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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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- 174
Chapter 170
Jin’s mother had heard the commotion and had finally managed to break through the throng of Fire Nation soldiers to where her daughter was struggling to escape the men holding her. Her sister-in-law had told her that the Fire Nation Prince had given them ten gold coins as a deposit to pay for the meals of their soldiers as long as they were in the city - the Fire Nation prince with a large scar over one side of his face.
Kin had never made it to the tea shop but for months she had listened to her daughter’s lovesick pining over a golden-eyed boy with a large burn scar. All Jin had talked about was Lee and how his scar made him look dangerous but he really was shy and sweet. She had spent hours wondering if he made it out of the city, if he thought about her, if he was safe, and if they would meet again one day. Kin attempted to push between the two large soldiers holding her daughter but she was grabbed by her shoulders and forced to the floor alongside her.
“Please Prince Zuko. She didn’t mean it. Have mercy please,” Jin’s mother cried.
“I did mean it. I hate her.” Jin spat angrily earning a slap from her mother.
“Shut up stupid child. Do you want to be killed? Prince Zuko, my daughter is a young foolish girl. For months all she talked about was you. She’s infatuated. She’s just upset to see you with another. She’s dreamed that the two of you would find each other for several months. Please be merciful. I don’t know what happened to her father. She’s all I have left. Please have mercy,” her mother begged tearfully.
“Get up,” Zuko barked angrily while gesturing for the soldiers to let go of them. Seeing the woman on her knees begging for her child reminded him of all times his mother had pled for his father to be kinder to him. “Get up!”
The woman stood trembling before him looking down at her daughter who was still being forced to kneel. Zuko snarled at her, “Your daughter is very foolish. In the Fire Nation it is a crime to accost a royal concubine. Do you know what I could have done to her for yelling at Katara like that? For making Katara cry? For attempting to injure her?”
“Don’t please Prince Zuko. Have mercy!” Jin’s mother sobbed.
“Silence!” Zuko yelled. He ran his hands over Katara checking her to make sure none of the glass shards had touched her before lowering his head to her shoulders and apologizing. He took a deep breath before raising his head and speaking. “Jin, you are one of the few people who treated me kindly as a man without a title. For that simple act alone I am not having you executed for attacking my Katara.”

“My uncle and I have separated but he is still a very wise man and I am grateful for the things he taught me. One of those things is that the measure of a man can be taken by how he treats the women he has been with. I do not share many of his beliefs including the theory that women are interchangeable and to be disposed of after they’ve served their purpose. However, I do agree it is a sorry man who treats a woman he has spent time with no better than a common street whore by not even giving her a shiny trinket,” Zuko leveled a cool glare at Jin, “The way I treated you.”
Kin’s eyes widened and she gasped. The quiet questions she asked her daughter only made Zuko’s story seem more credible, “You didn’t? Please tell me you didn’t. Please Jin, tell me you didn’t give yourself to him.”
Jin shook her head in honest denial but Zuko’s next words made that seem more unbelievable; as if she like any girl in that situation were only trying to save face and claim virtue in front of her mother.
“Jin it was shameful of me to have treated you so thoughtlessly. As an overdue reward for your generosity I am placing you, this restaurant, and your family under my protection. None of you will come to any harm from the Fire Nation so long as you do not participate in treasonous or subversive activities. Someone fetch a scribe and the town official to document this.”

Within moments scribes from the newly absorbed unit, the Ursa and the local government were dragged into the restaurant. They each made note of Zuko’s statement before presenting him with a calligraphy set and a container of wax. He kept one arm around Katara, who was angrily trembling next to him, as he signed the documents. He then scooped up a small amount wax and warmed his fingers while rolling it into a small ball. He sat the wax beside his name and then made an impression with his ring.
He passed the paper onto Katara, hoping that if she signed the order of protection as well that some of the resistance who still had faith in her would keep the others from attacking the establishment, “Sign it and validate it with your ring.”
Katara stared at him unable to believe what she was hearing. Zuko mistook her expression as confusion and repeated, “Sign it.”
Katara glowered at the documents then at him, “Are you crazy?”
“Why would you ask me that?” Zuko said passing her the brush.
“There is no way in La’s wet ocean, Yui’s starry sky or Koh’s abyss I’m signing that thing. You have absolutely lost your mind if you think for one moment I’m writing my name on that piece of paper.” Katara shrieked throwing the brush back at him.
“Katara I’m sorry, calm down,” Zuko said raising his hands in surrender as the ink lifted from the well. The tea Jin had spilled and that in their cups began rose also.
“No, you calm down,” Katara replied, poking him in the chest hard enough to make him flinch. There was no way she was giving credibility to his claim she was a Fire Nation conspirator or willing royal concubine by signing an official Fire Nation document.
Zuko misinterpreted her actions. That wasn’t the reaction Zuko had been expecting. For some reason Katara reminded him of the way Mai spoke about her. It wasn’t possible she was jealous, was it? “Katara you know I don’t want Jin or any other woman!”
Katara continued screaming and pushing him, “It’s bad enough you used her to…umphh”
Zuko cut her off by crashing his lips into hers. She bit his tongue when he tried to force it into her mouth. She put both her forearms across his chest took a step forward and pushed when he pulled his head back. “Get off me. What’s wrong with you?”
Zuko placed his hand to his mouth, luckily she hadn’t drawn blood. “I’m sorry I should have never asked you to sign that. It was cruel. I just wanted to show Jin she was nothing when compared to you. You’re the one I share everything with. I’ve given you a title, my ring, a crown, access my vault and two vaults of your own. It wasn’t meant to upset you, Katara. Please forgive me, I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry.”
Katara shook her head slowly realizing what Zuko was doing and how she was playing right along into his hands, “You don’t get to do this to me, Zuko. I won’t let you. You aren’t sorry and you aren’t worth forgiving. I wish to all the spirits even Agni that I had never met you. You’re selfish Zuko. You don’t think of how your words and actions affect others. You just go around hurting people without caring how you ruin their lives.”
Zuko had been reaching for her but stopped when she raised her head. Her blue eyes stared into his golden ones and she smiled. The smile was sad but honest and oddly beautiful. Katara spoke slowly; her voice was low but her words were clear, calm and heartfelt, “I hate you. I hate you so much.”
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Borealis: A Zutara Story