Ba Sing Se was probably the most confusing city Sokka had been in. The city felt like it stretched on forever and forever. When he first got here he had really liked this place but after the whole Dai Li deal and with Lake Laogai, he felt like he needed some time out alone. Still he should have probably gone to the lower or middle ring, the upper rings were full of jerks. There were so many people who just stare and judge him for his clothing, they just didn't have good taste. Still walking the roads passing fancy buildings he eventually paused one building catching his eye.
The Jasmine Dragon, a huge exquisite building standing on a higher hill that gave a better view of the city. The building was a dark green and the doors were open, the smells of tea filling the area. Even though Sokka wasn't a tea guy he had to admit the smell was great. Walking up to the entrance he peeked inside to see a cozy area. There were multiple brown tables either square or round. The carpet was white with two golden dragons circling on it. Careful to not ruin the carpet he stepped around and sat at a small table.
" Hey Lee, can you cover table twelve for me ? " A girl spoke up as she balanced plates as she stepped into the back. Sokka must be sitting at table twelve, glancing down to see the number on the corner gave him the answer. He waited quietly counting his money as he felt the waiter standing beside him. Carefully looking up made the nice day he was having turn it into an unfair nightmare.
'You have got to be kidding me! Of all the tea shops I walk in, I walk into the one with the angsty honor obsessed Prince.' Sokka felt his nerves shoot up, he was already reaching for his weapon to beat him in the head.
Zuko didn't notice who he was serving, he just stared down at his book tired. He had gone into work extremely happy with a brand new start with his uncle but well he still must be tired from that day in Lake and the illness. Zuko carefully held up the menu, speaking the signature words, " Welcome to the Jasmine Dragon, how should we serve you today? " But right when he looked up he realized what kind of situation he was in. His eyes widened, finally meeting the cautious gaze of the water tribe boy, the boy opened his mouth to scream but Zuko could not have him ruining everything. He quickly reached over the table covering his mouth dropping the menus on the floor.
" Please don't scream, I don't want to cause a scene ! " he quietly hissed as Sokka glared and bit the hand covering his mouth. Zuko let out a yelp and pulled his hand away with a burning glare.
Sokka just sat up glaring at him, " What are you doing here Zuko. " He growled quietly as Zuko held back the urge to slap him.
" First, call me Lee. Second, I am here to work. " Zuko told him as Sokka just scoffed at his likely story. Why would Zuko even go to work in a tea shop, actually why is he in here instead of with his crew of something. He then paused and remembered the last time Sokka saw them.
Back in that abandoned city, where Zuko, Aang, and Azula fought. He watched Iroh fall to that lighting and Zuko stood over his body screaming. Those screams never really left him. Was Iroh dead ?
" Wait your Uncle ! Is he ok ? " Sokka sat up as Zuko slowly nodded yes looking confused until it suddenly hit him. " O yes, he is ok he is just in the back. "
Sokka sighed in relief, so Zuko wasn't alone. Wait no that's not good, Iroh was just as dangerous as Zuko, well even more dangerous.
Sokka just glared accusingly as he pointed right at Zuko chest, " Now how do I know this isn't some trick to get Aang. "
" I promise you it isn't. Just let me explain somewhere quieter ! " Zuko told him as he glanced around. People looked at the two of them confused by the interaction. Zuko looked desperate for Sokka to not blow his cover and Sokka could tell. " Just come to the back I promise I won't attack you just let me and Uncle explain everything. "
Sokka frowned, was that really safe ? Zuko could just knock him out and tie him up in the back. Still he decided to nod his head as he slowly stood up glaring at Zuko daring him to do something sketchy.
Zuko turned his back to Sokka, brave action, Sokka thought. He led him past the tables to the back where he stepped in first. The back was kinda small. He had a cooking stove where multiple different kinds of tea were being made. Unlike the serving area it wasn't so fancy. A big green couch on the corner to act like a resting area. The walls were a simple brown and with white details. Iroh was cooking as he was caught off guard by his nephew slamming the door open and shutting the shutters to the serving area quickly.
" Nephew what is the trou- " Iroh turned around to comfort Zuko only to pause and see Sokka standing right there waving.
Iroh hadn't responded in anger or glaring like Zuko had. He only smiled kindly as he turned to him, carefully wiping off his apron of flour. " It is good to see you again. "
Sokka just nodded, not saying it back. Apparently Iroh could notice the fear and just put his hands up to show he wasn't a threat, " I promise you we mean you know harm. "
" Then why are you here ? " Sokka argued back, his arms crossed.
Before Zuko could shout at Sokka for shutting up and actually listening, his Uncle held his arm up to stop Zuko from shouting.
" We are here not to hunt you, but to hide. We are hiding from Azula and the Fire Nation as refugees. " Iroh explained calmly as Sokka just scoffed at that.
" Come on I can't believe that you two are royalty there is no way the Fire Nation would harm you guys. " Sokka waved his hand.
That's when Zuko stepped up, his glare was dark " Do you really forget who Azula shot at ? It doesn't matter who we were, if we get caught we will either rot in the dungeon or be killed. "
Sokka paused hearing that, just staring at Iroh and Zuko as they stared at him. Sokka finally let out a sigh, " Ok so you guys are really not after Aang. "
Zuko just nodded " If we were I would have gone after him once he spread those papers about his bison being gone or just knocked you out and tied you up in the back. " Zuko left out how he freed the bison.
" You really know how to comfort people, don't you? " Sokka joked as Zuko just continued to glare.
Even though Sokka knew believing anything they said could be a death sentence. He couldn't help but look at them and tell, they were desperate. Despite Sokka's sane mind he thought of something, something completely insane but it would work.
" Ok ok here is the deal. '' Sokka spoke up making Zuko and Iroh look up, " I come by here every day to make sure you guys aren't doing evil fire nation stuff and I won't tell the Avatar nor anyone else you guys are here. "
" What ?! I can't have you stal- " Before Zuko could argue against Sokka, Iroh interrupted him, " We accept your terms. "
" But Uncle !- "
" You will also have one cup of free tea. "
" Uncle, we are trying to run a BUSINESS ! " Zuko argued, throwing his hands up, " Why are you giving him free tea for stalking us ?! "
Sokka just perked up hearing that, " Ooo free tea ! " He stopped himself once Zuko jerked his head over glaring still. Is that all he can do ?
Iroh just ignored his nephew and turned to Sokka, " We thank you for the deal. You don't know how much this helps hearing you won't tell anyone we are here. "
Sokka could still tell, still the guy believed in him to not tell anyone. Sokka nodded as the room turned to awkward silence. He eventually let out a cough and looked away, " Well I should go, it's um nice to meet you two again ? " He pointed at the door as he slowly slid out. Once he was out of the kitchen he sped walked to the exit and ran before Zuko or Iroh could change their minds and attack him.
Back in the kitchen Zuko stared at the door, his nerves shot, he reached up and grabbed at his hair, " We are doomed Uncle ! He is going to sell us out and we are going to be in Earth Nation jail ! "
" I don't think so, nephew, I feel like we can trust him. " His uncle calmly said as he poured a cup of tea for a customer and put it to the side.
Zuko just sighed as he slowly let go of his hair. No matter how much he wanted to scream and shout at his Uncle it wouldn't help. They would just have to trust the Avatar's friend. He picked up the plate of tea cups as he went to walk out and give it to a waiter. Still Zuko paused at the door and looked back at his Uncle.
" Why the free tea though ? " Zuko asked, tilting his head.
" Because we will also win his trust with tea. " Iroh said, determined as Zuko just rolled his eyes, mumbling something about leaf water walking out. No one could miss Iroh's shout of tea not being just leaf water.
Sokka arrived at the house late. As he walked in he was greeted with Katara and Aang at the table talking with each other. They giggled about something that Sokka didn't find too interesting. Before he could sneak past them Katara looked up, noticing him "gracefully" tip toeing up to the hallway.
" Hey Sokka ! Your back. " Katara smiled as Aang quickly looked back to see him, " So what did you do today ? "
" O um I went into a boring cafe. The food was all horrible and the tea was disgusting. " Sokka quickly made up. (Somewhere far off Iroh covers his chest in shock)
" O " Aang simply nodded as Sokka just smiled and quickly ran into the hallway. Once Sokka had disappeared in his room Aang and Katara looked back at each other with a blank look.
" He was definitely lying. " Katara said as Aang nodded to that. Eventually they moved on continuing the conversation.
Back in the room Sokka fell backwards on the bed. He stares up at the window as the stars twinkle in the sky. He moved, covering his face with a groan, ' Urgh what am I doing trusting them ! I should march back in there and tell them. ' But no matter how much Sokka thought about how he should, he couldn't find himself getting up and doing it. Sokka groaned, turning to his side, staring at the moon, " Hey Yue. Give me a sign to tell everyone Zuko is here. "
There was no sign. Not even a shooting star, only the blinking stars looking like a dancing fire. He sighed and turned back.
Ok he was going to be the nice guy, hopefully this wouldn't backfire in his face.
Sokka eventually got ready for bed and went to bed. The moon shone down on him and Zuko that night. Changing the events of timeline.