Disclaimer: I don't own Atla
Lenetta gives the baby girl back to her mother after holding her for a few minutes. Lenetta looks over at Zuko and finds him staring sadly at her.
"What's wrong Lee?" Lenetta asks her concerned. Zuko snaps out of his thoughts and sees Lenetta staring at her concern written on her face.
"It's nothing, I'm fine." Zuko smiles at her to affirm his words. Lenetta nods though it doesn't look like she completely believes him; she doesn't push him though.
Later they breech the wall and the two teenagers look out the window in shock. Ba Sing Se was a huge. Having lived in the Fire Nation Capitol for most of his life it wasn't as much of a shock for him but he was still surprised at how big it was. Lenetta had never seen anything like it, her eyes were wide and her jaw was dropped open.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" Ying asks. Lenetta jumps slightly before blushing a little bit in embarrassment.
"Yeah, I've never seen anything like it." Lenetta says with wonder in her voice.
"We'll finally be free." Ying looks to her husband who holds her closely by the shoulders.
"Yes we will." He kisses the top of her head and they smile lovingly at each other. Lenetta smiles and turns away.
Zuko smiles sadly again at the interaction. He knew that his family was quite terrible and he hated that they did terrible things like taking over areas of the Earth Kingdom. He sometimes saw carnage from battles fought and there was also the near extinction of the Air Nomads. The temples were nearly destroyed and he saw corpses of dead Air Nomads and Fire Nation soldiers. His jaw clenched at the thought of the unnecessary deaths. This war was pointless and he knew that now.
Lenetta put a hand on his and squeezed gently pulling out of his mind. Zuko smiled softly at her. He would be able to start a new life with Lenetta and his uncle who he's come to realize has been more of a father than Ozai ever was. He wondered how to make this known to his uncle.
Zuko glanced at his uncle. Iroh looked at his nephew.
"Nephew, is everything alright?" Iroh asks softly not wanting to draw attention to them. Zuko nods and says he will tell Iroh about it later. Iroh nods confusedly and drops it. He wonders what could be going on his nephews head. He makes eye contact with Lenetta who shrugs. Well…he would find out later.
oOoOo
They have reached the Lower Ring of Ba Sing Se. Iroh tells the two teens that Ba Sing Se is split into three rings: The Lower Ring; which is where they will be staying since they are refugees. The Middle Ring; which is where the merchants and people who work with their hands live. The Upper Ring; which is where the rich and elite live; including the Earth King himself.
Lenetta looks around the place where they will be living for the forseeable future. It's slummy and filled with thugs. It makes her feel for her sword which is strapped to her back. Lenetta reaches for Zuko's hand and holds it tightly; she has a feeling they're being watched and she doesn't like it at all.
"I have a feeling were being watched." Lenetta whispers to Zuko and Iroh.
"Ah, that's probably the Dai Lee, they protect the cultural heritage of the city." Iroh tells them. She nods as she can see some men wearing uniforms and hats that make them look threatening, and their faces do nothing to ease it.
Lenetta and Zuko tighten their grip on each other's hands. Iroh sees this and quickly reassures them that they will be safe as long as we don't do anything to mess up the cultural heritage of the city.
They continue walking further into the city and the further into the Lower Ring they get the more Lenetta's anxiety climbs. Zuko can feel her tension and squeezes her hand to reassure her. Lenetta smiles at him but can't help but pick up a bad vibe.
oOoOo
They go toward a building which looks like an apartment complex and they get double bedroom and one bathroom suite. Lenetta gets one room and Zuko and Iroh will share the other one. There's just one problem each room has one bed.
"It's ok Uncle, I'll use my sleeping bag, you take the bed." Iroh blinks at his nephew, an astonished look on his face.
"Are you sure Nephew?"
"Yeah." Zuko reassures. He decides that now is the right time to tell him.
Lenetta has gotten everything set up in her room and heads towards her friend's room. She can hear an intense conversation going on and stands outside to wait. She can't help but hear some of the words.
"Uncle, I've been thinking about something and I need to tell you about it." Zuko looks down suddenly feeling shy and nervous. What if Iroh doesn't feel the same way? Iroh blinks himself out of his brief shock and ushers his nephew to sit on the bed.
"Now, what did you want to tell me?" Iroh's gaze is reassuring and open. It gives Zuko the strength to get the words out.
"I've been realizing something lately." Zuko begins. "I've noticed that during these past three years you have been nothing but kind and patient with me; even whenever I would be disrespectful with you. I'm grateful to you for being with me during my exile and even now. You have been my father figure throughout this whole thing and I wanted to apologize to you for being a bad nephew. You didn't deserve the way I treated you. I'm so sorry Uncle…no Father." Zuko didn't realize but tears were streaming down his unscarred eye. Iroh was crying softly as he listened to nephew…no son let out his feelings. He had felt like Zuko was his son for awhile now, he had told Zuko as much. It seems he needed to hear it again.
"I love you Zuko, I have ever since I lost my son and I was with you more. You are my son in all but blood, nothing will ever change that." Iroh placed his hands on Zuko's cheeks and kissed his forehead. Zuko sobbed and hugged Iroh tightly.
Lenetta had a hand over her mouth and tears streamed over her cheeks. She quietly knocked on the door they told her she could enter. She could see tear tracks on their cheeks and they had let go of each other. She asked if they were doing alright.
"Did you hear all that?" Zuko asked her. Lenetta looked down sheepishly and nodded.
"I was coming over to check on you guys since I got my room ready and could tell you guys were having an intense conversation, so I waited out there and caught parts of it." Zuko nodded and told her she was forgiven. She told him she was so happy for them. They gathered together into a group hug. They had a fresh start now and they were going to make it count. Zuko and Iroh would now be father and son. Lenetta would continue being a friend however she also saw Iroh as a father figure and she knew she could go to him for advice. Zuko and Lenetta weren't sure on their relationship there were definitely feelings there, Iroh knew it, and they knew it. However they weren't ready for that yet. So they stayed friends and they were content with that relationship for now.