Hey, guys and gals! Long time no write. I've emerged from my chrysalis to bring Zutara tidings for that first time in an embarrassingly long time this holiday season. I'm super pumped to be participating in Zutara Month again after so many years and I hope you'll all enjoy what I'm bringing to the table in 2018.

This year I'm dedicating all the stories I write to my best buddy in the world, Boogum. I owe her about a Zutara Month's worth of ZK fanfiction so all of this is for her. December is her birth month so be sure to go and give her some birthday cheer!

I'm going to do my best to fill every one of the prompts but know that some may be very short in order to put more energy into others. I'd rather have a handful of really good stories interspersed with drabbles than thirty "meh" stories. I'm not a fan of half-assing my writing so I'm going to limit that as much as possible. Fingers crossed that I can complete all the prompts this year!

Without further ado, let's get this party started!


Day One

Vigilantes

(I don't know if you can really call this vigilantism, but the theme is similar.)


"This is crazy! I can't believe I let you talk me into doing this."

On the other side of a small, wooden table situated in a dimly lit corner of one of the many sea-front taverns of Linfen, a bustling port town in the Western Earth Kingdom, Zuko sat watching Katara with a look caught halfway between unimpressed and distressed.

Katara scowled right back. "It's not like I had much of a choice, you know," she informed him tetchily. "There's no way I could bring Aang. He's way too recognizable. Not to mention flamboyant. He'd get us caught immediately."

Zuko placed an elbow on the table and dropped his forehead onto his palm, his fingers sliding up into his hair. "It's not asking me to help you that I have a problem with. It's what you're asking me to do. You do realize that if I get caught pretending to be a pirate, it's going to turn into a huge scandal for the Fire Nation."

"The Fire Nation is already facing international scandal if we don't find out who's selling poached elephant-whale ivory to the members of your court. And besides, I've yet to hear any better suggestions."

Zuko had nothing to say to that, just as she expected. Clearly knowing he was beat, he changed the subject. "By the way, how did you get Aang to agree to this, anyway? I'd think he'd be the last person to be okay with you…" he trailed off and gestured pointedly at her outfit and make-up, both of which had been painstakingly selected to help her blend in with the sorts of women one would naturally expect to find hanging out with pirates. "I mean, think of what people are going to say if they find out that the Avatar's girlfriend is running around dressed like a..." He trailed off again and his one visible eye widened in sudden realization. Katara knew then that he'd finally pieced the truth together. "Oh, my god. He doesn't know."

Katara opened her mouth to get a word in before Zuko inevitably descended into exposition but unfortunately, she wasn't quick enough.

"He doesn't know," he repeated, redirecting his gaze to the table. "Of course he doesn't know. You're going behind him again just like you did with that governor in Huinong. Spirits, I should've seen this coming after the hot water you got me into that time but you swore that would be a one-time thing." He raised his head and pointed at her accusingly. "This is going to come crashing down on my shoulders again. You know Aang is going to think I encouraged you."

Katara crossed her arms and tapped her pointer finger on the table top in mild irritation. "Oh, relax, Zuko," she told him, leaning forward over the table. "This is nothing like that time and Aang will get over it once I explain things to him. Jeez, becoming Fire Lord has made you so high strung."

Zuko scowled at her and as earnestly as she'd ever heard him said, "I've always been high strung."

Katara's cheeks puffed out and she didn't even try to stop the laughter that burst out of her at his statement. When she was finished, she wiped a tear from her eye and said, "Your words, not mine."

Zuko exhaled and pinched the bridge of his nose. Katara wondered if he was counting backward from ten. After a short break of silence, he said, "I can't believe I'm being told to loosen up by you, of all people. Aren't you the one always tugging the leash on Aang—talking him out of goofing around and making him perform his duty seriously? Why is it that you always seem to suddenly crave chaos whenever I'm in the picture?"

Katara scoffed. "It's not 'craving chaos'," she informed him, using her pointer and middle fingers to mime quotation marks. "There are just certain things that I can do with you that I can't do with him. For instance, I can count on you to be responsible. I know you'll take our missions seriously so I can afford to take a few risks. That's all."

She watched Zuko consider this and knew that he understood. He knew as well as she did the reason she'd become, for lack of better words, a tight-ass where her friends and boyfriend were concerned. As another who had been unceremoniously shoved into the role of team-parent during their adventure a year ago, he could appreciate her need to play the part of the responsible party.

Sure enough, Zuko gave in with a sigh. "Alright," he relented. "I'm already in this far and I know you'll go through with this with or without me so it's not like I have much choice."

Katara smiled brightly and reached across the table to take his hand in a firm grip. "Team Liquidy-Hot?" she prompted with a small smirk.

Zuko made a big show of rolling his eyes but his lips turned upward to mirror hers and he shook their clasped hands once. "Team Liquidy-Hot."

oOo


Katara hummed jovially to herself in the inn's dingy mirror as she slipped another pearl pin into her hair. Styling her hair into the elaborate up-do of a tavern floozy had become nearly second nature after four consecutive days of the same afternoon ritual. Each day, her disguise was slightly different. Today was blue and pearls. Yesterday was goldenrod and jade. The day before that was crimson and opals. And so-on it would go until she and Zuko found what they were looking for.

Finding the poachers responsible for the killing and selling of Southern Water Tribe elephant-whales was a slow process, but Katara was confident that her plan would bear fruit soon. Each evening, she and Zuko made the rounds in the port's most notorious taverns and at each one they put on the same performance.

"Do you see that man over there?" she'd whisper to whatever hapless, drunken pirate happened to darken the seat beside her at the bar. "They say he can get you anything."

All night long, she'd gossip in the ears of pirates and bar wenches alike, helping the rumor to spread throughout the town. Meanwhile, Zuko would sit at a table not far away, his royal robes swapped out for a stiff jacket and leather boots and a scarf wrapped around his head to hide his scar and turn greedy eyes with short, strategic glimpses of priceless Fire Nation treasures hidden in the pockets of his jacket—treasures liberated from the catacombs beneath his palace.

Last night, they had upped their game by showing off a few invaluable water tribe pieces that Katara had "borrowed" during her last visit to her village. She'd felt guilty for pinching the prized jewelry right from under her father and grandmothers' noses but it was for the sake of maintaining peace between the Southern Water Tribe and the Fire Nation and Katara knew the jewelry would be the ticket they needed to get the attention of the right people.

Katara nodded to herself as she put the finishing touches on her make-up. Tonight, they would get a bite. She was sure of it.

"Out of curiosity," Zuko muttered as she clung like a trollop to his arm while they walked down the dusk-lit street to their first tavern of the night. "Where is Aang? I'm guessing you made up a story to keep him off our scent?"

Katara made a big production of batting her eyelashes up at him like she'd seen countless other girls here do to keep any passersby convinced of their charade before answering in a hushed voice. "I've got him searching for clues in the Fire Nation. He thinks I'm doing the same back home. You know, divide and conquer."

Zuko's good eye widened and he turned his head to look down at her in alarm. "You sent him to the Fire Nation?" He lifted a hand to push back his shaggy fringe in exasperation. "Why would you send him there? He's almost certainly figured out that I'm gone by now. You know he's going to put two and two together and realize where I went."

Katara sighed and smacked his arm. "You really do worry too much. Listen, by the time Aang figures out where we are, we'll have already bagged our target. When he asks how we did it, we'll just bend the truth a little."

Zuko shook his head. "You're digging me in deeper and deeper. I think you're underestimating him."

Katara rolled her eyes. "Just don't worry about Aang, alright? I'll take the fall if he tries to accuse you. He needs to respect that I'm capable of making my own decisions and that I don't need to explain myself to him. I have to watch him go off and do as he pleases without any input from me all the time. I should be allowed to do the same."

Zuko frowned. His brow was creased in a way that told Katara he was working through a problem in his head. "Katara…" he said her name with a touch of concern, "is everything okay between you and Aang?"

Katara felt her cheeks heat from embarrassment at talking so openly about her feelings regarding Aang and she turned her face away to hide it. "Everything's fine," she assured him quickly. "Just peachy." She quickened her pace, pulling him toward the tavern. "Come on. Let's just get to the bar and get this over with."

o0o


Just as Katara suspected, showing off the stolen Water Tribe heirlooms attracted the attention of just the people they'd been hoping to snag. That night, a pair of comparably well-dressed pirates approached Zuko to inquire about his so-called legendary skills. Katara listened covertly to their conversation from a nearby stool where she pretended to be focused on a conversation with a group of washed out sailors.

The pirates were cautious at first, but when Zuko showed them the items she'd given to him, they sweetened right away. Katara saw the greedy glimmer in their eyes as they drank in the priceless artifacts and when they asked what means Zuko used to procure such treasures, Katara took that as her cue to excuse herself from the sailors and saunter over to their table. She gave the duo a sultry look as she slid onto the bench beside Zuko and snuck her arm around his, cozying up to his side. "I couldn't help overhearing that you boys are looking to get your hands on some Water Tribe paraphernalia," she interjected smoothly, lowering her voice to disguise her age. She batted her eyelashes at them, making certain the blue of her irises caught the light. "You came to the right man." She used her grip on Zuko's arm to raise her body upward in order to pepper a few light kisses to the area near Zuko's ear, never once taking her eyes off the pirates. "He just might know a gal that can set you up with what you need."

Zuko stiffened in her grip but managed to keep a straight face. Katara knew she'd surprised him with her actions. Well, she had warned him that she intended to be authentic in acting her part. She allowed her free hand to travel to his thigh and she gave it a short caress. The pirates followed the motion with hungry eyes and she knew she'd snared them. "If you're interested in doing business, tell your captain to come to the southernmost docks in thirty minutes. We'll discuss our fee there." She lowered her eyelids to half-mast and leaned forward so that her artfully squished cleavage spilled enticingly out of the front of her dress. "Bring as many friends as you want."

The pirates ogled her openly until the weight of Zuko's traveler's cloak appeared on her shoulders, blocking the view. The pirates seemed to regain their composure then and nodded curtly. "We will relay your message," the one on the left said quickly. He stood, pulling his partner up with him and tipped his hat. "Until then."

The duo hurriedly exited the tavern, their excitement obvious in their gait. Katara fastened the cloak as she watched them go and she couldn't help the grin that spread across her face. Roleplaying the sinful pirate wench had been surprisingly fun. She didn't normally get to feel sexy.

"Bring as many friends as you want?" Zuko repeated incredulously beside her. Katara turned to look at him and found his cheeks flaming.

Katara winked up at him. "This way we can get them all at once," she explained, directing her grin at him. "Never underestimate the persuasive power of feminine wiles."

Zuko shook his head, his face still aflame. "I won't. Believe me."

oOo


As promised, the whole pirate crew turned up to meet them on the docks thirty minutes later. Just as Katara had been hoping, they'd come alone. She and Zuko had been prepared for the pirates to go to the authorities instead of their captain, but it seemed their caution was unneeded.

At the sight of the man who could only be the poachers' captain, Katara's eyes widened. All at once, she understood how he and his crew had managed to hunt whales right under her tribe's noses. Though he was dressed in Earth Kingdom browns and greens, he couldn't disguise his dark skin or sea-blue eyes.

Hanook, northern warrior and vice-ambassador to the Southern Water Tribe, wore a greedy smile as he and a man Katara assumed was his first mate approached them on the pier. "Ahoy there," he called to them in a cheerful tone. "My crew told me you two are the ones to see about striking a lucrative deal." He stopped before them and his eyes traveled over them curiously. "I'll admit that I'm impressed a mere two-man team has been able to infiltrate right to the Southern Water Tribe's heart." His gaze found Katara and his smile turned to a smirk. "But I suppose a pretty thing like you could worm your way into any man's coffers."

Katara shivered under the vice-ambassador's leering gaze. She'd always thought the man was a little shifty, but now he was being downright creepy. To think he'd been taking advantage of her tribe's trust to poach elephant-whales in their very own waters. She never imagined the crook responsible would be Water Tribe. It was a betrayal that hit hard. She shook off her discomfort and narrowed her eyes. "So, you were the one killing our whales," she spoke clearly, enunciating each syllable. "Hanook of the Northern Water Tribe."

Hanook's eyes widened and he took a step back. Beside him, his first mate put a hand on the hilt of his sword. They'd been caught and they knew it. "How do you know my name, wench?" he demanded, his smirk now gone.

Katara scowled at him and dropped into a bending stance. "Don't tell me you don't even recognize the face of the Southern Water Tribe's most powerful waterbending master," she called to him. "Even though we've shared a supper table countless times."

Realization rearranged Hanook's features. His eyes swept her face again and this time she saw recognition in them. A look that spelled 'oh shit' appeared on his face and he whirled around to bark at his assembled crew. "The deal's off! Take those two out, now!"

What followed was a flurry of action as Hanook's crew leapt to follow their captain's orders. Hanook and his first mate unsheathed their swords. Katara shared a nod with Zuko and the bescarved firebender jumped into action, pulling his own swords from the scabbard on his back and rushing the two-dozen men. His swords flashed in the moonlight as they sung through the air in great whirling strikes, knocking the blades from the pirates' hands so that Katara could immobilize them with ice.

Defeating the pirate hoard was almost too easy and in a matter of minutes, Hanook and his crew were captured and Zuko was calling the authorities to come and retrieve them. While she waited for Zuko to return Katara took it upon herself to interrogate Hanook. "Tell me what you've done with all the ivory you've poached," she demanded in a dangerous tone. "You'd better answer honestly or I'll make certain you remain in jail until you rot."

Just capturing the ivory's supplier wasn't enough. She also needed to identify who was buying it along with any middlemen.

Hanook, now clearly defeated, shook his head helplessly. "I don't have it. This month's harvest has already been sold."

Katara's eyes flashed. "To who?"

Hanook shrank under her furious glare. "A jeweler. He's a big-name merchant in the Earth Kingdom. The man has a side business peddling rare goods to high-profile clients."

Katara frowned. That didn't explain how Fire Nation nobles had been getting their hands on the ivory. Ever since the problem had first come to light, Zuko had cracked down hard on black market transactions in the Fire Nation. Merchant ships and passenger vessels alike were thoroughly inspected for contraband goods upon arrival to Fire Nation ports. "And just who is this merchant?" she pressed. "How is he sneaking our ivory into the Fire Nation?"

Hanook shook his head again. "I don't know. He has buyers who do the purchasing on his behalf and they change every time. I don't even have any means of contacting them. They always come to me."

Katara fought the urge to curse. It sounded like she'd hit a dead end. It was imperative that they discovered the identity of this merchant or he'd merely find other ways of getting what he wanted. The fact that he covered his tracks so thoroughly was to be expected, she supposed.

"Ah, but I do have a theory about where the ivory might be going," Hanook said quickly. "This guy only sells to wealthy and powerful clients. Nobody else could afford to pay his prices. If the ivory is ending up in the Fire Nation, then it's probably being sold directly to members of the nobility somewhere outside the Fire Nation and smuggled back in very small quantities. Large shipments are easy to catch, but individual pieces are much, much harder."

Katara's eyebrows rose. Hanook made a fair point. She hadn't considered that. "And where would these nobles be purchasing these pieces? You said you have an idea."

Hanook nodded. "The answer is simple. We know they're not going to a shop because that would be too easy to trace. No, as I said, the pieces have to be sold to the nobles directly; at a place where it wouldn't be strange to find a large number of wealthy Fire Nation 'customers'. There's only one place, or event, rather, outside the Fire Nation that fits the bill."

Katara's eyes widened as realization dawned on her. There was indeed only one place that matched the ticket. A grin stretched across her face as a plan formed in her mind. She knew just how she was going to peg both the merchant and his buyers.

oO0Oo


To be continued in Day Twelve.

I'm sorry about splitting this up but this story's just too long to fit into a single day. Several of the prompts are going to be like this. Rest assured, though, that most will be proper oneshots.

I hope you enjoyed Vigilantes and I'll see you again tomorrow for Day Two: Hidden Identity!