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Borealis: A Zutara Story	By : jaded_priceless Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 33555 -:- 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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Part 2 Chapter 121
“We’re not leaving the ship until tomorrow morning.”
“Why?” Katara asked stomping her foot angrily. Water was her element but even she wanted to feel dry land. Plus the faster they reached land the sooner she could evaluate the situation and determine which of the escape plans she and Sokka had made would be the most feasible.
Zuko lead her up to the highest level of the deck, “Do you see the harbor? The streets closest to the docks are mostly businesses that cater to sailors: bars, taverns, and brothels. They also attract pirates and other undesirables. Our ship just docked so the crew is looking for the things the dock offers and some of the locals are always spoiling for a fight.
“If we got off the ship now, we’d have to walk through that. If we stay on board tonight and wait until tomorrow things will be calmer. Rear Admiral Qin’s fleet will spend a night on shore then return to their regular duties. Some people will get back on their boats and leave since a large Fire Nation vessel and its escorts have docked. Others will go farther inland. The ones that choose to stay are mostly nocturnal. Besides I thought you might want to see your brother and the Avatar now that we’re alone on the ship.”
He wasn’t expecting her to throw her arms around him and give him a crushing hug.
Zuko led her below deck and stopped before turning the corner to the brig; he heard something that sounded familiar and suspicious. “Katara, stay here for a second.”
The Waterbender was about to protest but then she obeyed. He was taking her to see her family with no strings attached. It would be foolish to anger him at this point. Zuko walked the short distance to the brig and saw just what he was afraid of. The two men left on guard duty were venting their frustrations on Sokka.
“Stop. Get away from him this instant.”
The men froze. The one in front stepped away from Sokka and zipped up his pants. His companion at the rear did the same. “Princess Azula…”
“I’m not Princess Azula. We’re in port, there’s no reason for you to do that to an unwilling man,” Zuko said angrily.
“But the princess said we had to stay on board and stand guard, that we could find ways to entertain ourselves so long as it didn’t involve the Avatar,” one justified.
“You are men of the Fire Nation navy. I was at sea for three years. I know what happens in the absence of women and never resorted to that type of entertainment. We haven’t been at sea long enough for you to become desperate. You are in port and hours away from leave. Surely you have more discipline than that,” Zuko admonished.
The men lowered their head. Homosexual acts, prisoner rape, torture, murder, all manners of depravity and immorality were acceptable under Fire Nation military guidelines so long they were not directed against a comrade – lack of discipline was not tolerated under any circumstance. “Understood your highness.”
“Now as a gesture of goodwill, I will watch the prisoners for the next four hours so you men can go on shore and properly entertain yourselves. Pao, Sha, if I find out that you have molested him again. I will cite you for conduct unbecoming a man of the Fire Nation navy,” Zuko warned.
“Yes, Prince Zuko,” they replied like scolded six year olds.
“Now go in the stables, bring back a wet towel and give it to him,” Zuko ordered.
“Clean yourself off and get dressed,” Zuko instructed Sokka turning to the wall to give him privacy. “Katara is waiting down the hall. I doubt you want her to see you like this.”
Sokka nodded angrily and righted himself before walking out of the open cell. He followed Zuko to the room where they were keeping Aang. The prince used the keys he’d gotten from the guards to open the large metal door. Once inside he removed the chains tethering the Avatar’s arms and ankles then undid the shackles, manacles, muzzle and bit. Zuko pulled a small bottle out of his pocket and took a swallow before giving it to Aang, “Drink it. It will help you wake up.”
“Come on it’s bath time,” Zuko said motioning for them to follow him.
“It would be easy to kill you and escape,” Sokka threatened wrapping one of the chains around Zuko’s neck.
“I know, but you won’t,” Zuko deadpanned. “The bison is injured and unable to fly. The Avatar won’t leave without him. Even if you made it to shore this isn’t like the first time you came here. This port is now controlled by the Fire Nation. You and the Avatar are not completely healthy so you won’t get very far. If you are recaptured you and especially your sister will not be so lucky.”
Sokka grit his teeth at the undiluted truth in Zuko’s words. He was a strategist, he’d already come to the same conclusion. He dropped the chain and stepped away reluctantly. He was willing to gamble with his life, but not Katara’s. He knew exactly what would happen to her if the bastard decided she was not worth his “protection”.

Katara set down the basket of food and ran to embrace Aang and Sokka as soon as they entered the hallway. She and Aang chattered non-stop until they entered the room reserved for baths while fumed silently beside them.
“You’re kidding me?” Sokka groused when he saw the overhead showers and pools for soaking. This room made the one he shared with the Zhao twins look like the tiny washroom inside the stables he normally used. He pushed his anger aside when he saw it was upsetting Aang and Katara but he continued to silently fume as he join Aang in the already flowing stream of warm water. Katara sat facing the corner happy just to be in their presence.
Sokka looked around the room at the large bubbling pools of water – hot springs. The ship had hot springs onboard. He’d been showering in a cramped space with towels deemed unfit to use on the animals but his sister had access to all this. The only reason Aang was taken to the soldiers showers was to accomadate his guard detail. He grumbled, “We’ve showered, now what, I get the privilege of taking a bubble bath?”
“No, but you probably should take a soak. The third pool with the white water is filled with restorative minerals,” Zuko replied pointing to it.
“Really?” Aang asked ignoring his injuries and diving right in.
“Katara you should be able to come over now. That water is really opaque.” The Fire Prince advised content to sit back and not interfere with the happy reunion.
“As nice as this water feels I’m going to get out,” Aang declared rolling his shoulders and yawning.
“Wait, Katara, you can heal with water right. Can you heal the water they’re sitting in?” Zuko stammered.
Katara shot Zuko a puzzled stare and stuck her hands in the water. The entire pool glowed and she felt a tremendous drain on her energy. Sokka nodded in Zuko’s direction. She was starting to feel faint when Zuko lifted her hands from the water, “I told the guards four hours. If we spend it all in here we won’t have time to clean the cells.”
When they’d finished bathing Zuko handed Sokka and Aang a clean prisoner’s uniform and led them downstairs. The four of them worked to clean out their cells. Sokka and Aang had been given old mats and hay to sleep on like animals. They pushed their bedding to the incinerator and Zuko brought four new mats. He gave each one two so they’d have some sort of cushion to sleep on. Now that they’d reached the land the Avatar viewings would be done on shore. No one would question the extra mat and the crew would have more pleasant amusements than Sokka.
He left the portholes open so they’d have fresh air and they made another trip to the kitchen. Fan had left a pot of rice stuff like he’d asked and the four of them took it to his room and finished off.
“I want to see Appa,” Aang said after they’d eaten. He’d only gotten glimpses of the his injured best friend since they were captured but a tactiturn soldier who claimed to be a veterinarian stopped by every few days to ask questions about his care and dietary habits which included offhand mentions of his status.
“That’s not possible,” Zuko declared adamantly. “It’s a busy port. Someone might see you and realize I let you out. I won’t be able to help you again if I get caught.”
“I understand,” Aang said sadly lowering his head.
“Wait, Zuko, you can take Katara on deck can’t you? She and Aang are about the same size. If they traded bottoms and he put on a cloak could you do it?” Sokka suggested.
Zuko’s face twitched, both Aang and Katara were looking at him hopefully. They were more pitiful than the baby turtleducks when he ran out of bread.
“Please Zuko. We won’t tell anyone. Just this once, please,” they begged. They even tugged on his shirtsleeves like the baby turtleducks would do to get his attention.
“Fine,” Zuko growled knocking their hands away and turning his head, “Just get away from me.”
Aang and Katara smiled broadly before shucking their shoes and pants.
“Woah! Katara, what happened to your wraps? Those are indecent! I can see…things!” Sokka squeaked grabbing a blanket off the bed and throwing it over her.
“Huh? What things?” Aang asked somewhat excitedly as he turned around to peek at her. Zuko’s large hand clamped over his face and blocked his view.
“You will not be looking at her,” the prince growled tightening the grip his thumb and fingers had on the Airbender’s temples. Aang’s eyes widened and he peered through Zuko’s hand up at the Firebender’s face.
Zuko’s gaze was trained on him and he was scowling. “Sokka toss your sister’s pants over here. Avatar take a step back and kick your pants away so he can give them to Katara.”
Sokka picked up Aang’s pants and handed them to Katara. He held the covers up and glared at Zuko and Aang.
“I’m decent,” Katara huffed. “It’s not like Aang hasn’t seen me in my wraps before. I wear them when I give Waterbending lessons.”
“You are not wearing your wraps! I saw your tail and those itty bitty scraps barely cover your koalaotter!” Sokka shrieked.
“I forgot what underwear I was wearing. I’ve gotten used to these,” Katara blushed wildly wrapping the blanket around her now covered body.
“You’ve gotten used to them? How can you get used to something that looks like it’s cutting off your circulation? What happened to your respectable underwear?” Sokka howled then turned and pointed to Zuko, “Is this part of your plan to corrupt my baby sister into accepting the evil ways of the Fire Nation?”
“What?” Zuko yelped at the ridiculousness of the accusation.
“I don’t pick out Katara’s underclothing. What she puts on is her business! She could go naked for all I care! I..um..that didn’t come out right,” Zuko stammered before yelling, “Why would I have preferences about her underwear? I have enough problems with my own!”
“They get it Zuko!” Katara bellowed. “Sokka, Zuko bought me several dresses so I’d at least look the part of his concubine. The designer made these comfy undergarments to match them as a thank you gift for spending so much money in her shop. They’re better suited to warmer climates than my wraps. Now all of you stop discussing my lingerie!”
All of the males were suitably chastened but Sokka still muttered his baby sister should not have lingerie or even know the word. Zuko’s expression was still discombobulated after putting on their cloaks and leaving the room. When Zuko wrapped his arm around Aang the young Airbender took sympathy on him and whispered, “It’s okay Zuko. Sometimes Katara gives me problems with my underwear too, but don’t tell Sokka.”
Zuko made a garbled choking sound and tripped on the last step. He kept his eyes solidly on deck as they made their way to the bison and desperately tried to forget that last bit of information.

“Appa!” Aang cried high pitched in what he hoped sounded like a female voice. Forgetting that he was supposed to be Katara he launched himself towards the bison and attached himself to Appa’s nose. “I missed you buddy. Have they been taking care of you?”
Appa lowed happily shaking his head and sticking his tongue out to lick him. Zuko noticed the harbor guards moving towards the Ursa so he decided to sacrifice himself to remove their suspicions. He stepped within tongue reach of Appa and said, “Waterbender, get down from there. You’ll spoil him. He belongs to the Fire Nation now and we will not coddle him.”
Aang reluctantly let go and turned to Zuko only to be pushed aside by Appa’s tongue as he licked the Firebender.
“What, why did he?” the Avatar stammered until he heard the laughter coming from behind him. He resisted the urge to turn around instead pulled the cloak around him.
“Come on Katara,” Zuko said Firebending himself dry and extending a hand to Aang.
Aang turned sideways getting one last look at Appa before stepping into Zuko’s embrace and allowing himself to be led downstairs. He didn’t speak until they got to Zuko’s room, “What did you people do to Appa?”
“Azula shot him with a bolt of lightning. From what Mu has said it hit the second foot on his left side and the metal conducted the charge over his entire body before it exploded. Some of the shards cut him so he had to be shaved in places to remove the shrapnel and stitched up. Some of his ribs were broken in the fall but they were unable to find any internal injuries,” Zuko said quietly.
Katara tilted her head at him when he omitted the brand and he pulled his bottom lip into his mouth while lowering his head. Katara gave Zuko a small nod. If they walked straight up the stairs he wouldn’t have seen it. She decided not to mention it as she wrapped her arms around Aang and pulled him into a hug, “I’ve been healing him every chance I get. He’s gotten a lot better. The first few days we got back on the Ursa he didn’t even wake up.”
“It was the painkillers. He had to be drugged for Mu to bring him to the ship and work on him,” Zuko admitted. “Even if it wasn’t decided to try and find an animal he could possibly breed with, Mu wouldn’t have let him suffer needlessly. He loves animals and hates to see them in pain. His family has been our nation’s premier veterinarians for several centuries. It is part of the reason they were granted noble status.”
“What does he look like? Someone’s been coming into my cell and asking questions about Appa. He said he was trying to help him,” Aang said quietly.
“He looks like Mai, Azula’s friend with the knives. His complexion is a shade or two darker than mine and his chin isn’t as pointy as hers. He’s quieter than she is but he smiles more and is a bit of a joker,” Zuko explained.
“Mu’s okay,” Katara reassured him. “The night I almost sank the ship, he saw me on deck and helped me hide from Zuko because he knew I was trying to help Appa. Most of the crew have been spoiling him because they saw him cover Zuko in slobber twice. He’ll be too heavy to fly by the time he gets better.”
“Thank you for trying to healing him, Katara. Thank you for letting me see him, Zuko. Appa and Momo are all I have left of my people,” Aang said bowing.
Katara was about to tell him about Zuko’s step-grandmother but he shook his head at her warning her to keep silent. “Sokka, Toph, and I will always be here for you. No matter what you see or hear, you will always be a part of my family.”

Sokka’s eyes narrowed. He had seen the way Katara tilted her head Zuko’s direction and he lowered his. He thought it was a fluke until Zuko shook his head at Katara and the way she immediately stiffened but grew quiet when she saw the gesture. The two of them should not be close enough to understand wordless communication.
While Zuko and Appa were on deck he asked her about the underwear again. She repeated that the designer did make them as a gift but added the woman chose the design hoping it would entice Zuko into coming back to her shop and spending more money. Before he could press her for more details, Zuko took them back to the brig. He and Katara were sitting outside his cell when the guards returned. Zuko made sure Katara was a few steps ahead and out of earshot before warning them of disciplinary action if they touched him again.
This time they were content to sit in the corner and talk. Sokka was forced to listen to them loudly speculate if his sister treated Zuko better than the whores they’d just left treated them. He tried to block out their chatter but his mind kept going back to one thing - Katara never answered when he asked if Zuko liked the underwear. She merely closed her eyes and turned her back to him.
Author's Note: Thank you all for your patience as I wrote, rewrote and pulled everything together.
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Borealis: A Zutara Story