It was decide that Zuko and Katara would leave for Ember Island three days after Iroh decided that they needed to go. Zuko had to make the proper arrangements for their trip, along with delegating his work and postponing meetings that were being held during his time away. Even though the council was on recess, that didn't mean there wasn't work that needed to get done.
Katara spent most of the days leading to their departure by herself. Zuko had told her that he had some work to finish up before they left and she understood. Was it lonely, sure. But who was Katara to interfere with his work.
It was the day before their departure and she had yet to hear from Zuko all day. The past days they had run into each other in the halls of the palace, exchanging a few words in passing until Zuko had to scurry away to his next task. Just as she thought of him, a knock came to her door. Katara walked to the door and opened it quickly.
"Hey," She said quickly before realizing who was standing at her door. Azula stood there with her signature smirk upon her face, "Princess Azula."
"Expecting someone else?" Azula teased before inviting herself into Katara's room.
"No… no. Not expecting anyone really," Katara said slightly embarrassed. Azula walked her way over the desk that was in Katara's room and casually turned and leaned back onto the desk. She peered over shoulder at the desk filled with Katara's books and laptop, "What brings you here?"
"I was worried my brother has been neglecting you," Azula said still studying the books on the desk, "I came to see if you were ready to leave tomorrow."
"I was just planning on bringing my whole suitcase," Katara admitted, "I don't really have much and I couldn't decide what outfits to bring," Azula finally looked at her. Her golden eyes searing into Katara's soul from across the room. Katara wasn't sure why, but Azula's presence was intense and almost oppressive. It felt nothing like her brother's presence.
"I've just had a great idea," Azula said smiling wildly, "Let's go shopping."
"What's wrong with the clothes I already have?" Katara asked with a frown. Azula studied the clothes she had laying in her suitcase on the floor. Katara began to feel self conscious of the princess's judging eyes as they combed through the clothes that Katara had hastily packed before leaving Ba Sing Se. It definitely wasn't the suitcase of someone who knew they were going on an island vacation.
"Nothing, I suppose," Azula started, "But jeans and crop tops are not the most ideal clothes to wear on a vacation."
"I can't afford to buy a whole new wardrobe," Katara tried to level with her. Azula reached into her pocket and pulled out a golden credit card.
"Don't worry," Azula smiled flaunting the card, "It's on me."
—
The car ride into town had been as comfortable as any car ride with a princess could be. Azula had told the driver where to go upon getting to the car and has not uttered a word since. She looked ahead of her with her arms and legs crossed. Katara couldn't help but stare at how regal the princess looked in her casual clothes. Azula wasn't wearing anything fancy by any means. She wore black form fitting long sleeve top and loose beige pants. Her hair was held closely to her head by a red claw clip with her bangs framing the sides of her face. She exhumed elegance. Like she was the definition of the word.
"Take a picture, it will last longer," Azula teased with a smirk. Katara hadn't noticed that she was staring at the princess for half the ride.
"Sorry," Katara said quickly looking down at her hands in her lap.
"No need to apologize," Azula reassured her. Katara felt her face flush. Azula didn't look entirely like her brother, but Katara noticed some of the subtle similarities they had. Azula and Zuko both had very full but angular face shapes. They didn't look chiseled by any means but they had shape. Katara also noticed that the shape of their lips were the same. Azula's a little more plump than Zuko's but the similarity was noticeable. The car came to a slow stop as they reached their destination. Katara opened her door and stepped out of the car. She noticed that Azula didn't move until the driver left his seat and open the car door for her. Katara looked around and found her self on a strip of boutiques and luxury stores down a long street.
"I'll call when we're finished," Azula said flatly to the driver who bowed at her command. She began to walk down toward the endless store fronts ahead of them with Katara trailing behind her. The first store that they entered was a quaint boutique. Katara was surprised at the fact the first store Azula dragged her to wasn't one of the many designer shops on the strip.
"Lady Azula, welcome," A tall woman with sharp features entered the store front form a back room, "I see you brought a friend."
"Ming, nice to see you again," Azula greeted her, "This is Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe. She is in need of a new wardrobe for her stay here in the Fire Nation."
"Master Katara," Ming turned her attention to her, eyes looking her up and down, "It is a pleasure to meet you."
Katara weakly smiled at Ming who turned her attention back to Azula. They began to talk as Katara looked around the store. She noticed only a few items were on the selves. They looked more like decoration for a room rather than a gallery of clothing. The styles on display were nothing out of the ordinary. They weren't branded by any large obnoxious logos or signature designs.
"Katara, let's go," Azula's voice snapped Katara out of her train of thought. She was following Ming to the back room that the latter had appeared from. Katara walked over to Azula and they both made their way into the back room of the store.
This room had a whole different vibe to it. There was a mirror set up at the far side of the room with a couch in front of it a few feet away. Two attendants stood next to a curtained off area which Katara assumed was the dressing area. There had been more clothes in fancier styles on racks that lined the sides of the room. The majority of the items were red or some variation of it, but Katara did notice some green and blue garments amongst the sea of pink, maroon, and vermillion.
"Ming is the best designer in Caldera," Azula complimented, "She has a very keen eye for styling."
"Lady Azula, you flatter me," she said covering her smile shyly with her hand. Azula was looking at a few items on the racks as Ming turned her attention to Katara. She examined Katara from head to toe, circling around her like a tigervolture. Katara watched as Ming pulled out a note book and began writing notes as she continued to examine her. After a few moments of careful examination and note taking, Ming made her way to her attendants and quietly delegated tasks to them. The attendants the rushed around the room grabbing all different types of clothes off the racks. Ming walked happily back to Katara.
"You are built very sturdy, Master Katara," Ming said with a smile, "You are far more curvy than the women of the Fire Nation, so I've chosen a few items to start."
One of the attendants made her way next to Ming with a pile of clothes hanging from her arms. Katara noticed that most of the clothes in the attendant's arms were in various shades of blue and tried to recollect weather she had seen that much blue in the room while she was looking around.
"Blue suits your darker complexion," Ming says looking through the clothes that the attendant was holding, "Try these on first," Ming pulled out a pair of dark blue pants made in a flowy fabric and handed her a white top. Katara grabbed the clothes from Ming and was ushered into the changing area. She was quickly pushed in and left to change into the outfit handed to her. She carefully removed the clothes she was wearing and slipped on the pants. She hadn't noticed that the pants had two long slits down the sides revealing her legs and the fabric was very soft against her skin. She was surprised at the simplicity of the top and how it really seemed to bring the outfit to completion. It was an asymmetrical top with only one shoulder strap.
Katara examined her self in the mirror. It looked really good on her. The pants that rose past her hips accentuated her curves and made her legs look longer than they were. Ming had been right that they definitely weren't made for someone with a lot of shape like her, but they fit well enough to be comfortable. It was definitely apparent in the top she wore. Her boobs almost didn't fit in the designated boob area causing the top to be more cropped than she was comfortable with. She tried to pull the hem down on the top hoping that it would stay, only for it to bounce back up in place. She quickly gave up and settled for the top being just shy of a bra.
Katara thought of what Zuko would think. He would probably run his hands down her exposed sides. Finger tips teasing them hem of her top before making their way down her hips. She could almost feel Zuko's warm hands slipping up the slits of her pants feeling her toned legs and they trailed up to to her-
"Katara," Azula's voice cut her off. Katara turned from the mirror flushed. Azula called her from the main room. She took a second to gather herself with deep breaths before stepping out of the dressing area.
"How does it look?" Azula was sitting on the couch champagne in hand as she carefully examined katara from head to toe. Ming gave her a very approved smile and the attendants gave quiet claps in awe.
"Very nice," Azula finally said after a sip of her champagne, "The dark blue really suits you."
"Thank you," Katara said shyly with a smile.
"She'll wear that out and we'll take the pieces that we discussed previously," Azula said to Ming after finishing her champagne.
"We'll have it delivered to the palace," Ming said with a bow. Katara began to head to the clothes that she abandoned in the dressing area and was quickly stopped by Azula.
"Just leave it. They'll bring it back along with the other pieces I picked out for you," Azula said moving an arm around Katara's waist and leading her out of the store. Azula lead her to a coffee shop a few store fronts down. They took a seat at one of the small tables before a server came to them.
"What can I get you ladies?" The server looked at them with a smile eyes particularly glued to Katara.
"I'll have an iced americano," Azula said snapping his attention away from Katara. He quickly wronged her order on his notepad and quickly looked back to Katara.
"I'll have Jasmine tea," Katara looked up at him and gave an awkward smile. She was awfully aware at the unwanted she was getting from not only the server but everyone in the shop. It felt like all eyes were on her the moment she stepped in the small coffee shop.
"Got it," the server said, "Is there anything else I can get for you? Our pastries are all freshly made in house if you're interested."
"That'll be all," Azula dismissed him and the server left excitedly to the counter, "You are quite popular."
"It's probably because I look so different," Katara shook her off, "I know Caldera doesn't get many travelers from the other nations."
"Well you are right," Azula agreed easily, "But you are a sight to behold. You were probably popular amongst the people of your tribe as well."
"I wouldn't say so. The Southern Water Tribe is very small, and all of the men I grew up with were basically my brothers. In the Northern Water Tribe no one wanted a strong willed woman like me. All the men sneered at the fact that I learned combative water bending over healing. They all preferred their women obedient and demure," Katara explained. Azula gave her a look of "absolutely not buying it." The server came back with their drinks and they booth took a silent sip.
"Don't sell yourself short, Katara," Azula said matter-of-factly, "You have the Crown Prince wrapped around your little finger." Katara choked on her tea as she took a sip, surprised at Azula words.
"We're just unlikely friends," Katara said in between shallow coughs.
"Selling yourself short again, Master Katara," Azula took a calm sip of her tea before a woman walked up to their table.
"I'm so sorry to bother you," the woman said to Katara completely ignoring the Crown Princess behind her, "You're Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, right?"
"I-I am."
"I am such a huge fan of yours!" The woman squealed in excitement, "I read about the hardships you faced trying to find a water bending master in the North and was inspired by your perseverance for equality."
"Thank you so much," Katara smiled up to the woman who looked at her with beaming eyes.
"Not to mention the bond you must have with Avatar Aang," the woman swooned. Katara tired hard to not let her smile falter at the mention of Aang. Azula's eyebrow cocked up with curiosity, "You must be so happy with him. He was so brave admitting his love to the world. Even as far as calling you his 'forever girl'."
Katara could not help but visibly cringe at the nickname the world and Aang gave her after he publicly announced his affections. The woman luckily didn't notice her physical disgust but Azula sure did.
"Me and Aang are just friends," Katara said flatly, "We just trained together in the North Pole."
"But didn't you travel with him afterwards?" The woman questioned, "You're telling me nothing happened between you two in that time?" Katara was forced to recall the awkward kisses that Aang would spring on her suddenly.
"No," Katara stated. The woman looked at her unbelieving.
"Okay, sure," the woman said, "Oh before I forget. May I take a picture with you? I promise I won't post it!"
"Sure," Katara gave the woman a weak smile before she pulled her phone out and stood beside Katara. She positioned her phone and took a picture of the two of them while Katara tried to muster her best smile. The woman gave her thanks before walking away. Azula had an amused look on her face. Her coffee was almost empty.
"More than just popular, I see," Azula finally spoke up, "A celebrity, even."
"I'm reluctantly a celebrity," Katara joked. Azula hummed a smile.
"I'm assuming I shouldn't mention the Avatar?" Azula said finishing the rest of her drink.
"I'd prefer if you didn't."