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...

318. Chapter 318: The letters 3

The letters

3

He hadn't intended to run late today. His feet carried him quickly across the Palace's halls, nervously rushing to the corridor that ended in that crimson and gold door… to find Song was smiling kindly at a kitchen servant, at the room's threshold: Renkai's heart fell as he slowed down, a foreboding, sinking guilt taking hold of him momentarily. He gritted his teeth but marched forward regardless: Song held a casual conversation with the kitchen servant, perhaps hoping to show the young woman that there was no need to fear this room, and its occupants, in the slightest…

"… Let me know if you need anything else, Lady Wen," the servant said: she was smiling as she bowed to Song, and the healer grinned right back.

"Of course. Thanks for bringing our meals and… ah, there he is!" Song grinned, waving at Renkai. "I figured you'd be back soon, but Fuyu here feared otherwise…"

"Do pardon my absence," Renkai said, bowing his head heavily. Fuyu blushed over the gesture whereas Song didn't react to it at all, well used to Renkai's formality by now. "I will carry the trays back myself after the meal is finished, as ever. Thank you for bringing them inside this time…"

"I-it's no trouble," Fuyu said, smiling awkwardly and bowing her head in Renkai's direction. "Have a good afternoon."

"See you," Song grinned, waving as the young woman took off in a hurry: for a moment, Renkai wondered if the actual terrifying factor that convinced countless people to avoid this room wasn't the Princess, but Renkai himself…

Song patted his arm gently, and Renkai grimaced under his helmet before bowing his head in her direction next.

"No need to be so down on yourself for being late one day," Song said, reassuringly. "It's not a big deal, is it? Fuyu was a little nervous, sure, but nothing bad happened. The meal's as good as ever, Azula and Rei are already eating…"

"And you… should join them, too," Renkai said, firmly. "Thank you for handling this in my stead."

"Well, it was no trouble… but are you alright, Renkai?" Song asked, raising an eyebrow. He gritted his teeth.

"Yes. Enjoy your meal, Lady Wen," he said, his melodious voice shifting to a kinder tone now.

Song grimaced, and Renkai suspected right away that he was in trouble. Yes, the healer did as she was told, and she made her way inside to enjoy her meal…

But about half an hour later, the door swung open once more and not so Renkai could come to retrieve the tray once more.

"Princess?" Renkai tensed up: he should be used to the sight of his very pregnant charge, but truthfully, it still took him by surprise often.

Her belly seemed quite large for a seven-month pregnancy, even if Song kept reassuring everyone that it was the right size for it… Renkai had no true understanding of the matter, so he believed anything Song might claim, questioning nothing, for he had no idea what was there for him to question in the first place. If the Princess bore twin children, though… would that be a good thing? Would she be able to keep up with two kids? Or was Renkai making too much of nothing by pondering something he genuinely knew nothing about…?

"A very chatty bird-midwife said you sounded quite troubled because you didn't bring the trays inside the room on the clock?" Azula said, raising her eyebrows. Renkai blushed under his helmet: hearing her put it that way made his insecurities sound even more foolish than he already knew they were. "Are you, by any chance, worried about my reputation of being merciless with anyone who's not punctual?"

"I… well, that didn't reassure me," Renkai admitted. Azula even seemed amused to hear those words. "But, uh, no. I simply… I'm simply sorry I couldn't fulfill my duty. That is all."

"Well… you're forgiven," Azula said, simply. Renkai blinked blankly. "I'm not mad about it, neither is anyone else… so you don't have to worry about it anymore."

"Then… I thank you for your generosity," Renkai said, almost shyly. Azula, however, eyed him sharply once more. "W-what is it?"

"Funny. That's all, you say… but I've said I forgive you, and you still look every bit as tense as you did when I opened the door," Azula pointed out. Renkai grimaced again. "Why were you tardy, in the first place?"

"That's… I'm afraid I shouldn't, well…"

"Well, you can tell me about it while we wait for Wen and Rei to finish with their meals. Come in," Azula said, immediately guessing Renkai's conversation topic wouldn't be one to discuss out in the open. The guard gritted his teeth but nodded, following her inside the room without further ado.

The door closed, and Azula shot a glance towards it all the same: Renkai raised an eyebrow as he waited for her to speak her thoughts.

"He was lurking today. He's been lurking more often than ever, as of late," Azula said. Song, by the dining table, grimaced and glanced in her direction.

"Is he gone yet?" she asked. Azula nodded.

"I can only hope he's not going to report that I'm corrupting Renkai or anything of the sort," she said, with a sigh. "But anyway… what's going on? What were you up to this morning, Renkai?"

"I…" Renkai started, but he shook his head before removing his helmet: his tension and stress seemed more apparent yet once his face was plain in sight. "You told me to carry on investigating on my own. I've attempted to, but… I'm hitting too many dead-ends lately. I don't dare pursue any leads that would bring me too close to the General, but apparently his associate, Koshing, is as secretive as him. While I know I might be able to find some link between him and slave trade, somehow, there's a chance that he has the slave trading fleet registered under someone else's name or so, and I can't find any connections to him. So… I'm at a loss. I'm starting to wonder if our suspicions are off-base, or…"

"They likely aren't," Azula said, pulling out her desk's chair while Renkai spoke so she could sit down: Rei, newly finished with her meal, brought a chair for the guard too, and he rushed to take it from her immediately. She offered him a friendly smile before joining them too. "Shaofeng and Koshing have been associates for who knows how long… which means they probably have developed countless ways to cover their tracks and hide whatever they're up to from any prying eyes."

"Then how can I ever break through their defenses?" Renkai asked, frowning. "I've… I've asked the Head Sage for assistance. He said one of his associates would begin investigating them, but it doesn't seem it has paid off, no matter what resources they have at their disposal."

"If that associate happens to be Mei Xun…" Azula said, frowning. "I'm afraid that's not bound to work, and it's even safer for her if it doesn't. Shaofeng is in control of the Enforcers right now and I'm sure he'll be looking for just about any excuse to get rid of them as soon as possible. Finding solid evidence that their leader was conspiring against him would be a dream come true for that piece of shit, so…"

"So… I should withdraw that request?" Renkai said, grimacing. "The Head Sage says they've tried for a few weeks, but they haven't come up with anything…"

"You should withdraw it… and probably reorient it to something more effective," Azula said, raising her eyebrows. "You're looking into Koshing right now, then? Him, specifically?"

"I mistakenly assumed it would be easier than looking into Shaofeng's secrets," Renkai said. "But as you say… that man is bound to have learned how to conceal all loose ends just as Shaofeng did."

"Who is… Koshing?" Rei asked, glancing at Azula with curiosity.

"A very unpleasant man," Azula answered, with a sigh. "He's the head of a noble family that has controlled the largest trading fleet in the Fire Nation for a long time… and while we can't presume to know where his connection with Shaofeng came from, we've grown to suspect that the General of the Guards' secretive, treacherous business has been carried out with Koshing as his main source of aid. Everything points to Koshing being the responsible party for providing the vessels that smuggled slaves from the Earth Kingdom back when slavery began… and everything also points to Shaofeng as the man who had true control over slavery and everything related to it before I stepped in."

"That's… that's unsettling," Rei said, grimacing. "You wish to stop him? Can you?"

"Not as I am, I can't," Azula admitted, frowning. "But I think I have an idea for what line of investigation might yield some results, Renkai."

"You do?" Renkai's disheartened expression shifted into hope quickly. Azula nodded slowly, her hands resting upon her bump.

"I wasn't even acquainted with Koshing until a fairly long time after I joined the Gladiator League," she explained. "He's a conceited bastard, and while his gladiators weren't slaves, he certainly treated them as such… certainly much more poorly than some sponsors treated their slave gladiators. The Light Bearer and the Dark Rook bore him no true loyalty, they were as good as stuck with Koshing… but now that the League is gone, I can't imagine Koshing would have kept them around for long."

"Do you think he tossed them away?" Song asked: she had just finished her own meal and risen to her feet, standing next to Rei with her arms crossed. "Do we know what's happened with most gladiators, frankly?"

"I don't," Azula admitted, with no shortage of shame. "Even those who weren't slaves are probably struggling to get by without the League, as they'd have to seek other business ventures to get by… but slaves would have either been protected by their sponsors or outright discarded as useless. Who knows, some could have been forced to do other kinds of work, but… it's not very likely, I fear. It certainly isn't likely in the case of Sei and Kei, Koshing isn't a sentimental man, only an egotistical, power-hungry one. If he has no more use for them, he'd likely outright kill their father and toss them to the streets…"

"Their… father?" asked Rei.

"He was supposed to be providing their sick father with medical support, but he was doing it in exchange for having those two fighting in the Arena for him," Azula said. "At least, that's the story Zhao told me forever ago. Not exactly a dignified tale, and yet Koshing treated it as something to be utterly proud of. Either way… his dismissiveness of his gladiators can come in handy for your purposes, Renkai."

"Do you believe they might know something?" Renkai asked, puzzled. "And that Koshing would let them go, if they did?"

"You're a guard, Renkai. You know how easy it is to overhear and eavesdrop when you're not even trying to, if people take your presence for granted," Azula said, with a weak smile. Renkai grimaced and nodded. "I wouldn't be surprised if those two had even spied on their master from time to time, discovering things they weren't supposed to, without Koshing's awareness. If you can reach out to them, communicate with them, there's a chance that they could point you in a productive direction pertaining Koshing's business with Shaofeng. If your guess of a secret army is correct, perhaps you could even help us pinpoint where that army is being gathered so we can… uh, well. That part's the tricky one, huh?"

"I suppose it'd be much easier to figure out what to do if you were still, well, Crown Princess?" Song said, eyeing Azula sympathetically. The Princess sighed and nodded.

"I could, perhaps, point my father in the right direction subtly, so he realizes there's a threat growing right underneath his nose?" she said. "Maybe then he'd do something about it, but… who knows, maybe he doesn't care to, maybe he's even aware of it already, I don't know. I've never understood the relationship between my father and the General of the Guards, to be quite honest… half the time they look like they want nothing but to kill each other, and yet the other half they're the tightest allies anyone could have ever imagined…"

"If I were to guess, I'd say they hate each other, but also need each other," Renkai said.

"Shaofeng definitely needs my father so he can get away with whatever dark dealings he's up to," Azula said. "My father appears to protect him, down to hiding from everyone that Shaofeng has been controlling the slave trade for as long as it exists, in all likelihood… but what does my father gain from it? What advantage does Shaofeng provide to my father that he couldn't find in anyone less… unsavory, I suppose?"

"Well… maybe it's an advantage, but what if he's in a similar situation to what you just told us about?" Song asked, with a shrug. "Koshing kept those gladiators serving him because he was as good as… blackmailing them into it, I suppose? Do you think it's possible that Shaofeng could have some seriously damning information about your father? Something so terrible that, if it were known, it would destroy your family's reputation forevermore, or so?"

"I don't…" Azula started, but her confusion shifted to a frown quickly, "… know."

"That kind of sounds like you do," Song smiled a little. Azula grimaced.

"Could… could Shaofeng know whatever the hell my father, or rather, my parents did to Fire Lord Azulon?" Azula said, blinking blankly. Renkai stiffened.

"Fire Lord Azulon?" he repeated. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I don't exactly regale everyone with this tale but… there's always been rumors that my parents were responsible for his death somehow," Azula said, raising her eyebrows. Rei winced, shrinking in place as both Song and Renkai eyed her with astonishment. "My mother vanished right on the next day, so… wait, there's no way Shaofeng is keeping my mother as his prisoner somewhere, is he?"

"That would be very unsettling," Song said. "And while your father's been a monster to you, would he ever allow his wife to be in someone else's hands that way without putting up a fight…?"

"Honestly, doubtful, but their relationship was falling apart in the end," Azula said, grimacing. "I mean, I'm trying to think of other alternatives… but I doubt my mother could have simply skipped town because she and Shaofeng had some sort of affair that my father allowed them to carry out on their terms in exchange for silence on his murder of my grandfather? The mere notion is bound to make me retch, honestly. She couldn't have had such bad taste…"

"Still is one possible explanation… one that continues to drive across that your family is utterly fucked up, Azula," Song said, with a dry grin. Azula let out a humorless laugh.

"I'd like to think the newest generation could be the beginnings of change in that respect… but admittedly, there's been plenty of fucked up things with us, too," she said, shaking her head. "At any rate, I don't know. The Head Sage should be able to communicate with Shoji, who's pretty much the most central person to the Gladiator League that I know of. If someone has a chance of figuring out what's happened to the Light Bearer and the Dark Rook, I'd wager it's Shoji."

"Then… I will ask the Head Sage to seek out these gladiators," said Renkai: his face had brightened up somewhat, and he nodded appreciatively in Azula's direction. "Thank you. I… if you have any other ideas on how I can move my investigation forward, I would appreciate them greatly. I didn't intend to burden you with this, but…"

"It's no burden. I'd rather help you than leave you to stumble aimlessly if you're not sure of where to move forward next," Azula said, with a sympathetic smile. "If our suspicions are correct, your success would help keep the Fire Nation safe, so if there's anything I can do to aid you, whether it's just advice or anything bigger than that, all you have to do is ask."

"Thank you, Princess," Renkai smiled, bowing his head in her direction. "I'll do my best to ensure that your efforts for my sake won't go to waste."

"Good luck, Renkai," Azula said, nodding in his direction. "Also… you don't have to stand out there all the time if you don't want to. Not just in regards of this mission, but…"

"I fear it's safer if I do. The occasional conversation with you in your quarters isn't ill-advised, but if the General grows to suspect you're treating me too well, he might just think you've, uh…"

"Oh, that I've corrupted you?" Azula finished. Renkai sighed as Azula smiled and shrugged. "He's been terribly antsy about me for a very long time, I imagine he assumes I only exist to corrupt and entrap people…"

"I fear he may be… of the sort of men who think lowly of women in general," Renkai explained. Azula raised her eyebrows. "He makes… comments, on occasion, such as that he'd never let a female firebender join the guards. He ensured our barracks' cooks were men, I… I don't quite know if I'm thinking too much of it, but…"

"Huh. Maybe it's not as personal as I thought, then. How nice," Azula said, with an unpleasant grin. "And here I thought that I had earned myself a special grudge from him after I flung him out of the sponsors' balcony…"

"Y-you… that was really your doing, then. He didn't just… try to attack you and fell on his own?" Renkai asked, an embarrassed grimace on his face. Azula chuckled and nodded.

"That was a dreadful day and fight… but having tossed him that way is my favorite memory involving Shaofeng, to this day," Azula said, stretching her arms… and noticing the eager eyes of both her midwife and daughter were set upon her. "And I suppose I didn't go into detail about that, now, did I?"

"You threw him out of a balcony when your shoulder was still…?" Song blinked blankly, her voice hitching with utter astonishment. Azula grinned nervously.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better… I mainly deflected his strength and tossed him with it. I didn't take much, if any damage, by doing what I did," Azula said. Song's jaw dropped. "I have the feeling you don't believe me…?"

"Probably because you're unbelievable," Song said, her voice shriller than usual. Azula's smile gained more honesty upon hearing those words.

"In a good way, or a bad way?" she asked.

"Both," Song decided, prompting Azula to laugh out loud as Renkai chuckled softly, too.

As it would be time for their walk soon, Renkai only took off to return the trays and then returned to the room, waiting until the three women were ready for what often seemed to be their only daily appointment. While Azula had meant to request another chance to visit Mai that week, her petition had gone nowhere, for her father's guards informed her that Ozai was much too busy… and she knew better than to force matters if that was the case. She would wait a couple more weeks, if need be, and then approach her father anew…

For now, though, she focused on her friends and family, on walking with them all the way to Xin Long's refuge, where the dragon greeted her with affectionate growls and licks. As much as he wanted true freedom, Xin Long was in better spirits these days, enough to openly show affection to more than just Azula: he had groaned at Rei, and his bifid tongue had poked Song's hand too when she hadn't been paying attention. It was a perfectly peaceful day, even more so as Renkai watched over them without the same tension that always hung over him: knowing he wouldn't need to fight his battles alone had certainly improved his mood and strengthened his resolve. He might not unravel information to take down Shaofeng as quickly as he wished to, but there was something instinctive inside him that compelled him to believe this was the right direction, at last.

Their situation had stabilized. Even if most of them still grieved the tragedies that had befallen them, there was a sense of peace in their small group that followed them hours later, as they paced through the Palace with Song leading the way through the garden's roofed corridors – Azula hugged Rei with one arm and Renkai marched behind them all. It was hard to believe it, considering how complicated their circumstances had been so far… but they were alright, as much as they could be. They were…

A rushing figure racing out of the front Palace doors brought Azula to frown and slow her footsteps.

"Uh…" Song slowed down too: even if the man wouldn't likely see them, as they were far behind him, all of them had watched him scrambling and running clumsily, tripping with his own robes as though a demon were chasing him. "What's that about?"

"Doesn't look like a servant…" Rei remarked. Azula's eyes narrowed: only she and Renkai could recognize the man in question.

"War Minister Qin," she said. Her voice, so placid through most that day, gained a darker quality that brought both her daughter and her friend to glance at her in surprise. "He's never been the bravest man… but I've never heard of him escaping the Palace as though he were being hunted by ghosts."

"Maybe he should be hunted by them, if he's the War Minister…" Song said, glaring after the man: he had reached the gates, and he had been allowed to cross them quickly. "Let's hope this isn't anything meaningful, shall we?"

"Let's… let's go back," Azula sighed, shaking her head. Song glanced at her with uncertainty. "I know, you wanted us to take a longer walk today, but…"

"I may have, but that doesn't mean we have to," Song said, gazing at her compassionately. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, just… every time something like that happens, I have this stupid, impulsive urge to figure out whatever is going on," Azula said. "But that's a pointless habit I should grow out of already…"

"It's hardly your fault," Song said, but she restarted their walk, on their way to reentering the Palace through one of the side entrances that would lead into the main hall. "But if you'd rather we head back already, then we will. Not a problem, you've exercised plenty today and there's no need to push you any further…"

"Thank you," Azula said, with an earnest smile.

The way to Azula's room through the side corridors led them into the main hall before long: their spirits remained high, no matter if Azula slowed down slightly, letting Rei step ahead to say something to Song. War Minister Qin's anxious race would only fade from her mind in a few days, at best… yet again, Ozai's behavior came to mind. Yet again, fears of whatever was brewing beyond her awareness reared their heads…

Song and Rei stopped cold in the main hall just as Azula took the next corner, catching up to them.

The Princess's stomach dropped when she dreaded she'd find herself face-to-face with her father… though the sensation didn't diminish much once her eyes fell upon the scowling features of a fully-armored, unexpectedly respectable Admiral Zhao.

His own focus had been on Rei at first. The young woman had flinched for a moment but now she stood in place, watching him… as Zhao's eyes drifted towards Azula, next.

"A-Admiral…" Rei said: a bold, reckless part of her attempted to take his attention for herself once she bowed her head in a respectful curtsy. She received no response for it.

Her attempt to distract Zhao from Azula didn't pay off: the Admiral had simply appeared perplexed to bump into them when he had, but his eyes narrowed now as they settled upon Azula. The Princess didn't quite hide her surprise… but she certainly intended to display no manner of weakness before the man. Not having crossed paths with Zhao for well over a month had been rather soothing, Azula realized, upon seeing him again…

"Prince Zhao," Song spoke: he hadn't made a single move yet. He could have marched forth, ignoring them, but he stood rigid in the corridor, slowly scowling at Azula until the midwife spoke to him in an unexpectedly agreeable tone. "We were on our way back to the room, nothing more than that…"

"I… I see. The whole gang is out and about," Zhao said, bitterly.

Azula raised an eyebrow: was that how he referred to them these days? He seemed to resent them for so much as standing in his way… but there was a tension to him that was no different from Renkai's, earlier: even if they hadn't been in the way at all, Zhao would be in a foul mood, Azula realized…

War Minister Qin had stormed off as he had, and Zhao appeared disturbed: again, the urge to ask what had happened nearly overcame her common sense. Zhao, of all people, would never answer that question… but Azula wanted to ask it all the same.

"If you're looking for War Minister Qin… he stormed off down this hall only a short moment ago. If that's not what you want, good luck finding whatever you're looking for," Azula said, curtly.

Zhao's scowl deepened when Azula addressed him. The anger in his eyes was apparent… the distrust, too. Something about it almost seemed like he had been the victim of a betrayal… and yet he expressed none of his grievances, only glaring at Azula instead.

His eyes, so focused on her face, however, drifted down her body once Azula made to step forward, to walk past him: a rush of revulsion, a jolt of anger unlike any he had felt since cutting down his interactions with Azula to a minimum, strengthened when he eyed that prominent pregnancy bump. It was big, far too big… and his chest tightened as he stared at it in horror.

She would be due soon. Once she was, Ozai would finally realize Zhao had been framed by Azula, that she had used him as a smokescreen to bear a child for…

For the Gladiator. The man who had sent Ozai on yet another of his mad destructive sprees within his own study, and then into the Agni Kai Arena, through a declaration of war on the Fire Lord, demanding for a surrender that wouldn't arrive. The insolent, mad bastard who had seemingly conquered Ba Sing Se and Omashu and who knew what else…

The biggest threat the Fire Nation appeared to have faced in the Hundred Year War.

That bastard's child was right there, in its mother's womb. The wretch had an heir… one of his flesh and blood, its very nature and existence as treacherous as that of both its parents…

He snarled, fists tightened: Renkai stepped forth, snapping Zhao out of a momentary loss of sense that had almost seen him catching Azula's wrist and yelling at her for what she'd done, for having strengthened the slave who now sought to destroy the Fire Nation if he could get away with it… but the Imperial Guard stopped beside him, wordlessly warning him not to try anything as Azula walked off, seemingly unperturbed by their encounter.

"What?" Zhao hissed at Renkai. The guard didn't show any signs of wavering: he had recognized Zhao's sudden intent. He had noticed the violent impulse that had nearly overwhelmed the Admiral…

A violent impulse Zhao repressed fully, marching past Song and Rei without another word. His heavy stomps saw him following War Minister Qin out of the Palace gates, and who knew where they might take him next.

Rei breathed deeply: a foolish urge inside her compelled her to call for him… to try to appease him. To tell him he shouldn't be so upset at the Princess, that if he simply treated her with the same respect he wanted people to treat him with, their problems would decrease quickly…

But she said nothing. She held her silence and turned, following her mother, Renkai and Song to their usual hideout, heart heavy over yet another fruitless encounter with the man who had once again shut the door on a potential reconciliation with his trueborn daughter. Truthfully, Rei doubted he'd ever wish to make amends with her… but a part of her hoped, sometimes, that he would change his mind if he ever took the time to see that neither Azula nor any of her companions meant him any harm…

But that day wouldn't be the one that brought change to their relationship. Instead, it brought further displeasure to Azula: she had noticed the way Zhao had stared at her… his glare at her womb had been even more unsettling. It was as though he hated her child even more than he hated her… and as much as she was only just learning what it meant to be a mother, she refused to put the child at risk in any way. If Zhao had already figured out the truth, which Azula suspected he had known all along, he'd still have no chances of bringing any harm to the baby if she could help it. Her peace of mind, of heart, hinged on that. She'd do best to start planning properly the child's safe extraction from the Palace before Zhao or Ozai could so much as lay eyes upon it…

"He won't harm you," Renkai spoke to her as they reached her bedroom door. Azula raised an eyebrow as Renkai opened the door for her. "I'll see to that."

"I certainly hope he won't try, to begin with… but thank you," Azula said, nodding in Renkai's direction.

The three women entered the room again, but Renkai stayed outside once more, no doubt on edge still over Zhao's unwanted appearance. Rei didn't waste the chance to hug Azula, Song offered her another medical check, and within only a few hours, the three young women enjoyed themselves with plenty of conversation, reading books together and chatting about what their next visit to Mai's house would be like, if they had a chance to go once more soon. Rei filled in a new entry in her journal too, laughing to herself over how short it was before asking Azula to share a fun story she could feature in her journal too. The Princess eventually chose to tell her a condensed version of how she had found Xin Long… and then the entry was too long, instead. Both Song and Rei were deeply amused by that as they took off that night after dinner, leaving Azula to herself, smiling brightly as she waved at her daughter and her friend as they left her room.

At this point, Azula would usually turn in and get proper rest. Today, however, would be different. She had kept her intent secret from her companions, knowing Song would be up in arms if only she knew what she had in mind… smuggling the candle out of Sokka's house without the healer's awareness hadn't been too easy, but she had done so successfully on their last visit, merely a few days ago.

She drew it from a cabinet she had stashed it in, smiling at the burnt stem: very little of the candle had been consumed so far, they had put it out quickly on that day after all. A large celebration had followed, so much cheer and bliss… her heart ached as she let herself remember the best week of her life, as she clung to that enthusiasm, to the joy of knowing herself loved by the man she had given her heart to, of not having to hide what they meant for each other, of professing those feelings openly and wholeheartedly as they had…

She breathed deeply, stepping close to the windowsill, setting down the candle carefully. She moved around the room, gathering what she'd need for the small ritual she intended to start once the time was right: truthfully, she had no idea which would be the right moment to start… but as she didn't know what time it might be at the South Pole now, she hoped Sokka would barely be waking up now… that he might just remember what day it was and, with any luck, that he might find some way to light a similar candle to honor their Fire Nation wedding as Jing and Wentai.

---

"I am the scourge of your corruption!"

"The harbinger of your doom!"

"The master of the weirdest puns!"

"The most feared meat-eater in this world and the next!"

"Hey! I didn't put those last ones in the letter, so shut up!" Sokka's voice cracked, and his interjection was followed by unabashed laughter coming from most his closest associates.

While he appreciated his friends' good mood, Sokka couldn't help but feel flustered over their behavior. If only they acted with more restraint, he might have had more time to rejoice in the latest of his reunions with elements of his past: Hawky sat on his shoulder, chirping happily as Sokka walked with him across one of Ba Sing Se's courtyards.

He had brought his letter personally to the communications' office to find a certain bird squawking with excitement before launching towards him. He never had imagined he might hug a bird – and admittedly he didn't do it for very long, as Hawky slipped out of his grasp once his grip was too strong – but he did so then, and ever since, he had been carrying the bird with him in Ba Sing Se's Palace more often than not, even setting up a perch for him in his bedroom so the bird could relax there with him… though not whenever Momo showed up, for the lemur never failed to pick pointless fights with the messenger hawk.

Even so, he couldn't simply cling to his joy over having reunited with Hawky when his friends were being quite so pesky. He groaned as he stepped up to the one member of the group who didn't join the chorus of laughter at Sokka's random titles just to make fun of him: his friends had been the ones to convince Sokka that those would be the perfect words to close off his letter, the way to daunt Ozai into utter panic… and yet he had felt self-aware and honestly quite foolish by writing them at all. It had to come off as so self-important, he hadn't taken it seriously at all… but to his utter astonishment, the White Lotus leaders all agreed, unironically, that it was a grand idea…

Well, it certainly wasn't so grand now as his friends continued to laugh at him while he slowed down next to Appa: even Aang, sitting on the bison's neck, with Momo on his shoulder, couldn't help but chuckle at the others' merciless teasing.

"You'll bring Hawky too?" Aang asked. Sokka sighed as he glanced at the hawk hopelessly before turning toward Zuko – while trying to join the others in poking fun at Sokka, Zuko had been more restrained than the others… and he was likely to know how to handle a messenger hawk, too.

"Can you take him back to my room while I'm out?" Sokka asked. Zuko shrugged and smiled, offering Hawky a hand for him to perch on. "Thank you. And now…"

"Oh, come on, don't take it so badly…!" Kino laughed. "This is a lot of fun, Sokka, you know it is…!"

"Ugh, come on, Aang. Let's get going before they come up with worse ones," Sokka told the Avatar, clasping the railing of the saddle and jumping on it with a quick movement. The others wouldn't join their brief trip outside the Palace grounds, and Sokka certainly preferred it that way. They'd get over the naming nonsense, he hoped, but it didn't seem to be about to happen just yet.

"Thought you had a sense of humor, Sokka!" Toph snickered, hands on her hips as she sensed her friend was no longer on solid ground. "And running away from a battle, too: that's really embarrassing, you know?"

"This isn't a battle, and I'm sure you guys will just brainstorm a thousand more stupid titles while I'm out anyway," Sokka hissed. Katara cackled with amusement and Sokka groaned, shaking his head. "Aang! Go before I inspire them any further!"

"The terror of all restaurants!" Kino declared, proudly.

"The black blade so sharp as to cut down death itself…" Jet said, with a dramatic flourish of a hand. Toph scoffed.

"Come on, don't give him fancy ones! What's the point if you do that, Jet?" she scolded him, prompting her friend-with-benefits to laugh at her response as Appa finally started to hover in the sky.

"The judge of all, uh… corrupt warmongers?" Zuko said, joining the game somewhat dubitatively before scowling. Hawky squawked at his suggestion, too. "Wait. Corrupt was in the actual letter, wasn't it? I have to think of something else…"

Sokka groaned: fortunately, Appa had flown high enough by then that the voices of their friends weren't strong enough to be heard as they flew further away… though Katara certainly put her whole heart and soul into shouting he was 'the tiger-seals' favorite snack', causing Sokka to pout while their laughter echoed across the Palace courtyard.

"One would think they'd get tired of it after about five days…" Sokka sighed, shaking his head. Aang smiled, watching as Momo took flight along Appa, too.

"I guess they're not the kind of people who would stop as easily as that," he said. "Maybe just join them, start using pretentious titles of your own and they might get bored?"

"Or they might make fun of me even more. 'The poet with one too many syllables in haiku' or so, I'm sure…" Sokka sighed, shaking his head. "Anyway, you're sure it's ready?"

"Yep, the sage told me to drop by today," Aang said, smiling at Sokka. "It's lucky the only Fire Sage temple in all of Ba Sing Se was in the Middle Ring… and not in the area we attacked, too."

"Very lucky, for sure," Sokka sighed: his anxious eyes scanned the landscape of Ba Sing Se, heart tightening at the sight of the damage across the city.

Efforts were constantly made to ensure that Ba Sing Se would remain livable. Earthbending groups amended broken buildings, streets and walls, fixing so much of what had been destroyed during the relentless assault on Ba Sing Se. Toph was often involved in the rebuilding efforts, but she was taking the day off after overworking herself far too often ever since the big battle had taken place. Aang typically helped with the rebuilding efforts, too, but Sokka had asked for a favor when he had been too busy to investigate something in the city for himself, so Aang switched his focus briefly into other pursuits.

Still, Aang had delivered, and he succeeded at ferrying Sokka safely to the Fire Sages' Temple in Ba Sing Se. It wasn't remotely as impressive as the building in the Fire Nation Capital, Sokka couldn't help but think it looked like a half-refurbished dojo… but he didn't need it to look any better than it did. He was here for one thing, and one thing only… and as much as the sage trembled as he offered Sokka the parcel he'd requested, Sokka could only smile in genuine gratitude and bow his head in the Sage's direction. Oh, if only things hadn't been so busy, he would have done this far sooner…

But he was ready to go forward with his main task of the day once he returned to the Palace. He had already told the White Lotus leaders, King Kuei and Jin that he would be unavailable for any discussions regarding the city's direction today, and he even locked his suite's door once he was in it. It was a much more opulent room than those he had been granted during his stays in Ba Sing Se, in the past…

After checking on Hawky once more, ensuring he had food and water, Sokka scrambled all across the room for preparations, confirming numerous times that the door was safely locked, setting up a proper candle holder – rather, a pristine tray in which he suspected that the wax would melt quickly if he kept the stem fired up for too long, and he certainly intended to keep it lit for as long as possible…

He set everything up by a window that allowed him to look out into the placid, empty gardens of the Palace. He dragged a chair to that window, ready to pick up the spark rocks… but first, he pulled out the necklace in his pocket, smiling fondly as he detailed it once again, remembering that she had been wearing it that day, just as well.

"It belonged right there, around your neck… and I can't wait to ensure it gets there once again as soon as possible," Sokka smiled, pressing a quick kiss to the stone before setting down the necklace, at a safe distance from the spark rocks he picked up next.

He struck them together repeatedly: a spark, then another… at last, one strong enough that fell right over the stem...

A flash of blue. A smile spread over Azula's face as her outstretched fingers gazed at the fire at her fingertips. Perhaps if she poured more power, more energy into it, the flame would be blue constantly… but she'd test such things in the future, not now. She had something much bigger to focus on at the moment.

"I do hope it's midnight already. It should be, but…" Azula sighed, shaking her head: she truly had very little sense of the time when it was so late at night. She knew she shouldn't be awake, to begin with, pregnant women were supposed to rest a lot more than she had, as of late… but today was special. She'd get more rest during the day, or she'd try to, at least.

The small fire dancing on her fingertips touched the burnt stem, and the single flame gained strength as she ensured to light the candle successfully. She sighed, pulling his necklace from her pocket and setting it carefully on the windowsill, underneath her right hand.

"Well… here we are. I hope I'm not too late for you… I really have no idea what time it would be in the South Pole, or if time even matters down there?" Azula admitted. "My few visits to your Pole have enlightened me about how reliant I've always been on the cycles of days and nights. But anyway… it's pointless to ramble about such things, isn't it? I'll just… I'll just hope that you can hear me, somehow. Or feel me, or… well, whatever this funny feeling in my gut might be, that you might be experiencing something like it too. I keep assuming it's you… and it better be, honestly. I don't care to experience weird emotions that don't belong to me unless they're yours."

She breathed deeply and smiled: that tingling sensation that ever brought him to mind strengthened as she gazed at the candle. Her heart foolishly clung to the hope, the belief that he'd be gazing at a similar, delicate and resilient flame…

"Well, then… this really isn't the way it should have been. We both know I should be there with you… we both know I should've lit our candle with you. But… we take what we can get," Sokka whispered, biting his lip and holding back an impulsive urge to cry. "I hope you're there, love. But even if you aren't… I hope you have a wonderful day today. It's… it's only beginning for you, isn't it? It's got to be around midnight. It's a little past noon here, I'm assuming we're on opposite ends of the planet… could be wrong, of course, but I suspect my crazy choices have brought me further away from you than I should ever be. Remember… remember that weird bull the herbalist told us about? Maybe that's what's happened, heh. We got chased by it for all our transgressions before marriage and… ah, I'm just talking nonsense at this point, aren't I? But you'd probably… you'd probably smile and shake your head if you'd heard me. I'm sure you would have…"

He breathed deeply, resting his chin over his forearms as he gazed at the candle fervently: his left hand clasped the necklace… and on the other side of the world, Azula clasped his, too.

"Well, don't mind my rambling. What I really wanted to say…" he whispered.

"What I really should have been saying, from the start, is…" she said, too:

"Happy anniversary."

Far apart as they might be, they spoke in unison: their voices might not reach each other's ears, but they certainly reached their hearts. Smiles spread over both their faces as that familiar warmth spread over their chests, reaching their hearts smoothly.

"Damn…" Sokka grinned, fingers touching the candle's tray carefully. "I… I don't know what's going on half the time, whenever these moments happen… but I think I feel you, love. I think… I think you're here somehow. So, since I don't know what's going on, I guess I'll just say… hi, Azula."

"Hi," Azula smiled, a tear blinking in the corners of her eyes. "I hope you're doing well, Sokka."

"I shouldn't… just ask questions, should I? You probably won't be able to answer just through emotion alone," Sokka chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, I don't know what we're doing half the time, love, but every time I feel you, I… I feel like I'm myself again. Even if just for a moment, even if it hurts later, I… I just want to feel you. That's all I want. All I ask…"

"Woah, you're getting emotional," Azula laughed, tears blinking in her eyes. "That's not good, you goofball. I'm going to be even worse than you, you know? Pregnancy's doing a number on my emotional control, you see… I'm crying like a fool over the smallest things, and then the big ones make me cry even more. It's really embarrassing… though I'm sure you'd be amused by that, wouldn't you? You'd just say I'm finally being honest… that of course I'd be so emotional because I'm 'more of a hopeless romantic than you could ever be', wasn't it? Yes, you said stuff like that all the time, and I'd just get mad and you'd laugh yourself to tears over my reactions…"

Azula laughed too, tears spilling down her cheeks as she smiled at the candle. The shadows cast by the candle fire in the room almost made her feel as though he were sitting beside her, across her…

"I don't really know if… if you had a chance to get the right candle from my house. If my house's still standing to begin with," Sokka said, sighing and shaking his head. "But even if you had to get a new candle, well… I did too, and whatever this is, it seems to be working, right? So… what am I even saying? Shouldn't I be talking about good things to lift your spirits? Maybe telling you about whatever weird stuff has happened since… well, since we had to go our separate ways for as long as we have? To be honest, I'd rather hear your stories, but… life's mean that way. Anyway, have you managed to eat properly? You were way thinner than you should have been when we met in that spiritual connection, love, and goodness, you were with child too… I hope you've had a proper, balanced diet since then. And yes, I know, that probably means not a lot of spicy food… though I can absolutely imagine you might have food cravings of that nature, and some of them caused by the little tyke growing inside you, right? I mean, any kid of yours is bound to inherit the extraordinary palate of the only woman in the world who could eat Jiare's ramen and cry tears of bliss rather than pain…"

He chuckled to himself at that memory, one he never seemed to stop treasuring.

"But then…" he continued, biting his lip. "Are the cravings terrible? Or weird? I wonder… oh, no. Wait a minute. I-if the kid's mine, then… is it possible you're actually eating properly and the baby's just a glutton and it doesn't leave any nourishment for you?! T-that's…! That's not a good idea, eat more! Yes, eat lots, twice as much, because if that kid's perpetually hungry like I always was, you can't lower your guard! Be very careful with your diet! Though… don't know if double the food is being careful, but you know! I'm just worried about you!"

"Oh, goodness. What's gotten into you now?" Azula chuckled: she sensed his distress… and she sensed it was of a silly nature, just as well. "Good to know some things really haven't changed. Here I thought you might not be much fun to talk to when I can't really hear you… but just feeling whatever wild stuff is going on in your heart is enough to make this one of the most entertaining nights I've had in quite some time. Though… don't take this the wrong way, I've had a few entertaining nights anyway. Things… they're not as bad as they were at first. The first month here, it was… it was a nightmare. I didn't think it'd ever get any better, but… it did. It did when… when Rei came around. Honestly, sometimes it's so hard to believe you never got to know her, even if you knew about her… I'm sure you would have loved her. She's clever, so scientifically-minded, so kind-hearted… you would have gotten along wonderfully. I wouldn't say she necessarily reminds me of you, but… she certainly did when she apologized constantly for things. You'd better not be apologizing constantly for things nowadays too, though. I'm warning you…"

"Woah, now, what did I do?" Sokka chuckled. "That feels like a threat of some sort? I suppose I may have earned it, in some ways… but hey, I've fulfilled a few of the promises I made to you already. I may not have mocked Zuzu as relentlessly as I should have, in your stead… but it's probably because I destroyed his dignity terribly through Prince Piqi. Ah, and of course, I've made sure your niece, Mari, worships you without even knowing you. You're seriously her hero, and I'm sure you always will be. I can't wait for you to meet her… the day she finally meets Princess Jing, realizes she was real, and that she was none other than her aunt, heh. I'm really looking forward to that. Zi's very cute too… she's their second daughter, she's already out and about and she's probably the entire opposite to her big sister. I never really thought I'd bond much with either of them, Mari's eyes reminded me of yours so much that my entire body hurt just to look at her… but I couldn't help it, in the end. They're family, after all… your nieces, so they're my nieces too. I'm sure they'll love you, once they meet you. They'll definitely love you…"

"Hmm… looks like you're back to being sentimental rather than silly," Azula smiled, stroking the necklace gently. "Well, that's alright. We were always quite variable with our emotional states after all. So… what else should I tell you about? Ah, I actually got to see Mai and Ty Lee not long ago. They're both more than a little surprised over seeing me so heavily pregnant, and… well, being a mother. To be honest, being Rei's mother feels a little less stressful than to our little one… I'm always nervous that I'm going to make a stupid choice and mess things up with our child. I… kind of almost did, a few times, early on. It's a damn miracle that it survived my fasting period… yeah, I'll just call it that rather than pregnancy flu because, to be perfectly honest, the flu continued afterwards and I just made myself eat even if I was terrified I'd throw everything up all over again. I had no idea I was expecting at first, though… and sometimes I worry that this belly is so big these days that people might just notice, well… what I've tried to hide for as long as I have. I've made some really… really awful choices, I know I have. Some decisions are nothing short of unforgivable… but I did all of it to protect our child. I… I guess it's the most motherly thing I can do, while it's still inside me. But to be honest, I… I don't know if I have the slightest clue of what I'm doing. You'd be handling this much better than I am, I'm sure… you're probably a natural father, aren't you? This child will adore you as soon as you meet, I know it will… I hope we can make it happen soon, too. I… I don't really know how I'll do it, but still…"

"I suppose… it could be anything else, but you seem insecure now," Sokka said, frowning slightly. "After everything we've been through, that's no real surprise… but if that's some insecurity about your potential as a parent, well, you're definitely off-base about it. You're going to be the best mom there ever was… hell, I'm sure your mom would agree with that concept, too. Which… brings me to make a very awkward confession, heh. I… may have come across your mother. And she may have actually helped me in ways I didn't expect her to. I know you'll be the one to decide how you feel about her, when the time comes… but if it helps at all, she's always thinking of you. She's sorry for everything she did wrong, and I didn't even need to bring things up myself, she already knew she'd messed up a lot before I said anything… though I don't know if that's going to mean anything to you until you speak with her personally. But my point is, uh… I don't even know what it was anymore. Just… I guess our family's actually pretty damn great, you know? Well, except for your father. And your uncle. If I can keep those two away from everyone else forever, I'll gladly do so. Pieces of shit they both are, in their own ways…"

"Hmm, and now you're cranky, I see. Well, for that matter, I have stories to share that make me cranky too," Azula said, frowning. "I know you used to think Zhao wasn't as bad as he looked… you were right in the inverse way than expected: he's much worse than that, actually. I refuse to think of him as my husband in any way… and fortunately it's a reciprocal thing. Every time we cross paths, I think Rei's terrified that things will take a darker turn than they have so far… the bastard's onto me, of course. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be acting this way otherwise. At times I let myself wonder… what if I'd just told him the truth? Would he have helped me conceal the truth? And yet… he's in my father's pocket. How the hell would I trust someone who's that close to the Fire Lord? Ah, and yes, I'm not even supposed to refer to him as my father anymore… not in his presence, anyhow. In recent times, when I crossed paths with him around the time of the festivals, he actually seemed uncomfortable as I obeyed his order to never call him my father again… it's typical from him, isn't it? Making stupid choices he'll regret, only to face the consequences later and not know how to bend over backwards to pretend it's someone else's fault. Oh, but honestly… I'd rather not think about them right now. I want to think about you… to tell you about good things instead. Like… Niece Wen. Remember Niece Wen? I bet you do…"

"You're… joking? Hmm. I can't presume I understand what you're trying to say. It's hard to grasp jokes at a distance, but I'll try…" Sokka said, frowning and folding his arms over his chest to focus. "Jokes… well, I hope it's not about how cocky I am again, which, heh, was honestly pretty funny when you said it. You're too clever, you know?"

"I feel like you have no idea what I'm talking about but you're amused anyway. Sounds about right," Azula said, letting herself laugh softly as she supported her chin on one hand. "At any rate… she's been a lifesaver. Both her and Rei have kept me sane when I thought nothing would… but she's definitely done wonders for my health. I even rested on my left shoulder for the sake of testing boundaries the other day and… well, there's a mild lingering pain, but it's nothing noteworthy anymore. The scar still looks ugly, she can't really do anything about that… but I'm definitely doing much better. I've regenerated a lot of chi, especially after that night when we could speak… it's been tricky balancing my messed up health with pregnancy, of all things, but I'm handling it as best as I can. Of course, my mental health is a whole other matter… I wonder if this is what the fortuneteller meant, honestly. There's always something worse around the corner, feels like, so… I'm constantly paranoid that my father will hit me with something dreadful eventually. What… what he did to Xin Long was bad enough. It's what really… what really keeps me deadlocked in his grip, to this day. I think Xin wasn't too far from deciding that… that he didn't care to live at all anymore. I'm glad I could convince my father to change the conditions of his imprisonment, but… but he's a prisoner still. And he'll stay that way because my father won't let him go, he's made it clear that he doesn't intend to ever do that. So… I take whatever joy I can in knowing that he can at least move around again, in visiting him daily, if I can do so… but he misses you, you know? As does… as does Wen. As does everyone, really… this damn city is so bleak without you."

"Well, now… I miss you too," Sokka said, breathing deeply as his thumb stroked her necklace's pendant. "It's not that everyone else isn't great in their own ways, but… I'm lonely even if they're my friends. Even Toph, I… I get to feel a little less lonely around her because she's as lonely as me, you know? She misses you terribly. Though you'll likely be thrilled to know that she's in, uh, some weird relationship with Jet that only those two understand at this point, if they even do. Sadly, you won't get away with poking fun at her over romance or sex anymore, she's oblivious to those jabs these days… but I'm sure you'll be happy to know she's found, well, a purpose, as many of us did. You might also be happy that we ended up joining forces, too… it's interesting having that crazy earthbender at my beck and call, doing whatever I tell her to, but it'd be way more fun if only you were here, too. I'm sure… I'm sure everything would be so much better if you were. You'd have likely come up with a plan to conquer Ba Sing Se without shedding a drop of blood, right? I keep thinking you would have, somehow. Damn, I just miss your wisdom, your guidance… knowing that you have my back, that I can count on you for anything I can't figure out on my own. It's so messed up, isn't it? Living your life with a partner for so long that you assume that's how everything's going to be forever… and the minute that changes, life just becomes so much more underwhelming, gray, dreary, you name it. If only you'd been here for all of this… I'd actually be able to appreciate what I'm doing for what it is. But for now… all I can do is long for you. I need you, like I always have… but don't worry, alright? I'll be the one to come to you. Don't fret. Don't do anything crazy, either. I'm already on my way, so… take it easy, love. I'll be by your side once more, I swear it."

"Hmm… very passionate of you, whatever that was," Azula smiled fondly. "And very reassuring and reliable, too. I… I really do miss that feeling… it's not as if I can't count on everyone here, they've been amazing, but… you get it, don't you? You're with your family, and as much as you love them, you've still had those anguishing moments of… of wanting something you might not be able to find in any of the people around you? I guess I have it a little better than you… sometimes, just talking to our baby makes me feel the way I did with you. Though, of course, I'd be the one protecting the little one, not the other way around… ours was a much more equal relationship in that way, huh? Protecting each other, fighting side by side… I had no idea that was what I was looking for in life until I found it in you, you know? And now I just miss that camaraderie, that comfort, that bond… I just miss you, damn it. But… not yet. I can't go to you yet… even if I might be able to send our little one to you when the time is right. I'm still trying to figure out how I'll ever do that without… without putting Xin Long at risk. If my firebending strengthens any further, I might just be able to melt his chains or so, ensure he waits for the right moment to fly away and tell him to never return? And then I'd… I'd have to get everyone else to safety, too. Easier said than done, of course… but that's the goal, it's just a matter of finding a way to get there. I won't lie, I… I wish I could raise this child with you, I'm sure it would be so much better than either of us doing it alone. But… our circumstances are far from simple, I don't need to tell you that. Just… just know I'll do everything in my power to keep our child safe. That's what matters most."

"Ugh… I want to hug you," Sokka groaned. "Whatever you're saying now, I want to hug you. I want to kiss you. I want to hold you tight and never let go… yes, never. Not even for potty breaks, so don't even ask, because you always did… oh, wait, is that the joke you were making earlier? Do you need a potty break? Because we can take one! And then we can come right back, once more, and just… talk some more? Maybe hope something bigger will happen, I don't know…"

"Well… give me a moment," Azula sighed, pushing herself up. "Why… am I thinking of potty breaks? Seriously, if that's your mind or soul mixing with mine… well, please keep going. That's just one more silly thing of yours that I miss beyond belief. But I bet you'd be shocked by how many potty breaks I need lately… this child of yours is quite fond of them, I'd say."

Their brief break didn't seem to cut off the connection between them: they returned merely a few minutes later, and Azula was surprised upon sensing that Sokka appeared to be up to something quite expected from him…

"Is that… your lunch? Breakfast? Dinner?" she smiled: he was as eager as ever whenever he was hungry, and he had brought some of whatever he meant to eat while he sat with her by the window. Azula chuckled, shaking her head. "Considering it's you, it might even be an extra meal. I hope you've helped a little with the cooking… though only a little. You left the recipe book behind, as you know… I can't pretend you could be trusted in charge of cooking without it."

"You ought to get some food of your own, too," Sokka resolved, taking a bite out of the sweet bun he had started his meal with. "A midnight snack, maybe? Though you were never all that given to those. Unless we were, uh, otherwise engaged, you'd just sleep soundly through most nights, right? I suppose there's one midnight snack I can remember, at the Northern Air Temple, heh… what a mess that was. Kissing you was always so damn fun I just couldn't hold back, and then Teo and the Mechanist caught us and… eh, what am I doing, retelling that story to you, of all people? You were there!"

He chuckled, shaking his head as he continued to eat. Yet again, it seemed as though their feelings were in perfect synch, as though they could very well spend hours on end simply speaking into that candle, holding onto their necklaces, briefly forgetting about the world, their struggles and all the grief they had faced in the past months. A placid peace settled in their hearts thanks to each other… to the connection that endured still through the scars upon their hands, through the energy within their bodies, flowing as one. Through their shared, swapped necklaces… through the very power of lighting the candle that commemorated the day in which they had first pledged themselves to each other in a beautiful wedding.

"I'll just hope you can eat all the wonderful things I can't," Azula smiled, reaching out her hand, still holding Sokka's necklace, and placing it by the windowsill. "But all in all, I almost feel like… like I have very little to complain about, these days. Of course, I miss you… but for once, I won't be lying when I tell you that I'm okay. I have been for a few months, too. I can't reclaim all our connections, but… I'm learning how to keep going, how to get by even though you're not here. I'll never stop missing you, but… I'm sure you'll be happy to know I'm not so lonely, no matter how much less lonely I'd be if only you were here, to put it simply. I failed at stopping my father, failed at about a million promises I made to you… but at least I've found my footing now, to a fault. I… I hope you have, too. I hope your family has… has gotten used to us. To the reality of what we were, of what we are…"

"Hmm, well…" Sokka closed his eyes as he finished gobbling down the sweet bun: his own hand, also holding the necklace, fell in place by the windowsill, before the candle… and a ghostly feeling somehow seemed to link his fingers to hers, even if he hardly knew what it was. That same ghostly feeling almost brought her voice to echo in his mind, to offer him a glimpse into her heart… "Dad wasn't anywhere near as scary as I stupidly assumed he'd be. You'll probably just think that was obvious, of course, but… I sure didn't think it would be, back then, as you know. Still… I think I've never connected as deeply with him as I did after I came home. Gran-Gran is even smaller than I remembered… and just as sweet and caring, too. Katara was the trickier one, of course… as expected. But honestly, I thought it'd be worse, you know? Even if I don't know, to this day, if she's fully grown to accept us… she even apologized to me for how she acted, for having hurt me further with her behavior when I was already grieving over having lost you. I didn't really expect an apology, but… I guess it shows she isn't as against us as she used to be. She loved hearing about Princess Jing and Wentai too, so… uh, yeah, well, I didn't explain that properly, did I? It's the way I've told them about you… the only way in which I could do it. Being honest was too painful at first, but it's a little easier nowadays. Even if, of course, hearing about your… your marriage to Zhao didn't exactly make anything easier. I only hope he's stayed true to what he swore to me, but I don't know if he would have…"

He sighed, shaking his head as he drained his water bottle next. He hoisted it in the candle's direction with a weak smile.

"I'd drink something stronger, but I'll stick with water in your honor. It'd be very rude to drink lychee wine if you can't do it too, after all," Sokka said, before draining the drink slowly.

"Huh… something to drink isn't a bad idea, come to think of it," Azula said, glancing around the room. "Can you believe Rei's the first person who has ever prepared tea to my liking? I have no idea what she does with it… maybe she uses less tea and adds other things to it? Either way, it's by far the best tea I've ever had. Yet another thing you should enjoy once the opportunity arises, I'm sure you'll love it too."

She rose to her feet, on her way to her water pitcher too – frankly, making tea for herself had become a pointless endeavor ever since finding Rei could prepare better tea than she could possibly hope to. She poured the water on her mug as she gazed at her spot by the window: the stars shone brightly, as though mirroring the small light from that single candle, dancing and flickering as the breeze blew against it. Then, she dragged a second chair to the window, sinking in her seat and propping her legs on the chair with a happy sigh.

"My feet are a pain. It's strange getting used to all this extra weight," Azula confessed, with a weak smile. "Even you would be hard-pressed to pretend that I'm light as a feather nowadays, heh. But if I just sit like this… it'll help."

Again, the unusual sensation that already accompanied her hand, holding the necklace by the candle still, seemed to take rise by her feet. Azula raised an eyebrow but relaxed, closing her eyes briefly… and that, as well, brought her to feel closer yet to him. So close…

"There's so much I wish I could tell you," Sokka whispered. "So much I couldn't say when we were suspended in that spiritual place together. I probably shouldn't have told you then, it might have added to your burden… but maybe you'd be proud if you knew how far I've come now. How far we've come, plural, actually… hell, I didn't even tell you about the Avatar, did I? Well, you're in for a surprise: Kuzon's not who you might remember him to be… that is, if you remember him at all. Knowing you, surely you do. Also, he has some strange unspoken thing going on with my sister, but I guess that's on hold, to a fault? They haven't acted on it in any considerable way, I guess… but who knows, maybe they're just better at keeping secrets than you and I were? It could be. So, well… I set out with those two, your brother and Kino, we picked up a crazy lemur along the way, wound up in the swamp, where we met through that vision, you and I… and after that, I found your mother. She guided us to the White Lotus… because, yeah, they were my only shot at saving you. And I won't lie, they were quite a pain when things started out, but Jeong Jeong's kind of respecting me these days? They… they call me 'General Sokka', I bet you'd laugh your ass off if you heard it. Or… or you'd say that sounds nice, because you're adorable that way. You might even give me that sneaky, flirty side-eye of yours and… shit, I shouldn't think about that. How the hell do you do it, huh? I'm still getting butterflies in my stomach just by thinking about you and your cute gestures, girl. We're married! I'm supposed to be well past this point by now!"

His deep, serious tone and its quick switch to his typical dorky complaints brought a laugh out of Azula's throat. She shook her head, stroking the necklace fondly, hoping that, if he could feel it, the gesture might reassure him. Sokka chuckled a little, smiling at the blue necklace he continued to hold carefully: a strange glimmer, he thought, had crossed his eyesight just as he felt that soft friction upon his skin, but he couldn't be sure it had been anything other than his imagination.

"Or maybe I'm not supposed to be past it at all…" he said, earnestly. "And maybe this is just what the rest of our lives should be like. Butterflies in our stomach anyway… because being with each other is always thrilling, isn't it? I… I can't wait to see you again, damn it. To hold you… to ensure no one can get in our way again. I look forward to that and… and to helping you raise the child. I… I'm pretty sure you've been through no shortage of hardships to ensure you could keep it, if it's mine… if it's not, then the hardships would have been no smaller anyhow. But I… I know you'll be the best mother anyone's ever been, and I'll try to keep up with you, once I'm by your side. I… I don't know what the situation will be in the second case, of course, if the child weren't really mine, but if you wanted me to be, I still would want to be their father. I promise you that much.

"Though… I suppose I've broken a lot of promises, so my record isn't exactly great, is it?" Sokka said, with a tight, sorrowful smile. "I said… I'd wait, didn't I? And that's exactly what I'm not doing… but I couldn't help it, Azula. I had to… I really had to. The battlefields I've seen of late… to be honest, they're not the heroic landscapes I ever thought they might be, back when I was younger and didn't understand the world at all. They're not the glorious triumphs that I imagined, even if I've been victorious every time. All that death and destruction… I was defending at first in the South Pole, of course, as you expected of me. But in Omashu, well… I was the attacker. Same as in Ba Sing Se. Even if my mind is finding weaknesses, possibilities, ways to break past defenses and take advantage of any possibility to attain victory, my heart is… my heart is constantly breaking. I don't want to be the monster the Fire Lord is sure to paint me as… but I might have no choice but to become exactly that, in the end.

"I don't want to bring sorrow or pain to your people… I don't want to harm your nation at all. If I could come back to you without any consequences, without anything to fear, you know I would have… but those consequences just can't keep me locked down anymore. Not after what Ozai tried to do in the south… not after his forces tried to kill both our families. I want to save you… but the truth is that I can't just pluck you out of Ozai's hold and release you from your personal hell. I have to destroy that hell itself… I have to stop your father. The only way we'll be free for real, Azula, the only way anyone in this world will ever be free, is if I defeat him for good. And I won't lie, it does scare me that you might… that you might think I'm unforgivable for this. But every time I let myself think of what you're going through, of the sacrifices you made to save my life, I can't fathom the idea of just sitting back and letting you suffer without doing anything to help you. I'm sorry… but I have to do this. Just as you had to leave, so… you'll have to forgive me for it, right? Just as I… just as I had to accept what you wanted to do, even if I wasn't pleased with it. Right?"

Azula breathed deeply: something was heavier now, and yet her heart felt closer and closer to him still. Even if she hadn't really wanted to think of it, her mind returned to the troubling moments she had lived through over the past month, starting with that casual encounter with her father in the gardens… an encounter that resulted in her slow realization that something troubling was stirring in the Fire Nation.

"You know… something's going on," she said, softly. "And, well, it might be related to you, in the end. I have my reasons to think that… that my father might have realized you're alive. Maybe you're fighting too well in the defense of the Water Tribe these days, I don't know… but I sure hope that's all you're doing, honestly. If you're up to anything bigger than that, you sneaky, clever man, I… I'll certainly be cross with you. And then I… I'll cry of relief to confirm that you're still as bold, rebellious and wild as you ever were. And I'll love you more. But I might just hate you more, too. As you know, you always seemed to awaken a thousand conflicting emotions in my heart, so that you've done it again is unsurprising, isn't it? All jokes aside, though… be careful, Sokka. I don't want you in danger… I don't want you taking bigger risks than you can afford to, alright? Otherwise… what the hell am I going to do, huh? I can't send our child to you if you're doing reckless nonsense so, yes, this is an ultimatum: don't be crazy and you'll be rewarded with… eh, the heavy duties of parenting a child you're probably not really ready for? I suppose that's not a very promising reward, is it?"

She laughed sadly, shaking her head as she leaned closer to the flame. Again, the shadows in the room almost made her feel as though he was doing the same thing, wherever he might be.

"I just want you at peace… I want you happy and safe. Because, well, I don't think I'll ever be truly safe here, or… or at peace, or completely happy? Ugh, that doesn't make things any better, does it?" Azula said. "But I have found peace in my new family anyway… as in, our baby, and Rei. I've found it in friends, too. Wen, and Renkai… Renkai isn't half-bad, in the end. He's not Rui Shi, no, but… maybe he shouldn't try to be. He's kind of funny in his own stiff way, to be honest. The four of us, Rei, Wen, Renkai and I… we've become a rather strangely functional unit, you know? I don't feel unsafe if it's us, even if we objectively are always in danger… I've even had moments of genuine happiness, like I did during Rei's birthday. Because, yes, I'll birth my first baby months after my oldest daughter became of age. What a weird situation, huh? Because… yes, I adopted Rei officially. I didn't mention that yet, did I? T-the first time she addressed me as her mother, I just broke down in tears like the idiot I am… Fuck, I might just start crying again now anyway. See? My emotions are all over the place…"

She laughed as she dabbed at her tears… as she felt that comforting presence enveloping her, as in a gentle embrace. Azula smiled, closing her eyes and letting herself indulge in it freely…

"My heart's a mess, too…" he responded. "I… I need you. I miss you so badly… I know we're supposed to find our footing as it is, damn it, but it's not easy. You're truly my guiding light, Azula... everything I do, everywhere I go, every time I open my eyes, whenever I close them, it's always you I think of, always you I picture. When anything goes well, you're the first person I want to share it with. When something goes wrong, I want to talk to you so you can help me figure out how to make it right. But frankly… if you've found some stability, if you've found some happiness, that's enough for me to breathe more easily for now. If… if you're not alone anymore, if there's good people by your side, people you can trust… I'll still fight for you, of course I will, but if there's others standing with you until I can get to you, I'll be grateful to them forevermore. Whoever they may be, if they're keeping you healthy, if they're giving you reasons to smile, I'll owe them so much more than I'll ever be able to repay…"

The tears spilled down his face now. He couldn't hold back a soft chuckle, knowing he had faltered in his resolve to stay strong right now…

A soft weight against his brow.

A tear joining his upon that windowsill.

A hand tightening gently over his own.

Suddenly, he sat in a familiar place… a room he had frequented many times in the past. It was dark, so dark, the curtains of the open windows rustled softly in the wind…

But none of that background meant anything. Not when his eyes fell upon hers, recognizing their shared emotions in the potent connection they had crafted that night.

She couldn't tell where she was anymore: it wasn't what she'd expect the South Pole to look like, but how could she possibly focus on that when her eyes met his? When his blue found her gold, when his features were so real, so solid she raised a hand to touch his skin, to break the trail of tears upon his cheek…

"H-hey…" he said, his heart tightening, his chest nearly splitting open with the surge of emotions that bloomed within it. Azula's lips curled into a fragile smile, too, and without needing to ask, he knew her heart was as overwhelmed as his own.

"Hi," she said, once more: her hand cupped his cheek fully, and Sokka let out a soft, genuine laugh as his hand rose to the back of her neck.

He held nothing back when he leaned in, pressing his lips to hers. Just so, her arms looped around his neck, keeping him close, with her… their kiss was interrupted by their relieved sobs, by the thrill of holding each other as they had wanted to, on the second time a most confusing miracle had taken form between them, allowing them to meet anew. Yet this time, all logical reasoning was irrelevant. This time, they cared nothing for explanations: all they needed to do was cherish the moment they shared, gazing at each other with the loving affection they had ever found in the other's arms.

"I missed you… I missed you," Sokka sobbed, hugging her tightly to his chest. Azula's arms locked around his neck, lips pressing softly upon his shoulder, her body fully angled into his.

"I missed you too… every second, every day, every single moment, I…" she said, shivering as tears spilled from her eyes and on his clothes. "Sokka, I…"

They spoke the words at unison, gazing into each other's eyes with heartfelt honesty, with no manner of bashfulness, with wholehearted purpose:

"I love you."

Their shared smiles afterwards bore no sign of pain. This time, they grinned with true joy, with the bliss they had ever experienced by each other's side. Laughter spilled from their lips as Sokka pulled Azula in again, kissing her lips warmly, and she responded in kind with utmost delight.

There was no explaining what had happened… not beyond Sokka's understanding of the closeness between their energies and spirits. Perhaps they had beckoned each other's soul somehow, perhaps the shared moment, their matching choices and actions, the truehearted devotion with which they had reached for each other, had simply manifested itself in this unforeseen, unexpected reunion…

Whatever it was, though, they would waste none of it. Whether it was day or night, whether they were in the Fire Nation, the Water Tribe or the Earth Kingdom, whether the candle was lit or not as it continued to melt, slowly running out as the two joined lovers converged in every way that counted, finding true relief and comfort in the bond between their souls…

A smooth pool of melted wax smothered the fire eventually. Two candles, lit and burning for hours, fizzled out at the same time.

Azula grimaced: she opened her eyes to find it was dawn.

She had fallen asleep on the windowsill at some point, of course she had. A soft chuckle left her lips as she understood what had happened… as she cherished it, all the same. The bond, the bridge between their souls, remained as powerful as ever.

"We just keep on doing this, don't we?" she smiled, clasping Sokka's necklace and smiling warmly at him. "Though it was… nicer today. Not as stressful, I suppose. Though you'll have to forgive me for burning out our original wedding candle fully…"

Sokka's back creaked as he forced himself to sit upright again. He blinked a few times, his fluttering heart easing on its happiness when he realized he was alone once more… that it was dark, too. That the candle he'd found today was already fully spent…

"Guess I can't complain this time, huh? We made the most of that connection…" he said, with a watery smile regardless. His hand found the necklace, too, and he brought it to his lips… just as Azula did the same with his.

"Thank you," they spoke at unison once more, gentle smiles upon their faces.

"I'll be okay… so stay safe, alright?" Azula said, softly, hugging the necklace to her chest. "We'll be okay, Sokka… I'll be okay."

"I'll be careful… but you have to be, too," Sokka swallowed hard, nodding slowly. "My beautiful wife… next year we won't have to do it this way, okay? I… I'll do my best to ensure we'll light a candle together. That we'll be able to talk… to do whatever we want to without being a thousand miles apart. I'll be with you… I'll be with you, Azula. Just wait for me… just wait. I swear I'll be there… I'll be by your side."

Whatever spiritual gateway they had opened seemed to be closing now, but their emotions remained as linked as they ever were. Azula smiled, breathing deeply as she rubbed her aching neck – Song was absolutely going to scold her for sleeping in such an awkward position, without even a single cover to ensure she wouldn't catch a cold, and right by the window? Oh, she wouldn't hear the end of it –, but the discomfort didn't change that her heart felt lighter than it had been for many weeks. She smiled as she let her hands rest on her womb once more, and she sensed another gentle movement within it… a soft chuckle left her lips as she nodded approvingly.

"That was… that was your father, yes. Hopefully… hopefully he'll visit us again, right?" Azula said, smiling warmly as the sun rose in the sky… as the darkness was chased away by brightness.

She couldn't know what lay in store beyond this day, if the brief respite she had been granted would last for good… but her father's secrets seemed so menial, so insignificant when her heart had found the strongest, purest peace it had experienced since before the dark night when she had lost everything.

He was still out there… her belief, her conviction of it, had never wavered. Her faith in him remained as strong as it ever had been.

Likewise, Sokka's determination was bolstered, his heavy heart eased and comforted by the hazy, spiritually charged moment he had only just experienced with the Princess who still laid claim upon his heart and always would. The fear, the pain, the anguish over his own choices seemed to decrease as his resolve strengthened all over again: this path would bring him back to her, sooner or later. Whether she had understood what he was doing or not, he didn't know… but their hearts remained as connected, as bonded together, as they ever had been.

With a blissful, deep breath, Sokka smiled at the remnants of his candle: its fire might have burned out, but the one she had conjured within his heart continued to burn, its flames bolstered after that night: he would carry on forward, towards a tomorrow in which they wouldn't need a candle, a special day, a keepsake to connect to each other: they would stand side by side in that beautiful, bright future they had always intended to create together, where their love would finally be set free.