A/N:

I'm back. Sorry, I've been having a rough time as of late. Life's been a little tough for me lately but I got another chapter out so yay!

Chapter 24:

Brushing her teeth, Katara didn't bother sparing a glance at her husband who had been staring at her all morning. She was unbothered. What she said and did last night, she meant it. There was nothing more disappointing than believing someone was going to change for the better, only to find they were still the same bastard that you should have never trusted to begin with. She wanted him to send her back to the private domain. That way her life would at least be somewhat bearable. However, he refused, stating he would somehow make it up to her. But she refused to fall for that again. Bad enough, she was berating herself mentally for ever thinking in the first place that this arrangement might work for her. No, this was just for him and only him. He wanted unlimited access to her and the only reason he married her instead of making her a concubine, was to spite Zuko. Do what he wouldn't do. It made her sick as these realizations dawned on her. Honestly, she was planning to escape and this time, go unfound.

Ozai noticed his wife paid him no attention and kept her gaze to the floor. He tried reaching for her to make some contact with her in order to get her to acknowledge him but she quickly stepped out of his reach. Any sudden movement would cause her to shift in a direction that maintained the distance between them. He'd call her name and she would ignore him. It would usually infuriate him but he was afraid to upset her further. Obviously, she was fed up with him and would cold from here on out. He had his chance at a good wife and he blew it. But he would not live the remainder of his days like this. He refused.

The servants that came to assist Katara into her Fire Lady robes were accompanied by her very own primary servant. This servant was to wait on her hand and foot and remain at her side at all times. Katara was not familiar with these sorts of servants since only the Fire Lady was ever given one. But fortunately, as she was being dressed, the servant introduced herself and explained everything.

"Good morning, your majesty, my name is Ming and will be your personal servant from now on. My duties are to serve your majesty in whatever way you deem fit and to accompany you everywhere you permit me. The only person other than yourself I may take orders from is, of course, your husband. What would be your first order for me today, your majesty?"

Katara looked over the servant and noticed that she looked close in age to her. Maybe a year or two older but fairly the same age. The servant had black hair like most of the Fire Nation people did and it was tied up into a simple bun with a single hairpin sticking out from it. She held her hands in her sleeves and wore a courteous smile on her face that somehow managed to reach her eyes. Not many people around here had smiles that looked so genuine. But this one did. Katara liked this somewhat. However, she refused to show it. Expressing any sort of emotions around this grim place was a sign of weakness and would warrant people to further make her life a living hell.

Not having anything specific to order the servant to do, Katara simply told her to accompany her to the study so that she could continue writing letters for the foreign officials. However, just as the servant bowed upon accepting her orders, the Fire Lord had something to say.

"I need you to attend a meeting with me today." Ozai stated as he was also being assisted with his robes behind a divider with his servants.

Trying not to let her disdain for the sound of his voice be seen, Katara nodded her head to appear cooperative to the servants while looking at Ming. "Tell my husband, I'll be skipping breakfast to continue the letters. He can find me there when it's time for the meeting." Ming looked a bit shocked and swallowed hard as the Fire Lady left the room immediately. She bowed her head as the Fire Lord glared after his wife and repeated her exact words to him, though completely unnecessary, orders were orders.

…

Despite the lack of support he had in his own country, Zuko had plenty within the Earth Kingdom and many were currently in Ba Seng Sei. His uncle and a few lotus friends kept intel on things taking place in the Fire Nation and discovered that his father went ahead with marrying Katara. He didn't know why but he didn't think his father would really go through with it. Then again, his father wouldn't joke about something like that. The only good news he heard on top of that was Katara was obviously not thrilled about the marriage. Many were saying she was forced and that his father was cruel to her. That was no surprise. Only thing that surprised him was that his father was having a banquet and invited some diplomats and representatives from the Earth Kingdom as well as the Water.

"We'd like you to join us, Lord Zuko." An Earth Kingdom official told the young man as they were meeting over a cup of tea in the Earth King's palace.

Holding his cup as he stared at the tea, "I'd love to come, Official Ping, but I'm banished. The only way I can return is with permission from the Fire Lord and he...he's not very fond of me."

"But with Lady Katara being the new Fire Lady, perhaps there is a chance." Ping held up the invitation. "She herself wrote to us and we know it to be her due to the handwriting."

Zuko took the invitation to examine it himself and saw it was Katara's handwriting; however, he didn't think she wrote this of her own accord. He mentioned to the official that Katara was forced and that his father had an obsession with her after kidnapping her. Making him aware that Katara had been abused to the point she wasn't exactly mentally sound. He didn't think for a second that she was in her right mind since her kidnapping. His father was likely coaching her.

Even so, the official believed that there might be a way to strike up peace for the time being until they could do something about Ozai returning to power.

"Let us write the council of the Fire Lord and see if we can bring you with us, as our own guest. From there we will think of what to discuss with the Fire Lord when we arrive."

As much as Zuko wanted to object, the official had a point. The armies of all nations were depleted and war was not an option. All they could do was make peace in the meantime until something could be done.

….

Getting his wife from the study after breakfast proved to be annoying as she refused to speak to him and had the servant speak on her behalf. She refused to hold his arm as couples typically did when walking together and she swatted his hand away when he tried placing it behind her back so that they could seem together. Katara mumbled something under her breath stating that everyone knew who she was at this point. He ignored the comment and continued walking side by side with her to the throne room where the guards bowed before opening the doors for them.

Inside, Katara saw all the ministers, councilmembers, and ranking officials were present. Whatever this meeting was about, it was clear that it was of importance. She hoped they weren't all trying to plan another campaign of war. She was pretty sure no country had the funds or man power to engage in war any further.

The reigning couple made their way to their throne and Ozai showed his wife where to take her place beside him. She knelt down with the sort of grace she figured would be expected of her. Luckily for her, she got plenty of practice as Zuko's ambassador and didn't miss a beat. She folded her hands in her lap and held her head up, maintaining her straight posture. It wasn't something she liked having to do but if this was going to be her life from now on, she needed to carry herself with some dignity.

The Fire Lady managed to make brief eye contact with her husband as he was checking her out. Clearly, he was assuming he'd have to correct her posture or something. She simply sucked her teeth and looked away from him, focusing her gaze ahead. Katara intended to be every bit as cold as the frozen tundra she hailed from and she didn't care if everyone in the damn world saw it, she would be a bitter bitch.

Willing himself to ignore her very obvious display of disdain in public, Ozai exhaled and fixed a mean demeanor. Katara was lucky they sat behind a wall of flames or he'd be forced to correct her publicly for fear of how weak it would make him look. His mood was sour enough already to light the entire room on fire, he hoped whatever was about to be reported didn't set him off even more or people were going to run out of this room in terror.

One minister cleared his throat and came forth to report the urgent matter that seemed to require the Fire Lord and Lady's presence.

"Your majesties, there has been a letter sent to one of our ministers here by one of the Earth Kingdom Officials that they intend on bringing along a guest of their own and would like to ask permission on his behalf to have him accompany them to the banquet that the Fire Lady plans to host." He bowed as he reported this.

Fire Lord Ozai tilted his head, "Who is this guest of theirs?"

The minister swallowed hard, "Your disgraced son. Former Fire Lord Zuko."

The room broke out into commotion as many could not believe the audacity of the Earth Kingdom. Ozai spared a glance at his wife and saw she was unmoved, showing no reaction to this. He then stroked his beard and thought it over with himself before grinning.

"I'll allow it."

"You will?" Everyone else was just as surprised by this as the minister.

"Yes, I will. Without the Avatar, my son is too weak to pose a threat against me and the Earth Kingdom is in no position to plot against me. They can't risk a war with their economy just barely hanging on by a thread. Let him join them." Ozai explained.

It was then agreed upon that Zuko would be allowed to return as a guest with the Earth Kingdom. Not much else was of importance after that bit of news was announced. Everything else was just trivial domestic issues that could easily be fixed by intervention of the treasury department. However, a councilman suggested that the Fire Lady oversee the issues of healthcare rather than leave it to the treasury. There would no doubt be cuts made to the already short budget of the field if left in the hands of a department looking to spare every little expense, which would cause conflict amongst the people. The councilman felt someone like the Fire Lady would satisfy the needs of the people and keep the country from squandering an unnecessary penny.

Ozai was going to reject the notion on behalf of his wife as he couldn't see how she would be of any help; however, she spoke up before he could say anything.

"I'd be glad to oversee this problem and work alongside those of the treasury. Surely, they can still be of use in this case." Katara said in an authoritative tone and the councilman seemed pleased as did a few others.

Bowing his head humbly along with the other councilmembers, "Thank you, your majesty. We are pleased to see your interest in ruling alongside your husband in bettering our nation."

When the meeting was adjourned, Katara left her husband's side before he could say anything to her and was greeted by a few councilmen and ministers in the hallway wanting to have a word with her. She spoke with all of them and assured them that she was hoping they would be willing to work with her for the sake of the Fire Nation. They all looked eager to do so and offered her to see them in their respective offices to discuss anything that would be of use to her.

Once she addressed them all, the Fire Lady felt a hand place itself on her back and she hissed as she jerked herself away. Her eyes viciously looking up to see her husband wearing a look only a man that's been rejected would wear and she had to say it suited him. She would be sure that he always looked this way because she was always going to reject him. Privately or publicly.

"I only wanted to express my concern for you taking on so big a role as your first official task as Fire Lady." Ozai told her.

Turning her back to him, "Your concern is unwarranted."

"How so? You've never-"

"While you might think I'm just some idiot girl that can also be a good fuck when you're wanting to blow your load but I assure you, I am much more." Katara shot him a scowl over her shoulder. "And yes, I have done work like this before. Why do you think the councilman suggested me? Seems you're the only one around here that doesn't know my merits."

Ozai clenched his fists as he watched Katara storm off to where her servants were and lead them away. He was really becoming more infuriated by her. Not only because she was going out of her way to be stark towards him but because she was right about a few things. He was unaware of her merits and that she had some supporters he was only just starting to notice existed. That councilman wasn't the only one that ever suggested the Fire Lady be involved in a matter. A few others had requested he include Katara but he thought nothing of it and refused. He thought they were all just pushing for her cooperation because it would take responsibility out of their own hands. But it would seem there was just cause for them mentioning her to him. They knew her a little better than him or rather, they knew her differently than he did.

Sighing as he reeled in his anger and tried to reason with himself. This was his fault anyway. He could admit it. He just hoped she'd come around. Eventually.

…

The next few days were filled with Katara busying herself with preparations for the banquet and putting in orders for local caterers in the capital as well as entertainment. She involved Ursa in helping her in order to give the woman something to do since she knew she had to be bored being left in the private sanctum. They worked together on the banquet and when Katara needed to turn her attention to the matter of the health care project she was assigned, Ursa dealt with the banquet herself. Which was very helpful to Katara as she had her hands full with the treasury being her greatest obstacle aside from her husband. None of them wanted to offer her any aid in the budging and told her they would simply implement whatever she documented and reported to them. It was clear none of them were fond of her and that was fine. Katara knew how to move now. She would concern herself solely with what satisfied the people.

The Fire Lady left the palace quite a few times over the next few days to the local medical wards, clinics, homes for the disabled, and community centers that treated the poor. She was supposed to always inform her husband ahead of time when she left the palace and take a minimum of a dozen guards with her. However, Katara simply left her personal servant, Ming, to inform her husband and only took two guards with her. She didn't want an entire group of guards with her into these places. It would intimidate the common people and she didn't want to frighten them. She truly needed their feedback and insight. While she was very much born a commoner, she wasn't entirely well informed of the conditions of the average Fire Nation citizen.

Many seemed fearful of her and cautious but Katara did her best to show herself genuine. She offered a hand and assisted many of the medical wards that were overcrowded, healed those that had recent injuries that were easily correctable, gave medicine to the ill, looked after and tended to the children that were unable to leave their cots. The Fire Lady didn't care to get her hands dirty and do what was not expected of her in order to do what she came here to do. She wanted to help them in the best way she could.

It didn't take long for the people to see the true intentions of the new Fire Lady and they were all very thankful, answering all her questions in regards to what they thought would better the healthcare system in the country. Many agreed that money and supplies would serve the people best. Others said man power and the proper facilities to treat people. Then there were some that said for her to continue to help out. While she couldn't promise she would be available to physically aid them, she did promise there would be serious changes to how things were currently run very soon. And as soon as she returned to her study at the end of the week, Katara drafted up her plan.

Ming entered her study with several letters and placed them down on the desk in front of her. "These are all requests from nobles that all have the same specific request of you, your majesty."

"And that specific request is?" Katara asked as she remained focused on her draft.

Swallowing hard as she became uncomfortable and shifted her weight from one leg to the other as she swept her loose fringe from her face. "Well, your majesty, it is quite traditional and very common for the nobles to offer their female relatives to the Fire Lord for his harem."

Katara paused and set her quill down as she looked up at Ming, "What?"

Ming picked up one of the letters from the desk and held it to the Fire Lady to allow her to read for herself.

Snatching the letter, Katara broke the seal and read over the letter. She tossed it and took another letter and another letter until she had read all the letters to find the very same thing. Just as Ming informed her, the nobles were offering female relatives to be concubines to the Fire Lord. She sighed and leaned in her chair to take a moment to register what she just read. While she didn't plan on ever giving herself to her husband again, she wasn't exactly liking the idea of him sleeping with other women. But what do I care? She snorted mentally.

Looking at Ming, "So do I accept all of them or do I need to run this by my husband?"

"The business of the harem is actually run by the Fire Lady. The Fire Lord merely enjoys the comfort but the Fire Lady decides who is fit to serve him and who is not." Ming explained.

Katara nodded her head as she sort of liked the idea. "Then I guess I should write these noblemen back and request to meet with these women." There's no telling when Ozai will try to have me again. I should deal with this matter swiftly.

"Would you prefer I write them back while you continue with your more important matter?" Ming offered with a smile.

Returning the smile, Katara nodded and Ming retrieved the tossed letters to begin.

When the day was over, the Fire Lady had Ming put in a request for wine and fruit while the other servants fixed her a bubble bath. She wanted to soak for a bit after her long week. She had been so busy that she didn't see her husband till the end of the day and they went to bed in silence. He didn't try speaking to her anymore or getting her attention. Just stripped, bathed, and went to bed. They didn't even dine together. He had his meals in his office and she had hers in the dining room or with Ursa in the private domain. This arrangement was fine by her. She was getting to do what she loved which was help people and not be bothered by her evil husband.

Soaking in the pool-like tub, Katara submerged herself completely and moaned as the hot water enveloped her. Ming had come back with wine and fruit for her to snack on as she relaxed. She thanked the woman.

"Drink with me, Ming." Katara told her.

Shaking her head, "Oh no, your majesty. I couldn't dare-"

"All my friends are elsewhere in the world and Lady Ursa is unable to be with me at all times of the day." Katara explained a bit somberly as she poured them both a glass of wine. "I know you are a servant but I am truly hoping that you will consider me as close to a friend as we can become." holding the wine out to Ming, the waterbender smiled. "Drink with me please?"

Ming seemed taken aback by this gesture and nodded, "Of course, your majesty."

"When it's just us, call me Katara."

Ming nodded and accepted the glass of wine.

Smiling warmly for the first time in a long time, Katara held her glass up to Ming's glass to propose a toast. "To friends."

"To friends." Ming repeated with an equally warm smile.

…

Ozai was thankful that tomorrow was a day off because he just wanted to stay in bed and sleep in all day. Fortunately, he would be able to and maybe he would get a moment to have a word with his wife to patch things up. If not completely, then a little bit was still better than nothing.

As he entered his chambers and made his way to his bedroom, the Fire Lord heard laughter coming from the bathroom. He raised a brow before going to check it out. Peeking his head into the bathroom, he saw his wife in the tub with bubbles surrounding her and a glass of wine in her hand. Her servant sitting on the ledge of the pool-like tub with a glass of wine in her hand as she fed Katara a grape and the two went on laughing about whatever it was they thought was so funny.

Deciding to interject, Ozai made his presence known and his wife's servant immediately repositioned herself into a bow.

"Good evening, your majesty." Ming said as she felt so suddenly caught off guard by the Fire Lord.

Katara didn't make a move to acknowledge her husband and simply sipped from her glass with her eyes shut, pretending he wasn't here.

"You're dismissed for the night." Ozai ordered.

"As you wish, your majesty." Ming hurriedly said as she scrambled to her feet to leave but tripped over herself in her drunken stupor.

Ozai scoffed and rolled his eyes as the servant quickly ran past him before fixing his eyes on his wife. "The servants are to serve you. Not drink with you."

The waterbender tilted her head back to get every drop of wine left in her glass before setting it down on the ledge and opening her eyes. She slowly let her gaze fall on him and kneaded her brows. It was the end of the week. She hadn't spoken a word to him for days. She could spare him a few words. Not that she would be any more pleasant than she had been while ignoring him.

"I like Ming. She's my age and I don't have any friends here." Katara stated as she started lifting herself out of the tub, her body pulling from the water all wet and she didn't bother seeing what her husband's reaction was. He perved on her every chance he got and she always pretended to not notice.

Flicking her wrist, the water left her body and hair, returning to the tub as she grabbed a towel to cover herself up.

"If that's the case, then you should make friends that are better suited for a Fire Lady to have." Ozai suggested as he approached her.

Rolling her eyes as she went to the table in the bathroom that had all their bathroom products and took a jar of lotion to the lounge chair. "I don't care about status."

"You should."

"Well I don't." Katara bit out as she applied lotion to her legs, massaging it into her skin. "Try worrying about your own circle and not mine."

Ozai's eyes twitched as she was playing on his nerves, "Bad enough I hear you're out here roaming every inch of the capital getting muck on your hands touching the filthiest of the filthy but now you're getting friendly with the help. Of course, I'd stand no chance of gaining your affection now. You liked me better when I had nothing."

"I liked you better when I thought there was a glimpse of good in you but there is none. You fooled me and I fell for it." Katara finished up and stood to her feet to walk up to her husband, staring him up directly in his eyes. "But don't worry, Ozai. I'll see to it that you aren't longing for much longer. Your faithful high-borns offer the best of their clans to become a part of your harem. I plan to meet with these women tomorrow to pick only the best for you."

Grabbing her by her jaw, Ozai pushed her backwards up against the sink counter and stared her down. "You'd have other women do your job?"

"I'd have willing women do my dirty work for me."

"You ungrateful bitch!" He growled as he squeezed her jaw harder. "I could take you right now!"

Unfazed, "And I'd stab you."

"I'll snap both your wrists." He threatened as he inched his face closer to her.

Katara's eyes went from his eyes to his lips and back, "You do what you want but it will change nothing, Ozai. I will only hate you more."

Frustrated as all hell, Ozai moved his hand from her jaw to her neck and clenched his teeth as she continued to look indifferent. "Why can't you just forgive me already?! I told you I wanted you to love me! Why is that so damn hard?!"

"Who could love a monster like you, Ozai? You burn everything you touch. From the first time you laid your hands on me to this very moment, do you think I should be forgiving? Remember all those things you did to me?! You did whatever you liked to me and I was helpless! Why should I forgive you?! Especially, when the moment I tried, you fucked me till I lost a child I didn't even know I was carrying! You told me I wasn't even worth being fucked on the floor! And then you tossed me away for months until you decide that you need my help to make you look good!" Katara's eyes watered as she felt all her bottled up emotions spring loose. She was angry and she was in despair and she was miserable and she hated him. "My life was fucked up enough before you showed up and even after everything that happened, I was going to force myself to forget it after our wedding night. All was going to be forgiven but you can't help who you are or what you are. You damned monster! If you're going to rape me, get it over with, I have a busy day tomorrow picking out your new whores."

Ozai threw her aside and then punched his fist into the mirror, yelling a few swear words in frustration.

Katara rubbed her neck and didn't bother sparing him another glance before she left for the bedroom. She didn't pity him. Sniffling, he did this to himself.

….

"I'm not sure, Nephew." Iroh sighed as they received word that Zuko was allowed to tag along for the banquet his father was hosting.

Shrugging his shoulders as he played with his noodles, "They want us to go, we should go, besides, I want to see that Katara and Kai are alright. No telling what father has done with them."

Iroh still wasn't sure they should go but if Zuko really wanted to risk things, then he wouldn't stop him. He knew his nephew had been uneasy knowing Katara and his son were back in the hands of his father. But he hoped he'd know that they couldn't just grab her and run. She was Fire Lady and there was nowhere they could take her that his father wouldn't find her. If Ozai was desperate enough, which he has been in the past, he'd find her no matter where they went. Iroh made sure to let his nephew know this before Zuko went off to bed.

Heading to the upstairs unit of his uncle's teashop in the upper ring, Zuko laid himself down in his bed and tried not feeling anxious. Things had been left on such a bad note with him and Katara. While he still thought she was out of her mind about a lot of things, he knew he wasn't exactly being fair to her. She literally waited for him to turn around for years in the hopes that he'd see what was right in front of him and he let her down, over and over again. Then he only came around when he saw her attention was elsewhere. Even if the person wasn't his father, he'd still be upset. She did tell him he thought he owned her and he didn't but he admitted to feeling entitled to her. All the men that took interest in her, he had them threatened or banished. Even though he had Mai, he never wanted Katara to move on and hoped she'd settle for a lesser spot beside him. An unfair thought on his part, Katara didn't deserve that. She was so much more which sickened him to his stomach knowing his father saw that as well and married her at the first opportunity.

Zuko hated himself and his stupidity. Katara was only even in this mess because of him. If had married her or listened to her when she was trying to see him for weeks after his coronation, she wouldn't be dealing with this. Or if he hadn't been so desperate to see his mother that he had sent her to interrogate his father, she would have never been targeted.

Sighing as he threw his arm over his face, "I'm such a moron, Katara. I'm sorry."

…..

In the morning, Katara saw Ozai was sleeping in and pulled the covers over his head when the servants came to wake them. She quickly got herself prepared in her royal robes and asked to have her hair styled a little differently. She didn't want to wear it in a bun. Instead, she wanted to wear her hair topknot for her crown. Today, she would be meeting with noblewomen of all ages and she was sure they'd all look their very best. She needed to look her best as well. At the end of the day, the Fire Lord was her husband and she was his wife.

The servants made sure to make the Fire Lady look exceptional. Under her red and gold robes, she wore an elegant white hanfu dress with cherry blossoms embroidered along the skirt and a gold sash. Her hair was down as she requested. Eyes painted with a sharp black line of eyeliner at the bottom eyelid. The top eyelid was lightly shaded with gold shadow and her lips were a deep red. Katara was pleased with her appearance. It made her feel beautiful for once.

"You look absolutely gorgeous today, your majesty." Ming smiled at the Fire Lady.

Katara nodded happily as she checked herself out in the mirror, "Thank you."

After a hearty breakfast and Ming going over a few details about each noblewoman with her, Katara felt confident that she would be able to handle today with the kind of grace that every Fire Lady before her had when faced with creating a harem for her husband.

When they arrived at the gardens, Katara noticed there were far more women than she expected and they were all accompanied by their male relatives. As soon as they noticed her, everyone bowed and greeted her. She could see they were all eager to speak with her and win her favor. She knew that in order to get close to her husband they had to go through her. Taking a deep breath, Katara told herself that she'd get through this no problem.

Wrong. These women were insanely snooty and annoying. Katara almost wanted to pull on her own hair. She could tell already that no matter who she picked to be a part of the harem, these ladies were going to be at each other's throats constantly. Ming suggested that she start with just ten women first and over time more women could be added. She suggested she was careful who she picked. Many women in the past were picked merely because of the families they came from and keeping certain households in her pocket was always wise. Katara knew this was going to be a lot more political than it seemed. But that was fine. She saw a few noblemen from the treasury department that were present with their female relatives.

Grinning to herself, Katara made her way to one in particular. The treasury department's leading official. The one that called all the shots. She took a glass of wine from a servant's tray and made her way over with her entourage of servants following behind her.

"Nobleman Horikashi," Katara greeted the middle-aged man. "I didn't think I'd see you here today."

The nobleman turned and greeted the Fire Lady, "Yes, well my sister only just made it aware to me that she was interested in joining the Fire Lord's harem."

Katara looked over to the man's younger sister and saw the woman smiling widely like this was her big break. And very well could be but that was up to her brother. Her name was Kuran.

"Ah, she is beautiful." Katara complimented the noblewoman and she honestly was. Ozai will like her. "Tell me about yourself, Lady Horikashi."

The noblewoman went on to list all her talents. She could dance, sing, play the erhu, write poems, and embroider. Though not granted a formal education like some of the other noblewomen, she was self-taught but no less gifted. Katara could see she was the most humble of all the noblewomen she's met today. If it wasn't for her brother, Katara would pick her immediately but she needed something from the nobleman first.

"Perhaps, I should speak to your brother privately." Katara said with a courteous smile on her face.

The noblewoman gleefully bowed and hurried away to let them speak.

"Your sister is my favorite out of all these women here. My husband will be fond of her and I will see to it she is well looked after."

The nobleman snorted as he held his glass of wine, "But you want something, don't you?"

"I think it's only fair. You nobles want the Fire Lord's favor for whatever your ambitious hearts desire. At least what I want will benefit the people of this nation."

"Ah, a bleeding heart for a Fire Lady. You want the treasury's cooperation in your healthcare project."

Katara grinned before taking a sip. "What do you say, nobleman?"

"My sister will become a ranked consort, you will make public that she is your favorite pick, and his majesty is not to harm her. We are all very aware of his treatment of his past concubines... and you, of course." The nobleman scoffed as he sipped his wine. "And I want your word that my sister will never be discarded. Once a concubine of the royal harem, a woman can only go to one of three places afterwards, a brothel, exile, or the grave."

Katara understood the nobleman had deep concerns for his sister and for that she could grant him his wish. She would look after Kuran. The woman was around her age and seemed very gleeful and there was an air of innocence to her. Honestly, Katara had second thoughts about accepting the girl into the harem because the kind of man Ozai was. However, a deal needed to be made so that she could best serve the people that weren't given access to the luxuries they were privileged to live in.

"You have my word, Nobleman Horikashi. I will personally look after your sister as if she were my own." Katara said in a very serious and genuine tone.

Noticing this, the nobleman nodded. "Thank you, your majesty."

….

Sokka sat with Suki, Aang, Toph, and Ty Lee. All of them discussing what they needed to do in order to help Katara. They were already well aware of Katara being found by Ozai again and then being forced into a marriage. Iroh wrote them plenty on top of hearing the news around them. Everyone in the world was shocked and devastated that the former Fire Lord was back on the throne. Even more, they were in disbelief that he had forced the Avatar's water instructor, who he kidnapped over a year ago, to marry him. Many didn't know how to react or respond. War was out of the question as no nation had the manpower or money to wage war.

The letters they received from Iroh told them that he and Zuko would be able to go to the banquet that was being held. It seemed like a trap but fortunately, Sokka was invited too. Which meant he would be able to take a look at the situation personally and provide backup for Zuko in case his father was trying to trap him. Aang and the others felt confident that Sokka should go to provide support for Zuko. They were all worried something would happen. Whether Ozai made the first move or Zuko did. Things were not looking good. And Suki decided she would go as well to see how Katara was doing.

"No way I'm letting you and our son go! It's dangerous!" Sokka yelled at his wife.

Unfazed, "Sokka, you burned bridges with your sister a year ago when you called her Ozai's whore. She will not talk to you. Even more, I doubt Ozai will let you or Zuko close enough to her to speak. I'm your best bet."

Ty Lee and Toph agreed with this but Aang felt differently.

"I don't think she's mentally stable to talk to any of us." Aang stated.

Toph snorted, "Doesn't matter. Someone needs to see how she and Kai are. Suki's right. Papa Sparky isn't going to let just anyone near her. He'll see Suki with a baby and feel less threatened."

Sokka clenched his fists as he tried not to get upset. They had a point. As much as he was upset with how his sister was behaving, he knew she wasn't exactly right in the head and it was his fault by not listening to her when she warned him that someone was following her. He thought she was dead and his nephew was kidnapped. But the worse turned out to be the case. His baby sister was being mentally, physically, and sexually abused by that monster Ozai and she ended up pregnant and delusional because of it. It wasn't all her fault. She was suffering and they didn't even give her a chance to recover.

Sighing as he rubbed his temple, "Fine. But the rest of you, I need you all to stay here in the South Pole while we're gone. Protect the people here in case Ozai is plotting something."

Ty Lee, Aang, and Toph all nodded.

Suki went to her husband's side and rubbed her hand on his shoulder, "It'll be okay, Sokka. I'm right here beside you."

"It's not me that needs someone beside them."

…..

Having selected a total of fifteen women, Katara seemed pleased with the list she developed. Out of the fifteen, she would leave her husband to choose his favorites among them and there were a few things she needed to speak with him in regards to. Returning to her chambers, the Fire Lady found her husband in the sitting room lounging in just a pair of dark red trousers trimmed in gold. He had a book over his face, snoring.

Katara walked up to him and slapped the book off his face causing him to be startled awake. He was about to attack her, believing she was some sort of assassin but after she gave him her cold resting bitch face, he let his guard down. Relaxing, Ozai averted his eyes from her as she stood in front of him with a few papers in her hands. She held them out to him and he took them. To his surprise, she sat directly beside him and looked over his shoulder to view the papers as he read them.

Poking her finger to a particular name, "This one is my favorite. You will like her. Make her a ranking consort."

"Just because she's your favorite doesn't mean I will like her and why would I make her a ranking consort?" Ozai glanced over to his wife.

Katara made eye contact with him, "Because, for the cooperation of the treasury, I made Nobleman Horikashi a deal that his sister will be well looked after and become a ranked consort."

Ozai raised a brow. He didn't expect for Katara to make a deal like that. He didn't even think it would dawn on her. A smirk pulled to his lips.

"So, will I really like this woman?"

"Yes, I'm confident you will. Even if she were not the sister of Nobleman Horikashi, I'd still have picked her as my favorite. I only ask that you be very careful with handling her. She's just a girl. Be gentle with her."

Hearing the sincerity in the waterbender's voice, the Fire Lord could tell that his wife truly liked this woman and almost lamented the fact that she was offering her to him. "Fine, I'll make her 2nd consort if I find a favorite of my own." Ozai tells her.

"Great, my work here is done. You greet your concubines tonight. The servants of the harem are preparing them as we speak." Katara stood up from his side.

Standing as well, "Kicking me out of the bed tonight?"

"I acknowledge you're a man and men have needs and since I'm not willing to tend to you there are women that are far more willing." Katara said stoically, almost like she had rehearsed those lines.

Ozai felt his jaws set at this and he stared down at her. "And you plan to always be unwilling?"

"Till the day you draw your last breath and I'm free of you." Katara offered him a devilish grin as she reached up to pat the side of his face. "Have your fun tonight, Ozai. You've earned it."

Night came and to Katara's displeasure, Ozai returned from meeting his harem ladies. She was sitting in bed with a few books at her side with a glass of wine and Ming sitting at her bedside enjoying a glass with her. The two women were not expecting him to return so soon. But he did and he was not liking the scene in front of him.

"You are dismissed, Ming." He bit out.

Ming bowed and hurried out.

Glaring at his wife as she kept her eyes in her book and sipped her wine.

"That was quick." Katara mused to herself. "You usually don't like to rush."

"Shut the hell up! You're in here doing Agni knows what with that servant again!"

"Reading and drinking wine, Ozai." Katara sighed as she refused to look at him.

Waltzing over to his side of the bed, Ozai undressed and climbed into bed. However, he didn't stay on his side. He moved towards her and snatched her book from her hand, tossing it across the room. Then he took the rest of her books and threw them out of the bed. She finally looked at him but did so as if he were a moron. Taking her wine glass, he drank what was left and threw the glass too.

Katara folded her arms, "You can stay with your concubines, Ozai. I'm sure you know that."

"I'm convinced your affections lie elsewhere." He glared at her.

Rolling her eyes, "And where might they lie?"

"That servant, Ming."

"I'm not interested in women."

"No, not entirely but I'm sure you'd make the exception."

"You're an idiot. Leave me alone." Katara spat as she pulled the sheets up and slid further under them, turning her back to her husband.

Bending the fire out of all the candles in the room, Ozai slid under the covers with his wife and grabbed her around her waist, forcing her to him. She struggled to pry his hands off of her but he gripped her harder.

"Don't touch me when you've touched another woman, you son of a bitch!" Katara shouted.

Ozai bit her ear and slipped his hand under her nightgown, "I didn't touch a single woman. Only looked at them. Now, shut up and be a good wife." His fingers made their way into her panties and he shoved two fingers into her sex.

Hearing her gasp and feeling how wet she was nearly made him cum. Ozai didn't mind having a harem and other women to tend to him but that didn't mean he didn't still want his wife. He thrusted his fingers in and out of her as she tried getting him to stop but it was futile. Forcing her onto her back, Ozai pinned her wrists above her head and continued fingering her as he watched her expression. She was trying so hard to scowl at him but even when she was trying to yell something at him, the words only became a jumbling mess.

Smirking as he could see her will power was running out, "You can still hate me, I can be patient for you to come around but I know you're in as much need as I am. Let me give you what you want."

"What I want?" Katara's eyes were focused on him as the haze of lust fell over her. "You'll give me what I want?"

Ozai nodded and reached down to pull his trousers down, exposing his hardened member to her. Her eyes stared at it longingly before they lifted back to him.

"I know you want me to fuck you, Katara." He whispered to her and used his hand coated in her juices to stroke himself.

A little while later, Katara was being escorted back to the private sanctum of the palace by the palace guards. Ursa, in her nightgown, seemed confused as she saw the Fire Lady be brought to her old rooms across from her. As soon as the guards left, Ursa hurried over to see what happened and was expecting to find the young woman distraught like last time. However, when she reached her rooms, she found Katara was laughing to herself.

"Katara, dear, are you alright?" Ursa was very concerned.

Laughing so hard that her stomach hurt, "I'm great."

"Then what are you doing here?" She raised a brow in confusion.

Holding her stomach, "I stabbed Ozai."

Ursa's eyes widened. "You what?!"

"That bastard wanted to bed me again." Katara sunk to her knees holding her gut as she laughed. "So I stabbed him with an icicle just before he found release!"

Ursa could not believe what she was hearing. Did she really stab Ozai...and live?

….

A/N:

So Katara basically let him fuck but stabbed him before he could cum. Talk about a match made in hell. Lol Ozai's still alive btw. He's just in a lot of pain thanks to his unhappy wife and him making her more unhappy. A happy spouse makes a happy house.