A/N:
Don't know about you guys but I'm so ready for Katara and Ozai getting back together. I know I know, its taboo but in this AU, how can you not? Ozai's still a dick, yes, I know but he's trying to get better because he loves her enough to make the effort to be better (got a long way to go). There's still Zutara that most of us love but they deserve a second chance, right? Maybe not.
Chapter 29:
In the bathroom washing up, a knock sounded on the door and Katara looked up from her scrubbing her skin with a sponge.
"Tara, you in there?" She heard Zuko on the other end. "The baby is up. I think he's hungry." Zuko replied with a chuckle. "He's sucking on my finger."
Opening the door to the bathroom, "I went to the training ground to start getting back inshape." She told him as she took the baby from his arms and bounced him.
Zuko looked her over, "I'm not a woman, so I don't know but you look fine."
Katara shook her head as she stuck her tongue out at him. "For now but I need to get fit again. I think I've lost my edge from living a pampered life style."
Zuko chuckled and told her that she might be onto something. The two of them laughed as Katara took a seat down on the sofa. As soon as she did, with the baby to her breast, an image flashed in her head. It looked like something from the past. She was dressed in red robes that looked similar to Zuko's. Her hair was short and the back was pulled back into a topknot with a crown of the Fire Nation in it. Beside her with his hand on hers was Ozai.
Then, suddenly an image of Ozai on the ground foaming from the mouth with wide eyes came about. She then saw herself be chopped in the shoulder with a sword as a cloaked man reveals his identity. Jet.
Katara hisses and rubs her brow. Her head hurt and those images, were they flashbacks? She wondered.
Seeing the contortion of pain on her face, Zuko reached to place his hand on her back. "Are you okay, Tara?"
Nodding, "Yes, I just don't think I feel too well at the moment."
"Need me to get a physician?" He got up to his feet, preparing to go get help.
Katara grabbed his sleeve and looked at her with a slightly less pained look, "No, I'm fine. Just please stay here with me." She says. "Don't leave me."
Sitting back down, Zuko agrees to stay with her and she moves to lay herself against his shoulder. There, she fell asleep with the baby nestled in her arms. Zuko removes her from his arm as he needs to go check on something while she slept.
Going to his father's office, Zuko arrived to see one of the generals that had followed him from the Fire Nation was there. They were looking over a map and Zuko's brows raised as the two stopped talking and looked up at him.
"What can I do for you, Zuko?" Ozai asked in one of those obviously annoyed tones.
Zuko eyed the scroll that the general happened to roll up, "What's going on here?"
"None of your business." Ozai said as he gestured to his general to be dismissed. As the general left, the Phoenix King rose from behind his desk. "But since you'll most likely become suspicious of me, I'll tell you now that it's simply to do with a new invention of mines. The waterbender approved of it and I figured why not start putting it in motion."
Oh, thought you were plotting something evil. Zuko couldn't help it. His father was a man you could never have your guard down with.
Clearly his throat as he fixed his gaze from his father to the firepit. "Can you show me how you do that thing with fire that Hama does with water to see?"
Ozai folded his arms and tilted his head, "What are you talking about?"
"I've seen you gaze at the fire like you're watching something. I know you can do the same thing they can do." Zuko said.
Scoffing, "Why do you want to know?"
"Because I need to check on how things are going back home. Can't leave here just yet." He told his father.
Reluctantly, Ozai decided to show his son. He didn't know if it was one of those exclusive abilities that just his kind and the sirens could do with their elements but it was worth a shot.
While Zuko had managed to use his element to check in on things back home, Ozai, of course, went to check on things with Katara. However; as soon as he shut the door of his office, the waterbender ran into him. Quite literally. He had to catch her when she nearly stumbled backwards.
When he steadied her, he saw she had the baby in her arms and she had panic in her eyes as if she was running from someone or something. He looked in the direction she had come from to see if she had been followed but when her hand grabbed his robes, balling it in her fist, his attention went back to her.
"What's with you, waterbender?" He looked her over.
Looking up at him with her eyes wide and fearful, "Where's Zuko?!" She asked. "I told him not to leave me but he did! Where is he?!"
Ozai gestured to his office door. "He wanted to check on things in the Fire Nation since he's not leaving so soon."
Katara handed him the baby and then stormed into his office, slamming the door behind her. Standing outside his office with his cooing grandson in his arms, Ozai listened to Katara yelling and then a few things being thrown.
"Tara! Chill out!" Zuko yelled back.
Throwing the books from the shelf at him, "You shouldn't have left us!" She managed to hit Zuko in the face.
When Ozai felt it was safe to enter with the baby, he saw a few of his books on the floor and a few that seemed to end up in the firepit. He willed himself to not get upset even though every book on that shelf were books he personally wanted to re-read. He looked to where his son was sitting down on the sofa with Katara holding a cloth to his nose apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Zuko." She said. "I'm just not feeling myself and I don't want to be alone."
Taking the cloth from her to hold to his nose by himself, Zuko looked her over and saw she looked shaken up. "I'm not the only person around here, Katara."
"I know but you're the only person I'm most familiar with." Katara told him.
Zuko sighed and stood up, "I thought you and my dad were friends now?"
Katara eyed Ozai from the corner of her eyes and then hurried to look back at Zuko when she saw him grin at her. Swallowing hard. Let's hope it stays that way. She breathed in deeply and hung her head. Think about something else! And when she did, her mind went to that image that played in her head of them on the ground on the verge of death. Squinting her eyes tight as if she were in pain. No! Not that! Then her mind started to toy with her sadistically and she somehow remember some very strange things.
Both Zuko and Ozai watched Katara step away holding her head as she shut her eyes as if something was wrong.
No! Not that either! Images of some fight taking place played in her head. It was her and Zuko. They were fighting in a courtyard. But it didn't look like the friendly fights they had when in the gang. And it was them fighting when Zuko was hunting them down either. They were slightly older. Her hair was short and she was dressed in Fire Nation clothes but not the commoner clothes. Much more elegant. Much more expensive.
Cringing down to the floor, she groaned when she saw images of Ozai and her fighting. They were in some sort of arena. People were watching. Mixed expressions. She was angry. No...she was enraged and she didn't-
"Ah!" She cried out painfully and fell on her knees.
"Katara?" Zuko crouched down in front of her, placing his hand over her shoulders to try and get a good look at her.
Ozai eyed her from where he stood. "Get her to bed. Let her rest." He told Zuko.
"But-"
"Do it. I'll watch after this runt, you just tend to the waterbender." He said as he looked down at his grandson and walked over to his desk.
Zuko told Katara he was going to carry her back to her chambers before lifting her up in his arms.
…
Hama slithered her way into Ozai's bed while he was sleeping and moved herself to wrap her arm around his middle. Her hand was taken off of him as he stirred from his sleep.
"Get out." He told her.
Pouting, "Why?"
"I don't want to be bothered." He turned around and looked at her with disgust.
Pressing her finger to his lips, Hama grinned. "You've got what you wanted?"
Scoffing as he sat up and scowled at her, "No."
"You did!" Hama smiled. "Did you satisfy her?"
Glaring, "It was only a kiss and get out! I don't need to explain myself to you!"
The water siren needed to hear no more. She understood. He didn't want Katara thinking any other woman could have his attention while he was focused on only her. Ah, a way to win a girl over. Maybe keep her a safe distance from Shin.
…..
After having spent the day in bed recovering from the migraine she had yesterday, Katara went to the bathroom to splash water in her face. Doing so, she shut her eyes and breathed in deeply and then exhaled. She felt like there was a flood of information pouring into her mind all at once. Nothing made sense. It was scrambled around. Images. Pictures and scenes taking place before her mind's eyes. Meeting Ozai. The South Pole. A woman named Kimiko. Suki was there. There was Shin with that mischievous grin of his. Hama. She felt rage and anger. Trapped. Powerful and yet helpless. Ashamed. That was the majority of what she felt. More than anything.
Katara had spent her night in bed watching her past self fumble with the cards dealt to her. Barely able to manage them. The parts that were saddening weren't the ones she saw when she was around a person of conflict. No. They were the ones she saw of herself absolutely alone crying and asking for help. She had been stretched thin. Between her beliefs and her feelings. Right and wrong. Being herself and becoming someone else. It was madness and confusion.
And now, Katara didn't know. She felt like herself now. A little different but the normal different one feels when they're older. However; that Katara she saw in her flashbacks, that was a different kind of different. The kind that was forced due to circumstances. The kind that was so far off from one's true self.
That couldn't have been me. Katara thought to herself as she opened her eyes and looked up in the mirror to see herself but her reflection had glowing blue eyes and skin that illuminated like gold.
Hello there, Katara. We meet again.
Tilting her head, she saw that the reflection didn't copy her movements. Are you that siren soul thing I spoke with a while ago?
It smirked widely. So much so that it looked inhuman and Katara felt strangely uncomfortable from the sight. Yes. This is how I look to you and everyone else whenever I take over your vassal. Of course, this isn't my true form but that was lost when I tied myself from the spirit world to you.
Is that where a siren soul came from? Are there any other creatures like her came from?
No. Only we sirens originate from the Spirit World. The others are what happens when human bloodlines mix with creatures of this world. The siren held her hand out to show her a few figures she manifested from thin air. Dragons, Phoenix, and others she didn't quite recognize. It is because of our origins that we are extremely powerful. Even more so than a Phoenix. We can do many things that have frightened mere humans for centuries. It's why the North has strict rules against teaching female waterbenders more than healing. The men fear us. And it's why you were poisoned into losing your strength as a siren.
Katara learned that other than her, Hama, and Kya, there were no other known sirens that could awaken fully into the true siren they were and most lived the lifespan of human.
The siren reached her hand through the mirror and touched the side of Katara's face. I searched your memories that were thought to be lost, hoping to find where we lost ourselves and in the process you have gained some of those memories I sorted through.
Did you find who it was?
You dear husband, Arnook.
Arnook? But why?
Rolling her eyes, did you here nothing I said at all? We are feared. Specifically by the men of the Northern Water Tribe. Your husband is a strong believer of the sexist ideologies that oppress our kind. And with your power being on par with a former notorious warmongering tyrant, you pose a threat. Hence why I believe he married you.
Katara's eyes furrowed. What? No, Arnook loves me. He cares. Sure, he might of poisoned me because I'm dangerous. But he wouldn't-
Arnook wanted you as his wife not out of love or because he cared. He wanted to control a dangerous person. And with people like Ozai and Hama in the world, he knew the kind of threat their existence posed. While he can do nothing with them, he knew you'd be the easiest to get to conform back into being 'good' after your little fall from grace.
Shaking her head. No that couldn't be. Arnook was a good man. He had his moments were he would become disappointed with her but she knew that was because she sucked at being a wife and after learning her past, she figured it didn't just start with him.
Don't believe me. Fine but I know his type. I've faced them every time I come to this world and I promise you, if you do not heed my warning of that man, it will bring not only you but your son, ruin.
No! Katara shook her head. It didn't have to come to that. It did not. Arnook was a good man. It was just her. She was the problem. She had been the problem since before him. Even with people like her friends, brother, Zuko, and Ozai.
Fine! Wanna blame yourself, go right ahead. But my job as your siren soul is not only to provide you my abilities but to protect you as my host. If I have to take over, I will and I have. Got that? So you better be sure you're right because if our lives are in jeopardy, I take over and I wreck shit.
Katara suddenly had images of the times her siren took over. She couldn't believe it. Azula was nearly crushed in minutes. She fought like a monster. Killed Jet and a few of his men. Took down an army that seemed to be after her. Fought Ozai. She was-
We have incredibly destructive abilities. You specifically can command water like nothing. While Hama is far more dangerous and powerful than us, we can keep up and best her if we work together. If you get us into any trouble, I take over and I finish what you cannot. Understand?
Nodding her head.
Good, now go get yourself washed up.
Okay sure. But should we also worry about Ozai being an issue too? He is-
He will be our number one ally.
What about Zuko?
Ozai is the one person that we can rely on if something goes terribly wrong. He doesn't care about breaking rules and will break them in a heartbeat. Zuko will think about the consequences first as he should. He's powerful but he's trying to be diplomatic for the sake of the Fire Nation. Ozai's turned a new leaf but he doesn't mind going back to old ways if he deems it necessary.
So Ozai was a go to person. Okay. That made sense. If anything went wrong she'd go to him. But she had already figured that might be the case with him. It was why when the palace was under attack everyone wanted to recover him.
Sighing, I shouldn't use him.
Trust me, if it's you, he wants you to use him. The siren said. Besides, if it's something major, you won't have much a choice.
Yeah, well there's always an option.
The siren knew Katara was annoying before but now she was just down right frustrating.
Whatever. I gotta go. You're still not at full strength.
When the siren left and it was just her in the mirror, Katara sighed. She had some much to confront and deal with. For one, she now knew her husband had poisoned her in order to cause her strength to regress. Two, she was tiptoeing her way into an affair with her ex-husband.
Ugh! She might just need to confront them one at a time. First, she needed to confront these feelings she had for Ozai. These didn't feel like the ones she felt from her old memories. These feelings were more tender and felt new. Different. This is what she gets for allowing herself to come here with him and stay for five plus months. Once she knew where she stood with him and her feelings, maybe he could help her understand the rest. Like piece together all these puzzle piece like images in her head. And if he could give her insight on what to do with Arnook poisoning her.
There was a lot to take in. A lot. And she couldn't do that alone. The siren told her that Ozai would be her go to person. So she should just go to him.
Shaking her head. Even if she didn't have these conflicting feelings towards him, it didn't feel right to place so much trust in a man that wasn't her husband.
Leaving out the bathroom, Katara noticed something. WHERE THE HELL IS ZUKO?!
…..
Few days later, Ozai was in his office with the official from Bei Seng Sei that had come to relay the offer from the Earth King. Honestly, Ozai wasn't interested one bit but this was a political matter and he could not simply deny the request. He had to let this matter hang on like a thread. String it along. Because while the Earth King wanted something that Ozai simply didn't want to entertain the notion of, the Earth King was offering something Ozai wanted in exchange. So, one had to be careful with matters like these.
"He wants me to court his sister?" Ozai asked as he looked to the official.
Nodding their head, the official informed the Phoenix King of the same details he relayed upon first arriving here. The Earth King's sister, Princess Kikyo, only 19. Youngest of all the Earth King's siblings. And said to be the prettiest.
Ozai had married a young girl before and that didn't workout too well for either of them. And then he somewhat dated that girl from the South Pole for a little over a year. That didn't work either. He really didn't want to go through that again. Even if it was just courting. What could a 19 year old girl do for a man a month from being 55? Besides, Ozai had seen the women in the Earth King's palace. They weren't like Fire Nation women. The were pretty with no substance. Morons with a nice face. He didn't want to feel like he was babysitting. Even with Katara, who was ignorant to traditional education wasn't as ditzy as those women in the Bei Seng Sei. The mere thought annoyed him.
"She's a child." Ozai said. "What am I to do with a child?"
The official seemed a little confused, "His majesty believed you liked them young."
Is that what everyone thinks? Ozai could literally feel the rush to irritably laugh. It was both funny and annoying.
"Not that young." Ozai scoffed.
"But-"
"My ex-wife was a different matter. I didn't actually want to marry her. I was pressured to." Ozai stated. "Doesn't he have any other sisters? Older?"
The official expressed that Princess Kikyo had expressed interest in him while he was there during the summit. The other sisters are married already. But Kikyo specifically wanted to arrange a courtship.
Groaning in announce, Ozai didn't like this. She had to be one of those girls that had daddy issues. He's met her type before and quite frankly, they frightened him. They liked older men. Older men that clearly had a dominant nature to them. Well if that's the case then she can find some other man that'll put up with that.
"Please consider, your majesty, come back to Bei Seng Sei and meet her." The official said. "Besides, this isn't a marriage proposal. Just for you two to court and get to know one another from there."
Even that was asking a lot of him. Ozai never courted a woman. Married, had an affair with, messed around with, had a love hate relationship with, but he didn't court. Hell, he never even been on a date. What the hell did you think someone like him was? He had been a prince of the Fire Nation for years. He didn't have to court. He just took them to bed and on two occasions married them. The other women were either concubines or married women that one didn't treat as more than a means to release. And then there were casual encounters that led to him taking them to bed. But he never courted. Didn't even understand what the hell that entailed of. Especially not with a 19 year old girl. But what the hell...he was getting an entire province out of simply courting her.
Ozai eyed the official, "Go on and tell the Earth King I will see her after my guests have gone."
When the official left Zhiar entered with amusement.
"What?" Ozai's mood was sour.
Trying not to laugh, "You know that princess is only like 5 years older than me and Kya. That's pretty sick."
"Eavesdropping, are we?"
Shrugging as he chuckled, "Call it what you want, old man but I'm just happy you can finally stop perving on my mom."
Ozai scoffed. Oh, he wanted to ruin the boy's entire morning. But he wouldn't. That would just cause more strife. So he decided to ignore him. Hoping that Zhiar would leave.
"You know, even if mom wasn't married to Arnook, I think she still wouldn't want to be with you again. You're a total dick." Zhiar said as he lounged on the sofa.
Focusing on his work as his son babbled on about how he was this and that. Ozai literally treated his remarks like white noise. Like when the rain falls.
"And plus, people say you raped mom. I think that's why she was all messed up in the head before. They say that's what happens when you fall for your rapist. You're really fucked up, ya know?"
As Zhiar continued talking shit and Ozai had managed to ignore him almost entirely, Zuko bursting into the room, slamming the doors shut behind him. Kya was with him holding the baby.
Ozai looked up to see his other two children and grandchild. Agni, I need a vacation.
"What's going on now?" Ozai asked.
Zuko held the door shut with his back, "Katara has lost it. Again." He said. "Gone absolutely nuts. Again."
"She's cranky." Kya said as she held the baby.
Ozai rubbed his temple. He didn't need this. He really didn't need this. Katara had been having an outburst constantly. It was time to nip this in the bud.
"What is she doing?"
Zuko told him how he slipped out for just one minute with the baby and Katara snapped. Now she was chasing him around. He just wanted a break from her or at least from the room. She had refused to leave most of the time.
"And I just came along cause I wanted to hold the baby." Kya said. "I want a baby."
Ozai, Zuko, and Zhiar looked at her. Zuko took his son from her as to not give her any ideas and Ozai made a mental note to make sure his daughter wasn't around any other men but him and her brothers. Zhiar could only think who the hell would want to have a baby with his crazy sister.
Snapping them all out thought, a loud bang came to the doors. "I know you're in there, Zuko!"
"If mom kills Zuko, can I be Fire Lord?" Zhiar asked.
"No!" Ozai and Zuko said in unison.
Zhiar pouted, well fuck you guys.
Getting up to go deal with the waterbender, Ozai told Zuko and them to go leave out his office from the bookcase. It was a hidden door.
As they did, the Phoenix King opened his door to find his ex-wife looking at him with a desperate look on her face.
"Where is he?!" She yelled.
"Not here." Ozai opened his door for her to see for herself.
"Then where?!"
"Probably getting some fresh air. You can't have him cooped up all day. You shouldn't be doing it either." He told her. "Come in, sit, and then tell me what's going on with you."
Katara enters as she tries to calm down. She sits and tells him that she's just not feeling herself. He listens. To more than just her words. And he discovers that she's being vague. It doesn't sit well with him. Not at all. So, he confronts her.
"You're hiding something." Ozai said.
Katara shakes her head. She's not trying to hide anything. She just doesn't quite know how to come out with it.
Narrowing his eyes, "What's wrong?"
Becoming nervous, "Nothing." She said as she fidgeted.
"Don't lie to me, Katara."
"I know why my memory is foggy." She started, giving herself a moment to breathe. "I was poisoned but not so I would be harmed." She told him about her siren soul telling her that she was weakened due to the poison. Happened just before she fell asleep.
Ozai furrowed his brows.
"I'm starting to remember little more. I remember you now. Us. I know my feelings towards you and they're a little confusing. Can't tell if I was in love with you or resented you or maybe both at the same time."
Katara sighed as she tilted her head and stared at him, "For the last few days my feelings were very confusing. Minus the resentment part, I forgive you for whatever might have happened. But I didn't know if I liked you because of the progress we've made while I've been here or if it's the old feelings from before."
Ozai raised a brow.
"I was just confused and I've been hiding in my rooms and wanting Zuko with me because I want to be distracted and not think about these things because it just makes it worse." She tells him. "You kissing me didn't help either. You kind of made it worse."
"Well, I'm sorry if I-"
"Well I'm not. My feelings are clear to me now but the decision I have to make isn't." Katara said. "I'm married. But here I am flirting and kissing some man that isn't my husband. And that's where my confusion is. What do I do?"
Well...honestly, she didn't want to be asking him of all people that question.
Sighing, "I think the better question is, who are you supposed to be to me?"
He was her ex-husband. Father of her twins. But that didn't seem like enough of an explanation. Because they were sort of friends but they clearly were attracted to one another. She knows he's seeing other women and he knows she's married but their both jealous. It was confusing.
Katara watched as Ozai came to sit beside her. She had hoped he came to answer her question but he only seemed to drive more confusion into her. His lips pressed to hers as his arms pulled her closer to him. She felt herself melt in the warmth that had caused her to doubt herself and her resolve to do the right thing. But if there was anything she learned about herself in these last months is that she was definitely capable of doing some wrong.
Besides, wasn't she here to make her decision of which man she wanted to be with? So wasn't this sort of necessary. Oh whatever. She was just feeding herself some bullshit so she could justify why she was so hungrily returning his kiss. Justifying why her arms moved around his shoulders to close the gap completely. Why she couldn't seem to stop herself. Or why her breath was so easily taken away causing her to moan into each kiss. She didn't want to come up for air. She wanted to suffocate in this moment. Be completely taken over.
Ozai couldn't believe her response. She was being more aggressive than he was and it only served to make he that much more bolder. He dusted his hand up her side until it was at her breast. It was in this moment she broke her lips away from his.
His eyes looked over hers before looking down to where her hand took hold of his and squeezed his into her breast. And that's where self control went out the window and 7 years of wanting her caused him to shove her down into the sofa with his mouth back onto hers.
But of course, Ozai knew the universe, the gods, and the spirits hated his guts and wouldn't allow him a single moment of rejoice.
The doors of his office opened, "I knew it was just a matter of time before you two were back to your old ways." Hama said.
The two of them froze.
Hama picked up the clothes she found were on the floor. "Looks like I might have saved both your asses just in time. Otherwise, you two would have been on to making another one of those little monsters you call children."
Removing himself from the waterbender, Ozai glared at Hama while Katara tried fixing her clothes.
"What do you want?" He asked her.
"Nothing. Just passing through." Hama said as she turned around. "You may continue." She flailed her hand.
When the door closed, Katara groaned as she covered her face. "This can't keep happening." She said.
"And why not?" Ozai looked down at her.
Shaking her head, "Because I'm mar-"
"I don't care." He told her as he caressed the side of her face. "I waited this long. I'm not waiting any longer."
Pulling his hand away from her face, Katara's gaze was a sad one. "I'm not that kind of woman."
"I'm not asking you to sleep with me. I'm not asking you to step out on your marriage. That's your decision but I'm not hiding how I feel and I don't want you doing so either."
Sure, she didn't have to sleep with him or even physically touch him but her feelings. His feelings. It still felt like betrayal.
But who cares? Look at him! If we weren't married we'd jump him so quick! I know. She thought as she had to remove her gaze from him. Flirting can be friendly and playful. Doesn't mean we're cheating. Try telling that to someone else. And kissing isn't like you're fucking him, right? No but it surely makes me want to.
Ugh! Katara was fighting this very hard but in reality she just wanted to give in and see where this gets her. It wouldn't hurt to try. Not like she was going to let herself sleep with him. Plus, they would have to be discreet and it wouldn't be something that they could do loosely. It would be controlled.
Sighing as she looked up at him, "Fine. But seriously, I'm not sleeping with you. Completely out of the question. Don't even ask or I'm shutting down completely." She told him.
"Are we talking just intercourse?" He raised his brow.
Tilted her head, "What else could there be?"
Agni, why are you testing me?
"Want me to show you?" He smirked.
Katara had to slap the shit out of Ozai after what he did. She should have said to hell with their little arrangement after that stunt he just pulled. Who the hell put their mouth- you know what? Not going to even ask. That man has issues obviously. To be completely honest she wanted him to continue but it was a lot worse, in her opinion, than intercourse so...nope…. maybe. She bit her nails and she rolled her eyes. Yeah, she had to get him to do that again.
….
"I just wanna hold the baby." Kya said as she followed Zuko around while he was feeding the baby a bottle.
Zuko really wasn't okay with Kya holding his son after what she said in their father's office. He didn't want to give her the wrong idea. Sure, one day she could have her own child but that was when she was much older and married. Besides, their father told him to not let Kya hold the baby so much.
"Hey, Zuko. Can I ask you something?" Kya suddenly had a thought come to mind as she just saw her mother leave their father's office in a hurry.
"Hm?" Zuko answered
"What would happen if my mom and dad got back together?"
Well...that was a good question? If you asked Zuko, despite his loath in the beginning for them to be together, a lot of things were made clear to him in recent years. His father did have a heart and loved Katara enough to go to lengths he never had gone before for anyone, not even himself. And that Katara might have actually been alright if she had went with his father rather than marry Arnook.
From what Zuko had seen, his father and Katara seemed to be in better spirits around each other. He honestly could say there might be a chance for them all to be a family. A strange one but still a family.
Later that day, Zuko took the baby back to Katara and saw that she looked utterly flustered. He knew it might have something to do with his father. Lately, Katara had been blushing around his father nonstop. Whether something was up between them wasn't known to him. He figured his father was just making passes at her and she didn't exactly know how to respond.
"Hey, you okay?" Zuko asked as Katara held their son and fed him a bottle.
Katara could only nod. She was so flustered from earlier with Ozai. La, she was having a freaking affair. A part of her should feel ashamed but...it felt so right. The chemistry was undeniable. Everything felt so intense with him without making her feel overwhelmed. It was so much stimulation she got from today that she figured she wouldn't be able to sleep for a while.
"Also I was wondering, why did you stop breastfeeding him?" Zuko wondered.
"Because your father likes to watch and-"
"If he's been making you uncomfortable, I'll talk to him. He shouldn't be forcing his own feelings on you." Zuko tells her.
Shaking her head as she chuckled nervously, "No. Your father is fine. I'm not uncomfortable. I just need to be careful around him." Katara told him as she smiled down at her son. "He stirs something in me and I'm afraid of what I'll do."
"What?!" Zuko raised his brow.
"Oh nothing! Just ignore me." Katara chuckled nervously as she pulled her hair behind her ear.
But Zuko felt like the last thing he needed to do was ignore this. Katara literally just confessed that his father made her want to do something that she considered wrong. And he knew his father. That man was making moves on Katara.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Ozai scoffed as he was working late due to his session with the waterbender.
Regardless of him trying to give her a chance to adjust to her feelings and come to terms with them before getting physical with her, Ozai felt like he couldn't control himself with her. Agni, he already wanted her under him with her legs around his waist and her nails in his back. Just thinking about it made him want to find her now and-
"I'm just saying that I get you've been wanting Katara back and this whole her being here thing is so you guys can possibly get together but I think you should be careful about your method." Zuko told him.
Ozai scoffed, "My method? What the hell are you talking about now?"
Narrowing his eyes, "How about stop being so obvious about wanting to bed her, hmm? I get you've been fantasizing about her for years now but you can't just rush things along. Okay?"
"If I kiss her and she returns it, what's the problem there?"
"That would be her cheating!"
"But she came here to see if she wanted me over Arnook, she can't very well make that decision if she doesn't know what I have to offer her."
Zuko pinched his brows, "Dad, please, tell me you two aren't already-"
"If I had bedded her, you'll know." Ozai eyed his son. "Now, how about you leave me to work on more important things than your insecurities about me fucking my waterbender."
Zuko rolled his eyes. You know what? I'm just gonna lay off. If dad wants to sleep with her and cause strife between him and the Northern Tribe that's all him. Not like he didn't see this coming when he got Arnook to lend her to him. Besides, his father was right. Katara wouldn't be able to make a sound decision if she didn't have some sort of physical experience with his father.
Ugh! Even I'm bullshitting myself!
…
Following day, Katara went to go see Ozai since Zuko and Kya wanted the baby. She figured out seeing him would put her at ease. She knew she was safe with him. Whether it was from those people after their family, Azula,or whatever else, she felt a sense of safety with him. Plus, for obvious reasons she wanted to see him.
"I told you to leave me the fuck alone!" Katara heard Ozai yelling from outside his chambers.
Next thing she knew the doors opened and Hama was tossed out. She stepped back as she saw Ozai grab Hama and then lift her over his head to throw her beyond the pillars of the halls. 60ft from the ground outside. Katara hurried to stop him.
Grabbing his arm, "Ozai, stop!"
Glancing down, Ozai groaned and put Hama down. The water siren slapped him and shot Katara a look before scoffing.
"Taking orders from your little girlfriend? Ha! Same old shit. I need to hurry up and leave before I get sick again." Hama said as she went on to leave.
Wearing matching glares, Ozai and Katara mumbled under their breath about Hama being an annoying bitch.
"I need to get away from this place and people. Live in a damn cave or something." He grumbled as he walked back to his chambers.
Katara followed behind him as he shut the door behind them.
"What was that about?" She asked him as she followed him.
Pulling his hair up into a knot and then tugged his tunic off, "The bitch is in heat." He said.
"So she's coming onto you?" Katara tilted her head.
Looking for a pair of baggy pants that he could workout in, Ozai changed into in his closet. "The woman wants something and she doesn't know how else to get what she wants without resorting to a low means." Coming back out, he saw Katara just standing there with that look of curiosity she seemed to always have around him. It was cute.
Seeing the way he looked at her, Katara looked away and cleared her throat. "Ah, so where are you off to at the moment?" She asked.
"I told you before I started gaining weight from eating your pastries. I need to either lose it or tone it down." He told her as he patted her on the head while walking by.
"Can I join?" She asked him.
"Sure." He then watched her run off out of his chambers.
Outside in the training yard, Ozai saw Katara show up and he was a little caught off guard. Just like before, she wore a green crop top and matching loose-fitted pants. Her hair was pulled in a high ponytail with a few strands loose behind her ears.
Walking up to him, she bounced gleefully. "So, you wanna spar?" She asked.
Yeah. He couldn't do this. Not with her. Definitely not with her dressed like that.
"We can do your routine first and end with a spar. Sounds good?"
No. Not at all. Good for her. Not her marriage. Agni, he was not sparring with her. He would just find an excuse to get on top of her, pin her to the ground, and- maybe this could work. He grinned inwardly.
"Fine, Waterbender. But don't start crying when you lose." He tells her.
Rolling her eyes playfully, "Whatever. I could totally take you."
Don't say it like that. He mentally begrudged.
"Let's make a wager. I win and you have to tell me something else about your childhood." Katara said.
Narrowing his eyes, "Alright, and if I win...well, we'll see about that, won't we?"
"Okay, deal." Katara said as she went to his side. "Let's warm up."
After stretching, the two got down and did crunches. This turned into a sort of competition too. Katara wanted to prove she was just as good and kept up with Ozai. He eyed her and she stuck her tongue out at him.
"I see you want to win." Ozai smirked. "Don't burn yourself out before we spar. I'm not going easy on you."
Katara rolled her eyes and smiled as they then switched to push ups. This was where the waterbender struggled. Her upper body strength wasn't necessarily on par with his. Not to say she wasn't strong but she couldn't keep up with him on this. She stopped halfway and decided to see if he could continue even with her on his back. So she sat on him and he didn't skip a beat.
"Impressive." She said teasingly. "Who would have guessed you were so strong?"
Shaking his head, "You're playing with fire, waterbender."
"I can dance with it too if you'd like." A little flirting can't hurt.
Ozai paused and Katara burst out laughing telling him she was kidding.
"Don't toy with me, Katara."
"Not even just a little?" She asked playfully, she held her thumb and index out to show just how little. And then laughed when he eyed her flatly. "Oh, too small?"
"Okay, we settle this now."
It was plain to anyone with eyes that the two were wanting to jump the other. The tension was so thick it was affecting those around them. Zuko and Kya were just strolling by with the baby when they saw the two begin sparring. They stood around to watch. It was a pretty heavy fight.
Of course, their father made his move first but Katara was ready for him and dodged a wave of minor fireballs that came her way. He was testing her reflexes. Sizing her up. Katara proved to be quick and agile.
They circled one another looking for an opening. Katara made her move next and snake eyed him. Sending one attack in his field of vision while catching him off guard with a water viper wrapping around his leg. She pulled him forward and caused him to fall hard on his back. While down she straddled him, holding a dagger of ice to his neck.
"Do you yield?" Katara raises her brow at him.
Hissing, "Please, get off. You're sitting on-"
Suddenly realizing what it was, Katara's eyes widened but before she could further react, Ozai flipped her over and pinned her to the ground.
"You're asking for it." He told her as he pressed her into the ground.
Katara's face reddened. "We're being watched. Be careful."
"You be careful. I'm the one that doesn't care."
Narrowing her eyes, "So are you trying to get rumors spread?"
Sitting off of her, Ozai shrugged. "Would make things a whole lot easier for me."
Katara clenched her teeth. "Let's finish this."
Zuko and Kya winced when they saw Katara take a physical approach and jabbed their father on the stomach and then kneeing him in the face when he cringed forward.
Thirty minutes later, Katara was laying on her side panting as she looked across from her and Ozai was laying with his face buried in the fold of his arms. Both of their hair came loose and cascaded over them. It was a draw but for the most part, Ozai was surprised the waterbender could get him burnt out like this even after she had exhausted herself very early into their match. He thought for sure he would win.
"You win, waterbender." He told her.
Shaking her head, "Nope, you win."
Rolling onto his back, Ozai threw his arms over his face. "I do believe you bested me. You win."
"I was a goner twenty minutes ago. You won. I was just being a sore loser."
Laying there till the sun started setting, Katara sighed. She wondered when Arnook was going to show up or write her. He had to have known the baby was born already. Shouldn't he have at least checked on her?
Rolling over to push herself up on her feet, she saw Ozai glance at her.
"Thinking about that no good husband of yours." He asked her.
Pulling her hair back up as it was sticking to her sweaty skin, "Arnook is a good man. I just think this has been a lot on him."
"It's what he signed up for." Ozai said as he got up and threw his hair over one shoulder. "He knew you were seeing Zuko, he knew I was alive, and he knew that you were already pregnant. Yet he still married you. If he doesn't like how things are, then he should have left you alone."
Katara still didn't feel right about how things were going. She felt like she had already made a mess of things and here she was again, making a mess of things. Even if Arnook had poisoned her, he had to have had good reasons.
The waterbender did her best to not dwell as she followed behind Ozai in a daze. She really wasn't paying attention. Not much. Her mind was all over the place. By the time that she realized he was undressing it was too late.
"What the-" Katara shielded her eyes.
Not giving a damn, a naked Ozai walked barefooted to the bathroom to wash up. Of course, he offered Katara to join him but she refused. He paused in the threshold and looked her up and down. Deciding to point out that he won and she was stuck with him for the night.
"It was a draw!" She reminded him.
"Yes, but after I tried to offer the win to you, you assured me that I was in fact that victor. So I win." Ozai smirked. "Now, get washed up before bed. You're sleeping here with me tonight. My terms."
Katara furrowed her brows at him. "Fine. But don't look at me while I bathe!"
Rolling his eyes as he chuckled to himself. He was definitely going to take a look now. Going to rinse off in the shower, Ozai saw Katara wrapped in a towel sitting at the edge of the pool like tub. She put her feet in first and then slowly slid herself in, doing so in a way that didn't reveal her body between the towel and the water. Once she discarded the towel at the edge, her eyes went to him.
"I said don't look!"
"Well seeing as you're looking at me. I say we're even."
Glaring at him, "I'm looking you in the eyes. I'm not even looking-" unfortunately, her eye gesture caused her to look down and her face flushed immediately before turning around and shrieking into her hands. It's not even hard and it's already so- no way did I ever have sex with him!
Ozai laughed as he came up beside her and joined her in the water. She moved away immediately but he caught her arm and with her hand she tried to push him away. But he was after all stronger than her. Much stronger. And pulled her to his chest. She squirmed to get him to let her go but stopped when she felt something press into her stomach.
"Its touching me!" Katara cried in disgust. "Get it off!"
This only caused him to bark with more laughter as she splashed around trying to get away. When nothing she did seemed to work, Katara raised her knee to get him where it hurts and he picked her up, tossing her over his shoulder. She literally shrieked so loud it nearly burst both of their eardrums.
"PUT ME DOWN!"
By the time she was put down, she found herself laying in a bed and her eyes were wide as she looked at him like he was going to attack her. But when he walked away to his closet, she felt some relief. She sat there on her side, wondering if she needed to run like hell or see what he was going to do next.
When he came out, he tossed her something black and she looked down at it.
"Put it on." He told her.
Lifting it in front of her to look at it, "What is it?"
"A nightgown. Your old one." He said climbing into the bed beside her.
Katara had never seen a nightgown so short or so- what is this material? Lace? It looked more provocative than anything she's ever remembered wearing.
"That or you can sleep as you are. I don't mind."
And that's when she pulled into over her head and shimmied herself into it. Fluffing her hair out as she did. When she turned to look his way, she noticed he had been staring the entire time.
Her expression flattened on him, "You'd think someone who had as much sex as you wouldn't be so easily affected by a woman getting dressed." She scoffed.
That damn trademark grin of his plastered over his face, "You're different, waterbender."
"And is waterbender my nickname or something?" Katara asked him.
Shrugging, "I suppose." He replied as he lifted the sheets for her to join him. "Now come to bed."
Katara tried not to be affected by how he said that. La, she felt like she was getting herself into more trouble. Ugh! Why did I agree to this?! As she crawled up to the head of the bed and slipped under the sheets with him, Katara's eyes stayed on his as she settled into a pillow.
Resting her hand in front of her, she saw Ozai place his on top of hers, staring her back in her eyes.
"Arnook poisoned me." She said, needing to say just about anything at the moment. "The siren told me it was him."
Katara watched the way his face expressed anger and couldn't help but wonder if he would always make that face in defense of her.
"Of course, that moron would. The damn bastard can't stand you're more powerful than him. Hell, he's not even a bender!" Ozai spat. "Pathetic bastard. If he didn't like that you're a siren then he shouldn't have married you!"
Sighing as her eyes fell from his, "I'm dangerous. I understand why he would-"
"Katara, you're not dangerous. You can be if needed but you're not dangerous." He told her.
"I've seen what happens when I fight or when the siren takes over. I remember-"
"And not once was it unwarranted. You had to." He assured her. "Arnook shouldn't be poisoning you to keep you as some helpless woman to make himself feel more like a man. The damn weasel makes me so sick!"
Katara moved her hand from under his to his face and looked him in the eyes, "It's fine. He's just scared."
"Then why marry you?" Ozai asked as he looked her hard in the eyes.
The waterbender knew better than to tell him what the siren believed. She just looked at him as if she wasn't sure herself.
"Who knows? But he's still my husband." Katara said slipping her hand away. "You don't have to like him. Just have to respec-"
Ozai sat up and moved over top of her, staring down at her.
"Don't say his name for the rest of the night." He demanded.
Confused, Katara tilted her head as she looked up at him and before she could figure out what had gotten into him, her neck was attacked.
"Ozai! Wha- Sto-" Katara felt his hand go over her mouth as he sucked on her neck. Her eyes wide as she felt completely restrained. Pinned under his weight and his hand over her mouth. She could barely catch her breath.
When he let up, Katara gasped and reached her hand to where he had sucked on her neck. It felt incredibly tender.
"Did you just leave a mark?!" Katara said. Remembering when she had to explain to her brother that it was a bruise she got from sparring with Toph because she couldn't tell him that she was seeing Zuko.
"It looks good on you." Ozai replied as he looked down her body and ran his fingertips from her chest down to the hem of her nightgown. "Besides, my terms. I won."
Katara swallowed hard. I forgot about that.
"Look, Ozai, I can't have sex with you. I can't." She tells him. "I'm just not that kind of woman. I'm not."
Staring down at her, he grinned. "I know, waterbender. You were always different from the other women I've known. It's why I've only ever loved you." Removing himself from on top of her.
Laying beside her, Ozai placed his hand over her face. "If you leave with him, I'm still here when he dies."
Katara snorted in laughter, "Okay, Ozai. I'll come back when I'm a grieving widow, mkay?"
The Phoenix King pulled the waterbender to him and buried his face in her hair as he nodded his head. It was painful having to restrain himself with her. But for her, he could do just about anything if it was for her.
…
Zhiar didn't know why his mother was getting so close to his father. He knew she was just a kind person, even to the undeserving. It was a part of her reputation. But he didn't like how bubbly she looked and how happy she was around his father. She looked more herself around him than she did with Arnook. Like she was walking on air.
Not liking this, Zhiar went to go confront his father but when he entered his chambers, he noticed his mother's clothes on the floor. Hurrying to his father's bedroom, the teen pushed the door open and looked inside to see his father holding his mother against him, her hand placed over top of his. They were asleep.
Zhiar hurried to leave, angry at the sight as he went back to his rooms. What the hell, mom?!
In the morning, Zhiar went to confront Zuko about his parents. He found him asleep on the sofa in his mother's chambers with the baby on his chest. Of course, she wasn't there.
"Zuko!" Zhiar shouted.
Zuko was startled awake as the baby started crying. He gathered his bearings and saw his younger brother standing over him, narrowing his almost immediately.
"What the hell, Zhiar?! You woke the baby!" Zuko hissed as he sat up and started bouncing himself to get the baby to calm down.
Not giving a fuck, "Listen, last night I saw my mom in bed with dad."
Zuko's eyes widened.
"And they were clearly doing shit their not supposed to." He said in disgust. "If Arnook finds out she's having an affair, she could be put in prison. Northern Law states that a wom-"
"I know what Northern Law states, Zhiar! But are you sure of what you saw?!" Zuko asked him, hoping to Agni, Zhiar was lying.
Shaking his head, "I don't care about dad getting in trouble but my mom, I'm not going to lose her because dad can't keep his dick to himself!"
For fucks sake, dad! Zuko hissed as he started marching off to go confront his father and Katara. He told Zhiar to stay there with the baby.
Arriving at his father's chambers, Zuko could hear them talking, Katara freaking out about something and his father trying to get her to calm down. Zuko was about to enter the chambers when he heard the clearing of someone's throat and turned to see it was Arnook. Fucking hell!
"Fire Lord Zuko." Arnook said begrudgingly. "Do you by chance know where my wife is? I can't find her."
Zuko knew exactly where she was but he wasn't telling Arnook. Fuck this guy. But he did need his father and Katara to now that Arnook was here.
"Um, haven't seen her, actually." Zuko says. "Have you checked her chambers?"
Arnook told him he was a little lost and chuckled about it.
"I can definitely take you there and we can check together." Zuko said as placed his hand on Arnook's back in a friendly gesture to get him to follow him.
But Arnook refused to move forward.
"Well I can check on her later, I'd like to speak with your father first. He and I need to probably get back on each other's good side. We clashed a little back in Bei Seng Sei." Arnook laughed awkwardly.
Damn it!
"I also brought Katara's father and brother here. Figured they both wanted to meet her and the baby."
Oh my fucking-
Before Zuko could finish the thought, his father's chamber doors opened.
Oh Gods! Zuko said as his hand went over his face.
"I told you already that it's not even a big deal." Ozai said as Katara glared up at him.
"It is! You shouldn't have-"
Ozai gets her to stop by coughing loudly in his fist and looking forward. Katara picked up on this and looked forward to see Arnook standing there with Zuko. Zuko looked like he was three shades paler as if he was going to pass out. Arnook on the other head looked from his wife to Ozai with a dirty look on his face.
"What are you doing with my wife?" Arnook sneered as he came walking up to them.
But of course, Ozai didn't care to answer to anyone else and his face contorted into a scowl.
"None of your damn business, you Water Tribe Fuck!"
"Dad!" Zuko said trying to get him to stop.
Narrowing his eyes, "Don't you talk to me like that you Fire Nation degenerate!"
"Arnook, stop!" Katara said trying to get him to back away.
Arnook looked at his wife, "What the hell is going on here?!"
Katara's eyes widened as she didn't know what to say and she made it very obvious that something was going on.
The Northern Chieftain look back at Ozai with a wild look in his eyes, "Did you touch my wife?!"
Zuko could see his father was about to use this very moment to become an honest person. Now was not the time. He needed to stop him. But luckily, Zhiar didn't listen to him.
"Mom, I told you can't reason with him. If dad says he's going to remove my name from his lineage, I don't really give a fuck." Zhiar said holding the baby. "He's a dick anyway. Who would wanna be related to him anyways?"
Arnook looked from Zhiar to his wife.
"He's removing Zhiar from his line?" Arnook furrowed his brows.
Katara awkwardly nodded her head as she tried going along with it and then he looked at Ozai.
"Are you serious?!"
Rolling his eyes, Ozai was already done with today. Shrugging his shoulders as he, too, played along. "Yes."
"But why?"
"Because fuck that kid." Ozai said.
"Fuck you too, dad!"
"I'm not your dad anymore, you little fuck."
"Okay, O-z-a-i! Fuck you!"
Sighing as he walked off, "Yes, fuck me."
"Faggot!" Zhiar spat and Ozai shoved him on the ground as he past him.
Zuko could say his father definitely got into character. Katara ran to go help up Zhiar.
"I don't know how any of you deal with him. That man has lost his marbles." Arnook said.
Zuko could say his father was really about to lose his marbles once he found out that Arnook brought gues-
"FUCK! WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE!"
Yeah, he's losing his shit now.
…..
A/N:
Just when Ozai was getting his water bender back Arnook shows up. Not good. Not good at all. Wonder what happens next.