The following morning was business as usual at the Pao Family Teashop. Iroh and Zuko had arrived early to prepare Iroh's workstation and to clean the shop before opening the doors for business. Pao himself came in an hour after opening to check in on things and chat up the customers but like usual he left his two star employees to their own devices. Zuko was still thinking about his date last night. Date, Zuko thought to himself, date. Date. Date. He repeated the word in his head, at first with unfamiliarity and hesitation but the more he said it the more confident and right it sounded in his head. He barely registered the commotion happening behind him in the center of the shop until he realised that three men were speaking to his uncle. This got his attention.
"So, you're the genius behind this incredible brew," the lead man, a bearded man in a fine green overcoat trimmed with gold cloth, told Iroh, "The whole city is buzzing about you! I hope Pao pays you well."
"Good tea is its own reward," Iroh replied modestly, causing Zuko to cringe. What does that even mean? Zuko thought with irritation. Other than Jin, Zuko hated working at the teashop.
"But it doesn't have to be the only reward," the lead man emphasised 'only' and this caught Iroh's attention. "How would you like to have your own tea shop?" Iroh's eyes went wide and his face broke out into a broad smile. Zuko watched the exchange as Pao, who was speaking with a couple of patrons at a nearby table, came rushing over.
"What's going on here?" Pao moved to stand between his employee and the rival businessman, "Are you trying to poach my tea-maker?"
"Sorry, Pao, but that's business for you, am I right?" the man smiled apologetically but his eyes were grinning. Pao's face contorted into a mask of worry as he turned back to Iroh.
"Mushi," Pao said quickly, using Iroh's alias, "if you stay, I'll make you assistant manager!" Iroh looked at Pao skeptically before Pao added, "Wait, senior assistant manager!"
"I'll provide you with a new apartment in the Upper Ring," the lead man upped the ante and Zuko stopped what he was doing to watch the scene unfolding before him. He can't be serious? Zuko thought to himself, all uncle does is make tea! "The tea shop is yours to do whatever you want, complete creative freedom." The man let the words hang in the air, settling in before Iroh spoke up.
"I even get to name the shop?" Iroh's eyes were bright and wide like a child about to receive their birthday presents.
"Of course!" the man leaned back victoriously, knowing that Iroh was on board. Pao looked desperate, like he was about to pull his beard off his face in frustration. His eyes flashed desperately between Iroh and his rival.
"Uh," he scrambled for some way to top the offer on the table, "senior executive assistant manager?" Iroh handed Pao the pot of tea he had been holding before bowing to his new employer, agreeing to the terms. Great! Zuko thought as he walked past the men gathered in the middle of the tea shop, passing Pao who was walking away in defeat, even more tea serving. Wonderful.
"Did you hear, nephew?" Iroh asked excitedly as Zuko passed them by, "This man wants to give us our own tea shop in the Upper Ring of the city!" Zuko didn't stop as he made his way towards the door. Great, he thought sulkily, serving tea for who knows how long and now he couldn't even look forward to seeing Jin on her lunches.
"That's right, young man," the man told Zuko with genuine enthusiasm that was totally lost on Zuko, "your life is about to change for the better!"
"I'll try to contain my joy," Zuko replied flatly, sparing them a glance over his shoulder as he walked out the door, slamming it behind him.
As he stepped outside something caught his attention immediately as it floated down from the sky toward him. It was a flyer of some kind and it wafted in the breeze, slowing descending right in front of Zuko. He snatched it out of the air and held it before him. What? his heart almost stopped. The flyer was a missing ad for Appa. That means… Zuko's mind was racing as his eyes darted around the clear sky above him. He couldn't see far with the buildings blocking his vision so he turned to find the nearest low roof so he could climb up to get a better view. Where is he?! Zuko's heart was pounding and his palms were coated in a cold sweat as his eyes darted back and forth, scanning the sky for any signs of the Avatar. Nothing! Zuko actually screamed in frustration, drawing some curious glances from the street below him. Zuko sank to his knees on the tile of the rooftop, his whole body sagging as all his energy left him. He stayed like that for a long while until Iroh came out into the street to find him.
"Nephew?" Iroh said, breathing hard as he pulled himself up onto the roof beside Zuko who turned away from him, "what happened? I thought you would be happy we will be moving up to nicer surroundings."
"He's here," Zuko said simply and from the tone of his voice Iroh knew exactly who he was talking about. Iroh frowned to himself as Zuko held the flyer out over his head, still not turning to face his uncle. Iroh took the flyer and examined it briefly before turning his attention back to Zuko.
"Come back home with me," Iroh said, "we can talk about this there." Iroh moved towards his nephew before Zuko's words stopped him cold.
"It's not home," Zuko said softly, his voice wavering as thoughts of home came flooding back to him. Iroh placed a hand on his nephew's shoulder and he felt Zuko shiver from the contact, withdrawing further into himself.
"A wise traveller once told me that home is where your heart is and so you are never truly lost," Iroh said sagely, patting Zuko's back over his heart.
"Who told you that?" Zuko said, his head picking up a little, curiosity overcoming his melancholy.
"A nomad," Iroh mused, "Chin? Choo?" Iroh laughed softly, "it's been so long I can't recall his name…" Zuko turned to face Iroh then and Iroh could see the traces of tears on his cheeks that Zuko had done his best to wipe away.
"That's different," Zuko said, clearing his throat with a grunt, "a nomad has no home, we just can't go back to ours."
"No Zuko," Iroh said, smiling as he helped Zuko to his feet, "it's no different. He understood that as long as one was surrounded by those that care for him, then one is always home." Zuko smiled weakly at that and Iroh led him back down from the roof.
"So I was thinking about names for my new tea shop. How about the Jasmine Dragon?" Iroh mused as he finished packing his trunk with the belongings of their small apartment, "It's dramatic, poetic, has a nice ring to it." Zuko closed the door to his room behind him as he came out into the kitchen/living room. He gave Iroh a spiteful look as he made his way to the window.
"The Avatar is here in Ba Sing Se and he's lost his bison," Zuko said, closing his eyes with frustration.
"We have a chance for a new life here. If you start stirring up trouble, we could lose all the good things that are happening for us," Iroh told his nephew. Zuko rounded on him furiously.
"Good things that are happening for you!" Zuko accused, "Have you ever thought that I want more from life than a nice apartment and a job serving tea?" Iroh frowned sadly and Zuko's face softened. He hadn't meant to be so cruel, he admitted shamefully, he was just so frustrated that the Avatar was now so near by and that he could do nothing to capture him.
"There is nothing wrong with a life of peace and prosperity," Iroh scolded, "I suggest you think about what it is that you want from your life and why."
"I want my destiny," Zuko said, his voice deflating.
"What that means is up to you," Iroh said sagely and for a brief moment an image of Jin flashed in Zuko's mind. He growled with frustration and walked off to check if they had forgotten to pack anything from the closet. "The Tea Weevil!" Iroh exclaimed as the name came to him, "no, that's stupid." He dismissed the bad idea and the name 'The Jasmine Dragon' came back to the forefront of his mind. Ah, Iroh thought with satisfaction, that does have a nice ring to it…
"So my uncle's going to run his own tea shop," Zuko said as he sat beside Jin on a park bench. Jin could tell from the tone of his voice that something was wrong and it had nothing to do with the abrupt change in his fortunes.
"You don't sound very happy about it?" Jin asked but it came out more as a concerned statement.
"I guess I'm happy for him," Zuko admitted.
"But…" Jin pressed him for more information.
"But it's not what I want in life," Zuko sighed, not sure how to explain his dilemma. "I know I was destined for something greater…" Jin took his hand in hers and she heard a small gasp escape his lips.
"I understand," she said gently.
"You do?" Zuko turned his head to face her, looking right into her big brown eyes.
"I think so. But I do have one question," Jin looked hesitant and Zuko found himself speaking.
"What is it?" he was overcome with the urge to take the hesitation from her, to help her understand or at least to put her at ease.
"Why are you so sure you understand exactly what your destiny is supposed to be?" the question felt like a punch to the gut for Zuko. His breath caught in his throat and his chest felt tight. He didn't say anything for a full minute, instead he just stared at Jin as if she had just sprouted wings.
"I don't know," he mumbled and his head felt light until Jin placed one of her hands on his cheek to steady him.
"Whatever it is," Jin told him kindly, "I hope I'm a part of it." She leaned forward slowly and placed a gentle peck on Zuko's lips before pulling away.
"Thank you," Zuko said hoarsely and Jin just smiled. Then Zuko stood up, "there's something I need to figure out." He turned to leave. "You could come over and see the new place tomorrow night if you want to," Zuko reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper before handing it to Jin, "that's the address."
"Sure thing," Jin said, still smiling but underneath she was worried. Something is definitely off about him, she thought but she trusted him to figure things out. "It's a date."
With that, Zuko left. He had a bison to find.
To be continued…
Author's Notes:
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Sorry that's a bit shorter than the others but it's been a really busy week. I started taking a kung fu class over the summer and the first class was yesterday on the other side of the city so that took up a lot of my free time but it was sooooo cool :D anyways, the chapter next week should be back to regular length.
I took a few liberties with the Zuko and Iroh scenes from the episode 'Lake Laogai' because the stories have diverged a bit. They are about to go completely off the rails starting next chapter so look forward to that!
If it's not too much trouble, would you leave a review telling me what you liked and what you didn't? Also what you want to see more of and what you don't want to see at all? I really appreciate you taking the time to give me your feedback and it means a lot to me to read each and every review :) you all make my day!
Reviews:
To axel100: Thank you so much :) I actually haven't read any of the graphic novels so my story won't have any of that, so don't worry! Also starting next chapter things are going to diverge quite a bit from the show, I was planning on one of the things you suggested already but I don't want to spoil it and say which!
To kiyoky: Thanks :)
To Anonymous Rex: I'm glad you liked it :) and I'm glad the character's voices came out well! I was worried the mood shifts would be really abrupt so it's a relief to hear they went well. Zuko won't meet Jin's mother yet, that's coming later ;)
To ZukoWithHair: Thank you :) I actually really like to cook so I will probably write at least one more cooking scene with Zuko teaching Jin in the story later on!