Chapter Text
It should be made perfectly clear that Katara by no means liked Azula in any shape or form and she knew that the feeling was absolutely mutual. While Azula may have been able to get off scot-free unlike Ozai since she hadn't technically any war crimes, it didn't make her any less insufferable to deal with. It would be more accurate to say the two tolerated each other, just barely to avoid any open fighting. That didn't mean the two didn't share a heated glare between each other, snarky comments and gave each other the stink eye when nobody else was around which was rare.
With the war over, there was a lot that needed to be done across the world as every nation had to come together to help bring the world back into order. A lot of rebuilding had to be done, treaties to be signed and international meetings that had to be held. As a member of the Southern Water Tribe and teammate of the Avatar, that meant she was staying in the Fire Nation a lot more than she would have liked honestly. And that meant having to put up with Azula's attitude while she was there.
Which unfortunately meant that she was more contact with Azula than she would have normally liked.
" Azula "
" Water Tribe "
" My name is Katara " Katara responded with clear disdain in her voice.
" Oh my mistake, a thousand apologies Katara " Azula said not sincere at all with wave of her hand as she walked away.
Katara glared knives at Azula's back as she walked away, coming to the Fire Nation Azula was probably the worst thing she had to deal with. Aside from the snooty politicians, greedy nobles and governors who looked at her as if she was trash that came intruding on their sacred palace. Azula was somehow the worst part of her day staying in the Fire Nation.
She tried repeating in her head that she's here to help Zuko keep a steady hand on his rule...and maybe help make sure Azula doesn't try to overthrow him immediately. From the way, she hears it Azula is pretty beloved in the Fire Nation for helping bring the war to an end in the Fire Nation's favor of course. But so far, she hasn't made any moves against Zuko politically. Yet at least.
She let out a sigh as she went about her day, she'll only be here in the Fire Nation for a few months at least and she has her friends. She can handle a few snarky comments from Azula until then.
Katara did not consider herself somebody who needed much out of life or really one that needed luxuries to have a comfortable life. A home, her family and friends by her side were all she needed to be happy. But even she had to admit that the Fire Palace being so big and boasting so many different rooms all with different functions impressed her from multiple guest bedrooms, ballrooms, dining rooms and more. Zuko had given them free-reign to roam the palace as they saw fit, so she could essentially go anywhere in the palace and use any of its facilities.
But what interested her the most was the training room that she wanted to check out in hopes of maybe using it herself.
Yet when she got there, she was greeted by a flash of blue flames in the center of the training arena. It took her a second after entering to realize that the training room was already in use by none other than Azula herself.
Katara pondered leaving and coming back later, but she found herself stopping as she watched Azula bend with mild curiosity. Azula easily zipped around the room sending blasts of blue flame at the wooden targets who were lit on fire and burned to ashes. Azula danced around the room as if she performing a beautiful dance with her bending, the Fire Princess almost looked like a viper who was attacking her targets with deadly precision.
Azula's bending was beautiful to watch...not that she would never admit it to her face.
After a few minutes of idle watching, Azula stopped bending and turned to her much to Katara's shock that she had been caught in the act of staring.
" Enjoying the show Water Tribe?" Azula said with a smirk.
" I just wanted to see if the Palace really did have a training room I could use, I didn't know it would be occupied " Katara said in a grumpy tone.
" Well, as you can it is fully furnished with everything a true warrior needs to hone their skills, not a savage from some backwater village "
" This savage beat you when you were at your most powerful remember?" Katara retorted back, wiping that smirk off Azula's face.
Katara didn't feel like leaving just because Azula was here. She didn't want to give the princess the satisfaction, so she came up with a different idea instead.
" Are you content fighting against wooden planks or do you prefer a real spar?" Katara said as she entered the ring and squared off against Azula.
Azula smirk grew wider " You read my mind Water Tribe " The two benders got into their respective stances as they prepared to fight...
5 minutes later after a lot of water whips, small fireballs and so on, both Katara and Azula called it a match for now. There was no clear winner as neither had forced the other into a defeat, but they both made the other sweat and that was good enough for now.
" Same time next week ?" Katara asked, more out of idle boredom and invigoration at being able to spar with someone on equal footing. Between treaties, helping Zuko with policies and meetings she had little to do in the palace. She could use the exercise anyway.
Azula stared at her for a moment before smirking " Agreed "
They fell into a bit of a pattern after that, on a weekly basis they would spar for a few hours. It was a nice change of pace as much as she hated to admit it and Azula was a worthy fighter. Without Azula she wouldn't have anybody to spar with, aside from Aang and he was usually busy these days. They had developed a certain rivalry to their spars and Katara almost looked forward to them as a sort of weekly event she had.
Katara let out a tired breath as she took a sip of some water after a long training session with Azula. It had ended in a stalemate like most of their matches did.
" So how's the Avatar doing? " Azula asked out of the blue.
Katara turned to the princess with a surprised look on her face " What brought this on?"
" Please its no secret that you and the Avatar are a couple, call me curious about what the Avatar has been up to since then?" Azula said with an eye roll that made Katara sigh internally. It honestly shouldn't surprise Katara that Azula didn't hear the news, they hadn't exactly told everyone about it.
" Well, then it might surprise you to know that me and Aang are not...we're not seeing each other anymore" Katara answered honestly, resulting in an eyebrow raise from Azula.
" Oh? Trouble in paradise? Big fight?" Azula asked obnoxiously.
" We didn't fight you ass, we just came to an agreement that things wouldn't work out between us. We had different views, lifestyles and with so many things changing both of us hardly have time to pursue a romantic relationship " Katara turned away from Azula " We're still on good terms for your information, things are just so...busy"
Azula was quiet for a moment before speaking again " Well, its his loss then. I'm sure with your beauty and talents there will be more than a few suitors lined up outside the door waiting for you "
" Did you...actually just compliment me in a non-sarcastic way ?" Katara had to check again to make sure she wasn't hearing things.
" Contrary to what you may think about me, I am capable of recognizing a person's good qualities and talents even if I may not like them outright " Azula replied cooly.
" So you admit I'm a strong fighter?"
" Oh no, you're talented certainly but you still have a ways to go " Azula immediately said with a smirk.
" Still beat you during the Comet " Katara bit back.
" You defeated me while I was sleep deprived, hallucinating and not thinking straight. And I had to fight Zuko beforehand " Azula calmly refuted Katara's victory over with a quick use of logic " Don't break an arm patting yourself on the back there like its some grand achievement when I was fighting at a handicap, if I was at full strength I would have clobbered you both in an instant "
Katara crossed her arms, she hadn't thought much about it before but...Azula was correct. If she had been fighting at her best that day, she was certain that both she and Zuko would be burned corpses right now.
" I don't doubt it..." Katara muttered reluctantly.
Azula smirk grew wider " Did you just compliment me unsarcastically?"
" Oh shut up " Katara said much to Azula's laughter.
Katara was having a very bad day, more than usual. The recent council meetings were starting to get on her nerves, especially some of Zuko's advisors who were oh so smug or annoyed Katara personally. And as such, that allowed her to vent her frustrations on Azula during their spar today.
" You're angrier than usual " Azula said calmly as she sidestepped a water blast. She had been dominating this fight and it only made Katara more frustrated." You're sloppier when you're angry"
" I don't want to hear that from you " Katara responded curtly still focusing on blasting Azula with water, but none of her attacks connected.
Within the next few minutes, Azula beat her with a simple trip of her feet and pinned her to the ground. Her frustrations bubbling up and she almost wanted to ask for a rematch, before the rational part of her mind told her to let it go for now.
Katara didn't say anything as she got off the ground and wiped the sweat off her brow with a towel. She turned to Azula who was giving her a strange look.
" What ?"
" Alright, I'll pop the question, what's got you so angry?" Azula asked with an eyeroll.
" Bad meeting with the Council earlier, you know how it is "
" Bad meetings are one thing, what happened that has you looking like something spit in your food this morning?" Azula asked again.
Katara pondered whether she should tell Azula this, but eventually decided she needed somebody to rant to. " Can you believe Advisor Jiang convinced Zuko to hold on to some of the colonies? The nerve of that man ! The Earth Kingdom has suffered under the Fire Nation enough and he wants the Fire Nation to basically still own stolen land from another country's? Its insane !" Katara shouted in frustration.
" Actually I think Advisor Jiang is being completely reasonable " Azula responded calmly.
" Oh here we go, are you going to lecture me about how the Fire Nation is spreading its glory through the colonies or whatever?" Katara said sarcastically.
" Spare me the melodramatics for a minute and listen " Azula retorted, and Katara begrudgingly crossed her arms to listen to what Azula had to say." You say you want to return the colonies back to the Earth Kingdom which is a noble task I suppose...but where do you propose we put the Fire Nation people who are being forced out of their homes? Because that is essentially what you are asking them to do"
Katara opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She thought about it for a minute and realized that they really didn't think that far.
" For the newer colonies, those can be returned relatively easily. But some such as Yu Dao have been part of the Fire Nation since the start of the war, families are mixed there and their lives are practically intertwined with some building their livelihoods there " Azula continued her explanation. " Logistically it makes no sense too. Most of those in the Earth Kingdom have been there for most of a century "
Katara was starting to feel a bit more uncomfortable at how Azula was easily poking holes in her argument.
" That's not even taking into account that Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom blood have very much mixed since then, how do you plan to deal with fathers who are from the Fire Nation but their wife is native to the Earth Kingdom? Their children who are a mix of Earth and Fire? Do you intend to split families apart because I can assure that will be met with extreme resistance and hate " Azula said, not even in a mocking tone, just simple logic and coldness.
" Of course, that's not what I'm saying!" Katara retorted " But its not fair to the Earth Kingdom who had their land stolen from them by an invading force"
" Its not fair to the families and people who are already there either. The people who ruled the land where the colonies are long dead and forgotten " Azula sighed, perhaps in tiredness " Your intentions and goals may be noble, but until you can answer these tough questions, you can expect the Council not to move from their position in the least"
Katara took it all in for a moment, she hated to admit it but Azula was right. She, Aang and the others hadn't thought about all those innocent who might end up with nowhere to go if they were relocated back in the Fire Nation. Maybe Jiang wasn't being as unreasonable as she thought had been.
" You're right..." Katara muttered barely above a whisper but it was still heard by Azula.
" What's this I hear? Did the great Katara actually say I'm right?" Azula said in a dramatized overexaggerated tone with the telltale signs of a smirk.
" Oh shut up, I admit you're right, don't throw a parade over it " Katara rolled her eyes at the princess " In all seriousness though, I need to talk to Aang and Zuko about what to do about the colonies at the next Council meeting"
" Perhaps an agreement of mutual cooperation could be signed regarding the colonies, where a portion of the taxes are paid to the Earth King too " Azula suggested out of the blue " Its not a permanent solution, but it would do for now "
" That is...actually a really good idea " Katara agreed surprisingly enough.
" Well, I used to do this for a living you know " Azula said as she turned away.
Katara hated to admit but Azula wasn't all talk. She was arrogant certainly, but it was backed up by a killer intelligence and legitimate skill that matched even Katara at the best of times. While Zuko was a dear friend to her, she had come to find out that he wasn't as skilled at courtly politics and treaties as he was at bending. From the way she hears it, Azula was the one who got the full-heir package and education. Zuko unfortunately didn't and is now expected to run a nation coming out of a war.
Which is why can't believe she's asking this next question.
" Why don't you come to the next Council meeting?" Katara spoke and immediately regretted it.
Azula' expression shifted from surprise to curiosity to uncertainty " I didn't realize I was invited to Council meetings "
" Spare me Azula, I know that Zuko has practically been begging you for help with all the royal duties but you've been turning him down without giving a proper reason " Katara said, though she really heard about it once when Zuko was ranting to her about stuff.
Azula scoffs" My reasoning for not helping is because I know how much of a pain dealing with a post-war world is, and because my idiotic brother has essentially put our nation in a position where we are in the losing bracket, I think its only fitting he gets to handle the brunt of it " Azula said with spite in her tone " He wants the Throne so badly, he can take it...and all the bloody responsibilities, headaches and assassination attempts that come with it "
Katara could tell where the source of Azula resentment was coming from- the Final Agni Kai, the Comet and everything that came after. She hadn't given it much thought, but it made sense that their relationship would be strained after that.
Katara spoke slowly " I can't make you come to help...but this is your country as much as it is Zuko's, you don't want to help him as a sister, fine. But at least consider coming as the Princess. Prove him and everybody else wrong Azula, we both know you love proving people wrong "
Azula didn't speak again, so Katara decided it was time to leave.
But before she left, she had some parting words.
" For what its worth Azula, I think if you used your brain and skills for good. You could actually be a better Fire Lord than Zuko " Katara said honestly before she left.
Azula did come to the next Council meeting and the one after that much to the surprise of mostly the Gaang. The rest of the Councilors and Advisors practically rejoiced when she returned to the meetings, she could have sworn that she saw Jiang smile at her return. She's starting to wonder how much each of the Councilors and advisors preferred Azula over Zuko, but that was a thought saved for another time.
The Princess's snide comments may have been annoying, but she did have a point to her words. Her disagreements and refutations were accompanied by logic and facts, she and Jiang seemed to get along quite well when it came to putting down Zuko's ideas for possible changes to the Fire Nation with facts and figures about how it would never work. It was quite brutal if she had to say, but Katara couldn't deny that they both had logical points. Though they were at least merciful enough to make changes and amendments to some of Zuko's more viable reform plans, so their favorite shared pastime wasn't just mercilessly beating Zuko down with logic.
Katara would never say it to her face, but Azula felt more in her element here. Dealing with ambassadors, treaties, political instability and so on. She was truly trained for this after all and Katara appreciated having her here.
Things were going quite smoothly if she had to say so...until one of the Councilor's said something about the Southern Water Tribe that rubbed her the wrong way.
" Excuse me ? Would you care to say that again ?" Katara said through gritted teeth at the young man seated opposite of her.
The Council member Hungan sneered at her from across the table " Do I need to repeat myself ? I think its quite frankly a mistake to send reparation money and resources to the Water Tribe, what do those savages know about economics and construction? They live in shoddily built igloos and huts. They can't even threaten us for it either, because we royally beat them into the ground during the war. Its a waste of good money and resources "
Hungan personally angered her, and not just for what he had said about her tribe. From the way, she hears it, he comes from noble blood and only really got his position on Zuko's council because his father was in good graces with Ozai. To put it in nicer terms, he was a spoiled brat who only got his position because of nepotism and because his father sucked up to Ozai when he was still in power. He was exactly the kind of noble she would hate to deal with on a daily basis. He had only come on to the Council a few days ago and he already pissed her off.
She could take snide remarks, subtle jabs at where she was from but this? This was crossing a line in the sand.
Katara's eyes twitch as she resisted the urge to water whip him across the face right now " I strongly suggest you take that back. Right now. "
Hungan sneer grew wider, not threatened by her at all " Or what, Water Wretch?"
Zuko rose from his seat in anger " Councilor Hungan-!"
" Zuko, I will handle this " Azula held up a hand to stop him, before she turned to the young man " Councilor Hungan, let me remind you that you are in a professional meeting with an ambassador of the Southern Water Tribe and you will show respect, if you cannot behave yourself or avoid from speaking out of turn then you will be removed " Azula had said in a calmly professional tone, but Katara could detect the underlying threat in it.
Was Azula...standing up for her?
Hungan either didn't get it or didn't care for that matter " Oh, you're sticking up for the Water Tribe now princess? Can't say I'm surprised considering you got beaten by her on the day of the Comet " Hungan's words caused Azula's eyes to twitch " Oh yeah Princess, we all know how you failed like an idiot to defeat a savage from the Water Tribe. You're not nearly as scary as you think you are Princess...So why don't you sit back down before you get put in your place again ?" Hungan said with a smug smirk, as if daring her to move against him.
The other Councilors and advisors looked at Hungan as if he was an insane idiot. Did he actually think he could say that and get away with it?
After roughly a minute, Azula calmly stood up and gave Hungan a glare that could rival the sun " Councilor Hungan, I would like to formally challenge you to an Agni Kai. Let us see if you can back up your arrogance with actual skill, shall we?"
Zuko tried to intervene " Azula, you don't need to-"
" Fire Lord Zuko, I strongly advise you stay out of this conflict for your own personal safety " Jiang pulled Zuko back before he could get involved.
" You want to be humiliated again so badly Princess? Fine, I've always to put you in your place " Hungan said with an arrogant smirk.
5 minutes later...
" I-I'm sorry ! Pl-Please forgive me ! I'm so-AAAHHHHH!" Hungan screamed in agony as Azula continuously whipped his back with a fire whip.
The match had lasted barely 2 minutes before Azula got the upper-hand and proceeded to clobber Hungan into the ground. Katara could tell that Hungan was a total amateur firebender who was so stupidly arrogant that he made so many mistakes that Katara wondered how he even survived this long. Azula moved so fast and outskilled him that it wasn't even a fight anymore. It was more of a one-sided beatdown.
" What was that you said Hungan? About putting me in my place?" Azula asked mockingly.
" A-A mistake my lady ! I promise I will never make it aga-AAAH!" Hungan screamed again as Azula whipped him across the face with her fire whip. She had actually never seen Azula use a fire whip...did she learn that from her water whip? She would be impressed if that was the case.
Katara wasn't one who took pleasure in another person's suffering...but she had to admit that Azula was looking strangely attractive when she was kicking ass with impunity.
The Fire Sage who had been overseeing the fight so far awkwardly stepped in when Azula was finished and Hungan was moaning on the floor.
" Um...Princess Azula is the winner of the Agni Kai !" He announced, to which the Councilors and advisors who had shown up to watch clapped with amusement. Their faces showing little sympathy for Hungan. Katara couldn't disagree.
Two guards entered the ring and held up Hungan to make him look at her.
" Councilor Hungan...for the crime of disrespecting royalty, and speaking out of turn, I hereby banish you from the Fire Nation. You are hereby stripped of all noble titles and are to be killed on sight should you ever return" Azula said in a cold tone of professionalism.
" Y-You can't do this to me !"
" Sure, I can. I'm royalty and I'm sure your older sister will be more cooperative than you are " Azula turned her head as she walked away " Take him away "
" No ! No ! This isn't right ! You can't do this to me !" Hungan's wails echoed throughout the arena as he was dragged away. Never to be seen again.
" Well, I think that settles the Council meeting for today " Zuko said awkwardly.
" We'll meet again tomorrow to discuss this issue, for now I think we can be dismissed " Jiang agreed as they all dispersed.
Katara wasn't finished yet though, she still had questions burning in her mind. Why did Azula do that? She didn't need to stick up for Katara, sure Hungan had offended her as well, but she could have very well just let Katara deal with him on her own. Why did she feel the need to get involved like that to such an extent? Not that she was complaining, more curious than anything.
Was it professionalism or something else ? She had to know.
It didn't take her long to find Azula, heading to her room most likely to wash up from having to beat down Hungan. She caught her in the hallway on the path to her room.
" Azula, hang on !"
" What is it Katara?" Azula said with a raised eyebrow.
" Why did you stand up for me back there? " Katara popped the question, not wasting anytime.
Azula turned to her with a sideways glance " I was simply reminding the Councilors not to overstep their boundaries and that fools like Hungan need to be removed before they can cause any real problems. Plus, he insulted my honor and I could not let that slide "
" I could have handled him just fine on my own, you didn't need to step in " Katara retorted.
" Perhaps but I much prefer to manage my own underlings with a strict hand " Azula turned away " And I suppose I did not like seeing you disrespected in such a brazen manner "
That was when it hit Katara, did she do it...because she actually cared?
That was something Katara hadn't expected. She kinda liked it a little.
" Now if you don't mind, I need to take a bath to wash Hungan's disgusting stench off me " Azula said as she approached the door to her room.
" Azula?" Katara spoke up before Azula disappeared from sight.
" Yes?"
" You were...pretty cool back there. And thanks for sticking up for me " Katara admitted reluctantly with a small smile.
Azula's eyes widened in surprise and she could swear she could see a faint blush on her cheeks before she entered her room.
" Don't mention it "
Katara's time in the Fire Nation felt so long yet now it feels so short when she really took it all in. After all the council meetings, long hours in the night and training sessions with Azula, it wouldn't be long now before she would have to depart. She would be leaving in a short while, the Fire Nation is stable enough, treaties are in place, all agreements have been signed and there is no more need for her to be here. Sokka says they will leaving by ship in a month or so.
She would miss Zuko yes...but she would also miss Azula. Or at least their weekly spars they had. It gave her something to look forward to in her usually boring and monotonous week. She liked the challenge Azula gave her and how she seemed to adapt her style during their every match like an ever-growing skilled dragon. But she has her duties at home and she must leave eventually.
She told Azula about it during one of their weekly training sessions, her expression was one of odd passiveness before it shifted to something else...disappointment? Sadness, maybe? It was hard to tell.
" You're leaving "
"...Yes "
" When ?"
" Next month or so. Me and Aang's work are pretty much done, and I need to return to the Southern Water Tribe to help my dad rebuild the tribe. A lot of changes are being made so they need my help over there " Katara explained in a slow manner.
" I see...I was...wondering when you would go " Azula said in a fake prideful tone." Well, I will miss our spars to defeat you repeatedly "
Katara gave a small smile " Likewise..."
Things were silent between them for a moment before she heard Azula speak up again.
" You have a pretty face "
Katara turned to the Fire Princess who refused to look at her in the eye " What did you say?"
" I said you're pretty ! Agni, do I need to say it again? "
" Who in the world says that out of the blue?"
" My therapist says that I need to be more honest with my feelings " Azula shrugged " And you are genuinely beautiful "
Katara blushed a little at the admittance before coughing " Well, your face isn't half bad to look at either "
" And your skills at bending are much better than I originally thought they were " Azula followed it up with a half compliment.
Katara chuckled a little " You really are bad at talking to people aren't you ?"
Azula huffed " I am merely more honest than most people...and I dislike beating around the bush unless its political in nature. With that being said would you...perhaps, I don't know..."
" Yes?" Katara asked curious.
" The Fire Festival is next week you know...would you care to accompany me there?" Azula extended the invitation much to Katara's surprise.
Katara couldn't believe what she was hearing was the proud Princess Azula herself inviting her out for an event? She could hardly believe it, until she saw the small blush on Azula's face.
" Are you asking me out on a date ?" Katara popped the question.
" No ! I mean, maybe...yes " Azula sputtered a little in such a cute way that it made Katara do a doubletake. Azula was allowing herself to be vulnerable if even just for a moment.
Katara was shocked for a moment before smiling " I would love to go with you Azula...but first things first, we have a spar to get to. Whoever wins has to pay for the outing "
" Deal " Azula smirked.
A few minutes later through skill and partly luck, Katara gained the upper-hand and managed to pin Azula to the floor. Though Katara got the feeling that Azula wasn't fighting at her fullest just then.
" Looks like you're paying " Katara smirked.
Azula grumbled cutely before turning away with a pout.
The following week when they did go to the Fire Festival, it was a lot more fun and enjoyable than Katara would have expected it. The bright lights, fireworks, people and families laughing and spending time with each other...and here she was with Azula moving through the crowd, stopping to play stupid games at various booths that had been set up from. From firebending shootings, to fish scooping and so on. And for the first time in probably a long time Azula seemed...happy.
Like she genuinely wanted to be here with Katara, playing around, being able to act like...kids for once. It hit her all at once during the festival that Azula never really got a chance to be a normal kid, perhaps this is her second chance at long last.
When she watched Azula laugh while watching a stupid comedy act that was when she realized it, perhaps for the first time.
She didn't want to leave. But she had to. She knew she had to but she didn't want to.
The month came and went scarily quickly...the day of their departure was tomorrow. Which allowed Katara to squeeze in one last sparring session with Azula, it only felt right since this will likely be the last spar they have for a good long while.
And Katara already had the perfect idea for how to spice it up. As the two of them got ready in the training room, Katara popped the question.
" Since this is our last spar...how about we make a bet of it?" Katara suggested.
Azula's eyebrow raised, clearly interested " Oh? What did you have in mind?"
" I'm leaving tomorrow so I still have a full free day ahead of me...how about whoever wins this last match has to do whatever the winner says for the rest of the day " Katara proposed her idea.
" Sounds exciting. Nothing is off the table I presume?" Azula said with an interested smirk.
" Obviously all requests must be within reason and not go overboard...much " Katara said with a smile " Why ? Are you getting scared?"
" Never. Let's do this " Azula smiled as they got into their stances.
The two did battle like they always did...only this time it was with much more vigor and determination. It was unlike most of their other spars, maybe because this time there was something at stake. Where the other side would be forced to follow the requests of another. Katara couldn't say that it was a matter of pride on the line but rather something else. Neither side wanted to lose this best and Katara could tell that Azula was going to make her work for it if she wanted to win.
Azula was more precise and quick with her movements than usual, ducking and sliding beneath Katara's attempts to catch her with her water tentacles, her fire blasts easily destroying said tentacles and putting Katara on the defensive. Katara had to admit that Azula was truly giving her all for this fight, and she would hate to disappoint.
Eventually, Azula got in close and after kicking away an attempt to summon another water tentacle she had Katara on the ropes with a fire dagger aimed at her throat.
" Submit " Azula said as she held the fire dagger just inches away from Katara's throat with a smirk on her face.
" Funny, I was about to say the same thing " Katara grinned as she bended the discarded water around the ring and bended it towards Azula's feet using it as a mini wave to knock her off, while Katara tackled her to the ground.
Katara laid on top of Azula, holding her down by the arms and effectively pinning her.
" Ready to submit now?" Katara asked as she held Azula down.
" I...I surrender " Azula turned away, unable to hide her blush this time.
" Knew you would " Katara before she herself realized the position they were in. Quickly lifting herself up from the ground with a blush and dusting herself off.
" Well then Katara...you win " Azula said looking none to happy with her loss as she sat on the floor " What humiliating act would you wish for me to perform?"
" Oh nothing much...for my first order, I demand you come over and give me a kiss " Katara said smugly.
" W-Wait, what?" Azula practically tripped over her own words as she stood up straight upon hearing that.
" You heard me, I've seen the way you blush when I get too close Azula " Katara said as she took a step forward " And I figured it was time you stopped beating around the bush "
Azula was silent for a moment, a faint blush on her cheeks. The Fire Princess actually looked shy for a moment.
Katara was worried that she might have been overstepping her boundaries here " U-Unless you don't want to of course, in which case-"
" No ! I mean, I do its just...I've never kissed anyone before " Azula admitted.
Katara was surprised by this at first, before her eyes softened and she took another step toward Azula. Their faces just inches apart now.
" Well then, let me teach you then " Katara breathed as their lips connected for the first time.
Azula was clearly inexperienced from the way she moved, but she tasted strangely sweet. Her body feeling hot from their sparring just now. It made the experience much more enjoyable. Katara decided to take the gentle approach as she caressed Azula's hair, pulling her closer and drawing her deeper into the kiss.
It couldn't have been more than a few seconds when she pulled away, both of them letting out a breath and Katara could see in Azula's eyes of a wanting for more.
" How was that for a first kiss?" Katara asked with a smile.
" Perfect. And more on top " Azula let out a chuckle " Shame we didn't do this earlier...now that you're leaving so soon "
" We'll meet again. I promise " Katara spoke honestly.
" When you get back to the Southern Water Tribe, don't you dare slouch. Because I'm coming for a rematch " Azula said with a smile " And I expect you to teach me a lot more things than just kissing "
" I wouldn't have it any other way " Katara smirked.
And Katara knew they would see each other again.
" And hey, we still have a whole day to ourselves " Katara continued optimistically " And you did say you would do whatever I wanted "
" I am both scared and excited at the same time " Azula smirked " I like it "