Pairing: Azula/Katara, some Zuko/Aang
Rating: this chapter G, further chapters up to M
Warnings: yuri, some yaoi, WIP
Disclaimer: Do not own AtLA, would cry if sued.
A/N: I do believe this is my first full-length yuri fic. It's also my pet pairing at the moment. 3

Props go to my betas Catie for fangirling them with me, and Colin for being (eventually) convinced I wasn't entirely crazy. Also thanks to Colin for helping me decide on a title, without which this never would have been posted.

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In the weeks and months following her father's defeat, Azula watched the group of children who had somehow brought the fire nation to its knees closely, warily. Although the sorry excuse for an Avatar and his friends seemed friendly enough, they could always be dangerous. And if they weren't… well, she was.

It was shocking that they even allowed her to live, let alone stay in the palace. Zuzu wasn't the smartest, but even he should have figured out that her apologies and promises to not cause any trouble were nothing but lip-service until she could find a way to claim her rightful place as head of the nation.

Her lip curled in disgust a bit, watching him attempt to spar with the Avatar, smirking every time he let a blow get through. Weak and pathetic. Hiding behind a mere child when he should have let someone more capable take over, for no one would have ever allowed Zuko the throne if the boy hadn't insisted. Their once great nation would never recover a fraction of its glory. That is, unless someone stepped in.

It would be difficult. She would have to be subtle. Insinuate herself bit-by-bit and win their trust. Eventually, she was sure, she'd have them eating out of her hand. It was a plan that had never failed before, and she was sure that with time and patience she could discredit her brother.

So Azula studied them, looking for the weakest link.

At first, she thought it would be the boy. The one who couldn't bend and who was so easily led around by his hormones that every girl in the world caught his fancy. But he had proven strangely stubborn, insisting that he already had plenty of dangerous ladies in his life and he didn't need any more, thank you, and could she please not talk to him anymore. Of course, in retrospect, he was much too far below her.

Then, she though perhaps the blind one. Azula couldn't stand earthbenders – they were dirty, disgusting, uncivilized; but she thought that maybe she could befriend her, play upon her insecurities. That… hadn't gone well either. The girl was even crasser than Azula had been lead to believe. She hadn't the faintest idea how to treat a princess.

The waterbender girl, though. Azula considered her, smiling ever so faintly. True, the girl was strong enough, for a waterbender (who were weak cowards who could never truly a match a fire bender, as everyone knew). She also seemed capable, confident in nearly everything. But Azula had noticed the hidden awkwardness she had whenever they had a formal occasion. How her clothes were never quite right unless someone helped her, and even then she gave away her peasant upbringing within moments. The frequent half-blushes and the slightly hurried speech as she tried to backpedal over a diplomatic misstep.

Now she could use a mentor. And Azula was nothing if not helpful.