Katara stood on the deck of the Royal ship, a smaller military vessel that was used to transport the royal family around the Fire Nation. They had said goodbye to Sokka, Suki, and Toph, making promises to visit and to write frequently. Suki had promised to have her things sent from the South Pole, and Sokka was charged with delivering a letter to her father apologising for the sudden move. She had been sad to see them go, but she and Zuko had barely been given a day to miss them before they too were off again, heading for the village of Jang Hui. The journey had taken a couple of days, as they had to travel to the eastern-most end of the Fire Nation, but now they sat, anchored a short distance away from the fishing village, having arrived bright and early the morning the festival was scheduled to begin. A few guards had taken a boat over to the village to secure the area, despite Zuko's insistence that it was unnecessary, and now the two of them stood side by side, watching the boat return to retrieve them.
Katara had been overjoyed by the sight of the village as they had drawn closer; over the past five years it seemed to have flourished. The river was still fresh and clean, shimmering in the bright sunlight. The village itself had been repaired and expanded upon, making it look almost brand new. From where she stood, she could barely recognize the village from the run-down, destitute place it had once been. She was excited to visit again, but slightly nervous as well. Zuko had talked to his council the morning they had left to inform them of his relationship with Katara, and she knew that a royal proclamation was to be made. She wasn't sure if they would have heard the news already this far away from the Capital, but it was technically their first public outing together as a couple, and she wanted to make a good impression.
Zuko reached over and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. "You okay?"
She looked over at him with a bright smile. "Yeah, I'm just a little nervous."
"How come?"
"I dunno," she replied with a shrug, "I just… I'm 'the Fire Lord's girlfriend' now. I want to live up to their expectations."
Zuko chuckled, and leaned in to kiss her forehead. "Katara, you are not 'the Fire Lord's girlfriend'. You are Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, Master Waterbender and hero of the Hundred Year War. People already love and respect you, and it has nothing to do with me."
"I hope you're right. I don't want to disappoint anyone."
Zuko chuckled again and said, "You'll see."
A guard approached the two of them with a bow and informed them that the boat was ready to take them across to the village, so they followed him down into the smaller row boat and took their seats. Akame and Zuko's head servant Ravi were already seated and ready to go, and had the luggage stowed under their seats. Once everyone was settled, the boat took off once more, heading for the village.
As they got closer, Katara could see that the village had gone all out with the decorations. Brightly coloured streamers and banners hung from every building, and the villagers all seemed to be wearing festive robes. She could hear music growing louder as they approached, and she felt herself start to relax. She couldn't help but be reminded of the small celebrations the South Pole had; every villager would get together and help decorate, they would all put on their best clothes, and then they would eat and dance and sing well into the night. There were no fireworks or markets or fancy displays, it was just the whole village getting together and enjoying each other's company. She had a feeling this festival would be more like that, and it made her feel very much at home.
Once they were docked and off the boat, they were greeted instantly by a familiar face. Katara walked over to her and greeted her warmly.
"Anzu! It's lovely to see you again. How are you?"
Anzu froze, looking genuinely shocked. "My lady… you remembered me?" she asked, dumbfounded.
"Of course I remember you!"
"I… oh. My goodness… I am honoured my lady," Anzu stuttered.
Katara supressed a laugh, feeling slightly awkward. She still wasn't used to the idea that anyone would be shocked that she remembered their name, or that they would feel honored to be remembered. She grew up in a village not unlike this one, and until she met Aang, she was nobody special. She still didn't think of herself as any different than any other person.
Anzu's daughter Lan suddenly appeared at her side, followed by a middle-aged man whom Katara assumed was her father. Anzu took the appearance of her family to shake off her shock.
"Lady Katara, Fire Lord Zuko, I believe you remember my daughter Lan? And this is my husband Zheng," she said, taking the man's hand.
Zuko extended his hand to shake Zheng's and said, "It is very nice to meet you. And thank you so much for the warm welcome to your village. We are honoured to be included in your festivities."
Katara smiled at him, admiring the ease with which he spoke to his people. Normally he was so tongue-tied and awkward when he tried to speak his mind, but when it came to the people of the Fire Nation, he was smooth and collected. She supposed it was years of practice as first a Prince and then the Fire Lord, but she admired it all the same.
"You are most welcome, my Lord. We are thrilled and honoured that you are able to attend. Do you have lodging? Or were you going to stay on your ship?" Zheng replied.
Zuko looked to Katara with a shrug. "I think the guards would prefer if we stay on the ship, but personally I would prefer not to be ferried back and forth. Do you have an inn?"
"Aah… not particularly, my Lord. We do not get many visitors, and those who do visit usually just stay with whomever has an empty room available."
"We have an extra room, if you are wanting to stay in the village," Lan interjected encouragingly.
"Lan!" her mother began, trying to cut her off.
"And our neighbours are an elderly couple whose children have moved out, so they could house any servants or guards who wish to stay nearby," Lan finished, a hopeful look on her face.
Zuko and Katara looked at each other, sharing an amused smile. They were both far more interested in staying with a local family and getting to know the people than retiring to the ship and being cut off from everything.
"If it is not an inconvenience to anybody, we would graciously accept the offer. We would be happy to stay the night with you. I always find a real room in a real home is far more comfortable than sleeping on a ship," Zuko replied.
Lan's face lit up in disbelief, a look that was mirrored on the face of both of her parents.
"Are you certain, my Lord? Our home is definitely comfortable, but it is small and humble. We would love to have you, but I am afraid it might not be what you are used to." Anzu said.
"I grew up in a village smaller than this, and I spend most of my childhood sharing a small space with my family and the other families in my village. It feels like home to me," Katara said.
"And we have spent many nights camping out and sleeping on the ground in the past, so even a small home is a luxury to us," Zuko added.
"Well… alright then. If you are sure," Anzu said in disbelief. "Why don't we show you our home now then and get you settled before the celebrations really start?"
"That sounds perfect. Lead the way!" Katara replied.
Together they made their way through the village. Their home was near the outskirts of the village on a quiet little stretch of pier overlooking the bank near where Katara remembered setting up camp while she was last at the village. Anzu was right; their home was quite small. It had an open sitting and dining area with a small kitchen off to one side, and a spiraling staircase at the back which led to the three bedrooms on the upper floor. They led Zuko and Katara to the spare room, which was just big enough to fit a double bed and a small dresser, but they both thought it was perfect.
"I hope this will be okay. And I assume you are fine to share?" Anzu said, fluffing the pillows and straightening the blankets unnecessarily. "I was happy to hear that you two are together, by the way. I could tell there was something between you when I met you in the Capital.
Katara blushed. "I didn't realize the news had traveled this far already," she said.
"Oh yes. We received a royal decree by messenger hawk yesterday."
Zuko smirked at Katara, then set his bag down on the bed. "This will do perfectly. Thank you very much for your hospitality."
Katara set her bag down next to his, and together they left the home. Next door, Akame and Ravi were being set up in the spare room. They had both insisted on remaining close to Zuko and Katara, though both had insisted that their servants have the night off to enjoy themselves. The guards had decided to set up a watch between the two homes, shifting every six hours, and would retire to the ship when they were off duty. Zuko tried to insist that they take the night off as well, but they still had two guards shadowing them wherever they went.
Once everyone was settled, Anzu and her family led them out towards the center of the village, where the main festivities were. There was a large, open area surrounded by different stalls and shops, and in the center of it all was a statue of the Painted Lady which had been decorated in more colourful streamers. It seemed most of the village was already there, though there were no more than roughly a hundred people altogether, including Katara, Zuko, Akame, Ravi, and the guards. Katara liked the small population however, once again being reminded of her home. The parties, festivals, and markets in the Capital had been fun, but Katara had felt like she hadn't been given time to actually talk to or get to know anyone, Smaller gatherings like this one were far better for really getting to know people.
As they joined the villagers in the town square, all attention was suddenly shifted towards them, and whispers started to spread throughout the people gathered. Katara recognized a few of the faces from her last trip, and she waved tentatively at them. Anzu and Zheng led them around the square, introducing them to the other villagers, most of whom seemed to be dumbstruck that the Fire Lord himself had come to their village. With Katara however, every single person she was introduced to shook her hand enthusiastically and thanked her for saving their village. They seemed to be paying far more attention to her than Zuko, which shocked her. Zuko just stood by her with a smug smile though, as if he had expected it to happen.
One of the villagers she was introduced to was a woman surrounded by several children, the youngest of which was about 5 or 6, and the oldest looked to be about 14. The woman looked to be on the verge of tears when she was introduced to Katara, and couldn't help but kiss her hand when Katara extended it to her.
"My lady… I am so honoured to meet you. I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for me," the woman said.
Katara, who seemed to have a permanent blush after all the compliments she was receiving, turned even more red. "You have no need to thank me for anything. I only did what was right."
"Oh yes, you saved our village, and we are all grateful for it, but you also saved my little Ana," she said, picking up her youngest child and settling her on her hip. "My husband died in the war and I was left to fend for this lot on my own. We were barely making ends meet when Ana fell ill… she was only a small babe at the time. I couldn't afford medicine for her, and none of the remedies I tried worked, so I feared she would not make it. But then you came to our village, and overnight she had practically been cured! I know you were only masquerading as the Painted Lady, but I truly believe you were a gift sent to us by her in our hour of need. I am so truly thankful for everything you did."
Katara was dumbfounded. She remembered moving through the makeshift clinic, healing people one by one in the dead of night. Most of the sick were elderly, but she did recall that there were several children there as well. She didn't know what to say to the woman. Everything that sprang to mind sounded stupid to her.
"I… I'm happy I could help you," she replied awkwardly. I can't even express how happy I am to see this village thriving, and I am so grateful that I just happened to be here at the right time and was able to help."
She looked down at the other children surrounding the woman, all of whom were staring at her with burning curiosity. Apart from little Ana and the oldest girl, there were three boys of varying ages, and two girls of about 9 who looked to be twins. She couldn't help but feel a surge of affection for them all, and respect for their mother. She knew what it was like to lose a parent, and it was a pain that never truly healed. But she couldn't imagine what it would have been like for them to lose a sibling as well, especially one so young. She turned to the eldest girl, who had her arms wrapped around the youngest boy and one of the twins almost protectively.
"Am I correct in assuming you are their older sister?" she asked the girl.
She seemed startled that Katara had spoken to her directly, and she nodded mutely.
"What's your name?"
"Um… I'm Kina, my lady. I am 14 years old."
"Kina, it's nice to meet you. I bet you spend a lot of time helping out your mom, don't you?" Katara asked, getting a nod in response. "When I was younger, I used to help out all the time too. My mom died when I was little, and my dad was away fighting the war, so I looked after my brother a lot. He looked out for me too, but I had to take on a lot of responsibility at a young age, and I only have one brother! Your siblings are truly lucky to have you to look out for them."
Kina blushed deeply, but she smiled. "Thank you my lady. I try very hard to be helpful. I love my family a lot."
Katara grinned at her. "Family is very important. It's the people we love that drive us to be good people and do great things," she said with a glance at Zuko, who was watching her fondly. "I was about the same age as you are now when I met the Avatar you know."
Kina nodded. "I know my lady… you…" she hesitated, looking embarrassed. "You're my hero. I want to be just like you when I grow up."
Katara grinned again, appreciatively. "You already are. I can tell you are a compassionate person, just like me. Compassion is a strength that many people underestimate, but as long as you continue to care about others and strive to help people wherever you can, you will achieve great things."
"But… I'm not a bender or a warrior… I'm not a hero like you."
"Aren't you? I would be willing to bet that your brothers and sisters think you are a hero," Katara said, looking around at the other children, who all nodded emphatically.
Kina's blush deepened, but she gave a little smile. "It's not the same though. You are so brave and kind and strong… and you can fight and heal people. I am just a nobody."
Kina's mother looked at her sadly, then turned her eyes to Katara, waiting for her response. Katara got the feeling that this was not the first time Kina had doubted herself in such a way, and it broke her heart to think that anyone would think they are just a nobody.
"Kina, you are not a nobody. You can be whomever or whatever you wish to be. I grew up in a little village just like this one, and look at all the things I have accomplished! You just have to have the determination to follow your heart and achieve your dreams. I only did all those things because I had the drive and the courage to leave my home and follow the Avatar." Katara smiled warmly at her. "What do you want to be? A warrior? A healer? A world traveller?"
"I… want to be a warrior like you. I'm not a bender, but I want to learn to fight so I can help people who are in need, like you do."
"My lady," Kina's mother interjected, a proud smile on her face, "ever since you saved our village, she has idolized you. She has talked non-stop about being a hero one day."
"Well, that can be arranged. Conveniently, our friend Ty Lee is opening up a training center for the Kyoshi Warriors in the Fire Nation. The Kyoshi Warriors are fierce, brave female warriors, none of whom are benders. Our friend Suki is a Kyoshi Warrior, and Ty Lee joined them after the war. She taught them how to use her chi blocking techniques as well, so now they are blending both Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation fighting styles. If you truly want to be a brave hero, you won't find a better fit than the Kyoshi Warriors."
Kina's face lit up, and she practically vibrated with barely restrained excitement. "Truly? I have heard the stories of the Kyoshi Warriors! I would love to be one! Do you truly think I could join?"
Katara shrugged. "I don't see why not. If it's what you want, I am certain Ty Lee would love to have you as a student."
Kina turned to her mother frantically. "Please can I go, mother? Please?"
"Well…" her mother paused, looking at her daughter with a mixture of pride and sorrow. Katara understood that it would be hard for her to send her daughter so far away, but she could see that Kina's mother only wanted what was best for her. "If it is truly what you want, then how could I say no? We would all miss you terribly, of course, but I suppose it is about time you sought a direction for your future. You are almost a grown woman now, after all."
Kina cheered in excitement, hugging her mother tightly. Katara grinned happily. "If you need any help getting her to the Capital, send me a letter directly and I will help any way I can, even if I have to come here and escort her personally. And don't worry about food or lodging; that will all be taken care of. Ty Lee has arranged it so all the warriors in training will be housed together at the training center."
"Thank you so much, my lady. I cannot tell you what it means to us that you have given my daughter this opportunity. You are truly gracious and kind," Kina's mother said, prying her daughter away so she could shake Katara's hand.
"Thank you!" Kina exclaimed, practically jumping on Katara and hugging her tightly.
"Kina!" her mother scolded.
Katara just laughed and wrapped her arms around the girl, giving her a squeeze before letting go. She looked over at Zuko, who was smiling warmly at her with a strange expression on his face.
"Let's enjoy the festival, shall we? You need to spend every last moment you can with your family before you head off for the Capital!" Katara said as Kina pulled away from her with a sheepish, apologetic look. "Something around here smells fantastic… let's go eat it!"
All the children cheered, happy to finally be allowed to indulge, and together Zuko and Katara followed them towards the delicious smell of grilled fish.
XXXX
As darkness fell over the Fire Nation Capital, a hooded figure stalked through the shadows towards the prison. Now that the war was over, all of the prisoners of war had been released, and replaced with Fire Nation officers who refused to accept the defeat of Ozai, the Dai Li who had been caught in the city after his defeat, and of course, Ozai himself. But none of these people were the intended target of the hooded figure.
They crept up to the prison, skillfully avoiding the guards as they slipped in through the entrance unnoticed. Like a shadow, the figure snuck through the corridors and directly towards the high security wing. Two guards stood by the entrance to the wing, looking bored. The figure lurked around a corner, watching the guards carefully for a moment, then threw a stone down the opposite corridor when their attention was elsewhere. The stone hit the ground and echoed throughout the silence, alerting the two guards immediately. They grabbed their weapons and headed down the corridor, searching for the source of the sound. As they turned the corner and had their backs to head down the hall, the hooded figure swiftly tip-toed to the entrance to the wing, pulled out a heavy set of keys, and unlocked the door.
The figure crept through the shadows silently, searching for a particular cell. It wasn't hard to locate, and soon the figure had opened the door and slipped into the cell, closing the door swiftly behind them. They turned around to look at the person behind the bars; her hair was long, dark, and dishevelled, and her face was gaunt and hollow. She had lost weight during her years of captivity, and appeared as a fragile shell of the woman she once was. But as the amber eyes turned up to look at the intruder, it was evident she had the same lethal menace that she had always possessed.
"Who the hell are you?" Princess Azula spat at the hooded figure.
"An old friend," the person replied, lowering their hood and flashing the princess a cold smirk.
"Mai?" Azula replied, shock obvious in her voice. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to visit a friend."
"Friend?!" Azula spat. "Some friend you are! You betrayed me!"
"No, I stopped you from murdering your brother, the man that I love. I would have gladly remained by your side, if you had not had me thrown in prison for doing it."
Azula scoffed and rolled her eyes. "It's because of dear Zuzu that I am in here in the first place. You should have let me kill him."
"From what I understand," Mai said, her tone darkening, "it was that Water Tribe peasant that defeated you."
Anger flashed across Azula's eyes and she lashed out, but her movement was stopped by the chains around her wrists. A small, blue flame burst to life, but was almost immediately extinguished as her mobility was restricted. She let out an enraged growl. Mai watched her with her usual bored expression, mostly because she knew Azula couldn't truly attack her. She waited for the princess to have her tantrum, then continued.
"Well if that makes you angry, just wait until you hear the news I have brought you."
"News? What news?"Azula growled, slumping back against the wall in a huff.
"That Water Tribe peasant is now dating your brother."
Azula stared at her for a long moment, making Mai uneasy. Then suddenly she began to laugh maniacally, clutching her at her sides and throwing her head back. It unsettled Mai to watch, but she maintained her stony exterior as she watched her friend's fit. Finally the laughter died, and Azula turned her piercing eyes back to Mai with a menacing scowl.
"It's bad enough that my bleeding heart of a brother sits on MY throne… but if he marries that piece of trash…"
Mai smirked. "That is why I am here."
"And what are you going to do?"
"My family lost a lot when Fire Lord Ozai was defeated. My uncle in particular, was quite unhappy with Zuko's ascension to the throne, and he is not the only one. Most of the people who rebelled against Zuko have been stopped, but only because they went about it all wrong. They tried to strike when everything was still tense; those who were smart laid low and bent the knee, waiting for everything to calm down. It will be much easier to strike at the heart of the Capital now that people have gotten used to peace."
"You want to kill Zuko? Didn't you just say you loved him?"
"I do love him. I don't want him dead… I want her dead."
"So what do you want with me then?"
"I want to break you out. I want you to help me kill that disgusting Waterbender, and then I want you to take the throne."
"And what about your precious Zuko?" Azula asked, her lip curling as she spoke his name.
"All I want is him."
Azula laughed cruelly and rolled her eyes. "Do you think he will want you after you help kill his girlfriend and take his throne?"
Mai shrugged. "I don't care what he wants. He loved me once, and I will make him love me again."
"You're crazier than I am," Azula said with a grin. "Alright, say I agree to all this. How are you going to break me out?"
"Like I said, my uncle isn't the only person who is unhappy with Zuko. There are still a few old generals and politicians who managed to escape Zuko's purge and have been biding their time. Also your friends, the Dai Li? Those who weren't captured have reached out to what we are now calling the Phoenix Initiative."
"The Phoenix Initiative?"
"Named after your father… he was to be known as the Phoenix King, was he not? The people in the Initiative are all people who supported his rule and your succession to leader of the Fire Nation. Together we hope to restore you to your rightful place."
"Well why are you putting me on the throne? Why not reinstate my father?"
"Because the Avatar stripped him of his bending. He couldn't rule a flock of Turtle Ducks."
Azula smirked cruelly. After five years of near solitude, having nothing but time to reflect on how everything she had worked for had been ripped away from her, things were finally starting to get interesting.
"Alright then… I'm in. Tell me the plan."
XXXX
Katara and Zuko had spent their time wandering from villager to villager, chatting and getting to know each and every one of them. They had feasted on more barbecued fish than they could eat, drank with the locals, and learned a few local fishing songs. Dawn was on the horizon by the time things had quieted down and the last stragglers had finally shuffled home, and only then did Katara and Zuko retire.
They fell onto the bed, exhausted and happy, too tired to even change into night clothes. Katara rolled onto her side to face Zuko, a sleepy smile on her face.
"I had so much fun tonight. These people are so amazing… we should come visit every year."
"I had fun too," Zuko agreed. "It was really nice getting to know people more intimately. I rarely get the chance to really talk to the people I meet."
"I think they really enjoyed that too. Or at least, they seemed to. Once they got used to the fact that their Fire Lord was drinking and chatting with them casually, anyway," Katara said with a smirk.
Zuko draped his arm over her, giving her an affectionate grin. "It was you who they were really impressed with. These people… they really love you."
Katara blushed and shrugged, not sure how to reply.
"I mean it," Zuko continued. "I really loved watching you interact with them. You are a natural leader."
"Thank you, that means a lot, "Katara said with an appreciative smile.
"Also, I feel like I need to thank you… everything you have done for these people and this village… you risked your life to help them even though at the time they were your enemy. I cannot express how grateful I am that you were here for them in a time when I couldn't be. If it wasn't for your influence, I might not have ever known how badly they had it, and they might still be suffering. So thank you Katara."
She blushed, once again at a loss for words. "I was just doing what was right. I will never turn my back on people who need help, even if they are my enemy. Besides, it wasn't the people of this village who were my enemy… they were victims of the war too. I saw myself in them; I related to the oppression they felt because of the war. My fight was never with them."
Zuko watched her silently with a strange expression on his face that Katara couldn't make out. She raised her eyebrow at him questioningly. He reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear, as he so often did when he was feeling affectionate, then leaned in and kissed her. After a moment he pulled away, his eyes locked on hers.
"What was that for?" Katara asked, smiling happily.
Zuko returned her smile, letting his fingers gently brush through her hair. "I was just thinking about how much I love you, and how lucky my people would be if they had you as their Fire Lady."
Katara blushed deeply and bit her lip, once again speechless. Since arriving in the Fire Nation people had been telling her she would be a wonderful Fire Lady, but she had just assumed they were bugging her about her obvious feelings for Zuko. Now she was starting to think they had truly meant it. And as humble as she usually was, she was starting to believe it too. She already loved the Fire Nation and its people, and they all seemed to return the sentiment. If she could help Zuko direct the Fire Nation towards a future of peace and happiness for all of its people, she would gladly devote her life to doing so. His confidence in her gave her all the confidence she needed.
"I think I would be the lucky one," Katara replied, causing Zuko's smile to grow.
"So… that is something you want?" he asked, suddenly feeling shy.
Katara laughed and kissed him. "I want you and everything that comes with having you."
Zuko went silent for a moment, his eyes searching hers as if looking for an answer to a question unasked. "You are certain of that already? It's only been… what, a week?"
"Zuko, I love you. You are my best friend, and the most important person in my life. You have been there for me in ways nobody else has been, and even before I fully realized what my feelings for you truly were, I at least knew that I loved you. I already know I never want to lose you, so yes. I am certain already. We may have only been together a week, but my heart has belonged to you for years."
He couldn't seem to find the words to respond; he stared at her almost in disbelief, his heart pounding with joy. Finally he gave her his reply, not with words, but a fiery, passionate kiss that said all the words he could not find. Katara returned it in earnest, pulling him into her and wrapping her arms around him tightly. His hands wandered down to her hips, his touch hot and electric against the bare skin on her waist. She bit down on his lower lip to supress a moan, moving her hips against his as she let her instincts take over. Zuko let out a small growl of desire as she moved against him, and he rolled her over onto her back in response. He kissed her hard, letting his hands make their way back up her waist towards her top. She lifted her arms automatically, inviting him to remove her clothing. His fingers worked their way under the hem of her shirt, and he gently pulled it up over her head, flinging it onto the floor behind him. Katara pulled off the belt of his tunic and tossed it aside before pulling off his shirt as well. She let her hands trail down his bare chest, her fingers tracing the lines of the scar.
Zuko sat back slightly, staring down at her with a suddenly tentative expression. But despite his hesitation, he let his hands wander over her exposed skin as they made their way down to her hips. Her whole body felt hot and she trembled at his touch. She gazed up at him, her desire so overwhelming that it made her feel drunk.
"Zuko… don't stop," she breathed, running her hands up his thighs.
He bit his lip at her touch, supressing a moan. Her words drove away his hesitation, and all he could think of was how badly he wanted her. 'Too soon' be damned; they loved each other, and they clearly wanted each other. There was no sense in denying it any longer.
Zuko began removing her pants, keeping his eyes locked on hers. She wiggled out of them eagerly, but Zuko was determined to take it slowly and enjoy the moment. He tossed her pants to the floor, then leaned down to kiss her stomach. She grasped the sheets tightly, her back arching into his lips as he left a trail of kisses up her stomach. His fingers worked at removing her underclothes as he kissed her body; her legs, her stomach, her breasts, her neck. Only once she had been fully unclothed did he press his lips to hers hungrily. Her trembling fingers worked at his pants, but Zuko wasn't done teasing her yet. He grabbed her wrists and pinned her arms above her head, causing her to whimper slightly with longing. He smirked at her reaction, then pinning both of her hands with one of his, he let his free hand wander down her body.
As his hand moved between her legs, she let out a sharp gasp and moved against his fingers eagerly as he teased her. His eyes travelled over her exposed flesh, taking in every inch of her. He couldn't help but wonder how he had been so lucky to capture the heart of someone so beautiful, not just in body, but in soul as well. Her reactions to his touch delighted him; he would gladly spend the whole night making her feel amazing if that was all she wanted. But he could tell by the way her back arched and how she moved against him that she was growing desperate for more, and he was more than willing to oblige.
He released her wrists and used both of his hands to quickly remove the rest of his own clothing. They locked eyes, both suddenly feeling nervous. This was not the first time for either of them, but it was their first time together and that meant something more. The heat between them was dizzying and intense, and neither of them could help but realize that this was the last line between friends and lovers. Zuko smiled down at Katara reassuringly, then leaned down and kissed her gently. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close, deepening the kiss. The line between friends and lovers suddenly didn't matter; they were all of that and more, and they wanted each other in every way possible.
Katara whispered his name against his lips and hooked her legs around his thighs. He moved into her slowly, letting out a low moan and grasping her hair tightly in one hand. Her fingernails dug into the flesh of his back and she moved her hips against his, and he captured her lower lip in his teeth in response. They moved together in perfect rhythm, picking up the pace with a desperate need for one another. Zuko buried his face into the crook of her neck, kissing and biting her skin in an attempt to suppress the volume of the moans he could not help but release. One of his hands moved to her lower back, supporting her hips as she moved against his own and pulling her closer. Her head fell back on the pillows and she let out a gasp of pleasure, and her hands moved up his back and into his hair, tugging it roughly. He growled against her skin at the sensation, shuddering at the blend of pleasure and pain.
The sound of his near-feral growl drove Katara crazy, and she gave another sharp tug on his hair just to hear it again. He bit down on her neck in retaliation, and she gave a low moan in response. She was trying desperately to keep quiet so they wouldn't disturb Anzu and her family, who were sleeping in the rooms across the hall, but as her pleasure built up, she found it harder and harder to supress the volume of her cries. Finally Zuko captured his lips in hers, kissing her hard and passionately as he sped up his pace once again. She moaned against his lips and shifted her legs up too hook around his hips and matched his speed. The pressure was rising within her, and she was desperate for release.
Suddenly everything shifted, and a wave of pleasure washed over her from head to toe. Her body tensed and shook as every nerve in her body seemed to explode in ecstasy, a strangled cry caught in her throat. Zuko bit down on her lip, desperately trying to supress the loud moan that escaped his throat as his body trembled in response, and she knew instantly that he had reached his climax as well. After a moment his body relaxed, and with an exhausted sigh, he collapsed onto the bed next to her. She rolled onto her side and he immediately scooped her up into his arms, holding her close and breathing hard. She looked up at him with a smile, which he returned sleepily. He kissed her gently, then nuzzled his face into her hair.
Katara tried to think of something to say, but they were beyond words. She merely held Zuko tightly as they drifted off to sleep, knowing that she would forever remember this perfect end to a perfect day.