First I deeply apologize for my lack of updates AT ALL! I deeply neglected this story however the creative bug bit me and I had to write. For those who are keeping up with this, bless your souls! Haha quite long but here it goes! -A
Last night's tea still lingered on Aang's tongue. However, he figured, it wouldn't hurt to have another cup of it. After all, in Mizaki's own words this was going to be a long day. "It only keeps getting longer," Aang thought as he gulped down his cup of the tea. The Good Dragon was a popular tea restaurant, it was quite expensive and had a long history in Ba Sing Se. Aang had come here a couple times before, once he came with a girl who Mizaki had arranged a date with. She had been pretty but also clueless and snobbish. He also once came with Katara for an impromptu meeting, it had been when Katara had lived shortly in the Earth Kingdom. She seemed happier back then, cheery, and even though they had already broken up by then, her company gave Aang a little hope. Although he admitted to himself that it was possible Katara had been seeing someone in Ba Sing Se (or had had an affair with someone, that's what the rumors said). Aang didn't care for rumors, he believed people talked too much already.
Everyone talks so much in the Union, Aang thought softly. He was so busy thinking about other problems he hadn't notice his splitting headache. He also realized how stronger than last night's ginger tea had been Good Dragon's tea. He rubbed his bald head and sighed. He just wished this evening would go quickly and painlessly, after all what was tea with the delegates without the usual arguing and tea tossing.
As he stared across the lively tea room, he noticed a woman approaching him, she had vivid eyes and a sharp bone structure. Nakoto, the Fire Nation Delegate, was always precisely ten minutes early to every event since the Avatar knew her. Nakoto gave him a quick artificial grin that reveal two set of sharp teeth, her grin fit her personality perfectly. "My dearest Avatar," she said gracefully, "I am afraid I won't stay long for this tea meeting." She sat down swiftly and snapped her fingers at the waiter. He came right away, "What will it be,my lady?" the waiter asked. Her narrow eyes glanced only at the menu and her mouth said slowly,"Blood Red Tea, with ginger spice,please." "Interesting choice," Aang tried to say casually. "Oh, now,now we should all spice up our lives once in awhile,right?" she replied sincerely. "Agreed." Aang muttered as he sipped his second cup Good Dragon's tea. I been spicing up my life too much, Aang thought. "You need some kick in your life,boy!" Mizaki had said, well Aang had enough kick already. His mind trailed off, and he found himself thinking about last night's incident,except now he surprisingly felt neutral about it, not outraged.
"Avatar?" Nakoto asked. "Um, yes, what?" Aang said quickly. "You seem a little... off today. Am I right? Or am I not?" Nakoto asked well rather said. She gave him a swift pity glance. "Oh,no,no, I was just thinking about today's meeting," he lied. Aang realized Toph and everything would have to wait until this evening was over. "Oh yes, the meeting," she said letting her sharp grin show. Her face went sour again and she said,"Pretentious baffun that minister is. If you don't mind me saying it." "Well everyone's entitled to their opinions of others," Aang said naturally,it was a monk belief and stuck to it. "Yes, yes, I suppose…" she added as a matter-of-fact.
They were next interrupted with the waiter who carried Nakoto's tea. "Be careful, it's quite hot," the waiter said out of routine. "Oh, don't worry, heat only burns those who cannot stand it. I'm not one of those," Nakoto replied taking a sip of her burning hot tea. Aang was impressed but incredibly surprised, Iroh could probably do that too. "And you, Mister Avatar, more Ginger tea?" he asked. "I supposed that will do," Aang replied politely. As the waiter left, Aang addressed Nakoto," I'm surprised at your choice,actually. I never had Blood Red tea, it seems rather strong in my taste." Nakoto nodded at Aang's statement.
"Well,actually the Blood Red tea is merely called because of the bright red color of it," she said dully. "But the making of the tea is rather hazed." She added slyly. "Isn't it red rose tea with red nectarine extract?" Aang asked casually. "No, it is red rose,yes but not the tea but the concentrate of it, concentrate which comes after the rose is bathed in animal juices, sometimes blood in cases, I have heard. However you cannot prove this because the blood taste is supposedly expelled away from the strong red nectarine extract," Nakoto said and took a sip of her 'bloody' tea. Aang gulped, not of disgust but discontent. He was a vegetarian and was deeply hurt when animal deaths were mentioned. He tried to smile artificially, but he only managed to get out a small smirk. Nakoto smile widen, "Did that upset your stomach,young Avatar?" "Not at all," Aang said sternly.
Out of the crowd, a woman appeared with blue attire and her hair neatly place in a ponytail. It was Katara, the Water Delegate, with her usual warm disposition and good-natured smile. "Sorry, I'm late," she said sincerely. Aang's stomach did a flip flop and his smile arouse, Katara made everything better. Nakoto quickly smiled and said charismatically,"Oh not at all,my dear, you're just on time, come here,sit!"
She pulled a chair and Katara sat neatly. She gave Aang a sweet smile which melted away all thought of red tea and animal blood. Aang looked down for he felt his face getting pink. "So I see you already started tea without me!" Katara said happily. "Oh pardon me, Miss Katara, I have no intention to stay,you see. Therefore I wanted to take a sip of some good tea before the baboon of Minister Zhing arrives!" Nakoto said almost exasperated. "Oh,well, he certainly isn't that horrible. I know he's tough, Lady Nakoto, but he is very respected and is very intelligent, I can assure you." Katara said with an honest touch,this didn't not satisfy Nakoto. "My dear, intelligence is relevant, you see," she said taking a small gulp of tea. "Some tea,Miss Katara?" the waiter asked as he walked near the table. "Jasmine,please," Katara said pleasantly. Jasmine with cherry blossom extract, Aang thought, her favourite, but no cherry blossoms this time? He looked rather concerned at Katara, he wondered how much she had change since they last saw each other. "Did you already have some tea,Aang?" she asked curiously.
"Oh yes, Ginger," he replied. "Ginger? Isn't that a bit too strong for you?" Katara said concerned. Yes that was Katara for you, always so motherly. Sometimes it was comforting but Aang admitted it could be overwhelming at times. He admitted he didn't care at all though, he had loved too much to have cared. He smiled at Katara question. "Well, not precisely, I have had stronger things before," he said in a-matter-of-fact tone. His mind quickly glimpsed at last night's scene, the girl on the couch who turned out to be Toph and too much Fire whisky, he nodded to himself. Katara laughed lightly, "Oh well I do not know of this Avatar's wild escapades!" Aang bit his lip, wild escapades,indeed. Nakoto let out a loud chuckle, "Oh don't be silly Katara, I doubt Avatar Aang has any escapades, and if he does I doubt they're wild!"
Perhaps it amused Nakoto that Avatar Aang being a monk would know anything about escapades, but Aang did, he did after last night anyway. "Now there, there, that was good laugh," Nakoto said almost to herself. "Now, I must retire," she said taking the last sip of her tea and standing up rather gracefully. "Oh,so soon?" Katara asked. "Yes, I'm afraid I have other matters to attend, not just avoiding that clown Minister," Nakoto said sharply. "Which matters may I ask?" Aang asked politely yet a decent amount of curiousity. "Oh Avatar, Fire Nation things which do not include matters of the Union," she said flashing her sharp grin. "Good day to both," she said as she graciously left the table. "Well isn't she a piece of work?" Katara said casually.
"Yeah, I admit I was scared of her when I met her," Aang confessed while he glanced at the tiny puddle of Blood Red tea left in her cup. She still does, Aang thought. "Yes, she's quite intimidating," Katara said as the waiter placed their drinks on the table. Katara held her drink, she smelled it softly. "But anyway, what's up with you?" she asked quickly. Aang nearly gulped out his drink, he managed to control himself and gave out an artificial chuckle. "What do you mean?" he said trying to be natural. "You know, you been acting kind of…spaced out, I mean more than usual,lately." Katara said blowing on her cup of Jasmine tea. Aang laughed silently at the 'more than usual', Katara still understood him on some level. "It's just all this Union stuff," Aang said and it came out naturally actually, he even gave a sigh unaware. "Oh, were all worried about the Union," Katara said sipping quietly her tea. She knew such matters were better best discussed quietly and in a not so crowded room. "I worry a lot more frequently nowadays," she said sincerely letting out a soft sigh. "There's just so much problems now," Katara admitted sadly,"fights, arguments,lands, power debates, it's all too much for me sometimes."
Aang held out his hand and placed it eagerly over Katara. "Don't worry, it'll work out, I feel like that all the time." Aang said smiling. "Sometimes you just need to let all sink it, go crazy a bit and get back to it," he added. Katara smiled, "that's true,Aang." "I guess I am in so much stress lately, there's been a decrease of salmon in the North Pole and the economy is really going down, and on top of that Gran Gran wants me to get married…" Katara said all in a breath. Aang jerked a little at the idea of Katara getting married, he asked,"You're not going to right?" Katara grinned and nodded,"No, I'm not ready yet, I was too young then…" She looked at Aang with sorrowful eyes and she said,"I am too young now."
"Well,I'm kind of the same boat, with Mizaki, I mean," Aang said painfully. "Ah, you are?" Katara said letting out a slight giggle. "That's funny,Aang, well you'll find someone right for you and I will,too, someday," Katara said hopefully. It hurt to think of Katara finding someone right for her and he hated the fact that she still thought he wasn't good enough for her. Aang frowned a bit, he was never going to be enough for her. Katara held his hand stronger, "You're a good friend,Aang."
Aang managed to smile meekly and suddenly a voice interrupted their conversation, "Good evening, Miss Katara and Avatar Aang." Katara let go of Aang's hand quickly. She composed herself as she greeted Minister Zhing,the Earth Kingdom delegate. "Oh Minister Zhing, how lovely for you to join us!" Katara said politely. Aang nodded and added,"Please have a sit." "I'm afraid I shall not,dear Avatar." Minister Zhing said as a-matter-of-fact, he did smile lightly at him. "I have an impromptu meeting with the King, whom I am aware you are having dinner tonight," Minister Zhing said sternly. "Although a delegate meeting is necessary and important, other matters have a slight more urgency, " he said giving the word slight an emphasis. "Lady Nakoto must of noticed that as well," Minister Zhing added while he looked at the empty sit. "Anyhow," he continued,"I will be seeing you tonight at the King's Annual Dinner, Avatar Aang." Aang nodded,"Yes, I believe so,Minister Zhing, I completely understand you have other matters to attend." He smiled and nodded,"I'm glad you are a man of noblility and knowledge,good qualities in a young man!" Aang was embarrassed at the remark but Katara nodded agreeing with Zhing. "Anyhoo, I must leave now. Good day Miss Katara and til we meet again Avatar Aang," Minister Zhing leaving the premises. As he left, Aang said to Katara,"Well there goes another delegate meeting! At least there was no spilled tea or blood." Katara laughed,"I guess so."
Katara took another gulp of her tea and said,"so dinner at the King's? Say that's bit fancy for you." "Haha, I have wild escapades and fancy dinners,right?" Aang said playfully. "Yes, you're life has changed,a lot! And you have,too!" Katara replied with the same playfulness. "I have?" Aang said taking another gulp of his tea as well. "Yes,you're much more happy now!" Katara said, she realized how honest she had been when Aang quieted down. "Well,nothing's changed with me," he said half lying, half sincere. Nothing had changed yet everything has, he thought. Katara smiled ashamefully and finally added,"In any case, whatever you're doing , it's working." Aang gave a small grin and immersed his thoughts into last night quickly before Katara could noticed. Wild escapades are doing me good, he said to himself. Katara finished her last gulp of tea. She swallowed and asked curiously,"And, about that dinner? Who's your mystery date?" Aang had his last sip of tea and realized it tasted like last night's tea. It was last night's tea,alright.