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The Siege of Katara	By : CordeliaLeCroix Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Threesomes/Moresomes Views: 56169 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
Zuko stood outside an unnamed tavern, armed and impatient. Mai stood beside him, her arms crossed. She'd said nothing since they arrived. It was one of the things he loved about her.
A large mole-nosed, badger shaped animal was tethered outside so he knew June was near. She finally made an appearance and cursed when she saw them. Irritated by her response Zuko followed her to the Shirshu and waited while she packed the animal.
He held out a heavy bag. June took it without looking at him, opened it, then added it to her saddle bag.
"She was in Ba-hai. They left and I didn't follow." She paused as if considering, then continued. "She's fine, she's not pregnant, and she doesn't need you."
She turned to finish readying the animal. Zuko knew she was lying and clenched his fists, but Mai put a hand on his arm. To his surprise she produced another bag of gold from her vest and held it out to the bounty hunter.
June took it and flinched uncharacteristically before adding it to her things. If she lied again he would drown her in molten gold, he thought.
"She's working herself to death. She's fighting, healing, and they have to push her into eating." She crossed her arms like she was finished and Zuko glared at her, the news welling up like acid in his throat.
"I honestly don't know if she's pregnant. She doesn't look pregnant, even in the skimpy red underwear she wears in the fountain. If she is, she hasn't told anyone about it."
"Fountain? Is she still in Ba-hai?" he rasped through the burn.
June glanced away to dismiss them but Mai untied yet another bag of gold. Again she took it as if she might decide against it, but added it to her bulging bag with a doubtful expression. "No. They travel around to other villages, but she returns to Ba-hai every few days to heal in the fountain. People are coming from all over to see her. She even healed a Fire Nation soldier before I left."
"What about the army? Who's with her?"
"People join every day so it's impossible to say how big it is. You'd think she was the Avatar." She snorted. "There's a couple that stay pretty close to her. It's like they've adopted her or something."
Abruptly she turned and swung herself up onto the Shirshu. Zuko backed away expecting her to ride, but she looked down at them instead. Her face was haunted, like she had just made a serious mistake. There was something else in her expression. Fear, Zuko thought. Maybe even panic.
"There's something not right about her." She said and shivered, seeming unable to stop herself from shaking. "I told you where she was because if you had anything to do with that then she deserves her revenge." Her grip tightened on the reigns. "I'm lucky to still be alive and I don't plan to run into her again. Don't come looking for me anymore."
The Shirshu reared and bolted.
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"Haru!" Katara ran into him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. He looked older, his chin bearded and his hair longer. He might even be taller than...
He hugged her back, then asked, "What is all this?"
The army was camped in a wide valley, hidden and hard to get to. It had been a difficult choice to leave Ba-hai with people still in need, but Oton reminded her that there were others who needed help too. The army was so large now that the valley had become a permanent hold. Teams would go out to other villages and return after their victories.
"Refugees, mostly," Katara said modestly. She scanned the tents, cabins, and dirt houses. It almost looked like a village but too many things were missing. There were no children playing, no shops or food stands. There were no efforts to make this feel like home, because it wasn't home. It was an army camp.
"We came when we heard." Haru's father gestured toward a few more familiar faces from his village. "The stories are unbelievable, but when we heard you were behind it we knew they true." He smiled kindly, referring to how she had rallied his people to escape their steel prison.
"The stories are pretty farfetched." Haru continued. "Fighting fire benders, controlling the weather, creating funnels of water."
"They are embellished, but it raises morale." She nodded to the makeshift homes that covered the landscape. "One day I was foolishly trying to rescue a small town and week later I had an army."
Haru smiled, but it turned into a frown. "You don't look well, Katara."
"I'm fine, just tired. I've had a lot to do."
"What can we do to help?"
"We could use a few good leaders."
Haru looked away. "I'm not really a leader. My dad is though." His dad had already joined a nearby group of men, introducing himself.
"Haru," Katara said firmly. "Are you joining this army or not?"
His eyebrows rose in surprise. "Yes?"
She nodded towards a cloud of dust rising in the distance. "There's a team in need of a good earth bending teacher. They also need training, some guidance, and you'll be perfect for the job."
Haru looked unsure but Katara smiled and motioned for him to follow.
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Though Haru had shyly taken responsibility for the newest group of earth benders it only took a few days for him to really take charge. Katara watched him come into his own, instructing them on bending, telling them what they needed to do to protect themselves and work as a single unit.
His confidence solidified and even the older members of the team were showing him respect. Katara spent more time than she should watching him. She told herself she wanted to be around someone familiar. Whenever her thoughts turned to Zuko she guiltily tried to drown them out with Haru.
He became her closest companion. Even Ten-yi had backed off, winking whenever Katara saw her around. Everyone assumed they were a couple.
Haru questioned her about Aang, but she managed to skirt around the real answers. She hoped Aang was awake. She missed him and the rest of the gang but the thought of seeing them again terrified her. What would she say? What did they think? Guilt flooded her.
"You look too pained to be meditating. Are you okay?"
Katara took a deep breath while opening her eyes and smiled at Haru. They were by a tree overlooking the camp. She came here to repeat her new found talent. Each time she could follow the water a little further from the tree. Haru had been joining her, sitting quietly by her while she concentrated.
"I'm just planning." she lied.
She relaxed until Haru became serious. He was pensive and she'd known this was coming, had even hoped it would come so she could forget her past, but now her skin jumped.
He took her hand and caressed her wrist, looking into her eyes as if he would find something. Katara's heart beat faster, her mind a blank. He leaned forward and kissed her. He was gentle, undemanding, and he smelled like earth. Katara let her eyelids drift closed. Haru deepened the kiss, shyly coaxing her lips apart.
"Katara," he whispered, slowly pushing a hand into her hair. It was so different from the way…
He kissed her again, pressing her against him. His hands slid around her waist, pulling her into his lap. She jerked nervously and he caressed her face. "It's okay." he whispered before returning to her lips.
She was aware of his breathing, his arm supporting her, his hand inching over breast. His thumb loosed the string that held the neck of her shirt together. Zuko's shirt…
It felt so different. His thumb on her skin, his fingers weighing her flesh. Katara tried to relax and enjoy the moment, when Zuko's face became clear in her mind, his expression livid.
Katara gasped and pushed Haru away. She caught her breath and looked anywhere but at him.
"Katara, I'm sorry," he soothed. "I shouldn't have gone so far."
He tried to touch her and she scrambled out of his lap and onto her feet. "No." she said breathless.
"I don't expect you to do anything you're not ready for." He got to his feet, his eyes pleading. "We'll do everything the right way."
"Haru, I've had a lover." she said.
He paused and shook his head, as if to shake off his disbelief. "Who?"
"Does it matter?"
He was silent. Katara turned to look over the camp and his foot steps faded behind her. Her body shook with emotion and she couldn't hold back the tears. Even now, after all her penance, Zuko haunted her. With him she had felt both powerful and helpless, excited and afraid. It had been thrilling. She loved him and she would never feel like that again.
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Ba-hai was a typical city of homes, shops, and people. The buildings were plainly the work of earth benders. There was evidence of past destruction but the people had moved on. A crude fountain lay in the center of the city, decorated with flowers, pots, and jewelry.
It was a traveler's city; a place where people came and went daily so Zuko and Mai did not draw any attention. A large shelter had been converted into quarters for guests. They had rented one of the small rooms to blend in and get information but it had been unnecessary. The 'day of the healer' was coming soon and Katara's name was on everyone's lips.
Sick and injured people were camped out in front of the fountain. Hopeful army recruits were renting rooms. Shops had been set up along streets. You could buy talismans that Katara had supposedly touched.
A few Fire Nation soldiers had a camp several miles away from the city waiting for them. Zuko's orders were to stay put and not draw attention and those orders were strictly followed. He wondered if it was because he was their prince, had sent his sister packing, and swiftly executed the two Dai-li who had deserted their mission, or if they were afraid to run into Katara's army.
He had told Mai she could stay at camp, but she insisted on coming with him. He was glad to have her with him, but he was worried about Katara's reaction to her presence. Mai made it clear that she wanted to be a part of anything that happened, but how would he convince Katara that he wasn't her enemy with his girlfriend by his side?
He was Prince of the Fire Nation, current ruler of the great earth kingdom of Ba-Sing-Se, but he couldn't get his girlfriend to stay at camp. He went over the events in his head, trying to remember a time when his life wasn't so complicated.
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"Katara, we have some news." Oton said. He looked a little guilty and Ten-yi was blushing and looking at her toes.
"What's going on?" Katara had just finished saddling her ostrich-horse for the trip to Ba-hai and eyed the couple curiously.
"We're celebrating." Oton grinned and Ten-yi blushed harder. "Ten-yi is pregnant."
"Congratulations," Katara said and hugged Ten-yi tightly.
"We've been trying forever. We had lost hope that it would happen. Now that it has we need to settle down, before she gets big. The army really isn't a good place for us anymore." His smile had faded and they were holding their breath for her response.
"I'll miss you guys," she said and hugged them again, wishing she could cry and scream for them to stay because she would be alone again.
"Haru's team is going with you. We've already set everything up with him." Ten-yi winked and smiled.
"Really?" Katara said politely trying not to make a face as her stomach churned.
"We figured it would give you two some time together," Oton said. They obviously thought that they were leaving her in good hands.
"Good luck." She hugged them again. Telling them about the situation with Haru would just worry them and she wanted them to be happy.
A few moments later Haru and his team joined her on ostrich-horses. He didn't say anything or make eye contact, but rode next to her. The entire trip was made in silence and Katara decided she would go alone from now on. If she didn't have an audience she could at least cry without judgement.
Their arrival at Ba-hai was a relief and the people were glad to see them. Their animals were taken to be cared for and Katara wanted to be alone for a while, but Haru grabbed her wrist.
"Katara," he took a deep breath. "I don't know the circumstances behind what you told me, but I'm sure there's a good reason for everything. I'm willing to work this out if you are."
Young women were supposed to be virgins when they married. For him to continue a public relationship with her was either a very loving gesture or he thought she would be good practice before the right girl came along. Either way she couldn't accept.
"I'm sorry, Haru. I'm not ready for a relationship." She pulled away from him to escape to the fountain.
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"She should arrive today," Mai reminded Zuko as she climbed out of the small cot-like bed they were uncomfortably sharing.
"I know," Zuko mumbled lost in thought as he watched Mai's pale form glide across the room to the high window. She went up on her toes, her body stretched to see out, her black hair a sharp contrast to her skin as it swished across her butt. His body reacted in appreciation.
"Isn't it kind of quiet?"
Zuko listened. He usually didn't notice the buzz of the milling people, but now he didn't hear anything. He got up and looked out the window. There were hundreds of people, but they were reverently quiet. A blue halo hovered over the fountain.
"She's here." he said and threw his clothes on.
Unarmed, they joined the crowd. Zuko gradually pushed his way to the front where he could finally see the fountain. He hardly noticed the people or the whirlwind of water twisting around it. Standing in the center was Katara, her eyes emotionless, her upper body exposed save for the scraps of red from the Odalisque costume.
June had told some truths after all. Katara didn't look pregnant. She had lost weight. He resisted the urge to yank her out of the fountain and carry her off. The small boy she was healing probably wouldn't appreciate it.
For a couple hours he watched her heal, and every time her hand came to her forehead or her shoulders slumped he expected someone to stop her for a break but no one did. A man stood beside the fountain watching her like she was edible, but he was obviously brain damaged.
Minutes ticked by and Zuko's frustration mounted. Why didn't anyone else notice how tired and pale she looked? She was slaving away for them and they were letting her kill herself. And why was she dressed like that in front of all these people? It had better not be for drool boy. He was one of ten that Zuko spotted and thought might be part of her army. Probably some kind of protection, but not from what she was doing to herself.
Zuko wanted to interfere but he had no idea how many earth benders would jump to her rescue. He snorted at the thought, drawing a few looks. If someone didn't stop her soon he would risk it.
******************************************************
Another healed person left her fountain and another injured waited to take his place. Katara took a steadying breath and wished Ten-yi was there to stop the crowd. It was just too hard to turn anyone away, too unfair for her to take a break while they were hurting.
She looked out at the crowd and her spirits fell. The line hadn't gotten any smaller. Then she thought she saw a glimpse of June. Tall, long black hair, pale skin. Had she returned? She had claimed Zuko sent her. Katara was ashamed of what she'd done to June, but had been sure the woman wouldn't be bothering her again.
The dark haired girl turned and Katara's breath caught. It wasn't June, it was Mai. She was making her way through the crowd, then finally handing a water skin to her companion and he was staring right at her.
Katara's knees felt weak and a mixture of fear and excitement made her freeze.
"Are you all right?" Haru asked.
Zuko's eyes were intense. He stepped forward, his hand out.
"Fire Nation!" Haru yelled. His earth benders took their positions and the crowd gasped and backed away. Zuko was surrounded by them, Mai at his side poised for a fight. Haru thrust his arm out and the earth swallowed the lower half of their bodies.
Katara scanned the crowd looking for more fire benders, but no one stuck out. If they were there they were well hidden and they weren't coming to the rescue. She let her water dome fall keeping a few ribbons with her, floating around her body, and stepped out of the fountain.
"Haru, what are you doing?"
"He's the Prince of the Fire Nation. I recognize him from the posters." He announced proudly. The earth benders parted and she joined the trapped couple, careful not to make eye contact with them, and faced Haru.
"What did they do?" she asked.
Haru looked shocked by her question. "Nothing. He's the Prince of the Fire Nation!" he enunciated and motioned towards him in case she didn't know who he meant.
"How exactly did two people doing nothing warrant a ten person attack?"
A few of the earth benders looked abashed but Haru shook his head. "They are the enemy." he said firmly.
"What do you plan to do with this innocent couple?"
He was thoughtful then said, "We should take them prisoner. We could use them against the Fire Nation."
The crowd had gathered around again. Katara looked at Haru's earth benders and realized she'd made a mistake by putting him in charge when he hadn't participated in any part of their rebellion. They did not take prisoners. They did not hurt anyone unless necessary. They only drove the soldiers out.
"Is that how you all feel?" she asked. Her ribbons flared around her. Some looked uncertain, but others nodded. She rose her voice so the crowd could hear her message too. "So the point of all this is revenge? We're going to bring them down so we can take their place?"
Her ribbons ebbed, sinking to the ground. "Are we all fighting just so an earth bender can sit on the Fire Lord's throne? Would that be adequate revenge?"
"Not by half." Haru countered.
Katara turned from him to address his people. "We are fighting for our freedom!" she yelled and her ribbons rose into the air, gathering strength, gathering water. The crowd backed away again.
"We are fighting to have our own lives without answering to another nation, not to replace their bullies with our own." She looked at them and settled on Tiho. He looked the most uncertain about what they were doing. "Tiho, please release them."
He nodded and came forward.
"Tiho, you are a part of my team." Haru reminded him sharply.
"This team is part of a larger army. My army." Katara said softly and looked up at the ribbons, now bigger than the fountain.
Tiho made his decision. Elbows up, then down, and Zuko and Mai were free. Mai wrinkled her nose and brushed off her clothes. Haru and several of his team members took a defensive stance. Katara faced Haru once more, her left foot moving in a half circle, her hands held up towards the sky.
"Haru, don't do this." she said.
"You're the one who taught me to take control, Katara, and you're wrong about this. We can't let them go." His right leg came forward, his arm shot up but Katara was quicker. The earth benders began gasping and falling to the ground. The ribbons were becoming too much for her to maintain and she felt light headed.
With a twirl she was able to evaporate most of the water, but now she was out of breath. The crowd was rumbling. She felt arms go around her and she leaned into them, Zuko on one side, Mai on the other, but she couldn’t think about them right now.
Haru was trying to help one of his fallen men stand back up, but he was too weak. She gazed at him through blurry vision.
"What did you do?" he cried.
"It's a lesson," she said breathless. "It was a mistake to give you a team when you were so new to this. This is your first lesson. After you learn it you will teach it to them."
"This is insane! They're dying!" He wailed at her and she watched him until he accepted that she wasn't going to help him. "What do I have to do?"
"All they need is water. I've spent so many days in this fountain, healing. It's your turn."
Katara motioned to Tiho and he brought Haru a pitcher, who then looked at Katara in agony.
"They will be fine if you take care of them and give them lots of water." Her voice sounded cold to her own ears, like she was under water.
"Tiho, you will make the trip back alone. Make sure you tell everyone what happened here."
"What about you?"
"I have unfinished business," she lied. The truth was that she didn't think she could walk.
Tiho bowed respectfully, but eyed Zuko and Mai. "Are you sure you'll be alright with them?"
"I'll be fine, Tiho. Thank you." She forced a smile for his benefit and watched him go.
When he was out of sight she tried to stand on her own, but her skin went cold, like she was drowning.
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Zuko caught Katara as she fell. He kneeled and laid her gently across his lap. He pointed to the fountain and Mai went.
"Katara!" Haru called. Zuko glared at him and warned him off with a breath of fire.
"If you," he paused and looked at the gawking crowd. "If any of you had cared for anything other than yourselves you would have noticed how sick she was."
Mai returned with a water skin and Zuko did his best to get Katara to swallow from it.
"Why are you here?" Haru scowled. Zuko scowled back.
"You should be more concerned with your lesson."
Mai brought Katara's shirt and together they carefully dressed her. He lifted her into his arms making sure her head was cradled against his shoulder.
"Where are you taking her?" a villager asked.
"A place where you can't drain the life out of her," he answered bitterly.
The tremble of voices rose, but no one tried to stop him as he carried her out of the city.
- 6
- 7
- 8
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The Siege of Katara