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Slow Heat	By : Spleef Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > General Views: 77367 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
Slow Heat
Chapter 3 – A Night on the Town
Please note that this chapter happens well after chapter 2… this chapter is set right after episode 2x15 (but before 2x17) and all that has happened in Ba Sing Se on the show happens here with a couple (important) changes here and there that will be made clear in this chapter. Please enjoy!
And now for a minute of geekiness… Za'atar is a popular mixture of spices that originated in the Middle East. Green za'atar is traditionally composed of wild oregano, toasted white sesame seeds, and salt. Some sources additionally list savory, hyssop, thyme, cumin, and fennel seed — to name a few. Red za'atar is made with sumac. Different versions of za'atar will differ greatly in proportions. If you’re wondering why I am telling you this, you’ll find out soon enough. Research for any story is important. Enjoy the chapter!
o0o0o0o
3.5 Months BSC
(May 1101)
Katara
While there were things that were very wrong with Ba Sing Se – such as the fact that the war was hidden from the general populace, there was a definite upside to living in a city. I suppose it would have been different had we not been honored guests. After all the traveling we had done, and the frugal living we had lived to conserve the little money we had, it was nice to live comfortably. I had a warm bath whenever I wanted, there was a solid roof over my head and a soft bed under me, and our hot meals were delivered twice a day, along with food in containers for us to eat at other times. We did not have to work for anything, although that led to boredom at times. Especially for Toph who longed to have a big playground to Bend earth in – here she had to severely limit herself, and I knew she bristled under this close watch.
I hated knowing that the house and its occupants were under constant watch by the Dai Li. It was wrong what Long Feng was doing to the city. How could he ignore what the drill had done? Did he think that ignorance really was bliss? I had to admit, some of the people here seemed really happy, but what would happen when another attack came? They would be totally unprepared to deal with this. I wonder if the King himself had any idea of any kind of war or conflict going on.
I stared out the window at the lake that was but a pebble’s throw from our house. Several times, I had tried to practice Waterbending in there. While I was not actually forbidden to do so, the presence of the Dai Li made me very uncomfortable, and this in turn made it hard for me to concentrate. Sokka complained that when he had tried to practice his boomerang, one of their agents approached him and told him that weapon use was not allowed here. He was lucky they did not confiscate his boomerang, and I knew he was itching from boredom as much as Toph was despite the diversions that we were allowed. We tried covertly to look for Zuko and Iroh, but it wasn't as if we could just walk around asking after them, and the Dai Li were on our tails.
I sighed softly and propped my head up on my elbow as I stared up at the moon. I sent out a silent prayer to the Moon Spirit to help us find Appa and be able to meet the King soon.
As if on cue, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned my head and looked up to see Aang.
“Are you okay?” he asked softly. I held back a sigh and nodded, swallowing my unhappy thoughts. Ever since Aang had admitted his feelings to me, things became easier between us. It was a relief to see him optimistic again, and while I did not say that I felt the same for him, I did not turn him down. I had no reason to, not when he was obviously happy and relieved to be honest with me. It would keep him optimistic while we were still looking for Appa.
He shook his head and looked down at me before sitting across from me on the ledge.
“Something’s bothering you, Katara.” Aang said. I looked out the window again.
“Just thinking about living here. I want to get out of here. It’s comfortable here but it’s also creepy. I want to see the King and find Appa and get out of here. Time’s running out, and we cannot even find… Lee and Moshi.” I stated. It was still hard to think of Zuko and Iroh with these names, but it was best to. I did not want to risk someone overhearing any one in my group mentioning the names of the exiled Princes of the Fire Nation. Since they boarded the ferry and came to the city as refuges, there was no doubt that they were somewhere in the Lower Ring. Which was almost an entire world away from us...
Aang nodded and stared out the window for a moment before he looked back at me.
“Things will be okay, Katara. I am sure that they are doing just fine where they are, the city should be easy compared to how they were living before. But you’re right, we need to get in contact with them. But how?” he asked. The threat of the Dai Li hung over our heads. We had no desire to get Zuko and Iroh in any trouble. If we put out messages for them, the Dai Li would certainly intercept, and put those two under surveillance as well.
“I don’t want to sound like I don’t care, Katara. But I think that we should stop worrying for a moment. We’ve been worrying since we came here, and it’s affecting all of us. Maybe, if we take our mind off all these important matter for a bit, we will feel better.” Aang said. I stared at him curiously. Just what was he proposing? A game?
The only sound that met my ears was the crunching as Toph smashed the side of her fist into nuts, leaving the shells scattered nearby.
“Toph, I don’t care if you’re hungry and need a snack. But don’t leave a mess laying around.” I admonished, turning away from Aang for a moment. We had a maid come every morning to deliver breakfast and clean for us, but I didn’t think that entitled us to be slobs. It rankled me to see the remains of Toph’s snacks, whether it be nut shells, the husks of sunflower seeds, or peelings from fruits. It was acceptable when we were camping, but I hated to see a mess in this lovely house. On top of that, I was sure that the maid was a Dai Li agent, and I had no desire to keep her in the house any longer than was absolutely necessary. She had a chipper attitude not unlike Joo Di, both of them. Sokka and Toph both often peppered her with questions, trying to break her from the party line she was brainwashed into keeping to while she cleaned.
“This is not even our house. It’s only temporary, and the Joo Di maid is all too happy to clean up after us.” Toph drawled, punctuating her sentence by smashing another nut. I wondered if she felt any soreness or pain from smashing all of these nuts with her hand. We had a nutcracker to use, and she had tried it but once, abandoning it in favor of her fist, or in the case of the especially tough nuts, a rock.
“Well, I don’t like seeing the mess. It bothers me.”
“Well, I can’t see it so I’m not bothered. Just don’t look at it.” Toph stated with a shrug as she popped the nut in her mouth. I rolled my eyes and sent out a silent prayer to the spirits to give me patience, before I felt Aang’s hand on mine.
“That’s another worry that you need to put aside.” Aang stated and I turned back to him.
“You want to play a game?” I asked. He shook his head a little and I sensed that he had something on his mind.
“I was… thinking about a walk.” Aang said softly. I could tell that Toph was listening, but I chose to pay no mind. And at that point, a walk did not sound like a bad idea. We were not restricted from moving about the Upper Ring, so long as we followed the rules. He looked up at me hesitantly, and I knew he was nervous and afraid that I might say no.
“You know what? That sounds like a wonderful idea, Aang.” I replied. My heart warmed at the way his eyes brightened up with delight.
We started off with a walk along the lake that sat near our house. Aang was quiet, not being at all playful, and I really appreciated that. I had thought many times about his true feelings for me, and ever since he had admitted them to me, we had not discussed it, though he found ways to express them without words. I was glad to not actually talk about it, because truth be told, I had no idea how to feel about it. I was not going to tell him that what he felt was wrong, but I also did not know if I felt that way about him or would ever. Was he supposed to be the powerful bender that Aunt Wu foretold? There were other powerful benders out there as well, though none as powerful as Aang.
So it was best to remain silent about it. I suppose that soon enough, I would know, and then I would know what to say when Aang brought it up next. It was not something I could hide from, and something that I knew that Aang would want to talk about again. I was not sure why I was feeling confused like this.
o0o0o0o
Toph
It was just as I told Sokka when he was all excited about us being here in the city. There were too many rules here. I was dying of boredom, and I knew that Sugar Queen, Twinkletoes, and Boomerang Boy were feeling the same.
After Appa was taken, I blamed myself for his disappearance. I often beat myself up mentally, thinking that I deserved it. Now, I was so over it. I had done my best. If I had let go of the tower to beat off the men that were taking Appa, it would have sunk, and they would all have been lost. And then what would I have done with just a big fuzzball? When that thought hit me a while ago, I was feeling a whole lot better. I had done my best given the situation, and that was all there was to it.
I lay on a cushion, driving my fist into nuts and eating out the insides. I did not care that I was leaving the shells littered nearby. Katara often scolded me for leaving the remains of my snacks. I did not see what the big deal was, as we had a maid come in every morning to deliver us our breakfast and take away our empty dishes as well as doing household cleaning. When she spoke, she sounded a lot like Joo Di, and every time she came along she would greet us with a chipper ‘Good Morning!’ which always grated on my nerves. Whenever she spoke to me and sometimes when she did not, I always gave out blunt and curt replies. I had taunted her, but she always remained cheerful. This morning, Katara had to hold me back so I could not launch myself at her after I had enough of her same old stupid responses.
I missed Sparky and Iroh. They had been good companions, and I wished they had come along with us on the Serpent’s Pass. Then I’d have more fun up here. I liked listening to Uncle’s stories. And Sparky was an interesting playmate. I enjoyed my sessions with him and pushing him. He was like me – stubborn. We clashed, but in a good way, and he was one of the most interesting people I had ever known.
I liked my new family. They treated me as more of an equal than my parents had ever done, despite Mother and Father’s best intentions. With them, I had the opportunity to grow, and I enjoyed it. I was going to be as tough as I could be. I was not going to be some sheltered noblewoman, waiting for my father to choose a husband for me to continue the line. Maybe I would have a kid some day, but it would be on my terms. I would have that no other way.
I rolled my eyes as I heard Aang ask Katara for a walk. I knew that he got all weak-kneed around her even before he admitted his feelings. It was so obvious to me how his heart would beat suddenly whenever Sugar Queen came around. It was funny how she was so oblivious to him. There were times where I actually wanted to blurt it out, but that would just have ruined my fun.
I had a bit of fun today with Katara at the spa, though I had hated it very much when these women had tried to scrub my feet clean. Feet were meant to be dirty! I was just glad to be back in this house, where no one was touching my feet or trying to make me look pretty. I hated all the rules here, it wasn’t much better than living back home. I could feel the presence of the Dai Li. They were unable to hide from my kind of vision, and I could feel them moving around, trying to stay invisible.
It was hard to ignore them when I decided to walk around the neighborhood, but I gave them no indication that I knew I was being followed. After all, I was just supposed to be a little blind girl. It was best for them to think that way. I longed to knock them off their feet, or slap them around with a few well-placed attacks. It was so tempting sometimes. But I let them scuttle around like cockroaches, because I knew that soon enough I would be able to break as much rules as I liked. I just had to be patient. It was damn hard being patient, though.
I heard the two of them leave and groaned softly to myself, sitting up. Sokka was out, prancing about, probably trying to hit on girls. Katara and Aang had their lovey-dovey thing. Damned if I was gonna spend my night alone in this house, bored out of my mind. I had waited long enough.
I scrambled to my feet, striding outside. I felt the Dai Li move about as they started to follow me and smirked to myself. Only if they knew how ridiculous they were with their scuttling about…
o0o0o0o
Aang
The walk was nice, and I was happy to be out here in the fresh air with Katara. This afternoon, releasing the animals from the cages at the zoo had put me in an especially optimistic mood. Even if Appa was still missing, at least I was able to help other animals.
It was one thing that the monks had taught me. Even if I was not able to help myself, if the opportunity arose that I could help others, then I should. I missed them sorely, and still carried about guilt that I should not have run away, but it was too late to do anything about it. Besides, Katara had pointed out to me that I could have been killed with the rest of them, and perhaps I was meant to run away.
I don’t know where I would be without Katara. Whenever I was feeling sad or doubtful, she would always find a way to cheer me up. In the morning, I would always gladden to see her. I felt bad about turning her away when I was going through my hard time, and she still tried to reach out to me. That endeared her more to me. She was just so wonderful. I really was lucky to have her. I was happy that she accepted my feelings for her. I had been so scared to admit them before, because she seemed more sophisticated. I had seen her around Jet and Haru, and thought that I had no chance against them.
Now that I had been honest with her, she was not really different to me. However, when I would glance her way, she would give me a soft smile, as if we shared a wonderful secret. The changes in our relationship were not obvious or dramatic, but I felt something different. Something better. She had never said that she felt the same way about me, and I kept praying that she did, or that she would. I just could not imagine liking any other girl. Katara was just too special to me.
I let my worries wash away as I looked up at the stars. I was not going to waste this opportunity to have a good time with Katara. I was going to shut out the presence of the Dai Li – after all, I wasn’t doing anything wrong. I had nothing to worry about.
I strolled down the street, wondering what was there in the Upper Ring to do. I liked going to markets, if not to buy anything, then to simply browse and see what was being offered. But the markets up here were not the ones that we were used to. The stores were filled with snooty salespersons trying to shove expensive things at us, when we ventured here. So window-shopping was out of the question, and I wanted this walk to be romantic and fun.
We had a rough idea of what was in the Upper Ring, and were able to navigate a ways from our house and find our way back with ease. I missed the fun of traveling around, or moving through towns with no walls to hold us in. Having a nice house to stay in was not so bad, but what made it easier living here was having my ‘family’ with me, as I now saw them as such. And soon enough, we would find Appa and Zuko and Iroh and be on our way to save the world. I just had to keep up my hope, and everything would be all right, just as it was supposed to be.
Katara was silent, and I did not ask her anything. It was really nice to just be walking with her, and feeling her next to me. I didn’t want to spoil the moment. I stole a shy glance and saw her staring up a little, the moonlight on her face. It shone in her blue eyes, and I felt my heart skip a beat. She just looked so beautiful, and I was unable to fight the urge to take her hand in mine.
She paused and looked at me with a little surprise when I wrapped my fingers around hers. I blushed a little, hoping that I had not done something wrong. My heart pounded nervously as I kept her hand in mine, and she gave me a small smile. Her hand was so soft and warm in mine, and I squeezed a little. I smiled when she squeezed back, and I gently tugged her hand, leading her along.
I would never forget the kiss we had shared in the Cave of Two Lovers. It was something that I would always cherish, and I hoped that I would remember it into my next life. She let me lead her along, and I made sure to avoid areas where there would be lots of people. I didn’t want anything interrupting our walk.
“Hey, Katara? How about a ride?” I asked after a bit. I wanted to see a smile on her face, and it had been a while since I had taken to the air, and I thought a nice ride in the night sky would make both of us feel even better.
“Ride? On what?” Katara asked, glancing at me curiously. I smiled and held up my staff.
It was not as easy to fly with two people as it was on my own, but Katara was light enough. It felt nice to have her hold onto me as we soared through the sky. And what was more…. It just felt right. I heard her laugh softly as I used my Bending to lift us up even higher.
I smiled even more, savoring the moment. I never wanted to come down. It would be cool if I could soar into the heavens with Katara. It would be so nice to stay up there forever, where only two elements existed, hers and mine. I let my duties and worries slide away and concentrated on her presence and the happiness I was feeling. It was not wrong to forget for a few moments, right? After all I had been through, I deserved a break.
It felt as if we had spent an eternity up there, but when I tired out and had to land, it ended all too soon. I felt sad when I landed on the street in front of our house, but seeing the smile on Katara’s face made me feel better. Under the moonlight, I could almost swear that her cheeks were rosy.
I flicked my staff, the wings snapping closed, and took her hand. I wished the night did not have to end, because it had been so sweet and wonderful. But it was late, and I wondered if Sokka was back.
The house was quiet, and the moonlight shone in through the windows, so I did not bother lighting a lamp. I felt her hand slide away from mine and I wanted to reach out and grab it.
“Good night, Aang.” Katara whispered as she wandered over to the right side of the house, where she and Toph slept. I took a few steps towards her, wanting to make the most of the night.
“Katara?” I asked softly.
“Yes?”
“Thank you… for coming with me.” I said and even in the darkness I saw her smiling.
“I had a wonderful evening.” Katara replied and I felt my heart flutter. I came closer as she opened the door, and I gently took her hand. She paused and looked back at me. I swallowed, my heart racing even more, as I lifted up my head, darting forward to kiss her cheek.
There was silence for a few moments and I stood there, feeling very nervous and shy. I hoped that I did not go too far. But she squeezed my hand a little before she let go, and went into her room. She stood there, slowly sliding the door shut. Before she closed it all the way, she peeked out at me.
“Sweet dreams.” she whispered and I stared into her eyes before the door closed all the way.
o0o0o0o
Zuko
Living here was only a little better than the wandering lifestyle Uncle and I led. It was good to have a warm albeit small and cheap apartment, and to have a steady if not at all impressive income to put food in our stomachs and decent clothes on our backs. I sorely missed life at the Palace and the luxury that came with being one of the highest-ranking members of the Royal Family.
But that was the least of what I missed. I knew that there were lots of people worse off than I was right now, and I could be one of them. I saw them begging in the streets in the worst parts of the Lower Ring. I was safe and comfortable here and my uncle had his good health back.
What I missed most was my honor and dignity. I had been raised to be the next Fire Lord, and I was now a peasant. At times, I wondered what would have happened had I never been banished. I would have been handsome. I would have had my father’s respect. I would have been the heir of Agni’s line, one that had ruled for over a thousand years. My decisions would guide the fate of an entire Nation.
Yet, what of my ideals? When I was little, I, just like any other member of the Fire Nation, was propagandized into believing that Fire was the best, and all other elements were inferior. I had been taught that the genocide of the Air Nomads and the continued persecution of the Water Tribes and Earth Kingdoms were necessary. What kind of Fire Lord would I have been if I had not learned all the things that I now knew? Would I have been like Sozin? Or my father?
I knew that Uncle was happy here, and part of me was glad to be here and safe. But part of me rebelled against the path that Destiny had thrust me upon. All that I had learned since my exile was not doing any good as long as I was stuck as an exile and living the life of a peasant. If I was Fire Lord, I could end this insane war. I could use the insight that I had gained to make sure that the Fire Nation did not head into a downward spiral from its own greed and thirst for power. I lay in bed often at night, thinking about such things like this. I longed for my birthright so I could put it to good use.
At least, when I was teaching the Avatar, I was doing something productive. I could not help but wonder where he was. I had searched around in my free time, trying to not catch the notice of the Dai Li. Since he was the Avatar, it was possible that he was in a higher ring, and I wondered if he was able to get to the King. It seemed not to be, otherwise he would most likely have sent for us.
I often let my thoughts wander like this when I worked at the teahouse. I set down my tray, placing two cups of tea on the table for the two guards that were apparently on break before I turned away.
I stiffened when I saw a dark-haired girl around my age sit in the corner. I had seen her here several times before, and I was very suspicious of her. Of course, Uncle and I had been careful to not Firebend – though that was very hard at times, suppressing one’s inner fire. Even then, one could not be too careful. I tried to think back on any instance where I might have slipped up. All I could think of was my confrontation with Jet. Had what he screamed out spurred any suspicion against me?
She looked up at me with what I was almost sure was feigned innocence. I quickly looked away and returned to the counter to set down my empty tray, and I glanced at my uncle furiously, quietly pointing her out to him and my suspicions.
When I sensed her come closer, I bristled. She set her empty cup on the counter and smiled up at me and thanked me for her tea as she paid for it. I did not return it. All I wanted to do was poke her away with a sword. I quickly turned away from her, hoping she would get the message. Instead of picking that not-so-subtle hint up like any person with an iota of intelligence would, she actually asked me for my name. I stiffened.
Just then, the most unexpected thing happened.
“He’s already taken.” I heard a familiar voice state. I turned around to see none other than Toph, and she was pushing the other girl aside. For once, I was supremely grateful for her caustic attitude.
“Beat it!” Toph stated, pointing to the door. The girl paused for a moment before she quickly scurried off. Uncle stared for a moment, but quickly regained his composure and smiled down at her.
“It’s so wonderful to see you here! Would you like some tea?” he asked, already pouring her a cup. He set it on the counter, near where her hand was. She had no problem finding it, and sipped it.
“This is much better than the slop that passes for tea up there.” Toph stated.
“Up there?” I asked.
“Up there, the Upper Ring.” Toph replied. What? The Upper Ring? Wasn’t that for the elite? As if she heard my question in the silence I offered, she smirked my way.
“It’s a perk of being with the Avatar and…” she suddenly paused.
“And?” I asked.
“Best to not say now.” Toph said simply before she took another sip of her tea.
“How did you find us?” Iroh asked.
“I got bored and tired of waiting.” she said. It was clear that something else was bothering her, and that she had no desire to speak of it in a public place. Uncle seemed to sense this as well.
“Lee, you have been working hard all day. Why not take the night off? I am sure the lady would appreciate a night on the town. You have these tips in your pocket, don’t you?” Uncle asked. I bristled at that, I hated his hints that I should find a ‘lady friend’, and wished he would leave well enough alone. I had no desire to chase after girls, or waste my time with their coquetry.
“Let’s go.” Toph stated, and I shot my uncle a dark scowl. He simply smiled at me good-naturedly as I slipped off my apron. I was not averse to spending time with Toph, but the way my uncle had gone about things put me on the defensive.
We strolled along casually, and I held off my questions for a while. Seeing Toph actually brightened my night. I missed our training sessions, and how different she was from the girls back home. She made no attempt to flirt with me, and she was very upfront – a trait that I much appreciated, at least usually.
“How did you find us?” I asked in a quiet tone as we strolled along a street.
“Like I said, I got bored. So I tunneled down here. I said that I was looking for my uncle and cousin.” Toph replied just as softly. It was amazing that she had made it down here and found us. Not because she was blind, but because she had done it at all. I had been wondering how the others would find us at all, but as Toph explained to me what had happened since they had arrived at the wall of the city, I was floored.
My sister. A drill. The Dai Li. Long Feng. A grand conspiracy of secrets. And boredom, lots of it. I remained silent, listening to Toph’s account of everything, holding off my questions. And I did not have many, as Toph, with her blunt attitude, was clear about everything. Although, I had to strain to listen as she was speaking softly, something that I did not ask her to change, given the circumstances. It was strange hearing her talk as such although, since she usually spoke in a much firmer tone.
“I’m glad you came down here.” I said simply.
“I feel so loved.” Toph responded dryly and I could not help but smirk a little.
“And what have you been up to?” she asked. I gave her a condensed account of the events that had transpired since the ferry, which actually was not much besides the confrontation with Jet.
“At least you are having more fun down here than we are up there.” Toph stated. I shook my head. Living as a peasant, with very little hope for the future? I think not – and I stated just that.
“Stop the angst and self-pity. It’s not going to get you anywhere.” she shot out and I stiffened.
“I will think whatever I want.” I shot back, “You left your home willingly. I did not.”
“And what have you been through since? You learned that the war is wrong and that your dad is not all that great.”
“I…” I held back a sigh and fell silent. I knew she was right, but I did not want to admit it, so I changed the subject.
“How is everyone else holding up?” I asked.
“Just peachy.” she replied. I nodded, knowing that if something was truly wrong with any of them, she would tell me.
“Well, that’s good to know. But time is running out.”
“Don’t think that I do not know that.” she spat out.
“And what do you intend to do about it?” I asked.
“What about you?” she shot back.
“Us? It’s not as if the King would be interested in meeting a couple of refugees.” I stated, hating that right now, the Avatar had more power to change things than me. And with what Toph had told me about Long Feng and the Dai Li, I knew that I had no chance at all like this. And I did not dare reveal my true identity, even if it would gain me a chance to meet him. I had no doubt that I would be treated with animosity despite my current situation, and Long Feng would probably have something insidious up his sleeve if he learned of us... and again I thought about how the Avatar really was my hope.
“Look, I came down here to escape the Dai Li and have some fun. So let’s get on with it. Forget everything else. I’m hungry. I smell lots of good stuff around here. I’m sick of what they are serving up there.”
“Very well. Where would you like to eat?” I asked. She paused and glanced around as if she really could see her choices. There were a couple of restaurants and taverns along the wide street, and I waited for her to pick. Without saying a word, she started walking, and I followed behind. We passed several establishments and I wondered just what this girl would choose. She seemed to be following her nose.
We came to a stop at a stall in a small city square. A few children were running about, and there were several more stalls nearby, hocking food and wares. The one that Toph stopped at had a coal-lined pit to one side of it, and roasting over it were several sticks with chunks of meat on them. The odor coming from the stall was exotic, and I could see why Toph had picked it out. The stall was small but clean-looking, and vegetables hung from the poles.
“Whatcha serving?” Toph asked the woman who was at that moment tending to the meat, turning it over to make sure it cooked properly.
“You have a choice of shish kebab and pita bread.” the woman offered cheerfully, turning to us.
“And what is shish kebab?” Toph asked. The woman picked up one stick from the pit, one that had several pieces of meat on it, with roasted vegetables in between each piece. I had never seen such a arrangement of food, but it looked and smelled good to me.
“This is a shish kebab. Doesn’t it look good?” she asked with a smile. As I expected, Toph stared ahead blankly. I paused, unsure of what to do. I didn’t want to simply point out the fact that my companion could not see the food.
“I’ll take it.” I said quickly, and laid out the coin that was the price for it.
“Here, try it. If you don’t like it, I’ll eat it.” I whispered and when she lifted up her hand, I placed the end of the stick into it. She ran it under her nose, inhaling the scent. It seemed to make her happy, and I paused, wondering how she would handle eating this. She placed the top of the stick near her mouth and slowly pushed it closer, stopping when the last piece of food met her lips. She bit into it and lifted it off the stick, chewing on it thoughtfully.
“It tastes good. What did you use to cook this with?” Toph asked as she swallowed the piece of meat.
“Za’atar.”
“What’s that?” Toph asked.
“It’s my own mixture of spices and a secret recipe, so I can’t tell you exactly what’s in it.” the woman said with a soft laugh, “But it has oregano, sesame seed, and cumin.” she added. This answer seemed to satisfy my companion, as she nodded and bit off the next piece of food, which was a chunk of tomato.
I decided to get one for myself, and ordered two pieces of pita bread to go along with it. They were stuffed with vegetables and spices. The spices were not as strong, and offered a nice contrast to the bold flavor of the kebabs.
I led her away, sliding one of the pitas into her free hand. She bit into this and nodded thoughtfully.
“That woman should be working in the Upper Ring. This stuff is really good.” Toph stated enthusiastically. I nodded. Sometimes I missed the gourmet cooking back home, but there were plenty of foods I had tried since then that the Palace cooks would never think of. I ate my kebab with relish, enjoying the combination of spices used to cook it.
I considered my current situation. Walking along a road in the poorer section of Bai Sing Se, eating something that I bought from a stall, sharing my food with a Earthbender and being friendly with her… how my ancestors must be spinning in their graves. Especially Sozin and Azulon.
But at this point, I could not care less. I… was actually having fun – far more fun than I would at any banquet or gathering at the Palace. I finished my kebab and pita with relish and Toph actually licked the stick clean when she had eaten all the food off it. We continued wandering around for a while, choosing no real direction to go – for we had no destination. After a while, I gently led Toph around so we would circle back, it was getting late and I had no desire to run into any unsavory people.
On the way back, I saw a small stall. A man was running it, and at first I thought what he was serving was rice. The stuff he scooped into paper cups was white, but when I came closer, I saw that it was ice. I wondered just where he had gotten ice from – it was almost impossible to be found here in the Lower Ring, and it came at exorbitant prices. I wondered why he was selling cups of crushed ice until I saw another couple approach him. They spoke to him, and he took a small ladle, and poured juice onto the ice, almost saturating it. He handed them two cups and they thanked him before wandering off. The night was a little warm, and I needed something to wash down my dinner. Without hesitation, I approached him and almost startled when he turned to face me. I had spent enough time around the Water Tribe siblings to know that this man was one of them. Dark skin, darker hair, and silver-blue eyes were this man’s discerning features.
Of course, why should Earth people be the only refugees to come to Ba Sing Se? I was interrupted in my thoughts by my companion.
“What is it?” Toph asked as she tugged on my sleeve.
“Crushed ice.” I said quickly, “Would you like some?” I asked her.
“Why would I want to eat ice?” she asked skeptically. I did not hold back a smirk as I knew she could not see it.
“It’s a treat. There’s juice poured into it.” I explained.
“Oh.” she said softly as I approached the counter. The man gave me a small but friendly smile.
“What flavor would you like?” he asked.
“What do you have?” Toph replied.
“Grape, cherry, orange, and peach.”
I chose the grape. To my surprise, Toph chose the peach. I thought she would have preferred the sharper taste of the cherry or orange. I paid for the treats and as we walked away, I set her cup in her hand. Toph smiled after she tasted it, and we walked until we were close to the apartment that Uncle and I lived. By then, the crushed ice was gone. I looked down at the wet cup and realized that the man was a Waterbender. It would explain how he was able to sell crushed ice for so cheap. Once, a couple of weeks ago on an especially warm day, Katara had used her skill to chill the water in all of our canteens so that we would have a respite from the heat.
I could not help but think of her, and all of our previous encounters. She truly was my opposite. She had been such a worthy opponent at the North Pole, and I was strangely glad that we were now allies – though we interacted a lot less than we did when we were enemies. For some odd reason, that made me sad. I had no problems interacting with the others – the Water boy and I were civil to one another. The Avatar was pleasant enough to be around. And I respected Toph. But the Waterbender remained a mystery to me. I did not want to admit to myself, but I wanted to know what lay behind her blue eyes. My thoughts were interrupted as Toph took my attention.
“It’s getting late. I’m tired, and I am sure you have a long day ahead of you tomorrow, serving tea.” she said the last part in a mock cheerful tone and I grumbled a little.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be sure to visit you again. I’ll let the others know that you and your uncle are safe. They will be happy to know.”
“They will?” I was curious. Uncle and I had shared a peaceful, at least for the most part, coexistence with the Avatar and his group. But I did not think that they would actually care for me as they did for each other.
“Of course. We’re all one big happy family.” Toph replied cheerfully as she playfully punched my arm. I held back a groan as I rubbed the sore spot on my arm – she had a strong punch for someone of her size – although I was buoyed a little by her reassurance.
I came back to the apartment, stalking in and quickly retreating to my room. Uncle looked my way and inquired about my night cheerfully. At first, I was not going to reply at all, but then I thought about what a pleasant time I did have. I had tried new food, heard the news, had the assurance that the Avatar would be getting in touch with us, and enjoyed the stroll. And Uncle just wanted what was best for me. I sighed softly and opened the door a crack.
“It was nice.” I whispered before I closed the door again.
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Slow Heat