This is a mod-au based off a tumblr post of all things. But yeah, it's actually one of the best flowing stories I've written. It was orginally meant as a one-shot but the more I wrote the more it seemed to become a short chapter fic. I hope you enjoy the first chapter, and hopefully I can update soon too!
Disclaimer: Nothing but these words that I've written belong to me. All original characters belong to their respective creator.
It was entirely too early to even be up. Yet here I was, running on what must have been adrenaline and some left over caffeine from the day before. I had no idea how I was going to do this for an additional two years.
The morning routine of college was one I had gotten used to quite easily, but not one that I particularly enjoyed. Maybe it was because of how early my days had to start; I had never been a true morning person. I rounded the corner, the all too familiar scene coming into view.
The Jasmine Dragon always managed to stand out apart from the other buildings. No matter how many times I saw it, it always felt like the first time. I pinned it down to the bright red and gold colors on the outside, attractive to the eye and radiating energy. Yet the inside was calm, bathed in greens and the smell of tea, coffee and pastries all at once. It felt homey and comfortable. I'd spend most of my time here the first year, a sort of refuge for me in a place far away from home.
The bell uptop the door jingled faintly as I opened the door. Warmth enveloped me snuggly as I stepped inside; drawing a large contrast to the sharp chill from outside. The boy behind the counter looked up briefly and then back down. I was a regular here, and even though he was still sort of new, he saw me everyday and I didn't seem to garner his attention as much anymore.
"What will it be?" he asked out of formality. He knew my order, even the old barista had known it by memory. He hadn't even bothered to ask sometimes.
"Chai spice latte please …. Should I hold my breath on the almond milk?"
"I wouldn't if I were you, you'd be holding it for a long time."
I chuckled, "The coffee thing is sort of new here, I guess I shouldn't ask for much yet. I'm lucky to get rice milk."
His response was a smile that quirked up slightly higher on the left side and a small nod before heading to the back. I went towards my table, just under one of the spiral lamps, and next to the window that I considered had the best view of the street.
Autumn was beautiful in Ba Sing Se. The trees came alive in yellows, oranges and reds, like flames that swirled when there was wind. It was something that had captivated me the first year I had been here, and it didn't fail the second time around either.
"Chai spice latte for Katara," he called out taking me out of my hazy thinking.
"Thank you," I said as he handed it to me. The smell of the spices completely woke me up and the warmth of the coffee was just right in my hands. I paid him and left a tip in his jar.
"I'm sorry about the almond milk," he murmured as I turned to leave.
I laughed, "It's no problem, I'm sure I must bother you about it. I ask for it everyday and I know the answer will be no."
"I don't mind," came his reply. "Have a nice day Katara."
I felt a prickly heat rise up in my cheeks. There was something about his voice, that raspiness that said my name just right.
"I've think you've got an admirer Katara!" rang the voice of Ty Lee as she came into my room. She set the hot coffee on the small vanity before bouncing over to me. "Morning sleepy head, I brought you your coffee as promised!"
"Thanks Ty," I said groggily. My head was pounding and my body felt weak. I hated being sick, but of course I would get sick within the first month of being back. Sometimes I felt like the world was against me. "What did you say about an admirer?"
Her laugh twinkled, much like everything else about her; I swore she was made out of glitter.
"Zuko asked about you today, well not just today, he asked yesterday too."
"He did?" I asked as I tried to shuffle out of bed.
Ty Lee instantly put a hand to my arm. "Oh no dear, you stay put. I'm sorry, I should have brought your coffee to you, don't you dare get out of bed now."
"Ty Lee it's just a cold."
"So? you need all the rest you can get. If it were me you'd do the same thing Katara" she gave me a pointed look. There was no use in arguing with Ty Lee, somehow you always ended up being wrong.
"Fine," I huffed as she placed the coffee in my hands. I gingerly took a sip of it and savoured the taste in my mouth. From the corner of my eye I saw Ty Lee smiling cheekily.
"Anything you're not telling me 'Tara?" she chimed while placing her chin delicately in her left hand, her eyes were brimming with mirth.
"If this is about Zuko then no, I'm just a regular there, I go everyday you know that Ty."
"Hmm, true, but still …"
"I'm not interested in dating right now Ty."
A frown made her way onto her face, "you can't let what happened with Jet stop you from dating 'Tara. He was a jerk and he never deserved you."
I shrugged. "It's going to be a while before I'm ready to date again. I did love him Ty Lee."
She nodded quietly. She had been there for everything, the fairytale beginning, the uncertainty, the cheating, the forgiving, the repeating of this vicious cycle, the ugly breakup, my ultimate disastrous breakdown ... She had never left my side, even when I had tried to push everyone away. I was forever grateful to her. A little ray of sunshine in my darkest times.
"I'm just saying," she began, her demeanor perking up again, "Zuko is very handsome. Think about it, we could go on double dates!"
That evening I decided to spend it with a book and a tea that Ty Lee insisted she make for me. She was primping to go out with Mai. And so the entire apartment was filled with the smell of cherry blossom perfume and a haze of shimmer that seemed to complete the ritual of Ty Lee getting ready for anything. She bounded out her room dressed in her signature baby pink, her hair in high ponytail, and her lips in an ever frosty gloss.
"How do I look?" she asked with a spin and a giggle.
"Beautiful Ty," I said, "Mai called a couple of minutes ago, she should be here any second now."
She clapped her hands in delight. "We're going to go see, 'Love Amongst the Dragons, I finally convinced her."
"I thought she was adamant about not wanting to ruin a classic by seeing the remake."
She waved her hand in dismissal, "Oh please, Mai says a lot of things, but she couldn't wait to see it either. All it takes is a bit of insisting."
I chortled, "So I noticed."
"Are you sure you don't want us to stay in though? Mai even asked me if you wanted that, I know we've been needing a girl's night and we could see the movie some other time."
I shook my head, "I'll be fine Ty, besides, a girl's night can wait for next week when we can both be in the kitchen."
"You don't trust me in there alone anymore don't you?"
"You nearly burned down the apartment last time. Even Mai looked a little scared."
"It was one time! And she was not!"
tbc.
