#zuko hears what sokka's conspiracy theory is | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

hella1975 · 3 years

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Zuko fake dies at the oasis spirit au?!!! ma’am pls elaborate

omg gladly this got longer than expected because i am me but here you go:

So if you asked me where this idea came from i would not be able to tell you. One moment it didn’t exist and the next it was just in my head. Nothing triggered it. Nothing inspired it. It was just there. Now i’m gonna try and not talk too much about this on tumblr, because it’s looking to have quite a complicated premise and i’m actually v excited about it and want it to be a surprise.

But the basic gist of it is that during the siege of the north, in that scene with everyone at the spirit oasis, something diverts from canon that leads to Zuko saving Sokka’s life, and Zuko gets killed in the process. Sokka feels so bad about it that he starts subtly doing a bit of a background check on Zuko (just Sokka things like reading up on the FN royal family, asking people etc) because hey this guy fully died for him and Sokka has done nothing but hate on him?? But Sokka is a very clever little bastard, and sees the potential of this. The Fire Prince died saving a water tribesman. What does that say about the war? Ozai? The Fire Nation? This makes a brilliant story, and he’s going to manipulate that. So Sokka does what he does best; he starts talking. Everywhere the gaang goes, he tells people about Zuko, and it works. Zuko inadvertently becomes a whole martyr for the cause. People are obsessed with the thought that even the Fire Nation are tired of this war, that there might be hope. The Ember Island players have a field day.

But see, Sokka is nothing if not thorough, and he starts researching Zuko a bit more. You know, just to get his facts right for when he’s telling the story. he already knows Zuko had to be a good guy beneath it all to have saved him, but he’s still the Fire Prince, so Sokka doesn’t mind that he’s been capitalising off his death. It doesn’t sit well with him, but he can get by with it because it helps the much bigger picture. Except the more he finds out about Zuko, the more he likes him.

And when Iroh - intrigued by this boy so vehemently keeping his nephew’s name alive - becomes Aang’s firebending teacher and they have stories of Zuko on tap that absolutely confirm that the posterboy Sokka has moulded is actually an awkward, bookish idiot with a soft spot for turtleducks, Sokka spirals a bit. Because he’s starting to actually like the guy, and he’s dead, and there’s nothing Sokka can do about that.

Except.... Zuko isn’t dead.

I’m keeping the details of this part to myself while i still hash them out, but the main gist is that Zuko survives and spends some more time at the Northern Water Tribe - enough time for him to realise that the fire nation are in the wrong. Unable to singlehandedly go up against Ozai, Zuko decides to just do what he can. Even if it’s just little acts to weaken the Fire Nation, it’ll be enough.

So he goes back to the Fire Nation as the Blue Spirit, and he is perfectly happy committing treason in peace, and actually this is the most at ease he’s been in a while because he’s finally given up on his quest for the avatar and he’s not tirelessly trying to please his dad etc. He’s happy to just let ‘Prince Zuko’ become a forgotten name. And it should be easy, because he’s been ‘dead’ for a while now, and one body in a war - royal or not - is not enough to hold headlines.

So why the fuck aren’t people forgetting his name? It’s reached the Fire Nation by now. He hears whispers of himself on the street. There’s conspiracy theories about him for gods sake. And Zuko can’t for the life of him figure out why, so he decides to get answers, and long story short, he manages to trace it back all the way to one mouthy Water Tribe boy who refuses to let him be forgotten in peace.

shenanigans ensue <3

#this sounds so dumb i promise it makes sense in my head kinda #most of this fic will be zukka being miscommunicating IDIOTS #like yes sokka why don't you bump into the blue spirit several times on your hunt for information on prince zuko #yes zuko make sokka fall in love with you in your attempts to make him shut up about you #also i haven't written a single word of this yet but the moment sokka finds out that zuko is in fact zuko i want it to be like #in spiderman when aunt may (the version where's she's really hot for no good reason the tom holland one) sees him in the spiderman outfit #and she's just like '........... what the FUCK'#that <3 #this idea may never come to fruition but it's fun to think about #also it's currently titled 'that song you sing for the dead' because sufjan stevens my beloved and bc it sounds edgy as fuck #but then just becomes funny with the context #not sure though #omg im gonna shut up now i'm nervous damn #ask #writing ig #sysftd #EW horrible acronym i might change the title just for a nicer acronym

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zuzu-firequeen · 4 years

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Fire Queen

Fire Queen Masterlist

~Zuko X OC~

~ Sickness ~

Zuko’s arms tighten around me, pulling me to his chest. I nuzzle my head into him but pull my head back quickly. He’s shirtless… I furrow my brow looking down at his skin. His body covered in a light coat of sweat. I place my hand on his head and gasp. He’s burning up! “Zuko.” He moans, thrashing his head. I place my hands on his cheeks in worry. “Zuko, wake up.”

His eyes peel open and he looks at me. He grabs my wrists taking a breath. “Stay here.” He swallows and huffs out a breath. “Don’t leave.” His arm wraps around my waist halting my motion. “Zuko, you need some water. I’ll be back.” I kiss his cheek and stand up. “Hurry.” He mumbles in the quietest way possible.

I walk into the kitchen and fill a bowl with water along with a cup. “Iroh, I think he’s sick,” I say stricken with worry as I soak a cloth in cool water. His hand clasps on my shoulder as he takes the bowl. “This is no regular sickness. I fear he is at war with himself.” I look at him with confusion fill eyes. “Yeah. Okay.” Crazy Iroh.

I take the bowl back and enter the room. “And that’s when I knew something was going on. You never looked like a Lee anyways.” Zori sits at Zuko’s side as she tells him how she knew his plan all along, but of course not telling him how. That’s my job.

Zuko lays back with his eyes closed listening to her words with no choice in the matter. “I knew you did. I’m not a great liar.” Zuko mumbles. I sit on my knees next to him on the bed. “Drink.” His eyes open and he rests on his elbows downing the water. I ring the cloth out and rest it on his forehead. “Rest, Zuko.” His hand grabs mine. “You should stay.” I smile lowering my face to his. “I have things I need to do. Like working your shift today. Zori can keep you company.” He huffs looking over at her. “Perfect replacement.” Zori laughs cuddling close to him. “I think so too, Z.” He tries to fight the smile overtaking his lips but fails. He laughs weakly. I kiss his cheek, and Zori’s head before getting up. “Take care of him now.” I point to Zori. “We’ll be fine,” Zuko assures himself more than me.

-Katara-

In the Earth King's palace, we stand in a vast hall. Behind us, the passage is choked with rubble and wreckage. Sokka climbs atop the debris to look past it. “Now that's an impressive door. It's gotta go somewhere.” He coos in success. Leaping down and sprinting down the hall, Sokka launches a flying kick at the colossal doors. His foot impacts with absolutely no effect. He jumps up and begins pushing ineffectually at them, just as Toph and Aang close in behind him. They strike the doors with their bending, causing them to explode off their hinges. With a startled cry, Sokka is flung inward with the doors. I couldn’t help my small grin.

“A little warning next time!” Sokka rubs the back of his head as he rises. We rush past the fallen doors into a vast chamber lined with ornate pillars and lit by hanging lanterns. Then draw to a stop before a large dais, my water at the ready. Seated upon a golden throne is the Earth King himself. Long Feng suddenly interposes himself in front of the king, followed by a protective line of Dai Li agents.

Aang rushes urgently. “We need to talk to you!”

Long Feng turns to the king with a glare. “They're here to overthrow you.” “No, we're on your side. We're here to help.” I speak appealingly, “You have to trust us.”

The Earth King rises with an aggravated tone. “You invade my palace, lay waste to all my guards, break down my fancy door, and you expect me to trust you?”

“He has a good point.”

“If you're on my side, then drop your weapons and stand down.” One by one, we each drop our weapons to the floor. Aang smiles attempting his charm. “See, we’re friends, your Earthiness.” The King, unimpressed, continues to frown grimly. With a wave of his arm, Long Feng signals for the Dai Li to attack. They project their stone gloves at us within seconds, binding our arms behind our backs.

“Detain the assailants.” The Dai Li skate forward to take up positions behind each of us. Sokka calls out, “But we dropped our weapons. We're your allies.”

“Make sure the Avatar and his friends never see daylight again. Keep searching for the terrorist.” Terrorist? They couldn’t be talking about Truble could they? All she’s done is help us.

Earth King’s eyes widen, surprised. “The Avatar? You're the Avatar?” He points at Sokka. “Uh, no, him.” “Over here.” Effortlessly escaping his bonds, Aang raises his arms, then allows them to be bound behind him again. Cheeky.

“What does it matter Your Highness? They're enemies of the state.”

“Perhaps you're right…”

The Earth King's pet bear walks up to Aang, sniffs, and then licks his face, causing Aang to giggle.

“Though Bosco seems to like him. I'll hear what he has to say.”

Aang approaches the throne. “Well, sir, there is a war going on right now. For the past 100 years, in fact. The Dai Li's kept it secret from you. It's a conspiracy to control the city, and to control you.”

“A secret war? That's crazy!”

“Long Feng didn't want us to tell you, so he stole our Sky Bison to blackmail us. And blackmail is the least of his crimes, he brainwashed our friend!”

Long Feng turns to the King. “All lies. I've never even seen a Sky Bison, Your Majesty. Frankly, I thought they were extinct.”

The King sits on his throne pondering. “Your claim is difficult to believe, even from an Avatar.”

“These hooligans are part of an anarchist cell that my agents have been tracking for weeks. If you listen to them, you're playing right into your own destruction.” The Earth King resigned. I have to trust my advisor.”

Sokka suddenly turns with a look of inspiration. “Wait, I can prove he's lying. Long Feng said he's never seen a Sky Bison, ask him to lift his robe.”

“What?! I am not disrobing!”

The Earth King looks thoughtful again. Aang and Sokka smile and nod knowingly at each other. The Avatar draws in a mighty breath of air, and blows a powerful gust of wind at Long Feng, blowing up his minister's robes. The teeth mark bruise he received from Appa can be clearly seen on his left leg.

“Right there! Appa bit him.” Sokka smirk at him smugly, “Never met a Sky Bison, huh?”

Long Feng pushes down his robes, feigning embarrassment. “That happens to be a large birthmark. Thanks for showing everyone.”

“Well, I suppose there's no way to prove where those marks came from…” The king trails off.

“Of course there is!”

Appa stands behind the four of us in the throne room. Appa gapes open his huge mouth. Aang points to one of his large teeth, then slides over to point at the matching bruise on the minister's leg.

Earth King nods convinced. “Yup, that pretty much proves it. But it doesn't prove this crazy conspiracy theory. Though, I suppose this matter is worth looking into.”

We all shrug uncertainly, “Uh, ok, we'll take it. Yeah.” An apprehensive looking Long Feng exits the throne room, followed by his Dai Li agents.

-Zuko-

Behind a screen of golden flames. Rows of fire nation soldiers genuflect towards the throne, and they bow towards me. Clad in the raiment and crown of the Firelord, my serene face is without scar or blemish. As I sit impassively, two sinuous dragons, one blue and one red slither down nearby pillars to address me.

“It's getting late. Are you planning to retire soon, my Lord?”

“I'm not tired.”

“Relax, Fire Lord Zuko. Just let go, give in to it. Shut your eyes for a while.”

“No, Fire Lord Zuko! Do not listen to the Blue Dragon. You should get out of here right now. Go! Before it's too late!”

Both dragons are poised to either side of me. “Sleep now, Fire Lord Zuko.” The throne room is swallowed by inky blackness, and the four pillars crumble and fall into the void. As the room falls dark, the soldier's armor collapses to the floor, empty. I searched the darkness, eyes wide with distress. Two golden eyes appear, then the face of the Blue Dragon, which closes rapidly. “Sleep, just Like MOTHER!!” The dragon's jaws gape wide, swallowing me in complete darkness. Within that darkness, we draw closer to the figure of my mother, who drops her hood as I draw closer. “Zuko, help me!” She cries. A sea of blackness and a hole seems to open up beneath me, swallowing everything.

I jolt up in a breath. Iroh sits next to me, “You should know this is not a natural sickness. But that shouldn't stop you from enjoying tea.” He supports my head as I drink. “What? What's happening?”

“Your critical decision, what you did beneath that lake...it was in such conflict with your image of yourself, that you are now at war within your mind and body.” I take a second sip of the tea.

“What's that mean?” I suddenly collapsed in a fit of coughing.

“You're going through a metamorphosis, my nephew. It will not be a pleasant experience, but when you come out of it, you will be the beautiful Prince you were always meant to be.” I close my eyes again, sighing. “When will Truble be here?” Uncle chuckles as he mops my forehead with the damp cloth. “Two hours.” I huff in annoyance.

Far in the Kingdom, the Earth King sits on his throne in front of three new faces. A time shift out of the order, and they knew. She knew this would rupture the line. The King grins at the three. “In our hour of need, it is with the highest honor that I welcome our esteemed allies, the Kyoshi warriors.”

All three drop to hands and knees, pressing their heads to the ground. When he finishes, they raise their heads, and we can see that "Suki" is none other than Azula in disguise. She is flanked by Ty Lee and Mai, similarly dressed in the garb of the Kyoshi warriors.

Azula rakes out in a steady voice, her eyes cool and deadly. “We are the Earth King's humble servants.”

I open the door and walk in sighing. The room is dark, not a soul awake. I lean against the wall watching the moon shine brightly. I twirl the gold coin in my fingers. Something’s not right, I’ve felt it all day. Like someone has taken notice of my presence here, and is now changing fate. I feel every second of the day, present, past, and future. I know when something is not in correction. It’s like a sting on the back of my neck.

Yes, someone knows…

But who?

“You’re late.” a hoarse voice rings from the bedroom. My eyes graze at Zuko’s tired eyes as he walks towards me. “You should be in bed.” His arms encase me completely. His head hangs in my neck, he sighs, pressing his lips to my skin one single time. Letting the flesh burn seconds before letting go. “You’re late.”

I press my hand to his head feeling his tempting fever. “You’re burning up.” “Bend some water then.” I smirk at him, “You think I’m a water bender?” His eyes bore into mine. “Are you not?” I kiss his cheek. “Oh, Zuko. My handsome man.” I peck his cheek once more and pull him towards the room. “You have a lot to learn,” I whisper laying down comfortably with him at my side.

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watchathon · 4 years

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Book 2, Chapter 17: Lake Laogai

In case you’re finding this post just by browsing the tags I’ve used for this post, this is the Watchathon, a blog where I’m hoping to watch an episode of a TV show every weekday, with a short blog post where I write down my thoughts as I watch. Each new thought starts with a hyphen and a bolded first word.

- Like so. Now that the introductions are over with, here’s my thoughts on Lake Laogai:

- Sokka might not be a very good artist, but, I hate to admit it, he’s at least a little better than me.

- I wonder if there are any fanfics about an AU where Iroh did get that tea shop in Ba Sing Se.

- Joo Dee does return, and she’s just as creepy as usual, saying that she just went on a “vacation” to Lake Laogai, and denying that there’s anyone else who calls themselves Joo Dee.

- Of course Toph, upon hearing that they’re breaking rules, would just use Earthbending to break a wall.

- Even creepier than Joo Dee’s usual demeanor is that there’s a code phrase that can be used by Long Feng to fully control her (and as we’ll see later, anyone who’s been to Lake Laogai.)

- I like that Iroh is trying to get Zuko to consider things in life other than regaining his honor. He probably knows that honor and a place in the Fire Nation royalty won’t truly make Zuko happy, and he’s trying to get Zuko to see that too.

- The funniest part of this joke is that Toph even gets wrong the way that she put up the poster wrong.

- Katara’s not listening to Jet, and it’s pretty understandable why. He was a liar when she first met him, why should she think he’s being truthful now?

- I like that Toph can tell when people are lying. It’s a sensible extension of her Earthbending prowess that she can even sense the physical reaction of a liar.

- Sometimes I forget that Toph wasn’t always part of the Gaang, and has to be filled in on things that happened in Book 1. I wonder what her reaction would be to the idea that Katara freed Aang by accident without even knowing he was in there.

- This is the first time it’s been made explicit that people are being brainwashed in Lake Laogai, and what a time it is. As well as another showing of Toph’s lie-detecting power, when she can tell that both Jet and Smellerbee are being honest, despite how they’re telling opposite stories.

- So, Katara’s theory that Jet and the janitor were both part of a plot to mislead the Gaang makes total sense. But it is kinda funny to imagine Old Sweepy, basically the Avatar universe’s version of Eeyore, as part of an intricate conspiracy.

- Okay, I’ll admit that actually seeing a flashback to Jet’s backstory does make him more sympathetic. Not that much more sympathetic, but it’s something.

- Seeing the whole group of women being “trained” to be Joo Dee really hammers home what a dystopia Ba Sing Se is. Heck, who’s to say that they even remember their true identities? And even if they did, they’d probably be leaving that behind so they can be one of Ba Sing Se’s many Joo Dees.

- “Expecting someone else?” What a bait and switch. The shot of Jet opening a door before we cut to Appa’s cell, then the few seconds of it being unclear just who opened the door to Appa’s cell, makes it a total surprise when we see that it’s Zuko in the room with Appa.

- Feels weird, yet nice, to see the Gaang and Freedom Fighters fighting alongside each other.

- It’s scary just how easy it was for Long Feng to get Jet to attack Aang. He (and we can assume anyone else who’s taken a “vacation” to Lake Laogai) was basically putty in his hands.

- “What do you plan to do with the Avatar’s bison? Keep it locked in our apartment? Should I put on a pot of tea for him?” “First I have to get it out of here.” I realize this was probably Zuko’s answer to the first question, but I like to imagine that Zuko really was considering the tea thing.

- Iroh scolding Zuko is something that stands out because Iroh just about never takes this tone. But he wants, so badly, for Zuko to stop blindly chasing the Avatar.

- I like that the thing which snapped Jet out of his brainwashing was the reminder that he’s a Freedom Fighter. He fought for years for the sake of freedom from the Fire Nation, he’s not gonna let himself be a pawn to Long Feng.

- “Don’t worry, Katara. I’ll be fine.” “He’s lying.” Jet’s death is a tear jerker of a moment. From the use of Toph’s lie-detecting ability, to Longshot speaking for the first and only time, to the way that Smellerbee and Longshot stand by him through his last moments...

Even though it’s technically “unclear”, it’s obvious that he’s dying, and it’s heartbreaking.

- It’s so nice to see the Gaang finally reunited with Appa after such a long time without him.

- Oh, the catharsis that comes from Appa casually spitting Long Feng into a lake with total ease.

- I like that Iroh really did get through to Zuko in the end, even getting him to free Appa and leave behind the persona of the Blue Spirit.

#TV #Avatar The Last Airbender #ATLA #Book 2: Earth #Lake Laogai #Sokka #Iroh #Joo Dee #Toph Beifong #Long Feng #Zuko #Katara #Jet #Old Sweepy #Smellerbee #Longshot #Appa

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bellatrixobsessed1 · 4 years

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Mutilated Mannequin (Part 3)

Azula feels as though she has signed away her soul. She supposes in some more flowery and figurative manner of speaking, that she has. At the very least, she has signed away a portion of her body.

She directs her thoughts elsewhere and begins working out a speech for the class elections; a list of promises and choice words. Perhaps she'd pass out some sort of food since monetary bribes are prohibited by the school.

Her plans thus far included a push for a better reward system for those on the honor roll and for better funding for the non-athletic extra curriculars. She taps her pen against her lips as she thinks it over. The first formal lunchroom debate is to occur in three days time and she best have some dialogue prepared. Granted, she finds it hard to come up with anything when the student council hasn’t even told her of the questions to be asked and topics to be discussed.

TyLee drops into the seat next to her. “How’d your...uh...thing go?”

Azula shrugged. “It was an event and it...occurred.” She wishes that she could say that it isn’t still occurring. “How did your tryouts go?”

“Fantastic!” TyLee claps her hands together. “You know, varsity is only for upperclassmen, like juniors and seniors…”

“I know what an upperclassmen is, TyLee.”

“Well, coach Rangi says that she might put me on varsity anyways.” She is beaming from ear to ear and Azula tries to muster up some enthusiasm, but she hasn’t been able to shake her own dread since the night prior.

It keeps re-emerging in her mind, the image of her altered face. If she can’t even get used to the mental image of it, how the hell is she supposed to cope with seeing it in a mirror?

“Are you still planning on attending the astronomy club?” TyLee asks. “I think Yue said that she was going, she really likes the moon or something.” The girl gives a shrug.

“Yes, I’m going.” Azula confirms. Between running for student presidency, maintaining her spot on the honor roll list, and astronomy, she is going to have her hands full. Perhaps it is a good thing, it doesn’t leave much room for dwelling on her nerves. If she is lucky, she might be able to keep herself busy enough to avoid a second appointment. But she knows that she will only be delaying the inevitable.

She knows that her father will cancel her plans to drag her to the clinic. She just hopes that these appointments won’t conflict with the astronomy club.

“Are you going to join Yue and I? Mai can’t because she has to watch Tom-Tom on Tuesdays.”

TyLee bites her cheek. “I can probably come later in the year, but Coach Rangi says that most of our competitions are going to be on Tuesdays and Thursdays, sometimes Saturdays for the big ones.”

Azula nod, she has an overwhelming desire to guilt her into dropping gymnastics. Instead she lightly bites down on her pen.

“Are you mad?”

Azula shakes her head.

She isn’t mad.

She is scared.

Scared and somehow she feels alone.

.oOo.

She finds herself in the lunchroom again, bracing herself for another conversation that she couldn't get invested in.

"Hey, can I copy your history homework?" Chan asks. "Kyoshi is going ham with these assignments."

"I suppose that it looks that way to someone who hadn’t turned his assignments in, in over a week." Azula shrugs.

"So that's a no?" Chan asks.

"Chan, I threw out that worksheet a week ago." She pushes another away, and I already turned this packet in."

"Well shit..." he mutters.

"I heard you're thinking of joining the astronomy club, Toph." Azula hears Suki say as the pair breezed by.

"That's right!" Toph replies boldly. "I'm going to be Agni High's first blind stargazer! Principal Pathik is going to be so proud."

"You just want to discuss extra terrestrial conspiracy theories." Katara mumbles.

“God, they are such dorks.” Yue comments.

Azula shrugs but she isn’t going to disagree. Though she does wonder exactly what warranted the comment this time. She tests the waters, “if you think astronomy is for dorks then why are you going to the club?”

“First of all, it’s cool when we do it. Second of all, I promised Katty that I’d be better than her at everything.”

“Pretty sure that I made Zuzu the same promise.” Azula flicks her bangs. She fills in one last answer on her worksheet and puts it away.

“Done already?” Jet asks.

“Did you expect anything less?” Mai asks. “How long have you been sitting with us now?”

“Much longer than any of us can tolerate.” Azula mutters, drawing a cheerful laugh from TyLee.

“And here I was going to share my cookie with you.” He shuffles around in his paper bag and fishes out an absurdly large chocolate chip cookie.

Azula holds her hand out. “I suppose that we can tolerate your presence a bit longer.”

He chuckles and breaks the cookie in half.

“What about the rest of us?” Yue asks.

“Yeah, you jackass!” Chan adds.

Azula exhales, it is refreshing to be talking about things unrelated to relationships and homecoming dances, and other matters that remind of her of what’s to come. She tries to immerse herself in the conversation. Tries to remind herself to just think about the first astronomy club meeting.

.oOo.

“I bet that you can’t even work a child friendly telescope.” Yue drums her fingers on the table.

“I’ve been stargazing longer than you have.” Katara counters.

Azula finds herself a seat, next to Yue. She gives the room a once over. Other than Yue and Katara, she knows no one. She finds herself somewhat disappointed that Toph had only been jesting about joining the club. She supposes that she doesn’t mind some time to herself. The stars are supposed to be serene anyways. Serene and quiet and a steady constant when she needs some sort of stability.

“You’re just mad because my daddy bought me the last StareScape model 10.” Yue declares.

“Just because you have an overpriced telescope, doesn’t mean that you have the brains to use it.”

Azula rolls her eyes, she has an itch to inform Yue that it is a StarScope model 9, but she doesn’t fancy agreeing with the brother of her competition. She would rather observe the squabble than part-take. She isn’t quite in the mood for petty games these days, if she ever had been at all.

The more she ponders it, the more she begins to consider that, perhaps, she is only with the in crowd because her family has money. That’s the only reason Zuko isn’t harassed. It’s the only reason that the girls flock to him, or so he claims.

“Tell her, Azula!” Yue pulls her back into the present.”

Azula rolls her eyes. “Tell her what.”

“That she’s not allowed to be here. No nerds in the astronomy club.”

“I’m fairly certain that the astronomy club was founded by a gaggle of nerds.”

“Whose side are you on?” Yue asks.

“Whichever side has more brain cells at the time.” She shrugs. Sure the girl’s brother is competition, but at least the girl doesn’t make Azula feel like her IQ points are dwindling with every passing second spent in her company. Resentfully, she recalls that her IQ points are really the only advantages she has. “Besides, this is your age old rivalry. Not mine.”

“Thank you!” Katara throws her hands up.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. You’re brother is a nuisance and I have a feeling that it runs in the family.” She folds her arms over her chest. She has to remind them every now and again, has to remind herself of why she has a higher place on the social ladder. She has to maintain it somehow. And since she can’t flash a gorgeous smile or flaunt an enticing body, she’d just have to settle for asserting her dominance and pick friends carefully. Not that she really particularly trusts anyone in these halls save for Mai and TyLee.

Katara scowls but folds her arms with a ‘humph’.

If the banter were to continue it would have been cut short anyhow. Mr. Zhao appears in the room with a stack of books and star charts. She hopes to God that he is less humdrum and sour after school hours. “Where is Pathik?” Asks a boy from the other side of the room. “Usually principal Pathik runs the club.”

“Pathik is busy with final back to school matters.” Zhao replied. “I will be filling in for him for the time being.”

“Hoo-ray.” Yue slouches in her chair, puffs out her cheeks, and blows at a strand of her hair. Azula can’t help but think that, somehow, that expression is still more attractive than whatever she has going on with her own face at any given moment. She grips her pencil more firmly.

“I have a rather special announcement. Exciting news.” Zhao drawls.

His monotonous demeanor certainly drove his words home.

“This year, we are offering a chance to visit the NIR&Ex...”

“Isn’t that a designer brand?” Yue asks.

“It’s the National Interstellar Research and Exploration Institute, you dolt.” Katara hisses.

“As well as a chance to earn a scholarship to Laogai Lake University. Many astronomers have graduated from there like…” Zhao peers down at his paper. “Wan, Sozin, and Agni High’s own Yangchen.”

“Isn’t Sozin, like, your uncle or something? The one who always talks like a poetry book.”

“He’s my great-grandfather, Yue. You’re thinking of Iroh.”

“I’m trying to hear this!” Katara shushes through gritted teeth. “Maybe your daddies can bribe you in, but I actually need this.”

Yue rolls her eyes. “Listen to that. I hear that she gets wears secondhand socks from her brother. That’s why they call him Sokka, because he keeps giving her his socks.”

“They call him Sokka because that’s. His Name.”

Azula pinches the bridge of her nose, she doesn’t know just how long she can tolerate this for. She came here for solace and at least a fraction of a moment of peace.

“Sure it is…” Yue replies.

Azula groans softly before getting up and going to sit next to the boy on the other side of the room.

#Avatar #Azula #Katara #Yue #Mai #TyLee #Toph #Suki #Sokka #Zuko #Fanfiction

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