Avatar: The Book Of The Phoenix

Rokkun and Azula

The morning sun streamed through the window, casting long shadows across the plush carpet. Azula, surprisingly, had slept soundly. No nightmares, no flashbacks of the war. Just a sense of...unease. It was a strange feeling, this freedom, this...acceptance. She sat up, the soft silk of the bedclothes whispering against her skin.

The servants brought her breakfast, a plethora of high end Earth Kingdom cuisine.

Azula felt like she hadn't had a stable meal in weeks. She gobbled down the food without a second thought.

After she finished, a gentle knock sounded on the door. "Princess Azula, the Khan requests your presence."

The guard, a burly Fire Nomad, stood at attention, his face impassive. Azula, a flicker of amusement in her eyes, rose and followed him.

Rokkun's quarters were spacious, decorated with simple elegance. He was standing before a large mirror, pulling on a dark robe. Azula, her gaze lingering, couldn't help but notice the intricate tattoos that snaked across his broad shoulders and down his arms, a testament to a life lived on the edge. Scars, too, marred his skin, a grim reminder of countless battles. He had an undeniable aura of power, a raw, untamed energy that both intimidated and intrigued her.

"Princess," Rokkun turned, a small smile gracing his lips. "Slept well?"

"Surprisingly," Azula admitted, her voice a low purr. "The accommodations are...luxurious."

He chuckled, a deep, resonant sound. "Good. I trust you've had a proper breakfast?"

"Of course," Azula replied, her eyes sweeping over him. "Though I must admit, the view is far more...appetizing."

Rokkun raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes. "Is that so? I seem to recall a certain Fire Princess with a rather...disdainful opinion of Earth Kingdom cuisine."

"My tastes have evolved," Azula retorted, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Besides, the company is far more...palatable."

Rokkun laughed, a genuine, hearty sound that filled the room. "You have a way with words, Princess."

They fell into a comfortable silence, the tension that had always simmered between them slowly dissipating. Azula, usually so guarded, found herself relaxing, drawn in by his charisma.

"Tell me," she began, her voice soft, "why here? Why the Earth Kingdom?"

Rokkun turned to face her, his expression serious. "My father, Shoka... he was a warrior. A legend in his own right. A fierce, independent spirit. When the war ended, he refused to surrender. He and his crew... they stayed. Here, in the Earth Kingdom. They carved out a life for themselves, away from the prying eyes of the Fire Lord, away from the suffocating weight of tradition. Over the years, those who desired to live that way joined us."

He paused, a wistful look in his eyes. "They became nomads. Firebenders living amongst the earth. We learned to adapt, to survive. We learned to respect this land, to understand its rhythms."

Azula listened intently, intrigued. This was a side of the Fire Nation she had never known. A history beyond the rigid confines of the palace, beyond the suffocating weight of royal expectations.

"And you?" she asked, her voice low. "Did you ever question his decision? To defy the Fire Lord?"

Rokkun smiled, a wry twist to his lips. "Question it? I lived it. I rode alongside my father, hunted alongside these people. I learned their ways, their strengths, their weaknesses. I learned to fight, to survive, to lead."

A glint of excitement entered his eyes. "Speaking of which," he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "one of my scouts spotted an Earth Kingdom scouting party. Small, but they're venturing deep into our territory. I propose a...raid."

Azula's lips curled into a predatory smile. "A raid? I believe I would enjoy that."

Rokkun smiled back, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Good. Prepare yourself, Princess. We leave this afternoon."

The air crackled with anticipation. Azula, for the first time in a long time, felt a thrill course through her veins. This was not the life she had been destined for, but it was... exhilarating. The thought of riding alongside Rokkun, of experiencing the thrill of battle together, sent a shiver down her spine. This was a new beginning, a chance to redefine herself, to forge her own path. And she, Azula, had a feeling it was going to be glorious.

"You know," Azula said, a mischievous glint in her eye, "I always imagined Fire Nation children playing with fire. Sparring with their siblings, learning to control their flames."

Rokkun chuckled. "Oh, we did. But it was different. We played amongst the trees, learned to track animals, to survive in the wild. My father taught me to respect the earth, to understand its power. He said, 'The fire within is a reflection of the fire without.'"

Azula pondered his words, a flicker of something akin to longing in her eyes. "Sounds...freeing."

Rokkun nodded, a slow smile spreading across his face.

"It was."