woah! get ready for a long chapter! (i think i owed you all that much for the short one i previously posted...) next chapter might not be up that quick. i've got a tad busy schedule... :(

SO! thanks for the support!

Reviews are welcome. :)

enjoy!

-TSA


Chapter 12:

"It is not enough to conquer; one must also know how to seduce." ~Voltaire

A statue of marble. Eyes flickering with a tantalizing gaze that seemed to never leave him no matter how many times he turned his back, her hands remained hidden in the sleeves of her robes. Her jaw was taut, velvet red lips pursed in the slightest smirk. Her skin had lost its bronzed complexion, fading into the pallor of porcelain. Those emerald eyes were fierce as ever, calculating and demanding just as when they had first met. It was a shame to see her that way.

Her muscles hardly twitched even when she'd whisper a word or two to the soldiers sitting at the table beside hers, which was in the corner. When she shifted her position to sit up straighter, he found himself watching the way her robes tumbled around her curvy figure until they settled against her body. Her tongue ran across her top lip and he nearly tripped over himself at the mere sight of it. She probably knew that, which was why she insisted on tormenting him.

He wanted to taste her again, ravage the moisture of her mouth. His skin was burning at the mere thought of finishing what they had started several nights ago. How did his uncle expect him to avoid her? She was the center of his every dream. All his secret passions he wanted to discover in her womanly secrets. Just the thought of it aroused him and he had to smack himself on the forehead a few times to control himself. All she needed to do was make the right gesture and he'd push himself over the edge!

Shuffling off into the backroom, he set the dirty teacups he had stacked up into the sink while thinking about the last time he had seen Briar. It wasn't like they truly "made up" after their minor argument. He was well aware that she was most likely hurt by seeing him with Jin, but all of that meant nothing to him! He just wanted her even if only for a few minutes…

He peeked his head around from the backroom, watching Briar rise from her seat and saunter to the front counter, coins jingling in her palm. He watched with earnest for the moment that she'd look his way. But it never came.

"Nephew, the young lady requests a cup of green tea with mint!"

Zuko quickly poured her a cup and rushed to give it to her. He stood at her table for a few minutes; staring at her while she stared off the right with little interest with his presence. Sitting down across from her, he slid the cup over to her until she finally looked over at him.

"Thank you," she murmured.

Zuko's brow furrowed, "Is that all you can say?"

"I don't figure there is more to say." She shrugged while taking a sip from her tea, "I don't want to dwell on the past, if you know what I mean."

"I don't want it to just be the past."

"That's no longer our choice."

She was glad that the door to the teashop burst open, for it kept her from engaging in a further argument. But when she saw it was Jet who had burst in, her brow furrowed. Rising from her seat, she reached into her pocket, fingers dancing over the coin he had flipped to her during their first tangle. What on earth he was doing was beyond her, but it was forcing her to remove her pawns one by one.

"I've got to tell you, Lee…" Jet twirled his swords in his hands while pacing around the teashop, his eyes fixated on Briar, "Your girl's a real gem!"

Zuko rose to his feet, "What would you know about her?"

"She's a seductress." Jet winked at Briar, "I've enjoyed her spoils-" Jet was cut off as Zuko drew the broadswords a soldier had at his waist. He lifted a brow, "Hold up there, Buddy. There's no need to get up in arms about this!"

"Take back what you said about her."

Jet laughed, "Which part? That she's obedient when aroused?"

Briar's eyes narrowed, less than amused by Jet's taunting. She stepped between the two of them while setting a hand on Zuko's shoulder, "That will be enough from both of you." She glanced over her shoulder at Jet, "I don't know where you're making these lies up from, but I would appreciate if you kept your mouth shut."

"Didn't realize I was insulting you, Princess." He hooked one of his swords around her wrist and yanked her into his arms, the blade cutting her skin apart. He pressed his chest against her back while holding his hand around her throat and pulling her chin up the expose her neck. He gently kissed underneath her jaw, which made Zuko advance a step, "You should hear her moan." He nipped at a pulsing vein, making her yelp, "It's enough to send you over the edge."

Zuko held his broadswords out to the space between them, "Release her now."

"I don't think she wants to be let go." His grip on her throat tightened, stopping her from sputtering any words, "I won't hurt her. She's too precious a commodity." He lifted one of his swords to the quaking veins of her neck, "But I need you to do me a favor."

"Name it!" Zuko staggered forward as a thin trail of blood began trickling down her neck. Hearing her whimper and seeing her fight against Jet was making him wish he could just fire bend, "Let her go, Jet!"

"Then start fire bending, Buddy."

Zuko's eyes narrowed, "What are you talking about?"

"There's a handsome reward for a couple fire bending refugees. Just admit to it and she won't get hurt."

Zuko met Briar's stare and he knew better than to admit to anything, "You're going to have to let her go because I'm not a fire bender."

"Liar!"

Briar was released as Jet lunged forward, sword swinging over Zuko's head. She fell back to her corner table while watching their battle unfold. If she got lucky, Zuko would just kill Jet…

Zuko leapt onto a table, Jet's blade skimming past his knees. He was balancing on one leg as the table was sliced in half, but his ankle was hooked by Jet's blade and he was sent tumbling into the floor. Rolling to his feet, he lashed out at the brunette until a table was kicked between them. Sliding underneath it, he was back on his feet and slammed the hilt of his blades into Jet's stomach. He landed a punch under his jaw before being thrown backward.

He fell to the floor, but blocked both of Jet's swords that came crashing toward his face. All of the brunette's weight was bearing down on him until he tucked his knees to his chest and kicked Jet backward. Scrambling to stand, he swung at Jet's ankles, which resulted in his swords slamming into the ground as Jet somersaulted backward. Zuko decided to forget about his blades as he charged forward and buried Jet into the wood of the door, sending him flying outside.

Walking out across the dusty streets, Zuko scanned the darkness for his assailant. When he peered around the alley corner, Jet's sword sliced open his cheek. He knew that pain all too well and it reminded him of Briar, that damned girl he was fighting for. Blocking a sword that came close to his neck, he lashed out with several swings until he knew Jet was backed into a corner. But he found himself retreating as Jet hooked his swords together and swung them closer and closer to Zuko.

When he ran out of the alley, the streets were crowded with people, some screaming for the match to continue, others screaming for it to end. Zuko was hoping for the latter. Jet leapt onto a stack of crates, allowing both of them to recover their breath.

"Betcha wish you could fire bend." Jet laughed hysterically upon seeing Briar appear in the doorway of the teashop, wrapping her wounded wrist with a cloth torn from her robes, "I'm glad you decided to join us, Princess!"

Zuko glanced over at her, "What's going on here?"

She lifted a brow, "I was about to ask you that."

Before he could argue with her, Jet was on him again. He was desperately wishing that he wouldn't have to rely on just his swordsmanship. Dancing around his agitated assailant, Zuko knocked one of Jet's blades out of his hand with a blow from the hilt of his sword to the brunette's wrist. As Jet scampered to give himself distance from Zuko, he felt Zuko's sword tear through the skin and muscle on the back of his shins. He tumbled into the ground, Zuko standing over him with the tip of his swords hovering above his face.

"Yield," Zuko said.

Jet glanced over at the teashop, finding that Briar was gone. When he looked back at Zuko, the prince swore he saw a trace of panic cross his face, "She told me about you and your uncle."

"You're a liar."

Jet laughed, "We're all just players in her game."

"What are you talking about?" Zuko knelt over Jet, blade held to his throat, "Start talking."

"She's planning something with the Fire Nation." Jet looked around to see if she was anywhere in sight, "All she told me was that she needed to prove you're fire benders."

"That doesn't make sense."

Zuko rose to his feet upon hearing gasps. Dropping his other sword to the ground, he watched as the Dai Li hoisted Jet to his feet and cuffed his hands behind his back. But Jet wasn't going to go so easily. He fought against them, yelling all the while, until he saw a coin lying at his feet. Looking through the dispersing crowds of people, he saw Briar standing there, though she made no move to help him. He was being removed from the game.

"Damn you!" Jet shouted, "You know they're fire benders! You fucking told me!"

Briar remained unmoved with a stone expression as the crowds of people glared at her, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You have to listen to me!" Jet managed to wiggle his way out of one Dai Li officer's hold, stammering a few steps before he was thrown to his knees, "She's a traitor! She's working with the Fire Nation!"

"That'll be enough, Boy!"

"She set me up! She's going to kill the Earth King! You've gotta believe me!"

Jet was dragged down the road, still wailing about Briar's betrayal. His words soon became nothing but a whisper in the wind.

Everyone was ushered back into their rightful places as if nothing had happened. But Zuko remained standing in the street, watching Briar, who again remained unmoved. He stomped over to her and dragged her around the back of the teashop that was dimly lit by the street lanterns. She offered a minimal fight as he threw her against the wall. Her eyes were stone cold, a look that made him wonder if Jet was telling the truth.

"You told him we're fire benders," he hissed.

Briar's gaze softened, her façade shattered, "It was an accident-"

"Damn it!" Zuko paced around in circles, shaking his head, "You could have gotten us killed!"

"I hadn't meat to!" She grabbed his arm before he walked off, "I was alone and he was there. I'm sorry, I just-"

"I told you to stay away from him, but you wouldn't listen!"

Briar was silent for a moment, biting her lip. She sighed until she was pushed back against the wall, Zuko's hands slamming on either side of her head. Her fingers tentatively brushed his chest while his lips hovered over hers, "I've been told to stay away from you, too."

Zuko untied the sash holding her robes together, sliding the heavy garments off her until she was left in a sheer white gown. He brushed a kiss over her tattoo, "Who told you that?"

She refused to answer that while bringing her lips against his. Pressed up against the alley wall, she found herself in a fight of dominance as Zuko's tongue pried her mouth open and ravaged the moisture inside. A thin trail of saliva trickled from the corner of their lips, Briar gasping when she was finally allowed to breathe. She tangled her fingers in his hair while he prickled kisses along her neck, gently nipping at each pulsing vein. Her mind was so far gone-

Hips grinded against hips, thighs pressed together, and she let out a tiny gasp- When was the last time she had felt like this? She fiddled with the buttons of his brocade jacket, discarding it to the dusty streets, aching for his skin to press against hers. Chests brushing one another, she felt his hand linger over her thigh, tugging up the skirt of her gown so his fingers could trek further over her skin. Her thigh was held up against his side as he pushed himself against her.

She wanted more. She didn't want to be teased by his swollen member. The only thing running through her mind was to forget any decency and do it in the alleyway. It made her laugh at how in control Zuko was, how calm, how he wanted the moment to last longer than a few sensual touches.

Her fingers dragged along his spine, feeling for each of his etched muscles, musing as they flexed under her touch. Caressing his shoulders then working her way down his chest, she felt him shudder as a cold hand passed over a nipple. She laughed into their next kiss while her fingers moved to that v-line of his hips. Each tiny stroke made him growl, which she was beginning to like hearing. She titled her head back with a tiny gasp as he grinded against her, harder and wanting entrance.

Their lips were tangled again, heads tilting to find better access to each other's mouths. His tongue pushed its way inside, gently brushing over hers which earned a low moan from her throat. She guided his hand along the sheer fabric of her gown until his palm was pressed over a pert nub of flesh. So warm, she nearly melted. His thumb tentatively stroked the petal, his muscles constricting each time a tiny cry erupted from her lips.

Jet wasn't kidding when he said she was obedient when aroused-

But that's when his mind finally came back.

He ended their kiss, arms dropping to just embrace her, forgetting all need of her carnage. His face beamed a deep shade of red as he looked down at her flushed face and her heaving chest. Damn it. Why hadn't he realized she was keeping him from asking about Jet's claims?

"You're working with the Fire Nation," he muttered.

Briar shook her head, pressing a finger to his lips, "Jet was lying. He was consumed by the notion of it because the Fire Nation killed his parents."

But Zuko wasn't pleased by that. He could hear all of his uncle's words, "What are you planning?"

"Nothing." She pressed a kiss to his lips, alarmed that he didn't return her gesture, "Please, don't push me away."

He returned her kiss, though refused to ignite that fire in his chest. He picked up her robes and handed them to her, both blushing furiously while fighting to make themselves look presentable. But she was one hot mess and he was still aroused. Fuck. He leaned against the wall while she straightened out the wrinkles of her garments until she was pleased that she looked like a princess again.

"You pushed me away," he murmured.

She tilted her chin up to the half moon above them, "I was afraid…"

He slid her hand into his, holding it against his chest, "There's nothing to be afraid of."

"There was something I wanted to tell you." She stared into his amber eyes, finding all words lost in a split second, "I'm just not sure it's the best thing to say."

"I want to hear it." He saw her hesitation, "Hurt me, heal me, I don't care. If there is something that you need to say then I need to hear it!"

"I've been promised to another man."

Well, he certainly hadn't expected to hear that. Frankly, he was better prepared for hearing that she was a traitor.

"You're- What?"

"I didn't want to tell you." She bit her lip, "We're just…in a little deep now…"

Zuko held her hand tighter and drew her closer to himself, "Who is he?"

"Lord Chronos, an Earth Bender-"

"Then I'll fight him for you."

"It's not that easy!" She gasped as he kissed her, pushing him back and holding him away from her, "He's a powerful bender-"

"I doubt he cares about you like I do."

Briar laughed spitefully, "It's not about 'caring'. Lord Chronos needs a throne and I have a vacant one in my kingdom."

Zuko wanted to press her more on the matter, but she began walking out of the alley. He waited a few minutes as she vanished from sight, dwelling on his next course of action, which became him chasing after her. He caught up to her and grabbed her by the back of her robes, yanking her into his arms. His mouth hit hers forcefully, though she wasn't keen on letting him make her melt. She shoved him backward, stumbling over herself as she tried to create distance between them.

"That's not helping!" she yelled.

"You can't just give up!" He tried to embrace her, but she lashed out at him, missing him by inches with her nails, "Why would you act this way with me then say goodbye?"

"Because I'm so caught up in it!" She twirled around, hands clawing at her hair, "You're persistent and you catch me off guard. I forget my boundaries because I just want to cross them all!" She glanced over at him, blushing darkly, "I'm not making much sense, am I?"

Zuko's brow furrowed and he cautiously stepped toward her, hand outstretched but he didn't touch her, "I don't think there's a way to make sense out of this. All I know is that I'm happy when I'm with you."

She smirked, pairing her hand with his, willowy fingertips barely meeting his, "It would be nice to believe that this happiness will last awhile."

"I think we should take it day by day."

She welcomed the limited space between them while he stepped toward her, hands still paired. His lips met hers gently as if he was an inexperienced lover, which she knew not to be true. She giggled upon their lips parting and stared into those beautiful amber eyes.

"Until tomorrow, My Prince," she whispered.

Zuko shivered at the softness of her voice. He could taste the honey of her words, nearly tumbling over himself as she slowly made her way down the empty streets, the darkness shadowing the tear that streaked down her face. He sighed dreamily, ambling over to the teashop, where he soon found his uncle standing. Blushing furiously upon the notion that his uncle had seen his entire escapade, he fumblingly tried to find the right words to say.

"You have no intention of listening to me, do you?" Iroh asked.

Zuko bowed his head, "Uncle, it feels right-"

"I don't think that Jet fellow was lying about her." Iroh's gaze sharpened when his nephew's eyes found his, "Something isn't right. Why do you suddenly trust her?"

Zuko didn't want to answer that. It was obvious, wasn't it? He was so captivated by lustful needs that he was forgetting every piece of her nature. But he didn't want to stop feeling the way he did. Right or wrong, he felt like he needed her, though it was proving to not be in the best way.

"She's blinded you with passion," Iroh scolded.

Zuko's face was an even deeper scarlet that nearly matched his scar, "I'm not blinded!"

"Her own aunt suspects betrayal!"

"How would you know-?" Zuko choked on his words when Iroh tugged a letter out of his sash, "Is that from Hikaru?"

Iroh nodded his head, "Princess Briar's fiancé found proof."

"It can't be." He refused to take the letter that was held out to him, "Uncle, I think I lo-"

"No!" Iroh's brow furrowed while Zuko stared at him in disbelief. He tried to reach out to his nephew, but was immediately shoved aside. Worried eyes followed the Banished Prince as he stormed down the dusty street, "She's too dangerous, Prince Zuko…"


UH-OH! sooo...the question is: do you all think Briar loves Zuko or is she just seducing him? i'll let you ponder that for awhile! and can you say JET GOT SCREWED. Briar is just a backstabbing little bitch. poor guy thought he was getting something. haha

pawn= removed.

yay for steamy moments. i've withheld Briar and Zuko from just going at it, and trust me, it's difficult! haha

hope you all liked this and reviews are encouraged! i want to know what you all think.

THANKS!

-TSA