His eyes slowly fluttered open, his slumber gently interrupted by a constant breeze directed into his ear. It was accompanied by the softest noise - practically inaudible save for his close proximity.

Even though the sweet embrace of the dreamworld had left him, his thoughts were hazy, as though a fog had crept into his mind. Worry began to trickle through him. His memories seemed nothing but a blur.

Blearily, he attempted to rise. No doubt Zuko would want to see him soon with some important matters. Frankly he was beginning to miss his home a lot.

Something held him in place. It was warm, soft and fleshy.

"Do not even think about leaving."

A woman's sharp voice cut through his stupor, just as her equally sharp nails began to cut into his chest.

"Oh crap..." Sokka muttered, bewildered. "Azula?"

"Who else would it be?" She asked bemusedly.

"You'd be surprised at some of the stuff I've woken up to."

He turned to face his bedmate. Her obsidian hair was messier than he'd ever seen it, mussed up with sleep and exertion, but his attention was held by her eyes - glowing with a satisfaction she'd not had before.

"Too much wine, Sokka? And after all your boasts about Water Tribesmen being the best drinkers in the world," Azula laughed to herself.

Sokka tried to muster up a witty remark, but hadn't yet regained the mental clarity, befuddled as he was by the drink and his close proximity to the beautiful princess.

"Yeah well, we'll see how you feel after a drink of fermented tigerseal blood," he managed, trying to pry himself free without a great deal of success.

"I imagine that it would be difficult to find one here in the Fire Nation. They don't exactly last long out of the South Pole, do they?" Azula returned.

Sokka gave up, relaxing into her embrace. It was clear that she was as unadorned as he, with only sheets to separate them.

"Exactly. Just as the fruits and such you use to make wine can't survive in the Poles. How could I be used to it?" He explained smugly.

"That was almost logical, I'm impressed," the firebender mocked him.

"Have it your way, Princess," Sokka sighed, giving up his somewhat meagre defence.

"Oh, I certainly intend to. You're better in the bedroom than you are in the ballroom, I'll give you that," Azula assured him, reclining back. The scarlet sheet slid off her body, and Sokka struggled to keep his eyes on her face.

"What can I say? I'm a lover and a fighter," he declared.

"Admirable qualities indeed," Azula agreed, amused by his boasts.

"But seeing as how I don't remember much of last night yet, perhaps you and I can attempt to... recreate those memories," Sokka suggested.

Azula's golden eyes widened in pleased surprise as he pressed closer to her.

"What is he doing? I haven't seen him in days," Zuko muttered.

"Probably sleeping, knowing him. It's amazing how much like Momo he is, sometimes," Katara responded, munching on a moonpeach.

Said winged lemur chittered on his master's shoulders, watching her eat her meal with envy. Aang reached up to scratch him behind the ear.

"But where? He isn't in his room, I checked," the Fire Lord exclaimed, rubbing his burned brow.

"Did you check anyone else's?" Toph slid in, her mouth curved in sly amusement.

Zuko stared at her uncertainly.

"No, of course not. Do you know something we don't?" He enquired.

"If I answered that, we'd be here for years," Toph told him, casually clapping a hand on his shoulder. Zuko fought hard to not buckle under the pressure.

"Thank you Toph, but that doesn't help our current problem. The meeting is soon and I need him for it. Not to mention Azula, I'm not sure where she is either," Zuko said.

That caught Katara's attention. She set the half-eaten peach aside, levelling Zuko with a fierce stare.

"What do you mean? I thought you had someone watching her at all times," she growled.

"But you said that was Sokka, didn't you Zuko? Then he's probably just keeping an eye on her, nothing to worry about," Aang jumped in, simultaneously attempting to placate his wife and prevent Momo from stealing her discarded food.

Toph burst out laughing.

"Yeah, I bet he's keeping a real close eye on her," she wheezed, overcome by amusement.

Zuko grit his teeth in displeasure as Toph's devilish glee subsided.

"Enough of this, I'm going to get him myself - this meeting is too important for him to miss," Zuko decided.

"Have fun!" Toph snickered as the Fire Lord stomped away.

"And after that Katara decided I wasn't allowed to go outside on my own for a while," Sokka concluded.

Azula stared at him flatly as the Water Tribesman grinned brightly.

"I see. Sometimes I wonder how I ever lost to you people," she muttered to herself.

"Oh don't feel bad, 'Zula, you're not the only one we totally outfoxed, outfought and outright triumphed over," Sokka patted her shoulder patronisingly before hurriedly pulling it away at her icy glare.

"Be grateful that I'm feeling too tired to incinerate you right now," the princess growled.

Sokka waved his hand dismissively.

"You wouldn't want to harm this pretty face," he bragged.

"Who says it's your face I'll burn?" She countered, raising an eyebrow. "There are other ways to cut you down to size."

Sokka winced, gulping.

"Now, I don't think we should go that far... Besides, I think you've grown rather fond of all of me as of late, haven't you?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Azula scoffed but lay back on their bed, too tired to continue their conversation. Sokka privately counted that as a victory as he settled down beside her, fingers tangling into her flowing tresses.

"Sokka, are you in there?" Zuko's voice called, knocking at the door.

The warrior sat bolt upright, cursing under his breath. His gaze cast around the room for an excuse... or escape.

"Sokka? We've got a meeting to attend to!" Zuko tried again.

Azula watched with mirth as the increasingly frazzled Sokka shot horrified looks at the door.

"Oh, uh... Yeah, I'll be there in a minute," Sokka replied, attempting to shimmy into his garments.

"For goodness sake, Sokka, this is important," Zuko sighed.

"Honestly Zuko, at least let the man get his clothes on," Azula chimed in.

Sokka froze, staring at her in horror as Zuko choked. The door swung open and he stepped inside.

"Don't you know it's rude to enter without an invitation, Zuzu?" The princess drawled, unconcerned by his entry.

"Sokka. What is going on?" Zuko ignored her.

Sokka glanced between the two rapidly, before gracing Zuko with a massive false grin.

"Zuko my ol' pal, I was just looking after your sister for you, as requested," he tried.

Zuko's glare could have crumbled stone faster than Toph's earthbending.

"I told you to watch over her, not to... fraternise with her!" He snapped.

"Rest assured she never left my sight," Sokka mumbled.

"I couldn't always see him though, only Ty Lee could be that flexible," Azula attested.

Zuko made a disgusted noise, rubbing his temples.

"Whatever. Put your clothes on and come with me - both of you." He ordered, making a swift retreat.

"As you command," Sokka grumbled when he was out of earshot.

Azula just smiled.

"And that is the measure I propose, my Lord," the Minister of War finished with a flourish.

"Thank you for your input, Minister. What do you make of this, Sokka?" Zuko asked.

His reply was a light snore, the dark-skinned warrior lying with his face against the table totally dead to the world.

"Sokka." Zuko prompted him again loudly.

"Oh yeah Momo? I bet you... And another thing... So there," was the sleepy reply, as Sokka snuggled against his wooden support.

Katara jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow, and he awoke with a start, banging his chin on the table in his confusion.

"What the-? Katara! If you weren't pregnant..." He muttered ominously, scowling.

"Zuko asked you what you thought of the War Minister's plans to defeat the rebels," Azula helpfully explained.

"Oh, um... Yes? Sure. Good. Let's go with that," Sokka sputtered, caught off guard.

"I'm glad you think so, then we'll leave it in your certainly capable hands," Azula continued. "I'm sure you'll be able to drive them out single-handedly."

Sokka blinked, still dazed by his rude awakening.

"Hang on, what? Single-handed." He murmured dumbly.

"Oh yes, I'm so glad you volunteered to carry out this mission. I'm sure it would be suicide for anyone else... But you're such a talented warrior." Azula said, her voice sugary.

"Well, I, maybe? Let's not be too hasty..." Sokka gulped.

The group looked at one another, bursting out into laughter.

"Oh Sokka, do try to stay awake next time. You're not being sent out there on your own," Zuko shook his head fondly.

Sokka breathed a sigh of relief before pouting.

"Yeah yeah, pull a trick on the non-bender, that's never gotten old," he sulked.

"Now if everyone's paying attention... Toph will lead the offensive," Zuko continued.

"Naturally, there's no one more offensive than me," Toph grinned.

"Indeed. Katara will stay behind to work as a healer - don't give me that look, you're heavily pregnant. Aang, you and I will be on the eastern side and Sokka with Azula on the west. And guys... try not to kill them, alright? They may be rebels but they're still my subjects."

Azula smirked, tossing her hair.

"No promises Zuzu - this is war, after all."

Zuko shook his head minutely, rubbing his scarred eye.

"Hmph. Very well, I believe that's everything we have to discuss. Dismissed," he declared.

Sokka ran the whetstone down the gleaming midnight blade. The sound of metal and stone singing together soothed his mind.

"Nervous?"

He shrugged, not turning to face his lover.

"A little. War is dangerous after all. Every time I fight, I wonder if it will be the last. Old soldiers are rare," he admitted. "Especially non-benders."

"You're tougher than most benders," Azula scoffed.

"It only takes one lucky shot or mistake. We've been so fortunate to have lived through so much unscathed. Mostly unscathed at any rate. It's got to run out sometime, right?"

He startled, nearly dropping Space Sword as Azula gripped him by the shoulders and kissed him roughly. Her golden eyes glowed with the intensity of her emotions.

"Sometime. But not today."

Sokka smiled, nodding softly. He rose, hefting his beloved sword, relishing the feel of it in his grip.

"You're right. I'm the luckiest man alive."

He reached out to take her hand in his and they sauntered off to find the rest of their group.