A/N: So...this scene caused me to have to change my plans immensely. My original idea was that there'd be four short scenes that would fit in one chapter, but then I started writing this, and it just KEPT GOING almost of its own accord! This scene is pretty much the sole reason why I made this chapter its own story. I hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Azula couldn't quite comprehend the sequence of events that had ended with her leading the Water Tribe peasant boy by the hand to the first vacant room she saw. It had started out simply enough, with her sneaking furtive glances at him any time there was an opportunity during Zuko and Mai's lengthy wedding ceremony. He'd intrigued her ever since the whole thing with the drill…how could it possibly have been the case that one of the few people with an intellect to rival hers had been born into such a backward group of people? And then…the Day of Black Sun had happened. She'd been disgusted with herself at first for how aroused that barbaric peasant had made her, and over the recurring dreams. By now, though, she'd long since learned to live with it.

She hadn't actually seen him up close since that incident, and had been wondering if he'd live up to the fantasies. However, she found that the passage of time had made him, if anything, even more compelling. Five years ago, he'd had all the awkward proportions of someone mid-growth spurt. Now, he had completely grown into his body and had filled out quite nicely. Azula had always appreciated a nice pair of toned arms on a man. Also, he'd grown a sexy little beard, which was a nice bonus. Azula had been fairly certain that Sokka was aware of her eyeing of him, and even doing the same to her. And why shouldn't he? She was nineteen, in the prime of her looks, and had regained her healthy appearance after a year of being out of the hospital.

Then, they'd ended up just a few seats apart from each other at the subsequent dinner, which facilitated the eye sex even further. (Mai, of course, had been the one in charge of finalizing the seating plans, and Azula had to wonder…) The newlyweds had retired early to much hooting and hollering, and things in the banquet hall began to get rowdy, particularly after the older guests called it a night as well. People started pairing up looking for slightly more private locales…lots of male-female couples, but also plenty that were two men, or two women, and even, in a few cases, more than two people. It was as if, after more than a century of such relationships being illegal, everyone was making up for lost time now that the laws had been repealed.

Sokka was not one of the ones who left. Azula recalled hearing from Ty Lee that he and Suki amicably separated a year or so ago because the necessity of a long-distance relationship was getting to them. The Kyoshi Warrior was at the wedding too, of course, albeit quite a bit farther down the table, deep in conversation with…Anshi?! Well, Azula didn't think that her bookish eldest half-sister was Suki's type, if that was indeed what they were planning…but whatever. Sokka glanced over that way briefly too, and he didn't seem concerned or upset in the least.

Azula's gaze drifted back to the Water Tribesman's biceps, and found herself wondering what other delights might be concealed beneath his clothing. That thought sent a spike of longing between her legs; before she knew it, she was on her feet. Fuck it, why not? She had been what felt like a constant state of at least mild horniness lately; Ty Lee had been so busy at the university that Azula hadn't been with her in that way since the semester started. Still having no idea how to flirt, she merely walked over to Sokka's place at the table, standing there silently until he noticed her.

"Well?" she asked flatly, arms folded. "Do you want to or not?"

He took a moment to consider; if he said no, Azula was certain that she'd have to leave the hall anyway to go masturbate in her rooms. Then he was rising from his chair, and she breathed a little sigh of relief.

"Wow. Not what I was expecting," he commented. "But okay."

Azula took his warm and slightly sweaty hand into hers. She noted approvingly that Sokka still had a fairly steady gait as they started walking. Not drunk out of his mind, then. She herself had only stuck to one cup of plum wine for politeness's sake. Everyone else remaining at the table, however, was so inebriated and/or preoccupied that no one noticed them leave; at least, Azula thought they didn't. Now, they were wandering the palace in silence, looking for an appropriate place for their little liaison. There were currently many unused rooms in the building, since the huge families and sprawling harems that had been the norm when the palace was built were no longer customary. In addition, Zuko kept a smaller court in general than their father had. Even so, the first several rooms they passed had already been claimed by other intrepid lovers; the sounds emanating from behind the doors made that much clear. Finally, Azula located a tiny closet that she knew was sometimes used to store cleaning supplies, although it was empty now except for a few cobwebs.

Sokka eyed the closet with some trepidation.

"There's no furniture in here," he observed. All Azula did was smirk at him.

"We won't need any furniture," she informed him. "Now close the door before someone decides to gawk at us."

She'd grabbed a large candlestick from the table on the way out with her free hand, and set that on the floor and lit it. It wasn't optimal lighting, but it would do the trick. As a bonus, the blue tint of her fire complemented Sokka's eyes. Not that she'd be caught dead telling him that.

Now there was a slight problem. With all the time it had taken getting here, the actual reason for seeking out this place had been nearly forgotten, and they stood there awkwardly. Azula got impatient. If Sokka wouldn't take it upon himself to initiate contact, then she would!

She smashed her lips against his, with a little more force than she had intended. Although it was far from pretty, it got the job done. Now that she had breached that invisible barrier, hands and lips were desperately seeking any bare skin they could reach. They were in such a hurry that they only removed as much clothing as was necessary. Azula glanced downward once Sokka unfastened his pants and moved his undergarment out of the way, to evaluate what he was packing, and…yes. That would do nicely. Without a word or any hesitation, she took his length into her hand, smiling at his hitch of breath as she ran a finger along the underside. Nevertheless, she didn't want to spend too long on foreplay; she was aching with need, anxious to get to the real thing. Once she had coaxed her partner into full hardness, Azula walked in reverse until her back hit the wall. Comprehension dawned in Sokka's eyes.

"Really? Like in the…oh."

"Yes. Like in the 'oh'." He was smart; she'd known that he'd get it. It had been her deepest and darkest fantasy for almost five years now, for him to claim her against a wall, ever since he'd cornered her in the bunker. Sokka understandably seemed a little taken aback, but she felt his back muscles work as he shrugged in acceptance.

"All right. Let me just…" he trailed off as he reached into his pocket, taking out an odd little device that Azula had never seen before. Her askance look at it must have been evident even with the dim lighting, since Sokka helpfully told her that it was called a "condom." Azula appreciated that he had the sense to not explain what it was used for; she wasn't so naïve that she couldn't figure that out on her own once it was applied. One thing was for certain…Ozai would never have been caught dead wearing one of those things.

Sokka then did something else which her father had rarely taken the time for…after asking Azula's permission, he probed a finger between her legs, stroking and then curling inside her to ensure that she was wet enough. That was sweet of him, albeit unneeded. If she were any more ready, she'd probably be dripping all over the floor. She resisted the impulse to clench. He was skilled enough that he likely could have gotten her off just from that one finger, and Azula briefly considered allowing that to happen…but no. She wanted to save all of that need for the main event.

"Hold me," she commanded. Sokka, after withdrawing his finger, obeyed, keeping Azula's upper body secured as she hiked herself up the wall and wrapped her legs around his waist. She'd read that this could be a difficult position to hold. However, he was strong enough, and she petite enough, that she didn't think he'd have too much trouble.

"Now…" Azula added, craning her neck up to whisper directly into her lover's ear, "Fuck me."

He needed no further encouragement. Azula whimpered as Sokka finally, finally entered her. Ty Lee's dildo collection was nice, but it felt so good to be filled up by the real thing again after all these years. They moved together, Azula occasionally urging Sokka on with a "faster" or "harder." There was also one "Oh fuck!" as a particularly forceful thrust made her toes curl. She wanted this to be rough, and nasty, and to be satisfyingly sore the next morning. He seemed to figure that out quite quickly, without her having to tell him in so many words.

As his pace picked up, Azula moved her body even closer to his, so her most sensitive spot rubbed against his hipbone with every movement. The phrase "she saw stars" might have been somewhat cliché, but…well...she kind of did. After some amount of time (Five minutes? Thirty? She had no clue), she was at the point where she felt conflicting urges for this delicious torment to end, and simultaneously wanting it to keep on going forever. Sokka ended up deciding for her, as he penetrated her at just the right angle. There was no going back now. All it took was a few seconds of desperate squirming on her part, and she screamed out his name as she found her long-awaited release.

(New record for best orgasm ever, perhaps?)

Sokka reached his own climax not too long after…Azula was too dazed with her own aftermath to know exactly when. Then he could no longer support her weight, and used the last of his strength to slide her down slowly down until she was sitting on the floor. All her said was a soft "Whew…"

"I think it's safe to say that this was an objectively good fuck," Azula gasped out in return, peering up at him. Now that the heat of the moment had passed, her analytical side returned with full force. Her back was scraped raw, Sokka's knees were trembling from having held her up so long, and both of them were soaked in sweat. However, Azula felt so much clearer; almost cleansed in an odd way.

"Do you hate me?" she asked casually. Not that it mattered to her; she was simply curious. Sokka was still catching his breath, and Azula took the time to admire how the flickering blue light played across his skin. It rather paradoxically made it look like they were underwater, although it'd have to be in a hot spring given the heat and steaminess that now pervaded this enclosed space.

He paused for so long, Azula began to think he hadn't heard her. Then, at last, he said, "…No. Not anymore." Not knowing what I do now went unspoken.

"I see," Azula replied. There was silence for a while longer, and then Sokka rather unexpectedly started getting a silly little grin on his face.

"So, uh…" Sokka began as he divested himself of his condom. "You wanna do something tomorrow? What do princesses even do? Do you like shopping? Or eating meat? Ooh, maybe we could even go shopping for meat. That'd be awesome!"

Ah. Azula had been wondering when this side of him would show up; he'd been almost too quiet previously.

"Princesses do not go shopping. Especially not for common foodstuffs," she told Sokka sternly, although the effect was somewhat ruined because a bit of a smile bubbled to the surface. "But…when are you leaving again?"

"Day after tomorrow."

"Excellent. If you desire a repeat performance tomorrow, I should be free all evening. What is more, should you be in the area at any time thereafter, I don't believe I would be averse to a little visit…so long as it's a private visit."

Sokka's brow furrowed. "What sort of thing are you thinking here?" He was obviously worried about being in another long-distance relationship.

"It's simple," Azula said as she groped around in the semi-dark for her underwear. "We get together every so often for a few days and screw like rabbaroos; maybe discuss a bit of strategy if we have time for it. Then you leave when we get sick of each other. There would be no need for us to stay in touch, or remain faithful, in between. In fact, I would discourage you from doing so."

"So like friends with benefits? Except we're not really friends?" Sokka cursed under his breath due to difficulty with refastening his pants.

Azula stood up and pulled on her own pants. "Yes, that seems an adequate descriptor. Now…"–taking the time for her formal outer robe to fall back in this place–"this closet is getting quite stuffy, wouldn't you think? I say it's time for us to leave."

They opened the door…only to see that a crowd of the amorous wedding guests had been attracted by all the noise they'd made. The group immediately started making raucous applause as soon as they saw the couple's faces.

So much for keeping things private.