Chapter Two "Crab Puffs"

"Hi yes, jasmine tea... and... hmm....haha, babe stop it... yeah and a green tea as well," the girl said.

She was pretty if you didn't count the tall parasite sucking on her earlobe. Sokka hated the overly affectionate couples that came into The Jasmine Dragon.

"Table five," Zuko held out a number placement.

The guy stopped kissing his girlfriend's neck to take the placement. He winked at Zuko and put an arm around his girlfriend.

"Thanks," he smiled, Zuko scowled and finished writing down their order.

The couple walked away. The guy kissed his girl on her cheek, which made her giggle.

"Ugh," he mumbled.

He heard a chuckle from behind him. Sokka was grinning like an idiot, he held a tray of steaming cups of tea and he wore the same green uniform as Zuko.

"What?" Zuko asked.

"Nothing...." Sokka shook his head, then he grinned "I think they're cute together"

Zuko frowned. He didn't really see what was "cute" about it.

"Anyway, why are you such a hypocrite? Haven't you ever kissed someone before?" said Sokka.

"Of course I've kissed people before!" Zuko glared at Sokka.

"Ah, but have you been kissed like that?" Sokka glanced over at the couple who were now making out.

"Yes!" he said.

"You are a horrible liar, Lee," Sokka grinned at him.

Zuko didn't answer, he had tea to make. He turned away to take the order to the kitchen. He went about heating the kettle and preparing the tea. "Have you been kissed like that?" the nerve of Sokka. He was so annoying to work with.

It had been three long days of Sokka. Zuko had been so tense with Sokka around. One wrong move and he and his uncle would be found out. But it turns out Sokka was actually pretty good with the customers. The only time when Zuko could get away from Sokka was when he went to the kitchen. Sokka was not allowed in the kitchen.

That was the one condition that Iroh had told Sokka. "You are not allowed in the kitchen, only us Hongs may prepare the tea, the recipes are sacred family secrets," But Sokka seemed more than happy to stay out of that kitchen and just take orders, clear plates, and wipe down tables.

Zuko found himself thinking. Had he actually ever been kissed like that? No one really came to mind. Of course, he had kissed a couple girls before. But he had never really dated anyone. He was only 14 when he was banished.

He came back out with a tray with two small teapots on it with matching cups. He would have to give it to the couple but the young couple seemed pretty engaged with each other. Zuko made a face and walked over to Sokka who was wiping down a table. Zuko placed the tray on the table in front of him.

"Take this to table five," He said bluntly.

"What? No it's your order," Sokka said.

Zuko pushed the tray towards Sokka. Sokka shook his head.

"I told you no, why can't you do it?"

".... They make me... uncomfortable," Zuko said.

Sokka raised an eyebrow "Oohhhh, I see." he grinned.

He picked up the tray and winked at Zuko "That must be why you're such a prude," and he walked towards table five.

"Hello lovebirds, here's some tea to quench your thirst besides each other's tongues," he told them.

Zuko's jaw dropped.

That afternoon was a slow one. Zuko was sitting slouched over the counter bored out of his mind. Sokka was sweeping imaginary dust off the floor. There was only one person in the tea shop. An old man who was quietly reading something and sipping his tea slowly. It was boring as hell.

Iroh came out of the kitchen with a piece of paper and walked over to Zuko.

"Lee, can you get these things for me? We are running low," Iroh asked, handing the list to Zuko. Sokka put his brom against the wall and walked over.

"Can I go too?" he asked

"Why do you want to go?" Iroh asked, surprised.

"It's really boring today, no offense sir," Sokka said.

"None taken," Iroh said.

Iroh glanced at Zuko who was behind Sokka. He shook his head.

"Well, I would prefer if you stayed here," Iroh said.

"But sir, no one is coming in. Besides it's a slow day and it's not like you need me here right now. All I do is clear tables," Sokka said.

"That's true..." said Iroh.

Zuko glared at his uncle, "no" he mouthed.

"I guess you can go along," Iroh shrugged.

Whyyy

"Thank you Mr Hong," Sokka ran to take off his uniform and apron.

"Uncle," Zuko growled.

Iroh shrugged "I'm sorry! He had some good points. He is right, it's a slow day."

He handed Zuko coins, "Here, oh and here's a little extra so you and Sokka can buy something to eat while you are in town if you like,"

Zuko took the coins with minimal grumbling and went to take off his apron and uniform. Minutes later He and Sokka were walking through downtown.

Shopping with Sokka was annoying but useful at the same time. It was annoying because Sokka loved to shop and spent the longest time oogling over trinkets.

"Sokka! Let's go we're supposed to be getting ingredients for my uncle! Not upgrading your wardrobe,"

"Just five more minutes Lee geez. Now, do you think this belt goes with this hat?"

But on the other hand Sokka was useful when they were buying ingredients because Sokka loved to haggle. Zuko had to admit it, the guy was impressive. There was no price too high that Sokka couldn't haggle down.

It was around two and they finally decided to get something to eat. Zuko bought stir fry and Sokka bought crab puffs. They were sitting on a grassy hill that had a decent view of half of the city. Zuko was crossing things off the list. They had gotten almost everything that Iroh needed. Zuko checked the bag one more time in case he missed something.

Something small and round hit him on the back of the head. Whatever it was it was now burst open and Zuko could feel some kind of liquid oozing down the back of his neck

"Hey Lee! do you want a crab puff?" Sokka called. He was sitting a little further up the hill under the shade of a leafy tree.

Zuko touched the back of his head where something sticky was stuck in his hair, a crab puff. He glared at Sokka. "No," he said.

"Alright, suit yourself," Sokka shrugged.

The pastry projectile was all over his hair now and it oozed slowly down his neck. It was gross. Zuko groaned, he would have to wash his hair when he got back. He wiped his hands on the grass.

A hand touched the back of his head. As quick as a snake Zuko grabbed hold of the hand in a fierce grip and looked up to see Sokka crouching over him.

"What are you doing?!" Zuko demanded.

"Calm down grumpy-pants, I'm trying to get the stuff out of your hair," said Sokka. "Now sit still."

Zuko crossed his arms and scowled. But he did what he was told and sat still. He could feel two strong hands carefully picking the bits of crab out of his hair. Sokka never once pulled too hard on his hair, he was gentle and mindful. Zuko on the other hand was tense and uncomfortable.

"Okay, I think I got it all,"

Sokka ran his hands through Zuko's hair making Zuko shiver slightly. "Your hair is fluffy," He said.

Zuko said nothing, he didn't know how to answer that. Sokka sat down next to him, he gazed out at Ba Sing Se city.

"It's nice isn't it?" he said, looking at Zuko.

Zuko looked away. "We need to finish the shopping list," He said.

"Oh my god! Lee you're so boring," Sokka lay back in the grass, "we have heaps of time. Relax a bit would you?"

Zuko frowned, he looked out over the city. The two of them sat there listening to the sounds of hustle and bustle in front of them and the birds in the trees behind them. Zuko glanced at Sokka. His eyes were closed and one arm under his head, his chest was rising and falling slowly. He thought Sokka had fallen asleep but then he spoke.

"Can we just chill here a little longer?" he asked.

Zuko pulled his left knee up to his chest and rested his chin on it.

"Okay."