The cactus juice saga. Enjoy! I enjoyed writing this!
My head's underwater, but I'm breathing fine. You're crazy and I'm out of my mind. John Legend
Avatar Aang pulled the collar of his green earth kingdom tunic that Azula had suggested he wear for their first date. The tunic was somewhat suffocating as he enjoyed feeling the occasional breeze, but when the fire princess's eyes hungrily looked him up and down in his overly expensive Earth Kingdom attire, he decided the discomfort was worth it.
The princess was flawless as usual in an elaborate olive green dress that showed off her figure by amplifying her bosom and giving just enough exposure of leg to incite, but also leave the mind wondering. Fire Nationals were renowned for their expensive tastes, so it wasn't surprising that the princess glistened in gold from her earrings, necklace to brilliant bangles on both wrists. Instead of her usual pendant, she donned an emerald laced in gold hairpiece that matched the green tint that her eyes were taking in the dim restaurant with a single, blue flame from the candle she had sparked earlier.
Catching her lover staring across from her, Azula gave a smirk before speaking. "Are you enjoying yourself?"
Aang nodded, leaning in with his elbows resting on the table. "I was just thinking about how nice a betrothal necklace would look on you right now," he said, smoothly, making Azula look away towards other patrons enjoying the romantic setting.
"We've discussed this," she said, sharply.
Not wanting to ruin the mood, Aang swallowed and changed subjects quickly. "It was really nice of you to give Zaheer to Kiyi for a while. I think it would be good for him to spend time with his siblings".
The look followed by silence on the princess's part made the avatar unsure if their first date could get any worse. Small talk was not Azula's forte and though he had some practice with his ex-wife, he lacked confidence in romance.
"I'm full of surprises, I guess," said the princess, glancing around the restaurant, she snapped towards Haru serving other patrons. The man had yet to bring their ordered drinks in the past 15 minutes. "I would hate to create a national crisis in this lowly establishment, but I am quite parched. Should I fetch my own wares? If so, expect an ugly scene!"
"Azula!" Hissed Aang in a hushed voice. He could not help smirking at the princess's pout and folded arms. She was the cutest.
"Be a good lover and fetch him for me," she commanded.
Eyebrow raised, Aang asked teasingly. "Lover, hmm?"
"Yes! Well, should I say something else?"
"Boyfriend would be nice," he suggested.
Clicking her teeth with an eyeroll and poor ability to hide a small smirk, she responded. "Boyfriend sounds so…childish. We don't do childish things, Lover".
Aang could not help his blushing smile. As he was about to stand and retrieve Haru to appease Azula, the waiter hurried over with a grin. In his hands were water and an open cactus replica cup with a pink straw.
"Finally," grunted Azula, snatching her drink admiring the presentation before beginning to bring it towards her lips.
"Wait!" Cried Aang, making Azula stop midway and glare at him.
"I'm a big girl, Aang," she pointed out.
"Yes, yes, but it's just Katara said…" he started hurriedly.
"Katara!" Growled the princess. "You mean to tell me that peasant has tried this and you expect it to be too, what did you say…strong for me? Have you forgotten who I am!" With that she threw the pink straw at their waiter's mustache before guzzling the drink. "Mmm…wow, this is, well, thirst quenching, I must say," she commented staring into the bottom of the replica for more before turning it up again. "More!" She commanded with a satisfied, Ah!
Aang and Haru stared at the woman, mouths agape as she seemed quite composed.
"Wow, what a woman you have here, Aang," commented Haru. "No one here is even bold enough to try-" He stopped when the princess slumped forward, pupils suddenly wide and staring at her lover. "Uh, have fun, Buddy!" He concluded with a chuckle and a friendly punch of Aang's shoulder. "Dinner's on me tonight!" He added before scurrying away.
Aang watched him go before turning back to his princess, suddenly atop the table.
"Mmm, that was so…REFRESHING…QUENCHY? Is that a word?" She exclaimed, eyes shining. "Avatar come stand on the world with me! We are the strongest couple in the entire…whatever this place is. We will dominate the EARTH!"
As she spoke, patrons cowered as their candles incinerated in blue hues that burst towards the ceiling. Aang immediately hopped unto the table to calm down the prodigal firebender before she burned down the entire restaurant.
"It's the FIRE PRINCESS!" Someone screamed, causing everyone to scream and rush towards the exit.
"Azula, maybe we should-"
Grasping his collar, the princess stunned the avatar with a dramatic open-mouth kiss, silencing him instantly. Aang moaned as her hand slipped below his tunic and ventured downward. It was only when he remembered where they were that he grasped her wrist.
"Rough tonight, hmm? Oooooh, you are such a manly MAN!" She drawled, flickering his lip before twirling twice causing the hem of her dress to catch on fire.
Quickly bending his water, Aang was able to put out the fire, yet not before the princess hopped from the table with a hearty laugh and skipped through the chaos of frightened guests.
"Oh, yes! Set fire to the rain!" She sung, grasping a frightened, pretty earth kingdom woman. "Wanna join me and my boyfriend tonight, Honey?" She cooed with a flick of her tongue and a wink.
The girl gave a nervous chuckle before getting her braid viciously pulled by manicured fingers, inciting a scream. "Hmm, you are such a tease, Ty Lee!" Drawled Azula before shoving the woman away and hopping onto the stage, shooing the performing Rough Riders away as she bellowed to her panicking audience.
"Leaves from a vine, falling so slow!"
Aang used gusts of air to fly across several tables, avoiding collisions with enumerated patrons, bold enough to try the infamous juice, swayed by Azula's surprising lovely voice. Hopping onto the stage, finally, he attempted to reach the performing princess when the band fell into tune with her, calming the chaos, somewhat.
"Uh, excuse me, I need to get over there," he said, pointing to his princess.
Finally breaking through the band, he missed grasping Azula's elbow as she hopped from the stage to the bar singing to the top of her lungs. "There's a fire starting in my heart!"
The crowd cheered as she danced in a mesmerizing way. Even the exhausted avatar gaped as she performed like a professional. The princess was obviously multi-talented which incredibly made him more attracted to her.
The wall of the restaurant was suddenly dismantled as at least ten uniformed soldiers marched in adding to the chaos. Aang caught sight of Haru being grasped by the forearm.
"Hey! I just work here!" He cried, wriggling the guards' restraints.
"ATTENTION! CACTUS JUICE CONSUMPTION IS ILLEGAL! THIS RESTAURANT IS BEING RAIDED!"
Aang panicked as their eyes caught sight of the dancing princess obviously highly affected by the illegal drink.
"Oh, hello, Mr. Earthgrubber," she cooed, sweetly when a guard seized her arm. "My boyfriend won't like it if you bound me," she announced, laughing as though it was the funniest joke in the world.
The avatar hurried to stop the madness.
"Is she with you, Avatar?" Asked the soldier.
"Yes and he is too," answered Aang, pointing to the restrained Haru.
The man released both parties. Azula fell dramatically into Aang's arms, running her fingers along his beard.
"Why are you so wonderful, Boyfriend?" She cooed before her eyes rolled backwards along with her head over his shoulder.
The words warmed him despite their current dilemma. "Thanks, um, we should go now," he said, reddening.
The soldiers grimaced, obviously not amused. "You haven't been in our city for a day and you're disrupting order. King Bumi will hear about this!"
Aang gave an uncomfortable smile as he led the princess out of the restaurant.
#
The airbender safely led his princess away from the burning restaurant and crazed crowd without further disturbance.
"Aang, stop!" She screamed, making the young man pale as he dared to look towards where she was pointing in wide-eye awe.
Appa slept just outside of the restaurant. Azula shook from his grasp on her waist and skipped lightly to the bison, eyes completely glazed. "Oh…AGNI!" She gasped, feet dancing in a childish manner. "It's…a…giant…GUMMY BEAR POPPY!"
Raising an eyebrow, the avatar let out an exasperated sigh, walking over to the enumerated, mouthwatering princess. "It's Appa, Azula".
The statement fell on deaf ears as Azula broke into an original song. "Oooh, it's a gummy-poppy! Uh, huh a gummy poppy! Oh what a yummy, yummy, funny, lucky gummy poppy. It's a jelly poppy-"
"Azula!"
A low snicker caught his attention as Azula fell to her hands and knees, attempting to snort Appa's fur, alarming Aang at her accurate though unsuccessful attempt. Darting his eyes left, he spotted a regal, very traditional looking fire nation woman emerging from the shadows with a little girl, no older than five at her gliding heels.
"I would never have believed this unless I saw it myself. I heard rumors, but obviously you're bringing out the best in her. I should have gone after you, myself," joked Mai, gliding towards the avatar and the princess in a forest green gown.
Aang rubbed his neck and wrapped a protective arm around his princess at which she slumped into the crook of his neck. "Mmm…you smell soooo good, Aangy," she purred, making Mai uncontrollably laugh aloud as the avatar's face reddened.
"Uh, hi," he stuttered. "Yeah, it's been a while I guess".
"Tell me about it," grumbled the woman, looking down at the child, terrorizing Momo now. "Izumi! Stop that!" She hissed.
The little girl pouted as Momo escaped her death grip on his floppy ears. Aang regarded the child, who reminded him very much of his love. Obviously, her father was very fire nation like the knife-wielder and the princess. Aang was not surprised as most fire nationals were stoically against race mixing and given Mai's noble status, it was to be expected that she would take up with a fellow countryman.
"Oh, stop being dramatic," he scolded the lemur who had flown to sit atop his shoulder. "She just wanted to play". The stubborn animal refused to take chances, however.
"I see she still dabbles in poppies. You can thank Ty Lee. They were high as kites on the day of black sun. Well, until your fabled demise blew hers, of course. Remember, Azula?" She asked with a light chuckle.
Glass eyed, Azula beamed. "Mother!" She screamed, suddenly, nearly tackling the stoic woman. Looking to Aang, Mai mouthed, "Help?" Before petting her back in a motherly fashion.
Aang was attempting to pry the woman away when Haru approached the party.
"How goes it, Princess?" He inquired, still wearing his dumb, mustached smirk.
Unamused at the light-hearted, half-joke, Aang glared at the man, livid. "You think this is funny? What the fuck is wrong with you?" He hissed. "Azula could have been arrested!"
Surprised by the air nomad's diction. Haru gave wide eyes.
"Woah! Calm down, Aang. I was providing good customer service. It's my job".
Mai attempted to pull away from the princess's stronghold as she spoke. "Just a word of advice. Never treat Azula like a NORMAL…anything. Customer. Human. She's…ugh…not normal".
Aang finally pulled his love away, narrowing his eyes at the woman. "Mmm, hi, Daddy," purred Azula, obviously not confusing Aang with Ozai from her tone. "Aangy, have I been bad?"
Just adding: Gummy bear song referenced: my kindergarten side is showing some. Adele's Set Fire to the Rain and Rolling in the Deep along were also referenced. No ownership of songs or ATLA.