Archive of Our Own

I

The first was his brother.

Ozai stared at the flame of the torch in front of the cell.  There was not much else to do in that place forgotten by everyone, and in order not to lose that minimum of sanity he had left, he had to do something.

 Staring at a flame in the hope that something would happen could be deleterious, but there was no alternative.

 “Come on, stupid flame.  Move."

 But nothing happen: the flame crackled, regardless of the efforts of the now-former Fire Lord.

 "Prisoner, you have a visitor."

 Finally a break from the usual monotony.

 The guard let in Iroh, his expression neutral, as if he didn't know how to behave with him.  And hadn't it always been like this since Ozai was a child and Iroh a young man?

 "Ah, brother. Have you come to see your triumph?"  he laughed at him, with bitterness that filled his words.

 Iroh didn't even have the decency to smile. 

 "There is no triumph in the downfall of a brother."

 "Are you sure? Seeing you in a cell was one of the best moments of my life."

 “But I wasn't alone.  Someone came for me.  Who will come for you? "

 "Azula," he said, because, despite her only failure, his daughter was an important ally, the only one with the ability to get him out of there.

 Ozai had to have patience.  He had been patient all his life, in the shadow of his father's throne, waiting for his chance.

 That waiting was nothing.  As soon as Azula gets him out of there, he will take back what belongs to him.  And he'll make everyone pay.

 "Ah, I'm afraid the princess is not in the best condition to be able to help you."

 "She will be soon," he said harshly.

 “She is not like that brat brother.  Azula is not weak. "

 Iroh's gaze hardened. Hee was finally showing an emotion, "Physically, maybe.  But her mind needs to catch up. "

 "If that's enough to stop her, then she isn't worthy of being a Fire Nation princess."

 “The mind is as delicate as the body.  It can break. "

 "Have you forgotten what our father said?"

 “Our father said many things,” Iroh said wearily.

 “I refresh your memory.  Difficulties are what temper men.  If they break us, you are not worthy to live. "

 "But with a little help, you can heal, and maybe become better," his brother said softly.

 "If you're weak enough to need help, then you don't deserve to live."

 "Curious…"

“What?”

"There is always a contradiction between what you say and what you do.  You say that those in need of help deserve to die.  Still, you are waiting for your daughter's help to get out of here. "

 Ozai growled, "It's not the same."

 "It is not?"

 “Don't use that tone on me.  I am still…"

 He was going to say that he was still his lord.  But it wasn't like that, wasn't it?  The throne had been usurped by the traitor brat and his friend, the Avatar.  He was their prisoner, and he must also have been grateful to them that he was still alive.

 What fun it must have been for those kids.

 "What are you, Ozai?"

 “I'm better than you.  You took my garbage, hoping to get revenge.  And you did it, congratulations.  "

 Iroh looked at him coldly, “You've always been quick to judge, brother.  You never worried about making a mistake. "

 "You talk as if you don't know what he is."

 “He's a boy who has found his way after all the pain he's been through because of you.  "

 “I showed him more mercy than he deserved.  Sozin would have executed him in my place.  The boy is without honor. "

 “Zuko has more honor than you ever have.  He wouldn't burn a child's face to show that he is the strongest. "

 Ozai didn't flinch, "Better than execute him, don't you think?"

 "You destroyed him."

 "Not enough.  He hasn't learned his lesson. "

 "He had nothing to learn."

 Ozai laughs at him, "Nothing, you say? You don't know him like I do. His mother made him weak. I had to make up for it, like his lord and father."

 "Hurting him?"

 "I tried to make him a man. But despite my best efforts, he's still a cut-sleeve."

 The flames behind his brother increased in intensity.  How he wished he had caused it.

 All Ozai can do is laugh, "What? Didn't you know? Isn't your precious nephew what you imagined?"

 "No, I'm disappointed that this makes you think that Zuko is worthless."

 "Of course. Sozin knew that."

 "Sozin knew nothing. And his ignorance condemned our family and our nation."

 Iroh gave him a look full of contempt, "And you have his same curse ."

 "You compliment me, brother. Sozin was a great man."

 "He did terrible things."

 "Terrible, but great."

 Iroh just shook his head, "I was hoping defeat had taught you something. But I'm afraid it's too late for you."

 With that said, Iroh nodded to the guard and left.  Ozai was left alone.

II

“This is a surprise …hello, Ursa.”

It had been some time since Iroh's visit. 

 At first, he had thought it was Azula.  The similarity had always been there.  But this woman was too old to be his daughter.

 At the sound of his voice, she didn't flinch.  But the fear was still there, hidden, waiting for the right push to get out.  And he wanted to see her face twisted by that fear.

 "I didn't think you would have the courage to come back."

 “Zuko found me,” Ursa replied, keeping control of her tone.  She won't make it, she will break.  It had always been like that.  No matter how many years had passed, she was weak.  And the weak remained weak.

 It was a law of nature.

 "Garbage always finds garbage," was his comment.

 Ursa didn't move.  Ozai continued, “Will you go to Azula too, later?  Or does she frighten you more than me? "

 "I've already met her."

 "When?"

 “When Zuko came looking for me.  She was with him and the Avatar. "

 "I thought she would kill you."

 “She tried.  She didn't succeed. "

 It was an absurd concept.  Azula was successful in everything.  Unlike her brother, she was efficient.  If she wanted to do something, she did it.

 " She didn't want you dead.  Otherwise, you wouldn't be here. "

 Ursa let out a long sigh, “Trust me, she wanted it so badly.  But she stopped.  According to Zuko, her mind hasn't fully recovered. "

 "I'm surprised you still believe her tricks."

 “It wasn't a trick.  Your perfect daughter broke.  You should have expected it, you've always asked a lot to her. "

 "You never cared about Azula."

 "She is also my daughter."

 "A daughter you hated," Ozai reminded her.

 "A daughter who scared me, because she seemed to be like you," Ursa retorted, her expression unhappy.

 “But she was just a little girl.  I should have known better. "

 “She was not just a child.  She was a princess of the Fire Nation. "

 A princess who will make him escape from there because she knew what was her duty.

 Ursa shook her head, “We were both wrong with her.  You tried to make her your perfect weapon, I was afraid of her. "

 “She was already perfect.  I just gave her the push towards greatness. "

 “Azuka and Zuko were children, and you ruined them.  "

 Ozai pursed his lips, “They should have been great.  If it wasn't for you ... "

 "Me?"  

 Ozai walked over, clutching the bars.  He wanted to intimidate her, but Ursa didn't flinch, “You've been too lenient.  Too soft.  You taught your womanly ways to Zuko.  You made him believe it was right to be like that.  I had to remedy. "

 “Zuko has always been a sweet child.  There was nothing wrong with him being different. "

 "He would have brought shame to the Fire Nation!"  he roared.

“I don't think he would have brought more shame than you already had.  "

 "You talk like Iroh."

 “Iroh is a wise man.  He would have been a great Fire Lord. "

 Better than you, the unspoken words.

Ozai squeezed the bars tighter, his knuckles turning white.  If he still had his dominion over him, he would have burned everything and made her regret what she had said.  But he couldn't.

 "Father would have understood that he was not suitable."

 “We both know that's not the case.  We had to kill him to make you Fire Lord.  Without me, you'd still be waiting for your chance. "

 Ozai screamed, the point where he hurt the most: pride.  Because it was true: Azulon would never make him his heir, even after killing his firstborn.  His was a punishment to learn humility, not to get what he wanted.

 Ursa remained unmoved, “Once, I was afraid of you.  But now I see what kind of miserable and mean man you are, Ozai.  You are nothing.  And you will die like this.  "

 It was the last thing she said to him.  Afterward, Ozai screamed until he was out of breath.

III

"I still think keeping you in a cell is too nice for someone like you."

 The visit from the Water Tribe brat had been a surprise.  Ozai had heard that he was the one who came up with the plan to invade the Fire Nation.

 The savages had learned from their ways.  Obviously.  In a hundred years, they had learned, used the tactics of the Fire Nation against them.

 No one had ever seen it arrive.  However, it made sense: if you show a dog a trick, it will repeat it perfectly.

 "Are you here to get the job done?"  Ozai asked him.

 "No.  I'd give you what you want - he said, even though his hand tightened around the handle of the weapon he had beside him - Even if the temptation is strong. "

 "Then do it.  Avenge your tribe.  "

 "I've done that, Ozai," he said, relishing not to call him your highness or Fire Lord.  How he wanted to put his hands around the brat,'s neck and squeeze until he turned purple.

 "It is enough for you?"

 "Yup."

 "You are weaker than my son."

 "Considering he's working to fix his family's mess, I take it as a compliment."

 Ozai barked a laugh, "You don't know, do you?"

 "What should I know?"

 "What is the new Lord of Fire.  The shame of the nation.  You have put a cut-sleeve on the throne. "

 The brat didn't flinch, “So?  He is no less a man for this. "

 “You are a savage, what can you know?  The honor of a man ... "

 "I don't think you are the most qualified to speak of honor - he interrupted Ozai, frowning - There is no honor in burning a child's face."

 "I disciplined him."

 “You hurt him, that's what you did.  You hurt your son after he tried to do the right thing.  "

 "Those soldiers were necessary sacrifices."

 “No, they were just kids sent to fight your stupid war.  Some were the same age as your child.  "

 “They were just colonial brats.  Nothing important, ”Ozai said bored.

 “They were your people.  You sent them to the massacre.  And after, you hurt him. "

 Ozai had grown up in the palace.  He had learned early to read people, to use their emotions.  And the savage had spoken very warmly of Zuko.  He had done it with love.

 "Tell me ... how does it feel to be fucked by an enemy?"

 Ozai saw his face contort in an expression mixed with surprise and horror.  Ozai continued, “Or is it you who fucks him?  It has to be satisfying, to bend an enemy after everything his family has done.  It has to make you feel powerful.  Do you make him moan?  Do you hurt him?  I'm sure…"

 The boy hit the bar, interrupting him.  There was anger in his eyes, "You're disgusting."

 "What do you want to do?  Kill me?"

 “Unfortunately not.  But I could hurt you a lot if you say these things about Zuko again.  "

 “He brought it upon him.  If he were normal ... "

 “He is.  And he is a hundred times the man you are.  He will do great things.  While you, you will remain here to rot. "

 No, it would not have been his fate.  Ozai would get out of there.  And he would have made him pay.

IV

Zuko was the last to visit Ozai.   Ozai was surprised that he hadn't come first to enjoy his triumph.

 Zuko stood in front of the cell, with the crown that had once belonged to Ozai.  He was no longer the frightened child he had punished at the Agni Kai.

 Now, he was a man.  Although someone like him could be a man.

 "Nobody will come for you - it was the first thing he said - I purged the army and the palace of anyone who was still faithful to you.  "

 “Azula will do it,” Ozai said stubbornly.  It was the same obstinacy that had driven Zuko to search for the Avatar for three years, even though part of him knew it was an impossible search.

 "She has never let me down."

 “Her mind broke.  It will take her time to heal.  If she will heal.  "

 "She will do it.  And as soon as she has recovered ... "

 “No, Ozai.  - not father, oh sir.  Ozai.  What a disrespect.  If the circumstances were different, he would remind him of his place.  He would give him the punishment for the person Iike him, as has been done since Sozin - Azula will not come.  "

 “She has never been like you.  She is better. "

 "I know it."

 "She will heal and she will bring me back to the throne."

 He saw something akin to pity in the boy's gaze, and it angered him more.  He growled, “Hope what the Avatar did to me is permanent.  Otherwise, when I get out, I'll burn the other side of your face too. "

 “Neither is going to happen.  "

 “Wait and see,” he told him.

 Zuko gave him that look again, and Ozai couldn't stand it, “Do you think you're better than me?  You, a cut-sleeve? "

 "I do not know.  Time will tell. "

 Oh, that sounded like something Iroh would say.  His brother had indoctrinated him well.  Ozai said, “There will be no other Fire Lords after you.  You will extinguish our bloodline. "

 There was Azula, of course, but he needed her.  She couldn't waste time on anything else.

 “After what we have done to the world, it's better this way - was Zuko's reply - And for the future Fire Lord, I wouldn't worry.  The war has left many orphans. "

 “What a great heart you have, cut-sleeve.  "

 Zuko did not react to the insult, "It is one of the few things I have learned from you.  It is not the blood that makes us fathers and children. "

 "If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't even be alive."

 “I am alive thanks to my mother.  I'm alive thanks to Uncle Iroh.  Not thanks to you. "

 There it is, contempt.  Hate barely kept under control, a fire that he was waiting to be released in all his violence.

 Zuko left, as Ozai yelled at him, “Run away!  It's the only thing you know how to do well!  Get fucked by that savage!  Enjoy the peace, because when I get out of here, you will be the first one I will come looking for! "

 He was screaming at the void.

 Ozai waited.  A month.  One year.  Three years.  He kept waiting.  Azula didn’t come.