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Bitter Alliance	By : Looneyluna Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Het - Male/Female > Katara/Zuko Views: 31138 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- 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.

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Act III

Chapter Ten

--

I wake to unfamiliar surroundings and sensations. The wooden creak of the ship as it makes its way across the water is constant and loud. The swaying motion lulls me. The fact that I was even able to sleep amazes me. As the rays of dawn peek through the wooden planks of the deck above us, I can see Katara’s shining azure eyes.

“Rest while you can, Zuko,” she murmurs softly, caressing my cheek. “We are still a while away from the mainland. The wounded are recovering. We have enough water and fish for the journey. All is well. Rest while you can.”

“Fish?” My voice cracks as I try to shake off the effects of my slumber.

Her smile is like the light, bright and full of promise. “Fish are no match for Waterbenders. You have no worries now. Go back to sleep,” she coaxes me, petting my cheek and forehead. Her touch is cool and soothing, and I close my eyes.

I let myself drift like the ship across the water, yielding to a hopeful dream.

I am walking down the corridor of the Fire Nation’s palace, a building that now lies in ruins. Pools of water replace ribbons of fire-colored material along the walls. I can see my reflection in them. Out of habit, I flinch. But when I look closer, I realize that most of my scarring has faded. The only pronounced scar is the one that surrounds my left eye.

This is a dream I yearn for.

I am whole.

The guards snap to attention as I open the doors to my bedchambers. The room is large, dotted with various pieces of furniture throughout, but sparse in nature. A large bed dominates the middle of the room.

Instead of the scathing anger, blissful warmth surrounds me. Sighing with, I allow myself to dwell within the fantasy realm.

Katara sleeps peacefully, her dark eyelashes touching her cheeks like silent testament to the peaceful moment.

Hastily, I divest myself of my armor and tunic, the trappings of my position. I know that it is selfish of me to wake her, but I must touch heaven one last time. I slide my hand inside the loose fabric of her nightclothes and caress responsive nipples.

I watch in the firelight cast from the surrounding wall sconces the reaction of her body as her nipples tighten against the silk fabric. I hear the catch in her breath as she awakens.

She hums my name, “Zuko,” and arches her back.

Emotion chokes me. She professes her love to me daily whether I want to hear it or not. She touches me on a level where I exist as someone else… someone who isn’t flawed. This is the future I yearn for, the one that I shall never have.

I capture her lips, claiming what I desire most in this life. The kiss is deep, tongue dueling tongue, lips seeking to go even deeper. I drink her passionate groan, and my head swims. I hold my future in my arms. I hold forgiveness and love.

Katara gently bats my hand away and sits up. She removes her gown slowly, enticingly. She has confided in me, shared with me the thoughts she once said I would never be privy to. Taking my hand in hers, she guides it to the dark curls that guard her feminine secrets.

My eyes roll back into my head. Touching her heat is like touching the sun. It scorches my soul and promises me an eternity of bliss. “Katara…” I am finally able to speak. “I need you.”

Smiling, she leans back and opens her legs. The serenity I seek lies within her body. A thirst like none other overwhelms me. I crawl toward her, dipping my head to drink from the fount of her womb.

She gasps, my name a whispered prayer upon her lips. Her fingers tangle in my hair as she holds me to task. Her honeyed warmth feeds my undeserving soul. She is so open and free that I must hold on to the morsel before me. Her scent and taste are intoxicating and exhilarating, and I lap at her flesh greedily. Her movements and breathless pleas heighten my own pleasure.

“Please,” she begs me, pulling my hair and coaxing me to shift position. She need not encourage me. I need the same thing.

Climbing up her body, I position myself within the cradle of her body. She clasps my weeping flesh and guides the aching tip to her heated slit. With a strangled groan, I thrust into her and…

I wake up. My head is pillowed in Katara’s lap. My hair and face are damp. The cool mist of water as she bends it around my head provides welcome relief from the constant ache that I have grown accustomed to.

Her face is serene as she concentrates.

“Katara,” I say her name and blink as the water recedes into a nearby bowl.

“I… I’m sorry,” she whispers. She is pale and shaken. “I thought it best to try to heal you while you slept.”

I should be offended that she didn’t ask permission. Even if I had refused, like I often do with Damuk, she wouldn’t have taken no for an answer. “I was dreaming.”

“Oh?” She moves her hand across my cheek. “What about?”

“You,” I answer, catching her hand in mine and rubbing the flesh of her palm across my damaged skin.

“Those nightmares… They weren’t all that there was between us.” She seeks to reassure me. Her courage holds no bounds. She is the one who suffered by my hand. To receive comfort from her is an absolution I could only beg for. “We were lovers before we were captured. We –”

“My dream was… pleasant,” I reply. I can’t help myself, and I kiss her fingertips. The dream was full of vibrant colors and fierce sensations. The ache is too much to bear. I want this woman more than my next breath. My blood boils within my veins and pools within my loins.

“Oh.” Her mouth forms a perfect “o” as the blush heightens her beauty.

Licking my lips, I lift up onto my elbows and hold my breath. The hottest fire is the bluest fire, and that is what burns in her eyes as she lowers her head. I should feel guilty, asking this of her… asking her to kiss a malformed monster.

There is no hesitation on her part as she presses her mouth against mine. I inhale, greedily committing the scent of her purity to memory. I gasp when she deepens the kiss, running her tongue along the tight seam of my lips. Her tongue sweeps against mine, coaxing me to play. She tastes sweet, like a sugared dumpling.

--

He tastes like exotic spices, every one of his movements hesitant and unsure. I knew that he could not forget the love that we shared. Though he may not speak the words, I know he can feel it.

I should feel guilty for healing him without his permission, but I won’t. I could see him slip into the realm of nightmares that are his prison now. My mother would do that. She would heal our nightmares by bending water around our heads and singing to us. Though none of his scars responded to my healing abilities, I am confidant that I will be able to heal them eventually.

Zuko groans beneath me, and I break the kiss, pulling away from him and helping him to sit up. “I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” I ask.

Before he can answer, shouts pierce the serenity of the moment.

“Land!” one soldier calls out.

Zuko shudders and moves to stand. Grabbing my hands in his, he pulls me to my feet. “Thank you,” he says, brushing my wild hair out of my face.

My heart feels as though it may explode from my chest as his golden eyes peer into mine. He may have suffered untold agony. He may have been scarred horribly. But his eyes are the same. I fell in love with those eyes long ago.

“My lord!” another soldier beckons for their leader. “There are troops lining the shore!”

Zuko snaps to attention and pulls away from me, climbing up the ladder and onto the deck.

--

The Fire Lord and the Waterbender are a sight for my old eyes. I had begun to fear that helping Katara (giving her the flag so that they would not be fired upon) had angered the Goddess. Unlike my daughter, I believe that our gift of foresight was sent to us from a higher power.

Per my instructions, the Earth Kingdom citizens in the village I live in have rallied to assist the survivors of the Kroni siege of the Fire Nation.

I can remember a time when Fire Nation forces occupied this land.

The Fire Nation is no more.

In his quest for power, Ozai destroyed his own nation. He invited the plague onto his lands. He stirred the nest of Kroni vipers into their ravenous rage, making promises to them that he did not fulfill.

As I watch the interaction between the bitter enemies, I cannot help but see the irony. There is no lingering resentment between Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation. They have come to the realization that they are citizens of something greater than the sum of a national identity.

Fire Lord Zuko catches Katara as she stumbles over some driftwood on the beach. I smile, witnessing the gentle caress of his hand upon her arm. There are difficult times ahead for them, but their feelings for one another will see them through their journeys safely.

Seeing me, Katara’s smile falters. She is sad for me. Though Mahari is not with them, I know that I shall see my daughter again.

“Hello, Pathik,” she greets me with a low bow of respect.

Zuko stares at me, his gaze curious. He gives me a slight nod of acknowledgement though he knows not who I am.

“Hello, Katara.” I fold my hands together and kowtow before her. She knows not how important she is or the role she will fulfill. Her path is a treacherous one, filled with difficult decisions. Of course, letting go of one’s children is always a painful process. “Fire Lord Zuko, it is an honor to meet you.”

His golden eyes flash in warning, and he puts himself between his beloved and myself. “How did you know who I am?”

He wears the armor of a regular soldier. There is no rank or insignia. He is right to be suspicious, but not of me. His fate is intertwined with Katara’s. In time, she will heal the scars that cover his body. She must… before the infections return and claim the other half of her soul.

“It’s all right, Zuko.” Katara soothes him with a light touch and the gentle cadence of her voice. “This is Pathik, Mahari’s father.”

He looks down, suddenly unable to meet my gaze. “My apologies. Please accept my condolences on the loss of your child.”

“I shall see my daughter again,” I state simply. “She is not lost. She will find her way.”

“He is a seer like Mahari,” Katara explains.

“Speaking of children…” I step back and motion for them to follow me. “I have a sand glider ready to take you home, Katara. You’re children are missing you.”

She turns to Zuko, hope shining in her loving gaze. “You will come, won’t you?”

A myriad of expressions cross the fierce warrior’s face. Longing. Fear. Hope. And finally acceptance. “Yes,” he replies, his voice soft with emotion as he contemplates meeting his children for the first time.

--

TBC

Author’s Notes: Thanks to all who have reviewed! I really hate to do this, but I shall be taking a break to plot out the reunion chapter with the children. (Ducks and hides from the tomatoes being thrown at her.) I give no estimate on the next chapter. I do know that I need a day or two to recuperate from writing.

As many of you know, I’ve had multiple surgeries on my hands. I’d like to say I’m cured, but I’m not. So, I must take the time and lay off the typing. Thanks for all the support and reviews for this story!
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Bitter Alliance