A/N: Don't own ATLA. Katara's been apprehended. Zuko's holding out. Little Joey's still cute. What else is new? This chapter, that's what! R&R, please!
Chapter 9: Duplicity
"Go jump in the river!" It seemed like so long ago since I uttered those harsh words. Now I can't imagine telling the one I love something of that nature. I bit back tears and glanced over at Iroh in the Firelord's presence, unyielding and brave. If only I could have had that chance. I dared not take off the filthy muzzle the guards tied on me for fear he'd cross. I hate being at someone of his likes' mercy. He told Iroh something else in that raspy low voice of his and then my view was obscured by the haughty crown princess.
"Don't worry, you'll have your chance with him soon enough. Just can't wait to be alone, though, can't you?" I stare quizzically up at her and she smirks. "Naïve little wench, aren't you? Oh, well, all for the better. I can't wait to see the look on your face when--" "Bring her to me" Ozai calls calmly.
I wince as she yanks the muzzle off and pushes me ahead. I glance around nervously at the other guards dispersing, leaving just the three of us; Azula, Ozai and I. She forces me to kneel at the far end of the room, where Ozai sits amidst an engulfing fire. The sight alone makes me quiver, but I stay strong. "Where are the others? The baby, and Iroh, and where's Zuko?!" I demand, on the brink of hysteria. "Quiet! You will learn your place--" Azula reaches to slap me, but Ozai stops her with two syllables "Enough" he orders, sending shudders up my spine. "That's all, Azula" he dismisses her, and we are left alone. Not a good sign.
"Well, well, it seems you have quite a fiery temper" he notes as if discussing my grades in school. I'm itching to run, remembering the last time he appeared to be kind. "What is it that you want, your Highness?" I snap. Two can play at his sick game. "You'd do well to watch that tongue, though, Katara" he croons. I freeze, and that's all he needs. He raises a hand and two men bring in the healthy young man to whom my heart belongs. I cannot look him in the eye, I'm so disgusted.
"Katara, I'm sorry" he pleads, but I keep my head bowed. Ozai thinks this is rich. "Yes, he's sorry Katara. Forgive the little scourge so that he may be set at ease" Ozai japes. I meet his eyes "What did you do? What are they talking about?" I ask. Zuko sighs, and looks away "I'm so sorry, Katara. I didn't mean for this to happen" is all he says. Ozai has had enough "He didn't tell you?" he seems mildly surprised "I am not surprised" he lies. "No matter. You lost, bane, and you'll pay for your treachery. I'm a man of my word, and I intend on holding you to yours" he told Zuko. The guards come back. "Take them to the holding cells. I'll deal with them later. There is something more important I must attend to" the Firelord mutters, distracted.
"Katara, don't be mad. Please, I really didn't plan this" he pleaded next to me. Everything about this situation was ironic; the fact that we were on the inside of a jail again, about being in the Firelord's net again, and what Zuko said. "No one planned for Aang to die, either" I bite, but my voice catches and it ruins the angry effect. I don't pull away when Zuko holds me, in fact, I snuggle closer. I can't really stay mad at him, because this may very well be the last night we have together. "Zuko, what happened?" I sniff, no longer mad, just desolate. "I…Ozai and I partook in an Agni Kai…" I knew that much, but he wasn't done.
"Ozai, he told me that if I lost, he'd…he would…I swear, I didn't expect to lose that duel, but he cheated, he…" I grimace "He what, Zuko?" I nudge his stomach with my elbow and he shivers behind me. "He used a weapon. My own broadswords." I can almost grasp the near-tangible humiliation emanating from my love. "Zuko, I didn't know…I should've known" I whisper. I cry, and he allows himself to do the same, if only for a moment. "So what happens to me now? A life of indentured servitude?" he clutches my body tightly to his and I understand; I won't have it quite that easy. "You don't mean I'll have to…" he nods, and I wail loudly. "Shut up!" a guard yells from the top of the stairs. I do so, but tremble uncontrollably. Zuko turns me to face him, and places his lips on mine. "Don't stop me, Katara. I have to, before he does" I nod, and understand.
Zuko's POV! ALERT! Zuko's POV!
I pull back from my embrace and see that she whimpers from the harsh kiss. But I can't stop, not now. I press against her, melting against her frame as I bite the delicate skin on her smooth brown neck. I can taste the salty tears running down her face and onto her collarbone, and lap them up greedily. I need more of her, though. Sliding my hands up the bottom of her baggy brown pants, I pull her beneath me, then bring my fingers delicately to the waist of said clothing. She humors me, and allows me to remove them, revealing white undergarments. Forgot about those. I ignore them for right now, clumsily tearing her shirt off above her slim shoulders. "Zuko, too fast, you're going too fast" she whispers hesitantly. I freeze, and gaze at her bare belly, not flat, but topographically defined by slopes and softened pinnacles of toned flesh. Placing light, airy kisses along the brown plains, she arches up her back for more.
I smirk, and grant her more. And more, and more, as much as she wants until her cries have me worried the guards might come to investigate. I move back down to her waist, but keep my fingers trained on her hips, swirling them on her warm skin roughly. I rest my head on the heart of the white fabric, and she bucks her hips "Stop it!" she hisses, and I chuckle. Not such a whelp after all, huh Ozai? If only he could see--no, I don't want him to see. These thoughts almost kill the mood but one glance at the desire in those soft blue eyes eradicated the discomfort. Rising, I walk over to a corner in the cell and exposed the blue mask, black pants, shirt, and long brown cloak. Katara leans on her elbows "What's that for?" she asks quietly. I drop the mask carefully back in the corner, spread out the pants and shirt, and motion her over. She gets the message, and lies flat on the clothes I would probably not be wearing again after tonight. "Better?" I smirk, and she nods, settling on the warm cloth. I position myself between her and cover us in the cloak.
"Ready or not?" I ask, and she smiles, leaning up to peck my chapped mouth. "Yeah. Go ahead, Zuzu" only I don't find the nickname insulting or highly repugnant as when my baby sister calls me it. Now I like it, and I want to hear it again, several times in fact tonight. My fingers dexterously find an opening in her complex underwear and I slowly unwrap them, enjoying the writhing female below me immensely. "Hurry up, Zuzu" she complains. She always was impatient, though. I pull them down quickly and she slides her slender legs out of them, one by one, until she's free. We kiss again, more desperately than the last few times, and I get to work on the upper bindings. These are much easier, and she helps me to slide them off. Bare before me, she repeats the prior process on me until we're in matching suits. I try and take my time, but I can't contain myself, my need for her. I hold her back and thrust her beneath me, not once, twice, but three times we perform this peculiar dance. Her movements coincide with my domineering ones, and by the time we are done, moisture encases our every limbs, every surface area. She stares at me, into my soul with those sapphire moons below her soaking forehead, and I felt…alive. More alert and perceptive than I had in a long while, too long for me to remember. I wanted to die for her, no, to save her from this cruel twist of fate so that I could be with her this way every night for every night of my life.
In that moment, resentment overwhelmed me, and though it was well-directed towards Ozai, she still looked hurt. "You didn't like it?" she mumbles, still weak from our previous activities. "No, no! It was more than I could ever…I just know that I'll never get to experience it ever again. It sucks." she blinks, and I feel guilty for reminding her of something she'd clearly forgotten about. I am about to get up when she squeezes my arms "No! Stay with me, Zuzu" she pleads. "I will, but let's get dressed. I don't want the guards to come fetch you for the Firelord undressed. I won't want to give him ideas" I mutter bitterly. I help her dress first, then pull on my own undergarment and pants. Throwing the black garments aside, I pull the cloak beneath us and envelope her in my arms. "Though I won't be with you, know I'll always be with you" I say, knowing she won't be at all confused. She knows me well enough to know that I'll be watching over her, and that I'll try not to let that lecherous, savvy fiend hurt her. I'll try.
WARNING! KATARA'S POV! WARNING!
Yes, I know he'll always be with me, but that doesn't stop the tears, anesthetizes the insurmountable pain of the nights to come. I know they won't be nearly as gentle, curious. I know Ozai won't have the least bit of consideration for my satisfaction in his haste to receive his own. Such a conniving creature must be creative, too. I bite the inside of my bottom lip and try to ignore the onslaught of my forthcoming peril.
Leaning into Zuko, I take in the warmth from his body, glad that he's a fire bender. He squeezes me to closer, and I turn so that I'm facing him, facing his soft smile. "I love you, Zuzu" I somehow got the feeling he'd savored every time I'd said that tonight. "I love you, my Katara." there is a proprietary inflection on the 'my', but I don't mention it. I'd much rather be his than his father's. He smooches my forehead, and I tilt it upwards, still craving his lips. He grants me this simple union, sustaining the constant contact for quite some time. I yawn, and nuzzle his heated chest. This is where I want to be.
"Get up!" I cry out at the sharp pain reverberating from my back and leap up, shivering. Zuko is on his feet, too, seeking out my afflicter to make them pay for their cruelty. The culprit towers over him, though, but this does nothing to dissuade him. Launching a fire whip, he takes his father off guard and me, too. Ozai evades him, though, and jerks on my arm "Come with me and kiss the insolent bane farewell" he smirks. I don't think he expected me to obey him "Enough of that! Move along" he orders. I take my last glance at my love, my Zuzu, and wish I hadn't. It would've made it easier not to miss him so bad.
A/N: A smut-ish chappyter, so there! I wrote this to the best of my ability, so please send me reviews! You know I need 'em, I love 'em, so give 'em to me pretty, pretty please!!!