A/N:
Part three of Katara's arc. We have one more chapter after this for Katara's arc and then we dive into Zuko/Zhiar's arc next week! Thanks for reading!
Chapter 35 ¾ :
Dinner was ready and everyone was seated at the table comfortably. Seemed everyone wanted to sit beside Katara. Somehow, Ryu and Kya beat everyone else to it. She giggled the whole time as her youngest son and oldest daughter clung to her arm smiling. As they ain't, they all talked about Zhiar and Jin Su's wedding plans.
Seemed the two wanted to get married shortly after their child was born so that Jin Su could fit her mother's dress. Plus, Zuko said that the sages recommended that they marry in the fall season for blessings. Everyone seemed excited about this except for one person in particular.
"You're too young to marry." Ozai said as he hadn't touched any of the food and only drank. "Not to mention, that girl isn't carrying your child."
"Dad!" Kya hissed in offense for her brother.
"Excuse me, sir?" Jin Su raised a brow at him as everyone else scowled.
Scoffing as he snarled at the girl, "Oh, don't give me that 'sir' shit, you whore. You think I don't know."
"Back off, Ozai!" Zuko stood up at the table.
Standing up as well, "Don't call my wife a whore!" Zhiar snarled.
Ozai chuckled at them both before glancing at Katara, "Correct me if I'm wrong, Katara, but what was it the physicians told us when the twins were born."
Katara looked down at her lap and shook her head, "Don't, Ozai. Just leave the kids alone."
"So, I'm supposed to sit here and play pretend like you, huh? Is that what you want me to do, Katara?"
"No." Her gaze lifted to him and it sharpened. "I want you to shut the hell up and stop trying to ruin every damn thing because you're a miserable piece of shit that has nothing better to do! Leave them alone!"
Rolling his eyes as he looked back to Zhiar, "Look, son, you and your sister are sterile. The physicians informed us of that when you two were born. You have no reproductive cells. It's impossible for you to impregnate anyone. Blame your mother and I for cross breeding."
"Bastard! You lie!"
"Am I?" Ozai looked to his ex-wife.
Katara snarled as she stood up, "Fuck you, Ozai. Everything is just a game to you. Eat shit and die!" She excused herself from the table.
Katara's reaction caused everyone to suddenly believe Ozai. Zhiar's eyes widened as he looked down at Jin Su.
"Is it true, Jin Su"
Shamefully bowing her head, "I'm sorry, Zhiar, but…-"
"You bitch!" Zhiar raised his hand at her but Zuko caught his wrist to stop him as she flinched.
Zuko told him to stop as Sokka and Aang went to help him hold Zhiar back when he tried resisting. Angrily shouting at Jin Su as three others had to hold him back, Zhiar felt deeply betrayed.
"Why?! Why did you do this to me?! Why?! I loved you!" He screamed at her.
Kya had enough and went up to Zhiar to apologize in advance as she pressed her hand to his forehead and induced sleep. When he collapsed in Zuko's arms, Kya turned to Jin Su.
"Please, for my brother's sake and your own, leave."
Jin Su nodded and hurried to get up. Zuko ordered the servants to find an escort for the young noblewoman back to her home.
As things died down and Zuko had Zhiar taken to his chambers to rest, Kya dealt with her young brother, hoping to cheer him up from all the yelling the adults were doing. Katara was in her room where her brother and Aang checked on her. She told them she didn't want to say anything to Zhiar because she knew how well he was doing and wanted him to be happy. Plus, there was no telling what could have happened with Jin Su, so she was planning to confront Jin Su alone sooner or later. They understood and told her to not feel bad as it was right to not make a spectacle out of her son's cheating girlfriend.
Once she was back to being alone, Katara sighed and dressed down in her nightgown and robe. She really did miss the silk of the Fire Nation and the warm climate. Hopefully, when Lao and his people came to take her, they'd bring her somewhere warm like here.
Toying with the pendant of the necklace Lao gave her, Katara was curious as to what they wanted with her. Something important likely. So much so they gave her this. Does it even work?
"You look awful these days. What are they doing to you up there? Starving you?" Katara heard the laughter and clenched her fist as she turned around.
Willing herself to not become angry as she had been doing so well not to, "It's late, Ozai. Please, leave my room."
Smirking as he leaned in the threshold of her door, "I can't sleep and I wanted to talk to you."
Folding her arms, "Ozai, whatever you have to say to me, could have been said years ago. I have no time or patience to hear what you have to say. Especially after dinner. I meant what I said, Ozai. Fuck you." She said in an impassive tone as she eyed him with not a single fuck given.
Stepping out of her doorway, Ozai walked into her bedroom and shut the door. "I really do like it when you're angry with me. It turns me on."
Katara eyed him coldly as he was upon her and reached to touch her, she slapped his hand away.
"Don't be like that, Katara." He chuckled. "I know you're not getting around too much looking like that up north. I'll do you a favor for old times sake. Why don't you just bend over that chair over there and I'll just give you what you need. You seem a little tense these days."
Sucking her teeth as she looked at him in disgust. He was so arrogant to think she wanted anything to do with him in that way. She hated his guts. He was such an asshole. To everyone. Her, their children, and everyone. A part of her had hoped when she saw him again that she would get answers to why he did what he did but now, she didn't even want to know. Because regardless of what those reasons might be, Ozai was still Ozai. No one mattered to him. That's why he didn't even have the decency to end things on a less hostile note between them. He went and made a fool of her. She literally hated herself for being so fucking dumb. Falling for his tricks. He seemed so sincere and devoted and loving and she was going to leave everything for him. Sabotage herself even more to be with him. It was taking everything in her not to attack him.
Backing away from him, Katara sat down and crossed her legs, looking away from him. "I don't want you near me, Ozai. I don't like you. You disgust me. And I pray to your gods and mines that you suffer in this immortal life more than you have made anyone else suffer."
"Now you're just being hurtful, waterbender."
"If you could die, I would tell you to go suck your father's dick in hell."
And that's when she lost him. Swiftly, Katara found his hand was around her throat as he forced her out her chair and had her thrown up against the wall. "Watch your mouth!" Ozai growled.
Gasping as she clawed his hands, "Or what?! You're gonna do what?!"
Ozai's eyes were red as he looked over her with rage, "Keep talking and I'll shove something up your ass, waterbender!"
Katara smirked, "Bet you'd like it better up yours." She laughed as he pulled her away from the wall just to slam her back into it causing her to gasp.
"I mean it, Katara! Shut up!" He growled animalistically.
Amused, "Or what, daddy's boy?"
"STOP IT!"
"You might not have deserved what he did to you then but after what you've done in your life, I wish he were still alive to fuck you-"
Forcing his lips on hers, Katara's eyes widened as she soon after, bit the shit out of his lip before lifting her foot to kick him repeatedly in the groin. Dropping her as he fell on his knees cringing, the waterbender then kneed him in the head and then spit on him.
Wiping the blood from her mouth, Katara glared at him. "Get the fuck out of my room, Ozai! Not everyone wants to sleep with you! Fucking La! Gods damn narcissist!"
Hearing the commotion, Zuko shows up and sees Katara in her night clothes and his father on the floor in pain. He didn't have to think too hard to know what happened here. Stepping over his father, he grabbed Katara and pulled her out of the room. Zuko brought her to his room, shut and locked the door.
"Is he harassing you?" Zuko asked her in a very serious tone.
Fixing her night robe, Katara sighed. "He's teasing me. Says I look a mess and he would do me a favor if I bent over."
Furrowing his brows as he could tell earlier, Katara was already self-conscious of her looks and for his father to make fun of her, he knew that was the last thing she wanted to hear from him of all people.
"You okay, tar-" he tried to reach to hug her but she pulled away and held her hand to her mouth.
"Can I sleep here tonight? I don't want to have to deal with him by myself again."
"Of course." Zuko told her, letting her have the bed while he took the lounge chair.
Having got a good night's sleep, the waterbender yawned and wiggled around the sheets as she opened her eyes to see the sunlight piercing through the curtains. She slowly sat up in bed and saw Zuko was still asleep. Grinning, Katara walked over to where Zuko laid asleep and climbed on top of him. Straddling his legs as she leaned down to rest her head on his chest. La, she loved how he smelled. He always smelled the same. Even as teenagers.
"Is this how you greet me?" Zuko murmured in his draggy morning voice.
Smiling as she traced her fingers along his shoulder blade where there was the second scar his father gave him, Katara nodded.
Zuko placed his arms around her as he shifted to sit up, the waterbender still laying against him. "How did you sleep?" he asked while running his hand up and down her back.
"Better than I had in years." Katara raised herself up to meet him at eye level. He still looked tired to her but he was able to smile back at her. "I'll admit, I want to spend time with the kids but I kind of need some time to myself before I can really be myself around them. This is the first time in a long time that I've been free."
Reaching his hand to caress the side of her face, Zuko nodded. "I understand. Do you need me to-"
"Stay." She hated how vulnerable she sounded just now. "I need you a lot right now, Zuko. I always end up needing you. I'm sorry."
Moving to kiss her forehead, Katara stops him and moves up to kiss his lips. He is at first shocked and then seems to respond. The two got carried away and by the time Zuko realized what they were doing was wrong, they were already in the act.
"Katara, no, stop." He told her as he tries to get a hold of himself as she sits up as well. He closes his eyes and pinches his brows as she looks at him with a slightly hurt expression. "You said it yourself, we never work out. Let's not hurt ourselves. We've been through a lot."
Reopening his eyes to see her hanging her head as she got up she where they were once laying and apologized.
"I know you're lonely right now, Katara, but trust me, it's much better than getting your heart broken. I've been there. Twice." Zuko told her as he held back his hurt. "I'm sorry, I just can't do that to myself again and you shouldn't either."
Sniffling as she nodded, "Yeah, sorry. I got caught up in the moment. I'm going to go shower and go for a walk into town. Find something sweet to cheer myself up with." She climbed off of him quickly and pulled her nightgown down as Zuko pulled his pants back up.
Zuko didn't reply back as she went to the bathroom and slammed the door behind herself. She got herself in the shower and turned the water down to the coolest temp before letting herself into the shower.
When she finished her showering, the waterbender exited out the bathroom to see Zuko pacing back and forth. She averted her eyes and walked to the door of his bedroom to exit the room, she would get dressed in her room. As she tied her wet hair up, not bothering to dry it, Katara put on some simple clothes. Nothing flashy. And then a cloak. She slipped out of the beach-house undetected.
Katara wore her hood over her head and strolled around town. She looked around and saw people just happily going about the day. It was a nice day so of course people would be happy. And maybe with the war over, that's how everyone should be. Happy. But she found herself anything but happy after the war ended. If anything, she felt more miserable than she had ever felt in her life.
You're being followed again. So. I don't care. Could be a threat. Trust me, he's no threat. Katara had pretended she didn't know she was being followed. She didn't want to be bothered at the moment. Especially not by him. He just wanted to annoy her. Drive her closer and closer to insanity. Couldn't he see whatever game he had played with her that he had won. It set a fuse off in her brewing gut of hate and anger. She tried not to stop and react. Tried not to take off running. But his presence was felt as he stalked very close behind her and it was becoming harder and harder for her to just ignor-
"Try our candy coated fruit!" A street cart man stuck out a stick of fruit coated in candy as he had advertised. It caught Katara off guard as she stared wide-eyed at it.
Awkwardly looking to the vendor, the waterbender took the stick and reached for her coin purse when a hand stopped her. It was followed by a voice asking for a second as a few coins were tossed into the vendor's jar. A 'thank you' and a 'you're welcome' exchanged. She was then tugged along before she could turn and walk in the other direction.
Taken to a more secluded alleyway, Katara yanked her arm away and turned to leave.
"Katara, st-"
"No, Ozai! Back off, okay?!" She hissed at him as she pointed her finger at him. "You've done enough, don't you think, hmmm?! You've hurt me enough! And I'm tired and I'm trying to heal! Leave me alone! Please! Whatever you planned or didn't plan, I don't know, if this was what you wanted or not but I suffered and I'm still suffering, leave me alone so I can get better! Please! Just leave me alone!"
Katara summoned water from thin air and formed a portal in midair, walking through it before Ozai could reach her.
Katara was on a straight path to her room when she was grabbed again in front of everyone. Looking over her shoulder with a stark and cold gaze, her blue eyes scolded the man stopping her from escaping him. Everyone stood up as if to intervene but the waterbender motioned her hand for them to back down, she had this.
Yanking her arm back, "What do you not understand about 'leave me alone'? What are you, a halfwit now?" she spat.
Ozai narrowed his eyes, "I said I wanted to talk to you and you won't even spare a few seconds."
"And why the FUCK would I?! You cheated on me and then pinned a murder on me! I'm not sparing you shit! Fuck you!" Katara cursed him.
"I told you that that wasn't me! Even your father and brother-"
Katara cut him off as she got in his face and pointed her finger at him, "Let's say you're telling me the truth, what makes you think I still want to talk to you?! Stalking me and offering to fuck me as a favor for looking ugly is not going to make me want to talk to you! So save your bullshit for someone else! I don't want to hear anything else you have to say! Go get lost in some whore's cunt, you fucking waste!"
The waterbender turned around to leave. She didn't want to waste her time talking with Ozai or having to explain herself. Regardless, he should at least understand she was deeply wounded by what happened years ago. And he should sense that his very presence made her feel homicidal.
…..
A little while later, Kya and Zhiar came to check on her. She was curled up against a pillow with a glass of wine in her hand. She was trying to cope with seeing their father again. He had hurt her terribly whether he had done what she accused him of or not. Their father was still guilty of many other things on top of that.
Coming to sit by her mom, Kya took the wine glass and set it away from her. Zhiar ran his hand over his mother's back and then curled up around her.
"It's okay, mom." He told her as he looked her in the eyes.
Shaking her head, "It's not okay! Your father just thinks he can do whatever he wants and never get punished for it! He shouldn't have said those things to you about Jin Su."
Zhiar pulled his mother to his chest and sighed, "I wish it was you that told me, mom. But it's okay. I'll be fine. Zuko always said he didn't like her." he chuckled.
Kya scoffed as she folded her arms, "I bet I know who she cheated on you with."
"Who?" Zhiar looked up at his sister as he held his mother.
"Who else?" Kya rolled her eyes.
Furrowing his brows, "I'm not you and Zuko. I wouldn't let dad fuck up my relationship."
Katara looked up between the two of her children, "What?"
Sitting up with his mother, Zhiar explained how their father had bribed Kya's boyfriend to prove a point. Supposedly, their father didn't want them dating or seeing one out of their social class or outside of their race. Kya's boyfriend was a palace servant and Earth Kingdom. He had tried first to set Kya up with a nobleman from the Fire Nation. It didn't work out but Kya found solace in a servant. Long story short, Kya was caught with the servant and their father punished Kya by removing her position at court. A few days later, she overheard their father offering him money to leave and never see her again.
"I've hated him ever since." Kya informed her mother as she stared scornfully at the wall.
"The worst part is, Kya went looking for him and he was gone before the next day." Zhiar shook his head. "I swear, if that were me, I'd probably go back to hating dad."
"You mean, you don't hate him now?" Kya raised her brow.
"Honestly, I just pity him. He's not worth the energy to hate. Just some old miserable man." Zhiar shrugged.
Katara had to say she was very surprised and pleased to see how mature Zhiar was being. Even though last night she had gotten a glimpse of his more temperamental side which she understood. Zhiar had really become mature. Perhaps being around Zuko helped. If anyone understood teenage hormones and being angry all the time, it was Zuko.
Starting to smile as she cheered up, Katara watched her twins talk about their father with different opinions on how to approach him on certain matters. She liked how they talked to one another. Like they were friends. La, she needed friends of her own again. Other than Zuko, she was quite lonely and she really missed having a female companion. Last time she had one it was Suki and Kimiko. Suki always judged her but at least she was there and could be helpful. Kimiko was always getting ahead of herself and meddling, but she was comforting and understanding.
"Hey, you morons wanna play beach volleyball?!" Sokka yelled into their mother's room.
The twins stood up gleefully.
"Oh, I'm going to destroy you, Uncle Sokka!" Kya jumped up and ran over to him.
Zhiar looked to his mother, "Are you going to come play with us?"
Shaking her head, "No but I'll watch." Katara smiled up at him.
Zhiar sighed and went to kiss his mother's forehead.
Outside, Katara laid down a towel on the sand and picked a nice spot to watch the game. Seemed Sokka and Zhiar teamed up against Aang and Kya. She thought it was hilarious how seriously they were all being and yet none of them were playing very well. Snickering into her fist as she sat back on her beach towel in her yukata and swimsuit. Her hair cascading around her. She continued watching even as a tall shadow came looming over her and the vacant spot beside her became occupied. A pink ice cream cone was presented in front of her field of vision and her eyes followed the hand offering it to her.
Taking the ice cream cone, Katara smiled as she licked the top of it and looked to Zuko. "Is this to break the ice?"
"Yes." He said awkwardly as he ate his ice cream cone while watching the beach game. "I didn't mean to say what I had to you. I know its a sensitive topic and I did kiss you yesterday though you told me not to. I guess, I was just trying to be considerate of your feelings and I know you were vulnerable this morning. I didn't want to take advantage."
Licking up the sides of her ice cream cone, "So it can't just be that I wanted to kiss you?"
"Sure, you wanted to but I mean, you know me, Tara. I haven't even been on a proper date since it was just you and me." Zuko groaned as he watched his ice cream melt.
"Why is that?"
"You know why!" Zuko accidentally threw his ice cream up in the air and it came landing back down on his head.
Five minutes later they were in the bathroom trying to wash the ice cream from his hair. It was quite sticky and Katara had to use a few bath elixirs like shampoo to clean it from his hair. She had Zuko stick his head in the shower and crouch down so she could scrub it for him.
"I think you should give yourself a chance, Zuko. Find someone nice and settle down with them. You deserve to be happy." Katara said as she scrubbed his hair.
"I don't know, Tara." He sounded like his old gloomy self. "You know how you let Arnook and everyone treat you any kind of way because you think you deserve it?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I feel like I deserve to be alone or rather, I need to." Zuko leaned his head away from her and let the water pour down on his face from the shower as Katara looked at him with a lamentful gaze. "I have Ryu and I don't really need an heir. I don't need a wife or anything. I just need to keep working hard and doing my best at everything that comes my way. I just...I just feel very alone. And maybe...right now...I think I need that. Until I get better."
Katara sighed and got in the shower with him, scooting him over so she could sit under the water falling over their heads. She took his hand and squeezed it tight before bringing it to her lips.
"We've gotta stop feeling sorry for ourselves." Katara said. "This is how things are and if we want different, better, well...I guess we have to do something about that."
Zuko looked to Katara and reached to cup her face, he leaned towards her.
"Zuk-"
"I'm not looking for you to be in a relationship or anything but it's pretty obvious we're both in the same boat here." He moved on to kiss her lips as he held her face. "And I think we both need this."
Next thing Katara knew she was taking off Zuko's clothes as he tore her swimsuit clean off. He picked her up and pressed her into the wall, kissing her hungrily as he held her up. Her arms were wrapped around his neck as he, then, pushed himself into her. A loud moan slipped from her lips as Zuko went for her neck and got her by her spot. Her nails clawed his back as the water rained over them. Zuko was so freaking hot. Literally, his touch was burning her up and she couldn't get enough.
Eventually, the two made their way to the bedroom and Zuko took the waterbender from behind, practically laying on her as he thrusted into her. He nipped at her ear causing her to clench the sheets.
"Harder, Zuko!" She moaned.
Zuko flipped her over, wanting to see her face, and pinned her wrists above her head as he gave her what she wanted. Thrusting deep into her.
"Fuck!"
Smirking, "You asked for it." he told her before kissing her lips.
The two continued at it until the door was slap shut.
"EWW! Zuko and Katara are banging!" Sokka yelled for everyone to hear.
"Gross guys!" Aang said after him.
The two laughed in embarrassment of being caught.
"You were being loud." Zuko whispered to her as he held himself over her.
Giggling, "I can't help it."
"I'm that good?" He raised his brow smugly.
Playfully hitting him, "Shut up, Zuko. It's been a while for me."
"Same." He grinned before kissing her again and thrusted back into her, this time going much slower.
Holding him tight to her, Katara moaned against his shoulder to keep down the volume since everyone now knew what they were doing. Seemed neither of them cared and at this point, it would be silly of them to care.
…..
Brushing the tangles from her hair, the waterbender saw Zuko eyeing her in the mirror as he was also fixing his hair.
"What?" she couldn't help but crack a smile.
Glancing down, "Are you and Arno-"
"No! Not since-"
"It's fine. I was just curious as to why he made you a concubine." Zuko explained.
"I guess he felt guilty. They took Mailan from me and I'm well despised around there." Katara sighed. "Making me a concubine would make things a little better for me but only slightly. At least, I can hide in my chambers all day. Be a ghost."
As much as she wanted to tell Zuko, she remembered Lao's words. This 'master' person sounded like he knew everything under the sun and the light of fire. Which means she couldn't tell him anything. Or not now at least. Perhaps, when the sun was down maybe it would be safe to tell him but even then...she didn't know if it was safer under the moonlight. Who knew what Lao and his people were capable of.
Zuko helped her pin her hair up in a topknot after she asked. He chuckled when she told him he should think about being her hairdresser when he decides to retire from being Fire Lord. Seemed Zuko didn't know if he would ever retire.
"Don't you want to be relieved of the burden?" Katara asked him as he was still fixing her hair up. "You're not like your father. You don't enjoy being in power. There's no freedom for you and I miss seeing you carefree."
Katara saw him smile at her in the mirror, "If our son decides he wants to be Fire Lord then I will raise him to be my successor and once he's ready, I'll retire."
"You're not going to just make him?" She asked curiously.
Shutting his eyes as he breathed out slowly, "When my father was detained at the end of the war and you were in the middle of a meltdown, I asked my uncle to be Fire Lord. He refused when I begged him. I didn't want to be Fire Lord despite being taught that that was my place. I had already seen too much of the world and I caught a rush for traveling. Now, I feel caged in my own home. I don't want to do that to Ryu. Sure, he's my heir but we don't get to die with our friends, Katara. We have to live longer than the normal person and I can be Fire Lord for generations as long as the people don't revolt." He laughed at the end.
But Katara hated that Zuko felt pained by his position as Fire Lord. He was very different from his father. He always had been.
"Ryu isn't the only eligible successor." Katara pointed out.
"You mean Zhiar? Yes, well that was brought to my attention back when you and the twins stayed with me. The sages informed me that anyone from the Yong dynasty was eligible so long as they were a firebender and a master firebender at that." Zuko said.
Listening to Zuko explain that he was sort of already grooming Zhiar for the position as he had shown interest in playing a part at court. Katara was pleased to hear that Zhiar was taking part in being an asset to his brother and the Fire Nation as a whole. However; Zuko still worried about Zhiar being Fire Lord as Zhiar displayed certain traits that reminded him of their father. He had his moments that led him to question if his younger brother would be morally sound as Fire Lord.
"So you're just going to snitch to my mom about what I do?" Zhiar was standing in the doorway with his arms crossed as he looked at both her and Zuko. Katara could see as clear as day that Zhiar looked bothered.
Just finishing Katara's hair, Zuko looked up in the mirror with no concern at all for Zhiar's obvious attitude.
"I wish someone were able to tell my mother how well I turned out." Zuko said in a clam tone.
Scoffing as he let his arms down and walked in, slamming the door behind him. "Maybe I should tell her but not before I fuck her!"
"Zhiar!" Katara called out to her son for him to stop.
Zhiar turned his eyes to his mother and furrowed his brows, "So dad does you dirty and you go fuck Arnook and Zuko all over again?! What are you?! Some whore?!"
Zuko grabbed Zhiar by his collar and through him up against the wall. "Watch how you talk to your mother!"
Katara watched as Zhiar had wanted to say something but managed to calm down as Zuko kept him held against the wall. Her son's eyes then looked at her as he shook his head in disapproval.
"Zuko's my brother." Zhiar said and then looked to his brother, "She's my mother. I don't care if y'all had history or whatever before dad. We're all family now! You two shouldn't be hooking up. It's sick! She's basically your step-mother, Zuko."
Furrowing his brows, "Zhiar, it's not your place to tell us what we can and can't do. We're the adults here." Zuko said sternly.
Katara agreed immediately. She wasn't like their father, who wanted to dictate who they were involved with, so she expected them to be the same. Besides, she and Zuko had been together after their father and her separated the first time. How did they think Ryu happened? While she did understand that with her children and Zuko becoming closer, Zhiar had to understand that she was going to be with someone whether he approved or not. He needed not to meddle.
"I just don't get it but fine. Whatever. I just don't want to hear from either of you that your feelings got hurt because of whatever. You did it to yourselves."
When Zhiar stormed out, Zuko turned to Katara to see if she was upset but from what he could see she looked unbothered. And she was. She respected her children's opinion but that was an unnecessary one. She was in her late thirties despite her not looking a day over twenty. She didn't answer to anyone when it came to who she was seeing as she was a free woman. Not to Arnook, not Ozai, and not to her children. The only person or persons that deserved an explanation were those she was involved with. Simple.
As Zuko wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the side of her cheek, Katara stared at him in the mirror. "Is it bad that some things that used to bother me, I no longer care about?"
Smirking, "Like what?"
"What people think of me." She said as her gaze dropped. "There was a guard that looked after me when I was in prison. I was afraid he would be bullied by the other guards because he was friendly with me but he told me they didn't like him anyway, so he didn't try to please people that never cared for him. I want to be like that."
Zuko held her tighter, "Then no, I don't think it's bad."
….
The next following days, Katara enjoyed herself and her time with her children. She was in utter bliss. Her brother and Aang did annoy her about her and Zuko as they were together the entire time. She didn't even use her guest suite. Just stayed with Zuko which definitely pissed off Ozai. He tried making snide remarks and belittled them both but between the two of them, neither cared. At the end of the day, they both agree that their friendship came first because no one cared for either of them the way they cared for each other. It was more than romance and sex they were craving. More than needing the affection of a lover. They really just needed someone to have their back and they only found that together at the moment. SO, no they weren't dating as Sokka and Zhiar seemed to think. No, they weren't just fooling around. She was there for him and he was there for her. In whatever shape or form the moment required.
As night approached, the waterbender chuckled while sitting on a log and listening to Kya tell them all about how she got out of almost marrying some dick head nobleman. Aang and Sokka thought it was so funny until Zuko asked them both how their marriages were going.
"Well, you know Toph." Sokka said in an all too unenthused tone. Everyone raised a brow.
Aang placed his hand on Sokka's shoulder, "Everything okay, buddy?"
Sighing heavily, Sokka shook his head. "Toph wants a divorce."
"Whao!" Aang was shocked.
"Ah, that's rough buddy."
"When did this happen?" Katara furrowed her brows.
Zhiar and Kya both seemed to have all the scoop. Apparently, Toph was not happy in the South Pole and everyone could understand that. She literally saw with her feet and she wasn't able to do that while living in an arctic tundra. And with Sokka being Chieftain, he literally couldn't just leave. So, Toph was leaving.
"She still loves me, she says...and I love her but...it's not fair for either of us, ya know? Sometimes breaking up isn't just because you fall out of love or someone breaks your heart...sometimes it's loving that person enough to know you're holding them back from what they deserve. Toph and I have been together for seventeen years and they were the best years of my life but...I can't make her stay and she can't make me leave."
"How touching. Did you practice that speech while you were jacking off to your wife's picture?"
Everyone turned their heads to see that Ozai had come to join them. In a lax red yukata thrown over his shoulders, opened and showing off his bare chest. His hair pulled all the way up in a high ponytail and a glass of rum in his left hand. They all narrowed their eyes at him as if he were disturbing them. Everyone but Zuko and Katara seemed annoyed by his presence.
"Once again, you weren't invited." Kya groaned.
"And yet here I am." Ozai said as he shoved Kya over and sat between her and her uncle.
Sokka scooted away from the Phoenix King as he knew the man was messing around with his father. It made his skin crawl to know that his father and his sister's ex were sleeping together. La, help them if Katara ever found out.
"Back to you, Southern Chieftain. You're a moron if you think loving someone has anything to do with letting them go. That's utter nonsense."
Sokka raised his brows, "And you think I'm going to listen to you about that?"
"Seriously." Aang scoffed. "Both your marriages fail."
"All your children hate you." Kya chimed in.
"There's not enough wealth and power in the world to make anyone love you." Zhiar spat, still upset with his father for ruining his relationship.
"So why offer your opinion?" Sokka asked as he folded his arms. "What piece of advice do you possibly have to offer?"
Ozai shrugged as he drank his rum, "You've got me. I don't have any advice worth shit for you. To be honest, I just came because I'm bored and you all are ignoring me."
"Oh, you just figured that out?" Kya eyed her father like he was an idiot.
Ozai slapped her in the back of the head, "Stop looking at me like that. You look like your mother. It's annoying."
"Is there a problem with how I look?" Katara raised a brow.
"Oh, she decides to talk to me. Wonderful."
"La, would you shut up. It's like you purposely say shit to get on people's nerves. What are you a man-child?"
Katara watched her ex laugh with the same annoyance as everyone else present.
"I'm sure if you spared me a moment alone, I wouldn't bother any of you for the rest of your little trip."
Everyone then eyed Katara.
"Please, get him out of here." Sokka begged his sister.
"Yeah, Katara. I'm starting to question my entire culture of withholding from violence." Aang rubbed his neck.
Sighing, Katara walked around the logs that everyone was sitting on and started towards the house. Ozai got up and followed her. He managed to catch up to her in no time. She rolled her eyes at how closely behind her he was. Was it too much to ask for some space?
Getting to her suite, the waterbender let her asshole of an ex in and shut the door. Folding her arms, she gave a stern cold gaze to Ozai as he made himself comfortable on the lounge chair.
"This is your one opportunity to say whatever it is you have to say and as soon as we're done, I want you to never say another word to me again. Got it?"
Ozai smirked at her in the way that once made her curious to know what he was thinking but now, made her want to gorge his eyes out.
"I've missed you, waterbender. I have." He told her before looking away from her to the moon outside the window. "I don't feel right with us like this. I don't like it. It was one thing to be in prison and another for you to fall into seven year slumber, your marriage to Arnook would have been tolerated had he not crossed me. And now, you think I slept with that dumb princess and pinned her murder on you. This is not how it should have turned out."
Still staring at him callously, "Then tell me, Ozai, how exactly was it supposed to turn out but I think I'm being a lot more behaved with you versus how I should actually be."
When his eyes shifted back to her, "We were supposed to have been married. You were supposed to be my queen. I'm not supposed to wake up and you're not there."
"Well, that's what happens when you do what you did, Ozai! You threw that all away!" Katara finally started firing back. "You think I wanted to go to prison for having a fucking affair with you after you did that to me?! You think I've enjoyed being a servant, being pushed around, spat on, beaten, bullied, assaulted and mocked?! I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO FUCKING MISERABLE IN MY LIFE! They took my baby from me and make me watch as some other woman, that doesn't care about her, raise her! I can't even see or touch my own daughter! And of course that sort of thing doesn't matter to you since you just throw your children away but for me, Ozai, it drives me nuts and it makes me feel more vicious and vulnerable to doing far worse than I've ever done! I will kill for my children! I will! Starting with you if I have to!"
If it wasn't apparent before that she felt nothing but homicidal rage around him, then she hoped that it was crystal clear. Ozai hadn't just broken her heart but he was responsible for her torment and losing touch with her children. She had given birth and had that child snatched out of her arms not too long after. She had been abused by the Northerners and treated with hostility and cruelty. Now, she was hearing what he had done with her children while she was serving her time of servitude to the Northern Tribe and it infuriated her.
"I didn't throw it away, Katara! I didn't want this either!" Ozai got up and yelled back at her. "I don't even sleep around with different women anymore! I got rid of all my concubines! I can't even touch, much less, look at another woman!"
"You fucking liar! I saw you at the summit with that Earth Kingdom woman!"
"She is Princess Kikyo's sister, Bei Seng Sei has their eyes on me and I let them freely come and go. That way, they know I'm not hiding anything." He explained, "Be my guest, ask them yourself."
"Then what about Kya?! You paid her boyfriend to leave her!"
Rolling his eyes, "I paid the boy off. He didn't even take the money. Plus, he was a lowly servant, guard, whatever, he was a peasant. Kya can have any man she wants if he has status or wealth. But she's not marrying a peasant! Over my dead body." Ozai scoffed as he folded his arms over his chest. "I admit, half the time, I don't know what I'm doing. I'm a shit father. I know but I try. I really do. Ask Kya, she'll tell you that despite me bribing her boyfriend and about four five other incidents, I've done a pretty good job."
What else have you done, you moron?!
"I mean it, Katara. Whatever you think I did, I didn't. I was too drunk and high to have fought you in the first place that night. You would have kicked my ass."
"Oh, I did and then you cheap shotted me."
"I didn't do shit."
Katara glared at him but said nothing. She was trying to read his face to know if he was lying but what good would that do? She read his face before in the prison cell and she didn't think he was lying then. But there was no way he hadn't done what he had to her four years ago. She saw him with her own eyes. She fought him and stared him dead in the eyes. That had to have been Ozai. There was no way it was anyone else.
Ozai must have read her thoughts because he came up to her and grabbed her wrist, eyeing her in an almost wild gaze.
"Show me what you saw that night." He demanded.
A little confused, Katara raised a brow and tried wrenching her arm away, "What the hell do you mean 'show you'?! You were there!"
"No I wasn't!" Ozai's eyes turned red as he snarled. "Now, show me!"
It couldn't be helped that she stared at him like an idiot as she let the memories of that night resurface in her head for him to see. When his eyes widened and looked down at her, he stepped away.
"Katara, that was not me!" He said.
Folding her arms over her breast, "Ozai, you know it was you! I looked you dead in your eyes that night!"
"That wasn't me! My face is still disfigured!" Ozai said as he began pilling off the facial molding that had been provided to him by a craftsman. "I only just received this to wear recently as it took three years to make. How could I have been there with my face still intact if I still look like this?!"
That was a good question but that didn't mean it wasn't him.
"Katara, listen to me, we are not the only ones of our kind! There are others out there and with Lao, there is no telling what they are capable of!" He tried telling her. "And even your own father and brother confirm what I was doing that night! What does it benefit either of them to side with me?!"
Shaking her head, Katara wasn't sure she wanted to believe him even if he was telling the truth. Her heart was literally broken. It would not be so easily repaired. Ozai and his words would do no good. Not for her broken heart. The wound itself had already fested and to be very honest, she still felt very volatile in his presence. It was taking every bit of self-control she had mustered together over the last four years to not attack him. It literally made her skin crawl from not sating the desire to have her hands around his neck, snuffing that immortal life from him.
Backing away from him as he tried to reach out, Katara refused to hear him out any further.
"If that wasn't you, Ozai, then you'll have to provide more evidence than this."
"And if I do, will you forgive me and we move on from this?"
It sounded so simple and sure, it could be. She should be able to move past this and forgive him if it really wasn't his fault if he proved his innocence. But there was so much damage done that night and over the last few years. She just couldn't imagine letting go of such intense feelings so quickly and so easily. La, she swore if he was telling the truth, she was going to kill whoever did this to them.
Sighing, Katara dropped her head and placed her hand over her face. She gave herself a moment to breathe before she looked back at him with a desperate look on her face, visibly clenching her teeth. "Ozai, if you truly did not do that, please, all I ask is that you bring me solid physical evidence. I cannot be led astray again, I don't think I have that much fight in me left. So if you're just toying with me, just go ahead and kill me now before I find out and do it myself."
"I swear, Katara, this is not a game. I will find whatever evidence you need in order for you to see that I never did any of those things."
Ozai nearly reached to touch her and she slapped his hands away, staring at him coldly.
"Don't touch me. Nothing was proven yet." Katara warned him.
"Not even one hug? For old times sake?"
Scoffing as she laughed, Katara turned herself around and opened the door. "How about I don't stab you on the way out for old times sake?" She offered a villainous smile.
"Fine, waterbender, if you're going to be the cruel one, I'll play nice." He told her as he walked to the door and stopped in front of her. Just as he leaned down to kiss her forehead, she stabbed him in the side with an ice dagger as soon as his lips touched her forehead. "Fuck!"
"Goodnight, Ozai." She said as she shoved him out and slammed the door behind him.
…
Breakfast the next morning, Sokka let everyone know he was going to head back to the South Pole to help Toph prepare for her move back home. Aang offered to give him a ride as he hugged everyone goodbye. When he finished hugging both his niece and nephews, he went to his sister and hugged her tight.
"Take care of yourself, Katara." He whispered to her. "Dad's getting too old to worry about you all the time."
The siblings parted and Katara watched her brother leave with Aang on appa's back, smiling and thinking of the old days. Zuko nudged her and asked if she wanted to go for a ride. Before she could even answer, Ryu took her by the hand and told her to ride with him. Unable to refuse her son, Katara agreed.
After they went for a ride on Zuko's back, the waterbender seemed a little dizzy but she was able to mask it. She had been off since before she came here on this trip. Since the night she saw Lao and after speaking to Ozai last night, she felt even worse. Something just felt off. Very off. It was like something in her soul but also physically didn't sit right.
When she got back in the house, Kya asked her if she could make those sweets she made before with her. She gladly agreed as Ryu wanted to help too. Nothing was out of the ordinary. At least not to Katara. She was just measuring the amount of sugar to use and slicing the fruit. Everything seemed fine. Passing the sliced fruits to her son and letting him toss them into a bowl. However; even with how nice and pleasant it was to be able to spend time with her kids, she couldn't help the melancholy. As soon as their trip was over, she would be back in the North Pole, away from them. Not to mention, when her sentence was served, she would be handed over to Lao. And there was no telling how long it would be before she would see them again or if she would ever see them once this was all over.
Katara kept her pleasant demeanor all the way up till they had placed the sweets in the oven. Once that was done, the waterbender kissed both their foreheads and told them that she needed to rest.
"Hey, mom, you okay?" Zhiar asked her as she walked by him on her way to her suite.
Nodding her head, Katara was about to tell him she was fine until she fell over, blacking out.
…
When Katara woke again, she was back in the North Pole and to her disappointment, she was alone. Again. All she remembered was seeing Zhiar and then everything fading out. She didn't even get to say goodbye.
Sitting up in bed, the waterbender reached for the curtains that veiled around her round bed and climbed out of it. Her feet were cold as soon as they touched the floor. Reaching back to the bed, Katara saw that her chamber doors opened and in walked Arnook with what looked to be a tray.
"Ah, you're finally up. Good. I brought you some medicine and food."
Raising her brow at him, "Couldn't you have had servants bring this to me?"
"You and I both know I'd be risking something happening to you if I let one of them bring this tray." Arnook said as he placed it down on the nightstand beside her bed, "Besides, I needed to speak with you about what happened on your trip. Zuko tells me that you and Ozai spoke the night before you fell ill."
Furrowing her brows, "Do you think he could have-"
Shaking his head, Arnook told her that Ozai would not have poisoned her or done anything to harm her. Katara didn't seem convinced and it wasn't like he could blame her, she believed Ozai had betrayed her.
"I can't tell you everything right now, Katara, but I can tell you that you passing out was no accident. The necklace around your neck allows Lao and his master to see and hear everything you do. They must have heard the conversation and cut your trip in half."
Seeming confused, "But why? What did I do? I-I I was only spending time with my children, my family, I haven't seen them in- in- in forever." Katara felt a bit anxious as she tried getting back up.
Arnook tried to stop her but she shoved him off of her, running to the door, telling him she needed to say goodbye. He tried chasing after her, calling for her to come back but she was running far faster than he could keep up with. Obviously, that part of her, that part she had been repressing, it was breaking through.
"Katara, come back here!" He yelled for her.
However; Katara wasn't going to listen. No, she needed to say goodbye. If she was going to be gone, she wanted to say goodbye...she didn't get to say-
Before she could bust the chamber doors open, they were pushed wide open by Lao and his group. Katara's eyes widened as she backed up and tried getting away. But a very tall cloaked figure with a fox mask on, grabbed her by her hand and pulled her towards them as the others entered the chambers, slamming the doors behind them.
"LET ME GO!" Katara screamed. "LET ME GO!"
"Calm yourself, Katara." Lao told her in a very calm nonchalant tone as he removed a suriege from a leather pouch in his pocket. "You'll only make this hurt a lot worse."
Katara's eyes widened as she saw the needle and before she could try pulling away, the figure holding her, threw her up against the wall. She clenched her teeth in pain as she had more than likely sustained a concussion.
"Lao, please, call off your men!" Arnook came running up to them. "She's done nothing wrong! Why handle her like this?!"
Lao sighed as he looked at Arnook, "Do you know what the conversation was between her and Ozai was?"
"No! But I know she didn't run or flee! She's back here where she is under my watch! Don't do this to her!" Arnook begged.
Lao eyed Arnook and went up to him, slapping him across the face.
"You will not tell us how to handle our own!" Lao hissed. "Besides, our master wanted to see her with his own eyes."
Arnook's eyes widened as he looked at the man holding Katara by her neck. "Is that-"
Just barely struggling as she felt weak again, Katara watched the cloaked figure remove his hood and reveal silver hair cascading down. When he lifted his mask and removed it from his face, the waterbender froze.
"We meet again, waterbender."
….
Arnook had stayed by Katara's side the rest of the day after Lao injected her with some serum. Her veins turned black as she collapsed onto the floor after the master dropped her. She had been out cold for several hours. Her veins were still black and heavy. This was not right. None of this was. She didn't deserve this. Had he realized this before, he wouldn't have agreed to any of this.
"So it was you that night!" Arnook glared at the one they called 'master'.
The master flipped his silver hair over his shoulders and shrugged, "I thought we discussed our loathing of Ozai. I don't see how making her hate him too wouldn't be a part of the plan?"
"How is it that you look just like him?!" Arnook stood up and clenched his fists as he tried not to say anything too out of the way at the man.
This bastard had the same exact face as Ozai. The only differences were that this man's eyes were constantly red and didn't glow and his hair was as white as snow. He literally looked like Ozai and sounded just like him too. No wonder Katara was so convinced that Ozai had betrayed her. This man had done it.
Sighing as he cracked his knuckles, sitting on the other side of Katara's bed, "My name is Atsou Matsumo or at least that's the name my adoptive parents gave me. You see, I was thrown out like trash in the gutter as I looked different. I have a mutation as you can see and for those of nobility and royalty, that is unacceptable. I was technically born first so it's Ozai that has my face."
Arnook furrowed his brows as he tried not to show how shocked he was, sitting back down. Ozai had a twin brother.
Smirking as he gazed down at the waterbender, "I saw this little water siren with her friends not long after they showed up in the Fire Nation. Had to say, I was going to take her as my own but she was too young then, not to mention, her power and ability to learn quickly and adapt, I figured she'd be good for my plan."
"And your plan would be?"
Atsou looked up at Arnook and shook his head, "You're to play your part, Arnook. Not ask questions that have nothing to do with you."
The Northern Chieftain watched as Atsou moved to Katara and kissed her forehead. He pulled away and grinned at Arnook, "You don't have to like this. Neither of you does but as long as you do your job, when it's all over, I'll let you go back to living your precious lives."
Arnook bit his tongue as Atsou left the chambers, leaving Lao to give the rest of his orders on his behalf. First order was that Katara was not to leave the North Pole under any circumstances. Second order was that Katara was not to use her bending as she could not be trusted. And finally, Arnook was to have Katara injected with a serum twice a week until the year was over. The content of the serum was not made known to the chieftain.
The Chieftain was at a loss. He did not see this coming. When he was approached by Lao and his men, he figured with their opposition to Ozai that they were somehow better but he was proven wrong. All this time, they were planning on using Katara as some weapon or something. He thought from how they spoke that Ozai would come and try to taint her but in all fairness, he had saw the woman with the Phoenix King and there had never been once that he saw her act out wickedly. She was the same Katara he had always known. The only difference was she was far more passionate and vocal around Ozai. Even when criticizing him. It was far different than how she behaved with him. She didn't hold back. She was honest and cared far more for saying what she believed was right than offending him...Ozai, he...he always looked as if he listened to every word she had to say. She had his undivided attention. It was obviously more than them being star crossed lovers, they had a friendship and a mutual respect for the other. And….now, it was all ruined.
Now, Katara was taken from her family, her children, and her way of life. She had been treated like a criminal. Hated by pretty much everyone here in the North Pole. All she had wanted to do was say goodbye to her children before being used for whatever purpose Atsou and Lao had for her. Arnook had thought he was giving Katara a fate far greater than the one she would have had with Ozai. He thought he was repaying that girl that sought after him in prison. She had been no different then than she had been before or after. Sure, she might have been emotionally scarred and distraught over things, but it was still her. She had a good heart. That never changed. She might have loved a monster that everyone feared but she was still good. Besides, it wasn't Ozai that wronged her. He turned out to be the innocent one here.
Sighing as he buried his face in the sheets and sighed. He felt the bed shift and looked up to see Katara glaring down at him. Next thing he knew, she punched him right between the eyes and he fell backwards. Katara then jumped on him and began hitting him in his face, screaming at him.
"YOU BASTARD! YOU RUINED MY LIFE!" Katara cried out as she kept punching him. "I LOST EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF YOUR STUPID ALLIANCE WITH THOSE PEOPLE!"
Trying to block her hits, Arnook spat out blood to the side as she kept hitting him. "Kat-tara...I-I'm sorry….I didn't kn-know."
"IT DOESN'T MATTER! THIS IS YOUR FAULT!" Katara cried out as tears rolled down her face and she fell weak to the wave of emotions that washed over her. She literally lost everything to a lie. Ozai did not betray her. He had been telling her the truth this entire time. This entire time she had hated him for something he didn't do. "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I LOST, ARNOOK! YOU DON'T-" crying into her hands as she straddled Arnook on the floor of her bedroom. "I just wanted my family! That's all I wanted! I didn't care about wealth or power! I just wanted my family and Ozai was my family! And you all took that from me! You all took that away from me again!"
Arnook laid there on his back feeling utterly guilty for what had happened. "I'm sorry, Katara. I thought I was protecting you."
Shaking her head as she cried into her hands, "This was always supposed to be this way! They always intended to use me against him! I was the one that messed up and fell for him!" Katara screamed. "I won't let them use me! I won't let them use me to hurt him!" She shouted as she climbed off Arnook and went running to the balcony.
"Katara! DON-" He shouted after her as he laid there, gaping as she climbed onto the railing of the balcony and jumped off. Arnook cringed at the sickening sound of her body reaching the bottom. The screaming confirmed the rest.
…..
Arnook swallowed hard as he covered Katara's corpse back up. He could barely keep from getting sick at the sight. She was an utter mess. The fall was anything but graceful and it was the last thing that he wanted to show to anyone but Zuko and Zhiar demanded to see her body as a confirmation that she was in fact dead.
Swallowing hard as his brother quickly excused himself from the room, Zuko furrowed his brows at the covered remains of Katara. He was holding back the urge to cry as the tears in his eyes halted just at his eyelids.
"So...she jumped off the balcony?" He asked, getting choked up as he did.
Nodding his head, "Unfortunately." Arnook couldn't even look the Fire Lord in the eyes.
"Katara used to try to do that after she thought my father was dead." Zuko dropped his gaze to the floor and shut his eyes. "I stopped her every time. Tried to remind her that the kids needed her. That things got better. Sometimes I had to yank her in and pin her down. She always seemed so convinced that going off the balcony was the way to go. I don't know why. But she used to like flying on appa's back because she said it made her feel free. Maybe jumping was her way of flying...I just hope that she's happy wherever she is." His hand went to rest on her sheathed body. "I just wish she could have found that happiness here."
Arnook looked away as the Fire Lord fell on his knees, holding his friend's hand as he cried her name.
"How am I supposed to tell our son?! Katara, why did you leave me?!" Zuko cried. "I was going to save you! I always do!"
Deciding it best to leave the man alone, Arnook walked out the room to see Zhiar holding his younger brother in his arms as he told the boy that their mother was gone. He clenched his teeth as he heard the heartbroken boy ask his brother why his mom was gone again and when he could see her again.
As the chieftain hurried to his chambers, he told all his servants to leave and he went straight to the firepit.
"You bastards! She's dead! Are you happy?!" Arnook shouted.
The flame responded with a flicker before it poured onto the floor and manifested into Atsou. He was grinning ear to ear as he held his hands behind his back.
"Excellent, I can take her with me now." Atsuo said with glee and delight.
"Take her?! She's dead!"
"On the contrary, Katara was still wearing my necklace, she's alive. I just need to inject her with that serum and she will regenerate. I imagine she's in great agony as she can still feel her injuries." Atsou smirked. "I'll go relieve her of her anguish as she has made my job a lot easier here."
Arnook was confused, "So you're going to just take her?"
"Yes." Atsou glanced down at Arnook.
"Then what?"
"Then my business here is done. You've done your job despite how poorly it was executed. You are free now."
As relieved as he was to hear this, Arnook was even more frightened of this man. What was he planning? And what kind of power did he have for him to be able to make all of this stuff happen?
….
A/N:
Thanks for reading! I'll be posting the last chapter of Katara's Arc later today.