A/N: I am so, so, sorry to all my loyal readers out there! I just up and took this long old behind hiatus on y'all, but hey; I was only gone forever, not long at all…yeah, that should clue you in to what I was up to, if you are a true fan of what I borrowed that quote from, teehee! Well, this is just gonna' pick up where it left off, basically, so yeah, yeah, I don't own ATLA, or any of its affiliates, as much as I'd like to.

Remissive resolve

I don't know which was worse; the fact that Ozai was seething mad or the fact that his breath was mere inches from the delicate clavicles of my pulsing neck. He seemed to emanate fury like water from an overflowing sink…wait a minute…

I eased my way out of tougher situations, so this shouldn't be too difficult. He's only a ruthless Firelord, after all. Lifting my chin, I find his lips with my own and he releases his hold on me minutely. Sliding my hands down to his, I lead him to the bathroom with a coy smile. "Just in case we get too hot, your Majesty" I explain, earning a smirk.

I am hoisted onto the golden bathtub as lithely as you please, and no sooner did I wince at the pinch I'd received between my thighs before Ozai was practically mauling me like a wild bear. Grinning, he pushed me into the bathtub and began attacking my abdomen, now bare due to his highness' augmenting lust. He was hurting me, which only made me hastier by the minute. "Wait, your Majesty…can't we go to the bed?" I ask innocently, and widen my eyes to appear transparent. He growls, but carries me to said piece of furniture.

"If you can't make up your mind, I'll take you right on the floor, pretty wench" he threatens. In the time that he takes to cross to the opposite side of the bed, I am on my feet and sprinting to the bathroom. Locking the door, I plug the tub and began twisting the faucets on at full blast. Suddenly the door is not, and a raging Firelord stands before me. I smirk.

"Here, why don't you cool down, your Majesty" I spit, drenching him in a wave. He merely stands there for the longest while, glaring at me, until I eventually stop moving, too. My hair and dress were both wet, and his frightening leer, doubled with the drops of water that ran down my hair, snaked down my dress, permeated the fibers of both my dress and pores, and coiled around my bones, left me incessantly chilled. He advanced upon me and I shivered.

Zuko's POV Zuko's POV Zuko's POV Zuko's POV Zuko's POV

I can't really say what I expected from my little sister, but it was certainly not this. She had taken to listening to me retell my journeys with Uncle and the Gaang. Of course I didn't tell her everything, but I won't say it was easy not to. I don't really know, but while Azula sat there, all quiet and listening so patiently with her eyes soft and without malice, I couldn't help but think of her as just my baby sister again. Unfortunately, that only lasted as long as my tale did, for when I stopped, she pouted and muttered "Well I certainly had hoped you'd been doing something more intriguing while away for so long, but then, it's you we're talking about, Zuzu." she frowned.

Of course she'd say something like that.

Katara's POV Katara's POV Katara's POV Katara's POV Katara's POV

He took slow, deliberate steps towards me, and when he grabbed my forearms I started so bad I thought I'd regurgitate my entire heart. Throwing me against the bed, he slid between my legs and pulled me across the floor to himself by my thighs. I winced, but didn't dare cry out. Ozai pulled out a knife, and I began to panic. "I'm sorry, your Highness, I'm sorry! I didn't mean it, I just got so scared!" I cried. He smirked now, and I felt relieved that he'd began showing emotion again.

"Your cries are tempting, but I will have my way with you, Waterbender. First, you must be taught respect…obedience" he trailed off, heating the blade white hot. I shrieked, and he only pressed himself closer to me. He burned my dress off first, then stroked my stomach with the blade in his hand. I tried not to squirm for fear I'd get burned, but my attempts were in vain.

He brought the blade down and painstakingly began to carve away at my stomach, and I screamed. Tears sprinted down my cheeks and mingled with my injuries, diluting my blood as it stained my undergarments bright crimson. He chuckled and continued to whittle away at my abdomen, until I could bear it no longer. The last thing I heard was him rasping my name before the darkness devoured me, relieving me of the foreign pain the slicing produced.

Zuko's POV Zuko's POV Zuko's POV Zuko's POV Zuko's POV Zuko's POV

"Tell me brother, do you want to be my slave, to do my bidding day in and day out? Honestly, do you?" Azula asked. I frowned, and shifted my sore arms to rest at my sides. "Of course not! Why would I? But then, I'm lucky to be alive." I added silently, though I wasn't sure I wanted to be, not while my Katara had to deal with Ozai by herself and I couldn't help her.

"Oh, come now. I don't want to hear you babble about your newfound humility, though I'm curious as to why it's come on so suddenly. And to think, it only took Father three years to instill it within you" she smiled.

"Azula, what do you want from me?" I seethed. I never had much patience for the brat, though she pretended to have so much for me. She sat cross-legged on her mahogany silk bed, her ruby lips smirking. My hand itched to strike her.

"Oh, nothing really Zuzu. Just take the Water Wench and get out of the Firenation forever, is all I ask…and will you pick up your chin? My you're not too sharp, are you, Dum-dum?" she teased. I closed my mouth, as it had fallen open in shock, and glared at her.

"Are you insinuating that you'd let us escape?" I asked incredulously. She shook her head, her ebony locks falling across her left eye; another allusion to her childhood traits. Brushing the hair aside she rolled her eyes "No. I'm going to help you. Knowing you, you're likely to let your blunders get in the way of everything" she added arrogantly.

"You're lying! You always lie, Azula!" I accused. She stood, and gripped my shoulders as I tried my hardest not to cry out at the agony the simple action had caused.

"No, I'm not."

I woke in between silk sheets and groaned. Though my stomach hadn't been hurting anymore, my head was. My arms and legs, too, and I feared the worst. Glancing over to Ozai, who loomed over me, I called out meekly.

"You didn't…you know…dishonor me, did you?" I squeaked, blushing like a mad woman. He laughed, tickling me with his silky black hair as he leaned down to face me.

"Now, my dear, how would I have delighted in your screams if you had been incapacitated?" he asked rhetorically. I frowned. "Then why am I so sore?" I asked timidly. He stroked my cheek. "Perhaps you are reacting to the herbs…I gave them to you to prohibit your bending." he smiled. My eyes widened and I cautiously pulled back the sheets, revealing a delicately curved Firenation insignia. I gasped, and he laughed again.

"You will walk the streets of my nation in your undergarments as further punishment for your disobedience." he said smugly, and I shrieked. "That's not right at all!" I cried.

"Would you rather go bare like the savage you are?" he asked harshly, and I shook my head.

"Well then."

A/N: Well, that's another chapter underway. Reviews PLEASE!!!! I really am sorry for not posting in so long, you guys.