Chapter Text
Zuko peppered kisses across Katara’s neck. “Don’t you think you’ve been working too long, my love?”
Katara shook her head, ignoring his advances. “I’m almost done with this plan for the hospital.”
It was a plan she’d been working on for a little over half a year, a collaboration with the Northern Water Tribe, supported by the Fire Nation & Earth Kingdom. It was supposed to be a state-of-the-art medical facility with a maternity ward & pediatrics right at the halfway point between the two.
It was her first big project since being crowned Fire Lady, after years of talks, delegating, and finally settling the debate on whether or not the island belonged to the Southern or Northern Water Tribe, and while she knew it was well overdue, there was the slightest fear that it was too ambitious and too much, too fast, destined to fail.
They were still rebuilding their population, although without their men being gone, it was happening at a faster rate than expected, which was a part of the reason and need for a more extensive medical facility in the first place before the local healing huts became overwhelmed.
And Zuko knew how much it was weighing on her and stressing her out.
He hummed, the deep vibrato tickling her skin. “As much as I love watching how focused you are.” And truthfully, he did, the way her brows furrowed together, the pout of her lips, the way she nibbled slightly on the hard end of the quill, he placed a kiss on her jaw, his tongue swirling slow circles. “It can wait.”
She resists his teasing, much to his chagrin. “Zuko, I’m serious.”
“Me too.” He continued his ministrations, pulling her even closer and tighter towards his chest, knowing just how much she liked the warmth of his skin, especially when they were in her homeland. “We’re on vacation. That means no work.” He emphasizes his point with a flick of his tongue against her earlobe.
Katara shakes her head with a roll of her eyes. “Oh, that’s rich coming from you. I literally have to drag you to bed some nights and you’re already up & working by the time I even get out of bed and start my day.”
There was always work to do. Even more so now.
She tilts her head up to look him in the eyes, a sincere expression on her face. “You know how much this means to me and how important it is” Zuko shifts, ready to issue a rebuttal because he did know but still and she smiles “And I know I promised I would take a break and relax.” She holds his face in her hands. “And I will. After I finish.” She kisses his nose. “Promise.”
“I’m trying to finish.” He grumbles under his breath, annoyance lacing his voice.
Katara knew why he was acting so brattish and needy – the extended hours of sunlight were practically tortuous to his firebending blood, making him restless, and she knew just how he’d like to burn off that excess energy, especially given that their alone time had been limited since they arrived on the snowy shores.
Being a hometown hero came with a lot of attention, and admittedly, it was more than what she was used to. The responsibility of it all and the weight on her shoulders seemed to have tripled and while she loved helping rebuild the world, it didn’t make the pressure any easier.
Her people had so much faith & trust in her.
It could be a little intimidating & overwhelming sometimes.
Zuko hums to himself, seemingly dissatisfied with her answer, and Katara kisses her teeth. “What?”
“You should know that I know when something is troubling you, my love.”
He wants to say, ‘it’s why I even suggested a vacation, a getaway from the advisors and councilors, and stuffy old men that don’t want to listen to you, or me for that matter in the first place’ but decides against it.
She sighs in defeat. “What gave it away this time?”
He moves to the fur-trimmed, heavy comforter lining the pelt pallet in the middle of the room, – her room, in the massive igloo meant for Chief Hakoda & his family, and she tries to ignore that he’s stripped himself naked with his cock standing at attention, one of his hands stroking at it absentmindedly. He pulls back the sheets, an open invitation for her to join him.
“Come cuddle with me and I’ll tell you.”
Katara rolls her eyes, laughing. “Is this your way of getting me in bed with you?” But she makes her way over, anyway, stripping down out of her outer layer of clothing before sliding in next to him.
Zuko smirks. “Well, I didn’t say you had to take anything off.” His eyes trail over her body, making note of the way her nipples were pressed against the material. He was inclined to believe that it wasn’t just from the cold. “But I’d be dishonest if I said I don’t appreciate it.”
He pulls her in closer, relishing the smell of her body wash and whatever that stuff is she uses to moisturize.
“You, my dear, were biting your lip, twirling the same lock of hair around your finger, and your left foot was tapping when there’s no music playing.” He dips his head down and she can feel his breath on her face. “Now, unless you’re listening to a song in your head, those are all clear signs that you’re nervous and stressed.” He gives her a knowing smile and Katara feels her heart skip a beat.
Long gone are the days of a socially awkward, unsure-of-himself, Fire Lord Zuko, at least when it came to courting her. Perhaps, it’s because he did know her well, even better than his own self sometimes.
She returns his smile. “Okay, you got me.” She shakes her head. “I am very stressed, nervous, and I’m terrified that this proposal won’t go well even though I know it’s so needed, because I might be in a little over my head here trying to build a hospital from the ground up, I mean, I haven’t even gotten to who’s going to run and staff it, I mean of course, we have healers, but they’re going to need more training, lots of it, and this is my passion project so I want and should be there but I also told Toph I’d come see her and teach basic first aid so the kids in her academy aren’t hurting themselves all day, talk to Sokka about being Chief because it’s going to happen eventually, Dad isn’t getting any younger, and Gran-Gran says there’s no rush but I know she’s thinking about great-grandchildren, but I also made a promise to you and… She sighs. “I don’t know if I can do it all.”
Zuko grabs her hand. “Katara.” Then, he squeezes it. “You don’t have to.”
“Wha-?”
“Let me finish.” He kisses her hand, before leaving a trail of kisses down her arm. “You are the bravest, most determined, headstrong, caring, generous, kind-hearted, giving person I know.” He punctuates each word with a kiss along her body, loosening her upper wrappings as he does so. “And you have a family that loves you. I love you.” He looks up at her, noticing the gooseflesh on her stomach. “This project will not fail, because you are behind it.” He swirls his tongue around her belly button, smirking at the gasp of breath. “I’ll move some things around so you can go see Toph, you know her asking for help was her way of saying she misses you; you’re going to talk to your brother first thing in the morning” He sucks a love bite onto her thigh. “That is, if you’re able. Knowing him, he’s already thought about it in grave detail and is just waiting for the torch to be passed, and in the meantime” He begins peeling off her lower wrappings, tenderly pulling the material until it falls apart before him. “Gran-Gran is right. There is no rush, but” He licks his lips, growling at the sight of the neat, curly hairs and the sticky sheen, a testament to her arousal. “That doesn’t mean we can’t practice.” He slips a finger into her slick. “I hear it’s a great way to destress.”
Katara gulps. “But uh, we –“ Her voice is broken up with a low moan. “Zuko, we can’t.” She pants, already on the verge of exploding on his fingers as he curls them inside her, the gentle stretch of his digits making her tingle. “Gran-Gran is right in the next- oh, Tui."
Luckily for her, the rest of their family were scattered about, joining some of the festivities and if anyone suspected anything of the Fire Lord claiming to be exhausted so he's calling it a night early, they didn't mention it.
Although, if she focused, and it was hard to do so with Zuko doing that, she thinks she heard Suki snickering.
“Mhmm.” He purrs. “That means you’ll be quiet for me, then, yes?” He sucks the bundle of nerves into his mouth and Katara hisses. “Or do you want me to stop?” His tongue was licking delicately. Too delicately. “Answer me, sweetheart.”
She gasps, one hand going to hold his head in place. “I’ll be so good and quiet, just don’t stop, please.”
“Well, since you asked so nicely.” Zuko makes a V with his fingers, parting her folds and allowing him to feast at the same time. “You taste amazing, by the way.” He hums against the sensitive flesh. “So sweet.”
Using his breath of fire, he blows a careful and calculated stream of warm heat against her clit, he practiced the technique for months before he actually tried it on her, before cooling it with the slick of his mouth, and the change in temperature has her arching off the bed almost painfully as she cums on his face, a silent scream trapped in her throat and tears in her eyes.
Zuko looks up, feeling rather smug and pleased with himself, as he removes his fingers and makes a show out of licking and sucking them off one by one, smirking at her panting, shaking body. “Already? Were you worked up or am I just that good?”
Katara looks down at him through the post-orgasmic fog. “You cheated. You used your breath of fire.” She pouts.
“Oh, don’t take it so personal.” He crawls up and over her. “Feeling de-stressed yet?” He asks, before kissing her, making her taste herself on his tongue.
Katara wraps a leg around his waist, slowly grinding her center against him. “Yes. But perhaps,” She rolls her hips, reaching a hand down to push it against her folds, and Zuko hisses. “We can do it again.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.” He sinks into her, ever so slowly, and Katara moans. “Yes.” She gasps softly through parted lips. “That’s my girl.” Zuko praises, hooking her legs over his shoulders. “Tonight, I don’t want anyone else to hear those pretty, little noises except me.” He pulls out before slamming back in and Katara jerks forward. “Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, my Lord.” She purrs in that intoxicating voice that goes straight to his groin and he growls, setting a steady, slow, and deep pace. He wanted to ravage her and the energy running through his veins was telling him to do so, but he kept a tight leash on it, knowing that she needed this. Zuko didn’t exactly hate the formalities either, but they sounded so much better coming from his wife. “That’s what I like to hear.”
He leans forward. “Tell me how good I make you feel, sweetheart.”
Katara hiccups. “So, so, good.”
He sits up, pistoning himself into her as she straddles his lap, and holds her face in his hands, forcing her to look him in the eyes, her arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders. “No matter what, I’m going to be right here to catch you when you fall, you know that, right?”
Katara nods, whimpering in his ears. Her ability to keep quiet was shrinking, the deep strokes becoming too much. He was making love to her and she wanted to scream, curse, and cry all at once.
“Good girl.”
“You fuck me so well, Zuko.” She whines pathetically.
“Do I love you well too?”
“Yesss.” She choked out, voice strained. He loved her exceptionally well. There wasn’t a day that went by where she didn’t feel his undying love, devotion to, and adoration for her. He saw her and all her flaws, and imperfections, and still thought she was the most breathtaking person in the world.
“I’m gonna- you’re gonna make me cum.” She stutters out, in between shallow, deep breaths.
Zuko picks her up, wrapping her legs around his waist, and holds her closely, her head resting in the crook of his neck. He walks them in front of the mirror, his hands a tight grip on her thighs. “Look at yourself while I make love to you, princess.”
Katara weakly lifted her head up – her eyes were blown with desire, her cheeks were flushed, and the singular braid she wore was speckled with fuzz from the sheets. There was a part of her that briefly wondered just how he was holding her up and maintaining such a perfect rhythm at the same time, but Zuko had always been stronger than he looked, lean and supple muscle making up for the lanky limbs.
“You look so beautiful.” He whispers, kissing her forehead. “Absolutely gorgeous.” He bounces her on his dick and soon enough, she’s crying out in his ear, nails digging a half-moon print into his back. “I’m cumming.” She sobs, clinging onto him.
"That's it. Let go. I'm right here. Cum for me." He coaxes her through her orgasm, peppering soft kisses across her skin. “You took me so well, baby. You always do.” He smooths her hair down. “And you were so quiet. I'm proud of you."
She sniffles. “I wanted to be good for you.”
He gives her a butt an affectionate squeeze, looking into her eyes. "You are." There is so much tender softness in them, she wonders how anyone could’ve burned this boy, man, who stole her heart.
Zuko made her feel so safe and powerful like she could conquer the world and end a war all over again.
“Can I be even better and milk you dry?”
And as he groans, sliding home again, with a barely audible “Fuck, Katara” escaping his lips, she knows she’ll be okay.
“But this time, you have to keep quiet.”