Author Note: Hello Everyone! Thank you so much for your support so far! I have now rewatched all three seasons of Avatar, the Last Airbender. What a great show. I had forgotten that is was so hilarious sometimes with the humor and yet had a ton of action and a lot of romance. This by far is one of my favorites show series especially because it shows that there are blurred lines between "good" and "bad"... and the ending was pretty nice too. Although I now have to rewatch season 2 numerous times... haha...ALSO Chapters will alternate between Zuko and Jin. Each one will start in the middle of the previous chapter but continue the story so you can know each sides opinions and stuff.
Anyways on to the next chapter:
Chapter 3: The Next Day, A Second Date, " Okay, I'll go on another date with you.", "I just want to get to know you."
That night Zuko was laying in bed. He thought he had a slight headache as he fell to sleep. After falling asleep had a dream...
~Zuko set a cup of tea on the Table and smiled at a male customer. The man thanked Zuko and he turned to see Uncle Iroh smiling at him.
Uncle said " Good Job Lee, The customers love you!"
Zuko heard the front door and turned. He saw Jin enter the tea Shop.
Jin Came up to him and hugged him. "Hey Lee. I've missed you!"
Zuko smiled at Jin and she smiled back.
Jin looked at him and said "You'd never lie to me right Lee?"
Zuko caught himself and said "O-Of course not! I'm Lee!"
Suddenly there was a bang on the door as Jet came in.
"He's a fire bender!" yelled Jet.
Jin looked scare and backed away from him. She ran out of the tea shop.~
Zuko woke up
Zuko went back to bed. Soon he had another dream...
~It was raining hard. An old man with a scar on his face (Zuko) trudged along to a huge palace in the fire nation. The man was pulling along the dead body of the avatar behind him. There was noboby cheering yet. They were all indoors. As he entered the throne room he was surprised to see no one was there. He saw a scrolled letter on the throne. He picked it up and read it. The letter told of as the years passed his father had passed away.
" So, You've managed to finally kill the avatar Zuzu?"
He turned to see an old woman dressed in the Fire Lord's attire. It was Azula
"It's about time!" She pointed at him "But now that the war is over..."
Lightning came from her fingertips hitting him in the chest. He fell.
"It was all for nothing! Father died hating your guts! Now no one will know you killed the avatar!"
She picked up the avatar by his hand "...You see Zuko, I killed the avatar. You were never even here."
And with that he closed his eves to breath his last.~
Zuko woke up in a sweat. He said to himself "That's enough sleep for tonight".
Zuko sighed. He sat up in bed and wiped the sweat from his head. He had gotten a decent amount of sleep that night anyway. He thought momentarily about his dreams. Why had he had those dreams?
"Ugh" sighed Zuko. He got up and walked out of his room. He went to get himself a tea. He was actually getting more accustomed to it now that he had been working at the tea shop with his uncle.
"Now what tea should I make?" he asked himself. He thought about tea and his mind went to Jin. He sighed. He hoped he wouldn't see her again. Last night had been weird. 'What was the tea she had gotten?' Zuko thought 'That's right.' Zuko prepared himself a green tea.
It was still dark outside. It must be around 7 AM. The tea shop would not open for another three hours [10 AM].
Zuko sat there sipping tea. He thought about his life so far. He really just thought about it. he realized he had some questions for his uncle.
As Zuko set his empty tea cup down he heard a noise. It must be uncle getting out of bed. He looked up to see his uncle opening the the door and coming out.
Iroh saw Zuko and smiled saying " Ah, Zuko! You got up before I did I see..."
Zuko sighed " Yeah, I guess so..."
Iroh looked and say the tea kettle " And I see you have made some tea".
Zuko watched his uncle get tea and pour it. Iroh took a sip and his eyes went wider. "Zuko! You're improving on your tea!"
Zuko said " Would you mind pouring me another cup?"
Iroh looked at Zuko and said " Of course... Although you've never asked me to fetch you tea before. Is something on your mind?"
Zuko looked down and said "I have a few question for you uncle".
Iroh sat down next to Zuko and asked "What's on your mind nephew?"
Zuko looked at his uncle and said "I'm confused."
Iroh looked at Zuko " About what?"
Zuko said " I had a dream last night. I had finally caught the avatar after many years, but when I returned father was dead and Azula was the new fire lord. Capturing the avatar was a wasted effort."
Zuko looked at his uncle with fierce eyes saying "I don't see how I'll ever capture the avatar while we are here in Ba Sing Se!"
Iroh sighed " Zuko. We've started anew. We don't need to capture the avatar any longer. You have a new life here."
Zuko nearly yelled "But it's a lie! Even if I meet new people and start a new life I won't have my honour and I won't be living a real life! Someday we could be found out. We're fugitives!"
Iroh said " Try not to worry Zuko. Life has a funny way of working itself out. Destiny is what you make of it!"
Zuko looked in his uncles eyes "I know! And for now I have decided to give up on searching for the avatar, but only for now. When I get my change to regain my honour I will take it!"
Iroh sighed saying " Very well Zuko... At least you're willing to try."
Iroh took a sip of tea. As Zuko took his own sip of tea Iroh looked at Zuko and asked "So how did your date last night go?"
Zuko immediately spit out hit tea and coughed.
Iroh said " I would bet you had a nice time" He paused "I am willing to bet that your date triggered those dreams to show you that you do have a choice and that you can choose your own destiny!"
Zuko frowned "I don't want to see her again!"
Iroh said puzzled " Why not?"
Zuko sighed and said "It's complicated. I can't even be honest with her!"
Iroh said "Zuko..."
Zuko yelled " Do you mean ZUKO or LEE? Who am I?"
Iroh put his hand to his face thinking and finally said " I see... From now on I can call you Lee and you'll call me Mushi. I suppose that would be best."
Zuko looked away and said " Whatever..."
Iroh put his hand on Zuko's shoulder and said "Just give it a chance nephew, and do give the girl a chance. She is our most valuable customer after all!"
Zuko stood up and said "Ok uncle... Let me know when it's time to go to the tea shop"
Iroh asked " Where are you going Zuko?" and then said " I mean Lee"
Zuko said " I'm going to get some more sleep..."
/
After resting a few hours and getting ready Zuko and Iroh headed to the tea shop. Zuko and Iroh worked for a couple hours. Zuko had noticed Jin had not came in yet so he was hoping she wouldn't show up at all... Ever. It was just too complicated. He threw out all notions that kept arising that he had feeling for her. No, That first kiss would be their last. Until...
Zuko went to the back of the shop to get some tea supplies for Iroh. When he returned to go out and cater to the new customers his heart skipped a beat when he saw Jin. She had just came in and she had seen him. She looked at him for a moment and then sat down in her usual spot.
Zuko turned right around and went to the back of the shop. He breathed out. Would he have to ignore her forever? Maybe he should ban her from the shop?
Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned about to attack whoever touched him to see his uncle. " Uncle? What are you...?"
Iroh looked into his nephew's eyes and said "I saw your reaction to Jin just now. You can't run and hide from her forever... She is our most valuable customer after all, And I do feel she is a good influence on you!"
Zuko looked at his uncle as he realized that what Iroh said was true about not being able to ignore her forever.
Iroh added " Plus it is time for your lunch break. You should go out and talk with her. Perhaps you two will work things out or perhaps not. Either way you can't ignore her forever!"
Zuko sighed " You're right uncle..."
Zuko went back out and looked at Jin's direction. She had looked over and back down at the table. Zuko sighed again and walked over to her table. He hovered over the table and Jin looked up at him. She said "Oh, Hey Lee. I just wanted to come in and see you... I mean I do have this lovely Free Tea coupon after all."
Suddenly from behind came Iroh saying "Sit Lee, Sit!" and he looked at Jin " My nephew here is on his lunch break. Please, you two sit and I will bring you some fresh hot tea as well as lunch for two". Zuko sat down in front of Jin as Iroh went off.
Zuko sat down and there was a bit of an awkward silence between the two as the had made eye contact just to break it and look at the table in front of them.
"About last night..." started Jin. Zuko said nothing but looked up as Jin spoke while she looked down. She rose her head and said "I enjoyed our date... And I know things are complicated for you Lee. IF you remember back it was only me asking you questions and getting your info. I was really intrusive without thinking about all you may have gone through." She looked up and said "It's just... because I want to get to know you, Lee."
Zuko looked at Jin and was about to say something but she interjected quickly with "And on our date you didn't ask me much or talk a lot. I realize now it's because you have guarded yourself from questioning... But I think I'm kind of the same, Lee." She looked down again and said "You see...I haven't told you a lot about myself either... I have scars too, Lee. I think we both hurt inside from our pasts... but... I would really like another date with you"
Zuko was about to respond when he was interrupted again. This time it was by his uncle who had two plates in his hands of the lunch he had prepared for him and Zuko. Obviously he now meant it for Zuko and Jin.
Iroh said " Sorry for the wait, I had to quickly prepare your meals and make some special Jasmine Tea for the both of you". He sat down two trays. On the trays were Chicken, Rice, and sides of Egg. IT was decorated with spices and had sauces on the sides. On each plate was a cup of Jasmine Tea.
Zuko looked at the meals. They looked amazing. How had uncle made such simple meals look so delectable?
Iroh looked at Jin and said "Lee here has told me he had a nice night on your two's date."
Jin looked up and her eyes seemed to be full of joy. She asked " Really Mushi?"
Iroh smiled and said " Yes! Lee here is quite fond of you!"
Zuko felt a rage inside him at his uncle lying but it quickly calmed as he saw how happy Jin was. His heart softened and he mumbled "I-IT was a nice date..."
Jin smiled and said " Oh Lee! Really? I'm sorry! I just thought..."
Zuko held up his hands and said " It's fine..." He was caught off guard and he told himself mentally to strangle his uncle later for this...
Jin looked down at the meals and looked back up "That you so much, Mushi!"
Iroh smiled saying "Go on now, eat, before your meals get cold!" And he went off to cater to other customers.
Jin looked up at Zuko and asked "So... Does that mean we can have a third date?"
Zuko looked surprised "Third?"
Jin said "Well this is like our second date so..."
Zuko looked at their meals and the smiling girl. He hated to admit it but he didn't want to ruin that smile "Ok, I'll go on another date with you."
To Be Continued...
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I have a lot planned for this fanfiction so please support me with a review. I am open to suggestions and feedback. Thank you all very much!
I do hope you all enjoy so please leave feedback and ideas? As you can tell above I did use some dialogue from the episode.
