Author's Note: Hi all, Argon here, this is my first posting of all my AtLA stuff over from AO3 to here so that the AtLA community here can enjoy it as well! This is a nice and fluffy fic, so I hope you enjoy it! Please read and review!
Chapter 1: Shopping!
Oh great, Zuzu was cooking tonight. Azula knew the Fire Lord misspent his time in many ways but learning how to cook was not one of them. Her stomach would need to prepare itself for this disaster, and fast. She still remembered when their Uncle got food poisoning from Zuzu's culinary misadventures a few weeks back. Azula would not make the same mistake.
Making her way to Zuko's personal kitchen, she readied herself for the smell. Last time she was here, well… it smelled much less of a restaurant kitchen and much more of a violent Agni Kai. And that would likely have been more organised, too. What dear old Zuzu's cooking tonight, Azula dared not venture to guess.
Nearing the kitchen itself, the smell was… pleasant, much to her surprise. Normally, when her brother was in, the servants were out. By a fifty-mile radius. But this time, this time something was very different. Would Zuko stoop so low as to pass off someone else's cooking as his? Because surely, not even a force of nature could change his cooking powers so rapidly.
But instead of a flaming mess, Azula found there was order and calm in his kitchen. This felt very, very wrong.
"Good of you to be here tonight, Azula."
"As if I had any other choice, Zuzu."
She was right. A dinner invitation from Zuko, that she would ignore safely. An official dinner invitation from the Fire Lord, that could not be ignored. Not even a Princess could do that.
"Well, the food's almost ready. Get yourself seated in the dining room, will you?"
Azula made herself at relative home in the dining room. As comfortable as she could be in this situation. Solitary dining was her preference. Solitary anything, really. It was now that she heard some heavy steps coming from the kitchen. Oh dear.
"Dinner's ready!" Zuko announced as he carried a rather large tray. "You'll actually like it this time, I guarantee it."
"I doubt it, Zuzu. Remember what happened with Uncle?"
"That was just one time! This is different!"
"Hired a new private chef, then?"
"I learned how to actually cook, Azula. Slight difference."
"Well, let's see it then. What did you make today, Zuzu?"
"This is just the first course, Azula. I hope you're one for some onion soup?"
Azula knew exactly what dish Zuko was suggesting. Much to her chagrin, it seemed he would be defiling one of her favourite soups tonight.
"I can't turn down the Fire Lord now, can I? Just one bowl, please."
The smell was… Azula had no other choice but to consider it somewhat good. If not... amazing, even. It was exactly as she would have wanted it made in any fine restaurant. A quick taste of the piping-hot bowl confirmed this. By this point it was rather clear Zuko had indeed hired some private chef and pretended to pass it off as his. Whoever they were, they deserved all the compliments.
Agni, there was not a single thing wrong with the soup! Everything was right, from the consistency to the flavour, to just the right amount of cheese on top! She wasn't about to ask for more, though, as that would give Zuko just a slight impression she was enjoying the meal.
"So, how's my soup? Is it up to your standards?"
"For a first time, Zuzu, it's not bad. You could do better though, for a simple soup like this."
That was a lie. Azula knew little of cooking, but she was rather sure this was as good as onion soup could get. How Zuko got it to be this way, she shall find out. She must find out.
"Well, there's always more if you want some."
"No thank you. I'll wait for the next course, if there is one?"
"There is, actually. If you're one for some fried rice? I know it's a strange combo, soup and then fried rice, but I think it works."
Whichever private chef Zuko hired seemed to have a very warped idea of a three-course dinner then. That or they're one of those eccentric chefs who feel they must break all the rules of eating to be cool.
"Might as well, Zuzu."
Her brother dashed into the kitchen and returned with a wok full of what was likely some of the best fried rice ever, simply from the smell of it. Again, another favourite of hers was on the table. Once is a coincidence but twice is, well, it's a worrying pattern, she thought.
"A proper egg fried rice, with pork and a variety of vegetables. Bon appetit!"
A bite again confirmed Azula's idea that Zuko hired someone to do all of this for him. Compared to his Iroh-poisoning last attempt, this was… heavenly. If not for all her rigorous training in etiquette, she would have wolfed down the entire wok's worth. But she had more self-control than that. She finished her portion in silence, seeing as she wasn't about to give Zuko any satisfaction for what he certainly did not, and could not make.
"So, how was that then? Good? Bad? Eh?"
"Brother dear, you have to stop prodding me after every bite I take, you know. But if you must ask, it was relatively acceptable. Relative to your last attempt at cooking, that is. How can I be sure you haven't given me food poisoning somehow?"
"Well, whatever happened to Uncle last time did not happen today, I can assure you that."
"I'm sure you can. What's for dessert then, Zuzu?"
"Crème brûlée. I learned how to make those the right way, for once."
Azula's memories of the last time Zuko tried to make that dessert resurfaced, and she almost retched.
"I still remember the stomach-ache you gave everyone who ate that, Zuko. What proof do I have that you won't ruin them this time?"
"Trust me, it is different this time. Would you like to do the sugar glaze?"
"How very nice of you to offer. Hand it over."
Azula watched as her brother sprinkled over her crème a fine layer of sugar. Something has changed indeed. Last time he tried it, Zuko poured the sugar on in heaps! She lit herself a calm, measured blue flame and began to let the sugar melt. She may not know much about cooking, but crèmes were one of her favourites and she had to know how to properly glaze them, at least. She found Zuko having just a bit more trouble with his own crème, seeing as his orange flame was inconsistent, as usual. Even as Fire Lord he would not have proper fine control over his powers. Such a shame.
As for the taste of the dish, again she could not find any way to assail it. It was beyond reproach. Flawless. Perfect. Absolutely perfect. By this time, she knew she had to force Zuko to drop the charade.
"So, brother dear, congratulations on an… acceptable meal. Now tell me the truth."
"What? What about it?"
"Did you or did you not make all this yourself?"
"Y-yes. Why?"
The slight twitch in his voice would suggest he lied. Zuko almost never lied, honest man as he was. But he had his tells. This was at least one.
"With or without an… outside influence?"
"Azula, I cooked it all myself. Promise."
"Last time you cooked, Iroh had indigestion for a month. And yet you manage to apparently cook a perfect, restaurant-quality meal in… Agni knows how long. What changed?"
"Restaurant quality, you say? I guess I'll have to thank th-"
There's the slip-up that Azula needed. Very nice of her brother to be so easy to trip up.
"Thank who, Zuzu? I knew you had someone do this all for you, and you just confirmed it for me."
"I—I…I-uhh… It's not what you think it is, Azula."
"Is it? Not even a force of nature could turn you around so… violently."
"I promise you, I did not hire anyone to cook for me."
A truth? Zuko was indeed telling the truth, from what Azula could dissect of what he said.
"So what changed then? Clearly you had some, if not a lot of help. At least, that's what was needed to fix your whole poisoning scheme."
"I-I-I… I had help, yes."
How was her brother so… malleable? All it took her was a few seconds of grilling and guiding and here he was spilling the beans!
"And who would this help be? Not a hired chef, you've said that, but who?"
"I—uh… I got some help from the Avatar. Aang… he gave me a crash course on how to cook last week, and I've been practising since."
Oh. Now that, that was something Azula never saw coming.
"The… Avatar? I didn't know he was a chef."
"A very good one, Azula. He fixed most of my mistakes in a day! And the rest only took a few minutes to iron out."
So, it did take a force of nature to resolve Zuko's culinary mistakes after all. Or something close to it, from what Azula knew of the Avatar. After all, defeating her father in combat was one thing, defeating him at the height of the Comet, that would have meant… She would never show it, but such a display of power would have made her just the slightest bit nervous.
Of course, seeing as her brother now has another edge over her, this time in the art of cooking, it was necessary for her to regain the advantage. That… that would mean dealing with the Avatar. Oh dear. Azula swallowed her pride and began to consider her options. Would he even accept her... proposition? After all, they weren't exactly on the best of terms, even after her so-called rehabilitation.
"So where would you… find the Avatar these days, Zuzu?"
"I hope you're not up to anything, Azula. Unless you want him to teach you how to cook as well?"
"Something like that, yes."
"Azula, do be nice to Aang, if you want to see him at all."
"He won't be receiving any lightning bolts if that's what you're thinking of. Again, that is."
"Good. Aang's not gonna be here today, but he might be in tomorrow. Don't threaten him too much, will you?"
"I won't do anything like that, Zuko."
Azula shuddered at the idea of having the Avatar as a teacher. If he accepted her proposition that is. Part of her was indeed curious as to how the Avatar could turn her brother's culinary fortunes so very quickly. She would soon find out, she hoped.
Azula slept uneasily as she anticipated her meeting with the Avatar. The pressing item on her mind, was what could she even offer in return for his tutelage?
Could she offer to teach him firebending? She knew Zuko had done most of that already, but she also knew just how… sloppy Zuko was at it. Would the Avatar even agree to such an arrangement, though? Certainly, at least in the Fire Nation, offering to teach a master firebender would at least be a severe insult to their talents, and at most, would quickly lead to an Agni Kai. While Azula doubted the Avatar would fight her simply because of that, she also doubted whether he would accept the slight without at least some hostility.
As sleep consumed her, she still had that question in mind.
The warmth of the sun woke her up, and for a very rare moment Azula was nervous about the day to come. She had little in the way of bargaining chips, and as such, she had almost no leverage over the Avatar to ensure her proposition would be accepted.
Then it dawned upon her. Firebending wasn't the only thing she could provide the Avatar. One benefit of Zuko welcoming her back to working royal status was her newfound responsibilities. The biggest, and so far most enjoyable duty, was handling the Royal Family's Charitable Trust, and its many little causes. It seems the Fire Lord acknowledged her "exemplary" ability to handle people and politics. She knew the Avatar would definitely be delighted to hear the full weight of the Fire Nation's charities be directed towards some noble cause of his. If he taught her how to cook better than Zuko, of course. Azula smiled. She now had more than one thing to offer the Avatar.
She had herself a quick breakfast and headed straight for where she knew Zuko would be. The gardens.
Unsurprisingly, her brother indeed was there, having half-submerged himself in the pond. In full Fire Lord regalia, too.
"Good morning, Zuzu. I see you've joined the turtleducks in the pond. Why?"
"I… it helps me think, OK? Fire Lording isn't easy, you know?"
"I'm aware, brother dear. That's why I'm not Fire Lord."
"What do you want, Azula?"
"Where is the Avatar?"
"Is this… are you still stuck on the whole cooking thing? Just because I can cook now doesn't mean you have to stalk Aang for it.
"Answer my question, Zuko."
"He's here. You just missed him. Came over here, said hi, and then left for the courtyard. Probably because Appa's there right now."
Azula quickly dashed towards the courtyard and readied herself for the confrontation. She had two major things to offer him in exchange, she remembered, and she would make sure to have a fair bargain in this deal.
She found the Avatar tending to his animal, and apparently having a conversation with it. How the lumbering beast could hold one was intriguing, but a question for another day. She tried her best to approach the man silently, falling back upon the skills she honed so carefully. This failed, seeing as he somehow sensed her coming.
"Azula?"
"G-greetings, Avatar."
"What brings you here?"
"I must congratulate you on improving my brother's cooking abilities so quickly, Avatar."
"Oh, he told you about that? It was nothing. Zuko just needed a fix here and there and now he's fine. You know how bad he was before, right?"
"I do recall it, yes. In any case, what you did was… quite impressive. You have my thanks, Avatar."
"For what? All I did was give him pointers, tips and all that."
"For making sure he wasn't giving me food poisoning. Our Uncle got that from dear old Zuzu once."
"Gee… um… thanks? So what can I do for you today?"
The Avatar seemed rather clueless, from her estimate. Any good negotiator would have understood her intentions from the very first sentence.
"Well… I am here to… to ask for help."
"Help in what, Azula?"
By this point it seemed clear that the Avatar may just be aware after all, just that he wanted to play with her like a toy. That would not and could not be allowed.
"I require assistance with cooking."
"You want me to teach you how to cook?"
"Very well put, Avatar. Zuzu rarely holds an edge over me, as you know, and now that he has one advantage, I want to even out our score. In return, I can teach you—"
"Yes, Azula."
"W-what?"
"I said, I'll teach you how to cook."
How in the world did the Avatar even make it as a negotiator? He… he really just accepted her demand in a flash like that?
"You would accept so quickly, Avatar?"
"Yeah! Why wouldn't I?"
Azula could think of a million reasons, but it was clear the Avatar didn't see it the same way. She was almost curious as to how.
"You don't have any issues at all with teaching me, for free?"
"Are you kidding, Azula? I'd love to! Sharing the experience is what cooking's all about."
"I see. How long will it take?"
"As long as you want it to. Now come along!"
"Where are you taking me, Avatar?"
"Shopping! Can't be cooking without some good ingredients!"
Was the Avatar really going to start their cooking lessons now? Azula supposed there wasn't anything else she had to do, so she went along.
"Very well then. I'll alert my security detail so they can join us."
"What? Azula, it's just a shopping trip."
"Precisely. I can very easily defend myself, but it's always good to be certain. You never know, Avatar. Plus, I don't know how well you could defend yourself."
"Azula, it's literally a quick walk to the nearest market, you know. Nothing dangerous to be seen there."
On the contrary, Azula thought. She was popular in the Fire Nation, yes, after her little return to the spotlight, but… there were still some with a little bit of residual anger against her. There was a reason Zuko gave her a security detail, even though she didn't think it necessary.
"Avatar, you realise I'll be recognised, right?"
"I'll let you in on a little secret."
"Oh? What sort of secret?"
"When I go into crowds, everyone thinks 'that guy looks a lot like the Avatar', not 'oh look, that's the Avatar', and I'm never found out."
Azula wondered how such a thing could happen. After all, the man was one of the most famous in the entire world! He was the only Air Nomad that came to mind for most when the big blue arrows are seen, really. The rest are still as reclusive as could be after what her father attempted. So how did he disguise himself?
"If you say so."
"Awesome! I'll get myself dressed clothes that are a bit less Avatar-y, and we can head out in... five minutes?"
Azula made a silent nod and decided she would have to do some dressing too. While she wanted to test out the Avatar's little trick on how not to be seen, it probably was a good idea not to wear her normal clothes.
Once she finished changing into something more inconspicuous, Azula made her way back to the palace courtyards, and found the Avatar was done as well.
"So your solution to not being seen, Avatar, is a hat?"
"Yep! All I need to not be seen is to not stand out. I let the crowd do the rest, really. Now, come on, let's go get some ingredients!"
Azula followed the Avatar's brisk steps as the two of them made their way out of the palace. It reminded her of when she was a child, sneaking past her attendants so she could explore her palace, and her capital. Or at least, she thought it would be hers. Her little adventure with the Avatar was a bittersweet hint at those simpler days. How things have changed.
Leaving the palace walls behind them, the Avatar led Azula through the busy streets of the Caldera. Somehow, the sights and smells (or odours, rather) of this bustling city excited her. Azula remembered now why she enjoyed exploring like this. Anything to see, hear, smell, and taste was better than the sanitised environment of the Royal Court. The light breeze in her hair, the smells of food hawkers, the sound of cars and people, it was heaven compared to the damned tranquillity of the palace. She would almost thank the Avatar for this opportunity. But not yet.
There was one question she had. What would be her first lesson in the Avatar's culinary school?
"So, Avatar, what exactly do you plan to make today?"
"I… I actually have no idea. I was kinda thinking we could get to a supermarket or something and figure our way from there? That's how I usually do it."
Agni, how could a cook be anywhere near this disorganised? From the times in which she observed the royal chefs, they had rigorous menus and lists to purchase and use, and this was the very opposite of their principles. The Avatar seemed to have a very lax approach to everything. So how did that coexist with the rigours of cooking?
"So your brilliant plan is to wander through a market and hope something happens?"
"Yep! It's worked so far, and I think it might work again! Who knows?"
Their winding path through the streets finally reached what the Avatar sought. A market. And a busy one at that, too. It seemed just the right thing for his apparent culinary genius to exploit. And from the look on his face, it was working. The Avatar had on his face the widest, most child-like grin Azula had ever seen. In another universe she would think it adorable, but that sense has been stamped out in this world. Though if he kept that damned grin up… Azula shuddered to think what that could do.
"Enjoying the view, Avatar?"
"Very much so, Azula. This… it's amazing! I-I-I… I'm-I-I'm… permission to nerd out, Princess?"
"Permission granted, Avatar. You may, as you call it, nerd out."
And so it came to pass that the Avatar pulled her along by her hand and breezed through every stall in the market. It was like being dragged by a tornado. She could hear some indistinct ecstatic babbling from him as they went from stall to stall, display to display. The Avatar was having fun, she knew that for certain. And so was she, if she still knew how to.
"I-I-uh…I-I-I'm… this is awesome! Fantastic! There's… there's so much we could do and make! Look at it! Look at it all, Azula!"
Indeed Azula was looking, but her eye was not trained to find ingredients for her food. Not yet trained, that is, if her scheme to learn from the Avatar succeeded.
"I am. What exactly do you want me to see, Avatar?"
"Look at it all! Everything's fresh! This stall's got some veggies straight from their garden this morning! That one has fresh mushrooms! Fresh! Look!"
The excitement emanating from the Avatar was admirable. And contagious, Azula had to admit. But she knew more than to trust what could very well he a façade like that. The Royal Court has had its fair share of disingenuous personalities much like him.
"I see the mushrooms, yes. Any idea then what we could make, Avatar?"
"I know just the thing. Are you up for some spring rolls today, Azula?"
Of all the dishes he had to choose, the Avatar decided he would make her favourite dish as a start. Agni, was the universe playing a trick on her?
"Spring rolls are… acceptable. What's in them?"
"Well… I'm making the vegetarian ones so… some mushrooms, carrots, kohlrabi, bean sprouts, glass noodles, a few eggs, and some spring onions! Id that alright with you?"
Alright? That sounded absolutely delicious! If, or rather when the Avatar would manage to make those spring rolls, Azula would have to pull on all her etiquette training not to eat all of them right away.
"A fine selection, I would think. Is that the definitive version, Avatar?"
"Not at all. There's so much you can do with these, you know! Some people stick tofu in them, sometimes they have potatoes, or yams, or all sorts! Want to add any of those, Azula?"
The tofu didn't sound like a bad idea at all to her. Something about the Avatar and sounding out her favourite foods, it seems. Did he ask Zuko for this information beforehand? She doubted it, seeing as Zuko knew very little about her tastes.
"Tofu will be fine, Avatar."
"Tofu it is then! I remember there was a stall we passed by that had some freshly made. Let's go!"
Again, the Avatar dragged her along, as they snaked their way through the busy market. It was a blur from this stall to that, and it wasn't long before they reached their target. The tofu maker. Azula didn't yet know much about any sort of cooking, but she could tell that this seller was the real deal. And so could the Avatar, when she took a glance at his face.
"Do you want to choose the tofu yourself, Azila?"
"I shall defer to the expert here, Avatar."
"Nonsense! You're just as much an expert. Or rather I'll make you into one in no time!"
If he was honest, then Azula thought the Avatar had said something very endearing. By now she wasn't entirely sure whether he was lying or not. Façades would fall, eventually, so she decided to keep observing and see. But if he did mean it, then it was almost heartwarming. There was just one small problem. This really wasn't something she had been prepared for. Not the tofu choosing, no, but rather the ordering. Damn her royal education!
"I will note, Avatar, that I don't exactly know how to order things."
The Avatar seemed to jolt violently when he heard Azula's statement. He turned to face her with the most incredulous look she had ever seen on anyone's face.
"What? You're… you're not kidding, are you?"
"My family had other ideas for what things a proper lady needed, Avatar. Shopping ability was not one of them."
"Well, here's a crash course in it. Just come up to the seller and ask for a block or two of tofu. Simple!"
"That's it? No complex bargaining, or dealmaking?"
"Well… if the tofu's overpriced but this shop's just about right, I think."
"Is it that simple? Do I just… ask?"
"Azula, you've been trained since birth to be literally the most capable firebender I've seen, and this is what stumps you?"
"Shush, Avatar. Those skills aren't transferable."
It was nice to hear the Avatar held her firebending in high esteem though. Almost blush-worthy, but Azula knew better than to show it. The Fire Nation thrives on disguising emotion, and she was very good at that.
"So… do you wanna order, Azula?"
"I shall, if you insist. Two-two blocks of tofu, please."
The slight stutter could be smoothed out eventually, she thought. Not bad for her first try at this sort of thing. The Avatar seemed to have a look of admiration on his face when she glanced at him. It was a very warm, honest smile of admiration. Of all people to be so very disarmingly sweet, it had to be the Avatar. A very dangerous quality indeed.
"See? Wasn't too bad, was it?"
"Not at all. Onwards to everything else then?"
"Yep! Now, to the vegetables!"
The vegetable stall wasn't far off, but the Avatar still dashed there anyways in a whirlwind as Azula followed in pursuit. It was refreshing, this adventure of theirs. Much better than the turgid atmosphere of the royal court, she thought. That smallest bit of freedom, that was something she relished in. This may indeed warrant a few extra culinary lessons from the Avatar, should the need arise.
The rest of their shopping followed a very similar pattern. The Avatar would dash from this stall to that, bringing her along, and he would spend some time waxing on and on about the virtues of the ingredients at hand. Azula had tried to follow along and take mental notes, even, as a studious learner, but the flood of information from him wasn't too easy to record. It wasn't long before both of them were carrying bags full of the ingredients they needed.
The trip back to the palace was slower indeed with the groceries they carried, but Azula knew it would likely be worth it, just for the skills she could learn from the Avatar. Zuko's kitchen would be theirs for the day and she knew she had to do better than he could. That, and it wouldn't be very funny if she ruined one of her favourite dishes now, would it?
"Have you checked to see if we have everything?"
"Let's see… carrots, kohlrabi, mushrooms, bean sprouts, jicama, tofu, eggs… the spring onions are there, and the rice paper, and noodles… yep, we've got it all. You ready, Azula?"
"Show me the way, Avatar."
Author's Note: I hope this was a good start to the fic, and to this Azulaang's dynamics! Up next, cooking!
