ATLA: Bonds Within Bending

Gruesome Green-Tea

Katara's POV

I'm getting sick of Aang's petty behaviour. I know he loves me, he knows he loves me. So why can't he just love me!? Every time he reacts to something including myself he gets incredibly emotional and protective, when in reality he doesn't even want to touch me because of his avatar training. I thought it would be best to distance ourselves because his actions are really hurting me and damaging what we have left of our relationship.

But he keeps coming back and repeating the process. I need to stay away tonight and focus on helping Zuko, I thought he was here alone but Mai seemed to be wearing an apron too, unless that's her costume? It doesn't matter, they've both called me in and I'm in no mood to argue with Azula again.

"What is it this time?", I huffed as I stood by the door, incase what they want to talk about is a waste of my time and their breath. They looked at each other anxiously then back at me before pausing, like I've turned them to stone. Last time I checked I wasn't dressed up as medusa. "Well?", I placed my hands on my hips, getting more impatient with them.

"Look", Mai pointed in my direction. I looked back at her but noticed she was pointed behind me, I turned and looked out of the circular window in one of the double doors that lead out to the shop floor. Both girls were pale, for Mai that's pretty normal, but to see Azula so uncomfortable is quite shocking. What are we looking at?

"The tea shop? People? Zuko burning out because no one is out there to help him?", I kept scanning around the room to check I can see everything they're seeing, dropping the not so subtle hint that we need to get out there and give Zuko a god damn hand.

"No, beside Aang", Mai added, she spoke slowly. Azula's silence is quite nice, she should be like this all the time. I looked at Aang and saw him talking to someone in some weird war outfit, which is problematic in itself when there are many people who want another war. This someone is either completely unaware of that information or are too self indulged to give a second thought about it. 

"What about them?", I began to get slightly weirded out from the skin crawling atmosphere I'm getting from them tonight in comparison to the rage I felt last time I saw them at that restaurant. Azula's eyes were fixed on that person and nothing else.

"I'm sorry Katara. I had no part in his appearance. He must've followed one of us. If he's after you I'll make sure you're safe, I only did what I did at the restaurant because of what happened with Zuko, just a stupid trick to humiliate you. But now that he's shown up with no invitation. You're in danger of having a stalker", Azula spoke slowly and uneasily, her face as blank as paper.

"What?", I thought she was talking utter garbage before I thought out her words carefully then felt my eyes widen in utter shock, I think I'm going to faint.

"Azula. Please don't tell me Aang is talking to Jet right now".

"I swear to you this isn't my doing. I can be a real cruel person at times but I didn't do this", she further spoke, confirming that Jet is here, and the three of us are watching him talk to the man I love who hates his guts, and knows that I've already been in contact with him. I can't tell if I believe Azula right now but I can't process what I'm seeing, what could happen if either of them recognise each other.

A nauseous feeling spread across my body.

What the hell am I going to do?

Sokka's POV

After Katara went on a short break, I left Suki and Toph to the tea party whilst I assisted Zuko, handing out hot tea to the other party goers. I do work here after all, I probably should've helped him sooner but I was having such a fun time with the girls. The group of thirsty tea drinkers disbanded, leaving us alone at the counter as they partied on.