Hello again! I can't believe that this is the third week (I think?) of steady one chapter a week thing! And trust me when I say I'm really trying to keep this a once a week thing.
Anyways, a lot happened last chapter.
1. Azula is going to strike soon
2. Sai will be back soon
3. Loki and Keiran found Zuko and Tiana and are now holding the two captive.
4. Zuko and Tiana had an intimate moment ;)
Anyways xP I don't own anything avatar related!
Moving onnn...
Previously...
"Hey, I guess I'll relieve you for the rest of the night" Keiran said as he approached his adopted sister "Thank Agni for that! Its so boring, its one of the few times I wish I actually COULD fall asleep I just can't wait to be rid of them tomorrow" Keiran nodded in agreement "Here, something to do with your time" she handed him a square portable game "Is this the game you're always playing?" Loki nodded "Getting the little metal ball into the center hole isn't as easy as it looks!" she said as she left "Have fun"
Keiran finished the game with ease "She thinks this is difficult?" he was halfway through a third round when he heard a sound he hadn't heard in years. He knew it was wrong but he strained his ears to hear the otherside of the door. "Do my ears deceive me?" he asked himself, but he wasn't hearing wrong. Soft moans could be heard through the wooden door and a "Are you sure you want to?" Keiran face went pale as he almost face palmed himself. Slouching down back in his chair he ran a hand through his hair, eyes wide"I Can't believe they're doing that" he thought in disbelief. Exhaling loudly he reached over and pulled something out of his bag that he reserved mainly for Loki's nagging, heavy duty earplugs that would totally channel out any surrounding sounds. Keiran muttered a few incomprehensible words before chucking the game, sending it flying across the ground into a corner and pulling out a book to preoccupy his mind instead.
Zuko rolled onto his back, slowly stirring awake, greeted by the suns bright rays shining in "What a great dream" he thought to himself, one of the first and only happy thoughts since he had arrived in the Spirit world. Before he could get out of bed he noticed a small figure shifting against him, nuzzling deeper into his warm chest. He stared down at the figure, peeling back the covers to see the girls face. Semi-surprising him was when he laid eyes on Tiana's serene face and naked form, she attempted to nuzzle even closer when the air suddenly hit her. He laid back confused "What hap- ...So it wasn't a dream" he smiled back at the previous nights event, her muffled moans, his quiet grunts, the feeling in general. Zuko could only sigh from the feeling of satisfaction that filled him, while he would like to think nothing could get him down... Something could get him down "It all ends tonight..." he thought, wrapping one arm around her he hoped that it would go well. He noticed the long scar on her hip, remembering her saying how she got it...
Previous night...
Zuko walked two fingers up Tiana's side from her knee to her hip before resting his hand there, carefully outlining a light vertical line on it "I was fourteen, had no money, no place to stay... So.. I stole a loaf of bread... Almost got away until I was noticed by a little kid" Tiana chuckled at the memory "The shopkeeper was so mad he grabbed his bread knife and took a few swipes at me" Zuko stared at the scar as if in a trance, continuing to trace it, eventually kissing the tips of his two fingers and gently placing it on the past wound.
Moving his attention, he focused on her bare shoulder, lazily stroking her arm, enjoying the feel of her silk skin beneath his fingertips. He barely noticed her watching him "Having fun?" she asked playfully, she pulled away slightly to readjust her position so she could lay across Zuko's chest, her head on his stomach "You should gain more weight" she said suddenly, Zuko, clearly looked amused decided to venture further "And why is that?" Tiana smiled "So you'd be more comfortable of course!" Zuko laughed, shaking his head "You're ridiculous, you know that. Right?" he felt her shrug against him. The two sat in silence before Tiana suddenly spoke up "You know, we should probably get up before we're joined by anyone else" Zuko knew she was right but still remained still, she suddenly got up, half-rolling out of the bed. Zuko watched as a shiver coursed through her when the cool air gently blew across her skin.
Tiana reached down at the foot of the bed, picking up her bindings. Once she was satisfied they were secure she crawled onto the bed, cuddling against Zuko. The couples tender moment was too short lived as the door swung open, slamming against the wall. "Mornin' kids!" Loki greeted "Tsk tsk tsk. Still in bed are we? Well, I can't blame you for being tired after such an... exciting night" Loki didn't bother to make eye contact with the two as she walked further into the room.
Loki did a quick examination of the state of the room, noticing mangled clothes laying neatly over the foot of the bed. The couple dare not move as Loki moved closer to further inspect something "What's this?" she asked while running her hand over a few chips in the sanded wood on the wall, smirking to herself "No..." she said, kneeling to sweep her hand across the floor, looking down she saw bits of what looked like sawdust "Wow... you guys really did have 'fun' didn't you" she said with a wink. The young couples faces turned almost beet red.
The red haired woman stopped and locked eyes with the two "Do you want to know something I absolutely despise?" she asked suddenly, stalking towards the two in bed making Zuko back up in front of Tiana "I despise..." she moved closer "You" she said glaring at Tiana, Zuko didn't have time to react when she pushed him off the bed sending him flying against the wooden wall. She glared at Tiana menacingly before intwining her long fingers in Tiana's hair, gripping a section firmly and dragging her out of bed "We'll be leaving now, see you Zuzu" Loki said with a wink "Zuko!" Tiana screamed out while clawing at the girls hand to remove the painful grip around her hair. Zuko shook his head in an attempt to regain his senses "Tiana!" he sprinted for the door only for it to be shut in his face "Let-me-out!" he yelled between punches to the door "LEAVE HER ALONE!" Zuko knew that his requests remained unheard but he continued to bang on the door.
Zuko had been pounding at that door for nearly two hours before giving up, sliding down the door defeatedly. Tangling his hands in his shaggy hair Zuko let out a yell of frustration, knocking the back of his head against the door behind him.
*tap tap* Zuko's ears perked up, his eyes immediately darting to the window, squinting slightly in an attempt to see past the setting suns rays he saw the silhouette of a very familiar person. Scrambling to his feet he leaned against the window straining to hear what Jet was trying to say "Move out of the way!" that part he did hear, jumping back barely in time as the former Freedom Fighter rammed through the glass.
"Never thought I'd ever say this but I am happy to see you" Zuko's face remained serious "Where's Tiana?" Jet asked suddenly, scanning the room "I don't know, Loki dragged her away" Jet stroked his chin thoughtfully. The two remained silent, both trying to logically figure out why they would take her and not him, was it merely because Loki hated her and they were allowing her to do whatever she wanted to? No... thats reckless. So what?
Ruffling his hair Jet shook his head "Clearly we're getting nowhere wracking our brains like this, what we need to do is take action and find her. Unless of course you actually have a better idea" Zuko shook his head "Exactly so now we just have to figure out where they've taken her..." it only took a moment before the two reached the same conclusion "To the face stealers cave!" they said in unison "C'mon! Follow me!" Zuko did as Jet said and followed him as he leapt out of the window onto a nearby branch. "Dear Agni I hope he's right"
Back at the palace
"!" Katara turned her head a second too late as a frantic messenger knocked her over "Wah?" Katara peered up at the now all too familiar face looming above her "Xiao!" Xiao's cheeks were instantly tinged with red as he rolled off to stand holding out his hand "Sorry " Katara smiled, shaking her head and taking hold of his outstretched hand "I told you, its Katara. Besides, its so quiet around here I really do appreciate the small bouts of excitement that goes on when you come around" The boy turned his head in an attempt to hide his face out of embarrassment. "Anyways, what do you have for me today? Any more messages from Aang?" Katara asked, hope filling her eyes "Umm.. Sorry, but other than the one I delivered to you yesterday... and the one four days prior to that one none have arrived. But your comrade, Master Sai, will be returning tonight and Fire Lady Ursa would like me to remind you that you are to pick him up at the pier at seven sharp." Katara nodded her head in understanding "Is that all Xiao?" Xiao shook his head nervously "What is it?" The fourteen-year-old leaned back on his heels "Well... There's been some rebel activity going on. And Fire Lady Ursa also wanted me to let you know that you should remain on guard at all times" once more nodding in understanding Xiao excused himself, dashing off the halls to deliver the next message
"It really is weird... to refer them as rebels and refugees... That was us not long ago..." Katara thought as she wandered through random halls. "AH!" Katara's blue eyes flickered from the floor to meet an almost identical pair wide-open in surprise as a silver tray and dirty plates flew to the air. Katara stumbled back slightly before closing her eyes tight and bracing her ears for the sound of porcelain crashing to their destruction. But all that was heard was the tray hitting the floor, a sigh of relief was heard next. Daring to peek down at the fallen girl, lucky for the two of them the plates had been saved by a large rug beneath a seemingly randomly placed table with a flower vase above it. "That was close" a soprano voice said "No kidding" Katara agreed, helping the girl up "Sorry about that.." Katara added, leaning over to pick up the gold trimmed plates "Don't worry about it, I should've been watching where I was going... Besides, you seemed deep in thought Miss..." the girl trailed off, suddenly realizing she didn't know the other girls name "Katara, and you?" It had suddenly hit Katara that this was the girl that was from the water tribe "Ki-ra... My names Kira" Slight suspicion rose in Katara by the slight hesitation in Kira's voice but she ignored it "Must be her nerves" Katara told herself "You're from the water tribe too... Aren't you ?" smiling Katara shook her head in agreement "Thats right, I'm from the southern tribe, and you?" Katara was silently hoping that Kira would say that she was from the southern too but its a small tribe so she'd have known Kira if she lived in the south "Well... My grandfather lived in the southern tribe but he moved to the northern tribe when he was a young man where he met my gran gran. So I was raised in the northern water tribe but I have some southern water tribe in me" Kira explained "Really?" Katara wasn't sure what she was more surprised by, the fact she had southern water tribe in her or that she called her grandmother gran gran too! Well... it wasn't that unusual but still... Unfortunately though Kira spoke before Katara could continue the conversation "Hey, , I'd love to continue this conversation but I have to do chores and other fun events like that so we'll have to finish this some other time"Katara suddenly felt hurt, thinking that Kira may have been just trying to get out of there "Oh- I understand" Katara tried to hide the disappointment in her voice, but Kira knew better "NO! I don't mean it like that... I just don't want to get fired" Kira smiled brightly and Katara soon joined her "But lets continue this tomorrow sometime, lets say... six?" Katara nodded enthusiastically "Six sounds perfect! See you then!" Kira nodded, walking off.
In the Spirit World
The two young men approached the cave, attempting to be as silent and stealthy as possible. Pausing suddenly the two remained still as a shadow passed over them, the smell of smoke filling the air, Jet could see from where he was perched Keiran lighting a cigarette, shaking the match to go out "Damn, round up some of the most difficult souls yet and all that scrooge can get me from the real world is a two measly packs of cigarettes and three packs of matches" Keiran scoffed "Pathetic" he mumbled to himself, continuing to puff the cigarette.
Jet tapped lightly but impatiently against the tree branch as Keiran took his time with that cigarette "We have to get in there now" he whispered to Zuko who was right behind him "I know, but how?" Jet looked thoughtful for a moment "Distraction, I'll get him to chase me and then you'll run in alright?" Zuko gave a quick nod 'Good luck' he mouthed as Jet put two fingers to his forehead in a fake salute as he seemed to have fallen backwards from the branch but knowing him he had landed just fine.
Suddenly against the base of the cave Jet crossed his arms "Hey, you know its not very nice to hold dear damsels in distress against their will right?" Keiran turned his head towards Jet it was a wonder he didn't get whiplash "You!" he sneered "Thats right, me" Jet winked before taking off like lightning to the deep woods. Zuko waited, still crouched in the same position until the two had been long gone. Carefully leaping down from his position he crept through the entrance. Zuko cautiously scanned the room before daring to take a single step further, when he'd decided it was safe a streak of red flashed before his eyes as long finger were wrapped around his neck "You think we're stupid? You think we didn't know you were plotting with that dumb kid? Besides, how unoriginal can you get? I mean seriously!We could even hear you two whispering" Loki glared at Zuko "Now lets go" She suddenly removed her grip around his neck, instead twisting his arm around uncomfortably, forcing him to go wherever she led him.
"Where is she? You better not have hurt her or so help me I'll-" Loki let out a 'Hah' mockingly "You'll what? Kill us all? Please Zuko, I really do not think that you are in the position to be the one thats making the demands around here. So you had better watch those manners boy" Zuko had to keep himself restrained from shouting anything that would seemingly further compromise his current situation "However... I'm feeling nice today so I'll tell you a secret" stopping suddenly to pull him closer to whisper in his ear she said "We're going to see her right now" noticing the slight slack in her grip Zuko successfully wriggled free, taking off down the first hall he saw. "Shoot... I would pick the one thats entirely dark" Zuko wandered around blindly for a few moments before noticing a faint light appearing suddenly before him. "Great! A way out!"
Zuko made his way towards the light as the brightness grew with each step he took, even to the point he had to bring up his arms in an attempt to shield his eyes. "Where...Am I?" Zuko wondered as
he inspected the room around him. Suddenly, he realized something that hit him like a truck "I'm back home?"
And thats it
The last bit was actually a merge of an old idea that I really wanted to use but would no longer be valid so I rethought it and thats what you get :) Oh, I'm not sure if I had mentioned this already or not but we are actually nearing the end of Zuko and Tiana's time in the Spirit World so I'm kinda psyched for that since I'm running out of ideas for it and quite frankly I'm also a little bored with it, an idea that has run way too long! But it shall be exciting when we get to the real world once more :) I've already revealed that Azula is in fact back! And talks of a rebel group attack is in the works, plus Sai is coming back with all the herbs so Ursa can combine them in some medicinal concoction and help Tiana out!
Anyways, I really do apologize for this one. This is one of the ones I wasn't happy with the outcome, I most definitely had way too many ideas running through my head at the moment... Plus this was kinda a forced chapter since I'm really trying to keep this updated once a week xO
Okie so review because reviews make me oh so very happy. But if you don't I understand.. I won't be upset... too much anyways T.T (justtt kidding xP)