Of Loyalty (and Other Dangerous Things)

by AssassinorActressWhoKnows

Summary:

What happens to Katara when she is taken by the fire nation as a child for being an omega, but they still don't know she is a waterbender? What happens to Zuko when it isn't just his honor he needs to restore, but his omega's too?

Chapter 1: An Introduction

Katara knew she was different when she was a young pup. She was still just a pup, but she knew it even when she was younger. Everyone treated her differently and it wasn’t just because of her “magic water” like her big brother said. No, people in the village spoke to and treated her differently. They called her ‘Omega’.
“Like me,” her grandmother would say. “You are of me.”
She didn’t know what Omega meant. Her nose for people was stronger than her brother’s, but Sokka had the strongest nose for food of anyone in the village, so maybe his nose was so strong for food he couldn’t smell people like her. Her mom didn’t smell people as strongly either, just like Sokka. But her dad could. Katara knew people called her dad Alpha and Chief. Maybe because Katara could smell like her dad, she would be chief? When she asked her mom, she laughed, and explained the different designations.
Now, Katara knows the difference between alpha, beta, and omega. That versus boy and girl, is a little confusing still, but at eight she doesn’t have to have it all figured out yet. She could just spend her days with the other women of the village, talking while they worked. Sometimes she would practice her waterbending. She was very careful about it because it was supposed to be a secret, no one outside of the village was supposed to know. But her pack was always there to protect her, especially because she was Omega.
But everything changed on the day of the black snow. When the pups went from playing to scared. When Katara went to go get her mom. When instead she found her mom with a scary man who smelt like ash and anger. Then she went to get her dad and instead she watched her mother burn, and the man took her. She didn’t have a pack on the ship. No family. She was stuck alone in a room, with only a bed, that connected to the scary man’s room.
“As long as you behave,” he said to her, “you won’t be in the brig in chains.”
Katara knew that omegas were supposed to be protected. Katara knew that the fire nation hated waterbenders. Katara knew more than anything that if she wanted to be protected as an omega, she couldn’t waterbend in front of anyone. So she didn’t. She heard the men complain about the smell of scared and sad omega, but no one did anything to harm her on the ship as long as she behaved. The scary man slapped her if she “spoke out of line” or got angry or “cried too loud”, so she tried not to speak to him at all.
Before she knew it she was in the Fire Nation. The Fire Nation was different from the Water Tribe. In the Fire Nation, omegas were property, which she very quickly learned meant she would be owned by an alpha after she was trained. Though that was better than the prisons she was told about. The ones the elder waterbenders were stuck in.
There were other omegas where Katara was trained. They all stayed there together, shared rooms, meals, lessons, and punishments. Katara hated it. She hated the Fire Nation. She hated the Omega Training School. She hated the mistresses and masters. She hated the spoiled Fire Nation omegas who got letters from their families. She hated that the few Earth Kingdom omegas who were there all had each other to cling to. Katara had nobody and nothing. Nothing but the necklace she had grabbed off of her mother’s dead body.

 

---

 

Zuko knew he was different when he was a young pup. His mother told him that he was still just a pup, even if he was ten, but Zuko knew he was more than that. He was a prince. His father was the second prince of Fire Lord Azulon, the third in line for the throne. That made Zuko fourth in line for the throne. He didn’t want to be Fire Lord, but being so closely in line made him important. He had special privileges nobody else could dream of. Besides Azula, but she was crazy anyway, so she didn’t matter. Zuko had private tutors, and gardens, and his own private chamber that was his alone to scent. And whenever Azula tried to scent it, she would get in trouble! It was the only time she ever did. Not only that, but one day, when he’s older, Zuko will even have his own omegas, like his father.
Zuko didn’t know a lot about Omegas, besides the fact that some of them smelled really good and they were all really pretty. And having one made Alpha’s really important.

 

---

 

“Get up. Get up quickly. Now, Omegas!”
At the words, Katara woke to Mistress Lin rushing all of the omegas out of their beds. The pup rubbed the sleep from her eyes, stretching as the others reacted to their instructor. Some whining, complaining, or simply obeying. The blanket was ripped off of Katara and she hissed softly.
“Mistress Lin, why do we have to get up early? It’s our day off!” One of the Fire Nation girls, Ty Lee asked as she brushed her hair. Katara didn’t dislike Ty Lee as much as she did the other Fire Nation omegas. For the past year that she’s known her, she seemed sweet and very energetic, but Katara knew what she was. She was a survivor. A follower. Katara knew that Ty Lee would do whatever she needed to do to make it. She could respect the girl for that. That and the fact that she also wore a braid, it wasn’t a popular hairstyle in the Fire Nation. But since Ty Lee came from an important family and wore one, no one could say anything to Katara about hers.
“We just got word that the second prince and his family will be arriving within the hour. Everyone must be presentable. Everything must be perfect! Quickly, children, get ready and go to the front gate to present yourselves.” Mistress Lin exited the room. The young omegas looked at each other, before rushing to get ready. Katara anxiously tried to make herself look presentable. Everybody knew of the second prince and his two alpha children. Katara watched for a moment as the Fire Nation girls rushed around excitedly, the Earth Kingdom girls got ready nervously, and Ty Lee was completely still. Her hands were paused in the braided ponytail she hadn’t finished doing. Katara finished tying off her own braid before going to Ty Lee’s bed. She sat behind her, weaving the plait.
“Are you okay?” Katara asks her, trying her best not to let her concern take over her scent for the rest of the omega pups in the room to smell. Ty Lee smelt of nothing but her regular omega scent. As if she had turned her emotions off.
“‘Zula got my letter,” she whispered, almost to herself.
“As in… the Princess Azula?” Katara whispered back to the girl in shock. Ty Lee turned quickly, a wide-eyed expression meeting Katara’s, before grabbing her hand and rushing her out of the dormitory of the omegas their age. No one noticed as they ran through the school. Everyone was too busy trying to get themselves ready. Ty Lee took them outside, under a ginkgo tree.
“You can’t tell anyone.” She says urgently, fear finally traced in her scent. “Promise you won’t tell anyone Katara!”
“I won’t, I swear,” Katara quickly responded, the young girl clasping pinkies with the other in a solemn oath. They sat crisscrossed from each other. “How do you know a princess?”
“We’re friends. Kind of. I’ve been invited to play at Prince Ozai’s palace several times. Azula likes me around. A lot. I got a letter from her asking when I would be attending the Royal Academy for Young Girls. So I wrote back to her telling her I couldn’t go because I was here, instead.” There were tears in Ty Lee’s eyes that refused to fall.
“So why are you upset?” Katara knew she herself would be, but Ty Lee was a Fire Nation omega. A royal one at that.
“Because! She’s gonna get her way. I’m either gonna end up in the Academy for her or I’m going to be treated differently here, wishing I was. I don't want that; I want to be left alone. I want to be my own person. I don’t wan-”
The other girl’s words go unspoken, but Katara knows exactly what she cannot say. I don’t want to be her omega.
“She isn’t old enough to be able to claim you right? Aren’t they our age?” Katara asks her… friend? Friend seems right to call her. Her first friend in the fire nation, all because of the royal family.
“No, but she’ll find a way and my family already expects it. I’m the only omega of my sisters and it would be an honor to be claimed by her. She’s Princess Azula. She’s the most beautiful, smart, amazing alpha in the world.”
“That doesn’t mean you want to be her property though,’ Katara responded. “Where I come from, omegas aren’t treated like this. My grandmother was honored, and I was too. We weren’t property.”
Katara wasn’t sure who initiated it, but the two pups hugged tightly. They held onto each other for she wasn’t sure how long.
“Have you ever thought of running awa-”
“There you are Ty Lee.” A young voice called out to them and the scent of two alpha pups came closer towards them. Ty Lee squeezed Katara tightly, before letting go of her and bowing.
“Princess Azula! I was just telling Katara how excited I was that you were coming to visit! We must have lost track of time. I can’t believe we missed your entrance through the front gate, Mistress Lin is going to be so mad at us. Isn’t she Katara?” Ty Lee looked at Katara and the omega realized what was happening. She was in front of a prince and princess who now stood before them. And she still hadn’t bowed to either of them. She quickly nodded in agreement before bowing deeply.
“She’s quiet.”
“Where are you from?” The two alphas spoke at the same time. Katara kept her head bowed. This much attention was the last thing she wanted. At least the princess’s statement was directed towards Ty Lee. She still needed to answer the prince.
“The Southern Water Tribe, your highness.” She spoke softly.
“Really? What’s that like?”
“A barren wasteland Zuzu, you would know if you paid attention in your lessons. Come along, Ty Lee, I want a tour.” The princess began to walk away and Katara glanced at Ty Lee, who returned the look before bounding after Azula, doing cartwheels along the way.
Katara turned to the prince, whose scent reeked of annoyance and displeasure. He looked at his sister before turning his back to her, fully facing Katara.
“Ty Lee said your name is Katara?” All the waterbender could do is nod. Then with a blush the prince continued. “That’s a pretty name. Does it mean anything? My name means ‘long-life’, ‘sunrise’, and ‘glory’.”
“It means ‘droplet of water’.” The pup grabs her mother’s necklace, rubbing it to calm herself. She wasn’t sure why the prince was still here. His sister was long gone with Ty Lee He no longer smelt displeased. If anything, the alpha pup smelt at ease, and Katara realized quickly that she didn’t dislike it. She glanced up at his eyes to find a shocking molten gold looking back at her. She blushed and looked away. This was her first time being around an alpha her age. Not her age, he was a little older than her, she could smell it. So not only was he an older alpha, he was a prince. How do you talk to a prince? What had she been taught since she was forced into the Fire Nation?
“Do you… play any instruments?”
“I play the tsungi horn. I’m good but I don’t know if I like it. My uncle really likes it though. Whenever he visits, we’ll play together.” He rubs the back of his neck, glancing at the training school building. “What do you play?”
“I’m learning the koto and the kokyu. I don’t think I’m any good though.”
“I’d like to hear you play,” the prince says. No not says, Katara realizes, orders. She bows to him before taking his hand to walk him to their music room.
“How old are you?”
“I’m eleven,” he tells her, puffing up his chest as they continued. “Born in the middle of the eighth month. You?”
“I’m nine. Born in the middle of the seventh.” They make their way in and Katara quickly turns to him, glaring for the first time. “You aren’t allowed to laugh if I’m bad. Understand?” Katara tells him. Threatens him, in a very cute omega way, the prince realizes. He smiles and gives his word. True to his word, he didn’t laugh. The pup listened intently as if he was listening to music for the first time.
That is how the two were eventually found. The prince sitting, listening to the pup try to play an instrument she had only just started learning. The door opens and both rise, before Katara kowtows in fear of Prince Ozai and Princess Ursa, as well as the headmaster Katara had only met once since she had begun schooling.
“Mom! Father.” Zuko runs up to his parents, bowing to his father and turning to his mother. “This is Katara. She was born in the seventh month and is learning the koto and smells really nice. Can I keep her?”
Katara, still kowtowed, doesn’t quite make out the words said. She doesn’t see the way the headmaster’s face blanches, or how his father looks at him.
“Where is your sister?” The second prince asks.
“She’s somewhere with Ty Lee. Since Azula has Ty Lee can I have Katara?”
“You both are too young to have an omega.” His mother tells him. “But you can write to her. And maybe she can come visit, like Ty Lee and Mai do.”
“Really?” The pup says excitedly, looking between his parents.
“Show us the omega,” Ozai says simply, directed to the headmaster.
The headmaster bows, before his attention is given to the pup.
“Omega, come here and present yourself to the royal family.” The beta man reeked of nerves in a way everyone but him was aware of. It didn’t help Katara’s own anxiety. She got up as gracefully as possible, walking demurely to the alphas. She tried to be mindful, careful. The knowledge that if she displeased them, they could have her killed. She stood before them all, glancing at Zuko who smiled brightly to her, before bowing at the hip. She would not speak unless given permission. She knew better than that at least.
She felt a finger lift her chin and followed the silent command. Standing up straight, allowing her face to be moved as she was appraised. Her fear was tangible, but she did her best not to tremble. If anything, the alpha seemed to like her fear.
“Water Tribe?” The second prince asks, still holding her chin up, as the headmaster tells the royal family about her.

Chapter 2

All Zuko could do anymore was think about Katara. Her big blue eyes, the way she smelt, the way her fingers plucked the koto she was still new to. When he wrote to his Uncle he wrote about her. When walking in the garden with his mother, the omega is what would come out of his mouth. When his mother kindly suggested that he write to the girl, he ran and put brush to paper.
When Zuko got a letter back from her he was ecstatic. He kept the letter, covered in her scent, on him at all times. Until it distracted him so much he did badly in his firebending lessons and had the letter threatened to be burned by his father. Then it stayed under his pillow.
The two wrote to each other, just like Azula and Ty Lee got to write to each other. He even got permission for Katara to come visit the palace. Normally his father was strict, the only visitors that the pups had ever gotten were Mai and Ty Lee, both from very noble, honored families. But Zuko didn’t like playing with them. Zuko did like Katara, and according to his father an omega from the Water Tribes was ‘rare enough to have societal standing’, whatever that meant. His father even planned for some sort of lessons on alphas and omegas, but his mom didn’t want him to go to that yet.

---

Ty Lee was right. Things were different after the second prince’s family visited. Before, Katara knew that one day she would be owned by some random wealthy fire nation alpha. After making friends with the prince Katara was treated differently. By the masters and mistresses who invested extra lessons and time on the omega, and by the other omegas who noticed the special treatment she was receiving. Katara hated it. She hated the attention. It had been bad enough when she was the only water tribe omega, to secretly be a bender among people that would kill her, but now she had more focus on her than she had had before.
Prince Zuko did smell really nice, though. She kinda hoped he thought she smelt nice too. She spent her days wondering what he was doing, what his lessons were like. She also wondered about Ty Lee and the princess. When Katara had tried to ask Ty Lee about the alpha, all the pup would do was smile brightly and act silly. Everyone fell for Ty Lee’s tricks but Katara saw all of it for what it was. Katara knew she needed to learn how to do the same thing. It was much safer for an omega to be happy and silly. Especially when the prince started to write to her.
Katara did like talking with Zuko, he was sweet and would write to her about his days. So in return she did the same. She didn’t write everything in the letters that she wanted to. She didn’t know who in the school was reading them, but she assumed someone would be. Grown ups as a whole were always tricky, but here in the Fire Nation they were just plain conniving. Like on the day when Katara and Ty Lee both got letters with invitations to the palace; Mistress Lin had rounded them up and put them through special lessons on something called deplorum that Ty Lee had giggled her way through.
It hadn’t even been that big of a deal. During the day the two separated to be with the prince and princess because the alpha pups didn’t want to share. That was alright with Katara, the princess was mean and her scent smelt of it. Azula wanted to play games with Ty Lee that Katara wasn’t too interested in. Zuko wanted to take her on a tour of his favorite places in the palace. She saw his mother’s garden with the turtleduck pond. She saw the library. He even gave her a really pretty necklace with a red gem she’d never seen before. In return, she showed him her mother’s necklace that she always wore, either on her neck or her wrist depending on the dress she wore. She told him about her family, about playing with Sokka, sitting around the fire with the village, about her grandmother who was an omega too.
“I’ll take you to see them again one day,” he told her, looking around to make sure no one could hear. “One day I’ll be an Alpha with command, a general, and I’ll take you to visit them. Then you can show me your village and family and the penguins.”
Katara hugged the prince tightly, tears in her eyes at the kindness of the prince before her. She wasn’t sure how that would work. She was going to be some wealthy alpha’s omega one day. But maybe since Zuko was a prince he would be able to tell her future alpha what to do? Who knows, things are complicated and weird in the Fire Nation.
Katara had dinner with the second prince’s family and it wasn’t as scary as she thought it would be, because he wasn’t there. He had taken dinner with one of his omegas instead. So it had just been Katara, Ty Lee, Zuko, Princess Azula, and Princess Ursa. And Princess Ursa was really nice. She reminded her of Katara’s dad, she seemed like an alpha, even though she was a beta. The kind that was sweet and protective and held authority without using fear. Katara really liked her alot.
After dinner Princess Ursa sent Katara and Ty Lee to the room that they would be sharing. Princess Azula had gotten angry that Ty Lee couldn’t stay in her rooms, but Princess Ursa had put her foot down about ‘deplorum’ just like Mistress Lin had. Azula didn’t calm down until Ty Lee crashed into her, hugging her tightly. Katara didn’t want to hug Azula, so she bowed to Princess Ursa and quickly hugged Zuko, who then held her tightly and for some reason had a hard time letting her go. The beta woman had to correct her pups, telling them it was time to let go of the omegas and to go to their own rooms, and Katara and Ty lee giggled as they went to the room they were given. Their overnight bags had been placed in there by servants. The two quickly got into their pajamas and brushed and braided each other’s hair for the night.
They opted to share one of the big beds in the room instead of sleeping separately, telling each other of their day. Katara liked that Ty Lee wasn’t the kind of omega who wanted to giggle about what kind of alpha they would have one day. Instead, Ty Lee wanted to talk about the acrobatics that she was learning and that she had shown Azula. She told the waterbender about how Azula said she would get it arranged so that Ty Lee could take some sort of private lessons to learn more. Katara told Ty Lee of the turtleducks and the stories and plays in the library Zuko had shown her. Katara didn’t tell Ty Lee what Zuko had said about taking her to the Southern Water Tribe, just like Katara was sure there were things about the other omega’s day with the princess that she wasn’t told. Katara fell asleep, thinking that if this was how her time in the Fire Nation went, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

---

Then, catastrophe struck the royal family. In the matter of a few days, Zuko lost his cousin, his grandfather, and most importantly his mother. His father didn’t care. He took the throne that Uncle apparently no longer wanted. Suddenly Zuko went from being fourth in line for the throne to heir apparent. He was forced into new private lessons, his firebending training was intensified, and all he wanted to do was talk to his mom. And Katara. That was one difference of power now.
Zuko wasn’t very good at planning things, at getting his way, especially when his father was involved. But Azula was. Azula always got her way. And always needed to one up him. So when Zuko looked at his father at one of their few family dinners and said, “I want Katara to move into the palace,” Zuko, for once, knew exactly what would happen.
“It’s not fair if Zuko gets his omega and I don’t get mine!” Azula set her chopsticks down fiercely in her bowl as she glared at her brother and father.
“Well why can’t you? Why can’t Ty Lee go with you to the Royal Academy for young girls? She’s still a royal girl even if she’s an omega.” He countered, holding eye contact with his sister as he spoke.
“Father! He’s right and we’ve talked about this before. Mother was the one who had issues with it. Please can Ty Lee come to the academy with me? She can get her own omega lessons there like how the betas get their lessons.”
“And Katara could get private lessons here too! She was going to once she was older anyway. Isn’t this better than having to wa-”
“Enough.” Fire Lord Ozai set his bowl of food down on the table with a thud. “A royal alpha has a right to their omegas, I will think about this, but we will not discuss this anymore.”
After dinner, as Zuko headed to his rooms, he was stopped by Azula who somehow snuck her way ahead of him.
“Smart, but it would have been smarter to get me in on the plan.”
“It worked well enough didn’t it?”
“It will now that father’s favorite can whisper in his ear, honestly I don’t know why I didn’t think to do it myself. But you need to be careful.” Zuko stopped, folding his arms as he glared at his sister.
“Why do I need to be careful?”
“Because, my omega and your omega are different. And if this works they will have different lessons, different trainings. I’ve already had father arrange for Ty Lee to learn a specialized fighting so that she can take down any opponent, bender or non. But your omega?” Azula stepped closer. “She’s a water peasant. They don’t do things correctly in the water tribes and they are still rebelling against the Fire Nation. People would think your omega was whispering in your ear. And you aren’t a good fighter. What would happen if she was better than you?”
“That’s enough Azula.” He stepped closer to her but she didn’t back down.
“I’m just looking out for you dumb dumb. You have to think about these things now that you’re the first prince. Honestly I don’t really get what you see in her. I wouldn’t want an omega who smelt like th-” Zuko’s vision turned red and he had Azula pinned against the wall, his teeth bared. For the first time had the advantage in a fight over Azula.
“Don’t talk about her again, Azula.” he growled at the younger alpha. Azula’s eyes flashed but she didn’t argue. When Zuko let go of her the two backed away from each other.
“I’m trying to help you. Father isn’t attached to his omegas, he would just get a new one if something happened, he doesn’t care about training them in anything but omegan arts. But we both know what happened to Uncle’s omega.” Fear and some other deeper, worse emotion hit Zuko at his sister’s words.
“She doesn’t need to fight. I’ll protect her.” He said, almost formidably, if only the air didn’t reek of his fear.
“You better get to training then.” His sister stated, before walking away from him. Zuko ran to his room, pulling out the cloth with Katara’s scent that he kept hidden from everyone. He held it to his nose, taking a big whiff of it and immediately calming down.
“I’ll protect her.” He tucked it away again, before moving to grab his dao swords, practicing as he’d been taught by Master Piandao through the night.

Chapter 3

At ten years old, Katara’s life was nothing like she ever expected. At ten years old, Katara has already been purchased by an alpha, even though that isn’t supposed to happen until she reaches her first heat. She isn’t alone, in that Ty Lee is suddenly purchased also, but Ty Lee does not stay with her. Ty Lee goes to the Royal Academy of Girls to be with Azula. Just like Ty Lee had said would happen. Just like Katara knew she had feared. Katara, however, ends up in the royal palace. With Zuko. She has private tutors that teach her ‘decorum’ (not deplorum like she thought it was called. It was embarrassing when she found out too), etiquette (which was different than just decorum apparently), musical instruments, and fire nation history and policy. 

She stays in a room in Zuko’s suite. She sees him when they are both done with their lessons every day. They share dinner, they talk and laugh and play. Katara has fun with Zuko. She likes him. A lot. But it’s all very confusing. Because now, Zuko is her alpha. 

Katara wasn’t really sure how that happened. If he paid for her, or if his father did. Fire Lord Ozai didn’t seem like the gifting kind of man though, and being purchased by the Fire Lord was a very scary thought. But Zuko was still a pup too. Katara guessed things weren’t too different. As a prince, she was supposed to listen to him, anyway. And it’s not like they were doing the things that Katara was now learning about in her omega lessons.

 That was another thing that was different. Katara was learning about omegas’ and alphas’ bodies changing, the things that they did with each other. She assumed they were lessons she’d be getting soon anyway, her first heat would occur in the next few years… but it was weird looking at Zuko and knowing that one day he would form a knot. It was just weird. Because one day she would have a heat and that was really embarrassing too. It was all just embarrassing.

Katara couldn’t talk to Zuko about it. That would be crazy. And what if he wasn’t getting any alpha lessons yet, because alpha’s reach rut at a later age than omegas reach their heat, and he didn’t have any idea what she was talking about? Katara wished she had an omega she could talk to about it. She wished she had her grandmother to teach her, or Ty Lee to giggle with, but she didn’t. There weren’t any omegas in the royal palace either, except for the Fire Lord’s, and they had their own private areas that she wasn’t allowed in. 

At least she wasn’t surrounded by alphas, either. That was a good thing about the royal palace. All of the attendants were betas or something called eunuchs. She wasn’t told what made somebody a eunuch, but apparently it’s for her safety, so that’s a nice thought. Alphas still visited the palace though. Never to see her, always to see the Fire Lord, but it was still a lot when she saw them in passing. 

---

The first time Katara met Captain Zhao, she was walking with Eunuch Su Wen to the library. Eunuch Su Wen was a sweet beta who didn’t talk a lot, but when he did, Katara noticed that his voice was higher than most of the men that she had heard before. She was telling him about the scroll Zuko had told her about, Love Amongst the Dragons, when a door opened and a group of men came out. Katara stood there, knowing she couldn’t just walk around them, waiting for them to leave. An alpha of the group noticed her and all Katara could do was stare at the much older alpha. He smelt burnt, like the burning coal on the Fire Navy ships Katara disdainfully remembered being on.

“Do you not bow to your betters, pup?” The alpha asked her.  Katara looked away to Eunuch Su Wen, who was still bowing to the men. Katara wasn’t sure how to handle this situation in the slightest. According to her tutors, she bowed only to the Royal Family. She wasn’t supposed to be in an alpha’s presence without her alpha being there, much less speak to one. Katara also knew that the way she wanted to speak to this man, she would be punished for being disrespectful. 

“Eunuch Su Wen?” Katara spoke to the beta, hoping the man would take over. The man turned his bow over to her, then looked to the group of officials of some kind before her, and bowed again.

“Apologies, but this is the omega of First Prince Zuko. She does not bow to anyone but the Royal Family and the Fire Lord’s harem.” The beta repeatedly bowed after his statement. 

“Prince Zuko has an omega already?” the man questions. Katara can’t tell if he is speaking to anyone in particular and nobody responds to him. “Water Tribe? You look too exotic to be from the Earth Kingdom.”

Katara looked to the beta once more, not understanding what was happening, nor why this man thought he was allowed to break protocol. Katara had thought that as an omega she was supposed to be ignored. As the prince’s omega, she was supposed to be bowed to and never addressed. 

“The young Lady Omega also does not speak to anyone not of the Royal Household.” The burnt smell turns worse and Katara can taste the aggravation of the alpha before her. Katara sees a spark of flame at the man’s hands as he finally turns to the beta.

“And what am I, eunuch?” Katara watches as Su Wen looks up at the alpha briefly before repeatedly bowing. Katara had learned about alpha fights for dominance. How aggressive an alpha could be if they felt challenged. But Katara had also been taught that was not her place to worry about. Fat load of good that did her now. But Katara was also very, very tired of bullies. 

She looked at all of the men as they watched and said nothing. She looked at the alpha whose hands were sparking, who seemed to expect something from her and the eunuch. She stepped in front of Eunuch Su Wen, squaring herself in front of the alpha.

“I wasn’t aware there was another prince of the Fire Nation. I thought my alpha was the only one. What’s your name?” She squares her chin, looking the man straight in the eyes. Challenging him as an omega wasn’t supposed to do here. The alpha’s scent sours.

“I am Captain Zhao-”

“Captain. Not Prince. Did I hear that correctly, Eunuch Su Wen?” She glances at her eunuch who looks up at the situation in fear.

“Yes, young Lady.”

“And my tutors have taught me that I do not bow to anyone, besides the Fire Lord, his children, and the Fire Lord’s omegas?”

“Until the pups marry, my lady, then you would bow to their wives.”
“Thank you, Eunuch Su Wen.” Katara returns her gaze to the alpha before her. “So Captain Zhao, is not someone who is allowed to address me, and he is not somebody that I bow to either?”

“No, young Lady.” 

“So then why does he continue to stand in my way of going to the library?” The burnt coal smell grows stronger.

“Pup, you do not speak to an alpha of the Fire nation-”

“You do not speak to me without fear of consequences. I may be ten, but clearly I understand your political hierarchy better than you do. So let me say, plainly, that I am an omega of the Fire Nation Royal Household.” She glares harshly at the alpha. All of her anger that she’s held back finally coming out of her, her scent sharpening. She could not submit to this alpha, she wouldn’t.

The other men all back away, stepping aside and bowing. Captain Zhao continues to glare at her, but looks at the others and eventually follows suit. He bows, stiffly and slightly.

“Forgive me, future Lady Omega, I forget my place.” 

“I forget my own. I am Water Tribe, like you thought, and this is a new country. I, like my people, know very little about submission, or surrender.” She walks past him and the others, Eunuch Su Wen following her.

 

---

 

That night, while they ate, Katara looked at Zuko where she sat across from him at his table. It had been silent, Katara not sure how to bring up what happened, and Zuko not in the mood to just fill the silence. The waterbender knew she had no other choice than to just simply speak to him.

“Who is Captain Zhao?” She asks him, taking a bite of komodo chicken.

“He’s a child of my grandfather. I think he’s the only known alpha child of the Lady Omegas and because of that he’s a Captain in the Royal Navy. Why?”

“I met him today. When I was going to the library.” The prince puts down his chopsticks at her words. 

“What do you mean you met him?”

“I was walking to the library with my eunuch and the captain came out of a room with a bunch of other men. He wouldn’t step out of my way and asked me why I wouldn’t bow to him.”

“He spoke to you?” Zuko’s eyes flashed. Katara set her own chopsticks down and wrapped her arms around her legs, her anxiety rising

“Eunuch Su Wen told him that I was your omega, but he still tried to talk to me. So I asked him what his name was and if he was a prince that I didn’t know about.”

“You asked him directly and not your eunuch?” The prince questioned, his tone the harshest with her he had ever been. His scent was souring and Katara’s own anxiety made it difficult for her to try to release a soothing scent in response. He crossed his arms, his hands clenched in fists.

“And then I told him that he wasn’t allowed to speak to me.” She sits her chin on her knee, avoiding Zuko’s gaze.

“Katara, did you challenge him?” 

“He wouldn’t listen to Eunuch Su Wen when he said-”

“Katara!” The prince snapped, and she looked up at him. “I’m going to have to punish you.”

“What?” Katara froze, her face fallen.

“Before I can tell father to have Zhao punished. You broke the rules of the royal household and you challenged an alpha.” Zuko looked at Katara, upset. 

“Can’t you just say you punished me and not?” She asked hopefully.

“No. It’s my duty as your alpha and prince.” He tried to sound stern, but the prince’s emotions were getting the better of him.

“But Zuko-”

“But nothing!” The older pup slapped the table harshly, making Katara jump. “I don’t have a choice. This is how things are. You should have known better. If you didn’t speak back to him then I wouldn’t have to do this.”

“And what are you going to do?” She asked him, her fear permeating the air. 

“I don’t know.” He deflates. “I’ve never had to punish anyone before. And I don’t like the punishments for omegas my tutors have instructed me about. Just go to your room.”

“But-”

“Go to your room before I have to punish you for this, too.” He spoke harshly but his face was defeated. Tears in her eyes, Katara jumps up.

“I hate you! And this stupid country! I just want to go home!” She runs to her room, slamming the door behind her as she sobs loudly in her bed.

Chapter 4

For the first time, Katara had been punished by Zuko. The bruises lasted for days after, long enough that when the Fire Lord ordered for her to be brought before him for confirmation, the proof had still been on her. Katara never heard of Zhao’s punishment, but based off of what happened when she was presented to the Fire Lord, she did believe one had occurred. She doubted the captain had to kneel on rice like she did, hopefully it was something much harsher. Katara would never know, though. She wasn’t allowed to bring the man’s name up again. 

Time passed, and the tension between her and Zuko eased. He was her alpha. She disobeyed. Things were different in the Fire Nation than they were in the Water Tribes. From what Katara had learned, punishments for omegas could be much much harsher than what had occurred. It could have been more embarrassing too. What if Zuko had spanked her? Katara had never been spanked before, she behaved wonderfully for her parents and grandmother, thank you very much. Even worse, though, what if the Fire Lord had asked for proof of that. Katara shuddered at the thought.

So, yes, as time passed Katara considered Zuko to be her friend again. Their dynamics were clearer than they had been before, and maybe sometimes Katara watched her attitude and talking back. Maybe sometimes she didn’t and still got away with it, because for some reason Zuko didn’t mind it. He still smelt really good. Maybe her nose was getting better now that she was eleven, because Katara could admit to herself that being thirteen made Zuko smell even better than before. His scent was growing older, stronger in a nice way. Similar to his uncle’s, she realized when she met him.

Yes, the Dragon of the West, the scary conqueror of the Earth Kingdom, smelt nice. She met him when he came back to the palace for Zuko’s thirteenth birthday and some meetings. He was a kind, plump old man who didn’t smell like the blood on his hands. He did reek of grief though. That was an acrid stench that didn’t seem to leave him. Katara didn’t miss it when he left again, with promises to the prince to return in the spring. 

 

---

 

Zuko knew that things were different. When he had to come up with a punishment for Katara, he knew he needed something appropriate, not extreme, but satisfactory for his father. His father wasn’t afraid to punish an omega, believing that they needed a firm hand to remember their place. Zuko had seen the scars and burn marks on the omegas that were no longer in his father’s favor. He couldn’t imagine that kind of pain. So making Katara kneel in rice for a few hours seemed much easier. 

He wrote to his father, demanded punishment for Zhao, and gave proof of Katara’s own. Unfortunately, the captain was still technically his father’s brother, even if he wasn’t a prince. So he went back to sea with some sort of circumstance the Fire Lord hadn’t disclosed with him. But retribution was given, the alpha was gone, and Zuko was satisfied. Katara was different with Zuko afterwards, it took the omega a while to warm up to Zuko again. His tutors told him that Omegas were skittish but that he was her alpha and that would prevail. They were right, it did. It probably didn’t hurt that he was scenting his territory either. But things were good between the two of them. For Katara’s birthday, Zuko gifted the omega golden bracelets. For his birthday, Katara performed a perfectly played song on the koto, and gained the very obvious approval of his Uncle Iroh.

His Uncle didn’t stay for long that season, but left with promises of coming back in the spring. Things were good, great even. Zuko wasn’t the prodigy, he wasn’t his father’s favorite, but his firebending was somewhat improving. His seasonal training with Piandao started once again. He was crown prince. He had Katara. He missed his mom. His cousin. His Uncle. But he had Katara.

 

---

 

Both pups continued their individual training. Katara occasionally got to take baths without assistance. On those days she got to practice her waterbending. As much as just trying to move the water around could be called practice. She even got to the point where she could lift the water into the air- however, when that occurred, her screams of delight alerted the guards and she had to come up with a story on the spot. It wasn’t a good one, but the guards didn’t question her. She continued to learn her duties, fire nation culture and history, the koto and the kokyu. Sometimes the omega could get her alpha to play with her. Their instruments blending together in harmony- as much as two pups playing instruments could blend.

Sometimes Katara would sit in her omega lessons and think about Zuko. She thought about his growing scent, a smoky woody scent of a tree she couldn’t name. She wondered what it would be like when they were older. How tall he would be, the alpha already had muscles at his age, Katara assumed he’d only grow larger. She thought about kissing him sometimes and wondered if he thought about it too, yet. If he did he never said anything to her. Maybe she was still too young. Maybe he never thought about her that way at all. That was okay too. It wasn’t like she could be his wife. Even if marriage was different in the Fire Nation than in the Southern Water Tribe, that was still something she wanted. Zuko had promised she’d go home one day too. So maybe he was just planning for that, making sure that another alpha wouldn’t stop that.

Katara was glad that Zuko was her alpha, she really was. 

When Captain Zhao returned that spring, Katara had been worried. Not just because Zuko was upset that he returned before General Iroh did, but because Katara was worried the captain would cause issues. However, they never saw him, except for once when they ran into him while walking together. When they stood there hand in hand, the captain did nothing but bow to Zuko, and wait for them to pass. A few days later, General Iroh returned, and everything was going well.

 

---

 

Zuko really did think things were going well. He was coming into himself. He’d never felt stronger or more alpha. Katara cared about him again. His uncle was back. Sure Captain Zhao was back too, but now he clearly knew his place. The older alpha knew that Zuko ranked above him. And sure, Azula would be coming back from school in the next few days, but if she brought Ty Lee with her then that wouldn’t be so bad. Even then, there was an important council meeting that he was going to go to, and she couldn’t even try to go in either because she wasn’t home from school for her break yet!

Zuko found himself walking purposefully to the war chamber, fully intending on seating himself, until the guards block his way.

“Let me in!” He orders, his scent beginning to sour.

“Prince Zuko, what’s wrong?” His uncle asks, coming up behind him and holding his shoulders gently to calm him.

“I want to go into the war chamber but the guard won’t let me pass,” he told his uncle. Not whining, alpha’s didn’t whine, especially alpha princes. His uncle walked him away, a smile on his face as he released calming pheromones for the pup.

“You’re not missing anything. Trust me. These meetings are dreadfully boring.” Uncle Iroh said, releasing Zuko’s shoulders.

“If I’m going to rule this nation one day, don’t you think I need to start learning as much as I can?” Zuko asked with a hopeful smile. 

“Very well, but you must promise not to speak. These old folks are a bit sensitive, you know?”

“Thank you, Uncle.” Zuko bowed to older alpha, a smile on his face as his uncle walked him in with his arm wrapped around his shoulder. Everything was going exactly the way it was supposed to. The young alpha knew nothing could go wrong now. 

 

---

 

Katara was in the bathing room when she heard a door slam and an angry yell. 

“Zuko? Are you okay?” she called out, reaching for her robe, and stepping out of the tub quickly. She heard the prince continue to curse and opened the door to him trying and failing to beat fire out of a tapestry. “Alpha!”

She ran over and helped him get it off the wall, before running it to the bathing room and smothering it in the bathtub full of water. She returned to his antechamber to see him angrily pacing the floor. “Zuko? What happened?”

“I went to that meeting in the war chamber.” He said, indignantly. Katara felt her stomach drop.

“And-” 

“And those old fools were going to sacrifice an entire fleet of new recruits! Soldiers with families joining to make our country greater! And they just wanted to use them to gain the upperhand.”

“That’s horrible.” Katara was able to get out. She wasn’t surprised. She knew how horrible the Fire Nation army was. The things they did to innocents. 

“I know! So I told them. I said they couldn’t sacrifice a division like that. That those soldiers love our country. And I could smell my father’s anger past the flames below his throne. He told me that I disrespected the war council! That I insulted the man who came up with that plan. And I don’t care that I did!” Katara didn’t care that she was still sopping wet in her robe. She ran up to Zuko and hugged him.

“You were so brave,” she said as she stood on her tippy toes, her arms wrapped around the older pup. Her alpha. Zuko wrapped his arms around tightly, his face pressed against her wet hair.

“I’m going to fight the old alpha in an Agni Kai. In three days. My father says that is the only way to solve my disrespect.” 

“What’s an Agni Kai?” Katara asked him, looking up at him before returning her face to his chest.

“A duel. A sacred fight for one’s honor. And I’m going to win. I need to train and meditate.” He kissed the top of her head. “Thank you.”

“Why are you thanking me?” She asked him in shock, everything he just told her, his display of affection… she didn’t know how to process it all yet.

“For being you. For being kind and good. For ruining your bath for me.” He smiled. “Call the servants for a new one. And for our meals to be delivered. I need to start training now. In three days you’re going to watch me win my first duel.”

Chapter 5

Katara never left Zuko’s bedside. She couldn’t. She watched as healers worked on the burn; salves, solvents, something to try to protect his eye so he didn’t lose it. For over 24 hours she watched over him without so much as looking away. She couldn’t stop thinking about the Agni Kai. His father standing before him instead of the old man. Zuko’s refusal to fight his father, his alpha, his pack. And then Zuko being burned for it. She couldn’t stop hearing the prince’s screams. Her alpha was screaming in front of her, and she was held back by Iroh and Ty Lee. She couldn’t do anything to help him. But she was there now. She would watch over him now. Watch everything the healers did so that she could take care of him herself.
She sat in a chair next to his bed in the healer’s wing, the two of them alone. A blanket was wrapped around her. One that General Iroh had asked for her to have. After the healers had at first tried to refuse her access to the rooms and she went feral, that is. General Iroh had stayed for a majority of the time too, until he went before the Fire Lord. Katara didn’t know if he was summoned or if he decided to go, she didn’t care, she was too focused on Zuko. So focused, in fact, she never heard when the doors opened, and silent feet walked towards her. Until Ty Lee jumped into the chair she was in and hugged her.
“Oh, Katara, it’s just so horrible. It was all so horrible to watch him get burned like that. I couldn’t stop crying after. Are you okay?” Katara just sat there, too focused on Zuko. She eventually managed to shake her head but couldn’t get herself to speak yet.
“He should have fought back. If he wasn’t so weak, Father wouldn’t have punished him.” At the insult, Katara’s head twisted, and she looked at Azula, hissing.
“He isn’t weak.” It was the boldest the omega had ever been in front of the alpha and Azula appraised her for a moment.
“If he wasn’t before, he is now. Do we know if he’ll even be able to use his eye?”
“Partial blindness at the most. We won’t know the full extent of everything.” Katara said, almost as if she was the healer herself. “But he’ll heal. He’s strong.”
The princess hummed in thought. What kind of thoughts, Katara could only imagine. She had seen the alpha’s smirk as her brother was hurt. She understood the threat the princess was to her alpha. Katara began to assess everything around her, and realized it wasn’t just the two girls who had spoken that were there. Another girl, quiet, stood slightly away from them.
“Who are you?” Katara asked her. With everything that occurred, she didn’t know how to be polite anymore. The girl didn’t answer her. Didn’t so much as look at the omega. She only kept her eyes on Zuko.
“Katara, this is our friend Mai. Haven’t you met her yet?” Ty Lee asked her. Still wrapped around Katara as she looked around.
“Interesting. We’ve all known each other our entire lives. Mai was probably going to be Zuko’s first wife. Not like we would have known till he reached rut. Not that it’s a problem anymore.” Katara tried to process the princess’ words but couldn’t. Not at this moment. She felt a flash of jealousy but pushed it down.
“The healers say he’s going to be okay.” She told Mai directly. “That it could have been worse than it was.”
“Good.” The girl finally responded. She glanced at Katara, then quickly returned her gaze to Zuko.
“What did you mean, that it isn’t a problem anymore?” Katara asked Azula, her gaze moving between her and her alpha.
“You haven’t heard?” Azula asked her, smirking slightly. “Zuzu’s been banished.”
“What?” Katara asked, her heart thumping loudly, unsure if she heard correctly.
“He’s now the banished prince of the Fire Nation; being sent on some mission he needs to complete before he can return. And Uncle is going to go with him. The two disgraces can enjoy boat life, hugging each other like the two omegas they are. If he wakes up.” Azula spoke boldly. Katara looked at Ty Lee to see her reaction but saw exactly what she expected. Nothing. “Well, this was fun. Let’s go. I can’t stand the smell of failure.”
Azula walked away and Ty Lee got off of Katara to follow her. Mai stood there for a moment, almost as if she was deciding if she would stay, before she did as she was ordered. Katara continued to just sit there. The shock of what just occurred, which already followed the shock of the Agni Kai, had the omega paralyzed for a moment. She didn’t know how long she sat there just staring at Zuko, before a healer came to change his dressings. She watched as the burn was treated and rewrapped. Didn’t move when food and water were brought. She was tired, but she wouldn’t sleep.
She heard the door open once more and General Iroh entered, joining her once more as they watched over the prince.
“Zuko was banished.” She states. She doesn’t ask. Azula wouldn’t lie, not about that.
“Don’t tell me word has already spread through the palace.” He said softly, almost as if he tried to joke, but his desperation at the situation had taken over.
“No. The princess told me herself.” She told him, not looking away from her alpha.
“He is being sent on a quest. To find the Avatar and bring him to the Fire Lord.”
“You mean the same quest the Fire Lord himself couldn’t complete?” Katara retorted, a little too loudly.
“Be careful how you speak. That is your Fire Lord. You are an omega of the Royal Household. And the walls always have ears in the palace.”
“I don’t care.”
“Miss Katara-”
“I don’t care!” Katara turned to Iroh completely. “I don’t care who hears me. I don’t care what happens to me. I’d rather end up in the prisons with the rest of my kind than stay here another second! He burned him!”
Iroh stepped towards Katara, his hands up placatingly, trying to calm her down. He wreaked of guilt and pain. How could he calm her down when she was drowning in his stench and her Alpha was unconscious and burned. Every emotion she’d held tightly to she was losing control of.
“I watched my mother burn because of me! And now Zuko is burned and isn’t waking up! And if he does wake up, he is banished and am I still his omega if he is banished? Do I stay here with these monsters?” She was yelling. Iroh quickly scooped her into a hug, in comfort, and to muffle her screams. It worked. She screamed into his robes, the scent of distressed omega permeating the air.
“You will come with us. I have already arranged it with the Fire Lord.” Iroh tried to sooth her, petting her hair gently.
“What do you mean, ‘come with us’?” a voice spoke behind her. Katara gasped, turning to see Zuko laying in his bed, watching them.
“Zuko!” Katara exclaimed, running to him and jumping into his bed, into his arms.
“Uncle, what’s going on?” The pup looked up to his uncle as his omega burrowed into him. He hurt. His face hurt so much, something was wrong with his eye and his ear, but what scared him the most was waking up to the scent of his distressed omega.
“Do you remember the Agni Kai?” His uncle pressed gently. Katara looked up at the man, hissing briefly, before returning her head into Zuko’s neck. Zuko held her tighter, decorum be damned, at the reminder.
“Yes, I do. I was publicly punished.” Public punishment was a horrible thing, but it was something one could recover from. He was still a prince.
“That was not the end of your punishment.” Iroh sits down, reaching for Zuko’s hand and squeezing it gently, before gathering himself to tell the prince.
“Where are you taking Katara? You can’t take her!” He yelled at his uncle for the first time in his life, holding on to his omega so that she can’t leave him.
“Zuko that isn’t-” Katara begins to try to explain but Iroh interrupts her.
“You misunderstand, nephew. I am not taking her anywhere. You will be taking us.”
“What?” is all Zuko manages to get out in his confusion.
“Nephew. I am sorry that I am the one who has to tell you.” Iroh steels himself, before he shifts, and Katara glimpses the general in him for the first time as he began to pace. “You have been banished from the Fire Nation. You are stripped of your title of first prince and heir. You are stripped of your honor. You are being sent out to find and capture the avatar. If you do, you will be permitted on Fire Nation soil and your titles restored. Until then, if you cross into Fire Nation territory, it is under pain of death. This is the Fire Lord’s decree.”
By the end of the general’s speech, Zuko’s scent has turned in a way Katara has never smelt before.
“Leave me.”
“Nephew perhaps we should discuss-”
“Leave! Both of you!” He unwraps Katara from him and all but shoves her out of the bed. She looks at him and his uncle both, before tears stream down her face and she runs out the door. She runs blindly, making her way through the palace without thought, until she finds herself in the royal family gardens. Only she isn’t alone.
“At last, you leave the boy’s side.” Fire Lord Ozai states, his back turned to her, as he continues to look over the pond.
Katara freezes in fear. The memory of the Agni Kai still too fresh. She whimpers and the Fire Lord chuckles.
“Tell me what the healers say, omega.” Katara can’t speak. Her heart races, fear and anger fighting each other, and her hands shake uncontrollably. At her continued silence he turns, and she could cry in relief because after he does so is when her uncontrolled bending makes the pond ripple. But he doesn’t notice. The Fire Lord is too busy stalking towards the frightened omega pup. He grabs her chin in his hand, yanking her face so that he can look into her eyes. “I do not repeat myself, pup.”
“They say he will heal.” She whispers. “He will still have his hearing. They don’t know about his sight. But the eye-” She begins to whimper and cry at the words she struggles to get out. “His eye didn’t-didn’t melt. So-so they think it’s a good sign.”
The Fire Lord lets go of her chin, stroking her face gently, once, as if to sooth her.
“You poor thing. Having to witness all of it. Your own punishment for being the omega of a weakling. He’s lucky you aren’t being burned.”
At his words Katara falls to the ground, kowtowing.
“And here you are, looking exactly as he did. How very omegan of him. He has too much of his mother in him.”
“So, you banish him.” Katara says to him. Speaking to him without being prompted to for the first time, then remembering her lessons. “Fire Lord.”
“And why does the Water Tribe bitch have more fire in her than what was supposed to be my heir? Stand up pup.” Katara does so. Hands still shaking, she looks up at the bender before her. He chuckles, a look in his eyes she doesn’t understand. “If you had been older, I would have claimed you as my own. It’s a shame you’re being wasted. I have no interest in puppies or claimed omegas. Even if I was the one who bought you.”
“I have an alpha.” She whispers in fear.
“Yes, you do. And we will never see each other again because of him. Will we? Now. Leave me.”
Katara takes the opportunity presented to her and runs as quickly as she can. She runs back to her room, to the safety of her nest, and hides.