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Kuebiko	By : Death_Rattle Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 7357 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Avatar: the Last Airbender or any of the characters. I do not profit from my writing.

Chapter List
- 37
- 38
Anymore, Zuko had very little concept of time. He was aware of the sun rising and setting, of course. For with the sun, he felt a strength all its own, something which he was certain every firebender experienced yet couldn't accurately describe. Not that his bending would do him much good where he was now, no, he hadn't yet fully recovered from his injuries for one… and for two, even if he could somehow make it out of here, and that was a big if, he wouldn't get very far. It wasn't as though he had anyone on the outside willing and able to help him, save for Katara.
He sighed, and slumped down onto the cold ground.
At the very least, he could pretend that she had taken his advice after all and run off, and that was why she hadn't been to see him again. He'd hardly blame her if she had, the odds of making it out in one piece were slim to none.. the entire Fire Navy would be after them by nightfall!
In any case, he didn't want to think about the alternative. Even considering all that he had suffered through of his own accord in regards to the man who called himself his father, he admittedly could scarcely imagine what he would do to Katara, should he have learned about her little visit to his prison cell.
He hadn't heard anything, which he supposed was a good sign… then again, the whereabouts of a water tribe slave wouldn't exactly be nation-wide news, even if something terrible had happened.
He could only hope that Azula wouldn't allow that, deluded as that particular line of thinking was, given what he had been told about-
He grimaced, trying and failing to keep his mind from wandering to places he didn't want it to go.
In hindsight, it made too much sense. All along, Father had driven a wedge between them for the sake of his own perverse desires. It was the same with Mom, too, it was his doing that she and Azula were never close, that they never had the sort of relationship that a mother and daughter should. He'd rid himself of everyone who could stand to get in his way, then there Azula was, barely eleven and desperate for someone to love her. Was she that young the first time he..?
By all the spirits, it made him sick, the thought of it was so vile.
Foolishly, he wished things could have been different.
He wondered, had their mother never left, if they'd be where they were now.
Would he be here, trapped inside this cold, damp cell, waiting to die?
⁂⁂⁂
Council meetings were a necessary evil.
Ozai had known, of course, that they were one of many annoyances that came with his position… but it didn't make them any less boring and pointless!
Already, not fifteen minutes in, listening to one of the old fools drone on and on and on was giving him a headache. He swore they all just liked the sound of their own voices, at this point it was the only explanation that made any real sense.
He felt close to falling asleep, and almost did, that is until another voice cut in. One he rather liked the sound of.
"I don't feel that we owe anyone an explanation, the affairs of the royal family are just that," Azula, his dutiful wife and queen, spoke confidently. "It's our business, ours and ours alone."
"Of course, My Queen but…" one of the men stammered. "...forgive me, My Queen, but there is public opinion to consider. The former prince garnered many admirers upon his return, those who viewed him as a war hero. As well, there remains those who feel very strongly that the rightful heir is and should always be the firstborn. Unless of course there is some sort of extenuating circumstance which would require-"
"No one cares that he's firstborn. They care that he's a man, and we all know it. You don't see peasants rallying together to proclaim my uncle the rightful king, now do you?"
"Well, no, Your Highness. But-"
"Silence!" Ozai snapped, causing the room to fall completely silent in an instant.
Fucking Zuko… again?! How in the name of Agni had this been allowed to drag out for months on end? It was high time he put a stop to it!
"Zuko is a traitor, and an enemy of the Fire Nation," he began. "The common people want to know what's become of him, then fine. Let's have his head and be done with it, somewhere everyone can see. Then, there will be no question as to who the rightful heir is."
"O-Of course," the old man repeated. "But… forgive me, My King, there are formalities that must be observed. You cannot just-"
"What?!" Ozai roared, incredulous.
You cannot
Just what was this old faggot playing at?! He could do anything he wanted, anything at all. He was the king! He owned this country and everyone in it! It was his, all his!
"I own that miserable whelp! He's mine to do whatever I want with, and that includes mounting his head on a pike! Anyone who doesn't like it can get in line to suck my cock, I've had enough of this shit!" he screamed, banging his fists into the table, his hands burning hot with anger.
Unsurprisingly, the Phoenix King's outburst caused all those around him to stir nervously, in stunned silence… well, all except his daughter.
Azula cleared her throat, and stood up, the old men looking at her expectantly. "Leave us," she said, waving her hand dismissively, coming to stand behind her husband and father.
"Yes, Your Highness!" A dozen or so chairs scraped the floor in unison. "Your Highness! It has been a pleasure to serve!" And one by one, they took their leave, muttering their usual flattery and bowing respectfully before scuttling off toward the antechamber.
Azula sighed, placing her small, soft hands upon her father's broad shoulders.
Almost immediately, she felt him relax and lean into her touch, and her natural smirk graced her overly made up face. Oh, yes indeed, she knew just what it was that Daddy needed…
"Idiots…" he mumbled, seemingly to himself. "Fucking idiots, all of them!" he snorted, and she felt him tensing up again. "Who do they think they are, questioning ME?!" the Phoenix King asked, rhetorically.
"My Love…" Azula soothed, gently rubbing at his sore muscles. "It's much too early to be getting so worked up over this nonsense. Now, what do you say we go back to bed and-"
"It isn't nonsense, Azula, this is the line of succession we're talking about!" he growled, interrupting her proposition. "So long as that waste of space draws breath, people are going to question your rightful place as my heir! His supporters think you fucked your way to that position, you do realize that, don't you?"
Azula stilled, the notion having not occurred to her in all honesty… and though she knew that there wasn't any truth to it, it stung just the same.
Really? No truth to it, are you sure about that? Look at yourself, you little whore. Here you are, ready to let him fuck you any way he pleases, that voice in her head chided.
"Let them think whatever they want, their ridiculous theories are of no consequence to us." She laughed, half nervous and half in disbelief. "Anyone who's seen dear little Zuzu firebend would know it's not true, as would anyone who's actually spoken to him face to face and heard him tripping over his own words. He's no more fit to rule this country than a stableboy!"
The longer she could delay this, the better it would be. She needed time, as much time as she could get. She needed to figure out some kind of a solution and currently she was at a loss for one. Agni, she was no closer to that than she had been the first time it had dawned on her that it wasn't enough to simply lock him up somewhere and forget about him.
"While that may be true, we can't just sit here idly by while these miscreants commit treason. They need to know what happens when they stand against us! They need to see-!"
Azula didn't allow her father to finish what it was he was going to say, instead she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him in for a kiss. A sloppy, wet, and very audible kiss, the kind that sent a little spark of excitement throughout her body.
Ignoring the fact that he wasn't really kissing her back, she took his lack of clear resistance as an invitation to escalate things.
"Shhh…" she whispered, settling down on top of the much larger, stronger man's lap, straddling him. "...I want you, Daddy, I want to feel you inside me." Hurriedly, she untied her robe and pulled it open, baring her breasts completely. And then she kissed her father again, desperately, clinging to him as though she would never get another chance to touch him like this.
Ordinarily, Ozai would have been responsive to his wife's attentions though today, he couldn't afford to forgo important matters in exchange for... pleasures of the flesh.
Roughly, he pushed her away, leaving her sitting there with this confused and quite frankly, pathetic look on her face.
"What, do you think you can just flash your tits and make all of my problems go away?" he scoffed, his gaze flickering toward her bare chest, just for a second. Though his daughter very well might have had the best set of tits he'd ever gotten his hands on, this was a very serious matter, one which could be ignored no longer. "As convenient as that would be for both of us, I'm afraid dealing with that good for nothing brother of yours is not that simple."
Azula blinked in surprise. Was he… rejecting her?
No, surely…
"But I know you want me, too," she said, grabbing him and pressing her lips to his, trying her best to ignore that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach as she pushed her tongue into his mouth and one of her hands reached downward, disappointed to find he wasn't hard for her yet.
She was nothing if not persistent, any other time he'd have liked that. This time though, he practically knocked her over in his refusal.
"I said not now, you little slut!" Ozai gruffed, bucking her off his lap with hardly any effort at all.
"I need to think…" he muttered, more to himself than to the confused and hurt girl staring down at the floor in shame as she moved to cover her chest.
No matter how sweet his daughter's pussy was, it wasn't going to get him any closer to overcoming this one last obstacle that loomed over him, a constant reminder that all that he had built could come crashing down.
And without saying another word, the Phoenix King rose from his seat and took his leave.
It took a moment before it fully sunk in what had happened… and when it did, Azula broke down sobbing.
Daddy didn't want her anymore.
Her brother was going to die.
And she was utterly powerless to stop it.
⁂⁂⁂
"Katara?" … "Katara?" … "Katara, you have to wake up!"
The waterbender awoke with a start, gasping aloud as soon as she came to, shocked to find she still hurt something awful.
"Wh-What...?" Katara stammered, her vision blurry, as if clouded with oil. "...what's happening?" She rubbed her eyes, and blinked a few times, a familiar face revealing itself.
"Ming? What time is it?" she asked, groggily, still not entirely conscious.
She moved to sit up. "Agh!" she yelped, doubling over as the pain shot through her like white-hot fire, a reminder of the punishment she'd endured.
"Not too fast!" Ming cautioned, embracing her, gently. "Shh, it's alright." She stroked her soft, brown hair as she cried, feeling more sad for the poor girl than she had for anyone in her life thus far. "It's nearly midday. I thought you could use the extra sleep, so I told the other servants not to wake you," she explained. "I knew you wouldn't be missed because Oz-" A pause. "The Phoenix King and Queen attended a meeting of the small council this morning… it's just ended though, you'll have to come with me to the laundry. We don't want them realizing you're still in bed."
"I… can't," Katara managed, rather pitifully, trying to lie back down again. Dear Tui and La, it hurt so bad! She wasn't sure how she was even alive right now, how could someone feel this much pain and not be dead?
"You have to!" Ming insisted, helping her to sit up, fully. "Here, drink this." She shoved a cup in her face, filled with some unknown, dark liquid.
As she was in no position to resist, Katara opened her mouth to receive the mysterious drink. Whatever it was, she trusted it was for her own good, she had no reason not to trust Ming by now.
"It's a special tea, made with milk of the poppy," she said, pouring it into the waterbender's mouth, slowly, so as not to choke her. "It's not much but I couldn't risk any more, that mean old bitch who runs the kitchens would notice."
"Th-Thank you," Katara replied, breathless, having forced down the last of it.
"Come on now, we've got to get going," urged Ming, taking the younger girl's hands in hers. "One.. two.. three!" With a grunt, she was able to lift her up off the bed to stand, Katara's sore legs doing what little they could to assist.
"It'll start to kick in soon, come on."
As she led Katara to the laundry, Ming felt a twinge of anger, righteous in its fury. As well, she was nothing short of completely and utterly disgusted. Oh, she'd known the royal couple to be cruel but never had she seen anything quite like this before… she was just a girl for Agni's sake! How could a man who calls himself king justify beating a helpless girl?! What could she possibly have done to earn his ire to such a degree? No, there was nothing, she'd been stolen from her home and forced into servitude, she didn't deserve any of this!
"Almost there…" Ming said, more to herself than to anyone, as they approached several other women who were already hard at work, washing clothes and bed linens, and anything else their 'betters' didn't want to bother themselves with.
"Eugh, you can wash this one, Muyun!" exclaimed a newly hired servant, Chuh, tossing the soiled garment in the direction of the other girl.
Chuh was one of dozens who had been hired within the past week alone, in order to replace those who had been banished or had simply fled the palace.
"Ew! It's got his spunk all over it, look!" Muyun shouted, throwing it at another one of the new girls (whose name had completely slipped Ming's mind).
"Hey now, that's the king's spunk!" She laughed. "This could have been a little prince or princess!"
They all giggled in unison, apparently not noticing or caring that anyone else had entered their space.
"All they do is fuck, I swear," Chuh scoffed. "I heard them going at it the other night, it's so gross. Do you know she calls him 'Daddy' in bed?"
"Oh, Daddy! Daddy! Please!" Muyun mocked, causing the group to erupt in laughter yet again. "I didn't even know that was legal until they made the announcement… I mean, it's so creepy, who would've even thought of that? And it's just plain weird, you'd think he'd be able to find some other girl besides his daughter, he's actually kinda hot… you know, for an old guy."
"Yeah, plus I heard he's got a big dick, too," Chuh added.
"I dare you to ask the Phoenix Queen how big it is!"
More laughter followed.
Were it any other time, Ming would have joined in.. oh, the stories she could tell them! But for now, Katara needed her help. She couldn't have the others catching onto the fact that she'd only just rolled out of bed and not only that, that she wasn't able to do her work on her own.
"Hey, what's wrong with her?" Chuh asked, distracted from her petty gossip, much to Ming's chagrin.
"Don't worry, it's nothing!" Ming giggled, nervously. "Just, er… woman problems, you know how it is."
"Oh, I've got just the thing!" the girl whose name Ming had forgotten piped up. She rifled through a box of laundry soap, retrieving a water skin, which she could guess did not, in fact, contain water. "Here, drink up!" she offered, and before Ming could protest, Katara snatched it right out of her hand and started gulping it down.
⁂⁂⁂
It had been a few hours since that particularly dreadful mid-morning council meeting.
In that time, the Phoenix Queen had gone about her usual routine - well, after a calming draught and a short nap, that is. Which for her meant all of the migraine-inducing bureaucracy that came with her position. Financial reports and the like, an audience with some self-important lord, plus perusing through the various scrolls which had piled up on her father's desk throughout the course of the past few days and corresponding accordingly.
Now, with all of that taken care of, she finally had the time to give some thought to what had happened earlier… or rather, what hadn't happened.
Azula sighed heavily, pinching at the little bit of fat on her upper thigh until it hurt, leaving a red mark behind. Frowning, she surveyed her naked body in front of the full length mirror, wondering just what it was about her that wasn't appealing.
Daddy had never refused her like that… not ever!
Pouting, she cupped her bare breasts, as if to weigh them. They felt heavy in her hands, heavier than they'd ever been. Without a doubt, they were larger… was that not what Daddy wanted?
Nevermind what he was doing right now at this very moment (figuring out the best way to murder her brother while suffering as little political consequence as possible). All because she wasn't pretty enough to distract him, wasn't sexy enough…
But what more could she do?
Pinching at her fat again, the thought occurred to her that maybe she'd simply let herself go.
Yes, that was it!
(Though the rest of the world might see a bordering on too-thin girl with a prominent rib cage and impossibly flat stomach, the Phoenix Queen saw someone entirely different staring back at her. Middle soft and flabby, thighs far too wide).
Well, there was one surefire thing she could do to fix the problem…
Quickly, she dressed in her training gear, the realization that it had been a good long while since she'd done her usual drills dawning upon her… she'd just been so busy, and distracted. What, with the latest incident involving Katara, and not to mention Father's temper… spirits, she needed to blow off some steam.
By the time she made her way to the sparring circle, it was past midday, judging from the sun's position in the sky. And hot, too, the uncommonly long summer brought on by the comet having not yet begun to wind down.
Already, Azula felt the sweat beading and rolling off her body, after nothing more than simple stretches and breathing exercises.
Briefly, she wondered how Katara was faring in this oppressive heat, on top of everything else. As the mere thought of her caused a rather unpleasant sense of gloom and foreboding, though, she quickly focused her mind elsewhere.
She was out of shape, she realized, once she started her first set of fire fists. She wanted to kick herself for allowing this to happen, she'd been in peak form ever since Zuzu had been banished, almost four years ago. For she couldn't afford to be anything less.
All eyes had been on her, just as they were now. Complacency was simply not an option… it never was, not with an entire dynasty resting upon her shoulders. From a very young age, she'd understood what it meant to have Father's favor… it meant he placed all of his hopes in her, that she could never let him down, never be anything less than perfect.
Azula took a deep breath, allowing herself to rest for just a second before continuing with her second set of fire fists, her trademark blue flames lighting up the courtyard, scorching anything and everything nearby.
She was angry.
And that anger took hold of her, her frustrations taking the form of fire, cerulean and blazing hot.
She wasn't sure how much time went by, she lost herself completely, drunk with power and fingertips tingling as the flames appeared seemingly out of thin air. It was all so intoxicating, she didn't realize that another person was approaching - even the sound of said person clearing his throat did not register, the only thing that had her attention in that moment were those blazing, brilliant plumes of azure, illuminating everything in their path.
"Your Highness!"
The sound of a man's voice cut through Azula's concentration, her head snapping in the direction of the unwelcome interruption's source.
"Yes? What is it?" she demanded, impatient, sizing up one of her Dai Li agents, who appeared quite flustered.
"The waterbender…" he hesitated.
Azula's face fell. Without the man having to say any more, she knew something terrible had happened.
"During her work detail, she collapsed. One of the other servants managed to get her back into bed but-"
"When?"
"Not ten minutes ago, she was in the laundry and-"
In a split second, Azula made a decision, against her better judgment.
"Have her sent to the medicine woman in town… quietly. And speak nothing of this to the Phoenix King, yes?"
She couldn't have him knowing she was 'going soft' as he put it, now could she? This was weakness, madness even.
Fear is the only reliable way.
"Yes, Your Highness," the man replied, dutifully, offering a quick bow and then taking his leave.
She sighed, exasperated, and when she did, there was a crack of thunder, seemingly out of nowhere. Relieved, she closed her eyes and let the rain wash over her, soaking her sweat-dampened clothes and skin.
Distracted once more, Azula didn't notice that yet another person had stepped into the sparring circle…
Dressed in his own training gear, which for Ozai meant nothing more than a simple pair of trousers, he took a few more steps forward, then stopped, eyes locked on the small, drenched girl.
As she gathered all of her strength, the electricity which she now seemingly effortlessly commanded crackling at her fingertips, he took in her overexposed body and hardened nipples, clearly visible beneath the flimsy, water-saturated fabric that clung to her. And as he did so, he thought back to earlier in the throne room when she'd practically thrown herself at him.
Now that everything was at it should be, and that annoying little fag, Zuko, would be dead within a fortnight, he could go back to focusing on things that actually mattered… such as impregnating his gorgeous and all too willing wife… though chances were that had already happened, he had to be sure, did he not?
Wordlessly, he approached, his hands descending upon his daughter's delicate shoulders as her lightning shot into the darkened sky, making her jump and turn her head, her expression morphing from wide-eyed and frightened to calm and almost… happy?
The both of them said nothing, it was pointless to try and scream at eachother over the sounds of heavy rain pelting stone and thunder booming in the distance.
Instead, Ozai just grabbed his wife and turned her around, fully, locking her in a passionate kiss.
As their tongues danced and her unsteady hands pawed at him, Azula suddenly felt her back being forced against something large and sturdy, which she soon realized was the willow tree that loomed over the courtyard.
Wasting no time, Ozai reached for the hem of his daughter's thin shirt, and wrestled with it, tearing it open to free those beautiful breasts from their confinement. In that moment, he cared for nothing other than the much smaller girl who was currently pinned in between his own body and a tree… no one else was worth a thought, not his so-called son, the water bitch, or anyone.
Breaking their kiss, he lowered his face toward Azula's wet tits, cupping them and kissing her painfully stiff nipples, finding their pink flesh was cold against his lips. If she moaned when he sucked them into his mouth, repeatedly, one after the other, he didn't hear it. All he did hear was the storm roaring all around them as he teased her sensitive nipples with his tongue and lips and teeth, knowing it was driving her crazy.
Closing her eyes, Azula shivered from both the cold and the intense pleasure her husband was giving her, his warm mouth sucking her nipples, in turn, even stopping occasionally to bite at one, just enough to cause a little pain. Then, he'd soothe it with his tongue before moving onto the next one, his big strong hand replacing his mouth, massaging her freshly suckled tit as if to claim it.
She wasn't sure how long he did this for exactly but it was long enough to make her squirm and writhe against him, helpless as he lavished her breasts with what she dare say was affection. Each flick of his tongue or suction of his lips made her pussy tingle, and before long, that tingling sensation became a throbbing ache.
She wanted him inside of her... now!
So what if people saw, they could watch for all she cared.
The Phoenix King, unsurprisingly, was inclined to agree.
And, of course, he'd bedded his daughter enough times to know what it took to prepare her body for what he wanted to do with it (in all honesty it didn't take much, he only had to kiss her and suck on her tits a little, and her cunt was sopping wet).
Detaching his mouth from his wife's breasts, he then went for her neck, gnawing at a week-old bruise as he gripped the waistband of her pants. With little effort, he yanked them off, only slightly disappointed to find she had underwear on, too.
Azula must have sensed his frustration, as she frantically moved to pull them down, kicking both garments aside once they reached her ankles.
Ozai made quick work of his own clothing, untying his trousers and tugging them down just enough to expose his hard cock to the elements.
As she'd been in this position a number of times, Azula knew exactly what to do. Looking up at her daddy with desire, she wrapped her arms around his neck, firmly, then kicked one leg out and hooked it around him. He then placed his own hand beneath her thigh and started to lift her higher. Trusting that he wouldn't drop her, she let him take her full weight, her other leg making its way upward until he was able to grab it, too.
Straining only slightly, Ozai lifted the small girl just a little more, and started to guide her hips forward… closer, closer… until he felt her warm, wet cunt against the swollen head of his cock.
They locked eyes, a moment seemingly frozen in time.
Then he was plunging headlong into her, shoving all the way inside without giving her so much as a second to adjust. He stilled, marveling at just how amazing his daughter's cunt felt contracting around his cock, so tight and yet they fit together perfectly.
Their foreheads pressed together, and he started to move, thrusting into her with all his might. Were this their first time, he might have feared he was breaking her, pounding that sweet little pussy of hers as she cried out, so loudly it cut through the heavy rain and thunder. And all the while she was impaled upon his cock, entirely at his mercy.
As Daddy fucked her hard, against the tree, the rough bark scraping open the skin on her back, Azula just held him close, their hot breaths intermingling. Desperate for more, she bucked her hips, matching each brutal thrust, his strokes reverberating powerfully, making her tremble.
Of course he still wanted her, he always would.
The thought filled her with pure, unadulterated bliss. And though he probably couldn't hear her, she told him she loved him, that he was her everything and that nothing would ever keep them apart.
Then he kissed her, all soft and loving, and she started to feel that warm, tingly feeling where her clit met his pubic bone, continually stimulated.
Even in the cold, she felt her face flush. Her toes curled, her stomach tightened, and without fully realizing it, she started grinding against him… and that was all it took.
She reached her peak rather quickly and suddenly, taking her by surprise. As she screamed, her entire body was writhing in ecstasy as the pleasure shot through her like electricity, overtaking her senses.
And that was when she felt it. Slackjawed and riding out her orgasm induced high, she felt that familiar sensation of something hot flooding her pussy, meaning Daddy was cumming, too.
Shivering slightly, Ozai sunk his teeth into her already bruised and broken skin, that little sweet spot at the juncture of her shoulder and neck, intensifying her pleasure as well as his. With no care at all for how rough he was being, he thrust deeply, then stilled once more, her cunt clamping down as if to extract every last drop from his spent cock.
Panting heavily, he started to lower her down, suddenly aware of how much strength he'd exerted. Smiling, he moved a strand of wet hair away from her face and kissed her forehead, then detached himself from her, his body craving her warmth and softness the instant he found himself without it.
As if sensing this, Azula wrapped her arms around him again.
"I love you, Daddy," she said, even though she knew he couldn't hear her.
And as the rain continued to fall, they just held eachother.
Azula felt complete, as she always did whenever they had sex. And for the moment, she even forgot all that was wrong in her life - Zuko didn't cross her mind, nor did Katara. Or anyone. No one except for Daddy.
She loved him, and that was all that mattered.
⁂⁂⁂
That night, the Phoenix King had organized a rather special evening meal.
As of late, he and Azula simply took meals in their now shared suite, as there had been so much to do since they had returned from their two-week-long honeymoon. And not just that, quicker meals allowed for more… intimacy.
Tonight, however, was a special occasion.
Though she didn't know it, Azula would never again be bothered by the likes of Zuko.
Ozai couldn't wait to tell his daughter the good news… but first, he had to butter her up.
All of her favorites had been prepared.
Seaweed salad, raw oysters, various cuts of sashimi, and bird's nest soup to start.
Plus a rather generous selection of wine, Azula so loved the wine, as did he. It didn't take much at all to get her to the point where she was actually drunk, and when she was, she was agreeable to just about anything.
Smiling, the Phoenix King sat, content, as the servants set various bowls and platters, made of porcelain as was customary, upon the table.
"Have you sent for my daughter?" he gruffed, feeling impatient.
"Yes, Your Highness," said a rather mousy young girl with reddish-brown hair… and disappointingly small tits, he thought.
Not even looking at her, he then said "Well, don't wait for her, I'm starving."
And just as she began to serve him, his queen entered the room, dressed to the nines and with her collar locked firmly in place around that beautiful neck, doing little to hide the fading bruises and red teeth marks. Even her hair looked exquisite, styled in an elaborate updo, the new crown he'd gifted her nestled atop her raven locks, sparkling in the candlelight.
"Father," Azula greeted, warmly as she always did, moving to occupy the seat to his left, the one that used to be her mother's all those years ago.
Instinctively, his eyes were drawn to her chest… though she didn't have much skin on display, it was enough to make a man wonder what was underneath her clothes, and picture her without them. Of course, he didn't have to wonder, and it was indeed a pretty picture.
Perhaps, he'd take her again when they retired to their suite. That is, if he wasn't too tired, and didn't make the mistake of indulging in too much wine.
"Azula," he finally said, his gaze still locked onto her breasts, as though he were speaking to them.
He'd always been what one might call a 'boob man', probably ever since the first time he'd seen a bare breast. He was nine when it happened, and remembered it like it was yesterday. By chance, he'd happened upon a kitchen wench nursing her brat in a storage closet, and he'd stared through the crack in the door until his nursemaid shooed him away.
"What's the special occasion?" Azula inquired, taking him out of his thoughts.
"Wine!" Ozai barked at the flat-chested servant girl, making her gasp.
He cleared his throat, now focusing on his daughter's face, all painted up like a prostitute's, just for him.
"What ever do you mean, my daughter? Can we not simply enjoy a fine meal together?" he asked, enigmatically, as the girl filled his goblet to the brim… and then some. Unfortunately for her, it overflowed, spilling onto the table as well as in his lap.
"Your Highness, I'm so sor-!"
"What is wrong with you?!" he roared, not even giving her the chance to finish her pathetic apology. "What, are you slow? I wasn't aware the kitchens were hiring people with your affliction."
She bowed her head, both fearful and humiliated.
"Please, forgive-!"
"Don't just stand there all day, clean up this mess!" he ordered, his abrasive tone telling Azula she ought to be silent as well. "You're lucky I don't have you whipped, you stupid girl!"
"Yes, Your Highness, right away!" she sputtered, nearly tripping over herself as she rushed toward the kitchens.
And in what seemed the blink of an eye, she returned, with a dampened rag as well as another servant to assist.
"I do hope the rest of these new hires aren't complete imbeciles like this one," he disparaged, as she wiped down the table, hastily.
Ordinarily, this would be enough to put him in a foul mood for the rest of the night… but seeing as how his son's demise was quite inevitable, as was the birth of a surely superior child to replace him, he wasn't able to dwell on the simple-minded girl's mistake.
"Where do you think you're going, you aren't finished," he snapped, grabbing her arm, harder than was necessary. "Why is it that I'm the one who has to tell people around here how to do their own fucking jobs?" he asked, rhetorically, addressing his daughter now.
Azula narrowed her eyes as the girl reached under the table… only she was supposed to touch Daddy there!
"Wine, Your Highness?" asked the middle-aged woman who had entered along with her.
"Yes," she answered, brusquely, staring daggers into that silly little girl's head.
"That'll be quite enough, girl!" she snorted, and much to her chagrin, her father was smirking.
"Don't tell me you're jealous, Azula, she's flat as a washboard!" Ozai mocked, not even having the decency to wait until she was out of earshot.
"I'm not jealous!" she spat, indignant, reaching for her now full goblet. She took a rather large gulp before she spoke, then another… and another. "I just don't want her getting any ideas, Daddy, that's all."
"Ideas?" he questioned, amused, before taking a piece of whitefish from his plate with his chopsticks and scarfing it down, in a rather undignified manner.
"You're mine."
Ozai laughed. He'd almost forgotten how much he liked seeing Azula like this, all possessive. More often than not, he was the one… marking his territory, so to speak. For his wife was young and beautiful, and had many admirers.
Smiling wickedly, he brought his own goblet up to his lips, chasing the mouthful of raw fish with a swig of sweet, dark colored wine.
"Say that again," he ordered, next settling on a cut of akami tuna.
"You're mine, Daddy… and I'm yours."
And with that, Azula downed what remained of her wine.
"More!" she demanded, the alcohol hitting her already.
She felt all warm and fuzzy and well… happy. She didn't want it to end.
"Easy on the wine, little one, you haven't had anything to eat yet," Ozai cautioned, beckoning the servant. "Leave us," he said, snatching the pitcher from her hands and pouring only himself some more.
"I'm not hungry, Daddy," she told him. "Did they bring out any of that plum wine from Yu Dao? I like it better than the reds we've been having."
"That's not going to work this time, Azula. You'll eat a proper meal, is that understood?"
Honestly, did she think he was blind? It was fairly obvious she'd lost weight, and quite a bit of it (not that she'd had much on her to lose in the first place). The last few times they'd fucked, it felt like her hipbones were cutting into him. He couldn't have his queen, the mother of his future children, wasting away!
"Yes, Daddy," she agreed, begrudgingly, as he served her a dozen pieces of fish, in differing colors and textures, plus a full bowl of soup, the smell of which made her wrinkle her nose. She felt her stomach churn… but she couldn't refuse to eat, Daddy had made that very clear.
Only when she actually took a bite of her food, did he reward her with her drink of choice.
"There's a good girl," he praised, knowing how much she still craved that, even now. "Try the soup, you used to love it when you were little, don't you remember?"
In all honesty, she'd never much cared for it. She had only eaten it because-
It was Mother's favorite.
Instead of pointing that out though, she said "I remember," and sipped a decent-sized spoonful, as quietly as possible, the flavor rather more unpleasant than she remembered… nonetheless, she managed to choke it down.
"So, what's this all about, Daddy?" she asked again. "Aren't you going to tell me?"
Even being royalty, she knew very well that bird's nest soup wasn't exactly a part of the standard fare, as it was considered a delicacy, amongst peasants and those of the highest social standing alike.
"In due time, My Dear, in due time," he said, the tone of his voice and his body language alike giving nothing away.
"How are you feeling tonight?" he asked, changing the subject, recalling her bout of nausea the other day when they'd met in his office to discuss the water bitch.
As well, her lack of appetite and odd behavior were cause for concern. He hoped all of this was what he thought it was but that was all he could do… hope… for now.
"Better…" she said, looking down at her plate, and poking at the finely sliced fish with her chopsticks. "...but not one hundred percent."
"We really ought to have you see the royal physician if this persists," he suggested, in between spoonfuls of soup. "In fact, I won't take no for an answer. And you're to retire early tonight."
Azula nodded
"Yes, Sir."
He wouldn't have her fighting him about it. She may be his wife, yes, but she was still his baby girl, and always would be… and it was his job to look after her.
Over the course of the next twenty minutes or so, they talked, and ate, and drank… well, Azula mostly just talked and drank.
Then the kitchen staff appeared (the girl who'd spilled the wine noticeably absent) to clear the dishes, and the remaining food, and start setting up the main course.
Laid out before the royal couple were several luxurious and richly seasoned dishes. Steamed dumplings, some filled with meat, others with vegetables or red bean paste. Fried squid, century eggs, roast duck. Pan seared salmon koi with red chilies. Komodo chicken and snow peas in ginger sauce. Plus a few staples, namely sticky rice and cabbage. Even by their standards, it was quite the feast for just one meal.
As well, the pitchers of wine were refilled.
When Azula held out her cup expectantly though, Ozai addressed the servants.
"No more for her," he told them. "Bring her a pot of tea instead."
"Yes, Your Highness," two women said, in unison, returning to the kitchens.
Azula pouted, disappointed but knowing better than to protest.
"Just the meat for me." Ozai surveyed his daughter, his brow furrowing. "Give my wife some of everything," he ordered, to the small group of women who remained, one of whom was now filling his plate with large portions of duck, komodo chicken, and salmon koi, at his behest.
"I'm full," she said, gently, reaching under the table to try and hold his hand.
"You are not," he countered, clasping her much smaller hand in his. "Stop acting like a spoiled child…" He smirked, golden eyes alight. "...or else I'll have to punish you."
She laughed a little. "Now that's hardly a threat."
"I mean it, Azula, keep misbehaving and I'll bend you over my knee and spank you," he said, quite liking the sound of that. "Is that what you want?"
"No, Daddy, please don't," she answered, playfully, suddenly feeling a little tingle in her pussy at the thought of him touching her… lately, it was like she couldn't get enough of it.
Slut.
She crossed her legs, willing the feeling to stop.
"Alright, then be quiet, and eat your dinner."
"Yes, Daddy."
⁂⁂⁂
Katara opened her eyes, only to find herself in a strange bed, in a strange room.
She wasn't in the palace, that was fairly obvious judging from her surroundings. Sparse furnishings, dusty windows, cracks in the walls, and peeling paint. As well, all around her were things that she could only guess were used for medicine - herbs, glass phials filled with various substances, metal tools, garlic cloves and flower petals scattered about.
Where was she? How did she get here?
And perhaps most importantly of all, what had been done to make her pain subside?
Earlier, she could hardly even stand up and now, she was feeling quite a bit better. Lightheaded, still tired and sore, but better.
"Hello?" she called out, unsure of who might answer… if anyone.
Silence for a moment.
And suddenly, there was a flash of bright light, practically blinding her.
"Agh!" she cried, putting her arm in front of her eyes, trying to block it out.
"Wh-Who's there?" she asked, groggily, her gut telling her that whatever was going on was no natural occurrence… no, only spirits were capable of such things.
"Show yourself!"
"Katara."
Wait, she knew that voice! No… no… it couldn't be..?!
"Katara, it's me."
She lowered her arm and opened her eyes again. The mysterious light had faded. And in front of her stood someone she thought she'd never see again.
"Aang!"
It was him, it was really him!
"How are you-?" she managed, breathless, springing up from the bed to sit. "What-?" She couldn't believe it! "How is this happening?!"
Aang smiled.
"I had to see you."
And all Katara could do was cry.
"Don't cry, Katara," he soothed, a very much solid and real hand reaching out and touching her shoulder. "You have to stay strong, if anyone can get through this, it's you."
Tearful blue eyes met stormy gray ones, and he held her face in his hands.
"You're even more beautiful than I remember," he whispered, their lips almost touching but not quite.
"Aang…"
"I wish I could stay here but I can't…" He kissed her, desperately. And after no more than a few fleeting seconds, it was over. "...I'll be waiting for you."
"Aang, no, don't go!"
She clutched the sleeve of his shirt, tears streaming down her face.
"I love you, Katara. And I'll always be with you."
Then there was another flash of light…
…and he was gone.
Just like that, he was gone.
Katara let out a choked sob, moving to lie back down on the bed, tears wetting the feather pillow. As she cried almost silently, she swore she could still taste him on her lips, still feel his gentle touch… she wished she'd had the chance to tell him that she loved him, too.
He was her first love, and she never told him.
All the things she'd dreamed about… being married at the Air Temple, traveling the world, having children, growing old together… none of it would ever happen.
The Fire Nation had stolen not only her most special friend and one true love, but her very dreams as well.
You have to stay strong, if anyone can get through this, it's you.
It was as though he was speaking directly to her, his words playing in her head as if she'd heard them all over again… how could she, though? How could she stay strong when she was oceans away from her home, without her family and friends, surrounded by unimaginably cruel and hateful people who wanted to hurt her? And with no way out… no hope of rescue or escape…
The monks used to say that all life is sacred, and that everybody deserves a second chance no matter what they've done.
"Wha..?" she whispered, in disbelief at hearing what he'd said to her on Ember Island, what felt like an eternity ago now.
You can help her, I know you can. That's what you do.
"I… can't…"
You can. You have to, it's the only way.
At this point, Katara was unsure whether she was hearing Aang's voice or own thoughts… though she supposed it didn't matter. 'Her' was Azula. And Azula was beyond help. No matter how she wished it wasn't true, it was. Maybe, just maybe had she done things differently when she'd had the chance, then-
No, no, this wasn't her fault!
But Tui be damned, saving Azula was the only way to save everyone, including herself, from the wrath of the monster king!
You can't give up.
She couldn't give up…
She wouldn't give up.
⁂⁂⁂
"Father, I can't possibly finish this, it's enough for three people," Azula declared, pushing away her plate.
It was beyond ridiculous! Did he want a moo-sow for a wife?
"You've hardly touched your food," Ozai replied, in mild frustration. "Are you fourteen or just four? Honestly, Azula, there's no need to carry on like this."
She shrugged. "I guess you'll just have to punish me then, Daddy, like you said."
He chuckled. "Hm, you'd like that, wouldn't you?"
She said nothing at first, just stood up from her chair and approached him, tentatively.
"I've been a bad, bad girl, Daddy," she cooed, hoping he'd take the bait.
If he did, that would be the end of all of this nonsense regarding her eating habits (at least for the night) and not only that, by Agni, she wanted him to touch her so badly… already, she could feel her nipples harden, and her pussy getting wet.
It was downright pathetic, she knew, he hadn't so much as kissed her, and they were fully clothed. But it didn't change the fact that she was drunk and horny… fuck, she didn't even feel in control of her own body anymore! All it wanted was him.
Ozai shook his head. "What am I going to do with you, My Azula?"
The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to deliver on his supposed threat… he hadn't used that particular brand of punishment in well over a year. The last time this had happened, his daughter's screams made him so hard he'd had to stop halfway through, and jerk off in a washroom, like a hormone-addled teenager.
Now though, of course, he didn't have to suppress those urges.
He felt his cock twitch and it was then he realized she had him over a barrel.
"I've been a bad girl," she said again. "Teach me a lesson."
He just couldn't resist.
"You think you're the one who's in charge here?" Ozai growled, his demeanor changing almost instantaneously. He grabbed her, and he swore he heard her breath hitch in her throat. "Think again, little girl." Roughly, he pulled her into his lap and held her down, a muscular arm across her back, exerting his far superior strength.
With his free hand, he started to hike her dress up, as she pretended to struggle.
"Daddy's going to spank your pretty little ass until you cry, Azula," he asserted, already growing hard at the sight of her barely clothed rear end.
Eager, he tugged at the thin, light blue lace until her backside was completely exposed… which was entirely for his benefit, he very well could have done this with her underwear still on. But what would be the fun in that?
"Please, don't hurt me, Daddy!" his queen begged, sincerely enough to make him forget that she was acting.
"Oh, but you asked for it," he purred, seductively, his palm ghosting over her left cheek, marveling at how smooth the skin was. "Don't worry, I'll know when you've had enough." For a second, he dipped his fingers down lower, lightly gliding over her slit, teasing her.
Laughing at her strangled moan, he brought his hand back up to her butt and…
Slap!
Azula cried out, having not expected him to hit her quite so hard.
"You think that hurt?" the Phoenix King crooned, almost lovingly, stroking the fresh, red mark. "So ungrateful. You should be thanking me for giving you the discipline you need, it's for your own good, you know."
"I know," she said, stiffening up and preparing herself for more. "Thank you, Daddy."
"That's more like it…" He smiled to himself, his fingers teasing her cunt again, feeling the heat coming from her. It was tempting, especially as she squirmed and whimpered, but he couldn't reward her for this… at least, not yet.
He gave her pussy a light smack, then her ass a much, much harder one, the sound echoing throughout the mostly empty room along with her pained cry.
"Th-Thank you, Daddy."
Slap!
"Thank you, Daddy!"
Slap!
"Thank you, Daddy!"
As he hit her, over and over again, Azula could have sworn he was doing it harder each time. Well, either that or it just seemed that way because the sting lingered afterward, and he didn't give it long enough between each strike of his large and powerful hand.
Her ass felt like it was on fire, tears beginning to blur her eyes.
But he didn't stop.
Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!
"Daddy! Please!" she choked out in between her own screams, and of course her 'thank yous'.
She willed herself not to cry, not yet.
"Please what?" he asked, mockingly. Another crack of his open palm, this one rather less harsh. He didn't want her to actually be hurt, just sore and with his hand prints all over her pretty ass. "You want me to stop? I can't let you off that easily, I don't think you've learnt your lesson." In contrast to his words, he did stop, at least for the time being, if only to admire his own handiwork.
His daughter's perfect little heart-shaped ass was practically glowing red, and warm to the touch.
"You're lucky I don't do this in front of an audience. I could, you know," he cautioned, beginning to massage her heated skin with both hands, soothing it. A bit of pleasure made the pain all the more delicious. "Perhaps that's what you need, some humbling. Suppose I punished you like this in front of my generals, hm?"
"Daddy, you wouldn't," she whimpered, arching her back reflexively and leaning into his touch. Due to the increased blood flow plus the alcohol she'd indulged in, everything was throbbing and oversensitive, especially her pussy. Fuck, she needed him to touch her there… he was going to, right?
Ozai just laughed. No, he wouldn't dare allow other men to see his queen in such a state of undress… not that she knew that.
"Maybe I would," he said, striking her precisely where there was an angry red welt already forming, without warning, and delighting in the sound she made. "I can show them all what a slut you are, they'll never respect you again…" Another slap. Then another, another, and another. He heard a sniffle. "...well, what do we have here? Are you crying?"
"Daddy!" she whined.
Indeed, she was crying, she could no longer help it. Between the sharp, stinging pain, and the ache in her cunt where she was desperate to be touched, it was just too much.
"Oh, but I know you're enjoying this," Ozai affirmed , his hand slipping downward for a third time, fingers parting her lips, one pushing inside with no difficulty at all. "Fuck… you dirty little slut, you're soaked," he marveled, gently fingering her wet pussy as she moaned.
"Please!" Azula begged. Like a good girl, she lifted her ass up higher and spread her legs, giving Daddy easier access to her special places. "Oooh, I can't help it, Daddy, I just get all excited when I'm with you," she said, in total honesty. Finally he was touching her there and it felt so damned good!
Ozai laughed. "I know, and I love how fucking slutty you are for me," he hissed, his big finger starting to move faster, and penetrate deeper, all the way to the knuckle. As she was so wet for him and still drunk, he didn't have to spend any time getting her relaxed and prepared. Her body knew what it wanted, and accepted him gladly.
"Fuck!" Azula vocalized, between her pleasured cries, and clutched onto the arm of the chair to keep herself from falling, as she was unsteady on her feet in her heeled shoes and Daddy was no longer holding her down.
Instead, the hand that wasn't otherwise occupied went for his own mouth, and he coated his index finger in his saliva as he eyed her pink, puckered hole, the one he'd never touched before. With her in this position, it was just too tempting, and besides she wasn't going to fight him about it, not in her impaired state.
Just to be sure though, Ozai distracted his daughter, fingers moving to her clit, pinching the sensitive bud, then circling it. As Azula squealed and bucked her hips, his well lubricated finger rubbed her virgin asshole, wondering how it was he hadn't yet claimed it for his own… he'd have to fix that one of these nights.
"Daddy, what..?" she asked, perplexed.
He'd never touched her there, not once.
But before she could say anything else, the long, thick digit made its way inside her previously untouched entrance, slowly.
"You'll like this, too, I promise," he reassured, a finger working her tight, little asshole while another stroked her clit, eliciting loud, full-bodied moans from the small girl laid out across his lap.
Azula hated that it felt good, she wished it didn't, it was so… so improper, even for her.
"It's not proper, Kings and Queens shouldn't-"
Ozai laughed heartily. "Really? Have you asked any other queens about it? It's nothing new, you know, some men even fuck their wives in the ass, and they love it, too. So will you, when the time comes…"
If it was anything like this, Azula didn't doubt him, but… Agni, she hadn't even known that was something people did, let alone enjoyed! It seemed every day, Daddy was teaching her something new about what husbands and wives did in the bedroom-
"Agh-haaaaAAAaaaah!" she cried out, the pleasure she was experiencing taking her out of her thoughts.
She felt dirty, whoreish. She was a queen, not a prostitute, she shouldn't be liking this!
But she couldn't help it, between those skilled fingers toying with her clit, and Daddy stimulating places she hadn't even known could be stimulated in such a way, all she could do was clutch the chair tighter and buck her hips.
"See?" Ozai asked, smugly, looking over his drunk daughter as she bucked and moaned for him, as though she were being paid to. "I know everything there is to know about pleasing a woman, Azula, and lucky for you, I chose you to be my wife," he boasted, fully aware that she was close to cumming, no matter what she may think of the… propriety of the situation.
"I-I love you, Daddy!" she managed, breathless.
"Show me how much," he growled, rubbing at her clit harder, curling the finger that was inside of her. "Cum for Daddy, baby girl," he ordered, uncaring of the fact that everyone in the kitchens could hear them, and not only that, were probably gathered just outside the door.
And after less than a minute, her orgasm hit, so strong it seemed to suck the life out of her, and all she could do was tremble in her daddy's lap, practically sobbing with sheer bliss.
"Th-Thank you, Daddy," Azula said, for what was probably the twentieth time that night.
Ozai wasted no time seeing to his own desires.
"Get up," he urged his weak-legged daughter, who obeyed, dutifully though not without help.
Her legs felt like jelly as she stood up, Daddy holding her steady, guiding her into the position which best suited him - her bent over the table, completely at his mercy.
Ozai had hardly allowed his wife a moment to get her bearings before he was grabbing her hips and thrusting into her, his big cock tearing a small scream from her throat as it forced its way inside, hitting her cervix.
"Fuck," the Phoenix King grunted, one of his hands moving from her hip to her hair, tugging at it, hard, as he pounded her tight pussy.
"Daddy!" she squeaked, his harsh thrusts bringing her both pain and immense pleasure, helpless while he fucked her against the dining room table, wood creaking and dishes clanking.
He felt so big inside of her, so alien and yet familiar, like she'd been missing his cock all her life.
"Oh, fuck!" She bit her lip, trying to stifle her own screams. "Harder Daddy! Fuck me harder!"
And though Ozai wasn't normally one to take orders, that was certainly one order he was all too glad to follow.
Pulling at his daughter's beautiful black hair, using it as leverage, Ozai started to move faster. His motions were rough, almost uncaring. It was nothing Azula couldn't handle though, he knew, and so he continued at his brutal pace.
"Daddy!" Azula exclaimed, trying to move fast enough to keep up with him, already feeling that familiar warmth and pressure.
It didn't take long at all for Ozai to reach his climax, too, shuddering against Azula's much smaller form, a wave of euphoria emanating from his hips and to his balls, and up his spine, stealing the very breath from him.
"Azula," he barely grunted, reaching a hand forward even in his current state, stroking her swollen and oversensitized clit.
As she came, he felt a gush of hot fluid, and her pussy quivering, milking his cock for all that it was worth, sucking him in with such force he couldn't have pulled out of her if he'd tried.
"Daddy, what..?" Azula began to ask, in confusion, afraid she'd done something wrong.
"Shhh, it's supposed to happen," he reassured, burying his face in her fragrant hair, inhaling the scent of cherry blossoms and vanilla as he rode out the final aftershocks of his completion… then he just held her.
"I love you," his daughter and wife said, for the second time that night.
"I know you do."
⁂⁂⁂
The royal couple retired early, even earlier than Ozai had originally intended. But he was just so tired, what with the wine and keeping his beautiful young bride satisfied. Not that he was complaining, he'd chosen well. When he'd been married to that bitch, Ursa, he'd had to look elsewhere for what he wanted, more often than not. Agni, she had never even given him the chance to show her what an excellent lover he truly was, she'd insisted on fighting him whenever he did share her bed… either that or she just laid there, like a dead fish. He laughed to himself. Her loss.
And her loss was Azula's gain, he thought, watching his superior-in-every-way second wife get settled into bed next to him, eyeing her scantily clad form. She was wearing one of the new robes he'd had made for her, the others too long and well… covering too much for his taste.
He smiled, taking in her shapely, bare legs.
When she winced though, he frowned.
Had he hit her too hard?
"Princess?" he asked, regarding her with genuine concern. "Does it still hurt?"
Azula nodded, meekly. "Some," she said, and he knew she wasn't being entirely truthful.
Ozai leaned over, and opened the top drawer of the nightstand, rifling through it until he found what he was looking for - a soothing balm, scented with lavender. Normally, he used it for burns, though it would suffice for this, too.
He kissed her. "Turn over, let Daddy make it better," he purred, running his fingers through her black hair, hair so very like his own, which was still wet from the bath they'd shared.
His daughter obeyed without question of course, turning over onto her stomach, and lifting her robe. As she wasn't wearing underwear, he saw the marks he'd left right away. All over her once perfect skin were raised, red splotches, some clearly in the shape of a hand.
He had to admit it was a turn-on, had she not exhausted him already he'd have tried to just hold her down and take her right there. But oh well, there was always tomorrow…
Azula moaned lightly as he rubbed the balm into her abused flesh, much more gently than he normally touched her.
"That feels good, Daddy," she muttered, lifting her ass up and spreading her legs, showing him what was his.
"You've pleased me well, little girls who make their daddies happy get rewarded."
Ozai wasn't so foolish as to not care for her afterward, a bit of kindness ensured she'd keep letting him do whatever he wanted (not that he couldn't just take what he wanted from her, but this way was easier). And, if he were being honest, he was enjoying this, too. He loved the adorable sounds she made, he loved how eager she was for his touch.
Azula sighed in pleasure, and shut her eyes. "Mmm, does that mean you're going to tell me what that dinner was all about now?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Let's just say I'm finally getting rid of something that's been bothering me for the past sixteen years." He chuckled. "Is that not worth celebrating, My Dear?"
She knew what it was he meant of course, she'd have known from the moment she'd sat down to such an elaborate meal had she not managed to fool herself into complete denial. Even now, after he'd just said it, it somehow didn't feel real… it couldn't be!
Her head still a bit fuzzy with the buzz of wine, she struggled to come up with something more eloquent than "But what will people say!"
It was a weak argument, sure, though it was better than nothing.
The Phoenix King scoffed. "I know what they'll say and I don't care. Do I let what people say stop me from fucking you? No, just like you don't let that stop you from loving it. I'm their king, I can do anything I want!"
Suddenly, he grabbed his daughter and flipped her over onto her back, and she let out a gasp of surprise.
"You're married to the single most powerful man in the entire world, you do realize that, don't you?" he asked, and Azula nodded, obediently. "Agni himself couldn't stand in my way! I'd kill him, just like I killed the damned Avatar!" he declared, a positively mad glint in his golden eyes, the same eyes that were staring down at her.
She felt her pulse quicken.
Normally, she loved when he talked like that but in that moment, it just disturbed her.
"Why, I could go on over to the prison right now and cut his throat! And the guards would just stand there and watch him bleed."
He smiled wickedly.
"But that's no fun, now is it? It'd be much better if everyone saw, don't you think?" he asked, not actually wanting an answer, she knew. "There will be a public trial and then…" He kissed her forehead, then her lips again. "...a public execution. I'll let you choose how he dies, would you like that, My Azula? You were the one he attacked, after all, it's only fair."
"When?" she asked, because it was all she could ask.
"Soon," he answered. "A mere fortnight, and he'll trouble us no more. The preparations are underway as we speak, and I've been assured everything will be ready in time. You know how these things go, the trial is just a formality but it's an even bigger headache for us if we don't have one and…"
After that, Azula stopped listening.
Ozai rambled on and on, unknowing that his wife had tuned him out and was instead trying to pretend this wasn't happening.
A fortnight.
Two weeks.
Two lousy weeks was all she had to stop this.
She had to stop it, she had to. She couldn't let Zuko die, even if it meant she would have to do something drastic…
…even if it meant she would have to go against Daddy.
⁂⁂⁂
Ozai awoke in the night to a most unwelcome sound… the sound of a girl, which he immediately recognized as his daughter, sobbing. Quite loudly.
Fuck, what is it now? he thought, sitting up and opening his eyes, his vision bleary.
He was tired.
Not just physically but he was tired of all the whining, all of the petty issues which Azula seemed intent on making bigger at every turn, often to the point where they spiraled out of control. One simple problem, and she was acting like the sky was falling.
Grumbling to himself, he got up out of bed, knowing that if he ignored whatever this was, it wouldn't just go away but rather it would evolve into something he couldn't ignore… it was the one thing he couldn't stand about his wife, she had an uncanny ability to make every little thing worse.
Sighing heavily, the Phoenix King pushed open the door to the washroom, which was already ajar, to find his queen sitting there on the floor, crying. She'd obviously been at this for quite some time as her eyes were red and swollen, and streaks of tears gleamed in the faint candlelight, staining her face and neck, even wetting the front of her robe. Next to her was a nearly emptied bottle of wine, pilfered from his own personal store.
Oddly enough, she didn't even seem to notice he'd entered the room, either that or she was just too engrossed in the narrative her mind was creating, and too emotional.
"Azula?" Ozai looked down at her, already struggling to keep his temper under control. Why was she acting like this? "Azula, look at me," he said, sternly.
"Daddy..?" she whimpered, appearing almost surprised.
Fearful golden eyes peered up at him, brimming with tears…. with… weakness.
It disgusted him.
"Always fucking whining…" He clenched his fists, which he could feel were growing hot despite him not even willing it to happen. "What, what is it now?" he growled, annoyed at the very sight of her crying face… after all he'd given her, after all he'd done for her?!
"I-I've been having these horrible nightmares…" She hiccuped, trying to hold back more sobs no doubt. "...that time you punished me before…" She sniffled, looking at him as though he were some monster who was going to eat her alive.
Ozai wasn't daft, he knew what it was she was referring to, of course. Ember Island, when they were in the bath and she'd dared to say what she said to him.
"Azula, I thought we were past all of that," he said, somehow managing to keep his voice level, and at a normal volume. "You know why you were punished, and you know that it won't happen again so long as you give me the respect I am owed."
He scoffed, shaking his head in disapproval.
"I'm surprised at you, I thought you were stronger than this," he continued, feeling his temper flare again. "It's not like I committed some horrible atrocity, you know. You're my wife, you belong to me! I'll do whatever I want with you, and that includes sticking my cock inside of you - whether you like it or not!" He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Sometimes… you just make me so damn angry I can't think straight, Azula."
To his dismay, she just cried some more, as if she'd completely ignored what he'd just said.
"Stop crying!" he exclaimed, and yet the tears kept on flowing. They wouldn't cease, it was like a floodgate had opened. "I said stop!" he repeated, grabbing her by the arm and by the hair, and pulling her up to stand.
"Stop this instant, I command it!" he screamed in her face. And in that moment, he saw red, he couldn't control himself. "You ungrateful little bitch!" he roared.
Crack!
The back of his hand met her cheek, hard. So hard the sound echoed, and she stumbled, and very nearly fell down.
"This is how you treat me, after everything I've done for you!"
"Is that all you ever fucking think about!" Azula screeched, shocking the both of them with her sudden outburst. "You! You, you, you! It's always about you! You don't give a shit about me. I trusted you, I love you! And you hurt me, you took something… something that's supposed to show me you love me, too, and you used it to-"
"How DARE you?!" he screamed, grabbing her by the hair again and shoving her into the nearby wall.
"Listen to me, you cunt! You owe me your fucking life! I made you, I made you everything that you are!"
He yelled in frustration, a fiery fist crashing into the wall, mere inches away from his wife who was now cowering in fear, the same way her stupid whore of a mother used to.
"FUCK!"
It was as though some invisible force had taken over, he was so angered by his daughter's audacity, her insolence..!
He sent a blast of fire in her direction, unknowing of whether or not she managed to avoid it (and frankly, not caring), then he turned his attention to the vanity.
Various objects clattered and were sent crashing to the floor, some cracking and breaking - glass bottles and phials completely destroyed in his rage. He knocked it all over, every last thing. And still, he felt unsatisfied. He'd have done more damage to the room (and possibly to his daughter, too) if not for a rare moment of clarity.
A moment of clarity that made Ozai still and look up, viewing his own reflection in the already broken mirror.
Breathing heavily, he gripped the wood of the counter, his hands so hot it started to burn the instant he made contact with it, the smell permeating as white smoke rose to the ceiling.
"Get out!" Ozai snarled, not even looking at Azula, whom he could hear was still crying.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go! No, Azula was supposed to be the perfect wife, the perfect queen, it was why he'd chosen her. He didn't understand why she would behave this way toward him, it didn't make sense. She had everything she'd ever wanted, did she not? A throne, a crown, all the power in the world. He'd spent nearly fifteen years teaching her, nurturing her, giving her all he'd wanted and never had…
Was she turning against him, too, like all of the others?
"Daddy..?" her voice was meek as she approached.
"Now that you have everything…"
He hesitated before continuing to speak, emotions that were not anger or frustration, or anything of the sort, bubbling to the surface and making themselves known. He didn't like it, it was so strange… foreign.
And it wasn't going away.
"...it's time, isn't it? You don't need me anymore."
He nearly jumped when he felt her hand touch his shoulder.
"That's not true, I love-!"
"Don't."
And instead of Azula, it was Ozai who left the room, without another word.
- 37
- 38
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Kuebiko