Title: Fighting for You
Pairings: ultimately Zutara
Rating: PG17/M
Warnings: Modern AU. Language, some violence.

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.

oooOOOoooOOOooo

Zuko could honestly say these Tribe parties had grown on him. The food was delicious, and the Arctic wine was so smooth. Then there was Katara who glided amongst the guests like a soothing river of smiles and pleasant conversations, dressed in the body hugging dark blue silk, ringlets of hair half up, the sapphire necklace resting comfortably above her pushed-up cleavage. He was one lucky man and the jealous spark ignited every time he caught another man looking her way. But the way she lingered around him, reassuring pecks when they were alone and prideful boasting when they weren't, let him know he had nothing to worry about. Yup, these parties had definitely grown on him.

But that one guy, the old one with the neatly trimmed white beard, piercing blue eyes, and the perpetual grimace, who always seemed to have a lovely young lady on his arm, set Zuko ill at ease. As he and Katara were huddled with Sokka in pleasant conversation, that man approached. This time with a lovely lady on both arms.

"Ah, the infamous Zuko Long! The Dragon of the East," Pakku nodded to the fighter. Zuko stuck out his hand to shake it but was left hanging as Pakku stared down at the offering with a look of disgust. Slowly Zuko pulled it back in and took an embarrassed drink of his whiskey and cola.

"Hello, Master Pakku," Katara smiled. It was her fake one, Zuko had learned that well enough. And Sokka's too, as he too formally greeted the man. They had to play nice to this esteemed member of their organization.

"I hear you have a big fight coming up." Yes, yes. Very big. The championship title match. Pakku sipped his arctic wine and over the glass made an observation, "And I hear it is to be against a compatriot of yours. A Chan Something-or-other."

"Excuse me?" Katara questioned, tilting her head just so. "No. You've been misinformed. He's-."

"Yeah, about that," Sokka coughed into his hand interrupting, "The original guy had something come up and had to back out. But I made a few calls and we lucked out that that this guy was available otherwise we would have had to cancel the entire match."

Casting a weary glance to each other as Sokka continued to ramble about financial losses, Zuko and Katara had a feeling in the pit of their stomachs that this was not a coincidence. Sokka brightened pointing to Zuko, "I'm meeting with his promoter Monday morning to finalize the paperwork. Actually I think she had mentioned wanting to meet the legendary Zuko. Up to you if you want to show up or not." Sokka kept on babbling however Zuko's head began to buzz. Pakku noticed the wobbly Katara asking if the "princess" was alright.

"I'm fine. I think I may have had too much," she giggled drunkenly, setting down her glass on the nearest table and dramatically putting her hand to her forehead. It was a ruse. The woman could hold her liquor but they needed to get out of there to talk. "Maybe some fresh air would help me out. Zuko, could you take me outside?"

"Sure." Setting down his glass, they maneuvered their way between the crowds of people inside the Karuk's mansion, finally making it outside. The pool lights cast a calming glow but it did nothing to ease the thoughts that ran through their heads.

"Zuko," Katara breathed. She didn't need to say any more. The look in her eyes said everything. "Do you think this is really them?"

He brushed his hand through his hair then leaned on his forearms against the railing. "Yeah. I really do. You forget, they have as much pull as your people do. Why wouldn't they rig this?"

Out of the corner of his eye he watched Katara pace, nibbling on her thumbnail as she thought. After what felt like eternity, she stopped and faced him. "You're not going to fight. We're going to cancel."

"We can't do that."

"Why not?" He loved when she had her hands on her hips like that. But now was not the time.

"Because that would show them we're scared. I'm tired of running from them. It feels like I've been doing that since I was thirteen. I need to face them. And if this is how I do it then so be it." He stared up at the stars, hoping that maybe some kind of answer would appear or maybe a comet would come and land on him and he wouldn't have to deal with any of this. He wasn't so lucky. Instead he could feel her staring at him so he turned to start the silent debate.

Only their eyes voiced what needed to be said. Against every fiber of her being, Katara finally conceded turning to look out on the shimmering pool. "Are you so sure?" her voice was soft. Zuko moved to stand next to her, with a gentle touch he lifted her chin to meet her worried gaze and in it he felt all the confidence in the world. How did she do that to him? He'd always felt certain amount of doubt but with her it just seemed to all fit together. He pulled her in close and rested his forehead on hers. "Yeah. I am."

Monday morning rolled around and the ride to Sokka's office was filled with unspoken tension. Even a hand squeeze here and there did nothing to alleviate the feeling of the inevitable. Katara and Zuko were surprised to see another man and woman sitting in their seats despite being nearly half an hour early to the meeting. They could only see the backs of their heads but when Sokka's face lit up at his little sister's arrival, the couple turned and Zuko froze. It felt like he'd been doing that a lot lately since they'd gotten the calling card a week ago. It was one thing to assume his sister was here but to see it first hand was a different story. Everything felt as though it was crashing. All the good things happening were going away. All from just one person.

Azula.

Katara was taken with how much she and Zuko looked alike. Both had the amber eyes, creamy skin, and dark hair. Her lithe body was dressed sharply in her tailored suit, prim hair cut, and cat-like demeanor. Her appearance belied whatever intentions she may have. Chan, much to her opposite, looked bored slumped in the chair as he passed the time playing on his smartphone. His suit was too flashy, his hair over loaded with too many styling products, his ego oozing off him like the musky cologne he must have bathed in, until he saw Katara. A pretty girl always managing to peak his interests. He gave a wink and a playboy smile and Katara glared, ignoring the inappropriateness of his behavior. She nudged Zuko into the room and they took their places.

Zuko silently stewed while Sokka, wisely oblivious to the tension between the people on the other side of his desk, finalized the paperwork between the fighters and the managers. Katara tried to sum up the other woman, finding it next to impossible. There was something off and for Katara to feel this way made her feel uncomfortable to say the least.

With the final signatures on paper, everyone rose and shook hands. "It was good to finally see you, Zuko Long," Azula drawled, releasing her grip on her brother's hand, "And it was really good to meet you, Miss Kuruk. It's nice to finally put a face to a name."

"Likewise," Katara agreed, taking Azula's offered hand in her own.

"I'd lose if I were you," Azula warned under her breath as the women shook hands. Her grip tightened around Katara's hand.

"Fat chance of that," Katara hissed back. "Zuko will fight and he'll win."

Azula pulled out her sunglasses from her large purse and slid them onto her head. "Oh we'll see about that. Perhaps you shouldn't have so much faith in someone so… disgraceful." Her malevolent gaze fell onto Zuko once again and that strange surge of protection rose in Katara. She moved to stand before Zuko but it was Sokka who rested a hand on both ladies' shoulders. "Well, it was wonderful to meet you. Good luck and all. We'll see you in two weeks." Sokka's voice dipped low as he bent down to Azula's ear, "And you'd be wise to keep away until that time, Nation."

Her sharp laugh pierced the room, "Well regardless. It was lovely meeting all of you and we shall see you again soon. Good luck, Zu-zu." The woman walked away taking an oblivious Chan with her.

Sokka put his hand up to stop Zuko from going after her. He shook his head "no", "They'll be plenty of time for that later, man. Just get to work, 'kay?"

The last few weeks before a fight were always tense, always filled with so much last minute training, video footage studies, and all the little things to hopefully give him the edge. This time though there was a different tension in the air, training was minimal. Even Liang became reserved as the adults around her spoke in hushed tones. They watched videos of Chan's previous fights and there was no rhyme or reason to his stances, to his kicks and punches. He fought like a flailing schoolgirl afraid to get his pretty face hurt and yet he was winning every single time. It made no sense.

Toph threw up her hands in frustration, "Zuko if you don't beat this pansy, I'm going to beat you."

Tens of thousands of fans packed the stadium to watch the main event. Camera crews were set up to televise the main event: Zuko "Dragon of the East" Long and Chan "Pretty Boy" Tomihama (rich beach), the Rumble in the Volcano IV.

Even in the locker room, the beats of the crowd and the music vibrated. Katara kissed Zuko, checking and rechecking his gloves, his only defense against his opponent. "Watch your left side, okay?" Katara offered sagely, touching the edge of his scar, unable to meet her lover's gaze.

"It'll be okay Katara. I've done this once or twice you know."

Katara smiled lamely, "I know. But there's something off. I just… I don't know. For the love of La, please be careful." Zuko kissed her again and one more time for luck then turned to Liang. "Wish Daddy luck?" Giving one last hug, Liang whispered against his neck, "Be careful out there, Daddy." It was her first live match and this wasn't the same as hearing about it later on or seeing it on TV. She was scared for him.

From the door, Jet called out that it was time.

"I will, Princess. I love you." He kissed his daughter, gave a final squeeze then turned back to Katara. "I guess I'll see you in about an hour." Feeling suddenly helpless, Katara watched Zuko and his entourage leave for the ring. Zuko turned over his should one last time and held up his hand to catch the kiss Katara blew.

"He'll be okay," Liang predicted. "He's got us for good luck."

Katara smiled and took the little girl's hand. "You're right. Now let's get out there and watch him beat the snot out of that jerk."

The first bell rings and the men size each other up with testing punches and kicks. Chan was tall, almost a head taller, and broader than Zuko. He exudes cockiness, like he's already won, and it makes Zuko sick. Then the second bell rings and it's as though the other man is trying to wear Zuko out but Zuko doesn't let on that his stamina can take this. The third bell to the sixth and all hell breaks loose. The crowd shouts in anger at how the refs turn a blind eye to Chan's moves, just short of kicking Zuko in the balls and gouging his eyes, every single one of Chan's hits were illegal in the rule book. The crowd throws things at the cage when Zuko is the one penalized for landing blows. If The Nation could rig the match itself, then there was no reason why they couldn't have paid off the refs too. There are times where Katara can barely watch as Zuko is pummeled; Liang huddled into her side unable to watch as well. Across the way, Katara can see Azula smiling that Cheshire-cat smile and it makes her want to punch it off the bitch. Well if they can cheat so can she. In the eighth round, Zuko was a bloodied and bruised mess. With a flick of her fingers, timing it just so when Zuko throws a body blow, Chan drops to the mat twisted and unable to move pinned down by his own sweat and blood. Zuko glanced up to see his manger's hands twisted and an intense look on her face. What the hell? Screw it, it's on. Zuko landed on top of the other man and arm barred his opponent into submission. The refs can do nothing but watch as Chan taps out, released from whatever unseen force held him down, before Zuko rips the ligaments in the man's elbow. The crowd roars in excitement as a stunned ref lifts Zuko's arm in victory.

Across the way, it is Katara's turn to have the Cheshire-grin. The Nation woman's eyes darken and slip down to the little girl jumping and cheering beside her. Suddenly the victory doesn't feel so sweet. Instead she feels the need to protect. Leading the girl away from the unspoken danger, Katara heads to the locker room to give proper congratulations to her fighter on winning the match of his life.

oooOOOoooOOOooo

To everyone's surprise, they hear nothing more from the Nation people following the fight and the interviews afterwards. It was as though they tucked tail and ran back home. Zuko wasn't so easily convinced. "A dragon waits to strike its prey," is what Uncle Iroh used to tell him and the words never felt truer than now.

Thanks to Katara, Zuko's recovery from the match was quick but he still took it easy. They discussed him going back to defend his titles and he wasn't so sure about it. "Let me relax a bit more, then I'll decide."

Life became somewhat normal. Katara practically moved in with the Long's. It was lovely being a normal family, going on family outings. It was something neither bender could have imagined.

Over dinner out one evening, Zuko presented Katara with a ring. It had been a year and a half since that fateful day when she walked into his locker room in the Lower Ring and made him an offer he couldn't refuse. "You saved me. From what I was before. Thank you."

"Are you proposing?" she teased her bottom lip, unable to take her eyes off Zuko.

"Yeah, I kind of am. Well?"

"You're an idiot," she laughed and threw her arms around him. "Of course I will! Oh Liang will be so excited. Did you tell her?"

"Yeah. She was the first person I asked. She called me an idiot too. Something about how you're already my wife and already her mom. Oh and something else about when are we making her a baby brother?"

Katara kissed him with all her heart, "Take me back to your place and maybe we can work on that."

"I can never say no to you. You know that right?"

He couldn't drive home, couldn't get her in his bed, undressed and on top of him the way he liked it, quick enough, until he pulled into the driveway. Suddenly all the happy feelings went away. A knot formed in his stomach as the police lights flashed.

"Zuko? What's going on?" Katara blinked, confused by the scene.

He slammed the car into park and got out of the SUV quickly. He caught one of the officers to get some information. "I'm sorry, sir. You're going to have to leave."

"This is my house. What the hell is happening?" The officer pointed to a lady standing by the door, chatting with someone on the front steps. Oh, Agni! It was Liang's babysitter. What the hell was going on?

It was Katara who went to the lady, "Suki, what is happening? What's going on?"

Suki, a petite auburn-haired lady not much older than Katara, dressed conservatively gave Katara a worried look. "It's Liang. The babysitter here said someone came in an hour ago and tied them both up-"

Katara clutched at Zuko, Zuko clutched at air as Suki continued about investigations and alerts. They weren't sure they wanted to hear anymore. "Where… Where is my daughter?" His mind whirled. Blood, pain, anger, murder, hate.

"They took Liang. All they left were these," Suki held up an evidence bag. Inside was a note written in Fireish and a coin. The same coin left behind weeks earlier.

"What does is say Zuko?" Katara was hardly able to breathe let alone speak.

"You should have lost."