He looked so beautiful like this. Eyes shut tight, sweat beading his forehead, his teeth pressing down on his lips hard enough to draw blood. She loved it. She loved him. And the star shaped scar he wore on his chest with pride showed the world how much he loved her.
Katara threw her head back in ecstasy, her nails leaving crescent moons on his pecs as she struggled to hold on just a little longer. They hadn't seen each other in almost a moons time and she wanted to savour this moment and the sheer passion and desperation that had built up over their time apart came spilling over the edges now; it reminded her of their first time together. She remembered how she had tried so hard to convince herself he hadn't changed, how she mistook the way her heart sped up and her stomach churned whenever she saw him for hatred.
"Katara", Zuko moaned, his hands gripping at her hips, slamming her down on him before lifting her up again. The sound of skin hitting skin echoing through their chambers.
Katara moaned back in agreement and she could feel how her walls clenched around him. Not yet, she thought, but as Zuko brought her head down for a kiss and his tongue snaked around hers she couldn't help but to ride out her climax; both literally and figuratively.
"La, Zuko", she groaned and if his mouth hadn't muffled the sounds she swore the whole palace would've heard. She collapsed on top of his chest, catching her breath for just a second, before starting to move her hips again; agonizingly slow.
Zuko let out a sharp breath of pleasure, his arms wrapped around her, pressing their chests together as their hearts beat as one, and with only a few thrusts he released himself inside of her.
They laid still for the longest of time, still connected in the most intimate of ways. He ran his fingers through her hair and she let hers dance around his hips.
"If that's the welcome I get", Zuko chuckled, "I should travel more often."
"Don't you dare", Katara squeaked and slapped his chest, which only made him laugh more. She loved his laugh.
"I really do have to travel though", he said more calmly, kissing the top of her head as he continued to play with her hair, "The peace treaties have been signed by the leaders of each nation but many of the citizens still loath us."
"I know, honey", Katara answered, "They just need time." That was a lie. She really didn't know if the Earth Kingdom and North Water Tribe would ever forgive the Fire Nation; with Sokka leading their home tribe and Aang being the only living Air Nomad she knew they would never have a problem with the reigning Fire Lord and his armies ever again. But with Azula's attack on Ba Sing Se and Zhao's killing of the moon spirit… she hoped all they needed was time.
"Probably", Zuko sighed, shuffling underneath her so his head rested on one of his arms.
"If I can forgive you, they can", she smiled, following his example and rolled off of him, her head still resting on his chest though.
"Yeah", he smiled back, the sad tone previously occupying his voice now gone as he reminisced about the beginning of their relationship. They had tried to keep it a secret for as long as possible; people had other more important things to think about in the middle of an ongoing war. She had sneaked into his tent after he helped her confront Yon Rha and when they had moved on to Ember Island she would share her bed with him.
"When did you know?" Katara asked, her voice low, like if she were afraid he would hear her.
"Know what?"
"That you loved me."
"Oh", he breathed, running a hand through his hair, a move she had learnt meant he was either nervous or uncomfortable, "erm, after Yon Rha."
"Really?" She sat up, her face full with curiosity as she looked at him. "Even then?"
"I remember thinking how beautiful you would look against my red sheets", he smirked, softly rubbing his hand up and down her arm, "And I was right." She laughed at that, at how stupidly proud he sounded about being right, and her smile made him light up like a thousand suns. "I would think about you not letting the servants cook your meals or wash your clothes, because you were so used to doing it by yourself", he continued, sitting up slowly as he spoke, coming face to face with his wife. "I would laugh at the thought of you attending war meetings and scaring my officers." His lips brushed hers softly. "About feeding the turtleducks together."
"You did?" Katara smiled, closing her eyes as she felt his breath on her skin.
"All the time." He pressed a gentle kiss to her lips before laying down on the bed again, grabbing her by the arm to pull her down with him. "What about you?"
"Me?" She sounded confused and Zuko only raised his eyebrow as an answer. "When I knew?" He nodded. "I don't know."
"Come on", he prodded, "you can do better than that."
"I think it grew over time", Katara shrugged, "It didn't hit me until the Agni Kai; seeing you convulsing on the ground like that, it was horrible." She ran her hand over the scar on his chest, making him shudder. "The thought of losing you broke my heart."
"You'll never lose me", Zuko reassured, wrapping his arms around her in a hug. "I love you, and I always will."
"I love you too", Katara smiled before closing the distance between their lips again and again and again.