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Borealis: A Zutara Story	By : jaded_priceless Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 33524 -:- 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 220
Zuko rose from the bed and pulled on the pants he’d removed earlier. He had seen the bruises and marks he had left on Katara. He had been rough with her. In some places there were full handprints as evidence of how tightly he’d clung to her. He looked at his hands, scowling at how he’d used them to hurt her again and an unexpected sense of peace slowly washed over him.
There were half-moon fingerprints on the back of his hands to show how tightly she had held him in return. He was certain if he looked in the mirror he’d find his back side held similar marks. She had held him so tightly even when he could tell it was becoming too much for her she held onto him and didn’t let go. He had never told anyone many of the things he’d told her.
He never felt it was safe to do so.
Katara had listened without judgment and shed tears for him never once making him feel as though he was inferior, a burden, or completely worthless. She was a powerless captive, smaller and physically weaker, but she sacrificed herself to make him feel safe. He had never felt so secure and wanted as he had when she was holding him. He knew that in that moment if anyone wanted to hurt him they would have to go through her first and he knew better than most how hard she fought to protect those she loved.
He knew that she would never love him; it was pity that most likely drove her to comfort him but he would accept it. She had such a kind heart and he just wanted to be one of those who held a place inside of it. He loved her so much, but his own actions had dictated she would never love him back. If the only favorable emotion she held for him was pity he would be grateful for it.
Unlike his father, Azula and countless others who viewed him as pitiful waste of Firebending, Katara’s pity was born from a different place. Her gaze only held malice, contempt, and rejection when he’d done something to deserve it. Most of the times her gaze held sadness and compassion; he’d never imagined any of it would be so strongly directed towards him. He wished they were back on the Ursa or at a larger port with a real hotel. He would pamper her and let her know just how much she was appreciated and how sorry he was for hurting her.
Zuko strode to the other side of the privacy screen as an idea of what he could do to show his appreciation took hold. There was some water left in the tub but not enough that he and Katara could both take a bath. He studied the oblong metal container and wondered if the hotel had one large enough for two people and bath salts. He stepped into the hall and called for someone to fetch an employee of the hotel.
The same boy he had seen carrying water approached him, “Prince Zuko, how may I be of assistance.”
Zuko’s eyes narrowed. The boy was leaning sideways to get a look at the bed, or rather what was on it. Katara had rolled over and the covers had shifted to expose her left calf and shoulder. Zuko’s hand shot out and he grabbed the boy’s face physically bringing his gaze back to him before answering, “You can’t. Go get your sister before I kill you for lusting after my woman.”
Yi Chin, Yick, as Jin and Ami called him, stumbled backwards after the prince pushed him into the hallway. Zhao 2 turned his ankle sideways so the boy would trip over it and bump into 1.
Yick tensed as the larger boy’s arms wrapped around him and he whispered in his ear, “I would tell you to watch where you’re going, but you’ve been doing enough watching haven’t you?”
Zhao 1 pushed Yick forward and Zhao 2 grabbed him, “In case what the Prince said wasn’t warning enough, we Fire Nation types do not like it when our women are looked at without their permission. Do you understand me?”
The boy nodded and quickly disappeared down the stairway.
The twins shook their head as they watched him retreat. Zhao 2 asked, “How long do you think before he’s back it?”
“Who knows, hopefully he’s not dumb enough to do it before we’re gone. I really don’t like it when Ty Lee’s upset,” the older twin replied with a frown.
Ty Lee had repeatedly said she felt like she was being watched in their hotel room. They didn’t dismiss the claim entirely but they also knew Azula was the type to play tricks.   It wasn’t until the day he slept in Zuko’s room that Zhao 1 was able to put two and two together. This hotel had a secret passageway built into it. The footsteps he heard behind the wall were too light to be the owner’s and too heavy to belong to his sister or the other employees.
His fingers unconsciously balled into a fist and he growled, “I know that guy’s the reason she’s scared to be in her own room. I want to hurt him really badly for making her feel like that.”
“You should have married that girl,” 2 said patting his twin’s back.
“I know,” 1 replied sadly. He really should have married Ty Lee. When she found out he didn’t like women Ty Lee had offered to marry him. She was eight and didn’t like boys either so she reasoned they’d be perfectly happy. He was twelve at the time and didn’t think anything of it.   When he met her betrothed he wished he’d taken offer seriously.
He sighed deeply remembering the night of her betrothal ceremony. He had been there with Mu and Quanli as Ty Lee cried after her virginity was taken by a man old enough to be her great-grandfather. They’d been left alone when Mu and his twin went to chase down her enraged older sister. He’d hugged her and said, “It should have been me. I wanted you to be happy with a boy who liked you the way boys are supposed to like girls. I didn’t know your parents would give you to an old man.”
In between sniffles she’d explained, “I have four older sisters, even back then I knew I didn’t have very good marriage prospects. I didn’t care if you didn’t like me or love me, we were friends,” she said quietly. “You wouldn’t have impeded my happiness and I wouldn’t have impeded yours. We could have moved to the colonies where no one knew us and lived however we wanted.”
“He’s not a terrible man. He’s kind and was gentle with me. I was afraid it would hurt, but he made sure it didn’t. He gave me this,” she said extending her wrist and showing him a diamond bracelet before breaking down sobbing again, “Am I being selfish because I just don’t want somebody that old touching me?”
He stayed with her all night. They talked and held her as she cried. She was the only person who knew everything of what the great commander Zhao had made his clod of a son do. His hell had ended when Zhao drowned but hers was only beginning.
“I know I should have married her,” Zhao 1 repeated, “Not doing so is something I’ll regret for the rest of my life.
“Come on let’s go, if we’re late for guard duty the old lady will kill us,” Zhao 2 said wrapped his arm around his brother’s shoulder and dragging him to Chu-hua’s room.
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Borealis: A Zutara Story