5.26.12
so I wrote about the agni kai.. it feels kind of lame because I typically don't go into these types of things but I figured hey, it might add a little more to the story |D
I'm sorry if it's lame... I really am...
The news has already spread by the time Ozai and Ursa return to the rest of the crowd. "Lord Rozon has challenged someone to an Agni Kai over Lady Ursa's hand in marriage," say the murmurs. "Another suitor has appeared." "They are likely to fight to the death." "Who must it be?" "No one thought that anyone else would appear to woo Lady Ursa." "She was nearly guaranteed to Lord Rozon." "Perhaps she has been rather free in her... affections with men." "She must have tempted this him."
Ursa bristles as she hears these words. As she walks through the crowd, the murmurs around her die off and start again, sweeping through the crowd.
"That must be the man that Rozon challenged." "He's quite handsome, isn't he?" "They must have bedded each other already." "Of course they must have; they can't have known each other for very long." "And yet he's willing to duel an Agni Kai for her."
Ursa's face is burning with anger and embarrassment. She doesn't look at Ozai, doesn't want to see how he's reacting to the whispers they hear.
She realizes that the crowd has parted, has gathered around the edges of the courtyard. They have already made space for the Agni Kai to come. "I will be going now, my lady," she hears Ozai say in her ear, and then he has stepped forward through the crowd and into the open courtyard, where Rozon is already waiting at the other side.
At the sight of Ozai, the murmurs rise again. But this time Ursa hears something new, as more people catch sight of Ozai. Of course there are some who recognize him - and the news travels quickly.
"He looks familiar." "Isn't that the prince?" "The prince!" "The prince!" "Prince Ozai is dueling Lord Rozon for Lady Ursa's hand in marriage!" "Are you sure that it's him?" "Why did Rozon challenge him?" "Perhaps he didn't know that it was Prince Ozai." "But Rozon has always been hot-tempered."
Ursa pushes her way to the front of the crowd, brushing off people who try to stop her to question her. "Not now," she snaps. Her heart is suddenly hammering. She has never witnessed an Agni Kai up close, has only heard stories of the ferocity and power. She doesn't know what to expect. She's at the very front of the crowd, about fifteen yards away from Ozai. At the other end of the courtyard is Rozon, who has already stripped down to his pants.
Ozai sheds his robe and takes off his shoes, dropping them off to the side. The only thing Ursa's anxious mind can think is that his embroidered pants look much too fancy to be a part of something like this. She can feel herself blushing as she watches him and almost wants to avert her eyes. This isn't the same Ozai as the one from two years ago - in those two years, he has made the final transformations from a boy to a man.
She glances around to see others' reactions. Most young women are doing nothing short of ogling, which makes Ursa feel a little better, if not a little annoyed. Ozai stretches, and the movement reminds her of an eagle tiger - lithe and powerful and deadly.
Ursa suddenly sees a man run up towards Rozon. She realizes that it's his father, Lord Zhan, who seems almost frantic as he speaks to his son. Rozon gives an impatient shake of his head and brushes his father off with a few impatient words of his own. As Zhan backs away, shaking his head, Rozon proceeds to stretch as well, glaring fiercely at Ozai.
Ursa can guess what has just happened. It's likely that Zhan has just informed Rozon that the man he had challenged to an Agni Kai is Prince Ozai. But Ursa knows Rozon well enough to know that this knowledge will only add fuel to the fire - Rozon will only see it as a chance to raise his own standing in the political court. To defeat a prince of the Fire Nation in an Agni Kai - Ursa can guess that that's one of Rozon's wild, pride-driven dreams.
But he is so naïve, Ursa thinks. No one has challenged a direct member of the Fire Nation royal family to an Agni Kai in decades, not since Sozin began his reign. And for good reason, too. The royal family is distinguished not only by their blood but also by their powerful firebending; it is common knowledge, but Ursa knows that Rozon's ego leaves little room for common sense.
Suddenly Rozon raises his arms. "Hush!" he shouts, and the murmur of the crowd slowly dies off until a deathly quiet silence falls upon them. Ursa feels as though she is part of one giant being, waiting with bated breath to see what will happen next. Rozon continues to address the crowd. "We will have to skip some of the usual formalities, as this was an unexpected turn of events," he says with almost a sneer. "Today I, Lord Rozon, am challenging Prince Ozai for Lady Ursa's hand in marriage!"
He seems to expecting applause, or perhaps some kind of encouragement from the crowd; but everyone is too stunned to react.
Rozon plows on. "My father, Lord Zhan, will be the overseer of this duel," he says, and he gestures to his father, who has moved to the center of the courtyard, looking resigned.
Zhan heaves a sigh. He steps back from the center of the courtyard, out of the way of Rozon and Ozai, and raises his arms. Instead of the traditional gong that announces the start of an Agni Kai duel, he drops his arms as if slicing the air.
It's so quiet that at first Ursa isn't really sure if the Agni Kai has actually begun, but then a sudden movement causes her gaze to flick back to the two combatants. She realizes with a little thrill of fear that Rozon is already charging up the courtyard towards Ozai. He stops several yards away from Ozai, and, moving faster than Ursa expects, he draws an arm back. There's a bright flash of flames and a low boom as he lunges forward like he's punching someone, but this is no punch; instead, a bright ball of fire is traveling towards Ozai. Ursa can feel the heat of it, even from this distance, and she can't help the little squeak of shock that escapes her when she sees the flames engulf Ozai.
"Ha!" Rozon snarls, and he launches another fireball at Ozai before the first one has even disappeared.
What are you doing, Ozai? Ursa wonders. He hadn't moved from his position at all as Rozon had come charging towards him, had barely reacted as Rozon has launched his attack.
As if to answer, there's a sudden whoosh and the flames billow out to the side towards the crowd. There's a gasp and a cry as everyone draws back, but then the flame has dissipated; and then there is Ozai, standing with his arms out to his sides.
He is completely unscathed, and Ursa realizes that he has somehow deflected Rozon's fire, meeting it with his own and sending the flames to the side. She swallows. Rozon is fast, but Ozai is faster.
Rozon quickly recovers from his own shock, and with an angry growl he launches his barrage of fireballs again. This time Ozai simply dodges them neatly, weaving back and forth. Ursa wonders why he isn't launching his own attacks; and then, with a little knot of anxiety and shock in her stomach she realizes that he's toying with Rozon. Playing with him. Like a cat would with a mouse... right before killing it.
But he had told her not to worry. He had, hadn't he?
"Fight back, you lousy coward," Rozon sneers. "Can't you do anything besides dodge?"
There's a sudden gasp from the crowd, as if they are one enormous being acting on one mind. Ozai moves so quickly that Ursa isn't sure what has happened - a jet of flame has exploded from Ozai's palm, so hot that she has to cover her face for a moment. When she looks again, there is Rozon, lying flat on his back.
The people around her are muttering excitedly among themselves. From their talk Ursa can put together what has just happened. How had it happened so quickly? Ozai had somehow overpowered Rozon's attacks with his own, engulfing the fireballs with his own flames, strong enough to send Rozon hurtling backwards.
Ozai approaches Rozon, and a hush falls over the crowd again. Glaring, Rozon tries to send another jet of flame at Ozai's face from his position on the ground, but with a cool wave of his hand Ozai easily brushes it off. With a start Ursa realizes that Rozon has been burned on both arms, when he had raised them to defend himself against Ozai's attack.
"We're not done yet," Rozon snarls, and he tries to get to his feet, but Ozai brings a foot down onto his chest, slamming him back down onto the ground.
"This was over before it even began," he says quietly. "You should thank your stars that Lady Ursa wanted me to show mercy - it's for her sake, not yours, that you're still alive right now. Otherwise I would kill you in a heartbeat."
Rozon stops struggling, and for the first time Ursa can see the real fear cross his face as he finally understands who he has challenged. There's a beat of silence before Ozai steps back and turns away. He picks up his clothes and then approaches Ursa. The crowd around her falls back, but she stays where she is.
This is it, she realizes. Ozai has won. She will not be marrying Rozon.
She lets out the breath she hadn't realizes she had been holding and smiles uncertainly up at Ozai, not sure what he is thinking.
"Well?" he murmurs, and she doesn't really know what he's asking, but she answers anyway.
"That was... terrifying," she admits.
"Why?"
She's not really sure. His power was terrifying and yet enthralling. He was terrifying, but glorious in his power. Even Rozon's attacks had been terrifying. She simply shrugs her shoulders. "It just was."
Frantic footsteps sound to their side, and they both look up to see Ursa's parents hurrying towards them. "Ursa!" her mother gasps, her eyes flicking from her daughter to the prince. "Prince Ozai - what is - "
Ozai bows. "I'm sorry to have had to do things in this manner," he says smoothly, "and I would have informed you earlier, had I had the opportunity to do so. But now that we're here - I would like, as you are probably aware by now, to claim Lady Ursa's hand in marriage."
"Oh - my - " Ursa's mother is at a loss for words, and she looks to her husband for help.
He clears his throat. "Yes - yes, she - we - would be honored, Prince Ozai," he says. "We will - begin the arrangements as soon as possible - "
"Perfect," Ozai says. "Now, if you'll excuse us... I would like a word with Ursa, if possible."
"Yes - yes, of course - " Ursa's parents bow them off as Ozai leads Ursa away. The crowd parts for them, and Ursa can feel herself blushing under their scrutinizing gaze. But in the back of her mind, a random thought occurs to her: For once, she wishes Mei Fan was here.
Ozai leads her back into the gardens, down to the turtle duck pond, where things seem unusually peaceful and quiet after the duel she has just witnesses. Sitting down on the bench, she waits as he puts his robe and shoes back on. She notices with a little surprise that he has barely broken a sweat, even after the heat of the battle.
He's used to it, of course, she thinks. Of course. He's a firebender; he's grown accustomed to the heat of the flames.
When he's finished he turns back to her and holds out a hand. A little surprised, she takes it and stands up, looking up at him.
It's the most intimate contact she's had with him, and immediately she can feel the heat radiating from his hands, almost like there is lava running through the veins just beneath the surface of his skin instead of blood. A churning, steady heat. Did all firebenders feel like this, she wondered, or just him?
"Lady Ursa," he begins, but she stops him before he can go on.
"Ursa," she corrects. "You may call me Ursa... Ozai." Saying his name without the familiar "prince" in front of it feels strange but somehow gratifying.
He smiles briefly. "Of course." He stops, hesitating. "Ursa, I simply wanted to be sure - "
"I'm sure," she interrupts, because she knows exactly what he's going to say. She is certain about her decision, certain that she wants to be with him. She looks up at him, determined.
He is so close, and she's waiting. He sighs. "You're very certain?" he asks, and his breath is warm on her face. "You know that you cannot change your mind after it is official. There is no backing out of an arranged marriage with the prince."
She nods, just once. "I know."
"Then..."
Her heart misses a beat as he raises his hand and lightly traces her jawline with his thumb. His hand, scorching in its heat. She swallows but doesn't look away.
He smiles - a sort of smile that she's only seen when he's around her - and finishes his thought. "Then you leave me with no other choice," he says, and he bends and presses his lips to hers.
Ursa freezes in shock - freezes, even as her mind registers the heat of his lips on her own. Finally, after years of waiting... this. Trying to calm the sudden influx of dizzying emotions in her mind, she closes her eyes and leans into it, returning everything that he's giving her.
She's unsure of what to do with her hands, doesn't really know where she should place them - on him? Is she allowed to touch him? She can't think properly, but at last an answer rises to the surface of her befuddled mind - yes, yes, of course she can - Agni, they're kissing, of course she can -
Her free hand comes up to his waist, but she finds the touch unsatisfactory. More, her mind thinks, but the problem is that his own hands are in the way. Taking him - and herself - by surprise, she pulls her other hand from his grip and brings her arms up around his neck, their lips momentarily losing contact before she pulls him in again.
She feels his surprise at her daring, in the way he momentarily doesn't know what to do with his own hands. But then he brings his arms around her and holds her to him, and she feels a little thrill of something that she's never felt before. She's never been held like this, not by anyone, not in the arms of a lover.
The air around them is growing hotter, and she doesn't know if it's because of him - he certainly seems to be almost burning beneath her touch - or because of the way he's making her feel. Probably both, she thinks. Definitely both.
She has to break the contact briefly again to take a breath and is taken completely by surprise when his lips make contact with hers again - no, not just his lips, something more - and then the kiss that had started innocently enough has become more.
Agni - her mind has gone completely blank. Now it's just the rush of heat in her veins that's controlling her body as she presses herself to him, and all the hesitation and uncertainty is gone. He is aggressive even in his kisses, not that she minds - his hand up comes and traces along her shoulder, his tongue is hot in her mouth - and she pushes back, knowing that he must be feeling the same way as her. There's no thought to this, none at all, just feelings, and it's like the barriers that have been between them have broken down all in an instant.
Can't they stay like this forever? she thinks hazily, forever - that would be nice. There's a strange burning in her stomach that she's never felt before, some desire, wanting to be closer to him - Prince Ozai, her fiancé - her lover -
And then he's the one who has to pull away first, and she opens her eyes, blinking and confused. What's happened? Has she done something wrong? She tries to pick through the thoughts and rush in her mind. Her face is flushed. Perhaps she had been too forward with her affections - but no, that didn't make any sense, he was the one who had initiated all the contact -
He leans in again, but this time his lips trace along her cheek. "Ursa," he says, and she's pleased to hear that his breathing is uneven, "you - " He breaks off, letting his lips linger before trying again. "I wasn't - expecting that."
And she knows that he's not only talking about the way she kissed him but also the way he had kissed her - the way he had let those emotions take control over him, leaving no space or room for thought. It's her first time with feelings like this, but it's also his, and he is just as unprepared for it as she is.
She lets out a little breathless laugh, and to her own ears she sounds like one of those ridiculous young noblewomen - like the ones that had been with Rozon - but she can't help it. And she can't believe that a kiss, a kiss, can make her feel like this.
"Neither was I," she says, and she feels his lips curve up into a smile against her skin. "Oh, Agni." She lets out a breath. Her heart is still racing in her chest.
"Oh Agni, indeed," he says, chuckling lightly.
With a deep sigh she leans forward to rest her head on his shoulder, part of her still marveling at the way she's allowed to do this, to be close to him in this way, and how she can make him feel the same. And she can't remember when she's ever felt so completely elated, so completely at ease - like she's riding on a wave that will never, ever come down.
so after I wrote the agni kai bit I was like, man there is just not enough ursai interaction going on here
... so the kiss scene was born. :|
I don't know, I've never read a fanfic that has such a long kiss scene lolol nor have I ever written one myself, but I didn't want to write a typical "he stuck his tongue in her mouth and their tongues battled for dominance" (oh god I really do hate that) because you don't know how many stories like that I've read... eurgh... and it just gets tiresome, you know?
besides that's not really exactly how french kisses go... and I admit, it's difficult to write about one (well, it was difficult for me in any case), but that has just become one of my fanfic pet peeves.
(I don't mean to insult anyone if they write like that D: it's just my opinion on that type of thing. I mean, there's probably people who like it, but I'm just not into it...)
