Yangchen had one final request before she and Kavik parted ways. She wanted to meet him for tea.

In reality, it was part of her plan. Kavik knew it was part of her plan- or at least, Yangchen was pretty sure he knew. People didn’t often invite their spies out for tea unless they had information to share. Yangchen did have information to share, and so the popular assumption for once aligned exactly in her favor. A hole-in-the-wall tea shop was the perfect location to exchange the intel away from any prying ears. She might've tried meeting Kavik at his home, but she got the feeling he didn’t want his parents overhearing. The inn she was staying at was even more compromised- by now, someone would’ve found out where she was and delivered the information right into Henshe’s waiting ear. She couldn’t risk being overheard by someone else’s spies, so the tea shop it was.

Yangchen tapped her fingers over the wooden table in impatience. Kavik wasn’t late- rather, she had been far too early- yet, she couldn’t shake the growing dread that something had happened to him. He was taking a risk just by meeting her- he’d put a target on his own back, and Yangchen didn’t know who all knew it was there. She vowed that, if Kavik didn’t show up on time, she would go looking for him. It would be easy to spot him from the rooftops.

The teahouse was dim, and sparsely occupied. From her vantage point in the back of the room, Yangchen could see just one other patron- a hooded figure tucked into the distant corner. They seemed to have entered more to escape the cold than to indulge in tea, and they were far enough away that her conversation with Kavik would be imperceptible, if they kept a whisper.

Yangchen glanced to the kitchen door- more of a curtain than a door, really- to judge if the shop owner was close to re-entering. She doubted it. She had spoken to the owner- a short, stern woman whose judging frown spread to her eyes- and requested not to be served till her companion arrived. Begrudgingly, the owner had obliged, and disappeared back into the kitchen. Yangchen suspected she wouldn’t return until Kavik arrived, or the other guest requested something. When she glanced to the sullen, hooded figure again, she determined that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.

Idly, Yangchen twirled with her hair. The wig she was wearing covered her tattoos with bangs, concealing her identity from anyone who decided to take a second look. She couldn’t easily hide her gray eyes, or her more Air Nomad-like facial features, but in a city as diverse as Bin-Er, that wasn’t as much of a problem. Yangchen had once again donned the double-bunned wig she had worn for her first teahouse meeting with Kavik, but had this time paired it with a more-appropriate blood red cloak in the Fire Nation style. Hopefully, she looked more convincing.

The teahouse was dark, and deadly silent. Yangchen did not appreciate the silence when it was coupled with her apprehension. It allowed for her worries to creep into her mind, like ice water seeping through her veins. She repeated a prayer mantra to the spirits- one she had learned so long ago, when she was so young, that the words slipped out of her lips like breath. Hearing her familiar voice, speaking familiar words, grounded her enough that the darkness and silence of the teahouse no longer seemed so threatening.

The door chimed rang as someone stepped into the shop, stirring Yangchen out of her thoughts. She glanced upward, to find the newcomer to be exactly who she was waiting for, exactly on schedule. Kavik stood in the doorway for only a moment before spotting and approaching Yangchen.

Just as Kavik was taking his seat across from Yangchen, the shop owner emerged from the kitchen. She rightfully assumed Kavik was Yangchen’s friend, took their order of the third-most expensive tea on the menu, then disappeared back into the kitchen. They were alone.

Well, somewhat alone. Kavik kept turning his head slightly, fighting the urge to blatantly turn around and look at the other teahouse guest.

“I don’t think they’re listening to us.” Yangchen said in a low, quiet voice. “They’ve been there since I came here. I think they just came to get out of the cold.” The strangers’ cloak looked ragged, and their table bare of anything but the one cup of tea they had ordered. Yangchen’s heart panged in guilt as she watched them- another soul in need of help. She was getting them help. Them, and the rest of Bin-Er.

At Yangchen’s words, Kavik glanced behind his shoulder to take a proper look at the other guest. He just as quickly turned back around, having made his assessment in seconds flat. He’s a good observer, Yangchen thought, that’s a valuable skill to have in his line of work.

“Looks like it.” Kavik affirmed Yangchen’s statements. He mimicked her quiet tone. “Though, we should probably keep our voices low.” He fell silent, despite his statement seeming unfinished, and watched her. Was he judging her? Mocking her? He obviously thought she wasn’t used to this.

“I know.” Yangchen said. She folded her hands in front of her, and resisted the urge to defend herself.

Kavik started slightly- raised his shoulders in the slightest motion- before calming himself. He glanced over Yangchen. “You fixed your disguise.”

“I had enough time to pull a proper one together, this time.” Yangchen shrugged. “I’ve told the shopkeep that my name is Min-Seo, and that you’re my date. Just in case she’s up for conversation.” Desperately, Yangchen hoped Kavik was good at lying on the spot.

“Date?” Kavik asked, unphased by everything else Yangchen had told him. His cheeks deeped a few shades redder. “Can’t we just be friends? Friends go out for tea all the time.”

“I came up with it on the spot! It’s not real!” Yangchen whispered back, hoping her hushed tone would inspire Kavik to remain silent. “It’s only cover till we get out of here.”

Kavik grumbled to himself- something about family disapproval if he was seen with a Fire Nation girl- and glanced back at the stranger. He sighed as he returned his sights to Yangchen, and drummed his fingers on the table.

“Are Air Nomads even allowed to date?” He said, somehow managing to sound both blunt and nervous, as if he recognized the absurdity of the question as he was saying it.

“Wh- of course we are.” Yangchen huffed, though she couldn’t help it turning into laughter. She hid her face behind her hand. “Where did you think Air Nomad babies came from? The sky?”

Kavik flushed even redder. “Well, I- I meant, are you allowed to date outside your nation? The Water Tribe sages- I know they aren’t allowed to have partners that aren’t Water Tribe.”

Yangchen thought on the question for only a moment. “We Air Nomads are encouraged to show compassion to those of all nations, and accept all types of love. I’d be surprised if that didn’t include cross-nation relationships.”

Kavik nodded, and paused. It was clear he was thinking, but Yangchen was ignorant what he could be thinking about. Eventually, he gave her another question. “Is the Avatar allowed to date?”

Clearly, he was looking for some way to object to the cover she was already hiding under. “Yes. Avatars before me have pursued romantic relationships to their hearts’ desires.” She knew of that too well. “That includes Air Nomad Avatars, too.”

“Fine, I get it.” Kavik huffed, and crossed his arms in front of his chest. He fell silent, leaving the final question unfinished. What about you, Yangchen? Are you allowed to date? Are you interested in that sort of thing?

The sudden quickening of her heartbeat gave her an answer, one she promptly ignored. She decided to change the topic of conversation. “Did you get here easily?”

“Easily enough.” Kavik replied absentmindedly. “There was something happening in the square again, and this place was kind of hard to find.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Yangchen said automatically. She almost added ‘I’ll be sure to let you pick the place next time’ before realizing there wouldn’t be a next time. This, now- this was never happening again. This wasn’t going to last.

Before she or Kavik could say any more, the shop owner returned from the kitchen with their tea. She poured a cup for each of them, said a few kind words that Yangchen smiled through yet barely heard, and then disappeared again.

Kavik stared at his teacup, not speaking. He was waiting for Yangchen to say something. Instead, she took a sip of her tea. It was sweet, too sweet for her tastes.

Once she could stall no longer, Yangchen set down her teacup and pulled her bag onto her lap. “You remember why we’re here.” It was a statement, not a question. Kavik remembered. If he didn’t, then Yangchen had sorely misjudged his abilities.

Abruptly, Kavik straightened in his seat. “Right.” They were there for business. A transaction. Yangchen was to deliever to Kavik a false identity, one that would deliver him from the streets of Bin-Er to the Northern Air temple.

Yangchen pulled the wooden tag from her bag, and the scroll that contained all the information he needed to know about his new name, and handed both to Kavik underneath the table. He caught them, and pocketed them, his movements discreet and fluid as flowing water.

“Thanks.” Kavik whispered, though he was more mouthing the word. He looked back down into his cup. That was all they were there for- one simple exchange. Kavik already knew what he was receiving, so she didn’t have to say anything. Perhaps the tea was excessive. Perhaps, she should've met him somewhere else, somewhere where they weren’t obligated to spend so much time together.

Kavik leaned across the table, close to Yangchen. In a whisper, he said, “And, uh, thanks for the tea, too.” She was paying, so that was expected. His next words weren’t. “I figure it might be a while til I have tea in Bin-Er again.”

His words caught Yangchen off guard. “Is the tea here so special?” If she remembered correctly, the blend she had ordered was sourced from the southern Earth Kingdom.

“No. It's just tea” Kavik said. Yangchen didn’t know what he meant by that, and he said no more. Their shared silence was welcoming, as sweet as the tea.