Major M warning ahead!
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Chapter 5 – Blinding Sight
Katara:
Katara woke and sat up feeling around her. She could feel the velvety cushion beneath her and the silken cover. Her heavy dress that she wore at the pavilion was still weighing her down.
"Hello is anybody there?" she said softly.
She could feel the sun attempting to warm the room she was in, jasmine tea filled her nostrils. She got to her feet and slowly moved forward, feeling out in front of her. She ran into a low table, causing what ever was sitting on it to clink.
"Ouch." She bent and rubbed her shin. A door to the side of her opened, she quickly averted her eyes to the sound. Soft foot steps moved toward her, accompanied by a shuffling pair of feet and the clinking of cups and bowls, then the opening and closing of the door.
"Who's there," she said reaching her hands out before her.
She could now see a shadow in front of her, taking her hands. It was a man's hands, rough and strong, they pulled her forward, guiding her to sit down at the low table. She could see the shadow of the man kneel down with her, and then the smell of soup took the place of the tea.
Reaching out her hand to touch who ever was sitting in front of her, the other person's strong hand caught her by the wrist.
"Who are you," she asked again.
Slowly the hand moved hers forward and laid the tips of her fingers on his face.
Katara felt over the smooth face of her redeemer, suddenly she stopped and jerked her hand away. Her first reaction was to scream, but who would she scream for. Slowly, she lifted her hand again; this time met with no resistance, and laid her fingers on a deep, well-known scar.
"Zuko?" she said, her breath quick.
"Don't be scared," he said his voice raspy, his hand now on top of hers.
Moving her hand placing them back into her lap, she stared forward at his shadow.
"I don't understand." She felt him lift her hands placing a warm bowl of soup in them.
"Drink, the soup, it will make you feel better."
Katara could not isolate her emotions; she didn't know how to feel. She always pictured the moment when she would meet back up with Zuko would be in a battle. She was in no doubt that he was the reason behind Aang's disappearance. And every since the attack on them at Ba Sing Se, she was sure it was him that pinpointed their location. She had been so convinced he had changed, and she had saved his life on "The Day of Black Sun". For a time she even thought she had feelings for him. But he had betrayed them before she should have been prepared for him to do it again, and now she was certain he was up to something.
"What do you want with me? Her voice hardened. "You have already killed Aang, what good am I to you now?" She gauchely placed the bowl of soup back on the table.
"You don't understand," he said taking her hands.
She jerked them away. "I don't want to understand anymore of your treacheries Zuko."
How she wished she could bend, she could easily send ice daggers through his chest, or slice his throat with an ice disc. She felt the tears forming in her eyes and her throat closing from the emotion that was running wild in her body.
"I won't help you anymore," she said through tears. "Just go ahead and kill me."
"Katara, I have no intentions of killing you. I understand how it must seem, but I swear to you, I didn't have anything to do with Aang's disappearance."
"And I suppose you didn't tell the Fire Nation where we were either," her tone was on edge as she got to her feet. She knew she couldn't bend but she wasn't going to just sit there.
"What are you doing?" Zuko asked, she could tell he was still kneeling on the floor.
"I'm not interested in your explanations Zuko." She moved into a fighting stance.
"Katara I will not fight you," Zuko said getting to his feet.
Katara moved forward hitting him with series of punches. He blocked her.
"Stop it Katara," he said, blocking another series of moves from her. "I will not fight you."
Katara lunged toward his voice, missing him. She moved as if she were bending her water, hitting at him.
"You must listen to me," he said, blocking her again.
"No Zuko, I am through listening to your lies!" She hurled around attempting to hit him for a fourth time.
His hand reached out and caught her arm, spinning her around her back to his front. His arms were tightly around her, holding her forcefully, his breath in her ear.
"Stop it."
"Let me go," she said fighting him, squirming against his hold. "Let- me- go!"
She could feel her tears spilling down her cheeks. His hands were tight, hurting her, but she couldn't regain control of herself even if she had wanted to.
"Calm down," he said again in her ear, his breath hot, "and I will let you go."
She felt her body fight his hold.
"Go to hell!"
"Katara," he said her name again, silky. "Please I'm begging you, stop."
Still she fought, but she was getting tired, she didn't have the strength to resist him any longer. He body relaxed a bit, her chest was heaving, trying to take in air. He loosened his hold but did not totally let her go.
"You must believe me Katara, I did not betray you." He said this with much conviction. "I did not betray your friends."
Katara began to sob hysterically. She missed her family so much, and even though it pained her to admit it, she had even missed Zuko. He let go of her, and she began to fight him again.
"I haven't seen my brother in years, I don't know if he is dead or alive," she sobbed, striking out at him. "Aang, Toph," Her voice was trembling and her emotions were out of control, it only fueled her as she hit him.
"I have lost my sight and my bending, my family, myself, you, everything." She made contact with his chest, hitting him, and he let her.
She felt her stomach begin to heave. She had cried so hard she had made her self sick. She sounded like a small child who was upset for not getting their way. She felt her knees buckle, going limp as her tears fell unrelenting down her face. Her face buried in her hands, bent over as if she were going to vomit.
Zuko knelt down for a second time with her in front of him, supporting her.
She felt his arms go around her again, but this time it was in comfort. She didn't want him to soothe her, she wanted him to leave her alone, but she fell into his embrace despite her want. She felt his hand caress her hair; his heart was thudding beneath his shirt.
"I don't know if I can take it any more," she was crying through her words. The lament was so great she was vacillating. Zuko's grip tightened on her to keep her from falling.
She felt Zuko shift his weight, leaning against a wall, still holding her. How she wanted to get up and run, run as far as she could. She sniffed into his chest for a long time, the silence broken by her sharp intakes of breath. Her eyes hurt, her body hurt, her heart hurt. She stared out into the shadows, the thought of her family filling her mind. She didn't move from his comfort, even his comfort was better than none at all.
Katara sat there and cried until she couldn't cry anymore, and Zuko said nothing, just held her. She started to apologize for attacking him, after all he did remove her from the pavilion and the prison, but she didn't.
"Katara," Zuko said her name again.
She didn't respond, she only snubbed and stared out into the shadows.
"You don't have to talk, just listen," he said, somberly.
Katara lifted her head and turned her eyes toward his face.
"Please," he added.
She didn't say anything only nodded her head, as she pulled the fabric of her dress onto her shoulder.
"I swear to you, I had nothing to do with Aang's disappearance, nor did I give you up in Ba Sing Se. I know how it must seem, but I swear on the honor of my mother, that it wasn't me." Zuko put his fingers under her chin, lifting her face. "I know your brother survived the attack, and was captured by Mai and TyLee."
"Sokka, he's alive?" Katara felt hot tears flow from her eyes.
"He is in a prison camp near Omashu."
The tears were now splashing onto her dress.
"I don't know about Toph, I haven't been able to find her, but she has left her mark here and there. Azula makes it damn near impossible for me to do anything out of her prying eyes."
"Omashu, that's about three, maybe four days travel from here," Katara said, her chest heaving with anticipation. "If I leave tomorrow…"
"You're not leaving," Zuko uttered.
"Excuse me!" Katara snapped her head back. "How can you tell me I can't leave?"
"How are you going to defend yourself with no bending and no sight, or have you forgotten?"
Katara lowered her head, momentarily she had forgotten. He was right though, she wasn't as astute at listening first like Toph was, and she had no bending at all.
"I'll manage."
"Like you managed me, or like you managed the soldier at the pavilion?"
"You expect me to sit here, knowing where my brother is?" She stood, feeling the weight of the dress pulling at her shoulders.
"Yes, at least until you get your bending back." She heard Zuko get to his feet.
"I suppose you are going to help me are you?" She asked with distrust.
"Uncle says he is pretty sure he can help you."
"Uncle Iroh?" Katara questioned.
"Yes," Zuko answered heavily, "he is not sure about your sight though."
Katara swallowed hard. A hundred thoughts were swimming in her head, but one kept coming to the front.
"Why are you helping me?" She turned to where his voice last came from; she could see his shadow in front of her. "What's in it for you, Prince Zuko?"
Katara unexpectedly felt her face engulfed by two warm hands, thumbs running across her lips, pressing into them. Hot breath assaulted the slight part that had formed in her mouth, causing her to open it wider allowing inner contact. Teeth pulled gently at her bottom lip, causing a moan to escape her throat. She then felt the fabric of her dress that she had tried so hard to keep covering her shoulders, being pushed to the side.
His lips crashed on her collar bone, as his hands continued to free her frame of the heavy pavilion dress. She wanted to stop him, she even brought her hand up to hold to the silk of her dress, but found it in his hair instead. In seconds she was completely free of the brocade and silk that had adorned her, her silk binding's was all that kept her covered. Though his lips never left her flesh, she could feel him removing his shirt and letting it fall to the floor with her dress. Her hands groped his chest, muscled and scared. His skin was hot against her fingers. He pulled her closer, grabbing her around the waist; she could feel his want pressing into her stomach. She would give anything to see him, see his golden eyes, his pointed lips, his pale skin, and his beautiful scar.
The tightness of her bindings released and fell to the floor at her feet. His strong hands lifted her and instinctively her legs wrapped around his waist. His want still pressing into her, tempting her. The velvet of the cushion caressed her back, as he laid her down. She could feel him above her looking at her, his hands running the length of her body, thumbs pressing into every inch of flesh that they touched.
Her legs were still apart and around him, his need now grazing hers, an attempt to surely drive her mad. She felt her hips push up as he ran his finger over her sensitized wet flesh. With a moan that surprised even her, Katara arched her back when she felt his fingers slip inside her core. She had managed all this time to keep herself from the soldiers at the pavilion, and resisted this very man on many occasions, only to fail miserably under his touch now.
His lips once again covered hers in a soft, deliberate kiss, his tongue probing inside her mouth. His body covered hers, their flesh mingling in calm. Katara felt her sex grow thicker with his touch, but a silent burst of panic paralyzed her. This man had been commanding her, subjugating her, defeating her, all without his physical presence. The thought terrified her.
A short desperate, employing cry escaped her lips, as she felt him enter her, stretching her. Her hips pushed up meeting his thrust; she found no resistance in her self. She groaned as he feasted on her skin, kissing her neck, down to her arching breast. His motions were fluid, non-stopping, his thick sex pressing deeper into her. Katara found her hands running the length of his arms, then to his back feeling his muscles taught and damp with perspiration.
Her undulating movements met Zuko's thrust time and again until she felt her body go rigid. A white hot sensation flushed through her body, and a sound she had never made before escaped her mouth into his. Suddenly she felt him push harder and deeper into her swollen and mercilessly pulsing core. With a guttural moan, he moved in jagged rhythm. She held tightly to him as the orgasm still pulsed through her body. Her eyes closed and she felt both their breathing calm slightly, and then soft warm lips kissed her eyelids.
Completely exhausted, Katara felt Zuko move from on top of her, but he didn't leave her side. She kept her eyes closed; she could hear her heart pounding beneath her chest, his one arm slipped beneath her head as the other draped over her damp belly. Silence was golden, as they lay there together.
Memories of them all traveling around together flashed in her head; too many memories to process. Her head felt like it was sinking further into his arm, and she became very sleepy. Just as she was about to slip into sleep she felt the slightest touch of warmth on her cheek and a low soft inaudible whisper in her ear.