Chapter Text
It took a day for Azula to laugh at one of Katara’s jokes, that was the first crack in her armour. She cared a lot more than Katara about their feud. It wasn’t even exceptionally funny either. It was a damn TikTok, they exchanged usernames and only twenty minutes later Azula let out a giggle in their silent room. “So you do have a soul.” Katara commented.
“Allegedly.” Azula remarked, “whatever.” The pair went back to their silence, it was a comfortable silence though. Neither of them were particularly extroverted, but reading a book in a room alone could feel isolating. Getting to just read quietly in the company of another was nice, not that either of them would ever admit it. Azula was too proud, and, while Katara loved to tease her new roommate she wouldn’t admit to liking her. As far as Katara was concerned Azula was just a stuck up elitist princess with gorgeous, almost porcelain like skin and softest looking hair she’d ever seen, it was infuriating.
It took 5 days for them to begin cooperating. “We’re lab partners too!?” Azula whined, looking at the assignments outside their lab. “This is outrageous!”
Katara laughed at her, “I think the universe is trying to send us a message.” She suggested.
Azula scoffed, “Don’t you have a boyfriend?” She asked.
Katara’s demeanour finally seemed to crack too, “It’s complicated.” She said.
“What isn’t?” Azula remarked, as they walked inside. They were both wearing lab coats and goggles, with their long hair tied up for safety. They listened to the welcome speech, safety talk, and opening demonstration before being set off to do their experiment. A titration, simple stuff for the pair. “So, what’s so complicated about it?” Azula asked.
Katara shrugged a bit as she washed out the burette. “We just live so far away now, and it’s only been a few weeks but we barely call or text already. I just don’t think I’m cut out for long distance like this.”
“Why don’t you break up with him?” Azula asked, as she took the conical flask and pipette from the bench. Azula didn’t hear how cruel that sounded until she said it.
“Oh, yea, because it’s that easy.” Katara mocked.
“Well, with the way you love to flirt with me you’d think it was done and over already.” Azula said.
Katara didn’t respond, she just focused on doing their experiment. About half an hour passed before they spoke again, “Do you think I should call him?” Katara asked.
Azula sighed, “Probably.” She said, “If you want to step outside I can do this myself.” She said, trying to make up for her previous harshness.
Katara seemed conflicted, but eventually gave in, “I’ll totally pay you back.” She said, before excusing herself from the lab.
Azula did the majority of the experiment herself, in fact she had to finish the lab alone. It wasn’t hard by any means, in fact she found it kind of fun. She cleaned up the equipment and left the lab, going to find where Katara was.
She walked into the women’s bathroom, where she heard quiet sobbing. She gently knocked on the stall door, “Katara?” She asked.
She heard the girl sniffling, “Y-yea?” She asked, before realising it was Azula. She quickly opened the door, “Shit, did I.. miss the rest of the lab?” She asked, face stained with tears.
Azula winced a bit, “It’s fine, I got all the results we needed, don’t worry about it.” She said, “Are you okay?” She asked, “Did the phone call go bad?”
Before Katara could answer the door opened, another girl walked in. They decided to talk back in the privacy of the dorms. After a short, quiet, and awkward walk home they finally arrived, sitting on their respective beds. “So, what happened?” Azula asked.
Katara had managed to compose herself by the time they got home. “The phone call went fine, I just… guess I didn’t realise how unready I was for it.” She said.
Azula didn’t know how to console people, or how to talk to people in general. “Do you want some tea?” She offered.
Katara wiped her eyes, “That actually sounds really nice.” She said.
Azula nodded, quickly running to the common area to make a cup of tea. She came back a few minutes later, “I didn’t know if you take milk or sugar, so I just guessed.” She said, “I can make another if you hate it.” She offered.
Katara smiled as she took it. “Thanks.” She said, sipping it. “It’s good.” She said, as Azula sat back down on the bed. After a quiet few minutes sipping tea, Katara spoke, “You’re not all bad, you know? It was really nice of you to do that.”
“Don’t get used to it.” Azula said, “I just didn’t want to hear your whining.” She told her. “Are you feeling better?” She asked.
Katara nodded, “Yea, a little. I think I might call it a day, I don’t think I could concentrate even if I went to class later.” It was about half three, and the pair had class at five.
Azula nodded, “Would you like me to stay?” She asked. “I mean, you know, if you wanted more tea.” She said, as much as she loved academia she was not feeling up to a five o’clock class after her lab.
Katara laughed a bit, “You know, when I feel down watching a show usually makes me feel better, wanna join in?” She asked.
Azula couldn’t hide her smile, she really didn’t feel like doing chemistry at five pm, “I suppose I can stay.” She said, it was a Friday, they had nothing to do the next day other than study and assignments. “Wanna make a night out of it?” Azula suggested.
“Hell yeah!” Katara said, “That sounds great!”
Azula got back up as she finished off her tea, “I’ll go grab some snacks from the shop, and you can find a show.” She said, as she pulled her coat on and walked out the door.
When Azula came back, she was holding a bag of snacks and drinks, and was met with Katara sitting on her bed in her pyjamas. She placed the bag down on Katara’s desk and began to unpack. “Pick something?” She asked.
Katara nodded, “The only show I know we both like is Attack on Titan so, I pulled that up.” Azula nodded, setting down the bag.
Azula began to get changed into her pyjamas, which wasn’t a topic the pair handled particularly well. They understood it was something that would have to be overcome, after all they shared a bedroom, but they both still struggled with being in a room with a woman getting changed. Azula pulled off her shirt. “Don’t think you can stare just because you’re single now.” She warned.
Katara completely averted her gaze, focusing very intently on the plot description of Attack on Titan. “Says the girl getting into my bed.” She muttered. Azula seemed to not hear, or at least chose not to. Katara didn’t look up until she felt Azula sit down on her bed.
She looked up only to be met with Azula’s face only inches away, her hair had finally been let down, she was wearing the softest, most comfortable looking cotton pyjamas, she–
Katara’s thought process was interrupted by Azula shoving her aside and climbing under the duvet covers. “At least wait a week before you fall in love with me and try to rebound.” She said
Katara nodded, “Right…” She said, “Sorry.” She apologised, as Azula handed her a can of Monster, Ultra Blue flavour. “How’d you know this one was my favourite?” She asked.
Azula shrugged, “You used to drink it all the time in school.” She said, as she pulled out her own red coloured can. They cracked them open and pressed play on the video.
They spent a few hours watching Attack on Titan, it was about ten o’clock when Azula noticed Katara had fallen asleep. She closed the laptop and set it down on the floor beside the bed. Azula looked over at her own empty bed, before looking back at Katara who was fast asleep right next to her. She stared down at her roommate for a few seconds before whispering, “God damn it,” realising she was going to have to do some serious introspection about her sexual preferences.
For now though, she laid back down in the bed next to Katara, watching her sleep for a short while before she closed her eyes and decided to get some rest too. She already knew she would never hear the end of this from Katara, but she didn’t care too much.