Hello all, and welcome to a different drabble than the past two!

By the way, if anyone actually likes these and wants to flesh it out into a full story, by all means go ahead. :)

I'm somewhat happier with this one, maybe it's just because it was over 1,000 words in just one draft.

Anyways, R&R!

The tea shop in Ba Sing Se was busier than she expected.

Azula's golden eyes darted around the bustling place, it was almost at capacity.

Thankfully, there was a table in the very corner that was unoccupied, so the Fire Princess pulled the hood of her cloak further over her face and quickly marched over to it.

Sitting down, she took in her surroundings. For a place in the Middle Ring, there were a great number of patrons who looked to be from the Lower or Upper rings. Soldiers, noblemen, and peasants, all under one roof together. The thought made her stomach turn, and the Fire Nation Nobility in her veins burn.

These people should know their place, she decided. Her calculating eyes scanned the crowd, but her Uncle was nowhere in sight. She knew they were here, after all, Azula was a genius. Finding them was a piece of Fire-Cake.

Her breath caught in her throat, when she saw a very broody teen with a large scar on his face. His head was down, but she knew he noticed the newest arrival, because he made a beeline towards her with a pad and a pen.

This was ...going to be awkward. She bowed her head lower, so he couldn't see her eyes yet.

Of course, if she felt there was any better way to do this, Azula wouldn't be caught dead here.

'Depending on others is a sign of weakness... Using them shows strength!' Father's voice echoed in her head. If only he could see his perfect weapon now.

She was drawn out of her reverie, by an impatient voice asking, "Welcome to the Jasmine Dragon. I'm ...Lee. What do you want to drink?"

She cracked a devious smile as she raised her head. "Lee? I thought Zuzu was a much more fitting name."

Their eyes met, as the Exiled Prince took in her words. His eyes were wild, as he recognized his sister.

"Azu-!" She interrupted his outburst, "Calm down, Brother. If I wanted to ambush you, don't you think I'd wait to kill you where no one would see? Now, go get Uncle. I need to discuss something with you two."

Zuko was on high alert. She could tell by the way his muscles were all taught, ready to spring into action, and his golden eyes flashed dangerously. The biggest giveaway though, was the waves of heat she could feel rolling off his body.

She only hoped no one else had any experience with angry firebenders, or else they might both get busted.

He stood there for what seemed like an eternity, before turning around and marching back out of sight.

Azula almost busted out laughing as a soldier burned his tongue with (now very) scalding hot tea.

A couple of hours later, the shop was empty, except for one very bored Fire princess.

She drummed her fingernails against the wooden table, and idly contemplated burning the place to the ground.

She still sat up very regally, she was born with etiquette, after all.

Her brother soon reappeared, with his Uncle following behind. Of course the old man was carrying a tray with cups and a tea kettle. He set it down, and then took a seat directly across from his niece. Zuko was still standing, and carefully poured each cup, and set a cup in front of each person.

He opted to stand though, and alternate between leaning on the table, and pacing around.

"Uncle, how nice to see you again!" Azula dripped venom with each sarcastically sweet word.

Everyone thought of the last time they met, when the Princess struck him down with lightning.

"I know you did not come here for pleasantries, Azula. What do you want?" Iroh said, as he took a sip of tea.

"And how did you get into Ba Sing Se?!" Zuko added, slapping both his hands down on the table, and glaring at his sister.

"Now now, Zuzu. Don't get all wound up on my account. Can a girl not come and drop in on her family anymore?" She brought

the cup to her lips. "And what kind of tea is this anyway?" She took a tentative sip, and liked it, though she would never admit it.

The Dragon of the West still had a very solemn look on his face, but informed her. "It is Jasmine tea. Helps reduce stress, and promotes relaxation."

She looked into the cup, and then from her Uncle to her brother. 'I guess it's time to get down to business' she thought.

"I need help from the both of you. I need you to find the Avatar for me."

An awkward silence descended, as the weight of what she said settled upon them.

Zuko was the first to speak. "What?! Why should we help you? Especially when you tried to kill Uncle! And me!" He seethed.

Iroh held up his hand to stop Zuko from continuing.

"What happened to you, Azula? Where are your friends? Why are you not able to summon dozens or hundreds of elite soldiers for that?"
Zuko had a dumbfounded expression, as his Uncle finished speaking.

Azula let her posture slump a bit as she was reminded why she was here in the first place.

"I..." she began, keeping back tears that were trying to come to the surface. "Have been exiled. Same as you, Brother."

Shock was too lenient of a term to describe what the pair felt. Iroh's cup that he was holding cracked.

"She... S-she has to be lying Uncle! Azula always lies!" Zuko had found his voice first.

The now Exiled Princess had expected this reaction from her brother. She knew his mantra would come up.

She reached into the sleeve of her cloak, and produced a scroll for Zuko.

As he opened it, and began to read, she half-heartedly recited it.

"I, Fire Lord Ozai, do hereby strip Princess Azula of the Fire Nation, of all titles, responsibilities, and privileges that go along with her position. She is to be taken to the border of the Fire Nation, and once she has stepped across the border, she is to be executed on sight. She is an enemy, and no longer a citizen of the Fire Nation."

Her voice cracked a little at the last part. Zuko's eyes widened as he saw the undeniable seal of the Fire Lord.

Iroh's face seemed very rigid. "What did you do, Azula?"

Her eyes were downcast as she slumped over. "I was found to be... consorting with the Enemy."

Zuko couldn't believe it. "What happened?" He asked, a bit gentler tone this time.

She looked up at him. "If you must know, I'll show you."

Azula sat up and pulled back the bottom of her cloak. Her stomach had a noticeable swell.

"You're pregnant!? Who?!"

She sighed, as she dropped her cloak back down.

"Why do you think I need your help finding the Avatar, dum dum?"

Zuko suddenly looked like he was ready to murder someone, or faint... or both.

"You and him?! How did that happen?"

She thought back to when it happened. A wry smile worked across her lips.

"You're familiar with the term, 'the heat of battle', right?"

They both nodded.

"Well this was more heat, less battle."

And with that, Zuko fainted.