As promised this will be a longer chapter than the last one!

Let's keep that M rating going.

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Zuko had Katara to help him sleep, but she didn't have the luxury of someone easing her mind. She knew sleep was not going to come to her so she began to pack. Her things had been moved into Zuko's room. She pulled out her pack. She put casual travel clothes in it that resembled no nation in particular, an extra pair of fire nation red silks, her black stealth outfit, and she laid her blue water tribe clothes next to the pack. Along with her clothes she gathered her comb as well as two water skins.

Katara didn't know what to do next, bathe. Yes, a bath would calm her. She went into the bathroom, already stripped of her clothes and started bending water. She focused on the feeling of it cascading down her body. Wetting her hair so it stuck to her breasts trailing down to her navel in the front and hugging the small of her back. Her focus was on the balance, the push and pull of the water, her element. Water was a constant and a comfort. Katara was trying to reach the meditative state that she could often achieve when she was practicing alone, but no relaxation came. Giving up, she bent herself dry. When Katara looked in the mirror she saw a tired teenage girl with too much worry, someone who had been through too much. What childhood had she even gotten? She touched her mother's necklace. The day she lost her mother was the day her youth was stolen. A flash of the man, Yan Rha, standing in their hut appeared. She braced herself by putting her hands on the counter and shook the memory from her head. The memory was replaced by Aang. The day Katara found Aang was the day she had essentially become a mother. Sure she had been caring for Sokka but Sokka knew how the world operated. Aang was a different story. He was naive, young, pure. When she found him he had been untouched by the war, probably the only thing left untouched by the war. Maybe that's why he initially gave her so much hope. Then she found out he was the avatar.

Suddenly her mind spiralled and she saw herself getting captured with Toph, facing off with Hama, fighting Azula. All the pain opened causing her to collapse to the ground. She was crying, her wet tears made dark spots on the rock below her. Katara was crying for herself, for her stolen childhood, for the loss of her mother, for the fear she had endured, for the burdens she had and still carries. She cried for Zuko, wanting to spare him the pain of losing the closest thing to a father he had ever known.

"Katara?" Zuko's voice was soft. She wiped her tears as he knelt down in front of her.

"I'm fine. I didn't mean to wake you," he clearly didn't believe her. His gentle fingers urged her chin up so he could look in her eyes. After a brief moment she looked away. He didn't need this right now.

"You don't have to talk, but at least let me hold you," He pulled her into his chest. One had on her back and the other on her head. She touched his chest and as soon as she did the tears began to flow. She couldn't stop it. When was the last time she had felt truly cared for? She wasn't sure but Katara knew she was being taken care of now. Zuko just held her and they stayed like that for a long while, naked on the bathroom floor.

He kissed her head and broke the silence.

"Let's get in bed," he picked her up and laid her on the bed, never once breaking the contact between her and his chest. She had no idea how long it took but eventually Katara fell asleep in Zuko's arms.

When Zuko woke he looked at the waterbender asleep in his arms. He had found her crying on the bathroom floor. Her dark brown hair had fallen over her face. Gently he moved it letting his fingers run through the silky strands. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a packed bag, Katara's bag and her water tribe clothes were next to it. Zuko froze. Uncle. The water bender must have felt his panic because her eyes shot open. He was vaguely aware of her hand touching his cheek. She was saying something.

"We have to go," he shot up and went towards the dresser. As he opened a drawer her dark hands appeared on his, stopping him.

"We can't leave yet. You said it yourself we need to buy as much time as we can for especially Aang to get here," She was right. That didn't make it any better though. "Look, it's early, let's go back to bed for a bit. We have a long few days ahead of us." Katara was still standing behind him but moved her hands up his arms, down his chest, over his abs, until she was stroking him. It didn't take much for him to get hard. As always her touch was cool but he knew inside she was warm. She put her hands on his hips and signaled for him to turn to face her, as he did she got on her knees. Agni, was she about to do what he thought? Yup. Her lips wrapped around him. She glided her tongue over the tip. Zuko's body went rigid from the feeling. She moved forward taking more of him in her mouth. Instinctively his hand went to the back of her head as he leaned back on the dresser. Katara grabbed the base of him with her hand and stroked, matching the pace of her mouth. When he looked down her eyes met his. Agni, it was hot. Wanting to take her to bed, he put his hands under her arms and pulled her up to stand. He put his mouth on hers as they moved towards the unnecessarily large bed.

"Katara," he said in a hoarse voice "I want to try something, tell me if you don't like it or want me to stop." She nodded. "I want to hear your answer,"

"Yes, I'll tell you," Her voice conveyed both nervousness and excitement. Zuko reached down to the floor for the tie to his robe.

"Give me your hands," She obliged. "Good girl." He tied them together then pulled them over her head to tie to one of the bed posts. "Is that ok?"

"Mhm" he looked at her sternly.

"Excuse me, I didn't hear you say anything. Are you not going to answer me? If not maybe I'll just go start my day." He started to get up as he spoke.

"Yes, yes it's ok. Don't go, I want you." Her words were quick. He stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers. Then trailed them down her neck to her breast. Zuko pinched her nipple just slightly, she moaned and arched her back. He tightened his grip.

"Do you like that?" He asked his mouth at her ear.

"Yes," He smiled. They kissed and he nipped at her bottom lip. He spread her legs preparing to slip inside her.

"Sparky, who knew you were into that?" Toph laughed outside the door. Agni, what a mood killer. "You and sugar queen put on some clothes and meet us in the courtyard," Us, that means Aang is here too. Mixed emotions came over Zuko, relief and panic. Quickly he untied Katara so they could get dressed.

"Spirits, we basically just got walked in on by both of them didn't we?" Katara was blushing. Zuko had forgotten Aang could see with his feet too, courtesy of his blind teacher.

"Fuck," Was the only reply he had. They hurried to meet Aang and Toph.

"What are you guys doing here?" Katara asked hugging Aang, who was stiff as a board and very uncomfortable. "There's no way the airship made it to Omashu already," Aang seemed relieved to be free of Katara's embrace and wouldn't meet Zuko's gaze.

"I uh, was meditating and felt like something was wrong so we got on Appa and came here." He spoke to the ground.

"You're going to have to get over it Twinkle toes, they are together sex happens." A wide smile came over her face "Why do you think I would sleep with my feet off the ground and arms crossed?" The airbender shrugged "Because I saw Sokka and Suki doing it wayyy too many times." Katara cringed, obviously the reaction Toph had been looking for.

"Um so any way, are you guys ok? I mean you seem ok…" Aang said awkwardly.

"Ozai supporters have my uncle," Zuko's voice came out angry and flat. Aang met Zuko's gaze for the first time and his face was filled with compassion. Toph couldn't hide her reaction. For some reason she was weirdly close to his uncle and he never understood why. Apparently it had something to do with tea.

"Zuko, I'm so sorry" Aang's voice was barely audible.

"What can we do?" Toph asked.

"They are trying to get me away from the palace and take over in my absence. I need you guys to stay here and make sure that doesn't happen. Sokka and Suki should be here tomorrow night. No one is allowed in or out of a palace," Aang was nodding as he listened intently. Zuko continued, "No messenger hawks go out either."

"Don't worry Zuko, we'll take care of everything here," Toph nodded with her arms crossed as the avatar spoke, "Go worry about your uncle." He bowed to Aang, Aang hugged him. "Everything is ok." He thought the airbender was saying it as much to himself as he was to Zuko.

"Toph go find a servant and tell them we are ready to leave and to have the airship prepared to depart." He figured she would enjoy bossing someone around. She smirked under her hair.

"My pleasure."

With a look to Katara they both went back to their bedroom to grab their things. She was changing into her water tribe blue.

"I feel like I can breathe again," Zuko said, tying the tie to his shirt.

"That's hope," She looked up at him. "We are going to go get your uncle."

They boarded the airship within the hour. Zuko felt confident about leaving now that Aang and Toph were there.

"So this is our room" Zuko gestured to a metal door. Katara opened it and it reminded her of being on a fire nation ship again. Metal everything, no windows, a bed, and a fire nation flag on the wall.

"Cosy…" She said putting her bag down next to the bed.

"I know," He closed the door. The look on his face instantly changed. "We were in the middle of something before," Zuko's eyes had an almost predatory look as he started untying his sash. "Take off your clothes," It was a command. Katara stripped off her leggings, then her blue tunic dress, followed by her bindings, and underwear. "Get on the bed," She did and put out her hands ready to be tied up again. She hadn't expected it to be so erotic. "No no," Zuko shook his head. "Face the wall," Confused Katara turned. "Close your eyes," She did. "Are they closed"

"Yes," She remembered he wanted her to say it out loud. She felt the silk over her eyes then felt it get tied behind her head. She could feel her wetness between her legs. Without being able to see Katara relied on her other senses. She listened to Zuko's breathing and every touch seemed to be amplified. He clearly wasn't going to take it slow this time. She was glad. Katara wanted him deep and hard. He ran his hands up the insides of her legs until he got to her center. He rubbed the outside of her, his hand easily gliding over her. She felt the bed move as Zuko put his body in between her legs. Suddenly he was inside her. A gasp left her lips. He moved her legs so they were on her shoulders. That made him so much deeper causing her to moan. Her hands moved to his lower back digging her nail in trying to pull him even closer. Neither one of them lasted long, especially because of the unfinished session this morning. After she came she heard Zuko grunt followed by the feeling of him pulsing inside her. His forehead fell to her chest. The only sound was their heavy breathing. Zuko slid the blindfold off and smiled at her.

"Was that ok?" He asked.

"Mhm" Katara bit her bottom lip.

"Would you want to do it again?" She nodded. "And tying your hands?"

"I liked them both," She was playing with his hair.

"If there is ever anything you want to do or try, just tell me."

"Right now I want to catch up on the sleep I didn't get last night," She had maybe gotten a few hours of sleep.

"You sleep, I'm going to go talk to the captain," He kissed her on the forehead. She was asleep before he left the room.

...

I love Toph. Just so you know every time I end a sentence in a preposition I cringe.

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