She begins with her outer tunic, pulling it over her head and off her form. Katara inhales sharply as her dark skin comes into contact with the chill. She is distantly aware, and slightly sheepish about the erection of her nipples under the thin fabric of her undergarments. The shame in being a tool for the pleasures of men has never left her as she continues to feel disgusted with herself. With slight hesitance, she slowly unwinds the bindings around her chest.
The waterbender watches the faces of the men before her. The younger one, who looks a little older than fifteen, has a kind of graveness to his features such that she almost pities him. Someone so young should never have to go through anything so depressing. She notices a deep blush on the boy's cheeks as he tries not to look at her near naked form. Inwardly, she surprises and embarrasses herself by being oddly pleased that she, at the age of twenty-eight can make a boy who must be more than a decade younger herself aroused.
When her breasts are fully exposed, she glances at the older of the men. The first thing she notices is the scar on his face. She thinks that it must've been a training accident, a very painful one. His skin is pale, and apart from the marred flesh, is unblemished. He is handsome, more so than any man she has serviced.
He seems mysterious in a way, a little unreadable, but what she can tell is that he is less interested in her than any man she has slept with. His eyes flick up to meet hers. She is taken aback slightly, by the gold of his eyes and the shear intimidation on his features.
"My name is Katara," she says as she tries to keep calm but regrets her words immediately even though she doesn't show it. She has never revealed her real identity to any of her customers. The relationship she has with men pertains to one purpose and one purpose only- fucking. The older of the two men stands and she instinctively steps back. She knows that the Madam wants her to service these men but she has had so many inconsiderate and violent men in her time that she instinctively thinks of them as dogs.
Although, there is something different about the man standing before her, he doesn't even glance at her privates. Instead, she watches as he removes the thick fur coat of his uniform and drapes it over her form. The action is unexpected and Katara simply stands in position as he leaves the room, his subordinate following closely behind, leaving her to feel the rare comfort of kindness.
Zuko
X
The picture of a woman's naked body used to do me wonders. I remember the first time I ever laid my eyes on Mai's breasts, the soft of her stomach and what was between her legs. I remember my erection, the need I felt to pump in and out of her mercilessly, the near feral longing to be take her. I remember the amount of restraint I had to exercise while making love to her. Pleasure to me, was as much giving as it was receiving.
The sight of Katara wearing nothing covering her body does nothing to excite me. Although, I must admit that it evokes many memories of my beloved. I haven't seen a woman's private regions for a more than a decade and I had almost forgotten what the naked flesh of a female looks like. Beside me, I note the lust in Tom-Tom's eyes, the way they trace her form, the way he swallows hard and blushes deeply. Boys will be boys, I think as I shake my head inwardly.
And then, there is a distinct amount of anger in my bones as I think of the way in which people see women of her standing. It is sad to say that most of their customers are from the Fire Nation Army. The thing that upsets me most is the way I know they must treat them under the covers.
As a military man, I know how sexually depraved some soldiers can be, especially while being away from their wives or husbands for extended periods. There have been several cases of rape and mutilation committed by our soldiers on civilian women. Under my father's rule, they were never dealt with, but I am different and anyone caught defiling any woman will pay, but catching them is difficult as they prove evasive.
The way she is seen is unacceptable. Katara is not a piece of meat; she is a person, one who deserves to be looked upon with respect. What she does to make money is simply a job and does in no way represent her personality or her worth. Yet, I do not blame Tom-Tom for his lust. He is merely exhibiting what most men would, given the right circumstances or any circumstance concerning a woman's bare breasts for that matter.
For some reason, the way her hands shake as she removes her clothing, the way her breath falters when the cold hits her body, I cannot help but feel an unreasonable amount of pity for her. Maybe it's the love I have for my mother, maybe it's the love I have for Mai, either way, I simply cannot accept the degrading of a woman. So I stand and she recoils slightly, this woman must have scars as deep as her soul. I removing my jacket, and do what any gentleman would and drape it over her.
"I will speak with Tia," I announce as I head out of the room. The Madam's face says it all as I read her surprise and displeasure at the fact I did not take her bait. "Where is she?" I ask, my tone is displeased and every bit reflective of my state of mind. I don't have time to play. A man is dead and many more may be at risk. "I said… Where is she?" my voice does not falter, it comes out strong, fierce and threatening. I have no time for games, I will see her. She may be the missing piece in the puzzle, the woman who killed Tanaka and, Agni forbid, Hiroshi and Ming Wei.
"Get her." Tom-Tom says, the blush on his face no longer apparent. The Madam tilts her head at her girls who go into one of the rooms.
"Can I you get you anything officers?" her voice is horribly sweet. She makes me sick.
"Madam," the woman whose voice comes to my ears must be the monster responsible for Tanaka's death. I have always wondered what kind of person was behind the senseless slayings of the retired Captain and the tycoon, and most recently Tanaka. What kind of maniacal psychopath would do something so awful. I shut my eyes as I bask in fading innocence of not knowing how a monster looks like. And then… I turn around.
She is no older than Tom-Tom, probably fifteen, sixteen at most. A deep sense of disappointment fills me. I thought I had the culprit, I thought we had caught her. Yet she is too young, she is nothing but a teenager, no older than the Corporal standing beside me. She cannot be the one who murdered Hiroshi and Ming Wei, those two deaths took place when she was still a child. That however, doesn't stop me from believing that she is the murderer of Tanaka. I nod at Tom-Tom who returns the gesture as he approaches the suspect.
"By the authority vested in me by the Fire Lord, may Agni bless him, I am placing you under arrest," he says as he takes the handcuffs hanging from the belt around his waist. "Do not resist. Any and all attempts at opposing apprehension will be met with due punishment and heavy consequences that will be administered by the officer executing the arrest." I am fairly impressed at his memory.
"During the course of the investigation, you must answer any and all questions directed to you pertaining to the case, any hindrance to the investigation will be met with grave penalty," he finishes. The girl looks up at me as tears form in her eyes, even though she doesn't do anything to keep from being brought into custody. I could be wrong but this just further proves her guilt.
From the corner of my eye I see the woman named Katara and make full eye contact with her. Her expression is stoic, unfeeling, nonchalant. I tilt my head, a habit I have acquired after years of being in the force. There is no conflict, no pain and I can feel my suspicions growing. Through many cases of rape of prostitutes, I have visited many brothels, I have seen the camaraderie amongst the girls. They love each other, a universal fact. Yet, Katara does not look at all disturbed. The other girls are pleading with Tom-Tom, asking him to release their sister, only Katara does nothing to save the girl.
"Wait," I say and step forward. "I'm going to give you one final chance," I tell Tia who doesn't look directly at me. "Did you kill Tanaka?" she pauses a moment, and then she meets my gaze. Her expression changes to one of sincerity as she nods.
"Yes," she says. "I did."
Nothing else needs to be said
X
"I will do it," she says and receives immediate disapproval. Tia searches her sister's face for a sign, any sign of agreement to her plan. "He raped me," she tells Katara as she closes her hand around the fabric of her collar. "And he would have raped you and all of the others if he had the chance."
"Tia," Katara is staring into the girl's eyes so intently, she is certain she is looking into Tia's very soul. "You're only sixteen, you have a whole future ahead of you," she says and shakes her head. "Don't do anything stupid," there is caution in her voice as she takes the knife in the girl's hand.
"You've done it too," she says. There is conviction in her tone, certainty and Katara's face pales. How does this girl know about her misdeeds? How does the youth know about the dark side of Katara of the Southern Water Tribe? "I followed you," Tia says, there is pleading in her eyes as she tries to convince Katara to let her do the unforgivable. "I know what you do Katara," she says.
"Then you know not to do it," Katara answers as she shakes her head. "I am at risk child, at any given moment, the police will storm in a arrest me," she tells the girl and places the knife on the ground. "I had no choice, those men… they were going to kill me," she says even though she knows that this is not true. Of all the cases of murder pertaining to Katara, she has always, ALWAYS had the option of letting them live, but then, they were Fire Nation scum, beasts who plundered the land and realized Sozin's demented dream of uniting the world in fire.
"He might as well have killed me," Tia's voice reflects the madness of her mind. "You don't understand Katara, he raped me," she says, stressing the word. "I know why you kill them." she states and Katara's face morphs into one of alarm. "Don't worry I won't tell anyone," Katara grabs hold of Tia's hands as she sees them shake.
"How do you…"
"I heard you talking to Mammy just before she died," she admits and looks into her hands. "You have plans to kill all of them don't you? I can help. I…"
"You are too young to kill anyone. Just stay here,"
"And do what? Get raped every night?" she shakes her head. "I'm through with that! I don't want to live my life solely to please men," she announces and takes the knife into her hand. "Tanaka will be good practice." There is a sound, and Tanaka's voice is heard.
"Tia! Wait," Katara shouts as the girl hides her knife and runs out of the room.
An hour later, Katara hears a scream and rushes into the chambers of her friend.
The man lies dead on the floor in a pool of his own blood as Tia shakes in a corner.
"What have you done," Katara says as she moves to feel the man's pulse… it isn't there. The girl is a mess, half-naked and trembling in a corner. Tia is not like Katara, she is a soft spirit, weak almost, and that's what made Katara disagree with her decision to murder the man who raped her. "Come on," she coos, and stands the girl up. "I will handle it," she says as she gets to work. It takes her less than six hours to finish what Tia has started.
Katara
X
It may be hard to believe but I am the person most pained by the arrest of my friend. It took all my will power not to cry and scream and shout. It took all my energy not to protest. But I see the bigger picture. My goal, since I first drew blood, is to kill the Fire Nation scum who have plundered our land and raped our women.
If I had shown any signs of protection over Tia, if I had acted on my first instinct to take her place, the plan I've had for so long will go to waste. I couldn't and cannot afford to allow that.
Zhao remains high up on my list. I will kill him, but first, I must kill the men around him and all bastards who think it is their right to hurt us. We may be prostitutes but we are also people, we have lives, we have feelings.
I enter my room, sit on the corner of my bed and close my eyes. What have I done? I have allowed my best friend, a girl of merely sixteen years, to go alone to the prison where she may never escape alive.
There is a distinct heaviness on my back as I feel the weight of the coat. The officer has left his clothing with me. A distant sense of gratefulness tugs at my heart as I pull it off my form. The fire is lit and the room is warm enough as I look at the back of the coat where there is a name. Whoever he is, there is no doubt in my mind that we will meet again. I am ashamed at the smile that creep up on my features as I read his name.
"See you soon, Colonel Zuko."
A/N: Hey people! review! i would like to thank avatarspiriaangkorra for being such a great friend. and also babyvfan, Harky21 and Just a Crazy-man for their contributions. thanks :) i am grateful for friends like you :)