*crashes through ceiling into floor* Uhhg, Hi. So yeah this story is not dead, just took me forever and a half to get back to it but I did. YAY *confetti flies everywhere* Anyway, in response to a comment by Amakatsu this story is indeed less focused on any sort of plot and more around the thoughts and emotions of Azula as she comes to grips with herself, and yah know Ty Lee of course, which I will get to but I feel I need to build just a little bit to that. So I guess this is more a story of interlinking moments throughout which Azula will attempt to regain her grip on reality and possibly her love for Ty Lee. OK THEN! Nuff spoilers, here is the chapter, enjoy.

Disclaimer (cause i always forget this) I font own Avatar the Last Airbender and I in no way am using this illegally under the fair use and entertainment clause, etc etc.

The entire world was full of idiots, of that there was no doubt. That is at least what Azula believed at the moment, for she had just been informed of what she would be doing to be "rehabilitated" or whatever it was the doctor had called it. She cared little for the finer details at the moment because more than anything she was infuriated. This wasn't the same type of anger she felt most of the time. This was more a feeling of complete horror. Horror at the idea of what she would have to do, and did it ever scare her.

"You want me to what!" Azula roared at Zuko, the Fire lord stood calmly in front of her as she continued to vent her anger.

Despite her earlier episode in front of Zuko, the Fire Lord was still convinced that Azula would be able to handle the tasks that she would be put through to ensure she was well enough to convince the rest of the council that there was no need for an execution.

"You heard me perfectly fine, so I don't see what the issue is. The doctor believes that exposing you to people in a controllable environment would be good for you. It would help you deal with people again, or at least that's the idea." Zuko said calmly as he sipped at a cup of tea.

"That is a stupid plan. You are a complete idiot if you believe I am going to do that." Azula hissed back.

Zuko blinked several times as he attempted to remain composed in the face of Azula's, well for lack of a better word, childlike tantrum. It had always been this way in some shape or form. If Azula couldn't have it her way she would threaten, manipulate, or throw a fit. Seeing as how neither of the first two would work she had resorted to the latter. Zuko however was somewhat used to his sister and he understood better than most that she was more or less out of options.

"You are going to do this." Zuko said calmly as he watched his sister pace about fuming.

"Why in the flaming hell would I!" Azula spat.

"Because if you don't, you are going to be executed on the grounds of being a traitor to the current Fire Lord and for war crimes, that's why."

At this Azula fell silent. It was not that she detested work as much as she was unsettled by the idea of it. Being around people had never been a thing she had been good at. Acting as though she was comfortable around people she could do, but be around them for long periods of time, the idea of it gave her shivers. That and she had no idea if she could handle it mentally, for what she feared more than anything would be to have a breakdown in public; to lose control entirely and have no power over her actions. That loss of control, that paralyzing fear of being unable to be in control of her own body was what frightened Azula more than anything.

"Look, it won't be as bad as you think," Zuka said softly, as though trying to convince a wolf to accept proffered meat without attacking "It's simple really, you will work in a public place, but it will be a small place that not to many people frequent. It quite and out of the way, it a good way to do things, trust me."

Azula snorted at the last bit, but she had to admit that being out in public, at least somewhere relatively calm was a much better alternative than being killed. With a sigh the black haired princess nodded, albeit with a frown upon her brow. However a though struck her that she had not considered before.

"Zuko, wont I be recognized?" Azula asked with only the slightest hint of worry in her voice. For this fear had been nagging at her for a while, although for more reasons than it one would assume at first glance.

"Most people think your still locked up, and those who do know your free aren't about to go around talking about it. Why would you be worried though, if someone tried something you can take care of yourself I know that much." Zuko said however there was a note of concern in his voice. "You can take care of yourself can't you?"

Azula froze where she was, for this is what she had been afraid he would ask from the moment the idea was proposed. There was no way around it though, nothing to do but to tell him what had been rotting her insides.

"I-I can't… I can't bend anymore." Azula said, voice shaking slightly at the implications of saying such a thing aloud.

For Azula being a fire bender was such a vital part of who she was, to no longer have it… it was as if someone had torn a piece of her away. Here she stood among people who were now more powerful than her, and the very thought tormented her.

"Hehehe, what a surprise. Weak, powerless, a failure, no wonder your father never loved you."

"Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shutupshutupshutupshutup…"

Azula gritted her teeth and shut her eyes, willing the voice away with all her might. She would not give it any satisfaction with a response, none at all. When she no longer felt its oily presence pressing against her skull she breathed out slowly. Zuko was looking at her thoughtfully and had one hand resting on his chin.

"That won't be a problem I believe. If you like I could have someone watch out for you." Zuko said with a small shrug.

"No." Azula snapped fiercely. She refused to allow another person to be in charge of guarding her life, she may have lost her bending but she would not stoop so low as that, ever. "You said this place was out of the way, then I don't want someone watching me, got it?"

"That's the deal, I work there to satisfy this idiot doctor that I'm better and you don't have someone spy on me." The black haired girl growled at her brother. She didn't like this deal at all but she had no choice, so better to have it on her own terms.

"Good, you can leave shortly, I'll have the captain show you were it is." Zuko said, internally pleased to have convinced Azula to do as the doctor had ordered.

"One thing though," Azula said suddenly "Where exactly am I working?"

A sly grin came across Zuko's face. "Azula, I assume you're familiar with Uncle's love of tea?"

"Well yes but I-"Azula began before stopping suddenly, eyes going wide, "You have to be fucking joking." Zuko only grinned wider.

The Tea shop that the black haired princess stood before was even more well hidden than she had been first lead to believe, indeed if it had not been for captain Ren showing her the way she would never had found it. On one hand she was still furious at her brother for tricking her into this ridiculous plan and at the captain for simply leaving her standing in the middle of the street in front of a tea house, but on the other she didn't have to worry about many people. In the wee hours of the morning only a shadow of the cities inhabitants walked the streets. It was also fortunate that the sun had yet to come out in the early hours of the morning, for the bright light it gave still made her eyes water with pain.

With a sigh she looked up at the small establishment. It was nothing terribly exciting, having nothing more than a small hanging sign of a tea pot, with the characters for tea written under it. The building itself was also not much to look at, a cleanly shingled room of black slate done in the traditional style, with the outside being of a soft green color. Standing firmly in the center of the building was a single wooden door with an open sign placed upon it. Shaking her head at the sheer lunacy of the all of it, Azula grasped the metal knob on the door and gave it a twist.

As she walked in, Azula was struck by the comforting feel of the small tea house. The room was warm while not being to brightly lit, of which she was thankful, and had a soothing atmosphere about it. A pleasant aroma of jasmine, mint, and clover invaded her sense and brought a soothing feeling to the princess. As for the inside of the building itself, cushions of various color and design lay on the floor surrounding low wooden tables. The tables being made of a pleasing dark wood of some sort, Azula was not sure of what, and bore slight scratches upon their surface as if to show their use. A small counter lay tucked into one side of the room with a door leading into a back area and with only a few windows on either side of the wall. The place had a warm and safe feel to it, though Azula would loathe admitting it, and it was actually pleasant to be in here. It almost brought a small smile to the black haired princess face, almost that is.

Her enjoyment was quickly interrupted however, when an overly cheerful voice rang out from behind the counter.

"Ahh Azula, good to see you!" The voice cried happily. Azula knew this voice, and it made her cringe.

"Damn you to hell Zuko." Azula grumbled internally before taking breath and looking at the speaker.

Standing behind the counter was none other than her uncle Iroh, and despite the time that had passed since she had last seen him he looked the same as ever. Although he was dressed in nothing more than simple robes of crimson he still appeared the same. His hair was still held up in a small bun atop his head with the rest simply falling over his shoulder in a fray mass. His beard and sideburn hadn't changed at all either, it was if time had chosen to preserve the man, and now it was simply using it to torment Azula.

"Uncle Iroh." Azula said stiffly, trying as hard as she could to keep herself from hitting her overly irritating uncle. "So, I'm going to be working here then." She continued teeth still grinding.

"Yes, and I am happy to have someone working here with me, well besides Zuko that is, although he made terrible tea!" Iroh said happily, beaming at his niece. "well then, shall we get started? It's still early and I would like to help you get your bearing before everything actually picks up. You know how to make tea I assume?"

"Uhh…"

"No matter, I can make the tea, but you will have to serve it until my other assistant arrives, that is if you are up to it." Iroh said in a dismissive manner.

Azula's eye twitched in annoyance at the idea of being unable to handle something.

"Yes I will be fine thank you." Azula snapped aggressively, causing her uncle to chuckle in amusement.

"Good to see you haven't lost your personality." Iroh joked, earning a vicious glare from his niece. "Well at any rate, I will show you were everything is, and then when my assistant arrives she can show you how to serve the tea properly."

The golden eyed woman could tell that it would take an extreme amount of control not to punch her uncle in the face, but if she had to show she could control herself what choice did she have? With this in mind Azula readied a reply however before she could respond the door to the shop opened and a thin girl with long black hair and blue eyes walked in.

"Ahh Yumi, good you're finally here."

TEA, TEA EVERYWHERE! I love tea myself, so I though hmm who else loves tea GASP Iroh loves tea! Time for a tea house, F*CK yeah! So yeah I think I will try and keep this story fairly short but I will begin updating again. So yeah, later.

Draconian Calocor OUT!