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Kiss of Fire	By : Spleef Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > General Views: 75165 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 1
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
- 16
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Kiss of Fire

Chapter Seventeen – A Son’s Need

o0o0o0i
Zuko

I lay in bed the next morning, with my wife nestled against me, her arm across my middle. Last night, after I meditated, I came to bed and she welcomed me with open arms. She was more than responsive to all of my attention and rewarded me well with her own affections, and the night was most enjoyable.
Our talk last night had left me feeling a bit less remorseful about bringing her here under duress. I saw to the fact that she had a good life and everything she needed. I was determined to give her all the advantages that were lacking in her previous life and make it up to her for failing to keep her safe. And nothing felt more right than having her at my side, or looking deep into her eyes. She really was the yin to my yang, and it felt so good to have her with me again. I smiled as I felt her wiggle against me a bit, and I stroked her soft hair in response.
“Good morning, my lord.” she murmured softly, and I continued stroking her hair.
“Good morning, my lady.” I replied and she looked up at me, her eyes still half-lidded with sleep. I ran my finger along her cheek, and she nuzzled my hand.
“Did you sleep well?” she inquired. I nodded and continued stroking her cheek. It felt wonderful to have her body cling to mine, and I brushed a few loose strands of hair from her face. Her hand gently touched mine, and she brought it to her lips, kissing it.

o0o0o0i
Katara

As much as I had hated being brought here, I was now enjoying being with my husband. My life was by no means perfect – I still felt homesick at times, and I was still intimidated by life here, especially the Court at times. Even now, I was still learning about life here. And it had been over a month since I was married to my husband.
I looked forward to returning to my apartment to get ready for bed. It had been a very busy day, and I had not sat down since my lunch. I had walked around with Ging Lei, performing the monthly household inspection, before walking around the grounds. Before lunch, I had worked on my Waterbending and had both of my tutors, making for a busy morning. I was hungry, and I planned to simply eat, shower, and go to sleep. Zuko was in a meeting with his Council.
When I came to my apartment, I saw a few wrapped items on the table, and Hinode bowed before me, greeting me. I glanced at her curiously.
“Where did the packages come from?”
“They were sent from Lord Zuko, and there are more presents in your bedchamber.” she stated.
“What’s the occasion?” I asked. Was there some sort of anniversary I was supposed to know about? She shrugged and shook her head.
I had dinner brought up to me, and ate before I turned my attention to the gifts on the table. Carefully, I unwrapped the first one. I was stunned as I saw the deep blue silk, and gently shook it out, seeing a robe. The silk was so soft, and the blue was a gorgeous and deep color, with silver threading along the sleeves and hem. There were two more packages on the table, and both were revealed to be robes of the same silk, in different shades of blue. What warranted these gifts?
I went into my bedroom with much curiosity. I never used my bedroom except to dress or store my things, as I shared Zuko’s bed every night. I gasped softly when I saw the soft blue glow from the lamps. Instead of being encased in red or clear glass, the containers that held the lamps were of a pale blue glass. I looked around, seeing Water Tribe decorations and hangings on the walls. On the floor was a large white fur, and the bed was draped in a thick blue comforter.
“Hinode... Hinode, what is the meaning of all this?” I asked when I emerged from the bedroom to see her clearing away my dinner tray.
“The Fire Lord said that you are to sleep here in your own apartment.” she stated. I felt my heart sink.
Had it finally happened? Was Zuko tired of me? Were these gifts merely to soften the rejection, or to hide it? Why would he be bored of me? I had tried to be a pleasing wife. I welcomed his advances in bed, I gave him my opinion when he asked for it, and when we were together I tried to make him happy.
I froze as I thought about these things. I had stopped fighting him. He had won me. Was he seeking out another conquest? Had I surrendered too quickly for his tastes? I was confused. I thought that he had wanted me to accept him and enjoy being his wife. I thought back to the happy moments that we had shared together. He had seemed happy by them, or was that my wishful thinking? Was he bored? We had a little over nine months left in our agreement, what was I supposed to do in that duration?
“Did… did he say anything else?” I asked, trying to keep my voice from wavering.
“No, my lady.”
I took a quick shower and put on one of my red sleeping robes, letting Hinode comb and braid my hair before I rose from my seat.
“You seem sad, my lady. Don’t you like your pretty new gifts?” my attendant asked gently.
“Yes, they are lovely. You may go.”
I stared at my reflection, again wondering what it was I could have done to displease the Fire Lord. I had tried my best to be a good wife. I behaved properly in Court. I was careful in how I talked to other people in Court, especially the men, so that no one could question my virtue or loyalty to my husband. I had a tea party once every fortnight, to maintain my acquaintance with the women of court, I made sure to have a different roster every time, last time, I had not invited Lady Hau and it was nice to not have to deal with her.
I paid attention to my tutors, doing as they asked of me. I devoured the books Xhou gave me to read, and I enjoyed my lessons with Ming. Over the last two months I had become rather knowledgeable – at least for a novice – about Fire Nation history, literature, and politics, and the martial arts lessons I received helped to enhance my Waterbending. Zuko seemed happy with my progress.
I had not tried to argue with Zuko, or broach the subject of the secret. In private, I was pleasant and accommodating. I did various things to make him happy, like giving him massages, making sure he had a favorite snack or tea at hand, going on walks with him when he asked me, and of course, keeping him happy in bed.
I paused as I considered that last thing. Upon becoming part of the royal family, a woman – whether wife or concubine – was given access to a private library full of sexual materials and books that made An Mei's pillow-book look like a child's storybook. Some of the things in there were outrageous, and I knew I would never do these, but there was plenty that caught my interest. Some of what I read literally made me laugh out loud, like a list of things a woman could say to her husband or master to arouse him, like 'Oh, my phoenix is thirsty, and she longs for the dragon's milk'. I had tried a daring move a few nights ago, and he had responded eagerly to it.
Perhaps I had been too forward, and now he wanted another concubine? He'd had plenty enough of these! I blinked back tears as I remembered his promise that I would be the only one to share his bed. Well, he was the Fire Lord, he could do as he damn well pleased. I was surprised with how.... hurt I felt at his rejection.
I sighed before I went around, turning off or blowing out the lamps. The bed was large and comfortable, but after sleeping with my husband so many nights, I felt lonely and unwanted.

o0o0o0o
Zuko

The Palace was built with secret passages, in the rare case that it came under attack. I had memorized the passages after looking at the secret maps that had been passed down through my family. There were two that led from my apartments, and one of them happened to run right past my wife’s apartment, with a hidden door for her to employ. I had not told her of this, at least not yet, as I had feared she might use it to try to run away from me.
I hoped she liked the surprise that I had for her. I had no desire for us to sleep separately, but I longed for a bit of variety. Sometimes I found the opulent holdings of my bedchamber oppressive. I had this room decorated to my tastes, but sometimes I felt the spirit of my ancestors in this room. There was a large golden relief of Agni on the ceiling above my bed, staring at the occupants of the bed fiercely. Sometimes, I lay in my luxurious bed at night, thinking about a time when I had almost nothing, sleeping in the dirt or on cots or thin mats. Not that I wanted to sleep in the dirt again, but once in a while I longed for something different, and to not be constantly reminded of who and what I was.
After I showered and changed for bed, I slid through the wall in my bedchamber, navigating through the passage with a small flame in my hand. I had already tested the other door, and it opened into her bedroom with ease. I smirked, feeling like a suitor sneaking an illicit visit to his lover. I had often sneaked over to Katara, when her brother and the Avatar had gone to sleep, and coaxed her over to my sleeping area or elsewhere.
Like a thief in the night, I slid into her room. I took a moment to gaze around, nodding in approval at the surroundings. Many of the objects in here had been gifts to me from the Water Tribe since I was crowned as Fire Lord, or gifted to Sozin or other ancestors before the War began. I had put them into storage in the royal treasure vault rooms, but anything put in there did not serve much purpose. Here, they would being my wife happiness, or so I hoped. Though she had spent her teenage years in Omashu, I know she had been born in Water Tribe lands. And being in this room reminded me of thetimes I traveled North to Water lands. I didn’t have to think about being Fire Lord. All I was now was a husband eager to be with his wife, and a man going to his beloved.
As I approached the bed, I heard soft crying. I stood still for a moment before I approached the bed, climbing onto it. She had her back to me, and I placed my hand on her shoulder. Was she crying because she was homesick, and this room had made her so?
“What’s wrong?” I asked softly. I heard her gasp softly.
“My lord?” she asked, rolling over onto her back and looking up at me. None of the lamps were lit, but the moonlight provided enough illumination. She seemed genuinely surprised to see me.
“Why were you crying?” I asked as I reached out to wipe it from her cheek.
“B… Because you don’t want me anymore…” she replied softly. I stared at her, my eyes widening slightly in shock. What was she talking about?
“Why would you say that?”
“Because you kicked me out of your bed, my lord.”
“I did no such thing.”
“Then what am I doing here?”
“Because it is a gift, and I thought you would enjoy this.” I stated, waving my arm to indicate the Water Tribe objects.
“I do appreciate the items, but… you said that I was to sleep here. Why do you not want to sleep with me anymore?”
“I do wish to sleep with you. Here.” I said, and to make my point, I crawled under the blankets with her after slipping off my shoes and taking off my robe. I curled up to her, draping an arm across her middle.
“Why go to the trouble of placing me in a different bed?” she asked, though her voice had lost its edge of surprise and fear.
“Just because you have your own bed does not mean I no longer wish to sleep with you. I thought it would be nice to do this for you. It’s different here. This place suits you well.”
“And what about you, my lord? Does it suit you as well?” she asked and I nodded, deciding to be honest.
“Sometimes my room... it feels like too much. All the red and gold. And that dragon staring down at us. Here... it's peaceful. I've been to Water Tribe lands. It's beautiful. Everything's blue and white and it's so pristine and calming.” I stated as I nuzzled the side of her face.
“So I take that this… does not mean that you tire of me?”
“I will never tire of you. Why should I sleep alone when I have you?” I whispered, hugging her more tightly. Suddenly, a pillow hit my face, and I gave out a surprised yelp.
“What was that for?” I asked.
“For giving me a scare!” she exclaimed softly. “I thought you didn't want me anymore and I was freaking out!”
“I'm sorry, I just wanted to surprise you.” I hugged her tightly. “Forgive me?”
She nodded and cuddled up to me. I kissed her brow. “I could never tire of you or abandon you.” I assured her. “Ever.”
“Good.” She closed her eyes, and was asleep soon enough, and I let out a slow sigh of relief. Katara... I stroked her hair. I regretted having given her a fright and making her cry, but at least seeing that showed me how much she had come to care for me. It seems like her memories were now playing a larger part in her subconscious, which gave me hope that one day she could know the truth.

o0o0o0o
Katara

Whenever I went to his apartment for the night, he seemed more lordly and intimidating to me. But whenever he left a message that I was to stay in my apartment, I awaited him eagerly. Somehow, when he came to me, he seemed like less of a god, which he did seem like at times. He was often warmer and more relaxed at these times, and I usually had tea and treats waiting for him. It was as if he was free from his responsibilities and his position when he entered my bedchamber, as if he was leaving the world behind him. I found it easier to reach out and connect with him.
One night, a few weeks after I had received this gift, we lay together in my bed, his head in my lap as I stroked his hair. We had taken a walk outside before turning in for the night, and it had been most pleasant. I felt something around him that I never felt with anyone, not even the men who had tried to court me. Enki was a distant memory, and I could not think of accepting the affections of any other man, even one of my own people. Being here with Zuko felt right. I smiled down at him before pressing my lips to his temple.
“Should I have a servant bring up some tea, my lord?” I asked. He nodded, and I climbed out of the bed, pulling on a robe and ringing the bell.
In a bit, he was robed again, and we sat in front of the fireplace in my bedroom, sipping tea. Most varieties of tea were hard to come by in the Water lands, and the Earth Kingdom had a nice variety in tea. But here, it was rampant and in more than abundant variety. It was found in every household, and the Palace was no exception. When I asked for tea, I was always offered many varieties, many that I had never heard of even in Omashu. I had yet to decide on a favorite kind of tea though I was partial to a few. The Fire Lord enjoyed ginseng and jasmine tea, so I had that brought up this night.
I had been thinking about my stepson. I had lunch with him today, and listened as he told me about the things he had learned in his lessons and after that, we had taken a brief walk. I knew that he enjoyed his time with me, but he needed a father as well. He looked up to Zuko, and it hurt me to see that the boy was clearly in need of his attention, and was deprived of it. I was a good companion to the Prince but I was no replacement for his sire. He was supposed to be the next Fire Lord, and I know that he wanted to be like his father – strong, admired, respected. He appeared in Court sessions several times a week, as part of his lessons, to observe. But at these times, my husband barely acknowledged his son, to the point of almost outright ignoring him.
“My lord, might we talk?” I asked as I set down my tea.
“Of course. Is something the matter?”
“Well, nothing is the matter per se, my lord… but I am curious, could we arrange at least an afternoon for ourselves? And perhaps dinner? We have been so busy the last week, I would love nothing more than to spend a lazy afternoon with you, can we do that?” I asked. He glanced down at his cup for a moment and nodded slowly.
“Excellent. Why don't you let me arrange it all? And if it's possible, could you close Court for the whole day?”
He smirked at me slowly and nodded. “I'd say Court is overdue for a break. Besides, I would much rather spend time with you.”
“Just what I needed to hear, my lord.” I kissed his forehead.

o0o0o0o
Zuko

Katara had lessons in the morning, but she had assured me that everything was set up for a lunch and a nice, lazy afternoon. I sat behind the wall in the training room, observing her through the latticed screen that, for all outward appearances, was nothing more than a decorative screen against a solid wall. Behind the lattice was actually gauzy black silk, and it worked like a one-way mirror. I could use this to observe either my wife or son while they were having their martial arts or weapons lessons. I checked on my wife or son about once a week this way for their lessons.
It was hard to not appreciate the sight of my wife in a sleeveless tunic and knee-length pants, both of comfortable red linen. In three months she had come along nicely in her lessons. I enjoyed seeing the toned muscles of her body when she was in her underwear or naked.
She sparred with Ming several times, practicing the new move that the older woman had just taught her. The room was filled with the sound of several successive thuds before I heard Ming praise Katara for keeping up her practice. I took a moment to admire my wife's rear end as she went to get a towel.
She was stunning enough when I had first met her, all these years ago. But as she grew older, there was no denying the appeal and beauty that her maturity now gave her. Thank Agni she had gotten a second chance. That I had gotten a second chance with her.
She left the room and so did Ming, and Kuzon came in about five minutes later with his own instructor.

o0o0o0o
Katara

In the past, various Fire Lords had employed various methods to keep themselves entertained. Some more gainful than others, of course. Gambling, theater, women, in a few cases men, collecting various items – paintings, books, statues, clocks, animals, whatever – or even luxury vacation homes. When one is Lord of an country, one can pursue just about any pleasure one can afford, provided that the royal coffers can keep up with the strain.
Zuko was definitely one of the more frugal Fire Lords. His demands were not excessive, and his personal staff was of a modest number. His hobbies were considerably less extravagant than many of his predecessors. I took that in mind when planning our entertainment for the afternoon.
Fire Lord Azulon had a boat on the lake, a modestly-sized and flat one with a roof and canopy for privacy. He had used it when he wanted to spend a quiet afternoon with his wife, or later on, one of his concubines. It had fallen into disrepair since his death, but I had the carpenters fix it up. Some of the gold paint had been flaking off, and I asked them to remove what was left as well as the other decorations and embellishments, giving the structure on the boat a simpler design.
I grinned to myself as I led Zuko to the lake, a blindfold around his eyes. I guided him to the shore near the pier so he could see the boat. With fresh coats of paint and varnish, the craft looked lovely, and stripped of its fancy embellishments, looked more homey. I already had everything set up in the boat. I turned to him and untied the cloth from his head, tucking it into my pocket.
“Voila.” I said with a dramatic gesture of my hand. He blinked and stared, his eyebrows furrowing a little as he walked onto the pier to see the boat more closely.
“Isn't this...”
“Yes. But I know you don't like wasting money, so I thought it would be a better idea to fix this boat instead of having a new one made. And of course, the design is more simplified, it was too gaudy before.”
“I like it.” he said with a slow nod.
“Well, I thought it would be a good place to spend our afternoon. And we won't need a servant to row, since I can Waterbend.” I grinned.
“Well then, what are we waiting for?” He stepped into the boat and I smiled as he helped me into it. I wound the lever, pulling up the anchor and flicking my arm to push the boat forward with Waterbending while Zuko watched, reclined on several pillows with his hands behind his head.
When we got to the middle of the lake, I let the anchor drop. I smiled as I pulled a basket from behind the drape and opened it, revealing various finger-foods as well as a bottle of wine for lunch.
“Allow me to feed you.” I said, pulling out a cluster of grapes.
“You may.” he said with a small smirk before he opened his mouth, letting me feed him. I alternated between us, giving him a grape, letting him watch me eat one, and so on until the cluster was gone before I pulled out some vegetarian sushi and poured the wine. We chatted some and drank our wine, reclining on the pillows and enjoying the breeze and the gentle splashing of water against the side of the boat.
After two glasses of wine, I was feeling a bit buzzed, and Zuko was obviously content. I smiled to myself, ready for the next step. I slid on top of him, and he looked up at me. I gave him a light kiss before I loosened his collar and started to unbutton his shirt.
“And just what do you think you're doing?” I heard him ask as I undid his belt.
“What does it look like I'm doing?” I shot back as I pulled it aside and opened his shirt, taking my glass of wine and tilting it carefully, letting a few drops fall onto his chest. I lowered my head to lap it off his chest, my eyes meeting his as my tongue flicked along the pale expanse of toned skin. My upper stomach was resting slightly atop his groin area, and I felt his flesh stir under the layers of fabric that separated us.
I moved down to his pants, undoing the sash that held it up and tugging this open as well as loosening his underwear. His manhood rose from the folds of black and red material, and I reached down to give it several languid caresses, hearing him give a short hum of approval. Well, he was definitely going to approve of what I did next.
He had hinted at it several times before, but I had never done so until now. I had touched his manhood but had never pleasured him with my mouth. I had felt very shy about it before, but considering how skillfully he could pleasure me, I figured it was time to return the favor. 'Kissing the dragon', was what the erotic manuals here called it. As Zuko watched me, I lowered my head. I saw his eyes widen in comprehension and then eagerness, and I smiled back at him before I started placing gentle kisses around the tip.
I became bolder, giving him licks along the head. His masculine odor tickled my nose. His manhood was proud and swollen, waiting for me, and I could taste a bit of essence seep from the tip. The flavor was not unpleasant. My hand continued its work near the base of his erection, my fingernails scraping his skin in a gentle, measured caress as Zuko watched me silently, his gaze making it clear how much he was enjoying watching – and feeling this.
I smiled again before I lowered my lips, taking the swollen head into my mouth and swirling my tongue around it, hearing his sudden hiss of pleasure as I did so. I did my best to recall the tips from the manuals I had read, and to choose the ones I thought would be the most enjoyable for him and me. I swirled my tongue for a while, gently gripping the base of his cock with one hand as I reached into his pants to massage his balls, and I felt his body shudder.
His hand reached down to gently rest on top of my head, and I simply continued my work, using my lips, tongue, and hand the best way I could to pleasure him.

o0o0o0o
Zuko

Katara... I almost moaned out her name as I felt her eagerly taste of me. She was a bit unsure at first, but soon found a natural rhythm that was comfortable for her and exhilarating for me. I loosened her hair from the bun it was in, letting it cascade along the sides of her face in loose waves, my favorite look for her. Her hair was like silk under my fingers as I ran them through her locks, and I felt the knot of heat in my groin intensify as she continued her ministrations, alternating between swirling and sucking, eventually focusing more on the latter.
“If you keep doing that, I'm going to...” I managed to say. Her eyes twinkled before she picked up the pace, not going too fast, but firm enough that my climax was soon inevitable.
“Yes, that's it...” I growled just before my entire consciousness was focused on the orgasm that exploded through my nerves, causing me to arch into her mouth. I could feel her continuing to suck, swallowing down my seed as I released it. I fell back on the cushions, panting softly as I felt her now licking me clean, her nimble tongue dancing along the shaft and tip and keeping me hard.
Her lips pressed against the very tip one more time before she sat back up, looking down at me with a blush on her cheeks and a small smile. There was a small smear on her chin, and I lifted my hand, sliding my thumb along it before pressing it to her lips. She sucked down the last of my essence obediently, swirling her tongue a bit as she did so.
“I did... well?” she asked.
“You were fantastic.” I replied in all honesty. I lay there for several minutes, just staring at her. The red silk of the drapes that surrounded us cast a warm glow on her skin, and gave her eyes a purple tint.
“Well, I am glad that I could please my lord so well.” she replied primly. I smirked before I sat up, pressing her down on the cushions before loosening the fastenings of her robe and pulling up her skirt. She wasn't wearing any underwear under her slip, and I commented on that.
“Tsk. That is not proper behavior for the Fire Lady.” I said in feigned dismay while delighting at the sight before me, reaching down to spread her open.
“Kissing the dragon isn't exactly considered proper but I didn't hear you complain.” she shot back with a small laugh. I laughed back at her before my hand slid down to touch her, two fingers sliding up and down her slit, which was already wet. She twisted around and whined out my name softly, an enticing sight as she lay there splayed, half-dressed in the finest satins and silks that the royal wardrobe could offer,, her hair in loose waves and curls along her shoulders and the pillows.
I looked over at the platter, which still contained several pieces of fruit. Mmm. I knew just how to reward my wife, and at the same time give Katara a taste of the past and what we had enjoyed together. Of course, I would do the actual tasting...
I plucked a fat strawberry off the plate and lightly ran its tip up and down her opening.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“You will see.” With my free hand, I loosened the material around her breasts, leaning down to take a nipple into my mouth, lightly biting and flicking my tongue along it, causing her to gasp and arch. I felt her place her hand on my head, hugging it close to her chest, and I grinned to myself as I nuzzled the warm mound, inhaling her scent as I started to push the strawberry in after ripping its top off.
I gave her a smoldering grin before I slid down her body, starting to lick gently at her womanhood, feeling her shudder as I gave her featherlight caresses with the tip of my tongue.
“Zu...” she moaned as I started rubbing her clit with the pad of my thumb. I had always loved how responsive she could be to my touches, and this was certainly no exception as I saw her nails dig into the cushions, her teeth gritted delicately as she tried to keep her breathing under control.
I grinned to myself and slid a finger in past the strawberry – no easy feat given how tight she was – and found her inner sweet spot, applying a bit of heat to my fingers and pressing up firmly. She made several cute whimpering noises before lifting up one arm to bite down on the hem of her sleeve, looking down at me with passion-glazed eyes.
I continued to enjoy my treat, licking and sucking her clit as I felt her try to not scream, and with my free hand, I reached up to tweak her nipples. I tasted every last bit of her womanhood, every slick fold, my tongue sparing nothing as I heard her muffled moans and whimpers.
“ZUKO!” she cried out when I pushed her over the edge, and just as I had expected, she clamped down with enough force to squeeze the strawberry, partially disintegrating it. I continued to press down on her inner spot as I sucked her nub gently, feeling the juices seep out of her with the remnants of the fruit.
I wasted no time in cleaning her up, lapping eagerly at her slick cunt, enjoying my treat. Once I was sure I had gotten up every last drop, I sat up and looked down at her, noting the flush on her cheeks as she smiled up at me faintly, her eyes half-lidded. For me, there were very few things that could ever come close to the thrill I felt at seeing my wife so obviously pleasured, and knowing that I was the one responsible.
“Where did you come up with the idea for the strawberry?” she whispered. I had to bite back a knowing smirk.
“You inspire me to be creative.” I replied glibly. “I mean it, no one has ever been able to inspire me or rouse me like you.” I said in all truthfulness, staring into her eyes.
“That's good to know.” she smiled warmly.
“However, I'm not done...” I sat up a little more to show her that I was still erect. She moaned and nodded before sitting up and pushing me down onto my back. I was all too happy to let her take charge, and reached up to caress her breasts and sides as she lowered herself on top of me. The boat swayed gently, and the lapping of the water at the sides provided a pleasant backdrop to the moans and pants that escaped our throats as the phoenix rode the dragon.

o0o0o0o
Katara

I lay there contently, my robes in open disarray as I sipped some wine, basking in the afterglow as I felt Zuko's hand caress mine. He had pulled the drapes open a bit, just enough to admit a breeze but still maintaining our privacy.
“We really must do this more often.” Zuko whispered into my ear as he kissed along the earlobe.
“Great minds think alike.”
In response, he trailed a lazy line of kisses along my throat down to a breast, playing with it a bit.
“That's not all I have planned for today, my lord.”
“Is that so?”
I smiled. “But of course not, there is still dinner.”
“And what did you have in mind?”
“A quiet meal in my garden.”
“Sounds divine.” He gave me a kiss.
In a couple of hours, after we had each spent a bit of time alone reading or studying, I had my bungalow set up for dinner. We would be eating on the veranda overlooking the pond. I made sure everything was meticulously arranged. Three cushions, three places, with dishes arranged in a careful manner to be most pleasing to the eye. The scent of the hot and savory spices wafted over to my nose, making me smile. The Prince, who had been leaning against the railing and looking at the ruby peacock wandering along the other side of the pond, came at my call to sit down.
Kuzon stared at the table curiously as he sat down, registering that there were three place settings, not two.
“Who is sitting with us?” he asked. I smiled down at him.
“Him.” I stated, seeing a red-robed figure emerge through the curve of the path. My husband came down the path, followed by a couple of guards. As he approached the veranda, I saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes when he registered his son, but he said nothing. His guards took their posts, standing near my own as the servants waited nearby, all of them giving us a wide berth so we could talk in private.
The Prince and I both inclined our heads, giving him the proper greeting. He inclined his head in return and took his seat. The meal commenced, and I sought a way to break the silence. Why didn’t Zuko make small talk with his son? Did he not like his son? I had no problem spending casual time with the Prince, why should my husband? I caught Kuzon glancing at his father curiously, and I could see that he wanted to speak, and to be acknowledged. So, I decided to initiate the contact, and hopefully bring them closer.
“Isn’t it so peaceful out here? I thought that all of us could use a nice and relaxing dinner, and take a bit of time out of our schedules to appreciate the beauty of this twilight.” I said sweetly. Kuzon smiled up at me happily, while Zuko’s face remained blank.
“Why don’t you tell your lord what you told me before dinner?” I asked, prompting him to initiate the conversation.
“My lord, I was working on my Firebending with Master Jeong Jeong. I learned a new technique today, and Master says that I did an excellent job, and that he was very pleased with me. He said that I was ready to move on to the next technique.” Kuzon stated cheerfully after I gave him an encouraging smile.
Jeong Jeong was stern, but he always treated me respectfully, and I liked him. I knew that for him to actually compliment Kuzon was no small feat. I had Kuzon demonstrate the move to me before supper. It was rather simple, compared to the impressive feats that I had seen Zuko perform with his Firebending. But for a five-year-old, he was doing well. I understood that he was a good student in most if not all of his subjects. He was none too fond of mathematics and had said to me one day that he didn’t see why he had to keep adding and subtracting numbers. He was always glad for the days that his teachers concentrated on history or literature.
I glanced towards my husband to see his reaction. I prayed that he would give Kuzon an encouraging response, or some praise.
“It’s important to make progress. Higher level moves will take more time to master, so practice harder.” the Fire Lord stated in a calm tone before he took a bite of his food. Well… that was not the response that Kuzon or I were looking for. I tried to coax a warmer response from him.
“Kuzon showed me the move before supper. I think he did a wonderful job. He works so hard in his lessons.” I stated in a soft voice, looking at my husband, pleading with my eyes.
“As well he should. He will be Fire Lord one day, and that requires a lot of hard work.” Zuko replied in the same calm tone. I held back a soft sigh. Everyone needed a kind word now and then, to encourage them.
“Perhaps, when we are finished with supper, Kuzon could demonstrate.” I asked in a final effort to get my husband to open up.
“If Jeong Jeong says that Kuzon is doing well, I will take his word for it. A demonstration is not necessary.” my husband stated. I knew him well enough to see that the subject was to be dropped, so I said no more of it. I shot Kuzon a glance, seeing that he looked saddened at his father’s lack of enthusiasm. The rest of the meal continued in silence, and my appetite was affected by my stepson’s unhappiness and my husband’s coldness. I did not eat much, and when the meal was over, I looked at both of them.
“Perhaps we could all take a walk together.” I suggested hopefully. The Prince’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, and Zuko did not reply right away, before he gave a brief nod. However, the walk was just as silent as supper was, and I did not enjoy it as I would normally have.
After the warmth and emotion Zuko had showed me this afternoon, how could he be like this?

o0o0o0o
Zuko

My wife was waiting in bed when I came out of my meditation chamber. I removed my robe and crawled under the covers, feeling reassured by her presence. Sometimes I would tell her to stay in her room, but tonight was not one of these nights.
“May we talk?” she asked softly as I settled beside her. I nodded and draped an arm across her middle as I looked down at her.
“My lord… I do not desire to offend. But, is there something about your son that makes you dislike him?” she asked tentatively.
“Why do you think I dislike him?” I asked. I never mistreated my son or was cruel to him.
“You don’t… seem to like being around him, nor do I hear you encourage him. You didn’t want him to do a demonstration for you. I suggested it because I had thought it would please you.”
There was a reason I did not desire a demonstration. My sister and I had been paraded before our father and grandfather often enough to display our skills. I had no desire to put that pressure on my son, and I knew he did well, as evinced by my private observation of him this morning, something I did on a regular basis. Without knowing that I watched, my son did his lessons without any pressure to perform, and I got an honest assessment of his skills. I was pleased with his progress in his classes, and had his tutors, physician, and nurse keep me updated on his progress, health, and needs.
I was proud of my son and pleased with him. I ensured that he had what he needed, and made sure he did not turn out spoiled like my sister had been. Noblemen often gave too many privileges to their children, but I was not like that. My son would be strong and fair, a suitable heir.
“That is not what will please me. You are what pleases me. Do not concern yourself with my son.” I stated.
“Why not? I enjoy spending time with him. He’s a wonderful little boy, but he also needs you. He looks up to you to set a example, but when you act towards him coolly, he becomes sad.”
“He has all of his needs met. He is getting the best education and care possible. He has a nurse to attend to him. The attention I give him is adequate.” I stated calmly.
“But…”
“End of discussion.” I said. She stared at me for a moment, and I thought she would argue. She gave me a brief nod before rolling over, pulling the blanket up to her chin.
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Kiss of Fire