AtLA Rewritten: Edition 1

Chapter 40

Athlea went into her bedroom, one hand on her door frame to support herself. "Let's talk, please," she said, frowning.

Zuko was on their bed, his head in his hands. He looked up at her sharply, rushing forward. "Come sit," he said, his voice low. Athlea held onto his hands as he led her to the bed and helped her sit up, before sitting himself and watching her. "You're not fighting." His voice made it clear that there was no 'talk' to be had. "We're staying here for a day and taking a rest day. Everyone needs it. Not just you. So don't argue with me."

"Zuko..." Athlea started, her hands moving to his own and holding them, her blue eyes looking into his golden ones. "I can take a rest for one day--one week, if that's what you want. I'll stay here. But after that, you can't keep me from not fighting," she said calmly, her hand moving to his cheek and caressing it. "I've always fought. We've always fought together. If it makes you happy--if it makes you think that I'll be okay and safe staying here, then so be it."

He took a deep breath of relief. "I don't care about you fighting," he said softly, "I care about you healing. Which is why I didn't want you to fight in the first place."

She smiled softly. "Alright," she said after a pause. "I'll stay back here to heal properly, but I won't hesitate to come to the rescue if I sense anything bad." She giggled softly.

Athlea cupped his face and he glanced down at her hands. "I didn't know," she repeated her earlier words, frowning. "I didn't... know. We've been so focused on regaining the trust of the other Nations, setting things straight... We never managed to actually talk about such a topic," she said softly.

He hugged her waist, pulling her close and laying his head on her stomach. He tilted his head, looking up at her. Her eyes softened as she looked at him. "I know you didn't know... Do you... wanna talk about it?"

His wife's hands moved to take his crown off, setting it on her bedside table before moving her hands through his hair softly. "I think we should," she said with a nod.

He looked down, then back up at her. "Now or later? I can do either."

Athlea laid down on the bed, pulling him on top of her. He slid his way up to her neck, nuzzling his nose into it. She smiled softly, turning her head briefly to kiss his cheek. He smiled. "Given the circumstances with what just happened..." she started, taking a deep breath, "I say we discuss it now."

"That's a good idea," Zuko agreed quietly.

"What's your view on... I don't know, a family?" she asked, her blue eyes on him, watching him carefully.

He was quiet for a moment, and then spoke. "As Royals, we have a duty to provide an heir to the throne," he admitted. "I don't have a say in that--it's my job. And you knew that when we married."

Athlea raised an eyebrow. "Don't remind me of that. I was very annoyed when everyone working with me the first few days at the Palace continuously mentioned it," she said, obviously annoyed.

Zuko pursed his lips. "It's important, though," he pointed out. "You just can't marry into the Royal family if you don't want kids. You have what's essentially a legal duty to have children."

Athlea rolled her eyes. "Important or not, I don't want anybody hitting me in the head with that fact. I know it's important, but it got so annoying. I'm relieved that they stopped mentioning it," she admitted with a shrug.

Zuko shrugged a shoulder. "Well, when divorce isn't an option either, they have to make sure you know."

Athlea tilted her head. "Why would I want to divorce the man I love?"

He was quiet for another second. "I didn't want kids when I was younger, but now I'm... not sure. I know it'd be nice to have a little prince, to teach the right way to care for a kingdom."

She giggled. "A little prince?" she asked. "A little Zuko?" Her tone was teasing.

He tilted his head up, kissing her jaw. She smiled. "Maybe one of me is enough," he said between kisses.

Her hands wrapped over his shoulders and she giggled. "What about a little princess?" Her hand continued moving through his hair, her eyes on him.

"Hmm... I could see myself picking out dresses and shoes," he teased, giving her neck a little nibble.

"You? Picking out dresses? Now that's a sight I need to see," she teased.

He laughed. "I'm sure you'd love to see that."

"Oh, I would. Fire Lord Zuko, the most terrifying man on earth, and even scarier when he's angry... holding his daughter and being soft and buying dressed," she teased, laughing.

"I'm not soft," he grumbled, giving her another teasing nibble. "I'm scary and aggressive."

Athlea giggled. "But you are soft," she responded calmly. "You're soft and kind, loving and caring." Her hands started to work on his shirt to take it off. "But you're also scary and aggressive, a leader who everyone is terrified of, especially if they piss you off." She bit on her lip for a second. "And there's also the rough side of you that comes out in bed." He used one hand to take his shirt off the rest of the way. "Tell you what, we can try again after this chaos. And maybe, at the same time, try and find your mother. You've wanted to find her for a long time," she said calmly.

He kissed her neck, smirking mischievously. She tilted her head to the side. He smiled, kissing her more. "You sure we can't try again tonight?" he joked. He grabbed one of her wrists and rolled on top of her, grinning like an idiot. She blinked. "Anyways, you're also controlling and tense, and the only time you relax is in bed." He pinned her wrist to the bed. "So you don't seem to mind." He rolled his eyes at her last comment, kissing her jaw.

Athlea slid her hands down to his sides, giggling. "Maybe after I heal physically. After all, you know me. I never say no to a... passionate, spicy night." Her eyes were playful, locking with his. "And I'm not controlling!" She smirked, then looked away. "Not my fault you know how to handle me in bed," she muttered.

He leaned back to look at her, his eyes gleaming. "Oh, really?" He raised his eyebrows, grinning.

Althie looked up at him. "Well, yeah..." she responded smiling. "Someone's excited," she pointed out teasingly.

"Oh you are, are you?" he teased, flipping it around on her.

Her eyes widened and she blushed. "Huh? No..." She bit on her lower lip. "You!"

Zuko's cheeks were pink. His hand slid under her chin, his thumb tilting her head up, and he kissed her. Her eyes closed as she kissed him back. "Oh, really?" He smiled against her lips, his hand sliding from her chin down to her thigh. "Oh, really? Because I think you might be, too."

The red on her cheeks became more vivid. "...Maybe," she responded, her lips brushing his. "But you are more."

Zuko growled softly and kissed her again. "Am I?" He feigned innocence. "I don't know about that. I think you'll have to prove it." He grabbed her wrists, earning an eye roll as he rolled her over and pulled him on top of her, laying on his back. "Your turn," he said. She raised an eyebrow. He pulled the bottom of her dress and she reached up to help, taking it off over her head, biting his lip and glancing her over. She tilted her head to the side a bit. "Is your six-pack better than mine?" he joked, contrasting the mood. He traced a finger down her stomach and her hands moved to his chest.

"You're not innocent, Lord Zuko," she said, giggling playfully. She leaned down, her nose touching his. He hummed happily, closing his eyes as her finger traced circles on his abs. "I think yours is better."

***

A/N these two horny mothaFUCKAS... on a serious note, poor Zuko, too. he's so protective of Athlea gahhh