Chapter 2: More Than a Suggestion
Her brother didn't have third hour with her or sixth hour. He also didn't have those classes with Mai or Ty Lee. So, she had no way of keeping tabs on him during those hours. Second hour, all three of them were present with Zuko. She could still hear Ty Lee's bubbly laughter as she ran up to him for a hug.
Azula felt her eyes narrow at the memory, sitting in her Honors Algebra II class as Mr. Zhou continued on teaching. Mai was in this class with her, Ty Lee wasn't. 'Thank Agni,' she stewed. Ty Lee was always a bubbly flirt, normally it didn't bother her, but today it did. She figured it was just the fact that her older brother had arrived so unexpectedly. It'd thrown her whole world out of order in a matter of an hour. The fact that Ty Lee was able to give him such a warm reception didn't sit well with her.
"You're sitting with us, Zuzu."
He turned around to see his younger sibling, blinking in surprise. "I am?" He was holding a lunch tray with a pitiful lunch stationed on it. Really, you think a man as fat as Uncle Iroh might make him something somewhat appealing to bring to school instead of making him buy this garbage, or, at least, order for his lunch ahead of time like she did.
"Yes, really, Dum-dum. Now, let's go." She grabbed hold of the sleeve of his sweatshirt he was wearing and started to pull him in the right direction. As soon as he started to give into the pull, she let go, assuming he'd continue to follow like he used to when they were younger. "Mai and Ty Lee are already sitting at our table waiting for us."
"Great..." he sighed, feeling the eyes of everyone in the cafeteria on his face.
Azula just smirked, loving seeing him squirm. That lasted until the two of them had finally reached their table and sat down. It was then that Ty Lee spoke up.
"Woah, Zuko. It looks like you're already becoming really popular."
He just raised an eyebrow, his already permanent frown deepening. "What?"
"Yes, Ty Lee," Azula echoed, not liking the sound of her inferior brother possibly surpassing her in popularity. "What are you talking about?"
The perky cheerleader opened her mouth to speak, but Mai beat her to it. "Jin and Song have seemingly started up a fan-club for Zuko in the three hours of school we've had thus far." The goth sent a pointed glare in the general direction of said fanclub, which they all shifted their gazes to see.
Upon seeing their 'Prince', as Ty Lee helpfully informed them was what they were calling Zuko, the group of girls waved back, holding up their homemade signs that did nothing but praise him.
Ty Lee, predictably, just giggled and gushed at how cute it all was, while Mai just continued to glare, and Zuko just starred in dread at what he was sure to be his death all while Azula found that the plastic fork she picked up unexpectedly decided to snap in half in her grip. Of course, no one paid that any mind since that was when the club's founders decided to approach their lunch table.
"Excuse us, Prince Zuko," Song, the one in the cute, light-red dress said.
"But," Jin, dressed in green with a ponytail, continued for her, "we were wondering if you'd be interested in gracing our club with your presence this afternoon once school gets out?"
The scarred, young man swallowed thickly. "Grace... your... club...?"
They nodded.
"Yes," Song spoke, "our club, 'The Prince Zuko Fan-Club of Avatar High'."
Zuko had to blink, not quite believing what he was hearing. "... Seriously?"
Jin was about to open her mouth to answer, but a different voice was heard before hers.
"Oh! Seriously?!" All heads turned to see a guy dressed in blue with his hair tied back into a small ponytail. He was talking rather loudly and animatedly to his friends at a nearby lunch table, the table of the 'residential friendship, caring group'. "Katara, can you believe it? He's barely been here one day and he's already got girls swooning -SWOONING- over him! I mean, how come I don't have a fan-club?! I'm cool, I'm suave!"
The shortest one at the table, sitting right next to him, hit him over the head. "Can it, Snoozles. You're drawing too much attention to your self-esteem issues."
He glared at the smaller girl. "I do not have self-esteem issues!"
"Sure you don't, Snoozles. Sure you don't," she said, starting to pick her nose right at the table in front of everyone. 'Snoozles' recoiled from her along with the rest of their table. "What?"
That signaled the end of that conversation, which left everyone watching outside of the table feeling a little grossed out.
"Ew! That was just nasty!" Ty Lee said, pushing her lunch away, unable to eat.
Song saw that as an opportunity to continue where they had left off. "Anyways, we just-"
Azula stood up from her seat, causing Song to cut herself off which only made the younger girl smirk at the power she held. "That's nice and very cute and all, really. But shouldn't you both start heading to class?"
The two kind girls looked at each other in confusion before Jin started to speak. "But, the bell hasn't even rung yet, and-"
"Well, then I suggest you beat the rush and head out early, " she told them, her eyes narrowing and her tone implying it was more than just a suggestion. "Don't you agree?"
Their eyes widened significantly, already starting to back away, afraid of her. What power the daddy's girl felt running through her fingertips at their clear sign of submission. "Y-yes... You're right! We should head to class," Song agreed before her and Jin quickly made for the exit.
Azula watched them go, their tails in between their legs before looking back at the three seated at her table. They were all staring at her. Mai and Ty Lee knew better than to continue doing so, Zuko seemed to of had forgotten in the time he was away.
"What?!" She snapped at him, daring him to question her actions.
His golden eyes held her gaze for a moment longer, an emotion unrecognizable to her buried within them that was neither hate nor fear. Then, he blinked, and it was gone as he adverted his gaze back to his lunch. "Nothing."
A.N. Ruby of Raven here!
One of my lovely reviewers pointed out to me that Sokka had to be put in here at some point, so I added him in along with Toph in this chapter. XD Hope you enjoyed them along with Azula's threatening presence.
Sorry that I haven't updated in three months. I've been busy, had writers block, and all around lazy. No real excuse for it. Keep sending me reviews so I'll be pressured into writing more and, therefore, updating more!