You love her when you let her go

Zuko x Katara

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar and its characters. The cartoon belongs to Nickelodeon and its respective creators and writers.

Summary: Katara of the Southern Water Tribe is taken as a prisoner during a raid of the Fire Nation. Despite her abilities, the soldier only wanted her for his own pleasure. Luckily, Prince Zuko doesn't approve the decision and decides to take his own strides. Will Zuko be egotistical and keep her for his delight? Or will his love for her grant Katara freedom to return home?

A/N: This story takes place in the first book. Zuko is still the prince in exile on a ship with his uncle Iroh and some of his men. This story is not canon but it isn't an AU, it just alters some events at the beginning of the series.

I was insecure about writing in this fandom. Avatar is an old cartoon and I was afraid that I wouldn't have readers. Then I remembered that I write to relax and express my feelings about the ending of the third book. Zutara for life!

Enjoy!

Well you only need the light when it's burning low

Only miss the sun when it starts to snow

Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low

Only hate the road when you're missing home

Only know you love her when you let her go

Prologue

Feeling the cold air of the icy ocean, Prince Zuko was on the deck of his ship, watching the horizon. Blue, distant and always yearning. Almost like his honor, home, family, and happiness. He had spent so much time in exile that he had forgotten how the walls of the palace were. Constantly chasing the Avatar, a disappeared miracle, the only threat to the Fire Nation. If he captured the Avatar his father would welcome him again and he would have his honor, throne and love back.

The assault in the Water Tribe had been useless. The Avatar wasn't there neither. The only people left there were useless women, children, elderly. The rest of the tribe was out there with the Earth Nation army, helping to defend Ba Sing Se and the territory in their possession.

No traces of the Avatar. Zuko had to decide the next destination. Where to search next?

His uncle Iroh approached him and put his hand on his shoulder. Zuko was rigid by the touch, he wasn't used to caresses or love. His past seemed so distant but at the same time, it was what hurt him the most. If his uncle hadn't been here with him, he wouldn't have anyone left.

"Prince Zuko, you should rest. A few hours of sleep will help you." Iroh recommended.

"There's no time to rest. I feel my honor slipping off my reach with each second I waste sleeping. I need to find the Avatar."

"Zuko, please, you need to clear your head before taking a decision. Go to sleep."

The prince sighed and turned to see his uncle, who was as exhausted as him. All those years traveling to achieve nothing were tiring and frustrating. Finally, the prince nodded and decided that the advice from his uncle was the only command he had to follow.

Prince Zuko returned inside the ship. He couldn't help but yawn. After the assault on the Southern Water Tribe, all his men were resting too. Casually, while walking on the corridors, he heard one of his soldiers scream. Zuko would have ignored him but something made him suspect that the soldier wasn't alone. The prince put his ear on the metal door of the cabin to listen better.

"Quiet, you fierce girl. Don't move." The soldier threatened.

After a few seconds of silence, all Zuko could hear were sounds of them struggling. His cabin was near and with that annoying sound he wouldn't get some rest in peace. So, the firebender knocked on the door and waited for his soldier to answer. Finally, Zuko ran out of patience and opened the door so he could comprehend what had been happening inside the cabin.

One of his soldiers had taken a teenager of the Water Tribe as a prisoner. She was lying on a corner of the cabin, almost unconscious, her hair down, hardly breathing. His soldier had marks of scratches on his cheek and was cleaning the blood off his skin. They had been fighting and Zuko knew exactly what that filth soldier wanted to do with the young girl.

"What is she doing here?! Nobody reported to me the presence of prisoners on this ship!" Yelled Zuko angry.

The soldier noticed the prince's presence and grabbed the girl by the hair, to prevent her from escaping.

"But prince Zuko, you said we could do whatever we wanted in the Southern Water Tribe assault. You have to understand that we are always traveling and don't have the company of a woman to our delight." The soldier realized he was in problems and let the slave go, there was fire in Zuko's glance. "Perhaps you want to help me educate her? A peasant shouldn't disobey a prince."

The soldier hadn't thought of any other solution than offer the prince the slave for his pleasure. Then both would cover each other's back. The prisoner glanced at Zuko when she heard the word 'prince'. Her blue eyes met the firebender's gold and she struggled to stand on her feet. She was hurt but still standing and showing her teeth to the two men. She was fierce and the soldier had failed trying to force her will, she wouldn't give up.

"All prisoners must be in the cells on the lower plant. You can't just kidnap one as a slave for yourself. Now, what should we do with her?" Asked Zuko.

The prince walked towards the prisoner. She had the aspect of a rough woman, a very strong one. As he got closer, the slave got closer to the ground and protected her vital points with her arms. She knew how to fight, Zuko noticed. Her clothes were snagged to rags and she had some bite marks on her chocolate skin. Zuko's man had a pathetic smile by the only thought of making submit the teenager.

"Train her to be docile so all of us can enjoy her." Dared to say the soldier. "After all, we don't have much to do. It would be fun."

The prince shook his head and carefully grabbed the girl. He maintained a strong grip on her wrists and she didn't dare to fight back as the prince was wearing an armor.

"You will abandon this ship when we arrive at the next dock." Ordered Zuko to his soldier, the girl erased her smile when realized that the one banished wasn't her. "You disgust me."

The prince kept the girl beside him and she was smart enough to not run away or resist. They left the cruel soldier's cabin and Zuko almost dragged her through the corridors. It was the last thing the prince wanted to hear. Now he had to look after a prisoner. He could understand that the adult men of his tribulation missed the company of a woman but abusing one and forcing their way was disgusting and pathetic. Something Zuko would never stand on his ship.

"Where are you taking me?!" Asked the girl.

"Don't talk to your prince like this, peasant, or I will bring you somewhere worse." Replied Zuko angrily.

The son of the Fire Lord knew his uncle would have the right answer to his question. What to do with the girl? Could he free her just like nothing happened? Return to the southern water tribe? Bring her with him to the next dock and release her there? Zuko entered his uncle's cabin, that was beside his, and dropped the girl inside. It was empty but Zuko knew that his uncle would return soon.

"What are you going to do with me?" Dared to ask the peasant.

She stood on her feet. No matter how many times the Fire Nation dropped her down, she would always get up again. Surely she was scared by the prince's rage but she wouldn't let her spirit be contained by some Fire Nation soldiers.

"It's your choice. You can stay here and be my slave or you can go out there and be my whole tribulation's play toy." Replied Zuko.

"I'm not going to be your slave! I'd prefer being with other men than staying with a monster!" Yelled the prisoner, thinking that the young prince would dare to do worse things to her.

The first thing that crossed Zuko's mind was that she was disgusted by his appearance. His scar. His actions. His nationality. That was a weak topic that turned mad the son of the Fire Lord and made the flames of the candles in the room explode in wildfire. The prince growled and approached the terrified girl until her back touched the wall and his breath was on her forehead. The prince nailed his fist on the wall, just a few centimeters away from the prisoner's face. The girl tried to push him away but Zuko grabbed her wrists and tried not to burn her by the anger that was controlling him.

"You will be my slave so nobody else will touch you. Don't you understand?!" Zuko saw how a few tears ran down the girl's cheeks.

"Zuko!" Yelled uncle Iroh always fortunate and in the right time. "That's not how you should treat a lady. What are you trying to achieve by scaring the poor girl?"

The prince let go of the prisoner and tried to leave the room but his uncle closed the door and glanced at him angrily. He ordered the prince to stay and Zuko had no other choice than sit on a chair and learn how to treat a lady. The girl didn't dare to move. Nevertheless, when she saw Iroh's eyes all he could see was kindness and a lot of sadness. Iroh didn't need to ask why she ended up on the ship, he had a slight idea.

"You must be freezing." Observed the general and grabbed one of the blankets of the closet. then carefully wrapped her on it and made her sit in front of his nephew. Zuko turned his face away and crossed his arms over his chest. He didn't want to know anything from this girl or he would throw her off the ship. The uncle cleared her throat and glanced at Zuko, then when he got his attention made him a signal to apologize to the girl. "Zuko…" The uncle warned.

"I lost my temper." Was the only thing that Zuko admitted and then left the room as quickly as he could. The uncle replaced his place on the chair in front of the prisoner. He gave her a sincere smile.

"What's your name, young girl?" General Iroh asked with kindness.

"Katara."

So, this is the beginning of the story.

For now, these chapters are rated T, but later the rating will change to M.

I'll be looking forward to the reviews. Feel welcome to leave feedback.

Frozenheart7