disclaimer: well... I own a... um...skag!oh, sh- nap...actually,I gave that to my best friend... nevermind...
A/N: well, here is the...third? and final installment of my... threeshot. urm...sorry for the late update, I had my three best friends over for six days. Also, I will not be able to update from July 28-August 5, on account of me going to Florida. I'm bloody afraid of planes! Me thinks snakes will pop out of no where! ahh... anyway, add a few ball park guestimant days to that (maybe two-five days before the 28th and after the 5th- my friend is have her party on the 7th w00t w00t! alcohal and skags! urm, well...)
Anway, a little oneshot on something based on this threeshot will be coming up within the week and I just flicked a f♣cking HUGE tick off of my knee and onto my toe... and randomness stikes again.
But I digress, it happened, so I didn't pull it out of no where... WHY THE HELL ARE YOU READING THIS AND NOT THE CHAPTER!111!11! one
warnings: contains MILD sexual graphicness, such as a graphic - oh! just read it...
enjoy...
The water girl was just standing there, right in front of me, with her female assets flaunted where I could see them clearly. A blush heated my face and I averted my eyes once more. Her cool, slender arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer. This time, when I looked, I could easily keep my eyes melded with hers, because I was mesmerized by them.
Something was different about her, I could tell. Not only by her lack of modesty, but by her bearing. I glanced at the shore but my train of vision was obliterated when she lifted her head and kissed me. I froze, feeling her breezy, soft lips massage my unmoving ones. When her tongue flicked my lips, I unintentionally responded by crushing her to me.
It was a light kiss, and she pulled back, a small, teasing smile on her face. I felt a burning in me, one I'd never felt before. When I was about to pull her back, she slipped away and stepped farther into the stream. Unknowingly, I stepped in and followed her, tracking the movements of a tear of water slip down from her lips to her neck, down in between her breasts, and slide into the water just above her nether region. The burning intensified and I felt and aching to accompany it.
She pursed her lips when I made no further movement and waded to me. She raised a leg and propped it onto my hip, wrapping her arms once more around my neck. Her amazingly blue eyes danced mockingly as I dipped my head to kiss her, but she danced away.
I followed her with my gaze and saw her pick up something red. Keeping my eyes captured with her sapphire gaze, she was back, her curved, supple body pressed beguilingly against mine. She pressed something soft and sweet to my lips, but I kept my eyes on hers and opened my mouth. She pressed it in and I kissed her finger tip. This time, a shiver ran up her spine.
Sweet, juicy flavor burst in my mouth and she raised another piece of Dragon's Tempt to me. With my last strand of rational thought, I pulled away, feeling my rational self cower to my lustful, passionate persona as it dwarfed all other senses.
Somehow, I managed to stay away from her as her soft, seductive lips pouted and she watched me in dismay.
"Listen, ah…" I just realized I didn't remember her name. A flicker of the old water peasant girl flared in her eyes but was doused once more.
"Katara." She murmured, gazing at me through her long lashes. I nodded, gulping. I shied away, and found myself remembering when one of my father's concubines tried to seduce me when I was eight as I clinched to my last cogent thought.
She seemed reluctant, about what, I did not know. I glanced at the fruit and looked relieved that she had eaten some of the skin. It was the anti-dote to the flesh of the fruit. An explosion of fear erupted in me and I glanced at her fingers. She was dropping skin into the water. I hadn't gotten any.
That was the last straw of sound thoughts and I pulled her roughly into my embrace. I kissed her thoroughly, clinging onto her as I pressed my knee in between her legs. She moaned and we both began to breathe raggedly. I pulled back to get some air and I saw something familiar in her eyes…
She clumsily worked the cloth of my shirt off and ran her hand admiringly down my chest. I shuddered, the fire burning more intense than ever in me.
zzz
I traced the curve of his muscle as he watched me, a smoldering, hungry look in his eyes. His knee was still between my legs and I shivered in delight. A pulsing feeling began down there and I hissed, pulling him near.
I looked into his golden eyes and felt a pang of something in me. This time, so intense, I gasped. I stared at him, rationality sweeping over me. My head began to ache and my heart raced as fear pulsed through me.
I had heard stories from some of the women in my village, some that had been raped, that a wild, ravenous glint overtook the man's eyes and that's when you knew you'd be powerless to stop them. Later, that flash in their golden eyes would haunt your every waking hour and every dream- that same blaze that overrode Zuko's impassive eyes.
I backed away, horror blooming in my chest. He advanced on me, grinning as if I was trying to make this a game. I looked wildly around for something to use as a weapon. Water! I mentally smacked myself and closed my eyes, summoning a whip. When I opened them again, I grinned, poising the whip to hit him. I lashed out.
His grin widened. There was no whip. I glared wildly around. I had no bending! I closed my eyes, feeling mortification bud in my chest as he pulled me into a kiss. His lips were flaming, filling me with warmth and yearning. I pulled away, finally feeling something soft in my hand.
I glanced down, seeing the fruit squashed in my hand. The flesh and juice ran down the back of my hand and into the water. Summoning all my courage, I shoved the skin into his mouth, hoping it would choke him. He grinned and grabbed my wrists tightly. I winced, tears streaming down my face. He chewed the skin and my heart sank.
That's when he let out a yelp of surprise and he jerked away. I guessed he didn't know he was holding wrists and I was yanked on top of him as he fell heavily on the shore. My eyes widened even more and I let out a scream, yanking myself off of him and toppling into the water. I cowered there, staring up at him. I pulled myself into a ball, trying to cover myself up from his sickened gaze.
Sokka was crashing through the trees, yelling, "Katara! Katara! Don't you dare touch my sister you Fire Nation Scum." I stared at Zuko, seeing his mortified, aghast expression.
He met my eyes and looked away hurriedly, unsure of what to do. I looked to the trees, where the brush was rustling wildly from Sokka's wild movements. I turned to him.
"I'm sorry…" He whispered.
"What?" I let out incredulously. I had never thought Zuko would apologize, much less to me. Sokka was too close. "Go." I mouthed.
Without further warning, he scooped up his discarded shirt and slipped into the forest.
"Katar-a?" He finished, seeing me huddled in the water. I offered a weak, sheepish smile.
"There was a… a," I paused, swallowing loudly."Snake… sorry, Sokka." I explained lamely. He eyed me suspiciously.
"Get your clothes on, Katara." He ordered, turning his back to me. I scrambled to cover myself and hugged Sokka.
"Thanks for coming, though, Sokka." I whispered. He just nodded and pulled away.
"Come on, you need to make another breakfast; Momo ate the whole pot while you were gone." He said. I smiled, casting a glance behind me at the opposite bank. I could've sworn I saw golden eyes flashing in the lurking shadows. A shudder worked itself up my spine and I followed Sokka.
"Oh, look, fruit!" He cried ecstatic. I watched him rip an armload from the tree and walk happily back to camp. I followed, shaking my head and grinning wearily. Toph glanced up.
"Look what I have, guys! I found fruit!" He cried jubilantly, sounding like an impish child.
"Describe them." Toph demanded sharply, her gaze suddenly fixed on Sokka. He looked flustered.
"They're, uh, brightly color-." He stopped in mid-sentence, realizing his folly. I intercepted quickly.
"Egg shaped, around the size of a hand, soft skin and squishy." I paused, taking a knife out to slice it. "Juicy and smells sweet and crisp." I described. I don't know why, but I had a feeling not to admit I ate the a fruit.
"They're called Dragon's Tempt. It's originally a native fruit from the Fire Nation, but along with the people who lived in the same area, it inhabited places it wasn't welcomed. Don't eat them or your rationality will be overpowered by your attraction to someone."
"What happens if you do eat them?" I asked tentatively. Aang and Sokka stared at me.
"You usually find the one you are most attracted to and, if you don't eat the skin first, you, ah…" Toph coughed awkwardly. I froze, a maddening blush creeping into my face. Hastily, I obscured it from everyone's curious gaze.
"So the skin is the antidote?" I was rewarded with a nod. That explained why Zuko turned back to normal.
Sokka, studying the fruit with a longing gaze, threw them into the bush behind them and sat down, leaning against a tree. Appa groaned from his perch in the trees and flipped onto his back, showering us with leaves.
zzz
I watched her leave the stream disbelievingly, wondering why she hadn't just said I tried to rape her(it was a scratch away from explaining what happened). I found my way back to Uncle in our cave and sat down across from him, a blazing fire between us.
"Well, you look satisfied, Nephew." He commented mischievously. I fought to control the blush creeping into my cheeks and turned my head away, giving him a full view of my scar.
"What took you so long?" He asked, changing the subject somewhat.
"Nothing. I just ran into the Water Peasant." I answered coldly, getting up and situating myself in the nook at the back of the cave. Little light reached there as I lay comfortably on my sleeping mat.
"If you are referring to the girl, her name is Katara and the boy, Sokka." Uncle Iroh said vaguely. My heart quickened and I felt fury build up in me. I hated the way she made me nervous. I hated the way she made me feel, in general.
"Do I care?" I hissed angrily, my fingertips flickering with sparks. Uncle Iroh just shrugged, a content look settling on his face. I stalked out of the cave and sat in the middle of the clearing just outside it.
That night, as I lay underneath the stars, I dreamed of her fear-filled eyes, her lips caressing mine, the feel of her body against mine. I dreamed that night.
zzz
That night, I lay in my sleeping bag, half asleep. No one saw Momo streak off. Sokka was leaning against a tree, also in the state I was. Aang was hovering over an air ball, the rhythm of the whirling lulling me. Toph, as usual, was in her rock-tent.
I was just about to fall asleep when Sokka let out a scream. I jerked up, looking around wildly. My eyes fixed on a core of Dragon's Tempt. It was gnawed at, as if by Momo. I looked to Sokka and felt an unconscious grin slip on my face.
The one who Momo was truly attracted to was…
"Get off me,you deformed rat!" Sokka screamed, shaking his leg to get Momo off. Aang fell offof his ball, laughing his head off.
That night, Sokka barricaded himself in my sleeping bag as Momo tried to find a way in.
"Gee, Sokka, your lover is the best looking one I've ever seen." I teased him. I heard a muffled 'grph' from the sack he was bundled in.
"Just give him the skin already!" He screamed, his voice muffled. I grinned, winkingat Aang.
"What's that, Sokka? We can't here you! You're too muffled by the sleeping bag!"
In his impatience, Sokka ripped the opening open and said, "Give him the- ahhh! No! NO! BAD MOMO!"
I was sitting by the lake next to our campsite when they came. Aang and Toph were meditating and Sokka was drifting on the lake on a large, thick piece of bark with only his loincloth on. Last night, finally after Aang nearly wet his pants and my stomach hurt even more, we forced Momo the skin of Dragon's Tempt.
They emerged from the surrounding trees. Sokka saw them first and let out a girly shriek, flipping off of the wooden raft. Toph and Aang glanced up and slid into defensive poses.
I knew it was him and his uncle without having to turn and stayed with my back to them. A blush worked its way easily in my cheeks once more and I tensed, the water unintentionally freezing over.
"Hey! Katara! A little help here?" Sokka yelled, frozen in the water. I watched him unseeing, my ears straining for every sound. "Katara!" He bellowed. I started, and looked at him. That's when I started to laugh.
"Great! First it's frisking Momo on me, and now your magic? What have I done to deserve this misery?" He cried, staring up at the heavens.
The old man with Zuko chuckled and I whirled around to face him. I hadn't realized how close they were and stumbled back, nearly falling off the boulder I was sitting on if Aang hadn't raised a wall of air to prevent me from falling.
With a flick of the wrist, I unfroze Sokka and carefully kept my gaze trained on anyone but Zuko. Sokka scrambled to get his clothes on and was by my side instantly.
"My nephew had an ide-." He was cut off by an indignant sound from Zuko. "Okay, my idea, that we may assist the young Avatar Aang by teaching him- you- Firebending." We were left completely silent.
I studied the lake out of the corner of my eye, the heat slowly fading from my face. I twitched my fingers and made a game of freezing and unfreezing parts of the water, occasionally raising the level higher in places. Finally, I broke the tense silence, still watching my work.
"It's up to Aang."
That seemed to knock Aang out of his stupor and he nodded vigorously. I let my control of my element drop and Sokka was showered heavily with it.
"Do you hate me or something?" He cried. I laughed, yanking the water out of his clothing with a twirl of the wrist
"Now, how could I hate my brother, when I'm about to get a new brother-in-law?" I asked, glancing at Momo. He growled. We turned our attention to the matter at hand.
"Um, sure, if you really…want…to." Aang said, unsure. He shifted his weight and scratched the back of his head, a sheepish look on his face. He cast me a shamefaced glance, one that Zuko followed. I could feel his gaze rest heavily on me and the blush returned to my face.
I kept my gaze raptly on Aang. "I mean, the last time I tried learning fire, I burned Katara. So I'll only accept if she does." I blanched. His face was so hopeful and eager…
Sighing heavily, I turned to meet Zuko's gaze defiantly. "Sure."
zzz
She made a point to ignore talking to me and meeting my eyes after she accepted. While Aang, Toph, and Sokka ushered us into their camp, Katara stayed by the lake, turning to her element and fiddling with it as she did before.
Uncle and the three kids began talking about what the lessons would include. Soon, I grew bored and scanned their campsite. The fluffy monster was chewing on a tree, slobber streaming from its mouth disgustingly. There was a thin sleeping sac for the Avatar, judging by its colors, and two thick, blue ones.
The imbecile, Sokka, was sitting on one, so I assumed the other blue one was… Katara's. I stood up, becoming excruciatingly bored and made a move to the woods when Sokka called out.
"Where are you going?" His tone was suspicious. Without turning around, I calmed myself.
"A peasant doesn't ask the whereabouts of a Prince," I growled and continued into the woods. Blinding sunlight greeted me as I stepped into the clearing surrounding the lake.
This time, Katara was only in her underclothes and in knee deep water. She turned slightly to me. I couldn't think of anything to say, so I sat down at the shore and watched her in her element.
"…" Katara opened her mouth to say something, but then shut it in thought. "So is it true? You're going to teach Aang fire bending?" She asked, her voice emotionless as she raised a wall of ice behind her with a thought.
"Obviously." I answered coldly. I instantly regretted it as her eyes sharpened into daggers. If looks could kill…
"Is it true the avatar burnt you?" I asked, changing the subject before she could blow up.
She didn't answer just cast me a wary, side-long glance before turning back to her water bending. I pushed no further.
After a few moments, she spoke carefully. "Aang was eager to learn fire bending. And yes, he did unintentionally burn me." She stressed 'unintentionally' as if I wouldn't believe her.
Finally, she dropped the dragon she was making out of ice and turned to look at me, hand on her hips. "Look, we're going to be seeing each other a lot now, too much in my opinion. Let's just forget what happened yesterday, okay?"
"Already forgotten." I answered blandly, studying her from the corner of my eye. True, I'd never forget what happened, in fact, I didn't want to forget it, but she didn't need to know that. I had never had someone show me physically what loving felt like, and that, though it was partial, was what my imagination formed.
"Good." Before she could go on farther, Uncle, Mud Squatter, Avatar, and Imbecile marched to the shore.
"All is settled then," Uncle declared. "Zuko shall teach Avatar Aang Firebending." I cast him a look that said 'we'll talk later.' He ignored it.
"Great…" Katara's statement was more of a question.
zzz
That night felt… different. During the days that Zuko was chasing us, I always wondered in a panic where he was. Was he lurking just outside the reach of light? Was he in that cave? Would he hurt us? Of course he would…
I was resting on Appa's back, his saddle lying on the ground. His fur, so thick and silky, was my blanket for the night. Zuko had to use mine, since Aang accidentally set his on fire.
I was laying on my back with one arm tucked underneath my head for a pillow, the other rubbing my thighs- the target from that days work outs. Unconsciously, my hand trailed from my thighs to my neck to brush against my necklace…
My eyes snapped open and I jerked up. My hand felt only bare flesh. No necklace. Frustrated tears fell down my face and I slid silently off of Appa's back. The others were all sleeping within the smoldering fire's lightening reach. I darted as quietly as I could into the woods, trying to find my way to the spring in which I last saw it.
Once or twice I tripped or ran straight into a tree, but I paid no heed to the bruises forming on me. Only when I was running on thankfully clear ground when suddenly, there was no ground and I was tumbling down a steep hill did I decide to move cautiously.
I landed on my stomach, my left leg folded beneath me. Silently chastising myself, I slowly unfolded and warily stretched. Sighing in relief, I stood up and let out a throttled cry. Blood seeped into my mouth from biting back a surprised scream. I looked down at my left knee.
It looked like the skin was totally ripped off, blood pouring down my leg. I hissed as I moved; the dirt and scraps of my leggings sticking in the deep scrape. Standing straight and trying to ignore the pain, I looked around.
"This… isn't good." I breathed, taking in the fifty odd sleeping Fire Nation soldiers. Slowly, I backed away. I didn't see the lone Fire Soldier snoring behind me and I backed into him, falling heavily onto his slightly defined chest. He woke up with a deafening snort.
His yellow eyes looked at me groggily. Soon, the glaze of sleep was washed away and his piercing gaze zoned in on my appearance. For a split second I thought nothing was going to happen and then-
He let out an earsplitting scream. I took that as my sign to scramble back up the hill, dodging countless fireballs. One hit the back of my arm, and I let out a high pitched scream as I lost my hold. Once more, I tumbled into the camp.
"Come on, we got her!" A man bellowed. I cried out as a million pairs of hands grabbed at me. I bit down hard on one of the pairs until I tasted blood. The man shrieked and fell backwards. It seems it was just one pair of hands…
I scrambled to my feet and swayed, backing away from the advancing troops. Their hands ignited with fire, temporarily blinding me. They took advantage of it and grabbed hold of me. Another shriek escaped me.
zzz
I woke with a start, looking around wildly. A man screamed, as if in pain. I checked our camp. Imbecile, Dirt Lover, Avatar, and Uncle were where they were when I fell asleep. Katara had still been awake, so I had no clue where she would have slept-.
"Katara?" I called out. No answer. I stood up and looked around. She wasn't there. That's when another scream split the silence- a girl's scream. I froze, realization hitting me. Without another thought, I darted into the woods towards the source of the scream.
I had run for about ten minutes until I stopped right before a steep slant of a hill. I looked down and saw Katara surrounded by Fire Soldiers. They were tearing at her clothing, trying to get her to hold still. She clawed at them, kicked at any exposed weakness and bit at hands.
Then a man came up behind her and pinned her arms to her sides. She struggled, screaming at the top of her voice. Something woke inside me when the men continued to tear at her clothes. That's when I jumped down in a flaming rage.
Sure, she was pretty and nice, innocent and caring- the exact opposite of me. She was my enemy, though we made a truce. But I had to help her. Call it an obligatory of honor.
I landed lightly behind the man that bound Katara, a sphere of flames blazing around me. The first line of soldiers backed away. The man that held Katara was engulfed by my fire. She turned and saw the inferno, nothing but, and then she cried. I advanced forward, letting the flames meld open to form a door and yanked her in.
Her tears fell heavily and she unconsciously held onto me. She clutched at the collar of my shirt and buried her face in my chest. Taken aback, my hold on the flames weakened and my barrier fell. They saw me.
"Prince Zuko!" They called. I paled.
"Oh, shi-!" I started.
"We're sorry, my liege. We didn't know she was yours." A man cried out. The grouping of men bowed. Covering up my shock, I surveyed them, unintentionally wrapping my arms around Katara. She held on tighter.
They must not know that I'm labeled a 'traitor' now. Maybe not even know I'm banished…I thought, feeling the shaking of the Water Girl. I tightened my embrace.
"How fares your father, Fire Lord Ozai? We haven't heard news from our nation in three years!" One called out, proving my thoughts.
"He is well." I answered abruptly. I turned around to give Katara some modesty from her weakness. She didn't seem to want to let me go. Awkwardly, I said over my shoulder, "If you don't mind, I need to get my… love back to camp." I hesitated before giving her a title.
She didn't seem to notice, just peeking out at the shuffling troops and constricting her hold tighter. I gasped for breath. I dipped my head to her ear. "Katara, if you want to get out of here, you're going to have to let go. I'll carry you." I whispered. She nodded into my shirt.
She relaxed slightly and before she could change her mind I swept her up in my arms, my right arm supporting her back and my left in the nook of her legs. She wrapped her arms around my neck and once again concealed her face in my chest. With ease I walked up the hill and within a half hour, I was at the edge of camp.
By then, she had stopped sobbing and was about to fall asleep in my arms. I gently nudged her head with my chin. Blearily, she opened her eyes. So blue and trusting…
"Zuko…" She breathed, her eyelids drooping almost comically.
"Katara?"
"To…the-lake." She stifled a yawn while she was talking. I nodded and slipped back into the trees to the lake. Once there, I slowly sat down and eased her arms off of my neck.
She sat in my lap, her back flush against my chest. She rested her head against my neck and sighed, curling up tighter. I gingerly laid my chin on the top of her head.
"Zuko?" She whispered.
"Hmm?"
"Thanks." She fell asleep. I pulled something out of my pocket and slipped it softly around her neck. Her necklace was cool against my hand as it rested lightly against her neck. She breathed deeply.
"I'd never hurt you, Katara." I whispered back. I could feel a soft smile tugging on her lips.
"I know…" She murmured. Whether it was in her sleep or not, I do not know. I tended to her wounds.
zzz
I woke thattowards dawncurled in Zuko's arms; he shifted beneath me and then held still save for his arms tightening around my waist. He was lying on his back with me on top of him on my stomach. Slowly, I lowered my head to settle on his chest. I could feel every muscle beneath me relax.
"Zuko…" I murmured, my mind churning from the events of last night. Words echoed in my mind: I'd never hurt you, Katara. Strangely enough, I believed them. Even stranger, Zuko said them. I muttered his name again.
He saved me from possible rape, sure imprisonment, and imminent death. I opened my eyes and gently lifted myself up, holding my weight with my hands. I looked into his face.
He looked so much at peace…
"Sweet dreams, my champion." I voiced delicately.
and there you go... I honestly think I said everything that's going on in my noggin up there . yup, I don't think that much, do I? hahhhh... until next time!
x
♥
Erica