A/N:
More Drowning Lessons! Wonder if anyone has learned to swim yet!
Chapter 33:
"Are you serious?!" Suki spit out her tea after listening to what Katara just told her.
Sighing as she routed her cup of tea while staring at it, "Things were really good, ya know? I thought me and Ozai were going to finally be able to be a happy couple because that's what he wanted and what I wanted. But Ozai can't help himself around other women and I can't help but be turned off."
"So you're cucking him?" Sokka raised a brow while folding her arms.
Katara glared at her brother, "Shinji and I are just friends. I'm just happy he's alive and that I have someone to keep me company. I'm not sleeping with him."
"But you will." Sokka said before pointing out another fact. "And you did sleep with Zhao, didn't you?"
Katara narrowed her eyes at Sokka. "How about you stop concerning yourself with my sex life? It's none of your business."
"Then don't have it all over the place." Sokka snorted.
Suki slapped her husband upside the head, "Shut up, Sokka. Your sister is a grown woman in a ridiculous marriage, cut her some slack."
"She should never have fucked Ozai. My sister clearly has magical pus-"
Katara shoved her finger up her brother's nose and eyes him dangerously, "Finish that sentence and you'll know soon how many times I've stabbed Ozai."
Sokka swallowed hard and quickly apologized. As much as he didn't like or agree with her lifestyle, he knew his sister was just trying to manage her life accordingly and make the best out of shitty situations her husband put her through.
….
Spotting the Fire Lady strolling down the hall with a few scrolls in her arms, Zhao interrupted his chat with a fellow nobleman to greet her. He had been meaning to speak with her. Have a quick word about the other day.
"Your grace," Zhao bowed.
Katara paused as she looked over the stack of scrolls she was carrying. "Zhao." She said with a bit of surprise. He hadn't spoken to her since telling her she was nothing but trouble. And before that, he didn't speak to her at all.
The nobleman collected the scrolls from her and offered to take it to her destination. Katara was a bit caught off guard but accepted. She led the way to her office Ozai had given her to work in since she finally had duties and responsibilities at court. As they entered, she showed him where to set the scrolls and thanked him for helping her.
"No need to thank me. I was meaning to have a word with you anyway." Zhao began.
Pulling her hair behind her ear awkwardly, "I'm sorry about Ozai punching you. I- I didn't realize he would be so angry about what we did. I promise I won't compromise your friendship again."
"And if I want you to?" Zhao raised his brow at her and saw her facial expression become shocked, caressing her face. "Beautiful women shouldn't be left to their lonesome. Your husband should be ashamed."
Katara's cheeks flushed. No one ever really flirted with her and call her foolish but she was still young. Only just turned twenty-one a few months ago and no one even celebrated with her. She was alone and ostracized for the most part. Sometimes it took little to no effort to win her over but Ozai couldn't be bothered. He had options. A wide selection with endless possibilities. And she only had Shinji and Zhao. Shinji was only a friend. Leaving Zhao to be something else entirely.
Clenching her teeth together as her head was forced down onto the marble floor, Katara felt very little pleasure from Zhao having his way with her. But she wanted to be cared for. Even if it was superficial. And even if it only lasted a moment.
Deciding to stop by to check on his wife, Ozai paused as he heard she was in the middle of something and peaked in. Clawing the floor with her hair being pulled, he could tell she was not enjoying it and looked in pain. He sighed and turned around, leaving her to endure the choices she made for herself.
"You're being too rough." The waterbender managed through her clenched teeth.
Zhao was nearly there. She just needed to keep her head down and let him finish. Obviously, she didn't understand how good she felt. Three kids and yet she was tighter than his wife. Agni, Ozai was a miserable fool to give up his wife for some loose whores in the harem.
"You're hurting me!" Katara squealed.
Sadistically getting off to her pain, Zhao ended up spilling inside the Fire Lady. When he pulled out, he watched Katara panic as she felt his seed ooze out of her.
"Zhao!"
"Here." He grabbed his pants and removed a small pouch from his pockets, tossing it to her.
Katara eyed him suspiciously, "Why do you have these on hand?"
Zhao puts on his pants and buckles them, "I knew I'd run into you. Better safe than sorry."
The waterbender realized Zhao had every intention of having sex with her. She felt kind of used but didn't say anything. All she could do is feel disappointed in herself and by herself at that moment.
Seeing her look a little off, Zhao removed something else from his pocket and sat back down on the floor with her. He took her arm and placed a gold bracelet on it. He watched her look taken aback as she looked over the red diamonds.
"I had it made for you," Zhao told her. "Do you like it?"
Katara looked at the bracelet and did indeed like it but should she accept it?
"Ozai's not going to want me wearing this." She told him.
"Then he should have thought about that before he let you go. As far as I see it, you're more my woman than his."
Staring at the bracelet, Katara nodded in acceptance of the gift and Zhao kissed her on the lips, telling her he wanted to see her tonight.
When Zhao dressed and left her office, Katara remained on the floor, using her dress as a blanket as she stared at the bracelet. What was it that she wanted? Did she just want to be wooed and seduced and given nice things or was there something more? Maybe it was what her brother and Suki had. They were simply in love and treated each other as such. Why was her love life confusing and oftentimes, miserable? She just wanted to love and be loved properly but what was the right way to love someone? Was it different from person to person? Katara ran her hand through her hair. She felt miserably confused and lost. How did she even end up like this?
…..
Needing to speak to someone as Shinji wouldn't able to visit and trying to avoid Zhao, Katara went to see how Ozai was doing. She entered the chambers and found him on the balcony patio drinking. He was sort of just sprawled out on the lounge chair with his arm dangling off the side.
"Ozai?" She said his name and walked around in front of him. "Are you okay?"
Ozai's gold eyes looked up at her and he shrugged his shoulders as he sat up, taking another sip of the liquor he had been drinking. "How's your family? Happy to have them here?" He asked as he sat his glass down and began pouring himself some and even offering her a glass.
"I'm very happy they are here. Thank you, Ozai." She said as she took the glass he held out for her.
Catching sight of the bracelet on her wrists, Ozai grabbed her wrist and looked it over. "Where'd you get this from?"
Retracting her wrists as she could drink the entire content of the glass he gave her, Katara hissed a little and her face contorted at the burning in her throat.
Ozai raised his brow, "Zhao?"
Finishing the glass, "Yeah." She said awkwardly. "I didn't want to be rude and accepted it."
Snorting as he climbed to his feet and went to the railing of his balcony to look out over the private courtyard, "You have no problem being rude. Hell, you're seeing two different men while being a married woman."
Walking up to his side, Katara said in a soft and cautious tone. "You're seeing dozens of beautiful women and doing so openly as a married man." Her voice became somber. "We both took vows and you disrespected those vows first, so how can I honor broken vows?"
Ozai leaned forward on the terrace and pinched his brows together.
"Besides, It's Zhao that I'm intimate with. The other is only a companion." She explained.
Sighing and shaking his head, "I don't like knowing you're with someone else."
"Neither do I but you can't give me your undivided attention. So am I to be lonely?" Katara furrowed her brows in grief at him. "I don't want this but you give me no choice, Ozai."
Sighing as he turns to look at her, "Zhao shouldn't be so rough with you." He reached for her face but she stopped his hand.
"What he does is not any different than what you have done?"
"So you want it that way?"
"I want to be loved, Ozai. And that's something neither you nor Zhao can give me. Not that I can really expect either of you to show any selflessness or compassion." Katara folded her arms and hardened her eyes a little.
Tilting his head at her, "Then why are you sleeping with him?"
"Because...it pisses you off." She averted her eyes.
Smirking, Ozai patted her head. "I miss you, waterbender."
"Enough to forget me while you fuck Rin."
"Enough to want you to help me fuck Rin."
"Disgusting."
"I love you."
"Sure." Katara rolled her eyes.
Ozai kissed her forehead, "Night, Katara."
"Night." She replied.
…..
Shinji decided to spend some time with Katara on the last day of her family's stay. They all ate snacks and chatted. Seemed her brother thought they were involved but it was far from it. Katara and him were just friends but it would seem her 'lover' was equally interested in knowing what their relationship was.
"What the hell is going on here?!" Zhao hissed as he was holding a box with a hanfu dress he had made especially for Katara. It didn't take long for him to connect the dots that Shinji was the other person she was seeing. The one that she claimed to have no physical relations with and for her sake, she had better not have let this bastard touch her.
"Zha-"
Before Katara could get a word out, she and her brother and sister-in-law witnessed Zhao drop his things and rushed across the courtyard. Everyone watched him as he jumped towards Shinji. Shinji pushed Katara out of the way as he met Zhao's flaming fist with his own. Sokka pulls his sister and wife away from the fighting that was taking place between two raging firebenders.
"Zhao! Shinji! Stop!" Katara shouted from the sidelines.
Neither one of them would hear the waterbender out. Shinji was fighting for his life and Zhao was fighting to take it. Ozai had only speared Shinji's life for the fact that he took care of Katara through her pregnancy with Soji but Shinji had been warned to never step into the Fire Nation and to never go near Katara. He broke both those rules and now, Zhao had to kill him.
However, Shinji wasn't about to be killed and refused to stick around for Ozai to show up. So, he deployed his secret weapon. Striking with just enough power to put the man down for a moment, Shinji struck Zhao with lightning and shocked everyone as he then took off running, leaping onto the rooftop to escape.
Katara lifted the skirt of her dress and rushed over to Zhao, where he lay injured from the last attack. Helping him up, the waterbender threw his arm over her shoulders and helped him walk to her chambers. She let Sokka and Suki know that she would see them later as she needed to take care of Zhao.
Holding her hands gloved with water to Zhao bare chest, Katara noticed Zhao glaring at her.
"Please, don't tell Ozai. He'll kill Shinji." Katara begged.
"Like hell I'm not telling Ozai! You're gonna get us all killed!" Zhao pulled her hand from his chest as he didn't want her healing him anymore. Most of the healing would have to be natural anyways.
Katara stared gloomily at Zhao, "I don't want Shinji to die. He's been a good friend to me ever since I met him."
Still glaring at her, "I know all about Shinji and you from Ozai. And I assure you, I don't want him around you! You're mine! Understood?!" Zhao grabbed her by her jaw. "Only person that has any right to come between us is Ozai. Shinji will regret ever showing his face to you again."
Katara's eyes watered as Zhao kissed her hard and bit her lip till it bled before pulling away. He left and she felt helpless to save Shinji. This is all my fault! I got too greedy! She should have just settled for one or the other, not both. But she needed Shinji's companionship and she needed Zhao to make her still feel desirable. Ugh! La, please save Shinji.
For about a week, Katara was waiting for Ozai to confront her any moment now. Zhao has told him and now she was just waiting to hear that Shinji was dead or going to die. But nothing. Katara heard nothing and that gave her so much anxiety. Did Zhao tell or not?
Not.
"Forgive me." Zhao kissed her lips lovingly and cupped her face as they stood in her office. "I couldn't bring myself to expose your little friend. I'll let it slide."
Katara was immediately relieved.
Holding her to him, "I don't want to ruin this little thing we have over one person. I don't really care about Shinji and whatever he is to you. I'll take what I can get and I'll treasure it. Every moment."
Katara swallowed hard as she was starting to sense Zhao was catching feelings. This was just supposed to be revenge sex but then it lasted too long and now, Zhao was telling her he treasured his time with her, Tui and La, she fucked up again.
…
"It would just be some time away from the palace. You want that, right?" Zhao asked her.
Katara shook her head and reminded him she had children, one of which she was allowed to raise herself. She couldn't just leave with him to the countryside. Besides, why would he even want to take her? He only like fucking her and if she talked too much, he became annoyed like Ozai. She didn't want to go to the countryside just so they could do the same thing.
"Look, I'm sorry about what happened before." Zhao apologized. "I'm a jealous man. I can admit that and I know you are closer to Shinji on a personal level and would never get that close to me."
Katara sighed and pulled her hair behind her ear as she backed up to sit on her bed. "Zhao, you and Ozai are literally like the same person. I know you're sorry and I accept your apology but can I really be expected to go through the same thing with you that I go through with him?"
"Other than my wife, I see only you." Zhao told her as he stepped towards her, running his hands on her knees and up her thighs, giving them a squeeze. "How Ozai can even bother with those whores is an insult to you."
Tilting her head up at him as heat pooled between her legs. "You speak poorly of someone that's your friend."
"My friend is an idiot. I know who I befriended." Zhao leaned forward to her as he cupped her face.
Kissing him, Katara slid her hands up his chest and pulled at the ties of his shirt, undoing them as he pushed up the hem of her nightgown.
Moments later, the nobleman was in awe as he stared up at the sapphire eyed Fire Lady that rode him with vigor he had never known a woman to have. She had her hands cupping his face as she reached down to take his lips with hers. Zhao gripped her hips and helped her roll them as he thrusted up into her. Agni, Ozai was a mad man. How did a man give a woman like this up? Sure, the waterbender was annoying but no more or less annoying than most wives and honestly, she was sensible. That and she didn't pick unnecessary fights. Her problem was with Ozai's stepping out and his cruel nature. Never anything else. All that idiot had to do was shower her in praise and affection and she wouldn't be here on top of his friend with his cock deep inside her as she threw her head back in pleasure.
Flipping her over, Zhao gripped her ass and held it right as he thrusted hard into her sobbing wet pussy.
"Fuck!" Katara hussed between her teeth as Zhao fucked her pussy into oblivion, reaching deep inside her as he nibbled on her neck. "I'm cumming!"
Zhao was astonished that the waterbender came gushing out on him. He didn't know how else to respond other than continue pounding. She needed to be fucked with an abandon that would put her to ease whenever she saw her good for nothing husband.
Laying on his side as he watched the waterbender just lay there staring at him, Zhao caressed her face and saw her bashfully remove her eyes from him.
"You sure you don't want to come to the countryside with me? Mai won't be there. It'll just be the two of us." Zhao tried to convince her.
"I have to ask Ozai about it." Katara told him.
"You do that." He said as he reached over to kiss her lips before pushing her back into the bed and taking her again.
"Like hell!" Ozai shouted as he glared down at his much smaller wife. "What the hell is going through either of your heads?! You're my wife! I'm not letting you go anywhere with another man!"
Katara stood quietly as Ozai raged at her about Zhao's request for them to go to the countryside. He didn't want her thinking it was okay what she was doing. Sure, they both agreed to open their marriage for the sake of peace between them but Ozai wasn't exactly okay with any of this. To think his wife was letting another man in her bed, it made him irritated. Irritated at her, at his friend, at himself for ever agreeing to this.
Seeing that his wife hadn't moved or even said a word after he began raging in rant, Ozai slowly calmed himself and sighed as he sucked his teeth.
"I don't see why you don't just try to make things work between us. Everything was fine. We were happy. Honestly, that short period of time was far better than any relationship I've been in my entire life. I just want that back." Ozai calmly pleaded with her.
Katara could only feel somewhat glum about this situation. She wanted the same as her husband but she would not share him with any woman. The harem was the small exception. However, he couldn't maintain this. He seduced her friend and added her to the harem. It hurt her. Having finally fallen for him and he took her friend to bed. So what more could she have done than fuck his friend? He wouldn't allow her to leave or end the marriage. She could run but she couldn't hide from him. Ozai would hunt her down to the ends of the earth.
"Please," Ozai grasped her by her face with both hands. "Let's just work things out. Stop seeing Zhao."
Shifting her gaze to him, "Will you make Rin leave?"
Furrowing his brows, "Why are you so concerned with her? She wasn't even your friend for long."
"Because! You either get rid of the servants I befriend or you fuck them! You make it where I'm totally dependent on your attention while you have dozens of women to keep you entertained! I want it to just be us! But it'll never be just us! It's me, you, and all your fucking whores!" Katara slapped his hand away. "I'll keep fucking Zhao and maybe others because you're doing the exact same shit you always do and that's giving me hell to pay for doing absolutely nothing to you!"
Realizing there was no getting through to her, Ozai scoffed. "You want to be a whore? Fine, go be the whore I always knew you were. Explains how you got knocked up with Kai."
Taken aback by the cruel comment, Katara could only stare at him like the disgusting pig he was. There went the peace they were trying to preserve. Right up in fucking smoke because her husband was a moron that couldn't keep his dick in his pants.
"Just like you're a whore that knocked up Himiko." Katara shot back at him.
Rolling his eyes, "Only women can be whores." Ozai spoke as though this should be fairly obvious.
"I swear I want to slap you!" Katara knew Ozai had issues but she never thought he'd make a comment like that.
Smirking, Ozai was very much turned on by his wife's aggressive nature. "Let me have you and I'll let you do more than slap me."
Big mistake! Katara tied Ozai to the bed posts and masturbated right in front of him, causing him great discomfort. She teased and toyed with him in his vulnerable state and even climbed on him and rode him till he nearly came only to stop before he could. He begged her to let him have her but she refused. Throwing her panties on his face as she told him she was going to go fuck Zhao now.
"You evil bitch!" Ozai groaned loudly in sexual agony.
"Love you too, dear." Katara said as she swayed her hips out the door.
…..
Katara noticed that Zhao enjoyed getting her nice things. It must have been a Fire Nation thing because Ozai would do the same. She always tried telling him there was no need but he said he felt a sense of pride seeing her wear whatever he bought her. It made him feel like the Fire Lady was his and she could tell he had become very possessive after Shinji's reveal. However, she paid it no mind. Zhao was surprisingly kinder and more affectionate than Ozai. It made her feel less upset about their taboo relationship with him.
As she was finishing washing up after their nightly tryst, Katara kissed Zhao on the lips as he pulled her into his embrace and combed his fingers through her hair.
"Agni, I hate that you're married to that idiot." Zhao hissed through his teeth as he grabbed her ass, wanting to go again.
Blushing as she swatted his hand from her ass, "Stop calling him an idiot."
Trying to kiss her but she evaded it, "He is an idiot. He's a moron and I am happy he is." Zhao purred.
"Zhao-"
"Shh," he cupped her face and looked her over. "You deserve better, Katara. Even more than I can give you."
Katara felt her gaze fall as he told her he was falling for her. She felt guilty. Yet another person had fallen for her and she couldn't bring herself to feel the same.
Running his thumb along her lips, "You don't have to say anything. I know you don't feel the same." Kissing the side of her lip. "I just ask that you trying seeing me as more of someone you can learn to unload your thoughts to."
Katara tilted her head at him.
"I want to know what goes on in your pretty little head." Zhao smirked and caressed her face.
"Do you?"
Zhao nodded. "What are you thinking now?"
"I'm thinking how sad it makes me that you used to hate me not long ago but you're kinder to me than my own husband." Katara told him honestly.
Smirking, "Honesty. I never thought I'd get that from anyone but you've never been much of a liar, have you, Katara?"
Shaking her head.
Zhao walked away from her and went to his pants pocket, pulling out a small box. He went up to her and opened it, a sapphire diamond cut like the moon on a silver band. Her eyes lit up and he smirked.
"Like it?"
"It's beautiful."
Zhao took it out and put it on her finger.
As the two shared a passionate kiss, they were interrupted and quickly pulled a part.
"What is this?" Ozai asked as he looked at his wife's finger.
Hiding her finger behind her back, "Nothing."
"It's a ring." Zhao admitted as he had nothing to hide.
Ozai snatched her hand to take a look at it, "Looks cheap. At least cheaper than what I could afford."
Snatching her from him, "It's custom made." Katara hissed. "Zhao actually thought of what I like."
Zhao smirked as Ozai glared at her.
"What did you need, Ozai? Zhao and I were about to go to bed." Katara moved away from her husband to step to Zhao's side.
Ozai lip turned up into a snarl as he saw the two of them together, "I came to ask you to have a drink with me."
"Not tonight."
"Very well." Ozai clasped his hands behind his back and was about to leave when he suddenly said fuck it.
Katara knew when Ozai paused that he was about to do something stupid. She pushed Zhao out of the way and erected a wall of ice that Ozai punched.
"You can't protect him forever, Katara!" Ozai shouted.
Reinforcing the ice wall, "Leave, Ozai!"
"I'm sick of this shit! I want my damn wife back, Zhao!"
Zhao scoffed and folded his arms, "You're drunk, Ozai. I smelt the booze on your breath. Go to bed."
"Oh, did she tell you she fucked me the other night?!"
"Yes." Zhao said before chuckling, "And how you spurted out like a volcano. I found it hilarious."
"Bastard! I'll kill you!"
Katara sighed and had to use her bloodbending on Ozai to get him out of her face. She escorted him out of her room and Romain. When he was gone, Katara returned to her bedroom to see Zhao looking her up and down with lustful eyes. She smirked at him and pulled her nightgown off as they were both turned on by pissing off Ozai.
Ozai sulked as he returned to his bedroom and saw Rin asleep in the sheets. As much fun as Rin was, no one could replace his wife and he hated with a passion that she had taken up a lover to avoid him. He just couldn't accept that she had moved on.
…
Several months passed and Ozai had gotten all too fed up with Zhao and Katara's relationship. He decided the best thing he could do was separate them. Sending Zhao off to the former colonies as an ambassador was all just a ploy to get him away from his wife. Katara was pissed off as expected but he knew he could remedy that.
"Keep the fuck off of me!" Katara hissed from her sleep as she woke up another morning to Ozai climbing into her bed.
Purring as he nuzzled his face to her side, "I miss you. Come back."
Katara sat up and tried shoving him out of her bed but it turned into a wrestling match as he playfully tried to pin her. She was so annoyed. Ozai just felt he could do whatever and she would forgive him. She wasn't. He had yet to prove himself. Coming into her room to seduce her only pissed her off more. He felt like sex was all she wanted. Her and Zhao had finally gotten pass the physical part of their relationship and he sent Zhao off in a heartbeat when he discussed Zhao was in love with her. The damn bastard!
"Just come back to our chambers and start being a wife to me again." Ozai purred. "I want my wife back."
Slapping him dead across his face, "You son of a bitch! How can I go back to a bed that you invited a whore into?! How can I return to being a wife to a man that's had whores all over him?! I'm done with you whether Zhao or anyone is with me or not! I made that decision the day I caught you and Rin that I would never forgive you unless you actually did what it took to earn my forgiveness! We've been married for 4 fucking years now! And every minute has been hell! Get the fuck off of me before I stab you in your neck!"
Ozai could see she meant every word like she typically did when she went off on him.
"Fine, I'll just keep your lover away."
"So be it." She bit out every word.
Ozai left in disappointment and decided to see his sons. Soji was finally old enough to learn the proper stances for firebending. When the two were done, they came running to him, wanting a hug. He kissed both boys on their heads and let them come to his office with him.
Soji colored quietly at the sitting area of his father's office while Kai decided he wanted to look over what his father was doing.
"Hey, dad, can I ask you a question?" Kai asked.
Nodding his head as he sat his quill down, "Anything. Tell me, what's on your mind?"
"Why is mom mad at you?" Kai whispered. "Mom doesn't live in the room with you anymore."
Ozai eyed his son and sighed, "Your mother is a woman. Women get mad easily when men don't do the things they want them to."
"What's mom want you to do?" Kai tilted his head.
Rubbing his temple, "For me to not do something."
"Then stop doing it." Kai said as if the problem was solved.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"You'll understand when you're an adult."
"Is it the other Water Tribe Lady? Do you like her more than mom?" Kai seemed a little sad at the thought.
Ozai shook his head as he pinched his brow, "The thing I love more than your mother is you and your siblings. No one else comes close."
"Then why is the Water Tribe Lady in your room and not mommy?"
"Because your mother is mad at me."
"Why not make her not mad? You should be focused on mom. Not the other lady. Mom's your wife and I know she loves you but everyone says you make her sad. What if she leaves?"
Ozai furrowed his brows. His son was right. If Katara disappeared, he wasn't so sure he'd find her so easily. Especially if she disappeared with Zhao. Zhao was as secretive as they came and in all his years, he didn't know where exactly Zhao lived or stayed. He had tried looking into it for the sake of killing the man for fucking his wife but Zhao alluded him.
"I'll make things right with your mother. Don't you worry. No more women before her."
Kai smiled, "Maybe you should go see her some more. I'll make sure Soji stays focused."
Ozai rustled his son's hair and left him to it.
…..
A/N:
Ozai is not having it. Zhao is in love and Katara is having a hard time wrapping her head around everything.