Mating Tears

Zukotros sits at his desk, looking at a picture of a girl. The one girl in the world he'd give his life for. The one girl in the world who is going to birth his children. The one girl who is the reason he gets up in the morning.

With shaky movements he sets the picture down and rubs his eyes, allowing a few minutes of stillness before standing and pushing the chair in. He smiles at the bed and quickly makes it, moving each blanket with care. He stands for a minute, deciding if anything else is to be done. After a sigh he walks out of his room, closing the door cautiously, as if his lover were sleeping inside.

A child runs up to him, with out stretched arms and he picks up his little brother, grunting to tease the little boy on how big he's gotten.

"Zuko, why were you in your room so long?" The boy asks.

"I was getting it ready for Jeak." He replies, "And what are you doing Neptune?"

Neptune makes a noise, "I was wondering what you were doing. What do you mean ready for Jake?"

Zuko laughs at the mispronunciation, "It's Jeak. Jeke." He kisses his little brother's forehead, "Tonight Jeak and I are going to mate."

"Is it like a lot of kissing or something? What do you do?"

Considering the question and how to answer, Zuko shifts, "Yes, like a lot of kissing. You complete a bond when you mate. Remember when Aunt Star and Uncle Fang-"

Neptune sneezes, startling Zuko enough for him to lose his train of thought.

"Silly. Go on, go mess around with your older sister." Zuko sest him down, after watching the little boy run off, Zuko lets out a wild grin, someday Jeak will be chasing a little boy like that.

Curious if Jeak was awake, he picks up his phone and sends her a message, a few seconds later the device makes a noise and he turns the device on. He freezes in place.

Zukotros, this is Jeak's mother. Jeak is in the hospital.

Hurrying down the hall, he taps on his mother's door, when it opens he hands her the phone. Her blue eyes widen, "Zuko, go check on her." She hands the device back.

After a moment of red eyes starring into blue eyes, he breaks the connection and speeds down the hall, throwing the front door open he unfurls his red-white wings and ascends into the sky.

Minutes later Zuko sits in a chair, waiting for the news of his lover. Head down, watching his shaking fingers. A rough and gentle hand grabs his shoulder, his red eyes look up into the eyes of a doctor. Crimson Red turns green at the sigh of the mortal, and Zuko stands, "Is she alright?"

The doctor sighs, "She's very broken. Who ever got her knew what they were doing. Her wings are broken and we believe one of her lungs is pierced. She probably won't make it."

A low growl from the very soul of Zukotros shakes the air and the doctor steps back, hands up in a submissive pose. But it's too late, Zuko pushes him into the nearest wall, snarling his soul, "Fix her."

"We can't d-" the doctor yelps as Zuko smashes his leg with his own.

"I told you to fix her. You will do as I say or I'll smash your head in and devour your throat. Fix her now."

Shaking the doctor nods, "O-Of course." Zuko lets go and the doctor scurries a few feet away before he's caught by the furious man, "Where is she?"

The doctor points down a hall and is pushed aside as the tall man walks past him.

Upon entering the room Zuko's eyes return red, and he calms in the presence of his Mental Mate.

Rushing to her side he takes her hand, bringing it to his trembling lips. At his touch she moves and grips his hand hard, hissing in pain.

Taking care, he moves the blankets off her body and puts his hand to her ribs, "Shhh. Sevetre Le Movemta." he whispers. She opens her eyes, blinking at him for a long time before closing them again.

Sucking in gasps of breath he closes his eyes, forcing all his energy on her pierced lung. She whimpers and stirs, tightening her grip on his hand.

Letting go with a yelp Zuko collapses to his knees, his energy spent. Jeak cries, grabbing his hand and letting out a cry.

Zuko leans on the bed, shaking, "Are you alright? Is it easier to breathe?"

"Yes." Jeak tells him, "Yes."

Zuko takes the oxygen mask off of his Mate, and presses his lips against hers, choking on tears.

"Look! Zuko and Jake are mating or kissing or whatever!" Comes a small voice.

"I see you and your little brother had quite the talk today." Jeak giggles against his lips.

Zuko laughs, "Don't ever say that again Neptune. Just don't do it bud."

Neptune runs forward, jumping on his older brother's back, "Why not?"

"It doesn't sound right."

"Nothing sounds right."

Jeak smiles, "And to think I was worried I'd die in this bed."

"Not as long as I'm living and-"

Neptune pushes his brother's head forward so Jeak and Zuko are kissing again, "Kissing!"

Several Months later Jeak was out of the hospital. Zuko never left her side.

A few weeks later Zuko found his dream had come true and Jeak was pregnant. Neptune continued to ask questions and annoy his older brother, but when he became an Uncle at the age of seven, he held his chest high as if it were a thing to be proud of, and maybe it was.

Zuko and Jeak named the baby girl Nerteara, which was rubian for kisses.