Zuko quietly creaked the front door shut behind him as Sokka took off his shoes. Both were caught off guard when a dark figure on the staircase stood and approached them. Azula appeared with both hands on her hips and an expression of distaste plastered on her face. Sokka jumped and made no sound when Zuko nudged him. It had to be around two in the morning.
"Where is he?" Azula spat through her teeth and Zuko arched a brow; truthfully he was tired and just wanted to go to bed. He was hoping Azula would be asleep.
"You know who, that little mongrel who tarnished my brownies!" She angrily whispered and Sokka snickered.
"Mongrel." He repeated, his laughter dying down when the two siblings glared at him. He cleared his throat as the tension grew.
"So…did you enjoy them?" He asked and she growled in her throat.
"Azula, Azula, calm down. Look, you're perfectly fine." Zuko put both hands on her shoulders and she hastily shrugged them off. He sighed and Sokka rolled his eyes.
"I didn't eat the brownies." She inquired and both boys glimpsed at each other before wearily looking over to her. "Just…go upstairs before he hears you. And next time Jet shows his face he's in for it, I don't care if you tell him." She scoffed and Zuko's bored frown immediately twisted into a mischievous grin.
"So you mean…dad's high?" He laughed and her eyes grew wide when he changed his course to the living room.
"No! No you just go upstairs and don't do anything!" She attempted to stand in front of the doorway but Zuko had no problem brushing by her. Sure enough, there was Ozai, arms extended across the back of the couch and laughing as he watched something on TV.
"Hey dad." Zuko knocked and waved and Ozai's smile went flat.
"You're home? Already?" He arched a curious brow and Zuko cocked his head; despite his being 20, Ozai always like to keep tight reins on where he was and until what hour he could be there. "When I was a kid we'd go out and get trashed, then disappear for three days before coming home...I give you kids credit."
"Thanks?" Sokka scratched the back of his neck while Zuko threw himself beside his father on the couch. Ozai chuckled and wrapped his arm around his son's shoulder.
"No pro…hey…weren't there three of you?" He sat up and anxiously looked around the room. Azula continued to glare from the doorway; Sokka made sure to take a step away. Maybe he was buzzed, but he could tell she wasn't in a mood to be fucked with.
"Yeah, Jet got picked up by some whore." Zuko shrugged and Ozai rolled his eyes.
"So many whores have chlamydia nowadays. I mean, yeah, I got around but back then girls weren't so easy…no your mother…" He grinned and Zuko scrunched his nose.
"She was a total milf." Sokka went on and Zuko glared.
"Yeah…she was. And she was freaky in bed; I mean I was down for a lot but Ursa-"
"So yeah…Jet won't be here tonight." Zuko made a quick subject change.
"What's going on?" Ty Lee came in the room and rubbed her eyes. Her eyes grew wide at the sight; Zuko sitting close to Ozai and both of them smiling. Azula glared to signal it wasn't ok.
"Ty Lee! Come sit dear, there's so much room on…this fucking expensive couch. I don't see why it's so great; just leather…" He ran his hand along the seat and Ty Lee blinked. "Must suck for you guys…I mean, him attracting women and you guys coming home with each other…you keep that door open tonight, Zuko."
"I'm not gay!" He protested and Ozai patted his head.
"I'm sure you're not, son. Just too sheltered."
"Actually it's kind of funny because the lady that picked Jet up was at least forty." Sokka winked and Ozai burst out in laughter. Somehow, it was contagious enough to make everyone in the room but Azula laugh. Maybe they forced it, she couldn't really tell. "It's ok; men tend to like older women, anyway."
"That's not true." Zuko scoffed and Ozai raised both brows at him.
"Oh, but it is. Especially men who knew their mother…" He drawled and Zuko sighed; his father was getting more of a kick out of this than he was. "Hey…I'm really hungry." He got up and wandered to the kitchen.
"How many of those things…did he eat, anyway?" Sokka looked to Azula who still wore a grimace on her face.
"Oh, he just couldn't get enough." She remarked.
"I think he's fun! He's so cute when he's happy!" Ty Lee beamed and the room grew silent. "…what?"
"You think…he's cute?" Azula stared in slight disbelief, though it was hard to tell.
"Well…no just…he's like a nicer person…"
"I thought I was the cute one." Sokka huffed and Zuko covered his ears.
"I'm not listening, I'm not listening, Ty Lee does not have a girl crush on my dad!" Zuko chanted and she furrowed her brows and slapped his arm.
"Zuko, shut up." Azula rolled her eyes, sitting hastily between her friend and brother before irritably crossing her legs.
"Zuko, did you seriously eat my Funioins?" Ozai called from the kitchen and they chose to remain silent. "Hello?"
"You two go first…me and Sokka will make it after you."
"You really think you have to go to that extreme to avoid him?" Azula scoffed and dragged Ty Lee up the stairs without a problem. As she did, Ozai came out of the kitchen with his brows furrowed together – glaring directly at Zuko.
"And ooh, look at this dress!" Ty Lee bounced up and down on her seat on Azula's bed as she cut the picture from a magazine. Azula groaned and rolled over, already changed for bed and under the covers.
"Ty Lee, it's almost three in the morning, don't you ever sleep?" She slurred and Ty Lee frowned, quietly putting the magazine and scissors aside.
"Sorry…I'm not all that tired." She confessed and watched as her friend covered her face with a pillow. "Can I sleep in here tonight?"
"You're kidding me…right?" She looked over to Ty Lee, who was smiling innocently.
"I really like staying with you guys…but sometimes I just, I don't know…I feel like you don't want me here. Like I have to be here all the time…I miss just simple sleepovers and just being your friend, only here when you wanted me to be…" She finished in a whisper, looking down to her crossed legs. Azula sighed.
"Only tonight, Ty Lee." She felt like she was dealing with a five-year-old. The bed shifted as Ty Lee crawled under the queen-sized covers and rolled to face her back to Azula. She remained silent, thinking about it.
She was dealing with her best friend; she missed the simplicity of their friendship before, too.