Ok! Here it is! This is my Avatar Secret Santa present for gwynstacey! She said one of her top ships was Zutara and that she loves cute and fluffy things! (And what's cuter or fluffier than a coffee shop au??)
So I wish you and your family a very happy holidays and I hope you enjoy your gift!
-That Time-
“See Toph, I told you it was a bad idea to go out today! Why can you never just listen to me?” A brown haired, blue-eyed girl berated her friend.
“How was I supposed to know the storm would hit this soon?” the short jet-black haired girl replied.
“Because every single news station said it would hit its peak at 3:00pm and you decided at 2:00 that we just had to go downtown!” the brunette hissed back. “I still can’t see why you couldn’t just go with Sokka. He is your boyfriend. He’s meant for things like this.”
“You know Sugar Queen that would’ve worked except that I’m looking for a present for him,” Toph scowled back. “And you know I can hardly go alone.”
“You don’t need to remind me you’re blind, Toph” she sighed. “Let’s just order and find a table. Hopefully the storm will calm down by then and we can get back to your place.”
When the cold, windswept hair girl with a stern gaze glanced around the shop and found Zuko to be the only employee there he quickly walked over to the register. Unlike other new customers her eyes didn’t wander to the scarred side of his face and instead steadily held his gaze while she ordered herself a chai tea latte. She then turned to Toph to see if she wanted her usual. As the blind girl asked the other if the shop had anything interesting, Zuko couldn’t help but notice how pretty the unnamed “Sugar Queen” looked in her light blue parka and white earmuffs.
“Excuse me?” the girl interjected, looking up at him questioningly. He jumped back to attention.
“Yes?” he asked mentally kicking himself.
“We’d also like a caramel mocha and a cranberry scone,” she replied.
“Yes, right away,” he looked back down to the cash register trying to hide his embarrassment for missing the second part of the order.
As he made the drinks the two girls went over to the large, sage green chairs in the corner. It was actually one of his favorite spots in the shop when he was on break or waiting for his uncle. He put the finishing touches on the beverages and carefully placed the mugs and the scone onto the tray and took it over to where the girls were seated.
They stayed until the stormed eased around 5:00pm. Zuko’s eyes wandered to that corner more times than he could count. He hadn’t caught her name.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The second time she came into the shop it was about a week and a half after the first. It was a Thursday and the shop was relatively quiet except for the collection of college students scattered about the sofas and tables trying to finish up last minute projects. She didn’t come with the same girl as before. No, this time she brought a boy.
She had on the same parka as before, but a cream colored knit beret had replaced her earmuffs. The boy with her was about her height and had a yellow beanie with a blue arrow on it a top his head. Zuko didn’t know why his heart sank slightly at the sight, but it did. Once the two had ordered their drinks they went to sit in the same corner she had with her previous friend.
He brooded a bit as he made her chai. He shouldn’t be thinking about this girl so much, but she hadn’t left his mind since she had come in that first time. As he brought out the chai and some overly sweetened drink he knew exactly how to make, but could never remember the name of, he overheard a part of their conversation.
“So why are we here again, Katara? We could easily have met for the assignment at one of our places,” the boy asked as Zuko approached.
So that was her name, he thought to himself as he began to put down the drinks. And they were working on an assignment together. He felt a weight lift from his chest.
“I told you, Aang. Toph and I stumbled on it last week and I thought it’d be a nice change of scenery for once. Plus this history project is going to take some extra caffeine,” she said sifting through the notebook on her lap. As she shuffled her eyes remained steadily down while Zuko peered at her, holding his tray, standing like a statue by their chairs.
“Umm, can we help you?” Aang asked looking skeptically at the older boy.
“Oh, yes I’m sorry. Do you need anything else?” Zuko inquired, startled back to life.
“No, I think we’re good. Thanks,” replied the boy as he turned back towards his own stack of books.
As Zuko strode back to man the counter he couldn’t help but berate himself for his stupidity. How could he just stand there staring at her? Well, at least he knew her name now.
“Katara,” he tried out on a whispered breath, tasting the consonants as they danced across his tongue. A small smile graced his lips as he glanced back over to see her still studiously concentrated on the pile of papers before her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The third time she came to the shop he felt a lightness in his chest. It was only a few days after the last time, Sunday. Her dark locks once again windblown and a blush on her cheeks from the cold outside. This time a white haired girl trailed behind her into the shop. They stomped the snow from their boots. Both girls ordered chai and proceeded to sit in his favorite spot.
As he made the drinks he mused to himself that perhaps she would keep coming more often. If she did maybe he could finally build up the courage to talk to her properly.
After he brought their drinks over, catching that the other girls name was Yue and that they were not looking forward to the school week starting again, he was called to the back of the shop to restock and missed the white haired girl whispering to the other, “Is he the one? The one you keep coming back to see?” And the other girl blushing and nodding in return.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The fourth time she came to the shop was Friday afternoon and she had come alone. He didn’t have much time to try and initiate conversation as she ordered what he now had labeled her regular. He watched as she seemed to float to the other end of the shop. They had their typical afternoon crowd, but she had still somehow managed to snag his favorite chair. He had to peel his eyes away from her to attend to the next customers waiting in line. Little did he know that his uncle, who was in the process of making drinks, had caught Zuko’s eyes wander and smiled knowingly to himself.
As the afternoon progressed and Iroh caught Zuko’s glances to the corner where the girl sat again and again. So he thought he might give his nephew a bit of a nudge.
“Nephew, would you please collect the empty cups from around the shop please?”
Zuko looked around the shop. It was getting relatively late, the afternoon rush had left as most people were getting ready for dinner or to go out for the night. Only Katara and another couple remained in the shop and from what he could tell, only Katara’s cup was empty. He looked to his uncle again who simply gave him an innocent look asking why he hadn’t moved to do his job yet.
Zuko gulped slightly and approached the girl dressed in a dark blue knit top and black leggings. She was still camped in the corner reading a rather ragged copy of The Book Thief. He cleared his throat get her attention. She jumped, slightly startled and looked up at the intruder with a small scowl until she realized who it was. A small smile graced her lips.
“Sorry to bother, but umm, may I take your cup for you?” he asked hesitantly.
Her face fell slightly as she murmured, “Oh, yes. Thank you.”
He took her cup, but just as she was turning back to her book, he asked, “How many times have you read it?”
She looked at him, slightly confused for a second, and then replied, “I’m not sure, maybe four or five at this point?”
“I don’t know how you do it. The ending always makes me cry. I prefer to smile or laugh while reading personally,” he responded earnestly.
She smiled softly looking at her well-worn copy. “I’m not entirely sure what draws me back to it every time to be honest. I think it may be the small truths of life that are scattered throughout the pages,” she looked up to him. “It has happy parts as well as sad. I guess you just need a bit of both sometimes,” she smiled at him.
“I guess that’s true,” he mused nodding in agreement. “Can I get anything else for you?” he added remembering he was supposed to be working.
“No thank you. I should actually be heading home. My brother will be wondering where I am,” She said putting her book down and beginning to gather her things.
He turned and looked back to his Uncle quickly who nodded.
“Umm, which way are you headed? My Uncle and I are about to close shop and I could walk you home. It is already dark out,” Zuko stated.
“I live near Wong Shi Tong Library,” she said her smile spreading across her face.
“I live up that way too. Just wait a second and I’ll be right back,” he smiled and quickly took her cup back to Iroh.
“Leaving early nephew?” Iroh winked.
“Yeah. I’ll see you back at the house,” Zuko replied.
As he went to the back to change he finally realized what had been building in him these past few weeks. He was beginning to like her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
After that night he lost count of the number of times she came to the shop. She started to bring her school work with her. They would cast glances back and forth at no end. Once he had a break he would go sit in his favorite corner, now occupied by one of his favorite people and they would talk and talk and talk. About books, movies, school, and everything in between. Zuko began to look forward to the end of his shifts when he could walk her home the few blocks she lived away from the shop. He couldn’t remembered being so happy to be with someone before.
As time marched on they grew closer and closer to each other. They became friends and the best friends. They knew each and every one of each other’s likes and dislikes, what the other hoped and dreamed for, that their mother’s had both passed. Zuko told her about his scar, how his sister Azula was their dad’s favorite, and that he lived with his Uncle. She told him about how her father was often gone for work and how she and her brother lived with their Gran Gran. They saw each other’s darkest parts, but they always remained there for each other.
It wasn’t till spring that he was finally able to say it though. That he loved her. It was a rainy evening and Iroh had headed out first to check on the cat. Zuko was wiping down the last tables and there Katara was, always in the chair reading or studying. He loved the small crinkle in her brow she got when she was concentrating particularly hard. By this point all the other customers had left and they were the only ones in the shop.
The music was still playing on the speakers and after he put the rag back he slid up next to Katara and took her hand in his own. She placed her book down with a confused look on her face.
“What is it Zuko?” she asked, but all he did in response was pull her up into his arms and start to sway to the music.
She didn’t question him again and glided across the floor with him until the song ended, for when it did, he pulled away from her, keeping her hands protectively in his own. He looked her in the eye, a sweetness and softness there that she knew was reserved for her and her alone.
He gulped as nervousness spread across his face. “I’ve been meaning to tell you something, Katara,” he started perfectly serious.
“Yes?” she asked searching his scarred face for what was coming.
“I’ve gotten to know you so well over the past months and I can hardly imagine you not being here anymore on the weekends or walking you home when I have a late shift. And you’ve become so very important to me,” he faltered, eyes sweeping down to the side. How was he going to say this?
Katara smiled and, cupping her hand on his burnt cheek, encouraged him to keep talking.
“What is it, Zuko?” she asked softly.
“Well, I guess I’m trying to say that, I, I… love… you,” he stuttered as he gazed at her perfection, cupping her own hand with his own and leaning into her touch.
Her smile spread to her eyes and she replied, “I love you too,” in a whisper before kissing him quickly on the lips. Surprise ran across his face, but it quickly turned to the small smile she had grown to love. He leaned his head forward to touch hers.
“You know, I’m really glad Toph decided she needed to shop that day,” she whispered as she looked up at him.
He gazed back into hers eyes as they stood swaying. “I am too,” he breathed out, leaning in for one more kiss.
I'm not quite sure what you ship, so for Will and Elisabeth: 1 & 6 and for Jack and Elisabeth: 9 & 11
Will/Elizabeth
1. Who cooks?
Will cooks. Always. Elizabeth grew up in a house with servants a plenty - the only thing she can manage is roasted fish. I mean, Will’s not that good either, and he has a fierce dislike for anything cooked on a spit, though he’ll never tell her why.
6. Going out to eat: Who pays? Who orders the most food? And who has dessert?
Before AWE, it would be Will. He had an independent income, after all (though Elizabeth would occasionally steal off Jack and treat Will to the Tortuga equivalent of a slap-up meal). After AWE, well, she’s Pirate King, and she has no problem rubbing Will’s nose in this fact. Elizabeth orders most, though not by much, and Will steals quite a bit anyway once he’s got some rum down him, so it works out. Oh, and they do the soppy lovey-dovey thing and share desert.
Jack/Elizabeth
9. Is someone multilingual? Do they try to teach another language to the other? How does it go?
Jack speaks a lot of languages, and quite a few fluently. Elizabeth knew a little French and Latin before coming onto the Black Pearl - Jack never tried to teach her any, but he got into the habit of swearing at her in whatever language he fancied at the time, so she’s picked up a little. And he’s told her what his tattoos say, though he may have exaggerated somewhat…
11. Baths or showers? Together or separate? Any bubbles or bubble fights?
Elizabeth? Always with the baths. She gave up trying to get Jack to bathe very early on - he just takes a dip in the sea every so often. And she does flick water at him if he walks in on her during one of her bathing sessions. Except that time he brought back an exotic potion that made the water bubbly and smell of patchouli - she let him stay, that time ;)
Hey, if you don't remember, I was th person who requested for ionahi to draw that AMAZING Jamie&Tooth picture, and I wanted to thank you so much for colouring it! I realize it wasn't for me, but it's so hard to find art for that ship, you just made it all that much better! So thank you very much, and you did an amazing job ^_^
Hello! And omfg, you are very welcome, i had so much fun coloring it, it was such a cute image, idea and ship :'D Thank you so much! I'm happy I could make you love it even more and make you even happier!
