Chapter Two: First Time

Katara's Point of View

I woke up to the smell of blood. Usually I wouldn't be so concerned (being on the road and battling tend to get you injured) but it exceptionally strong. It was strong even for being in an enclosed space. A quick self-inspection revealed I wasn't bleeding now, though. And it wasn't the right time of the month for me. . .

Oh. Right.

Azula.

I glanced at her, trying to gauge whether the blood was from an injury or . . . not. Did the Fire Nation women run of the same cycle as Water Tribe? Or was it different, like once every two months or something like that? I considered waking her, then decided against it. I was not about to be berated for daring to touch her Royal Highness.

I wasn't completely sure as to why I had bailed her out with me, but it was most likely my empathy. My empathy continually gets me in trouble. It was because of it that Zuko and Iroh had joined our group – you see, there was this one time I got angry and stalked away from the group. And like Toph before me, stumbled upon Iroh and Zuko. Two cups of tea, one crying fit and some soothing words later I'm listening to Zuko's life story and can't help but feel awful. I invited to come with us.

Sokka had a fit, but Toph was delighted and Aang didn't mind at all. Iroh offered to teach him firebending, even. Zuko sulked a lot, but lately he's starting to come around. He sits with us at dinner now instead of wandering off by himself. I just wish he would open up a bit more; Iroh told me the long winded story of Zuko's banishment, but I longed to hear it from him. There were some nights I even dreamed of his kiss. . .

I was jolted from my thoughts as Azula stirred. She blinked a few times and wearily rubbed her eyes before turning up her delicate nose and wrinkling it.

"What smells like blood?" she asked. I shrugged. She frowned, and then began searching herself for re-opened injuries. There as a pause as she began shifting the blankets to exam her legs, and her eyes grew wide. I was about to offer my healing to her when she grabbed me by the shoulders, pinning me to the wall. I was stunned.

"What . . .?"

"Shut up! I'm dying; what have you done to me?" she shrieked, shaking me so my head flopped and banged against the ice. I growled and froze her hands away.

"What have I done to you? What are you talking about? I've done nothing!" I yelled. She glared back furiously.

"There is blood coming from between my legs, peasant. What did you do?" her words caught me off guard, and for a moment I could only stare.

"Did you no one tell you anything?" I asked in amazement. The princess of the Fire Nation was terrified of her cycle?

"Tell me what?" she was still on guard, but now a prickle of fear was creeping past her rage. Perhaps she really did think she was dying.

"About you cycles?" there was a pause of silence, then

"My what?" so obviously not. I released her wrists with a sigh and she rubbed them absent-mindedly.

"Um," well, this was awkward. "So, um, women have babies, right?"

"Is this a state-the-obvious contest, or are you really that stupid?" she snarled. My left eye twitched with annoyance but I fought it.

"Right then. Every month, the woman's body sort of, um, practices making like, a nest for the baby. And if you don't get pregnant, you bleed out. It won't kill you," I reassured her. She bit her lip.

"When does it stop?"

"It depends. I guess over a few days," I shrugged. "We should tear some rags so your clothes won't get anymore stained," I noted after a minute.

"Right," she flushed with embarrassment and sliced a few bits from the tent cloth. I turned away, trying to give her some privacy. She cleared her throat a minute later, but would not meet my eye when I turned back around. We sat in silence, trying to get through the awkwardness.

"We, um, should go by a town. Find some food," I suggested.

"Yeah," she wrapped the blankets tightly around her, using complicated knots to hold them in place. I didn't bother trying to comprehend. I began to bend an opening, slowly at first to make sure it wasn't still snowing. Once satisfied it was all clear, I broke through and held a hand to Azula to help her up. She accepted begrudgingly.

The sky was clouded over pretty well; the sun just barely came through. Azula stiffened, and I could tell she was not happy about the situation. I felt a little bad for her; it isn't fun to feel vulnerable. I was supposed to be her enemy, and I had miles of water at my command while she was powerless.

"Any idea which direction a city might be in?" I asked, glancing at her. She shrugged and exhaled sharply so smoke flew into the air. My initial reaction was surprise, but I could tell from the way she rubbed her hands that her powers were not fully restored; there was just enough to keep her warm.

"Come on. Standing stupidly achieves nothing," she growled, trudging forward. I had to scramble at first, but her initial burst of energy soon wore off and we walked equally.

The snowlands soon gave way to forest. It was much nicer, warmer. The trees protected us from the harshness of my element, and faint tracks revealed that others had come through not to long ago.

We stopped when the sun set to make camp. I bended a snowdrift for shelter and Azula gathered some firewood. It took a little longer than with Zuko because she was still weak, but eventually the spark caught. It was still much faster than the flint wood I used to use anyway.

We sat in silence, munching half-heartedly on some berries and leechee nuts. Azula shivered and wrapped her blankets closer. I wondered how much longer she could survive without the sun; or more importantly, how much long her bending abilities could survive. I hadn't given it much thought before, but now I wondered if losing the sun too long could destroy her bending altogether. I chanced a sidelong glance, trying to gauge her thoughts.

To my surprise her teeth were gritted, her arms white and taut clutching her abdomen. Menstruation pangs, I remembered. I had not suffered them since discovered my healing ability, but I could still remember the sharp pain. I pitied her; already confused and ashamed, too proud to ask for help.

"Are you alright?" I asked tentatively. She glared.

"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" she growled as her fingers curled tightly, stretching her knuckles a bloodless white.

"Azula," I said sternly. "You're in pain, let me help you," I began to cross over and she snarled.

"Get away from me, water witch!" she said, a flash of fear in her eyes.

"I can help you!"

"You want to freeze the water in my body while I'm weak and can't fight back!" she shrieked.

"That's absurd! I have healing powers!"

"What are you talking about?" fear gave to confusion and I found myself thinking there was so much she didn't know.

"Waterbenders have healing powers. Didn't you know that?" I asked in disbelief. She sniffed delicately.

"Of course, idiot," she said prissily. I rolled my eyes. And by that, she means I hadn't the faintest.

"Good. Let me see you," I demanded, already tugging open her blankets. She hesitated a moment, then let them fall away. "I'm going to need you to life your shirt," I mumbled, sort of embarrassed.

"Um, alright," she flushed and pulled it towards her breasts to reveal miles of creamy white skin. I placed my hand on her abdomen, trying to feel for where the pain originated. I blushed as my hand dipped towards her waistband, into the valley of her hips. Her breathing was ragged, but whether that was from pain or. . .something else, I couldn't tell. She cried out as my hand brushed against the soft, fine hair between her legs.

"There!" she gasped, nearly doubling over. Glad to have not needed to go further, I quickly bended some water into my hands and sheathed it over her front. She shivered at first, tensing against the cold, then cautiously relaxed as the water took on a luminescent glow and began to heal her.

"Better?" I asked as she slowly got up and adjusted her clothing.

"Yes, thank you," she said somewhat grudgingly. She looked at me with a smile almost coming. Not the malicious one of I'm-going-to-burn-you-good that I was accustomed to, but a real smile. One of happiness, or relief or gratitude. "I guess we should be heading in now. It looks like it might snow again," she noted.

"Right," I said, shaken from my thoughts. I followed her silently into the igloo.

I did not sleep so well that night, nor some after. I was woken in the middle of the night by a disturbing dream and it was a long while before I could get back to sleep. I couldn't quite recall the dream, but I knew it had left me hot with one aching between legs and another somewhere deeper, one that thought only of Azula's creamy skin and what it might be like to taste it.

TBC

I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender

Author's Note: I don't really know whether this will be Kazula or Zutara and Sokkla. Please bear with me and expect lots of materials for either argument in the mean time. Thanks!