A/N:
Hey guys! Hope you guys can forgive me for my slow updating but I do have multiple chapters coming up next week. 9-12 chapters all at once. So enjoy.
Chapter 36:
"You want me to divorce my wife so that you can have her?"
Nodding his head, "I mean, she's already mine but I'm trying to save you the embarrassment and me the hassle.
Arnook eyed Ozai viciously and growled, "You're not getting a damn thing from me! I'm doing you no favors, you bastard!"
"And that's why my council is here." Ozai waved his hand to the men sitting off to the side taking notes of their exchange. "I'm not asking for a favor. I'm ready to pay whatever price you need. No negotiation, your first price, I won't argue."
The North Chieftain looked at the Phoenix King and the creepy mask he was wearing. He didn't know if it was meant to intimidate him or what but it was annoying him. Besides, the bastard felt because he was the richest of all the monarchs and the most powerful that there was a price to everything. And of course, there was but not everything could be bought so cheaply by silver and gold. Arnook's pride was hurt as a man. Ozai had taken something that did not come cheap. A man's pride being compromised was not cheap and no amount of money was going to repair that damage.
So, Arnook didn't go for the money. He wanted an eye for an eye. He went for the blow below the belt.
"No negotiation, you say?" He clasped his hand together.
"None."
"I want Katara to return to the North Pole. She will serve her time in prison. The sentence is five years. In that time, I have complete dictation over her and you are not allowed to see her. When her time is up, you will be allowed to take her then. No negotiations as you've said." Arnook smirked.
Smirking back at him from behind his mask, "Fine. We have a deal, Arnook."
Raising a brow, "You'd have her go to prison?"
"Prison is nothing for a woman that's been through what she has. I trust she will be fine." Ozai sighed as he sat up straight. "Besides, I knew you were going to make that your price. I just want you to know that if anything happens to her, I will personally see to your demise. Understood?"
Arnook stood up and brushed his pants legs off, "Regardless of you ruining my marriage, I do care about her. You didn't get to meet the Katara I met."
"I'm not into little girls, Arnook." Ozai chuckled as he, too, stood up.
"Oh shut up, she was just barely eighteen when you met her. Just because you're not as terrible as you could be, doesn't mean you're a good man. It just means you're masquerading and I've seen your type, they never last long." The Chieftain snarled as he stepped up to the Phoenix King.
Towering over the shorter man, Ozai reached for the tie of his mask and undid it. It fell from his face, revealing the damage that Zuko had done. His eyes fell cold as he watched Arnook back away, "I don't attest to being a good man. I know what I am and I'm unapologetically so."
Arnook didn't know what the hell happened to the man's face but this was not normal. He looked even more grimly than he had before.
"I try to be a good man, Arnook, I really do but you see, I've been through too much and suffer far too great to be a good man. Hell, I don't even want to be a good man, not if it means I have to turn the other cheek all the time and suffer in silence like the rest of you good men." Smirking at the delight he got from seeing Arnook truly frightened of him. "What I did to you, I would never allow it to be done to me. That's the true difference between good men and men like me. There would be blood for the things we do to you goodie goodies."
The servants escorted Chieftain Arnook out, leaving the Phoenix King to speak with his advisors and council. They seemed concerned and Ozai wanted to know what concern plagued them.
"Talk to me." He told them as he walked away from the sitting room to his study where he searched for his booze, knowing his council and advisors were following behind him. "What do you think?"
One brave soul cleared their throat, "I think you're making a grave mistake allowing Lady Katara to return to the North with a man we all know is an accomplice of former Sage Lao. You told us yourself that Katara, from your ex-wife's account, is a target." He went on to mention that a few months ago after the summit, the palace was attacked and he was knocked out to prevent his involvement. It was likely that they were after Katara and felt threatened with her out of Arnook's care.
And this made a lot of sense to Ozai. "Katara and I discussed this already. We knew what would be asked of us. She's agreed to do whatever it takes to protect us and our family. She's playing her part as your soon to be queen."
"Can't we just torture the information out of Arnook, your majesty?" Another said.
"I'm not starting a war with a nation over something the rest of the world is clueless about." Ozai scoffed as he poured himself a glass of Fire Nation scotch and downed the entire glass before pouring himself another one. "Besides, I know because she is a target they will take her before her sentence is up. Also, we don't really know our enemy or what they're up to. I'm sure in five years Katara will find information and learn enough to help us fight Lao and his people. This is to our advantage."
No one could argue that. However; using the mother of your children for such a dangerous mission was unheard of. Even for those of them that didn't necessarily love their wives. They couldn't fathom doing that to their wives. But this was Lady Katara they were talking about. She wasn't like most women and it was very likely she would get the job done. They were convinced that the plan Ozai had was their best option.
When they all left and Ozai had enough to drink, the Phoenix King put back on his mask and went to check on Katara. She had been sleeping most of the day due to her medicine. He peeked his head into the room to see if she was asleep still and caught her sitting up with a book in her hands. Her eyes lifted from the book to see him and he saw a small smile pull to her lips.
"You know you don't have to wear that mask around me?" She told him as he entered.
Going to her side of the bed, Ozai sat on the edge and moved his hand to cup the side of her face. She held his hand to her face and smiled softly.
"Why do you look at me like I'm still so fragile, Ozai?" Katara asked him in a whisper. "Wasn't it you who taught me that being fragile was a weakness?"
"I taught you that?"
Chuckling as she nodded.
"I guess it sounds like something I'd say." His gaze changed as he saw she was beaming warmly at him.
Maybe it was fear or sadness, two things he had never been good at expressing, but it hurt in his chest to look at her. They were finally together and now, he was separating them. Even if it was for the sake of better knowing their enemy, he didn't like the thought of what they may do to her while she was in prison. She'd lose all her rights and be subjected to any kind of treatment. He was afraid for her. He knew she could handle her own but who wanted their loved one to suffer.
Noticing this, Katara reached her hand for his mask and pulled it off. He tried moving away from her so she couldn't see him but she grabbed his wrist, yanking him towards her. She wasn't very strong at the moment but she wanted to see him, scarred or not.
"Don't run from me. I didn't run from you." She told him as she got up on her knees and crawled up to him.
Ozai eyed her as she looked him over. Her eyes starting at his mouth and jaw. She followed the ends of the scars into his hair. Pressing herself into him as she moved his hair out of the way and traced her fingers along the stitched up claw marks. He shut his eyes as she moved her hand to his forehead and slowly brought it down to the base of his left eye.
"You don't look much different." Katara giggled. "Now I won't have to worry about women hitting on you."
Chuckling as he reopened his eyes, "That jealous, are we, that you like the scar to ward off other women?"
Katara continued to giggle as she cupped both sides of his face, "Not completely. I like it also because it makes you look scary and scary is a turn on."
Ozai raised a brow at her as she kissed his lips and pressed herself into him, attempting to push him down on the bed.
"Don't act surprised." She giggled as she pushed him down on his back, laying on him as she continued to kiss him passionately. "You were good looking when I met you and I still hated you. I don't care what you look like. I love you because of you, not for your stupid looks."
Returning her affection as he let her take the lead, Ozai had to say, he liked where this was going. Not many people, if anyone at all, cared about him outside of the superficial things. He was happy to just have her love him for him, even if he was as Arnook put it, 'not a good man'. It was this that made him uneasy about sending her back with Arnook. He did not want to lose her. Not again.
"Mind if I'm on top this time?" The waterbender asked as she pulled the drawstring of her gown and he watched it come undone, revealing her completely naked form. "I want to go at my own pace." Her voice dripping in lust as she bit her bottom lip.
There was no way in hell he was saying no. Have it your way, waterbender.
I plan to. She smirked down at him before going to his neck and pushing his arms up above his head.
…..
Later that night, the two laid in bed together, reading the book she had been given by a servant. Katara sat between Ozai's legs as he held the book in front of them. She was busy rubbing the left side of his face while reading and he was biting her finger everytime she tried to put it in the hole in his jaw. Though it was weird, it did comfort him knowing she wasn't squirmish from his injuries. Also, she wasn't asking what caused him and Zuko to go at it. Not that it was a big deal or a mystery but he didn't want to talk about it. Maybe she could sense that.
"Did he ask that I go to prison?" She asked out of the blue while slipping her pinky back into the hole of his jaw.
Biting her finger, Ozai nodded.
"Then I guess we don't have long together." Her voice became gloomy.
Letting go of her finger, the Phoenix King pressed his lips to the back of her head. "Trust me, I don't want this but-"
"I'll be able to find out more on Lao. I know. That's what we discussed. So, it's fine. Five years will be a piece of cake." Katara wiggled herself down and laid her head on his thigh, shutting her eyes as she sighed. "Besides, we have forever to annoy each other."
"You have a point." He said as he decided to continue reading the book while Katara drifted off in his lap.
The twins had returned to their parents' chambers to see how their mother was doing. She hadn't looked too good the last time they saw her and they hoped she wouldn't shoo them away to avoid them witnessing her in such a state. They didn't care about that sort of thing. Pride, their mother would have to let go of. For them, at least. They just wanted to see her and how she was doing.
They knocked before entering and came in when their father prompted them. He was in bed with his mask off but the lower half of his face was obscured by the book he was reading and their mother was laying between his legs on his thigh. She seemed to have only just started to drift off as she had cracked her eyes open to see them.
"You two are still up?" Katara smiled as she looked at them.
They nodded their heads as they approached the bed.
"Are you okay, mom?" Zhiar asked as Kya climbed onto the bed.
"I'll be fine." She told him as Kya came to cuddle up beside her.
Ozai groaned as he shut his book, "I don't know what you're making yourself comfortable for. You're not sleeping in the bed with us."
Kya rolled her eyes and snuggled up to her mother, "Mom used to let us sleep with her."
"Yeah," Zhiar said as he climbed in bed with them. "Mom doesn't care."
Katara giggled and told Ozai to make room.
"You're not serious." He raised a brow.
Oh...but she was. Ozai laid on his side with his back to Katara and the twins that cuddled up together on both sides of her. If he had ever been incredibly annoyed by children, now, would be that time. He was practically sleeping on the edge of the bed, Zhiar pushing him further and further off as the night went on. Ozai wasn't going to get any sleep like this. He climbed out of bed and took a pillow with him to the sitting room. He'd get better sleep there than in here.
As he made his way to the door, he heard the sheets shuffle, followed by Katara's voice.
"Where are you going?" She asked in a tired voice as she rubbed her eyes.
"I'm just making room for you and your children." He told her.
"Our children." She corrected him. "Come back to bed."
"I'm not sleeping in a bed with two teenagers and their mother."
"Ozai." She pouted. "Why can't you just do this family thing with me? It's not asking a lot, is it?"
Ozai eyed her and sighed before shaking his head. He turned back to the door and left, shutting the door behind him.
…
In the morning, the servants woke him up from all the noise they made while cleaning. His hearing had been a lot more sensitive as of late and any little sound would have him alert. Sitting up on the sofa, Ozai rubbed his eyes and saw the twins kissing their mother goodbye as they left the chambers. He then saw Katara stand weakly by the doorway of their bedroom staring at him with a disappointed look on her face. She clearly was not happy with him leaving in the middle of the night.
Standing up with his pillow under his arm, Ozai walked barefooted over to his waterbender that eyed him, he cracked a smirk at her as he stood over her.
"I want a happy family with you, something neither of us really had, but I can't do that alone, Ozai." She looked up at him with somber eyes. She placed her hand on his chest and sighed, dropping her gaze. "When I get back from prison, I want to start over, for you, for me, for Kya and Zhiar, and all the other children we're going to have."
"You mean to tell me you want more children?" Ozai looked at her like she was crazy.
Giggling, "Yes, I want a big family. I thought I told you that."
He must have not heard her because if he had, he wouldn't have knocked her up in the first place. Agni, the thought alone was a nightmare. How big a family was she talking? Did they go sterile after a certain time because if they didn't he was going to have to find a way to sterilize her, she was talking utter nonsense. Besides, didn't she already understand he was a piece of shit father? Did he need to spell it out for her anymore than he already had?
Shaking her head, "I won't settle for that, Ozai. You may need to work a little harder in that department but you did a little better with Kya and Zhiar. So, I know you'll do a lot better the next time around."
Katara looked up at him with a hopeful smile and the only thing he could think of was why she had so much faith in him being better. Wasn't he better already? Wasn't this enough? Why was he having to be better as if he wasn't more powerful, more wealthy, and so much more merciful. He felt like she was asking for a lot. Telling him that she accepted him and loved him for him but yet also expecting more from him. What more could you ask of someone like him? Didn't she see he was evil through and through and he was suppressing that already? That he was holding back, pulling punches, and biting his tongue. Was that not enough?
"We just lost another child and you're already talking about having more. For what?! It doesn't get any better than this. This is as good as it gets. This is as good as I get." He bit out for her so hopefully she could understand. "You can take it or leave it, Katara. I don't want to hear anymore of this 'doing better' nonsense. I am better. You know it."
Pulling away from him, Katara didn't even bother replying back to him or sparing him another glance, she just turned around while holding the wall by the door. She was going to go back to bed and rest some more.
"Your majesty." A servant pulled his attention from the upset waterbender.
"Yes?"
"Princess Kikyo requests your audience."
Even though the thought of that idiot girl made his skin crawl, Ozai needed to be distracted for a moment.
…..
Princess Kikyo was dressed in another elegant hanfu dress. It was green with its touches of pink and gold. She wore her excessive hair accessories and makeup. Obviously, she wasn't backing down from pursuing the Phoenix King. Her entourage stood close nearby to supervise the courtship, even though the Phoenix King and his wife had made it clear that he was not interested.
When the Phoenix King arrived, he brought an entourage of his own to attend as well. Princes Kikyo and her servants all noticed that the Phoenix King was fashioning an oni half-mask and his hair was styled differently. She had to say, the mask was rather appealing on him. And his robes, black, red and gold were fitting colors for him. Gave him an edge to his already aloof and unreadable demeanor.
Standing up from the patio in the veranda, Kikyo held her hands to her middle and bowed courteously. "Your majesty." She grinned.
Not responding to the girl outside of a mere grunt of affirmation, Ozai took a seat across from her and gestured for her to sit as well.
"You requested my audience?" Ozai asked as he snapped his fingers for the nearby servants to fix his tea.
Kikyo nodded eagerly, "Yes, your majesty, I just wanted to apologize for my behavior. I know it's not very becoming of a princess to act in such a manner but I do have to say, I felt a little insulted that you'd agree to court me and yet refused me as soon as I arrived." Her expression turned to disappointment.
Ozai glanced at her before taking the flask out of his sleeve pouring liquor into his tea. He needed a drink before dealing with the disappointment of yet another woman today. Seems he just couldn't get it together. Women were just not satisfied with him lately. Pouring just the right amount and bringing the cup to his lips. Fuck! He had forgotten to remove his mask.
The princess and others noticed the immediate annoyance and dread that fell over the Phoenix King at his error and tried to pretend they had not seen it. But he knew and that irritated him all the more. He just wasn't going to have a good day today. It just wasn't going to happen.
"Insulted? What the hell do you have to be insulted for?" He wasn't able to bite back his unrelenting aggravation.
The swearing was as off putting as his tone and Kikyo tried not to be unnerved by it as she changed up her posture. "Well, you didn't even send word that you were taking a wife. Sure, it may have been only recently that you had done so but you knew long before that that you would. I'm familiar with Lady Katara having been your wife during the war."
Annoyed, Ozai eyed her like he'd eye a fly buzzing in his face. "Where are you going with any of this? So what if you're insulted? Get over it. Just because you're a pampered pooch doesn't mean the rest of us are going to care about your feelings."
"Excuse me?! You can't-"
"I can and I will, princess." Ozai said in a flat tone. "This is why I do not find you little girls attractive. You want to be spoiled and treated to a fantasy. Do you really think I, of all the monarchs, paint fantasies for little girls?"
"You did with her!" She pointed out.
"My wife wasn't some palace lap dog as you so kindly pointed out the other day and I didn't paint any fantasy for her. We don't live in a fantasy. So If you want that, I'd advise you to try your luck with my son. He's much more whimsical and is in need of a woman to dote on him." Ozai spat as he stood up and looked down at the princess. "I don't have time for brats that have daddy issues."
Kikyo and her entourage weren't the only ones appalled by his last comment, his council also felt it was an unnecessary remark.
Standing up when he turned his back to her, Kikyo clenched her fist. "You ungrateful pig! How dare you talk to me like that! I'm a princess! Have you no manners, no shame!"
"Your highness!" Her servants all gasped.
The Phoenix King paused.
"Your majesty, please, she is a foolish child, do not-" Ozai hushed up his advisor as the rest gaped at him.
"You speak of manners as if you have any." Ozai spoke over his shoulder. "Allow me to educate you on how I deal with loud mouth girls like you."
Kicking the patio table over, the Phoenix King startled everyone, including the princess. He got to her before she could run away and yanked her by her arm, pulling her to his chest. Glaring viciously at her, Ozai used his free hand to remove his mask, revealing his disfigurement. He watched her eyes widen in horror at the sight of him. She tried pulling away but he grabbed both sides of her face and forced his mouth on hers. She screamed into his mouth but he quickly drowned it out as he forced her up against the railing of the veranda and started tearing off her clothes.
Her servants and advisor all shouted for him to stop as did his own entourage. But he continued ravishing her. Biting her bottom lip till it bled and ruining her dress. He even pulled her hair from its ties. All her accessories clanking as they hit the floor of the veranda.
Hama was only coming to see Ozai as she had needed to talk to him about his injuries. However; as she arrived in the garden where she had heard he was having an audience with the princess bitch, she caught sight of Ozai attacking the girl as their entourages watched in horror.
Finally, letting up when he felt his point had gotten across to her, Ozai pushed himself off of her and threw her to the ground. He panted as he scowled at the princess, her lipstick all over his mouth.
"Girls like you are only good for one thing, princess. So I advise you to either become more than just a pretty palace pooch with a loud mouth or accept that that's how men will treat you." He growled and wiped her makeup from his mouth, turning around to leave.
Kikyo's servants ran to her aid as she laid on the ground in utter shock.
The Phoenix King's entourage said nothing as they parted way for him to leave. They didn't dare say a word and they didn't need to. Lady Hama was present and had witnessed it herself. If there was anyone bold enough to tell him what he had done wrong, it was her.
Seeing the woman as he passed by, Ozai ignored her and fixed his mask back over his mouth.
"I never took you for someone that would assault a woman." Hama said as she followed close behind him, trying to match his large strides. "Let alone someone so young."
Scoffing, Ozai sucked his teeth. "That girl had tried my patience. She needed a lesson in how this world works."
"So you assault her?!" Hama yelled.
Pausing as everyone in the halls turned to look their way, Ozai shut his eyes and took a deep breath. He didn't understand what his problem was with women or why they just wanted to get on his nerves today but Agni must be at his throat again.
"You should really watch how you talk to me publicly." Ozai gritted through his teeth as he pivoted.
Facing him, Hama went up and stabbed her finger in his chest. "You think I care about how I talk to you publicly?! You just assaulted a girl only five years older than your daughter! What the hell?!"
Ozai grabbed her finger and flung her to the floor, growling as she fell. "I'm so sick of you! Get the hell out! If you don't like how I do things, LEAVE!"
The siren sat there on the floor looking up at Ozai. She could see that he was enraged and for what reason, Hama didn't know but he needed to get it together. This shit was getting out of control and she wasn't going to be around to save him.
Getting on her feet, Hama scoffed and snarled. "You don't have to tell me to leave, you fucking pig!" she spat at his feet. "I'm not sticking around to see you turn back into a monster! Because that's where you're headed!"
Hama turned around and stormed off. However; Ozai wasn't about to let her just get away with talking to him like that in front of his subjects. So, he had a black flame engulf her with a snap of his fingers and turned his back as she screamed in torment. He went on to head to his office as his subjects watched the awful sight of the black flames eat Hama away, leaving not even ash, just becoming nothing.
In the cold tundra of the South Pole at black flame opened up and spit Hama out into the snow. She fell hard at someone's feet.
"YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" Hama screamed at the top of her lungs as she got to her knees.
A small chuckle caught Hama's attention and she looked up to see Kanna staring down at her.
"You silly woman, why are you out here in the snow?" Kanna asked.
Hama's spooked expression quickly turned to irritation, "Why are you still masquerading as an old hag?!" She shot back.
Laughing warmly as she shook her head, "Hama, because we're both old hags. You're the one pretending to be young."
"I am young! And I'm beautiful! And I deserve to be fucking respected! THAT HUGE- FUCK, I HATE HIM!" Hama screamed again.
Kanna just sighed and shook her head, "Alright, Hama, when you're done screaming at whatever it is that has you upset, I have some orca soup if you want to have lunch with me."
….
Chuckling as her brother and father sat on either side of her as she laid in bed, Katara felt a little better talking with them. Sokka was telling her all about her nieces and nephews and how they were all crazy. Her father nodded his head to all the allegations. She could definitely see her brother having some crazy kids. He told her the one good thing was that none of them turned out to be benders, though Toph often left the South Pole with the kids to go visit her parents just to see if one might bend a rock or something.
"I can't believe you and Toph are together, still." Katara laughed before she broke into a coughing fit. She reached for her handkerchief and coughed into it.
Sokka exchanged looks with his father, who shook his head, and tried to pretend he didn't notice.
"Yeah, well you being married to that creepy bastard isn't exactly easy to believe either. I mean, I think we're all still confused about that." Sokka laughed.
"Oh, shut up, Sokka." Katara took the pillow from behind her and hit him with it. "He's not creepy!"
Raising his brow at his sister, Sokka brought up all the creepy things about Ozai and how he was only getting creepier. The waterbender laughed and shook her head, saying that he was just different. But different was like Zuko. Sokka felt Zuko was different. Strange, corky even, and awkward for the most part. But Ozai...something was seriously wrong with him.
Hakoda shut Sokka up as he felt his son was talking too much and Katara needed to rest some more. Her complexion was paling again. The two kissed her forehead before leaving to get the physician to come back and check on her.
When the waterbender was being treated by the Physician and nurses, she noticed Ozai had returned. He waited in the doorway for them to finish. Eyeing her the entire time. Once they were finished, he made his way over to her and sat beside her.
"How are you feeling?" He asked her.
Katara looked at him briefly before turning her head the other way, "Fine, I guess."
"Still upset with me for earlier?"
"Yes, actually."
"Then get over it." He retorted as he stood to his feet. "We have a banquet tomorrow night."
"For your fake birthday?" Katara scoffed. "Do you just go around lying to everyone?"
"Are you seriously doing this?" Ozai narrowed his eyes at her.
"Yes! I am!" Katara sat up and yelled at him. "You literally do whatever you want! And treat people however you like without consequence! Do you know what that's like for the rest of us?! We make one wrong move and life punishes us and you just- I don't even know, you just do what you want and with impunity get your way! It's infuriating!"
Ozai scowled at her, "You sound like Zuko."
"Because maybe Zuko was right!" She screamed at him. "You don't even want to be a family with me! How is it you want to be with me?!"
"I told you earlier I don't want to hear anymore of this! Why won't you just shut up and be grateful for everything I do for you?! Why is it so fucking hard to get a 'thank you' out of you?! It's always more you want! For someone that's had nothing and was nothing you sure fucking ask a lot of me!" Ozai shouted back at her.
Katara stared wide-eyed at him. She clenched her teeth and bit back what she wanted to say back to him. When she took her eyes off him, the waterbender threw the covers off of herself and climbed out of bed.
"I'm going to go rest in the kids' chambers." Katara paced herself over to the door. "I don't want to look at you right now."
Letting her leave, Ozai simply watched her slowly make her way to the door. As much as he wanted to help her, she was only going to hit him or something. He'd let her struggle on her own since she wanted to be a pain in his side. Agni, he was going to need a drink to get through this day. It was just too shit a day to go on sober. His nerves were bad and if he didn't do something about it, someone might be dead by the end of this day.
….
Ozai sighed as he sat in his study reading, deciding that the story of two people from the same world trying to escape with each other was more interesting than living the reality of loving someone from a different world than him. If only Katara was more like him. If only she cared about the same things he cared about. Then they wouldn't argue over things like family and the kids and morality. They'd be a power couple...like they were before the kids came into the picture. Even before Katara recognized her feelings for him there was a level of friendship and respect between them. It was deeper than being husband and wife. They were Fire Lord and Lady. Their goals were each other's goals and that was winning. Striking down their enemies and winning. For their sake. For their people's sake. For…- the children.
Damn it. Even back then...Katara thought of the children. It was why she fought so hard in the end. Why they were overpowered in the end. She thought about the children and it cost him his head. She thought about the children and she was miserable. She thought about the children and she married Arnook. The only time he didn't suffer and she didn't is when they thought about themselves. But here she was, talking about having more children as if to side-track herself from their relationship.
Rubbing his brows, like hell I'm giving her more children! The number they had was fine. It was enough. The twins were teens and would grow up soon to be on with their own lives. He and Katara would be to themselves again. She would understand then. That they worked better without children wedging themselves into their relationship.
Finishing the book, Ozai tossed it. The story concluded that even those from the same background, could not reach an agreement. That love was somehow doomed from the start. But, despite his experiences in life, Ozai didn't want to believe that. He didn't want to believe that the love he had for Katara was doomed. Even though everything and everyone said it was. He loved the waterbender more than anything and the very thought that they were doomed it really was a painful thought to think. It made him angry and a bit volatile from the notion that Katara and him weren't meant to be. And if that was the course or the laws the universe had set up for them, Ozai would defy it. There was one thing he wanted more than her and he would gladly sacrifice everything if it meant Katara and him would never be apart again. If it meant that they would never bear grudges and resentment towards one another. If it meant she would choose him over any and everyone else. If it meant she would always love him like he always loved her. He knew he wasn't an easy man to love. He was fucked up inside and he found himself praying, which he never did, that Katara would not grow to hate that side of him again. He just wanted her to love him and only him.
"You think she will even love you more than the children?! Seriously?! I've warned you before, boy! That woman is nothing but trouble! Her and her entire kind!" His father's voice returned after so many years of not hearing it.
Hissing as he placed his hands over his ears, "Stop!" He growled.
"Stop?! You stop! You're becoming more and more pathetic each day! Look at you! You're moping over that ungrateful whore! After everything you've done! It's not enough!"
Ozai quickly looked through the draws of his desk looking for something to drown out the voice. The last time he listened to his father's voice he nearly ruined things between him and Katara. His father was a liar when he was alive and was still a liar in death. He had to drown his voice out.
There were a few buds of opium he had confiscated from a servant. He quickly stuffed them into his pipe to smoke and if this didn't get rid of his father's voice after smoking all of the buds, he was going to drink an entire bottle of hard whiskey too. He wasn't going to make his relationship with Katara worse. He wasn't going to hurt her. He refused.
….
Later that night, Hakoda and Sokka were having a drink with some of the concubines that would occasionally spend time with the members of court in the lounge. They were relaxing before they prepared to leave in the next few days. The South Pole was calling them and plus, they'd have to go pick up Toph and the kids before returning. So they'd need to leave Omashu soon. However; before they left, they did want to enjoy the finer things that they didn't have back home and the Phoenix King was a very generous host. And speaking of the devil.
The man they'd eventually be in-laws with again, waltzed into the room already piss poor drunk and his mask off of his face. The concubines all got up and screamed, running from the room. The members of court hurried to leave as well but a few council members that had already seen the Phoenix King's disfigurement remained to drink and lounge in the lounging quarters.
Hakoda got up to help the drunk man to one of the lounge pillows across from him. With Ozai's arm over his shoulder, he guided him and was suddenly frozen stiff when the drunk man pulled his face to his and kissed him on the cheek. Laughing loudly as Hakoda didn't move an inch as his eyes widened along with everyone else that saw that.
Drunkenly leaving the tribesman to his state of shock, Ozai stumbled his way over to the lounge pillows and flopped on top of them. Everyone eyed him as he purred and nuzzled his face to one of the plush pillows. Sokka was convinced he was more than drunk. Probably high off of some herbal drug or something.
When Hakoda was finally able to snap out of his shock, he went back over to where his son was nursing a glass of Earth Kingdom gin and eyed Ozai.
"Your majesty, are you alright?" One of the members of his council asked him as they approached him.
Ozai glanced up from the pillow he was on the verge of making out with, "I'm wonderful, Chiru. I'm absolutely wonderful." He said with a smile before rolling onto his back.
Chiru raised his brow and looked to the Water Tribe folk who shrugged.
"Do you need water?" Sokka asked him, raising his brow.
Ozai shook his head and sighed happily as he rolled on his side, making eye contact with Hakoda.
"Did I ever tell you how much of an attractive man you are, Hakoda?"
Literally every man in the room looked at the Phoenix King as if he had lost his mind and his senses.
"What in the sheer fuck?!" Sokka blurted out.
…..
"Was that a poker face I saw earlier?" Katara chuckled as she saw her daughter lay all aces down.
Kya grinned back at her mother as her brother stared in shock at her hand.
"Cheat!" Zhiar called her.
Rolling her eyes as her gaze shifted to her brother, "Just because I win doesn't make me a cheat."
Groaning in defeat, Zhiar went and rested his head in his mother's lap while eyeing Kya in a mocking fashion. His mother giggled as she patted his head telling him that his sister won fair and square.
Sitting up off his mother's lap, Zhiar shrugged his shoulders. "Well since we'll all be living together, I'll get plenty of chances to beat you."
Katara sat there and listened to her twins talk about what they would now be able to do since their family was getting back together. For the most part, all the things they listed were defeating the other in some competitive activity. She knew from her childhood that competing with your sibling was a natural thing. But for twins it must be even more prevalent in them.
"So, are you and dad going to get married sooner?" Zhiar asked.
Smiling, Katara nodded her head. Since she was no longer pregnant then they would be getting married soon now. Honestly, thinking back on her conversation with Ozai, she felt some of the things he said, he was right about. She was coming down too hard on him about certain things. Some of it was just who he was and she couldn't change that. She told him that she would accept him as he was and she did but...just a few hours ago it didn't seem that way.
Maybe she needed to go talk to him and sort things out. Ozai had been trying to go against habits and behaviors he's had his whole life. And honestly, he was a good man in his own way. She shouldn't push him so much.
Getting up from the low table, she wished the kids a goodnight and kissed both of them on their forehead. She needed to see Ozai and speak with him. She hadn't been completely fair to him and he was right, she had been ungrateful. At the end of the day, they had their differences and that's what made them whole. She wanted to fix this and not fight all the time. They had been through so much together and apart. And in this world where there were so many against them, there was no one but one another that had each other's backs. They shouldn't be fighting amongst each other. This is how they were separated all those years ago.
….
Finding opium rocks in the Phoenix King's robe pockets after Ozai stripped down to just his tunic and pants, Sokka could see why the man was completely out of his mind at the moment. It was more than alcohol. He was using a drug from the lower districts of the Earth Kingdom. The stuff they used to cope with the war and other problems they once faced. Sokka sighed and shook his head as he looked at the man hugging his father to him.
"He must have gotten it from one of the servants." Chiru said as they looked in the Southern Chieftain's hands.
Hakoda was stiff as Ozai held him to his chest and caressed his hair, completely undoing his hair tie. He even purred in his ear. What the absolute hell was going on here?
"Don't pretend you don't want me, Hakoda. I've seen the way you've looked at me." Ozai said as he lifted Hakoda's face to his while holding both sides of the man's face. "I won't tell anyone if you don't."
The council members and Sokka gaped at the Phoenix King as he kissed Hakoda on the mouth, trying to force the man under him.
"Whao! Your majesty! That man is not a wom-"
Breaking the kiss, Ozai looked venomously at Chiru. "Man, woman, what's the difference. I like them all the same. Besides, Hakoda here has expressed that he's attracted to me." Looking back down at Hakoda, who was in a state of utter shock along with everyone else, Ozai went back to kissing the man.
Hakoda tried getting him off but Ozai was a larger man than him and was overpowering with ease. Oh dear La, was this how his daughter felt under this giant? How the hell did she get a chance to breathe?
Sokka and a few others tried to pull Ozai off of Hakoda. He wouldn't budge and the situation was getting worse as Hakoda felt the man was getting hard against him.
"Help me! Please for the love of-"
"What?! You don't want me all of a sudden?!" Ozai broke away from him as he had become offended.
Scurrying from under the man, Hakoda backed away and put distance between them as his son and the council stood between them. He straightened himself out and looked at Ozai with a bit of renewed fear.
"You're my daughter's husband! I-I I can't do that with you! What the hell is going on with you?!" Hakoda shouted at him.
"Katara?" Ozai stroked his beard. "You're right. I should go see her."
The council, Sokka, and Hakoda quickly stopped him from going after the woman. Spirits only knew what he'd do to her in this state. He was one horny intoxicated bastard. They needed to get him somewhere out of sight and away from anyone he might set his eyes on. Maybe get him sobered up.
The group worked together to get the Phoenix King to a vacant room. There, Hakoda and Sokka somehow managed to get the man into the bathroom where they threw him in the shower and turned the cold water on him. Ozai thrashed about and they had to hold him down, getting soaked in the process. Chiru rushed to get a tonic from the palace physician while the tribesmen and the others of the council had to hold the Phoenix King down. He was having a fit.
"Ozai! Get a hold of yourself, man!" Hakoda said. "Why were you taking those drugs?! Did something happen?!"
Starting to calm down some, Ozai broke out sobbing and this was even more shocking to the rest of them. The man was a complete mess. He needed never to do drugs again. He literally wasn't handling this well.
As the man cried, the rest of them let go of him and backed away, staring at him having a meltdown in the shower. The council members, out of respect for their sovereign, left as they didn't want to have this image of the man in their minds. However; Hakoda and Sokka stayed with him as Chiru showed back up with a tonic from the physician.
Seeing the Phoenix King in an even worse state, Chiru asked if he should get Lady Katara. Hakoda and Sokka told him that she didn't need to see him like this. It wouldn't be good for either of them and Ozai still had his pride as a man. He wouldn't want her to see him like this. Chiru agreed and left the two men to look after the Phoenix King.
Sighing as Ozai fell asleep shortly after they had given him the tonic, Hakoda and Sokka sat down on the floor of the bathroom.
"This was a long night." Sokka yawned as he had grown tired.
"Yes it was. Just swear never to tell your sister about this." Hakoda said.
"Trust me, I'm trying to forget any of this even happened." Sokka replied as he folded his arms and shut his eyes.
Hakoda sighed and looked at Ozai, who was laying on the floor of the shower soak and wet. Whatever happened to the man tonight, he hoped that they all forgot about it.
…
Kikyo knew the Phoenix King's chambers were somewhere around here. She decided that she needed another 'lesson' in 'manners'. His majesty left a lasting impression on her earlier. Even with his tattered face he was still an attractive man. Not to mention his touch left a warmth in her that could not be ignored. She figured she'd have to do some convincing but she was prepared. The Phoenix King was still a man at the end of the day and loyalty to a wife was not something that would remain when in the presence of a seductress. And Kikyo knew that first hand with all her sisters' husbands.
Finding his corridors, Princess Kikyo smirked to herself and ran up to the massive doors. She cracked them open and slipped inside. As soon as she was in, the princess pushed the sleeves of her dress down off her shoulders and exposed a little more of her cleavage.
"Your majesty?" She called as she wandered around the massive chambers and enormous ceiling fixtures as curtains of reds and golds draped from them.
Twirling herself around as she found that the Phoenix King had good taste in decor, Kikyo's eyes landed on where the bedroom was. She smirked and swayed her way over to the cracked door, peeking her head in to get a glimpse.
In the middle of the room was a massive canopy bed draped in red curtains. Her eyes widened as she walked over to the bed and ran her hand over the silk sheets. They were so soft. Where did he even get silk like this?
"Is there a reason you're here in my chambers, princess?"
Kikyo turned around to see the Phoenix King stand in the doorway of his bathroom with only a towel around his waist. Her eyes widened as they traced over his sculpted torso and her breath caught in her throat when he approached her.
Grabbing her chin as his cold gaze brightened up a little, the Phoenix King smirked. "Looking for something, princess?"
Swallowing hard, Kikyo didn't know what to say. She had been with plenty of men but never any like him. He was a monster in every definition of the word except in appearances.
"I think I might have what you're looking for."
Kikyo saw his towel had fallen from his waist before he smashed his lips to hers and lifted her up onto his bed. Oh, I'm going to enjoy this. She smirked to herself.
…
Feeling a little better as she had figured she could end this dispute between her and Ozai, Katara made it to their chambers and entered. She knew he didn't want to have more children and that was fine. They had forever to have a bigger family. Maybe he just wanted to focus on what they already had. And she could do that. She could do that as long as she could do that with him at her side. La, she didn't want to fight anymore. Not with him.
Katara was walking up to their bedroom door when she paused at the sound of moaning. Her eyes widened as her hand reached to clench her chest. Was that a woman?!
"Oh! Your majesty! Your majesty! Ah!"
Is that that girl's voice?! Her eyes remained wide as she clenched her teeth tight as her heart raced in her chest. Katara didn't allow herself to stand there with the uncertainty and went to her bedroom door. She pushed the door open and gasped into her head as she stood paralyzed by the sight.
In the bed, in their bed, she saw Princess Kikyo naked with her legs wrapped around her husband while he thrusted into her. Katara felt all the blood in her drain as her eyes widened even more and she felt a darkness wash over her. Feeling both pain and numbness, the waterbender's teeth was bare as she growled. Her hands throbbed at her side, taking hold of the moisture in the air and they clenched into fists, Katara froze everything in the room. Including the two screwing around in her bed.
I'll take it from here! Katara's skin glimmered gold as the siren demanded control and in her moment of distress and fragility over this betrayal, she surrendered. Her heart was too broken for her to move forward. She needed the siren to avenge her. How dare Ozai do this to them!
Eyes glowing as the Siren took full form, her hair turning silver and her nails grew into claws. The siren saw that Ozai was thawing from the ice and she went up to him, clawed him in the back of his head trying to rip his head off but instead sent him flying into the wall.
"YOU BASTARD!" The siren punched him in the face and beat him senseless into the wall before he could even get the upper hand. "YOU BETRAY ME FOR A SLUT?!"
Taking his arm, the siren pulls him out of the wall and swings him into another wall. Her fist plants directly into his face, crushing his skull. She pulled her fist out as lightning traveled from her fist up her arm and then to the rest of her body, rendering her to her knees.
"You've got a lot of nerves, Katara." Ozai healed in record time and cracked his knuckles as he grinned dangerously at her.
Forcing herself to her feet despite the lightning circulating through her body, the siren lunged at him and swirl kicked him in the face. She broke his jaw as he fell down on his knees.
Forcing it back in place, Ozai lifted his gaze back to her and his eyes glowed red. "Don't make this harder than it has to be."
"THIS IS ALL YOUR DOING!" The siren screamed and redirected the lightning within her body back at him.
His eyes widened as he was struck, falling on his back and thrashing from the bolt of lightning.
"Next time be careful about striking me with lightning, you bastard! Redirection is a waterbending technique!" The Siren walked up to him and stood over him, planting her foot on his neck.
Narrowing her eyes down at him, the siren could see that his face must have healed back because she didn't see the scars and holes in his jaw. She furrowed her brows. This hurt. It hurt a lot. So much that even as her siren self it was overwhelming her. How could he do this to her?! HOW?!
"Your majesty!" the guards yelled as they entered after hearing the commotion.
The siren growled and raised her hand to them, bloodbending them all into the wall and freezing them there with water she summoned from thin air. As a siren she was much more capable of using the full extent of her power but it was purely destructive and fueled by her rage.
However; being blinded by her rage, the siren found herself being thrown to the ground and then a fist going into her gut.
"I told you not to make this hurt more." Ozai scoffed as he got up.
Propping herself up as she winced in pain from being slammed, the siren glared viciously at Ozai. The bastard cheated on her and now dared to fight her back. He just tore her heart out and threw it back in her face. Did he know the price that she paid to be with him?! The blows to her character! The filth that she let stain her name! She was a whore! The Fire Tyrant's whore! Ozai's whore! While he was able to climb to great heights despite his past and his faults, he alone was forgiven. And she was mercilessly hated because she chose to act on her feelings of love.
"Damn it, Ozai! Why?! Why did you do this to me?! I love you!"
Wiping the blood from his mouth as he smirked down at her, "I'm a king! I can do whatever I please! If I want another woman to keep my bed warm then I can have it!"
The siren gets back up to attack but Ozai grabs her by her throat and forces her into the wall, banging her head into it until she stops growling. She claws at his arms to get him to let her go as he starts to strangle her. There was still fire in her eyes and fight in her spirit. She would raise hell and throw him through the gates.
Still smirking, "You're a lot stronger than I previously believed and I'm willing to bet you can be even more devastating." Ozai's eyes roamed over her.
Squirming as she was losing her breath, the siren weakened and lost control. The glow of her skin and eyes returned to normal. Her silver hair darkening to its original hue. Katara was back to her senses but was far worse off in this state. She couldn't help but cry. How could this have happened? How could he betray her? She and him, they were supposed to be in this together. Partners for life. She would love him only and in return he would only love her. How could this- Swallowing hard before gasping, Katara stopped clawing at his arms as the fight drained from her. The fire, put out by the waterways of despair. She was in disbelief and wounded beyond repair. It felt like she was dying. Like her heart had slowed its beating before it stopped entirely for the rest of time.
As more guards filled the room, their metal armor clattering while their swords hissed against the leather of its sheathes, all she could hear was his breathing. The breath in his lungs as he gazed at her with indifference and amusement. She felt poison fill her gut and spill onto her tongue as she opened her mouth to speak.
"I'm done." She said as her hand slowly went from his wrists and raised up. "I'm done."
It was laced with a promise and a curse. A promise that she would never again have anything to do with him for as long as she and he remained on this earth. And a curse that he would regret making those words leave her mouth. Poison. Poison filled her body as he let go of her neck and threw her to the ground.
Katara stayed there on the ground as she listened to him order his guards on her. Demanding she be arrested. She didn't flinch or resist as the guards yanked her from where she had fallen on the ground and to her feet. On her feet, the waterbender saw the entourage of Princess Kikyo walk in with distraught looks on their faces. Her eyes followed theirs and to her surprise, the princess's body was lying frozen on the bed while her frozen head was on the floor by her feet.
"Princess!" They all screamed and cried in unison.
"This Water Tribe heathen barged in here while the princess and I were together and attacked us both!" Ozai pointed to Katara.
Feeling a whole new wave of betrayal, Katara gaped at him as if what he had done had not been enough, he pins murder on her. She literally choked on the poison that was now making its way out of her mouth. She couldn't even speak a word from how overrun she was with venom and hate. Tui and La, had her heart not felt so broken and her spirit not so destroyed by this, she'd find a way to kill him for good within seconds.
As if to add one last insult to injury, one last blow to be dealt by his jagged blade of betrayal, Ozai comes to stand in front of her and takes her by her jaw, lifting it so they could meet one another's gaze.
"You will know suffering like I did when I lost the war and when you do, maybe then you'll understand me a little better." He told her before pressing his lips to her one last time.
Her lips were still as his words had stunned her into a state of shock that she would not recover so easily from. The guards drug her off to the prison cells and as they did, her blue eyes remained on his as another tear fell.
All of this just to punish me for costing you the war…? You did all of this to- He was soon out of her line of vision and all Katara could see was the void that had taken the spot where her heart used to be. Ozai...
…
Startled awake by the banging on the bathroom door, Hakoda and Sokka both jumped up immediately, realizing that it was morning already. While Sokka went to splash some water on his face from the sink, his father went to answer the door and saw his grandchildren and the Northern Chieftain barge their way into the bathroom.
Sokka looked over to them as he dried his face off, "What's going on, guys?"
"Mom's been thrown into prison!" Zhiar yelled.
"She's being accused of killing Princess Kikyo." Kya told them.
"Ozai pinned it all on her!" Arnook spat.
Both Hakoda and Sokka exchanged looks before looking back at the three. The Northern Chieftain went on to explain last night's events and they were in utter disbelief.
"But how could Ozai do any of that?" Sokka furrowed his brows before gesturing over his shoulders. "He was with us all night, high off his ass and unconscious in the shower."
Arnook and the twins went over to see that Ozai was in fact unconscious in the shower. He looked a mess and Arnook asked what happened to him. They gave a brief summary of the events that took place last night. Both specifically leaving out the homosexual behaviors of the man. Many members of the council could vouch that the Phoenix King was nowhere near his chambers last night. Even the physician was asked to make a tonic for him because of the side effects that Ozai endured from the drugs and alcohol he had taken.
Now with two different stories of what took place last night involving Ozai, they were all left wondering. What the hell was going on around here? They eventually woke Ozai up with a bucket of water over him. He barely stirred and it took Hakoda slapping him a few times to get him to come back to his senses.
Gasping as he woke in a starle, Ozai gaped up at Hakoda, who was literally sitting on him.
"Finally." Hakoda sighed in relief.
Ozai raised his brow after examining their current position.
"Hey, you weren't complaining all that much last night." Hakoda scoffed as he climbed off of the man. "We need to discuss something."
Using the walls of the shower to balance himself as he got up, Ozai winced as his head was throbbing. Why the hell was he in the shower? What the fuck was Hakoda talking about? Once he was on his feet, Sokka told him everything and he was just as confused as the rest of them.
WHAT THE HELL?!
….
Something was up. Something was definitely up and fortunately, Ozai wasn't the only one that believed so. There were witnesses that knew where he had actually been last night. And could attest that he had not been present for the shit show that became of his bed chambers.
The Phoenix King stormed through the halls with his children and in-laws following behind him. They all wanted to know what was going on. And as they gained close in on the wing of the palace where the royal family resided, they all saw the emassory from Bei Seng Sei approaching them.
"Phoenix King Ozai, we demand that you have water bitch executed for murdering Princess Kikyo!" An emassory shouted.
Ozai paid them no mind as he shoved all of them out of his way. He had to first see Katara and ask her what had really happened last night. Something was terribly wrong here and he wanted to get to the bottom of it before he went to war with some bastards from Bei Seng Sei for calling his wife a water bitch.
When they showed up at the cell where the guards had said they had locked Katara up, the group saw Katara was beat up and bruised, curled up in the corner. She was trembling from the cold draft that circulated through the dungeon cell. Wearing nothing but a tattered white prison gown.
The keys jingled in his hands as he gathered the ring of keys off his side and alerted the waterbender. She looked over her shoulder and they all saw her eyes widen as she used the wall to help her up.
"Ozai!" She said through her clenched teeth, limping over to him as her eyes began to glow.
"Yes, dear, I'm trying to find which key is yours so we can talk things out." Ozai said as he was too busy to see the state Katara was in.
Everyone else backed up as they could tell from the look in Katara's eyes that she was about to go off.
Just as Ozai unlocked the cell door, Katara ran up and pushed the door open, jumping on the man as she began punching him in his face.
"Kat-"
"YOU FUCKING BASTARD! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" Katara screamed as she drove him to the ground and straddled his chest, trying to beat the hell out of him.
Ozai easily blocked her attacks while trying to talk some sense into her, "Woman! If you don't calm down!"
"Katara! Stop this!" Hakoda said as he grabbed his daughter from behind and pulled her off of her husband she was trying to kill.
"He cheated on me! And then pinned that whore's murder on me!" Katara shouted as she fought her father's restraint. "All because he's holding a grudge against me for losing the war!"
Sokka quickly told his sister that Ozai was with him and their father last night to which their father also confirmed. However; Katara was unconvinced. She didn't believe it. She saw Ozai as clear as day last night.
"I looked him dead in his eyes when I asked him why. His response was that he was king and could do whatever he pleases."
Getting up, Ozai fixed the mask on his face as he eyed Katara, "You know me, Katara, I would never say that to you!"
"Don't try to lie! I don't know what you did to get my father and brother to go along with all this shit but I know better! You betrayed me!"
"I did not!"
"You did!" Katara cried as she growled. "I saw you fucking that stupid princess whore and blame me for murdering her! I probably should have killed that little bitch because at least, I deserve the beating you told your guards to give me!"
Ozai could only stare at Katara in confusion. He really didn't know what the hell was going on here but none of this was making sense. Why would he do any of that to her? Because of that dumb loss at the end of the war? Things were better with him as Phoenix King than they ever were for him as Fire Lord, why would he hold a grudge over something that stupid? And why would Katara believe this nonsense? She was supposed to believe him and trust him! How could she say she even think for a second he would be so dumb as the betray her?
"Kat-"
"Enough! I'm done with you, Ozai! And I never want to see you again from this day forward!" She tried not to break down from her own declaration. "I'm going back with Arnook to the North and I'll face whatever punishment that is thrown at me there but I want you to know this is all your fault!"
Ozai glared at her as he walked up to her, looming over her with his own sense of betrayal in his heart. "You're supposed to know me better than anyone else in this world and yet, you believe I'd ever hurt you."
"You did!" She hissed up at him.
"Then you lied." Ozai pushed past her. "You don't know me. You never did."
"You're probably right. I never saw you doing this to me." Katara squeezes her eyes shut.
And with that, everyone watched the Phoenix King leave.
…
Later that same day, Ozai stood on his balcony as both his children came to see him. He had an empty glass in his hands as he gazed out at the setting sun over the city he inhabited. There was supposed to be a banquet this evening celebrating his birthday which was absolutely not his birthday. Katara was right and figured it out. He was born during the winter solstice. A firebender born in the winter was a curse. Hence, why everyone looked at him like he carried the plague when he was young. Everyone continued to treat him that way as he grew older but by then, he gave them all his own set of reasons to beware of him. Only person that treated him like a human being was Katara and yet she was saying he did something so heinous to her. He would never. But then there were witnesses, guards, servants, the emassories from Bei Seng Sei, claiming that was what took place. That they saw him last night. Even though his council and Katara's brother and father knew otherwise. It was obvious that this was not some coincidence. This was a setup. The only argument was who saw the real Phoenix King last night.
"Dad," Zhiar started. "What are we going to do?"
Ozai looked over his shoulder to see his twins coming to him with questions about what happened next. He turned around, partially drunk, and eyed them both.
"I'm in no position to raise you both myself. I'm a failure of a father but you two already know that much." he sighed while explaining to them that Zuko was their best option of having a decent life until their mother was done serving her sentence.
Neither of them liked that answer and looked at one another before turning back to their father.
"I'll go to the Fire Nation with Zuko."
"And I'm staying here." Kya said as she folded her arms, daring her father to say otherwise.
Sighing as he cast his gaze low, "Alright, fine. Just don't give your brother a hard time, Zhiar. He has a son of his own to raise."
Zhiar nodded.
"And you don't plan on giving me a hard time do you?" Ozai looked at his daughter.
Nodding her head, "Have I ever?"
Sometimes but Ozai could manage Kya. She was the least troublesome of all her siblings and he didn't have to worry about her making him worry too much either. She was very self-sufficient and could hold her own.
"What are we going to do about mom?" Zhiar asked, hoping his father had some sort of answer.
But Ozai really didn't know what he was going to do with their mother. Katara absolutely hated his guts. He could see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice. She wasn't the type of person to lie about her feelings and whatever happened to her that night, someone had caused this rift between them, Ozai didn't know who was responsible but one of these days, he'd make them pay.
….
Arnook was watching his men take Katara to their carriage while he waited on the staircase. He was as surprised as Katara that Ozai would do something like this. To be honest, he had come to believe the man truly loved Katara as he constantly went out of his way to get her to be his. So this betrayal of his was truly unexpected.
The North Chieftain wore a firm and stern expression as he watched his Southern tribesmen walk past him with scornful gazes. Of course, they weren't happy about Katara being taken to the North to serve a prison sentence but they knew the law of the tribe. A woman could not simply walk out on her husband or go behind his back and lay with another man and Katara had done both of these things. They were lucky he was giving her the minimum sentence. He could have given her fifteen years since she publicly humiliated him by eloping with Ozai. He knew Katara was bold but never thought she would be this bold. Unfortunately for her, Karma was equally as bold.
About to head to his carriage, Arnook felt a hand come down on his shoulders and saw Shin.
"The master expects you to remember what your duties are. Personal, feelings aside, Katara is not beaten to the point she is of no use to us." Shin grinned slightly, "Though, that is not to say that she can't be punished. Every bad girl needs a spanking."
Eyeing the man, "Isn't she your niece?"
Shrugging, "Doesn't matter. Katara and I have a history."
"You aren't planning to stay under Ozai, are you?" Arnook asked. "I do believe he's found you out."
Rolling his eyes, "My cousin has known for some time that I'm not loyal to him. At this point, he's only keeping me around in the hopes to give him information. However; the master wants me to work on something in Bei Seng Sei. I guess you could say I got demoted."
Scoffing as he started making his way down the steps, "Wise decision."
…..
A/N:
The next chapters have already been 9-12 chapters have already been written and I'm currently proofreading them so in the next week you should be getting a few more chapters. Thank you for reading and I'll try to have multiple chapters published since it's hard to update frequently.