A/N:
Back again with another chapter for Drowning Lesson! Thank you all for reading!
Chapter 21:
Ozai literally couldn't get enough of the waterbender. He felt that way before but even more now, he knew that he would never get the same satisfaction from another woman. Never. And it wasn't even just the sex. Katara tended to him in every way women before her had refused. His son was an idiot but he wouldn't complain, the waterbender was his now because of his stupid son.
At the moment, the former Fire Lord had Katara mounted on him, rolling her hips against his as she rode him. He was clenching his teeth as she also sucked and bit his nipples. His eyes were glued to her. Obsessing over her mocha skin and the way her body moved against him. Her brown curls cascading down her bare back. His hands gripped her ass causing them both to moan.
When her lips moved back to his, Ozai swore, telling her he was going to reach his limit. It almost came as a challenge to the waterbender to work herself on his length even more to get him to cum harder. Katara smirked as he threw his head back and came, feeling his seed fill her. She stayed mounted while he laid on his back panting. Her eyes staring down at him as he was trying to recover. She had to admit, she liked seeing him so vulnerable. It made her feel like she had some power over him and she liked it.
Leaning forward to lay her head on his chest, Katara shut her eyes as she felt his arms wrap around her. "If I got you out of this cell, what would you do?"
"What do you think?" he answered her as if it weren't already obvious.
"Would you kill Zuko?" She asked, tracing her fingers along the contours of his chest.
Placing his hand over hers, "I'd ask you before I killed anyone close to you." He answered.
Katara sat up off of him and looked at him with a deep expression, "Why would you care? You'd be Fire Lord again and could do as you please."
Sitting up on his side, "Because I care about you."
"You what?" Katara felt like she was hearing things.
"You might not agree but I see you as my woman. If that is so, why wouldn't I care?"
"I just never took you for the caring type." She told him honestly and he didn't blame her. He wasn't known for being a caring man.
It was a hard concept to swallow. Especially since this was him, Ozai, the former Fire Lord. All her friends and family were supposed to care about her and it hadn't felt that way in some time. So to hear him say that, she didn't really know how to take it. She believed him. She did but how much longer would he lose interest and she'd be shunned. Just like with everyone else, once she served her purpose, she wasn't much good for anything.
Pulling away from him, Katara grabbed her clothes, ignoring the look he was giving her. She figured he thought he probably said something wrong and he didn't. Honestly, she liked hearing that but she was so fucked up these days. She really didn't know how to take it. And that was partially her fault and his and Zuko's, of course. La, she wanted to get past this so badly. But it was going to take a lot longer than she had originally thought.
"I care too. About you that is. But I can't really tell if that's because I've gone mental or because of this baby or because I'm miserably lonely. So, I like what you said. I do and I believe you but...I'm not in the business of confusing others about my feelings when they are so sure about theirs, so I need-"
"Time." He finished it for her. "Fine. Take your time. I'm not fickle. I'm too old for that sort of thing. But you're still young, I get it."
Katara really hated how she was picking up on the disappointment in his voice. She wanted to apologize but she felt like that would make matters worse. Sighing after she finished dressing and went over to kiss him on the lips.
As the waterbender left, Ozai leaned his back against the wall as he eyed the door she walked out of. He wasn't mad at her for what she had to say but he didn't like it. Maybe he did need to get from his cell. He just wasn't going to do it on her account. That wouldn't be fair to her. Besides, he had already been able to make contact with his allies and they were on their way to free him from his chains. Once that happened, he'd not only take his throne back but he'd take the waterbender.
…
"This is the right thing, nephew." Iroh said as he patted Zuko on the shoulder to reassure him.
But Zuko wasn't happy about this. Katara, Shin, Ty Lee, and his father testified to Mai being the one that allowed his father to escape with the hopes that his father would kill Katara. He had sent the royal guard to apprehend her as well as sent troops to hold her family under house arrest. Even though Mai had schemed to have Katara killed and committed treason in order to do so, he felt Mai was blinded by jealousy. Choosing her as his wife for the sake of the nation was a wrong decision. He hurt Katara and put so much distance between them that he didn't even know she was pregnant. Mai might have been his fiancee but he didn't love her and she knew that, turning her anger towards Katara. All of this was his fault. He knew that. Which was why it was hard to see this as the right thing to do when all of this started because he made the wrong decision.
Once Mai was taken to the prison tower, Zuko went to see Katara. It had been a week as she had requested for him to stay away from her. Now with Mai dealt with, perhaps, she was ready to discuss how to move forward.
Arriving at her chambers, Zuko entered to see Katara and his mother playing with Kai. They were all sitting at the low table playing with the toys he had bought out of guilt for his son that he only just discovered existed. As he approached the women and child, the Fire Lord saw his son look up from the toy horse.
"Zuko, dear, you've finally come to see Kai." Ursa smiled as she rose up.
Zuko watched Katara pull Kai to her as Ursa took his arm to pull him away, obviously aware of the feuding between the two.
"Allow me and Katara to get him dressed for an outing with his father, okay?" Ursa said sweetly.
Placing his hand on the one she used to hold to his arm, Zuko looked at his mother regretfully. "Actually, I came to speak with Katara. Alone."
Ursa furrowed her brows a bit, clearly disappointed but she was a meek woman and wouldn't challenge him. She pulled away from him and turned to look at Katara.
"Dear, Zuko would like-"
"I don't want to speak with him right now. I'm spending time with my son." She said bitterly.
Zuko furrowed his brows, "Katara, I have something important to tell you."
"Then say it." Her eyes snapped at him.
Not liking how she could just so easily forgive his father and go fuck him in his cell while being completely unforgiving to him, Zuko lost his temper.
"That's it, Katara! Guards!"
Ursa and Katara were in shock as the guard entered.
"Please escort Lady Katara to my chambers."
"Zuko, what are y-"
"Being the bastard he always was!" Katara spat as she glared at Zuko.
"Mommy!" Kai tried to hold to his mother's hand.
While Katara tried comforting her son, Ursa looked to hers and couldn't bite her tongue.
"My son, what is wrong with you?" Ursa looked him over.
Fixing his scowl on Katara as she was taken out of the room. "I'm the Fire Lord, mother. She can't talk to me in any kind of way. Besides, I have something very important to discuss with her. It can't simply wait for her attitude to drop. I'll bring her back."
Running her hand over Ryu's head as he laid in her lap, Ursa looked morbidly at her former brother-in-law. She was worried. Zuko had been avoiding his son and treating Katara unfairly. This was not how she imagined her son to turn out but he had been under the parenting of his father for some time. It wasn't like Iroh could correct everything the Ozai might have taught their son. There were some things that she probably needed to confront him about despite her nature to evade situations of high-conflict. But this was important. She didn't condone this behavior.
"Iroh, tell me, what do you think of how Zuko's been handling this whole situation?" Ursa asked him.
Iroh sighed as he held his arms in his sleeves and shook his head, "This is a lot for him to take all at once. Finding he has a son, Katara and his father, Katara pregnant again, and finding his fiancee caused all of this. Anyone would feel a little overwhelmed. But Zuko, he's not giving himself enough time to process everything and is being sloppy and impatient in his approach with Lady Katara. I'll advise him to take more time to fully grasp the situation."
Honestly, Ursa felt it was going to take more than that. Zuko needed to understand first and foremost that he didn't own the girl, she owed him nothing. Then he needed to take time to properly meet his son and interact with him. Kai was a sweet boy like how Zuko had been. But who was she to talk? She had left him and his sister behind.
Ursa went back to gazing down at the sweet boy in her lap, You're better than this, Zuko. I know it.
…
"This is what you wanted, Katara. I can make that happen now." Zuko stressed as the waterbender sat there staring at him with that same cold expression.
Katara couldn't believe Zuko was serious right now. Did he really think this would make her happy? Because it was the opposite. It pissed her off. There was no way in hell she was going to agree to marry him after all this. He was only doing this because Mai was criminalized for committing treason and he was jealous that she would rather be in his father's arms. She wasn't going to agree. Nothing would make her go back to him. Nothing.
Averting her eyes from him, "I wanted. Meaning past tense. My want is entirely different now. I do not want to marry you, Zuko. I will not marry you. You can't make me." She said calmly.
"What do you mean you don't want to marry me? We have a son together."
"A son you won't even speak to. And right now, I'm carrying your father's child, should I marry him too?"
"What?! No! Why are you being difficult?! I'm trying to do the right thing!"
"Right thing for who?! Not me! None of what your saying is right for me or Kai! We don't want to be here! He keeps asking when we're going home because he knows this is not his home!" Katara stood up.
"You can't. Sokka, already said-"
"Fuck Sokka! I love my brother but we both know he's an idiot. He can't stop me from going home."
Zuko walked up to her and looked her dead in her eyes, "Are you really going to do this?"
Cocking her head to the side, "I loved you for a long time, Zuko, and you knew that. Just because you discovered we have a son and that I enjoy your father's company, doesn't mean you have to take pity on me now and offer me marriage. I don't want it. I'm not pitiful. I don't need your pity."
"It's not pity! Why do you think I never married Mai after all these years?! I didn't love her! I loved you! I didn't want to pick her but I thought I was doing what was best for my nation. I thought I was doing the right thing."
"Then clearly, you also didn't think much of me to believe I might be right for your country. That I might be the right choice." Katara cast her eyes low as she was filled with sorrow. "I wasn't the right choice then and I'm definitely not it now. I have no desire to be your wife and Fire Lady. Perhaps, if it weren't for the challenges I've recently faced, I might have been more willing but not as I am now." The waterbender sniffled as she shook her head and wiped her tears. "Not as I am now. I'm no good and I'm okay with that. I don't want anything from you. You owe me nothing."
"But Kata-"
"You can't even look at him for long! How can you want to be my husband and you can't even look at the son I gave you?!" Katara immediately snapped.
Zuko furrowed his brows and stepped away, unable to answer that question at the moment.
"Exactly! At the end of the day, Zuko. I know you better than you know yourself and that's why I can't stand you right now. You don't want to be a father. You never did. I remember you told me that was one of your fears of becoming Fire Lord. You didn't want to be a father! Well, that's fine, Zuko. I made it very easy for you up until now. You don't have to be a father. I won't force you but know that you can never be my husband or my anything because of that."
The Fire Lord stood there watching his ex leave him in his chambers feeling like an utter fool. He had forgotten he told Katara that. She was right. He didn't want to be a father. He found no appeal in being one and honestly, he was afraid to be one. Sure, Iroh had been a great example for him but he was still scarred by his father in more than one way. He just wasn't ready to be a father now or later. It was always his plan that when the time for an heir became necessary, that he would choose his most loyal minister or general. Someone he felt would fit well into the role of being Fire Lord. No one could force him to have children if he did not wish it. It wasn't going to happen.
But because of this, Katara wanted nothing to do with him and he discovered the true reason behind her resentment towards him. She knew this and knew she couldn't have anything to do with him since she had made him a father.
Zuko sunk down into a chair and held his head in his hands. He thought in time Katara would come around but they had so many things between them. She was never going to be his again. Those days of their teen romance were over and he should have let that go the day he turned his back on her.
…..
Ozai was surprised to hear this. He never expected that his son was opposed to the idea of being a father. While he could think of why that was, he didn't understand why Zuko couldn't see how lucky he had gotten to have a selfless waterbender mother his only child. But once again, Ozai wasn't complaining. What Zuko wouldn't appreciate, he would and soon, Ozai would take his throne back and do right by the woman his son had forsaken.
Wiping her tears away with his thumb, the former Fire Lord sighed as he looked down at the somber waterbender. "You shouldn't let yourself get so worked up. You're with child."
Katara sniffled and nodded. "I'm sorry."
"My son is an idiot. It can't be helped. However, I think you need to consider what he is saying." Ozai told her.
Furrowing her brows at him as she held his hand that cupped her cheek, "He's asking me to be his wife."
"I know that."
Her eyes fell from him, "What about us?"
Smirking as he raised a brow, "What 'about' us?"
Katara pulled his hand from her face and sighed, "Every time we talk about this, you make it sound as if you don't want to be with me. Like you would rather I be with Zuko."
"I know the kind of man I am." Ozai motioned his head towards the bars of his cell. "I wasn't anywhere as good to you as you have been to me, waterbender. I feel you'd have better luck with Zuko than me."
Still holding to his hand, "Would it really be that hard for you to be kind to me outside of here?"
No. He couldn't see how he could go back to being cruel to her. It was his mistake hurting her the way he did. Ozai shook his head and watched a smile pull to her lips as she crawled into his lap to lay against his chest.
"I don't want you to tell me to be with him."
"Then what do you want me to say?"
Katara looked up from his chest, "That I'm your woman and that you don't want anyone but you to have me."
"Is that what you really want to hear?" Ozai smirked at her.
Nodding her head.
"Then I'll tell you." He said as he leaned down to kiss her. "Tomorrow night."
"Why tomorrow?" She whispered against his lips.
"You'll see."
…
Talking to Zuko got him nowhere but Iroh figured maybe he could appeal to Katara. She might not be the easiest to reason with if faced with someone who didn't see eye to eye. But Iroh felt he could get through to her. Maybe all someone needed to do was listen to her and no one had. Which is how this all had begun.
Approaching the waterbender as she walked idly by herself, Iroh saw her look at him with a cautious stare. He figured while she knew he had been on her side in many things recently regarding her situation, she knew he was Zuko's uncle at the end of the day and he didn't blame her for being hesitant.
"Lady Katara, may I have a word with you?" Iroh asked her in an especially sweet tone.
Eyeing him cautiously, "If you're going to tell me to marry Zuko because that's the best for Kai and myself, then no."
Chuckling as he shook his head and placed his arms in his sleeves, "Believe me, Katara. I'm very aware of my nephew being somewhat of a-"
"An idiot." Katara's arms were crossed over her chest as she raised a brow.
"Um, not the exact words I'd use but definitely along those lines. He's young and you must know already that it will take most men to become my age before they know any better." Iroh chuckled a bit more. "But, no, I came to speak with you because I wanted to know what you personally believe is best for you and Kai. No one would know better than you and I would like you to allow me to help you."
Katara decided that she would speak to Iroh. While he was Zuko's uncle, the elderly man did know how to keep quiet about things. Even going as far as to hide Kai's existence and not mentioning she had been seeing Ozai after he caught her. He even found her while she was in Xiao Lu and tried to be of assistance in helping her escape. If anyone would hear her out, it was Iroh.
"We can talk in my room."
"Very well, Lady Katara."
….
Rubbing her belly as she sat in the middle of her bed, Katara tried soothing herself from the tension around her small belly. She didn't remember being this sort of aching feeling with Kai. It had been bugging her for all day and worried her a bit. She figured if it continued that she would go see a physician in the morning but until then she would try soothing herself.
A gentle breeze suddenly blew in from the window and caught the waterbender's attention. She stared for a moment before going back to her belly massage. The wind came in again and Katara paused as she heard something. Easing it of her bed, she walked over to the window curtains and inspected. La, she hoped this wasn't Zuko spying on her or she swore to La she was going to choke him. However, as she pulled open the curtains to see what it was, there was nothing there.
Katara sighed and shut her eyes, "La, I need to stop being paranoid."
The waterbender went back to bed and laid down. She was tired and needed some rest. She was so annoyed by her conversation with friends, that she didn't go see Ozai tonight. She didn't want to take her anger out at him. Right now, other than Shinji, Iroh, and Ursa, everyone was getting on her nerves. Even the friends that were on her side. She honestly wanted to be left alone. Iroh was right.
Everything that she had Iroh discussed really helped her figure out what to do. Before long, she needed to get on the move and leave. Staying and dealing with Zuko was not healthy for either of them. They were likely never going to see eye to eye and Zuko had other things to worry about. She knew from the beginning with Kai that it would all just be a burden to him. So, it was best to remove herself from the situation again. However, returning home wasn't much of an option anymore. Her brother would make her life there unbearable until she left and she knew her children would get strange looks. Everyone would know the truth surrounding her children's fathers and she didn't think she could face that right now. Going to Bei Seng Sei was likely her best hope at starting over and making a decent life for her and her children.
Shutting her eyes, Katara was about to drift off when an arm suddenly fell around her middle and held her stomach. She was startled and quickly sat up to scream but a hand was placed over her mouth.
"Want me to tell you you're mine, now?" She heard the voice whisper in her ear.
Feeling her heart slowly retreat back into her chest, Katara groaned against the hand as she felt relieved.
"Did I scare you, waterbender?" Ozai smirked as he nipped at her ear.
Of course, she thought someone was trying to attack her. But she was no less startled by his presence. How was he out of prison?
When he moved from off her mouth, Katara sat up and looked at him with a curious look. "How are you here right now?"
"I have loyalists everywhere, Katara. Right now, there's a stand-in sitting in my cell for me while I'm here." Ozai's eyes roamed over Katara to see she was in a red nightgown that rose up over her thigh, her hair completely down, cascading around her form.
Seeing the way his gold eyes were fixed on her, Katara bashfully looked away from him causing him to chuckle and move closer to her.
"You clearly plan to stay the night."
"Is that going to be a problem?"
"No." Katara said nervously. "Not unless you plan on being cruel to me again?"
Ozai maneuvered himself above her and looked down at her as she was pinned underneath him, caressing her cheek. "I won't hurt you again. I mean it."
"Promise?" Her sapphire eyes were on his.
"You have my word." Ozai said as his hand raked along the hem of the nightgown and nudged it upward. "Now, can you promise me something?"
The waterbender nodded.
"Don't let anyone but me have you. Can you promise me that?"
"I promise."
"Good girl." Ozai pulled up her nightgown and held it above her breasts, taking a good look at her as she laid on her back staring up at him. Agni, he couldn't help but find her absolutely appetitizing. He really lucked out on this woman. She was perfect. And he couldn't wait to get his throne back. He was going to spoil her like no one else. She earned it.
Katara shivered as his hand ran from her thigh slowly up to her small belly where it lingered for a moment. She watched him smirk before he went to squeeze her breast, eyes shifting to her.
"I should probably go lock the door." She said as he started playing with her nipples causing her breath to hitch.
Grinning, "Perhaps but it'll be much more exciting knowing someone might walk in and see us. The thrill alone will get you off."
"You think so?" Katara laid there not sure if she was comfortable with someone walking in to see them. But she knew Ozai. He had some perverse things he was into and this wasn't too bad compared to other things he had coaxed her into doing,
Settling himself between her legs, Ozai held one of them over his shoulder as he pressed his lips to it as he kept a watchful gaze on her.
"Then I'll be quiet."
"You do that." He smirked, knowing damn well the waterbender couldn't be quiet if her life depended on it.
Morning came and Katara woke to the sheets being on the floor. Her naked body lying in bed while an equally naked Ozai pressed up against her. His arm was wrapped protectively around her while his hand held to her stomach. It was a cool spring morning but she found Ozai's warmth kept her from shivering. A small smile pulled to her lips. She wouldn't mind waking up like this every morning.
"Katara!" She heard her brother's voice shouting her name from the other side of the room.
Sitting up, immediately, Katara turned to Ozai and tried to wake him. "Ozai." She whispered his name.
Stirring, his gold eyes opened to look up at her. A small smirk played on his lips.
"I assume we have a visitor."
"Yeah and my brother is a crazed idiot. You need to hide."
As much as Ozai didn't care about having to fight her idiot brother, he wasn't going to give her a hard time. Rolling out of bed, the man took his sweet time finding a hiding place in her bathroom and just as he was out of sight, the door opened.
"Kat- Oh, shit!" Sokka quickly covered his eyes. "Sorry!"
"Get out, Sokka. I'm not talking to you!"
"It's important, Zuko wants everyone to come see him."
Scoffing as she found her nightgown and pulled it over her, "I don't want to talk to him either."
"Ozai and Mai escaped prison." He told her.
Furrowing her brows, Katara eyed her brother funny as he told her that. Mai escaped too? And didn't Ozai say he had a stand-in taking his place in his cell? She shook her head and told Sokka she would get dressed first, then meet with Zuko. He left soon after and Katara sighed as she walked towards the bathroom to ask Ozai what was going on. But when she got there, he wasn't there. This made her raise a brow as she turned to see where he could have gone and saw his clothes were no longer on the floor by the bed. Scratching her head, Katara tried to figure out how Ozai was able to get his clothes and leave without being detected.
…
Zuko eyed only two people the entire time while he spoke with everyone about the escape of Mai and his father. He had his suspicions and wanted to study their reactions as he told them what was going on. Neither of them seemed fazed which didn't necessarily mean much seeing as both Katara and Shinji were indifferent to a lot of things he had to say. When he was done talking, Aang asked if there were any clues left at the scenes of both prison breaks but none of the guards saw anything unusual. Whoever did it had a key to the cells.
"Any idea where they might have gone?" Suki asked.
Eyes still glued on the two in the back, "How about you tell us, Katara?" Zuko managed to get everyone to turn their attention to Katara.
The waterbender looked over at Zuko and narrowed her eyes, "What makes you think I know?"
"Because you've been the one looking after my father since he's been back in prison. You two have gotten quite close. It's hard to assume you don't know." Zuko folded his arms and tilted his head.
Glaring at him, Katara could see her friends were all taken aback by this detail.
"Liar!" Sokka yelled at Zuko, "My baby sis would nev-"
"Snoozle, Sparky isn't lying." Toph placed her hand on Sokka to back him away from Zuko.
"What?!" Sokka looked back at his sister that was now staring at her feet.
Sighing, Katara looked back up and flipped her hair. "So what if I look after him, he never told me he was planning to escape and I don't know where he currently is."
"True." Toph said just so everyone knew what information to go by.
"When was the last time you saw him?" Zuko narrowed his eyes.
"I don't recall."
"You sure about that, sugar queen?" Toph asked.
Everyone was now anxious to hear her real answer.
Rolling her eyes, "This morning." She confessed.
"He escaped last night! So if you saw him this morning then you knew he had escaped!"
"Ozai snuck up on me last night. He was with me until this morning when Sokka showed up. I didn't know he would show up and honestly, I wasn't against it."
"She's telling the truth." Toph confirmed.
Slamming his fists down on the desk, "What was he doing with you all night that you couldn't come let me know he had escaped?!"
"None of your business." Katara tossed her hair over her shoulder.
"You slept with him, didn't you?"
"So?"
"So?!"
"Wait, you're messing around with Zuko's dad again?" Suki raised a brow as she was shocked.
"She's been screwing him since he's been in prison! This whole time!" Zuko yelled.
Iroh sighed and went over to his nephew to calm him down.
Ty Lee, honestly, had to say she wasn't in the least surprised. She kind of figured there was more to their relationship. As for Aang, he felt a bit confused why Katara was getting further involved with Ozai like this. Ursa on the other hand seemed very curious to know how the young woman was able to deal with her ex-husband, the man was a monster, and she honestly feared Katara was being taken advantage of. This concerned the older woman. Toph really didn't know how to take any of this. This sort of thing wasn't exactly her forte but hey, when you have friends that could be a little fucked up from time to time, you dealt with these sorts of issues.
Shinji stepped in front of Katara as he saw her brother inching towards her with nothing less of a scowl on his face.
"What the hell, Katara?! Are you really doing this?!" Sokka snarled at her.
Refusing to look at her brother, "Leave me alone, Sokka. You don't get it."
"Get what?! That my sister has become a La damn whore!"
"No! That you've all treated me like a fucking basket case! Or like something is fucking wrong with me! I got kidnapped! So what?! I survived! I'm pregnant?! So fucking what?! I know who the father is and I looked after him because maybe a part of me likes having the ability to be close to the person that fathered my child since I missed out on that the first fucking time!"
The group all simmered down a bit as Katara raged at Sokka.
"Ozai might be a lot of things but even before you and that fucking asshole over there came to save me, he acknowledged me as someone of importance to him. So even if he's using me or taking advantage, its much better than dealing with my own friends and my own fucking brother looking at me like I'm a freak!" Katara spat to the side as her eyes went to Zuko. "Fuck you, Zuko. I hope Mai and your father wipe the floor with you."
The waterbender stormed out and Shinji followed behind her.
In her wake, Suki shoved Sokka out of her way, completely done with him. "We're done, Sokka!"
"Suki, wait!" Sokka ran after her.
Aang sighed as Toph patted him on the back as the two of them left.
Ursa looked to her son and shook her head, "Maybe if I endured your father a bit longer, maybe you wouldn't have become like this, Zuko." She shut her eyes. "I've failed you, my son."
"Mom!" Zuko reached out to her as she turned her back and left.
Iroh stopped Zuko and forced him to take a seat, "Our concern should be finding your father and Lady Mai before chaos erupts. We'll deal with personal matters once things are secured."
Reluctantly agreeing with his uncle, Zuko nodded and got to work on devising a plan on how to apprehend his father.
…..
Ozai watched the waterbender from outside her window as she was throwing things at the guards his son sent to watch over her. He figured he'd slip in and take them out while his men took care of seizing the palace. Zhao eyed him.
"Are you sure about this, your majesty?" Zhao didn't seem to understand why his master was still so fixated on the waterbender.
"Yes. Now go, I'll take care of things from here and meet you in the throne room." Ozai shooed Zhao away.
In her room, curled up on her lounge chair, Katara glared out the window at the scenery. She couldn't believe Zuko was placing her under house arrest. That son of a bitch! She growled in her head. He was just being a jealous asshole at this point. It wasn't even about her safety. He just hated that she was screwing someone that wasn't him. Bastard!
Fixing her tea to relax her nerves, Shinji carried it over to the waterbender and held it out for her. She looked from it to him and thanked him as he took a seat beside her.
"It's not safe for you and the children to stay here." He told her.
Sipping the tea, Katara sighed. "Where will I go?" Iroh said he'd get her to Bei Seng Sei and help her settle in once he was on his way back but she doubted he could do anything now. Ozai was on the loose and Iroh was dealing with Zuko's explosive bullshit.
Shinji had already figured that much out. He had a great sum of wealth stored away in Bei Seng Sei in the event he had to go in hiding. There was a manor in the upper ring that only he knew about and was looked after by a few hired help that resided there. None of them knew his identity outside of him being a Fire Nation noble. It was quiet and quaint. Katara would be safe there. It was her best bet.
Hearing about this place seemed ideal to Katara. If Shinji wanted to take her there, she'd follow him but before she could leave she wanted to see if Ozai would come with them. It might not be exactly what he'd want but she figured that maybe she could convince him. That way, no one had to get hurt and they could live peaceful lives.
"I'll pack my things. Can you get Kai and his things?" Katara asked Shinji.
Complying with the waterbender's request, Shinji left to get her son while she got herself ready to leave.
Wasting no time, Katara was on her feet and rummaging through her drawers. Not a lot of clothes were in there as she had most of her belongings destroyed in the house fire a few months ago. But she packed what she had into a backpack stored in the back of her wardrobe. Putting on some travel clothes and tying her hair up, Katara noticed a presence standing behind her and grinned to herself.
"You move quickly and quietly." She said as she turned around and looked up at the man standing over her.
"Going somewhere?" Ozai stepped back to look her over.
Tightening the tie on her ponytail, "I can't stay here. Zuko has made it impossible to do so and I'm not dealing with it, so I'm running away."
"Or you could stay and wait to see what happens after tonight." Ozai suggested.
Raising a brow, "What happens tonight? Are you planning something already?"
"Planning? What do you think I've been doing the whole time in prison? No, everything is already set in motion. Tonight, I'll be taking the throne back. My son won't be an issue for you which is why I implore you to stay." Ozai tapped on the bottom of her chin, getting her to look back up at him after her gaze fell from him.
And this was when the two of the diverged. Katara wanted nothing to do with the throne or living a life in the palace. She wanted a simple life. Something that didn't involve being under constant scrutiny and observation by everyone around her. She was kidding herself if she thought for even a moment that Ozai would want to settle for a life like that. This was where they went their separate ways. She told him before that she wouldn't get in the way of his goals for taking the throne back. It wasn't her concern. As long as he wasn't planning on causing another war, she didn't care. Zuko was on his own. She didn't care anymore.
Seeing the somber look in the waterbender's eyes, Ozai could see she was not for his plans but that was fine. He knew she wasn't going to like him fighting her friends despite her annoyance with them. However, he would make it up to her. She just needed to be patient and she would like what he had planned for them both.
"I need to lay down." Katara said as she moved away from him all together. She was feeling overwhelmed because something told her she was never going to leave this place.
"Try resting. By the time you're awake, it'll all be finished." He told her.
He left after leaving her with a kiss and telling her to wait for him. As soon as he was gone, Katara grabbed her backpack and hurried to leave her bedroom, going straight to Kai's bedroom. Getting there, she saw Shinji carrying a similar bag over his shoulder while holding the boy's hand.
"We have to leave now. Ozai is planning on taking the throne by tonight." Katara said in panic as she quickly took Kai's hand and Shinji took hers in order to pull her to the nearest window.
"No doubt Ozai will have his men skulking the halls. We'll have to sneak out of here."
Katara nodded.
"Mama, I'm scared." Kai said as he trembled.
"Don't be." Katara told him as she cupped his cheek. "We're going to get somewhere safe, okay?"
"Okay."
….
Tied up and thrown into a cell, Zuko stumbled onto the cold stone floor covered in hay. The cell bars were shut and locked before a tall grim figure entered the room. It was his father. Wearing his trademark grin. Zuko clenched his fists. He was furious. Before he and uncle could even come up with a solid plan, his father shows up with his loyalists and attacked. For some reason, his father spared his friends and had them all escorted out of the palace, telling them to leave the country. As long as they did this and stayed out of the Fire Nation, they wouldn't be seen as enemies. That included Aang and his uncle.
However; he was thrown into a cell for having been the usurper of his father's throne and posed a greater threat to his father than anyone else at the moment. But why had his father not gone ahead and killed him? Was he planning to make the execution public?
Zuko watched his father come up to the bars of his cell and laugh.
"I think that's enough of you playing Fire Lord, boy. Time you go back to doing what you do best. Being a waste of a son."
Standing to his feet, Zuko glared at his father as he approached the bars. "Where's Katara and Kai?!"
Scoffing as he turned his back, "What do you care? You don't care to be a father, so Kai isn't of importance to you. You can't empathize with the woman you abandoned and took for granted, so Katara's not your concern either. How about you worry about yourself like you've been doing, son?"
"Don't say it like that! I didn't abandon her!" Zuko yelled.
"That's not what she thinks, Zuko."
"What would you know?! You're just using her!"
Ozai looked over his shoulder and eyed Zuko, "I have no reason to use her, Zuko. Did it ever dawn on you that maybe she and I had something that you don't have with her currently? Maybe I'm a better choice since I don't mind being a father or taking what I want despite what others might think. Admit it, you didn't pick her because you were embarrassed. Bad enough you were a disgraced prince that took his father's throne. You couldn't bring some tribal woman from a barden land here to be your wife too. It would make you look worse."
Zuko's eyes widened.
Smirking as he went back to facing his pathetic son, "I spent some time thinking about what could have been your reason for letting go of someone like her and it finally came to me, you were ashamed of her."
"I wasn't!"
"You were." Ozai chuckled, "Admit it. You didn't even mention her to the council. I know that much. They didn't even know you were involved with her until recently. Which means, you had no intention of taking her as your wife. The only reason you even proposed to her the other day was because of your image once again."
Zuko's eyes were still side as he couldn't find the right words to combat his father's accusation.
"But don't worry, Zuko. I'll take care of the waterbender and your son. Even look after your mother. So rest assured while you waste in this cell that all will be much better without you."
With that, Ozai left and ordered the guards to refuse entry to anyone but him.
As he returned to Katara's chambers where his men were stationed outside of, Ozai was approached by Zhao who reported to him that the chambers were empty. Katara and Kai were gone.
"Gone?! What the hell do you mean they're gone?!" Ozai was infuriated.
Zhao bowed low along with the two guards outside Katara's chambers.
"I will personally look for where the waterbender could have gone."
Furrowing his brows as he was furious, "Shut down the docks and have all roads leading out of the capital blocked off. She's not getting away from me that easily."
…
A/N:
So Katara said fuck this I'm out and Ozai's back to being Fire Lord. Wonder how her leaving will make things different between them later. And Zuko needs a time out. Like seriously. I didn't think I'd be so annoyed with writing him in this story but still love Zuko. Oh well.