It's that time again, guys! This is the chapter you've all been waiting to murder me for! All I ask is that you give it a chance, it'll be over soon, I promise! That being said, I actually had a really hard time posting this without the next chapter being started, so I wrote a good portion of the next chapter just so I knew where to go with it. So I think the next installment will be posted sooner rather than later, both to get y'all from jumping down my throat and for my sanity. Also, as you may have guessed this chapter is rated M! So please read with discretion.
Other than all of that, enjoy!
The return to the palace was short but excruciatingly worrisome. A messenger hawk had been sent ahead for a healer to meet the rescue party at the palace, but Zuko wanted nothing more than to whisk her away to safety to check her over himself. While nothing but the deep wounds on her side and face screamed at him, he needed to be sure that she would be alright. For her sake as well as for his. The simple thought of her being captured threatened ominous thoughts of burning forests down to save her, and yet he was forced to keep his fire at bay or risk further political damage. He had essentially melted that guard's face off when he had seen him reaching for her bare shoulder, and his soldiers had all but murdered every Earth Kingdom rebel in the camp. His arm cinched possessively around her shoulders as he thought about what might have happened to her if his informant hadn't spotted her being abducted earlier. He shuddered with fury that he had been so blind as to not see the traitor in their midst. It was in this squalor and turmoil that he sat, cradling her body as close to his as possible, as they rode towards the capital city.
It was some time later, after the healers had successfully patched together her wounds, that he was allowed to bring her to a spare bedroom, so he could check her over and let her rest. Despite numerous servants requesting to stay by his side to help, he ordered them all away, asking only one to return with hot towels before shooing him away as well. His mind itched for reassurance, and it would not settle until he was sure she was healed as best as he could manage.
His memory dragged him back to the night Aang had defeated Lord Ozai; how he and Katara had gone after Azula, and how he had jumped in front of his sister's vicious lighting attack in order to protect her. She had healed him then and made sure he was alright, and he would damn well do the same for her now. Slowly and cautiously he approached the bed, the crimson silk sheets dark against her skin and the blue of her dress a stark contrast even with the spatters of blood coating it. He moved to peel the top of the dress off her shoulders and to loosen the bindings of the skirt, unhurriedly slipping it down her waist and over her legs before laying the ruined cloth on a nearby chair.
He took a warm towel, and leading a path with his eyes, took the damp cloth to her skin, washing away the dirt and blood that lingered on her. His hand was steady as it dragged across her midsection, a thin layer of moisture catching the light of the candles and leaving her skin glistening. He smiled faintly, straining to contain his growing desire to explore the rest of her body, and dropped the now dirty towel onto the floor.
He stood then, unsure of his next action. He should do the honorable thing and leave her to rest, he should return to his own bedchambers and think only of his relationship with Mai, even if the woman claimed she detested him. But it only took a flicker of the candle's flame to remind him what Katara had gone through that night, and he resolved himself to staying by her side, if only as a bodyguard. And if he felt more comfortable removing his shirt and pants before slipping between the sheets next to her, it was simply because he was more comfortable that way, and not because he craved the incredible softness of her skin on his. As he pulled her body to him, resting her head on his shoulder, and cradling her hips, he prayed he could convince himself of that soon.
Zuko awoke with a start as something warm and supple moved across his skin. He realized in sudden clarity that it was Katara, her body sliding over his, her hands marking new territory with each passing second. Her movements were slow and light, as if in a dream, and he realized that she was unaware of her actions and probably still asleep. He shifted so as to move her off, but her body sank into the curve of his and melded perfectly. He winced at his arousal and stared down at the fiery waterbender who had never failed to impress him. Even in sleep he was amazed at how easily he was seduced by her, by the Avatar's girlfriend. Another wince, but this time in remembrance of that tiny little detail. While Aang would see to his immediate demise if Katara were ever to be hurt under his watch, Zuko was also sure that this was probably not what he had in mind when the Avatar had asked him to care for her.
He smirked slightly at the thought, remembering exactly when Aang had asked. "Zuko, I'm worried about Katara." The Avatar glanced up into his friend's eyes as they were leaving the main council room. "I think lately she has been upset about something, but she won't talk to me. I know we've drifted lately, but I'm doing this all for her. I want to make it up to her as soon as I get back from Ba Sing Se." They entered onto a balcony that led to the palace gardens and stopped. "Zuko, will you take care of her for me until then?" Yeah, Zuko grinned to himself as a sleep-laden hand wrapped around his thick cock, he would take care of Katara, but it was at his discretion as to how.
At first, she had awoken to a hard chest and a softly murmuring voice, one she recognized but could not place. It was the same voice that had called to her in the stone hut and she drew her brows together in deep thought. Her hands had gained a mind of their own and as her mind cleared she could feel the hard muscle and thick veins running through her grip and the soft voice straining with tension. The fog was still thick in her head as she realized who was moaning her name, and she abruptly gasped and sat up, releasing his manhood before steadying herself on his shoulder as her head spun. The room tilting, Zuko's naked chest came into view and she look up into his eyes, deep with concern and laced with desire. Her mouth parted and she tried to speak, but all manner of words had dried up as the flashbacks of recent events returned to her.
He watched the fear return to her eyes and he gripped her shoulder, tilting her head back up so he could look at her properly. Her gaze snapped to his and her expression held panic and concern. His brows drew downward and he felt an odd urge to try and comfort her as best he could.
"It's alright now, Katara, you're safe." When her mouth did not close all the way and she still held a look of bewilderment on her face, he leaned forward, acting on instincts, and kissed her. A light kiss, a kiss of comfort; yet comfort was the last thing he felt as her eyes drifted shut and she brought a hand up to pull his mouth closer, shifting an innocent kiss into a mind-numbing whirlwind of desire. He moaned against her lips and wrapped an arm around her neck, cautiously drawing her back down to the soft bed. It was when he broke the kiss to take a jagged breath that their eyes met again, sharp barbs of passion staring into his soul. He shivered and licked his way across her jaw and down her neck, tasting her flavor and reveling in her soft, earthy scent.
She wasn't sure why she was letting this all happen, and honestly, she wasn't at all sure she even wanted it to happen, but Zuko's lips were warm and comforting on her skin and his hands roamed her body in ways she hadn't even realized she had been craving. She knew her actions would hurt Aang when he found out, but she had almost died in the attack and her mind was beyond guilt, fastened to the man currently teasing her sensitive nipples into stiff peaks. She mewed in pleasure and ran her nails over his back, tracing the lines of muscle that flexed and bunched underneath. Besides, she reasoned with herself as Zuko's other hand made fresh explorations towards the thatch of hair between her legs, Zuko has always brought a touch of wickedness to our friendship that I've never been able to fully explore before. And Aang has drifted so far away... It's not like there's anyone there to betray anymore...
Her sapphire eyes were locked onto his and he could feel her body tense under his frame. He grinned maliciously as he drew a finger across the wet folds of her body, teasing, taunting her, almost forcing her to whimper and beg for a cure. But he was not one for patience and soon he ached to bury himself deep within her. Her hands guided his body over hers, and she splayed her legs wide, ready and waiting for him to take what he had wanted to take for so long. His body aligned, and with a shaky breath and questioning gaze, he plunged into her, moaning and calling out her name as her body constricted around his and she called into the night.
It was a union he had fantasized about since they had first met, since the first time she had stood up to him and proved her worth. His desire had only grown over the years; it grew when they had been trapped in the crystal catacombs of Ba Sing Se together, and when she had taken him to destroy her mother's killer and bloodbended a top ranking Fire Nation general without remorse. He had always admired her strength and dedication, and now he could admire the way her face contorted in pleasure and the desperate noises she made as he pushed into her over and over again, melding his desires to reality.
His mind could no longer filter what was good or bad, what he would regret in the future and what he wanted to tell people in case he had to explain himself. But when the avalanche of emotion and pleasure threatened to give way, when all that was left were breathless throaty whispers of approval and the slick motion of her hips against his, his mind filled with amber colored eyes and a bored smile, and Zuko's last thought before the pleasure was so complete it blinded him was of Mai's face, twisted in the contractions of a simultaneous orgasm.
She felt his body start to shake and as he lifted his head to look into her eyes she saw them clouded with memories, and she realized that he was not thinking about her. Normally, Katara would have been insulted, but as she was no longer capable of accepting the truth that anyone other than Aang was deep within her, she closed her eyes and whispered the Avatar's name to herself and let the emotions flow into intense satisfaction as she pictured him above her.
Later, in the aftermath of their intimacy, they lay together, limbs still tangled, and stared into each other's eyes, daring the other to confess first. His expression was smug and she bit her lip to keep from smiling, an action that failed miserably.
"What? What are you smirking about?" His voice was scratchy and hoarse.
She eyed him. "Oh, I don't think I'll tell you." Her grin widened and he kissed the tip of her nose.
"I'm sure I can guess..." His voice trailed off, lost in the moment as he held her close, images of Mai already returning to his mind.
"Zuko...," her voice was quiet and a hand touched his shoulder lightly.
"Hmm?"
"What are we going to tell people?" He looked into her questioning gaze, and sighed.
"Don't worry about anyone else." He didn't want to deal with the aftermath, and he realised suddenly the selfish deed he had committed.
"Aang is going to kill you. You know that, right?" She watched him grin guiltily.
"Look, Katara...," he needed to step lightly here, "I'm not going to lie and say I haven't been wanting to do that with you since the day we met." He saw a shy smirk before she buried her face in the blankets momentarily. "But, honestly, I was acting out of selfish reasons tonight. I was so worried about you that I misjudged my ability to hold myself back and simply care for you. No-," he silenced her quick squawk of protest. "I'll take the blame for tonight. I've always lusted after you and tonight I just couldn't keep my possessive streak hidden. I'm sorry."
"Zuko... I've had the same desire, but tonight we shared something that was simply more the result of fear, and, honestly, lack of satisfaction from our significant others than anything else," she admitted begrudgingly. "I don't blame you, and you shouldn't blame yourself, either."
"But I still betrayed Aang's trust, we both did. And I probably betrayed Mai's trust, though the woman hardly acts like she gives a damn about me any longer."
"Aang...," her voice trailed off, the desperate frustration clouding her thoughts. "I fear that Aang has simply moved on. If he truly wanted me in his life he would have done something about it by now. So I've simply come to terms with it. It's not even like we're together all that often anyway! I can't... I don't love him anymore."
"I heard you call him name when we were coming together." His comment made her head snap up and she blushed profusely.
"I... I'm sorry...," her eyes widened in surprise and shot down, embarrassed, before feeling a warm hand lift her chin so she would once again hold the Fire Lord's gaze.
"You do love him, and he desperately loves you. Just give him a chance. After all," the king grinned, "that kid has never been good with words."
They were silent a while, contemplating all that had occurred in the last day. Katara's fingers made creases in the sheets as she breathed deeply. Suddenly her head popped up.
"Zuko, what are you going to tell Mai?"
"The royal mood swing?" He scoffed, "honestly, I have no idea. I may not even tell her." At Katara's frown he added, "It's not the sort of thing we'd talk about."
"I know we're only good friends, but this is a pretty big deal..."
"She slept with a guy a year after Ozai was captured. A high ranking guard, I believe." At the waterbender's astonished look, he continued. "He was actually the one to tell me, and when I confronted her she shrugged and promised it meant nothing. She was simply bored. It's just her nature, I suppose. That even may be why she's been so distant lately. She's probably bored and with some other guy on the side."
"And you're ok with that?" An incredulous tone had him looking over into pools of deep blue.
"Of course not, but it's the nature of the beast with her." He shrugged. "To be perfectly honest, she has been crazy moody lately, too. I'm not terribly sure I can be upset when I'm getting out of having to tiptoe around a minefield every time I talk to her." Her heard a smirk and produced one himself. Sighing he shifted his body to face her. "I'll talk to her soon. Perhaps tomorrow if Aang doesn't murder me first."
"You are a scoundrel, your highness." He ruffled her hair and held her hand.
"Would you like to tell Aang together, or should I tell him alone?"
She paused and thought for a moment. "It will be awkward if we tell him together, but I'll feel bad if you're the one stuck there alone, trying to calm him down."
"We'll figure it out in the morning, then." She hummed tiredly and he closed his eyes, drifting off into a maze of cloudy dreamscapes.
