Chapter One of escape. This is where you see Katara be a BAMF while also dealing with her abuse. I won't say much except that for my original words, I write horror. So the last bit might be a bit much for you all, but this is how I pictured the end of it.

Also, if you desire something light and fluffy after this heavy one, do take a peek at my other fic, Sleepless in Ba Sing Se.It's a modern day AU that deals with insomnia and is a love story.

TRIGGER WARNING: GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF VIOLENCE AND CHARACTER DEATH

Chapter 27

Once they were alone in their prison, Zuko dropped to his knees, his face scrunched. Katara knelt next to him and touched his cheek. "Zuko."

When his eyes met hers, she could see the pain written in them. "My troops, Katara. What happened to them? Are they dead?"

"I don't know, Zuko."

"I can't… If… If something happened to them… I would never forgive myself," he closed his eyes and took several deep breaths, his hand kneading his temples. "Fuck, I'm so useless. I couldn't save you from that bastard. My troops are gone. Matsu… Katara…. Matsu is probably dead. And I… I don't even…"

Katara gave a small sob and pulled him into her embrace, unable to believe her ears. He had just learned that he had been accused of treason and had been banished from his nation, possibly even disinherited from his throne. And here he was, worried about the troops. Staring right at her was yet another proof that the intelligence report that had been gathered about him had not understood this man at all. They only saw Prince Zuko, the heir to the throne. Not Zuko, the man behind the mask.

"Zuko…"

He disentangled himself from her arms and shot to his feet. He paced around the tiny prison and ran a hand through his hair. "What am I supposed to do now? My troops are gone. I'm banished. Utakata knows I am of no use to him… He…What's stopping him from killing me?"

With a jolt, Katara realized that he was right. "Oh no! Zuko! He will kill us. We have to…"

Before she could finish her sentence, however, the stone opened from below and a voice said, "Coming in," with those words, Haru emerged from the hole, holding the dao swords, a water skin and some clothes. "H-h-Here. S-S-Sorry for c-c-coming in this way, but I can't let others know I'm here."

"Thanks, Haru," Zuko said, taking them. "Are you okay? You look pale."

"Utakata came here using an eel hound," Haru said, not meeting their eyes. "Y-y-you can take that to ride away from here."

"We'll be escaping soon," Katara said. "But there's one problem. We need to get out of this prison."

Haru shook his head, "I-I-I can't… I can't open these walls. I'm sorry. I'm s-s-so sorry!"

Katara shared a look with Zuko. Something had troubled Haru enough to make him unable to even speak properly. Katara walked up to him and took his hand in hers. "I'm sorry about your father, Haru. Zuko told me."

Something like pain flashed in his face. Slowly, he ran his knuckles along her jaw. Behind him, she saw Zuko looking at them expressionlessly. "Katara, I'm… I'm sorry I can't do anything more than this."

"It's okay, I understand," she said. "Thank you for all the help you gave."

Haru gave her hand a small squeeze, and squared his shoulders, "You both will have to escape tonight."

"That's what we are planning," Zuko said. "But it's not full moon yet –"

"No, no, you don't understand," Haru said, walking up to Zuko. "You have to go tonight. Or else… Just go tonight. Run away."

Zuko voiced the thought in Katara's mind. "Haru? What's going on?"

Haru swallowed and made a face as though every word hurt him, "I just overheard a conversation between Utakata and Jet. Utakata was… angry with Jet for not following his orders. Apparently, letting you go unhurt was not part of the plan."

"What?" Katara asked, sharing a confused look with Zuko.

"So… Jet wanted to… you know… with her and that's why he let you go unharmed. Utakata slapped Jet and said he was letting dick to the thinking. If he had stuck to the plan that Utakata had given him, he could have had Katara in his bed tonight."

Bile rose up Katara's throat, making her retch, while Zuko walked over to her, while swearing a blue streak. He draped an arm around her, smoke curling from his nose. Haru licked his lips and said, "That's not all. It gets worse."

"How can this possibly get worse?" Zuko barked.

Haru rubbed his face and said, "Now that he knows you are not the trump card he thought you were… he…"

"Wants to kill us?"

"No. He plans to hand you over to someone… I'm not sure who and give her to… you know."

With a stifled sob, Katara burrowed her face into Zuko's shoulder.

"Please, run away. Go. Tonight."

"What about the wall?"

"Can I suggest something?" Katara said.

When Vamik brought in their meals later that day, he looked moments away from bursting into tears. He looked at the two of them and said, "Haru told me. I'll do it."

"Are you sure?" Zuko asked him. "What happens tonight night hurt you."

Vamik nodded, "I know. But if I don't do it tonight, I will never be able to look at myself in the mirror. Especially after knowing Utakata's true face."

"Then see you tonight."

Vamik gave a thumbs-up, before dropping the wall and walking away. Seconds passed like hours until finally, it was time. The moon was just a sliver short of being full. Zuko changed into new clothes, strapped the swords on his back, and turned away to give Katara some privacy. After pitching her idea, she had gone quiet. Far too quiet for his liking. How was she feeling? Knowing that her abuse had happened as the part of a bigger conspiracy. Personally, Zuko was furious and fully intended to have Utakata pay for his sins, extensively. He knew he needed to get her to talk, but she had clamed shut. He had tried, a couple of times, to ask her if she is okay but she simply replied, later.

"Ready?" Katara said, her voice cold and emotional, cutting through his thoughts.

"When you are," Zuko said and peered out of the window. "Vamik is here."

Katara nodded, walked over to the moonlight and closed her eyes. Zuko's heart thudded so loudly, he was scared it would burst out of his chest. He took a deep breath and pulled out his swords. Katara meanwhile raised her hands. Outside, Vamik made a gagging noise as she took control of his blood. As Zuko watched, the boy raised his hand like a puppet might while under the control of a puppeteer. Then, suddenly, Vamik's hand dropped and the stone wall collapsed. Katara moved her hands to the left, as the teenaged Earth Bender literally flew in front of them.

Zuko brought the rear, his swords held aloft. They made it about thirty meters into the camp before they were spotted.

"Halt!" someone cried, "What the hell?"

"Let us go or this happens to you," Katara said as she raised her arms, making Vamik's spine curve, making the boy gag.

The Earth Bender clearly did not take the threat seriously and chucked a boulder at them. Zuko jumped into action to deflect it with his stone, but Katara was faster. Without letting go of Vamik, she took control of the newcomer's blood. The boulder flying towards them lost steam abruptly and crashed to the ground ineffectually. She clawed her fingers and drew her hand in. Correspondingly, the man was pulled to them, terror dancing naked on his face. With a grunt, Katara slammed the man against a rocky outcrop, knocking him unconscious. The commotion attracted the attention of some more people. The camp was now beginning to rise. Without issuing a threat, Katara took control of two more. She twisted her hand and two men bent sideways at an unnatural angle, screaming with pain.

Zuko, meanwhile, descended on the other three in a hailstorm of fire and swords. The three of them moved towards the lake, an awkward trio making their way through an ever-increasing crowd of Earth Benders and Non-Benders. Vamik floating in front of them, Katara her hands held aloft and Zuko bringing the rear, with his back facing Katara.

Suddenly, a wall of stone rose between Katara and Zuko. He felt a moment of concern but brushed it aside. Katara was more than capable of taking care of whatever the Earth Benders threw at her. He needed to pay full attention to his own side.

"Looks like we underestimated you both," Jet's voice drew Zuko's attention. A pair of hook swords appeared in his vision and he parried them with his right sword. Metal clashed against metal as the two men fought. Behind him, Zuko was vaguely aware of the wall crumbling, but his entire attention was on Jet. He was just as skilled a swordsman as Zuko was, and it took every ounce of his training and skill to keep the man at bay. Normally, Zuko would have been thrilled at meeting an equal. But Jet was anything but. Being a skilled swordsman was not good enough. He was the scum of the earth and deserved to be treated as such. Thinking quickly, Zuko jumped in closer, their swords locked with each other. Taking a deep breath, Zuko bellowed a stream of fire at his opponent. With a yell, Jet jumped back. With a savage thrill, he saw that the man was clutching his cheek, his swords clacking on the stony ground. With a whirl, Zuko unleased a whip of fire and let it sear the man across his chest. Zuko knew the burns were superficial, but it was enough to hurt. Without giving him the chance to recover, he continued the whipping. He rained an endless barrage of flames as the man hunkered down in a crouch as Zuko whipped him mercilessly. For every tear that he had made Katara shed, Zuko would burn a part of his flesh.

"Zuko, stop!" Katara's voice cut through the rage that was thrumming through his veins. He pulled back and turned to look at her, only to do a double take. All around them, about twelve to fourteen men lay in various stages of consciousness. She had, singlehandedly, wiped half the camp out. Her eyes blazing, Katara walked towards him and said through gritted teeth, "He is mine."

With a smirk, Zuko stepped back and let Katara take over. Katara raised her hand. Moments later, Jet's body went rigid. She raised her hands and Jet rose, pain and horror making tears stream down his eyes. "Do you remember what I told you I'd do if you tried something with me?" Katara said.

She raised her thumb, index, and middle fingers, Katara moved them, as though twirling a coin in them. Jet's scream tore through the night. The Earth Benders approaching them froze in their paths, their disbelief evident on their faces. Katara let go of Jet's blood and the man collapsed on the ground in a heap. He grabbed his eyes and thrashed. He retched, throwing up blood. Katara took hold of his blood yet again and pulled him up to his knees. She held up her index and middle fingers to make a V and swirled her wrist. In response, Jet's head spun a hundred and eighty degree with a sickening crunch. Katara dropped her hands and Jet's lifeless body slumped on the ground, his head turned the wrong way.