"Fire Lord Zuko?"
Zuko stands outside of the door to his meeting room, his hand pausing on the door. His nerves have begun to get to him, as they often do before important discussions. It doesn't matter how well he's gotten to know the general or the minds of the Fire Nation – he is still nervous. Knocked out of his stressful thoughts, Zuko turns to the sound of the voice. He is shocked to see a woman standing before him, her black hair held back by a slim black band and her grey eyes empty. Toph.
"What are you doing here?" Zuko asks, and Toph smiles slyly.
"Have you been listening at those meetings? General Jong decided it would be best if I helped with the destruction of the borders separating the four nations. He wanted me to come in and discuss this with you all, principles and all that jazz," Toph says.
"Well," Zuko pauses, staring at his old friend and feeling a little irritated, "thanks for coming."
"No problem Sparky," Toph says, and enters the room, hip-checking him as she passes. Zuko's face turns red, and he enters the room after her. Apparently all customs fly out of the window when Toph appears. A few moments later the room is filled with people. Each person remains standing around the long wooden table and bows. Zuko sits, and the others follow.
Song-Li of the Earth Kingdom wastes no time. "If we wanted our barriers down, we would take them down ourselves. We need no princess telling us what to do," she says, jabbing her thumb in Toph's direction.
"The war ended four years ago! You're just holding a grudge," Toph says. The conversation quickly becomes violently angry and rude words are thrown around. Zuko takes a deep breath, counts to fifteen, and exhales, smoke leaving his nostrils.
"Silence," Zuko says, aware of his power when everyone quiets. A memory of Katara slams into his thoughts unbidden, and in his thoughts he sees her lying beside him and saying she's proud of him for managing to become a successful Fire Lord. He clears his throat and shakes her from his thoughts. Now is not the time. Later… later he can have her.
"When I became Fire Lord, I made a promise to each of you," Zuko begins, his eyes resting on a represent from each of the four nations, his own included. "I told you we would find peace, and success, in each other. I intend to keep that promise," Zuko says gravely. "Song-Li, if you could speak to Toph on your own terms I am certain you will come up with a compromise. She is the greatest earthbender in the world, and it would do you well to recognize that." The woman nods curtly, her eyes resting on Toph, who grins and crosses her muscled arms. "Lahno," Zuko addresses the representative of the Southern Water Tribe. Aware that her husband, the representative of the Northern Water Tribe is too ill to be with them, he tries to keep his expression soft. The woman nods her thanks, and Zuko continues.
"I request that we remain in correspondence on the subject of the standing of bending in education. We must not offend the elders, who may hold some fear at the thought of their young having their bending strengthened.
The representative of the Air Temples remains silent through the entirety of the discussion. Aang was unable to attend, as his wife, a waterbender and student of Katara's grandmother, could go into labor at any minute. In his place sits a firebender selected by Aang himself to join him as a monk. Not wanting to frighten the boy, Zuko makes sure to give him a small smile.
"Aiko, I trust your trip was not too difficult," Zuko says, trying to engage in small talk. Aiko smiles at him and nods. "The Air Temples are being rebuilt at Aang's request. We can only hope that he and Lai are able to produce some airbending babies," Zuko says, and Aiko blushes and nods.
"I will speak with the spirits," Aiko says.
Zuko turns to his own representative, Mai. The woman's face gives nothing away, but Mai's eyes reveal that some part of her still longs for him. Still, she remains still and businesslike as he directs her.
"With your help, I know we can improve the state of our nation. We must start with the commoners, and the children. They are our hope," Zuko says simply.
"I could not agree more," Mai says, and to Zuko's surprise she smiles at him.
The meeting ends with more calm discussion, and Zuko stands.
"Thank each of you for coming. For those of you who plan to stay at the palace and leave in the morning, my servants will set you up. Dinner will be especially grand this evening, if you would like to join," Zuko says. He bows, and everyone gets up, speaking kindly to each other and guessing what will be for dinner. On the way out, Mai catches Zuko's arm.
"Can I talk to you for a moment?" she says.
"Sure," Zuko says. Toph catches his eye and, seeing Mai touching Zuko, lowers the palace floor to a slope and slides down to him. When Toph reaches them, she pulls her arms upward and pulls the ground back to its normal level. "You couldn't just walk?" Zuko asks Toph, smiling. Mai seems irritated.
"Calm down, Sparky. I was just wondering where I can find Katara," Toph says.
"She is down the hall and to the right. Her room smells like lavender, and you can usually smell her humming," Zuko says.
"Thanks for the sensory details, see you!" Toph shouts, running down the hallway. Abruptly she pauses and pulls Zuko toward her, moving the tile he stands on until he's right in front of her.
"Um, wha-" Zuko sputters.
"Meet Katara in her room in an hour. I'll distract the servants and the guards," Toph whispers.
"How do you – what do you not know?" Zuko groans.
"I know all," Toph says before speeding off down the hallway. Her back turned, she shoots Zuko back to the front of the office, where a confused looking Mai stands, her arms crossed.
"Sorry about all that," Zuko says. He isn't sure how to explain.
"All I wanted to know was whether you wanted me to stay or not. Will the dinner be business or pleasure?" Mai says, her words cutting, and Zuko wonders if she could hear Toph's whisper.
"Pleasure," Zuko says.
"I'll be dining with my parents, then. See you tomorrow morning," Mai says. Zuko suddenly grows anxious – not because of Mai, but because of Katara. He can't wait an hour. Toph will just have to hurry. He walks down the hall and to the right and turns to the guards. "I would like each of you to check on my guests." He turns to small girl who serves Katara. "You too," he says. They all nod and walk away, and Zuko knocks on Katara's bedroom door. He can hear giggles and squeals inside, and he smiles. He wonders if they are talking about him. The door opens, and there she is.
Katara.
Her eyes meet his, and though he can hear Toph's suggestive comments, they are blurred, blocked out by the beauty of the waterbender laying on the bed in the center of the room, her stomach left bare in a pair of silk pajamas Zuko has never seen before. Her blue eyes seem to flare as his golden eyes take her in. He notices Katara's closeness to Toph - the earthbender is kneeling beside her on the bed, her hand on her shoulder and her mouth close to her neck.
"Am I interrupting something?" Zuko says, and Toph laughs out loud. Katara blushes.
"We aren't up to anything, Sparky," Toph stands up and walks to the door of the bedroom. She regards him gently as she passes. "Be good to her, or I'll kill you," Toph states.
"You're leaving?" Katara says, not looking as disappointed as she sounds. Already her arms are reaching out to Zuko, and she gives him a shy grin as she realizes this. He walks toward her, dropping his long red robe as he walks and unbuttoning his tunic.
"Definitely leaving," Toph says. "You have an hour or two. I can't distract the guards for long."
Zuko chuckles, the sound making Katara twitch. The door closes behind Toph with a slam, and Zuko sits behind Katara on the bed. She leans back, her waist meeting his and his breath warming her neck.
"How was your day?" Zuko says into the skin of her neck. Katara shivers.
"Fine. Iroh paid me a visit," Katara says. Zuko's hands slide down her sides.
Zuko smiles. "Mm, yes, I saw him this morning."
"His tea is much better than yours," Katara says, and Zuko tickles her sides, making her giggle.
"Is it, now?"
"Mm, much," Katara says. "Yours tastes like grass."
Zuko laughs out loud, surprised by her insult. "Really? I thought I was improving."
"Not at all," Katara says. "You should try some sugar," she says, placing her hands on his calves. He slides his legs up so his knees are by her shoulders, and Katara snuggles into his embrace. Zuko both wishes he could see her face and appreciates her warmth too much to turn her around.
"I do enjoy sugar," Zuko says, trying out a pick up line. Judging from the hitch in her breath, Zuko decides, he should try them more often. He smiles, taking pride in his ability to make her feel just as she makes him feel.
"So I learned last night," Katara slides her hands upward so that they rest on his knees.
"You enjoyed last night?" Zuko whispers, his lips by her ear. Katara wiggles against him, and he knows she wants him to hurry up and kiss her. He doesn't want to, though. He wants to relive their night.
"Yes." Katara grips his thighs, and Zuko feels heat flare in his chest. He inhales deeply and exhales, smoke exiting his nostrils and dancing across her shoulders, bare but for a thin strip of fabric. How easy it would be to tear, or burn, Zuko muses.
"What did you enjoy?"
At this Katara pauses her movements. He worries he has pushed her, gone too far with this strange form of foreplay. He listens in silence to her breathing, and is surprised when it seems to grow heavier.
"Katara?" Zuko says, and Katara begins to speak.
"I loved the feeling of your lips on my neck," Katara says, her voice low. There is something to it, a sort of roughness, that pushes Zuko to do as she says – he kisses her neck. Her head rolls back against his chest and he presses his lips again to the skin there. His pokes out his tongue and runs it against the brown skin of her neck. He kisses her neck slowly until she begins to talk again. "Zuko," she breathes. "Your hands… your hands on my waist. Low on my waist," she corrects, and his large, pale hands come to rest on her bare waist. Zuko's fingers rest on the small roll of her stomach, moving over her warm skin lovingly.
"What else?" Zuko says, and Katara gasps as his lips move back up her neck. He bites down gently on her ear, and then harder.
"That, that," Katara says, her eyes fluttering closed. Zuko chuckles as she desperately clutches his thighs.
"You like that?"
"Harder," Katara breathes, and Zuko feels a burning in his chest. He bites down hard on her ear, and Katara jerks forward.
"What was your favorite thing?" Zuko asks, and Katara lolls her head back and turns so her eyes can meet his. They sit silently for a moment, examining each other with their eyes. With Katara's back to his and her body trapped between his legs, Zuko is more comfortable than he can ever remember being.
"I… " Katara's face glows red, and Zuko gives her an encouraging smile.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Zuko says.
"I want to," Katara realizes. "I loved your mouth on my breasts. And I know you said not to go further, but, Zuko," she moans when his lips wrap around her nipple through her shirt. He lifts the fabric away and begins undoing her bindings. He tosses the bindings to the floor and lifts the shirt above her breast before placing his lips against her again. "Please don't stop," Katara begs, and Zuko reaches up a hand. His hand rests on her left breast, squeezing gently, and he tugs her right nipple with his teeth. Zuko removes his mouth from her, and Katara groans her disapproval.
"Turn around," Zuko croaks, and Katara does as he says. Katara kneels in front of him, unsure of what to do, her breasts visible with the shirt scrunched above them. Zuko stares at her, momentarily dazed. Her soft stomach… he wants to kiss it. He wants to kiss her, everywhere, for the rest of her life. He doesn't want her to go anywhere, he realizes. He wants her, for real.
"Zuko?" Katara says, her hand reaching out and cupping his face. Embarassed, he feels tears suddenly spring to his eyes. "What are you thinking about?"
I think I'm falling in love with you. "Come here," Zuko says. He grabs her thighs and guides her on top of him so that they are sitting up and pressed together, his thighs underneath hers. This position brings her crotch directly on top of his, and Zuko bites his lip to repress a sound.