Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Avatar: the Last Airbender!" Nathing.
Author's notes: This one's more transition-y, but thanks for putting up with me. Read on!
Maraghoul: As always, thanks for getting me out of a story corner 😝 Thanks again! The upcoming awesome is mainly due to you.
QueenTyzula: You know what's coming! Hopefully this will tide over for abit ^_^ Thanks for almost forgiving the Tyluko 😝 I'm so sorry for this chapter then.
CharlieBarrow: Thanks also to you for your questions and messages. You definitely prompted me to address the questions posed into my story. Features thoughts of the infant goes to you. Thanks again!
Harley Quinn Davidson: Hopefully the anticipation won't kill you 😝
NeverFoundandLost: Hopefully Zuko can keep up his chi signature in due time….
AJ 24 Rulzz: Thanks for the suggestions. Read on!
"Stoking the Fire"
Chapter thirty-four "Planning"
Zuko woke slowly. His hands tightened around Izumi and his heart surged with confidence when he heard the small snuffles she gave against his chest. Zuko carefully angled his knee to the side and pushed himself to a sitting position. A glance to his right slammed errant lust through his lower half. Ty Lee had been on her side facing him, but as she rolled onto her back, her robe pulled open, revealing her round breasts and the soft pout of her tummy.
'Heck with it, I'm the Fire Lord,' Zuko thought to himself. He padded to the bedroom door in his pajama pants and shouldered it open as quietly as he could. Ying and the wet nurses were going about some kind of chores, but his mind was in too much of a whirl of lustful activity to care exactly what they were doing.
"Morning, Lord Zuko.."… Ying began. Zuko gave her a tense smile, but gave a small shush.
"Can you take her?" Zuko murmured to one of the wet nurses. She nodded, beaming a smile at her lord. Zuko surged his chi out in a last pump over his supposed child and carefully shut the bedroom door.
His steps back to the bed were full of bounce and he carefully climbed onto the mattress. Alone at last, he leaned half over Ty Lee's prone body. His hand settled over her bare side, and rubbed warmly. Ty Lee sighed in her sleep, thighs opening, bed robe going askew. Zuko smiled and leaned to press a series of warm kisses along her throat. He lowered his kisses, mouth moving over her breasts.
Ty Lee sighed loudly as she started to come to. Her fingers scraped through his hair on reflex. By the time he reached her nipple, Zuko was erect, pressing his length into the mattress and Ty Lee's hip. It soothed his ego when she moved against it in her sleep.
Zuko cupped one breast and buried his face toward the other. His gentle sucking brought a small stream of milk and Zuko started in surprise. Ty Lee's eyes fluttered open, and she stared at him as he smiled down at her.
"Morning, sweetie," Zuko murmured. He leaned up to kiss her. Ty Lee faltered, hands scraping his back, before she held the back of his head. She gave a sweet kiss back, but all too soon, Zuko's tongue was scraping hers, thrusting into her mouth in languid pushes. Ty Lee whined against him. Her hands settled along his bare shoulders.
"Zuko….Izumi?!" she started, looking around. Zuko settled on top of her, kissing down her collarbone.
"The wet nurses have her. Ying's with them. Don't worry….we have time…" Zuko purred. Warmth settled between Ty Lee's legs as Zuko settled between them. Through their clothing, she could feel every hard inch of him. Ty Lee swallowed.
"Zuko…don't know…." She began. Zuko angled his kisses lower and back to her nipple. The acrobat arched her back, in discomfort and pleasure as he sucked a swallow of milk from her. "Save that for the baby…."
Zuko gave a soft laugh. "Okay, Ty…" his hands gently squeezed her round breasts as he lifted his lips from her nipple. Ty Lee arched her back under him. Zuko was smiling with gentle passion, eager to please her. She could feel his chi spike wildly. He needed a release and he wanted it to be now.
Ty Lee was tempted. She wanted nothing more than to spread her legs, tug Zuko's drawstring loose and reveal his throbbing length. Zuko would be gentle with her first time after the birth. Even as she longed to be pleasured by him, her heart told her to wait. She had to stop this. Her body was slowly growing strong again. If she lay with Zuko, her chi would be sufficiently snuffed to levels of satiation, but she would be physically weak.
As Zuko tugged her robe open, Ty Lee's hands pressed against his bare chest. His heart hammered wildly behind the pale flesh.
"Zuko…wait…." She said. Zuko leaned up and kissed her again. Ty Lee murmured into the kiss. Her arms slung around his neck, holding him above her. Zuko spread her thighs around his waist. When his hand settled at his waist, trying to untie the drawstring of his pajama pants, Ty Lee angled a hand low and placed her hand over his.
Zuko's eyes gleamed as he looked into hers. She bit her lip. "Ty…" he said.
Ty Lee kissed the side of his throat sweetly but held her chi back from him. "Let's wait…..please, Zuko…."
Zuko shuddered. He almost begged out loud, but he knew he had to be patient…. His love for her wouldn't make him force her. "Okay, Ty… "
Ty Lee kissed him gladly, trying to soothe the jagged edges of his erect chi. Zuko eagerly kissed her back and rolled off of her. He helped Ty Lee refasten her bed robe.
"Don't, don't be sorry," Zuko murmured. He gave a lopsided grin. "Excuse me for a moment…"
Ty Lee looked away, blushing, as he gingerly climbed off the bed and made his way to the washroom, erection tenting out his pants and leading the way. She knew it had to hurt, but she had to focus on her plan….
There was a knock at the bedroom door and Ying called out.
"Sorry to intrude, my lord!" she said. Ty Lee curiously opened the door. She was greeted by a red-faced infant, squalling and crying. The wet nurse that had her had trying to get her to feed, but she wailed instead.
"Is she hungry? Give her to me," Ty Lee said. The nurse handed her the baby and Ty Lee gently rocked her. The woman adjusted her robe, eyes awash in worry. Izumi's golden eyes opened, pure agony in her gaze. "Oh no, she's burning up….."
"I'll get the healers, my lady," the other wet nurse said. She moved to the apartment door quickly. Suki came in when she went out, leaving other Kyoshi Warriors on guard outside.
"Oh, poor princess. Does she have a fever?" Suki asked. Zuko exited the washroom, pajama pants tied appropriately, and loose robe over his torso. He hurried, noticing his daughter.
"What's wrong with her?" he asked. Izumi wailed. Ty Lee sat on the edge of the bed and rocked her.
"Feels like she has a fever," Ty Lee said sadly. Zuko sat beside her and fussed over the baby.
"Oh, she does feel hot. Poor baby," Zuko said gently. He rubbed the baby's fist with his finger. She clamped onto it as she flailed, wailing.
Suki made the bed in the infant's cradle as the bearded healers were let in by Ying. They took Izumi from Ty Lee, who started in worry. Zuko kept an arm over her shoulder.
They tried to lower her fever by having her sweat it out through heavier swaddling. The infant's wailing was heart-wrenching and distressing to hear. Zuko paced as the healers worked on her.
One of the men mixed a draught and fed it to the baby through a bottle. Izumi wailed at the taste. Zuko held the back of her downy head and kissed her fluffy black hair.
"Poor baby….will she be okay?" he asked the healers worriedly.
"She'll sweat it out," one of the healers smiled. He laid the tightly swaddled Izumi into the Fire Lord's arms. He rocked her, humming.
"Oh, good," Zuko said with relief. Izumi was exhausted from her crying; she gave small hiccups against his robe. Suki touched the back of her head, tutting softly.
As a couple of hours went by, breakfast had been delivered and Zuko regrettably left Ty Lee for his council. Izumi had finally wound down to an exhausted sleep and he hurriedly dressed and left.
It was stupid, but Ty Lee was almost grateful all the attention shifted from their lack of intimacy to a small illness with their baby. As the hours went by and Izumi slept on with her fever lowered, Ty Lee rested with Ying on the bed.
"She feels cooler," Ying said. Her gloves were off and she pressed a bare hand to the infant's scalp lightly.
"I'm glad," Ty Lee admitted. She wouldn't allow herself to feel slightly guilty for putting Zuko off. Izumi's condition had certainly shifted the attention between them to their shared child. She was slightly tired, but she had a few spare moments as the baby slept. She bundled Izumi into her cradle in the corner and covered her with a pink blanket. "Do you have time to stretch with me?"
"Of course," Ying said. Ty Lee slid into a loose tunic and flowing pants and they stretched their legs opposite each other, lowering each other to the carpet in turns.
It was only a few moments around her child, but Ty Lee had to get her legs strong again.
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The next week passed in a semblance of normalcy. Zuko slept with her and the baby, and when they woke to feed and change her, Ty Lee opted to feed Izumi. She wanted to give as much of her milk as she could.
During Zuko's council meetings, Ty Lee trained with the Kyoshi Warriors at drilling and kata in the courtyard. She had begged Suki to allow her to at least practice and Suki relented. The wet nurses always sat in a nearby sitting room, where they could be visible through the tall windows. The weather was still downright cold, so Ty Lee had to be comfortable with her child being as far away as she was through her training. She wore her old Kyoshi Warrior robe (sans make-up), and was disconcerted how tight it was across the chest. Her breasts were heavy with milk, but at least her torso was still somewhat flat after giving birth.
As they moved through kicks and punches in sequence, Ty Lee focused on making her body strong. Her fists flew out with lightning fast precision as she mentally struck pressure points on an invisible target. Her training was still good, and her skills wouldn't go to waste.
"Wow the wind's coming in strong! Inside, Warriors," Suki called. She lifted a gloved hand to her brow, trying to ward off the icy chill. Ying jogged in with Ty Lee toward the sitting room. A few of the Kyoshi Warriors flanked them as Ty Lee happily took the baby. Izumi stared at her with wide golden eyes.
"I suppose you wanted to get back into shape sooner than later," Suki said wryly. Ty Lee flashed a nervous smile. No, nobody had any idea what she was thinking…..
"Yes," Ty Lee said. "Thanks again, Suki."
Mai entered the sitting room, and Ty Lee carefully handed over the infant. It did Suki's heart good to see the Fire Lady growing so attached to the baby.
Little could anyone know the turmoil swirling in Ty Lee's thoughts. Everyone moved to a family room and Lady Ursa and her family doted on the princess. When Suki told of Izumi's short fever, Ursa wrote down a few characters on a piece of parchment.
"This is a local medicine from Hira'a," Ursa said. "It's a wonder to bring fevers down. Kiyi certainly benefited from it."
"Thank you, my lady," Ty Lee said. Mai pocketed the parchment. Noren rocked Izumi, giving a soft smile.
"I remember when you were this little," he teased his daughter. Kiyi pouted.
"Aw, Dad," she said. But she peered at her niece curiously.
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Ty Lee stretched her leg in front of her on the ground, head pulled down to her knee. Ying stretched opposite in the concubine's main sitting room. The front apartment door was opened and Zuko came in, cloak streaming in his wake. He smiled at the two women stretching.
"That's more like you, getting flexible again," Zuko commented. Ty Lee blushed slightly. She raised her head and moved to the other leg.
"You should talk. Have you been practicing your kata?" Ty Lee asked. Zuko removed his shoulder armor and cloak and took off his boots. He knelt opposite Ty Lee on the floor, and flashed a look over to the baby. Izumi was in a basket on the floor beside the two women and he relaxed. He pumped his pheromones in the child's direction and began stretching his legs.
Ty Lee raised an eyebrow and accepted his hand across from her. She gave a wicked grin and subtlety leaned backward, grasping his hands. Zuko gave a sharp gasp as he was pressed in on his inner thighs.
"Careful, Ty!" he called. Ying moved behind the Fire Lord and helped him shift his widened stance so he was up on his heels, partially leaning forward and held up by Ty Lee's hands. His legs quaked.
"Steady…root yourself…" Ying said. Zuko closed his eyes, concentrating.
"You've been alittle lax yourself, Zuko," Ty Lee teased. Zuko slit one eye open to her and smiled.
"Yeah, but I haven't given birth," he said. Ty Lee winked and his heart soared. Ying noted the energy roiling between the both of them and wondered when she and the wet nurses would be asked to take Izumi to the adjoining room.
Zuko stretched his leg, sweat pouring off his brow. Ty Lee moved opposite him. She was able to curl her leg upward to her head and lowered it, with only a small gasp indicating the slight strain it had caused. She needed to get back into shape and fast. Zuko raised an eyebrow at her, interested.
"Good job," he commented. Ty Lee felt his chi stroke the edges of hers and she sighed internally. She cared for Zuko, but she couldn't lay with him. Not right now…She wondered how far it would get before she would have to deny him pleasure.
Zuko moved closer on the carpet and caressed Ty Lee's shin. Warmth flooded up her and Ty Lee arched her back. She wished she could stop looking so sultry; she wasn't even trying to and Zuko was watching her with gleaming golden eyes.
Zuko cast a quick glance to Ying. "Could you ladies take the baby to your bedroom?" he asked. The wet nurse available bowed and collected Izumi's basket. The infant slept deeply inside, surrounded by pink blankets. Ying went with her.
Once the door close, Zuko cupped Ty Lee's cheek with his palm. He leaned in and kissed her. Ty Lee allowed it, kissed him back, but all too soon he was on top of her on the floor.
"Still so flexible…." Zuko arched his shoulder and laid her leg on top of it. He kissed her ankle. "You're great, Ty…."
Ty Lee blushed under him. He was growing hard against her and his chi surged in jagged pushes, wanting to fill her. "Not here…." She whispered. She blushed. They were right in her main sitting room. If Suki or anyone came in the front door, it'd be more than a little embarrassing.
Zuko laughed and rolled off her. He helped her to her feet and Ty Lee clutched his back as they moved to her bedroom. Once the door was locked, he pressed her up against it, kissing her urgently. Ty Lee's arms circled his neck and she sighed into the sweetness of his mouth. Zuko hitched her thighs around his waist and lifted her.
Ty Lee gave a soft gasp as his cock pressed against her. Zuko moaned when she nibbled on his mating bite. Ty Lee faltered as Zuko tried to unlace his trousers and tug at her flowing pants all at once. Zuko laughed as they wound up sinking to the floor and he couldn't keep Ty Lee balanced.
"Whoops, sorry," Zuko murmured. Ty Lee clasped his face in her hands and stroked her tongue into his mouth languidly. Before he could lower her to her back, Ty Lee stopped him with a hand to the chest.
"Let me….at least…" she murmured, parting the clasps of his tunic. Zuko smiled when her hands went to his waist and unlaced him. His cock pushed out through the opening of his trousers and Ty Lee bent down to take him into her mouth.
Zuko grunted as hot warmth settled around the head of his cock. Ty Lee gave him soft kisses and then opened her mouth, engulfing as much of him as she could. Zuko's hips twitched and he gave a happy sigh. His fingers gently moved through Ty Lee's hair. He gave a gentle tug as Ty Lee looked up his torso curiously.
"I want to pleasure you too…. Come here…." He murmured. Zuko had gotten the unspoken message not to enter her, but he licked his lips and sprawled on his back on the carpet. His cock bobbed up toward the ceiling, leaking at the tip.
Ty Lee shimmed out of her flowing pants with help from the prone Fire Lord. His eager hand parted her tunic and cupped her breast. Ty Lee took his hand and kissed it, before swinging to brace her knees on either side of Zuko's head on the floor. Zuko grinned upward as he gazed at her wet vaginal lips and erect clit. Zuko's hands moved up and down her creamy smooth thighs and lowered her to his mouth.
Ty Lee gave a squeak of pleasure as his tongue penetrated her gently, moving in and out, lapping at the honey that dripped from her. Ty Lee knelt above him, hands on his thighs keeping her upright.
Zuko gave a happy hum beneath her, and pulled his tongue back to prod at her clit, coaxing it from its hood. He latched his mouth over it and sucked. Ty Lee cried out. Zuko's cock twitched impatiently. She leaned down, breasts grazing his lower belly as she moved her mouth over his length.
The feel of Ty Lee's body stretched along him, mouth moving up and down his throbbing shaft filled Zuko's mind with peace. If this was what she wanted, he'd give it and gladly. His fingers dug gently into the smoothness of her thighs as he lapped at her folds. Ty Lee moaned around his shaft, the muffled sounds fueling Zuko's passion. His toes flexed as he approached his climax. Ty Lee wouldn't let up on him, bobbing up and down steadily, sucking near the base of him on each pass. His fingers tightened around her thighs, his cry of passion muffled by her legs around his head.
Ty Lee started when Zuko began to come, pumping out a steady stream of milky white come. He had desperately needed that release and it showed. Ty Lee lapped at his sensitive head and sucked down, swallowing the last few weak spurts from his twitching length. The rest had splattered onto his thighs and down her chin. She wiped her mouth with the back of one hand. Zuko panted against her folds, his stomach concaving. When Ty Lee made to climb off of him, he kept his hands around her legs, holding her onto his face.
He gave a soft sigh, and redoubled his efforts. Ty Lee moaned and moved herself to a half kneeling position, hands on his thighs. Her sighs stoked Zuko's ego. She arched her lower back, working against his mouth in gentle rolls. Zuko ran a hand to the small of her back and held her in place.
When Ty Lee came, Zuko's heart was put at ease. He lapped gently at her, helping her down. Ty Lee lay along his chest and belly, stroking his thigh. When she rolled off of him, Zuko's face was drenched and he had a polite smile of arousal on his lips. He pulled Ty Lee onto his bare torso, shrugging the rest of the way out of his open tunic. Their bare bodies pressed together and Ty Lee was placated, relieved that Zuko was satiated. His cock lay limply between them.
"That was fun," he laughed. Ty Lee trailed her fingers up and down his chest. She kissed his throat.
"It was," she blushed. Zuko ran a warm hand down her back.
"When you're ready, I'll go slow. I won't hurt you," he promised. Ty Lee's heart beat a staccato rhythm. She gave a slight nod, but her eyes, tucked to the side, were furtive.
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Ty Lee leaned into the back of the sofa as she laid Izumi on her upraised knees, balancing the infant. It was late at night and Zuko was snoring away. The baby had wakened, crying for milk, and Zuko had pressed his face against her shoulder, falling back asleep. Ty Lee had patted him and gently moved him to the mattress. Zuko snored, his cheek imprinted into the bed. She quietly moved to the sitting room so as not to wake him. Alone, Ty Lee had fed Izumi, humming softly into the late-night hour so as not to wake Ying in the adjoining bedroom. Her door was open, but Ty Lee was so quiet, she didn't waken. One of the wet nurses lay in the bed beside the Kyoshi Warrior in case she was needed.
After getting a burp out of the full infant, Izumi's eyes fluttered open and closed. Ty Lee gazed at her daughter's face as she balanced her on her raised knees. Aside from Zuko's similar eye and hair color, Izumi had her nose and the curve of Azula's mouth. Ty Lee wondered if when the baby smiled, people would see Azula and not Zuko in her features. She personally hoped Zuko would sufficiently blanket her chi signature with his own stamp to keep people from guessing the truth, but in her heart of hearts, the close similarity to Azula made her heart glad.
Ty Lee's hands settled on her baby's sides as she memorized each curve of her features. She felt terrible for her thoughts, for her plans, but no matter what she did, Izumi would be safe in the palace. She would have Zuko and Mai as her parents….no matter what happened to her.
Izumi's lips parted and she gave a soft cry in her sleep. Ty Lee gently collected her in her arms and cradled her close. Tears pricked the corner of her eyes.
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"About time. About damn time," Azula mumbled under her breath. Her royal appearance was impeccable as always, but a large cloak and hood covered her perfectly applied cosmetics. Zirin and the Kemurikage stood at her side as the soldiers lined up, packs and cloaks ready. The snow that lightly fell had no arctic cold wind accompanying it, so Azula had ordered they march at once. The weather could only get better, and they would reach the capital well before full spring.
"We should get to Lord Toshiko's in a few days. We need access to his messenger hawk station," Zirin murmured at her elbow. She was slightly concerned over their two plants still working around the palace, and no news could certainly be bad news in this case.
Azula smirked at the woman who was similarly cloaked. "We'll get there first," she drawled. "Once we near the capital, we should split the forces up and…."
"I'm glad to see you're planning," Zirin murmured. "We're ready. The soldiers will go into formation as you call it."
Azula gave a laugh, turning sharply on one heel and marching to the head of the line. The Kemurikage flanked her. The soldiers snapped to attention.
"Forward! Our success will be in the history scrolls heralding my reign!" Azula called. The soldiers gave a cheer. Lady Sachiko stood on her deck, heavily bundled against the cold. She leaned against her servant's arm, smiling in their direction.
As everyone marched out across the icy fields and towards the woods, Azula's eyes made out the trio of oak trees she had visited every day that winter. She had dreamt often of taking Ty Lee beneath the ice-covered branches, of parting her against the bark of the trunk. A grim readiness glinted in Azula's eyes. She dismissed the three trees and banished the dreams from her mind.
Hopefully on the move, those dreams would stop. She didn't have time for petty agonies of the heart. It was weak and foolish and she wouldn't be distracted. Not while her brother sat the Fire throne.
Azula growled and marched on. Snowflakes stuck to her eyelashes.
End for now
End notes: More to come soon…..stay strong my lovelies! Like it, smash that button and do that review thing!
Most sincerely, pen
3/20/2017