Title: On The House
Summary: "Princesses don't marry kitchen boys." An argument in a teashop. Post-series AU.
Word Count: 333
Started: August 1, 2010
Posted: September 25, 2010 (LJ) and November 5, 2010 (FF.n)
Last Edited: -
Author's Note: Written for Rashaka's prompt at the Zutara fic meme (a-twisted-vine DOT livejournal DOT com SLASH 220191 DOT html), "Princesses don't marry kitchen boys." Further details about this AU can be found at the end. There's also a direct quote from The Great Gatsby. Also as a note, my grandma says handing a cup with both hands is respectful.
"Princesses don't marry kitchen boys."
"I'm not a kitchen boy," he says. "I'm a tea server – there's a difference."
"What part do you not get?" She's starting to get peeved. He can tell; her eyebrow tick is showing.
"The part about why princesses can't marry kitchen boys. Katara, come on. Not too long ago, I was a prince, and you were just another water tribe girl marked for extinction." The tea tray isn't heavy, but he's wondering how long he's going to have to hold it. He eyes the tea warily.
"A waterbender, not just some girl. And I was marked for genocide not extinction." Her neck is tensing up and her fingers curling up.
"… We're back to that now, are we?"
"Back to that? When did you even begin to think that was behind us?" She threw her hand to the side, the bracelets clattering.
"When… I don't know, maybe when I was willing to help the Avatar, when I was willing to help you find your lost vengeance?"
"That doesn't mean anything, Zuko. What your people did to me isn't erased just like that!"
"Then why are you here for negotiations? It's not just a show. If you didn't believe there was hope between our people, you wouldn't have come."
"You know what," her voice is choked off oddly enough, "how about this: rich girls don't marry poor boys. Is that plain enough for you Zuko?"
He's tried to be patient with her, but even meditation and drinking tea as Uncle Iroh suggested has its limits. "You know, what? Fine. Why don't you give up your wealth? Then you can be a poor girl marrying a poor boy. There. Problem solved."
"It doesn't work like that Zuko." Her temper has crested and broken. His, however, has risen.
"Fine, then, Princess Katara. Here's your tea. It's on the damn house." He doesn't bother to hand her the cup with both hands; he slams the tray on the table, the tea spilling.
This is a post-series AU where Iroh has become Fire Lord, but due to politicking and hardass councilors, he has not been able to restore Zuko back to his status as Prince. As such, Zuko's still working as a tea server. Meanwhile, Katara is in negotiations with the Fire Nation. Due to a misunderstanding on the Fire Nation's part, and the rebuilding of ties between the North and South Pole, they believe she's a princess. (They got the North and South Pole mixed up) Katara doesn't deny it, because to do so would be to relinquish a good chunk of political power. Also, enter matchmaker!Iroh. If Iroh can get Katara to marry/engaged to Zuko, it'll make it easier for him to reinstate him as a prince.