I've looked at love, from both sides now

From give and take, and still somehow

Its love's illusions I recall

I really don't know love at all.

-Joni Mitchell, 'Both Sides Now'

"Are you coming?" She was looking up at him with big blue eyes, flicking them between his own. He felt a hot surge from his chest to his belly. He cleared his throat.

"Are you sure?" His voice was husky, low and gravelly. Her face blushed pink. She nodded. "Okay."

He allowed her to lead him to his own tent, his hand clasped tightly around hers. She pushed aside the flap and he hesitated for a step before following her inside. His bedroll was still messy from that morning and he felt a sudden embarrassment. She didn't seem to notice as she lay down and pulled the wrap over her.

"What about Kaya?" Zuko said, sitting down next to her.

"She's staying with a friend tonight." Katara gave him a little smile. "She knew where to find me this morning. She will again."

"Katara, I don't -"

"Zuko," she interrupted him with a hand on his knee. Goosebumps raised along him at the touch. "Kaya…wasn't my choice." She watched his face carefully as what she said sunk in. He leaned back from her, frowning. Hatred for the faceless, unknown father tore through him and his hands balled into fists. He heard her sit up to face him, sitting cross-legged like he was, her knees touching his. She took his hands in hers and rubbed her thumbs across their backs. "I love her. She's…a part of me. But sometimes I look at her and see her father and…I'm back there." She raised her eyes to his face but he was looking resolutely away from her. He wondered if he had caused the same flashbacks when he arrived and felt a surge of guilt. He captured her hands with his and looked down at them, palms up. He could feel the stiffness in her fingers, the raised scars on her skin. He wondered if the same person had caused them. "I haven't been able to get close to anyone since." He knew the feeling. "And I don't know at all how you feel, or what you think about me, but I…think I can trust you." He met her eyes then. He was glad she wasn't crying. But Katara didn't seem to be that type. Not anymore, anyway. "And I like sleeping next to you."

"I like you." Zuko said, before she could continue. "I like sleeping next to you. I like…touching your hands and being close to you. But if you're not ready, I don't want to do anything that wouldn't make you happy. And if you can't ever really forgive me, or trust me, then I don't think-"

"You really think too much, Zuko." She smiled at him. "If you do something I don't like, I promise I'll tell you."

He frowned. "You've only known me a month, really."

"Right now," she cupped his cheek, turning his face to hers. "I just want to sleep next to you. Feel…close to someone who I can trust won't try to kill me or hurt me or rape me." He glared at the last one. "But also someone who needs me too."

"I don't need you." Zuko murmured. As he said it he knew it wasn't true. He did need her. He needed her trust and her warmth and her kindness as much as he needed the sun to rise. He needed her to believe in him, like she what she had said around the fire, or he might stop believing in himself. "But…I want you."

"I want you, too." Katara scooted forward so she was sitting in his lap. She tucked her head under his chin and he wound his arms around her. He liked the feel of her body against his, her arm around his neck, her fingers curled into his hair. He bent his arm to bring his hand to her face, tilting her chin up. Her lips brushed against his, a cool whisper against his skin. Her eyes were closed, his were open. He saw the small frown flutter across her face and pulled away. The hand in his hair pulled him back, pressing their mouths harder together.

"I'll tell you." She breathed against him, shifting so both her arms lay across his shoulders as she deepened the kiss, smushing her nose into his cheek.

"I don't want you to have to." He gasped, hands going to her hips. Her kisses were making him dizzy. He slid his hands from her hips to her lower back, pressing her into him as he shifted them so they lay on their sides, facing each other. Her ankles hooked around his, entangling their legs. Her fingers grasped the back of his tunic and pulled. When her grip faltered, he pulled it all the way off, exposing his arms and undershirt. Katara huffed in annoyance at her hands and gestured at him to remove the undershirt. He laughed at her expression and she smiled. He pulled his shirt off, tossing it across her to the other side of the tent. Her hands ran up and down his pale, muscled chest as he removed the kerchief from her hair, setting her wild curls loose.

Zuko shifted them so Katara lay on her back with him still on his side leaning over her. He heard her gasp and froze.

"You okay?"

"Yes." She panted, pulling his head down to hers. Her tongue opened his lips, pressing gently against his. He cupped the back of her head, thrusting his tongue against hers, claiming her mouth. He felt the moan in her throat before he heard it. Her tongue rose to dance with his, unconquerable.

He ran his hand up and down her arm, pushing at the short sleeve of her green tunic. He wanted to pull it from her but couldn't. Not until she was ready. Her mouth lowered from his to dab kisses on his neck and he groaned. That had always been his weak point. He felt her lips curl up in a smile against his skin and she moved up to kiss against his ear. Spikes of light flitted through his veins at the touch. His knee came down between her legs as he moved over her, giving her better access to his neck. He could feel himself hardening and hoped she didn't notice. But she would, eventually. A thrill shot through his stomach as her knee brushed against his length and he gasped.

She stopped kissing his neck and dragged his head back to lock her mouth against his. She bit his lip and he moaned, lowering his body onto hers so he rested on his elbows, one on each side of her head. Slowly, hesitantly, he let his lower body rest on hers and was surprised to feel her hips buck up to meet his. Her head lifted to suck on the space between his neck and his shoulder. He mirrored the movement, nibbling on her collarbone. He was rewarded with her gasp.

He ran his hand through her hair, gripping it to tug her head back. He rained kisses on her throat, feeling her breath come rough from her lips. Moving lower, he pushed the neck of her tunic aside so he could mouth her sternum, encouraged by the murmurs she breathed in his ear. He knew what he wanted to do with his hands, but he didn't know if it would be okay. He was entirely hard.

Katara shrugged out of her tunic, tugging on the ties and tossing it behind her. He lifted his mouth from her chest to check her face. She was panting, mouth open, looking at him with wide eyes. She smiled and touched his face with soft fingertips.

"It's okay." She gasped out. "Please." She raised her arms above her head, straining her chest toward him. He could see a glimmer of fear and doubt in her eyes but all doubt and sense fled him as she rubbed her breasts against his chest. The feeling of the contact sent shocks through him, straight to his straining length.

Zuko nodded, feeling himself pant. A bow in the front of her chest bindings unraveled them when he pulled. They fell to the side, exposing her breasts. They were the same dusky mocha brown as the rest of her skin with dark, hard nipples standing at attention. Maturity had made them full, parenthood had made them round. He dipped his head to nuzzle one with his nose, enjoying the feel of her shuddering under him. He slipped one hand under her naked back and lifted her to him, their naked chests smooth against each other. He bent his neck so he could take one dark nipple in his mouth, running his tongue over the hard nub. She grabbed onto his torso and gasped, feeling his sucks and thrusts as his cock demanded release. He nudged at her through their clothes, desperate for contact. She dropped back from him to tug on his pants, her breast popping free, pushing them past his hips. His cock sprang free, ready.

"Are you sure?" Zuko moaned as her hands slid down his hips to his thighs, deliberately not touching.

"Yes." She gasped back, kissing his throat. "Stop asking." She gave a particularly hard suck and Zuko knew there'd be a bruise in the morning. "But thanks."

Zuko nodded against her touch. He lowered his hands to remove her pants and leggings, feeling her feet kick them off. She started breathing harder, panting against his skin. He captured her mouth with his as he gently palmed her breast, reveling in the feeling of the hard pebble of her nipple against his flesh. His hand traced down her body to cup her hip, then her thigh, bringing her knee up. Katara's tongue battled fiercely with his as he hovered over her, his cock eager.

She bucked her hips up to meet his, pressing her core against him. He felt the dampness between her legs with a gentle finger, dipping it shallowly into her opening. She gave a breathy moan against his mouth as he pushed the tip of two fingers inside, parting her walls, preparing her for his entrance. He felt her clench, strong around him. She was slick: as excited as he was. She bit his lip and he pushed his fingers in to the knuckle, curling them against her inner walls. He added the smallest bit of heat to his finger pads, smiling against her lips as he heard her gasp. Her fingernails drew lines on his back as he pumped his fingers into her.

He pulled out, wiping moist fingers discretely on his bedroll. He dipped his head to suck on her throat as he positioned himself, nudging the tip of his cock against her entrance.

"Wait." She gasped out. He froze. She dropped her head from his neck to look him in the face. Her flushed face and half lidded eyes only added to his excitement. "Don't…don't finish inside me."

"Okay." Zuko said, watching her face. She smiled and nodded, biting her lip. That did it. Zuko slowly moved into her, giving her time to adjust to his length and breadth. He wasn't small. He felt her angling her hips, shifting against him. He pushed in until he was fully sheathed in her, her warmth enclosing him. He moved to pull back and she stopped him, holding on to his shoulders.

"It feels good." She panted, eyes closed. "So good." He felt her muscles tighten around him, feeling him inside her. "Okay." She gasped and nudged her hips against his.

He pulled out slowly, enjoying the tightness inside her. She was so wet. So wet. When just his tip was left inside her, he pushed back in. Faster. She moaned, arching her spine towards him.

He began a steady rhythm, in out, in out. He went faster, harder, nearly slamming into her. He could feel himself getting close; it had been a long time since he had laid with a woman. She was moaning and writhing beneath him, her hands gripping his wrists, trying to match his thrusts with her own. It was speeding his towards his finish but she wasn't there yet. Remembering something his Uncle said (in a conversation that lay repressed deep, deep in his mind) about a special place on a woman. He warmed the pad of his thumb and pressed it against the small nub above his thrusting cock. He patted it gently, and was rewarded with a near shriek. He grinned, going harder, leaning down to bite the junction of her neck and shoulder. She gasped and stilled, her body jerking as she came around him.

He slowed to steady, long thrusts, drawing out her pleasure. She moaned and he could feel the extra wetness from her climax and he shuddered. When she jerked her hips against him, encouraging movement, he began thrusting into her, moaning as she leaned up to suck on his throat. Her hands ran up and down his chest, reaching up to curl in his hair, trail along his back.

Closer. Closer. Close. He pulled out of her, pumped his cock for few strokes, and came onto her stomach in short bursts. He stayed panting above her for a breath before collapsing on his side next to her. He heard her breathing calm, the rustling of cloth as she wiped herself off.

"Sorry."

She smiled and turned on her side to face him. "It's fine." She reached over to the pile of their clothes and lifted out her tunic and pants, forgoing her bindings and leggings. He watched as her body disappeared under them and felt a little disappointed. He'd have liked to wake up to her bare form.

"Do you want your shirt?" she asked him, still sitting.

He shook his head. "I'll take my pants, though." She handed them to him and he tugged them on. He noticed her eyes crawling up his body and smirked. "See something you like?"

She flushed and looked away. He scooted over and wrapped his arms around her sitting waist, kissing the small of her back. She stroked his hip, left naked above the hem of his pants. "Now what?" she whispered.

"I don't know." He murmured against her skin. "What do you want to happen?"

"You become Fire Lord." She stretched out next him, their noses almost touching. "We fix the world. Everyone goes home."

"We better start soon." Zuko said, stroking her cheek with two gentle fingers. "Before we all forget what home looks like."

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For the first time in a very long time, Zuko slept through the sunrise. His eyes opened as it crested above the hills. He could see its light through the tent walls, illuminating the body sleeping next to him. Katara slept on her stomach, shirt pushed up by his hand, exposing her back. His knee lay comfortably across her legs, his face on her shoulder. He could see a bruise from his bite peeking through her tunic and smirked. He knew there was a much more visible one on his neck. Serves her right. Her breathing was even and deep, not ready to be woken.

He rolled over and stretched, feeling muscles that hadn't been sore in a long time. He lay still for a few heartbeats, listening to Katara's soothing breaths before rising and pulling a new shirt from his meager supply. He kneeled down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before striding out of the tent.

His Uncle sat on the circle of logs across from his tent, staring into the embers from the previous night. He stood as Zuko approached.

"Uncle, what's wrong?"

"We need to talk, nephew." His Uncle's voice was serious. "Let us go into the woods."

Zuko followed as Iroh walked half a mile along a trail only he could see. They reached a large fallen tree trunk covered with moss and mushrooms and his Uncle stopped, sitting on the fallen giant. Zuko stood in front of him, arms crossed, feeling the sun on the back of his neck. His Uncle peered up at him, and frowned at the bruise on the base of Zuko's neck.

"Would you care to explain, nephew?"

"Not really, Uncle."

His Uncle sighed. "I understand the temptation of easy women, Zuko, but you should know-"

"Uncle!" Zuko cried. "I was with Katara." Iroh's eyebrows shot up. "We…slept next to each other two nights ago and we both liked it, so…" He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, humiliated. "She wanted it, too. It was…her idea."

Iroh's gaze pierced him, stripped him down, turned him inside out, and set him back again. "Do you love her, Zuko?"

"I think I'm beginning to." The quiet admission surprised them both.

"My only advice is to tread lightly." Iroh said after a moment. "As the saying goes, 'the course of love never did run smooth.'" His face split into a grin. "But I also want you to know that you have my full approval!"

Zuko sighed and nodded. "Thanks, Uncle. Is this all you wanted to talk about?"

"No." Iroh's face fell and his voice deepened in seriousness. "A lot was said last night around the fire. I know that Romjak knows our true identities, and that Miss Katara does as well. However, we must now decide if the time has come to reveal ourselves."

"What are your thoughts?"

"I think we should continue to wait, build reputations and trust among these people. Show them that we are not your father."

"Wouldn't that make the deception so much worse when we tell them?" Zuko began pacing. He wasn't particularly inclined to tell everyone, especially after the conversation around the fire. It already felt like lying, but they had been telling the same lie for many years.

"Yes, but perhaps we could begin circulating rumors of our true identities. It would put the idea in their heads and would allow us to gage the opinion of the people." Iroh mused. "Your new duties as instructor will help you to get to know the people. It can only help."

"I don't think rumors will help." Zuko said. "I think we should tell them all together, sooner rather than later."

"They could kill us as Fire Nation spies." Iroh pointed out.

"Romjak seemed on our side." Zuko countered. "So did most of the other instructors."

"That will not stop an assassin while we are sleeping." Iroh said, cocking an eyebrow at his nephew.

"So we let them get to know us, and you think that all that changes about us when we tell them is our names?" Zuko cried. "Our entire significance in this war will change!"

"You know this is the way, nephew." Iroh's face was dark. "You must overthrow your sister and claim your birthright."

"I know." Zuko's tone was quiet. "And soon." He looked at the sky. "Can you feel it?"

Iroh sighed. "Yes. I have for a while. Have you been sleeping through the sunrise?"

"No." Zuko blushed. "Though I attributed it to…other things."

His Uncle chuckled. "We could use this to our advantage."

"Not our advantage, Uncle." Zuko looked at the sky. "The world's. You and I won't have our bending."

"You are correct, Zuko." Iroh stood, sighing at the creak in his joints. "This summer, during the Long Eclipse, the world will have an advantage over the Phoenix King and the Fire Lord. Our attack should have already begun by then."

"Time to stop hiding, Uncle." Zuko blew a plume of flames to the sky. "Time to begin."

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A.N. Woo! First sex scene ever xD Hope you guys liked it…but not too much! lol As always, thank you for the reviews. Please feel free to offer critiques on style/etc. as well