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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 24

The food was sumptuous but neither Zuko nor Katara ate much. They were far too aware of each other, the scheming nobles around them, and the caged prisoners on the platform directly behind them, the smiling Fire Lord to the right of them and his highly favored daughter across from them. It was as if they were living different versions of the same nightmare.
Katara was beginning to think that maybe Zuko had not lied about being her only friend in a position to help her and that she would need him to survive. She played the part of pliant companion for that reason. In her earlier anger, Katara didn’t realize that Fire Lord Ozai, the man who wanted to destroy the world, was so attractive and charming. She could tell he was well built beneath the finely tailored robes. His smile lit up the room revealing of all things dimples. It terrified her to think he was smiling about ending the lives of hundreds of people in this morning’s successful retaliatory battles in the Earth Kingdom.
It frightened her that he had proudly praised his children’s combined efforts in capturing the Avatar and stripping away the hope of the resistance. He congratulated them for being the ones who made this celebration possible. She returned his smile when he made a toast in her honor congratulating her on the position of head royal concubine and thanking her for putting the first genuine smile he’d seen since the loss of Lady Ursa on the face of his grumpy son.
It was horrible.

For three long years all Zuko wanted was to the capture the Avatar so he could regain his honor and come home. He never imagined that he’d feel like an ant under a magnifying glass in the proud and eerily loving gaze of his father. Or that the single biggest threat to his country was the heart-stricken twelve year old reincarnation of his maternal great-grandfather sitting behind his father blinking tears away from his too large eyes.
He felt like the hunter who felled the fox antelope doe leaving her innocent baby an orphan in the “The Tale of the Fox Antelope and the Rabbit” - the only play the Ember Island Players managed not to butcher.
He was back at home, had gained the favor of his father, was no longer a virgin, had a beautiful intelligent woman by his side, and shockingly he was getting along with his sister. All it had cost him was his uncle, the only family he had left who loved him unconditionally, his morals, self respect, and shattering the one promise his mother had ever asked of him. How could gaining everything he’d ever wanted have gone so horribly wrong?

The meal portion of the banquet had ended, the royal orchestra was now playing and the guests were mingling. The ordeal was halfway over. Zuko made his rounds as necessitated by propriety then safely tucked himself and Katara into a far corner to chat. He never would have guessed they shared so many unflattering opinions about the elite of Fire Nation society or that the low laughs and whispers she made against his ear would skip his brain and go straight to his groin.
They’d been there long enough he could politely make his excuses and leave when Azula came over to speak to them. She too offered her opinion and shared her wicked but well deserved punishment of Lord Asami. She’d found a way to label what he’d done to Ching Mei as treason since he’d put her favorite hairdresser out of commission. The princess was duly impressed when the Waterbender suggested covering the wounds with fire flakes and wasabi juice.
Azula left after relaying a final message to Zuko, “Father thinks you should talk to Mai. He doesn’t know about the breakup.”
Zuko cursed as Azula smiled sweetly and returned to the Fire Lord’s side. He could tell by the amused look on his father’s face that Ozai knew about the breakup and this was all a part of the evening’s entertainment. Zuko led Katara to the opposite end of the room where his ex-girlfriend but current fiancée was speaking to a group of fellow noblewomen.
He had no clue what he was going to say to her but he started with, “Good evening, Mai. May I have a moment of your time?”
They moved a few paces away, but nowhere inside was truly private.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” Zuko asked weakly.
Mai just looked at him. Her face remained blank and anyone not truly acquainted with her would have missed the added inflection in her voice when she answered his question, “As always the decorations are immaculate, the food was heavenly, and the music is very pleasant, but no, Zuko, I am not enjoying myself. You broke up with me in a letter yesterday and hours later you fucked another woman. Not only that you’ve made the Avatar’s Waterbender your concubine so everyone knows the two of you are fucking. You’re not even trying to hide your relationship to spare me some humiliation.”
“I’m sorry Mai. I can explain, I never meant to hurt you,” Zuko said reaching for hold her free hand with the arm that wasn’t linked to Katara.
“If you’re truly sorry and really want to explain meet me on the terrace. Alone,” Mai demanded glaring slightly to his left.
“But-” Zuko began only to have Mai cut him off.
“How can you give me a sincere apology if you’re unable to let go of her? How would you feel if I asked for forgiveness while waving my whore right under your nose?” she said blinking back tears.
Zuko heard a small sniffle and turned to look at Katara, unlike Mai, her eyes were clenched shut. It still wasn’t enough to prevent the huge teardrops from rolling down her cheeks.
“Agni in an air balloon,” Zuko swore turning to Mai, “I’m-”
“Don’t say it Zuko. It means nothing while you are you proudly flaunting the person with whom you are sharing your body. I’m your fiancée, Zuko. I never thought you were the type of man to push my pain aside because your whore is crying,” She said crisply before turning her back to the prince and walking away without a single look backwards.
Author’s Note: Thank you for reading.
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Borealis: A Zutara Story