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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 213
They returned to the hotel to see the owner and his son each attempting to carry a tub of water upstairs without help. Katara lifted the water then paused and looked at Zuko. He sighed and nodded already knowing what she was asking for. She never asked for anything for herself only for others.
After getting his permission she addressed the man and teenager, “If you carry the tubs, I’ll carry the water for you.”
Zuko walked behind her and the two men as she guided the water to the third floor for them. After delivering the first tub full she had an idea of how much it would take to complete the other. Zuko patiently followed as she downstairs, past the Dai Li agents reconfiguring the dining room, auditorium and laundry room into one large common area and outside to the well. The Dai Li were stunned to see such a large amount of water floating towards them. They halted the construction to let her and the water pass.
Once the remaining rooms on the second and third floor were complete Katara and Zuko went to their room. As soon as they were inside Zuko understood why the hotel owner’s son kept stealing furtive glances at Katara and smirking at him. Their sheets had been changed. This was the first time since they’d been in that city they’d had sex in the bed. He could tell by change in Katara’s posture as she stared at the tell-tale piece of furniture she had noticed the glances as well.
“Katara,” Zuko wasn’t sure what he was going to say when he called her name so he was grateful she just shook her head and replied, “I want to bathe and go back to sleep Zuko. I’m tired.”
Zuko moved the privacy screen so it was between the tubs. He heated the water in both tubs and let Katara have the one next to the bed and he took the one in front of the window. He was tall enough that his private parts would not be show after he undressed. He had stripped down and was about to step in when the water crawled over the soap and snaked over him before launching itself out of the window. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I need to wash our clothes from yesterday and this morning. I don’t want the water to get too dirty,” she replied as she cleaned her own body before sinking into the water.
Katara was almost asleep when she felt warm water being scooped onto her head and strong fingers massaging her scalp. She moaned appreciatively, “That feels nice.”
Zuko hummed in acknowledgement and washed her back once her hair was finished. He stepped back over to his side of the privacy screen and winced as he lowered himself into the water. The heat was working wonders on his muscles but the soapy water was torture on his abraded skin. He was debating the merits of asking Katara to wash it for him but decided against it. He didn’t want her to think it was the only reason he’d done it for her.
He was reaching around to do it himself when the wash towel was taken from him. He turned and looked over his shoulder at her, “You don’t have to, Katara.”
“I know,” she sighed as she looked at his back. Most of the bruises from where he’d shielded her during that first attack without his armor had faded but several still lingered; they had bright red lines streaking from them.
Blood poisoning.
Katara gently touched the areas with the pads of her fingers attempting to locate the tiny pebbles she knew were embedded beneath his skin. It was an Earthbender fighting tactic that allowed them to track and slowly kill their enemies. Toph had used it to teach Aang to feel for the earth during his bending lessons. He had to tell her how many pebbles were in his skin before she’d remove them. After a few weeks he learned to remove them himself. It was brutal but Toph wanted to him to be able to feel the dirt and learn to trust his instincts when it came to detecting the earth around him.
The one time he said he thought it felt something but wasn’t sure she left the pebble beneath his skin and he developed blood poisoning. She let him suffer for a little over a week before ripping them out of him and ordering Katara to heal him. Katara didn’t trust asking the Dai Li to do so as it would reveal one of the Earth Kingdom’s war tactics but she couldn’t let Zuko die yet either. Sokka’s life was tied to his. She was certain she could heal him but she’d have to cut the wounds open and use Bloodbending to draw the stones and affected blood out.
She barely touched his back with the towel and could tell he was trying to hide his pain from her. The next full moon was over a week away; she couldn’t be sure of how he would fare until then. He’d felt warmer but she attributed it to the weather and him being a Firebender. She finished with his back and began washing his hair.
She liked his hair. It was all soft, fluffy and innocent. She used her hands to lift the water and pour it over his head while saying the prayer water sages used to purify a person hoping the gesture would have some beneficial effect on him. When his hair and back were free of soap she rose and went to the dresser. She almost missed his drowsy “thank you” as the rickety drawer slid open.
She nodded while carrying the long beige strips of cloth into the restroom. Mine had been intrigued by the notion of Water Tribe underwear. The ones in her possession had been delivered to the Ursa by one of the Fire Nation mail ships. The fabric was a blend of sumptuously woven cotton, silk and linen handcrafted by the designer. She had sent several pair; each one made with a different percentage of each material. She liked these the most. They had more linen so they were closer in texture to her original wrappings that Zuko destroyed.
She hung up the robe on the way to the bed intending to resume her much needed nap.
Zuko raised the temperature to almost boiling then pushed his legs over the edge of the tub to completely submerge his back. The water had cooled to the temperature Katara liked when he decided to get out. Mine’s husband, Ayame, had also sent him several pieces of the same cloth she had sent Katara but they had been cut in the style of loin cloths. He selected a light blue pair that was mostly silk to gird himself before wrapping a dry towel around his waist and approaching Katara.
“I know you’re sleepy but do you want to go get breakfast before taking a nap?” he asked hopefully.
Katara was about to decline when she heard his stomach growl and felt a slight pang of emptiness in hers. Neither one of them had eaten anything other than rice gruel and broth the day before. She nodded and pushed the covers back. They made sure the bed was perfectly remade after getting dressed. It was disconcerting to know that even in this place there were strangers interested in whether or not they had sex.
They were in the hotel lobby when they saw Azula. Her clothes were slightly disheveled, her skin was slightly pinkened and she was sweating. To Katara’s surprise Zuko ran to his sister and threw his arms around her.
The princess stiffened but didn’t immediately withdraw. She addressed her brother through clenched teeth. “You have three seconds to explain yourself before you go up in flames.”
“Yesterday, I forgot. It’s still her birthday in the Fire Nation. They’re several common hours behind us. Have you eaten breakfast?” Zuko muttered hastily. Fire Nation days were counted from the one sunrise on the easternmost island to the next and their calendar differed from the rest of the world.
“No, I haven’t,” Azula replied relaxing. She had thought Zuko had forgotten about their ritual. Every year on her mother’s birthday all of them would have breakfast together and the two of them would go spar. “Let me get cleaned up and I’ll meet you at the restaurant.”
Zuko let go of her Azula and was stepping back when he felt a small fist impact just above his belly button.
“If you ever hug me again the next fist will have fire,” Azula threatened.
Zuko walked back to Katara smiling. When they were little he used to have Azula hit him in the stomach to show how strong he was. This tap wasn’t like the ones they normally shared it was more like those light blows when they were still happy to be brother and sister.
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Borealis: A Zutara Story