A/N: A sequel to 'Longing'
Reunited
"Can't you make Appa go faster?" Zuko complained to the Avatar. "I mean, he's just cruising. Doesn't he know that Mai's waiting for me?" The Fire Lord slumped back in the saddle, a sulky look on his face.
"You asked me the same thing a few years ago and the answer hasn't changed; NO! Appa's doing the best he can. And he's older now. Really, Zuko, you should show more compassion." Aang frowned and gave his animal guide and companion a pat. "It's all right, Appa, Zuko's just frustrated, that's all."
"Compassion," Zuko muttered. "He's playing with me. You're playing with me, aren't you, Appa?"
The bison bellowed; the sound was almost melancholy, an absolute denial of Zuko's accusation.
"Fine, fine; not like I can do anything about it." He folded his hands behind his head and closed his eyes, all thoughts immediately turning to Mai.
He wondered where she was at that moment and what she was wearing. He wondered if she had used the vanilla bath oil or the jasmine. Both were intoxicating, but Zuko preferred the vanilla. "That's what she used then," he muttered under his breath, confident that his wife would do everything in her power to make their reunion spectacular.
Aang turned his head, took in the smile on Zuko's face, and grinned. "You've only been away a week. Katara and I are apart for much longer than that all the time. We manage."
"Yeah, well, Mai and I are different, I guess. We've already spent too much time apart. You and Katara were together from the moment you met. I can't stand not sleeping beside Mai or being able to touch her." He blushed the tiniest bit. "We touch… a lot."
"Um, yeah, I've noticed," Aang agreed awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his bald head. "More times than I want to remember…" he said the last bit under his breath and flushed himself as he recalled walking in on Mai and Zuko kissing and more. Their romantic encounters certainly weren't restricted to their bedroom. He'd seen them in the dining room, the gardens, the library and even the kitchen. It was a little bit disconcerting at times.
Zuko was lost in fantasy land now and couldn't hear Aang anyway. He continued to imagine his reunion with Mai. The thoughts of his wife crowded out everything else. He was smiling when Appa finally landed in the Fire Nation palace courtyard.
Zuko saw Mai and leapt off the beast without another word. Aang gave the couple a wave but neither Fire Lord nor Fire Lady saw a thing. The Avatar shrugged and led Appa toward the huge hold built especially for the bison.
"Let's get you some food and water, boy. I don't think I'd better go inside for a few hours at least, or maybe I'll just sleep out here with you."
"Finally; did you take the scenic route?" Mai rushed to her husband and buried her face in his chest, snaking her arms around his waist. She inhaled deeply and sighed with satisfaction.
Zuko wrapped his arms around her and calm immediately descended on him. "Seemed like it," he laughed. "You feel so damned good." He placed kiss after kiss on her head and ran his hands up and down her back.
Both could cheerfully stay like that forever, letting the world continue on, not caring about anything but that wonderful embrace. But that was hardly practical and besides that, their bedroom awaited them.
"Let's go inside," Mai suggested. "Both our schedules are clear for the rest of the day. We can stay in bed if we choose to. We can do anything we want." Letting her hand wander down to Zuko's behind, she gave it a saucy squeeze and smiled into the material of his shirt.
Her meaning was clear and the Fire Lord scooped her up into his arms like some chivalrous hero of old, speeding through the courtyard and into the palace. Servants stared and giggled and grinned, all of them accustomed to the affectionate couple and their demonstrations of love.
For Zuko and Mai, none of them existed. The bedroom existed, their beloved private space, and the bed with its layers of soft silks. They each existed for the other too; every scar, large or almost imperceptible, each tiny mark, little calluses on fingertips and palms, the most beautiful hair in all the world, eyes that she could lose herself in, skin so soft it made him want to weep from the joy of touching it.
The Fire Lord pushed the door open with his shoulder and then pushed it shut again, somehow managing to lock it too all while still holding Mai. She found herself on the bed a few seconds later and smirked as Zuko began to disrobe.
"Hold on," she said and patted the empty spot beside her. "Let's cuddle for a few minutes, all right?" Mai wanted sex as much as Zuko did, but she wanted to simply lie next to him for a bit too.
Shucking off everything but his underwear, Zuko climbed up beside Mai and lay on his side facing her. "I hated being away from you," he stated and reached over to stroke her cheek.
"I couldn't sleep here without you," Mai countered. "I ended up falling asleep in the garden. I couldn't read. I couldn't train. I couldn't do anything. Well, I did manage to eat."
Zuko chuckled. "Nothing would stop you from eating."
His fingers moved a bit lower and brushed against her breast. Mai gasped at the intimate touch and felt her whole body start to tingle. She took hold of his hand and pressed it tight against her, right beneath her breasts. "I missed you so much it actually hurt."
"I won't leave you behind again; I don't care who wants me to go where." He inched his body over and brushed his lips against hers, letting them linger for a long moment before kissing her throat. "You smell good. I knew that you would choose the vanilla."
"It's your favorite," she stated, letting go of his hand so that she could run hers through his shaggy brown hair. It caught on some tangles and she combed them out lovingly with her fingertips.
They simply gazed at each other then, taking in everything there was to take in. Lust and desire still burned in both, but that could wait until later. It was more important now to reconnect in other ways.
"This is nice," Zuko remarked. His hand rested on her hip now and he began to rub there in small circles, sweet, soothing touches. He added a bit of heat to his fingertips and Mai began to moan.
"Y-yeah," Mai stammered, desire suddenly flaring white hot. "Maybe the time for looking is over, though." She began to remove her own clothing, managing to make it all look easy and graceful despite being stretched out on her side.
"Maybe it is," Zuko agreed. He dragged her gently so that she lay on top of him. Resting his hands in her hair, he proceeded to kiss her, sweetly at first and then with more passion.
It was well into the next morning before the couple finally left the bed, sated and lazy feeling and more determined than ever that they would never be separated again.