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Before she can even open her eyes, Katara smiles lazily as she feels Zuko’s lips press a succession of little kisses on her cheek. She lets out a soft moan as he makes his way down her neck, tilting her head upwards to give him better access.
“Good morning,” he whispers into her shoulder, ending it with another small kiss.
“Good morning,” she whispers back, slowly beginning to open her eyes, one at a time. She sees the sun peeking through the curtains, the room much brighter than usual every time she’s woken up in the Fire Lord’s room in the past. Her eyes widen and she shoots up from the bed, sitting up straight in alarm. “Oh my goodness, the sun! What time is it!?”
Zuko looks over at her sheepishly, propping himself up on his elbow. “I guess we slept in a little later than usual...”
She lowers her eyes at him, suspicion in her gaze. “Fire-benders don’t sleep in.”
Zuko sighs, bringing himself to sit upright next to her. “I just wanted a little more time.”
Her eyes soften and she immediately reaches out to grab his hand. “Zuko...,” she sighs.
She threads her fingers through his, her thumb rubbing small circles over his forefinger. “We have to be careful. In after dusk, out before dawn, you know the rules.” She gives his hand a squeeze before letting go, starting to scoot off the bed. “If anyone sees—“
“Let them see you,” he interrupts, grabbing her wrist.
She looks back, eyes wide in confusion. “What? Zuko, you’re —“
“I don’t care.” Zuko’s eyes are set in determination, shades of amber boring into blue hues
“Zuko.”
“I don’t care.”
“Zuko,” she says this time, a little more sternly than the last. He sighs and her heart breaks a little. “You’re getting married. Soon.”
“I don’t even know who I’m marrying yet!” He tells her, exasperated.
Tears begin to form in her eyes, but she’s had enough practice alone to hold them in without bending. She told herself she was done crying over this.
“It doesn’t matter. We know it’s someone from the Fire Nation. We know it’s what the Sages arranged. What they approved.”
“I don’t care! I don’t care what they approved!” His hands gesture around the room and flop into the bed at his sides.
“What about your duty to your people?”
“Katara, I will do everything I can for my people as Fire Lord.” He swallows. “Except give you up. I can’t do that.” His tone is firm, but his eyes are pleading. “Please don’t make me do that.”
The tears being held in Katara’s eyes start to feel heavy, and her vision blurs a little as she tries to study the perfect face in front of her. He reaches out and gently brushes a tear that had just barely escaped her eye with his thumb. His hand rests on her cheek, the tips of his fingers threading into her hair. “I love you, Katara.”
She blinks rapidly, letting the tears fall as she hurls herself into his body, her arms wrapping around his shoulders. She breathes him in, burrowing her face in the crook of his neck. She leans back, placing her forehead against his. Her nose brushes up against him, and she smiles as she places a small kiss on his lips. “I love you too, Zuko.”
Zuko’s smile is wide and bright, and it causes her heart to flutter in an unsteady beat. She notes this down in her memory as one of her favorite smiles.
“What about —“
“Doesn’t matter. We’ll figure it out,” he says, wiping the last traces of tears off her cheek. “Tomorrow,” he says with a wink.
“Tomorrow?” Katara smiles, one eyebrow raised as he begins to lay back down. He tugs on her arm and she rolls her eyes, a laugh escaping when he grabs her by the waist and effortlessly pulls her back into him. She places her hand over his, and makes herself comfortable in her rightful spot as little spoon. He slides a leg over her, his lips tickling her neck as he nips on her ear with his teeth. “Yes, tomorrow. Because today, we’re not leaving this bed.” He leans back a little, giving her just enough room to turn back to face him. He looks into her eyes, a smile creeping up on his lips. “I want to watch every sunset and every sunrise with you, forever.”
Katara hums happily, bringing his hand up to her lips and placing three quick kisses along his knuckles. “I like the sound of that.”