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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 61
Zuko led Katara back to his room holding her forearm in a vise grip. He should have known that a meeting with Azula first thing in the morning could only lead to a crappy day. At least now he had the identity of one of the people monitoring him was even if he had no idea how or where he got a key to his room.
Zuko pulled out a book and pretended to read while Katara curled up on the loveseat and continued to sob. He wanted to go to her and comfort her, but her brother was right. She was naïve, idealistic and all too willing to believe in the good of others. It would get her killed and possibly him as well. She had to learn to rely on herself and to stop trusting unfamiliar faces if she was going to be of any use to him. He only hoped that when she stopped trusting so blindly, she saw that she could at least trust him.

Katara buried her face in the back of the furniture. Sokka had called her stupid and said she made things worse. It wasn’t like it wasn’t the first time she’d gotten into a fight with him or that was the worst thing he’d ever told her. In the months after their Mom died he’d said much worse. He flat out blamed her and called her useless since her “magic water had been unable to save Mom.”
She’d actually been forced to attend warrior training to work out some of her aggression after so many of their fights started to become physical. It wasn’t the first time she’d been called naïve or too trusting. At some point her father, Gran-Gran, Toph, Tyro, and countless others had said the same thing. It wasn’t like she didn’t know her intentions sometimes went awry.
She was the one who placed blind faith in Jet and convinced Aang they should help him flood that town. She was the one who got Haru arrested. She was the one who pretended to be the Painted Lady and got the city of Jang Hui placed under stricter military rule. She was the one who learned Hama’s secret and got the only other Southern Waterbender put back in Fire Nation prison.
It hurt that Sokka believed she could be so easily swayed by trinkets and kindness because he was right; she had been. Zuko had fooled her on more than one occasion. She was actually starting to feel a small bond with him and he betrayed her over and over again. She was stupid.
“Here.”
Katara looked up expecting Zuko to be handing her a tissue instead he was handing her a book about war tactics.
“I’ve already read it,” she sniffed honestly.
Zuko’s surprise was visible on his face, “Read it again. Please be careful with it. It was a gift from my cousin Lu Ten.”
Katara wiped her tears and picked up the book frowning. She opened it and there was a handwritten note in the margin of the first page, “You are young, naïve, idealistic and want to believe that everyone is good.”
She flipped the page, “It is a nice sentiment for children, but even the youngest street urchins understand that is not the case.”
It continued on the next page, “You are in the pricklesnake’s nest, but foolishly believe it as a rosebush.”
“Yes everything looks and smells pretty, so you foolishly allow yourself to believe the sounds you hear are the wind rattling the branches.”
“The truth is easy to conceal from one who does not seek it. Open your eyes. Open your ears. Open your mind.”
“Learn to see the intent behind people’s actions. Learn to listen to the meaning behind their words. Learn how and when to capitalize on their mistakes.”
“It is a lucky bird whose wing is broken in the winter and is shat upon by the Komodo rhino.”
“It is a stupid bird who crawls away from safety and warmth because they do not like the ambiance of the environment.”
“It is an unlucky bird who sings when the cat digs him out.”
“It is a foolish bird who believes the word of the cat knowing him to be a cat.”
“It is a wise bird who takes stock of his predicament and waits until the right moment to act.”
“It is a sly bird who sings to draw the curiosity of the cat once its wing has healed but gets quit when it grows near.”
“It is a successful bird who allows the cat to dig him out, but then pecks his eye and flies away before the cat can eat him.”
“Not everyone can be trusted at all times. Sometimes your mother will lie to save your life; sometimes your greatest enemy will as well.”
“Not everyone can be trusted with everything. Sometimes your father will rob you blind and your enemy will be the one to restore your accounts. Learn who to trust with what and when they can be trusted and you will have a long successful life.”
Katara read every page and it was filled with similar wisdom. On the very last page it said, “Sometimes your greatest and only ally is the person that you’ve just finished fighting. I too was in the pricklesnake’s nest after a battle with a master Earthbender. Our battle opened a chasm and we both fell into it. One snake was poised to fill me with its venom. A rock from my enemy crushed it. Seconds later my flames saved her from the snake’s companion. United we fought our way to safety; the next day we met each other in full on battle.”
“So am I supposed to trust you now?” Katara asked interrupting Zuko’s reading.
He snorted, “No, you’re supposed to open your eyes and use your head then make your own decisions. I’m not lying when I say I am not your enemy, even though I am your enemy. I am your friend, but I am not your friend. You have to decide the amount of truth in both statements when to apply that knowledge.”
To his surprise she nodded. Zuko felt a sense of relief, apparently Uncle Iroh had rubbed off on him.
Zuko knelt beside her and lowered his voice, “Katara, I am also telling the truth when I say I don’t like forcing my way into you but right now that heinous act is your only protection as you will not yield on the matter of consent. I do wish things were different with us. This type of relationship is supposed to be one of mutual respect, intimacy, and affection not the deciding factor in unspeakable torture, life and death.”
“I am trying to do the right thing even though my actions may not seem like it. You are still not safe from men with those intentions. You believed me when we were at the palace and I wish there was something I could do to make you believe me again. I am truly sorry every time I hurt you, but I know someone else would only cause you more pain. I understand it seems like I am lying and that what I’m becoming doesn’t sicken me because it does. I’ve lik…” Zuko shut his mouth and pulled his hair in frustration. He almost told Katara he’d liked her for a long time.
His shoulders sagged, “Please read the book again; the entire text not just what’s in the margins. You’ve met my father. You are in the pricklesnake’s den and you are confusing snakes for thorned branches. I am in the same den, but I know what I am facing, and how difficult it will be to survive without an accomplice. I trust you Katara, more than anyone else on this ship. You hate me and my nation. You want to kill me, free the Avatar and your brother, then escape. I know you will do so at the first chance you get.
“I know that, I understand that. If I were in your shoes, I’d feel the same way and would do the same things. If I were you I wouldn’t trust me either, but I trust you because I know those things. I wish I could tell you more, but what I’ve just said is enough to get us both killed.”
- 61
- 62
- 63
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Borealis: A Zutara Story