Part 1
There are times to be in love and certain people to be in love with. Well now certainly wasn't the right time, and the person definitely was the wrong kind person. Still she couldn't make herself stop, it was like asking her heart to stop beating. It was simply impossible.
She didn't know the specific time this all started, it just short of happened. She could name a general area of when this infatuation had been sparked. It was a single name, Omashu. The first time her eyes had come across a girl more alluring than anyone in the entire world, and sadly that was an understatement.
She heard about stuff like this happening but only in fairy tales. For most her life she thought love at first sight was just something people made up. Little did she know she would be lucky enough to experience it. It sure was by far something magical and there was no explanation for it. She had no real reason to fall madly in love with this stranger, her enemy of all people, those feelings just came out of nowhere. Perhaps it was a past life thing, or maybe because since she was a water bender she was naturally curious about her opposite. Those would be a reasonable answer but still couldn't explain what she was feeling.
Love like this was unheard in the Water Tribes, if it did exist there, it was a well kept secret. This too was very new to her, all her life she'd been attracted to boys, so why she felt this way towards another girl didn't make sense. The feeling she had right then was stronger than anything she ever felt for a boy. It compelled her to do stupid things, made her dream, fantasize, about this girl day and night.
Every encounter she had with this sovereign made her feelings more powerful than before, until now when there was no turning back, no getting rid of them. They were apart of her now and it was the least expected thing someone would find if they could analyze her. She was a strong independent young woman and for her to feel so clingy to someone outside of her family, was bizarre. It was scary and amazing at the same time and not an inch of her regretted feeling this way.
She refused to feel shameful because honestly if you took a good look at the one enemy who could capture Katara's heart, the girl's personality just made you want to like her. Why not? As a regular girl she was accomplished, impulsive, ruthless, and intelligent. Then add that she's the most powerful fire bender in this generation and princess of the Fire Nation. It was a flawless package that no one could turn away from. The only thing she should be shameful about was how she could never be worthy of such a person.
She didn't even know why it shocked her so much to find that the prodigy had secretly found her way into the greatest city in the Earth Kingdom disguised as a Kyoshi Warrior. She should've known better than to assume Suki had come to Ba Sing Se. So when she ran into the throne room for help seeing the princess there instead caught her off guard in more than one way. One she was surprised that it wasn't Suki, two she was drooling over the fire bender's superb beauty. By the time her body started to respond, it was too late.
Now as a consequence she sat there in this dark unforgiving room waiting to either be rescued or tortured. It was a small box, big enough for two prisoners to stay in, the only light was the faint moonlight shining down on part of the wall as it came through a barred window. There was a small cup of water in the corner, she hadn't touched it even though her mouth was so dry. She guessed she was planning on using it to bend if she was going to be tortured. It was probably there for a reason, the princess wouldn't have let her have it if she thought Katara would be able to escape.
The endless silence was broken as the sound of distant footsteps grew louder as they made their way up the iron hall. They were too soft to be a man's footsteps yet too steady to belong to a fragile servant's. Her blood started rushing and she hoped her guess was right. The lock on the thick door groaned and the door was pushed open. The dim light of the torches lighting the hall came in and the outline of girl stood at the entrance. Whoever it was didn't stand at the entrance too long and the door shut quickly.
"Stand up peasant." The command came sharply through the air causing Katara to jolt. There was no mistaking that voice she knew it better than she knew her own voice. She had to remind herself to breathe as she came onto her feet. This was the first time she'd ever been alone with the prodigy, she was cherishing every minute of it.
The princess stepped into the moonlight looking like an angelic being. No longer wearing the Kyoshi Warrior's armor, but in a more comfortable less girly garment. In her hands were chains with two open cuffs. It was clear the fire bender was going to chain her but she wanted to know why, it wasn't like Katara stood a chance against her by herself and Katara wasn't planning on fighting back. Her enemy took step forward eyes planted on Katara's wrists.
Without patience the fire bender snatched her right wrist. The princess' grasp was tight and kind of hurt but she was paying attention to how soft the skin felt on hers. Then the prodigy glanced up to make eye contact. "You aren't going to fight back?" there was a hint of irritation in the girl's voice. The princess probably came here to humiliate the water bender but wasn't getting what she wanted.
Katara had to bite her tongue to keep herself from saying something stupid, she shook her head in response instead. The princess' thin black eyebrow rose. "Why exactly?" The prodigy no longer stood in front of her but encircled her taking in every inch of the water bender her eyes could see. By now Katara's heart was pounding not sure what she could say that wouldn't give away her secret.
She opened her mouth but only air came out as she still contemplated on what to say. "I…" she began her voice was so weak, she didn't even know how her enemy could hear her. "I don't want to." That was the best she could come up with.
"Hmmm." The fire bender came back in front of her. A pale finger touched her chin forcing Katara's head to rise. "You're smart for a worthless specimen." To her, that sounded like a compliment and immediately she could feel her knees begin to weaken. "Still, I don't like my toys to be smart." A vicious hand struck her cheek and Katara's teeth clenched from the pain.
She raised her hand to her cheek rubbing it slightly before looking at the princess again. "Want to fight back yet?" No matter what the prodigy did Katara would never, never harm the girl she loved. She shook her head again preparing for another strike. Oh and another sure did come, it was more painful than the last. Still Katara would not defend herself.
Inflamed that the water bender would not do what she wanted she grabbed Katara's throat, holding it loosely enough for Katara to still breathe, she shoved the peasant into the wall. "Fight me!" the princess shouted through her teeth. The iron grasp on her throat hurt badly and she wanted it to stop. Her enemy's hold on her tightened and a whimper escaped the water bender. A sinister grin stretched over the princess' face now that she knew she was hurting the water bender. Still, it was wasn't enough. Deciding that she could not force the girl to fight back she let go and Katara dropped to her knees.
She was breathing heavily now that more air could get into her lungs. A loud clang echoed through the cell and she could tell the girl had punched the wall out of anger. The princess turned around. "Why don't you want to hurt me? After all the things I've done to you and your friends?" the fire bender demanded an answer.
She stared at the floor a tear coming down her cheek. She wanted to say the truth so badly but would probably only get beaten for feeling this way. "I never wanted to harm you." she explained feebly.
"Why not?! Everyone does." The princess hissed. "Perhaps you don't know who I am exactly. Is that it?" Katara merely shook her head and gazed up at the prodigy staring into the gold irises.
"You are Princess Azula of the Fire Nation, a fire bending prodigy, the Fire Lord's favorite child, and one of the brightest young minds of our generation. And I will not harm someone with so much potential." She stated clearly. She swallowed deeply daring to continue. "Even if you are my enemy, I still respect you as person."
There was a long period of silence as the prodigy paced back and forth occasionally looking at Katara but not too closely. As the princess thought, Katara slowly got the strength to stand up again but she had to lean against the wall for second before she could stand normal. Azula stopped staring at the wall before turning around.
"Katara." The princess said firmly. Again she didn't know why she was surprised to find that her enemy actually knew her name. "Are you in love with me?" the prodigy crossed her arms waiting for a reply.
She was frozen in place, her heart going crazy, her body burning up. How? How could Azula figure it out so quickly?! She'd been so careful about the words she chose. Was it that obvious? There was only one thing to do now and that was to lie. She had to lie to the princess to avoid being punished and she couldn't lie while looking directly at Azula. Turning her back to the princess and hugged herself.
"No, don't be ridiculous." She replied straining to sound appalled. Her fingers found their way to her mother's necklace, reminding herself that it was Azula's people that killed her mother. That anger was the only thing that made her sound somewhat convincing. As her old hatred for fire benders returned it clashed with her feelings towards the princess causing her steady appearance to crack. "I…I hate you…" her voice became frail from the tears building up.
"I can't believe I didn't see this before." The princess thought out loud. Katara let go of her necklace and sighed, there was no point denying it anymore. Azula had already put the pieces together. "How long have you felt this way?"
Katara placed her forehead on the wall. "Since I first saw you in Omashu." She answered and Azula's eyes went wide with a bit surprised.
"That long?" The princess let out a shrug. "Even after everything? You still…" The princess couldn't bring herself to say the word. Katara just nodded unable to speak, a large air bubble had formed in her throat.
Once she had the courage, she spoke again. "Not a day has gone by that I haven't thought of you." she wiped the tear from her cheek sighing deeply. "I don't know why I feel this way, I just…I can't help it. You have no idea what you do to people. What you've done to me. I don't care what you think, well I do, I just I won't regret feeling this way. Because there's nothing to be ashamed of. I know I sound stupid and you must think I'm so far below you…"
She must seem so pitiful to the princess who could probably care less about how she felt. Maybe the fire bender was used to people acting like this to her. She didn't mean to say all of that and wanted to take it all back. Fear rushed through her now, would Azula beat her for saying that? She couldn't even begin to imagine because the princess wasn't very predictable.
"No actually." The prodigy said her voice in a low tone. Her fear drained away replaced once more with shock. "I…I've thought you…not in the same way but…I have thought of you."
Well that wasn't the answer she thought she received. Her heart became hopeful. Azula had thought of her, only not so drowned by love, but still every now than she had run across the prodigy's mind.
"You have?" Katara whispered and she faced the fire bender again wanting to see that face once more. Azula kicked the floor slightly and uncrossed her arms.
The princess stared at the wall thinking deeply. From the repeating thunk she could tell the fire bender was hitting the wall only with less force. Katara just waited, the prodigy was the one in control, it was Azula's turn to speak. This seemed to bother the princess, thus the wall hitting.
"I hate this, I hate not knowing what to do!" The princess confessed. The fire bender stopped hitting the wall and stood there lifeless. "I've never felt this way before." The prodigy punched the wall with full force again out of agony. "I tried so hard to avoid something like this, it's a weakness. It's dumb and I don't want it! So why…do I still feel this way?!"
Katara lowered her head not sure whether it was safe to comfort Azula or not. So she was forced to just stand there. She never thought the prodigy could feel the same turmoil as she did, but she liked it, it proved that Azula was still human, still had flaws. The princess shrugged and glared at Katara.
"We can't do this." Katara closed her eyes knowing it was true. "You won't betray the Avatar for me, and I won't leave the Fire Nation for you. Face it, we're too different for this to work anyway."
"…I know." She said faintly as the tears started to come back. "I know the only way this could ever happen is in a dream." The princess nodded in agreement as she stared at the floor. "But I'd rather spend the rest of my life remembering this one moment with you, than going through life without having it at all."
Part 2
She sat in the lonely throne room sitting in the Earth King's throne which would soon belong to her, thinking of her new prisoner. It made her smile to think she was able to fool the girl into believing she was someone to trust. If only it lasted a little longer she would have had some real fun.
Perhaps she could blame this feeling on curiosity. As a fire bender it was only natural to be intrigued by her opposite. You don't come across someone like this peasant too often. The water bender was caring, righteous, open-minded, and for a peasant held a different kind of beauty. The girl was not drop dead gorgeous but held a simplicity that even she could admire. Yes, the Water Tribe peasant was a fine new addition to her playthings.
There was no way she could be bored while she brought horrible pain to the water bender. No way she wouldn't be satisfied to know she broke such a proud young girl. The reason was obvious to why she wanted to torment the peasant. She wanted to prove she was the greater opposite, that no matter how strong the girl was, she could always shatter a good person.
If there was one thing she did have, and she had a lot, it was time. All night in fact. So why she sat there daydreaming about torturing her new slave while she could actually be doing it, was stupid. With that she stood up and headed to the lower levels of the palace where the girl would be kept in a small filthy cell, were all peasants should be.
It did not take her long to find where the prisoners were stored. As she headed down the hall she found a chain with cuffs. Perfect. She picked up it and ran her fingers over the old metal links as she found the only occupied cell down there.
She wasn't expecting the girl to try and run out the door but still she didn't like taking chances. She pushed the thick door open and closed it. Remaining quiet she allowed her eyes to adjust to the darkness, her prisoner sat waiting, wondering, who it was that came in. "Stand up peasant." She ordered making it clear that it was her that came in. Her voice must've been the only sound the girl had heard in a few hours since the water bender jerked.
As she wanted the girl came onto her feet. Taking only a few steps, she came before the water bender and grabbed the tan girl's wrist. She squeezed it tightly to make sure it wasn't able to escape but noticed the water bender made no attempt to take it back. "You aren't going to fight back?" She wanted the prisoner to fight back, it would make this all the more enjoyable and she was irritated to find the girl wasn't.
The tan girl just shook her head. "Why exactly?" she asked and wondered maybe the girl was wounded and that was why she didn't fight back. If she was wounded why didn't she heal herself with the water? Just to see if her theory was right or not, she encircled the peasant inspecting her features which were indeed ideal.
The peasant opened her mouth but only air came out, testing Azula's patience. "I…" the girl began. "I don't want to." Doesn't want to fight her? Well that was certainly new. Who would want to fight her? She could easily kill the peasant so the girl choosing not to fight was a smart move on her part.
"Hmmm." She came before the water bender straightening her back. She brought her finger to the girl's chin and forced the tan girl to look at her. "You're smart for a worthless specimen." She said in a kind voice. "Still, I don't like my toys to be smart." She hit the peasant harshly loving the power she held over this girl. "Want to fight back yet?" Azula was trying to get this girl upset, so she could have a bit of entertainment but the peasant shook her head again. Once more she brought the back of her hand to the girl's face with a lot more force this time.
Inflamed that the water bender would not do what she wanted she grabbed Katara's throat, holding it loosely enough for Katara to still breathe, she shoved the peasant into the wall. "Fight me!" she commanded. Appling a bit more pressure to the girl's neck she heart a whimper. She grinned as she noticing she was inflicting pain. But just hearing a whimper wasn't good enough but it was futile to continue beating the girl if she wasn't going to get what she wanted.
She never had a prisoner like this before. One who refused to fight back. She didn't like it one bit. Out of anger that for once she wasn't getting what she wanted she rammed her fist into the wall, her anger numbed the pain in her knuckles. She wheeled around to yell at the girl. "Why don't you want to hurt me? After all the things I've done to you and your friends?" she demanded an answer.
"I never wanted to harm you." the water bender explained feebly.
"Why not?! Everyone does." she hissed. "Perhaps you don't know who I am exactly. Is that it?" the peasant merely shook her head and gazed up staring into Azula's eyes.
The girl then told Azula her formal titles of course but what she wasn't expecting to hear was, "And I will not harm someone with so much potential." That was the last explanation she thought would come from her prisoner. "Even if you are my enemy, I still respect you as person."
The peasant was hiding something and she could tell clearly now. None of her prisoners respected her, refused to harm her because they thought she had potential. Now that she ran the peasant's words through her mind several times it was pretty obvious the girl possibly had feelings towards her?
"Katara." The princess stated clearly. "Are you in love with me?" she crossed her arms waiting for a reply. This question seemed to upset the water bender. The girl turned away from her unable to look her directly in the eyes and answer. A clear sign that what she thought was true.
"No, don't be ridiculous." The girl answered but didn't sound all the believable thus proving clearly the girl felt something towards her. "I…I hate you…" the water bender's voice cracked.
"I can't believe I didn't see this before." She thought out loud. This Water Tribe peasant was in love in her. What she wanted to know right then was why? No one liked her. But the question that came out of her mouth was, "How long have you felt this way?"
The girl rested her forehead on the wall. "Since I first saw you in Omashu." Azula's went wide, the girl not only loved her but had since she first laid eyes on her.
"That long?" She sighed so confused, they were enemies, so why would the tan girl feeling anything towards her? "Even after everything? You still…" her voice trailed off.
The water bender had to undeniably collect herself before continuing. "Not a day has gone by that I haven't thought of you." Azula froze in place, the peasant had thought her that much? "I don't know why I feel this way, I just…I can't help it." She listened closely more closely than she would listen to anyone else speak.
The girl knew her place and knew it was below her, but despite that she still embraced those emotions? Katara had been wrong of course. Azula found the peasant, as an enemy, on the same level which was why she was so determined to break the water bender's confidence. But even more than that, she too felt this way only way, way less obsessed.
"No actually." Azula replied. "I…I've thought you…not in the same way but…I have thought of you." Yes, the thought of having the girl by her side did come across her mind a few times. This odd attraction which she blamed curiosity for creating, was in her as well.
"You have?" the girl asked turning around to see her. Azula kicked the floor slightly and uncrossed her arms.
She didn't know what to say or what to do. This was forbidden. And love was something she didn't need to be distracted by at the moment. So what would she say to the water bender. It couldn't be the truth right? All of this was new to her and as a perfectionist not knowing what to do made her angry. Once more she hit the wall out of frustration.
"I hate this, I hate not knowing what to do!" the words escaped her. Giving up on hitting the wall she just stood there staring at it. "I've never felt this way before." She didn't want to call her feelings by its name. She didn't want to accept the fact that she actually cared about a worthless peasant. But she did feel it…love…
She punched the wall with full force again out of agony. "I tried so hard to avoid something like this, it's a weakness. It's dumb and I don't want it!" she shouted as her insides tore apart and started a war. She never felt turmoil before, she was always sure about everything but this was the first time she wasn't sure. She hated turmoil and she wanted to go away but it wouldn't, her feelings wouldn't stop existing. "So why…do I still feel this way?!"
She would never get her answer and she knew that she wouldn't, which made this horrible feeling of being unsure worse. Why she loved this stranger, her enemy of all people, was a mystery to her. Why did she feel all tingly and hurt inside? She wanted Katara but she couldn't have her.
"We can't do this." she said to the peasant but mostly to herself, she was still trying to convince herself not to feel like this. "You won't betray the Avatar for me, and I won't leave the Fire Nation for you. Face it, we're too different for this to work anyway."
"…I know." The heartache in the girl's voice did not make her too pleased. "I know the only way this could ever happen is in a dream." Azula nodded, Katara understood that denying this was the best that was a good thing. "But I'd rather spend the rest of my life remembering this one moment with you, than going through life without having it at all." Azula looked up that wasn't what she wanted to hear yet at the same time, it was.
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