I still need love 'cause I'm just a man
These nights never seem to go to plan
I don't want you to leave, will you hold my hand?
-Sam Smith, 'Stay with Me'
Zuko grumbled to himself as he rummaged through the drawer. It was ridiculous that he, as the Fire Lord, would be doing this himself. He was covered with dust, his hair had fallen out of its topknot hours ago, his royal robes lay discarded by the door for their own protection.
He understood why she wanted to leave, he really did. Katara would never be content to sit still as long as there were people out there who needed her, especially her own people. The South Pole was in grievous need of water benders and she was the best. Even Pakku had admitted to that, she told him. And he had understood that. She knew what the village had looked like and had the ingenuity to imagine what it should look like. She had told him she missed the snow, the cold, the penguins. And he had understood that. He had noticed the way she flinched when certain servants walked past her, how she avoided certain hallways, her total avoidance of the third floor. And he had understood her fear. What he couldn't understand was why she had to leave so soon.
Zuko swore as he pricked his thumb on something buried in the mass of scrolls he was digging through. He popped it in his mouth and continued to use his other hand to blindly muddle through. His father had kept so many seemingly useless pieces of parchment, odds and ends, and scrolls and they had all been dumped down in the bowels of the Palace in an unused scullery closet. It was musty and dark, the only light coming from a candle Zuko had brought and lit himself. He needed something to distract himself and was certain that the object he was searching for had been in his father's possession.
Katara was avoiding him. She had been since the dinner the night before when she had tearfully announced that she couldn't stay and would be returning to the South Pole with Kaya to rebuild and to begin Kaya's instruction in water bending. It was an ideal training location: water everywhere. Zuko had taken the decision in silence, risen in silence, and left. In silence. Katara had not joined him in his chambers that night and he had been thankful. He needed to think.
She wanted to leave. After everything they had been through, everything they had said, promised, been to each other was being thrown out the window. And he couldn't even try to change her mind. If he did, and was successful in convincing her to stay, she would resent him. And if he was unsuccessful, she would still resent him just for trying.
He knew he was still technically young, in the eyes of the world, but his body and spirit felt old. Zuko knew who the only person he would accept as his Fire Lady was, but the Nation needed to catch up. The world needed to be ready. If he remained unmarried and heirless, the debate over the line of succession would start a civil war. He also knew that the absence of a wife and heir was what had lost his Uncle the throne to his father. He had time, years, before he should need to think about his future family. But he also suspected that the only thing keeping his counselors from offering up their own daughters, sisters, nieces, aunts, and cousins was Katara's presence in the Palace and his ongoing attention to her. Once she left…he'd be defenseless.
He sighed to himself and rocked back on his heels. His father would have kept it somewhere, if only to taunt her with it. Damn him. But where? His eyes roved around the small room, landing on a shiny black lacquered box sticking partway out of a large carton of what looked like his father's socks. Grimacing, he stretched over the piles and piles of parchments and grasped it, tugging it out. He examined it in his hands: it didn't look like something that would have belonged to his father. It's corners were rounded, the black gloss paint faded from time. Cherry blossoms that he suspected had once been a bright red were inscribed across the top in an artistic swirl, framing the character for 'luck.' A large dent was chiseled into the bottom corner, like someone had smashed or thrown it hard. A brass latch, smaller than the tip of his finger, kept it closed. Zuko flicked it open, peered inside, and frowned. It had definitely not belonged to his father, but his mother. Inside were a small painting of their family, a dried cherry blossom, several turtleduck feathers, a very shiny bead, a pebble, a thimble, and a small length of braided rope. His and Azula's childhood presents to her. He sat down hard, picking each one up and examining it. He remembered giving most of them to her, though the bead and thimble were from Azula. As he put them back in, the little divider rattled. He experimentally pulled on it and it released, a small cloud of dust rising with it. Underneath was a hidden chamber, its contents sparse. There was just a small painting of his mother standing beside a man not his father and smiling, their hands entwined, and a length of blue ribbon wrapped around a turquoise pendant.
***Line break***Line break***Line break***
She wasn't avoiding him. She really wasn't. She just didn't want to see that pain, that bitterness, that hurt in his eyes just yet. Katara had found a quiet place, finally. Kaya had been running along the railing of the upper level of the palace, using her air bending to keep her balanced and it was making Katara too nervous to watch. Occasionally Kaya's eyes would go blue and she would nod as Aang instructed her in air bending. She left Chi Lin to watch her and retreated to find solitude.
Katara sat on the windowsill of what had been her sickroom, looking out over the garden below. The sill was big enough for her to sit without fear of falling, the breeze blowing around her was warm and smelled of the sea. She inhaled deeply, trying to remember the last time she had been near the ocean. Almost seven years ago, she thought sadly. She longed to dip her toes into something besides bath or pond water. A river would even be fine. But the ocean called to her, making her miss the waves, the salt in the air, the changing of the tides, even the screaming sea birds that flocked along the shore.
Soft footsteps stopped outside the heavy, iron-barred door and she turned her head to listen. The door was slowly pushed open and the footsteps padded towards her. She didn't bother trying to hide behind the curtains: he could always find her. The thought made her quirk her lips sideways as the Fire Lord sat across from her on the windowsill, one leg dangling over the ground far, far below. She didn't ask how he had found her. She didn't ask him anything, just sat looking out over his country, his home, allowing her outstretched leg to gently nudge against his hip. He laid a warm hand on her ankle and mirrored her gaze, taking in the sun-kissed land below them.
Zuko looked over at her, admiring the sight. She wore a colorful assortment of clothing: a soft red shirt, dark blue pants tucked into high orange and brown boots, green scarf tied around a single braid coiled around itself in a loose bun, loose wisps pushed behind her ears. Her eyes were turned longingly towards the sea and he felt her departure coming closer and closer. She was bathed in sun, warming her skin and giving her an overall glow. Had her breasts gotten bigger? He shook his head. Not what he was there for. Well sort of…hopefully. No. He cleared his throat and she turned to him, her blue eyes still full of the sea.
"Katara…" He didn't know how to start. How to say what he felt in a way that was sincere and well-crafted. He felt that she sensed his hesitance and moved closer to him, hanging her legs out the window to sit closer to him. His fingers began to draw circles on her ankle as he thought. "I know you have to go."
"You could come with me." She interjected, turning her eyes to the ground. "Kaya and I, we both want that."
She was going to take credit for his revelation, he knew. "It won't be forever."
She nodded sadly, then frowned up at him. "What won't?"
"My abdication."
Her eyes widened as she realized what he was saying. Her grin split her face in half as she launched herself at him, panicking him for a moment as he thought they'd both tumble out of the window and that'd be the end of everything right there. "Zuko!"
"Katara." He pushed her back gently to look in her eyes. "I refuse to be apart from you. But this…can be only temporary."
She didn't respond, only lunged forward to press a kiss to his mouth. "So you're going to live in the South Pole with us?"
Zuko grimaced. "If I have to."
"You do." Katara kissed him, running her tongue along his lips. He opened his mouth to her, their tongues stroking and feeling along each other. "But it'll be okay. I'll be there to make it better."
"Mmm." Zuko murmured, gathering her in his arms and carrying her to the bed where she had lain spiritless for weeks. He plopped her down, standing between her knees as she sat on the thick mattress, craning her neck to reach his lips. Her arms went around his shoulders, her wrists looping on the back of his neck. His hand rested on her hips, the weight of his decision lifting from his mind as he stroked up and down her ribs. He deepened the kiss, leaning down on her, laying her down on her back as he hung over her. She widened her knees, allowing him to sink between them above her on the bed.
He was lowering his hand to remove her light shirt when the door banged open. Suki stood in the doorway looking frazzled. Zuko groaned, and hung his head, staying in his position above Katara.
"Katara!" She cried. "I need to talk to you." She strode over; Zuko noticed her red nose and wet eyes; she had been crying. "Alone."
Katara shoved at Zuko's chest but he wouldn't budge. She glared up at him and shoved again. He sighed and backed off of her, shooting a sideways glance at Suki as he walked out. As he shut the door, he heard Katara softly ask what happened as Suki sat on the bed.
He leaned against the doorframe, trying to decompress. He let out a hot breath of smoke, trying to think of something besides Katara's body pressed up against him, his lips on hers…and failed. He groaned.
"You're WHAT?"
He jumped at Katara's yell through the thick door. He pressed his ear to the wood, trying to look nonchalant as a group of chattering servants walked past him.
"Oh, Suki! I'm so happy for you Sokka!"
He heard laughter and then a lot of muffled talking. So Suki was…what? Pregnant? Engaged? What?
"Do you guys have any names picked out?"
Ah. Pregnant. Sokka must be excited. He loved kids. He started to leave when he heard footsteps approach the door and it opened.
"Sokka doesn't know, don't tell him."
It closed again. He hadn't even seen Katara's face. Zuko sighed. He had worked so hard to find that necklace and the perfect moment had just slipped through his fingers. Maybe Toph would be up for a sparring match…
***Line break***Line break***Line break***
The party was nowhere near as big as his coronation would be, but it was still big enough to make Zuko feel socially inept. Most of the attendees were intoxicated water tribe warriors who had come to the Fire Nation with Sokka, the remnants of his People, and Zuko didn't know how to start a conversation with them. He skulked on the edges of the party, talking to the few Fire Nation nobles who had been invited or the officials who had invited themselves. Sokka and Suki didn't mind, they were too busy getting congratulated and, in Sokka's case, drunk. Zuko could see the fear return to his face after every greeting. Suki was at the center of a knot of women, all talking incredibly fast as she smiled and nodded, occasionally running a hand over her stomach. The room had been lavishly decorated, paper banners of blue and green entwined together to symbolize the joining of the families hung on every wall and doorframe. A table with appetizers and finger food stood mostly empty by the door, surrounded by several guests.
As he wandered back around the perimeter of the room, swishing his drink in circles, he realized he couldn't find Katara. She wasn't clustered around Suki, not near Sokka, not with Toph…he couldn't see her either. He subtly slipped from the room, breathing a sigh of relief as he left the noise and the awkwardness behind him. He clasped his hands behind his back and slowly strode through the halls of his Palace, looking for Katara in her usual hiding places.
He passed Toph and Min Ki in Azula's old room, very much interested in only each other, empty bottles of fire whiskey forgotten on the bed side table. Min Ki had Toph in his lap and was gently undoing the ties on her shirt as she left bruising kisses on his neck.
Zuko quietly pulled the door to the room closed, wincing as it latched.
"Thanks, Sparky." Her voice was muffled through the door, but still made Zuko cringe.
He tucked his hands back behind his back and continued further into his Palace, emerging in the courtyard. The sun had set hours ago and torches had been placed to light around the edges of the garden pond where the turtleducks made their home. The water shimmered with reflected star and torch light, glowing in the dark night. A solitary figure sat by the edge of the pond, her legs folded beneath her, blue skirts spread around her. She had pulled her elaborate braid out, her hair tumbling over her shoulders to her elbows, restrained by the simple blue kerchief she had worn in Romjak's camp. Her hand was trailing circles on the surface of the water, sending ripples across to the other side.
He sank down beside her, frustratedly arranging his royal robes so they stayed out of the water. She smiled at him, her blue eyes sparkling and dancing in the torch light.
"I hope the tribesmen aren't being too rough on you." She teased. "Pregnancy announcements are really big back home. They can last for days."
He grunted in reply and she laughed. "What are you doing out here?" He asked.
She looked down. "It just got a little loud." She gave him a small smile. "My stomach started hurting." In truth, her stomach had been hurting for weeks. She had felt so tired she just needed a cool place to be alone. But with him was better. It always was.
"Oh." He sidled over until his shoulder was pushed against hers. "Katara-"
"Zuko-" She blushed as she interrupted. "Sorry! Go ahead."
He smiled at her, nervously she thought. It took a lot to make Zuko nervous. "Katara, I have something I want to give you."
She perked up and sat straighter beside him. He shrugged out of his outer robes, wondering if, as Fire Lord, he could decree that they were a nuisance and no longer have to wear them. He kneeled up in front of her, smugly noting her confused and wary look. "My Uncle will be coronated as Fire Lord tomorrow at noon. Because I am his heir, they won't pressure him to find a wife." He raised his eyes to hers. "But they will pressure me." A faint frown crossed her face. "No matter where we go in the world, it will be on the mind of the Fire Nation. One day I will assume the throne, but until then," He clasped her hands in his, pressing the small box he held into her palm. "my life is mine. And they can't tell me who to love."
Katara opened the small box, setting the lid the ground. Inside lay her mother's necklace, its blue ribbon intact and glimmering. She gasped as she ran a finger over the stone, her other hand covering her mouth as tears sprang in her eyes. The stone wasn't the same her mother's had been: it was split in half with a carved, curving line. One side was the same turquoise, embellished with the sign of the water tribe while the other was a dark red, engraved with the spiraling flames of the fire nation.
"Zuko…"
"I'm sorry if you don't like it." He blurted, a light pink tinging his cheeks. "I still have your mother's stone, if you want to put it back."
"No." She whispered, lifting it from the box by the satin ribbon. "It's perfect."
He took the necklace from her hand and motioned for her to turn around. She presented him with her back, lifting her long hair off of her neck. He draped the ribbon around her neck, fastening the clasp securely. He turned her back to face him, feeling a swell of pride at the sight of the pendant nestled in the hollow of her throat. "Katara, I don't ever want to be without you by my side."
"I never want to be far from your side." She whispered, throwing her arms around him and pressing her mouth to his. "I'm yours." She brushed her lips against his forehead. "And you're mine."
"Forever?" His eyes were searching hers, probing. His fingers went to her hair, pushing loose strands behind her ears and stroking it.
She grinned at him. "Longer than that, Zuko."
***Line break***Line break***Line break***
Whoever was knocking so incessantly on his door was about to get their teeth knocked in Min Ki thought as he stretched and wound his arm tighter around the strong, thin, naked girl beside him in the large bed. Her hair was spread across his face, tickling his nose. He inhaled deeply, smelling Toph, dirt, and firewhiskey all at once.
"Answer the damn door, Minky." Her voice was groggy and irritated, muffled from where her face was pressed against his chest. "And then get your sweet ass back here so I can spank it again."
"I think you are remembering the night differently than I am." He purred, nipping the tip of her ear as he rose gracefully. She wriggled under the blankets, resting her face against the warm spot he left. He slipped on a pair of loose pants, letting them hang low around his hips. Ignoring Toph's low catcalls, he made his way to the door and opened it hard, startling Sokka on the other side.
The water tribe man had his fist poised to knock again, his eyes wide as he took in the rumpled Min Ki, the sheet-swaddled naked Toph behind him, and the many bottles of firewhiskey on the floor. He cocked an eyebrow. "Rough night?"
"In a sense." Min Ki smirked.
"Well…" Sokka began. He seemed to suddenly notice his fist still hanging in the air and dropped it, rubbing the back of his neck. "You guys missed breakfast. And the big announcement."
"What was that?" Toph called from the room.
"Zuko and Katara are engaged." Sokka grinned as Toph sat up, sheets pulled up over her chest, and Min Ki smiled lazily. "Officially anyway, as of last night. Not according to the Fire Nation, of course, because they're a bunch of traditionalist jerks, but in water tribe custom they are. He gave her a necklace."
"Ooh, that's fancy." Toph stumbled out of bed tangled in the sheet and scooped up a scattered assortment of clothing before heading towards the bathroom. "Did he go all out and get her earrings too?"
Sokka glared at her through the walls, Min Ki retreating from the doorway with an affectionate glance towards the bathroom. "It's our custom, Toph." Sokka called.
"Water tribes are all backwards." Toph said, emerging. Her hair was still a rat's nest, but her hands were busily twisting and pinning it into control. "We propose marriage with a shiny rock on a metal band. You might have heard of them: it's called a ring!"
"It's too cold in the South Pole for metal on fingers, Toph!" Sokka argued. "It'll freeze to your finger and tear your skin off!"
"That's romantic." Toph made a face. "So a carved pebble on a string does better with the not-freezing-skin, huh? What's Kyoshi's custom?"
Sokka blushed. "They exchange fans." He muttered. "But anyway, the coronation is happening in three hours and we need to be in place in two."
"And you're the timeliness police?" Toph scowled. "You're not going to have attendants descend on me are you?"
"About that…" With a facetious smile, Sokka stepped aside to allow the four waiting women to enter. "Have fun! See you an hour before noon!"
Her threats and curses rang in his ears as he retreated down the hall.
***Line break***Line break***Line break***
Katara and Suki opened the door to Suki's room to find a troupe of approaching women, garments and grooming utensils in their hands. The lady in front stopped and bowed low before entering.
"Greetings, my ladies. My name is Sunli, and we are here to prepare you for the coronation ceremony." She was an older lady with greying hair, but a sharp eye and a quick step.
"Oh, of course." Suki glanced at Katara as they moved aside to let the troupe in. "Please come in."
"Thank you, my lady." Sunli marched past, her four girls following her. "You two," she gestured. "may take the Lady Suki." They bowed and escorted Suki to the washroom. "Lady Katara, will you permit us to work with you?"
"Of course." Katara smiled warmly. "Um, where…?"
"We can return to your chambers, if you wish."
"That might be for the best." Katara agreed. "Please, lead on."
***Line break***Line break***Line break***
An hour later she sat, freshly bathed and perfumed, as Sunli ornately braided her hair, twisting fire lilies among the strands. One of her girls was polishing Katara's toes as the other was prepping her formal robes.
"Thank you again for doing this." Katara murmured. It felt strange, being fussed over like this. She was no lady of the Fire Nation, she was Katara of the Water Tribe. Six months ago her entire bathing ritual had taken ten minutes in a cold stream by herself and served only to wash the dirt off. She couldn't wait to get back out on the road, not worry about what she looked like all the time, smelled like, ate, picked her teeth with. Until she was back among people she could trust, that she knew cared about her, that she cared about. For spirit's sake, she wanted to move! To feel the road fade away under her feet, to watch the world go by. To meet different people, sleep under the stars, find her own food. She wanted to be free again. She was restless. But at the same time, she felt tired in her body. Like she had been awake for days or riding ostrich horses for hours.
"Of course, my lady." There was a knock on the door and Sunli rose to answer it. Katara heard voices at the door, and then Sunli returned. "My lady, would you like refreshments?"
Katara turned her head, careful not to mess up her hair. A servant with a tray of snacks and small drinks stood in the door, his eyes cast down. Katara smiled at him and Sunli. "No, thank you." Her stomach turned over at the thought of eating anything. She wished it would stop being finnnicky; it'd been that way for a while.
Sunli pursed her lips and sent the servant away, resuming her place behind Katara to put the finishing touches on her hair. "My lady…" she paused, glancing at her girls. They silently rose and exited, shutting the door behind them. "…perhaps it is not my place, but…have you eaten anything today?"
"Some fruit at breakfast." Katara shrugged. "I haven't been hungry lately."
Sunli clicked her tongue. "And how have you been feeling?"
"Tired. Kind of."
"And…my lady, when was the last time you bled?"
Katara couldn't remember. She tried to think, but it must have been…Ba Sing Se. "No." She whispered. "I've been…travelling. Fighting. It's only been…four weeks of peace. It hasn't had time…" But she knew. It had been the same with Kaya: the tiredness, the stomach upsets, the urge to move.
"My lady." Sunli tied her hair off with a silken ribbon and moved to stand in front of her, kneeling so they were at eye level. "It might be safer to conceal this child until you and the Fire Lord have left the Fire Nation."
"Why?" Katara asked.
"There are…certain customs that are observed in the Fire Nation." Sunli managed to tell her without sounding condescending or righteous. "In times of war, these customs are of course set aside, as men and women in battle have certain needs and the Nation is well aware of that. However," She frowned. "A Fire Lord's child, or future Fire Lord as the case may be, must be recognized by the fire sages if it is to be counted as an heir. And for that to happen, the Fire Lord must marry the child's mother, though it does not matter when."
Katara felt like her world had been turned sideways. A child. Another Kaya, maybe. And it would be half Zuko, and half her. And a future Fire Lord. If they were to marry in the tradition of the Fire Nation. If the Fire Nation would allow them to marry, she thought spitefully. If her father would allow her to forever leave home for the nation that had killed her mother, enslaved the world, and taken her captive. She sighed.
Another knock came at the door. Sunli rose, with a worried glance at Katara's stony face, and answered it. Katara saw her bow low out of the corner of her eye as Zuko entered, looking regal in his ceremonial robes. His red robes were cinched with a black and gold belt and crowned with a set of winged shoulder blades. A high red collar trimmed with gold reached almost to his chin, and his hair was swept into the traditional topknot. He smiled warmly at her.
"Thank you, Sunli."
The woman looked at him sideways for a moment, Katara was still only in her dressing robe, before she bowed and left.
Zuko crossed and stood behind Katara, running his hands over the flowers in her hair. "You look beautiful." He murmured.
She smiled at her lap. "I'm not even dressed yet, Zuko."
"Doesn't matter." He said, crossing to stand in front of her. "I like you best in nothing."
She snorted. "Well, you're going to have to wait for that."
"I'm the Fire Lord." He whispered in her ear. "I can do whatever I want."
"You're the Fire Lord for another hour and a half." She laughed, watching his face sour. "Then you're the Crown Prince again."
"I've been the Crown Prince for most of my life." He said, turning to make sure they were alone.
"I know." She said. "Are you sure you want to do it this way?"
"I'd rather do it with you on your knees." He whispered in her ear, his hand lowering to cup her breast, his thumb passing over her nipple. She wondered suddenly if she should tell him before the coronation, but thought better of it. He would be completely distracted. And what he was doing felt too good…
"Zuko, you'll mess up my hair." She gasped, pushing her chest into his hand. "And your robes are all on, and…" She lost track of thought as he knelt to wrap his lips around her nipple, suckling gently. She moaned, her hands moving to clasp his head to her.
"I'll be careful." He murmured, his voice vibrating against her. He spread her robe open, revealing her body to him. His eyes took her in appreciatively; had her breasts gotten bigger? Her dark nipples were hard, rubbing against his palm. Her stomach had a slight bump to it, her plump lower lips pressing against the chair beneath her.
Katara slid from the chair so they knelt across from each other at eye level. "I'm afraid to rumple your robes, your majesty."
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling them together. "You never need to call me that." He growled, nipping her neck. She squeaked and kissed his ear. "Where do you want me?"
She let out a breathy moan at his words. "Inside me."
He groaned, running a finger across her slit, feeling her already wet. He lifted her in his arms, sitting with her in his lap on the bed. He turned her so they faced each other, his hand running up her spine to grip the base of her neck from behind. She gripped him tight with her knees, pressing her body up against his. His free hand gripped her rear, kneading and gripping as he dipped his head to recapture her nipple with his lips. She groaned, gyrating against his thigh.
As the grip on her neck eased up, she leaned forward to press her lips to his neck, finding his jugular and sucking.
"Katara." He growled, lowering his hand from her neck to fully grip her rear end as his hips reared up under her.
"I won't leave a mark." She whispered against his skin, grazing the base of his neck with her teeth.
He groaned. "I want you. Now."
"Take me. Now." She groaned back, pushing through his robes to wrap her hand around his shaft.
His hips bucked uncontrollably as she pumped him slowly with her hand, twisting her fingers around the head. He buried his head in her neck, mirroring her actions on his own. Katara didn't really know what she was doing, but as his cock twitched under her fingers she thought she might be doing something right. She felt a bead of precum on his tip and touched it, spreading it across his head.
He jerked up under her with a growl, biting her neck. She gasped and stroked harder, faster. "Katara…"
She brought her head back to lock her mouth to his, prying his lips apart to nudge his tongue with hers. As her tongue entered his mouth, he lifted her up just slightly to lower her down onto his hard cock. She moaned against his mouth as he entered her, the angle different from any she had felt before. She squirmed, wiggling her hips from side to side. He gasped into her mouth, his tongue stilling against hers. She grinned and wiggled again, feeling him stiffen under her, his hips thrusting up into her. She moaned, cupping his face with her hands, running her tongue along his teeth he moaned, gripping her rear with strong fingers. He held her still as he began to thrust hard into her, pounded her slit with his cock. She moaned loudly as he sank his teeth into the fleshy junction of her neck and shoulder, stilling inside her, fully sheathed. She flexed her muscles, tightening around him.
Zuko groaned, wanting to move but feeling so good just to be inside her. He drew a hand back from massaging her rear to lay a hot thumb on her clit, tapping against it. She clenched, gasping, feeling hot waves of pleasure course through her at the touch. He grinned and languidly resumed thrusting, keeping his thumb on her sensitive nub. She came as he was inside her, shouting out as pleasure rippled through her. He began to pound faster, feeling his own climax approaching. She lowered her head to sink her own teeth in to his neck and he gasped, the harsh bite sending him over the edge into orgasm. He jerked out, spilling his seed on her stomach.
"I love you." He whispered, his breath ragged and raspy.
"I love you too." She kissed him, dropping her hands to his shoulders. She started to push off of him to stand but he gripped her close, hugging her to him.
"Katara," He murmured against her shoulder. "you're mine."
"I'm yours." She whispered back. "And you're mine too."
"I'm yours." He echoed. "Forever."
"Longer than that, Zuko."
***Line break***Line break***Line break***
A.N.: Yay! Not so evil, right? Maybe next chapter….or the one after. Muahaha.
To Kat-Tastrophe: Tee hee! You tell her!
To G0d3ss0fD1sc0rd: Thank you! :D I love the story of Orpheus.
To storyoftheunknownfangirl: Thank you! I hope you liked it
To Guest and Guest: I might write both, but I think I found a compromise Thank you!
To Chalie: I thought that was a good opening for her to die too, but I recently read a book where the main character died at the end and it made me really angry and sad and I just couldn't. Thank you!