A/N:
Alrighty! Sorry about the delay from this morning! Second chapter tonight will be up in just a bit. Proofing before bed! Enjoy!
Chapter 34:
Waking up late in the day, Katara stretched and accidentally hit Ozai in the nose. He groaned and rolled over, holding his nose as he fell back to sleep. They had spent an entire 2 weeks of making love and now, they were worn out. Especially Ozai. He wasn't used to the waterbender being so...starved. Or anyone woman for that matter. Towards the end of the day, he was on his back while the waterbender finished herself off and that was saying something. He didn't like being on his back. But yesterday was an exception.
Feeling the waterbender wiggle herself up against him and wrap her arms around his middle as she laid her face against his back, Ozai stiffened. As much as he liked having the waterbender want nothing more than embrace him, he wasn't up to sex this morning or for the rest of the day. She had sucked him dry...literally. He wouldn't even be able to get it up and that was a scary, scary thing.
When she nuzzled her face against him and rubbed his abdomen, the Phoenix King tried inching away from her but she followed him and then eventually he ended up on the floor and as expected, Katara followed him. Landing on top of him.
"You're heavy." He muttered.
"I know you're not talking." She retorted as she sat up off of him, straddling his back as she placed her hands on her hips. "I literally can't breathe with you and your gut pushed into my back."
Laying face down on the floor, Ozai stared blankly at the floor. "You should have said something."
"You should lose weight. No more sweets." She said as she climbed off of him and went to the bathroom.
Pushing himself off the floor and getting to his feet, Ozai looked down at his gut and noticed that while he didn't have a gut, he was a little flabby. He sighed, hating that he had to give up sweets. It was the only people food he could actually eat that wasn't people and it had been a little while since he had eaten a person. Perhaps…
While in the tub bathing, Katara heard Ozai tell her he would be back in a little bit. She told him not to stuff his face with sweets with her back turned. He grumbled something about her doing this to him. The waterbender tried not to laugh but she was really enjoying this side of Ozai. No more of that needing to be so uptight about everything to maintain appearances. No more being strict about how to carry oneself. He just behaved as himself and she liked it. Liked it a lot.
Ozai didn't travel too far looking for something to eat. With the thick woodlands surrounding the village, he could easily find a lone traveler or someone that was lost. Either would do. Going long periods of time without actually eating anything that was actually going to sate his developed appetite made him less picky.
As he tried not making himself suspicious as he wandered through the forest following the scent he picked up not too far from where he was, Ozai noticed that from the soft fragrance that he smelt that this was likely a woman. He was not a fan of eating women. Something about it was unnerving but he would rather eat one than accidentally take a bite out of his waterbender. However; when he finally came across the campsite of this woman, Ozai found the woman was still asleep in her tent. The soft snoring and slow heartbeat gave her away. He'd have to make sure not to wake her so he could make her death quick.
Creeping towards the tent, the Phoenix King crouched down and pulled the flap back as he entered. He preferred not to cook his meals. So he would have to use lightning instead of fire and strike her in the neck. Climbing over top of the woman, he was glad to see she was face down, he didn't like to see the face of his victims. And as he sparked his fingers and was about to strike her, he stiffened as a blade jabbed into his side.
"Really?" The woman scoffed as she turned over, pulling the dagger out of his side as he fell over. "I know you hate me, Ozai, but you're really going to eat me?"
Groaning as he saw it was Ursa, Ozai told her that he didn't know it was her.
Grabbing him by his hair, Ursa dragged him from her tent, throwing him to the ground as she stood over him and pressed her foot into his side. "That blade was laced in Phoenix bane. You will not heal as easily as you did before."
"I didn't know it was you!" He hissed.
"Bullshit, Ozai, you weren't thrilled about seeing me and you want to off me because you're afraid I'll tell your waterbender all your dark secrets!" Ursa retorted back as she pressed down harder on his neck causing him to cry out in pain. "Tell me, Ozai, does she know you loved a man before?"
"Shut the fuck up!" He growled.
"Should I tell her about Daikoku Fujioka?"
"Get the fuck off of me, Ursa!"
"Right after you tell me why the fuck you tried to eat me?!"
"I'm starving! I haven't eaten in a long time! I didn't know it was you!" He answered her honestly.
Letting her foot up, Ursa backed away and rolled her eyes at Ozai as he struggled to get up. "You've been dealt worse. Don't be a baby." She scoffed.
"Fuck you, Ursa!" He spat as he got to his feet, holding his side as it continued to bleed.
"Not interested, Ozai. Your waterbender is more my type." Ursa said she went into her tent and brought out something wrapped in cloth that looked like it was bleeding through. "Don't ask what or who it was. Just eat."
Ozai eyed her and then eyed the clothed meat. He wasn't going to ask but he was curious. Whatever or whoever this once was, they had only died recently. It wasn't completely fresh but it was fresh enough that it hadn't rotted yet. Unwrapping it, Ozai didn't waste time devouring what looked to be an arm. He pretty much gobbled it up, only staining his face with blood. Ursa tried not to gag.
"You eat it raw?" She looked in disgust.
Wiping his mouth, "Yeah. So?"
"You're disgusting." She spat, dusting off her dress as she grabbed her cloak. "Just leave before I get tempted to stab you."
Ozai rolled his eyes and turned his back to leave but before he did, he stopped as he wanted to ask something. However; Ursa seemed to know what he was thinking and held a dagger to his side.
"Leave Ozai."
"I will but I'm curious."
"About?"
"Why have you not aged?"
Ursa sighed and then stabbed Ozai several more times before kicking him down the hill. Spitting on the ground as he was out of sight.
…..
Katara wasn't trying to be that girlfriend that got impatient when her lover was taking longer than expected but seeing as it was an hour past noon and Ozai hadn't returned yet, it was hard not to give in. It was nearly time for lunch and she wanted to at least do something today. Get out and see more of the village. She didn't know what would happen once they returned to Omashu. Ozai had told her about Arnook's affiliation with their enemy, Lao, and how he had a plan for dealing with all of this. She figured that more than likely, Ozai was going to put their relationship on hold and send her back north with Arnook.
Sighing as she held a throw pillow to her chest and laid on her side on the lounge chair, the waterbender squeezed her eyes shut. "Please, just come back already." she said into the pillow as if it were a wish.
And just like that. She got her wish. Only, it wasn't how she had expected it. Entering their bedroom, limping with his hand holding to his side, blood spilling from it as he groaned in agony, skin pale as the moon. Katara jumped to her feet, tossing the pillow as he looked to her, reaching his hand out to her for help.
"Kat-ra...h-help me." He pleaded before his body gave out and he collapsed on the floor.
A few hours later, Ozai reawoke to being in bed. Sheets pulled over his bare chest as the waterbender knelt beside him, her hands collapsed together as her eyes remained shut, whispering words to herself. He exhaled softly and reached his hand to take both of hers.
"I don't need your prayers, waterbender." Ozai told her.
Opening her eyes, Katara looked at him with a sincerely concerned gaze before snatching her hands from his and slapping him across the face. She then quickly climbed out of the bed and stood at the foot of it, glaring at him.
"Where the hell were you, Ozai?! And how did you end up like that?!" Katara yelled.
Wincing as he sat up, Ozai's hand went to his side. "I was hunting." he started as he swung his leg over the edge and slowly got out of bed. "I know you don't like it but I can't help my urge to eat people. I need to feed. That's what I was trying to do but I accidentally attacked Ursa. She stabbed me with something that slows my healing. That's all."
"That's all?! You're making light of this? Ozai, you were literally on the verge of death!"
"You've seen me die a handful of times." He started towards her. He reached for her shoulder and she pulled away from him, eyeing him like she didn't trust him.
Once again, he reached for her and this time she seemed to let him pull her to his chest but only reluctantly. He knew she was worried. He had his own things to worry about when it came to Ursa. Katara's concerns were valid. She just needed to trust him. That was the only way they got out of this all in one piece.
Katara rested her head against his chest and sighed as her eyes shut. "If you needed to feed, you could have said that, Ozai. I told you before that you can't treat me like you did before. We can't make things better than before if you're not up front with me about things. Is there anything else I need to know about?"
Shaking his head as he ran his hand over hers, "No."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
…
Katara was curled up against Ozai in his arms as they laid on the floor pillows after eating a ton of sweets. She felt so lethargic and full. They were completely naked under fur sheets, though they were both not up for love making, they did desire some level intimacy. The servants had just brought in another bottle of wine and the waterbender couldn't see herself finishing it at the moment. She had had enough to drink and eat. A nap would do her wonders.
As the waterbender fell asleep, Ozai got up and pulled the fur over her as he went to stretch. Ozai rustled his hair and went to grab a robe and headed out to the garden. He just wanted to watch the night sky. It gave him peace of mind. Something he had a hard time having. He read the letter Ursa had handed Katara. He was glad she didn't read it. Ursa specifically made that letter out for only him to see.
Apparently, Lao wasn't the mastermind behind all of this. There was someone else. Someone of his bloodline. Ozai didn't know of any other children his father could have fathered other than him, Iroh, and Kimiko. He might need to reach out to Iroh, as much as he really didn't want to, Iroh was well versed in the world unknown to many. He trusted his brother's good nature would finally be of some use to him. Even more, the person specifically wanted Katara. Ursa said they had been fixated on the waterbender since she had first set foot in the Fire Nation and it has only grown in the years to follow. There weren't any exact details regarding what this 'mastermind' had in mind for Katara but Ozai had a feeling this person didn't want the waterbender as a woman, they wanted her for whatever she was capable of, otherwise they wouldn't have married her off to Arnook.
Ozai scratched his head, what the hell do they want with Katara? And why is Arnook involved? And Ursa...how does she know about any of this?
Just as he was about to ponder some more, he felt a pulsating feeling erupt in his chest. Ozai quickly went to the small box on the dresser and opened it. Inside was a necklace with a glass vial pendant. It was glowing blue at the moment. While he had told Zuko not to worry about Kya, he, himself, was worried about his daughter. He took it upon himself to stop her midway into her escape. Opened a portal that he knew would attract her and sealed her in the necklace. It acted as a means to contain Kya until he was ready to deal with her and the mess she caused back home. However; he planned to address her after his vacation with her mother, not wanting to spoil the mood between him and Katara. The waterbender had enough on her mind and the next few chapters in their lives and their family's lives were likely going to get ugly from what was recently revealed to him. He wanted to be selfish. Very very selfish. For now.
Putting the necklace around his neck, Ozai went back to the room where the waterbender was laying under the fur sheets. He got underneath the fur with her and pulled her to him. She stirred a little, making her soft noises as she made herself comfortable against him.
"Where'd you go?" She murmured as she nuzzled her face against his bare chest, running her finger tips along his arm.
"Needed to stretch." He told her as she sat up to look him over, pulling the sheet off to look at his injury. He winced when she touched it and saw her look at him with deep concern. Something about seeing her worry over him got him a little turned on and he grinned as he reached up to kiss her.
Pulling her face away before he could reach her lips, "Ozai, this is not the time. You're not supposed to be taking this long to heal." Katara told him.
Sighing, "It's not a problem. I'll probably die in my sleep tonight and wake up as good as new in the morning."
Katara furrowed her brows at him and got up. She wasn't doing this with him. He was making light of just everything now and it was pissing her off. Ursa just stabbed him with something strange. His ex-wife, who Katara was not convinced didn't bear ill feelings towards him, stabbed him with something that wasn't able to heal right away like all his other previous injuries.
Going to their bedroom, Katara threw on some clothes and a cloak. Ozai had followed her into the room, holding his side as it still pained him.
"Where are you going?"
"To kick your ex-wife's ass, where else?" She said in a nonchalant manner.
Ozai tried not to laugh. "Kick her ass? You're not serious, are you?"
Katara narrowed her eyes at him and scoffed. "If Arnook stabbed me in my side, what would you do?"
"Kill him."
"Okay, so you understand how I feel."
Chuckling as he approached her, wrapping his arms around her as he looked down at his waterbender. Musing at how serious an expression she was exhibiting.
"I don't need a savior, Katara."
"And neither do I." She jabbed him in his wound and watched him fall on his knees, hissing in pain. "But you do it because you love me and that's the only reason I need to go whoop this hag's ass. I'll be back shortly. Make sure to change your bandages."
….
Ursa wasn't surprised when she saw a cloaked woman about the height of that water woman her ex-husband was in love with came waltz in on her camp. She ignored her for the most part, making sure to focus on the brewing of her tea. Tea was quite soothing before dealing with an altercation. At least, that's what Iroh would tell her.
Sighing as she took the steaming hot kettle with her bare hands and poured herself a cup of tea, "Would you like some tea as well, Katara?"
Lifting her hood from her head, Katara scowled down at the woman as she stood a distance away from the campfire where Ursa sat.
"What did you stab Ozai with?" She asked in a callous tone.
"Phoenix bane." Ursa said as if it were no big deal. "Ozai's a very large and strong man even without his new found powers. I had to defend myself. He was going to eat me."
"But phoenix bane, that's not something an ordinary person would coat a blade in." Katara said, clenching her fists. "You told me that you didn't have any bad blood with Ozai. Was that a lie?"
Sighing as she figured the younger woman was not a tea person, Ursa sipped her tea and continued not to look at Katara directly. She was not afraid of the siren. Regardless of her coming here with hostile intent, Ursa was not concerned. Katara was rational. Compassionate. She didn't attack unless necessary or compelled. And Ursa was not about to provoke a siren. She didn't have any bane for her kind.
"Come sit, Katara. I think you and I need to have a talk."
"Excuse me?" Katara folded her arms. "Talk about what?! You just show up interrupting our date and then you stab Ozai repeatedly. What the fuck is your prob-"
"I met Ozai when I was sixteen." Ursa interrupted. "He was a little older than me. Two years perhaps. Don't know to be honest. I don't keep track of things like age. Anyways, met him in a very unusual way."
Katara eyed the woman like she was the most off woman she had met and she had met plenty of crazy women.
"Do you want to know how? You asked me before what Ozai was like." Ursa finally looked at the waterbender and smirked. "Or is there another question you have? I'll answer either but not both. You decide."
Furrowing her brows, Katara hated that Ursa was right. She did have another question and as much as she would like to know the answer to her first, the question she had now was more pressing.
"Phoenix bane. My bending won't work on it. How do I heal him?"
Smiling to herself, Ursa looked back at her tea and breathed it in. "Sit. I'll tell you but you'll have to drink tea with me."
"What?"
"Do you want to know or not?"
Reluctantly, Katara complied.
Pouring her guest a cup of tea, "Tell me, Katara, how have you been feeling lately?"
…
Returning later that night, Katara saw that Ozai was asleep in bed. Pulling the sheets back as she climbed in, she could also see a new bandage was placed. Sighing as she pressed her hand to it and did exactly as Ursa instructed her to do. It was going to hurt like hell but at least, he wouldn't have to feel it.
In the morning, Ozai rolled over on his side to see if Katara had returned and saw her facing away from him, covers pulled over her head. She was still asleep from the soft snoring he heard. Getting out of bed, the Phoenix King went to take a shower and groom his facial hair that he hadn't been grooming since arriving here. Entering the bathroom, Ozai noticed the necklace was glowing against his alabaster skin. He sighed and placed his hand over it.
"You're grounded. I'm not letting you out." He told his bratty teenage daughter. She was trying to make herself known so that he would release her but he wasn't. This was his time with Katara. There was no telling when he would have the waterbender like this again, so he wasn't letting Kya or the others get in the way.
About an hour later, while lounging in the sitting room reading, Ozai noticed Katara was up. She was dragging her feet, still in her nightgown, hair down, as she approached him and flopped in his lap. Nuzzling her head to his chest.
"I'm sleepy." She yawned.
Smirking as he ran his hand over her backside and grabbed her ass, Ozai laughed when she glared up at him.
"Not in the mood, waterbender?" He raised a brow.
Shaking her head as she bit her lip, "Nope. Just wanted to cuddle." She told him.
"Are you sure?" He moved his hand up her nightgown and pulled at her panties.
Sitting up off of him, Katara shook her head as she climbed off of him and tried pulling away from him. But obviously, he was in the mood and was taking it as she was teasing him. He followed her as she tried getting away from him.
"Don't tease me, Katara. You only make me want you more."
"I'm not teasing you. I seriously don't feel like having sex."
"Really?" not buying it.
Sighing, "Seriously."
"Why not?"
"Because-" Before she could get the words out, she pushed him out of the way and ran off.
Ozai was now very very confused and followed her to see what was going on. But when he got close to the bathroom, he heard the waterbender vomiting. Fucking hell!
….
Neither of them really spoke as they waited for the town physician to check her pulse and vitals. They were both nervous. Last thing either of them needed was another child. Katara was still married to Arnook and Ozai was at his wits end with the ones he already had.
"Well, congratulations! Looks as if you two are expecting."
Katara pulled away and walked right out the room. Ozai sighed and rubbed his temples. The physician was gravely confused.
Standing to his feet, "Forgive us but we have five children between the two of us. Neither of us were looking forward to this."
The physician could understand that. Five children were a lot. A couple was lucky to even have one or two, so this couple here had plenty. Sighing as he looked through his bag for something to give the couple. Pulling out a vial, the old physician handed it to the younger man and told him to talk it over with the woman.
"This will remedy your problem here. Pour just half the content into her drink and you will have just the five you share." He informed him.
Ozai looked at the bottle before tucking it away in the pocket of his vest. He would talk with Katara, see where her head was and they would go from there. He'll let her make the decision. Things like this were better left out of his or any other man's hands.
After paying the physician handsomely as to not reveal their identities to anyone, Ozai went to look for Katara and found she was in the garden looking at the koi fish swimming around in the pond. She seemed to have thrown her hairpin down and rustled her hair. From where he stood it looked like she was taking her kimono off and stripping. He didn't say anything. Just watched her. Katara, then, down to nothing, jumped into the pond with the fish.
"Has she lost it, your majesty?" A servant asked as she had stood by to see the needs of her masters.
Sighing, "Perhaps. Go have something sweet made for her."
A few minutes later, Katara climbed out of the pond and grabbed her clothes from the ground. Her soft blue eyes looked to him and lingered.
"The physician is right. I-I'm pregnant again." She furrowed her brows as her gaze dropped from him.
Deciding that it was better to say nothing at a time like this, the Phoenix King went to embrace his waterbender to comfort her. She was receptive to it and hugged him back, burying her face in his chest as she cried. He told her about the vial that the physician gave him to terminate the pregnancy. Seems she didn't take well to this and shoved him away from her, storming off again. Ozai sighed as he really wasn't cut out for moments like this. Usually it was his concubine or mistress he knocked up by accident and they did this, which was something that was mutual. But he hadn't ever experienced knocking up his ex-wife that was married to someone else but was sleeping with him because they were planning on getting back together. He was sure that could be said for plenty of men. This was just not his field of expertise.
Once again going after the waterbender, Ozai found her sitting in bed, dripping wet, with her knees pulled to her chest. She didn't seem happy about either of the things revealed to her. Pregnancy was definitely not to her liking and after her reaction to what he told her, didn't seem like she wanted to abort it either.
"Talk to me." He told her as he flopped down on the bed and threw his arm over his face. "I'm getting really bad anxiety from you being so quiet. What are you thinking?"
Glancing at Ozai, "You get nervous when I'm quiet?"
"Of course. I don't know what you're thinking. I could read your thoughts but that would only make me more anxious. I rather you just say it." He told her.
Katara could see that his chest was moving up and down fast as he laid on his back. She never pictured him being anxious. He was either annoyed or pissed off. Guess it was how he masked his anxiety. At least, she knew that now for future reference. She reached her hand over to take his hand and held it, bringing it to her lips. Kissing his knuckles.
"What happens when we get back to Omashu?" She asked him.
Looking upside down at her as she held his hand, "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean. Do I go back to being Arnook's wife or do I stay with you?"
"Depends."
"On?"
"Will you be my queen?"
Katara sighed and flipped his hand to face upward as she rested her cheek in it, shutting her eyes. "If it means, I can stay with you. I'll be whatever you want me to be."
"Either way, waterbender, you stay with me." He caressed her cheek as she smiled.
"Then I guess this isn't too bad. Having another baby." She said with a hopeful smile.
Ozai cringed and slowly took back his hand, "You seriously want to keep it?"
Raising her brow, "You don't think I'm going to abort it, do you?"
No, but I didn't think you'd want to keep it either. Ozai really wasn't liking that he was about to have a kid younger than his grandson. Not to mention, while he might be immortal. He was pushing sixty. Kya and Zhiar were nearly of age. He didn't want to start over. Not with his terrible track record of parenting. He couldn't fathom why Katara would want to keep having children with him. Hell, if she wanted kids that badly, he'd let her and Zuko have as many as they liked as long as he didn't have to be the father.
Seeing that Ozai was really not game for this as he sat at the edge of the bed rubbing his temples, Katara crawled up behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck from behind, pressing her lips to the side of his face.
"Let's not talk about baby stuff or the future or anything for right now, hmm? Just here and now." She kissed his temple as she pulled his hand away from his face.
Ozai groaned and was about to say something but Katara put one of his fingers in her mouth and sucked on it. Whatever he had been thinking before was gone to the far part of the back of his head. He just pulled the waterbender around to let her straddle his lap as he captured her lips, tangling his fingers in her hair as she hungrily rolled her hips against him. Fuck, if she wasn't already pregnant, he'd knuck her up again.
…..
Ozai had woken in the middle of the night with the waterbender laying beside him. His eyes roamed over her small frame as the silk sheet hugged her bare form underneath. He wasn't excited about her being pregnant again but if it brought them back together again, he was alright with it. Moving closer to her, the Phoenix King wrapped his arm around her and kissed her forehead. She wiggled up against him and let out a soft moan in her sleep.
"I love you, Ozai." She whispered against his chest. "Do you love me?"
Running his fingers through her hair, "More than anything." He murmured into her hair.
A small smile pulled to Katara's lips as she drifted back to sleep. Ozai held her to him and shut his eyes. He was so exhausted after all these years. He hadn't realized that until coming here. He needed this. To be away with Katara. Just the two of them.
However, as he tried to follow her back to sleep, he was woken up by a knock on his chamber doors. He slipped out of bed, careful to not wake the waterbender, and went to the door.
"Your majesty, there is a visitor that demands you let him in or he will make you wish you had told his sister sooner." A servant rushed into the garden.
Really? Ozai's face became no less annoyed and frustrated as it had been before when some Water Tribe clowns showed up in his palace.
Going to the front gate, Ozai saw the Southern Chieftain standing on the other side glaring at him.
"You're mighty stupid to be making threats at me, boy. What do you want?"
Sokka scowled, "I want my sister. Bring her to me so I can tell her about Kya running away. We need to find her."
"Kya is fine." Ozai replied.
"Fine?! She is not fine! Everyone but you seems to be convinced of that!" Sokka yelled. "Bring Katara here so I can speak with her!"
"She's resting."
"Then let me in so I can speak with her."
"Not happening."
"Damn it, Ozai! You selfish fuck! Wait till Katara hears about this! She won't stand for you doing this!" Sokka yelled.
"What's going on here?"
The two looked to the side to see Katara in her robes rubbing her tired eyes.
"Katara! Thank La! Look, Kya-"
"Kya has run away. Seems like Sokka came to inform us. We need to leave now." Ozai said as he glanced at Sokka from the side. Wordlessly telling him to keep his mouth shut.
Katara's eyes widened.
"Go, get dressed. We leave in twenty minutes."
Nodding, Katara rushed back to get herself prepared for the journey back. As she did, Ozai walked down the steps and up to the gate.
"You tell her I knew anything and I will have you, your blind wife, and your litter permanently removed from this earth. Have I made myself clear, Chieftain?" Ozai's eyes shifted red.
Swallowing back an insult he wanted to toss at the Phoenix King, "Crystal."
"Good." Ozai said as he turned to the side. "Now, you wait here and we will all leave together."
Sokka furrowed his brows as he watched Ozai walk away. "I won't say a word but if you keep this up, you're going to break my sister's heart again."
I'll keep that in mind. Ozai mentally begrudged as he went to get ready with Katara.
…..
On the airship headed back for Omashu, Sokka watched his sister try her best to locate Kya with her siren ability but failed. Ozai told her that Kya knows how to block being detected by water. It was pointless to try and find her that way.
So Katara paced back and forth. Stressing over how their daughter was doing. Sokka eyed Ozai and hated how calm he was being about this when Katara was clearly having a hard time. He didn't even offer to comfort her. Just seemed completely annoyed that his getaway was ruined.
When Katara finally became too tired to pace back and forth, Sokka helped her to her cabin for her to rest.
Squeezing her brother's hand before he could pull away, Katara looked at him with tears in her eyes. "What happened? What made Kya run away?"
Sokka looked at his sister and sighed. He told her that Zhiar and Kya got into a fight. Zhiar was taunting her and she snapped. Attacked him and caused mayhem all over the palace. Guards were injured and so was Hama. Parts of the palace had been damaged. He told her that this took place 5 days ago and they had tried to contact her but couldn't seem to get a hold of her.
Holding her hand over her mouth as she cried, Sokka pulled his sister into a hug and rubbed her back. "It's okay, Katara. We'll find Kya safe and sound. She's pretty strong and I doubt anyone will be able to hurt her."
"I just can't believe she's out there alone!" She cried, holding her brother tight. "She needed me and I wasn't there!"
"Shh, Katara. It's not your fault. Dad and Zuko reprimanded Zhiar and we've all been sending out search parties and going with them." Sokka told her. "Unfortunately, I don't think Kya is in the city. Zuko doesn't smell her for miles and Hama couldn't track her."
Seeing the wide eyes on his sister's face, "She's what?!"
Sokka shook his head, "We think she's outside the city."
"What?! No!"
…..
Arriving in Omashu, Katara stormed in and found Zuko and her father telling the search party where else they haven't looked. They looked up and Hakoda ran straight to her, pulling her tight into his arms.
"Katara, dear, we're doing our best. I'm sorry." He told her.
Hugging him back, "I know but I'm here now. I have to find her." She said tearfully.
Zuko looked past Katara and glared at his father. He forced himself to look away as the man glared back.
"Can I speak with my father and Katara alone?" Zuko asked.
The task force bowed and hurried to leave as Hakoda took one final look at his daughter and kissed her forehead. When they were alone, Zuko yelled loudly as he punched his fist into a wall and scowled viciously at his father.
"Zuk-"
"No! Katara, you stay out of this! This isn't your fault!" Zuko stopped her.
Confused, Katara looked to Ozai, who seemed unfazed.
"You bastard! I told you! I fucking told you days ago that Kya had run away and you did nothing!" Zuko screamed in his father's face. "You wouldn't even let me speak with Katara! Why?! Because you knew she would drop everything to come here! It took Sokka going there to bring you back here! And your daughter! My sister! Has been missing for almost three weeks!"
Katara's eyes widened.
"Calm down, Zuko."
"I WILL NOT CALM DOWN! MY BABY SISTER IS MISSING! AND YOU DON'T EVEN WANT TO FIND HER! WHY?!" Zuko screamed even louder. "IF IT WERE YOU MISSING, SHE WOULD BE OUT THERE LOOKING FOR YOU! FIGHTING FOR YOU! SHE WOULDN'T LET ANYONE GET IN THE WAY!"
Tilting his head as he eyed Zuko, "I know my daughter, Zuko. I know she's s-"
"I don't care what you think you know! Right now, Kya is beyond the city limits all by herself! I'm sure you think you know Kya so well but you don't! I've been there since before she could walk! I helped Katara raise twins while you were in prison! Regardless of what Kya says or does, she doesn't always express herself correctly! She is not okay! Physically, I don't doubt she can handle herself but mentally, that girl is scared! And you didn't even come when I told you! I don't ever want to hear you claim her as your daughter again! She is not your daughter, you piece of shit! None of us are your children! Not me, not Azula, not Zhiar, not Kya, and not whoever else has the misfortune of being a product of your filthy line! Fuck you and I'm going to find my sister and then Katara and I will decide what we do with her! But she is not staying here! Over my dead body will I ever let you raise Kya or any of my other siblings alone!"
Zuko shoved his father out of his way and slammed the door behind him.
"Kat-"
"Ozai. Be honest with me. Please, I ask you this one thing." Katara said as she looked at him in despair.
Ozai sighed and pulled the necklace from out of his tunic to dangle it in front of her, "I would never leave our daughter or any of our children to fend for themselves. When Zuko told me, I had a portal open up near her, it trapped her into this necklace. She's been with me the entire time."
Furrowing her brows as she shook her head, "And you couldn't tell me this?"
"I knew it would upset you."
"Well duh! But at least, I would be upset that our daughter ran away and not that her father hid this from me! When are you going to understand that we're supposed to do this together! Why do I have to keep begging you to see me as your equal?! Why?! I fucking love you and I have for a long time and you just- UGH! You just keep making our relationship harder than it has to be!"
Katara went off. Her fists balled and her eyes narrowed. She felt her entire body shake as she looked at this man. It was more hurt than anger she felt. Remembering when they had been married and how she had to beg him to treat her like a wife and not a child. His literal response was to distance them and separate her from Kya. And though that wasn't the same scenario this time around. She was still not seen as on his level or even close. To him, she was still just that girl he took as his wife.
Getting herself to calm down as she felt dizzy and stumbled to the side, Katara continued to eye Ozai callously as he helped her to sit down, kneeling in front of her.
"I know you think I hide things from you and lie because I don't see you as an equal. That is not true." He tried getting through her. "I do it because I only want to protect you."
"Then why hide things related to our children from me?!" She raised her voice.
There were a lot of things Ozai didn't like having to admit but the waterbender wanted to know and he'd just be digging his own grave he didn't just tell her. So, he did and she slapped the hell out of him. Clearly, she valued the kids over alone time with him. He really couldn't compete with them.
"Let me see Kya now!" She stood up and looked him eye to eye while he was on his knees.
Ozai used his black flames to open a portal from the necklace he had placed down on the low table. He watched as Kya stepped out of it and looked around to see both her parents. Kya saw her mother's wide eyes and ran to her, wrapping her arms around the woman.
"Mom! I'm sorry I ran away!" Kya said and squeezed her eyes shut. "I just hated Zhiar so much! He's so mean to me! And I don't know what I did to make him hate me!"
Rubbing her daughter's back as she held her to her chest, Katara looked at Ozai. "Tell us what happened, Kya."
And Kya did. She told her parents what happened shortly after they left and how she was so sick of Zhiar making fun of her for being a waterbender. So she revealed her ability to firebend and killed him. Of course, he regenerated with ease but she went on rampage. Destroying buildings and setting Hama on fire, attacking Zuko. She ran away afterward as she felt she no longer belonged in the family anymore, ashamed of hurting the people of her family.
The young teen was kissed on the forehead by her mother as she looked her in the eyes, "There is nothing to be ashamed of. Every family has its problems."
"You don't get it!" Kya shoved her mom away and looked to her father. "I hate being a part of this family. I hate being me! I hate being the daughter of a disgraced waterbender and an evil tyrant! This is both of your faults! You two shouldn't have gotten together! None of this would have ever happened!"
Kya then stormed out of her father's study, leaving both of her parents to stare at one another. Ozai could see Katara was obviously hurt from hearing that. While he was used to this sort of thing, Katara obviously wasn't. He would have to speak to the children on her behalf. He didn't much care how they spoke to him, he knew they were going to say whatever was on their little hearts to him but their mother didn't deserve to be spoken to that way. She cared a great deal about them and they were the only products of their relationship that he knew Katara would do anything for. They were why she was pissed at him for not communicating with her.
Ozai felt the room grow chilly as he watched the waterbender wipe her tears so that she could leave. He wanted to say something to her but he knew she was very upset. Not just with him. With everything.
"I need to rest. I don't feel good." She told him.
"Very well." He sighed. "If you need anything, I'll be here. I'm sure there's enough work to keep me busy for days."
Katara nodded before leaving.
…..
In her chambers for the night, Katara was brushing her hair as she stared blankly into the mirror when her father and brother entered. They asked her about what happened and she confessed to them that she and Ozai were having an affair. They went to the Fire Nation to be alone. Hakoda sighed as he went to hug her from behind, kissing the side of her face. He was not angry with her. If anything, he was guilty of seeing this coming and doing nothing. But there wasn't much he could do when his daughter's feelings were as clear as the Phoenix King's.
Sokka, with his arms folded, shook his head. "You know, if it were Zuko that you had gotten back with, I'd totally be okay with that but Ozai is an asshole whether he's evil or not Katara. I don't want him as my brother in law again." He scoffed.
Hakoda slapped his son upside the head as Katara chuckled and shook her head.
"I don't think even our children want us back together." Katara said with somber humor and looked down at her hands. "To make it all worse, we're expecting another child that'll grow up to hate us."
This shocked her father and brother.
"What?!"
"Didn't you just have Ryu less than two, three months ago?!"
Sniffling as she wiped her tears away, "I'm leaving Arnook to be with Ozai. He wants me back as his wife and raise our children together like we wanted to. Maybe we'll have more luck with this one."
Seeing that his daughter was stricken with despair, Hakoda sighed and asked Sokka to leave as he wanted to speak with her alone. Sokka sighed and kissed his sister's temple telling her that he still loved her even if she was being stupid before leaving.
When it was just them, Hakoda knelt in front of Katara and took her hand in his as he stared into her eyes. "Sweetheart, I know you have faced a lot on your own and you didn't really have anyone on your side when you needed them to be. Other than Zuko and his father, I can think of no one, not even myself, who had been there for you. So understand me when I say, if this is what you want, I am behind you no matter what. He was our enemy once but he's also the father and grandfather of my grandchildren which makes him...family."
Katara tried not to laugh at how her father seemed to nearly choke on those words.
"Besides, I kind of like him. I think he and I will be good friends in the future. He's a very entertaining man. His humor is a bit dark and he's scary at times but I like him."
Smiling as she heard her father's words.
"I just want you to be happy." Hakoda rubbed the side of his daughter's cheek.
Holding his hand to her face, "I will be. I will be when I am with him."
"Okay, then we'll deal with Arnook. Just get some rest and we'll all sit down to talk, hmm?" Hakoda stood up, smiling at his daughter.
Though she had tears in her eyes, she smiled and then jumped to hug her father.
"Thanks dad."
….
Just as her father told her, they all sat down the very next day and discussed the matter. Arnook included. It couldn't be helped that the man felt utterly betrayed and wanted to attack Ozai, literally jumping onto the table with a whale tooth dagger. The palace guard jumped to attack while the Northern troops went to defend their chieftain. However; the situation was de-escalated by Zuko, who forced the dagger out of Arnook's hands and snapped his arm behind his back, slamming his head onto the table of the boardroom.
Ozai, who was unfazed as all hell, didn't even glance at Arnook or his men. His eyes were on Katara the entire time. He had to admit when Hakoda came to him this morning he had feared the worse. Katara was angry at him after that stunt he pulled and he knew he was deserving of her wrath. However; he appreciated her not giving up on them because of that incident.
At the moment, he watched her stare at Arnook with lament as he was being held down by Zuko. Their eyes had locked and from what Ozai could see, Katara felt every bit of guilt that Arnook was transferring to her with his gaze. The bastard knew he didn't love Katara and was using her in some scheme with Lao but he still played his part. Ozai scoffed and rolled his eyes as Zuko let his men escort Arnook and his men out.
"You're letting him turn you back into his whore! You stupid woman! I tried to save you from him!"
Once it was just Sokka, Zuko, Katara, and her father, Ozai sighed and looked to Hakoda and Sokka. Sliding a document that was stamped official by himself and several members of his council, the Phoenix King summarized the details of the document to them.
"Say, I sign this and then you and Katara fight, what happens then?" Sokka asked skeptically. Sure, his father was all team Phoenix King now but he wasn't so sure of his father.
"Then you do whatever the hell you want. I'm making you independent from the North, not a territory of the Southern Earth Kingdom. Not my call." Ozai said nonchalantly.
Sokka looked to Zuko for input. "Can I trust him?"
Zuko would like to say his father could go fuck himself because any trust he had in the man had gone straight out the window.
"All I can say is if he tries anything, the Fire Nation stands behind the Southern Tribe a hundred percent." Zuko informed his buddy. "My heir is half-Southern Water Tribe."
Sokka sighed and then looked at his sister. While he knew his sister might be in love with the Phoenix King, she wouldn't lie in regards to whether he was trustworthy or not.
"Do you think we can trust him, Katara?"
Katara sighed and side glanced at Ozai before folding her arms as she looked back to her brother, "I'm fully prepared to drown him if he tries anything."
"Oh how lovely, my eldest and ex-wife have such faith in me. I feel so loved." Ozai said sarcastically.
Zuko and Katara rolled their eyes but at that point Sokka was convinced that while they might all not trust the Phoenix King, they did trust they would respond immediately to any sign of deception. That was enough to get him to sign the document.
Sliding the signed document over to the Phoenix King, Sokka stood up and eyed the man. "When do we receive these 'shipments' you noted in there?"
Rolling up the document, "It should have arrived in the South Pole at noon yesterday."
Sokka scoffed and said something along the lines of he was expecting it last week which made absolutely no sense. Katara groaned as Zuko couldn't help but snicker as he shook his head. Hakoda sighed and pulled Sokka out of the boardroom to go over a lesson of how to be more diplomatic and less offensive.
Also wanting to leave, Zuko got up and placed a hand on Katara's shoulder. "I need to go check on Ryu. Come see afterwards." He glanced at his father and scowled before kissing Katara's forehead and leaving.
With just the two of them now, Katara leaned back in her seat and eyed Ozai. She was in a sort of no bullshit, no nonsense type of mood, and she could see already, early this morning, Ozai had a lot of nonsense with him. She sighed and folded her arms, turned her head to the side as she searched for the right words to start off the conversation they desperately needed to have.
"Do you know who I am, Ozai?" She asked as she tilted her head at an angle that made her come off as if she were calling the shots here.
Snickering as he, too, leaned back in his chair. "Of course, I know you, Katara."
"What's my favorite color?"
He raised a brow.
"My favorite hobbies?"
"I don't thin-"
"How old was I when my mother died?"
"Kat-"
"My kill count? My birthday? My surname before you married me? My favorite animal? My greatest annoyance? Do you know any of those?"
Ozai sighed as he looked at her waiting for her to reveal what all the purpose of all these questions were.
"My favorite color is purple. My favorite hobbies are singing, drawing, and bending. I was eight years old when my mother died. My kill count is three hundred thirty three. My birthday is in the summer. Rare for a waterbender to be born in the summer months. The Water Tribes use our father's first name and then son or daughter after it. I love turtle ducks. And my greatest annoyance is someone that lies and hides things from me when I've begged them not to."
Tilting his head, "Okay, I'll note those details up here." He tapped his fingers to his temple. "But I doubt you could answer those same quest-"
"Your favorite color is black and gold. Black because you like that it makes you unseen and gold so you still stand out to some degree. Your favorite hobbies consist of anything that you can do alone without being bothered. Your mother died when you were three. Your kill count is higher than you even know or acknowledge. You were born in winter. The Winter solstice to be exact. You never told me but I figured it out that night I told you I loved you for the first time. You hate parties but you held that one tradition because it was your birthday. Your surname is Yong. You hate animals. And your greatest annoyance is people, you hate them far more than you let on but you control your impulse to not kill them."
Smirking, Ozai dusted his fingers along his lips. "I always knew you watched me closely. Most of that we never discussed but you knew."
"Because I want to know you and know who it is I want to be with." Katara retorted. "You didn't tell me those things but when you died, I took a look at the archives to find any piece of information on you. Unlike the Fire Lords before you, you didn't have much on record for you."
Ozai scoffed and said something about his father refusing to have him documented until he had married Ursa. Something to do with not wanting certain information being recorded into history.
"I didn't find much but I found enough to add to the list of things I wanted to ask you about. And if you have any questions for me, ask away. Once we're done talking here, we can decide how we move forward."
"Move forward? I figured you chose me already, waterbender."
"I'm having second thoughts, Ozai." She told him in a cold yet steady and honest tone. "I love you but I'm not repeating fifteen years ago over again. That's not happening. I'm not eighteen anymore. I'm an adult woman and you're going to have more respect for me if you're wanting me to be your queen."
Seeing that the waterbender was not toying around, Ozai collapsed his hands together and leaned forward. "Ask away, Katara."
…
"He's more fussy than normal." Zuko sighed as he rocked his son in his arms, bouncing and walking just like babies liked.
For a father, he was very hands on with his infant son. He tried to be as hands on as possible. Be as loving as possible. He would not let himself be like his father and he would not let his son turn out like him. His son would have all the love in the world. He would want for nothing.
Tomoe saw this all the time back home and even here, the Fire Lord would always have his son close beside him or in his arms. She wondered what he needed her for. He was doing just fine on his own. It was a warming feeling to see. Most men, even of lower stature, didn't spend as much time with an infant child and for someone with the duties and responsibilities of a Fire Lord, it was shocking to say the least. But given his family history, it made sense. Being abandoned by his mother and left with his abusive father, one could see that the Fire Lord only wanted to reverse the curse of terrible parenting that had plagued his line for nearly a century.
Trying to soothe his fussy son, Zuko looked up to see Sokka had stopped by to visit.
"You're doing that wrong." Sokka said as he walked up to him and held his hands out for the baby. "I'll show you."
Zuko, feeling insulted, looked at the Chieftain like he was out of his mind. "The caregivers back home showed me how to do this! I'm doing it right!"
Sokka chuckled, "Yeah but I'll show you another way."
Eyeing Sokka suspiciously, Zuko reluctantly handed his son over to him and watched carefully as Sokka seemed to have such an 'innovative' method to soothe babies all of a sudden. He saw the tribesman hold Ryu in a wide cradling posture and swung him gently back and forth. Even crouching down slightly.
"My mom and dad used to do this with Katara. It was the only way to calm her down." Sokka said as they watched Ryu calm down as well. "My mom said that's how she knew Katara was a waterbender. She could already feel the push and pull of the waves."
Raising a brow, "This is supposed to calm waterbenders?"
Sokka nodded.
"But he's a firebender. The sages took a look and confirmed it."
Sokka looked at Zuko like he was stupid, "You just watched your sister that's supposed to be a waterbender set your younger brother on fire as well as serval other buildings. He could be a duel bender."
Oh great! Now it's going to be obvious as all hell who his mother is. Zuko knew Katara didn't want anyone to know that Ryu was her son since he had made it public that he had an heir now. However; if Ryu was a waterbender, everyone in the world was going to connect the dots and trace them all the way to her.
"Look, buddy, I know what you're thinking but you and Katara can't hide certain details surrounding Ryu's conception. Katara is his mother and he's going to want to know that. Plus, he's a waterbender no doubt. You two might want to start considering your options now before he water whips someone." Sokka snickered at his joke.
Zuko took his son back from Sokka and slapped him in the head. "You're getting on my nerves. Leave."
Sokka only laughed louder as he left telling his Fire Lord buddy to have good luck with his little lies.
Groaning as he looked down at his son, who had finally fallen asleep, Zuko carried him over to Tomoe.
"A duel bender. Can you believe that? Never heard of them being real but I met one during the war and then my sister turns out to be one. Now, Ryu. My life can't make any less sense." Zuko mused as he gazed down at his son and reached down to kiss his forehead before Tomoe took him off to lay down.
Going to sit down on the sofa of his guest chambers, Zuko stared at the bottle of the most expensive wine from the Fire Nation that his father seemed to stock all the guest chambers with. The bastard was filthy rich. Everyone in the world knew it. For a king to be able to have all his people eat like royalty and him still have so much wealth still, it was unimaginable. Seemed his father just got everything he wanted. From having his own throne to fame and fortune. Fucking immortality. And now, he was getting Katara back. It really pissed him off. None of this was fair. None of it. Zuko was really tired of his father winning so damn much, the bastard didn't deserve this. Not with how he treated him or Kya and Zhiar. Or anyone.
There was only but so much Zuko could overlook and ignore and pretend he didn't care about. Only but so many losses he had to scarf down. He was sick of it. He was. It was why he said what he had to his father upon returning. While Ozai had wanted them to move forward and forget the past, the past was still engraved on Zuko's face and letting go wasn't going to happen so quickly nor so easily. Hate was still in Zuko's chest. It was still festering. Some days were easier to manage but yesterday, it all poured out. He hated the man. He wanted to prove himself wrong, that he was ready to move forward with life and his father but...you don't just get to scar your son and take the only woman he's loved and say sorry then everything's okay. Because everything was not okay. Zuko was fighting battles with himself that no one saw. He was leading a nation, raising his son, being the supportive role for his siblings, loving the woman he would never have again, and trying to forgive all at once. He was tired. And he was in great pain.
The bottle of wine didn't stay full for long, Zuko chugged the content down and then threw it across the room as he pulled at his hair. Fuck!
…
There was a long drawn out silence in the room. Ozai had answered her questions and she believed him to be honest. A man doesn't just lie about the things he confessed to. She was shocked and some of it disturbed her but she accepted it. That was his past, his story. She could live with that. She could honestly say she expected worse and it wasn't like this was all bad, just shocking. He was in denial but he admitted to her that he had loved a man once and slept with men before. He even gave her the name of the man he had been in love with. One she did not expect him to say but wasn't completely shocked by. Daikoku Fujioka. He told her how he slept with married noblewomen and then fought their husbands. He killed two of them by accident and his father had to cover it up. He used to torture the servants that eyed him funny. Often he snuck out of the palace to hang out in the slums. Drink himself sick. Gamble. Sleep with anyone he liked, paid them to keep silent. There was much more. Far worse things she didn't want to remember he said.
Then there was what really happened between him and Ursa. How they ended up married and the scandal surrounding his father's death. Apparently, Ursa had caught his father raping him when he was seventeen. She had the guts to stand up to his father and demand that he marry them when she was of age. Didn't seem like he knew why she wanted to marry him after witnessing that but his father never touched him in that way after that. Ursa stepped in and took care of him, helped him channel his pain into something that was more beneficial. Azulon didn't make him this way, Ursa did. And he admitted that to this day, she frightened him.
When Azulon died, Ozai had pinned it on Ursa as that was what she asked of him. She wanted to be freed from being a royal and away from the palace and he ascended the throne as Iroh had been too far gone in his despair to take the throne. At that time, Ozai had his harem and only toyed with women, though before he had been with about anything with two legs.
Though the information regarding Ursa was interesting, Katara was more fascinated with his sexuality. Was he-
"I'm not gay." Ozai folded his arms. "I never let them-"
"But you're attracted to men." She was confused.
Ozai eyed her, "I don't like the word or the title. I just like what I like. Leave it alone."
"I'm just curious because with this information I want to know that I'm enough for you when it's not just women you like."
Slamming his hands down on the table, "I had a whole fucking harem! Hundreds of women that would have down things you would never and I turned them all away for you! You think because now you know about my other desires that I want you less all of a sudden?! You've gone mad, Katara!"
The stoic expression on Katara's face for his tone, not his words. What he said made sense. She understood and regretted mentioning her doubts but his tone was unnecessary.
"I'm not judging you, Ozai."
"Well doesn't fucking feel like it!"
"Then I'm sorry." Her tone and her gaze softened. "If it makes you feel any better, I feel much closer to you now."
The waterbender got up from where she sat, lifted the skirt of her dress, and walked over to him. As soon as she was upon him, Katara wrapped her arms around him and held his head to her chest. Her fingers caressed his ear and the hair that fell over it.
"I love you, Ozai. I really do. I just wanted to know you if I'm going to spend forever with you." She whispered to him. "I won't ask you anything else about your past. I promise."
And while he doubted she wouldn't still be curious, he felt at ease with her holding him like this. A lot of what he told her hadn't crossed his mind in years. He had mastered the art of selective memory and forgot the things he refused to remember. It was almost like it never fucking happened. But there was some relief in telling Katara these things. There was some relief in being open and honest with her. It made him feel warm and somewhat needy.
Pulling the waterbender into his lap, Ozai held her to him and shut his eyes with her.
"Any questions for me?" Katara asked him as she held his face to hers and pressed her nose into his as she giggled.
"Just one." He told her.
"And that would be?"
"You still have feelings for Zuko, don't you?" Ozai opened his eyes and looked at Katara.
She opened hers and laughed, "I think we both know the answer to that."
"Then how will I know I'm enough when you so obviously want him too." He asked her.
"Because I picked you." She told him. "I've always picked you."
"Are you sure?" He became a little more serious. "Are you sure you don't want him too?"
Katara eyed him, "Keep asking me that and I'll tell him to come to bed with us."
"You're being too honest, dear, it's starting to bother me."
Katara giggled as he kissed her and held her close to him.
"We need to talk to the kids." He told her.
Sighing, the waterbender nodded.
….
Though neither Zhiar nor Kya were happy to hear this news, there was nothing they could do. Their parents were getting back together and they were getting yet another younger sibling because somehow Ryu was totally not just born a few months ago. Ozai was unfazed by the attitudes as he told them they were all staying here and that Zhiar's chambers would be not far down the hall from Kya. Telling them to start getting along now or he was going to crack down on them. They looked for their mother's input at the threat but she had a threat of her own. She wasn't tolerating disrespect and they would need to learn that soon because they were too old to carry on as they had.
When they were sent off to their rooms, Ozai kissed his waterbender and told her that he had to take care of a few things.
"I'll see you tonight." He said.
Smiling, Katara watched him walk off. She was incredibly happy. Now that they had their pasts behind them, they could move forward.
Showing up to see Zuko as he had asked her to see him once she and his father were done talking, Katara saw him in the bathroom with a towel around his waist while shaving his face. She smiled and came up beside him, looking at him in the mirror. He glanced down and smirked.
"I assume you and father are getting back together. Officially."
Nodding, "Yes, we are."
"Great. Now you can both deal with those rotten twins together." Zuko turned to look down at her.
"I need to tell you something, Zuko."
"Hmm?"
Katara lowered her gaze and looked down at her hands, fidgeting a little. "I saw Ursa while Ozai and I were in the Fire Nation. She bumped into us on our first night."
Zuko's expression shifted gradually as he looked down at her. It was like his face didn't know an expression for the emotion he was feeling or that it couldn't quite express them all at once. Katara swallowed hard and continued.
"She and your father got into an altercation. She stabbed him with phoenix bane and it made it difficult for him to heal. I went to speak with her to find out what I could do to reverse it. She made me drink tea with her before she would tell me anything about how to heal him." Katara chuckled a little. "Your mother, she's not like how you described her. Your father's description is closest."
Stepping away from her, "How was she? What did she look-"
"Ozai said she hasn't aged, so I guess she looks the same as you remember." Her gaze lifted up to him. "But I think she's working for Lao. She gave me a letter to hand to your father. He didn't tell me what exactly she said but from the letter and the phoenix bane, he thinks she's with Lao."
Shocked and disheartened, Zuko stumbled back to which Katara caught him before he fell back. He placed his hand to his head as he tried to wrap it around what Katara told him. Hadn't seen his mother since he was thirteen and last he had heard of her, some old hag in the capital told him that she ran off with some old man. That old man must have been Lao.
Seeing the look on Zuko's face, Katara reached around his waist to hug him. "She's still your mother." She whispered. "I told her that you missed her and wanted to see her. She told me to tell you…" Reaching up on her tippy toes, Katara told him the location his mother told him to go in a months' time. "I think she wants to see you."
Sniffling as he covered her face with his hand, "Katara, thank you, but I need to be alone right now." He told her.
"Okay, Zuko." She said as she kissed his scarred cheek. "Talk to me later?"
All Zuko could do was nod. He was just sobering up after he got sick of feeling sorry for himself. Just came to terms with Katara getting back with his father and likely staying his father's wife for pretty much the rest of forever. He had accepted those things along with his father being a piece of shit that only changed on the outside but hadn't done any real changing. It upset him a lot but he accepted it and now, Katara was telling him that his mother, the only parent he had that he saw in a good light, was somehow working with Lao.
Shaking his head, "Damn it!"
…..
A/N:
Hang on tight kiddies! Second chapter update coming up in a bit! Love you all!