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“And here’s your new home sweet home!” Sokka presented what would be Katara’s new bedroom for the next few years of her life.
When Katara first came to Sokka complaining about having no idea where to go after her freshman year of college and refusing to keep living in the dorms (Katara loved Toph, her previous roommate, really! But there was no way she would be able to keep her sanity intact any longer.), her older brother decided to offer one of the guest bedrooms in his and his roommate’s apartment.
“You’ll help pay a part of the rent, but it’s not too bad. It’s such a nice place too, so it was surprising!” Sokka continued. His hand clapped Katara’s shoulder. “Well, if you need any help unpacking, I’ll just be in the kitchen if you need me.”
Katara unpacked and organized her things quickly, her new room already feeling like it was always hers instead of just a spare room that her brother and his roommate were willing to let her have.
Speaking of this roommate…
“Hey, Sokka, are you sure your roommate is fine with me staying with you guys?” she asked, one hand hooked onto the doorframe as she leaned out.
“Oh, yeah! Zuko’s pretty broody but he’s a good guy. Actually, he reminded me a lot of you,” Sokka said, his voice muffled. Katara scrunched her nose in disgust; knowing her brother, he was probably eating and talking with his mouth full.
“Oh? Is it that we’re both so gracious for putting up with you?” Katara teased.
“Ah, close! Annoyingly stubborn and always so mean to poor me,” Sokka shouted, his mouth clear enough to sound more intelligible. “He should be on his way back by now so you’ll meet him soon.” With that, Sokka continued to eat whatever he had and Katara decided to organize her toiletries.
The bathroom was… well, it was a bit of a mess. For one, where half of the sink was in a relatively clean state, the other half was covered in puddles and toothpaste stains. Katara rolled her eyes, recognizing her brother’s things on the dirty side. Putting her toiletry bag on the clean side, next to what must be Zuko’s things, Katara wiped down Sokka’s side. “Of course he still doesn’t properly clean up after himself,” she grumbled, but there was no actual heat in her voice. Once she was done, Katara began to take out her things and stored them away.
It was not too long after that the front door opened and Katara could hear her brother excitedly greet whoever came in, only for his voice to sound confused and heavy footsteps head for the bathroom. While Katara was in the midst of removing her makeup, the bathroom door was shoved open and the worst sound echoed in the toilet bowl as someone curled over it.
A short older man approached the open door, his eyes crinkling as he smiled at her. “Hello, I am Iroh. Are you Katara?” At her nod, Iroh continued. “Your brother has told me and my nephew quite a bit about you. He’s a very proud brother.” Iroh’s eyes drifted down and sighed. “Zuko, you know very well to not use your device in the car.” Zuko, because the person kneeling in front of the toilet was also apparently her other roommate, groaned in response. “I will make you some ginger tea, then.”
“Iroh, did you bring anything from your shop?” Katara heard Sokka ask and Iroh’s chuckle. She turned around when the toilet flushed and Zuko stood up, placing a hand over his stomach. He moved toward the sink but seemed surprised to see Katara there as well.
“Uh, hello? Zuko here.”
So this was her roommate, then.
Katara stepped aside. “You should probably brush your teeth,” she said, her voice lighthearted with a giggle. Zuko’s face became bright pink as he nodded and grabbed his toothbrush. “Are you okay? Really.” Zuko hummed around his toothbrush. After he rinsed his mouth out, he stared at the sink.
“Did Sokka finally clean this up?” he asked, frowning at Sokka’s side of the sink.
“Ha, no. I did. I’m not surprised you have to deal with his messiness, too,” Katara said and stuck her hand out. “I’m Katara, by the way. I wish I could say it was nice to meet you, but my ideal first introduction to someone usually doesn’t including them puking.”
“Oh, very funny,” Zuko rolled his eyes this time but still shook her hand. “I’d say the same, but I’d rather not throw up in front of my new roommate because I got carsick.” It was a low bar for a joke, but it still made Katara laugh for some reason.
“Come on, Car Boy. Let’s get you your tea.” Katara exited out of the bathroom, her makeup messily removed, and her hand tugging a half-heartedly grumbling Zuko behind her.