vi. coffee

.

.

.

"There are worse things," Katara concedes after the fact, "than being dragged out of bed before the sun rises for an emergency meeting."

It is now late afternoon, and the splotches of golden sunshine that melt through the window-screens of the Jasmine Dragon seem sleepy in the summer heat.

Zuko and Katara, taking advantage of the slump before the early evening rush, maintain the bare minimum of decorum at a table in the corner of the shop. It's too tiring to sit upright.

Negotiations with leaders of the Earth Kingdom's many provinces have dragged on for a week longer than originally planned, with the next phase of collaboration for former Fire Nation colonies about to start. The "emergency" meeting this morning had not been an emergency at all, nothing that couldn't have been discussed at a more reasonable hour, but still, they were dragged from their beds too early.

Zuko laughs, the sound low and rough. "Lots of things are worse." He yawns. "I still think we're getting more sleep here than we would if we were home."

"I miss the kids," Katara says, even as she nods in agreement and stifles her own yawn with a rueful smile, "even if being around them makes it seem like someone is always awake."

"Me, too."

The silence stretches as the last customer leaves and a lull emerges, but then Iroh walks over with a smile.

"This is new," he says, and passes a steaming cup of something that definitely does not smell like tea to both of them. "It's made from a bean from the southern Earth Kingdom, helps keep you awake. I know you two have a dinner to attend tonight, and you look like you're about to collapse."

"Thank you, Uncle," Katara says with a smile, but across from her, Zuko eyes the cup suspiciously before he picks it up.

"What is it?" he asks, reaching out slowly and raising it, breathing in the harsh scent before he takes a sip.

"It's coffee," Iroh replies, and the old man doesn't hide his smile as his nephew and niece both make disgusted faces after the first taste. "You get used to it," he adds generously.

"Thank you, Uncle." Zuko echoes Katara's reply politely, but Iroh only laughs and claps him on the shoulder.

Zuko goes into a coughing fit, and Katara has to cajole him before he finishes the cup.

.

.

.

tbc.