A/N:
Back with two chapters today! :D Hope Y'all enjoy!
Chapter 50:
"Doesn't matter what you like." Zuko scoffed as he stood in front of his bathroom mirror. "I can do as I like, Kya. I'm a grown man. A father. The Fire Lord. I need no one's permission."
Kya sighed as she held her knees to her chest while still trapped in the pendant her oldest brother had tied around his neck. She was beginning to realize that Zuko was a lot more like their father than she had thought. Angry. Easily irritated. Had a sense of entitlement and blurred the lines of right and wrong. Everything she said got on his nerves and he responded with annoyance and nothing she said got through to him. She tried not to say much as his day would go on in the same boring routine, his life very dim and lonely outside of the time he spent with Ryu. Kya honestly hated bearing witness to her brother's personal life up close. It felt invasive and something she shouldn't see.
A lot of times Zuko forgot she was there and she would catch him staring at mementoes that she assumed belonged to her mother. Or sometimes he'd space out when seeing something that reminded him of her mother. Kya wished she could say she pitied him but Zuko was torturing himself at this point. Her mother, whether she got back with their father or not, would not return to Zuko as his lover. It was something everyone knew. Even Zuko knew. He just liked to believe in the slim and impossible chance that she maybe one day would. It was this that was driving him to kill their father. If their father was gone, Zuko felt their mother would be his again.
Eveninging out his hair as much as he could after refusing to listen to his sister about not cutting his hair, Zuko looked himself over in the mirror and felt nostalgia at his appearance. He looked nearly the same twenty years ago, just more mature. A small smile wanted to form on his lips but died before it could be born at his sister's compliment.
"You look really handsome, Zuko." Kya told him sweetly.
Sucking his teeth hard as he went onto scowl in the mirror at himself, "Nothing handsome about a freak like me. Don't even kid yourself."
"You're not a freak, Zuko." Kya stood in the small realm of the pendant she was trapped in. "You're a good man, Zuko. Better than any I know. You always looked after us. Mom, Zhiar, and me. We never really thanked you and I'm sorry you've been in pain all this time and no one ever made sure you were alright. I'm sorry, Zuko."
Zuko averted his eyes from the mirror, hating the guilt he heard in his little sister's voice. It wasn't her fault she was born a product of betrayal. He resolved those feelings of hate and jealousy he initially had for her and Zhiar. Plus, Kya and him developed a good relationship as siblings. The only one he had that didn't make him hate himself or her in the end. Kya was the only family other than Iroh that never betrayed him and never truly wanted to hurt him. Honestly, he wished he didn't have to keep her in the pendant like a prisoner. Kya already said plenty that she would never speak a word of what she knew or what he did because she didn't want their father to hurt him. Kya was good to him.
Running his hand up into his freshly cut ear-length hair, "If I let you out, you won't go back and tell father, right?"
"I'll stay here, by your side, if that makes it better for you, Zuko. I can help with Ryu." Kya offered as she realized he'd let her out of the pendant after being stuck in here for two weeks.
The pendant was pulled from Zuko's neck as he used the black flames Atsou gave him to release Kya from the prison he trapped her in. As soon as she appeared in front of him, her arms wrapped around his middle before he could even apologize and she buried her face in his chest.
"I'll stay here if you need me to." Kya's voice was as sweet as ever.
Reluctantly wrapping his arms around his sister, Zuko tried to ease himself into the hug with all the clogged up emotions he felt. Bad enough he felt broken and then Kya had to go and hug him. He didn't dare speak.
Kya lifted her head to see the pained look on Zuko's face, "No matter what, even if you go through with the choices you've made, I will be right here. Dad has plenty of help and people with him in the Phoenix Empire. He doesn't need me."
"You sure?" Zuko's voice rasped a little.
Nodding her head, "I'm sure. Besides, I'm tired of watching him dance around flirting with his little crush. That shit is embarrassing." Kya said as she pulled away and folded her arms.
Raising a brow, "He has a crush? Wh-what?"
Kya nodded her head again, "Come, I'll tell you about it while you have the servants fix me something to eat. I'm starving."
…
Spitting toothpaste out into the sink as her partner sat on the edge of the bathroom sink, Katara rolled her eyes as she looked at her wild disheveled hair in the mirror. She spent the whole night tossing and turning. It hadn't been a good night of rest for her. Especially not when she was approached by Ozai and his sudden concern in what she had been trying to tell him for quite a while. He really annoyed the hell out of her and she really was done helping his stupid ass out. If he was so confident he had everything under control then she really didn't have much to say to him. She just did her part and he could leave her the hell alone.
"Still no leads on this scientist we're supposed to find?" Azula applied some light red lip paint to her lips.
Shaking her head as she rinsed her mouth out, "Hard to find leads on a person we only know by their research. Atsou should have given us better information." Katara scoffed. "Good for nothing bastard."
"Mean one, do you really not like me?"
The two women looked up to see Atsou and narrowed their brows. They had both just finished bathing and were clad in the spare towels of Iroh upstairs apartment. Atsou clearly hadn't just arrived, likely watching them, or at least watching one of them.
Katara gave him a dirty look and grabbed the comb on the bathroom counter to continue her grooming, "You have a face I hate to look at all while being a person I despise. Of course, I don't like you. Stop acting so hurt."
"I guess you're right." Atsou sighed as he walked up behind her and towered over her smaller physique as he eyed her in the mirror. "But I'm putting your current mission on pause. The main objective for why I brought you here is underway. Both of you get dressed in the attire I've laid out for you on the bed. We have places to be."
Azula tilts her head as she climbs off the counter, "Be where?"
"The palace. You both will go in disguises and act as my bodyguards. I've managed to gain an audience with the Earth King and need to look the part." Atsou smirked as he saw Katara's eyes widen. "Don't worry, mean one. I'll make sure the Earth King doesn't lay a hand on you."
Sucking her teeth as she turned around to face him, "And how do you think you'll be able to pull that off?! That bastard has assassins all round him! He doesn't have to kill me with his bare hands! He'll just give the order!"
Atsou grinned wider at the fear in the waterbender's eyes and placed his hands on each side of her face, running his thumbs over her cheeks. "You're an innocent woman. I know you didn't kill his sister. I'll make him see."
"He'll just see that you killed her!" Katara snapped her teeth, pulling herself away from him.
"I didn't kill her either." Atsou steps back.
Katara tilted her head in confusion.
"Get ready, mean one. We have much to do today."
….
Ozai woke to Kiko licking his face and smiled as soon as he knew it was her. His hand ran over her fur as he buried his face in it and groaned blissfully before trying to fall back asleep. He didn't realize that there was someone in the room watching him until he heard laughter and was startled from his resting position to see who was there. His eyes narrowed immediately when he saw the person.
"I never would have thought you'd be in bed with a wild animal. Has the dating market gotten that bad, Ozai?" The man laughed as he approached the bed.
Sitting up as Kiko purred and laid her head in his lap, Ozai rustled his hair from his face while glaring at Hakoda. "I'm bothering no one and yet, I always seemed to be bothered. What do you want, Hakoda?"
Pausing as the tiger-dillo growled at him, Hakoda eyed the beast and then looked to the Phoenix King. "I heard some rumors. I came to you to confirm them."
"What rumors?" Ozai fluffed his kitten's fur.
"My daughter." Hakoda's brow furrowed. "Is she really alive?"
It turned into an hour-long conversation. Sitting at the patio table on the balcony of his guest suite while petting Kiko's head. Staring dazedly at the beautiful gardens of the Earth Kingdom palace. Confessing everything he knew about Katara, her death, her life as she was reborn, and the people involved. Katara did indeed die that day. She took her own life and was forcibly brought back. He saw Hakoda's expression was that of a pained father. To hear his daughter go through that all to become what she was now. Ozai knew Hakoda struggled to believe him and so he showed him his memories of Katara in the violent altercations he had recently gotten into with her. She was cold blooded and lost her moral compass so much so that even Ozai had to tell her she was going too far off the deep end.
In disbelief but knowing it was all true as it lined up with the rumors, Hakoda shook his head as he placed his hand over his face. He couldn't believe what he saw. Katara looked so different. Her hair, her expressions, the way her eyes looked when she turned violent. This couldn't be his daughter. Katara would never delight in murder but she looked so gleeful in committing violent acts from Ozai's memories.
Sighing as he couldn't bring himself to look at Ozai, "That's not my daughter. It has to be some vengeful spirit."
"In a way it is." Ozai stated as he went over what a siren was or at least what it was from what he knew. He believed she merged with her siren and was overridden with madness because of it. It happened with Hama and now Katara. However, he believed the kind of siren Katara possessed or possessed Katara was far more dangerous. "She's working with my twin brother but she has motives of her own. I'll explain more at the meeting later."
"Explain amongst others? Why?" Hakoda finally looked up at him.
Ozai eyed him before shifting his gaze back to Kiko, "Katara is planning something sinister. She told me herself. I need help ensuring she doesn't succeed."
"Help?" The tribesman furrowed his brows. "You can't deal with her yourself?"
"You saw my fights with her. If I wasn't immortal she would have killed me a dozen times over. Katara is dangerous. Even by my standards. I can't put her down myself. A lot of her anger is directed at me, somewhat understandable, so she fights me like she's come to kill me. She holds back nothing. I can't get her to stop. Her friends and her family might be able to play the sympathy card with her."
Hakoda dropped his gaze, "Kya is going to murder me herself when I finally see her again. She must be weeping in the heavens for our daughter."
Seeing a tribesman leave the Phoenix King's chambers, Ami rushed over to the doors and slipped herself in behind him. Upon entering, she heard the shower going in the bathroom and walked towards the bathroom but was intercepted by Kiko. She giggled when the tiger-dillo seemed to want to play with her but it was short lived when the beast's master called to it.
"Kiko, down."
Ami looked up from the tiger-dillo as it retreated from her and saw the Phoenix King dripping wet with a mere towel around his waist. Her mouth dropped at the sight of his wet hair slicked back and his broad defined torso. The woman gawked at the sovereign leader until she saw him smirking at her. Ami quickly straightened herself out, shutting her gaping mouth and turned her head away from him.
Patting Kiko's head as she rubbed it against his leg, "I'll be out in a few moments if you don't mind waiting."
Moments later, Ami was pulling her hair behind her ear in slight embarrassment as she walked side by side with the Phoenix King. She didn't mean to stare so hard at him but it had been years since she started working for the man and she never gotten to see him like that before. He was heavenly. Besides, she hadn't been with a man since her late husband passed away from an 'accident'. She felt like a young girl taking interest in a very attractive older man. She was fortunate that she and Ozai's 'relationship', if it could be called one, tittered on a small flirtation.
Deciding to break the silence, Ozai sighed as he slowed his pace while on their walk to her brother's meeting chambers.
"My ex-wife. Katara. Your brother tried to kill her." Ozai came out with it. "And she's the one planning to retaliate. That's why I came here. Why we are here. Because of her."
Ami paused and turned to look up at the Phoenix King, "Why would my brother try to kill your ex-wife?"
"Kikyo is legally dead. Other than you or I, no one knows the truth. Katara took the fall that night, remember?"
Furrowing her brows, "You didn't tell her?"
Ozai shook his head, "Katara has suddenly become a woman of vengeance. Many that have crossed her are already dead. She will turn her gaze on you. I didn't tell her for your sake."
"I didn't think you'd be concerned about my well-being, your majesty. I'm just a scientist with a royal title. That's not as much as you'd think."
"Nonsense." Ozai scoffed as he placed his hands behind his back and the two continued their walk. "You are much more than that. I've told you before and I'll tell you again, there is no woman like you that I've ever met. You have a brilliant mind, one that I require by my side. Your well-being means a lot to me."
You really shouldn't say stuff like that to a woman. Ami sighed to herself. You'll give me the wrong idea. The two fell silent for a brief moment before Ami engaged with him some more on the topic. She asks him if he truly means to expose his ex-wife in front of those present.
Ozai's gaze falls on the floor ahead of him, "I always thought that bringing her back home meant she'd be alive but I'm starting to fear I'll be bringing her home to a grave."
Ami is taken aback, "you'd kill her?!"
"She's dead already. I'd just be putting her to rest." Ozai seemed so convinced of this. "Katara died some time ago. There's just a hollowed out woman roaming around with her face."
It was a bit morbid but Ami understood. He had finally come to accept the reality of things. Whatever kind of woman his wife had been in the past was in the past. She was an entirely different woman now.
Just when Ami was going to ask more concerning the walking corpse that was his ex-wife, the two paused and were stunned by the sight of a man with long silver locks strolling by opposite of them. The two stood there motionless as the silver haired man caught their gaze and winked at them. The Earth Kingdom princess was speechless as she turned her whole body to take in the impossible sight. She knew Ozai had warned her about this man. A man with his exact face and stature. This was the man, his twin brother, Atsou.
Ozai couldn't believe his bastard dared to show his face so publicly and here of all places. He felt an immediate chill when Atsou's red eyes fell upon him. Like he had suspected. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Averting his gaze from his twin brother's smug expression, the Phoenix King noticed the two female guards walking behind Atsou, both covering the lower half of their faces with ghoulish half-masks that looked similar to the Fox mask Atsou typically wore to hide his appearance.
Narrowing his eyes at the blue eyed female guard, Ozai clenched his fists and hissed her name under his breath. She didn't bother glancing at him and kept her eyes ahead but the gold eyed woman did spare him a look. It was Azula. His hard expression lessened upon seeing her. When they were gone, heading out of sight, Ozai placed his hand on Ami's shoulder.
"I knew something wasn't right." Ozai hissed between his clenched teeth. "Ami, you need to be alert at all times. Things might very well become dangerous."
Ami glanced up at Ozai and nodded as he told her to stay close to him. She had no problem staying close.
…..
Walking with his grandmother holding onto his arm, Uhara sighed as the elderly woman reprimanded him once again for leaving the Phoenix Empire. He had already explained himself a hundred times over. He did not dump Kya. He just wanted time away from the empire and the stress that came with it. Plus, he didn't really like his future father-in-law. Sure, he understood the man adored his daughter and there were a lot of family issues going on all at once but Ozai was being unrealistic. Uhara had been involved with Kya for years, as her friend to her fiancé, back to friend, and now they were courting again. He loved her and eventually wanted to marry her once her family was whole again, but he really didn't want to deal with Ozai anymore.
"The Phoenix King thought enough about you to make you immortal and place the responsibility of his daughter in your hands, yet you spit in his face! Uhara, I raised you to be smarter than that!" Lady Sho scolded her grandson.
Uhara focused his gaze on the garden scene they were strolling through, "I did not spit in his face. Kya and I are not broken up. I just needed to get away for a bit."
"For what reason? Is she not good to you, Uhara?"
"Kya is all I could ask for in a woman but it's her father, the Phoenix King. I fear he has ill intent behind why he's allowing me to be with Kya."
"What makes you think that?"
"Well, I spoke with Zhiar and he s-"
Lady Sho pauses and yanked her arm from her grandson as she scowled at him. "You spoke to that deviant and listened?!"
"Grandmother, listen-"
"No, you listen, Uhara! Kya loves you! The Phoenix King sees you as his son! Why would you listen to a fool who ruined his chances at honor twice?! You are smarter than this, my love."
Sighing, Uhara kisses his grandmother's forehead and leaves to go take care of business at the palace. He knew his grandmother was likely right. In his carriage on the way to the palace, it dawned on him that he might have foolishly let Zhiar get to him. Uhara did remember her telling him how her twin brother had always found it necessary to ruin everything for everyone. He was a jealous person and exhibited a lot of their father's ugly traits. It only made sense that he would try to deceive him in order to break him up from Kya. Agni! I'm a fucking idiot!
Uhara was making his way to the Fire Lord's office when he managed to see Kya. He hadn't expected her to be here. Did she follow him here? No. She was holding to her nephew's hand. The nobleman paused to watch her for a moment. Ryu was bouncing up and down as Kya tried reeling him in. A smile splayed across her face. One that always forced him to smile when he saw it. Uhara began to feel nothing but regret. He shouldn't have left her side. Not for a moment.
Arriving at the Fire Lord's office with reports from his home province, Uhara became a bit antsy as he wanted to go find Kya and speak to her. Little did he know, the Fire Lord noticed this and raised a brow.
Glancing up from the report he was reading, "Something more important to attend to, Lord Totomi?"
"Oh, no, your majesty!" Uhara bowed his head. "Forgive me. I just have a lot on my mind."
Zuko snorted and leaned back at his desk, "Anything to do with my sister?"
Uhara's eyes widened as he lifted his head.
Sighing as he tossed the report papers onto the desk, "Kya says you two broke up or at least that is what she is to assume with you leaving abruptly. Want to clarify what's going on?" Zuko tilted his head to the side as he laced his fingers together.
"I assure you, I did not end things with Kya, I merely needed time away to collect myself. Things were very stressful and your father didn't-"
"My father?" Zuko couldn't help but chuckle. "Kya mentioned you didn't like him. Not that surprising but my father thinks so highly of you. Sure, he's an asshole but he has been in your corner."
Lord Totomi shrugged awkwardly and explained his conversation with Zhiar which caused the Fire Lord to burst out laughing. Uhara sighed, knowing he was a fool to have taken Zhiar's words to heart.
"My brother likes to ruin everything, Uhara. Including his own life." Zuko laughed as he got a kick out of that. "I thought Kya or my father at least explained to you that Zhiar was troublesome."
Yes, they both have. But Uhara was stupid to believe the words of the fallen prince.
"Look, Uhara, I'm not my father. I'm not going to tell you what to do or anything but regardless of whether there is validity to what Zhiar says, which there is not, you need to explain yourself to Kya. She didn't deserve you up and leaving like that. It's greatly affected her."
Kya had begged him not to leave her and he barely even heard her pleas. He felt ashamed.
"You think she'll speak to me?"
Zuko shrugged, "I'll speak to her first but meanwhile, you should get your apology in order."
….
"So...how did you know when you were in love with mom?" Kya asked out of the blue as she looked around her older brother's office.
Zuko signed off on a few documents and glanced over at his sister, "Why do you want to know?"
Shrugging, "Just curious. I mean, you took good care of us after dad's execution and mom just runs off with some other guy to marry, then turns around to get right back again with dad. You got a few brief moments with her while she chooses someone else. How did you know you loved her so much that you could continue fighting for her even when she's given you no reason to?"
The Fire Lord set his quill down and gazed seldomly over his work before cutting his eyes to his sister. "What reason does anyone need when they know in their hearts that without that person they'd be lost without a purpose? You don't need a reason when that person alone is your very reason for pushing forward." Casting his amber eyes back on his work. "Katara doesn't have to love me. I wish she would but she doesn't. Not the way I love her. Our father, dead or alive, will always have her heart. Even if it was me that said 'I love you' first and it was me and me alone that would go to the ends of this earth for her. My love doesn't have to be returned. I just need her to understand nothing will change how I feel. Nothing."
Kya saw the way Zuko was gripping his fist tight as he was scowling at his desk. She could tell he meant every word. She had seen his actions aligned with his words when it came to her mother. Zuko truly loved her mother, so much it was painful to watch knowing her mother would never return his feelings.
"So that's how it feels? Like no matter what, even in the worse possible circumstance, you'd love her even so."
Nodding his head, "Yes."
"Then I guess I'm not in love with Uhara like I thought." Kya said with a glum look on her face.
Zuko looked up and tilted his head. "What? What do you mean?"
"He left me…" Kya said soberly as she hung her head in lament. "He left me knowing how I feel about being left...and I hate him for it."
Getting up from his seat to go comfort his sister, Zuko could see she wasn't so easily over what happened. Sure, she stated that she wasn't sure they broke up but it seemed pretty clear things weren't going well in that department. He gave her a shoulder to cry on though she didn't do much crying, just wanted a hug. He patted her head and sighed while she clung to him.
"Perhaps you should talk to him."
"No way." She shot her brother a look as she looked up at him.
Sighing, "You're going about dad's approach about this?"
"No, dad's problem is he does approach and then it starts a fight." Kya clarified as she pulled away from her brother.
Zuko pointed out that their father was terrible with communication whether he avoided it or attempted to talk things out. They all inherited his gods awful relationship management skills. Every last one of their father's relationships ended miserably and the common denominator in all of them was their father and his shitty personality.
As her brother put his work away and prepared to head to Ba Seng Sei, Kya figured she'd go check on Ryu in his lessons. Honestly, she didn't mind staying in the Fire Nation indefinitely. It was her birthplace and the birthplace of her father. Plus, things were so much more lax here as far as her workload. All she had to do was look after Ryu, which was a piece of cake, and keep an eye out for anything strange. Kya felt this was a much needed break away from the heavy workload back in the Phoenix Empire.
"Kya."
The princess paused as she heard her name. Why did I see that coming?
"Kya, I need to t-"
"I don't want to talk." Kya spat as she turned around and looked up at the pair of gold eyes she did not want to see right at this moment.
Uhara hadn't seen Kya look at him so coldly since she was a sixteen year old hating that her father forced her into their first engagement. He felt so terrible for just leaving her like that. Kya had always been on his side and always defended him against her father. How could he just turn heel and run? She didn't deserve that.
"You don't have to speak." He swallowed hard as he watched her fold her arms. "I'll do the talking, okay?"
Rolling her eyes, Kya allowed him to say his peace so she could get on with her day. She really didn't care what he had to say at this point. He waited until running into her to finally confront her. It pissed her off. Like, did he not even think of her this whole time? It had been more than enough time for him to get his thoughts together. Why, now, did he want to talk to her?
"I just want to go for the record that me leaving had nothing to do with you, Kya. There will never be anyone better for me than you." He stressed as he placed his hands on her shoulders and looked her dead in the eyes. "I just- I fear your father controlling every detail of our lives for the rest of our lives. He's controlling and can't help reigning over everyone including you. I guess it comes with the territory but I can't follow your father every which way. It'll only cause problems and possible fighting. That's not something I want. Plus, your family dynamic is a bit frightening. Almost everyone except your two youngest siblings is involved in something criminal."
Kya furrowed her brows and knocked his hands from her, "You're calling us criminals?!"
"Sort of but my point is that I want to take you away from the chaos of your family and show you how a family truly is supposed to be. But your father...wouldn't he just force you to stay with him?"
Kya's face balled up into a scowl, "Uhara, you could have just taken me with you! I would have gone anywhere to just be with you?! And my father wouldn't have stopped me! He's been trying to get me away from him since I came of age! You know that! He just assumed I'd still be clinging to him. But even more, you left without talking to me about what you were feeling! I kept asking you what was wrong! But you wouldn't tell me!"
"I'm sorry, Kya. I know I messed up."
"You did more than mess up! I'm so angry with you I don't even know what to say!" Kya sniffled as her eyes watered.
Uhara pulled her into his arms and brushed his hand over the back of her head, "I love you, Kya. More than anything. I mean it." Holding to her as she continued to cry. "Come by the estate and I'll make it up to you."
Shoving him away, Kya shakes her head as she stares at him with her teary eyes. "I'm tired of being walked out on, Uhara. You weren't the first. But you will be the last. We're over."
And with that the princess hurried off in a tearful mess. Uhara could only stand there sulking after being broken up with. I'm a fucking moron.
…..
Azula groaned in annoyance as she had to stand guard outside the throne room with Katara and the Earth Kingdom guards. This was ridiculous. Her uncle had to know it. He made them dress in white kimonos with their hair worn completely down and half-masks. A red sash was around their waist, holding their sheathed short and long swords. They looked like the personal guards of a monarch. Sure, it was uniform and kind of fitting but what did Atsou need guards for? Was this all just for show?
"I should have snuck one of my fat uncle's hot buns in my sleeves." Azula said as her stomach started growling.
The waterbender rolled one out of her sleeve and handed it to her to which Azula laughed and accepted it.
As Azula discreetly ate the hot bun, she noticed Katara's posture shift into a more guarded one and she hurried to finish the hot bun. Fighting on an empty stomach only made her more violent. She fixed her face mask and placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, prepared for whatever. It wasn't long before they saw Ozai and some classy looking woman on his arm. The two came directly towards them, intimidating the Earth Kingdom guards that didn't even bother stopping either of them. However, Azula was unfazed by her father and was anything but afraid of him.
Stepping in the way to block passage, "Our master is speaking with the Earth King. They are not to be interrupted." Azula stated.
"Precisely why I'm here." Ozai told her as he made a move to make her step out of his way.
Azula sighed and pulled out her sword, holding it out at her father as she narrowed her eyes. "I have orders to bring down anyone that attempts to enter."
"Azula, don't make me put you in your place." Ozai said coldly.
Suddenly, an invisible force caused Ami to wince as she fell on her knees as Ozai felt a strain on his neck. Katara stepped forward with her hand on the hilt of her weapon, taking up beside Azula as she stared impassively at Ozai and forced a yelp from the woman at his side.
"Touch her and see what I do." Katara's tone was stoney as Azula smirked and sheathed her sword.
Ozai's lip twitched into a snarl and he was about to tell her off when the throne room doors opened wide.
Atsou and the Earth King exited, causing everyone to turn around. Katara and Azula bowed their heads as did the other guards while Ozai just eyed the two men. He saw his brother smirk and walk right up to him as King Kuei stopped halfway, folding his arms. Ami tensed and backed away at the sight of the Phoenix King's brother. She had been warned that the man was dangerous.
"Ozai, we meet again." Atsou said happily as he placed his hands on both of his twin brother's shoulders.
Slapping Atsou's hands off of him, "What the hell are you even doing here, Atsou?"
"When will you start to warm up to me, brother? I've been dying to meet you for years and we've met all but one time before now. You should make yourself more friendly." Atsou pouted.
Ozai glared at him, "I asked you a fucking question."
"Ask nicely and I'll ans-"
Grabbing Atsou by his clothes, Ozai lifted him and shoved him up against a pillar. "How's this for being nice?! I asked you what the fuck are you doing here?!"
Atsou smirked as he looked into the eyes of his twin and patted his head, "Aren't you the angry type. Down boy."
Ozai was about to murder him then and there when Azula shoved her hand in the pressure points of his arm. He dropped Atsou and backed off, clenching his limp arm as he turned his furious gaze onto his eldest daughter.
"I came just to make myself friendly, Ozai. Had to speak leader to leader with my fellow King." Atsou said as he straightened out his clothes.
"Fellow King?!" Ozai narrowed his eyes at Atsou. "What are you talking about?"
Atsou smirked, "Seeing as we are twins, Ozai, I just want to point out that I'm also of royal blood."
"Doesn't make you a king."
"Oh but it does, seeing as I control most of the world's population of inhumans and they refer to me as their leader, I think that does make me King." Atsou stated.
King Kuei nodded as he decided to finally chime in, walking up to them and placing his hand on Atsou's shoulder. "Your brother has told me all about his island of inhumans and how he wanted to finally make himself and them known to the world. I must say I was wary but after your brother showed himself to be quite the pleasant and hopeful man, I couldn't help but want to offer my assistance."
Ozai narrowed his eyes at Atsou.
"I'm flattered." Atsou said as he looked to King Kuei and smiled before looking back to Ozai, "I was just telling him some very interesting information about. Something I thought would cheer his aching heart up."
Nodding his head as he then tilted in Ozai's direction, Kuei narrowed his eyes. "It was wonderful news but I must say, I'd like to hear it from your mouths," his eyes looked down at Ami. "Sister." Eyes back to Ozai. "Phoenix King."
"Hear what?" They said in unison.
"Kikyo." The Earth King folded his arms. "Want to tell me what really happened to her?"
Ozai and Ami exchanged looks as not only the Earth King was interested in this information but a certain waterbender was just as curious to learn what was going on. Ten minutes later, Ozai got kicked in the nuts by his ex-wife, who went on to slap Ami afterwards. No one stopped her as she revealed herself in a fit of rage. King Kuei glared at his sister as she cupped her face in the wake of Lady Katara running off.
"Kikyo is blood! And you had her locked away! For what?! Because your husband, whom we all know you killed, couldn't keep his dick to himself! You even let an innocent woman be blamed for it!"
Ami furrowed her brows, "Lady Katara is no innocent woman. She's behind the incident at the gala."
Kuei went up to slap his sister, "I don't care about a damn gala! I care that you made me look like a fool! That you locked our sister away like some criminal! We don't do that shit, Ami! We don't do it!"
In tears after her brother struck her, Ami ran off crying and left the Phoenix King dealing with her brother in her stead.
Climbing to his feet after the pain subsided from his groin area, Ozai could see his brother smirking while the Earth King glared at him.
"You claimed to love your waterbender so much but you let her take the fall for something you knew she didn't do." King Kuei eyed the man in disgust. "I guess you find yourself more smitten with my other sister. You can have her. I'm sure you two have a less than professional relationship."
….
Angrily roaming off, Katara found herself losing to the rage inside her. How could Ozai do that to her? Know the truth and say nothing to clear her name. No wonder he was so acquainted with that woman. They were in cahoots with one another. She should have been a little more suspicious of the woman, though she did have some questions about how Ozai had come to know the woman, Katara didn't ask them. She didn't want to come off as jealous. However, she now regretted not looking into the woman. Last time I don't trust my better judgement.
The waterbender pushed herself up against an outdoor wall as she tried getting some air. Honestly, she shouldn't be surprised Ozai was a shitty asshole when she met him. Sure, he had changed immensely but he still had his fucked up ways. What could she really expect? No need to get mad, she tried telling herself, let it go. Katara tried a few breathing exercises she remembered Zuko had to do in order to refrain from burning something. However, just like Zuko, the breathing technique didn't work much and she spazzed out.
Screaming at the top of her lungs in frustration, Katara accidentally released a shockwave of her energy and froze everything within twenty feet of her. When her eyes opened from her balling up her face, the waterbender saw a servant that had gotten frozen and she rushed over to the woman. Panicking as she hadn't meant to freak out like that and harm an innocent, Katara tried unfreezing the servant but it wouldn't budge. It was then that she tried to see it the servant was still alive inside but without meaning to, she shattered the woman into pieces.
Katara stared at the remains in horror as she was still holding onto a frozen piece of the woman and dropped it. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she mutter an apology. Am I turning into a monster? No, I've been a monster this whole time.
Witnessing the waterbender fall on her knees as she was distraught from accidentally killing a servant, Astou approached her and stopped right behind her.
"You're still true to yourself, mean one." Atsou placed his hand on her shoulder. "Nothing monstrous about you."
Lifting her head up as she looked over her shoulders with tears eyes and glared at Atsou, "Nothing monstrous? What do you call what I've been doing these last couple of months?!"
"Protecting your family. That is why you obey me, is it not?" Atsou grinned at her.
Standing to her feet, Katara wipes her tears away as her hard expression remained on Atsou, who with a wave of his hand burned the corpse and defrosted the area in a single swoop of his hand.
"Why did you pick me?" Katara asked him out of the blue.
Atsou couldn't help but smirk wider, "Why would you want to know?"
"Because my whole life got turned upside down because of your family drama! I want to know why you brought me into this shit show?! Why me?!" Katara raised her voice and her eyes glowed, her siren's voice surfacing.
Eyes starting at the top of her head and traveling down, the partial Phoenix couldn't help but genuinely smile at her. "One of my gifts/abilities is sight. I see the past, the present, and the future. We have a past, a present, and a future together, Katara. Only, as of now, I'm not whole."
"What?" Katara raises a brow at this.
Chuckling at her confusion, "Forget it. I'll explain everything once I've cleared an objective. Just know, out of the many futures I've seen based on the decisions we all make, the one with you and I here in this very moment leads to a future I want. That's why I picked you. It can only be you, Katara."
The waterbender looked Atsou over as he reached to caress her face. She allowed it as she was hoping he had more to say. It was the most he's ever really said that helped her understand who he was and what he was capable of. So far, he could bring people back from the dead, convert his flames and Ozai's bone marrow into crystals of immortality, and he could see all of time. Obviously, Atsou was incredibly powerful and dangerous.
"I'll tell you more about me, about us, tonight. Agree to go for a stroll with me and I'll tell you everything you want to know." Atsou's hand moved from her face to the lock of hair hanging just in front of her face.
Furrowing her brows, "Why? Why would you suddenly give me answers?"
"Because it's time you knew. Keeping you in the dark serves neither of us any good, mean one. Let's talk tonight, okay?"
As much as Katara wanted answers now, she would settle for later. Better that than not at all.
"Fine."
"Great, I'll come for you. You may return to the tea shop."
Katara side-eyed Atsou as he sent her off. She was very curious about what his plans were here and something told her that playing nice with the Earth King wasn't his endgame.
As Katara left the premises, Atsou sighed and shook his head. "Ozai, you can't possibly think I don't sense you nearby."
Atsou smirks as Ozai manifests himself from a small white flame to his physical form. It amused him how the man was already staring callously at him. Clearly, he was ticking off his younger twin brother.
"Release Katara from whatever bindings you have over her." Ozai demands as he steps in front of him, "She's not yours to use for your evil bidding."
Bursting into laughter as he stepped around Ozai with his hands clasped behind his back, Atsou shook his head. "She was only ever yours because I allowed it, Ozai. She never truly belonged to you. From the day you two met, I orchestrated it all. She was always mine to do with as I saw fit. So, no, I will not give her up. Not to you. Besides, what fool tosses aside his queen?" Atsou turned to see Ozai was facing him. "But you could just willingly let me devour you so we can become one then she will in some strange way be yours again."
Ozai furrowed his brows in frustration, "We don't even know one another to be enemies like this, Atsou! I didn't even know you existed until about almost three years ago!"
Suddenly, an unpleasant expression formed on the usually amused Atsou's face as he stared darkly at his twin brother. He wasn't typically in such a grim mood. Even in situations that typically called for it. Atsou liked to think he was a genuinely jolly person but like all people, he had his moments of discontent.
Atsou stepped towards Ozai and looked his features over with disdain, "While you, my twin brother, got to live oblivious to my existence, I was not so fortunate. You see, unlike you, I was a ghost. A prince proclaimed dead and forgotten, cast out to die like a bastard in the woods. You had my face. The prince of the Fire Nation had my face. So I had to hide mine for all my life." Turning his lip up in a snarl as he was in a very bad mood just remembering. "I watched you my whole life. I obsessed over you. There's not a thing about you that I don't know. The prince of the Fire Nation, how I envied his glamorous life. All the good, bad, and the ugly that came with it. I wanted to be you and walk in the light of day, no longer a shadow."
The Phoenix King roared with laughter, "Your life must have been pitiful if you wanted to be me. That or you were a moron."
"I'd have been a better version. I am the better version." Atsou hissed. "You will learn that if you haven't already discovered it now."
Ozai rolled his eyes. "I don't see why we can't just co-exist. You want to bask in the sun or whatever, do that. That doesn't require you fucking up my life and fucking with the people in it."
"I hated being your twin. A masked ghost with an unmarked grave. No one even knew I existed. I wasn't just dead, Ozai. I was erased! Do you know how that feels?!"
Shrugging his shoulders, "No but I'm guessing it's not fun seeing as you seem to get your rocks off to me."
Atsou grew angry by how lightly Ozai was taking him.
"My advice to you is to get a life." Ozai tried not to laugh as he placed his hand on Atsou's shoulder.
Slapping his hand from his shoulder, "Oh, I plan to. I'm taking yours."
"Excuse me?!" Ozai raised a brow.
Smirking, "You heard me, brother. I'm taking yours. Every aspect of it. Your power, your wealth, your pure immortality, your women, your children, your entire existence. I want it and I plan to take it."
The twins were eye to eye as one grinned at the other's scowl.
"There can only be one Phoenix King Ozai of the Yong dynasty and I promise, it will be me."
"You little piece of-" Ozai was about to grab Atsou and whoop his ass like he had been itching to do for sometime but Atsou shifted into a flame, scorching his hands. Son of a bitch!
Atsou burst out laughing as Ozai shouted in pain from his hands being burned to a crisp. "Let's play a game, brother."
…..
"Thank La, you're here." Sokka sighed in relief as he saw Zuko shape shifting out of his dragon form and strutting out of the courtyard of the Earth Kingdom palace.
Flashing a smirk at his long time friend, "Don't tell me the show has already begun?" Zuko gested.
Snorting, Sokka told him it was the show he was trying to stay away from. His father gave him all the details about Katara and the strangeness surrounding her death and reappearance. As much as he would like to see his sister after believing she was dead, Sokka was afraid to approach her as Ozai told his father she was dangerous, even compared to him.
"She's dangerous to my father because he keeps provoking her." Zuko assured him. "Katara is the same as always. Just fed up."
Well, if that was the case then Sokka would visit her when he had the time to.
The two strolled through the halls chatting with one another. Sokka telling him how things with him and Toph were good but she still refused to get back with him.
"Not like it stops her from wanting me to keep her company in the evening." Sokka nudged his pal.
Zuko sighed, "That's a problem I wouldn't mind having."
Sokka threw his arm around Zuko's shoulder, "Hey, I know plenty of single hot chicks. Just gotta tell me what your type is?"
"I'm good, Sokka."
Rolling his eyes, "Code for 'I rather continue daydreaming about fucking your sister till the day I die'."
Shrugging Sokka away from him, "Shut up. It's not even that. I just don't want to go on a blind date with some crazy chick. I have enough crazy shit in my life as it is."
The tribesman would not doubt him on that. Sokka was grateful that he didn't have to deal with that part of the family like that. It was weird enough that he had been brother in laws with Ozai and that his sister had kids with him, Zuko, and Arnook, Sokka didn't want to deal with the supernatural parts. The parts that had nothing to do with their strange powers were crazy enough for him. He still hadn't gotten past Ozai and his father screwing around.
As the two continued on their walk and talking, they stopped at the sight of Ozai. Two Ozais.
Sokka's eyes widened. "What the fuck?!"
"Hello there." Atsou greeted the tribesman warmly.
Sokka couldn't stop looking between the smiling Ozai and the grumpy Ozai.
While Sokka zoned out, Zuko looked between his father and uncle. "You two doing some twin bonding?" He smirked.
Ozai sucked his teeth and bumped shoulders with Zuko as he stormed off. "I'm not dealing with this today." He grumbled.
"Your father is such a grumpy man."
"More like miserable." Zuko scoffed. "You two getting along?"
Atsou shrugged his shoulders with a smile as he tilted his head, "We were getting to that. Tried playing a friendly game but your father is the grumpy twin."
As Atsou walked off in a strangely gleeful mood, Zuko noticed his friend was still having a hard time wrapping his head around what he just saw. He thought it was funny. First time he met Atsou, he had a similar expression. He figured everyone did.
"Why the hell are there two Ozais?" Sokka was still in a very stunned state.
Rubbing his neck awkwardly, "Well, it turns out my dad has a twin brother that none of us knew about until recently."
Sokka cringed at this awful discovery. "So...who's the evil twin?"
Zuko smiled awkwardly, "They both are...sort of. What we're all trying to figure out is who's more evil."
"I think I need a drink." Sokka declared.
"Me too, buddy." Zuko wrapped his arm around Sokka's shoulder and led the way.
…..
"Auntie Kya?" Ryu asked as he held Kya's hand.
"Yes, Ryu?"
"Why is Uncle Uhara following us?"
Kya forced herself to maintain her soft expression, "You don't have an Uncle Uhara."
"But-"
"Go find Tomoe and see if she can cook some sweet dumplings, mkay?" She smiled down at him.
Ryu smiled back at her and nodded.
As her nephew ran along, Kya turned around to see Uhara had indeed been following them and glared at him. She was furious that he felt he could stalk her back into being with him. Didn't he know he broke her heart? She was so depressed when he left her, feeling like she had done something without knowing it. But in actuality, he left her for no real reason at all. Using her father and her family problems as a scapegoat and that only made her more upset.
The Phoenix Princess watched as her ex came up to her and got down on one knee, everyone in the halls stopped what they're doing to witness the shocking sight. Pulling out a ruby ring, Uhara held it up to Kya, offering it to her before all that bear witness.
"Princess Kya Yong, will you m-"
Kya kicks Uhara in his chest and forces him down on his back, scowling viciously at him as their audience is taken aback by her actions.
"You hurt me, Uhara! You walked out on me knowing I have spent most of my life feeling abandoned by my mother! How could you become one more person to do that to me?! How?!" Kya shouted at him.
All the nobleman could do was gaze up at her somberly, "Kya, I am so sorry. I mean it. I should have better explained myself and my intentions. And I won't make an excuse. I know you don't want to hear that but I really can't imagine not having you in my life for the eternity I'll be here on this gods forsaken earth. I'm sorry, Kya. I've never been more sorry in my life."
Apparently, Uhara had won over their audience as they all became very vocal about Kya accepting his apology. She sucked her teeth and let Uhara up to his feet.
"I don't forgive you, Uhara. Not now. Not for some time." She told him honestly.
"I understand." He replied.
"But I love you. I wouldn't be mad if I didn't." Kya's expression softened a little.
Uhara smiled at her hopefully.
"Give me time as I have given you. Do this and I'll think about accepting your apology."
Delighted to hear this, Uhara kisses Kya and she returned his affection without a second thought. When they pulled apart, the nobleman held out the ring to her and looked her in her eyes.
"Could you give me an answer on this?" He chuckled nervously.
Kya nodded with a humored smile on her lips, "Yes, Lord Uhara Totomi. I'll marry you."
The hallway broke out in a cheer and Kya immediately felt embarrassed as she had almost forgotten that they were being watched.
"I love you, Kya." Uhara said as he slid the ring on her finger. "More than anything."
Bashfully the princess whispered it back.
Smiling joyfully at her, Uhara told her he would be waiting and kissed her forehead before taking off.
Looking at her ring as she rested her hand over her middle, look what daddy got mommy.
….
A/N:
Second chapter for the day coming up! Thanks for reading! Twin drama ahead!