Avatar the Last Airbender fic: Cultural Exchange

[jennickels]

Day 15: Sharing Cultures


Cultural Exchange

 Katara and Zuko share their cultures through their favorite cuisine. Written for Zutara Month 2022 on tumblr for the prompt: sharing cultures.
708 words | [PG]
 

"So this is your favorite food?" Katara asks, admiring the plating of the dish. 

Zuko grins as he cuts the round bread into four large pieces. "It's called a Fire Fritter. It's filled with sweet cream and fried then drizzled with Fire Flake sauce."

"Both sweet and spicy, huh? That seems to be common in the Fire Nation." Katara takes a tentative bite of the fried dough, being careful to get more of the sweet filling than the flaming-red icing. The bread itself is moist with a hint of sweetness, but the filling melts in her mouth full of sugar and a hint of mango, but then a bit of the Fire Flake sauce bursts on top of the sweetness, adding just a touch of heat that slightly burns the roof of her mouth before she swallows.

"So?" Zuko asks, his hands fidgeting with the edge of the plate. He's looking anywhere but at her.

Katara licks her lips, considering the mish-mash of flavors. "It's amazing Zuko, although the sauce is a little too spicy for my tastes, but I could eat the rest every day."

A smile spreads across his face. "They make a version with a milder sauce—you can try that one next time."

Katara smiles, too, as she takes another bite, this time avoiding the Fire Flake sauce. She really could eat the sweet cream filling all day long. "You have really good food in the Fire Nation," she tells him, licking her fingers free of every crumb. "Lots of variety and flavors."

Zuko blushes and doesn't meet her eyes so he misses her devious look as she moves a covered platter in front of him, uncovering it.

"Now, it's your turn."

The look on his face is priceless as the pungent smell of the stew fills the air. Zuko grimaces as Katara stirs the stew, bringing more of the aroma the surface. "What is that?"

"It's a delicacy of the Southern Water Tribe. Pickled crocodile-clam stew with sea prunes. It's my Gran-Gran's secret recipe."

Zuko looks like he might be sick. "How did you even find those ingredients in the Fire Nation?"

Katara grins. "I have my sources." She watches him poke at the food with little enthusiasm. "Come on—we agreed. I tried your favorite dish; now, you have to try mine."

With what looks like great effort, Zuko spoons a bit of the broth into his mouth and swallows it quickly. "Blech."

Katara giggles. "You didn't even get any of the crocodile-clams. That's the best part." She takes the spoon from him and finds a lump of clam.

Zuko's mouth clamps shut when she tries to feed it to him, making her laugh again.

"Come on, Zuko, just one bite. You did promise."

Reluctantly, Zuko sighs and opens his mouth. He spends several moments chewing the rubbery clam before swallowing with a gag. Katara can't contain her laughter as he shoves half the Fire Fritter in his mouth to wash away the taste of crocodile clams and sea prunes.

"Why are you laughing?" he says around the mouthful of food.

"Because it's funny. You should see your face."

"I feel sick. How can you eat that?"

Katara laughs again. "Well, when you live at the South Pole, you'll eat just about anything that's put in front of you. But I will admit sea prunes and crocodile-clams are an acquired taste."

Zuko frowns. "That was a mean trick."

"Hey," Katara says, poking him in the chest, "Fire Flakes are an acquired taste, too. I still didn't make a huge deal about trying your dish."

Zuko puts his hands up in defeat. "All right, you win."

"I didn't realize it was a competition."

Zuko smirks. "Isn't everything a competition?"

"With you, it is."

They both laugh and take another bite of the Fire Fritter. Katara will never admit that crocodile-clams aren't her favorite dish or that she couldn't even find sea prunes in the Fire Nation so had to substitute ocean kumquats. She just wanted to see if she could get Zuko to try the dish, and she definitely won this round, but she has a feeling Zuko will come up with something much different for her to try next time.