Chapter 44
****Attention, this chapter contains consensual underage-ish interactions of a sexual nature. I will mark the beginning of it, so those who would find it offensive can skip straight to the end**
Okay, let's all agree that I should never be trusted with a deadline…ever. You guys get a super-duper long chapter as a way for me to say sorry.
Katara
"Enough!" Lu Ten all but shouted, freezing everyone where they stood.
For a few beats of her heart, Katara didn't believe that it was really Lu Ten speaking, until she looked at his face.
Jaw set in a tight line, golden eyes bright with a simmering irritation, Lu Ten's hands clenched and unclenched several times as he stared his mother down in anger. The hall was silent except for the Fire Lady's panting, heavy breaths warming Katara's ear. No one spoke or dared to look away.
Lu Ten and the Fire Lady stared each other down, Yue was caught between them, her anxious eyes flickering around the room. Lu Ten's hand twitched—Katara's heart beat anxiously in her chest at the thought that he might actually strike his mother—but then Song was there, a steadying hand brushing his shoulder with the lightest of touches, her pink lips whispering gently at his ear and the young Fire Lord's frame sagged visibly at her touch.
The hand that had twitched, now ran tiredly over Lu Ten's face as he exhaled a long breath and stared back at them with exhausted eyes.
"Just...enough, Mother." He repeated, looking weary and drawn. He looked to Katara for a moment before his golden eyes returned to his mother.
His mother pressed her shaking fingers to her temples rubbing them in small circles, eyes squeezed shut, breaths coming in short pants. When she opened her eyes, the gold was streaked with red and tears threatened to fall. She reached for her son, but he'd already turned from her, facing the mercenaries instead.
There were six of them, hands tentatively inching closer to the scabbards on their hip, where their swords lay tucked inside. The Yu Yan didn't look concerned, or fearful, their faces statue-like, frozen in bland indifference. Occasionally, the men would glance at the Fire Lady, mute and quivering, her breath near hyperventilating speeds. If they attacked Lu Ten—Katara reached down to her hip, searching for her waterskin and finding...nothing.
Damn it!
"Forgive me, gentlemen," Lu Ten cleared his throat as he took a step forwards, eyes unmoving from the men in black. "But it appears that your services are no longer required."
Beside her, Zuko also took a step forwards, standing next to his cousin with a quiet solidarity. As his hand left hers there was an emptiness, a feeling of absence that gave her a quick sensation of fear down her spine. She wanted to pull him back, to keep him next to her, but Zuko would always protect the ones he cared about. Like she would, herself, so she wouldn't begrudge him that loyalty.
The one in the front, their leader perhaps, stepped closer to them, waiting with a relaxed and practiced ease. He pulled down the lower half of the mask he wore, revealing an almost innocent face, youthful cheeks offset by hard eyes and a dangerous grin. "We don't abandon our obligations." The man said, more blasé than anyone had a right to be.
"I know your type." Lu Ten dismissively waved them away with a superior air as he spoke. "You will. For the right price."
"Name it." Zuko added, voice low, and though she couldn't see his face, the muscles in his shoulders, back and arms tensed. Ready to strike-to fight. Would he firebend?
The man in black was silent for a moment, as he glanced back at the members of his group who nodded encouragingly. He met Lu Ten's gaze, lips turned up in a smarmy grin.
"15,000 gold pieces. Double what she was gonna pay us." He jerked his thumb at the Fire Lady, who wasn't even looking at them, instead staring up at the empty throne.
Lu Ten sighed quietly, resigned, glancing first at his mother, then Song. "O—,"
Zuko didn't wait a second before interrupting. "4,000 gold pieces." Zuko said darkly, a dangerous edge to his voice she'd never heard before. "For your trouble. Nothing more."
Lu Ten's eyes met Zuko's, eyes wide and lips parted in disbelief.
"You sure you want to play this game, little boy?" The mercenary leader quipped cockily, eyebrow raised as he grinned toothy and wide.
"You sure you're that intimidating?" Zuko's sardonic laugh was low and mocking. Despite the tense atmosphere, she wouldn't pretend that it didn't cause a tingling sensation in her most intimate of places to hear him speak so. He sounded so...alluring. At the mercenary's indignant look, Zuko then sniped, "3,000. I can go lower, if that pleases you."
"Zuko!" Lu Ten hissed under his breath, looking worriedly at his cousin.
"Zuko!" His mother whispered from next to her husband, "What are you doing?"
"Calm, Ursa." Katara heard Prince Ozai murmur softly to his wife, glancing quickly in her direction, she saw he had Ursa's arm gently intertwined in his own as he leaned closer to her, lips barely touching her pale neck. "Let the boys prove their mettle. This is…quite interesting."
Apart from a brief, quiet whimper of protest by Ursa, the silence returned.
The Fire Lady inched closer with small, nervous steps. "Lu Ten, let me—"
"2,000." Zuko's voice drowned out whatever Lu Ten's mother was going to say.
The mercenary leader's jaw twitched. "Why?" He spat.
Zuko shrugged, giving off a nonchalant air, but it was Lu Ten that cleared his throat, stepping forward. "The way I see it, my mother promised you payment in exchange for various services performed. From what we've seen, you've done nothing but stand there, treating yourselves to our hospitality. You have performed no service, so you deserve no pay."
Zuko nodded his agreement, breathing more evenly now as he relaxed. "The 2,000 we offer you is actually quite generous, especially considering you haven't lived up to your reputation in the slightest."
"Listen you little shit—," letting out an enraged snarl, the Yu Yan mercenary looked ready to lunge forward.
Zuko made a 'tsk'ing sound, keeping that nonchalant attitude, though both he and Lu Ten dropped into slight fighting stances, arms tense. But his voice was relatively even, she was proud of him for keeping it steady.
"—And if you really want to play this game, my cousin and I are more than willing to play. But it will cost you—cost you dearly."
She was so proud of him. And a little bit... excited, judging by how her heart sped up, and a tingle started in the pit of her stomach. It reminded her of how he was during the trial, how he must have been during
She loved to see Zuko like this-strong, determined, protective of the ones he loved-he was much more than his insecurities now. While she'd been away...locked away by Ozai, Zuko had devised a plan to crush a rebellion. He stood up for Katara at her trial. He'd fought to remain strong when everything he knew changed right before his eyes.
"Decide." Lu Ten ordered, jaw tight. "Before we make your decision for you. Do you really think you can defeat all of us with your pitiful excuse for weapons?" For a moment, Lu Ten's eyes flashed towards his Uncle.
There were a few seconds of tense waiting, while the mercenary leader thought, mulling over in his mind, before finally, he spoke. "We get the 2000? All of it?"
"I don't go back on my word." Zuko replied, nodding. Katara could see Lu Ten doing the same. "There is no honor for one who can't keep their promises."
After a beat, the mercenary nodded. "Fine."
Zuko looked to Lu Ten.
"Gu Zhi." He nodded at the old woman. At the mention of her name, Gu Zhi stepped forward, bowing deeply before the young Fire Lord. "She will make sure everything gets sorted." Again, Gu Zhi bowed, leaving the room quickly through a side exit.
The mercenary leader eyed Lu Ten for a moment before backing away and nodding, head low in unspoken respect. "Spirits bless your reign, then, Fire Lord. And Prince Zuko— I hear word in the streets that you're talented with dual swords. If you're interested—,"
Zuko looked back at Katara for a moment before he turned his gaze back, something shocking in his eyes. She grinned at him slyly as they shared a similar memory of their fight in the streets of the Capital city. Katara felt the eyes of not only his parents, but Yue, Song, Azula and Lu Ten, staring at the exchange between her and Zuko, but this was a memory she couldn't explain to them.
"I'm good." Zuko barely tilted his head in a nod, acknowledging the offer, but refusing all the same.
There was a long, silent, painfully awkward moment as everyone waited for the mercenaries to leave. Before too long, though, Gu Zhi came back into the room, holding a small brown sack with two hands.
Gu Zhi sniffed at the mercenaries disdainfully as she handed the moneybag over. They opened it, and after quickly eyeballing the amount, smirked, satisfied, tying the bag up and storing it away in a pocket.
Before they left, the leader addressed Zuko again. "If you're sure..."
"I'm sure." Zuko said with a note of finality, and irritation, arms crossing over his chest.
The leader shrugged, seemingly not bothered. "You can't win 'em all, I guess."
Bowing in unison, they all pulled their masks back over their faces before disappearing into the shadows once more. Lu Ten remained tensed until the last one had gone, before glancing sharply at Ozai. "Uncle. I want the elite guard making sure they're not still here. I want no trace of them remaining in my home, is that understood?"
Ozai nodded, eyes glinting dangerously in the low candlelight. "It will be done, Nephew."
Katara took her eyes off them to glance at Zuko. He had visibly relaxed, no longer shaking, nor glaring eyes determined to burn down the place, but he was still upset, shoulders visibly tensed. He backed up, returning to her side and blindly reaching for her hand; once he'd found it he did turn to her. And as she stared up at him, she felt the tentative smile come to her face.
But fortunately, no one, save Yue, was paying any mind to their interaction. Their eyes were glued to Lu Ten, watching with a rapt attention as he berated his mother.
"Mercenaries?" Lu Ten all but shouted at her. She stood apart from the group, not looking at them-not paying attention to what he was saying. But that if anything, her indifference only spurred the young Fire Lord on. "Of all the bad ideas—Mother! If you felt like you needed protection, why not call the elite guards? Why not talk to me?"
The Fire Lady glanced at Ursa and Ozai doubtfully. "He's got them all in his pocket...they couldn't be trusted. No one can be trusted."
"Even me?" The accusation seems to burst out of Lu Ten's mouth before he could stop himself, and indeed, after he says it, regret immediately crosses his face.
But that doesn't stop the wounded look from burning behind the Fire Lady's eyes. Her voice was barely higher than a whisper as she croaked out, "Surely you see-,"
"I know what I see, mother." He interrupted sharply, mouth set in a resolute line. "And frankly, I don't like it. What would Father say? Would he ever threaten or accuse the Southern Water Tribe? Would he ever hire mercenaries? No. He wouldn't. "
Her voice quivered as she spoke. "Lu Ten, I'm doing this for you—," The Fire Lady's hands shook as she reached for her son, but he pulled away from her, letting out a wounded sob as he flinched from her contact.
"No." Lu Ten shook his head, stepping even further away. "You're doing this for revenge, mother. Again. Just like with both Jin and Katara's arrests, you're more interested in assigning blame. You've turned your back on my father…just to keep your own throne." He looked away from her, shoulders shaky.
"N-No, you don't understand, they killed him." She pressed her shaking fingers to her temples rubbing them in small circles, eyes squeezed shut, breaths coming in short pants. When she opened them, the gold was streaked with red and tears threatened to fall. She reached for her son again, but he'd already turned from her, facing the mercenaries instead. "I had to protect you."
"Gu Zhi," Lu Ten ignored her words, shaking his head, his eyes fixating on his mother as the old servant bowed and stepped forward. "Please escort my mother to her rooms, please. I believe she has exhausted herself and needs to rest. Perhaps a sleeping draught?"
"Yes, my Lord." Gu Zhi bowed, and beckoning a young servant girl forward as well, moving to do as he asked.
"You're grieving, Sister." Princess Ursa murmured with soft, understanding eyes, hands up defensively. "You're not thinking rationally, only time can heal this wound."
But the Fire Lady shook her head vehemently, taking a large step backwards as the rest of the family advanced. "No…you're wrong. All of you are."
Blindly, she shoved her hands in the pockets of her robe, searching for something. Her right hand came out dripping crimson blood onto the white silk of her gown. She had pulled out a golden dagger, rubies and diamonds decorating the hilt, but her hand clenched tightly around the blade, blood pooling in her cut palm.
The Fire Lady didn't cry out or acknowledge either pain or her now bloodied dress. Yue gasped loudly beside her. Prince Ozai raised a refined eyebrow, but otherwise kept his face impassive. Katara's jaw dropped open.
"What in the world is she thinking?" Zuko hissed in her ear.
"She's not." Was all Katara could murmur back.
"Mother!" Lu Ten's bewildered eyes openly stared at his mother in shock, hands unceremoniously dropping to his sides. Even Song wore a blatantly puzzled expression. A pause lasting for what seemed like minutes filled the tense air.
"G-Grieving?" She said with a laugh, a shaking anger filing her voice, finally looking down at her hand and the dagger blade in her grip. She squeezed it tighter, the perfectly sharpened edges digging into her soft skin. Blood oozed from between her fingertips and dripped steadily onto the floor. Sharply, the Fire Lady looked up at them, vehemence and fire growing in her dark gaze, though her eyes threatened to spill tears.
"No. No, I'm not grieving. I'm betrayed!"
Azula rolled her eyes at the scene before her, but the behavior seemed hesitant, unsure. "No one has tried to betray you, Aunt." Azula said quietly, though she and Katara both knew the words were untrue.
"She's right," Zuko added, taking a step forward. "We love you. We want to help you—to ease your burden."
The Fire Lady laughed, dark and cruel. Teetering on her feet, and with a trembling hand, she held up the dagger menacingly towards Zuko, pointing it directly between his eyes. Katara reached out for Zuko's arm through his shirt, feeling the heat of his skin through the cloth and that eased her breath, though the pit of dread in her stomach refused to go away. "I'm betrayed by all those who profess to love me. Iroh loved me...and he too betrayed me... he left me alone. You, Zuko…you think I don't know that you're the root of all of this? You want my son's throne."
Zuko and Lu Ten shared a look of unease.
"Aunt I'm—I've never wanted—," Zuko started to say but Yun Xi cut him off.
"I don't care what you say. Your father—" She glared at Zuko, but her eyes flashed to where Ozai stood before finally focusing on Katara and the young woman beside her. Katara hissed, Yue's nails were digging into her arm. "—and your Water Tribe whores are not taking my son's throne. Over your carcasses."
Gu Zhi shot a frantic look toward Lu Ten. She started to back away from the irate widow, but the young man nodded again, jaw set, determined.
"What's going to happen?" Katara whispered to Zuko. He shrugged, unsure, but there was worry in his eyes.
Gu Zhi motioned toward the girl again and they actually managed to grab the Fire Lady this time, though the Dowager flailed widely, striking the young servant girl in the face with sharp, tracks of red welts marring her pale cheeks and beginning to trickle blood. Even so, the former Fire Lady struggled and fought with angry, bitter tears flowing down her cheeks. Her untamed hair came loose from it's simple style, sticking to her wet face and flowing down her back in tangled waves.
"My dear..." Princess Ursa tried to intervene, but her low voice went unheard over the struggle, as Gu Zhi managed to grab onto Yun Xi, restraining one arm while the woman tried to escape her grasp trying to escape their grasp.
Speaking to the young servant girl that accompanied Gu Zhi, the girl that had lost the fight, blood dotting her cheeks, Lu Ten ordered sharply, "Get me the guards!"
"I—I," The girl stammered nervously, but under Lu Ten's fierce glare, she squeaked out, " I can't! Her Majesty sent all the guards home! She dismissed the servants—fired mostly everyone!"
"Damn it!" Lu Ten hissed under his breath, watching the struggle. "Get me someone, I don't care who it is!" Then much lower, so low that Katara didn't think they were meant to hear it, he said, "I won'tattack my own mother."
"Y-yes my Lord," she mumbled and scurried out of the room.
Yue's breath hitched from next to her. "Katara what's happening?" She whimpered in her ear, eyes welling with tears, hand going to her belly on instinct, the other reaching for her cousin's hand with sweaty palms.
"I don't know." The Water Tribe Princess mused, lips pursed in concentration, blue eyes scanning faces and intentions. The room was hot with the magnitude of the fires that the Fire Lady had lit, sweat formed on the back of her neck and on her brow. There were vases in each corner of the room, red fire lilies thriving in the heat of the Fire Nation. She fought the urge to groan. Sweat and flowers. It wasn't much, but it was water, nonetheless. Her mouth set in a grim line. She didn't turn to look at her cousin, keeping her eyes moving.
"But if I tell you to run, you run—and don't look back."
Yue didn't reply. Katara had forced herself to sound as confident as possible, like she knew what she was doing. but Katara's heart beat faster within her chest, and the hairs on the back of her neck began to stand up.
The Fire Lady was still fighting Gu Zhi's grip, pulling and twisting with all of her might- this time she actually managed to succeed and backed away rapidly, staring at them all with panicked, frantic eyes. The hall was silent, tense nervous air hanging over them all like an angry storm cloud. Dark, looming, filled to the brim with thunder and lightning, threatening to crackle and explode. Everyone stood apart from her, calculating the next few moments and their next few words delicately, not wanting to completely unhinge the Fire Lady's already fragile state of mind.
"Mother please...," Lu Ten took a hesitant step forward, hands held up in front of him, to show her that he meant no harm. But her eyes remained glassy and unfocused, looking almost past her son.
She didn't look at him as he spoke, merely looked, transfixed, at the invisible target somewhere behind her son. "Iroh..." The Fire Lady muttered other words incoherently, swaying from side to side on the balls of her feet.
"Katara," Lu Ten swallowed thickly, words seemingly hard to say. "Can you do something for her? Please?" The hope in the young Fire Lord's voice nearly broke her heart.
She shook her head, the words feeling sticky on her tongue. "Even if I could, I doubt I'd have the strength to."
It might just kill me.
Solemnly, resigned, Lu Ten nodded. He clearly understood the logic of why she couldn't but wanted her to be their cure-all anyway. A feeling of uselessness twisted in her stomach, what good was she here? Katara wondered if Lu Ten secretly blamed her. She couldn't save his father, and she couldn't help his mother. If it were her own mother or father- or even Sokka-suffering in this way, she'd want the best help for them. Unfortunately, such help wasn't within her capacity to give.
The side exit opened, and the girl that Lu Ten sent away came back hurriedly, two men trailing behind her. Katara didn't recognize the first, he was an old man, with a short stringy beard, hunched back and gnarled hands. He had a dirty apron tied around his waist, and she could see several gardening tools sticking out of the pockets. The second man was the cook, Shuzen, face flushed and reddened, sweat beading on his brow as he kept wiping his hands free of grime. As they approached the tense group, they bowed lowly, breathing heavily before awaiting Lu Ten's orders.
"Restrain the Dowager Fire Lady." Lu Ten said calmly, though his eyes held so much pain, and his lips quivered slightly, his hands shaking with an effort to restrain himself—trying to keep his composure.
For a second, the two men stared at Lu Ten blankly, confusion obvious on their faces. She could only imagine what they were thinking…restrain the leading lady of their country? Almost unthinkable. Shuzen was first to react, marching over to the Fire Lady sternly, but the gardener was much less sure, and kept glancing back to Lu Ten for confirmation.
"Don't you dare touch me with your filthy hands!" The Fire Lady shrieked as they reached for her, shattering the uneasy silence, wrenching herself out of their grasp, pushing them away. For a moment, it looked like she would break away from them, just as she had from Gu Zhi.
But these men were not an elderly woman, and they held onto her tightly, the knife clattered to the ground, smearing indistinguishable blood along the red tiles. Lu Ten looked like he was breaking inside.
Katara didn't know what she would do if this befell her own parents…if her mother would react the same way to the loss of her father, surely every time the hunting party left the thought crossed her mind. But her parents lived in a place where the threat of danger was very real, and it was through their strong sense of community that fostered communal bonds…her family would suffer, but they would be alright. Her mother would be bolstered by the family that surrounded her, and not torn apart by those who wished to bring her down, as it happened here.
"Nephew." Ozai said quietly, sliding up to Lu Ten as the horror slowly grew on the Fire Lady's face. The young Fire Lord tore his eyes from his mother to focus on his aunt. Ozai nodded in the writhing woman's direction. "You know what must be done. Just as we've discussed. It's the only way…she only cares for herself…"
"You see? You see how he controls you?" Yun Xi muttered silently, staring at her son with derision. "Zuko too…they have influence over you…influence you refuse to see."
"Mother, Zuko would never betray me."
She narrowed her eyes at him, hands balling into fists like she was stopping herself from trying break free and striking him. "You don't know that. They all will. One day. You'll see. And then I'll be right. You'll wish you'd listened to me."
Lu Ten shook his head. "You could say the same thing about yourself, Mother. Or Song and Yue, even." Song frowned at his words, hands coming together over her stomach. "The fact remains that…no matter how much we wish otherwise…I'm Fire Lord now…Do you trust me to do this on my own? Without you?"
The Fire Lady remained silent.
Almost as if that was what he was expecting, but just didn't want to hear it, Lu Ten seemed to freeze, then nodded grimly, "I see. Then we have no more to say." He exhaled a short breath a short breath before directing his attention to the men holding his mother. "Escort my mother to her room. Uncle Ozai…I want the elite guard posted at her door until I devise guard rotations. For her own safety, of course."
A strangled cry left the Fire Lady's lips as Ozai replied, voice oily and slick. "It will be done, my Nephew."
Silently, Lu Ten turned away so he wouldn't have to see the men dragging his mother away. Once they'd gone, the door slamming heavy and with a somber finality, he turned back to the rest of them with sad eyes. "Zuko, if you have a moment, I'd like to speak to the you in the library." He glanced quickly at the two women who loved him.
"I'll be there. Just give me a moment." Zuko said quietly, Katara believed he was delaying the talk partially so he can speak to her, but also in order to give his cousin a moment to gather his thoughts. Lu Ten nodded stiffly and walked away from them all, a somber sort of drag to his shoulders.
"I won't pretend that I wasn't scared for you then, as impressive as I thought you were." She murmured to Zuko as he leaned towards her.
"When she threatened you with keeping you here—I almost—And if she'd pulled the knife on you instead of me—," He didn't finish, but Zuko didn't have to, she knew what he meant. The clenched fists that he'd been hiding in the sleeves of his white robes looked ready to ignite at any moment…she'd been desperately trying to get him to relax, to calm down…
"I know," She replied. "I don't think I've ever seen the Fire Lady so unhinged…not even during the poisoning back in the garden…she's truly suffering."
Zuko hummed, acknowledging her words. "She's suffering, but she knows the significance of a smooth transition of power. Hiring mercenaries is never a good option, a mercenary's loyalty is only to the coin in their pockets." Zuko scolded his aunt, even if not directly to her face. But his golden eyes focused on hers, searching her face. "But I want to know…how are you?"
If she were being honest, she still felt the exhaustion of her long sleep from the tea, the tiredness seemed embedded in her bones and muscles, spurred on by the emotional drain of the last twenty or so minutes that had rocked Zuko's family…and by extension, her family now as well. Though she wasn't married to Zuko yet, she wasn't going to let this break her, or her cousin.
"I'm tired, but okay." She said, only realizing with the words exactly how much of that was true. "You?"
"Same." He shook his head. "I don't know how Lu Ten is going to get through this…but he'll survive."
"With you helping him…he'll be fine." She said, squeezing his hands tightly. She leaned closer, voice dropping to a whisper. "I'm so proud of you."
He brought their intertwined hands up for a quick kiss. "I couldn't have done it without you there."
She sucks her teeth as her lips curl in an amused smirk, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. "Sure, you could have. I have every confidence in you." Her gaze softens as something flirtatious comes over her. "But I'm glad I got to see it... you're pretty attractive when you're like that."
"Oh really?" He murmured against her skin. "Maybe I should give you a repeat performance?" Something heated flashes in his eyes then.
"Later." She responds, equally enthusiastically, before she remembers that they are in fact, not alone, and that they probably have an audience.
But no one was paying attention to them. Ursa and Ozai murmured between themselves, while Azula was glaring at the door the Fire Lady left through. Song was doing the same, though her big brown eyes were sad, more than anything else. Releasing her hands, Zuko smiled down at her for a brief moment before he too disappeared behind a closed door.
Hearing a soft sound besides her, Katara turned to her cousin, Yue looked to be on the verge of collapse, quivering and shaking and falling into Katara's arms, broken sobs coming free once Lu Ten left the room. "Y-you were right. You were so right...I don't think I've ever been so scared in my whole life."
I warned you. She wanted to say. I warned you that you'd be completely over your head…but you don't listen to me.
"What did you think was going to happen?" Azula sniped cruelly, marching over to them both. "That Lu Ten and my aunt were going to accept you with open arms? You're lucky your head is still on your shoulders. People have died for less."
Yue sniffed, insulted at the words of Zuko's sister. "What offense have I committed? If anything, it was she that was threatening me!"
"And if you'd walked into Ba Sing Se my brother would have done the same." Song replied, giving Yue a disdainful glare. "You threaten to undermine what has been so carefully constructed. Because you couldn't manage to act with the propriety of a priestess."
"How did you—,"
"Your hair." Song said matter-of-factly, looking down on Yue. "Colored snow white with a dye that's supposed to make you more at one with the spirit world, and never fades…no matter how long the years pass. Breaking your vows are a death sentence, or so I'm told."
"Not a death sentence, no." Katara interjected, willing to defend Yue but she felt the tension still blanketing the room like a heavy cloud. "Exile, but not death. An exile can still marry—have children… and those children are welcomed to the Tribe."
"So, would your tribe take Yue's child?" Song asked her, narrowing her eyes.
"Yes, honestly." Katara said simply, though Yue looked at her with surprise. Katara almost returned her gaze. She thought this was common knowledge. "But it would never be an easy life…both would suffer. It's for this reason that such a thing rarely happens."
But Song looked intrigued at the thought. Katara suddenly had a sinking feeling that she wasn't speaking to Yue's benefit at all.
"Of course," Katara said with a nervous timbre to her voice, " But Fire Lord Lu Ten would have the final word, this is his child, after all."
"So, it would seem." Song muttered crossly, before bowing slightly and exiting the throne room.
Azula still looked displeased, but Yue was the one shaking next to her, practically green in the face, breaths coming rapid and tight in her chest. She looked like she was going to throw up, hunched over, resting her hands on her knees, gown slipping off her shoulders. Katara rubbed young woman's back in soothing motions, murmuring things to calm her down.
"Perhaps you should take Yue back to your room, so she can lie down. Stress isn't good for a pregnant woman." Princess Ursa said, offering them both a kind smile. Katara almost had to force a smile in return. This woman, this beautiful woman, mother to the one she loved and almost a second mother to Katara couldn't have had anything to do with the Fire Lord's murder. Such a thing was...inconceivable.
"I believe you're right." Katara agreed with the older woman. Turning towards Gu Zhi, the elderly woman's face looking worried and drawn for once, she asked, "Gu Zhi, would it be possible to have some food sent to Yue's room in the Concubine 's quarters? And to mine as well?"
"Which room, your highness?" Gu Zhi asked. "Your room in the Concubine's Quarters, or the room that you're to share with Prince Zuko?"
There seemed to be a suffocating silence as the woman waited for to her speak, and as she spoke, she felt the nervousness gather in her stomach at her decision.
"The room that I'm to share with Zuko...Actually, if it wouldn't be too much trouble, could you find some way to bring some food for Zuko too? He hasn't been eating much since I've been…ill. "
By her simple declaration, she'd basically announced that she and Zuko were as good as married. It was implied of course, but implication and intention are everything. Princess Ursa looked to be almost on the verge of tears, giddiness radiating from her bright smile and Prince Ozai lips lifted on one side, giving the illusion of a grin. Anyone else might have been fooled by his pretenses, but not her. Not anymore.
Gu Zhi nodded assuredly, "It is no trouble at all, I will give the orders to the kitchen myself, as Shuzen is otherwise...occupied."
She murmured quiet 'thanks' and turned to go.
"I shall accompany you, Katara."
Prince Ozai's smooth voice came from her direct left, much closer than he originally was, and as she looked up, she realized that he was much taller than her, taller and broader than Zuko even, and though the similarities in their appearance couldn't be denied, that was where the resemblance ended. Zuko's father looked to be the very image of relaxation, regardless of all that had transpired there today. She cringed. The Fire Lady's blood still hadn't been cleaned up from where it dripped onto the floor, and the longer it lingered, the longer it would stain.
"I hardly think that's necessary." Katara shakily backed away from his close proximity and dragging Yue, stumbling, with her.
If anything, Ozai looked amused by her reaction to him. "Those men might still be lurking about somewhere... I wouldn't want any harm to befall you."
Like I can believe that.
She snorted lightly, feeling the urge to mimic Azula and roll her eyes. But her chin raised in defiance. "I think you'll recall quite well that I can take care of myself, Prince Ozai, and that I'm stronger than I look."
She didn't wait for his reply and started off hurriedly towards the door, dragging Yue behind her as the ex-priestess wobbled, unsteady on her feet. Two men bowed to her and opened it, and she nodded at them before going through it.
Once out of the darkened throne room, with the light of the early afternoon summer sun, Katara began to feel the weight lift from her shoulders, finding strength in the knowledge that Lu Ten seemed to be coming to terms with the position of Fire Lord, and that she and Zuko wouldn't be separated after all.
But the doors never closed behind her.
Feeling eyes on the back of her neck, Katara turned, seeing her future father-in-law making his way towards her. She stood frozen, almost rooted to the spot as he came closer, lips parting in a grin. The doors to the throne room closed with a bang.
"Shall we?" He asked, the smirk tugging at his lips showing his undeniable amusement at the uncomfortable tension filling her body.
She sighed, knowing she wasn't likely to get away from him. Not here, anyway. So, they walked to Yue's room together, in pure silence as Katara put a wide berth between them. No matter how she tried to quicken her pace, Prince Ozai's long legs and gliding manner of walking kept him to her side. The only sound came from the turtle duck pond as ripples brushed against the shore and the sound of distant quacking as they passed it. When they reached Yue's room, they stopped, Yue hovering behind Katara nervously, trembling hands on her shoulders.
He stepped closer. Yue froze behind her at his proximity, she couldn't back away. Now only an arm's length separated them. His golden eyes twinkled mischievously, with the hint of danger underneath the surface. A look she'd been well accustomed to during the duration of her imprisonment.
Is this where you kill me? She mused quietly to herself, hoping she wouldn't be right just this once.
He leaned forward, that same amused grin on his lips. "About what you said earlier... That you're so much stronger than you look...yes, my dear, I do remember..." She tried not to visibly cringe at his words. But failed. Even so, he continued as though she hadn't done anything. "But you and I so rarely get the chance to chat."
His voice was warm, almost enticing. But Katara wasn't stupid.
She looked away from him.
"I don't remember us having anything to say to one another. In fact, the last time we interacted directly, I was locked up in a Fire Nation prison for adultery, assault, and basically the crime of loving your son."
He chuckled slightly, as though the memories of her pain, of her suffering were no more than a joke. To him, they probably were a joke.
He offered her the grin she noticed he'd used for Princess Ursa. She wasn't buying it. Not for a moment. She knew what he was capable of, what he could incite others to do on his behalf. She wouldn't be used by him. She wouldn't let Zuko be used either.
He grinned at her. "I do believe I overreacted about that...My apologies, Katara, I underestimated not only the depths to which you love Zuko, but the depths to which he loves you, and your undeniable influence on him." He turned and looked away from her, towards the duck pond, to the happy family turtle-duck family swimming around without a care. Prince Ozai murmured without turning, so lowly she had to strain to hear it, "Such revelations make me see that the only thing I can do is support your marriage wholeheartedly."
"Why?" She spat with more venom than was probably smart in this situation.
If anything, he seemed happy at the way she'd answered, not insulted. "This family doesn't do well for the weak, or the easily manipulated. My concubine and her minions are proof enough of that." His lips curled in a sneer. "If you were weak, you might have fled at the first sign of danger. But you didn't. You're a beautiful girl of many talents, Katara, as I find out regularly. Your abilities fascinate me...and I assure you, I do not become...fascinated so easily."
Her abilities?
She shook her head, trying to gather her thoughts, staring up at him in mildly irritated confusion. Her voice was hard still, but there was a lilt to it. "What do you want from me?"
He shrugged, moving forward and covering her shoulder with his hand. She tried not to shiver. "Nothing threatening, I assure you. I only want what's in the best interest of my nation...and the world."
Katara snorted, though the breath she exhaled was shaky. "How is that your concern?"
"We all must do our duty from time to time, don't you agree?"
Any other person, they'd be fooled by the kind gestures, the softened tone of his voice. But she's known what Zuko's father was capable of for a long time now. Maybe not to the fullest extent, but she had no doubt he'd had his hands in nearly everything.
"I suppose." She said quietly, her voice devoid of emotion.
He chuckled again, lowly this time, without the previous inflection of lightness, his dark eyes suddenly became cruel and daunting. If Yue wasn't bracing herself against Katara's back, she would have staggered backwards to the wall.
He hissed lowly in her ear. "For your own good, my dear, you should know that I don't take kindly to being undermined."
Katara stared blankly at him, but she could feel Yue's nails digging into the skin of her back. "I'm not sure what you mean."
"What did you think you were doing when you restored Zuko's bending abilities without my permission?" He spat, golden eyes glaring, fingers still gripping her shoulder with a tightened practice.
"W-What?" She stammered, gasping at the unexpected question.
Ozai let her go, pacing before her in a small line, the words coming harsh and quick off his tongue. "Did you two really think I wouldn't notice? The heat radiating off him, the sudden brashness displayed in the throne room just now?" He stared her down, mouth grim. "The Zuko from three months ago would never have stared down six mercenaries like that. The boy was too insecure to button his own breeches."
"Maybe Zuko isn't the person you thought he was." She snaps, returning the older man's glare.
But Ozai laughed at her, lips curling back to reveal gleaming teeth. "Zuko is exactly what I think he is. And he will be exactly what I want him to be. If you think you can influence him otherwise, you're sorely mistaken." His posture threatening as he leaned over her, looming and imposing and imperious.
Fear bloomed in Katara's chest. She'd made a grave error with what she'd done for Zuko. Ozai wouldn't forgive her for this. But if he was mad about this, then why would he be supportive of her marriage with Zuko? What did he stand to gain?
Nudging Yue off her, Katara took a giant step backwards, away from Prince Ozai's stifling aura. She pantomimed yawning dramatically, and Yue quakily followed suit. "If you'll excuse me, Prince Ozai, the poison your concubine gave me must not have worn off yet, I'm suddenly feeling very drained."
But the fear still spread in her chest.
Almost as if he could sense it, Ozai backed off, stepping further away from her and resuming that mask of faux kindness and fatherly behavior. "Yes, of course, my dear. You must take care of yourself." He turned to go and Katara had never before felt such relief.
"Thanks for your concern." She muttered tightly at his retreating figure, long white robes sweeping down the hallway imperiously. Yue looked positively terrified, a shaking hand coming up to her mouth. Katara couldn't resist the I-told-you-so. "I told you this was a viper's nest."
She nodded, before shakily opening the door to the small room provided to her by Song. Looking further down the hallway she looked to see Gu Zhi herself bringing the treaty of food for Yue.
"Princess Katara, I've already taken your food to your chamber, I could bring it to you here, if you'd prefer." The woman bowed to her as she approached.
"No, thank you Gu Zhi." She said quietly. "I'll be there shortly." The woman nodded and turned to leave. "Wait, before you go, I have a request. If possible, could you assign someone other than Mena to look after my cousin? Someone...trustworthy? I worry she won't be taken care of."
Gu Zhi nodded, instantly understanding. "As you wish, Your Highness. Princess Song won't be happy, I might add."
Katara sighed. "I know, but I must do what's best for my cousin."
When Gu Shi left, Katara also turned away, but she was stopped by Yue's hand clutching her arm, blue eyes full of fear and worry.
"Katara..." She whimpered, "Prince Ozai scares me."
Katara shook her head, the fear that bloomed in her chest growing with every breath.
"Me too."
Later, still Katara
She opened the door to her—soon to be their—bedroom at his arrival, he leaned against the doorframe wearily, golden eyes hooded and heavy. He entered slowly, grinning at the sight of the food on the low table, meat and rice covered in red pepper powder, along with an assortment of side dishes in small bowls placed around it.
"Before you ask, I ate already." She said with a laugh in her voice.
"When did you prepare this—," he started, beautifully golden eyes looking hopelessly touched.
"When will you realize that I have everything under control?" She quipped, her grin matching his as Zuko pulled her close for a quick kiss. She felt a vibrating pulse go through her as his soft lips met hers, radiating contented pleasure throughout her body.
Releasing her, he shrugged. "Probably about the time I stop being surprised that you're willing to do things like this for me...and that you're still here."
She rolled her eyes at his self-deprecating comments, only partly irritated by the words, though she knew the smile on his lips said he was only half joking. She mercifully decided to spare him a lecture on his own self-worth and gestured to the plated food near the fireplace. He seated himself on the plush cushion in front of the carved table that now decorated the once sparse room, gingerly unclasping the black diadem, letting his near shoulder length hair fall down his face, coming into his eyes. He looked so relaxed, so at ease, it made heart lighten to see it.
While Zuko began to eat, she moved towards the bed, exhausted from the day. She lay down on her stomach, arms crossed in front of her as she rested her head on her forearms, watching him.
"It got cold." She mumbled sheepishly, the words were muffled by the sleeves of the white nightgown Gu Zhi brought her for sleeping in. "I'm sure Gu Zhi wouldn't mind heating it-."
"No problem, remember?" He chuckled, picking up the now cold teapot and holding it in his palm. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. After few seconds, a thin trail of steam rose from the spout. At her flabbergasted expression, he winked at her almost playfully. "An old trick of Uncle Iroh's." He smiled wistfully at the memory from his childhood pouring the light brown liquid into a cup.
"I…remember." She said, recalling how long ago, Iroh had done the same in his chambers.
But as Katara watched the steam rose lightly from the pot, she was struck by horror as she remembered her conversation with Ozai earlier in the day.
Should she tell Zuko what his father said? That he knew? Would there be a punishment for her, him, or for them both? She didn't know, but if Ozai knew for all this time, and had done nothing...maybe he intended to continue in that vein? Maybe he...
There were too many possibilities.
"What's wrong?" Zuko asked sharply, sitting up on his knees, looking ready to hurry to her side, concern written all over his face. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Not a ghost...a monster.
She shook her head, forcing a smile. "It's nothing, Just Yue... you know, the baby is giving her a lot of sickness, I was thinking I could give her an herbal remedy." She scrambled to find a half-baked reason for the terror that crossed her face. Zuko raised an eyebrow at her in disbelief, but thankfully didn't say anything more to her before she rushed to change the subject. "How was your meeting with Lu Ten?"
Zuko sighed, running a pale hand over his forehead. "A lot of it was just trying to get Lu Ten's head on straight...I don't think I've ever seen him that...broken."
She nodded, sitting up and swinging her legs over the front of the bed so they dangled over the side. "It's a lot to deal with for someone so young." She said quietly, "First there's the loss of one parent, and then the other—,"
"Goes mad with grief and sees demons around every corner." He finished.
"She's been through a lot." Katara offered in the Fire Lady's defense. "Fire Lord Iroh was all she had...he meant the most to her. They would have been married for 25 years come this May. It's not easy to lose the love of your life."
Their eyes met across the room, and she felt her heart flutter, though if it was from the intensity of his gaze or the subject matter, she wasn't sure. But she did know one thing, she couldn't stand to lose him either.
Anyway," Zuko continued, breaking eye contact first, turning back to the food on his plate. "He basically told me that he doesn't trust anyone anymore, that everyone had their own agenda...wanted to use him for their own personal gain...except for me."
"You?" She asked, leaning forward. "The Fire Lady thought you were his main competition."
When he looked at her next, his eyes were clear, honest as he spoke softly. "I meant what I said, before...I never wanted the throne...I still don't." He looked away from her, back down at the table. "I only ever wanted my mother to be happy, and to live my life in peace with someone I loved...with someone who loves me. Seeing the cruelties of court life can extinguish the flame of ambition, you know?"
They were both silent for a moment, internalizing Zuko's words...such a life...of simplicity, without complication...was it possible?
After a while, she looked up at him. "Do you regret it?"
He eyes snapped to hers as he was setting the bowls to the side, stacking them, now finished eating. "Regret what?"
"The Hana Matsuri." She said with a somber lilt to her voice...
The Hana Matsuri was the epitome of courtly struggle—prestige, power, danger, ambition, and competition, and brought out the best and the worst in its participants
He sighed, resting an elbow on the tablet. "I don't know. On one hand...I feel like my Aunt and Uncle's mission to get Lu Ten married and producing heirs is what started this whole mess in the first place. But...on the other hand, I wouldn't have met you."
And there was something so sincere in the way he said those words…something that threatened to undo her. Zuko, you're almost too much for me.
There was something different about the way he looked at her tonight, something...electric that passed between them. A feeling that charged the whole air, giving it a romantic tension that seemed to radiate from his body to hers, reaching places deep within her...places she's only heard talked about while training with the other boys her age.
She folded forward, resting on her legs, trying to ignore the heat gathering within her, centering between her thighs.
Zuko's lips parted, eyes widening. "That reminds me... don't tell Yue, but Lu Ten wants to marry both Song and Yue in the same ceremony on his coronation day He wants to give them both the same rank."
She sat up, brows furrowing in confusion. "The same rank? Is that possible? Neither Song or Yue will be satisfied."
He shrugged. "It's not unheard of—but it's rare. He knows they won't be happy, but it's the only solution Lu Ten could come up with to honor Yue as the mother of his potential first born, and Song's status as the sister of the Earth King, and who he'd already given his word too."
There was something sad about this situation as he legs swung idly. "What about Lu Ten's heart?"
"Honestly, I think he does love then both... in his own way."
"The heart wants what it wants." She said sagely, lips parting at the sight of him, letting out labored breaths as she stared, his face framed by the light of the fire. Dare she think it? He looked so…so…delicious.
"I suppose it does." He breathed out, voice husky, eyes roving over her.
She licked her lips, watching how his eyes followed the motion of her tongue wetting her skin as she swallowed, unable to breathe evenly. His eyes darkened as he watched her. He rose suddenly, making his way over to her swiftly. He stopped before her, crouching down to her eye level on the bed. His cheeks were flushed, his hand warm and heavy as he rested it on her thigh, dangerously close to the source of her heat.
Her tanned hand came up and brushed the hair from his eyes, allowing her to see him more clearly. She could see the gold in his eyes shine in the low light of the room, the almost white-gold flecks gleaming with his intoxicating gaze. The hand that rested on his head moved down his face, brushing against his cheeks with the lightest of touches. His eyes fluttered closed as he let out a shaky breath under her fingers, his warm breath on her palm sending a pleasurable tingle down her spine.
She leaned in close, resting her forehead against his, their lips only inches apart, breath mingling. She waited until he'd opened his eyes again, before speaking. She thought of his father, who seemed so determined to see them suffer. She thought of Zuko, how he still didn't believe that he was worthy of love, of success, and that she could show him that yes, he was.
"Zuko¸" she breathed, her breath mingling as he exhaled too. "I love you. With you, I feel like...like I can take on whoever and whatever comes our way."
His eyes closed again, and the hands on her thighs gripped them tighter, as his body threatened to compress hers. She's heard the boys back home talk about being with a partner, of how they'd touched them late at night, and those who were married described their sexual escapades with their wives—girls she knew. She'd felt a curiosity, a yearning to know what they were talking about, to feel that passion described by their words.
She'd heard about what it was like to want someone, but…not until she'd met Zuko had she felt it. It was a thorough charge to her system, never in her life had she been the object of desire like this, like the way he looked at her. Once she'd understood the effect, she had on him, she teased him, loving the way his eyes roved over her in the cave. Hahn had never looked at her like that, it wasn't genuine, it wasn't love.
There was something so empowering about knowing that she affected Zuko…could arouse him. She'd felt it, felt his excitement, hard beneath her fingers that day, but they'd ignored it, content to just lay together chastely, but it was there. In that moment, he'd desired her just as much as she wanted him. But nothing came of it.
Zuko decides that he's waited long enough and his lips slant over hers, their kiss is deep, tongues mingling, full of unspoken words and sweet nothings as the lusty headiness in the room threatens to consume her entire being. His fingers are still tightly gripping her thighs, the seam of her robe threatens to separate under his hands, as her fingers find their way into his messy hair, tangling in the locks and drawing him closer, tighter against her. She falls backwards, and Zuko's hands leave her legs to brace himself on the bed. As she falls, they separate, though her arms remain around his neck. They're both breathing heavily, both their lips pink and swollen and looking thoroughly kissed as he leans over her, dark eyes filled with lust. Her chest heaves, flushed red under the 'v' created by the dress. She knows he can see it, knows that he must be imagining what's underneath. She wants him to see it—to see her.
"Zuko…" She gasps as he raises a hand to brush against her collarbone, his fingers leaving a pleasurable heat as they trail across her body. She tries again as his pale fingers dip into the gap between her dress and her skin, finding the soft skin of her breast, lightly grazing over the sensitive flesh. That warm feeling burns brighter under his ministrations as all of the pleasure goes straight from her nipple to her core, a sharp pleasure that shocks her and makes her gasp, eyes closing.
"You're so beautiful…" he exhales, so softly she wasn't sure she was meant to hear it.
"No bindings?" He pauses, raising an eyebrow at her, a devious smirk on his lips. "At all?"
"I-I never wear them to sleep—," She gasps as he climbs further onto the bed, legs on either side of her hips, hovering over her flushed form. His other hand not preoccupied runs down her chest to her navel, causing her to tremble, wishing he would move just a little lower, squeeze her tighter, kiss her once more. As if he can hear her thoughts, the hand at her breast runs over her heated skin roughly, making her cry out.
"So, when we lay together that day—," He bites out, voice huskier than usual, rough as he struggled to keep composure.
"I wasn't wearing them then." She says as he kneads the flesh of her hips, watching with delight as her cheeks flush and sweat beads on her neck, "—I'm not wearing lower bindings either."
She knows what that will do to him.
As predicted, his mouth slams onto hers with an almost inhuman growl, hands supporting himself by her head, but before long, he leaves her lips to nibble at her neck, leaving a burning trail wherever he touched. She's beyond herself now, letting out little gasps and noises of pleasure that only spur him on to come closer to her. She can feel the outline of him through his trousers, and if she could keep her eyes open for longer than two seconds, she'd probably see it.
"I want you…" She replies, forcing her eyes open to meet his as he pulls away from her, her fingers trailing lightly down his arm, loving the feel of his heated skin underneath the tunic. "…all of you." Satisfaction courses through her at the way his eyes dilate and his breath hitches, hand and lips pausing their idle work.
"Me?" He questions, breathing hard. Despite the obvious interest in his eyes, there was a hint of worry, a hint of fear.
"You." She nods as best she can. But it doesn't have the effect Katara hoped it would as the apprehension grows behind his golden gaze. "I thought it was clear that you were stuck with me, Zuko."
"But what about Water Tribe tradition?" He asks, sitting up, still straddling her. She raises herself on her elbows to meet his eyes—for one thing she was right about his excitement, and he didn't look small either— but she forces herself to remain focused. "I thought this was supposed to be special?"
"If it's with you, it will be special. Maybe I…overreacted about my traditions and customs, before." She acknowledges, hoping to reassure him. She wanted this…but…maybe he didn't. "Aren't you supposed to be the one initiating this? Supposed to be all for it."
Zuko rolled his eyes, scoffing. "Please. I may come from a long line of the world's biggest sex addicts but give me some credit here." He trailed his arm down her side, resting it on her hip and she let out a shaky breath at the contact. "Believe me…I desire you in a way I've never wanted anyone else…and it's because of that reason…I want our first time together to be significant... to mean something. It would be my first as well. My ancestors treated sex like something they were entitled to. Lu Ten's done it too. Just because of who they were. We have the rest of our lives to never get enough of each other." His eyes were purely sincere…and she was touched by his honesty, reaching down for the hand that rested on her hip and giving it a tight squeeze, offering him a smile.
"Is that so?" She asked, lips tugging to one side.
He brought her hand up for a quick kiss. "It's a guarantee."
Despite her understanding where he was coming from, and that she acknowledged the validity of what he said, she lay back, collapsing on the bed, disappointment flooding her system, replacing the heat that was once there.
At her expression, his mouth curls into something mischievous, something dangerous as his eyes widen like he's just had an idea. "But that didn't mean I can't keep my promise, though." He murmurs, raising, starting to slide off her.
"What do you mean?" She asks, sitting up again.
He coughs lightly, looking almost nervous. "Earlier, you'd mentioned that you found my silver tongue…attractive. And I promised to give you a repeat performance." His cheeks redden at the words, but his eyes are bright, determined.
Katara snorts in a way that Gu Zhi would describe as 'most unladylike' as she smiles up at him, a laugh on her lips. "You choose now for speeches?" She asks incredulously.
For a moment, he doesn't say anything. Finally, he slinks down further, smirking sexily in a tantalizing sort of way, a smooth confidence oozing off him, making her once diminishing desire flare up again in anticipation, her heart beating a little bit faster.
"Do you trust me or not?" Was all he said.
"Yes," She said almost immediately. She pauses as he continues sliding down her in silence. "Zuko, what are you doing?"
He waits once he's halfway down her body, he looks up at her quickly with a sort of nervous apprehension, a quick flash of fear in his eyes before he swallows, shoulders squaring before he parts her gown, revealing her bare legs and binding-less lower half.
She gasps, as his intention is clear to her now. A tingle races through her as his hands hover over her core, the lack of contact making it all the more torturous as heat races through her once more. For a moment, his hand just stays there, close enough to feel her body heat, but not touching, not feeling.
She is wet, and she knows it, she felt her own arousal from the minute their lips met, and it had only gotten worse from there, the burn between her thigh almost insatiable as he'd moved his mouth against hers. But now Zuko was seeing it. Seeing her. Clearing his throat, and with a bit of newfound brevity, he ran his fingers over the curly patch of hair at the top of her mound, barely touching her tender skin, teasing her with his feather light touch.
She forces the question from her lips. "H-How do you—oh!" he cuts her off with a quick swipe of his palm over her, licking his lips at the rush of wetness that gathers, probably staining the dress, but she didn't care. He leans down, inhaling her scent, and she wishes that he'd do something and stop taunting her already.
The look he gives is pure trouble. "No wonder you're a waterbender…you're dripping." He murmurs, breath tickling her pearl as she gasps, hands clenching and unclenching as she pants, breathing rapidly with the anticipation. Before she can react, he gives her what she wanted, long fingers rubbing against her pearl rapidly as a louder moan tears itself from between her lips.
"Zuko," She nearly cries, the coil tightening inside the pit of her stomach. Her hips buck involuntarily against his hand, and the other comes up to hold her down, pushing lightly against her hipbone, restraining her. But he is achingly slow, torturing her in the best ways possible and she'd give anything for him to move faster, to unleash the pressure building inside her body.
Her heart is beating at a rapid pace, but Zuko seems calm and collected which infuriates her. Her hands find purchase in his hair again, gripping his locks and raking trembling fingers over his scalp with a roughness she doesn't intend, but realizes causes him pleasure as his hands stop for a moment, he exhales, looking up at her before resuming his ministrations faster.
"Please—," Is the only thing she can say at this point, reduced to nonsensical babbling.
With a wicked grin on his lips, he finally lowers his head to her, tongue slowly laving over her folds and she can't take it. It is too much too soon, and she tries not to writhe uncontrollably on the bed, releasing a long moan but her body has a mind of its own now. He must hold her tighter, rougher to keep her still. She is consumed by heat, by the roughness of his tongue as he grinds it against her, she moans uncontrollably as he finally sucks on her pearl.
She cries out to him, and he enjoys it immensely, chuckling wickedly against her skin. When he goes back down, his tongue finds her entrance, and he dips it in and out, teasing, never the relief she truly wants, but isn't unwelcome. His hands resume circling her as her eyes close and she finds it hard to breath, shallow gasps are all she's capable of, her mind and body under his control.
She's practically sobbing now, as she grasps at the air, trying to remain grounded, but the pressure, the pleasure, is too much to bear. A long finger finds its way inside of her easily, slipping in at the wetness between her folds, and Zuko moves it tentatively and she shudders. It is uncomfortable for a moment, and causes her to tense, a feeling she's never had. But at the same moment he speeds up his hand on her pearl, interspersing that with his wicked mouth running over her, sucking her sensitive skin harder into his mouth.
When she relaxes, falling back and arms stretching over her head he adds another finger and pauses, dark eyes meeting hers for the briefest of moments, reading her expression. She's fine though, the uncomfortable feeling has all but disappeared to replace by pleasure at the stretch, the slight burn and for a second, she wonders if this is what if would feel like when they—
He murmurs how beautiful she is, how he doesn't deserve her how he's going to make her feel like this for the rest of her life and she can't take it. He reaches up, a hand trailing along her stomach as she grabs at her breasts, releasing them from the dress as she runs her hands over them roughly, the same way Zuko had. She feels the coil tighten, about to release, and she tries to tell him, but it seems that he already knows as the fingers inside her move faster, curling and hitting places she never knew existed, he sucks harder at her pearl, a single moan from his mouth vibrating all along her skin and bones and she almost screams because this feels so good, it's perfect.
She clenches around him, unable to stop the tidal wave once it's begun, as she spirals over the edge, consumed in pleasure, she can barely speak, barely breathe as her whole body shudders and she lets out a long, uninterrupted moan, Zuko's golden eyes mystified as he watches her squirm on the bed, legs flailing. It seems never-ending, seeming to stretch on forever until it finally subsides, leaving her boneless, collapsing where she lay. Her eyes close as she waits for her heart to resume beating and her breathing to return to normal.
When she does open her eyes, she sees him, head still between her legs, watching her enrapture. His swollen lips are parted, eyes heavy but intrigued, and she detects a hint of an arrogant satisfaction in his gaze.
"Come here…" She beckons him closer, and he scrambles too her, she feels his manhood brush against her thigh and that sends a tingle straight to her oversensitive nerves. She hisses, the pleasure almost painful and he freezes, like he did something wrong. But he did nothing wrong. He did everything right, so right, in fact, that she yanks on his shirt to pull him in for a searing kiss, one that makes her toes curl and makes him groan into her mouth delectably. She can taste herself on his lips and tongue and finds that she doesn't mind it so much.
When they finally separate, minutes later, he says voice low and rough and making her shiver, "To answer your question, partially Lu Ten." What was he talking about? She had no idea what…oh…her earlier question…'how did he know what to do?' "But I'm not a total idiot."
"One not at all, I should think." She states, a languid, satisfied smile crossing her features. He rolls off of her, and she curls into him, exhausted, legs and thighs still tingling. But she remembers and feels the pressure of him against her leg and sits up despite the boneless feeling in her muscles. She asks nervously, glancing towards his pelvis. "What... what about you? I—."
But he shakes his head, almost as though he knows what she's going to ask. "I did that for you because I wanted to, because I thought you'd enjoy it—,"
"Which I did." She says, fingers brushing his shoulders.
"—but not because I wanted you to reciprocate." He looks determined in this, eyes focusing anywhere but her face.
"Zuko…" She mumbles, trying to hold back a yawn and failing.
"Sleep, Katara. I'll be fine" He says tiredly, pulling her down to lie next to him. The feeling of his hands on her skin bring comfort and a soothing warmth to her skin, relaxing her, bringing her to the verge of unconsciousness. With a wave of his hand, the candles in the room extinguished in an instant. He whispers in her ear, "I've gotten pretty good at restraint."
She doesn't know how to feel about that, but the soft, steady breathing coming from him and brushing over her face as his back presses her tighter against his chest, arms surrounding her lulls her to sleep.
Before she does though, she vows to return the favor. To show him that he is worth it…that he doesn't have to restrain himself…at least not with her.
Never with her.
Crap that was hard to write. My first smut ever! How did I do?
I don't know how you guys will feel about this chapter... with Zuko and Katara having a bit of a Lemon in there. Katara and Zuko have both reached the age of sexual/ social maturity for their respective cultures, they just aren't legal (18) for our modern day standards, hence the consensual underage warning at the top. bit I mean...if this was 300 years ago (or a Song of ice and fire), at 22 I'd have had like 2 or 3 kids by now... if it didn't kill me first. (In some places this is a very real thing... even in the US) .
Hope you all enjoyed it! LM