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“What’d you get in the Chem test?” Azula asked Katara, standing in the cafeteria with a wide, self-confident smile.
Katara didn’t look up from the notes she was writing, she spoke between bites of her sandwich. “Hundred, what’d you get?” She asked.
Azula let out a bit of a sigh, “Hundred.” She said, rolling her eyes. “Why can’t you just fuck up once.” She asked, slouching into the seat opposite Katara.
“Because we study together, naturally.” Katara replied.
“Whatever, are we still on for tonight?” Azula asked.
Katara finally looked up, “Obviously, I mean we have to celebrate getting perfect scores again, don’t we?” She asked.
“I’ll bring the snacks.” Azula said, “Got something picked out for us to watch?” She asked.
“We could start Attack on Titan?” Kataara suggested, “I hear it’s really good.”
“Ohhh, yea I’ve heard good things.” She replied, the lunch bell rang and they both got up. “Your place at half-five then?” She asked.
Katara nodded, “Sounds good.” The two went to their separate classes, while they shared most classes, they didn’t share all of them. Languages were one of them, Azula sat in Japanese, the class was pretty easy for her, seen as Ozai insisted they speak it at home.
She was sitting next to her friend, Zirin. She was Japanese too so neither of them really paid attention in the class, it was free for both of them. “So how did you even become friends with her?” She asked, “I thought you two hated each other.”
Azula laughed a bit as she scribbled in her copybook. “I don’t know, we just signed up to, like, every single class we could that looked hard, and we ended up being the only people who shared all the same classes, and they were getting overwhelming so we came to a truce and decided we could both thrive better if we helped each other while we competed, becoming friends was more of a byproduct of our agreement.” She explained.
“Weirdos.” Zirin commented, as she turned back to the teacher.
Azula looked down at her page, while she was talking to Zirin, she had drawn a little heart, with A K written inside of it. Her face went a little red, and she quickly turned the page to keep writing Japanese notes.
Azula and Katara had a few more classes together that day, though the rest of it went very fast. Azula went back home, emptying her school bag of books and stationary. The first thing she took was the bottle of vodka she had hidden away. It was hidden in the back of her wardrobe, right up on the top shelf. She couldn’t normally reach it, and therefore Ozai never checked it during room inspections, it was also hidden behind some old clothes she hadn’t worn in years. She put a pair of pajamas in there too, along with her toothbrush, and after a brief shower and a set of fresh clothes, she went to say goodbye to her father. “I’m going to Katara’s now.” She said, peeking into his study.
He nodded, “Study well.” He said, not looking up from his ledger.
Azula nodded, “Yes, sir.” She said, leaving the room. She picked up the backpack. It was a Friday, so Azula didn’t feel too much pressure to study tonight, she could make up for it on Sunday.
It was Late-January, so, even though it was only just past 5, it was pitch black out. She stepped into a convenience store, walking through the aisles, she bought a 2L bottle of Coke for the vodka, as well as some snacks. 2 cans of Pringles, one Sour Cream and Onion and a Salt and Vinegar, two chocolate bars, whole nut for Azula, and Turkish for Katara. She also bought a few bags of jelly sweets, fruit pastilles, wine gums, whatever looked good. She also got a few other drinks for when they wanted something non-alcoholic. Azula paid, putting everything in her bag, her vodka was hidden under her pajamas so as to not be caught, she also had it on the ground, so the cashier couldn’t see it.
“Thank you.” She said, giving the cashier a tip and leaving the store and heading towards Katara’s house. It was a lot smaller than hers, but she still liked it. Hakoda was very nice, he did a great job covering for them, telling Ozai they were being responsible and studying while they were watching movies and playing games, they were starting to turn into a second family for Azula, even Sokka was starting to feel somewhat fraternal, after she had come over so much in the last 4 or so months.
Azula walked through the door, sliding off her shoes. “Hi!” she called out, locking it behind her, she was allowed to just walk in. She walked through the hall, poking her head in doors to find Katara, greeting a cooking Hakoda on her way.
“I’m in my room!” Katara called out through the house, prompting Azula to run up the stairs and into Katara’s room. The room was lit up in purple, Katara had impulsively bought some LED light strips that she saw on TikTok last year and loved them. Azula dropped her bag to the floor, there was a clink of the vodka and the crumple of the plastics, as well as a sloshing of the drinks. She jumped on Katara’s bed, “Hey.” She said, with a smile. Azula was shoulder to shoulder with Katara, who was already in her pajamas. They were blue, they felt soft against Azula’s hand.
“I’ll get changed, then we can start.” Azula said, jumping back up, grabbing her back and running to the bathroom. She returned in her pajamas, they were made of cotton and were red, a long sleeved shirt that was buttoned, and a pair of trousers. They were striped veritcally, with one shade of dark red, and another closer to pink. She sat back down, taking out some of the sweets and the large bottle of Coke. They were saving the alcohol for after Hakoda went to bed, but for now they needed to shave down some of the liquid so they could add in the vodka later.
They started the show, both being hooked immediately. Neither of them moved until they heard Hakoda at the door. He carried two plates. “I brought dinner!” He said the two girls moved from lying on their stomach to sitting up to take the plates. Hakoda was no chef, so he only cooked simple things. Tonight's dish was chicken nuggets and chips, with a side of ketchup. “Have a good night, girls.” He said, waving them off as he left. “Bring those down when you’re finished.”
“Night Hakoda!” Azula called out, “We will!” She said, as the girls dug in.
“Night dad!” Katara followed. The two girls watched the show as they ate, only pausing to bring the empty plates down and to pee. They laughed through the night, getting through the episodes 1 by 1, eventually digging into their supply of vodka.
They both got a little tipsy, they didn’t have massive tolerances. They’re judgments started to get clouded, especially Azula’s. She started to watch Katara more than the show. It was fine, they were watching subtitled, Azula could just listen to the Japanese, while Katara had to read the subtitles. She watched Katara recoil in shock and jump up, “Eren’s a titan!?” She asked, prompting Azula to realise that she was really, really gay. She looked at Katara’s face, her smile, her eyes, her little hair loopies that had fallen out from all the rolling around in bed. ‘Shit..’ she whispered.
Katara turned to Azula, “Did you say something?” She asked, causing Azula to panic and fall back a bit.
“No, sorry.” She said. Her face was covered in a blush.
Katara laughed a bit, “Why’re you apologising?” She asked, “And you’re really drunk, your face is all red and,” Katara suddenly gasped, looking at Azula like she had just realised something.
Azula panicked more, “No! No gasp, there’s nothing to gasp about.” Katara leaned forward, causing Azula to fall completely on her back, Katara leaning over her.
“You like me don’t you?” She half sung, with a grin.
Azula shook her head, “No! We- We’re just friends!” Azula insisted.
Katara leaned down a bit, “Do you wanna be just friends?” She asked, the alcohol giving her a lot of confidence. Azula was without words. Katara slipped and fell on top of Azula, getting a groan from both girls.
Katara’s face was right next to Azula’s. She didn’t get up though, Azula was a comfortable pillow. “So, got an answer?” She asked, taking a sip of the drink.
Azula gulped a bit. “Maybe I wouldn’t mind if we were a little more than just friends…” She muttered.
Katara smiled, “Me too.” She said, placing a small kiss on Azula’s cheek. She sat there for a few minutes, quietly, waiting, before something finally clicked in Azula’s head, she shot up, whacking Katara in the head as she did, causing her to fall off the bed. “Holy shit, Eren’s a titan!?”