Alright! This is mostly a history reveal chapter. Just to be clear, Zuko's scar did not come from an Agni Kai. There are many stories about how he got it. The Agni Kai that is mentioned here is the one where he earned his reputation of being a cold-blooded murderer. His scar story is different from canon and will be revealed gradually.

Kya's death is also similar but different from what was in the show. Much darker. But you will understand the reason Katara doesn't trust men in general.

Thank you for all the love you all have given me. This story is the Zutara story I have wanted to read for a while but never found it anywhere. So I decided to write it myself.

Trigger Warning: Gore, murder, suggestion of sexual violence.

Chapter 18

Sokka was regretting everything. Every damn thing he had done since landing on the docks of Earth Kingdom had backfired on him. Terribly. He was in the Earth Kingdom to look for his missing sister. Yet, here he was, watching Moku and Lily doing what he supposed was a dance. If one could call them raising their arms and waving it around with no synchronization or rhythm as dancing. Beside him, Chong was strumming his instrument, singing a song that had no tune nor did it make any sense.

Sokka kneaded his temples, trying to rein in his temper and impatience. He couldn't quite snap at the only people who had offered him company and support when he needed it the most. He had no money, no clothes, no means to travel. These people are the only ones who had supported him. Given him food, clothing, and had allowed him to accompany them on their circuitous way to Omashu. They had not asked for anything in return. Nothing at all. But their charity came at the cost of his sanity.

"Chong," Sokka said, unable to take their singing and dancing any longer. "Shouldn't we be moving."

"Life's a flow, Sokka. Life's a flow. Flow with it. Be the leaf."

"Leaf? What leaf?"

"The leaf that flows in the wind."

"Can the wind blow towards Omashu? Please?"

"Leaf goes where the wind takes it. We don't dictate the wind. The wind takes us."

Sokka took a deep breath and said, "Where are we going now?"

"Where the wind takes us."

Sokka sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Zhao walked in measured steps, inspecting the motley crew that was given to him for completing his task. A small but efficient crew that would move fast and be lethal and useful. He would need all the support he could possibly get. His opponent wasn't someone he could take lightly. The Prince, while not as lethal as his sister, was not someone he could take lightly. He had borne witness to the General Fa's unfortunate demise. He had known the man. Fa was not a weak fighter. Much like Zhao, the man had been a fierce warrior who took no prisoners.

There many stories about why the two got into an Agni Kai. Some say it was an argument. Some called it a difference of opinion. Some even said the Prince was having a temper tantrum. But Zhao was one of the few who knew the truth of the incident that had rocked the entire Fire Nation. It had begun at a war meeting where General Fa suggested a tried and tested tactic, the bait-and-switch, where a contingent of fresh recruits would be put forth as the bait in front of the Earth Kingdom forces. While the new recruits would be busy getting slaughtered, the elite squad of Fire Benders would attack from behind.

For some reason, Prince Zuko, all of sixteen years of age, had protested about it. According to him, the act was unnecessarily brutal, whatever that meant. They were in the midst of a war, weren't they? Of course, things would get brutal. What did the Prince expect? General Fa stood his ground, but the argument between the two was not received well by the Fire Lord and he ordered them to have an Agni Kai.

Everyone had heard about how weak and incompetent the Prince was. So weak was he as a bender, that he had burned his own face somehow. In fact, to make up for his terribly bending, he had to learn to wield swords, like a non-bender. Everyone in the army had their money on Fa. The man was a war veteran and had fought and won many Agni Kais. The Prince, on the other hand, had not fought a single one before that.

On the day of the Agni Kai, many people had gathered to watch the event. Zhao didn't know about the others, but he had gone to see the Prince getting annihilated. No one knew, but Zhao had a personal reason for wanting to see Zuko humiliated. On more than one occasion, the Prince had spotted Zhao stealing glances at Azula and the boy had glared at him as though promising him a painful death. With General Fa disposing of that annoying Princeling, Zhao could get back to watching the blossoming youth of the Princess in peace, without worrying about the Prince tattling to the Fire Lord.

But, to everyone's surprise, Zuko had made quick work of General Fa. Seven strikes were all it had taken for Zuko to hand the General a crushing defeat. Then, shocking every person in attendance, he slit the General's throat with a knife no one knew he carried and set the man on fire. With that one move, Zuko had cemented his reputation as a brutal man and a warrior of repute. Zhao knew not to underestimate him as Fa had done.

What the hell is happening to me? Katara wondered as she looked from one man to the other. A cold, icy dread coiled in her stomach, making her want to scream. What was Haru doing here? Why was he here? Why now? I don't want him to meet Zuko.

Zuko. He was the source of whatever was happening to her. Of that, Katara was sure. His eyes unnerved her. His voice tied her stomach into knots, especially when he employed that soft voice. His personality, his looks, his entire being was pulling her, as the moon pulled at the water. This attraction, this desperate need that she felt for him was beyond logic or reasoning. Also, why was it that she felt so comfortable when he hugged her? How could she lean into him like that? Why had she kissed his scar?

What the heck are you doing to me, Zuko?

The subject of her thoughts looked from Haru to Katara and then back at the Earth Bender, "I see. You said we have to go out? Why?"

Haru seemed to have recovered from the shock of seeing her yet again and his face had taken on a non-expression, "Jet noticed that the two of you could do with some cleaning. He suggested I take you both for a bath."

At the mention of Jet, every warning bell in her mind began ringing. "Jet said that?"

"Yes, come on," Haru said, twirling his finger in the air to emphasize his point. "Hurry up."

"Lead the way," Zuko said.

Haru turned around and walked out, leaving them with no option but to follow him. Zuko looked at her, and tossed his head, indicating she should come along. With a deep breath, Katara tried to control her wildly beating heart.

What am I even going to do?

She licked her lips and followed Zuko out of the prison, wondering how her life had come to this point. Three men. One that she had slept with in the past, one that was using her for his sick pleasure and the third who was… what exactly was he? Something. Yes, he was … something. So here she was, caught between her ex, the creep, and her something. Was she allowed to freak out now? Somewhere inside her was a scream of frustration and incredulity that threatened to break through her lips. She walked along, behind Zuko, her mind numb.

As they made their way through the camp, with a sinking feeling, Katara realized that she was surrounded by men. Not a single woman was in sight. Even in the Fire Nation war camp, she had Matsu, Raan, and a couple of other women as a company. Here, however, she was entirely alone.

Her heart skipped a beat as an image from long ago came back to haunt her. Shaking her head, Katara called out, "Haru, isn't there a single woman in the camp other than me?"

Haru turned to look at her and shook his head, "No, there's another girl here. Smellerbee. But she isn't exactly like a girl. She's more like a boy."

"That's it?" Katara asked.

"Yes. Toph was the other one but she left."

For the first time in a while, raw terror gripped Katara's mind as the image of her mother's mutilated body came back to her mind. Panic began to rise rapidly. She was transported back to that fateful day when the Fire Nation raiders had come to her village, looking to take over the Southern Water Tribe.

Five-year-old Katara did not know what was happening, but she was scared. All around her, people were screaming. There was smoke everywhere and someone somewhere was crying. Katara hid her face in her mother's parka, trembling.

"Koalaotter," her mom said urgently, "Where are your dad and brother?"

"They're outside," Katara said.

"Go. Get them. Now."

"But Mommy –"

"Katara. Go."

Scared as she was, Katara was glad to have a direction. She turned to leave, startled to just notice the three men who were in the igloo, crowding it.

"Run little whore," one of them said. "Run before we decide to include you in our fun."

Katara ran on the snow, slipping a couple of times. By the time she reached her father, he was engaged in a fierce battle with a large man. She wanted to call him, but Sokka pulled her back.

"Stay away! You'll get hurt," Sokka screamed.

"But mom! There are three men in our house!"

Her father had heard her words, stabbed the man he had been fighting, and ran towards their home, unaware that disaster had already struck. The sight that met them was seared in her nightmares forever. Her mother lay on the ground, dead. She had been stripped naked, her breasts chopped off, and blood streaming from between her legs, coloring the snow a deep crimson. It was only much later that Katara understood what the raiders had done to her.

"Hey!" Zuko's voice cut through the haze of sheer panic and pain in her mind. "Are you okay?"

She bit her lips and shook her head. "Sorry. I just…"

"Katara, look at me," he whispered. "I know you're scared. But trust me, I won't let anything happen to you."

"I know," the words slipped out of her mouth before she could weigh them, but now that they had, she knew them to be true. She trusted Zuko. The Prince of the very people who had brutally violated and mutilated her mother, she trusted him.

Aang liked to sing. He had a nice voice and he had been told that he could sing very well. At that moment, sitting in the Northern Air Temple with his fellow Air Benders, Aang let his skills as a singer shine.

It's me that you think of.

It's me that you love.

I know, I know.

It's me that you want,

It's me that you need,

I know, I know.

I see the love in your eyes,

I see it in your smile.

But you don't say it.

I know, I know.

It's me that you play with,

It's me that you tease,

I know I know.

Why, my love, do you tease me so?

Why, my love don't you come to me?

The Air Benders around him burst into applause.

"That's wonderful, Aang," Chogden said.

"Thanks, I wrote it myself," Aang said, grinning.

"So, who's the lucky girl?" Jangchup asked, wiggling his brow.

Aang laughed, "Katara."

Lhakyi frowned, "Wait, she hasn't told you she loves you?"

"No, but she doesn't need to," Aang sighed. "But that's what I'm here for. I need your help in getting her."

"How so?"

"She's in Ba Sing Se. The Dai Li is taking care of her. I'm supposed to find Prince Zuko and hand him to them," Aang said, leaning forward. "In return for the Prince, I can get Katara back."

Lhakyi spoke yet again, "Aang, did you actually see her with the Dai Li? From what I know of them, they aren't the most trustworthy folk."

"I'm the Avatar, Lhakyi. No one in their right minds will lie to me. Yes, Katara is with them. All we have to do is find one Prince who's wandering around somewhere in the Earth Kingdom. Unfortunately, the Earth Kingdom is so large. I can't cover the whole thing by myself, even with Appa."

"We will help you, but we don't know how he looks," Jangchup said.

"Well, he's tall, has black hair. Lots of it. And he has this big burn scar on the left side of his face. Kind of like a comet."

"Okay. And if we do capture him, then what?"

"We keep him alive and we bring him to Ba Sing Se."

"Katara, can I talk to you for a moment?" Haru said once they reached the lake.

Katara licked her lips and looked at Zuko, wondering what he would say. She fully expected him to say no and that he would be staying where he was, but the Fire Prince simply shrugged. "I'll clean up first then," he said and stripped off his shirt before diving into the lake.

Haru waited till Zuko swam away before turning to Katara, his face a picture of incredulity. "Jet says you're having an affair with that guy?"

Rage flared red in Katara and she pulled herself to her full height. "Jet said that? What else has he told you? Has he said anything about what he's been up to in Utakata's absence? Or is that irrelevant? Besides, who the fuck do you think you are questioning me if I'm having an affair with Zuko or not."

"Katara I just –"

"You and I were together for one summer, Haru," Katara spat. "Ages ago. That doesn't give you the right to question me about my life choices."

Haru held up a hand placatingly, "Katara, I'm not questioning you. Just that, this is the Fire Prince. Son of Ozai. Haven't you heard what he is like?"

Katara's eyes narrowed to slits, "I know exactly what I'm doing. And with who. I don't need you to babysit me."