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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 53
Azula slipped into the room quietly and leaned against the wall. “I guess I’m not the only little girl pretending to be a woman.”
Mai paled. She had deliberately evaded Azula’s questions regarding the status of her virginity, letting her friend assume that she and Zuko had already become intimate.
“I can’t imagine what type of friend would let another think that she was the only girl their age that was not a peasant who wasn’t already bonded. Can you Mai? Why would anyone who knows their friend is shy around boys and uncertain about her romantic future hold back information that they are in the same predicament?” Azula asked walking towards her.
Mai pushed her shoulders back and looked Azula dead in the eye, “It was none of your business. Zuko is your brother for Agni’s sake. Have you no sense of propriety when it comes to sibling bonds? Or are you so desperate to know what it’s like to have male attention that you’ll even listen to what I do with your brother?”
“Apparently you haven’t been doing much with my brother since he gave his first fruits to the Waterbender. Why is that Mai? Is it because you know Zuzu is and always will be a loser? That you know I’ll make a much better ruler and it’s only a matter of time before Father announces that I will be his heir,” Azula pressed.
Azula was an expert at reading Mai’s expression. That particular stony face meant she’d struck a nerve, “Oh please, don’t even try to give me the whole, ‘I care about Zuko and not his status’ look. We’ve been friends since we were children. I know that if it is something you want you find a way to make it yours. You didn’t make Zuko yours, so it’s obvious you don’t want him. You want the title and power. Zuzu was your means to get it.”
Azula smirked, “Well he was. Now that he’s taken the Waterbender as his concubine and given her his first sowing he has nothing left to give you but I do.”
“I have his bed sheets from that night. He was too happy when he stepped into the hall with her so I knew they would be useful. I wasn’t expecting it to be the first time for him as well. All you have to do is swear an affidavit that you are still virgin and take a medical exam to prove it, Chancellor of the Realm, oops, I mean Mai,” Azula smiled, dangling the highest title one could be appointed to as incentive to help her obtain the throne.
“Why should I help you when you know how I feel about him and made me listen to him have sex with another woman?” Mai hissed.
“Why should you be loyal to him when he knows how you feel about him but he still fucked the Waterbender and says that he wants her more badly than he ever wanted you?” Azula countered.
She poked out her bottom lip and teased in exaggerated syllables as if she was bullying a child, “Or did you not tell Zuzu how badly you missed him? How much you love him? That he is the reason it was suggested that your father be sent to Omashu. That city is in the Earth Kingdom and you knew Father would never lift Zuzu’s banishment but if you were outside the country you could be with him. Or did you not say anything because you were afraid he’d break your heart? Or because only fools like he and Ty Lee wear their emotions on their sleeve?”
Azula’s voice hardened, “Or did that woman’s intuition Su Ying always prattles on about tell you that no matter how much you wanted him, my pathetic brother no longer wanted you?”
“Get out Azula,” Mai ordered.
“Like said, only a woman secure in her own power would dare order the future Fire Lord about on her own ship; think about it Mai. I also always get what I want. The world isn’t a very nice place to those who stand in my way,” Azula threatened before turning on her heel and leaving.

Ty Lee had been watching Katara meditate the entire time Zuko had been away. She’d been amazed by the vibrancy of her aura when they had first fought in Omashu but now all of the colors had grown much darker. The bright red had shifted to the dark of survival mode. The courageous and adventurous orange was shifting to a determined metallic gold. Her green was so much darker and muddier than Zuko’s and the hue was steadily getting darker.
Ty Lee had only seen those colors once. It was at a public execution in Ba Sing Se. The man was smiling on the way to his death. He had killed all of the Fire Nation soldiers who had been stationed in what was formerly his home. They had forced him out but his wife and daughters had been detained. She was relieved when Zuko came back into the room.
For the first time ever, she was afraid of the Waterbender, but mostly she was afraid for her. Ty Lee tugged on Zuko’s sleeve and whispered, “Zuko, be careful around Katara and be nicer to her. She hasn’t moved and her aura is turning black.”
Confused, Zuko nodded. He had no idea what those colors meant, but Ty Lee was rarely this serious.

Zuko had never tried to meditate without a flame to focus on so he settled on Katara’s necklace. Maybe it would help him clear up some of his thoughts about her. Spending time with Mai had helped him to face some things about her he hadn’t wanted to admit. She was content with the way the world was going while he wanted to change it. She wasn’t a bad person but she was sheltered and unwilling to open her mind to challenge what they’d been taught as children.
He was no closer to figuring out how to best deal with the situation with Katara when their meal arrived. Zuko had stopped one of the stewards on the way from Mai’s room and requested that dinner be served in their room. Katara did not touch the food brought in earlier, but she’d drank the broth and water. Katara continued to meditate as the meal was set on the table in front of them. She didn’t even twitch when Zuko asked if food had been taken to her brother and the Avatar.
Zuko finished eating and had read a book by the time Katara stood up and stretched. She moved through one of the katas Yugoda had taught her. Women in the North didn’t learn Waterbending for battle but they still practiced katas to direct their chi flows for healing and prescribed them for their patients. This kata was to improve strength, balance and circulation.
“Katara, there is food on the table. Tell me what you want and I’ll heat it up for you,” Zuko said moving to her side.
“I’ll eat it cold,” she said picking up a bowl of broth. During her meditation she had realized that was part of her problem. He was being kind to her and she was accepting his kindness. She could no longer do that because it meant she acknowledged him as a human. That she was human. She had to lock away that part of herself while she was with him.
Zuko frowned in concern but didn’t argue when she ate her meal cold, “Katara, drink some of the red stuff. It’s the fruit wine that we took to your brother and the Avatar in the palace dungeon. It will help settle your stomach so you don’t throw up.”
“I wouldn’t throw up if you didn’t-” she began then stopped abruptly. She couldn’t respond to him. She needed to hold onto her anger until the moment was right so she could do what needed to be done. Katara finished her food, then did a kata designed to help digestion then transitioned back into lotus position and concentrated on keeping her food down. Her body needed nourishment. No one could live on just anger alone. She needed to be strong and healthy when her chance to strike came.

Zuko began to get concerned. Hours had passed since the sun went down, but Katara was still meditating. She hadn’t asked for a shower or to go to the restroom. He asked that a guard go get Ty Lee. When she arrived Zuko asked that she take Katara to the restroom and to the bathing room. The acrobat looked at him strangely then pointed at the door against the wall and said, “But isn’t-”
Zuko clamped a hand over her mouth and shook his head. Ty Lee blocked the chi to his arm then pouted, “Don’t put that in my face. I know where it’s been.”
“I’ve washed my hands several times since then,” Zuko said defensively.
“It’s the principle of the matter,” Ty Lee said. “Katara, I’m sorry to interrupt your meditating, but do you want to do to the bathing room? It’s set up now so we can get a good soak and a massage.”
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Borealis: A Zutara Story