A/N:

Here you all go! Enjoy!

Chapter 3:

The cell was filled with dark and humorless laughter as the young woman who had come to investigate was on her knees staring into the palms of her hand as the monster that ruled this dusty domain smiled wickedly down at her, taking pleasure in her distress. How? How did I let my guard down? Katara didn't know how but it all happened so quick. One minute she was asking for the whereabouts of Zuko's mother, the next, Ozai had her relive the day she had to take her father's scorched body back to their homelands, and now she was confronted with her supposed secret relationship with the son of this man. How he figured it out, she hadn't a clue but he was as clever as he was evil.

Getting more pleasure out of this than he had expected, Ozai crouched down to the waterbender and reached from behind his bars for her chin. Grabbing it, he lift her gaze to his and grinned almost devilishly.

"While you are a savage, I can see why my dishonorable son has a liking to you." His yellow eyes roamed over the distraught waterbender. The girl was indeed something to look at. If he had won the war, there would be no doubt he'd capture this sapphire eyed wench and make her his whore.

Ozai licked his lips and pulled her closer to him, liking the resistance she tried putting up. He liked his girls feisty. Gave him a thrill in chasing. However; he didn't have the time for chasing.

Katara found herself up against the bars where she could literally feel this man's body heat emitting onto her. She was putting up her best fight but her efforts were futile as he was incredibly more stronger than her. What else could be expected of a former tyrant?

"Let me go!" She gritted through her teeth as she tried pulling his hand of her.

The top lids of his eyes lowered suggestively as his other hand reached from the bars and caressed the side of her cheek. "How pathetic. I bet he's done away with you. You're nothing to him." Ozai ran his finger down the side of the girl's face to her lips and smirked. "I bet you did this to win him back."

Tearing herself away, Katara scrambled back to her feet and away from the bars of his. She heaved as she watched him stand to his towering height and stare intriguingly at her. She was like some exotic animal to him. Something he hadn't seen before from a foreign land that he could be amused with. It sickened her. This whole time he was toying with her. Just like Mai. Like Zuko. She was being toyed with and humiliated for their entertainment. How had she let herself become this?

As she looked to him with enlightenment, Ozai watched her dash to the door and hurry out of his cell. She clearly had had enough of his company. Good because he was getting bored of her already. His son must have done so too since as those were tears in her eyes at his statement.

How unfortunate. Using her against his son seemed like a perfect plan to get what he wanted and Agni, he wanted his throne and bending back more than anything. And he planned to get it back soon.

….

Banging on the doors of the waterbender's chambers, Zuko called her name over and over again as his guards stood with him wondering when he was going to give it a rest.

"Your majesty, perhaps, Lady Katara is better off being alone right now. I heard from one of the other guards that she had come from the prison, visiting your father." A guard by the name of Tao had spoken up in defense of the waterbender he had seen run to her chambers.

Personally, he felt it was insensitive of the Fire Lord to be forcing his company on her when clearly she hasn't been in a good state as of late. Everyone was thinking it. The scatterbrain Water Tribe ambassador was being forced to put up with a needy boy king. And while many began to favor the young Fire Lord, they were not blind to just how much more growing he had to do. Fighting a war and saving the world was not the same as ruling a nation. It came with sacrifice like the two but it required years of maturity and wisdom to get better. Having a conspicuous relationship with an ambassador was not something smart rulers did. Especially so openly.

Zuko ignored the guard and continue trying to get Katara to open the door. He needed to speak with her. He needed to know what happened and what was said. His father was a deplorable man. There was no telling what he said to Katara.

"Katara, open up! Please!" He went on knocking.

But on the other side, the waterbender was lying in her bed staring up at the ceiling. Is this what she dreamt the years after winning the war would be like? Miserable. Heartbroken. Humiliated. Lonely. And yearning. Having thought to herself over the last few days of what she would do, stay or go, her mind was made officially. It was time to return home. Help rebuild her tribe alongside her brother. It was time to return to the South and her people came back up in the world. Other than the Air Nomads, no other nation took a brutal hit by the war than her tribe. Recovery was needed. Healing was needed. For the tribe and herself. She needed to finally move on. With her mother and father taken from her and her brother, it was time she lay the pain that came with their deaths' to rest. Healing was needed.

Even if Zuko didn't understand it. Even if he was being selfish and she was a fool that fell for his every word. She needed to heal. Everyone else had gotten the opportunity...but her. Aang had found Nomads in hiding just a year ago in the Northern Earth Kingdom. Toph reunited with her parents and they were able to fix their broken relationship. Suki and her Kyoshi had grown into a bigger organization, offering help and resources to surrounding areas. Sokka was back home with Grangran and Pakku, who moved to the South with a few other Northerners. And Zuko, he got his home and his honor back. As for herself... she got to be reminded everyday of her past and be shamed for the love she still held in her heart.

As she listened to Zuko banging on her door and yelling her name, Katara rolled herself out of bed and dragged herself to the door. Hearing all this commotion wasn't helping her think or try to forget the encounter she had with his father. Ozai was an evil sick bastard but he was right when he said what he had. It bothered her how right he was. Zuko has done away with her and here she was trying to win him back, obeying his every order. Be the one person that would never let him down. La, it disgusted her. That monster and his truth.

Opening the door came easy but seeing what lied on the other side wasn't. Zuko forced his way in, grabbed her and slammed the door behind himself. Katara was caught off guard once more for the day as she was being embraced warmly by the Fire Lord.

"He didn't hurt you, did he?" Zuko asked as he stood there, refusing to unwrap her from his arms.

Regaining herself, "No."

"Then what happened?!" Zuko pulled away a bit to look her in her eyes, his hands going to her face as he looked her over in panic. He'd kill his father if any harm was done to Katara.

Grabbing his wrists as she stared back up at him, "Nothing, Zuko. He was just being his usual cruel self. I'm fine."

Not believing a word she said, Zuko's brows furrowed but he said nothing. Pushing her for answer was asking for more resistance on her end. He didn't want that. He just wanted to make sure she was fine.

Letting go of her, the young Fire Lord stared at the waterbender and wondered if her eyes could get any sadder. Maybe returning home was in her best interest. He didn't want to let her go but he desired nothing more than her happiness. Even over his own.

"It'll take me sometime to get him to talk but I think I'll be able to get him to open up. Once I'm done, I'm going home." Katara said. "I think it's for the best."

Zuko forced a weak smile as his eyes became somber, "I think so too." His raspy voice caused a lodge in the waterbender's throat.

"Then you won't hate me when I leave?" Her eyes started watering.

Shaking his head, "No, Katara. I could never hate you." He told her and before he knew it, Katara was offering her embrace that he gladly accepted. Pulling her tight into his arms. Resting his cheek to the crown of her head, Zuko shut his eyes and ran his hand up and down her back. "I will always love you. Until the day I died, you will always be the one I love most, Katara."

Lifting her head up to look at him, Katara slid her hand to his cheek and blinked away her gentle tears. "I love you too, Zuko." She whispered so quietly that he almost hadn't heard her words.

And as the two embraced, they reached for one another's lips with their own and for the first time since their last encounter two years ago, they passionately claimed each other's lips.

…..

The next morning, Zuko woke to the sight of his fiancé standing over his bed with her arms crossed and that lifeless look in her eyes. He rubbed the sleep from his tired eyes as he sat up in bed. His wild bed hair he drew back with a sweep of his hand. It was too early for whatever Mai was about to yell at him for. While she was the thorn in his side and there was resentment towards one another, she was still his best choice for a wife compared to the needy and high maintenance noblewomen around at court.

Yawning, "What is it, Mai?" He slouched forward as he really didn't want to deal with this crap.

"I thought the waterbender was leaving. Why is her stuff not packed and being taking to the docks?" Mai wore her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face.

Plopping back into bed, "Mai, we discussed this. Katara will leave as soon as she gets my father to talk."

Rolling her eyes, "you know your father, Zuko. He won't tell her anymore than he's told you."

"Trust me, Katara will get him to talk and she'll be gone before you know it." Zuko assured his jealous fiancé. Not like she had a right to be jealous. Mai hated him as much as he hated her. They both knew Katara would have been his wife by now if not for the council's prejudice.

Unsatisfied with her fiancé's response, Mai turned on her heels and stormed out his bedroom. "I trust you as far as I can throw you." She muttered for him to hear on her way out.

Groaning, Zuko punched a flame to the ceiling and slapped his hand over his head. Agni, please let there be someone else for me.

~Later that morning~

"Your majesty, we have an invitation to a royal wedding from King Kuei in Bei Seng Se. He's marrying the granddaughter of King Bumi and asked that you be in attendance." A page boy knelt before him as he reported to the Fire Lord.

Zuko nodded his head in acknowledgment of the boy's message. "Leave the letter in my office. I'll write back with my response this evening."

"Yes, your majesty." The page bow rose to his feet and carried out his order.

Sighing as he looked to his left at his guard, Tao. "I have a meeting with the Northern Water Tribe this morning. Make sure, Lady Mai is kept at a distance from them."

Tao nodded and allowed the Fire Lord and the rest of his entourage to proceed as he would go looking for the Lady Mai and see to it that she does not disturb the peace.

…

Glaring at the girl in front of him, Ozai was practically on the verge of shoving his wooden spoon into his neck from this annoying pest. He thought by tearing her down yesterday that she would flee the Fire Nation altogether but it would seem she was the tough kind of vermin to kill. He'd have to do more than just stump her out.

Sitting with her legs crossed on the floor, Katara stirred her bowl of breakfast soup and offered a warm smile to the ex tyrant. She figured she do something different with Ozai. Yesterday, he made it clear he liked getting under people's skin. But could he handle it if he was on the opposite end of the annoyance. Unlikely. So sharing breakfast with him would be her way of going about it. As well as idle conversation. If he wanted to diginto her life then she would return the favor.

"What? Not going to eat your food?" The waterbender asked as she tilted her head and smirked.

Ozai turned his lip up into a snarl and eyed the girl, "And why would I eat anything prepared by a savage? This is obviously not a dish my people would dare make."

"Then I guess you'll starve." Katara said as she ate her breakfast. "Because I plan on being here for every meal of the day until you give me Lady Ursa's whereabouts. So I advise you to eat up or start talking."

Somehow she didn't get the response she had anticipated. Instead, a smirk fell upon Ozai's face and a chill went down her spine.

"Ah, you think you're clever, don't you, girl?" The former tyrant mused.

No but I'm trying to be. And really she was. Knowing what she knew of this man, he was not easy to get through to without using a strategy. She needed to do whatever it took to get him to talk. This was just one of the many ways she had thought up last night. However; someone as stubborn as him wouldn't budge to a tactic like this but it was worth trying.

Deciding she'd eat in silence, Katara simply glanced every few spoonfuls at the man staring miserably at his food. Obviously, he thought himself too good to eat her people's food. While it was offensive, it worked to her advantage. The more he hated his food, the more likely he was to tell her what she wanted to know. And from the looks of it, he'd be talking any minute now.

Shoving his bowl from him, "looks like you mean to kill me more than try and extract information." Ozai narrowed his gold eyes on the blue eyed girl across from him on the other side of the bars.

"If it wasn't for Zuko, your miserable life would have been over several years ago. You really don't know how good a son you have, do you?" Katara said as she continued to enjoy her food.

Rolling his eyes as he moved to lay on his side, elbow helping support his head as his messy hair fell over him. Sighing as his eyes grew bored and his mood went sour, "My son's whore comes to tell me about his good merits as if they were truly good at all. Oh please, you haven't a clue who you're talking about. He's my son and no matter how 'intimately' you know him, you don't know all that much about him. You're talking about MY son after all. Do you not think he'll take after some of my qualities?"

"He's not a monster like you!" Katara said defensively.

Chuckling, "No but I'm no monster either, my dear. I'm a product of this nation's teachings and guess who else is?" He grinned maliciously.

Brows furrowing as she set her bowl down beside herself, "You're not fooling me, Ozai. I know what you're trying to do. You're trying to get into my head."

So the harlot isn't a complete idiot girl. If he cared to, he'd clap but he didn't care to waste his energy doing such an idle thing. If he was going to outlast her little game, he needed all his energy conserved. Part of training to master firebending required one to go without food and basic bodily needs except for water for over a months time. Playing this game with this water wench would be easy.

"Tell me, girl. Why do you care so much to find Zuko's mother for him?" He was actually curious to know the answer.

The waterbender crossed her arms and sent him a guarded look. While she could sense no greater meaning in his question, Katara didn't desire to answer because she really hadn't figured that out or simply didn't like the answer. She could say because she was indebted to him or that she was just being a good friend or that she sympathized with him but none of those were truly why she did this. The only thing she could think was a close enough answer would be that Ozai's words to her yesterday had been correct. That he had been right. And while she admitted it to herself last night, she would never dare utter that to him. She might as well throw the rest of her pride away if she were to do that.

…...

The Fire Lord as well as the Northern Chieftain laughed as they exited the meeting room with their entourages. The meeting went well as the two leaders came to agreement on the best candidate for the Northern Water Tribe's ambassador. It had been a tough decision but it was finally decided.

"I hear Ambassador Katara plans on resigning soon." Chieftain Arnook stated as he walked side by side with Fire Lord Zuko.

Nodding his head, "Yes, she wants to return home and help her brother rebuild their tribe. I'll need to find a replacement for her soon."

Arnook slapped his hand on the young Lord's shoulder and offered a warm smile, "I'm sure you'll find no one more dedicated and hard working as her. I remember years ago when she wanted to be taught the proper ways of waterbending. She attacked our tribe's most respected master because he refused to teach a girl." The Chieftain recalled how strong and proud that young girl had been when she had come to the North. "My heart goes to her and her brother, however. They both grew up much too fast in that time of war. Our sister tribe took a greatest hit next to the Nomads in your nation's attempt to dominate the world. Everything taken from them. I plan to offer more support for their reconstruction. Besides, Chieftain Sokka was a good friend to my daughter, Yue. I'd like to do all I can to help him and his sister."

Zuko listened as the Northern Chieftain then began sharing his ideas to bring both tribes together and so forth. He lost interest in the conversation or rather he was still more focused on what the Chieftain had said before about Katara. There was no one like her. Not a single person on this earth that was even slightly like her. She was one of a kind and when she left, he would be missing someone unlike anyone else. Maybe he should stop her from leaving but then...wouldn't she be miserable?

Agni! He yelled frustratedly in his head. Why couldn't he have her and she be happy? Why couldn't he have both? It was like when he was just a boy trying to go home but he didn't want to hurt anyone else either. Capture the Avatar and go home. But that didn't work. Doing what he originally wanted didn't work out and he had to find another way to get what his heart wanted but honorably. Honor. He thought there had been honor in doing things the easy way, following the plan mapped out by others but it didn't work. Perhaps, this was something else he needed to do that required him to forget what everyone was telling him and follow his destiny. And Katara was it.

"That's it!" Zuko shouted with an excited smile. "I'll just talk to uncle and see what he says!"

Arnook was shocked to see the Fire Lord run down the hallway. What's he in a hurry for? I was still talking.

…..

Two weeks past and Katara was getting nowhere with the ex Fire Lord. He evaded all her direct questions and changed the subject in such clever manners that she didn't even realize what he had done till after she had left and gone to bed. La, it was getting frustrating as hell. He wasn't moved by her changing of his food or the fact that she sat with him through every one of his meals. Somehow he was able to sustain himself without needing to eat.

And now, here she was having a staring contest with this man. She was losing. She already knew. For the last thirty minutes she had blinked a total of four fifty two times while he had blinked only three times. One for every ten minutes. This guy was a pro. There was no competition.

"I give up! Just tell me where your wife is, already!" Katara couldn't take it anymore. She swore if another minute had gone by, she would have stabbed herself in the throat with her spoon.

Ozai sighed and sat up from his lounging position on the floor, "How pathetic. And here I thought I'd be in for a treat but no, you don't have what it takes, water girl. You're weak like all your other moronic friends. I don't know how you defeated my daughter."

"Zip it, you piece of shit! I only want one thing coming out of your mouth and that's the location of Lady U-"

"What do I get for telling you?" Now if she could make a good offer, he'd tell her what she wanted to hear. But nothing came without a cost. Nothing of value, that is.

Katara stared hard at the imprisoned tyrant and tried to see what he was getting at. What could she possibly be willing to give him that he would accept as a deal? She thought to herself about what a man like him could want that didn't involve killing someone, making Zuko's life miserable, or helping him escape so he do the two himself. However; she came up with very little and none of them would do in her opinion. But she would give it a try.

"A bath?"

The man said nothing as he crossed his arms and gave her a look that displayed not only his offense but how much of an idiot he thought she was.

"A comfy bed?"

His eyes narrowed at her and she quickly went to the next things on her list but it didn't seem he was interested in better food, back massages, a bigger cell, or having his hair washed and detangled. She knew it was no good but it was worth a try.

"Ok, well what do you want?" She asked but then narrowed her eyes at him. "That won't get me in trouble."

Ozai smirked at the waterbender and decided to scoot himself closer to the bars. He thought over a few things he could ask. Thought them over carefully. He looked the girl over too. Figured for a savage she was easy on the eyes. He had spent quite some time here in prison. No company other than his son's. No stimulation for his natural urges. But here an opportunity to find even a moment's release appeared before him in the form of this shapely Water Tribe girl.

Letting his eyes roam up her sitting position, Ozai licked his lips as he then sent her a suggestive look. He smirk when he saw her blue eyes widen and her tremble. Oh don't be shy now, dear.

"Remove the top half of your clothes for me and I'll tell you what you want to know." He offered her.

Katara's eyes bugged out of her eye sockets as she heard his words. "No way!" She wrapped her arms around her chest and turned her head away in shame at him.

"Oh don't pretend like my son has never asked for something so simple as this. Besides, don't you want to know where his mother is?" Ozai saw one of her shut eyes open and turn to him. I've got you now.

Zuko never asked this of her. Or at least he didn't have to. B-but that's besides the point. Ozai had information she needed and she had this one thing to do if she wanted to get that said information. However; could she? Could she really do what he was asking? Even if it was for Zuko and finding his mother, could she really?

"What are you waiting for, girl? You have no honor left to protect. Just do it and get this over with." Ozai was growing to his impatient self.

Looking back at the disgusting tyrant, Katara's eyes narrowed but that hard look in them was replaced by shame. Her arms loosened up around her breasts as she figured this was something she just needed to get over with so she can move on.

Sitting close to the bars where he had a better view of the waterbender, Ozai watched with pleasure as she reached for the blue sash around her waist and untied it. She removed it from her person and laid it in front of herself. Then her brown little hands went to her side where she undid the knot that tied her top to her skirt. When it was untied, she slowly pulled it open and slid her top off her shoulders, revealing her breast bindings.

"Like what you see?" Katara fought not to laugh at the look on his face.

You've got to be kidding me. Ozai frowned at the waterbender as he realized she had anticipated this.

Raising an eyebrow as she smirked at her own humor, "What? You didn't think I'd actually flash the man that killed my father, did you?"

"You wench!" Ozai growled.

"Pig!" She retorted back at him. "No wonder your wife left you. You're a disgusting man!"

Growing angrier, "Watch your mouth, girl!"

"Or what?" Katara gathered her sash and shirt as she stood up. "You're in there and I'm out here. You can't do a thing to me."

Standing to his feet, "Oh, don't test me, girl! These bars won't stop me from getting my hands on you!" Ozai threatened her but she was unmoved by his attempt to scare her.

Oh I'm so scared. Katara mocked in her head as she fixed her top back on. She didn't care about Ozai's threat. What was the likelihood that someone would help him escape? He couldn't do it on his own and even his supporters knew not to dare set him free after pledging to Zuko to save their skins and their families. Besides, he could get mad all he wanted. Did he really think she would expose herself to him? La, she knew he was crazy but not crazy enough to believe she would.

"See ya tonight for dinner." She waved her hand to him as she exited in laughter.

…..

"Toph?!" Zuko gaped as he saw the blind earthbender lounging behind his desk with her feet kicked up.

Picking her teeth with one of his quills, Toph smirked and placed her arms behind her head. "Don't act shocked, Sparky. I wrote you two weeks ago that I was coming."

The firebender closed his office doors and made his way up to his war buddy. Other than Katara, Toph was the only one of their friends that kept in touch. She and him had gotten even closer as years went on. When her parents passed away just a year ago in a carriage collision, Zuko had offered his support and a place for her to heal from the pain of losing both her parents. However; Toph was stubborn and wanted to heal her way. Her way being take on all their responsibilities and grow her family name even further. By herself, she did a terrific job and with the Fire Nation being her company's greatest business partner, she visited frequently. However; business trips weren't strictly business. Toph liked to spar Zuko and give him a run for his money, drink some of the Fire Nation's best wines, make jokes about the snotty nobles, and spend time like the good ole days with her buddy. This was her way of healing and moving on.

Smiling as he came up to his desk and leaned his hands on the front of it, "I didn't realize you were on your way, Toph. Usually it's a month's travel from your estate to here."

Taking her feet down off the desk, "Well I was in the port town already. Business is expanding and I needed to oversee some of the products we were sending here. I've been noticing there's been an issue with some of my cargo going missing on its way here."

Oh that was right. Zuko almost forgot why Toph wrote him in the first place. She suspected there were pirates robbing her shipments but the firebender had another idea. The Beifong family was a prestigious noble family that was known for its famous rejuvenating products that make the skin appear ageless. However; during the war some discovered it had properties that could be converted into explosives. Zuko believed it was possible that someone, likely a rebel fleet, had been stealing Toph's cargo.

Zuko shared his thoughts on his friend's problem and assured her that he would aid in helping her uncover whoever it was that was stealing from her.

The earthbender sighed and let her feet slide off the desk of the Fire Lord, "So how are things with you, Sparky?"

"As good as there ever going to get around here but I assume you already know that." He ran his hand through his hair.

Smirking, Toph climbed out the chair walked around the desk to her friend. Punching him in the side, "Cheer up, Sparks. I didn't just come here for business. You know that."

A smile managed to form on his face as he looked down at the blind earthbender. He was long overdue for a good time.

…... …..

Mai was on her way to see Zuko in his office when she caught sight of the Southern Water Tribe Ambassador walking with a few scrolls bundled in her arms. She paused for a moment and watched as one of the guards standing pose came to help her. The noblewoman narrowed her eyes as the waterbender bowed her head gratefully to the guard that came to her aid. She's probably fucking him too. The jealous woman thought.

Agni, she couldn't stand Katara. Everyone thought she was so perfect and hard working. As soon as word that the ambassador was planning on resigning and returning home, everyone around here seemed all down. Even those that originally detested her. Mai didn't understand what was so likeable about the waterbender. There was nothing that stood out much about her appearance, she barely wore any makeup other than to a special event, she was even more plain than her. And Zuko, why did he love her so much? Why? What about Katara caused him to hold an undying love for her?!

Mai never really showed any expressions other than disgust or irritation, but at the moment, she could feel her face form a heavy scowl at Ambassador Katara.

"Lady Mai." The Ambassador acknowledged her as she was about to pass by her.

Hating that she had to respond out of courtly values, "Ambassador Katara." She barely managed to say without lacing it in utter loathe.

While someone else might have missed the noblewoman's off put to her, Katara didn't, she never did. If it were any other day, the waterbender would simply go on about her business but as of late, she was fed up with Mai treating her like shit.

"Its good I ran into you, you know? I have a ton of things I need you hand to Zuko for me." Katara smiled innocently as she handed the scrolls to the noblewoman. "I have to hurry to the prison and don't have the time."

The guard then proceeded to hand Lady Mai the rest of the scrolls that needed to be delivered to the Fire Lord. Of course, the guard was very much aware of Ambassador Katara's and Lady Mai's feud as was many that reside in the palace. However; seeing as Ambassador Katara was the kinder of the two, it was easy to side with her.

Continuing to smile as she bowed her head gratefully to Lady Mai, Katara had the guard escort her to the prison for her usual session with the former Fire Lord.

That Bitch! Mai wanted to scream but knew better than to. Agni, she hated that waterbender so passionately that it defied her nature as a passionless person. Handing off her work as if it were no big deal. That peasant had better learn her place. In a few months to a year, Mai would be Fire Lady and such disrespect would not be tolerated. When Katara leaves for the South Pole, she had better stay on her block of ice.

…

"It's it your bedtime, girl?" Ozai said from where he was sitting against the wall with one knee brought to his chest and his head laid against it.

Still wearing her smile from earlier, the waterbender lit a few torches in the room and walked to the bars of Ozai's cell. Keys jiggled in her hands and his ears perked at the sound. He looked up to see the girl opening his cage door and slide herself in.

What the hell? Ozai was confused as his head lifted to look at the waterbender as she walked up to him and took her seat not even a few inches from him. Her eyes were trained on him as if ready to defend herself Incase he attacked her. Honestly, he wasn't planning on it. Well, only because he hadn't a clue she was crazy enough to enter his cell with him unbound by chains.

Katara raised her hand and reached for the man which caused him to pull away, not knowing what she had planned. She giggled and reached again, this time securing a lock of his hair in her hand. His hand grabbed her wrist, however. But it didn't frighten her as she looked up to meet his gaze. The ambers of his eyes questioned her and she answered with her ocean blues, assuring him to not worry himself. Ozai never trusted anyone. Especially not a savage like her. However; he was curious to see what she was going to do. For her to come in here and be right in his face, it had to be something interesting.

"What are you doing?" He asked in a light curious tone.

Katara said nothing as she went on to remove from her satchel, a brush and brought it to the strands of his hair she held. She figured there would be no easy way of making him yield and tell her where Zuko's mother was. Unfortunately for him, she had other means to get what she wanted and he would regret seeing her kindness as weakness. It was a full moon tonight and her bending was heightened just for the occasion of getting what she wanted.

As she went on the brush his hair, using a little water from her waterskin to help detangle his hair, Katara looked up to those amber eyes of his and continued to play her part.

"It's a shame you won't take care of your hair. It's actually really soft and silk-like." She complimented him genuinely.

Ozai narrowed his eyes, trying to see her angle but found none as he watched her return to focusing on his hair. Though he was currently thinking up a plan to take advantage of the situation and escape, he felt he'd allow himself to enjoy his hair being brushed through. It had been a while since he last had someone do his hair.

When she was done with the surprisingly quiet former tyrant, Katara got onto her knees and ran her hands through his hair, smiling in his face sweetly. Her hands settled just where they were, eyes shutting as she focused.

Seeing this as an opportunity, Ozai rounded his arms around her waist and forced her down onto her back before she could even realize what was happening. Katara gasped and was about to scream as the man above her had his weight pressed down on her but he quickly covered her mouth.

"Hush up, you water savage!" He said to her as he laid on top of her. "Now give me the keys willingly or I'll make you!"

Biting his hand that he pulled back in a wince, Katara went on to head butt him and shove him off of her. She jumped on top of him as she had come here to finish her business with him. Bending water to his wrists, the waterbender froze them to the floor and then did the same to his ankles. Pinning him underneath her. Growling and snarling at her, snapping his teeth at her like some sort of animal wanting to take a chunk out of her neck. Katara froze a layer of ice over his mouth as she didn't want to take the chance of him actually biting her.

Grabbing his cheeks in one hand of hers, Katara looked him down in his eyes and narrowed hers. "How long did you think I was going to keep playing around with you? I want answers and you dance around my questions. Well I have news for you, I'm done asking, I'm taking now."

Ozai hadn't a clue what she meant by taking. Like taking answers? Was she planning to torture him because it definitely looked that way? However; he watched as her hands were glowing blue from the water wrapped around them and he noticed she was reaching to place them on his head. His eyes widened as he squirmed underneath her, bucking into her to get off, but with him being frozen to the ground there wasn't a thing he could do.

"Hold still." Were the last words he heard from her before his eyes rolled to the back of his head.

No more games. She wanted to go home but she needed to do this first before she could return. He had wasted her time. And now, she was fed up. He should be grateful she only plan to look through his memories of Ursa with this technique she learned through combining healing and blood bending. Otherwise, she'd invade the rest of his memories and torment him with what dark knowledge she had on him.

Staring down at him as she searched through his mind, Katara couldn't believe how out of it he looked. Mouth wide open in an undignified manner as his eyes had rolled back. If only he could see how pathetic he looked, maybe it would teach him to lose that ego of his. Piece of shit!

…..

A/N:

Back with another chapter soon!