i think i've failed epically with trying to not post until a week or two passes... well, frankly, i like updating. haha. if i could, i would update every other day. but that would be taxing..

so! here's chapter 9. yay for Zuko being in the picture again...and being his angsty self as usual.

enjoy!

-TSA


Chapter 9:

"A woman's heart is a deep ocean of secrets." ~Gloria Stuart

Afternoons were so hot. He couldn't understand why people insisted drinking tea at this time. Dodging the swinging arms of a soldier who was animatedly telling a story, he picked up the empty teacups that sat at an empty table in the corner. He brought them around back to have them washed, thinking all the while how that would have been Briar's job during their Tuesday shifts. He grumbled to himself how useless she was while cleaning them.

Hearing people shout for more tea, he rushed out into the teashop with several pots of tea on his tray. Once everyone was pleased, he stood by the front counter and leaned his back against it. Had it not been for his uncle, this place wouldn't be nearly as prosperous as it was. Eyes panning over the people that sat amongst the small tables, he sighed and slumped his shoulders. Part of him was pleased with his job and with the opportunity to be alone in his thoughts-

His brow furrowed as the door of the teashop opened. He knew who it was upon seeing her toes, flecks of dirt glinting on her skin and painted nails. She was dressed in a long gown of a pale green and he silently admitted that he liked that her curves were defined. Turning his back as soon as her eyes found his, he stalked into the backroom in hopes that his uncle would take care of her. Hands braced against the sink, he closed his eyes while his head swam.

"Nephew, what are you doing back here?"

Zuko glanced over his shoulder at his uncle, "I won't talk to her-"

"Your job in this place is to serve tea." Iroh patted him on the shoulder while directing him back out into the shop, "You don't have to say anything."

Grimacing, Zuko walked over to the table in the corner where Briar was sitting alone, her eyes scanning over the faces of the lively people around her. He cleared his throat and as soon as her green eyes met his, he felt that surge of rage in his chest.

"Can I get a cup of jasmine tea?" she delicately asked.

Zuko nodded his head, shouting the order to his uncle. When he came back with her cup of tea, steaming enough to tingle his nostrils, he saw her hands had disappeared into her sleeves, though her eyes were cast to the floor. Setting the cup in front of her, he took the seat across from her while scolding himself for his momentary concern.

"How's palace life?" he mumbled.

Briar half laughed, "You're terrible at starting conversations." She looked up at him, "If you want to know how I am then just ask me."

Zuko wrinkled his nose, "I don't care how you are."

"Then why disguise the question inside your previous one?"

Zuko's hand balled into fists, but he bit his lip to keep himself from yelling at her, "Fine. So, how are you?"

Briar finally picked up her cup of tea and sipped on it, "About to go mad. There's a reason I didn't announce my presence in Ba Sing Se." She licked her lips, quickly noting that Zuko was watching her with intrigue, "How have you been?"

"Work's been busy." He shrugged, glancing over his shoulder to see his uncle serving people so that he had time to talk to Briar. He scowled at that notion, "Uncle's happy here."

"But you're not." She sipped her tea again, "You don't hide emotions well."

Zuko rolled his eyes, figuring it would be best to change subjects, "Why did you just up and leave?"

Briar set her half drank cup down, her fingertips dancing around the rim. She stared at the table, a deep mahogany that was rough to the touch. Closing her eyes, she disappeared for several moments into her mind. Was there an inkling of concern that he had for her? Was the distance between them causing something to erupt? When she opened her eyes, she saw Zuko staring at her.

"I'm a princess. I'm not expected to live outside of a palace." She sighed, "But that doesn't mean I like it."

"Then why go?"

She smirked, her eyes dancing around the room, "Wouldn't you like to know…?"

Zuko scowled as she giggled. He rose from his seat and stomped off to the counter where Iroh was enjoying a conversation with a soldier. Seeing his nephew storm into the backroom, Iroh followed him to find him leaning on the sink again.

"What's wrong, Nephew?"

"I can't break her." He shook his head, "She dodges everything. I can't figure her out!"

Iroh shrugged, "You're letting this bother you too much. Why can't you just talk to her instead of trying to figure her out?"

"Because she reads me like a book!" Zuko glanced outside of the backroom, seeing Briar giggling amongst a group of soldiers, "She knows me without ever asking anything."

This made Iroh smile, though he was sure to turn his back so Zuko wouldn't see, "Maybe you know her better than you think?"

"I'm not sure I want to know her." He sighed heavily, "I want to know her intentions."

"Then spend a little time with her. You might be surprised at what you find."

Zuko followed his uncle back into the teashop, silently thankful that Briar was alone again. He began cleaning off tables and stacking empty cups on his tray, ever so often glancing at Briar, whose fingers were tracing the rim of her teacup. Walking over to her table, he cleared his throat, not wanting to address her by her title.

"Do you want another cup of tea?" he whispered.

Briar shrugged, "Do you mind if I have another?"

"Why would it matter if I mind?" he retorted.

"It would keep me here longer." She set her elbows on the table and rested her chin on the heels of her palms, "Does that bother you?"

"It's money for the teashop." He swept up the coins that she had set on the table, "My uncle might have to brew more, so it'll be a few minutes."

Briar shrugged, "Would you keep me company?"

"No."

Zuko smirked as her eyes widened and her lips grew taut. He marched over to his uncle and told him the order, basking in his little victory. When he came back with her cup of freshly brewed tea, she had her arms crossed over her chest and she was sitting lower in her seat.

"Brooding, are we?"

Briar scowled, "I find it hard to believe that you were once a prince."

"I find it hard to believe that you're about to become a queen."

"Touché…" Briar took a sip from her tea, "How long is your shift?"

Zuko sat down across from her, "Depends on the night. Why?"

"Just wanted to see if you'd be obligated to join me on a stroll around town…"

He drummed his fingers on the table, watching her as she finished up her cup of tea. Maybe spending time with her would unravel some things? He stared at her mouth as her tongue ran along her top lip. Part of him wanted her to know what her gesture did to him, but he chose to just shrug it off.

"Fine."

Typical response…

Briar nodded her head and rose from her seat, holding her hand out to him. He swept a kiss across her skin, mindful of the eyes that watched him with intrigue. She gave him a bow of her head while whispering that she'd come by his apartment later tonight then left the shop. There was a strange emptiness now that she was no longer sitting in the corner. Shaking his head, Zuko began cleaning off the rest of the tables, waiting for the next hoard of people to arrive.

. . . .

"So…are you two going on a date?"

Zuko threw his hands up in the air, "It's not a date, Uncle!"

"Why not?" Iroh laughed as Zuko let out a cry of frustration, "You might find the truth you're searching for-"

"My feelings haven't changed for her." Zuko buttoned his brocade jacket, "I still hate her."

"That's a rather strong statement."

Zuko sighed, "Not for a banished prince…"

He glanced at himself in the mirror, eyes narrowing at the face that stared back at him. No matter how he wished it, the scar would never disappear. Noticing that his uncle was watching him with worry glinting in his eyes, he nodded his head and walked outside where the night air smelt of the orchids that's oils were smoothed into her skin.

He caught his breath while watching Briar's figure, still as a statue, under the moonlight. Brow furrowing, he saw the gleam of the golden seams of her cheongsam that wove into a tiger on the back of the blue silk dress. How fitting…Strolling up beside her, he stared up at the moon until he heard her giggle. He was beginning to hate that sound.

"You've surprised me," she whispered.

"Why now?" he replied.

"You actually showed up." Smiling at him, she began walking down the dusty street that was silent as a cemetery, "I'm just glad I could get out of the palace."

"I'm surprised you're not being following by the Dai Li," Zuko scoffed.

"Who's to say they aren't following me?" Briar opened up the umbrella she was holding, setting it on her shoulder, which blocked out the moon's beams that decorated her face. Back to shadows, "What made you agree to this?"

Zuko shrugged, hands slipping into his pockets, "It's in my best interest."

Briar began to laugh, noticing that he was smirking. Nudging him with her shoulder, she strode a few steps ahead of him while humming a song. She beckoned him to join her, but he chose to remain lagging behind as she skipped over to the fountain in the center plaza. When she jumped up onto the edge, Zuko staggered a step forward, watching her wobble a little before she had her balance. She spun around a few times, holding her umbrella above her head.

"You're going to fall in."

Briar stuck her tongue out at him, "As if you're concerned…"

Zuko walked over to her while she balanced on one leg. Smirking, he gave her a push, which resulted in her arms flailing madly while she dropped her umbrella. He braced himself against the splash as she fell into the fountain. Laughing as she surface, he picked up her umbrella and handed it to her.

"Should I say 'I told you so'?" he mused.

"You're an asshole."

"Anywhere else you'd like to go, Princess?"

Clambering out of the fountain, Briar stared at her wet dress. Though she was angry that it was ruined, she knew she could have a new one sewed up. Ringing out her hair then tying it up, she tried to wipe the smudges of her make up that were streaking down her face, but there was hardly a point. She gripped her umbrella tightly and smacked Zuko across the face with it. She stomped off, the dusty roads drinking the water that dripped from her dress.

Zuko stumbled after her, catching her as she walked toward the apartment, "Where do you think you're going?"

"I have clothes in here," she replied, opening the door.

Zuko grumbled meaningless things under his breath while following her inside. To his surprise, he didn't see his uncle. He tripped after Briar as she strolled into, what was now, his room and grabbed her bag, which was sitting in the corner. He watched her toss her first gown onto the floor before finding her black nightgown and yukata robe. Her eyes met his and he felt his face beam a dark shade of red.

"I don't think it's polite if I dress while you're in here."

Zuko mumbled an apology and left the room, sliding the door closed behind him and leaning against it. He unbuttoned his jacket upon the feeling of his temperature rising. That smell of orchids was making his head swim and he felt like he couldn't breathe. When the door slid opened, he tumbled backward into Briar, hitting the floor as ungracefully as humanly possible. Rolling over, his eyes widened when he saw that he was lying between her thighs.

"Have I missed something?" she asked, amusement dancing in her eyes.

Zuko wasn't sure what to say. All he could think about was how strong her thighs felt around his waist. His heart was thundering so loud while flashes of a passionate embrace flooded his mind. It wouldn't be difficult- She was certainly left to his mercy. That was all her wanted- to control her for some amount of time, to put her in her place-

"Dwelling on naughty thoughts, are we?" Briar teased.

Zuko grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head, "You're in no position to taunt."

Briar's eyes challenged his gaze, "Am I to assume that you desire me?"

"You need to be taught a lesson."

She tilted her head back, closing her eyes, "Then do it." When she looked back at Zuko, he was paralyzed, arms shaking to keep her locked down, "You're not that kind of guy, are you?"

He released his hold on her, his hands sliding down her arms until they came to her hips, "No…" He shivered as her hands slinked up his chest, though only remained there for a few seconds, "What do you want with me?"

Briar pushed him backward, her soft body resting over his while she drummed her fingers on her chest. A giggle escaped her as she felt his manhood struggling between her thighs, and just the feel of it aroused her, "I've told you this before, 'if I wanted you, you'd already be mine'."

Zuko smirked, rolling overtop of her. He twirled his fingers in her hair while she grinned, "And I've told you this before, 'I have no desire to want you, yet you're already mine'."

"The question is…" Briar leaned up to him, her lips barely prickling his, "…which one of us is lying?"

She began to laugh when his brow furrowed, but as she went to push him off her, his lips hit hers. Her body went rigid until his arm encompassed her waist and he held her up against his chest. His tongue tentatively brushed over hers, earning a soft moan from her throat. Their lips parted for a mere second, the next kiss a fight for control. Mouths working against each other, Zuko pulled himself away from her, though just to catch his breath.

Sitting back on his legs, he drew her up onto his lap, lips trekking across her tattoo. Her fingers tangled in his hair while she brought her lips down to his. He tugged her robe off her shoulders in search of the feel of her skin. It was warm, soft to each caress. His mouth left hers to find her eyes holding a gentleness he never thought he'd ever see. Her fingers timidly unbuttoned the rest of his jacket, smoothing over his tense muscles.

Zuko untied her hair from its twist, droplets of water resting on her shoulders. Her skin lit up with goose-bumps until he kissed her. They tumbled over each other, Zuko pushing her robe off of her arms. That brief contact of skin brought an unearthly sensation to his muscles. Their lips fell from their kiss, Briar holding herself up over him, her hair curtaining their faces.

"So…who's the liar?" she whispered.

Zuko tucked her hair behind her ear, "I don't think either of us would be willing to admit that."

"That's true…" She drummed her fingers on his bare chest, "Where to from here?"

Zuko sat up, Briar tumbling off him and lying across the floor. He picked up his jacket while glancing around the side of the open door to see if his uncle had come back. A breathy laugh escaped his lips as he felt Briar press a kiss to his shoulder blades.

"My uncle should be back soon." He took her hand and spun her around in front of him, "I think I need some time to think."

Briar nodded her head, "Do you not hate me as much anymore?"

"Maybe not as much…" Zuko pulled his jacket on, "But I still hate you to some degree."

Briar noted the smirk on his face. Picking up her robe, she shuffled over to the front door with a glance over at Zuko. With a wink and smile, she left the apartment to be escorted by Dai Li officers back to the palace. Licking her lips, she kept imagining the sweetness of his kiss until she found herself wandering off the path that led back to the Upper Ring, though she was glad that her knight had moved himself into position.


yay for near SEX experiences. haha. so what will this bring into perspective. Briar's messing around with Zuko, Jet's messing around with Briar and Chronos is on his way to Ba Sing Se! You almost gotta hope she has a plan to get out of all this bullshit...haha

oh! here's a little Greek Mythology for ya! Cronus was the father of the gods Zeus, Poseidon, Juno, Hades, etc. He was the most powerful god, but he heard a prophecy that he would be overthrown by one of his children, which ended up being Zeus. But in this story...Chronos' name depicts him as the "Keeper of Time" since the spelling is different. :)

so! here's another thought!

Chess pieces:

Queen: Briar

King:

Knight: Zuko

Rook:

Bishop:

Pawn: Jet

hmmm...wonder what the other pieces are? I'm going to keep letting you know who's who along the story so that you don't get too lost trying to keep up with it all. :)