The Tale of Y/n.

You walked down the street, looking at all of the run-down buildings. Katara and Toph were having a 'girl's day' and you had respectfully declined the invitation, saying that you weren't interested in a makeover.

You'd been curious about the 'lower ring' since you passed it when you first got here. You felt that these refugees might need help, and they'd certainly have stories to tell. You wondered if you would encounter Ying, her husband and their new baby, Hope.

Sokka and Aang had said that they were going to do some exploring, too, but Sokka was exploring the 'upper ring' and Aang was exploring the 'middle ring'.

You were left to explore the 'lower ring' on your own.

The people there didn't seem inclined to do much talking. They would give you strange looks as you walked by, sharpening their swords or pounding their knuckles.

You walked through the crowded streets, wondering how these people survived here. Everything was so broken down, it was a wonder some of the buildings didn't collapse.

"Excuse me?"

You looked down, seeing a young girl of about five looking up at you. You crouched down to her level. "Yes?"

"I lost my mommy." The girl confessed, tears in her eyes.

"I'll help find your mommy, don't worry." You assured. You began walking, looking around for any frantic women. "What does your mother look like?"

"B- Brown hair, green eyes…" The girl paused, thinking. "Only a little taller than you."

"What's her name?" You asked, still looking.

The girl looked at you as if you'd grown a second head. "Mommy." She stated as if it was obvious.

You rolled your eyes at your dumb question. "Right, sorry." No five-year old would know their mother's real name. "Do you know where your mother was when you lost her?"

"She was at the market." The girl spoke, rubbing her nose with the back of her sleeve.

"Can you show me where that is?" You asked.

The girl nodded, running off.

You weaved through people, not wanting to lose sight of the girl. It was getting dark, and you hoped you would find her mother before it was hard to see.

"She was here." The girl informed, pointing to the ground in front of a mango basket.

"Can I help you, miss?" The man behind it asked.

"Yeah, do you remember a brunette woman with green eyes? Not much taller than me?" You asked, keeping an eye on the girl.

The man reeled back slightly, clearly expecting you to have made some sort of comment about the fruit he was selling.

You looked at him, raising an eyebrow expectantly as you waited for an answer. "Well?" You prompted when he still didn't say anything.

"No, I don't think so."

"Come on, think."

"I don't- wait… yes. Yes, I remember a woman here that matches your description."

"Did you see where she went?" You asked, eagerly gripping the table the basket was on.

The man shook his head. "No. She disappeared into the crowd."

You sighed, stepping away. "Thank you." You muttered.

The man nodded.

You spotted the girl a few paces away from you, looking around and calling for her mother. You approached the girl. "Hey, what if I sit you on my shoulders? Maybe you could see her better."

The girl hesitated, but nodded.

You picked her up, sitting her on your shoulders as you began walking around. "Is there any place your mother likes to go? Or is there any place that you like to go where she might look for you if she knew you were missing?"

The girl thought for a moment. "There's a couple kids I like to play with. They live that way."

You looked up, seeing which way the girl was pointing. Walking in that direction, you kept your eyes peeled. You followed the girl's instructions as she led you to a street where several kids were splashing around in a puddle. "Is she here?" You questioned, scanning the crowd of people.

The girl was silent for a few moments, looking around. "Mommy!" She yelled.

You looked over, seeing a woman that matched her daughter's description. The girl was a spitting image of her. You walked quickly over. "Miss…" You paused, realizing you didn't know her name. "Mommy?" You finished weakly, cringing at yourself.

The girl climbed off of you, rushing to the woman.

"Darling!" The woman exclaimed, picking up the girl. "I was looking everywhere for you!" She turned to face you. "Thank you."

You nodded. "It was the least I could do."

The woman smiled, nodding.

"I'll leave you two alone, then." You waved. "Bye."

"Bye!" The girl yelled, waving her hand enthusiastically.

You shook your head as you walked away. Turning down several streets to try to remember your way back to where you were before you saw the girl, you realized you were lost. You sighed, sitting on a barrel to think. You sat there for several minutes before realizing that you were too preoccupied with the girl to have been paying any attention to where you were going. On top of that, it was dark. You sighed. You'd just have to ask somebody.

You looked around, spotting a nice building with two people walking out of it, their backs to you. One was a man, the other a woman.

You read the sign above the door, discovering that it was a tea shop. Figuring this was as good a place as any, you stepped in. "Hello?"

"I'm sorry, we're closed." The man behind the counter said. His back was to you.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I just saw two people leave, so I just assumed- I'm sorry." You moved to leave, but paused. "Actually, I need directions. Do you know how to get back to the 'upper ring'?"

The man turned around. "I'm afraid not. I haven't been to the upper ring."

"Iroh!?" Your eyes were wide, mouth parted in shock.

"Actually, it's Mushy (Moo-she), now."

"Mushy? Charming name."

"It wasn't my pick."

Your eyes widened as the realization struck you. "Zuko. Is he-"

"He just left. He's going on a date."

You blanched. "That was Zuko? I didn't recognize him."

Iroh simply smiled. "Why don't you join me for some tea? We can talk until they get back." He offered.

You beamed. "I'd love to."

Iroh's smile widened. "What kind of tea would you like?" He asked, turning back around.

"Whatever's fine."

"Surely there must be something you want."

"How about 'brewer's recommendation'?" You tried, grinning as you shrugged.

"Jasmine it is, then."

You smiled, sitting down. "I can't believe it. It feels like it's been so long since I've seen you." You placed your clasped hands on the table. "How's your shoulder?"

"Much better, now." Iroh answered, his back still to you.

You paused, chewing on your bottom lip as you looked away. "How's Zuko?"

Iroh turned around, holding two cups of tea. He approached you, setting one down in front of you and the other on the other side of the table, where he sat down. "My nephew is having a hard time adjusting." He admitted.

You grasped the cup with both hands, allowing the heat from the cup to warm them. You stared down at the liquid. "Is he okay? After Azula attacked you, he seemed… off."

"He is better now, though he doesn't like living here."

"Understandable, seeing where he was raised." You paused, taking a sip of your tea. "I always wondered, but it never came up…" You trailed off.

"What is on your mind?" Iroh asked, taking another drink of tea.

"Zuko's scar…" You looked away again, eyeing the wall as you pictured the prince's face. "Where'd he get it?"

"His father… my brother."

You looked over at Iroh. "Ozai?"

Iroh nodded. "Zuko spoke up when he shouldn't have during a war meeting. My brother said that in order to reclaim his honor, he would have to do an agni-kai. Zuko agreed, thinking he would have to fight the general. He faced his father, but Zuko wouldn't fight him. Ozai burned him."

You stared at the wooden table with nothing to say. What was there to say? "That's awful."

"It is."

Several beats passed where neither of you spoke. You didn't know where to go after this. "You know, I've grown to feel for Zuko." You finally admitted. "I feel badly for him. He doesn't deserve all that's happened to him."

"No, he doesn't." Iroh drank some more of his tea. "His life has not been easy."

Having nothing else to say, you drank some more of your own tea. "The tea's good."

"Thank you."

"I'm glad you got work." You said, looking up at him. "I've spent most of the day down here and so many people are job-less. It's sad. Living in the upper ring, you don't really get to see the needs of others."

"There are many. The refugees that live here had nowhere else to go. This is the best they have. Guaranteed safety."

"And yet two firebenders managed to get in." You teased quietly, smiling behind your cup.

Iroh smiled back at you. "We are not here to start anything except 'over'."

You nodded. "Starting over sounds like a good idea." You agreed absentmindedly, staring at a table a few rows down. You looked back to Iroh. "Do you have any idea what you're going to do? Starting over, that is."

Iroh shook his head, closing his eyes. "No. I am not sure where to go after this. I plan on taking it one step at a time."

You nodded again. "What about Azula?"

"That is partially why we are here. We need to get away from her. She will stop at nothing to get what she wants."

"I'm glad Toph came back." You murmured. "We would already be dead by now if it wasn't for her."

Iroh smiled. "She makes good company."

You looked over at Iroh, surprised. "How do you-"

"I encountered her when Zuko left. She had run away. I gave her some tea and talked to her."

"Zuko left? Wait, you-" It dawned on you. "You're why Toph came back." You deduced. "There's no one else that can give advice like you do, and Toph was in an especially grouchy mood. There's no one else that could have convinced her."

Iroh shrugged. "Perhaps."

"No 'perhaps' about it. That girl's stubborn."

Iroh chuckled. "Would you like to see the back?"

"Sure." You said, drinking the rest of your tea and setting it on the counter. You followed Iroh to the back where he showed you his plant that was in the window. "I didn't know you were interested in plants."

"A man may try many things when he has nothing to do."

You looked over at him, smiling.

The sound of footsteps from behind the door made you pause.

"Quick, hide!" Iroh hissed.

You ducked under the counter that the plant was above.

Iroh began clipping at the plant, his body hiding you.

"How was your night, Prince Zuko?"

Your blood ran cold and your heart raced, afraid of being seen.

The double doors along the wall slammed shut.

Iroh frowned, turning back to the plant.

The doors opened slightly again, revealing part of Zuko on the other side. "It was nice." He muttered.

You looked up, catching a glimpse of his golden eyes before the door shut again. You struggled to keep your breathing quiet.

Iroh waited a few minutes before allowing you out.

You tried to be as quiet as possible, but your knees had cramped so it was difficult.

"Hurry back through, but be silent. Zuko must not know you are here." Iroh whispered.

You nodded, creeping out of the room. You heard the double doors open again, voices following.

"Who are you talking to, Uncle?"

"Someone was beneath the window." Iroh lied, turning to Zuko. "Nothing to worry about."

You slipped out of the front door to the tea shop, trying to sneak away as quietly as possible. Only when you were several feet away from the shop did you turn around to look at it. You can't believe Iroh and Zuko were in Ba Sing Se, trying to start over. Trying to move passed their hard past.

Your steps were lighter as you continued your journey home until you remembered something.

You forgot to ask for directions.