A/N:
More Story time!
Chapter 4:
Ozai spent the entire week avoiding being alone with Katara. Unless the kids or someone else was around, he didn't stick around long with her after her little attempt to seduce him. He understood Katara still held onto the sentiment of their past but it was time to move on. He still loved and cared about her but they were over and done with. She needed to accept that.
Deciding to finally confront her, Ozai found Katara deep in the gardens hanging out in a pond by herself, transformed into her fishtail. She was splashing it around and swimming much like how he had seen fish do. Her mood seemed even. Maybe Now was a good time to have this conversation.
"Katara." Ozai called her name as he walked up to the edge of the pond and crouched down.
The waterbender swam back over to him and beamed up as she waved her tail at him. "What's up?"
"We need to talk." He told her. "So come out and meet me over there."
Katara nodded her head and used her bending to return her legs. As she climbed out of the water, Ozai saw she was completely naked. Groaning in annoyance, the Phoenix King took off his out layer of robes and threw it around her as she stood up. She thanked him and followed him to the stone benches.
Holding the robe around herself and enjoying his scent on them, "So, what are we talking about now?"
"The other night you came onto me." Ozai reminded her.
Shrugging, Katara pulled a lock of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, So. Not like you did anything with me. You just told me to go to bed. I did. So what's the problem?"
"The problem is that can't happen again, understood?" Ozai told her sternly. "Ami and I are going public with our relationship. I can't have someone throwing in rumors that you and I are involved still. It would hurt Ami."
Furrowing her brows, "So you want me to just stay to myself and be a good girl, is that it?"
"Yes, actually."
Katara stood up and slapped Ozai across the face.
"The more you protect her the more you hurt me, Ozai. Understand?"
The waterbender strutted off to the pond and opened a portal back to her room, throwing Ozai's robe aside as she jumped through. Ozai waltzed over and picked up his robe and sighed. He wasn't trying to hurt Katara but he was putting down boundaries. He knew she was just heart broken and wanted him back but she had to know that he wasn't trying to cause trouble with Ami and her.
…..
Ami was strolling through the halls when she saw Lady Katara in the courtyard with her youngest daughter and Prince Zhiar. The princess of the Earth Kingdom stood by and watched the eternal beauty play a game of cards with her two children. Ami still had a hard time believing Lady Katara was actually 41. She didn't look a day over twenty. It was something Ami envied. Her immortality whether pure or not, Katara would live for thousands of years and remain as beautiful as the day she was when Ozai married her over twenty years ago. Anytime he'd look at her, she'd remain untouched by time or flaws. It annoyed her. No wonder no woman had come after her until now. Ozai had an eternal beauty to spend the end of days with. She'd follow him into the centuries to come and remain by his side always. Regardless, if he ever took her back, Katara would remain on this earth alongside him.
It was pure envy that Ami felt for her. This lowborn tribal bitch had something she didn't and it was worth so much more than royal blood, power, and wealth. Something all men and women wished to have but couldn't. Ami hated her more for it. She was undeserving. That bitch deserved nothing more than a boot to the face as Ozai finally kicked her out of his life. Ami knew he'd eventually do so. She just needed to help him along.
"Mommy, I beat you!" Mailan cheered.
Katara pretended to be sad and threw her cards down, "Why are you so good at this game?"
Zhiar chuckled as he had seen his mother lose on purpose to Mailan.
"Come, Mailan, let's get you to the tutor before dad finds out you're late again." Zhiar held his hand out to his little sister.
Katara stood and smiled at her son, "Thank you, Zhiar. You're a wonderful big brother."
.
Zhiar smiled at her and placed a kiss on his mother's forehead before taking Mailan off to her tutor.
Katara watched after them until she spotted Ami staring at her. She narrowed her eyes at the woman who decided to finally approach her. The waterbender eyed her up and down and wondered what the hell Ozai saw in this snooty bitch. She always had her nose up at something or someone. It annoyed Katara how classes some people were. Looking down on others for simply being born different. Fuck her.
"Lady Katara." Ami smirked as she stepped towards Katara.
Katara put on a look of indifference at the woman, "Ami."
"Princess Ami!" She corrected.
Rolling her eyes as she did a sloppy curtsy, "Your highness." Katara said in a mocking tone.
"You lowborns can't help yourself, can you? Never able to really blend into proper society." Ami spat as she looked Katara over with disdain. "You're lucky you ever got to have Ozai the way you have for years. Too bad you're an ungrateful shame of a woman and lost him. Fortunately, he's gone higher up the chain, so you've set the standard for women in his life."
Katara laughed at her, "You and proper society can go fuck itself. You should know by now Ozai doesn't care about that sort of thing."
"Oh but he does." Ami smirked. "He wouldn't allow his daughter Kya to be with her friend before Lord Totomi because he was a lowborn peasant. A mere servant trying to work his way into the bed of a princess. How bold of him."
Narrowing her eyes at Ami, "Ozai married me without any regard for my status."
"To win a war." Ami pointed out.
"Is that what Ozai told you?" Katara furrowed her brows.
Still grinning, "Let's just say, Ozai is very talkative and he has a lot he needs to clear up with you from what he's told me. Apparently, he felt some shame towards you being a petty slave. He and Kya y'all a lot about it. Seems they're a lot alike in that regard now."
Katara averted her eyes from Ami, "That was his fault."
"Sure, but you were the one married. No one told you to go spread your legs to your ex-"
Snapping, Katara waterbended a stream from the fountain at Ami and sent her straight into the bushes. Bad timing as Ozai had walked by and saw this. He immediately rushed to help Ami up before casting a grim gaze on Katara. Once Ami was on her feet, Ozai checked to make sure she was okay and then stormed up to Katara.
"What have I told you?! Leave her alone!" Ozai yelled at her.
"She provoked me!"
"I don't care! Don't put your hands on her or use any form of violence against her! She's human and fragile!"
Katara glared at him and then looked to Ami, who was waving at her in amusement.
"Ozai, I'm not going to be bullied by her!"
"Bullied?! You're the one sending her into the bushes!"
"But she said you look down on me!"
"Acting barbaric the way you do, it's hard not to!"
"Barbaric?!" Katara looked at him as if he were being ridiculous and he was. She wasn't barbaric. Or at least, she hadn't done anything recently to be called such a thing. Was he still just holding onto what she did before?
Offended and hurt by the comment, Katara shoved Ozai aside and stormed off. She was sick of him and sick of Ami. She was sick of being treated like something was always wrong with her. They didn't know what she had been through. They didn't know what she had dealt with and had to swallow down. It was a painful suffering to have gone through what she had gone through but to be misunderstood and demonized always, it hurt more.
As Katara ran off, Ozai turned a scowl onto Ami.
"What did you say to her?" Ozai demanded.
Ami folded her arms, "I just reminded her that she needs to carry herself better. She thinks because you two broke up that she can just lower herself to her humble beginnings as if it will bring no shame to you. It doesn't look good for your ex-wife with so much negativity in her past to continue on a downward spiral. Especially, since she's in your care now."
"Matters related to Katara are for me to address, not you." Ozai told his girlfriend. "Understood?"
Ami sighed and nodded, "Understood."
"Good, now go get changed. I was going to take you out into the city for lunch."
The princess ran up to him and kissed his lips before hurrying off to get dressed.
…..
Zhiar was noticing his mother and Ami were being discussed quite a bit as of late amongst the residents of his father's palace. Many calling her mother a live-in nanny or servant. Some referred to her as a concubine or pet of the Phoenix King since he kept such a tight leash on her once again. Ami was speculated to be his father's main interest and new girlfriend which was true but the people all spoke more favorably of her. She was a princess and had status unlike his mother.
The young prince loathed the shit rumors going around about his mother. He confronted his father about it but he simply brushed it off as no big deal since his mother didn't care. Zhiar almost snapped at his father but decided to hold his temper. He instead went to the only other person with any authority around here.
Pouring her tea, Kya eyed her twin brother indifferently as he brought up their mother and the things being said about her.
"So, can you somehow make it so that no one can speak of her that way?" Zhiar asked.
"Zhiar, this is a monarchy and one that is advised by a council of ministers and officials, we cannot simply silence people when they speak of mother. If it is so concerning, maybe you should tell our mother to carry herself better." Kya suggested.
Furrowing his brow, "Carry herself better? Mom's fine the way she is. She's been caring and dutiful the entire time she's been back. What more is she supposed to do? What the hell does father want from her?"
Kya sighed and stirred a sugar cube into her tea, "For one, father needs her to maintain her dutiful responsibilities as our mother and second, father clearly cares about public image as of late. He's made it official that he and Ami are public and he's distanced himself from mother. If she wants his attention, she'll need to turn his head by becoming more of a proper lady than she currently is."
"Our mother is most definitely a proper lady!" Zhiar yelled in offense.
Kya scoffed, "She is not."
"Kya, what's your deal?! She's our mother and she loves us! Why is that not enough for you or dad?!" Zhiar demanded to know.
Sipping her tea, Kya swished the tea around in her mouth before swallowing it and giving her brother a cold look. "I want her and father back together as much as any of us but I can't pretend not to notice the way people look at her or speak of her. She's doing herself no favors and I resent her for not at least trying to get father's attention back. How can someone like our mother lose to a woman like that damn bitch, Ami?!"
Zhiar jumped as she slammed her fist down on the table and scowled off to the side.
"Father has either lost his mind or that bitch has some potion to seduce him with." Kya hissed. "But our mother is just accepting defeat and allowing another woman to take her place! How can she tolerate this mess?!"
Zhiar wasn't prone to seeing Kya angry often and that was a good thing. Kya had a temper that rivaled their father's and he didn't like being in the way when she did finally lose control to her rage. Fortunately, this time, he wasn't the object of her anger.
"You talk some sense into mother and you tell her that Ami is our enemy!"
Zhiar nodded and rushed off to go find his mother.
Finding her at a courtyard fountain kicking her feet around in the water, Zhiar paused to hear her singing to herself. He didn't know his mother sang but she had a beautiful voice. Her song however, was a sad one. Maybe she heard all the things being said about her and father. Maybe she was hurt over father dumping her. Maybe she was depressed from all her years of pain and trauma. He didn't know what she was singing her sad song for but he was feeling less confident in his ability to convince her to fight for dad.
"Mom?"
Turning to look over her shoulder, Katara smiled at her son and waved him to come join her.
"Zhiar, you're as handsome as your father."
"Eh, that is not a compliment." Zhiar said in disgust.
Laughing as she patted her son's back and rubbed it, "You are so silly."
"I try my very best."
"So, you obviously didn't come here to talk poorly of your father...unless you did which I'd be inclined to tell you I won't entertain bashing your father." Katara informed her son. "However, I will think a few things in my head."
Chuckling, Zhiar shook his head and told her that he doesn't want to shit talk his father but did want to discuss him.
"How do you feel about dad and Ami?" Zhiar asked, side eyeing her to see how she responds.
Scoffing as she splashed her feet around in the fountain, "What does it matter how I feel? Your father wants what he wants."
"You're just gonna give him up?"
"I'm going to respect his wishes. Trust me, I've tried convincing your father otherwise but he's set on Ami." Katara sighed as she tilted her head.
A few noblewomen strolled by and immediately began whispering to themselves at the sight of Katara having her feet in the fountain. Zhiar picked up a tiny rock and threw it at them, telling them to get lost.
Exhaling even louder, "Besides, apparently, my low status is why your father doesn't want me. He suddenly cares that at one point I was made a slave."
"Because he made you have an affair!" Zhiar spat.
Katara placed her hand on her son's shoulder, "it was a decision on both parts, Zhiar. I allowed it to happen."
"Do you regret it?"
Katara smiled and shook her head, "No, never."
"So you'd do it again knowing it would cost you becoming a slave, just so you can be with him?"
Nodding her head, Katara looked off into the distance. "I've loved your father since I was a girl, Zhiar. Sure, I've done things that have hurt him in recent but didn't stop me from loving him. He is and always will be the love of my life and even though this hurts right now, I know it will not last forever."
Zhiar snorted, "Yeah, cause that bitch will just grow old and die."
Slapping him in the back of the head, "Mind your words, Zhiar. That wasn't nice."
"Yeah, well it's true. Father is a dumbass to be cozying up with a woman not even half as beautiful as you." Zhiar stated.
Katara told her son how beauty wasn't everything. Whatever his father saw in Ami, it was more than beauty.
"Well, you shouldn't just let her win."
"I have no choice. Your father doesn't even look at me that way anymore."
"Make him."
"I can't, Zhiar. I'm not what he wants."
Zhiar stood up, "Not what he wants?! Of course you are!"
"I'm not!" Katara jumped to her feet. "Your father wants someone good! Someone that can make him feel like he's changed for the better! Someone who instills the good in him and makes him feel like a better man! I can't do that! Every time he takes a good look at me he just sees all I've been through and how he's somewhat responsible! Cause our love is a product of me suffering for his sake! I'm his sadness, his regrets, his rage, his hopelessness, his reminder that he was once an evil man that stole a girl from her friends and forced her into the life she's living now! You and Kya were born because your father-"
"Because we wanted children, Katara." Ozai said as he showed up, standing at the steps of the courtyard. "Zhiar, leave us, I need to talk to your mother."
Zhiar looked from his father to his mother and sighed as she gave him the look to leave.
Ozai ignored the stank look his son was giving him and focused his attention on Katara.
"You think you're an ugly reminder of my past and that's why I'm done with you?" Ozai asked her.
Katara wrapped her arms around herself, "What does it matter what I think? Your decision was made. Zhiar is just having a hard time accepting things. That's all."
Walking up to his ex-wife, Ozai stared hard at her and grabbed her wrist from her. "Listen up, Katara, I'm only going to say this once to you. We're done because you killed us! You stabbed me straight through your own back with no regard for anything! I'll never forgive you for that! Understood?!"
Staring up at him with a hurt expression on her face, Katara's lip trembled.
"That illusion! If I had known it wasn't real, I would have left you as soon as I remembered everything!" Ozai snarled at her and shoved her.
"But Ozai-"
"No! You were wrong, Katara! Dead wrong!" Ozai shouted in her face.
Katara yanked her hand from him and nursed it in her arms as she realized he burned her a little.
"How could you do that to me?! I love you more than anything on this fucking Earth! And you killed me! How could you do that, Katara?! How?!"
Tearing up, Katara shook her head.
"Answer me!"
"I don't know. I don't know. I don't know!" Katara cried.
"You don't know?" Ozai grabbed her by her shoulders and looked her dead in the eyes, "Katara, listen to me carefully, this is your last chance. Last chance to make things work. You hear me?"
Katara nodded.
Taking her by her chin, "If you want us to ever work out, I need you to put in effort! Real effort or I'll never stop seeing you for the murderer you are."
"Ozai, I- I'm not a murderer." Katara said. "Atsou-"
"Don't put this on him! I saw you that day! You made the moon eclipse the sun! What kind of god like being does that and then says someone made her?!" Ozai shouted at her as continued holding onto her jaw.
Katara snapped his hand from her jaw, "Ozai, Atsou is more powerful than me! Please understand this! You have no idea what he can do! I'm powerless to him! Atsou injected me with this black ooze! The same as Kya when she killed Uhara! Do you blame her for him?!"
Ozai furrowed his brows at Katara.
"If I hadn't been injected, I was planning on killing myself!" Katara squeezed his hand. "I would never kill you intentionally, Ozai! I only even worked for Atsou to protect you! You have to believe me! Look at my thoughts! You'll know I'm innocent!"
Ozai slammed the palm of his hand to her forehead causing her to collapse. He caught her before she hit the ground and looked through her memories for that day and saw her losing control of her powers and then Atsou showed up. She begged him not to make her kill but he injects her with the black serum and she changes.
Ozai stared wide eyed at Katara as she was unconscious in his arms trying to figure out what was in that stuff she was injected with.
Carrying her to her chambers, Ozai laid her in bed and continued to look over her. She had tears in her shut eyes as she remained unconscious. He realized he had been too hard on her. She really didn't mean for that day to happen. Ozai ran his hand over her silver locks and sighed as she laid there.
"All this time I've hated you for what you did. Why didn't you tell me sooner, Katara?" Ozai lamented how mean he had been towards her when she begged Atsou not to make her kill him.
When Katara woke up she saw Ozai holding her hand as he was fast asleep, kneeling by her bedside. She smiled somberly as she reached to pat his head, running her fingers through his black strands.
"Ozai." She tried waking him up with a shove.
"Hmmm?" He groaned.
"Ozai, wake up."
"I'm up." He turned his head and looked at her, still resting it in the fold of his arms.
"Did you see?" She asked him.
Ozai nodded.
"So am I still a murderer to you?" She asked.
Sitting up, Ozai cupped her face and shook his head. "I'm sorry."
Gazing down, "You forgive me?"
Ozai pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight, "I do. I'm sorry for resenting you when you were innocent."
Katara smiled as she hugged him back.
"I need to go but let's talk again later." Ozai said as he caresses her face.
As the waterbender nods, she receives a kiss to her jaw before he pulls away.
…
Snuggled up under the covers with the Phoenix King, Ami clung to him and nuzzled her face against him. She was so happy to finally have him to herself. She had been longing for this day for years and it was finally here. He came to her bed chambers almost every night to be with her and lingered in the morning till she woke to kiss her before beginning his day.
Reading over a scroll about the province closer to Omashu needing help placing families that fled from the Northern Earth Kingdom after the debacle of the royal family, Ozai noticed Ami was still clinging to him and looked down at her with a grin.
"Clingy, are we?" He raised a brow.
Ami giggles and nodded. "I have a question, Ozai."
"Hmm?"
"Are you serious about me?"
"Why do you ask?" Ozai raised a brow.
Ami sat up and looked him in his eyes, "Your ex-wife is forever young and beautiful. Can you really want to be with me as I age and won't be beautiful forever?"
Ozai chuckled and cupped her face as he rolled her underneath him, "I didn't fall for you because of your looks though they are my taste. That mind of yours and your devotion to me was what led me to want you."
Ami beamed up at him and threw her arms around him as she kissed him.
The two became intimate for the evening and when Ami was asleep, Ozai went outside to the balcony and saw Katara across the way. She was looking up at the stars and moon. Another month had passed and it was a full moon. He wondered what it felt like to be kept up in the night by such an entity. Maybe he already knew the feeling. Only he was reluctant to admit she kept him up in the night whether angry at her or not, she stayed on his mind. But Ozai knew he had to let her go in order to make things work with Ami.
Sighing, "I think it's time we both moved on."
The next morning, Katara was summoned to Ozai's office and saw it was busy with ministers and officials all over the place while Ozai signed off on some documents. When he spotted her, the Phoenix King yelled for everyone to leave except one person. As they all left, Katara made her way to over to Ozai desk and looked at the man that he told to remain.
"You wanted to speak to me?" Katara side eyed the other man strangely as she addressed Ozai.
"Yes, I wanted to introduce you to Official Sang."
Official Sang was a somewhat tall man with long black hair, green eyes, and a linky physique. He was sort of pretty in the face. Good looking. Had a stern look to him like he didn't take any crap. Katara felt a little intimidated by the man. Why was Ozai introducing her to this guy?
"Hello, Official Sang." Katara bowed.
The man bowed in greetings to her, "Lady Katara."
Ozai smirked as he could see Katara was confused, "Official Sang has been needing someone to assist him with cooking sweets for a party he's throwing in two weeks. I told him about you being a perfect candidate. How about it?"
Katara glanced at the official and looked to her ex-husband, "Why doesn't he get his wife to do it?" She was confused as to why the hell she was being asked to cater an event like that. Didn't this man have a wife or servants or something?
The Phoenix King was about to answer when Official Sang decided to address her comment.
"I'm not married and I'm told you make sweets like no one else. I insist, please, come by my manor in the city sometime tomorrow." Official Sang pleaded with her.
Katara raised a brow and looked to Ozai, who was smirking. "Very well, I'll make a sampler and you tell me what you like. Deal?"
"Excellent, I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. I'll have my servants pick you up in the morning." The official told her before bowing and leaving.
As soon as he was gone, Katara shifted a scowl at Ozai and folded her arms.
"I know what you're doing here, Ozai." Katara hissed.
Smirking, "Tell me you don't find him attractive. Even I would tap that."
Rolling her eyes, "Ozai, you're not a match maker."
"Actually, I am. I'm the one that paired Uhara and Kya up." Ozai said in an accomplished tone.
Katara snorted and walked around his desk to flick him in the forehead.
On the other side of the door to the office, Ami was about to enter when she heard Ozai and Katara inside laughing. She paused to press her ear to the door in order to eavesdrop on their conversation. Apparently, Ozai was setting Katara up on a date with an official and the waterbender was not going for it.
"How old is he, anyway?!" Katara yelled in annoyance.
"Thirty-two." Ozai smirked. "Young, should be able to keep up with you."
Groaning, "Ozai, I'm forty-one, I'd like someone older, please."
Giving her a look, "Ah, you want someone your father's age. Can you say daddy issues?"
Slapping him upside the head just as Ami entered, Katara didn't notice the woman as she play fought Ozai and he laughed at her.
"Do it right if you're going to match-make, Ozai!"
Laughing at the waterbender as she kept hitting him for matching her with a young official, Ozai suddenly noticed Ami standing on the other side of his desk with her arms folded, giving him a disapproving look. He got Katara to stop and turned her attention to his girlfriend.
"Ami, you're up early." Ozai commented.
Looking from him to his ex-wife that pretended like she wasn't there. "What's going on in here?"
"None of your business." Katara said under her breath and got nudged by Ozai's elbow.
"I'm just playing matchmaker. Nothing serious."
Ami grinned as she made her way around his desk and bumped Katara out of her way in order to sit in Ozai's lap. "Oh, that's wonderful. I think it would be healthy for you."
"Healthy?" Katara clenched her fists.
"Yes, you need to be able to see yourself with someone that can willingly be with you." Ami expressed in a soft demeanor. "You're pretty enough."
Katara was about to stick the woman in her face when Ozai chimed in.
"A friend. He's meant to be just a friend. Nothing more if she's not willing." Ozai said as he sent Katara a soft expression.
Not knowing if to be pissed at Ami for basically telling her Ozai was off limits or try to be understanding of Ozai not wanting her to be alone, Katara walked out without another word.
When gone, Ami narrowed her eyes at Ozai.
"When did you get all friendly with your ex?" Ami asked.
Ozai sighed, "When I found out she wasn't actually in control of herself. She really hadn't meant to kill me but Atsou did something to her."
"So, now you know and you want her back?" Ami looked down at the floor.
Cupping her face, "No, I'm just trying to find someone for her. Katara is easily isolated. I don't want that for her. So hopefully, Official Sang and her get together and I'll have less to worry about."
Ami sighed and nodded in acceptance.
Caressing her face, "I mean it, Ami. You're the one I want."
Ami smiled and kissed his lips.
"Now, let me finish up my work. I'll see you for dinner."
…
A/N:
Ozai said be gone bitch lol jk