Title: Fighting for You
Pairings: ultimately Zutara
Rating: PG17/M
Warnings: Language, some violence, some citrus, modern AU
Summary: Katara is the Princess of the SWT, a branch of The Tribe, a waterbending mafia based out of the North Pole, establishing themselves in Ba Sing Se. Zuko the banished prince of The Nation, a firebending syndicate, is involved in the amateur fight scene of Ba Sing Se. Katara's financial interests turn physical as they raise up in ranks but glory has a price when Zuko's past comes back.
Ch 2:
The blow to the back of his ankle hurt more than he expected as he limped his way up the three flights of stairs to his shabby one-bedroom apartment in the heart of the area of Ba Sing Se called the Lower Ring. Entering the apartment he found the television casting an ethereal glow on Uncle snoring loudly in the recliner. It was unseasonably hot and the ceiling fan only helped cool down the room so much. The colorful tattoos peaked out at the edges of Iroh's open button-down shirt, a grim reminder of who they were and where they came from.
Zuko leaned over and placed a hand on Uncle's arm shaking gently. "Uncle?" Iroh jerked and snorted, turning his head to the other side. "Uncle. I'm home." It was no use. The old man was out, so Zuko pulled the thin blanket up tucking him in. Zuko then turned and headed to the single bedroom. The lamp on the dresser illuminated her pale skin like the petite angel that she was. He knelt down next to the mattress on the floor and tenderly brushed back a stray lock of her black hair. "Hey, Princess." He hadn't meant to wake her up but her eyes fluttered open regardless.
"Hi, Daddy!" Her sleepy smile brightening his day, or rather his night. "Did you win?"
"Yup." Zuko rearranged the Disney princess comforter to cover Liang better, then dislodged the stuffed otter-penguin from the crack between the bed and the wall tucking it under the covers next to her.
"Cool." Her smile flipped downward. That little frown clenched his heart and her finger landing lightly on his cut lip broke it. "Why do you get hurt?"
Regardless of how many times he had been asked that he could never answer her so instead smiled and brushed his hand against her forehead one last time then planted a kiss where his fingers had just been. "It's late. Go back to sleep." Liang smiled again, murmuring an "I love you, Daddy," and snuggled back down into the pillows hugging the stuffed animal tight. Closing the door softly behind him called out, "I love you too."
Not the best choice of a post-fight beverage, he grabbed two beers from the fridge and leaned against the counter. Pressing the ice cold bottle against the bruise he could feel already forming on his cheek he cursed the headgear that did nothing to protect that area of his face. Zuko popped the cap on the other one and downing it quickly then grabbing another to enjoy on the fire escape. The strip of metal that made up the escape was rusted and honestly it scared him that it would collapse at any moment, the scum lord too cheap and lazy to fix the bloody thing. But it was cooler outside than inside making it too tempting not to risk sitting out on the ledge. Taking a long swig of the fresh beer, he let the noise of their neighborhood saturate his mind.
Agni! He hated it here. They lived in the cesspool that made up the Lower Ring of Ba Sing Se where poverty and crime ran rampant. Every night they fell asleep to the sounds of police sirens or ambulances, the crash of broken bottles and vulgar shouts as drunks fought each other on the streets below, hungry babies crying for food that would never come and parents just as hungry screaming for the sweet relief found in a bottle or a syringe. He hated it here. What he hated even more was having to raise his daughter here.
It was a far cry from his own upbringing back in the Fire Nation capital. He was raised in opulent terror. A father, who ran the criminal organization filled with firebenders known throughout the world as The Nation, whose lust for power blinded him from anything but. A mother, obedient to her husband yet fearful in her own right, raised her son in her image much to his father's dismay. Seeing his wife's weakness, Ozai raised his younger sister to be as deadly and precise as himself. Both children were raised to believe that everything was theirs for the taking. It fed their egos and disillusions when grown men would bow to the young children, eager to provide for their every whim in hopes that by pleasing the siblings they would please the father in turn raising themselves up in the hierarchy of the organization. It was a twisted game they all played. Spoiled and outspoken, not a good combination when business matters were to be attended to, a 13-year-old Zuko, finally ripe for meetings with the higher ups, shamed himself by speaking out against one of his father's plans and, too young and too influential to have a bullet put in his brain, he was sent away but not before leaving the mark on his face as a symbol of his shame- across the eye to blind his arrogance, across the ear to deafen his pride.
Just as Iroh, his father's older brother, was Zuko's salvation, the same could be said of Zuko in Iroh's life. Following the murder of his only son, Iroh had sunk low seeking refuge in drinking and gambling, reduced to half of the powerful man he had been back home. Iroh had told him once that if not for him in his life, he would surely have drunk himself to death. They lived humbly and simply yet it wasn't enough for Zuko especially after his daughter was born.
It had been his senior year of high school when he had met Jin. She was sexy and sweet and made her interest in him painfully obvious. Jet had warned him though. "Don't get involved with her, man." Zuko took it as Jet's jealousy since he was the one who always got the girl while Zuko had to watch from the sidelines always painfully aware of the odd looks he received from the opposite sex thanks to the mark across his left eye. What should have been one night stand had turned into a frantic call over a year later stating she couldn't do this anymore and that she was leaving. He heard his daughter, not quite four months old, screaming in the background. Racing home, Jin had left the note saying she was sorry with Liang burning with a fever in her crib. She was gone, unable to take the responsibility she had never wanted. She constantly reminded him she never wanted to be a mother. How many screaming matches had they gotten into because of it? So there he was a single dad at the ripe old age of 19. That was seven years ago and it had been tough go and frankly he wouldn't have been able to go through any of it without Uncle's support. He loved his daughter more than anything. That's why he fought, so he could get them out of this hell.
He dug the business card from his sweatpants pocket staring at the name and number that could change his life.
Or so she said. He had been burned by women before and was always on guard.
Behind him, he heard Iroh rustling around. "I thought I heard you," Iroh yawned stretching his old joints out then folding the blanket and placing it on the arm of the futon. "How did it go?" Zuko knew that Iroh didn't approve of him fighting and his tone was a clear indication.
"I won." Iroh simply grunted in acknowledgement leaning against the window's opening to join his nephew.
They sat in companionable silence for a moment. The conversation, the advice he desperately needed, floating in his head until finally they blurted out. "So this lady stopped by after the match and offered me a deal." He flipped the card between his fingers finally offering it out for Iroh to inspect. Worry plastered across his wizened old face as Iroh read the name. "Katara Kuruk? Of the Tribe?" Iroh's frown did not bode well.
"Well, I'm not sure about that part but…" Iroh cut Zuko off, the card shredded to bits and tossed in the garbage can. "Stay away from her."
"Why?" Zuko scowled back at his uncle lifting a leg to crawl back through the window. Iroh had already scooped up his coat and was preparing to leave, his babysitting duty over. He pointed a chubby finger at his nephew, "Because if you know what's good for you, you will stay away."
"She offered me a lot of money." Zuko dropped his head, not saying things that didn't need to be said. "I never asked for the help, but Jet said-"
"Hmph! Jet's part of this? Figures." Iroh groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "What's the catch?"
Zuko told Iroh as much as he knew going into as much detail as he could. Granted half of it was out his understanding of the game. As far as he was concerned he just had to get in the ring, beat his opponent, and then he'd get paid. Easy enough.
Iroh contemplated all this. "Do they know who you really are?"
Fishing a Barbie doll left in the couch cushion Zuko scowled at what Iroh spoke of. "No. At least I don't think so. I figured if they did know offering me deals wouldn't be part of the conversation." Given the negative relations their two factions had in the past, a bullet in his head would probably more in line with whatever negotiations they had in story, if she was in fact associated with The Tribe.
With another heavy sigh, Iroh nodded. He knew Zuko had made up his mind and there was no stopping the boy now.
OoooOoooO
Zuko was exhausted from the night before and the familiar pain was seeping in (the threadbare futon didn't help any either) but duty called and breakfast needed to be made. While scrambling the eggs and tending the bacon, Liang chatted on and on about this and that. She was a lot like her mother like that. He enjoyed her conversations though. Liang helped clear the table then bounced away to her bedroom to get out of her pajamas. There was a knock on the door, elbow deep in dirty dishes Zuko heard Liang loudly announce from hallway that she would get it.
"Hi Uncle Jet!" she squealed, wrapping her little arms around him.
"Hey there, kiddo. Where's your dad?" Jet rounded the corner and instantly taunted his domesticated best friend. He nabbed a strip of bacon left over on the plate. "Oh, honey, you shouldn't have."
"Uncle Jet, you're silly," Liang giggled, "See what I did in school this week?" She brought out page after page of drawings and writings. Zuko noticed a tinge of pride in his friend's expression. Hell, the kid was as much Jet's as she was his. When Jin had run off, along with Uncle Iroh Jet had been right there to help him out.
"That's awesome, kiddo. Hey, can you go in your bedroom so I talk to your dad?" Zuko had set down a mug of coffee in front of Jet and slid into the seat across from him.
Liang frowned a bit, "Okay." She slunk to her room closing the door behind her. Once she was out of earshot, Jet pulled an envelope from his jacket passing it to Zuko. Zuko thumbed through the bills within noting there was three times more there than normal. Jet caught that. "Looks like Katara negotiated a bit. Got you a little something extra. She must like you."
Opening a kitchen cabinet door, Zuko slid the envelope in the lock box. "I guess."
"She suck you off?" Jet's brown eyes darkened just so and Zuko knew that look. Even after all this time he was appalled that he could think something like that. "Where did that come from?"
Jet laughed tightly, "I mean, I don't really care. She's not my girlfriend or anything and Lord knows I've been with other chicks." Jet's voice trailed off.
"No, man. She talked to me and that was it."
"And you're gonna do it right?" Jet prompted, snagging another slice of bacon.
"I don't know. I mean, it'd be a good thing, right?"
"She hooks you up with good venues, you win, and you get money and get the hell out of here. Hopefully getting a nice piece of ass to go with it. Seems simple enough to me."
The thought lingered in his mouth not wanting to say them until finally they slipped out. "So what do you get out of this?" Zuko questioned.
Jet took a long swig from the coffee mug. "What do you mean?"
"What do you get out it?" he repeated. "I mean you're already sleeping with her, so it can't be that. More money? Fame?"
Jet snorted in disgust staring intently into the coffee mug. "Did you ever think that maybe I hate living here and would like something better? You think I like working at the scummy gym with these low lives- no offense? That I like scraping by, doing shit jobs for shit pay. This is a great opportunity for both of us. Plus we take Smellerbee and Longshot with us. You know she's pregnant, right?"
"I thought she was, you know."
"Lesbo? Hell no. That girl's a freak and Longshot's the lucky bastard who gets to hit that. It'd be good for them too." Jet's voice softening at the mention of his two other best friends who had been romantically involved for as long as he knew them. Being an orphan himself he had a soft spot for kids, so long as he didn't create them of course.
Zuko lifted his coffee mug and toasted to the soon to be parents, "Well then, I guess I have no choice."
Jet laughed and clapped a still apprehensive Zuko on the back. "We're gonna fucking rock their world, my friend."
OooOooOooO
"Welcome! I'm so glad you decided to come!" Katara smiled brightly, hugging Jet lightly offering her cheek to politely peck not once sloshing the cosmopolitan in her hand. Zuko had to bite back that feeling of how far he had sunk over the years seeing her in the designer dress comparing it to his second hand dress pants and black shirt that she looked up and down with a flash of pity for him. Fashion was not a priority for him. Making sure his kid ate at night and had a good coat for the cold mornings was a bit more important.
Zuko sat tensely across from Katara. Jet lazily hung his arm over her shoulder which got him a death glare so wisely he moved it. He started to speak but Katara was in no mood for small talk. She was all business tonight. Hopefully these negotiations would go smoother than her ones from earlier in the week. She always hated when grown men groveled and cried during said negotiations, simply forcing her to have to cut off an appendage or slide an icicle through an organ to get her way. It was messy and a pain in the ass, making for a very grumpy waterbender.
"Leave us," she demanded, waving away her lover. Jet started to open his mouth but the look from Katara promptly made it close and he slid away from the pair to the bar. "Do we have a deal?"
"I'm not sure about it just yet. I had some questions about how it would work."
She sighed heavily. Shit! Another indecisive man. In a room full of witnesses, she'd have to use her verbal skills.
She nodded her head out to the dance floor. "Lots of beautiful women here, huh?" Batting her eyelashes at him, she crept over to sit next to him. Her dress had hitched up just inches from the expensive panties she wore underneath. Her head tilted just so, her full lips glossy and sexy, her fingers tracing along her upper thigh. "You see those girls over there?"
"Yeah," his eyes followed hers to where a group of three young women stood huddled together, staring at him, giggling and licking their lips.
"They want you." The sexual signals they were throwing his way were hard not to miss but as always Zuko never believed they were for him. "No they don't."
"You're an idiot. Of course they do."
Unconsciously, he rubbed the edge of the scar and she picked up on that. "Girls like scars. It brings out the whole mothering instinct. You know, where they want to take care of you. Kiss you and make you all better." Katara smiled again, leaning in close. He caught a whiff of her perfume, that same one from before, and damn she smelled incredible. "Then just think that when you sign up with us you'll have lots of those girls begging you to take them home with you. You can get laid as often as you can keep it up."
Zuko coughed and turned his head away. It had been a while since he'd last been with someone like that but his daughter was his priority, not some floozy looking to make it with some fighter.
Katara recognized that her tactic wasn't working. Obviously not a sex-fiend like Jet. Good to know. "I know how hard it must be." His head jerked back to look at her. Her tone of seduction replaced with compassion. "All alone and with a little girl to take care of. It must be so hard."
"How… how did you know about her?" he flinched, eyes narrowing angrily. When it came to this world of fighting, he had been meticulous about keeping that information out. It wasn't anyone's damn business.
"Oh, I know all kinds of things," she picked up her martini glass and took a delicate sip, swirling the liquid inside. She narrowed her eyes at the glass, her expression hardening. "Zuko, prince of The Nation. Banished son. Single father. I even heard there is a contract back home for you. Something about disrespecting the elders and they don't take that kind of thing lightly over there. What'd you do, huh?"
Zuko fumed. No one here knew any of that. He kept his mouth shut so well. It must have been Jet. She must have fucked the information from him.
"So here's the thing, Zuko," Katara tapped his chest lightly, "You say yes to me. We invest in you, better training, better venues, better payouts, and such, and you win for us, for your daughter. Or else I tell some very important people where the banished Prince is."
"You're blackmailing me?"
Katara gasped, feigning innocence. "No, no, no. Negotiating. I give, you get. It's simple really. So just say yes, sign some papers, then go out onto that the little group over there, pick one out, hell, take all three home, get laid, and then tomorrow begin your new life." She held out her hand and Zuko took it. She smiled brightly again then motioned for the waitress to bring two of something. Within moments the two shot glasses sat before them. "I've heard that your family does this," she said lifting her glass motioning for him to do the same. "We also drink to seal the deal. To a profitable partnership!"
They both downed the shot and while Katara beamed at her business deal, Zuko got a bad feeling deep in his gut.
Did that help answer some questions? Hopefully it wasn't too much backstory so soon. Ugh.
I'm glad though that folks are liking this one. It's been picking my brain for far too long.
