Chapter 29: The Bargain
Katara sat across from Zuko, her heart pounding as his question hung in the air like a storm cloud. The heat in the room was almost unbearable, and the intensity of his gaze made it hard to think. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she tried to steady herself.
"What do you mean by that?" Katara asked, her voice sharp but laced with unease. "Why are you asking me about my brother?"
Zuko leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk, his golden eyes locked onto hers. "I asked you a simple question," he said, his tone calm but firm. "How much do you love your brother?"
Katara's jaw tightened, and she glared at him. "I love my brother very much," she said, her voice trembling with anger. "He's the only family I have left."
Zuko's lips curled into a faint smirk, and he leaned back in his chair. "Well, then," he said, his tone almost casual. "This makes things rather straightforward."
Katara's eyes narrowed, and she leaned forward, her chains clinking as she moved. "What are you talking about, Zuko? What do you want from me?"
Zuko's expression remained calm, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something cold and calculating. "I want you to think about your family," he said, his voice low and deliberate. "Think about how your mother was killed. Think about how your father had to go to war. Think about how Sokka is the only one left here on this ship."
Katara's breath hitched, and she felt a lump form in her throat. "Don't you dare talk about my family," she said, her voice shaking with anger. "You have no right—"
"I have every right," Zuko interrupted, his tone sharp. "Because from this moment on, you're going to be working for me. My beautiful play thing I can hold and squeeze whenever I want. Without question."
Katara's eyes widened, and she shook her head. "What? No! I'm not going to—"
"You don't have a choice," Zuko said, his voice cutting through hers like a blade. "Something is going to happen in the capital, and when it does, the only way to save Aang will be if you're close to me. You'll be my personal maid. The rest of the crew will think that you're my new muse, a girl from the Water Tribe that I took because I fancied her. That's the role you'll be playing from tomorrow onward."
Katara stared at him, her mind reeling. "You're insane," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not going to play along with this... this sick game of yours."
Zuko's smirk widened, and he leaned forward again, his golden eyes burning with intensity. "Oh, you will," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Because if you don't, Aang and Sokka will die. The only way they leave the Fire Nation alive is if you do exactly as I say. There will be no negotiation."
Katara's hands trembled, and she clenched them into fists to steady herself. "You're a monster," she said, her voice shaking with anger. "I'll never—"
"You will," Zuko interrupted again, his tone cold and unyielding. "You said it yourself, you love your brother very much. He's the only family you have left. So for him, and for Aang, you'll play along. You'll be my shadow, my 'nice thing to have.' I won't rape you or do any such things but I will touch you and squeeze those little developing oppai, ahem, I mean breasts of yours. The world will see you as my pleasure thing. The crew will see you as such, and so will the Fire Nation. And if you want Aang and Sokka to live, you'll do exactly as I say."
Katara's mind raced, her heart pounding in her chest. She wanted to scream, to lash out at him, but she knew it wouldn't do any good. Zuko had all the power here, and she was trapped. She glanced at the door, her thoughts racing. Could she escape? Could she fight her way out?
"Don't even think about it," Zuko said, his voice cutting through her thoughts. "You wouldn't make it ten feet before the guards caught you. And even if you did, what would happen to Aang and Sokka then?"
Katara's shoulders slumped, and she felt a wave of helplessness wash over her. She hated this. She hated him. But she knew he was right. If she tried to escape, Aang and Sokka would pay the price.
"Fine," she said finally, her voice low and bitter. "I'll play along. But if you hurt them…"
"I won't," Zuko said, his tone calm but firm. "As long as you do exactly as I say, they'll be safe. Of course I will only do those things so that people don't suspect the real reason I want you close to me. In order for the three of you to make it out of the Fire Nation alive, I need one of you to always be close to me and you being a young attractive girl is the most believable thing for a young hot blooded fire nation prince out at sea for years. But if you step out of line, if you tell anyone about this arrangement, then what happens to them, and to you, will be on your head."
Katara glared at him, her blue eyes burning with anger. "You're despicable," she said, her voice trembling.
Zuko's smirk returned, and he leaned back in his chair. "Maybe," he said. "But I'm also your only hope. So you'll do as I say, and you'll do it without question."
Katara clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She wanted to argue, to fight back, but she knew it was pointless. Zuko had her trapped, and there was no way out.
"You'll return to the brig now," Zuko said, his tone final. "There's a soldier outside who followed us here. He'll guide you back. And remember, this arrangement stays between us. You'll only mention it to Aang and Sokka. If anyone else finds out, the consequences will be on you."
Katara stood up, her chains clinking as she moved. She glared at Zuko one last time, her blue eyes filled with hatred. "I hate you," she said, her voice low and venomous.
Zuko's smirk didn't falter. "I know," he said. "But you'll do as I say anyway."
Katara turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, her heart pounding and her mind racing. The soldier was waiting outside, his expression neutral as he gestured for her to follow. She walked in silence, her fists clenched and her thoughts a whirlwind of anger and fear.
When she reached the brig, Aang and Sokka looked up, their eyes filled with concern. "Katara!" Aang said, his voice urgent. "Are you okay? What did he want?"
Katara took a deep breath, her hands trembling as she sat down. "We need to talk," she said, her voice low. "But not now, later."
Aang and Sokka exchanged a worried glance, but they didn't press her. They could see the turmoil in her eyes, and they knew better than to push.
With Katara sitting in the brig, her mind racing as she tried to process what had just happened. The weight of Zuko's demands pressed down on her, and she knew that her life, and the lives of her friends, would never be the same.
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