Warning:

This chapter is not as extreme as the previous chapter with a warning. Even so, the warnings from before apply. There are some disturbing elements and people with triggers should avoid it.

Chapter Fourteen: Not so Basic Decency

Azula awoke on cushions of the finest silk and felt the rays of the sun on her face. She got up quickly that morning after a loop of scouting out her target. During this time she'd come to realize that Katara slept late.

So Azula dressed quickly, combed her hair, and slipped out past Mai and Ty Lee. She got the rope and headed out. She made the proper arrangements via letter. She'd had to work really hard to get the timing right on this, but it would be worth it.

At last, Azula made her way to Katara's bedroom.

Then she waited.

Right on time, the door opened, and Katara walked out. Azula struck her with precision, knocking her out. As Katara fell, Azula caught her and began to tie her up. She did not, technically, have to do this. Azula could easily determine for herself what she would fix first. Or she could just ask the average person in Ba Sing Se their opinion.

But Azula was also aware that Uncle would applaud the idea of improving the lot of Ba Sing Se's people. So she was going to go about it in a way which caused lots to pain to Katara, just to spite him. Even if he would never know.

Plus, Katara was her enemy. So it was okay to hurt her.

Finishing the ties, Azula slipped out of the palace and to the chamber which she'd set up ahead of time. It was all there, just like she'd planned.

Now for the fun part.

Katara awoke.

Her bed felt a bit different. It was still silk, but the mattress seemed a bit less soft. She struggled and found her arms trapped on either side. Her eyes fluttered open, and she realized she was not in her bedroom in Ba Sing Se. The walls here were of stone like someone had earthbended it.

She struggled to try and get free and found her legs were also trapped. She was forced into a spread eagle position, and she was in nothing but lacey white underwear.

"What the..." began Katara. "What the heck is going on?"

She looked for some water. If she could find a way to bend it... no, her arms were trapped. And then she saw a figure in the shadows. "You, who are you?!"

Princess Azula emerged from the shadows, smiling. She was wearing nothing more than a red robe which displayed an ample amount of cleavage. "Hello, Katara."

"Azula! Let me go!" said Katara.

"Hmm, let me think about this." said Azula as she kneeled on the bed and crawled over her so their faces were close. "I don't think so."

"What am I doing here?" asked Katara. "What do you want?!"

"Oh, well, I've done this before of course." said Azula. "But I've been trying to be more considerate, so I provided a bed for you."

"When I get out-" began Katara.

Then Azula put a hand to Katara's stomach. Katara felt a sudden shock through her body. She let out a yell of pain, and Azula cupped her face. The Princess licked her lips. "You know, it's funny. When I lost interest in this kind of thing I thought it was for good. It turns out all I needed was some questions to ask.

"Now, I want you to tell me about some of the problems in Ba Sing Se."

"I'm not telling you anything." said Katara.

"I'm glad you said that, Katara." said Azula. "I really am."

There was another shock. Katara shuddered and gritted her teeth. She felt electricity surged through her nerves. Azula began to rub her down, sending steady streams into her. Her hands rubbed on Katara's thighs now.

"Let go of me!" said Katara. "Get off!" She kicked and thrashed, but that only seemed to make Azula enjoy it more. "This is sick!"

"I'm a Princess of the Fire Nation." said Azula. "I determine good and evil. And I am trying to be more considerate about this. I could be cruel if you want, but are you really sure you want me to torture you?"

Katara went silent. Was she serious? Of course, she was. Katara had seen her lightning. And something told her that this was not the worst thing Azula could do for her. "No... No, I don't."

"Good." said Azula. "I'm working on a new technique. Channeling very small amounts of lightning. Much as I love burning you all over, I'm going for a 'less is more' approach with this.

"Now why don't we get down to business.

"What are some of the problems in Ba Sing Se?"

Katara stared. Why did Azula want to know about problems in Ba Sing Se. She could think of all kinds. But she wasn't telling her anything. "Go to hell."

Azula smiled.

Katara then felt another shock, this one larger and focused directly into her stomach. She shuddered, letting out a groan. Azula then gripped her chin and brought it up. "It really doesn't have to be this way, you know. All you have to do is tell me about some of the problems Ba Sing Se has. You've been here for weeks."

"Why should you care?" hissed Katara.

Azula slapped her across the face with one hand. "Good question, but I'm the one doing the interrogation.

"Still, in light of our history, I'll tell you. I'm planning a takeover of Ba Sing Se. Actually, I've already done it. I could do it in my sleep. But I need to also address some of the underlying problems.

"I want the people of the Earth Kingdom to regard me as an improvement."

"Like they ever will! The Fire Nation does nothing but destroy people's lives!" said Katara.

Azula sighed and sat up on her knees so she was straddling Katara. "...See, this is why you don't let the prisoners ask questions."

And then she leaned in and kissed Katara. Katara struggled as she felt Azula's tongue entering her mouth. At the same time lightning surged into her, even as Azula's hands ran over Katara's breasts. Azula was playing her like an instrument. She drove Katara mad with her hands, stimulating her body with her abilities.

Katara struggled to throw her off, trying not to enjoy this. What was this? How was Azula doing this?

Finally, Azula broke the kiss and licked Katara's face. "You know I enjoy this, don't you Katara. I've already decided I'm going to be nicer to the everyday people. But I also really enjoy torturing people. You make an excellent outlet for my frustration.

"I'm perfectly willing to sit here blasting you with lightning all day long. I can always try again tomorrow."

Her first kiss had been taken by this horrible princess. Or had it? Of course, it had. Katara spat in her face. "Bite me."

Azula's eyes narrowed, and she pulled back. "I may do a bit of that later as well. Now answer the question!"

Then she put two fingers to Katara's stomach. There was a sharp, agonizing pain and Katara screamed. As she struggled, she realized that Azula had only been toying with her. She could...

She could keep making it worse again and again unless Katara told her something. And something told Katara that no one would find this place. "Try the Dai Li!" she screamed.

Azula stopped. "Yes, the secret police. What about them?"

"They uh... they brainwashed a lot of innocent women." said Katara. "They turned them into automatons who all call themselves Joo Dee."

Azula put a hand to her chin thoughtfully. "I remember seeing one or two of them around." She lowered two fingers and shocked Katara again.

The bolt was less powerful, but Katara still squirmed. "Arg! Stop it! I told you!"

"And now I want more answers." said Azula. "How would you fix this problem?"

"Can't you figure it out for yourself, Ms. Perfect?" snapped Katara.

"I'm what you might call a novice when it comes to helping other people. I'm not much of a people person either. Empathy doesn't come easily to me. Back when Zuzu got his scar, I found it hilarious.

"Of course then he was exiled." Her eyes went distant. "After that, the group broke up. Still, no use crying over spilled milk. Now answer the question."

Katara tried to think of a solution. She'd just tried not to think about the Joo Dee's until now, and now she was drawing a blank. Why had she just-

Azula shocked her.

"I don't know!" said Katara.

"Not good enough, I'm afraid." said Azula. "Do give it some thought. I like my interrogations when my victim is trying to come up with an answer."

"Fine, fine uh... Jet!" said Katara.

Azula paused. "What about him?" How did she know who Jet was?

"Jet got brainwashed by the Dai Li, but Aang..." began Katara.

"What about the Avatar?" asked Azula sharply.

"Aang managed to break through to him!" Azula shocked her again, very lightly. "Ah! Maybe... maybe someone could get through to them if they could... talk to them..."

Azula sighed. "That really is the best you've got, isn't it?

"Wonderul. Therapy.

"I suppose I could add it to my list of improvements, just below 'gender equality' and just above 'caring for the poor.'

"Now, I suppose I could ask some more questions. But I think I'll take the rest of the loop off."

Katara saw where this was going. But she was helpless to do anything as Azula shed her robe to reveal naked skin beneath. Azula leaned in and began to remove her clothes.

"Hey, let go of me!" cried Katara. "Let go!"

Azula was taking her time with this. "Why should I? We won't be disturbed for the rest of the day."

Katara began to panic. Her first time couldn't happen like this! It couldn't! "Let go! Let me go!"

"Struggle if you want. It only makes things better for me." said Azula.

"You... you're sick!" said Katara.

By now she was stark naked. Azula paused, hesitating for a moment.

"Here's the thing." said Azula. "Some loops ago I would have gotten right to it. I enjoy causing others pain you see, Katara, especially ones' who inconvenience me."

"I'm begging you!" said Katara. "Please don't do this to me! Please!"

Azula paused. For a moment Katara saw something akin to confliction in her expression. "You know, you have inconvenienced me more than any other. But really, pain is just one kind of domination. I suppose since you've got it in you to beg for mercy, I ought to be merciful." She reached into her robe and drew out a cloth, wetting it with a vial of liquid. "I'm going to send you into a sleep.

"And by the time I finish, today never will have happened."

The wet cloth was forced to Katara's mouth. She breathed in before she could stop herself. Soon she found her vision going dark as she drifted off.

The last thing she saw was Azula smiling.

Azula awoke on cushions of the finest silk and felt the rays of the sun on her face. She stood up and wondered why'd she'd decided to drug that Katara girl first. It wasn't as if Katara's suffering meant anything to her, and it wouldn't have any long term effects. Still, mercy in exchange for begging and pleading did seem a good policy. More people were likely to beg if they got something out of it.

Maybe there was more to this whole not ruling through fear thing than she thought.

Still, some part of her wanted Katara to submit. To not need chains, but willingly give herself to Azula. Totally and completely. Azula could probably manage it in time. But how was she supposed to do all that in twenty-four hours?

Azula could just brainwash her. But that would seem like cheating somehow. She wanted to get inside Katara's head and make her hers without actually changing who Katara was. To attach strings to her as she'd done to Ty Lee and Mai.

The idea thrilled her.

But first, she had to reprogram all the Joo Dees.

As she walked to the door, Azula reflected that this was going to be very boring work up ahead. Very repetitive.

"Azula, you're awake. You've got to try this breakfast." said Ty Lee. "They have the best sausages."

Right after this.

Wait, when had Azula started thinking of her as Katara?

Author's Note:

So I there is a sick sort of symbolism to Azula's tormenting of Katara. The first time she tortured Katara, she went out of her way to hurt her. She caused her as much suffering as possible and then had her way with her. This time she was far more restrained and ended up just sending her into a day-long sleep after she was done.

Thus symbolizing Azula's growth from a vicious sociopath to, um, not so basic decency.

Azula's character development does seem to be advancing at a glacial rate. It helps that Azula is fighting it the whole way. She is a very spiteful person and is aware that Iroh is affecting her. So she's going about being 'good' in the worst way she can.