Episode 12: Uhh...I Live Here?

True to her word, Azula had left an outfit for him with the clerk at the front desk. As soon as he'd given his name they'd shown him to a changing room to the right of the entrance hall. Inside he'd found a black jacket embroidered with burgundy dragon designs and trimmed in gold. There were matching slacks of pure black and a dark red dress shirt that complimented the embroidery. It was slim fitted but perfectly suited to his form. He wondered for a moment how Azula could have gotten his measurements, but perhaps that was just another one of her superpowers.

Zuko even took the time to fix his hair, combing it back and stiffening it with some gel. When he looked in the mirror, his breathe caught on how much he looked like his father. Then his gaze strayed to the scar over his left eye.

No expense had been spared as Zuko was led to the exclusive portion of the club. At a table all on its own sat three girls he knew well. His sister, Azula. Mai, his bounty hunter friend and one of the only people who knew the Blue Spirit's true identity. And Ty Lee, a bubbly girl whom Zuko could never understand Azula's attachment to. At times it felt as though all of her sentences ended with exclamation points. She was so happy and shallow like her life was made of rainbows and cat videos. Zuko couldn't stand her.

They were all dressed as nicely as he was, Azula the perfect CEO's daughter in her fashionable suit. Mai had even deigned to add some color, a refreshing change from her usual wardrobe of black. Ty Lee wore a silk, Chinese style dress with a cherry blossom pattern. How fitting. They appeared to be talking quietly about something serious when his sister caught sight of him.

"Ah, nice of you to join us," Azula commented. "I see the clothes fit nicely. You look like a true member of the industry."

Mai's face held her usual bored expression as her eyes swept up and down his figure.

Ty Lee gushed, "Wow, Zuko! Its been so long since I've seen you! You look great! That color really makes your eyes pop."

Let's get this over with. Without a word, he slid into an open chair that allowed him a clear view of the exit.

Not a moment later, a waiter paused to place four shots of fireball on the table before moving on. Azula downed hers before giving Mai and Ty Lee a look that had them following suit.

Zuko didn't touch his. He wanted every last ounce of wit he had to face his sister. "You still haven't told me what you're doing here, Azula."

"I see we're still skipping pleasantries," she huffed, then waved a hand about the table. "I thought it obvious. I'm enjoying dinner with my brother and some friends."

"That's not what I meant, and you know it," Zuko growled through his teeth. His sister always brought out the worst in him. "Why are you on the island? Shouldn't you be halfway around the world studying how to be a lady or something?"

"Dad called me back," she replied. "Apparently some waterbender girl is causing him trouble and his top hunter isn't what he used to be."

Zuko paled.

"Have you heard of the Blue Spirit?" she asked, absently picking at her nails. "Apparently he's been sighted with the Painted Lady."

Mai hit Zuko with a glare, her eyes narrowed in suspicion while he kept his steady gaze forward.

"He's supposed to be bringing her in," Azula continued. "Some top administrator has been begging for the chance himself, but father thought this situation might need a touch more-" Her smile was that of a predator- "precision."

Zuko spoke slowly as the realization settled, "He called you to apprehend the Painted Lady." It made sense, Azula had always been trusted with his most difficult jobs. Even Zuko couldn't match her efficiency (or brutality) when it came to shutting down opponents.

"It's all a bunch of racket if you ask me," Ty Lee interjected. "There hasn't been a waterbender in centuries, and one shows up now? Just as your dad is about to-"

Azula's hand slapped over her friend's mouth, her eyes blazing with fury. "Watch what you say."

Zuko remained quiet, his ears perked for any hints about the company's plans. When Azula turned her attention back to him he raised his eyebrows in a challenging question.

"You've been ignoring some of the responsibilities of your internship," she stated.

"Well, it's difficult to oversee shipments and manifests when I'm not allowed in the building," Zuko drawled.

Azula flipped her hair, speaking with a tone that he'd learned long ago never to trust. "Dad lifted that ban ages ago, dumb dumb."

His eyes narrowed on her. "Why would he do that?"

"I don't know, something about 'uprising citizens' and 'the importance of family' or some other drivel." She pursed her lips as if her words held little meaning. "You know how he is."

Zuko did know. And family was not high on his list of priorities. Azula was hiding something. His father wanted him back? Why? What was he planning? Did it have something to do with benders? How was the Painted Lady involved in all of this and how was he going to keep her protected?

She could be out in the Village right now, for all he knew. He needed to figure out a way to contact her.

The rest of the evening went by with very little progress on Zuko's part. As far as his father's plans, Azula remained vague and cryptic, encouraging him to visit the company and ask their father himself. Mai kept distant for the dinner, only offering answers when directly spoken to, but Zuko could tell something had upset her. She kept stealing glances at him with her eyebrows pinched as if in concentration. Ty Lee carried most of the conversation, talking about her new pet rabbit named Mr. Fluffkins and how nice it was to have Azula back on the island. She was so thankful that a friend had been able to cover most of her shifts at the hospital so that she could spend more time hanging out.

"Which hospital do you work at?" Zuko asked, suddenly interested.

"Oh!" Ty Lee grinned, propelled by his attention. "It's not too far from here-"

"And your friend," Zuko prompted, "is she a physical therapist as well?"

"No, she's a nurse," Ty Lee replied. "Smartest girl I know, besides Azula of course. She's studying to be a doctor at your university! Do you think you know her?"

What were the odds? he wondered. Could Azula possibly have planned this? A direct line to the girl he...

No. His emotions had gotten the best of him again. Azula was watching him closely, always observing, catching everything with those cat-like eyes.

"Maybe." Zuko shrugged, leaning back in his chair to imitate ease. "It's a pretty big school and that's not my major."

"If not, you should totally meet her," Ty Lee continued. "Her brother might be your age. He visits sometimes and is totally hot." She pretended to fan herself while Mai only rolled her eyes.

"Her name is Katara."

Zuko escaped as soon as he could, making up the excuse that he had homework to do. The clerk passed him his clothes in a bag and he left without looking back.

There were too many things to think about. His father's plans, Azula in town, the price on the Painted Lady's head (his phone had pinged while he'd been at dinner showing that her reward had yet again doubled), and Ty Lee being friends with Katara.

That last one scared him the most. Who knew what Azula was planning. Had she been watching him? If so, did she also know that he was the Blue Spirit?

The longer he thought, the greater his headache became. He just wanted to go home and get a nice long night of sleep before class in the morning.

As luck would have it, his apartment was rather crowded when he opened the door. Suki, Sokka, and Katara were all bundled up in blankets on the couch in the dark watching a movie that, based on the way Sokka was clinging to Suki, must have been from the thriller genre.

"Oh, hey, man," Sokka said, his voice getting progressively deeper with each word. Zuko chuckled and flicked the lights on. Sokka passed him a look of relief and even mouthed the words 'thank you'.

Zuko had forgotten he was still wearing the nice clothes Azula had gotten for him. With the lights on, Katara's eyes bugged at the sight of him and he would be lying if he said he didn't get immense satisfaction from the choked expression she was making.

She shook her head as if to compose herself and he had to suppress a grin.

"Finally dressing to your station?" she sneered. Ah, we're back to this, then. Though there was a definite strain in her voice.

"Just tell the man he looks nice, Katara," Suki drawled from her spot on the couch. Katara shot her a glare even as she flushed a rosy pink. Zuko's smile grew.

Perhaps the evening wasn't a total failure.

"Aren't you supposed to be at the hospital?" he asked.

Katara straightened in her seat. "They sent me home after I finished my first rounds. Something about overworking..." she trailed off.

"I'm glad they did," Suki added. "You spend too much time there."

"What are you doing here?" Katara suddenly demanded.

Zuko looked around the room. "Uh, I live here?"

Her blush only deepened. "R-right," she sputtered. "Well, then...I'm leaving!" And with that she grabbed her bag and shuffled out the door, slamming it closed behind her.

There was a moment of silence as the ringing echoes of her shouts dissipated. Then Sokka, poor clueless Sokka, asked, "What's up with her?"

Next to him, Suki, suspicious and observant Suki, narrowed her eyes. "Yeah," she drew out, holding Zuko's gaze. "I wonder..."

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