Chapter 9

"Isn't that right, Prince Zuko?"

Zuko snapped back into reality. "Huh?"

The council laughed collectively, and Zuko felt his face flush. "Thinking about your new Tribute, eh?" The general laughed.

Zuko opened his mouth for a sharp retort, but it failed as he realized that he had, indeed, been thinking about the tributes. His mouth snapped shut, much to the amusement of the officers.

The meeting continued while Zuko fumed. He wasn't thinking about them like THAT. To his utter surprise, he had found that he liked the girls in his harem. An understatement, of course.

He sighed internally. He had been considering his awkward situation. Knowing that he would have to sleep with all of them had been hard enough when they were strangers – having feelings for any of them made everything much more difficult. He shook his head. The exact opposite of the problems he had been expecting.

Still, he couldn't help but wonder and think. Hopefully, things would work out, somehow.

Katara lay in bed, a smile plastered to her face. That had certainly been unexpected. Who knew that Zuko might actually be a nice guy…? He wasn't bad to look at, but more than that. He was nice, awkward, strong…

And those moments. She wished she could jar them like sea pickles. She closed her eyes, letting the moment play over in her mind. That last look at his eyes. She had never felt that way before.

She remembered stories that Gran used to tell her, about the spirits appointing lovers to each other, before they were even born. Soulmates, she had called them. Recent events had her thinking quite deeply about such things, whether they were true, or just the imaginations of older days.

Her thoughts were interrupted by June. "Fantasizing over your boyfriend, are we?" Her voice was fraught with goading.

Katara sat up, surprised at her silent approach. "He's not my boyfriend!" she insisted with a blush. "Besides, I think his heart is already spoken for." She glanced at Mai, who pretended not to notice.

"We'll see," replied June slyly. She sank onto the bed next to Katara. "You wanna change that?" June asked quietly. Katara blinked. "What?"

June reclined on her side. "I mean, having a childhood relationship is nice for little boys, but you know what makes men really tick?"

Katara shook her head, confused.

June placed a hand under one of her breasts and lifted it, before letting it fall back into lax position. "Curves." She gave Katara a meaningful look.

Katara's face reddened. "Zuko cares about more than that. Give him some credit." June snorted in amusment.

"Oh? How about a bet?" June's eyes shone with mischief. "He takes you first, you get all of this." She shook her still nearly full coin bag at Katara. There was probably enough gold in there to feed the tribe for a month. Her mouth watered.

"But…" June smirked, "If I win, I get all of your gold." She glanced at the pitiful money bag sitting on Katara's dresser. "And…" June thought for a moment before smiling. "You have to take up Ty Lee's idea." She gestured with her head to where Kya was sitting, talking with Suki. "You have a threesome with your sister."

Katara's heart sank. "No deal," she said finally, face becoming more red. "You're a real pervert, you know that?"

June grinned wickedly. "Now don't call out a girl for an idea. I guess Zuko is just like all the other guys…" She dangled her bag in front of Katara temptingly. "Don't you want to prove his…honor?"

Katara gritted her teeth. She knew June was baiting her, but part of her wondered if she was right. If Zuko really would just go after the flirtiest girl, the one with the bigger chest and butt.

She struggled for a moment before deciding. "Deal."

June's aggravating smirk deepened. She extended her hand. "Shake on it." Katara eyed her hand warily, then took it, giving it a firm shake.

June grasped her arm intently, then tilted her wrist to reveal the blade beneath her gloves. Katara's blood chilled as June leaned in. "Screw with me, and my little friend here will have it's fun. Got it?"

Katara nodded stiffly, her eyes wide. June pulled away, returning to her relaxed seated position. "Good. Well, it was fun talking with you, Katara. Good luck."

As she sauntered away, Katara shook her head.

What did she just agree to?

Zuko rose from his seat as the last Tribute entered. The guards escorted June to where he now stood, and they shared a bow. The guards left as they had a seat.

June was dressed rather flauntingly, no aspect of her figure left unemphasized. Where her sleeves met her shoulders, Zuko thought he could make out a couple of tattoos. She scrutinized him equally, eyeing him from top to bottom.

"What do you want to do for tonight's activity?" Zuko asked suddenly.

She peered at him curiously. "What do you mean?" Her voice was lilted, almost purring.

He shrugged, ignoring her tone. "I thought I'd let you pick what we do tonight. What do you want?"

June thought for only a moment. "Bite and Sting," she stated. "If you're up for it."

Zuko blinked in surprise. A gambling game? He had thought she had enough money. "Very well."

He retrieved his personal money stash from a drawer in his desk, and pulled the Bite and Sting tiles from off a shelf.

She in turn pulled out her moderately full money bag. Zuko dealt them each four tiles, then placed the rest in a pile.

The game had begun.

The first round was nearly uneventful, both of them testing the waters. Zuko had had some practice gambling with his Uncle, and that was the advised first strategy. The fact that she had done so worried him. Bite and Sting was more luck based, and he had fewer tricks.

June, on the other hand, was amused. She had thought the Prince not to be a gambler, and his prowess entertained her. She would win soon enough.

The second round passed barely any different. They both left with weak hands and only a little money went to June. She pouted in annoyance.

She had won the last two rounds, and Zuko was determined to win the third. That's just what she was counting on.

Play went on, until finally the hands were revealed. Zuko's heart sank. She had won again. She proudly rose to collect her earnings, leaning far more over than was necessary. Her cleavage practically was begging for release, and Zuko stared in surprise.

June smirked. "Like something you see?" He turned away in embarrassment. She sat, still smirking.

Zuko then proceeded to win the next three rounds, the bid increasing each time. He was quickly leading, and June's face was narrowed in concentration.

Zuko nearly had a heart attack. Four tigers. He kept it, then proceeded to eye what she drew into her hand. Nothing from the discard pile, where he eyed at least one scorpion and viper. Contented, he began the betting.

She matched him. Foolishly, he thought. There was no hand she could possibly have to beat his*. He upped the bid. She matched. And so on it went.

Soon June was out of money. She pouted before pulling out another concealed bag from under her shirt. "20 gold."

Zuko's eyebrows rose. He only had fifteen left. He was tempted to check the bag. He had to either fold or bid, but he didn't have enough. He sighed. "Do you take IOU's?"

She smiled. "Not for gold."

He eyed her warily. "What should I bet then?"

Her smile widened. "A favor. Promise me a favor."

Zuko thought for a moment. She couldn't win! Why should he be worried? He was mostly worried that she was so confident. Maybe she was just trying to scare him into folding.

He steeled himself. "Alright. A favor."

She grinned. "Very well."

He revealed his hand, and watched as the triumph vanished from her face. She scowled, then revealed her own.

He blinked. That couldn't be right. "Four scorpions? There are only four in the deck!" he started flicking through the discard piles, searching for the scorpion he had seen. "You discarded one!"

"Aww, Zuko's a poor loser." She looked pitifully at him. "C'mon now, be a good sport."

He looked at her, recognition dawning on his face. "You cheated," he stated confidently.

Her smile betrayed her. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

He sat back in disgust. He had no proof. But still. That irked him beyond measure.

June gathered her new gold and stuffed it into her bags.

Zuko sighed. "What's your favor? What do you want?"

She looked at him innocently. "Bed me first, that's all."

He flinched. "That's really what you want?" She nodded slowly.

He stiffened. "But you cheated," he said emphatically.

She shrugged. "But I won." She eyed him. "We'll have to see if you make the right decision."

Suddenly, she grabbed his collar and pulled them together, faces inches apart. Her breasts dug temptingly into his chest as she adjusted her new knife to his side. "I hope you do."

Zuko's eyes were bright with fear and arousal. She smirked, satisfied.

"I'll be back, one way or the other."

Zuko's mother greeted her son as she entered his room. "Well, you have finally spent time with every tribute," she said, smiling.

Her smile fell as she noticed his expression. "Is something wrong?"

Zuko hesitated. "I just…" He stopped, unsure of what to say.

Ursa settled beside him. "You're adapting, aren't you."

He sighed. "All too well." He thought of the girls. Suki, honest and true, Mai, his childhood friend and first kiss, Tai Lee, the sexy and innocent wonder, Kya, his best friend, Katara, his…something or other, and now June. Though he hated it, she was definitely arousing in nature, and he cursed his weak body.

Ursa just smiled at him in understanding. "You will have to pick one to bed first," she said encouragingly. "And you must choose tonight."

Zuko winced. "That's exactly the problem." June was the only one who had requested it outright, but he liked her the least. He did owe her a favor, but she cheated. He really liked Katara, but he doubted that she was completely over her anger. He had feelings for Mai, but he didn't want to ruin whatever they had. Not to mention, make the rumors about them worse.

He put his face in his hands. "I don't know what to do." He looked up at his mother.

"Any suggestions?"

Sorry for the long wait. Those reviews took a while to come, people!

I have utterly no clue who Zuko will choose, and neither does he. Vote for who you think he should bed first, first girl to seven votes wins. Multiple votes allowed.

Next chapter comes when the votes are decided.

Review!