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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 281
The two girls held each other until their tears stopped flowing and Qiaolian sighed, “Who would have thought the self-righteous little Waterbender had such flexible morals?”
The corners of Katara’s lips turned up slightly, “And who would have thought the morally challenged Earthbender had such strong convictions?”
“You should make him found a house for you,” Qiaolian stated quietly, “For those like us who aren’t welcomed at the Ursa House because we’ve realized the futility of fighting.”
Katara lifted her head.
“There are more of us than you know. Most of them are mothers who learned that spreading their legs and rocking their hips will get better food for their children. There are others who saw Ling-Ling die. She was one of the girls who left Ba Sing Se with us; she didn’t have money and promised them the use of her body on the journey. She changed her mind and thought nothing would happen so long as she guaranteed her aunt and uncle would pay once we arrived in Gaoling. Each man had her for attempting to deceive them. She fought and they…,” Qiaolian took a deep breath, “I can honestly say I have never seen anything so terrible.
“She died the next morning and they just left her. They didn’t touch those of us who paid them but used her name to scare those who promised them favors. Those women didn’t stop preserving their lives by closing their eyes and spreading their legs just because the men above them maintained their ties to the Fire Nation.”
“But I’ve seen them. Every woman but you and Ilya have some type of bruises,” Katara argued.
“Self-induced,” Qiaolian snorted. “It is one thing to sell your body to smugglers to make your life in another city but another to let a raping Fire Nation bastard take what he wants without protest. Look at Syun-Me, Ngoc, and Quy more closely. Their bruises are never as dark as the other women’s and the handprints around their wrists are much smaller. They don’t have children to use as an excuse for cooperating. They’d rather hurt themselves than be shunned for sparing their pussies some pain.”
Katara lowered her head, “It shouldn’t be that way.”
“No it shouldn’t. They came to me asking if I wanted to know the best way to ensure I left a bruise but my mother taught me to stand by my decisions. She’s had several suitors over the years, men of wealth and position willing to give both of us a name but she refused them all saying ‘it was her decision to give herself to my father without the benefit of marriage, her decision to birth me without a husband and her decision to raise me without a name. If she has made up her mind to love me and raise me who were they to make her feel shame?’ She let those same principles guide her when our home was turned into a brothel. She walked the streets and shopped in the market with her head held high and made sure I did the same. She was not the first woman to be forced into prostitution to support her family so what did it matter to others so long I was remained healthy and well fed beside her?
“If I were to hid behind false injuries it would be spitting in the face of her teachings so I walk purposefully with my head held high so they can see my unmarred face each time Jianjun bids me goodbye. I allow him to kiss my cheek and pin his symbol upon my breast and shed silent tears for my mother. I do not care what the others think; I cry because she is not here with me. Since she cannot be here, I cloak myself in the pride she has instilled in me and allow him to use me without shame.”
“You’re lucky,” Katara whispered. “You know your mother’s mind and her feelings. You know she would approve of your actions. My mother was killed when I was eight. I do not know what she would think of me. I remember seeing how she glare would at the fur warmers we encountered in the markets or the igloos who fed their children by taking support from bachelors or the husbands of others.”
Katara explained when she saw Qioalian’s puzzled expression, “A fur warmer is a barren woman that agrees to become a second wife and provide sexual pleasure in exchange for a lifetime of support. We impose a penalty of marriage and brief shunning for those who engage in sex outside marriage. Most women reveal the name of their partner if they become pregnant knowing once they are married all will be forgiven. But there are some women who do not care if they are shunned. They hold onto the father’s name so they and their children become wards of the village. We do not let anyone freeze or starve but we also do not reward their behavior with abundance. They supplement what the village gives by sleeping with any man who offers firewood, cloth, food, or other things. They are called igloos after temporary shelters made of snow. A little time, some hard packing, and you’ll have a warm wet place to lie.
“Allegedly there is no disgrace in being a fur warmer as you have pledged yourself to one man but igloos accept any man willing to meet their price; including other women’s husbands. Their pregnancies disrupt the village as every woman whose husband has taken too long to run an errand or has come back from the hunts with less than what he normally does becomes a suspect. My mother believed in true monogamy. She didn’t think it was right for those who couldn’t bear children to be cast aside and picked up by a man whose wife had proven to be fertile or that a woman could choose to make a living on her back or that a man could be allowed to carelessly give into his urges.
“She held disdain for men who took a fur warmer or who had been caught leaving an igloo’s hut but she would look at those women as thought they were filth. Sometimes when Sokka looks at me I can’t help but to see her eyes looking at me and passing judgment. I do not know if the mother who died so that I might live would regret her sacrifice or if she would tell me to do whatever is necessary to keep living.
“You are lucky to know that no matter what your mother loves you. She loves you and accepts you unconditionally without judgment. I do not think my mother would be proud of me for anything that I have done but sometimes I think she would understand this role I play to protect Sokka. Others I think she would turn her back and see me as no better than one who made her way stealing affections that belonged to others. Fur warmers ruined marriages but igloos destroyed families.”
Once again Qiaolian was shocked by the Waterbender’s words. It was no secret Katara’s mother had been killed by the Fire Nation which made her relationship with the prince all the more puzzling but to hear the woman had died to save her was both shocking and helped things to make sense. “Oh Katara, you stupid, stupid, girl, if your mother sacrificed her life to save yours she would love you all the more for what you are doing to save your brother. She gave the one time gift of her life but you are choosing to give of yourself over and over to save a child that she birthed. A woman who would do that is nothing like the gentile hausfrau of Ba Sing Se willing to sacrifice her child to save her social position. Your mother would be so very proud you were able to set aside your own feelings of anger and hatred out of love for your brother. She would most certainly love you for all eternity and pass judgment upon that jackass of a brother.”
“But…” Katara argued.
“But nothing; she is your mother,” Qiaolian insisted. “If my mother does not hate me for licking her vagina and reacting when she licked mine your mother most certainly will not hate you for fucking that ugly prince.”
“He’s not ugly,” Katara replied automatically as she tried not to digest what the other girl had revealed to her.
Qiaolian laughed and hugged her again, “I am so glad we had this conversation. I feel as if I’ve found a true friend. I didn’t think anyone, let alone you would understand my feelings. I hate Jianjun so very much, but I am grateful to him all same. I can tell by how you defend him and wash his dirty drawers that you feel the same way about your prince.
"I hope that one day after I am reunited with my mother we are able to meet again and have a much needed conversation. I cannot tell you how a mother feels towards her child but I know the love I have been shown. I will ask that my mother who did the unthinkable to protect me explain the love your mother must have most certainly felt to give her life for you. I imagine it would pain her to know that you think there is anything you could do to garner hatred from her.”
Zuko knocked on the door and called Katara’s name before inserting the key and turning the knob. He wasn’t expecting to see her smiling as tears ran down her face as she held the other girl. “Katara, what’s wrong? What happened? Why are you crying? Did she do something to you?”
Katara shook her head.
“Then why are you crying?
Zhao 2 followed him into the room and kneeled at Qiaolian’s side as Zuko was questioning Katara, “They both are. What happened? Did someone come in here and do something to you?”
Qiaolian shook her head.
“Then why are you crying?” Zhao 2 whispered as he wiped Qiaolian’s face.
Qiaolian clasped Katara’s hands, “I am happy because I made a friend.”
Zuko brushed a tear from Katara’s cheek, “Is this true?”
Katara nodded and Zuko pulled her into his lap, “I am sorry for not realizing how lonely I’ve made you.”
Zhao 2 lifted Qiaolian, “I’ll bring you back to spend time with her tomorrow. I have something that I want to show you.”
The burly twin easily carried her down the stairs and out of the hotel. He set her down inside a small building next to the restaurant, “The person who owned this land perished during the attack. It was a bachelor with no children. I was able to purchase a portion of the land. This house is for you. If you would like, instead of going to the hotel, you can invite Katara here, to your home.”
Qiaolian looked around the small house; it was unlike any she’d seen in the Earth Kingdom. She whispered, “You built this.”
“No, I didn’t build it, but I did rearrange the inside,” he admitted consciously deciding to fully trust her with his most closely guarded secret.
“Why?” she asked quietly.
“Why would I rearrange it? The previous floor plan was hideous,” Zhao 2 stated in mock horror,
She shook her head, “Why would you tell me this? The Fire Nation army is no place for an Earthbender.”
He nuzzled the side of her face with his, “Navy, I am in the navy. I am telling you because you already know. You are the first to figure it out and I want to trust to you. I know that I have not earned your trust but I hope that giving you a means to hurt me you will know my sincerity. MacGau Qiaolian, I think I am in danger of falling in love with you.”
She tilted her head to look at him, and he whispered, “I am not certain that I know what love is but I can’t deny I feel something very strongly for you. My father raped the first girl I cherished and forced me to take her after he’d stolen her virginity. She killed herself and I tried to kill myself when I found her the next day. My bond to Jianguo anchored me to this world but a part of me died along with her. I’ve seduced many women and forced countless others; not all of them were shown the tenderness I’ve shown you. I’ve hurt people Qiaolian. I’ve hurt them because my superiors told me too. I will admit there were times I enjoyed doing so.
“I am a bad man. I’ve done terrible things and it is a good chance I will do them again. I raped the girl at the hotel to punish her brother for peeking at my friends. I drugged her so she is unaware she’s no longer a virgin. I made him watch as I raped her a second time then ejaculated inside her to spite him. Her life will be ruined if she becomes pregnant. I used her horribly to hurt him and I only regret we will leave before I know if she carries my child. I care nothing for her or her fate but I do not wish for any child of mine to grow up unloved and unappreciated.
“I’ve tortured people for a living: men, women, children, infants, pets; I’ve broken bones and spirits with no regrets but I regret I was not able to do more for you. I regret I am unable to do more for you. If I could I would rescue your precious mother. I would take you both home to my grandmother’s estate in the Forbidden Kingdom so you could live out your lives in peace. I would build you a fine mansion on fertile grounds instead of this small house in the desert. I would give you true security instead of the precarious safety of a being an officer’s kept woman. I would find a way to truly protect you so that you would have no worries after I am gone. You would have an abundance of friends and would not cry after making a single one. I wish I was able to remain by your side and learn if this feeling truly is love, guilt strengthened by lust, or if I am the same type of monster as the man who raised me and all I feel is heady rush of power knowing I’ve stolen you away from my betters and hidden you in a place where you will only know my touch.”
Qiaolian brushed her lips against his, “I’ve sucked cock, eaten ass and licked my own mother’s puss. I’ve knelt on the ground and licked semen from bloodstained boots. I’ve tasted shit and piss and licked the cream of two men from my best friend’s hole when she was on her menstrual cycle. Why is it that do you not shy away from my lips? How can you place your head between my legs knowing how many cocks have been there before yours and that it has been kissed by own mother? How is it you can do those things, treat me with kindness and respect then question the name of your own feelings?”
Zhao 2 kissed her gently then asked, “Do you want me to love you? Do you want the love of a murderer and a rapist?”
“I do not see a murderer and a rapist when I look at you,” Qiaolian replied, “When I look at you I see only the purity and innocence of your smile. I see those things knowing what you have been forced to do and know that innocence and purity remain inside you. You give me hope that some part of me remains untainted. Each time I lay with you I feel that untouched part of me getting stronger.”
Qiaolian pressed her lips against his and this time he kissed her with passion. She broke the kiss to whisper, “Each time you kiss me I feel like a virgin; that the things I’ve done are only a nightmare. No man would want to kiss such a foul mouthed woman.”
Zhao 2 kissed her again. His lips never left hers as he guided her backwards to the bed. He lay on top of her kissing and caressing her body as she rocked beneath him. Several minutes later he groaned and stopped moved. Qiaolian was shocked when she realized what he’d done. “You came?”
“I did,” he said slowly moving away from her.
“Why? I mean, we didn’t,” she asked flabbergasted.
He kissed her check as he lifted himself off of her, “Because being with you felt too good.”
“But we didn’t?” she repeated in disbelief.
“I know” he replied smirking at her, “I didn’t have a condom with me and I care for you too much to risk leaving you pregnant. They day I take you bare will be the day I promise to never leave your side.”
Qiaolian nodded. She wasn’t surprised when he opened the drawer and took out a pair of pajamas before going into the restroom.
“Qiaolian, come here,”
She stepped into the restroom when he called out to her. Her eyes widened when she saw him beneath a shower. “The water!”
“The ground beneath this house was raised so that it sits on an unnatural incline. There are small cisterns just outside the kitchen window to catch your used bathing and cleaning water. There is another on the roof full of clean water so you will have running water inside your home.”
She wrapped her arms around him not caring that she was fully dressed or her clothes were getting wet.
That night Macgau Qiaolian felt closer to her mother than she had in a long time. She slept in her own bed, in her own home, next to a powerful man with whom she had an understanding.

Katara felt lighter as she huddled in Zuko’s arms. She wasn’t sure if it was because she’d finally spoken of all the terrible things he and she had done; if it was because Qiaolian had shared her own hell with her; or because the other girl had been so absolutely sure her mother would not hate her.
Katara imagined it was the latter; that her mother was not in the Spirit World weeping over having wasted her life to spare hers. She’d dreamed of that often - that her mother’s spirit was searching for her but once she was found, Kya changed. Her hands became claw-like and her teeth were like fangs. There was a gaping hole in her chest with hungry shadows waiting to devour her shifting in its darkness. So she ran, each night in her sleep she ran away from the dark Kya-like things knowing that once they caught her, she’d see her mother’s smile one final time before the elongated teeth bit at her flesh and the claws stripped the meat from her bones and the gaping hole in her mother’s chest leaned forward and consumed her soul.
After sleeping with Zuko for so many months it was all too easy to think all that remained of her kind mother was the monster that fueled her father’s rage and she knew her actions had earned far more than its fair share.
“Katara?” Zuko spoke hesitantly.
“Hmm,” she replied trying not to think of how Zuko’s warmth chased away her demons during the coldest nights.
“What did you and Qiaolian talk about to make you cry?”
Katara curled tighter against his chest reminding herself that this was the Earth Kingdom, there were no dark shadow monsters lurking outside of her window and that her mother’s spirit had properly been put to rest. The only demon inside of her father was the one he created himself. “Our moms. How much they must love us to do the things they have done.”
Zuko could say nothing after that. He laid a hand on the side of her face and cradled her tightly to him.

Koi: Thank you. I wasn’t sure how 3 characters mostly from a “borrowed and expanded” minor character would be perceived. In my mind Qiaolian is one of the girl’s that make fun of Toph and Katara on the bridge. She’s the one with the umbrella. Katara’s ability to bear a child remains to be seen.

Kain: Good to hear from you. Karma will definitely make an appearance. Katara is becoming comfortable around Zuko but that hasn’t changed her goal of ending his life.

Favour: Thank you. Aunt Wu is very much alive but you are on the right track, the woman who died is a canon character. Do you remember the herbalist at Taku who lived with Miyuki the cat? The other characters, Mahnaz and Taruk, will eventually show up. Thank you for asking my OCs. Zuko and Iroh will meet again but in the meantime, think of it as an extended adult version of Zuko alone.

Reader: Rereading! Thank you. I’m honored to be on your reading list but re-reads? Wow!
I know how the Earth Kingdom tour will come to an end but these plot bunnies keep jumping in between now and then. Which is good because I don’t write in chronological order and linking where they are to where I want them to be gets to be a bit overwhelming at times. I hope you stick around to see how it ends.
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Borealis: A Zutara Story