The brain said "cheesy and wholesome", but turns out I don't exactly know how to do that, lol. Take this as my best attempt at it.
Azutara Teashop AU, part 1 of maybe 5? 1793 words.
Not for all the tea in Ba Sing Se - Part 1
Azula had never held much appreciation for Ba Sing Se. In her eyes, the city's greatest quality was the corrupt and fragile system of government that had allowed her to pull off a coup d'état within a week, but that wasn't exactly something that could be admired and savored from the outside. Also, who knew if the puppet king had yet started to learn anything from the lessons that had been beaten into him.
Point was, Azula's opinion of the Earth Kingdom's capital wasn't likely to improve now, not when the perspective from which to look at it was that of the dilapidated streets around the teashop. She did enjoy the not-so-subtle irony in that both conquerors of the city were now behind a counter, serving its citizens… as much as that could improve her mood.
Working in the back of the shop, among whistling kettles and pastries to be baked, had at least the advantage of sparing her the sight of the former crown prince of the Fire Nation mingling with those he’d had the nerve to call "respectable customers". For all the obvious flaws the old man hardly made any effort to hide, the show of the Dragon of the West sinking so low would for sure affect her mental health in counterproductive ways. And they had already established during the initial days that Azula's talents did not lie in the front of the house.
Spirits help her understand what had gone through the minds of Zuzu and the Avatar when they’d proposed this probation agreement, but far be it from her to miss an opportunity of reducing by a year the time spent in that useless lunatic asylum. Though, to be honest, not having electrocuted her uncle when he’d commented that the experience would help her “turning over a new leaf”, should’ve been a sufficient display of self-restraint to grant her pardon on the spot.
She irritably rang the bronze bell for the third time, without anyone coming to take the tray from the pass. Instead, as if to mock her further, the old man's laughter resonated even louder in the room. Azula grabbed the order herself, almost throwing it onto table ten and then stomping towards her worm sloth of an uncle.
However, as soon as she got close enough to the booth, where he’d even allowed himself to sit down beside his consumers, she regretted ever having left the back. Because those people talking to her uncle weren't just any patrons, no. They were none others than the Southern Water Tribe siblings.
— … happy to finally be able to sit in the new shop and order something, — the girl was saying with a toothy smile.
— When I heard about your arrival, I really hoped that you’d manage to spare an hour to come and visit!
The first one to notice her was the peasant nonbender, at which point Azula realized that her time window for a strategic retreat had vanished. She approached the table, causing the conversation to suddenly die down, but she didn't spare the two foreigners another glance and simply said: — I'd like to remind you that we have other tables to take care of, uncle.
The two commoners kept staring at her. And there some who considered Azula to be the one who didn't know how to behave in social situations.
Her uncle's expression had become neutral as she saw her appear. — Of course. Would you be so kind as to take our guests' orders, then?
The Fire Nation princess opened her mouth to clarify that, first, she wasn't kind, and especially not so kind as to willingly humiliate herself in front of the Avatar's friends. Still, her uncle didn't wait to hear a single word and vanished with a speed that was supernatural for someone his size.
Azula blinked. Her gaze then fell back on the two guests, taking a moment to study them better. Both of them stood out like a sore thumb amidst the shop, dressed in blue and white as they were, though their fashion was embarrassingly basic for the role of war heroes and ambassadors which, she’d heard in passing, they had taken on. The boy (she couldn't remember his name. Suki? No, maybe Suki was someone else) had a few extra hairs on his chin that perhaps represented an attempt to grow a beard, but otherwise neither he nor his sister looked very different than the last time they met; the latter had only changed hairstyle, sporting her mane natural. A variation that suited her, noticed Azula's mortified-but-certainly-not-forgotten sense of taste.
Despite hating her own concern, the princess shuddered at what the pair of siblings must’ve been thinking of her right now. With her long, perfectly groomed hair a distant memory, wearing only a baggy green tunic and the shop apron, even the crumbling version of herself during the Agni Kai had appeared much better.
The waterbender had started to nervously fiddle with the menu, while her brother cleared his throat and began: — Well… long time no see, huh?
That lameness should’ve been far more illegal than any war crime the court had ever thought of charging Azula with.
— Welcome to The Jasmine Dragon, — she replied instead, choosing to hide behind the routine she’d memorized through her attempts at serving tables. — We are proud to serve the best tea in Ba Sing Se. Customer satisfaction is our priority, so take a minute to consider your options and all the combinations that the menu includes. If you would like to experiment with some variation, just ask and we will try to accommodate you.
Their expressions now turned into those of two people who just saw a nine-headed platypus bear appear in front of them. Her uncle hated that introduction she had written as well, but Azula remembered it being more or less what a waiter had recited the only time she'd set foot in a teashop, and it had been much classier a place than The Jasmine Dragon, so it had to count for something.
— Okay, um, — the waterbender muttered, scanning the menu. — I think I'll have…
— We also serve peach oolong as a seasonal specialty.
— So, Azula… — the other peasant interjected, sparing no thought for her rightful title — do tell, would you say it was a shock to adapt to life in Ba Sing Se?
She clenched her jaw. — … my uncle also recommends the lotus-flavored green tea.
— Wow, don’t you look crazy about this job? — This time he earned a jab from his own sister. — What?
— Really? — the girl hissed.
— Alright, let me just try something.
The southern native leaned toward Azula to wave a hand in front of her face, and her reflexes took over, slapping it away.
— Ouch! — he complained with a pout. — Well, thank goodness. I was wondering if Long Feng had brainwashed you into a Joo Dee or whatever.
The waterbender giggled behind her palm, and Azula only then realized that, at some point during the interaction, a forced smile worthy of the Dai Li's army of tour guides had appeared on her lips. That realization alone was enough for the corners of her mouth to turn downwards into a grimace.
— If you want to order something — she blurted out, in a harsh tone that invigorated her incredibly — just do it, or leave!
He gave her a pacifying gesture. — Easy, easy. That's what I was going to do anyway. Tea and cakes is not for me, I’d rather go check out the food stalls down the street. And you be careful with your order, you know what happens in teashops to unwanted customers, — he concluded, addressing his sister.
And with such words he left, although not before he shot Azula a glare that took her a couple of seconds to decipher as a warning.
She frowned a bit. — What in the spirits’ name was he referring to?
— I think he meant they spit in their tea.
— How barbaric. He should undoubtedly reconsider the places he frequents.
Now Azula received a curious look, only adding to her frustration.
— I guess some things never change, — the guest quietly said.
Perhaps. But the biggest revolution, one the Fire Nation’s princess had already had the opportunity to observe and of which she was seeing more and more confirmations around her, was that people no longer acted afraid of her. The distrust remained, but the fear had vanished. The truly disturbing fact seemed to be that she was already starting to get used to it.
— Peach oolong sounds perfect.
— Um, only some butter cookies, if you have any.
— Obviously. — She risked giving the girl a sidelong glance. — Just try not to keep my uncle at the table. Even if it doesn't seem like it, he has work to do. — She was about to add: “If you intend to lounge, you can very well do it at home”, but, considering that uncle and niece now shared the same apartment, it would only mean more headaches for her.
— Ah, by the way… — the waterbender resumed as she handed her the menu. — It's Katara, from the Southern Water Tribe.
— My name, — the girl clarified, furrowing her brow.
It was Azula's turn to stare. — I know. Why do you feel the need to repeat it?
— You… Oh. I thought… I really believed you didn't remember. It's not as if, well, we were ever formally introduced.
— It’d be hard to miss your name, it's been tremendously popular in the last three years. — Along with her brother's… whatever it was. She may have learned it at some point during the war, but then it slipped from her memory once it had no more utility.
The gaffe seemed to make the waterbender blush, though it was slightly hard to tell with her complexion. Something about the whole situation didn't sit well with Azula's mind. The entire Avatar’s posse may indeed be made of insufferable, sappy do-gooders, but this girl acted far too calm and well-disposed towards her. And it was plain as day that she wasn’t the kind of person who’d be good at pretending.
— I'll go make your tea, — she announced, impatiently turning on her heel.
For a moment Katara looked like someone rapidly searching for an appropriate response to give but, with Azula's sudden parting, the reply never came.
The firebender made sure to use the menu to hit her uncle on her way to the kitchen, and regained a satisfied smirk when he almost fell flat over the table of the customers he was chatting with. After closure, she would reiterate the fact that she didn’t want to take orders again in her life. Not for all the tea in Ba Sing Se.
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