CHAPTER 41: Goddess
"My heart is as open as the sky."
Nii, Katara and Suki stood side by side in front of the large mirror in Zuko's walk-in-closet, a vision of elegance, beauty and grace, each adorned in breathtaking dresses that shimmered, their presence a testament to the power and allure of femininity in all its forms.
Nii wore Katara's golden silk dress, and Suki had woven her hair into an elaborated braid in a mesmerizing pattern of interlocking loops and twists that adorned the crown of her head and wound its way from her forehead to the nape of her neck before falling down over her bare back.
It kind of reminded her a little of the arrow tattoo over Aang's scalp.
When she moved, the braid seemed to come alive, undulating like a serpent of silk and shadow.
It caused her to think about the roaring dragon from her dream.
Tiny golden beads were interspersed throughout her braid, shimmering like stars in the night sky against her midnight black hair, adding a touch of celestial beauty to the intricate design.
Katara wore a gown of pale azure chiffon, reminiscent of the tranquil waters of her homeland. The fabric flowed like water around her slender frame, adorned with intricate silver embroidery that traced intricate patterns across the fabric.
Her hair cascaded in glossy ebony waves over her shoulders, adorned with pearls and sparkling gems that caught the light with her every movement.
And Suki, with her fierce yet graceful presence, wore a gown of the finest emerald green silk, the color reminiscent of the lush foliage of the forest. The bodice of the dress was elegantly structured, with delicate ruching that gathered at the waist to create a flattering cinched effect. From there, the fabric flowed gracefully down to the floor in a cascade of luxurious folds, pooling around her feet like a verdant waterfall, while subtle embroidery adorned the skirt, intricate patterns of leaves and vines intertwining with delicate floral motifs.
Suki's hair was styled in an elegant updo, with loose shimmering tendrils framing her face and softening the angels of her features. Each strand of her hair seemed to shimmer in the light, catching the glimmer of candle flames and reflecting it back in a subtle sheen.
As they stood there before the ornate golden mirror, Nii was in awe.
She had never seen herself like that.
She felt like all three of them were goddesses of each of their unique powerful realms.
Katara, with her serene ethereal beauty, embodied the essence of the water realm, her being a reflection of its dual nature - calm and gentle like the tranquil surface of a still pond in one moment, while fierce and untamed like tidal waves of pure, raw energy in another.
And Suki, the exquisite warrior goddess and protector of the primal forces of nature, stood sentinel like the ancient trees in the heart of the forest, commanding respect and admiration with every step over the lush earth beneath her, her presence a testament to the power of courage and resilience.
And Nii?
She narrowed her eyes at herself in the mirror, noticing how her spirit tattoos shone from beneath the shimmer of the golden silk covering her body.
The realm of spirits, maybe?
Her mind traveled back to the Eastern Air Temple, as she remembered some of the first words the younger version of Aang had said to her when they had met in the Spirit World for the first time.
"You look like a spirit."
She smiled to herself.
Goddess of the spirit realm.
She liked that.
Together, the three women stood there, united, their individual strengths and qualities complementing each other like pieces of a divine puzzle.
To Nii, it felt like they had formed a bond of sisterhood - unlike any other she had ever experienced before.
Suddenly, Suki sighed out.
There was a slight frown over her brows as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I feel bad that Toph isn't here with us," she said, pouting her lips a little. "Should I go ask her if she wants to join us now?"
"Mh," Katara nodded as she gracefully swept a hand through her hair, causing it to cascade over her shoulder like a waterfall of silk, revealing the elegant curve of her neck and the subtle arc of her collarbone.
"Try to convince her?" she smiled reluctantly at Suki.
When Suki left the walk-in-closet, Katara and Nii exchanged surprised glances, as they heard Zuko greeting her out in the hallway.
"Hey Su- wauw!" they heard him exclaim.
"Just wait till you see Katara!" Suki's voice sounded, as she made her way further down the hall, her voice already barely noticeable from within the walk-in-closet.
Katara and Nii could not help but to snicker at each other just as Zuko walked in through the door from the bedroom.
His eyes widened at them as they stood there smiling gingerly at each other, and it seemed like his breath got caught in his throat for a moment, as if he was rendered speechless by their beauty.
"Wow," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "You both look… incredible."
Nii felt herself blushing when she noticed that Zuko's glance briefly darted from her face to her breasts, before he quickly turned his gaze to Katara.
She knew it.
Unlike what Katara had said, her nipples were quite noticeable through the dress.
Nii felt a wave of insecurity wash over her, and she looked down at her hands, fidgeting nervously as she stood there.
"Damn, babe," he breathed at Katara in his raspy voice, as he took a few steps closer to her, reaching out his hands to embrace her. "You look so-"
Katara quickly cut him off by holding up her hands at him, as if to warn him not to take another step closer.
"Uh-uh!" she snapped at him with a teasing grin tugging at her lips. "I remember the tailor very specifically said to keep away from fire."
Nii saw Zuko smirking at her, before he teasingly mocked heavy disappointment by letting his arms fall to his sides again.
Nii chuckled.
"Why are you all dressed up?" he wondered out loud.
Katara turned her gaze to Nii, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
"We wanted to tease Aang a little," she chirped in a playful manner. "Make sure he won't be able to keep his hands off of Nii tonight."
Zuko chuckled.
"Oh please," he quipped with a glint in his eyes while narrowing his gaze at Nii. "As I've come to understand, Aang already has trouble keeping his hands off of her, isn't that right Nii?"
Nii widened her eyes at him, and her mouth fell open.
Aang had told him?
"Anyways," Zuko continued, his voice still teasing. "I bet Aang wouldn't be able to keep his hands off of you even if you were wearing a potato sack."
Nii could not help but to laugh at his absurd comment, shaking her head a little.
"Well, lucky for him, I'm not," she retorted with a playful wink, causing Katara to chime in with a chuckle and a nod in agreement.
"Yeah, Aang's definitely got his work cut out for him with this one," Katara said, giving Nii a knowing smile.
Nii shot her a playful glare before turning back to Zuko with a smirk dancing on her lips as she adjusted the fabric of her gown a little.
"You know, Zuko, you're lucky you're not Aang. Otherwise, I might have to teach you a lesson in manners," she teased.
Zuko raised an eyebrow at her, his lips curling at her.
"Oh, I'm shaking in my boots," he quipped, earning a round of laughter from both girls.
As they continued to banter and joke with each other, Nii felt grateful that she was starting to warm a bit more up to everyone. She felt like she could express herself more freely, even with Zuko.
After finding out that he was the Fire Lord, she had kept a certain distance between them, but she felt that after the meeting, she knew that they were on the same side.
When it was time for dinner, Nii and Katara made their way together to the palace dining hall, and they giggled as they entered through the doors to meet with the others.
As Nii turned her gaze to meet with Aang's, she watched with amusement his eyes widening in shock and admiration, a short gasp leaving his lips as he beheld her in the alluring gown.
She could not help but to smile to herself and feel a surge of satisfaction at the effect she had on him, her heart fluttering with affection and anticipation as she took in his flustered expression.
His eyes seemed to burn at her, drinking in every exquisite detail of her, as if he could not tear his gaze away from her, and it sent a shiver down her spine.
She felt a rush of confidence wash over her, as he approached her with hesitant steps, and she felt her cheeks flushing with excitement.
His proximity sent waves of electricity crackling through the air between them.
"You…" he managed to croak out, his voice barely above a whisper as he reached out to touch her hand. "You look…"
But the words seemed to fail him, inadequate to convey the depth of his feelings in that moment.
Nii could not suppress the smile tugging at her lips.
The touch of his hand let a rush of tingling sensations surge out over her skin, and she breathed deeply to control herself.
"Breathtaking," he finally managed to stammer out, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I mean, you always look… but, wow."
"Thanks," she whispered to him before leaning closer to him to leave a kiss on his cheek.
She could hear Sokka snickering behind them, but she did not care.
Their energies mingled with each other as he grabbed her hand and led her to the table in the middle of the room.
When they sat down, and the conversation at the dinner table flowed around them, she felt Aang secretly slide his hand beneath the tablecloth, his fingers brushing lightly against her thigh.
A jolt of warmth shot through her at his touch, sending a shiver down her spine as she stifled a gasp.
Her cheeks flushed crimson as she felt the heat of Aang's hand seeping through the silk and into her skin, igniting a fire within her that she struggled to contain.
Nii stole a quick glance around the table, relieved to see that the others were engrossed in their own conversations, oblivious to the intimate gesture unfolding beneath the table.
Her heart pounded in her chest as Aang's touch lingered, his thumb tracing slow circles on her thigh as if to reassure her of his presence.
With each gentle caress, Nii felt herself growing increasingly flustered, her breaths coming in shallow gasps as desire pooled low, deep in her belly.
She tried to steady her breathing.
She fought to maintain her composure, willing herself to focus on the conversation swirling around her, but Aang's touch was impossible to ignore.
It sent ripples of smoldering pleasure through her veins, a tantalizing reminder of their night together last night.
She could not wait for dinner to be over.
But as the servants finally began to bring forth the sumptuous dishes for dinner, Nii's keen senses detected a new aroma wafting through the air, one that suddenly and quickly made her stomach churn uncomfortably.
It was a smell that she did not recognize at first, foreign and unsettling, mingling with the fragrant scents of spices and herbs that filled the dining hall.
Her brow furrowed in confusion as she tried to place the source of the odor, her nose wrinkling instinctively at the unpleasant sensation.
She turned her head slightly to Aang next to her.
"What is that smell?" she whispered quietly so the others would not hear her.
Aang glanced at her, his expression momentarily puzzled as he followed her gaze to the dishes laid out before them.
Then, as realization seemed to dawn upon him, he nodded slowly at the food.
"Oh, is it the meat?" he breathed at her in a quiet whisper before a sheepish smile spread across his features.
Nii's stomach churned at the thought, her mind recoiling in horror at the idea of consuming cooked flesh.
He was right.
The smell of flesh from once living beings permeated the air like a noxious cloud around her, assaulting her senses with its pungent aroma.
It was as if she could taste the metallic tang of blood on her tongue and feel the heat of flames licking at the charred remains of some poor creature.
Nii swallowed hard, trying to suppress the rising tide of nausea threatening to overwhelm her, as she saw Sokka put the leg of a komodo chicken on his plate while licking his lips.
She could hear Aang chuckling slightly at her face of disgust, before he whispered silently into her ear: "You're so beautiful."
She forced a polite smile onto her face, as she did not wish to offend anyone nor their customs.
She was not very successful, however, as her forced smile was just her lips clasping into a thin, straight line.
Of course, people here ate meat.
She knew that.
But she could not shake the feelings of unease that gnawed at her insides, and another wave of nausea rolled over her, causing her to grab onto the table with both hands.
"You alright, Nii?" Zuko asked from somewhere around the table.
Nii had closed her eyes.
Her stomach churned dangerously.
"Uhm…" Aang said next to her. "I think she's, uh… not feeling too good. She's not used to all of the, uh… meat."
Nii quickly rose to her feet.
She had to get out of there.
"What?!" Sokka exclaimed. "But meat's the most delicious thing in the world! Juicy, savory, and oh-so-tender."
Nii threw a hand up to cover her mouth, before she ran out of the dining room.
Aang soon followed.
"Well, that was quick," someone said before both of them had left the room.