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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
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Kiss of Fire
Chapter Four – Breaking Down the Defenses
o0o0o0o
Katara
I looked at the proffered hand for several moments before I looked up in the Fire Lord’s face. The emotions were gone from his face, and it had returned to its cool expression. I held back a sigh and raised my hand, resting it in his palm. His fingers wrapped around it as he pulled me closer.
“It is good to see you again, my Waterbender.” the Fire Lord whispered in a tone that only I could hear. I merely nodded before he let go of my hand. I followed him out to the sedan and a guard bowed, offering to help me up into the vehicle. I paused and glanced back at Zuko, and he nodded.
The space inside the sedan was small but plush, with soft red cushions to sit on or recline with. I took a quick glance around and took it to be about a meter by two. That gave me a bit of space, but not much and I retreated to a corner as the Fire Lord climbed up into the vehicle. He quietly closed the door and pulled the drapes shut. He was encasing us in what almost felt like a womb to me, with all the red that surrounded us. My back was pressed into the corner and I drew my knees up to my chest.
He sat there as the sedan moved forward.
“How have you been?” he asked. I slowly looked up at him. Since it was almost dark outside there was not much light in the sedan itself. He was a shadow cast in red and black, with the silhouette of his fire comb on the top of his head. I could barely make out his features.
“I am well, my lord.” I said quietly. My hands were folded across the top of my knees. He was silent for several moments.
“Don’t be afraid of me.” I heard him whisper softly, in what was supposed to be a reassuring tone. I quickly looked down at my hands.
“I am not a terrible man.”
“Hmph.” I said softly. Despite my misgivings about him, the threats he had made for my hand had not included physical harm. Even though I resented him, I sensed he was a man of his word. And how could I forget that first night together? I had responded to him in a way that Enki or any other man had never been able to elicit from me.
“And I would be a better husband for you than him.”
“Pardon?” I asked incredulously. I made out his smirk in the semidarkness.
“That man does not know true passion. And I do not like how he looks at you.” the Fire Lord murmured. To my surprise, there was a hint of jealousy in his tone.
“Enki does have passion.” I argued, trying to forget the kiss that the Fire Lord had given me on the terrace and the way it had made my heart flutter, “And why wouldn’t he look at me like that? He wants me!”
“Only for a little while, then he'll grow bored of you and go play around with other women, like these girls that swarmed around him at the party.”
“And what about you?” I shot back. I was seventeen, a young maiden who had her life ahead of her. What would happen in a few years? I had no desire to be cast aside and forgotten. I wanted a marriage like my father and stepmother had. He never looked at any other woman. Though I had resented An Mei at first because I felt she was stealing my mother’s place, she was a good wife to him and he a good husband to her. He was as faithful to her as he had been to my mother. I wanted a marriage like that.
“I know you are well aware that I could take more women if I pleased. You’re afraid of being used and cast aside. But I have no intention of ever doing that.” he stated, and I looked up at him. What if he was just saying that to placate me?
“You said you wanted me to be Fire Lady... but this marriage still does not make sense to me.” I replied. I saw him shrug.
“You do not have to try to make sense of it. Just accept, and be happy.”
I looked down at my hands again before I felt him reach out to caress them gently. I could feel him drink me in with his gaze. To take my mind off this, I pulled the drape aside a bit, peeking out of the sedan. He quickly pulled it shut again and I scowled at him.
He scooted closer, making the distance between us nonexistent. I stiffened and tried to back away. I sent out a silent prayer to Tui and La hat I would get out of this night unscathed. If he chose to force me, there was not much I could do to fight. I had no water on me and there was no question he could pin me down easily.
“Look at me.” I felt his hot breath on my cheek as he whispered into my ear. I shrunk back as much as I could, keeping my eyes averted. He could not order me around!
“Look at me.” he said more firmly. I shook my head no, and heard a sharp intake of breath.
“There is nothing wrong with being married to me.”
“I do not want to go to Sozun.”
“Why not?”
“I am sure it is a beautiful place, but I do not belong there.”
“You will love it there.” he whispered. I shook my head again.
“Give it a chance.” he said softly. I looked back at him. I wanted to trust him very much, for if there really was no way out of this, then what else was there to do? His fingers gently caressed my cheek and I stared into his eyes.
As I did I felt a chilling sense of déjà vu, as if I had done this a long time ago. But that was not possible, was it? I had known this man for only three nights.
I continued staring into his eyes, losing sense of everything else for a moment. I found myself thinking that these eyes were stunning. His fingers slowly traveled from my cheek across my ear to slide into my hair, and I did not protest. The feeling of familiarity only increased.
I saw fire in his eyes and it called out to me. I felt a tug deep inside and found myself responding to it. I gasped softly and quickly looked down, feeling his fingers caress my hair. My cheeks were warm and I was grateful for the poor lighting. I could see his eyes well enough. Surprisingly he did not move in to kiss me and simply caressed me. I found the gentle touch reassuring in a way.
His hand slid from my head down to my shoulder and along my arm, taking my hand and squeezing it, all without saying one word. I started to pull away, but the sense of familiarity tugged at me again and I sat there, letting him hold it. His hand felt so warm and I found myself taking comfort in that.
It couldn’t be. Was I admitting to enjoying his presence? I could not let him win. I quickly tore my eyes away, looking down at my lap. His thumb gently rubbed the back of my hand.
“Stop, please.” I whispered.
“So sure of that?” he replied. His voice was barely above a whisper and it sent a shiver up my spine.
“Or would you like more?” he asked, a hint of blatant smugness in his tone. Even though I was not looking at him, I knew he was smirking. I shook my head. He squeezed my hand a little more right before I felt the sedan come to a stop.
I held back a moan of relief as he let go of my hand. The sedan had parked in the courtyard of what looked like a comfortable inn, and I looked around curiously. There were several Fire Nation men outside of varying ages, and when they saw the Fire Lord, they stood at attention and saluted. He merely nodded and led me inside.
I was led up a flight of stairs and came to a room that had been set up for a meal. Its double doors were wide open to a terrace with a grand view and there were flowers and plants growing from both the low wall and overhead. The table had been draped with a red cloth and two places had been set.
“You will be treated to a glorious dinner.” my groom-to-be whispered as he touched my cheek, “And you will have that to look forward to every day at the Palace.”
His mention of Palace life made my mouth dry.
“My lord?” I heard someone say as they approached. I looked up to see the man that I had danced with before.
“My lady.” this man said as he inclined his head in a bow. I took in his appearance, remembering how tall he had seemed to me when we had danced. He was still tall, and his black hair was shot over with gray at the temples. His hair was pulled back in the topknot I saw on most of the Fire Nation men and his sideburns were neatly trimmed. He looked at me with a calm yet friendly expression and I felt no threat from him.
I did not know what to say to him, so I bowed slightly.
“My lord, the cook says that dinner will be ready shortly, in about five minutes. He apologizes for not having it done sooner…”
“That is fine, Kamas.” my companion said, and the other man nodded. I turned without asking for leave and walked outside, inhaling the night air. I contemplated climbing over the wall and down it and making a mad dash for it. The sun had just gone down and I found the darkness and stars comforting.
I sensed his presence nearby and chose to not acknowledge it as I looked down at the flowers. There was a wide assortment of them along the low wall and down in the courtyard.
I felt his hand slide across mine and squeeze it.
o0o0o0o
Zuko
I knew she was trying to resist. But I would be damned if I let her shut me out. I had felt her starting to open up to me in the sedan and knew that I was slowly but surely chipping away her resistance.
I know you are hiding somewhere in there, Katara, I thought to myself as I felt her hand in mine. I knew it was she. I didn’t know how she had come back but I did not care, as long as I had her back with me. I drew closer to her, taking comfort in her presence. I had been lonely for far too long.
I squeezed her hand in what I hoped was a reassuring manner. I longed to take her into my arms and reveal the reason I wanted her, and the fact that I loved her and had for so long. But she did not remember, and would think I was crazy, or be insulted and think that I picked her because she looked like someone else. I had no desire to make her feel like a replacement. That in itself seemed odd, her thinking she was a replacement for someone else when she was in fact that person.
I prayed to Agni that one day she could know the truth, or that I could bring her past memories to the surface. On the other hand, could she handle that? Perhaps it was best to keep the past buried. I would still love her, memory or not. We were meant to be together and our souls were intertwined. Of that I had no doubt.
With the braid of hers and the simple outfit she had chosen she looked so much like her old self. I had been so stunned to see her dressed like that and at the same time it reassured me. I looked down at her, holding her hand as I came closer. My other hand went up to touch her face but she spoke before I made contact.
“Don't.” she pleaded quietly, trying to pull away but I kept my grip.
“Why not?”
“Because...I don’t want to be here and you know that.”
“Yet you are here.”
“Only because you made me.”
“You did not run off or try to hide when I came to your house.”
“If I did, you would have dragged me here. I wanted to… maintain my dignity.” she retorted, still looking down at the flowers. I did not bother holding back my smirk. I looked down at the flowers and plucked one, placing it in her hair. It was a light violet color, with a deep purple heart, and it gave her eyes a lavender tint. She looked up at me with surprise and I felt a small smile begin to form on my lips.
Suddenly, there was a knocking on the door and I tensed a bit.
“The food is ready.” I heard the chef’s voice.
“Very well, set the table.” I called out.
My chef and his men entered, laden with dishes and they bustled about, carefully setting the table before bowing.
“It will be my pleasure to know that the Fire Lord and his lovely guest enjoy the food that I have prepared.” he said before he and his men left, closing the door behind them.
“Sit.” I commanded, waving my arm. She hesitated for a moment before taking one of the two seats. I took the other one, directly across from her at the small table and watched as she glanced at all of the dishes curiously.
“Help yourself.” I said as I started selecting food and putting them on my plate. She seemed unsure of what to try first, and seemed afraid to ask me for help.
“You can select anything you like. But I would recommend you try the stuffed mushrooms first.” I said with a wave of my chopsticks. Gingerly she reached out and picked one of them from the plate they sat on, glancing at it curiously for a moment. I watched as she took a small bite. She slowly nodded after swallowing and took a larger bite. The mushrooms were stuffed with finely ground vegetables and spices and I had a fondness for them myself.
After that, she ventured to try the other dishes, tasting them and enjoying most of them. I took note of what she seemed to not enjoy, and also of the ones she seemed to like the best. She was curious about all of the dishes and my encouragement helped her to feel more comfortable. I held back a smirk as she struggled to swallow a bite of the fruit salad. It contained papaya, which she had not liked. Looked like she still did not like it.
“Don’t worry about wasting anything. I have ordered the chef to bundle up the leftovers and take them down to the poorest part of the city.” I said. She looked up at me with surprise and... what I was sure was approval. I also had plans for my servant to take a bag of coins and distribute that along with the food.
I had learned much from my wanderings back when I was an exile. I learned many things that could not be taught by the best or smartest of tutors back at the Palace. I carried these lessons with me when I became the Fire Lord.
She set down her chopsticks and sipped her tea before placing her hands on her lap. I finished my own dinner in a few bites and called in the servants to clear the table. There was a special treat coming up, one that I hoped Katara would enjoy very much.
o0o0o0o
Katara
I sat silently as the table was cleared, praying that the evening was over and I could go back home. But when the men returned with clean dishes and a covered platter, my heart sunk.
The cook was a kind-faced and portly fellow, and he flashed me a friendly grin. With a swift movement he uncovered the dish and for a moment I was not sure what I was looking at. I figured it was some kind of pastry covered in chocolate, and I knew that the Fire Lord and I were to share it.
The man bowed and left, and I was left alone with the Fire Lord and this confection. One of the things that the chef had brought was a knife and with this, the Fire Lord sliced into the treat. I realized that it was a small cake, one that had been frosted in chocolate to resemble a volcano. The inside of the cake was indeed red, and I sensed that it would be spicy.
“This is a delicacy in the Fire Nation known as a volcano-cake.” the Fire Lord explained as he placed half of it on my plate.
I poked the cake with my chopsticks. The inside was soft and moist, and I placed a small bite in my mouth. I tasted cinnamon among other things, and it was not overly spicy/ Hmm. I liked it.
The Fire Lord also seemed to relish it, and our eyes met for a moment. I quickly looked down shyly. We both took our time, savoring the treat. I never had anything like this before and was saddened to find my plate empty.
“Did you enjoy the cake?” he asked and I nodded.
“Yes. It was delicious. I have never tasted anything like it.” I replied as I looked up at him.
“Do you know the meaning behind it?” he asked. I shook my head.
“It is a treat that is reserved for couples. Sharing a volcano-cake is one way for couples to share and enjoy their bond. It is often shared at wedding celebrations and anniversaries, as well as to celebrate betrothals.” he said with a soft smirk. I gave out an angry hiss and rose from my seat, tossing my napkin onto the plate. He had to go ahead and ruin a treat for me! We were not a couple! As if he had read my mind, he made his next statement.
“A volcano-cake is a symbol of the passion between two people. In eating the cake, you agree that you belong to me.”
“No I don’t! I am of the Water Tribe and your customs are not mine!”
“But I am of the Fire Nation. And since you are my bride, it applies to both of us.”
“I didn’t know about it! So it cannot apply to me! You're a bastard!”
“Even if you didn't know, it does apply to you.” he answered smugly. I longed to smack that smirk off his face. To hold myself back, I moved to the terrace, looking outside and taking a deep breath of the night air. He approached me from behind and wrapped his arm around my middle. I tried to pull away but he remained firm.
“Let me go!”
“You belong to me, Waterbender.” he smirked. I noticed that he preferred to call me Waterbender, rather than call me by my given name.
“But why me? We do not even know each other.”
“I know enough.” the Fire Lord replied in a tone that I could not read. He turned me around and pressed his nose and lips to my neck. I could feel him breathe in my scent, and his warm breath on my throat. And it felt good.
“Mine.” he whispered as I felt him place a kiss on my throat. An involuntary shiver passed through me. I shook my head and tried to pull away.
“You are disrespecting a lady!” I protested, and just then a desperate thought occurred to me.
“If I lay with you tonight, will you leave me alone?” I asked. The Fire Lord's eyes widened slightly as he paused. He drew himself back to his full height and looked down at me with a smirk.
“So eager, are we?” he asked. I blushed and looked away, fiddling with the hem of my sleeve.
“No… I just… you have made it clear that you desire me. You could…sate yourself and not go through with all of this trouble.” I ventured cautiously. I was not eager to give up my maidenhead to this man, but if it would get me out of this situation, then the price paid just might be worth it. Although, if that happened, what would other men say? I was truly between a rock and a hard place.
“That is not the case. There is no doubt that I want very badly to claim you as mine in that way, but I am not a man who seeks a trophy. I want a wife, and you will be that wife. After we lay together, I will only want more and more. And you will enjoy it.”
“How come?”
“Because I will never tire of you.” he whispered. I looked up into his eyes, trying to understand him and just what he wanted from me. He could not be serious about that, could he?
“When I thought about the kind of man I would marry and what kind of family I might have, I... certainly never imagined this.”
“And what did you envision?” Zuko asked.
“A man who...” I let out a slow sigh. Though I could see that my father deeply loved and respected both of his wives, I knew it was not the norm for many people. Arranged marriages were commonplace, especially among the upper classes. “It has been my greatest wish... and still is... to have a husband who loves me.”
He looked at me as if suddenly realizing something. I stared back evenly.
“I can see that I have erred.” he said. I held back a gasp. Did this mean the betrothal had been broken? I should be relieved... but to my shock, I actually felt dismay at the thought of never seeing him again.
“I have never said this to any other woman.”
“What?”
“I love you.”
I stood there, unable to breathe, barely able to think.
“I would never consider telling another woman that, because I have never felt that way about anybody else. I love you, I truly do.” his gaze was soft, and I felt my heart skip a beat. I knew that some men said it to sweet-talk their women, but I felt nothing but sincerity in his tone.
“But you have known me for such a short amount of time, my lord. How can you be so certain?”
His lips descended onto mine before I could react. He was gentle for a few moments, as if he wanted to prepare me. Then he became more ardent, sucking on my lips and sliding his tongue in. But it was no sloppy kiss. Even though I had never been kissed like this I sensed the finesse with which he did it. My heart fluttered in my chest and I moaned as his tongue caressed mine.
When he broke the kiss, I regained my senses and shoved him away.
“You cannot push me away. If I want to kiss you, hold you, or do anything else with you, you will submit to me.”
“I want you to leave me alone!”
“So I should just ignore you, hmmm? Should I just let the woman who has captured my attention go? I think not.”
“I am being taken to a place that I have never been to, a place that I am told is to be my new home, by a person I do not know much less trust.”
“I am very trustworthy.”
“How do I know that?”
“I give you my word. You can trust me and know that I will never hurt you. I am a man of honor. I do love you.” he whispered. I sighed softly, turning back to him.
The Fire Lord pulled me into a gentle embrace. He made no move to kiss me or touch me in any other way, and we stood there like that for a few long moments, his chin resting lightly on the top of my head. I closed my eyes and found myself to be enjoying this. There was something about his embrace that made me want to stay inside of it.
His hand started stroking my hair and I did not protest. I liked this gentle treatment and wondered to myself if Zuko would be such an awful husband, as I had feared, especially if he truly loved me as he claimed. I allowed my head to lean against his chest and I heard his heartbeat. Still he held me gently and I appreciated that. I hoped that this would never change. I had heard about husbands who seemed sweet and loving at first and then changed once the marriage was done.
He loosened his grip slightly and lowered his head to place a kiss on my forehead. This gesture was so sweet and tender that I felt my defenses crumble just a bit.
o0o0o0o
Zuko
I liked it very much when she laid her head on my chest and let me hold her. I felt a peace that I had not known for a very long time.
She was mine and nothing would take her away from me, not a blade or a deadly blow or the machinations of another. A long time ago, she had promised to be mine, and I had done so in return. Even after her death I kept that promise to heart. I could not forget it even if I wanted to, and oh, how I had tried before.
We had taken each other and… I had failed to protect her. I fully intended to make up for that. I would keep her safe and cherished, and I would not squander this second chance.
I placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. When she looked up at me again I kissed her other cheek and felt her blush as I did so. My fingers reached up to stroke her cheek and she did not turn away from me. My lips pressed against her own again for another kiss and this time I kept the kiss gentle and exploring, kissing along her lips and the corners of her mouth. She let out a quiet whimper and closed her eyes, letting me do this.
After a few moments, as if she remembered where she was, Katara opened her eyes and started to pull away from me. I held firm and nuzzled her, kissing along her cheek. I was intent on reminding her that she belonged with me. She refused to admit it, but I knew I was penetrating her defenses. She would desire me as much as I desired her.
She let out a soft whimper when I nuzzled her fiercely.
“Don’t pull away.” I whispered in a gentle tone, kissing along her jaw. She started to shake her head and I smirked before kissing her again.
“Let me go.”
“Why?” I asked as I continued to smirk.
“...Because.” she whispered, looking away and blushing.
“Because why? Don’t tell me that you are afraid of me.” I whispered, holding back a chuckle. She said nothing and tried to pull away.
“Please.” she whispered as I gently brushed a loose strand of hair from her face.
“Don't be afraid.” I asked with a gentle whisper.
“Then...then what are you going to do now?” she asked, clearly expecting the worst. I stroked her cheek to reassure her.
“Hold you.” I said and I did just that. My chin rested on the top of her head and I rubbed her back gently, feeling her start to relax again. She may deny it but I knew she was enjoying my touch; her head was leaned against my chest again.
Slowly I let go and drew away. She stood there, glancing up at me curiously, a mixture of disappointment and relief on her face.
I moved back to the table and grabbed her cushion, placing it next to mine.
“Come and sit with me, my lady.” I said as I sat down. She stood there for several moments and I stared at her, beckoning to her. After a hesitant moment she did as I asked, sitting down demurely with her hands in her lap.
“Are you thirsty?” I asked? There was still wine on the table. She shook her head.
“Tell me about yourself.” I asked, wanting to see how this life had treated her. She blinked and looked up at me.
“Were you born here or elsewhere?”
“I…was born in the Northlands.” Katara replied. I nodded.
“And how did you come to be here?”
“…My father was a trader, and after my mother died, we moved around for a bit before settling down here.” she explained and I nodded. So Amigaitut’s wife was her stepmother.
“Your parents treat you well?” I asked and she nodded.
“They…both care bout me very much, and they…will miss me.” She looked away for a moment.
“I will not bar them from seeing you or corresponding with you. They cam visit you.” I explained. She slowly nodded.
“What do you like to do?” I asked. She paused for a moment.
“Be honest.”
“…I like to read, and Waterbend.” she said hesitantly, obviously reluctant to share too much about herself. I decided not to demand too many answers right now.
“What was your favorite subject?” I asked.
“History.” she said. This answer pleased me. I had enjoyed history myself. It was not so much about the dates or who did what, but I liked reading the stories that had been passed down through my people. After the War, I had been able to access material from the other nations. It was interesting to compare, and while the cultures were different there were quite a few similarities. I found it a fascinating study.
“What about it?”
“I... I like the legends.” she said.
“So do I.” I said simply. She glanced at me curiously as my hand found hers.
“The library at the Palace is a wonderful place to be. You can find so much there.” I said, wanting to give her something to look forward to. She did seem pleased by what I said.
“I spent a lot of time there when I was a boy. I spent hours reading the books and once in a while I would sneak there when I was supposed to be in bed.” I said in a soft voice. I saw a hint of a warm smile creep onto her face. I reached up to caress her cheek, and she did not pull away.
“I will be good to you. Do not be angry or afraid with me.” I whispered. She turned her head away at these words, and I held back a sigh. Be patient, I told myself.
o0o0o0o
Katara
He helped me into the sedan before I heard him hold a moment of quiet conversation with the guards. He came in and sat across from me. I kept my hands in my lap, looking down demurely and remaining silent. I did not know what to feel about him. Part of me was furious that this man was trying to dictate my future. Another part of me said that he was not so bad, and that he had done nothing to hurt me. If he truly meant what he said about me being his one and only wife, then I would not need to worry about being discarded and bored.
“You do not need to look down like that.” I heard his soft yet deep voice whisper to me.
“Look at me.” he said after I kept my eyes down for several moments. I was determined to remain strong about this and not let him win, but it was hard to do so whenever I looked into his eyes. They held an odd hypnotic quality that made me feel as if I had known him for a long time, and it was an unnerving sensation.
“It does not matter how much you resist me. You are my bride and shall remain so. No amount of fighting will release you from our bond.”
“I am not going to marry you!” I shot back defiantly, my head snapping up at his statement.
“You are and there is absolutely nothing you can do.” he replied calmly which only served to infuriate me more. It was as if he was challenging me.
“No! I will run away or take my own life!”
“You will do neither.”
“You cannot stop me!”
“I can and will.” the Fire Lord said, his eyes fixed on me intently.
“No you cannot! You cannot stop me from doing it!” I replied derisively. Before I could respond, he grabbed me and pulled me onto his lap.
“I hate you!” I hissed, squirming against him.
“No, you do not. Please don't say that.” the Fire Lord whispered. I was surprised to detect hurt in his voice. It shocked me enough that I stopped my struggles for a moment. He used this opportunity to lean forward and pin me under him, keeping my wrists in his hands. This new position made me even more vulnerable and I squirmed against him. I thought about spitting in his face. Even though I was in a very vulnerable position, I was determined to fight back.
I do not know where I drew this strength from. Even though he was the Lord of an entire Nation, at that moment I did not feel afraid of him.
“Let me go!”
“No. You are mine. Please, stop fighting.” he whispered hotly before nuzzling the side of my face. I tried to kick him, but my legs were pinned under his own. He placed a kiss on the side of my neck, just above my collar. I had to find a way out of this. There had to be some way to send a message to Enki. But then the Fire Lord could carry out the threats he had made. I truly was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Even then I felt the desire to fight him.
He started to press his lips against the side of my neck and I attempted to wiggle free. His scent was that of smoke, and a hint of spice, along with something undeniably male although not at all unpleasant. I was surprised to find myself liking that scent. I did not want to admit that I enjoyed anything about him. To do so would be an admission to the fact that he was starting to win me over and that scared me.
“Is this all we’re going to do when we are together?” I asked dryly as he nuzzled me fiercely.
“Among other things.” he whispered. A shiver passed through me, and I bit my lip before I quickly looked away. Again, I wondered what it was he saw in me. It was not money. It was not power. He sounded so certain when he said that he would never bore of me or cast me aside. He also did not seem truly angered by my defiance. If anything, he seemed to enjoy it and even…expect it? I was so certain he would have at least hit me when I insulted him. Yet I had the feeling that if anyone else had slung the same insult at him, he would have them punished severely.
“I shall find a way to escape!”
“You may try, but you will not succeed. If I have to send in more guards, I will. Or do I have to order the sedan to go back and keep you in my custody?”
“I would still find a way to get away!”
“And just where would you go?” he asked. I was silent for a couple of moments.
“To the King of Omashu?” he asked with a smirk. I glared at him.
“Or back to the Northlands? The Tribe would turn you over to me.”
“No they wouldn’t.” I replied in a small voice, “I was born there. I am one of them and I have committed no crime.”
“They would turn you over to me if I asked them.” he replied with a smirk.
“Not if I tell them what you did!” I shot back. I longed to wipe that smirk off his face.
“Actually, they also arrange marriages for their daughters. What I am doing is nothing new.” he retorted, and I glared at him.
“Surely you are aware of their customs? I know that when a man is courting a woman, he carves her a necklace and places it on her to mark his claim.” he asked. Of course I knew about my people’s customs. My silence was his answer.
“Of course, I will give you a piece of jewelry to signify our union when we get to Sozun. How about a necklace? Or a ring? What would you like?” he asked before he kissed my bare neck. I refused to answer.
“I am on excellent terms with them. We are very good allies, and they would not risk my wrath by hiding you from me. You cannot run away from me, my Waterbender.”
He was right, and his words made sense. Every time I found something new to say, something to protest my situation he had something to say back to me. I hated it. For a moment, I considered feigning madness. Insanity was considered a disease that could be spread onto others, and it just might keep him at bay. But how could I pull it off?
“I do care for you whether you believe me or not.” he said in a gentle voice. I remained silent as he gave me gentle kisses and nuzzles, his hands releasing my own so one of his arms could wrap around me. The other hand reached up to caress my face and I found myself leaning into his touch.
He kissed me with tenderness, pressing his lips all over my face in a languorous manner. I bit back a soft whimper.
The sedan came to a stop.
“Look...” The Fire Lord leaned back, looking down at me. “I am a man of my word. I will not harm you, ever. I know that this feels sudden to you. Were I in Water Tribe lands, I would be glad to stay longer. But I have a Nation to run, and I am not welcome here. I don't wish to leave you behind. I...” A soft sigh escaped his lips. “I am sorry that you're unhappy. I know this is all happening so fast, but please trust me when I say that I do care for you, and I will do what I can to make you happy. I swear this upon my honor... as the Fire Lord, and as a man. I love you..”
o0o0o0o
Zuko
I was tempted to keep her in the sedan longer, but I did not want to press her and lose whatever progress I had made. I slowly relinquished my grip on her and opened the door a crack.
I took her hand and kissed it, looking down at her.
“Until we see each other again, my lady.” I whispered. My words seemed to have soothed her, for she wasn't looking at me with as much defiance as before. I opened the door and watched as a guard helped her down. She looked over her shoulder back at me for a moment.
After she left, I thought about what she had been wearing. She looked so much like her old self... the braid, the blue linen tunic, the indigo pants... she had gone for a low-key and simple look instead of wearing one of her nice dresses. I knew that it was just an attempt to throw me off, to present herself as plain, unadorned. Haha. Only if she knew that it had the opposite effect on me. Katara was beautiful to me, no matter what she wore.
Later, I sat in a wicker chair out on the balcony, surrounded by the flowers that lined the parapet. I stared out at the city, sipping some tea as I studied the various buildings. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the Palace, at the top of the peak of the city. Suddenly, I heard Kamas rapping on the doorjamb. I turned to look at him and beckoned for him to join me.
“May I sit down?” he asked. I nodded, and he took the other wicker chair. I had to admit, these chairs could be pretty comfy, at least for a bit. The chair squeaked a bit as Kamas settled into it.
“My lord, there is something that I need to say.” Kamas started. I raised my eyebrow.
“What is it?”
“You know that I have always been one of your most loyal and ardent supporters. I have backed every decision you made as Fire Lord...”
“What is it you have to say?” I asked, cutting to the chase.
“Your uncle wanted to see you happily married, and so do I. But...” He paused, taking a breath.
“You do not like her?” I asked. He shook his head.
“I think Miumi is a fine woman, and I would not object to having her as Fire Lady. However... I must admit that I do not think it very wise to force her hand into marriage.”
“Huh.” I had not expected to hear this from him.
“I have only your best interests at heart. I fear what an unhappy wife might do to lash out at you. You do not want the enmity of a person who holds such a close position in your life.”
I slowly nodded. What Katara had said earlier this evening had given me much to think about. I was angry at myself for not having told her I loved her sooner. One would think that at my age, I would know what to do, but I still made mistakes. How could I be so stupid?
I didn't want to leave her behind in Omashu. I missed her too much and the thought of leaving without her was unbearable. Yet at the same time I could understand her anger about the situation and Kamas' concern.
“Your concern is duly noted.” I finally said. “You can go.”
Kamas rose from the seat and returned to his own quarters. I leaned back in my chair. What was a lovelorn man to do?
o0o0o0o
Katara
I was determined to break free. I was angry with him for forcing my hand, yet this man stirred a deep well of emotion that I never knew I had. His touches, his gaze, his voice caused me to react in a way that no other man had never been able to elicit from me. And it frightened me. It felt as if the Fire Lord would consume me with the element that he controlled.
I passed by the Fire Nation guard that stood near my door without saying a word, slamming it shut. I quickly changed, putting on better shoes and thicker pants and replacing my robe with a loose shirt and tunic. It was a cool night and I left the window open as I lay on my bed for a bit. When I was certain that the household was asleep, I moved towards the window.
I had never sneaked out of the house before – I had no reason to. I was no acrobat and had never climbed up or down except on a ladder. But I was confident that I could make it down safely.
Very slowly and carefully, I climbed out of my window and moved my feet around in an exploring manner before I found purchase. When I was certain of it, I crawled down the slope of the second-story roof, constantly testing with my hands and feet to make sure I would not slip.
Every moment was torturous. I was afraid that I would fall or cause a roof shingle to come free and make a noise that would alert the guards. It did not help that I had never done anything like this before.
Moving from one roof to the next was no simple task. I had to move along the edge of the roof a couple of meters before I found a window. Using the frame of this window I moved down to the last roof. As I crawled across this, I felt a shingle come loose under my hand, but I grabbed it before it could clatter down the slope and alert the guards.
Landing on the ground jarred me, but I managed not to make too much noise. I looked around to make sure no one saw or heard me. So far, things were fine.
The property had two gates – the main front one, and a smaller back one. It was rarely used and always locked, but my father had taught me how to open and lock it in case of an emergency. This would be my venue of escape.
I kept to the shadows, moving under the trees whenever I could. I knew that I could gain admission into the Palace for I was in favor with Enki. I knew that he would be willing to hide me.
The small gate came into view and I approached it. I rested my hand on the cool wood, thinking about my current situation. What was I running away from? What was I escaping to? I thought about the Fire Lord' words to me, how he had assured me of my safety and comfort in Fire Nation. He honestly seemed earnest to see me happy. And if I ran to Enki, what might happen to my family? Would this action trigger another war? Suddenly, I felt uncertain of running away as I stared down at the lock.
...please trust me when I say that I do care for you, and I will do what I can to make you happy. I swear this upon my honor... as the Fire Lord, and as a man...
I love you.... Zuko's words remained inside of my head and I let out a soft sigh, pressing my hand against the cool wood of the door.
A hand clamped down on my shoulder.
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Kiss of Fire