"Toph guests are looking for you." Sokka finally spoke after secretly watching the earthbender talk comfortably with her companion.
"Uhmm." Toph couldn't manage to speak a word. She was surprised.
Feeling impatient, Sokka held Toph hand.
"The avatar!"
Toph and Sokka snapped their heads.
"Twinkle Toes." Toph beamed and hurried to the door.
There landed a flying bison, onboard the great hero himself, Aang.
Aang got off Appa and greeted the people.
He was in her line of vision. Katara saw Aang smiling cheerfully at the people. Katara was about to take a step when Sokka stopped him. Katara looked at her brother as he shook his head.
"I'll just say my greetings." Katara smiled weakly.
As the crowd grew small, the Gaang made their way to the Avatar.
"Aang!" Zuko greeted with a smile.
"Fire Lord Zuko." Aang bowed.
"Avatar!" Sokka wrapped his arm around Aang as he teased him.
"Twinkle Toes!" Toph smiled.
"Hi Toph, Happy Birthday! A gift." Aang handed a wrapped box.
"You've grown. How are you?"
This time it was her turn, Katara smiled.
"I've been fine. How 'bout you?" The avatar asked back.
"Well, I've been coping with Sokka locking me up in my own room for the past five years." She jested.
It felt better this way, for them to remain as friends just like before.
Aang just laughed and patted Sokka's back.
The evening went on with the usual Gaang. And, by the following day the Gaang had their separate ways. The avatar, being the first to leave didn't even bid goodbye.
"I'll visit you sometime." Toph bid and hugged Katara.
"I hope we're seeing each other again soon. I don't want to wait another five years to be with you guys again." Zuko spoke as he approached the ladies.
"Don't worry Fire Lord, I'll be visiting the Fire Nation this coming month." Sokka shouted as he had already boarded the ship.
"I'm gonna miss you hot hands." Katara smiled then hugged the firebender.
"Then be sure to come and visit." Zuko chuckled as he returned the embrace.
"Fire Lord Zuko the ship is ready to set sail." A Fire Nation guard bowed.
"I should go." Zuko sadly spoke.
"Bye Zuko." Toph waved.
"I should also board." Katara mumbled.
"Thanks for coming." Toph smiled.
"Bye guys!" Toph shouted as both ship moved away from each other.
o0oOo0o
"Wait for me!" Katara yelled.
Sokka just sighed as he checked the crates and barrels that was loaded onto the ship.
"We're ready Chief." A guy saluted to Sokka.
"Okay, set to course." Sokka instructed.
o0oOo0o
Katara smiled widely as the Fire Nation came into view.
"This feels refreshing Sokka." Katara inhaled the air as a smile formed in her face.
"Sure is." Sokka agreed.
Sokka was happy to see his sister feel so joyful.
Katara spun around the port after they reached shore.
Katara felt pumped, she felt really eager to run around the Fire Nation. Before disappearing into the marketplace, she faced the harbor.
"Sokka! I'll be checking the stalls! I'll have someone deliver new crates later." She waved as she moved forward.
"Okay! We'll be leaving the day after tomorrow!" The warrior yelled back, knowing that her sister wouldn't be back till then.
The waterbender was pumped up. It's been a month since she last step on ground and it just woke her up ecstatically.
Now, she just needed to search for good places to buy new supplies. She smiled, where else could she find the best? She smiled as she headed to the Fire Lord's Palace.
o0oOo0o
Fire Lord Zuko's meditation got interrupted as a palace guard entered his meditation room.
"Fire Lord Zuko you have a guest." The guard bowed.
"Who?" The Fire Lord asked after snapping his eyes open.
"She refuses to state her name My Lord, but she looks like she's one of the people from the water tribe that just set ashore." The guard responded.
Zuko didn't spare a second, he took his robe and headed to the living room where, as informed the guest was waiting.
He inhaled deeply. He fixed his attire and posture before gently pushing the double doors. There appeared the lady whom he longed to see.
"Katara."
The lady smiled at him.
"Hi Zuko." Katara greeted.
Just like reflex, as the Fire Lord was a foot away, Katara lunged in for a hug.
This feeling made the Fire Lord's heart flutter. The serene feeling that no one but the waterbender made him feel.
Their embrace took longer than expected. The duo missed each other so much that this simple contact did all the talking.
"So you decided to keep your word and visited me after a month." Zuko smiled after breaking the hug.
"Well with the primary purpose of trading and getting supplies." Katara pointed out.
"Sure then leave me again for half a decade." The firebender pouted.
"Awww... My little hot hands' whining." Katara purred and pinched her friend's cheeks.
"Ouch! It stings."
Katara giggled.
"I need your help." Katara grimaced.
"With buying supplies?" Zuko raised an eyebrow.
Katara nodded.
"Sure, I can bring you to the best shops in the Fire Nation." Zuko smiled.
"Fire Lord Zuko." An old man greeted.
"Mr. Xang." Zuko greeted.
"And who might this pretty lady be?" The vendor asked.
"This is a friend of mine, Katara." Zuko introduced.
"I'm happy to see the Fire Lord spending some time with a beautiful lady." The vendor added.
Both the benders blushed.
"Haha, anyways what made you come to my noble shop." The vendor smiled.
"Ohhh, we came to buy supplies." Katara blurted out.
"Then, you came to the right place. Let me offer you some of my best sellers."
The vendor brought out three crates of different fruit. Katara was about to pick one of the fruits when...
"Before that, how 'bout I offer you a deal? If you get to guess the Fire Lord's favorite among these, I'll offer you half the price of anything you'll buy." The vendor smiled.
Katara being ecstatic, she nodded. The vendor placed one of each fruit and gestured her to take a bite.
Katara hesitated.
"Look, it's like a test, of how well you know the Fire Lord." The vendor sighed.
Katara shrugged and took a bite from the first fruit, it was juicy. After swallowing, she bit the second fruit which tasted both sweet and sour. Lastly, she grabbed the last fruit and tasted it, it was sweet at first but as you chew it a little longer it then gave a spicy tinge.
Both men stared at Katara as she bit the last fruit.
"So?" The vendor asked, waiting for a response.
"The first one." Katara easily answered.
"And, how may I know did you come up with this assumption?" The vendor asked, intrigued.
"First, before Zuko became 'Fire Lord' he spent most of his time traveling, making the supply of water an issue. It couldn't be the second one because it's sour, it would need a lot of water intake to diminish the flavor and absolutely not the last fruit, Fire Lord hot hands here isn't too much of a spicy lover."
They laughed.
"With the lack of water in a travel, the first fruit having a juicy flavor will not only aid your hunger but also quench your thirst." Katara smiled.
The vendor looked at her sternly before letting out a laugh.
"So what are you buying?" The vendor asked.
Katara looked at him, confused.
"Wow! Were you monitoring me that attentively, you seem to know everything I did when we traveled together?" Zuko smirked.
"It's called observing. We didn't trust you that much during the beginning of our alliance." Katara rolled her eyes.
"I'll have three crates each." Katara stated and paid the vendor.
"Please have them at the harbor where the water tribe's ship is docked." The Fire Lord instructed to two men.
"Where to next?" Katara asked.
Before Zuko could speak he was interrupted by his scribe.
"Pardon me Fire Lord Zuko but the gathering shall start in an hour." The scribe bowed.
"Gathering? Why didn't you tell me? I could've bought the supplies alone." Katara uttered.
The waterbender felt guilty, she bothered the Fire Lord, meddling with his duties.
Zuko sighed.
"I didn't tell you because the gathering is not happening before sun down and I knew we weren't gonna take that long." The firebender replied.
"Even though, I should've asked you first." Katara mumbled.
"Okay, why don't you repay me by being my escort at the gathering?" Zuko proposed.
Katara bit her lower lip and nodded slowly.
"Great! I'll have the servants dress you up and they'll escort you to the gathering afterwards." Zuko stated before they headed back to the palace.
o0oOo0o
"Fire Lord Zuko." The nobleman greeted with a bow.
Zuko eyed the lady that locked her arms around the nobleman. Noticing the Fire Lord's stare, Mai bowed not sparing the Fire Lord a glance. Receiving his former lover's gesture he bowed back.
"Enjoy the night." He added.
The couple left in arms, leaving Zuko's eyes follow them as they joined the crowd. As if an angel, he eyed Katara entering the hall.
He stared speechless, the waterbender looked very elegant. The way the dress clung to her body showed her shape.
Katara was clueless on how she looked, clueless of how she fit the Fire Nation's dress perfectly.
"You're beautiful." The Fire Lord managed to utter as the waterbender reached his throne.
"I wish to say the same but you don't seem to have any plans into slipping in other garments than your Fire Lord uniform." Katara giggled.
"Seems like you're catching too much attention on how beautiful you look tonight so why don't you join me in a dance." Zuko lend his hand.
Katara gladly took the invite and joined Zuko to the dancing space.
Wrapping his arms around Katara's waist, he pulled her close and started swiftly swaying her.
"This is embarrassing." Katara blushed as she felt the number of stares she was receiving.
"Don't worry, they're only looking cause I'm dancing with the most beautiful lady." Zuko mumbled.
This made Katara blushed immensely. She lowered her head and leaned onto Zuko's chest.
"Lift your head up, I wanna drown into this sight while it lasts." Zuko whispered.
Zuko groaned as he earned a punch from the already reddened waterbender. Nonetheless, Katara lifted her face and stared into the Fire Lord's golden orbs, not even realizing that she was leaning closer.
Zuko, losing self-control to the beautiful temptation in front of him, crashed his lips into Katara's immediately feeling sparks as if being hit by one of his sister's lightning. He sucked and licked, not expecting the waterbender to respond, he moaned as he felt her lips synchronize with his. Katara entangled her fingers to Zuko's hair, carefully not to dishevel it and unpin the headdress. Zuko, on the other hand tightened his grip onto Katara's waist as he pulled their heated body closer.
It was passionate and gentle, the kiss lasted for who knows how long but desperately needing to breathe they broke the kiss. Katara gasped and rested her head against the Fire Lord as he panted heavily.
"I think I need to lay down." Katara mumbled as she felt her knees weaken.
"Woaw!" Zuko exclaimed as he caught Katara who almost hit the ground.
It was her first time experiencing something so intense to the extent of weakening her body.
Zuko just chuckled. He carried Katara to his room not bothering to notice his guests, who were already talking about the recent event.
"Remind me to never kiss you again." Katara jested.
"But I really enjoyed it, can I say no." That was no question.
Katara rolled her eyes and rolled over the huge mattress. Face back from the Fire Lord, Katara wasn't aware that her back was exposed to the firebender. Taking this as a tease, Zuko leaned in and planted small kisses at her back, trailing it up to her nape.
Katara couldn't help it but gasp as she had contact with the firebender yet again.
"Stop it." Katara giggled.
She turned around, meeting the Fire Lord already smirking.
"Do you really want me to stop?" Zuko asked still smirking.
"Just keep it to yourself." Katara pushed him.
"Go on, you still have guests." Katara mumbled.
"Let them be, they're just here impressing me with their riches." Zuko said as he snuggled with Katara.
They stayed silent. It felt better this way, just hearing their heart's beat as silence began to envelope the room.
"Mai." Zuko paused.
"She said she loves me but didn't want to get involved with the crown so she broke up with me." Zuko ended.
Katara frowned. Was he thinking of her the whole time we were together? That question floated her head but after Zuko kissed her forehead her question was answered.
"How 'bout you? You didn't look so romantic with Aang back at Gaoling." Zuko asked.
"After he got caught up with saving the world and being avatar, he became distant so I thought maybe our feelings were only for a short notice so I broke up with him before our friendship got involved with the situation." Katara confessed.
"Mmmm.." Zuko groaned.
"I'm tired." He added.
He started fluttering his eyes. Katara smiled and returned the favor, she kissed his forehead and bid him to sleep. The firebender just smiled.
Katara watched him as he drifted to sleep. She unpinned his headdress and removed his metal accessory. She started doing the same to herself before she laid beside Zuko and sent herself to sleep.
A/N:
So I thought of having this as the last chapter...
BUT that depends from your reviews. If anyone requests to have it be continued I'd be glad to and if you have any suggestions, I'll be happy to write your ideas for the story.. :)