Chapter 11

You got two chapters of sexy time, if that's all you're here for you wont get any today.

Rating: T probably?

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By the time the city was in view Zuko wanted nothing more than to find his uncle. He was determined, worried, lethal.

"Zuko," Katara took a set away from him. "You need to cool down, literally. I can't stand next to you." He realized his skin did feel hot and based on the fact Katara had to step away even on the deck of the moving ship meant he was burning as much on the outside as he was inside. He took a deep breath.

"Sorry, I'm just worried about Uncle," His eyes were fixated on the outline of the city. Katara attempted to move closer to him but stepped back.

"I know," She clearly wanted to physically comfort him. And he wanted that, he closed his eyes and tried to focus on his breath to calm himself. "But we are going to find him and everything will be ok" Zuko felt her cool touch on his arm. She flinched when they made contact but didn't pull away. He whipped around to look at her hand without touching her.

"Did I burn you?" She shook her head.

"No, Zuko I'm fine" Her palm was red though. Her finger guided his chin up to meet her gaze. "Besides, I heal quickly,"

"Yeah, you can work wonders," He smiled but he remembered the moment Azula aimed at Katara. The deep fear she would suffer because of him, that he would lose her. He touched his chest where the scar was.

"Hey, we aren't there. It's over and we are safe, here together." He knew she had flashbacks too. They had never talked about it but every once in a while he would catch her staring off with fear in her eyes.

"Someone else I love might get hurt today because of me. I'm just unable to see it right now or do anything about it." He realised what he had said moments after it left his mouth. He just said he loved her. Zuko's body went rigid. They hadn't said that yet, what if she didn't respond or took it the wrong way.

"No you're not. You have to believe he is ok," The door to the deck opened.

"Fire Lord, sir, we will be landing in 20 minutes," A crew member informed them and left.

"I have to get dressed," He walked past her wishing there was a way to make her stay on the ship. To keep her safe, to keep one person safe. Why was he always endangering the people he loved. He slammed the bedroom door shut.

When Zuko came back the airship was landing on palace grounds.

"You're staying here," He instructed as he prepared to disembark. Katara scoffed.

"Excuse me?" She walked to block his path. "You can't tell me what to do and don't try to pull the Fire Lord card because you are not my lord." Did he just… smirk? He smirked at her! "Don't smirk at me." She knew she was using her commanding "mother tone" as Toph would call it.

"I'd like to hear you call me lord but I'm not picky sir or master would be fine too," His tone switched back to serius. "You're staying here though."

"Oh you better believe I'm going to do whatever I damn well please"

"Please Katara," there was pain in his voice "I can't have you get hurt, I'd never forgive myself." It was her turn to smirk not only that but she laughed.

"That's what you're worried about? Zuko I can take care of myself and you need me. I'm

not letting you do this alone. Especially because you're stupid enough to think you need to do this youself." He was reminding her of Aang.

"Katara," His eyes were pleading.

"I'm going and you can't stop me." She replied before he could say anything else the

door opened and she walked out of the airship. As she did she heard a curse fall from Zuko's lips.

The king and Bosco were waiting for them on the walkway.

"To what do I owe this visit?" He asked.

"My uncle," Zuko replied "I have reason to believe Ozai supporters have him. When was the last time you two spoke?" He was all business.

"Hmm I would say last week," The king paused and looked at Basco "Wouldn't you say?" The bear didn't react. "Yes a week" Katara could see Zuko fighting not to pinch the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"Thank you," he muttered, "we are going to go look for him." He gave a quick bow, as did Katara, one the king returned then started off to the Jasmine Dragon. Neither of them said a word as they came up to the empty tea shop. Katara turned to someone passing by.

"Excuse me, how long has the shop been closed?" She asked politely.

"Oh I would say maybe 4 days now. A shame too, I love the tea there," The man replied.

"Thank you" Katara turned to Zuko who was opening the doors to the shop. His Uncle had given him a key, but he didn't need it. As he went to put the key in the whole the door creaked open. They both walked in, nothing seemed out of place. It seemed like any other day just no people were present. Obviously there hadn't been any kind of struggle. Katara noticed a lone cup of tea with a pai sho tile next to it.

"Zuko," she walked towards it. Zuko smelled the tea.

"Jasmine" Then they both looked at the tile, it was a white lotus. "Leave it to uncle to give us help while being abducted." Zuko sounded both relieved and annoyed. "We'll get a message sent out to them as soon as we return to the ship. Where do you think they would have taken him? The catacombs?" She shook her head.

"They wouldn't have access to that."

"Then they have to have a headquarters somewhere," He was thinking out loud. "Maybe the white lotus knows something about this."

"Maybe that's why he went willingly," She thought. "Why else would he?" There was a pause.

"If he thought they had me. If he was protecting me," He sounded ashamed. "Uncle is still trying to protect me. He shouldn't have to." Katara touched his arm.

"Right now we need to focus on getting him back. Do we know any white lotus members that are from Ba Sing Se?"

"Not sure. But I think I know who would" He looked at her.

"Smeller bee and Longshot" He nodded. They kept tabs on everything and were always sending ravens back and forth with The Duke and Pipsqueek who had been accepted into the Aavatar's inner circle.

"Time for a field trip to the lower ring."

Every minute that went by felt like an eternity. Zuko needed to keep his composure because he was The Fire Lord but he couldn't help tapping his fingers on his knee as the train rail car moved through the city. Karata, who was mirroring his perfect posture, put her hand over his. She was telling him to calm down without making any eye contact or speaking. He was on display. Zuko hated this part of being Fire Lord everyone watching all the time. His nation's reputation was already terrible so The Fire Lord needed to be a symbol of change, of peace. Right now he didn't feel like that person, hopefully he looked like it, but inside he felt like an angry scared teenager. He wanted to yell and break something. Instead he looked at the clouds carelessly floating across the blue sky.

By the time they got to the lower ring they were the only people left sitting in the car. Apparently people didn't go from the upper ring to the lower ring.

"Do you remember where they live?" He finally got to look at the beautiful water bender sitting next to him.

"Yeah, I do." They stood up and she led the way. He purposely trailed just a few steps behind her so he could watch her hips sway as she walked. Zuko was slightly annoyed with himself, how could he be looking at her thinking of all the things he wants to do to her, to have her do to him when they are trying to find his Uncle?

"Zuko?" Katara looked at him slightly puzzled. He moved to walk at her side. "What are you thinking about right now? Your expression is different, I can't read it." This made him smile a little.

"You don't want to know," He said "Let's just focus on finding Uncle."

"I do want to know. I always want to know what you're thinking," It sounded like she was sheepishly confessing something. He leaned so his mouth was at her ear.

"I'm thinking about all the ways I want to take you, all the things I want to do to you, dirty things, things that will make your back arch and legs shake." He whispered. Thank Agni for the robe cloak he had on or everyone would see the outline of his growing royal part. Katara was still. She shifted her weight from either foot and was blushing.

"Oh, um"

"Distracting isn't it?" He started walking again. "I told you we should just focus." She quickly composed herself and was once again at his side.

"I don't know if distracting covers the extent of it…" They walked for a little while more in silence. This time Zuko was the one wondering what was on Katara's mind. What was she picturing right now?

"Here, this is the building" Katara said as they stopped in front of a run down apartment building.

"We thought you might show up here" Smeller Bee said coming out of the entrance. "We saw the airship pass over and there isn't any royal event happening" She explained. Longshot looked at Smeller Bee. "Yeah" she agreed with him "you guys should come inside so we can talk." How the communication worked between them was lossed on Zuko. They all funneled into a small apartment with only one room. Katara glanced at Zuko and raised an eyebrow. Insinuating the idea the two were together. After all there was only one bed. Once they all sat on the floor Zuko began.

"I need to know where there is a member of the white lotus in Ba Sing Se. We think Ozai supporters have my Uncle and they might be able to help," Longshot nodded.

"In the upper ring there is a shoe shop with a blue sign, not green or gold. The owner is a member," The instructions were clear and concise. Zuko appreciated that about these two. They never danced around anything. He nodded.

"Thank you," He stood and as he did everyone else followed.

"Do you guys want any help?"

"No, I think we can handle this," Katara answered for him. Zuko was glad, all he wanted

was to find that shoe shop, he was itching to leave. Longshot gave a nod in their direction. "Thank you" she replied to him.

"Katara, we have to go," His patience had been depleted over the past days and there was none left. She seemed to understand and they left right then.

Thankfully the upper ring only had so many shoe shops. Three to be exact. The second one they went to had a blue sign. They walked inside.

"Are you the owner?" He asked the man behind the counter.

"I am," He bowed. "How may I help you?" He was formal and polite. Zuko looked to see if there was anyone in the shop, they were alone.

"I need help with regards to a grand lotus," The man met his eyes and gave a slow nod.

"I see," he started towards the back of the store. "Follow me and I'll show you what I have in stock." They followed. Zuko hoped he had answers. The man walked through the curtain to the back room, then moved a shelf to reveal a door. He unlocked it and motioned for them to enter. Once inside he closed the door. "I believe you are referring to Iroh,"

"Yes, I have reason to believe Ozai supporters have him. Do you know where he could be?" The man nodded.

"I do, I know where Iroh is."

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There you go chapter 11. This one actually added to the plot. Who even remembered that was a thing?

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