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The Price of Peace	By : Looneyluna Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Het - Male/Female > Katara/Zuko Views: 19137 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- 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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Summary – Zuko and Katara start their journey.

A/N -- Warning! Smut ahead!

Chapter Twelve –

Her expectations dashed and her backside sore from the ostrich-horse ride, Katara crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot as she stood in the hold of one her father’s ships. “What is going on?” she asked her husband as he gave a terse order to the three-man crew.

Zuko gave her a pointed look but continued giving orders to her father’s Water Tribe warriors. “Set sail immediately,” her husband instructed. “Do not use any lights. I do not wish to be disturbed.”

Clasping one fist in his opposite hand, the warrior glanced at her briefly and bowed to her husband. “Yes, sir.”

Katara returned the bow and watched as the man of her village closed the bulkhead door behind him. There were nine compartments to the ship, all of them divided into various storage and living areas. They were standing in a hold near the bow of the ship. Instead of materials or food, the area looked as though it had been converted into a small living area.

There were lanterns to illuminate the sparse room and a raised platform that was covered with various furs.

Zuko held his hand toward the flame in the lantern, which yielded to his command. “I’m taking you home.”

Katara stared at him, letting his words sink in. She watched him as he undid his belt and removed his boots. She felt the ship gently lurch as it set sail. “But we’re married. Your place is here.”

He divested himself of his traveling cloak and the undershirt he had worn for their wedding ceremony. “Please accept my apologies, Katara. This was a hasty plan. We did not have the time to inform you of the delicacies.”

“I don’t understand.” Her eyes lingered on the fine white material that covered his chest.
The ship shuddered as it changed direction.

“By now, everyone thinks you and I are dead.” Zuko pulled his belt from his trousers and sat on the stack of furs.

Katara gasped as the ruse played out before her.

“By tomorrow morning, my uncle will be Fire Lord. He will suspend the proceedings of the summit and force the delegate out of the country.”

“What!”

Zuko lounged on the bed, covering his eyes with his forearm and heaving a weary sigh. He just hoped the plan worked. For now, he needed rest. Ever since the attempt on Katara’s life, he had not slept.

Leaving her that night had been one of the most difficult tasks he had ever accomplished. She had looked so peaceful, resting against him. He had burned to take her as his then.

Now it was impossible. He was just too tired.

Stifling a yawn, Zuko shifted and stared at the wooden deck above him. “I just hope the plan doesn’t backfire,” he mumbled more to himself than to Katara.

She snapped her fingers and approached the bed. “What plan?”

He arched his eyebrow, aware of her proximity and amused by her annoyance. “After I left you, I summoned my uncle. He is a mad genius – a master strategist. He has manipulated me all my life – guided me, really.”

Katara made an impatient noise as she kicked her boots off.

“By now, everybody thinks that you and I are dead, killed in a deadly fire that was set by assassins.” Zuko watched his bride’s reaction carefully.

Pacing the length of the small room, Katara ran her hand through her hair. “We’ve got to be back! I can’t do this. My father –”

“Knows,” Zuko assured her as he sat up and studied his wife.

“Sokka –”

“Probably knows by now,” he cut her off again. “I’m afraid my uncle prefers subterfuge to the point of absurdity. Instead of pulling your brother to the side and telling him of the plan, he hid a note on underside of the wedding present that was given to him. If Sokka doesn’t open it, then he will think you are dead. I’m sure your father will tell him eventually.”

Wide blue eyes stared at him. Her stance was belligerent and bold as her fiery temper got the better of her. “Why wasn’t I informed? Why wasn’t I given a secret note? Why am I just now finding out about it? My family and friends… Aang! The Avatar state. If Aang doesn’t know about the plan, his grief will –”

“Aang knows.” Zuko assuaged her fear, worried that she always thought of others before herself.

Katara stopped pacing and glared at Zuko, who got off the pallet of furs and stood to his full height. “Who else knows? Would it have been too much to tell me what the hell was going on? What do you hope to gain by this charade? Where are we going? Are we really married? What --?”

Clutching her wrist in his hand, he pulled her against him and silenced her questions. Crushing his lips to hers, he swallowed her protests and felt the exhaustion yield to the slow burn of desire he had always felt for the woman in his arms.

He slid his tongue along the seam of her mouth, taking advantage of the gasp of surprise that he coaxed from her body. As he tasted Katara, his resolve dissipated. She deserved more than he could ever give her, but he was drawn to her sweetness like a moth to a flame.

Zuko broke the kiss, silently pleading Katara to stop the spiral of heat that was consuming him.

“No one else knows.” His voice was thick with lust. “I didn’t have time to tell you. Between the summit and the preparations for the wedding, I had no time. We hope to flush out Qiang and his rebels. We’re going to the South Pole. And yes, we are married.”

She reached behind him and pulled his head down. Standing on her tiptoes, Katara kissed her husband.

Her attempt at seduction was clumsy and awkward, but it was enough to shred the last of his resolve. He teetered on the verge of insanity. On one hand, he wanted to protect her. The only way he knew how to do that was to push her away. On the other hand, he wanted to lose himself inside her. Only Katara had that effect on him. It had always been that way with her.

He wrapped his hands around her waist and cupped her buttocks, pulling her against the evidence of his desire. “I need you, wife,” he murmured against the shell of her ear.

Katara stiffened against him and took a step back. Reaching for the hem of her tunic, she lifted it up and off her torso, revealing a white undershirt much like his. The undershirt left little to his imagination and he could see the pointy tips of her breasts.

Zuko gasped as his bride stepped out of the trousers. The only piece of clothing remaining was the long shirt that barely hid the valley of dark curls. Her skin took on an ethereal glow and he quelled the desire to throw her down and drown himself within her.

Tugging on the string that guarded the top of the blouse, Katara blushed as she revealed her flesh to Zuko and crawled onto the pallet of furs. Lying on her back, she smiled and held her arms out in welcome.

Shrugging off the last vestiges of his clothes, Zuko took great pleasure as his bride’s ravenous gaze took in his features. Agni, how he wanted to open her legs and make her his!

Her dark curls glistened with want and he knew that if he tested her readiness, he would find her damp with need. He prayed for strength and knelt in front of her like a devout worshipper.

She sat up on her elbows, her eyes boring into his. “What is it?” she asked, her insecurities showing through.

He shook his head, not wanting to shatter the illusion of perfection. Leaning over her, he pulled one of her nipples into his mouth and traced his tongue over it. The fire in his blood leapt to life as she arched her back in response.

Feeling his heat so near to her core, Katara struggled to pull him closer. Her intimate part was swollen and wet. If only he would touch her there. She whimpered as he wet her breasts, pulling on his queue and trying to force him to align his body with hers.

He rained sensuous licks and kisses from one breast to the other, then onto her ribs and stomach.

Katara wiggled. “Please,” she rasped softly, unashamed.

Zuko said nothing, dipping his tongue into her navel and drowning in the intoxicating scents that were unique to Katara. Clamping his hands around her thighs, he placed a kiss on the jutting bud and pulled her crux to his lips. He feasted like a man possessed, determined to bring her to the brink of the same madness that had consumed him.

She trembled beneath him as she neared her release.

Relinquishing his hold, Zuko climbed Katara’s body, silently damning his own weakness for taking what he knew he shouldn’t. Claiming her lips, he entered the tight haven of her satin sheath. He swallowed her cry of pain and stilled within her.

He looked into her wide blue eyes and saw the slow embers of her desire burning out of control. Kissing her forehead, he began to move. The rhythm was slow. Her channel was slick with need.

The vivid color of her eyes clouded with lust and he felt the walls of her sex clamp around him, calling to his imminent release. With a final anguished lunge, he spent himself within her welcoming depths.

With the last of his strength, he moved off her, wanting more than anything to hold her and tell her that he loved her. But he bit the inside of his cheek to keep from making that declaration. It would be easier for her to believe him indifferent when he left.

--

TBC

A/N -- Many hanks to Spleef, InfernalZebra, and Moncapitan for the spit and polish on this chapter :) You all rock!
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The Price of Peace