A/N: Warning for Uncle's flirting. I cringed as I was writing it.

Also, with Christmas coming up and me running a Danny Phantom event in January, weekly updates will probably not be possible for a while. I'll still try to update when I can though.

Flowers

Zuko never thought he got his stealth from Uncle, but when Iroh vanishes into the crowded street during their grocery run, Zuko begins to consider it. Would it kill him to just stay put, hold the bag of rice, let Zuko hand over the coins, and go back to the apartment? Their shift ended too late to be running around back alleys and seedy antique shops. If he's going to be out this late, he should be searching for the Avatar, not his wandering Uncle.

Zuko isn't worried about him—it's Uncle, he can take care of himself, even if there was that time with the earthbenders and the hot springs, and the white jade bush…

"Uncle." His breath hisses between his teeth. "You better not being doing anything stupid…"

...Like buying flowers again.

Zuko sighs and pushes open the door beneath the painted Lotus sign. The tinkling bell makes him jump, ready to seat patrons at a hopefully-clean table. He shudders to shake off the involuntary reaction, and is grateful that most of their grocery shopping took place in the cheaper outdoor stalls.

The smell hits him a second later. Heady, overpowering, like the concentrated perfume some older women like to flaunt at the teashop.

Of course, he should've expected that from the jungle of blossoms. Tall flowers, tiny flowers, red and blue and white ones whose names he doesn't remember, no matter how many times Uncle's tried to teach him.

Though he pauses when herecognizes the curling crimson petals of the fire lilies. Where had someone in the Lower Ring gotten those? The fire nation native flowers shouldn't be able to grow in Ba Sing Se's dry climate. But moisture clogs the air, the humidity sticking to his skin. It might've felt like home if not for the thick layer of grime already coating him, the too-light grocery bag clutched in his left arm, the exhaustion making his feet scuff against the dirt floor.

"Uncle?" He calls—quietly, as if something in the swaying stems will leap out to attack him. As if Jet or the Dai Li would hide in a stifling flower shop.

"Ah, that's my cue, Rena. It's been a pleasure as always."

Zuko steps around a bed of tall sunflowers in time to see Uncle wink at the silver-haired woman behind the counter. Great. Of course, it isn't enough for Uncle to be buying flowers; he has to flirt while he's at it.

"Just shut up and take the flowers, Mushi." The woman—Rena?—rolls her eyes as she shoves a chipped pot his way. Lavender blossoms, this time. At least those will smell better than the pungent roses that had cloyed inside their apartment until they finally decayed enough to excuse tossing them.

"The most beautiful flower in this shop is—"

"Do you want us to start charging you?"

Uncle chuckles. "Now Rena, you know I'm not that kind of gentleman."

"Agni, just—get out," Rena barks, and Zuko jumps at the Fire Nation invocation. "I don't know how Lorai puts up with you."

"With as much grace as yourself. You two truly do make a lovely couple. But if you ever desire a third party…"

Zuko is about to vomit into the flowerbed when Rena finally chases Uncle off. Maybe that was Uncle's plan all along—so Zuko won't follow him into the flower shop again. If so, it's working. Zuko stays five paces ahead of Uncle all the way back to the apartment. If he decides to wander off again, Zuko isn't going back for him.

As much as he wants to forget Uncle's inappropriate flirtations, two questions still tickle the back of his mind—

Why isn't Uncle paying for the flowers? And where else has their money been going?