A Kiss in Ba Sing Se: Secrets and Promises
[A/N: Regrets, connections, acceptance and a few unexpected surprises.
TAANG... you're it!
What have we done when we think we're alone?
Disclaimer: I do not own the Avatar: The Last Airbender
Enjoy.
Comment if you wish. All feedback is welcomed.]
Chapter 84
Behind the Door
As Capt. Ming entered the bedchamber, she saw that it wasn't in as much disarray as the front. Still, sections of the walls were broken and some of the furnishings were smashed to bits. She slowly closed the door behind her so that the men could continue speaking.
The bed looked to be new.
"Possibly a replacement," she thought as she continued to scan the rather large room.
"Does one person really need this much space? I've seen entire houses smaller than this!"
There was a musky odor, mixed in with that of a sweet citrus-like fragrance.
"A woman? Oh, that's right, it was probably one of the Princess' attendants. In the briefing from this morning, they mentioned a woman fighting alongside the Avatar against some spirit creature. I guess this accounts for the smells. She must bath in that perfume if the smell lingers this long." the captain reasoned as she slowly continued her advancement.
Ming made her way through, checking in and around the remaining wardrobe and under the bed to find no one. She then proceeded to the bathroom.
"By Agni! This bath is larger than the one our entire troop uses! It must have cost a fortune in marble alone, even for the Earth Kingdom!"
As soon as Ming got over the shock of the opulence, she checked the only place to hide in the bath, the partitioned water closet. Like the bedroom, it was unoccupied. She had never used a seated toilet until coming with the Fire Lord to the Earth Kingdom palace. She had to be instructed in its use. The real treat was the super soft cottony wipes that sat on a low table, in a neat stack, besides the commode.
The Fre Nation officer used either the thin, unabsorbent, paper they were issued or leaves. Sometimes in a pinch, she used a pinecone or two while in the field. When her meager rations of such articles were exhausted, she like others used whatever they could, at times without much success. Her family would send her the coarse, stiff, paper that most people utilized in their homes for such mundane purposes when they could afford it.
The Fire Nation officer smiled to herself. "I wonder if the Avatar's throne is more comfortable?"
She noticed that his toilet was crafted of granite instead of the common limestone one even in the Fire Lord's quarters. It looked as smooth as glass, reflecting the sunlight that filtered in from above. Instead of a wooden lid covering the opening, a matching one, with gold leaf around the lips sat on top.
As Ming went to remove the lid, it didn't come free. She then noticed the brass hinge that connected stool to cover. The captain was amazed at how effortlessly she was able to raise the weighty lid. Like a child with a new toy, she opened and closed it several times, giggling with delight.
With each raise, the strong, fresh, earthy smell from the hole beneath wafted up.
"How deep is this shaft that it doesn't smell foul," the captain considered.
Ming stood and raised her skirt, pulling her undies down around her knees. As she sat, she braced for that familiar cold shock. This time, there was just a slight coolness that faded instantaneously. She was amazed at how comfortable the surface felt against her buttocks. It seemed that it was custom fitted to her.
With a long sigh, Ming released her bladder followed by her bowels. As she sat back, the thought of the all clear signal sprang into her mind.
"Oh shit! I have to hurry!" she exclaimed out loud, reaching for the wipes.
The first touch made her golden eyes roll up into her head. "These are so soft!"
She had to focus again on getting back to the front. She sprang up from the comfy seat, pulling the lever that activated the watergate far below. She could hear the faint rush as well as smell the scented water as it washed everything away.
"Got to hurry," she exclaimed pulling up her panties and sprinting to the front.
Slightly out of breath, the captain rapped on the inside door twice.
Relieved that she was once more focused on her duties, Ming looked around for a place to sit, other than the bed.
"Did I close the lid?" she asked herself suddenly. "I don't think I did. I need to go close it before I forget.I'd be so embarrassed if he found out I used his privy!"
The captain leisurely strolled back into the bath, this time noticing that the tub was full. As she passed by, the full rich smell of the sandalwood oils caught her attention. Ming made sure to close the toilet lid before returning to the tub. She washed her hands in the warm water, flicking away the excess before using her bending to dry them completely.
"I can relax a bit I guess. I wish I could take a bath in here. I know the minute I did, his majesty would summon me! Ahhh, still it would be pleasant to indulge just once!"
As her thoughts drifted into the what-ifs, she spied a pile of clothes just behind the door. Ming looked to her left and then to the right as if verifying she was alone.
With a smile, she approached and squatted down in front of it. She could see that the heap of garments looked to be soiled and bloodied. She wasn't sure if they were worn during the fight that wrecked the suite.
"Hmmm, the Avatar did not look to be injured. Possibly someone else's blood?"
Atop the stack was a pair of red trunks. They appeared worn, but not particularly sullied.
"My, what do we have here?" she asked herself, reaching down with a finger and touching them.
Ming retrieved the item and held them up, taking a cautious sniff.
"Mmm… now that smells nice. He said he was going to take a bath, but I like his… stink."
The firebender threw the underwear up into the air, warming her hands as she caught them to draw out the distinctive scent more. Clutching the item tightly, she placed them right up to her face and took a long deep breath.
As Ming exhaled, drool began to spill out the side of her opened mouth. Her head was spinning and face glowing cherry-red.
"Oh, too good! Oh, Avatar, so sweet, so, so… sour, all at the same time! Does that big beautiful dick of yours, smell like this?"
Ming left the bathroom, walking into the bedroom with her new found treasure, holding it to her nose. She reached below her skirt, pulling down her tan, satin panty, kicking them off. With a last satisfying whiff, the captain slipped on the warmed underpants, making sure they pressed into her moistened crotch.
Holding the front, she worked the cloth deeper in, sawing back and forth as her excitement mounted. The tension mounted in her core exponentially. Ming fell back onto the bed with her eyes tightly closed and mouth dropped open.
She places a hand over it to mute the loud groans as her body convulses, hips erratically rebounding off the mattress.
Finally, the orgasm started to wane and her tremors subside.
"Oh by Agni's beard, I haven't been this excited in a long while," she thought, taking in several slow deep breaths.
The firebender laid back, letting arms and legs spread out. As she opened her eyes, she saw a curious sight. It appeared that a pair of eyes were painted on the high ceiling, right overhead. She squinted to get a look, but suddenly they were gone.
"What the fuck was that? Am I seeing things?"
The officer stood up and crisscrossed the room, looking up. Either she had lost the location of the curious painting or it was a post-orgasmic hallucination she concluded.
"It's been like forever since my body felt this good. I know before I opened my eyes, I was seeing all sorts of things! You're just overthinking this."
Ming could hear the muffled conversation between the two men in the other room. Whatever was being said, it appeared to have gotten intense from the tone.
"Seems like I have time for another round," she whispered, laying back on the bed and this time slipping a hand into the loosely fitting undies as she once more closed her eyes in ecstasy.
"Avaataar…" she groaned softly as her hand fell into a rhythm, stroking her bulging clit.
Ming's eyes partially opened, seeing that the painting had apparently reappeared, but this time with the face of a woman.
The Fire Nation soldier sat up with a start.
"Oh, don't stop on my account. You sounded like you were almost there," the face said in a hushed voice with a girlish giggle.
Aang was letting his fingertips lightly drift across his forehead, trying to iron out the deep furrows his grimace was creating. He was also starting to get a headache from the conversation.
"So let me get this straight Zuko, the girl… or woman now, that you've been looking for… Jin, you've finally found her?"
"Yes."
"But she has a child, your child?"
"Yes."
"I guess you two were dating?"
"No, well, we went on one, no make that two dates. The second date, I forced myself on her."
"Did it ever occur to you Zuko, if you rape somebody, they may not want to see you ever again… like never," the Avatar exclaimed in a voice akin to a growl.
The Fire Lord nodded. "Yeah, but I had to find her and try to make things right Aang. I was in a pretty messed up place. It was right after I helped Azula try to kill you. I was trying to be like my father, a conqueror, a proper Fire Lord. That's what I thought. I used her to convince myself she was just a thing to be used. We were the victors and she was one more spoil of war."
"I didn't know you had sunk that low."
Zuko shook his head. "Uh, Aang, I tried to kill you and Katara. You two were still just kids, five, almost six years ago. I think that's just as bad!"
The Avatar sighed. "You're right. You must have been in a dark place to commit murder and rape, all to be like your father."
"When I betrayed my uncle to Azula, I thought for sure the old, tea-server self was gone. I thought that my emotions and conscience were finally dead and I could be the man my father would be proud of from that moment onward."
Aang sat back in his high-back chair. "So how did you find them?"
Zuko smiled brightly. "I didn't find them, they found me!"
"Whaa… how?"
"Oh man, it's unbelievable Aang. This morning, a kid runs into my room, sparking and puffing."
"Sparking and puffing?"
"It's what we say when Firebending children are running around, making trouble."
"So your daughter, she a firebender?"
"And how, she's gifted Aang. I mean, she's the real deal! They say that my grandfather, Azulon was the most powerful child prodigy ever. You know, Azula was named after him too because she was so good, but Aang, none of them are as good as her! She didn't even have any formal training and she still packs a wallop!"
"You sound like a proud father," Aang said with a smile.
"I guess I do," Zuko agreed, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I can't take any credit, it was all Jin. She went through a lot. I put her through a lot Aang."
"So how did you know she was your kid? I've heard that a lot of women had babies from Fire Nation soldiers during the occupation."
"One look, Aang and you'll know she's mine, no doubt about it. That girl, she bent this fire, and there was lightning in it! She's already a cold fire bender! Can you imagine that? She's only five years old and can do that! I was amazed!"
"Zuko, buddy, I know you're excited, about being a dad and all, but the mother, how is she?"
The Fire Lord's face dropped. "Better than I expected, but I think she's putting on a brave face for Vahnijaya's sake?"
"Vahnijaya, is that your daughter's name?"
"Yeah, that's her name and it suits her well. She's amazing."
"Jin, is it? What makes you think she's acting?"
"I see it in her eyes Aang, every time she looks at me. She tries to smile, but there is this hint of fear lurking."
Aang sighed with a nod. "Good!"
"Good, how can that be, good?"
"Zuko, think about what she has gone through for the past six years? If she just came up to you and acted as if nothing had happened, how wrong would that be? It's like people thinking because my people have been gone for almost a hundred years, I should be fine. I'm not fine, not in the least."
The Fire Lord leaned over and tapped the Avatar's shoulder. "I know, and thanks for sharing that with me."
"Thanks for listening and crying with me," Aang exclaimed as he wipes away a stray tear. "You see, it's going to take time for this woman to learn to trust you and see the Zuko we all see now. How do you feel about her?"
The Fire Lord started to stroke his goatee. "How do I feel about Jin? I don't think I've had time to think about that question. We've talked a little. She's always been warm and smart. Life's been hard on her with a kid. She was disowned once they found out it was a firebender's baby. You know, she could have gotten rid of the pregnancy without telling anyone. I really don't know why she didn't," he sighed. "If the situation was reversed, I would have without a second thought."
"It seems you two have a lot to hash out still."
Zuko nodded once more. "I knew you would understand Aang."
"So, have you told Mai yet?"
"I'm still in one piece, without any wounds, buddy."
The Avatar laughed lightly. "I'll take that as a, 'no'."
"I haven't seen Mai since we finished fighting that creature. I thought she went to her own room after that scuffle. I thought she was fine, now I'm hearing that she was somehow badly beaten up. She's a Fire Nation citizen, but what's more disturbing is that someone was able to defeat her. You know she's stronger and faster than most men, including benders."
"Oh yeah, I've seen her in action. Mai is amazing. I don't think anyone beat her though, perhaps some sort of accident?"
"Why do you think that Aang?"
"Well, she was with Suki when Sokka got hurt, so either that or she was already injured, somehow. She looked fine to me. You won't know until you can ask her or maybe Suki might know."
The Fire Lord nodded. "I suppose you're right."
"Hey, Zuko?"
"Yeah, Aang?
"When did Mai get all emotional acting?"
"Emotional? Like how, emotional? You mean angry?"
Aang thought about his own question for a moment.
"Not angry, per se, but rather like scared, or panicky? Have you ever seen her like that?"
"Never," Zuko emphatically stated. "I've seen Mai in all sorts of situations, but even when she was facing down Azula or taking on her father, she seemed steady on."
"Then, maybe she was hurt in some kind of way?" the Avatar threw out.
"What do you mean?"
"Zuko, by the time I got to where Sokka was injured, Mai wasn't acting like Mai. She was very upset, almost out of control. When the doctor got there, she threatened to kill him for taking his sweet loving time. Now, does that sound like Mai?"
"Uh, the threatening part, sure. Mai being upset like that, that is a bit out of character. She did have a stressful evening, saving all us guys from that creature. As I think about this, she was acting not like her usual self last night. That game seemed to through her off. Mai isn't used to expressing her emotions much. She's also very private and shy, not given to displays of affection in public."
"Stress?"
Zuko set back and rubbed his eyes. "Could be? Before we came here, Mai and I decided to try and give our relationship one last try. It seemed like things were getting better, at least on the trip over and at uncle's reopening, but something happened here, maybe some bad memories?"
Aang shuddered. "I have more than a few bad memories myself."
"Sorry, I know I was responsible for some of those."
"Hey, it's over and we're friends. That's all that matters now, Zuko."
A distraught look swept across the Fire Lord's face.
"What's wrong?" Aang asked as he leaned forward.
"I'm really worried now. If I tell Mai about what I did to Jin, I know she's going to hate me. She might tell me to burn."
"That is a possibility Zuko. No telling how the other girls are going to react. They may all just kick your ass, and I do mean royally."
"If that's what it takes for me to be forgiven, I would welcome it. But if Mai is having some sort of a breakdown, then maybe I should hold off telling her until she feels better."
The Avatar raised his eyebrows. "Are you sure you're not just trying to avoid the situation?"
Zuko shook his head. "I had already decided to tell her, but then I got the news she was injured. I don't want to hurt her any more than necessary Aang. We were trying to salvage our relationship. I think this is going to end it."
"You really think it's over?"
"Aang, Mai has a lot of pride. When she learns I already have a child, and the mother is someone she knows, how yeah, she's going to be more than a little put out."
"So they know each other?"
"They met once, right after the occupation. At least for me, it was a chilling experience," the Fire Lord recounted.
"Had you already…"
Zuko let out a long sigh as he nodded.
"At least, when you do tell her, she'll know who you're talking about. How many people know about your daughter?"
"Right now, there's my guard, the king, and queen, and of course, the entire palace by now. That's why I wanted to be the one to tell Mai. I didn't want her to hear it from someone else or through gossip. I think that would make matters worse."
Aang nodded in agreement. "I don't see a way around this Zuko. She's going to find out, one way or the other, and soon probably."
"I wonder if Toph already knows," the Fire Lord inquired. "Her lady was with me when Vahnijaya first showed up, but there was a lot of commotion and she stayed with us the whole time, making sure my daughter was safe. I need to thank her for that."
Aang smiled. "With the exception of the one with the big boobs, I think they're all a very caring bunch."
"I dunno, I wouldn't mind be mothered in those beauties," Zuko replied with a devilish grin. "Know what I mean?"
Aang laughed nervously as he looked over at the bedroom door.
Before Ming could cry out, a strong hand clamped down over her mouth, from beneath her as if it had come through the bed she was lying upon.
.
"If you value your meager life, you will be silent," the threatening voice whispered in her ear.
Before the captain could make a move, the bedding enfolded her body, like a funeral shroud. Her hands were cuffed inside the red trunks as well. Her eyes strained to look over in the voices direction. There she saw the solid unworldly gold eyes. Ming glanced forward to see the face from the ceiling now at the foot of the bed speaking to a strange naked woman, who had the appearance more of metal than flesh and blood. The face, now revealed to be a woman, was also very nude.
"Can I eat her?" the voice of the being that held her requested. "She smells absolutely… yummy."
"No," the normal looking woman replied sounding very much like the Lady Lei she knew.
Ming tried to at least free a hand, but the cloth around them became tighter.
"No need to be afraid, no one is going to harm you," the woman assured her. "And that includes being eaten… Annie!"
"But mistress, she was churning her well with your lover's knickers. I think that alone is worthy of some sort of punishment!"
"I don't care if she's humping his glider, as long as she's not doing him!"
"Ah poo, no snack time for me? Agni's children are so-sooo tasty!"
"Forget it Annie! If you eat her, how would I explain it to Aang and Zuko?" Toph exclaimed.
"But my queen!"
"Please try thinking with more than just your appetite, Anromia. You are inconveniencing her Majesty," her superior warned.
"Tsimi, Anromia, our little pervert here will soon be going to Lala land. Let's send her off with sweet dreams."