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Slow Heat	By : Spleef Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > General Views: 77367 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Slow Heat
Chapter 16 – Talk To Me
Avatar does not belong to me, I make no profit off this story nor do I claim ownership to the characters of the show. As always, reviews and feedback are more than welcome, appreciated, and treasured.
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One Month, 13 Days BSC
Zuko
The early morning sky showed a hint of a lighter shade of blue on the horizon. Soon enough. I would see the sun. Thinking about what I had learned from the dragons gave me a clarity I had never known. My Firebending was stronger than it ever was, now that I knew how to tap my inner fire the way it was supposed to be. All these years of Firebending had been fueled by anger. I remember my teachers drilling it into my head. Firebending comes from anger and force. It means power. Fire is power. Concentrate on that power and anger. Perhaps that was why my sister had been so proficient at a young age. She had been born thirsting for power.
I took a deep breath, enjoying the cool air as the wind blew through my hair. This trip with the Avatar was exactly what I had needed. We both had learned the most important things about Firebending. It saddened me to know that my ancestors had corrupted their element, and it only strengthened my resolve to be a better Fire Lord than the last three.
I looked over at my companion before letting out a yawn. We had the option of camping out for one more night, or traveling all night to get back to the Air Temple. I could see the shore on the horizon, and looked forward to finally going to bed.
“That was a fun trip, wasn't it, Zuko?” the Avatar asked me as he looked over his shoulder at me. Okay, 'fun' wasn't the first thing that came to mind upon recalling this trip especially because of the reason we had gone on it in the first place. And then there were the booby traps and getting covered in the slime and thinking at first that I would get attacked by dragons. But... it had been enjoyable in the end. I came out better off than I had been, and it felt good to reconnect with my roots.
“You're right. It was fun. At least, after we got out of the slime.” I replied lightly. He laughed out loud at that. A year ago, I would have snorted at the idea of having a friendly trip with this kid. For almost three years, I had seen the Avatar as an old Airbender in hiding. Then he had become a twelve-year-old kid who could do amazing things, like trapping my ship within ice. For so long, I had referred to him in my mind as 'Avatar', even after seeing that he was just a kid, and teaching him Firebending. But now, I saw him less as the legendary Avatar, and more like the kid he really was. A kid named Aang who wasn't much younger than myself, and carried a burden on his shoulders like I did. He wasn't so different from me I realized. Spending time alone with him on this trip, with no enmity between us, had helped us to understand one another, even though I wouldn't quite call us 'friends'. At least, not yet.
“Yeah, I can't wait to tell Katara about what happened!” he said before he turned his attention to Appa again, pulling at the reins.
His words caused me to let out a low sigh. I had thought much about Katara when I wasn't already otherwise occupied with avoiding boobytraps and learning the secret of Firebending. When I was trapped in the slime, my thoughts were of hoping to see Katara again, and wondering if she would miss me if no one had come to rescue us. Had she had any fond thoughts of me? Had she come to regret pushing me away?
When we landed, it was shortly before breakfast. Aang was tired, so he didn't tell Katara everything that had happened right away. Instead, he simply said that he was going to meditate for a bit before he ate. We had agreed to go to sleep after breakfast, and resume Firebending later. Neither of us had slept, having taken turns steering Appa and trying to sleep in the saddle. I was left alone with Katara as she checked the rice to make sure it was cooking properly, and stirred the vegetable stew.
“Hi.” I murmured softly, figuring the best way to start off would be with a polite greeting.
“Good morning.” she replied. While the words were polite, her tone was distant.
“Is there anything I could do to help?” I offered.
“No. I'm fine.” she replied, not looking at me. I held back a sigh, and counted to ten to clear my mind. Now that I had found a different source of Firebending, I felt better and more clear-headed. I wasn't going to snap or yell. I would solve this problem. Instead of leaving her, I sat down near the fire. Best to say what I could before the others came in for breakfast.
“Look, I'm sorry about the things I did to get you angry. Honestly.”
“If this is about what you did in Ba Sing Se, forget it. You explained yourself. We're allies, and that's that. And as for what... we did together, forget that too.”
“Why?” I asked bluntly.
“Because... it was something we should not have done.” she replied. Satisfied that the rice was done, she moved the pot so that the food would not burn. I remained where I was, watching as she quickly stirred the stew once more.
“Because it was terrible?” I asked, wanting to see if she would say yes or no.
“The less said about it, the better. If you really want to help, you can do the dishes after breakfast.” she replied, quickly changing the subject. Well. At least she wasn't screaming at me or trying to drive me off. If this was progress... well, okay, I would take it.
“Avoiding the subject won't help.” I said softly, keeping my voice as non-confrontational as I could. My hand started to lift off my lap and reach for her arm, but I stopped myself. I didn't want to make it seem that I was trying to invade her space.
“Breakfast's ready.” Katara stated in response before she moved the stew pot and started ladling rice into bowls. Before I had the opportunity to speak anymore, I saw Aang return, and Sokka and Toph were not far behind. She ladled stew on top of the rice and bowls were given to all. I remained where I was, near Katara. She glanced at me, and I stared back calmly, challenging her to move to another place to eat if she thought my company so distasteful. It would also make the others wonder why she didn't want to sit near me.
To my relief, she remained where she was and started eating, keeping her eyes on everyone else. Aang started talking to her, telling her about the trip while we all listened.
There were things I longed to tell Katara about the trip. How I had feared that I might never see her again when I had been trapped in the slime. How at peace I felt when the dragons were testing me. The clarity I had gained from seeing the source of my power.
When the meal was done, there were still the dishes to do. I remembered Katara's words about the dishes, and wondered if I should stay or not.
“Do you still want me to help with the dishes?” I ventured. She blinked, as if she had forgotten what she had said to me before for a moment, before nodding. It was amazing what one could do with Waterbending, I thought as she Bended water over the dishes before getting them clean. She handed them over to me silently and I dried and stacked them.
When I looked up, she was gone. I shook my head before going to my room to sleep.
o0o0o0o
Katara
I honestly thought that once Zuko was out of sight, he would be out of mind. A few nights had passed, and in these, I didn't have to worry about Zuko seeking me out. But even as I lay on my sleeping bag at night, I thought of him. The firmness of his voice. The molten gold shade of his eyes and his hungry gaze. The way he would smirk at me ever so slightly when he caught me looking at him.
And of course, how could I forget the passion that we had shared? His moans, his growls, his scent, his intent gazes, his searing kisses, his tight grip as we moved against one another in a frenzied rhythm. Thinking about that even now brought to me the now-familiar feeling of heat deep within most private regions. The more I thought of such things, the more ashamed I felt.
o0o0o0o
Zuko
After dinner, I sought her out again. She was in one of the small garden terraces, staring off quietly, seemingly oblivious to the wild and overgrown plants around her. It was now twilight, the sun casting its dying rays into the canyon, bathing Katara in its still-warm glow. There were a few firelilies here as well,and I watched as Katara gently touched the petals of the one closest to her. I smiled just a little at this sight, and took a step closer.
Her head jerked up when I stepped on a dry twig, making a soft cracking sound. I didn't move any closer, and rather than say anything, I bowed my head slightly. We locked gazes for several moments before she turned away from me, sliding out of the terrace.
Was I so repugnant that even a few moments of shared silence turned her away from the sight of me? Could the prospect of being with me truly be so terrible to her? How could something that we had shared be so wonderful to me... and be the opposite to her? It hurt me more than I would ever admit, and I stood there silently for several long moments.
I remembered holding her taut body close, tasting her sweet dark flesh and relishing her scent on that long, glorious night. I could still feel the heat when our bodies became one, and how I had made her a woman... just like she had made me a man. I reveled in that realization. How could I forget her cries of pleasure and the way she moved against me, clinging to me and grinding against me? Now she wouldn't look me in the face.
I wanted only her. Even though I had never had anyone else, something inside of me told me that no other women would ever be able to give me what Katara had. I had been wrong to believe that once I had tasted of her, I would be sated. My need for her went far deeper than that, and I was unable to articulate just what it was.
Had I been wrong to make my advances on her? No. She desired the kiss as much as I had, if her heated behavior was any indication, and she fed my fire with her own. I wandered through the terrace, coming to the spot where she had stood, gently plucking up a firelily. Some of the lilies weren't as big as the weather up here was cooler than down in the valleys, where the lilies best grew. But the one that I had picked was fairly large, and I inhaled its sweet and spicy scent.
If Katara thought I would let her walk off like that, she was sorely mistaken. The sun had just gone down, and I knew where she was. The Weatern Air Temple had several washrooms, and the boys had staked one out for themselves while the girls claimed another, for privacy. I smirked to myself as I approached the girl's washroom, having seen Katara go in there not long ago for a bath, the Avatar having warmed up her water with his newly-learned Firebending. A cloth hung in the doorway, and carefully I peeked around it, seeing her sitting in the stone bathtub, her head lolled back as a bit of steam rose from the surface of the water. Aang had been the one to heat that water for her, I thought with a hint of jealousy.
Slowly I advanced, knowing full well that Katara was a Master, with a whole tub of water at her command. The risk was well worth it, in my opinion.
o0o0o0o
Katara
I felt something bump gently against my hand and at first I thought it was a big. I opened my eyes to see a firelily floating lazily along the water. The bright red and gold stood out in sharp contrast with the cool gray of the stone and the darkness of my skin, and I stared at it for several moments as it floated away from me. I snapped to, and formed a ice-dagger under the water, ready to lash out at whoever had dared to invade this private moment.
I looked up to see Zuko standing there, his palms at his sides as he glanced down at me. He stood several long paces away, apparently having anticipated that I would become defensive. I regarded him coldly for several moments, forgetting about the lily.
“Go away.” I hissed softly, lowering myself to my chin to hide as much of my body as I could. I could feel his eyes moving along what he could see, and I scowled.
“Why are you running away from me?” he asked quietly.
“We're allies in this war. Nothing more.” I replied evenly.
“We're just allies?” he asked. His tone was level, but I saw hurt in his eyes.
“Allies.” I repeated, trying not to think of the way we had been more than just that. He was Prince of the Firebenders, who would one day become Fire Lord when the War ended.
“If what we did was due to me being just an ally, I'd love to see how you treat a friend. What do you do with the Avatar when I'm not looking?” he asked, narrowing his eyes. I glared at him for this insinuation, and I raised my chin defiantly.
“Just go away.” I hissed. He just stared back at me.
“No. Not until you admit to what we did.”
“What do you want me to say? Do you want to have me again?” I shot back acidly. Instead of responding, he moved closer, placing his hands at the edge of the tub. I could have lashed out at him then, but I was too riveted by his gaze.
“Are you ashamed of it?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. I scuttled back, keeping the surface of the water rippling so that he couldn't see the rest of my body.
“You... you took my maidenhead. I lost it to... a Fire Nation man. I was to save it for my husband... and you ruined me.” I replied angrily, put off by his calmness and gall. Did women really count so little to Fire Nation men?
“I ruined you?” Zuko asked, as if he could not believe what I had said.
“You... you never should have touched me. You're a bastard. Get out.” I replied, my voice as icy as I could muster. He stared back at me coldly, lowering his head to lock our gazes.
“You weren't complaining when I 'ruined' you. And you didn't try to stop me either, Katara. Remember that. I didn't take anything you were not willing to give...”
“You... you.” I hissed, gathering up my strength. “You took advantage of me. I was crying and then you kissed me... you attacked me when I was at a low point... because of you!”
“Oh yes. I attacked you.” Zuko said sarcastically, “But I was the one who had claw and bite marks on myself when we were done.” he stated with a small smirk. I held back a blush as I remembered how I had moved against him wildly and clawed at him.
“Just leave me alone! I want nothing to do with you, Zuko. You... I was nothing but a conquest, something to scratch your itch. Go find someone else.” I stated, though I knew that right now, Zuko didn't have a lot of options.
“So, you're a mindreader as well?” The hot-tempered prince obviously hated having assumptions made about him, “You're so sure that I consider you nothing but a conquest that you must be one!”
“What else could I be to the Prince of the Fire Nation?” I shot back, “All I am is a peasant – which you seem so fond of reminding me constantly!”
“Do you think I would lay down with a girl that was just a peasant?” Zuko shook his head, “And here I assumed you thought more highly of yourself.”
“A man can relieve his itch anywhere – and most men don't seem to care, as long as they get relief. Otherwise, this world wouldn't have whores!” I shot back angrily, ready to skewer him with my ice-dagger. “Leave. Now.” I stated, trying to keep the tremble out of my voice.
“If you were my lover, I would.” He simply remained where he stood. “But since you say our encounter only spoiled you, you have no control or power to make me do anything.”
“Do you intend to force yourself on me here?”
The look in Zuko's eyes let me know that I had made a low blow, and for a moment I regretted what I had said.
“I would never force myself upon a woman, for any reason. And I'm going to pretend you didn't just accuse me of planning it.” he said, his voice becoming tight.
“Then what are you going to do?” I asked, gripping my ice dagger, which remained cold in the heat of the tub as I stared at him, the lily lazily bumping against my throat, pushed along the ripples of the water. With a gesture of impatience, I swatted it away.
“Nothing.” Zuko replied before looking away. To my surprise, he began to move to the door, his steps quiet but sure. I stared after him in surprise. After all that, he was just going to give up and leave? I knew that I should feel relieved... but that's not what I was feeling.
“But I want you to know something.” Zuko said as he stood at the cloth. He turned back to me, his shaggy mop doing nothing to hide the glint in his eyes. “Every second from this point on is a second we can't get back. All the time we could spend making love and knowing one another in and out, exploring this bond between us...that will be time we can never get back. I'll leave, and instead of being happy, we'll both be miserable. And all this will be because of your stubbornness and refusal to admit to what's in your heart.”
I stared at him for several long moments before I shook my head, processing his words.
“Bond? What bond? There's no bond between us... there never could be.” I whispered, feeling my heart pounding as he continued staring at me.
“Keep lying to yourself, Katara.” Zuko replied calmly as he lifted the cloth and stepped through the doorway. Before the cloth dropped again, he added a final shot. “Maybe eventually... you'll even come to believe it.”
“And why do you see a bond? Do you Fire Nationers see antagonism as making a bond with someone?” I replied. But no one answered, and I felt extremely confused, my heart pounding within my chest. Zuko had finally left me alone, given me the space that I had asked. I got what I wanted... hadn't I?
“Didn't you hear me?” I yelled out. Silence answered me. I stormed out of the tub, whipping on a robe and jerking the cloth door open, going after him. I grabbed his arm, causing him to stop in his tracks.
“Do you think that doing this to me is amusing? You get along with everyone else better - even Toph, yet you see nothing wrong with insulting me and treating me like I'm here for your amusement!”
o0o0o0o
Zuko
Okay... so she wasn't here for my amusement. But my actions toward her did make it seem like that. I had never behaved in such a manner towards any other female in my entire life. But Katara... she brought out that passion and fire in my heart, prompting the need for argument between us so that I could see the matching fire of her soul. I saw no other way to get her attention. Common sense – and Uncle – told me the proper way to court, but when it came to Katara, that knowledge felt vastly inadequate. I was afraid of what would happen if I made my true desires known to her. I didn't think she'd ever want me, so I was reduced to more... petty ways of getting her attention.
When I said nothing, she hissed at me angrily and whipped away.
“I want you to leave me alone - to never look at me, to never speak to me, much less antagonize me. Find another outlet for your aggression – I refuse to let you take your problems out on me!”
“I...I can't.” My words were like a whisper as I stared down at her. She glared at me.
“You can't? Why not?” she hissed, her voice filled with anger and passion as she backed away.
“Because... I was too afraid to court you proper!” I snapped out, instantly regretting these words even as I spoke them.
“I... I. What?” Katara asked, her eyes wide with shock.
o0o0o0o
Katara
Even though Zuko had said that in a loud and clear tone, I was still uncertain. Did he mean what I thought he meant? Was he joking? Was the antagonism his way of courting me? If so... it wasn't amusing. Not one bit.
“That's... not funny.” I said softly, not bothering to hide my hurt as I stepped back.
“I wasn't joking.”
“So... you thought that being mean to me would win my heart?” I asked spitefully. With this, I spun around and stormed off.
“It was the only way I thought you would notice me...” Zuko said before I could leave.
“I noticed you, definitely. But not in a good way.” I shot back before I retreated to the bath chamber, leaving him standing there. I wish that the doorway had been made of wood, so that I could slam it. Once I was inside, I leaned against the stone wall, fighting back tears.
“I didn't know any other method to get your attention.” Apparently, Zuko had regained his persistence of spirit, since his voice was now coming directly from the other side. “It isn't as if I have had the education or opportunity for such things.”
“Common sense should have at least told you to not insult a woman.” I shot back, crossing my arms. “Your uncle would be far better at courting me than you.”
“Considering Uncle had a loving wife and son and is about 40 years older, I think he would be too.” he responded dryly. Despite myself, I couldn't help but smile a little. I let out a soft sigh.
“I would have thought that your uncle would have taught you a thing or two about manners. And girls.” I responded, though not as acidly as I could have.
“You're the first girl to ever make me do things like this before.” I felt Zuko's back hitting the wall. “I didn't know how to approach you, given our... history, so I used the only thing I could. Besides, it isn't as if I've had a great deal of experience dealing with girls.” He didn't mention it, but I knew why this was the case.
“A apology would be nice.” I replied, my tone clipped as I tried to rein back my emotions. It was hard to forget the passion I had shared with Zuko that fateful night. Spirits, help me, I silently prayed.
There was silence for a few moments. I then wondered if the prince had just left and just couldn't say the words. Before I decided to go back to my bath and put him out of mind, two words pierced the thick cloth and touched my heart. The tone was plaintive and filled with genuineness and regret.
“I'm...sorry.”
A soft sob made its way through my throat. Before I could respond, he continued.
“I'm sorry for everything I've said or done to hurt you. I didn't know any other way to approach you, so this was all I could do. I know I could have given you flowers or... something. Looking back, that really is what I should have done, but you make me feel such things that it was hard to understand them or put into words. I've never thought of you as less than equal to me.” There was only silence after that as I thought about his words.
“You... think... I am equal? Me? A Water Tribe woman?” I asked softly.
“How could I not?”
“How could you?” I countered. “The first time I saw you was when you came to our village.”
“You showed courage and strength when you didn't back down to me. You challenged me and faced me without fear. I can't help but respect and admire something like that.”

o0o0o0o
Zuko

A soft chuckle came through the door, and I felt buoyed that I at last had drawn out a laugh from the Waterbender, one that was of pleasure and appreciation.
“And even after our past and me chasing you all over the world, you were still willing to accept me as a friend when you healed my Uncle, and leave things in the past.” I said. I heard her give out a soft sigh.
“What else could I do?” she asked softly. “Aang needed a Firebending teacher, and your Uncle needed someone to help him.”
“It was your courage and your spirit that first attracted me, but it was your heart and compassion that made me yours.” I then stopped talking, realizing that I had blurted out a second confession that night, my loose lips having confessed something I didn't even allow myself to think of, for fear it was out of reach. Silence greeted me, and I feared that she would outright reject me now, with that confession. Finally, I heard a soft sigh.
“I thought that... that night... was just a way for you to release your tension. I never thought that it would be anything more to you.”
Just a way to relieve tension? Clearly there was a misunderstanding between us. I had considered that to be the one of the greatest nights of my entire life, and the first time in what seemed like a lifetime that I had felt peace within my heart.
It wasn't as if I did not have opportunity before. Before my scarring and exile, I knew that I had been a handsome young Prince, and the nobles practically threw their daughters and younger sisters at my feet in a way to curry favor from my father and myself, though I had been too shy to actually take these offers. I had always felt that sex should be something more special than something between a master and concubine, though I had never told this to my sire. Katara... she was the only one I wanted. I wanted to take her back to Fire Nation with me, and keep her at my side, to comfort me in and out of bed.
I had never been intimate with anyone else, yet I knew that after that indescribable night with the Waterbending master, any other sexual encounter with anyone else would be sub-par. I sat there, considering her words, and my situation as a gentle breeze rustled the cloth slightly. I turned to the drape and opened it, looking down at her.
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Slow Heat