"Ursa!" Rina shouts. "Are you so empty headed that I'll tell you three times, FEED THE PIGS!"
"Sorry mom!" Ursa exclaims.
"And shoo off that scoundrel in front of our house!" her father yells. Ursa scoops up two heavy pails of pig's trough and leaves through the back door. Ozai continues to kick rocks through the sand.
"You can't be here!" she tells. Ozai looks up to see a girl with amber eyes and long brown hair in two braids.
"Says who?" he replies, scowling.
"My father," she says. "You're trespassing."
"Well my father is the Fire Lord, and he told me to go wherever. Actually, he said to get out of his sight, but-" the girl's laughter stopped his thoughts.
"You're not a prince," she says.
"I am too."
"You are not-" A large hand roughly grips Ursa's arm and drags her away, muttering something with the word "slut" in between. Ozai watches through the window and witnesses the girl be berated then slapped by the man who he presumed to be her father. Guilt rises in his throat. He should've left when asked.
Ozai doesn't really like Chan all that much, but his house is always good fun and he gets a kick out of watching the boy scramble to impress him. They're only fourteen, but Ozai realizes his title is beginning to truly hold its weight. The party they've hosted is lively, but Ozai still isn't particularly entertained. Until a face he's long since forgotten enters the room. She no longer wears her hair in braids, but instead in a neat ponytail. They make eye contact and she immediately tries to retreat, but Ozai is quick.
"Chan, go fetch me two drinks," he says. Then he motions for Ursa to come over. He stares at her meticulously, and all she wants is to shrink.
"Hello," she says.
"Sit."
"Can I get something to eat first?"
"Chan! Get her something to eat!" He brings them water and Komodo rhino stew. Ursa frowns.
"It's a little cold," she says. Ozai hovers his hand and heats the bowl.
"Now it's not." Her eyes light up and she smiles.
"You can fire bend!" she exclaims. "I can do it too you know. I guess not as good." He smirks. She watches the dancing flame with a childlike wonder in her eyes. For some reason, it feels better to Ozai than his father's pride or his brother's envy when he does something Iroh could not. In time, she rests her head on his shoulder, and eventually falls asleep. It's the first of many similar nights that summer, and during those hours, there is no world outside Chan's basement door.
He should stop coming here. After all, it was Illah's idea to start in the first place. And the faces of Ember Island are old to him. Girls throw themselves at him, and guys try to impress him. Little do they know he's been through three girlfriends this year and now feels too old for friends. People urge him to dance by the bonfire and offer him drinks. When a cold hand rests on his arm, it takes everything in him not to shake it off. Then he sees her face.
"Just wanted to say hi," she says, smiling. He doesn't miss the dried tears on her face.
"Why are you crying?" he asks.
"I've gotta go. They're playing seven minutes in the spirit world and Ikem wants to play."
"Who is that?" Ozai asks, eyes narrowing.
"My boyfriend," she says. "See you around." Anger boils through his veins. He waits a minute before following her inside the house. He sees her digging through a bowl in front of a group of people.
"I have-"
"Me," he says, grabbing her by the arm. He drags her into the closet.
"My prince," she says. "This isn't a good idea."
"Just yesterday you were saying I was no prince," he says, running a hand through his hair. "Remember that? You were ten and I was twelve."
"We aren't children anymore, Ozai," she says firmly.
"Do your parents still hit you?" he asks. She stiffens. "I remember, you were out taking to me, and your father dragged you inside. I always wondered if you were okay."
"We're moving to the capital," she says, quietly. "My parents think I can make something of myself. Away from my grandfather-"
"Who is he?"
"That's not important." They're still for a moment, heavy breaths are the only sound in the air. "I'm sorry. About your mother." He presses her against the wall and scrutinizes her expression. He's a man now. She's a tall woman herself, but his frame still dominates her own.
"Do you ever miss me?" he asks, voice low.
"Yes," she says, almost inaudibly. He kisses her with a passion unparalleled. The heat of his mouth combined with the weight of his body against hers makes her delirious. He's burning through her, and smearing alcohol on the inside of her mouth. He finally pulls away, panting for air. He looks at her like prey and suddenly she wants to leave.
"Don't look at me that way," he says in a pleading tone.
"Like what?"
"Don't look at me that way," he repeats, louder, angrier. "Like you're afraid of me."
"I'm not, I swear!" she exclaims. "You've just grown is all."
Ursa moving to the capital might be the best thing to ever happen to Ozai. In his father's court, she is awkward and a bit too domineering for a noble lady, but he craves the nights during which she sneaks across the imperial gardenrs and Ozai welcomes her to his bedroom. One night, she leaves her shawl behind and Ozai takes it upon himself to be a gentleman and return it to her.
"WHORE!" is the first word he hears echo through the thin walls of her home. He presses his head against the door.
"You diasappear from my home, like a woman of the night, only to return in the wee hours!" Jinzuk exclaims.
"Father! I wasn't doing anything, I promise! I went for a walk-" Ozai watches through the window as Jinzuk punches Ursa in the stomach and she falls onto the floor. He kicks the door down, and Ursa and her family stare with their mouths open.
"You have to get out of here," she says. He grabs Jinzuk by the collar and smashes him against the wall.
"If you ever," he says, in a low and harsh voice, "come near her again, I'll have you hanged. And your body will neither be burned nor buried. The same goes for your wife." He drops Ursa's father and helps her off the flor. Then he takes slings her over his shoulder, and takes her to his home. They say nothing as they move past the guards to his bedroom, and remain quiet even as he tends to her. She has a swollen lip and dried blood on her nose.
"Why would you do that" she asks, voice trembling.
"One day," he says, wiping the blood above her lip, "you'll be my Fire Lady, and bear my children, and grow old with me. They won't get in the way of that." She takes his hand from her face.
"Ozai, I- I love you," she says. He crashes his lips against her own and smiles.
"Delightful." Before long, their kisses become open mouthed, and his hands move down from her shoulders. She gasps when he cups a breast, but keeps her composure. "You want this," he whispers. "Tell me that you want it."
"I do," she says against his lips. She falls onto the bed with a gentle shove from him, and he gets atop of her and ravages her neck and breasts firsts. His back is the only thing visible in the dim yellow light. She feels his mouth going lower and lower, and the smirk on it once he reaches his destination. She gasps and kneads her hand through his hair when he finally presses his mouth to her core. His hot, wet tongue moves up and down her folds in a hurried and frantic pace, once which her body cannot keep up with. When he sucks on her clit, her back arches and she cries out. He pulls his mouth away from her with a smacking sound and gathers her wetness in two of his fingers.
"You've never done this before, have you?"
"I haven't and you know it," she replies. He smirks before returning to his work. When he moans against her, it makes a vibration that sends her over the edge. While she's still writhing and panting, he grabs her by the hips with a harsh grip and lines himself up with her.
"You're mine," he whispers, harsh and desperate.
"I'm yours," she moans. He moves in her forcefully yet with care. When she wraps her leg around him, he moves even faster, gripping her by the neck and slamming his body into her own. It's the most beautiful sight he'll ever see. Ursa, red faced and in ecstasy, completely at his mercy. The sound of her soft, pleading moans mixes in with his groans and grunts. Every breath the two of them draw together is in sync. When he feels himself nearing his end, he leans forward and kisses her harder, gripping her neck to the point that her breaths become sparse. She trembles and convulses beneath him, gushing around his length. He lets go of her as he himself releases spilling his seed, hot and rushed, into her womb. She smiles when he removes himself from her and the evidence of their lovemaking is sticky between her thighs. He remains on top of her and tests his head on her breasts. She smiles at the comfortable weight. When he thinks she's sleeping, he whispers into her ear.
"I love you too."
Somehow, despite being tangled up with him, Ursa has never felt so free.
Long ago, Ozai thought love was something peasants and commoners came up with to make themselves feel better. But as Ursa teaches their daughter how to walk, laughing when she fails and showering her chubby face with kisses when she succeeds, he understands that love is just something he'd been missing for a long time. Azula face plants into the grass yet again, and Ursa bursts into laughter. They make eye contact, and she smiles. Some days, Ozai's ambition attempts to overshadow their love, and Ursa worries for him. But she can't stay angry, knowing he wants the best for them. As she watches her husband and son share a bowl of spicy fire noodles, her heart swells. This place, the imperial gardens with the perfect breeze and her husband and babies, is her slice of paradise.
Ursa's hands are white as they grip her daughter's shoulders.
"Azula," she says, trying to steady her voice. "Tell me what you heard."
"Daddy asked grandfather for uncle's throne, and grandfather got mad. So now as punishment Dad has to kill Zuko so he feels like uncle did when Lu Ten died." Ursa's heart sinks into her stomach. Someone will die tonight. She's not sure as to who, but no longer will the Fire Lord hold the safety of her family in the air.
"Go to bed," she says. Azula stomps away to her quarters, muttering something about being too old for her current bedtime. "And Azula?" The younger girl turns around. "I love you, dear."
"Yeah right," she scoffs.
She enters their bedroom, and sees Ozai preparing the materials. He doesn't notice her.
"I must've missed it," she says. He jumps before collecting himself.
"Missed what, darling?"
"When you turned into a monster."
"I don't know what you want from me, Ursa."
"I want you to at least try to protect your son," she says, gripping his arm.
"He'd kill us all then. One goat sheep lost worth a flock saved."
"Oh, it was never about family! It's never been about family with you!" she exclaims.
"Not even when I rescued you from your own?"
"Forgive me, you paragon of kindness!"
"If you want to kill my father, kill him! I will not be hanged for treason."
"You promised, Ozai," she says, eyes glistening. "You promised me a family. How could you just let him take that away?" He paces across the room.
"You will make the poison. You will feed him the poison, and you will taste the poison should he force us to consume it ourselves." She wraps his arms around him in a bear hug.
"Thank you," she says through sobs.
"On the condition," he continues. "That you will help me forge his will, and I will be the next Fire Lord." She nods.
"I'll do it."
Her heart still beats out of her chest as she and Ozai make their way back to their own room.
"I think they heard us," she says.
"Ursa," he says. "You have to go, for a while."
"What do you mean?" she asks, eyes wide.
"The Fire Sages aren't stupid. They'll pursue you until you admit what you've done. Get out of the Fire Nation, and after some time, I will pardon you and let you back into our home."
"Oh," she says, tears prickling at her eyes. He lifts her face gently and kisses her. She tugs at his robes, and they fall into the bed together. In their afterglow he says,
"You, are the spirit's gift to me. Wherever you are in the world, you will always belong to me." She nods, stifling a sob. Her face is buried in his neck and he strokes her back.
"Be patient and kind, Ozai," she says. "And take care of our children. They'll be here after we are." He says nothing. In the morning, his is the only body left in their bed. He has a coronation to get ready for.
He's drunk and late to his daughter's birthday dinner. Her request from him that year was only to have dinner with just him and Zuko.
"That's mom's! You can't wear that! And you're wearing her makeup!" he hears his son say.
"It was mom's," Azula says. "She's not here anymore. Besides, I think she'd tell me I look beautiful in it." He enters the room, and his children stop their bickering and bow. "Good evening, father."
"What is that on your head?" he asks.
"Oh, it's mother's crown. I just thought eleven years of age called for a more mature look. What with me graduating from the academy and-" he snatches the headpiece from her head, yanking a piece of hair with it. Alchohol from his cup splashes onto her new dress.
"Ow! Father what are you doing?!" she exclaims.
"Don't you ever go into your mother's room, and don't you ever touch her things!" he exclaims. Azula looks up at him, fear evident in her eyes. "And don't you dare look at me that way!" She lets the tears loose and runs out of the dining room. How rude of his wife, to use their daughter as a vessel to haunt him like a ghost.
Hours later, his brother comes to find him.
"Prince Zuko told me about Princess Azula's birthday dinner," he says.
"What of it? She has some nerve, invading her mother's privacy and expecting me to be proud of it." Iroh sighs.
"Perhaps it made her feel close to Ursa. When our mother passed, I remember we used to have dangerous arguments over her possessions."
"It's not the same," Ozai says, shaking his head. "She already possesses her face. How do you think I felt? Walking into a room to see my daughter looking exactly like my wife."
"I think you were saddened," Iroh says. "But you made her feel like a fool."
" I did no such thing. Now get out of my sight."
A half hour later, Ozai finally goes to Azula's bedroom and finds the door half open. Inside he sees Zuko comforting his sister.
"I just wanted to be like her," she says, sniffling. "I'm so stupid!"
"You're not stupid, Azula," he says. "He should never have reacted that way."
"You hated it too," she says.
"I didn't hate it," he says. "It was just a little weird at first. But I think you looked beautiful." She hugs him. Steam blows from Ozai's nose. Look at his son. So weak, so unlike him.
She wears black to meet him, a basket in her left hand. No one in the Fire Nation but her children knew she had returned. The prison is so dimly lit it hurts Ursa's eyes. She lights a torch and carries it to his cell. Her heart jumps when she sees his eyes, gaunt and tired, yet still fierce. He's lost muscle mass, and it's clear that bathing is a priviledge for him now. She wants to cry, but she knows he'd hate that.
"I told you," she says, sitting on the floor in front of the cell. Her voice shakes. "To be patient. To be kind. To look after our children. You didn't do any of it."
"Why are you here?" he asks. She wipes a tear from her eyes.
"Because it's been a long time since I've had dinner with my husband," she says, opening the basket. "Rice wine?"
Today she wears white. She already watched the sages burn her husband's body. She already let her children comfort her, and she already cried until her tears were without salt. Now, they want her to say words, as his remaining other half. So she stands in front of the people looking perfect, despite being dead herself within.
"My husband was a remarkable man. In what way is up to you to decide. I remember when I met him, and how it was so clear that
he was the only one for me. We both knew it, right away. And as the years went on, things got more difficult -we were faced with more challenges. He saved me, and begged me to stay in the capital with him. He promised that what we had could last us a lifetime. And it did. And it will. He was charismatic, magnetic, electric and everybody knew it.
When he walked entered his father's court every woman's head turned, everyone stood up to talk to him. He was like this hybrid, this mix of a man who couldn't contain himself. I always got the sense that he became torn between being a good person and missing out on all of the opportunities that life could offer a man as magnificent as him. And in that way I understood him and I loved him. I loved him, I loved him, I loved him. And I still love him. I love him."