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Borealis: A Zutara Story	By : jaded_priceless Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 34026 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, Avatar: The Legend of Korra, any historical figures or events, or easily recognizable persons, places or things. I make no profit from this work of fanfiction

Chapter List
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Chapter 107
“Katara, Katara, wake up,” Zuko said quietly while gently shaking her. When that didn’t work he started to ease away from her knowing she would notice the lower temperature.
“Humm, why,” she muttered scooting closer to him. It was the coldest part of the night, shortly before the sun rose and Zuko had an internal combustion system she had grown rather fond of.
“I want you to meet someone,” he said sliding out of bed.
“What? We’re in the middle of the ocean. There’s no one for me to meet,” she grumbled as her heater went away.
“Yes, there is,” Zuko said wrapping her in the blanket and lifting her. He carried her to a secluded spot on deck then lowered them into a bow. Katara yawned and noticed everyone on the Ursa and the other ships were also bowing. As they kneeled he pointed to a star shooting from East to West, “That’s my cousin Lu Ten. At the time of his birth it was prophesized that on this day he would ascend.”
Katara stopped fighting to look up at the star. The signet ring she and Zuko wore included an image of a shooting star to represent him. Lu Ten had died young but his actions had earned him a place the history books she’d been reading to get better insight on the nature of her enemy. As a teen serving in the cavalry he had been on the front lines with people who had no business being there. He proposed aptitude tests and a unified basic training system as way to find a place for those who wanted to serve their country’s military but were unable to stomach the ugliness of war.
It was his idea that new recruits should rotate through each unit of the military including the Colonial Peacekeepers and Homeland Defense Force before deciding upon a branch of service. The rotations and test scores also allowed the military leaders enough time to gain personality insights to determine which recruits should never be allowed into certain branches or positions. The efficiency of all units, especially non-combat divisions such as accounting and engineering, had risen considerably. The Fire Nation military was still improving since his idea put people in the roles they were best suited for.
Katara could even see where the notion had merit based upon the leadership manuals she had acquired from the ship’s library when Zuko wasn’t looking. It stressed the use of observation when guiding a recruit towards a division. Using it she could tell Ty Lee was best suited to a protective role like the Homeland Defense Force or Colonial Peacekeepers and Azula would have been the leader of a volcano team: the divisions who invaded new areas and conquered them.

Lu Ten’s death was also the catalyst that ended General Iroh’s Siege of Ba Sing Se.
It was speculated by military strategist on both sides of the conflict that if he had lived the Earth Kingdom would have fallen after the siege or would be on the verge of doing so. Each night Lu Ten set off fireworks around the blockade. Each week he would use catapults to send toys into the city in an attempt to sway the city’s children. Once a month he would send a few days’ supply of dehydrated milk paste inside boxes covered in propaganda leaflets over the wall to appeal to the mothers of starving children. Katara knew firsthand the lengths a real mother would go to protect her children. She imagined if her children were starving and someone was promising food in favor of loyalty she would do what was necessary to feed them.
Katara glanced at Zuko; his cheeks were twitching, he was biting his lips and his eyes shone with unshed tears. Several others were openly crying. Lu Ten was Zuko’s cousin, no his older brother, she corrected remembering all the things he had said about him and the changes in his voice when she spoke of him. Katara placed her hand in his and lightly squeezed his fingers. If she were to ever lose Sokka she knew she would not take it very well.
Zuko glanced down at her and half smiled before shifting their positions so they were sitting instead of bowing. He sat behind her, placed his legs on either side of her and hugged her to his chest. He placed his head on her shoulder then tilted it upwards to speak to the star, “This is Katara, my woman. She’s Water Tribe. I think you would like her. Father and Uncle Iroh do. I’m not sure why Uncle Iroh does but Father does because she threatened him the first time he met her. She was in chains and on her knees but she threatened to kill him.”
Zuko laughed again, “You should see the way Father despairs when he looks at her. He wishes she were Fire Nation.”
He chuckled fondly before continuing, “You always said with Mom and Dad’s beliefs I’d go out and find someone exotic to spite them. I think I love her; no, I know I do. She is to me what Nom-Nom-Zun was to you.”
Zuko’s voice cracked, “I’m sorry I couldn’t do more for her. I hope the two of you were able to find happiness together in the spirit world.”
Katara looked up when she felt Zuko shifting behind her. This time tears had begun to fall. She brushed them away. Zuko grabbed Katara’s hand as it moved across his cheeks and turned it over to kiss her palm.
He looked back up at the star and sighed, “I found the Avatar or rather Katara did. She’s his Waterbending instructor. I can barely Firebend but the woman I love is a prodigy in her element. The first time I met her she could barely bend water but a few months later we fought evenly at the North Pole. She even pressured Azula when they fought in Ba Sing Se. I had to help her. Can you believe it?”
Zuko bit his lip before confessing, “Katara is technically a prisoner but I made her my concubine. I spoke Fire Lord Su Uwriyel’s vow before forcing her. Katara wears my signet and I’ve given her Honored Grandmother Kesuk’s crown. She was able to open her vault and Honored Grandmother Nini’s. Father watched us couple. He only wanted to see how badly I could hurt her; if I could her hurt her, and listen to her scream but his witnessing the coupling still stands. Father also witnessed the signet exchange. Her name has been added to the historical registers. I know it is only an attempt to cast her as a betrayer but it’s still there.”
Zuko sighed again and shook his head. “Katara has no idea what any of that means. She hates me too much for me to even try and explain. She thinks I force her to lay with me out of selfish desires. I am not proud of myself but I’m sure you know better than I do how prisoners are treated. I couldn’t let that happen to her. Being with Katara scares me. She’s yet to give consent but I like being inside her. I wish you were here to tell me what is wrong with me.”
“I let Katara read the books you gave me but I don’t think she understood - not the actual text. She’s brilliant and has a better understanding of that than I do, but the things that you wrote. We are both in the pricklesnakes’ den but thanks to you and Uncle I am no longer confused about what I must do.”
“Please watch over us and guide us,” Zuko lowered his head before looking up at the meteor and speaking again, “The world and our homeland is so very different without you. You always told me it was my duty as a prince to and son of Agni to correct wrong wherever I saw it. I have seen so very many wrongs I can only think of one way to correct it. I have to dig the vine up by the roots otherwise it will continue to choke out everything I wish to grow.
“Lu Ten, please do not think ill of me for my actions. I am and always will be the little brother tripping over himself as he attempts to walk in your shoes but I can understand if you wish to smite me when I get to the spirit world.”

In addition to choosing a spot where they were unlikely to be overheard Zuko was speaking in formal ancient Fire Nation. Katara had only heard it once while at the palace when the scribes were interviewing her and when her name was being added to the registers. Zuko explained only the royal family, sages, and scribes actively spoke it. Most scholars only understood written forms of it.
Katara was barely able to recognize her name but could tell he was speaking of her by the way he nuzzled his face against hers. She smiled up at the meteorite passing overhead and spoke in shaky Fire Nation, “It is an honor to meet you Prince Lu Ten. I am sure the son of General Iroh is a good man. I can tell how much your family misses you; how much Zuko misses you.”
“We do. We miss you very much, even Father although he doesn’t act like it. I sometimes see him standing in front of your portrait and sighing but he tries to hide it,” Zuko whispered behind her. “We are lost without you, even Azula. One of her favorite moves is that kick-flip-flame you taught her. She mastered it shortly before we learned you had passed. She tells people it was your spirit’s gift to her and a sign a portion of the Agni inside you now resides in her. Of course she says its destiny that you approve of her taking your place a next Fire Lord but that’s Azula; we really can’t expect her to say much else. ”
The mood remained somber until some of the others aboard the Ursa and one of the escorts stood; in perfect choreographed unison they began bending fire. Katara watched as they leapt, spun and whirled as if to the beat of an invisible orchestra until well after the sun was fully up. Even one of the Zhao twins who was not a bender moved in sync with them.
She along with Zuko, Azula and the other Fire Nation citizens were mesmerized by the dance. She had not even noticed that Aang and Sokka had been brought on deck until someone screamed “The Avatar!” Aang’s head had slumped backward and he opened his eyes and mouth at the exact moment the dancing ceased. If he were still connected to the spirit world Katara was certain he would have gone into the Avatar State.
Katara was not sure what was happening when everyone include Zuko stood. He set her on her feet, covered her eyes and whispered, “Do not be afraid. We are honoring Lu Ten’s passing.”
Katara felt a tremendous amount of heat and opened her eyes. She quickly realized why Zuko had covered them. Every bender was sending a stream of fire into the sky. Azula’s was interspersed with bolts of lightning; some of the others were making shapes with theirs. Katara involuntarily stepped closer to Zuko and shivered as a bolt of electricity raced down her body.
She had never felt Zuko Firebend. They had fought and he had burned her but she had never been in his arms as he connected with his element. It was exhilarating. She placed her head against his chest and closed her eyes as she embraced him so the hand that had been holding her was free to bend. The feeling of warmth and electricity increased exponentially; every hair on her body seemed to quiver within its follicles. Driven by impulse, instinct, and a tingling deep within her body she rose to her tip toes and kissed him.
Zuko wasn’t sure how or why he knew to stop his Fire Scream right before Katara’s lips crashed into his. The fire left his hands and he felt a tremendous sense of calm and different type of heat the moment her tongue found his. His arms wrapped around her body, his hands cupped her derriere and he lifted her. Katara’s legs locked around Zuko’s waist while her fingers parted thick locks of hair pulling him closer as she deepened the kiss and moved against him.
Zuko’s mind cleared of everything but the fire and Katara. Everything ceased to exist in the world but the fire around him, in his veins and his Waterbender. He pulled her tighter to him, wanting more, needing more of both the fire and Katara. Katara was the cause of the volcano churning in his belly and only she could be its termination. He held her, kissing her, rocking against her, forgetting they were on deck in plain view of everyone until people began loudly cheering for him.
They separated slowly remembering they were not in their room or alone on the secret deck. Zuko made sure the blanket was properly secured and would shield Katara from prying eyes as he lowered her legs from his waist. He remained close behind her as they walked back to his room. His ears burned and his face had turned bright red due to the nature of the catcalls. He really didn’t want everyone to see he was aroused.

Mimi Feye: Thank you for the proofread.
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Borealis: A Zutara Story