Katoph: In Between the Lines

The City of Walls and Secrets

[A/N] Sorry for my lack of updating. It's been over 3 months since I last posted. Originally, I was planning to have all the episodes that took place in Ba Sing Se (The City of Walls and Secrets, The Tales of Ba Sing Se, Lake Laogai, and The Earth King) all in this one chapter for convenience, but because of school and how slow I've been pushing out updates, I've decided against that.

And I've been toying with different writing styles too, so I apologize for that inconsistency as well.

I really am sorry for the long wait though. I hope you enjoy!

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The ride towards Ba Sing Se was anything but thrilling. Everything prior to their arrival practically screamed epic, but they guessed it was their fault for setting their expectations too high. The sounds of the train grinding against the earth beneath it was a positive though. The sounds more or less pleased the passengers, and that wasn't even acknowledging how beautiful the blue skies were. They were nice and vibrant. Perhaps that meant it'd be a cheerful day!

Well they were wrong. As soon as they arrived, an unexpected tour guide (who went by the name Joo Dee) had been cheerfully awaiting them. So cheerful in fact, it was unsettling. This facade she had had been flawlessly maintained throughout the whole showcase of the upper, middle, and lower rings of Ba Sing Se. Adversity seemed to be set aside even though there were people fully capable of changing that; a thought that vividly bothered Katara, but she knew that she, alone, couldn't fix it.

Aang, the more optimistic person in Team Avatar, wasn't enjoying the ride either. Similar to Katara, he acknowledged the more than apparent hardships and flaws in the impenetrable city. He only sighed and mumbled to himself about how the way of life here far differed from the ways of the monks.

Then there was Sokka who constantly tried to get Joo Dee's attention. He was unsuccessful and it was making him fume. The Earth King needs to know about the day. The most important day of their lives.

But it didn't matter. Apparently not to Joo Dee.

"This place is pretty odd," Sokka rubbed his chin. The moon had finally come out after a long day of interrogation for Appa, but to no avail. Something— or someone— was up, but they didn't know what it was yet. "But can you seriously believe it?! 6-8 weeks until we can talk to the Earth King. This must be a joke or something. For all we know, the fire nation could be taking more lives right now."

Katara's breath hitched after hearing Sokka's last few words. The group had been sitting in pairs of two (or at least would be if Toph hadn't perched herself by the wall behind Katara) on opposing ends of the wooden table, of which was planted right in the middle of the room. The overall mood was dreadful, but nothing beats being with one another.

"— anyways, my head's feeling woozy. Anyone down for some tea?" Sokka rose from his seat with a hand gently massaging his forehead.

Toph laughed. "Well it depends, will it be good?" She cocked a brow, half joking, half serious.

"Hey I'm not completely clueless when it comes to cooking!" Sokka paused, "or brewing?"

"Well I think I'd better help you, Sokka," Katara giggled before preparing to follow her older brother. But before she could rise, Sokka intervened.

"Uh-uh! This one's on me," he shook his head as he raised both of his hands up and motioned Katara back to her seat. "I think you deserve a break, especially after the whole cactus juice thing..." He continued, but sort of mumbled the last bit to himself.

"Oh! You guys have to try some of the tea Monk Gyatso used to make," Aang suddenly jumped up from his seat. The air nomad's sudden enthusiasm was enough to lift the spirits in the room. "And don't worry, he always told me I made them best." He added to reassure them— but mainly Toph.