It was a relief to be in Ba Sing Se; it was like a vacation, really. They didn't really need to do much. There was no one they were going out of their way to help because well, "There is no war in Ba Sing Se". There was no one suffering or having a hard time because of the war, no one suffering from lack of materials or food or anything because Ba Sing Se was a haven, separate from the hardships of war. Katara thought it was nice, that there was a place to get away from everything. But at the same time, it was like it was sugarcoating the war. Like it was putting rose colored lenses over the world, and some people have been born and died in Ba Sing Se; people have known nothing but this blank, peaceful sanctuary where there was no hundred year war, no disappearance of the avatar or loss of hope. It was nice to think about, but also so plain and so drab to think that there was a place where no one had any troubles. It was nice to think of, but what was life with no trouble? With no hardships? You cannot have the good without the bad, too. It was just how the world worked. In her opinion, anyway.
Well, she'd decided to take some time for herself. After all, being in a problem-less city with nothing to do at the moment, she decided she could spend a little time away from the hustle of assisting the Avatar. So she decided to walk around a bit, observe Ba Sing Se, as it was a pretty beautiful city, if even a mindless one. She walked up to a little tea shop, and figured she might as well drop in for a cup. She had all day to herself, didn't she? She may never have another calm day like this again, that she could just get a drink of tea and relax.
So she headed inside, smiling brightly as she passed the other civilians sitting inside, and sat down, waiting to be served. It was nice to sit here. She could imagine here. Imagine that she wasn't part of such a huge thing, part of ending a war and overthrowing the Fire Lord and all that other insanely huge stuff. It was like she was just a regular girl again. She didn't have any big responsibilities or anything. Not that back home she had none; as when she was a child she had lost her mother and had to step up as an authoritative figure and help out Gran Gran. But now she had a new sort of authority. And that was helping Aang train and become a fully realized Avatar. It was such a stressful thought; good thing tea was pretty good at relaxing people.
Ba Sing Se. An Earth Kingdom city. Living like peasants. He was a Prince! Why was he living like a lowly working class citizen when he should be back at home, in the Fire Nation Palace, living amongst his father, the Fire Lord? Oh, right. Because he was banished and his sister was hunting him down and he and Uncle needed to hide from Azula in Ba Sing Se. Yeah. That's why he was living like this for the time being. While Uncle seemed to be adapting to the Earth Kingdom quite well, Zuko was all against it. He didn't like living like anything less than what he was; a Prince. He was the Prince of the Fire Nation. Before banishment he was the heir to the throne. He hated having to live in this peasant city; sure it was the largest city in the world, but it was in the Earth Kingdom, which was clearly inferior to the Fire Nation. No matter how large it was. It wasn't quantity, it was quality. In his opinion, anyway.
On top of living in the lowly damn Earth Kingdom city, his Uncle had them both working in a place called "Pao's Tea Shop". Great. What he needed on top of living in the Earth Kingdom as a peasant, hiding from his sister and resuming his exile rather than try to redeem himself and be accepted once again, he had to work in a tea shop. As if Uncle didn't drive him crazy enough already which endless talk about that stupid stupid leaf water. He just wanted to be back home, back with his family. If he could somehow redeem himself, maybe his father would actually love him again. It was all he really wanted, anyway.
But he was working here for the time being. He pretty much hated it, in all honesty. He didn't want to be in this city around these people away from his home and brewing tea all freaking day and doing nothing but that afterwards because there was nothing to do in this city that wasn't completely asinine. Why couldn't he just go home? Well, there was a lot of complications with that. And he was tired of thinking about this, of focusing on this. He ran a hand through his now much shorter hair (it was so odd having a full head of short hair, rather than so much long hair tied back on his head, and most of his head shaved), and turned to the counter behind him, picking up a pot of tea and pouring it into a few cups, then, fumbled and nearly dropped the teapot, thankfully catching it in time as he set it down on the counter. Clad in blue that stood out so brazenly on the mostly green attired people, and brown hair and skin that looked so much different amongst the paler skinned and darker haired people. She was the Waterbender that tagged along with the avatar and their little group. That was Katara. What was she doing here?
Why wasn't she around the Avatar, teaching him to make splashes and swim around in the water like koi?
She might even be here to spy on him!
He ditched that idea almost immediately; she had no idea he was here. She might not even recognize him with his brilliant disguise of cutting off some hair and dressing in green. Not really. It wasn't that hard to recognize him by the huge scar stretching across his face. Maybe he'd be able to avoid her for her entire visit here? She wouldn't see him. Nothing would change. If he ever did get the chance to go after the Avatar now that he knew he was here, he would still have the element of surprise.
Katara was quite enjoying her time getting to relax. So much so, she'd struck up a conversation with a fellow patron at the tea shop. They discussed the city, and Katara had blissfully pretended she always lived here, that Ba Sing Se was a beautiful place she'd always known. The blue clothes, they asked? Oh, she just felt like being a little different. What was the harm in that! It changed things up a bit, she'd say. She had to have some sort of change right? The one she spoke to agreed a little change was fun! She would talk as if she lived here, like she didn't know anything but this city. She would follow along and agree with whatever they said, adding on and elaborating, like she was creating an alter-ego, or even a persona. She had become so comfortable, so blissfully relaxed and at ease she seemed to loose her grip on her teacup and it fell right to the ground with a shocking shatter. Well, that was unfortunate, her new friend would say. Katara looked a little sheepishly up at Pao who stood before her, arms crossed as the shattered glass and tea soaked rug sat between them. "Sorry?" Katara offered, and Pao grunted. "I hope you plan on paying for that." He said sternly, and Katara rubbed the back of her neck.
"I can work it off?" She suggested.
