LONG ASS AUTHOR'S NOTE.

- A reviewer asked me if I plan on showing the aftermath of Jet's action because sexual assault as serious as that has impact on characters. Funnily, when the review came in, I was writing this chapter. This chapter is my response to the person. Since it was an unsigned review, I could not respond to the person, but I would like to thank you, firstly, for being as invested in the story as you were. I would also like to reassure you, dear reviewer, that I do intend to show the impact. The aftermath of what happens here will be reflected throughout the story. What happened in the last chapter, will start a chain reaction. Fear not, I don't intend for my fic to fall into cheap exploitation. Everything that's happening is happening for a reason. I intend to explore the psychological impact of the events too.

You might ask why the reaction was not shown before this. It's because, as I see it, Katara was basically white knuckling it. Ignoring her feelings. Deliberately not thinking about it. But after last chapter, she can no longer just stop herself from thinking about what has happened.

PS: I love reading up on psychology of humans. I do love portraying impacts of traumatic events.

- I have a question for you, my beloved readers. I'm nearing the end of this arc. Soon, in 2-4 chapters or so, they will escape the prison. There will be 2 more big arcs in the story. Question I have for you is, should I continue in this very story or should I start a new fic with a new arc?

- Since I passed 100 reviews a while back, I should be giving a shoutout to my reviewers. I should have done it a while back but I was being lazy. So here it is, a wave to my dearest readers. I love you all to bits.

Guest reviewers, Cerice Belle, lawliness, im ur misconception, moodymel, Neliel V Sanji, slithering-lioness, Eli, iluvjessemac, ALIASTESIN, bunheadBookworm, Bendypen, missycole23, ArganRose, CurryPrince, Masen Lakain, blueness28, FictionallyFun, Dr Killinger, klee, Chicwa88, eliawantsahoranhug, Sesshomaru Dogdemon, Kaitlyn Steele, KatMora606, SazHearT, Anonymous.

Chapter 24

Something was wrong. Zuko could tell because Katara was clinging on to him, crying her eyes out and trembling like a flame about to go out. This reaction made no sense to him. When the Earthbenders had pulled off his blindfold off and let him walk off, the first thought that had crossed his mind that she would not cry any more. The thought had startled him. He couldn't understand why his first thought was about Katara and not his own safety? Even back at the war camp, he knew he didn't like seeing her tears. But now, her tears burned him. Now, he positively hated seeing her cry. It burned him down to his core. Now, she wouldn't cry and that thought brought a smile on his lips.

The smile was still in place when the wall opened, he was let in, and she practically flew into her arms. Even though it was not the first time that he was holding her so close, the feeling of embracing her was not something he could quite describe in words. She filled him with a joy unlike anything he had ever experienced. He tightened his arms around her, rubbing his cheek against her hair, reveling in the feel of having her so close.

But then, she broke down. Clutching his shirt, she sobbed. The pain in her voice was so raw that it gutted him. Worry gnawed within him, leaving a gaping hole in his chest. He tucked a finger under her chin made her look up, "Katara? Look, I'm fine. I'm not hurt. See?"

She wiped her tears and nodded but didn't say anything. Just continued to cry. "Katara? What happened? Why are you crying like this? Did… did someone say something to you?"

She didn't reply, instead threw her arms around his neck. Moments later, she crumpled to the ground in a heap, pulling him down with her. He used his right hand to balance them as they all but fell on the floor in a tangle of limbs. Unmindful of their uncomfortable position, Katara held on to him, sobbing. Zuko pulled her flush against him and used bigger physical stature to pull her up. Katara complied in the way a rag doll would, offering no resistance or aid. Limp in his arms, allowing him to drag her up. He shuffled on the ground, in an ungainly move to lean against the wall. Katara lay slumped between his legs, with her head resting on his chest. While she was not howling any more, she sat, almost catatonic while tears flowed relentlessly. Concern, fear, and anxiety rose within him, as did a terrifying thought.

These do not seem like tears of relief. I get out scott-free and Katara is completely broken. These two have to be related. They've done something to her. In exchange for my safety?

Possessed with a manic urgency, he looked down at her. From his vantage point, he could not see any wounds. So, superficially, she was fine. If being sagged against him completely inert, gazing into nothing while tears flowed incessantly, counted as being fine. His brow furrowed as he tried to piece the puzzle together.

Her lip had a bruise yesterday and her emotions were all over the place when I came in.

Katara was crying hard on the first day too.

I didn't hear or see Jet today when I was taken.

Vamik seems upset.

Jet had propositioned her. More than once.

Did he… No. No. He wouldn't. Would he?

Yes, he would. He has.

Fury bubbled in him, stroking his inner fire. How dare he? He had touched her! Jet had had touched Katara. Jet had touched his Katara and Zuko would kill him.

"Why don't we simply assassinate Prince Zuko?" Arnook asked the Elder Council. "Hahn can get that done and be back soon. And that way, we don't have to rely on these southerners."

Pakku leaned forward and spoke in a steady voice that carried a hint of steel. "We've been over this before, Arnook. We do not kill Zuko unless absolutely necessary."

"But why?" Arnook asked as his light blue eyes fixed Katara with a glacial stare. "Why can't we simply kill him and be done with it? What is the guarantee that this girl will even be able to seduce him? She's not that pretty or feminine."

Katara suppressed the urge to stick her tongue out at the older man. On the council, Kayik answered, "Based on what we know of the Fire Prince's previous girlfriend, he doesn't seem interested in very feminine women."

"Indeed," Shamuk, another member of the council, added. "I have had the chance to see a portrait of that woman. Cut her hair and dress her like a man and no one would even know she's not one. Katara, at least, isn't that bad."

Katara did not know if that was an insult or a compliment.

"That still doesn't answer why we shouldn't kill Zuko."

"Because," Katara snapped, unable to hold her tongue. "We are assassinating Azula. Ozai will be taken care of as well, once Aang masters the Avatar state. Prince Lu Ten is already dead. If we kill Zuko as well, it will unite the Fire Nation in a rally against the world. We need Fire Nation destabilized."

"Precisely," Hakoda said. "As it stands now, a certain faction of Fire Nation wants Azula on the throne after Ozai. Another wants Zuko to take over. Which means, whoever takes the throne, the supporters of the other will create a ruckus."

Pakku added, "The seduction, if it works, will make Zuko further unpopular in the eyes of the opposing group. It will create civil unrest. No country can continue war efforts while dealing with civil unrest. With Azula gone and Zuko unpopular and disgraced, their succession will be in jeopardy. Kill the entire Royal family and all we do is end up giving them a reason to unite against a common enemy."

"Besides, with the Royal family decimated, who is to stop one of the bloodthirsty Generals to rise to power and take over," Hakoda said.

"Then kill Zuko and let Azula be the one on the throne," Arnook said. "It'll be easier to control a woman than a man,"

Sokka sniggered, "Did you even read the report about Azula, Chief Arnook? That woman is a few plums short of a fruit pie. Prince Zuko is apparently less volatile of the two. No, we choose the lesser of the two evils."

Arnook huffed, "I'll say again, I don't approve of this plan. At all."

"Your dissent has been noted," Pakku said dryly, gathering all the papers.

"I have a question, though," Katara piped up.

"Yes?" Kayik raised a brow.

"What happens if I get pregnant? Will the child be given any legitimacy? Or am I supposed to abort it?"

The Elder Council glanced at each other before Shamuk, the eldest of them all, leaned forward and said, "Ideally, we would prefer if you got rid of it. But should a child happen because of this mission, we would grant it legitimacy."

"Maybe, one day, we can even have that kid take the Fire Nation throne," Kayik added.

"That will never happen," Sokka interjected. "Fire Nation will not accept a Water Tribe child as its monarch."

"All of that is distant future," Pakku said. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there. As of now, we have to safeguard what remains of the free world."

Zuko did not know how much time had elapsed before the wall dropped again, to reveal Haru. The man walked in, looked at Katara sagged on him, still lost in the miasma of pain. A worried frown creased his brows and the Earthbender raised the wall again. He put the meal next to Zuko and crouched in front of them.

"What happened to her?"

Zuko shook his head, "I have a suspicion, but no way to confirm it."

Haru chewed his lip contemplatively. Slowly, he touched Katara's shoulder. The reaction was instant. She let out a surprised and terrified yelp and clambered further onto Zuko, who instinctively tightened his hold on her. "Don't. Don't touch her."

Hurt flared on the Earthbenders face but he nodded in understanding. "She trusts you."

"Looks like it," Zuko looked at the pinched face of the other man, while gently patting Katara's back. Agni, she's started trembling again. "Haru, do you know what's been happening to us?"

The Earthbender tore his eyes from the quivering woman who was trying to hide somewhere in Zuko and looked at him, "Honestly speaking, Zuko, I don't give a fuck what happens to you. It's her that I'm worried about."

"Feeling is mutual," Zuko retorted. "But I'm asking this for her. Do you see what they have done to her?"

"I know what's happening to you, but her… I don't know. What's happening to her?"

"Like I said, I am not sure, I just have a suspicion," Zuko replied. "Vamik might know. Can you find out from him?"

"I might be able to get him to talk," Haru said, nodding.

"Also, I don't want to see her like this again, do you?"

Haru shook his head.

"Then help us. Help us get out of here."

Haru sighed and flopped down on the ground, looking like he had lost a battle. "I can't. I can't, Zuko."

"What? I thought you cared for her."

"I do… but I also care for my father," Haru said.

"What? What's that supposed to mean?"

Haru let out a defeated sigh and said, "The governor of our town, a small time Fire Nation noble named Shong, was killed by an Earth Bender. My father and I are the only Earth Benders in our town. But we weren't the ones that killed him. We have no idea who did. Now, both my father and I are wanted fugitives in the Fire Nation. Utakata has kept us out of the prison in exchange of my loyalty to him. Now, if it was just me, I wouldn't have given a shit. But my father, he is seventy-five years old, Zuko. He can't bear the hardships of prison at this age. I can get you the information, but helping you escape… You're asking me to choose between my father and the woman who doesn't even acknowledge me."

"No," Zuko said, "I'm asking you to help put an end to the misery of the woman you love. As for your father, if you give me the details, I can try and pull some strings and see if he can stay out of prison."

"See Zuko, you're offering me vague promises. Utakata has kept my father out of prison."

"Haru –"

"Sorry, Zuko, I can't help you there," Haru said standing up. "I hate seeing Katara this way, but like she said, she and I were together for one summer, nothing more than that. I can't abandon my father for something that wouldn't amount to anything more beyond that one summer. I'll get the information from Vamik. Have your meal. I'll be back shortly."

"Coward!" Zuko called at Haru's retreating back. Once the wall was back up, he turned his attention to Katara. Her nails were digging into his skin painfully while her face was burrowed in the crook of his neck. "Katara, he's gone. He's gone."

His words must have cut through whatever panicked trauma she was living for she eased her hold on him. She pulled back and Zuko had to bite back the gasp of horror. She looked as though she had lived a nightmare. Her eyes were sunken and hollow, the warmth from her face gone, her pallor ashen. She rubbed her hands on her face and turned to look at him.

"Sorry," she croaked and tried to stand up, but her legs did not support her.

"You have nothing to apologize," Zuko said, grabbing her hand to keep her from falling. "Katara, what did Jet make you do in exchange for my safety?"

Katara's face scrunched with the memory and she pressed her lips in a tight line. "Please… I can't…"

"He hurt you, Katara," Zuko said, cupping her face. "Any other time, I would have given you the time and space to talk about it at your own leisure. But right now, if I do that, he'll hurt you more. And I cannot let that happen. I promised you that I will keep you safe and I failed that. Instead, you're the one keeping me safe. That wasn't the deal, was it?"

Katara gave him the strangest look, one that spread a gentle warmth through him, very unlike the blazing heat of his element. When he held out his arms and beckoned her with a nod, it felt as natural as breathing. She gave a small, tremulous smile and took her place in his arms, where she belonged. He ran a hand through her hair and said, "You know you don't have to keep anything from me, don't you?"

She nodded and in a croaking voice breathed against his skin, "I know."

"What has Jet been doing, Katara? What has he made you do?"

She took a deep breath and said, "He's asked me… in exchange for water to heal you… keep you safe… he… he's been…"

"Asking sexual favors, hasn't he?"

Katara nodded, unable to speak. Zuko's arms tightened around her as smoke curled from his entire body.

"Zuko, you're too hot," she said.

Instantly, he lowered his body temperature, "Sorry. Why did you even agree to it, Katara? You can kill that bastard with one flick of your wrist. Why did you let him do this?"

She extricated herself from his arms and looked at him, visibly irritated, "Do I have to spell it out to you? You figured out so much, do I have to handhold you to the end? You're a smart man, make the fucking connection!"

Her reaction simply affirmed his suspicion. He was not reading her signals wrong. She did this for him. She allowed herself to be abused in the worst possible way, just to keep him safe. Zuko felt prickling of tears in his eyes as he was overwhelmed by the utter selflessness of the act. Without a word, he leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Slowly, he moved to her eyes, placing small, reassuring kisses on them as they brimmed with tears. Mimicking her action from earlier, Zuko kissed her tears away. His hand snaked around her waist and pulled her closer. Zuko wasn't sure who made the move but the next thing he knew, they were kissing. This wasn't a kiss of passion or desire; this was a kiss of reassurance. Of promise. Of pain. Of love.