It's crazy what you can do when you decide to stop watching Netflix…

Rating: M

Katara convinced San Fan to leave as the sun began to set because of how much better all the patients were doing.

"Besides, the next shift of staff arrived an hour ago" Katara had said and her new friend agreed.

"Where do you live?" San Fan asked. Katara started playing with her hair.

"Um, you'll see," She didn't really know how to say "Oh I'm staying at the palace with the Fire Lord who is my kind of boyfriend" San Fan seemed to understand because she changed the subject.

"So how did a water bender end up here, in the fire nation?"

"A friend asked me to come help them, so I did," Sure, that was enough for now.

"Wow, that's so kind of you to come all this way. Must be a special friend" She winked. Making Katara blush.

"I guess so. What about you, where are you from?" She asked. "You said you your dad was from here and that's why you came, but where did you grow up?"

"My mom is from the earth kingdom and my father was fire nation. He was stationed in her town and they fell in love. Secretly they got married and had me," She looked down. "As much as my father tried, after 7 years he got orders to go elsewhere. Every few months we would get a letter from him, until we didn't. Just after I had turned 15 another soldier my mom knew was stationed in our town again. He confirmed my dad had died."

"San Fan, I'm so sorry. I lost my mother," Katara moved her hand to touch her necklace. "I know how awful it is. Is that why you came here?"

"Yeah, I wanted to feel closer to my father, to understand where he came from," She explained

"It makes sense now, your name," Katara said looking at her. "San Fan doesn't sound like a fire nation or earth kingdom name."

"It's not," She smiled "It's both. My name is Sanji Fan. Sanji for the fire nation half and Fan for the earth half. When I came here I thought about going by Sanji but it felt like I was betraying my mother. I had already hurt her enough when I left." She looked guilty.

"I'm sure she understands, do you write to her?"

"When I have the money. She knew this was something I needed to do but it doesn't mean she wanted me to go."

"How long have you been here?"

"A little over a year," San Fan made herself perk up. "I've learned so much since I've been here though. And I will go back home to my mom." She added.

"You know, my friend has messenger hawks if you want to send your mom a letter tonight," Katara offered.

"Really? Are you sure? I don't want you to think I'm using you. First the medicine, now this."

"I'm sure. And bet your mom would love to hear from you" Both girls smiled.

"Ok, thank you... Kanna?"

"Of course."

"How far are we going?" She asked shyly, clearly not trying to be rude.

"We're almost there."

"I'm not really dressed to be around here. I didn't know we'd be going to the nobleman community." San Fan seemed embarrassed.

"Don't worry about it! These guys are old curmudgeons anyway." Katara took her arm. "Besides we're here," They were standing in front of the palace gates. San Fan's mouth fell open.

"We- what… here? Like the palace here?" She looked back and forth from the opening gates and Katara.

"Mhm, come on"

"I'm really not dressed-"

"Come on" Katara repeated and pulled San Fan forward. "Here I'm Katara, Kanna is my grandmother," She began assuming her friend must have questions. "I helped the Fire lord defeat Azula and was the Avatar's waterbending master. So just to be careful I shouldn't go by my name in case someone knows it. There are still a lot of people, especially here, that support Ozai."

"You- you're… wow," Was all she managed. Katara hated to admit it but she was enjoying this... just a little.

"Let's get some tea," They sat at a veranda overlooking the courtyard and talked.

"So, your friend that asked for help is…?"

"The Fire lord, Zuko" Katara sipped her jasmine tea and thought of Iroh. San Fan didn't seem to know what to say. "Tell me about growing up".

"I'm sure my life is very boring compared to yours".

"You'd be surprised. We had a lot of adventures but there was also a lot of sitting on the avatars sky bison and hiding in caves." San Fan relented and began to tell Katara about her childhood.

Zuko was relieved when his last meeting ended. He didn't want any more problems to be added to his ever growing list today. Now he could go find Katara and hope no one would bother them. Just as he was about to ask a servant where she was he heard her voice.

"Katara-," He turned the corner to the veranda and heard a gasp. A girl about their age had knocked over her chair in the process of bowing.

"San Fan, don't do that," Katara said in her motherly tone. The girl didn't move.

"You may um rise," He hadn't really encountered this situation yet. "You know Katara, I am the Fire Lord and it is customary for people to bow," He pointed out.

"Zuko this is San Fan, San Fan this is Zuko," He shot her a look. "Fire Lord Zuko" The girl was now standing.

"It's nice to meet you," He was trying his best to be polite and royal but he just wanted to be with Katara.

"She works at the hospital I told you about and might have an interesting take on the fire nation colonies for you," More work, though it may be helpful it was still more work.

"Fire lord, you look as though you need some rest," Her hand immediately covered her mouth "I'm so sorry I didn't mean it like that. I just - it's just -" Zuko raised his hand.

"San Fan, it's alright. I'm sure I look tired. I would be grateful to hear your story another day. I'll have time cleared on my schedule, for now let's just enjoy tea." She nodded and sat as did he. The three of them chatted for a while until Katara requested a servant bring parchment, ink, and a brush for San Fan to write a letter. Once she finished Katara walked her to the gates.

Zuko closed his eyes and let his posture relax. It felt like it was going to rain, of course it will rain tomorrow on his day of rest. Though he knew something would come up and he would end up working but the thought was nice.

"Sorry to catch you off guard," Katara said. He listened to her light footsteps get closer.

"It's fine, you're living here too," Her hands wrapped around him from behind. "Just be careful,"

"You think I don't know that?" She kissed his head.

"I know you do."

"Then why say it?" He paused.

"I want to be able to protect you," he admitted. Katara laughed.

"Protect me?" She moved around to straddle him. "Zuko I can take care of myself. I'll be fine. I seem to recall besting you a few times in the past."

"I know, I know. I can't help it," He rested his head on her chest. "I don't want to lose you."

"You won't," She whispered, holding him against her. After a few moments Katara spoke again. "Besides, it would probably be you that would need protecting." Zuko smiled at her, looking into her blue eyes.

"Yeah, probably,"

"I'm going to wash up and get ready for bed" much to Zuko's disappointment she stood up.

"Great idea, lets go," the water bender rolled her eyes at him. "What? I'm sure bathing with a bender makes things a lot easier," He imagined her bending water around her naked body. "Besides, I can warm up the water for you,"

They got into the bathroom and undressed. He watched her take off her clothes, then let down her long dark brown hair. Without words they moved together heating water then putting it in the large basin.

"Enlighten me Katara, how does a water bender bathe?" He asked playfully. She moved the water seductively around her then, Zuko was soaked.

"Like that!" She laughed. Zuko felt a predatory instinct come over him. He wrapped a hand around her head and put one on her waist. Their lips met and he continued moving forward until Katara was up against the wall. He threw a fire ball into the water causing the room to steam, he liked it hot. He let his tongue trace down her neck then sucked on her nipple. She grabbed his hair. This time when she touched him, he could feel her skin. She ran her hand along his length causing a wave of pleasure to pass through his body. His forehead was resting against her chest as she continued to touch him.

"That feels good, a little tighter," Katara complied and tightened her grasp. Zuko wanted to feel her around him. "Do you want to move to the bedroom?" He searched her eyes to make sure they matched her answer.

"Yes," He picked her up. She wrapped her legs around his back and bent the water off of him as they walked out of the bathroom. Zuko wrapped his hands around Katara's muscular thighs as he walked her to the large bed. She was so strong, all the training she did made her incredible in many ways.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked, not wanting her to feel pressured.

"Yes, Zuko, I am," She pulled him down to kiss her.

"Tell me if I'm hurting you," He instructed in between kisses. She nodded. Zuko moved his hand down between her legs, she was wet, she was ready for him. And Agni did her want her. He guided himself to her opening and rubbed himself on her, teasing her just a little.

"Spirits, I want you," Zuko slowly pushed himself into her. She gasped. "I'm ok, don't stop" He was surprised, she was normally much cooler than him but she was warm and tight around him. Zuko was getting lost in the feeling of the Katara. He started thrusting, slowly so as to not hurt her. It had been a while and she felt so good. He didn't want to cum, not yet. He paused. She looked at him confused. "You don't have to stop".

"I don't want to cum yet. You feel so good if I keep going I won't last much longer," He admitted a little embarrassed. Her hand rose to his cheek.

"We can do this again, any time we want," He moved his face to kiss her hand and began again. She moaned in pleasure and when he felt her pulse around him it drove him over the edge.

"I'm going to cum," He told her and pulled out. The release felt good and his whole body relaxed, his brain was quiet. "Sorry," he said looking down at her stomach.

"I'm a water bender, I clean up easily," She said and bent water to wipe off her stomach. Zuko put his head on her breast and closed his eyes.

"Do you feel ok?" He asked. "Did it hurt?"

"A little but mostly it just felt good" she told him. Slowly Zuko's mind started to wonder.

"You know, by bringing that girl here you've made her a target, right?" He asked and shifted so Katara was laying on his chest.

"Oh, no I hadn't thought of that…"

"Is she a bender?"

"No, she isn't".

"And she lives in the city alone?"

"I think so…"

"Katara, uncle says I never think things through but you didn't think about this at all did you?" He was surprised she hadn't.

"I just wanted to have tea," she admitted. "To have a regular friendship now that the war is over," defeat was heavy in her voice.

"I know, we've been through a lot. But you know just as well as I do that the war isn't truly over." Zuko's voice got quieter as he thought out loud. "It won't be until I'm truly accepted as Fire Lord."

"I had a guard walk San Fan home… but what if Ozai supporters followed her?"

"I'll send guards in the morning to make sure she is alright. We can have her stay here if there is any sign of danger," Zuko decided. Katara nodded against his chest.

They finally did it. Man, took long enough. Who even wrote this? What a tease.

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