A/N: POV will switch between them for this chapter. Also, this is the sex, so if for some reason you've been reading this fanfic and don't want to read about sex, just skip to the next chapter

Azula's thoughts were still racing, following her conversation with her captive, and its implications.

The Master was drunk with the power he'd witnessed.

They met each other in the corridor outside of his room.

Eyes met and they stared at each other for a long moment, each seeing the other as though for the first time. Neither spoke for a long moment, then the Master cleared his throat.

Unwilling to give him the right to speak first, Azula stopped him. "It has recently come to my attention, that I might…" she trailed off, unable to put the bubble of feeling she had for him into simple words.

The Master nodded as though he understood what she could not say. "To me, you are the most perfect creature I have ever met," he said slowly, leaning against the wall.

Azula's brown eyes didn't leave his. Some sort of feeling flickered between, and suddenly she found she knew the words to say. "I love you."

"I love you," the Master replied.

They stared a moment. Azula wondered when the Master was going to look away, to tell her that he was lying, that he didn't love her. The Master was waiting for Azula to take advantage of his weakness and attack. Neither of these things happened, so they stared. Slowly gravity pulled them together, and their lips touched. It started as a soft kiss, the gentle kiss of new lovers; but Azula grabbed the Master's neck and pulled his face tighter to her own, deepening the kiss so he couldn't pull away, couldn't run away like everyone else. She was distantly aware of his hands sliding up her back and pressing her body against his. She could feel his pulse pounding under her fingertips. Her fingers slid up into his short hair, and she scraped her nails gently across his scalp. She felt a shift underneath her fingers and he pulled away, setting a slender hand on her chin to break the kiss. She pressed more urgently against him, afraid that he was leaving her, that this kiss was a goodbye.

The Master took a deep breath, feeling her small body in his arms. He needed her like he'd never needed anything before. He could feel her heart pound between his own hearts. But he could also hear footsteps coming along the corridor.

"Come on," he said, his voice heavy. But it was Azula who pulled him into his room, once again finding his lips. Now that the door was closed, the Master did nothing to stop her. Breaking suddenly, she shoved him back onto the couch. The Master collapsed unexpectedly and Azula's knees were suddenly on either side of his thighs, her face in his.

"Have you ever done this before?" he asked, suddenly curious.

"No," Azula replied, pausing.

"Then let me guide you," the Master grabbed her arms and threw her sideways. With a twist, he was the one pining her to the couch, his fingers already gripping the material of her shirt.

"I don't need a guide," Azula replied, putting her hands over his. The sound of her ripping her own shirt open was one of the most beautiful sounds he'd heard.

The Master's eyes roamed down her body as he quickly unbuttoned his own shirt and tossed it aside.

Azula felt the cool air hit her body, and wanted to cover herself. She hadn't exposed this much skin to anyone since Ember Island, the days before her friends betrayed her. But then the Master was also bare chested, more so in fact, as he did not wear the same undergarments as her. His hands were warm on her cool stomach, and they slid up to her breasts, sending sparks underneath her skin. Azula almost wanted him to stop, almost wanted to tell him not to do this, not if he was going to leave her. But then his teeth were on her bra and he pulled it away from her skin while sliding his hands up to grasp her breasts. The straps cut into her back and shoulders but Azula ignored it. His fingers were pinching lightly, a small shock of pain blending into a lightning bolt of pleasure. Azula sank her fingers into his hair and yanked his face up to her own for another long, hard kiss. His hands found the clasp on the back of her bra that was so confounding, and with almost annoying ease undid it. She used an arm to hide her breasts, but still yanked him closer. Annoyance flickered in her head, annoyance that he was getting such a reaction from her body. Surely this was a game that two could play.

The Master gasped when her hand suddenly grabbed his pants, clumsily but effectively bringing his member to attention. He hissed into her mouth and kissed her back harder, putting his own hands back to work on her breasts and smirking when he once again felt her arch underneath him. Her mouth escaped his and she ran the edge of her teeth down the side of his neck, a hesitant experiment that was met with a strangled sound of pleasure as she pressed her teeth harder. The Master jerked a hand away to press her back a bit, trying to stop her from having the same effect on him that he was having on her. But Azula merely flicked his hand away and continued her journey down to his collarbone. The Master knew he was going to be wearing the marks from this night; Badges of honor.

Azula felt him tremble slightly under her lips and hands, and smiled into the skin of his neck. She bit harder and he shuddered again. She hadn't expected it to be quite this easy. But then his fingers trailed down her stomach and into the area between her legs that no one had explored and she realized it was easy for him as well. Desperate to regain some control of the situation, Azula shoved him back onto the couch and sat straighter, removing herself from his touch. They stared at each other a minute, both gasping for breath. But Azula needed his touch, needed to know that he was here, and that he was here now. And maybe—maybe—he wasn't going to leave her alone in the darkness. She flung herself back down on top of him and bit into his neck. He gave a sobbing cry underneath her and his fingers found all the places they had before. It was strange, she'd heard of sex, knew it was a part of marriage. She'd never imagined it could be so much like victory and surrender.