-o-o-o-

Zuko's glance fell to the teashop table at which he sat – chipped, stained, and worn, he observed in his usual demeanor – and massaged his temples with effort. His mind swarmed – too much to think about – better get back to work – can't Uncle request for more hired help? He let his fingers wander to the steaming cup of tea beside him. "Tea always clears my head." Iroh's words continued to surface. Didn't Uncle understand that his love of tea had a little blossoming to do? He tilted the cup towards his face, eyeing the steaming drink within. In disgust, Zuko cast the cup aside but drew it back again and swigged it down, shuddering at the foreign taste. It did nothing for his thoughts, which only focused on the tea's odd flavor. He coughed and sputtered as inconspicuously as possible, but caught the attention of one.

"You don't swig steaming hot tea," she whispered matter-of-factly.

This girl that had spoken to him reached for a brass pot and refilled his cup.

"Try again. Tea can be calming when sipped in the proper fashion."

Zuko did so, grudgingly admitting to himself that the brew was delicious, but refusing to give this random girl satisfaction. It didn't matter if he had known her since childhood or met her within the last minute – the case he found himself in presently. He fought to deny her pleasure.

"How do you come to know so much, peasant?"

Zuko instantly cringed. This girl was, to her knowledge at least, no more a peasant than he. She set the pot down and drew his eyes to hers.

"In what way am I a peasant and you the master of the world?"

"I never said that," Zuko muttered.

"But you implied it!" she returned, hastening to lower her angered voice to a whisper.

"So what if I did? What do you care?"

This girl, presently standing, went to her knees, eyeing Zuko in scorn. He felt the hot glowering stare and maneuvered his eyes about, focusing on anything and everything until he returned the hateful stare. At last he focused on her clothing – an odd choice, he knew, but better than her eyes. This stranger was donned in a long, limp cotton dress, dyed a pale green. That was it. Just a dress. Of course, it was Lower Ring Ba-Sing-Se. She wore no shoes and her hair – black, for one thing – was dictated into a long braid. Simplicity had its way of magnifying things of natural beauty. Zuko acknowledged that she was pretty, but drew his thoughts back to Jin. She had been pretty. She had been simple. But his insides still shook at the thought of another outing like the one he had spent with her. That had been nice, too. Simple and relaxing. But how was Zuko to enjoy it, knowing that whoever he was with thought of him as Lee, the Lower Ring nephew of a tea-brewer when he was the exact opposite? He was Zuko, hot-tempered first son of Fire Lord Ozai, the very man ruining lives around the world and burning villages and removing Mothers and Fathers from their children – just the kind of young man every girl would dream of spending time with, right? Dead wrong Zuko spat at himself.

"So what's bothering you, stranger?"

Zuko shot his head up, puckering his forehead with distaste.

"Why should I tell you?"

The girl fingered a loose piece of black hair and tucked it back behind her ear.

"Well, you're sitting all by yourself in a teashop making weird faces as you think and eyeing me with complete disgust. Anyone would assume you've got something on your mind and have great need to share it."

"Sorry," Zuko shot back, "but I'm no the kind of person who shares my most confusing thoughts with strangers."

"Well, why don't we fix that?" She motioned to herself. "I'm Etsuko. Who are you?"

Grudgingly, Zuko muttered, "Lee."

"Great. We're off to a good start. Now, what do you like to do?"

She spoke slowly, as though he were a child.

"Sit quietly and hope no one notices my existence."

She gave a quizzical smile.

"I like to fish and paint. Oh, and help my father with the farm work."

"Good for you."

She smacked his arm – hard.

"Are you always this melancholy?"

"Think about it. All day I move around in this stuffy teashop, pouring hot liquid into people's cups, thinking to myself. Would that make you happy?"

"You're fortunate to even have the time to think to yourself. And the luxury of silence to do so! Ba-Sing-Se is not a quiet city and most of us are working our rear quarters off to survive, not sulking around. Get with it, Lee. You have a chance to do something here. Why not take that chance?"

For once, Zuko didn't have an answer. He just sat there, staring at his cup.

"Why don't you come to the marketplace with me?"

"No thanks. I'd better get back to work."

He rose, as did Etsuko. She gave his arm a pat.

"Nice seeing you."

Zuko grunted and turned around. Darn it, you stupid conscience. He stopped and hastened to block the exit.

"Fine. I've got nothing else to do." He felt something playful arouse in him. "And, if you're good, maybe I'll buy us a snack."

"Sure." Zuko could see that she was trying to hide her delight.

He opened the door and let her step out realizing all at once that he didn't have any money.