The bed dipped to her side and more warm air was let under the blankets. She sighed, pretending to be deep in sleep, his body nudged her, moving hair from her face. His hand rested on the back of her neck as his nose brushed her ear making her smile.
"I know you're awake," He whispered.
Katara's smile widened. "No, I'm not."
He chuckled in her ear before sitting up. "Well, I guess you won't want the coffee I brought you."
"Hmm?" Katara said stretching dramatically and propping herself up on one of his pillows. "Oh, Zuko," She yawned. "I just woke up. When did you get here?"
Zuko smirked. "Oh, you know, just a few minutes." He reached over and handed her her coffee cup.
Katara hummed into her cup. "Mmmm, thank you." Katara snaked one of her bare legs out of the sheets and put it up, tugging the sheets over her naked top. "Wait, if you got me coffee then that means you had to have it delivered. And if you ordered coffee from the kitchen then they know I'm up here, Zuko you hate coffee."
Zuko winced. "I figured you would need coffee with this full day we are going today."
Katara immediately brightened. "Do we have a date today?"
Zuko sighed and leaned back against the headrest. "Not exactly."
"Then what is going to make our day full enough that you get me coffee so the entire Nation knows we are sleeping together?" She asked raising an eyebrow.
They had been sleeping together for three months now, dating for almost a year. To most people that wouldn't mean anything more then a tremendous will power but cultural differences always did make things difficult. In the Fire Nation, it was expected of young couples to be intimate together after a certain amount of time spent dating. In their eyes, if you would even think about spending the rest of your life with someone you better make sure they are good in bed. In the Southern and Northern Water Tribe, however, things were vastly different. Sex was for marriage and marriage alone. The boys of the Tribes were allowed to do whatever they wanted with a girl before marriage. But the girls were shamed publicly if they slept with a man before marriage. If you were betrothed and sleeping together you had better get married soon. Making the marrying age in the Water Tribes, sixteen, opposed to the Fire Nation who was eighteen.
That being said, both nations stress the importance of compromise for a healthy relationship. So Katara knelt to the Fire Nation custom of sex before marriage (Every night. More than once), and in return, Zuko made it his life's mission to not only keep it silent but to incorrupt more Water Tribe decorations and traditions in court.
"The thing is…" Zuko winced at her worried face. "T-Toph knows."
"What?" Katara screeched.
"I'm sorry. I swear I didn't tell her a thing." He said quickly.
"Oh, you better not have!" Katara glared at him. "How does she know?"
"A month ago she was walking around the place, she said she couldn't sleep and wanted to map out the palace in her head, then she… well, she 'saw' us." Zuko put his head in his hands.
"Oh, spirits." Katara cursed downing half of her coffee.
"The next day she came into my office and she kept asking me these questions," Zuko recounted. "Weird things like 'How did I sleep?" and if the palace was haunted because she kept hearing moaning."
Katara went red. She never was the silent type. "Oh, Yue. No."
"After a few minutes, I got what she was hinting at. I slammed the door then asked her why she was asking these things. She just said she wanted a Komodo-Rhino." Zuko shook his head.
"That's why you gave her one?" Katara asked. "Not because you were still sorry about her feet?"
"No, she's been blackmailing me all month. And she asks me for stupid things too, things that she could easily get or do on her own. She just likes to me sweat." Zuko said annoyed.
Katara put her empty cup on the bedside table and scooted close to Zuko, rubbing his back. "That little brat. Well, this ends today."
"That's why I'm telling you. Yesterday she came up to me and asked when the wedding was. I told her we aren't even engaged yet. She just looked at me, and you know how fucking creepy it is when she does that, and then laughed, saying that if anyone knew what she knew that wouldn't be true at least… at least by Water Tribe traditions. Then she patted me on the shoulder and said she couldn't wait for breakfast today." Zuko sighed.
Every month the Gaang tried to have a meal together, normally breakfast, for old time sake. It wasn't hard to plan, however. Katara was dating and therefore staying at the Fire Palace with Zuko. Sokka had to stay with Katara and protect her honor of all things until her and Zuko were married. Suki went back and forth between Kyoshi and Sokka. Toph had little to do other than raise hell here and there and occasionally travel with Aang, making her home in the Fire Palace. Aang used the palace as a home base, coming there every time he had finished doing his job as Avatar. Still, they had their breakfast and that was today.
Katara shut her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder. "Do… I mean… Can you just banish her?"
"You think I should banish Toph?" Zuko asked, turning his head to see her.
"It's an option."
"What if we skip breakfast?" Zuko offered.
"No. They would all know something is up and try and find us." Katara sighed. "We have to go."
Zuko shook his head. "I'm sorry."
Katara put her forehead to his. "Me too. I was going to cancel all my meetings and say I was sick and spend all day in your bed. With you."
Zuko's eyes grew wide and worried. "We still can. We can come back after we eat."
Katara picked him and the lips and got out of bed. "No, we have to actually work now."
Zuko grumbled and got out of bed, putting his pants on as well. "I swear to Agni," He muttered to himself. "Toph will rue the day she interfered with the Fire Lord's sex life."
"Morning guys!" Sokka smiled. "Ready to eat!"
Katara put on her best fake smile, resisting the urge to attack Toph then and there. "We sure are, I'm going to need another cup of coffee, though."
"Right here," Aang smiled putting on at her spot.
"Another one?" Toph asked. "Did something keep you up last night?"
Zuko and Katara's eyes jumped to her as she smirked. "No, Toph, thank you for asking."
"No problem sweetness," Toph smiled. "Was it the ghosts?"
Katara blushed.
"Ghosts?" Aang asked. "Is this place haunted?"
"Nope," Sokka said stubbornly starting to pass out food. "I'm not dealing with any ghosts."
"I hope it is," Aang said. "I can talk to whoever is still here."
"I hear most of the moans by the Fire Lord's chambers on my nightly walks," Toph smiled.
Both Zuko and Katara refused to make eye contact with anyone.
"Wow, do you know why that is, Zuko?" Aang asked. "Any dead Fire Lords?"
Zuko gulped. "A-Azulon, I think."
"Great!" Aang smiled. "Can I come try and talk to him tonight?"
"No," Katara answered. All eyes slid to her.
"Why not, Sweetness," Toph smirked.
"He's the Firelord, Aang, he needs his sleep," She took a sip of coffee, the only reason she was sane. "Besides, Toph is just messing with you, the place isn't haunted."
Aang deflated. "Really?"
Toph shrugged. "I guess not. I do hear moaning every night."
"Come on, Sokka," Zuko smirked. "Keep it down."
Laughter filled the room then died down so everyone could eat.
"Ya know, Zuko," Toph said breaking the silence. "I think you should know that your staff sure is gossipy. Just like the other nobles here. I stubbed my toe yesterday and didn't even tell anyone. This morning someone comes and asks how it's doing."
"Is that so?" Zuko asked.
"Oh yeah, your people will talk about anything," She smiled. "Rumors spread like wildfire."
"I'll be sure to handle that," Zuko forced. "Thank you, Toph."
"Katara," Aang asked. "Do you want more coffee?"
"Please," Katara begged.
"So Katara," Toph said leaning on the table. "I have a question about the South."
"Oh?" Katara asked, knowing this was some kind of trap. "What is it?"
"Why is sex frowned upon there?" Toph asked. "In the Earth Kingdom it is normal. The Fire Nation encourages it and the Air Nomads… I don't even want to know. But the Water Tribe is so strict about it? Why?"
Katara glared at her. "Sex is considered by our people a very serious thing. It's not only the bonding of two bodies but of two spirits. It is very serious."
"Very serious, eh?" Toph asked. "What a letdown. In my experience it's fun."
"Good for you," Katara said through gritted teeth.
"So," Zuko said. "I hate to cut this short but Katara and I have some meetings today and-"
"Oh, I'm sure you two have lots of things to do," Toph smirked.
"That's it," Katara said hitting the table. Everyone's eyes rose in the shock of her sudden outburst. "You have something to say, fucking say it. I'm done with you making fun of us."
"She isn't making fun of you," Sokka said carefully.
"She's just being… blunt?" Aang said. "Little weird."
"Alright, Sugar Queen, I wasn't going to but if you want me to say it then I will." She turned to Zuko. "When are you going to soundproof your bedroom? Katara is such a screamer."
It all happened in a blur. Sokka lost so much of his coloring he looked like Aang. Aang's head was the color of a tomato. Toph dodged plates. Katara threw two plates. And Zuko grabbed Katara pinning her arms to her side as he spun her into the corner near the door.
"Katara, no," Zuko said trying to calm her down.
"Bet that's the first time she's heard him say that." Toph smiled.
"My baby sister," Sokka said staring at the wall.
Katara lifted her feet, kicking the corner to offset Zuko's balance. He just lifted her off the ground. "So, breakfast was great Sokka," Zuko said kicking the door so a servant would hear and come open it. "But as I said, Katara and I are very busy today. Actually all this week. We might even have to go out of town. We'll see you later, right?"
"Let me go, Zuko!" Katara yelled flailing in his arms.
"Bet that's the first time he's heard that!" Toph laughed. "You guys are too transparent. If I can hear you the servants can too. It will look bad if Katara is heard having crazy sex with the Fire Lord before betrothal." Toph said. "Which is why I made this happen."
"You could have just soundproofed his bedroom!" Katara yelled.
"Well, that wouldn't have been nearly as much fun," Toph smiled. "You alright Sokka?"
"My baby sister." He said still in shock.
The door opened by a very scared looking maid. "Fire Lord Zuko?"
"Oh, it's nothing," Zuko said letting go of Katara then swinging her over his shoulder. "You know she gets when she doesn't have her coffee."