A/N:
So! The story that won was option B from my Author's note in my first story "Forgiving the Wicked". Actually it was tied with options E. I collected a survive from my PM, reviews, and people I asked around that read my choices. But in the end, it came down to picking between two that everyone seemed to want. So I choose B. I wanted to write Ozai and Katara, my favorite characters, being in a simpler but still very complicated relationship. This story will not be emotionally draining as the first one. At least that's not the plan because I didn't necessarily plan for the first one to be that way either. But reminder…..
This story gets a sequel so yeah! Enjoy.
Chapter 1:
"Katara! No!" Zuko yelled as chains wrapped around the waterbender and she was knocked unconscious to the ground. He forced Sokka to take Aang and the others to escape while he and Katara took on the Fire Nation soldiers that stormed their campground.
They were able to take them at first but then three waves of them swooped in and they were overwhelmed. Katara fought hard but with the moon being in its waning phase, her bending was much weaker and she couldn't hold off the men that were trying to capture them. Zuko was injured but didn't plan to fall so easily especially now that he saw Katara being dragged away. He promised he would protect her. Unknown to the rest of the group, she and he were in sort of a relationship. It was this that made him fight harder than he ever had before. He couldn't let them take her. She was the last waterbender of the South and the mortal enemy of every Fire Nation citizen that supported this war. There was no telling what would happen to her. And even worse, when the soldiers attacked, Katara was found with him. Giving more a reason for his father to torture her.
The young firebender used his duel wielding blades to slice his way to where the unconscious waterbender had been drug off to beyond the thick woods. "Katara! I'm coming for you!"
As he tore through the chest of the soldiers that lunged at him, Zuko finally reached where Katara's limp body was torn into a cage and he stopped dead in his tracks as a maniacal laugh erupted from the last person he wanted to see but the first person he expected to.
The devil's grin plastered on his sister's face. "Oh Zuzu! How far you've fallen."
Snarling as he dropped his swords and his fist lit with furious flames, "give her back, Azula!"
"Ask nicely and I'll think about it." Her fist then glowed with blue flames, "But I still wouldn't be able to hand her over. Father dearest wants her alive."
Not liking the sound of that at all, Zuko jumped into action and swung a fist full of fire at his diabolical sister and the two began fighting. Azula dodged every attack of his, making him waste more of his energy as she only spared more of hers. It was too late at night to be putting her all into this. She just wanted to capture them and go back to bed.
Dropping down into a flaming swoop kick, Azula knocked her brother off his balance and he fell backwards. Her men immediately tackled him. It was then that he was finally caught and chained with his wrist cuffed. He had the breath kicked out of him and he fell over on his side. Azula's feet came up to him before she crouched and grabbed his jaw.
Smiling as bright as ever in this dark and desolate night, "I do pity you for what father will do now that you've betrayed him a second time."
Azula threw him back and nodded towards her men. They stepped in and grabbed the treacherous Prince by his arms, lifting him up to his feet. Before Zuko knew it, he was carried over to a cell in the large cage they had thrown Katara in and he hissed as he was also tossed into it. The cage door closed behind him and suddenly the carrier holding it started to move but all that had his attention now was the waterbender on the other side of their joined prison. What Azula had said about their father wanting her alive made him nervous. Ozai would never spare an enemy unless he had use for them and knowing the sadistic mind of his father, Zuko couldn't help but find himself hoping the man changed his mind. Some fates were worse than death.
….
It was just before dawn when the two prisoners arrived to the Royal Fire Nation Palace with the entourage of Azula's men. Katara was forced awake with a bucket of cold water thrown on her. She panicked and started squirming around as the metal shackles on his body clattered against the marble floor. Before anything could register, she was bombarded by hands that started pulling and tearing her clothes. She screamed and struggled against them. Not knowing what was going on. Last thing she remembered was fighting alongside Zuko and then everything after went black. Wait! Did-did they lose? Were they captured?!
"Someone hold her still." A feminine voice said as a pair of hands grabbed her wrist and forced her down on the floor. Water, soap, and wash brushes were run all over her naked body. Katara thrashed and tried to get them to stop. Calling for her element, the water froze and those that were supposedly attacking her, bit out a hiss. Growling as she got out their grasp, standing to her feet and scrambling to find something to cover her body. A towel. It was on a small round table in the room she just realized was a bright red room. As if realization had never hit harder before, Katara went wide eyed and looked at the people she had frozen. Fire Nation?
Breath catching in her throat and hands beginning to tremble, the waterbender hurried and wrapped the towel around herself. I need to find Zuko! She dashed out of the room like her life depended on it and from what was dawning her, her life did depend on it.
Holding the towel close to her body. Passing the light shade of red that slowly became darker. Ignoring the shift of common looking items to more luxurious ones. Panting and breathing heavily as her feet refused to halt. Wanting nothing more than to find Zuko and escape from wherever they were. Katara pressed on, speeding up as she heard voices from behind her and the clattering sound of armor moving. Oh dear La, where was Zuko? They needed to leave. What was this place?
Seeing a bright opening just ahead, Katara thanked whatever spirits were granting her this sight of freedom. Sprinting faster as she held her towel tighter, the waterbender avoid a ball of fire that tried to reach her from behind and fell, sliding onto the floor forward. Her slippery body slid through the lit opening that she had been running to and she hit herself into the wall. Climbing back to her feet, not seeing where she was or who had seen her, Katara panicked as her towel fell. Frantically, she quickly grabbed it and put it back on, preparing to take off again. However; as she finally looked up and saw her surroundings, she swore mentally.
"Trying to escape, water peasant?" Azula grinned with her hands on her hips and several scary looking guards appeared from behind her.
Katara's lip flared into a snarl as she was about to take a ready stance, "Where did you take me off to, Azula?! And where's Zuko?!"
Azula's guards were about to attack the waterbender that dared spoke to their princess in that manner. But the Fire Princess stopped them with a raise of her hands and the shaking of her head as her face fell flat.
"Look around. It's pretty obvious once you give that pea size brain of yours a chance to think." Her tone was still and so was her face but her eyes told Katara everything she needed to know in this moment as more dawned on her consciousness. They were in a palace. That was becoming more and more obvious and from all the red around them among other things, this was the Fire Nation Palace. Blue eyes widened and red lips smirked.
Sending her guards to capture Katara in her state of shock, Azula folded her arms. "Welcome home."
…..
"Keep it moving, boy!" A guard pushed a chained Zuko forward down the long pillared corridors as another pulled the leash around his neck.
The disgraced prince growled and was about to lash out in a heap of anger. However; he realized where they were. The giant red doors with the large gold dragon representing the Royal Family was right before him and Zuko's knees felt weak. His father. Agni, he was going to kill him in an instant. This was it. Azula brought him to die and Agni knows what with Katara. He needed to at least know she was alright. Please be alright, Katara. Agni, please.
It wasn't long before the doors of the throne room were opened, the creaking noise that had always sent chills down his spine as a child, did so one more time and perhaps for the last time, since he was going to die today. The guards escorting him yanked his chains to get him to enter as the enormous doors shut behind them. Zuko kept his gaze down the entire time, not daring to set his eyes upon the throne that was behind a large wall of fire. There was too much fear in him. And while he had the courage to betray his father, he didn't have the guts to face the man only several months later in these shackles. It was humiliating to his pride but even more, he knew his father felt the same when he left to join the Avatar. His father did not take humiliation well and Zuko had humiliated him twice, there was no way the man would let him live. No way.
Zuko was tossed to the ground before he realized that he was already in the center of the room. As he struggled to get up in his shackles, the doors opened and he heard the shouting voice of Katara come in then the sound of her yelping as she was also thrown to the ground. Unlike him, she wasn't wearing the same thing she came here in. Her long chocolate wavy hair was freed entirely. A worn white gown draped loosely down her brown skin, contrasting heavily to it. There was a thick collar around her neck and her hands were bound behind her back. Zuko maneuvered himself over to her, not caring about their audience.
"Katara!" Zuko came up to her. "Are you alright?!"
Shaking her head with tears filled her eyes. "No I don't want to be here, Zuko. I don't want to be here!" She cried, not fully aware of where she was or who was watching them behind a flaming wall of fire. Her only thoughts was that she was in the palace of the enemy at their mercy. The little mercy they had possessed.
Two guards walked up to them and pulled them up on their knees before forcing their heads into the marble floor. "Do not speak in his Majesty's presence until permitted!"
Katara felt herself panic. His Majesty? The Fire Lord? No! She wasn't supposed to be here. She should be with her brother and the rest of the Gaang. Not here. Not in this hell. Her fear only grew as she was made aware that the greatest of her enemies was present. Though she couldn't see him, it only nurtured her terrors. She had once thought Zuko was a terrible person but what she had heard of his father, was far worse. Her breathing picked up again as tears rolled down her face. Zuko could see her from the corner of his eyes and she looked utterly terrified as if she had already saw the outcome of this all.
A loud voice that sent a chill down the young treacherous Prince's spine and caused the waterbender to squeal slightly, "If it isn't my treasonous son and the famous water instructor of the Avatar."
Just kill us already, Zuko yelled in his head. His father was known to play with people before killing them. The young firebender would rather die quickly than endure whatever game his sadistic father decided to play with them.
"I can only imagine how embarrassing this must be for you, Zuko." The low husky voice seemed to add to the weight of the boy's clear humiliation. "Having gone and decided to betray your country a second time then months later being caught. Your foolish uncle must have gotten into your head."
A wicked laugh erupted and Katara felt she'd die of fright before these people could lay another had on her. There was no way anyone should sound so evil. La, she feared even more for herself.
"But worry not, I'll be sure to put a stop to the moral conflictions you may be experiencing. A swift execution should be enough to cure you of this recurring dilemma."
Heads still forced into the floor, Katara moved her eyes to look over at Zuko. No. Her eyes then shut tight. La no. Zuko was going to be killed. She couldn't let that happen. She couldn't.
"Take him." The voice commanded. "I want him out of my sight until the execution."
Zuko was yanked back up and Katara fought against the guard holding her down.
"No! Zuko!" She screamed, managing to throw the guard off of her and kicked his feet from under him.
The waterbender spit on the floor and bent it to freeze over her metal cuffed wrist causing them to break and fall off. Several palace guards engaged her as the others dragged out Zuko who had also begun fighting back to get Katara. However; his guards weren't having it and knocked him out immediately. Dragging him out of the throne room with ease. As for the waterbender, she knew she was insane for this. Fighting with only her saliva to bend and being greatly outnumbered. But what choice did she have? Zuko was going to be executed and no doubt, she would follow. At least if she was killed in a fight, she could rest knowing she hadn't simply accepted her fate.
"Stand down, waterbender!" A guard shouted as two more lunged at her, not at all using their bending. For some strange reason they weren't planning to deliver her any blows that could be even the slightest lethal. Unbeknownst to her, they wanted her alive, Zuko was the only one to die.
Katara wish it were a full moon, she'd bend them all against their will and force them to off each other. Killing wasn't something she had ever liked to do but in a situation like this, she was ready to take whatever measures to get her and Zuko out of here. Once again, she bended her saliva and froze it, striking one man in the eye socket. Trying not to cringe or feel guilty for taking a life. She knew this was war and these were her enemies, she wasn't supposed to care but she did. Even as she repeated the move again and struck the next guard in the throat, blood spilling onto the marble floor, Katara felt herself on the verge of tears for them.
Seeing the blood of even her enemy, the waterbender cringed and she fell to her knee quickly. Unable to take another life. She hated it. Enemy or not, they were people. And some even just people following orders.
As she had given up, surrendering herself over to them as the guards then forced her down onto the ground and cuffed her wrist immediately. Not wanting to take anymore chances.
From above, on his throne behind the wall of fire, the Fire Lord stared at the waterbender that all of a sudden quit fighting his men. He studied her. Perhaps there wasn't much for him to dread with the plans he and his council had for her.
Yanking the girl up on her feet and forcing her head back to gaze upon their Lord. Her eyes widened as she finally caught sight of the Fire Lord descending the throne. Her heart started racing. She had never seen a man so fit for the role of evil. Everything about him screamed power hungry cruel tyrant. From his jet black hair that hung well beyond his shoulders. The gold crown flame that rested above it. His face void of even the slightest expression. And this piercing eyes. La, he looked to be king of demons not a mere Fire Lord. Katara could feel her knees tremble as he came closer. As death came closer.
Smirking as he saw the utter terror in her eyes as she looked at him, the Fire Lord made his way to her as his men held her in place.
"Katara of the Southern Water Tribe." He said her name and her fright only increased before he was standing directly in front of her.
Katara grimaced as his hand reached for her face. She tried to pull away but the guards held her still. Her stomach sunk as she felt his fingertips run down her cheek. Hissing from the contact, her teeth clenched tight, forcing herself to not tremble under his touch. She felt his intense gaze on her. La, she felt she'd die from that alone. Her eyes looked away from him. Refusing to meet his.
Chuckling darkly, "How did such a fragile girl survive the raids?"
"None of your business." She growled ignoring the voice of fear in her head.
The hand moving along her face warmed and then became hot against her cheek, she hissed and yanked her head away.
"Fearless as you may be, you would do well to remember who it is you're speaking to." His voice monotone and uncaring. "Now, I asked you a question. I want an actual answer."
The waterbender did not heed the warning and spat in his face. "Bite me." She glared at him.
The room full of sages and council gasped and even the guard holding her were lost for words. However; the Fire Lord was unfazed as he sent the girl to floor with one wave of his hand. Giving her an impassive glare while she looked up to him with her hand to her red cheek.
Sighing as he turned his back to her, "Take her. I'll deal with her later." He said.
As the waterbender was dragged out the courtroom kicking and screaming, the Fire Lord took back to his throne. Taking a moment to shut his eyes and think as his fingers pressed to his temple. His council and Fire Sages stood by to await his answer.
"Your Majesty," one started. "What are your thoughts?"
Opening his eyes to stare at the double doors in which the waterbender was dragged out beyond, "I like her."
The sages and council sighed in relief. So he was going to consider their proposition?
"But," Oh dear Agni. "She needs to be put in her place. Be reminded that she has no room to disobey or be disrespectful."
"Why not use your disgraced son? It would seem they are close, your Majesty."
The Fire Lord's eyes narrowed. Close? He couldn't say he much liked that but nonetheless it would seem so. She killed a few of his men to get to the boy. Perhaps, there is still was use for that sorry excuse for a son of his.
Humming as he thought it over, Fire Lord Ozai contemplated the specific use his son would serve in get the waterbender to bend to his will. Of course, getting her to agree to what he and his council had earlier in the week discussed would be one. But to also make sure she remains as such would be Zuko's purpose. Keeping her in line.
"So my son is still useful?" He rubbed his chin as he spoke.
The sages and council all agreed, "So should we prepare to tell her the news, your Majesty?"
Shaking his head as a smirk formed to his lips. "No." He said raising to his feet from his throne. "I'll be the one to inform her."
"Are you sure, your Majesty?"
"Why not?" Deviously grinning. "It would be tradition for a man to propose to the woman he wants for a wife."
…
Katara was dragged all the way from the courtroom to what looked like a residential area. On her way as the guards silenced her with a muzzle, she had passed a bunch servants busily working with their heads down, a flourishing looking garden as they crossed over to the other side of the residential domain, and more exquisite looking things all about. The wealth of the Fire Nation was known far and wide but to see it up close with her own eyes, it was a whole other thing. The riches she was seeing here was much more than she had ever seen before. Even in Bei Seng Sei, she hadn't seen such finery or elegance in its palace.
Remembering again that she was her as a prisoner and not to gawk at very expensive things, the waterbender began studying the layout of the halls in which they took her down. She needed to memorize it. Learn it. If there was any hope of her and Zuko getting out alive, she needed to know where she was. But even more, she needed to figure out where Zuko was. They had to get out of here.
Soon the guards paused in front of double doors with a Fire lily engraved in it. Katara looked at it strangely and then tried to glance over her shoulder to see there was a view of the garden right behind her. La, if not for the circumstances, this would be a really nice place to stay. She had to admit. But then the doors opened and the waterbender was then hauled into the room.
"Lieutenant Jee, have you brought the water lady to us?" A mature looking woman stood on the other side of the door. Her eyes were slanted and her face refined with such poise elegance, Katara felt less than by simply looking at her. These Fire Nation people had a way with making everyone that wasn't them feel...lacking. Her hair was tied up and bound behind her head. Red paint brushed across her lips. The paleness of her skin resembled the silver of the moon and her kimono, peach colored with lilies at its trimming. Her eyes, brown like rich soil, looked to one of the men carrying the waterbender.
Nodding his head, "Yes, Madam Kimiko. His Majesty has ordered her to be brought to you and your ladies."
The woman then finally looked to the brown girl in front of her, eyes tracing over her and drawing conclusions in her mind that only she could understand. So it's decided, then. Her eyes finally looked up to the waterbender. She will be the new Lady and Mistress of this domain.
Looking away before turned around to face the second set of double doors, clapping her hands the doors suddenly opened. Katara's eyes only grew more as she saw beyond the opening perhaps the only place in this palace that wasn't decorated with only the color red. Being ushered forward to the opening of the doors, the waterbender could see it was pretty massive within. There were at least a dozen servant women lined up with their heads bowed as they entered.
The guards carrying her then set her down on her feet and removed her muzzle. Katara hissed as they didn't care much with being gentle as they tore it from her face instead merely removing it. She sent them a dark glare as they prepared to leave, dismissing themselves.
"We've induced her with something to keep her from using her bending but let us know if you have any problems with her." The lieutenant said glancing at Katara from the corner of his also brown eyes before looking back at Kimiko.
The woman didn't seem the least bit fazed, "I doubt she will give us any trouble. Especially being that his majesty is offering her his mercy and sparing her."
Sparing me? Katara's eyes widened. But why? She seemed to take this as more frightening news than being told she would be executed. What was going on? Her mind tried to make sense of this but couldn't quite seem to. It just didn't make sense. No matter how she tried to look at this situation. She did wonder along her way here why they would bring her, a prisoner, to such a beautiful place in the palace. What was this for? What game was the Fire Lord playing at?
As the guards left, Kimiko looked back to the young girl with the wide blue eyes. Offering a bowed head to greet her, "My name is Kimiko, please refer to me as Madam Kimiko. My ladies and I will be taking care of you until you are ready to move on."
Move on? Move on where? Katara was incredibly confused. First with being spared. Secondly with this woman bowing her head to her as if she was someone important. And thirdly with why of all places would she be in this part of the palace. For a lowly prisoner this was all too much. Unless this was how actually prisoners were treated. Which admittedly, this didn't seem too bad. But then again, knowing of the Fire Lord's reputation to toy with his victims before offing them, Katara was no more comforted by this moment than she was when his hand was upon her face. As unthreatening as it was at first, it would send her spiraling down in no time.
Raising her head up, "Before we become any further acquainted, my ladies must bathe and clothed you for when his Majesty comes to see you."
See me? Why? I just saw him. The waterbender really didn't want to have to see that evil man's face. Especially not after things didn't go too well with their first encounter. She spat in his face and he slapped her across hers. Yeah, they clearly didn't get along already. No point in seeing him again when there was a possible repeat just itching to happen.
"Come." Kimiko said as she faced away to walk down the hall with a few of her ladies following behind her.
Taking it as a sign to follow as well, Katara wedged herself between the group of servants and let herself be guided to wherever they were taking her.
It didn't take much a walk for Katara to find herself in what looked like a bath house. She tried not to be too surprised or fascinated with the look of the incredible looking room. Dear La, if she didn't know any better, she'd think she was in heaven. This place was so pretty. But before she could finish her observation of the room, the servant women began stripping at the white ragged gown she had been made to wear.
However; unlike before Katara didn't fight them, only resisted. She didn't want to be seen naked by strangers or really anyone.
Kimiko could see this and a dull grin pulled to her lip, "Virgin modesty?"
Katara's cheeks turned red as she held herself and looked away. The madam seemed intrigued. So she's still a virgin. How pitiful. Knowing full well there would be complications with that later on but not to get ahead of herself, the Fire Lord hadn't officially stated whether he was going to take the council's advice or not. Kimiko briefly looked the shy waterbender over again. He will definitely want to keep her either way, she mentally sighed. She is too pretty for her own good.
Clapping her hands, the servants that were present in the room lined up. "Give the Water lady some privacy. Her people are different from ours. Let us respect her sense of modesty." The servants all bowed and left out. But Kimiko wasn't planning to go anywhere.
"I removed them to make this easier for you but I will not leave you unsupervised, his majesty would have me hanged if you escaped under my watch." The madam's voice was stern and very befitting of her appearance. She sort of reminded Katara of an older and slightly more expressive Mai.
Katara didn't see the point in making this an even harder process than it was. She should probably just hurry and get this over with. Sliding the gown down her shoulders and wiggling her body enough to move it to pool at her feet, the waterbender used one arm over her breast and her hand to cup her sex. Her head was hung low in embarrassment and shame of being seen. But Kimiko was not move, she just looked the girl's naked body over for a small examination.
"You will need to be groomed." She said as she saw the small bush at the nether region of the waterbender.
Looking up from the floor, "Groomed? As in waxed?"
Receiving only a nod, Katara shook her head. Why did she need to be 'groomed'? Her body hair was just fine where it was. It was common where she was for everyone, including women, to grow out body hair. It helped keep warm in the frozen cold weather. But why would she need to remove it? She couldn't see the point in that and Kimiko noticed right away that the girl was completely clueless.
"In sparing you, his Majesty wants for you to become a permanent member of this court. Which means, you will need to conform to our society's ways." Kimiko put emphasis on permanent to make clear that the girl wasn't going anywhere, any time soon. "Do not make things harder for yourself or I, simply give up fighting this and accept that you have been shown mercy. Be grateful and appreciative. His Majesty is not one known for extending kindness. You should feel honored."
Katara hung onto every word the woman said. Her eyes were wide once more as she realized the cost in which was being spared. If only she knew to the true extent of what was about to happen to her.
…..
It was midday and Katara found herself sitting on a small cushion on the floor in front of a low table with a tea-set on it. Her hands were folded in her lap and her head hung as she shook. The madam appeared docile but was anything but. In the process of preparing her for the Fire Lord, Kimiko had the guards come back to hold her down as she removed every speck of hair off her body. Katara had never felt so humiliated in her life as those men and that woman stared at her naked as they forcibly washed her. It was painful with how rough they were with her. Not caring for the tears and cries she gave in their assault.
Now she was sitting here waiting for a man that would likely deal her some more abuse. La, she just prayed he'd do her the honor of ending her life. If she was supposed to spend the rest of her days living like this, she'd much rather die.
The doors to the lounging room opened and in came a bunch of guards that flooded in and all lined up on the sides to allow the Fire Lord to enter. Katara didn't dare try to take a look at him. The last time she laid her eyes on him, she nearly coward in fear. His presence alone was enough to make her tremble but that face of his, that devilish face. She couldn't bear it.
The room was silent except for the sound of his footsteps approaching where she sat. She tried to drown out the sound of it with her thoughts of home.
Snow falling from the milk purple skies *His footsteps* the cold breeze blowing through her single braid as she and Sokka ran into their mother's arms *Closer he came and she shivered* the smell of sea prunes coming from inside their home. Giggles and laughs around the table as their father tells them of the hunting trip he went on with Bato. Gran Gran bringing out the pot of her specialty. The warmth of her family's presence. *There was silence* How could she ever want to leave this? This life. This place. Her home.
"Katara." Her mother called her.
"Katara." That wicked voice shattered the small world she designed for herself. The world in which her mother was still alive and she was still in the South Pole was just torn apart by that demon's voice. Her eyes opened and shakily with tears stuck in their beds, her eyes looked up to the eyes of the Fire Lord. She could see them much better now. They were as gold as the crown on his topknot. Piercing and striking, like lightning they struck her. Her chest heaved for a minute as she forced her tears from falling.
The Fire Lord gazed upon the waterbender sitting down in front of him. He took a moment to look over her appearance. Her hair was up in a loose elegant bun. There were gold earring in her ears with red rubies in the middle. She wore a scarlet red kimono that hugged tightly to her. There was red paint to her lips and powder to her face to make her appear more refined. Kimiko seems to have done her job well, the Fire Lord commented to himself. But as he caught sight of her eyes, he would admit to no one but himself that he found those blue orbs to be her best feature. That and her fiery personality for someone of the Water Tribe. He must say, she had his attention when she had stood up to him. Though he wanted to eventually have that defiance removed, he'd be lying if he said he didn't find it slightly attractive in her. Perhaps, he'd have to figure a way out to have her redirect that passionate anger of hers into something he'd enjoy much more.
Snapping his fingers, the guards in the room immediately were dismissed out of the room and when the door closed behind them, the Fire Lord took a seat in front of the girl staring at him with teary eyes yet were still blazing.
"Katara." He said her name again to see her reaction in a husky and low voice. She did nothing short of what he'd expect her to. Those eyes of hers withdrew from his and her head turned away. At least, there was a sense of fear in her. Which played in his favor. She wasn't as bold or as stupid as he originally thought when she dare spit in his face. It was likely just the rush of things with seeing his son get dragged off after being sentenced to death. Ozai tilted his head to the side to observe her as he wondered what the relationship was between her and his son.
"Can you stop looking at me like that?" Katara suddenly spoke up after feeling overwhelmed by his constant staring. "It's about as creepy as the way your daughter laughs."
Katara was half expecting him to say something in offense to her comment or even send a ball of fire aimed for her head but when he just sat there continuing to stare, she couldn't help but feel more uncomfortable than before. Her hands balled in her lap. She swore if she had her bending she'd bend the tea from the pot and send it flying into his face.
Not at caring much for her comment, "Since we're in private I'll that remark slide."
Oh really? Katara couldn't help but plan out what she would say next to insult him. She was definitely in the mood to ruin someone's day and he was the perfect target to throw her anger at. But that was killed when the man reached across the table and grabbed her face again. She clenched her teeth knowing better than to say or do anything while he had his hands on her. Still being able to feel the spot on her cheek where he both tried to burn her and slapped her.
Turning her head side to side in observation of her face, the Fire Lord hummed to himself. "For a Water savage you are something to look at."
Jerking her head away from his grasp, her eyes widened at him. Was that what he was thinking while staring at her just now?
"I've been informed that you still have your innocence." He was both continuing on with his mission for being here and trying to push her over the edge out of sadistic pleasure.
The waterbender's eyes grew wider as if that was even possible. What the hell is he saying?!
Not letting his gaze up from her, "And recently have just become of age."
"Wh-why are you saying this?!" Katara asked as she hurried to get to her feet and back away.
The Fire Lord also climbed to his feet and still his eyes were focused on her as he took a step towards her. "I have a proposition for you that I'm sure you will not want to turn down."
"What?!" She yelled in fear of both him and his offer.
Suddenly, out of nowhere a smile plastered to his face. It was more of a smirk. A cunning one. One with something obviously wicked behind it. "I will have my son's life spared and the guarantee that your people will no longer have to be a part of this war. All you need to do is agree to my terms."
Never in her life had she felt so relieved and in anguish at the same time. Relieved that she could save Zuko and also save her people. Deliver them from those war. But his terms. What were they? What could he possibly want from her that would make him give what he was promising? Her breathing became heavy as she stared at him, watching him come closer to her. Seeing his hand move to her again. La, what did he want?! Just tell me already! She pleaded in her raging thoughts.
"Marry me."
The waterbender was no longer able to handle the toll of the day and fainted almost immediately after he spoke those two words. Before she could hit the ground, the Fire Lord caught her from around her waist and pulled her unconscious body to him. He smirked as he looked took this as a good sign. She was so thrilled that she fainted from joy. Ha! He didn't really believe that but it was an amusing thought.
Bringing his other hand to her face, the Fire Lord gently cupped the side of her face. He could already tell she'd make things very interesting for him as his wife. His thumb moved to trace over her brow and the moved down to her lips. He barely knew her and he already liked her.
…..
A/N: Hope you guys are liking it. Chapter will be up very soon.