A/N: This is really more of a friendfic, but I still like them together. Also, Mai seems a bit OOC, but keep in mind they've been drinking. :D

The Party Animals

Maitara: MaixKatara

All things considered, it was very lucky that the Fire Lord and Avatar had girlfriends that got along with each other. Many military alliances had been ruined in the past because of gossip and petty squabbling among the respective others of generals.

Of course, the girls were always the youngest among the important social circles, so it was only natural that they gravitated toward each other. The other wives and lovers tended to huddle together in packs of estrogen that Mai found difficult to tolerate and Katara found difficult to leave. The ladies of court loved the dark-skinned Waterbender like a pet because she was so "exotic-looking and sweet!" Mai, on the other hand, garnered the pity looks and whispers of "when was the last time she saw the sun?"

But on good nights, when their boyfriends were meeting with generals and kings from around the world, the two girls would find an open couch and just talk together. When feeling risky, they would each grab a glass of wine and hope none of the older women would mention their ages. For the most part they were ignored, and this was exactly how they wanted it to be.

Mai liked that Katara was the anti-Zuko.

Katara liked that Mai was the anti-Aang.

Not that they didn't love their boyfriends, but it was nice to have someone else to talk to about their day. Their friendship surprised the nobles after their long history of animosity, but the girls never found anything strange about it.

Sipping her third glass of wine, Katara said, "You know, I never understood the purpose of an Agni Kai. That's like trying to make war for peace."

"Or have sex for chastity," said Mai. They tried to stifle a loud chortle so that none of the other women in the room would look at them.

Mai had matched Katara drink for drink and they were both slightly red in the cheeks.

"It's something about honor, but I think they're entertaining. They're barbaric and leave nasty scars," Mai said, hardly hiding her dreamy look.

"Oh. Ooooh," said Katara with an impish grin. "I see why you like Zuko so much. You're into tough guys!"

Mai swirled her wine, "Well, you're into bald guys."

"He's just so shiny!" Katara squealed. Mai laughed again before taking both of their glasses to pour some more wine.

She bumped against a table and quickly glanced back at Katara. Her face was full of laughter as she said, "Don't let me fall over. These bitches will never let me hear the end of it."

Covering her mouth at the sound of Mai's profanity, Katara nodded sheepishly and hoped no one heard the remark. It secretly made her happy though.

Handing Katara her glass, Mai said, "Are you feeling this wine yet? I'm pretty sure I'm tipsy, so no more after this. We'll be flat on our asses by the end of the night."

Katara giggled and repeated, "Hehe. Ass."

The first of the generals returned to pick up his wife, a snooty old woman with a minor lisp that was too funny to ignore, and signaled that the meeting was over. Soon the rest of the women were filing out with their men, leaving Katara and Mai still drinking on the sofa.

This was normal. Iroh usually kept Aang and Zuko longer to plan for the next time they met. Or just to chat.

Meanwhile, Katara had found a fluffy cushion and shoved it in the back of her dress, giving her the appearance of an elderly woman with a rather large back-side.

"Phfff. You look like that old coot with the crazy hair," said Mai. She was sprawled across the couch, one leg slung over the back.

Katara feigned a wheezy old voice as she hobbled next to Mai, "Young whippersnapper! Get off my lawn! I'll have my grandsons knock you a new one right in the caboodle!"

At this, Mai dropped her empty wine glass and let out the most powerful "HA" that Katara could imagine.

She'd never heard Mai laugh at the top of her lungs. It was a shriek-laugh so loud and frightening that she dropped her act and stared mouth agape.

It was also very contagious. The girls laughed until their sides hurt and eyes welled up with tears. After a few minutes, they cooled down and sat together in silence.

"We should never, ever drink again. Ever," said Mai.

"I know," said Katara. "I'm exhausted."

Not bothering to adjust from the rather compromising situation they were currently laying in, they drifted off into a fitful sleep. Mai lay pressed beneath Katara, legs twisted together, faces touching, and hands resting wherever there was space.

Iroh was the first to return, not particularly surprised to find them snuggling. He picked up the wine glasses and set them on a table, crossing his arms.

Zuko and Aang walked in, not handling the situation as calmly as Iroh.

"What were they doing?!" choked Zuko.

Iroh grunted, "Canoodling."

Zuko looked at Aang, rather confused and a bit scared.

But the Avatar grinned back, "Score."

xxxxx

A/N: Lol. Canoodling. Thanks for the reviews; you guys are great. These were pretty much all the ships I had in mind, but I've gotten a better response than I thought I would. Any requests for more crack!ships?