Chapter 21: Soapy Bubbles

Rating: T

Alright, I decided this would not be the last chapter, but more information on that at the end. This one picks up where the last chapter left off, and ends with some happy, happy stuff at the end. Hope the content agrees with all the readers. That said, enjoy the Ty Lee x Zuko sweetness.

"It's alright, Suki," Zuko said, waving the girl's concerns off. Staring up at the young man in front of him, the young Fire Lord pushed his burning desire to get up and incinerate the water tribesman down. Through his mind flashed he scene of how he had acted at the party so many months earlier, how coldly Mai had acted upon seeing his jealousy.

Taking a deep, clearing breath, the young fire bender let the anger wash away, understanding where Sokka was coming from. Pulling himself into a standing position, the young man wobbled a bit, the blow to his jaw proving quite strong. As he rubbed the now aching bone, he smirked a bit at the young man in front of him.

"Look, Sokka. Like I was trying to tell you, it wasn't like that," he began, watching as the darker skinned boy seemed to ignore or not hear what was being said. "Last night, when I stormed off," here Sokka relented a bit, recalling the events of the night before, "I came upon this spot."

"What about it?" Sokka asked somewhat defensively, cooling off with the icy stare he was getting from his girlfriend.

"I found it to be a relaxing spot, and I wondered what it would be like to have a house here," he explained evenly, turning his gaze out to the large expanse of sea before him. The faint traces of the salty air mixed with the crisp air coming down from the mountains, creating a unique atmosphere.

"A… house?" Sokka asked, his anger ebbing as the thought ran through his mind. Zuko and Suki each nodded, attempting to reassure the young man. "Then, why did you need to talk to Suki?"

"He figured I knew the area the best, so he wanted a quick thought on whether the ground was stable here," Suki explained, her own eyes calming a bit as Sokka cooled off.

"She told me as long as it wasn't right next to the cliff's edge, it should be alright," Zuko finished, dusting off his pants as he turned back towards the forest. "I wanted a place to live after everything calms down, and this spot just sort of spoke to me. But, if my presence will make things uncomfortable, I guess I can just think of something else," he said, a hint of sadness in his voice as he slipped beyond the edge of the trees.

At the tone of Zuko's voice, Sokka looked sullenly down to the ground, the foolishness of his actions bringing a burning sensation to his face. He had a hard time accepting that he had acted like such a jealous jerk.

"I really messed up, didn't I?" he asked, slowly pulling his gaze towards the auburn haired girl he had grown to love. His blue eyes shone with his apology as he watched her head towards the forest as well. She stopped just at the edge, turning towards the young man with a look of hurt and anger flashing in her emerald eyes.

"Yeah, you did," she said simply, turning away from him as she headed back to the camp. She wasn't sure which fact was worse, that Sokka had lashed out at Zuko, or that he had so little trust in her.

Sokka remained in place, torn between rushing back to camp and apologizing for being stupid, and simply standing still, letting the moment wash over him. Casting a deep gaze out to the deep blue sky, he watched a patch of clouds slowly make their way over the vast expanse, their fluffy whiteness bringing a smile to his face. Figuring that nothing would come of just staying away, he headed back towards camp, hoping he wouldn't get too lost.

After a few minutes of walking, Zuko made his way into the clearing that served as their temporary camp, idly rubbing the sore spot where Sokka had punched him. As he entered the clearing, a couple of gasps reached his ears, and he winced as he realized they would be wondering what happened to his jaw.

"Zuko, what happened?" Ty Lee asked first, worry, confusion and relief in her voice as she looked him over. Pushing her hand away, he tried to think of something to say, something that would stop the questions.

"Oh, it's nothing. I just tripped on a root, and hit the trunk of a tree. Those things can be pretty dangerous," he lied, watching as Katara replaced Ty Lee in front of him.

"Well, it doesn't look too serious. You might have a bruise, but nothing too bad," she said, not entirely believing his story but figuring she knew what happened.

"Wow Sparky, you're even clumsier than Snoozles," Toph joked, not buying the story either, but not wanting to pass up a chance to make fun of the Fire Lord. Zuko groaned inwardly at his poor excuse, wondering why he couldn't come up with a better liar. Azula was always the best at it, and he wished he had even half her skill at bluffing.

"Come on Suki, I'm really sorry," Sokka's pitiful voice echoed into the clearing as he and Suki entered, Suki looking angry with Sokka trailing a short distance behind. His hands were clasped together as he pleaded for forgiveness, something that brought a smile to the faces of the others in the group.

"What did you do this time, Sokka?" Katara asked, her 'I know you did something wrong, so you better fess up' tone of voice in full effect. The pair blinked as though not realizing they had entered the clearing, and Suki's eyes widened as she realized it.

"It wasn't anything major," Sokka lied, averting his gaze from his seemingly all knowing sister. Everyone could tell it had to be something major, given the urgency of his apologies to the young girl.

"Come on, Snoozles, fess up. What did you do this time, bonehead?" Toph cracked, smirking as she felt his tension increase under the questioning.

"He was just acting like a jerk," Suki explained simply, huffing a bit as she hurriedly made her way towards the opposite end of the clearing, where Zuko and Ty Lee were sitting peacefully. Taking position on the opposite side of Zuko from Ty Lee, Suki crossed her arms over her chest, indicating her frustration fully with the young warrior.

"Suki, I said it was nothing, so you should forgive him," Zuko said, leaning forward to whisper in her ear. The girl blinked a few times, not wanting to just let him get a way with what he had done. Just then, an idea came to her, a flash of mischief in her eyes that put Zuko on edge a bit.

"Aww, Zuko, that looks really bad," she said in her girliest voice, placing her hands carefully on Zuko's chin, turning his head fully towards her as though inspecting some damage on his face.

"Suki, what are you doing?" Zuko asked nervously, catching the looks of surprise on the faces of the others assembled. Sokka's previously angry expression returned, and Zuko wondered if he should be on he lookout for a second blow to his jaw.

"Don't worry," Suki began, whispering carefully into his good ear. "I just want to give Sokka a little something to think about. He can't just be allowed to act like he owns me or anything, can I?" she asked, somewhat playfully. Zuko gulped on the lump in his throat, casting Ty Lee a sidelong glance, hoping she had heard at least some part of it.

"I-it's nothing major," Zuko began, trying not to sound as embarrassed as he felt. He was keenly aware of the Kyoshi Warrior's oddly soft, warm hands on his face, and the closeness was something he wasn't at all comfortable with.

"What's going on, you two?" Katara asked, a tone that nearly matched Sokka's indignant tone of voice. Zuko and Suki looked to the young water bender, then to her brother, Suki with a knowing look on her face as she held the water tribe warrior in place.

"Oh, I guess Zuko didn't tell you. Me and him were talking, and Sokka overheard us, blowing the whole thing out of proportion," the girl began, smiling in warning as she noticed Sokka's angry face fall, replaced with one of dread.

"He did? Then what?" Katara asked, shifting her stern expression to her brother.

"When Zuko tried to explain what we were talking about, Sokka just lost it and slugged him right in the jaw," she said, feigning horror at the memory of the scene. Here Katara shot Sokka an icy glare, not unlike the one she had offered Zuko on his first day with the group. Aang looked surprised at Sokka's outburst, and Toph simply laughed loudly at the shaking of fear she felt from the young man.

"Oh my gosh, Zuko. Why didn't you say anything?" Ty Lee asked nervously, clutching the young man's left arm tightly against her warm body.

"Well, like I said, it wasn't a big deal," he said, hoping that would be the end of the topic. No such luck for Fire Lord Zuko.

"We can't just have Sokka going around punching people because he gets jealous, though Zuko," Katara warned, the other girls seemingly agreeing with the sentiment. Ty Lee smiled a bit as she recalled a similar situation that Zuko had been in, and realized that he knew where Sokka was coming from.

"I'm sure it was just an overreaction. He just needs to calm down a little," Zuko explained, letting his own memory give him a starting point. "It happens to everyone at some point," he said, watching as Katara, Aang and Suki each averted their gazes, giving the distinct impression that they as well had been prone to fits of jealousy.

"Zuko, you're the greatest," Sokka said in affection for the older boy, rushing forward and capturing the Fire Lord in a bear hug. Zuko blushed in utter embarrassment, trying to push the younger teen away.

"That's great, Sokka. But you can let go of me, now," he said, finally extricating himself from the excited younger teen.

"Well, it seems that Sparky's charms work on everyone," Toph joked, feeling the affection in the air. Sokka and Zuko looked one another in the eyes before mutually backing away, uncomfortable with the way Toph had phrased it.

"Seeing as how Zuko is alright with it, I guess I can forgive you," Suki said, faking as though she were reluctant about it. But as Sokka rushed forward to wrap his arms around the girl, she placed a finger of warning on his chest. "But you better watch yourself, because I might not be as forgiving next time," she cautioned, earning a chill from Zuko and Sokka at her icy tone.

"No worries about that, babe," Sokka said, trying his best to hide the fear he felt at her promise of pain if he acted so jealously again in the future. Satisfied that he had learned his lesson, Suki smiled warmly, planting a kiss on him with her ruby red lips.

"Somehow I doubt that," Toph said, smirking as she felt his still tense vibrations.

"So what was so important that you needed to talk to Suki alone, Zuko?" Aang asked, Ty Lee seemingly imitating the expression of curiosity at the question as well. Zuko groaned audibly once more, not wanting to explain it to everyone, but finding little alternative.

"It wasn't necessarily that I had to talk to Suki alone. I just figured it would be alright to just inconvenience her, since I figured she would know best about the area," Zuko explained, Suki nodding as he did so.

"But, what about?" Katara asked, taking a seat across from Zuko, next to her boyfriend.

"A place to build a house," he said simply, smiles of curiosity and happiness on the faces of the others in the group. "Like I said, onc this whole thing is over, I am planning to just live a normal, relaxing life, and I figured it would be nice to have a little place set up," he continued, finding himself smiling at the idea.

"Sounds like you've thought it out," Aang said, smiling himself as he pictured a life settling down with Katara, raising a family.

"Just a little. I found a nice spot, and I wanted to get Suki's opinion on whether it would work," Zuko said, entwining his fingers with Ty Lee's feeling the girl lean against his shoulder as he explained what happened.

"So, why did Sokka get so jealous?" Toph asked, not comfortable with the happy atmosphere that had passed over the group.

"Oh, that was because Zuko explained his reasons for the idea," Suki said, teasing the fire bender a bit as she spoke. "He told me he wanted a little place he and Ty Lee could live in together, which I found so romantic," she said, matching the warm smiles on the faces of Katara and Ty Lee. Sokka's eyes widened in surprise, before a dark red passed over his tanned skin, not realizing just how out of place his actions had been.

"Aww, that's so sweet, Zuko," Katara said happily, Toph huffing as she dropped onto her back, staring aimlessly up towards the sky.

"It is, isn't it?" Suki added, finding great joy in Zuko's seeming embarrassment over the matter.

"That's just Zuko," Ty Lee chirped happily, planting a soft kiss on the boy's scarred cheek, smiling happily as she watched him fidget a bit in place.

"Ugh, it's nothing major, geez," he huffed, unable to hide the smile on his face at the bubbly brunette's affection.

"Oh, so modest. You're just a big sweetheart, Zuko," Ty Lee teased, smiling as she leaned in closer to the young man, feeling the heat begin to rise from his body. The only sound he became capable of making was a low growling sound, his frustration boiling over at being the center of so much attention.

"Well, as fun as it is watching Zuko get embarrassed, we should be heading back," Sokka said, smirking wide as he watched Zuko fidget beneath Ty Lee's cooing and playful touches.

"Sounds good to me," Katara said, turning away from the lovey dovey spectacle being put on by the impossibly chipper young girl.

"You said it," Toph added, disappearing the slab of earth she had been sitting on, hurriedly making her way towards the end of the clearing to gather her things.

"It's a shame, but I guess we do need some actual relaxation," Suki said, casting Zuko a knowing smile as she moved from the small log.

"I think we better go, or they're just gonna leave," Zuko said, extricating himself quickly from Ty Lee's excitable grasp. As he made his way over towards the pack he had brought, he nearly stumbled at the increase in weight on his back.

"I agree, Zuko. Let's go," she chirped, her slender arms snaking around to the front of his neck, her legs wrapped carelessly around his waist as she sat perched on his back. The young man sighed in defeat, slipping his hands beneath her thighs as he shifted her weight a bit.

"Geez, can't you walk on your own?" he asked sarcastically, painfully aware of the soft mounds of flesh pressing against his back. He was both grateful and agonized by the fact that she was still in her pure white bikini, having not bothered to change into proper attire for sleeping or training.

"No, I hurt my foot chasing after a certain someone," she said as sternly as she could manage, feeling the low growl within his body as it rumbled against her softly. "Besides, it's not like I'm really heavy," she said, Zuko smirking as her words entered his mind.

"I don't know. I almost fell over just now from someone's weight," he joked, nearly chuckling at the indignant gasp that emanated from her soft pink lips.

"You're a meanie, Zuko. You should never make fun of a girl's weight, you know? That's the worst thing you can say," she said, watching with her smoky grey eyes as he turned slightly towards her.

"Then maybe we just need to do something to help keep you in shape," he suggested vaguely, his implication bringing a light blush to the girl's smooth cheeks. As he turned his head towards the front again, the girl buried her face into his broad back, smiling as his messy hair brushed against her lightly.

"That… doesn't sound too bad," she admitted, the pair sharing a laugh as he leaned down, taking their packs in hand before joining the rest of the group. Everyone seemed to have an aura of happiness about them, Sokka's fishing trip seemingly having accomplished its mission.

"So, do you think you would want to come with us when we visit the Fire Nation?" Zuko asked Toph as they entered the small town, Ty Lee still perched happily in his back. The girl's body felt almost torturous as she pressed against his back, his arms occupied carrying both their packs.

"To the Fire Nation? What, you're afraid of facing Mai alone?" Toph teased, not hating the idea of accompanying the Fire Lord and his current 'mistress' to face his girlfriend.

"Well, something like that," Zuko admitted, each person present shivering a bit as they imagined what kind of fight Zuko might be involved in once he presented his decision to the young lady.

"Surprised you would admit that so straight out. Usually a guy would try and lie about being scared of his girlfriend," the blind bender jabbed, honestly surprised by his admission.

"Mai can be pretty scary, and I'm not sure I would be able to protect myself the way you would be able to. Fire bending is not defensive at all, so that's out of he question," he explained, Toph nodding as his points made sense.

"Alright, I'll do it, but you'll owe be even bigger for this," she said, Zuko nodding carefully as he turned towards Ty Lee's home.

"Thanks a bunch, Toph. I'll find some way to make it up to you," he said, the blind earth bender waving off his words of gratitude.

"Yeah, yeah. We can't just have the Fire Lord getting killed off by his angry soon to be ex girlfriend, right? So, it's my job as a respected citizen of this world to keep your sorry butt safe," she said in her sarcastic voice, smiling as she felt his body tense a bit at the insult.

"All the same, thanks, Toph," he said honestly, his even, deep voice bringing a light blush to the girl's cheeks. Turning her head downward, she let her long black bangs fall around her face, hiding the blush from the gazes of the others.

"Well, we'll be heading off to do a little relaxing. See you guys tomorrow for a little breakfast?" Katara asked hopefully, enjoying the prospect of another day with the group. As Sokka, Suki and Toph gave their affirmation, Zuko put on an even smile as he looked to the group.

"Sorry, but I'm going to be, uh, busy tomorrow," he replied vaguely, feeling Ty Lee press herself further against him. "So, see you guys in two days," he said, bowing as he headed off towards his shared home, leaving the others surprised.

"Do you think…" Sokka asked, Suki nodding weakly in response.

"… they are? I hope they aren't too tired for their trip," the girl added, finding her own face a little flushed at the realization of what Zuko had said.

"I don't get it. What is he going to be so busy with?" Aang asked a bit cluelessly, Katara, Suki and Sokka clearing their throats in an attempt to avoid having to explain it to the innocent young boy.

"He means he and bubbles are going to be fucking like rabbits tomorrow," Toph responded brusquely, her pinkie digging in her ear as she nonchalantly explained the situation to the last remaining air bender.

"Toph! You don't have to say it like that!" Katara shouted, mortified by the direct language the younger girl had chosen.

"Hey, you guys weren't going to say anything, so I had to do it," Toph replied, flicking a spot of earwax from her finger as she "stared" down the water tribe healer.

"W-well…" Katara said hesitantly, knowing she had lost whatever leverage she had over Toph in the little argument.

"That's what I thought. So, when are you guys going to give Twinkle Toes here the 'talk'?" the girl asked, quoting the word talk as she "looked" from one person to the other. Suki and Katara looked to one another, then both looked to Sokka. The young boy pointed towards himself, his eyes widening in surprise as the girls nodded in affirmation of his realization.

"Ugh. Fine. Aang, come here a minute," Sokka said, throwing his arm around the shoulder of his younger friend, hoping he could get away with a simple explanation of the facts of life.

"And no skimping on the details. I don't want you giving him any weird ideas," Katara shouted after the pair as they disappeared into a nearby shop, Sokka waving the girl's warning off.

"Maybe you should have done it instead, Katara," Suki said, smiling nervously at the prospect of Sokka trying to explain something as important as sex to anyone.

"Probably. But what's the worst that could happen?" she asked, looking nervously over at the other girl. Suki replied with the same nervous grin, causing Katara to panic more. "Good point. Sokka!" she shouted, heading towards where Sokka had taken Aang, figuring she should give the explanation after all.

"At least two people get away from this whole thing," Suki said, sighing as she and Toph headed off towards where the others were gathering.

"Yeah, but they don't get to enjoy this hilariousness," Toph joked, anxious to hear what kind of argument was no doubt going to erupt between the water tribe siblings.

"I am a little curious, how are you so familiar with it?" Suki asked the younger girl, who stopped, casting a blind glance up at the older teen.

"Vibrations, you know? And just because I'm blind doesn't mean my ears don't work," she said sarcastically, rubbing her ears to illustrate her point. Suki nodded in understanding, casting one last glance to Ty Lee's house before entering the small shop.

"Hope they don't overdo it," she said softly, a smile gracing her lips as she let the door fall closed behind her.

"Okay, you can get off now, Ty Lee," Zuko gruffed, letting the door close behind him as he slipped into the small home. Shrugging off the packs he was carrying, the young man idly rolled his shoulders, trying to get out the mild stiffness that had set in by carrying the load with the girl on his shoulders.

"You know you liked it, Zuko," she sung happily, slowly removing herself from her perch on his back, being sure to rub her feminine charms teasingly against his back as she did so, catching a subtle shiver as it passed through him.

"Tease," he jabbed, smiling as he cast a sideways glance to the peppy brunette. Ty Lee smiled, bounding over to the soft green sofa, watching as he made his way deeper into the house.

"You make it too easy, Zuko. You're too honest," she admitted, watching the soft roll of his shoulders, wonder how stiff they really were. "Want me to give you a massage?" she asked helpfully, watching his body perk up a bit at the idea.

"Maybe later. For now, I just need to get cleaned up. Didn't get a chance today, so I'll go in first," he said, padding slowly through the living room, his feet echoing roughly against the cool wooden floor.

As he disappeared into the bathroom, Ty Lee took note of the fact that he had carelessly left the door ajar a bit, the sound of splashing water echoing playfully in her ears as she came up with a fun idea.

As Zuko watched the water move around in the large basin, he felt the heat from the life giving fluid, steam beginning to rise in the cool room. Running his hands through the water, he felt it was an adequate temperature, and so began to disrobe, letting his shirt and pants fall carelessly on the floor near the door.

Once the water was at a satisfactory level, the young man shut off the valve, ceasing the flow of hot water into the basin. A sigh of contentment passed through his lips as he slipped into the hot water, the heat relaxing the tension that had crept into his muscles. Dipping his fingers into the water as he leaned back, he casually ran them around in small circles, watching the ripples on the calm water's surface.

This represented the first time he had truly been alone since he had made his grand suggestion, and as he looked up to the deep brown of the ceiling, the weight of it hit him once again. If it all worked out, he could live peacefully, free to do what he truly wanted instead of worrying about responsibility and destiny and all the other factors that had controlled his life to that point.

But if it didn't, then the world could end up in a more precarious situation than it was already in. If the people thought that Fire Lord Zuko was just trying to abandon them, and live his own life of peace and tranquility, it could get ugly, even lead to a full scale revolt. The nobles would have to be "convinced" to go along with it, for which he was thankful that he would have Toph's support.

She definitely had a way with people that he could never manage. Rough, but not necessarily to the point of being dangerous. Sure, she could be a bit too rough, but she got her point across. Once you got past her cute exterior, anyone would have a hard time going against whatever Toph had to say.

It was all so heavy, and he wondered if he would have the skill at negotiating to see it through to its ultimate end. It was a huge gamble, involving all his friends and the people of the entire world. But as he pictured its inspiration, he smiled, feeling a rush of confidence. He could do it. He had to do it, if he was going to keep hold of the happiness he had obtained.

As if on cue, the bubbly brunette burst through the bathroom door, her body completely exposed to his gaze as she hopped eagerly into the tub with him. Squirts of water splashed around, good flows of it landing on the floor outside the tub. The girl smiled brightly as she planted a soft kiss to Zuko's lips, before pulling back.

"Ty Lee? What the hell are you doing?" he asked, the girl ignoring his angry outburst.

"Oh, come on, Zuko. It'll be fun to take a bath together," she said seductively, rubbing herself against his lap as though to further entice the young man.

"Oh really?" he asked in challenge, reaching beneath the rippling water's surface, grasping the girl's hips as she rubbed against him. Leaning forward, he pressed a deep kiss to her soft pink lips, her lips parting to provide access for his tongue.

Soft moans escaped her lips as their tongues pressed against one another, her grinding growing more insistent with each passing moment. Moans turned to gasps as they joined completely, pleasure rocking completely through her body.

Bath water splashed carelessly about, falling in puddles on the bathroom's treated wooden floor. Two bodies pressed together, the water providing a level of slipperiness as they slid against one another. The young acrobat had her arms clasped around the older boy's neck, her body moving in time with his thrusts.

Moans filled the room, her energy all focused on the one task at hand. She panted heavily, his lips nibbling gently on her neck. Both bodies tensed as he pushed up into her with one final thrust, erupting deeply inside her. As they settled down, the girl leaned wearily against his chest, her ample bust still pressing seductively against his body.

"I told you it would be fun," she said happily as she regained he composure, looking into his slightly hazy golden eyes. Brushing the wet bangs from her face, he pressed a firm kiss to her sweet lips, feeling her push her lips back against his.

"Yeah, it was. But I'm not sure how clean either of us got," he joked, earning a light giggle from the younger girl.

"Well, there's still some water left, so there's still a chance to get clean," she supplied, splashing the older boy playfully, watching the water cascade down his face. Reaching beneath the surface, he gathered a handful of the clear liquid, tossing it playfully in her own face.

"True. So, you want to give me a little break, I could get cleaned up. Or would you like to give me a hand?" he asked, running his hands gently over her supple curves.

"I could wash your back for you," she chirped, smiling as she stood from the tub, water dripping from her body as she did so.

"That would be a big help," he said, turning away from the young girl. He listened as she lathered the soap, before placing the small bar to the side. His eyes widened in surprise as he felt a familiar pressure on his back, causing him to look behind him. Ty Lee giggled as she noticed his surprised look.

"See? This helps a lot, don't you think?" she said, her arms reaching around his body as her breasts rubbed against his back, lather transferring from the large mounds to his back as she 'washed' his body.

"I guess so," he admitted, letting the girl finish her task. The rush of water over his body soothed him, feeling the slippery bubbles of soap washing down his back. The rush of water was then moved up his body, soaking his messy hair with the lightly soapy, warm water. Strong fingers ran through his hair, lathering the shampoo on his head.

"Your hair is really nice, Zuko. Must be because you're the Fire Lord, so you keep good care of yourself," Ty Lee sung, watching as the white foam increased on his head. Odd strands of black burst through the thick white lather, like the spots on a dalmation. Content that she had soaped him up enough, she took a large handful of water, dropping it evenly over his head.

"Thanks, Ty Lee," he said in appreciation, feeling the water do its job on the shampoo in his hair. As the shampoo slipped into the water around him, he ran his fingers through his hair, remarking how nice it truly did feel.

"Now my turn," the girl said in excitement, the swish of water sounding pleasantly in his ears as he felt the girl turn her back towards him. Smiling wide, he turns around, running his fingers teasingly over her soft, smooth skin.

"I wonder if you even need it," he joked, complimenting the softness of her skin. Trailing his fingers up her spine, he chuckled a bit at the soft shivers that racked her body.

"Geez, stop teasing me, Zuko," she said, her voice a mess of desire at his gesture. Slowly, the young Fire Lord pressed soft kisses along her skin, trailing up towards her neck. Pulling himself back, Zuko gathered the bar of soap in his hand, lathering it in his hands as water trailed aimlessly down her back.

"Sorry, Ty Lee," he said, setting the bar down as he set his hands against the soft skin on her back. Slowly he rubbed her back, firmly yet gently at the same time, soothing any aches she might have felt in her body. "But your skin is really beautiful, Ty Lee," he remarked, feeling her body heat up just a bit at his compliment.

"Thanks, Zuko," she murmured, cooing gently as he poured the water down her back, cleaning the soapy lather from her skin. Mimicking her earlier gesture, he undid the trademark braid of her chocolate locks, watching the damp hair fan out messily against her skin. Gathering more water, he soaked the silky hair, running his fingers through them to separate the strands.

Once he had lathered her hair carefully, he washed the shampoo out, leaving her soft hair completely soaked, dripping slowly down her body.

"All done. Now we just have to relax," he said, extricating himself from within the large tub. The girl nodded pleasantly as she followed suit, grasping his arms with her own.

"Sure thing, Zuko," she said happily, smiling as Zuko grabbed for a towel. Things were going to be busy very soon, but until then, they still had a whole day for just the two of them. They both thought it would be worthwhile to make the most of it.

Alright, as I said, this won't be the last chapter of this story. I couldn't think of a good place to end it and have it flow into the sequel, so there will be one, maybe two more chapters. The next one(s) would be completely fluffy and all about the sweetness. Next one will be Zuko and Ty Lee's day sequestered together, and how they would pass the time. Again, pointless fluff for that, so look forward to it. Look forward to that hopefully tomorrow, loyal readers.