I'm not entirely sure what a fire flake is supposed to look like. I'm picturing, like, french fries?

Well, that last chapter was review-less. And guys, it's not necessary that you review, per se, but it's not like it's discouraged. Eh? Eh? Whaddaya say


"How could they not serve tea?!" Iroh laments dramatically.

"It's not that kind of place," Zuko reminds him irritably. "Fire flakes don't typically pair well with tea."

"Are you suggesting there is a substance in this world that does not go well with tea!" Iroh gasps.

Zuko huffs. "Are you going to drink your water or not?"

"How can they have water without tea? That's already half of the tea!"

Zuko pouts at the display, claiming another fire flake from the bowl they share. He sits across from his Uncle crammed into the back corner of the restaurant. When he took down his topknot and dressed in basic clothing, he could often get away with not being accosted in the streets with people asking for favors or commenting on something political. However, with a rather definitive scar on his face, it didn't hurt to keep to the shadows when he wanted a day out.

"Hey," Iroh pipes up, peering over Zuko's shoulder. "Isn't that your ladyfriend, Mai?"

"Probably," Zuko shrugs. "This is a popular restaurant."

"And is that your friend, Katara?"

Zuko raises a brow, and then peers over his own shoulder. Sure enough, on the other side of the restauraunt, Katara and Aang sit across from each other engaged in conversation with Ty Lee and Mai at a different table.

"Yeah, it is," Zuko confirms. "I wonder what they're doing here."

"Well, they're not drinking tea," Iroh pouts.


". . . and that's why there should be more circuses in the fire nation," Ty Lee concludes.

"That's . . . really interesting, Ty Lee," Katara offers.

Aang raises an eyebrow at her. She shrugs minutely.

"It's really not, though," Mai drones, twirling a fire flake in front of her face. She's never really cared for the food. She's mostly here for Ty Lee's benefit, not that she plans on admitting that.

Ty Lee pouts at her story's reception. It's clear that none of them believe she's aware of this reception, but she decides not to call out anyone on their attitude. She's moves on to another subject swiftly.

"So the whole thing with Azula is weird, right?"

Three dumbfounded stares meet her, along with a complementary silence.

Aang is the one who finally speaks, cautiously. ". . . Weird isn't the word I'd use."

"I'd say it's more like . . ." Mai trails off of whatever rude thing she was about to utter, but she faintly hears a familiar voice from behind her. She peeks over her shoulder and catches sight of her boyfriend sitting across from his Uncle. "Well, isn't this a party," she comments.

Katara looks to see what she's talking about and beams. Wonderful! Something else to repel the Aang-relationship conversation!

Zuko's already looking at her. She smiles, and he gives a weak wave. She knows better than to call him over here. No need to draw attention to the firelord when he's trying to have a nice meal with his Uncle.

His Uncle, however, notices Zuko's gaze. He immediately rises to his feet. He starts to shuffle towards the groups and Zuko, reluctantly, rises to shuffle after him, sweeping up their bowl.

"Hey, guys," he greets without waving, standing next to his girlfriend.

"Hey," Mai greets, not looking up at him. It's not out of malice or anything that she avoids eye contact. It's just . . . not totally necessary.

"Hi, Zuko," Ty Lee waves enthusiastically. Katara echoes her, a peg less cheerful, and Aang a moment later.

"Mind if we join you all?" Uncle beams.

"Oh, we're not all here together," Katara amends.

"Could you tell from the large table separating our groups?" Mai gestures in front of her.

"Well, that table fits Zuko and I nicely, then, don't you think?" Iroh comments. She promptly seats himself down behind the Avatar. Zuko shortly sits across from him. The six people, everyone sitting across from their respective companion, now form a line across the restaurant, ordered Mai, Ty Lee, Zuko, Iroh, Aang, and finally, Katara.

"Well, isn't this lovely," Mai drones.

"I hear ya," Aang grumbles, still disappointed.

Iroh ignores the complaints and starts up a conversation. "Fire flakes, eh? Good stuff. They don't make 'em like this back in the Earth Kingdom."

"Wow," Mai grumbles. "The Fire Nation making better fire flakes than the Earth Kingdom. Who saw that coming?"

"Come to think of it," Iroh ponders, "I don't think they ever even served fire flakes."

"Fire. Fire flakes. Fire nation. It's in the name," Mai presses. "Is that seriously that difficult to grasp?"

"Mai, back off," Katara tries to whisper to the girl, but they are sitting the farthest apart. Mai can't hear her.

"I don't see why they Earth Kingdom couldn't make fire flakes of their own?" Iroh contemplates.

"They probably have more important things to occupy their time," Mai drones on, "like the state of the world."

"Well, they certainly find the time to make tea," Iroh comments, "unlike, some places."

"Is food and drink all you care about?" Mai scowls.

"Would you mind showing my Uncle a bit of respect?" Zuko snaps, craning his neck in an attempt to face her.

The group goes silent. They all wait, anticipating Mai's response.

Mai considers rolling her eyes and brushing off his comment, but it's Zuko she's talking to. She doesn't want to lose him again. Come to think of it, she had been speaking harshly, but that's habit for her at this point.

"'Kay," she replies, hastily biting into another fire flake.

Iroh chews on his own fire flake, a Cheshire grin on his face. To Mai, he probably seems oblivious to her bad attitude, but Zuko knows him too well. He knows his Uncle noticed, and is merely choosing not to show any hurt feelings for everyone's benefit.

And unbeknownst to any of the group, Ty Lee notices it, too. She knows what it's like to act like that.

Katara decides now's a good time to break the tension. No talking of Azula, or Zuko's M.I.A. mom, or relationship statuses, or how anyone is feeling.

"So, isn't it weird how this place doesn't serve tea?" is what she comes up with.

Iroh beams. Zuko sighs heavily, although he smiles, as he prepares for the onslaught of tea-logic. He doesn't cut in, this time, though.

From where he's sitting, Zuko and Katara can look at each other fairly easily. They meet eyes, and Zuko offers her a small smile.

Thanks, he mouths.

Katara smiles weakly, flustered. She shrugs like it's not a big deal. And it's not. It's almost second nature. Mai's habit is harshness, and Katara's is kindness.

Still, it's nice to be thanked for it.

As Iroh starts up talking about various kinds of tea, she adds, you're welcome, mouthing it like he had.