Walking along the streets of the Earth Kingdom city, Sokka decided he needed a break. He needed a break from the Dai Li's constant scrutiny of them. He needed a break from Katara's constant need for control. He needed a break from Aang's depression, though he understood and empathized with the young boy. He needed a break from Toph's constant push of the rules. He needed a break from all of them. He wasn't supposed to be out on his own and if the others found out, they'd probably kill him, but he didn't care. The young warrior had managed to use a few coins he had saved to buy an outfit that didn't stick out as much as his water tribe clothes. He let his hair down for the night and decided he was just going to be another member of the Earth Kingdom. Something about the breeze blowing through his hair and being alone was truly freeing to him.

Growing up, there had only been a few months of time where Sokka had truly had his own life. It started when his father left and he became man of the tribe. There was one other boy his age, Baku, and they had become friends over the years. The two young boys each had a lot of pressure on them. They had frequently snuck out of the village to train, but eventually training turned into something more…intimate. Sokka couldn't remember when the first time they kissed was. Hell, he couldn't even remember why they kissed. All he knew was Baku and he had always enjoyed their time together whether training for real or having sex. They had been so young, Sokka wasn't even sure if he could call it sex. They were two young boys and they had been curious. There was nothing else better to be doing. But then, one day, Baku had gone off to fight in the war with his father. Sokka never saw him again. Sokka went back to his mundane life of looking after his sister and pretending like he could teach small children how to fight.

Of course, going with Aang had changed his life. He cared deeply for his friend but being the only non-bender meant he was always slightly less included. Aang, Katara and Toph referred to him as the plan guy- the guy who had quick wit. He appreciated it, but there was always going to be a part of him that would always just be identified as the non-bender. For once, he wanted to be something more or at least something not connected to them.

Kicking a pebble below his feet, he laughed at himself as his thoughts traveled. What would a few nights wandering the streets of a random Earth Kingdom city do for him? He wasn't going to suddenly make a new identity. When they eventually left, continuing their quest, he'd be back to being part of a group, and not even an important part.

Unlike his own small village in the south, Ba Sing Se was alive at night. A few nights before he'd attended a poetry reading, but in his water tribe clothing, he'd stuck out completely. He decided when he went out again he was going to blend in more and not be "the guy from the water tribe who can't waterbend." That was why he had secretly spent a small bit of money on a new outfit. Nobody needed to know. He was allowed to have his secrets. Secrets were the only thing the warrior had to himself.

Sokka had wandered far out from the area where he and his friends were staying, but he was secretly glad for it. This was a new area of the city he'd probably not be able to explore at any other time of day aside from the night time. It was less upscale than where they were staying, but the people seemed to be friendlier, many waving at him or at least smiling. He suspected this was the lower-ring, and the southern water tribe boy felt more at ease in this setting.

He spotted a small tea shop on the corner of the street he had turned down and although small, he noticed there was a huge crowd moving in and out of it. Figuring that it must be good, Sokka hurried inside.

Tables lined the sides of the tea shop, but there were so many people that most were standing and waiting their turn. Sokka elbowed a man standing next to him. "Must be good if it's this crowded?"

When his attention had been gotten, the man smiled down at Sokka. "Oh, it's the most excellent tea in all of Ba Sing Se! This tea shop has been here for years, but it was never really any good."

"Then why's it so good now?" Sokka asked.

"These two refugees, well, they look like refugees, started working here. And the old man just…well, I don't know what he does!"

A young girl about Sokka's who had been standing behind him spoke up. "The old man is amazing at making tea but the young boy is extremely handsome."

A girl standing beside her giggled. "I don't know what you see in him with that big nasty scar on his face."

"What scar-?" Sokka stopped short when he saw the fire nation prince walking beside him with a tray of teacups.

Sokka's jaw dropped wide open. The other teenager must have heard the conversation because he turned to face Sokka, clearly equally as shocked to see him. "Zuk-,"

"Oh man- it's so good to see you!" the firebender exclaimed loudly, wrapping his arms around Sokka. His voice had been about ten times higher and ten times friendlier than Sokka had ever heard it. He had to admit, it was less than unsettling.

Feeling as if Zuko was about to squeeze the life out of him, Sokka squirmed and tried to reach for his boomerang, but the firebender was way too strong. "Let go of me," he growled.

"Uncle will be so happy to see you! Let me take you back and see him." Zuko roughly grabbed his arm and at that point Sokka could have probably pulled away, but he was so confused and so startled, he let the other boy drag him into a back room.

Slamming the door shut, Zuko pinned Sokka up against a wall, clattering the shelves beside him. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"What the hell am I doing here?" Sokka asked, his voice almost a yell. "What the hell are you doing here serving tea in the lower ring of Ba Sing Se?"

"Nothing that concerns you," Zuko snapped, locking the door to the closet they were in. Sokka noticed that the prince had cut off his ponytail and instead had his hair hanging jaggedly in his face. If it wasn't for the giant scar across his face, he wasn't sure he would have recognized the person who was always trying to hunt them down. "What the fuck am I supposed to do with you now?"

Sokka crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. Something about the man across from him was so different from how he'd ever seen him. Of course, the only times he'd seen Zuko he was usually trying to kill them and shooting fire at them. For some reason, that spark of aggression didn't seem to be there and Sokka didn't feel as if he was about to die…at least not for the moment. "Your usual response is: 'Where's the avatar?'" Sokka said in a mocking voice. Later on, he'd give himself a pat on the back for his Zuko impression.

The firebender looked away. "I know."

Raising his eyebrows, Sokka felt like he was on cactus juice again. This had to have been the strangest encounter he'd ever had with anyone since their travels began. "So…uh, you going to demand where Aang is and then chase me 'til you find him or…?"

He was keeping a careful watch on Zuko. The other boy looked almost like he was shaking. "Just go."

"What?"

"Just…get out…"

Gripping onto his boomerang, Sokka took a hesitant step towards the hot-headed prince across from him. "Alright, I'm not going to lie. This is a little disappointing. Where's the fire, the flames?"

"My uncle is going to be back here any moment. Just go."

Sokka grabbed Zuko's and forced him to turn around. Flames flickered in the young man's fists and the warrior instinctively took a step back. "If it wasn't for that ugly scar across your eye, I don't think I'd even know who you are."

Deep amber eyes met his own blue ones, and Sokka swallowed hard. He'd never been this close to Zuko before. It was…unnerving. "Lee."

"What?"

"My name…here…it's Lee."

"Lee?"

"Yea. My name is Lee and I work in this tea shop. I'm just a regular Earth Kingdom refugee," he said, his voice back to its normal, threatening tone. He lifted a fist, this time with a larger flame than before. Sokka stood his ground.

"So what? Is this some kind of trick to blend in and then wait for the ideal time to attack Aang?"

"No!" Zuko shouted. He looked at Sokka again. There was something in them Sokka couldn't recognize…sincerity? Never having been so confused in his life, Sokka turned away, clutching to his boomerang in case Zuko decided to do more than show off his bending skills. He was equally terrified, confused, and intrigued.

"I…"

"Leave," Zuko repeated, his fists flaring again. "Please…"

Sokka reached out to unlock the door, but Zuko grabbed his arm. With the contact, Sokka could confirm that the young man was shaking. His hand trembled against Sokka's skin. "When you all come for me…don't do it here. Uncle…"

Beyond the door, they could hear Zuko's uncle cheerfully serving customers and laughing hard as one clearly told him a joke. Sokka recalled the time just a few weeks before when the boy's uncle had been attacked and Zuko had been in tears. The prince may have been messed up, but it was clear he cared for his uncle. As much as he hated Zuko, Sokka had never really hated the old man, even if he was Fire Nation. Nodding and understanding his point, Sokka opened the door, Zuko's grip dropping from him. Even if he didn't want to acknowledge it, something in the back of Sokka's mind was disappointed at the loss of contact.

As the door opened, Sokka slipped out of the tea shop, able to avoid the old man's gaze and any more surprise interactions he wasn't ready for. The cold breeze of the evening blew through Sokka's thin tunic and he sat down on a bench a little way down from the shop. Half of him wanted to laugh at the outrageous situation and the other half of him wanted to cry out of pure confusion and frustration. It wasn't bad enough the Dai Li had them on lock down, but now their literal number one enemy was in the city too.

Yet, Sokka found he wasn't dying to run back and tell the others. Something about the way Zuko had been acting was too strange to be fake. Sokka didn't think that the prince was in any rush to attack them. He had looked just as surprised to see him. As he walked back, Sokka knew he should tell the others, but he just couldn't bring himself too. Part of him trusted that something was up with their enemy…that he was in some kind of turmoil. The other part of him wanted to keep it a secret so he could investigate on his own.