July 9th, 2011 (11:06 am)

Title: Finding A Way

Author: dark_malignity

Rating: NC16

Main Characters: Mai, Zuko, Azula

Supporting Characters: Ty Lee, Iroh, the gAang.

Pairing: Mai/Zuko

Pairings:Katara/Aang, Sokka/Suki. Absolutely minute traces of Zuko/Katara if you squint like mad and turn your head sideways.

Warnings: Spoilers to the end of the series. Occasional foul language.(highlight to reveal) Graphic foreplay, dry humping, oral sex, concubinage, implied S/M, relatively graphic birth sequence.





Summary: Zuko wants to get married, but Mai is reluctant because all signs point to a possibility of her being barren. Her rejection hurts and baffles him until she eventually comes clean. Together, they embark on an extensive, five-year search for a solution that would involve everything from concubinage, to ritual superstition, to rediscovering lost fire bending lore.





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Chapter 1







Dear Katara



I hope this letter reaches you. At the point of my writing, my ministers tell me that you have already mastered the healing arts of water bending. I offer you my heartfelt congratulations. I must admit that I received this news with some tinge of regret: Although fire is life, it cannot heal, only destroy. Even the light-giving candle which graces our nights must die, consumed by the flames of its own making.



I trust Aang is safe and sound too. I have heard that the two of you intend to set up a school at the South Pole to assist and train water benders. Forgive my rudeness, but I cannot help but wonder where you will find the water benders to train. Eleven months seems hardly enough time for a new generation to fill the shoes of their elders, but perhaps you have access to some information that the Fire Nation does not?



Whatever it is, I wish you all the best. I would enclose something from the treasury to aid in your endeavor, but Mai has pointed out – and quite rightfully – that I had better make sure our channel of communication is reliable before sending anything of value.



That is not to say that this letter is valueless. On the contrary, I hope and pray that it reaches you untouched, with the seal unbroken. Please send me a reply with your personal seal on it if you do. I dearly need the council of an old friend.



Regards

Zuko, Firelord.













Dear Zuko



Wow, it’s been ages! Aang says “hi”, he’s thrilled to hear from you after so long. We were starting to wonder if you remembered us! (Just kidding).



I don’t think “school” is really accurate, but we are busy training a bunch of kids. I might have been the only known water bender when we left, but over the summer, three other children started to manifest water bending traits! Isn’t that fantastic!



So what’s on your mind? You’re really being paranoid, if you send a sealed letter through your family’s own messenger hawk, and still worry about someone else reading it. Is it personal or political?



Love,

Katara















Dear Katara,



Definitely personal. And I am so, so sorry for dragging you into this. I know you’ve got a lot on your hands already, what with all the Avatar things going on, but feel like I’m about to burst!



How do I even start?



Things are so mad that I don’t even know what is going on anymore. And I’m not even talking about the political front. I mean, it’s messy, but I knew what I was signing up for when I took up the crown, so even though it can get stressful there, it’s nothing I can’t handle.



It’s my personal life that I can’t take. As a comrade and advisor, Mai is a godsend, but as my girlfriend, she’s driving me… she’s driving me crazy! She absolutely refuses to marry me. I don’t get it. How she can behave like she’s in love with me in one moment, and then reject me in the next, and then just turn around and act as if nothing has changed?



Much as I hate to admit it, I’m scared, and is it really so surprising, considering my track record with the people closest to me? Honestly, I’d be almost happy to just carry on like this, never mentioning anything about marriage again, if it means that we can continue to pretend that everything is okay, but it’s not. Everything is not okay.



Because here, the personal overlaps with the political. As head of a dynasty, I can’t not get married! I have to; it’s my sacred duty to carry on the bloodline. If I had a choice, I’d wait for her, but things don’t work that way.



Again, I’m so sorry to have to burden you with my problems, but you’re the only one I dare turn to. I feel so lost.



Regards,

Zuko













Dear Zuko



Gee, I really don’t know what to say. Sorry to hear about what you’re going through. We wish we could be there, even though it probably won’t make much of a difference. But Aang might be able to make you smile a bit? He’s no Sokka, but you know how funny he is when he’s goofing around.



And believe me, I sympathize with your situation, but to tell the truth, I think I’m the worst person you could have told. Our worlds are so different. Aang and I lead simple lives. Sure, he’s the Avatar, and that makes things a whole lot more complicated, but our daily routine is pretty basic.



Nobody within the village ever gives either of us a hard time, and if not for the occasional traveler seeking his help or advice, one might almost forget he is the Avatar. Our culture is easygoing like that, and I’m thankful.



Listen, I know it might feel awkward to speak to your uncle, but he would be in a much better position to advise you. Even Toph would know more – she might not be Fire Nation, but at least she’s gown up as a court rebel, so if anyone can find a loophole, it would be her.



I guess that’s all I can do for now. Aang said he would pray for you, and Sokka wishes you good luck. All the best, and know that you are always in our thoughts.



Love,

Katara







========









Spring had come and gone, and now the blistering heat of summer spread itself over the Imperial Palace. Not even the window blinds could fully block out the glare of the afternoon sun, and Mai raised her hand to shield her eyes as she stretched lethargically on the divan.



Muffled footsteps in the corner of the room told her that Zuko had arrived, but she was too tired to give him his customary welcome. Instead, she merely listened to the clink of metal and the rustle of silk as he undressed.



“Why did you close the windows?” he growled, throwing them open, hoping against hope for a cooling breeze.



Mai did not even bother to answer him. He would learn soon enough that the wind brought no relief, just more sweltering heat. Disgustedly, he let the blinds dropped back, and leaned tiredly against the wooden paneling.



“Perhaps we should move to the beach house,” he said at last. “Ride out the heat wave at Ember Island, where it’s cooler.” Here, he paused a little, and chuckled. “Then perhaps you’ll let me touch you again,” he teased.



“Ha. Ha,” she deadpanned, and then hissed in discomfort when he spread himself on top of her. “What are you doing? It’s hot, you moron!” she gasped, struggling to throw him off, but Zuko merely grinned, dug his limbs firmly into the plush material and refused to budge.



“Jerk,” she snorted, but there was not much resentment in her tone. It was too hot to bear a grudge, and besides, she missed him.



He was away so often now. After the coronation, his ministers had been kind enough to give him the space he needed to gradually ease himself into leadership. As it was, Ozai had been more of a symbolic figure, who enjoyed keeping abreast of military developments, but who seldom meddled with the day-to-day running of the state.



All this had changed with Zuko’s ascension. The boy was determined to improve the welfare of his people, and such change could only come about through careful micro-management.



“So, how did it go?” she asked conversationally.



“Not good,” he sighed. “I swear, everyone at court thinks I’m crazy.”



Mai chuckled. “For trying to reinvent a hundred-year-old education system? I wonder why.”



Hiding a smile, Zuko snuggled up to her. “Do you think I’m crazy?” he purred, much to her delight.



“You have to be,” she replied, and kissed him. “You’re still dating me, aren’t you,” she teased, but instead of grinning back, her boyfriend frowned and quickly looked away.







======







While training the avatar during the lead-up to Sozen’s comet, Zuko had charred half of his family’s Ember Island estate, but over the past year, a team of architects had been called in to fix the damage. The renovations, apparently, were extensive, and although he had never laid eyes on any of the plans, he now burned with curiosity to see the refurbished property for himself.



Happily, it was everything he hoped it would be. Tall, wooden arches elevated them high above the sun-warmed earth, and large open courtyards left plenty of room for the brisk ocean breeze to run through the halls. In the garden, a series of marble fountains tinkled out the seconds.



Zuko trailed his hands delightedly through the cool water and splashed some onto his face. Ah, the pleasure of it! This place was such a blessing after the furnace of a city!



Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mai approach and dip her hand into the fountain curiously, and then laughed at her reaction. Rather than being refreshed, the girl looked disgusted, not unlike a cat which had just gotten its paws wet.



“It’s so cold!” she complained, flicking the water off, and blowing vigorously on her fingers.



“Don’t you like it?” he teased, and laughed again when she glared. Sighing in contentment, he enveloped her hand in both of his, but almost dropped it in surprise. Her flesh was like ice.



Frowning, he cupped her face in his hands, and felt a slight chill sting her cheeks. How surprising, when the weather was just comfortably cool. “Is it too cold for you?” he asked, concerned.



Mai merely rolled her eyes. “Did you forget that I chased your butt across half the continent?” she intoned, reminding him once more that she was no porcelain doll to be coddled and fussed over.



Zuko grinned. He loved it when she acted tough.



It made him want to break her.



Silently, he slipped his hand beneath her thin summer robe and marvelled at how cool her skin was in spite of the heat, then trailed his hand upwards until his battle-roughed fingertips met the silken smoothness of her undergarments. Mai gasped in surprise.



“Sssh,” he whispered, laying a hand over her lips. “There’s no-one here. Not yet. We don’t want to send any of the guards running, do we?”



Swallowing down his excitement, he parted her legs and slid down until he came face to face with her inviting heat. The silk clung wetly against her, outlining every curve of her arousal. Smiling smugly, he breathed in her scent, drinking her deep into his lungs, and then chuckled when she wriggled impatiently.



Then and there, he decided that he wanted to make her scream.



He knew it wasn’t an easy task: although she adored making him climax, Mai hardly ever threw herself into their love play.



Gripping her hips to steady her, he nuzzled her lightly at the point where her pubic hair ended, and felt – rather than heard – her breath hitch, just as fresh rush of scent assaulted his senses. Hiding a smile, he nuzzled her again, this time grazing the arch of her hairline, following it up with soft, light kisses to the spots his nose had touched just moments before.



A long, drawn out moan left her lips. Delighted at her reaction, he repeated his performance, and this time was rewarded with a series of shallow, shivery panting.



Zuko glanced up and shuddered. She looked decidedly wanton with her eyes half-lidded, her lips slightly parted to emit shallow, shivery breaths.



Focusing his attention once more, he pursed his lips into a perfect O, and snaked his tongue out, tracing his upper lip, showing her what he could do, before drawing it back into the hollow of his mouth. Instantly, he saw the lust flare up in her eyes.



Pleased with his strategy, he parted his lips once more, this time pushing his tongue out as far as it could go, then flicking the tip as if plucking at an instrument. Mai threw back her head and mewled as she imagined his tongue deftly lapping between her legs.



Rejoicing in his success, he turned his attention back to her body, and proceeded to plant soft kisses all around the perimeter of her sex, chucking inwardly as she twisted and whimpered in rising intensity, trying in vain to increase the pressure of his touch. He kept her heated and writhing, until she cried out loud for want of him… And then he kissed her, passionately, right at the spot where she burned the hottest.



Her cry, when it reached him, was music to his ears. For a moment, she tensed and stilled against the agony of pleasure that crashed through her, but then the wave passed, and she sank down upon him, exhausted, drenched, and desperately needy.



Within moments, Zuko had swept her up in a wild embrace: mouths joined, legs entwined arms entangled, they pleasured themselves roughly against each other’s bodies until at last they fell, sated, onto the grass.



He was so glad they had decided to move to the relative quiet of the summer estate. The palace was always swarming with so many people that they would never have had an oppertunity to have the garden to themselves.



And it was such a beautiful garden.



“I never realized how nice this place could be,” he sighed, and sat up to admire the view. “Just think of the parties we could have,” he continued, gesturing towards the pavilion. “And see that patch there?” he said, pointing to a shady corner. “It’s just nice for a sandbox, or maybe even a wading pool. And we can make that bit there into a playground, for when the kids are older…”



All too late, he realized how quiet she had become.



“Oh, come on,” he sighed heavily. “It was just a thought. Just pretend-kids which we might theoretically have if we just so happened to get married,” he said while the raven-haired girl gazed woodenly out at nothing. “Come on, Mai,” he breathed in irritation. “You don’t need to overreact.”



Out of the corner of his eye, Zuko saw her dip her head and take a deep breath, as if engaged in deep personal debate. Her mouth twitched slightly, and he wondered if she was biting her lip.



When Mai finally spoke, her voice was soft. “Perhaps we should just break up.”



It was her timing, rather than her words, that shocked him. On hindsight, it wasn’t completely unexpected. The way things had been going, it had been only a matter of time. Still, if he closed his eyes and tried hard enough, he could almost convince himself that what he heard was just the sound of the wind.



Almost.



“At least tell me why,” he sighed, holding her, burying his face in her hair. “I know you love me, Mai,” he murmured as he cradled her in his arms. “Even though you don’t say it. So why?”



Much to his dismay, Mai flinched away. “It's just…” she began at last, but trailed off uncertainly. Her voice sounded odd to his ears, nothing like the proud, strong girl he knew her to be.



Finally, she squared her shoulders. “We won’t have kids,” she said evenly. “Ever,” she emphasized, and turned to face him. Her eyes were like steel, but to his surprise, he could almost – almost, mind you – detect a trace of fear in them. As if to support his unexpected discovery, Mai licked her lips nervously.





“Zuko, I might be…. I can’t… I think I’m barren.”







======







The mid-autumn festival was fast approaching, but nobody at court was in a festive mood. The unusually hot summer had dried out the country, depriving much of its rice fields of its precious water supply, and by the time the autumnal rains finally arrived, many of the crops were beyond hope. Even the hardier taro roots were affected.



It was going to be a scanty harvest that year.



The chief minister of the Fire Nation sighed. A food shortage would not bode well for Firelord Zuko’s infant government. Apart from the logistical nightmare of keeping an entire nation adequately fed throughout the leaner winter months, there was also the problem of superstition.



Many of the elders still believed in the Mandate of Heaven: that the great Lords could only rule by the blessings of the gods, and that the gods would reward their favored monarchs with peace, prosperity and abundance. Such believers would naturally interpret the poor harvest as a sign of the new firelord’s incompetence. Even now, reports had come in of villagers making offerings to the Spirit World, praying for direction as they pondered the legitimacy of his rule.



A food shortage would only serve to strengthen the resistance movement. As it was, various opposition groups were gaining momentum, with dialogues and alliances being forged between the different radiacalists. All it took for a full-scale revolution to break out was the presence of a charismatic leader to unite them under a single banner. And then, all would be lost.



Lord Wang frowned. He knew exactly who would be able to provide that role. She would be perfect for the part too - the poor, maligned princess, challenging her traitorous elder brother, in an attempt to reinstate their wronged father. What an exemplary model of filial piety she would make! The commoners would simply adore her.



Not surprisingly, such developments were keenly followed by Firelord Zuko’s own group of loyal supporters, who reacted to the threat by badgering him to marry. If the firelord had no lineage, a leader of a rebellion could easily reinstate himself as the new firelord by killing the nation’s one monarch. The presence of strong, capable heirs, however, would function as a ruler’s best defense against plots to overthrow him, because even if the lord was suitably disposed of, an escaped prince in hiding would effectively divide the country into two opposing factions.



“You must make a choice, my lord,” Lord Wang urged. “Surely you must know that your rule would never be secure until you produce an heir.”



“My lord,” the keeper of the royal harem added, “We have many fine women, just waiting for the honour of receiving your seed.”



Lord Wang cringed. The harem keeper certainly had a way with his words.



“Please,” the young monarch sighed. “I do not wish to speak of this matter again.”



“But my lord!” another senior official moaned. “Surely you do not mean to remain childless!”



“We all know you care deeply for Lady Mai, but…” the keeper of the treasury trailed off. For the first time since the coronation, Lady Mai had been conspicuously absent from court, and Firelord Zuko was still clearly upset about it.



“My lord, time is ticking,” Lord Wang said again. “Perhaps it might be wise, at this point, to seek other options?”



The head of the treasury nodded in agreement. “Think of your people, my lord. We are already struggling to rebuild the country after the invasion of the allied nations. To add to that, the compensation we are paying to our ex-colonies is beginning to take a toll. And now, because of the bad harvest, we need to find new ways of storing and redistributing food, lest we loose the support of the people!”



“My lord, I beg you to reconsider,” Lord Wang continued. “The dynasty is at its weakest in three generations. Please, my lord, we simply cannot risk civil war!”



Lord Wang watched quietly as the firelord closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.



“Leave me,” Firelord Zuko said tonelessly.



And while it galled Lord Wang to see the firelord so heartbroken, this was a task that needed doing. If only the firelord would accept his destiny, as all his fathers before him had done! He wished the young lord would not make it so hard for himself: as a monarch, Firelord Zuko had no choice but to marry quickly. It was his duty. He might not love this new woman, but then again, she would not expect that of him in the first place. All he needed was to do his duty by her. And all she needed to do was to bear him a son before a rebellion occurred.



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