Chapter Text
“This is the stupidest idea you’ve ever had,” Zuko said.
Ty Lee beamed. Zuko was pretty sure she had literal stars in her eyes. It was very clear she was too far gone to see reason. “We’re gonna be famous.”
Zuko turned his attention to Mai. “You’re on board with this?”
Mai shrugged. Her feet were up on Zuko’s lap, and she was leaning back in her chair playing on her phone. They were sitting in Zuko’s tiny but sunny kitchen drinking coffee.
“Do you even believe in ghosts?” Zuko asked.
“I don’t know,” Mai said. She was scrolling on her phone, looking bored.
“Every team needs a skeptic,” Ty Lee said. “Anyway, Zuko, check this out.” She passed the fancy video camera across the table to Zuko.
Zuko sighed and examined the camera. As if he knew anything about cameras. As if Ty Lee knew anything about cameras. Zuko passed the camera back.
“How much did you spend on this?” he asked.
Ty Lee cleared her throat and looked away. Zuko groaned. Of all Ty Lee’s batshit ideas, starting a ghost hunting Youtube channel was among her ditziest. He had told her as much several times already this morning and he didn’t fucking care about the dirty looks Mai kept giving him.
“Wait ‘til you see the camera guy I hired, Zuko,” Ty Lee said, dodging the question about the camera’s cost. She gave Zuko a sneaky grin. “He’s so hot.”
“Please tell me that’s not why you hired him,” Zuko said.
Ty Lee shrugged, looking innocent. “That’s not the only reason,” she said. “He also just turned twenty-one so he can buy us alcohol.” She beamed. “Also – Zuko guess what.”
“I’m not guessing.”
“C’mooon. Don’t be lame.” Ty Lee made puppy eyes. Zuko glared. Ty Lee gave up, sighing. “He has a motorcycle!” she said. “And – and.” She grinned. “A tattoo. On his middle finger.” She leaned across the table, looking sneaky. “Thirteen-twelve. It means-”
“I know what it means,” Zuko snapped, interrupting.
Zuko pressed his forehead against the table and made what he hoped was an angry sound. Ty Lee patted his head. Zuko decided not to mention that he was also twenty-one. Maybe Ty Lee was smart enough to know that Zuko had no intention of buying his little sister’s eighteen year old friends booze.
“You’re sure you don't want to come back and work at The Jasmine Dragon?” Zuko asked, lifting his head. “We could still use - ”
“Waitressing is boring ” Ty Lee interrupted. “I wanna have adventures.”
“But-”
“Zuko,” Mai interrupted. She looked up from her phone at last. “You’re being a bad friend.” Immediately she looked back at her phone, casual as ever.
Mai had quit her job at GameStop about a week ago. Zuko had been shocked but at least it wasn't a job he'd gone out of his way to get her. Ty Lee had come to Zuko and begged him for a job explaining that she didn't want to go to college right away she wanted to work and live life. So - being a good friend - Zuko had agreed to help out. That she had now quit with no notice was sort of a slap in the face.
“What?” Zuko asked. He could have torn his hair out. “You’re both on your second month of living away from home post-high school. And you want to be Youtubers. I’m not being a bad friend I’m being a realistic friend. I just don’t wanna see you guys out on the streets desperate with nowhere to go.”
There was a knock at the door. Zuko frowned. He didn’t get a lot of unannounced visitors other than Mai and Ty Lee who – as of two months ago - lived above Zuko in the small duplex he had been renting for two years. Any of Zuko’s other friends – Sokka, Katara, Suki, Aang or Toph – definitely would have called first. Uncle sometimes stopped by without warning, but Zuko was pretty sure he was working today.
“Probably a Jehovah’s Witness or something,” Zuko muttered.
He shoved Mai’s feet off his lap and set down his coffee before walking to the front door. Yawning, Zuko opened it. He was still in his pajamas, and he was sure his hair was sticking up in all directions but anyone who wanted to visit before ten AM on his day off was just going to have to deal with that.
Then Zuko saw who was outside and gaped. Azula came by often enough but usually not unexpected and never with this much…stuff? Zuko took in the sight before him, totally confused. The small front porch was covered in suitcases, bags, purses, and carboard boxes.
“Good morning,” Azula said. She was carrying a coffee and looking as put together as ever in a vintage dress and heels. Her expression gave away nothing of what the fuck was going on.
Ty Lee and Mai appeared on either side of Zuko. “Hey Azula,” Mai said, raising a casual hand. “What’s with all the stuff?”
“So, something bad happened,” Azula said. She was grinning but it looked very forced. “Due to some minor setbacks and misunderstandings and a few teeny tiny itsy bitsy mistakes on his taxes, our father is being sentenced to twenty-three years in prison.”
“WHAT?” Zuko asked.
“But it’s not a big deal,” Azula went on, casual. “I’m sure it’ll all be sorted out soon enough. Obviously, it’s a mistake. Until the courts get thing straight, I’ll be staying here.” Zuko continued to gape at Azula. She cleared her throat and finished in a weak voice. “Yayyy.”
Zuko just turned around and walked back inside. When he got back to the kitchen, he grabbed his coffee and downed the rest of it even though it was scorching. It seemed like he was going to need a lot of energy to deal with this day.
“Hey bestie,” Ty Lee said. She’d followed him into the kitchen and was looking at him with wide innocent eyes.
Zuko turned to her. “What?” he snapped, glaring.
“Um…Azula wants to know where um, the help is. You know…to get her bags…?” Zuko scoffed and started refilling his coffee mug. “You know, the new camera guy is gonna be here soon,” Ty Lee said. “He’ll probably help.” Zuko was still glaring. “I’ll just tell Azula you’ll be out in a second,” Ty Lee said. She smiled. “This is gonna be so fun like a never ending sleepover. Yay!”
Right on time, there was a revving sound outside - a motorcycle. Zuko could just picture the elderly neighbor’s scandalized faces. He started chugging more coffee. Ty Lee backed out of the kitchen.
Zuko finished chugging his coffee and went back to the front porch. He was going to need a lot more information about his father’s arrest. Especially if Azula really intended to stay here. When Zuko got outside, he saw the motorcycle he’d heard parked on the curb. It looked very out of place in the suburban neighborhood where mini vans and hybrids were abundant.
“So this is the camera man I hired,” Ty Lee said, gesturing. “He’ll also be doing video editing.”
Zuko instantly felt awkward about his messy hair and sweatpants-T-shirt combo. He hadn’t even realized Ty Lee had actually hired someone to come over and start today until Ty Lee mentioned it during coffee. And maybe he hadn’t fully processed Ty Lee’s description of the guy as hot. She had…not been lying.
“Jet.” New camera guy held out a hand. Zuko stared at it. Jet dropped his hand. “I’m psyched to be working with you.” Jet had a cigarette between his teeth and a brown leather jacket that did not match the July heat.
“Zuko’s not part of Girls and Ghouls,” Ty Lee said.
“We’re still workshopping the channel name,” Mai said. “But yeah, Zuko’s not part of it.”
“Oh gotcha,” Jet said. “Well I’m still excited to be staying here.”
Zuko narrowed his eyes and looked at Ty Lee. “What is he talking about?”
Ty Lee’s cheeks were pink. “Oh did I not mention that? Since we can’t really afford to pay right away we’re offering up one of our bedrooms.”
“Your place is set up the same as mine,” Zuko said, frowning. “Don’t you only have two bedrooms?”
“Well it’s temporary,” Ty Lee said. “Mai and I can share until the channel starts generating revenue.”
“You did not tell me inviting Jet to live with us was part of the plan,” Mai said to Ty Lee. She sounded deadpan as ever. Zuko didn’t get how she wasn’t freaked out by this.
Azula cleared her throat. “Zuzu, Ty Lee says you don’t have any servants? Some of my vintage dresses need to be hung up in a cool dark area immediately. I was in a bit of a hurry when I packed.”
Zuko rolled his eyes. “Azula you’ve been here before. You know I don’t have servants. I work at a teashop.”
“I suppose I just assumed they weren’t around when I was here,” Azula said. “Alright, fine. Well then, who’s going to help with my bags?” She looked at Jet. “Aren’t you moving in as well? Why don’t you have any luggage?”
“Materialism is a disease,” Jet said. “Plus – I have a bag.” He patted a leather knapsack Zuko hadn’t noticed before over his shoulder.
“We’ll all help,” Ty Lee said. She grabbed a box and took it in. Mai grabbed a bag as well and followed her. Jet saluted Zuko and followed them in without grabbing any bags.
“You’re not going to help?” Azula asked, sipping her coffee.
“Azula, can we talk a second?” Zuko asked. “Dad was arrested?”
“It’s a mistake,” Azula said. “He’ll be out in no time.” She took a sip of coffee and looked away. “As if you care anyway.”
Zuko sighed. “I care, okay?” he said. “Just tell me what the fuck-”
“Azula, do you want your collection of antique glasses in the kitchen or-?”
“Give us a second,” Zuko interrupted. Ty Lee, who had just stuck her head out, nodded and ducked back inside.
Zuko sat down on the edge of the porch. Azula glared at the ground for a moment and sat beside him. She sipped the coffee in her hand, staring at the neighbor currently mowing his lawn.
Zuko had moved in with his uncle at thirteen after his father left half his face scarred. It was the last straw for Iroh. A custody battle had been anticipated, but there had been none. Ozai just didn’t give a shit. At nineteen, Zuko had moved into this duplex. The landlord, June, was a friend of his uncle’s so he got a good deal and was able to negotiate something for Mai and Ty Lee when they graduated high school.
“You don’t call, you don’t write,” Azula said. Her tone was sarcastic, but Zuko thought there was some sincere bitterness there too.
“That’s bullshit and you know it,” Zuko said. “We hang out all the time.”
It was true. Zuko refused to be guilt-tripped for not knowing this was going down. He hung out with Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee on a pretty regular basis. Especially over the past two months with Mai and Ty Lee living upstairs. Azula was over at their place at least once a week. Zuko saw her often enough that he should’ve known their dad was in trouble.
“I didn’t exactly mean you and I,” Azula muttered.
“Oh,” Zuko said. “Right. Look just…what happened?” He refused to feel bad about not coming by the mansion. After leaving to live with his uncle, Zuko had spent a long time being angry. He’d spent a long time hoping to gain back his father’s affections. Until it hit him that he shouldn’t have to – that was an ongoing thing had head to remind himself of.
“Police swarmed the mansion,” Azula said. “It’s being repossessed along with all of our cars.” She pouted. “All of them – even my Porsche.”
Zuko shook his head. “I can’t believe this,” he said. “I had no idea.”
“It came as a bit of a surprise to me as well,” Azula said, sarcastic. Then she got a little more serious. “I was able to salvage some things, but they essentially told me the mansion no longer belongs to our family and sent me on my way.” She perked up. “But, as I said, it’s surely a mistake. He wouldn’t just leave me on my own. Nothing has changed, really. I’m still going to Harvard in the fall. Father should be out of jail before then anyway. I just need a place to stay until they release him. You don’t mind, right?”
Zuko groaned. He very much did mind. He had maintained a relationship with Azula after moving out, but actually having to live with her again? Aside from the fact that Zuko had become accustomed to life without being waited on hand and foot years ago now and Azula was in for an obvious rude awakening about life as a non-millionaire, there were the other things. Like all the issues between them that were easy to ignore when they were hanging out in small doses.
“Zuko,” Azula said. She was being serious now. “I don’t have anywhere else to go, alright?”
Yeah, probably true. She couldn’t go to their mother’s – the thought was laughable. And Uncle Iroh had never had a good relationship with Azula. Zuko had always thought between the two of them he’d be the more likely person to ask for material or financial help. So at least there was some slight vindication to be felt that Azula was now in a position where she had to ask him for help.
“Fine,” Zuko said.
Azula grinned. “I knew you would say yes, I’ll be an amazing roommate, you’ll see. We used to have fun living together when we were children, don’t you remember?”
Zuko glared. “You’re helping move your own bags,” he said, getting up and grabbing a bag.
Azula made a disgusted face. “But-”
“Non-negotiable,” Zuko said, walking inside. He heard Azula muttering to herself about ‘life in poverty’ and ‘living like a peasant’ as he walked away.
Zuko dropped off the bag in the guest bedroom which was currently using as a plant room slash library. He supposed they’d have to get an air mattress or something. Azula would hate that. As of now, the walls were lined with bookshelves. Zuko had all the classics – he’d grown up reading them thanks to his mom – but also new stuff. Lots of Stephen King, a number of Neil Gaiman, and a handful of graphic novels. Also – lots of succulents. Plants were something Zuko’s therapist had recommended but he couldn’t keep the tricky ones alive very well so he cheated with succulents.
When Zuko headed to the porch to get another armful of stuff he paused by the kitchen. Mai and Ty Lee were in there with Jet (which – what kind of name was ‘Jet’ anyway? ugh ) going through the fridge.
“Hey,” Zuko said, standing in the doorway. “What are you guys doing? Do you not have your own fridge? You know – upstairs?”
“We wanna make French toast,” Ty Lee said. “I asked Jet if he ate breakfast before coming over and he said no.”
“You don’t have any sweets in here?” Jet asked, rummaging through the fridge. “Or junk food? Not even maple syrup? That’s depressing as hell.”
“I have sweets,” Zuko said. “There’s…” he trailed off. “Fine. I don’t have sweets. But it’s my fridge. You don’t get to come in here and judge. Also – put out your cigarette. You’re indoors.”
Jet put the cigarette out on his jeans and stuck it back in his mouth. “Well, no French toast,” he said, looking at Ty Lee. “We could make omelettes?”
“Seriously – do you guys not have groceries?” Zuko asked, looking back and forth at Mai and Ty Lee.
“It’s….a whole thing,” Ty Lee muttered, looking uncomfortable. She perked up. “We should all have a group breakfast here though! And then you and Azula can help with our first video.”
“Excuse me,” Azula said.
Zuko turned around. “God you’re creepy,” he said. He hadn’t even heard Azula walking up behind him. Somehow she was right there. “How the fuck do you move like that? You’re like a ninja.”
Azula rolled her eyes. “Before we eat breakfast, I need you all to finish bringing in my bags.” Zuko glared at her. “What?” she asked.
“I think you mean ‘help you’ finish bringing in your bags.”
“Oh, right,” Azula said. She held up a small purse. “I’m helping. See?”
“Can I help out the amount that she’s helping?” Jet asked. He was sitting on the counter. He’d managed to light the cigarette again and pour a cup of coffee while Zuko was distracted.
“Obviously, as Ty Lee’s servant, you’re required to do the heavy lifting,” Azula said.
“Ty Lee’s what?” Jet asked.
“If I understand correctly she’s allowing you to live with her and Mai free of charge in exchange for your servitude," Azula said.
Jet looked baffled. Zuko tried not to laugh. He knew Azula was being a complete bitch but it was sort of funny when it wasn’t directed at him.
“Will you please put that out?” Zuko asked, glaring at the cigarette in Jet’s mouth. Jet put the cigarette out and stuck it behind his ear.
"He's our video editor and camera man," Mai said.
“I’m sorry, you’re who-what now?” Azula asked.
“They’re starting a ghost hunting Youtube channel,” Zuko said. “They both quit their jobs.” Azula raised her eyebrows. “I told them it was stupid,” Zuko said.
“You can help if you want, Azula,” Ty Lee said. “I’m a believer, Mai’s on the fence, and I know you’re a total skeptic so maybe we could all be a team.”
Azula burst out laughing. Everyone else in the room got quiet. Zuko made a face and scratched the back of his neck. Jet relit his cigarette and took a drag. Ty Lee looked bewildered, and Mai looked annoyed.
Azula’s laughter faded. “Oh, you’re serious.” She cleared her throat. “I see.”
“So where are we going to shoot our first video?” Jet asked, looking at Ty Lee.
“It’s this cool place Zuko’s friend Katara told us about,” Ty Lee said. “It’s supposed to be totally haunted.”
“Where?” Zuko asked.
“You remember that family who disappeared like thirty years ago?” Mai asked. “They had an Unsolved Mysteries episode about it.”
“Yeah,” Zuko said. “I remember. But you can’t go there. The house is condemned.”
“Even cooler,” Mai said, a slight smile forming on her face in apparent response to the idea of exploring a decrepit building.
“Wait I kinda remember hearing about this,” Jet said. “But I don’t remember the details.”
“Well that’s okay,” Ty Lee said. “We’re meeting Katara there tonight. She knows the story really well. Her mom went to kindergarten with the little girl who disappeared.”
“So,” Azula said. She cleared her throat. “We’re all going there tonight. Mm. How exciting.”
“Thought you weren’t into helping?” Ty Lee asked.
“Perhaps I just want to see you fail epically,” Azula said. “It should be entertaining.”
Zuko rolled his eyes. He was in agreement with Azula that this was going to be an epic fail. He just didn’t agree that it was going to be entertaining. Jet was already going through the fridge again, blowing cigarette smoke everywhere. The porch was covered in Azula’s massive amounts of luggage. Zuko was thinking he might have to go along tonight just to make sure everyone didn’t drive Katara too crazy. He wondered what Ty Lee had said to get her on board. Definitely not that Azula would be there. Katara was going to be pissed about that.
Ty Lee’s entire idea was just so bad. Zuko loved Ty Lee but she always had these big ideas about how things were going to go – her brief ambition to do professional ballet, that time she ran away with an actual circus and was missing for a month, or even her time starring on a terrible soap opera for a season. Then when something went wrong – twisting her ankle, almost getting attacked by a lion, her show getting cancelled – she was crushed. Except Ty Lee had never gotten other people on board with her whacky ideas before.
Mai was into this idea which was different. Also Zuko still couldn’t believe Ty Lee had hired a video editor off the street – a super hot but also super annoying video editor who was now snacking on an apple from Zuko’s fridge. Plus apparently Katara was on board with helping? Zuko was baffled but admittedly curious about what this bizarre channel was going to be like. Okay maybe it was going to be a little entertaining to watch this whole thing play out.