A/N:
Even more Story Time!
Chapter 5:
Spending the entire morning baking and filling the sweets with fruit custard, Katara wipes her brow. She needed to hurry and bathe before she met with Official Sang. The waterbender through on something simple as she was not trying to impress anyone. Who did Ozai think he was playing matchmaker? She didn't need a boyfriend. He was just trying to keep her off of him.
When the carriage arrived, Katara carried her platter of sweets to the servants and allowed them to take it into their care as she was helped into the carriage. She was a bit nervous that Ozai even had her doing this little charade of a task. Why did he think she'd be interested in cooking for someone other than her family and why the hell did she want to be paired off with someone else? She knew it was difficult for her seeing Ozai with Ami but that didn't mean she'd compromise their relationship just because she was alone. He was being paranoid after that one drunken night she came onto him.
Asshole.
Arriving at the manor, Katara was surprised with how big it was and that he was present to greet her. She expected him to be the snooty type that had his servants escort her to him but here he was, waiting on the steps of his manor with his hands clasped behind his back. Getting out the carriage, Katara was approached by the Official and had her hand taken to be kissed.
"Official Sang," Katara greeted him.
"Lady Katara, please, call me Cho-Seng." Official Sang returned her greeting. "It is good to see you've arrived safely and with the sweets."
Giving him a courteous smile, "Your name is Cho-Seng Sang?"
A light-hearted expression formed on his face and he looked a hundred times less intimidating, "Yes, my father thought it would be funny. He had a weird sense of humor."
Katara giggled a little, "Wish I could have met him."
"Oh, you can," Cho-Seng turned and beckoned her to follow him inside with the servants carrying her sweets' platter. "I promise that if you stand by his grave long enough, you'll hear one of his random jokes."
Amused by the official, Katara continued giggling behind her hand and followed behind him. He showed her around his manor and told a few jokes of his own which were unexpectedly funny. The waterbender began to take a liking to the official. Maybe Ozai was good at this matchmaking thing.
Arriving at his dining room, Cho-Seng ordered the servants to bring the platter and remove the lid. Once the sweets were uncovered, Katara explained what everything was and which were fruity or chocolate. Cho-Seng tried a chocolate-filled powdered doughnut and absolutely loved it. It melted in his mouth and he had to have another, this time trying an apple-filled crusted pastry. Katara watched his eyes nearly roll into the back of his head. She giggled as he moaned in enjoyment of the sweets.
As he continued eating them, Cho-Seng licked his fingers and gave a nod of approval.
"I must admit, I was afraid to have you cater the sweets at my party in a few weeks. I was under the impression that your ex-husband was just trying to throw you at me." Cho-Seng laughed.
Katara awkwardly laughed, "Well, he has been playing matchmaker lately."
Cho-Seng smiled with his teeth, "That's sweet of him to be so involved. I never took him for the caring type but he's been nothing but the benevolent ruler."
"Yes, he's not what people expect and I saw that years ago. I'm just glad everyone is seeing him for what he really is and that is a benevolent ruler."
Grinning at her, "You still love your ex, I take it."
"I do." Katara admitted.
"Too bad. I was interested in this matchmaking thing he put together. Maybe in due time you'll turn your gaze on another."
Katara blushed and wanted to say otherwise but she didn't want to come off as if she wanted something from him in that way. She really wasn't so sure she was good for anyone. Especially a human male. Plus, he was a high-born with an image to protect and he was young. Sure, she looked twenty years old but she was forty-one and was recently a slave in the North Pole. Not to mention, her rocky relationship with Ozai was public knowledge, why would he wanna get involved with her. She stood no chance. He was just teasing her because underneath the intimidation, he was just a funny guy with a lovely personality and she couldn't see herself being any good for him. She could only loathe herself for not being good enough for anyone.
Returning back to the palace, Katara sulked until she finally got out the carriage and put on a fake smile as Ozai was waiting for her. Obviously, he wanted to hear details about her little trip to see if his matchmaking was spot on.
Smirking at her as she reached the top of the stairs, "So, how'd it go?"
"I like him." Katara admitted with a bashful smile.
"I knew it!" Ozai cheered. "So, is there a date I need to arrange for you two?"
"No."
"Why no?"
"Because."
"Because what woman?! Spit it out!"
"Because I'm not any good." Katara fell into the sulking mode she was in while riding the carriage. "He seems like a wonderful guy but Ozai, I'm kind of too fucked up for someone like that. I barely remember proper etiquettes, I have a grim past, and nine years his senior. I feel icky just thinking about how bad I am for him. I mean look at me, Ozai. Who'd want to be with a woman that has marks all over her body? I'm no good."
Before Ozai could say anything, Katara skulked off to her chambers. He hadn't realized Katara thought so ill of herself. Following her to her chambers, Ozai found the waterbender in bed with the transparent bed curtains pulled around her bed, cozied up under her covers. He stood beside her bed and sighed.
"What if I get a tutor to refresh you in proper etiquette, hmm? Get your confidence back." Ozai offered.
Katara peeking her head from the sheet to look up at where Ozai was standing by her bed, "But what about my scars?"
"Who the fuck cares? You're fucking hot, Katara. I didn't know I needed to tell you this. If that asshat has a problem with it, I have a list of others that I know for a fact don't give a fuck." Ozai told her.
The waterbender chuckled a little at how ludicrous Ozai was at times but it made her happy that he felt she was attractive still. Maybe she did have what it took to get Cho-Seng's attention. A few lessons and she should be good to go. Maybe he'd even invite her to his party as his date. Who knows but she needed to stop feeling sorry for herself and just get herself together.
…
Lessons had been tiring and her clothes that were now put on by servants due to the installment of a corset were tight. Her silver hair was now heavy as she wore it up in a bun with her hair flowing down, garnished in pretty but light ornaments. Her lipstick didn't smudge anymore and her nails stayed clipped. She was slowly becoming a lady worthy of the title Lady. Katara knew it was hard work but she had seen Official Sang around and she had to say, she hoped she impressed him.
Waving her fan as the summer heat had rolled in, Katara saw Official Sang making his way to her and quickly changed her posture. She gave a soft and simple smile so as to not look eager to see him. He returned it and looked amused as he stopped in front of her, clearly finding something funny.
"I hate to be so forward but I must in this case," Official Sang saw the waterbender smiling ear to ear as if anticipating something. "Those sweets, could you please make more for me?"
A little disappointed but not letting herself get too down about it, "I'd be glad to. When would you like them?"
"Today if possible." He didn't seem so sure she would do it.
But little did he know that Katara was like a schoolgirl having a crush right now. She was definitely making those sweets right away.
"Today it is." She replied a bit goofily.
Official Sang chuckled a little before thanking her in advance and carrying on with his day.
Holding onto the pillar as she nearly slid down it, Katara groaned and mentally beat herself up. Why was she having such a hard time with this? Was she just not used to pursuing someone? Maybe. She never chased after Ozai or anyone. She never had to try this hard for attention. Was he perhaps just scared of her? No, that couldn't be, he was very friendly with her. Maybe he was just being nice because she was Ozai's ex-wife.
Katara palmed herself and was about to hurry off to the kitchen to make sweets but was stopped by the presence of Ami. The waterbender paused as she saw the woman grinning at her.
"I never thought I'd see you blushing, Lady Katara." Ami started. "You've taken a liking to Official Sang, haven't you?"
Glaring at the woman, "Mind your business."
"Oh, don't be that way. I just thought it was cute and I want to help." Ami told the woman. "Official Sang has a thing for women that dance. Learn some dance moves and he'll be all over you."
Katara raised a brow. Dancing? The Official liked dancing? She could dance. She was very good at it. Most waterbenders were due to the movements of their element. Maybe she could put on an outfit fit for dancing when she brought him the sweets and find a way to let her dance for him. She could pretend to audition for his party's entertainment. His caterer of sweets and the dancer for the evening. Sounded like a good plan to her.
Ami watched Katara eagerly run off and laughed to herself as she knew what she was doing was only to humiliate the bitch of a waterbender. Spirits, she hated him.
…
Dressing in clothes meant for dancing and swift movements, Katara carried a tray of sweets to the Official's office. She couldn't help her smile and noticed people eyeing her funny but didn't care. She was about to make her move and get his attention. It was her first step to winning a man like him over. Tui and La give her strength.
As she entered his office and greeted him, the waterbender watched him immediately reach for one of the sweets. He bit into it and she could see he truly craved them.
"Spirits, you have an amazing talent, Lady Katara." Official Sang told her.
Smiling at the compliment, Katara set the tray down on his desk and offered to audition for the entertainment at his party. She figured a party of the magnitude he was hosting would do well with a bit of entertainment, music and dancing and she wanted to dance. The official raised a brow as he ate another pastry and gave his consent to see her dance.
The waterbender began dancing for the official and little by little, she saw him slowly forget he was eating the sweets as he was solely focused on her movements. She smiled a little to add some grace to it and moved her hips to the music in her head as she hummed. His eyes were trained on her and she could see he liked it. Katara couldn't hold back her wide smile. She was definitely winning him over. Maybe Ami did have useless information.
Ending her dance, Katara saw him get up from his desk and make his way to her. He towered over her for a moment as she looked deep into his bright green eyes. She watched him inch his hands into her hair, brushing it from her neck as he cupped her ears. He went for a kiss and caught her completely off guard as his lips pressed to hers. Before she could respond, he pulled back ever so slightly and whispered.
"Here or in your chambers?"
Pushing him away from her, Katara eyed him in utter confusion as she clung to her clothes and backed away.
Also confused, Official Sang tilted his head. "What is it?"
"Here or my chambers?! What are you talking about?!"
Furrowing his brows in more confusion, "I assumed you were advertising sex?"
"What?! What gave you that idea?!" Katara couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Official Sang scratched his head and realized she might not know Earth Kingdom customs all that well, "Typically if you dance privately for a man here, it's a form of seduction to get him to bed you. I assumed you were looking for some fun since your ex-husband is playing matchmaker, that's all."
Katara's eyes widened and before Official Sang could apologize for misreading her, she fled.
Spotting Katara running off with tears in her eyes, Ozai sighed as he didn't know what happened but knew he should probably check on her. Grabbing her as she nearly ran into him from not seeing where she was going.
"What's wrong now, you damn tearbender?" Ozai asked.
Sobbing as she looked up at him, Katara clenched his robes in her hands and cried into his chest. "I'm a dumbass! I'm so stupid stupid stupid!"
…..
"Ami! Get in here!" Ozai hissed.
Ami strolled into her boyfriend's office and took a seat in front of his desk as he stood on the other side glaring at her.
"Did you send Katara to dance for Official Sang knowing she had no idea the customs here?!"
Averting her eyes, "It was just meant to be funny, Ozai. It wasn't serious."
"It is serious! I'm trying to set the two of them up so she won't be focused so much on us! So we can focus on us! And here you are trying to ruin that! Stop meddling in my plans here!" Ozai shouted in frustration. "You have no idea how low she already thinks of herself and how I'm trying to help her build up her self-esteem! You made her look like a fool! And worse, you made Official Sang think she was soliciting sex! Katara is not a loose woman! Now there is no telling if I can fix this!"
Ami listened to Ozai reprimand her for her prank on Katara and telling her not to do it again. He was very serious and passionate about the matchmaking he was doing and didn't want anyone intervening.
Fed up with his defending of the waterbender, "I can't help it! I hate her!"
Ozai bites back what he wants to say and points his finger at her, "You leave Katara alone! She is mine to deal with, got it?!"
"You're siding with her again!"
"I'm protecting you!" Ozai yelled. "Katara doesn't need a reason to lash out at you, I promise you, she will if you keep this shit up!"
Ami stood up and walked out his office, not wanting to hear anymore. She halts in her steps when she sees Ozai leave his office and decides to follow him. She wanted to see where he was headed. Obviously to comfort his ex-wife.
Sure enough, he had. Standing outside the waterbender's door, Ozai patted the woman on the head.
"I'll try to fix this, okay?" Ozai told her.
Snuggling as she was wrapped in her blanket, Katara shook her head and sniffled. "It's fine. I'm okay. You don't have to."
Caressing the side of her face before kissing her forehead, "Let me."
Katara looked up at him and smiled weakly before nodding.
Smiling back at her, "There's my girl."
Clearing her throat as she approached, Ami folded her arms under her breasts and eyed the two suspiciously.
"What's this?"
Katara slammed the door shut in their faces.
Ozai growled as he turned his attention to Ami.
"What's wrong with you?!" Ozai hissed
"You still love her!" Ami yelled at him.
"I do! But I'm not in love with her anymore! Why can't you tell the difference?!"
"Because there is no difference!"
"There is! If I wanted to be with her, I would! But I don't! I'm with you! Your jealousy is becoming very unattractive, Ami!"
"So! You're gonna dump me for her?!"
"If I wanted to dump you, I'm dumping you for myself! Now, leave me alone for the rest of the day, I'm sleeping in my chambers!" Ozai hollered at her as he brushed past her, storming off.
Ami screamed, "Asshole!"
Ozai flicked her off as he continued on down the hall ignoring the looks his residents were giving them.
….
Sulking in her room eating a bowl fried potato slices, Katara stared blankly with heavy bags under her eyes from crying and staying up all night. She hadn't been able to get the embarrassment out of her system. Thinking of it always and not being able to sleep because of the sick feeling of her shame. So she stayed up, cried about how stupid she was and begrudged herself for trusting a bitch like Ami.
As she continued on her wage of self loathing, there was a knock at the door and Katara honestly didn't feel like answering it. But the knocking wouldn't stop and it was beginning to irritate her.
Getting up to answer the door, "Damn it, why do you bother knock just fucking leave me al-" Katara stopped as she saw it was not Ozai and the embarrassment from earlier intensified.
Chuckling, "Sorry to bother you. I just wanted to apologize for yesterday." Official Sang bowed his head in shame.
"No! It's fine! It was my fault, anyways!" Katara awkwardly tried fixing up her disheveled appearance. "I didn't know the customs here enough to know that dancing was a technique of seduction. I apologize."
Official Sang chuckled as he stood up straight, "Well, now that we have our apologies out of the way, I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner with me."
"Yes!" She said all too eagerly getting the man to laugh at her readiness to answer the question.
"Great, I'll come by later to get you." Official Sang told her.
Katara nodded her head with a wide smile on her face. When he left, Katara shut her door and bounced around in glee as she got a first date with Cho-Seng. Yay me! But wait, I need something to wear!
The waterbender rushes to her dresser and closet, going through her clothes looking for the perfect thing to wear. She didn't want to do too much but definitely didn't want to underdress. She needed something just right for a first date dinner.
Finding a hanfu dress Ozai had her wear on their first date, Katara took a moment to look over it and the threaded designs. Of course it was perfect, Ozai had good taste but she didn't feel right wearing it for this occasion. So she folded it back and tucked it away.
….
"No screwing on your first date." Zhiar told his mother.
Katara rolled her eyes and laughed at her son, kissing him on the cheek as he told her he was serious. She knew he meant well and just didn't want her diving headfirst into a relationship without knowing if it'll work or not.
As she continued getting ready, Ozai showed up to congratulate her on scoring a first date. She rolled her eyes at him two and turned around to tell him off but instead of reacting to her insult and offensive language, he sort of just stared at her.
No way she's going out looking like this. Ozai immediately grabbed her by her collar and dragged her to her bathroom. There, he took her face rage and doused it in water to splash all over her face. He held her down as he scrubbed the makeup off of her. No way in hell was she going out look like that. Who the hell told her to get all dolled up for this guy? Hell, she never dressed up that nice for him. Why do it for this human? He was hooking her up with the man not sending her off to marry him. The fuck.
"Ozai! Stop it!" She tried clawing him.
Still cleaning the make-up from her face, "What the fuck are you doing dolling up for this guy?!"
"Dolling up?! Ozai, I'm going on a date! I need to look good!" Katara shouted at him as she finally snatched the face rag from him and saw he had removed all her make up, "Oh, great! Now, I have to make him wait longer to redo it!"
Ozai snatched her wrist and pulled her back when she tried going to redo her makeup. He lifted up her dress and saw she had her silk thongs on with the matching bra.
Pulling herself away from him, Katara gave him a look like he was crazy and he was. "Ozai, what the fuck?! Leave me alone!"
"You're trying to fuck him on the first date?!"
"I'm trying to look pretty! No one said I was screwing him!"
"Sure looks like it to me!"
"Shut up! You're the one that did this whole matchmaking thing!"
"Doesn't mean go be a whore!"
Katara slapped Ozai dead across the face.
Ozai looked at her with wide eyes as he realized what he said to her.
"I'm not a whore! I'm just trying to boost my confidence!" Katara hissed at him as she jabbed her finger at his nose. "Now, you get out and let me get ready for my date before I freeze your ass a new one!"
Ozai nodded and didn't say a word as he left out of her chambers and went back to his to sulk. Why did he all of a sudden not want her with Official Sang? She looked gorgeous and all he could think was how she was his woman and no one elses. Damn it! This was all his fault. Katara wouldn't look at another man if he didn't throw one in her face. He basically told her to go fuck off by throwing her at Official Sang. Now, she was doing the very thing he told her and he didn't like it.
The Phoenix King stayed up all night waiting for Katara to come home but she wasn't back until morning. His wards went off that she was within the palace grounds and Ozai was at the spot she was in seconds. There, he found she looked in tact and not disheveled as he expected a woman to be when taking the early morning walk of shame.
"Oh, you're full of shit." Katara spat as she marched up the steps and past him.
"I'm full of shit but you lied about not trying to screw the man." Ozai spat back at her, folding his arms over his chest.
Katara rolled her eyes, "We stayed up talking all night. We lost track of time and he let me stay in his guest suite. It was generous and very gentlemen-like of him. I like him even more."
Snorting, Ozai made a crude comment about her likely wishing he wasn't the generous gentleman, that she'd prefer he was a generous lover.
Punching him in the gut, "You jealous bastard. Go fuck your princess bitch." Katara snapped.
Ozai cringed forward in pain, "I'm not jealous! I'm just looking out!"
"You're being a jealous creep, Ozai." Katara strutted around him. "Stay out of my business."
….
It had only been a week and things were going amazingly swell for Katara with her blossoming romance with Cho-Seng. He had lunch with her every afternoon and stayed late after doing some work in the office to chat with her. The two were currently in the gardens having lunch that she prepared and Cho-Seng was enjoying every bit of it. She fed him as Mailan played with Kiko nearby, playfully cooing at him as he bit from her chopsticks.
The two were laughing when Ozai approached them. Official Sang got up from the floor cushion to bow to the Phoenix King.
"How is your day going?" Ozai asked them.
Katara happily tells him how Official Sang allowed her to show him how to make sweets and how she spent the whole morning helping him with a few reports he needed to finish.
"I'm surprised of how much she knows about political matters." Cho-Seng said as he smiled at Katara, who held to his arm. "She was very insightful. Didn't expect her to contribute so much feedback."
Ozai gritted his teeth, "That's because I taught her."
Katara nodded, "Yes, and you were a very informative teacher." She hugged tighter onto Cho-Seng's arm.
"Well, I should be on my way. There are matters I need to oversee at my manor but I will see you bright and early tomorrow." Official Sang kissed Katara's hand before taking his leave.
Ozai cringed and Katara grabbed his hand to swing it back and forth.
"You're so jelly, aren't you?"
Spinning her around as he wore his resting bitch face, "I'm not jealous. I just think it's odd that you two are getting so close so quickly."
Katara smiles as she lets go of his hand and spins on her own, "We just click. I haven't clicked with anyone other than Zuko this way."
"What about us?!" Ozai growled and raised a brow at her as if she was forgetting something.
Giggling as she stopped spinning and looked at him with a warm-hearted grin, "You and I are like ice and fire, we don't do well for long."
"Oh really?! You think we don't get along?!"
Katara nodded, in too happy a mood to be affected by his tone.
"You silly bitch, you know we click."
"Yeah, when you're not being a grump."
"Or when you're not being a bitch!"
"See what I mean."
"Oh fuck you, Katara!"
Ozai stormed off only further proving her point.
…..
A/N:
Ozai is a jelly belly! :3