The forests green, the flowers bloom
The clouds gathered with the morning dew
I loved him then and never knew
While he spoke to me through honest eyes
He was in fact the Prince of Lies
Katara woke with a start. The sun was bright red against the pale horizon. She rubbed her eyes wearily–her night had been cold and restless. Turning over on her side, she saw the other half of the bed was empty.
Of course he wasn't there. Why would he be, thought Katara. She had long since gotten used to the lonely nights. Most of the time she barely cared. But last night she had had the dream again. The nightmare that plagued her every so often. And now her mind was in turmoil.
She felt her stomach twist and turn. The barriers she had put up so tentatively washed away in an instant. Regret poured through the cracks, seemed from the recesses of her mind, at last overwhelming her. She felt a warm tear slide down her cheek. Once more she allowed herself the question–why?
Why was everything so wrong? Why was every day filled with pain? Why had she been so stupid? Why had she chosen him?
"Because I loved him." she whispered, the words dying in the cold air around her. 'And because I thought he loved me too.'
Another tear slid down her face. Closing her eyes to stop the flow, she felt her mind drift back to the dream. Back to that day she could never forget.
'Katara.' She looked away, avoiding his eyes, pretending not to see.
'Aang, I know what this is about. Please don't.' He took her by the hand and caught her gaze. She saw those grey eyes filled with grief and she almost gave in then and there. But she forced herself to remain steadfast. 'I'm sorry Aang, but–"
'Katara I love you.' He smiled at her warmly and she felt herself returning the smile. She saw his eyes begin to fill with hope and that brought her to her senses.
'I'm sorry Aang, but I can't return your feelings. I know it's not what you want to hear, but that's the truth.' The look on his face nearly broke her heart.
'Why Katara? We've been through so much together. You know how I've felt for a long time. On the day of Black Sun we–'
'That was a mistake.' she said coldly. 'We were merely caught up in the moment.'
'No, what happened there was real. I know it was.' said Aang with renewed determination.
'Things are different now, Aang. You have to forget the past. I…I love Zuko now.' She saw the tears in his eyes and looked away. Biting her lip, she continued. 'And he loves me. Please, be happy for us. We…can still be friends.'
'You know that's not possible.' said Aang, his voice trembling. 'Goodbye, Katara.'
She looked up and saw his glider soaring through the air. The realization struck her, he was leaving forever.
'Aang!' she cried out, but he never turned back and she never saw him again.
Zuko tied his hair and slid the golden headgear into place. He was Fire Lord, undisputed leader, ruler of the Fire Nation–the greatest of all the nations.
He heard the soft feminine sigh and turned around. Mai was still asleep. He had been careful not to wake her. Not that he loved her, or even cared for her–he just wanted the morning to be silent. Zuko relished the quiet.
He yawned contentedly. Katara would no doubt be difficult today. He had not been to their room in weeks. The last time had been pathetic.
She had known about his mistresses for some time, but had kept up the facade of ignorance. Even so he had felt the cold disdain. The distance between them. It was her own fault really. She had failed in her role as a wife. Failed to please him.
A few weeks ago he had at last grown tired of pretending and finally let his true feelings surface.
'What's wrong, my lord?' she had asked, she had long since stopped calling him Zuko.
'You're terrible Katara.' He had said, climbing out of the bed and putting his clothes on. 'Do you even know how to please a man?'
He saw the rage in her eyes as she hissed back. 'You call yourself a man? What kind of man talks to a woman that way–to his own wife?'
'Perhaps if you acted like a wife, instead of a statue, I would feel more obligated.'
'You bastard.' she screamed, losing any control she had left. 'How dare you insult me, you whore-mongering garbage.'
He smirked and continued to put on his clothes. The smug look on his face made Katara shake with fury.
'Well let's face it Katara,' said Zuko nonchalantly, 'A man has needs. And since you are incapable, I have the right to fulfill them elsewhere.'
'You're the one who is incapable!' she seethed.
'Lying to cover up your own incompetence. Is there no low you won't sink to? I guess I should expect no less from an ignorant peasant.'
Zuko saw the attack before it came and easily caught her by the arms. Katara writhed in his hold but could not escape it. The anger in her eyes brought him back to when they had met in Ba-Sing-Se. She had become more of a woman then, her shapely figure had been the first thing he noticed. But it was her gaze, those strong blue eyes that had attracted him most of all.
Seeing her dress undone, her breasts exposed ever so slightly, Zuko began to feel the familiar ache in his groin. He adjusted his hold, and snaked his free hand around one breast. He felt her pulling away, but he held fast, stroking the nipple with his thumb and index finger.
Katara bit her lower lip–the whisper of a moan escaping against her will. Zuko began to move his hand lower. Down her smooth stomach and slender abdomen, drawing closer to her nether regions. That was when she kicked him. Hard. Losing control, he backhanded her fiercely. The shock of the blow sent her sprawling on the bed.
'Stupid bitch.' He cursed, not hearing her sobs.
He threw off his clothes, and climbed onto the bed. Katara still lay there in pain, clutching her swollen cheek. But Zuko saw none of it. He tore off her dress with one motion and turned her on her back. She tried to crawl away but he pulled her towards him.
'Incapable am I?' He raised her rear in the air and entered her mercilessly. She cried out in pain but he went on, thrusting hard.
Katara screamed in agony as he picked up the pace. Tightening his grip on her as he thrust–his nails sinking deep into her skin–Zuko felt himself drawing closer, ecstasy mere moments away. Wave after wave of pleasure washed over him as he entered deeper. He no longer heard her tortured cries, there was only one thought on his mind. At last he came, the release giving him brief satisfaction.
As the rage finally left him, he climbed out of the bed. Katara's cries continued to echo through the room.
He had said nothing as he finished getting dressed. When he closed the door, he could still hear her stifled sobs.
"Leaving so soon?" Mai's voice brought him back to the here and now.
"Afraid so." He looked in the mirror and adjusted the headgear.
"Mmm." She moaned as she got out of the bed. Walking over to Zuko, she embraced him from behind. "Stay for a while." She purred, sliding her hand towards his groin. "If you feel up to it." Zuko caught her hand in his own and spun her around so she faced him,
"Not now, my pet." The corner of his mouth curled into a smile. "I've got business to attend to. We'll resume our little conversation later tonight."
"You always were difficult, Zuko." She said with a sigh.
In response he pulled her close and kissed her passionately. She returned the kiss with all her heart. Slowly her doubts began to wash away as the kiss grew deeper. When at last they parted, Zuko bid her farewell.
"Try not to miss me." He said, before leaving her in the quasi-darkness of the room.
As he walked down the grand staircase, Zuko smiled to himself. Laughing at his own private joke. Mai meant little to him. She was merely a pleasant distraction in his day to day drudgery. He had thought of making her his first consort. After all he was Fire Lord. All Fire Lords had them, his own father had four. And twice as many mistresses.
Now those, Zuko had in abundance. Every man should have a mistress, his father had told him when he was only beginning to learn of such things. Zuko had asked his mother what a mistress was, to which his mother responded with a strange look in her eyes and a calm 'Go practice your bending Zuzu'. It was only much later that he realized the emotion behind those eyes. Frustration.
Frustration is the core of any marriage, thought Zuko decidedly. One woman for the rest of your life? Absurd. And yet for a time he had thought it could work.
Zuko turned the corner and strolled out onto the massive foyer. The garden was still partially living. The cold weather had not touched many of the trees. In fact, the sakuras were in full bloom.
Zuko warmed his body with his breath of fire and continued his walk, stopping by one of the many statues in the garden. It was a statue of his beloved Uncle Iroh. The sculptor had placed great emphasis the Dragon of the West's infamous smile and the limitless strength behind his eyes.
"Would you be proud of me Uncle?" Zuko looked up at the statue. "Of course not. But then, you always thought highly of me. Perhaps that was your mistake. I told you you would be better suited for the job. But you insisted."
The statue continued to smile, the eyes matching his gaze. Reading his thoughts and feelings. Zuko tightened his fist.
"Now do you see?" he shouted. "Now do you realize your mistake?" Iroh continued to smile kindly.
"You damn old fool." muttered Zuko. "Atleast you didn't live to regret your decision."
Zuko returned his thoughts to the matter at hand. Mai would make a suitable consort. Her family was both rich and of sufficient standing. Certainly a good start. More would follow in time.
Mai will be ecstatic at the news, thought Zuko, perhaps tonight will turn out interesting. More importantly, Katara will be furious. This would definitely put the defiant Fire Lady back in her place. Zuko smiled at the perfection of his plan.
Perhaps in time her temperament would cool. And then things would be as they were in the beginning.
But Zuko knew that was unlikely. They had both grown up since that moment. And he now realized just how inadequate Katara was for the position. How ill bred.
When they had married he had thought the world of her. Their first time together had been amazing. So filled with love, which he now knew was a lie, and flowing with passion. He had marveled at the beauty of her. The perfect shape and color of her body. Now he could barely stand the sight of her.
Zuko put the irritating thought aside for later. He had much to do today. And much to look forward to.
A/N: I meant this to be a oneshot but depending on the response I might expand the story and add more chapters. Please review and tell me what you think.
