Zoe sat under the shade of a large frond from an old oak that stood beside her. Atop her finger was a small air ball spinning mesmerizingly at her will. She glanced over to Zuko and Aang who were training. Aang's days were mostly always firebending at the moment, but Zoe didn't mind as she loved to watch.
That may have been helped by the fact that Zuko trained with his shirt off quite a bit. In fact increasingly so over the past week. Zoe blushed when she realised she had been staring at his toned, flexing chest again. But, she didn't tear her eyes away. That was until Sokka placed himself down by her side.
"Hi Sokka." said Zoe curiously. She was surprised he wasn't with Suki for once.
"Hey…" he said, eyeing her up oddly.
Zoe frowned, "what is it Sokka?" she sighed.
"Hey! I just came to give you some company." He defended and Zoe immediately knew he wanted something.
"Just spit it out. I know you want something."
Sokka sighed. "I…just wanted to talk…to you…uh, about Zuko." He muttered awkwardly.
Zoe raised an eyebrow. "What about us?"
"Well…" he rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding Zoe's eyes at all costs. "I just wanted to check that you're…you know, being careful…taking it slow."
"…What are you trying to say?" asked Zoe slowly, turning to face Sokka fully.
He fidgeted nervously, "I'm trying to say, just…don't uh…jump in the sack with him right away OK?" He said very fast that Zoe nearly didn't catch what he said.
After a few seconds, his words registered and her face change dramatically from confusion to mortification. "Sokka!" She hissed, her face glowing red.
"Hey!" he said, putting his hands up defensively, "you're like a sister to me. I have to check up on you." Zoe stared at him, still in shock for a few moments longer. "You…haven't, have you?" he asked quickly.
Not realising it was possible, Zoe's face went even redder and she glared at Sokka in embarrassment. "Of course not!" she exclaimed, "What kind of girl do you think I am?"
"A lovesick hormonal one." He answered simply. Then, he hopped up and dusted himself off. "Promise, then?"
Zoe glared at him and he nodded in approval, taking her silence as consent. He walked away, whistling jovially, Aang joining him while Zuko walked over to Zoe, stretching.
"What's wrong with you?" he said, noticing Zoe's flustered appearance. She looked at him, from his gleaming chest to his sparkling eyes and her heart skipped a beat.
"Nothing." She squeaked.
"What did Sokka want?" he continued, frowning slightly and sitting down beside her, his thigh pressed up against her leg.
Zoe looked at him, and then turned away again in embarrassment. "I can not even tell you."
Zuko scowled and Zoe could feel it, though she wasn't facing him. "Oh don't make me feel all guilty!" she snapped, he had a way with doing that. "There is no way I am telling you."
Zuko huffed in annoyance and laid his arm on Zoe's leg, drawing a pattern lightly with his fingers just above her knee.
They sat in silence for a minute and Zoe glanced at him from the corner of her eye; he was watching her. "So how was training?" she asked, narrowing her eyes; she knew what he was trying to do.
Zuko shrugged, "Fine…" he muttered, his hand moving slightly higher up her leg and Zoe tried not to let him notice the effect his fingers had on her body, attempting to keep her breathing normal though it sent tingles up her spine.
"I saw you and Aang talking quietly before…what was that about?" She continued, trying to be casual, but her heart was thumping hard in her chest.
She had a feeling Zuko knew what he was doing to her as a slight smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth and his hand went a little higher, now halfway up her thigh. "I can't tell you that." He said cheekily and Zoe swung her head around to glare at him.
"You really want to know what Sokka said don't you?" She snarled.
He shrugged innocently, "I've never seen your face so red."
Zoe scowled at him for a minute longer, a smile still played around his mouth while his fingers continued slowly up her thigh. Zoe grabbed his wrist suddenly, her breathing slightly faster than usual. "You are driving me crazy." she hissed, her eyes wide and Zuko actually grinned triumphantly. Her eyes narrowed, "Oh you've got some nerve."
She went to stand up, but Zuko grabbed both her wrists, pulling her back down so their faces where inches apart. "So what did he say?" he whispered, his eyes scorching.
Zoe contemplated for a moment, and then deciding it was his turn to be embarrassed, she conceded. "He was talking," she said through her teeth and Zuko grinned, "About us having sex."
With that, Zoe yanked her arms out of Zuko's now loose grasp and stomped off. She grinned privately to herself at the look of pure shock, embarrassment…and something she couldn't place left on Zuko's face.
"Oh, hey Teo!" said Zoe shocked; she had been going for a walk around the temple and just turned the corner to come face to face with a boy in a wheelchair. She hadn't managed to get Teo on his own all week to talk to, and now here he was!
"Hi…Zoe." He said, seeming unable to look at her face.
"Teo…" said Zoe miserably, "can I apologize please?"
Teo looked up, locking eyes with Zoe. "There's nothing to apologize for." He said sincerely.
"Well…I'm just sorry you had to walk in on-"
"Don't." he cut in quickly, "I'm…happy for you. Of course I'm mulling in my own self pity, but I really I'm happy for you."
Zoe sighed, she wasn't sure if she felt better or worse now. She knelt down beside him sadly, "You're a great guy Teo."
Teo cracked a small smile, "yeah, but it's the bad ones that get the good girls." He said, slightly teasingly, slightly miserably.
Zoe blushed and Teo laughed at her. "Friends?" he asked, holding out his hand smiling.
"Friends." Agreed Zoe gladly, grasping his hand.
"Good…then did you want to go for a ride with me through the echo chambers?"
Zoe grinned, "I'd love to, Teo!"
And they were off, streaming through the corridors madly, good friends.
Zoe's hair was dripping. She had just had a bath and cleaned all of the dirt and twigs out of her hair, feeling now far more refreshed. She tied her locks back in a bun to dry, the few pieces at the front already curling and falling out of the up do.
Zuko came up behind her, having been waiting for her to finish washing, and he snaked his arm around her waist, settling his hand just above the curve of her hip.
"What are you doing?" said Zoe startled and not entirely sure where he just appeared from.
"I was waiting for you." He said simply. Zoe narrowed her eyes at him, "I was waiting." He enunciated the word, "not peeking." He scowled at her, "I can't believe you'd even think I'm low enough to do that."
"I don't." said Zoe haughtily, "I think you're a boy."
"And I know you're a girl; I don't need to check that." He hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Perhaps 'girl' isn't the right word. 'Woman' is a better description."
Zoe rolled her eyes, a slight blush coating her cheeks. "Why thank you." She said sarcastically.
Zuko watched her as he pondered something; he smirked slightly, and then decided to speak. "So…what did you say in reply to Sokka?"
Zoe's eyes went wide and her cheeks flushed furiously even in the half light. "You know, you are a lot cheekier than you used to be." Zuko flashed her a grin and Zoe scowled at him, "You said I brought out the best in you!" she accused.
"I said most of the time….sometimes you-" He cut off, his face going red.
Zoe pounced. Brining them to a halt, she swung out of Zuko's grasp, stopping right in front of him, her hands on his chest. "Sometimes I what?"
"You're changing the subject." He snarled, "Answer my question first."
Zoe rolled her eyes, "I assured him that we have not indeed…um, been to bed together." She blushed, cursing the way her heart sped up as she spoke about…going to bed with Zuko. "Er…yet." She added, blushing even more and looking down.
Zuko's heart sped up as she said 'yet' and he tried to keep his breathing normal as he placed one very warm hand on Zoe's bare waist between her skirt and top. His other hand moved to tilt Zoe's chin back up to face him. "And did you, uh…" his hand tightened on her waist and his heart skipped a beat when their eyes locked, "inform him that some day he will have to get used the fact that we…will indeed go to bed together?" He asked huskily. Now was Zoe's turn for her heart to skip a beat, her stomach flipping and a tingling sensation fluttered in her heart and through her whole body. Zuko cleared his throat. "That is to say if you don't get sick of me."
Zoe steadied herself, sliding her hands from his chest to instead link around his neck. "Firstly," she whispered, "I will never get sick of you." A small smile formed on Zuko's lips and his stomach flipped. "And secondly: that was two questions. It's your turn to answer."
Zuko huffed in annoyance, but his arm slid around her neck and into her hair, tugging at the hair tie that held her locks back. "Sometimes…" he said, his voice low, rough, but gentle. "You make me…lose control of my…sensible side." He said, finally releasing her hair from its hold, the semi-dry curls tumbling down her back, his fingers curling within them.
"Is that such a bad thing?" whispered Zoe, leaning in to his chest, her nose lightly brushing his.
Zuko inhaled sharply, pulling her body closer to his, pressing her against him. "definitely not…" he nearly groaned, his lips moving against Zoe's as he spoke, then unable to withhold a moment longer, his heart thumping rapidly and his stomach muscles clenching he captured her lips with his hungrily.
Zoe let out a half moan, half sigh and immediately parted her lips for him. Her arms tightened around his neck and her fingers threading themselves into his hair, tugging at the threads causing a low growl to erupt from the back of Zuko's throat. His hand on her waist, couldn't sit still, it roamed over the curve of her hip and down her thigh, stopping just behind her knee. Suddenly, he gripped her leg and swung it up, curving it around his hip. Zoe nearly gasped at the sudden movement, her breathing becoming erratic, but she pressed herself to him even more, drowning in the heat that radiated off his body.
They stumbled backward; Zoe's back hitting a stone pillar behind them and she emitted a small gasp. Zuko abandoned Zoe's mouth and his lips and tongue travelled urgently down her neck and she was certain he must be leaving fires in his wake as heat coursed through her body. She moaned in pleasure and longing when his mouth settled on one particular spot of her neck, sucking and kissing at the heated skin. Reckless desire was growing within her, heat building at the pit of her stomach, but then suddenly, Zuko was pulling away.
He lent his forehead against her shoulder, breathing heavily. "That…" he managed to get out through gasps, "is exactly what I mean."
Zoe gave a small breathless laugh and untangled her leg from his waist. "Sorry…" she whispered, though her hands still clutched his neck and back, as if afraid to fall if she let go.
Zuko pulled his head up, his topaz eyes glistening and they met with hers. Zoe smiled softly and he raised a finger to touch the tip of her curved lips. "You have such a beautiful smile." He whispered, nearly talking to himself. Zoe's heart fluttered and she blushed lightly.
"Um…should we…uh?" she stuttered, suddenly becoming timid after her hazy desire had faded from her mind, if not yet her body.
"Go back to camp?" finished Zuko, smiling at her fondly.
"Yeah…"
"Probably."
Zoe sighed and untangled her arms from his neck and he took one from her hair, allowing the other to snake itself around her waist.
"Uh," said Zoe blushing again, "do you suppose we look…acceptable?"
Zuko actually laughed, "You think Sokka might think you changed your answer to his question already?"
Blood painted Zoe's face red and she glared at Zuko. "You're such a jerk." She hissed. Zuko chuckled and looked down at her, and then his eyes went wide.
"Uuh…" he pulled her hair over her back, laying it over her shoulder so that the locks covered the left side of her neck. "I think you should leave your hair like that."
Zoe threw him a strange look. "Why?" she demanded.
Zuko avoided her eyes, "It…suits you."
That next morning Zoe awoke with a start, her eyes snapping open to equally shocked golden ones. Another explosion erupted over their heads and they scrambled to their feet. Aang had jumped up and blown the shutters around them closed.
"What's going on?" shouted Zoe over the commotion.
Teo looked at her, "Fire Nation." he said, his voice hard.
Zuko suddenly pushed Zoe backward toward the wall then ran toward Katara. Rock was falling above them and Zoe's heart stopped when she saw Zuko and Katara appear to disappear beneath the rubble.
The dust cleared and relief washed over her when she saw them both emerge safe, Zuko having just saved Katara's life and she was running away from him angrily.
Haru and Toph created a huge earth tunnel and everyone began to rush in. Zoe ran to Aang to help him pull Appa.
"What are you doing?" Cried Aang suddenly and Zoe looked up, following his eyes, her hear thumping madly; what was Zuko doing?
"Go ahead!" Zuko cried determined, "I'll hold them off. I think this is a family visit."
"Zuko, no!" cried Aang and Zoe at the same time. Zoe began to run toward him, but Sokka grabbed her back.
"Come on!" he cried, "We've got to get out of here!" Zoe glared at him and wrenched herself out of his grip, but before she could get any further earth had enclosed around her feet she tripped.
Then, the ground beneath her feet began to move, bringing her backward and into the tunnel.
"Toph!" shouted Zoe furiously, "if you stop me, why not Zuko too?"
But, she ignored her, her focus on keeping the ceiling from collapsing.
Katara, Aang and Sokka all were yanking at Appa's reins, but he would not budge.
"I can't get him to go in there!" cried Aang, "Appa hates tunnels."
"Aang, there's no way we can fly out of here!" hissed Katara, pulling at the ropes with all her strength.
"We'll have to find a way!" said Aang, looking around desperately.
"We need to slit up." said Sokka, his eye's hard. "Take the tunnel and get to the stolen air ship. He said to his father and the others. Katara started to agru, but Zoe forgot to listen as another explosion erupted above them. Fear for Zuko threatened to consume her and she struggled madly to get out of her earth prison.
Suddenly, the earth around her feet was released. And Teo had grabbed her hand. "Good bye Zoe." He said and Zoe was confused. "I can't come with you." He explained, and she had a feeling about why not.
She nodded sadly as the others ran over to Appa, "I'll see you again." She said, bending to kiss his cheek. "Be careful."
And with that she ran and flew up to Appa, landing in his saddle next to Suki.
"I can clear that away and we can fly out through there!" cried Toph, gesturing to a stone wall.
"Um…there's an awful lot of fire in that general direction…" Suki decided to add and Zoe stared at the wall in determination
"Good, then we will find Zuko." She said and they took off.
The stone acted as a shield as they flew fearfully through blazes of fire and smoke, explosions erupting around them. Everything was a blur, but Zoe spotted Zuko, atop an airship fighting Azula ferociously.
He was incredible; Zoe had never seen him fight so well. The two siblings were coming closer and closer when suddenly, their flaming fists met and the biggest explosion yet blocked out ever other sound and they were falling. And Aang was flying, top speed toward the figure that was Zuko.
In perfect timing Appa was under his falling body and Zoe had reached out, unthinkingly and grabbed his wrist, surprised to find his other wrist in Katara's outstretched hand.
He landed in a heap on top of Zoe, but then he sat up, turning quickly to his eyes searching for the falling figure that was his sister.
She was flailing and tumbling through the air, with no hope of someone saving her. "She's…not going to make it." Said Zuko and Zoe could tell that he wasn't even sure how he felt about that.
But then blue fire burst from Azula's feet and she rocketed toward the cliff side, her hair flying out on the way and Zoe realised it was her hair pin. With a screech that even they could hear from Appa, she slid to a halt along the rocky cliff, her hair pin having saved her. Her black locks were whipping in the wind, a menacing smile upon her face.
"Of course she did…" muttered Zuko, turning away. Zoe put a hand on his knee and they shared a look, his hand enclosing over hers.
"Zoe," said Sokka suddenly, "what's that on your neck?"
Zoe jumped and looked at him, but Zuko looked quickly at her neck. "What do you mean?" she demanded, "What's wrong with it?"
Sokka leaned forward suspiciously, examining the left side of her neck, "There's a swollen, red-"
"Uh, Huan bit her." said Zuko quickly, glancing at the little rabbit-hen who peeped out from behind Momo at the sound of her name.
Sokka frowned at Zuko, but sat back in his seat without a word. Zoe had a feeling Zuko would be the next to get a little talk from Sokka.
A/N Lol I still can't reply to reviews O_O stupid fanfiction. Anyway, thanks again so much :D :D
I have a few things to reply to... When I said there were more for Sukka, I didn't mean fanfictions; I meant more reviewers who wanted Sukka as opposed to Tokka, and SailingSeas I do love you! Lol, so I am somehow going to try and find a way to please both the tokka fans and the sukka fans... O.O but, seen as this story isn't focused on them, hopefully it won't matter TOO much.
Thank you all of you guys! You make my day every day! Hope you like this chappie... please tell me what you think :) OOH and friends .music. reading and anyone else having one...HAVE A FUN SNOW DAY! I'm jealous. I love snow. It's flooding here, I live in queensland...so everything has gone crazy... anywaaayy please review =D