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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
- 171
- 172
- 173
Chapter 169
Zuko glanced around the room and saw that many soldiers were taking wagers. He read the lips of one soldier and recognized the words “first woman”. He glanced at another and saw “Waterbender the whole time”. He then realized this unexpected meeting had presented him with an unplanned opportunity. He looked at Jin then back at Katara contemplating the merits of taking it.
“Lee, say something! Answer me! Who’s that girl? Why did you run away after our night together? Why didn’t you contact me? Why aren’t you saying anything? Answer me!” Jin demanded angrily after seeing him place both arms around the girl and whisper something else in her ear. “Is she the reason I didn’t hear from you again? Is she why you disappeared?”
Zuko caressed Katara’s cheek as he leaned forward to lay his forehead against hers. He kissed her gently apologizing in advance for what he was going to say, “I’m sorry.”
Katara’s eyes widened at the two words. She shook her head already knowing his intention after hearing the other girl’s poorly worded questions. She brought her hand to his scar while looking into his eyes.
“Zuko, please. Don’t,” the words had no sooner crossed her lips when the prince took her hand in his and turned slightly to avoid her gaze. Katara’s stomach dropped as the prince began speaking.
“Yes. She’s the reason,” Zuko answered confidently as he slid closer to Katara making sure his eyes never left the other girl. Several people cheered and held out their hands expectantly to collect their wagers.
Katara closed her eyes blinking back angry tears. Zuko had just put the final nail in the coffin that held her reputation. Zuko set both their hands on the table. She tried to snatch it away but he’d laced their fingers together; the pad of his fingers steadily applying pressure against her knuckles to keep her hand from escaping.
“What?” Jin shrieked pointing at Katara, “What you mean she’s the reason? Who is she? Is she your girlfriend or something? Your uncle said you didn’t have one. Mushi doesn’t seem like a liar. Where is he?”
“My uncle and I have parted company,” Zuko said coldly. “Besides how you can you say he doesn’t seem like a liar when he’s already deceived you?”
“He’s the one who agreed to go out with you. I never said I was available or that I was interested in you. My uncle believes the best cure for relationship problems is to find a female distraction. I just went along with it so I wouldn’t have to listen to his constant griping. I wasn’t expecting you to be so friendly,” Zuko finished lacing the term with innuendo.
“You used me?” Jin questioned scowling.
“I didn’t use you. Using you would imply I had an ulterior motive. I simply took what was offered and moved on. I shouldn’t have. It was wrong of me,” Zuko paused to kiss Katara on the temple. “I could spend my entire life making amends and still feel like I haven’t done enough to deserve being forgiven.”
Katara elbowed him in the side. She was able to slide away from him but his hand still held hers so she couldn’t put very much distance between them. She knew that it was Zuko’s idea to make it look like she had betrayed Aang from the very beginning but this was too much. She could tell Sokka still harbored doubts about her relationship with Zuko and thought it was possible she had been secretly seeing him. Not everyone in the restaurant was Fire Nation; if her own brother suspected the worse she knew those strangers had also judged her as guilty.
Their eyes were on her; their gazes full of hatred and accusation. She looked at them one by one shaking her head to dispute what Zuko was saying about her. He lifted her left hand and kissed it. The action caused Jin to notice they wore matching rings on their third fingers.
She tilted her head in confusion, “You’re committed to her? But you spent a night with me? How could you do that if you were committed to another woman? How could you lead me on like that? You never said anything!”
More money changed hands and someone jumped up pointing and screaming, “I told you the Waterbender wasn’t his first woman! Every last one of you owes me!”
Zuko also latched onto her awkward phrasing and decided to use it to his advantage. “I didn’t say anything for obvious reasons. At the time Katara and I weren’t getting along. Things between us were always uncertain but when I met you we hadn’t seen each other in months. We’d never been separated for such a long time and the last time we saw each other I returned her kindness with anger. I wasn’t even sure if I would see her again and get a chance to ask for forgiveness. I never meant to lead you on. I don’t see how I could have considering I never said or did anything to encourage you. You and my uncle did all of the talking. You made assumptions. You’re a pretty girl Jin; you can’t blame me for going along with them.”
Katara raised her head when the other girl gasped. She could see other girl was no longer angry. She appeared to be on the verge of crying. She placed a hand on Zuko’s forearm, “That’s enough Zuko. You’re hurting her.”
That statement and the apology he directed at Katara drew Jin’s attention to the other girl. Her eyes were ringed with black but her irises remained the same brilliant blue. Jin took a step forward, “I know you. You were in Ba Sing Se. I remember you. I went to see Lee and you were running from the tea shop. You were upset about something. You bumped into me and a few other people but you just kept running.”
“Yes!” two more soldiers jumped up screaming. “Pay day!” A cry of “No more latrine duty!” identified the latter as one of the newcomers.
Katara looked at the girl. She didn’t seem familiar but she apologized, “I’m sorry. You are right, I was upset that day, but not for the reason you’re thinking.”
Someone called out “Traitor” and was quickly escorted from the building.
“Traitor?” Jin turned back towards the girl sitting beside Lee.
“He called you Katara. Katara?” Jin paused trying to remember why that name was familiar. “Katara! You’re the Avatar’s Waterbender! But you’re supposed to be sleeping with the Prince of the Fire Nation?”
“That’s our crown prince. Not one for the brains is he?” Zhao 2 said holding his hands in front of chest and miming a pair of breasts. “Um no offense, Miss Katara. You clearly are the exception.”
“How could you? We believed in you!” Jin yelled pointing at Katara. “We thought you would save us all but instead you betrayed us! How could you do that to the Avatar? How could you do that to the people who believed in you? Ba Sing Se was our refuge. My mom and I lost everything when the Fire Nation burned down our home village. My father had to leave and join the army to support us. We were finally getting back on our feet but we had to sell what little we had to be smuggled out of the city. It’s your fault we lost everything for a second time.”
“Jin!” Zuko screamed seeing the effect her words were having on Katara. He knew the Waterbender blamed herself for accidently telling Azula about the invasion.
Jin ignored him to continue shouting at Katara, “Do you know much time I spent hiding in the cabinets afraid a soldier would break into our place and rape me? They did it to all the other girls in our building! My best friend’s sister died trying to abort a Fire Nation soldier’s baby. She was ten! She died screaming for her mommy! It’s your fault! It’s all your fault. What happened to her and everyone else after the Fire Nation took over is all your fault. You did this! You ruined everything for everybody but you sit here with your prince and your finery as a reward for taking away our sanctuary! Are you happy you got what you wanted?”
“You’re wrong about me. I never wanted this! I know it was my mistake that caused Ba Sing Se to fall. You think I don’t wake up every morning regretting my error in judgment?” Katara yelled as Zuko placed his hand over her mouth and pulled her to his chest attempting to quiet her before she could cast more doubt on what he’d just said about her.
“How can you deny it when he’s holding you like that? The Avatar is locked up but you’re here eating the most expensive thing on the menu while wearing expensive clothing and matching jewelry. You took everything from me. You took everything from all of us! You had everything why did you have to have Lee!” Jin screamed picking up one of the intact tea cups and throwing it at her.
The Zhao twins and several others rose. The fragile cup shattered against Zhao 2’s armor when he deflected the cup with his forearm as several other similarly clad soldiers moved into the path of the shards to secure her.
“Katara is not a whore. You will regret it if you call her that or attempt to harm her again!” Zuko screamed while looking over his shoulder at Jin. He had risen when the cup was thrown and was once again using his body to shield Katara.
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Borealis: A Zutara Story