Chapter Sixteen: Azula's Hot Date

Azula waited outside the door.

She wondered what Katara would end up wearing. She was actually looking forward to it for once. Even so, she was taking some time. "Are you quite ready? Keep in mind that I've already accounted for any escape plans you might have."

"Yes, damn you! I'm ready!" said Katara on the other side.

The door opened and Katara emerged. She was wearing a green silken dress that clung to the brown-skinned girls frame. Azula admired her. "Very nice. Where did you get it?"

"The tailors had it made for me." said Katara. "I didn't ask for it."

She sounded like she was afraid, but trying to sound angry. It amused Azula. "Why don't we get going."

And they began to walk. As they did, Katara eyed her, looking like she wanted to make a run for it. She obviously was terrified because of the previous loops. "What are you up to? Why are you doing this?"

"Apart from the desire to see you squirm?" asked Azula. "There are things I'd like to talk to you about. I thought this might be a good way to do it."

They made their way through the palace and out. Then into some of the better districts.

Azula wasn't sure what had made her pick the Jasmine Dragon. Technically it was a serious risk. But then, the look on Katara's face would be worth it.

"Where is this?" asked Katara as they walked.

"The Jasmine Dragon. A recent tea shop." said Azula as they entered. "The finest tea in Ba Sing Se. You may see someone you know." Then she waved to Zuko as she walked forward. "Table for two, please?"

Zuko stopped straight. "Azula?"

"Zuko?!" said Katara.

"Katara!" cried Azula in mock surprise. "This is fun isn't it, Lee? Screaming our names at each other? Table for two, Zuzu."

"But... what are you..." began Zuko.

"Dating Katara, obviously." said Azula.

"But I mean..." began Zuko.

"Table for two." repeated Azula.

As they were seated Azula reflected that the disturbance had been well worth it. Very entertaining. Katara, however, was getting over her fright and becoming angry. "Alright what are you playing at? What is Zuko doing here?"

"His name is Lee and he works at a tea shop." said Azula with exaggerated innocence. "What do you think he is doing."

"Oh right." scoffed Katara. "And I suppose the entire Fire Nation Royal Family is just hanging out in a tea shop for no reason?"

"Fire Nation Royal Family?" asked Azula. "Whatever do you mean?"

"Stop it!" snapped Katara.

They attracted a number of stares. Azula smiled. "Do you want to make a scene Katara? I might have to give the signal." Not that she had a signal.

Katara remained silent. "...No, I don't."

"Good." said Azula.

And at that point, Jin approached with two menus. She handed them to Azula, who handed one to Katara. "Um, excuse me. I'm Jin, your server. Can I take your order?"

"Jin, I'll have the special today." said Azula, looking over the menu.

JIn nodded and smiled. Then she looked at Katara. "And you?"

"Um, I'm not really sure." said Katara, looking over it.

"Try the White Dragon Tea, Katara. It's excellent." said Azula.

Katara looked at her menu and pointed to something. "I'll have this."

Jin nodded and looked to Azula, smile widening. "Thank you."

Then she went off. Katara continued to look on in suspicion. "What do you want, Azula?"

Azula decided to cut to the chase. "Oh very well, I suppose I might as well get down to the basics. I'm told by various circumstances that you had a friend named Jet."

Katara went still. "Jet wasn't my friend."

"Well, no matter. Tell me about him." said Azula.

Katara remained silent for a long moment. "...Aang, Sokka and me met him when we were on our way to the Northern Water Tribe. I wanted to learn waterbending, and so did Aang. He helped us against the Fire Nation."

"Mmmhmm, he sounds like the sort of person you'd like." said Azula. "After all, the Firenation is truly evil with its gender equality. and our roads, wine, tea, and generally superior civilization."

"He tricked us!" snapped Katara. "He used Aang and me to start a flood that nearly wiped out an entire village!"

Azula sighed. "I wasn't aware you cared about big bad Fire Nation people."

"They weren't Fire Nation." said Katara. "They were Earth Kingdom people. Jet wanted to wipe out the troops stationed there."

"Hmm, sounds like a fair trade." said Azula. "Given how badly the Earth King runs this nation ending their lives would probably be a mercy. And it would destroy his enemies."

"It figures you'd say that." snapped Katara. "Whatever. We stopped him and left."

"And then?" asked Azula, leaning forward.

"I didn't see him again until we ran into him in Ba Sing Se." said Katara. "He'd been brainwashed by the Dai Li, but we tracked them down. We went to a place called Lake Laogai. But when we went there Long Feng, the head of the Dai Li, caught Aang and Jet together.

"I don't know what happened. Aang-"

"The Avatar?" asked Azula, knowing full well the answer.

"Yes, Aang said that Long Feng said something." said Katara. " 'You are invited to Lake Laogai.'

"Then Jet went nuts and attacked Aang."

"And?" asked Azula.

"Aang talked him down, but when he attacked Long Feng, he was killed. I tried to save him but..." Katara halted. "Why do you care about this?"

Azula leaned back in her seat and shrugged. "Alright, I confess. Once I conquer Ba Sing Se, I mean to rehabilitate the Joo Dees. Since you managed to bypass Jet's programming, I thought I might ask."

"I don't know what Aang said." said Katara, looking away. "He just... he said he told Jet he was his friend."

"Wonderful." said Azula. "That's a real help. 'The power of friendship.'"

At that moment Jin came back with a tray, setting down the tea in front of them.

"Excuse me, I've got your tea." said Jin

Azula looked up and smiled. "Thank you, Jin." She sipped the tea. "Excellent as always."

Jin paused. "Um, have we met?"

"Oh, you wouldn't remember. Don't mind me." said Azula.

Katara looked at Azula in surprise. "I'm surprised you're treating someone decently."

"I like Jin. I have plans for her once I'm done here." said Azula. "So, if you wanted to reverse the brainwashing hundreds of Joo Dees, how would you go about it?"

"Why do you care?" asked Katara.

"I told you." said Azula.

"I don't believe you! You're-" began Katara, before lowering her voice. "You're a terrible person. You've chased us all across the world, trying to capture the Avatar."

"Oh yes, because clearly just because I'm your enemy it automatically makes me a puppy kicking monster." said Azula. "One who burns turtle ducks and delights in the torments of her enemies."

"Are you saying you aren't?" scoffed Katara.

"No, you're right of course. But I'm still offended." said Azula. "You like to think you understand the world, don't you? Just because you've flown around on a bison having everything handed to you by people. Just because you happened to be traveling with the Avatar."

"Shut up!" snapped Katara as she stood. Then she noticed people staring. "Erm... sorry, we uh..."

"Is something wrong?" asked Mushi.

"No, of course not. We just had a bit of a disagreement." said Katara. She sat down again and leaned in. "You have no idea what this war, what your nation has done to me. It killed my mother."

Azula looked into her tea and ran her forefinger around the rim of her cup. "Oh, how tragic. You're making me tearbend."

"You really are a soulless bitch, you know that." hissed Katara.

Azula chuckled. "Do you know how Zuzu got that scar?"

"No, and I don't care." said Katara, crossing her arms.

"Wonderful." said Azula. "I could have said the same to your little angsting session, so you're listening to mine. Zuko went to a war meeting with uncle. He objected to sending a bunch of peasant soldiers to their death.

"So Father challenged him to an Agni Kai. A duel. Zuzu refused to fight him. So Father burned half his face off."

Katara stared. "...His own Father."

"Mmmhmm." said Azula. "All this after our cousin Lu Ten was killed, and our Mother abandoned us. So you've got a tragic backstory. Join the club." Azula realized she was growing tired of this. "Anyway, you're boring me. Answer the question and you can go."

Katara shifted. "...You might be able to get through to them if you had them meet with their friends and family."

"Fair enough." said Azula, sipping her tea. "You can go."

Katara finished her tea and left. Azula then sipped again. Odd. Once the initial shock value had died down she'd lost interest. What was it about Katara that interested Azula? She decided it was the challenge.

Katara hadn't been a challenge this time. She was too scared from her subconscious response. But Azula hadn't lost interest in Katara. But why? She already knew her miserable backstory. She'd already had her way with her.

And why had she been offended by Katara's usual speech? Why bring up what happened to Zuzu? Had Azula wanted Katara to understand her better?

Questions for later.

Azula finished her tea. Then she stood up from her seat and made her way over to Uncle. "Hmm, this truly is the finest tea in the city. My compliments Mushi, your reputation is not unfounded."

"Oh, you're too kind." said Uncle, eyeing her in surprise.

"Oh yes, when I return to the palace I intend to recommend you to the Earth King personally." said Azula.

"You are staying in the palace?" asked Uncle.

"Oh yes." said Azula. "I'm sure I can arrange for you to serve tea to the Earth King tomorrow if you want it."

"Well, if you can arrange that I'd be a very happy man." said Uncle, seeming a bit incredulous.

"Uncle, what if she-" began Zuko.

Azula put a finger to Zuzu's lips. "Oh don't worry. She'll spend the rest of the day in prison. The Dai Li don't like people disturbing the peace." She led Zuzu to the door.

Katara was making her way into the distance. And then she was grabbed and pulled into the alley by the Dai Li. Zuzu looked at her in surprise. His eyes narrowed. "How did you arrange this?"

Azula shrugged. "Does it really matter? Anyway, don't you want to serve tea to the Earth King?"

"Of course." said Zuko. "But-"

"Excellent." said Azula. "I'll have another cup of tea."

"Coming right up." said Uncle.

Azula sipped her second cup of tea. And she reflected that her obsession with Jin, Zuzu, and Uncle was very different from that of Katara. All of them were her playthings. But Azula realized she wanted Jin, Zuko, and Uncle to be happy. She wanted them to benefit from knowing her as much as she did from them.

That was really why she was here.

Katara was...

She didn't really know. Either way, she had to finish her tea.

As she did, she admitted to herself that she was going to have to put a lot of work into this. Maybe she should multitask between loops.

She looked up to Jin. "Excuse me, Jin. I was wondering if you could tell me about the problems facing Ba Sing Se."

No sense in not learning about some of the more down to earth problems in Ba Sing Se.

As it turned out, there were a lot of them.

Azula awoke on cushions of the finest silk and felt the rays of the sun on her face.

She arose and immediately walked out to meet Ty Lee and Mai. "No time for breakfast, girls. We've got some tax records to run through."