Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/13645245.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Rape/Non-Con, Underage
  Category:
      F/M
  Fandom:
      Avatar:_The_Last_Airbender
  Relationship:
      Azula/Ozai_(Avatar)
  Character:
      Azula_(Avatar), Ozai_(Avatar), Katara_(Avatar), Zuko_(Avatar), Iroh_
      (Avatar)
  Additional Tags:
      Alternate_Universe_-_The_Fire_Nation_Won, Fire_Nation_Royal_Family,
      Parent/Child_Incest, Father/Daughter_Incest, Dysfunctional_Family,
      Abusive_Relationships, Stockholm_Syndrome, Friendship, Possibly
      Unrequited_Love, Abuse, Sexual_Coercion, Narcissism, Possessive_Behavior,
      Manipulation, Alcohol_Abuse/Alcoholism, Alternate_Universe_-_Dark, Smut,
      Possessive_Sex, Jealousy, Daddy_Kink, Claiming
  Stats:
      Published: 2018-02-13 Updated: 2018-03-28 Chapters: 9/? Words: 15242
****** Kuebiko ******
by Princess_Claire_Fey, Somewhere_In_Time
Summary
     (Kuebiko)
     n. a state of exhaustion inspired by acts of senseless violence,
     which force you to revise your image of what can happen in this
     world—mending the fences of your expectations, weeding out all
     unwelcome and invasive truths, cultivating the perennial good that’s
     buried under the surface, and propping yourself up like an old
     scarecrow, who’s bursting at the seams but powerless to do anything
     but stand there and watch.
     - The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
     "I sleepwalk past hope... waiting... wondering... and morning never
     comes. I am awake; I am alive. This is my nightmare, and my nightmare
     is real."
     The Avatar is dead. And so, The Phoenix reigns supreme...
***** From the Ashes *****
The redness in the sky had long passed once the self-proclaimed Phoenix King
returned home, his ironclad warship Crimson Star docking into port, nearly
stopping all traffic in the capital bay to allow their ruler the quickest
route. Ozai always knew it was a mistake for Azulon to have began the Great
Dragon Hunt. Old fool. And of course, the one who had proven himself good
enough to slay the last one was that bastard Iroh. He had been busy. Messenger
hawks had informed the Phoenix King that his traitorous aforementioned brother
had claimed his city in the name of their pathetic enemies. It was high time
that miserable old fool meet his end, there was no questioning it now. No
longer would politics of the nobility prevent the killing of an outright
traitor.
The streets of his city are filled with people come to witness their King's
return. They, too, would accept his brother's demise as they are meant to.
Golden eyes bore outside the small window of the carriage, showing the
determined faces of his subjects, which could surely only increase once they
heard the news. Phoenix King Ozai, first of his title, wielded the power of
Sozin's -hmm, that could use a little renaming- Comet to slay the Avatar where
his children had failed him. He did what no man had done in centuries, forever,
the history books would say.
The Caldera was eerily in line. Not that the Phoenix King disapproved, but the
sight of the green-robed Dai Li on burnt rooftops gave him pause. There was a
nagging doubt, an eerie voice.
They aren't truly mine
The evidence of his daughter's battle was everywhere, amplified tenfold by the
comet's power. He could see where stone had turned to glass, transmuted by her
azure flame as a result of sheer intensity. Those would remain, he would make
sure of it. Testaments of the royal family's power, the power of his spawn.
Finally, they had arrived. The palace was almost empty compared to its usual
complement. Even the green-robed Dai Li were scarce, the servants few. The
Royal Guard present, but no longer patrolling the inner sanctum. Those that
remained most certainly gave the respect that was due, Ozai noted, asking
harshly where he would find his daughter. The Throne Room, of course. The
Phoenix King smiled, his daughter had always been diligent, ever studious in
the improvement of herself, ever present in her duty to her father. Just like
Ozai, of course.
"-the western flank in that region would be left undefended, Your Highness,
surely-"
"Get out!" The Phoenix King demanded, stepping into the azure light of his
daughter's flames which encased the Dragon Throne like a tomb, causing the
various generals and nobility that she had assembled to flee in order to allow
their private conversation.
"Father?"
He came back to me!
Azula found herself overwhelmed, one thousand emotions swirling around inside
of her like a maelstrom. No one ever came back- Not to her. And yet, there he
was...
He's only going to leave you again. This time, for good! Perhaps, he's not even
here... Mother wasn't here- said a voice, that voice in her head, always
telling her terrible things... things she did not want to hear...
You're a monster. Everyone leaves you- it told her.
Rising from her seated position, her rightful position, she approached with
much hesitation, with trepidation... as though her father- The Phoenix King-
would scuttle off like a frightened animal or vanish into a puff of smoke.
Surely, the notion was ludicrous! And still, she felt... she did not know how
to feel... only that she wanted Father to stay, that she wanted to be with him-
forever.
"Azula" Ozai said, looking over his daughter as she approached, the blazing,
brilliant wall of cerulean parting at her wordless to command to allow the Fire
Lord's passage. She wore her royal armor, an appearance as perfect as ever. The
gleaming gold of the Fire Lord's crown sat atop her head. Though the Phoenix
King could not help but to be... disappointed. After his exhausting fight with
the Avatar and a dreadfully boring journey home, having heard nothing save for
traitorous news, Ozai was hoping for her to be a little more... presentable,
exciting- alluring.
In fact... Ozai raised an eyebrow.
Her appearance was notperfect. Obviously, servants had gone to excruciating
lengths in order to hide it, but any person would notice when not obscured
behind a wall of blue flame. Her hair was ragged, cuts at odd lengths and
angles painting a wild and wicked picture, accentuated by a fearful look in
those inherited golden eyes. No, something had shaken Ozai's perfect little
girl.
Ozai took several steps forward, closing the gap between father and daughter.
"I heard you fought your brother during the day of the comet. What did he do to
you, my daughter?" he asked slowly, running a finger from the edge of her lips,
tracking her hair all the way to the crown of her head.
He's here. He's real. He's not leaving - The young Fire Lord thought,
breathless, silently begging for his touch. She missed this ...She actually
missed this. She needed more. She craved it.
"Zuko... he...," Azula began.
And it was all but a blur. She remembered the fire... fire everywhere...
smoldering ash and smoke and flame... the courtyard burning, everything burning
beneath the crimson sky... a flash of light and her brother screaming... the
river... drowning! And suddenly, the room was spinning, and spinning and
spinning and she wanted to cry... she was going to cry, to weep until her eyes
ran dry.
You can't! Not in front of Father- the voice nags.
No! Let him see. Let him see what he's done to you!- another argues.
Azula, the Fire Lord, did not cry. She held onto her father for dear life,
having leapt into his arms as though he were her savior, and she sobbed.
"He tried to kill me, Daddy," she managed to choke out. "Zuko tried to kill me!
They all did! And. You. Weren't. Here!"
It was if the clock wound back the hands of time and his pride had become his
little girl again, latching onto her father because of the most recent horrors
of the world he had shown her. Zuko certainly had done a number on her. The
Phoenix King reached for the bun of her hair, pulling it loose from its knot
and letting the wounded raven locks spill free, each wicked incision now for
all to see. Ozai ran his hand, slowly, from the crown of her head down to her
neck. It was a pathetic display from her, but one could only expect so much
from a girl. Daughters need their fathers, they need their strength, no matter
how much of their own they may posses.
"He's a traitor," Ozai said, finally. "He also aided the Avatar in his attempt
to end me. We'll deal with your brother soon enough" he assured.
"But this has made one thing clear to me. We cannot afford to be apart, my
daughter. Separated, we are weak. Our enemies like the Avatar and Zuko nip at
our heels! Though they have fallen, more will replace them. That is why you
must rule at my side, as my Queen - that way, we shall be invincible" he
finished with a smile, no longer looking at his daughter but instead toward the
war map on the floor, and the tiles that had been placed to mark their
remaining feeble enemies.
Queen.
Invincible.
Phoenix Queen Azula, The Invincible - such a title was singularly glorious! She
wanted to be invincible. She wanted to be a queen- hisqueen. Indeed, it was all
she could ever want, had ever dreamed of - and then some. Everything had fallen
into place, and it was beautiful... it was perfect.
They were perfect.
"Invincible," she repeated, positively enamored, heart racing wildly as it
threatened to burst forth from her ribcage. "Father... You honor me beyond
words."
"Indeed I have" Ozai affirmed, inhaling the faint smell of smoke in the air,
raising his daughter's head with a thumb upon her chin, staring spellbound into
her eyes. The Phoenix King was no longer disappointed, for there certainly was
something alluring about her - ragged hair rousing something primitive in him,
accentuated by the safe and certain look in her eyes, ready and waiting for his
next command. Indeed, Azula would finally be his. He smiled wide - she would be
the perfect queen, producing epic spawn like that bitch Ursa did- but without
all the whining. And with the addition of a few other things, he thought to
himself, reaching a hand around her waist. "Now come along, Azula. The whinings
of the War Council can wait."
The Phoenix King no longer cared about his brother's treachery, nor even his
own son's. All he wanted to do was celebrate the occasion and partake in its
pleasures - the creation of a new dynasty! The era of the Phoenix, the era of
Ozai!
***** The Fallen Prince *****
The sun had already risen when the Phoenix King awoke, his daughter and wife-
soon-to-be sleeping soundly with her head upon his chest. Ozai shook his head
as he (with a bit more discretion than he was probably used too) slipped out of
bed, blurred vision slowly clearing. The night previous truly had been one to
remember... that is, it would be if he could remember anything but pieces of
it.
Walking down the halls of his palace, the Phoenix King had a rare moment of
consideration. There were whispers of course, there had been ever since that
fateful day a year and a half ago, but he could sense that something had
already begun to change - it was glorious. Whispers had turned into questions,
and the festering of the peasant's wonderings were growing to a sizable
proportion, Ozai just knew it. Soon they would all know, and would be made to
respect the Phoenix King's union of fire. But there was someone who did not
know, whom had remained ignorant of just how deep his failure truly was this
entire time. How Zuko must loathe himself now, sitting in that dark cell (to
which Ozai would be certain to place his traitorous brother adjacent, pending
his execution), having failed to defeat his little sister for the umpteenth
time, having failed to teach the Avatar anything more than pitiful firebending,
and knowing that the only one who could save him now was the father he claimed
not to need or want. Ozai inhaled sharply. Today, too,would be a day worth
remembering.
The Phoenix King peered through the bars. Asleep on the floor, drool spreading
from his mouth... how utterly predictable. Even imprisoned, Zuko managed to be
just as pathetic as ever. His chest bore an untended wound which Ozai knew to
be lightning - Azula's work, no doubt. Befitting it was that both father and
daughter will have left a scar once they were finished with the young fool.
"Wake up!"
Awaken the prince did indeed, with a start. And then, there came the pain-
sharp, shooting pain, the blinding kind, that spread throughout his body. For
an instant, it felt as though he were being electrocuted all over again and
everything went dark, cold... he was frozen, swimming- drowning- lost to the
north sea and burning from the inside out beneath her icy waves. His head was
spinning, spinning beyond all control... heartbeat thrumming in his ears- boom
boom boom boom- the drums of war! But the war was no more; the war was lost. He
had lost ...The world had lost.
Straining, Prince Zuko lifted his head, only to find himself staring down the
very last person on this planet whom he wished to see before the end - his
Agni-forsaken father. Spirits be damned, what had he done in this life or any
another to deserve such torment? Somehow, some way, this man (this monster )
always managed to come out on top. Always. And why? He has asked, over and
again. Why?
"Why are you here?"
"Why, I am a just father come to visit his son" Ozai mocked, before letting
himself fall into a laugh. "Did you really believe you could win? Of course you
did, those are exactly the lies that you believe so readily. And your sister?
Trying to kill her during her moment of triumph?" he was angry now, outraged at
what Zuko had done to his precious princess. If there was any truer truth in
this world, it is that whatever is right and true, Zuko believed was wretched
and false - the ultimate contrarian indicator. If one wanted to find what the
world's greatest pleasures were, one only had to ask Zuko whence came the
world's greatest pains. It wasn't as if such people were uncommon, but his son?
Ozai wished now more than ever that the whore's wretched lies had been true. It
would have made everything easier. Instead, the young Prince Ozai, then Fire
Lord, and now Phoenix King had to watch his own son fail to infinity, knowing
it not only reflected the royal family, but himself as well.
"I didn't try-" Zuko began, biting his tongue before any protest would come to
fruition.
What was the point? He was wrong. Azula was right. In their father's eyes, he
was alwayswrong. And Azula? She was always right. Always smarter. Always
stronger. Always better. Azula was born lucky; he was lucky to be born. Azula
made Father proud. He made Father disappointed. He made everyone disappointed,
really. Himself, perhaps, most of all.
"Yes, Father," he said, his once-bright golden gaze now dulled and downcast in
shame. "I did. I believed that I could win."
"Does that make you... happy?" Zuko asked, fists clenching with righteous
anger. And those eyes began to blaze with emotion, livening once more, as
though awakened from the dead. His piercing stare burned straight through the
hem of his father's robes, trailing up and onward... until he's looking him
directly in the eye, and then he said "I know it does. You don't have to tell
me- I'm your son. It makes you happy to watch me fail. And I have no idea
why... it just does. You wanted this to happen. You're sick."
Ozai knelt down so that he was at eye level to Zuko, speaking with deadly
slowness. "The only thing that makes me happy is that your escape during the
day of black sun provided you time to learn one final lesson. One final lesson
before the stain that you are on me, with your nonsense politic and string of
failures, is removed forever."
The Prince was afraid to know, and even still he asked "What lesson is that,
Father?"
"You can never defeat something that is simply greater than you" Ozai said
simply, rising up. "Had you known your own worth, you may have had a place
here. But instead..." he turned to leave.
"Do not expect me to make it quick. The death I offered in the tunnels would be
mercy for you now. You don't deserve it. You will suffer a day for every second
of damage you did to my daughter, my Phoenix Queen."
Phoenix Queen!?
Surely, he couldn't- oh, but he could. Indeed, he could. The bastard could do
anything he pleased! Who would dare to try and stop him? Who could stop him
now?
"You... you're insane!" Zuko accused, bile rising to his throat. "Your own
daughter... What is wrong with you!?" he roared.
Azula, his sister- his little sister -"Don't touch her, you sick bastard! Don't
you dare!"
Ozai's laughing was borderline crazed now. "Would you rather have her for
yourself? I never took you to be the jealous type, Zuko!"
"...don't worry" he began again, laughter subsiding somewhat as he gave a
furious knock on the cell's outer door for the guard to open it. "I promise not
to do anything that I haven't done before"
"How can you even live with yourself!? I wish that I'd put an end to your
miserable existence when I had the chance!" Zuko called out in vain.
***** Crossroad Blues *****
The Fire Lord- No! The Phoenix Queen! She was a queen now, and no one would
dare tell her otherwise! The Phoenix Queen awoke, bleary-eyed and sore, feeling
as though she had not slept at all - even despite the fact that it was nearly
midday. His side of the bed is cold and unoccupied, and she could sulk about it
but she won't. Instead, she rose, smiling from ear to ear, feeling as if she
could take on the world... well, figuratively speaking, of course - for she and
her king had already done so!
Maidservants attended to the little queen's every whim, as per usual - drew her
a scented bath, dressed her, doused her in perfumes and oils, combed and styled
her hair (as well as could be expected) and then finally, obscured her cold
visage with a mask of meticulously painted cosmetics - white powder upon her
face... black kohl around those smoldering, sunlit eyes in great contrast...
and of course, a smear of crimson staining her lips.
Absentmindedly, a servant reached for her neck, moving to cover the grotesque
array of colors that had blossomed there. Azula snatched her wrist, quickly,
before the stupid girl could mar her with any chalky, white paste- as if she
had something to hide! As if she should be ashamed that Father had claimed her,
marked her as his. Never! It was this stupid serving wench who ought to be
ashamed of herself!
"I feel no shame! Begone from my sight, miserable little wench. I shall deal
with you later" she hissed.
Truthfully, the girl (no matter how moronic) was painfully insignificant and
therefore, not worth her time. Not today, at least. There was someone, however,
who was...
                                      ⁂⁂⁂
It had been three days and nights since she saw Zuko fall on the day of red
sun. Four since she had last seen her brother. Five since she had last seen
Aang (he was coming back, right?). Five days since she had last felt
contentment and safety, four days since she had felt community and kinship,
three since she had felt freedom and purpose. Day by day, the Fire Nation had
taken everything from Katara.
Not that she had actually been able to keep up with any sort of consistent
sleep. Oh no, only the waning and waxing of her power with the passing of the
moon told Katara the time, a fact that was certainly not lost on her guards,
who seemed to have forgotten that every human on earth needs water, whether
they can bend it or not. On the first day she had been granted a pittance. The
door hadn't opened since. Azula's doing, Katara preferred to think. That was
easier than believing that the average man in the Fire Nation could be so
discompassionate... only their leaders were capable of such callousness,
surely.
He was coming back... right? Just because Zuko had been unable to defeat his
sister didn't mean Aang couldn't defeat the Firelord. He had just been delayed,
for one reason or another. After all, Azula would be waiting, and needed to be
dealt with. But how long could it take for an Avatar to end a war against a
leaderless nation? A question to which Katara had no answer. A question she
didn't want to answer. Aang was going to walk through that door, she knew it.
He had to.
Her eyes perked up, it was as if the spirits had answered her prayers! The
door...
A smile had never so quickly turned into a scowl.
"Happy to see me, snow savage?" The Phoenix Queen taunted, a most sardonic
smirk livening her pretty face as she approached. "Oh dear, has no one told
you? How unfortunate," she continued, feigning ignorance. "...Well, as much as
I just hate to have to be the bearer of bad news," Azula sighed with complete
and utter disinterest, examining her freshly manicured fingernails.
"The Avatar is dead."
"Liar" Katara shot back, almost instinctually. But somewhere within Katara's
swirling emotions, between the blurs in her eyes, a pang of doubt told her that
Azula wasn't lying. "What... what do you want?" she asked, doing her best to
look the Phoenix Queen over. Her hair was still a mess, that she could tell.
And the marks on her neck...? Yet unlike during the day of red sky, her
confidence was present as ever.
The sound of Azula's laughter resonated, piercing and shrill, though still with
some degree of control - a sound most unsettling. "Liar?" she snorted,
derisively. "No, not this time." The other girl's recent misfortunes were
simply the funniest thing, it seemed...
"Perhaps Father shall see to it that the precious, bald head of your
sanctimonious, little monk be mounted on a spike and paraded through the
streets," Azula offered and then, with an appropriate degree of smugness and
vitriol, added "As a wedding gift to me... his beloved daughter, his queen."
The waterbender's eyes widened. Spirits. I mean, it's not as if she had thought
Zuko was kidding when he said 'she's crazy and needs to go down', but she had
never imagined... this! Was that what was going on here? 100 years of war
caused by a royal family of crazy, incestuous- Ugh!, she almost vocalized. Were
she not so starved for water, she may have cried.
"...what, do you want?" Katara repeated.
"I have a proposition for you," Azula offered, looming over as though the
filthy peasant were a meadow vole and she, a hungry rat-viper having cornered
its next meal.
"Serve me, pledge your loyalty to the great and powerful Phoenix Queen, in
exchange for your freedom."
"You're... you're joking" she wheezed, looking up into the Phoenix Queen's
menacing golden eyes. "Just because your dad... husband," Katara grimaced, her
gaze shifting toward the marks upon Azula's neck. "...may have beaten Aang,
doesn't mean I'm going to help you finish off the rest of the world," she said
determinedly, thinking of Gran-Gran and her friends in the south. Yugoda in the
North, Pakku - who had pledged to rebuild her home. And of course Sokka, whom
she refused to believe was dead. Suki, Toph...
No.
"Fuck off."
"Stupid, stupid peasant..." Azula snarled, jaw tightening, fingernails digging
into her palms. "Hmm, do you what I'd muchrather have as a wedding gift? Do you
want to know what I'll ask my dad-husband for tonight?"
"What, you'll ask him to give it to you harder this time?"
"Well, perhaps... jealous?" The Phoenix Queen sneered. "Though, that's really
beside the point. You peasants and your filthy minds! Just where is it that
you're from again... the Northern- no! The Southern Water Tribe! Yes, that's
right..."
Katara scoffed at the former remark. "The Southern. Your friends did a real
good job of ruining our little part of the world, too."
Azula, with a positively devious smirk, leaned forward and looked Katara
straight in the eye. "Daddy... that evil water-wench attacked me, her and Zuzu
tried to kill me," she whimpered, feigning distress. "Kill her! Kill them all!
Raze their miserable, stinking tribe to the ground! I want every last man,
woman, and child dead!"
"...that's your threat?" Katara almost laughed, her ears ringing from the
stakes of the situation, as her mind struggled to prevent itself from picturing
her home burning. "You're not going to do anything? You're going to cry to
daddy?"
She stopped gloating. "You can do what you want with me," she relented, her
voice sounding dull under the buzz of her ears. "Just make sure to tell your
daddy to stay away from my home, since it's obvious he has all the real power
here."
What? How- Azula was dumbfounded, if only for an instant. Did this stupid
peasant not believe her!? She could and she would have her home, everyone she
knew and loved, reduced to a pile of smoldering ash! All she had to do was-
Cry to Daddy- repeated that stupid, stupid, worthless, ignorant, filthy
peasant's mocking voice.
"How dare you!" the Phoenix Queen shrieked, hurling forth a burst of blue
flame, and delighting in the waterbender's subsequent cry of pain. "I will melt
the flesh from your bones!" she declared, wild-eyed, indignant and enraged-
visibly shaking with anger, her palms set ablaze. Then, through the chaos of
her emotion and white-hot, cerulean fire, there came a moment of clarity...
"No," she growled, still positively seething. "Better yet... Why don't I start
with little Zuzu? Would you like that? You can watch him die first! As
punishment for your insolence!"
Katara bit her tongue as azure flame seared dark skin, her breathing becoming
shallow as she inhaled her own seared flesh, her wrists responding with their
own burning agony as she struggled against the chains that held her hands from
drawing any water out of the air. She sat there for a while, staring down at
the blackened stone floor of her prison, feeling the ebb and flow of her pain
just as she felt Tui and La, the push and pull of the moon. Except of course
the spirits gave life; Azula took it.
"I'll do what you want" she said because she had to say it.
"I'll do what you want?"Azula mocked, cruelly and (half) jokingly imitating the
other girl. "You're going to have to do better than that, water-whore!" she
then clarified, tossing fire with uncharacteristic recklessness and once more,
receiving far too much enjoyment from the reaction that it caused.
The waterbender turned her head, for what good it did, considering her position
was rendered almost still by the bonds. What does she want now?- she barely
managed to think over the barely dulling pain and incessant ringing in her
ears. It didn't matter what Katara thought, the crazy look in the Phoenix
Queen's eyes wasn't going away no matter how much she wished it would.
"I-I..." she struggled to find the words, her mind a blur from the pain, the
images of her home- burning... the thought of Aang dead... and the thought that
Zuko's very life rested upon a razor's edge of whatever placating words she
would muster. "...I pledge my loyalty to you, your highness" she barely
managed, gritting her teeth at every word, clenching her beaten fists at having
to kowtow to the fire bitch.
***** Please? *****
A huff slipped past her painted lips, tossing and turning impatiently atop silk
sheets for the umpteenth time as she clenched her thighs, desperate to relieve
the ache in between them. But alas, she could not... only he could.
And so, she waited... and waited... and waited. By now, she was certain that
her lacy, red undergarments (which hardly qualified as such) were soaked
through. The thought of her father's impending arrival- wickedly talented mouth
upon her sensitive skin, sinful touch where she needed it most- had surely been
to blame.
Azula was ready... And she was waiting. Mentally chastising herself for having
just lain there languidly, she re-arranged her all too ready and willing body
just so- Daddy would take one look at her and think she was a present, wrapped
up nice and pretty- All for him.
Finally, she heard that sound- footfalls approaching her bedroom door- and
swore her heart skipped a beat.
Azula's suite was always the picture of perfection. Ozai remembered the day he
had granted it to her. Oh the looks he got, for giving away rooms usually
reserved for the Crown Prince to his second-born daughter. He smirked at that.
The frown on Zuko's face alone was worth it, and even better, that bitch Ursa
wasn't there to scold him for it. He clasped the golden doorknob and entered
his destination, her chambers. The bedroom. Where Azula would be, his little
girl, his perfect daughter and future queen. He could see the familiar glow of
candles, soft blue radiating from the small space beneath the door. She was
awake. Good, Ozai thought. He had thought that she would already have been
sleeping, but the lights were shining down on them tonight - he would be
allowed to see her in her fully awakened beauty.
And indeed - my my, the light of Agni certainly wasn't a myth to Ozai on this
night, he thought to himself, taking her in. Azula was always ready to please
her father, though it wasn't such a common sight to be surprised like this. My,
he couldn't recall her ever seeming so ready, right down to that need glinting
in her golden eyes. The need for him. The need to perform her duty.
"Azula" he emitted a soft growl, approaching slowly like a Buffalion stalking
its prey, each step giving him a clearer view of her in all her scantily-clad
glory. Yes, slowly was definitely the way to do this.
Father was pleased, verymuch so. The Fire Lord- Phoenix Queen- smiled, equally
pleased. Heart thrumming wildly, her sharp intake of breath was audible as he
approached. Azula wanted him now- the wait was torturous!
"Daddy..." she beckoned, spreading her legs apart- not completely- just enough
to peak his interest. "...don't make me wait any longer."
Manicured fingernails danced along the lacy hem of her undergarments, toying,
teasing...
A whisper. "Mmm, I suppose I'll have to start without you." Her hand slipping
down below, where it was not supposed to be... touching what belonged to Ozai.
A moan.
"Ngh- ah! Oh, you'll have to punish me..."
"Daddy."
It was not befitting of a daughter to command her father. Azula was a clever
girl, of course, she had played games of control and manipulation practically
since she had learned to speak. The Phoenix King kept his slow pace, even
though it was agonizing to do so, to approach his lustful daughter so
gradually, as she openly defied his rule. But he managed to do so, because he
knew no defiance against him could stand. Instead of thinking about his
daughter's traitorous movements, he counted. Twenty times would amount to the
seconds of pain.
Slap
Slap
Soon, Azula's mischievous fingers had been removed from her wet folds, a
devious smirk on her face as she watched her Daddy instate his rule. "Very
naughty of you, girl."
zzZZTTt!
The familiar discharge of electricity, sparking off a finger onto the Fire
Lord's right nipple.
zzZZTTt!
Left.
"You're right, you do need to be punished."
Through clenched teeth at those first sparks, she hissed. It hurt- just a bit-
something like pins and needles. The sensation, however, was not altogether
unpleasant... tingling and hot- sending hot, little tingles other places.
"Ahh!"
Azula swore that when his finger veered left, her punishment had been doled out
with more conviction. Though she was hardly one to complain-
Usually.
"Ow! You're hurting me, Daddy!"
Whining would get her punished... again.
"Indeed I am" Ozai said slowly, withdrawing his fingers, careful not to indulge
his daughter, who was begging for him all but in name.
He stood there for a moment, looking her over, deciding.
He decided. "You're a bad girl, trying to tempt me this way. It is time for you
to be quiet."
rip
Curtains of a canopy bed were ruined as Ozai took the closest source of
suitable cloth available, harshly reaching around and tying it around Azula's
head tightly. Crude - she could still speak, but the muffling and slurring of
each word certainly lessened the effect. "Now let's see what we can do about
the rest of your mischief..." he said, somehow even more agonizingly slow than
previous, looking down at Azula's traitorous wet fingers.
And, as if the light of Agni had shone on him a third time, the solution was
there for the Phoenix King. An open drawer, filled with the familiar dull glint
of cast iron metal. "My, my, you certainly have been busy."
Azula smirked inwardly. Ozai was playing right into her- trap?
Hardly, she thought.
After all, it could not be considered a trap... not really, provided he enjoyed
it. And Daddy was most certainly enjoying himself, there was no doubt in her
mind as-
She shuddered, metal having made contact with her supple skin.
Click.
Cold as ice, unforgiving, secured around one delicate wrist.
Clink.
Fastened about the bed post.
Click.
Her other wrist.
Clink.
And a second bed post.
"Hmmm," he deliberated, before tearing off her remaining undergarments with an
unceremonious rip.
The Phoenix King feigned looking down at his daughter's sex with a mocking
consideration.
zzzZZTTt-crk!
Longer, stronger. A charge of blue hit a chain, traveling through the links and
into Azula's wrist, arm, chest, finally reaching ground through the silken
sheets. Ozai wished controlling lightning to this degree didn't require such
ridiculous effort.
zzzZZTTt-crk! zzzZZTTt-crk! zzzZZTTt-crk!
"You wanted pleasure, instead... you brought yourself pain."
The Phoenix King's chi was exhausted from all the precise charge, but he didn't
need it to enjoy his Queen. Slowly, he ran a rough set of fingers around her
ear, stroking carefully before tracing her lip. Her neckline was next, Ozai
felt her collarbone, breaking the line it formed on her shoulder as he moved
down to her left breast, circling slowly an electrified nipple before finally
making a final travel at an agonizing pace, trailing down to the stomach. The
inner thigh...
Azula shivered as Ozai bit into her neck. It was his turn to captivate her
attention, only to turn her away. He had all of the power. The power to satisfy
or deny, the power to bring pain or pleasure. The Fire Lord had earned herself
pain... for now.
Squirming, whimpering, Azula struggled against her restraints. She had felt
pain- just as intended. Though she felt no pleasure- it was driving her mad.
And the pain, physical, in addition to whatever other sort she was experiencing
due to having been denied (Daddy was spurning her- his little girl!) took its
toll much more quickly than she could possibly have anticipated. At the Phoenix
King's mercy, handcuffed and completely helpless, there was but one thing she
could think to do... one thing that would give her what she sought.
"Please," she begged, that desperate little plea muffled though audible enough.
Wantonly spreading her legs, presenting herself in a most undignified manner,
she continued.
Daddy's little girl could do better than that-
"Please, Daddy... please... please..."
Much better.
She felt the makeshift gag slip down past her chin. He didn't want to- he would
not - miss it... the sound of her voice, of mutual desire when she said-
"Fuck me."
That was certainly better, hearing his future Queen beg for what only he could
give, the Fire Lord's devious tricks cast away by much stronger needs and lust-
for him. Ozai smirked. How could he refuse? His naughty little girl had learned
her lesson, and now it was time for a little bit of pleasure.
With a mild urgency, the Phoenix King disrobed to a point where he could mount
the bare girl, Azula. His own shivers from entering her exquisite and
egregiously wet folds were well worth the wait, and he could tell his daughter
thought so too. But Ozai restrained himself, building a slow methodical rhythm
as he drew himself downwards, his lips meeting hers, gold meeting gold. Another
kiss, one on the forehead, the neck. Another bite to mark what was his. Oh how
he wished he could accentuate her pleasure with electrical pain, but his rhythm
quickened, there was no way he could control his wild chi, his unrestrained
passions any longer. The candles rose and fell with his hips, each crest
higher.
Azula very nearly cried with relief- the wait was over. By all the spirits, it
was finally over... but it felt too damned good to cry. She let Daddy know just
how goodit felt- panting like a bitch in heat, moaning obscenely without a care
in the world- angled herself to perfection, hips bucking wildly in order to
match his every thrust.
None too proud to beg- her sweet, sweet reward spoke for itself.
The candles guttered, then flared up once more and for an instant, the Fire
Lord feared her entire bedchamber would catch fire when the flames turned
color- building heat and intensity- changing from a bright and steady orange to
blazing, brilliant azure.
Sweat broke upon her brow-
Perhaps the room had caught fire after all. Though Azula would have no
knowledge of such things, any conscious thought becoming a blur.
Ozai had to admit it was difficult to stop such a pleasurable experience, but
he did all the same. For the Fire Lord, it was agonizing. The Phoenix King's
movement's slowed, until it was only the fleeting fluctuations in their bodies
- giving momentary promise of pleasure with no payoff.
He waited, giving his daughter an expectant look. Azula's punishment was not
over yet - she still hadn't performed to satisfaction.
Azula could have cried out in protest, groaned with frustration... but alas,
she did not. It would do her no good. As always, Ozai's daughter and future
Queen knew just what he liked, what he wanted-
She was in no position to refuse. He had made certain of that.
"Daddy..."
The Fire Lord squirmed beneath her father, giving him that pouty little look of
hers. Oh, how he loved that look...
"...Please don't stop."
Begging, however- a good grovel- was something the Phoenix King craved. That
was what he really wanted. Once more, Ozai wanted his daughter to beg him-
"I need it so bad... I need you, Daddy. Make your little girl scream. Make me
come for you- only for you, Daddy. Please?"
If that did not satisfy, no one (least of all Azula) could attribute said
dissatisfaction to lack of effort on her part...
Biting her lip, the Fire Lord anticipated her father's reaction with equal
parts uncertainty, fear, and excitement.
Ozai traced his daughter's jawline with two fingers. "That's better" he said
simply, staring into that longing look in her eyes. I need you. She needed him
now, just as she had needed him before, and just as she always would. The
Phoenix King couldn't deny his own daughter in need, even if she had been
naughty. What had been dealt already was punishment enough - not to mention
Azula had a new duty. The duty of a Queen.
 
***** Running with Scissors *****
Katara had effectively functioned as a maid for many people in her lifetime.
Whether as a member of the southern tribe, or traveling with Aang, the
'motherly' duties always seemed to fall to her. Of course, at the southern
water tribe or traveling with Aang, she had been more than happy to take on the
responsibility and help her friends and family. But this? Combing the hair
(amongst many things that low-born girls simply do for themselves) of the
Phoenix Queen so that she looked presentable for... whatever it was they
planned to do tonight... Katara shuddered at the thought. It was hard for the
waterbender to feel any meaning in what she was doing. Azula's fire-blade
wasn't around her neck as she worked, but it may as well have been.
Speaking of which, one thing Katara did not expect was the lack of guards. The
only other person that had even been in the room was Ming, one of the other
palace servants. Though she had left once Her Highness's nails were finished.
Katara gritted her teeth. Barely 24 hours and the pain was starting to seep
into her thoughts. A burn across the cheek, or atop the feet, every time you
say 'Azula' instead of 'Your Highness'... well, eventually you start
thinkingit. Was this how it worked in the Fire Nation? They just repressed
everyone until they knew nothing, save for how to be mindless drones? Katara
would never let that happen to herself.
Azula's hair hadn't been ripped or pulled at, it had been cut, as if you had
given a hog-monkey a pair of scissors. Katara restrained a laugh as she allowed
herself to imagine Azula (however briefly) being at the mercy of a scissor-
wielding hog-monkey. Whatever it was, the silence was deafening. Was this how
it would be forever, what Azula wanted? Tending silently to her needs until the
end of days, never saying a word, never feeling? She had been burned three
times today already but Katara's desire to feel anything outweighed fear of
retribution.
Katara grabbed the tie as she continued thinking. Of course, she didn't need to
be obtuse about it. If she really was going to serve the fire bitch (Katara
secretly wished she shared Toph's talent for impromptu nicknaming right about
now) until the end of their days, then it made no sense to anger her if she
didn't have to, as much as she absolutely loathed the idea of being nice to
her. The waterbender sighed.
“Your Highness, may I ask what happened to your hair?”
It was jarring, a sour note in her otherwise immaculate symphony of silence.
What happened to your hair? What happened to your hair? What happened to your
hair?
She had cut it-
She had cut her own hair, haphazardly hacked away sleek, obsidian perfection as
though it were nothing at all- and why?
WHY!?
Azula herself could scarcely recall... She had just... done it. Furthermore,
just who did this filthy peasant believe she was? Where did she get off asking
such things- things that were no concern of hers! Whyin Agni's namedid common
people have to be so ignorant? It was painful. Truly, only a servant would be
simple-minded enough to manage such rudeness, such uncouth behavior- and
without even trying, to boot! Father did not speak of her hair, nor its current
state. Such trivial things mattered not- Father thought she was beautiful, he
had said so himself!
Well, of course he'd say that. He made you... And he gets to fuck you whenever
he wants! Daddy's a bit biased, don't you think?
Pushing away (banishing!) that voice, having resolved instead to humor the
water-wench, Azula replied “I cut it.”
Beautiful... beautiful... she was beautiful. She was perfect. She was a queen.
Except you're not beautiful or perfect at all- not anymore! Look at yourself...
you're losing it. Everyone can see. Agni, it's ruined and you hardly even
remember... you're crazy! Ruined- that beautiful, beautiful hair... what a
shame. You're all ruined now.
“I know, it looks terrible-

Hideous!

-Hideous. I'm hideous.”
Befitting. Monsters are supposed to be hideous.
“Now, will you just... shut up!No more stupid questions,” The Phoenix Queen
hissed.
It was true, her hair was in pretty terrible shape, and still would probably
turn heads even after it had been made as shapely as possible (Katara estimated
it would take at least two months before all the ends would be able to be
evened out). But what surprised the waterbender is how readily Azula admitted
such, and the fact that she received a few harsh words instead of her usual
punishment. Not only that, but she had cut it herself? Katara was simply
flabbergasted. She didn't know what to make of that. On the field, when Azula
attacked them at Omashu, again within the reaches of Gaoling... the drill, in
the catacombs beneath Ba Sing Se... and yet again at the western air temple-
her appearance had been simply immaculate. What happened? She wanted to ask,
but of course.... no more stupid questions. That was an order which Katara
decided it would be best to follow for the moment.
The Fire Lord's crown. She had imagined, if she ever even touched the thing, it
would be something to do with Zuko and not his sister. Slipping the cold metal
into her hair was like betraying him. Four days ago she had come to stop this
from happening and yet, here she was bowing down.
Of course. The coronation. I must just be exhausted, Katara thought to herself
as she wondered why she had neglected the obvious. Pristine perfection, then
she cut it before the coronation. Not a coincidence. But why?, she was left to
wonder. It didn't make any sense. Zuko had once said that being Fire Lord was
all Azula wanted. Fuck, she had fought a duel (considering it was on the day of
the comet... quite possibly to the death) for it! But... no, Katara was missing
something, that was sure. But as much as she didn't want to care, she knew that
Azula wasn't happy- on the day of her own coronation. Enough so to go on insane
ramblings and cut her hair.... well, like a madwoman.
Katara dared not ask Azula about any of this, but it was at least something to
think about other than if Aang was dead, or how the Phoenix Queen wanted her
damned hair- how the Phoenix King wanted his wife (no, not yet) … his lover? …
and daughter (ugh!) to look- pretty as a porcelain doll.
But she had a hunch. She just had to try it. Even if Azula might actually burn
her this time (though ostensibly, she wasn't about to ask a stupid question...)
"So, what about your wedding?" she asked, trying to drain every possible hint
of disgust from her voice. "Have you thought about what you're going to wear?"
It was not a stupid question, objectively In fact, it was a perfectly
reasonable one... the Phoenix Queen merely happened to lack words, ideas-
anything- that could be considered a rational response. How could she not know
such a thing? The day of her- their wedding would only be the single most
important (not to mention happiest!) day of her- their lives and yet, she had
not spared so much as a passing thought toward what she might be wearing on
this momentous (historic, no doubt!) occasion!? By the flame of Agni, she was
in desperate need of-
A trip to the royal spa! Yes, therein was the problem... she was stressed
beyond belief!
“Funny... I'm not even sure what I'm going to wear,” Azula admitted, followed
by a languid sigh. “I've been so wound up, I feel like I could just- snap. And,
well... Father keeps me quite busy. Day and night... no rest for the wicked!”
'I feel like I could just snap', yeah no kidding, Katara mused. For once, she
agreed with Azula on all points.
“Of course,” was all Katara could say, neglecting the 'Your Highness' at the
end by accident. “Well, in the Water Tribes it's different, obviously. But when
a southern girl gets married generally she'll make a long dress out of pelts
she's responsible for catching, with the help of one of the men in her family.
It's sort of a symbol of what she has to offer to the union, with each dress
being unique to the wearer, usually embroidered with their family symbols
and...” Tui, I'm rambling about marriage traditions to Azula....
“I guess what I mean is that it's really personal to you, Your Highness,” she
finished, remembering the title this time.
What do I have to offer this union?- Azula thought, briefly.
“Fire Nation brides wear white and red. My mother did, I think,” she mentioned,
offhandedly, then allowed herself a small chuckle at the thought of prim and
proper Ursaand that positively scandalized expression she used to make when
perpetuating gossips.
“I wish my mother could be here. I would kill to see the look on her face if
she actually showed up to our wedding!”
And then it happened. The Phoenix Queen laughed. She really laughed- Not
because something terrible had happened, or because little Zuzu had gotten
himself hurt- but simply because... it was funny. Her sides were hurting and
she could hardly breathe, tears were welling up in the corners her eyes... All
the while she pictured Ursa, red-faced and indignant, absolutely disgusted-
worrying herself into a panic about what people would think withal! Angry. She
would be angry, of course. Maybe even-
Jealous!
Your Mother...., Katara nearly grimaced once more. The thought of Azula's
scenario also drew out a mix of feelings in her, but for nowhere near the same
reasons. Witnessing your daughter marry your husband..., Katara couldn't even
imagine. Though she might have been resigned to it a second ago, the very
notion made her want to vomit.
At least she had gotten something out of Azula that wasn't an evil smirk, a
snarl, or outright indifference. For what that was worth.
Once Azula had stopped laughing, Katara tried to push it out of her mind as she
fixed her collar before moving onto her face. Intimidating as ever, she noted.
“Well, white and red don't seem like your colors, so why don't you break
tradition?" she offered, bypassing the question which was actually burning on
her mind which was where the hell is your mother, anyway? Gone all your life,
by the looks of you...
Azula gasped, loudly and most insincere, pretending that such a suggestion had
startled her.
“Break tradition? Oh dear!” she exclaimed, wide-eyed, mouth agape. “Whatever
shall the Fire Sages say? Whatever shall my father say?”
This union was to be anything but traditional, that much was for certain. As
such, why should she look like every other bride, like every other woman- like
Mother? She was not just any woman. And she most certainly was not her mother,
nor would she ever be- nor did she want to be! She was Phoenix Queen Azula: The
One And Only, The Great, The Beautiful, The Powerful, The Terrible- Daughter of
Phoenix King Ozai, Conqueror of Ba Sing Se, Hero of the One Hundred Year War...
And she was a fucking force of nature!
It should be- “Blue,” Azula declared, golden eyes ablaze.
***** A Whore's Place *****
Click Click Click-
Manicured fingernails clacking against the table.
Click-click-click-click-
-faster, faster-
-clickclickclickclickclickclick-
Fast as lighting, resonating throughout the room.
Azula clenched her teeth, curled her toes (which had already begun to ache
within the confines of pinchy shoes), and click-click-clicked those pretty
fingernails as though her very life depended on it. She was nervous, she could
admit that- to herself- never to anyone other than herself.
Inhaling sharply, she resolved to take a deep, calming breath- spirits, it hurt
to breathe! The water-wench had laced her up so tightly that it fucking hurt to
breath! But wait... that was her idea-
Spirits be damned!
Tighter. I need my waist to be small... small enough for Daddy to put his hands
around it! I don't care if it hurts! Just lace me up tighter and make it so,
water-wench!- The Phoenix Queen's exact words (yes, her very own words) not one
hour ago.
Sighing (with some difficulty) in frustration, Azula moved to scratch an itch
just above her lip-
Make-up! You'll ruin it!
Her subconscious (thankfully) scolded and so, The Phoenix Queen stopped
herself. She had to perfect. She just had to be! ...Once more, it hurt to sigh.
The first Azula would hear of her father and husband-to-be was the tail end of
a conversation, the sound of his laughter, the door creaking as it swung open
and he made his way into his (soon their) suite. “Ah, Azula!” Ozai greeted. He
sounded happy to see her indeed.
"Father," she replied, respectful as ever. Her smoldering, golden gaze danced
alight with all of the fervor and excitement befitting of any bride-to-be
whilst in the presence of her intended.
“I heard you took that water savage as your servant today,” he said out of
nowhere, pouring both himself and Azula a glass of a clear liquid that
definitely wasn't water. “It's been troubling me” another chuckle. “Whatever
possessed you to do such a thing?” he asked perfectly innocently, having
clearly been drinking beforehand.
So, Father was a bit drunk... So what? She didn't care. Really, she didn't! In
fact, this little indulgence proved somewhat cathartic- more often than not.
Intoxicated, The Phoenix King was all the more likely to speak his mind, throw
his inhibitions to the wind. Perhaps, the great Phoenix Queen ought to do the
same. It was a happy time, after all. There was no reason as to why she could
not indulge as well...
Azula took the glass of- rice wine? ...presumably- and downed it. Then came
that awful burning sensation in her throat, that sickly warmth flooding her
chest- she nearly choked. And she regretted that decision almost immediately,
mentally chastising herself for such carelessness, for acting on impulse.
Whatever it was, it was strong and she had not eaten yet.
“Truthfully...” she began, hurriedly scrambling with her words in order to
answer Father's question. “I wanted the water-wench to suffer. Greatly. There
could be no worse punishment or torture imaginable than to personally serve me,
her enemy, until the end of her miserable days.”
Ozai laughed at that. “Ah! You truly are my daughter! It's not enough to
conquer these savages and burn their lands, we have to break them as well. They
need to learn that they're mine!” he accentuated his small speech with a fist
crashing down onto the table. “You set an example to us all by taking up such a
miserable wench for yourself, truly.” He raised a glass, downing it fully,
sparing a passing thought toward those living under the impression that they
weren't his to control, as the girl surely was - having been corrupted by
Zuko's pathetic ramblings. Zuko the undoer.
The Phoenix King let his eyes rest upon Azula. Her new servant had done well
indeed, making her presentable. Any man would be a fool to overlook her. But
still, there was something lacking. He missed the look from before, from the
day of his return. There was something about the ragged hair that Zuko had
plagued upon her that made her all the more desirable, stirring something
primal within the Phoenix King. Indeed, seeing each uneven end spread out among
the sheets as-
He shook his head. That could wait. “I spoke to the Fire Sages,” he began
again, barely playing with his food. “The miserable old fools disapproved of
our marriage, of course. But they could not refuse. In three days! We are to
marry for all to see. You will take my hand before the whole nation, and it
will be known to everybody that this is a new era, our era!”
He was pleased, so very pleased with her, and she wanted more. She needed more,
always more. Anything, anything at all that Ozai gave, his daughter would
take... so long as it made him happy, made him proud. At times, admittedly,
Azula was not sure what the difference was between the two (Was Ozai happy,
truly? ...or was he merely proud?) and if there was a difference really-
None of that mattered! Nor did it matter if anyone else was not happy.
“Fire Sages,” the Phoenix Queen huffed, dismissively. “Let them skulk about
under cover of darkness like frightened little meadow voles, let them whisper.
What can they do to us? What can anyone do to us?”
“The world is ours... and I'm yours. In three days time, everyone shall live
with it- or everyone shall die,” she then declared.
“Yes, indeed,” Ozai agreed slowly, smiling deeply. and I'm yours. No other
words could bring him greater pleasure.
“Speaking of such things, there is the matter of my brother. Surely, you've
heard of his latest treachery in Ba Sing Se, the city of your pride?”
“Ah, yes... of course. Dear old Uncle Fatso, the ever-persistent thorn in my
side,” Azula grumbled, chopsticks absentmindedly toying with a bit of komodo-
chicken.
His royal tea loving kookiness had insulted her for the last time!
Deceptively sweet, moreso than spun sugar, she begun to test the waters-
“Daddy?”
Ozai heard that sweet little word and his ears immediately perked up, before he
descended into a simple smile. A little girl's query so innocent, yet Ozai had
been expecting it. “Not this time, my daughter. It is your duty to stay right
here, to build me a dynasty with which to solidify our rule upon this world,
forever. The old fool expects us to go and chase after him, him and his friend
from the city you named after me, that wretched old King... what's his name...”
the Phoenix King trailed off, refreshing himself with yet another drink. “No
matter! I won't risk you, my Queen, to play a madman's games of tea and wooden
tiles!” he exclaimed.
“No.” His more natural smirk returned. Iroh must feel pain just like his
nephew. All those fuckers must.. “We'll teach the traitor Iroh of his failures
one by one. He'll watch his pride, the city that you took, fall before him and
be burned to ashes. He'll witness the failure of his so-called son in chains,
he'll witness you, my strong Queen - while his own spawn is long dead as well
as mine, the equally pathetic replacement he professes to love. His demise will
not be one of honor, he doesn't deserve it.”
Stay home. He had just told her to stay home and- No! Do not be ridiculous!-
Father knew what was best for her, did he not? He wanted to keep her safe...
she was to be his queen after all! Just what, in Agni's name, had she been
thinking!?
Daddy wants you to stay home, spread your legs, and make babies. That's what
you were thinking... And you were right! That's all you're good for now! Whore.
That stupid, stupid, stupid voice in her head knows nothing! Nothing at all!
I'm not a whore. I'm a queen- The Phoenix Queen!
Her-theirchildren!- shall be fierce as the dragons, and twice as powerful- the
most powerful firebenders ever seen! It will be her highest honor to bear such
children, create a dynasty that will last one thousand years-
No! ...An eternity!
Any child borne of the Phoenix King and his daughter- his Phoenix Queen!- would
have the entire world, along with all of its pathetic inhabitants at his (or
her) feet before taking its first step! Nay, its first breath!
“Yes, Father,” Azula agreed, contentedly dreaming of the future... of
beautiful, black-haired sons and daughters with golden eyes. Having nearly
forgotten all about Iroh- nearly- she quickly added “You're absolutely right,
he doesn't deserve it.”
“And my place...” she continued, her voice a smooth, husky purr as she leaned
toward her father, knowing fully well that she would say exactly what he wanted
to hear- “... is here, with you. Any way you like... underneath you... on top
of you... any way you want.”
It pleased him, it pleased him greatly when she spoke this way. Why then, did
she feel-
Like a whore? Because you are one.
“You know, Azula,” the Phoenix King began, setting his glass down unfinished.
“I've decided that dinner isn't all that interesting.”
“Mm, I quite agree...” Azula replied, all of the honeyed words he likes pouring
from her red lips, which were now contorted into a positively devious smirk.
She went in for the kill, finishing with “Daddy.”
Daddy's little slut. And you're not even a real queen- not yet! You're lucky
he's chosen to bother himself with formalities, let alone your damned fairytale
wedding! He has you every night regardless.
There was a clatter of tableware as the Phoenix King stumbled up from his seat,
almost tripping on an adjacent chair to circumnavigate the table surrounding
them, their previous conversation mostly forgotten in the flurry of alcohol and
arousal. “My, you have outdone yourself tonight,” he muttered, stumbling as he
grabbed his daughter's slender waist, almost crashing right into her, exhaling
a puff of air that reeked of opium - their noses practically touching despite
the height difference.
“Now let's see what you've hidden under there for your daddy,” he managed, as
he tried to swing them both towards the other room, his footwork barely keeping
him standing as it was.
Victory was sweet. Never, in all of her (fourteen... and a half!) years had
Azula thought she could produce such a powerful (and immediate, to boot!)
effect on a man. There was something singularly glorious about the thrill of it
all. So what if any stupid boys wanted to kiss Ty Lee, but not her- the Phoenix
King wanted to kiss- no! He wanted to devour her. And the feeling was quite
mutual. Despite the stench of rice wine and opium smoke that lingered on his
breath... despite his apparent intoxication, his clumsiness...
Despite it all, Azula took her father's hand, sliding it up underneath her
skirts and whispered “Would you like to find out?”
“Don't tease me, girl!” the Phoenix King barked, slapping her face red and
smearing the make-up - having been led on too much to be held back by needless
romanticism. Ozai was too old to be spoonfed by his own daughter. “I'll find
out everything I need, when you're beneath me, begging for more.” And suddenly,
a newfound determination allowed Azula's daddy to give her a decisive pull
towards the bedroom, stumble or no stumble, and then a push onto the silken
sheets themselves.
“Don't think I'm not onto you, my little girl.” the Phoenix King began, using a
hand to swipe his raven locks - already running free from the brief struggle to
the room - out of his eyes. “You don't want to be a pathetic failure like your
mother, who's only accomplishment in this world was creating you.” Ozai pulled
off his mantle and leaned into the bedframe, his golden eyes taking another
look at his now disheveled daughter. “You may be my Queen, but you are also my
daughter, little girl, and you will be whatever I want you to be!” he
exclaimed, with a rip reducing his outfit to only a basic set of trousers, the
expensive fabric burning with his raging inner fire, fueled by lust and
absolute power, leaving only ember-touched scraps behind.
The Phoenix Queen- no, no, she did not feel very queenly at all-
Phoenix Queen! Regardless of how she felt at the moment, she was thefucking
Phoenix Queen!
And so the Phoenix Queen panted “Yes, Daddy,” with desperation. Daddy wasn't
happy. She had to make him happy, she just had to! “Whatever you want.”
"I'm yours... I'm yours... your little girl, your little...” she whimpered,
ignoring the sting from where he had struck her, that awful pit deep down in
her stomach- she knew what she was- “Slut.”
“I'm your little slut,” Azula repeated, clinging to her father, breath hot and
heavy in his ear.
She knew it to be true, cursing that all-too-familiar tingle in between her
thighs as practiced hands tore her bodice open-
“That's right. Tell me again... what are you?”
“I'm your slut, Daddy.”
If she said the right things, Ozai would give her what she wanted. He would
satisfy the tingling sensation that had become an ache. He always did.
“Yes. You're mine, all mine.Now, my little slut... what do you want? What do
you need? Tell your daddy.”
This is fucking humiliating.
***** A Queen's Place *****
Father's embrace felt constrictive... possessive- like a dragon, guarding his
hoard of treasure against those who would seek to have it as their own.
Is this all that I am to him? An object? Something pretty, to be kept and
coveted... a trophy?
Sometimes, admittedly, the sentiment pleased her-
What is wrong with you?
But, she was more than that... wasn't she?
Daddy used you. He used you like a whore. Stumbling, drunk, reeking of opium
smoke... pawing at you with those greedy hands... and you just let him. You let
him do whatever he wanted. You even begged him for it, too... just like he said
you would!
She was his queen; she pleased him. What shame was there in that? Besides...
there was no denying the fact that she had enjoyed herself as well.
Is that the only card you have to play? Pathetic. He knows it, too. Just like-
No. Azula, the Phoenix Queen, was nothing like her stupid, vapid, empty-headed
whore of a mother!
Keep telling yourself that.
Though the indulgences of the night previous had certainly taken their toll on
the Phoenix King, Agni's crimson call of morning did not fail to wake him. Or
perhaps...
Already up, father regarded daughter, looking at his precious gem sitting up,
lost in her thoughts as she often was. Ozai would pay hefty sums to know
whatever it was she was plotting with that devious mind of hers. Even as a
little girl, she had used it to great effect, sometimes even on himself! Ozai
couldn't be more proud. But still, it definitely was intimidating to know that
his daughter could see things even he could not. A power Ozai was going to
tame. After all, he had created it, and therefore it was his, just like
everything else.
"Azula" he mumbled quietly as he shifted under the sheets, trying to remember
the events of the night previous - only managing to find images of scheming in
one of the caldera's basement opium dens, and... and his daughter's tender
breasts in his hands, fearful golden eyes staring up...
For only two images out of dozens, Ozai was satisfied with this.
"Father," Azula purred, slinking back down onto the bed beside him. When she
turned on her side to face him, however, she winced in pain. It still hurt.
Granted, she was not at all surprised, bruises upon her naked body as
testament. Nor was she unaccustomed to her father's rough treatment, being
manhandled and held down, forced into whichever position he liked- more times
than she could count. Merely, she wished...
What? You want the Phoenix King to hold you and kiss you? Ask permission before
he fucks you? ...No. Ozai shouldn't fuck you... he should make love to you. A
father really ought to make love to his little girl!
Agni, you are being ridiculous.
Ozai smiled at his daughter's sensual voice, accompanied by her equally well-
formed body. Much better than trying to remember fleeting images of yesterday,
he thought to himself, running a finger across her cheek. "It's morning, my
daughter," he said simply, breathing in their shared scent and wondering if
there was anything he couldn't accomplish with her, once he put that plotting
mind of hers to work. Those squabbling nobles would be biting at his heels
soon; one of the things Ozai did remember is promising them a morning session
to hear their petty audiences. Another indulgence, one which even Ozai could
admit may have been the fruits of untamed rice wine rather than political
wrangling. "And I wish for you to attend court with me, as my right hand."
Right hand
Father wanted her there for all to see-
Of course he did.
Indeed, it was her place ...A place of respect, honor ...power! ...befitting of
a queen.
"Once more, Father, you honor me beyond words," The Phoenix Queen said, heart
racing, possessed by the man whom had sired her. She leaned in close, her lips
nearly touching his ear and whispered "Thank you."
She could ignore the pain. Pain was weakness leaving the body- one of her
father's many lessons.
With the smile of the daughter came the smile of the father. It was one of the
many other great things about her, the girl lived for her duty, to his nation,
to her father the Phoenix King. She was obedient and enjoyed being so, the
perfect weapon - a single edged sword with which he could use to destroy his
enemies. "Of course. It is high time people get used to seeing you at my side,
and I won't wait until the damned wedding bells to make it so" he grunted,
unceremoniously sliding out of bed to dress himself for the day.
Though it was nothing she had not already seen, Azula gave her husband-to-be an
appreciative once-over (or two) and asked, offhandedly "Father, do you have to
get dressed?" with a coquettish smirk, before following his lead and slipping
out of bed as well.
Despite the lingering soreness, various aches and pains that plagued her on
this fine morning, she stretched- willing herself not to let her discomfort be
exposed, not to clench her teeth nor squint her eyes- and exaggerated every
motion, making a show of it for Ozai's sake.
Once the pair were finished with the most basic of preparations (though neither
of them seemed to be in a hurry, especially him, whose gaze lingered exactly
where his daughter wanted it to, especially the marks he had left the night
previous) they made their way to exit. "Azula, there is something else I want
you to wear" Ozai said, after painstakingly trying to remember and track down
where it was he put the item (not that it wasn't important... but in the
Phoenix King's experience rice wine doesn't discriminate on the memories it
takes).
The flat, letter-sized box (barely thicker than one's thumb) was embroidered,
and freshly fashioned, clearly made from one of the palace artisans. On the
front was the gold-crimson sigil of the phoenix, which Ozai had adopted as his
own. He held it in his hands with a smile, a finger on the clasp that kept
hidden what was inside.
"Of course, Father," Azula replied, somewhat hesitant. "What is it?" she asked,
golden eyes alight, unable to contain her excitement nonetheless.
He meant to give her a gift, that much was obvious. And it was not as if her
father never did so... on the contrary, Ozai doted upon his daughter beyond
what could be considered expected. More often than not, however, there was a
price to be paid- strings attached- whether quid pro quo or something else
entirely.
What's he giving me and what's the catch?
"It is as I said on the day of my return, my daughter. The position of Fire
Lord is no more. There are no more Fire Lords, ladies, princesses, any of
them!" he exclaimed, yanking the hairpiece of said position out of her hair and
letting the metal fall to the ground. "To create a new dynasty, a new rule in
my name, the old one must be cast away for the archaic and foolish system it
was." Ozai opened the box, letting the newly-designed hairpiece shine in the
morning sun. "You deserve a new crown to mark your important position, the
position of being my Queen."
Azula, the great and powerful Phoenix Queen, wanted to (and nearly did) scream.
She wanted to squeal- like a little girl! Though such silliness would be
inappropriate, surely. And so, she refrained. Then all of the sudden, she
thought of Mai and Ty Lee... instinct urging her to run along and show them, as
she once did so many (not that many) years ago. Granted, only Ty Lee ever used
to react in the ostensibly childish manner which Azula wished to- by way of
excited, nauseatingly high-pitched squeals. And Mai? She would-
That doesn't matter. I don't care. They're not my friends anymore.
Pushing away obtrusive thoughts and sentimental nonsense, Phoenix Queen Azula
chose instead to savor this... the warm, fluttering sensation in her abdomen,
the fact that her father (her King) had given her such a gift- something
wonderful for all to see, which she would wear with pride each and every day- a
reward. Just as he had intended.
"It's beautiful," Azula confirmed, with worshipful fascination. Holding his
gaze, she then said "Thank you, Daddy."
 Ozai briefly smiled as his daughter said that magic word again, handing her
the open box along with its opulent contents. "Now, come along, my daughter,
it's time to show everyone else your gift as well"
 Not that the foolish courtesans were likely to understand exactly what it
meant (though some might guess, Ozai figured. Rumors of the then-Firelord's
various wonts didn't have any difficulty spreading throughout the caldera), but
he held no such sentimentality to specific days nor would he wait for anyone's
permission. Azula was going to rule at his side now. The wedding day is a mere
expression of an event that has already happened - as far as the Phoenix King
was concerned, an event that had happened a long time ago.
 And so King and Queen entered their Court.
***** A King's Place *****
It was a good day, Lord Shing decided. And a good day, it would continue to be!
Provided of course, everything went according to plan ...Alas, how could it
not? His request for an audience had been put forth without much difficulty,
after all. Though, what he was about to ask for seemed-
Impossible
No. Not impossible, surely. Fire Lord Azula would, evidently, have to marry and
bear children. She would have to continue her father's legacy- Fire Lord
Sozin's legacy- as well as the royal bloodline! That much was inevitable.
Granted, Phoenix King Ozai had never, not once, made it known that he was
willing to consider offers for his daughter's hand ...Nor that he wished for
her to marry at all, come to think of it.
The Princess? Ha! Her daddy wants her all to himself, some admiral or general
had jeered (not so long ago) after having indulged in just a bit too much ale.
There were whispers, it was true. Personally, Lord Shing had never put much
stock into gossip - least of all when said gossip concerned the royal family
and was of a particularly foul nature, to boot.
All gossips aside, Lord Shing kowtowed before Phoenix King Ozai and Fire Lord
Azula, demonstrating proper respect toward both father and daughter, as he
willed himself not to vomit. By all the spirits, no one had prepared him for
just how terrifying the pair could be... two piercing golden stares, burning a
hole straight through him as though he were nothing. Nothing at all. He would
not speak until being addressed directly - he dared not!
Benefits of power aside, Ozai found court, and ruling in general boring. It was
true, the Phoenix King didn't like being King. That isn't to say he'd ever give
up his position, oh no, quite the opposite. But he just wished the damned fools
he ruled over would sort their own damn problems more often, so he could spend
more time partaking in the pleasure of life and less time embroiling himself in
trivialities. His daughter, however, seemed all too eager to pick up any slack
Ozai left for her, especially today. She wore her new crown and the marks he
had placed on her neck proudly, using per impeccable memory and mind to ease
the responsibilities of her father from her secondary position on the dais.
Ah, Lord Shing, Ozai recognized immediately. Unlike most of the other lords,
who had gone out to acquire lands and titles for themselves in the Former Earth
Kingdoms (Like those fools Michi and Ukano, who had birthed the only other
woman in the world who could make his daughter cry), Shing had stayed home. It
was really no surprise however, since most of the lands he owned rested on
Ember Island (which was, of course, the main reason Ozai recognized the man at
all, though he would never admit it). Instead of fighting war of flame against
the earth savages he waged wars of policy and gossip against his even pettier
opponents.
"Rise. What business do you bring forth for me today, Shing?"
"Your Highness, Phoenix King Ozai, Great Conqueror and Hero of the Fire
Nation," Lord Shing began, pandering to the Phoenix King's notoriously inflated
ego. "I am truly humbled to be in your presence. It is an honor."
The sweat broke upon his brow, his every muscle tightened in a manner most
unpleasant and for an instant, he felt as though he would faint dead away on
the spot. Then came the feeling, yet again, that he would vomit all over the
cold, unforgiving floor.
"If his majesty would be so magnanimous, if his majesty would consider, this
humble subject- humble servant! This humble servant wishes to make a request."
Get on with it, the Phoenix King wanted to say (and almost did). There were
formalities and there were formalities and Ozai only had patience for the ones
that didn't consume too much of his time. "I will hear your request" he said,
quickly.
Lord Shing swallowed hard, collecting his thoughts. This was it.
This was it.
"On behalf of my s-son, Shing, second of his name... I-I have come to ask, with
the utmost respect for... for your daughter's hand in marriage," he stammered,
quickly adding "Fire Lord Azula is a vision of beauty, fierce as the dragons!
All that a man could desire- and then some!"
"Our house would be honored beyond words."
The Phoenix King's golden eyes widened as soon as he heard the words daughter
and marriage slip off the pathetic man's tongue. How the man could think his
second-rate son named after a second-rate Lord who also happened to be himself
could even begin to approach worthiness of Azula was absolutely beyond Ozai.
His request was not only misinformed and ill-timed, it was insulting. Did Shing
really think some noble boy with no accomplishments of his own could even
appease the hero-prodigy of his daughter, did he think The Phoenix King
incapable of choosing an appropriate husband himself!?
"You're right" Ozai managed, seething, standing up from the throne and
approaching the flames separating royalty and peasantry. Separating people like
him and his queen from people like them who have to claw for power instead of
owning it by right.
"Azula is all a man could desire, she really is a picture of perfection." he
paused, gauging his reaction (still hopeful, the little fool). "And that is
exactly why a pathetic, weak little boy with no accomplishments of his own
could never hope to deserve her. Nor does the name of your sorry excuse for a
house which can only advance itself by petty politics make up for it, which is
why Lady Shing is as equally undesirable as the boy she birthed, the one you're
trying to pawn off on me"
The Phoenix King walked through the flames, and began stepping down from the
dais. "But not only is your offer so pathetic it's hardly worth considering,
it's convinced me of something unexpected, Shing." the flames rose behind him
"Your house has existed, walking the halls of this court untouched for almost a
century, never facing the consequences of its pettiness. Today that changes!
Your son will prove himself worthy of consideration the same way my daughter
proved herself of being desirable in the first place - by facing our nation's
toughest enemies in the field. And you! You have dishonored me by suggesting my
daughter is on a level as low as yours, you've dishonored me by trying to take
what's mine. Agni Kai!"
Ozai would not only teach Shing a lesson, he would show everyone what happened
when you tried to take what was his, when you even dared consider yourself
worthy of it.
Agni Kai
The Phoenix Queen could scarcely believe her ears and yet... Father was right.
Just who, in the name of Agni, did this simpering, sniveling excuse for a man
believe he was - not to mention his (likely) equally pathetic son. How dare
they - How dare they! She would not be sullied by such lowly beings nor would
she pollute the sacred bloodline of Fire Lord Sozin with this filth! No, she
would never. Shang- Shung- whatever his stupid name was!- dare not imagine
himself as being worthy of her greatness. There was but one man who could claim
such an honor.
Ozai. Her father - her King. He would fight for her. He would reduce this
wretched peasant to smoldering ash before their entire court, before the
terrified faces of lowly subjects... they would all see! Azula was his queen...
His and his alone. Father wanted them all to know and they would.
Smirking with satisfaction, Phoenix Queen Azula sat straight-backed and rigid,
effortlessly regal by her father's side - so very proud to wear the gleaming,
golden hairpiece atop her head and yes, the marks upon her neck withal.
***** Matters of Pride and Pain *****
She-The fucking Phoenix Queen- felt like skipping down the seemingly endless
corridors of the royal palace (and most likely would have done so, provided no
one would actually see her). Somehow, it all sounded even more ridiculous than
having wanted to scream ...Still, she walked with an extra swing in her step
that simply could not be helped. She then, quite audibly, burst forth the doors
of her chambers with a smile plastered across her pretty face - something which
also, simply, could not be helped.
"Water-wench," Azula called, addressing the waterbender whom had been busying
herself with whatever mundane tasks that servants did in order to pass the
days. Granted, her voice was differentthis time, lacking its usual impatience
or malice. "Restore your queen's appearance to pristine perfection" she
ordered.
My, does she seem happy, Katara noted, again cringing at being referred to as
water-wench. You'd think that a happier Firelord... Queen, whatever, would mean
she might avoid insulting her favorite slave. But hey what do I know, I'm just
a snow savage
"Of course, Your Highness", said Katara, her voice every bit as dull and usual
as would be expected from someone who hadn't had a good day since well, this
happened. The waterbender immediately got to work, though her appearance wasn't
that... so that's new.
Katara connected the dots. "So your da-" she stopped herself. She was getting
better at this, though she had yet to decide as to whether that was good or
bad. "the Phoenix King, gave you a new crown, huh?" she asked, taking said
object out of Azula's hair so she could work on it.
 "Indeed," The Phoenix Queen confirmed. Though she became disheartened, ever so
slightly, the instant her beautiful, wonderful new crown was plucked from its
proper place atop her head by less than worthy hands. Had she been in a foul
mood, Azula may have punished the water-wench for such insolence ...But alas,
she did not allow so small a thing to sour her good humor nor ruin a most
splendid day.
 "And, is it not simply the most magnificent crown, the most glorious thing
those peasant hands of yours have ever touched?" she marveled.
 For a second, Katara considered answering the question. What was the most
glorious thing she had ever touched? Any number of things in the great library
could probably be considered invaluable. Aang's staff, a relic from an almost-
dead culture. Many of the scrolls Pakku had given-
  But of course, the questions Azula asks aren't meant to illicit truthful
answers. "Yes, Your Highness" she resigned, before quickly dampening the hair
and beginning to comb it.
 Katara certainly wasn't a fool, the Phoenix Symbolism was obvious in the hair
piece's design, meaning it must have been the crown making her the Phoenix
Queen. "So, I guess this means everything is official now?"
 "Indeed. Father wishes all to know that I am his queen," Azula replied,
overcome yet again by that incessant need to squeal with excitement - like some
stupid, love-struck little girl!
 Though once more, she refrained. "As well, if that had not been enough to show
them all whom I belong to, some foolish Lord had the gall to ask my hand in
marriage on behalf of his worthless son!" the (former) Fire Lord added,
incredulously.
"Now what, do you propose, the Phoenix King plans to do about this?"
 Reject his offer...?, Katara thought to herself, knowing, like the last
question, she also wasn't expecting a truthful answer here, either.
 Of course, Katara could empathize for some healthy dislike for social-climbers
who treat their children as cattle to increase their station - after all, it
wasn't too long ago that Yue was on everyone's minds. Nobody really liked Hahn,
but nobody wanted anything to happen to him or his father either.
 What was that...? Right, Agni Kai, that's a safe bet, Katara thought to
herself. They love fighting eachother for things (and people) here.
  "Challenge him to an... Agni-Kai?" Katara guessed, slightly butchering the
pronunciation of Agni Kai.
 "Yes! Father challenged him to an Agni Kai!" The Phoenix Queen exclaimed,
ensuring to put forth extra emphasis on Agni Kai as so to enforce proper
pronunciation. If the snow savage was to remain in the Fire Nation, she needed
to learn. All in all, however, Azula was pleased that her new servant agreed -
fire duel, such is only the proper thing to do given her father's predicament!
 "An Agni Kai is a duel of fire, typically, to the death. When one man offers
another insult, his honor is at stake and so, he must fight for it. This poor
excuse for a man has done my intended grave insult..." she explained.
"...Father said as much, declared before our entire court that the fool would
pay for trying to take what was his."
 A grave insult
Katara didn't know why, but she felt the need to keep talking to the Phoenix
Queen. Sure, she could always service her as fast as possible and see if Ming
was done with her duties, but for some reason she felt... obligated. She had
promised Zuko she'd help him deal with his sister. The battle had failed,
Katara could still feel the scars, which her water could not heal (even if it
could, Azula had promised to double them if she tried. Something about
'remembering your failures for as long as you live').
But even still, just as the waterbender had done with Zuko in the crystal
catacombs, there was another way to deal with the Phoenix Queen - to connect
with her. An enlightened idea? no. A good plan? Surely not. But it was her only
plan. Azula had to be human, she had to, even if it was buried like it was for
Zuko.
Okay, so Katara wasn’t really sure of that, not even close. She was a conqueror
and a killer. She gave Katara pain, she gave Zuko pain, and she smiled. She was
sick, and she was most definitely the one who belonged in the cell. But Katara
knew there was a chance. Azula felt pain too, she had seen it. The evidence was
right there in her hair. And if a thing could feel sorrow and pain, maybe it
could feel compassion too. Maybe
"To the death?" she finally asked. Not that she really doubted Azula (though
both Zuko's Agni Kai hadn't ended in a death), but she needed to hear more. She
needed more to work with.
 "But of course! Rest assured, Father will kill him - if need be," Azula
declared, golden eyes ablaze. "...Only if need be. This, snow savage, is a
matter of pride- and pride, is what makes a man," she continued, as though
Katara were slow. "Phoenix King Ozai is very proud, to say the least. That is
why, more than likely, Lord Shing's pathetic life will be spared - just barely.
A living example, a cautionary tale, warning all others who may be foolish
enough to do the same."
 Noting the other girl's apparent discomfort, the Phoenix Queen could not help
but to wonder...
 "In the Southern Water Tribe, where you were born, what makes a man?"
 A matter of pride?, Katara thought to herself in disbelief. The guy had done
the upper class equivalent of asking her out. Admittedly, she agreed that it
was pretty scummy but... ugh. Fire Nation.
 As for her question... the waterbender squicked at the notion. When she had
fought the warrior-princess in the field, Katara had assumed Azula was like her
in the respect that she didn't want to kowtow to the idea that men are men and
women are women. But the Phoenix Queen had asked her a question, and she had to
answer. "Well, most of the men in my tribe went off to fight in the war." she
answered honestly. All of them, actually, Katara thought to herself,
remembering that her brave brother was still just a boy, despite his tactical
achievements. "But what makes someone a valuable member of the tribe is their
willingness and ability to help other people. Everyone does something to
contribute, even the children. We need to hunt, scout, clean, cook, weave..."
she trailed off.
 Men went off to war.
 And so the women, presumably... did not? Amber eyes regarded with a sudden,
albeit strange, and newfound curiosity. Azula admitted, however begrudgingly,
that Katara was an excellent waterbender - leastways, from what the then-
Princess had seen. Withal, her servant once made for a fierce and (dare she
say?) worthy opponent. Where had the water peasant acquired such drive, such
determination ...What (or whom) had made her so eager to fight when, given
cultural expectations, she did not have to? Her father, perhaps? Had he wanted
his daughter to be strong, to be powerful... to make him proud? Maybe, just
maybe, they shared something in common. She was so very tempted to ask...
 "What's your father like?"
 Katara was taken aback by the sudden curiosity in her, but she welcomed it. It
was easier to talk to the Phoenix Queen when she was actually interested in
her. The waterbender finished with the hair by bending all of the water she had
used to dampen it out, and began fixing the Phoenix Queen's make up. Which of
course, involved looking into Azula's harsh golden stare as she answered. "He
was the chief of my tribe, and he left when I was very young to fight the Fire
Nation" she said, simply. "You might remember him for leading the attack during
the eclipse. He's smart, funny... and wants nothing more than to protect the
ones he cares about." Especially after they took mother... nothing was the same
after that. "Even though it meant leaving them behind"
  Indeed, Phoenix Queen Azula remembered Chief Hakoda... though she was not
about to admit such a thing, he had managed to cause quite the ruckus during
those final years of the war. As to the man's current whereabouts, however, she
could not say and would venture a guess that (what was her name... Katara?)
knew as much- or rather as little as she in that regard.
  "Ah. Yes, of course. I remember him" Azula said, flashing a smirk.
  Then, she thought of that time- that one Agni-forsaken time her own father
had left her behind. "My father left me once," she confessed, although was
unsure why exactly she had confided in the water-wench.
  "It was awful." Awful? Awful did not even begin to cover-
  "Of course, he came back!"
  Mother left and never came back.
  "My mother never did though."
  "Do you know what happened?" Katara asked softly, being... gentle? as she
continued to work. "Mine was taken away from me" she added, not elaborating as
it was not needed.
  For the first time, Katara felt like she was getting a little closer in
understanding the Phoenix Queen. Even though she had gotten some form of
closure, the loss of her mother at the hands of that pathetic man still
festered within her, causing pain whenever mentioned.
  She didn't even say goodbye.
  "I suppose... nothing happened, really. She just never loved us."
Please drop_by_the_archive_and_comment to let the author know if you enjoyed
their work!