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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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Chapter 160
The Ursa pulled into port two days after the Fire Lord’s departure. The ship arrived early enough that Aang and Sokka were taken to the local jail shortly after departure so Katara didn’t have the time she normally did to spend with them.
Like several of the places they’d stopped. Zuko also found this place familiar. It didn’t take long for him to realize this was the city where he began his life as a fugitive. It felt strange once again walking down the streets as a prince when the last time he was in the city he’d been chased down them. It felt even stranger as they neared the resort they stayed at last time without the offbeat comments from his uncle.
Zuko wrapped his arms around Katara and drew her closer to him. His voice was gravelly as he whispered, “This is where Uncle and I learned we had been declared traitors. Azula had been sent after us on her personal vessel. She said that Father missed me and wanted me to come home. Uncle knew all along it was a trap. My father didn’t really want me. He said we should be careful and that my father wasn’t forgiving. I argued with him. I wanted to believe so badly that after so many years I would finally get to go home. I was stunned when the one of the soldiers referred to us as prisoners. I think that was the first time I realized that Azula’s attacks truly held menace for the past several years. She was my sister and yet she and my father have both tried to kill me.
“Uncle told me that ours is a very complicated family. Life without the threat of death from a sibling means we aren’t worthy of their attention. Just as my father tested me, his father tested him, and he tested Lu Ten. It did not mean that there was no love; only that sometimes a father could overburden his son with his high ideals and unrealistic expectations. And that sometimes a son gave too much in his efforts to make his father proud of him. My father is finally proud of me Katara. I thought the day I finally heard him say that would be the best day in the world. Instead it feels like my insides are all torn up and everything I once believed in has gone wrong.”
Katara tilted her head back to look at him. She’d seen that same troubled expression on him several times. She bit her lip unsure of what to say or do before finally speaking, “There is more to a father than a flesh and blood relationship. Perhaps you are so torn up because you now realize that the Fire Lord’s approval was not the one you should have been seeking. Your real father is the one who was always at your side guiding you and correcting your missteps as he shared your journey.”
Zuko inhaled slowly while practically burying his face in her hair. She pretended that Korhi’s gait over the cobblestones was the only reason she felt tiny tremors as he confessed how much he missed Iroh.

That night after a reception in the resort’s grand hall in which everyone, including Aang and Sokka were allowed to eat, and a welcome performance by a nervous singer who kept forgetting the song lyrics Katara felt a strange sense of peace as she lay on the beach watching the stars beside Zuko. His touch seemed warmer, his words seemed kinder and the kisses he gave her before returning to their room felt sweeter and gentler. There was a strange sense of anticipation in the pit of her belly as he kissed her neck and asked if he could make love to her. Katara told herself it was the fact that she had never been to place this before. There was no one with preconceived notions and expectations of the Avatar’s Waterbender. There was no one giving her dirtying looks, screaming and yelling that she was a betrayer and delivering meals that proclaimed her a whore.
She was free to simply be Katara. As she moved on top of Zuko she convinced herself it was because there was magic in the place where waters where the Northern Ocean first began to warm and it was affecting her. She told herself that she was doing it because it pleased Zuko. He had gone out if his way to ensure that both Aang and Sokka’s cells in the beautiful cliff side jail had windows that offered a clear view of the ocean. There was such a pure breeze the joy on Aang’s face reminded of her the first time she’d seen the little Avatar smiling. Her brother was even smiling and being kind to her.
It wasn’t because when he was in the port that she never saw he bought a bracelet for her. He said the subtle change in the shades of blue beads reminded him of her eyes, her mom’s necklace, and the clothes she used the wear. It wasn’t because that bracelet was made by people she knew. They had left the Southern Water Tribe after the men but before she found Aang. It wasn’t because the hidden message it contained resonated so deeply after her recent ordeals. It wasn’t because “We are safe” reminded her of home and her people or the way Ozai’s threats had seemed far less menacing while she was being held by Zuko.
It was none of those things, not even the fact Zuko had told her that his father was a poor swimmer. Fire Lord Ozai on water was a guaranteed promise freedom. It certainly wasn’t because the place between her legs that grew hungry before each menstrual cycle found Zuko’s whale rib far more appetizing than masturbation.
She collapsed on top of him completely worn out and sated. She drifted off to a restful sleep that was uninterrupted by nightmares nor preceded by tears before finding a reason.

Morning arrived and the fantasy was over all too soon for Katara. The next village was farther inland. She felt her spirits waning as they moved away from the ocean. She was hot, sweaty, and grumpy by the time they took their first break four hours into the journey. After Mu deemed the animals sufficiently rested, fed, and watered they continued. A short time later they were stopping. One of the scouts had detected a nearby skirmish.
Katara realized just how many of the red garbed foot soldiers were Dai Li agents that had pledged their loyalty to Azula when Aang’s eyes and ears were covered in stone and a platform elevating the cart carrying him and Sokka. She sat higher on Korhi and turned slightly searching for signs the battle.
Zuko’s grip tightened around her as the sound of fighting and grew closer, “Don’t do or say anything. If you try to escape I won’t be able to protect you.”
“Admiral Chu-hua our troops have them on the run. The enemy is headed straight for us. How would you like us to proceed?”
The admiral smiled and pulled out her sword. She brought it down in a rapid chopping motion, “Let’s have a little fun shall we?”
Katara had often wondered how the Fire Nation military communicated so effortlessly but now seeing the scout wave his arms and the motion repeated along the ranks without a word or flash of fire.
She knew there was nothing she could do for Aang and Sokka but she had to do something as the cries of retreat grew closer. She just couldn’t let the soldiers fighting against the Fire Nation walk into an ambush. She was debating what she could do such an arid area when she heard a faint but familiar sound she’d often heard during hunting expeditions.
Those rushing towards her were Water Tribe soldiers.
The dialects and some words had changed meanings among the tribes over the centuries of separation but the hunting signals remained the same. Two long and one short howl to signal danger and a third long one to say turn around. She looked over her shoulder at Sokka and she saw the same determination on his face. Her cry rent the air before he had a chance to part his lips.

“What in Koh’s name is she doing?” Azula asked angrily when the Waterbender began to howl a second time.
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Borealis: A Zutara Story