Hello dear readers! I apologize for the long wait, especially with that evil cliffhanger! Anyway, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
A big shoutout to PurseMonger for her great feedback and suggestions!
AtLA is not mine.
Chapter Twelve
In Which the Princess Admits Her True Feelings
The only sounds heard within the clearing were Katara's quiet sobs and the mated dragons' concerned rumbles. A chilly wind swept by, sending a flurry of snow in every direction, but the waterbender ignored the biting cold in her grief.
No, no this could not be happening…
It was not fair.
It was not fair that Zuko did not get the chance to live as a human again. It was not fair that he had to die when he had only been trying to protect her. It was not fair that he would leave this world without knowing that he was loved…
"I love you," she repeated in a whisper as she pressed her forehead to the lifeless Zuko's jaw, her tears cascading onto his crimson scales, her trembling hands cradling his head.
There was no denying it now.
She loved him.
Loved him with all her heart. What else would explain the acute sense of loss and the racking pain festering inside her?
But now it was too late. He was gone.
He was dead because of her…
A moan of anguish escaped her.
The mournful sound made the dragons croon softly and the dragoness moved forward to rub her snout against the princess' shaking back, but Katara ignored her attempts of comfort in her grief and guilt.
What should she do now? She could not leave him like this…
This was all her fault…
If only she knew how to fight. If only she had not run away from home, Zuko would still be alive and…
So overcome was she by her grief that it took her a moment to sense the sudden spike of energy in the air around them. The sensation was something she had never felt before. It was like every single nerve ending was tingling with the strange power.
Suddenly, Zuko's body began to pulse, sending a low vibration through Katara's body and causing a sort of humming sensation in her ears. Confused, the princess slowly opened her eyes and pulled back slightly only to gasp in shock and alarm. The entirety of Zuko's body was enveloped in a brilliant, golden light. A second later, a strong wind began to swirl around them, slow at first before it grew faster and faster that it began to ruffle her clothes, her hair, and Zuko's leathery wings.
The golden light increased in brilliance and she winced, shielding her eyes slightly as she tried to comprehend what was happening. The mated dragons growled and began to back away warily, but Katara barely paid them attention in her anxiety. The radiance was becoming so bright that Katara could barely make out the outline of Zuko's form. Confused and frightened, the waterbender threw herself forward and tightly clasped her arms around Zuko's neck, as far as she could reach, shutting her eyes tightly to protect them from the blinding light as the bizarre wind picked up speed, sending snow and her hair flying wildly around her, stinging her cheeks.
What's happening?! she mentally cried out, even as she heard the dragons' alarmed growls somewhere in her mind. Make it stop!
Abruptly, everything went completely still. It was so sudden that the unexpected silence made her ears ring.
There was no howling wind, no other sound, except Katara's shaky breaths. What was going on? She was almost afraid to find out. However, before she could move, she felt a pair of arms gently wrap around her. Her eyes flew open and a shocked gasp escaped her when she was met with pale skin and not red scales.
"Katara?" she heard a male voice question, causing her to freeze.
Is that…?
It sounded like Zuko's voice, but somehow…different.
She shut her eyes and shook her head. She wondered if she was going insane in her grief even as she heard the mated dragons croon softly next to her. She must be dreaming. Yes, she would wake up soon and find herself curled up against Zuko's draconic body. She could not bear the thought of Zuko being dead…
Her breath painfully caught in her throat at the memory of the spike impaling his chest.
"Katara?" she heard her name called out again.
Her eyes snapped open. She realized then that the voice was different because she was hearing it with her ears and not in her head.
I'm not…dreaming?
Bewildered, she softly whispered, "Zuko?"
Afraid that she was imagining things, but also extremely curious and hopeful, the princess pulled back slowly and raised her head. Her eyes widened in shock and her lips parted slowly in a silent gasp. She was being held by a dark-haired, young man she had never seen before, but who seemed to be looking himself over in astonishment. Her mind not comprehending what was going on, she began to pull away from him, pushing against his bare chest in a sudden panic. However, he tightened his hold of her, albeit gently, and held her wide stare in a warm gaze.
"Don't be afraid," he soothed her softly, "It's me. Zuko."
Katara blinked.
"Zuko?" she repeated slowly as she forced herself to calm down, even as her mind raced with questions.
Could…could it be possible?
Her eyes scanned the unfamiliar face before her. Her heart fluttered a bit. It was a handsome face with a strong, masculine jawline, a slim nose, and smooth, pale skin. A large, red scar marred the left eye all the way to the ear, but she found that it enhanced his features more than detracted from it. Her eyes moved to his and she was met with a familiar, golden gaze—although the reptilian pupils she was accustomed to were now round—and she instantly recognized him.
"It is you!" she exclaimed in a soft whisper.
Giving him a mystified look, she lifted her hand and slowly brought it up to his face, hovering hesitantly, uncertainly, before she actually touched him.
With a small smile, Zuko pressed her hand against his cheek, relishing the sensation of her smooth skin against his.
"How?' the princess breathed out in wonder. "Does this mean the curse has been broken? You're really…alive…and human?"
"Yes, it has been broken and yes, I'm alive," he replied softly as he gently squeezed her hand. "And yes, I am finally, finally human again."
The soft smile he aimed at her made Katara's heart skip a beat, but it was the almost tender look in his golden eyes that mesmerized her.
Zuko was still reeling in shock and exhilaration. His curse had been broken! He was alive, somehow. He was sure he had died, but perhaps the curse's magic had pulled him back? He did not know, but honestly, all he cared about was that he was alive and that he was human again. However, what he cared about most was that Katara actually returned his feelings…How else could the curse have been broken? His heart could not stop beating at the thought that Katara loved him…
He raised his hands and gently cupped her face, unable to look away from her bright, azure eyes as powerful emotions raced through him. His thumbs caressed the smooth skin of her cheeks and he was fascinated by the reddish hue of her sudden blush before his eyes lowered to her slightly parted lips—lips he had dreamed of kissing, but despaired would never be able to…until now.
Unable to help himself any longer, he swooped down and pressed his mouth to hers. He heard her breath hitch and felt her body tense up against him. He wouldn't blame her if she slapped him for taking such liberties, but he needed to kiss her. To his delight, he felt her relax slightly a moment later and then he felt her hesitantly press her lips against his. Elation rose in his chest at her acceptance and he groaned softly as he wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips more firmly to hers.
Katara had at first stiffened in surprise when Zuko kissed her before she found herself melting into him, the sensation of his lips and his arms around her causing her body to tingle and heat up in a manner she was unfamiliar with. He slanted and brushed his lips against hers in a caressing manner that had her softly sighing and moaning in pleasure.
Zuko suppressed a deep groan when Katara pressed her lips more firmly against his and wrapped her arms around his neck to get closer to him. He greatly enjoyed the sensations of kissing her and holding her close within his arms. He still could not believe the curse had been broken and that it had been broken because Katara loved him, but now that he knew, he could not let her go. They were meant to be together for always.
Although he wanted to keep kissing her, he was becoming more aware that he was sitting on the snow and the biting cold against his skin was becoming painful. With one more press of his lips, he slowly pulled his head back, feeling and seeing his breath coming out in soft huffs of steam. He watched as Katara slowly opened her eyes and stared up at him dazedly.
"I'm human again and it seems that my body is still the same from before I was cursed," he said as he once again looked wonderingly down at his arms and hands that definitely did not look like those of a 60-year-old man. Then he looked back at the woman before him and smiled as he softly added, "And it's all thanks to you."
"Me?" Katara asked slowly, her mind still overcome from the kiss and from the fact that he was alive and human. "How?"
The blue-eyed princess listened silently as Zuko explained the conditions of the curse and the requirements for the curse to be broken. She felt her heart clench in guilt and she glanced away from his eyes.
"What's wrong?" he asked with a frown when he noticed her sudden change.
"I'm sorry," she replied softly, "If I had admitted my…feelings for you sooner, you could have been human much earlier. It was only after the fear of…losing you that I realized…"
"Don't be," Zuko told her softly as he again cupped her face and lifted her head so she could look at him again. "All that matters is that you love me." He paused when he saw her blush deepened before he teasingly added, "You do, right?"
Katara smiled up at him as she reached up to place her hands over his.
"Yes…I love you," she breathed out softly, feeling her face heat up since the acknowledgment of her feelings was still new.
She was captivated by the smile Zuko gave her.
"And I love you," he breathed out.
A pleased flush appeared on the waterbender's cheeks at the heartfelt manner he had said those words. She frowned a moment later when a thought appeared in her head.
"Why did you want me to leave then?"
"I didn't," he admitted firmly before he sighed, "I thought it was what you wanted and what would make you happy."
"I…I didn't want to leave..." she responded bashfully, "I wanted to stay with you…"
Zuko felt his breath hitch at the soft look in her eyes and her words.
"Even if I was dragon?" he questioned.
"Yes, because I love you," she replied, this time the words coming out much easier.
Zuko was silent for a long moment as different emotions ran through him.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. Why didn't he tell her his feelings sooner?
"Because I thought you wanted me to leave," she replied with a frown.
"Never," he growled out softly as he again wrapped his arms around her.
Katara gasped softly at the intensity in his eyes as he stared down at her and she felt her heart throb.
"I love you, Katara," he breathed out. "I want you to be by my side."
Forever, he mentally added to himself.
"Really?" she asked softly, eyes wide, a smile playing on her lips.
Zuko returned the smile and nodded, wanting to tell her about his discovery of her being his True Mate, but ultimately deciding to keep quiet about it for the moment. He did not want to frighten her away. Besides, he was still trying to figure things out himself.
"Yes, not only are you beautiful, but you are brave, kind, and smart," he admitted.
Katara smiled, pleased with his compliments, but before she could respond both dragons bumped their snouts against Zuko, causing him to almost topple over Katara. The humans laughed at their antics as they snuffled and huffed loudly, causing Zuko's hair to ruffle every which way, as they tried to identify who he was. Once it seemed they had satisfied their curiosity and confirmed his identity, the two dragons gave out low rumbles before they turned around, walked a few paces as they spread their wings, and took off into the air.
As soon as they left, Zuko and Katara immediately felt the loss of their warmth. A violent shiver passed through Zuko's body, his breath coming out in a big steaming cloud, as he pressed himself closer to Katara. He willed his firebending to raise his temperature a bit and was relieved that his body automatically knew how to respond. He had been worried that he would lose his firebending if the curse was ever broken and was glad to still have his bending. However, being in the snow without any clothes definitely did not help ward of the cold.
"We need to get to the cave before you catch a cold," Katara spoke up worriedly as she felt him shudder against her again.
Zuko nodded before he reluctantly let her go so they could stand up. To his bewilderment, it seemed he was having a bit of difficulty remembering how to stand on two legs, but fortunately, Katara quickly reached for him and helped steady him. His pride hurt a little, but he was grateful for her assistance.
"Thanks," he murmured once he was standing on his own, ignoring the biting cold on his feet and increasing his inner fire.
"You're welcome," the waterbender responded with a small smile as she watched him straightened to his full height.
He was so tall! Her head barely reached his shoulders. Unable to help herself, her eyes scanned his muscular torso and stomach and further down. Her eyes widened at the sight of his manhood before she quickly looked away with a blush.
At her reaction, Zuko looked down at himself to once again realize he was complete nude. He flushed and cleared his throat as he surreptitiously tried to cover himself. Well, if he had anything to say about it, she would come to appreciate that part of his body. She seemed to already be flustered even with his shrinkage due to the cold, he mused with a mental grin. Another icy wind passed them by and he shivered, immediately bringing him back from his sudden lustful thoughts.
"We should hurry to the cave," he spoke up as he glanced toward their mountain.
"Wait, uh, you can use this to cover yourself…" Katara suggested as she quickly took off her parka and handed it to him with an averted glance.
Zuko frowned slightly as he watched her suppress a shiver since she was now only wearing a tunic, but decided not to argue and took the parka with another murmured word of thanks. He would definitely not be able to fit into it, so he wrapped it around his waist so he could at least protect that important part of himself.
"Let's go."
It took them a while to trudge through the clearing toward the mountain. Zuko had to regularly maintain his firebending going throughout his body so he wouldn't get frostbite, his feet leaving steaming footprints behind him. The climb was difficult, but eventually they managed to enter the small entrance to the cave. Once they were safely inside, Katara immediately ran to her pack to pull out Sokka's extra clothes and boots for Zuko. She had lamented the fact that she had grabbed the wrong pack before, but now she was glad she did.
The now human prince looked around himself as he followed after Katara at a slower pace. The cavern looked very different now that he had his human senses back, which admittedly was a bit sad and disconcerting. The fire he had created earlier that day was still blazing, but it definitely was not as bright in the room as he remembered seeing with his dragon-eyes. His sense of smell was definitely not as strong as it had been before and he realized with a start that he was no longer able to tell where Katara was or what she was feeling by her wonderful scent. Wondering if he had lost all the abilities he had gained as a dragon, he stared intently at Katara as she rummaged around her pack.
"Katara?" he called out mentally.
"Yes?" she responded in kind, looking over her shoulder at him expectantly.
He let out the breath he did not realize he had been holding and sighed in relief that they were still able to communicate through their thoughts. It would definitely be convenient.
"I, uh, I'm going to take a bath…" he said aloud instead before he cleared his throat. The sound of his voice was still overwhelming to hear.
"Okay," Katara responded with a smile, thinking how nice he would feel taking a bath now that he was human again. She stood up and walked up to him, still amazed at the fact that Zuko was now a human man. Suppressing a blush, she tried not to let her eyes wander more than necessary.
"Here," she said as she handed him the extra clothes and her small bar of soap. "They're Sokka's extra clothes. I hope they fit."
"These will do," he responded as he grabbed the clothes and the boots. "Thank you."
"Of course," she replied before adding, "I'll warm up some meat while you bathe."
Zuko gave her a brief nod and a smile before heading toward the smaller cave. Katara watched him go as her eyes became riveted to the strong muscles of his back before she quickly turned around and lightly smacked her blushing cheeks.
What was wrong with her?
Oh La, she needed to get a hold of herself!
But the stories she read about the Crown Prince's handsomeness were definitely not exaggerated. Speaking about the Crown Prince, what would Zuko do now that his curse was broken and he was a man again? She frowned slightly at the thought before she decided to worry about that later. She was sure he was probably overwhelmed with everything that happened and needed some getting used to his human body again.
She was still reeling over the fact that Zuko was alive and no longer in the body of a dragon…She brought a hand to her chest at the horrible memory of his eyes closing and his head slipping from her hands. She screwed her eyes shut and shook her head as if to erase the heartbreaking image. She had never once imagined she would feel such anguish at the possibility of losing the man she loved to death's grasp. She could not help feeling saddened at the thought of what her father must have felt when her mother died.
She again shook her head from the dark memories. All that mattered was that Zuko was alive, his curse was lifted, and…he loved her.
Opening her eyes, Katara brought a hand up to lightly run a finger against her lower lip, wistfully remembering the way he had kissed her and her immediate reaction to his kiss.
He loved her. And she loved him.
What the future held, she did not know, but she wanted to find out.
And to think, she never would have met him if she had not left her home to escape an unwanted marriage.
In the other smaller cave, Zuko found himself kneeling at the edge of the pool as he stared in awe at his reflection on the clear surface of the water. He ran a hand down the smooth side of his face, lightly touched the familiar scarred left side, before running his fingers through his dark hair. It was slightly longer and untidier from the usual neat haircut he had sported at the palace, but that was unsurprising considering the years. He once again focused his attention on the same face that had stared back at him many years ago.
He still could not believe that after all these years of resignation to a life of solitude, he was finally human again. He was afraid at the thought that everything was a dream and he would wake up to find himself in his cursed body again. He frowned down at himself for his pessimistic thoughts before he shook his head. But it was not surprising since he couldn't have imagined finding a woman like Katara to love him when he was human much less as a dragon. Reaching both hands down into the small pool, he focused his firebending to heat up the water until it was steaming nicely. He pulled back with a small frown. It definitely took more time and energy to heat it up now than it had when he had his dragon fire breath.
With a shrug, Zuko unwrapped Katara's parka from around his waist, folded it, and carefully placed it on the ground next to her brother's extra clothes before stepping into the heated water. A sign of contentment slipped his lips as the soothing liquid hit his skin and muscles. He had not realized how much he had missed baths. After just enjoying the hot water for a moment, Zuko set out on the task of thoroughly washing himself with the small bar of soap Katara had offered him.
Katara.
Not only was he human again, but more importantly, the woman he loved, loved him in return. He didn't have to worry about being technically decades older than her because it seemed the curse had made his body stop aging. His body was the same as it had been before he was cursed. Frowning, he paused in scrubbing his hair and once again looked down at his reflection, which was slightly distorted by ripples.
Could he truly be with Katara, however?
He did not have money or a house to offer her. He did not have his title anymore. Hell, everybody thought he was dead, so he basically didn't have an identity. He had lived away from society and civilization for years.
Could he even make her happy with nothing to his name? Or would he just make her life more difficult?
It did not matter though, he was also selfish and did not want to let her go. He would just have to make sure he worked hard enough to deserve her and provide her with everything she needed. He clenched his hand around the bar of soap as he stared resolutely down at himself before a frown marred his face.
What about the Fire Nation? He could not let Azula destroy it by raging a war against the other nations nor could he let her completely wipe out all dragons.
Yet, what could he do against a whole army by himself? If he presented himself to the Fire Nation Court, would they even believe he was Crown Prince Zuko who almost became their Fire Lord?
What should he do…?
He shook his head and straightened himself out. For now, he will just enjoy his time with Katara before they head out toward the village he discovered earlier. He could not keep her in the cave, living such a hard life. He will help her look for her brother and her friends. Then they will see what would happen from there. Perhaps her family would not accept him, but he would not let her go, even if they killed him. He finally knew what love was and what it felt to know someone loved him and he was not going to lose that.
A moment later, he got out of the water and used his firebending to dry himself off. A neat trick most firebenders knew how to do. Once he was dried, he put on the extra clothes. The tunic and parka were a bit tight across his chest, the trousers were a bit short on him, and the boots pinched his toes a little, but it was better than nothing. Once he was ready, he picked up Katara's discarded parka and the soap before making his way to the main chamber.
He paused at the entrance to see Katara warming up some meat on the now bigger fire. She must have placed more wood. He grimaced slightly when his stomach growled as the smell of cooked meat hit his senses before his mouth watered. He silently watched the princess for a moment, admiring her lovely form, still amazed that he was able to garner her love.
No matter what, he will remain by her side to protect her always.
With a mental shake, the firebender walked forward.
At the sound of footsteps, Katara looked up at Zuko with a tentative smile. She could tell Sokka's clothes didn't exactly fit him right, but he did not complain.
It was still strange for her to see Zuko's human shape since she had gotten so used to his draconic form. But even so, by the glimpse she was able to get, he still had an impressive body. The scar on the left side of his face added to his dangerously good-looks and it was more appealing to her after knowing that he had received it for trying to save innocent lives. She could not deny he was one fine specimen of a man. It still amazed her that he loved her.
Unable to help it, her thoughts once again returned to her uncertain questions. What would happen now? Would he leave her and return to the Fire Nation now that he was human again? She bit her lip before she mentally shook her head. She shouldn't get ahead of herself and just enjoy the moment with him for now.
"How do you feel?" she asked softly as she watched him sit down next to her.
Zuko took a moment to gather his thoughts before he answered her.
"Strange…" he began before he trailed off, unsure exactly how to explain.
Everything had happened so suddenly and unexpectedly. The fact that the curse was broken after all those years of despair and resignation was almost surreal… He blinked when he felt Katara place a comforting hand on his arm and he looked at her to see her giving him a reassuring gaze. He licked his lips and cleared his throat lightly as he tried to articulate what he was going through.
"I've gotten so accustomed to my dragon body and reflection that it's weird to be human again. I forget that I don't have wings and a tail anymore," he began with a small frown before once again trailing off.
He moved his arms up and down in a testing manner, the way he would have his wings, and just shook his head at the odd sensation. He let out a grunt and a growl, which he quickly cut off with a self-conscious cough.
"And…uh…I also forget that I can speak again," he admitted with a frown.
Katara nodded and silently urged him to continue.
"I feel…small after towering over almost everything around me for years," Zuko continued, "Also, it's very disconcerting losing all my heightened senses. I almost feel like I…lost my sense of sight and hearing."
He cleared his throat again, his frown deepening. It had been so long since he had used his voice that his throat felt slightly scratchy. He paused when he felt Katara gently squeeze his arm before she gave him an understanding nod and smile.
"You just need time to adjust," she told him assuredly. "After all, you had only been human twenty years and were a dragon for over…forty. I'm honestly surprised you're doing so well with your transition back."
The firebender glanced down at her hand, still astounded at how easily she offered him comfort and how easily he accepted it. He placed his hand over hers and gently squeezed it before looking at her again to see her giving him a reassuring smile. Agni, she was beautiful—both physically and internally. His eyes seemed to get lost in the depths of her blue eyes before they lowered to her smiling, plump lips. He wanted to kiss her again. To feel intimately close to her, but he forced himself back. It was too soon and he didn't want to push things too fast and scare her away. Besides, he was still adjusting to his human body again and his current situation.
For her part, Katara held her breath when she saw Zuko's eyes darken as they lingered on her lips, which tingled at the memory of the kiss he gave her earlier. She wanted him to kiss her again. And this time, she wanted to reciprocate. She blinked when he suddenly looked away, taking his hand from hers, and cleared his throat. She removed her hand away from his arm and cleared her own throat, trying to ignore the disappointed feeling that came over her.
"I believe we are still a week or two before the worst of the storm season passes," he stated with a pensive frown as he glanced at the pile of wood he had collected the past several weeks. "We have plenty of firewood to last us until then and I could hunt for small game when the weather is not too bad."
"I've dried enough meat for the both of us until then," Katara mentioned with a proud smile.
Zuko returned her smile and nodded.
"Once the storms pass, it will be easier and safer for us to leave the valley and begin our search for your friends."
At his words, Katara fidgeted slightly and bit her lip. She needed to find out what was going to happen after that. She was nervous what his answer would be, but she needed to know. It was now or never…
"What do you…plan to do once we find them?" she asked hesitantly.
She waited for his response with baited breath, feeling her heart pound rapidly in her chest as her hands fidgeted nervously on her lap before she forced herself to stop.
Zuko did not immediately reply to her question as he tried to sort through his thoughts about the uncertain future. He was still trying to figure it out himself. He ran his hand through his hair before he released his breath in a long sigh.
"Honestly…I don't know," he finally replied with a frown.
At those words, Katara felt her heart sink a little and her shoulders slumped in disappointment.
"Oh," was all she could muster to say without having her voice break.
Detecting something was wrong, Zuko realized how she could've misinterpreted his words and he immediately tried to reassure her. He grabbed her hand and gently grasped her chin to urge her to look up at him. She reluctantly did so and the dimness in her eyes caused his chest to tighten.
"What I meant was that I don't know how to proceed now that I'm human again," he tried to explain himself, "I have lost my title and my wealth, but most importantly, my home and my time. I've been away from the Fire Nation, from civilization, for so long that I don't know what I can do now. I was trained to become the next Fire Lord since birth, but now that Azula holds that title, I don't know…what I can do…or what I can be anymore…"
Katara's heart went out to him at his explanation and the uncertainty she could detect in his voice. She could not imagine what he was feeling at the moment. He must feel so lost. She did not know how, but she was determined to do everything in her power to help him. Before she could respond, however, he cupped her cheek and looked intensely into her eyes, causing her breath to get caught in her throat.
"There is only one thing I know for certain and that is that I love you and that I want to be by your side," he stated assuredly, his golden eyes staring unwaveringly into her enthralled, blue ones.
A large smile appeared on the waterbender's face at his words and she reached up to grasp his hand as she leaned into his touch.
"That's how I feel, too," she replied softly as she stared warmly at him.
Zuko felt his heart race in elation at her heartfelt words. Admittedly, a part of him had been ashamed and afraid of what she would think of him after his confession. He should not have worried, however. She truly was a kindhearted person and he was lucky to have earned her love. Unable to resist as emotions ran through him, Zuko leaned down to kiss her. He had only planned to give her a quick, thankful kiss, but his plan failed when she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer to him, immediately responding to him. He let out a low groan at her eager kisses and the feelings of her soft lips against his, at her sweet breath tickling his skin, and her warm hands threading though his hair.
He had only kissed Mai a few times during their betrothal (he had refused to do so with the few prostitutes he had been with before) and it was nothing compared to kissing Katara and having her in his arms. He could tell she was as new at this as he was, and it only made him happy to know they would learn the secrets of intimacy together.
A soft moan escaped Katara when Zuko deepened their kiss and crushed her more tightly to him. Her mind felt hazy and her body extremely hot the longer they kissed. She had never experienced anything as amazing as having Zuko kissing her and her kissing him in return as he pressed her close to his chest. The logical part of her was telling her she was moving too fast since he was basically still a stranger to her, at least in this form, but she could not help it. The feelings she had for him and the new, wonderful sensations she was experiencing made it hard to agree.
She let out a loud gasp when he gently nipped her bottom lip and she automatically opened her mouth to him. He immediately took advantage and slid his tongue in. Her breath hitched and then she moaned at the strange but pleasurable sensation of his tongue tentatively meeting hers. She touched his tongue just as tentatively, but also curiously, which made him groan loudly before he pulled away. Eyes half-lidded, Katara watched as Zuko closed his eyes as he panted as hard as her.
"We…should slow down…" he rasped huskily as he slowly unwound his hands from around her.
"You're right…" she reluctantly agreed as she let him go and self-consciously brushed her hair back.
She blushed deeply at how forward she had been with him. She was not even sure what the future would bring for them. There was no guarantee that they could stay together and she was basically throwing herself at him. She frowned slightly and bit her lip. She knew he loved her and wanted to be with her, but there had been no promises made. Her virtue was not something she could give away so easily for just a moment of passion, no matter how much she wanted to. Her honor would not permit it.
Unaware of the princess' thoughts, Zuko tried to force his body under control and at the same time hide the bulge in his pants. It had been years since he had been so aroused, and never to the extent Katara brought him, that he knew he would not be able to stop if they continued. Although there was a wicked part of him that told him that she wouldn't have minded if he had taken her… No, they had more important things to focus on at the moment. Once things were a bit more settled, perhaps they could explore this burning attraction they had for each other more freely…
"Do you have any idea where to search for your brother and friends or where they could be heading?" he asked after clearing his throat and smoothing his hair back, trying to break the sexual tension.
"If they have managed to…survive in this weather," Katara began with a small frown, "they would've made their way to the Northern Water Tribe since that was our original destination."
Zuko nodded at her words.
"Maybe it'd be best if we stopped at that village I saw earlier to see if they passed through or at least to get directions to the Northern Water Tribe," he mused thoughtfully.
"That sounds like a good idea," the princess agreed before she hesitantly asked, "Are you sure you want to go with me to look for them? Would you really go with me all the way to the Northern Water Tribe?"
"Of course. I already said I want to be by your side," he reminded her firmly before he smiled at her.
Katara returned the smile, feeling her mind ease a little, before a frown marred her face.
"I really hope Sokka and the others made their way there," she murmured worriedly.
At her concerned expression, the firebender wrapped an arm around her and brought her close to his side.
"I'm sure they're fine," he reassured her confidently, "You will see them soon."
"Thanks, Zuko," she replied as she snuggled against his side, "I really hope so."
They continued to make plans on how they could make their way to the village for a few minutes longer before they decided to eat dinner. They continued their conversation about what they should say when they arrived at the village and how they could make their way to the Northern Water Tribe before simultaneous yawns interrupted them. They glanced at each other and then laughed before deciding it was best they slept. They again looked at one another, wondering how they would do so now that he was human and wasn't as warm as he had been in his dragon form.
"You can take the sleeping bag and I'll take the blanket," Zuko offered, "If you don't mind, we can sleep next to each other near the fire for extra warmth."
"Are you sure?" she asked with a small frown. The stone floor was hard and uncomfortable.
"Yes," he replied simply.
She opened her mouth to protest, but he shushed her with a quick kiss. When her frown deepened, however, he added, "Maybe we can move some of the grass and moss we used to sleep on to make it more comfortable."
"That would be a good idea," she agreed with a smile.
Standing up, Zuko moved to stoke the fire before carrying some of the grass bedding closer to the heat. Once they had arranged it to their liking, Katara went about rearranging the bedroll and the blanket. A moment later, they settled into position. Katara held her breath when she felt Zuko press against her back as he placed his arm around her. She felt her face heat up and her heart accelerate since it was the first time she had ever slept next to a man.
But she trusted Zuko and, honestly, she wouldn't mind if he tried anything. Again, she berated herself for her thoughts. What was she turning into?! It was best she forgot such thoughts and focused on a much needed sleep.
Zuko, for his part, felt his heart pound wildly in his chest as he held Katara against him and she scooted closer to him. It was the first time he had ever slept next to a woman. It was both exciting and nerve-racking, especially since he was in love with this woman. He made sure, however, to keep his hips away from her temping rear. He did not want to alarm her with his body's reaction so soon.
Later. They will deal with that later.
Soon he heard Katara's even breathing and he relaxed against her, holding her closer to him and taking in her scent. Again, he was reminded that he no longer had his heightened senses, so he could not distinguish her moods or feelings.
Human.
He was finally human again after all these years. And it was all thanks to Katara. The firebender brought her even closer to him and pressed his face against her soft hair, once again overwhelmed with everything that had occurred that day. He vowed to himself that he would forever show Katara his gratitude and appreciation for her love and understanding by loving her like no one else ever could.
Sequestered in a small hut at the edge of a remote Fire Nation village, a middle-aged man abruptly awoke from his dream. A dream where a red dragon roared in pain before it was engulfed in a brilliant golden light to be replaced by a dark-haired young man surrounded by red flames with eyes the color of the sun.
"The time has come," Yong uttered out loud to the silent hut. "The curse has been broken."
Rising slowly from his small futon, the man made his way to the fireplace in the middle of the hut where he added more firewood to brighten the dark room. A black cat-crow squawked loudly from its nest, its large green eyes staring almost irritably at the man, before it shook its feathers and began to groom itself. The man ignored his companion as he muttered to himself. His long hair and beard were mostly gray, but his eyes were sharp and his hands strong and nimble as he stoked the fire and lit some candles. He then rummaged through a large box placed in a corner for a moment before he exclaimed softly once he found what he was looking for. A small wooden box that was sealed shut by several pieces of paper written in strange characters.
He looked at the object for several seconds, reminiscing about the past before he shook his head. He made his way to the large table across the room that held multiple books and scrolls, bowls, cups, and other items. Above the table were shelves that held many jars, boxes, and dried herbs. He pulled out an empty bowl and poured in some water. Then he grabbed various herbs from his jars and crushed them into a fine powder which he mixed with the water.
Yong then grabbed the small wooden box and closed his eyes, muttering a short incantation. After uttering the last word, the written characters began to shine in a bright purple light before the pieces of paper began to burn away, ash and sparks floating into the air.
Once the seal was completely broken, Yong slowly opened the box's lid and pulled out several strands of dark hair from within. His grandfather had saved the crown prince's hair decades ago and had charged his grandson to safeguard it for this precise moment. It was unfortunate that it had taken this long, but he would see that everything was righted. For his grandfather's honor and for the sake of the Fire Nation.
He dropped the strands into the mixture. The cat-crow cawed as it flew from its nest to land on the man's shoulder. Closing his eyes, Yong uttered a few words in a strange language, gradually raising his voice in volume until it seemed to echo almost eerily in the small hut. The mixture began to bubble and glow. A hissing sound rose from the bowl's depths as the strands of hair dissolved into the now purple mist.
The mage snapped his eyes open and looked down into the bowl, nodding his head in satisfaction. He delved through his things once again before he pulled out a tattered map of the world and spread it flat on the table. He then grabbed the bowl and poured the mist over the map. Both the man and the cat-crow watched as the mist covered it completely for a moment before it shrank smaller and smaller until a small purple ring hovered over one particular part of the map.
"Hm, so Prince Zuko has been hiding in the Earth Kingdom," the mage mused with a nod of his head. "Very smart."
The cat-crow let out yowl from its perch on the man's shoulder. Yong reached up to scratch beneath his companion's feline chin.
"Come, Tepi, we must find him," he said as he turned away from the map.
Without delay, he packed several bags and provisions. Once ready, he rolled up the map and placed it within his robes, then he grabbed his straw hat, dark cloak, and his wooden staff. Several minutes later, he left his small hut and walked into the dark forest toward the nearest port city.
He must meet up with the prince. The Fire Nation needed to be saved from Azula's tyranny before she completely destroyed it and countless of innocent lives. He must complete the task his grandfather had set out decades before. His death would not be in vain.
He will bring the true Fire Lord home.
A/N: Ooh I wonder what's gonna happen now haha.
Thanks for reviewing and reading!
~alwaysZutarian