Disclaimer: I don't own Atla
The next morning they decided now was the time to start up Iroh's dream. They walked to a place known as Pao's Tea Shop. They were hired immediately since Pao needed workers. He gave the three firebenders aprons to put on. The two teens got them on with ease but Iroh was having trouble.
"You look like real tea servers now, how do you feel?" Pao asked with a smile on his face.
"It's ok." Zuko replied with a shrug. He's never been devoted to tea like Iroh but he was willing to give this a chance for his father figure. Lenetta smiled in gratitude and thanked the man for hiring them.
"It was my pleasure young lady; I've needed some help around here." Pao told her, he noticed Iroh struggling with his apron strings.
"Could I have some extra string so I can tie this around myself please?" Iroh asked as he finally gave up.
"Of course, I have some extra string in the back." He picked up a tray of tea and handed it to them. "Have some tea while you wait." He set the tray down and walked off.
Iroh took a drink of tea and groaned in disgust. "Ugh, this is tea is nothing more than hot leaf juice!" Zuko looked exasperated as he said. "Dad' that's what all tea is." Iroh looked shocked as he said; "How could my own son say something so horrible." Zuko just looked exasperated as Iroh started up some pots of tea.
"Were going to have to make some changes around here."
Lenetta chuckled softly as she Zuko prepared to help Iroh.
oOoOo
As Pao came back with the new string; he was surprised to see his new employees hard at work in the kitchen.
"What's going on, what are you doing?" Iroh turned around and told Pao that he was making some new recipes for him to serve. He gave Pao a cup and watched expectantly as he took a sip. His eye widened in delight.
"This is the best tea I've ever tasted. Mushi you're my new tea maker." Pao handed Iroh the string and he smiled gratefully and bowed. Zuko and Lenetta watched with smiles on their faces. This is what Iroh has always wanted. Pao told Zuko he would be the cashier and Lenetta would be the waitress. They both agreed to these new arrangements.
oOoOo
A few days past and word of Pao's Tea Shop was going around. It had the greatest tea in Ba Sing Se and people flocked to it.
Jet and his Freedom Fighters were going around the Lower Ring and helping people that needed them.
One grateful older woman told the three teens about Pao's Tea Shop and they decided they would try it out.
The three headed over and when they entered they saw Zuko and Lenetta working hard as cashier and waitress respectively. They walked up to the register and Zuko smiled as he recognized them.
"Hey Lee." Jet smirked and Lenetta walked out with a tray of tea cups in her arms. Jet smiled and said hi to her which Lenetta reciprocated.
"Hey Jet, how are things going for you?" Jet smiled and told him what they've been up to. Lenetta had a break in her orders and walked over and listened.
"That's very noble of you Jet." Lenetta smiled.
"Hey I go on break in a few minutes so if you just sit over there I can join you and we can talk more." The three nod and head over to their table as she goes back to work.
A few minutes she walks out with a tray of four cups and sits with them. She had gotten their orders and gave it to Iroh and she continued working as he made the order.
"So was it hard finding a place to stay?" Lenetta asked them after she took a sip of her tea. Jet shrugged. "I mean considering were three teenagers without an adult it was surprisingly easy; I guess their used to orphans coming here hoping for a fresh start. Lenetta nodded.
"If you ever want to visit properly you can come by our place." Lenetta gave them the address to their apartment. Jet and Smellerbee told her thank you while Longshot nodded in thanks. They did the same for Lenetta and she said she would give it to Zuko but she called him Lee when talking to them.
Suddenly a teenage girl walked in. She had a brown hair brought up in a ponytail and had a cute face. She locked eyes with Zuko over at the register and smiled and blushed. A hot flare of jealousy ignited within Lenetta as she watched them interact. Is she flirting with him!? Jet and the others noticed this immediately.
"Have you told Lee how you feel yet?" Jet asked her quietly. Lenetta shook her head with a blush.
"You should you know?" Smellerbee told her. She nodded back to the flirty girl and Zuko. She felt angry watching them but she didn't want to jeopardize her friendship with Zuko.
"I can't…I don't want to jeopardize our friendship." Lenetta told them. Jet nodded with understanding.
"I understand but just so you know; he feels the same way about you." Lenetta bowed her head and smiled her face burning with embarrassment. Longshot put a hand on her shoulder and she looked at him. He gave her an intense look which somehow conveyed everything he wanted to tell her.
"I'll remember that, thank you Longshot." He removed his hand from her shoulder and nodded.
oOoOo
Lenetta's break was over so the Freedom Fighters left the tea shop. She walked behind the register.
"Who was that girl Lee?" Lenetta asked as she leaned against the table.
"Some girl named Jin, I don't know why but I got this weird vibe from her." Zuko told her quietly.
"She was flirting with you." Lenetta managed to keep her lips from curling but Zuko could sense her emotions and tried to reassure her.
"Don't worry, I won't try anything with her." Lenetta smiled and leaned up and kissed his cheek.
Zuko got a shocked look on his face and his face turned a scarlet color. Lenetta giggled slightly and walked off as he watched her with a look of awe. She's so beautiful. If only she knew how badly I want to be with her.
"She knows son." Iroh was leaning against the window and saw his son's emotions written clear on his face. He had a smirk on his face as he saw the embarrassment and hope on his surrogate son's face as he took in his words.
"How do you know?" Zuko asked skeptically but also hopefully.
"When you've been around as long as I have you notice these things." Iroh winked at his son and turned back to the kitchen. Zuko smiled and turned back around to tend to the next customer. I hope he's right.