Chapter Text
As he faced the closed door and the nauseating sounds of rave music and the acrid smell of alcohol and sweaty young adults emanated from within, Zuko took a deep breath, wondering if he should instead be studying for the Philosophy exam he had in three days.
He fidgeted as he pounded on the door. “Y’know, maybe I should go back. I don’t even like Halloween. This seems more like your thing than mine.”
His sister rolled her eyes. “If you think this is ‘my thing’ then you’re sorely mistaken, Zuzu. But I’m not a coward. I spent far too much effort on my costume to back out now.” She gave him a once-over. “I can’t say the same for you, sadly.”
“Hey, I sure as hell wasn’t going as the Blue Spirit again.” Zuko grimaced as he compared their outfits. His sister may have been harsh but she wasn’t lying. Inspired by The Bride from Kill Bill, she wore a bright yellow jumpsuit that fit her perfectly, complete with yellow sneakers and a leather belt. Slung across her back was a scabbard carrying what he swore was a real sword. He was kind of afraid to ask where she’d got it from.
In comparison he wore Luke Skywalker’s outfit from the Return of the Jedi…which consisted of all black clothing, a plastic lightsaber, and a hooded cloak for dramatic effect. Just the way Zuko liked it. It may not be as flashy as his sister’s costume, but at least he felt comfortable in it.
The door swung open and an attractive girl about his age appeared and enthusiastically waved them in. “Azula! You made it!” She exclaimed.
The two siblings stepped inside and Zuko immediately winced. It wasn’t that he hated parties or holidays - he’d always been more focused on his studies or helping in the family business than socializing - but this was something. Party lights hung over almost every inch of the walls and ceiling and the house was jam packed with people dressed in a myriad of costumes. Dozens of paper jack-o-lanterns and skeletons acted as festive decor, and there was even the occasional inflatable cat. Zuko had certainly never seen anything or anywhere this decked out in the Fire Nation.
“Hello, Suki,” Azula drawled to their hostess, her voice somehow audible despite all the shouting and singing. “Thanks again for the invitation.”
The auburn-haired girl smiled. She was dressed in a biker girl outfit - she wore a studded faux leather jacket, a green bandana around her neck, and a shirt with a rock band’s logo imprinted on it. Zuko also couldn’t help but notice her black denim shorts and fingerless gloves. It was a very striking look, he had to admit.
“I’m still pretty sore after our fencing match y’know,” Suki shouted at Azula. “You gave me a hell of a workout.”
The beginnings of a smile formed on his sister’s face. “Like I could be capable of giving anything less.” Even in the middle of a party he could still hear the pride in Azula’s voice. “I’m also still…resting from that.”
Suki laughed and gave another compliment he couldn’t hear, then turned to him. “And you must be Zuko! My my you’re handsome. Azula and Sokka have told me a lot about you - mostly about how he’d be failing Philosophy if it wasn’t for you.”
Zuko blushed at Suki’s forwardness but didn’t back away. The two shots of rum he took back at his and Azula’s apartment was doing wonders right now. “If he actually paid attention in class I wouldn’t have to be looking over half his essays. Right, Azu-”
He turned to face his sister but she was nowhere to be found. No flash of yellow anywhere in sight either. “Spirits, I hate it when she does that.”
Suki laughed again. “She’ll be fine! I’m glad she brought you along, though!”
She opened her mouth to say something else when another girl appeared at her side, her eyes raised in panic. She was Water Tribe from the look of her skin tone and blue eyes, and quite gorgeous. “Suki, Jet’s throwing up in the pool.”
Suki huffed and gave her a look of restrained anger. “Goddamnit! I fucking told you we shouldn’t have invited him!”
The Water Tribe girl raised her palms in surrender. “I thought he’d be chill! Sorry, I’ll fully take the blame for this in the morning. Anyway, I can deal with him. Have you seen Sokka? Just in case I need some muscle if Jet gets aggressive.”
Suki shook her head, then lit up. “No, he went next door with Aang - hey, take Zuko!”
The girl - Zuko still didn’t know her name - looked at him with a raised eyebrow, as if doubting him. Then she noticed his scar, and her eyes widened just a bit.
He figured he would introduce himself to take the attention off the scar. He was still getting used to people staring at it in this new school.
“Hello, Zuko here.” He grinned, figuring he did as well as he could given their environment and how tipsy he was.
Apparently it didn’t go that well, because the two girls exchanged a look. “Umm, alright. If Suki vouches for you then I guess you can’t be too bad.”
“I actually just met him two minutes ago. He’s Azula’s older brother.”
The Water Tribe girl gave her a bewildered look. It seemed to Zuko as if these girls could half-communicate on looks alone. She mouthed to Suki, “Azula?” but didn’t press it. She turned back to him. “Well, I’m Katara. Welcome to the circus, Zuko.” She flashed him a tired, but kind smile.
Zuko smiled back. As far as parties went this wasn’t too bad so far. “Nice to me-”
“We need to go before Jet punches the electrical panel or something. Suki, I’ll find you if I need you!” Katara took his hand and led him through the house. He managed to wave bye to Suki before they disappeared into the crowd of costumes.
“So who’s this guy?” He shouted over the noise of the partygoers.
Apparently it still wasn’t loud enough for her. “What was that!?”
“I said who’s this Jet guy? Sounds like trouble.” He ducked under a guy wearing a sombrero that was way too large.
Even though he could only see the back of Katara’s head he could tell she was weighing what to say. “Ex of mine. I thought we were on good terms but I really forgot how stupid he gets when he drinks.”
He wondered why they ever got together in the first place, then shook his head. He’d only just met this girl. “Hey, who are you supposed to be?”
Whatever Katara’s costume was, she looked damn good in it. She wore a yellow, sleeveless crop top with red suspenders that crossed over her shoulders and connected to the back of her high-waisted jean shorts. Although the lighting was terrible, he could also make out her red high tops that were already dirty from the party.
“Huh? Sorry, I’ll explain it later.” She was obviously agitated by this Jet guy.
Within seconds they reached the house’s backyard, where a small crowd of people stood around the modest pool. Only one person was in it, a tall, lithe guy who could only be Jet.
“C’mon, none of you assholes want to join me?” He yelled at the crowd. He was still in his costume - a shitty Jack Sparrow imitation from the looks of it - and was very clearly drunk.
Katara let go of his hand and stormed all the way to the front of the crowd. “Get out, Jet. Now. You need to go home.”
Jet’s expression shifted between anger and confusion. For a moment he seemed to think about rebelling, then apparently thought better of it. He paddled over to the edge of the pool, then lifted himself out, his clothes dripping water all over the concrete.
He brushed his wet hair out of his face then stared right at Katara. “Only if you join me,” he said, without a touch of tact or sense.
Zuko tensed up and the crowd muttered loudly, waiting to see Katara’s reaction. To her credit, she never flinched or backed down. “Go home. I’m not saying it again,” she hissed, her voice cold as ice.
When Jet took a step forward, so did Zuko. On instinct he retorted, “You heard her, buddy. Get your stuff and get out.” He felt quite silly saying that while in a Halloween costume, but then again, everyone was dressed like that. And he was starting to really dislike Jet.
Jet looked at him as if he was a gutter rat. Then he smirked and looked back at Katara. “This is who you’re seeing now? A Fire National? You’ll be coming back to me when you see how small his-”
Before Zuko or anyone could react, a fist slammed into Jet’s left cheek, sending him stumbling backwards. A second later he fell over the edge and into the pool with an undignified splash. The crowd behind them gasped and shouted as Katara suddenly appeared in front of him, her body heaving and her right hand shaking. Then, as if spellbound, the yard fell completely silent, save for the music coming from inside and Jet’s struggles.
“Holy shit…” Zuko whispered.
Katara turned back to the crowd, addressing no one in particular. She raised her hands in exasperation. “I don’t care who fishes him out. Just do it and send him home. And tell him he’s never invited back to this house!” After a beat she added, “Happy fuckin’ Halloween.” And with that she walked away from the pool, as if she hadn’t just decked some guy at a college Halloween party.
Zuko allowed himself a moment to think on what just happened, then ran after Katara. The usual chatter returned to the night air as the two walked off. “Hey, wait up! Are you okay?”
The Water Tribe girl spun around with fury still in her eyes. It made him jump a little. “I feel like screaming into a pillow right now, to be completely honest.” She looked around. “Follow me,” she said curtly, then kept walking without checking to see if he actually followed.
Katara led him to the side of the house, where only a few other people stood around. She stopped under a paper lantern and leaned with her back against the wall. Though he expected her to start ranting, she instead took a deep breath, as if to center herself. “I’m sorry he said that about you. What a grade-A jerk.” Her voice, while still firm, had a shakiness to it now. "I know you came here to have fun and you only just met me. I'm sorry we dragged you into this."
Zuko was taken aback by her concern for him. Whether it was the rum or the whirlwind turn of events or both, he honestly had not stopped to consider that fact. He raised his hands reassuringly. “I wouldn't have stood by and watched either way. Also - what he said about me? What about what he was going to say to you? He deserved that punch. I’m not one for violence but…”
“But he was asking for it. Spirits, I really don’t know why I dated him.” She smiled tiredly at him, all her rage seemingly gone. “Sorry you had to see that, though. Not exactly how I want first impressions to go.”
He waved her off and stood next to her against the brick wall. It was pretty uncomfortable, but Zuko didn’t care much. “That guy made a far worse first impression.”
She laughed, and the sound of it was high and sweet. “Thanks for being there anyways. Hey, what are you by the way?”
Zuko groaned and waved the plastic lightsaber in her face. “I’m Luke Skywalker! I’m literally dressed exactly how he is in Return of the Jedi. You know, I really don’t like this stupid holiday, I’m never good at picking out a costume that doesn’t come in black.”
Katara laughed even harder. “To be honest, I thought you were a monk.”
That pretty much wiped out any chance of him dressing like this again. “Seriously? I guess he’s kind of a monk…wait, what are you? You never said.”
Katara glanced at her outfit. “Oh! I’m Misty.” She must’ve noticed his blank face because she followed up with, “You know, the most famous girl from Pokémon? She trains water-types and has a Psyduck. Really? Nothing?”
He hung his head in mock shame. “Sorry, I didn’t grow up around Pokémon. You rock the costume, though.”
Katara playfully punched his shoulder. “I’m sure I do, with how many times you’ve been looking at my legs.” Zuko blushed, thankful for the dim lighting. “I’m just joking with you. You know, I have heard of you, Zuko. Other than Sokka going on about how you keep his Philosophy grade from going to a C.”
“Huh…where’d you hear of me?” He tilted his head, unsure of how Katara could have ever heard of him. Or maybe he was giving everyone too little credit. He moved to Republic City with Azula after the very public and humiliating downfall of their father in the Fire Nation. Although they could have stayed, they made the joint decision to distance themselves from his scandals and instead move in with their uncle in the United Republic.
It had been quite a change for them, and their first semester at this new university was going alright, if uneventful so far. That was exactly their intention.
Katara brought up an entirely different reason altogether, which, in Zuko’s opinion, was even more embarrassing. “I heard that you-Suki’s going to kill me for this,” She glanced left and right to make sure no one was listening. “I heard you got a handjob from Jin in the bushes outside Roku Hall.” She giggled as if to punctuate the statement.
Now Zuko was sure his blush reached down all the way to his toes. His stupid Jedi robes felt unimaginably tight. “How the-where the hell did you hear that?”
Katara, in between giggles, managed to get out an answer. “I heard it from Suki, who heard it from Azula, who heard it from-”
“Me.” He groaned, burying his face in his hands. “Me and my stupid mouth. I knew I shouldn’t have said anything to her! Fuck, I didn’t know her and Suki were that close.”
The Water Tribe girl couldn’t seem to stop laughing. “You played with fire, huh? It’s kind of funny because Sokka tells me Azula flirts with him all the time. Though I don’t think he or Suki mind. Her flirting’s kinda funny to watch.”
“Please don’t talk to me about my sister’s flirting. Actually let’s just stop talking altogether.”
Katara patted his arm. “Hey, don’t stress about it. As far as rumors go, it’s pretty tame. You could do a lot worse, like…” She gestured at the pool.
He laughed too and felt some of his body’s tension dissipate into the fall air. “Fair enough.” She smiled at him again, this time in a much more sober and thoughtful way. He had to wonder if Katara really did know why he and Azula were here.
It was a topic for another time, apparently. Katara tilted her head at him as if in thought. “Why don’t you and your sister get lunch with my friend group down at the dining hall on Monday? We hang out there most days. You’ve already met Sokka and Suki - you just need to meet Aang and Toph. I think you'll like them.”
He liked both Sokka and Suki, and he was already taking quite a liking to Katara, too. Zuko shrugged in agreement, though mentally he was deep in celebration. He felt incredibly, unbelievably lucky that she would invite him into her friend group after a single night. “Alright, why not? It’s pretty guaranteed that we’ll never get on your bad side now, not after that right hook.”
Katara shifted closer to him and laughed. “That’s the spirit, Zuko.”
A wild idea formed in Zuko’s head. At first he shook it off, blaming it on the fading effects of the alcohol. But as he laughed with Katara, with her youthful yet astute demeanor on display and wearing her vibrant outfit based on a character he’d never heard of before, he realized that maybe it wasn’t such a wild idea. At least, it was one that looked like a missed opportunity with each second he stalled.
So he went for it.
“How about…?” The words seemed stuck in his throat for a moment. He coughed awkwardly, then pressed on. “How about we see each other earlier than that? Like, erm, coffee?”
Katara’s blue eyes looked at him warmly. “Coffee?” She echoed back at him with a smile. They were directly facing each other now, with hardly a foot of space between them.
“Yeah, let’s say tomorrow afternoon?” His costume was starting to feel hot and uncomfortable again. Yeah, he wasn’t ever going as Luke Skywalker again.
She ran her thumbs underneath her red suspenders, her smile turning into something inviting. Although, if the lighting were just a bit better, Zuko thought he could make out a blush on her face too. “Yeah, I think I can make that work.”
Zuko felt his shoulders sag like an unspeakable weight had been lifted from them. He let out a deep breath. “Great! How about one o’cl-”
Katara pressed a finger to his lips. “We’ll figure that out tomorrow. Right now let’s just…embrace the spirit of Halloween.”
Then she pressed her lips to his, and before his mind went blank he thought two things. One, Katara could be just as corny as he could. And second, perhaps he could cut Halloween some slack after all.