Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Bender or its characters
pointedrs: 'italics' means that the character is thinking
Summary: He hadn't seen her since the day he was banished, but he could still remember the way the wind had drifted her away. Zuko x OC
Book 2: Earth
Ba Sing Se Pt. II
They had worked in this shop for about two weeks now. Feng was doing her usual job making pastries, Zuko being the waiter, and Iroh being the tea server. By now, the whole city was in love with the teashop and sometimes it became a little too crowded for them to handle it. Days like these, where Feng would whine and complain how her arms were tired and Iroh would give her a cup of tea to wake her up and make her push through. Sometimes the customers would grow feisty, impatient, and other times they would be calm and collected, even nice. Today was a mixture of the crowds as Feng brought out another fruit pie, a strawberry one at that, her newest creation. One guest had asked could she make a strawberry one, and she decided to give it a go.
Feng had placed the slice of strawberry pie on the table before the customer, a rather robust young man. He picked up his spoon and slid it down at the tip of the slice and scooped it up. "Why, this is delicious!"
"Here is your cinnamon spiced tea." Zuko said as he saw Feng's face lit up when the man overflooded her with compliments of how good the pie had tasted. Zuko had noticed this gleam in her eyes, a cocky smirk forming on her face as the man went on and on.
"Hey, Feng, wake up from your little dream world." He said as she shook her head and looked at Zuko, "Other people want some pie!"
"Hey! I want strawberry too!"
"Where is my grape pie?"
"Why did he get to try the new flavor first, you said I was your favorite customer!"
People roared as Feng let out a long sigh, "Sorry for the hold up." She went towards the counter and started slicing more of the strawberry fruit pie onto some plates and placed them on a tray for Zuko to serve. He whirled around her and went to the many tables as she walked over to Iroh. "Today is killing me."
Iroh turned to look at the young girl, her eyes as dead as a flower. "Oooh, you look very tired. Why don't you take a break? I'll tell Pao that you've worked all day and haven't had one at all."
"Thank you, Mushi." She smiled at him as he gave her a smile in return. The brunette watched as he walked over to Pao and explained everything, the owner of the teashop had looked at her direction seeing how worn out she was. He quickly went over to her, "I didn't mean to worry you, Pao. I didn't want to upset the customers."
"No, no!" The man placed his hands on the girl's shoulders, "You should go home and take a break, I'll just tell them that there will not be any pies served until our best baker is well again. You go and take a nap at home."
The teenager bowed before him, "Thank you so much." She took off her apron and left the shop, Zuko's eyes following her until she was out of sight.
Feng stretched her arms above her head, hearing them crack as she released some of the tension. She just couldn't work so hard today and it probably came from the lack of sleep. She was up all night guard Iroh and Zuko's apartment because she had noticed a suspicious figure around earlier. Whoever that person was, she didn't know but she made it her mission to find out sooner than later. "You would make a good spy, you know."
She stopped her tracks as she looked to her left, a boy was leaning on the wall in the slightly dark alley. "Jet? You're the one that's been following them? Why?" Her eyes narrowed, "I knew you weren't trustworthy."
Jet had pushed himself off the wall, "No. I wanted Lee to join my Freedom Fighters, but I had caught something on the train on our way here. His Uncle had heated his tea with firebending."
"How are you so sure of that?" The female asked as she folded her arms.
"You were there!" He pointed at her, "When he claimed the tea was the coldest tea of Ba Sing Se! Admit it, Feng! You know their firebenders."
"Jet, I don't know what you're talking about." She rolled her hazel eyes, "Your just paranoid and mad because Lee didn't want to join the Freedom Fighters."
The boy snarled, "I'm telling the truth and wait until I tell the police!"
"Okay, and you still have nothing to prove that your right. Your just going to make yourself look stupid." She turned around as he watched the direction she walked off too. He threw the prairie grass on the ground out of anger before stomping back to the teashop.
When Feng reached her elegant and comfortable apartment, she had lit some candles after closing the front door. She gasped when she had saw Iroh sitting at the dining room with a Pai Sho table. "You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair."
"What are you doing here, Mushi?" Feng asked as she walked over toward the Pai Sho table and taking a seat.
The old man still had a smile on his face as he looked up at her, "Its because I have missed you for such a long time, Jiyuu."
"How did yo-" She was cut off.
"Jiyuu wore that red heaband and flower pin every, single day. I was also there when my son had brought it for her. I also know that fruit pies were made from airbending and I have never seen you use the oven, but I did see the airbending pie machine in the other room of the kitchen. Not only that, I have watched over you since you were a child. I know that voice, those actions from anywhere. You may have Zuko fooled, but you have not fooled me. I have lived too many years to be deceited by such poor acting."
The airbender sighed as she hung her head, "You do know why I am doing this don't you?"
"Quite frankly, I don't know why your hiding who you are. I don't know what you can gain from deceiving us." Iroh said as he watched the young rub the side of her face.
"I already hurt you two by allowing myself to get put up for execution. Jiyuu doesn't deserve to have her best friend back and that's why I made Feng. I didn't know I would run into you two again and at first, I didn't even recognize Zuko because when I left his face was bandaged and I did not know the extent of the pain Ozai had inflicted on him. And so, when I realized who you two were I decided to make up Feng so I can feel close to you two again but I couldn't give up my ribbon and flower pin and so I kept it on, hoping you two had forgotten all about me." She explained as Iroh frowned slightly.
He reached his arm over to her and grabbed her small, slender hand. "How could we forget you, Jiyuu? I loved you like you were my own daughter and you were Zuko's best friend. There's not a day that goes by that we haven't thought of you, that we wished we could have saved you. How did you even escape for that matter?"
Jiyuu smiled sadly, guilt circling her chest. "I had help from Admiral Cheng."
"Admiral Cheng? He saved you, but how?" Iroh asked, confused.
"He had prepared a ship to get me when he learned of my execution. So, when everyone left and thought I was dead or just on the brink of it, they had pulled me out of the water. He had me taken cared of before taking me to the Earth Kingdom where I reunited with my family."
"So, Kazu is your father?" Iroh asked and she nodded her head, "I'm glad you are alive, Jiyuu. Its been three rough years for Zuko and know your alive would make him happy again."
The female shook her head, "I don't want him to know."
"The naked truth is always better than the best dressed lie." Iroh explained as she let out a long, tired sigh. "I will not tell him, but I hope one day you will end his grieving."
And with that said, Iroh had stood up and walked out of her home as she looked down at the Pai Sho table. "...He's still grieving for me...?"
The Next Day...
Jiyuu had returned to work and everything was normal again. Except for the fact she hadn't seen Jet in a while, she couldn't help but wonder what he was up to and if he really was going to tell the police like he had said he would. "This is the best tea in the city!" An officer said at his table.
"The secret ingredient is love." Iroh said as he waves a through the steam from the teappot and walks towards the back of the shop where the owner is.
"I think you're due for a raise." Pao said as not a second later, Jet slams the tea shop door open and steps inside.
"I'm tired of waiting. These two men are Firebenders!" Jet points an accusing finger at Zuko and Iroh. The two, their attention fixated on the freedom fighter. Jet unsheathes his hook swords and prepares to fight. Iroh and Zuko quickly exchange a look, unsure of what to do. The Freedom fighter standing in the doorway, swords drawn and ready to fight. Everyone's attention was focused on him. "I know they're firebenders! I saw the old man heating his tea!"
Jiyuu slaped her palm against her face, shaking her head. "He works in a tea shop." The officer said, obviously confused.
"He's a firebender, I'm telling you!" The Earth Kingdom boy continued to say.
"Drop your swords boy, nice and easy." said the officer as two of them sitting at one of the tables stand up and prepare to take care of Jet."
"You'll have to defend yourself. Then everyone will know. Go ahead, show them what you can do." He said poises his hook swords and slowly walks towards Iroh and Zuko. One of the officers prepares to draw the swords at his waist when Zuko steps in front of him and grabs the hilt instead.
The Prince gave him a very serious expression, "You want a show? I'll give you a show." Zuko unsheathed the officer's double broadswords and enters his fighting stance. He then pulls a table in front of him with his foot and kicks it at Jet. Jet slices his hook swords into the table and jumps over it. As he lands, Jet swings both hook swords down at Zuko, who deflects the attack and jumps backward on to another table. Jet swings one sword through the middle of the table, slicing it in half. Zuko steps to one half of the table and balances on one foot.
Jet follows up his attack by cutting through the legs on the half of the table Zuko is standing on. Zuko quickly hops on to the other half that is still standing and lands in a crane stance. Jet knocks this half to the ground, but Zuko jumps into the air and swings both broadswords at Jet's feet as he lands. Jet somersaults away and lands in a crouching position before charging forward at Zuko again. Zuko swings both of his swords at Jet. Just as both pairs of weapons clash together.
The Prince bursts through the door and tumbles into the street. The Freedom Fight runs after him and does a few spins before striking at Zuko with both swords. Zuko manages to block the strike and both combatants lock swords. "You must be getting tired of using those swords. Why don't you go ahead and firebend at me."
They both struggle to gain control and walk off to the side. Iroh is standing in the doorway and watching, worried as he keeps Jiyuu from stopping the fight. "Please son, you're confused. You don't know what you're doing!"
Zuko swings at Jet, but Jet catches Zuko's broad sword with the ends of his hook swords, spins around and deflects it to the side. Zuko spins with it and tries to counter attack, but Jet hooks the ends of his swords together and begins them at Zuko in large circular motions. Zuko retreats back a few steps to avoid the bladed hilt. "Bet you wish he'd help you out with a little fire blast right now."
As Jet swings at Zuko's feet, Zuko stabs one of his broad swords through the hilt, pinning it to the ground. Jet looks at it with annoyance before focusing back on Zuko. "You're the one who needs help." said the firebender as both fighters are down to one sword each. Jet lets go of his pinned hook sword and retreats a step. He turns in a circle and tries to swipe at Zuko, but Zuko quickly advances and swings his sword at Jet in a horizontal motion. Jet pulls his attack just in time to bend backward and avoid Zuko's blade. Zuko's broad sword passes over Jet, cutting the wheat straw sticking out of Jet's mouth in half.
Jet regains balance and jumps backward on to the edge of a well. By now several people are in the street watching the fight. "You see that? The Fire Nation is trying to silence me. It'll never happen."
Jet hooks his sword on to a wooden beam above the well and swings forward at Zuko, attacking him with a flying kick. Zuko growls as he swings his broadsword at Jet. Jet parries the attack and steps to Zuko's side and the two end up back to back. They attempt to strike at the opponent behind them, but neither can get past the other's defense.
Two Dai Li walked through the crowd and towards the swordfight. "Drop yoour weapons!" Zuko and Jet step away and face each other.
Zuko lowers his sword and Jet points at Zuko and Iroh. "Arrest them. They're Firebenders!"
"This poor boy is confused. We're just simple refugees." Iroh told the agents.
Pao pointed at Jet, "This young man wrecked my tea shop, and assaulted my employees."
"It's true sir. We saw the whole thing. This crazy kid attacked the finest tea maker in the city." The officer from before agreed.
Iroh began to blush, "Oh ho ho. That's very sweet." The two Dai Li walk up behind Jet, who looks at them angrily.
"Come with us son." One of the agents said as Jet swings his hook sword at the Dai Li guard, but he catches the sword with his hand covered in stones. The guard then disarms Jet and both guards pull the boy's arms behind his back, binding his wrists together using the stones on the palms of their gloves. They drag Jet away towards a wagon designed for holding captured criminals.
"You don't understand! They're Fire Nation! You have to believe me! She knows they are!" He said as everyone looked at Jiyuu.
The airbender looked at everyone and then at Jet, "I seriously don't know what he's talking about." She answered and then shrugged as they then watched as Jet was into the wagon. The crowd begins to disperse. On his knees, Jet looks up as the doors slam shut. The people left in the street watch the wagon roll away.
"That... Was pretty intense, but good job with those swords!" Jiyuu patted Zuko's back, "You were pretty cool out there."
The Prince turned to look at her, "Thanks."
She smiled at him as he felt his cheeks warm up as he quickly turned and retrieved his other broad sword. "Feng, would you like to come over for dinner?" Iroh asked since closing time was just a few minutes away.
"Sure! It beats cooking for myself!" She said with a big smile as Zuko sighed softly.
"...Iroh, that looks really nasty." Jiyuu pointedd at the gook in the pot as a bubble slowly formed and then popped.
The old man laughed, "Well, that's only one of the few dishes I can make."
The airbender sighed, "I'll making something."
"You don't have to do that, your are guest!" Iroh said as she shook her head.
"I'm not eating that and it's just best if I cook something." Opening the cabinents, she pulled out some ingredients and placed them on the counter before she began to cut up some cabbage.
Iroh then looked at his nephew, "Zuko, why don't you help Feng in the kitchen? I'm going to take a bath." He said as his nephew got up and dusted his clothes before washing his hands in the sink.
"You don't have to help me. I can do this on my own," She stopped chopping the cabbages and looked up at him. He didn't say a word except put on a pot of water on the stove to make rice. The brunette bit her lip and kept chopping away.
"It's the least I could do for you not blowing our cover." He finally spoke which made a small smile appear on her face.
After cutting up a reasonable amount of cabbage, she pulled out some chicken meat and began to cut it too. "So, Zuko, how are you liking life here so far?"
"I don't like it." He answered her as he started to chop some carrots, "I just want to go home."
Jiyuu rolled her eyes, "What's so great about home?"
"The memories I kept there that I didn't bring with me when I left." She stopped chopping the meet and looked at him which caused him to stop as well. "What?"
"O-Oh nothing!" She picked up where she left off, "It just seems your heart lives in the past."
"Because my heart only lives in the past." Jiyuu frowned as he spoke, "I just want to go back to a time where my friend was still alive, my mother was around, and my father had loved me. I don't have anything left except for my Uncle and I just want that all back. My honor, my friend, and my mother."
"That girl, who was your friend, sure did mean a lot to you, didn't she?" She asked as he continued to stare at the orange vegetable.
"Yeah, she was my first friend. My first everything." He mumbled the last bit, but she had heard it quite clear. Only because she was standing next to him.
Her eyes went wide, "Your first everything? You two kissed? Let me here all the details!"
His face had turned red, "W-Why do girls like knowing about those things? It's not even that important!"
"Come on, tell me!" She dropped the knife and clapped her hands together, "Tell meeeee!" She whined.
"If it will get you off my back then... fine!" His flustered face had gotten close to hers as she raised her hands defensively, "We were just kids anyway."
Flash Back:
Ten-year-old Zuko was walking around the palace, nothing particular in his mind as he took his stroll. He then saw Jiyuu whizzing past him, her eyes wide of fear. He quickly turned around and ran after her, "Jiyuu! What are you running for?"
The airbender then skidded on her heels and spun around toward Zuko, "Nobleman Ryuu's son, Fu, tried to kiss me!"
"Kiss you?" Zuko's eyebrows furrowed, "Why would he want to do that?"
Jiyuu shook her head, "Because its what couples do!"
"Couples? You two are a couple?" The Prince's temper was rising.
The airbender slapped her hand over his mouth, "No! But I can't kiss him, I don't know how to!"
He then removed her hand from his mouth, "And so you just ran?"
"Basically." She shrugged her shoulders, "I can't kiss him inexperienced! It'll make all my talk amount to nothing."
"But you are all talk." Zuko said dully as she rolled her eyes, "Then get some practice."
The brunette sighed, circling around him. "From who?" She grumbled and then her eyes widened, "How about you, Zuko! You've kissed a girl before, right?"
His cheeks went a bright tint of red, "Well, uhm, er... W-Why of course I have! I am the Future Firelord and so I have to experience everything." He stuck out his chest proudly before growing embarassed again, "But why me?"
"Your experienced, I'm not. And because we're best friends so it won't mean anything!" She threw her arms above her head in an excited manner while his expression was slightly dejected. "Okay, so teach me."
Zuko had let out a long sigh, "Not here! C'mon!" He grabbed her hand and they ran down the hall and out into the courtyard toward the firelily field.
"Why here?" Jiyuu asked as she looked around and then back at Zuko.
"So nobody will see us, idiot!" He pinched the bridge of his nose, "Anyway, so, okay." He placed his hands on her shoulders and she looked up at him curiously. "The guy always leans in first, that's rule number one!" He said as he looked at her as he moved closer to he, "And you poke out your lips," Jiyuu did what he instructed, "And then you close your eyes then..."
He drew closer to her but then she stopped him halfway. "Okay, now that we're on this subject, who did you kiss?
"... That's none of your concern." Zuko answered her, "Do you want to learn or not?"
"I'm nervous! What if this goes bad? What if I suck at it? My whole image will be ruined and-" He cut off her with a press of his lips againsts her. Her hazel eyes went wide as she saw Zuko actually kissing her, but after a few seconds she had closed her eyes and applied soft pressure against his lips.
Once he pulled away, he rubbed the back of his head as he looked away. "Y-You weren't bad."
Jiyuu's face was completely a shade of pink as she held her sleeves overs her mouth since her hands was by them. Shyly, she looked up at Zuko and then looked back at the ground. "Thanks for teaching me." She muffled through her sleeves, unable to make eye contact with him.
"It was nothing." He quickly walked away, or more like ran. Jiyuu had smiled at his back as he smiled into the way of the palace.
End Flashback
"Well, that's not romantic." Jiyuu sighed, "I was definitely expecting something romantic."
Zuko rolled his eyes, "I never said it was."
"Sooooo," She stretched, "You lied to her? She was your first kiss?"
The boy placed the chopped carrots in the bowl of cabbage and kitchen, "It wasn't like I could tell her the truth."
"Why couldn't you?" The airbender asked.
"Because she would've given her first kiss to someone else." He answered as a smile grace Jiyuu's face, "I didn't want her to kiss just anybody. She was considered to be apart of the Royal Family, you kiss royalty. Not commoners." Jiyuu's face had fallen completely.
Her smile felt like it would never show itself again, "How... sweet of you." She said sarcastically as he then looked at her.
"Can you stay out of my personal life? Your so nosy and want to know about everyone else, but I know nothing about you." Zuko's voice was laced with venom, something she had never seen to this extent. It worried her, it saddened her, and worst of all she feared she helped contribute to it.
"Your right, I am being a bit nosy. It's because your life is so much richer than mine, you already know I lived with my family in that flowershop. My life has always been in that small village, nothing more and nothing less." She answered, "And my betrothed died in the war, what's more to explain about me?"
He had then took some onions and began to chop them, "Are you a bender?"
"I wish." Jiyuu sighed, "I wished I was an Earthbender like my Dad."
Suddenly, the chopping stopped. "Kazu is an Earthbender?" Zuko asked as the airbender nodded her head.
"Why?" She looked up at him from the corner of his eyes, "You couldn't tell."
"He hadn't done any Earthbending when we were trying to escape, it would of been useful." The Prince answered as she nodded her head, agreeing with him.
"Right, right. I don't know why he didn't do any bending, he must of had his reasons." She said as she placed some seasoning into the bowl and began to stir as Zuko added some of the onions into the bowl. "Sorry you had to help me, I know you don't like doing labor."
"It beats eating Uncle's gook." The boy said as he watched as she poured the bowl in the pan and took two large chopsticks and stired it up while he added rice to the boiling water.
"Hey," She called to him and he turned to look at her before he went to go wash his hands, "I'm sorry for reminding you of your old friend. I know it hurts to talk about her."
Zuko looked down and let out a small sigh, "I keep trying to keep telling myself that she's dead. My Uncle always clings onto some tiny hope that there's a possiblity that she's still alive. I want to believe that, but I would hate her if she was."
The brunette stiffened, "Why would you hate her? She would have some very logical reasons why she couldn't see you."
"The day she died was the day I was banished. If she had lived through that, she would've known that. If she kept going knowing that for all these years, she might as well be dead to me." And with that said, he had walked out of the room as Jiyuu stared at the door he went through.
A tear had slid down the corner of her eye and she quickly wiped it away with the back of her wrist. "I deserve this."
Iroh had heard the conversation between them, well, just the last bit. He frowned and let out a long sigh before placing on a cheery smile, "Smells delicious! My nephew helped, Feng?"
"Oh," Jiyuu snapped out of her thoughts, "yeah, he did."
He placed his hand on her shoulder and whispered, "I don't think he meant that he would hate you."
"No, he meant it." She replied, "... When he's serious, he doesn't blink. He has this hard, cold stare when he's being serious. I know that look from anywhere."
The former general frowed as he picked up a pair of chopsticks and stole some bits of the stir-fried cabbage, "This is delicious! Way better than gook!"
Jiyuu sighed, "I'm glad I was able to help." She then made some plates up and placed them on the table before putting some rice in some bowls. Zuko had finally walked into the dining room and sat down with his eyes on his food and nowhere else. Jiyuu had not looked at him either, very much afraid to.
Everyone had sat down, tension in the air, and began to eat. "So, Zuko, how do you like it here?"
"You know how I feel about this decrepit place." His nephew answered and Iroh had let out a sigh.
"How do you like Ba Sing Se, Feng?" He then asked.
"I think its nice here." Jiyuu smiled, "Its a nice change."
"I'm glad someone has high spirits!" Iroh smiled at her as he looked over to his nephew who kept his stoic expression.
Jiyuu looked at Zuko and then back at Iroh, "I think I should probably get going now. Its getting pretty dark outside."
Iroh frowned, "Zuko, why don't you walk her home?"
The Prince continued to eat his stir-fry, "She can walk herself."
"Sure can." The female replied, rolling her eyes as she stood up while Iroh gabe his nephew a disappointedd look. Jiyuu made her way over to the door with Iroh following behind her, "It was nice being here wity you two. We have work tomorrow and I should get some rest. Since Jet is gone, I won't have to worry about anyone trying to hurt you both."
The former general had a surprised expression, "You've been watching us?"
"My dad told me to in case anything were to happen. Jet has been spying but I was planning on confront him at the right time, I ended up finding out but I didn't know he would take things as far as he did. He not a problem anymore, things came out well for us, and so there's nothing to worry about." She smiled at him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "See you tomorrow, Iroh."
"Call me Uncle." Iroh said, "I miss hearing you say it." He said with a kind smile.
"Okay, Uncle." She said as he gave her a hug, before they knew it, Zuko came walking over with a scarf around his neck.
"Let's go." He said as he opened the door and walked ahead of her. Jiyuu waved at Iroh and left out the front door, walking alongside Zuko into the nighttime of Ba Sing Se.
Jiyuu had her hands folded behind her back as she looked up at the stars, which weren't quite so clear due to the many lights on the streets, but it was still beautiful nonetheless. "Hey, Zuko, have you ever heard the story of Zhinv?"
"The star?" He turned to look at her as she nodded her head, "What about it?"
The brunette smiled, "Do you think that the story is romantic? How her and Niulang still love each other despite only seeing each other one time a year? After all they went through, been separated for song, but their love doesn't seem to die but grow greater?"
"I guess." He adjusted his red scarf around his neck as she walked closer to him, "What are you doing?"
Jiyuu pouted her lips, "You always seem to be thinking about something."
"I'm not thinking about anything. I just don't want to talk." He saw as she stopped walking, an unreadable expression across her face. "When are we going to get to your house? In a year? Stop stopping and acting ridiculous."
"Why are you so mean to me?" Jiyuu finally asked, ignoring what he said.
The Prince looked away, "Because you remind me too much of her."
"Of Jiyuu?" She asked, "Why didn't you tell me before?"
"Because I didn't want to." He answered her before walking ahead, "Let's just go."
The Next Day...
There was quite a lot of tension in the teashop. Jiyuu had avoided Zuko the whole time, not even saying a word to him and he had seen it as she smiled at Iroh and spoke with him, but completely ignored him the whole entire time. In all honesty, it had grated his nerves. At first, all she wanted to do was talk to him and ask him questions but now she was full out ignoring him. Was it something he said last night? Iroh, meanwhile, had noticed the situation himself and decided to let it ride. He was sure they would work something out with him doing a little pushing and shoving here and there. He was just hoping that Jiyuu would finally tell Zuko who she was instead of going on with this lie.
Zuko walkeddown the shop with a trey of cup and looking over his shoulder. He walked up behind Iroh who was on the ladder, stacking things on a shelf. "Uncle, we have a problem." He said as Iroh descended down, "One of the customers is on to us. Don't look now." He said as a pretty, Earth Kingdom girl was sitting at the corner of the shop sipping tea, "But there is a girl over there at the corner. She knows we're Fire Nation." he said as Zuko forces Iroh to turned around as he turned to look. The older man merely sports a grin on his face, "Didn't I say don't look!" Zuko snapped.
"You're right Zuko. I've seen that girl in here quite a lot. Seems to me she has quite a little crush on you." Iroh explained as Jiyuu stiffened, hearing the words that came out of Iroh's mouth. She, however, went to the kitchen to make another pie.
Zuko reeled back in surprise, "What!"
Jin was behind the trip suddenly, "Thank you for the tea." she thanked him as she hands Zuko a few coins who takes them and turns away from her, "What's your name?"
He turned back to her, "My name's Lee. My Uncle, friend, and I just moved here."
"Hi Lee, my name is Jin. Thank you and, well, I was wondering if you like to go out sometime." She asked, right when Jiyuu came out with a tray of pie. She had given Jin a deadly expression, her eyes narrowing at the olive-toned girl.
Zuko was stunned, and before he could respond, Iroh chimed in. "He'd love to!"
"Great! I will meet you in front of the shop at sundown." She walked away, leaving Zuko standing bewildered as his Uncle throws an arm around his shoulders with a large, goofy grin on his face again. Jiyuu merely rolled her eyes and started cutting slices for the customers.
Iroh turned to the airbender, "Did you hear, Feng?" He asked as Jiyuu looked up at him, shaking her head.
"What?" She asked, her voice flatter than a pancake.
Iroh took note of the rise of tension, "My nephew has gotten a date with an Earth Kingdom girl! Isn't that great?"
"How nice. I hope you have a good time, Zuko." She feigned happiness, smiling at him as he looked at her and then looked away.
"Its not like I asked for this." He finally spoke as his Uncle looked at him and Jiyuu walked away, not bothering to reply to what he said.
When nighttime had fallen, the shop was closing at Iroh had fixe Zuko's hair, combing and parting it. The Prince was wearing different closes, a contrast to his typical brown every-day clothes. Jiyuu was washing dishes and drying them while Iroh was looking how he had fixed his nephew up, "You look so handsome right now."
"But I feel so ridiculous." Zuko said, clearly annoyed. He felt almost scared to actually go on this date, especially since Feng was there ignoring him like he was scum of the Earth. "Feng?"
The female turned the facuet, the running water stoping. She didn't turn to look at him, but he knew that he had her attention. "Yeah?" She finally said, looking over her shoulder finally.
"Do I look like ridiculous?" He asked, trying to confirm his Uncle that he looked horrible. He was hoping she would agree so he could back out of this date, but she just smiled at him.
"You look nice, I'm sure Jin will love your outfit." She wiped her hands with a towel and then took off her apron, hanging it on the coat-rack for them before going out the door. "Have fun!" Jiyuu waved as she walked down the street, seeing Jin not too far. The airbender shoved the girl against the wall, her eyes staring straight into the girls.
The girl was obviously afraid, but then she noticed who the girl was. "F-Feng?" Jin mumbled, "W-Why are you doing this?"
"Because Lee means a lot to me and if you break his heart," Jiyuu leaned close to the girl's ear, "I'll take yours right out of your chest, you hear me?"
"I-I won't! I promise!" The girl said, her voice slightly shaking as Jiyuu then let her go, a smile on her face.
"Okay, have fun!" She waved before continuing down the street.
Jiyuu: The Japanese name meaning "Freedom"
Feng: Chinese name meaning "Wind
Ichirou: The Japanese name meaning "first son"
Jiro: The Japanese name meaning "second son"
Fu: The Chinese name meaning "Rich"
Short I know, but there's sooo many ideas that I have in mind. Bwahahaha.
R & R!