Here they were again.
Arms tied behind her back, while he led her through the forest as he had done before.
She stopped struggling after the fourth time it happened. There was no point. It's been a game they played that would always end the same. They would find each other, they'd fight, she'd lose, and it was back to the ship where she would patiently wait for the others to rescue her, like always.
After the forth time, the panic of the situation had left replaced by the dull ache of routine. She had thought that the damsel in distress act would have died after their encounter at the North Pole, but here they were again.
"How's Iroh doing?" Katara asked more to break the silence then actual curiosity.
"My Uncle's fine" his reply was forced through gritted teeth. He must still be mad that I almost beat him this time, Katara thought smugly giving him a sidelong glance. Their recent battle was the longest one yet. Given she was more experienced now that she was a master. However her lack of water, and the fact that what she carried in her water skins was evaporated with time left her vulnerable enough to beat. In the end she threw her hands up, surrendering, not wanting to leave with more than the small cuts and bruises she had already received.
She rolled her eyes. His ego was too deflated to even tease him about it. It didn't stop her from talking though.
"Where are we going? Back to your ship?" She knew that with just the right amount of annoying question she'd have him steaming from the ears.
"Keep quiet Peasant," he hissed at her, jerking the rope between her two tied wrists tightly.
"Aw come on Zuko, you can't be that mad. You still won. Look I'm still here, tied up" she emphasized by waving her hand as best she could with them behind her back.
"I didn't win, you surrendered," he bit out stubbornly, his bottom lip jutting out in a pout he probably didn't even know he was making. Katara smiled, she loved teasing him. She stopped walking suddenly, pulling him back as well. He turned to glare at her but was distracted by the her closeness. Their eyes met, a smug smile still on her face. Her bound hands found his; she gripped it. Her smiled turned seductive.
"You still have me," she replied smoothly, "in you fire nation clutches," Her gaze moved down form his eyes to his mouth. "Now, you can pout all you want," her head moved toward his, her breath hot on his lips, "or we can make the most of this." Her lips met his, moving ravenously, hungry after weeks without any contact. Zuko moved his free hand to the back of her neck, loving the feel of the delicate skin there. Katara moan as his finger wove through her hair at the vase of her neck. She had missed the feeling of his body near hers; it was overwhelming. The last time she had saw him was in the Spirit Oasis and the encounter was none to friendly; she wanted this time as a sort of kiss-and-make-up moment.
They both pulled away for air, her head rested on his chest; the beating of his heart present in her ears. Zuko move his hand down her back trailing his fingers along her spine. They trailed down her entire back resting when it joined her bound hands. With a tug of a loose strand of rope her hands were free.
She pulled away from him bringing her arms forward and began to rub at her wrists. She looked back at him then, smiling, "Good choice."
"You won't be so lucky next time, Peasant," his signature smirk ever present on his face, his arms across his chest.
Katara giggled, "Have I ever told you how charming you are?" She grabbed his hand and pulled him along down the road once again. "Come on, we don't have much time before the others come looking for me. We have to make the most of it" she replied as an afterthought winking to him over her shoulder.
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