A/N: Okay, Okay, Okay. I've read over it several times so I think it's finally ready. Forvgive me, I've been out of the fanfiction game for anlong time but wanted to write a cheesy crappy romance to brush off the cobwebs. I started with some dark Ozai-centric shit but I promise this WILL BE light hearted and it IS about Bato. Though, I may end up doing a spinoff fic exploring the super creepy and probably incredibly unhealthy power dynamic i just wrote between a 47 year old man and a 19 year old woman if anyone is interested in Rakia's story. Tried to make it as possibly canon as i could but it IS fanfiction so who REALLY cares? :D Enjoy!
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Prince Zuko breathed in the salt air as he stood on the dock of Harbor City, unsure of what to expect of the ship sailing slowly into Fire Nation waters. From his experiences this past year, very little suprised him but he was certainly taken aback when he visited Azula in her padded cell to hear about how "our step mother is going to be so suprised". The Gaang, their interest peaked when Zuko explained where he was going and why, had also followed and waited now, beside him, with baited breath to see what woman in her right mind would marry a man such as (ex) Firelord Ozai. Zuko, also, was intrigued, how could he have not known? After staying so long in his fathers house even if he hadnt seen her surely someone would have mentioned something. All observed as the fleet ship docked and the steel gangway clinked loudly on the concrete port. A flurry of guards hustled off the ship as a deep red and orange clad figure walked slowly down the ramp, footsteps making a dull thud below her. She turned the corner and was rendered speechless. Her mouth agape, her suprise was apperent to be met not by her husband or any court citizens, but a group of strange children from foreign lands.
Firelord Ozai's second wife was a very pretty but very young looking woman, with long, thick, wavy black hair and skin as dark as night. Her coffee colored eyes looked up from the ground and her brow furrowed.
"What's going on? Where's Ozai? Who are you?" she voiced her concerns, gazing fearfully about, likely looking for any sign of Zuko's father. None of her questions were answered in a timely manner.
Zuko held his hands up in a placating manner, keeping his guard up but attempting to show a non threatening stance. "My Lady, please come with me, we have a lot to talk about."
She took a step back, hands raising as well. "I'm not going anywhere with you, I don't even know who you are."
Zuko and his company eyed the young woman. She didnt appear to be a threat. Of course, the guards beside her would serve the Firelord, and they would learn soon who that truly was. Zuko didn't want to force her to come back to the Royal Plaza, but it didn't appear she was going anywhere willingly until she had some answers.
"My name is Prince Zuko, Ozai's son. Azula told me about you, so I sent for you. I just want to talk." he declared, and it was only the truth. The womans hands dropped, and her body straightened.
"I-" she began, only to drop her sentence and cock her head with a puzzled look. "Ozai doesn't have a son."
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The Council room was completely silent except for the cracking of the fire lit at the end of the room to lend some light to the otherwise dark area. Zuko sat across the table from his fathers wife, his step mother, as her hands were clasped, her mouth resting on her knuckles and she stared straight down. She didnt even breathe a word when Azula giggled from the head of the impossibly long redwood conference table. Azula was, in fact, brought, as horrible of an idea as that was. Somebody who knew the whole story had to be there, and Zuko wasnt about to bring his father into this. On either side of him was his uncle and Chief Hakoda, to offer valued council, and a bit firther away, at the opposite head from Azula keeping their distance was the rest of the Gaang. He drew his attention back to the woman, Rakia, the unlucky companion of a shamed king. She had the face of a woman who had never heard the story of the man that had burned half his own son's face beyond healing. She could be acting, but her shock seemed genuine.
She didn't address Zuko, but instead turned to Azula. "Did my father know as well?"
Azula, from her position cuffed to a screwed down handle, smirked that smirk she could only have gotten from her father and nodded, laughing at Rakia.
Rakia paid no mind to it, eyes turned down to their spot on the table once more. "I wouldn't have married him... if I had known." Her eyes flicked up to Zuko, her stony expression only faltering for a moment.
"Then explain to us why you didmarry him." Iroh laid his hands on the table. "You have heard Zuko's story, it is time for yours."
Rakia nodded, and taking a deep breath, began, "I'm from an island in the south called Kun-Li, a big exporter of steel which, obviously your father needed a lot of. We only, within the last 25 years, came under Fire Nation Rule, and my people didnt much appreciate being occupied for our resources, them recruiting our men to die in their war, so there was a decent amount of unrest on our small little island. My father is Cheif Lu'Kaa, my mothers name is Ynga. I have two other sisters, but the eldest is already married and my next oldest sister, not the most politically savvy person in the world. So, when I turned 18 my parents came to my room the morning after my 18th birthday and asked me what I was willing to do to save our people and I said 'anything' and I meant it." she paused, looking around as if hoping that this would suffice but no one said anything.
Finally, after too much silence Hakoda prompted, "Well, go on."
"My father sent a messenger hawk to the Firelord with a 'plan to create peace between our people'. I dont know what was in the letter but it must have peaked your fathers interest, my family was invited to the capital and we were introduced. Now, Firelord Ozai is quite a lot older than me, but he was powerful, and attractive, and he had acted kind to me. Not to mention a marraige would seal the peace deal between our fathers. He asked me if I wanted to marry him, I could have said no, but I didn't, and we were married in the next three weeks. It's not like I was forced into anything," Rakia's body tensed. "I wanted to do it."
"Who would want to marry that man?" Katara interjected.
"You look me right in the eye and tell me you wouldn't do the exact same thing to save your brothers and sisters!" Rakia snapped, visibly anxious, and looked at the three men right before her. "People were dying. Maybe it wasnt the best option but it was the most apperent to all involved. But, apperently, I have been decieved..."
"Oh, indeed." Zuko mused. "How did my father keep us a secret from each other and why?" He prodded, and Rakia shrugged.
"I guess he knew I wouldnt have accepted him if I had known, and I was, lets face it, a very valuable political pawn. He went so far as to send me away a month ago-"
"When I came here to stay and he became 'The Pheonix King'." Zuko interrupted.
After a very pregnant pause, Rakia began laughing hysterically very suddenly, causing everyone to draw back a bit. Coming down from her break in character she giggled, "What?!"
Zuko laughed nervously back, while Sokka got right down to business, "So what happens now?"
The mood darkened slightly once more, "Well I suppose as long as my advisors here also think you're telling the truth..." Zuko was met with a quick nod from the men at his side, "I suppose we'll let you go back to your home."
"Won't you send for my family, your highness?" Rakia pleaded, making no hesitation about the request. "I may not have any sway, what with my husband being dethroned entirely and all, but think about it. The last tie you have to peace with Kun-Li island, you just threw half in a prison cell and are detaining the other." She leaned back in her seat to size up the men before her. "Meet with my Father, pull out of Kun-Li, or put me in prison with my husband and go to another war with my people that your country can't handle... you have some choices to make, Firelord. But I'm trying to look out for you here. It's probably best for you to make some new friends..."
Zuko rested his chin on clasped hands, he understood what his father saw in her. She was every bit as vindictive as he. "Cheif Hakoda, Uncle, Aang, please stay. Guards, please escort everyone else out of the room, and take my sister back to her holding cell." He commanded, and Iroh smiled proudly, his dear nephew truly sounded like a leader at last.
Rakia rose slowly, refusing to be touched by the guards who had, up until now, protected her. She left with the others to leave Zuko and the three named men alone.
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That's all for now, folks. Like, comment, review, tweet at me, tell me it sucks and you hate me, whatever it is you kids do nowadays... I'm going to apologize for the lack of indentation. I have tried multiple times to get the document writer on my phone to do it and it just doesn't... :(