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This is the sixth night in a row that you've snuck out of the palace to gaze at the stars in the soft grass. That place was stuffy. Commanding. Exposing. You hadn't an ounce of a voice and barely any privacy. Barely any time to think or pick up a hobby. Sorry, a hobby you actually enjoyed. Sure, archery and sculpting was fun...but it can get so boring after some time.
You're young! You should be speaking up at the council or roaming the streets of Ba Sing Se in disguise. But nooo, you're learning tea etiquette for the millionth time as if you couldn't plan and be the face of a gala with your eyes closed. As if you couldn't throw the best palace party one has ever attended.
And as if you couldn't pick your own husband.
It's settled. Your mother has insisted upon and arranged a marriage with you and some dashingly handsome rich guy from the heart of the capital. Also known as the most boring man you've ever met. Even more boring than your father.
They won't admit it, but your parents didn't trust you nor your judgement. They believe you wouldn't know enough to choose a man of "great riches and power." Well, maybe you didn't want that!
The couple of times you've managed to sneak out and roam at night, your eye was caught by several very attractive men that definitely weren't rich or powerful--socially. You've seen your fair share of strong, powerful earth benders, but your parents couldn't care less. The only person who felt sympathy for you was your royal advisor who's watched you grow into a fine young woman. He even taught you some of his favorite tricks while fighting wherever your parents weren't around.
You sighed heavily and laid down, staring up at that gorgeous sky. Nothing beats a night outside the palace.
Or maybe it did. You will just never know.
Sokka scratched his forehead as he squinted at the map Aang had of the earth kingdom. He's been walking around here for hours! He's supposed to be treading the outskirts and yet he's 60% sure he's nowhere near them. Toph just had to fall ill with some sickness that required instructions from three stone slabs with ingredients and steps carved into them. What a bunch of b-
"Woah!" Sokka felt the ground move forward from under him and fell on his back with a loud grunt. A groan of pain follows once he rolls over and rubs his back where there will absolutely be a bruise later. "What the hell?"
He gasps once he looks up and sees a figure standing over him with...a sharpened rock? The moonlight casting over 1/4 of their face doesn't help at all.
"Who are you?" They ask. "Why are you here?"
"...Um-"
The figure steps forward and the light reveals more of their face. Oh. Her face. Wait, the princess of the Earth Kingdom?!
"Woah, woah, woah, wait," he sat up with his hands up. "This isn't what it looks like."
"It looks like you're trespassing the palace grounds."
"...okay, you got me there, but, I swear I didn't mean to interrupt your..." he paused and leaned to the side to see what you were doing. "I don't know what you were doing, but-"
"I was napping," you said. "Then I heard your footsteps all loud in my ears."
"Well, excuse me!"
"...You're water tribe," you add, getting a good look at his outfit. He looked like a traveler. You've encountered a number bandits before and he definitely didn't look the part.
"That I am."
"Why are you here?"
"I'd love to explain... without the very scary sharp object aimed at my throat."
You narrowed your eyes before lowering the makeshift weapon and tossing it. Arms crossed.
"I'm listening."
He stood up and dusted off his clothes with an exhale. "Thank you," he said. "I'm just here looking for these stone slabs around here. It's for my friend and I'm trying to follow this map but I accidentally wandered here which, now that I think about it is wildly close to the palace." He stopped to look around. "No guards?"
"It's far enough that it's not considered royal property. It's why I come here."
"Not a fan of good food and being waited on hand and foot, huh?" He jokes. You don't laugh. Not even twitch. He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Give me the map," you reached out and grabbed it from him. This time he got to see your outfit. He never would've recognized you if he didn't see your face--which is funny because he only knew it was the princess given that you look exactly like the queen.
"You were holding it wrong," you continued, then showed it to him while pointing to the mountains drawn on it. "You made it here the right way but because you turned it left, you ended up going east instead of south. Only place I know with stone slabs of importance is this tiny island you can walk to. We're here, you can reach that in a few days on foot."
"Huh," he took the map and mentally scolded himself for letting his exhaustion completely mess up his own directions. "Thanks, err...your highness."
You gave him your name and waved it off. "Don't worry about it. I hope you find what you're looking for."
He offers a small smile and nods. "Thank you. You should probably head home. I heard there's sleepy wanderers at night."
You laughed. Sokka made you laugh! You can't remember the last time you genuinely laughed at something, especially at what someone said. No offense to the town jester...
"You are tired," you said. "You shouldn't travel on with a clouded mind. Sleep around here, I can make you a tent."
He...wasn't expecting that. Notably from someone who comes from royalty.
"Won't I get caught?"
"Not if you're closer to the water. I would assume you're very familiar with such a thing?"
"Right, duh," he scoffed. "Of course."
The walk to the shoreline was nice. He watched you build a tent with ease just big enough for him by the water and right in front of the moon. This scenery was to die for.
"All good?"
"It's great. Thanks again, you didn't have to do this for someone you just met."
"I don't mind," you smile softly. "Whatever makes a difference. Have a good trip...?"
"Sokka."
"Sokka," you add and walk away. He peeked around the side of the tent to see you heading back to the huge palace in the distance. Literally all the way there. He's glad Katara didn't talk him out of bringing binoculars.
He took them out and could just barely see you scaling the wall and crawling through a window on one of the higher floors. Damn, this is surely nothing new to you.
Sokka laid in the makeshift rock tent and laid on his side once he took his shirt off. Looking out at the horizon as he took it all in. He really just accidentally bumped into a princess. The princess. She was actually a nice person and he got to keep his head!
He only wondered where he'd go from here. Of course, setting off to get these magical rocks that would be the only cure to saving Toph. But there was also the element of a possible side quest that would result in taking a tad bit longer to get back to the city. Hmm...
Decisions, decisions.
-
"Your highness?"
You blinked and looked around your massive bedroom then to your favorite guard standing at the foot of your bed. You've been sitting there for at least five minutes just staring off into space and completely forgot what he must've said earlier.
"Would you like assistance with getting ready?"
"Getting ready?" You asked. There wasn't any morning events you could recall. "For what?"
"To meet with the young man from house Zheng," he said. "The Queen insisted you be ready by the ninth hour in the dress she chose before you retreated to your quarters last night."
Shit. That's today?
With a sigh, you rub your eyes and start to get out of bed. "Right. Assistance won't be necessary. Thank you."
He bowed with a small smile. "I will be outside."
As soon as he left, you eyed the emerald green and gold gown your mom picked out hung up in your walk-in closet. It was impossible to miss. Your parents may annoy the hell out of you almost everyday, but they knew how to choose outfits. You couldn't knock that one.
While you walked through the halls a few inches behind your guard, you couldn't stop yourself from thinking of that water tribe guy. Sokka, right? He's nice. One of the first men to not react seeing a princess actually use earth bending. Your father suggested not using it as much as possible because it's "too manly" and "takes away your femininity." A foolish idea that's been passed down generations.
What does he know anyway? This Sokka guy was the breath of fresh air you've been craving for years.
...is this wrong? To be thinking of another man? Another handsome man you just met when you're about to meet with the man you're supposed to marry in two and a half months? It's all innocent. He was just passing by and accidentally got too close to the palace. That's it. Nothing else.
You nearly bump into your guard when he abruptly stopped and moved out of your way.
"There she is!" Your mother called out and took your hand to walk you over where your father and the other family stood. "No makeup?" She whispered. You had to contain yourself from rolling your eyes.
"You didn't tell me to wear-"
"We are just so delighted to have you back to the palace," she said with a big smile. Still holding your hand like you'd take off running. "Forgive her, she woke up a bit late and rushed to come see you all, as you can see," she added while gesturing to the gorgeous gown you wore.
"I think she's beautiful regardless," the guy said. What was his name again? Han? Wei? No, no, it started with a S-
"Aw, how cute," your mother cut in before you could even thank him. "That is very nice of you, Sokka."
The faint smile you were holding while on autopilot dropped. You turned to her with furrowed brows.
"What did you say?"
She locked eyes with you. "What's that honey?"
"What name did you just say?"
She laughs nervously and lets go of your hand to squeeze your shoulder. "Did you not get enough sleep last night?" She tried to joke. "I was telling San'er what a nice man he is. Wouldn't you agree?"
Phew! Okay.
"Yes, err... thank you. I spent most of my night practicing calligraphy and lost track of time!"
Absolute lies.
"Right, of course. The princess just can't get enough of her father's teachings," she chimed in. "Why don't you two spent some time alone by the gardens while we catch up, hm?"
The two of you walked through the gardens and were followed at an appropriate distance by guards just in case. Your and his parents were still in the background. They would glance at you guys from time to time and your mother had this bright smile on her face. Ugh.
Later in the evening, you were tired. Almost sure you'd have smile lines before you hit 30 from all the fake smiling you had to do in front of two sets of parents who couldn't care less what their child wanted. You shed all your layers and removed intricate hair pieces, feeling 4 pounds lighter. You brushed and braided your hair back like your mother always reminded you constantly growing up.
Once you were in a more comfortable gown you opened the window and just... felt the air hit your face. The crisp, cool air that felt like freedom. Freedom you never really had.
Your nightly fantasies of escaping this place were interrupted by the sound of a bush moving. It could've been the wind. But then you opened your eyes and looked around. Your line of sight finally landing on the edge of the big wall you typically scaled to get back to your room unnoticed. When you suddenly spot a hand gripping the top, your eyes widen.
A soft grunt makes your brow raise as whoever it was managed to get up this high without killing themselves. Then a face appears. You gasped.
Sokka looked up like a dog that knocked over an expensive vase.
"Sokka?" You whispered loudly. A little less shock and a little more concern. How the hell did he get up here? He swung his leg over with a breathless wince and sweat glistening on his forehead. You made this look a thousand times easier than it is. He just sat up and waved as he caught his breath.
"I wanted to surprise you," he said. Well, barely. You covered your mouth to mask the full laugh almost came out. Never in a million years have you ever pictured something like this happening. Not even from the man you were set to marry.
"Surprise me?" You asked with pure amused disbelief. "You realize you could've died on the way up, right?"
He managed to safely crawl and make it all the way over to your windowsill, leaning on it like he didn't almost piss his pants every time he almost slipped and plummeted to the ground. If the impact didn't get him it surely would've been your guards.
"I am the master of all things rash decisions, survival, strategy, and making pretty girls smile," he said with a practiced smolder to get you giggling again. And it worked. "If I'm being honest I did not think I would get this far. How was your day? Let's start there."
Huh. You didn't realize how long it's been since someone asked about your day and actually meant it.
"Not very eventful if that's what you're wondering," you replied with a soft sigh. Intentionally omitting the whole day because recalling it would only make you more tired. And possibly because you were afraid it would scare him away...most guys would rather not hear a rich woman complain about seemingly the most perfect man in the world being matched up with her. So, you decided to keep it simple.
Sokka watched the way your shoulders slouched, something you'd be getting an earful about if your mother ever saw this. Something about your tone and demeanor was setting off alarms in his head that what you told him wasn't the full story. Though he also decided not to pry.
Luckily a few days ago he was able to send a scroll of instructed text to the gaang because he would be damned if he had to make two long trips to Republic City and back to Ba Sing Se to see you again. It's not like he could freely roam so close to royal grounds without your assistance anyway.
The past couple of weeks have been this. Whether you met with San'er or attended another boring party the Queen hosted with other political talking heads that had absolutely nothing important to say. Whenever it wasn't about your impending marriage, you went into great detail without even realizing.
And then there was the night before the ceremony. You stared at yourself in the mirror with a heavy heart. Not having seen Sokka since you finally informed him, trying to keep whatever feelings you both might've had contained only made you more sad. But it was for the best. You didn't want to keep lying and allow the feelings to fester.
Finished with braiding your hair, you got up to turn out the lights when you heard a familiar rhythmic tap against your window. Your brows furrowed and head tilted. With a sharp turn, your eyes land on the handsome charismatic man that is Sokka leaning against the frame like he was coolest man in the land (he is).
You let him in your room as discreetly as last time. "You haven't...left yet," you said. It was like a question and a statement at the same time. The look in his eyes was saying that he's never looked so sure in his life.
"No, I have not," he said. "I couldn't. Not yet."
"Sokka," you looked at him like he was crazy. But you'd be lying if you said you weren't secretly hoping he'd show up at least one more time. "I get married tomorrow."
"I know. That's why I'm here," he said as he took your hands in his. Your heart skipped a beat at the warmth of his palms. "I was thinking since we won't be able to see each other again after...that event, why not make the most of it?"
Your look didn't drop, he didn't flinch. Just held your hands tighter. His eyes were begging you to trust him now.
In the blink of an eye, you were right back where you started. Where you met. Your feet on the plush grass in the area you confronted him. The shoreline not too far from here. Clad in sleepwear that could probably buy the North Pole.
Then you were playing in the water--in your underwear. What started as splashing each other turned into play fighting, which then turned into holding each other while a little winded for moments too long. He looked at you. You looked at him. The moon seemed to be at the perfect position because, Gods, this angle was...surreal.
Sokka was well aware it'd be wrong to get any more involved with a soon-to-be bride, especially one who's the damn princess of the Earth Kingdom. But who would he be if he didn't lock lips with a gorgeous woman with a personality so bright he physically could not allow himself to leave yet?
He closed the distance and pressed his lips onto yours. His hands gentle on the sides of your face. So gentle he could feel you melting against him. One of you should've pulled back but didn't. To your own surprise, you deepened the kiss. Really putting the two times you've ever kissed someone to good use.
This was wrong. So wrong. But the way he held you close and angled your head so he could get more of you made you dizzy. If this was truly the last day you'd ever see the man you're in love with, it's like he said. Make the most of it.
The kiss only grew more intense as the seconds rolled by. Hungrier. He backed away for a second to catch his breath, fingers hooked around the hem of your panties.
"May I, your highness?" He asked. His breath warm against your lips. You nodded with a cheeky smile at him using your title and locked lips again, helping him get them off in a hurry. You needed him now.
He swiftly picked you up to straddle him after tossing them near where his makeshift tent used to be on the shore. Reaching between your bodies halfway in the water to properly align himself and waste no more time. You broke from his mouth to gasp and grip his shoulders. He was perfect. Filling you up like a warm meal after a long day.
Your head dipped into his shoulder to suppress your moans. He grit his teeth to do the same. His hold around your torso strong and his thrusts calculated. Going too fast and chasing a high was the last thing he ever wanted to do. With anything, really, but especially this.
The rest of the world quieted into nothingness. It was just you two in the world. No royal duties. No parents breathing down your neck. No fake smiles or constantly pushing a hairpin back into place. Just you.
The water rippled and made small waves as his hips increased in pace. You yelp. He found the spot you didn't even know was there. Your grip on his shoulders tightens. A tear threatens to break. Sokka can't even formulate words. Your brain is slowly turning into mush. Breathing becoming irregular. Legs trembling, getting weaker.
"S...okka," is all you can get out.
"I know," he says. Whispering your name just to feel you shiver. "Me too. Look at me."
You push yourself up and rest your forehead against his. Struggling to keep your eyes open but you held on. Your lips hovering but not quite touching. You were ready. He was ready.
"Together," he murmured. You smiled weakly and nodded. A few more thrusts and your eyes shut so tight you see stars. Crying out in pleasure and body arching into his. His own groans melting into moans that matched yours as he pulled out. You could feel his heart pounding. Arms trembling from holding you so tight and fighting the wetness of the water to not slip.
After a few moments it's just the sound of the ocean and heavy breathing. You're still in his arms. Spent and blissful. You felt physically weak but he refused to let go.
"Run away with me," he finally said. He didn't move. Didn't see the way your eyes peeled open.
"Sokka..."
"I can't let you marry him," he continued. Any ounce of playfulness has left his body. He was dead serious. So serious he could cry. "I can't leave here without you. If this choice follows us I promise I will take the blame, just...please," he pleaded your name. Hand resting on the back of your head as he closed his eyes.
"Sokka," you repeated, looking into his eyes again with heavy lids. "I'll do it."
He nearly short circuited. "...did I hear that right?"
"I'm not passing up the opportunity to see the world. Wherever you go... I'll follow."
A wide smile slowly rose on his lips before he kissed and spun you around, making the water splash a little. His chest filling with warmth when he hears your giggling, pulling back with a dreamy sigh.
"I cannot wait to be an unofficial prince," he said softly against your lips.
"...I don't think that's how it work-"
"Shh shh shh," he closed his eyes and nuzzled against your cheek. "Let me have this."