I bent over the table I was cleaning, trying to get a particularly dirty spot. I tried to ignore the nagging urge to escape this new job. I didn't know what Kariana meant by "royalty", and didn't want to find out. Some part of me --my subconscious, maybe-- knew that Zuko was royalty, and that there was a chance that he might stop by. My urge to run away flared up again. Would Zuko really stop by some old tea shop? Why? It's probably just the Earth King, of course. We are in Ba Sing Se. He does live here. But still-- to have Zuko actually, really truly here would be excruciating.
Oh dear Agni--- My though stopped cold. "Oh dear Agni..." had been one of Zuko's favorite phrases. I hadn't thought about it in a long time. It still hurt to remember all the times he would say it. I looked down at the tea I was serving and smiled, feeling nostalgic. I could still remember the exact tone of voice and expression he would use with it.
I finished serving a few more customers and then returned to the kitchen to clean some plates. An older and slightly tubby man was beaming down at the tea he was making. He hummed cheerfully to himself.
"Excuse me," I mumbled, trying to pass him.
"I am sorry, my dear. An older man like myself gets distracted easily. Especially on a day like today," he said warmly.
I asked the follow-up question, "Why? What's today?"
"Someone special is coming to visit me," he said.
He really took a look at me for the first time. His eyes widen and then quickly advert back to his tea. His countenance is full of shock, but also something else... recognition? He mumbled so low I'm not even sure I heard what he said, "And it seems he is special to you, too." He is turned away form me now, clearly a dismissal.
A commotion at the front door interrupts me as I try to clean the teacups. The old man is gone. I step out and peek to the front room. All I can see is a few fire nation soldiers. I can hear Kariana's voice above the others. But I just cannot make out the words. Then I spy him. He is clustered in a group of fire nation nobles. Our eyes meet at the same moment. I could feel the shock on my face. It showed on his, too. Then I turn around the corner into the kitchen so i could go to pieces in private.