After weeks of travel, they were finally within reach of Ba Sing Se. It was early evening when Katara and Zuko walked into a town that was only an hour away from the refugee ferry to the crown city. This idyllic town, tucked away in the lush hills near the mountains, was so close to the heart of the Earth Kingdom that it would have looked completely untouched by the war if it hadn't been for the refugees milling about, their faces a mixture of weariness and hope.
"These poor people," Katara said. "Just look how many of them there are, torn from their homes, scared for their lives. I wish we could help them all."
Zuko gazed around at the refugees, seeing them through Katara's eyes. He was surprised to realize that he no longer saw them as dirty peasants, beneath his notice, but as fully fledged people with families, struggles, and dreams. He remembered the family they'd saved from the moose-lions, and the little boy who had hugged him in such fierce gratitude.
"The war has really been hard on them, hasn't it?" Zuko mused.
"It's been hard on a lot of people," Katara said, her thoughts turning to her mother.
"Yeah." Zuko looked downcast.
Katara grabbed his hand and threaded her fingers through his. Zuko looked at her in disbelief—he hadn't thought she'd want to show affection for him in public like this. Especially not so close to where her friends likely were.
She smiled at him encouragingly, "But we're trying to help. We are making a difference."
Again, she thought about how much of a difference they could make if Zuko would just join their side—a powerful firebender, the (admittedly, exiled) prince of the Fire Nation, someone who knew intimate details about the Fire Nation and its armies. She didn't want to push it yet, though, hoping he would come around on his own when they caught up with Aang and the others.
Spotting a comfortable-looking inn at the end of the street, Katara sped up, pulling Zuko by the hand.
"Where are you dragging me?"
"Look at the inn! Let's sleep in a real bed tonight!" she exclaimed, urging him to go faster.
Zuko grumbled, thinking of the sparse funds that remained in his purse.
"My treat, come on!" Katara had been carrying the bulk of the money for her friends when she'd been lost in the desert, since Aang definitely couldn't be trusted with it. And when traveling with Aang, they had always seemed to be able to earn money, usually from grateful people they'd helped. Although she didn't have a huge amount, she had enough to spare for one night.
Zuko felt embarrassed that he, Fire Nation royalty who grew up wanting for nothing, had to have his room paid for by someone else. But she was so excited, and he certainly wasn't about to suggest they sleep on the street instead. Still, he wished he could be the one to indulge her with the nice things she deserved.
They entered the inn through a thick, wooden door to find a warmly lit common room packed with more refugees. Although most of them looked tired, the atmosphere was a happy one—after all, this was the last stop at the end of a long journey to the safety of the city. The buzz of conversation and laughter filled the whole first floor and beer seemed to be flowing liberally to patrons seated at the round tables.
Katara's eyes lit up at the sight. She'd never seen anything quite like it—certainly not in the South Pole, and not in her travels with Aang either. The bustle and energy enlivened her.
She bounced up to the first waitress she saw, inquiring about renting a room. The waitress directed her to the owner, a pleasantly overweight man in an apron behind the bar who was laughing with some of the guests sitting on stools. He reminded her of Zuko's uncle Iroh, actually.
"We'd like a room for tonight, please," she said.
The man gave them an up and down glance, taking in their worn travel attire and large backpacks, dusty from weeks on the road.
"I'd love to, but there's only one room left today and I don't think you will be able to afford it." He sounded genuinely regretful.
"Excuse me," Zuko interjected loudly. "Do you mean to say you are charging a premium for your rooms when there are so many people who need a place to sleep? That sounds like war profiteering to me, you heartless—"
"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute young man!" The innkeeper interrupted what was promising to be a lengthy tirade from Zuko. "I said nothing about war profiteering or jacking up my prices. I'll have you know," he raised his voice so the surrounding patrons could hear, "that I've actually lowered my prices since the refugees started pouring in, to give as many folks a place to rest their heads as I can."
"Then what is the meaning of telling us we can't afford your room, if not to take advantage of us?" Zuko demanded. Katara poked him in the ribs, trying to get him to relax.
"I can only lower my prices so much without going out of business, you understand. I need to run the establishment and buy supplies, or there wouldn't be no inn for people to stay at all, you see?"
"Yes…" Zuko conceded suspiciously.
"We understand, sir," Katara said brightly, "but could you just tell us how much it costs to rent the room, please?"
"Sure thing. I can't let it go for less than ten silver pieces. So you see…"
"What makes you think we can't afford that?" Zuko snapped.
"I meant no insult, surely I didn't," he placated good-naturedly. "It's just that any refugees I've seen coming through with only the packs on their backs don't have any money to spare, certainly not silver."
"Well, we do have it," Katara said, while Zuko simply glared at the man. "And we'd like the room, please." She extricated her small leather purse, counting out ten silver pieces.
"Of course, of course, young miss. I didn't mean no offense, I'm happy to have you." The innkeeper tucked the coins into a pouch on his belt and swept out from behind the bar. "Follow me, I'll show you to your room."
Katara grinned at Zuko, attempting to get him to wipe the scowl off his face. He relented—slightly.
They climbed the stairs to the third floor, the innkeeper chatting amiably as they went. "And you know what, how about a round for you both, on the house, as an apology for the misunderstanding?" he finished.
Zuko's eyes widened in surprise. He wasn't used to people being so well-meaning, particularly after getting off on the wrong foot. "That would be... nice."
"Great! Here's your room and we'll see you in the common room for supper, I hope? Enjoy your stay!" The innkeeper handed Katara the key and trundled down the hallway, headed back to his guests.
She opened the door to a room that was just as cozy as the rest of the inn, everything made of rich wood, with forest green drapery on the walls and a fluffy carpet to match. A large four-poster bed sat in the middle of the room, complete with piles of green pillows and blankets.
"It's like living in luxury!" Katara exclaimed, dropping her pack and flopping on the bed at the first opportunity.
Zuko couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. He knew what true luxury was, and by the Fire Nation's high standards too, but he couldn't deny that this was the nicest place he'd been in a very long time. "Especially after sleeping on the road for weeks," he agreed.
He flung himself onto the bed next to her, causing the mattress to bounce slightly on impact. Katara giggled and rolled into him, nestling herself in his arms without a thought. Zuko kissed her temple automatically.
"I can't wait to have a bath and change into clean clothes," she said. "And eat!"
Zuko nuzzled into her neck. "I could do without all that and just stay in bed with you until tomorrow."
"That's right! We have never actually been in a bed, have we?" Katara blushed, somehow feeling like having a bed made everything all the more serious.
"Nope," he said, now moving to nibble on her ear.
Katara closed her eyes and leaned into him, until they were interrupted by a loud gurgle from her stomach.
"You're hungry," Zuko conceded reluctantly.
"Starving," she said as her stomach rumbled again.
"Let's get ready for dinner, then." Zuko smiled. "I want to clean up and change too, so we aren't mistaken for people who can't afford dinner, this time."
O – O – O – O – O – O
"What do you think your uncle is doing, right now?" Katara asked as she sat across a small table from Zuko, taking another bite of her stew. The delicious flavors of the homecooked meal (made in a real kitchen, not a campfire—another luxury!) exploded in her mouth. She sighed in satisfaction.
"Hmmm." Zuko took a drink from his tankard, kindly provided to them by the innkeeper, as promised. "Knowing my uncle, I wouldn't be surprised if he's made it his mission to go to every tearoom in the city and test out their wares. He's probably drinking tea and playing pai sho with some other old man right now."
"I can just see that. For a Fire Nation general, your uncle isn't very scary."
"Ex-Fire Nation general. And think what you want, but I wouldn't want to be on his bad side."
"No, I suppose not." Katara chewed thoughtfully.
"I'd take beer over tea any day, though," he said, taking another swig.
"It is good, isn't it?" She took a drink herself. She was only halfway into her glass, and she could already feel the slight buzz of the beverage working its magic. "Even if it's just for today, this is so nice. Just sitting, ordering food, having a real bed to sleep in."
With you.
"It is very nice. The company is okay too. I guess." Zuko teased, watching for her response.
"Hey!" She debated flinging some of her stew at him but thought better of it and popped it into her mouth instead. She settled for kicking him under the table.
"Ouch, watch who you're kicking, little peasant." He grinned, knowing the words would get a rise out of her.
"I'm not above bending your beer onto your head, you know. Your Fieriness," she retorted.
"Don't waste good beer."
"Don't make me."
Zuko smirked and drained the last of his cup. "Looks like I'll need another glass if you're going to be able to threaten me with it."
As the meal went on, they discussed their plans for once they reached Ba Sing Se. Zuko needed to find Iroh; and Katara wasn't even certain her friends would be there, it was only her best guess that they were. The only way to find out anything would be to ask around once they arrived and go from there.
Throughout the conversation, an undercurrent of unease built between them. Neither wanted to bring up the reality that faced them—changes were coming soon, and not necessarily welcome ones. No matter what, the easy connection they'd formed on their journey would be coming up against new elements. Especially if they found Aang. As far as Aang and gang knew, Zuko was not on their side. Katara also knew how heavily the issue of Zuko's honor weighed on him. She wasn't sure how he'd feel when face-to-face with the Avatar again.
Zuko drained another tankard as Katara finally finished her first. Taking in the sight of her from across the table, his heart felt like it was constricting. I'm going to lose her, aren't I? After today, nothing will ever be the same.
She said, "I'm done. That was a huge drink."
"Want another?"
"That's probably not a good idea. We have a big day tomorrow."
"You're right. And you look pretty tipsy already," Zuko grinned. "A waterbender who can't hold her drink."
"You better not be planning on taking advantage of me," Katara said flirtatiously.
Zuko's unrestrained laughter rang out in the tavern. "I think that ship has long since sailed, don't you?"
She giggled and as she did, Zuko felt a rush of powerful feeling. If things were going to change between them tomorrow, he needed to show her—now—how he felt.
"If you're done, do you want to head upstairs then?" he asked, taking her hand in his across the table and stoking it lightly.
Katara caught something in his eyes that made her feel weak in the knees. "Yes."
When they got to their room, Katara tried to kiss him immediately but Zuko resisted, backing off just enough to hold her shoulders gently and look her in the eye. The energy between them instantly ramped up, helped along by the intoxication they were both feeling from the drinks.
"Tonight, can you let me show you how much I—" Zuko swallowed his next words. "I mean, I want you to let me take care of you tonight. Please, let me do that. Before we—before tomorrow."
Katara quivered, feeling the intensity behind his words and lost in the eyes that held her with an almost desperate appeal. She simply nodded.
Zuko guided her to the bed, pushing her to sit with gentle pressure. Standing in front of her, he leaned closer and placed two warm fingertips underneath her chin, tilting her face up. Then his mouth was on hers, kissing her softly, lingering, relishing. Katara shivered and reached for him, drawing him closer.
He kept kissing her in that slow way, now lightly flicking his tongue across her lips, then into her mouth as she opened to receive him. Katara felt like her head was spinning as the kiss continued. For how long, she had no idea.
Eventually, his lips moved off hers and began to trace her jaw, still slow and savoring. She closed her eyes as he found her ear, his breath warm on her neck, and nibbled her lobe before covering her throat with kisses and the caress of his tongue.
When he returned to her mouth, she thought she was going to melt into the bed from the aching gentleness of it.
When Zuko backed away again, he feasted his eyes on her as she sat waiting for him on the bed, her cheeks flushed, eyes shining. He wanted always to remember this. But he wanted, even more, for her never to forget.
"Have I told you today how perfectly gorgeous you are?" he asked earnestly.
"Maybe a few times, though not in so many words," she breathed, wondering at this mood that had come over him. She felt like her heart was fluttering out of her chest.
"You are perfect. Gorgeous. Amazing. Stunning. Magnificent." He moved aside the fabric of her dress to bare her shoulders and punctuated each word with a soft kiss down her neck and along the tops of her shoulders. His fingers gently glided along her neck, deftly undoing her necklace to allow him to plant another slow kiss on her throat.
"Come here," she said, cupping his cheeks and pulling his face back to hers. "You are wonderful yourself. Handsome. And kinder than you know."
Zuko wanted to tell her that he wasn't any of those things, not really, but he didn't want to make this about him. Instead, he let her pull his lips to hers and focused on matching the passion of her now urgent kiss.
Katara tugged at his shirt and pants, suddenly needing to have more contact, to feel his skin against hers, to forget where her body ended and his began. Zuko stopped kissing her long enough to rip off his clothes. But when Katara began pulling off her dress, he stopped her with a gentle hand.
"Let me."
He knelt on the floor in front of where she sat on the bed and reached under her dress to gently pull down her leggings, his fingertips grazing along the soft skin of her legs as he went. He dipped his head to plant a savoring kiss on each part of her bare skin as it was revealed. Her boots came off when he reached her feet, then he moved slowly back up her legs, pushing her dress up as he went and kissing her thighs, along the curves of her hips, up her stomach, then her chest and the swell of her breasts above her wraps.
Goosebumps covered her body. Every touch felt heightened by the tantalizing deliberateness of it all. The soft sensations of her own dress dragging across her flesh. His featherlight fingertips trailing, sending shivers from her head to toes. And his hot mouth, wet, kissing each inch of skin like it was a cherished treasure. Her skin felt hypersensitive, overloading her brain with the sensations. Finally, her dress was all but off, and she helped Zuko pull it over her head.
As quickly as she could, Katara tore off her sarashi wraps as well and reached for him hungrily. She pulled him down on the bed and his heavy weight settled on top of her, feeling warm and solid and right. She craned her head up and parted her lips for Zuko, who kissed her fiercely.
She pushed herself against him, trying to get even closer somehow, and kissed him harder. Zuko couldn't contain a moan. His hands roamed along her naked curves and she felt a slight sting as he bit her bottom lip.
Breathing hard, Zuko retreated and saw her swollen lip. He took a deep breath, grasping for control. He wanted this to last. He wanted to shower her in pleasure, to worship her and her body with all of his being.
"What is it?" she asked, wondering if something was wrong.
"I just want to take my time, this time. I want to please you. So you'll—" understand how I feel. "Uh. I just want it to be special, I guess."
Even though the beer made him feel bold tonight—bold enough to be vulnerable—he still couldn't bring himself to say what he really wanted to.
Katara smiled, the gentle light in the room dancing in her eyes. "It is. It always is."
Zuko couldn't contain a slight thrust of his hips at the huskiness in her voice. He kissed her again, more gently now, until she felt like she was losing her mind. He caressed her body and she arched to his touch, which swept along the fullness of her breasts, the taut muscles of her stomach and the dip of her waist. She couldn't help but explore him with her hands as well, feeling his powerful back and shoulders, the coiled strength in arms and chest.
When he pulled away again and looked down at her, she felt like his eyes touched something inside of her that she hadn't known was there. She trembled expectantly.
His hand traveled back up to her breast, the nipple hardening in his palm. He bent his head to take her other breast in his mouth, sucking and teasing her nipple with his tongue. Katara groaned as he drew circles with his tongue and she pushed herself into him, wanting, needing, shuddering.
When her hips began to buck, Zuko released her breasts and began to kiss down her ribs, then across her torso, following the indent of her abs to her stomach. He pulled one hand to his mouth and kissed each finger, then her palm, then her wrist, up the inside curve of her arm. She closed her eyes and surrendered to the delirious sensations now pulsing with rhythmic heat through her body.
He wanted to know all of her. He wanted the feel of her burned into his palms, seared onto his lips. He kissed along her hips, then down her leg to kiss the tops of her feet before moving up the other leg. It was all Katara could do to hold still, but she felt that it was somehow important for her to do so, that it was what they both needed in this moment.
He gently separated her legs, now planting hot lingering kisses on her inner thighs. She could feel herself pulsing impatiently as his lips moved closer and closer to her junction of her thighs, until the need became excruciating.
"Zuko…" she gasped, running her hands through his hair. "Please."
He dipped his tongue briefly, tasting her. Katara felt a rush of wetness and a quake run through her entire body. Zuko felt an answering surge of desire straight to his groin, but stayed where he was, determined to maintain his tenuous grip on his control.
He tasted her again, circling his tongue around her clit, slowly. She lay back, moaning, as he sped up the pace, her need mounting until she was breathing in mewling gasps. She rode the exquisite sensations coursing through her, her moans becoming louder and more insistent until she was on the precipice of release.
Just at that moment, Zuko's tongue disappeared, and he went back to kissing her thighs.
"I need—" was all Katara could manage in protest.
"Don't worry," Zuko smiled into her thigh.
A few moments later, his tongue was back on her clit, moving up and down, hitting just the right places. Her hips rose up and all of her muscles tensed. Again, she moaned feverishly, on the edge of release, when Zuko pulled away.
"I'm so close… please," she gasped.
"I know. Just wait a little longer. It'll be worth it." Zuko brought a hand up to caress her breast, making her jump as his finger brushed against her nipple.
Soon, his tongue was back between her legs. The pressure was now building to unbearable heights. She writhed on the bed, orgasm just out of reach, a tsunami of sensation held back by an increasingly fragile dam.
"Zuko…" she all but sobbed.
He stopped and went back to kissing her thighs.
Katara lost all sense of time and place, she didn't know how long it went on for. She transcended her body, becoming a being of pure desire, completely malleable to the attentions of Zuko's mouth and tongue.
Eventually, she felt as though she had disintegrated entirely. Again, she felt her climax rising deep in her core, her breath hitching in shallow gasps. This time, however, Zuko increased the speed and pressure with his tongue as she came to the edge.
The resulting explosion burned through her soul as she finally came in long, deep, spasming convulsions. Her vision disappeared. She could not hear or smell or taste; only the sensation of touch remained. Even her toes and fingertips went numb, her body abandoning them in favor of the throbbing vibrations rocking through her core. Her mind blanked out in unadulterated white-hot pleasure, her body thrashing on the bed, out of her control, undone.
It felt like minutes, maybe hours, went by before she finally came back to herself. She wanted to exclaim her pleasure, to ask what and why and how, but she couldn't find the right part of her mind to form intelligible language.
A storm of lust crackled in Zuko's eyes. He watched her as her breathing became just a little more controlled. Then, he returned his tongue to her slit, jolting her back into awareness.
"No, no," she mumbled, "it's too much, I can't…"
Zuko grinned up at her. "I think you can. I'll go slow," he promised.
"Mmmm," she groaned, not sure whether it was in dispute or acquiesce. It didn't matter when his tongue glided softly across her over-sensitive clit. Her whole body clenched in response and then sank into the bed, and she could feel a powerful center of pleasure hidden just behind the hypersensitivity that she didn't want to—couldn't—deny.
After a time, his fingers probed at her entrance and she opened her legs further, craving them. They felt phenomenal as they pushed inside. Zuko licked his tongue just a little faster and began to drag his fingertips, curling his fingers deep inside and pushing up against her inner walls.
She grasped weakly at his hair and shoulders, just wanting to touch him but already finding herself nearly senseless from rising pleasure. Sweat coated her skin, slick and gleaming.
Every thrust of his fingers and swirl of his tongue sent ripples through her, and her hands began clench and unclench reflexively as the delicious tension rose up to teeter on the edge of her breaking point.
When she came again, she had to pull a pillow over her face to muffle her screams.
Once it was over, she dimly felt Zuko fit his body beside hers. Unconsciously she turned to him. She felt completely spent and yet inside she still pulsated and quaked, positively aching for him.
"Take me," she slurred into his neck, entreating, as he planted breathtakingly gentle kisses on her skin.
Tenderly, Zuko pulled her against him and her legs draped around his hips like they belonged there. His cock strained and throbbed uncontrollably, yearning for her wet, tight embrace. He breached her slowly but firmly, a guttural moan tearing from his throat as she enfolded him.
Katara thrust her hips with as much strength as she could muster—which wasn't much at this point—needing to feel him inside her, to touch the places that demanded stimulation that his fingers hadn't reached.
"Aahh," she moaned into his ear as he rocked them slowly together. Zuko kissed her neck, tasting the salt on her skin.
With a strange soft pleading in his voice, he uttered, "You're mine."
In full agreement, she pushed into him harder.
Now he sounded choked as he whispered again, "Say you're mine?"
He wished she could be his, truly his, the way he'd somehow become hers, body, soul, spirit—all of it. Even if it was just for tonight. Forever would be better, but tonight would have to be enough.
Katara tightened her arms around him and pressed her forehead to his as they moved together side-by-side, "I'm yours. I'm yours."
Zuko quivered and clutched her harder, delving into her with reverent desperation. He whispered half-formed endearments and her name over and over. She held him closer still.
A familiar wave of pleasure built in her stomach and when it crested and rolled through her body, Zuko emitted an almost hurt sound and shuddered, finally yielding to his own need and trembling from the final release.
They lay together, collapsed into the bed, unmoving for a long time.
Katara drifted in hazy contentment, utterly exhausted. When Zuko shifted, readjusting them, she curled her arm around his waist and smiled dreamily but couldn't manage to open her eyes. And so, she didn't see his look of devotion and sorrow as he gathered her into his arms and kissed her softly one more time.
The last thing she knew as she floated into sleep was an overpowering swell of love for Zuko that made her feel whole.