Author's Note: Right off the bat, I want to say that this is a Zutara story. So if you don't like Zutara, you've been forewarned. XD

This story takes place near the end of the second season, while the GAang are waiting to see the Earth King, and Iroh owns The Jasmine Dragon and Zuko works there. I'm not sure how long this story will be, but I'll try to update regularly. Please please review!! CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is always welcome! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar. If I did, the finale would have turned out vastly different. XD

Tea Time in Ba Sing Se

Chapter 1

The Job

The sun glowed golden against the tiled roofs of Ba Sing Se, creating a midday halo over the city. A gentle breeze flowed like a cool current between the packed houses, ruffling curtains and bringing refreshment to hard working citizens. There was a time when Katara especially would have enjoyed a day like this. She, however, was the only one not enjoying it. She was too busy worrying, as she had been for the past few days.

"Guys, I'm telling you, we could be here a long time!" she said for the dozenth time to her comrades, who were sunbathing on the steps of their upper ring house. "We should find some sort of income, and soon, because the money we do have is running out. And I'd rather not rely on this invisible Earth King for a loan…"

They'd come to Ba Sing Se in the first place to warn the Earth King of the Day of Black Sun, an important eclipse coming in the summer that would render the Fire Nation powerless. The children all hoped to gain the support of the Earth Kingdom's army, and army they would use to invade the Fire Nation on the day of the eclipse, thus ending the war that had thrown the world into chaos for a whole century. But they'd come up against trouble along the way: Aang's flying bison, Appa, was stolen by sandbenders in the desert, and now not only were they forced to wait for a summons from the Earth King while attempting not to tread on the toes of a dozen ridiculous rules, but they were also trying to find Appa, whom they were sure was hidden somewhere in the city.

The biggest problem came from the fact that they had been there three months with no word from the Earth King, and no sign of Appa. The hundreds of posters they'd had had professionally made had taken a huge chunk out of their savings, and every day they stayed here waiting took a little more. Finally, Katara realized the necessity of at least one of their group finding a job. And, she figured, it might as well be her.

Sokka rolled his eyes around to look at her. "But what if that creepy Ju Di lady catches us? She'll probably just say something like, 'Jobs are forbidden to people under twenty,' or maybe, 'You can't get a job without a permit, which will take three years to process,' or even-"

"I get it," Katara sighed exasperatedly. "But there's no harm in trying, right?" She waited for an answer, but none came. "Ugh! You people are so impossible!" she cried, stomping back into the house.

"It wouldn't kill them to show a little responsibility, would it?!" the waterbender ranted to herself as she grabbed her shoes sitting by the door and stuffed them onto her feet. "I mean, why do I always have to be the mature one? Well fine then! I'll just find a job on my own. I'm sure it'll be easy in a big city like this…"

Smoothing her hair, she marched out the front door and down the steps, almost stepping on Sokka's hand, Toph's face, and Aang's foot on her way, her head held high. Momo, who had been sleeping on Aang's stomach, awoke and jumped onto her shoulder.

"That's right, Momo," Katara said, stroking his head, "you're my only friend." Then she turned on her heel and left.

Thinking that finding a job in Ba Sing Se was a horrible mistake. First thing Katara knew, she'd gotten lost in the city's twisting streets, hungry, jobless, and almost out of money. It seemed no one in all of Ba Sing Se had a job for a poor fourteen-year-old Southern waterbender, no matter how polite and responsible she seemed. And worse, the sun was setting, and she had no idea where the house was.

"How can no one in this blasted city have a job opening?!" she wondered. "It must be all the immigrants already here, I guess… Darnit! There has to be someplace!"

She trudged through the streets as one by one, the lanterns were lit on either side of her, and shop windows turned a warm orange as they prepared for the coming night. I should really get something to eat before I head back… I'm starving…

Almost as if on cue, the lights were turned on in a shop she was passing, and as soon as she turned her head to look at it, she knew she'd found the solution to both her biggest problems. A cheap meal, and a job.

It was an open-air tea shop poetically titled The Jasmine Dragon, with a lovely green mosaic floor and warm lanterns hung all over. It was mostly full with people enjoying their drinks and just talking. To Katara, it looked like a very light-hearted, wealthy shop. Momo chattered happily on her shoulder.

"That's right, Momo," she agreed. "This could be the place!"

As she climbed the steps and entered, she was greeted and asked how many her party was.

"Um, no," she replied with a grateful smile. "I'm just looking for the manager."

"He's right back there," the man said pointing to the back of the shop, where Katara noticed an elderly man shuffling around in the steamy kitchen. Thanking the greeter, she hurried over, smoothing her dress and trying to fix her hair, which was a bit mussed after a whole day of walking. The man's back was facing her.

"Excuse me, sir!" she called.

It had been a good day. Well, mostly a good day. For Iroh. For others… not so much.

The shop had been full from the minute it opened until now, an hour before closing. Several people who had come in seemed very weary and upset with something, but a while in The Jasmine Dragon and a long cup of tea had always cured them. It brought Iroh nothing but joy to make others happy, and being able to do that with this shop gave him the greatest sense of fulfillment. It did not, however, make a certain nephew of his happy at all.

Iroh was sure he could never be at his wits end with the boy, whom he loved like a son, but he was pretty close. He did his best to provide Zuko with the things he thought would bring him happiness, but it was never enough. Unfortunately, his idea of contentment and Zuko's were very, very different. The Fire Prince was still certain that his birthright and the throne of the Fire Nation was the only thing that would make him happy. It was so sad…

At the moment, Zuko was taking a break from his "job." He'd taken to either locking himself in the back room or sitting up on the roof, watching the sky, for what, Iroh had a painfully good guess. He wished his nephew would just forget the Avatar at last and live a peaceful life, but it had yet to happen. Still, Iroh refused to believe that it would never happen.

"Excuse me, sir!" a voice called behind him. With a jolt, Iroh recognized the voice instantly. Panicking for a second, he kept his back turned to the waterbender.

"A-ah, yes, how can I help you?" he asked.

"My name is Katara, and I'm looking for a job. I was wondering if you have any openings? I can brew tea, or serve, or clean tables – anything you need."

"N-," he began, then stopped. She sounded tired and desperate, and Iroh wasn't the sort of man to turn down a person in need. Though he knew this could mean big trouble, he felt his heart melting. Bad… Bad… This is a bad idea… But even as he told himself this, he was coming up with an idea.

"Hmm… I do have an opening," he said slowly. "At the moment I only have one person waiting tables, and it's getting a little too busy for him. A bit of a slacker, I'm afraid… If you could help him out, I would be most grateful."

"Of course!" the waterbender agreed cheerfully. "Thank you so much! What time do you want me to come in?"

"You can come in for training tomorrow, anytime," Iroh answered, crossing his fingers over his heart where she couldn't see. "I'm Mushi… but you can call me Uncle."

"Pleasure to meet you!"

After she'd received the job, everything seemed to go uphill from there. Mushi was kind enough to give her a free meal in congratulations for receiving the job (though she found it strange that he never turned to face her), and a soothing cup of tea. Leaving the shop, she found a rickshaw whose driver was able to understand her confused directions, and just a little after 9, she strolled through the front door of their upper ring villa. But it was a surprise when she walked in and found only Toph there the greet her.

"Where's Sokka and Aang?" she demanded, her good mood seeping away.

"They went out a few hours ago to look for you," Toph answered lazily, lounging on the table in the middle of the room in boredom. "We all thought you'd gotten yourself completely lost. They left me here in case you decided to show up. It's been pretty boring…"

"I didn't even think about them going to search for me," Katara said quietly. I hope they come back soon. I have terrific news: I found a job!"

Toph didn't react. Katara waited. The earthbender picked her nose and remained silent.

"Well??" Katara demanded. "Aren't you happy?"

"Suuuure…" Toph sighed.

"Fine, whatever," Katara huffed. "Anyway, tell the guys when they come back that I'll be leaving early tomorrow for my first day of training, okay?" Toph gave her a thumbs up as the waterbender left the room.

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