Kingdom of the Sun

6

AN: I lit rewrote this chapter like a 1,000 times. (Hope it delivers!)

Also NSFW Tag

xxx

"We should take things slow."

Tsai sat up and looked down at the Fire Lord who was laying at her side with a surprised expression at what he was suggesting. "What? Right now?"

If he wanted to, she was ready to go. He seemed to see the hungry look in her eyes and laughed lightly before pulling her back to his chest.

"No, not right now."

A part of her was disappointed, another happy that the two were starting to communicate. She still didn't believe he was being serious about getting intimate.
Both still lay down on his bed still abroad the zeppelin. They should be arriving the Fire Nation any moment now.

It was then that he broke the comfortable silence that the two shared.

"So, we're back together then?"

To her it was almost as if a glass had been shattered. She let out a tense laugh meeting his gaze. "Back together?"
Woah, he had to slow down there. After all they had barely been together for hours and for the first time in years.

"Unless... There's somebody else..."

Where did that come from?

Zuko knew that she had been seeing other people during their break. He wasn't stupid of course he'd had spies infiltrate the Republic of Nations to keep a close eye on her and her family. It was mainly for her own safety more than his own morbid jealous curiosity.

"No," She let out a sincere small laugh. Sure, there had been some hopefuls over the years but nobody serious.

He sat up, his tone serious as he pressed "Then?" He asked growing exasperated.

Crap, they really were going to have this dreaded conversation right now. She was silent for a moment rehearsing her answer before speaking.

"I'm not going to mess around with you, not like that, not like this Tsai," he said quietly before turning away and sitting on the edge of the bed.

She wanted to be irritated but couldn't bring herself to be. Instead her eyes were immersed by the sight of the well carved muscles on his back as he turned from her. She wanted nothing more than to slowly rake her nails across his flesh. Devour the sensation of how his body would feel underneath her hands. The thought made more than her mouth water. She shook her head slightly snapping out of her lustful thoughts.

It really wasn't the time.

"I don't question your love," he stated brazenly turning to face her "I know your love is not weak, but I do question why you willingly choose to stay away from me."

"Zuko," she licked her lips finally meeting his golden gaze. There was so much to unpack, she didn't even know where to begin. Dark memories and emotions that kept her up the night before suddenly flooding her consciousness.

"We can't get married," she admitted painfully. The jagged words a slow knife that twisted inside her. He flinched slightly as they cut into him too.

"You can't or you won't?" He corrected upset standing up, angrily throwing a maroon tunic over his body.

"Zuko!" She emphasized standing up quickly walking around the bed. Trapping him before he could exit the bedroom.

He kept his gaze lowered. Hurt reflected in his eyes. She stood before him not faltering. Rejected again, another slap to the face.