A/N: This is not really Zutara, either, except that it directly correlates with The Dragon and the Wolf, Chapter 14. But instead of Zuko's perspective, it's told from both Malina and Hakoda's perspective. And it's pretty steamy, so if the older characters getting it on (or the Hakoda-Malina pairing) is not your thing, then you might want to pass on this one. But for the record, I don't think people in their forties are "old" or even too old to have babies like it says here. But when the Water Tribe folk start their families so young (Yue was betrothed at 16, so yeah...) then their children are likely grown when they're forty. That's all I'm sayin.

It wasn't the sound of a door closing or the rustling of fabric and thud of boots hitting the ground. Malina had become used to unannounced visitors over the past couple of weeks with the Fire Lord occupying her spare bedroom. It wasn't even the slight cough or clearing of his throat that caught her attention initially, because said Fire Lord made all kinds of strange noises in his coma-induced sleep. She was awake and only half listening while lying in bed, when a dark silhouette appeared in her doorway. He was home.

It was his smell that gave her the first clue—sweat and sea salt and something else that was uniquely his that she couldn't describe. She debated on whether or not to wait for him in bed or rise to greet him. She always found his smell to be arousing. She licked her lips in anticipation of what would hopefully come next—a taste.

Hakoda removed his parka and even the underlayer since he had broken a sweat hiking back from the docks with all his gear. He kicked off his boots and rinsed his hands in the water basin in the kitchen. It was early, so he wasn't sure if Malina would be awake, yet. The morning air had tickled his throat, so he suppressed a cough and quietly cleared his throat, hoping that he didn't disturb her or any other sleeping guests. He wasn't sure if the Fire Lord was still here or not.

He stood in her doorway, drinking in the sight of her. He thought maybe he could stare at her for hours like this, her long and lean figure, slightly tousled auburn hair, shoulders draped in a silk robe, and bronze legs tangled in the bedsheets.

"Are you coming in or not?" she finally asked.

"I was waiting for your permission," he said softly.

She smirked at him. "Since when does the Chief have to ask for permission."

He bowed his head and took one step forward. "You know that when I enter this room, I am stripped of my title. I am yours."

She stood and sauntered over toward him. He was pleased to see that the robe was the only thing she was wearing. He reached back to close the door behind him with a little more force than he intended. She saw the hunger in his eyes as he surveyed the sash that was loosely tied around her waist—the only barrier between him and his desire.

"Well… then let me strip you of a few other things." She ran her hands over his already bare chest and then down to his waistline. Her sash fell to the floor at the same time as his pants. He hissed as the cold air hit his throbbing erection.

With the panels of her robe now open, and her chest fully exposed to him, he let out a deep-throated growl. He grabbed her hips, and she half-expected to be thrown on the bed, but instead he shoved her against the side wall.

His kisses along her jawline and collarbone started out soft and teasing despite the forceful grinding of their hips.

"Mmm, Koda, I missed you," she murmured.

He bit her neck.

"Ahh-ah-ah, you know it drives me wild when you do that."

He claimed her mouth then, and gripped her ass, guiding himself in. She hooked one leg over his elbow and snaked her arms around his neck, returning his kiss with equal fervor. She pushed off—of him or the wall, she wasn't sure which—and slammed back down.

His smile grazed across her teeth, then his teeth grazed across her neck once again. She arched her back in response. He knew what she wanted. He pressed in deeper then pulled out almost completely before slamming into her again. A moan escaped her lips. He knew how she liked it.

Their pace and breaths quickened, and she didn't know where to put her hands to brace herself against his relentless thrusting. She palmed the wall, then fisted his hair, then just when she thought she couldn't take it anymore, something—someone—brought things to an abrupt halt.

"Oh for Agni's sake."

"Is someone here?" Hakoda positioned himself so that they were more steady, although he was still seated inside her.

Malina stifled a whimper. She almost couldn't stand the feeling of fullness without the friction. "Yes, Firelord Freefall. Remember?" she panted.

Hakoda, however, seemed completely unphased by the predicament—the intermission of their actions, not to mention their audience. "How is he? Katara said he was making progress in her last letter."

"He's fine. All healed up, Katara says. Was supposed to move out today, in fact. But you're home earlier than I expected." Malina wondered if they were going to keep talking. Or keep fucking. Or what.

Much to her chagrin, Hakoda chose the former. "My helmsman said we had the favor of the full moon in our travels last night."

She smirked at him, half-daring him to keep talking and hoping instead he would start moving.

"Don't look at me like that," Hakoda scolded. "It's the Milk Moon which means the mother's blessing."

She rolled her eyes. "The blessing of whose mother? And what does that have to do with traveling?"

"I don't know," he responded, exasperated. "The mother of the sea, perhaps? Doesn't the North have a similar symbol for this moon cycle?"

"Oh yes. It is the hare moon. It also points to the mother, but for the blessing of fertility."

At this, he pulled out and gently lowered her to the floor.

"You're not… trying to tell me something, are you?"

He looked afraid, so she answered quickly, flippantly—so as to mask her own fear. "Oh no, of course, not. I'm too old to be having babies. Besides, I'm a waterbender. I take care of that sort of thing. So… can we get back to it?"

Hakoda let out a sigh and then a laugh. "But I thought Kanna said you were the spirit of the hare?"

"Me? Shy and scared shitless like a helpless little bunny?" Malina hoped she sounded convincing. "Seriously, Hakoda. Plus, you know I don't believe in all that spirit animal stuff."

He lightly brushed a few locks of her hair away from her face. "Right. I know. Doesn't seem like a wolf and a hare would be very compatible."

She stuck out her bottom lip in a pout, figuring they were done here. He never called himself a wolf in the bedroom no matter how much he acted like one. "I don't believe in the power of the full moon, either," she added.

The hungry, animalistic look returned to his eyes. "I'll show you power that will make you see stars."

"Make me a believer, baby." She slid her hands over his muscled chest and arms, waiting for him to overpower her, like he said. She expected to be pushed against the wall again, but instead, he picked her up and carried her to the bed. At first she was confused, because he was back to those light, teasing kisses along her collarbone. A swirl of his tongue and a sucking sensation around her nipple drew a quick gasp, though, and as his lips began to trail down further, she now knew exactly what he meant by power.

The kind that rendered her completely and wonderfully powerless.

It only bothered Hakoda slightly that the walls were apparently thin enough for Zuko to hear everything from the next room over. But the young Fire Lord was a man now, and under certain humiliating circumstances—maybe a conversation at dinner or something—it came to light that he and Katara were already intimate anyway. Perhaps such knowledge would bother some fathers, but not Hakoda. Not really. Although, he wouldn't be able to handle it if the situation were reversed, of course.

He considered waiting since Malina said Zuko would be leaving that day. They could always finish what they had started later. But the way her brow furrowed in disappointment… and her chest heaved with exertion… and her heat clinched around him… no, he wanted her now. He had already waited so long.

The baby thing deterred him slightly, though. The hinting at pregnancy sent a jolt of fear through him, but also something else—excitement? No, Malina was right. They were too old to be having babies.

But not too old to be doing this. And if Zuko could hear them, then he just needed to man up and deal with it. They could at least move away from the wall, though.

Malina looked surprised when Hakoda took her to the bed. He'd promised her power but not really with a plan in mind. She spread her legs in anticipation of what they had been doing, no doubt, but the smell of her sex sent a jolt of a different kind through him. He needed to taste her.

He started at her collarbone because he loved kissing her there. Next, her breasts, because he loved when the centers perked up and how chill bumps seemingly spread from any kind of touch—a lick, a nibble, a suck. Her shivers traveled with him as he trailed kisses down her stomach and circled around to her inner thigh.

Here, he bit her, and leaned his head against her knee to watch her reaction. She was already writhing in pleasure. And although her scent was unbearably intoxicating, he couldn't tear his eyes away from her just yet.

When he didn't make his move, she tilted her head up and glared at him. "Are you coming in or not?"

"I was waiting for your permission," he said before lightly nipping at her other thigh.

"Chief, I swear you need to command some respect around here. People might think you're—ahh, ahh…"

She threw her head back after one hot breath and swipe of his tongue. He knew what she wanted. Quick flicks across her clit, and she was fisting the sheets and digging in her heels. He knew how she liked it. He gripped her quivering thighs and plunged in and out, in and out, relishing her wetness and bringing her closer to her climax.

He finished her off with his fingers because she always needed a little more friction at the end. He liked it better, too, because it was a full feast for the senses as he licked his lips, savoring what lingered there… worked his fingers across swollen sweltering flesh until he literally felt her come… listened to the most beautiful noises she made, even when she cursed his name in the heat of the moment… and breathed in the mixture of sweat and sex and something else that was uniquely hers.

His favorite part was watching her, though. And knowing that this woman rendered him completely and wonderfully powerless.