Chapter 38 - the competition heats up
"It's hard to believe how quickly everything has happened for you two, but I'm certainly happy to see it," Katara said, smiling at Yue and Suki. The trio of friends were sitting on the roof terrace above The Northern Lights restaurant, a large parasol protecting them from the scorching August sun. Nearby, Kya appeared very busy as she inspected Azula's little herb garden, also doing some watering. The little girl looked very serious and professional as she went about her task, the picture of professionalism perhaps slightly ruined by her large yellow watering can in the shape of a duck.
It was a quiet afternoon between the services and having finished serving lunch, the staff of The Northern Lights had dispersed to make the best use of their free hours before the dinner service. Azula had driven across the town to meet with her childhood besties, Ty Lee and Mai. Downstairs, Sokka and Toph were playing Black Myth Wukong, or rather, Sokka was playing while Toph was gleefully reacting to the sounds of kills or Sokka's annoyed shouting after again and again dying to a frustrating boss. Aang had taken off on his bike to bring a vegan meal to Mingxia at The Green Dragon bakery where she was successfully undergoing tutelage under Ursa.
"Well, after that night at the cottage, I just couldn't imagine it going any other way," Suki grinned, taking the hand of a very content looking Yue. "Also, some practical considerations helped," she added. "I was starting to feel really bad for Mingxia having to sleep on that air mattress, and now she has my bed all to herself. My entire apartment, really."
"Also, Kya has finally stopped asking if Suki can stay the night with us, because she's doing exactly that," Yue laughed, squeezing Suki's hand. "I feel like it's working out really well."
"That's amazing," Katara nodded. "You know, with all of us more or less seriously chasing after Azula, I really had no clue how strongly you two felt about each other." After Katara had heard about Suki moving in with Yue, she had felt both happiness and relief, but a slight tinge of uncertainty hadn't gone away just yet. After all, not that much time had passed from when Yue had seriously contemplated future together with Azula. Katara didn't want to think that Yue would use Suki as a rebound, but relationships and feelings were complicated and not always easy to figure out.
"I think Azula walking out on Yue really opened my eyes about how I really felt about her and Kya," Suki confessed. "I think it had been building for a while, but that served as an awakening."
"For me, it would be silly to deny that I became really attached to Azula," Yue smiled bittersweetly. "In her, I also saw a better future for myself and Kya. But the way Suki has been there for us this past month, it's been so amazing. I no longer have to hope for a better future for myself and Kya, because Suki is already making our lives better here, in the present."
"You are such a corny but adorable sap," Suki laughed, leaning in to kiss Yue's cheek. "Also, she's too bashful to mention just how much of a factor our off-the-charts sexual compatibility was," Suki winked at Katara. "Seriously, the words 'magic fingers' came up to describe my skill level."
"Shut up!" Yue exclaimed, turning red in the face as she gave Suki's shoulder a playful shove. "Don't you dare going into TMI territory, or our relationship will prove to be a very short one!"
"I'm not even going to speculate," Katara laughed. "All I know is that back at the cottage, Azula for some reason got up at an ungodly hour and caught you doing emergency laundry at 6am in the morning."
"Don't say anything!" Yue threatened, seeing that Suki was already opening her mouth. "I'll deny everything! Also, I'll divorce you!"
"You can't divorce me!" Suki laughed. "We're not even married… yet," she winked.
"Anyway, I already had my moment of too much information when Azula started spinning her own wild theories for what you two were up to," Katara smirked. "I had to attempt some emergency distraction in order to get her to shut up."
"Yes, we have a pretty good idea of the tactics you must have used," Suki grinned.
"How are things with Azula, anyway?" Yue asked, looking at Katara. "I understand that you've as good as moved in with her."
"I guess you could say that," Katara smiled softly. "But things are good. Really good, in fact."
Katara hadn't been sure what to expect after that wild night with Azula at the cottage. It had been as exhausting and satisfying as Katara had hoped for, but she wasn't sure if it meant anything for the future, and she hadn't wanted to spoil the mood by bringing it up. But then, the next day, after finishing work at the restaurant, Azula had waited for her, offered Katara her hand and simply asked 'Shall we go?' Azula had then driven them back to her apartment where they had watched a movie before making passionate love and falling asleep in each other's arms. Doing all of that had simply felt like the most natural thing in the world.
Over the week that followed, they had settled into that routine of an established couple without really discussing it. When a few days in, Katara brought over some toiletries and clothes, together with a few other essentials, Azula didn't even bat an eye, instead merely showing Katara where to put her stuff. Katara knew that she was putting off a very serious discussion of what was actually happening between them, but for now she was also desperate not to do anything that could burst their happy bubble.
"Has she said anything about staying, though?" Suki cut straight to the chase.
"Not really," Katara admitted. "I'm considering the tactic of us just naturally becoming inseparable, without actually confronting Azula about it. I know, I know… that's a very not me thing because I'm always so direct, right?"
"I'll admit, it does surprise me," Yue nodded. "Don't you think you should apply more pressure on Azula to stay?"
"I agree with Yue," Suki spoke firmly. "We could help. Maybe we should concoct a very elaborate and complicated plan-"
"No!" Katara exclaimed, loud enough to startle Kya nearby, the girl almost dropping her yellow duck-shaped watering can. "Girls, I really don't want to blow this, okay?" she sighed. "I'm still trying to figure out how to best go about it. Azula is… a challenge to understand, but I don't think she can be browbeaten or guilt tripped into changing her mind. I think maybe I should just make her feel like she doesn't want to leave."
"No offense, Kat, but that seems like a risky strategy to me," Suki frowned.
"But obviously, if you end up reconsidering and decide that you want our help, Suki and I will do everything we can to help change Azula's mind," Yue offered.
"Exactly," Suki nodded, making finger guns at Katara. "Just holler whenever you need the heavy artillery brought out. We will entertain every option to keep Azula here, including kidnapping and holding her tied to the bed at that forest cottage."
"This is no time to bring up one of your sordid little fantasies, Suki," Yue snorted, slipping her hand under the table to pinch her girlfriend's thigh and making Suki yelp. "Anyway, despite Suki being completely ridiculous, I hope you got the point, Kat. We're completely behind you."
"Thanks, girls," Katara smiled as the three of them clinked together their glasses full of apple cider. "It's comforting to know that regardless of what the future brings, at least I'll always have you in my life."
"This one would look absolutely amazing, what do you think, Mai?" Ty Lee asked, with Mai leaning in close to her. The two of them were joined by Azula as they sat down at a table in one of their favorite Caldera downtown cafeterias. While Ty Lee and Mai were obsessing over something on Ty Lee's phone, Azula was busy overwhelming the waitress by making a ridiculously complicated order of coffee and snacks for herself and her besties.
"I think it's rather fetching, yes," Mai seemed approving of whatever Ty Lee was showing her. "Although, maybe it's a little too conservative?"
"Hmm, fair point," Ty Lee conceded as the waitress finally departed, shaking her head and looking like she was experiencing an early onset of migraine.
"What are you two whispering about over there? I hate being left out of the loop," Azula demanded to know.
"We're looking up wedding gowns," Mai replied.
"Oh?" Azula blinked, feeling taken by surprise. "I had no idea things had progressed so far with Sokka."
"Things are great with Sokka, but we weren't looking for my wedding dress," Ty Lee grinned. "We were looking up gowns for you and Katara."
Azula's reply was to choke on the mineral water she had been drinking and then spray most of it out through her nose. "I have no idea what you're talking about," she protested while trying to quickly clean up the mess she had made.
"Oh, come on, little Miss Denial," Ty Lee laughed. "You two have been acting more married than most spouses."
"I haven't seen it for myself, but I trust the stories Ty Lee has been sharing," Mai smirked. "It tracks with what little I know about Katara Enuaraq. Let's face it, Azula. An opinionated good girl with a little bit of a wild and crazy edge is the best possible match for you."
"This is ridiculous," Azula sputtered. "Katara and I are good f-" Azula then hesitated, but not just because of the incredibly skeptical stares that Mai and Ty Lee were giving her. Considering how the week since that fated night at the cottage had progressed, calling Katara a good friend was on a level of self-deception that Azula somehow hadn't sunk to. "I mean… Katara and I are just having fun until I have to leave," Azula sighed. "That's the truth and Katara accepts it."
Mai and Ty Lee exchanged stares. "You really think it'll be as easy as that to leave two months later?" Ty Lee asked, clear disbelief in her voice.
"I don't expect it to be easy," Azula attempted an unconcerned shrug, even if she didn't think that it would fool her best friends. She had no illusions that her heart would be shattered into thousands of pieces once it was time to leave Caldera City behind, but Azula had already decided that even this short time with Katara was worth the inevitable heartbreak. It wouldn't be the first time she had given up something she desperately wanted in order to obey her father's wishes and follow the career path he had laid out for her. What Azula was less prepared to deal with was her departure breaking Katara's heart, but so far, she had managed not to think about it too much.
"Honestly, I think Katara deserves better than someone who's going to leave her for her toxic daddy," Mai shrugged. Azula flinched at the sharp tone in Mai's voice. It wasn't often that Azula found herself on the receiving end of Mai's barbed wit, and it was never a pleasant experience. "This is why I am happy to have finally moved on from Zuko," Mai continued. "I kept making the same mistake over and over again, assuming that at some point, I will be more important to him than daddy's approval. But this desperation for approval is clearly a failing that you both share."
"That's a little harsh, Mai," Ty Lee frowned, looking a little saddened.
"Whatever, she's not wrong, it's just that I don't care," Azula shrugged, clearly caring about what Mai had just said, trying to brush off the sting of her friend's words, but finding it very hard to move past it. "Anyway, I didn't know that you had moved on from Zuko," Azula said quickly, hoping for a change of topic. "Last time we sat down together, you were still unsure of whether you wanted him back or not."
"Also, don't lie that you weren't happy when Zuko started to talk to you again now that you're back and more involved at the restaurant," Ty Lee added.
"Well… maybe, but I won't be taken for a ride again," Mai sighed. "What happened earlier today just proves that I'll never come first for Zuko."
"Wait, what happened today?" Azula asked, her curiosity sparked.
"He got a text from his father," Mai shrugged. "Ozai wants to do a video call with him later tonight. So, Zuko decided that we'll be shutting down early because he needs to hurry back home and sit down for a nice long chat with daddy, restaurant be damned."
"Your dad hasn't been in touch with you, Zula?" Ty Lee asked, looking concerned.
"What? Well… of course he has been! Obviously!" Azula laughed nervously. She was gripping her glass so tightly that her knuckles had gone white, there was suddenly so much tension and anxiety gripping her from the mere idea of Ozai contacting Zuko, but not reaching out to her. "Umm… any idea what he wanted from Zuko?" Azula managed to form a nervous question. "He didn't tell me anything. Just that he wants to have a video call with me later, too," she lied shamelessly.
"Zuko wasn't very specific when he literally ditched us ahead of the evening service," Mai snorted. "I suspect that whatever Ozai wants to tell you both, he'll do it later via the video chat."
"Yes… yes, that makes complete sense," Azula nodded anxiously, still agonizing about why Ozai had not reached out to her first… or at all. Had she done something to displease her father? The answer to that question was yes, obviously she had, but how could Ozai have learned about what she had been up to with the other girls, and especially lately with Katara? Had someone snitched on her?
"Whoa, you're alright there, Zula?" Ty Lee asked in a concerned voice. "Just remember to breathe. You're starting to hyperventilate."
"Oh, don't be ridiculous!" Azula laughed with an unnaturally high pitch as she just about managed to maintain a grip on her rising anxieties. Perhaps she was panicking over nothing. Ozai was probably calling Zuko just because her brother had somehow fucked up once again, and now he would find himself on the receiving end of their father's screaming disapproval. Yes, that explanation made perfect sense to Azula.
"Let's just not bring up Ozai Nakamura for the rest of our little get together, okay?" Ty Lee suggested hopefully. "He really kills the vibe." Ty Lee's frown was then quickly replaced by a beaming smile. "But you know what really boosts the vibe? Me doing so great lately. Let's talk about that instead."
"How about we don't?" Mai groaned. "I don't know if I can take any more stories about what an amazing honeybunny Sokka is."
Azula shuddered at that. "Obviously, we're still happy for you, Ty Lee," she said politely.
"I wasn't even going to get into anything embarrassing or TMI," Ty Lee rolled her eyes. "But I was telling Mai that she might soon lose her best waitress. No shade to Jin, love you girl," she added with a grin.
"And I was telling Ty Lee that it doesn't really matter because The Blue Spirit will be shut down as soon as Zuko leaves anyway, and that day is fast approaching," Mai shrugged.
"At least this time you won't be left completely out in the cold when Zuko runs back to his father," Ty Lee tried an encouraging smile. "This time I'll be there for you to lean on. As well as the rest of the friends we've made at the restaurant."
Mai scowled, but eventually cracked a wry smile. "I suppose that is something."
"Good on you, Mai, but can we rewind to you quitting your job, Ty Lee?" Azula asked. "What gives?"
"Well, Sokka has been encouraging me to consider putting my passion for nature and animals to good use," Ty Lee said. "But places like zoos won't really consider me without proper education. So, I might be going back to school. I don't know, I haven't really decided yet."
"That's actually not a braindead idea, congratulations Ty Lee," Azula chuckled. "That kind of education won't be cheap, though. You might need a part time job anyway, and waitressing has always been one of the top student jobs."
"Yeah… that's actually true, isn't it?" Ty Lee blinked. "Oh well, I guess I'll be rocking that waitress uniform for a while longer. Even if I might not be doing it at The Blue Spirit." Ty Lee looked a little sad at that before perking up again. "Hey, but maybe The Northern Lights could use another waitress."
"Sleeping with one of the owners seems like a pretty easy way in," Mai grinned.
"Exactly!" Ty Lee agreed vehemently. "You know, I think we're all going to be fine. Although… if you're really intent on leaving, Azula, I just wanted to say that I'm going to miss our get togethers. It feels like we only just reunited after our years of being high-school besties, so that's going to be sad…"
"She's not wrong about that," Mai nodded, turning to look at Azula.
Azula winced, feeling an unpleasant tightness in her chest at the very thought of leaving her best friends behind yet again. "No… Ty Lee definitely is not wrong there," Azula admitted with a sigh.
"Ah, there you are. Still as good with technology as your grandfather Azulon, and he's been dead for seven years now," Ozai Nakamura's berating voice reached Zuko's ears well before his father's face appeared on the laptop screen. It wasn't often that Ozai would request a Teams meeting with Zuko and usually it happened only if Zuko had done something that required massive amounts of chewing out. So, while Zuko was waiting for this online meeting, sitting in the living room of Jet's apartment, his anxiety levels were spiking through the roof as he wondered what exactly he had done to deserve his father's inevitable ire.
"It is good to see you too, father," Zuko managed to reply politely, hoping that his voice would not betray the nervousness gripping him.
"I'm sure it is," Ozai nodded. "Do you know why I insisted on this face to face, Zuko?" Zuko mutely shook his head. "Because Ukano and Michi Syun have been in my DM's all week now, pestering me to interfere in your relationship with their daughter."
"Really?" Zuko blinked. This he certainly hadn't expected. "Mai and I haven't been dating for at least three weeks now. I guess she wasn't in any hurry to tell her parents." That part of the breakup didn't surprise Zuko, as Mai had a distinctly cool relationship with her parents.
"Well, they're losing their shit, terrified that Mai is throwing away their golden ticket into high society," Ozai laughed. "Whatever. I didn't think she was a good match for you, anyway. You better not be all mopey because of the breakup."
"Oh… no, not at all," Zuko replied, making a subtle hand gesture outside of Ozai's view. On cue, Jin and On Ji entered the living room, wearing nothing but their skimpy underwear. With Jet's help, Zuko had chosen a strategically clever spot for his laptop to make sure that Ozai could see the girls over Zuko's shoulder. This whole thing was staged because Zuko had been struck with sudden fear that perhaps someone had snitched to Ozai about him and Jet, so they had scrambled to come up with some fake-ass 'Zuko is completely straight' evidence.
"I see," Ozai smirked, eyeing both On Ji and Jin. "Nice going, son. Maybe you're not a completely lost cause, after all."
"Thank you, father," Zuko replied, breathing a sigh of relief. At least Ozai didn't know about him and Jet, and that lifted a huge weight off his shoulders.
"Don't thank me just yet," Ozai scowled. "I'm still pissed that both you and Azula have completely dropped off the high society grid in Caldera. You dumped your longtime girlfriend and I didn't even see a single tabloid article about it! You're a Nakamura! Our name should always be on people's lips!"
"I'm sorry, father, but I suppose Azula and I both want to focus on nothing else but winning this competition," Zuko said. Obviously, it wasn't the entire truth. Zuko had never been a social butterfly the way his sister could be, but he had still attended all the important functions back in Ba Sing Se. Right now, Zuko desperately didn't want to be under the scope of the press because things were becoming seriously gay with Jet.
"And yet somehow I easily manage to accomplish both without offering any excuses," Ozai rolled his eyes before falling silent. Zuko wondered why his father had stopped talking, instead merely staring very intensely at the screen. Zuko then peered over his shoulder to realize that Jin and On Ji had started to make out. "Anyway, at least you still remember how to have fun," Ozai eventually broke his transfixed stare. "Every time I ask your sister whether she's dating someone, she immediately becomes very evasive."
"I don't really know that much about Azula's private life, father," Zuko replied honestly. He was delighted to hear that for once Ozai seemed more frustrated with Azula than he was with him. "I'm too focused on beating her in this restaurant contest."
"Yes, from what I understand, this race is much more closely run than I had anticipated," Ozai nodded. "In the remaining two months, I will take a more direct involvement that will help me decide which one of you is declared the winner. At some point during the next week, your restaurant will be visited by a trusted food critic who will report his observations to me."
"I'll make sure the food critic gets the best welcome possible," Zuko promised.
"Well, you better make sure of it, because they will be traveling incognito," Ozai smirked. "Then, a few weeks after that, I will send Zhao to do a full audit of the restaurant's finances. His report will be very important in determining the victor of this contest."
"But I hate that scummy old rat-face," Zuko whined.
"Shush," Ozai warned. "Everyone hates Zhao, but he does good work for us, so we tolerate his rat-face." Ozai then paused for a moment before continuing. "And finally, I will visit your and Azula's restaurants myself to form my own impressions. Together with the reports from Zhao and the food critic, these will be the three key factors when it comes to determining the winner."
"Heard, father," Zuko nodded. His thoughts were already on the food critic's visit next week. Zuko desperately tried to think of someone in Ozai's employ that could have been chosen for this mission, but nobody came to mind. In any case, his father was definitely way too clever to choose someone that Zuko might recognize.
"Good, then we understand each other," Ozai nodded. He may not have looked pleased, but at least he didn't seem angry. "We'll speak later. Right now, you have whores to get back to," Ozai finally said, disconnecting the call.
"Wow, your father really is a nasty piece of work," On Ji frowned, finally letting go of Jin.
"I don't know, I think he's kind of hot," Jin giggled. "You can really see where Zuko gets it from."
"Right, I have no idea what you're talking about," Zuko shrugged. "Jet?" he shouted instead. Jet immediately stormed into the room. "Did you catch all of that?"
"Absolutely," Jet nodded. "Sounded like crucial information to me. I think it might be time to sit down and strategize."
"Thank goodness," On Ji breathed a sigh of relief. "That means I can be done with this dehumanizing experience."
"Wait," Jin protested upon seeing that On Ji was about to leave. "I thought there would be sex involved!"
"Well… there could be…" Jet spoke up, giving Zuko a hopeful stare.
"Eyes on the prize, Jet," Zuko replied sternly, shaking his head. "I feel like Azula is on the ropes and this is my moment to shine, I can smell it in the air. Finally, I have this amazing opportunity to defeat my sister and I'm not going to squander it for a quick gangbang."
"Bollocks," Jin cursed. "I should have done like you, On Ji, and asked for money."
"I told you to do that," On Ji sighed, shaking her head. "At least that way you would have made up for what you didn't make in tips because of the canceled service." On Ji then turned to Zuko and Jet. "Seriously, guys, just pay her. We just did you a pretty gross favor, Zuko. I know you understand that because you're not that much of a jerk."
"Fair enough," Zuko shrugged, looking at Jet. "Just get my wallet and pay her, okay? I need to sit down and start working on our plans to deliver a knockout blow to Azula in this competition."
Following her meeting with Mai and Ty Lee, Azula did not immediately return to The Northern Lights for dinner service. Instead, she made a short drive over to her mother's apartment. It was more than a social call, however, because she had something to request from Ursa. Suki and Yue had asked to have the following week off from work because they wanted to take a little vacation to celebrate the start of their relationship that was becoming more serious by the minute. The pair had already made plans to take Kya on a boat cruise, and Azula was struggling to deny the request.
In any case, Katara and Sokka, the actual owners of the restaurant had already approved the vacation requests, perhaps without the necessary consideration for the holes left behind by Suki and Yue's absence. Azula couldn't help out in the kitchen while also helping Katara manage the front of the house. This was why Azula was here to speak with Ursa about loaning Mingxia to the restaurant for one week to help out in the kitchen, while Aang and Toph together carried the head chef's load and Azula helped out Katara.
Now, at her mother's place, Azula had posed the question to Ursa, but she was yet to receive the answer. Ursa had been just about to answer when her phone had started to ring and she had rudely decided to take the call, blushing and looking very nervous as she apologized and hurried out of the room. With Ursa's apartment being rather small and Azula possessing excellent hearing, she still managed to overhear most of the conversation without even trying to listen in.
"Thank you for being so understanding," Ursa sounded very emotional as she spoke with someone on the phone. "I really wanted this to work out, believe me, but Kiyi… she just wouldn't even entertain the idea. And you know that my relationships with Azula and Zuko are complicated to say the very least. I'm very worried about messing things up with Kiyi too, I hope you understand that."
The conversation continued for a few more minutes, consisting mostly of Ursa trying to explain herself, apologizing and expressing hope that she and the person she was talking to could remain friends. By the time the conversation ended, Azula had already understood the gist of it. Apparently, Ursa had recently met someone and had been hopeful to start a relationship, but Kiyi had slammed her foot down on the whole idea.
Obviously, Azula thought that Ursa was once again demonstrating pathetic weakness, because what kind of wimp would allow other people to dictate who they could or couldn't be with. However, being this weak was typical Ursa behavior. Ursa had always allowed herself to be pushed around, like back in Azula's youth when she had meekly allowed Ozai's lawyers to bully her out of Azula's life.
"So, about Mingxia!" Ursa spoke unnaturally loudly as she reentered the living room, her cheeks still a little wet from crying. Apparently, they weren't discussing the recent phone call even if Ursa had to know that Azula had overheard some of it. Well, that suited Azula just fine. Nothing terrified Azula more than the possibility of having a heart-to-heart talk with her mother. "Yes, she has made some remarkable progress over the past few weeks. I don't think further development will be harmed if she helps you out at the restaurant for one week. In fact, a brief change of scenery can sometimes be very helpful."
"Hmm, you said a smart thing," Azula smirked. "I'm impressed, mother."
"I have my moments," Ursa smiled. "Anyway, I think this will work out just fine, as long as Mingxia herself is happy to do it." Ursa paused for a moment, giving Azula a scrutinizing stare. "I'm going to assume that you have already asked her."
"Well, not exactly," Azula shrugged. "I was just going to bully her into agreeing. She seems a bit spineless, so I was sure to easily have my way."
Ursa sighed, rubbing her temples and looking very frustrated. "Please don't do that. I'll talk to Mingxia myself, no gratitude necessary," Ursa said.
"Whatever, I wasn't going to-" Azula began, but she was interrupted by the sound of the front doors opening, followed by loud and excited chatter entering the apartment in the shape of Kiyi and Kya. Azula figured that Kiyi must have collected Kya from the restaurant ahead of the dinner service, because Kya was still wearing her little biker's helmet that she was always required to wear when riding with Kiyi on her bike. Certainly, Azula thought that Yue was very brave to allow her four-year-old daughter to go on the bike with Kiyi, but apparently Kiyi had earned that much trust with Kya's mom.
"Hey, Azula is here!" Kiyi exclaimed happily, bursting forth to give her older sister a hug. "Thanks so much for that tip for the monkey game, it worked like a charm! I made that stupid bat boss look like a total clown!"
"Glad to hear it," Azula replied proudly. She didn't really have much time for gaming these days, but past experience had allowed Azula to come up with a solid strategy just based on Kiyi's description of the boss fight. "Hey there, Kya," she waved to the little girl who had been busy taking off her shoes, but now followed Kiyi into the living room.
"Hi Azula!" Kya beamed happily, allowing Azula to pull her into a hug. It truly felt that by now, all those hurt feelings from Azula's breakup with Yue were finally a thing of the past.
"It's great that you're here," Kiyi spoke excitedly. "I can finally show you how much ass I'm kicking in the monkey game."
"Maybe you should instead ask Azula for help with your homework," Ursa suggested. "She's the only one here qualified to help with your trigonometry problems."
"Sure, we'll get right on that, mom," Kiyi sighed, excitedly tugging on Azula's hand and pulling Azula towards her room. Ursa shook her head but said nothing.
"I wanted Azula to play a few games with me," Kya said, clutching her Pai Sho set under her arm. It seemed like she hardly went anywhere without her Pai Sho board and tiles.
"I really should be returning to the restaurant, though," Azula protested weakly, ending up being pulled into Kiyi's room. "Although, I suppose I could watch a little bit of you playing Wukong, and then play a few Pai Sho games with Kya…" Azula relented, much to the joy of the two younger girls.
It all made Azula aware that there even more people than just Ty Lee and Mai who would miss her once it was time to depart Caldera City… and that realization did not feel particularly good.
Mingxia was nervously bouncing on her heels as she hesitantly knocked on the doors of Toph and Aang's studio apartment. The hour was already late and Mingxia knew she was breaking the laws of hospitality by intruding on her friends, but the news she had received were so amazing that she wanted to share them with her closest new friends she had made in Caldera.
"Mingxia, that you?" Toph asked, opening the door and somehow already having sensed who it was on the other side.
"Yes, sorry about the lateness," Mingxia replied. "I just got some awesome news that I wanted to share with you both. Can… can I come in?"
"Well, this isn't the best of times," Toph replied, looking a little hesitant and making Mingxia's heart fall a little. "Hmm, you know what, though?" Toph then seemed to reconsider. "Actually, come right in. You're going to learn the truth sooner or later."
"I'm sorry, what was that?" Mingxia asked, feeling puzzled as she stepped into the small foyer and removed her shoes.
"Oh, nothing," Toph grinned broadly. "Go right in."
"Thank you," Mingxia replied, stepping further into the sparse but comfy studio apartment and looking around. She couldn't see Aang anywhere, and instead of the Air Nation lad, Mingxia was confronted with something shocking. On the other side of the room, a massive yellow rooster was flexing in front of the mirror. Mingxia yelped, dashing across the room and assaulting the rooster, tackling the feathery abomination to the ground. "Where is Aang, and what have you done with him!" she demanded angrily.
"Hey… it's me, Aang… could you please stop crushing my windpipe with your knees, maybe?" the flattened rooster pleaded.
"Eh?" Mingxia blinked, reluctantly climbing off from the dastardly avian. "Are you in there, Aang?"
"Yes…" Aang sighed, removing the head of the giant bird costume. "One of these days I need to figure out why all of my friends are so keen to attack completely friendly looking giant yellow birds…"
"Sorry about that," Mingxia chuckled awkwardly, getting up from the floor and pulling Aang up as well. "But why are you wearing this suit? Are you a mascot for the neighborhood's softball team or something?"
"That would be a more reasonable explanation than the one you're going to get," Toph laughed, having joined them in the apartment. "Aang is a part of Caldera City's furry scene," Toph then explained.
"Oh… I've heard about that," Mingxia said, feeling very confused. "It's just… you don't really fit the profile of a stereotypical furry?"
"I didn't know there was such a thing as a stereotypical furry profile," Aang chuckled.
"True, I shouldn't be generalizing," Mingxia apologized. "But what drew you to furrydom, if that's not a secret?"
"It's a sexual thing for him," Toph inserted with a shit-eating grin.
"What? Shut up, no, it's not," Aang protested, looking rather red in the face. "It's totally a spiritual thing for me. I believe very strongly in the concept of reincarnation and I feel like I have made a powerful connection with my past lives. I am experiencing this incredibly close link with the element of air and flying. It makes me believe that I was a bird in several of my past lives."
"Oh… hence the bird costume," Mingxia realized.
"Exactly," Aang grinned. "So, what are your thoughts on the whole thing?"
"Hmm, I've never given it much thought, really," Mingxia confessed. "But I support you, Aang." Aang smiled gratefully at her. "I can see how it also could help people with serious social anxieties like myself," Mingxia continued. "I've always had much easier time forming friendships online than in real life because I'm just terrified about meeting new people. But I think wearing a costume that hides your face is almost as comforting as internet anonymity, you know?"
"Wait, are you saying you might be open to trying on a costume?" Aang cheered. "That would be so awesome! I'm pretty sure I could hook you up with something."
"Well… no rush, it was just an idea," Mingxia tried to backpedal because Aang was clearly way more excited about the whole thing than she was. Still, she didn't want to disappoint Aang because he was a really sweet guy. "Let's take time with it. I need to be fully comfortable with the idea if I'm to try it."
"Heard," Aang nodded. "I'll try to rein in my excitement."
"Ugh, I can't believe you finally converted someone to furrydom," Toph groaned. "This was not how I expect that conversation to go. Anyway… Mingxia actually came here because she had some exciting news for us."
"Yes!" Mingxia exclaimed happily. "I wanted to let you know that I have been recruited to work with you guys in the restaurant's kitchen next week!"
"Oh?" Toph snorted. "Yeah, we already knew that."
"Yes, Azula told us that you'll help out while Suki and Yue are away," Aang nodded. "I think she mentioned it like a week ago?"
"But… I only learned about it today, and from Ursa, not Azula!" a very surprised Mingxia blinked. "Why was I the last to find out?"
"Azula must have assumed that you would want to help out," Aang shrugged. "Azula is nice, but she sometimes takes things and people for granted. But I'm sure she means well," he added optimistically.
"It would have been weird to grow up with Ozai Nakamura and not have his megalomania rub off on you," Toph shrugged. "Anyway, welcome aboard, Mingxia."
"Yes, we'll have an awesome time rocking that kitchen," Aang nodded excitedly. "And we'll do such an amazing job that Azula won't even notice the absence of her head chef."
"I hope so," Mingxia smiled, a little nervously. The last thing she wanted to do was to disappointed these kind people who had taken her in and helped her get back on her feet when she was at her lowest. Now that she had the opportunity to pay back a little of what she owed, Mingxia was absolutely determined to do her best.
"So… what brings you around, Jet?" Bee asked, staring at her old friend and not looking particularly pleased. Jet was sitting down with her and Longshot in their shared studio apartment, only now starting to realize that he hadn't visited in nearly a month. "Mighty kind of you to remember about your old friends."
"He probably just needs something from us," Longshot commented, using his Speechify text to speech convertor. Apparently, it had received some updates, because the software no longer used its metallic sounding robot voice, having been replaced with something that sounded more like Alexa.
"Very funny, Longshot," Jet laughed off the accusing comments from his friends, even while cringing inwardly because, obviously he was here because he needed something from them, specifically from Bee. "What, a guy can't miss his oldest and dearest friends?" he chuckled amiably.
"Sure," Bee shrugged. She did look a little less pissed off, though. "You didn't even ghost us this much when you started dating Katara. And she was much nicer than this rich Nakamura boy. Never thought you'd become so obsessed with someone like him."
"It seems like Jet just can't get enough of that sweet QUESTION MARK!" Longshot added.
Jet and Bee both burst into laughter. "It's true, I do love me some question mark," Jet grinned.
Longshot sighed, glaring at his phone. "This latest update also installed a bloody profanity filter on my phone," he typed quickly.
"Well, just text us what you meant, I'm curious now!" Bee urged. Longshot quickly sent them both a text message. Bee groaned, having read it. "I wish I hadn't asked," she groused.
Jet laughed, blushing a little bit. "Well, sure, the bussy is that good," he admitted with a chuckle. "Anyway, I would invite you guys around a lot more, but you know how it is. Also, Zuko seems to hate you, so."
"Throwing your boyfriend under the bus now, nice," Longshot rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, what do you mean he hates us," Bee glared. "We've only met him twice, both times very briefly. He doesn't know us, so why would he hate us?"
"Okay, fine, he doesn't hate you. We're really getting bogged down in minutia here," Jet sighed. "It's just that… we haven't really put labels on anything yet. And sometimes Zuko acts really uncertain about the whole thing, probably because he knows that his asshole dad would disapprove of us. I haven't invited you to visit since I know that you guys would be cracking lewd jokes all the time around us, and I thought it might scare Zuko off."
"If your toxic personality hasn't scared him off, then our jokes won't either," Longshot pointed out.
"Hmm, good point…" Jet admitted. "Alright, let's hang out together next weekend, how does that sound? Maybe we'll also have something to celebrate."
"Like what?" Bee asked, looking skeptical.
"Well, it has to do with an amazing opportunity I have for you, Bee," Jet grinned.
"I told you he wanted something from us," Longshot signed quickly.
"Of course," Bee rolled her eyes. "What is it now, Jet?"
"Well, it has to do with the restaurant contest between Zuko and Azula," Jet said excitedly. "We have a foolproof plan to help Zuko win when a food critic visits next week to review their restaurants."
"Seriously, you're still obsessing about getting back at this Azula chick?" Bee snorted.
"Well, she is a major bitch," Jet shrugged. "But also, she stands in the way of Zuko inheriting his daddy's empire, so… she has to go down."
"Alright, but what do Longshot and I have to do with a food critic?" Bee asked, looking confused.
"Well, it's actually more of an opportunity for you alone, Longshot isn't really a part of the plan, I'm sorry to say," Jet said, glancing at a somehow very relieved looking Longshot.
"Somehow I feel like Longshot is the lucky one here," Bee sighed. "Dare I ask what the plan is?"
"Alright, I'm glad you asked, because it's a stroke of genius," Jet replied proudly. "Since the food critic is traveling incognito, Azula won't recognize them, so-"
"Are you suggesting that we kill the food critic so that I can take their place?" Bee asked, cutting Jet off.
"No, that's not… hmm, although… no wait, murder is bad. I think," Jet hesitated for a moment. "Ugh, stop distracting me, Bee. We don't do anything with the real food critic because we also don't know who they are, obviously. But you were half right with your guess. We will spare no expenses in getting you all dolled up so that you look like a high society snob, or a TikTok influencer. Then you'll stroll into The Northern Lights and act like a food critic. We'll get Zuko to give you tips on how to act. Ordering one of each is what food critics normally do, I think."
"Hmm," Bee looked thoughtful. "I do like the idea of your rich boyfriend spending a fortune so that I can dress up and gorge myself on delicious food. But I get to keep the fancy clothes, okay?" Jet nodded quickly. "Okay, I'm in," Bee said. She then snapped her fingers, like she had just remembered something. "Wait, Katara might recognize me, though."
"We'll make the disguise really convincing, trust me," Jet said. "You can pick out your own wig and whatever else you want."
"That sounds awesome," Bee grinned, now also looking excited. "I get to be like a spy and do an infiltration mission? What's not to love?"
"Exactly!" Jet exclaimed, looking even more encouraged and confident about the whole thing. "And like I said, come next weekend, we can all celebrate together when Azula Nakamura finds herself knocked down a peg or two!"