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Chapter Text

The early mornings in towns near the ocean always seemed more peaceful than anywhere else. At least that’s what Katara always believed. Hearing the gentle sound of the ocean outside her window and the fresh ocean smells lulled her to sleep every night. Sadly, the peaceful atmosphere was quickly ruined by the sound of the loud alarm next to Katara’s bed. 

“I’m up. I’m up.” She grumbled, rubbing her eyes and stretching, “I’m…” Her eyes fell back down but she caught herself, “I’m awake! I’m awake! I need coffee.”

One cup of coffee and a shower later and Katara was in her car, heading to work. Katara lived in a coastal town but her workplace was in the city. Not a far drive, only 30 minutes, but a drive. That being said, driving did allow her to stop by her parents house for a couple of minutes.

“Katara! Didn’t expect you to be up so early.” Kya, as usual, was roaming around the kitchen to find something for breakfast.

“Long Feng wanted me to come in early today. I don’t know why but it’s always better to get there before he expects you.” Long Feng was her boss and a mean one at that. The man was incredibly strict and only really cared about the trainers at the park because they were the ones who trained the talent. Katara, being a marine biologist, wasn’t exactly high up on the food chain. They only got attention if Long Feng was yelling at them to help one of the animals or if he was firing them.

“Good idea. I’m sure it’s nothing, sweetie. He probably just wants to tell you some boring news.”

“Boring news could have been sent in an email. This is something else.” Katara winced, “What if they fire me?” She’d been working there for two years. Being fired and having to start from scratch somewhere else was absolutely not something she needed.

“Have you done anything worth firing?” Hakoda asked.

“No! At least, I don’t think so.” Katara responded.

“They won’t fire you. Your mom is right. It’s probably just some new rules or something and they have to show you in person.” 

“I really hope you’re right, dad.” Katara kept her eyes trained on the floor even when her mother offered her a little breakfast in the form of an English muffin. 

“Even if they do fire you, which they won’t, there are other places where you can be a marine biologist.” Kya reminded her, taking a seat at the table with Hakoda.

“Yeah, but Ocean Life is the biggest concentration of marine animals anywhere near us.” She definitely wasn’t wrong. Ocean Life was known for being THE place to work in the area if you had a passion for sea animals, “If I have to find another job then I’ll be stuck at some little shack by the water.” 

“That won’t happen. Go to work and you’ll see that you’re jumping to conclusions again.” Kya said. 

Katara folded her arms over her chest, “I don’t jump to conclusions.” Kya wanted to laugh. She loved her daughter more than life itself but the girl did have a habit of fearing the worst. Sometimes it worked to her advantage—she always got the best scores on her exams because she was prepared for everything—and other times it just made her needlessly anxious.

“Just know that whatever happens, you have us.” Katara gave her parents a soft smile. It was nice to hear their words of comfort sometimes, especially when she was facing the possibility of being fired.

After finishing her breakfast, Katara got back in her car and completed the drive to Ocean Life. The park didn’t open for another hour but Long Feng liked to bring people in early if he needed to talk to them one on one. Less of a chance that they’d cause a scene.

When Katara walked into the park, she was greeted by two large maps that hung down for all the guests to see. On the maps were small pictures of some of their animals such as seals, manta rays, dolphins, fish, octopuses, certain kinds of sharks, and, the prize of Ocean Life, orcas. Walking to Long Feng’s office included walking past a good amount of these animals in their cages, who didn’t seem all that impressed with Katara’s presence, probably because she didn’t have food. She looked over at them but got nothing in return. 

“Even they sense I’m about to be fired.” Katara whispered.

Long Feng’s office was on top of the small office building at the park. He wanted a large enough view that allowed him to oversee everything so his office had three giant windows behind his desk. When Katara entered the office and walked up the steps, she could feel her heart pounding in her chest.

This was it. She was going to get fired.

“Katara South!” The receptionist called, “Please come in.”

Katara followed the young woman, Joo Dee, into Long Feng’s office. Once Joo Dee announced her, she scurried out of the room and closed the door.

“Katara South.” Long Feng smiled, “My best biologist!”

“Thank you, sir.” Katara was as still as a board and the compliment did nothing to help. She couldn’t even think enough to realize that people generally don’t fire someone they believe to be the best at something. 

“Do you know why I called you in here today?”

“No, sir.”

“You’re smart, you’re an amazing biologist and you’re a rule follower. Am I right?” Long Feng was not an intimidating man by any means. He was tall, yes, but he was also thin—almost sickly thin—and had a long braided ponytail with a large forehead that Katara couldn’t be intimidated by even if she tried. However, standing before her as her boss, Katara felt herself grow nervous when he stood up.

“Yes, sir.”

“Very good.” Long Feng nodded, “We recently had one of our senior biologists quit because of…personal matters. I can’t offer you her position, you haven’t been here that long, but I would like you to think about taking it up after your third year with us. You’ve already completed your first, correct?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then you are eligible for our training program. It’ll teach you everything you need to know about your, hopefully, new position.”

“You want me to become the senior biologist?” Katara asked, “But wasn’t she-“

“Older than you with about a decade more experience? Yes. She was. But she was also….tiresome. Being a good employee isn’t just about how many hours you put in or the products but it’s also about who you are as a person. You’ve only been here a year and almost everyone I talk to says you have a bright future. I can’t promise anything but I would like you to think about it.”

Katara’s eyes had grown wide and her jaw slightly dropped, “I-Thank you, sir. This is such a big honor. I would love to try for the position!” 

Long Feng smiled. He walked over to his desk and pulled out some papers, “Here’s some information on the training. Look it over and make a decision. We’d love to eventually have you as our senior biologist.”

Katara happily grabbed the papers in her hand and rushed out of the room. Her heart filled with joy as she read through them. A senior biologist! She could be getting a promotion! It looked as though the position came with a nice pay raise, more authorization, more time with the animals. It looked perfect. She did have to complete the training for the position but that shouldn’t be overly difficult.

“Right?” Katara whispered, looking up at one of their older dolphins: Pearl.

Pearl squeaked at Katara then swam away, “Thanks for the input.” Katara chuckled, “I gotta call mom!”

———————————

From that moment on, Katara studied and studied and studied. She managed to get one or two more meetings with Long Feng and asked him what he thought was the best idea for how she should prepare for the training. 

“You will be an amazing senior biologist.” He constantly said.

Katara practically glowed under the praise of her boss. 

Long Feng did however say that it would be a good idea for her to stay late a lot of nights to show her dedication. That resulted in Katara often staying until the park was completely closed and being the first person to arrive. Most people knew she was up for the promotion and helped her. It was like Long Feng said: she was popular.

The months slowly began to fade away as the weather turned cold then warm then hot. Katara finished up her training in the fall and submitted her application for the promotion by that winter. There was no official word on when she would hear back about Long Feng’s decision though, so all she could do was wait.

——————————

“You’re a better person than me.” Song said.

“What do you mean?” Katara asked.

Jin and Song were two of Katara’s best friends at the park. They were both around her age, had the same working time she did and were incredibly fun to be around. Even scrubbing cages clean felt less boring when the three were able to get together and gossip.

“I’d be pulling my hair out if I had to wait over a month to know if I had a promotion.” Song explained.

“See? The difference is that Katara knows she’s getting her promotion.” Jin corrected.

“I don’t know that.” Katara corrected, “Long Feng said I’d be good for the role but that doesn’t mean I’m automatically getting it.”

Jin shrugged, “I think you will and when you do you better not forget about little us down here scrubbing cages.” 

“Never.” Katara promised, “Hey. Can I ask you two an odd question?”

“Sure. What’s up?”

“Do you know what happened to the old senior biologist?”

Song shrugged, “No clue. I think her name was Lin or something. I heard she was annoying though. One person said she yelled at a guy so much he wanted to jump into the orcas cage.” 

“I saw her a couple times. She wasn’t bad at her job, far from it, but I can see how she would have come across as a bit of a….what’s a kind way to describe someone who makes you wonder if unemployment is really that bad?” Jin asked, chuckling a little.

Katara winced. Personally, she’d never met the senior biologist. Sure she knew there was one but since she was a first year she was never really put in her path before, “Well, I hope I don’t make any of you consider unemployment.” 

“I’m sure you won’t.” Song said, “You’ll be great! And you will get the promotion! You’ll see!”

“I really hope you’re right, Song.” 

Oddly enough, that day was when Long Feng called Katara into his office. The young woman walked in with a bit of a happy jump, feeling a touch embarrassed when the assistant saw her.

“You can go in.” She said.

“Thank you.” Katara smiled nervously and walked into Long Feng’s office as professionally as humanly possible. Long Feng was on the phone when she stepped in. He quickly ended the phone call when he saw her and shot her one of his best smiles, “You wanted to see me?”

“I did.” Long Feng smiled, “I have news for you.”

“Yes?”

“You got the promotion!”

“Really?!? Oh my, god! That’s amazing! That’s-“ The realization hit Katara that she was still at work and her boss was standing right in front of her, “I mean, thank you for this opportunity. I hope I don’t disappoint you.”

“Oh, Katara, I know you won’t.” He said, “You’ll remain in your current position for the rest of the week while we finish up the paperwork on our end but then you will officially start this new position next Monday.”

“This is amazing. Thank you so much!” 

“I’m glad you’re excited. Can you come in early on Monday so that I can give you a rundown of all your new responsibilities?”

“Yes, sir.” 

“Very good. You can go now. I’ll see you again on Monday.”

“Okay! Bye, sir!” With that, Katara ran out of the room and down to her friends.

The assistant, Joo Dee, walked into the room a few minutes after she was sure Katara had left. Long Feng had returned to his seat and was looking out the window at Katara running back into the park.

“You think she’ll be better than Lin?” Joo Dee asked.

“I do. Lin was hired as our senior biologist. She had no real loyalty to me or the park. Katara on the other hand? This is her dream job and she owes me everything for getting her here.” Long Feng said, “And, if she does decide to get talkative, I can have the same talk with her that I did with Lin.”

“Whatever you say, sir.”

“You doubt me?” He asked.

“No. I-I simply think that Katara might not be a good fit for your business model.”

“I guess only time will tell.” Long Feng said.

“I suppose you’re right.” Joo Dee shrugged, “Only time will tell.”

Chapter Text

Above the waves, the ocean looked rather peaceful. The waves beat back and forth in the same gentle motion that they always did. The sun shone on the ocean water, reflecting the light as it always did. The winds whipped above the waves as they always did. 

However, below the ocean, hidden from humans, ocean animals swam all over. They hunted, travelled, played, ate and, a couple of them, were called for by their mothers when they were late for events.

“Azula! Zuko!” Ursa called, “I will not ask again! Get up!”

“We’re coming!” Azula called.

The young mermaid looked at herself one final time from head to tail. Her blue pointy ears poked out from her long black hair. The color of her ears matched her blue tail perfectly or, at least the body of her tail, her tail fins were a lighter blue and her dorsal and side fins were darker. Aside from her tail, she had a lovely golden necklace with little red rubies on her neck and a golden bracelet on her upper arm. Finishing her look was a strapless red chest piece with gold on the ends. All in all, Azula thought she looked perfect.

“Azula!” Ursa called again, poking her head into her room, “Are you coming or not? Zuko is already down in the throne room with everyone else.”

“Isn’t it customary for the guest of honor to arrive last so they can be looked upon by everyone else?” Azula asked.

Ursa rolled her eyes but chuckled, “Yes, but usually they are closer to the throne room to wait. Are you ready, baby?”

“Mom-“

“Don’t mom me. I’m allowed to be proud of my daughter the day she gets declared a warrior.” Azula left herself swell with pride at that word. A warrior. She was going to be an official warrior! The first princess to become a warrior in centuries!

“Well, I won’t be declared a warrior in my room. Let’s head down.” The two mermaids swam down towards the throne room, stopping only when they were at the door. The palace itself was large. It looked like something taken out of a children’s fantasy novel. When Azula was younger, she stumbled across a human book that showed a picture of a palace. Before the water destroyed the book, she was actually surprised to see how similar the two palaces look.

“Are you ready?” Ursa asked.

Taking in a deep breath, Azula stared at the large doors, “I’m ready.” 

Ursa opened the door for her daughter revealing an entire room of mermaids and hundreds of other sea creatures, all staring at Azula. Ursa quickly swam off to join her husband, leaving Azula to slowly make her way to her father.

A merman swam up to Azula, “Princess Azula, daughter of King Ozai and Queen Ursa, granddaughter of former King Azulon, and great granddaughter of former King Sozin, today you become a member of your King’s army. A warrior to fight for all of us against whatever threats may come. Do you accept this responsibility?”

“I do.”

“And do you swear to be loyal to your King and Queen above all?”

“I do.”

“And do you understand that, should you fail to uphold the responsibilities of a warrior, you will be stripped of your title and banished from this kingdom?”

Azula looked over at her parents and brother. Ozai continued to look straight but Zuko and Ursa offered her reassuring smiles, “I do.”

Ozai swam forward, a hand resting on his daughter’s shoulder, “Rise, my daughter. You’re ready. My people! We have a new warrior!”

Cheers erupted from the crowd. A couple mermaids, mostly those who were friends with Ozai and close to the royal family, swam up to them and offered congratulations. Slowly, the group began to fall away into smaller groups, mingling and eating during the celebration. A few took the occasion to congratulate Azula, but she never stuck around for longer than a few works. It took about an hour or so for her to get through everyone and make her way out of the palace and the dinner that they were throwing for her.

“A warrior.” Zuko’s voice tore her away from staring at the open ocean. 

Azula was currently leaning next to some columns not far from the dinner but out of sight of the crowd. Although she should have suspected Zuko would find her if she decided to look for her. Her mother, Mai, Ty Lee and Zuko could probably find her no matter where she hid in the palace.

“It’s taken years but I’ve finally done it.” Azula said, “I still can’t believe I’ve reached this level sometimes.”

“I can. You’ve always been a try hard.” Azula rolled her eyes and elbowed Zuko, “Hey. You can’t hit the crown prince. Now that you’re a warrior you’re supposed to respect the crown even more.”

“Not even the crown could save you from me, Zuzu. Even when you’re King, I’ll still be hitting you and there will be nothing you can do about it. You know why?”

“Because mom would be mad at me?”

“That and I’ll be the best warrior of the group. Getting rid of me will seem impossible unless you want to be assassinated.”

“I see this ceremony isn’t going to your head.”

“Ha-ha.” Azula waved her tail around a little, looking back at the crowd and then away from the palace, “You want to go for a swim?”

“We’re in the middle of your ceremony.” Zuko said.

“I know but I haven’t gotten my regular swim in today and I need to go before it gets too dark. Just a short one.”

“Fine, but Mai and Ty Lee come with us.”

“That’s okay with me. I haven’t gotten to see them all day and I know you’re going crazy without having seen Mai.” Azula said.

Zuko’s ears pressed down, “That’s not-I’m not-“ Azula laughed, swimming out towards the open water.

“Let’s go, Zuzu! You can be oblivious to your massive crush later!”

————————————

It was a well known rule for mermaids that one needed to be older than 15 to swim in the open ocean alone. If there was nothing around to protect them or hide them then mermaids that young were prohibited from going there. Growing up, that had just made Zuko, Azula, Mai and Ty Lee want to go out swimming in it even more. Zuko was the first to swim out then Mai then Ty Lee then Azula. 

Despite having to wait, the four made a promise to not leave until everyone was old enough. Azula was the last one of them to be allowed in the open ocean but now, whenever they went out, she was always the one out in front of them, enjoying the freedom of the seemingly never ending water.

“Azula, hold on!” Ty Lee called. Her light orange and yellow tail sparkled as the sun began to set, “You can’t swim that fast.”

“I’m just enjoying the ocean.” She said.

“We can see that.” Mai said. Her own black as night tail was starting to fade into the ocean the darker and darker it got, “You look very happy.”

“She’s letting herself get a big head thanks to her ceremony.” Zuko told them.

“That’s just what we need: Azula with an ego boost.” Mai smirked.

“Don’t listen to them.” Ty Lee said.

“I try not to. It keeps my IQ up.” Ty Lee burst into laughter at Azula’s words. Even Mai and Zuko couldn’t help the small smirks on their faces, “But I am really happy.”

“And you deserve it.” Ty Lee told her, “You’ve worked really hard for this. We’re all very proud. Right, guys?”

“I mean-“

Ty Lee turned towards her friends and glared at them. The happiest and sillest one in their group for sure but Ty Lee could also be very scary when she wanted to be.

“Yes, we’re proud.” 

“See?”

“Thanks, guys.” Silence filled the space between the four. Although, Mai quickly noticed Azula’s blushing a bit when Ty Lee smiled at her.

“Zuko, let’s go look at that cool…coral down there.” Mai said.

“Huh?” Zuko didn’t have a second to think before Mai grabbed his hand and swam down towards the ocean floor, leaving Ty Lee and Azula alone. Ty Lee turned to look around, not wanting to be caught staring at her friend.

“Worried about something?” Azula asked, “Because you know I can protect you from any predators, even humans.” 

Ty Lee playfully rolled her eyes, “Oh, really? What about the octopus?” She asked.

“I was nine!” Ty Lee’s laughter made the reminder of the day worth it. If Azula was honest, she could listen to it all day, “Ty, I…I want to ask you something and, hopefully, you won’t hate me for it or think I’m stupid or-”

“I could never think anything like that. You’re the best mermaid I know. What is it?”

“I was just wondering if you maybe wanted to…I found a beautiful shell and I don’t have it with me right now but, if you would accept it, I would love to-” Azula is cut off by the sound of a nearby pod of orcas. A distress call from them. 

Mai and Zuko, despite being far away, both perked up at the noise, giving Azula a quick nod to show they heard the cry. The four mermaids swam off into the ocean towards the orcas. Thanks to the call, they were able to pinpoint their location fairly easily. The problems came when they arrived and discovered what was causing the pod so much stress. 

“Nets!” Ty Lee screamed.

A giant net suddenly circled around one of the baby orcas and began to bring it to the surface. Without thinking, Azula leapt into action. She opened her jaw, revealing razor sharp teeth, and snapped down on the nets, tearing it to pieces and freeing the baby. With the baby safe, Azula turned her attention to her friends.

“All of you go! Tell the other warriors what’s going on!” She ordered.

“Azula, we can’t just leave you here!”

“Go! I’ll mess with their boats and give you some time!” 

“But-”

“GO!” Azula screamed.

Reluctantly, the three swam away. Azula turned her attention back towards the boat and the nets that they used to separate the babies from their moms. The hardest part of freeing them was that she had to make sure she wasn’t seen but with how dark it was above the waves and the fact that they were in dark water, Azula was positive she wouldn’t be spotted. She cut open holes in the nets and then called out to the babies to swim through them.

“Help!” 

“I’m here. I’m here.” Azula said, cutting the final baby out of the net, “Are you okay?” The baby didn’t respond but just called out to its mom again, “You have to go through the hole in the net. You can’t-” Out of fear, it slammed its head against Azula’s body causing her pain as she instinctively swam a few feet away from the orca.

“Move!” She yelled, holding a hand to her face in pain. With as much force as possible, she pushed the baby towards the hole in the net. It finally got the hint and swam through going straight to its pod.

Azula moved to follow it but, before she could, the net circled around her. Thanks to how fast it returned to the surface and Azula not being able to make a hole in the net, she was caught within seconds. In desperation, Azula called out to the orcas and anyone else who could possibly hear her. Her efforts proved to be in vain as she was torn out of the ocean seconds later.

“Is that a mermaid!? Someone get a picture of this! Bring her aboard!” Azula didn’t understand most of what they were saying. Not that it mattered because they didn’t understand her language either. To them, all her words sounded like clicks, hissing, growls, anything but the human language, “Call Long Feng! Tell him we got him a new attraction.”

“ZUKO! MAI! TY LEE!” Azula screamed, “SOMEONE!” 

The men on the ship were bigger than her but it didn’t stop Azula from clawing multiple men and trying to hit them with her tail. One man tried to grab her arm and Azula dug her teeth into his neck, snapping it as she would any other predator before tossing him into the ocean. 

“Holy-”

“She killed him!” Azula hissed at the hunters, daring them to try something else. 

Another man tried to hit her with something so she hit his legs with her tail and dug her nails into his back. She was about to go for his neck when the hunters finally ganged up on her and pinned her down, trying her arms and tail down. One human wrapped rope around her mouth to keep her from biting. When all was said and done, they tossed into her a small cage, no doubt meant for a baby orca.

“You got pictures of this thing?” Someone asked.

“A lot of them and I already sent them to Long Feng.”

“Good. When he calls, tell him we want triple for the mermaid.”

“Got it. Should we stay out here and try to find another one? She’s making a lot of noise. It might be a distress call.”

“No way! You see what she did to Hahn and Jianzhu?! I’m not looking to tangle with any more of these creatures than we have to. Start up the engine and let’s bring her back to the park.” Azula glared at the men while they talked. Even trapped in her cage, she could feel when the boat started and was speeding away. 

“Hey. Put her below deck or something! We don’t need her pushing her way off the boat.” Azula’s tail was already wrapped around her body because of how small her cage was, but when three of the hunters came over and lifted up her cage, she curled up even more. She’d never seen humans this close before and, frankly, she never wanted to. Not after the stories she’d heard from her parents. 

The men set her down in a pitch dark room and tied her cage to the ground. One of them slammed his fist against the top of her cage before leaving.

“That should hold her until we get to the park.” 

Just like that, they closed the door and left her in complete darkness. Left alone, Azula tried to claw at her cage or open it up or push it over, but there was nothing she could do. The cage was staying closed and in its place until the humans returned to move her again. For, however much longer, she was stuck here, getting farther and farther away from home and her people.

—--------------------------------------

When Azula saw the light again, she could only see it under her cage. The humans had placed a huge black cloth over the case before picking it up and carrying it somewhere. Azula really didn’t know where she was but she could hear the sound of sea creatures. Was she back near the ocean? A small part of her hoped that they were releasing her, but she knew there was no way they were doing that.

Suddenly, the cloth was removed from the cage. Azula was greeted by the sight of bright lights shining in her face and two men staring directly at her. The mermaid showed off her razor sharp teeth and claws. These men should be so lucky that she was stuck in a cage.

“Get away!” She yelled.

“I’ll be.” Long Feng whispered, “An impressive catch indeed.”

“There weren’t any others around, but we can head out and try to find more.”

“Do so.”

“We’d need more money-”

“Joo Dee will handle any extra costs that you require to hunt these creatures. Whatever you require, you will get it if you can find more mermaids.” Long Feng told him.

“Understood, sir. I’ll tell the others and we’ll head back out as soon as we can.”

“Good.”

“...What’ll you do with her?” 

Long Feng turned back towards the mermaid. She was scrunched up in the smaller cage so the first thing he wanted to do was get her somewhere bigger. From there, he wanted trainers and researchers assigned to her. There was certainly a profit to be made from being the only sea park in the world with a living mermaid, but there was also money in researching her as well. 

“You’ll see soon enough. Maybe you’ll bring your children to her first show.” 

“Be careful with her. You saw what she did in my report, right? Killed Hahn and Jianzhu is in the hospital right now because of that…thing. She’s as crazy as these creatures get.”

“As to be expected with something as wild as her.” 

“Still…”

“Don’t worry, Lee. I have the perfect person for this job.”

—----------------------------------

Azula quickly learned that, wherever she was, her family couldn’t hear her. No one was responding to any of her calls and she couldn’t hear any of them. Around her there were other sea animals, but, similar to her, they were all in cages. What was this place? Would they kill her? Eat her? After one of the men left, the second one had her placed into a much larger cage but still a cage. If Azula was honest, she probably could leap out of the tank but with all the mini rocks surrounding her she’d damage her tail so badly that she wouldn’t be able to swim by the time she found the ocean again.

“Is it true?” Azula’s ears perked up. Humans, “A real mermaid?”

She poked her head out of the water to see who was talking. There was a large rock in her new cage that rose out of the water, so Azula had a small place to hide behind. When she looked over, she saw a human woman with long brown hair and eyes that reminded Azula of home.

“Hello.” The human smiled at her. Azula didn’t understand her words but she knew the human was still dangerous. Even if she was smiling. 

“Let me out of here, human!” Azula hissed.

“Woah! She’s talkative.” Katara said, backing up from the case.

“Be careful with her. She....wasn't friendly to some of the men when they found her. I expect you to get as much information as you can from her, Katara.” Long Feng said, “You’re my senior biologist for a reason. This is your chance to prove yourself. Your only chance.”

Katara’s heart began to pick up the pace when his eyes looked down at her. She could hear him already screaming at her for failing this project.

“I understand, sir.”

“Good.” Long Feng grinned, “Then, Katara, meet Blue.”

Chapter Text

Mermaids weren’t brand new by any means. They were first discovered almost a hundred years ago, there were a few videos of them that circulated social media whenever they were captured and one aquarium almost had a mermaid in one of their buildings but he sadly passed away due to poisoning. When Katara was told that Long Feng had managed to actually find and capture a mermaid, she was shocked. She’d personally only seen the videos of mermaids online but never anything in person. The mermaid herself did not disappoint. She was absolutely beautiful.

“Hey!” Katara yelled, dodging the tiny pebbles that were being thrown at her.

If violent.

“I don’t want to fight. I just want to talk to you.” Katara said.

The mermaid hissed and swam back down to the bottom of her tank, curling up at the bottom. She’d been here three days and most of what she did was hide away. The large rock in her tank contained a small cave—one that wasn’t that deep but still a cave—and it wasn’t unusual to find the mermaid hidden away in there.

“She still isn’t coming out?” Jin asked.

“I don’t know what else to do.” Katara sighed, “I’ve tried almost everything but all she wants is to hide in her cave.”

“Can you really blame her? You know how the hunters work.” Despite her occupation, Jin had never been a big fan of how they got most of the sea creatures.

“I know. I know. Long Feng will kill me though if I don’t start making some progress with her.”

Jin leaned over the cage, scanning the water for the mermaid. By this point, all of the staff members had come by to visit her and get pictures. Long Feng had actually encouraged them to post them and tell the world about their mermaid. It would make her opening day all the more popular. 

“Have you tried food?” Jin asked, “Works with just about every species on the planet.”

“She’s not eating.” Katara whispered, “No matter what we do, she refuses all food. It just sinks to the bottom of her tank and I guess she eats it after we all go home.”

“Huh?” Jin whispered.

“What?”

“I wonder if she’s more comfortable at night.” Jin suggested, “Maybe that’s what you’re missing.” 

Katara thought her point over. It wasn’t a bad one. Maybe she could ask Long Feng if she could stay over one night and try to get more information during the night. If it worked, Long Feng would definitely put her on night shift from then on but at least she’d be making progress.

“Maybe.” Katara agreed, “I’ll try that.”

—-----------------------------

That evening, she spoke with Long Feng about Jin’s point. Her boss, eager to make any kind of progress with the mermaid, agreed but only for one or two nights. Not only did he not like the idea of Katara being alone with the mermaid—she’d almost killed the hunter who knows what she’d do if someone accidentally fell into her tank—but he also didn’t want Blue only operating during the night. That would not work for performances.

“Thank you, sir.”

Katara waited until everyone had left to head over to Blue’s tank. The only people left in the park were a couple of security guards and her so it really felt like the place was completely empty. For everyone’s safety, and to make their job easier, Long Feng installed lights that would illuminate the tanks, allowing the guards to see the animals more clearly and see if someone was dumb enough to sneak in and fall into a tank or, even worse, try and take one of the creatures.

“Hi, Blue.” Katara greeted.

The mermaid was clearly shocked to see Katara because she had been resting on the rock outside of the water before darting back underwater the second Katara spoke.

“Come on.” She grumbled, “You’re still avoiding me?” The mermaid glared at her.

“Look, I know you’re mad and you want to be back in the ocean but it’s either me and the park or Long Feng donating you to science.” She warned. Blue threw her tail over her face to show how disinterested she is.

“Can you even understand me?” Katara asked.

No response.

“You probably can’t. Mermaids don’t speak human, huh? Be really helpful if you did.”

Silence.

“This is getting me nowhere.” Katara turned her attention to the door that led to the supply rooms not far from where the tank was. Not everyone was cleared to actually get into the water with the sea creatures, but they liked to keep extra swimming gear for those who were in case something happened to their suits and tanks. Any extra gear was kept in there, “Unless…”

Was it stupid? Yes. Did that stop her? No.

When Katara returned to the tank, the mermaid looked up at her with a confused expression. She hadn’t seen a diver yet so seeing Katara dressed up in her outfit was weird to say the least. As slowly as she could, Katara climbed into the tank. She was wearing flippers, a wetsuit and goggles but nothing to protect her in case Blue attacked. Hopefully, her holding onto the ladder and keeping her head above water would be enough to protect her in case the mermaid decided to attack.

Blue swam from her cave, inching closer to Katara but keeping a large distance between them. She made sure to keep herself close to the large rock in the center of her tank and extended her claws. She didn’t want to make the first move but she also wanted to be ready to protect herself.

“I know you’re really scared and you want to go home and you hate me, but…” How did she follow up from that? Katara turned to the ladder and then back to Blue, “Please trust me.” She whispered, letting go of the ladder and letting her head fall underwater.

Blue, now much more confident, swam over to Katara. The biologist could feel her heart pounding in her chest as the mermaid put her face only an inch away from her own. Her blue tail gently hit Katara’s leg and hip again and again but never anything that would make her think Blue was going to hurt her. Katara couldn’t really open her mouth underwater so she did the only thing she could think of.

She waved.

Blue gave her a confused look before copying the gesture herself. Katara smiled. Progress! She then pointed to herself and made the symbol for peace. Once again, Blue looked at her like she had three heads. The mermaid ignored that sign and began to swim around Katara, circling her with curiosity. Halfway through her second circle, Katara began to swim for the surface.

“Ugh!” She took in a large gulp of air, feeling the cool breeze hit her wet face and hair.

Much to her surprise, Blue also came to the surface.

“Hi.” Katara smiled, “You must feel a lot more confident now that I’m in your element.” She chuckled.

Blue stared at her with bright golden eyes. Her ear flaps hummed a little but that was really the only noise she was making. 

“I’m-I’m sorry. You clearly don’t want to be here, but there’s nothing I can do.” She said. Blue narrowed her eyes, “I’m serious about Long Feng too. If I don’t start getting results, he’s going to hurt you. I don’t want you to get hurt, so if you could just trust me-” Katara was cut off by Blue launching forward and kissing her on the lips.

They stayed like that for a good two or three seconds before Blue broke awake. Katara, too stunned to speak, could only stare at the mermaid with a dropped jaw and wide eyes.

“Blegh.” The mermaid stuck out her tongue and threw some water into her mouth, “Sorry about that, but it’s the only way I can understand you and you’re more pleasant to kiss than any of those overweight idiots that tossed me in here.”

Katara didn’t move.

“Hello?” Blue asked, “Can you understand me now? Lo and Li told me this would work.” She said. Were they messing with her? She didn’t think they’d joke about something this serious. 

“You-You…you can-”

“Great! You can understand me!” Blue chirped.

“B-Blue, you-you can talk? Mermaids can talk!?” Katara yelled.

“Did you think we were silent creatures?” Blue asked, “Also, my name isn’t Blue. It’s Azula.” She said.

“A-Azula?”

“Almost, but it’s Azula. Not A-Azula.” She corrected, “Are you okay? You look like a baby just seeing a whale for the first time.” 

“You’re talking!? You’re communicating with me! This is amazing!” Azula pushed herself to the side when Katara swam over to the land. Fear long forgotten, she climbed out and ran over to her notes. 

Azula watched her write down something in her journal like she had only seconds left to life before turning her attention to the ladder. Huh? The mermaid began to climb up, pulling her tail along with her, until she lost her grip and fell onto the concrete floor. Katara turned around when she heard the noise, dropping her pencil.

“No, no, no.” Katara ran over, “You can’t get out of the tank.”

“Oh, I’m sorry for trying to escape my prison. Let me be a good prisoner and go back to my tank.” Azula hissed. She tried to move her tail but the concrete ground sent waves of pain throughout her body. She clenched her teeth, but the pain was intolerable as the rocks scratched against her scales.

“That’s why you can’t leave your tank.” Katara said, “You won’t get very far.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Can’t blame a mermaid for trying.” Katara placed one arm under Azula’s back and the other under her tail. Surprisingly, mermaids were pretty heavy creatures so it took a good push to get Azula to grab onto the ladder then climb back into the tank, “So, what’s your name?” Azula asked.

“You-You don’t know my name?” Katara asked.

“Before the kiss, all your words sounded like gibberish to me.” Azula told her, “The only thing I know for certain is what the other sea creatures tell me and it’s nothing good.”

“You can understand the other creatures?”

“Of course I can.” She shrugged as if what she was saying was common knowledge, “You’re not answering my question. What’s your name?”

“Oh! Katara. My name is Katara.”

“That’s a nice name.” Azula said, “So, Katara, where exactly am I?” 

“Ocean Life. It’s a marine biology park. We take in sick and injured sea life and fix them up. Some are released back into the wild and others are kept here so that people can come and see them.” Katara explained.

Azula pressed her lips together. There was truth in her answer so this human wasn’t a liar. Some of the other creatures had told her that the humans helped them, whether that was helping with a wound or illness, and they did say that some creatures had been released back into the ocean. However, Katara’s answer did beg a question.

“Then why was I taken? I’m not sick or injured. You can release me.” 

Katara winced, “No, we can’t. Mermaids haven’t properly been studied by anyone so to have one that we can study and observe and get information on…”

“So what? I’m never leaving? Is that it?” Azula’s tail began to thrash underwater. It was a trait she believed she had trained herself out of whenever she was upset. Apparently she hadn’t been thorough with her training, “I have to go home!” She didn’t want to show desperation to the humans but Katara seemed different. Like she could actually help her.

“That’s-That’s not up to me.” Katara told her, “I’m really sorry.”

“Yeah. You seem really torn up about it.” Azula disappeared under the water again and returned to her cave.

“Azula? Azula!” Katara yelled.

She told Long Feng that she would be here for the rest of the night, so Katara knelt down against Azula’s tank and waited for the mermaid to return. She wasn’t about to go back into the water with a potentially angered sea creature meaning that the rest of her time would need to be spent outside the tank. 

Bit by bit, hours began to pass and Azula had not returned to the surface. Katara, bored out of her mind, changed back into her warm and dry clothes then turned to finish her notes on what she’d observed. It wasn’t much but it might be enough to keep Long Feng from firing her. Since she still had another two hours before her shift was technically over, Katara pulled out her phone and began watching one of her favorite shows. She was halfway through an episode when she felt someone tap her on the shoulder.

“AH!” 

“Woah!” Azula backed up a bit, “Jeez you humans are jumpy.”

“Sorry. I forgot you were here.” Katara pulled out her airpods, “What is it?”

“What is that?” 

“It’s a phone.” Katara answered.

“What’s a phone?” Azula asked.

“It’s a piece of technology that allows me to make phone calls, watch videos, listen to music….pretty much anything.” She said. She looked down at her phone and then back up at Azula, “Do you want to watch something?”

“Like theater?” Azula asked.

“Kinda! Wait…mermaids have theater?!” Katara asked.

Azula nodded, “My mom loves the theater. She used to drag my brother and I there all the time when we were younger. I don’t think she ever realized how boring it is.”

“Not a fan?” Katara chuckled.

“Not at all. I’d much rather be doing anything else than sitting for two hours and listening to someone act out the ending of Love Amongst the Whales for the 20th time.” 

“Maybe you’ll like television better. It’s sort of like theater except I watch through my phone and it’s…I’ll just let you watch the show and see what you think.” Katara adjusted herself so that Azula could see the screen. Her phone didn’t offer the best place to watch the show but it was better than nothing.

When the first episode ended, Katara moved to turn the show off, believing Azula’s silence to mean that she hated it or found it boring, “No! No!” Azula cried, “That can’t be it! There has to be more!” 

“There is but do you want to watch-“

“YES! Turn on the text episode! I need to see what happens to Rachel! Do her and Ross get together?” Azula asked.

“Well-“

“Don’t tell me!” Azula quickly yelled, “Just play the next episode.”

Seeing an opportunity, Katara went for it, “Talk to me about mermaids and I’ll put on more episodes.” Azula backed away from her. Her eyes narrowing dangerously as she let out a small hiss, “No big personal questions. Just smaller ones like ‘how does your tail work?’ or ‘can you stay underwater forever if you wanted to?’” 

Silence filled the space between the two while Azula thought over her choice. She didn’t like the idea of telling a human anything about her people—she’d prefer death over giving away important secrets—but Katara wasn’t going to let up. Besides, the questions she wanted to know were harmless enough. No human would ever find their pod by knowing that mermaids had 50 muscles in their tails.

“Fine.” She agreed, “But more of this show first and then we’ll talk.”

Katara chuckled, “Works for me.” With that, she turned on the second episode and returned to her original position. 

A few hours later, Katara was forced to leave the park and go home but she made sure to head to Long Feng’s office and tell him about her success. The man’s smile calmed Katara but it also made her anxious. She pushed the feeling aside and focused on the success of the night. She was making a connection to Azula. They were bonding! There was still a way to go but this was certainly a good start to a potential friendship.

Chapter Text

By the end of the week, Katara was thinking of taking back her thought of her and Azula potentially being friends. She had returned to work the next day—Long Feng having told everyone of Azula’s speaking ability—and offered Azula more episodes in exchange for some questions. The deal started off relatively okay as Azula answered some of the more basic stuff without a problem.

“Can you stay underwater forever?”

“Yes, we can. Mermaids prefer to stay below the surface unless we’re sunbathing.”

“You sunbath?”

“Mostly it’s to help make sure our scales stay healthy. My mom likes to say that mermaids are descendants of people who got their energy from the sun. That they would sit beneath it, absorbing its power but a great flood came and they were forced to grow tails to survive underwater.”

“Interesting.” Katara noted, “So, you do have a mom and brother?”

“And a father.” She added.

“And you all stay together?” Azula nodded.

“Why wouldn’t we?” 

“Just making sure. Next question, how do you get your tail colors?”

Basic questions had been simple for them both. Katara had information for Long Feng, which he loved, and Azula was getting to watch more episodes of Friends and other TV shows, which she loved, everyone was happy. Then Long Feng demanded more in depth questions and he did so in front of Azula.

“Ask it where its people live.”

“Never!” Azula hissed.

“It really does speak.” Long Feng chuckled, “Impressive indeed.”

“Sir, Azula-”

“Azula?” He asked. Katara pressed her lips together. She forgot that she was supposed to still be calling her Blue. Despite Azula telling them her real name, Long Feng believed that it wouldn’t be as popular as the simple name Blue. It would be too hard for kids to remember, so her name was meant to stay the same. 

“That’s my name.” Azula glared, her eyes narrowed and her sharp teeth on display.

“Not while you’re here.” The man looked at her like she was an obnoxious child asking for some treat and not someone asking to be called their own name, “While you are here, you will be referred to as Blue and you will answer our questions. Where can we find more mermaids? Do you travel in groups? What is the best bait to attract your kind?”

“I’d sooner die and take you with me!” Azula almost launched out of the water at him but she was cut off by Katara’s arms. Katara’s gentle blue eyes stared at her, begging her to stay alive and not do anything stupid. Long Feng, for his part, didn’t look shocked. It was as if he was used to things that wanted to kill him. He simply stood up and wiped some of the tank water off his face.

“Results by the end of the week, Katara, or we will donate her to science.” He threatened, “I’m curious to see what the inside of a mermaid tail looks like.” With that, he stood up and walked away, leaving the two alone once more.

“Azula-”

“I meant it, Katara. I won’t tell him where my pod is. I won’t let him go out and capture more of them. It’s my job to keep them safe!”

“How safe are you keeping them by dying!?” Katara yelled.

“Very! If I’m dead, they can’t find them!” 

Katara dragged a hand through her hair. What was she going to do? What was there to do? Azula refused to talk and Long Feng refused to wait. They didn’t have many other options.

“Why do you care?” A voice suddenly asked.

“What?”

“Why do you care?” Azula repeated.

“Because I don’t want you to die and you don’t deserve that.” 

“But why!? It doesn’t make any sense!”

“Why is it so hard to believe that I’m not going to turn my back on you?”

“Because you’re a human. All humans do is lie, cheat, steal and destroy.” Azula spat.

“What are you talking about!? All humans don’t act that way!”

“But enough do.” Katara went silent. She turned away from Azula without a reply and sat down on the edge of the tank.

Azula pulled herself up so that she was completely out of the water and lying on one of the platforms attached to her tank. It was meant to be there so the trainers and scientists could cut her off from deeper water and work with her. Most of their sea creatures leapt onto the platforms without issue when they saw food, but Azula had refused. This was the first time she had even gotten up there. She curled her tail—in the same fashion a person may sit on their lower legs and balance—and leaned against the platform. 

With no one else around, Katara removed her shoes and knelt down on the platform with Azula. Her pants quickly became wet, thanks to the fact that there was about an inch or two of water on the platform at all times, but she didn’t care. 

“I know you don’t like it here. I know you’re scared-”

“I’m not scared of anything.” Azula objected. She was a warrior. She’d been training since she was young to be one of the most dangerous warriors the seas had ever known. It felt almost like a joke from the universe that she was now facing the one enemy she couldn’t fight.

“Fine. But I do know that you want to go home, don’t you?” Azula nodded. More than anything, “That can’t happen if you’re cut up and studied.”

“So what do you suggest?” The princess asked.

“Play along. Pretend to be on Long Feng’s side and do what he wants. You’ll survive longer than way and you’ll be able to, maybe, go home one day.” Azula thought Katara’s points over. She wasn’t wrong. Things might turn out better for her if she played along with what this human wanted. It went against everything she was taught but it would allow her to survive. Once her survival was secure, she could try and escape.

“Fine. I’ll play along.” Azula said, “I still don’t know why you’re helping me this much though.”

“Think of it as my way of showing you not all humans are like Long Feng.” Katara offered. She held out her hand for Azula to shake. The mermaid looked down at it then up at Katara in confusion, “It’s a handshake….nevermind.” Katara said awkwardly, bringing her hand back to her body.

“No, I can do it.” Azula said, “Do it again.” She commanded.

Katara smiled and chuckled a little at Azula’s words and how her ears flapped when she was determined. She held out her hand for her to take and this time Azula grabbed hold of Katara’s hands, making sure to not poke her with her claws. Katara brushed her thumb against Azula’s light blue scales that lined her hand. They didn’t cover it—her hand was still mostly skin—but there were patches of blue scales that resembled her tail. Words were caught in Katara’s throat. She wanted to complement her, but the words refused to leave her mouth.

Instead, the silence of the area was suddenly cut off by someone screaming and the sound of a clipboard falling against the concrete.

“BLUE HAS KATARA!” Jin screamed.

It all happened so fast. Katara couldn’t do anything before three trainers suddenly jumped onto the platform. One of them grabbed her arms and pulled her back onto land. The other two pushed Azula against the platform, using restraints on her arms and mouth. Once Katara was free, they slipped the arm restraint off to allow her to swim but kept the mouth one on and pushed her back into the deeper ocean.

“No!” Katara pushed against the trainer that grabbed her, “Don’t hurt her! She didn’t do anything!”

“I saw it! She was about to pull you underwater!” 

“No, she wasn’t! I was showing her a handshake!”

“She was about to pull up under and attack you! You were on the platform!” 

“I was on the platform because I was talking to her! Azula did nothing wrong!” Katara turned her attention back to the tank where Azula was trying to get the restraint on her mouth off, “Let me help.” Azula stared up at her with hatred in her eyes, “Please.” Despite the trainers and Jin, who were all still watching, Azula let Katara help her get it off. The second it was off, Azula swam away and into her mini cave.

“Unbelievable. We can’t get anywhere with the mermaid and the scientist is able to do that without getting her hand bitten off.” One of the trainers mumbled. It was true that they hadn’t been very successful in getting Azula to do much. However, Katara had a feeling that that was less about who they were and more about her refusal to learn any kinds of tricks.

With Azula hiding away, Katara couldn’t do much else so she headed to her office for the remainder of the day. Eventually, night swept over the park and Katara’s work day had come to an end. Before leaving, she stopped by Azula’s tank, finding the mermaid in the same location.

“I have to go home. Goodnight, Azula.”

She received no response.

“Back to square one.” Katara mumbled.

She turned to leave the area and headed towards the exit. Maybe she could try more tv shows or bring a projector or something. As she reached for the exit door handle, Katara held a pebble hit her back.

“Ow.” She instinctively turned around. Azula’s golden eyes staring at her from the water surface. Now would be as good a time as any to try and apologize, “Azula, I-I’m really sorry about what happened. I didn’t-I shouldn’t have been so stupid and gotten on the platform with you. And I’m even more sorry that they put those restraints on you because of me. I-”

“Do all humans talk this much when something isn't their fault or is it just you?” Azula asked, “In my experience, the people who are actually responsible tend to be the ones who can’t keep their mouths shut.” She learned that first hand when Zuko cracked under their mother’s gaze after she questioned them about who had snuck into the kitchen and stolen the desserts for that night. Azula went on solo missions into the kitchen after that—although she always did bring some to Zuko to share.

“You’re not mad?” Katara asked.

“I am, but not at you.” She corrected, “You didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, I’m happy that you were here to stop them from leaving that thing on.” The trainers had a habit of doing that when Azula refused to respond to any of their attempts to train her. Only at the end of the day did they finally remove it because Azula needed to eat.

“They leave it on!?” Katara snapped.

“Sometimes. It’s a nuisance at best so you don’t have to-”

“Jin is here most of the time that I’m not, so I'll make sure that she comes and takes that thing off whenever she can.” Katara told her, “Anything else the trainers are doing?”

“Aside from being incompetent and easy to trick? No, nothing.” Azula shrugged, “Thank you for the help today, Katara. I really do appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome.” Katara smiled, “Is there anything else you need before I go home?”

“Leave your phone so I can watch season 2?” Azula asked.

“Yeah, I don’t think I’ll be doing that.” Azula’s ears fell in a mocking look of sadness, “That’s not going to work. I need my phone.”

“Like how I need the ocean?” Azula asked.

Katara turned to glare at Azula, who offered her a bright smile, “That’s low.”

“Did it work?”

“.....You’re lucky I’m nice.” Katara mumbled, pulling her phone out of her pocket and handing it to Azula, “Password is water if you get locked out and please try to keep it as dry as possible.” 

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Azula waved Katara away, opening the phone up and starting to scroll through it.

“Goodnight, Azula.” 

“Goodnight, Katara.”

Chapter Text

Katara returned to work early the next morning to get her phone back from Azula. The signs for the coming mermaid exhibit were now plastered everywhere in the park but Azula’s tank was hidden from the public. To actually get up to the top of it, you have to go through employee only entrances which allowed Katara to get through the morning crowd and up to the tank with ease. When she arrived, her phone was on the ground and Azula was glaring at it.

“What? What happened?” Katara asked.

“It’s making an awful noise! It kept buzzing all morning and saying someone named S-So-Sokka was trying to get through.” 

“Oh! It’s just my brother. He’s trying to call me because I didn’t text that I was home last night.” Katara told her.

“You have a brother?” Azula asked. 

She was suddenly reminded of her family still at sea. Was Zuko looking for her? Did he miss her? She missed him. She missed all of them. Katara was a nice presence, but it didn’t stop the aching pain she felt every night. How much she longed to jump out of the tank and drag herself all the way back to the ocean. 

“Yeah. I-actually.” Katara grabbed her phone and called Sokka. It only took a few rings before he responded with his typical laid back demeanor. If he had called her, it was only because their parents were worried about her. If Sokka was worried, he would have driven to her house to check on her.

“Hey, Kat! How’s the job going?” Sokka asked, “You know mom and dad were about to lose their minds last night.”

“I figured and the job is going well. There’s actually someone I want you to meet.”

“Please don’t tell me it’s another boyfr-” Sokka froze when Katara turned the camera around, revealing Azula.

Azula leaned against the rim of her tank, pushing herself closer to Katara’s phone, “How’d he get in there?” Azula asked.

“It’s Facetime. I can see him and he can see me.” Katara told her, “Sokka, this is Azula, our local mermaid. Azula, this is Sokka, my brother.” She introduced.

“Long Feng actually got a mermaid!? I thought that was some fake story he put out so that people would come to the park! And she talks!?!” 

“He has a very high voice for a man.” Azula mumbled, rubbing her ears.

“I’ve lived with it for years.” Katara shrugged, “Yes, Sokka. She can talk and she understands you.”

“Oh! Umm…it’s nice to meet you, Azula. I hope Katara hasn’t been too annoying these last few days.” 

Azula smiled a little, “She’s been kind of annoying.”

“Hey!” Katara cried, “I gave you my phone.”

“A phone doesn’t make up for freedom.” Azula’s voice was playful but her words stung Katara.

“What’s she talking about?” Sokka asked.

Katara turned the phone back to herself, “She wants to go back to the ocean, but you know Ocean Life. They won’t let her leave as long as she makes them money.” 

“Katara.” The way Sokka looked at her made her press her lips together. She knew and so did he. Ocean Life would never let her leave. The only way she was leaving was either dead, donated to science or if she was stolen from the park. Otherwise, there was nothing else they could really do.

“I know.” She whispered, “Alright. I have to get some work done. I’ll talk to you later, Sokka.”

“Bye, Kat. Bye, Azula.” 

“Bye!” Azula called, “Do you actually have work?” She asked after Katara lowered the phone from her face.

“I do. You’re with the trainers all day today.” Azula let out a soft hiss, her tail swinging back and forth.

“Azula, please just go along with what they say-”

“You act like that’s easy.”

“I know it’s horrible, but it’ll keep you alive if you work with them. Then, when I finish my work, I’ll come right over and stay with you for the rest of the day.” Katara promised.

“On one condition.” 

“I can’t set you free.” 

Azula rolled her eyes at Katara’s words. She wasn’t stupid, “I know that. My condition is that you have to swim with me and actually be in the water.” 

Okay. That definitely wasn’t what Katara expected. Her expression must have revealed that because Azula wrapped her arms around her body as if she suddenly felt self conscious about her condition.

“I haven’t swam with anyone since I got here and I just miss it. I know you don’t exactly have a tail, but there’s not much room in here that we have to swim fast or too deep.” Azula said, “We could just swim together and around the rocks and…forget it. It’s a stupid ask.” Azula turned to head down to her cave but was stopped by Katara’s shout.

“No! No, I’ll swim with you. I’d love to. I’m just surprised that you asked me is all.”

“Why?”

“Didn’t think you liked me that much.” Did Azula tolerate her? Yes. Did Azula actually like her? Katara didn’t really know.

“You’re better than any other human here.” Azula shrugged, “And…if we met in other circumstances, I’d think you were…decent.” The mermaid felt her cheeks blush when a giant smile formed on Katara’s face.

“You like me!” 

“Forget it! Forget it!” 

“You really like me! We’re friends!”

“No! No, we’re not! I was wrong! You’re worse than the other humans!”

“We’re friends!!” 

—--------------------------------

The day was long and boring, but Azula followed Katara’s advice. It’s how the day went from long, boring and painful to just long and boring. Not once did the trainers use the restraints and push her along for failing to follow a command. The personal humiliation of following their orders was enough to make up for it though. At least for the time being she could trade physical pain for personal humiliation. That evening, Katara arrived in the same wetsuit as before with flippers on.

“What are those?” 

“Flippers. They help humans swim faster and deeper.” Katara explained.

“You look like a penguin.” 

“Thank you!” Azula had to laugh because Katara really did accept that as a complement.

Slowly, she climbed up the ladder and into the tank. Azula remained a few feet away from her, giving her the space she needed to get used to the new water, a luxury that hadn’t been afforded to her. Once Katara was all set, Azula began to swim around her. Surprising the mermaid, Katara dove under the water and swam fully underbreath, following Azula with ease.

The tank was small but Azula could pretend. She pretended they were swimming in the rocky terrain near the shore. That the animals were around them, observing the human and mermaid swim almost in perfect sync. That she had the whole ocean at her disposal and she chose to remain in this little section with her friend. Similar to how her mother used to take her and Zuko to select plays and told them not to leave the areas while they played.

“I missed this.” Azula whispered, “How deep have you ever swam before?” 

Katara pointed to her lips and shook her head.

“Oh! You can’t talk underwater? Really?” That sucked.

Katara nodded.

“But you can breathe?” They’d been underwater for at least 4 minutes.

She shook her head and shot up to the surface. The second she broke through the water, she took in massive gulps of air.

“I’m so confused. You were swimming with me so well. How can you not breathe and talk underwater?” Azula asked.

“The flippers and wetsuit help me swim with you. Plus, I took years of swimming lessons so I can hold my breath for a while. I just can’t talk or my mouth will become filled with water and I can’t hold my breath anymore and…you get it.” Katara shrugged, “I’m sorry I’m such a bad swimming partner.”

“You’re not!” Azula quickly responded, “Even some mermaids aren’t as flexible as you are underwater.” When Katara swam through the rocks in her tank and around them without trouble, Azula had certainly been impressed with her.

“And I don’t even have a tail.” She chuckled. 

“You don’t seem to need one. You’re a mermaid without a tail.” Azula added, “Thank you for swimming with me. It’s not much but it really does mean a lot.”

“You’re welcome. I wish we had a larger tank for you to swim in but Long Feng only gives the nice tanks to those that make the most money and get the most attraction.” Katara told her.

“Can I ask, why do you work here? You don’t seem to like this Long Feng guy or love that I’m kept here against my will. Why stay?” Azula asked.

“This is the best place near here to research marine biology.” She shrugged, “Ever since I was little, I’ve been obsessed with the ocean’s creatures and wanting to know more about them. I wanted to help marine habitats, endangered animals, and I always just found the ocean to be so…amazing.”

“You and me both.”

“Yeah. Well, when I applied here I believed that I really could learn from the best and I think I have. I have other jobs reaching out to me now and asking if I wanted to go work for them studying literally on the ocean. Long Feng has hinted at raising my pay because he considers me such an essential scientist to have on staff. I’m doing so much work thanks to my job here.” Katara told her.

“Including caging ocean creatures.” Azula reminded her. She turned her attention out towards the park and the other animals. Thanks to her tank's location, Azula couldn’t see the tanks but she could hear the animals. She could hear them crying out, fighting with one another and begging for help but there was nothing she could do.

“That always felt like a necessary evil of the job. We captured them to either help or to learn more so we could help down the line. I didn’t…I didn’t even know the trainers had restraints until they used them on you.” Katara admitted, “Now I just feel like an optimistic idiot.”

“I don’t think you’re an idiot for wanting to see the best in people.” Azula shrugged, “Any mermaids would view that as a good quality.”

Katara snorted out a laugh, “Maybe my friend Aang is a mermaid in disguise. That sounds like something he’d say.”

“Then Aang must have heard it from my mother because I got that line from her.”

Katara faked a gasp, “Plagiarism.”

“I don’t know what that means but I bet it deserves this response.” Azula slammed her tail against the surface of the water, hitting Katara square in the face with almost a bucket’s worth of water. Katara swam back and laughed, using her arms to throw water at Azula.

Azula swam under Katara, hitting her legs with her tail and, when Katara turned her head, splashed her again. Katara just laughed.

“This is not fair. You’re a mermaid.”

“I never said this was fair.” Azula chuckled, “I said it was a response to you saying that word.” 

The two continued to mess around, each throwing water on the other despite the fact that they were both already soaked to the bone. Azula remained partly underwater and partly above, disappearing for a second only to reappear and throw water on her. 

“Cheater!” Katara laughed. Azula laughed too. When was the last time she laughed like this?

Their joy didn’t last forever. Azula, too happy to finally have a friend again, began to mess with Katara’s legs and make it hard for the girl to stay above water. Katara tried her hardest to stay afloat but it quickly became too much. In a moment of instinct, she kicked Azula in the face and swam to the rock in the center of the tank. She took in huge gulps of air, nails digging into the rocks.

“What was that for!?” Azula yelled, a hand on her nose.

“You were dragging me under!” Azula’s ears dropped.

“Oh. Sorry. I’m not used to being on my own for this long so having someone to swim with was really…it was fun.” She whispered.

“What are you talking about?” 

Azula crossed her arms over her chest. Why she was telling the human this she didn’t know, but Katara was nice and she showed her kindness when no one else did. Azula would even go so far as to say that they were friends. Friends told each other stuff like this.

“I just miss home. I miss having other mermaids and other people to swim with. My friends and I would swim around for hours on end just talking, but here I…I’m all by myself. I have no one to talk to, no one to swim with and-you wouldn’t get it.” Azula grumbled at the end.

“No, I do. When I was younger, I didn’t have any friends. When I tried to make some, I would get so energetic and happy and weird that they would run away from me after only a few minutes. I didn’t even have a real friend group until I was fourteen and met Aang.”

“Aang?” Azula asked.

“He’s my best friend. He’s in another city right now but we still keep in touch and visit whenever he comes home.” Katara shrugged.

Azula nodded, resting her arms on the rocks that Katara was still sitting on, “Are you going to leave now?” Katara’s non response was more than enough for Azula. She was about to disappear into the tank when Katara’s eyes suddenly snapped open.

“Wait! Stay-Nevermind. I’ll be right back! I have an idea!”

“What idea?” Azula asked.

“I can’t tell you but you’ll love it!” She promised, getting out of the tank, “Wait! Do you eat Galápagos seals?”

Chapter Text

Azula couldn’t deny that she was starting to get nervous when Katara didn’t return for a few days. After running off with a smile on her face, Azula expected to see her again after a couple hours, maybe the next day, but so far four days had gone by without a single sighting. Azula continued to play nice with the trainers but things were just so dull without Katara there. She even asked whatever humans came close to her tank if they’d seen Katara and only one ever responded.

“She went to go watch over the seals.” They said.

The mermaid began to worry that she had said something to make Katara not want to come back. Why was Katara around them? Why did she ask her if she ate seals? Azula slammed her tail against the rocks. Why did humans have to be so complicated?

Then, one day, Azula woke up to the sound of a child’s hyper voice. The thing that really got Azula to wake up though was that it wasn’t a human’s voice. She held her head up and swam to the surface of her tank. There, only a few feet away, was Katara holding a baby Galápagos seal in her arms.

“Mermaid! Mermaid!” The baby chirped.

“Did you steal a baby!?” Azula cried.

“NO! No! Finn got separated from his family a long time ago and some fishermen found him. We took him in two or so weeks ago to help heal his injuries and get him back in the ocean one day.” Katara explained, “You said you were missing swimming with people so I thought…”

“Mermaid! Mermaid!”

“Azula.” 

“Azula mermaid! Azula mermaid!”

“Close enough.” Azula shrugged.

“Can you understand him?” Katara asked.

“I can understand all sea creatures, including seals.” Azula said, “He’s really small.” That was probably one of the reasons he lost his herd. His small size certainly wouldn’t help him keep up with the other seals and stay clear of sharks. 

“Yeah. We give him food and exercise but the others think he’s not going to get much bigger.” Katara shrugged, “That’s okay though. Finn’s a little survivor.” Finn released a tiny bark when he heard his name.

“He is really cute.” Azula reached out her hand and scratched Finn under his chin, “And he can stay with me?”

“Will you eat him?”

Azula gave Katara a deadpan expression, “I will not.”

“Then yes he can stay. Just make sure you keep him hidden. Long Feng won’t like that I’m letting Finn stay here.” In all honesty, Katara could see his point with that one. It wasn’t a smart move to place two different creatures into the same tank, especially if one of them was a top predator. Azula was different though. If she said she wouldn’t hurt Finn then Katara believed her.

Gently, Katara let Finn slip out of her arms and into the tank with Azula. The baby seal swam around the area, examining everything he could find. He seemed very entranced by the little holes in the rocks, including the tiny cave Azula had. With a smile, she swam under the waves.

“Azula mermaid has a big tank!” Finn said.

“I’ve had bigger homes than this.” She said, “Have you ever heard of Caldera?”

Finn’s eyes grew, “Mmhmm! Momma talked about it and so did the other seals! They said it was a giant place where all the mermaids lived!”

“They’re right. I lived there with my family.” Azula told him, “Before the humans brought me here.”

“Oh. Were you hurt too?” Finn asked. He looked at Azula’s tail to see if he could spot any injuries.

“No. The humans brought me here because…they brought me here for another reason.” 

“Why?” 

Azula shook her head, “Nothing you need to worry about but you know the nice human that brought you here?” 

“Yes! Katara! She’s so nice!” Huh? Apparently Katara was kind to all the creatures at the park. Azula decided to ignore the small feeling of jealousy that coiled in her stomach. It was stupid to be jealous anyways. 

“Well, she’s been very nice to me too. She was nice enough to bring you here so that we could swim together.” Azula told him, “But to do this you have to stay hidden. No other human can know that you’re here. Do you understand?”

Finn eagerly nodded.

“Good. Stay here. I’m going to go talk to Katara.” Azula didn’t move until Finn nodded again. 

When Azula returned to the surface, Katara was already gone. That same feeling of loneliness returned to her again. It gripped her like an eel out for blood. She didn’t want to be missing Katara, a human, this much—if her father could see her he would take her crown—but she couldn’t help it. She missed Katara just like she missed her home and her family which seemed weird to her. Katara was the only person who was nice to her. The only one who saw her as more than just a mermaid. She was kind, she made her laugh, and Azula wanted to spend more time with her. Maybe if they met as mermaids things would be different. Maybe in another life Katara was a mermaid.

“Mermaid Azula?” Finn asked.

“I thought I told you to stay put.” Finn looked away from Azula’s disappointed face.

“Are you sad?”

“I am.”

“Because of the human? Did you do something to you?” Finn asked.

“No. Katara didn’t do anything to me. I just….I miss her.” It felt good to say that to someone. Even if that someone was a baby seal. Finn gave her a confused look. It was clear that he was having trouble comprehending the idea of missing a human worker so Azula just laughed, scratching his chin, “Don’t think too hard, buddy. Go back to hiding, okay? When the park closes, we can swim around and play.”

“Play! Play! Play!” Finn cried.

Azula collected the baby seal in her arms, holding him close and laughing, “But only if you stay quiet and don’t get caught. You understand?”

“I understand.”

“Good, Finn. Now go to the cave.” Finn wasn’t exactly perfectly hidden in the tiny cave but it was enough to hide him from anyone who just gave the tank a passing glance. To help Finn hide, Azula climbed into the part of the big rock that poked out of the water and stretched herself out on it. Now, all eyes were fully on her and no one was searching her tank. Not to mention Azula missed having the sun’s rays on her body.

———————————-

Katara did return the next day. She arrived in a wetsuit, flippers and goggles, happily running up to the ladder. Azula, who had been sunbathing again, slipped into the water and swam around the ladder.

“Look who’s back.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m sorry I haven’t been around that much. Long Feng’s having me deal with some paperwork and other boring stuff so I can’t be near the tank as much.” She explained, dropping into the water as she let go of the ladder.

“Does he know you’re swimming in here?” Azula asked.

“Why do you think I’m swimming with you when over half the staff is away eating lunch?” Katara asked, “This time, as long as you don’t try to drown me, we should be good.” Azula rolled her eyes. She lightly hit Katara with her tail again.

“Big baby.” The mermaid smirked and dove under the waves.

“Oh? It’s going to be like that?” 

Katara and Azula swam perfectly in sync, side by side. Every few seconds Katara would dart ahead or Azula would swim circles around Katara for fun but the two more so enjoyed being together as they swam throughout the tank. Their peaceful swim was interrupted when Finn swam up and hit Azula in the stomach. The mermaid princess laughed at the pup’s attempt to play. She gently hit him with her tail—careful not to put too much force behind it and seriously hurt him—and swam faster around the tank which caused Finn to follow her.

“Too fast!” Finn yelled, “I wanna swim fast too.”

“Sorry, Finn. No sea creature is as fast as a mermaid.” Azula told him.

“I wanna be a mermaid!” Finn smiled, wagging his fins happily.

“Maybe when you’re all grown up. How about that?”

“Yes!” The baby seal began to swim around in fast circles while Azula scanned the tank for Katara. Finally, she laid eyes on the women’s flippers on the rock. At some point, Katara must have swam up and climbed up onto the rock for some air.

“Leaving already?” Azula asked.

“No. I just needed some air. How’s Finn doing with being in your tank?” 

“He’s doing great. He woke me up at dawn this morning wanting to play but…”

Katara laughed, “Hey, you’re the one who said you wanted a friend.”

“And you’re the one that kidnapped a baby seal.”

“I did not kidnap a baby seal. I…relocated him. There’s a difference.”

“Oh? Oh, explain the difference to me. Explain the difference between relocation and kidnapping.” Azula pulled herself onto the rocks with her tail still in the water.

“Gladly. Kidnapping is forcefully taking someone and relocation is…moving someone.” Katara’s smile never left her face even when she failed to defend herself. She still spoke and wore the smile of someone who believed themselves to be right, “See? Totally different.”

“Yes, of course. Totally different things.”

“Different?” Finn’s little face poked up from the water. He gave Katara a small bark as he climbed up on the rock and onto her lap. Despite not being a typical pettable creature, Katara began to pet his back and let the seal rest.

“Katara’s just being a weird human.” Azula told him.

“Oh? I’m a weird human, am I?” Katara laughed, “Maybe you just haven’t met enough humans, but I am considered very normal.”

“Sure you are.” Azula chuckled, “I’ll say this, you are the prettiest human I’ve met.”

A blush spread across Katara’s face. Finn, noticing her color change, licked her cheeks and barked at her, twisting his head to the side in confusion, “You think I’m pretty.”

“Of course. I’ve said it before.” She reminded, “Remember when I kissed you? I wanted to kiss you because you’re ten times more beautiful than anyone else here. Why? Can I not say that?” Katara did remember that but she had also not really been paying attention. The fact that she was talking to a mermaid, for the very first time, was taking up all of her attention at the time. 

“No, you can! It’s just…most people who say that say it because they…like someone. Romantically.” Katara explained.

“Ohhhh.” Azula nodded, “Like courting?”

“I-I guess.” Was courting the same as liking someone romantically? The only times Katara had ever even heard that word were when she watched tv shows that took place in old time Britain or something like that. She’d never actually heard someone use the term in real life, “Is courting similar to dating a person?”

“I suppose.” Azula shrugged, “For mermaids, we find someone that we like, someone we want to stay with for the rest of our lives and then court them. If they accept you, you remain together. If they reject you, then…I think you can guess.”

“Huh? Yeah that sounds like dating.” Katara nodded, “Did you ever court anyone?” She asked.

“There was this one other mermaid. Her name’s Ty Lee. I thought about courting her a few times, but I never actually did anything and then I was captured and…” Azula trained off, wrapping her arms around her body, “And I don’t know if I’ll ever see her or anyone from my home ever again.”

Katara bit her lip. She hadn’t meant to make Azula upset, “Azula-”

“I need some time to myself.” Azula said. She darted back under the waves with Finn looking at her as she left. Katara, gently, pushed Finn back into the water so that she could climb out of the tank before everyone finished with lunch. With a final look, she turned back towards the tank, hoping to see Azula one final time before she returned to work. The only thing that greeted her when she turned around was, what appeared to be, an empty tank.

—--------------------------------

Screaming was not unusual in the park. Mostly it was either young children who were running around with their parents and screaming because of all the sights, guests shouting when they watched the shows or people hollering when they were on the few rides that their park had. That being said, it wasn’t hard to differentiate screams of joy from screams of terror. Katara, thankfully, had only heard screams of terror at the park once and that was when one of the trainers had a bad encounter with one of their orcas. Everyone was fine but Katara could still remember seeing the broken leg of the trainer as he was taken away.

This time, when she heard the screaming coming from the dolphins tank, confusion took hold. The dolphins never gave them any real problems and the trainers were hardly in the tank with them at all so their biggest issue was usually one of the dolphins not wanting to do a trick. Katara heard the screaming from her office and ran outside, running straight for the large tank where the dolphins performed. When she arrived, she found children sobbing, adults screaming and people running from the area. 

“What is going on?” Katara yelled.

“The mermaid killed the dolphins!” One of the women screamed.

“The mermaid…oh, no.” 

Katara pressed herself against the railing. There was so much blood in the water. Not enough to fill the tank but enough to be terrifying and disgusting to look at for too long. Katara, being a biologist, was used to seeing blood but she could understand why everyone else was terrified.

“AZULA!” Katara screamed.

The sound of hissing, barks and jaw claps got her attention. She turned just in time to see one of the dolphins, their younger one, May, get thrown out of the tank and onto the platform. Azula launched herself from the water seconds later and dug her claws into the dolphin, biting down hard into her skin.

“AZULA!” Katara screamed, running over to the platform, “Azula, what are you doing!?” Azula hissed at Katara, revealing razor sharp teeth and a mouth covered in blood. Her hands were bloody too, claws digging into the white plastic beneath her.

“K-Katara?” Azula whispered.

“It’s me.” Katara nodded, slowly starting to approach her, “What…What did you do?” 

“They attacked me!” Azula told her, “They saw me and-and started stabbing at me and-and I-AHH!” The trainers wrapped a net around Azula, pulling her away from May, without a care that they were dragging her tail against the ground, twisting it in a painful way, and hitting her with a shot of some kind of tranquilizer agent. 

“Azula!” Katara grabbed her just as she fell to the ground. The mermaid closed her eyes seconds after Katara pulled her close, “I got you. I’m here.” She whispered.

“Holy sh-”

“She killed the dolphins! She killed three dolphins!”

“May’s still breathing! Help me get her to medical!” Three trainers ran over to help May get up into a white wrap. Everyone else was too busy either rushing people out of the center or staring in utter shock at the scene before them to notice Katara removing the net from Azula.

“You’re okay. You’re okay.” Katara whispered, gently rocking her back and forth despite the fact that Azula was unconscious. The mermaid’s blood and dolphin’s blood was all over Katara.

“Katara?” Jin’s voice was like an anchor to Katara. The senior biologist stared up at her friend as tears ran down her face.

“Please help her.” Katara whispered.

Chapter Text

Azula woke up the next morning in a much smaller tank than her usual one. It reminded her a lot of the first tank the humans had ever put her in. Once she was fully awake, pain entered her body and rushed through her. Everything hurt and being cramped in such a tiny place didn’t help. The room around her also offered no clues as to where she was. It was dark with the only visible light being that of the bulbs above her. There were no animals to talk to, no humans to curse and Katara wasn’t there.

“You’re awake.” She spoke too soon. There was a human to curse at.

“Let me go!” Azula screamed, releasing a long line of mermaid curses.

“I will. I will. I promise.” She said, “We were just keeping you here to make sure your tail and bruises healed properly and Katara wanted to keep you as far away from Long Feng as possible.”

Katara.

“Katara?”

“I’ll message her and tell her you’re awake.” She said, “She’ll be glad to see that you’ve woken up. She was really scared when they tranquilized you.”

“She was?” Even after seeing her covered in blood? Sure, those dolphins got in a few good jabs and drew some blood but it was clear who the winner was in that battle. It amazed her that Katara hadn’t run off screaming.

“You’ve been out of it for the past two days. Katara refused to leave your side for the longest time until Long Feng threatened that she would be fired if she didn’t leave. Although, I caught her spending the night in here too, sleeping next to your tank in case you woke up and needed something.” 

Azula allowed her tail to curl up around her body. Katara had done all that for her. All that for a mermaid.

“She’s on her way.” The human said, “I’m Jin by the way. Katara said that you’d want an update about someone named Finn too and I’m supposed to tell you that she’s been taking care of him. He can’t wait to see you.” Finn. Finn was okay. A sigh of relief escaped her lips. After everything she’d experienced with the performance and the battle, getting Finn taken away from her as well would have been too much.

“Thank you.” Azula said, “You’re helping me?”

“It’s my job.” Jin told her, “Plus, Katara was screaming at anyone else who dared to try and come near you. I was the only one she trusted to help move you to the medical wing and when she did, she told me about how the two of you have been bonding these last few weeks. It’s amazing to see Katara so happy about working here again. I mean…she was always happy but you’ve brought the excitement up a level.”

“Well, she makes being trapped in this place not completely horrible.” Azula smiled. Actually, Katara made the place even fun at times. It would have been better if they were in the ocean but she’d work with what she had.

Minutes later, Katara pushed the doors open while panting breathlessly, “Azula!” 

“I’m right here.” Azula chuckled, “You don’t have to scream.”

“Azula!” Katara yanked the top of the tank off and wrapped the mermaid in a hug, “You’re okay! You’re okay.”

“And you’re crushing me.” Azula whispered.

“Sorry. How does your tail feel?” Her tail was wrapped up in white bandages and there were red ones on her body. She could still feel the pain from where the trainers had dragged her along the platform but it was certainly better than before, “We stopped the bleeding and did what he would but your scales were badly damaged.”

“It still works and that’s what matters.” Azula said, “There’s a little pain but nothing like it was before.”

Katara nodded, “Good. That’s good.” She brought a hand to Azula’s red bandages, “What happened?”

“Mermaids and dolphins don’t like each other. A long time ago there was a big war between the two of us and we beat them. I guess humans just saw a bunch of dolphins and mermaids together and assumed we liked each other when we were really fighting for different parts of the ocean. The trainers came that morning and took me away. I tried to do what you said and be nice but they dunked me into a large tank with the dolphins.”

“You said they attacked you.” Katara added.

“Yes. That’s where the bruises came from. Some of them starting drawing blood and the trainers were yelling and the audience was getting upset and I’d never been in front of an audience before and-”

“Hey, hey.” Katara placed a hand on Azula’s shoulder, offering her a reassuring smile. After Azula was taken away, Katara reviewed the security cameras of the show. She had to to prove to Long Feng that Azula was defending herself. Although, she couldn’t bring herself to watch much of it either, seeing the dolphins mercilessly attack Azula and hearing some of her coworkers yell at Azula like it was her fault made her blood boil, “It’s not your fault. You shouldn’t have been there in the first place.”

Azula could only muster the most defeated look Katara had ever seen, “I want to leave, Katara.”

“I know.” She whispered, “I know.”

“What’s your boss saying?” 

Katara let out a sigh. Long Feng, to his credit, had taken the video seriously and the official story he told the public was that the dolphins had gotten agitated and attacked Azula. Azula’s actions that day were a result of her defending herself and that it wouldn’t happen again when she performed alone. 

“He understands that you were defending yourself, but that means he still wants you to perform. You’ll just be performing alone now.” Katara told her.

Azula’s ears fell, “I have to perform again?” She asked.

“I-I’ll figure something out. I promise. Right now, we should get you back to Finn. The poor baby has been going absolutely crazy with worry.” 

Katara and Jin moved Azula’s tank onto a cart and covered it up with a black curtain, keeping her hidden from the guest’s view as they walked through the park. Long Feng was clear to all workers that any discussion about what had happened was to remain away from the guests. He didn’t want any of the park goers to overhear something or see anything that would remind them of the incident. Finally, the two got to the tank and opened it up.

“I’ll grab her tail.” Katara said.

“...Umm…Do you know there’s a baby seal in here?” Jin asked.

Katara and Azula stared at one another with wide eyes, “....No, there’s not.” Azula facepalmed.

“Kat, I’m looking straight at him. How did he get in here?...Were you going to feed him to Azula!?!” 

“NO!” Katara and Azula yelled.

“I don’t eat seals.” Azula said, “....Often.”

“That’s Finn. He’s basically been functioning as…emotional support for Azula.” That was probably the best way to explain it. Trying to tell Jin about their conversations and how Azula wanted someone to swim with probably wouldn’t go over as well, especially after she just killed two of their dolphins. Jin continued to stare at Katara with shock but she also knew Katara wouldn’t have put the baby in there unless she was certain Azula wouldn’t hurt him.

Plus, the baby didn’t look scared to see Azula. He was jumping for joy and barking happily, his tiny flippers pressed against the glass.

“I’m coming, Finn. I’m coming.” Azula promised, “Help me in before he jumps out of the tank.” 

Azula’s body splashed against the water when Jin and Katara tossed her in. True to her word, Azula didn’t go after the baby seal. Rather, the two began to swim around the tank in pure bliss. Finn only stopped for a couple seconds to sniff at her bandaged and press his snout against him. A gentle nudge from the mermaid’s tail was enough to get him swimming again.

“What’ll you do now?” Jin asked.

“I’ll stay with them. I already texted Long Feng and told him I’d be taking the night shift tonight to watch over Azula.” 

“Okay. Katara?”

“Hmm?”

“Be careful, okay?” 

“I’ll be fine, Jin. Azula won’t hurt me.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about. You were pretty snappish with Long Feng while Azula was unconscious. He doesn’t like when his employees yell at him in his own park.” Jin told her.

“I-It’ll be fine. As long as I don’t do it again, he won’t care.”

“I hope you’re right. For your sake.”

—--------------------------------------

That night, after everyone had gone home for the night, Katara went to grab a projector from storage. They liked to keep one on hand in case they needed to use it either for staff meetings or if they needed to display something for the guests. The last time they’d used it was when their sea turtle was taken away to be released. The screen functioned both to inform the guests of that and to play scenes from Finding Nemo so that the kids wouldn’t scream and cry.

“You’re going to love this.” Katara promised.

“What is it?”

“A movie about a mermaid.” 

“Oh? Humans make those? How did they hold their breath that long?” 

“No, no, it’s animation. It’s drawings.” Azula still cocked her head to the side so Katara shrugged and shook her head, “You’ll see. It’s called The Little Mermaid. It’s all about this mermaid who’s the daughter of the king of the mermaids but she wants to go on land.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s bored of her life underwater and wants to see more.” 

“Bored of the sea? Now that’s a load off whale-”

“Okay, okay. Just trust me.” 

To Katara’s credit, Azula was deeply interested in the film. She loved watching Ariel, even if she clearly wasn’t real, and got a kick out of the singing and the sea witch.

“No sea witches in the ocean?” Katara asked.

“Unless you count my old teacher. That mermaid was…a piece of work.” 

“She was mean?”

“That and she was like 150 years old. My first day of class she told me that she also taught my great great grandfather when he was young. Ty Lee and I once spent an entire class trying to figure out how old she was.” Laughter slipped out as she remembered the day. It felt so long ago and, as Azula really thought about it, it was probably 14 years ago that they had that conversation. 

“Are you okay? You look down.” 

“I’m just thinking about Ty Lee.” 

“Ty Lee? She’s the mermaid you were trying to date, right?” 

“Yes. Although I never actually did much of anything.” It wasn’t her fault asking people out was hard. Whenever she got up the courage to actually talk to Ty Lee, she always backed out or felt like she was going to throw up. Somehow she could take down a shark with her bare hands but trying to court Ty Lee was too hard.

“Why not?” 

“Never had the guts.” She admitted, “Every time I tried to talk to her I would always get too scared and swim off.” Finn pressed his muzzle against Azula’s side, offering her a little comfort. 

“You? The mermaid who killed two humans on her way here and who just killed three dolphins in self defense got scared?” She chuckled a little, making Azula cross her arms and glare at her.

“Okay. There’s a big difference between fighting an enemy and asking someone out. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Why wouldn’t I understand?” 

“Because you’re gorgeous. I bet humans approach you all the time.” Once again, Katara’s face turned red, “Is your face okay?”

“Y-Yeah. Yeah, it’s fine.” She said, clearing her throat, “And, for your information, I’ve asked people out before and I’ve been terrified to do so.”

Spinning onto her stomach, Azula pulled herself up to where Katara was sitting, “What did you do about it?”

“I kind of just forced myself to ask. They can never know unless you say something and if they say no then at least you have an answer. My mom always said that it was best to just take the leap.” 

“Well, I wish I could believe your mom.”

“I-” Katara was cut off by the sound of her phone ringing, “Speak of the devil, I’ll be right back.” 

When Katara had disappeared, Finn hit Azula’s side, swimming around her with glee and hitting his flippers against his stomach.

“What’s got you so happy?” Azula chuckled.

“Azula mermaid likes Katara!” He chirped.

“No! No, I don’t.” Azula’s ears suddenly pinned against the side of her head, making her blush.

“Yes, you do! You want to court her!”

Azula rolled her eyes. This pup was getting on her nerves, “A mermaid can’t court a human.” 

“Says who?” 

“Finn, you’re too young to understand this but a mermaid and a human can’t be together. That’s not how things work.” She slipped underwater, swimming to the bottom of the tank to ensure that Katara couldn’t hear them. Finn, determined to not be stopped, swam down with her.

“Why?”

“That’s just how it is.”

“But Azula mermaid likes Katara.”

“I do not.” She hissed.

“Yes, you do. You always brush out your hair before she comes and you swim close to her and you call her pretty and you miss her when she’s gone and-”

“Okay!” She let out a small sigh, “She’s…She’s nice but that doesn’t mean that I like her.” 

“But you do.” Did she? She didn’t think she did. Humans were the reason that she was captured. They were the reason that she might never get back to the ocean. Yet…Katara didn’t capture her or cage her or keep her here. In truth, Azula really did believe that if Katara could she would release her back into the ocean. Katara wasn’t like the other humans. She was kind, she cared about her, she was her friend, she…she did want to be around her though. Even if she returned to the ocean, she hoped that Katara would come to visit from time to time. Azula really couldn’t imagine living the rest of her life and not seeing Katara again.

“Azula?” Finn whispered. 

Did she like Katara?

A face appeared at the top of the tank. Katara’s bright smile filled Azula with more warmth and peacefulness than even the sun did. She smiled back, launching herself up to the surface.

“I think I like her.” Azula admitted.

“I KNEW IT!!!!”

Chapter Text

“Remind me what the point of this thing is?” Azula asked.

She was in a smaller tank. One that was big enough where she could stretch out but that was about all she could do. The tank also had wheels on the bottom and nothing covering her from the public, including no top so Azula was currently resting her arms on the edge of the tank.

“Publicity.” Katara said, “Long Feng wants people to see you as the friendly mermaid after….well, you know.”

“I killed dolphins?” Azula asked.

“Yeah. After that. I’m just supposed to wheel you around and answer people’s questions about mermaids.”

“How are you going to do that? You don’t know anything about mermaids.”

“Do mermaids have different colored tails? Do you eat fish? Do you breathe underwater?”

“Yes, yes, and yes.”

“Just like that I have my answers to the three biggest questions of the day. It’s mostly just little girls who will come up anyways and feel free to talk by the way.” Katara said. She walked behind the tank and began pushing it towards the doors.

“Talk to a bunch of humans? I think I prefer fighting the dolphins again.” 

“Maybe don’t tell them that.” 

The sunlight hit Azula right in her eyes when Katara wheeled her out. Her tank had always been located more behind the scenes than all the other sea creatures and, because of it, the humans could never see her unless she was brought out. Long Feng designed it that way specifically so that Azula’s reveal could be a big surprise. Now that everyone knew about her, there was less of a need to keep her a secret. Azula looked out around the tank at all the humans walking about. As expected, they all stared at her with wide eyes and cried out, pointing in her direction. Azula was used to such responses as a princess but being confined to this little tank with nowhere to go did make her nervous.

“Hey. You okay?” Katara asked.

“It’s just…weird. I’m not used to being around so many humans.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure no one gets too close to you.” It wasn’t much, but Katara’s reassurance did make Azula feel a little better, “Here we are.”

She wheeled her under some kind of awning and stood next to the tank. A couple humans had followed them and were now standing in a half circle around the two.

“Hello, everyone! My name is Katara and I’m the senior biologist on staff! I know many of you may already know about our mermaid…” For a moment, she trailed off.  Should she call her Blue or Azula? What did the trainers call her? 

“Blue!” A young toddler yelled.

Blue it was.

“Our mermaid Blue! I’m here to answer any questions you may have about our newest arrival!” Azula glared at her and Katara whispered ‘sorry’ but it was ignored by the large group of people raising their hands to ask questions, “Yes, you sweetie?”

A girl, no more than four, stepped forward, “Can Blue breathe underwater?” She asked.

“She can. Mermaids can spend their whole lives underwater without any need for air, but, as you can see, she can also survive by breathing in oxygen. They’re one of the few species to survive on both the land and sea.”

Another child raised their hand, “Do all mermaids have blue scales because my favorite color is red?” 

“All mermaids have different scale colors and shades, so there probably is a mermaid out there with red scales.” 

“Can she talk!?”

“Why did she attack the dolphins?!”

“Do mermaids really have seashell bras!?”

What was meant to only be an hour long session turned into Katara spending all day answering as many questions as she could. She was standing for so long that Jin had to bring her a chair to keep her able to answer questions in the burning hot sun. The guests only stopped asking questions when it was time for them to leave. One by one they all walked out of the park with their friends and family, heading to their cars to leave. As they left, one little girl ran off from her family, going straight up to Azula’s tank while Katara was chatting with another worker.

“Hi.” She whispered, waving at Azula.

Azula pressed her webbed hand against the glass. The small child, already beyond excited just to see a mermaid, pressed her hand against the glass as well to mimic her action.

“I’m Emi.” She waved, “Did you get hurt?” She pointed to Azula’s bandages.

“I did.” Azula told her.

“You can talk!?” 

“Yes, I can. Were you not expecting me to talk?”

“You’re so cool!”

Huh? Out of all the things she expected the human to call her, cool was not one of them, “I am?” 

“Mmmhmm! I wanna be a mermaid when I grow up.” Emi was jumping on her toes. Her giant smile never once leaving her face.

A small chuckle escaped the mermaid, “Maybe.” Azula winked at her, “What do you have?”

“Whale plushie!” She was holding tightly onto her orca stuffed animal, “Mommy got it for me. Do you like whales?”

“I love whales.” Azula said.

“But not dolphins.” Emi added.

“No, not dolphins. They don't like me very much. I think they’re jealous because I’m far prettier than them.” Behind her stuffed orca, Emi giggled. 

“They don’t like me either.” She whispered.

“How come?”

“I don’t know. I tried swimming with them and my mommy and one hit me.” Emi pulled up her shirt, revealing a decent bruise on her stomach, “Why were you in the tub if you don’t like dolphins?” Emi asked.

Azula pressed her lips together. She had no problem telling this human child the truth but it could result in her getting upset and that wouldn’t end well for her. Although she also didn’t really want to lie. Not that she had a problem with lying, but to tell this kid that she wanted to be there or that it was a mistake felt wrong. Katara was still talking with someone, completely unaware of the small child staring up at Azula. The mermaid turned her attention back to the little girl, staring at her big eyes and taking in a breath. 

“The trainers put me there. They wanted to show me off to everyone and didn’t ask if I liked dolphins before.”

“That’s mean.” Emi mumbled.

“I know. I didn’t like it either.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize. It’s not your fault.”

Emi looked down at her stuffed animal and back up at Azula. The top of Azula’s tank was a little high for her so she pushed herself to her tip toes and pushed the orca inside.

“What are you doing?” Azula asked. She grabbed the stuffed animal, looking it over once before leaning over in her tank to give it back.

“You should have it.” Emi said, “I’m sorry the trainers were mean to you.”

Azula’s eyes widened. She didn’t have much experience with humans being nice to her, minus Katara and Jin, and this was the first human who wasn’t from the park who dared to show her some kindness. It was an odd experience to say the least but not one she could say that she hated.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“Can mermaids sing? All of them can sing in the cartoons.” Azula chuckled.

“Well, I can. My brother sounds like a dying whale.” Emi giggled at that. Apparently, her giggle was enough to get Katara’s attention because she raced over when she noticed the young girl near Azula.

“Hey, sweetie. Let’s give Blue some space.”

“She can stay. It’s okay.” Azula shrugged. Katara’s eyes grew, looking between Azula and Emi, “Yes, I talked to her. She, unlike most humans, has interesting things to say.”

Katara’s eyes landed on the stuffed animal, “And you stole from her?”

A fake gasp came from the mermaid, “I would never. She gave this to me as a gift and it’s mine now.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, because a certain human has never gifted me anything.” Azula fake pouted.

“I didn’t know you wanted a stuffed orca.” 

“You never asked.”

“Okay, okay.” Katara turned her attention back to Emi, who was smiling ear to ear as she listened to them talk, “Let’s get you back to your mom, sweetie.”

“Okay. Bye!” Azula waved back to her, leaning back in her tank to think over the interaction. 

“You doing okay?” Katara asked.

“After a full day of humans calling me Blue and asking the weirdest questions ever? I’m doing great.” Azula slumped down into the water. Her tail was out though and thrown over the side of the tank.

“I know. I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do? Do you want a stuffed orca?” Azula hit Katara with her tail.

“Ha-ha.” Suddenly, the mermaid’s eyes widened, “Actually…you have orcas here, right?”

“Yes.”

“Take me to them. I want to swim with the orcas.”

“Azula-”

“It would be a great way to say sorry for this whole day and the whole, you know, throwing me in tiny tank where I can hardly see the sun and can feel my scales withering away-”

“Okay! Okay! I get it! I’ll take you to see the orcas.”

Azula’s smile stretched across her face, “Yes!”

“And, just to be clear, mermaids and orcas don’t hate each other, right? You’re not gonna-”

“You think a mermaid without weapons and by herself can take down an orca? Hilarious.”

“Okay, then will the orcas eat you because I don’t feel like doing that paperwork.”

“It’s fine. Orcas actually like mermaids. We bonded over our mutual hatred of humans.” Azula told her. Katara’s small smile instantly turned into a frown.

“....You’re mean today.”

“And you stuffed me in a tiny tank today. We’re even.” 

—-------------------------------

Azula’s words proved to be correct the second she was dropped into the tank. Katara made sure to place her with their kindest orca, an older female named Katina, and the two took to one another in seconds. Azula was far smaller and faster than Katina but it didn’t stop them from swimming around together. Katina would poke at Azula with her head and toss her out of the water with her tail. 

At first, Katara feared Katina believed Azula was food until she heard Azula’s laughter and saw her swimming around Katina’s mouth. No one who believed they could be food would be that close to an apex predator’s mouth.

“Why have you kept her here so long?” Azula asked when she and Katara were sitting on the platform.

“She does well with crowds and is the matriarch of the pod. Long Feng believes it would upset the balance too much to move her.”

“Then release her and all the other orcas.”

“You know he won’t let us.”

Azula grumbled something under her breath that Katara couldn’t hear. Katina, for her part, pushed herself up onto the platform, squeaking at Katara.

“She’s demanding fish.” Azula told her.

“I can see. Can you tell her I don’t have any?” In response, Katina squeaked and cried out even louder.

“She’s very upset. You keep her in this cage all day. The least you could do is get her some fish.”

“Fine, fine. I’ll be right back. Don’t get eaten while I’m gone.” Katara said.

“I’ll try.”

There was silence after Katara stepped away. Azula leaned down on her back with the tip of her tail just barely touching the water. Katina was still lying on the platform.

“You like the human, don’t you?” Katina said.

“What? What are you talking about?”

“The human. You like her. The little seal in your tank told everyone when they took him out for his check up yesterday.”

“Finn.” Azula grumbled.

“Well?”

“Fine. I like Katara. Are you happy now?” 

“Very. The others will love this.” Katina said, “But I gotta ask, why a human? I know you mermaids are picky about who you like but have things really gotten so bad that you’re considering dating a human?” Azula didn’t know why but the way Katina spoke made her dig her nails into the platform. She talked as though Katara was a horrible person and not deserving of even looking at them. True, most humans fit that description but not Katara.

“Katara isn’t like the other people here. She’s smart and kind and beautiful and…I don’t know. For everyone I’ve ever met, I had to learn how to be around them. I learned what not to say, what would freak them out or when to be quiet because talking for much longer would annoy them. Katara is one of the only people I’ve ever met where I feel like I never had to swim back and think about what I said. I get to be myself around her.”

Katina nodded, “I suppose there’s something to be said about that. Will you ever tell Katara how you feel?”

“Should I?”

“Do you think she’d respond well?”

Azula’s ears fell, “I don’t know.”

“Think it over little mermaid, but just remember that you are a mermaid. You’re not human.” Azula tapped her tail against the water, contemplating Katina’s words.

“I’m back!” Katara called, running to them with a bucket of fish, “Got dirty looks from the trainers but I got food.”

“Oh! She brought the big fish.” Katina chirped, “She has my seal of approval.”

“That’s all it takes? Fish?” Azula asked.

“Always have fish on you and you will forever earn my love.” Katina opened her mouth for Katara to throw the fish in.

Azula laid back down against the platform, staring up at the sky that was starting to darken. Her feelings for Katara hadn’t gone away since admitting them to Finn and Katina. If anything, they’d only grown stronger since she told Finn the truth but that only made things worse. What did she do if Katara rejected her? Or about the fact that she was a mermaid and Katara was a human? Or that she was currently stuck here on land? Katara must not have noticed her being deep in thought because she kept her attention on Katina, throwing fish into her mouth and talking to her like she would respond.

“Alright. I gotta get going for the night. I assume you want help getting back to Finn?” Katara asked.

“Nah. I was just thinking of dragging my tail against the painful concrete all the way back to my tank.” Azula said.

“Aww. You’re already so cute.” Azula splashed the orca with her tail, “Still adorable.” Katina chuckled, disappearing under the waves.

Katara helped Azula back to her tank then started home for the night. As she gathered her keys and put everything away for the day, she suddenly felt a pair of eyes on her. Turning around, she was greeted by the sight of Joo Dee. The secretary said nothing. Instead, she just gestured for Katara to follow and walked off, leading her to Long Feng’s office where her boss was waiting with his arms crossed.

“I’m not happy, Katara.” He sighed.

“I’m sorry?”

“Blue isn’t bringing in the numbers I thought she would. After she attacked those dolphins, our sales took a nosedive.” He told her.

“Sir, isn’t that to be expected after something like that. I mean what was that one park that had an orca-”

“I’m not talking about another park. I’m talking about this one.” He pinched his nose, letting out a sigh, “Look, you’re right. This will recover but in the meantime I don’t want to be losing profit because we’re now being called the park with the killer mermaid in it.”

“So what do you want to do?” Katara asked.

“Move Blue. She’ll go to another of our parks with people who maybe aren’t as familiar with what happened. She’ll perform there, get some good publicity and then, after a year or two, come back.” Long Feng shrugged, “I’m thinking of sending her to California.”

“CALIFORNIA!?!” Katara screamed, “But that’s…that’s thousands of miles away.”

“Exactly. I trust you to handle her removal from the park. Don’t worry about anything in our California location. I’ll make sure the guys over there get a handle on her.” 

“Sir, she…she’s comfortable here. She’s-”

The man stood up, “She belongs to the park, Katara. I don’t care if she has a family here. She will be moved wherever I see fit. Do you understand?” Long Feng never really scared Katara as much as some of her previous bosses did. But being alone in his office now with him standing over her and no one left in the building, minus Joo Dee, sent shivers down her spine. She wanted to leave. More than anything she wanted to get away from him.

“Yes.”

“Good.” Long Feng walked away from her and towards the door, opening it for her, “You’re dismissed and have a good night.”

While she walked out of the building and back towards all the tanks—the fastest route to get to her car—Katara let Long Feng’s words wash over her again and again. She wasn’t stupid. She knew that Long Feng never really had any intention of letting the first ever captured mermaid in a park be released back into the ocean, but to hear him talk about Azula so casually made her want to throw up and punch him at the same time. Maybe she felt different because she and Azula were friends? Maybe because she could actually talk to Azula? But something deep in her gut told her that this couldn’t happen. No matter what, it couldn’t happen.

So, she didn’t go to her car that night. Instead, she hid in one of the customer bathrooms and called Sokka.

“Hello?” 

“Do you still have dad’s Ford truck?” Katara asked.

“Hello to you too. Why do you ask?” Sokka asked.

“Do you have it, Sokka? Yes or no?”

“Yes. Yes, I do.” Sokka said, “Why? Did something happen to your car?”

“I need you to help me commit a crime.” Sokka didn’t respond, “Hello?”

“I-I’m sorry. Did you just say you wanted me to help you commit a crime?”

“Well…yes and no. It’s a crime depending on how you look at it.”

“Let me guess. If you look at it from a legal perspective, it’s a crime. If you look at it from your perspective, it’s fine.” 

With a sigh, Katara explained everything. When she was done, Sokka didn’t speak for a while. Every second he was silent made Katara’s heart feel like it was going to explode. Sokka wouldn’t go straight to the police and turn her in, but he might tell their parents or someone else who would stop her.

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. You’ll have Azula ready?”

“I’ll get her out of the tank now.” 

“Okay. See you soon, Kat.”

“Thanks, Sokka.” With that, she hung up and poked her head out. No one was around anymore save for a few security guards.

Katara slipped out of the bathroom and ran up to Azula’s tank. The mermaid was fast asleep on the floor of her tank, her arms acting as a pillow. with Finn curled up on Azula’s tail. As quietly as she could, Katara tapped on the glass until Azula’s eyes blinked open.

“Huh? Katara? What are you doing?” Azula asked.

“How do you feel about going home?” Katara asked.

“What? What are you talking about?”

“You’re going back to the ocean. Tonight.” Or Katara was going to jail. Either way, something was going to happen tonight.

Chapter Text

Fun fact, for anyone who didn’t know, when a mermaid leaps out of their tank and tackles you in a bone crushing hug…it hurts. It was a fact Katara discovered when Azula landed directly on her with her arms wrapped around her, hugging Katara so hard she was sure her ribs were broken. If Azula was hurt at all when they landed on the concrete, she didn’t show it. Although, Katara didn’t really suspect Azula was hurt—Azula probably broke her fall on Katara’s body.

“Azula, I know you’re-” Katara was cut off by a kiss from Azula directly on the lips.

“Thank you! Thank you!!” 

Katara, still a little frozen from the kiss, shook her head to bring herself back to reality, “Sokka is on his way but we have to go now.”

“No problem just tell me where we’re going.” Azula said.

“I’m going to grab one of our portable tanks. I’ll sneak you past security and to the parking lot. Our dad has a truck with a cargo bed which we can hide you on. You’ll stay there until we can get you to the ocean and…well once you get to the ocean you can hopefully find your way home.”

“I know I can.” Azula nodded. The moment she was released back into the ocean finding her pod would be a simple matter. The biggest problem would just be avoiding predators and Azula wasn’t concerned about that.

“Good. We have to do this fast. My plan is to come back here and pretend to have been in the bathroom. I’ll come out and say that I wanted to see you before I left and you were gone.” Katara told her. Long Feng didn’t know about her dad’s truck and the license plate was beyond scratched out. As long as she and Sokka were careful and didn’t get spotted, getting Azula to the ocean wouldn’t be difficult. 

“Will something happen to you if your boss discovers that you set me free?” 

Katara bit her lip. She didn’t want to think about the consequences—which probably included prison time—of setting Azula free. She had to do this, “I…It doesn’t matter. What matters is you getting home. If we don’t do it now then Long Feng is going to send you states away and we’ll miss our chance forever.” 

“Katara-“

“You’ll be free, Azula. That’s all that matters. Now, get ready because when I come back with the small tank, we have to move as fast as possible.” Azula nodded but she was still clearly concerned about Katara. She didn’t know much about the human justice system but she assumed that humans, much like mermaids, didn’t like when people took something of theirs, even if Katara was doing the right thing.

A few minutes later, Katara returned with the portable tank that had been used earlier. Azula swam down and grabbed Finn, the only thing she really needed to bring, and returned to the surface, hoisting herself up onto the edge of her tank.

“Woah! You can’t take Finn!” Katara cried. The seal pup barked in deviance, wrapping his tail around Azula. The mermaid princess pushed him closer to her body as if daring Katara to try and take him.

“Yes, I can. He’s mine.” Azula said, holding the baby close to her, “I’m not leaving without him.”

“Azula, he won’t survive-“ 

“He’ll have me. I can keep him safe until he’s all grown up and can join a herd.” She said, “He’s my baby.”

“He’s a seal you’ve known for 2 weeks.” 

“My baby.” Azula said, “Even if he doesn’t know how to keep secrets.” She added with a quick mumble. 

“You know what I’m already dragging you out of the park, why not Finn too?” Azula grinned. She gently set Finn onto the ground then, with Katara’s help, lowered herself into the tank. Katara picked up Finn and set him on Azula’s stomach, “You okay?”

“I’m great! Let’s get going.” 

Moving the tank out of the park was both easy and difficult. Easy in the sense that getting it past security guards and moving it was a breeze. The tank didn’t weigh much so pushing it through the park was a simple act and it didn’t make any noise—or at least not enough to be heard. The hard part was security cameras. Katara had to maneuver past them in a weird way to avoid the group being spotted. It put an extra twenty minutes on her time getting out of the park. A point Sokka made clear when he saw them.

“There you are. I thought you changed your mind.” 

“Not at all. Help me get Azula into the truck.” Katara said.

Azula held Finn in her arms while Sokka grabbed her tail and Katara grabbed her body. With one large, pull and swing, they got her and Finn into the back of the truck. To keep them from being spotted by others on the road, Sokka covered them in a tarp. 

“Are you two okay in here without water?” Katara asked.

“How long until we reach the ocean?”

“20 minutes maybe.”

“We’ll be okay.” Azula nodded, “Just don’t stop for anything.”

“You hear that, Kat. The mermaid is advocating car accidents.” Katara glared at her brother for the joke.

“Car accidents?” Azula asked.

“Ignore him. He’s just trying to be funny.” Katara got in the passenger side while Sokka got behind the wheel, “Ready to steal a mermaid?” 

“I think we’re way past that.” Sokka mumbled, “But I better not go to jail for this.”

“Relax. If anyone has to do jail time, I’ll say I acted alone or something.” Sokka’s joke seemed to fly over Katara’s head because he quickly noticed that her tone was serious. She was ready to be arrested for this, ready to go to prison if it meant Azula was safe.

“You like her.” The realization washed over him like a tsunami.

Katara liked Azula. 

“Just drive.” 

“Kat-”

“I said drive. We don’t have much longer and I still have to get back here before a security guard decides to check Azula’s tank.” There was nothing he could say and they couldn’t spend the next two hours talking about their feelings with a stolen mermaid and seal in the trunk and a ticking clock, so he started up the car and drove out of the parking lot.

—-------------------------------

It was an odd thing to drive with a mermaid and seal in the back of the car. Katara continued to turn back towards the cargo bed where the tarp still covered both of them. So far she’d heard no noise that would indicate either of them were dying or slipping out of the car which was a good sign. Thanks to the late hour, traffic was almost non existent and getting to the beach, especially this late, afforded them very few cars in their direction, meaning no one could be there when they let Azula and Finn go. 

“Did you ever tell Azula how you feel?” Sokka asked.

“Tell her how I feel? And how exactly would that conversation have gone? I tell the captured mermaid who wants nothing more than to murder my boss and leave the park that I like her? Yeah. That’ll go well.”

“You say that like that’s not something you’d totally say.”

“I wouldn’t confess my feelings to someone I have no shot with and who I’d just hurt more by telling them. Azula wants to leave and she deserves to leave. Me telling her anything will just confuse or anger her and she doesn’t need that.”

“I’m just saying, you clearly like Azula a lot. Doesn’t she deserve to have all the facts before you never see her again.”

“No, because, like you said, I’m never going to see her again. It doesn’t matter how I feel.”

Another fun fact that Katara never got to learn while she was spending time with Azula was that mermaids had amazing hearing and that extended to hearing people talk while being hidden under a tarp in a truck.

“Katara likes Azula! Katara likes Azula!” Finn chirped.

“Shhh!” Azula hissed, her volume decreasing considerably to prevent Katara from hearing her, “Finn, just…I….”

“Katara likes mermaid Azula and mermaid Azula likes Katara. What’s the problem?”

“A lot of things. Most pressingly is the fact that I’m about to go home and Katara can’t exactly be down there with me.” Her father would murder her and Katara if she brought a human into their home, “Katara’s right.”

“But you like her and she likes you. What’s wrong with telling her that?” Azula curled up with her tail wrapped around her body. 

A lot. A lot was wrong with telling her that. Namely the fact that they were 10 minutes away from never seeing each other again. Katara was right. Once she got to the ocean, she was never going anywhere near land again so what was the point in telling Katara her feelings? She’d go back to her kingdom, see her friends and family again and never see Katara again.

Never see Katara again.

Never hear her talk about human stuff or hear her comforting voice or laugh at her jokes or swim with her or….

“Azula?” 

“I don’t want to leave Katara.” The mermaid’s voice was small but Finn caught her sentence loud and clear. The seal pup didn’t respond though. Instead, he curled up next to Azula, resting his snout on her arm, “But I have no choice.”

“Could visit.”

“Not as a mermaid.” 

“Oh. I’m sorry.” Azula let out a soft chuckle, kissing the pup on his head.

“It’s okay, Finn. Thank you for talking some sense into me.”

“I have to do it a lot.” 

Now that got a laugh out of her, “And I’m going to provide you with free food and shelter from predators. We help each other out.” Finn began to lick her cheek with joy, earning more laughter, “Stop it. Stop, Finn!” She laughed.

Suddenly the truck came to a halting stop. Azula pulled Finn closer to her—an action that quickly silenced him—and her gaze turned serious. She didn’t think Sokka would stop that fast unless something had happened so it was best to remain quiet and wait until she could hear either of them. Silence filled the space for so long though and Azula could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t hear any other humans but why did Sokka and Katara stop then?

“Azula?” Katara.

The tarp flew back, revealing Katara’s concerned face, “Long Feng knows. A security guard saw your empty tank and Long Feng knows I took you. We have to stop and let Sokka out. I’m going to finish the drive to the ocean.” She told her.

“Katara-“

“The damage is already done. All we can do now is get you and Finn out of here so that at least all of this meant something. I’ll be okay.” Her expression betrayed her. Katara was scared, terrified, and she knew something bad was going to happen to her for this.

“Tell her.” Finn barked.

“Is Finn okay?” Katara asked.

“He’s fine.” Azula whispered, “He’s just scared.” 

“I’m going to put the tarp back and we’ll finish the drive to the beach. We’re only ten minutes away.” Azula nodded in response.

“Good luck out there.” Sokka said, “And, if you ever visit, maybe bring a treasure chest with you.”

Azula allowed herself a nervous laugh, “I’ll do what I can.”

“How are you doing water wise?”

“I’m okay. A little dehydrated but okay.” Katara gave her a strained smile and nod, “Katara, I’m fine. You’re already doing more than enough. Let’s just finish this.” That was all that needed to be said for Katara to put the tarp back down and jump into the driver’s seat. 

It didn’t even take them ten minutes to drive onto the beach. Technically, vehicles weren’t supposed to drive onto the sand but Katara figured that she was already breaking the law, what was one more broken law? She drove straight to the edge of the water and turned the truck around so that the back was facing the ocean. Wasting no time, she jumped out of the car and opened the cargo bed, pulling back the tarp.

“The ocean.” Azula whispered.

“It really is beautiful.” Katara said.

Azula looked towards Katara, “Yeah. It is.” Finn pushed past Azula, falling to the sand.

Katara chuckled, “Finn. Be careful now.” The seal barked at Katara, nuzzling her hand as he corrected himself, “Wait for Azula.”

“He’ll be okay. He’s-”

“He’s ten pounds and currently trying to climb over a rock instead of going around. He’s adorable but you better keep an eye on him.”

“I will, I will. Don’t you worry.” Azula said, “I…I guess this is goodbye.”

“I guess so.” 

Azula looked to the ocean. Finn was already crawling into the water and a part of her was screaming to jump in and never look back. But there was another part, a part telling her she had to say something before she said goodbye to Katara forever. Katara was looking at her now, a touch of concern on her face—most likely worried about why she wasn’t getting in the ocean—but mostly urgency. An expression that told Azula she had to go now.

“Katara, I have to say something now…before I leave.”

“We don’t have time. You have to go so that you and Finn can get away from here.” 

“But I have to say this. You deserve to know.”

“Azula, whatever it is, it’s not as important as your freedom.” 

“It is.” Azula snapped, “Katara, you are the most amazing person I’ve met, human or mermaid, and you deserve to know that I…that I like you. If things were different, if you were a mermaid or I was a human or we met differently…I would have really liked…dating you.” Judging by Katara’s smile, Azula guessed she used the word correctly.

Katara let out a small sigh and took in a breath, “I like you too, Azula. I wish we could have met differently too but I’m happy that I get to do this for you. Maybe when I get out of prison I’ll get to see you again.” 

“Katara-”

“Go, Azula. You’ve served your time and now it’s my turn.” 

Slowly, Azula jumped out of the truck and pulled herself towards the ocean. She was halfway submerged in the ocean water when she turned around. Katara was still there, waving goodbye and smiling. Finn was swimming in deeper water with the top of his head poked out and waited for Azula. Things couldn’t end like this. It just couldn’t. She had to do something to help Katara, especially after everything Katara did for her. 

“Katara-”

Azula was cut off by the sound of sirens and screaming men. Red and blue lights covered the shore and the sound of incoming cars filled the air. Katara turned her attention to the people, her breathing grew rapid as the men started to leave their cars. 

Azula reacted.

She grabbed Katara’s arm and pulled her into the ocean.

“Azula-” Azula kissed Katara again, pulling her beneath the waves and deep into the ocean. Her tail was great at moving her and Katara through the water, to a depth no one could chase them too, quickly. When she released her kiss, Katara’s eyes opened again, “Wow.”

“That’s certainly one reaction.” Azula chuckled.

“Wait…I-I’m not drowning.” Katara brought a hand to her throat. She could breathe underwater. She could see and hear underwater.

“It’s temporary but if I keep kissing you then you could stay underwater for days.” Azula explained, “It was the only thing I could think of to save you.”

“You…you…”

“I don’t want my freedom in exchange for yours.” Azula said, “You can stay with me and come to my pod.” Finn cocked his head to the sky.

“Didn’t you say-” One look from Azula quieted him down.

“Stay with a pod of mermaids?” Katara chuckled. She took Azula’s hand in hers with a smile, “Lead the way.” Azula wrapped her fingers around Katara’s hand and began to swim deeper into the ocean with Finn following close behind. 

Hopefully she wasn’t making a huge mistake bringing a human to her kingdom.

Chapter Text

Katara couldn’t keep swimming forever. Unlike Finn and Azula’s tails which were made to swiftly travel through the water, Katara’s legs soon got tired after a few hours of swimming. No one was sure of the exact time but it was still night when they found a small cave that had a shore above the water for Katara to sleep on. She pulled herself out of the water and curled up on the wet rocks. Not the most comfortable bed but certainly better than being in a police car. Finn was next, coming out of the ocean to curl up next to Katara’s stomach.

“I’ll keep guard.” Azula said.

“Don’t you need to sleep?”

“I’ll be fine. Worst case scenario I take a little nap while you and Finn sleep.” 

“Okay. Just remember I kind of need you awake to kiss me so I don’t drown.” 

Azula playfully rolled her eyes, “Don’t worry. I won’t let you drown.”

“I would appreciate that.” Katara chuckled, closing her eyes.

When she woke up again, the sunlight was visible in the water below her. Finn was still asleep next to her but Azula was lying at the bottom of the cave, enjoying the ocean water all around her. Katara gently kicked the water with her foot. The ripples alerted Azula to Katara being awake and she swam to the surface.

“Morning.” 

“Morning.”

Finn slammed his tail against the rocks, letting out a huge yawn, “Too early.” He mumbled.

“What did he say?” Katara asked.

“Just complaining about having to get up.” 

“Nice to know that’s a universal trait with all babies.” 

“We should get going. If we start out now, we should be able to reach my home by nightfall.” Azula told her, “You can stay there while we figure out a way for you to return to land without getting in trouble.” Katara winced. She didn’t know how likely that was but she didn’t want to argue with Azula so she just nodded along. Without wasting a second, Azula leaned forward and kissed Katara again.

“Let’s get going.” 

—-----------------------------

As the sun rose and set and the hours slipped away, the three got further and further from land into deeper water. Katara’s hand curled tighter around Azula’s the more they swam. She knew Azula wouldn’t let her drown and she trusted that she could still breath and speak underwater just fine but that didn’t stop her anxiety from naturally spiking whenever they swam away from any kind of land or when Katara spotted a dark shadow in the water.

“Are you okay?” Azula asked.

“I’m fine. Just nervous.”

“Do you really think I’d let you drown?”

“I know you wouldn’t. I….I just….”

“I get it. It’s natural. I’m sorry there’s nothing I can do to help you stay calm.” Azula said.

Katara offered her a gentle smile, “It’s okay. How much longer until we arrive?”

“A couple hours. With luck, we’ll be there before-“ Azula suddenly froze. Her ears perked up and she swam out a couple feet in front of Katara and Finn.

She stared out at the open ocean with narrowed eyes like she could see an incoming threat that Finn and Katara couldn’t. Everything was still and silent for a moment. No one dared to move a muscle save for the occasional flick of tails and legs. Then, almost as quickly as it had started, Azula deflated.

“Uncle!” Azula cried, “It’s just me!”

Out of what seemed to be nothing, a pod of orcas emerged. There were 12 adults with two babies swimming next to two adults—no doubt the moms. The pod circled Azula, Katara and Finn. Katara tried not to be scared—she knew orcas weren’t too dangerous to people and Azula wasn’t scared—but it was difficult when face to face with an apex predator in an element that wasn’t her own. Then, from the pod, an old man with a white bear and a red mermaid tail appeared.

“Azula! You’re alive!” He cheered.

Azula swam to him, hugging the man, “It’s good to see you!”

“What’s this? You’re actually hugging me?” He chuckled.

“Time in an aquarium does things to a mermaid.” Azula answered.

His face turned sad, “I heard about what happened from Zuko. Your mother…she was inconsolable for days, refused to eat or drink anything. She waited by the entrance of the kingdom for hours, sometimes entire nights, hoping you’d come home.” Azula’s ears fell. Katara’s heart twisted into knots. 

“I really tried.” She whispered.

“You’re home now. That’s all that matters.” He said, hugging Azula again, “How did you escape?”

“I had help.” Azula smiled, turning to Katara.

The man’s eyes widened, “Azula-“ His voice gained an edge to it that he didn’t have before. Clearly, he didn’t see Katara’s legs earlier.

“It’s okay, uncle Iroh. She’s my…well…” Friend was probably the right word but Azula also wanted to use something more akin to their confession. They hadn’t really had much time to talk about what their confessions both meant since they had to flee rather quickly and Azula had been so focused on getting home all day, “…”

“Partner!” Finn cried.

“Finn!” Azula hissed.

One of the orcas nudged Katara with their head, “Awww. You have a human partner, princess?”

“Shut up! Uncle, control your orcas.” Azula snapped. Iroh was laughing by now. There was no way he was intervening now when things were getting good.

“Are they saying something?” Katara asked.

“Just looking for food.” Azula lied.

“Does she not know?” Another orca asked, “I knew humans were stupid but not this stupid. This is why they need a special dance or performance. Just something that says it plain and simple.”

“Humans are more complicated than that.” Azula said.

“No. They make everything complicated.”

“Sounds like a good conversation. What food are they looking for?” Katara asked. Hopefully not her.

“Just tell her you want her as your partner.”

Red covered Azula’s face, “I…umm…”

Katara swam towards Azula, taking her hand, “Are you okay? You’re blushing really bad. Is something wrong?”

“Yes. Orcas are too honest.” Iroh let out a large belly laugh, wiping a tear from his eye.

“Well, this has been fun but Katara and I need to get to the palace.” Azula said.

Iroh’s expression darkened within seconds. Katara tightened her grip on Azula’s hand, feeling a sense of fear take hold in her when she saw his anger, “You’re not…”

“Just to find somewhere where she can be safe. It won’t be long.” Azula said.

Iroh raised an eyebrow, “Azula, you know your father isn't a huge fan of…. He won’t like you bringing home a human.” He winced. Azula knew this. In all fairness to her father, most mermaids hated humans. He just hated them more because they killed his mom. If he did see Katara without any intervention from Azula it wouldn’t end well. But, maybe she could convince him to give her a chance. She did save his daughter’s life. That had to count for something.

“I don’t have a choice, uncle. She risked her freedom to save me. I owe her this.” Azula said.

“Alright, but please be careful.” 

“I will be.” 

“Azula.” Finn nudged her side with his snout, “Katara’s low on air.” He gestured to where Katara was playing with the orcas but Azula could see her starting to get nervous. Without thinking, she swam over and wrapped an arm under Katara’s armpits, lifting her to the surface. The second they broke through the waves, Katara took in large gulps of air.

“You know you really should tell me before you think you’re about to die. Helps me keep you alive.” 

“I didn’t want to be rude.” 

—-----------------------------------------

Azula said it was because of predators that they had to find a small island to sleep on. In actuality, Azula was too scared to face her father with a human that night. It was best to do it in the morning. Iroh had promised not to say a word that night. However, he did tell her that he would tell the family by noon tomorrow. His exact words being something about how Ursa had been living in torment for too long. 

Finn went right to sleep on the sand. Katara did not. She stared up at the cloudless night and back at the mermaid curled up on the sand. She could tell by Azula’s tail moving that she wasn’t asleep, so, slowly and quietly, she shuffled down towards her.

“Hey.” 

“Hey.”

“Can’t sleep?” Katara asked.

“....What are we now?” Katara’s eyes blinked in surprise. If she hadn’t been awake before, that comment certainly woke her up, “I said I liked you and you like me…are we together now?”

“I don’t know. I mean…you’re going to stay with your people and I have to return home. Is it even worth talking about?”

“Yes. I have to know.” Azula said.

“Okay…well, if we weren’t about to not see each other ever again then, yes. I think we’d be together. We’d go out on dates, I’d introduce you to some human foods, more mermaids movies-”

“There’s more?”

“You haven’t seen the Barbie movie yet where she meets a mermaid.” Katara chuckled.

Azula cocked her head to the side, “I have no idea what a Barbie is.” 

“That would have been another thing I would have introduced you to.” Azula snickered. Her head went to rest close to Katara, to the point that they were almost touching foreheads.

“I would have liked that.” She whispered, “I saw a lot of giant flying things going over the park-”

“Planes.” Katara told her.

“Would have been nice to fly in one of those. I’ve never seen the world from that high up before.” Azula gently placed her tail on Katara’s legs, “There’s a lot of stuff I wish I got to see in the human world. For as horrible as I think humans are, you made it sound….fun.”

“I guess that’s something. Glad I didn’t make your capture any worse.” 

“You’re the only reason I didn’t murder someone.” Actually she killed two people but Katara didn’t need to know that.

“Awww. You really know how to charm a girl.” Katara chuckled, “I’m going to miss you, Azula.”

“I’m going to miss you too. Maybe…maybe you could come out and visit me.” Katara winced at Azula’s suggestion. True, it probably wouldn’t be difficult to find this place again, especially since she was swimming to land from it, but did she really want to? What if she accidentally caused people to come out here? What if, when Azula came to the surface to see her again, someone spotted her and took a picture? What if Long Feng somehow found her out here? There were too many potential dangers to her returning to the mermaids for her and them.

“I don’t think that would be a good idea. I couldn’t live with myself if I accidentally brought other humans here. You guys have stayed hidden for so many years by staying away from humans. As much as it kills me, I shouldn’t disrupt that.” 

It both warmed Azula’s heart to hear Katara’s kind words and destroyed her. The idea of never seeing Katara again broke something in Azula that made her want to curse the universe for cruelly making her a mermaid and Katara a human. There had to be someone laughing at this, someone who was taking so much joy in causing them this amount of pain. Still, she was right. It was too dangerous for Katara to keep coming back here.

“Thank you,” Azula whispered, resting her head under Katara’s neck, “for everything.”

“You’re welcome. Thank you for saving me from prison time.” If her words were meant to lighten the mood, they did not. 

Katara decided not to try again, opting for silence as she laid an arm over Azula’s side, pulling her close. One final night together, that’s all they would get and they planned to make it count for as long as they could even if they both knew that, before they could blink, it would be over. Within seconds, they were asleep, nuzzled in each other's arms.

Chapter Text

The morning came with the sunlight gently covering the sleeping human and mermaid. Almost like the sun itself was trying to peacefully wake them up before the big day. Azula woke first, letting out a yawn and stretching her arms, waking Katara. The two didn’t say a word. They didn’t think they could. There was too much they wanted to say and, at the same time, too much they didn’t want to hear. What good was it to confess further when you knew you would never see the other person again? All they could do was stare at the ocean and the sand beneath them, hoping the goodbye wouldn’t be as painful as they thought it would.

“Home!” Finn barked, jumping on Azula’s back, “Home! Home!”

“I know. I know.” Azula chuckled.

“He seems excited.” Katara said.

“Yeah. He’s ready to see my home.” 

“Your home.” Katara whispered. Her words made it sound like she was just realizing the magnitude of what was about to happen at that very second, “Azula, it will be safe for me to go there, right? I won’t be in danger?”

“You’ll be fine. I promise. When you arrive with me and I tell my family that you saved my life, no one will even think of hurting you.” Azula’s words offered a small bit of relief, “And, if they do, I don’t mind punching someone’s teeth in, so no big deal.” She shrugged.

“Again, I have to say, you really know how to charm a girl.”

“You ready?” Azula asked.

“To see a hidden mermaid world? Yeah. I think I’m ready.” Azula leaned in once again and kissed Katara. Seconds later, the two had slipped below the water and were swimming yet again towards Azula’s home.

—--------------------------

They arrived at the mermaid kingdom far too soon for Katara’s liking. She wanted to see it and she wanted Azula to go home, but she also wanted more time with her. When they only had to swim for two hours to finally arrive, Katara couldn’t help but feel like the time had gone by too fast. Still, she kept her hand firmly around Azula’s as the princess led her down towards the giant palace. The palace itself was both a structure and a natural made system of caves in what looked like an underwater mountain. Azula pulled Katara towards the tunnel on the far left, away from everyone else.

“Wow.” Katara whispered.

“You think that’s cool?” Azula asked, “Just wait.” 

She gave a huge slap of her tail and pushed them forward into a giant carved out section of the mountain. It was easily 60 feet wide and 70 feet across and filled with mermaids and other sea creatures. Katara, who had never seen more than a single mermaid in her life, was speechless at the sight. The sunlight reflected in through a couple holes in the area, allowing the light to hit the mermaids scales and make the whole display that much more beautiful.

“If we have time, I have to show you the nursery. The baby mermaids are adorable. You will love them. OH! And the sharks! I know not everyone is a big fan of them but when you see one of their cubs smile for the first time it’s both hilarious and cute.” 

“I don’t think I should stay for longer than I need to.” Katara said.

“But there’s no harm in it. No one cares that you’re here as long as you’re with me.” 

“You sure about that?” Katara pointed to something behind Azula.

The mermaid turned and came face to face with a very familiar merman, looking at both of them with a spear in his hand and murder in his eyes. For a split second, Azula tensed. She’d never seen that look in her brother.

“Azula?” Zuko whispered. The spear dropped instantly.

“Zuzu!” Azula cried.

The mermaids collided, hugging each other as if they hadn’t seen one another in decades, “Azula! I-I’m so sorry! When we got back-we-we heard-we thought-...I tried to follow them but-”

“It’s okay. I never expected you to keep up with a human boat anyway.” She lightly smirked.

“Glad to see the humans didn’t get rid of your sense of humor.”

“Nope. Still far better than your own. As always.” 

Zuko chuckled, “...You’re alive.” He happily wept, hugging her again.

“Careful, Zuzu. You keep hugging me and people will think we actually get along.” 

Still hugging her, Zuko opened his eyes again and saw Katara. More specifically, he saw her legs. Zuko pushed Azula behind and hissed at Katara, showing off teeth that could tear into flesh in a matter of seconds. Katara swam back with Finn swimming out in front of her, barking at Zuko. He didn’t know exactly what was happening but he did know this guy was threatening Katara and he didn’t like that. 

“Zuko! Don’t hurt her!” Azula swam in front of Finn and Katara, showing off her own teeth and claws, “She’s a good human. She saved my life.”

“What?”

“She saved me. She got me out of the park the humans were keeping me in. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here right now.” 

Zuko’s anger didn’t fade but it did dull, “Really?”

“Yes and if you hurt her, I will be left with no choice but to avenge her.” Her eyes narrowed and her gaze didn’t let up. Finally, Zuko backed up, understanding Azula’s anger and words were serious.

“Does she speak?” Zuko asked.

“I can understand you.” Katara said.

“You have anything to say for yourself then?” Zuko grumbled.

“I-”

Azula put an arm in front of Katara, “She doesn’t have to say anything because she didn’t take me. Zuko, leave her alone.”

“You’re not thinking of letting her stay here?” Azula rolled her eyes.

“Of course not. I’m just going to help her find land from here and then she’ll be on her way and she’ll…” She’ll never come back. She would never see Katara again.

Zuko didn’t seem to pick up on his sister’s sadness, “Fine. The human can stay for a few hours but she’s gone before nightfall. Dad’s away for the day so you got lucky. As long as she’s gone before dad comes home, she won’t risk being fed to the leopard seals. Been awhile since they’ve had a human to eat.” 

“Is he kidding?” Katara asked, giving Azula a scared look.

“....I feel like you want me to say yes-”

“AZULA!”

“It’s okay! You’ll be long gone before my dad comes home so there’s nothing to worry about.” Azula took Katara’s hands again, “I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.” Gently, she set her forehead against Katara’s. The two didn’t see it but Zuko’s eyes widened.

“You’re playing fast and loose with that, you know?” Azula smiled.

“But you trust me.”

“For some reason, I do.”

“Good. Then, come on. I want you to meet someone.” With that, she pulled Katara away, leaving Zuko to watch them swim away with Finn right behind them. 

His eyes narrowed.

There was no way Azula really had feelings for a human.

No. No way. Not in a million years.

Right?

—------------------------

Azula brought Katara down one of the larger tunnels. She happily swam past different mermaids who gave a small nod before instantly turning around with wide eyes and dropped jaws. If Azula cared to actually explain anything, she didn’t show it because she did not stop swimming. Finally, she arrived at a large door, knocking quietly.

“What is this?” Katara asked.

Azula didn’t answer. She pushed the door open, poking her head inside. In the middle of the room was a bed with a grown mermaid. Her long red tail laid over the edge of the bed with her head resting nuzzled into her arms. Azula and Katara crept inside the room, trying not to make too much noise. The same could not be said for Finn, who barreled his way into the room and straight into the mermaid.

“Hello, little one. What are you doing here?” 

“Mom.”

Ursa’s heart almost broke when she looked up and saw her daughter in front of her. Her hands shook and her eyes turned glossy. Everything in Ursa at that moment wanted to believe this was fake—mother’s grief. It was easier to believe that than actually let herself hope that her daughter was alive. Easier to say it was a trick of the light then actually believe her daughter had come home or that she was going crazy. She closed her eyes to it. Not wanting to be swayed any further. 

Azula must have sensed her hesitation because she swam closer. Her plan had been to take her mom’s hand and show that she was real. However, the moment she was close enough, Ursa tackled Azula in a hug, wrapping her arms tightly around her youngest. When Ursa did pull away it was to look down at her daughter’s face, gently brushing her cheek with her thumb before hugging her once again.

“My baby.” Ursa sobbed.

“I’m home, mom. I’m home.”

And there they stayed.

Until Azula had to pull away.

“You’re alive. How?”

“Because of her.” Azula turned towards Katara, who had pushed herself to the corner of the room as she didn’t want to intervene in this clearly family moment, “Katara saved my life and freed me.”

Without a word, Ursa hugged Katara, “Thank you for saving my daughter’s life.”

“I-…You’re welcome. You don’t care that I’m human?” She asked.

“You brought my daughter home.” 

Katara accepted her words with a proud smile, leaning into the hug, “At least you understand.” Azula mumbled.

“What does that mean?” 

“It means Zuko had a different response to discovering I brought Katara to the palace.”

Ursa’s eyes suddenly widened. As if she’d been in a dream for the past few minutes and Azula’s words suddenly reminded her of the real world.

“Your father will be home soon. She can’t be here when he is.” Ursa turned back towards Katara, “Not that we don’t owe you a debt that we can never repay but her father….he's not a big fan of humans.”

“So I’ve heard.” Azula returned to Katara’s side, taking her hand. Finn was with them again too, swimming next to Azula.

“He won’t hurt you. I swear.” The mermaid princess said.

Katara smiled, “I know. You’ll protect me.” Azula responded by nodding and squeezing Katara’s hand.

“It’s not just that.” Ursa warned, “If he found you here, much less knew that Azula wanted you as a partner, he would-“

“Woah! What are you talking about?” Azula snapped.

“You’re not exactly being very subtle about it. Are you two already partners or have-“

“Mom!” 

“What?”

“We…we aren’t…she’s…” Nothing she could form in her head seemed to match up with what she wanted to say. They weren’t just friends but they also weren’t partners because Katara was about to leave that day. So…what were they? 

“I have to leave.” Katara responded, “Azula just wanted to show me around the kingdom but I won’t stay much longer. All I need is direction to the nearest human civilization and I should be able to manage on my own from there.” 

“I think we can help you with that. We have maps detailing where some of the closest human-filled lands are,” Ursa explained, pulling out a smooth rock that had been carved into, “we made them just in case we had to leave this place. This was meant to tell us where not to go but in your case…”

“Thank you.” Katara took the tablet in her hands. It was certainly hard to understand given that it was a pretty crude method for location but thankfully Katara remembered the islands and their names. Thank the stars for her college professor and his obsessive pop quizzes on island location and names, “Oh! Abrahams Bay isn’t far from here…I think.”

“Do you want me to go with you to make sure you don’t drown?” Azula asked.

“Yes, please.”

“You humans and your inability to survive underwater. I’m telling you, one day, it’s gonna come back and bite you in the-”

“Azula!” Katara hissed, putting her hands over Finn’s ears, “Not in front of a baby.”

“I was going to say neck. What did you think I was going to say?”

A blush took over Katara’s face, “Nothing.” She lied, “Come on. Let’s just get going before your kiss starts wearing off.”

“First we need to get something to eat. I cannot swim that far on an empty stomach.”

“Do I have to eat a dolphin?” Katara asked while the two swam out of Ursa’s room.

“Baby.”

The two were too far gone for Ursa to hear anymore of their conversation. Not that it mattered, Ursa already heard everything she needed to. That plus the fact that she raised Azula left her with only one conclusion. She turned towards Finn.

“Azula really likes her, huh?”

Finn nodded, “A lot.”

“This won’t end well.”

If all this fear of Ozai seeing Katara was real? “No, it won’t.”

—------------------------------

Mermaid meals were actually quite similar to what they ate on the coast. The only difference was that it was far more deep sea fish than one may find in any restaurant. Katara couldn’t help but breathe a small sigh of relief when she discovered that the food options were human friendly. On their way to the palace, the three had eaten whatever Azula could catch and that mainly was fish. Katara was just worried that the food here would be a bit more exotic than a random deep sea fish that fishermen often caught.

“You know, my dad brought me out fishing one day,” Katara started, “and I accidentally wheeled in this giant fish.”

“How is that an accident? Don’t you want a big fish?”

“Yes, but I was eight years old and weighed 60 pounds. That fish hit me smack in the face and I fell on the ground because the wind had been knocked right out of me. That’s not even talking about the fact that I smelled like fish for the rest of the day.”

Azula laughed, “What kind of fish? Maybe I can catch one and avenge your honor.”

“I don’t remember what kind, just that it was big and heavy.”

“Congratulations. You narrowed it down by maybe 10 kinds of fish out of hundreds.” 

“Well, then you have a lot of fish to catch, don’t you?”

Silence filled the space between them for a few moments. The two turned to look down at the food, neither wanting to say anything more that would make them miss the person even more than they were going to. Azula, deciding some form of talking was better than this, finally looked up and opened her mouth to speak.

“AZULA!” A high voice yelled. Azula was suddenly tackled by Ty Lee, “You’re alive! You’re alive! You escaped the humans!”

“Ty?”

“I know you were gone for a while but, come on, Azula. You remember me, right?”

“Of course.” Azula smiled, “I just can’t believe I finally get to see you. I was so sure I’d never see any of you guys again.”

“You’re back and now you get to see me everyday.” Azula didn’t respond because she couldn’t think of what to say. What did you say to your former crush when your current one was sitting right behind you?

“Hello?” Katara waved a little, “I’m Katara.”

Ty Lee noticed Katara’s legs and went stiff, “It’s okay, Ty.” Azula quickly said, “She helped me escape.”

“Really?” Ty Lee asked.

“Yes, really.”

“Alright. Then, it’s nice to meet you! I’m Ty Lee!” She leaned forward and grabbed Katara’s hand, shaking it, “Woah. It’s weird to shake someone’s hand who doesn’t have webbed hands.”

“It’s weird to shake someone’s hand with claws.” Katara replied.

“You do have claws though.” Ty Lee said, grabbing Katara’s hand and pointing to her nails, “They’re baby claws, but claws.”

“Oh, no. These are just to help me pick stuff up and hold on.” Katara explained, “Definitely not claws.”

“Huh? That’s weird.” Ty Lee whispered.

“You don’t seem very…upset with me for being human.” Katara noted.

“Why would I be? If Azula likes you then you can’t be all bad and that’s plenty for me.” She shrugged as if that was the end of the discussion. Relief flooded Katara’s body when she heard those words. She expected every mermaid to want her head, to have to hide behind Azula for protection but Ursa and Ty Lee had been really nice and all the other mermaids left her alone when they saw Azula was swimming with her, “Oh! Azula told you about her dad, huh?”

“He’s come up.”

“Yeah. I can see why you’re worried.” 

Sensing an opening, Azula jumped in, “I hate to steal you away, Ty, but do you think I could speak with you in private?”

“Awww. You’re abandoning me?” Katara asked.

“I’ll be back in a minute.” Azula promised, “If anyone gives you any problems, yell for me and I’ll come back and kill them.”

“Maybe don't jump straight to murder.”

“You’re no fun.” Azula grumbled, “Come on, Ty.”

The two didn’t go far. They were close enough for Azula to keep an eye on Katara and race back to her if needed but far enough that they could speak and she wouldn’t hear. When they were far enough away, Azula started to feel her stomach twist into knots. She had to tell Ty Lee, it was only right, but now that she was there and about to say it, she felt like throwing up.

“Azula? Are you okay?”

“I…I need to tell you something.”

“I assumed as much when you asked to talk.” She giggled.

“When I was held captive, Katara and I…we got to know each other and become friends and then started bonding and I…”

“You like her.” Ty Lee finished.

“I’m so sorry.”

“For what?”

“I wanted to ask you out and I’ve known you for years. You can’t act like we weren’t thinking about it, but then I leave for a few weeks and come back completely head over tail for some human and you-”

Ty Lee grabbed Azula’s hands, causing her to stop talking, “Azula, it’s sweet you’re considering all this, but you are REALLY overthinking everything.” She said, “I’ll admit I’m a little…iffy about how you can like a human after everything and about how you like once after a few weeks but I’m not going to be mad at you for it. If you like her, you like her. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“We can’t stay together.” Azula whispered, “But I don’t want to lose her.”

“Do you want to be with her over the pod?” 

Azula opened her mouth then closed it. She didn’t want to say yes. She didn’t feel like the right answer even was yes but it also definitely wasn’t no. A part of her wanted to say yes. She wanted to stay with Katara and be with her for years to come. Another part said that she was a traitor for even thinking that and that her place was here with her people. It didn’t help the argument that both parts were 50/50. 

Azula never got the chance to respond to Ty Lee either because at that moment a shout rang through the room. Azula and Ty Lee whipped around just in time to see Ozai in the room, staring directly at Katara and gripping a spear in his hand.

Azula didn’t even think as she swam in between Katara and her father just as Ozai released the weapon from his hand.

Chapter Text

Ozai was fast but Azula was faster. She grabbed the spear right before it was able to hit Katara and snapped it in two in her hand. The same protective feeling grew in her again, her tail wrapped around Katara even as more and more mermaids swam over to see what was going on.

“Azula?” Ozai whispered, “You’re alive?”

“I am. And it’s because of this human, you almost murdered, that I am. You can’t hurt her, father.”

“She’s a human who’s seen the kingdom. She can’t leave her alive, Azula.”

“She’s not a threat!”

“Your judgement is clouded. Whether she performed a good deed or not, she is still a human. They slaughter their own without a second thought. What do you think she’ll do for some random mermaids?” 

Azula didn’t back down, “She’s kind and intelligent and would never hurt any of us. She could have left me in that tank and continued to get paid and not given it another thought but she saved me. She isn’t like the other humans.”

“I will not risk the pod’s safety because of your hunch, Azula.” Ozai pulled out a trident from behind him, “Stand aside. I will make it quick.”

“Azula?” Katara’s voice was small. 

She was scared.

And it made Azula all the more sure she was not moving.

“Kill me.” Azula dared.

Ozai narrowed his eyes, aiming the trident directly at Azula but his daughter didn’t dare move. She was calling his bluff, he knew that, but he just had to get her to move a little to the side and then this would all be over.

“Ozai!” Ursa cried. She had just entered the room and saw what was happening, “What are you doing?!”

“Ursa, remove your daughter so I may make sure the pod remains safe.” Ozai ordered.

“That human saved Azula! She doesn’t deserve to die.”

“Did our people deserve to die? I admit it isn’t fair but it’s what must happen.” Ozai said, “Now, move Azula out of the way so I can finish this.”

“I won’t let you hurt her.” Azula’s voice was unwavering.

The standoff grew.

Both sides knew it wouldn’t last long but that didn’t make it any less intense. 

Ozai kept his grip on the trident. Azula refused to move from her spot, her glare turning murderous the longer Ozai continued to threaten Katara. Everyone around them held their breath, especially Katara, as they waited for someone to make a move.

“You care for the human.” Ozai whispered, “Enough to bring her into our home.”

Azula didn’t speak. There wasn’t anything left to say while her father continued to hold the trident and point it directly at Katara.

“You don’t belong here.” For the first time, Azula’s face changed. Her eyes widened and her posture dropped.

“Ozai!” Ursa yelled.

“She brought a killer into our home!” 

“Sir,” Katara surprised everyone by speaking up, “please don’t blame Azula. She was saving me. I know you don’t trust humans and you’re right not to but don’t take it out on Azula. I’ll leave now and never come back just…Azula wanted to come home since the moment I met her. Please don’t take that away.” 

Ozai’s eyes shifted ever so slightly. He seemed to truly take in Katara’s words and think them over. He turned towards Azula with a softer but still disappointed face. He lowered the trident and Azula relaxed.

“You still brought a human into our home.” Ozai said.

“And I’ll accept whatever punishment you think is fair, father, but I need to get Katara to land first.” 

It was quick but Ozai’s face twisted into anger once more when he heard that. Not only had Azula brought her here but she still wanted to help her, wanted to get Katara somewhere where she could easily tell everyone where they were. Azula would never have done something like this before. When she was made a warrior, she would have been ready to eliminate anyone who dared to sell out their home to a human but now? Now, it was clear that Azula’s time around people had tainted her. She wasn’t the same and that was dangerous.

“Leave.” Ozai said, pointing to the surface.

“Let’s go.” Azula whispered.

The two fled from the kingdom. Ozai watched, hand still on the trident, as they got closer and closer to the surface. Azula had a hand wrapped around Katara’s waist to help them move faster. Katara could still breathe under the waves but Azula’s tail made it much easier to get to the surface faster. They were only 100 feet from the surface when Ozai aimed the trident.

“Ozai! No!” Ursa was too late.

Ozai fired.

He hit Azula.

“Azula!” Katara cried.

“Azula!” Ursa tried to swim up to them only to be grabbed by guards, “No!”

Azula’s tail broke apart into two human legs.

She looked at Katara with wide eyes and began to slowly sink, unable to swim with legs. Now it was Katara’s turn to wrap a hand around Azula’s wait and bring her to the surface. Thankfully, Katara knew how to swim quickly—a lot of swimming lessons up until her last day of college finally paying off—and they broke the surface in two minutes. Katara couldn’t see anything around them or underneath for that matter so she had no clue if Ozai or some other mermaid was coming after them.

“I can’t swim!” Azula cried, “Why-Why can’t I swim?!”

Katara released her hold on the panicking former mermaid, “It’s okay! It’s okay!” Katara promised, “Just kick your legs back and forth and breathe. You’re above the water. You’re okay.”

“I-I can’t-” Azula began to sink the second Katara let her go.

“Azula!” She pushed her back above the waves, “Azula, please, listen to me. You need to use your legs and arms to stay afloat.”

“I’ve never had legs before!” She yelled.

“I know! But right now, if you don’t start kicking them, you will die. I won’t let go, but you need to stay above the water so that we can find somewhere safe.”

Azula nodded, kicking her legs back and forth to try and stay above the waves, “What are we doing to do?”

“Find some land. We can swim back to the island.”

“Then what?”

“Let’s just worry about staying alive long enough to get there. Do you think you can swim there?” 

“Do I have a choice?” Azula asked.

Katara didn’t answer her, “Let’s go.”

As the two began their swim back to the small island, Azula suddenly felt something on her stomach, “What!?!” Finn’s little head poked out, “Finn!”

“Human or mermaid, that little guy really loves you.” Katara finally allowed herself a tiny smile especially when she noticed Azula had a mini smile herself, “Alright. Let’s get to the island.”

—-------------------------

“My baby.” Ursa sobbed, still held in place by the guards, “My poor baby.” Her body slumped down in defeat. The only movement was when her shoulders went up and down due to her crying. 

“Release her.” Ozai ordered with a wave of his hand.

“You killed her! You killed our daughter!” Ursa sobbed. Faster than the guards expected, she turned and darted for Ozai only for him to move. When Ursa tried to attack again, she was stopped by guards.

“I didn’t not-“

“She’s a mermaid without her tail! You and I both know she won’t survive long!”

“She has her human,” Ozai spat the word, “and her seal friend to help. Azula knew the risks of bringing a human into our home and she did so anyway. Our child or not, she does not get to break the rules and then swim around like everything is fine.”

“You know Azula-“

“I don’t!” Ozai roared, “She spent weeks upon weeks up there! As much as it kills me, we don’t know if the Azula who came back is the same one who left! Especially not when she returned with a human.”

“A human who saved her life! Why can’t you see that?!”

“A human who’s kinda has slaughtered our people! You’ve seen what they’ve done to us, to the orcas, to everything else! Can you honestly stand there right now and tell me that this human wouldn’t have betrayed us, even accidentally?”

Ursa pressed her lips together.

“Can you tell me that? Can you tell me we’d be perfectly safe with her knowing our location?”

“…You killed our daughter.” With that, the guards let Ursa go, feeling her anger decline, and she swam away.

Ozai fell back on his throne. He could barely see Zuko, who had been too stunned to say anything, swim off and follow his mom. The king caught his head in his hand as he let out a sigh. Zuko and Ursa hated him and now Azula was oceans know where. 

“I did what was needed.”

———————————

It took too long to swim to the island if Katara was asked. Azula was hardly kicking her legs anymore when they finally pulled themselves into the sand. Katara was tired as well but she pushed through her aching to put her attention on Azula, making sure the former mermaid was still doing alright or as alright as one could be doing after having their tail ripped away from them. 

Now on the sand, Katara also noticed that Azula’s webbed hands, ears and claws were all gone. Replaced by regular human hands, ears and nails. There was nothing mermaid like about her anymore. She looked entirely human. 

Azula’s eyes blinked open, “Katara?”

“Hey. Hey, it’s okay. We’re safe now.”

“Everything hurts.”

“Welcome to being a human.” She chuckled.

“What-Father….he took my tail.” Azula’s voice was small but also broken. It was hard for Katara to really pick up everything she was saying. 

“I’m so sorry, Azula. I-This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have gone to the kingdom with you and-“ Azula held up her hand, silencing Katara. She pushed herself onto her back, staring up at the sunny sky.

“I brought you there. It’s not your fault. I just never thought he would….I’m exiled.” 

“He never said-“

The former mermaid sat up, “It’s implied. A mermaid without their tail can’t go home, can’t swim, can’t hunt.” Azula rested her head on her knees, moving a hand down her legs, “It’s a death sentence. The only reason I didn’t die is because of you.”

“I-I’m still sorry.”

Sobs began to bubble up in Azula until she couldn’t hold it back anymore and let the tears fall down her face, “I’m not a mermaid anymore.” Katara held her. Finn curled around her feet.

There was nothing they could say that would help. Nothing that would remotely start to explain why this happened or make Azula feel better. All they could do was be there for her and let her know that she wasn’t going through this alone, that she still had something of a family to help her. Azula didn’t know if she even really believed that right now.

—--------------------------

A boat spotted them on the island the next day. Thankfully, the sailors were nice enough to take Katara and Azula and give them a ride back to land. They were also stupid enough to believe the story about a shipwreck and didn’t ask any follow up questions about why the two were in the middle of the ocean. One of the men offered Katara his coat, she took it and wrapped it around Azula, giving her as much warmth as possible. Both of them were soaked to the bone and shivering thanks to the wind but, right now, Azula mattered to Katara more than her own warmth.

“Better?” Katara asked.

Azula nodded, “Thank you. I’ve never…never been cold because of water before.”

“When we get back to land, I’ll buy you some warmer clothes.” 

“I’d like that.” 

“Azula, I….I’m so sorry. I’m sorry about everything-“ Azula knew there was more, that Katara was still apologizing but she couldn’t bring herself to really listen. She caught bits and pieces of her apology though and it just made her even more miserable. To hear Katara go on and on about how the whole mess was her fault and she was to blame for Ozai’s actions and she’s sorry, it made the situation feel more real. 

Although, looking down at her lack of a tail also made it feel real. 

She was human. Completely and totally human.

“Azula?” Katara stared at her with her soft blue eyes, the same soft eyes that had been comforting and helping her for weeks, “Everything will be fine.”

“You seem very sure.”

“Because I am sure.”

“...You still want me even though I’m not a…” She trailed off both unable to finish the sentence and not wanting to say the word in front of the other humans.

Katara held her close, “Always.”

The word repeated in Azula’s head all day. When night approached, she and Katara didn’t sleep. They continued to lay side by side, seeking whatever comfort they could find with one another while the rest of the crew slept. Once they were sure everyone else was out, they would allow themselves to have whispered conversations about what this meant for them and if they should return knowing Long Feng was still looking for Katara. 

“We’ll get supplies from Sokka and my parents and head out somewhere safe.” Katara said.

“Away from the ocean.” 

“I…Maybe not completely away but somewhere where the police won’t find us.” Nothing good would happen if either of them were found. Katara was technically meant to be in police custody and Azula didn’t have any kind of identification. Either way, it wouldn’t end well if the police found out they were back on land, “Thankfully, we were gone for a few days so the police have no idea where we went. I think we’re safe as long as we keep a low profile.”

Azula nodded, “Good.”

“Azula, I-”

“Please stop apologizing, Kat. I know you mean well but it’s getting annoying.”

“Sor-” Azula raised an eyebrow, “Now I just don’t know what to say.”

“How about we just sit here? Together.” 

“I like that.” Katara nuzzled her head under Azula’s neck and Azula wrapped her arms around Katara, pulling her close to her body for warmth.

The two were nearly asleep when they heard distance barking. Out on the water, they saw Finn. The baby seal was still following their boat, happily jumping out of the water and doing tricks. The same tricks that he’d seen the older seals do at the park. They couldn’t fully see him—only having the moonlight to really give them any form of light—but what they could see plus his barks to them was more than enough. Finn was still with them and they had each other.

They were going to be okay.