A/N:
Back to Back chapters
Part 2:
It was strange. Ozai didn't know what it was. He couldn't put his finger on it. All he could do was enjoy the time he spent with Katara and hoped it would always be this way. However, he knew he shouldn't be enjoying it this much and he shouldn't be feeling the way he did either. It had been six months since Katara' attempted on her life and he had taken her under his wing to try and save her life. At first, he was convinced he was doing this simply because he wished he could have done it for his daughter. But as he got to know her, his reasons changed to the fact that she was truly just a sweet person with a warm presence and he wanted to preserve that as much as he could. However, now, he doubt he could utter in his mind why it was he was still doing what he was. It wasn't supposed to turn out like this. But it had and he wasn't sure if he wanted to care that he was falling for her.
Ozai knew telling her this or making himself obvious would be detrimental to her, so he maintained himself well whenever she was around. He didn't smile or grin as much as he felt himself wanting to. He didn't allow himself to become too comfortable around her even though she made it so easy to forget. Spirits, she was amazing. She had an entire library of knowledge in that head of hers, anytime they went out, she'd give him some trivia about the most random of things. Not to mention, she was gorgeous and he couldn't believe it took him so long to notice. Those big blue eyes of hers and her smile, the way she'd get so excited over the smallest things. It was very hard for him to understand why his son would want any other woman. Katara was a dream and Ozai never wanted to wake up.
However, these were all things no one would be able to tell by looking at him. He always treated Katara like she was his daughter instead of a woman he was fawning over. Sure, he'd have occasional moments where he pat her head a little longer than normal or he'd cave and allow her to hug him, hugging her back for longer than he should. Spirits, he didn't even want to admit the things he's done in private at the thought of her. It had been years since he had been with a woman and he was finding it very hard not to act out on his fantasies.
One day, he had stopped by her studio to see her painting with her fingers and noticed she was wearing a crop top with shorts that were up her ass. He never saw her dress like this but then again, he never paid her much attention until now. And it was summer after all. Ozai swallowed hard as he couldn't help but get a good look at her ass as she bent over to dip her finger in the paint can on the floor. Fuck.
Deciding he had looked long enough, Ozai knocked on the door to her studio to let her know he was there. She turned around and greeted him with that same smile she always threw his way. It caused him to grin back at her against his will.
"Ready?" He asked her.
Katara waved her paint covered fingers at him, "I think I need to wash up again. I got a little messy." She giggled.
"I can wait." Ozai told her.
As he waited at the front of the estate outside his car for her, he saw his son pull up and park in the garage area. When he got out his car, Zuko strolled up to his father and asked him where he was taking Katara today.
"She has an appointment at the art gallery. Some of her work is going to be put up and I think it would be wise if you showed up to the art show this Friday." Ozai told him.
Zuko pulled out his phone and looked at his schedule, "I can try."
Ozai narrowed his eyes at him, "Your in-laws will be there."
"Shit." Zuko hissed as he swept his hand over his hair. "Fine, I'll come."
Sucking his teeth at his son and shaking his head, "Why, son? Why are you doing this to her?"
"Doing what?" Zuko asked as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it to smoke.
Ozai glared at him, "She's your Agni fucking wife! And you've not even tried to mend things with her! You've barely spoken a word to her since she got home from the hospital and you don't even try to act like you're not spending time with your mistress! Have some tact!"
Zuko looked his father up and down as he smoked his cigarette, "I already told Katara that this is temporary and that I need it to cope. I don't see why you're complaining to me about this, you two look like you're actually father and daughter having a blast finally. She clearly wants to be around you more than me."
"Because you've been cheating on her and have ignored her for months."
Rolling his eyes as he leaned against his father's car, puffing out some smoke from his cigarette and holding it between his fingers. "Dad, things are fine for now. As soon as they're not fine again, I'll talk to her and sort things out. Promise. Until then, we're just husband and wife on paper. I want to live my life and she can live hers. Just keep an eye on her like you've been doing and soon enough, I'll be back to being the loving husband she married."
"You're so full of shit. Just like your mother." Ozai scoffed.
Zuko scoffed back, "Yeah, well just make sure my wife doesn't do anything crazy again. I'm counting on you."
"This is so crazy!" Katara shrieked in excitement as she held onto her father-in-law's arm.
The gallery director let her know that her artwork caught a lot of attention and there was a lot of buzz on social media about her work as well. She'd be featured in the art show on Friday and was asked to have another piece of art revealed that day for the fans she was accumulating. This was the best news she had gotten in a long time and she was so happy that her father-in-law had helped her get her work out in the open like this. She didn't think she'd do so well since her most recent work was darker and more somber due to it being an outlet for her grief after losing Ryu. However, it seemed people were moved by her work and she was so happy. Happier than she had been in a long time. Ozai took Katara out to the bar per her request and the two had a few drinks together to celebrate.
Leaning against the counter of the bar, Katara beamed at Ozai. "You're the best, you know that?" She raised her third cocktail glass to him.
Drinking from his fourth pint of beer, "Am I? I'm glad you think so."
"You are!" She giggled happily. "You're amazing, really. Just absolutely incredible. I don't know where I'd be without you."
"You flatter me, dear." Ozai smirked at her.
Smirking back as she tilted her head, "Want to do some drunk painting?"
Ozai lifted a brow. "Never heard of such a thing."
"Yeah cause I just thought of it." Katara said as she climbed out of her seat. "Let's go."
And they returned home to the estate, Katara holding his hand as she dragged him behind to her studio. There, she pulled out two bottles of wine and two glasses. She poured them both a glass and handed him his glass.
"Bottoms up." Katara cheered as she toasted her glass to his.
Ozai eyed her as she gulped down her wine and he followed her lead. They each had two more glasses and by the third glass, they slowed themselves down to focus on painting. It was an utter mess and they were both filthy by the time they finished their art pieces. Katara showed off her painting and laughed when he raised a brow at it.
"You don't like it?" Katara asked him.
Ozai shook his head, "I like it."
"What about it?" Katara cheesed at him like a schoolgirl.
Smirking, "What I like about it is that someone talented, beautiful, and tender-hearted made it." Ozai told her as he patted her head and ran his hand down the side of her head, his hand caressing the side of her face. "Anything you make, I'll like, even if you're drunk like this."
"Really?"
Chuckling continued to caress her face, "Yes."
Katara snorted drunkenly as she laughed, "Do you like me?"
"I do."
"I mean 'like me' like me." Katara giggled some more.
Ozai nodded, "I like you a lot."
"No, like do you like me like a man likes a woman?" Katara tilted her head with a goofy grin on her face.
"More than I should."
"Ugh!" Katara got a little frustrated. "I don't think you understand me, I mean like do you-"
Before she could finish that sentence, Ozai took her wrists and held them as he leaned down to capture her lips with his. He felt her stiffen in confusion and being caught off guard which was alright. He just wanted her to know what he felt. She didn't have to return it. Hell, he wasn't going to give her the chance to respond.
Pulling away from her lips, Ozai kissed her forehead and stepped back as he looked her over. "Like I said, I like you alot. More than I should."
With that, he turned and left Katara alone in her studio as he decided he'd retire for the night. Katara was absolutely stunned and she had no clue what to do with herself after having her father-in-law confess to her.
I think I'm in trouble.
…
Friday was upon them and Katara made sure to wear an elegant blue mermaid style dress that complimented her figure and held her breasts up nicely. She wore a pearl necklace and matching earrings. Her hair was styled up in an elegantly disheveled look and she wore light makeup for the occasion. As she was putting on her heels, Katara saw that Zuko had stepped out of the room dressed in a gray suit with a white button up shirt underneath that he let the top two buttons remain open. His hair was parted to the side and was combed over the way he typically wore it for work. She was surprised that he wanted to attend the art show with her but when he told her they needed to keep appearance up for her family, Katara felt he should just not come at all.
"You look really nice, Kat." Zuko complimented her.
Katara slipped her heels on and thanked him.
Telling she was not all too thrilled to be complimented by him, Zuko sighed and stepped outside onto the patio to smoke a cig. As he was out there, he saw his father was not at all dressed for the evening and was approaching with a small box in hand. He blew out smoke into the summer night and met his father halfway.
"What is that?" Zuko asked.
"It's a gift for your wife. My way of congratulating her." Ozai told him.
Putting the cigarette between his lips, Zuko took the box and opened it. "Is this grandma's ruby necklace and earring set?"
Ozai nodded as he looked down at them, "She told me to give them to your mother but she didn't want them, so I figured Katara might like them."
Closing the box and handing it back to his father as he puffed out a cloud of smoke, "See if she'll take em." he told his father.
Ozai nodded and went inside to find Katara was already dressed for the evening. He paused and looked at her with admiration for how lovely she looked. Her blue eyes looked at him and then over herself as he could tell she was not exactly ready to see him so soon after the other night. But he didn't care. He wanted to give her this gift and hoped she accepted it.
"Father…" Katara said in an uneasy tone.
Ozai held the box out to her, "I would have given this to you sooner but it took some looking around to find it."
Katara took the book and opened it. Her mouth dropped as she saw how beautiful the jewelry inside was. Her blue eyes lifted to him as if to say she could not accept.
Shaking his head as he chuckled, "They were my mother's and she wanted me to give them away eventually. Figure they'd look perfect on you."
"F-"
"Please, Katara, I'd rather you just use my name." Ozai told her. "Try to see me as more than your father-in-law."
Katara swallowed hard and nodded her head, "Alright, Ozai, thank you. These are incredibly beautiful. I'm honored." she said stiffly but sincerely. "C-Could you help me put the necklace on?" She asked.
Ozai nodded and she turned around to bare her neck to him. He removed her pearl necklace and placed the ruby necklace on, taking his time snapping it on as he moved his fingertips along the base of her neck just before she turned back around. Her hand touched the large ruby in the middle and smiled a little.
"I think I should change my clothes again." Katara chuckled nervously as she lifted her gaze to him and looked him over, seeing he was not dressed for the event. He was in his house kimono with his hair freely hanging over one shoulder. "Are you not coming?"
Ozai shook his head, "No, figured it would be best for you and Zuko to do some bonding."
Katara furrowed her brows and looked away, "I'd like it if you could still come, Ozai. You're the one that made this possible for me. Please, come."
"I'll be here when you get back." Ozai told her as he patted her bare shoulder.
Sighing, "Okay but please stay up. I want to talk about the other night."
"Of course. I'll be waiting for you by the Koi pond." Ozai told her and even gave her a reassuring grin.
On the way to the gallery, Zuko noticed Katara didn't want to talk much so he kept the music on and had the windows rolled down so he could continue smoking. When they reached the art museum, the couple walked arm in arm into the building where they spotted Sokka and Suki. Zuko could tell Sokka was still upset after discovering that he was having an affair as he didn't even look his way, just spoke to his sister about her artwork.
Sokka and Suki were really excited about the reveal of Katara's artwork. She was one of the featured new artists and so far, she received a lot of compliments on her work. Tonight her additional painting would be released and the director had already stated it was a tear jerker. Zuko didn't know how a painting alone could make someone cry but he wasn't really sure he could handle it. Katara's melancholy was too much for him to deal with. It was why he pushed her off onto his father. His father needed to feel like he could save someone from the depths of despair and Katara needed someone to entertain her, so he saw no problem in leaving them to it.
Walking over to get some champagne, Zuko saw Sokka doing the same, grabbing two glasses to take back to his wife and sister. He then came back to get his own glass and lingered for a bit before turning to look in his direction. Zuko sighed and cut his eyes to Sokka.
"Hope you're not planning to make a scene at your sister's debut." Zuko said before sipping his wine.
Sokka scoffed as he casually approached his childhood friend and settled by his side, looking over to where his wife and sister were gushing over some artwork. "I would never embarrass my baby sister in that way. I just wanted to have a word with you."
"A word?" Zuko snorted as he drank his champagne. "So now you want to talk to me. I'm honored."
Sokka didn't like his snarky sarcasm as it was never like Zuko to be like that in the first place. "Look, man, I don't know what's gotten into you or what you've gotten into but I can see you've lost that look you used to get in your eyes when you look at my sister. She used to light up your eyes but now, I can see you look at her like she's a burden. Just help me understand what my sister did wrong. I can talk to her, help you guys rekindle the spark in your marriage. Let me help. She's my sister but you're also my best friend. I don't want our friendship to end like this."
Zuko looked over at Katara and felt immediate guilt, shaking his head as he drank some more of his champagne. "It's gonna take time, Sokka. For me and her. There's nothing anyone can do to fix us."
"There has to be, Zuko." Sokka looked at him pleadingly. "You look like you've just given up and my sister is just waiting to hear the verdict of whether you'll stay with her or divorce her. This isn't healthy. You two need to talk cause I can tell you guys barely speak."
Sighing as he averted his eyes from Katara, "I guess you're right. I should talk to her."
Sokka sighed, "All I ask, whatever you decide moving forward, please have some tact in doing it. I want to maintain our friendship."
"Sure, buddy." Zuko eyed his glass.
Zuko felt maybe there was no saving the marriage. Things had gone to far and sure, time could fix it but would Katara be willing to wait for as long as it took for him to come back around? When her painting for the evening was revealed, Zuko finally understood what the director meant, that it was a tear jerker. While he was able to hold his tears in, he felt his heart lurch in his chest and he looked over at his brother-in-law, holding his wife to him as she cried softly. On stage his wife explained the title of her artwork and what it meant to her. Darling woman of sorrow, a woman of great pain and emptiness.
On the silent car ride home, Zuko glanced over at his wife a few times and only just realized she was wearing his grandmother's jewelry. He didn't know when he had stopped paying so close attention to her but the guilt of it ate at his stomach.
"That was a great painting you had back there." Zuko tried starting up a conversation with her. "I knew you were good but I didn't realize you were that good."
Katara shifted her gaze from the window to her husband and awkwardly thanked him.
"Maybe you could put some of your work up around the estate? I'm sure my father wouldn't mind since you two are getting along."
Nodding her head in agreement.
Arriving at the estate, Zuko parked the car and before Katara could reach for the door handle and exit the car, he spoke up.
"Kat, we need to talk."
Katara retracted her hand from the door handle and settled back into her seat, "Talk? About what?"
"About us. About the affair. About what you did. About Ryu." Zuko said.
Swallowing hard, "Okay, Zuko. We can talk."
"For starters, I just want to say that I stand by not wanting a divorce. I think we'll be able to survive this." Zuko told her.
Katara looked at him, "Well, I'm relieved to hear that."
"As for the affair, I plan to continue seeing Mai."
"So that's her name? Mai?" Katara felt a little uneasy as she now had a name other than mistress, whore, and homewrecker for the woman that was sleeping with her husband. "How long are you planning to see her?"
Zuko tilted his head as he looked out the dashboard window, "I don't know. Just until I feel like I can stop seeing her. Until I feel like I can get back to us."
Voice shaking, Katara nodded. "O-okay, Zuko…I'll be right here…waiting."
Sighing as he adjusted himself in his seat, "I also think it's best we lived in separate places for now. It's too much living under the same roof. I already looked into apartments in the city and I think I found one that's perfect."
Furrowing her brows as tears formed in her eyes, "So…you're moving out?" Katara asked.
Zuko shook his head and looked to her, "You are."
Dropping her head as she could barely hold it all in but Zuko needed to rip the bandaid off.
"I'll pay for the first six months of your rent but afterwards, you need to take care of your own expenses." Zuko told her. "I think the royalties you receive for your art will take care of that for you. So just keep at it."
Katara broke down and shook her head, "What did I do, Zuko? What did I-"
"You've done nothing wrong, Kat. This is just how things are. So please, don't do anything crazy to yourself."
"I won't." She cried.
"Promise me, Kat."
"I promise!" Katara cried in her hands.
Zuko sighed, "And about the accident, I know it wasn't your fault. Tragedy happens and unfortunately it happened to us. So don't think this is about him because it isn't. This is about us. We've been together for years and I just need to experience something different. I still love you with all my heart, Kat, but if I'm going to be with you for the rest of our lives, you're going to have to let this be for now."
Katara could barely get a word out as she cried.
Reaching to grab the back of her head, Zuko placed a kiss on her cheek before pulling away and getting out of the car. As he entered the estate, he headed to his guest rooms but stopped when he noticed his father was surprisingly up and feeding his koi fish.
"What are you doing up?" Zuko asked him.
"Waiting to hear how the art show went." Ozai told his son as he stood up from his crouched position. "Where's Katara?" He asked as he placed his hands in his sleeves.
Zuko sighed and decided to keep moving, "She's in the car getting herself together."
Ozai raised a brow at his son as he went to his rooms.
Katara was still crying in the car when she was startled by a knock on the window. She quickly wiped her tears and looked out the window to see it was her father-in-law. He opened the door and gestured for her to come out, offering his hand to help her. As she took it and was helped out of the car, he shut the door and looked her over.
"You're too pretty to be crying like this, dear." Ozai pulled out his handkerchief and handed it to her. "What's going on now?"
Wiping her face with the silk cloth, Katara tried speaking. "Zuko's kicking me out."
"He's what?" Ozai lifted a shocked brow.
Sniffling, "He wants to keep seeing his mistress and I told him I'd wait for him. Then he told me he found a place in the city that was perfect but it's not for him, it's for me."
Ozai furrowed his brows in anger at this, "This is my estate. The deed is in my name. He can't kick you out. Not without my approval and you're not going anywhere. I ought to give that idiot a serious talking to. He's lost his fucking mind."
"No." Katara cleared up her face and forced herself to smile, "It's okay. I think I'll be fine. Maybe this will be good."
Ozai scoffed, "You're entirely too naive for someone your age but fine, you want to leave. I won't stop you."
Katara sighed as she looked up at him, "About the other night-"
"Don't worry about it. You've got enough to deal with." Ozai looked away from her. "Let's just get you squared away and then we can talk about it."
Nodding her head, "Thank you."
…
In the morning, Zuko got up and heard a bunch of commotion. He got up and put on some pants to see what was going on. He stepped out on the outdoor walkway and saw some of the staff moving boxes to the front of the estate. He then saw his father directing them down the steps of the estate with Katara standing beside him thanking the staff for their help. A bit confused, Zuko walked over to them, navigating the busily working staff.
"Hey, what's going on?" Zuko asked as he swept his messy bed hair out of his face.
Katara ignored him as her father-in-law addressed him.
"We're just moving your wife's things. You wanted her to move out, didn't you?" Ozai side eyed him with his hands resting in his sleeves.
"Yeah but she doesn't even have the address of the apartment." Zuko told him.
Ozai returned his attention to the staff, "I did some looking online last night. Found a place I figured she might like. We got up early and checked the place out, she's signed the lease and is ready to move out."
"But I already paid six months for another apartment." Zuko explained.
Cutting his eyes at his son, "Then that's where you'll be staying, Zuko."
"Huh?"
"I figured since Katara was leaving that I could finally enjoy some peace and quiet. You need to pack your things too and leave." Ozai told him and then scoffed. "Like I'd let you stay here after this just so you can bring some whore under my roof and fuck her in your wife's bed. Like hell."
"Dad!"
Ozai tilted his head, "You can return in a year but know your wife will be back as well. At that time, I want you two in therapy and actively trying to work things out. Understood?"
Zuko sucked his teeth and skulked off.
At her new apartment, Katara placed some of her boxes off to the side as her father-in-law was sighing the last of the paperwork with the landlord. He paid for the entire year she would be staying here and even made sure it was an apartment that was pre-furnished. The place was beautiful. A nice artsy studio loft apartment with a great view of the city. Her bedroom was up on the loft while she had her kitchen, studio for her art work, and living space down here.
When her father-in-law finished sighing the last of the paperwork and handed the landlord two checks, one for each six months, he walked over to where she was gazing out the massive window of her apartment.
"Do you like it?" He asked her.
Katara nodded, "It's great. I think I'll do well here."
"I'm glad to hear that. Now, your rent is paid for the year, I have to call in the morning for the utilities so don't worry about that. Just focus on you and don't be a stranger." Ozai told her.
Katara smiled up at him and nodded. "You could stay for dinner? I was going to order takeout and maybe we can talk about the other night."
Ozai nodded.
Slurping her noodles from the takeout box, Katara made a few glances at her father-in-law as he was eyeing her for some reason. She figured now would be a good time to speak with him about what happened.
Putting her takeout box down, "So…about you kissing me the other night-"
"I overstepped." Ozai said. "I'm sorry."
"I wouldn't really say that. I'm just kind of confused."
"About?"
"You always seem so adamant about me and Zuko working things out." Katara pulled her hair behind her ear. "How could you…feel that way about me?"
Ozai glanced to the side as he toyed with his chopsticks, "I want to say it's because I've been alone for ten years but that's not exactly it. I don't know, can't I just have feelings for you and that be the end of it?" His gold eyes went back to her.
Katara blushed and looked down, "So…you're not going to kiss me like that again? Or try anything?"
"Can't say." Ozai was being entirely too honest. "I don't exactly consider you and my son together right now. So, I might be tempted to make a move on you but if you were to tell me not to, I won't do anything."
"Oh…okay." Katara swallowed hard.
Ozai tilted his head at her, "Do you not want me to do it again?" He watched the girl turn several shades red and smirked as he moved his hand across the table to her. "You don't have to answer that but I would like to know if you wanted to go see a movie with me tomorrow?"
Katara lifted her eyes to him, "Like a date?"
Ozai nodded.
"But I'm your son's wife….we can't-"
"Says who?" Ozai furrowed his brows. "My son's out fucking his secretary with no care that it's hurting you. You have no reason to be loyal to him."
Katara sighed at this, "I know and I've thought about getting even with him plenty of times. I'm sure he won't be happy to see me do the same as him but I still plan to be married to him. If I was going to break my vows, it would have to be-"
"With someone that isn't his father? Yes but Zuko doesn't have to know and as soon as you two get back together, I'll back off." Ozai told her as he focused his gaze on her lips. "But until then I say we enjoy each other a little better."
Katara hated how heated she felt from the silk huskiness of his voice. It was laced with seduction and she hadn't felt this sort of heat in a very long time. She couldn't remember the last time her husband touched her or took her out on a date or made love to her or even doted on her. But here his father was, trying to convince her that the following year could be spent getting what she had gone without for so long. Could she agree to having such a relationship with the man? He had been looking after her for over six months and she really came to enjoy his company. Would it be so wrong if she said 'yes'? Should she say 'yes'?
Furrowing her brows, "I'm flattered. I am. Really. It would be nice seeing how things went between us. We clearly have a natural chemistry already and I think I'd be up for that with you." Katara started as she pulled her hair behind her ear some more. "But could I really go through with being unfaithful to my husband? Your son? And with his father no less?"
"Look, I'm a fifty-one year old man, Katara. I haven't been with a woman since directly after I divorced my wife. I'm not going to rush you to make a decision you have doubts about. If you want to stay faithful to my son, I commend you but if you change your mind, I'd gladly show you a good time."
Blushing even more, Katara fanned herself and kept her gaze away from her father-in-law that was making advances on her. Chuckling awkwardly, "A good time, huh? I guess going to the movies would be a good time."
Ozai snorted, "Don't play coy, Katara. You know what I mean. Young and hot blooded as you are, I'm sure you'll eventually reconsider my offer."
Swallowing hard, Katara didn't know what to say to that.
Getting up from the bar stool of her island counter, Ozai went around the counter to her and pulled her to him. She braced herself against him, shocked that he was hugging her as she knew hugs were not his forte. Stupidly, she lifted her gaze up to him to see if he was okay and he took it as an opportunity to kiss her. He captured her lips once again and kissed her very sensually. Only this time, she failed to resist the urge to kiss him back. One hand placed on his cheek as she returned his kiss back with the same energy he was giving her. She wanted it known that she would think his offer over and that she didn't mind sharing a kiss or two with him.
Pulling away from her, Ozai smirked and kissed her one last time before pulling away. "I still want to see you tomorrow."
"You can." Katara removed herself from him and straightened herself out. "But I need you to keep your lips to yourself, okay?"
"I'll try."
"Thank you."
…
A month into being on her own didn't really feel like she was on her own. Her father-in-law was over almost everyday. For the most part they went out together on what he referred to as dates but she would be quick to just call them outings. She wasn't really ready to say they were 'seeing' each other even though she treated the end of each 'outing' as a date and kissed him on the lips, allowing herself to picture they were dating. Not to mention, there were a few close calls between them where she almost ended up in bed with him.
The first time was when they watched a movie in her living room one night and started kissing her, coaxing her into a make out session. Next thing she knew, she was running her hands against his toned bare chest and her bra was somewhere on the floor. It got very heated that night and she almost let him take her up to her loft but she looked in his eyes and saw the eyes of her husband. She was ridden with guilt and they stopped right there for the night. It left things awkward between them until they almost ended up doing it again. Only this time, Katara's guilt was not what stopped her but rather the forces of nature. Seemed her cycle wanted to come that day and while he told her he didn't care, she absolutely wouldn't sleep with him for the first time like that.
Out for smoothies with her sister-in-law, Katara was very distracted as Suki tried telling her how she hadn't been feeling well lately. Her distracted behavior didn't go unnoticed by Suki and the woman snapped her fingers in her face.
"I think I should stop seeing him!" Katara blurted out.
Suki's eyes widened. "Stop seeing who?"
Covering her mouth as she just blabbed, "Fuck! I said that out loud!"
Narrowing her eyes, "Katara, are you seeing someone?"
Katara shut her eyes and nodded her head.
"Wow, I'm shocked." Suki looked at Katara like this was a major deal and it was. All the time she had known her sister-in-law, Suki had only known Katara to have eyes for Zuko. She was obsessed with him in a way that Sokka used to say was not healthy and sure enough, it hadn't been. However, Suki was very caught off guard to learn Katara finally was looking at another man, she wondered who this man was.
"When do you have time to see anyone?" Suki slurped her smoothie. "You're always out with Zuko's da-..."Suki's eyes widened. "Katara, no! Please tell me you aren't!"
Katara opened her eyes as she cringed in shame of what she just gave away. "It was just us going on outings but they've turned into something more and now, things are going in a certain direction that I don't think I'm ready for. How can I do 'that' with his father? I mean, his father says once me and Zuko get back together that he'll back off but we can enjoy ourselves more in the meantime."
Suki was speechless.
"Please, tell me what I should do?! I'm so lost here. This is uncharted territory for me."
Suki swallowed her shock and tried thinking for a second, "I don't really know what to say, Katara. While I feel like you should do to Zuko what he's doing to you, I don't know if you should be doing that with his father."
Rubbing her temple, "I know. It's wrong but I really like it. I like it too much. Me and his father have more in common than Zuko and I. Not to mention, I don't think I could bring myself to see anyone else. I really enjoy being with him."
Sighing as that seemed like something she was going to have to unpack the next time she saw Zuko's father out with Katara, "I mean…if that's something you want to do and you're both prepared to end things when the time comes, I guess it's okay."
"Just please, don't tell Sokka. He and Zuko still talk to each other."
"Your secret is safe with me."
Katara returned home and as she entered the apartment building she saw her father-in-law was already there about to catch the elevator up to her apartment. She caught it with him and he grinned at her, asking if she wanted to go to the beach with him. He told her he hadn't been in years and wanted to go with her. Katara agreed that going to the beach would be nice but she wanted to see if her brother and sister-in-law would come.
"I'm trying to have a romantic trip with you and you want to invite your brother and his wife." Ozai raised a brow at her.
Bashfully looking away from him, "Romantic how?" Katara asked him.
Moving in closer to her, Ozai loomed over her and smirked. "I figured it should spark things further between us."
"W-we could do that here." Katara said awkwardly.
Smacking his hand into the elevator wall above her head, Ozai leaned forward to her. "We could but I'd prefer to romance you with a beach getaway, some fine dining, and then a sunset walk on the beach. Afterward, I will have my way with you followed by your body trembling as you scream my name in pleasure. I want this to be something you don't forget. Got it?"
Katara nodded her head as she was pinned to the wall.
Leaning off of her with a smirk, "Good. Now that we're on the same page, I say we got out to dinner tonight. Put on something nice. I want to show you off to some friends of mine."
Katara's eyes widened, "Ozai, we're not supposed to-"
"Hush hush." He told her as they got off on her floor. "I'll be introducing you as my daughter-in-law. Nothing more."
Sighing, Katara figured it shouldn't be too bad. Plus, it's not like they were sleeping together…yet.
Ozai had to say his son was fucking dumb ass for leaving a woman like Katara to her lonesome. He couldn't keep his eyes off of her. She was absolutely beautiful on top of everything else that made her amazing. His son didn't deserve her and he never prayed but he prayed they divorced. While his was out enjoying some secretary, Ozai planned to enjoy his son's wife to the very fullest, in whatever way she allowed him to have her.
"Ah, you made it." One of Ozai's longtime friends said as he walked in with Katara holding onto his arm. "And who's this?"
Ozai gestured to the woman on his arms, "This is my daughter-in-law, Katara. Katara, these are my friends, Zhao and Shinji."
The two men looked the beautiful woman over and asked her what her heritage was.
"Water Tribe." Katara told him awkwardly. "Both my parents were from the South Pole."
"Oh! She's a gem." Zhao said as looked the young woman up and down. "A pretty little sapphire dorn in rubies. Your son is a lucky man."
Ozai scoffed, "He's an idiot."
"How so?" Shinji asked.
"Let's get a few drinks and we'll talk about it."
The two men led the way to where their table was and Ozai saw Katara fidget nervously.
"What's wrong?"
Katara looked around at the incredibly elegant place they were in. "This place looks very expensive."
"Yes and as you know, I'm a rich man."
"But I feel so weird being out like this with you." Katara admitted. "What if they catch on to us?"
"Let them." Ozai scoffed. "They've done far worse than we're doing. Trust me, you're in for an interesting night."
And Katara was. She was utterly taken aback with how these grown men each acted half their age around each other. It was crazy. The drinks kept coming and the food's only job was to help them take in more alcohol. They each told stories about their youth, trying to entertain her with some good laughs and she'd admit she was having a good time. Drinking, eating, and laughing with them. She was having a great time until a question came up at the table.
"So, how's marriage treating your boy, Ozai?" Shinji asked.
Ozai scoffed as he poured himself and Katara more wine, "My son is an idiot."
"Yes, you said that earlier." Zhao said as he glanced at Katara. "Your husband's an idiot apparently. Sounds like he's fucked up."
Katara took her wine glass after Ozai poured more and started chugging it.
"He's been working late hours with his secretary." Ozai scoffed. "Leaving his beautiful little wife for me to look out for."
Shinji smirked, "Lucky you. His loss. Any man that has this broad as a wife and wants to sleep with another broad is an absolute retard. I mean you've got to have shits for brains to wanna bang anybody but this woman."
Katara blushed.
Smirking, Ozai glanced at Katara and she looked back at him. The exchanged was picked up by the two men and they immediately started laughing loudly.
"No fucking way! Oh my Agni!" Shinji was lost for words.
Zhao cheered his friend on, "I'd hate to be your dumbass son!"
Katara nudged Ozai as she pouted at him.
Patting her head, "I'm sorry, dear." he chuckled. "But if it makes it any better, we haven't slept together."
Shinji and Zhao looked at Katara.
"Is that why your husband's fucking the secretary? You don't put out?" Shinji asked.
Katara narrowed her eyes at them, "My husband and I have been together since we were young. He wanted to experience something new."
"And you want to experience his father."
The two men burst into laughter as Katara got up and excused herself to the bathroom. When she left, Ozai eyed his friends and drank the last of the wine.
"I'd tread carefully the rest of the night, you two." Ozai said in a cold tone. "This is a little more than me getting my son's wife underneath me. I have actual feelings for her. She's not just some broad to be fucked. I'm trying to form an actual relationship with this woman."
Zhao scoffed and drank his wine, "How you gonna do that when she's married to your son?"
Ozai shrugged, "I doubt their marriage will last. I'm actually looking forward to my son ruining things."
Shinji stirred his finger in his wine glass, "What if they mend their relationship?"
"Then I guess I'll have to intervene." Ozai grinned to himself. "My son doesn't deserve her nor does he appreciate her. She'd be better off with me."
Zhao and Shinji smirked.
"You going to trap her like you did Ursa?" Zhao asked.
Shinji side-eyed Ozai, "I think he will."
"If it comes to it." Ozai sighed. "I wouldn't mind having another child at this age. It'd be better than that disappointment of a son I have."
"I forget you're cunning at times." Shinji said.
"More like evil." Zhao scoffed. "He's planning to knock her up and ruin his son's marriage. Gotta be an evil bastard to even think like that."
Ozai saw Katara was returning to the table, "Not right away but eventually if need be."
The reservation to the beachfront resort was booked and Ozai had bought Katara enough outfits to wear each day of the trip. All he needed to do was go pick up Katara from her apartment. But as he left his estate and was about to enter his car, Zuko pulled up and parked beside him. Ozai stood outside his car to see what Zuko wanted.
Zuko saw his dad had some bags in the backseat of his car and raised a brow, "What's that?"
"Heading out of town to see a friend." Ozai told his son. "Need to get out of the estate."
"Is it a female friend?" Zuko noticed the yellow and white polka dot bikinis dangling out of the bag.
Ozai smirked, "Yes, it's a romantic getaway. Figured it's been long enough since your mother and I divorced."
Zuko grinned at his dad, "I'm glad to hear that."
"So, what did you need? I'm about to head out."
"I just needed Katara's address. Figured I'd talk to her about something real important." Zuko said nervously.
Ozai tilted his head, "About what?"
"Ummm….well, I think I want to try and work things out. Go to counseling or something."
Furrowing his brows at this, "I think it's best you wait till I get back in town to have that conversation with her."
"You think she'll be up to it?"
Ozai sighed and leaned against his car, "Zuko, I'm going to be honest with you. Katara's seeing someone."
Zuko's expression went from shock to something his father would say looked like jealousy, hurt, and disbelief.
"Seeing someone?" Zuko furrowed his brows. "Seeing who?"
Ozai shrugged, "I go to check on her once a week and last week I went, she puts on some tea like a good daughter-in-law would. Next thing I know, some guy shows up."
Zuko clenched his fists, "He shows up and then what?"
Sighing, Ozai folds his arms. "Nothing. I leave. Gave them some privacy."
"You should have said something!"
"What? She's a grown woman and she's separated from you right now. What? You thought you'd bang your secretary and Katara would just wait idly for you to return?" Ozai laughed. "Oh, you stupid boy. Your wife is getting laid, fucked, plowed, bent over and dominated, and there's nothing you can do about it." Ozai turned to open his car door. "You've made your bed, now lie in it."
Zuko stood back as his dad got strapped in and backed out of the driveway.
….
Honestly, Katara was worried about the future. How could she not? She had hoped her and Zuko would make amends and get back together but the more time she spent with his father, the more she realized she and Zuko had issues way before they even got married.
As soon as they arrived at the beach, Ozai had picked out the luxurious hotel and took her up to their suite. A room she never thought could have existed. It was so nice and he had bought her the cutest sundresses and yellow bikini. Knowing her measurements to a T. The two of them went downstairs, got couples massages, went out on the beach and walked hand in hand as they watched the sunset fall over the horizon. They had dinner together at a wonderful restaurant and when they got back to their room, Katara was surprised to see rose pedals all on the floor leading up to the bed where she saw two bottles of champagne in an ice bucket with a tray full of desserts beside it. In all the time she had been with Zuko, he never once did anything like this for her and she hated to think that they were doomed from the start.
"What's wrong?" Ozai tilted his head as he saw her eyes glisten with tears.
Katara sniffled and wiped her eyes, "It's nothing. I just…no one's ever put anything like this together for me. I kind of feel like I missed out."
Moving behind her, Ozai wrapped his arms around her middle and pressed his lips to the crown of her head. "This doesn't have to be the only time. You're worth the effort, Katara."
Turning around in his arms, Katara looked up at him sadly. "Really?"
"I wouldn't bother if you weren't."
A small smile formed on her lips.
"Come, let's eat the chocolate coated fruit." Ozai pulled her along to the bed with him.
The two enjoyed their dessert as they drank and conversed. It was when Katara was a drink away from having too much that Ozai took her glass from her and finished it for her. He tossed the glass aside on the floor and looked at her intensely. She bashfully tried to look away from him as she knew what he wanted to do next.
Fidgeting a little as she blushed and looked down at her hands, "If we do this, I don't know if I could face Zuko properly again. He won't know but I will."
"You worry too much about his feelings when he cares nothing about yours." Ozai told her. "But you don't have to do this if you don't want to. I enjoyed today nonetheless."
Katara climbed out of bed and went to the bathroom to get dressed for bed.
Lounging on his side in the bed, Ozai sighed to himself and drank from the bottle of champagne. While he wasn't going to force or rush her into sleeping with him, he was a little disappointed but it was fine. He could be patient. Very patient. This wasn't just him trying to hook up with his son's wife. No, he was in it for the long game because he wanted her and he'd have her. Eventually.
Katara came out in a silk black nightgown with lace trimming. She wore her hair completely down and fluffed out around herself. Seeing Ozai was already in bed asleep and snoring, Katara realized she took too long freshening up. Sighing to herself, the petite woman made her way to the other side of the bed and climbed in. As she did, she tried snuggling up to Ozai as it had been the first time she laid in bed with someone who wasn't Zuko. She reached out to push his hair from his face and sighed as she suddenly remembered the first time she and Zuko slept in the same bed. His back was turned to her and tried spooning him in order to feel close but Zuko hated that sort of thing.
"Good night." Katara whispered to Ozai as she wiggled herself close to kiss him on the nose before pulling back to settle in her spot.
In the morning, Katara woke to arms wrapped around her and the warmth of a large form held her to it. She snuggled herself into the warmth and smiled to herself.
"Good morning." Ozai said in a groggy voice.
"Morning, Zuko." Katara murmured.
It wasn't until she felt the body she was resting against stiffen and heard the erratic way their heart beat that she realized what she did. Her eyes snapped open just as the person she slept beside started pulling away from her.
"Oz-"
"It's fine. I get it." Ozai said as he sat up in bed and threw his legs over the side of the bed. "Still barely awake."
Katara sat up and looked to him, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
Looking over his shoulder as he rustled his long hair, "I said you're fine. No need to apologize. We're good."
"But-"
"I'm going to take a shower." Ozai cut her off before getting up and going into the bathroom.
Katara flinched as he slammed the door behind him.
The rest of the trip was awkward and uncomfortable for them both. Katara knew she fucked up and Ozai felt like he stood no chance against his son with this woman. Returning home, Ozai dropped Katara off at her apartment and helped her take her things inside. He watched her wear a seldom look on her face as she set her things aside.
"I guess I'll see you later." Ozai said as he turned to leave.
Katara reached for his arm as he turned to leave but couldn't bring herself to grab his arm. She clearly upset him and after all he did for her. How could she-
"Oh, one thing I forgot to mention on the trip." Ozai paused for a second. "Zuko, he stopped by the house when I was leaving. Wanted to speak to you about something. Can I give him your address?"
Katara nodded, "Y-yes."
"Very well. Have a good night."
The following day, Katara was curled up with her pillow on the sofa, staring at her phone. She was impatiently waiting for Ozai to text her but a text never came. Typically, he would text her in the morning asking her how she slept but it was two hours past the time he normally would have reached out to her. Oh, she fucked up big time and she hated it. At least with Zuko, she knew she was wronged but Ozai, she was the one in the wrong and she was so mad at herself. How could she be so stupid.
A knock came at the door and Katara jumped up to answer it. Rushing to the door, Katara pulled the door open and was surprised to see it wasn't Ozai. Instead, it was her husband and it looked like he was happy to see her.
"Hey, Kat. Can we talk?" Zuko said as he held up a box of breakfast cake that she liked to eat.
A bit disappointed, Katara opened her door to let him in and told him to set it on the table.
It was late afternoon and Ozai was feeding his koi fish while wearing his house kimono. It was an understatement to say he was bothered by Katara calling him by his son's name the morning after he showed her a good time. However, he wasn't going to simply let things be as he was determined to have her. He hadn't wanted a woman this much in ages and he was not about to let her slip away from him.
Dazing off at his Koi fish, "I know. I know. I need a new look." Ozai sighed as he glanced at the hair he wore over his shoulder.
It had been years since he last cut his hair. Likely back in his twenties, he believed. Maybe it was making him look older or maybe it wasn't a good look on him anymore. That and his more traditional style of clothing that he had been wearing during his retirement.
Pulling his phone out of his pocket, Ozai called up his friends and told them to come by. He needed to make some changes.
Zuko was stopping by to see his father when he was let in by the staff. He went looking for his father and found him sitting in a chair getting his haircut. It was shocking. In all his life, Zuko had always seen his father with long hair and to see him cutting it, he couldn't believe it.
"Dad, what are you doing?" Zuko looked at his father's hair that had fallen on the floor.
Ozai was having Shinji clip the ends of his hair when he looked up to see Zuko, "I need a more youthful look, Zuko."
"What for?"
Zhao smirked as he was eating some grapes, "Your father's lady friend is a very beautiful young lady, Zuko. He's trying to keep her attention."
Zuko raised a brow, "How old is she?"
"Mid-twenties." Ozai said nonchalantly. "It's just hair. Nothing to cry over."
"But you look like you want to cry over it." Zuko said.
Oh, Ozai loathed seeing his hair on the floor but he knew it would be worth it if it meant Katara looked at him as less of Zuko's father and more as a man that wanted to be with her. He even went out and bought an entirely new wardrobe that he had Zhao help him pick out. It was time for a change anyway. So this wasn't solely about Katara.
Deciding to change the subject as Shinji continued working on his hair, "How'd it go with Katara? You two ready to get back together."
Zuko sighed, "I think you were right about that other guy she's seeing. She opened the door for me and I saw her smiling but it was like she realized it wasn't who she was expecting."
Ozai turned his head to smirk as Shinji tried not to laugh.
"Then when I talked about seeing if we could take counseling, she was staring out the window like she was waiting to see someone and barely paid attention to me. Like, she's never done that before. Kat always listens to me."
"And did you always listen to her?" Ozai eyed his son.
Zuko sighed, "I mean, I'd try but Katara's kind of into things I'm not interested in. But anyway, I finally got her attention to tell her I found a couple's therapist for us and do you know what she told me?"
"What?"
"She said she's not ready to get back together with me and that she thought she could forgive me easily but living alone has helped her realize we have a lot more problems than me cheating on her."
Ozai tried not to show how delighted he was to hear this, "I could have told you that, Zuko."
"But-"
"Look, one of the reasons I never liked her in the beginning was because she seemed obsessed with you and I could always tell that you didn't like her as much as she liked you." Ozai told his son. "You can't expect her to fall back in your arms because you're ready. You did a number on her and your cheating is definitely not the issue you two have. Give it time and be patient. I'm sure she'll come around."
Zuko sighed as he shook his head, "I swear if I knew who the guy was, I'd just scare him off or something. I doubt he knows she's married."
"Oh, he knows." Zhao laughed. "He just doesn't care."
Feeling so messed up by this all, "I was supposed to be the only man Kat was ever with and just thinking about her sleeping with someone else, I can't sleep knowing she's with someone else."
Ozai rolled his eyes, "I know she felt the same way about you. I tried to warn her and she refused to listen. Bet she felt stupid when she found out."
"It's different. I'm not fucking Mai to have a relationship. It's just physical and nothing serious. But the way she barely looked my way, I feel whoever this guy is, he's trying to take my wife." Zuko said angrily.
Literally all three men burst into laughter.
"This isn't funny!" Zuko said defensively.
Ozai scoffed as Shinji finished with his hair and stood up, "Son, this whole situation was created by you. You're the one that stepped out on your marriage, neglected your wife, treated her like she was a burden, and then kicked her out on her own. The woman you couldn't be bothered with, the woman that you couldn't put any effort into, the woman you couldn't stay faithful to is enjoying the company of another and you have to deal with it. I'd be surprised if she doesn't come to you for a divorce soon enough."
Zuko furrowed his brows at his father, "Why are you siding with her?! I'm your son!"
"And you're an idiot!" Ozai barked at his son as he got in his face. "You don't deserve that woman! You never did!"
"How can you say that to me?! I've loved her since we were in junior high together!"
"Your love is cheap, Zuko." Ozai walked around his son. "Just like your mother, things get tough or bothersome and you tap out while leaving your partner to deal with ramifications of your actions. I'm taking her side because I know what she's going through. We have a lot in common. More than the two of you do."
Zuko eyed his father suspiciously, "If I didn't know better, I'd think-"
"Oh my Agni, I'm too old for this shit. Zuko, get lost." Ozai pinched his brows. "I have better things to do than try to sympathize with your situation."
Zuko scoffed and stormed off.
When his son was gone, Zhao tossed one last grape into his mouth and smirked at Ozai while he was looking himself over in the mirror.
"You're a twisted bastard, my friend." Zhao said. "That idiot is still your son."
Ozai was liking his new look and figured he should probably go see Katara in the morning, "He's his mother's son. I can't help that he annoys me. But I did get carried away there. Can't have him suspecting me yet." Smirking at his reflection, "I want him to be really shocked when he finds out the man is me."
Shinji shook his head, "You shouldn't get too cocky yet, Ozai. She may very well choose her husband in the end."
Shrugging his shoulders, "She won't have the option to when I'm done with her."
…
Katara was just getting out of the shower and had her towel wrapped around her when she went to answer the door. She really hoped it wasn't Zuko trying to talk to her again. He really annoyed her yesterday. That jerk showed up with women's cologne on him and tried to say he wanted to get counseling together. She didn't have time for his half assed apology or his lack of respect for her as his wife. Especially when she had thought things over and realized his father took more time out with her than he ever did the entire time she's known him. It would take a lot more for her to get back with him. A whole lot more.
Answering the door, Katara's mouth dropped as she saw it was Ozai but he looked completely different. She saw him smirk and she quickly closed her mouth and blushed as she was embarrassed to be seen gawking at him.
"Can I come in?" He asked him in a playful tone.
Katara nodded and opened the door for him to enter.
As he walked in and looked around, Ozai went up to her window view. "Zuko stopped by yesterday. Said you weren't wanting to do counseling with him."
Folding her arms, "Well, he came here smelling like women's perfume with some half assed apology." Katara scoffed as she furrowed her brows. "He's going to have to do better than that if he ever wants to get back with me. Besides, right now, I need my space from him. I think I'm over feeling sorry for myself and trying to be the bigger person. He clearly hasn't cared about my feelings this whole time."
Ozai smirked to himself with his back turned to her.
"So, is your new look why you didn't bother to text me yesterday?"
"Sort of." Ozai sighed as he turned around. "But honestly, I was a little bothered by you referring to me as Zuko on our trip."
Katara walked up to him, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to call you by his name. I'm just not used to waking up next to anyone but him and even though it's been a long time since I last shared the same bed as him, I just think in my drowsy state I thought it was him. Please forgive me."
"I forgive you." Ozai said as he sort of just noticed she was in a towel. "What are your plans today?"
Katara shrugged, "I was going to get some more paint and probably work on some more work to put up in the gallery."
"Anyway I could convince you to stay in, let me cook for you, and then we can get busy under the sheets?" Ozai grinned wolfishly at her as he ran his fingers along her collar bone.
Blushing, "I really need to get my supplies but we can still do the rest." She said meekly.
Ozai reached for her towel and pulled it open, his gold eyes moving from her bashful expression down to her naked body. It was the first time he was seeing her completely naked and honestly, he had to say all he wanted to do was drag his tongue along her brown skin. Her dark nipples on her supple breasts were just begging him to suck on them and it seemed she liked to keep a neatly groomed patch of hair by her sex, something he didn't mind. Then there were her curve hips and slender waist. He could picture himself holding one hand on her waist while the other gripped her thigh. Tossing her towel on the floor, Ozai grabbed her shoulders and turned her around to see that perfect ass of hers. Agni, he just wanted to sink his fingers into it.
Leaning down to her ear, Ozai blew her hair from it and whispered. "You can get your supplies afterwards. I'm taking you upstairs."
Katara yelped as he scooped her up bridal style and carried her to the steps leading up to her loft. "Wait! Wait! I need to straighten up!" she wiggled around in his arms.
"I don't care if there's a mess. You're going to make an even bigger mess in a minute." Ozai laughed maniacally.
"Wait!"
Reaching the top of the stairs, Ozai could see there was no mess and she was just trying to get out of what he had planned for her. However, as he went to drop her on her bed, he noticed something and paused.
"Sweetheart?"
Katara squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment. "Yes…"
"I never took you for the type that pleasured herself." Ozai raised a brow at the sex toys scattered on her bed.
Wiggling her way out of his arms, Katara got down on her feet and gathered her toys up to quickly store away in the black trunk by her bed. She pushed it under and turned to see her father-in-law eyeing her funny.
"You're into freaky shit, aren't you?"
Katara blushed and covered her face, "You weren't supposed to see any of that!"
Laughing, "I'm glad I did. Let's me know not to take it easy on your freaky ass. Now get on the bed." Ozai pulled at the belt of his pants, "I'm tired of playing games with you."
Katara climbed into the bed as Ozai tossed his shirt on the floor. He was about to undo his pants when a knock came at the door and the two looked dead at each other.
"Go hide!" Katara hissed as she hurried to climb out of her bed and rushed to go find her short black night robe.
Throwing it on as she raced down the steps, Katara tied the belt and went to her door. Opening her door, Katara saw it was Zuko and he looked anxious. She tried to quickly shut the door but he forced his way in.
"Kat, we need to talk. Something's happened." He said in worry.
Katara furrowed her brows at him for how he just barged in here, "What, Zuko?"
Zuko paced around with his hands on his hips, "Mai's pregnant."
"Mai?" Katara was confused.
"My secretary! She's pregnant!"
Katara's eyes widened.
Zuko looked at her in desperation, "Kat, this was only supposed to be temporary. I didn't mean for it to be like this." he approached her. "You have to believe me."
Backing away from him, Katara refused to look at him a moment longer. "I think you need to leave, Zuko."
"Kat-"
"No, Zuko!" Katara shouted at him out of nowhere. "Get out!"
"But Kat, I-"
"GET OUT!" Katara screamed.
Zuko did as she asked him and the door slammed behind him.
Katara felt her heart speeding out of her chest as she stumbled over to the kitchen. She frantically looked for her bottle of wine from her wine cooler. As she was about to reach for a glass from the cabinet, she felt something warm press up against her from behind as a taller form reached over her head and grabbed two glasses. She turned to see Ozai and he took the bottle of wine from her.
"Just one thing after the next, huh?" Ozai said as he poured them some wine.
Katara walked up beside him and took her glass, immediately drinking it all down before gesturing for more. He poured her more and watched her down the second glass, filling it back up when she set it down.
"I think I'm done, Ozai." Katara said as she eyed the third glass. "I think-" gasping for air as she was about to lose it. "I think I want a divorce." she took the third glass and gulped it down, letting out a cry as she finished it.
"Sweetheart, take your time." He said as he refused to pour her more. "Getting drunk isn't going to make things better."
"Then what will?!" Katara looked up at him with wide eyes. "What's going to make me feel better?! Cause I've lost my son and I've just lost my husband! You tell me, Ozai, since you've been through this already, tell me what makes this better!"
Ozai sighed as she had angry tears in her eyes. "Only time helps, dear. I'm sorry."
Katara let out a cry at that answer, "Time?! I can't wait for time! I can't-"
A pair of strong arms wrapped around her as a pair of lips pressed to the crown of her head, "Go get dressed. Let's get those supplies and I'll fix dinner. We can watch whatever you want."
Returning with her supplies, Katara went over to where her workshop was as Ozai took the groceries he got to the kitchen and started fixing dinner. The two didn't say much as they went about their business and even while eating dinner, neither said much. Putting on a movie, they lounged on the couch together and Katara rested herself against Ozai.
As the movie went on, Katara felt she could barely watch it as her mind kept going back to the bomb Zuko dropped on her earlier. She needed a better distraction and she knew exactly what would help her move past the terrible news she got. Lifting her head from his chest, Katara looked up at him with her somber blue eyes and saw his eyes move from the tv to her.
"Something wrong?" He asked her.
Katara sat up from him, not taking her eyes off of him as she reached for the hem of her shirt and pulled it off of herself, tossing it aside. Ozai drew his eyes from her blue ones and looked down to her breasts, biting his lips. She didn't realize he could move so quickly as he grabbed her in his arms and flipped her underneath him, taking her breast in his mouth as he groped the other one. It was when he finished sucking both breasts that he smashed his lips to hers and the two went at it. Katara's hands went through his ear length hair and gripped at it as he was busy trying to undo her pants. Once her pants were tossed over the other side of the couch, Ozai pulled her panties off and grabbed her around her waist, lifting her up as he stood to his feet. She cupped his face and kissed him passionately, her legs wrapped around his middle as he carried her up to her loft.
Once there, he sunk down onto the bed with her and they continued making out. Their hands roaming one another's bodies. Ozai pulled himself away to undress before climbing back into bed with her.
It had to be wrong. It had to be. Nothing should have felt this good but it did. Ozai's back had been all clawed up from Katara as she clung to him tight. He gave her the best fucking of her life and she begged him not to stop. She screamed his name and cried out for more, wanting the night to never end. Fisting his hair as she bucked back into his thrusts, meeting him halfway to make the experience as good for him as it was for her.
Katara turned into a sex crazed mad woman when she pushed him off of her and straddled him down on her bed. She held her hands on his bare chest and rode him hard. Her ass bouncing off of him as he held it tight in his hands, thrusting up into her. She leaned off of him and squeezed her breasts, still vigorously working herself up and down his cock.
"You like that?" Katara asked him as she saw him throw his head back.
"Yes, sweetheart, keep fucking daddy just like that." Ozai hissed through his teeth. "Oh fuck!"
Katara leaned down to grab a clump of his hair and fist it as she moved her lips to his neck, throwing her ass back on him in a more violent way. This caused them both to moan loudly. Moving her lips to his as she cupped his face while riding him, watching his eyes practically role to the back of his head.
When it was her turn to be dominated, Katara tried tapping out but Ozai held her ass hostage. Gripping her waist tight as he thrusted into her with long and hard strokes while she was on all fours. It couldn't be helped that she wet the sheets and her bed from his brutal fucking. It had been so long since she had been fucked and she had never been fucked like this.
The pair took it slow as Katara was settled in his lap while they were sitting up in the middle of bed. Ozai pulled at her hair as her arms were thrown around his neck. They drank each other in and it was not long before they came together. Ozai shooting a heavy load into his daughter-in-law. She moaned at this and came again from how his hot seed filled her up.
Kissing her jaw, Ozai kept her held in his arms and she giggled as he pushed her down on her back.
"There's no way." Katara was shocked that he was still hard.
Ozai didn't bother responding to her as he began thrusting into her, his seamen gushing out of her as he began plowing her again.
"Ozai!" Katara was very sensitive from cumming and was about to cum again.
Seeing her face contort in even more pleasure, Ozai smirked and grabbed her jaw as he fucked her into her bed. "We're far from done."
"Ah!" Katara threw her head back.
"Look at me." Ozai said in a low voice.
Her blue eyes went to him.
Still fucking her, Ozai told her how he would fill her holes tonight and before she could protest, he flipped her on her stomach after pulling out and then spread her ass apart. Katara whimpered into her sheets as she felt him slowly enter her ass and stretch her out. She had only done anal on a few occasions with Zuko, so she wasn't exactly used to it but La, Ozai made it feel so good. She threw her ass back a little on his as he kept her spread apart to give her a deep fucking.
"That's it. Good girl. Give it to daddy." Ozai purred in her ear as he leaned forward and grabbed her hair, fucking her deeper as he was practically laying on top of her.
Katara cried out for him to fill her up and he did just that. His cum spilling out of her ass as pour his hot seed into it.
Pulling out, Ozai watched Katara roll over on her back and pant.
"Clean daddy off, Katara." He said as he was stroking himself for her.
Katara was lust ridden from having her pussy and ass filled to the brim. She got up and crawled over to Ozai.
"Good girl." Ozai ran his hand along her hair as she took him in her mouth and he leaned back on one hand.
It didn't take long for Katara to get him to cum down her throat as she proved to be very skilled at using her mouth. He let go of her head after he finished cumming down the back of her throat. She pulled back and wiped the excess off her lips, licking her finger afterward.
"Let's do it again." Katara said as she grinned at him.
…..
Wincing as Katara dabbed an alcohol wipe to his back after she spent the night clawing at it, Ozai watched her giggle from the mirror and smirked. She clearly had a good night. Seemed like she wasn't thinking at all about the shit Zuko said to her. That was good. That was what he wanted. However, he would admit. Last night didn't go as he expected. Seemed Katara was definitely more on the freaky side of things as she handcuffed him to her headboard and took over for the later half of the night. Not that he was complaining. He just knew that it might happen sooner rather than later that he knocked her up. Honestly, he feared he might have already done so after last night.
"I need to go to the drugstore today to buy plan b and probably schedule a doctor's appointment to get on some birth control." Katara said as she finished cleaning his wounds. "If we're going to continue having nights like that it's better to be safe than sorry."
Well, that was going to be a problem.
Katara was showering while Ozai laid in bed trying to figure out how he'd convince her in the future to stop taking birth control. Maybe she wanted to have another child and his son failed to deliver due to him neglecting her in the bedroom. Honestly, he couldn't believe his son had a woman like Katara and didn't want to take her to bed. The woman was responsive. She gave as much as she received in the bedroom. How could one not want to have her every night?
But that's besides the point. Ozai wanted to make her his. Maybe he could succeed in doing so without resorting to knocking her up. His son had just laid some terrible news at her feet. All he needed to do was give a good push and Katara would be firm in her resolve.
When Katara exited the bathroom in a tank top and shorts, she climbed back into bed and snuggled herself under the covers as she wiggled her way to him. He watched her smile up at him.
"What?" He asked her as he put his arm around her middle.
"I had a really good night." She told him. "Are you on the blue pill?"
Ozai raised a brow, "You think I'm on male enhancements?"
Katara giggled as she nodded.
"Well I'm not." Ozai told her.
"I don't quite believe you." Katara said playfully.
Ozai growled at her, "I can prove it."
Sitting up as she snorted with laughter, "I really should get going to the store. Last thing we need is to end up knocked up too."
"Having another child that bad, huh?" He asked as he laid in the bed.
Katara shrugged, "I mean…I thought once things got better between me and Zuko before I knew about the affair, I thought we'd start trying for another."
"I wondered about that."
"And now, now just wouldn't be good. We've only just become intimate and I'm still married to your son." She tilted her head at him. "Until we're ready to come out about it, I think we should be very careful about this sort of thing. More careful than last night. You were reckless."
Ozai smirked, "I couldn't help myself. You are an amazing lover."
"Am I?"
"I've been with plenty of women in my life. I would know."
"Come with me to the drugstore. You should probably get some condoms."
Ozai groaned at this, "Condoms? Really?"
Katara nodded.
"That afraid I'll get you pregnant?"
Katara nodded.
"Fine."
Shopping together, Katara tossed a box of plan b into the shopping basket Ozai was holding while he looked for the right sized condoms.
"Think you should go for large?" Katara whispered.
"Not extra large?"
The two laughed.
"Kat? Dad?"
The two turned to see Zuko and saw his eyes were a bit wide.
"What's going on?"
Ozai saw his son looking at the content of their basket and thought quickly as Katara looked like a deer in headlights.
"She needed my opinion on condoms for her and-"
"My boyfriend." Katara said and blushed in embarrassment. "I didn't know what to get so your dad offered to help."
Zuko furrowed his brows, "Wh-what do you need that sort of thing for?"
"What are you? A dumbass?" Ozai asked.
"Kat, are you seriously sleeping with some guy?" Zuko looked absolutely distraught by this realization.
"As far as I'm concerned, we're on the verge of getting a divorce and I don't think my private life is any more of your concern, Zuko." Katara told him.
Zuko watched his father pat his wife's back and lead her to the register to check out. He couldn't believe this was actually happening. He had to do something about it. And fast.
…
Sokka was a bit surprised. He didn't think his sister would move on from Zuko so fast. It had only been three months since she moved into her own apartment and from what Zuko told him, she started seeing someone around the month mark. He figured it had to be someone that lived at the apartment complex with her. Possibly someone down the hall from her.
"It can't be too serious." Sokka said as he was fighting Zuko in a video game deathmatch.
Zuko sucked his teeth as he saw he was losing the game, "I literally saw her out buying condoms with my dad. I think it's serious enough."
"Wait, what? Why was your dad with her?" Sokka asked over his headset after finishing Zuko off.
"Fuck!" Zuko was about to throw his remote until he realized his headset was attached to it. Calming down as he plopped back into his sofa. "Look, Kat was out buying condoms and asked my dad to help her find the right ones."
"Why would she ask him?" Sokka was still baffled by this.
Zuko sighed as he reached for his beer and drank it, "Kat and I never used them, she probably didn't know what to get. So asking my father might have been her best bet. They're like best friends or something, I don't know. I almost always see them together. It's kind of annoying."
"When'd that start?" Sokka started up their rematch.
"After I got caught with my affair. She and my dad got to know each other better and they've been up each other's asses ever since."
Sokka felt that was a little weird but he remembered how Zuko's dad had been the one visiting her in the hospital every day.
Finishing his beer, "Anyway, I think I'm going to hire an investigator and try to find out who this guy is."
"Whoa, buddy, I think that's going too far." Sokka said. "What if he catches her in the act and then you got nudes of her?"
Zuko rolled his eyes, "Sokka, you do know me and Kat have seen each other naked since high school."
"EW! Please! I don't want to know that! Besides, I didn't know you guys were banging before marriage!"
"We were banging plenty." Zuko laughed as he was getting the upper hand on his friend in their rematch. "I'll tell you all the nasty shit your sister and I did too if you want."
Cringing, "STOP!"
Beating Sokka in their rematch, Zuko laughed.
"Laugh all you like but at least my life is going better than yours right now." Sokka said. "I've still got my beautiful wife and we're expecting."
Zuko sighed, "That's sounds great, man. I'm stoked that you're becoming a dad."
"Should have made better decisions, buddy." Sokka said on a serious note. "You and Katara could have been working on the next kid."
Zuko hated to think his brother-in-law was right. He and Katara could have worked past all their pain from Ryu's death and continued trying to have a family together. He told Sokka he had to go and pulled off his headset. All he could think about was how he and Katara's relationship used to be. Things had seemed good before but when he thought about things now, he realized he really let her down.
Throwing on some clothes, Zuko left his apartment and went for a walk. He ended up on Katara's side of town and decided to go by her apartment to see if she was still up. Maybe they could have a heart to heart and he could try to convince her to go to counseling with him. However, as he made his way down the hall to where her apartment was, he saw there was a man at her door and he quickly hid himself to peek around the corner.
Katara's door opened and Zuko saw his wife in some black lingerie. He couldn't help the immediate hurt he felt when he saw her throw her arms around the man's neck and jump into his arms. Zuko felt the wind was knocked out of him as the man carried his wife into the apartment and slammed the door behind him.
Waking up the next morning with a terrible hangover, Zuko knew he had to end this. No way he'd let this continue. Sobering himself up with a homemade tonic, Zuko looked online for private investigators that specialized in marital affairs and called one up. He scheduled to meet the man on his lunch break the following week and when they met, Zuko explained the situation to him.
"Sounds like you fucked up." the investigator said.
Zuko sighed, "I know but I took care of the situation on my end. I just need to find out who this guy is so I can get him to leave my wife alone long enough for me to fix our marriage."
Sighing, "Alright, I'll take on your case but you gotta promise me you're not going to kill this guy."
"I'm not. I'll just pay him off or something." Zuko said.
"Alright, Mr. Money Bags. Just give me your wife's address and I'll get started today. Shouldn't take me longer than a week or two."
"Thank you." Zuko shook his hands.
….
A/N: One more Part after this!