The Tale of Elyrie
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
With one elbow on the table, Elyrie was leaning her chin in the palm of her hand. With the other hand she was – almost frantically - tapping her pen on the wooden surface of the table, an annoying habit she never could seem to shake. Her father used to say that he always knew when something was bothering her, because it sounded like a horn-pecker was hammering its way through an entire forest whenever she was pondering something. The worst part was: she didn't even hear it anymore, but everyone around her did.
"Lily, please." Zuko groaned as he placed his hand over hers, forcing her to stop tapping the pen.
"Oops, sorry." Elyrie replied sheepishly. Zuko shook his head in a sort of 'what is to become of this girl'-way as he returned to the small lavatory. Apparently, he had heard her tapping all the way in there. Uncle had said nothing as he was stirring in the pot and boiling the water for their tea.
Elyrie sat cross-legged at the low table in the middle of the living room, which also functioned as her bedroom. The tea shop opened in the later hours of the morning, so Uncle and Zuko were preparing for their shift in the tea shop. Which was great, because it meant that Elyrie had the morning off and would work the night shift.
However, with them stumbling around in the living room, it was no use to sleep so she had taken her time to sit down and answer the letter she had received. As she tried to ignore the tingling feeling on her hand were Zuko had just touched her, she tried think of things to write to her grandmother on the North Pole. One of the advantages of hiding in the Capital of the Earth Kingdom was that it had a functioning postal system. Once she had discovered this, she sent at least five letters to the North Pole to report her situation and that she was well.
Elyrie reread the last part of the new letter that had arrived last evening:
I am glad you are at least safe withing the walls of the mighty city. How I'd love to see the famous Walls myself one day, but I feel as if I am there through your stories.
And of course, I am glad to see that you are well. Keep writing me, dear, for it makes my old heart rejoice every time I hear from you!
All my love,
Nana.
Elyrie felt the tears rimming her eyes and quickly blinked them away, as the sense of melancholy took over her. As the days went over in weeks, she fell into the new rhythm of the city. They worked in the teashop during the days and they had two days off – rotating so that there was always someone working. The positive part of this was the Uncle was flourishing in the tea shop. More and more costumers came from the Lower and Middle Ring to taste his delicious brews. Last night, even some citizens of the Upper Ring had deigned themselves to travel to the Middle Ring, just for his tea.
The downside of it al was that she - just like in the Stronghold or in the Northern Water Tribe - felt herself growing more and more restless by the day. She was glad she didn't have to work this morning: she liked the job, although Pao had decided that it was best for her to take the orders and receive guests after one too many broken cups. Not that she minded: she was far too clumsy to work with boiling water on a daily basis.
Yet at the same time, she felt as if her mind was slowly crumbling as the days went over into weeks and it stretched on like an empty void. It wasn't the working hours that kept her, it was the lack of stimulation. She knew herself well enough to know what kept her going: planning.
But here, in a new city, it was difficult to look forward to things because she'd never know when she could start something new. She knew she should be thankful, grateful, happy. They had a stable life, they had food and they were safe. So why – why, why, why – did she feel so dissatisfied?
Her father had always said that one day she would 'make a difference'. That was what he liked to call it. Her mother often told her that his pride in her accomplishments started the moment after she said her first word - 'More' – after she read her a bedtime story. It had become the family joke: Lily always wants more.
Elyrie started chewing her lower lip as she thought about that night, not so long ago. Had she wanted more then?
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
She quickly let go of the pen as she felt herself starting tapping again, so she pushed herself up and stood up to pin up her hair. Or at least to have something to do other than pondering.
She sat down on her bed and picked up the hairpins. The small mirror next to the door was perfect, so with three pins squeezed between her lips and her hands holding up her hair, she looked at her reflection.
Humming to herself, she began pinning her hair back in a neat bun.
Love knows
Love grows
Bigger than before
Subconsciously, she had chosen to sing a love song, but she stopped abruptly when she realised what she was doing.
"Of course." She mumbled to herself. Quickly suppressing the thoughts that came flooding to the surface, she took the pins out of her mouth and threw them in the direction of her bed.
"Something the matter?" Uncle asked when he saw the pins flying across his breakfast.
She sighed and looked around the tiny apartment: her world for an unknown amount of time. Her time was spent here, near Uncle and Zuko. They were safe, they were working and they were well kept.
But being near Zuko took more effort than not being with him. She tried to avoid him, but that was barely possible with them living and working together.
She inhaled sharply as she felt tears rimming her eyes and she wiped them away before they could fall. What was the matter with her?
She had to get away, - it was too full here.
"I'm going for a walk!" she answered as she grabbed a shawl on her way.
"Careful!" she heard Uncle say to her, but she was already out the door. Pulling the shawl closer, she descended down the stairs. Almost running, she made her way to the street and inhaled the crisp morning air.
So, she began the conversation with herself as she walked without going in a specific direction, Always wanting more is not necessarily a good thing. But it is what has always kept me going, she thought while she avoided the people on the street with ease
Even though the streets were full, she felt quite alone now and that was exactly what she wanted – no, what she needed.
What she wanted was an entirely different discussion. Had she wanted more than Zuko's lips inches away from her own? Yes. But some part of her was relieved that it hadn't happened, because then she would have had to deal with the consequences of such an action. And now, it was something neither of them had further discussed so her thoughts about it were just that: thoughts.
Avoiding the thoughts was the easiest thing to do, which was quite pleasant. But at the same time, it was all she could think of. She didn't need more confusion and frustration than there already was in her life.
The irony of the situation wasn't lost on her: she was far more frustrated here than she had been on the run as a fugitive. Maybe that was the luxury of stability, so that you could fret over the things that required your attention whenever you weren't struggling to get by.
That thought didn't help her and if singing didn't clear her head, there was always another place for her to go to. Somewhere she could lock herself in her own little world, with no one there to disturb her. So, she turned around and made her way up to the Middle Ring.
"Miss, can I help you with anything?" a polite voice asked her. Elyrie looked up from the book and saw a pair of kind hazelnut-coloured eyes look at her with a curious expression.
"No, thank you." Elyrie answered quickly as she placed her finger between the pages of the book she had been reading. She sat up straight in the comfortable chair in the large bookstore she had discovered on one of her first days in the city. It was three stories high, from top to bottom filled with books on every subject imaginable. Across the store were comfortable leather chairs for customers to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet, and she had come here two times to lose herself in the hundreds of books. She silently thanked the fact that the University of Ba Sing Se was located in the Middle Ring, so the bookshops and stationary shops were available to her here.
The young man nodded, but she saw his eyes go over her hair. Elyrie followed his eyes and her hand flew to her hair, only to find out that she had pinned up half of her hair. The right half was neatly tucked back, while the left half was still hanging loose around her shoulder. I must look like a madwoman. She let out a long sigh: today was not her day.
"Rough day?" the man asked her with a empathic tilt of his head.
"Something like that." Elyrie answered as she pulled the remaining pins out of her hair, slightly harder than was necessary. At that moment, her stomach started to growl. Placing a hand over her midriff, she shot the man an apologetic look: she had not eaten anything yet today.
The man nodded, before he disappeared between two bookcases. Elyrie thought that was a little bit rude to leave so suddenly, but before she could open her book again, he returned with a plate of biscuits and a glass of freshly squeezed mango juice.
"Here, I thought you might like this." He said as he placed it on the small table next to her.
Elyrie felt the tears pushing again, but she made an effort not to let them fall. "Thank you so much, you are so kind. I am Liana, by the way." She extended her hand to the man, who took it.
"Pleased to meet you," he answered, "My name is Roman. I work here."
Elyrie looked at him with interest as she took a biscuit. He was around her age, with the slightly tanned skin and dark brown hair many Earth Kingdom citizens had. He was not from the Lower Ring, since his clothing was made from fine fabric in the colour of olives, decorated with intricate embroidery. He had intelligent hazelnut-brown eyes, which studied her face in return.
"I take it you came straight from your job?" he asked her while looking at her uniform.
"No, I actually need to go to my job." She replied sheepishly. She had put on her uniform that morning, even though she knew she didn't have to work the morning shift. She wasn't really there with her thoughts today. If her head hadn't been firmly on her shoulders, she might have lost that on the way as well.
"Where do you work?" he asked, interested but not pushy.
"Pao Family Tea House." She answered.
"I have heard of that!" he exclaimed, "Rumour has it you serve the best tea in the city!"
"That is wholly thanks to my Uncle," she laughed, feeling strangely comfortable with this young man, "He is the real genius."
"That is what people claim, yes." Roman answered with a smile as he extended his hand to the book lying on her lap," May I see that?"
She looked at the book in her lap: The Invisible Life. She had never read it, but to push herself she had picked up the copy in the Earth Kingdom-language, because she was embarrassed to admit how badly she was able to converse in the native language of Ba Sing Se. She understood most of what people told her, but speaking the language was an entirely different experience. So, she had forced herself to ignore the copy in the Common Tongue and work herself through this version.
She handed it to him and he flipped through the pages, seemingly looking for a specific part. Then, he handed it back to her. "What do you think of this part?" he asked while closely examining her expression.
Elyrie took the book from him and studied the pages. He had given her the book upside down, probably to test her. She felt her pride flare, but kept her face even. After all, only a few fugitives in the Lower Ring were able to read little more than their own name. And this book was considered a higher part of literature.
"I like this part very much," she said as she kept eye contact with him as she turned the book back so the right side was up again. "However," she continued as she flipped some pages back. "This is my favourite part."
She sat up straight as she read her favourite line from the novel: "Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives – or to find strength in a very long one."
Roman smiled at her unsubtle response. "And which way do you feel then?"
Elyrie's mouth twitched slightly in an attempt to smile. At the moment she tried to find strength in a very, very long and complicated one, but she wasn't about to pour her heart out to a stranger.
"A way to live a thousand lives." She answered instead, "Because I am still adjusting to life in the city, but with books I feel I can travel all over the world."
"It is miraculous, isn't it? The way books offer us an escape from reality?" he asked her when he saw her eyes trail over the books behind him.
"Very much." She answered with a smile, "I came here just so I can read a little bit." And definitely escape, she finished in her thoughts.
"You are very welcome to borrow books if you like?" Roman answered, "Then you can read them at home."
"Really?" she asked surprised and now her lips formed a genuine smile.
"Certainly. There is a register you can use." Roman pointed to the open book that was displayed at the entrance of the shop. On a tall, wooden table it was opened in the middle with a pen next to it. "Just write your name, date and the books you took. If you want to take a novel or two, you are very welcome to do so. Only if you plan to return them, of course." He quipped as he gave her a wink.
Elyrie's smile widened as she clutched the book to her chest. She could read again! She could borrow books to get through the long nights! "Thank you so much!" she exclaimed happily. It was an escape, even for a short time, "How can I thank you for your kindness?"
"No problem at all." Roman answered, "I'm always happy to help out a fellow book lover."
"Then let me at least offer you a freshly brewed cup of tea?" Elyrie answered, feeling instantly lighter.
"Now, that is an offer I can't refuse!" he answered jovially, "How about later this afternoon?"
"For once, the rumours were true." Roman said as he placed his now empty cup on the table with a broad smile.
"I shall inform Uncle then." Elyrie laughed as she picked up his empty cup. She looked around the crowded shop, filled with customers enjoying their tea. Uncle walked around the tables with a steaming pot, offering refills and a smile to anyone who wanted more. Which, to be frank, was every person in the shop.
Zuko was standing with his back to her behind the counter, picking up the empty cups. His dark hair had grown longer now, although it wasn't nearly as long as it once had been. How often had she teased him when they were little, running her fingers through his dark locks? She smiled inwardly, because he had always scolded her for doing it. If only she could do that now, her hands in his hair with his hands around her waist, pulling her closer and...
"Do you play?" Roman asked her suddenly, making her snap out of her thoughts.
"I'm sorry?" Elyrie answered, hoping her cheeks weren't burning red.
"The piano?" Roman said as he motioned to the instrument in the corner of the shop.
"Yes, sometimes." She nodded. Pao had given her permission to play from time to time, but she found it a bit difficult to do during working hours. If you play then, everyone listens to what you are doing. While for her, it was always the silent moments that made her crave to let her fingers caress the keys.
Roman, on the other hand, didn't seem to share her hesitancy as he sat behind the old piano and began playing. His fingers moved so elegantly across the keyboard that Elyrie stepped closer to him to admire it. Music filled the small shop and out of habit, she sang along with the notes. Losing herself in singing and music was always a good way to clear her thoughts, which she needed now more than ever.
Shall we dance?
On a bright cloud of music,
Shall we fly?
She saw Roman look up in surprise, but nodded encouragingly to her.
Shall we dance?
Shall we then say goodnight and mean goodbye?
Roman joined in, playing and singing along. He had a pleasant voice, one that was obviously well trained. While she was a soprano, he had a deep voice to compliment it. The combination was enchanting, which attracted the attention of everyone in the shop.
Or per chance?
When the last little star has left the sky?
Shall we still be together
With our arms around each other
And shall you be my new romance?
It was a famous song, one almost everyone knew in the shop. It didn't take long for the customers to join them with clapping and cheering.
On the clear understanding
That this kind of thing can happen
Shall we dance?
Shall we dance?
Shall we dance?
As the song continued, so did Elyrie's feeling of lightness. Roman didn't miss one note as he sang and played, while so often looking up at her and smile.
After they were finished, the customers in the tea shop applauded and cheered loudly.
"You have talent!" Roman proclaimed, "Have you ever had singing lessons?"
"No, I haven't." Elyrie answered honestly, although she had to admit that the hours spend with Zuko's mother had taught her a lot about the proper breathing techniques and postures.
"Well, you have to get some!" he continued, obviously enthusiastic about the idea, "Maybe I can speak to someone in the music department of the University of Ba Sing Se." As he rambled on, Elyrie only shook her head with pursed lips.
"Would you like to play now?" Roman asked as he stood up from the chair. Elyrie nodded shyly and sat behind the small instrument. She placed her hand above the keys, ready to play.
"Have you been married?" Roman suddenly asked. In her surprise, Elyrie's hands missed the key and she faltered obviously. What was it with this man and his blunt questions? In the corner of her eye, she saw Zuko raise his head in alarm.
"Pardon me?" Elyrie stuttered when she found her voice again.
"Your hand," Roman said as he pointed at her left hand. Elyrie pulled her hand back as if she was stung, but did look at her hand. First, she didn't notice anything out of the ordinary: her skin was a bit dry from dunking her hands in the water often, her long nails neatly cut off so they didn't interfere with the physical work. She was confused, but then she saw it: her hands were a bit tanned – obviously the result of the weeks of sun – and the white band on her ringfinger was clearly visible. The result of wearing her mother's ring all those weeks.
"No." she answered firmly, surprised that the question didn't frighten her as much as it would have done weeks ago, "I wore a family heirloom, but we had to sell it when we came here." In truth, her ring was safely tucked away in a small bag in their apartment on the bottom of her closet. Walking around with expensive jewels wasn't a risk she was willing to take any longer.
"Ah, I see." Roman answered, dropping the matter entirely after she answered his question. Elyrie instantly decided she liked him: even though he asked a lot of questions, she valued anyone who didn't pry on her personal information or gave her the feeling that he wanted more from her. Instead, they had mainly discussed literature. He knew so much about the Earth Kingdom literature - and was musical as wel. These were exactly the conversations she had been missing. She knew she had found a kindred spirit.
"I want to thank you both for the performance," A voice said behind Elyrie and she turned around to gracefully accept the compliment.
"That is very kind of you." She smiled at the pretty young woman with the darkbrown hair in braids. She had seen her before; she was a regular and always very polite. The girl nodded friendly as she walked over to the counter were Zuko and Iroh were standing.
"Oh and thank you for the tea!" Elyrie heard the girl say to Zuko, who was standing behind the counter with his back turned to her, "What's your name?" she asked him casually as she placed the coins on the counter.
"Ehm, my name is Lee." Zuko answered as he turned around, "We just moved here."
"Hello Lee," the girl greeted him, "My name is Jin."
Jin. Elyrie felt a pang in her chest at the mention of her name. She thought about her Jin, back in the Fire Nation. How was she doing? It had been months since she had seen her, after Zhao had so cruelly dismissed her. All because of me.
Elyrie turned back to the piano and began playing a simple folksong, so her hands could be occupied as she let her thoughts transfer her back to the two friends she had left behind in the Fire Nation. It was frustrating that she couldn't send Jin a simple letter, because her association with a fugitive would only lead to more trouble. Hadn't she caused enough trouble for her as it was? And what about Kun? Was he alright? What had happened to him after they parted ways months ago? If only she could…
But before Elyrie could let her thoughts wander off, the Jin in the shop continued. "Thank you and.." she said, slightly nervous, "Well, I was wondering if you would like to go out sometime?"
For the second time in two minutes, Elyrie completely missed the right key on the piano.
The Tale of Zuko
"Would you like to go out sometime?" Jin asked with a sweet smile.
If it had been physically possible to let your jaw drop on the floor, Zuko was sure that would be happening now.
But before he could open his mouth, the music stopped abruptly with a false note. He quickly looked over at Elyrie behind the piano. Her reaction mirrored his own: she stood up from behind the piano and her blue eyes had grown six sizes.
The surprise couldn't have been more evident on her pale face, but Zuko saw her bottom lip slightly tremble. Her eyebrows almost disappeared in her hairline, that was how high they had shot up. Her lips parted ever so slightly, but then she regained her impassive expression and looked away from him.
Jin cleared her throat subtly. Feeling a slight blush on his cheeks form, Zuko looked back at Jin who was looking at him expectantly. He realised that he had not answered her question.
"I, that is to say, I-, uhm.." he began a bit bewildered as he tried to form coherent sentences. Subconsciously, his eyes darted back to Elyrie but her face was now unreadable. He wanted to meet her eyes, because it seemed like she wanted to say something earlier.
Zuko wanted to protest, to turn it down the offer, or at least say anything but he didn't get the chance to do so. "He'd love to come!" he heard his Uncle answer for him.
"Great!" Jin answered with a smile, "I'll meet you by the shop at sundown." With a last smile at Zuko, she turned around and walked out of the shop.
"What a nice girl." Uncle said contently as he picked up his ceramic pot with jasmine tea. He had a large smile on his wrinkled face.
"She really was." Elyrie said as she walked over to the counter. Her tone was casual, but Zuko noticed that she clenched her jaw slightly. She kept looking at her hands and started fidgeting with her little finger, "So nice of her to invite you. I hope you have a wonderful evening."
"Yes, but back to work now!" Iroh instructed as he pushed his nephew from behind the counter to the nearest table, where the dishes had assembled. Supressing another groan, Zuko picked up an empty tray.
"And why don't you go on a date with that nice boy there?" he heard Uncle say to Elyrie. Zuko turned around to see Elyrie leaning on the counter on her elbows, as Uncle motioned to Roman, who had resumed playing the piano, "It seems like you got along really well."
"Because he would rather go on a date with Zuko as well." Elyrie answered with a cheeky smile, which didn't reach her eyes.
"Still, you deserve a night off?" Uncle insisted.
"Thank you, but I'd rather stay home tonight." Elyrie said as she pushed herself up, her voice slightly harsher than Zuko was used from her.
"Are you ready for your date, Prince Zuko?" Iroh asked that evening, his eyes gleaming as he put combed his black hair.
"Do you really want me to answer?" Zuko answered, his arms crossed as his Uncle was busy working on his hair. He was most certainly not ready for his date. He felt he had a better chance facing Azula tonight than having a good time.
He knew he wasn't being fair: Jin seemed like a very nice girl, not to mention pretty. Uncle had hammered it into his head that not all girls were as forthcoming as she was, so he should take his chance. But what did one say to a girl one barely knew? Hell, what did one say to a girl?
He sloughed in his seat, irrationally angry about the turn of events for tonight. He had set his mind on going home early and just stay in. Maybe Elyrie could read to him from the books she had lend from the bookstore. He would have liked that, very much in fact.
He grinded his teeth in frustration; how useless was his life now that he looked forward to be read to? As if he was a three year old! But it wasn't as if the Avatar would suddenly appear in front of him and ask him to be captured and returned to the Fire Nation, where his honour and his father's pride were waiting for him.
And it was Elyrie who would read to him: to hear her voice, to see her smile, to see those sapphire eyes light up every time she read something new – so many nights were spend in the Royal Palace like that.
He looked over to the corner of the room, where Elyrie was sitting on her bed with a book in her lap. She hadn't looked in his direction as she was completely caught up in her new book.
Lately, it had come to his attention that part of her charm was her enthusiasm whenever she did something she loved. He had seen it when she was singing, or when she had returned that morning and told him all excitedly about the books she got that day. It made her whole face lit up and her eyes sparkle with delight. And her smile, oh that smile…
"Okay, this is where I intervene." Elyrie said, making him snap out of his thoughts as she closed the book and stood up.
For a second, Zuko thought she had actually heard his thoughts and he felt his cheeks heat up, but then he saw that she looked at this hair. She extended her hand and tussled his hair for a few seconds.
"Hey!" Iroh protested, "I spent ten minutes on that!" Elyrie only laughed at him, but didn't apologise.
"I just saved him a bit of embarrassment." She answered lightly, as she wiped the sticky product off her hand with a towel, "There was enough grease in his hair to fuel three battleships." Zuko sighed as he stood up; this night was off to a great start.
And fifteen minutes later, it didn't seem to go any better.
Why, why, why did I agree to do this? Zuko thought as he stared down in his bowl of noodles. This was torture, simply torture. Even Azula herself couldn't torture him as much as this night was.
Jin sat across from him at a table in a small restaurant in the Middle Ring. She had picked the place, because she claimed that the food was incredible. But Zuko hadn't tasted anything yet.
It was so incredibly awkward: what could he say to the girl? He kept picking his food with the chopsticks, trying to avoid any eye contact.
"So," Jin tried, her tone friendly, "How do you like the city so far?"
"It's okay." Zuko answered, poking in his meatball.
"What do you like to do for fun?" she asked again, sipping her tea as she looked intrigued at him.
"Nothing."
Nothing. He had actually answered nothing. If Elyrie had been here, she would have surely given him a slap on the back of his head for this.
"Excuse me, sir," the waiter interrupted, "Would you and your girlfriend care for dessert?"
As thankful Zuko was for the interruption, that's how angry he got when he heard the man address Jin as his girlfriend.
"She is not my girlfriend!" he exclaimed, slamming his hands on the table. The waiter looked at him with wide eyes as a silence fell over the restaurant.
Some people turned in their seats to stare at them.
What is the matter with me? Why can't I act like a normal person? Zuko mentally groaned as he fixed his eyes on the bowl in front of him. Even for him, this was a new level of awkwardness he was not accustomed to.
Irrationally, he thought about how easy it was for Elyrie to socialise with others, even though he knew she was just as private as he was. Why was it that she hadn't trouble in such situations?
Because she hadn't spend her teen years banished on a boat. Zuko almost let out another yell now that he realised how cut off from normal life he was. If he couldn't even make it through one date with a nice girl, how was he ever to manage to live a normal life in this city?
Well, he didn't want to but he had to make more of an effort.
"You have… quite an appetite for a girl." He thus said, watching Jin eat her noodles.
"Uh, thanks?" she answered uncertainly.
Great start, Zuko.
"So, Lee," Jin said as she put down her bowl, "Where were you, your niece and uncle living before you came here?"
"Uhm, well.." Zuko cleared his throat, "We've been traveling around for a long time." It wasn't technically a lie, but he hoped she wouldn't ask any more questions. But of course, she did.
"Oh, why were you traveling so much?" Jin asked interested.
To escape from my homocidal sister, who is also the Princess of the Fire Nation by the way. "We were, uh…, part of this traveling circus."
"Really? What did you do?"
Zuko couldn't think of anything, but Jin already filled it in for him: "Wait, lemme guess: you juggled!"
"Yes, I juggled." Zuko replied annoyed as he crossed his arms. So far making small talk made him feel even more ridiculous than saying nothing at all.
"I've always wanted to learn how to juggle," Jin said as she handed him a few objects from the table, "Can you show me something?"
Needless to say, Zuko made quite the spectacle of himself. Again.
He paid the bill as quickly as he could and he thought that would be the end of the date, but apparently Jin had other ideas.
"I want to show you one of my favourite places in the city," she said as she pulled him with her through the streets of the Middle Ring.
After a few minutes, she stopped at an open area with a large fountain and several posts with candles on top surrounding it in a circle. A few turtleducks were swimming in the fountain, looking up expectantly as they saw the visitors arrive.
The whole square was lit with a dozen lanterns. Several lanterns floated in the water, adding to the almost mystical feeling in the middle of the city. Zuko had never realised how beautiful candlelight could be in a dark place, such as this city.
"It is beautiful." Zuko said in awe. This reminded him of the Garden in the Royal Palace. During the winter, they had lit up the Fountains with similar floating lights. He remembered that he and Elyrie made a game out of it: who could light most of the lanterns from a distance. Elyrie had always been more precise when it came to firebending, but Zuko had been a worthy opponent.
She would love this, he thought as he let the beauty of the Fountain sink in, maybe I can take her here sometime.
He felt Jin's hand grabbing his, which brought him out of his thought. She turned to face him and he felt slightly uncomfortable with the way she was standing so close to him.
"I've brought you something." He said as he quickly pulled out the coupon Uncle had given him, "I's a coupon for a free cup of tea."
"Lee, that's so sweet." Jin answered as she took the coupon with a sparkle in her green eyes.
"Don't thank me – it was my Uncle's idea." Zuko said as he took a few steps back, "He thinks you're out most valuable customer."
"I have something for you too." Jin said softly as she walked closer, "Close your eyes."
Zuko obeyed and to his surprise, he felt the soft touch of her lips against his own. Her lips briefly caressed his for a second, before he felt the touch disappear.
His eyes still closed, his mind raced to that not so long ago night. Elyrie had been standing as close to him as Jin was doing now. He could so clearly remember her scent, the softness of her skin as he let his hand trail over her arm to her cheek, while caressing her soft hair.
It would be a lie to say that he hadn't thought of the possibility to kiss her, then and there. If Uncle hadn't entered at the moment that he did, Zuko was almost certain that he wouldn't have stepped back. And he didn't want to step back, he never wanted to. He wanted to feel her soft lips, to hold her close to him. Almost automatically, he leaned down his head to feel the softness of lips again.
It only lasted for a second and he opened his eyes, feeling a smile spread across his face. After all this time, he knew finally what it was he wanted to do.
But the olive-coloured eyes that met his, weren't the blue ones he was expecting to see.
He jumped back in surprise.
"What's wrong?" Jin asked, her eyes large with worry.
Zuko stopped for a moment as he tried to gather his thoughts. He felt his heart shatter in a million pieces as the truth came crushing onto him.
"It is complicated." he stuttered, "I have to go." And he was ashamed to admit it, but he ran. He ran away as fast as he could, leaving Jin standing there by herself. He didn't look back once. He couldn't, not now.
His lungs started burning and he started panting, but he didn't slow down. The houses and streets became a blur as it finally dawned on him what he had known for such a long time.
Elyrie. Lily.
Memories started to overflow his thoughts.
Her smile when she greeted him at the harbour; her relief when he won the Agni Kai; how she slipped him the note; how she stepped aside to let him escape the Stronghold; her fearlessness in the battle against Zhao; how she had jumped in front of him to fight off Azula; how she had knocked a fully grown man unconscious.
How she had fitted in his arms as if she was made for him; him carrying her to safety from the burning Temple; holding her after the Siege of the North; carrying her on his back through the Earth Kingdom; comforting her after she opened up about her fears.
Her soft touches when her gentle hands nursed his wounds; how she had warmed him on the North Pole. How she had comforted him, her arms around him; how she had kissed his scar, the one thing he didn't let anyone touch.
Her beautiful voice, singing on the ship, on the beach, on the ferry. Her laughter, her sly smiles, her cheerfulness. How she could make him smile, make him happy; the calming influence she had on him. How she lit up the room whenever she entered it; her sharp intellect; her irresistible beauty; her playful mannerism.
Oh Gods, he could punch himself for being so stupid. How could he have been so blind? It felt as if he had swallowed lightening that was now running through all of his veins. He was sure that redirecting lightning wouldn't feel half as exhilarating as this feeling he now experienced.
Out of breath, he arrived at the wooden door of the appartment. Just as he was about to enter and tell Elyrie what he had discovered, something stopped him. What was he about to say to her? What could he say to her? But he had to say it, didn't he? He had to tell her how he felt.
With a hand on the door, he hesitated. The small voice in the back of his head came through at last, sounding an awful lot like Uncle: are you sure you want to do this?
Yes, he had to ask her; he had to know.
"How was your evening, Prince Zuko?" Uncle asked with a smile as Zuko entered the room. Frantically, Zuko looked around the room but he didn't see Elyrie. The disappointment made his chest contrict, almost as if he was punched in the ribs. Where was she?
Without even answering his Uncle, he entered his bedroom, slamming the door behind him in frustration. Then, he saw her.
"Elyrie!" he almost yelled in surprise as he saw her sitting cross-legged on his bed.
Elyrie looked up in surprise from her book. "What? What?" she answered, almost sounding frantic as she looked at him, obviously unnerved by the fact he used her full name, "What's the matter?"
"I,- you.. fountain!" came his incoherent answer as his courage failed him now that she was sitting in front of him.
"Any possible chance that you ate a poisonous fish on your date?" Elyrie asked, sounding only half joking as she searched his face.
She was wearing loose pants and a shirt in the olive colour that complimented the red in her short curls. Her front locks were tied back, so the back of her hair fell around her shoulders. Her lovely face was illuminated by the soft light of the candles, which she used for her reading. The thin scar on her left temple caught the light, slightly shimmering against her pale skin. Her blue eyes look even brighter as she stared at him with a confused look.
"No, I-…" Zuko began again, not sure where the sentence would end. His heart started pounding, almost slamming against his ribs. He wanted to tell her what she meant to him, how much he cared for her. She knew that, right? She must know.
Would she feel the same for him? He had to know; he had to ask her. All he had to do, was ask her.
He had seen her sit like this so many times: legs under her, a book in her lap, her hair down, her impossibly blue eyes fixed on his face.
With those eyes looking at him, he felt his courage wash away, like a wave erased footsteps in the sand. She looked so innocent, so pure that he didn't dare to ask her. He was afraid, more afraid than he had ever been in his life. Not that she would laugh at him, she was far too kind for that. He was afraid that she wouldn't return his feelings.
"So, how was your date?" Elyrie asked him, arching her dark eyebrow.
For a moment, Zuko said nothing as he looked at her. Her face was even, almost stoic. Her full lips were slightly pursed and for a moment, he thought about the kiss he shared with Jin. The kiss he thought he shared with her.
"It was nice."
This was my take on the short stories from 'The Tales of Ba Sing Se.' I incorporated Zuko's story as best as I could, while simultaneously creating one for Elyrie. It took me forever to work out a fitting story that entwines both of them! I must have rewrote it at least four times (and now I have drafts which follow four separate stories, lol)
As for Iroh's story, that one was so perfect and heart-wrenching in the episode that I didn't even wanted to rewrite it. So, I instead chose to leave that as it is and give him a bigger part in the next chapter.