The Fifth Element
The next evening Zuko's ship put into port. It was a small village, not unlike the one he had fought Zhao in just a few days past, and he looked over the quiet villagers with a scowl. He was still angry at himself for the recent events. Despite what happened, ultimately he allowed the Avatar to come in and snatch her away from him. He had become complacent in her presence, allowed himself to become comfortable.
Never again, he vowed. He had meant his promise to keep her safe, and the Avatar had already made him a liar. Still, a part of him was vexed that he would allow her to become so close to him, so quickly. She truly was a liability, but she was a Fire Bender, she could be taught to be powerful.
Iroh came up to the rail beside the young prince. "Prince Zuko." He said, "We will find her."
Zuko was not reassured. Here the trail went cold, and it had already been several days. Their only clue was the villagers had seen the bison head north. There was only one village to the north and it was stricken with plague. Like a moth to a flame...that was where they would find her. And that was where Zuko would take back what was his.
Iroh knew of his nephew's impatience, but it was futile to search through the woods or even begin such an overland trek at night. His fears were allayed when the Prince ordered his men to stand down and sleep. They would put out in the morning. He watched his young charge carefully and smiled. Zuko was changing before his eyes. He was no longer the selfish bully he was even a few days ago, he was becoming more of a leader, and even the crew noticed that.
The Prince had relaxed the schedules, though they were still demanding, the crew had free time now to lounge about. They were able to do their jobs without fear or someone looking over their shoulders. They even were able to smile at work. Iroh had heard from the lieutenant that Taya had told Zuko that people sometimes work better when free to work. What truly surprised the old general what that Zuko actually listened to her.
She was good for him, he concluded. Then he frowned as he thought about how difficult it would be for them to remain together. Zhao was after her; surely he would have told the Fire Lord she was still alive. Her father's nation would be after her, and so would all of their enemies. Not to mention they would have to get her away from the powerful Avatar and his friends as well.
Iroh did not envy Zuko's immediate future. "I am going to bed Nephew." He announced. Once Zuko grunted his acknowledgement the old man turned and disappeared leaving his charge alone on the deck to his thoughts.
Zuko did not remain on deck for long. He went back to his room to meditate and then to sleep. It would be a hard day in the morning and he needed to be ready, both in mind and in body.
Several hours later, Zuko awoke to a small noise in his chamber. Instantly alerted he didn't move as he heard the intruder move about in the darkness. He could hear the intruder approach his sleeping mat and he snarled as he suddenly sprung from his bed to tackle this person foolish enough to try to sneak up on him.
There was a small shriek as his bodies weight bowled over his attacker and they both tumbled to the ground. The shriek actually sounded familiar and Zuko, raised his hand to light a small orb of fire.
Taya's face greeted him, although it was scrunched together out of both pain and fear. "Taya!!" the Prince cried, shocked that this would be her, and she was able to escape her captors. Quickly he scrambled off of her and pulled her to a seated position quickly. Words failed him and he moved forward to embrace her, but found that she moved quicker and her arms were around his neck tightly.
All he could do was pull her petite body towards his own, and drink every bit of her in, her smell, the feel of her hair, the softness of her skin. She sobbed quietly and he whispered words to soothe her. Once again he found he could not hold her close enough. Now...everything would be alright.
After a few moments they pulled apart slightly. "You escaped the Avatar." He said a bit breathlessly, and furrowed his brow slightly when she shook her head.
"No, my love...they let me go."
This was a foreign concept to him. Why would anyone do that? Why would anyone give up power? Give up a strategic advantage. Why? His confusion was written across his face. His desire to hold her closely warred with his curiosity. Taya must have seen the play of emotions on his face and she reached up to caress his cheek softly. Her touch had the desired effect and he calmed slightly. "Why?" he finally asked.
Taya blinked slowly in surprise. She had fully expected her beloved to retort with something conceited, something arrogant. She expected him to respond along the lines that the Avatar feared his wicked revenge. Instead he honestly did not know. She put her head on his shoulder, and felt his arms around her waist tighten. "Because," She answered, "Because I was not a prisoner. They asked me for help, and I did, then Aang brought me back here."
She felt his muscles stiffen more at that admission. Taya hadn't meant to refer to the Avatar by name, but it slipped out because she considered the young Avatar a friend. She knew the question that now burned into his mind. She could feel it in the way his body grew taut and she quickly continued. "The Avatar is YOUR quest my love. He is someone YOU will defeat to regain your honor, not I."
"But why did you let him go?"
"Because," She responded, "To do otherwise would have robbed you of your quest." She backed away from him a moment. "My Prince," She started softly. "I do not understand why you feel your honor is diminished if you don't find the Avatar, but I am to be your Life-mate, and I DO understand that if I had simply dropped him off at your feet, you would feel robbed of a victory, of your quest, and of knowing the joy of defeating him yourself." She moved forward again and cupped his face in her hands. "I will stand by your side, my love, but I will not steal what is yours."
Zuko blinked, he had not expected an answer like that, but he understood. And the realization came to him that she understood him better than for which initially given credit. She had matured in their three years apart, and he longed to find out what had happened to her during that time.
But that would come later.
The Prince found he could not endure her touch any longer and pushed her hands away from his face. A brief flicker of pain flashed across her face, but it was short lived as his hands moved past her own to wind around the back of her neck, under her hair, and pull her forward towards him once more. His lips claimed hers, and while the kiss started gentle, the pent up emotions of the past few days began to rush out and overwhelm him.
"My love," she whispered breathlessly into his mouth as his tongue trapped her own and sent it on a futile quest. He pushed into her slightly, but strongly, in order to force her backwards onto the mat. One hand supported her back, the other, guided them both down gently.
Zuko's emotions raced. On one hand he wanted to simply sit here, talk to her, and catch up. He wanted to know what had happened with the Avatar, what had happened during their separation. He wanted to know everything about her. She was the same Taya he'd grown up with, but she was different in so many ways and he wanted to know them all.
On the other hand, his hormones had also begun to surge forward and he released her lips to take several deep breaths to calm him. He wanted nothing better than to show her how much he loved her, but he waited. He wanted to take things at her pace, not his.
Had he really grown so much?
Taya was mildly surprised as Zuko's show of restraint. She knew how he felt at this moment; it was echoed in her own teenage body. Her chest tightened whenever he touched her and her stomach cramped when she thought about his kisses. Still, for him to pull back, to restrain himself like that, spoke volumes about how much he'd changed.
She figured she'd always known how he was. She'd always seen his tendency to bully others and push his will on those weaker. He was used to getting his way, and sometimes could not understand why things didn't always work that way. When they were younger he'd even push his will on Taya at times, and most of those times, she'd simply allow it. Out of her friendship with him, she'd give him most anything he'd ask for, but there were a handful of times she could remember it not going quite like that.
Those where the times she remembered the stunned look he wore when she refused to be intimidated, when she denied his forceful requests and simply ignored his angry shouts. Those were also the times where she had doubly shocked him by her refusal to be the one to attempt reconciliation first. Every time she had forced Zuko to apologize first, to come to her, to simply SEE that his actions were selfish and bratty.
To slowly change him.
But...without her influence he had quickly slipped back into his old ways. And without HIS influence Taya had grown almost meek and timid. She had lost that strength of will that he inspired within her, and she realized that she needed him, needed this, as much as Zuko did.
Which was why she was so surprised that he pulled back from her now.
Softly, she gazed up at him. Her features were lit only by the moon light that streamed in the small window. He did nothing but stare at her intently, and she reached up with a hand to touch his face. Slowly her fingertips moved onto his scar and though he winced slightly, he did not pull away.
The skin there was rough and stiff. As long as the thick scar tissue remained his left eye would never fully open. Taya wondered at how his father could do this to him, and a tiny spark of resentment for the Fire Lord lit in her heart. Both of his eyes closed at her touch and his head turned slightly into her hand.
"I can..." she said hesitantly unsure of how to offer. A scar, even a deep one like this, was easily within her abilities. "...if you want." She finished in a whisper.
His golden eyes opened and met her gaze evenly. The thought had passed through his mind after he'd found her. That he could rid himself of this horrible mark, but the more he thought about it, the more he understood why he couldn't. He was reminded of his father's demand every time he looked in the mirror. Every time he touched his own face he heard his father's voice. It was a constant token of his failure, and served to keep him focused. It was something he could not, would not, remove until he fulfilled the conditions his father had set before him.
The prince rested his body along Taya's as he reached up to cover her hand with his. "I can't..." he said softly. "...not until I find the Avatar and reclaim my honor." His eyes shut again and he prayed she would understand; that she would accept his decision to live with this disfigurement. It was hidden well, his pain from his appearance. Zuko had always been arrogant about his looks before his exile. Vain and conceited he had prided himself about being desired by many women of his nation, a fact that he'd thrown up in Taya's face many times. He'd even flaunted girls in front of her, to annoy her, and to hurt her.
Back then Taya had not yet grown into the woman she was now. Her hair was cropped short, spiky, and her body was thin, almost gangly, without any shape. Her eyes were too big for her face and hidden under a slight smattering of freckles. At the time, even though she was his best friend, he did not want such an unattractive woman as his future bride. So he tried his best to make her leave him. He treated her badly in front of others, even went so far as to sometimes push her away in favor of better looking women.
A heavy wash of guilt at his past actions swept through him briefly. He had hurt her badly all those times, on purpose. She'd never cried, but he could see the tears that welled to the surface. Still she had chased him, foolishly some would reason, but relentlessly. And now, his scar meant nothing to her. To Taya, he was still the same 'Zu' she'd always loved, despite the amount of time it had taken him to realize the same, and despite his cruel attempts to drive her away. All those women he'd once used again her, those women who used to hang on him...all abandoned him when he was exiled, disfigured.
Taya was the only one who saw past that, who had somehow, always been able to see right through him.
With an internal chuckle he remembered the only time she had hurt him, inadvertently of course, but the emotional blow was enough to make him open his eyes. It was a friend of his, nobility, the son of a Fire Baron, named Ren whom he sparred with. Ren was fairly good, a good match, a good opponent...at least until Taya had come in to watch them.
Haughtily, he had assumed she was there to watch him. He was stunned when she ran up to Ren happily, compliments on his form poured from her lips. She didn't even notice Zuko, nor did she notice the fact Zuko had won the match, even when he loudly reminded her of that.
She had shrugged and linked her arm in Ren's. It's not about who wins Zuko...she had told him with all the haughty tone of the princess she was, it's about how good you look doing it. At that point she looked back at Ren with literal stars in her eyes and proceeded to tell him how good he looked. And Ren, equally enchanted with Taya, had drank it all in.
They had left the dojo together, and behind them Zuko felt something he'd never before felt. Jealousy. Ren and Taya spent most of their time together and Zuko felt like an outsider. He felt hurt and betrayed when he realized she was moving on, and it was from that point onward he'd made life difficult for Ren, and eventually through his machinations, Ren was sent back to his father's lands. Taya had cried that day, and Zuko had comforted her, all the while hiding a victorious smirk. His Princess was once more his.
Only he didn't count on actually discovering his true feelings for her. His jealousy made him step back and examine his thoughts about her. His own game had backfired and he was forced to realize, to see, to deal with, his very real feelings for her. It was then their childhood friendship ended, and their romance began.
The guilt continued to pour over him from his past actions towards her. How could he have known then that she would mean so much to him now? He opened his eyes and he saw that she watched him intently, perhaps mistaking his remorseful expression for something less. She nodded, and he knew she understood why he could not let go of this scar. And the realization smashed through him like a thunderbolt that she didn't just understand what he did but also WHY. She understood HIM, and he realized just how intensely he loved her.
Her fingers crept up around his face around to the base of his head and simply ran lightly over the smooth skin there. His topknot had fallen forward over the other shoulder and her other hand twiddled its way through its silky strands playfully. There weren't many words between them, there didn't have to be and so he leaned down to claim her lips one more time.
Zuko wondered at exactly what point she had come to gain such power over him. Sure, his troubles would not, could not, be dismissed as easily as a kiss, but he could see to what ends he would travel to keep her safe, to keep her near him. He, who had never allowed himself to be conquered by anyone, he, who had fought so hard to be acknowledged, to be respected, could be brought low by a mere glance, by the overwhelming feeling of fear when he thought she was dead, or hurt. He knew if Zhao had harmed her, he would have killed him, and enjoyed it. Had Zhao raped her, the Admiral would have been tortured with all of Zuko's blinding hatred. Even now, Zuko did not know how he would react the next time he had to face him.
He knew it wouldn't be pretty.
Taya watched the play of emotions across Zuko's face and wondered just when he had stopped being so shallow, so obsessive. She knew only one thing drove him now, his search for the Avatar and that was only to regain his father's love. All she could do was be beside him, and support him, keep him strong, well. A pain entered her heart then. How would she react to seeing him hurt, or worse? She, who was loathe to kill, to injure, knew she would not hold back her own powers if his life were threatened. The intensity of her insight sent a chill up her spine and she shuddered briefly before her own inner voice chastised her for her worry.
This was Prince Zuko after all. He could take care of himself. He didn't need her to worry, to dote, over him. Then a frown pulled at the corners of her mouth. But he worried about her, that much was evident. She realized that he did not need the extra worry, that he needed more to concentrate on his mission. He would need to, if he was to catch the Avatar.
She thought back fondly of the few days she had spent with the Avatar and his extended family. After she had recovered enough from her efforts with the villagers she wandered outside to gather up the vibrant yellow flowers that flourished around the town well in large clumps.
Taya recognized these flowers. They were poisonous, and the poison was very strong. So strong in fact the nectar from these blooms was in high demand among assassins. Luckily the flowers were rare, and no attempts to grow them in controlled environments ever succeeded. The Life-bender knew why. The flowers were receptacles for tiny spirits of the lands. The flowers grew because of the spirit magic and that could not be reproduced.
Unfortunately the flowers did not resonate well with most humans. The Earth-bender woman survived because her body resonated with magical energy, Earth energy. For everyone else... the flowers would be fatal.
Taya had spent the better part of two days cleaning up the flowers. Truthfully her work was not hard, as the flowers, already past their purpose, had begun to wither and die. She merely hastened the process along and wished she could have been just a bit earlier and saved more people. As it was, the entire village was still in shock over the many deaths. Some of the villagers were desperate for someone on which to focus their anger and grief and blamed her for this. They blamed her and Aang for their late arrival, or for being unable to save more.
Taya felt a deep sorrow at that, but did not feel guilt. She knew she had done all she could and she wondered what Zuko would say had she told him how close she came to dying just a few days ago. She imagined he already knew the feeling when she had been swept overboard. She was never a good swimmer, and she heard him dive in after her, and then scream her name as Aang bore her away.
She realized again, that he didn't need the additional stress.
Aang had been so nice to her, Katara as well. Even in the few days she'd known them she found herself fond of both of them. Even Sokka was tolerable. She fret about the future and what do when they finally faced Zuko. She wanted the Avatar to restore hope to the world, she wanted the Avatar restore hope to Zuko and she searched her lover's eyes.
And found that Aang already had.
Zuko could not read the myriad of emotions that played behind her emerald eyes, he chose, instead, to lean down and kiss away the fears he found. The anxiety he could see that swam there. He knew she worried about him, and that pleased him more then he cared to admit. He felt her hands trail away from his neck and move under his body along his bare chest. Once again, where her fingers touched him, he felt tiny jolts of fire dance across his cool skin, and the feeling only served to intensify his already enflamed libido.
The Prince chastised himself again for his silent permission he'd inadvertently given her to drive him to distraction so totally. He also chastised himself for allowing himself to wait this long. "Taya..." he said, as he drew back from her the tiniest bit. His voice was husky and low, rich with desire, and controlled. "...let me."
A stab of fear went through her, but she could not deny him anything, much less deny him something she wanted as badly as he. Though she could not control the blush that colored her cheeks and flushed her face with warmth, she nodded. He already had her spirit, it was right for him to have her body as well. She nodded once. "My prince."
He couldn't decide if he liked it better when she said his name or called him by title, but he did not stop to dwell on such little things, instead, he concentrated on what was before him. His princess. Permission given, he began to take his time, his motions deliberate and controlled. He would please her first. He would send her into the sky before he allowed himself to follow.
She wore a wrap-around sash that kept her short kimono closed. He paused, like a child that wished to savor a gift, before he pulled the knot free. With a pang of disappointment he realized the darkness of the room would hide his view of her beauty.
An arrogant smirk twisted his lips as he pushed her clothing away and raised his other hand to create a small orb of fire that lit her fully.
Taya squeaked as she felt exposed and she moved to cover herself instantly. Her blush deepened and Zuko laughed at her modesty. He reached out with his hands to pluck hers away, to let his eyes drink in his first sight of her.
The princess had no such designs however. As soon as he pinned her arms away from her, she bent his light away and plunged the room back into darkness. Zuko blinked in surprise and she giggled. Her actions only served to ignite his competitive spirit and suddenly the dozen candles in the room burst into tiny flames, and sent a flickering soft light dance across the small chamber, and sent the yellow light to bathe her tanned skin in its rich glow.
Still flushed with embarrassment Taya glanced over towards the flames in surprise. She hadn't expected such a move from him and just as the thought came to her to extinguish the flames, she felt his mouth on the sensitive skin of her neck chase away any thoughts she harbored then.
His body still held her own down, and the cool air played across her skin just to be warmed by his bare skin as he moved over her. Her eyes closed tightly as his kisses caused her skin to quiver. Eventually his hands let her wrists free and they flew around his back, her fingertips following the play of his muscles there. His own hands moved between them once more to her chest and he cupped one of her breasts in his warm hands. Her gasp of pleasure pleased him, and he left her neck to take it into his mouth.
He could not help but smile again when her small gasp became a cry. He paused briefly to force himself to slow down. Her reactions had an incredible effect on his body, and it was beginning to become painful. This waiting he forced himself to do. He would endure it. She deserved no less from him.
Taya, meanwhile, had stopped thinking about anything beyond what her prince did to her body. She'd never felt such pleasures from anything, even her own powers. She had not thought it possible to feel this way, but Zuko proved that wrong immediately, and she believed it could not get any better. And then his warm mouth enveloped her breast, and she gasped again, strongly, loudly.
Zuko blinked, then laughed, part of him uncaring if his crew heard, the other part of him reeled in the effect he had on her still. He didn't want her to restrain herself; he didn't want her to hold anything back. He surely wouldn't, even though he too, was unsure of how to proceed, as this was new territory for him as well.
As his tongue teased Taya's nipple into a point, he could feel her heartbeat race, its erratic rhythm. It matched the throb in his stomach. The need to satisfy his own need rose, but again, he forced himself to center and he worked first on one nipple then the other, distracting his beloved while his free hand undid the lacings of what clothing remained.
Taya did not realize his plan until a chill passed through her and she realized with a start she was fully naked. She started to panic until Zuko's lips found hers once again and the force of his kiss sent her fears into the darkness. The kiss became strong, nearly bruising with its intensity, and Taya could only ride the wave of fire that enveloped them both. Blue flames began to lick at their melding forms and her hands, once content with rubbing along the taut muscles of his back, began to explore themselves.
There was only a slight hesitation as Taya's hands found their way to the waistline of his pants. Blushing even still, she started to move her hands away but was stopped as one of his hands captured hers and brought it between them, under his clothing. She gasped as she felt his heat, his hardness hidden there. And almost instinctually she grasped him and began to run her fingers along its length.
It was Zuko's turn to gasp as her hand stoked the fire that already raged within him. He wasn't sure how much longer he could hold back. He was no longer sure he wanted to and kicked his pants away in a deft move, leaving them both naked in the candlelight surrounded by pale blue flames. The prince looked down at her perfect body and smiled. She was his. She was always his, and now, he'd have a part of her forever. He wanted to savor the moment, to somehow burn this image into his mind, to keep it forever and he found himself lost in her beauty, lost in the moment between them both.
Taya opened her eyes and found his. She could see the immeasurable love and she felt she could see into his soul. There was much scarring there, but there was so much beauty, so much love. And it belonged to her. She smiled up at him and he smirked...just as his fingers found her secret core...and dipped inside.
She whimpered loudly, unable to voice her pleasure as her back arched up against him forcefully and Zuko couldn't help but smile wider as his fingers wiggled inside of her and caused her to squirm almost uncontrollably. She was so wet, so hot, and it was all for him. It was all because of him. And when she froze into immobility below him, he leaned forward to kiss her neck, feeling her erratic pulse, as he nibbled along the smooth skin.
The princess couldn't move, even if she had wanted too as his fingers caused such an intense reaction in her body. She couldn't think of anything beyond his touch, his smell, the feel of his body along hers. She felt like she was flying. She could feel him nibble along her neck as he whispered naughty things into her ears.
Zuko let out a gasp himself as her hands unconsciously tightened on him as well. For a moment his vision faded and he dropped on her heavily. Dimly he could feel that her other hand still moved over his waist and back, while his body trapped the other hand between them. He reached down to pluck her hand off of him and clenched it in his.
He leaned above her and trapped both of her hands over her head as he supported himself and looked down at her. Her face was still flushed from his touch, and her breath was still ragged. Her smoky hair, black in the candlelight lay around her head like a halo. There was a blue glow around them both as her chest heaved slightly. He watched her body fall down from the heights it had flown to slowly and her eyes fluttered open to meet his.
She opened her mouth to speak but he interrupted her. "I love you Taya." Her mouth closed soundlessly and her eyes filled with tears even as she began to smile at him. He'd never told her that before, not even when they were younger, and she'd never expected him to ever say the words. She'd known how he felt however, she had always been able to sense it, feel it in his touch. But the words stunned her, and silent tears fell from her eyes back into her hair towards the floor.
He blinked as he watched her start to cry. He didn't wait for her to speak, rather he leaned down over her to bring their lips together once more as he maneuvered his body into position above her. Her lips were soft and swollen from his kisses already and they still tasted like honey and cream. The prince could feel her tremble slightly beneath him and he nuzzled down into the hollow of her neck.
How long had he imagined exactly this? How long had he wanted exactly this? To feel her body beneath his, to show her how much he truly loved her? He was suddenly gripped with fear. Fear of where this would take them. He shook the feeling away when she whispered his name in his ear and he surged forward.
Taya tried not to scream. The pain ripped through her body like a knife, and she began to squirm, to desperately escape the agony that split her open. She could hear Zuko words to her, but she couldn't understand them. She could only feel the fire that now burned in her body, and the flames rose around them both as she whimpered and cried.
The prince fought hard to remain still. She fit him like a second skin. She was so tight, but when he looked at her face, at the pain, he had to fight to not pull out of her, to end her anguish. He knew prolonging this would only make it worse, and tried to soothe her with soft words, with gentle kisses along her neck. Her hands were nearly crushing in their grip on his and it was only his weight that held her down otherwise he was sure she would have gotten up and ran.
Outside, General Iroh wandered by, a knowing smile on his old features.
The pain had begun to diminish when Taya finally opened her eyes. Zuko's face was still filled with his own anguish because he hurt her. She didn't think anything more he could do would surprise her, as she had already learned he was so different then he used to be, but still, she was surprised at him. And she finally realized that his love for her was so total, so absolute, and she leaned up to kiss him on the cheek.
Zuko took her smile as permission to move. Indeed it was becoming painful to remain still. His body needed this so badly, demanded that he move. So he did, slowly, sliding into her deeply and covering her gasps of pleasure with his mouth, drinking in her passionate moans like a starving man, and responded with his own growls of desire.
As he began to move faster Taya could no longer hold back her responses and she began to cry out as he drove himself ever deeper inside of her. She could feel something building inside her, like a tidal wave that lurked just offshore and waited for its chance to break over her. He released her hands and they flew around his body, as his own wrapped around hers and pulled her against him fully.
Distantly she could still hear his voice, but she couldn't understand him. Her body was on fire and Zuko only drove that fire higher, intensifying her flight towards the sky. Her breaths would only come in short gasps and she whimpered against his neck uselessly as the pleasure overwhelmed her utterly.
Zuko could think of nothing else, as he too, began to reach that inevitable conclusion. He managed to balance himself on his elbows and grasp her face in his even as his body continued to meld into hers. "Taya." He whispered urgently, breathlessly, "Look at me."
It was a desperate command and she forced her eyes open. "Zuko." She breathed out, and met his golden eyes. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead as he forcefully held her face against his, his eyes locked on hers. Taya's body grew rigid as she finally exploded and waves of ultimate pleasure crashed over her, into her. A cry escaped her clenched teeth but she kept her eyes on his and her body began to shake tightening uncontrollably around him in pulses.
To hold himself back after her unfettered display proved impossible for the young prince and he followed her quickly, rising into the same maelstrom of bliss he had sent his lover into just moments before. He felt as if he floated through the sky, and reached out towards the sun. Towards her green eyes that were smoky with desire and locked onto his. He felt as if he could see her soul, and he could see the love reflected there. Love that belonged only to him.
His body shook from exertion and he nearly collapsed over her, spent utterly. She trembled below him and he raised his head to look at her and was suddenly afraid he had hurt her, though he knew he did. Her eyes had closed once more, and he would have thought her peacefully asleep if not for the fact that her fingers traced tiny circles over his damp skin still. A small smile creased his mouth. She had called out his name finally, in the midst of her ultimate pleasure, and it pleased him. More so then anything else she had ever done, his arrogant male pride swelled in the knowledge he had been the one to drive her into the sky.
A blush began to color her cheeks once more when she realized how badly she'd acted. How she'd responded when he touched her, and she worried that he'd think less of her, or worse, as a whore. Sudden fear caused her to tremble but her body, spent, wouldn't allow her much movement, and she turned her head and opened her eyes.
Flames still burned dimly around them both as her prince lowered his forehead onto hers and whispered, "Are you alright?" He gazed at her softly and tried to judge her pain. He wanted more, he was ready for more, but he couldn't bear to cause such pain to her so soon so he forced his body to level out, his heartbeat to slow and took several deep breaths.
When she nodded he kissed her bruised lips gently, tenderly and rolled off her, himself suddenly spent. He wondered why but contented himself to lie beside her. He could tell she was embarrassed by her actions and he patiently explained to her that what she did pleased him; that he liked her honest reactions. When she look hesitant he kissed her again and this time commanded her, though it was with a smile that brought one to her lips as well.
Taya shivered in the chill of the night air and after Zuko got a blanket for them both, she cuddled against his warmth until they fell asleep in each other's arms.