Tired of Being Sorry

Chapter 7

Tales of Ba Sing Se

Tale of Zuko

Zuko was walking alone in the streets, abandoned by Aang, Katara and Sokka. He didn't mind, this was a good time to revisit Ba Sing Se, on his lonesome without the distraction of the others to bother him. First on his list of places to visit was The Jasmine Dragon. His feet knew the path to the teashop, so he had time to let him memories wander over the city.

He turned a corner and found the large plaza the doors had overlooked. There was The Jasmine Dragon, boarded up and completely forgotten by the passing people. He wandered over to it, a hand reaching out to rest on the wooden boards.

If his uncle could see this.

"Hey!" someone walked right into Zuko, the bags in their arms went flying and the person fell over. "Ouch!"

"Sorry!" Zuko caught his balance and looked the person up and down. She was very pretty, brown hair pulled into a bushy ponytail while her green dress was ruffled from her fall. "Here." He offered his hand and the girl eyed it warily before taking it.

"You should watch where you're going." Her hazel eyes flashed angrily as she picked up her shopping.

Zuko bent over, helping her with the bags. "Sorry, I was just stuck in the past."

She looked over to the abandoned teashop, standing up straight with a bag as a hand brushed away a stray hair. "The Jasmine Dragon? It shut down years ago. Interesting fact though, I knew the guy who served tea at another teashop before he opened this one."

"Really?" Zuko passed her the bag, still trying to put her face in his memory she seemed so familiar.

The girl nodded. "Well I have people to feed. Remember to watch your step." She started walking away but her brown eyes locked onto his scar and she stopped dead in her tracks, "Li?"

It clicked. "Jin?" his amber eyes widened as he recognized the girl standing in front of him.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Jin was rubbing her eyes as if to check if Zuko was real.

"Uh." Quick think of something anything!

"Not here with the circus are you?" Jin asked acidly, shifting the bags in her arms.

He laughed nervously. "Not quite." He stood up straight, it was now or never. "I'm not really Li."

"Really? I'm pretty sure scars like yours aren't common."

"No, that's not what I mean." He swept into a bow. "I am Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation. I'm staying here with the Avatar, Katara and Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe and Toph Beifong."

She dropped the bags again, but didn't bend down to pick them up. "The Prince Zuko? The one who took down his father and ended the war?"

A hand rubbed his head nervously. "Yeah, that's me."

She took a step forward, her hand rose. "I should slap you right here and now."

"I wouldn't blame you. I left you at the fountain without a goodbye. I believe the term would be rude."

"That it was." She reached down to start picking up the groceries.

"Can I make it up to you?"

Jin started walking away. Zuko sighed, and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Hey, where do you think you're going?"

He turned. "Obviously you don't want my company right now."

She smiled. "That's not going to stop me getting a free cup of tea off of you. Do you think the coupon's still good?"


Tale of Katara and Aang

"Leave the blindfold alone Katara."

"Aang, where are you taking me?"

"You'll see but keep the blindfold on!"

Aang pulled Katara by the hand through the streets, a huge grin on his face as he led her closer to the heart of the city. Katara was stumbling along behind him, a reluctant smile on her own lips.

"Aang, are we there yet? If I keep this blindfold on any longer I'm going to trip."

Aang stopped her, leaving her hand for a moment, his hands grabbed her shoulders. "On three take off the blindfold." He whispered in her ear.

"1…" her hands reached up to untie it.

"2…" Aang's hands tightened on her shoulders, she blushed.

"3…" the blindfold fell from her face into her hands.

"Oh Aang. It's beautiful!"

They were standing on top of a hill, the sun's final rays shining on the city. The train ran by them, rumbling the earth while tiny figures winded through the streets, making the finale trek home before the moon came out. Katara looked around to thank Aang but only found a large tree. "Aang?" she asked quietly.

A strong arm wrapped around her waist, and the launched into the air. She covered her face from the branches and could only hear the whip by and Aang's childish laughter. "Here's the real view." Gently he took his arms away from her face. In the trees topmost branches, she could see the ocean, stretching for miles into the horizon were the setting sun was waiting.

"It's beautiful…" she sighed again, letting her back rest against him.

"It is. This is where I came when I was lonely." He blushed, "Well, when I missed you."

"Aang that's so sweet." She put a hand under his chin, "Really, this is wonderful."

She kissed his cheek and he reddened, looking back at the horizon almost as if it hide it.


Tale of Toph (Toph's point of view)

I think she looks cute. Like that time we put that sweater on your pet poodle monkey.

Wow, they should call this the bridge of good memories. Was it really that long ago? Six whole years, man I feel old.

Sadly, it was horrible. Six years alone, fighting and missing him.

I can't believe I went six years with seeing my parents once. Even that one time makes me cringe. It didn't exactly end great, nor would I remember it as a touchy family moment mainly because it involved screaming, arguing, yelling and me storming out at the end.

That was the last time I saw my parents. Now they're gone. Forever.

Damn tears. So wet.

It's ok. One of the good things about being blind is I don't have to waste my time worrying about appearances. I don't care what I look like. I'm not looking for anyone's approval.

Of course, my one moment of weakness, he comes stamping along.

"So you found out?" I ask, turning away from him. I really don't need his pity right now.

"Katara told me." He took a stop beside me, his pulse fast and his breathing heavy. He actually ran here.

I know who I am.


A/N

Finally! An update! Woohoo!