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Sokka had forgotten what quiet sounded like.
Over a year now, of traveling and camping, or being in cities, there was always noise. Toph dreaming making the ground move, Katara snoring, Appa breathing.
It was so quiet in Master Piandao’s keep, that it was keeping him awake. He stared at the ceiling and groaned as he rolled over. He thought he knew from sore muscles, he used to hunt for the whole village, but this was different movement than working with a club, making camp and he had already had one bath, but he couldn’t sleep and it wouldn’t hurt anything to have a second soak.
Also hot water in a proper tub in a pretty room. It was even nicer than the bathing room they had had in the earth kingdom. The moon was bright that night and there were a lot of windows on the the third floor.
He still got a kick out of being up on the third floor of a building which was absurd considering he daily flew through the air. He remembered that the bathing room was on the main floor, past the kitchens and made his way downstairs. It took longer than he would have liked, his body protesting the movement after all the work it had done that day.
But eventually he made his way and opened the door. A few of the sconces were lit low which surprised him considering how late it was.
“Hello, Sokka, I thought you would be dead asleep with how hard you worked today.”
Sokka turned swiftly and groaned because that had been too swift a twist and his thighs were mad. “Master,” he squeaked and remembered to bow. “I’m sorry to disturb you. I’ll go.”
“It is fine, Sokka. Here to ease your muscles?” Sokka had to nod at that. Master Piandao gestured. “Please.”
It was a communal bath that could easily seat a half dozen, and Master Piandao was at the far side of it, a glass of something on the ledge beside him.
“I don’t want to be a bother.”
“It will bother me more if you are unable to train tomorrow due to stiff muscles.”
That was a fair point. Sokka only had a week to learn everything he could about sword fighting, a practice that people studied for years, decades. His shoulders slumped a bit at the thought that he could even begin to master a hint of skill in that time. But he’d try, he had to be useful. “Thank you, Master.”
“This late at night, Sokka, you may feel free to call me Piandao. No master necessary.”
“Yes, sir. Sir Piandao, I mean, or just -“ At least the man was laughing at Sokka’s awkwardness and not telling him to leave. Sokka was glad the room was dark because he knew he was flushing a bit at getting naked. He was used to communal bathing, see the last year in river beds and back home everyone used the hot springs. But still this felt different. He glanced over and saw that Piandao had his head turned. Sokka relaxed a bit and soon enough was in the water. He whimpered at how good it felt.
“Sir? How does the water stay warm? Do you have benders on staff?”
“A few,” Piandao agreed, “but actually it is a fairly simple engineering system. Just like you heat a kettle to boil only a lot larger kettle.” He pointed and Sokka looked. At the one end of tub there was an opening and he realized the bath was almost in another bath and it was had rocks that glowed. “The rocks are heated which keeps the tub warm, which keeps the water warm, it cycles through and below passing through pipes embedded in the rock to warm up and returns in here.”
“That’s really fascinating.” And it was, or would be if he wasn’t so tired. But the warmth was feeling good. He watched Piandao take a drink. It was dark but that could have also been how shadowed the room was. “Are you drinking wine?” Piandao was refined, it was probably wine. Fancy people drank wine. People who lived in houses this huge and had reputations like his, drank wine.
“No, I dislike wine the way it lingers on the tongue.” Piandao held out his glass. “It is a sweet brandy. Tastes almost nutty. Would you like to try?” Sokka reached across the tub and took it. He had had three sips of alcohol at the party they had sneaked into and a ceremonial drink at the northern water tribe - that was it. “A small sip, it is sweet but packs a punch.”
Sokka took a sip and he didn’t choke but his eyes watered. “Punch, yeah,” he agreed and quickly gave the drink back. He leaned against the tub and opened his mouth, closed it. “I don’t know what I am supposed to talk about right now,” he admitted.
“Do you feel a need to talk?”
Oh.
“Can we just sit here?” he asked. The quiet had driven him out of bed, but now he wanted it. There was a nod and Piandao was tilting his head back, eyes closed. Sokka watched him, curious. He was old, but he wasn’t good with ages. He seemed younger than Iroh, but older than his dad and Bato. His hair wasn’t grey. He was in good shape. Really good shape. He could see Piandao’s shoulders and arms which were strong, not thick like his dad, or wiry like Bato. It was just in between, or different.
He looked at the ceiling, the wall, the water, and then back to Piandao. “Don’t you find it too quiet here?”
“After you hear the hounds of war, quiet is welcome.” Piandao didn’t open his eyes or look at him. “I like the quiet.”
“I thought I’d be excited for quiet. But it is so quiet. No one is snoring.” Sokka sighed. “It’s stupid to miss their snoring.”
“Not at all,” Piandao reassured. “We grow accustomed to things we never thought we could and when they are gone we realize how much is lost.”
“You say the fancy profound things a lot better than Iroh, he always is confusing about it.”
“Iroh?”
“A guy I’ve met a few times.”
“Sokka, I am too old to be playing this game. Can we just agree that I know you are from the southern water tribe and just not talk about it?”
“You know?” Sokka stood up. He needed to run, to hide, or fight? He had no idea. “I’m not, I can -“
“Sokka,” Piandao’s voice was calm, firm. “I am sitting in a bath, late at night. If I wanted you arrested or executed, I would have done it already.”
Sokka eased back down because that was a fair point. “You figured it out right away?”
“Blue eyes and a name Sokka, it wasn’t hard,” Piandao met his gaze. “You really should try Lee. There are a million Lees.”
“The fire nation has taken enough from me, it doesn’t get my name too,” Sokka whispered.
“A bold declaration,” Piandao drank a bit more. “You are one of my more interesting students. Who should be asleep, tomorrow will make today look easy.”
“Whoo, exciting,” Sokka tried to hide his wince. He looked quickly away when Piandao stood and left the tub. “How do you sleep with all the quiet?” he had to ask.
“Come and see.”
“I’m sorry?”
“My bed is absurdly large, and if you need the sound of other’s breathing you are welcome. Not like you’ll take up a lot of space.”
Sokka looked over and flushed a bit as he caught sight of the length of Piandao’s back, saw the man’s butt. It felt disrespectful to have seen his Master’s ass, and doubly so for thinking it was attractive. “No, thank you, sir, I’ll manage.”
“Very well, Sokka. Please try to rest.”
He was relieved when the issue wasn’t pushed and he was left alone. He stayed a bit longer and then yawned. Once he was back upstairs though, the quiet in his room was so painfully loud. He went to the bed and there was a note on it.
Directions to Piandao’s room.
Sokka followed them, didn’t knock once he arrived. He slid into the room and he really wasn’t going to put the man out. Four people could comfortably lie down in that bed. The window was open and the breeze jostling the curtain a bit. Piandao wasn’t snoring, but he was breathing. Sokka lay down at the edge of the bed worried the jostling would wake the man up. But it was a sturdy bed that was huge, and Sokka sometimes forgot how small he was, since he was the tallest, physically strongest of their group. But he couldn’t see over Piandao’s shoulder when the stood close. The blankets were so soft in comparison to what they camped with. He breathed out and relaxed.
Sleep was a lot easier to come.
*
He stood wrong.
Sokka hadn’t known that people could stand wrong. He thought you just stood, but after the five time Master Piandao’s guy knocked him on his ass, he guessed Piandao got tired of it and was trying to explain about standing.
It was standing how could it be wrong?
“Sokka, focus, if you please,” Master Piandao said.
“I am, sir,” Sokka lied and the look the man gave him was completely fair. “I just…I’m doing what you said? I think?” He looked at his feet and then stumbled back. “Hey, what was that?”
“No looking down when facing an enemy,” Master Piandao said.
“You aren’t an enemy, you’re my teacher.” Sokka froze. He looked at the man and cursed that his eyes welled a bit. “Are you my enemy?” If this was yet another thing that went wrong, he didn’t know what he’d do. “Please,” was all he could say, and before he could wipe the tear that fell away, Master Piandao’s hand was there, doing it.
“I am not now, nor will I ever be your enemy, Sokka,” he swore. Sokka felt his face being tilted up so that he could look at the man properly. “I do not care about this war.”
That wasn’t right either though, “I mean you could care a little?”
“I seem to be training you, don’t I?”
Sokka nodded. “I don’t understand how I am standing wrong?”
He swallowed as Master Piandao’s hands were on his shoulders, twisted him a bit, then they were on his hips, adjusting his thighs. His fingers were long and easy wrapped around the whole of Sokka’s thigh. Sokka couldn’t actually remember a time someone touched his thigh. Even that guy in the alley of the earth kingdom hadn’t really touched his thigh. Then his feet were moved. “There, like this. Do you feel the difference?”
“I guess?” He sort of didn’t but couldn’t quite, it was still just standing. He watched as Master Piandao began to take his clothes off. “Sir?”
“It will make more sense if you can see the way my muscles are moving,” he said and Sokka watched him strip right down to underwear. Tui and la, it was different than seeing him in the shadow of the baths. He was so much stronger than you thought, than you expected. It wasn’t the wall of muscle of his dad. Elegant, was all Sokka could think which was absurd for muscles. “Watch,” he ordered, like Sokka could do anything but. “Watch how my bodies moves, angled just a little bit, to allow more range of movement. With a sword you aren’t just running forward and stabbing, there is more fluidity to your movement. If you’ll indulge me, you flow like water.”
“You teach all your fire nation students to flow like water, bet some hate that.”
“A large reason why I seldom take students,” Master agreed. “Now watch, and then repeat.” Sokka studied the man carefully, but wasn’t exactly paying attention to the moves themselves. And when he tried to repeat them, Master’s hands were on his again, correcting him.
Sokka froze when the man lined himself up behind, Sokka, their bodies flush. “No, like this my boy,” he was told, and he died a little, realizing just how much larger than him his swordmaster was. “I know it is a bit awkward, but move with me.”
A hand wrapped over his heart and Sokka was done. “Master, I need a moment?” He was shocked that his voice didn’t crack. “Be right back.” He started to run away.
“Manners, Sokka,” he was chided.
Sokka looked down at his rather obvious hard on. He didn’t turn all the way and it was the fastest bow ever. He ran to his room, and ripped off the protective gear he had been in. He flung himself on the bed, bounced a bit, as he pushed clothes out of the way and grabbed his dick. He was so embarrassed that he got hard when his master had touched him. The guy was old!
Sure, he was still gorgeous, and not like Iroh or Pakku old, but older than Dad and Bato. His goatee was really nice. And his hair. Shoulders. Those were quality shoulders.
Hands, Master Piandao had the best hands he had ever seen. Long fingers, a couple crooked from being broken. Sokka pictured those fingers that had so easily circled his thigh, touching his dick. How small it would feel in those hands. It should be humiliating to think that but it was all he could think about. He buried his face in the pillow to quiet himself and pictured things he absolutely shouldn’t as he jerked off. He was impressed he lasted as long as he did, before he made a complete mess of the over sheet. He’d worry about that later.
Once he was calm, he redressed and started to head down to the training field. But he was stopped and informed that Master Piandao was in his study and Sokka was to join him there. He thanked the servant and wondered if the man knew what he had been up to, but his face was as inscrutable as ever.
Sokka made his way to the study and knocked on the door, entering without bothering to wait for an affirmative. Master Piandao was doing calligraphy again facing out to the view. “Why do you sit with your back to the door?” he approached slowly. “I was always taught having your back to a door was bad?”
“Yes, but anyone who comes through the door, will try to talk before they assassinate me, I will have time to greet them. More a concern is one who would arrive through the windows.”
That made sense. “Plus the view is better.”
“Indeed.” Master gestured and Sokka sat next to him. “Write me a poem, Sokka.”
“A poem?” Sokka looked at the paper. “Why?”
“Because your mind needs to be as sharp as your blade. Which I can tell it is, but it should be more versatile, flexible. So put some words together, see what happens.”
“Alright,” Sokka looked at the page. He was blank. “I am sorry for running out on the lesson.”
“I vaguely remember being that age, rest assured. Though you returned to me quicker than I expected.”
Sokka swallowed. There was no way his swordmaster knew he had had to run off to play with his…sword. “Sir?” What the fuck was he supposed to do with Master Piandao giving him a wink? He decided to focus on the page, which was hard because he kept staring at Piandao’s hands. He started writing and didn’t even know what he had put down until he stared afterwards. Sokka read softly, “Hands of death, promise of mercy unbidden. Fingers reach, beg, unrewarded. Touch is a promise you swear in the dark.”
It was so stupid.
“Well done, Sokka,” Master Piandao praised.
“It doesn’t even rhyme.”
“No, but not all has to rhyme. It is interesting choices. Shall we return to practice?”
“Yeah,” Sokka agreed as he stared at the page. Words he didn’t understand but apparently came from him. They went to the training grounds and he was annoyed that he stood correctly and didn’t need to be touched. But the praise he received was nice as well.
At dinner that night, they talked about traveling the world. He had actually seen more of it than Master Piandao, but then again he had seen more of it than most people. He flushed a bit at how interested the man was in the water tribe, but it was really nice to talk about home. During dessert a servant brought a missive to Master Piandao who paused their conversation to read it.
“Tell him, the usual time, but in the library.”
“Very good, sir,” the servant bowed and left.
“A late meeting tonight, someone from the village that I talk with once a week. Rumour has reached town that I am busy training a student and they wanted to know if I wanted to postpone.”
“Oh, no of course you should keep your meeting.” It was probably another old guy who came to have a drink and play pai sho and share local gossip. “I was actually hoping to grab a couple books from the library, read in my room most of the night.”
“The library has a wide array of books, what are you looking for?”
They finished their meal talking about books and then Master took him to the library which Tui and La, so many books belonging to one man. It seemed so weird to be in awe of it. “I saw the library of all knowledge you know,” Sokka went to a shelf and looked at the books traced a finger along spines. “There was a man with us. He died there.”
“Oh?”
“I mean, I don’t know that he is dead, but a library run by a cranky owl spirit that sinks into the desert - I’m guessing not a lot of resources for humans to stay alive. He chose to die with all the knowledge the world has ever held. Is that beautiful or depressing?”
“Perhaps both. Three to your right and one shelf up. I believe that might be of interest to you.”
Sokka took the book without thinking, trusting Master Piandao. “When does your person arrive?”
“A couple hours, why?”
“You are just nice to be around, is all.”
“Shall we read by the fire together for a bit?”
Sokka was relieved. He didn’t want to be alone yet. He settled onto the chair with the book in hand and Master Piandao put a few more books next to him. “You can have those in your room, while you are here.”
“Thanks for last night by the way. It was just a new space, I’ll be fine tonight.”
“Of course, though the offer does stand, I didn’t even notice you.”
Sokka smiled. “Yeah you did. A warrior like you? You noticed.” That got him a laugh but no other response, but he figured it was enough confirmation. He opened the book that Master Piandao had suggested and was immediately absorbed in the tale of the noble swordsman righting wrongs throughout the fire nation. He didn’t even notice the time pass, until Master Piandao said it was time for Sokka to leave.
Sokka gathered the books under one arm and walked the hallway still reading the story. It was great. Fun and heroic and a bit sad when the main character couldn’t save the day but he always tried again. Sokka lay on his bed and continued reading and ohh, oh the swordsman fell in love and got married. To another man. He expected it to quickly skip to the next adventure, but it didn’t.
It really didn’t. Sokka’s cheeks felt so hot as he read the wedding night scene and the husband sucked the hero’s dick. Like actually in his mouth and everything. Sokka tried to picture a mouth there and looked like he was jerking off for a second time that day. He kept reading the scene as he touched himself. He had had that time in the alley in the earth kingdom, but it had been rushed. Hands, and rutting against each other. Over in moments. In the story it seemed to be going for a longer time than that. Longer than when he had accidentally seen his dad and Bato and confused watched for a moment trying to figure out what they were doing.
He spilled over his hand, careful to keep the book clean. He tidied himself up and found a little while later that he was at the end of the book - a cliffhanger ending where the swordsman found that his husband was kidnapped. “No,” Sokka looked at the stack next to the bed, sure that Master Piandao would have given him the second book in the series. But no, it wasn’t there.
Sokka bit his lip. It was a couple hours after he had left the library. They’d either be done, or slightly tipsy and not care if he sneaked in and grabbed the sequel. He needed to know the husband was fine, and if there perhaps was a romantic reunion scene. For the character development.
Sokka walked through the halls and made his way to the library. He pressed his ear to the door and didn’t hear the laughter he was expecting when two old guys were together. He heard something but couldn’t place it. He knocked very quietly, he doubted it was even heard. He tried a bit louder and thought he heard a call.
He eased the door open, and the only light left in the library was a low fire and a couple lamps. It was warm during the day, but here the nights were a bit cool, even in spring, so the fire made sense.
And if you were on the floor by the fire, well pillows and blankets would make it more comfortable. But in a cozy library, you’d want to be wrapped in the blankets. But Sokka guessed, being wrapped in blankets might make what was happening difficult.
It was not an old guy, and that definitely wasn’t pai sho.
Or if it was, they really played a different game in the fire nation.
Sokka, knew he should move, leave very quickly and very very quietly but the man under Master Piandao moaned and Sokka was frozen. He watched as Piandao moved, rolled, thrusted? He had no idea what word he should use, but the swordmaster moved and the man moaned even louder. His face was shadowed but he looked so blissed out.
They were moving together, and it was a different push and pull than that of Tui and La, but also he supposed it really wasn’t. He watched as Master Piandao moved and he wasn’t in the other man anymore. Sokka bit his lip, tasted blood so as to not make a sound. The man was turned over and Master Piandao was kissing him. Fingers interlaced and he saw movement, Piandao pressed back into the man. Legs wrapped around Master Piandao’s hips, and Master Piandao’s face was against the man’s throat, kissing, biting, and the rhythm picked up speed but it wasn’t the rushed and sort of aggressive that he had seen his dad and Bato have, it wasn’t what he had done in the alley.
Even as it was quicker it was still, soft, gentle. Blood was dripping down his chin from where he was biting his lip, and he ignored it. Couldn’t stop watching. Master Piandao would be right to kick him out if he was caught, he could be ruining the invasion plans by not learning sword work, but in that moment he couldn’t care. Not as Master Piandao finally made a noise stronger than breathing as his back arched, went ridged. It was a groan, low, deeper than he had known the man could go. He was still even as the man under him begged for more.
Which he received because Master Piandao pulled out and then was sinking down. He…Sokka was so hard watching his swordmaster suck off the young man he had been fucking. It hurt like no erection ever had before. Master Piandao pulled off and a few strokes had the other man coming over his stomach. He watched as the swordmaster moved up and began to whisper words of praise and thanks to the other man.
Time to leave.
Sokka slid back and closed the door as quietly as he could. The walk back to his room was painful. He didn’t even make it to his bed, just leaned against the closed door. He looked down and even in the shadows he could see the wet spot his dick had made on his leggings. It was weird he should be so embarrassed he had walked down the hall like that, but he wasn’t. It was all Master Piandao’s fault for being so gorgeous. He touched himself through the leggings and moaned. He had already jerked off twice that day, it should take a while to pop, but he had never had stimulation like that before and he didn’t even get a chance to pull his cock out, not that he was trying to. He rubbed his hand over himself and pictured Master Piandao licking at him there and he was done for.
Sokka slid to his knees and tried to catch his breath. How was he supposed to look the man in the eyes tomorrow? He sure as fuck wasn’t going to go sleep in Master Piandao’s room that night. He used the basin of water he had been given to clean the leggings and hanged them on his small balcony to drive in the cool night breeze. He slid into bed in just his underwear and after that he should be exhausted, sleep easily.
But he came to the conclusion that his death would be silence. How did people sleep alone? It destroyed him, the quiet. He shouldn’t. He kept telling himself he shouldn’t as his feet carried him to Master Piandao’s room. Sokka opened the door and there he was, well on one side of the bed. Sokka wondered if he always slept to one side, or it was because he was leaving space for Sokka. Sokka had thought maybe the man would be there but he wasn’t.
Did Master Piandao pay that man for sex? Sokka knew that happened, but still he thought only sailors or pirates did that. He approached slowly, listened to the sound of the swordmaster’s breathing and Sokka eased into the bed. Last night he had turned away from Master Piandao but this time he turned to him. Watched him sleep, the bit of moonlight from Yue allowing him to just make out features, smoothed in sleep. His creases weren’t as deep as Master Pakku or Iroh. But he was at least a decade or two younger than them. Still old, just not ancient. He wanted to touch.
Sokka kept his hands to himself. He listened to Master Piandao’s breathing. It was steady, a noise to fall asleep to.
“Sokka, do you wish to talk about what you watched now or tomorrow?”
And it was apparently the best fake sleeping ever.
“Are you going to kill me?”
“No, Sokka, I won’t kill you. Or kick you out. But a conversation about manners and sexuality is perhaps in order.”
“You swear?” Sokka couldn’t breathe as his eyes opened. “Piandao, you have to swear I get my three days more of training.”
“I swear it,” he promised and Sokka let out his breath.
“Then, tomorrow,” Sokka said. He could not talk about that while in bed with the man. He scooted a bit closer. Still an ocean of bed between them. Well, maybe now a river. Piandao was steadily gazing at him. “I’m used to sleeping close to people. For safety. For warmth.”
“For comfort?” Piandao smiled just a bit. “Sokka, a strong man asks for what he needs without embarrassment or shame.”
“I’m not very strong, sir.”
“You are so much stronger than you realize.”
“Could I sleep against you?” Sokka eased even closer but wasn’t touching.
“Very good. Do you want back to back or do you want me holding you?”
Sokka swallowed. “I don’t want to keep you from sleep. I don’t. Close is good enough.”
“And what would be good?”
“It would be really nice to be held, Piandao.” Sokka closed his eyes, tried not to feel absurd for asking for that. But he held everything together and the gang never noticed, he felt so useless in the face of basically gods. Arms moved him, turned him to his other side and then Piandao was wrapped around him. He felt physically small, but not heart small as he had been when he had knocked on the door. “Thank you,” he whispered.
“Not at all, my boy,” he was told and he swore a kiss was pressed to his head.
*
The morning training was with the sword and focused and brutal. He was aching, dying, but also managed to disarm the person he was training against. That felt really great, as he lay in the dirt unsure if he could move. “Sokka?”
“I think I’ll stay here for a bit,” Sokka said and closed his eyes. “Forever, maybe.”
There was a gentle laugh and then hands were picking him up, he was being carried inside. He probably should object being carried like an infant, but it wasn’t an infant hold and also not like his legs would actually work in that moment anyways. He could smell the bathing room and whimper a bit. “I know,” Master Piandao soothed, “I know. You worked hard this morning Sokka. I have never had a student as determined as you. Well, one, but it came from a different place.”
“Oh?” Master Piandao hadn’t spoken of another student to now.
“Prince Zuko, he was determined, but it was about being better than his sister at something, anything, at winning his father’s respect - which no sword could ever do. You are determined from a place of knowledge and protection. You will surpass him.”
“I’ve fought him, he kicked my ass.” Sokka stood there and tried to reach for the ties on his clothes but his fingers were stiff from clutching the sword to tightly. He barely breathed as Master Piandao began to undress him.
“He is older and has spent years training. You have done four days, and yet I see the difference. Sokka, no one with such raw potential has ever crossed my door before.” Hands skimmed over him until he was naked. Then Master Piandao stripped as well, picked him up and carried him into the large bath. He was sat and the water soothed almost instantly. There was a knock at the door, a servant bringing them tea and fruit. “Eat, it will help,” Master Piandao urged. The servant bowed and left them.
Sokka ate a bit of the sweet fruit, drank the tea, and started to feel human again. He looked over at Master Piandao. “I’ve had sex. Sort of.”
“I had thought to have this conversation in the library, since you seem so fascinated by the room. Can’t stay away.”
“I thought you’d be playing Pai Sho with another old guy!” Sokka crossed his arms and couldn’t look at the swordmaster. Stared at the wall, that he realized was painted. It was actually really pretty. “Thought it would be a bit of wine and old guy gossip.”
“We did have a glass of brandy at the start, if that helps.” There was a sigh. “Sokka, I want you to understand, that despite what you might have been taught, that sexuality comes in many forms -“
“Thinking coming is pretty straight forward,” Sokka said without thinking. There was dead silence, only the gurgle of the warm water. “I mean, uhhh,” he decided to sink under the water. He was of the water, a child of tui and la, which meant he could hold his breath for fucking forever. But not quite forever ever and eventually he had to breech the surface again. “Hi?” he said as he wiped water from his eyes.
“Hello,” Master Piandao had a raised brow. “That is an impressive feat.”
“I was in the water moments after I was birthed,” Sokka said. “Water is home.” There was a nod. “Sorry for being crass.”
“I was in the army once, trust me that was not that crass.” He was smiling. “I just want you to understand that yes it may be illegal, but there is nothing morally wrong with two men partaking in pleasure together.”
“I’m sorry?” Sokka was confused.
And it was the first time that Master Piandao looked truly tired, resigned. And like he wanted to brace for a blow. “Sokka, I know that this might be difficult, but there is nothing wrong with a man bedding another man, so long as they both want to be there.”
“Why are you talking like I don’t know that?” Sokka couldn’t bear the look on his swordmaster’s face. The pain there. “Why are you acting like this is a lesson I need to learn? Everyone knows that Tui and La gifted us with as many ways to love as there are ways of the moon. I’m like Dad, he loved Mom, and now he loves Bato. I like both, Katara likes only boys, Bato only loves men. There was a man in our village who didn’t like either. It’s all what La gave us, and not like Yue going to take that away. She was fine when I told her I was into both.”
Master Piandao closed his eyes. “Forgive me Sokka, I forget that the world is so very different than the fire nation. Sozin banned same sex relationships because that could impact how many good little soldiers were bred for slaughter. Children are often taught how it is wrong. You forget that others are not taught the same.”
“Sure. That has to suck.”
“It does,” Master Piandao agreed. “It is why I have a quiet arrangement in place. That gentleman comes up from the village once a week for ‘tutoring.’ Everyone knows that it is certainly not that, but the facade is agreed upon.”
“The sex I had, it was with a guy,” Sokka said quietly. “I mean we didn’t get as far as you seemed to be. He was cute and he helped me hang these fliers in the earth kingdom. We found an alley and sort of grinded until we were both done.”
“Charming.”
Sokka flushed a bit. “Felt good,” he muttered. “And besides you were doing it weird.” There that was a good attack.
“Now I am confused, what was weird about it?”
“How slow it was? Sex is fast, is it because you are old? But Dad and Bato are old, not as old as you but they are always quick and rough.”
“Probably because they didn’t want to be caught by children who don’t understand the notion of privacy.”
“Yeah yeah,” Sokka looked at the wall. “But it was quick in the alley too.”
“Yes, well sixteen year olds aren’t known for their patience.”
“He was twenty,” Sokka said in defense, explanation, he had no clue. “Still say what you were doing was weird. Why would it take so long?”
“Because it is pleasurable to take your time, Sokka. There are times when yes, sex must be rushed, hurried, but that was not the case last night. If we took hours there was, in theory, no one to disturb us.”
“Hours?” Sokka hit three octaves. “How the heck does sex take hours? It doesn’t? Does it?” Hours, really.
“It can, if you so choose. Think about when you aren’t rushed, take your time masturbating.”
Sokka made eye contact. “Sir, I lived in an igloo with several other people, and have since been traveling with the avatar to save the world.”
Master Piandao laughed, “fair point. Actually that might explain why you returned to me so quickly yesterday during the lessons. It was clear you were off to deal with your erection, but I had assumed you would be a bit longer. But you are accustomed to just getting off as quickly as possible because who knows when you might be interrupted.”
“I don’t get why you would draw it out,” Sokka insisted. “It feels good, why wouldn’t you want to feel good right away?” It was just logical.
“Sokka, do you truly think that is how it is always supposed to be?” Master Piandao looked sad again. “Hmm,” he was clearly thinking. “May I give you a small demonstration with a kiss?”
“Eep,” was all Sokka could say.
“My apologies, that was too forward. I will leave you and we will forget -“
“Good eep,” Sokka blurted the words so quickly they became one. “Good eep, positive eep, you can eep me. I mean, kiss me,” he debated going under the water again but the swordmaster’s hands were on his face and it was a kiss. Blessed Tui, that was a kiss. It was firm and fast and Piandao’s tongue was in his mouth. Then it was done and he wasn’t there anymore. “What? No, more,” Sokka begged.
“That is what you are doing. This is what I do.” Sokka felt himself pulled through the water and Piandao was sitting on the bench, and Sokka was in his lap. And there was a kiss to his cheek. How was that supposed to feel good after the amazing kiss before it? It was so weird but then there was a kiss to the corner of his mouth. His jaw, his nose. Soft, gentle kisses pressing to his skin in no particular pattern. His eyes fluttered shut when Piandao’s nose dragged along his jawline. Then it was proper kissing but still unrushed, mouths open and moving but no tongue pressing into his mouth. And when it finally did, Sokka just sort of melted. He slid down so his ass was on Piandao’s thighs and rested his head on the man’s shoulder.
“That was nice,” Sokka said. A soothing hand was running up and down his back. “Soft kisses, who knew?”
“I did,” was pointed out teasingly, but a kind tease.
“Teach me more?” Sokka whispered the question. He reached a hand out and circled a finger around Piandao’s nipple, watched it harden. “Please? I have spent a lot of time not feeling good. I want to feel good, just for a little bit. Before -“ before he died. He didn’t want to die, but knew he’d sacrifice himself without question to protect the rest of the gang.
“I need you to say it clearly, that there is no mistake in what you are asking.”
“Show me how good sex can be,” Sokka replied.
“Let’s go to my room,” Piandao answered. They stood and Sokka would have run there, dripping wet, but Piandao held out a towel and dried him carefully. “Is this just once, or do you want the rest of your time here, to be a mix of training - sword and body?”
“That sounds good,” Sokka was breathless and hard from just being dried off. He died when Piandao knelt at his feet, right near his hard on. “Sir, I’m sorry.”
“Why? You are young, a strong breeze would have you half hard, and you’ve spent a long time in circumstances where you cannot indulge your body. It makes sense that now that it has the chance, it is taking it.” His calves and feet were dried. “But it would be uncomfortable to walk with that.”
Sokka’s brain couldn’t process that Piandao’s mouth was on his dick. Hot wet, first time his dick had been in anything not his hand, or the hand of that guy in the alley. And it was this man, a great man, on his knees pleasuring Sokka. He wished it could last forever but it was over embarrassingly quickly. “Sorry,” he managed to stutter out.
Piandao stood and dried himself off. “Why are you sorry?”
“Don’t think I’m supposed to come in your mouth?” He hated how much his voice cracked as he said that.
“If I hadn’t wanted you to, I would have pulled off,” Piandao answered. He dressed and Sokka quickly did the same. They walked to the master bedchamber and it felt different being there in the day, being there for what they were going to do. He didn’t know where to stand, what to do with his hands, especially when Piandao left.
This was the worst idea ever. What was he thinking. He was debating running, grabbing his pack and off to find the gang. But then Piandao returned with a tray that had snacks, food that could sit and be eaten whenever. “The staff have been told we will be engaging in intense meditation practice to teach you patience and steadiness. And quiet. It seemed very believable to them.”
Sokka stuck out his tongue at that. He could be quiet when he had to be. He sat on his hands to keep for reaching for something.
“I just want to be clear, has your body ever been penetrated?” Sokka shook his head. “Is that something that interests you?”
“I don’t know?” Sokka had to be honest.
“When you ran to your room after watching me and my companion, when you stroked yourself off, where you picturing yourself? Were you doing the taking or were you being taken?”
Sokka bit his lip and Piandao’s fingers were there, easing the teeth away. Two fingers slid into his mouth and he licked them as he looked up. He got a small nod in return and began to suck them. “Lovely,” he was praised and that felt good. The fingers slid away.
“I pictured myself under you,” Sokka answered.
“Thank you, Sokka.” Piandao moved away, undressed and Sokka did the same. He stood up. He knew he was smaller than the other man, but naked made it feel even more so. “You’ll grow,” he was told. A hand tugged the tie out of his hair. “I can feel it in you. You have so very far to go, Sokka, and it is my great honour to play some part in that journey.”
Then the kisses began, those soft kisses that made him breathless. He loved how much of his face Piandao’s fingers covered, how much the man had to tilt down to kiss him. He hated that he wasn’t as bulky as other teenagers they ran into, that he didn’t seem to have his father’s shape. But right now, he didn’t hate his body at all.
He was so involved in the sensation of being cared for, he didn’t hate himself at all.
He had really needed Piandao in more ways that he comprehended when he first knocked on the door. Sokka expected to be pushed to the bed but instead Piandao moved them to a chaise by the windows. “Bed?” Sokka looked at it longingly. Because of what it would mean would happen.
“Later,” Piandao promised. “But first a lesson.”
“In what?” Sokka was desperate to know.
“I understand how little privacy you have most days, but it won’t always be like that and I want you to treat your cock better than you do.”
“I’m really careful to keep it clean,” Sokka swore.
“I am sure, but that isn’t what I meant,” Piandao had Sokka on the lounging chaise, half laying down, half sitting up. He then straddled the other end. “Show me how you jerk off.”
Sokka felt his eyes widen. “You want to watch that?”
“I do, it will be enjoyable and we can also work on you learning a few different things.”
Piandao picked up one of his feet and began to massage it a bit. “Sokka, pleasure yourself.”
Right. He could do that. Wasn’t at all embarrassing. He had to close his eyes, because no way could he look at the man as he did this. His cock was soft, but he knew he’d get hard quick enough even after having just come in Piandao’s mouth a little bit ago. The thought alone was enough to start him stirring. He grabbed his dick and began to pump. “Stop, if you please.”
“Not really,” Sokka muttered, but did as his master asked.
“Starting with a stranglehold, fast. This is not a time when you will be interrupted. Slow yourself, embrace feeling good.”
“I don’t,” he felt at sea without an oar.
“Trail a hand up and down your chest, just skim it over your skin, let yourself realize how sensitive you are. There are places that tickle, and places that feel pleasurable. Learn them. Suck on your fingers, play with your nipples, tug at the hair surrounding your cock. You know touching your dick feels good, but trust me, Sokka many places feel good. Try.”
Sokka nodded and figured he’d start with his nipples, because he did know those could feel good. He pinched and well that didn’t actually feel great. Piandao’s hands left his foot. “You really do better with a guiding hand,” Piandao said. “Watch me.”
Sokka caught his breath as he watched Piandao touch himself. The man was all coiled muscle, lean strength and a confidence that even his dad didn’t have. Sokka wasn’t sure he had ever met someone so at peace with their body as Piandao. He watched fingers circle, skim a pebbling nipple and he did the same and that felt so much better than when he just pinched. He tried to stop from making noise but Piandao shook his head and Sokka remembered he was safe here, he wouldn’t be caught by the avatar or his sister. He let out a small gasp as it felt like there was a current right from his nipple to his cock.
“You are incredibly beautiful, Sokka,” he was praised. “What a good job you are doing.”
“I like that, being told I am good. It feels nice?” Sokka ducked his head in shame. “But you weren’t talking to the man.”
“It is at his request. We use each other. He has a man he carries in his heart but he is off at war, my silence lets him picture his lover.”
“Who do you picture?”
“I focus solely on whomever I am with, I picture only them,” Piandao replied. His hand slid lower, framed his cock, but didn’t touch. Not there but instead he scraped his fingers through the hair around the cock, down to squeeze his balls. Sokka did the same and oh. Well this changed things. He moaned and began to squirm a bit. “So lovely, doesn’t it feel so much better to take your time, to enjoy your body?”
Sokka could only nod. His cock was hard and aching and by now he’d usually be near done, but this was so different. “Can I now?”
“You can, but don’t grasp tightly, let the length just rest in your hand. You have a sweet cock, Sokka, you should be gentler with it.”
He couldn’t stop staring at Piandao’s length, it was bigger than him, which he expected, the foreskin removed, which must be a fire nation thing. “Are you considered big?” He was curious.
“Perhaps a bit above average from what I saw when I was in the army but not extremely so,” Piandao’s hand was simply holding his cock. “That will grow still on you as well.” They both laughed a bit as it had definitely grown during this and it was fun that a man as serene as Piandao could laugh about dicks. “Tight feels good, but don’t start there. Tease yourself, play. You have your foreskin, gently tug that skin. Stroke up and down, then let go return to playing with your balls or nipples. If you have oil or slick take the time to grab a bit, if not, spit is better than nothing.”
“Huh?”
“I see,” Piandao looked unbearably sad for a moment. “Give me your hand.” Sokka stretched his arm out. “I am sorry that you’ve been alone so long as to not receive these lessons.” Sokka giggled because Piandao’s tongue against his palm tickled. “Now touch your cock.”
He whined as Piandao stood and moved to the bed, but there was a reassuring noise from the man so he did as was suggested and well. Spirits. He stroked himself a bit and then brought his palm to his mouth, let the spit gather for a moment and soaked his hand as best as he could. He swore he saw colours he didn’t know existed. His breath was growing choppy and Piandao returned and had a look. “Please, no,” Sokka begged, it felt good better than it ever had before. But there was a nod and Sokka let go of his cock. “This is mean.”
“It isn’t mean,” Piandao had a small jar in his hand and was holding out the other hand. “Come here, my boy.”
“I could be coming here, right now,” Sokka muttered and had to smile when Piandao laughed. He like the man’s laugh. He took the hand and found himself his back against the other man’s chest, sprawled out. Piandao was warm and when he hugged Sokka, Sokka felt incredibly safe.
And still incredibly horny.
“Spit, better than nothing. Water does cocks no favours, so avoid it as slick. Oil like this is best.” The jar was opened a bit poured onto Piandao’s palm. “Now compare how the spit felt to how this feels.” And those long fingers closed around his dick and began to stroke.
Sokka prayed he wouldn’t pass out. He knew he was making incomprehensible noises as he arched into the touch and it was so much because Piandao was also kissing his shoulder. Gentle press, somehow even gentle nips and when he bit Sokka’s ear, Sokka was done. He watched as his cock made a mess of his own stomach, of Piandao’s hand and he just slumped against the man. He could feel how hard Piandao was underneath him. He should do something he was fairly certain but moving, figuring that out felt like a bit too much. Sokka let Piandao move his body and snuggled into the pillows when he was placed on the bed.
“Nice and mellow?” Piandao asked.
Sokka made a sort of affirmative noise, and let his body be moved, his legs pressed open. It took him a moment to realize why and then he felt a finger press there. He swallowed, unsure. But Piandao wasn’t pressing in, the finger just massaging small circles, moving up to the small bit of skin just behind his balls and back down again. It felt good and he gave a small nod and that was a sensation he couldn’t even describe as Piandao pushed just a little bit in.
It didn’t hurt, but spirits it was odd. “What happens next?” Sokka had to ask.
“Do you want me to keep going or stop?” Piandao wasn’t moving and that had to feel weird, didn’t it?
“How much keep going?”
“No more than this,” Piandao promised, “this is just about seeing if this is a sensation that interests you at all. If you like, consider it scientific inquiry.”
That made Sokka giggle and he moved about a bit which slid the finger in more. He went still. “How does it feel?” Sokka asked.
“Later you can press into me, if you like to find out.”
“You’d let me do that to you?”
“I would, sweet boy. I like both, taking or being taken. Some people have preferences for one or the other.” There was a gentle kiss to his hip and the finger pulled out. Piandao wiped his hands on a towel and Sokka found himself being cuddled. “Think about it, we can try more later. This has been a lot for you, and you handled it wonderfully. A nap is up next, I think.”
He was exhausted, but also energized. “Can I -“ Sokka turned. “Can I explore you? Never really got to touch another guy as much as I have been curious about.” There was a nod and then Piandao was lying on his back, one up, the hand under his head. “I mean touched that guy in the alley, touch Aang to hug him, touched people to punch them. But not…”
“Sokka, explore away,” Piandao’s voice was soft, indulgent. “Take your time.”
Sokka nodded and sat up. He shrugged and figured Piandao wouldn’t complain and moved so he was astride the man. He wasn’t thinking about what would turn the swordmaster on, it was more just about the opportunity to explore someone else’s body for the first time.
It was a joy to find out that Piandao’s armpits were ticklish. He wasn’t hard under Sokka anymore and Sokka wanted that. He changed his exploration, licked a finger tip, dragged it over a nipple, watched it pebble. Piandao was quiet, watching him. “How do I know what you like?” Sokka asked he repeated what he had done on the other side.
“You ask your partner,” Piandao said.
“What do you like?”
“I like my nipples being licked but not bit, blow air on them. Kisses. I love kissing, Sokka.” Sokka immediately moved and kissed Piandao’s jaw, remembered the slow lesson and took his time meeting Piandao’s mouth. It felt really nice. “I have sensitive thighs. Draw your nails along the inside of them.”
Sokka scrambled down a bit, sitting between Piandao’s thighs and beamed in pleasure at the way the man’s cock twitched as he did that. He did it again and Piandao let out a gasp. He was curious and lay down, bit up high, close to the groin, sucked a bruise and he felt so spirit gifted mighty at making a man like Piandao moan. “Can I touch your cock?” he asked and sucked another bruise.
“Please, do, sweet one,” Piandao reached down. “Here.” Sokka found his hand taken and he paid attention as he was guided and soon he was stroking Piandao. He watched his hand move on soft skin, hard length. The lack of foreskin was interesting and he touched the tip of the cock, gentle, careful. “Yes,” Piandao whispered.
“Slick, my hand should be slick, right?”
“It doesn’t need to be, just is better with.”
“Also, my mouth is slick.” Sokka didn’t think, just opened his mouth and went down on Piandao’s cock. Immediately choking himself. He pulled off, spluttering, coughing - humiliated.
A gentle hand was in his hair. “First time, I tried to swallow, I spit it all back up on the other boy’s lap and because my throat had started, I in fact threw up all over him.”
Sokka laughed a bit. “I can’t picture you young and like me.” He lay his head on Piandao’s stomach and returned to stroking. “Bet you were more sure of yourself than I am. Bet you weren’t scared.”
“I was,” the gentle hand kept stroking. “I promise I was, and I didn’t face what you face now. I am in awe of you Sokka, and your potential. You will surpass us all.” A finger wiped the tear that fell away. “Sokka, you are a good man.”
“I’m just a kid.”
“You are both, and neither. It is terrifying to be in between, but you’ll get where you should be.”
“I don’t want to die.” He let go of Piandao’s cock. “And I’ve ruined this.”
Arms pulled him up and he was held tightly. “You’ve ruined nothing,” was sworn. “And yes, you will be facing death. Changing the world can require all of you, but you aren’t alone.” A kiss was pressed to his temple. “I will teach you as much as I can in these last few days. You are clever Sokka. Clever sees men come home. You won’t be the same after this, I will not delude you otherwise, but if I was a betting man, I would put all my money on you.”
“The avatar -“ Sokka quieted at the stern look he was given. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because I didn’t say the avatar, I was saying you. This is something we are the same in - underestimated because we are not benders. But tell me Sokka, do you stop fighting during the solar eclipse, removed from the earth, do you lose your skills. In the absence of water, do you not still have the ability to end the conflict? Benders even the best, even the avatar, see power only in their gift. Our power is built in our thoughts, in our fingers, our limbs. Take away your sword arm, what would you do?”
“I have another arm, I have feet,” Sokka answered after a moment. “I get back up.”
“Yes, you do, and that is why I bet on you. Because you Sokka, always get back up. I have never seen anyone in my whole life, who stands the way you do.” There was a gentle kiss to his lips. “Now how about that nap?”
“Fuck me?” Sokka asked. “I think, I need that. Right now. Please?” He prayed that Piandao wouldn’t question that. That he’d be listened to. There was a searching glance, and then a nod. He was adjusted on the bed, a pillow put under his hips.
“Tell me everything you are feeling as we do this, Sokka,” Piandao said and Sokka watched him reach for the jar on the night table. “I want you to be vocal about how it feels. What you are thinking.”
“Why?”
“To make sure you are fine with what happens, that while odd you don’t hate it and think you have to follow through because you said you want it. I am trusting you to tell me Sokka, if you want to stop or change anything, because I am a great fuck, but I don’t know your body, you do.”
“Oh, yeah, that makes sense.” Sokka nodded. “I can do that.”
“Good boy. You are such a wonderful and good man.”
“You can do that lots. It makes me feel good.” Sokka closed his eyes a bit embarrassed and wriggled at the gentle kisses pressed to the lids. “Might mostly keep my eyes closed. Look at you and I will get lost.”
“That’s fine.” And there were kisses and touches all over his body and he told Piandao what he liked and what he didn’t, though it was obvious when it tickled.
That single finger circled the way it did the first time. Pressed in and it felt better, he knew what to expect this time. Piandao’s other hand was rubbing circles low on his stomach that both soothed and aroused.
“Going to do two now,” he was told. “When I press breathe out, stay relaxed.” Sokka nodded but being told to relax he immediately tensed.
“Sorry,” he whimpered a bit, mad at himself. But then those gentle kisses began and the tension steadily bled out. Piandao was half draped over him and he needed more. He thought of how that man had been wrapped around the swordmaster and he tugged. “On top of me,” he begged.
Piandao shifted and Sokka swallowed because it meant their dicks were pressed together. His dick was touching another dick. Then there was just all this weight on him and he felt engulfed. So small as he looked up at Piandao. Small and completely safe. “This is good. We can do it like this right?”
“Of course.”
Sokka smiled in relief and tilted his head up. “More kisses please.”
“Good boy,” was praised and there were a million kisses. The weight and the press of lips was heaven and he sank into the feeling. There was just a bit of shifting and a thousand breaths later when Piandao moved and two fingers pressed into him, he was relaxed, blissed out on all the touches. It was a lot but also not enough. He wanted something he couldn’t explain, and his cock was leaking.
“I need, I need, please Piandao.” There was something, he knew there was, what was it?
Then Piandao’s long finger stroked inside him and Sokka whined, a scream trapped in his throat, because that was an entirely new sensation. “Some men are sensitive here, very much so and others less so. It is your first touch there so it is hard to say if this is just new sensation sensitivity or is how it will always feel for you. Do you like it, Sokka?”
As he was asked the finger stroked again and the only time Sokka had come untouched before was in a couple very fantastic dreams. He cried out and was begging Piandao for more, for less, everything, anything. “Please,” Sokka sobbed, “now please. More. Like the guy in the library.”
Piandao was there holding him, and it was too much the press of a cock against his hole, but he needed this, he needed to be overwhelmed by something that wasn’t war or fear, that felt good, even if it was on the verge of too much good. “Breathe out, sweet boy,” was whispered against his skin, and his fingers were linked with Piandao’s. “In, and now out,” then it happened.
Sokka was babbling about how much it was, good, maybe bad, but not, and just how it was hard to comprehend that another body was pressing into his. Piandao’s left hand didn’t let go of the fingers it was holding, the right adjusted Sokka a bit, and Sokka remembered legs, wrapped them around hips as Piandao stopped pressing forward.
Tears were licked away from his cheek. It was a bit gross and a lot amazing. They were still and he opened his eyes. Looked up. He couldn’t describe the look that Piandao was giving him. It was a mix of a lot.
But all of it was good.
“What happens now?” Sokka had to ask, though he was fairly certain he knew.
“One question, my Sokka,” Piandao’s voice also held so much, and Sokka loved being called his. He knew this was a few days of his life, that it wasn’t more than that, but to belong to someone who could protect him, that he could trust for a few days, was so much. “You might not have an answer, but do I finish in you, or in my hand?”
“Why -“ no, there were likely practical reasons that he didn’t want to think about in this bubble, this moment that he’d figure out after, because he’d have so many questions after. He went with his emotional response. “In?” He wanted his body to be what brought Piandao over the edge. “Please, Piandao.”
When he began to move it felt a lot different than the fingers did, and his body had had so many orgasms that it was trying hard to get aroused again, but it wasn’t happening quickly. But he didn’t mind, because all the sensations that were flooding him in general. The hand that wasn’t being held, he ran up and down Piandao’s back, and he was obsessed with the sweat that started to build at the small dip at the bottom of the spine. Piandao’s hair was free from its confines and tickled across his face.
His cock filled, hard again, when Piandao adjusted them a bit, so each thrust dragged along that spot inside that seemed so sensitive. Their breath was in sync, and Piandao was whispering about how beautiful and strong he was, how he was amazing and would one day understand how much he was worth.
“Not the stuff the guy in the alley said,” Sokka arched up a bit, rolled to match the thrusts and he loved both how it felt and the groan it pulled from Piandao.
“Want me to tell you how tight your ass is around my cock, how I love how flushed and wet your dick is, and -“
Sokka pulled him into a kiss. “Your words are better words. Don’t like those ones.”
“You are too sweet for crassness,” Piandao agreed and returned to what he had been whispering but the words broke, fractured, became more grunts, gutteral noises as the pace picked up even more.
The hand that had been on his thigh moved to his cock, and Sokka’s orgasm after so much stimulation had him seeing flickering blackness, almost passing out. He lay there limp as Piandao moved a few more times, went rigid, squeezed his fingers too tightly. Sokka was bereft when he let go, pulled out, but then he was gathered close, they rolled and he rested on top of Piandao, his head on the man’s heart. It was racing.
Sokka had done that to him. He listened as it began to slow, steady to a normal pace. A hand was running up and down his back. “I like sex.”
“I am glad.”
“My butt feels really weird right now.” He buried against Piandao at the laugh that got. “We will be doing this more over the next couple of days, right? And I can you and oh Tui and La it feels really odd.” He shifted on the bed a bit. “Like how good it felt before, worth the odd now, but that is just really weird. I’m scared to stand up.” He wasn’t sure what would happen if he did.
“Stay there, Sokka, and I will take care of you. Until you leave, I will teach you everything I can in terms of mastering the sword and well mastering the sword.” The second time it was said there was a wink and Sokka began to laugh, just the largest guffaws ever and all his fears and tension for a moment were gone. Piandao got up and returned with stuff and Sokka was taken care of, praised.
He stared at the ceiling. “Thank you.” It was for far more than the care he was getting at the moment.
“You are a singular man, Sokka, and to think I have had even a small part in shaping who you will become, it will be one of the greatest honours of my life.” A kiss was pressed to his temple. “But don’t think I’ll take it easy on your footwork tomorrow, it need a lot of work.”
“I look forward to it.” Sokka held out a hand, and sank into the embrace he was given. “I look forward to all of it.” And he finally took that nap that Piandao had been suggesting.
*
“You look different,” Katara was staring at him across the fire. “More grown up?”
The other two were asleep, a hard day’s journey. Sokka looked at his meteor sword. “Yeah.”
“So getting a mentor was good then. What was he like? Was he like Master Pakku?”
Sokka choked on his spit a bit. “No, really different from that old guy. Different teaching style. More…hands on.”
“Oh, I thought Master Pakku was pretty hands on.” Katara was playing with her hair. “Did you learn enough to, I mean, are you…” She quieted and glared at the fire.
Sokka smiled a bit. “Katara, I feel a lot better. I promise. We’re going to win this. I know it. Now you go get sleep, I have first watch.”
“You were working hard the week at Master Piandao’s estate, you should sleep.”
“Got the softest beds imaginable, I’m good. You go, rest.”
She went and he stared at the fire for a time, before pulling his pack to himself. He was searching for some of the food he had been given before they had left, and blinked. At the bottom of the bag there was another bag. He took it out, opened it.
Sokka smiled.
A jar of oil and the next book in that series he had been reading. He opened it and saw an inscription inside.
Dear boy, I expect you to outstrip the hero of this tale, with the stories of you that will grow legend in this world. P.
Sokka put the oil back in his bag, for one day when he had some privacy or perhaps someone to share a bed with. He opened the book, and read of heroes that save the day no matter how dark it had looked.
The sort of hero that Master Piandao thought he could be.
That maybe Sokka was starting to believe he could be too.