Hell's Rain
by Kaline Reine

Disclaimer: I do not own the Avatar series or any of the characters/settings. This is just a fanfiction story written for my own amusement.

WARNING: Adult situations and graphic sexual content. May also contain borderline, if not full-on, rape. Also some character death, angst, and other dark themes. If it's not your thing, then turn back now. You have been warned. This is written solely for my own amusement. If you don't like the pairing or the plot, then go elsewhere for your entertainment. This is my first Avatar fanfic... That being said, if you think you can handle it, then I hope you find it an enjoyable read. Feedback is welcome and appreciated.

EXTRA WARNING for adult content in this chapter, specifically...

Chapter 21:

Katara didn't know what would happen now. Everything was so uncertain. And he was her rock... He was the person she seemed to cling to, now that everything was so desperate. The only one who understood her anymore...

He needed everyone to be understanding and cooperate with his plan... And he needed the girl for that. But there was so much more to it than that. She was amazing... Zuko watched her, as they lied together, in the dark. He didn't know what to say to her, but he was still worried about how people would view him. He needed them to understand that he was not a threat.

"Hmm... Maybe it's better this way." He concluded.

"What makes you say that?"

"Oh, I just meant... It's not so bad sleeping next to you." Zuko smiled when her hair brushed lightly over his face, as she turned toward him. "And like, maybe it's better to just leave the beds separate and share this one. That way if anyone comes to the door, I could just go across the room, and they won't have to know."

"That's true. What are you so worried about anyway? Are you really that concerned with what the others think?"

Katara's blue eyes shone through, even in the darkness that surrounded them. Zuko found that he was unable to give anything else his undivided attention. He couldn't focus when he was this close to her...

"Well, yeah. In a way... I mean, I really do want your friends to like me. I know how hard it is to forgive someone when they've screwed up as much as I have. I never meant to be so cruel. And I'm really sorry."

His arms found their way around her. She wrapped herself around his waist, casually draping an arm across his chest. Katara could feel his breathing. It was actually hard for him to fall asleep in a new place, though he'd never told anyone that before. Zuko was still fighting an internal war with himself. Not that it was anything new...

Thinking over the events that had occurred during these past few months, he didn't regret anything about it.

'I'm sure she hates me...' Zuko thought. He's screwed up countless times, and there was only so many times she could reasonably be expected to forgive him. He had been unduly cruel to her and he wanted to find some way to make it up to the girl.

"You know... Sometimes you think too much..." Katara smiled, cuddling against his chest. He was soft, warm, and comfortable. She'd never thought she would be able to find such comfort within the arms of her greatest enemy. "Stop apologizing so much. You've already apologized more than enough. If I didn't think you were sincere, I can assure you... You wouldn't be here right now."

Zuko patted her head, trying to avoid touching her anywhere inappropriate. He didn't understand how she could be so carefree at a crucial time like this. He was only here to teach Aang how to Firebend, and once that was over, they would not have anymore need of him. He didn't know for certain what he would do from there, but he would figure it out.

Women were so strange... He would never understand this one. But when had he begun to see her as a woman, and not as just another girl? The more he thought about it, the more blurred that line had become. He was already struggling not to have certain... reactions to her gentle touches; her close proximity...

"I have an idea..." He spoke, breaking the peaceful silence that had settled between them.

"What is it? Anything I can help with?" Katara shifted her weight a bit, and draped her left leg over his right one. It was a lot more comfortable than lying rigid.

"Well..." The Prince closed his eyes tightly, in an attempt to ignore what she was doing to him. He had to stay focused. "I think if I sent my messenger hawk with a letter to my Uncle, he could convince my father that I had died. It's better to fake my own death and have everyone believe I died a disappointment, than to live in a world filled with so many regrets."

"I like that idea..." The Waterbender purred.

Her words were spoken blankly, almost absentmindedly. It was like she was barely thinking anymore and just letting things come out however they came out. Katara did get exhausted from over-thinking things all the time, and sometimes it was nice to just let go.

Her leg moved a little higher. The closer she got to him, the more she wanted to be close to him. Zuko was far more addicting than any drug could ever hope to be. Here, in their own little world, they were completely safe. They didn't know how long they had together, but it would never be enough. She didn't want to let go of him.

Katara had a lot of unanswered questions... Things she was much too scared to ask anyone. She didn't have anyone to talk to about this, not anyone she would've felt comfortable discussing it with anyway. Zuko was the person she felt the closest to right now, but he was the source of the problem.

"I mean, it's a good plan and all," She rolled over, trying to fight with herself. "But it would mean losing your honor forever..."

She felt a hand on her shoulder, creeping closer to her neck, as she turned to face him, in spite of herself. She just couldn't stay away.

"You're wrong."

"What?"

"You're wrong, and so was I..." Zuko clarified. "I used to think honor was something someone could give you. I thought that somehow, my father could give me back my honor. I control my honor. I'm in control of my own destiny, and I know what I want now."

Katara suddenly felt a shift in him... She didn't know how she knew, but she knew. The Zuko she'd known before, the one all them had known, was gone now. The sinister man with the wicked smirk and deadly intent, piercing eyes, always calculating, hot on their heels, chasing their shadow, waiting for the moment they slipped up so he could crush them like animals caught in a trap... Was gone.

He wasn't the same anymore. Or maybe he was never like that. Maybe it was just the persona that had been forced on him by years of abuse from his father, and most of the royal family.

She couldn't even begin to understand how much pressure he must have been under. The son of a King... And he'd lost his mother at such a young age too. Just like her... It must have been a hard life. She'd taken a chance, gotten to know him, and all of it had been for this. She realized that he was not the monster she had always believed him to be. They were the same. But that didn't mean they wanted the same things; they might not even have the same goals.

"And what is it that you want now?"

Zuko hesitated. The word came out, in a hushed tone... Like he was afraid to even speak it. Katara felt it was nearly a growl. "...You."

His reaction startled her, but it amazed her as well. It shocked her that he was so willing to be open with her. Especially at a time like this. In the back of her mind, Katara was questioning everything... Her world had once been black and white... Now everything was shrouded in gray. Nothing was cohesive anymore.

"I've never wanted anything but you..." He whispered against her skin, his lips so very close to touching her shoulder.

In the heat of the moment, Zuko suddenly snapped. He lost control of himself. Unable to do anything but seal his lips against hers, he closed the distance between them. The way her body moved against his was mesmerizing... He couldn't focus on anything except for the feel of her skin against his, and he wanted to feel more of it. So much more...

Katara squeaked when he pinned her to the bed. She hadn't been expecting him to suddenly attack her like that. Although it wasn't unwelcome, she found herself flinching for some reason.

"Are you... scared?" Zuko asked her suddenly.

She nodded. "A little."

"Don't be."

His expression softened, and he held her close. His breath was inching down her neck. She didn't know whether to lean closer or pull away. Then, he pulled back just slightly, as if threatening to break away from her. Something made her crave more, and that was when she realized... She wanted him.

Katara wanted him more than she'd ever wanted anyone or anything. And that frightened her. Carefully, she reached her hand behind his back, letting her fingertips ghost across the back of his neck softly... Then she pulled him in for the kill. The final moment when their lips touched had sealed the deal. This wasn't some one-sided thing. He didn't want something he couldn't have.

Zuko could feel her, hesitantly giving in to his own needs. And he moved against her, his hips rubbing into her moist center, as he ground against her soft warm body... He needed to feel close to someone; connected... He knew he couldn't spend the rest of his life alone.

Neither of them spoke, both frozen where they were, withdrawing into their own minds. They were afraid to say anything at all, too terrified that this blissful moment would come to an end.

Katara felt him holding her close, but she also noticed what he was doing... Zuko was still grinding on her and making her feel strange. She wanted to be with him, but she wasn't sure how to go about getting that to happen. Testing the waters before she dived in would be a good idea, so she moved against him a little. She noticed his pupils dilate a bit, he was clearly enjoying the friction it caused.

Hastily, she reached down to stoke him through his pants. He moaned and struggled to contain himself. Zuko couldn't believe Katara was really touching him like that...

"Mmm..." He tried to stifle the moan that came out, but it didn't work.

"Zuko, I..." She trailed off, not knowing how to complete her sentence. She stopped. She wasn't sure what she wanted right now.

Katara gasped when he moved dangerously close, and bit down on her neck, taking her skin between his teeth. The warmth of his breath felt amazing but it was scary having him this close to her when she was so vulnerable. She felt a rush of excitement coursing through her. She reached down to stroke his member through his pants, feeling how hard he was already. She liked the way he felt, hard and strong...

He felt it too, and he moved back a little... Thinking she might have done something wrong, Katara waited to see what he would do. The Fire Prince began peeling off his clothes. Shrugging out of his robe, he discarded his pants and undergarments shortly after, tossing them all casually across the room. They landed right by his bed. He was trying not to rush things too much, but he just couldn't let this opportunity go to waste. They were alone, and both seemed willing to let things happen on their own. So why fight it?

"Katara..." He whispered in her ear, lying over her once again. "I need you..."

"Then take me." She offered up her body to him, with no more hesitation. Katara was unable to resist him.

"I can't, I just-"

She cut him off with a kiss, plundering his mouth with her tongue. He responded immediately, returning it with a passion equal to her own. Their tongues danced together inside both of their mouths, hidden from the rest of the world. No one could see it but they could feel what was happening. He slid it in and out, mimicking what he really wanted to do to her.

It was also Katara who broke the kiss. She seemed to want to take charge tonight. But she had something she needed to say, and right now that was more important.

"Stop trying to fight it. We both seem to want this. What's the point in resisting anymore? The damage has already been done anyway." She attempted to rationalize what was happening between them, even though she did not fully understand it herself...

Zuko smiled. "You're so amazing, and you're right... I never want to be away from you. I can't resist you."

'We can't fight this anymore,' Her own inner voice rang out. 'It's been building for a long time, and finally... Maybe we can be together?'

Nimble fingers pulled at her top, unfastening everything and removing the garments he'd given her, back at the flaming tower. His hands lingered on her breasts, caressing her gently. He had to have her, as soon as possible. She shimmied out of her long blue skirt, allowing him to have access to all of her.

That moment couldn't come fast enough for Zuko... He was enjoying every inch of her body, his amber eyes pausing to take in the beautiful sight before him. The way her curves flowed into one another, like ocean waves... The way her eyes lit up, yet they'd darkened to a somber cerulean, like the deepest parts of the ocean... The way her smile brightened when he looked at her a certain way...

The moment when he felt her skin against his skin, all he wanted to do was sink into her, getting lost forever in his own personal paradise... All of it was fascinating. He paused for several minutes, simply transfixed by her sheer beauty. He felt close to tears, and he didn't even know why.

"I just want to tell you how much you mean to me. I know what I want; I've known for a long time now. But that isn't enough, words alone just can't explain this. I want to show you... Katara, I... I think I love you."

A/N: Oooh, a cliffy! xD (Sorry but this was getting really long and I had to cut it short, so her response will be in the next chapter.)

I made a big mistake in the last chapter! I wrote that Aang had visited the Air Temple with Avatar Roku, but it was Gyatso, not Roku! Haha, I feel so silly. It's fixed now though. Thanks to one of the readers who pointed that out! It helped me a lot, lol. xD

I appreciate the feedback this time because I was really worried that the last chapter didn't live up to expectations. It seemed a little off to me, but maybe that's because it didn't exactly match my plans. This has kind of taken on a mind of it's own now. Anyway, thank you. c:

-Kaline