Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Day 3! A big thank you to reviewers and everyone out there that has enjoyed these silly drabbles. Special thank you to my Guest reviewer, as I couldn't send you a PM.

Voices: the sound produced in a person's larynx as speech or song.


After much debating, Katara turned right at the street corner. It was a matter of which street had more shops –she was hungry, and so far her search for a restaurant or market had been fruitless.

The noontime sun was beating down on her and her animal companion. Momo was perched on her shoulder. Why she had been chosen to take him along with her when the group had separated at the house, she did not know.

A green and gold sign caught her attention, hanging high above the heads of people walking the streets. Tea. It was a quaint, two-story building that looked friendly enough.

"What do you say, Momo?" Katara asked the flying lemur. "Should we eat lunch at the tea shop?" His large eyes blinked once. Katara giggled. "I'll take that as a yes."

She pushed open the door and heard a bell chime somewhere. The tea shop wasn't too busy, but there were a few groups of patrons seated at tables. She was scanning the room for a waiter when a voice rang clear through the idle chattering.

"Uncle, I'll need you to brew another pot of Ginseng!"

She froze. Katara knew that voice. She knew it all too well. The last time she had heard it was at the North Pole. Her blue eyes narrowed to slits. She fell into a defensive position, hand hovering above her water skin and head whipping around in search of the voice's owner. One of the customers, perhaps? But I saw Wanted posters for him. Then, she fully processed what he had said. So General Iroh is here, too? Brewing tea?

The kitchen door swung open, and out walked Zuko. Katara almost didn't recognize him. His hair was short and spiky. He wore common Earth Kingdom clothes, along with an apron. In his hands was a tray with several tea cups and pastries. The scar burned over his left eye was as red and angry as ever.

He glanced towards the door and nearly dropped the tray when he saw her. Katara marched towards him, ready to water whip his ass into next week. "Zu-!"

"Shh!" He hushed her quickly, clamping one hand over her mouth with a panicked expression on his face. He leaned close to her, voice low. "My name is Li."

Katara shoved his hand away from her and took a step back. She looked at him, disgusted. "Oh, so it that what you're going by now? How long until this little charade is up?"

"Give me the chance to explain," he gritted through clenched teeth.

Katara huffed and crossed her arms, glowering at him. Like hell. She saw the silent pleading in his seemingly sincere eyes, and sighed begrudgingly. She was too trusting for her own good. "You have a few minutes."

"You came in here for a reason, right? I can seat you," Zuko said. He gestured jerkily towards a table in the far corner.

"You could be nicer to me," Katara hissed, flipping hear braid back over her shoulder. Momo yelped. "But yes, I'll take a seat."

She walked over to the table and sat down while he delivered the contents of the tray to other customers. She watched him intently, making sure he wasn't going to run. She was still in shock. She never imagined she would find him working in a tea shop, in Ba Sing Se of all places.

"What do you want?" he asked as he approached. At first, Katara was confused, but then he pointed towards the kitchen.

"Oh," she said, swallowing. "I'll have a cup of your best tea, and some sort of pastry. Whatever you have." He was about to turn away when she raised a hand. "Wait! I'll need a glass of water for Momo, as well."

Zuko rolled his eyes at this, but when he returned he had was a paper cup filled with water. Momo lapped it up eagerly. He pushed a cup of steaming hot tea in her direction, and set down a plate with a blueberry-cherry muffin. He sat down in the chair across from her.

"What kind of tea is this?" She took a sip.

"Jasmine. You might want to wait for it to cool."

She took a bite of the muffin instead, deciding for herself that the tea was too hot. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't go straight to the Dai Li and tell them who you really are."

Zuko sighed and shrugged his shoulders lightly. "I haven't attacked you. I have no plans to attack you. I'm a fugitive. My uncle and I are wanted by the Fire Nation."

"So, General Iroh's here?" Katara questioned.

"He's the cook." The disguised Prince leaned closer to her, golden eyes intense on hers. "Look. We're starting over. We can't do that if you interfere."

"Why should I trust you?" Katara retorted sharply.

"I already told you; I haven't attacked you. I haven't caused any trouble. Do you really think I would do all this for show?" He pulled at an apron strap.

Katara was silent for a moment. This wasn't the Zuko she knew. He would hold a conversation with a peasant like her, much less be so patient. He would never allow himself to work such a lowly job. "You can't tell me you're happy."

He held his temple with one hand. His finger must have grazed his scar, because he flinched. "I'll learn to be happy."

Katara decided to let it go for now. She still didn't trust him, but she was unsure whether she would tell Aang or not. They were busy enough, and if Zuko really wasn't causing trouble…

"Why are you in the city?" Zuko asked, breaking the tense silence.

Katara's guard came up instantly. "That's a suspicious thing to ask."

He shrugged. "Just trying to make conversation."

This puzzled her even more. She drank some of the Jasmine tea. It had a floral taste, but it wasn't so pungent that it gagged her.

"I'm looking for Appa."

"Your bison is missing?" Zuko looked genuinely surprised.

"Well he's not mine, he's Aang's, but…" She shook her head in frustration. "Never mind. I don't have to tell you anything." She made to stand up.

"Wait!" Zuko stood up much too quick and stepped right in front of her. She could feel the heat of his tea-scented breath fan over her face. "You can't tell anyone about us. I'll prove to you that we really are starting over, Katara. I promise."

Her breath caught in her throat. She tried to hide her face by hurriedly searching her pocket for coins. "Just, tell me how much it costs…"

"It's on the house."

Katara lifted her head up. She studied his face for a moment, and then beckoned for Momo to crawl up to her shoulder. "Okay. Have a nice life, Li."

He stared after her in wonder as she left the tea shop. Katara squinted against the bright sun as she reentered the streets of Ba Sing Se. She shut out the voice in the back of her head that warned her she had just made a dire mistake.


This could be canon. Although Katara probably wouldn't let it slip to Azula that Zuko was in Ba Sing Se in this case. Anyways, let me know what you think and I'll be back tomorrow with one of my favorites; Gravity!