A/N:
I'm back!
Chapter 13:
For a wedding day, it was mighty hot or was she just going crazy? Maybe she was crazy. She had to be. There was no other way to explain why she did the crazy shit she did. Like following Ami to her lab, knocking her out and tying her up, stealing her wedding dress and squeezing her ass into it just to show up at the altar in front of hundreds of guests that included their family to marry a man that literally looked like he was going to kill her as soon as they got alone. Dear La, I've finally snapped, haven't I?
"Do you, Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
Katara looked at Ozai and saw he wanted to bash her head in with his boot, chop her into bite size pieces and gobble her up. She was so dead and she didn't even know it. Swallowing hard, Katara went with her instincts that she probably shouldn't trust but she was here now and what else could she do?
"I do."
"And do you, Phoenix King Ozai Yong, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do." He growled in frustration, annoyance, and altogether rage at what was happening.
As they were then pronounced husband and wife, Ozai grabbed her by the waist and glared at her. Whispering, "You had better have a good explanation or I swear to all the gods I'm going to light your ass on fire."
Swallowing hard as she nearly shit herself at how frighteningly low Ozai's voice had gotten, Katara nodded her head as she couldn't bring herself to say a word. She was so fucked.
"You may now kiss the bride." The minister told them.
Ozai cupped her face and kissed her hard, biting her lip till it bled.
…..
~Four Days Ago~
A week after Katara moved back into the palace, things seemed alright. Ami didn't bother Katara and Katara didn't bother Ami. Hell, Katara didn't do much of anything as Mailan just wanted to be around her father all day, Zuko didn't allow Ryu to come with her to the Phoenix Empire, and she had absolutely no real responsibilities other than occasionally take care of Hiroshi and Mailan while the caretakers and tutors were not with them. It was quite lax for her and she didn't like it. Katara offered to do something, anything, but Ozai didn't want her out of his sight or reach, so working in Republic City was not an option.
With nothing to do all day but be lost in her thoughts, Katara found the old training grounds with dummies and practice equipment. She decided to pick up a spear and poke at the tip of it, seeing it was rusty. Maybe she could make the best of her time and work out? Maybe she could stop thinking about this damn wedding and the rehearsal that was in just a few short days.
Ozai had just sent Mailan off with Kiko to her tutor when he walked past the old training yard. He saw Katara practicing with a spear and decided to watch. It never dawned on him that Katara was proficient in weaponry. Perhaps, it was a skill she picked up while with Atsou. She was pretty good with a spear and he'd hate to be her opponent. It suddenly came to him that he could spar with her.
The Phoenix King made his way down to the training yard and waltz up to Katara as she spun her spear above her head and brought it down on her imaginary opponent. He removed his robes and stripped down to just his leather pants and white tunic.
"Care to spar?" He asked her.
Katara stopped what she was doing and brought her spear down in an upright position. "Spar? You sure about that, Ozai?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Cause I'm pretty brutal."
"I'm sure, sweetheart." Ozai smirked at her.
That smirk was wiped clean away after Katara beat him twice and had him at her mercy. Ozai usually didn't like the fact of being beaten by a woman, let alone a woman he felt belonged to him. However, he was turned on and had to say, he'd love to be dominated like this in the bedroom.
Seeing he had an erection, Katara turned her head as he got up and sighed to herself. "Ozai, I'd really like to be alone right now."
"Okay, that's fine. I had better get going anyways."
"Yeah, might want to take care of your little problem down there." She told him.
"Little?!"
Katara burst out laughing and told him to leave her alone.
As Ozai left, covering the proof of his arousal up, he smirked to himself as he took one last look at the waterbender.
Returning to his office, Ozai was met with Ami and seemed to dread seeing her. All she did was bicker with him about the plans for the wedding. He never remembered Katara bickering at him like this over small matters. He really wasn't liking Ami all that much the closer they got to the wedding day. She just wouldn't stop micromanaging him all damn day. What he was doing, how he was doing it, when he was do it. All fucking day it was the same shit with her. Why couldn't she worry about something else? Why bother him?
"Dear," Ami started up. "Where were you? I've been needing to speak with you about the decorations. I don't think they're what I pictured."
"Then change them."
"Change them?! Right before the wedding, I think not." Ami said.
Ozai was about to pull his hair out, "Then what do you want?"
Ami narrowed her eyes at him, "What's your malfunction?!"
"My malfunction?! Woman, you have been bickering with me all week!"
"Cause you brought that Water Tribe slut back to my home!"
"This is my palace, Ami. If I want her here, she will be here."
"You're unbelievable, Ozai! You still have feelings for her!"
"So what?! I'm marrying you, aren't I? And if I still want to fuck my ex, I'll do that! Get off my case!"
Ami was speechless.
Ozai glared at Ami, "Katara and I have history, Ami. You're never going to be able to just make me throw that away. Never. So you either take me as I am, a man that still loves and cares about you or you leave me. Your choice."
Ami sighed and agreed to take him as he was but she told him she didn't like it, informing him to fuck his ex as much as he liked until the wedding as she was not tolerating it. Ozai agreed that he wouldn't touch Katara once they were married but until then, all bets were off. The Earth Kingdom Princess decided she'd stay in her laboratory until the wedding, which was good news to Ozai. He needed a break from Ami.
…
Hama tossed her hair over her shoulder and drank the spiked tea Ursa made, getting the chills at how good it was. Honestly, the siren and Ozai's first wife had gotten along pretty well. Apparently, they were close from their days of working with Atsou together. The two of them talked while Katara sat awfully quiet with her spiked tea in hand.
"Something got your panties in a bunch?" Hama asked her granddaughter.
Rolling her eyes, "No."
"Liar." Ursa scoffed.
"Shouldn't you be with Zuko and Azula back in the Fire Nation?" Katara snarkily said to Ursa.
Sucking her teeth, "My kids are adults. They're fine."
Hama reached over to pat Katara's head, "Tell me, what's really wrong, Katara? Is this about Ozai?"
"Sort of." Katara groaned as she downed her spiked tea.
"I knew it." Ursa smirked as she side eyed Katara. "She looked like she wanted to pounce the man during their little spar earlier."
Hama looked at her granddaughter and grinned, "Oh really? You and Ozai sneaking around."
"We are not!" Katara hurried to say. "We're just friends."
Ursa and Hama rolled their eyes.
"You asshats could never be 'just' friends. One of you always fucks it up." Hama hissed.
Ursa snorted a laugh, "Clearly, your moodiness is from this whole wedding nonsense. You don't want him marrying Ami."
"Of course, not. Why would I?"
The two older women chuckled, "Oh, you are so obvious."
"Just friends my ass." Hama scoffed.
Katara got up and left the women as they continued laughing at her. She didn't have time for that. As she went towards her chambers, Ami was waiting there with her luggage. What the hell?
"About time you showed back up." Ami said in annoyance.
Katara raised a brow at Ami and folded her arms.
"Look, to make up for that shit with Atsou, you can sleep with Ozai until the wedding. Just don't mention I spoke to you." Ami said. "He's so sensitive about me talking to you."
"What is your problem? You think I'd actually sleep with him and he's marrying you?"
"I don't think, Katara. I know and so does everyone else around here." Ami scoffed. "Just try not to wet my sheets too much. They're not easy for the servants to clean and I know how 'watery' you get around my man."
"You bit-"
"I must get going. I'll be staying at my lab till the wedding. Have fun."
Katara watched the woman snap her fingers and the servants hurried to grab her luggage. Ami strutted out in front of them as they carried her things behind her. Oh, Katara couldn't stand this bitch. Not only did she say those things but she was snooty as all hell.
"I hate her!" Katara groaned in frustration.
…..
Ozai was surprised to be visited by his daughter, Kya, and grandson, Jotaro. Typically, Kya was busy with her family affairs. Being the head of the Totomi clan until her son was of age was her new responsibility. He was proud of her to take her life into her own hands and live as her late fiance had wanted her to. It was the one big misfortune in their lives recently. Losing Uhara was hard on him too and he hated that his daughter never got to marry the man. There would never be anyone more perfect for his daughter than Uhara.
"To what do I owe this visit?" Ozai said as he smiled at his daughter and grandson.
Kya grinned back at her father and walked Jotaro over to sit in his grandfather's lap. "I wanted to talk to you about something, dad."
"About what?" Ozai raised a brow at her, already not liking this conversation.
As her father bounced Jotaro on his leg, Kya sat down and smirked at him. "I caught you and mom in bed."
"So?" Ozai shrugged.
"So, you're marrying Ami."
"And I don't see how that's a problem seeing as your mother and I didn't have sex." Ozai expressed, stopping Jotaro from taking the quill off of his desk.
"So why in bed together?" Kya raised a brow.
Ozai shrugged, "Because I wanted to hold her. She turned me down for sex but I still wanted to touch her."
Kya tilted her head in confusion, "I'm sorry but why are you marrying Ami again?"
"I honestly forgot." Ozai scoffed as he handed Jotaro a cookie. "But I said I would and now, I am."
"But dad, you clearly love mom."
Ozai didn't look at his daughter as he fed his grandson another cookie. "Moving on is good for us both, Kya."
"That makes no sense!"
Ozai raised his eyes to his daughter and eyed her funny, "Is this really what you came here for? To lecture me on things you don't understand?"
"I just want to make sure you're not toying with my mother."
Ozai slammed his free hand on his desk, causing Jotaro to cry and sneered at his daughter. "Your mother is my woman, got it! I knew her damn well before any of you little kiddies showed up and to be honest, I wish we waited to have you disrespectful brats! You think you know your mother so well, well you don't! You don't even have half the picture but I do! So don't tell me what to do and don't do with MY woman! Got that?!"
Kya stood and grabbed her crying son from his grandfather and stormed out of his office. Ozai threw up two middle fingers behind her in a childish fit as he was fed up with Kya and the other lecturing him about Katara. Just the other day Zuko tried giving him a talk and nearly punched that idiot's teeth out. Katara was his till the end of time itself. And no kids, no marriage, no vows of fidelity were going to stop that. He was only loyal and faithful to one woman and it wasn't Ami.
…
The wedding rehearsal was tomorrow and then the day after was the wedding. Katara felt very anxious as the days grew closer. Could she truly accept Ozai moving on? Could she look at him and see him married to someone else?
Pacing the halls at night, Katara ended up in the corridors of portraits and saw one of Ozai. She sighed and stared at it.
"I really hate you for moving on, ya know?" Katara folded her arms and faced away from the portrait. "Doesn't help that you act like you still want me at times. How can I respect your marriage to that bitch?"
"For one, you could talk to me face to face rather than my portrait." Ozai said as he appeared from a portal.
Katara looked at him and furrowed her brows.
Smirking, "Come have a drink with me, waterbender."
The waterbender watched as Ozai led the way to his chambers and followed him. She didn't know why Ozai wanted to have a drink but typically, it meant he had to have a talk with her and she really didn't want to hear him go on about Ami and his bullshit.
Arriving at his chambers, Katara was handed a drink and offered a hit of his pipe. It had been a while since Katara had smoked but she wasn't going to pass it up. Taking a big hit of the pipe and then downing an entire glass of Fire Nation sut whiskey, the waterbender gave her ex her undivided attention.
"What is it, Ozai?" Katara was poured some more whiskey.
Sitting back down, across from her, Ozai smoked his pipe and blew a puff of it off to the side. "One of your twins came by earlier."
"Our twins." She corrected.
"Kya, she had a lot to say about me marrying Ami and is all for meddling in my business." Ozai explained. "Thought we'd discuss why you gave me troublesome kids."
Snorting a laugh as she looked off to the side and drank her drink, "Ozai, they are troublesome because of you. I was a good kid growing up."
"You were a rebel."
"Because you were a tyrant."
Ozai smirked, "I do miss the old days, waterbender."
"Surprisingly, so do I." Katara said before shaking her drink around and drinking it. "Simpler times."
"Simple indeed."
The two drank and talked about their time before children. When they were younger and blissfully ignorant. Katara's childhood and adventures with the Avatar. Ozai's couple years as Fire Lord before she came along. In the end, they wondered what life would have been like had they never met.
"I would rule the world." Ozai smirked.
"Me and Zuko would have gotten married and lived in the South Pole." Katara smirked back.
"You ruined my life." They said in unison before laughing.
Katara snorted in her laughter and couldn't stop. Ozai could only laugh in return at her, accidentally snorting himself causing Katara to laugh harder. They were drunk out of their minds but they were having a good time. At some point, Ozai had moved across the way to sit beside Katara and had his arm around her shoulder. She didn't mind until the laughing died down and he inched towards her face.
Popping him in the face, "What are you doing, Ozai?" she giggled.
"Trying to kiss you." He admitted.
Rolling her eyes, "Stop, Ozai. That always leads to something else and you're about to be off the market completely."
Ozai nuzzled her ear with his face, "Just one kiss."
"No."
Moving to her neck, Ozai kissed her it and ran his tongue along the tender skin causing the waterbender to shiver. He grabbed onto her dress and hiked up the skirt to move his hand to her panties. He pulled on the seat of it and she caught his wrist as she looked him in the eyes in her haze of drunkenness.
"You're marrying Ami."
"And all I want is you right now, crazy huh?" He smirked at her before kissing her lips as he yanked her panties off.
"Oz-"
Ozai pushed her down onto the sofa and tore off his robes, tossing them to the side. "Spread 'em." He looked down at her hungrily.
Katara laughed and did as he asked.
Thirty minutes later, the two completely destroyed the sitting area of Ozai's chambers. Ozai broke the sofa after pinning Katara down on it and fucking her long and hard. She then threw him on the floor, smashing the low table, and hopped on him, riding him vigorously as he clawed his rug, shredding it underneath his nails. He sat up and captured the waterbender's lips as she rode him like a fucking horse, taking him deep inside her like a wild woman. Ozai was about to snap when he picked her up and held her thighs, thrusting deep into her as he stood.
"Just like that, daddy. Fuck me, just like that!" Katara rasped.
Ozai lost it and took her into the bedroom where he annihilated her in bed. Drilling her hard into the sheets as he broke the headboard from gripping it too hard. The bed rocked back and forth until it became lopsided and was no longer standing on more than two stilts.
In the morning, Katara woke in bed cuddled up to Ozai in a lopsided bed and saw he was still knocked out. Last night was rough and crazy but nothing she didn't expect from him. She smirked and sat up off of him to look over him. La, she wished it was the two of them getting married. She'd do better as a wife to him and be what he needed from her. She wouldn't give him grief until he deserved it or needed it. She would make him feel loved through and through, he'd never have to wonder. She wanted to be with him so badly but she knew in her heart, she couldn't attend the wedding and watch him marry someone else.
Combing his hair with her fingers, Katara beamed at his sleeping face and kissed his lips. "You goofy man, why won't you have me as I want to be had?"
"I do." Ozai opened his eyes and smirked at her.
Pulling away as a tent of red formed on her face as she was embarrassed. "Ozai, don't do that!"
Sitting up, Ozai moved to kiss her lips and nudge her forehead with his. "I want you in every way, Katara. I mean it."
"You're toying with me." Katara covered her breasts with her arms.
"No, I seriously mean it."
Throwing the sheets off of herself, Katara went to where her clothes were on the floor and gathered them up to put on. "You got what you wanted, we had sex, so I think I'm done here."
"Don't go, waterbender. Stay and cuddle." Ozai said as he laid back in bed.
Katara flashed a scowl at him. "Go to hell."
Sitting back up, "What are you upset for now, Katara?"
"I'm upset because you keep doing this shit to me! You play me for a fucking fool and I'm sick of it!"
Ozai climbed out of bed and walked over to her to cup her face, "I love you, Katara, and I want-"
Shoving him, "I don't care about what you want! What about what I want?!"
"Kat-"
"Leave me alone, Ozai."
Katara dressed and fled from the chambers.
….
As a form of protecting one's self, Katara avoided Ozai all day. She planned to attend the rehearsal and wedding to remind herself that he made his choice. Ozai claimed to want her but she knew he was just kidding himself and her and she'd be a fool to fall for it. Sometimes people got caught up in the moment and said things they didn't mean. She didn't want to be foolish and take Ozai seriously this morning as she knew he was madly in love with Ami. Why else would he have done things as he had?
Every turn she took, Ozai tried approaching her or sneaking up on her but she wasn't having it. Katara was not doing this with him. His need to have Ami and her too was driving her insane. Sure, he wanted her but not as badly as he wanted both of them. If he were more decisive in his desire for her, maybe, just maybe she'd forgive him and be at his side but he chose Ami and what was she to do about that? Nothing. So, she was done. Absolutely done this time. She was not turning back. Katara was putting her foot down.
However, at the rehearsal dinner, Ozai eyed her the entire time even though she sat to the furthest end of the table to avoid him. She sat with Ursa and Hama and told them what happened between them. The women both laughed and made jokes about her situation. It was light hearted and they meant no harm but Katara couldn't take it. So, even after they left the table to go have drinks elsewhere in the palace, Katara got up to leave as well. She didn't want to be stared at by Ozai and his intense gaze. He didn't know how to be subtle. So as she left the dining hall, Katara felt someone behind her and was snatched up immediately.
"Come here!" Ozai grabbed Katara's wrist and forced her out to the balcony with him.
"I don't wann-"
"Shut up! You're going to let me speak!"
Katara folded her arms and switched her weight to one leg as she raised a brow at him for raising his voice at her.
"Listen, Katara, I've been wanting to say something for a while and last night confirmed everything I needed to know to be sure I knew how I really felt." Ozai started. "I love you more than life itself and I know for a fact I can't live without you. Ami was a mistake. I want you. I want us. I-"
"You've lost it, Ozai." Katara couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Ozai grabbed her shoulders and looked her directly in the eyes, "Katara, I'm serious! I don't want Ami. I want us. I want what we had in the illusion."
"Stop telling me this! You don't want that! You're selfish and want to make me into something I'm not again! Didn't you learn before with Arnook?! Huh? Wasn't that a lesson enough not to take the matter of the heart lightly?! And guess who's going to suffer for all of this?! ME! Because you never get the short end of the stick, the gods just favor you and all your glory but me, I'm nothing to them! They'll stump me for even looking in the wrong direction! I have no divine protection like you! So, stop while you're ahead of yourself and make more of a mess than has to be! Marry Ami and leave me be! It was a mistake moving back here!"
Ozai could only stare as he listened to Katara go off on him. It wasn't long before it started to rain from the waterbender's fit and he could tell from how chilly the rain was that she was furious with him and altogether not having it. She was right. This was a mistake. Her being around made him lose sight of Ami. He couldn't do Ami like this. What was wrong with him?
Nodding his head to her as the rain pour down on the both of them, drenching them in icy water, Ozai finally spoke up. "You're right. This was a mistake. I love Ami and I'm hurting her by even being here with you."
"You are." Katara replied as she teared up. "Just leave me alone, I'll move back, and you two can live happily ever after."
"Very well."
"Goodbye, Ozai."
Katara took off running as thunder and lightning took place in the backdrop of the scene. She was so fed up with this back and forth. Will he, won't he shit. She was done. Officially done. Nothing was ever going make her turn back aro-
Catching a glimpse of Atsou and his silver locks going into a portal, Katara paused immediately. What was he doing here? She hurried off to leave before he spotted her and ran smack dead into Ursa and Hama.
"Did you see him?" Hama asked.
"Yes." Katara replied.
Ursa grabbed Katara and yanked her along with them to their chambers. There, they sat her down and told her what they just witnessed.
"Ozai's wife-to-be is in bed with Atsou." Hama said.
"She's cheating on him?!"
"No, she's in cahoots." Ursa clarified and gave Hama a look for her terminology before returning her gaze to Katara. "She's planning to kill Ozai."
"What?!"
Hama explained what they had witnessed and how Ami was planning on killing Ozai for Atsou, using his remains for her immortality serum. She was doing it out of vengeance for Ozai not truly loving her. "Apparently, Ozai let it slip about his true feelings. Now, she wants his head and yours, eventually."
Katara sighed at this information. So, Ozai was serious when he said he would leave her? Now, they had a psychotic scientist teamed up with their enemy. This was exactly what she meant by consequences. She needed to go tell Ozai.
"Ozai isn't going to listen to us. We need to deal with her ourselves." Hama punched her fist into her palm.
Ursa smirked, "Agreed."
…
The wedding procession had begun and Katara took Ami's place in the palanquin that was headed for the temple. Katara had apprehended Ami in her lab along with Ursa and Hama. After tying her up, Ursa and Hama helped her into the woman's wedding dress which was a little too small but they made it work. She was dolled up with make-up and sent to take Ami's place in the wedding procession. Ozai, here I come.
Walking down the aisle was just as nerve wracking as the first time she did this. She feared Ozai all the same. She knew he wouldn't be happy once he discovered her under this veil but this was for the greater good and her own. Not only was protecting him from Ami but she was finally putting a pin in their on and off again relationship. They needed to come together for the sake of their family. Ozai would be mad for a moment but he would soon understand that this was needed.
Katara could see her children all in the front row of the chapel, looking none too happy about their father marrying another woman. She knew her family would be more at peace once she and their father were married. The family united under them. So, she could only hope Ozai didn't strangle her in front of everyone else.
At the top of the steps where the final act of the wedding procession would take place, Katara turned to Ozai who seemed unenthused about this whole thing and let him slowly remove the veil. As soon as he saw her face, Ozai's eyes widened and then quickly narrowed.
And this was how it all began.
Ozai stormed out of the chapel after he broke away from her. The reception was canceled and everyone was sent home with just presents as an apology for the shenanigans that took place during the wedding.
In his office with the minister that wedded them and Katara, Ozai raged at her. All the children were outside with Ursa and Hama listening to Ozai throw shit and tell Katara off, not letting her get a single word out.
"Your majesty, we can annul the marriage." The minister spoke up.
"No! Me and this crazy bitch are just going to have to work it out since neither of us can escape the other!" Ozai shouted. "We're just gonna be two fucking miserable ass people, aren't we, Katara?!"
"Ozai, calm down, there's a reason for this." Katara tried to speak.
"I'm sure there is but you decided to crash my fucking wedding! And marry yourself to me!"
"Ozai-"
"I don't want to hear it, woman!"
"But-"
"Listen to your husband, Lady Katara. He's angered by your actions." The minister consulted.
Katara shut her mouth for the sake of not wanting to fight and let Ozai go in on her about how she turned him down several times just to show up at the wedding to marry him in place of Ami after he re-established his resolve to marry the woman. He was fed up.
"Where's Ami?!"
"Tied up in her lab."
Ozai slapped her.
Zuko burst into the room and saw Katara holding her cheek as Ozai scowled at her. He immediately went to comfort Katara as Ozai was about to do a whole lot worse.
"You tied my fiance up in her own lab, Katara?!"
"Well, technically, I tied her up." Ursa said as she stepped into the room with Hama after shooing their younger children away.
"And I punched her." Hama raised her hand. "Katara, just put on her dress and took her place."
Ozai pinched his brows as this story was getting wilder and wilder.
Zhiar glared at his father, "Ami was going to kill you for Atsou. Mom was saving your ass again!"
"Ami is not working for-"
"Yes, she is! We've been trying to tell you for months! But you won't fucking listen!" Zuko spat at his father while holding Katara to his chest.
"Ozai, why are you in denial." Ursa asked. "Did you truly love Ami?"
"YES! I do! I still love her!"
Katara fled the room.
"You're an asshole, dad." Kya said as she couldn't believe the words coming out his mouth.
Ozai was about to pull his hair out with these people, "Everyone get the fuck out of my office!"
"But da-"
"GET THE FUCK OUT!" His eyes turned red as he roared at them.
Everyone hurried out.
"That man is a dick." Hama shook her head.
Ursa snorted, "A bigger dick than he has."
"You can say that again." Hama laughed.
The twins sighed and shook their heads as Zuko went after their mother to check on her.
"At least, the family is back together." Hama threw her arms around Kya and Zhiar.
Kya shoved Hama off of her as did Zhiar.
"Worst wedding ever." Zhiar scoffed.
…
A/N:
Does anyone else feel like Ozai is being a brat? Welp, our 'happy' couple is finally married again and Ami is not fully out of the picture of course, she plans to make a comeback to get revenge. But at least they're together now. Thank you for reading.