Gladiator

by Seyary-Minamoto

In a world where the Avatar wasn't found, the Fire Nation took over two nations and they strive to overcome the last one. Water Tribe warrior Sokka seeks to fight for his people's rights, but he's captured by his enemies. His life is no longer in his hands as he fights as a Gladiator, and his fate will eventually depend on the Fire Nation Princess, who needs him for her own ends...

298. Chapter 298: Taking Omashu 1

Taking Omashu

1

"You're not expecting to turn your situation around with just this meek gesture, are you?"

"I… I don't see how it concerns you, if I did. Is this truly your idea of how to make up for your absence last week? By ridiculing my choices?"

"If your choices had the slightest chance of success, I wouldn't be saying anything, Ozai. But that's truly your solution? Some guzheng recital in the Royal Theater?"

"It's not a solution: there is no problem to be resolved in the first place, Zhao. I am only doing right by my wife, that's all there is to it."

The skepticism on his first friend's face took Ozai aback, no matter how resolved he remained to stand by his decision. If he had known Zhao would be this judgmental, he might not have let him into his personal study at all.

The young lieutenant sighed, shaking his head as he eyed Ozai with even more disbelief. Curses… with pity, even. What was there to pity in the first place? Ozai was married to a woman far more beautiful, intriguing and soulful than any Zhao had crossed paths with throughout his entire life. Surely he was just jealous, or he would be once he met Ursa, which he hadn't yet. Due to his duties abroad, Zhao couldn't attend their wedding: he had only just returned to the Capital for a short visit and he had decided to check on Ozai, finding him in the private study he had arranged for himself in a small room within the Royal Palace.

Zhao was quick to congratulate Ozai, even if he hardly seemed to find the occasion worth celebrating, going by the subtle sneer on his face as he spoke the words. Yet that sneer had become more prominent once he inquired about how married life was treating his best friend. Ozai had stammered and struggled to answer the question: it had taken Zhao no time to unravel that, to this moment, Ozai and his wife remained completely celibate.

"I cannot understand," he said, with a light chuckle. "Do forgive me for being shortsighted, but I can't see why you're holding back at all. Isn't the point of marriage to further your bloodline by producing offspring? She didn't marry you expecting to walk through the Palace gardens holding hands all day…"

"If she had, I wouldn't see the problem with that notion," Ozai said, cuttingly. "Why would this be any of your business in the first place? Ursa and I will manage our marriage at our own pace. There is no need to rush for children or for any other distant goal."

"And what about your needs as a man?" Zhao asked, raising his eyebrows. Ozai, busy organizing a few papers, frowned in perplexity at Zhao's question. The lieutenant sighed and shook his head. "You've always been terribly coy when it comes to that, and I thought perhaps a wife would change that for you, seeing as you've refused to come with me to Hong Qu…"

"I have no interest in that place, and I cannot see why a man with a shred of dignity would visit it at all," Ozai said, cuttingly. Zhao smiled and shook his head.

"You would understand why if you'd come with me, but I suppose an upstanding prince cannot be seen in such company, huh? Either way, Ozai, I'm only bringing this up for your own good. Perhaps Ursa just needs… an incentive. Extra motivation to remember that she's not the royal here, that she's the one who married into the family, and that she's the one who has to put in the work if she intends to prove she's the right wife for you."

"Ursa needn't prove anything to anyone," Ozai said. Zhao sighed dramatically anew. "I have no interest in pushing her into doing anything she's not ready for."

"And she'll never be ready, at this rate," Zhao said. "I suppose you must think it's quite chivalrous of you to wait however long you need to… but how do you know she won't make you wait forever? You're behaving… quite like you do with your brother and your father."

"I am not!" Ozai gasped, finally outraged enough to glare at Zhao. His friend remained undeterred by the reaction. "What would make you say something quite as stupid as that?"

"The fact that you're doing anything in your power to accommodate to her, rather than making it clear that you're the one with authority?" Zhao recited, with a shrug. "Do excuse me if I'm being too blunt or bold…"

"You're not excused," Ozai said, bitterly. Zhao smirked.

"Now, now, is that any way to talk to your closest friend?" he asked, leaning over the desk. Ozai huffed, shooting a glare at him. Zhao chuckled and shook his head. "I see you're not in the mood to hear my advice… I suppose I shall withdraw it, then, and only offer it freely whenever you need me to. But frankly… Hong Qu could do you good. You wouldn't need to be anxious about how inexperienced you are, too, after one visit. Women are certainly addictive enough, a man of your station should be free to find pleasures wherever he wishes to, rather than settling for the first woman who bats her eyelashes your way."

"Being loyal to my wife means something to me, Zhao," Ozai said, curtly. Zhao sighed. "And I intend to respect that loyalty, regardless of however inexperienced I may be. It is irrelevant, at this point, whether I have any experience at anything or not: she is already my wife, and I will not disgrace her by making a fool of myself. You are free to do as you please, evidently… I am not, and even if I were, I wouldn't act any differently than how I'm acting now. And you already know as much, since I never accepted your invitations to join you in Hong Qu, long before Ursa and I were to wed. All I can hope is that, on the day you find a bride of your own, you will finally understand the position I'm in."

"I can't even pretend to look forward to anything of the sort," Zhao said, with a grimace. Ozai snorted.

"And here I thought you had more confidence than that…" he said. Zhao smirked as he rose to his feet.

"It's not a matter of confidence, though evidently no one will arrange a marriage for me, nor will ladies of noble birth stand in line in hopes that I will marry one of them," Zhao said, shaking his head. "I suppose we shall see which one of us is better served by our lifestyle, if so. Still, though, Ozai… I mean it. Stand your ground and ensure she respects you. However you go about it, just… don't let her control your life and your choices. Ensure that she realizes she has duties along with all her new privilege, and that she'd do best to uphold them, or she might find herself in a complicated position…"

"And what position would that be?" Ozai asked. Zhao shrugged.

"I'm aware your father is unconcerned with the practice, but Fire Lords and Princes have been known to take concubines whenever it pleases them," he said. "A little competition might just be what will make Ursa wise up about you and fall in line…"

"Impressive. That's just as appealing a proposal as your Hong Qu nonsense," Ozai said, cuttingly. Zhao scoffed, waving a hand in his direction.

"An unsurprising reaction. But I suppose I'll just suggest that again once you come back to me with the typical assortment of complaints of miserable husbands who can't wait to get out of the house at every opportunity," Zhao smirked. "Anyway, I'm off. You seem perfectly content in your situation, weird as that may be…"

"It's not weird for anyone other than you," Ozai said. Zhao smiled and shrugged.

"Suit yourself. I, however, will be off to Hong Qu now. If you're not quite that abrasive and harsh next time, I might really bring you along…"

"I said I have no interest in going anywhere of the sort," Ozai said, cuttingly. Zhao let out a careless laugh and waved a hand in his direction.

"I only tease. You're terribly easy to poke fun at," he said, marching towards the door. "Fine, fine, live your life however you please. I'll do the same, and we'll compare notes on our results eventually, I suppose."

"I'm not taking any notes for you…" Ozai grumbled under his breath, glaring at his friend.

Zhao might not have heard his words fully, but it seemed Ozai's expression had communicated the intent of his words and his utter refusal perfectly. The lieutenant only chuckled some more before pulling the study's door open:

The smile on his face faded at once when he found himself staring back into the amber eyes of a beautiful, stern and unamused woman of smooth, porcelain skin and dark hair, parted down the middle.

Zhao managed to keep a yelp under control, though it nearly escaped him. The woman only glared at him fiercely, as though challenging him to say more reckless, foolish words that would land him into far more trouble than he could field.

"O-oh… uh, ah. Good day," Zhao said, unusually nervously as he composed himself. Ozai, behind him, jumped to his feet upon glimpsing just the hem of Ursa's usual, favored tunic.

"Is it, now?" Ursa's response was accompanied by a deceptively calm smile, one Zhao knew better than to interpret as genuine.

"Ursa…" Ozai's voice interrupted their conversation: her glacial eyes fell upon Ozai next. "This is… it's Lieutenant Zhao. We have known each other for…"

"Around a decade now, actually," Zhao said, with a charming smile that still couldn't quite conceal his discomfort. "I… I must say, Ozai's words failed to do any justice to your beauty, lady Ursa. It's my pleasure to meet you."

"And you're… Lieutenant Zhao, then?" Ursa said: Ozai raised an eyebrow upon hearing the guarded, cold voice tone of his wife. He had never heard her speaking this way to anyone else…

… Had she listened in on their conversation? Ozai's stomach sank at the thought. He raised and then clenched his hands nervously, not knowing how to appease Ursa's possible fury if Zhao's foolishness had triggered it at all. Oh, curse that man and his big mouth…

"Indeed. I have served in the navy for several years now, and I visit Ozai on occasion, whenever my duties allow it," Zhao said, with a weak smile.

"I see. And no doubt duty is calling once more, is it not?" Ursa asked, with a sarcastic grin. Zhao's own smile waned. "You were, after all, on your way out? Your commanding officer must be expecting you. Hong Qu, was that his name? Or is it perhaps a place where you're expected to provide your services for our nation, protecting and defending the Fire Lord's sovereignty?"

"I… I am on shore leave for now, so not quite, no," Zhao said, with an unusual, nervous laugh. "At any rate, I shall be on my way. I'm honored to have finally made your acquaintance."

"So I see," Ursa responded, her smile as insincere as before.

She stepped back, allowing Zhao passage into the corridor just as he glanced back at Ozai. Perhaps he had hoped to find some semblance of understanding in his old friend, but the Fire Lord's son only offered Zhao a smile of his own that suggested he had enjoyed Ursa's passive-aggressive comments at Zhao most thoroughly. Thus, Zhao could only sigh as he marched out, bowing his head curtly in Ursa's direction before taking off.

The Prince's wife stood by the door for a moment, watching Zhao intently. Her uneasy smile faded as soon as Zhao's back had turned towards her, and Ozai's eyes flickered between his friend, shrinking in the distance and soon turning a corner, and his wife.

"I, uh… I suppose you heard all that?" Ozai asked, even if he already knew the answer to the question. Ursa closed the door before marching up to Ozai, as he stood before his desk.

"I only meant to let you know lunch will be ready in a few minutes. We shouldn't be late," Ursa said, bluntly. Ozai swallowed hard and nodded.

"I… I understand," he said. "Though… we did make a promise, didn't we? We would speak honestly of, well, of everything…?"

"We did. And so, I am trusting and hoping that you would have told me more about this Zhao fellow if he were someone important," Ursa said, with a dry grin. Ozai let out a deep breath.

"He is important. He… he's the first true friend I ever made. Even if his advice is terribly questionable and backwards, he's still a friend," he said. Ursa raised an eyebrow. "And yes, I do believe it is questionable and backwards. It's not the first time he tries to coax me into… uh, I probably shouldn't…"

"I'm not quite so sheltered as to not know what kinds of entertainment Hong Qu district houses," Ursa said. Ozai's cheeks flushed. "Is it true that you've never partaken in that sort of… revelry, at a lack of a better word?"

"It is. I haven't. To Zhao's utter frustration, though I cannot pretend I understand why it bothers him," Ozai said, with a nervous laugh. "I sincerely doubt visiting such places with company would make matters any less unsavory…"

"As far as I can tell, someone who visits Hong Qu out of genuinely wanting to make the most of its entertainment is outright seeking unsavory experiences," Ursa said, with a shrug. "It's not that I intend to be the kind of wife who decides who her husband can and can't spend time with, evidently not, but…"

"It was a bad first impression," Ozai concluded. Ursa's eyes flickered towards him with uncertainty. "He's not truly as despicable as you might think, upon only hearing him spouting drivel... he has stood by me when no one else did."

"I see," Ursa said, eyeing Ozai warily. The Prince seemed to shrink in his frame under her stare, immediately nervous. "I suppose I have to give him a chance to manifest his better features, if so. Evidently, it should not be my place to pass judgment on a man I've known for five minutes while you've known him for a decade… but it's hard to think well of someone who takes such pride in those beliefs."

"I understand. I have no doubts you'll soon see that he's more than… well, than a frequent guest at whatever establishments he visits there," Ozai said, breathing out slowly.

"I hope so. Well, then… lunch?" Ursa said, with a still tense grin. Ozai froze in place before frowning.

"Well, if it is no trouble… before that, I wished to speak about something with you," he said. "It's nothing serious, only… I have reached out to the Royal Theater. It seems that a guzheng master will be performing in two days, and I thought to reserve the Royal Balcony for our use, if you would be inclined to attend the recital with me."

Ozai's stomach twisted and turned as Ursa's expression shifted gradually, slowly. It was, perhaps, some sort of relief to see she was actually surprised by his offer rather than outright rejecting it immediately…

"A guzheng performance?" she asked again. "I… t-that sounds lovely, actually. I would be delighted to attend it, of course."

"Then I shall reach out to the theater's intendant to confirm our attendance," Ozai said, his eyes brightening up immediately upon hearing Ursa's positive answer. "I can only hope it will be a quality performance…"

"Say…" Ursa frowned, eyeing him with sharp curiosity. "You intended to ask this of me all along? Is… is this what bothered your friend, the lieutenant? That you wished to… to invite me to this performance? You were already arguing about it when I arrived, I seemed to understand he was mocking your initiative about something…"

"Oh, I said you shouldn't mind him, but… yes, he seemed to believe I shouldn't have gone to such lengths when, well…" Ozai said, tensely. Ursa's brow drew together.

"When we have yet to fully consummate our marriage," she finished. Ozai breathed deeply.

"Perhaps I am a fool to think that… that we don't need to consummate it all that urgently," he said. "I've already told you I have no interest in forcing you to do anything you're not ready for. This is no attempt to win you over in that respect, if that is what you thought… I merely understand that you have an appreciation for music and the arts that I will gladly help you pursue it further, in whatever form you might wish to do so…"

"I didn't quite think otherwise… but I suppose your friend did," Ursa said, raising her eyebrows. Ozai shrugged. "And his best idea to make me understand my place in this family and this world is for you to take lovers outside our marriage…?"

"He is unorthodox and rather crass when he wants to be. Like I said… you should pay him no mind," Ozai said, shaking his head. "It became clear to me on our wedding night that we have much to learn about each other, and… well, it's entirely possible that I will choose the worst ways to go about acquiring said knowledge. If I ever do make such mistakes, feel free to point them out."

"Well, then, I can tell you that this isn't a mistake," Ursa said, quickly. Ozai smiled. "I… I'm genuinely glad. To be honest, I… I can't help but be grateful now to be married to you rather than…"

"Rather than to someone like Zhao?" Ozai asked, amused. Ursa offered him a weak grin of her own. "Well… if I may be so bold, I, too, am grateful to be married to you."

Ursa smiled more warmly, but the curve of her lips smoothed quickly enough as she seemed to be deep in thought once more. Ozai offered her a simple smile before gathering his papers, tucking them into the cabinet of his desk… but just as he was ready to lead his wife outside his study, her hand unexpectedly caught his wrist.

"Ursa…?" he called her, puzzled.

An odd glint seemed to shine in his wife's eyes. She appeared anxious, unsteady, nervous… and determined, all the same, to do something Ozai couldn't fathom just yet.

"Is everything alright?" he said. "If you're still upset about Zhao…"

"I am," she said, bluntly. Ozai raised his eyebrows. "Which is foolish, I know as much. I… I am being irrational, clearly, but I just… I find myself so outraged by his suggestions, and I shouldn't be. It isn't that I don't trust you, I do, and I believe you when you say there's more to him than meets the eye, but…"

"But… you cannot put those thoughts aside?" Ozai guessed – it was all too easy for him to empathize with the feeling, considering how many times he had experienced similar anxieties in the past, at the hands of his father and brother.

"I feel… volatile. Reckless. I… I don't know how to explain it," Ursa said, offering Ozai a strange smile. "But I suppose… you will forgive me, won't you? If… if I do something bold and reckless now, just because I can barely withstand these emotions?"

"If you intend to give him chase, I'm afraid he's already bound to be on his way to Hong Qu on a carriage…" Ozai said, blinking blankly. Ursa laughed softly under her breath and shook her head.

"Not quite what I had in mind in order to feel better," she admitted.

Ozai raised an eyebrow inquisitively for only an instant… for, once that instant was over, Ursa's hands found purchase on his cheeks and she had pulled him closer towards her, pressing her lips rashly, recklessly, against Ozai's.

He froze on the spot, much as she had when he first kissed her on their wedding night. Her boldness shook him, and he almost pulled back out of surprise… but he didn't. It allowed Ursa to keep his face in place, pressing another kiss to his lips, and then another one, almost forcefully, in what Ozai quickly realized was her most childish display of behavior ever: was she trying to make it clear to him that she would provide him with whatever pleasure Zhao thought he lacked? Was she pushing herself out of her comfort zone just to make a point? It was silly, truly, as she didn't have to do that at all…

But she was kissing him.

And as odd and almost comical as her motivation might be, Ozai liked it.

The realization only arrived when Ursa pulled back, face fully flushed, eyes unable to find purchase on his as she withdrew her hands once more. Ozai blinked blankly, knowing his own cheeks were gaining color, and Ursa let out a sharp breath.

"Well, then. Lunch?" she said, simply, before turning around and marching to the door.

It was surreal. This wasn't the sort of thing that happened to Ozai, on any given day… but he actually had enjoyed it. His wife… she liked him, at least enough to kiss him when she felt threatened, on some level, as unjustified as the threat might be. She might not have enjoyed that as much as he had, Ozai couldn't be sure… but she appeared flustered in a coy manner, no doubt willing to push her own boundaries to show that she didn't want Ozai partaking in Zhao's lowly habits. Perhaps he'd reason with her some more after lunch, perhaps over the evening… perhaps later yet, in bed that night, if she wanted to talk at all.

Regardless of whatever he chose to do later, Ozai couldn't seem to stop smiling as Ursa marched out of the study with an unusually nervous gait. Having such an effect on someone was an entirely new experience for the usually dour and miserable Fire Prince.

Lunch proved quite awkward, though Ozai continued to smile throughout the whole meal. Whenever his eyes flickered towards Ursa, sitting across him, she would blush even more intensely and remain in tight silence. Clearly, she wanted to say something, but she couldn't seem to find the words. Thus, Ozai refrained from speaking too, giving her ample room to say anything… and yet their conversation was mostly trivial, even if Ursa's embarrassment remained evident. He only smiled to himself: until Ursa was comfortable, he would retain his composure and hope she would be pleased to notice that her sudden spree of kisses had certainly improved his mood vastly.

She had rolled closer and closer to him every night in bed: that night was no different. He didn't quite dare follow her example, all too nervous and anxious whenever they were too close, but his fingers curled around hers when her hand met his. His heartbeat quickened when her head rested on his shoulder. His eyes fluttered close with relaxation and bliss when the scent of her hair infused him with pleasant sensations, a scent so smooth and intriguing Ozai could never pinpoint its components, exactly. Was there jasmine to it? It didn't seem like it was only that, let alone did that feel like the primary scent at all. Curses, he didn't know and couldn't know unless he asked… and wouldn't he come off as an ignorant fool if he failed to recognize scents properly? All he could do, then, was relax and breathe it in, enjoying it thoroughly as he let himself drift off to sleep.

She was calmer on the next day, though she seemed somewhat nervous in some regards all the same. Still, the recital they would witness boosted her spirits considerably, and Ozai was delighted to see it happen. Once that day passed, their momentous visit of the Royal Theater took place, and everyone in attendance admired them, astounded, once they stepped off their palanquin together, marching side by side to their Royal Balcony. People gaped at them in amazement, a few nobles even dared step out to greet them, and this time they didn't pretend Ozai didn't exist – for once, Azulon's wretched grasp couldn't be felt anywhere around. All the admiration and reverence followed them up to their balcony, where the two elegant new spouses took their seats side by side to witness a remarkable performance by a master of the guzheng.

The man's talent couldn't be denied, but Ozai found himself far more enthralled by Ursa's reactions to the musician rather than the performance itself. Blissful melodies enveloped them smoothly, and he knew he had never felt an urge to smile quite as powerful as he did whenever he could see Ursa genuinely enjoying anything: her face lit up, her lightly painted lips curved into a delighted grin, and she would glance at him in occasion, a playful glint in her eyes as she let him know her opinion on each piece. Ozai, foolishly, agreed with everything she said, which led her to tease him by stating something utterly nonsensical about one of the pieces – Ozai had been halfway through agreeing when he caught himself, and Ursa couldn't contain a beautiful laugh at his reaction. His heart sped up, his smile spread wider across his face, and he swore to himself that he'd ensure that happened more often: he would learn how to make her laugh quite that wholeheartedly, with no moderated and practiced restraint…

"Oh, this was a wonderful idea, Ozai," Ursa smiled as they tucked into bed that night, her face still rosy after having talked to Ozai for what felt like hours about the performance they had witnessed.

They had cleaned up one after the other, but even then, Ursa had continued to talk through the bathroom's open door while Ozai sat outside, smiling to himself as he rested against a nearby wall. Then she had continued to talk upon returning to their bedroom, and Ozai could only let himself drift in the melody of her voice. Whatever Ursa was awakening in him, he certainly was enjoying it just as much as Ursa had enjoyed the music.

"I can always request to be informed of the Theater's upcoming scheduled performances, if you're interested," he said, glancing at her earnestly. "If there are any others you might wish to see…"

"Well, I would love to see a play," Ursa said, smiling as she rolled onto her side. "Would you join me for one?"

"I… don't know. I suppose it depends on the play," Ozai admitted. Ursa scoffed, poking his strong arm playfully with an outstretched finger.

"We are to be honest with each other at all times, are we not…?" she said. Ozai smiled knowingly, as did Ursa. "Aha. There we are."

"I can't pretend I know for sure whether all theater would be disagreeable for me, but… I have yet to see a play I enjoy," he said, with a shrug. Ursa huffed, shaking her head.

"That's just further reason to watch as many of them as possible. Surely we'll find one that suits your standards eventually," she said, playfully. Ozai let out a stronger laugh than usual as he closed his eyes, shrugging as he laid down, outstretched, upon the mattress. "Ah? Such a laughable concept, is it?"

"I'm afraid I may be more stubborn than you expect," he said. Ursa scoffed, smiling deviously at him.

"Hmm, does that mean that you would deny enjoying any of them over prideful reasons, just so I keep looking up for more theater performances that might suit your tastes?" she asked, teasingly. "My, my, Prince Ozai: are you seeking out excuses for us to spend more time together?"

"I… w-well, I didn't… I…" Ozai chortled, and Ursa laughed again… that beautiful laugh that sped up his heartbeat so much that he thought she'd outright see it pulsating in his chest through his sleeping robe.

"For, if you are… you needn't bother," Ursa said: Ozai's already racing heart sped up further yet when, in the space of two days, Ursa's lips brushed against his face – his cheek, this time around. "You don't have to find excuses for it. I… would much rather spend my time with you than with just about anyone else in this Palace."

"Y-you're… certain?" he asked, eyes fluttering towards her nervously. Ursa smiled and nodded.

As though to prove her point, she didn't pull back: instead, she dropped her head on his shoulder as she often did… but this time she didn't hold his hand. This time, she draped her arm over his abdomen, embracing Ozai gently as she found a comfortable position beside him. His eyes widened as hers closed, as he tried to process how strangely intimate she had been… it was as agreeable as it was confusing.

"You… truly enjoyed this day, then?" he asked, still nervous and unsteady. Ursa hummed as a response. "I… I'm glad to know so. I hope… I hope I can find more experiences of the sort that you can value and enjoy, in the future."

"I have no doubts you will succeed at it," Ursa said, smiling smoothly. Ozai grinned too. "Thank you… Ozai."

His grin widened further, and they shared a soft laugh as they remained in bed, comfortably nestled together. Ozai closed his eyes too at last, even if he doubted he'd find any manner of peaceful slumber when his mind was racing over his wife's unexpected displays of affection.

"Then… do you want to spend more time with me?" Ozai asked. Ursa hummed again. "I can always cut my training hours if there's something else you'd rather…"

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it. Weren't you aiming for outdoing the sun? I cannot slow you down, now, can I?" she said, teasingly. Ozai laughed and shook his head. "Though I suppose… I could watch you, couldn't I?"

"Y-you… would you like to?" Ozai said. Ursa shrugged.

"I don't even know if there's anything else in this world you like other than bending, so… it seems only fair that, if you're willing to help me witness as many plays and musical performances as I desire, I would return the favor," she said, smiling mischievously. "It's bound to be quite the spectacle too, if I do say so myself."

"I don't think you'll find it as entertaining as a play or a performance…" Ozai said, with a weak smile. "I suppose you would think that I have no other affinities beyond bending. But the truth is…"

"I'm only jesting. I know you're a cultured man…" she said, fingers caressing his flank gently. Ozai swallowed hard, as her touch compelled him to spill the words out right away:

"The truth is I also like you," he said, bluntly. "That… is what I meant to say."

"You… what?" Ursa blinked blankly, raising her head as all drowsiness fled her countenance. Ozai's cheeks flushed.

"I… I suppose that's not something I should say quite so bluntly. If so, I apologize…"

"No, no, no…" Ursa said, smiling a little as she eyed him with unrestrained interest. "You said… you like me as much as you like your bending?"

"W-well, I… we are still growing acquainted with each other, yes, but…" Ozai said, eyeing her with uncertainty. Ursa smiled warmly, and once more, all his defenses fell apart at once. "But I have never laid eyes upon a sight as beautiful as… a-as you. Yes."

"I see," Ursa said, letting out a soft laugh as she inched closer. "That's fortunate. I cannot pretend I have ever seen a more handsome man than you, so… what?"

"I… uh, well, it's only…" Ozai frowned, eyeing Ursa with perplexity: her sharp eyes identified his discomfort quickly.

"My, my. No one else has ever told you you're handsome?" she said, with a slowly growing smirk. "Curses, the people around you truly are awful. But I suppose that means I'm quite fortunate to call myself the first person who ever said that about you, so…"

"You're… well… thank you, I suppose," Ozai said. Ursa laughed again. "I suppose… it's better if spouses think highly of each other's looks, right?"

"It can't hurt," Ursa smiled. "I… I know you wanted us to take our time and to ensure I'm comfortable with everything, but… you're making it too easy. Far too easy."

"Is that a bad thing?" Ozai asked, smiling a little. Ursa returned the gesture and shook his head.

"It's yet something else to thank you for… Ozai."

She didn't catch him by surprise this time. She didn't startle him by acting erratically: instead, she leaned in slowly and pressed her lips to his again. As she took her time, he had a chance to respond this time. They pulled back only to meet each other's eyes with curiosity, and then they laughed before Ursa attempted it again: this time, they were far more ready than before. This time, they let themselves feel each other's lips properly with their own… to find every angle, every way to lean their heads, to trail their fingertips on the other's faces gently, delicately.

Within but a moment, they lay in bed, wrapped in each other's embrace, exchanging more chaste kisses in a hazy blur of peaceful bliss that left them dizzy. The new breaching of this boundary had gone so successfully that they could barely hold back at all… but they did drift off to sleep eventually, with tender smiles on their faces, still locked firmly together in the warmest embrace of their lives so far.

It was no surprise that Ozai would be in his brightest mood ever by the next morning, a mood that could never be dampened by the dark, swirling clouds above him in the Palace gardens. He didn't always train there, usually choosing the Agni Kai Arena or a specific training room for guards that was typically always available, but the firebending he was performing today proved slightly too dangerous to be contained in any small rooms of the sort. His flames danced wildly, rushing around him and following his command as his mind was filled with nothing but thoughts of Ursa and their smooth progress, especially their kissing. It had felt good for him and, going by her smiles and willingness to enforce the constant-honesty policy, she had enjoyed it just as much too. Perhaps he'd have a chance to kiss her every night, and even every morning, if he dared… though she had woken up earlier than him, and he had missed his chance this time. But surely, since the night had gone quite so smoothly…

Lost in his thoughts of his wife, Ozai's guard had been uncharacteristically low when the familiar, childish voice of the Crown Prince's son reached him where he was training:

"See, see?! I TOLD you Uncle Ozai is the best firebender, Tiang!"

"Wow…!"

That there would be a second voice came off as a surprise: Ozai turned slowly, warily, to find that rather than one young kid with a wild grin, there were two such children instead, standing by one of the Palace's open corridors. The boy who wasn't Lu Ten looked to be utterly starstruck, and Ozai couldn't quite fault him for that reaction… but he hadn't done this expecting company, or at least, not theirs. Hadn't Ursa mentioned she might come watch his training? It was yet another reason to do it out in the open, so it would be easier for her to find him…

But these two wouldn't make matters any easier, or so Ozai thought as he scrutinized them disdainfully.

"Aren't you supposed to be in school, Prince Lu Ten?" Ozai asked, bluntly. Lu Ten giggled and shook his head.

"Teacher's sick! I came home early!" he said. "And I brought my best friend, Tiang! He's a firebender too, Uncle Ozai…!"

"Huh. Is he as good as you are?" Ozai asked. Lu Ten shrugged.

"We're not as good as you," Lu Ten concluded, simply, before grinning and dragging Tiang out to the actual training area. Ozai raised an eyebrow at the younger prince's bold choice, but Lu Ten, as always, wasn't deterred by his uncle's dismissive attitude. "You can show us your katas! Oh, I know, I know: show us lightning!"

"I… no!" Ozai scoffed, and Lu Ten pouted. "Lightning generation isn't something to be trifled with. I will not put on a lightning show only for your amusement: a bender cannot be as irresponsible as to…"

"Please, Uncle Ozai?! Please, please, please…!"

"Don't you…! Stop that foolishness this instant!" Ozai hissed. Lu Ten pouted. "Do not interrupt me as I talk, and know your place: lightning is dangerous, and I would not create it carelessly just to amuse you and your friend, Lu Ten."

"Is that so? Would you consider doing it to amuse me, by any chance?"

Lu Ten and Tiang had the very privileged view of Ozai's face as he reacted almost explosively upon hearing his wife's voice. His face paled and then flushed at once – he turned around quickly to face her, and Ursa's already raised eyebrows seemed to ride higher yet over her forehead…

For her husband was, of course, training without a shirt on, and his sweaty body was more exposed to her than ever before.

Ozai's gut twisted and turned under Ursa's scrutiny, having forgotten all about Lu Ten and Tiang right now as he wondered if she would find this entirely inappropriate… or if, perhaps, she'd be entirely inappropriate in her own way, for her lips curled into a smile as her eyes fell upon his bare, strong pecs and abdomen.

"U-Ursa," Ozai gulped. Behind him, the two little boys had the gall to snicker. Ursa blinked blankly and smiled teasingly at him. "I, uh… thought you might come by to see my training, but…"

"Right. Right. You were training. And Lu Ten wanted to see… lightning?" Ursa said, with a teasing smile that she directed at the boy now. He grinned widely, nodding eagerly at Ursa as though hoping she'd be the one who would persuade Ozai when he couldn't do so himself. "I admit… I've never seen lightningbending before. It must be quite the astonishing spectacle…"

"I… I suppose so?" Ozai said, swallowing hard. "It's only, well, I… I didn't think it would be safe. The boys should not be anywhere close to me as I bend it. It's not a skill anyone can master, let alone a skill for, uh…"

"Party tricks?" Ursa finished for him. Ozai's face flushed with shame. "It's not like I'd take offense to that, clearly my mother had no knowledge of lightningbending, and we both know that party tricks were, indeed, her preference…"

"I suppose so. Still… I would understand if you'd rather I didn't bring it up. I'm only saying…"

"It's unsafe and not easy to control. I think I grasp it," Ursa said, smiling. "Then… perhaps if the boys and I stand a little further away from you, that would help?"

"I… I suppose so, if you're careful," Ozai said, eyeing Ursa with uncertainty. "You truly wish to see this?"

"And why not? I have never seen it before," she said, smiling as she stepped up to the young boys. "And who might you be?"

"He's Tiang!" Lu Ten exclaimed, and Tiang blushed as he bowed his head respectfully.

"G-greetings, Lady Ursa…" he said.

"Ah, so polite! Have you greeted Prince Ozai yet?"

"N-no, I forgot b-because Lu Ten wanted to talk to… u-uh, greetings, Prince Ozai!" Tiang exclaimed, blushing as he bowed much more deeply towards Ozai. Ursa laughed softly as she rose to her full height, smiling meaningfully at Ozai.

"Surely one lightning bolt isn't all that dangerous for the man who will put the sun to shame, is it?" she teased him. Ozai couldn't help but smile at their inside joke, shaking his head in response to her words.

"If you insist… then it shall be so," he declared. Ursa grinned widely. "Very well then. Stand at least at… at thirty paces from me, if you would be so kind."

"Ah, very well. We shall ensure to do so," Ursa clasped the boys' shoulders and encouraged them to begin walking away from Ozai and further into the gardens.

He couldn't hold back a soft snort of laughter as he watched Ursa's enthusiastic behavior with the two young boys. The wistful, odd thought crossed his mind that maybe someday, she would be guiding their own children that way, too… then he shook his head and focused. If he was to produce lightning for an audience, he would do it as best he could without letting his mind wander through unnecessary thoughts right now.

"Ready!" Ursa called when she and the boys were at a presumably distant enough position to not be affected by Ozai's display of power. He nodded in response before closing his eyes and focusing.

He had done this more than enough times in the past and he could do it now, just as well. His arms moved in practiced, circular motions that seemed to mean nothing, at first… then the sparks of energy and electricity began to blitz over his body. He could hear their gasp, the amazement of the children at the sight of a firebender using his power to create something quite different from the fire they were used to. But he could feel her gaze upon him, and that was far more important than anything else could be… he wouldn't mess this up. He refused to let Ursa down, no matter how silly this endeavor might be.

With that determination in mind, his arms continued to move and produce a coating of lightning that danced as static when he kept it within his charged body… and then he outstretched an arm with tense, strong muscles, right towards the sky.

The thunder roared across the Palace as the flash of lightning rushed upwards, right into the cover of the charged clouds.

The deafening sound ended and gave way to the screaming and squealing of two children who forgot all about keeping their distance after having watched the most epic display of bending they had ever witnessed. The two of them rushed towards Ozai, exclaiming every single thought that seemed to cross their minds at that moment, gushing about how amazing his lightning bolt had been, though Ozai would have dismissed them only to focus on Ursa, who was walking towards him now with a dazed, impressed expression on her face…

Then a droplet of water fell on Ozai's shoulder.

Then another one on Tiang's face.

Another on Lu Ten's school attire. Another on Ursa's hair.

It started as a trickle for about ten seconds before the charged storm unloaded all its contents on Palace suddenly: the two boys screamed and rushed back inside the building while Ursa and Ozai gasped in surprise over the cold droplets of rain falling upon their bodies.

"Come!" Ozai exclaimed, reaching for Ursa's hand to drag her towards the Palace's covered corridors. A shot of static between their increasingly wet bodies startled them, but Ursa wasn't deterred by it as she clasped Ozai's hand and followed him inside: more thunder roared outside, and this time it wouldn't be paired with the controlled lightning Ozai could conjure.

They entered the roofed corridors through a set of short steps far from the ones Lu Ten and had picked – the two boys had rushed away to another entrance to the Palace, and Ozai frowned as he overheard, even through the rushing loudness of the falling rain…

"I've GOT to tell Mom about the lightning!" the youngest prince declared, grabbing his friend by the shoulder and dragging him deeper into the Palace.

"Lu Ten! You're tracking mud all across the…! The marble," Ozai finished unnecessarily: the two boys had scurried away, leaving an obvious trail of mud across the Palace halls, disregarding his warnings entirely.

Ozai rolled his eyes, sighing before turning to Ursa… who was, of course, laughing to herself as she covered her face with her hands. Her hair seemed disorderly to a degree, namely the strands that had been soaked by the rain. Her clothes clung to her as she hugged herself, no doubt colder after the sudden shower the weather had poured down on them.

"Y-you don't think that… that the lightning you shot caused the storm to trigger, or did it?" she asked, amused. Ozai blinked blankly before grimacing.

"I… do not know. Perhaps?" he admitted, and Ursa let out another burst of laughter. "I didn't think something like this would happen, but… I suppose you find lightningbending amusing, at least."

"Oh, not in the slightest," she said, smiling as she lowered her arms and gazed at him intently. "Your lightning is certainly terrifying, don't doubt it. But it was quite amusing, yes, for such a display of strength, skill, talent… muscles, even, to be dampened quite so literally by the rain. I… I suppose you'll just have to try that again on a day not quite as overcast as this one?"

"I suppose I shall, if you will it to be so," Ozai conceded, smirking a little as he eyed Ursa with amusement of his own. "Next time, perhaps?"

"Next time indeed… Ozai," she said, smiling proudly over using his name properly, without his title, more often lately.

"For now, though… we should do something about your clothes. You could get sick if you… u-uh, perhaps you can change in our room, I mean, I'm not saying…"

"And here I thought that was some sort of invitation to the spa," Ursa smiled as Ozai blushed. "Isn't that where you go when your training ends? I guess it's too early to end it just like this, though…"

"I-it's no trouble to stop early. And yes, I… I would have headed to the spa, myself," he said. Ursa bit her lip.

"Then… is there any reason for me not to do the same?" she asked. Ozai's eyes widened.

"U-uh, I… don't believe there is one, no," Ozai said, nervously. "If you wish, t-then…"

"Then?" Ursa said, smiling wistfully at him. "You've always been terribly concerned with whatever I may want or wish for…"

"I am, yes, and… well, you've said you don't know what you want, thus far," Ozai said, biting his lip. "Therefore…"

"What if… if it's becoming a lot easier to unravel what I do want?" Ursa said suddenly, startling Ozai. "What if, over the course of a little over a week, I… I find myself wanting something more specific than any of the nebulous answers I've always given you, whenever you ask me what I want?"

"You want… t-to visit the spa," Ozai concluded. Ursa snorted and laughed, shaking her head as she stepped closer to him.

"You truly are too handsome to be this clueless," she said. "It's not fair."

"W-what isn't…?" he said. Ursa smiled as she inched closer still. "Y-you shouldn't. I will stain your clothes with sweat, most of this isn't rain…"

"Ah. Pity, isn't it?" Ursa said… and then she leaned closer yet, close enough that her chest pressed against his own. Ozai's confusion only seemed to increase further, and yet upon seeing Ursa's wistful expression, all concerns about staining her clothes were well and truly gone…

She wanted something. She truly wanted something, and she was doing her best to get it…

"You see, I… I'm not quite so deterred by sweat now that I think I know what I want," she said, looping her arms around his bare torso. "Finally, I…"

She couldn't finish the sentence before Ozai claimed her lips with his. He had wanted to do that all morning, and going by Ursa's reaction, so had she.

His arms darted out instinctively, embracing his wife fully for the very first time. If she had anticipated he'd hold back in any regards, she had been wrong to assume as much: what felt like a tidal wave of passion suddenly unfolded and spilled through Ozai's entire system as he held her closely, lips relentless against hers. It was Ursa, however, who dared open her mouth slightly, and her breath brushed against Ozai's skin. His closed eyes seemed to roll back out of utter bliss upon breathing her in, and in a purely instinctive gesture, he parted his own lips.

He thought the strength of his kiss might be overwhelming her when she seemed to step back, but a hand firmly locked around his neck ensured that he would move with her. Before Ozai knew it, Ursa had found purchase against a column in the roofed corridor: the rain splattered upon them, for they stood so close to the edge of the roof, but she didn't seem to mind the sensations. They couldn't dampen or cool down the rushing fire that burned inside them, that they conveyed so boldly now by letting their tongues seek out each other tentatively... that sensation proved exhilarating, an experiment worth pushing even further. Suddenly, Ozai found himself thinking Zhao had been right in ways he had never wanted to acknowledge: this was an incredible feeling. He truly hadn't realized how much he wanted this, how much he wanted her, until he had experienced it directly. Zhao was, however, incorrect to think any other woman would do. No, not for Ozai… not for a man whose heart would beat so fast and hard upon being kissed this way. He found himself ready to toss the whole world aside, to pretend nothing else existed other than the woman in his arms, the beautiful wife he couldn't fathom he had been fortunate enough to marry…

He stopped the kiss abruptly, however, when a sudden sound left Ursa's throat. He pulled back, eyes wide and wary, and his confusion only increased upon finding Ursa appeared as perplexed as he felt.

"D-did I…?" Ozai started, but he slowed on his tracks immediately as his cheeks flushed: no, he hadn't hurt her. Her face, her slow smile, the light blush upon her face, the parted lips… all of them said he had entirely misread her reaction as adverse when it had been anything but.

"You didn't," she said, earnestly. "I… I'm fine. Better than fine, perhaps…"

"R-right. I… I see," Ozai swallowed hard: his hands trembled around Ursa's frame, and suddenly he regained all the awareness he had lost somewhere in her luscious lips. Curses, what a fool… he had wasted their best kiss so far, stopped it out of a sudden burst of nervousness, and by fearing he had ruined matters, he actually had done so. Oh, with any luck Ursa might be open to reprising the kiss that night…

But for now, it was clear the moment was over.

"W-we should… the spa. The rain's still reaching us, you'll be wetter…" Ozai said, tugging Ursa away from the column of the open corridor. She only smiled and shrugged.

"I suppose so," she said, biting her lower lip. "We ought to, uh… remove our shoes, then? We shouldn't track mud all over the marble, after all."

As ever, she would tease him in that strange way, turning his own words against him with that subtle flirting undertone that he could barely register as such. Ozai's throat felt dry as he nodded, even if a burst of light anxiety turned up in his head upon recognizing he'd be walking barefooted in the Palace… a concept quite so outrageous and scandalizing for his father that he could only hope Azulon would be terribly busy today, or perhaps even out of the Palace on war-related business. Yet it came down to treading mud everywhere or breaking protocol slightly... and after having dared kiss his wife as recklessly as he had, it didn't seem like breaking protocol was a terrible idea, for once.

Thus, they removed their shoes, and Ursa couldn't seem to stop smiling playfully at Ozai as they two sprinted towards the spa, with Ozai frequently calling out to her to go carefully, as the rain had splattered all over the corridor. She nearly slipped at one point, and he had caught her with one arm firm around her waist – she had laughed about it and Ozai, not knowing why, had joined in with his own laughter before they resumed their rush towards the spa.

He had never done anything like this before. He had never experienced any mischief of this nature with anyone else. Ursa's chest heaved once they reached the spa, and as nervous as she had every right to be after this mad race, she appeared to be enjoying the moment more than she had enjoyed any in the past, at least, any within Ozai's vicinity… she seemed so full of life in that moment that he knew he had to commit it to memory, and to never relinquish his wife's beautiful smile after their wild race, shoes in hand until the spa's staff rushed out to help them.

Ozai smiled as he requested for the staff to prepare baths for them, unable to hide just how pleased he was with the latest situation. He did notice, however, that Ursa called one of the staff members just as they were about to take off to fulfill their orders. The young woman's eyes widened, but she offered Ursa a nervous smile a moment later and took off without further ado.

"Well, then… we're off to clean up, I suppose?" Ursa said, smiling as she glanced at Ozai with anticipation he couldn't quite recognize. He nodded in agreement.

"You've already visited the spa before, I take it?" he asked. "If so, then… well, they'll let you know where to go, anyway. We'll see each other afterwards."

"Ah. I see," Ursa said, a mysterious smile on her face. Ozai blinked blankly.

"You… see?" he repeated. Ursa shrugged.

"If that's what you want… I suppose we will see each other after we've cleaned up," Ursa said, simply.

Ozai raised an eyebrow as his wife started on her way to the assigned bathing area for women. Somehow, he had the feeling he had stepped on some sort of dangerous territory… and yet he wasn't entirely sure of how he'd done such a thing at all. He smiled to himself and marched to the male-assigned baths, knowing no amount of dousing water could undo the fiery passion Ursa had given free rein to inside his heart.

He proceeded to clean up as he ever did in the spa, thoroughly using soap and hair product in order to ensure he wouldn't carry over even a smidge of the sweat and dirt from his training session. Then, he entered the bathtub, filled with warm water that he could still heat up further with his firebending: it was a considerably large bathtub, certainly bigger than the one in Ozai's personal bathroom. Nestling in these waters ever proved deeply comfortable, something he typically did to cool off after training hard, or after another of many clashes with his father or brother… today, though, he couldn't find himself cooled off at all, not when thoughts of Ursa continued to course his mind without halt. He smiled to himself, letting his eyes close as he relaxed in the warm water…

The curtains over the entrance rustled, ending his reverie abruptly when he heard footsteps entering his assigned bathroom.

He nearly leapt to his feet when his eyes fell upon Ursa's own. Nearly.

"U-Ursa…!" he jolted upright, staring at her in blushing panic: his wife stood there, before him, body clad in a bath gown that didn't leave much to the imagination. Which was all the better for Ozai, whose imagination wasn't quite so grand as to conjure anything more stimulating than his wife as she was right now. "What are you…?"

"I asked them… if it was alright for me to do this," Ursa said, with a nervous, shy smile that fell upon the floor. "Of course, I should have asked you first, but… I'm not entirely sure you would have given me the answer I hoped you would."

"Y-you mean… you thought I'd send you away?" Ozai asked: this time, he had no doubts she could see the way the left side of his chest rose and fell at rapid speed, following the frantic beats of his heart. "I-I…"

"You're always terribly concerned with what I want, and I admit, that's the first thing I genuinely liked about you," Ursa laughed, running a hand over her damp hair: she had already cleaned up, then, but instead of entering her own tub… Ozai's stomach seemed to do backflips out of nervousness, and he couldn't help but wonder if that was how she felt about this, too. "But I… I don't know if that's entirely fair on your part, you see. I never know… I never know whatever it is you want, therefore, I… I want to find out today. If you'd rather I leave, I shall. But if... if you happen to want what I want…"

"And what is that?" Ozai asked, unable to hide his excitement. Ursa smiled fondly at him.

"You, of course," she said. Ozai gritted his teeth, trying to contain the exhilarant sensation such words elicited inside him. "But… of course, I'll only act on it if you want me, too."

"Y-you're certain?" Ozai asked, his voice frayed by his nerves. "You shouldn't force yourself to… to do anything you're not ready for. This isn't about… about what Zhao was saying, is it?"

"Not truly, but maybe on some level it is," Ursa admitted, with a sad smile. "The thought of… of ever causing you to run away to someone else has been terrorizing me since then. I don't want you to do that…"

"I never would," Ozai said, earnestly. Ursa smiled.

"And that only makes me… it only makes me all the more certain that I want to do this," she said, looking at him intensely. Ozai, once more, was left petrified upon hearing her words. "I… I'm not sure how it will turn out. It sounds scary in some ways, but what I'm feeling… it's probably not fear at all, is it? I'm only… nervous, in the end. Because I truly hope that we will be good for each other. Because I want… I want this marriage to work. And just as you seem to want nothing as badly as you want my happiness and comfort, I find myself wanting yours as well. But… you never do take the initiative, do you? You never show me what you want, so I…"

"B-because I don't want to… to pressure you in any way," Ozai said, swallowing hard. "You don't understand… you couldn't, I suppose, but… as much as I can look like I have all I could want, that's not the case. My life hasn't been as perfect as… as my brother's, or my father's. And… I don't want to make mistakes with you."

"You can," Ursa said, smiling compassionately at him. Ozai's heart raced even faster. "Make mistakes, I mean. You… you don't have to be perfect, the spirits know I'm not perfect myself, so…"

"You are," Ozai said, bluntly, unthinking. Ursa smiled and shook her head.

"I sincerely doubt it, but… I'm glad you think so," she said, biting her lip. "Then… you've held back for my sake? If I asked you not to hold back at all anymore… if I asked you to tell me what you truly want, would you say it? Would you… would you show it to me, perhaps?"

"I… I-I'm just as… as insecure about any of this as you feel," Ozai admitted, unsure of how he was as honest and earnest with Ursa right now. "But if you truly wish for me to do so, then…"

"Do you want me to join you?" Ursa asked, cheeks red, a gentle smile on her face. Ozai's lips parted, and it seemed he had forgotten how to speak upon hearing the question. "Or… do you want me to leave?"

"I… I want… I want you," Ozai managed to say, unsure of how the words had come out of him. Ursa's smile widened. "I… d-don't leave. Come here… come to me."

She couldn't hold back a giggle as she stepped closer to Ozai's tub: his face, so manly and handsome, was lit up with a jovial enthusiasm that surged all across his burning, nervous body. But she approached indeed, she truly was being quite so bold as to do such a thing, and…

Ursa tugged the sash of her bathing gown, and Ozai gasped. Within moments, her skin was exposed for him to gaze at, even if the two sides of the gown still covered her breasts… but they didn't cover the valley between them, or her abdomen, or…

Ozai forced himself to look up after realizing he had been ogling his wife's body so shamelessly. Was he mad? She'd be cross with him for it, she wouldn't find it endearing in the slightest that he'd act like a common pervert…

Or so he thought, but his wife seemed to smile proudly at his reaction over the sight of her bare skin. She didn't say another word before shrugging off the gown completely, letting it drop to the floor right next to the tub. Ozai's eyes widened, his hands trembling on the edge of the tub as his gaze, yet again, was lost in the curves of Ursa's fully naked figure…

"Let me in?" Ursa asked, with a gentle smile. Ozai gulped as he backed out slightly.

She was truly bold ever since last night, perhaps even further after witnessing his lightning bending… But now she slipped into place in the tub, her bare body inches away from Ozai's. And just as he thought she might establish ground rules, just as he expected she would let them grow comfortable with the situation, his fully naked wife floated towards him, cutting the distance between them to steal yet another kiss from his lips.

Thus, the attempt to grow comfortable came in a wholly different manner than what Ozai expected. She sat on his lap, kissing him deeply while her hands traveled over his chest and abdomen. His own hands fell upon her waist, his grip shaky even underwater, and it grew shakier yet when Ursa clasped his wrists, guiding his fingers carefully over her skin and up to knead her breasts. Ozai genuinely yelped upon touching them directly, and Ursa laughed for it.

They spent hours growing acquainted with their bodies, hours of laughter and soft, very occasional words, for the physicality of the moment far outdid everything else. They understood what this would lead them to, ultimately, what they were expected to do upon finding such excitement and comfort in each other's arms… but they delayed it for as long as possible, and Ozai paid the price for it after they finally left the tub.

A soft lounge within the room allowed them to take the plunge, and no fear guided them this time, even if Ursa did clench up and clawed at Ozai once he made his way inside her. Still, she encouraged him to keep going, and the utterly overwhelmed man did as he was told… only to find himself reaching the pinnacle of his excitement well before Ursa could so much as adjust to him. He was mortified… and she merely laughed it off, covering his face with kisses that didn't quite reassure him, welcome as they might be.

He seemed stuck in a complicated position after that, nervous and confused as to how to approach his wife again after finally taking her virginity and not quite managing to make her enjoy the moment remotely as much as he had. Ursa had been perfectly calm afterwards, with no hints of displeasure – if anything, she kept smiling the whole time –, and Ozai's nervousness only seemed to make her laugh… and kiss him too, of course, now that she seemed to have broken past the barrier that made any such exchanges between them utterly awkward.

They wound up spending most the day together, although Ursa changed the subject often, no doubt hoping to soothe Ozai's fears of not having been good enough by not addressing what plagued him… but by night, once they climbed into bed together anew, it became clear that the Prince would not feel any better until his performance improved, too.

"You don't have to be quite so cross with yourself because of that," Ursa said, smiling warmly as she stroked his handsome face with her knuckles. "I've always heard it's easier after the first time. Perhaps I overstimulated you in the tub, I don't know…"

"I-it was enjoyable. All of it. But… it should have been for you, as well," Ozai said, frowning. "M-maybe I…"

"Maybe… what?" Ursa blinked blankly as Ozai fell silent, face flushed.

"Maybe I should find out if, well, if there's some way to ensure a woman enjoys it," he said. Ursa snorted.

"Oh, really? You intend to ask your friend, by any chance?" she asked. Ozai grimaced. "A man who pays for sex probably has a rather inflated sense of his own abilities in bed. Logic suggests as much, at least…"

"You think… the women he lies with go unsatisfied?" Ozai asked. Ursa snorted and giggled deviously as Ozai smiled too. "You have a far more devious mind than I give you credit for."

"It was about time you noticed," Ursa smiled fondly at him. "I wouldn't know anyway, but I do hear of a lot of women who, well, fake their own climaxes in order to make their husbands feel better? But alas, we're on a strict honesty policy so you can be certain I have no intentions of doing the same thing."

"I'd rather you didn't," Ozai admitted, with a weak smile. "But… I don't know how to ensure you enjoy it anyway."

"And your best plan is to get advice from someone else?" Ursa smiled. "Who will you ask, then? Your father? Your brother? Your sister-in-law?"

"W-what…? No!" Ozai scoffed: once again, Ursa chortled and laughed, dropping her head on his shoulder. "That… that's disturbing to imagine. You really are dangerous, Ursa."

"Oh, you are so handsome and yet you're quite so silly when you wish to be," she smiled, propping herself up in bed so she could gaze at him from above. "You don't need to get advice from anyone, Ozai. Just… try again. Test the waters. I barely know what I'd like you to do, as it is, so… it's not something you should be finding advice for in order to pull it off perfectly. I'd rather… I'd rather we take our time with each other and learn everything at our own pace."

"Take our time?" Ozai repeated. "Then… would you like to do it again? U-uh… I shouldn't be so rash, surely you're still sore…"

"Well, perhaps a little, but we can try other things, too," Ursa smiled.

Without waiting for his approval, she spread her nightgown open again. She pulled his open, just as well, before climbing on his lap and covering his face, his neck, his chest with kisses. Once again, Ozai found his excitement rising at haste… more so when she rose back to his face again and kissed him, whispering against his lips:

"Your turn to take the lead now."

Nervous and unsteady as he was, he followed fit with her request: no longer did her sounds startle or confuse him, and he interpreted her every moan as signs of whether to keep going or to stop with anything he might be doing. Whatever she asked of him, whether wordlessly or not, he'd provide… whatever she needed of him, he was here to offer it to her. And so, when she finally convinced him to delve into her depths, his fingers teasing and testing her core, he succeeded at finding ways to make her come undone in his arms. The sight of her closed eyes, her flushed face, her beautiful hair splayed in disorder upon the bed… all of it awakened urges he had never experienced in his life so far. Urges he acted upon, covering her body with every sucking kiss mark he dared deliver her, grinding his manhood against her thigh, running his free hand over her every curve as she shivered violently at the relentless teasing of his powerful fingers.

There was so much to do, so much to try and test, that they would only fall asleep for brief naps to wake up again and reprise their fun through the night. It was an entirely new world for the two of them, one they were thrilled to explore together. They continued even as morning arrived, finally daring to give themselves to each other fully, coupling their bodies for a longer, tender penetration that saw Ozai successfully finishing inside his wife, who could barely regain her breath after his fingers prodded her clit relentlessly in order to trigger as many climaxes for her as he could unleash.

"S-safe to say… you're a natural at this, in the end," Ursa smiled, as Ozai kissed her neck longingly, delectably. "Oh, I get to do this with you from now on… why did I wait at all? I'm a fool…"

"It was only a week," Ozai chuckled. "And I am no natural. You… you were very patient through the night. Thank you."

"Patient? You think all your fingering was difficult to bear with?" Ursa laughed. "Oh, you shouldn't be this agreeable, let alone this humble. Humility really doesn't fit well with a prince as handsome as you are, Ozai…"

"Perhaps I'll be a lot less humble and far more arrogant and insolent after I get used to this," Ozai smirked, raising his head. Ursa bit her lip and smiled.

"Well… I do like you shy, but I won't deny arrogant insolence can have its appeal too," she said. He chuckled, kissing her lips softly. "And we barely got any rest tonight, eh…?"

"You can sleep more through the day," Ozai said. Ursa hummed, legs locking tightly around his waist. "Or… not?"

"Not unless you stay in bed with me. Otherwise… it'll just be a waste," Ursa said, smiling warmly. Ozai chuckled.

"I did not expect you to be this… greedy," he said, licking his lips. "It will only make me greedier too, in turn. I… I should go train, but I would rather…"

"You'd rather stay here with me?" Ursa asked, smiling teasingly. "Then… stay. And we can try again… and we can have more fun, for as long as we want. I mean… you really don't have anything too urgent to do, and this is a form of physical exercise as well, so…"

"Ah, so it seems there's finally a silver lining to being sidelined by my father all the time?" Ozai smirked. "No duties, so… I can bed my wife all day long?"

"All day, all week… all month, if you would like," Ursa winked at him. Ozai chuckled, dropping his head on her chest. "I… I am terribly attracted to you. And somehow sleeping with you has made it worse… just as it feels like the only remedy for it. Isn't that nonsensical?"

"It truly is. But I feel the same way, so…" Ozai said, raising his head. Ursa grinned.

"Then… why go train at all?" Ursa said, trailing her fingers over his temples. "Why do anything other than… well, fulfilling our marital duties to one another? Isn't this what we're expected to do, anyway?"

"It is, I fear it is. What difficult duty we've been given," Ozai said, melodramatically. Ursa chuckled in response, and he kissed the laughter off her lips. "Then, if this is truly what you want…"

"You are truly what I want," Ursa clarified, bluntly. Ozai smirked proudly.

"How could I be such a cruel husband as to deprive you from… me, I suppose, if that's how it is?" he said. Ursa smiled warmly and nodded.

"Then be kind, generous, gentlemanly and… oh, yes, do that again…" she sighed, as Ozai's fingers trailed between their bodies, finding their way to her core.

He would acquaint himself with her further over time. Little by little, they would learn everything to know about each other. It was a fascinating prospect, a marvelous concept… and he wanted to make the most of it, through days and nights and everything in between. He wanted her, and for once, it seemed he had been as lucky as to be wanted just as much by the very object of his affection…

All of it had begun that day. The very best period of his life had begun on a stormy day, after the pouring rain had seen them acting on their pent-up need for each other, the passion they had been nourishing for a remarkably short time, and that had burned so powerfully throughout a marriage with high and low points alike. To the very end, his heart had never raced for anyone the way it had for his wife…

And so, he found himself standing on that very roofed corridor, on a much brighter day, almost three decades later. He found himself reliving that moment, all of what had brought them to it… the bliss he had never experienced again. His fingers trailed slowly over the column Ursa had rested against, and it was so easy to picture her in his mind's eye, to remember what she had looked like, so young, innocent and eager, so consumed by sensations, impulses and emotions that had controlled him just as much. He had wanted her, he had wanted her from the very first moment he had laid eyes upon her…

His fist clenched, and he reeled back his hand. Moments of weakness, of remembering her, were no rarity. But as of late… as of late, it was happening far too often. Why? He couldn't unravel any reason for it. It was utterly irrational, and yet… was it because everything in his life kept falling apart, as far as he could tell? Was it because his other valuable bonds with other people had fallen to shambles? Was it because he simply missed her, the woman who Fire Nation society had always regarded as his perfect match…?

"Fool," he snapped at himself, trying to reel himself back from that train of thought. He didn't need this. He had to resolve problems, not to reminisce about the past. He had to bring back stability and peace to his family, to the Palace, to the entire Fire Nation, and grieving over Ursa's absence after well over a decade since she had left wouldn't help him achieve a damn thing.

He had to find Zhao before he took off again, that was what he would do. The festivals were over now, so his disappearance act was likely imminent. Ozai couldn't be sure as to what Zhao was doing, or where he was going, let alone now that he had finally gotten away with moving out of Azula's room and settling elsewhere… but his behavior during their conversation, prior to the Ball, suggested that he thought nothing had changed. Ozai had a few ideas on how to convince him of the opposite now, but he sincerely doubted Zhao would listen, either way…

He had to get on with it, though. He simply had to find Zhao and…

The notes of a guzheng reached him just before he marched into the Palace wing that would lead him to Zhao's newly chosen chambers.

It took him a moment to pinpoint the source of the sound. He frowned as he marched back to the corridors, stepping into the gardens proper in order to find the music. The very gardens where he had shot the lightning bolt that had seemed to trigger the downpour over the Palace… the very place where he had first met Ursa, altogether.

A building stood there where none had back in those days. A building of Ozai's own choosing, designed for the ideal comfort of a dragon who would likely chomp off Ozai's head if he had the chance to do so. Even so, Ozai marched towards it purposefully… until he slowed to a halt and frowned at the perplexing sight before him.

Two women with wooden swords seemed to be in the middle of a rather clumsy duel, laughing at every mistake they made… mistakes that were pointed out by another woman, one who sat within the refuge, a guzheng resting upon her lap.

Ozai's heart seemed to stop at the sight. His fingers trembled, then his hands. His breathing appeared to falter…

Because his daughter was smiling.

Azula would instruct her two friends while carefully plucking the strings of her instrument, only pausing whenever either the maid or the midwife did anything quite so silly with the swords that they truly required to be reeled back into control. And even then, the Princess wouldn't scold them harshly at their mistakes: instead, she'd laugh and let the others know what they'd done wrong. Occasionally, she'd even tease them with mischievous remarks – such as how the maid had caught the wooden blade of her opponent on the underside of her hilt once, leaving her fingers completely vulnerable to what the midwife could have done with her own weapon.

"It's quite alright, we can just swap you to a spear, Rei," Azula said, as Rei giggled guiltily. "Small blade, larger shaft, and that way you might just be in less risk of letting someone chop off your fingers…"

"Ha! I'd totally be able to keep her in check even if she had a spear…!" the midwife declared haughtily before frowning. "Though… how does one fight against a spear with a sword, exactly?"

"Beats me, my sole experience fighting a spear nearly killed me, so…"

"Azula! I-I didn't mean…!"

And she laughed. Her friend pouted but smiled at the wickedness of the Princess's dark response… but Azula had just laughed. It was slightly devious laughter, there was no denying that… but that wit, that cleverness in finding a response to just about anything and everything, and that laughter…

His heart clenched harder still, his fists tight as he lost his train of thought for the thousandth time: it was easy to ignore it sometimes. On some days it was possible to pretend that Azula had taken after him, that she was his daughter because he had molded her far more than Ursa ever had… but then moments such as these would happen. And beyond her looks, beyond the superficial similarities others could see and constantly remarked upon, Ozai would see a connection so devastating it would floor him.

It had been easier to cope with before everything had taken such a dark turn. Even in the occasional moments when such memories came back to him, and he saw mirages of his wife in his daughter, he could reel back the utterly unwanted, ridiculous emotions and attachments he should have never developed…

But now it hurt to see Azula, at just about every turn, at every point in time. Now his heart ached as he reasoned with how much he had taken away from her… for no matter how he attempted to deny it, the truth was that Azula had a point, one he never wanted to acknowledge: he had taken the man she loved, just as Ursa had been taken away from Ozai long ago. If the satisfaction, the happiness she had experienced with that Gladiator had been even slightly reminiscent of his own with Ursa, in their better days… was it truly any wonder that he might never be worthy of those smiles, of that laughter, ever again?

The guards who had been tailing the Fire Lord had done so in silence, accustomed to his odd moments of reflection and silence. They weren't surprised either when he turned his back on his daughter and marched back into the Palace, his heart in utmost disarray: Azula was finding peace, comfort in friends, in allies who stood by her side when all else failed. Ozai, however… Ozai had nothing. No one. Silent guards who feared him, same as the servants, same as the military, same as everyone… perhaps with the exception of the man who had been his best friend, and who now, it seemed, resented him more and more with each day that passed. Loneliness clawed at his heart, and Ozai snarled for it as he marched well past Zhao's new room… all the way to the Royal Gallery. He wouldn't likely find any answers through meditating by contemplating the royal portraits, as he often had hoped to, in the past… but perhaps their image would serve to sharpen his purpose again. Perhaps the glorious paintings would remind him that he wasn't a grieving husband, or an unforgivable father: he was a Fire Lord, the latest leader of a dynasty fated for greatness, for the absolute conquest of the world. And the man Azula grieved, the man her heart had longed for… he wasn't merely that: he was the Gladiator, a threat and a menace Ozai should have handled sooner. But it was done now… it was done. The damned Blue Wolf was no threat to his designs any longer, and he never would be again. Whether Azula forgave him or not, Ozai would never feel a shred of compassion for the man whose sins could have destroyed his very nation, had they ever been known…

He didn't need forgiveness. He wanted nothing but to fulfill the legacy of the Fire Lords who, before long, seemed to scrutinize him from their paintings in the Gallery. And Ozai frowned heavily as his resolve strengthened again: now that the Gladiator was well out of the way, he would have a clearer shot at putting an end to the war for the Fire Nation's favor. That would be his legacy. That would be his purpose. And perhaps he had lost his best friend, his daughter and his wife in the process… but if he succeeded, every sacrifice would have been worth it. As much as Azula would never forgive him for it, Ozai had triumphed and ensured the Fire Nation would not stray from the path marked by Sozin… for he had ensured to deal death to the Gladiator, the only fate that wicked man, the one to corrupt Azula's once-privileged mind, could ever deserve. Whatever Azula thought of it mattered little… for he was dead. The Gladiator was dead.

---

It had been a long, tiresome journey. There had been a few mishaps, for the moose-lions would occasionally find other sources of food rather than apples, and their method of bribery would stop working for at least a few hours. Thus, they progressed slowly northwards, hugging the outline of the desert, with Aang, Katara and Kino dutifully dropping apples from Appa's back in order to ensure the whole moose-lion pack stayed together.

On the ground, the rest of the group progressed relentlessly as well. Sokka took advantage of every break to win over the rest of the moose-lions, though Foo-Foo remained his favorite, naturally. By the time their journey was close to ending, the bond between the man and the creature seemed to have strengthened enough that Foo-Foo didn't even require the bribery of an apple to allow Sokka to climb on his back anymore.

Thus, Sokka had marched through the mountain ranges while riding Foo-Foo, trusting his sister and Aang to guide their whole group successfully across the complicated terrain ahead. Jet had attempted to follow Sokka's example, but his chosen moose-lion had yet to warm up to him as much as Foo-Foo had warmed up to Sokka: he could caress the creature's fur and touch its antlers to no consequences, but riding wasn't possible for him just yet. Zuko and Toph hadn't so much as attempted to imitate Sokka, no matter if they had bonded with a few of the creatures all the same… but no one seemed as perplexed by the strange situation as Anorak, especially due to what he felt was an unnecessarily long journey to drive away the horde.

"We've been on the road for four days," Anorak called to Sokka from the ground, frowning as he marched next to Foo-Foo. "I think we're far enough from the base to be safe here. We can just go back now, can't we? These mountains won't be easy to traverse on the back of a creature like this one…!"

"I'm aware, I'm aware. I'll dismount when the time is right," Sokka said, dismissively. Anorak blinked blankly before scoffing.

"Okay, this is absurd. Look, I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, because what you pulled off by taming all these creatures was pretty incredible. But what you're doing now makes no sense! Weren't you the one whining about wasted time all along?! The longer we're on the road, the less of an opportunity we'll have to make use of your precious window of time before the Fire Lord finds out you're still alive! How hard can it be to understand that?!"

"Heh, I really thought he'd snap a lot earlier. Guess it was about time, huh?" Toph said, marching a few steps behind Anorak. The waterbender shot her a glare that didn't affect the blind earthbender in the slightest.

"The whole lot of you are just fine with being led anywhere by him? That's what you're trying to say?!" Anorak growled. "Look, if this is some sort of trap…!"

"It's not a trap. You're free to leave whenever you want to," Sokka said, simply. Anorak's eyes widened. "You think I'm keeping you here against your will? You came here because you were ordered to, I didn't beg Jeong Jeong to let me borrow his favorite lieutenant. You can very well go back to Jeong Jeong right away and tell him all about how I led you astray when shepherding these poor creatures out of the territory of your precious base…"

"You're… you're joking. You do realize that you're only going to make things worse for yourself if you antagonize us?" Anorak exclaimed.

His words went unanswered when the trek through the mountains grew more complicated. Sokka frowned as he patted Foo-Foo's neck, letting him know he was free to stop now. He dismounted by a cluster of rocks that appeared to have been stirred and shaken into very uneven formations: the work of earthbending, of course.

"Well, damn. And here I thought all the crap you and your fellow benders pulled back during the Race would have crumbled by now, Toph," Sokka said, ignoring Anorak pointedly. Toph snorted.

"Like hell it would, especially what I did. Best earthbender in the world for a reason, you know?"

"I'm afraid I know all too well, if anything. Tearing down the bridge won't be completely of the question this time, though," Sokka said, smirking at her from over his shoulder. "I mean, no doubt the people in the city won't be pleased for it, but…"

"Heh, not like we're doing this to make them happy, are we?"

"Wait, what?" Anorak frowned, head whipping back and forth as he registered the exchange between Sokka and Toph. "What's…? No. You didn't just say… You're not serious…!"

The Gladiator eyed him almost disdainfully before beginning to walk alone, past the even terrains where the moose-lion pack would wait while the humans sorted out what to do. Twilight spread the mantle of night across the world already, so their positions and presences would go unnoticed as long as they kept quiet and were as stealthy as could be…

"You didn't make us bring those creatures to Omashu, did you?!"

Oh, well. As stealthy and quiet as they could be in the presence of a volatile waterbender, of course.

Sokka let out a sigh, rolling his eyes as he marched to the peak of the mountain they stood at. The jutting chunks of earthbending were helpful in the climb at times, utterly detrimental at others, but it wasn't long before Sokka had risen high enough, same as the rest of his friends. Appa had hovered above them so far, but now he descended slowly, guided by Aang. His eyes were set on the city ahead, the three pyramidal peaks rising towards the sky – they weren't so easily noticed now that darkness was falling, but their shapes remained apparent due to the lanterns burning in houses and buildings within the ancient, sturdy city.

"You… you're mad," Anorak gasped behind Sokka, and for the first time since he'd known the waterbender, Sokka sensed a genuine thread of fear in the man's shaky voice. "You didn't… you did. You… why? What on earth are you trying to pull?! Why would you bring these creatures here?! Is this… a-are you trying to demonstrate you can do this without the White Lotus? Is that what this is about?!"

Sokka actually smiled as he turned towards Anorak: his blue eyes were glacial, merciless, as he delivered an answer for the desperate man's questions:

"You wanted to know my intentions, what I'm trying to pull off? Yeah, it's really not that hard to grasp: we're here to set Omashu free."

Anorak gasped, moments away from dismissing the concept altogether… but he couldn't do it. His eyes rose towards the floating sky bison, towards the Avatar, Sokka's waterbending sister, and the deserter from the Fire Nation. Then, they shifted towards the Blind Bandit, the Savage Hook, the Fire Prince and the numerous moose-lions, placidly relaxing on the mountainside now that the journey appeared to be over. Lastly, they returned to the man before him, unyielding, unforgiving, and undeterred by any threats Anorak could have attempted to weave against him.

He had noticed they were marching north all along. It had struck him as odd, but he had paid the matter little mind, hoping that perhaps the Gladiator truly had known of a safe place where the moose-lions would find food and an environment to thrive in, away from any factions of war…

Even now, aware of what his intentions were, Anorak still had no idea what the blazes the Gladiator intended to do with a herd of moose-lions in this place. He also had no idea what he'd do without another group to serve as decoys while he took action to save the city. And he also had no idea what the White Lotus's reaction to Sokka's recklessness would be, for that was all it was: recklessness, mindless recklessness that would lead them nowhere…

And yet that spark in Sokka's eyes spoke of a purpose greater than himself. That firmness in his stance, that certainty in his heart… all of it said this was no mistake. This was exactly where he wanted to be, and he was ready to enact his plan, the one Jeong Jeong had rejected non-stop, within a matter of hours.

It was as though Anorak had eaten an anvil and it was dragging his stomach down to the ground with its weight. He couldn't do anything but gape at Sokka in disbelief as his mind failed to supply him with any ways to put a stop to a group as large and dangerous as this one all by himself… even if he ran back to the White Lotus at haste, they'd never make the long journey on time to stop Sokka from doing something terribly stupid. And yet…

What if it worked? What if the plan Sokka had been concocting, the plan that Jeong Jeong had constantly shut down, the plan that Anorak had never taken seriously, happened to pay off exactly as Sokka wanted it to? What then?

The conflicting thoughts saw the waterbender standing still for a long period of time, wordless, speechless, perplexed and mortified by having been an accessory to whatever this operation was. By having been a silent witness to it, too stupid to understand what was going on, let alone to stop it, powerless to do anything other than watch with horror if it failed… or with admiration and amazement if it didn't. Which one would it be, in the end? Could Sokka truly guarantee it would be the latter…?

It was clear, though, that Sokka was utterly unconcerned as to whether Anorak thought he was worthless or admirable. His expression didn't change, still betraying the certainty and the strength that had seen him powering through the many nightmares he had experienced without losing himself in the process. And precisely because he hadn't lost himself at all, because he knew who he was, Sokka's hands moved to rest on his own hips as he stared at Anorak sternly.

"I wasn't lying earlier: return if you want to. Unfortunately for you, I have no intentions of doing the same thing, no matter how this turns out," Sokka explained. Anorak gasped. "If I fail, I'll die, and everything will be exactly as it was before I showed up in the Fortress. If I succeed, I live… and a city will have been saved. Now, though, if you're wondering what's your role in this situation… I'm afraid that's up to you, Anorak."

Sokka breathed out and closed his eyes, letting his heart turn back to the last time he had been in this very city, the memories of a nearby cavern with a tragic love story, one that hit so close to heart that he and Azula had vowed to protect each other from similar fates…

And that was why he was here now. Perhaps he couldn't protect her from the worst of it… but he still could try to stop the sorrow, the boundless pain that had been inflicted upon her. As long as he made the right choices and honored the two legendary figures whose story had become so personal for him and Azula, he would come closer to saving her every day. And no White Lotus, no Jeong Jeong, no Anorak, no Shiju and especially no Iroh, would be able to stop him.

"So… what this really boils down to, at this point, is a single, obvious question, Anorak," Sokka said, opening his eyes anew to stare at the trembling, mortified man: "Will you run back home as fast as your legs can carry you, or will you stand with us and help us free this city?"