Katara bid the Ambassadors good night and left the Council Chambers. She could only sigh in exhaustion after having survived a long day of negotiations. There had been little to no movement from the Earth Kingdom on import taxes and fishing rights, two issues the Southern Water Tribe needed resolution on before the winter storms arrived.
She scrubbed her eyes, trying to ignore the fact that she was going to be arguing over the same things tomorrow. It was slow work but necessary and she likely wouldn't have been happy with anyone else taking on the responsibility.
The hour was late but she had no idea if she should fit in a few hours at her desk or go straight to sleep. Her only evidence was the servants silently shuffling from wall to wall lighting the lanterns, signifying that Agni had set, with fire serving as a symbolic substitute until he rose again. She smiled to herself. There hadn't been time to go outside in the last few days and yet she could track the sun based on the efficiency of the palace servants.
One of the many drawbacks to her daily meetings was her personal rooms were on the opposite side of the complex. The newly-appointed Four Nations Wing was beautiful but also far away from everything else. And even after the amount of time she'd spent wandering the halls, she still got lost on occasion. Praying to Tui and La that didn't happen tonight she turned down a corridor identical to the last three.
She nodded to a group of Fire Nation delegates headed in the opposite direction. They were the same group from yesterday that had blocked any and all attempts to guarantee the Southern Water Tribe trading rights in Fire Nation ports. Afraid of foreign competition, their fierce protectionism was grating and made any trade deal a near impossibility. She was only happy that Sokka hadn't been able to attend this particular round of talks. It was hard enough controlling her own temper, tolerating the backhanded comments and intentional slights directed her way. She didn't want to think about how he'd have reacted.
As she was contemplating the trials of tomorrow she was grabbed from behind and pulled into a dark alcove, a rough hand over her mouth, another around her waist. For the briefest of moments she tensed, waterskin in hand, the muscle memory and impulse to defend herself too strong. But then she relaxed, smiling behind the hand as she felt a familiar heat at her back.
He leaned down, lips brushing her ear, his hands wrapping around her, pulling her close. "You know it's dangerous to be out walking alone at this time of night."
"Is it?" She feigned ignorance, secretly pleased that he'd been able to get out of his meetings early.
He slowly slid his hands down to her hips, fingers dragging down her tunic before he anchored her with his fingers. "You never know when a Firebender might catch a Waterbender unawares."
She shrugged against him. "Maybe I wanted to be caught." She laid her hands over his own and dragged them back up her body to cup her breasts.
"I wouldn't recommend it." He trailed his lips from her ear down to her neck, pressing open-mouthed kisses to her skin. "I hear there's a Fire Lord with a bad reputation wandering the halls."
"And what would happen if I ran into him?" She raised a brow, wondering how far he was going to take this charade.
"He'd probably pull you into a dark corner and have his way with you." He squeezed his hands for emphasis.
She smothered a giggle and instead turned in his arms. Even in shadow she could see the fondness in his eyes when he looked at her. Taking his face in her hands, her thumb stroked his scar as she stood on her toes and kissed him. He groaned in response, wrapping his arms around her.
La how she loved this! And yet all they had were these short stolen moments between meetings and after hours, when neither were busy or would be missed. It was a dream to imagine it could be anything else. Truthfully though she didn't want it to end.
He pushed her up against a wall, tongue dipping into her mouth, his hands sweeping up the outside of her thighs as he pulled her legs up and around his waist. Heavy breathing and the occasional whimper were the only hints that anything untoward might be taking place in the empty hallway.
Only once were they interrupted. Several minutes into their current tryst a trio of noblewomen walked past, discussing the latest rumours from Ba Sing Se. The pair froze, suddenly tense and anxious, the constant threat of discovery hanging over their heads. Only once the women were long gone did the two finally relax. He softly put her back on her feet, resting his forehead against hers.
"Will I see you tomorrow?" He sounded hopeful despite their schedules.
"Uncle's asked me to test some teas for the shop. Could you get away?"
Zuko chuckled. "He wants to know if his personal blend of jasmine is better than what he can order from the merchants. But don't tell him I told you."
She nodded and ran a hand through her hair, knowing she looked thoroughly disheveled. He watched as she quickly rebraided the waist-length silk he'd just had his hands wrapped around.
"I'll make time." He caressed her cheek before pulling her into a bruising kiss, their way of saying 'until next time'.
He quickly ducked out of the alcove, his face flushed as he quickly walked back to his own quarters. Katara gave him a few minutes while she composed herself. She could still feel his touch warm on her skin, grinning as she touched her lips. It was never enough and yet on no occasion had he left her unsatisfied.
Slipping into the hallway she walked back to her room with a giant grin on her face and fell asleep dreaming of tomorrow.
