A/N:
Part 3:
"Kimiko is really just a sweet girl, Ozai. You should speak with her." Katara said as she brewed his tea in his office while he worked on his paperwork. "I know a son or firebender would have benefited you better but she's still good."
Ozai sighed as Katara tried talking him into seeing Kimiko. He didn't want to involve himself with the child too much. Not right now. He needed to remain distant until things were taken care of. Besides, royal men never really involved themselves with their children as there were more important things to concern themselves with. He told Katara that back in the South Pole. She didn't heed his words. Whatever kind of father she thought he was, he wasn't.
As Katara went on about their daughter and how much of a good girl she was, Ozai got annoyed and told her to shut up as she was getting on his nerves.
"Have you nothing more important to discuss with me? Damn you if you don't." Ozai hissed as he rubbed his temple.
Katara sat by the firepit brewing the tea and a somber look fell over her. She didn't know why she kept trying to force it. Pretend like he hadn't hurt her and left her to endure isolation for five years. She still cared. Yes. But things weren't the same anymore. He proved to her that his feelings for her were heavily dependent on how she performed and if she listened to him. There relationship was purely that of a slave and master the entire time. She was just too much of an idiot not to realize it before. Ozai didn't love or care about her. She was a pet to him. One that so long as she followed her master's orders, he'd be good to her but the moment she didn't, he'd toss her away until he felt like being bothered.
Bringing him his tea, Katara set it on his desk away from his papers and went back to Kneeling at his side. He drank his tea, worked in silence, and occasionally petted her head. A tremor ran through her body as the void of loneliness settled back in hard.
As much as she felt hurt by his absence, she had been so happy to return to his side again but it wasn't the same anymore. He was cold and callous. And his touch hurt even when gentle. She felt less like a person and more like an object. The only thing reminding her she was still a person was the pain she felt when in use.
Later that night, she couldn't help but curl up and cry as it had gotten to be too much for her. It ruined the evening but she couldn't help it. It had been so long since she felt like a person and he reminded her that she was only barely so with the way he was so dismissive towards her. She held the sheets to her face and wept as she couldn't do it anymore.
Ozai ran his hands through his hair and turned over on his side, facing away from her. This is why he didn't want her to have a baby. It made her weak and lacking the fire she once held in her gaze. But an idea came to his mind as he fell asleep. The only way to really conjure the fighting spirit of a mother.
In the morning, Katara set the table for the Fire Prince and waited for him to finish dressing. When he strolled out, she saw him eye her before taking his seat and telling her to take a seat. As they had breakfast, a servant stormed in with urgency and the two looked up.
"Princess Kimiko, she's missing from her chambers."
Ozai's eyes cut to Katara.
Climbing to her feet, "Missing? How so?" Katara started making her way towards the servant.
"Her caregivers cannot locate h-"
Katara shoved the woman out of her way and took off running. She hurried her way to where her daughter's chambers had been. There she found Kimiko's caregivers looking around for her and the place was a mess. Ozai finally caught up as he didn't expect her to run so fast.
Looking around, "Looks like a struggle." Ozai stated.
Katara's eyes widened.
"Order the guards to lock the palace down and search the palace." Ozai ordered.
Katara's eyes widened. "You think she was taken?"
"I knew this shit would happened." Ozai growled. "See what happens!"
Katara felt an emptiness settle in her gut as she fell to her knees. She balled her fists to her chest and screamed angrily that someone had her baby. Ozai dismissed everyone and went to comfort Katara.
"We'll find her."
Katara turned to him and grabbed his collar, "I want my daughter back! You make those bastards find her! Or I will and when I do, I'll kill them for taking her!"
Ozai pulled her into his arms and smirked to himself.
As the palace was in search of Kimiko, a letter was discovered and it was revealed that a Ransome was placed on their daughter's head. Katara kicked and screamed as Ozai had to pin her. She was beyond pissed off and wanted to find the men responsible. Someone took her child and wanted money for her safe return. She'd kill them.
One the following night of their daughter being kidnapped, Ozai found Katara sharpening the blade he gave her back in the South Pole. It was a black blade dagger with a gold hilt. She tucked it away in her thigh sheath when she noticed him stand in the doorway.
"You look like you're headed somewhere?"
Katara got up and looked him dead in the eyes, "I am." She said before freezing the brace on her neck and breaking it off.
Ozai raised a brow at this. "So the brace is useless?"
"It's a full moon tonight. Us waterbenders are stronger during this time." Katara hissed as she stood to her feet and walked past him.
"Where are you going?" Ozai asked.
"To find my daughter."
"Kat-"
Katara glared at him, "Don't get in my way, Ozai! You might not care for her but she's my daughter!"
"I do care but if you leave these grounds, I can't protect you."
"I don't need your protection! You can't even protect our daughter! What good are you?!" She hissed before storming out.
Ozai stared impassively at her as she left the chambers and headed out on her own. He hoped his father didn't catch wind of this or they were both in trouble. I should probably follow her.
….
Scaling the rooftop of the Fire Prince's domain, Katara leapt onto a tree that hung over the walls of his domain. She was about to swoop her way down when a hand caught her shoulder. She looked at it and followed it to its owner and saw Ozai. He pressed his finger to his lips and shook his head, pointing down to a guard patrolling that rounded the corner.
"Change into this." He tossed an all black tight suit to her that matched his own.
As she put it on, Ozai pulled the collar of his tight suit up to his nose to obscure his face. When Katara was better dressed for the occasion, Ozai threw her other clothes into a bush below them before looking back over the wall and signaling Katara to follow him.
The two jumped down from the tree and took off running for cover behind some crates.
"Hey, did you hear that?" A guard said as he heard a thud.
Katara cursed under her breath and waved her hand to bend water out of a barrel nearby to spill, distracting them before Ozai grabbed her arm and yanked her along with him.
As they managed to escape the palace walls, Katara followed close behind Ozai as he ran into a dark alley in the city. He pressed himself against the wall to blend in, holding Katara to him as a group strolled by. When the group walked by, Ozai let go of her and crouched down, creeping towards the edge of the alley.
"My guards tell me the letter was covered in wood shavings which makes me believe the lumber mill was where our daughter's kidnapper is."
Katara eyed Ozai and told him to lead the way.
Reaching the warehouse, Katara saw Kimiko and the men surrounding her. Her eyes flared up and she immediately entered against Ozai trying to stop her. She engaged in violence causing Ozai to have to follow behind her and help her, though she didn't require too much aid. Her bending ability was impressive for someone who had not practiced in years.
When they returned home, Ozai watched Katara tuck Kimiko in their bed and poured himself a glass of whiskey. As he drank it, Katara walked up to him and slapped him dead across the face, knocking his glass from his lips and scowling at him.
"You evil monster!" She growled at him.
Ozai stared impassively at her as she raged at him.
"You had her kidnapped! Telling me that bullshit that there were wood shavings from a lumber mill on the paper! How'd you know which one?!" Katara shouted at him and shoved him into the wall. "Why?! Why would you do that?! Is it not enough that her father hates her for being born?! Why'd you have her kidnapped?!"
"I needed to teach her mother a lesson." Ozai told her. "I needed her mother to understand this is not the time to be playing helplessly. We had an agreement, Katara and you've delayed my plans enough. I need you to focus like before on what our mission is here."
Katara growled, "You do that shit again or harm my daughter and your father won't be the only royal blood I have on my hands!"
Ozai smirked, "There's my girl."
Sucking her teeth, "I can't believe you did this all just to push me into being bitter and full of hatred again!"
"You love me, princess. You said so." Ozai smirked.
"I was foolish then but I won't be again. You've made it clear you don't care about me or Kimiko. You will never be to me what you were before." Katara hissed. "You're all just monsters!"
Ozai's smirk wiped away.
Katara walked up to his face and scowled, "As soon as we kill your father, I'm taking my daughter home. We don't belong here."
….
Ozai was working at his desk as Katara is made to read over the rules of Palace life. He was planning on changing her status away from slave now that his father decided she should be treated as a typical official mistress and be pampered since she had a claimed daughter. It was imperative that she be filled in on Fire Nation palace culture which shouldn't be too hard for her. She was a princess after all.
As she sat and read quietly, Ozai placed his quill down for a second and roamed over to her. He sat beside her and ran his hand along her back down to her ass causing her to scoot away from him.
"Avoiding my advances will do you no good." Ozai said as he grabbed a strand of her hair. "Remember, you're my mistress and my happiness and pleasure is your primary job. So do it and do me well, got it?"
Katara looked at him with a hard gaze, "Am I not a person to you?"
"Of course you are, dear. You're an Agni damn princess. A beautiful one at that. I simply possess you as I would an object and I need you to be of use to me, Katara. I'm in need."
Katara furrowed her brows in disgust, "use the women that have kept you company in my absence."
Ozai narrowed his eyes at her, "Who provides a luxurious life for your daughter? Who offers you a chance at revenge and opportunity for your people? Who do you owe your life to for not allowing you to be gang raped at a young age?" He grabbed her jaw and stared hard into his eyes. "I am, princess. Now, serve me as I am deserving of your absolute submission?"
Moments later, Ozai's fingers were tangled in her hair as she gave him the pleasure he was seeking from her. When he came in her mouth, her tongue still stroking his length, Katara got up and climbed in his lap. She kissed him passionately and returned his cum to his mouth causing him to shove her and vomit off to the side. Katara stared impassively at his distress and went to brew some tea.
"Tea always gets the thick salty taste off the tongue. I'll be sure you take two extra leaves of mint." Katara said.
Ozai eyed her furiously. "That was disgusting, Katara."
Katara giggled, "Now you know my sentiments."
Later that night, Ozai tied her face down on the bed and took her violently. He plowed her still very tight pussy and made her squirt all over the place, begging him for more.
"Yes, my lord! Yes!" She cried.
Ozai pulled her hair back and bit hard into her neck, "Don't you ever do what you had again! You hear me?!"
"Yes, my lord! Whatever you say, I obey!"
Ozai smirked, "Now, tell me, who owns you?"
"You, my lord!"
"Who's buried deep in you now?"
"You are, my lord!"
Ozai growled as he pounded her into oblivion while Katara screamed her head off as she climaxed.
In the morning, Ozai got an ugly glare from his wife and smirked.
"She was unbelievably loud. Even your son could hear her and trust me, you don't want to know what he was doing in response." Ursa said in disgust.
Ozai shrugged, "I have my princess back. She's feistier than ever and I'm growing closer to my plans. I'm satisfied in every way."
Ursa glared at him, "You will only get that poor woman killed."
Ozai scoffed. Nothing like that was going to happen to her. No, he wouldn't allow it. He and Katara were one in the same, he had come to realize. Two sides to the same coin. Both driven by their personal desires and values. As soon as he achieved his goal, he knew what to do. He'd make her his queen. His beautiful ice princess. She'd be his Fire Lady.
"You'll honor by wish, won't you, Ozai?" Ursa asked.
Ozai smirked at her, "Of Course. You've been a good wife over the years, Ursa. I'll free you of this marriage as soon as I'm Fire Lord."
"And what will you do with her?"
Ozai drank his tea and smirked to himself.
Katara was doing her daughter's hair for an event that they were invited to attend as Princess Ursa had gone to visit her family in the countryside. She was supposed to go as Ozai's arm candy. Something she didn't look forward to being as she still resented him for turning his back on her after having Kimiko.
Singing to her daughter, Katara saw Ozai enter her chambers from the mirror in front of her. Kimiko's eyes lit up as she pulled away from her mother to bow to her father.
"Your highness." Kimiko said.
Ozai grinned at his daughter and patted her head, "Give your mother and me the room, little one."
Kimiko nodded and raced out of the room.
Standing to her feet, Katara stared coldly at him and folded her arms over her chest.
"My beautiful ice princess, why are you always so cold to me?" Ozai smirked as he approached her.
Glaring up at him as he towered over her, "You still have our daughter calling you 'your highness' and not father?"
"You call me 'My lord'."
"Because you make me! She's your daughter! Why are you cold to her?!"
"I am not. She's cute. Small and adorable. Even if I didn't want her in the first place it's hard to ignore that she looks a lot like me." Ozai chuckled as he caressed her face. "You did a good job with her, Katara. Giving me such an adorable daughter. If only she were a boy then she'd be more useful."
Katara slapped his hand from her face and snarled, "What does it matter?! You'd treat her the same either way, you evil fuck!"
Ozai grabbed her up by her jaws and bared his teeth at her, "watch your mouth, princess."
"Stop calling me that!" She struggled in her grip as he squeezed her jaw tighter. "I'm not a princess anymore!"
"But you're still my princess, Katara. Always. Remember. We have a deal. You'll never leave me. For as long as we both remain." Ozai purred.
Katara yanked herself from him and breathed in frustration, "What do you want, Ozai? I know you didn't come here to just taunt me."
"Maybe I did. Who can say?"
"Ozai!"
"Fine," He chuckled. "I wanted to let you know at this banquet that your father's murderer will be present."
Katara narrowed her eyes, "Why tell me this?"
"So you'll refocus on our goal." Ozai explained. "The sooner we accomplish my wish, I can't grant yours."
Katara turned her back to him, "Sometimes I feel like you're just playing me but what choice do I have other than to trust you." Looking back to him with a softer gaze. "Ozai, promise me you meant what you said in the South Pole."
"I meant every word, princess."
Katara sighed, "Let me prepare myself. I should be presentable if I am to show myself publicly aside you."
The hanfu dress she wore was a pretty light pink gown with a deep red sash and trimming. Katara's hair was dressed in a bun with ornaments decorating it. She was given red lip paint and black liner for her eyes along with a misty red shadow along her eyes.
As soon as she was presented to Ozai after the servants finished with her, he knee for a fact she'd turn heads. She was absolutely gorgeous and he wanted everyone to envy him for having such a beautiful little mistress.
"Am I to your liking, my lord?" Katara asked as she approached him.
Ozai looked her over, "You always are but this way, you'll be to the liking of everyone at the event."
Katara scoffed and looked away.
"Yes! Hold that scowl the rest of the evening." Ozai laughed as he went to kiss her face. "Agni, your beautiful."
Katara shooed him from her, "Your affection is not desired at this time, Ozai."
"We have a few minutes till we have to be there."
Ozai smirked as he walked with Katara on his arm. He was rather confident after getting his ice princess to climax in the little time they had. It made him feel incredibly arrogant, which he needed to be in front of these asshole nobles he was about to deal with. He warned Katara that he was no fan of many at court and that he was likely to have conflict take place, especially with her being in attendance.
Katara glanced behind them as the caregiver walked with Kimiko, hand in hand, just a few paces behind them. Ozai called her attention back to him and she expressed that she felt the banquet would be too much for their daughter.
"She's a royal of the Fire Nation now, Katara. You can't ask me to make her such and not have her participate as a royal. There are appearances she has to make. Fortunately, she is not a male and won't have to attend many of the events. But the ones that I select for her, she will have to be in attendance." Ozai explained sternly to her. "As for you, my ice princess, I need you to look every bit as a woman that is fiery and passionate. They need to see you as more than a mere mistress. You could very well be their lady one day."
Katara looked at him in shock and was about to say something until a couple approached them.
"Your highness," a familiar man bowed to the Fire Prince.
"Nobleman Zhao." Ozai replied.
Katara watched the man glance her over before returning his gaze to the Fire Prince.
"I'd like to introduce you to my wife, Jade." Zhao said.
Ozai greeted the woman as she bowed her head. "This is my mistress, Princess Katara Mizuki."
Jade was about to bow when Zhao stopped her.
"The princess has been reduced to a slave status, dear. No need to bow to her." Zhao explained to his wife.
Katara cut her eyes at the nobleman causing Ozai to do the same.
"Slave status as she might be. Her veins still hold royal blood. You will bow as she is my mistress and an extension of myself." Ozai said in a very stern tone. "Bow."
Zhao and his wife did so and before they could rise up, Ozai pulled Katara away with him. Patting her arm, "Some witty humor would be nice, dear."
"I wouldn't waste a tongue lashing on that feeble bastard. His wife is so obviously not interested in him that it gave me secondhand sexual frustration." Katara scoffed.
Ozai smirked, "We should enjoy the evening as best we can, Katara. Show me you know how to put these nobles in their place."
"If that is what you desire, my lord." Katara said in a gentle voice while looking for Kimiko.
Ozai pulled her attention back to him and the evening ahead of them. He wanted to see to it that she was capable of handling the nobility. They encountered a few that night and Katara handled herself well. Noblemen tried to make passes at her or ask for a night with her. She made it clear none were man enough to handle her. And for the noblewomen who slighted her, she made it known to them that she could ruin their marriages without even lifting a finger.
Ozai mused to himself the entire night. Not bothering to come to the aid of his fellow countrymen. They had thoroughly pissed off his ice princess and he watched with pleasure as she ruthlessly lashed out at them with an elegance unmatched by anyone he had ever seen.
Taking her to the balcony and handing her a glass of wine, "I find myself quite taken aback by you this evening."
Katara glared at him and took a sip of wine, "It was your will that I be as I have night."
"Obedience to one's master is a quality that is quite admirable." Ozai caressed her face. "It won't be much longer. You won't be a slave forever, Katara. As soon as we achieve our goals, I will make you so much more."
Katara drank her entire glass before setting it on the railing of the terrace, "This have anything to do with what you mentioned earlier?"
Ozai smirked at her as he sipped his wine, "Ursa wants a divorce to be free of a purely loveless marriage. I always promised her I'd make it happen." He tilted his head and looked off. "I think you'd make a wonderful Fire Lady."
Katara furrowed her brows, "So subject me to a loveless marriage?"
"It wouldn't be that way." Ozai assured her.
"You're incapable of loving me or anyone."
"That I am but I'll admit my feelings are strong for you, Katara. I might very well be in love with you."
Katara scoffed and looked away from him, "It's too little too late for that, my lord."
"How so?" His eyes fell on her.
Sighing as she looked away from him, "my feelings have dimmed for you, my lord. You are not the man I hoped you'd be. I still have strong feelings for you but I assure you, it's not love."
"You resent me?"
"It's deeper than that, my lord. I despise you." Katara said plainly.
Ozai smirked, "do you really?"
"If we didn't have a child together, I'd throw you off the balcony." Katara hissed.
"Don't be like that, Katara. We've had a good run."
"Until you ruined it." Katara pointed out.
Ozai narrowed his eyes, "You shouldn't have gotten pregnant."
"You shouldn't have been having sex with me. I'm young and fertile, Ozai. One slip up and it's inevitable. You weren't careful and blamed me as if I wanted to have a child at that very moment. I love Kimiko but I didn't want a child with you. I never wanted you to be the father of my child. You're too cold a bastard." Katara stabbed her finger into his chest. "You proved yourself unworthy of my affection and if you ever want me to feel even an ounce of what I am before, you'll have to do more than 'feel strongly' about me."
Ozai looked her over and sighed, "Then this is all my fault?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll fix it." Ozai assured her. "You're my ice princess and I want more than your obedience. I want your complete surrender."
"Then you will work for it, my lord."
…
Ozai decided to visit his daughter one afternoon to try to show himself more fatherly to the child. Katara made it clear that in order for him to win her over, he had to be a better father to Kimiko. And that wasn't necessarily hard in this case. The child was respectful and seemed very interested in him from the looks he'd see her giving him from afar.
As he entered her chambers, Ozai saw his daughter have a tea party with her stuffed animals. He cleared his throat and watched her look over to him. She immediately got up to bow to him and greet him as the Fire Prince rather than her father even though she was well aware by now that he was her father.
"What can I do for you, your highness?" The tiny five years old asked him in a very cute voice.
Ozai looked around as his hands were clasped behind his back, "I'd like you to serve me tea." He told her.
Kimiko's eyes lit up, "Give me one moment, your highness. I'll make some fresh." The little girl rushed to get her servants to help her.
Ozai roamed around as his daughter went to get assistance making tea and noticed that the girl had the hairpin he gave Katara in the South Pole tucked in her hair. He figured Katara wanted their daughter to have something that was directly given by him. It was a sweet gesture to their daughter but Ozai would replace it with one that was better suited for his daughter.
Sitting down at the patio table of his daughter's chambers, Ozai watched his daughter pour his tea and handed it to him with a poised mannerism he didn't expect her to have at her age. She served it to him and poured her own cup, holding it up to him as he returned her gesture and they both sipped from their cups.
As the two had tea and Kimiko introduced the Fire Prince to her stuff animals, Katara entered with her daughter's meal for the day. She paused as she was surprised to see Ozai present. Katara had thought Ozai was only trying to appease her when he told her he'd fix things between them. He was a man and men always made promises they couldn't keep. She just knew he'd eventually let her down but watching him have tea with their daughter, seeing him interact with her as if she truly meant something to him warmed her heart.
Walking in with her daughter's tray, Katara greeted them both and Kimiko beamed at her mouth.
"Look, mommy, daddy has enough time to spend with me! He finally came! I told you!"
Ozai couldn't help but swallow the slight guilt he had that his daughter had been waiting for the day so eagerly. The day he'd finally spare her a moment of his time. His child he had with a woman he had grown to love but would never admit his feelings to. He knew how much Katara had longed to hear him say it to her but he could never say it. Not to her. It would be like admitting defeat and he never lost. Never. Katara would just have to trust he cared for her and their daughter. Because he did. He wouldn't feel this guilt if he hadn't loved them.
As Katara set out Kimiko's meal, Ozai watched and requested the servants bring his meal here along with Katara's. She glanced at him as he told her to take a seat and have lunch with them.
The three ate and had a little chatter between them as they had lunch together. When they finished, Ozai kissed Kimiko on her head and told her he would have her instructed by a tutor to prepare her for school. As he left, he asked Katara to come walk with him.
"You were right. She's a sweet girl." Ozai confessed that she made his heart melt. "Her and those big eyes could command me to do anything and I'd do it."
Katara smirked, "Will you see her again?"
"I've been away from my child long enough. I will send for her to see me during the day tomorrow." Ozai told her.
Katara felt good hearing this. Her daughter would finally have her father participate more in her life and that was all Katara could ask for.
"Tonight I need you to come out to the private dojo so we can practice. Your skills in dealing with those hired mercenaries were good. You have a raw talent for channeling your anger but in order for you to survive the life of a courtier."
"Courtier?" Katara raised a brow.
Ozai smirked, "I've figured out how you're going to get your revenge on my father."
"And how is that?"
The waterbender sat on the bed and looked at her hands as Ozai told her exactly what she was to do in order to get close enough to the Fire Lord. She wasn't in the business of selling her body though she kind of already did so with Ozai but his father? Oh, Katara couldn't believe what he was asking her to do. Seduce the Fire Lord was the only thing he could come up with.
"There is an annual garden party being held in a month's time and I want you to dance in front of all of us, maintain eye contact with my father and seduce him like you would me."
Katara scoffed, "I've never had to seduce you." She folded her arms.
Ozai rolled his eyes, "You forget I didn't sleep with you right away and you tried getting me to take you."
"Because you were toying with me." Katara said before looking away and pulling her hair behind her ear. "And you're a very handsome man. It's hard not to want you."
"Is that so?" Ozai asked with a raised brow and smirk.
"Yes."
"Want me now, princess?" Ozai said as he reached for his belt.
Katara folded her arms and looked him over, "Maybe."
Unbuckling his belt, "Strip."
…..
Ursa noticed her husband and his mistress were getting along much better in recent. They spent a lot of their time together or with their daughter. It came as no surprise when Katara came to her. At first, Ursa feared the woman to be pregnant again but it seemed something else was amidst.
"My friend Nani, I have been trying to find her for years but Ozai refuses to tell me. I found a letter in his office from his former Lieutenant about Nani. All I could make was that the lieutenant wanted to know if I wanted a vase. Can you read it to me?"
"Katara, did you snoop through my husband's things for this letter?" Ursa asked.
Katara nodded.
Sighing, "Let me see the letter?"
Katara removed the scroll from her sleeve and handed it to Ursa. The woman sighed and looked over it to read aloud to the water woman. It became obvious to them both that Ozai hid this letter intentionally. Katara's friend Nani had passed away shortly after arriving to the Fire Nation and Ozai's former lieutenant was asking if she wanted her remains.
"I'm sorry, Katara." Ursa said after finishing the letter.
The waterbender shook her head and left. She knew Ozai intentionally kept this information away from her. Her friend passed away and he mentioned nothing of the sort to her. It pissed her off. Ozai was most definitely not the man she had thought him to be. He had wooed her with his sweet words and promises but he was clearly capable of wronging her. She needed to not be so trusting of him. She needed to take matters into her own hands in whatever way that meant. She was just a slave but she was a woman. A woman with good looks and skills in seduction thanks to the Fire Prince teaching her recently for her training.
In order to ensure the future of her people and the revenge she so desperately wanted, she needed to take things into her own hands. She could no longer trust Ozai to have her or her people's best interests at heart. He was just using her to get what he wanted anyways. He didn't care about her or even the child she had with him. Ozai was a cold evil bastard that wanted his own father dead to become Fire Lord, he only promised her anything in order to see that desire through. He had no good merit of his own that would free her people of his own choosing. It was merely a bargaining tool he used to sway her to his side. To give meaning to the pointless and loveless sex they had. She felt both used and disgusted with herself to only just now have it dawn upon her. How had she been so foolish? Her mother was right. She needed to use him as much as he used her and no one should get in the way of her own goals. Her people would be both avenged and freed from the tyranny of the Fire Nation and its cruel reign.
Returning to her chambers that she shared with Ozai, Katara saw the Fire Prince had just entered the chambers and looked every bit as annoyed as he always did. He sat on the edge of the bed and removed his boots, letting down his hair, as well as removing his robes. When his alabaster back was bare, jet black hair cascading down it, the waterbender made her way to him and tossed the letter in his lap.
"Nani, she died five years ago and you didn't inform me." Katara asked in a stark tone.
Ozai glanced down at the letter and looked back to her, "We weren't exactly on speaking terms when it happened. Besides, you were struggling enough in my absence, I didn't want you to know your friend was no longer of this realm."
"You still didn't tell me afterwards."
"I forgot."
"Oh, I'm sure." She narrowed her eyes at him.
Ozai looked over at her and saw she looked deeply hurt by this. He knew he was supposed to comfort her in order to repair their broken relationship but he knew she wouldn't receive him well. So, he returned to getting himself comfortable for bed. He didn't want to argue or fight. Katara could do that with herself if she wanted.
"I'm heading to bed. I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow." Ozai told her.
Katara didn't respond as he looked her over.
"Are you coming to bed?"
"I want to stare at the stars. I'm restless."
"Very well."
As Ozai went to bed, Katara stepped out on the balcony and sighed as tears rolled down her cheeks. Nani, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry you died on Fire Nation soil. I'm sorry I didn't move quick enough. She clenched her chest. But I won't let you die in vain. I'll get us the revenge our people deserve and I'll see to it our people are free again.
Katara went back inside the chambers to see the Fire Prince was snoring. She snuck out the bedroom and slipped her way out of the chambers. As she quickly made her way to the exit of the domain, a hand grabbed her around her waist and pulled her into the shadows.
"Where do you think you're going?" Zuko demanded to know.
Katara was let go of and she turned to face him.
"Are you trying to escape?"
Katara shook her head.
"Then where are you headed?"
Katara averted her eyes.
"Fine, don't tell me and I'll let my father know you were trying to escape."
Katara's eyes widened, "No, please! Don't!"
"Then start talking." His gold eyes narrowed.
Katara knew she couldn't tell him the truth. This was Ozai's son and she was acting against Ozai's will. She had to come up with something. Anything. An idea came to mind. She could try her luck with seduction. She knew Zuko had been eyeing her for a while and avoided her out of sheer respect for his father but the little glances and peeks didn't slip her notice.
Slanting her eyes seductively, Katara folded her arms under her breasts and pushed them up some to be more visible from the low neckline of her thigh high nightgown.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to get a better view of the night sky. It reminds me of home." She told him.
Right away, Zuko's expression softened.
"Want to join me?" She asked.
Zuko shook his head, "Be careful you don't get caught. Not everyone is as lenient."
Katara nodded and thanked him, pressing a kiss on his cheek before leaving.
Standing there, utterly enthralled by the water woman, Zuko bit his lip and turned to retire early for the night.
Sneaking around more carefully, Katara reached Ozai's office and slipped inside before a guard could spot her. Inside, she hurried over to his desk and sat in his chair, going through his drawers to find anything that would benefit her. Katara spotted several documents titled extraction plans. She skimmed through it and realized the Fire Nation planned to remove all the soldiers from the South Pole and eliminate everyone and everything. Her eyes widened. It was more than an extraction, it was the complete annihilation of her people in the South Pole. Katara noticed General Fuji's name was signed on the line below. Her eyes narrowed at this detail.
Returning to the domain, Katara saw Zuko was still lingering and she decided to approach him.
"Still up?" She asked.
Zuko glanced down at her, "Shouldn't you have returned to my father's side?"
Katara smirked, "Am I not allowed to stay here with you?"
Zuko seemed a bit surprised by this, "You want to be out here with me?"
Katara nodded, "It's nice to stand beside someone not so much older than me. Sometimes I forget I'm still young."
Zuko bet she felt that way always being around his father. It must have felt strange to her. Being with a man so much older than her. He felt bad for her. Not just because his father was older than her hut because he was a cold man with no heart.
"If you want you can come see me when you're not busy with my father." Zuko said awkwardly as he rubbed his neck.
Seeing this, Katara inwardly smirked to herself as she was getting the response she wanted from him.
"I'd like that."
"Great. I could teach you a few games." Zuko told her.
Katara smiled at him, "Your father will be away tomorrow. Maybe I can see you sometime then."
Zuko nodded.
"Great. Well, I had better get going before your father wakes without me there."
As she walked off, Katara smirked all too widely to herself. She needed to play on Zuko's softer side to get what she wanted. Another alley wasn't a bad thing. She needed to use these men, these Highborn Fire Nation men for what they were good for. Zuko would be no different. Nor would any other man.
….
Ozai had begun to notice Katara and his son interacting more. He had seen them playing games of cards and Pai Sho, him teaching her how to read Fire Nation script and showing her around the palace. He could see she was rather lonely and required more of his attention if she was giving his son any attention.
Summoning her to his office, Ozai eyed his ice princess as she entered with her hair tied up high and in a light red hanfu dress with a gold sash. She looked more lavish than she typically did as she was now more than a slave and seen mostly as his mistress with his father's permission. As she walked up to his desk and lifted her sky blue eyes up at him, Ozai smirked.
"Father has ordered more water slaves into the palace. He wants you to introduce yourself and let them know the rules." Ozai told her. "But before that, I'd like you to sit in my lap. I've been busy and I know you hate not having me give you my undivided attention."
Katara didn't say much as she went over and sat in his lap, she was fixated on the news that water slaves were no entering the palace. So far she had been the only one given that privilege but it seemed the Fire Lord wanted a few more as it was that she was more than a slave. She was his son's mistress and mother to his only granddaughter. Katara could see her position had shifted.
As she sat in his lap, Katara glanced at the papers on Ozai's desk and saw something about a Northern Tribe women being sold to the Fire Nation. She narrowed her eyes at this as the Fire Prince felt her up and kissed all over her.
"Where are these water women from?" She asked him.
Kissing her shoulder, "Same as you."
"And the Northern slaves, what happens with them?"
Ozai paused as he had his lips pressed to her neck and his gold eyes went to the scroll on his desk. "You read that?"
"Zuko taught me Fire Nation script." Katara said as she turned in his lap to look at him. "Why do you hide so much from me, Ozai? I thought we were accomplices."
Ozai eyed her cautiously, "We are but I have other objectives that giving you what you want."
"Like buying Northern Slaves?" Katara had read over the document on his desk. Seemed Ozai made a personal purchase of Northern slaves. Which let her know he supported the enslavement of other nations. Only reason he was talking of freeing her people was because they made a deal, otherwise, he wouldn't give a damn. It made it even more clearer that she needed to ensure the success of her mission. He had his own objectives and so did she. They were accomplices with their own personal agendas.
"I can't just rid the Fire Nation of the slave class entirely, Katara. If I am to free the Southern people, I need a group to replace them."
Turning her back to him as she remained in his lap, Katara was about to say something when the doors to the Fire Prince's office opened. In walking the Fire Lord and General Fuji, Katara climbed out of Ozai's lap and fell into a bow to the Fire Lord as Ozai stood to bow to his father.
"I see I'm interrupting." Azulon smirked as did General Fuji.
Ozai returned the grin and simply told them he was enjoying his mistresses company while he worked.
"I was just telling Fuji that Mistress Katara would be dancing at the garden party for us. He wanted to make a request." Azulon said.
Raising a brow, "A request?" Ozai asked.
"I'd like to see something sensual. Other mistresses including mine will be performing and I figured what better way of comparing what man has the best woman than by having them all try to seduce the entire garden full of men." Fuji explained.
Azulon nodded as he chuckled, "Since you are the only one of nobility and royalty that has a water woman for a mistress, I think it would be interesting to see how she fares in comparison to the women of our Supreme nation."
Ozai smirked wider, "Very well. I will be delighted to see how my ice princess fares against women of fire."
Fuji glanced at the man's mistress and she glanced up at him, having a small tug to her lips before looking back down. Fuji swallowed hard and adjusted his collar as a small sweat broke out on him. He had never seen blue eyes that were so bright and lovely. Fuji had caught a few glimpses at the former princess a few times in the South Pole and remembered her to be a beautiful girl. She was now most definitely a woman and the Fire Prince seems to have taken good care of her. Enough so that she looked no different than she had over five years ago.
Katara knew Fuji was checking her out. It was how she wanted it. And a sensual dance for the garden party, she could do. She had a few she could think of that would really put the men in the mood. She needed to seduce the Fire Lord, first and foremost. Then, she needed to seduce Fuji to discover more about the 'extraction' plans she read over a little while ago. He would be the one leading the campaign so she needed to get close to him somehow.
As the men left, Katara rose back to her feet and looked at Ozai.
"Any sensual water tribe dances you know of?" Ozai asked her.
Katara nodded.
"Let me see."
The waterbender danced for the Fire Prince and halfway through, he bent her over his desk and had her. She wanted to laugh at how simple men were. Oh, her grandmother was right. Any man could be manipulated. One just needed to know how.
Katara was shocked. Didn't expect to see Lyra here. Her and a small boy stood out amongst the two dozen water slaved that she had just greeted. They had all been bathed, dressed in servants' clothes, and their hair tied up. Katara noticed Lyra looked at her with wide eyes.
After going over the rules and encouraging them to follow the rules, Katara went to Lyra immediately and hugged her tight.
"Katara!" Lyra said happily.
"Your son, he's grown."
Lyra nodded as they pulled away from each other. "Yes, Tomiki has grown a lot in these last few years. But I almost forgot the commander had taken you. I didn't realize you were still with him."
Katara was confused by this, "Of course, I am. But where's the soldier that took you in? Why are you here and not here?"
Lyra's expression became somber, "His wife said he couldn't afford to feed us and his kids. So he sold us to make a few extra coins."
Katara was shocked by this.
"Fortunately, the Fire Prince is the one that bought us along with a few others."
Katara was surprised that Ozai had done this. She thought all of these water slaves were bought by the Fire Lord. But this was good. Lyra and her son would be better taken care of in the prince's domain.
Showing Lyra and the other slaves Ozai purchased to his domain, Katara had them settle into their quarters and helped Lyra move an extra cot into her room for her son, Tomiki. As they were all settled, Katara asked Lyra if she and Tomiki were hungry. They both nodded and Katara went to the prince's kitchen to grab a few items to give them.
Watching them eat as if they hadn't had food in days, Katara lamented their situation. She couldn't fathom being sold away to someone else by Ozai. Even when he was angry with her, he just kept her around.
"You have a child now too?" Lyra asked as she had heard word around the capital.
Not realizing people were aware of her child with Ozai, Katara nodded and stated she had a girl.
"Ozai was not happy at first. He worried about having a small mixed child involved in the royal family. But he has come around and accepted her." Katara explained.
Lyra nodded as she could see the commander being a cold man from what she remembered of him.
"Katara."
The two heard her name being called, they said they'd try to see each other around. When she exited the slave quarters, Katara saw Ozai waiting for her outside of the area and approached him.
"I see you've reunited with your friend Lyra." Ozai said as she took his arm.
Katara nodded.
"Good. Now stay away from my son." Ozai bit out and pulled away. "You're not as slick as you think. I know you've had him teach you Fire Nation script to go through my office drawers at night."
Katara sighed and realized Ozai had been onto her.
….
As the garden party was hours away, Ozai had his ice princess dress in her native colors and wear a revealing outfit that was typically worn by the courtesans of the South Pole. A blue crop top with crystal beads dangling from it, matching translucent genie pants that revealed the thongs she wore underneath. Her nails were painted and studded. Her makeup was heavy on the eyes for a look that would pop at her audience and her hair was braided into a long fishtail with hair loops dangling in the front. A headdress was placed on her head and she wore a translucent veil over her face. Katara had to say she looked like one of her father's concubines. She placed gold bangles on her ankles and wrists to add sound to her movements.
When she was done, Katara allowed Ozai to look her over and assess her appearance. He had been the one to give her the materials to recreate an outfit from her culture and do her hair and makeup how she pleased.
Ozai looked his ice princess over and had to say she looked incredible. She had a very exotic look that he was sure the other mistresses couldn't compete with. Besides, Katara didn't require much to look good and this effort only served to further enhance her appearance. She was gorgeous and breathtaking. He had to say he truly had a diamond amongst mere gemstones.
"Am I presentable, my lord?" Katara asked as she swayed her hips over to him.
Ozai smirked, "You'll be lucky if my father doesn't ask me to spend the night with you."
"I'd have to sleep with him?" Katara asked hesitantly as she suddenly realized this.
Ozai cupped her face, "pride and dignity aside, Katara, we have more important things to be concerned with."
"So I take it if it calls for me to, I should just do it." Katara stated.
"Our goals require you to do what is needed. Even if it hurts your pride and means neglecting your dignity." Ozai told her as he looked her dead in her eyes. "You've served me well, Katara. You will do the same for whoever else decides to have you if our mission requires it."
Katara looked at him somberly, "You're the only man I've known, my lord. I don't…- I don't want to serve anyone else."
Ozai kissed her forehead and held her to him, "This changes nothing between us. You will still be mine and mine alone."
"Very well, my lord." Katara pulled away from him.
As much as he tried to fill her with sweet words, Katara didn't want to hear it. After having protected her from his camp of soldiers that wanted her, he was now whoring her out to his father and anyone that they needed to be dealt with. It made her so angry but there was nothing she could do. This seduction dance was more than to get heads to turn, it was to lure his father and others into her company, into her bed.
Shutting her eyes, Katara exhaled and looked deep into Ozai's eyes. "I will not give myself to another man. You are the only one I throw my pride and dignity aside for. I will seduce your father but there are other ways to keep a man's attention."
"You intend to tease him?"
"I do."
"That's not going to work."
"I will make it work. If it fails, then there is nothing else I can do." Katara told him. "But I will not simply relinquish my pride and dignity. It will have to be taken."
Ozai scoffed, "He will most definitely rape you if you toy with him."
"Then I only have you to blame for not thinking of a better solution." Katara said as she made her way to the door.
Ozai followed her out and took her arm to loop in his, "I will tend to you when the night ends."
"I guess I should feel better." She said.
"You are still my ice princess, Katara. That never changes."
Arriving at the garden party, Katara noticed there were only men and their wives, mistresses present. Princess Ursa was already in attendance and Ozai took his seat on the floor cushion, beckoning Katara to kneel beside him. She surveyed the garden from the platform where she was and saw across the way was the Fire Lord's platform. He seemed to also have a mistress with him as she knew his wife had passed away some time ago from illness.
"You look incredibly lovely, Katara." Ursa said as she looked over to her husband's mistress.
"Thank you, your highness." Katara said as she bowed her head.
As the party began, Katara poured the Fire Prince and Princess more wine as they all watched the different mistresses perform for everyone. There were many different kinds of performances. Some sung, some dance, some recited poetry, and others played an instrument. Katara had to say many of the women were very talented and beautiful.
"Always the same performances from these women. Never anything new to be explored." Ozai scoffed as he drank his wine.
Ursa smirked, "Thankful you have quite the mistress, Ozai. She will steal the evening."
Katara happy they felt so confident in her ability to woo and seduce the entire party but she wasn't so sure. She had seen the looks a few of the mistresses, wives, and noblemen had given her. She didn't belong here. She was the only Water Tribe mistress amongst the highborns and her royal status wasn't completely known. They thought her to be a peasant woman that had wormed her way into the Fire Prince's bed.
"It is your turn, Katara. Remember what I told you." Ozai whispered in her ear.
Katara nodded and got up to take to the stage in front of them all. She informed the musicians what song to play as she had been practicing for several weeks.
The dance was a slow sensual dance that went to the beat of a drum. Her hips moved like the waves of the ocean. Going back and forth by an invisible force. Her eyes were slanted seductively and her arms moved gracefully along with her as she occasionally glanced at the Fire Lord, noticing his eyes were glued to her. She whirled her hips around and showed off her backside as she shook her hips to the ground.
Every man present shifted around in their seat as they were immediately aroused by the tribeswoman. As she worked her way back up with her hips swaying to the music, Katara whirled herself around to face her audience and blew them a kiss, winking discreetly at the Fire Lord.
Ozai smirked as everyone applauded his mistress and she came back to his side. He leaned over and whispered in her ear to go to the cherry blossom tree and wait for him.
As his ice princess left, Ozai saw Fuji come up to his platform and smirk.
"I think I speak for everyone when I say your mistress is most desirable. Lucky man you are, Prince Ozai."
Ozai stood up and excused himself. Meeting Katara by the cherry blossom tree, Ozai kissed her passionately as he pressed her up against the tree. The two got lost in the moment before they heard someone clearing their throat and saw it was Azulon. They pulled apart and straightened themselves out.
"May I have a word with you, son." Azulon asked.
Ozai left Katara's side and went to Azulon to speak quietly amongst themselves. Katara saw them glance her way a few times. Ozai walked back to her and took her hand to lead her to his father.
"Princess." Azulon smirked as he looked her over.
Katara forced herself to grin at him, "Your majesty." She bowed.
Taking her hand from his son, Azulon kissed the princess's hand and eyed her intensely.
"My father wants your company for the evening, Katara."
Swallowing hard, Katara dropped her gaze from the Fire Lord. "It would be an honor." She said in a docile tone.
Azulon told his son he would take good care of her.
The following morning, Ozai waited by the domain entrance for Katara and saw her limping her way to him looking to be in utter despair. He met her halfway and pulled her into his arms. She clung to his robes and shook as she sobbed into his chest.
"Why, Ozai?! Why'd you make me do this?!" Katara wept.
Ozai rubbed her back and held her tight, "It had to be done."
"Why?!"
Ozai scooped her up and carried her inside, taking her to his chambers where he placed her on the bed they shared. He began removing his robes and told her to tell him what his father did to her as he would do the same to make her forget. Katara cried the entire time and when it was finally over, Ozai washed her up in the tub, scrubbing her clean as she cried.
"We all do things we don't like, Katara." Ozai told her as she scrubbed her back. "Now, I just need you to keep it together for when he seeks you out again. Next time you see him, you will need to slip this untraceable poison into his tea for the next few weeks." Ozai dangled a necklace with poison in its hidden vile.
Katara looked at him in distress, "I can't do it."
Ozai told her sternly that she had to as her combed her wet hair, "Once he kicks the bucket, I'll divorce Ursa like she wants and I'll make you my queen. That way freeing your people doesn't look strange to my people."
Katara looked somberly at him, "You want to marry me?"
Nodding his head as he wiped the scrub over her tear stained face, "I need my ice princess at my side always."
Katara formed a weak smile on her face.
…..
"Are you okay, Katara?" Lyra asked as she folded some of the linen with her old friend.
Katara nodded as she was in the middle of writing. Zuko had given her a list of things to practice doing for her writing. He had been very kind to her even though his father wanted her to stop seeing him. She knew she should probably stop as she had to resume looking like the obedient mistress. But Zuko was so kind. She hated to use him but her goals were more important than her moral compass, even Ozai had said as much.
"Katara, everything alright?" Lyra asked.
Nodding her head, "Yes, I'm just trying to get my handwriting perfect."
"I'm just worried about you." Lyra said. "I've seen you in the Fire Lord's company a lot lately."
Katara swallowed hard at that as she didn't want to discuss her new development with the Fire Lord. For the last few weeks he had been wanting her to come to his chambers a lot in the evenings. She hated it. Ozai never even once tried to convince his father otherwise as it was all a part of the plan. Whenever she returned, Ozai would take her roughly on the floor as it was suddenly his favorite place to have sex. His way of cleansing her from his father's touch.
Sighing, "He's come to desire me."
Lyra sucked her teeth, "These Fire Nation men are awful. Using us until they've had their feel and discarding us when they're done. You're lucky the Fire Prince still finds interest in you. Your fate is secured."
Katara wasn't so sure. Ozai had thrown her aside before. Would he do it again?
"Ladies," The two women looked up to see the Fire Prince enter. "Can I have a private word with Katara, Lyra?"
Lyra gathered her linen and bowed before leaving the room.
Katara continued as she and Ozai sat across from her at the low table. He reached for her hand grabbed her quill and pulled it from her hand.
"My father is ill." He told her.
"Great. Now, he can die and we can get what we want." Katara said.
Ozai shook his head, "He has the water healers attempting to heal him. I don't know the extent of your healers' capabilities but I need you to speak with your fellow tribeswoman and convince them to allow him to die."
Katara nodded.
"Only obstacle is Fuji. He is overseeing my father's recovery." Ozai told her.
Raising a brow, "Am I to seduce him into bed?"
"Yes."
"Very well, my lord." Katara said with a bit of an attitude.
Ignoring it, "It shouldn't be too hard. He's been asking me to see you for sometime after he realized I was loaning you to my father."
Katara hated that word loan. He was loaning her? Like she was an object to be traded back and forth. Like a tool to get what he wanted from whom he wanted. She hated it. Hated him for turning her into this.
Katara played along with Ozai as they went to visit Fuji. They had tea with him and Ozai discussed having a famous physician come in from the mountain provinces to treat his father as he didn't trust the healing abilities of the Water Tribe women.
Fuji chuckled at this, "Your highness, water healers can do what even the most practiced physician couldn't. They can see inside the body and tackle the ailments that no one but them can. I thought your mistress would have assured you on this fact."
Katara saw Fuji glanced at her, "I have assured my master that his father is in good hands but he still doesn't trust it."
Fuji grinned at her, "Your master is a stubborn old man."
"I wouldn't say old." Katara said as she picked up her teacup. "He has some very youthful ways to him."
Ozai smirked as Fuji chuckled.
"Loyal that girl is, Ozai. You are fortunate."
"Loyal is debatable. She likes to get out of line when I'm not around." Ozai says as he gets up. "Speaking of which, can you see to it that she behaves? I need to go take care of something and will be back shortly."
Fuji nodded and assured him he would make sure Katara behaved. As Ozai left, Fuji looked at the water woman and smirked.
"Tell me, princess, what trouble do you like to get up to?" He asked.
Katara smirked, "Would you rather I showed you?"
An hour later, Katara was putting back on her clothes as nobleman Fuji was knocked out snoring as loudly as can be. She put him right to sleep. As Katara got dressed, she looked around the man's bed chambers and found his study. She immediately went through his drawers and searched for the extraction plans and managed to find them. She read through them quickly and saw that the plan would start in several months. It explained the last extraction of the military and the remaining waterbenders as well as the disposal of non-benders. She quickly shoved the plans into her dress's pocket and hurried out.
Last thing she needed to do was go speak to the slaves in charge of Azulon's health. She found them hunkered up in a small room trying to rest. They all looked exhausted and starving. Katara's heartbroken at what became of her people. They were frail and weak. Being used as tools and treated like anything but people. She hated it.
"The princess." They all looked at her as one person pointed it out.
Katara swallowed hard as she saw hope in their eyes, "Hello," she said awkwardly.
They all bowed their heads.
"I need a favor."
Making her way back to the Fire Prince's domain, Katara found Ozai writing a letter and walked past him to go into the bathroom to wash up. She heard his quill be set down as he got up and his footsteps followed after her.
"Is it done?" He asked.
Katara stripped from her clothes, "Of course. I wouldn't have come back if it wasn't."
"Good girl." He placed his hands on her bare shoulder, "Now tell me, what did that bastard do to you?"
….
Ozai put on his best act as a mourningful son. His father had passed. Finally the man was dead. He threw the items on his desk off in a fashion that would make people believe he was truly hurt by this news. Katara and Ursa were told the news next. Katara fell on her knees and cried real tears as all she could do was feel relief in the evil man's death. Ursa tried comforting the woman as the servants all witnessed her be hysterical. Ursa knew her tears were not in mourning but she felt the same relief as her. They'd soon get what they've been dying to have.
When Ozai returned to his domain for the evening after spending the day arranging for his father's funeral, he went to his bedroom and found Katara waiting in his bed dressed in one of the red lingerie outfits he had the seamstress make for her. Around her neck was a gold collar with a ruby red gem in the middle of it and a gold leash. She held it out to him as she bowed herself to him.
"I am yours, Fire Lord Ozai." She said as she rose from her bow and smirked.
He smirked back and stepped towards his bed, "You're giving yourself to me, are you?"
"For the safe return of my people and the name of the man that killed my father." Katara said.
Ozai took her collar and pulled her just inches from his face, "I plan to honor our deal, my beautiful accomplice. But I'm not taking you as my slave." He kissed her and began pushing her into the bed. "You and all your people will be free."
Katara wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. "I love you, my lord."
"I love you too." He replied as he drank her in and removed his clothes.
The funeral ended and Katara walked behind Ozai and his wife during the procession, holding her daughter's hand. They overlooked the fire pit with the former Fire Lord's body and Ozai lit the pit with his blue flames. Katara watched in victory at the sight of the dead man's body being eaten away by the flames.
I did it, mother. I avenged our people.
Ozai was later crowned Fire Lord and Katara watched from behind the curtains as he was given the crown of the Fire Lord upon his head. She couldn't help but feel some pride in knowing she aided in his ascension. As he gave a speech of ending the war and freeing the enslaved people from the other nations, Katara saw him exit the Fire Lord's podium. His gold gaze met hers and a smirk pulled to his lips.
"Our deal has not yet been met, my lord. The name of my father's murderer."
Ozai took her hand and led her away with him. "Come, let's sort out all the rewards you will be receiving."
Arriving at Ozai's office, Katara was sat down and given all she had asked for as well as the name of her father's murderer.
"It wasn't personal, Katara. I had orders." Ozai told her. "Your brother's death was unforeseen and not my fault. My soldiers were protecting me."
Katara sat frozen in her seat with wide eyes trained in the new Fire Lord.
Seeing she was in a state of shock, Ozai sighed and laced his fingers together. "Say something, Katara. I can't read your mind."
Still staring at him with wide eyes, "You killed my father?"
"Yes. It was me."
"And you used me, the daughter of a man you killed, to help you advance your goals?"
"Look, Katara, I know this is a shocking revelation for you but I have made up for it. I'm freeing your people and helping rebuild."
Katara still couldn't wrap her head around it, "I've been sleeping with my father's murderer."
"Kat-"
"I have a child with my father's murderer."
"Ka-"
"Shut up!" Katara snapped as she stood to her feet. "You sick bastard! You've touched me with the hands you used to slaughter my father!"
Ozai sighed, "It wasn't personal. Again, I had orders."
"You killed my father and sought me out, my lord. That is sickening!"
Ozai rose to his feet and eyed her, "I killed your father and gave you a chance to save your tribe, which you have. Now, let's move forward and focus on the future. You will be my wife in a few short weeks. I need you to prepare."
Katara's eyes watered as she shook her head, "I'm not marrying you, my lord. I refuse to call a monstrous man my husband."
Ozai narrowed his eyes, "Excuse me."
"I'm not marrying you. I'm not sleeping with you. I'm not staying. You've got what you wanted. Let me and Kimiko leave with our people."
Ozai snarled a 'no' and quickly moved around his desk to the water princess. He grabbed her and shook her. Telling her there was no going back on their arrangement unless she wanted everyone to find out she killed the previous Fire Lord. Katara looked up with tears at him and cried.
"I hate you!"
"You can hate me, princess." He said while caressing her face. "But you will always be mine." He trailed his finger over her lips.
"I don't want to marry you." She whispered.
"And you don't have to but you will remain here with me. Always, if you want your people to remain free." Ozai smirked at her.
Katara shut her eyes and turned her head from him, "Very well, my lord."
Ozai reached to kiss her face before sending her on her way.
…
Katara stood quietly as servants measured her and a seamstress fit her for her new wardrobe. Appointed as the new Fire Lord's 1st consort, Katara was to look every bit as glamorous and elegant as a wife of the Fire Lord since he was now unmarried. She would be at his side as a wife would and be treated as his spouse, only she would have no responsibility to the nations as a wife of the Fire Lord would.
All her new ladies and servants sang praises to her as she was so beloved by the Fire Lord that he kept her at his side after ending the war. Katara didn't listen to any of it. She just felt used and made into a trophy. A spoil of war. While her people had been freed just a few days ago and many were returning home by the boatload, Katara felt there was still so much taken from her people that Ozai could never return to them. So much he had taken from her that he could never return to her.
Allowing the women to do their work, Katara stood absolutely still and saw Lyra enter with her son, both carrying the few possessions they had on their back. Katara smiled at them as her servants paused in what they were doing.
"Your highness," Lyra bowed.
Katara stepped off the platform to waltz over to her friend and hugged her, "If my grandmother is still alive, tell her I'm alive and well."
"Will do, your highness."
As the two parted and Lyra took her son to hurry to the docks to return to their homelands, Katara felt a tear run down her eyes.
Later that night, Katara was eating dinner with her lord and their daughter. It was quiet as it had always been. She didn't bother saying a word as nothing needed to be said. Katara simply endured the glances coming from Ozai at the head of the table and ate her food with a refined elegance expected of a woman belonging to the Fire Lord. When their daughter finished, getting up from the table to bow to them and leave with the caregivers, the silence was broken.
"Are you ready to have me again, Katara?" Ozai asked her as he sipped his wine.
Katara rolled her eyes, "Don't pretend I have a say."
"You do."
"Not when there are consequences for refusal." Katara scoffed.
"Then that's a 'yes'."
"Do as you will, my lord."
Rolling out of bed, Katara went to the bathroom to wash herself as she hated having his scent all over her. Ever since discovering he was her father's murderer, she had been able to tolerate him little by little each day. He complained that it saddened him to no end that she was so cold towards him but what could be done?
As she pulled on her night robe and waltz out of her chambers in the Fire Lord's suite, Katara was making her way back to the harem as she would rather spend her night in an enormously empty place than lay another second beside her father's murderer. As she made her way to the edge of the main palace, Katara saw Zuko approach her and smiled softly as she bowed gracefully at him.
"Your highness." Katara greeted.
Smiling back, "Katara, I'm glad to see you, I was meaning to come see you sooner but my father has me so busy these days."
"It is fine, your highness. I understand. Have you adjusted well? To your new role at court?" She asked.
Zuko nodded, "Yes, how has it been in the harem? You have it all to yourself."
Katara sighed as she looked away, "It can be very lonely at times but I bear through it for your father's sake. He's very busy and only sees me when he has the time."
Zuko looked at her a bit somberly, "You can always come see me, Katara. I could use the company now that my mother has gone her separate way from my father."
Beaming at him, "Very well, your highness. I will come see you more often."
And she did. The 1st consort and the Fire Prince hung out quite often as neither had much on their agenda. Ozai had spotted them on several occasions playing around like children. It was a side to her he had never witnessed from his wartorn waterbender. One day while the two were playing their games, Katara noticed that Ozai was approaching her and Zuko. She quickly got up to bow her head but he stopped her with a gesture of his hand before looking to his son.
"Son,"
"Father." Zuko replied.
Ozai glanced over at his waterbender, "Can I have a word with my son privately, Katara?"
Katara nodded and got up from the stone patio table where they played their board game and left.
Once his consort was out of the way, Ozai eyed his son with disdain. "You know she is my consort, don't you?"
Packing up the board game, "Didn't stop you from loaning her to grandfather." Zuko stated. "I don't see why we can't share."
Ozai snarled, "That was for a separate matter. Katara is mine! I took her under my wing and gave her everything she wanted! I will not have you make a move on her!"
Zuko smirked at his father, "It's fine, dad. I just pity her, is all. You free all the other waterbenders but you keep her. Kind of sad for her."
"She and I made a deal. I honored my end of it, she's honoring her end." Ozai stated in a snarky tone.
"Doesn't make it any less sad."
…
"Look at you. You're absolutely beautiful." Ozai kissed all over his waterbender.
Bearing through his affections, Katara kept her eyes shut and tried to ascend from her body and drift off anywhere but where she currently was. He was jealous of her and Zuko's friendship and forbidden them from ever seeing each other again. He condemned her once again to isolation, only to wait for when he wanted to have his time with her. She was less a woman that was desired and loved and more an object to be shelved and wait idly for when its use was required.
"My lord, I am a woman." Katara said as he continued raining her with kisses. "Treat me as such."
Ozai nodded, "Of course." Grabbing the skirt of her dress and pushing it up. "You're all woman and I'll see to it you're treated as such."
Katara wanted to cry as he pushed her against her dresser and took her. This was not what she meant. Not at all. But what was she to expect?
Soaking in her bath, Katara kept her gaze down as Ozai sat behind her in the tub and brushed her wet hair.
"Ozai,"
"Yes, princess."
"Am I a person or an object to you?"
Smirking as he continued brushing her hair, "You're my woman, Katara, and I've managed to feel the impossible for you. Let that be enough to cull your anger towards me."
Katara furrowed her brows, "very well, my lord, but I do not forgive you. Nor shall I ever."
"I can live with that."
…..
~Thirty Years Later~
The gray hairs that had begun to thread in her chestnut hair were combed back as her hair was styled into a topknot by her servants. Her red lip paint and liner applied to her eyes as her nails were painted with gems decorating them. Katara waved her servants to shoo as she got up from her vanity slowly and with the same grace she carried for years. She wanted to analyze herself in the mirror and see how time had been very kind to her. Though she was settled into her fifties and had a mature look to her, she remained the only woman the Fire Lord kept at his side for 30 years. His one and only consort. The proclaimed love of his life.
Making her way through the halls to the main palace from the harem where she resided, Katara saw how already this place was in mourning. He's not even dead, yet. Reaching the Fire Lord's suite, Katara was allowed in by the guards and she slowly made her way to the bedroom where her 'beloved' Fire Lord laid on his deathbed.
"Katara." His voice rasped as his old gold eyes fell on her.
Katara held her hands to her middle and approached the side of his bed, taking a seat there. "My lord." She said as she reached to caress the side of his face. "You've had me summoned."
Ozai coughed into his handkerchief and looked at her wearily as he reached for her hand that caressed his face, "I'm not long for this world, Katara. You know this."
Katara nodded as her face remained stoic as it had been after many years of being his one and only.
"You never forgave me, did you, princess?" He said with a weak smile.
Sighing as she glanced away, "You are my master, my lord. The Fire Lord. What do you need my forgiveness for?"
"I've loved you for all our years together, my beautiful ice princess."
"And I have served you as diligently as I could without fail, my lord. You have never wanted for more as I have fulfilled all your desires. Your eyes have never wandered off. I have been the only woman in your me, what more do you require of me?"
Ozai coughed a little more and Katara seemingly remained unphased.
"Tell me, you love me, Katara." Ozai gripped her hand tight.
Katara's eyes bore into his as she slipped her hand from his grasp.
"Allow me to return home." Katara said. "I want to spend my last decades in my homelands."
Ozai nodded as he coughed. "Now, tell me-"
"Kimiko must be allowed to travel with me."
"Very well," He said. "Now, please…. *Coughing fit* tell me…that you-"
"I love you, Ozai. I have always loved you." A small tear formed in her stoic gaze.
Shutting his eyes, Ozai told his physician to stand by the door and reopened his eyes to a somber looking waterbender.
"You asked to kill the man that murdered your father." Ozai started. "I grant you that request."
Katara's eyes widened at him as he pulled the plush pillow from behind his head and handed it to her.
"Oz-"
"I'd rather you end me than this miserable disease, Katara. I owe you my life anyway."
Tears poured down her cheeks as she accepted the pillow, "You mean this?"
"As long as you forgive me afterwards."
"I don't think I can."
"Please, Katara, that's why I've summoned you here."
"Ozai-"
"Don't let me die like a withering bastard, Katara. This is my last gift to you. Allow me to give it."
Katara tearfully dropped her head and nodded.
Ozai smiled sorrowfully at her. "I love you, princess."
Katara whispered it back as he shut his eyes and she raised the pillow over his head. Placing it over his face, the consort felt him struggle a little as a natural response to being suffocated. She cried hysterically as she continued snuffing the life out of him. When he finally stopped struggling and his movements slowed, Katara felt her heart sink into her gut and a pain agonizing cry escaped her.
"My lord!" She cried out and her head fell to his chest to listen for a heartbeat. When there was silence, Katara lifted the pillow from his face and saw Ozai's eyes were open and dimmed.
The flames ate away at him as she stood beside Kimiko and Zuko during the funeral. Katara hated to see the flame consume the man that gave her everything. He might have killed her father but Ozai had done more than enough to make up for it. She spent the last thirty years of her life with him and he had never been less than good to her. She could never hate the man. He had been her world when hers came crumbling down. Katara felt nothing but heartbreak as his body was now in ashes.
Arriving home in the South Pole, Katara fell on her knees in the snow and bowed her head into it. Her heart was lurching in her chest as she was finally back in her homeland.
"Mama, I'm home!" Katara cried. "I'm finally home again!"
Kimiko patted her mother's back as she tried to help her back to her feet.
"Mom-"
"How could your father do this to me?!" Katara grabbed onto her daughter's parka.
"Do what?" Kimiko was confused.
"He ruined me. He made me forget I was at all who I used to be. Now, I finally remember who I was and I am no longer her. That child has died and my soul is broken because of it." Katara wept. "Now. I'm home and I feel so broken. How could he do this to me?"
Kimiko held her mother. "It'll be alright, mother."
Katara cursed Ozai in his grave and prayed that he burned in hell just as his corpse burned in that funeral procession. Become the ashe he made of her world that he and his ashemaker people had burned to the ground.
"You evil bastard!"
…
A/N:
The end. Hope you guys enjoyed the story. I'm working on completing two other short stories and one is an AU. Not sure which I'm going to post first. But we'll see. Send me ideas! Ozai x Katara and Zuko x Katara.