Katara rolled over yet again. The thin air at the Western Air temple made it hard for her to breathe comfortably while sleeping. That and visions of her father and friends trapped in a Fire Nation prison. She had seen first hand how Haru and his father were treated, as well as Homa's stories of the water bender prisons.
She climbed out of bed and pulled some clothes on, then began to wander the halls. She marveled at the elaborate wall paintings. Of all the cities and palaces she had been too, she had never seen any as beautifully decorated as the air temple. She figured that the temples were the nomads only real buildings and would have been taken care of with the utmost pride and attention to detail.
Passing a hallway, Katara heard muted sobbing and stopped walking. It didn't sound familiar like Aang or Sokka, so she figured it must be Zuko. She had never thought of him crying and had trouble picturing it.
She quietly leaned against the wall right outside his door. His sobs stopped and he began talking to himself.
"Uncle, where are you? I did the right thing, but I still need your help. If I'm going to set things right, I need you with me."
He really has changed from when we first met him. Katara thought to herself as she pushed the door open. Zuko quickly wiped the tears form his gold eyes.
"What do you… I mean, hello Katara."
Even his manners have improved. She knew that he wouldn't be comfortable with her knowing that he had been crying so she announced, "I heard you talking and came to see what's up."
Zuko relaxed a little and sat down. As he brushed his hair out of his face, Katara caught a good view of his scar and she was brought back to the Crystal Catacomb prison below Ba Sing Se. She remembered how she had felt when she'd first seen him smile there. Something inside her had awoken, like a hunger… one deeper that that for food. She'd also felt a great warmth, and it had nothing to do with him being a fire bender.
Aang made her stomach tie in knots and her thoughts swim, but Zuko did something else to her. When she was around him she noticed a heat grow inside her and her heart pick up its pace.
She snapped back to the present and noticed Zuko was staring at her as though he expected her to answer a question. Her face turned red as she felt blood rush to it, and someplace slightly lower.
"I'm sorry, I spaced out. What was it you said?"
Zuko chuckled, "I was just wondering what you were thinking about. You had that look like you mind was somewhere else."
Katara didn't think it was possible, but she felt her face turn even redder.
"I was just…" She racked her mind for things she could have been thinking of besides him. When nothing came to mind she awkwardly ended with, "your scar."
"Oh." Zuko turned away, hiding his face from Katara.
He can't still be that self-conscious about his scar… unless it's because he cares about what I think! Katara almost squealed at the thought, as it provoked a bubbling sensation below her stomach.
"I didn't mean like that." She sat down next to him but he remained turned away. "What I meant was Aang went to get more water from the Spirit Oasis at the North Pole. I know they don't just give it away, but I thought Aang might as well try, seeing as it did save his life before… so I was thinking that if there was enough, I could…"
Zuko turned to face her. Katara could see his hard gold eyes softening. She could feel the internal battle between who he had been and who he was trying to become. She realized how hard it must be for him to open up to people, to let his guard down and expose his emotions and vulnerability.
She was caught off guard by Zuko's arms as he pulled her into an embrace. She breathed in and caught a taste of his scent, like some exotic spice mixed with a cool breeze rolling off the sea. It sent a rush sweeping through her.
"Would you?" he asked, his eyes beginning to shine with moisture.
"Yes." Katara answered, trying to ignore the throbbing that had begun between her thighs.
--
Katara smiled as she walked down the hall, clutching a small artfully crafted barrel.
She and Aang had been elated to find that the Northern Water Tribe had given them so much. The barrel was smaller that Katara's head, but it contained at least fifteen times that amount as the vial they had given her before, plenty to spend on a more… frivolous endeavor than before.
She arrived at her room and found it empty. Zuko had arrived at the temple later than the rest of them and was still trying to learn the layout of the temple.
She set the barrel on a table, then stood before her closet. She didn't have much in the way of a wardrobe, but she wanted to slip into something more comfortable. She eventually settled for a short white top that exposed her sleek abdomen and a loose pair of sparing pants.
She lifted her hand, drawing water from a bucket and freezing it to the wall, forming a mirror. She carefully untied her hair roll and began to brush.
Presently there came a knock at the door, causing Katara to jump with excitement. She tried to compose herself, forcing her legs to walk, though shakily, to the door.
Get a hold of yourself. He doesn't like you like that. Besides, you're in love with Aang.
She opened the door and couldn't help smiling, seeing him. He smiled too, obviously surprised by her choice of apparel.
"Come in, sit down." She motioned to a fir rug on the floor as she reached for the Spirit Oasis water.
Katara was almost shaking as she broke the seal and removed a small sphere of water. She knelt down next to Zuko, the sphere beginning to spin rapidly just above her hand. She pressed it to his face and willed the scar to disappear.
For some time nothing happened and Katara began to fear that a scar, especially one this old, would not be able to be removed.
She had almost given up when she saw the edges begin to shrink away. Soon there was no sign that the scar had ever been there.
Katara lowered her hand, trying to ignore the surge that had just flooded her senses.
"Did it work?"
Katara merely pointed to the ice mirror.
Upon seeing his reflection, Zuko ran his fingertips over the smooth flesh, confirming that what his eyes were telling him was true. He turned to Katara, eyes glistening, unable to find words to express his gratitude.
He was so handsome now; Katara had not expected him to look so completely irresistible without his scar, and smiling. She began to throb again and a wetness crept between her thighs.
Her whole body ached, for something, for anything, for Zuko to take her in his arms again.
No. Stop. He doesn't like you like that. Don't embarrass yourself. Katara told herself, but she had already pulled away before she realized that she'd started.
Zuko drew a hand to brush his lips where Katara's soft pink flesh had previously rested.
She searched his surprised face, trying to find something that would let her know how he felt. To her surprise he slid his arms around her back and pulled her closer.
"Zuko I- " but she didn't get to finish for he pressed his lips to hers. His tongue slid into her mouth, searching. He found her tongue and stroked the underside of it. A shiver bolted down her spine and her knees gave way.
She slumped, but Zuko held her up. Pressed against him she could feel his hard taught muscles. Katara stood up and Zuko pulled away.
"I-" She began again, but he stopped her with a finger gently pressed against her lips as a "Shh" broke softly from his. Katara felt a flush of heat break over her as he pulled his shirt off, revealing the defined muscles that she knew had been there.
She was admiring him when he slid his hands up her shirt. She inhaled sharply as he found her nipples, rolling them gently between his thumb and finger.
She was breathing heavily when he withdrew and stood, though barely, as he removed her shirt completely. She fell backwards onto the bed, lacking the ability to continue standing.
Her hair fell in lush locks over the bed and her shoulders. Zuko brushed them out of the way before sitting down next to her.
"Do you… I mean, are you ready… I mean, is there…" Before now, Katara had felt like she followed him blindly off a cliff, like he was in control of the situation, albeit she liked it. Now, though, his indecisiveness, his hesitation, made her realize that this was still new territory for him too, made her realize that they were equals in this plunge into the unknown. Katara liked that even more.
"Yes." She answered as she pulled the clasp of his pants open.
He stood up, pants falling to his ankles, before kicking them off. Katara stared in wonder, as she had never seen a naked man before. His skin was smooth and a little shiny from the sweat droplets already forming on him.
His bright gold eyes were so inviting, Katara knew she was safe. He didn't know what to do, but somehow she trusted herself to know anyway.
She scanned down over the ridges and valleys of his abs and down the trail of hair leading from his navel. He was hard and throbbing with each pulse from his heart.
From deep down inside, she knew she was ready. Katara motioned for him do lie down as she removed her own pants. She knelt, straddling him, and leaning over his head so that little ribbons of hair fell upon his face.
She grabbed his wrists and lifted his arms above his head, letting them down behind the pillow. She smiled as she felt him shiver beneath her as she dragged her fingertips, ever so lightly, from his wrists all the way down his arms and chest.
She picked her hands up and leaned forwards to begin again, but Zuko surprised her by leaning up and catching one of her nipples in his mouth, sucking gently and brushing it with his tongue.
Katara planted her hands beside his head to brace herself as her back tensed from the pleasure that had just slid down it.
Zuko's hands traced her ribs, moving down until the came to rest in the small of her back. He pushed down slowly but firmly, guiding her, begging her.
Katara gasped as she felt him enter her, a hard warm intrusion. But her body was ready for him and tightened after accepting him.
Instincts told Katara to rock back and forth, so she did. Little sparks of pleasure popped inside Katara as their hips ground together.
It was Zuko's turn to gasp, and his legs tightened as Katara rocked further and faster. The sensation of bare skin pulling on bare skin harder and harder only served to further increase the erotic ordeal.
Just when she thought that she couldn't take any more, Zuko rolled the two of them over, pulling out and leaving her cold and empty. He stood next to the bed, breathing heavily, covered in sweat, and throbbing even harder than before.
Katara opened her mouth to speak, but Zuko pulled her to her feet and pushed her up against the wall before she could get a word out.
He pushed up against her so that she could feel how hard and hot and strong he was. He held her arms up and ran his fingers across her skin as she had to him, stopping to tease her hardened nipples once again. Katara let out a gruff sigh.
Satisfied with her reaction, Zuko thrust into her, causing both of them to shake from the contact. He pulled nearly all the way out and thrust again, and again. Katara reached up from under his arms and grabbed the back of his neck as he slid so far inside her, she thought he couldn't possibly go further.
He leaned his head forward and took her earlobe between his teeth and rolled it gently in time with his thrusting. Katara pulled against his shoulders and moaned as he did so.
Zuko could feel his stamina dropping, he knew he wouldn't be able to hold out for to much longer. He shortened the motions, focusing his efforts. He continued making the small, but quick movement.
Katara could feel the hard broad head repeatedly assaulting the little knot of flesh that was driving her crazy. She could feel her abdominal muscles clenching in rhythm with his thrusting and her moaning grew louder. Lines of pleasure were trickling from her ear and mixing with those flaring from her groin.
Finally they could take no more and both screamed as Katara felt a hot blast flood her. The two collapsed on the floor, neither has the strength to even speak. Conveniently, neither of them had anything to say anyways. So they lay there in their lover's embrace.