A/N:
Final chapter Katara's story Arc! Zuko and Zhiar are next week! Enjoy!
Chapter 35 4/4:
Year Five…..
How long had it been? It felt like forever. She really couldn't say. There was no light to tell her if it was day or night. It was always hot in here. She couldn't see and her body was well past starved. She could literally feel how tight her skin felt against her bones. La, how did she even end up here? All she remembered was- that man! She remembered seeing that white haired bastard with Ozai's face. He showed up again. Injected her with something and then knocked her out with a bolt of lightning. Next thing she remembered was waking up to darkness and being so frightened that her body was stiff in the same place for what may have been hours or days. She couldn't say for sure. Time was lost on her here. Time was irrelevant when everyone you loved thought you were dead.
But it wasn't all that terrible, she had been able to hear voices from time to time. Couldn't really tell if they were actual voices or if she was hallucinating. At this point, she didn't care. The voices kept her sane...for the most part.
Eventually, she heard a familiar voice. One she hadn't heard in a long time. It called her name and then a small slither of light beamed into the dark abyss that had been her dwelling. She crawled towards the light as her name came again. And just when her hand was going to grasp the light, a metal door slid open and in flooded more light than she could handle. She screamed and pulled back, shielding her eyes as she curled up, shaking. The voice chuckled.
"Oh, I have missed you dearly, water peasant."
Katara's eyes widened as she continued to shield herself from the light. "A-Az-Azula?"
"See, I told them this place wouldn't turn you into a half-wit." Azula smirked as she leaned against the opening of the dreadful prison cell and examined her nails. "Tried to tell them to keep you in for another year but they just wouldn't listen."
A year?! It was only a - Katara started easing herself into the light that was peering in and saw the silhouette of Azula.
"Come, let's go, waterbender. We've gotta get you acclimated with your new life." Azula said as she approached her and took her arm, helping her to her feet.
When on her feet, Azula led her out her dark cell and shut the metal door behind them. Katara squinted her eyes as they were shrouded in light and the looks of things they were outside. She tried getting a look for things. From what she could start to make out, it was a field of flowerbeds and the sea was close by. She had been able to smell the salty sea water and feel the ocean from her cell. Up ahead, she saw women carrying baskets on their head and men plowing land. Along what must be this coastal piece of land was a small village and then ahead of the homes and flower fields was a very impressive sized estate.
From the direction Azula was leading her, she assumed that's where she was being taken. Katara adjusted a little more the bright morning light and tried straightening up her posture as people stared eyeing her. They stopped midway through their work just to stare. It was a little freaky and the waterbender moved in closer to Azula as she didn't know what the hell was going on here.
"They're just curious anytime we get a new member." Azula told her.
"A new member?" Katara raised her brow at the firebender. "Is this Lao's-"
Azula paused and turned around to look at her former stepmother, "Understand that while Lao might have been the face of this organization but we do not serve Lao. The master is who we serve. Keep that in mind from now on. You'll get in quite the trouble if you confuse leadership around here." She warned.
Katara nodded and Azula went back to showing her the way. As they continued on, the waterbender furrowed her brows as she dropped her gaze. The master… She tried not visibly to show that her rage had grown and swelled from the mention of the master. That bastard ruined her life. She should greet him with the very same kindness he showed her.
When they arrived at the estate, Azula greeted the guards as she took the waterbender's hand and walked her down an outdoor hall. Katara had to say she admired the traditional feel of the estate. There were servants dressed in traditional uniform attire. The guards as well. Passing the courtyards and the gardens, the waterbender noticed there were a lot of young children and teens meditating. She didn't know what was going on here but it didn't make sense to her. Why did everything seem...peaceful?
"So..this master, do you guys like him? What's he like?" Katara asked out of curiosity as her eyes roamed the place.
Smirking as they walked, "The master is well liked and well respected. He's kind enough to give us a place and a purpose after society shunned us. We look to him as a child would their father."
"Oh." Was all Katara could say. She really couldn't say much to that. Azula made him sound like some righteous monk that saved them all. While all Katara could think of was how the bastard framed Ozai and split them up. Did that sound righteous and monk like?
Arriving at a door at the end of the hallway, Azula turned to face the waterbender as she knocked on the door. When opened, the firebender led Katara into the dimly lit room and knelt down on one knee in the center of the floor. She hissed for the waterbender to do the same. When she did get down on her knee, Katara's eyes shifted to the figure sitting in a veil of darkness and dimly lit candles. She didn't have to guess who this was. The so-called master.
"Katara." She heard the smirk. "I guess I should formally introduce myself here."
You guess? Katara raised a brow as the figure stood up.
"I am Atsou Matsumo." The man said as he approached both Azula and Katara.
Katara watched him crouch down in front of her and smirk with the same face as Ozai. Her gaze grew cold as he reached to grab her face to which she bit his hand and then went to headbutt him. The guards all positioned themselves to apprehend the waterbender as she stood up to try and kick their master but Azula told them to stand down as she saw their master take Katara's ankle and caused her to fall.
Atsou stood up and placed his foot on Katara's neck as he glared down at her, "You've got some nerve, Katara. I could kill you right here and now."
"Do it, you twisted bastard! I don't have anything left to live for!" Katara shouted back. "You took that from me, you piece of shit!"
Atsou roared in laughter as he pressed his foot harder into her neck, cutting off her breathing. "Obviously, Arnook was not able to humble you. Fine. I'll have to teach you myself." He looked to Azula. "Shave her head, remove her nail buds, and brand her neck. When you're done, bring her back here and we'll do this again."
….
Azula sighed as she watched the waterbender struggle while the servants shaved her head entirely, eyebrows too, and removed her nails. It was not something she took joy in seeing. Not anymore. Having suffered herself, it made her understand why it was that an insect squirmed for itself before it was squashed. Because it was painful and dying alone, there was no peace in that. But at least in suffering, there was a chance to learn and grow from it. The master was right to punish Katara. She needed to learn. She needed to grow. That's what they all had to do around here. That's what they all had done.
When the servants finished with her, one of the guards stepped forward while two others held Katara down onto the filthy floor of the dungeon below the estate. Azula lit a blue flame for the guard as he held the metal branding rod over it to heat. Once it was searing hot, the guard went and pressed it hard into the back of Katara's neck. She screamed far more loudly than Azula could anticipate.
Once it was all done, Azula had the servants hoes the waterbender down and scrubbed to clean the dirt and smell from her. An entire year in solitude and sweltering heat was not a refreshing smell on anyone.
"You're all clean. Now let's get you dressed." Azula took Katara by her upper arm and took her out of the cell.
Upstairs, Katara's hands were wrapped up in bandages that looked like mittens cloth and dressed in simple red linen. Azula stared at her from across the room as the nurses fixed her up a little. When they left, the firebender walked up to Katara and took her by her jaw, forcing her to look up.
"I say this because despite our previous history as enemies, you showed me compassion when my own father did not, so listen up." Azula's gaze was hard. "Master Atsou is very kind and compassionate and he is generous to all that serve him well. But he does not have the same weak spot for you that my father does. He will beat you with his own fists if it means having you fall in line. So please, for your sake and the sake of those runts you love back home, bite your tongue and keep your vendetta to yourself."
Furrowing her brows at Azula, Katara forced her eyes shut and clenched her teeth. She was so angry. So incredibly angry. And there were no words for how pissed off and distraught she was. Everything. EVERYTHING was taken from her. And to add insult to injury, that bastard had her head shaven and her nails removed. As if she was humiliated enough! As if she hadn't suffered enough! She would heed Azula's warning and bite her tongue. But now that she knew the real enemy, it was impossible to allow him to go unpunished. Katara bitterly swore to herself that before she left this world, Atsou Matsumo would go first.
…..
Atsou sat on his patio playing a game of Pai Sho with a member of his organization when Azula returned with their latest member. Not bothering to look at the waterbender, the master sighed and told the member he was planning to excuse him along with everyone else.
As the guards, servants, and Azula left, sliding the door shut and leaving them alone, Atsou finally glanced at Katara.
"The shaved head is not all that bad. You're a beautiful woman, it'll grow back in time. But until then, you'll need to be something apart from your looks." Atsou sighed as he looked at his piece on the Pai Sho board. "Do you play?"
Doing a terrible job at masking her resentment, Katara shook her head and tried to keep her murderous gaze off of him.
"Don't lie. I've seen everything beneath the sun and light of fire. You've played plenty before." Atsou chuckled and fixed the board for a new game. "Come, sit. Let's play."
Reluctantly, Katara dragged her feet over to the empty space across from the master and plopped down in a most undignified fashion. She saw him eye her briefly before a smirk pulled to his face. Her eyes examined him. Examined the face she was so familiar with. Trying to find just the smallest detail that was off from Ozai's. But other than the hair and the eyes, this man was an exact copy. What the hell was this?
Noticing the waterbender staring at him, "We're twins." he said simply.
"Huh?"
"Ozai and I are twins." He told her as he looked her in her eyes and smiled. "I was pronounced dead at birth simply because of my mutation. They were going to throw me out to the wolves but Lao saved me, gave me to his barren daughter to raise."
Narrowing her eyes at him, "So you're doing all this against Ozai because they kept him? You know, his life wasn't so glamorous. At least you didn't have to suffer your deranged father the way he did."
Atsou was unphase by the sting in her voice and agreed. "Oh, I know without a shadow of doubt that my upbringing was far greater than his. And my reasons for going after Ozai is nothing personal. The poor bastard doesn't even know I exist."
Katara watched Atsou carefully as their game began. She figured that perhaps she could learn something from him if she paid enough attention. Maybe his moves or his posture or the way he focused would give something away. She needed to know something. Anything. Eventually, she'd have to take him down and she was going to take notes until that day came.
"You're leaving yourself open." Atsou pointed out as he made his next move.
"Sorry, I'm not really into this game." Katara stated.
A sly grin pulled to Atsou lips, "If you're longing for your lover then by all means, continue to look, but if you think by doing so that you'll ever best me, you are sadly mistaken."
"You can't expect me to yield after what you've done." Katara's voice was callous.
Sighing as he felt the game was at its conclusion, Atsou sat back and folded his arms as he dropped his gaze. "Obviously, you don't care what happens to you and that's fine. I need more members like you. Something like self-preservation will get in the way of your responsibilities. However; I suppose I must take a page from my brother's book and use something or someone against you. Your children seem like fair game."
"DON'T YOU DARE!" Katara's eyes glowed as her demeanor flared up. She was about to jump across the table and rip his throat out.
But Atsou was impassive, "Calm yourself, Katara. They are my nieces and nephews. Unlike my brother, family means something to me and you're technically family. And besides, I'm excited for our future together, Katara. I've been waiting quite some time for us to meet like this."
As he stood up, the master pulled his white hair over his shoulder and snapped his fingers for the guards to re-enter as well as Azula. He ordered for Katara to be taken to her assigned camp. Seemed he wanted her in the all-women's squad. Felt the waterbender would function better without having to deal with male presence all the time.
When Azula took Katara by her wrist and pulled her along, Atsou gave a soft smile.
"You may hate me now but I'll grow on you."
Oh, I doubt that. Katara could forgive a lot but not this. This was unforgivable.
…
Katara followed Azula from the estate to the field of flowers. She kept her gaze low as they passed by the working folks of this little village they had here. It was embarrassing being bald with no eyebrows, mittens over your hands, and the back of your neck branded. She didn't want to be seen and since being seen was unavoidable, she didn't want to see being seen. The humiliation was too much.
Fortunately, Azula reached the low fenced dwelling and Katara heard her being greeted by women. She looked up from hanging her head to see the women all working in the yard. Some were on their hands and knees planting seedlings. Others were harvesting and placing their grown product into woven baskets. None of them seemed to be morbid or in a sour mood. Some were talking amongst each other. Others in their own little world. And then there were some looking her way as she strolled behind Azula to the house mini estate.
Azula paused and eyed the woman sitting on the porch with a smoke pipe in hand.
"You have a new member." Azula stated.
Sitting from the lax posture, the woman stood and placed her pipe to her lips.
"Her name is-"
Blowing out smoke, "Katara. I know who she is." The woman said in annoyance as she eyed the waterbender. "You had more hair last we met, Katara."
Lifting her head to the familiar voice, the waterbender's eyes widened at the sight of the woman.
"I assume your fiery attitude didn't sit well with Atsou the way it did with Ozai." The woman chuckled as she dumped the content of her pipe out and placed it in the obi of her kimono.
It was Ursa and she looked nothing like how she did before. The woman wore a red and white kimono like how men would sometimes wear theirs, with one arm out the sleeve and a white binding covering her breasts. She had on wooden sandals and her black hair loosely tied at the ends with red thread. Her expression was cold and indifferent. Katara had to say while Ursa's presence here didn't shock her, her appearance did.
Coming down the steps of the patio, Ursa pushed her daughter out of the way and shoved her finger into the spot between the waterbender' eyes.
"OW!" Katara said as she backed away, holding that spat with her hands.
Ursa went on to trip Katara and caused her to fall backwards into the dirt. The women in the yard all chuckled.
"You and Ozai are idiots. Didn't I warn you two?" Ursa hissed.
Azula furrowed her brows at her mother.
Pulling out her fan as she kicked dirt in Katara's face, Ursa turned her back and fanned herself from the heat. "I guess it can't be helped. Azula, show her to her room."
Reluctantly, Azula nodded her head and went to take Katara's wrist, dragging her along again. When she showed the waterbender to her rooms, the firebender shut the door and scowled.
"Be careful around my mother." Azula warned. "She doesn't take Master Atsou seriously and does as she pleases. I don't doubt he put you here to test you. So don't give in so easily to my mother's whims. Just do your part and only what you're instructed to do. If you do that, then you might get privileges that'll allow you to leave this place as you would like. You want to see your children, right?"
Katara's eyes searched Azula in the hopes to understand she even cared. Azula and her may have buried the hatched long ago but why did she care so much that she did what she had to in order to see her children again? The firebender was cold and callous. Far crueler than her father. And she had attacked them not too long ago before she gave birth to Ryu.
Finding nothing, Katara looked away. "Why do you even care?"
Scoffing as she backed away from the waterbender, "Because...I live in the same village as my mother and I sleep just a few yards from her, yet she never cares to look at me, acknowledge me, or even say my name. I hadn't seen her since I was eleven and she didn't as much as bat an eye when I was in your position."
"My position?" Katara raised a brow and her mittens. "I thought this was a punishment."
Azula shook her head and lifted her hair as she turned her back to show the brand on her neck, "2782. That's the number on my neck. That's the number she calls when she sees me. I'm no more than a member of this organization to her. I always thought it was my father that had a cold heart but even he can love. I doubt my mother even loves Zuko."
It was sad to hear that. Katara remembered what Azula said about her mother being disgusted by her and her father. How she saw them as only monsters.
"I know you're different from my mother. You give a damn about your little litter. And to be completely honest here, waterbender, I might have been considered your enemy but you always came to look after me. Even when you had every reason to hate me." Azula hugged her arms around herself. "Believe it or not, Katara, but...I've changed. A lot and I know this place will change you too. I just want it to be for the better. That's all. So don't do anything stupid so you can get back to your runts."
Katara stood there watching Azula leave her rooms. She sighed and shook her head. It was funny how the only comforting thing in this whole place was Azula. Turning around as she looked at her little nesting area. It was just a cot and a simple dresser for her things. A cozy little window and a desk with a candle stick sitting on it.
"9437." She heard Ursa's voice in her doorway. "That is your name from now on. Understood?"
Heeding Azula's words, Katara nodded.
"Good. Now, go get a broom a start sweeping every inch of these quarters. If you're done by supper time, you may eat with us. If not, you'll go to bed hungry. So get to it." Ursa ordered as she tossed a broom onto the floor.
Holding back the impulse to roll her eyes, Katara picked up the broom and started first with her room. Sweeping would be no problem. She had served as a servant in the Northern Palace and that place was huge. This was nothing. The only issue would be to sweep with her hands bandaged up like this.
An hour before supper time, Ursa had seen that Katara had finished and was sitting on the porch with her feet dangling off the side. She went up to the waterbender and kicked her off the porch.
"You're new around here but the women here are jealous and bitter. No one likes a show off." Ursa told her.
Rubbing her bottom as she got up and eyed Ursa, "Very well. I'll clean slower."
"How about you drop the attitude, 9437."
Rolling her eyes, "You can drop it first." Katara spat back as she climbed up the steps.
"I'm sure your beloved Ozai is loving that he doesn't have to put up with you anymore." Ursa snorted in laughter as Katara walked past her.
Maybe it was that she was feeling resentment for being torn away from her family or that Ozai's name was mentioned by a co-conspirator or maybe she was just pissed off in general. Who knows at this point? But what Katara did know was that she didn't think twice when she punched Ursa in her face and then tackled her to the ground. She also knew that she didn't give a rat's ass when the other members of their squad came out at the sound of the commotion. And what she started to know as she and Ursa tussled, was that she was not as strong as she used to be and the older woman's head hurt like hell when she headbutted her. It was lights out after that.
A few hours later, Ursa was in the room with Atsou and a few other squad leaders. She didn't want the waterbender on her team. That bitch was crazy as all hell. Attacking her like that in front of her subordinates. It was embarrassing and a complete disregard for the hierarchy of things around here. She was not about to put up with her ex's wildling.
Atsou honestly had to say, he was at a loss here. Katara was punished yet again. This time with the whip and the one delivering the punishment asked that she be dealt far more than twenty lashings. Dear Agni, what were they to do?
"You all are going about this wrong." Lao spoke up. "The waterbender will not respond to you tormenting her. She's been through the ringer. She can survive this. She's not some polished gem that's never had a little dirt thrown on her. She is a diamond in the rough. And too much pressure and too much heat will only make her more of what she is. If you want her to yield, give her the sense of family and companionship. That'll soften her up."
Scoffing as she folded her arms, Ursa didn't care and refused to make that water bitch comfortable. Stating that the woman had wanted to fight her since she had stabbed Ozai. It was clearly based on a past vendetta.
Atsou rubbed his brows and looked to Lao, "I'm not rewarding her poor behavior but I will do this. Have Azula and a squad stir up some trouble in the North Pole. Kidnap a few sirens." That'll cause Katara to know who was dealing with.
Lao bowed and went on to have these orders brought to Azula.
When Lao left, Atsou looked to Ursa and told her to suck it up. Katara was her responsibility now. Once Azula returned with the chieftain's daughter, the temperament of the waterbender would simmer down.
"I mean it, Atsou, I'm not tolerating anything else out of that girl!"
"Fine. If her behavior isn't corrected, I'll deal with her personally." Atsou was a bit annoyed.
"And you're speaking with her before she returns or I'll have her sleep outside in the dirt." Ursa spat before leaving.
Atsou went to the cell where Katara had been whipped and shook his head at the sight of the waterbender standing up on her feet despite the bloody lashes on her back. She braced herself against the wall and staggered to the door upon seeing him.
"You should really cover your face. I hate looking at it." Katara hissed.
Grinning as he folded his arms, "Why? Make you long for your lover?"
"No! It makes me want to kill you for what you did!" She growled.
Chuckling to himself, "You are quite the mean woman, Katara. It's a wonder you attract any men at all."
"Go to hell! I'm not trying to attract anyone!"
"Well, you're doing a good job of it." Atsou went on to inform her that he was having Azula go to the North Pole to stir up some chaos. There was no telling what kind of chaos was going to take place. Who knows? Lives could be lost. Anyone's life.
Furrowing her brows at Atsou, "I really can't tell which of you is supposed to be the evil twin."
Snickering, "I assure you, Katara. I'm not evil but I don't mind getting my hands dirty if the time calls for it. That's just the way of survival. You understand, don't you?"
Oh, she understood but she still didn't stoop to such low levels to get what she wanted. This bastard was threatening her youngest. Mailan was no more than three, four now. She was innocent. The most innocent of all those bastards in the North. Katara could care less what happened to the others but Atsou had better not harm her daughter. That would be the final straw.
"Come, let's get you bandaged up, mean one. I would like you to get in better shape so that we can finally put you to good use."
…
Being escorted back to her squad by a few guards, Katara walked stiffly as her back was in so much pain. La, she was so happy that she wasn't one of those flimsy women. She was so acclimated to struggle and suffering that this was nothing….but it still hurt. Not to mention, she could not sleep all night. Atsou's threat played in her head all night along with the thoughts of what was happening in the North Pole. Her mind and body were not at peace but when had they ever? She was always dealing with one thing after another. When was she going to catch a break?
"9437, you're back. Great." Urs said sarcastically as she threw a bucket at the waterbender. "I need you to wash uniforms today."
"Okay." Was all Katara could muster to say. She was in too much pain and too much worry to care about Ursa being a bitch. If she wanted to give her busy work, then so be it.
….
Smoking her pipe as it was past midnight, Ursa watched the waterbender scrubbing through not just uniforms but also, the members' personal clothes as well. She heard from one of the other women that Katara asked them if they needed any of their personal clothes washed as she would gladly do it for them. One of the ladies believed she was stalling from going to bed and honestly, Ursa didn't care but she didn't necessarily trust Katara enough to allow her to stay up all by herself. So she watched the waterbender.
As she sat there for what felt like an hour, Ursa heard Katara sing to herself as she dried out some of the clothes she had already finished washing.
"What can't you do, 9437?" Ursa smirked as she lounged on her elbow and smoked her pipe. "You're so well versed, it's hard to even punish you. No wonder Ozai was in love with you."
Not fazed by the obvious teasing, Katara continued hanging up the clothes and patting them down with a paddle. "He loved me because I loved him. It's simple. You'd know that if you were capable."
Chuckling as she brought her pipe to her lip, "You know that man is hopelessly awkward. If it weren't for me, no woman would even approach him."
"He told me." Katara glanced at her squad leader as she went back to her bench and started washing a new set of clothes. "He told me all about his past. I admit I was shocked and disturbed but I still loved him after he told me. Possibly more because he told me."
Ursa scoffed as she blew out smoke, "You're such a romantic, 9437. Even though your little village and people are meager compared to the rest of the world, you all still have room to dream and fantasize about things that only exist in storybooks. Love, you call it, is just something that scientifically takes place due to a rush of hormones and in your case, a rush of hormones and sex drive. You're not in love, sweetheart, you just want your brains fucked out so you can cope with why you hate yourself."
"Hate myself?" Katara raised her brow.
Even more amused, Ursa stood up and grinned wider at the waterbender. "We all know what happened to you before Master Atsou brought you here. You're a jumper." She giggled.
"Excuse me?" Katara paused.
"You're a jumper. You jumped. That's how you died." Ursa said so casually as she continued grinning and stepped down into the courtyard. "But don't worry deary, we've all tried taking our lives here. All of us have suffered. All of us are inhumans. And all of us hate ourselves. It's why Atsou picked you. You were like us but at a very young age. He has a thing for our type."
Katara snorted at the thought and turned back to her work, "Is that why he gave me this necklace?"
"Yup." Ursa plopped down in the seat beside the waterbender and leaned her elbow on the table, "He figured you would be on the verge of doing something. You weren't eating, you were frail, you were working yourself to the bone, and you were miserable."
Miserable wasn't the half of what she felt. She was in complete and utter despair. Working and working till she could work no more, was the only way she got through the day. Or rather, the night.
"Look, there is a better way to cope than working yourself to the brim." Ursa told her.
"Like?"
"Drinking. I'll get us a whole bottle of the strongest liquor I've ever come across and we can have at it."
"I don't drink anymore." Katara was continuing to scrub the clothes against the washboard in the huge bucket.
"Then sex?"
"With who?"
Ursa smirked as she tilted her head, "Ever been with a woman before?"
Katara snorted in laughter and told her that she had not been with any women. Not that she was against it but no woman ever really caught her attention. Not that I'm looking either.
"Maybe I could help you look."
Pausing again, Katara stared at Ursa with a distrusting gaze. "We don't like each other and now all of a sudden you want to sleep with me."
"I didn't like Ozai and we still had two kids."
"Not interested." Katara put simply as Ursa stood back up.
Shrugging at the loss, the squad leader looked the waterbender over and told her that she could work the nights if it pleased her. But she would be responsible for acquiring food on her own. Katara didn't see the problem with this. She could easily do that. There was a lagoon just a little ways away and the garden had fresh veggies that she could prepare with ease. At least she'd be alone during the night. She wasn't a fan favorite anywhere she went and she personally liked to be apart from others she wasn't too familiar with. Maybe Ozai rubbed off on her a little but she wasn't her friendly self anymore and she liked being alone. It was peaceful.
While everyone worked the mornings, Katara would rest and then in the late afternoon, she would begin work as everyone else took to their down time. She worked hard for the next two weeks. Did her task and other tasks to keep herself busy. Many of the members would find that in the mornings they didn't have much to do and would have more free time. This came to the squad leader's attention as well as the other members and they all looked to Katara.
Eventually, after about a month and a half, Ursa brought this to Atsou's attention. Seemed he was pleased and told Ursa to allow Katara to continue in her partial isolation as she was being productive. Once the time was right, they'd put her to better uses.
…
Katara was scrubbing the floor panels in the common area when she noticed wooden sandals clack to the floors. She sighed and looked up, sweeping the sweat from her brows that had grown back. Standing over her was Ozai's twin albino brother, Atsou. In all honesty, she hated this bastard's face. Or at least hated that he had Ozai's face. It felt wrong and it made her uneasy around him.
Crouching down, Atsou ran his fingers along the squeaky clean wood panels and grinned at the waterbender. "You work hard, Katara. I like this."
Eyeing him for just a moment more before turning back to her work, "What do you want?"
"If only your attitude were better." Atsou sighed in disappointment. "But I think this kind of work is unbecoming of someone with so much untapped power. I've seen your siren, Katara, and I want to make use of her."
Katara paused and dropped her rag as she decided to give her full undivided attention,"Use? Use for what?" She bit out as she eyed him coldly.
Grinning at her as his eyes roamed her face, "Don't you worry, mean one. I'm not asking you for that. Unless you need that of me. No, I'm asking for your power or rather her power. She's quite unrestrain and wild. I did enjoy my fight with her. No one's ever gotten that close to beating me."
Atsou stood up and offered her his hand. She reluctantly took it so that she could stand up.
"You've been playing the role of the lover for far too long, Katara." He ran his hand over the side of his face.
Hissing as she pulled back, "Just say what you want?"
For the most part, this community of inhumans operated as a self-sustaining village of people from all over the world simply trying to live a normal life. However; There was an ultimate goal of the village, one that was shared by the master, Atsou. They wanted to be accepted in the society of the world and no longer forced into the shadows. It kind of confused Katara with how an entire community of people couldn't overpower and demand the governments of the world to see them. But Atsou made it clear that not everyone wanted to fight and not everyone had power that some others did. Some weren't even benders. Those that were capable and willing were of few numbers. So they had to take a different approach. One that caused them to do shadow work which didn't take long for Katara to figure out what that meant.
"I'm not becoming an assassin!"
"Assassin? We do far more work than assassinate people. We have those that blend themselves into high courts or in the homes of influential individuals. Like you've seen with my grandfather Lao, your grandmother Hama, Shin, Ursa, and so on. My assassin division is currently occupied by Azula and her team. When she shows up, it typically means someone is going to die. But for you…" Atsou smirked to himself. "I need you to be both. To blend in and carry out assassinations. You're capable of both."
"Like hell I'm doing any dirty work for you!"
"Mean one, trust me, you don't have much of a choice here." Atsou's gaze became cold. "Your sons and former lover have our agents roaming the palace as servants. Your eldest daughter and ex-husband have agents working in close proximity to them. I have agents in both poles where you also have family. Don't let them suffer because you can't cooperate."
Furrowing her brows as she struggled to bite her tongue. She shouldn't fight this. This is what Ozai and her had talked about. This was their hope all along. It was why they agreed either way that she would go up north in the hopes to uncover the truth. Atsou was giving her inside detail, information that would be beneficial to use against him and his people. Maybe she would be sent on assignment to one of their locations where she can get information between them. She needed to play along here. Even if it meant getting her hands dirty, her overall goal was to protect her family and would do anything to insure their safety.
"Fine." Katara spat. "I'll do it."
….
Katara was no longer a mundane worker in her squad, she was an agent that had rank within the community and took direct orders from the master. She woke to a new set of clothes being laid out for her and Azula posted in the doorway of her room. Seemed she had to do some training before she could be of any use.
Pulling on her black tights and dressing herself in her all black uniform, Katara saw Azula's eyes roam over her backside.
"Anyone tell you that you have a fat ass?" The former princess bit her lip as she saw the waterbender struggle to get her butt in her tights.
Rolling her eyes, "Yeah, your father couldn't get enough of my fat ass." She retorted back.
"I'm sure." Her gold eyes traced back up the waterbender as she decided to give her some help with her tights. "Here."
Katara yelped as Azula was about to pull the tight all the way up her vagina causing her to squeal.
"Why is this so tight?!" Katara yelled in frustration.
"Not sure." Azula watched as Katara pulled the tight tunic over her head and brought it down over her breasts. "Maybe they gave you a small size."
Groaning, Katara wanted today to be over already. She was severely irritable and felt like she might hurt someone.
….
Azula took the new recruit to the training grounds on the other side of the village close to the bay. When they arrived, she noticed that Katara recognized a few of the faces as they walked by a group already training.
"Daikoku?!" She couldn't believe it.
The man walked up to them and eyed Katara. "Lady Katara, you look entirely different."
Feeling self-conscious about her very low haircut and Katara ran her hands over the short curls, "Master Atsou had my head shaved and nails removed."
"You must have pissed him off." Daikoku scoffed as he tried not to be amused by how this woman hadn't changed a bit in over ten years.
Shrugging, "Well, you know me, I'm not likeable."
"True." He said before looking at Azula. "Mind if I take her from here?"
"Guess so, since you've both fucked my father." Azula laughed as she placed her arms behind her head and started walking back in the direction she came.
Both of them scowled at the woman before exchanging looks.
"About that-"
"Don't worry. Ozai told me about the two of you." Katara said as she straightened herself out. "I was surprised but I can see why you were cold to me in the beginning."
Furrowing his brows as he stared at the ground, "It wasn't your fault but...you don't know what it's like to love someone that you're not supposed to because of the circumstances you're both in."
"I think I understand that better than anyone here. I'm not in your exact situation but as you have seen, no one has even wanted me with him, and now this." Katara said.
Daikoku sighed and placed his hand on her shoulder and told her to come on, he would train her personally.
Walking into the dojo arena of the training grounds, Katara saw that everyone here was currently working on hand-to-hand combat. She eyed each and every pair that faced off as Daikoku took her to the last mat in the back. So, was she not going to use her bending?
"Here, wrap your fists." He told her as he tossed her the bandage wrap.
Katara eyed the black bandage wrap before putting it on her fists. The purpose was to keep from breaking her knuckles or dislocating them when striking her opponent. Supposedly, for anyone to be considered 'field ready' they had to learn how to fight and fight well to even be considered. And with Atsou wanting her in the field as soon as possible to begin serving her true purpose here.
"Now, we'll have a little spar here so I can size you up on what you already know. Give me whatever you got and I'll coach you later on where you need to improve." Daikoku crouched down and got in his ready stance.
Putting her fists up, Katara smirked. Oh, she had been waiting to kick someone's ass since all this shit started. He was as good as dead.
"Don't get cocky, mean one." The two glanced up to see that Master Atsou, in his fox mask, was heading down the steps from the observation deck with a fan waving in his face while his kimono hung down off his shoulders exposed the black sleeveless tunic he was wearing underneath. "Daikoku is not a man to be trifled with."
The two dropped their gaze back on each other and charged at one another.
Above on the steps, Atsou watched closely as the waterbender fought one of his best hand to hand men. He had a feeling they'd be a great match for each other. Daikoku would give her a run for her money but Katara was a fighting spirit that never died out. He'd beat her good fashion but she would just keep getting up. Daikoku would have to kill her and even then...Atsou chuckled and shook his head. Even then you'd find a way back, wouldn't you, Katara?
….
"Moron!" Ursa yelled at Katara as two of the squad members had to pop her arm back into relocation while another bandaged her up and treated the bruises to her face.
The squad leader was tremendously upset. When Azula showed up with the water woman all beat up and barely able to stand on her two feet, Ursa couldn't believe that Atsou would have allowed the fight to last longer than the usual ten minute mark. But that bastard allowed her and Daikoku to fight for an hour. Both beating each other into the mats. There was so much blood, she heard, that they had to toss the mat out because it was stained beyond repair.
Pacing back and forth, Ursa waved her fan in her face to hopefully cooldown from the heat. "Is she almost done?!" she demanded to know.
"Yes, squad leader." They all said in unison as they bowed their head and quickly exited the room.
Slamming the door behind her, Ursa got up in Katara's face and grabbed both her swollen cheeks, scowling deeply as she went on to snarl about how furious she was that she would continue going at it with Daikoku.
"What the hell are you trying to prove?! That you're tough?! That nothing! Not even death frightens you!" Ursa shoved Katara back. "You better save me the waterworks and explain yourself! Because you shouldn't have fought that man like you are one of them!"
Katara, fed up with the woman getting angry with her over something that was allowed by the master himself, got up on her feet and pushed Ursa back. "I'm not proving anything! I fought because I was angry! And I needed to vent! I haven't been able to properly vent after each time I somehow get bent over and fucked like a LA DAMN WHORE IN A BROTHEL BY THE FUCKING UNIVERSE! I WAS VENTING! I DESERVE THAT MUCH! I SHOULD BE ALLOWED THAT MUCH!" She screamed in the squad leader's face.
Backing off, Ursa stared at the waterbender as she panted.
"I've been having my entire life turned upside down by these fucking people! And every time! I lose a little bit more of myself! So excuse me, if I need to fight to the near death with a man to get some things off my chest! Prove?! What the hell do I have to prove?! I just want to get through this so maybe, just fucking maybe, I get to see my family again!"
Ursa scoffed and backhanded Katara into her bed, retreating her hands into the sleeves of her kimono as she looked down at her with indifference. "Now that you've had your time to vent. Get it together! I don't have time or patience to coach you on how not to look so fucking vulnerable all the time. You think your life is shitty? Ha, do you even know what half these people have been through? No, so I'd advise you to stop this pity trip you're on and start acting like a grown woman! You want to get back to your family? Well fine, I'm not going to stop you but if you keep this shit up, you won't live to see the day! Got it?!"
Holding her arm around her gut, Katara looked up at Ursa with her one good eye and spat blood at her feet.
"Oh, so you still have an attitude?!"
"Sorry we can't all be cold hearted bitches like you, Ursa! Some of us give a fuck about our families!"
The comment struck a deep nerve in the older of the two women as she pulled out her curved blade dagger and pounced Katara, holding the blade to her discolored neck. She stared crazedly into the woman's ocean blue eyes and growled.
"You think I wanted to be a mother?! You think I enjoyed having a man that was just as pathetic as me put his seed in me so that neither one of us would be killed in our sleep by his lunatic father?!" Ursa spat in Katara's face as she pressed the knife even more into her neck. "You don't know what I went through to survive Azulon and you had better thank the gods everyday, that you never met that man because he was far worse than any man you have ever met in your life or will ever meet again!"
With wide blue eyes, Katara breathed heavily as Ursa's threat still lingered at her throat. When the woman started to ease off of her and put her blade away, she saw that her comment had really bothered Ursa.
Fixing herself up and running her thumb across her eye beds to remove the tears before they fell, Ursa sniffled. "I get you want to be the spokesperson for my daughter and all, but I've done her and Zuko a favor their father should have done them a long time ago."
"And that is?" Katara asked as she sat up.
"Keeping my fucking distance." Ursa put her hands back in her sleeves. "I don't know why you insist on giving that man more children. You haven't a single idea what that does to people as fucked up as he and I. If you ever see him again, don't try giving him anymore kids. You'll just mess him up in the head more."
…
While in recovery, Katara was back to the chores of her squad's house. She would sweep, scrub, and dry to floors with one arm while the other was in a sling. She was even helping pick the vegetables in the garden. Washing them clean and packing them into sacks that grew heavier with each harveable. From there, she'd carry the sacks from the garden to the storage house on the other side of the small manor.
Sometimes she helped out in the kitchen, chopping the food up to make into soup that they ate nearly everyday. She'd stir the pot and keep the fire going. She even helped serve it to everyone in the squad. And all the laundry was done by her at night when everyone laid their heads down to rest. Then in the morning she'd changed their sheets out for the clean ones that had finished drying.
And all while working diligently, she didn't say a word. She didn't even make eye contact. Katara simply did her work and for what little time she'd allow herself to rest, she would only think of the tasks of tomorrow. Giving herself no time to mourn her family or what little moments of happiness she shared with them.
Then one day, Atsou and a group showed up to the manor while she was scrubbing the base boards, Katara heard Ursa laughing loudly as if someone had told her the funniest joke ever. The waterbender paid her no mind and continued with her work. When she finished, she grabbed her bucket of filthy water and carried it over to the shrubs that used that same water for nourishment.
"Mean one, you look like you've finally healed." Katara heard Atsou as he walked up behind her.
Turning around to look at the man, she saw he was still wearing his fox mask. She forgot his mutation caused him discomfort in the sunlight.
"I didn't realize it would take so long to heal a broken bone. I'm typically used to-"
"Relying on your bending? Yes, I've noticed over the years." Atsou said as he stepped closer to her, looming over her as his silver hair blew in the sudden breeze. "It's why I asked that you heal naturally. You need to know what it is like to survive without it. Only then can I trust you to be fully capable of carrying out missions. Your bending can be used against you, especially because you are a siren and can use water in a very different way than normal waterbenders. And from how strict the Northern Tribe is and how few waterbenders there are in the Southern Tribe, it won't be hard to go down the list of sirens capable of using certain abilities. They'll find you out quick. Dead or not."
Well, Katara could understand that. To the whole world she was dead. A woman driven to suicide from all her hardships. Even her family believed she was dead. Azula told her that Zhiar left the Fire Nation, leaving Zuko to focus on Ryu and mourn on his own. She couldn't picture where he might have gone. And Ozai and Kya from what Azula had told her, were not taking her death any better. Ozai had fallen unconscious after he heard the news and only just recently got himself together. Kya busied herself much like her mother with the affairs of the country in order to cope. As for her brother and father, Azula refused to tell her what happened with them. And somehow, Katara was grateful to the woman for trying to spare her the grief the knowledge would do her. She knew eventually, she would find out but now wasn't a good time. As for Arnook and her daughter, Mailan, the man was sick on his deathbed. He, for some reason, made a request for Ozai to see him before he died. She thought perhaps hearing Arnook being on his deathbed would not bother her after what part he had to play in ruining her life. But it did bother her because she somehow felt Arnook had been just as much of a victim in this scheme as she was. Arnook had always tried to make better a terrible situation.
Feeling Atsuo's hand pull at the short wavy lock of her head, Katara eyed him as she could see his red eyes from behind his mask. She pretended like she didn't care that he was touching her but deep down, every time he was around, she wanted to slice his throat open and watch him bleed out. Once his toying with her hair became too much for her to bear, Katara grabbed his hand and yanked it away from her head. However, while holding his wrist, the waterbender noticed something strange from the moment of contact she made with him. Her eyes widened as she looked up at him.
"You're dying." She said as she pulled away from him and looked him over. "I thought you were a phoenix."
Pulling his sleeve back down on his wrist, Atsou got even closer to the waterbender and pushed her back up against the pillar wall outside. He smacked his hand down above her head and leaned closer to her face, grabbing her jaw as he stared hard into her wide eyes.
"Ozai is the phoenix. I simply have the trait which means I'm limited. It's why, while I'm trying to help these good people troubled by an unforgiving and unjust world, I target Ozai like he's the source of fulfillment for all my goals. Because in one way or another, he is."
Feeling like she finally knew where this was going. The putting her up to the task of killing Ozai when she was eighteen, experimenting on him while he was supposed to be dead, trying to have her children subjected to the same fate, and still seeking to get a handle of Ozai. It all was so…
"I need him so that I can become a full phoenix. So I can become immortal."
…
A/N: Alrighty, folks! I'll be back next week with Zuko/Zhiar's Arc! They just have to be proofread as I've finished writing them yesterday! Ozai/Kya's is midway through so they'll be ready by the week after! Thanks for reading!