Chapter Text
94 AG - Royal Palace of the Fire Nation
“You know Zuko, one day you’ll have to get used to dealing with girls.”
“Are we really having this talk mama. Realllllly?” Zuko groaned inwardly. I mean as if she wasn’t embarrassing enough most of the time but this was waaaaaay too much right now.
“It’ll have to happen some day so it might as well happen today. You and Mai looked like you were arguing again.” Ursa usually had at least one eye pointed in Zuko’s direction, mostly to ensure Azula didn’t get out of hand. She may have been younger than Zuko but her prowess as a firebender had surpassed her elder with ease. Ursa would never voice her concerns but she saw something in Azula that worried her; she had a detached determination to win at any cost.
“Just cause I don’t want to play their stupid game doesn’t mean we were arguing,” Zuko looked away pouting. “It’s not the kinda game I enjoy. Azula’s too rough, Ty Lee just goofs around and Mai keeps avoiding looking at me.”
“Do you ever wonder whether she avoids you because she is embarrassed?” Ursa sat in her favourite chair overlooking the Palace gardens. She had been struggling with the pattern on this particular embroidery for quite some time and was getting nowhere; still it passed the time. Really her focus was on her troubled son.
Zuko looked at her like she was insane. He sat cross legged in front of her with a trio of golden candles. All children in the Fire Nation used Candles for meditating as the earliest introduction to Fire Bending; the vast majority never progressed beyond that. He found it the easiest way to calm. Breathing in, breathing out, feeling the fires in front of him time themselves with his body.
“Ugh, yuck. I don’t wanna talk about it.”
Ursa placed her work down on the table beside them, leaning forward to place her hand against his shoulder.
“Come on Zuko.” Her tone changed ever so slightly. He seemed to pause as he mulled over whatever it was that churned in his head.
“Why.” It was only half a question, half a grumble.
“Why what, Zuko?”
“Why do I have to learn about girls and stuff. What if I don’t want to,” Ursa thought she might explode with love at how adorable he was when he got all pouty like that.
“You’ll be marrying one, one day. Treating a lady right is one of the highest forms of honour a man can have,” Zuko’s innate sense of right and wrong made him pick up slightly when she mentioned honour. It was, however, fleeting.
“What if I don’t want to marry a girl?” Ursa paused for a moment, not entirely sure where Zuko was leading the conversation. He was about the right age to start uncovering the mystical depths of puberty and everything it entailed; who knows what it was that he clung to.
“I suppose there is no requirement to marry but it will be expected of you. You’re the next in line to be Fire Lord and how can our dynasty continue if you don’t marry?” She tried to be fairly gentle about it. Zuko often became uncomfortable when anyone talked about the expectations of royal life with him. To be frank she wasn’t really comfortable about it but that’s life.
“I didn’t say I didn’t want to marry,” She could tell he was getting embarrassed as the control over the candles had started to slip. The tallest in the middle burned furiously while the others flickered and wavered.
Ursa thought for a moment. Zuko was remarkably good at subtle word play when he wanted so she worked around the words he used for what he might be getting at. It took a moment or two but an idea dawned.
“Doesn’t have to be a girl, you know. Fire Lord Akkai married Prince Consort Ka’ri a few hundred years ago; he led an era of prosperity. Our laws are a little hazy about the line of succession but it worked out in the end.” If memory served, as long as the child was biologically related to the Fire Lord then they were by law entitled to succeed.
Zuko perked a little bit. This was clearly new information to him; she would have to have words with Shifu Tsuto as clearly his history lessons were going poorly. Zuko tried to hide his obvious relief but sadly the furious red tone in his cheek gave him away.
“You have years before you have to come to any conclusions, Zuko. Don’t trouble yourself over trivial matters like this right now, my love.”
The candles in front of him calmed and stilled in time with his breathing
97 AG - Southern Water Tribe
“Sokka!” Hakoda was not ready to deal with what he saw.
Sokka was equally not ready for this. Neither was the now incredibly embarrassed form of Atika who had tried to hide under the covers. The Chief was not supposed to be home for at least another few hours hence Sokka now found himself entangled within his bed covers in his tent with another young warrior from the tribe.
“DAD!” Sokka was unable to process words beyond a single syllable.
“Son, what...Atika, just...you’ve got 5 minutes to get clothes and...and...you know what to do,” Hakoda mushed his face into his left palm before walking out to make himself very very scarce.
“Um...that could have gone better,” Atika whispered under the covers. He was only very slightly taller than Sokka and much broader. He had the stance and body of a brutish warrior though that’s what made him so damn hot.
“No shit,” Sokka sulked. They barely shared a word before Akita left. Hakoda sat around the fire in his chieftain’s hut, gently poking at it with a large stick. Sokka was glad the light was dim as he could feel his cheeks flushed intensely.
“I was about to say it’s time for the Birds and the Bees talk. I’ll amend that to the Bees and the Bees, then.”
“If this were any other time, I’d find that funny.” Sokka looked glumly at the fire. Fire may be the opposite element to his people’s but it always fascinated him. Water was an all consuming thing; it sought only to fill that which was empty. Water claimed everything it could, it was greedy for anything it did not possess.
Fire was alive. It burned in the way it desired as long as it’s sustenance was around; it chose its path of destruction rather than relying simply on the basic laws of gravity. There was something about it’s carnal destructive power that was exhilarating.
“I imagine you already know what there is to know so I’m not going to bore you with the basics. I am only going to give you a warning. You know we have rules about the age of consent and all that and you know you’re below it.”
“Ugh dad, I’m completely aware.”
“So be careful about flouting the damn rules, son. I can’t protect you or anyone else if you get caught.” Hakoda used that voice that denoted absolute authority. Sokka knew better than to question it.
“Ugh, fine. Look can we not talk about it? I’m still reeling from you walking in on me.”
“Forgive me for being harsh but the universe does just love to piss on you, son,” Both chuckled for the first time. “But...okay, I’m gonna say, Atika? Really?”
“Dad…”
“I mean, sure he’s got enough muscle to manhandle a Walrus but bit short in the brains department dont’cha think.”
“Woah woah woah, Dad. Rude. Kinda true but also rude.” Sokka conceded. He had to be honest, Atika was nice and all but conversation was REALLY dull. I mean, yes that didn’t really matter too much when he had you pressed up against a wall but it would be nice to get something else.
“Look...I came home early for a reason. And no, it wasn’t to interrupt my erstwhile son getting his end away.” Another groaned DAD.
“I haven’t told Katara yet. I...I thought it’d be easier to tell you first. I and most of the tribesmen will be leaving in a few days to fight in the war.” A brief silence came, punctuated only by the crackle of the fire.
“WHAT?!” This was not happening. No way. The Fire Nation had for the last few months mostly left the Southern Tribes alone. In fact the various fronts the Fire Nation fought on had become rather quiet of late, so the men said in quiet whispers. “You can’t be serious. Why?”
“We’re not in this war on our own Sokka. We’re going to help the Earth Kingdom against the Fire Nation on their borders; the Earthers are brilliant foot soldiers but they’re useless on the seas. The Navy has been using the sea to flank the Earthers for years and now...well. They’ll be in for a surprise.” He had a menacing grin on.
“But they haven’t attacked us or the Northern Tribes for ages. Why should we help the Earth Kingdom?”
“Have you ever met an Air Nomad, Sokka?” Sokka shook his head. No one had as far as he was aware.
“There’s a very good reason for that. The Air Nomads are all gone and it’s because we didn’t think it was our problem. Not the Water Tribes nor the Earth Kingdom; Air Nomads were a perfect first target for the Fire Nation. They had no fixed defenses, no real concept of a standing army. I’ll give those flamebrains credit, their discipline is legendary. The Nomads were helpless and we ignored it.”
“Perhaps if had helped we could have turned the Nomads into something we could use. The only way the Fire Nation is ever gonna be beaten is if the rest of us band together.”
“Then I’m coming with you.” Sokka declared triumphantly. Hakoda sighed. He knew his son would want to, it was all he’d talked about for years. Ever since their mother passed away in fact.
“Sokka, listen to me. I need you to stay here with the tribe.”
“Seriously? But I wanna help. I wanna fight the fire nation.” Sokka looked crestfallen.
“I know that but...look, have you ever fought a firebender? They’re tough sons of bitches and thats even when faced against an equally matched waterbender. Son, you can’t bend. We can teach you ways to fight firebenders without waterbending but it takes years of practice. It’s just too soon.”
“But…”
“Listen to me son. I know what the Fire Nation did and what they mean to you. I want you to know that they aren’t all like that. Most of the people of the Fire Nation are just regular guys and girls going about their day. You shouldn’t hate them all just cause their leaders are hellbent on domination.” Hakoda stood up.
“Think about it son. Think about it.”
100AG - Ba Sing Se city, Earth Kingdom
Everything had largely gone tits up.
Though they’d all made it to the great Ba Sing Se city, there were problems. Chief among the problems was the mysterious disappearance of Appa. Sokka had rarely seen Aang anywhere even vaguely close to angry or upset for more than 5 minutes but he’d been perpetually gloomy, though everyone understood why.
Problem number two was Joo Dee. No matter how hard they attempted to impress upon her the urgency of their need to talk to the King, she seemed utterly unfazed by it. Toph was absolutely right they were being handled.
With jack all to do (and feeling fairly useless surrounded by benders who were soooo great at everything they did) Sokka decided to explore. Ba Sing Se was an enormous city with delights abound for those that sought them out.
The place they’d been given in the Upper Ring was surrounded mostly by well to do residences. Not my style! Sokka found the little market on the lower ring that was far more his flavour. Street stools selling food, trinkets and jewels, raw materials, furniture etc were arranged in a rough square, each one of the stools sat upon a numbered plaque upon the floor. Though this was a fairly humdrum affair, Sokka’s innate preclusion toward planning and organising appreciated how tidy and ordered it was.
Being the official guests of the Earth Kingdom did mean they were looked after in terms of food and funds. Finally Sokka had a chance to enjoy his favourite pastime: Shopping! Of course the others had given a list of supplies that needed buying but that left plenty of money for some much nicer things.
Eesh. Earthers have a really odd sense of fashion. All the clothes on the stools were a mix of golds and greens, heavy brocade tunics and things. Given the season it seemed really odd that they all favoured really heavy clothes but who was he to judge?
“Hey, mister. You look like you’re searching for something…” A friendly young girl poked her head around the edge of the stool. She was a little older than Sokka and dressed in a simple knee length dress patterned with geometric gold and green patterns.
“Uh, I was mostly browsing to be honest,” Sokka smiled warmly. “Not sure if I’ve seen anything though.”
“Not surprised dressed like that. You’re from the Water Tribes, right?” She beamed. “I might have a few things that will suit you a little better.” She pulled him behind the stool to find boxes and boxes of spare clothes. Several of them bore strange insignia; there were clothes here from Omashu, Kyoshi, even a box or two from the Fire Nation. Right at the back was a lonely box with no insignia.
“Wow you actually have some decent stuff. I’m impressed,” Sukko went rifling through the box picking out a few bits that suited. “I love that shirt and that bag. Ooo, I haven’t seen these in years!”
“Hah, we rarely get any water tribesmen come this way. I don’t really stock what I can’t sell you know?” She watched with amusement. “You’re mighty picky you know.”
“Well I gotta have the right stuff, don’t I?”
“Uh, huh. I think you’re the kinda guy that would suit pretty much anything he put on,” She said nonchalantly, running her hands through a small sales ledger she kept. He turned to look at her sidelong.
“Uhm. I guess that’s a thank you?”
“Oh you’re welcome.” She winked. Sokka felt that familiar conflict that bubbled whenever anyone...well whenever a girl started flirting. Part of him was still a little embarrassed to talk about his inclination but it would be kinda on her (and on anyone really) to disappoint sooner rather than later.
“Um...Listen, I think you’re barking up the wrong tree here,” He laughed softly.
“I know that too, don’t mean I can’t have a little fun.”
“Wait what?”
“Stereotypes aside, you all tensed up when I tried my hand.” The girl shrugged. “Ah well, beggars can’t be choosers.”
Sokka didn’t like this conversation; everything about it was awkward, contrived and felt really uncomfortable. She looked at him like a predator and he felt like he exuded prey vibes from moment one. He decided it was probably best to leave the goods and just move on.
Fortunately most other vendors were pretty...normal? At least, they didn’t try to flirt with him. Nor did they try to set him on fire like half the people he’d met over the last 6 months had so that was a bonus.
Tracking down food and a few small comforts for the guys had proved easy enough. Aang’s Sky-wafers were a lot harder to find but a little old lady did still make them. She got really quite excited when Sokka asked for them all. Weird. Three hours later and he was exhausted. The trek back to the Upper Ring was gonna take a while and frankly he did not feel even vaguely up to that task right now.
“Excuse me mam, do you know if there’s anywhere I could rest and get a drink around here?” He asked a little lady with a stool of wood carvings. The lady turned to him with a gentle smile and nodded.
“Why yes, young man. Down the street, next left and follow it two further blocks. There’s a lovely little tea shop that’s just had a new tea master, supposed to be one of the best around.” He bowed his thanks and proceeded down the street.
The little shop stood on a single floor, separate by a narrow alleyway on all sides from the two story blocks either side. It was decorated like just about every building in the Earth Kingdom, lots of earthy colours and a dark brown roof. It had a sign on the outside that probably had the building’s name on it once; the text was so faded it was illegible. Shrugging, he stepped inside.
The inside was as plainly decorated on the inside as it was on the outside. There were a few old paintings hung upon the wall, a blessing carved into the wood that lead to the backroom. He quickly took a seat in the corner, glancing over a menu carved into a wooden tablet left at the table.
The place certainly appeared popular. It was well past the traditional time for afternoon tea and it was still packed with travellers and locals in equal number. He glanced around at patrons, seeing the common folk and elite sitting virtually shoulder to shoulder. Places like this only happened rarely and became hubs for everyone to enjoy.
“What can I get you?”
Sokka froze, as if Katara had locked him in sheet ice. For starters he had got lost enough that he hadn’t really bothered to peruse the menu. But more importantly, the voice that called to him was familiar. It was husky and deep. It grated against the speaker’s vocal chords like the words were effort to speak.
It was also entirely terrifying. Not least because Sokka and his companions had all suffered time and time again at the hands of that voice. It was a voice filled with malice, even if the words it spoke were trivial.
“....Zuko?”
Morning routine didn’t agree with formerly Crown Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation. It didn’t really agree with him before he was banished from the Fire Nation and spent years roving about the wilderness searching for a may-may-not be alive legend. It suited him even less when he was getting up early in the morning to serve people tea.
Not that he had much choice of course. Neither welcome at home or welcome anywhere else by his true identity, he and his uncle Iroh had no option but to seek alternative lifestyles. Fortune smiled upon them as Iroh had a penchant for the art of Tea making; something the Earth Kingdom valued immensely.
And now I get to wake up a the fuck end of the morning and prepare Earth Kingdom peasants Tea. It’s all so fucking degrading.
Few could master burning internal rage in the same way Zuko had. His mood states went from softly simmering to full blown volcanic depending on the situation, time of day and how hormonal he happened to be at that given moment. Iroh had learned time and time again that the slightest provocation might ignite his nephew’s ire which would do them no favours.
“Li, could you bring out another serving tray?” Iroh asked calmly as he blended a specific selection of leaves together. The morning had passed largely without incident and the lunchtime crowd had departed. This was the quiet wind down of the day, the sort of time when Zuko was unable to focus on the flurry and began stewing over his frankly atrocious fortunes. He grunted as he took a tray from the kitchen space and slammed it on the table in front of Iroh.
For his part Iroh, who went by the name Mushi, had become so used to Zuko’s tempestuous nature that he didn’t react. The solemn task of a master Tea maker at work consumed his attention; when finished, he placed the small cups and the pot on the tray and directed the smoldering Zuko to a table near the front door.
Upon the first time Zuko had been seen in the tea shop, a few had given him some curious and pitying looks at the sight of the burn on his face. The scar had done as all scars do, softened and become dull over time but the discolouration to his face was noticeable. All who witnessed it assumed the same thing: A victim of the Fire Nation army. If only they knew.
They were right, in a sense. The Fire Lord is the nominal leader of the Fire Nation Army and Navy therefore the burn did come from them. Only it was the result of a particularly cruel lesson in “honour” and “humility” from an overbearing parent.
Why does this shit happen to me? It was a question he’d asked himself constantly for the last 3 or 4 years. Why was I banished for wanting to protect the lives of my countrymen? Why is my only way to redemption this stupid Avatar? Why does my Dad despise me?
Internal monologuing had become a thing for Zuko lately, As if I need to see family Megalomania manifest itself too.
He schooled himself to his most neutral state which was somewhere vaguely in the vicinity of “impassive with a twinge of irritation.” The couple graciously accepted the tea he poured for them delicately and thanked him; he responded with a polite bow.
Another two or three people had wandered in and sat glancing through the menus in his half of the floor. Ugh. I’ve even got fucking possessive. A young lady he’d seen around a few times since they started, an elderly gentleman who he recognised as a regular and a guy about his age who’d tucked himself in the corner. He gave none of them more than a glance. The guy looks familiar somehow though. He shrugged; galactic coincidences did sometimes happen.
He took orders from the former. Jasmine Tea and a sweet steamed bun for the girl and Oolong for the elderly gentleman, committed to memory until they weren’t needed. He may have been banished but the disciplined mind he’d honed through years of training had it’s uses.
He stood at the table of the guy, bowed to him politely and asked his question. “What can I get you?”
The figure tensed in front of him. This one’s a weirdo the sixth sense said, screaming at him to take a look. Zuko peered down and nearly ended up tripping over his own feet.
Holy fuck that isn’t possible.
“...Zuko?” A pair of wide, sky blue eyes stared at him with equal measures of surprise and fear.
As if things could get fucking worse.