Disclaimer: Avatar: The Last Airbender belongs to Viacom.

A/N: Takes place pre - Book 1.

Thanks go to Quorothorn for Beta-ing!

Happy Holidays all! This chapter is pushes closer to an 'M' rating. I don't think it crosses the line, but if you think I should bump up the story rating for it, let me know!

The Last Earthbender

36. Dreamer

The best thing about Sokka, Yue admitted to herself, were his hands.

They were warrior's hands, craftsman's hands. Callused, dexterous, with nails blunt from working. They were hands squeezed the essence from blasting jelly, hands that levered wrenches, hands that forged blades, hands that plunged into the belly of a pengu-whale to extract its enormous heart.

"Happy Summer Solstice," said Sokka as he walked in the door, bloodied from the evening hunt and bearing a hefty chunk of that very heart as a gift for his girlfriend.

"Oh good," said Yue, eyes glinting mischievously. "We can eat tomorrow."

It was symbolic, of course. Sokka didn't have to provide food for their survival, as they were both practically rolling in status and wealth. But Solstice tradition dictated that a feast be provided by all the men in the city, and it didn't hurt to bow to Solstice tradition.

Sokka laughed, and dropped the chunk of meat on the floor. "Lemme get cleaned up."

Yue put the meat in the ice chest to store for tomorrow, then listened to Sokka in the other room as he pumped water and heated it on the fireplace. There was a faint splash, then a sigh as Sokka lowered himself into the bath.

Yue paused a moment, then took off her robe and followed him in.

Sokka's eyebrows nearly shot off his face. "Whoa! Yue!"

"Happy Solstice," the princess said shyly.

"You can say that again!" Sokka's grin nearly split his face in two.

The two of them laughed as Yue stepped into the tub, and into her boyfriend's arms.

The best thing about Sokka, Yue admitted to herself, were his hands. And oh, especially when they did that.

As the water cooled, the two of them got out of the tub and moved to the bed, which was when Yue, realizing how fast this was progressing, put a halting hand on Sokka's chest.

"Sokka… careful… it could…"

"It could buy us more time. For us, for you, for your life." Sokka's face was in shadow.

"I…" Yue's breath caught. They'd discussed this before. Sokka's idea. Sokka, willing to do anything to save Yue, to have a future with her. They were of age, they might even pull it off.

Yue wouldn't wish her life on anybody. And yet… and yet…

Sokka drew close then, and touched her chin with one of his wonderful hands. "Yue, please."

I'm so selfish, Yue thought, and kissed him.

"Sokka," she whispered, and it hurt, a little. It was awkward, and it was rushed, and at one point Yue's leg fell asleep.

But his hands, those hands, they caressed her back and front, and the way he said her name made her shiver. By the time he finally separated from her, she was starting to feel that she could get used to this.

"I love you, Yue," he'd said, and then: "I need to use the bathroom. I'll be right back." He kissed her, and he put on his parka, and he left. He didn't let any snow in when he opened the door, but to Yue it felt like he had.

Is this how it's supposed to be? She wondered, feeling his absence from her side.

Then the door opened, and Sokka came back, his silhouette dark against the light of the moon. He closed the door, and Yue heard him breathing hard, how his breaths hitched, almost panting. She heard his clothes slide to the floor, heard his footsteps, heard him climb into the bed.

"Sokka…?" she started, and then he was kissing her, but oh spirits, how he was kissing her! It was ferocious, desperate, hungry. It was the kiss of someone who thought they'd never kiss again.

And this time was different. This time, he nibbled her collarbone and scratched her back, and she interlaced her fingers in his hair. This time, they moved like waves, like currents of electricity were setting their nerves aboil. This time, he swam through her veins, and every pulse of her heart was his. This time, it was like a tsunami swelling, like diving so deep you can't breathe.

And this time, at the end, when she felt his muscles tighten and his back arch, when her toes curled and every perception rippled, he whispered "Tui."

And then, as Yue recovered her breath, trembling, she realized that her eyes were closed.

She opened them, and it was still dark, still night. Sokka was laying next to her, breathing evenly. She didn't remember him falling asleep.

The Princess turned and looked at her lover's peaceful, sleeping face, drinking him in. She kissed him gently, and he opened one eye.

"Hey beaut'ful," he said groggily. "Missed you. While y' were asleep."

"Hm?" Yue didn't feel at all sleepy.

"Came back from the bathroom. You were asleep."

Yue said nothing.

Sokka yawned, and moved forward to embrace her. "Sweet dreams, love."

Laying in Sokka's arms, Yue looked at her hands, then felt her collarbone. Yes, there were the marks where Sokka's teeth had grazed her skin. She felt her back. Yes, there were the marks where Sokka had run his nails.

But Sokka's nails were blunt. They wouldn't have scratched her, not that deeply.

Yue didn't sleep.