With the last of the revelers gone and the twins safely in bed – Aunts Suyin and Kya volunteered to babysit them for the night - the newly-married couple decided to go for a walk around the island to catch some fresh air.
"Today was perfect," Lin said dreamily as she rested her head on her husband's shoulder.
"Even if Bumi upset the cake?" Tenzin laughed.
"Yes, even if Bumi upset the cake," she agreed.
Their wedding wasn't in the least bit stylish – the couple eschewed the trappings of a traditional wedding in an effort to give their a more personal, down-to-earth feel; there were no fancy porcelain plates nor costly silverware; no dances and grand speeches – the charm of Lin and Tenzin's offbeat wedding lay in its spontaneity.
Tenzin led his wife back to the courtyard – now devoid of visitors – and stood with her right in the middle of it. "You remember when we were kids and I told you I'll marry you right here?"
"Like yesterday," she smiled. "I also remember how often I kicked your butt during our sparring sessions!" Lin playfully sent pebbles flying toward her husband's head, which Tenzin deftly avoided.
"Please – I was going easy on you!"
"Sure didn't look like it – I mean, I certainly wasn't the one running to my Mom crying," Lin teased. Bunching up her skirt and kicking off her silk slippers, she ran circles around her husband. The sound of her deep, earthy laughter filled the air as she nimbly skipped and pranced along the courtyard.
Tenzin looked at her in amusement. "What are you doing?"
"Dancing!"
Lin was twirling around him now, and in the soft, yellow light of the lanterns, she seemed younger, more innocent and carefree- just as she was when Tenzin first loved her. The light of the lanterns bathed Lin in an otherworldly glow made more intense by the billowing, sheer fabric of her dress. Lin's wavy hair bounced wildly in the wind as she danced; her brilliant green eyes looked at Tenzin invitingly, daring him to join her in the dance.
Unable to resist, Tenzin grabbed his wife by her dainty hands and brought her close to him. Slowly, he swept away the ebony curls from her face, marveling at the sight of Lin's face alive with color. He let his hand run down her back and rested them by her waist. "You were fourteen when I first held you like this," he whispered.
Lin wordlessly wrapped her arms around her husband and rested her head on his shoulder. "Nerd."
Tenzin hummed a tune as they slowly moved, still entwined, along the courtyard. "I've been hearing this tune on the radio for so long," he mused.
She settled in on Tenzin's embrace, closing her eyes and focusing on her husband's heartbeat. "Really?"
"Yes – it's quite beautiful," he replied. "You know how – er – when we were younger and all couples our age had a song they considered theirs?"
"Mm-hmm."
"We never had a song."
She looked at him questioningly. "I never thought you cared about our… songlessness," she chided. "And this song you're talking about – would you sing it for me?"
You must remember this
A kiss is still a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh.
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by.
And when two lovers woo
They still say "I love you"
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by.
"You're a horrible singer," she muttered as Tenzin continues singing. Ever since they were young, her husband wasn't as musically-inclined as his father, the Avatar, was. Save for the red flute, which Tenzin played rather haphazardly, Lin hasn't seen nor heard him play anything else. "But I like this song."
Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date
Hearts full of passion, jealousy and hate
Woman needs man
And man must have his mate
That no one can deny.
It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by.
Oh yes, the world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by.
Lin looked up when she felt a drop of cold water on her nose – followed by another, and another, until hundreds of big, fat raindrops were pelting her and her husband, the cold water seeped into their clothes, making Lin shiver.
"It's raining," Tenzin observed, obviously caught by surprise.
Lin gently pushed him away. "What are you waiting for? Run!"
She grabbed Tenzin's hand and took the lead as they ran to the house, laughing like teenaged lovers caught in a rainshower on a summer's day.
Lin was afraid that their raucous laughter would wake everyone up, but the moment Tenzin pressed her – all cold and dripping – against the wall of the main entrance, she abandoned all other thoughts.
Tenzin's body was strangely warm, despite his robes being soaked through by the rain. His kisses were warmer still, and Lin felt Tenzin's longing and hunger whenever his lips made contact with her skin. She returned every single one of his kisses as best as she could, but it seemed as if she was powerless against this man whom she now called her husband.
"I want you," he murmured against her ear. In the darkness, Lin blushed. She felt his hand caressing her thigh, slowly drawing up her skirt until he touched her bare flesh. "You're so beautiful – so, so beautiful."
His touch felt like molten steel against her cold flesh – and Lin was all too eager to melt into him, to submit her entire being to him.
A clap of thunder resounded through the darkened hallway, snapping her out her trance.
"Not here," she told him breathlessly, lifting away his hand which had somehow found its way higher up her thigh. Tenzin made what sounded like a disappointed groan and lifted her up so that she was facing him and her long, shapely legs were straddling his hips. Another kiss, and they were well on their way to his bedroom.
When Tenzin slammed the door shut behind him, Lin started to strip out of her soaked clothing. Tenzin's warm hands stopped her. "Wait."
"What?"
He kissed her and then turned her around. He swept Lin's long hair to one side and gently ran kisses along her neck. "I want this to be special," he sighed.
"Spoken like a true romantic," Lin giggled as her husband fumbled with the zipper of her dress. "Hurry up, Airhead. It's chilly."
Tenzin single-handedly ride her of all her clothes, and with a flick of his wrist, snuffed out the lone tealight candle her always kept burning on his nightstand; in the dark that smelled faintly of smoke and rain, he lavished attention on his wife, laying her on the bed and kissing her forehead, her eyes, the corners of her cheeks, her lips and chin, and so continued, slow and soft-lipped, to the arches of Lin's feet.
Breathing rapidly, she sat up and hurriedly took off Tenzin's shirt, flinging it carelessly across the room. Lightning flashed – for a brief moment Lin found herself in awe of tenzin's amazing figure – his broad shoulders, long, lean arms, and the rippling muscles of his abdomen. She ran her hands blindly down his body, searching for the drawstring of his pants.
Tenzin groaned when he felt Lin's hand caress him – despite the constant din of the rain outside, he swore he could hear her giggling lightly, teasing him. "I need you," he sighed. "Come here."
Lin raised herself up, lightly nipping on Tenzin's ear – something she knew to be one of Tenzin's most sensitive spots. "Let me be on top?"
"Perhaps later," he said, smiling at her devilishly. He raised himself then, and suckled on her for a long time, as she ran her hand up his back, nails digging into his skin, both of them naked and vulnerable in the dark.
He was breathing hotly in her ear, his full weight pinning her to the bed. Bare flesh met bare flesh, and the room was soon filled with their mingled gasps and sighs.
Lie back and enjoy it, she thought. The sheets rustled tremendously – but there were other rustlings nearby, and the sound of the wind singing through the trees and the cliffs was nearly enough to drown them both in sibilance.
Moved partly by an answering wantonness, and partly by a desire to queeze the breath out of him, Lin flung her legs apart and swung them high, straddling him tight across his heaving back. He gave an ecstatic groan and redoubled his efforts. Wantonness was winning; Lin had nearly forgotten where they were.
Hanging on for dear life and thrilled by the ride, she arched her back and jerked, shuddering against the heat of him, the night wind's touch cool and electric on her skin bared to the dark. Trembling and moaning, she melted back against the bed, her legs still locked around his hips. Boneless and nerveless, she let her head roll to the side, and slowly, languidly, opened her eyes.
Tenzin growled, exhausted; he nestled into her neck and kissed the bare flesh beneath his lips, satisfaction radiating from his tired body. Lin sighed and snuggled back against him, feeling warm and protected. The cold immensity of the night had lifted – so did the uncontrollable thundering of the hearts.
Her husband was breathing easily now – Lin could feel his heartbeat slowing down. She could hear him humming the same song from the courtyard, and she smiled. "Don't tell me you're going to sleep."
"Mm-hmm."
Hoping to start him again, she reached toward his leg and stroked it. Rolling her hips lightly against him, Lin slowly brought one of Tenzin's hands towards her wiast, shuddering as his warmth made contact against her clammy skin.
"Hmmm…" he said in what sounded like a mix of invitation and satisfaction.
She straddled him, grinding her hips against his. "No one's sleeping tonight," she smirked.
A/N: It is so hard to write tasteful romps in the bed. O_O This is probably the hardest fic I have written so far, but I loved every part of it! Reviews are VERY MUCH APPRECIATED because this is my first time writing such a scenario and I would like to know how it hit you. Haha.
Anyway, for the next one-shot in this series, I'll be giving the floor to you, dear readers! I'll be picking writing prompts from you guys - you could send them here via PM or check out my tumblr ask box (anything goes)! So keep those messages flying!