Azula burrows deeper into the fur lined robe. The air of the Western Air Temple is chilling. If she were still herself, then it would not be a bother but she is just a ghost of what she once was. Across the courtyard she watches the benders at work. They attack in unison putting the Avatar's training to the test. She notes with bitterness that he is using red fire today. Most likely reluctant to answer the questions that would come with the sapphire flames he so easily stole from her.
No one has noticed Azula isn't bending, that she is incapable of bending. It is easy to not ask the hard questions, the ones that no one really wants an answer to. Sometimes the answer is unpalatable. No one wants to know just how far their savior has fallen.
Let them think she is just merely holding back, that she is still dangerous, that she will still end them all. Better to be feared than to be weak. If only they knew just how harmless she is now. It does nothing to soothe the loss she feels deep in her chest.
"Azula." The ever intrusive voice of Katara cuts through her thoughts.
Azula regards her with the refined arch of her eyebrow but does not deign to address the peasant.
Katara's lips thin into a line. "You could help you know."
Suki and Katara are busy cleaning up from the morning meal. A tub of water stands filled to the brim with dirty dishes.
Azula glances at the tub and promptly turns her attention back to the training ground. The Avatar has the others on the run and while she finds she despises him more every day, something about him coming out on top draws a smile out of her.
"How about you heat the water up? That would at least be something useful." Katara snarks.
With a sigh, Azula reluctantly looks away from the corded lines of muscle that have bested her on more than one occasion.
"What exactly do you want me to do?"
Katara's hands go to her hips in what the Metal Bender has termed the "nagging" stance.
"Heat the water up, of course."
Azula scoffs. "I am not permitted to use my bending."
It is a technical truth but no one needs to know that she simply can't bend anymore. If Aang doesn't see fit to let them know then Azula doesn't either; the fewer people that know about her vulnerability the better. It's already bad enough that she has to be on guard for the Avatar himself. She can't imagine how much worse it could really get.
"Seriously?" Katara snaps. "Aang isn't going to care if you are helping out for once."
The Water Bender is really working herself up and the nearby fountain spouts higher in response.
"Helping out?" Azula repeats thoughtfully. "I'm a prisoner. I am not exactly here by choice. Besides, I paid for the food or did you forget about that?"
Katara hisses. "Why are you being so stubborn? Look around, Princess, this isn't exactly the palace now is it?"
She just had to go there.
Azula turns to face the irate woman. "If you are so eager to have hot water to wash dishes with, peasant, then I suggest you speak to one of the Fire Benders you can't seem to keep your hands off of."
As soon as the words leave her mouth, Azula knows she is crossing a carefully hidden line but she can't be bothered to care. Watching the Water Bender unabashedly flirt with Aang and Zuko is really getting to her.
Katara's eyes widen as does Suki's.
The Kyoshi warrior tries to calm things down. "Hey, we need to just settle down here before something is said that can't be taken back."
Azula grounds her stance as she faces Katara more fully. "Perhaps it's different at the bottom of the world, but I've seen courtesans behave with more dignity."
It is that one step too much and with a shriek of rage Katara lashes out. Water from the fountain flies through the air in a razor thin whip that Azula just barely dodges. It is soon followed by a series of fast moving lashes slicing through the air.
Suki's yells for Katara to stop draws the attention of the others who see the relentless barrage the Princess is under. Azula manages to duck and dodge but the balance she was once so blessed with is elusive and a sharp slap of ice knocks her back.
Katara stands a pace away breathing heavy, blue eyes furious, hands poised for another attack. For too long Azula has been the thorn in her side and seeing what she has seen of the woman's desire to hurt those she cares about infuriates the Water Bender even more.
"Katara, what in Agni's name are you doing?" Zuko demands as he arrives and takes hold of her wrists.
Azula shakes off the attack and tries to stand. A sharp stab in her stomach doubles her over and she drops to her knees. She breathes hard through the piercing pain and presses her hand against her side trying to relieve it. She glares at the other woman.
"Azula, what's wrong?" Aang is at her side, hands on her shoulders.
Shaking her head, she hisses, "Tell your Water Bender to keep her temper in check."
Aang ignores the remark. "Did you get hit?" There is a thin line of panic in his voice.
"Oh, please, I barely touched her." Katara snaps, pulling free of the prince. "She's just faking. I've seen her take worse than that and keep coming after us."
Azula is on Katara's last nerve. This is just another part in Azula's sympathy ploy. The others crowd around curious and unsure.
Azula's breaths come more rushed and ragged as she pushes herself to stand. "Perhaps you underestimate yourself."
Her other hand is still pressing against her stomach as she leans forward on the fountain's ledge on shaky legs.
Aang is hovering over her shoulder, sliding closer until the heat from his body begins to permeate the robe. He reaches around Azula feeling for the buttons of the thick robe.
Just as quick she smacks his hand away. "Get your hands off me."
With a glare, Azula moves away, though she does not get far. The pain is too much so she leans heavily on the ledge again, hand pushing against her side, breathing harder.
"She isn't hurt." Katara insists though the first tendrils of doubt are creeping in as she notes the beads of sweat on Azula's forehead.
"I'm fine." Azula grits through her teeth.
Aang sees through it and when he closes the distance, Azula recoils from him. He isn't the one that is hurt though so he takes her other arm and gently leads her away from the curious eyes.
"I told you I'm fine." Azula hisses, even as she leans heavier against him. The pain is sharp and beginning to color her voice.
Once inside the stone walls of the temple and away from the rest, he pushes her back against the wall, his fingers deftly undoing the buttons of the robe. Once the garment falls open the silk dress clings tightly over the swollen stomach. Dropping to his knees, Aang runs his hands over the rounded surface, fingers searching for the energy nestled there.
"Well?"Azula demands sharply, her golden eyes are steady on the door. They could be followed and this whole thing could be out in the open.
Aang releases a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "He's fine. You must have just pulled something."
Azula lets out a shaky sigh and slips out of his grasp. "You must be so relieved." She mocks as stands with her back to him, buttoning up the robe.
Slowly he stands. "You should be too."
She gives a short laugh. "Please, do you think I like this?"
Ignoring the challenge in her words, Aang takes her arm again and pulls her down the temple hallway.
"Where are you taking me?" She demands even as she pulls against his grasp.
He doesn't answer but only leads her upstairs and down another corridor to a large set of doors. When they open it reveals a large open room, the foot of a bed can be seen through a doorway. Intrigued, Azula doesn't resist as he pulls her into the room and pushes her onto the bed. Once again he works the buttons of the robe open and pulling it off, before pushing her to lie back. Without complaint, she sinks into the soft bed and doesn't even fight him as he pulls her dress open over her stomach. A cool hand of water hums against the surface and she can feel the pain lessening with each breath.
"There, that should take care of it." He says lightly tracing the pale skin under his fingertips. "You have to take it easy."
Azula would scoff and bite out some sort of caustic remark about the peasant but the soft feel of a proper bed under her and the gentle strokes of his hand on her skin begin to lull her to sleep. The bed dips with his weight as he moves to lie beside her and a warm cover is drawn over them both. Azula doesn't fight him as he pulls her against his chest and even hums contentedly as his fingers gently toy with her hair. Her eyes drift close and sleep overtakes her.
Oooo
Azula is drifting in that space between asleep and awake. She feels warm and comfortable. It's been ages since she has felt this at ease. Her bed partner shifts against her side as she lies on her back and she feels gentle fingers tracing the skin of her stomach. His hand settles over the curve but is barely able to cover it.
"Do you really not like this?" His voice is a low rumble almost as if he is wary of her answer.
She opens her eyes just enough to see the pensive look on Aang's face, the slight crease of his forehead, and how his dark gray eyes are locked where his hand is splayed on her belly.
There is so much she could say. It's not that she dislikes being pregnant but it has not gone her way. On the day of the Winter Solstice she had made the offer to bear his children. He had been so frustrated and distraught over the bleakness of the situation that it twisted at something inside of her. Azula is not one to give in though so she rationalized her spur of the moment offer as a way to farther cement their connection. Having the Avatar enamored with her could only work in her favor and bearing his child could only solidify her hold over him.
However, she did not count on his anger at being betrayed. Azula could explain that she had to get back to the palace and discover her father's plans but would he really believe she had been working against the Fire Lord? And if she is honest with herself then she knows that she wasn't working to help the Avatar win either. True, she all but pushed Zuko his way so he could learn Fire Bending but Azula had no intention of actively doing anything to help, aside from delivering some crucial information here and there.
Ba Sing Se had changed all of that. Azula had thought she would give the other side a leg up in defeating Ozai but she had planned to remove herself from the confrontation and see who came out on top. If the Avatar won then surely being the mother of his child would carry a heavy weight and, if not, then she would have a strong heir for the Fire Nation throne. She had not thought Aang might seek to replace her or Ozai would find out before she had a chance to remove him from her path.
She remembers the hurt of playing witness to stolen kisses and the terrible realization that not one person in her life had ever really cared for her. Her mother despised her. Her father used her. Zuko feared her (and for good reason). The rage and anger had welled up inside of her and whatever that spirit was that had attached itself to her had fed off it while whispering in her ear. It had all led to her lashing out at both the Avatar and the Fire Lord and setting off this whole sequence of events. Now she is stripped of her power and imprisoned. However, Azula is never a woman to be kept down for long.
She meets his questing eyes and even in the light of the fading sun she can see the trepidation there, the fear of rejection. He worries she will refuse him, the baby, and more. While things have not gone how she thought they would does not mean that she still can't come out on top. Azula smiles and after a moment he gives a hesitant one in return.
"I don't dislike it." She says warmly as her hand covers his where it rests on her stomach. "I just thought it would be different?"
"Different how?"
There are so many ways she could answer his question but she is never one to reveal too much.
"You wouldn't have hated me for one thing."
He doesn't answer and despite her resolve to not look at him, curiosity gets the best of her and she risks a glance up. The silver of his eyes is dark and the set of his mouth bitter.
"I don't hate you." He says quietly. "But you've turned on me for the last time, Azula. We made this decision together and you aren't going to work against me any longer."
The words are strong and authoritative. In another time they may have served to draw her in closer but right now it only serves to irritate her. She sits up, pushing his hand off of her.
"Keep telling yourself that, Avatar, but it won't lighten the guilt you feel."
She manages to irritate him too.
"I don't feel guilty."
Azula makes a derisive noise. "Please." Standing, she scoops up the robe from its place on the floor."It's written all over your face. You really couldn't be more transparent."
"What would I have to feel guilty about?" Aang demands as he slides off the bed to stand behind her.
Azula shakes her head as she buttons the robe up. "Any number of things: lying to your friends, mistreating the mother of your child, maybe even flings with little Water Benders, Who am I to know what goes on in that head of yours?"
When he doesn't respond, Azula tosses a look over her shoulder. His glare could rival Ozai's but she isn't concerned. Despite all that has happened, the Avatar is not the Fire Lord and Azula is reasonably confident of her standing with him. With a smirk she turns back around and smoothes her hands down the sides of her robe. Her smirk widens as she feels the heat of his gaze following the trail her fingers take.
"Your son is hungry. That peasant girl better have something good for supper." Azula says with an airy tone as she steps into the other room.
She feels him catch up to her and his hand on her lower back as he gently guides her to the door and opens it. Stepping through it with the Avatar by her side, Azula reminds herself that there is more than one way to defeat the Fire Lord.
Oooo
After supper the group breaks off in various directions. Aang and Zuko have both been pulled away by Hakoda and Iroh presumably to speak about the upcoming offensive against the Fire Nation. Sokka and Suki have predictably disappeared and Katara tries to not think about that anymore than necessary.
Katara mulls over the mountain of chores staring her in the face. Dirty dishes do not appeal, instead she finds her attention focused on the Fire Bender seated near the otherwise vacant fire. No words have been said concerning their earlier skirmish. The fact that Azula did not fight back did not go unnoticed. It only adds to the deepening mystery surrounding the Fire Nation Princess. Slowly she walks towards Azula. The other woman doesn't indicate she has noticed Katara's presence at all, instead, focusing all her attention on the book in her hand. Cautiously, Katara takes a seat a few feet away.
"Is there something I can do for you?" Azula's tone is mocking as she turns the page.
Katara presses her lips together, holding back sarcastic words. "I wanted to apologize for attacking you earlier. I shouldn't have done that."
Azula looks up from her book and studies Katara with her piercing stare. "No, you shouldn't have but we both know why you did."
Remorse morphs into shock. "What?"
Azula shifts to face Katara more."You heard me. If anything those ears of yours work beautifully."
Katara shakes her head. "Why do you think I did it?"
Azula licks her lips as she smiles. "You're jealous."
"Absolutely not." There is no way Katara is jealous of Azula. "Why would I be jealous of you?" There is nothing to be jealous of Azula about.
"You're jealous of the attention the Avatar pays to me." Azula says patiently as if waiting for Katara to catch up.
"I just don't know why he keeps you around." Katara doesn't understand Aang's decision to hold Azula prisoner here.
Azula's smile turns more mischievous at this. "Oh, deep down I think you do."
Katara narrows her eyes at the Princess. "I'm not playing games with you Azula." The woman is pure manipulation. Zuko has spent hours scathing about his sister's methods.
"I'm not playing them either, peasant but surely by now you know that men have needs." Azula says with a haughty air.
"Needs?" Katara bites out at her. Gran Gran had been clear in her warnings to Katara about men and even Sokka to an extent when he wasn't busy wielding a boomerang in the direction of any male that came in proximity of his sister. Azula's proposal is just unfathomable. "Aang isn't like that. He's a monk for spirit's sake."
Azula's laugh is musical and genuine. "Don't think that his being a monk means anything. The Air Benders weren't exactly chaste or celibate. Where exactly did you think little Air Benders came from?" Silently, Azula fumes at the demanding nature of the Avatar. He cares little for the time of day or night, just that Azula is close by and compliant. She should enjoy the attention as he does always put her pleasure first but the sheer fact that she is his prisoner is what burns her about it the most. "In case you haven't noticed, the Avatar is a rather prime physical being." The following smirk says Azula has noticed Katara's interest.
Katara doesn't know what to say to this. The insinuation that Aang and Azula….she's the enemy, he's the Avatar.
"You're a prisoner." Katara blurts as she knows Azula is trying to manipulate her for some reason.
The Princess stands and adjusts the robe, smoothing out the material over her waist as she turns away from the Water Bender. It does well to hide the belly as baby is easily mistaken for bulky clothing but she doesn't want to draw undue attention to her stomach in a conversation fraught with taunts of the Avatar's sexual interest in her.
"As if that matters? The Fire Lord makes use of prisoners as do the generals, soldiers; even the cooks have a go. Ask any woman unfortunate enough to be captured just what protection the label prisoner gives to her. Why would the Avatar be any different?"
Katara glares at Azula's back. "Aang isn't like that." She repeats with an edge to her voice.
Azula smirks over her shoulder. "Even a certain banished prince had his fun with the occasional peasant girl from time to time. Perhaps so would a chieftain far away from home." Azula's sarcastic tone is a dare to Katara. "I would even go so far as to say that a particular Water Tribe warrior would if he didn't already have a fan girl of his own."
Katara seethes at Azula's back as the water flow in the fountain spouts high and becomes erratic. Azula eyes this before turning slightly to meet her glare.
"Have I struck a nerve?" Azula asks innocently. "Perhaps you don't like the truth?"
She notes Katara's clenched fists, the rigid stance and flaring blue eyes. Father was right that the Water Bender has spirit. Ozai would relish every minute of breaking her down. Thoughts of the Fire Lord dampens Azula's playful mood and she turns away from the blue eyed woman.
"Chase the Avatar all you want but you won't catch him." With another glance over her shoulder, Azula adds "Even if you did, then I doubt you would like it. Demigods can be so insatiable."
Being a Princess, Azula never had much contact with boys, especially not young, healthy, teenage boys who have had their first taste of a woman. Before when she was still Azula, Princess of Fire, she had set the pace of things and orchestrated their trysts. It went according to her appetites but now that she is Azula, prisoner of the Avatar, she finds that his hunger is more than what she thought and she can barely keep up.
"I don't know what you're trying to do, Azula, but it won't work." Katara strives to rein in her anger. Azula is just trying to get to her with more lies and deception.
"I am doing nothing more than having a conversation with you involving one of your favorite people."A smile hints on her lips. "Isn't that what girls do: gossip about boys, chat about clothing? Aang so does want us to be friends."
Katara's head is shaking as she stands to stare Azula down. "We are not friends and we never will be. You are nothing more than an evil witch."
Azula arches an eyebrow. "Witch? Even my own father had no qualms about calling me a bitch before he nearly beat me to death."
A shiver runs through Katara at Azula's words. "You're lying."
Azula smirks at this. "Not all fathers are loving and kind. I doubt your father ever raised a hand to you." The answer shows on the Water Bender's face. "But we weren't talking about fathers were we? We were discussing the Avatar's reasons for keeping me around."
Some minute part of her questions just what she is doing antagonizing Katara like this. Azula feels small and diminished. She yearns to be back on top again. Besides, she thinks with a teasing glance at the Water Bender, if the peasant were foolish enough to attack her again, then the Avatar's possessiveness would make for an interesting show.
"I'm not doing this with you, Azula. Go and amuse yourself some other way." Katara shakes her head.
"You're right. Perhaps a nap is in order. Even though the Avatar's bed is rather comfortable, I doubt I will sleep in it much tonight anyway." Azula smirks as she stares into Katara's vibrant blue eyes. "Good night, Water Bender." She says congenially as she walks off.
At the door to the temple she glances back at the furious woman in her wake.
Oooo
Zuko opens the door on the second knock. He is only slightly less grumpy to see the wide blue eyes of Katara ripping him from a peaceful sleep.
Before he can ask, she blurts out, "Azula always lies."
The shock raises his eyebrow. "What?"
Katara lets out a sharp sigh as she shifts her weight closer. "You said she always lies, right?"
A noise down the hall draws their attention. It wouldn't do well to have the Chief's daughter seen outside his room late at night so Zuko pulls her inside and shuts the door.
"Yes, Azula lies. Is that why you woke me up?" Being grumpy and confused is not a good combination for the Prince.
Katara crosses her arms over her chest in a protective gesture. "Yes."
He wants to growl at her but he can tell that something is bothering her. "What did Azula say to you?"
The Water Bender fidgets shifting her weight from one foot to the other and looking away from him. Whatever Azula has done has hit hard.
"Katara!"
Blue eyes snap to his. "What?"
Zuko breathes deep willing himself to be calm. "Just tell me what she did."
She looks away from him again and a slight blush spreads across her cheeks."Men have needs, right?"
Zuko scowls at her. "What are you talking about?"
Katara's agitation is clear as she turns away from him and paces in the small space of his bedroom. "She said that men have needs and that even you would make use of a prisoner or a peasant girl from time to time."
He's glad she is turned away from him right now so she can't see the shock on his face. His mind races with just what Azula is trying to accomplish.
Katara can't bear to look at Zuko right now, especially when his hair is tousled from sleep and he is stripped to the waist. Her face is flaming hot with embarrassment but she simply doesn't know what else to do. The longer he is silent the more her anxiety gets to her until she gives in and turns to look at him.
It's as if he is frozen in place but when she meets his eyes, he answers, "Never a prisoner and never a peasant."
Katara blinks in confusion. "Meaning what?"
Zuko shakes his head as he looks away from her. "She wasn't a peasant. She was a friend. I would never force anyone if that is what Azula tried to tell you."
He isn't sure what game his sister is playing with Katara but he doesn't appreciate it, not one bit.
Katara looks away from him. Something about his admission bothers her. "Who was she?"
He almost looks as if he doesn't want to answer. "Mai. I met up with her a few times while I was hunting the Avatar but I never thought she would tell Azula."
Mai understands Azula's manipulative nature as well as Zuko does.
Katara feels a sinking feeling in her stomach. "Oh." It's all she can manage to say to this news of his relationship with the knife-wielding noblewoman.
"I've known her for most of my life but Mai is just a friend." He tries to reassure her.
Katara holds up a hand as she turns away from the pleading look on his face. "Stop, it's really none of my business." It isn't and it shouldn't bother her but it does.
Zuko turns to pace away from her in frustration. What game is Azula playing to sell him out with Katara?
"Why would she be talking to you about me anyway?" He stands with his back to her, hands on his hips, boiling with anger.
"What?" Katara asks perplexed. "We weren't talking about you, not really. We were talking about why Aang keeps her around."
Of course it all comes back to the Avatar. It's Zuko's stomach that sinks this time until he puts it together.
Turning to face her, he asks "She told you the reason he keeps her around is because men have needs?"
Katara can only nod.
Zuko rolls his eyes. "Oh, for Agni's sake!"
"What?" She asks in genuine confusion.
Frustrated, Zuko runs a hand through his hair. "For Azula sometimes the lies are the truth." He pauses to let it sink in and when he sees her blue eyes flare, he continues. "It's not me you should be talking to right now."
"You know something." She states more than accuses.
A sort of acceptance crosses the Prince's face but his only reply is to reach behind him and to open the door.