#background sokkla

[seyaryminamoto]

Fic-to-Art #41: Sokka and Azula's future room

A different challenge for myself this time... a wild little stab at non-character art for a change. I have noticed I'm not quite so helpless with backgrounds anymore so I figured I could give this a shot. My Patrons voted for a location that would allow them a glimpse of the future, of course (always fishing for spoilers, I love 'em), and so, here it is!

This isn't 100% set in stone as a layout for their future room but I think it was a helpful experiment to get me to visualize it a bit. There are a few things I would've liked to feature here that I had no room for, but eh, maybe one day (?). For now, I hope you guys like how this turned out!

If you'd like to be part of the creative process behind these pieces, a $1 pledge on Patreon makes you eligible for suggesting prompts and voting on the polls, as well as reading snippets of Gladiator's upcoming chapters 6 days ahead of release!

[zuko-always-lies]

hello, it seems like this page is dominated by Azula x girl ships, which is totally cool, I personally could see her with Ty Lee the most, but I was wondering if there are any thoughts on Azula x Sokka? Seeing as Sokka’s positive experiences with family could help Azula’s family trauma, and they are both incredibly smart and witty… just a thought. Please disregard me if you wish.

This is a question which deserves to be dealt with broadly. There actually aren't many reasonably prominent boys around Azula's age she can even potentially be shipped with. it's really only Haru, Teo, Jet, Zuko (note: I do not approve of Azula/Zuko, but I'll get back to that), Sokka, and Aang.

Teo and Haru do have significant appearances, but they receive almost no characterization, so there's not a strong reason to ship them with Azula.

Jet potentially makes a very interesting ship partner for Azula, simply because they have almost nothing in common yet perhaps share a certain drive and determination. However, it's a bit hard to imagine how they would even become lovers, and it's simply not a very popular ship.

For Zuko, even if we ignore the issue of incest, which is not a small issue at all, it's not a very attractive ship for me even from a theoretical perspective. Azula is a way more interesting character than Zuko, but one problem that she has is the everyone (the creators, the series, fanfic writers, fans, etc.) makes everything about her revolve around Zuko. Azula/Zuko as a ship perpetuates this tendency. Also, it involves Azula becoming emotionally dependent on another toxic guy from her family, which is something you'd hope she would grow out of. So yeah, I don't like Azula/Zuko due to the incest, but even ignoring that it doesn't seem particularly compelling to me.

Aang potentially makes a very interesting partner for Azula. They share so much. They're duty-driven prodigies who had an immense weight of expectations placed on them, they both love making mischief, they're both deeply ethical individuals, even if they're ethic systems are completely different, and Azula is even arguably one of the characters least inclined to resort violence in the series, just like Aang. Azula also left a scar on Aang's body when she killed him, so there's potentially a very odd sort of connection to explore. And Aang's compassion would be complex for Azula to experience and you can do a lot about how their cultures clash and combine. However, that being said, I have only very rarely seen an Azulaang fic I like. Common issues are

Putting Aang in a position of power over Azula

Making Azula's life resolve around serving Aang

Cutting Azula completely off from her connection to her nation

Softening Azula's character in a way that removes her canonical drive and ambition

Now we can finally talk about Sokka. The theoretical basis for Sokka/Azula is pretty strong. They're both warriors with daddy issues, they're both duty dedicated they both struggle to live up to their desired roles, they're both leaders, they're both highly intelligent, they're both sarcastic as hell, etc. The parallels just keep piling up. Azula is even one of the few characters to value nonbenders. There's a reason why this is the most popular Azula x male ship.

However, I have found that I don't tend to like Sokkla fics. Something feels off about them. I think part of the issue is that Sokka is a very hard character to write well, and he tends to feel a bit off to me whenever I see him in fanfiction. He's as silly and childish and idiotic and melodramatic as he is mature, intelligent, and dutiful. Also, it's easy to completely ignore his cultural background, but I think that background is critical to the character. Generally I've found that Sokkla fics tend to feel like they're about Azula much more than they're about Sokka, and it doesn't quite read right to me. And I guess in a certain way maybe Sokka and Azula are too similar for the ship to be truly compeling.

Anyways, those are just my personal opinions. Readers, please don't get mad because I don't like your ship.

[akiizayoi4869]

Something that bothers me about this fandom is when people say that we shouldn't ship Sokka and Katara with Zuko and Azula because colonizers and the Fire Nation tried to colonize the water tribes and wipe them out. Here's the thing. It wasn't just the water tribes. The Fire Nation attacked the Earth Kingdom too. They completely wiped out the air nomads as well. And yet I don't see anyone having any issue with Zukaang, Jinko or Jetko. So why is it only a problem when it's Zutara, Zukka, Azutara, and Sokkla?

Also? You do realize that by saying this, you're pretty much saying that white people and black people shouldn't be together. That pretty much anyone who is white should not be together with a person of color, because of the history of colonialism. You're saying that people of color should not look for love outside of our own race because of the history that is there. Do you know what we call that way of thinking? Racism. And I will tell you why. Because you are saying that interracial relationships are a problem and should not exist. And for someone like me, who is from the United States of America, where interracial marriage is still looked down upon in some states, and the Republicans have tried to get rid of it before? As someone who is black and indeginous, as someone who had a grandmother who was half white? I take offense to that. Because you are being racist.

I'm also going to say this, and I'm sorry if it sounds racist but it's the truth and it needs to get called out: this kind of thinking is usually by white people who see it as some kind of gotcha moment and think that they are combating racism by saying stuff like this. Man, do I have some news for you. You aren't helping anything. You are still actively a part of the problem because you are still being racist. Not to say that it's only white people, because I've seen people who aren't white say the exact same thing. And it's nonsense. Why are we condemning people who have nothing to do with what their ancestors did? By that logic, I shouldn't be best friends with a boy I met in my freshmen year of high school, who is white and from Greece. Because people who look just like him enslaved my people centuries ago, treated them like garbage, hunted us down like we were animals, etc. But guess what? That has nothing to do with him.

Lastly, people who are from different cultural backgrounds getting together should be seen as a sign of hope, a sign that we can learn to co exist with one another and live in peace with each other. It should be seen as a step forward to a better future. It should not be seen as a bad thing. If two people from different backgrounds want to be together? That's on them. It has absolutely nothing to do with you. And if it bothers you that much, that's a problem that YOU have and that you need to look at and sort out. Don't make it everyone else's problem.

[purple-astronaut]

My brain is all sokkla out for the day...JK

Azula: Sokka!

Sokka: Azula!

Azula: Sokka!

Katara: STOP SCREAMING EACH OTHERS NAMES!

Azula and sokka look at each other than katara then back at each other

Azula and sokka: KATARA!

Katara: Ugh

Toph and zuko laughing in the background and aang is trying to solve this " dispute"

[phoenix-king-ozai]

What is your favorite fire nation royal ships

My favorite Azula ship would be Azulaang or Tyzula followed by Sokkla. The contrast between Aang and Ty Lee’s personality with Azula’s own personality make their interactions in fanfics and canon very interesting and carry a certain charm to them. Aang would make a great therapist and healer for Azula. Along with Ty Lee being her closest female friend outside of Mai. Sokka and Azula also share genius-level intelligence and cunning. As well as make an excellence comedic duo! My favorite relationship outside of shipping for Azula is most definitely between Ozai, Ursa and Zuko. The parent & daughter and brother & sister relationship reigns supreme over all others. Maiko and Zutara personally is tied for me in regards to Zuko's ships!

Personally, I like Tyzula, Maiko, Azulaang, Zutara, and Sokkla for the main children characters and fire hazard siblings of the ATLA series and Irohsami for TLOK series. However, my FAVORITE ship in ALL of the Avatar: TLA series is Urzai obviously! PERIOD!

I believe that Ozai, Ursa, Zuko, and Azula including the entire Fire Nation Royal Family have very complex relationship dynanamics with each other. I believe that over time Ozai began to develop feelings of affection, care, even geniune love for his family. However, since Ozai has been raised to be a ruthless, cunning, manipulative vicious warrior since his childhood. He has socializing and romantic relationship problems as a result of Fire Lord Azulon’s ruthless, cruel, and brutal royal indoctrination of him. Ozai and Ursa maybe be Fire Nation Royals and Nobility by blood. However their personalities and background environment extremely differ. Which is why Ozai is so much colder, cruel, and brutally ruthless compared to his wife Ursa and even brother Iroh. Ozai has been personally brainwashed and socially conditioned since childhood by the Fire Nation Elite and Fire Lord Azulon to become the man that he is today. Compassion, Morality, Peace, Pacifism and Mercy are signs of Weakness and MUST be eradicated and eviscerated. However, during Zuko and Azula's early childhood Ozai was more gentle and fatherly towards his children and husbandly towards his wife. Ozai was never some sadistic wife and child beater that the ATLA fandumb tries to horribly make him out to seem like! It just their Abuse Porn Headcanon Fanficition Obession!

Zuko mentions that Ozai and Ursa along with their family used to be happy, and we saw that in Zuko's flashbacks. Yang, just decided to make Ursa a victim because in his mind: URSA IS A GOOD WOMAN! OZAI IS A BAD MAN! SHE MUST BE HELD HOSTAGE BY THE EVIL ABUSIVE MONSTER!!! While Ozai and Ursa arrange marriage does make sense and was confirmed by the creators. It doesn't mean that Ozai and Ursa's relationship was ALWAYS BAD, or SHE WAS KIDNAPPED! Plus, the Urzai relationship is quite normal in the antiquity of Asian societies that the Fire Nation is based on aka Shogunates of Japan and Imperial Chinese Dynasties!!!

Ozai HIMSELF stated in the comics that he tried to be a good father to Zuko and Azula during their young childhood which is canon to flashbacks that Zuko has in the show. Zuko HIMSELF also stated that Ozai tried to be a good father to him and Azula. WHICH ALSO EXPLAINED WHY ZUKO TRIED SO DESPERATELY TO GET BACK IN HIS FATHER'S GOOD GRACE AGAIN AND REGAIN HIS FATHER'S LOVE! So, in conclusion, Ozai did love and care for Ursa, Zuko, and Azula. Despite, according to the comics he was ALSO FORCED into an eugenics experiment with the granddaughter of his grandfather's old rival and friend. On the orders of his father Fire Lord Azulon and the wishes of the Fire Sages. I believe that Ursa did alot of the child rearing when Zuko and Azula were toddler with Fire Nation Royal Servants helping her as well. However, Ozai was a active and positive influence as a father for his children in their early youth. Why would Zuko desperately want to return to the Fire Nation and his father if Ozai was just a cruel, harshless, bastard to him? Ozai, Ursa and the children used to enjoy the time at Ember Island with theater plays and playing on the beach at their family's summer house.

[waterfire1848]

For the ship ask: Sokkla (Sokka x Azula)

Thanks for the ask!!!

Who said “I love you” first

Sokka but it took a while. Azula does say it right after he does though.

Who would have the other’s picture as their phone background

Both. However, where Azula has nice pictures of him he has just the worst pictures of her, like one taken the day after she got better from a cold and she's wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt and the other is when she laughed so hard water came out of her nose.

Who leaves notes written in fog on the bathroom mirror

Azula and it's always stuff that she's reminding Sokka about because she knows he has trouble keeping everything straight.

Who buys the other cheesy gifts

Sokka.

Who initiated the first kiss

Azula. She saw her opportunity and went for it but Sokka kissed her back two seconds later.

Who kisses the other awake in the morning

Azula. She's always the first one to wake up in the morning.

Who starts tickle fights

Sokka, but he quickly stops because the first time he tried it Azula accidentally punched him in the face.

Who asks who if they can join the other in the shower

Both.

Who surprises the other in the middle of the day at work with lunch

Sokka. He knows the days when Azula is drowning in work and five seconds from murdering the next person who looks at her weird are the days she forgets to eat and/or needs a break so he always stops by with some food.

Who was nervous and shy on the first date

Azula. She convinces Sokka to have their first date be in the palace then spends the entire day getting ready for it. On the date itself, she's so worried about saying the wrong thing the entire time.

Who kills/takes out the spiders

Azula. Sokka doesn't care if it's considered unmanly, in his eyes no normal creature needs eight legs so he lets his girlfriend who slayed the Avatar handle them.

Who loudly proclaims their love when they’re drunk

Sokka. He's not afraid to scream as loudly as possible about how much he loves Azula when drunk. When Azula's drunk, she's more possessive and silently reminds girls flirting with Sokka that he's her boyfriend by setting their clothes on fire.

[sokklamonth2023]

ahhh it’s finally here! here are the prompts for sokkla month 2023, each with its number corresponding the day in june.

first “i love you”

sharing a bed

missing eachother

first date

wedding

culture

being trapped together

family

getting lost

dancing

sunshine

obsession

hair

stargazing

combat/battle

night in

art

afterglow

confession

cuddling

babysitting

memory

home

vacation

habits

sleep

birthdays

grief

accident

pillow talk

special thanks to @artcraawl for all her amazing sokkla art because i had such a hard time choosing a background for this.

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Finally done with the Sokkla version. Mostly wanted to mess with shading and background elements.

[willsimpforazula]

WIP of steambabies being rebellious teens and getting in over their heads

Note: Miska & Risa are OCs; they're Sokka and Azula's twins. Risa is a firebender, Miska is a waterbender.

*****

Locker room

Warehouse 8, West Port

Republic City

"I'm starting to think that you get a kick out of bossing me around." Miska sighed, as he bent the water back into the waterskin, glad to be done fixing up the myriad of cuts, scraps and sideburns that his sister picked up after a night of street bending tournaments. 

"Only took you twelve years."

"I swear by the spirits if half the boys knew what the real you looked like, they wouldn't be simping for you as hard as they are now."

"Don't forget who set you up with her. You owe me for that." 

"At least she doesn't volunteer you for underground bending cage matches."

"So boring." she tutted.

"I'd like to not spend the night in the police holding cell, thank you very much. Besides, even if the cops don't get us, dad would skin us alive, to say nothing of what mom would do." Miska countered, a shudder running down his spine as to the myriad possibilities that awaited them should they be caught.

"If they find out."

"You think they wouldn't know?"

"We'll be fine. Besides, I've got standards to maintain and you've got someone to support."

"You make it sound like she's like my wife or something."

"Wouldn't you want to put a ring on that finger?"

"Well….I mean, yes, but we're like sixteen so no?"

"But there's a plan right? Because if you don't and break her heart…."

"Umm yeah you're not breaking anything, not in the state you're in."

"I hate it when you're right." Risa mumbled, reluctantly conceding the small victory to her brother.

"Once again, the younger sibling provides a voice of reason and rationality as the Spirits intended." 

"Whatever makes you happy." 

"Was that metaphorical or an actual question? Because if it is, I'd be really happy if we got paid about right fucking now."

Before Risa could come up with an equally snarky retort, a knock on the door interrupted her thoughts and she immediately reached under the bleacher, where she stashed a throwing dart in case anyone wanted to even the score post match. 

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Su."

"Come in."

"You look tense." she commented, arms folded across her chest as she took in the scene.

"Did you bring it?"

[kigozula]

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

[seyaryminamoto]

Fic-to-Art #24: Sokka holds Azula before the destroyed Bloodlust Spear

As some of you may have noticed, my patrons are a little bit wild and they just thrive in angst :'D This month's prompt for the artwork was "cliffhanger", and the winning option in the poll was the cliffhanger from chapter 226: Azula had taken the most dangerous wound she'd sustained in the entire story. Even then, she managed to destroy the Bloodlust Spear. The corruption of the spear affected her once the weapon was broken... and the consequences were almost deadly.

Things have certainly been really hard for our girl ever since that day... but at least she has recovered to a degree from this very serious wound. The specific cliffhanger for that chapter, though, is the moment when Sokka holds Azula in desperation, not knowing what to do and how to save her in the middle of this life-or-death situation she's in.

This artwork isn't a 1:1 depiction of what I saw in my mind when I wrote that scene, but honestly? It's surprisingly close to that. And I don't say that lightly x'D things just fell into place, and as much as it hurts to draw my girl hurting, and to draw my boy suffering for her fate, I really hope I conveyed both how fragileAzula she was in these circumstances, and how anguished Sokka was, too. Expressiveness in art is difficult, it really is...

If you want to be part of the creative process behind these pieces, a $1 pledge on Patreon will allow you to participate in it by suggesting prompts and voting on the monthly poll, as well as reading early snippets for each upcoming chapter!

[sokkla-wack-a-pow]

Hi!

Do you know any good sokkla fics with Zutara as background ship?

Hi! Here are some fics that feature both Sokkla and Zutara:

The Moon is a Reflection of the Sun by kebabeater1

Spilled Coco by TalesOfOnyxBats

Kissing Dead Pearls by TalesOfOnyxBats

only break if you must, darling by zelzenik

Lightning Destiny by Gd2go2

If you search AO3 for Sokkla and Zutara fics, there are 34 results. I hope this helps!

[hello-yue-here]

there would be no ship wars if everyone was just a multishipper... JUST SAYIN. (jk no one has to be a multishipper do what u want)

but like broskis. brodettes. brothren. bromantics. bromies. BROS.

they are FICTIONAL CHARACTERS.

SHIP WHOEVER U WANT TO. dont hate on people who have a different ship that is such clown behavior. like it literally does not hurt anyone if someone ships kataang over zutara or zutara over zukka or any of that dumb shit.

like bro if you dont ship it stay in ur own lane.

i wanna enjoy all of these ships in PEACE but i cant DO THAT when everyone is FIGHTING all the TIME.

and ive literally only ever seen it from kataang zutara and zukka shippers. idk if its happening anywhere else but ive never seen this kinda shit from mailee or sukka or tokka or sokkla or tyzula or pretty much any other atla ship SOOOOO.

idc who tf you ship. i literally do not give a single fuck. but if you call someone delusional or homophobic or racist or colonizer or sexist or transphobic or any of that other BULLSHIT strictly based on someones ship and not any ACTUAL offensive content THEN YOU ARE A PART OF THE PROBLEM.

sure, theres always gonna be offensive content from all of these ships. and yes when you see that call them out. but if ur hating on someone or harassing someone strictly because you just dont ship something and they do YOU ARE LITERALLY THE WORST LIKE WHY??? YOU GAIN NOTHING!!!

let people ship in peace bro.

i just wanna read my fics and ignore my math homework.

EDIT: i cant believe i didnt remember to include this lmao: ship whoever you want as long as it isnt incestuous or pedophilic because that stuff is ACTUALLY problematic. thank you @background-kyoshi-warrior for asking for this clarification

[klm-zoflorr]

Azula & Sokka at their wedding for @sokkla-week-2020 Day 1: Arranged marriage :3

It was a lot of fun experimenting with more "fancy" clothes and try to think about what they would wear (expecially Sokka). Azula ends up looking a shitton like her mom xD She's not gonna like that. Sokka looks like a full prince and I really enjoy it.

I didn't want to bother with a background. So I didn't xD

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Could you, instead of Bodyguard Sokkla AU, write Azula being famous, as she should, and Sokka being a huge overly smitten fanboy who gets to meet her irl by accident through Zuko? Zuko would obviously hide that he's related to someone famous to not attract attention on himself cause he can be somewhat socially awkward sometimes but what happens when his sister calls him one day while he's playing video games with his friends and without thinking too much he answers the phone and puts her on speaker so that his hand will be free to hold the controller and Sokka recognizes her voice?

This prompt has been sitting in my askbox for ages. Idk if you’re even still here xD but here it is. A quick little thing while I work on fandom events.

Katara thinks that it is embarrassing that he has so many posters of the girl. That one of them is even autographed. That he has a closet full of concert T-shirts and fanmade ones alike. That he has every single CD that Azula has ever appeared on. 

She doesn’t quite understand idol culture and frankly he finds himself rather embarrassed by it too. 

He would never let Jet or Zuko see all of this. Toph has already given him a hard time for being, as she so delicately put it, a total fanboy dweeb. But he certainly isn’t the worst out there. He can pridefully say that he doesn’t own a body pillow.

But he talks about her all the time. He’d like to meet her more than anything. He wonders if she is just as pretty in person. Prettier perhaps? She has such a nice smile and her voice is…

It’s divine. He has never heard anything like it; gentle and powerful all at once. 

It is a volcanic eruption and a quiet sunset breeze all at once. 

Sokka sighs, he almost puts one of the CD’s in the radio but he ultimately decides that doing so might ruin tonight’s livestream; pop music doesn’t exactly scream ‘epic fantasy-action background music’. Unless of course he and his gaming group are bold enough. He can’t imagine that they would be so brave. Not when Toph takes this whole livestreaming thing so seriously. 

Sokka puts on his headset and joins Zuko in the server. “Hey, Sokka.” The boy greets.

“How’s it going, buddy?”

Zuko exhales deeply. “I’m expecting a phone call tonight so we decided to postpone the livestream. Also, Toph can’t make it tonight, she’s got a headcold or something. So it’ll just be you, Jet, and I tonight.” 

“I think that we could use a stress free night of just gaming for the sake of gaming.” Just like in the old days, before they decided to start gaming for some extra cash. Not that Toph needs any. 

“What game are we playing tonight, boys?” Jet’s face appears on the screen. 

“Well Toph wanted to play ‘Night of Claw and Fire’. But I thought that we could play that one with the race cars that we used to love.” Zuko replies.

“Are we going to play the one with the shitty graphics? Or the new one.”

“Shitty graphics.” Sokka and Zuko say at once. Nothing like some classic, old school, boxy graphics. It has been so long since he has had a chance to glitch his character into oblivion. 

.oOo.

He knows that the game is all in good fun but Sokka can’t help but be at least a little frustrated at his losing streak. He hasn’t even been able to beat any of the NPC racers. They have been lapping him for the better part of the night while Zuko and Jet cackle. 

He wishes that Toph were here. 

Toph usually protects him from getting tag teamed. 

He puffs out another sigh and tightens his grip on his controller. He stares at its sleek, metallic navy blue finish. “Come on” he mumbles to the thing, “just give me one win.” 

He revs his virtual engine. 

3…

2…

1…

Zuko’s phone rings and the game pauses just as Sokka’s character blasts off. “Oh come on, bro!” Sokka shouts. 

Zuko rolls his eyes and unpauses the game. Sokka’s race car slams directly into the barricade and Jet cackles as Zuko hits the speaker button. “Hello?” 

“Hello, Zuzu.” 

Jet too slams his virtual car into the barricade and snorts. “Zuzu?” 

Zuko’s face flushes. “I shouldn’t have put you on speaker.”

“You have me on speaker?”

“I’m in the middle of gaming!” He declares. “I’m in first place by the way.” 

“There’s a first time for everything.” The girl chuckles. 

And that is when Sokka’s heart skips. He knows that laugh. He has always found it to be so charming. “Zuko…” he swallows. “Is that…?”

“My sister? Yeah.” Zuko fills in.

“Azula is your sister!? And you didn’t tell me?”

“My sister isn’t…”

“Yes I am.” Azula cuts in. “I’m exactly who you think I am.”

And Zuko is blushing again. Sokka can’t begin to fathom why. Not until he grumbles a, “I’ve been trying to be lowkey about this. I don’t want attention.” 

“I do.” Azula declares. 

“Why do you do this to me? And what are you actually calling for?”

“Well, mother said to tell you that she found some of your old baby pictures. Like the one where you…” 

“Azula!” He shouts, his face now a vivid scarlet.”

“The one where you decided to use your underwear as a hat.”

“Dude, you used your underpants as a hat?” Jet chuckles. 

“No! She’s just trying to make me sound like a dweeb.”

“It’s working.” Jet cackles. 

To Zuko’s credit he is still in first place. “Alright, Azula, we’ll talk later tonight.” His finger hovers over the end call button.

“No!” She and Sokka say at once. 

“I want to talk to your sister!” Sokka requests. “You know how much I love her…music!” Oh, he’s such an idiot–just bursting out declarations of love. “I love her music.” He repeats. 

“It’s alright, you can confess your love.” Azula drawls. “Most people do.”

Zuko groans. “She likes attention. Stop giving her attention.” 

But it is much too late for that. He has already plunged right into a very stuttering, “c-can we hang o-out sometime. I mean if you want to. I wouldn’t force you to do that because I’m…I’m not one of those weirdos but I thought that it could be nice maybe…”

“I suppose that we can.” Azula pauses. He can hear in her voice that her face has lit up. “Oh! I can show you Zuzu’s baby photos! There’s this one where he’s trying to eat his own foot.”

“Alright that’s it! Conversation over!” Zuko strikes ‘end call’. 

And with the strike of a button his hopes and dreams deflate. But hours later, with the sounds of video game victory music echoing in his ears, he gets a text. It better not be Zuko because he is ready to give the boy an earful…over text.

He looks at the screen. ‘Tomorrow. 5:00. Jasmine Dragon.’ The phone dings again and a picture of a very chubby baby Zuko stares up at him, peeking out from under a pair of underwear.

Sokka grins. ‘How did you get my number?’ He texts back.

‘That’s for me to know and you to wonder about.’ She adds a little wink. 

‘Okay, tomorrow at 5.’ He clutches his phone to his chest. He is actually going to meet his idol in person. He just hopes that she will like him as much as he likes her. Maybe he should take some of the posters down so that he doesn’t seem creepy…

He takes a deep breath. They’re just meeting at the Jasmine Dragon. And, realistically, Zuko will probably be tagging along. He will cross that bridge when he comes to it. Until then he will relish in that he is actually going to meet his idol face to face!

[willsimpforazula]

Fight night part 3

Hello, itsa me again with another inconsistent posting schedule (mostly because i forget sometimes that tumblr exists or is a thing, but I digress.

Anyways, we here for the steambaby action (no, not that kind of action get your head out of the gutter please)

Picking up where we left off........ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Office

While the kids begrudgingly went to their rooms and packed, Sokka and Azula headed upstairs to their office to discuss their next moves out of earshot of their children. Leaning against the furniture, both of them contemplated in silence what their next moves would be. Glancing up at his wife, Sokka broke the silence by asking "Did…did we make the right call, sending them off to Aang and Kat?"

"Don't tell me you're taking the kids' side?"

"No, but it's easier to keep an eye on them here versus sending them away. I mean, what if Risa or Miska gets the bright idea to sneak back somehow? Spirits know they won't hesitate to pull off something like that."

"I-I guess." Azula conceded, her shoulders similarly slumped like Sokka's, the gravity of the whole situation feeling like a ton of rocks were saddled upon them, the unspoken question of where did it all go wrong hanging in the air as the sun steadily dipped below the horizon.

"So then what do you propose?" she asked.

"I think I can get Toph to dispatch some plainclothes cops to help out in setting up security and getting the kids to have a bug out bag on standby is not a bad idea. Beyond that, I suppose training the kids to…well, do what needs to be done."

"You and I know what it's like to have taken life in combat, I sincerely hope our kids don't have to know what it feels like. Because between you and me Sokka, I truly believe we've failed as parents if our kids have to resort to such measures to fix their mistakes."

"Then we'll make sure that they don't have to." Sokka replied, his normally calm blue eyes hardening into the colour of a roiling sea.

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Toph's house

"And you're one hundred percent about this?" Toph asked.

"Why would I lie about something that could potentially get Risa and her brother killed?" Suyin responded.

"Maybe you should have thought about that before dragging them into this mess."

"In my defense, she was the one who said yes without hesitation."

"Doesn't absolve you of your charges, of which there is more growing by the day from my officers, to say nothing about what your sister has you written up for."

"....."

"There's only so much I can do as chief of police. You get me intel, and I'll see to it that your records are sealed away and marked classified for the next 80 years. However….."

"What's the catch mom?"

"I'll have to send you away to live with your grandparents after this whole case is over and done with."

"H-how long would that be?"

"Until I say it's okay for you to come back."

"Which is?"

"That remains to be seen. Actions have consequences."she replied, walking over to the cabinet where a bottle of hard Earth Kingdom rice wine sat on the top shelf. She was definitely going to need the liquid courage to make some hard phone calls after this. Sensing her daughter was walking away, she called out "Suyin?"

"What?"

"I-I"

"Save the apologies. I know I'm not the perfect daughter like Linny is."

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Sokka and Azula's apartment

Having decided on a plan, each of them agreed that Sokka would deal with Risa while Azula would deal with Miska and talk them through what the next steps were going to be. As they stood outside their rooms, they gave each other a brief glance, before simultaneously knocking on their doors.

"Risa?" "Miska?"

"Can I-"

"-come in?"

Anxious seconds passed, before they each replied "yes."

Once in, both of them found the other seated on the floor, the order to pack their belongings for the stay with their relatives unheeded.

"Risa-"

"Miska-"

"I thought we told you to-"

"No. This was our mess to begin with and we'll stay here and clean it up. You taught us to take responsibility for our actions-"

"-so why are you telling us to shrug it off and throw it to you to clean up?"

Clearly, the twins had decided amongst themselves that they would not seek refuge, but face the threat head on. Sensing that they would get nowhere by arguing, both Azula and Sokka decided to bring them out to the living room and have the conversation both did not want to bring up.

"Risa, Miska," Sokka began once all of them were in the living room "before I begin, I just want you both to know that we really do love you, which is why your mother and I decided that sending you off to live with your aunt Katara and uncle Aang is because we don't want to see you hurt, not because we think that you are less capable than us."

Turning the floor over to his wife, Azula took a deep breath and continued "While the fact that you survived a no rules bending cage match repeatedly is a testament to how well I trained you, using it to take a life is a totally different scenario. Your father and I,we….we were children of our time, forged in war and as a result, we have…. blood on our hands. That stays with you and it's a very, very heavy burden to carry for the rest of your life." 

Placing a hand on each of her kids, she choked slightly "Me and your father don't ever, ever, ever want that for either of you. At all. Your father and I aren't going to stop you if you want to stay and fight, just…I don't want to see either of you regret your choices.", her golden eyes slightly glistening with tears.

Stepping forward to join his wife, Sokka put his arm around her waist and ruffled the hair of his twins without saying a word, having nothing that he could add to make his wife's point heard and that it was up to his kids now to make the choice for themselves. 

Seeing their mother come this close to tears, their resolve to stay and fight alongside their parents wavered and for a moment, they came close to acquising to their parents' wishes to be spirited away, safe from harm. Taking a deep breath, Miska gave his sister's hand a squeeze before replying "I-I understand, but I will not walk away from this fight. Mom, dad, you taught me a long time ago that actions have consequences and that we should be responsible for the actions that we take. If I run now, I….I think..I would disappoint you both even more that me and sis already have."

Now, blue and gold eyes turned on Risa, who slightly withered under her parents' gaze but swallowed a gulp and added "I believe Miska said what we both are thinking." 

"I guess there's nothing we can do to change your minds. I will make the call to Toph and get the necessary arrangements done. In the meantime, could you and your sister make something for us? It's been a long day."

As the kids rushed off to the kitchen, Sokka pulled her into himself, letting her release her tears on his shirt.

"Sokka," she mumbled into his chest, "I hope we made the right choice. For their sake."

"Spirits princess, for their sake I hope so too." he whispered back, stroking her hair

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Later that evening

"Bout time you called Snoozles, was thinking you weren't gonna call at all." Toph replied when he called.

"Did Suyin tell you-"

"About a bunch of ashmakers plotting a life on your precious little prince and princess? I fucking called it that afternoon. I'll dispatch the plainclothes unit to beef up security first thing tomorrow."

"What about Suyin?"

"She'll be heading back to gather more intel."

"Okay hold up, aren't you worried about her safety?"

"That's for me to worry about. In the meantime, what are you and that purple platypus bear of yours going to do?"

"Just so you know Toph, I'm right here." Azula interjected.

"Good, at least I don't have to make a separate call to your office tomorrow. Anyways, we've spent enough jibber jabber here; what are you guys going to do?"

"We're staying put, if they come for us we'll handle it. That is, if they get past your boys."

"Works for me. You gonna send your kids to Twinkletoes' place till the heat dies down?"

"No, they're staying as well."

"Your kids got balls, I'll give 'em that. Question is though, what if they get hurt or-"

"That will not happen if we have something to say about it."

"Please, you and I have been through enough situations to know that isn't the case."

"I'd rather them stay here than risk them pulling off something irresponsible if we send them over to Aang's."

"Point noted. What are you going to do with Suyin?"

"Probably send her off to live with her gramps once this whole kerfuffle is over and the meatheads put behind bars."

"That's some grade A parenting."

"I don't tell you how to raise your kids. I'd appreciate it if you and sparky would do the same."

"Noted."

"Anything else?"

"Keep us informed if there's updates."

"Grade A parenting indeed." Azula muttered.

"One day that shit is going to come bite her back in the ass, I just know it."

"Look Sokka, she's got her reasons for doing so. At the end of the day, how she raises her kids is her business."

"Yeah, and look where that led? Our kids are now mixed up some underground fight scene because of her."

"Let's just focus on what we can do and control, okay?"

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Two nights later,

Locker room

Warehouse 8

Taking a breather after two gruelling back to back matches, Somchai was getting tended to by his gang when the door burst open and a hand tossed a brown bag into the room before the door slammed. Divvying out of the cash, they pocketed the cash while Somchai counted out his cut before putting some away, as he planned to make another trip to the information broker to gather more intel on his target.

Seeing him count out and divide his winnings into neat stacks, one of them asked "What's that money for?"

"You'll see." was his reply.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dining table

"Dad?" Miska asked.

"Yes?"

"Do we really have to go to school?"

"Neither me nor your mother put our education on pause even though there was a war going on in full swing, so there is no excuse. Especially given your mother and I tried to kill each other. On multiple occasions."

"Are you sure both of you didn't sneak off and make out like jackalopes instead?" Risa smirked.

"I would rather you pay more attention to what your textbooks have written down versus unsubstantiated rumours and hearsay." Azula replied, though the slight blush in her cheeks only served to confirm her daughter's allegations.

"But mom, you and dad are practically Oma and Shu but actually with a happy ending! Though I do wonder, which one between you was the initiator" she asked, placing her chin on her hands and glancing between her father and mother.

"It's too early in the morning for something like this, sis." Miska pleaded weakly, his face turning a shade of green.

"Pfft, do you know how many times I came back home only to hear you and Kaie sucking each other's face? Did you ever think about what kind of physical, emotional and spiritual trauma you and Kaie put me through? Me, your poor sister having to endure sappy face sucking noises from her innocent younger brother?" she shot back, the memory of her walking in on her brother's makeout session one autumn afternoon making her stomach churn slightly, though outwardly she maintained a posture of poise.

"We-I-You weren't supposed to be back! And-and-and it was only that one time!" he blustered.

"Sure it was." she retorted, enjoying the spectacle of watching her brother implode in slow motion while digging his own grave in front of their parents.

"Miska, why were we not informed about this….relationship of yours?" Azula asked.

"Be-because we uh…uh..weren't ready yet?"

"And when do you both think you will be ready?" Sokka asked.

"Well….we're were um, hoping to well…get around to it sometime during the full moon festival?" he replied hesitantly.

"See to it that you do." Azula ordered. " As for you young lady, don't think we've forgotten about you."

"Me?" Risa answered innocently.

"Yes you Risa, don't give us that look of innocence here. If your brother here managed to keep his dalliance under our noses for this long, I shudder to think what you have been doing behind our backs as well." Azula sternly replied, her mind already thinking of a suitable moment to have a one on one talk with her daughter. 

Before Miska could reply with incriminating evidence of his sister's follies, Sokka looked up at the clock and noted "Wow look at the time, hurry up or you'll both be late for school." 

"But dad!" both of them uttered.

Fixing them both with his displeased glare, Sokka put his foot down and replied "Both of you told me that you'd take responsibility for your actions. This is part of it. Now go and get ready, no more ifs, ands or buts. If I and your mother were able to finish our education in the midst of the war, when we were actively trying to kill each other no less, there is no excuse for either of you to miss school. Do I make myself clear?"

Seeing that their father was in no mood to negotiate and with their mother firmly in their father's camp, the twins reluctantly scarfed down their food and rushed to get ready for school. After they left the apartment, Sokka turned to Azula "Come to think of it, how did we find the time?"

"I don't know Sokka. I really don't know."

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Back room

Po Chi Lam Apothecary

"You should really learn to let it slide." the old man spoke as he leaned back against his chair and took a few puffs from his pipe.

"I didn't ask for your opinion, old man." Somchai retorted.

"Tsk, firebenders and their tempers." he shook his head, pouring himself a glass of herbal tea before reaching for a file in his cabinet. Placing it on the table, he swiped the beads on his abacus, sipping intermittently while Somchai devoured the contents. When he had what he needed, he closed the file and placed it on the table.

"How did you-"

"I do not ask from whence you earn your living nor how you spend it. I suggest you do the same regarding my sources." Putting down the abacus, he picked up a brush, dipped it in the inkwell and filled out a chit, which he handed over. 

"That's a lot more than what we agreed upon."

"Accurate and reliable information always has a steep price tag. Whatever it is that you seek to do, I hope, for your sake, is worth the cost."

Stuffing the chit in his pocket, he stood up and made to leave the room. When he was at the threshold, he turned around and replied "What something is worth is up to the individual to determine, not some outsider."

"Suit yourself."

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Classroom 5-Szeto

Republic City Academy of Science and Arts

"Look, I think she's going to be more worried about why you weren't at school yesterday than…whatever it is you had planned until your winnings got confiscated. Also, why weren't you here yesterday?" Hyun-woo asked.

"Yeah, why weren't you here yesterday?" Berkut added on

"No comment." Miska replied, his mind running at a thousand miles a minute. 

"Can't say or won't say?"

"Can't talk about it."

"Sounds like you got yourself in some serious trouble."

"Well I would be if you guys wouldn't stop speculating, so stop speculating and help me figure out how to break it to her!"

"Break what, exactly?" A familiar feminine voice interjected. 

"Shit."

Immediately, Berkut and Hyun-woo exited stage left, leaving him alone with Kaie. 

"That's not exactly the greeting I was expecting to get, but I'll let it slide for now. Anyways, what is it that you were planning to tell me? Nothing too groundbreaking, I hope."

Deciding that it was probably a better idea to come clean instead of beat around the bush and earn himself a verbal ass beating, Miska explained that while he still intended to do something nice for their two year anniversary, the initial plan of a fancy night out would have to significantly be scaled back due a sudden lack of funds to support said night out due to his his mother confiscating his funds and the current threat of disgruntled street fighters gunning to place his head on a pike and do unspeakable things to his twin sister.

"....so uh, yeah, that's why I wasn't here yesterday." he finished, swallowing a nervous gulp as she processed the information, her brows furrowed in thought.

"Kaie?"

"I need a moment to process. We'll talk during recess, okay?"

"You're not-"

"Not unless you give me a reason to. Which you haven't, if that's what you're thinking."

-------

-------

Classroom 5-Yangchen

While Miska was getting grilled by his friends, over in Risa's classroom she was getting a similar grilling from her friends, who by now were starting to ask a lot more uncomfortable questions such as her recent injuries and the fact that she was slowly starting to look like a panda, of which their concerns were noted.

"Risa?"

"Yes Maki?"

"Somehow I get the feeling that there's a lot more that you're not telling us, girl."

"A girl's gotta have secrets y'know."

"Look, when you've been showing up for the past month and a half off and on with these bruises we can't help but be concerned for you. Is your brother-"

"C'mon Anju, do you really think Miska can take me on one on one?"

"Miska? Nah. But still, is everything okay with you?"

"I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."

"Seriously?" Ji-Min asked, her face a mix of scepticism and incredulousness.

"Okay maybe not the last part, but seriously I can't talk about it. Not unless each of you promise to keep it to yourselves and only to yourselves. Especially you, Ty Lin." 

"Hey!" she protested.

"In any case, are you joining us later after school?"

"About that…I uh, got grounded." Risa replied, the last part said in a small voice.

"You what?!" Ty Lin yelped, slamming her hands on the table and sticking her face into Risa's personal space, making her scoot back and almost tip over her chair, drawing the attention of everyone in the class.

"Personal space Ty!" she whispered loudly.

"Heh, sorry." 

"You must have seriously fucked up for your parents to ground you." Jin Woo commented.

"You don't say."

"So…you won't be joining us later?" Ty Lin asked.

"What do you think?"

"How long will you be-"

"I don't know. Could be a week, could be a month, could be forever really." she shrugged. 

"That's rough girl."