AtLA Modern: Year 1, Gen. 1

Chapter 9

"Oh! There's Athlea!" Sokka announced as the girl's white car pulled up outside.

Katara waved. "Good morning."

"Where were you all night?" Toph asked.

"Oh, me? I spent the night at Zuko's."

"Sleepover? How cute. Like two girls. Did you two do your makeup, too?" Toph smirked.

"W-what? No! We ordered food and played video games all night. His uncle is super chill. Gives great advice, too!"

Katara shook her head. "Sokka, Mom and Dad worked their ass of to get us here, and you repay them by gaming? Did you even do your homework?" She bit her lip, glaring at him.

Sokka groaned. "Hey! I am smart, okay? Exam season isn't even on yet. I'll be fine." He turned as Athlea entered the front door. "Morning!" Aang greeted her as well and Toph nodded.

"Where's Zuko and Azula?" Athlea asked the moment she approached her roommates. Dai blinked, tilting her head toward Zuko and Azula, who were by Chan's locker. Athlea raised an eyebrow, tilting her head toward them. "Thank you." She walked toward them, a devilish look in her eyes. Katara shook her head at Sokka. Dai nodded to Athlea, watching her. After a moment, she followed. Athlea grabbed Azula by the hair, ruining her slick bun. The girl yelled, glaring up at Athlea, her hands in front of her defensively. Athlea looked up at Zuko, glaring at him. "You should be ashamed of yourself."

His golden eyes went wide. "Jesus, Athlea! Let her go!"

"Funny," Dai chimed in. "You'll let her bully me from the moment I'm in school without a word, but as soon as Athlea touches her, there's a problem."

"Well, jesus, Dai!" Zuko glanced between her and Athlea. "Every time you fought, you beat her--I didn't think that called for defending!"

"Ooo, cat fight." Chan smirked.

"Shut it, before I kiss your ass and send you whimpering back to mommy," Athlea snapped before bending down toward Azula. "From today on, you will be nicer to Dai, got it? You'll stop bullying her, stop looking her way, stop thinking about her. Stop talking about and to her, or you're dead."

Chan had looked away, his cheeks red, scratching the back of his head. Azula glared at Athlea, making a puff of smoke from her hands and tearing herself away from Athlea. "Well, yikes," she said casually, though her face was red with embarassment. She pulled her hair back into its neat bun. "If it's that big of a deal, I guess I'll leave her alone." She took a step away from Athlea, glancing between her and Dai.

"Come on." Dai rushed forward, linking her arm with Athlea's, glaring at Azula. "I can kick your ass alone, so I'd suggest you don't try to fight both of us."

"Your ass is going to get it next," Athlea hissed to Zuko. "You still defend someone you care about, even if they don't need it."

As they walked away, Dai flicked her wrist back towards the siblings and a layer of ice slid beneath them, causing them to fall and knock their heads together. Dai glanced up at Athlea, giggling as the two firebenders cursed.

"Fuck them. Come on, we have tryouts to take part in," Athlea annoucned as the two walked together.

"Bro, what the fuck?!" Sokka laughed.

"Now that's something you don't see every day in this school," Toph agreed.

"I caught it on my phone," Aang announced.

Toph snickered. "That'll be viral. 'Rich Siblings Get Their Asses Kicked.'"

Katara blinked, giggling softly. "Those two are going to be good friends, I'm guessing," she said.

***

After tryouts, Dai took her roomates home, including Sokka. She made sure to drive extra aggressively because of that, even using the hand brake to drift around a couple corners.

Zuko waited for Athlea to leave practice before he approached her. He managed to slam her against a locker before she noticed him, his hands on her wrists. "What the fuck do you want from he?" he snapped, his eyes inches from hers. "You don't want me to be a bystander, sure, I'll defend Dai. You didn't want me to ignore me, but then when I try to start paying attention to you again, you ignore me!"

Athlea grit her teeth in pain, flinching away from him but not breaking her eye contact with him. "Pull yourself together. You can't pretend you're friends with Dai with the others but ignore her when you're around Azula. That's hypocritical."

He glared at her. "So, how's this for attention?!" He finally let go, taking half a step away and blinked as he realized he'd hurt her, his eyes softening.

She launched forward and grabbed his shirt, twisting and slamming him against the lockers, her faces inches from his. "Just start acting accordingly and we might start getting along," she said calmly.

"Shit," he grunted as she turned it around on him, pain spiking through his back.

"Not so fun, is it, hm? Thanks for the bruise. Now we'll match."

His eyes went from irritated to antagonizing, now. "Getting along, huh?" he said, pulling her closer, a hand on her collar as well.

Her eyes widened and she jumped back, but his hand on her shirt jerked her forward again, and she fell into him, their faces colliding and lips brushing. A second later, she pushed him away as he did the same, taking a few steps backward before falling, her face red. "Not... a fucking word of this!"

Zuko laughed despite his own flushed cheeks, one hand slamming down on the locker. "I'd say we're getting along just fine," he teased, taking a step away from the locker. "Didn't know those were your true feelings about me, Princess." He winked.

"Shut up!" she demanded, her blush deepening. She looked away, crossing her arms and gritting her teeth. "Just shut up." After a moment, she pushed herself off of the ground and brushed herself off, while he just laughed. Her eyes lingered on him for a second, and she let out a little "hmph" before turning around, walking to the door.

Zuko watched her, smirking. "See you tomorrow, Cinderella," he called over his shoulder as they walked away in different directions.

***

A/N what do yall think of that kiss, huh? corny af right? ahaha i love it tho, Athlea is so fucking clumsy