The Taste of Metallic and Burn

Sokka never imagines himself as one to be as comfortable to accept the fact he's living with Zuko and his psychopath sister, but he's tolerating it. Until burned corpses marked for Azula starts appearing up on the front door like presents. Something is up, and Sokka might get more than what he bargains for.

Post-war, sorta a future-fic. Sokka/Azula. Other pairings may be hinted. AU if you're lining the scenes with LoK.

Prologue.

Today, Prince Zuko and Avatar Aang will be arriving at the Southern Water Tribe after three years without properly settling down, for the 'Meeting of The Century' as lots of people have call it, to finally (once again) return back the proper title of Firelord back to Zuko and for Aang to finally execute his Avatar duty in peace.

It was three years back that Zuko had shockingly announced his 'temporary-break' from being a Firelord, handing the title to Iroh who accepted it without any hesitation. Sokka honestly didn't (still doesn't) know that there is such a thing as 'temporary-break' from being a freaking Firelord, and apparently, a lot of people shared the same thought. It was even more of a shock when Zuko announced, this time discreetly - only to the people that mattered, that he was going to travel with Aang.

His reasons became somewhat vivid after a while. "I am going to find a cure for my sister," he drawled, no obvious emotion passed across his face.

Sokka remembers glancing slightly behind Zuko, where the former-shell of what-once-was a proud Princess sat, her head hung low and the word 'crazy' crossed his mind in a low, harsh whisper. It was clear that something happened between Azula and Zuko after the manic Princess was captured, and that 'something' must be extremely horrible that it forced Zuko to gave up his Firelord stand, even if it's for a while, and find a cure for it. With Aang, no less.

"As you all may have been informed, I wasn't able to take Azula's bending away," Aang was trying his best to keep his cool, but Sokka knew how bad Aang had felt when he had to take someone's bending away - even if it's from the worst of people. Yes, there was a victory in what he's done, but ripping the bending ability from someone, something that they have lived their whole life with, was not wholly enjoyable.

Sokka won't definitely be happy if Aang suddenly decide to take all of his strength and will power away. It was all he had, if one to think about it.

Aang continued nevertheless, "Which lead me to investigate that something ... triggered in Azula."

A gasp of confusion fly across the hall - both Zuko and Aang ignored it. It was Zuko who said the next line, "Azula is cursed." Another collection of gasps filled the hall, even one coming from Sokka himself. Katara looked on seriously - Sokka suspected she knew a little bit, if not more: he'd seen her joining Zuko in some 'private conversations' before. Sokka won't be surprised if Katara was involved. She was, after all, a Waterbending master - a praised healer.

Zuko would definitely seek her assistance, if he must.

Toph didn't even blink - well, she barely blink in the first place anyway - and continued to stare on in a phlegmatic manner. She was getting impatient, Sokka could tell. Zuko didn't even stutter, "It is confirmed that there is a big gap in Azula's strip of memory of her mind that left her ... crippled mentally." Zuko slightly cringed at those words and Sokka noticed how Azula flinched helplessly from behind, her head hung lower if possible. "And that she is also bound with me."

"Zuko won't be able to go on with his daily routine as Firelord if Azula can't be away from him within three miles."

"What happened if Zuko's away? What'd happen to her?" Toph voiced out, no shame in her loud voice.

Aang didn't hesitate, sat up straighter. "Azula will suffer severe pain in her whole body, convulsing without a pause - it will eventually lead to death."

"What's wrong with that!" A voice shouts out from somewhere in the background, following with murmurs of agreement. Sokka sunk in deeper into his chair, trying to let these information settle in his brain. He looked up again to see Zuka clenches his fist and slam it on the desk, releasing a loud thump and silencing the hall once again.

When the Prince looked up, it was a deadly stare. "I realised Azula has done many wrongs in her past, and most if it was unforgivable - despicable, really. I do not expect you to cherish her, or adore her. But at least have the decency to respect her. She is, after all, by the end of the day, still my sister."

There's a strange silent in the atmosphere that tugged on Sokka's skin. If Zuko noticed it, he hadn't exactly been showing it. "Avatar Aang and I will set on our journey sooner. We will do our best to figure out this problem, and be home shortly after for me to presume my title as the rightful Firelord, and for Avatar Aang to continue on with his duty. I apologise for the complications."

Sokka can't quite remember what happened after that - he knew the whole discussion then stirred to something about Zuko's plan to re-construct the whole Nation and giving everyone their proper jobs.

Times moved on pretty quickly after that: he watched as Appa flied off with Aang, Zuko and Azula on it - her face shielded by the then proper shoulder-lenght cut hair of hers. Katara went on to treat people in need, Toph took the lead to yell orders onto people's head while they build the ruined city again, Sokka waited around, helped wherever he was needed. A few months passed, Suki went back to Kiyoshi Island, and he finally made the decision to go back to the Southern Water Tribe.

Katara came back to the Southern Water Tribe a few months after the first celebration of Remembrance Day - the day dedicated to celebrate that the Nation have been released from Ozai's grasp - but she still moved around a lot, being called from all sort of places. Toph popped in here and there, but won't stay for long. She visited her parents, she told, made peace and moved on with her lives.

Before he knew it, Toph was opening up a Special Bending School.

Suki and him broke off after a while. He was really caught up with building the Southern Water Tribe again, now that some of the Northern Water Tribe's migrated to the South - he envisioned the place to be bigger, grander; to be what he saw it as, an honourable place, something to look upon. He helped his father around a lot too.

Things happen, people change, time passes.

And then, comes today.

Sokka watches as people run about, yelling about the preparations - are the food ready, where's the grilled fish, we don't have anymore chairs, can someone please clean this up - and kinda smiles to himself. He swirls the cactus juice in his hand for a second, before swallowing the content. A presence make its appearance by his side. "Katara," he decides to greet.

He haven't seen his sister at all today - while he still wakes up near noon, Katara would be up and going right after dawn.

Katara smiles at him, her strict features softens as her lips turn and her cheekbones rose. Her brown locks braided and styled just as ordinarily, but there's absolutely nothing ordinary about her anymore, Sokka amuses himself - nearing the age of nineteen and she's already hold the name of Master of Waterbending, Grand Healer.

What else is new?

"You shouldn't really be drinking that now, Sokka." Katara reminds him as he swallows another chug.

He chortles at that, and straighten his pose from the railing, "I'm twenty-one now, Katara. I'm pretty sure it's not anything illegal."

There's a sigh escaping from her lips, "Almost twenty-one. Your birthday is in three weeks."

"You remember."

A pause, "I never forget."

Sokka and Katara stares up at the busy view once again, the silence seeping in and makes itself comfortable. It's been a while since he has any real conversation with Katara, now that he's recalling it back again. Never that easiness of just talking anymore. Katara is always venturing about her works, the cases that's loading her tables, just aching to be solved. And she's barely around - in fact, she's just back from a secluded island somewhere far off the map just three days ago.

There's always something. Sokka feels terrible that now adulthood is taking over their lives, but there's just something he cannot help sometimes. "When are they arriving exactly?"

"Sometime an hour from now." Katara answers curtly, sharp and to-the-point. Like a paperwork. Sokka snorts - she would know about that.

"And Toph?"

He could feel Katara nodding from his side, "I'll be greeting her soon. It's been a while since I last saw her."

"A year, Katara." Sokka corrects her, "A while is an understatement."

Katara doesn't say anything back, so Sokka takes the chance to chug the cactus juice some more. The taste leaves a light effect, but it won't be enough to actually make him drunk. He's had enough of practise to master the art of keeping sober. "Will you be greeting Aang and Zuko too?"

A beat passes. Sokka turns to study his sister's face. She slightly frowns - only slightly. "Of course."

He honestly doesn't know what happened between Aang and Katara: but he knows that they are no longer in a relationship like they were before. They were civil, that's for sure - but lovey-dovey? Not so much. All that Sokka could gather is that there's an awkward stretch in their relationship now - Katara doesn't even send Aang much of a letter; she just goes ahead and insert "I hope Aang is well" whenever she writes a letter to Zuko these past years.

It's so weird.

"The gang will be staying with us." Katara adds - and Sokka raises his brows questionably at her. "The lodge is equipped for everyone's use. It will be warm enough for Zuko and of course, Azula - and well enough for Toph not to freeze her feet the second she's out of her shoes." There's a smile as Katara says the last sentences, and Sokka can't help but to follow her reaction as well.

"Yeah, sure." He nods - the lodge is one of the luxuries Dad and Sokka manages to build, exactly for an occasion like this. The material has been suitable for the South Pole's extreme weather, and it is complete with every necessities for someone who isn't trained to live in a regular igloo.

"I'll be staying with Dad. But you have to stay at the lodge, just so Azula won't burn it down to crisp or have Toph tear it apart." Katara pauses, then adds, "And entertain both Zuko and Aang."

Sokka snorts. "That's a lot of work."

"I'll be around, no worries. There's still some progress I need details on about Azula's case." Katara sighs, clenches her fingers that are under the warmth of her gloves. "Things won't go on smoothly if Zuko can't continue on his work as the Firelord. He isn't supposed to be dragging Azula everywhere he goes. That's not normal."

"They haven't solved this case at all?"

At age nineteen, Sokka can already see the faint wrinkle appearing on Katara's forehead as she shakes her head in denial. "Far from it, as a matter of fact." Then, she grits her teeth. "What a waste of three years."

"I'm sure there is something more to it," He dumbly suggests, not knowing really what to respond with.

"Zuko said something in his letter. But nothing major." Katara turns her back against the view, now tilting her head back and let her braids fall over the railing helplessly. She exhales, "Azula is still cursed."

Sokka chugs the last drop of the cactus juice, letting his sister's last sentence echoes in his head dully: Azula is still cursed.

For whatever unusual reason, Toph is late.

Katara goes on marching to whoever's in charge of making sure the guests arrive in time to ask why exactly is this happening. As far as guesses can go, Sokka's bet that Toph wrestles these guards and she's having second-thought about coming to the South Pole. She really hates it when she has to wear shoe - and in the Poles, you must absolutely wear shoes - because then, she would be completely blind.

He lets his sister be as she thumps her foot and demands a reasonable answer to ease her already-headached mind; Sokka just looks up ahead as the ships stops at the shore, some of his men welcome the guests like how Sokka seen them practise a few weeks ago.

Man, Rani (a strict woman who's been working alongside Sokka for the last two years) really trained them well. Wouldn't want to embarrass the Southern Water Tribes, huh?

After all, it is not always that the Southern Tribe hosts big events like these.

Sokka huffs out the cold air and averts his eyes at the ships, before he notices something faint in the background of the sky. He squints his eyes really, really hard, focusing at that particular spot - before the shapes take place, and his eyes bulge out of their socket. He chocks at first, "Kat- Katara!" He yells, now running forward towards the shape - as if he could chase after it.

There's a smile on his face now - so big, it aches his cheekbones. All of a sudden, he feels like a child again - eager and impulsive and careless. The persona of a cool-but-serious warrior he's tried so hard to achieve fades away like paints on walls. Somehow - somehow - it doesn't matter now. Because he recognise that shape.

"Appa!" he screams, excited and overwhelmed. The flying bison is slowly coming down now, the shape and its colour looks alive and clear, and right in front of his eyes. "Appa! Aang! Zuko!"

The flying bison makes a show, flies in circles before landing a few feet away from where Sokka is. He runs, and almost immediately too, a young, much taller, bald man jumps from the flying bison, his face excited, "Sokka!"

Spirits, three years seem like an eternity ago!

He hugs the young Avatar as if he's been back from the land of Death, before he pulls away only to hug him again. "You grew, man! You're reaching my height now!"

"Yeah," Aang rubs the back of his neck bashfully. "Puberty... contributes to a lot of changes."

"Huh." Sokka grins, now eyeing Zuko who's sliding off from Appa right behind Aang. "I'm sure Zuko has lots of fun explaining the whole how-a-boy-becomes-a-man story to you. How did it went? Are you scarred for life yet?"

Zuko makes a snorting noise at the back of his throat, "I wouldn't indulge myself in that situation even if you beg me with the whole honour of the world."

Aang looks even more bashful. Sokka just laughs aloud. Zuko smirks. "I miss you, man." Sokka goes in to man-hug Zuko, who returns the hug after a second. When they pull apart, Katara is already standing a few feet away, two pair of thick clothing in her arms.

"Welcome home, guys." She smiles, now taking a step closer. "These are your clothes. Tawo and Koda here will lead you to change your wardrobe."

Behind, Sokka spots Azula sliding off from the flying bison - her hands not slipping away from gripping Appa's fur. Her eyes are somewhere else, and her lips trembling in the cold weather. She looks less distraught than he remembers, but still crazy. Definitely crazy.

"DO NOT TOUCH ME AGAIN OR I'LL METAL-BEND STRAIGHT FAR UP YOUR BUTT SO HIGH, YOU'RE GONNA FEEL IT ON YOUR THROAT BUDDY!" A familiar shriek explodes and all of them turn their attention away. Sokka almost shakes his head in disbelief - of course she's making a grand entrance.

Aang smiles softly, his eyes blinking at the scene. "Don't worry. I'll fetch her up."

With that, Aang uses his air-bend and goes over to where Toph is, still wresting away with the guards that were assigned to make sure Toph arrives safely and unharmed. Sokka just hopes they're safe and unharmed instead. As usual, Toph won't be noticing Aang's presence as he descends himself slowly on the ship, just a few feet away from her. He takes a step closer, before grasping Toph fully in his grasp.

The petite girl trashes for a while, until Aang says something. Then, she screams, "TWINKLETOES! YOU'RE BACK! YOU'RE BACK! I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE SUPER GLAD TO SEE YOU BUT YOU'RE BACK! PLEASE CARRY ME BACK TO MY SCHOOL I DON'T WANT TO WEAR SHOES! IT'S SO FRICKIN' COLD HERE!"

Sokka snickers and turns to look back at Katara, but what he sees instead is Zuko, now whispering out to Azula, who won't let go of Appa, although she's trembling like mad. She looks like a living mess - her dark hair wild, tangled and her eyes are wide and full in rage, her teeth gritted and her lips chapped. Sokka sighs.

He takes a thick-fur coat from Katara and walks toward the siblings, quickly shoving it in between Zuko and his wicked sister. "Here."

Zuko blinks, while Azula turns away, sneering under her breath.

Sokka sighs, and tries again, nudging it more towards the jacked-up Princess. "Take it. You're gonna die because of the cold if you won't." She doesn't respond and Sokka frowns deepen, "Hey, I'm trying to help here."

"I never asked for your help." She finally replies, the venom in her mouth is as thick as the snow lying under their feet.

"Yeah well, but I can't let anyone die today 'cause, you know, we have a big event this evening and all. Wouldn't want to spoil the Southern Water Tribe's reputation, 'cause that would totally suck." Sokka replies nonchalantly, shrugging a shoulder.

Azula sneers more, not quite meeting his eyes. She's just glaring at Appa's fur, for no apparent reason. Crazy and blind. Great. "I don't accept anything from a water-tribe peasant."

Zuko sighs in aggravation, "Azula. Sokka's just trying to be helpful."

"I told you, you stupid oaf, I don't need anyone's help." She says the last word in extra venom. Sokka shots a look towards Zuko's way, pitying the Prince. It's a wonder at all that he still has hair.

Sokka rolls his eyes, and drapes the fur coat over her head, watching as the large material falls on her shoulders and envelops her now-shrinking being. Azula seems to be hanging her head lower, her hair's falling to mask her expression. Sokka leans in with a smirk, "I'm serving your dinner tonight. Be nice, or I'll spit in your food."

Katara, who's now handing a coat to Zuko, musters out in a motherly-fashion. "Sokka, stop that. "

Sokka sticks his tongue out, and walks over to Aang and Toph.

The first meeting goes on smoothly - everyone celebrates the return of the Fire Prince and the Avatar greatly, confetti's falling, fireworks bursting. Sokka has an idea how the teenagers in charge of those fireworks are having much, much fun - because the amount of fireworks are more than they agree upon. Sokka makes it a note in his head to have a 'talk' with them.

Iroh sits next to Zuko at the long table - his pleasing smile opposes with Zuko's harsh expression. But the softness of his eyes shows Sokka how Zuko's glad to be home, to see his Uncle again. Azula, however, just sits next to Zuko and, in Sokka's opinion, killing everybody in her mind. She barely even touch her food.

Maybe she's taken him seriously about the whole spitting-in-her-food thing.

Huh.

Zuko later on announces about the agreement he has with his Uncle, that the (re-)crowning ceremony will be held on three weeks now, at the Southern Water Tribe again, and how happy he is with the astounding progress of the Nation during his absent. Sokka's got to give it to Iroh - he isn't that bad at all at being a Firelord.

But the old man loves his tea better, that's for sure.

Soon, Zuko and Iroh retires for the evening. Slowly, one by one of the noblemen retire. Katara comes to Sokka, nodding her head as a "sign" that it's probably time for him to retire to the lodge as well, checking up on Zuko and Azula. Aang gingerly follows behind with Toph in his arms (apparently now that she's been carried, she won't walk). They have a little chat while they walk, catching up to what they can.

Toph says that her bending school is going on well, but now she's thinking of building a police army. She's got to talk to Zuko once he's Firelord again, she adds.

Aang seems happy enough with how far his friends have accomplished while he's away - he's thinking about just resting at a place for a while, getting rid of his jet-leg before he's moving again. Toph insists he visits her school, and Aang reluctantly agrees. He then sheepishly adds that maybe he'll try to have a talk with Katara again, see what's happening between them.

Sokka and Toph don't comment on anything.

On the way, they meet with the teenagers in charge of the fireworks, Nara and his friends. They smile innocently when Sokka confronts them. "For that, you'll get less than what we agree on."

"What!" Nara exclaims, shocked. "You can't do that, Mr Sokka!"

"I can, and I will." Sokka sternly says, crossing his arms over his chest. "You violated our agreement, Nara."

"Oh man, that was Michio's idea, Mr Sokka! I didn't even know about the fireworks until they start lighting it up!"

"Well then, he's your responsibility isn't he? Making it your fault as well. You should know better."

"That's so unfair."

"That's called life."

Nara pouts some more, but walks away nonetheless. Aang mentions how maybe Sokka's being tough on the boy, but Sokka retorts that fireworks are not something to be playing about. There was once where they had a case when a kid lost three of his fingers because he's trying to make his own firework and it exploded in his hand instead. Aang looks depressed hearing that story and quietens up, Toph yells on how the boy deserves it.

They gets to the lodge in time. Toph takes off her shoes immediately, sighing out as the warmth of the lodge takes over her. "Nice place you got here, Snoozles."

"Yeah. It was Dad's idea, though he just planned for a small one though. I constructed it to be bigger."

On a couch in front of the fire, Zuko sits with a book in his hand. He looks up, and greets them. "Azula takes the furthest room in the back. Mine is next to hers."

"Okay." Aang nods his head. He observes the stairs. "I guess I'll check the room upstairs."

"I'll stay on this floor, thank you very much." Toph moves over to try and detect the movements. She mentioned once how she'll try to widen her vision so she could at least see something, rather than nothing at all - through her feet, of course. She points to a door, "That room isn't occupied, right?"

Zuko shakes his head, "Not that I know of."

"Then that's my room, goons!" She laughs, now reaching up to the door.

Sokka looks around, and sighs out. He smiles at Aang, "I guess I'm joining you upstairs, buddy."

"That sounds so wrong, Snoozles!"

"I didn't mean it like that!"

Zuko raises his brows. Aang looks ashamed.

"I don't mean it like that!" Sokka shrieks again.

Toph laughs louder.

Author's Note: I miss the old gaang. I really do. Here you go. My first try at this pairing. They've been my guilty pleasure for a while, I must admit (sigh rather dramatically). I swear this is going to lead to somewhere! Please bare with me.

I must note that this story has a touch of mental illness and cursed words. Maybe more, I'm not sure. We'll see. Anywaayyy, thanks for the read!