A/N:
Guess who's back?!
Chapter 9:
They had won. La, they won! She should be excited, proud, happy, Anything but what she currently was. But she wasn't. She couldn't fake the smiles or throw on the facade that everything was alright now because besides the amount of work it would take to fix everything that was made wrong with the world and burying her father, Katara had other things to worry about.
Standing outside the doors of Zuko's chambers, the young fourteen year old waterbender passed back and forth. I have to tell him. I have to. He needs to know. She kept telling herself. Already, she prepared for the worst to be said and she was okay with that. In the end, no matter what Zuko said, she was keeping it. No one other than their friends had to know it was his. He just needed to know.
"Katara." She spun around as she heard her name from behind.
Seeing her boyfriend walking up to her, she smile and tried wiping the worry away. "Zuko, I was about to knock but I guess you weren't in there." She chuckled awkwardly.
"Well I've been looking for you everywhere. I was hoping we could talk. It's important." Zuko had that look on his face as if something had terribly disturbed him.
Oh la, Toph please tell me you didn't tell! Katara was really hating that the earthbender had found out through her bending that she was pregnant. And hated that she went and blabbed her mouth to Aang and Suki. At least she hasn't told Sokka yet. La, he would kill Zuko. It was better to not tell him until they left to bury their father back home.
Zuko led the waterbender into his chambers and shut the doors. He sighed as he turned to look to the waterbender that had gone to his balcony to watch the sunset. This was killing him as it was but then again it had to be done. They all knew winning the war was only the start. More sacrifices would need to be made.
Pulling the hair behind her ear, Katara watched the sunset as Zuko made it out to the balcony and sat across from her.
"Look, Kat-"
"No, it's fine, Zuko. I understand. You're Fire Lord now and that's a big responsibility. I don't want to hold you back or make things difficult." Katara said as she reached for his hands. "I love you and I want you to succeed, even if we have to keep everything a secret for some time."
A smile appeared on his face at her words. Did she really mean it? Wow. He half expected her to throw an object at him or worse, use her bloodbending to toss him off the balcony.
Standing up, Zuko pulled Katara into his arms and held her to him in his embrace. "Thank you, Katara. You don't know how much this means to me."
"It's no big deal, Zuko." She said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head against his chest.
Burying his face into her hair, "Then you'll come to the engagement party tonight?"
Wait- what?!
~Present day~
What? What was this? Why was there a some wet cloth over her forehead? And why did she feel a heaviness over her chest? Wait- am I dead?! Katara almost panicked as she remembers falling under the ice. Had she frozen to death? No...no, that can't be. Maybe, one of them had gone back in to get her. That was possible. Maybe she should open her eyes and see for herself.
Slowly but surely her eyes opened. The light of the room started to pier into her eyes. She sat up and rubbed her sore eyes before looking around the room.
"Good. You're up." Ozai said as he stood from the chair in the corner of the room.
Feeling a bit of haze, Katara removed the warm cloth from her head and pushed up against the headboard for support. "Where are we?" She winced as she felt a sharp pain in her head.
Coming up to the bed where the waterbender laid, "An inn in a mountain village. We'll be here a few days. Seems like you going unconscious isn't the only inconvenience we're facing. There's a blizzard outside and we've lost our mounts."
Groaning. "How long have I been out?"
"Three days." Ozai replied.
"And you were here the whole time?" She raised a brow.
Raising his own brow at her, "Yes, is that a problem?"
Well sort of. That means you undressed me. Her cheeks grew rosy as she pulled the covers up to her face. The long raven haired man came to sit at the side of her bed where she laid and touched her forehead with the back of his hand. There was no fever. Good. Means she would be ready to leave as soon as the storm passed.
Katara shivered at how cold his hands were and pulled away. "I'm fine."
Scowling at the waterbender, "Next time I'll let you drown."
"Ha, good luck." She smirked.
Sitting up from her bed, Ozai went over to where a few towels had been given to him by the innkeeper and tossed them to the waterbender. "Go shower. You smell." He told her.
The insult seemed to get her. What woman wanted to be told that she smelled. Worst of all, he had been caring for her while she was unconscious. Throwing her legs over the side of the bed, Katara stood and grabbed the towels while Ozai set up a divider between his bed and hers. Clearly, wanting privacy from her as if it wasn't already mutual.
As the waterbender dashed into the bathroom, Ozai pulled out his map and studied it. Whether he'd admit it or not, the girl being unconscious had saved them from getting caught in the blizzard. There was no telling how far the next village would be if they had passed this one. Nonetheless, they were behind on reaching Xiao Lu. While there was no real urgency on reaching the former colony, Ozai had never been a patient man and he wasn't about to start being one either.
Damn it! Why was she thinking about that now?! Katara had sunken in the shower, holding her knees to her chest as she tried to focus on something else. Anything else but Zuko and her. Her thoughts went to before she fell into the ice. Ozai's face when she asked him could he swim. It made her chuckle. She'd never imagined fear would ever lay within his irises but they did as soon as the ice gave way.
A small smile crept onto her face but it soon made her cheeks rosy. Remember she had kissed him a few nights ago and he kissed her back. Embarrassment cause her to drop her head between her legs. So what if it was to tease him. She should have remembered how he had gotten when she teased him in prison. It didn't end well. La, what was wrong with her? Maybe she was some whore or whatever. Probably the reason Shinji was so nice to her and Lao tried to tear her clothes off.
A loud banging on the bathroom door pulled Katara from her thoughts.
"You have five minutes to get out of there, Waterbender!" Ozai yelled at her.
For some reason he was in anything but a good mood. It could be because of her falling unconscious or it could be because of the blizzard that came in. Both delayed him and he wasn't known for his patience.
Reaching for the knob, Katara turned it and stood back up. She was thankful her wrist healed while in the frozen stream. It wasn't fully back to how it had been but it was good enough to not be in a sling. Climbing out the tub, she grabbed a towel and threw it around herself. She took a quick look in the mirror, wiping the steam from it till she could see herself.
My hair… She missed her hair. Her long wavy hair. Hair that reached down her back and hung below her bottom. Now it was hanging just below her chin. Scowling at her reflection, she tore her gaze from the mirror and thrusted herself out the bathroom.
"I used all the hot water." She made sure to tell Ozai as she casually walked past him to her side of the room.
The former tyrant glared at the waterbender as she was obscured by the divider in their room. While he couldn't see her actual skin, the light from a candle on her side of the room gave him a view of her shape. He shifted his gaze as soon as her towel dropped from around her and headed into the bathroom to shower himself.
Under the semi-warm water, Ozai brushed his hair back and let the water fall over his face. His plans once he reached Xiao Lu was to get in touch with a few contacts and start putting his plan for an uprising in motion. However; one thing stood in his way no matter how things turned out to go in his favor. His bending had been taken from him. That kid Avatar stripped him of his power and turned him into some pathetic non-bender. Ozai had his men for the last several years look for answers but none of them could figure it out. For all anyone knew, this Avatar invented a new ability. One that couldn't be reversed. But this didn't stop Ozai from looking for answers. There was a contact of his in Xiao Lu that had discovered a way for him to receive his bending back that and they were prepared to supply him with an army to take back his throne. All would be his again as soon as he reached Xiao Lu.
Swinging his wet hair over a single shoulder, he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist. Ozai exited the bathroom only to see the waterbender shoving a roll of bread in her mouth as soon as she saw him.
"You'll choke if you continue to eat like an animal." He warned her and turned his head from her, going to his side of the room.
Sitting at the small table of the room, Katara rolled her eyes and continued eating. She paid little attention to the view in the corner of her eyes of him dressing. Last thing she needed to see was him naked. The waterbender just twirled her noodles and slurped them up into her mouth, making a noise that irritated her current roommate as he made his way over to the table.
Katara shot him a look as he sat down in the opposite chair across from her and continued to annoy him with bad table manners. Not that she didn't know how to eat with more elegance, it was just being out on the run again made her feel like she didn't have to care. And really she didn't. There were only two things on her mind and it was her son and escaping Ozai's clutches. In that order.
"Do you have to eat like a barbarian, girl?" Ozai asked in annoyance as he grabbed his bowl of food and pulled it to himself.
Rolling her eyes again, "Don't see anybody worth impressing." She said with a mouth full of food.
Ozai stared at the waterbender in utter disgust as he broke apart his chopsticks. "I can't believe you touched me with that mouth."
"I'll do it again if you don't leave me alone." Katara glanced up from her bowl at him.
"Not if you want your son to live." Ozai threatened.
The waterbender slammed her bowl on the table and leaned back in her chair as she cross her arms. Her face expressed how little she care for that recurring threat as her bottom lip stuck out a little. As she had not only been defended by this man against Lao and had been saved by him indirectly, she had come to figure out one thing. His threat was empty. He didn't have the guts to kill her or her son. She realized that now and when she gave it more thought, she realized her son, a heir in the eyes of his nation, was more valuable alive than dead. Ozai wasn't going to kill him even if he could bring himself to kill her. Her son was virtually untouchable.
"What?" He asked in annoyance that she was staring at him.
Kicking her legs up to the side of the table, Katara tilted her head. "Kai is your bargaining chip, isn't he? That's why you separated us. Why he's with one of your other goons and not with us. He's too valuable to lose in whatever game you're playing."
Ozai narrowed his eyes at the waterbender and set his chopsticks away. So you've figured that much out, have you waterbender? This was not good. For him or her. With her figuring this out she not only became a huge thorn in his side but she also made herself less valuable to him. Someone he could not control could not be used and therefore was worthless to him. Now he had to kill her.
When she watched as the man's hands dropped from view, Katara quickly kicked her chair back using her feet that were set on the table and fell backward just in time for a dagger to be thrown across the room. It would have planted itself in her forehead had she not acted so quickly. Rolling onto her feet, the waterbender ducked again as another blade was shot out for her, grazed her side just as she jumped away.
"I see I'm no good to you now that I know." She said as she evade yet another one of his knives.
Clenching his teeth as he tried to pin her, "Too clever for your own good, waterbender."
Katara hissed as she was almost struck again but this time her calf was sliced, causing her to lose her balance for a brief moment as another dagger was thrusted at her. She made it just in time as she bent backwards and flipped herself away from the next attack. If this kept up, she'd eventually catch one of his blades and that would not be good. She hadn't expected him to have such accuracy with projectiles but then again, he had once been a firebender. Anyways, if she wanted to survive, she needed to get him to stop. But how?
Narrowing his eye as he saw the girl dodge yet another one of his throwing knives, Ozai noticed her wrist was no longer in its bandage nor in a sling. But fortunately, there was no water for her to bend in case she tried to.
However; this assumption was wrong and Katara shot him a smirk as she felt the droplets of water in his damp hair.
"I'm going to need you to freeze for a second." Katara manipulated the water trapped in his hair and sent it traveling down his body. With him lacking his firebending, it made him easy to cripple with her frosty glaze. There wasn't enough water to freeze him entirely but enough to slow him down and buy her time to reach him.
As Ozai fell to the floor shivering, Katara hurried to him and leapt on top of him. First, she straddled him and searched his person for his blades. Finding them stashed in a sheath he wore on his belt, she tugged the belt off of him and threw it across the room. Next, she grabbed his hair and yanked it hard enough for him to turn his head to face her with a menacing scowl.
"As tough as you may look, without your bending, you couldn't hope to beat me." Katara snarled as she pulled his hair some more causing him to hiss.
The former tyrant felt himself grow with rage as this tiny waterbender dare call him weak in comparison to her. "Don't get cocky, girl. Even without my bending, I can still break you." He growled through his nearly paralyzed mouth. Though the layer of ice over him was not thick it was enough to freeze his muscles.
"Yeah, sure. But I'm not trying to fight you nor am I trying to kill you. I want to strike a deal." She said.
What kind of nonsense are you spewing now, girl?!
Katara narrows her eyes as she meant business, "My son is still in your custody which means he's not absolutely safe from harm. You could still torture him and that will not do for me. I want not even a single hair on his head harmed. So I'll stay in line and do whatever it is you ask me to do but, as soon as you have your way. I want my son back and I'll stay out of your way and disappear."
This was an ideal plan. For an idiot. Ozai wasn't going to let this water wench just take her son and disappear. He'd killed them both before he allowed that. However; all she would have is his word and nothing more. He'd lead her along and give her that hope. But in the end, things will play out his way. The captured didn't get to negotiate terms. Not with him.
Ozai's lip twitched in a snarl as he glared at the girl above him. "Fine. We'll go about things your way, girl, but that only means things will become that much harder for you."
Climbing off of him and unfreezing his muscles, Katara crossed her arms as she watched him get up. "How much harder?"
"Hard enough." He grabbed her neck and shoved her up against the wall, taking in the sudden fear in her eyes. "Whatever I want, I get. Do you hear me?" He gritted his teeth as he tightened his grip on her neck.
Struggling against the wall as she clawed his hand, "Yes, master."
"Good. Now get on your knees." He ordered her and reluctantly, she did so. Knowing exactly where this was going.
…
Mai sat in her chambers as her servants massaged her feet and combed her hair. Her lack of liveliness was greater than usual and it concerned many that were around her. While no one could see or feel it, she was seething with anger. Katara was dead but her son, whom was only just discovered, was alive. An even greater threat to her than the waterbender herself. How was this happening? There had been no indication that Katara had been pregnant at the time that Zuko was coronated or that she had even been afterwards. She was gone for a year and a half and return as if there was nothing new in her life. Barely, did that peasant ever visit her home, so how was the boy being cared for? Relatives perhaps but what kind of mother abandons her child to be with her former lover. Seems like that wench wasn't everything Zuko made her out to be. Motherhood was wasted on her.
Feeling herself almost boil over, Mai gripped the armrest of her chair just as the servant combing her hair tugged a bit too much on her hair.
The servants all gasped and stopped what they were doing.
"My lady, pl-please forgive m-"
"Get out." Mai cut the servant off.
All were speechless as the servant hurried out.
"All of you, get out!" She hollered and sent everyone in the room running for their lives. Her outburst was most uncharacteristic of her but lately, she's been more brooding than usual.
Finding all his fiancée's servants had fled her chambers, Zuko entered to see what was going on. He knew she and him weren't as couple should be. They were loveless and they were bitter. But they needed to talk. They needed to discuss things.
Walking into her sitting room, Zuko saw the noblewoman sitting slouched in her chair and with her hand over her face, breathing heavily.
"Mai."
"What is it, Zuko?" She asked chillingly.
"We should talk." He said coming to her slowly and kneeling down in front of her. "I need to know you're with me through all of this. I need to know that you'll have my b-"
Turning her head away from him, "Of course, Zuko. It's all about you. It's always been about you. Your honor. Your destiny. Your birthright. Your throne. Your mother. And now your son!" Mai balled her fist against the armrest.
"Mai-"
"No, Zuko!" Mai stood up abruptly, pushing him away from her as she walked away to the far end of her sitting room by the window. "I'm so sick of this! Your son will be the ruin of any children you have with me! People will set factions and blood will be spilt over who deserves the throne, all because you just had to fuck that whore of a waterbender!"
Zuko stood and sent her a threatening expression. He warned her about speaking of Katara disrespectfully. While Mai might have been who he chose as his future wife, Katara had his heart and with her passing, any dishonorable thing said in her name would be met with his wrath. Mai was no exception.
In the halls listening to Zuko and Mai argue, Sokka stood waiting for them to finish. He needed to speak with the firebender. First to apologize for the other day in the throne room and then to begin their search. The trail was getting colder and colder. They needed to act fast, especially if it was Zuko's father behind this. There was no telling what he would do to the boy.
"Chieftain Sokka, was it?"
The tribesman turned at the sound of his name and saw an older woman approach him with a concerned look on her face.
"Yes. And you are?"
"Zuko's mother, Ursa." The woman's eyes were kind as she suddenly wore a smile.
Oh, so she did find her. Leave it to his sister to find a woman at all cost even at her own expense. Sokka bowed his head to the woman and looked back up at her with a sadden face. If Katara didn't find this woman, then maybe she would still be alive.
"I wanted to give my apologies on my son's behalf. I don't know anything of your sister or the woman she was but I know now that she's the reason my son and me are reunited. I wish I could thank her." Ursa said as she saw the lament on the young man's face.
"She'd ask you not to. Katara tended to do things without seeking gratitude." Sokka forced a smile as he remembered his sister's virtuous nature. As much as it annoyed him at times, he realized it was who she was and who she would be remembered as.
Ursa returned the somber smile as she came closer to the tribesman and offered him a warm hug. He looked at her strangely but she assured him that she was not one for formalities. Her compassionate side had taken over and all she could think was comforting this young man.
…..
"Please, I can't." Katara begged. "I can't do this anymore. It's too much."
"Keep talking and this will only get worse. Now hush up and continue." Ozai purred as he laid back watching with sadistic pleasure as tears rolled down the waterbender's face. He was enjoying this all too well.
Barely being able to take this anymore, the waterbender continued to do as her master had asked of her and kneel while holding her arms above her head. At first, she feared he'd do something else to her but this, this was different. This was just as humiliating only with physical scars and not mental ones. It was when he added his book to the top of her hands for her to hold that she felt she was going to completely lose it and fall apart. Why was he doing this to her? What was the purpose?
While the girl continued with this position, a knock came to the door and Ozai got up to answer it. Outside is door was both his men that had come to tell him that the blizzard would be gone by tomorrow night. Letting them in, both of them immediately looked to see the waterbender kneeling with her hands held high and a heavy book in them. Lao couldn't help but laugh at the look of humiliation on the girl's face while Shinji just looked with an unreadable expression. He knew better than to go against his master even if he was strongly against mistreating the girl.
Taking pride in what he made of the girl, Ozai smirked and walked over to her. Standing behind her so his men could see her face as he grabbed her hair and pulled on it.
"She thought she could talk to me any kind of way and get away with it. She knows better now. She knows who's boss here." Ozai smirked even wider as he let go of her hair and she hung her head in shame.
Crouching down to her, he grabbed her chin and lifted her head back up, "Let us see those eyes of yours, waterbender. You do know they're what made me keep you alive. How could I pass up a pretty thing like you? Maybe I should see to you giving me the release I've been craving these last few years."
Katara's eyes widened at him as her lips trembled.
Ozai stood back up and begun laughing loudly. "Oh you would love that, wouldn't you? If you weren't some tribal piece of trash my son used up, I might consider the thought."
Shinji cringed as he watched the waterbender's eyes flood with tears and he immediately turned away. He wanted to speak out and stop this. If it were Lao doing this, he would. But this was Lord Ozai. He could not and would not defy his master. Even if he wanted to.
Having his feel for the moment, Ozai kicked the waterbender backwards and watched with delight as she fell over. She hurried to get back in her position again in case he was testing her but he only kicked her again.
"Stop. Your punishment is over." His voice instantly went flat. His fun of this had run out quick.
Bowing her head to the floor, "Thank you, master."
"Now get into bed. I'm done with you for the evening." Ozai said in an indifferent tone and turned his back to her.
Answering him in the manner he preferred from her, Katara hurried to her side of the room and climbed into bed, pulling the sheets over her head. She pressed her face into her pillow and began crying as quietly as she could.
"I heard some commotion earlier. Was everything alright?" Lao asked.
Glancing over his shoulder, "Yes, it seemed she forgot her place after being unconscious for a few days."
Smirking, "But we see you got her back in line, my lord. Good enough for her."
Ozai smirked and directed his men to the table where he spread the map out on. "Rohan has no doubt reached Xiao Lu by now and has spoken with our contacts. However; I fear there might be doubt that I am on my way due to the blizzard impeding our movement. One of you will need to go ahead and assure our contact that I am not far."
"I'll go, my lord." Shinji spoke up.
Smirking as he knew the man would offer himself up but Ozai had another person in mind. "I would think Lao would be a better candidate since he and our contact are related."
Of course, Shinji forgot.
Bowing his head, "It is an honor, my lord."
"Head down the mountain as soon as the blizzard is gone and reach this town here. It's a port town and you can easily acquire a boat to reach Xiao Lu by water." Ozai showed him where to go on the map.
Taking a boat to Xiao Lu, which was a great port town would be easy for someone not on a wanted list. The rest of them had to travel in land due to heavy law enforcement and checkpoints. Ozai gave further instructions to make their contact aware of a certain waterbender traveling with them. He knew that person would be happy to know just who it was. The waterbender and their contact were anything but strangers.
Lao nodded and grinned widely as he was dismissed to go pack his things. While he did that, Shinji lingered to glance to where the waterbender laid under her covers. He would try to see her tomorrow and speak with her. As useless as he was to her this evening, he wanted to make her aware that he didn't condone this treatment of her. She was only his enemy due to obligation and heritage. Hopefully, she didn't make things worse for herself.
…
"Toph, I don't have time for this!" Zuko raged at the earthbender that has not heeded his order as he made his way to his office to plan with Sokka the measures they would take in finding his son.
Not letting the Fire Lord get out of this, "I know, Zuko. But something me tells it's all tied!" Toph tried to get him to understand.
"You're overthinking or grief has you making connections that aren't there." He told her dismissively as he came to his office and shut her out.
Throwing her fist into the door, "That's exactly why Katara didn't tell you, you jerk! You won't listen to anyone but yourself!"
Zuko waited for Toph's footsteps to leave before he went to his desk. Sokka was already present, sitting in one of the unoccupied chairs in front of his desk. It was the chair Katara had somehow always seem to sit in whenever she was in his office.
As he sat down, the tribesman threw his arms on the back of the chair and shifted his gaze away. There was a lot on both their minds and they had both been mortally wounded by Katara's death. However; Kai, her son, was still out there. They needed to find him at all cost. It was the one reason one was tolerating the other right at this moment.
Sokka had issues with Zuko long before this took place. While he tried to maintain friendship with the firebender after finding out that he had impregnated his sister, it was the last straw when he invited Katara to be his ambassador, making her leave home when she had a son to raise and a family to be loved by. For two years, Katara was gone and Sokka developed his old feelings of hatred for the young Fire Lord. It was like he was that angry prince with the ponytail all over again, only he was the Fire Lord now and he was after his sister not the Avatar. And Sokka knew he wasn't the only one. Aang and Suki were just as upset, even Toph but she was unbiased and held Katara accountable as well. And when Katara was killed and his suspicions were all turned to the Fire Nation, his loathe for Zuko grew even more. But seeing the firebender years later and all his friends gather, mourning Katara, all hard feelings were placed on hold. In the end, Zuko did love his sister despite having a funny way of showing it.
"Last thing I said to my sister before she died that very same night was how she loved you over her own son." Sokka looked down in shame. "I thought she was running away from being a mother. Kai was barely two years old when she left home again to be your ambassador. It pissed me off when she did but when she came back, I was relieved. I missed her and I was glad she hadn't completely run away. But one night she tried to tell us someone was following her. I told her she was crazy and then we got in an argument. One word lead to another and I said a few hurtful things to her, not knowing she would be murdered in her own home while my nephew was being torn out of her arms that same night."
Zuko cringed in anguish at the tribesman's words. Guilt and self loathe was in his voice as he spoke. To think Sokka would accuse Katara of that and just hours before...it was unthinkable.
"My father left me in charge of protecting Katara when our mother died and when he died, I was in charge of our whole family, our tribe, our people. I failed as Chieftain, as an older brother, and as an uncle that night. I should have taken her words more seriously than taking my anger out on her. And now she's dead. I'm just as responsible for her death as you are. We have Katara's blood on our hands and we owe it to her to make right this work.
Swallowing hard, "I agree but I think we'll need Aang's help in this. My father is definitely linked, the timing is all too perfect."
Sokka agreed that Aang needed to be brought along for this. Their whole gaang needed to be. It was for Katara. She had taken care of them all during the war and would have done anything, even by herself, to get them back or avenge them. It was only fair they do the same.
…..
The blizzard passed and they were all on their way to checkout the inn. Katara was running a little behind as she had taken extra time in the shower to finish healing all her injuries from the day before. As she was on her way down the hall to the stairwell, she passed by a room with the door cracked. She paid it no attention until she heard a woman screaming and she instantly froze in place.
Curiosity got the best of her and she backed up to take a look inside. Peeking through the cracked door, Katara found out exactly why the woman was screaming and her face turn fifty shades of red. The woman she had thought might need help was simply engaging in an early morning tryst with not a single care that her room door was slightly ajared. Somehow, the waterbender had not looked away while the woman had taking her lover from behind, bent on her hands and knees, as she called out with every thrust. Heat begun to pool in her lower stomach as she slowly backed away. She needed to hurry downstairs before-
"What do we have here?" Damn it! She mentally swore as a hand came down on her shoulder. "I'd never take you for a peeping tom."
Cringing as she turned around and saw Ozai towering over her with a grin on his face, Katara cringed and tried backing away from him. However; he grabbed her luggage she carried over her shoulder and took her by the arm, pulling her along with him.
Still wearing his smirk, "I'll give you a moment alone to yourself tonight if you need to take care of something."
Flushing red as she yanked herself out of his grasp, "No. I'm fine." And the waterbender hurried ahead of him.
It was nothing more funnier than catching the girl spying on a couple in bed. He almost didn't believe it when he had come looking for her. She only made it that much more amusing for him when she took offense to his comment. In all honesty, he would leave the tent if she needed.
Snickering to himself as he made it down the stairs and saw the waterbender staring out the window of the inn in both frustration and embarrassment, Ozai tossed Shinji the girl's things.
"Did you find us new transport?" He hadn't looked up from the waterbender.
Shinji noticed the look his master was giving the girl and averted his eyes as he answered. "Yes, the ostrich horses are right outside. Lao has already left with his."
"Good." Ozai replied as he walked over the girl hugging her arms around herself and grabbed her.
It would seem like a playful gesture to anyone that was looking, him lifting the girl up and tossing her over his shoulder while she struggled. But despite the laughter emitting from the tall long haired man, this was anything but playful. At least to the waterbender. She was being toyed with and it was humiliating. Her eyes looked to Shinji as he followed behind them out of the inn. He granted her an apologetic look before casting his gaze elsewhere, it was then that she realized, Shinji was good to her, but he couldn't save her from their master. Last night had been no different .
Tossing the waterbender up onto the mount, Ozai climbed on behind her and pulled her close against him as he leaned his head down to her ear. "I do enjoy this arrangement of ours." He told her.
Shivering in disgust as she felt him pressing up against her, Katara bit her tongue and held back frustrated tears. She wanted to tear into him both verbally and physically. After what he did to her last night, humiliating her, she knew it was just a matter of time before they faced off again. If he thought she would allow him to continue abusing her in this fashion, he was dead wrong. She had already been thinking up a way to get her son back with or without Ozai. This truce between them went both ways. Just as he would have his way, she would too.
When they finally took off for their destination, Katara tried holding herself together from the motion of the mount beneath her. The images of earlier had started playing in the back of her head as a distraction to her anger with Ozai. But this was made worse as she could feel the said man against her. It wasn't his intentions to be up on her as they were but their mount moved a lot faster than their last and forced them to sit so closely together. Katara's face was flushing even more as she realized she might actually need a moment alone tonight.
By nightfall they had made it down the mountain and managed to get further than they had thought they would. With Lao gone and her wrist nearly healed, Katara helped Shinji put up the tents and set the fire pit. While they did this, Ozai had gone off for another one of his walks. This gave her time to regroup before he came back with more of his witty humorless jokes. Everything about him made her want to shove her fist into her face and as she started preparing dinner, it only became more evident to Shinji that her anger would get the best of her.
"Are you alright, Ambassador?" Shinji asked as he sat next to her by the pit.
Cutting up a small ration of vegetables, "Stop calling me that! I have a name but none of you want to use it!" She replied angrily.
Whether her anger was directed at him or not, Shinji apologized and called her by name. "I'm sorry, Katara."
"It's fine." She told him as she suddenly felt guilty for snapping at him. "I just haven't heard my own name in over two weeks and it's a little unnerving. I actually started thinking my name was waterbender or girl."
The waterbender continued fixing dinner, trying to calm her nerves that were boiling over. She really just wanted to say fuck this and steal an ostrich horse and head to Xiao Lu on her own. But it was unlikely that she'd get far. Ozai was full of surprises and she wasn't putting it past him that he would catch up to her in no time. Her best option was to endure and move forward.
Seeing the struggle in the waterbender's face, Shinji took the knife from her hands and looked her in the eyes. "I'll take this from here."
"Thank you." She said as she hesitated to look up to the firebender. "I'll go see if there's a stream up ahead. I need to cool off."
Shinji nodded and resumed her duties as she grabbed a towel from her satchel and headed into the woods.
The walk was only three minutes in when she spotted a small pond shrouded in the light of a waxing gibbous. Katara took in the moonlight for a bit before shedding her clothes and entering the water. She immediately felt rejuvenated and relaxed. How her element could be so comforting. La, if she could stay like this all night she would but Ozai would undoubtedly come looking for her. So she made her bath quick. Only because she needed to do something before heading back.
Climbing out of the stream, Katara took the towel she brought with her and dried off before laying it down onto the ground. While Ozai offered to let her be alone in their tent for a moment, she wasn't taking the chance of him walking in on her handling business. So here was her best bet.
Laying down on the towel, the waterbender leaned back on one hand and spread her legs open. She gently ran her other hand down her body, from her breast that she tugged on the nipple rings to her navel that sent chills throughout her body. It had been sometime since she touched herself. Even longer since someone else touched her. But tonight, under the moonlight, she give herself the pleasure she's been in need of.
As her fingers reached her clitoris, pressing against the sensitive flesh, already she felt her breath slip from her in a small quiet moan. Having neglected herself had made her even more sensitive than usual. She tried to not make too much noise as she massaged the outer part of her core, slightly probing at her entrance as she became wet in her fluids.
Laying completely back, Katara moaned even more as she place two fingers inside and fingered herself. Her back arched as she could feel herself on the verge of a climax but she stopped short of it as she wanted this moment to last. The waterbender bended some water from the pond and made herself her very own dildo, much like she usually did and froze it solid. She took her frozen toy and rubbed it against her breasts as she slid it down her body, goosebumps collecting on her ebony skin that was kissed by the moon.
Bring it to her core and pushing it inside, Katara cried out and fondled her breasts as she thrusted her frozen treat into her womb. She started slow and deep as to build stimulation. Plucking her nipples while pushing the ice dildo in and out of her womb, her moans grew louder. She tried biting on her hand as she picked up speed. La, this was what she's been needing. Rolling her eyes to the back of her head as her back arched, Katara finally came and moaned loudly.
Back at the campsite, Shinji pretended to have heard what he had and kept his gaze low when Ozai showed back up. He paused when he too heard the noises. An awkward silence fell over the two of them. It was clear both men were uncomfortable at the sounds. Or rather were trying to remain unaffected.
When the sounds finally ceased, the two men looked up as they heard footsteps approached them. Expecting to see the waterbender, both men took cautionary stances when they looked up to see an Earth Kingdom male.
"Who are you? And what do you want?" Shinji asked as his eyes narrowed and his fists lit up with fire.
Ozai had unsheathed his throwing knife as his head was tilted to the side, gold eyes focused on the man in front of them, studying this man before them.
Scratching his head as he spit out something to the side, "Names Juro and I was wondering why I find two Fire Nation men a little ways away from a naked waterbender playing with herself."
Shinji's eyes widen and Ozai flung his dagger. A slab of earth came up and blocked the attack as the earth beneath their feet shifted, throwing off their balance. However; a blade struck the earthbender in the chest just as Ozai fell onto his back.
Sitting up as their opponent was down, Shinji made his way hastily to the earthbender on the verge of death and grabbed his collar. "Where's the girl?!" He lost his temper.
Coughing up blood, "None of your damn business. You should keep a tighter leash on your pet. We found her now she's ours."
"So there are others?" Ozai asked as he stood up and paced slowly to the man, twirling yet another knife in his hands as his eyes were trained on the earthbender menacingly.
Somehow more frightened by this long haired bastard, the earthbender shifted his gaze away and went quiet.
"Oh no you don't." Ozai shoved Shinji away and grabbed the dagger in the man's chest, holding it there so the man wouldn't bleed out. "You don't get to die so soon. We still have plenty to discuss."
…
"Get your hands off me, asshole!" Katara barked as she snapped her teeth at the men circling her. She was naked and shackled from her hands to her feet. They had attacked and captured her when she was about to get dressed. It was obvious what these men were when they threw her in their wagon and rode off with her into the night. Slaver scumbags.
While the waterbender had tried to appear fierce and stand her ground, even though she was laying on her side in chains while naked, the men that captured her couldn't help but laugh and toy with her. One of them poked her with a stick while another used the tip of his boot to tap her bare ass. She called them all sorts of names and threatened them. The fight was strong in her and she would not so easily break. But with time, her captors would see to it that that was all fixed. A defiant slave was a slave unbought and they planned to make a lot of money off of selling her. A rare blue eyed beauty from the Water Tribe was hard to come by and even harder to get your hands on.
Tying the gag over the waterbender's mouth, yanking his hand back when she tried to bite him, the earthbender that captured her laughed as he finally got a hold on her. He then grabbed her from the back of their wagon and threw her over his shoulders.
"Come on, water chick." The man chuckled. "Yer too pretty ta be so feisty."
Katara squirmed and wiggled on the shoulder of the man as he slapped her ass and continued laughing. La, she thought Ozai was bad but this was a thousand times worse.
As she was carried into a dark looking room, the waterbender heard all sorts of noises coming from around her. Most of it sounded like moans and other lewd noises. Her face blushed when she realized what kind of slavers she was dealing with. La, damn it! I should have used the tent!
"Alright, girly." The man finally let her down when they entered an even smaller room. " We're gonna getcha all washed and dressed up in da mornin' fer' ta morra' night."
And just like that, a cell down was shut out her. Katara stared wide eyed as the man walked off to join up with his buddies. Tomorrow night?! What happens tomorrow night?!
…..
A/N: Welp, Katara's gotten herself in a sticky situation! Luckily, Ozai doesn't plan on letting her get out of his grips so easily. The gaang is getting back together in hopes of finding Kai. Next chapter is solely focused on Katara's capture and how Ozai goes about dealing with it. Hope you guys enjoy!