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Borealis: A Zutara Story	By : jaded_priceless Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 34026 -:- 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 22
Warnings: Minor1 – this chapter contains reference to Minor1 rape that is not described in this chapter
Zuko took Katara to another part of the city where he purchased clothes suitable for traveling and bending. The Ursa was setting sail tomorrow at sunset and he would do everything his power to ensure she was not left behind at the palace. They still had an hour to spare so Zuko took her on a walk through the city. Many people gaped openly and several ran away from them to Katara’s amusement.
“I don’t understand. My people normally aren’t like this,” Zuko said when a woman grabbed her children begging that they be spared. The people of the capital were normally warm and friendly. They often called out to members of the royal family with cheers and chants wishing them long life, good health and continued wisdom. Today they seemed skittish and afraid to draw attention to themselves.
“Of course they aren’t,” Katara said smugly. “They’re still adjusting to the new reality of their lives. This the first time the war has been brought to their homes. It shattered their sense of safety and security. Your people are finally getting a taste of what’s been done to my people and the rest of the world.”
Zuko stopped walking and looked around. The people were fearful. Those were the same expressions he’d seen when traveling with his uncle. They’d evacuated the city, but it still didn’t change the fact that some people hid to stay and watch the battle or the mass destruction. They witnessed something that wasn’t the simple Fire Nation victory they’d come to believe in. Their soldiers and protectors were beaten. An old man created a tidal wave that almost buried their city and a little blind girl easily went through any obstacle that got between her and the palace. In less than an hour everything they’d been told about the superiority of their people was contradicted.
“This is your fault. This is all your group’s doing. My people are afraid in their own homes and children are orphaned because you invaded,” Zuko shouted pointing at Katara.
She smiled and curtsied politely, “Welcome to Soizin’s War. It’s nice that the Fire Nation decided to join the rest of the world. Please accept my humble apologies that we were not able to show you the level of friendship your country has extended to us. If you let me out of these chains I’m sure I can kill a few mothers in front of their children, leave entire families homeless, and destroy sources of livelihood. I can take young women and girls into sexual slavery, but sadly I am unable to commit the act of rape. If you free my brother he should be able to help with that unless you would prefer to do it yourself. You’ve become rather proficient at ignoring the word stop.”
Zuko looked as though he’d been slapped, “Don’t say that.”
“Don’t say what? That its time your citizens fully understood what’s happening in the rest of the world or that you’re proficient in the art of sexual slavery and rape?” Katara asked loudly.
“Your dress should be ready. Let’s get it and go back to palace,” Zuko said ignoring the tightening in his chest caused by her comment. Perhaps his mother had a change of heart and was trying to show him another way to protect Katara.
That notion was quickly dispelled when they passed through the gates. Lord Asami, one of the men who’d been leering at Katara had chosen another girl to play with. The doctors were unsure if Ching Mei would make it through the night.
Katara offered to help and Zuko took her to the infirmary but Ching Pei refused her assistance instead blaming the two of them for the incident. “This is all your fault. If you’d just given him the savage my baby wouldn’t have had to go through this. Lord Asami just wanted someone to hurt and he saw my baby alone and unprotected.”
One of the apprentices restrained the spa attendant when she attempted to rush them. Another force fed her a sedative. Both men lifted the distraught mother and carried her to a bed next to her daughter’s.
“Come on Katara, let’s go. There’s no point in sticking around if we’re not wanted,” Zuko said leading her away after learning the extent of the child’s injuries and just what Lord Asami had done to her. They were almost to his room when they were stopped by a servant.
“But I can help,” she argued tearfully. “I can mend the physical damage.”
Zuko clamped his hand over her mouth and drug her off before she once again drew the attention of the wrong people. It was too late to help Ching Mei, but he was more determined than ever to protect her.
“Why did you drag me away like that? You could have ordered them to let me help her,” she wailed rushing at Zuko.
He grabbed her cuffs and threw her to the bed then chained her to the headboard, “Because they don’t know how you heal; the moment a bastard like my father or Lord Asami finds out you’ll never make it out of this place. They’ll make a game of hurting you, watching you heal yourself, and hurting you all over.”
“But she’s a child Zuko. How can you be so callous? You heard what he did to her,” Katara cried.
Zuko grabbed her face and forced her to look in his eyes, “You haven’t even been here a full day, Katara. I’ve lived here all my life and have known that bastard for years. Believe me when I say if he gets the chance he’ll do so much worse to you that you’ll easily agree he showed that child a great amount of mercy.”
Katara’s eyes widened.
“Keep your head down and do not leave my side under any circumstance. You do not speak unless I give you permission to. If anyone asks you a question or says anything without going through me first say ‘I am the royal concubine and property of Prince Zuko. It would be best to ask him about such matters.’ Repeat it,” Zuko hissed.
Katara did as she was told and when Zuko was certain she’d had the phrase completely memorized he lay down beside her and pulled the pillow over his face. The servant that stopped told him his father had planned a banquet to celebrate the capture of the Avatar. He and the Waterbender were expected to be in attendance. They’d be walking straight into the saber-toothed moose lion’s mouth and he had no idea if what he’d just drilled into her head would be enough to protect her.
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Borealis: A Zutara Story