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Borealis: A Zutara Story	By : jaded_priceless Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 33965 -:- 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 165
Sunlight filtering through her eyelids woke Katara. She, the bedroll’s sole occupant, but she was not alone in the room. Chu-hua was watching her. Against her better judgment Katara spoke, “Did you come to finish me off?”
The admiral walked over to Katara and sat at her bedside. She stroked Katara’s bruised face gently then lay beside her. Her sword lay between them as she whispered in the Waterbender’s ear. Katara lay trembling on the pallet afraid to move long after the Admiral left.

The ride to the next city was deceptively peaceful. Aang was still blindfolded and heavily chained but the partition separating them was not put up. The muzzle they had placed over his mouth allowed room to speak even if his voice was muffled and distorted.
He was blissfully unaware the journey’s events and cheerful.
Katara lay on her right side with her head pillowed on Sokka’s lap. Zuko had bound his hands in front of him but even with his assistance the slow roll of the cart was jarring. Katara wished that they had never come up with the plan to keep Aang in the dark about what was happening to her. Each day it was becoming more difficult to pretend everything was fine when she was rapidly coming apart.

They arrived in the small town shortly before nightfall. Katara was afraid to let Sokka go after her earlier conversation with Chu-hua. Zuko literally had to pry her fingers away from her brother’s arm after promising that Sokka would meet no harm. Katara had no reason to believe him but felt better after the magistrate who had come to collect him and Aang promised to look after them as well. Unlike the other towns they’d been in this town was 100% Earth Kingdom. Their caravan was the only sign of Fire Nation.
It was small, remote and reminded Katara of the abandoned town where Azula had shot Iroh with lightning. The inn was family run and barely large enough to hold the royal retinue and the Ursa’s officers. Katara tried to keep her eyes on the floor as she shuffled down the hall behind Zuko as the owner’s daughter lead them to their room. She could tell the girl was stealing glances around Zuko to stare at her. She hadn’t had access to a mirror but she could tell it was bad by the way Sokka and Mai had looked at her.
The last time Sokka had looked at her with such a tormented expression she’d been ten. They’d been wrestling and he’d accidently dislocated her shoulder. Gran-Gran had popped it back into place but it had been bruised for days. Mai was doing something Katara didn’t think was possible. The stoic noblewoman smiled every time she looked at her.

Katara stood by the window waiting for the tubs of water Zuko had requested to wash the travel dust off. She noticed the Dai Li were constructing barracks to hold themselves and the remaining crew of the Ursa. Katara had been with Toph long enough to recognize the difference in earthen constructions. This dormitory wasn’t like the one they had built the previous nights. Its outer and inner walls were thick as if they were expecting them to one day be bombarded. More importantly they had cleared enough land for several buildings.

She flinched when Zuko stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He guided her against his chest while stating, “You’re in pain. Lean against me for now.”

She was about to retort that if he was so concerned about her being in pain he would not have hit her when she noticed the admiral was staring up at their window. The woman’s hand grazed the hilt of her sword but Katara knew the action was anything but casual. She shuddered, involuntarily shrinking back into Zuko.
He kissed the back of her head whispering, “I’m sorry for hurting you but if I hadn’t they would have killed you.”
Katara closed her eyes and fingered the perfect, recently healed skin on her neck as this morning’s conversation with the Admiral came back to her: “Have you ever heard the term ‘storming Soizin’s castle’? It’s a Fire Nation phrase for a technique invented by Avatar Yangchen. It means giving the appearance of taking care of a problem while letting it fester and rot.
Her duties as Avatar often conflicted with her personal beliefs as an Air Nomad. In those situations she would use an impressive display of power to warn transgressors without really hurting them in hopes they would realize how merciful she’d been and change their ways. It was similar to what Grandfather Roku did when he obliterated Soizin’s throne room without leaving a single scratch on him. Unlike Avatar Yangchen my esteemed Grandfather did not follow his threat with the appropriate action.
Little Zuko doesn’t realize that I am the one who taught his mother where to hit an opponent to make it look like you were giving them a sound trouncing while causing relatively little damage. The little idiot doesn’t even remember there was a second person watching from the shadows to ensure Ozai or Azulon never learned what Ursa was teaching him.
Even if you’ve never heard of storming Soizin’s castle, I’m sure you’ve heard of the term treason. You know the willful and deliberate betrayal of your sovereign and homeland for personal gain or benefit. How do you think Fire Lord Ozai would feel if he learned Zuko allowed you to warn the enemies of our nation? Do you think he would look kindly upon the son who allowed his whore to cost us a victory against the murderers of our people? He banished him for speaking out of turn. What do you think would happen to such a foolish child and his little whore?
And Katara before you answer that question I was at the North Pole. I know those signals are taught to everyone, not just Waterbenders.
Do you know how many things I can do to Sokka that do not violate the agreement you made with Fire Lord Ozai? Such as accidently giving him water from the Komodo rhino’s trough? Salmonella is a common bacteria and prison food isn’t the most hygienic. Not that Fire Lord Ozai would care what happens to your brother once he learns what you did but I prefer not to insult his honor by assuming he would go back on his word.
Katara turned around slowly and pressed her face against Zuko’s chest as Chu-hua smiled in their direction: “I hate uppity children, especially teenagers. They think in their limited life experience they know more than you do. Stupid little fools. I should kill you; all three of you. No, I should kill those two and let you live to reap what your actions have sown. Would you like that little Waterbender?
If I were to kill your brother and Zuko? Would you think of their deaths as I allowed anyone with a little bit of coin to have you? I think it would be fitting considering my foolish cousin is risking his own life by protecting you. In spite of the promise I made Ursa I am sorely tempted to start with Zuko as he is shitting on everything his mother taught him just to keep others from lying with you. He’s lucky that he is the closest thing I have to her otherwise he, you and your brother would already be dead. Be grateful that he got to you first little Waterbender and that his mother taught him cruelty is sometimes the finer part of mercy.
Katara remained huddled against Zuko after their hostess and a hotel employee brought the tub of water, empty tub and privacy screens he had requested earlier. She could still feel the blade slicing into her neck and the heat from Admiral Chu-Hua’s body as the woman slid closer and whispered in her ear after flicking her nose with a severed finger: Be grateful that you make him happy and the only way I get to see little Ursa’s smile is on her idiot son’s face. It is not only your brother’s life that hinges on his happiness; his does as well. Zuko looks like his father when he scowls and quite frankly at some point in their career every member of the military has dreamed of beheading our beloved Fire Lord. Me, especially because he is the reason I no longer have my little Ursa.
I suppose I should leave before my sword slips any further and I give into the urge to behead you.”
Katara had not seen Aang. Chu-hua had threatened several times to mutilate him. An Avatar whose limbs had been reduced to stumps would be far easier to handle than one who was intact. She had made a bargain with the Fire Lord to protect Sokka not realizing that Aang whose life was valuable to the Fire Nation would also need protecting. She had not realized that her actions impacted Zuko also or that she would even care there was a possibility that he died at the hands of another person.
His stunt of letting her think she had been sold had its intended impact on her. She did not want to remain in Fire Nation custody unless he was with her. The night she thought multiple men had raped her was far worse than the night her virginity was stolen. Knowing that some drug had been placed on her nethers to make her want them inside her; that even as she cried and prayed for it to be over she still she wanted no needed some stranger’s penis to satisfy that hunger was far worse than most of the things he had done to her.
Zuko slid his hands under Katara’s chin and gently tilted her face upwards, “Katara are you okay?”
He realized the ridiculous nature of the question when her black ringed eyes gazed up at him. “I mean are you….can I do something?”
Katara’s fingers brushed against his chest as she tightened her grip on the shirt he was wearing. She was thinking of how to respond when she felt him lifting her. He sat her down beside the tub of water and quietly gave her permission to partially heal herself so long as she left the bruises and continued to move slowly as if she was still injured.
Katara shook her head. Chu-hua was insane. She had told her that she would be watching to make sure she was still in pain. The Admiral still had the person from whom she’d taken that finger. She had said that so long as she had the urge to kill her that person would suffer. Katara knew she needed to remain truly injured and in pain for as long as possible to ease the woman’s anger and so whoever had the misfortune to draw her wrath wouldn’t suffer needlessly for her actions.
Katara’s voice cracked as she replied, “I want to bathe.”

Arraye: Thank you for letting me know I reposted a previous chapter.
- 167
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- 169
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Borealis: A Zutara Story