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!!!!”