all because of you.

"I couldn't have guessed, not when we struck our initial deal, that you'd become the answer for a question I had never dared utter. Because, you see, Sokka… I was lonely. I was alone, even if there were thousands of people around me. No one could see me, because I wouldn't let them in the first place. I didn't dare let anyone understand me, even if it could have done away with the pain of loneliness that I had tried to numb myself to… but then you shook my world to pieces. You unruly, damned clever man… you always say I've treated you as my equal all along, but the reason I did was because you wouldn't stand for anything else. You… you demanded a certain kind of respect, without even realizing it, and I gave it to you because… because I saw in you strength, honor, virtues I had seldom understood until I met you. So… the southern savage turned out to be far more civilized than the princess who pretended otherwise, after all"

"Now, now… that's pushing it too far" Sokka laughed, but Azula smiled and shook her head.

"No, it's not" she said "You've always seen the world with different eyes than I did. Before I knew it, I wanted to see it the same way, too. I was stubborn, proud, I lashed out at you… and yet deep down I couldn't help but admire you. I found myself even thanking people for doing their jobs, something unthinkable, but you had chided me for it on the very first day of our partnership, so…"

"Heh, I forgot about that" Sokka smiled, and Azula shrugged.

"Turns out you've been influencing me subtly, without my realization, in many ways" she said "You don't even realize how wise you are, how much value there is in your words, in your ideas, in… in everything you do. You've been surprising me, impressing me, for close to four years now. And as far as I can tell, you'll continue to do so in the future, huh?"

"I… I don't know, but I hope so" Sokka said, biting his lip.

"You said once that you felt like your life really started when you met me" Azula continued "Yet another funny thing we have in common, I suppose. Everything that came before you, Sokka… it pales, it's so small I can hardly feel like it has any consequence anymore. Like Xin Long put it, we found each other and turned our darkness into something shiny, huh? That's… that's definitely what you did for me. The whole world seemed to open up when our partnership began, and everything I've achieved since then has been, at least on some level, thanks to you.

"I really thought I'd spend my life alone. No, not unmarried, surely my father would have forced me to marry someone eventually, and without your help I would have never been able to get out of it. But no one else could have been the partner you've been. No one else ever saw me as clearly as you did, not without being scared of what lay underneath: if anything, you dove in further, believing that deep down there would be something worthwhile in me, something worth fighting for. And as obnoxious as it may sound for me to say it… I do think you've found it. Because… because I can look at myself nowadays, and I can smile. I no longer feel worthless, or empty, or incomplete… because you showed me the truth of who I was. You taught me I was more than my mistakes… because so were you. And with that, I finally found the true strength I'd been looking for all along. The strength… that led me to find this"

She raised her left hand, and gold fire burst in it, a small plum that seemed to sparkle wildly just the same. A reflection of her soul, of the genuine bliss and love she felt pouring out of her right now…

"I know I'm going to make more mistakes" Azula continued, with a sad smile "I've always known the way to achieve our dreams, to change the world as we want to, would be full of struggles we can barely imagine right now. But I'm not scared, Sokka. I could never be, because you're with me. I trust you with everything I am, I believe in you like I've never believed in anything before, not even my father or this nation. And I know that, whenever I fall, you'll catch me. Whenever I falter, you'll stand by me. Whenever I feel like giving up, you'll encourage me to try again, to find a new path to success. What more could any wife ask of her husband? All I can hope for is that I might be able to do the same for you…"

"You always do, Azula" Sokka said, reaching out to cup her face with his free hand. Azula smiled, turning her face into his palm. The contact of his hand brought tears to her eyes "Don't ever doubt it"

"From thinking I'd be alone forever… now I'm living the greatest love affair this damn world ever saw" she laughed, taking his hand in hers "I never even hoped someone might love me… and yet you did, like no one ever has. Your heart is so kind, so good, warmer than any summer's day, than any fireplace, than… than even gold fire might be. You could have wanted anyone else, you could have given up because I was… I was unreasonable in many ways, I was cruel, I hurt you, but you never did. Anyone else could have been easier…"

"Easier seldom amounts to better, Azula" Sokka said, smiling sadly as his own eyes grew tearful "I could never back down from loving you, no matter if you asked me to…"

"See?" Azula laughed, wiping at her eyes "You're too kind for your own good. I couldn't have helped being drawn to you, no matter what… and I'd accuse you of having stolen my heart, but how can you steal something that's given to you willingly?"

"Azula…" Sokka said, with a soft chuckle.

"It will always be yours, Sokka" Azula said, swallowing hard and staring at him, despite her blurry eyesight "I will always be yours. No matter what comes in the future, no matter whatever hardships we might face next, you can trust me when I say I'll love you with everything I am, until the very last remnant of my spirit fades away from the universe. I've said it on this trip, I don't know if you were my destiny all along… but if not, I choose to make you so, now and forever. And I'll fight for the rest of my life if I must to protect you from anything that may try to harm you. I'll devote myself to making you happy in every way I can, chasing away anything that brings you sorrow. I'll look after you, just as you've looked after me, in the best times and the worst: I'll be your partner, as I have been for all these years, always striving to become better at it, always giving my best so you won't regret having chosen me, just as I chose you.

"Because, if there's such a thing as soulmates, I have no doubts that's what you are for me. We are connected, deeply, by our history, by our natures, by everything that has drawn us to each other from the very first moment. And I seldom thank the universe for anything… but when it comes to you I have to, because it's a damn miracle that we found each other every time we did, it's a miracle that we existed in the same time and places… it's a true wonder, and it always will be, that we could become what we are, even when the entire world was poised against us. But I… I would face hell itself for you, no matter how harrowing or painful it might be, because you're more than worth it. Because we're a team, the best of them, according to plenty of people, and I'm inclined to agree with them.

"So, whatever the future may hold for us… I can't wait to face it all beside you" she said, breathing deeply and laughing softly "Today I bind myself to you fully, the way your tribe does, through blood, through bliss and pain alike. And today, as well, I thank the universe that you were born, because even with all the stars that we saw in the sky last night, I know not one of them is as bright or full of light as you are. And this world would certainly be a lesser place without its brightest star, wouldn't it?"

"Brightest star? Come on…" Sokka laughed, shaking his head "Azula…"

"Yeah, that's just another of many things I've learned from you" Azula smirked "How to be so corny I drive you crazy. And you know what? I love it"

He laughed again and leaned in to kiss her, despite they weren't supposed to do that until the ceremony was over. She couldn't help but smile, responding weakly, her emotions doing away with her as they were. Sokka didn't pull away for a good long while, merely breaking their kiss to breathe and return to her lips again. Azula laughed eventually, her head dropping on his shoulder as he continued to cheek and temples almost frantically.

"I love you, Sokka" she whispered "Falling in love with you is definitely the best thing that's ever happened to me… and I'll always be grateful that you love me too"

"Azula…"

"And last, but definitely not least… happy birthday" Azula smiled, taking his face in her hand again to press one more kiss to his lips "For the umpteenth time, I suppose, but no less deserved for it"

Sokka chuckled, pulling her into his arms, their bound hands squeezed between their bodies. Azula breathed out, feeling light in his arms, her chest warm and fuzzy. She allowed herself to glance at their fire briefly, and she smiled upon finding her overflowing emotions had affected it: the flames had turned gold again, sparking unpredictably, glowing beautifully in the middle of the courtyard.

"Oh, crap, I… I don't know what to do now" Sokka sniffed, laughing softly in her ear "I know it's only fair because I went first the last time, but… I'll go first on our next wedding"

"I can live with that" Azula smiled "At least, I hope I can"

"Ah, alright, alright… I'll gather myself. I have to" Sokka said, swallowing hard as he pulled away from Azula, doing his best to calm down "You need to hear… you need to hear everything you mean to me, and I can't tell you if I'm all weepy, can I?"

"You could always try, but yeah, it's not advisable…" Azula laughed, smiling warmly. Sokka chuckled and shook his head.

"Okay, well… I guess I ought to begin by asking if you've guessed yet why this is what I wanted to do on my birthday" Sokka said. Azula shook her head.

"I kind of assumed it was a sudden whim" she smiled "An agreeable one, for sure, but…"

"People on their birthdays, traditionally, get to ask for whatever they want on that day, right? And you, of course, have insisted plenty that I should do whatever I want to do through this week because of that. Turns out that, as things stand, all I ever want is you, Azula. We already got married, yeah… but not quite like this, did we? Not quite with the two of us being ourselves, fully, speaking from the heart about everything we always need to keep a secret from everyone else. I wanted to do it freely this time, without worrying about holding back from saying anything incriminating, under fake names… because even if there's no Sage to sign a paper with us now, I feel closer to you this way, intimately bound together with you. There's no better gift I could have received today, I'm sure of that.

"So, well… you looked back on our shared history, further back, enough to remember what life was like before we met. If I do the same… I find that I was bitter, skeptical, unwilling to find any worth in a world where the Fire Nation had as good as won the war. I resented many people, but most of all, I resented myself for being powerless. For being too weak to change the world on my own. That hostage operation was an attempt to find some power and control, and it failed. For so long I thought maybe I really was that useless… maybe my life was really that inconsequential.

"And then you came back for me. Yeah, now I know what you saw in me… but I didn't see it in myself, not the way you did. When you said you wanted me to be the top gladiator of the League I thought you were insane, that it would be impossible… and now here we are, huh? Had anyone else told me I could come this far, I would have thought it ridiculous. But it was you who wanted me to do this. And the truth is, no one had ever thought I was capable of anything great until you did. No one had given me the chance to prove I could be more than just the simple man I've always said I am. No one had believed that I really could be more than that, either, not even me. Not at that point, anyhow.

"I was scared at first, truthfully. I thought… maybe eventually you'd see me for what I truly was, and you'd change your mind. It almost happened, too, when I messed things up between us over my damn stupidity. By the time you seemed to give up on me, though, I… I realized I didn't want you to. You were extraordinary, brilliant in just about every regard, so capable it was terrifying, and beautiful like no other woman this world has ever seen. Proving myself worthy of you… it's still an ongoing process, despite how much we've grown and learned since the early years of our partnership. I'll probably spend the rest of my life proving it, really… but if you ask me, that's the greatest way to spend it. I'll never receive a greater honor than the opportunity to live out all the days I have left with the single greatest human being I've ever met"

"Sokka, I'm not…" Azula said, smiling and shaking her head, but Sokka smiled proudly.

"Oh, you are, my love. You are" he assured her, stroking her cheek gently with his thumb "That night in Ember Island… it never even crossed my mind that you were fighting such battles within yourself. It never occurred to me… that you wouldn't be able to see just what a magnificent woman you are. You can go ahead and say now that you were no good back at the start, sure… but you've proven you're better than anyone else I know in all the years that followed. You're so resilient, so brave, willing to stand up and fight for what you believe in, even if it means defying the most powerful man in the world … and your heart is truly so much larger than my own, whether you believe it or not. I can safely say I've never known anyone who loves their nation as fiercely as you do, anyone who's so determined to be the leader they deserve. A leader who will guide them in the right direction, without a doubt… and I get to be the lucky bastard who'll support you in every step of the way while you do that. As much as I complain that the universe hates me, when it comes to you, it has been far too generous, wouldn't you say?

"You've inspired me, changed me, you've even helped me find a way to feel proud of the man I've become. If there's such a thing as a heart of gold, Azula, then yours is certainly it: I've always guessed that's why no other firebender could have unlocked the secret to gold fire. You love so intensely, so powerfully, that even your chi, your bending, can change through it… and I honestly had never heard of anything more beautiful than that. You work so hard for those you care about, always helping your friends when they need you, offering your support in every possible way… and you even help people who might be thankless, people who might never appreciate what you've done for them. People like… like my tribe. Like my family. But you've never been one to wait for the acclaim you absolutely deserve for helping out others… you don't do it just so they'll be in awe of you or anything…"

"No, I mostly do it because I know that's what you'd do, in my stead" Azula smiled. Sokka laughed and shook his head.

"I'm not so sure, myself" he grinned "Maybe that's how it started, I don't know… but by now it's second-nature for you. You can't help it, seems to me… you look after other people because you're just that good a leader already, no matter what you might think about how much you have left to learn.

"But when those you've aided thrive in the help you offer silently and subtly, you tend to slip away without letting them return the favor. Most times, they return the favors in pretty silly ways… like Zuko did, when he sponsored me, huh? Or even in ways that you think won't favor you at all, like when you sent Ty Lee to find Suki. Ultimately, though… you take such care of other people that you seldom take care of yourself. And that's just wrong, if you ask me…"

"Ah? Should I be more selfish, then?" Azula laughed "Here I thought you liked all this about me…"

"I love it, of course" Sokka smiled "You don't have to be more selfish, love. No… you don't have to, because I'm your partner. Because my duty isn't simply to fight for you, which I'll do every single time I have to, with every ounce of my strength… my duty to you has always been much greater than that, and I want it to be: I'll look after you forever, for each time you can't look after yourself. When the world demands too much from you, you'll find a safe harbor in me. When your heart is heavy with sorrows, I'll be right here to listen. Whenever you're sick, or indisposed, I'll sit by you, nursing you however I can until you're all good again. Whenever you're tired, I'll protect you as you rest, so no one may disturb your moments of peace. Everything you need, I'll be more than happy to provide it for you, no matter how hard it might be for me to do so, because damn, you're worth every single effort. And of course, if what you need is just something to laugh about, I'll make a fool of myself just for you… if what you need is a reason to smile, I'll do everything in my power to give you one, too. And if you just want a friend to stand beside you, you'll always find one in me, for sure.

"Because truly… that's what our partnership was meant to become all along. We're two people who had wandered through life on their own… until we realized we could wander together instead. And somehow, the landscape before us became so much more beautiful just because we could share it with each other. Because we didn't have to be alone anymore.

"I have no doubts that I belong with you, Azula. If I ever thought the purpose of my life was to become some great hero, some legendary warrior… it was all nonsense. All the dreams of a silly kid who couldn't know better: this marriage between us is my true purpose. Being sworn to you until eternity… that's far more glorious than any battles, than any legends, than any acclaim I might get. I could never find a finer partner, a greater woman to fall in love with, because there simply isn't one. There's no one like you, and there never will be. Does this mean I'm an overachiever who's shooting way above his station? Well, I guess I am, but it's hardly my fault…"

"It's not?" Azula laughed softly, though tears were blinking in her eyes again by now.

"Definitely not" Sokka smiled warmly "If I'd never known you, my life would have been empty, unfulfilled, with so much of my potential gone to waste… but I'm as far from that as can be, all because you believed in me. And then, on top of that, you fell in love with me… and I've never felt more alive than I do because of that. A man like me… I would've fallen for you no matter what, I would've never stood a chance! But that you'd feel the same way… that someone like me could ever bring someone like you to say the beautiful things you said earlier is nothing short of a miracle. No one else could love me the way you do, and I wouldn't want them to anyways… because I only want you.

"I honestly can't say I know what the future will bring… but I do know that I will always belong to you, and to no one but you. My heart is yours, every bit as much as yours is mine, from what you said… and I'll be so proud to share the rest of my life with you, to walk beside you at every moment… or swim, or fly, anything's good as long as it's me and you. I've found my place in the world, a place I'd been looking for, desperately, fearing I'd never find it. But it's right here, holding your hand and staring into your beautiful eyes as I swear I'll be yours for eternity.

"I want to grow old with you, to marry you a thousand times if I can get away with it, to hold you close every night and chase away your nightmares by making your best dreams come true. I've woken up beside you all these days, and as I watch you sleep I can't help but think it's you I want to share every moment of the rest of my life with. I will never be able to thank you enough for all the incredible, shiny things you've brought to my life, but hey… I'll try to do it anyways, to spend my whole life thanking you if I can. Sound good?"

"Sounds wonderful" said Azula, nodding eagerly as tears trickled down her cheeks. Sokka smiled warmly, tears gleaming in his eyes too.

"You're a blessing, Azula, one I still have trouble believing was bestowed upon me. You've risked so much for us, and I sure hope I never give you any cause to regret it… because I know I'll never regret us. I mean, sure, there's some things in the past I wish I could take back, but the relationship we've nurtured, worked on, devoted ourselves to for all these years is only growing stronger still. And as far as I'm concerned, that's all it will ever do. You and I… we are as everlasting as the stars we saw last night. The bond between us… it can't be broken. The love we share is true, like none I ever thought I'd know… and I'll always be so glad that I got to experience it with you. You're… you're the love of my life, always were, even when I was too stupid to see it: it's true that I didn't love you all along, fool that I was… but today I swear, once again, that my love for you will outlast the end of times"

Azula's grip on his hands tightened, tears rolling freely down her cheeks. She had known how he felt, she had understood it all along… but every time Sokka gazed at her with his intense blue eyes and spoke with that candid honesty, her heart burned and raced like it was the first time he had uttered the words. Unconditional, devoted love had only been a vague, impossible idea, something as ambiguous and elusive as old legends and myths might be… until she had found it with him.

Her heart was blazing brightly, every bit as much as the wild gold fire beside them, and it only burned more powerfully when Azula leaned closer to Sokka, claiming his lips once more. Everything had started with an impulsive kiss, so long ago… today they sealed their love with a new one, a heartfelt exchange in which they felt strong and weak at the same time, their emotions wild and unchecked. Sokka held Azula close, cupping her cheek with his available hand while she raised hers to his nape, ensuring he'd stay right there with her, that he would offer her all his overwhelming feelings, in the most intimate kiss of all. It felt as though their souls were blending together, their energies flowing into each other, even more attuned than they had been when she had bent through his arm…

Something was changing inside them, something beautiful that they could barely understand. But if they kissed for longer, if they held each other closely, there was a chance they might just grasp what it was. There was a chance that the new heights their love had reached, the unparalleled joy of belonging together in every possible level, would rush through them unbridled from this day onwards…

They only separated when Xin Long began growling, though for once it wasn't to complain about their displays of affection, but instead in a happy congratulatory cheer as their newest wedding rite was finished. Sokka's lips grazed Azula's again as she laughed, and she spared a glance at Xin Long just in time to witness as he sat up to spit a small burst of blue fire into the gold that raged in their bonfire: the colorful burst didn't last long, but it was fulfilling just the same. Azula's laughter accompanied her tears as she pressed against Sokka, his arm wrapped tightly around her as they both watched the spectacle of colorful fire that Xin Long continued to provide for them, offering more blue sparks to the purest gold flames any of them had witnessed.

Huddled together as they were, they nearly forgot their hands were still bound. Azula smiled and nuzzled Sokka's neck, squeezing his left hand gently one more time before he undid the bandages: the bloody spectacle that followed shouldn't have made anyone laugh, but neither of them could hold back from doing just that as they separated their hands.

"Okay, I'm pretty sure we're sharing blood literally now" Sokka laughed, kissing the side of her head "But we have to clean up anyhow"

"Yeah, this will only get messier otherwise" Azula agreed, following him up to his feet and to the nearest water pump, one that stood at the edge of the courtyard.

They washed together: Sokka's cut had been deeper than Azula's, so his blood flowed more heavily than it should have. Azula offered him a reproachful glare, shaking her head in playful reprieve as he grinned apologetically.

"I guess I was too eager" he chuckled, as Azula picked up fresh bandages and wrapped his palm in them as best as she could.

"You're a masochist even when you're getting married" she kissed his cheek once she was finished. He picked up another set of bandages for her, washing her hand one more time before binding her palm "Now I see why you need that feast, otherwise you'll pass out in bed out of blood loss later…"

"Ah, funny, I'd never realized that's what the feast was for" Sokka laughed, pressing his forehead to hers. Azula smiled warmly, cupping his face between both hands to kiss him again.

"I love you" she sighed, pressing yet another kiss to his lips, and another again, impulsively and lovingly all the same "More and more every second that goes by"

"Good to know it's not just me who feels like that" Sokka grinned, his arms around her waist "Thank you for everything, Azula… this really has been the best week of my life, no contest"

"And mine" Azula smiled, closing her eyes before reaching up for another kiss "We're going to celebrate all your birthdays, from now on. You have no say upon the matter anymore"

"Are we getting married every time, too?" Sokka smiled warmly. Azula shrugged.

"I take no issue with that" she admitted "Maybe we can look back on everything that happened each year, huh? And then renew our commitment for yet another one…"

"Goodness, that sounds perfect" Sokka sighed, stealing more kisses from her lips, enthusiasm surging in his chest at the idea "So perfect…"

Azula couldn't remember having smiled as often as she had this week, not even when she'd already been with Sokka for years. She wasn't sure how to stop doing it, not anymore, not while he held her… and truthfully, she was starting to suspect that fulfilling joy would continue to pour out of her even when they went home, betraying her vacation time had amounted to something much bigger than anything Ozai had originally intended.

The delighted pair returned to Xin Long, who was grinning happily too and encouraging them to start the meal already. His eagerness was perplexing for Azula at first, but she smiled upon realizing he meant to share their food with them. Generally, Xin Long preferred to eat whatever he'd hunted, but as he was their sole guest today, it was only right for him to be part of their celebratory feast.

"Okay, okay, you can eat with us but make sure you don't eat everything" Sokka pouted, as he began opening the crates they'd brought with them "Don't think I haven't seen how crazily you gobble down raw meat…"

Xin Long complained through a string of groans, and Azula laughed and patted his scales with her bandaged hands, reassuring him by her gesture.

"No, no, he won't be stingy. And yes, he eats about the same amounts as you despite being so much smaller, but there's more than enough food there for all three of us" Azula said, and Xin Long returned to smiling happily by then.

Sokka grinned at Azula, setting aside the crate's lid as he lost himself contemplating her. She had looked beautiful all along, but she was glowing now, in a unique way, unlike anyone he'd ever laid eyes upon before. His chest ached with affection at the sight, as he longed to hold her and kiss her anew, endlessly, thrilled to be the man she had wanted to join with in a wedding ceremony…

The three of them took their seats by the fire once the crates were open, eating as they watched the fire's changing colors: Azula would manipulate it deliberately by now whenever it faded back to orange, turning it gold immediately, and Xin Long would spit into the flames to bring about multi-colored fire whenever he could. Sokka grinned brightly, hugging Azula from behind while they watched the tall flames again, as she sat between his open legs. Everything in their world was peaceful now, overflowed with beauty and joy: even the bites of food they took were heavenly, further fueling the happiness that rushed through their veins feverishly.

They enjoyed their feast while basking in the spectacle of flames before them, but before long their pleasant evening grew humorous when Xin Long, eating cooked food for the first time, began reacting in differing wild ways to each dish he tried. Azula laughed at the sight of her dragon gobbling down the smoked sea-slugs that Sokka had insisted they bought for today: to his horror, Xin Long had devoured them all without leaving a single one for him.

"Y-you know, just because you've been very nice with us on this trip I'll let you get away with that. Slug thief" Sokka pouted, though he couldn't contain a smile of his own as Xin Long, wide eyed and grinning eagerly, looked for a new dish to dig into.

"He's fascinated by… well, I suppose you can guess by what" Azula smirked.

"The spices, I'm sure" Sokka snickered "Like rider, like dragon"

"We'll get you up to snuff, don't worry" Azula smiled, patting his thigh "The next time we visit Firelight we'll ace the ramen challenge, both of us"

"I like the sound of that" Sokka grinned, pressing another soft kiss to the top of Azula's head.

Spicy foods appealed to Xin Long, but so did sweet ones: before long, it was Azula who argued with the dragon, struggling to salvage a few mochi at the very least before the wild dragon devoured them all: his cheeks were full of food by now, puffed up in such a ridiculous way both Azula and Sokka couldn't hold back another burst of laughter at the sight. The dragon seemed to be quite satisfied by making them laugh, though, and he merely grinned happily until he was sated, after eating at the very least half their food himself.

"Now we'll have to feed him fully cooked meals from the kitchens when we go home" Azula sighed, shaking her head, still quite amused "He spent so long eating raw meat it never occurred to him human food could be fun too"

"Well, we still have some leftovers for tomorrow" Sokka checked, after having looked through the remaining crates "We'll be needing it for… well, for our trip back. Come to think of it… how will we do that, exactly?"

Azula bit her lip, glancing back at Sokka uneasily as he crouched by the last crates. Somehow she felt less reluctant to return now, her entire being radiating such happiness that even being away from Sokka, for however long it might be, wouldn't likely dampen her mood altogether. The memory of everything they'd done on this trip would be more than enough to raise her spirits, and the knowledge of how deep their love went, of how much they meant for each other, would certainly help her overcome the frequent distance they had to put between them for appearances' sake.

Nevertheless, she didn't want to think about all that just yet. Their wedding ceremony wasn't over, after all, it wouldn't be until the shawls came off… and from what Sokka had said, there was one more thing left to be done before that moment, at the very least.

"What do you say if we worry about that tomorrow…?" she asked, pushing herself up to her feet with difficulty: a rush of pain arose in her left hand when she touched the ground with it, but she endeavored to ignore it "And focus on the next step of our ceremony now?"

"Oh?" Sokka smiled, standing upright again, his eyebrows raised in appreciation "This trip definitely was good for you. Look at that, you're refusing to plan ahead altogether…"

"I certainly seem to have overcome my bad case of overplanning, yes" Azula smiled, offering him her bandaged hand "But putting that aside, I'm under the impression you promised me a dance… didn't you?"

Sokka's amusement only increased, though so did his genuine bliss. He snorted before reaching for her hand and grinning warmly at her, pulling her closer to the ongoing fire, glowing gold brightly once again, the clearest reflection of Azula's eyes, of her very soul…

"Alright. Time to dance" Sokka said, but instead of his usual wild, playful reckless behavior, he held Azula in a gentle, intimate embrace.

He began swaying in place rhythmically, his slow dance delightful for his wife. Azula shifted from foot to foot as he did, allowing Sokka to sway with her as he pleased, her eyes never leaving his. She would always feel it was ridiculous to dance when there was no music… but she loved being enraptured by Sokka whenever they did it. The gentle, tender way he was moving with her now was new, though, something she hadn't experienced before. She was tempted to ask what kind of dance this was, but why bother asking questions at all when Sokka was leaning in to kiss her…?

They didn't stop their tender dance even then, but the kiss grew more intense, fueling the flames beside them and within them. Again Azula's eyes were tearful, and holding back the urge to cry seemed impossible again: tears were, after all, the means through which the most intense emotions were released. And right now, in his arms, their feet moving together in a sweet, delicate dance, the love she felt for the man she had called her husband for this week was overflowing her, rushing through her body like a breaking dam…

The magical moment was broken when they heard reptilian groans beside them. Azula pulled away with an awkward smile, and Sokka chuckled before they turned their gazes on Xin Long: the dragon was singing, or at least, doing what amounted to singing according to him. That alone brought back Sokka's usual wild spirit and he tugged at Azula's hands playfully, prompting her to join him in with a much more agitated dance.

This time he seemed to have a clearer idea of how he wanted them to dance, rather than just making fun of the Fire Nation traditional dances: his feet shifted quickly, with a purpose Azula tried to match with her own as they paraded around the fire. As much as Xin Long was no use with melody, he offered them a rather interesting beat before long, allowing them to move to his rhythm in a way that Sokka found uncannily reminiscent of the Water Tribe dancing he'd witnessed long ago.

Azula followed his pace as best as she could, still laughing as she ever did when they danced together, but no longer with the same embarrassment she usually displayed. That she would enjoy it so carelessly brought an earnest grin to Sokka's face, enthralled by the wonderment Azula could produce in him. She had opened herself to change, to unwinding with him, to forsaking all resistance so she could welcome him fully. And with every genuine smile he saw on her face, he knew he had to be doing something, or many things, right. He would never regret reaching such heights with her, for she was happy, genuinely happy… and no one deserved pure, true happiness more than his wife did.

Xin Long's song seemed never-ending: he was so enthusiastic about singing it that they were jumping together for long enough that the skies had darkened by the time they were breathless, laughing against each other as the dragon carried on with his rhythmic singing, betraying no sign of exhaustion. Azula clung at Sokka, hugging him closely in her laughter: his arms were firm around her waist as he kissed the top of her head repeatedly, his chest tight with affection only meant for her.

"I… I love you" she gasped, her cheeks flushed as she spoke. They hadn't had anything to drink, and yet she felt bolder than she would if she'd drained ten bottles of lychee wine "I love dancing with you. I… I can barely take it, Sokka, I…"

"I feel that way too" Sokka grinned, squeezing her tightly "Nothing in the whole world can ever compare to this feeling, Azula. Holding you like this, knowing we'll belong to each other forever…"

He only pulled away to gaze at her, finding tears glinting in her eyes again. Despite he had been holding back from crying ever since they had finished their vows, that sight only triggered tears in his own.

"You've really outdone yourself, and everyone else who ever tried to celebrate my birthday" Sokka chuckled, caressing her cheek gently "I don't want this day, this moment, to end, ever"

"It doesn't have to" Azula smiled "Not yet, anyhow"

He nodded in agreement: dusk was settling in, and there were still at least six or seven hours left of his birthday… and he knew exactly how they'd spend them, now that even Xin Long had finally taken a break from the singing, bouncing away to the mansion's pond to drink some refreshing water.

"We have one more part of the ceremony left" Sokka smiled, pressing his brow to hers "Are you ready for it yet?"

"I'm always ready to be yours" Azula grinned, kissing him softly. He chuckled and hugged her again.

"And I yours, forever and after" he whispered: she took in his scent as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her lips pressing more kisses to his warm skin.

They didn't take off right away, choosing to thank Xin Long one more time before retiring to their room. The dragon was most proud of his singing, asking Azula if she had enjoyed it: she answered by wrapping her arms around him as well, burying her face in his mane. The joy she felt was infectious enough, pouring into Xin Long through their shared bond, and he laughed as he accepted his rider's affections gladly.

"Thank you, buddy" Sokka smiled, patting one of the dragon's horns. Xin Long glanced at him now, grinning happily "For this whole trip, and for bearing with us all along"

Xin Long chuckled and now shifted his head so he could poke Sokka with his snout. Sokka grinned and patted his scales.

"Yeah, we love you too" he smiled, and Xin Long nodded promptly before Azula pressed a kiss to his scaly brow.

"We'll see you tomorrow, then" she whispered. The dragon's happy grin encouraged her to fulfill the last element of their rite: he suspected she was quite eager to do so.

Azula smiled and glanced at Sokka, who offered her his hand once more, as he had through the whole trip. Her chest was swelling with delight, and the enthralling feeling only grew stronger once her fingers reached into Sokka's hand, trailing over his palm delicately until she had intertwined them with his own.

They walked side by side, unusually quiet in the gentle intimacy that had settled between them after their ceremony had been finished. His bandaged hand held her unhurt one, but if the pain had bothered either of them before, by now they had as good as forgotten about it. The overwhelming happiness seemed to have seeped all the way into their nerves, overriding any other sensation but pure, rampant joy once they reached the room they'd shared over the past few days.

"It's not much of an igloo, I suppose…" Azula smiled, once they were inside the dark bedroom. Sokka smiled, stroking her hair with his free hand "But it'll have to do"

"One day it'll be an igloo" he said, softly "One day… we'll have everything we ever dreamt about, Azula. All the crazy things we never thought we could have…"

"Well… I don't know about the igloo, but that day certainly arrived already" Azula said, stepping closer to him and cupping his face "You're already everything I dreamt about, Sokka. Everything else isn't that important"

He chuckled, gazing at her with the most adoring eyes anyone had ever turned on her. She smiled at the sight, despite wishing to see him better than she could so far. Darkness was rather comforting at times, preferable even, but right now…

"Wait…" she whispered, just as Sokka leaned in to press his lips to hers.

He eyed her playfully, asking wordlessly what was the problem, and she only smiled as a response before making her way to light the lanterns and candles within the room. She hadn't even tried to make the fire gold, not intentionally anyways, but it seemed she couldn't help it anymore. The golden glow spread through the room, gently, playing with the shadows in an elegant contrast that only furthered the handsomeness in Sokka's features. Azula grinned as she turned again to gaze at him: now she could see him better, and her enthusiasm and fulfillment only surged under the most tender eyes she had ever been gazed at with.

"You're the most beautiful woman in the history of this world" Sokka smiled, stepping towards her "I've said it before, I'll say it again…"

"And you the most beautiful man, too" Azula grinned "Yet another reason why we belong together"

He chuckled, and when he pulled her in for a kiss, she threw herself into it fully, her arms locking around his neck. His lips were ever soft and strong, but tonight they seemed to convey a different kind of desperation than they usually did: the rushing love that coursed inside them both was begging to be released, and they both welcomed the other's kiss eagerly, tongues trailing each other, breaths mingling together as their souls already had…

The cape-shawls were the first clothing item to go, as they unfastened the other's quickly before dropping on the mattress. The gentle, cushioned bed was perfectly comfortable, soft as each of their exchanges were. Sokka's hands trailed over Azula's body, with the same care they had when she had made him study it the day before, though no longer with that intellectual intent. He wanted to treasure every detail of her body, every inch of her smooth skin, and Azula laid back, breathless already as he undid the bindings of her tunic and casted it aside quickly. His lips kissed over her neck, her collarbone and shoulders, gliding down to her breasts once he had undone the bindings she ever kept over them. All the while, Azula had worked to undo his changshan as well, pushing it off his shoulders to reveal his full, muscular body, the body which she had ever longed for and desired, in every sense she had ever wanted something.

Rolling over the bed, they allowed each other the chance to continue stripping the other naked, to stroke their bodies carefully, cherishing each caress even more than they ever did. Their lips met again and again, sometimes with chaste and soft kisses, other times with deep ones that stoked the thrill that already coursed through their veins. Little by little they uncovered each other, just as they had through their journey together. They took each step at a matching pace, never leaving the other behind, joined by an unbreakable bond that they had nurtured as best as they could, for as long as they had been partners…

The room continued to glow in golden colors as their hands and lips traveled over their bodies. The excitement increased, as it ever did, but they didn't allow it to rule over them this time. This wasn't about finding a release, about rushing to a finish line they were desperate to reach: this time they meant to take their time thoroughly, to make love in the purest intimacy that two people could experience. Even when their fingers trailed the most intimate places it would not be done in a frenzy, but in the blissful awareness that they were together, that nothing in the world was quite as real as the love they shared, that burned as brightly deep inside them as every lantern and candle in the room did.

They couldn't help but smile at each other through it all, basking in the intensity of this moment. More and more they rolled over the sheets, their meeting eyes gleaming with illusion. No kisses had ever been as sweet and warm, and every doubt they'd ever had was absent now, chased away by the caresses they continued to offer each other, their bodies nearly swaying in bed as they melded together…

By the time Sokka finally filled Azula, they were no longer lying across the bed: they were sitting instead, with her thighs straddling his hips. She had wanted to embrace him tightly, as she had when she had found him, broken and lost, in the Northern Air Temple. Today she did it without fearing he would ever break or lose himself as he had that day: the magnificent, tender smile on his face was miles away from what he'd been like that night. Knowing she had helped chase away his darkest fears had always relieved Azula, but today, gazing into those blue eyes that seemed to adore her so deeply, she allowed herself to imagine those fears were gone for good. And just as his own, hers seemed to have faded away, too. For one night, for one week, they'd had nothing to be afraid of: they'd been free, and in that freedom they had found a brand of happiness like nothing they had known before: had anyone, truly? Had anyone loved someone else to this extent, feeling rushing desperation and fulfillment infusing their bodies on equal measure? Had anyone else experienced an overwhelming love that weakened and strengthened them at once? Had someone's soul ever matched another person's in the same perfect harmony as theirs did?

The same thoughts coursed through their minds as they kissed, basking in their deep and slow thrusting, both determined to extend this night for as long as they could. Their bodies trembled at times, and they laughed together each time it happened: how could one night, just one, mean so much when their relationship had been deeply intimate for years now? Yet the magnitude of what they'd done today had been transforming, enlightening: they were pleasantly lost in each other's embrace, the miracle of their love reaching new heights with every kiss they traded.

Her fingers moved through his hair, as good as massaging his scalp while letting those soft tresses slide over her skin with the softness of silk. His own hands took her in as well, trailing each curve of her body as she joined it with his, and his fingertips danced over her hips and thighs, her flanks and chest, her back and rear, offering a near dizzying sensation of being wanted fully, as though he couldn't take in all of her at once, but he was trying to do so regardless. They swayed together in bed, the familiar excitement rising to accompany their surging love, all of it blended together into such a blur of sensations it was impossible to distinguish any one emotion, any one particular feeling, from the myriad of others that filled their senses.

No tryst they had experienced before had been so delicate, yet so passionate in its rushing emotions. It all came to a head, their hearts racing, soft whimpers and moans pouring from each other until they couldn't quite hold back anymore. The vulnerability they displayed, the readiness to offer everything they had, overcame every final frontier, every limit they had known. Azula leaned close to take one more kiss from Sokka's lips, and he returned her affections enthusiastically, his hips thrusting into her as she took him in, deeply: her body might be nearing its limit, but her heart certainly wasn't.

She cried out when the excitement overtook her, and she was panting, gasping against him, their brows pressed together. She only regained her breath briefly before he kissed her deeply again, and she shivered pleasantly against him, letting him envelop all her senses completely.

He grew short of breath as well before long, and Azula took that as her cue to kiss his face all over, to caress his body as eagerly as he'd touched hers, helping him find the same blissful sensation she had been lost in moments ago. He gasped and groaned, thrusting further until he yelped, his control over his own body waning as he unleashed himself inside her, panting heavily as she continued to kiss his cheeks and jaw, only returning to his lips when his hand slipped up to her hair and brought her there, with him.

They were still kissing when they dropped across the bed, their arousal briefly sated, but their love nowhere near unquenched. On and on they continued to show each other the depth of their feelings through the night, scarcely stopping, seldom slowing, each coupling of their bodies passionate and deep, enthusiastic and everlasting. When one would falter, the other would pick up the pace and inspire them to keep going. Where one might feel weak, the other lent them their strength. All the while their faces bore those blissful smiles, brightness gleaming in eyes that reflected the gold fire in the room, the joy of a love truly fulfilled shining through each of their actions, through every traded caress and kiss, every shared grin and encounter of their gazes.

Hours after they first entered the room, they lay together, side by side, drowsy yet not ready to let go of the most wonderful day of their lives yet. Sokka's hand played with Azula's own, caressing her over the bandages that covered it. He lay behind her now, and the Princess merely smiled at the sight of their bandaged palms and intertwined fingers.

"I've never been so happy about getting a new scar" Sokka whispered in her ear, and Azula laughed softly.

"Nor have I" she admitted, bringing their hands close so she could kiss Sokka's fingers gently "Granted, I don't have as many as you do, but… this one's different"

"Yeah" Sokka smiled, kissing her cheek "They are different. We wanted them… and I think we'll always take pride in them, huh?"

"As we take pride in us" Azula smiled, closing her eyes "I guess you enjoyed your birthday, then…?"

"Do you seriously need to ask, wife of mine?" Sokka chuckled, prodding her cheekbone with his nose. She laughed softly.

"I'd do best to… have to make sure my wonderful husband is as happy as can be" she said, kissing his fingers again "No one deserves as much happiness as you do"

"You deserve more of it than I ever could" Sokka taunted her, and Azula snorted before shaking her head.

"Nonsense" she whispered, pressing her body tighter to his. Sokka smiled and leaned in, kissing the corner of her mouth.

"Thank you, Azula" he whispered "For this trip, for this birthday… you can barely imagine just how happy you've made me over this week, my love"

"I think I can make an educated enough guess… more or less just as happy as you've made me, I'll assume" she smiled "I don't know… maybe I'm just being ridiculous, too intoxicated by love to really make sense… but it feels like this is really what our destiny should be. To just… grow old together, just like this, always so full of love for each other we can barely stand it…"

"Yeah…" said Sokka, smiling gently, kissing her cheek again "Sounds about right to me"

Azula turned her face, opening her drowsy eyes only to steal one more glance at her lover. Sokka smiled before she leaned in to kiss him: his eager response nearly brought her back to being fully awake, but she laughed before long and turned in his arms, separating their hands so she could cuddle fully against him.

They didn't know for how long they had lain in bed, how many hours they had spent locked in the room together, but the candles had nearly run out by then, and Sokka only shifted away from Azula to put them out completely. By the time he returned to the mattress she clung to him in such a way he knew she had no intentions of letting him go until morning: he wouldn't have had it any other way, himself.

"Good night, Azula" he whispered "Thank you for… for the best day of my life"

"We'll top it one day…" Azula smiled "We always do"

"Yeah" Sokka agreed, nodding and kissing her forehead "I'm sure you're right"

"Happy birthday, Sokka…" she said, arms and legs tight around Sokka's body "I love you so damn much…"

"And I love you" he answered again, smiling at the realization that she couldn't seem to stop saying the words to him. It took a lot of control from him not to constantly speak them aloud too, when they were all he could think about upon laying eyes on the woman in his arms.

"Good night, Sokka…" she said, her voice fading now, and he kissed her forehead one more time before she seemed to drift into sleep.

How he wished he could have stopped time on the most perfect night of his life. If only he could have been a timebender… Sokka chuckled at the notion as he slid into a comfortable position, with Azula still wrapped around him neatly. If only he could have made sure tonight would last forever, he would have done it…

But couldn't he? As far as he could tell, even if the future held uncertain things, he could spend every waking day offering Azula as much happiness as they had found today. He didn't need anything in return… all he needed was to provide her with every reason to smile while he stood by her side faithfully. Seeing as they were married after this week, he meant to be beside her for quite a long time indeed…

The thought brought a blissful smile to his face, as he realized the intense, overpowering feelings that he hardly knew how to convey would accompany him for the rest of his life. If he were ever asked to define love somehow, to describe it in a single form, he would describe it with hers. If such a powerful sensation would have another name, it should be hers. He had seldom believed in anything before he had started to believe in Azula as well as the bond they shared, and tonight he had grown to believe in them even more than he ever had before.

Feeling as though they were one, in every sense that mattered, Sokka closed his eyes and joined her in her rest, confident that they would wake up happily in each other's arms on the next day… and that, until that moment arrived, they would seek each other out in dreams too, their souls, their very essences, intertwined as intimately as their bodies were.

With such blissful thoughts as he allowed sleep to claim him, the first birthday Sokka had celebrated to satisfaction in five years reached a peaceful, satisfactory conclusion.