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He watches the steam roll off of the water creating a light fog over the rocks and in the leaves of trees. The young prince has heard tell of the beauty and nirvana of the Fire Nation’s hot springs since he was a boy. Raava knows that he needs something to placate him after months upon months of dealing with wartime reparations coupled with the usual complaints of the Water Tribe common folk. And, by Raava, the cold gets to him sometimes. Gets to him in a way that Katara seems impervious to.
Sokka leans back against the rock, droplets of condensation sparkle upon his chest. He exhales and stares up at the small lanterns hung in the surrounding trees. The entirety of the spring is lined with tealight candles and large torches with dragons carved into the wood. He expects nothing less of Fire Nation decor.
“More tea?” Offers a boy about his age.
Sokka looks to his empty cup. He isn’t particularly thirsty but, spirits, if that wasn’t the best tea he has ever tasted…
And coupled with a story from the old man who’d served it to him. He couldn’t possibly resist. He flips the boy a few more coins. “Tell your uncle that that’s some good tea! And his story was great.”
The boy shakes his head, “don’t get him started on the stories.” He stoops down and collects the tea cup. “My sister will be out with your tea soon. Uncle and I have to go to the tea terraces…”
“You have a sister?” He has been here three times this week and so far he has only seen the boy and his uncle. He knows that the boy got his scar from disobeying his father. That the man had warned him to stay away from the spring at the far end of the property. That he hadn’t listened and managed to splash boiling water all over his face. Sokka also knows that the boy’s father blocked that section off soon after. ‘But mother is good with oils and ointments and she was able to take care of me.’ He had shared before informing him that if he wanted a massage after getting out of the springs that his mother was the person to go to.
All of this and he still doesn’t know the boy’s name.
“Yeah, I have a sister. And she’s going to be filling in for me. Good luck.”
Sokka chuckles. “Yeah I also have a sister. She stayed at the poles, though. She’s filling in for me while I take my vacation.”
“Won’t be much of a vacation when my sister gets here.” The boy grumbles.
.oOo.
He is just drifting off when the girl arrives.
“You know that it is stupid to fall asleep in a hot spring, right?”
His eyes snap open and he jerks upright. “Geez, I didn’t hear you approaching!” He rubs the back of his head.
She laughs. “That’s one of the reasons why you shouldn’t fall asleep in the hot springs, dum-dum. The other is drowning. You drift off and then you slip under the water; what happens then? Or it gets too hot and you get heatstroke or boiled alive…”
Sokka grits his teeth. “I get the picture.”
She tilts her head, “do you? Because one time I told a guy that and then I found him floating in the springs. After that, mother said that I wasn’t allowed to visit the springs until I was at least ten.”
Sokka blinks. “How old were you when you...you know?”
“Found a dead man?” She asks bluntly. “Six. Father said that it wasn’t fair to keep me from visiting the hot springs just because one person decided to try to sleep in a bad place.” She shrugs.
He clears his throat. “Can I just get my tea now?”
The girl nods. “You wanted jasmine, right?”
He nods.
“I added a touch of cinnamon. It tastes better that way.” She hands him the tea cup.
“I’m Prince Sokka.”
“Fancy.” She notes. “Azula.” She pauses and turns around to fix herself a cup of tea. “I think I’d be a great princess. I practically run this spa anyhow. I keep things orderly and up to date.” She holds her head high and proud.
He can’t argue with that at all. She definitely has the demeanor of a royal. That striking presence even in her simple linen shift. She certainly has the beauty, but then, he finds a lot of Fire Nationals attractive.
“It is a slow night. I am going to join you.” Azula declares.
“I…! What about!?”
She is already slipping out of her shift. “Don’t worry, if you need a refill or some more soaps I can go get them for you.” She dips her toe in first. “And if you’re wondering, these springs are unisex. Most people have self control. Father takes care of the ones that don’t.” She flashes a smile that is fauxly innocent.
“I wasn’t really worried about that.” Sokka replies. “All of the bathhouses in the Water Tribes are communal. We believe in socializing and whatnot.”
“Good.” Gives a firm nod. “I’ve always liked that about the Tribes. Here in the Fire Nation everyone is so ridiculous about that sort of thing. Everyone is so rigid and stern.”
“I can tell.”
It takes her a moment to register what he had said. “I am not!”
He laughs.
“It has just been a long day.” She is now submerged to her chin. She splashes water onto her face.
“A long day of what?”
“Father likes to practice firebending with me. I am very good at it.”
“Can you show me.”
She shakes her head. “I am tired. Maybe some other time.” She rubs her bicep. “The springs do wonders for sore and tight muscles. Is that why you’re here?”
“I’m trying to relax my brain muscles.” He laughs.
“I think that you might have relaxed them a little too much, water prince.” She smirks.
“Your brother was right, this is no longer relaxing.”
“Zuzu is sooo dramatic.” Azula rolls her eyes.
“His name is Zuzu?”
Azula nods vigorously. She is grinning way too hard for that to be the truth but he has a feeling that he won’t be finding out what Zuzu is short for until the boy comes back. Until then he is stuck with his very smug sister.
“I’ve always wanted to go to the poles.”
“If you’re asking me to take you, you wouldn’t like them. It’s so cold there…”
Azula shrugs. “Do you like it here?”
He nods.
“It’d tell you not to come here because it’s too hot. But you like it.” She pauses. “Of course I do too, fire is, afterall, the best element.”
“Water is…”
“Dumb.”
“You are in the water right now.”
“Only because it is hot like fire.” She quips back with a dismissive hand flap. “So, prince Sokka, how long will you be staying with us.”
“Another week or so.”
She is quite for just a moment, long enough to take a sip of his tea. He listens to the rhythmic bubble and gurgle of the water as it flows around him. “That’s long enough for us to get to know each other.” He opens his mouth to speak only to be cut off. “Uncle and Zuzu are going to be working on the tea terraces until all of the leaves are harvested so it will be father, mother, and I running the spa. Mostly me, I do most of the work.” She has to remind him.
“I’m in for an interesting week, aren’t I?”
She nods. “Welcome to the Fire Nation, prince Sokka.”