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Watch my back (Original link) Author: Kirschreich Going to school after having been absent for so long is difficult for Azula. She knows how junior high works; there will be talk and lots of it. No one will dare to say anything to her face, or perhaps no one will think she's worthy to be addressed like that - she'll be an outcast. At least until she can proof herself again. Azula is deadset on proofing herself. She doesn't know how, not yet, but it's not going to stop her. On Monday, her first day back, she receives a lot of pitying glances, a lot of I'm sorry's from people she doesn't even know and is generally treated like something that is both fragile and highly volatile. The pity lasts until Wednesday afternoon. Azula isn't clumsy, but when she stumbles and drops her lunch, spilling her carton of milk onto the ground she knows that it wasn't an accident. Still she pretends to not have noticed because deep inside she is scared and desperate and she just wishes it were over already. The taunts start the same day and Azula realizes that children can be very, very cruel. "Have I ever been like that?" she asks Mai and Ty Lee, who ever so faithfully stand by her side. "No," Mai says. "Yes," Ty Lee says. Azula frowns and apologizes. But when Hahn and his gang block her way after school, Azula is all alone. She tries to ignore them, because she remembers her mother (Mom, I miss you...) telling her that the worst thing that can happen to a bully is someone who doesn't care. But it's hard. They call her a murderer's sister, they ask whether she's going to burn down their house, too, and get rid of her dad because he's a bastard, they ask her for Zuko's number so he can get rid their math teacher for them, they call Zuko a murderer and ask her what it feels like to have a murderer for a brother. The insults make her head spin and she tries, she really tries to ignore it but when Hahn reaches out to shove her, the tears begin to fall. Azula is not the kind of girl that cries easily, but she is drained, she is tired and it's only just begun. The shoves become harder, someone hits her because she refuses to be a good victim and argue with them, refuses to hand them more ammunition. Someone leers at her, grabs her arm and that's when a cry pierces the still air around them. Azula doesn't know whether it's her own cry or someone else's, but suddenly there's someone scratching and biting and kicking and tearing the boys away from her and it's Katara - who's Zuko's friend, not hers - and she yells obsceneties Azula's never heard before. "Get your filthy hands off her, you bastards, I swear if one of you ever touches her again I'll scratch out your eyes and nail your balls to the ground!" Hahn isn't impressed; he lands a punch on Katara and that's when all hell breaks loose. They sit outside of school an hour later, nursing their scratches and bruises. "You need to watch your back," Jet says and Katara nods grimly. "Don't walk home alone; Hahn and his croonies have been dying for a chance like that," Sokka adds. Azula nods. "We're here for you; we're friends," Haru says quietly and the blackhaired girl wants to say "yes, but you are Zuko's friends, not mine" but somehow the words won't come. "We'll watch your back," Katara finally says and stands, brushing off her shorts and then offering Azula a hand. "Thank you," Azula says and smiles; a genuine smile, although a little watery and tired. She's back on top in two weeks following the incident with Hahn. "I say... look at Hakoda. Those shoes - where does she get something as run-down as that? Looks like she robbed the Salvation Army," one of the girls at Azula's lunch table says distatefully. Azula quirks an eyebrow. You guys watch my back; I'll watch yours. ( -"Ugh... what is she thinking? Look at her--" -"Holly?" -"Yes?" -"Shut up.") |
