Adult-FanFiction.org : Cartoons

The Fall of Ozai	By : CaptATKirk Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Het - Male/Female Views: 5957 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- 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
- 7
- 8
- 9
Chapter 8 Azula Returns
Lan sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She looked at the sun and could see that it was getting close to noon. She looked around and only found Momo and Appa. Momo jumped on her before leaping of to chase a dragon butterfly.
“ Goofy Lemur.” She mumbled sleepily as she took care of nature calling. She heard noises like someone was fighting and decided to head toward it.
She made her way to the clearing of sand where Aang, Iroh and Zuko were. It looked like Aang was fighting Zuko but the world was still fuzzy. Lan could see a big blur standing watching them and shouting at Zuko not to do something. She made her way there and stopped to rub more sleep. Iroh looked so tired but still had a smile for her.
“ Good your awake. I was going to send someone to check on you.” He watched Aang and Zuko try the sets again. Aang was struggling but getting there. Zuko wasn’t even getting close. It had been this way all morning. Usually after the third try Zuko could at least get a set right but not today.
“ Why didn’t you wake me with these two?” She yawned and stretched unceremoniously falling out he ground and sitting down.
“ You needed rest.” He watched as Aang finally mastered the new form. Zuko was still struggling with the set he was given. “ Zuko. Aang. Put the sets to use and attack each other.” He turned his full attention to Lan. “ So how do you feel?”
“ Like Appa hit me in the head with his tail.”
“ When was the last time you used your healing to that kind of degree?”
Zuko had told Iroh about what Lan had done last night. He had let her rest knowing that her sleep was deep enough that her body would heal itself. Out of the three students she was the faster learner so it wasn’t as if it would hurt her training. What she had done last night with Zuko wasn’t exactly what Iroh had in mind but it seemed to work. Now though he feared for Lan. By doing what she did to help try and heal Zuko, it gave Iroh a clear idea that Lan was going to help heal Zuko or die trying. It told Iroh that for Lan it was all or nothing.
“ For that kind of emotional scarring . . . never.” Iroh nodded his head and let the subject drop. Tonight during Pi Sho he would attempt to bring out more. Lan seemed to sense this as well and headed down a new road. “ So how’s the fire bending going today? ”
“ Both students have their minds else where.”All morning Aang had been stealing looks at the river where Katara was water bending. She was pretty far away and you could only see her head but that didn’t stop him. Zuko was constantly looking back to the camp site whenever he could. Now with Lan here he seemed to stop and was getting aggressive with Aang again.
“ Good Aang force Zuko to come to you.” He returned his full attentions now to his students. Aang remembering that all fire benders have a root destroyed Zuko’s and knocked him on his back.
“ Way to go little arrow!” Lan clapped her hands and gave Aang two thumbs up. She was about to tell Zuko that he had done well too only to find that he was gone. She covered her face.” I probably should not have done that.”
“ I was afraid this would happen. He is so unbalanced still.” And jealous as sin.
“ Yah think. “ She dusted her but off before looking to see where he had went. She couldn’t see anything.
“ Hmm Lan maybe you should bring Zuko back while I teach Aang fire breathing.”
“ Um . . . usually I agree with you but I don’t think that is a good idea.”
“ Remember what I said to you. Do not give up on him yet.”
“ Okay.” Lan sighs very loudly before searching for angry boy.
                                                                        * * *
Katara was perfecting the octopus technique. Taking the water and making it swirl around her. She was going to start when she heard Zuko cursing up a storm. She watched as he fumed and raged and started yelling something that she couldn’t quite make out.
“ Hey some of us are trying to work here!” She waded to the shore line and watched him fuming more. She could finally make out what he was saying.
“ Stupid little bald headed monk!” She watched as the fire came from his nose like a dragon. “ Why do you always have to show off for her? ? !” He ran right into Katara and caught her before she fell flat.
“ Whoa!” She ended up falling flat onto him. Zuko landed back first and Katara landed right on top of him.” Sorry.”
“ It’s okay.” He lay there for a while to stunned. He looked at her and she looked at him both frozen.
Since the North Pole Katara had wanted to try something. She had wondered if for a fraction of a second what it would be like to kiss him. This was a good a chance as any to find out. It wasn’t as if he was with Lan or anything.
“ What were you yelling about? ” She asked him and sat up but didn’t get off of him. This was the second time she had been this close to him. It was worth trying. No, one was around and it wasn’t going to hurt anyone.
“ Aang.” He tried to move to get her off but she wouldn’t budge. “ Katara would you mind getting off me now?” He didn’t know why but he didn’t like being on the ground with someone on him. It didn’t make sense to him but he didn’t like this position one bit.
He could push her off but it would probably bring more wrath down on him. She was moving down from his stomach to sit lower. She made a small wiggle of her hips before bringing her face to his. The sun reflecting off her hair gave it an orange red glow making him think of Lan.
“ What’s the hurry?” She purred. This was an itch she was going to scratch at least this once.
She puts her lips to his and runs her tongue along his bottom lip. Zuko doesn’t move or respond until her tongue pushes his mouth open. He closes his eyes and lets the invasion happen he even responds cupping the back of her head. He enjoys the taste of her for a while before taking Katara by the shoulders and prying her from him. It wasn’t right. It wasn’t the one water bender he really wanted. Since the North Pole he had wanted to but found someone better. He had found Lan.
“ I’m sorry. I did something I always wanted to try and now I wish I hadn’t.” Katara sat up quickly and got to her feet. She held her hand out to Zuko to help him up and he took it.
“ It was something . . . I wanted . . . but-“ He was looking around and when he found no one was glad. It would stay between them. It was one of those things they tried and it was over with. No one had seen and no ones’ feelings would be trampled on.
“ It wasn’t Lan.” Katara looked away and blushed to the roots of her hair. He really does love her. He could have had me right here but he stopped it because I am not her.
“ No, it wasn’t -“ A huge wave crashed on both of them. They sputter and look to see Lan with a big ball of white fire ready to kill. She throws it barley missing Katara’s head before leaving.
What they didn’t know was she had walked in right on the kissing. She couldn’t believe it. She had to walk away before she did something she would regret later. She had watched Katara, probably who Lan would call her best friend, suck face with the only guy she ever wanted to be with.
“ Oh no.” Katara covered her mouth with her hand. She knew Lan had seen everything.
All the trust and giggles and girlie things they had done together gone. Even the Water sisters’ ritual of pricking your finger and using water bending to make the blood mix, form a figure eight between the two before returning back to their bodies all went down the tubes with one harmless kiss.
“ I’ll talk to her. This is my fault.” Zuko ran his hand threw his hair trying to think of how he could explain this one. Oh yeah Katara and I are just friends too. What? Oh me kissing her? Well that was because I am an idiot.
“ No I’m the one who started it. I should explain.”
“ I could have stopped it. “
“ YOU”RE BOTH STUPID! But the looks on your faces if I could see would be priceless. “ Toph screeches from the bank laughing her head off as she walks away.
                                                                        * * *
Lan was making her way back to camp and just couldn’t get the pictures out of her head. She couldn’t make the picture of Zuko and Katara, laying on the banks, in each others arms, tasting each other leave her mind. She wanted a fight so bad she was wishing Azula would show up just so she could hurt something. She made her way back to camp and saw Aang and Iroh playing Pi Sho. She couldn’t hurt Katara yet but maybe she could lite a fire under Aang to move and tell Katara how he feels.
“ Oh no what has my nephew done now?” Iroh was the first to spot her and the drop -dead- all- of- you look on her face screamed Zuko had done something incredibly stupid. Lan stopped three feet from Aang and threw a fireball at his foot. He moved away just in time.
“ Whoa what did I do?!” He stood up and took a defensive stance.
“ If you could just tell Katara how you feel about her then she and Zuko wouldn’t have-uragh“ She fumed before stomping off. It really wasn’t his fault and she decided to leave before she did something else she would have to say sorry for later. Lan tried to make her way to get away from all forms of life but Toph cackling stops her.
“ I am not in the mood for your shit, Mouth.” She stopped walking and looked at Toph.
“ I know, I know, I know.” Toph earth bended a rock for her to sit down on.” I heard what the Ice Queen and cranky pants did so I want to throw rocks at you and let you smash em. You could use the work out. It kills the frustration.”
“ Sounds fucking good to me.” Lan got into her aggressive fire bender stance and was ready for whatever Toph was going to throw at her. Gets into her fire bender stance
“ Ready sex kitten?” She smiles viciously thinking of the best work out to give Lan.
“ Bring it. ” She was ready but when she watched the amusing look on Toph’s face drop and become a worried look she stood back “ What is it Toph? “
“ Oh no.” Toph jumped down of the rock and listened harder to the earth. It felt like an earth quake but not. Only one thing could make a vibration like that.
“ What is it? “ Lan stood beside her and looked around.
“ That damn psycho bitch Azula.”
                                                            * * *
Everyone is scrambling to get up on Appa. Lan is the last one about to get on board when she sees Katara who never had a problem getting on alone before being helped up by Zuko. It was the last straw. If he didn’t want her that was fine but to loose to Sugar Queen was plucking at her pride. Lan whips her head around and faces the three Lizard riders.
“ Lan c’mon we have to go.” Aang screamed. She can hear the fear in his voice. Like a mother who only wants to calm a childs’ fears Lan wanted to do that for Aang but just couldn’t. Not now. He rage needed an outlet right now. Azula would do nicely.
“ No. I am not running anymore.” Lan shook her head and watched the puff getting closer.
“ Lan, you are no match for Azula.” Iroh had just made it onto Appa.
“ It doesn’t matter. I have some miss placed anger to let out.” Lan kept watching the puff. She refused to look at anyone anymore. Which one of you will betray me next?
“ Lan c’mon please there’s no more time.” Aang is holding out his hand for her to jump up next to him on Appa. She looks at Aang finally and is tempted to get on Appa with him.
“ Uncle is right you cannot win this fight.” Zuko is holding out his hand to her as well. Pleading with her with his eyes.” Please Lan . . . let’s go!”Any other day she would have gladly taken his hand. I don’t want your help anymore. I’ll save myself.
“ What do you fucking care! Take the ice princess and get lost!” She looked at them both before looking forward. A slap to the face would have been more preferable to Zuko then what she was doing now. ” I’m sorry Aang but I need this fight”
Her eyes go form their pretty light blue color to the red of molten lava. The red bleeds into the whites making her look like a fire demon. Azula and her gang burst through the trees. Zuko and Sokka jump from Appa and leap on either side of her. The others begin to slide off of Appa to taking defensive stances.
“ I told all of you to leave. “ Her voice is not her own.
“Lan you know we leave no one behind.” Sokka looks at her and is so glad she is on their side. She can’t see him or hear him all she sees is the threat before her.
“ Well Ladies shall we try this again.” Azula reigned her Mongoose Lizard to stop. Ty Li and Mai did the same.
“ What Azula are you ready for round two!” Lan spoke as she was ready like a water bender.
“ There’s no water here for you to bend.” Azula remarks maniacally. “ Besides if it wasn’t for Zu Zu I would have killed you last time.” Azula slides down from her lizard.
“ Who said I was going to bend water.” Lan switches at the last second to an electrical wind up that causes white flames to shoot towards Azula. Not having time to move out of the way Azula bends backwards her head almost touching the ground.
“ I don’t need him to save me.” The blast does land between Ty Li and Mai causing them to be unseated from their Lizards. Azula brings her head back up to reveal her top knot has been burned off along with her fire nation tiara.
“ You bitch !” Azula Screeches.” I’ll Kill you for that.” She begins to race toward Lan
“ Bring it.” Lan has a ball of white fire waiting. “ I have been itching for a fight!” She races toward Azula where blue and white flames collide.
                                                                        * * *
Appa glides threw the air as if there is nothing else in the world better to do. Aang perches on his head laid back as only an Air Nomad can. Lan sits back next to him eyes closed letting the air run threw her cinnamon hair. The others are still going on about defeating Azula and her witches.
“ White flames where the heck did Lan learn to do that. I remember when she could barely light a lamp without burning something.” Sokka was still going on about it. Lan wished he would shut it already.
“ She has been practicing more than I thought.” Iroh remarked.
“ Practicing is not the word . . . she keeps this up she’ll be a master by next week.” If she knew she wouldn’t have to apologize later Lan would have gaged Sokka.
“ I still thought you and I nailing Ty Li to a tree with a rock slide was pretty neat.” Toph knew that the tension level was way up. She could feel it like a living thing ready to choke her. If she could get Sokka to shut it, maybe it would go down a bit.
“ Toph you’re right. That was a pretty maneuver.” The others are oblivious to Aang and Lan’s conversation except one person . . . Zuko is watching them and listening very closely. She had almost killed Azula. Lan had scared Azula to the point of her asking him for help and it was all his fault.
“ How long have you been practicing at night?” Aang didn’t like Lan being so quiet. He could feel her slowly destroying herself from the inside. Maybe if she talked to him, he could make her stop.
Lan merely shrugs. Her hair loose and in her face hiding her tears.”Since we left the Air Temple. There are times when I can get it right and others I have to keep working and working. So at night when I can’t sleep and other . . . things play on my mind I practice.”
“ I’m sorry Lan.”
“ What do you have to be sorry for?” She sighs and shrugs before sitting up and looking down. She didn’t want to talk about it. She didn’t want to feel anything right now. Sleep sounded real good. Who knows maybe I am asleep. Maybe this is all some really bad dream. I couldn’t be that lucky.
“ Lan your right and I am sorry I haven’t said something to Katara sooner. It’s just-“
“ You didn’t do anything to be sorry for. If anything I’m sorry for what I did.” Aang is about to say something and before he can even start. “ I think we should land their Aang.” Aang follows her finger to the spot she is pointing at. Surrounded by water and trees. Perfect for the night.
” The tree’s will help. It looks like it’s going to rain.” It wasn’t much use. Lan was going to stay shut within herself.
Lan nods and they begin the slow assent. Appa lands softly and the un packing process begins. Lan jumps down and helps Aang with Appa’s things while everyone else works on some part of camp. Katara wants to explain and make peace quickly.
“ Hey Lan how about you and I get the water together.” Lan stops and looks at her. If looks could kill, Katara would be dead and buried. Katara had to explain. It wasn’t that she wanted him far from it she just wanted to know why Lan went after him. Now she knew why. Kissing him made her realize that it was much nicer with . . . Aang.
” I’ll do it my self.” She snatched the jars from Katara and goes into the forest to the lake in the middle and begins to waterbend to fill the jars releasing most of her anger in her bending.
It was too late a night to try and work on the lightning and too early to work on water. She decided to go into the spirit world. Unlike most Lan could get there on her own and once there actually felt a sense of calm. Most people only went there because they were sick or dying. Lan went there by choice. To most it was a scary world of nightmares. To her it was just a place where anything was just about possible.
Lan took her time getting back to camp. She was almost completely calm by the time she came back. She put the jars down and watched Sokka and Aang arguing over weather to put the traps up or not. Watching them argue was like watching two three-year-olds fight over a ball. Lan wanted so badly to laugh right now.
“ Okay kids. I got the water. You two wanna stop arguing for a while.” She covered her mouth to keep from laughing. The alternative wasn’t something she wanted. She left Sokka and Aang arguing with Toph being an equal opportunity eager on.
“ Hey Lan where yah going?” Lan cringed. She thought she was over and done with it. She thought she would let go her feeling of being hurt by Katara. Obviously she wasn’t. Lan stopped walking and turned to look at Katara. She plastered the best smile on her face that she could. It looked like she had eaten something bad.
“ Somewhere calm. I am going to the water alone.” Lan managed to get out through her clenched teeth.
“ I’ll go too I have been meaning to try-“Starts to go into a water bending move.
“ I am going into the Spirit World.” Katara stops her hand movements and blinks dumbly at Lan.
“ Oh . . . well someone should go with you to make sure you come back.” Katara was being awfully perky. Lan wanted to smack her sickly sweet smile off her face.
“ Look I have been going to the spirit world alone long before I ever met you and will keep doing it alone long after you by my self!” Lan left Katara standing there. It’s really not her fault. The little voice in her head told her. It’s all your own yah know.
“ Now you’re being the stupid one.” Toph called after her.
The water was cool and inviting. She let it wash away all the dirt that had seemed to accumulate on her. Since no one was around she let the bindings come off too. The days were getting to damn hot. Of course thinking about things she would like to do to a certain fire prince to make him moan her name wasn’t helping either. She shook her head and concentrated on the moons reflection in the water. The clouds had obstructed it only a little but Lan could see the faint outline. The water began to swirl and she almost goes into the spirit world when foot steps slow and sure come crashing into her trance.
                                                                         * * *
Zuko hears the exchange between Katara and Lan. He lets out a breath and puts the fire wood down in the fire pit. He knew he would have to explain. He knew it wouldn’t just go away. The thing that puzzled him most was the need to explain. That wasn’t so surprising either. He loved her that he knew. He was keeping her at arms length to protect her. He knew this too. She had proven herself against Azula well enough but she was still a weakness he just couldn’t afford. He had never needed anyone or cared what others thought of him. Until now.
“ Lan has proven she can handle herself.” It was as if Iroh was reading his mind.
“ Yes.” Zuko let out his fire breath and the fire roared before settling down. He watched the flames and saw a picture in it. He closed his eyes to make the naked flame Lan leave but it only burned brighter behind closed eye lids.
“ Then what are you waiting for.” Zuko opened his eyes to see his Uncle staring him down.
“ Uncle not now.” He hissed. He had to think. Azula begged for his help. He took one look at Lan and couldn’t do it. Azula had promised him everything he had wanted for the last four years of his life and he told her no. That was the third time a woman had asked for his help and he did nothing. The first was fuzzy. The second was his Mother in his dreams screaming for help. Now his sister.
“ What is it with you and the women in this group?! Stay away from Toph. You already screwed up my sister and her best friend.” Sokka had gotten in Zuko’s face before walking away to set up his sleeping bag in the tent all the while mumbling. “ Stupid . . . fire nation . . . pony tail.”
Katara had made up her mind to go after Lan. She didn’t care if Lan called down a lightning bolt and fried to her to a crisp she would make Lan listen. She was about to take a step until she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Zuko looking to where Lan had went a hard concentrating look on his face.
“ This is my fight not yours.” He patted her shoulder before following a wounded dragon to her den.
It was easy enough to follow. Lan had caused so much destruction in her wake a child could have found where she had went. He stopped and looked to see she was in the lake up to her hips in the water. He watched from the cover of trees as she looked around and peeled off her bindings. Then she used her bending to make a waterfall of sorts to clean off her hair. He could only keep looking as the water ran down her spine to her bare but and settled in the little dimple that separated her but from her back and wanted to lick the water. He wanted to taste her skin. He wanted to be on his knees behind her and feel her shiver with anticipation at his touch on all her sensitive areas. He was so enthralled by this he didn’t hear or see Toph come up beside him.
“ I would let that dragon be.”
“ Would you?” He looked down at Toph’s head.
“ Admit it the only reason your going after her is so the . . . what did Lan call her Oh Yeah.’ Ice Princess’ can feel better.” Thumbs back to camp, in Katara’s direction.” This is your own fault. If you could just give Sex kitten what she wants you wouldn’t be going into the fifth rung of hell now.”
“ I don’t have to explain anything to you.” He began to walk to the sandy bank.
“ No you don’t . . . but I would love to be the Lemur on the wall when you do explain it to Lan.”
                                                                         * * *
“ Go away Prince Zuko.” Lan tries to ignore his presence there but she can’t. Even though he is standing there quiet, it feels to Lan he is screaming at her.
“ No.” Steps onto the bank waiting to see if she will hit him with water bending. When she doesn’t, he takes of his boots, tunics and wades into the water.
“ I said leave!“ Lan encircles herself in white flames on the water hoping that he would get the hint and leave.
Zuko takes a breath and walks to the circle. He collects his thoughts and puts his hands threw the flames as if he is going to swim through them. It takes great effort but finally he parts them like a curtain. It was strange it looked like Ice but felt like fire. Her sleepless nights of refining her skills had more than paid off.
“ I can bend fire better than you can Lan.” He walks a few more feet to her to have her back up.” Pure rage can only lead you so far.”
“ Really.” Goes into a water bending whirl and the flames turn to wavering flame like shards that fly at Zuko. “Then bend this! ” She spat.
Rather than get her even more angry and give her the fight she is begging for he dodges the best he can. It isn’t easy. One shard does manage to catch him in his upper left arm. He drops to his knees in pain for instead of freezing it burns. He pulls it out and catches a scream between clenched teeth. She had stopped but now he saw red. Was tired of getting either hit decked or slapped by her? The fact that in all three instances he had deserved it escaped his thoughts right now. He had always wanted to fight her as in see who could make who bleed first. It looked like he was going to get it.
“ Fine.” It is low and deadly . . . like the Zuko of old. Fire knives come from his hands. “ I’ll give you your fight.” After weeks of training he can almost get them blue and they begin to circle each other. He watched her face light up with malevolent glee.
“ Like I said to your sister . . . ”She ignites two white balls of flame in her hands the smile spreading wider.” Bring it. “ It was low and seductive. It brought him out of his hate.
“ No.” He lets the flames die out. Holding his hands out in a surrendering gesture. She wants to fight. Don’t fight her.
“ Oh yes you will.” Comes at him with everything she has been closing the distance between them. He blocks and evades the best he can but her fury speed and randomness of the attacks isn’t helping. She makes ready to slap him when he grabs her hands.
“ No, I won’t fight with you! ” quick as a viper her pins her arms behind her back and gets her to her knees in the water. “So stop fighting me.”
“ Why you do it to me every time. If were going to play out this insanity at least give me a battle field I know.” She was kicking trying to get loose which only made his grip tighter.
“ I want to explain” He tries easing his grip only to find her fighting harder. He knew she was going to have bruises from this but it didn’t matter now. Staying alive long enough to explain was.
“What’s to explain?! ” She screams and tries to get loose but can’t. “ You would rather be with Katara then I.”
She is still trying to get loose but Zuko wraps his arms around her mid section and shoulders holding her close against him. He can smell the jasmine that is in her hair and her struggling to get away is not helping at all. She is rubbing him in all the right spots and the fact that she fits nicely against him as a sword in its sheath doesn’t help him.
” No. I don’t want Katara.” The rain begins to fall lightly and he can feel her anger leave her body. “ I want something that I shouldn’t . . . I don’t . . . Katara is just a friend . . . you’re . . . “ He slackened his grip and was rewarded with her turning to him and looking at him. Her heavy breathing and the fact she was completely naked is really not helping his conversation skills. Does she live to tempt me like this?
“ I am what? ” She brought her hand to his scared cheek. He covered her hand with his own and closed his eyes. “ What are you doing to yourself? “
His Mothers words from his dreams came to his mind now.” Tell her how you feel about her. There is nothing to lose.”
Two nights ago he had dreamed of his mother. She was sitting at the pond where she would feed turtle ducks. He walked to his mother and watched her turn her head to look up at him. She had smiled and motioned for him to sit by her. He did so and she put some crumbs into his hands.
“ Zuko. Why do you do this to yourself?” She looked out at the setting sun.
“ Do what?” He let the mother duck come to him. Even in his dreams she was still weary of him from when he was small and threw a rock at her baby. She eventually came up and ate from his hand.
“ Zuko tell her. Let her in. You have nothing to loose.” Ursa sighed heavily. Her eyes were the same everything about her was the same as she had been in life.
“ I can’t.” He patiently waited for the mother and babies to finish eating before slowly taking his hand back.
“ Zuko.” She put her hand on his shoulder and it was warm. He had always had nightmares about her being cold with blood red nails screaming at him to save her. Since Lan it was different. His mother still looked sad but she was whole.
“ The minute I say it out loud and admit it that gives Azula an opening. You don’t know what your daughter has become.”
“ I have a pretty good idea. Your father has happened to her.”
“ I lost you. I will not loose Lan. I barely made it when you left. I can’t survive her-“
“ If you keep pushing her away, you will.”
“ I didn’t protect you. I will save her.”
“ You said it yourself once. She isn’t helpless Zuko. There is nothing for you to loose my son but there is so much to gain.”
Looking at Lan now he knew his mother had meant well. He knew his Mother wanted him to stop this insanity he was putting himself threw. Looking at Lan now nature was taking over and reason was leaving.
“ Agni help me I want you.” Zuko growled grabbing her shoulders and pulling her against him.
He assaulted her mouth with a brutal kiss. Her mouth immediately opened letting Zuko’s tongue go as far in her mouth as it would go. Lan moaned into his mouth and melted into him. She let her hand slip low between them to the sash that held his pants up. Zuko broke away first holding the offending hand to his chest over his heart.
” Lan no.” He was breathing hard and fast. He was saying no but his eyes and body were betraying him. His eyes were filled with lust and he wasn’t backing away.
“ Why not-“ She moved in to finish what was started. Zuko did not move away but turned his head and looked away from her.
“ I ...care . . . about you Lan . . . more than I should . . . ” He opened his eyes and looked at her and sees her eyes go dark.
“ Fine!! “ She pulls her hand away and starts to wade back to shore. Zuko takes her hand and she stops.
“ You don’t believe me. You still think I want Katara.” He pulled her back into him. He moved her hair away from her neck and began to nuzzle it. He let his hands slide down her sides to rest on her hips. He brought her hips to fit into his. He had to find the right words. They didn’t come easy to him. He decided to let his body do some of the talking as well.
“ Know this Lan. Katara will never elicit this kind of response from me.” He breathed into her ear causing her skin to get goose bumps. No woman will ever torture me like this, only you make me want to abandon all reason.
She could feel that he was eager and more then ready to take her here and now but. She knew him. He wouldn’t. Why he wouldn’t she still didn’t know.
“ However.I have been trying for four years to restore my honor. I won’t take yours.” He gently set her away from him.” No matter how much we both want it.”
Lan heaved a sigh and nodded once. He had practically spelled it out for her why he wouldn’t have her. She was untouched and he knew it. Still, it didn’t help. She still couldn’t understand why he still didn’t say what she wanted to scream. She still couldn’t understand why he couldn’t say three little words. Then again it was who he was. She had to accept all of it or none of it.
“ That isn’t it. You just don’t want to associate fighting me with sex.” She let her hand run over the water causing it to glow and creep up his arm. The whole where the ice had hit him began to close till it was gone.
“That too. If there is a next time can we just get into a screaming match.”
                                                                         * * *
Katara was anxiously looking out the tent. It had begun to pour and now lightning was filling the sky. Zuko and Lan were probably fighting each other and didn’t even notice.
“ I hope they’re alright.” She watched as another bolt split the sky open wide.
“ Maybe someone better go check.” Toph shrugged as she was petting Momo. He had taken to curling up on her lap being scared out of his little wits.
“ No. I know what is plaguing my nephew whatever happens he deserves it. “ Iroh watched the lightning as well. It seemed fitting to him. Two powerful fire benders were out there right now squaring off and the heavens knew it. He wondered for a moment if it wasn’t Lan and Zuko throwing lightning at each other.
“ I hope Lan hands him his but.” Sokka mutters.
“ She just may do that.” Iroh laughs out.
Lan and Zuko came into the tent drenched but laughing. She pulled her hair away from her face and looked to Aang.
“ We could use and Air bender.” She was dripping with water and humor.
“ One dryer coming up.” Once their dry Lan gets her comb for her back pack and sits in front of Kitara handing it to her.
” Now I could use a sister.” Lan smiles and holds the comb to her. Katara takes it and smiles.
Katara was forgiven. Lan turns around and let’s Katara work the knots out as Zuko watches form across the fire. Her and Lan are back to there giggle girlie selves. It was a girl thing that he didn’t really understand but at least they weren’t ready to gouge each others eyes out. He had wanted to ask about her and Aang but didn’t want another fight. He would leave it for another night.
                                                                        * * *
While everyone was asleep Zuko took the first watch to make sure Azula didn’t sneak up on them again. The rain had stopped and cooled everything off. A cricket started to play a song that reminded Zuko of childhood. He was beginning to nod off when he heard heavy foot falls. He turned to see his uncle settling next to him.
“ With all the commotions of late I haven’t had an opportunity to tell you how proud I am of you.” It took Iroh a while to get into a comfortable position but he finally did. He looked at his nephew trying to read him. It was difficult for once. Zuko was calm but there was something else going on inside him. Something that even Zuko could not put into words.
“ For what.”
“ Azula was ready to hand you everything you ever wanted. Your honor, throne, everything you feel you’ve lost and you didn’t take it.”
“ I know now that I have choices. I made a choice.“
“ Go on.”
“ You know what I chose.”
“ Yes I do . . . but do you. Do you know why you chose the right path?”
“ Uncle why are you doing this? I chose the right side what more is there?” He couldn’t take his Uncles watchful gaze any longer. He stood up and stretched. The Sun was rising and soon it would be drills and sets for him Lan and Aang.
“ If you chose it for love then you have chosen it for the best reason of all my nephew.” Iroh went back inside and let the flap fall.
“ I did chose for that reason.”
TBC
Note: Sorry ( for anyone who was waiting for this) I was sick and couldn’t finish.
- 7
- 8
- 9
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

The Fall of Ozai