42 FRIEND SHIIIIIP

----So in the author's thought there is actually a shout out. Not the good kind mind you, but I am simply blown away by the person. Like I have been ranking people's stupid comments as a joke. but this person's comments are... I can't actually rank them. This is generally how I deal with certain types of criticism and laugh it off, but... to put it simply I can't even view them as a joke to laugh at. Hope y'all enjoy the chapter, and maybe later the author's thought rant.-----

I waited for Azula at the place she suggested. It had a really good view of the arena. I wondered what kind of events they would show before the competition shit. Azula was...not bad. However she was constantly trying to understand me. Now she was making me wait while she prepares. She only told me a brief goodbye saying she would go change into a more suitable clothing.

An announcer started talking and hyping up the crowd that had already filled the bleachers. I was actually impressed by the way the arena was built. After all it was hilarious since it was clear these seats were made from earth bending. The arena was old and likely was built with the help of earth benders long before the fire nation started its war. Meaning the arena was likely something like 150ish years old? I couldn't help but smile at ironic hypocrisy of it.

Looking into the crowd I tried to spot the people who would be participating, the other prodigies were up in a small cafe like room. Built into the far corner of the massive...building? Was this a building? Ah whatever, point was I could just barely see them. Azula was right about the holding areas. They were nearly unseeable to the crowd and could completely view the arena. Looking back at the arena, I realized they had let out some kind of porcupine centipede beast. A man with a little red tarp had also come out.

He used the little tarp to taunt the centipine? Porcupede? I liked Porcupede, the Porcupede then would curl up in a ball and charge forward. The man then dodged out of the way and taunt it again. It was a show like those Spanish bull ring things. Which I guess was interesting. I found it cool that similar entertainments were shared between worlds. It made me wonder about what video games this world would make if given the ability.

"Ah the show has already started! What perfect timing. How do I look?"

Azula was doing some weird voice thing. So I turned to look at her and see what she was doing, but I was...Flabbergasted. She wasn't wearing her normal robe? Pancho? Wait what even was her normal clothes? I really couldn't help, but stare at the silky form fitting clothes she had on. Not to mention the dress was a deep red that had a black lace top that wrapped around her shoulders. Not to mention the long break in fabric that showed off her legs.

I hit me like a fucking box of bricks from a second floor balcony. With the fact she normally used fear to control those around her, I was an oddity. That meant due to the fact she couldn't use fear and she hated trust. She was trying to seduce me! My head started to spin, and I was completely off my guard.

"Y-You look great Azula! Hahaha such a nice dress, I never took you for one to wear something like it....I-I mean wait I...Uhhh You look great in it, I just mean you... I don't know how to phrase that so I wouldn't be embarrassed!"

She smiled, she was, both doing a great job at this and a terrible job as she clumsily tried to climb onto me. However she stumbled in the heels she was apparently wearing and caught herself on me with her reflexes making it seem intended. "Why thank you, I tried my ve-" However my head spun faster with so many wtf is happening to me that I fell backward hitting my head on the ground and pulling her with me. Cutting her sentence off.

I was now on top of her and I instant jumped back wards. She was too close for comfort and what I mean she was very close to too much comfort. My body reacted on its own and I sat back down rotating my legs to cover my growing erection now. I had to play this shit off quickly or I was fucked. In the worst manner possible.

"I was watching the sh-show it is pretty great! Y-Why don't you join me!"

She sighed, and her neatly tied hair had fallen down into a slightly curled mess. I looked straight at the arena not even paying attention to my surrounding. I breathed in and out quickly calming myself as she stood up herself.

"You could've helped me up."

"I am not a gentlemen Azula."

"I am-"

I cut her off, "No, Uhh princess." I referred to her by title to easy the cutting her sentence off. "Number one you are royalty and no offense, but that is a lot more trouble than it is worth. Second I am not a good person, I don't like killing, but if you throw yourself at me...I won't really hold back an let's be honest here. That's a lot more trouble than I am worth. Now Third! Wohooo, I have legitimately no idea how to handle this situation."

She crossed her arms and sat beside me, "Are you saying I'm...sexy like this?"

I shuffled slight at her words, "Don't refer to... Don't use that word please. hearing it from you mouth kind of...its weird. Its not that your not hot, but...you just aren't the type to use those words."

"You are right I'm not..." She placed her face in her hands and sighed. "What the hell is wrong with me. What was even the purpose of this plan. To throw myself at you?" She sighed, "I would've dirtied myself... I'm a princess. Oh god! What would...."

"Your father think? Your friends who are terrified of you think? The soldiers who work under you and are also absolutely terrified of you think?"

I looked down at a notification. Surprised to see a + 16 to psyche. Her emotions read as uncomfortable, but excited. Which was also the first time it listed two emotions.

"C-Can you be honest with me? Why do you want to follow me? You aren't afraid of me, you don't seemed to lust after my body despite you obviously thinking I'm good looking. I know you don't fully trust me. So why?"

She laid down on the carved bench and turned to watch the arena. "Uhhh, I just...Well I do one thing. Once I have a goal, I work endlessly. I want to be strong so I will train endlessly even when i don't make any progress I know practicing the motions will make me faster at doing them even by nanoseconds. I wanted to...I decided on a specific path."

"That so called path...It makes you want to work for me?"

"Not really work...but yeah something like that." I couldn't tell her I was trying to fix her broke ass self. Trying to save her from a terrible end while simultaneously doing the exact opposite of her general goals.

She covered her face with her arm, "I hate you...but, I don't think I can order you around. Even though I know you'll do what is asked, you won't do it...Not because it is an order." She sighed again, standing up. "Are you gonna stay by my side?"

I shrugged, not really getting what I think she was meaning. "I mean I guess, but I think your referring to not as a...subordinate? Do you mean as a friend?"

"Haaaaaa, let's call it an advisor...I mean, eventually I'll need those. Not like Zuko is gonna inherit the throne and my father won't live forever... So fuck it, Be my...Friend, Orin."

She held out her hand as a handshake, and I stood up and shook her hand. "I'll be your friend Azula."

She sighed again, "I'm gonna go change again and...likely burn this dress. I'll be watching the rest with my father."

"You should keep the dress, It does look nice on you. I'll uhh, be here I guess until the competition starts."

She had a completely blank expression, not a poker face or her normal expression she held it was a truly blank slate. "Good luck, Orin."

With that, Azula just left. I'm not sure if I technically just got friend zoned, friend zoned her or if she was even actually into me. I decided to check her relationship stats. However they made my head spin more than her attempt to seduce me.

<Frozen:Psyche 81/100>

<Position: Crown Heiress, Confidant, Friend, Crush>

Apparently all her stats were rounded, and her emotions towards me were frozen. Which was new, and I would have to see what that entailed as time went on. Hopefully it would be better than unknown, which made no sense to me. However the new positions she held were what blew my mind. I ended up hovering my hand over them and I literally got a info bar I wasn't expecting. Which was new that I didn't know I could do.

Crown heiress was simple, Personal potions to the fire nation.

Confidant read into, Related position of Orin. She confides in you, and trusts you. Which was a little surprising to read, but I guess that made sense. It also pieced together why she chose to dress up and try to flaunt her looks to me, with her seduction scheme, if you could call it a scheme.

Friend was interesting, as it was only a description of...Friend of Orin, Azula's first real friend. Which was honestly a little sad.

The last is the one I originally hovered over, getting the description of... The first love of Azula, an unknown feeling, Cause of frozen status. I then hovered over frozen and got a description. Azula has now realized she is unable to control you, with unknown feelings related to you she has decided to shut her emotions in. Her Psyche will decrease more when on loss.

"Well, fuck. I miss unknown emotion."

I guess she needs to...figure out her feelings towards me. Which means I likely should do the same with her.

-----Well, that's the chapter and if you feel like reading a rant yo can check the author's thought.-----

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