Fuuuuuuuck this was a pain to write. I definitely bit off more than I could chew, hence the insane length of this chapter. Definitely should have broken it up into 2 or 3 parts, but here we are. Never going to give a prognosis on when a story ends until it is actually over, to avoid this kind of situation. Anyway, here we get our conclusion. Lots of talking, a sprinkle of teen style drama, and a little dose of smutty smut. Thoughts as always are more than welcome, and thank all of you for reading this far into my meandering, inconsistent mind. Until next time, enjoy the Zucest.
...Ever After?
Azula x Zuko
Rating: M
I own nothing, or else this relationship would likely be canon.
"Ugh, I can't believe I let you talk me into this," Toph muttered weakly, her slender body swaying slightly as she fought to keep herself from vomiting.
"I forgot that you get bad motion sickness," Zuko offered apologetically, gently rubbing her back in an attempt to soothe her symptoms as he hoisted their duffel bags over his shoulder.
"Why are the tracks so rough around this place? All the money in the world and they can't make sure the trains run smoothly. Someone ought to complain," she struggled to hold back a heave, causing her friend to lean back to prevent himself from getting vomited on.
Again.
"I don't know, it's been a while since I actually sat down and took a train anywhere, and I think that's probably the case for a lot of people."
"So remind me why I had to suffer through all that rocking and lurching and…" she stopped, her stomach churning painfully as it sought to expel the nonexistent food from her stomach.
"I really want everyone there when I ask her. It means a lot that you did decide to come, Toph."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm already about to hurl without you trying to make me even sicker," she joked, feeling the nausea begin to dissipate as he rubbed small circles into her back. "You do have some magic hands though," she admitted, feeling her body weaken slightly at the reassuring gesture.
"Azula certainly seems to think so," he teased back, Toph's rough, nonchalant attitude admittedly making it easier to joke around with her than anyone else in their little group of friends.
"That's too much information," she retorted, feeling the tremors of a small chuckle as it coursed through his body.
"You were the one asking how the sex was, so it's your own fault."
"Curiosity and cats and all that stuff."
"But seriously, thanks for not only coming, but being so understanding about everything." Toph felt a small shiver run along her spine at the warm, relaxing sound of his voice.
"Well, a little nausea is a small price to pay for the privilege of seeing you be so flustered and nervous." Black bangs hung gently in front of her sightless mint eyes as she tilted her head downward, intent on not letting Zuko see the small smile that spread gently across her porcelain features.
"I don't know why I'm so nervous. I guess it is a big deal, though."
"Yeah, not every day you ask your sister to marry you. Never figured you for the type, to be honest."
"What, you think I'm like Jet and just hook up with anything with a skirt?"
"I'm sure you are aware that you are quite popular with the same types of people, right?"
"Never really thought about it," he admitted, guiding his blind friend as they exited the train station.
"I'm freaking blind and I can tell. Though I would have thought you and Bubbles would have hooked up, honestly."
"Me and Ty Lee?" Zuko asked, surprised at the suggestion.
"Don't pretend with me, buddy. Azula may be the master of manipulation, but I can read people like a book myself. And let me tell you, that girl had it baaad for you. There's no way you never had at least some idea she had a crush on you."
"Not even," he deflected weakly, trying to avoid letting that picture take hold even for a moment.
"And to think I'm the blind one."
"Well…"
"You get my point. But whatever it is your sister does for you, it seems to have been really good for you, so I guess I'm just glad."
"I'm glad at least one of my friends is just happy for me," he sighed somewhat dejectedly, recalling the impromptu inquisition at Katara's insistence.
"They'll come around. Eventually. Maybe."
"Very reassuring."
"Well, your sister was, no offense, kind of a bitch to everybody for a really long time, so it's natural they'd be hesitant about the increased likelihood of spending any significant time with her."
"That's…" he wanted to argue the point, but he knew there was no wiggle room in that particular statement, so he simply let the thought pass.
"Plus, you know, as we've established, she's your freaking sister. That's going to make people look at both of you a little awkward, at the very least."
"I can't help us being siblings. And I know it's all so not normal and all that stuff. But I just…"
"You love her. Yeah, I can tell. Your voice gets so soft and sweet when you talk about her, like you're going to just swoon right there."
"Do I really talk about her that much?" Zuko asked hesitantly, a sense of deja vu passing over him.
"I don't know about all the time, but since you called me the other day, she's pretty much all you've talked about. It's kind of sweet, but kind of annoying too."
"Sorry," he murmured apologetically.
"Nah, it's alright. Better than when Sokka started hooking up with Suki," Toph's voice echoed a distinct bitterness at the mention of the auburn haired young woman.
"Do you wanna talk about that?"
"Not really. There's nothing to really say about it. Things just don't always work out, ya know?"
"That's true. I feel a little bad for Suki, though."
"Why? She got her perfect guy."
"Well, both you and Azula have a little bit of a grudge against her."
"Azula has a grudge against everyone, especially if they have 2 x-chromosomes," Toph explained, rolling her eyes at the possessive way Zuko's sister treated pretty much any woman older than 10 years old who interacted with her brother for more than 2 seconds.
"She does not. I really wish you would give her a chance. She's really changed."
"I'll make that determination for myself, once I actually meet her after all this time. Should be fun." Zuko knew nearly immediately that of all his friends, the only one with any ability to get under Azula's skin was Toph, the thought eliciting a groan of irritation.
"So, have you figured out where you're going to stay while you're in town?" he asked, deciding to change the topic.
"No," Toph sighed, realizing that in the spur of the moment she had been essentially guilted into accompanying her friend, and hadn't really considered making the proper arrangements. "I could see if Aang has a spare room, I guess."
"I'd offer to let you stay with me, but…"
"...I don't exactly love the idea of hearing you and your sister going at it non-stop."
"And I really don't want to have to spend the entire time you're in town separating you two to keep you from killing each other."
"That happened ONE time."
"One time, the last time you two were in the same room together. There's not enough stars in the sky to count the number of times you two have argued over the years."
"It's not my fault she can't keep from jabbing at people just for her amusement."
"You guys have a surprising amount in common."
"Watch it, sparky. I may be blind but I can still kick your butt clear across town."
"That sounds like a bet, to me," he said in a playful, defiant tone.
"Someone's feeling bold." Toph challenged, her voice hardening a touch as her brow quirked upward.
"Maybe another time," he deferred, snickering at the clicking of the younger girl's tongue. "So what are we going to do about finding you a place to sleep?"
"Maybe I'll just pitch a tent in the park or something," she muttered, genuinely pondering the idea of enjoying the meager amounts of nature within the large urban expanse.
"No, I'll call Aang and see what we can work out."
"What do you need to work out with Aang?" a voice sounded from behind the two, neither turning to face the source.
"Toph needs to find a place to stay for a couple of days," Zuko replied evenly, not missing a step as he and Toph made their way towards Zuko's apartment.
"Nothing like last minute trips to throw things off," Toph gruffed in annoyance, the soft black bangs swaying gently as she huffed at the thought.
"Well, I could ask Gyatso if he wouldn't mind, but I can't think that he would be anything but thrilled about having more company."
As the voice spoke, Zuko and Toph stopped in their tracks, finally realizing that their tandem had become a trio.
"Aang! Holy crap, I didn't even see you, when did you get behind us?" Toph asked, heart beating quickly in her chest with the suddenness of realization.
"Well, I saw you guys walking and I called out but you didn't hear me I guess."
"I guess we were just really into the conversation. Your voice is so much deeper, I didn't realize it was you," Zuko said, looking the younger boy up and down. It hadn't been that long since he had seen him, but Aang had seemingly grown to match his height overnight.
"Those growth spurts can be pretty surprising," Aang said sheepishly, chuckling at the surprised looks on his friends' faces. "Toph, it's good to see you. It's been too long, how have you been?" he asked, genuine warmth in his voice as he took in the sight of his long time friend.
"Eh, you know, just enjoying traveling, living the free life," she explained, hand waving the notion as though it were just to be expected.
"...running away from your problems," Zuko added with a teasing smirk, earning a swift elbow to the side from Toph.
"You guys get along as well as ever I see," Aang offered, smiling at the closeness of the two.
"Maybe you need to get your eyes checked, Twinkle Toes," Toph put on her gruffest demeanor, looking away from both men in her company to hide her blush.
"If you say so. So, what brings you back to town, anyway?"
"Well…" she began, shifting her sightless gaze over towards Zuko.
"I asked her to come."
"That's… unexpected," Aang said, his voice clear with confusion.
"...I'm sure you heard about the, uh, situation from Katara."
"Oh… yeah… that was… sure an interesting conversation," Zuko could clearly tell the discomfort Aang felt by looking at his face.
"I never really got your thoughts about it, but you don't seem as upset about it as Katara at least."
"Hmm, well, it's not really my place to talk about it but I'm happy for you guys, I guess?"
"That's about the best I could hope for, I suppose," Zuko said darkly, a dry chuckle escaping his lips at having to settle for practiced indifference as opposed to flat out hostility about the situation.
"Oh, cheer up, geez. So not everyone is throwing a party about it, that shouldn't really matter should it?" Toph's voice rang sternly in Zuko's ear, bringing him back to the point. Rubbing his fingers against the velvet coated box in his pocket, he felt a smile cross his face, grateful once again for the younger girl's presence.
"Thanks, Toph," he said softly, his voice a low, pleasant rumble. "I'm really glad you decided to come."
"You were just so pathetic about it, how could I refuse."
"All I did was ask, and you were all about it except for the train ride," he pointed out, Toph groaning in irritation at the thought of the bumpy ride.
"Ugh, don't remind me. No more trains for this girl," she promised, swearing off the notion of ever setting foot on such a rough ride again. "I can still feel the rolling of the train car, and the clickety clack of wheels on the track. What a horrible way to travel."
"I actually kind of enjoy it. You get to just relax and still get where you're going, so it's good for long distances," Aang spoke up, youthful exuberance bubbling on his voice.
"Yeah, hard pass for me," Toph replied, defiantly holding onto her lack of excitement about the method of travel. "Give me a nice, solid walk any day of the week."
"So where are you two headed?" Aang asked, curious about where the two of them were headed, his mind filled with questions as to what could have brought Toph back from her self imposed exile to the country side.
"Well, I want to see Azula as soon as possible, and then maybe we can get something to eat. You're more than welcome to come with us. The more the merrier, right?"
"What he means is that he is nervous as fuck about what he needs to talk to her about and he needs emotional support." Toph "helpfully" offered by way of her own charming method of correction.
"Ummm…" Again, Aang's hesitance was palpable, trying to decide between pursuing his natural curiosity over the matter and trying to leave matters alone.
"You don't have to, obviously, but it would really mean a lot to me," Zuko felt his nerves begin to take hold as they approached the apartment building that he and his sister called home.
"Toph said there's something specific you need to talk to Azula about. What is that?" Aang let his curiosity win out in the end, inquisitive nature always seeming to find a way to steer his actions.
With a heavy inhalation of breath, Zuko pulled the small box from his pocket, handing it to his curious younger friend. Aang's eyes widened in surprise as he opened it, his mouth hanging limply open as he gazed at the glimmering black metallic object within.
"Is that… where did you get the meteorite stuff for this!?" The bald teen's voice was a blur of excitement as he pulled the small circle out of the box, turning it in his grasp as he admired the distinctive feel and detail of the ring.
"I had to ask Toph for a favor. And now I owe her a favor," Zuko grumbled, wishing he had had other alternatives.
"Oh wow, you must be really serious about things if you're willing to owe Toph a favor," Aang offered in sympathy, placing the ring back in the velvety box. After a moment, realization dawned on him, causing his eyes to somehow widen even further. "You're going to ask AZULA to marry you?"
"Something like that," Zuko admitted sheepishly, cheeks warming slightly at the outburst of energy from his friend.
"You… is that even, like, possible?" Aang's discomfort was swallowed by sheer curiosity, the list of questions seemingly growing by the second.
"I know it's technically not legally possible, but it's more of a promise," Zuko explained, slipping the small box into his pocket as the trio approached the luxurious looking apartment building.
"What kind of promise?"
"That I'll always be there for her, and that I want her to always be with me," the shade of red faded back into his natural tone as he spoke, lips spreading into a soft smile.
"That's…"
"Gross, right? Sooo sappy," Toph interjected, an exaggerated gag escaping her lips at the teasing words.
"Just… give me a second to process this whole thing," Aang said, taking a seat on the stoop leading up towards the front door. "Is anyone else okay with this situation?" he asked, curious where the rest of their friends stood on the issue.
"Well, Ty Lee is more than alright with it. It feels like she was like mentally shipping us together this whole time."
"Of course she was," Aang and Toph spoke in unison, the two chuckling at the synchronized response to Zuko's statement. Everyone knew Ty Lee was a hopeless romantic, who just wanted everyone to be happy and have clean auras, the latter aspect being something far beyond anything Toph in particular could understand.
"...anyway," Zuko continued, bringing the pair out of their short fit of laughter. "I think once Azula and Mai actually talk, Mai will be alright with it. She seemed kind of resigned to some kind of inevitability about it, but it's hard to tell with her."
"That's true," Aang acknowledged, Toph's gently nodding head indicating her agreement.
"Sokka seemed in the same kind of situation as you, just kind of 'live and let live' as long as it's not all in his face."
"That's understandable."
"Though it's a little unfair if he's just allowed to get all flirty with Suki and that's fine," Zuko grumbled, unable to hide his subtle annoyance at the seeming double standard.
"In fairness to Sokka though, Suki isn't his sister, so there's that," Aang offered in response.
"That's true," Toph agreed.
"It's still a little bit unfair, but I see his point," Zuko admitted, before continuing. "I'm not sure where Suki ultimately stands, but I know for sure Katara is probably never going to leave it alone."
"Hey, that's six out of seven who at the very least won't constantly be lecturing you about it, so that's not bad," Aang chimed in, trying his best to encourage his friend.
"Yeah, I know. So that's all good."
"So how nervous are you about asking her?" Aang asked, sensing Zuko's anxiety over the issue. While it wasn't exactly the most common situation, he knew that weddings were always a time for joy and fun, which piqued his natural inclination for celebration.
"I wouldn't say I'm nervous," he lied, palms becoming clammy as he fretted over Azula's potential response.
"Such a liar. I guess it's not genetic," Toph joked, snickering at the audible groan from Zuko.
"Okay, I'm crazy nervous. Like, what if she says no?"
"Then you mope for a while and move on? Like a normal person?"
"Yeah, what she said. You just need to have an upbeat attitude, and it'll all work out how it's supposed to work out."
"I know, you guys are right," he sighed, taking hold of the handle on the front door. "Do you guys wanna come up? I was gonna ask her if she wanted to go grab something to eat, so maybe you guys could come with us?"
"I could eat," Toph replied simply, delighted at the prospect of a free meal.
"Well, I actually had plans with Katara. I totally forgot, she's probably mad that I'm running late as it is," Aang said apologetically, internally wincing at the stern talking to that he was likely to get about keeping plans and all that.
"That's rough buddy," Zuko offered in sympathy, grateful that Azula was more about subtle jabs and obnoxiously arousing teasing when he made her wait. "Just let me head up and say hi, then we'll at least walk you over there. At least then Katara will be mad at me, instead of yelling at you."
"Wow, you'd really do that for me?" Aang's eyes shimmered with gratitude, causing a groan from his older friend.
"Hey, what are friends for. Besides, it's out fault you're running late to begin with. Toph, do you want to come inside or just wait here?"
"I'll wait here. Gotta keep twinkle toes here company."
"Oh, I should call Gyatso about you staying with us for a few days, too," Aang spoke with realization, figuring he should actually make sure it was alright so that Toph could make other arrangements if needed.
"I'll try to make it quick," Zuko added, hurriedly making his way inside. Each step felt like he was walking through quicksand, his nerves getting the better of him. It had been less than a week since he had seen Azula, but if he was being honest it had felt infinitely longer. How he had missed her warm embrace, the feel of her lips on every part of his body, the intoxicating scents and tastes of her body.
Heart pounding numbly in his chest, he fumbled with the keys in his pocket as he approached their door, silently cursing himself for getting so worked up. Taking a calming breath, he slid the key to the front door into the lock, nearly throwing it open in anticipation.
"Azula?" he called out as he set foot inside, scanning the apartment for any sign of his sister.
Silence greeted him as he set his travel bag near the sofa, a sense of mixed relief and sadness surging through him. "I guess she went out," he muttered to himself, wondering if she might be having that promised talk with Mai.
With a dejected sigh, Zuko figured he could at least take advantage of the situation to get cleaned up first. Making his way to his bedroom, he pulled out a simple crimson dress shirt and black vest, formal but comfortable at the same time.
Once he had changed his clothes, Zuko slipped into the bathroom, splashing a bit of water on his face before grabbing the can of body spray to give himself just a little enhancement of class. Looking himself over in the mirror, he gave himself an approving nod, knowing Azula had always liked the slightly more serious manner of dress on him.
"Okay, we'll be by after lunch, so see you later," Aang spoke into the phone before clicking it off before turning to his friend. "Oh wow, looking fancy there Zuko. Guess you're taking this seriously. Is she going to be joining us for lunch?"
"I don't know, I didn't see her when I went inside. Felt kind of weird, honestly. One of those things you get used to, so when it doesn't happen it's a little disappointing," he offered between gentle sighs.
"She's not home?" Aang asked, unable to hide the hints of relief at the notion.
"No. I guess she went out. How did it go on your end?"
"He was super happy about it, so there are no issues."
"I guess I'll call Azula while we accompany you. Where was your date with Katara?"
"Well, Sokka and Suki are going to be there too, so I'm not sure it's a date date," Aang replied, a wide grin crossing his face.
"If you say so. So where are you guys meeting?"
"Fan's Dumplings. They supposedly have some amazing food, but I haven't had a chance to try there yet."
"Oh, Aang, you're missing out. I went during the grand opening and I could probably put that place out of business with how stuffed I can get," Toph added, her mouth watering at the memory of the delectable treats on offer at the fancy establishment.
"Yeah, they're pretty good, maybe we'll actually join you guys," Zuko suggested, his stomach growling irritatingly at having not been able to eat anything substantial for breakfast.
"Hey, that sounds like loads of fun. It's been a long time since we had the whole group together."
"Just let me call Azula and see what she has planned first," Zuko said, earning a hesitant nod from his two friends as he clicked on his phone to contact his sister.
"Do you think… Azula is going to want to come?" Aang asked, his discomfort at the idea palpable as he spoke.
"I dunno. Would that be alright?" Zuko's eyes showed hints of sadness, a mild strain at essentially being a bridge between two separate groups of friends.
"I guess we're going to have to get used to the idea at some point, so sure?" the bald youth's answer was not exactly reassuring, Zuko sighing dejectedly as he listened to the dial tone in his ear. It was going to take a lot of work to bring the two distinct groups together fully, his sister's youthful transgressions and taunting manner the biggest hurdle by far.
'I really just want everyone to get along,' he thought to himself, his breath catching a bit in his chest as the line connected.
'Zuzu, you're late. What took you so long?' she huffed over the phone, his smile widening as he pictured the subtle puffing of her cheeks as she pouted. Azula could truly be so adorable when she allowed herself to be.
"Sorry Zula, the thing just took longer than I thought. I should have called, but I didn't want to risk ruining the surprise."
'If you say so,' she added flatly, clearly unconvinced. Zuko knew he was going to have to make it up to her, but the fact that she didn't blow up at him immediately definitely showed her maturation.
"Don't worry, everything is sorted out, and I'll make it up to you. Where are you?"
'Mai and Ty Lee invited me out, so we are going to enjoy some dumplings. It's been a while since we went to Fan's, so you're welcome to join us.'
As the simple restaurant name echoed in his ears, Zuko felt a pang of panic in his chest. "Oh, uh, yeah, that sounds like a good time. I guess I'll see you there soon?"
'Don't take too long brother. Honestly, if you had just called sooner I would have told them I had plans already.'
"I'm already on my way. Try not to murder anyone before I get there," Zuko joked, half serious with the idea of Katara and Azula being in the same room with limited mediation available.
'No promises,' she teased back, a distinctly playful tone to her voice.
"Azula…"
'Fine, fine. Gosh, you can be so dramatic. I promise not to commit any murders until I see you. It can be a fun couple activity.' He knew she was joking… probably. But at least she had made a verbal promise to keep herself in control until he could get there.
"Alright, I'll hold you to that."
'Well, a promise is one thing, but hopefully that's not the only thing you were planning on holding me to,' her voice was thick with seduction, the duskiness seeping through the digitized voice.
"Oh I have a few things in mind for that later," he returned, his voice slipping a level lower before remembering that Aang and Toph were walking beside him. She really was the world to him, to a degree he had never considered possible.
'Such a tease.'
"You started it."
'And you had better end it. We are about to go inside, so hurry Zuzu. See you there.'
'Ooo, tell Zuko I said hi," Ty Lee's voice burst through the speaker, bubbly and bright as ever.
'Ty Lee says hi,' Azula conveyed the message, a distinct lack of excitement as she spoke.
"I heard her. Say hi to her and Mai for me and I'll see you guys soon. Love you, Zula," he said unassumingly, chuckling despite himself as he caught the gentle hitch in her breathing at the simple phrase.
'Yes, yes, love you too,' she said hurriedly before disconnecting the call.
"Well," Zuko began, locking his phone before sliding it into his pocket, "there's an issue."
"What kind of issue?"
"They're on their way to Fan's for lunch," Zuko explained, locking eyes with the young man in front of him.
"Oh…" Aang said, grey eyes widening as realization dawned on him. "What are the odds?"
"They do have some of the best food in town, so it shouldn't be that surprising, but the fact that they are both going to be there at the same time..."
"Yeah, we should probably hurry," Aang completed the sentiment, picking up his pace as the trio made their way to more than likely play peace keeper.
"I don't get it, isn't the idea for the whole group to get along?" Toph asked, confused at the sudden burst of panic at the situation.
"Well, baby steps. You know Azula and Katara have never exactly been close even at the best of times," Aang said grimly, his pace picking up into a near sprint.
"Oh, now I get you."
The trio made their way towards the restaurant, Zuko and Aang sighing in relief that the place was still standing at the very least. Taking a moment to regain their composure, the two young men looked to one another, nodding in agreement as they prepared for the worst.
No sooner had the door at the entrance swung open than the three were greeted with a distinctive, familiar shout.
"I should have known there would be problems. I was just of hoping they wouldn't even see each other in there," Zuko grumbled, a dull ache throbbing in his forehead.
"Well, maybe it was a happy scream?" Aang tried to keep his mindset positive, a hesitant, awkward smile on his face.
"Aang, have you met those two?" Toph said evenly, sightless eyes shifting towards her friend.
"You're right. I guess we should get in there before someone actually gets hurt," Aang sighed, his positive attitude fading completely.
As they made their way into the posh restaurant, Zuko and Aang bowed apologetically to the greeter, murmuring their sympathies for the situation.
Hushed whispers sounded all around them as they made their way towards the source of the noise, the distinct chatter of patrons gossiping grating accusingly in their ears.
"It must have been pretty much instantaneous, since I don't think Azula left way before we got to the apartment," Zuko mused, the dull throb picking up in intensity at the apparent disingenuity of Azula's promise to behave.
"Well excuse me for being upset at sharing a restaurant with someone like you!?" Katara's voice pierced the hum of crowd conversation, indignity and annoyance flaring heavily with each syllable.
"And just who do you think you are to judge me? Like everything you do is completely on the up and up," Azula's voice rose to match the blue eyed girl's, frustration and irritation burning like a wild fire.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Katara shot back, anger boiling within her.
"I do hope I don't have to actually explain that, though it wouldn't surprise me for such a poor student," Azula responded, golden eyes narrowing as she glared daggers at the tan skinned girl.
"Come on, you guys, you're making a scene," Sokka whimpered, eyes darting back and forth between the two girls.
"So what!?" they shot back in unison, their gazes causing him to shrink back to the comforting embrace of his girlfriend.
"If miss high and mighty over here wants a fight, I say we step outside and handle this, once and for all," Katara gritted out beneath a heavy, nearly sadistic smirk.
"Oh, that is a fine idea for once, so you can use your brain on occasion," Azula sneered back, blood red lips pulled into a distinctively predatory grin.
"Oooo, you guys, no fighting," Ty Lee spoke up, turning her eyes back to Mai as the somber girl placed a plaintive hand on her lover's shoulder.
"It's no use, Ty Lee, I think it would actually be good for them. Too bad we probably won't ever be able to come back here again, though. I really liked the dessert menu here," Mai sighed, wishing she had suggested anywhere else in town for lunch today.
"Have they been going at it long?" Zuko interjected, pulling the two girls' attention over to him.
"Oh my gosh, Zuko, thank God you're here," Ty Lee chirped, rushing towards him with quick steps. "Maybe you can talk them down, you can handle Azula better than I can."
"That or just make things worse," Mai retorted, her voice even and calm despite her embarrassment at the situation.
"I…" Zuko began, looking towards the two arguing girls, gazes filled with irritation bordering on pure disdain. He watched as Aang made his way over to Katara, hands up defensively as he tried to mediate the situation.
It didn't take long for him to shrink back in a similar fashion to Sokka, a sense of defeat apparent on his body as he looked at Zuko apologetically.
'Fuck, why do I always have to be the bad guy,' he questioned to himself, wondering how it somehow always came back to him for important matters.
Taking a deep breath, he made his way towards the squabbling girls, unclenching the fingers that had drawn into a tight fist with his irritation at the situation. Closing his eyes he focused on his breathing, making sure his voice would be as deep as he could make it.
"Azula!" he said imperiously, the gruff rumble of his voice echoing clearly through the entire dining area. All conversation ceased, the two girls looking at him wide eyed as they ceased their bickering. "You said you were going to behave," he said, lowering his voice at having caught their attention.
"Damn, that was pretty impressive, Sparky. Well done," Toph congratulated him, honestly praising the way he handled the situation.
"Thanks," he murmured with a subtle nod of his head before turning his attention back to his sister, locking the young woman within his gaze. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
"I…" she started then stopped, an apparent freeze in her mind at seemingly having let her brother down. "She started it," Azula replied weakly, casting her eyes down towards the floor, suddenly finding the intricately woven carpet to be the most interesting thing in the world.
"Azula…" he said gently, closing the small gap between the two before engulfing her body within his own, his arms warmly wrapping themselves around her slender frame. "I can kind of guess what happened, but you really can't let it get to you."
"I know… but she was insulting me, and then she was insulting you and I just…"
Zuko had to fight to keep a chuckle from escaping his lips, pulling back slightly so he could properly greet his sister. Clasping a pair of fingers to her chin, he lifted her face so that they were eye to eye, his irritation dissipating completely at the apologetic look in her eyes.
"I appreciate you sticking up for me, but it's nothing to get too upset over. Where is the calm, always in control Azula who extinguished the situation last week?" he asked, losing himself in the deep, impossibly inviting pools of amber set within her perfectly carved features.
"It's just not the same without you here," she said softly, her voice barely a whisper as she lazily clutched at the back of his shirt.
"Oh my gosh, they're so cuuuute," Ty Lee whispered to her girlfriend, eyes bright as she swooned over seeing her long time friend so cute and innocent.
"At least Zuko got things to settle down. Maybe if we apologize they'll let us come back at some point," Mai replied, smirking as Ty Lee's face dropped into a playful pout.
"Azula, I'll always be here for you," he said reassuringly, running his hand against her soft cheeks, feeling the silky black of her bangs brush against the back of his hand.
"But you weren't here today," she responded, idly pressing her face more firmly into the soft feel of his palm.
"You can handle things without me sometimes, Lala," he mindlessly used their most intimate pet name for her, eliciting small chuckles from the gathered group, that he tried his best to ignore. "You've come so far, you can do it."
"Why are you so kind to me? Katara was right, I don't deserve it," she said, her voice quivering in her throat as she spoke, burying her face in his chest. Zuko blinked in surprise before shifting his gaze towards the young woman from the Water Tribe. A brief glimpse of guilt etched on her face before she turned away, defiantly holding onto her attitude.
"Azula listen to me," he said gently, kissing the top of her head. "You do deserve it. I don't care what anyone says," as he spoke he gripped her shoulders, pushing her away to offer him a bit of space. Taking a deep breath, he grabbed the box within his pocket, gasps of surprise from the girls in the group as they realized what was happening.
Ensuring that her eyes were on him, he dropped down to one knee, heart pounding intensely in his chest as he offered her the box. Propping it open, he looked deeply into the glimmering golden spheres, his desire to just kiss her and embrace her nearly overtaking him.
"I know it's not totally normal, and I can't give you the commitment that I really want to, but Azula, I want you to be mine. Forever," he said, fumbling on his words as he spoke.
For an agonizing eternity, no one in the group was able to speak, lost for words at what they were witnessing. Katara was the first to attempt to speak, Sokka and Aang both clasping a shoulder to dissuade her.
The dull thud of his heart in his chest resounded painfully in Zuko's ears, his heart rate spiking considerably with each passing second. Was she going to say no? Had he misjudged things, and this whole thing was just some kind of weird fling she was experiencing?
"Zuzu… I…" she stuttered slightly, mind spinning as she processed what he was asking her. Hot, stinging tears threatened to spill from the amber wells, her heart swelling in her chest as she looked at her sweet dum dum. Taking a deep breath, she allowed the smile that had been beneath the surface to appear, her mind alight with a thousand emotions. "I can't," she said, her heart breaking a little bit at the look that flashed across his face.
"Oh… I guess, I really did make a mess of things," he said weakly, his voice cracking as his heart shrunk to an impossibly small size in his chest.
"Serves you right," Katara muttered, her statement eliciting glares of disapproval from the collected group.
Before he could bring himself to his feet to run away and hide from the situation, Zuko felt his sister's arms snake around his neck, her face immediately in front of his as she mirrored his posture on one knee.
"I can't be yours now, because I always was from the beginning," she said gently, her voice impossibly, teasingly sweet as she pressed her forehead against his. The tears began to trickle outward as she embraced the man she knew from so long ago was her destined match, overcome with emotion at his genuinely sweet gesture.
As realization clicked into place, Zuko felt his chest fill with emotion, a dry laugh escaping his lips with the knowledge of the situation. It had been so obvious, how had he missed it? Wiping the small trail of tears from her cheeks, he slipped his arms easily around her waist, letting his lips rest just against her ear.
"You brat. You had me going for a minute," he muttered, allowing himself to fall deeply into the reassuring embrace.
"Well, I have to make you work for it sometimes," she teased, leaning in to place a soft kiss to his lips, the gentle touch sparking her natural passion for the young man. "But, there are ways we can get to that point you mentioned," she continued, her voice like a chord of the purest angelic choir.
"What does that mean?" he asked curiously, as always unable to completely keep up with her pace.
"That's for us to talk about another time. For now, I believe there is a second part of this little ceremony," she purred, lifting herself up onto her feet.
"Oh," Zuko mumbled dimly, mentally smacking himself for forgetting about it. Taking the ring out of the box, he extended it out towards her delicate fingers. "Azula, will you marry me?" he asked, his heart full with warmth as he watched the ring slip slowly along her finger.
"If you insist," she said, her voice back to its usual even, somewhat playful tone.
"Can just never be honest, can you. You're going to get it when we're alone," he promised, eyes alight with warmth and passion as he gazed at the ebony haired beauty.
"Oh, I do hope so," she shot back, an effortless smile entrenching itself on her face as she observed the narrow black band set against the pale skin of her finger. Clutching the ringed hand to her chest, Azula let her attention drift back towards her brother, idly chewing at the inside of her lip to keep from tossing him onto the tabletop and having her way with him right there.
"You're impossible," Zuko said, watching her eyes widen in surprise as he grasped her by the waist, lifting her off the ground and twirling her around, lost in the joy of the moment.
"What the heck just happened?" Suki asked, confused as to what she should be feeling at the current scene.
"I think they're getting married? I guess?" Sokka guessed, similarly confused by the turn of events.
"Who the heck are they? They seem like totally different people."
"I dunno. Maybe they're both a little cuckoo," Sokka mused, feeling himself smile despite his misgivings about the situation. He had to admit, seeing Zuko so happy was quite refreshing, a warm, fuzzy feeling taking hold deep within him.
"Katara, sweetie," Aang said, gently tugging on his love's arm so that she was facing him. "I know we don't necessarily "get" whatever it is they're feeling, but you have to admit they seem really happy. And isn't that all that really matters?"
Casting her gaze back at the sight of the two lovebirds lost in their tight embrace, she felt herself begin to smile, the wrongness and overall weirdness dissipating for a moment. "I guess… you're right…"
"Just give it time. This whole thing is weird for everyone I think," Aang suggested, rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb.
"Ugh, fine, I'll trybut it's going to be hard, because I still don't think it's right."
"That's all any of us can do," Aang said, placing a soft kiss to her lips.
"You guys, she said yes!" Zuko exclaimed enthusiastically as he approached the group, Azula a bit more subdued in her reaction as she came up behind him.
"We heard. Congratulations, man," Sokka replied, unable to help but return the pure bliss emanating from his friend.
"Aww, so now everyone is friends again?" Ty Lee chirped, casually tossing her arms around the pair of lovers as she let her enthusiasm fully bloom in her chest.
"Let's not get carried away," Azula said, draping her arms lazily over Zuko's shoulders from behind as she cast a dubious gaze towards Katara.
"Yeah, baby steps," Katara shot back, her eyes catching on the black band on Azula's finger as it dangled teasingly across Zuko's chest. "Is that… a black ring?"
"Yes, quite lovely, isn't it?"
"Not exactly traditional, though," Suki spoke, taking position next to Katara as she joined her friend in admiring the unique accessory.
"It seemed right since it's not exactly a traditional situation," Zuko explained, distinctive looks of "no duh" on the rest of the group's faces. "Then I remembered Toph got her hands on this really cool black metal, and I asked her if I could use some for the ring."
"Black metal…?" Sokka questioned, a vague recollection just at the periphery of his memory at the notion.
"Yeah, Zuko asked me for a favor, I had a little of the stuff left over, so I decided to be generous and help him out," Toph spoke, arms crossed against her chest as she enjoyed the praise over her work.
"Wait… you mean he got you to give him some of that space stuff!?" Sokka's mouth hung open in disbelief, his eyes darting between the glimmering ebony ring and his shorter friend.
"Geez, calm down buddy, you're going to make me go deaf," Toph muttered, rubbing her ear from the loud outburst.
"Sorry," Sokka apologized, letting his eyes focus on the narrow metal band. "But how did you get her to give you some? She wouldn't even let me touch it when she first got her hands on the thing," he mused, jealousy smoldering in his chest.
'Well, because she was mad at you for dating Suki,' Zuko thought to himself, figuring it was better to keep her reasoning a secret, lest he end up causing another issue. "Well, I do owe her a favor now," he admitted, earning sympathetic glances from the assembled group.
"Damn, that's dedication. Azula, you're one lucky girl," Sokka said, exaggerating the sadness in his voice at the thought.
"I don't understand, what is the big deal with a simple favor?" Azula questioned, the apparent shift in tone from the rest of the group catching her a bit by surprise.
"I dunno, they're just a bunch of babies," Toph gruffed, making a mental note to get back at them for making her sound like some kind of sociopath.
"You mean like the last time I did you a favor and helped you into the badger mole enclosure?" Sokka questioned, recalling that night with an immense sense of dread.
"So you had to spend a night in jail, what's the big deal?"
"I almost got expelled after that!"
"Almost being the key word there."
"You guys are not helping," Zuko muttered, suddenly fearful for what Toph might end up asking him to do.
"Aww, my dear Zuzu, you would risk jail time just to give me such a unique gift? I'm flattered," Azula drawled, placing a soft kiss to his cheek.
"You're worth it," he replied, lifting her ringed hand to give it a gentle kiss.
After apologizing profusely for causing such a ruckus, the group was led to a larger table, settling in to actually enjoy their lunch.
As the meal progressed, the conversation passed easily between the friends. Zuko cast the occasional glance at his sister, each glimpse sending a warm wave through his body. Her natural tendency to prod and poke people to get reactions seemed to take the day off, allowing her to actually fit into the group for the first time he could recall.
To some degree anyway.
Any time he caught her looking awkward, he had to fight his urge to just come to her rescue, but he felt happy that she was fitting in even a little bit. 'Maybe things will be alright after all,' he thought, trying to ignore Sokka's plans for a bachelor's party.
The occasional touch under the table from Azula served as the only impediment to his fully enjoying the meal, her sidelong glances keeping him just on edge. Playful glimmers of arousal sparkled in her vision any time they made eye contact, promises that it was going to be enjoyably tiring.
Finally, it came time for the meal to end.
"It was nice catching up with you guys," Zuko said as the group exited the fancy eatery.
"We're going to go catch a movie, you guys want to come?" Sokka asked, wishing to have at least one extra guy to help with the numbers.
Before Zuko could reply, he felt Azula's arms wrap tightly around his neck, her body pressing squarely against his. Resting her chin on his shoulder, she pressed her lips to his ear, letting her soft breath draw out small shudders from deep within him.
"Sorry, it's been ages since I saw dear Zuzu, so we will take a rain check," she drawled, her tongue slithering playfully against his ear as she spoke.
"He was only gone for like 4 days though," Mai said evenly, sighing as she could tell exactly what Azula had on her mind.
"Oh but it was an agonizing amount of time," Azula drawled, not able to help but savor the looks of discomfort from the rest of their friends.
"Well, there you guys have it," Zuko replied, offering his apologies at ditching the rest of the activities the group had planned. Lurching forward slightly, he felt Azula leap casually onto his back, nearly causing him to stumble.
"See you la-ter," her voice hitched as she felt his hands grasp her thighs, holding the pliant flesh to help maintain her balance.
As the siblings turned to leave, the rest of the group dumbly waved, watching as they disappeared into their own little world.
"Well, I owe you an apology, Sugar Queen," Toph said, her sightless gaze focused idly on the ground.
"For what?"
"You and Aang are not the cutesiest couple I've ever met anymore," she said teasingly.
"Dude, I was just thinking that!" Sokka piped in, exclaiming at just how sweet the two were together.
"And they're already getting married," Toph said, unable to resist jabbing at the set of couples around her.
"Oh…" Aang and Sokka muttered in unison, catching the accusatory glares from their respective lovers.
As the couples began to squabble, mentions of marriage and other such issues, Zuko and Azula quickly made their way home.
Lifting her hand from its perch on his chest, Azula looked lovingly at the ring, entranced by the promise made by the simple accessory.
"Zuzu…" she whispered, lips lazily brushing against his ear. Clasping her hand back over his chest, she leaned further against him, burrowing herself into the comforting warmth.
"Hmm? What's up?" he inquired, subtly shifting her body against his back as he walked.
"I know I always make things harder for you, and I lose my temper sometimes…"
"We all do. I know a thing or two about that myself," he admitted, wondering what she was getting at.
"And I know it has to be a chore always looking after me."
"It's part of the package, Azula. We both take the good with the bad. You've helped me out plenty of times. We're a team."
"...what did I do to deserve you?"
"I'm not sure it's good to phrase it that way."
"Then how would you phrase it? I mean, I was so awful to you growing up, I made your life so miserable for so long. How can I possibly have earned so much affection?" she felt like tears were about to spill unbidden, fingers clutching at the front of his shirt to keep hold of something.
Zuko let himself slip into thought for a moment, deciding how he should respond. He had blamed her growing up, but looking back, it was obvious that she simply had issues that simply were not being addressed.
"Well, I could ask you the same thing," he replied after a moment, watching as their apartment came into view.
"What do you mean?"
"I think by almost any measure, people would think I'm the lucky one in this partnership."
"Who would possibly think that?"
"Come on, Azula. You're smart, infinitely talented, and you're drop dead gorgeous. You're always helping me out, even when it's about something that doesn't involve you."
"Well, those people just don't know you," she pointed out, as though that excused any possibility of someone not seeing him as anything other than perfect.
"I think if you weren't my sister, my friends would definitely think that," he returned, once more shifting her body against his back as he made his way up the small flight of stairs in front of the building.
"I think you're more blind than your little friend sometimes, so your opinion on that matter is invalid."
"My point is that if you put it in terms of "deserve" then that says you feel like we are fundamentally mismatched. And I don't see that as being the case at all."
"Then why do I feel this way?"
"Father did a good job at one thing, giving both of us a total lack of self esteem," he said darkly, eyes narrowing at the thoughts of his father. "But that's one of the reasons I asked for your hand, even though we can't really get married."
"Self esteem? That's silly."
"No, not that. I don't see you as less, or beneath me. I see you as my partner, the one person I want in my life no matter what. You're worth anything Azula."
"So sentimental," she murmured, pressing her face against the crook of his neck to hide the embarrassed smile.
"When it comes to you, guilty as charged," he returned, the soft rumble of his voice sending small tremors through his body.
"You probably say that to all the girls, you flirt."
"Don't tell anyone, it would ruin my reputation," he joked, chuckling as Azula playfully smacked a fist into his chest.
"Oh, you're so getting it for that."
"I can't wait," Zuko said teasingly, shifting his head to the side to place a sweet kiss to her soft cheek.
Breathing became a bit more difficult as they entered the apartment building, his legs aching with a dull soreness as he trudged up the flight of stairs. His body loosened as they approached their door, the promise of relaxation and a shower beckoning him with its siren call.
Entering the cozy apartment, Zuko's body lightened as his sister slipped off of his back, exaggeratedly stretching as though she had stressed her body on their way home.
"I need a shower," Zuko mumbled, beginning to undo the buttons of his shirt and vest.
"Oh dear, that's quite an offer," she teased in return, following closely behind as he headed towards the bathroom.
The idea having not been on his mind, the sultry lilt to her voice rang in his mind, eliciting a distinct twinge in his crotch. Pausing at the entrance to the bathroom, he cast his gaze back to his sister, the spark beginning to flare larger at the sight of her bare chest.
'When did she take her shirt off?' he wondered, breath hitching as she pulled her arms behind her, the action causing her ample breasts to jut out tauntingly towards him. Her eyes sparkled in the meager lighting, a tone of lust mixed with something he couldn't quite put to words.
All he could tell was that he desperately wanted her.
Shaking off the tantalizing image, he felt the apartment's cool air brush against his sweat covered skin, sending small goose pimples breaking out along the toned flesh. Before he could enter the bathroom, he felt her tugging at the back of his shirt, causing him to look back towards her.
"That can wait, Zuzu. First…" she began, pressing her bare chest against his, delighting in the feel of her erect nipples pressing against him through the opening in his shirt. Tilting her head upward, the unadulterated lust that normally shone in her eyes had disappeared, a more pure longing and desire smoldering in her warm gaze. "I want you to make love to me," she continued, her slender fingers working slowly around towards his back as she burrowed into the comforting warmth of his body.
Wordlessly his hands found their way to her waist, resting comfortably on her hips as he looked into her eyes. Azula's eyes glimmered in the light, moist pools of searing amber as they looked into his very soul with longing.
With a wide smile, Zuko leaned down, sweeping the young woman off of her feet. A small, innocent yelp escaped her lips as her body settled into his grasp, one arm resting at the crook of her knees as the other held her shoulders tightly.
"I can't say no to my princess, can I?" he said softly, making his way towards her bedroom.
"No, it is not allowed, my prince," she teased, her arms drifting around his neck as she lost herself in the gentle, loving embrace.
Slipping into her bedroom, Zuko gently placed her atop her bed, losing himself and playing along with the royalty role play. Coming to a stand, he removed his arms from the silken confines of the soft shirt, discarding the smooth garment in a random corner of his sister's bedroom.
He felt her gaze on his bare torso, sending small flares of color to paint his cheeks in response. Mimicking her gesture, he looked her over, the pale tones of her skin contrasting with the shimmering ebony locks of hair fanned out teasingly against her pillow.
Moving slowly towards her, he planted a knee at the edge of the firm mattress, squarely between her slender, inviting legs. Leaning over her, Zuko let his hands trail teasingly up along her inner thighs, enjoying the ghostly gasps and moans that began to escape her soft lips. As he neared her core, Azula's body began to wriggle at the touch, desperate for a deeper connection, to feel his skin against her own.
As though catching on to her wordless command, Zuko gripped the button fastening the waist of her jeans, deftly undoing the button before tugging on the metallic zipper. The gasp she uttered as he placed a soft kiss on her flat belly rang in his ears, delicious and enticing as always. In time with the tugging on the zipper, he let his lips and tongue trace languidly down her stomach, each inch drawing further mewls and gasps.
His cock twitched within its confines, encouraged to seek its relief at her aroused reactions to his soft touches. A flicker of lust flashed in his mind, but he pushed it down, wanting to ensure that this was a special moment. He couldn't help but grin at the thought, his heart melting as he recalled the innocent remark she had given to his proposal.
Once the zipper was undone, he grasped the waistband of her pants and panties together, slowly, agonizingly pulling the tight fitting fabric down her toned legs. As his hands tugged on the garments, Zuko trailed soft, flittering kisses to each new inch of skin that came into his vision.
In response to his teasing kisses, Azula grabbed frantically at the back of his head, lacing her fingers in the shoulder length ebony locks. Her mind was a white haze, lost in the soft, pleasurable nips and licks trailing down her thighs. Without thought she felt her legs widen, silently inviting him to partake in the most intimate part of her body.
She moaned in anticipation as he slipped her pants and panties off, tossing them atop his own discarded clothing. A flash of shyness flooded her face, hands idly attempting to cover her naked form as his eyes devoured the sight of her bare body. Hints of her natural fluids glistened on her exposed labia, beckoning him to savor the taste.
Not wanting the moment to end too soon, Zuko ensured that the sight was etched into his memory, mouth overflowing with saliva at the tantalizing sight before him. Leaning back over her, he reversed his earlier actions, teasing her with gentle, ghost like kisses up along her legs. Small quakes engulfed her at his teasing, legs giving the occasional spasm as the pleasure consumed her.
As his lips and tongue came nearer her glistening womanhood, he could feel the heat emanating from the sensitive organ. Feeling a playful streak, he ran his tongue slowly between the puffs of flesh, his cock twitching at the harsh gasp that gave way into a pleasured sigh. Closing his eyes, Zuko savored the taste of her dripping wetness, the slightly salty taste of her juices exploding in his mouth.
Slowly he worked his tongue deeper into her inviting tunnel, swirling the organ in languid, steady motions as he sought to touch every inch of her pulsing honeypot. 'Fuck, I could just eat her pussy all day,' he thought to himself, thick slurping sounds emanating from the spot where his mouth came in contact with her pussy as he sought to lap at every drop of the steadily increasing amount of her nectar.
"Mmmm, yessss…" Azula hissed, tossing her head back carelessly onto her pillow as Zuko ate her out, her mind growing numb with the delightful feeling surging through her entire body. The white haze brightened, the wind rushing from her as she felt his nose playfully bump against her engorged clit.
'Oh, god I can't take any more,' she thought to herself, the dull throb in her loins screaming for him to nestle his cock securely within the velvety grip of her pussy. A loud moan passed between her crimson lips as he playfully slipped a hand beneath her ass as it lifted off the bed, his middle finger sliding teasingly into her rear hole.
"Ffffffuck, Zuzu, don't tease me," she muttered between gasps and moans, unable to focus as she jolted sporadically at the dual assaults on her now hyper sensitive body. 'I might actually lose my mind again if he doesn't-'
But no sooner had she begun to ache for his cock to bring her to climax, than her body tensed up, toes curling as a powerful orgasm washed over her. His tongue continued its steady work, lapping greedily at the gushes of her juices that squirted out in intense bursts.
Zuko struggled to gather up all of the delectable honey in his mouth, the amount of fluid a surprise even to him. Though that did not stop him from focusing on the task, his nose bumping against her clit as he licked and suckled at her pussy through her orgasm.
As she came down from the intense high of her orgasm, Azula could feel her breathing coming in ragged bursts, mind gradually coming back to reality in the afterglow. Once she had regained her composure to some degree, she glanced down her body, frowning slightly at the satisfied smirk gracing Zuko's lips.
"When did you get so good at that?" she asked, knowing that it had been a particularly intense orgasm. "Not that you were ever bad before," 'far from it, you always know just where to touch, when to nip and when to stroke', "but that was particularly enjoyable."
"Thanks," he said simply, guiding his body up along hers, placing himself between her strong legs as he gazed into her eyes. The remnants of her orgasm were apparent on his lips, catching the light in a way that made her unable to hide her blush. "But I think you're just extra sensitive today. Which I absolutely love," he said gently, allowing the final words to drip into a mere suggestion of a whisper as he brushed his lips against her ear.
Azula shuddered at the gesture, the whisper sounding more like words spoken from a loudspeaker. The ache in her womanhood that had abated with her orgasm flashed back with full force, even more insistent than it had been before.
"Well, it is all your own fault," she said simply, lacing her arms together against his back as his face came within inches of her own. "You were so maddeningly sweet earlier, how could I not be more aroused than usual?"
"Glad to know all it takes is a proposal of marriage to get you all hot and bothered, Zula," he teased, leaning in slowly to close the gap between their lips.
"No," she murmured, leaning up to match his action, "all it takes is a proposal of marriage from you, my sweet dum dum," she added, parting her lips slightly as she captured his in a soft, sweet kiss, pouring all of the love she felt bursting within her into the exchange.
Where their kisses generally tended to be lust filled affairs, all tongues and teeth and pure passion, this one was sweet, the sweetest he could recall ever experiencing in his life. Passionate, yes without a doubt, but more a reassurance. A wordless message of devotion to repay something, what that something might be he had no idea.
Lips parted as tongues sought each other, rubbing and massaging in teasing, playful strokes. Zuko caught the moans that welled up within his sister, her body growing ever more heated beneath his own with each insistent pressing together of their tongues.
After a mind altering minute of kissing, Zuko pulled back, the unfortunate necessity for breath forcing him to inhale some life giving oxygen. Before he could lean in for another helping of her addictive lips, he felt her finger press against his lips. Looking into her eyes, he saw the fire blazing in her gaze, teeth working softly on her lower lip.
"Zuzu, I need it. Please," she spoke in a low tone, an innocent expression glazing over her features as she stared longingly into his eyes. It was the moments like these that he cherished the most, where her usual mask was completely discarded, leaving him face to face with the pure, innocent young woman who always seemed to find ways to surprise him.
With a subtle nod of the head, he gave her a soft kiss before sitting upright, fumbling a bit with the button on his pants. 'Why is it always easier when I undo her button,' he thought to himself, sighing as he finally got the small metallic disc through the latch.
In a flurry of movement, he tugged the pants down his legs, cock springing outward in relief as it escaped the stuffy confines of his underwear. Azula nearly began to drool at the sight, the traces of precum glistening on the tip as it hypnotically invited her to engulf the length in her warm mouth.
Her pussy similarly echoed the sentiment, trickles of lubricating fluid flowing out from her hot womanhood. A heavy sigh fluttered from her mouth as he lowered himself over her, his eyes locked on hers as he brushed his length teasingly against her lower lips.
"No more teasing Zuko," she said, trying her best to sound commanding, wincing a bit as the words came out with more a plaintive whine than she would have liked.
"Your wish is my command, my lady," he replied, smirking as he gripped her hips. Rubbing small, reassuring circles on the smooth expanse of skin, he lined up his aching manhood with her inviting pussy. Small sighs passed from her mouth as the head of his cock brushed teasingly between her lips, again and again.
"I said-nnnnmmh-no teasing," she murmured, small bursts of electricity surging through her with each glancing touch of his cock to her heated sex.
"Sorry, you were so cute, I couldn't help myself," he excused, groaning as he felt her work a hand between them, taking firm but loving grip of his length.
Keeping his eyes locked on hers, he slowly pushed his hips forward, the pair sighing as he pressed sensually into her. A low, wet sound rose from the spot, her honeypot echoing a teasing slurping sound with each inch he slid into her.
Azula felt like she was once again losing her grip, the pleasure escalating to mind numbing highs as she felt the tip of his cock lodge itself against her cervix. The two stayed like that for a moment, each savoring the feel of their bodies being joined so intimately.
Looking into his loving gaze, Azula nodded gingerly, hiding her eagerness to feel his length sliding in and out of her. Pulling back slowly, Zuko could feel her tightness around him, the underside of his cock rubbing against the grooves lining her tunnel.
Sparks flashed in his mind as he slid out of her, stopping with the tip just nestled between the lurid wetness of her lips. Leaning down, he placed a kiss to her inviting lips, losing himself in the feel of her body as he pressed into her with a slow, steady stroke.
Gradually he built a steady rhythm, lips remaining locked with hers whenever he did not need to take in oxygen. The familiar wet, heady sound of flesh on flesh played softly in his ears, not as insistent and obvious as it normally was between them.
Each time he bottomed out in her, he felt small trickles of her juices seeping out, trailing down her ass and onto the bed beneath them. With every stroke, he felt the slick, impossibly hot walls of her tunnel gripping him, milking his cock as it attempted to keep him lodged within the welcoming embrace.
With every stroke of his cock into her pussy, Azula lifted her ass off the bed, thrusting her body easily up in time with his steady rhythm. Losing herself in the pleasure racking her body, she tossed a leg around his back, a mindless attempt to keep him locked in place against her and deepen the contact.
The two disappeared into their own world of passion, bodies grinding together in a futile attempt to attain a somehow more intimate connection. A sheen of sweat broke out on both their bodies, hair growing damp with each insistent thrust and pull back.
Time took on a mysterious feeling, both agonizingly long and teasingly short as their climaxes began to well up in near synchronicity.
Zuko was the first to crash over the edge, his thrusting growing deeper and more insistent as he attempted to somehow burrow his length directly into her hungry womb. With a heavy, lustful groan he slammed as deeply into her slick tunnel as he could, balls tightening as his seed spurted out deep within her.
The feel of his hot cum splashing against her deepest parts dragged her second orgasm out, her body tensing and tightening beneath him. The vice like grip of her womanhood around him tightened, her body instinctively attempting to draw every drop of his jizz into her welcoming depths.
As the last dribbles of cum spilled from his cock, Zuko rolled off to Azula's side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as she curled lazily into his body. The pair exhaled contented sighs, Azula giggling sweetly as she felt her brother place a soft kiss to the top of her head.
"Was that what you had in mind?" he asked, his fingers playing gently against the soft skin on her upper arm.
"No," she said, a semi serious tone in her voice. Tilting her head to look into his eyes, she let a mirthful smile pull at her features. "It was much better," she said wistfully, craning her neck to once more capture his lips.
As she nestled her head against his shoulder, Azula casually tossed her arm across his belly, eyes closing as she drank in the feel of his warm, reassuring body against hers.
Lifting his fingers, Zuko played gently with the silky locks of hair, his mind aimlessly slipping into thought. "So, when can we do this again?" he asked, causing her to chuckle at the silly question.
"Why brother, I believe we have our whole lives to do this every day," she said, a whimsical tone to her voice as she maintained her position curled against him.
"I think that's definitely something to look forward to," he started, his mind catching on something that she had said earlier. "What did you mean when you said something about getting to that point?"
"Hmm," she hummed, thinking back over the course of the day. "Oh, that," she chimed, catching onto what he was asking about. "Well, if you know the right places to hit the cracks, anything is possible, you know?"
"I don't get it."
"Of course you don't," she started, shifting slightly as she propped her elbows directly on his chest, eyes glittering like gold as she looked into his eyes. "I mean that with the proper application of, let's say persuasion, a person could, say, become an entirely different person."
"Different person…?" he mumbled, wheels of thought turning in his head.
"Yes. Like, for instance, if a young, impossibly attractive young man wanted to, hypothetically, marry his sweet, doting younger sister," she mused, watching as the gears began to click into place.
"You mean…"
"See, you can think if you just stop doubting yourself, dum dum," she teased, lips pulling into a predatory smirk as she nudged herself up slowly along his body, anxious to capture his lips and ravish his body again.
"Azula, how do you know how to do that?"
"It's better if you don't ask questions, dear," she gave an exaggerated shake of her head, enjoying his surprising innocence given how he had been raised. Something she truly was glad for, and would do whatever she could to protect it.
As the thought truly sank in, Zuko couldn't help but laugh, his arms tightening around Azula's slender frame. "So even though nothing really changes…"
"… all we need is essentially a piece of paper saying one thing, then we can have that glorious wedding you are no doubt excited for."
"Not as excited as you, I imagine," he replied, lovingly running his fingers through her silky hair, watching as the soft strands gently fell around her warm cheeks.
"It would be quite nice to see the looks on everyone's faces," her grin widened as she planted a teasing, rumor of a kiss to his lips.
"You'll be the most beautiful bride ever," he said, causing her to swoon a bit with the cheesy, innocent comment.
"Only the best for my sweet, dear Zuzu," she whispered, placing her lips fully against his own.
As the two began their second round of much more lustful love making that day, Zuko felt his mind wander a bit before going blank at the feel of her passionate body. He wasn't sure if Azula was totally alright with what she had suggested, but if it meant they could truly become one, then he was alright with it.
Not that it would stop him from loving her until his dying day even without that.