Author's Note: Hey everybody! Thanks again for reading! I actually had a playlist for this one: Blinding Lights, By The Weekend. Hey Stupid, I Love You, By JP Saxe. POV, By Ariana Grande. If you hate any of these, forget I ever mentioned them. Haha This chapter is going to be full of contemplation and a dash of fluff. The whole thing is essentially going to be one big massive ball of sexual tension. Hope you're ready for the ride! As always I own nothing except my original characters.
Kitsu adjusted in her sleep, faintly registering the caress of warm breath on her face. Her eyes fluttered open and she was met with the sight of Lee's face only inches away from her own. His jaw was slack and he was breathing deeply. His arms were still wrapped around her, cradling her against him snuggly.
She examined him in wonder as he slept. He looked so peaceful with his head nestled into her chest. Lee shifted and Kitsu flushed as his warm palm moved up her back. The sensation of his rough hands against her skin sent a shiver through her. Lee grunted and scrunched his face as his embrace around her waist tightened.
Kitsu's stomach was a flutter and she suddenly felt overheated. Why was his body so unbearably hot? She'd never awoken in such a state before, and unsure of what to do she resigned herself to watching him sleep. An almost girlish smile spread across her face as she remembered his words from before. The way he'd spoken to her, and the words he'd used did terrible things to her even as a memory.
She'd long ago resigned herself to living a life of total solitude, but only now was she realizing how desperately starved she was of human touch and kindness. His words had touched a festering spot in her soul, and caressed it in ways she couldn't do herself. The passion in his voice, and the conviction in his eyes showed her a side of himself she hadn't seen before. Lee was profoundly tender and kind, despite the temper he so often showed the world.
Carefully Kitsu pressed her cheek to Lee's head and shut her eyes, reveling in the feel of being held in such a covetous way. For so long she'd stamped out any desire for affection, or pleasure and droned about her life in brutal regiment. Pressing her bottom lip between her teeth Kitsu realized that any doubts she'd had about Lee and his intentions were gone. He was a complicated and passionate man, but certainly not a bad one.
Zuko was awake long before he ever opened his eyes. He could feel Kitsu nuzzling him and stroking his hair gently. It was blissful and he didn't want it to end. It was selfish and wrong, but he couldn't pry himself away from her. When he heard her give a long sigh he decided that it was time to face the music. He opened one eye cautiously and was met with a smile that he'd not seen before. Kitsu stroked his hair affectionately and… he could only describe it as glowing.
"Goodmorning, handsome." She whispered to him. Her braids were loose and disheveled, leaving wisps of loose curls sticking up haphazardly. He almost believed he was dreaming again.
Spirits he was a rotten bastard. Zuko cursed himself as he squeezed her gently. He wasn't strong enough to do the right thing and disappear from her life. The best he could do was try to make her happy while he still could. "Goodmorning." He answered as he opened his scarred eye. "Did you sleep well?"
Lee's voice was still rough with sleep and it made Kitsu shiver at the sound. "Yes. Did you?" Lee nodded, never breaking eye contact. He seemed to be thinking deeply, but the hint of a smile pulled at the corners of his mouth.
"What time is it?" Lee asked as his eyes left Kitsu's face to scan the room. It was dark, with only a faint glow of orange light.
"The sun just set. I don't think we slept very long." Kitsu murmured as she made an attempt to stretch her back without releasing Lee. Zuko didn't miss the way her muscles flexed against him. He was still pressed against her bare skin, and she showed no sign of minding.
"Are you hungry?" Zuko asked as he removed one of his hands from her back and rubbed the sleep from his scarred eye.
Kitsu couldn't miss how cold her skin suddenly felt where his hand used to be. "Yeah I am." She hadn't eaten since that morning, and her hunger was doing nothing to stave off the uneasiness in her stomach. From what she'd heard about seasickness she was lucky it wasn't worse.
"Do you want to go to the dining hall or would you like me to order room service?" While most people would want to explore for their first time on a ship, he wasn't sure that Kitsu would want to be exposed to the crowd of passengers that would be present in the dining room.
"What is room service?" Kitsu asked with her brows knit together in confusion. At this Zuko caught himself chuckling. He'd been raised with room service as the norm, and yet Kitsu had never even heard of it.
"You send your food order to the kitchens and they prepare it for you and bring it to your room." He explained. Kitsu's look of confusion only deepened.
"That just sounds lazy." She couldn't fathom the need for a service to bring her something she could simply go get herself. Lee laughed at her statement and Kitsu flushed. She couldn't recall ever hearing him openly laugh.
"I guess it is." Zuko agreed with a nod as he took in every detail of Kitsu's face. "You'll need to get dressed if you would like to go to the dining room." He added reluctantly.
Kitsu smiled at Lee's reluctance. She wasn't going to get tired of his newfound desire for her. As utterly foreign as it was, feeling desired was an experience that she was thoroughly enjoying. "Is it… is it going to be fancy?" Kitsu asked.
Zuko didn't miss the tone of concern in her voice. "Does that make you nervous?" He asked, returning his hand to her back and cradling her protectively. Kitsu flushed lightly and looked at her hands that were stroking his hair.
"I'm… I'm not a lady, Lee. I mean… I am a lady, but I was never raised to be one. What if I embarrass myself or you by doing something wrong?" Why hadn't her parents ever prepared her for something like this? She was well educated and capable, but ladylike wasn't a word she would use to describe herself. This was just a taste of her future among her family, and the idea of seeming dull or improper among her relatives put a bad taste in her mouth. In a matter of days she would be put before her relatives, one of the most powerful families in the earth kingdom.
"You could never embarrass me." Zuko answered firmly. "And I'll be there to help you if you need it." Her concern over appearing like a lady was deeply endearing to him. She'd lived like a commoner her whole life, so it was no surprise that she felt intimidated by her true roll.
"Okay." Kitsu said with a small smile. "We can't wear these dirty travel clothes though." She murmured as she looked at his dusty coat. "And your hair is a mess." She said teasingly.
"You're one to talk." Zuko replied as he reached up and ruffled her frizzy braids, causing new curls to spring up. "We should probably bathe and make ourselves presentable." He added. "Will it be okay for your wound?" Somehow he'd almost forgotten about the gash in Kitsu's calf. The woman in his arms shrugged.
"I'll have to look." She answered honestly. It should be perfectly fine so long as the wound was no longer open. If not she could simply wash herself without soaking in the tub. Kitsu moved to sit up and Lee allowed his arms to slide off of her waist. Her kimono was completely open revealing her entire body, but it seemed useless to worry about that now. She curled up and examined the gash on her leg. It was probably seven inches long, and deep, but the wound was covered in a thick scab. "As long as I don't soak for too long it should be fine." She decided. Lee nodded and sat up, rolling off the bed in an almost catlike motion.
"I'll get the water going." Zuko announced as he strolled across the room towards the ensuite. It was unlike him to cater to anyone, but as long as it was for Kitsu it didn't offend his admittedly royal sensibilities.
Kitsu watched Lee's back disappear into the bathroom and pulled her Kimono tighter around herself. Without his heat to warm her the room felt chilly. Her stomach tightened as she thought once more about earlier events. Something had changed between them. Lee was being affectionate, and gentle. The turmoil and frustration from that morning seemed to have vanished. Was this the side of him that had won her over in the past? Whatever the case, he was making her feel things she never had before, at least, not that she could remember. The sound of running water drifted from the bathroom and Lee reappeared.
Zuko stepped out of the bathroom and felt a shock as he looked at Kitsu curled up on the bed looking disheveled and barely dressed. The fire in his veins ignited and he swallowed roughly, forcing himself to remain in check. Kitsu had never been modest, but her newfound comfort with baring her flesh to him could prove to be a real problem. He ripped his eyes away from her bronzed, athletic legs and crossed the room towards the wardrobe which was set against the wall next to the bed. In a matter of moments he was digging through the trunk, pulling out a change of clothes. He tossed a dark green changshan and a pair of loose gold coloured trousers from the chest. The changshan was decorated with moss green trim and cuffs. It was a simple garment but would be formal enough for the dining room. As he turned back to the trunk a flash of emerald green caught his eye. He grabbed the corner of a garment and pulled it out of the trunk. An embroidered flying bore flashed at him with beaded pearl eyes. The Cheongsam was extremely well made.
"Ming Ming must have had this made for you." Zuko mused as he pivoted and spread the cheongsam on the bed. Kitsu practically flinched when she saw it.
"I can't wear that." She said with a disbelieving snort. Lee raised a curious brow at her and she laughed again. "I've never worn anything that fancy in my life!"
Zuko looked between Kitsu and the Cheongsam before shrugging. "I'm sure you'll be wearing things like this all the time soon. Better to get used to it now." He turned and crossed the room to check the bath for her. He paused in the middle of the room when he noticed a stool against the wall. He grabbed it and took it into the bathroom so that Kitsu could sit once he carried her in.
Kitsu looked at the cheongsam, still skeptical, and ran a hand over the cloth. It was almost slippery, it was so smooth, and the color was beautifully vibrant. It was a far cry from her plain cotton dress she used to wear, but Lee was right. The Beifong were not the type to dress plainly. As she stroked the embroidery she realized that her mother must have worn things exactly like this for most of her life. Every step she took further away from her compound the more she realized she knew almost nothing about her parents. The only way she knew them was as her mother and father. She didn't know the nobles they were before she was born.
Zuko slipped back into the room and crossed the room to stand next to her. He could see she was thinking deeply, but something told him not to ask about it. "You'll probably need help into the tub." He told her as he offered her his hand.
"Thanks." Kitsu smiled softly and took his hand. She carefully kicked her legs over the edge of the bed and slowly put her good foot on the floor.
Zuko leaned down and snaked his arm around her waist so he could help support her. Lifting gently he guided her across the room and towards the tub. Kitsu grunted with each step and winced at the pain, but she didn't stop or complain. The way she pushed through the pain, ignoring a nearly mortal wound as though it was nothing more than a twisted ankle only made him respect her more. The thought that this was a minor wound compared to what she'd seen before caused a mixed sensation of admiration and sorrow. He guided her to the stool he set against the tub and released her once she was seated. Kitsu stuck her hand in the hot water and sighed.
"I haven't bathed in water this hot in years." She groaned almost giddily.
Zuko quirked a smile as he watched her slip her fingers through the water. He'd made sure he made it just as hot as he liked. He didn't know a fire bender alive that enjoyed a cold bath, and he had a feeling she would be the same.
"Well get used to it, Princess." Zuko didn't know why he called her that, but it felt right somehow.
"I'll pretend you didn't call me that." Kitsu stuck her tongue out at Zuko before turning towards the bath and slipping her kimono off of her shoulders. Zuko felt his pulse hit the roof as the silk fabric slipped down her arms and fell around the stool. She peeked at him from the corner of her eye as his gaze slid down her back. Spirits, she was perfectly built. Elegant muscles flexed into delicate curves, making her look unbearably tempting. The supple swell of her thighs and the perfect V where her legs met made him feel almost feral with desire. Zuko shook himself and swallowed roughly as he bent towards her and helped her stand. It took every fibre of his being to do nothing more than touch her as little as necessary. He couldn't trust himself to toe the line.
Kitsu sat on the edge of the tub and carefully dipped her injured leg into the water. She let out a soft groan as the warm liquid loosened her muscles and quickly slipped her good leg in before carefully sliding into the tub. The water reached just high enough to cover her breasts once she settled and she leaned back with a smile. Her cheeks flushed, whether from the water or from being completely naked in front of Lee she wasn't able to say.
"I'll be in the bedroom." Zuko mumbled before slipping out of the bathroom and closing the door behind himself. He leaned against the door and gripped a hank of his messy hair as he tried to steady his breathing. He had to get control of himself.
Kitsu blinked at the closed door with a rueful smile. She almost wished he had stayed, but she was happy to be able to enjoy her first hot bath in ages all by herself. On a small shelf at the side of the tub a number of glass bottles and clay jars sat in a neat row with small silver spoons next to some of the jars. She didn't recognize any of it and was pleased to find little labels painted on each. The shampoo bottle was slender and sea green. She picked it up and took the lid off before sniffing the contents. Notes of sweet pea tickled her nose. The gentle smell reminded her of her garden. She set the bottle back on the shelf and sighed as she began to let her braids down. The steam from the tub made her curls coil and stick to her fingers as she worked them loose. Her hair was oily and desperately needed this wash.
Kitsu took a deep breath and slipped below the surface of the water. Her entire body felt like it was melting. How had she taken cold baths in the lake for three whole years? She shook her head beneath the water and rubbed at her scalp before coming up for air. Kitsu's wet hair clung to her shoulder as she wiped her eyes and took up the shampoo bottle.
As she bathed Kitsu couldn't help but think of the man in the next room. Somehow, despite knowing so little about him, she felt safe when she was close to him. Of course that was how a wife should feel with her husband, but when she felt like she'd only known him for three days it was a monumental thing to comprehend. Her body must remember him better than her mind, she thought.
Kitsu dunked her soapy head back into the water and scrubbed her scalp clean. There were so many things she didn't know about him. Who was his family? What was his childhood like? Did he have a favorite food? These were things she should know, but no matter how hard she racked her brain, she couldn't remember anything about him.
When she got to scrubbing herself with the loofah sponge she'd found next to the soap bottle she realized she was in heaven. Scrubbing her body determinedly caused her skin to turn pink wherever she worked. As she washed away days worth of grime she reveled in the sensation of having clean skin again.
The bath kept her longer than it normally would, but she decided it was alright to enjoy herself. When she was ready to get out she gripped the sides of the tub and pulled herself onto her good foot.
"Hey, Lee!" She called through the door as she snagged a towel while balancing on one foot. She wrapped the soft cloth around herself just in time for him to open the door. "I'm ready to get out." She said, feeling more shy than when she got in.
Zuko nodded and slipped into the small room. Her hair was sopping wet and sticking to her neck and back with only a few incorrigible curls popping up here and there. He puzzled for a moment about how to best help her out, but decided it would be safest to lift her. Clenching his jaw he scooped her up and lifted her over the edge of the tub before carefully placing her on her good foot.
"Thank you." Kitsu said with a delighted grin.
Zuko nodded and helped her into the bedroom. He settled her next to her cheongsam and stepped back. "You're a different color under all that dirt." He teased, trying to soothe his nerves with humor.
"You try almost dying and see how crusty you get." She retorted with a grin as she ran her fingers through her hair to comb out any knots. "Now go bathe, will you? I'm starving."
"Whatever you say, Princess." Zuko said with a chuckle as he turned on his heel.
Kitsu scoffed at his back. "Do not make that a thing!" She certainly was not a princess. There were too many years of gardening in the dirt and beating sun like a peasant for her to have that nickname.
"Too late." Zuko retorted before closing the door behind him. He heard Kitsu groan in distaste through the door and couldn't help but grin in amusement.
Kitsu shook her head and looked down at the cheongsam. She was going to need undergarments, and Lee hadn't prepared any. Frankly she was glad he hadn't. Kitsu steeled herself for the pain and stood up. A few moments of uncomfortable hobbling and rooting through the trunk later she found what she needed.
When she pulled the cheongsam onto her arms the sensation of the fabric made her skin tingle, and somehow it fit her perfectly. She'd hardly met Ming Ming, but it was clear that the woman had a natural genius for details. Kitsu took care as she combed through her hair, wondering how she should style it. Would her usual braids be good enough or should she try something new. When she was a child, her mother took her to a festival once. They'd dressed up in colorful kimonos and done their hair specially for the event. Kitsu tried to remember how her mother had done her hair and began trying to replicate the look. When she was done her hair was wrapped into a loose bun at the back of her head. It was so different from the braided look she was used to, but she knew enough about propriety to know that a married woman shouldn't have her hair loose for the world to see. Just as she finished she heard the door to the bathroom open and turned to see Lee with a towel slung around his waist.
Kitsu's cheeks bloomed with heat as she looked at him. Her eyes traced the firm muscles of his chest and stomach. He was breathtakingly sexy.
Zuko paused in the doorway, watching as her eyes went wide and dragged down his body. He couldn't stop a smirk from gracing his features. He stepped into the bedroom and pretended not to be elated by the way she looked at him.
"You look beautiful." Zuko told her as he took up his cheongsam in his free hand.
Kitsu peeled her eyes away from him and reached for a braid that wasn't there. The strange feeling from earlier returned and she crossed her legs to try and make it go away. "Thank you." She mumbled.
"Am I making you uncomfortable?" Zuko asked her. "I can change in the bathroom." He offered, not wanting to push her too far.
"No, no, it's fine." Kitsu urged. "You're just…" Kitsu bit her lip and stole another glance at him. He was gorgeous, and built like a warrior. Battle scars were scattered across his body, telling a gnarled story of hardship and pain. Now she understood his desire to kiss her scar and wipe it away. A rush of heat ran up her neck as she met his amber eyes. He always looked so intense, like there was a bottomless well of passion bubbling just under the surface. But how could she tell him any of that.
"Just what?" Zuko asked. He wanted so badly to know what was happening in her head. Her incredible eyes looked conflicted as they flashed at him. Glancing down at his scars he frowned and rubbed his neck. "Do I displease you?" It was impossible to keep the self consciousness out of his voice. He didn't think he could bear finding out that she thought he was ugly. Two weeks ago he couldn't have given a fuck what people thought of him, but standing nearly naked in front of a beautiful woman he wanted to ravish made him feel uniquely vulnerable.
"No!" Kitsu blurted, waving her hands in front of her. "You're a man!"
Zuko knit his brows together in a look of utter confusion. "Yeah?"
"I just… I'm not used to… shit I'm bad at this." Kitsu groaned as she covered her face. She wished she could curl up in a ball and disappear to avoid her embarrassment. Her husband could easily talk any woman off the street into his bed even with a scarred face and he was worried she didn't find him attractive. "You're like a prince or something." She mumbled.
The irony wasn't lost on Zuko. "Thanks?" He answered awkwardly.
"I've never seen someone so attractive, anyone for that matter, like-" She gestured at him with a wave of her hand. "Like this."
Zuko's stomach tightened at the timid way she was acting. His eyes darkened as he found himself reveling in the knowledge that he was the first man to be so intimate with her. The purity of her embarrassment lit an inferno inside of him that was becoming far too familiar.
Kitsu let out a gasp of surprise when Lee gently grabbed her wrist. They locked eyes as he slowly and deliberately laid her hand on his chest. His skin was hot and damp beneath her touch. A raised scar on his pectoral laced under her fingers and she impulsively caressed it.
"What happened?" She asked as she slid her index finger down the length of the scar.
"My sister stabbed me when I was twelve." He answered with an aloof shrug. Kitsu's eyes snapped up at him in a look of horror.
"Why?" Kitsu couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"I wanted my dagger back." Zuko looked at her hand as he spoke, focusing on how small it was compared to his own. "It was a gift from my uncle, and she'd stolen it."
"That's terrible!" Kitsu couldn't keep the outrage out of her voice.
"That's my family." Zuko replied with a touch of bitterness in his voice. He watched as Kitsu's eyes shifted from anger to sorrow.
"C-can I kiss it?" Kitsu stammered. Suddenly she wanted to repay him for the kindness he'd shown her. She hoped she could heal him even a little bit, the same way he healed her.
Zuko was stunned but somehow managed a nod. Kitsu swallowed hard and managed to get to her feet. The pain in her calf meant nothing to her as she looked at the angry scar mere inches below his collarbone. Kitsu stole one more glance at Zuko's face and nearly melted when she saw how he was looking at her. There was hunger in the depths of his eyes. Kitsu leaned forward and gently placed her lips against the ridge of his scar. She only let her lips linger for a moment, too nervous to last any longer than that. A shudder ran through Lee's entire body and he took a large step back from her.
"I'm sorry." Kitsu murmured as she flushed but Lee shook his head violently. Everything about his stance had changed. He looked like an animal pent up in a cage. Every muscle in his body was tensed and he had his eyes pinched shut.
"Don't" Zuko barked, sounding rougher than he wanted to. "Unless you don't want to have the chance to eat tonight I suggest we hurry up and get dressed." His eyes opened and Kitsu swore for a moment that she saw the flicker of flames in them.