Thanks yamimily and Edward Cullen's girl for Following. Thanks Molly Brown Stark for Favouriting.
~ City of Walls and Secrets ~
Ryuu POV
Iroh clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. The man behind the counter handed us a vase of large of flowers, the species of which was unrecognizable. Zuko - who had been waiting outside - was now walking away, frustrated at why it was taking so long to chose flowers.
After paying, we had to jog to catch up with him. He sneered at the flowers and ran a hand through his hair. He went to ask a question, but Iroh answered before he even got the chance.
"I just want our place to look nice, in case someone brings home a lady friend!" He teased, gently elbowing his nephew.
When he said that my insides twisted a bit - I forced through it with a smile. Zuko cast his eyes to the inescapable shadow of the great walls. He turned back to his Uncle and blankly, without any hint of emotion, murmured:
"This city is a prison. I don't want to make a life here."
Iroh shrugged and smiled wistfully, "Life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not. Now come on, I found us some new jobs, and we start this afternoon!"
I blinked at Iroh simultaneously with Zuko. We shared a glance before sighing and walking on. We both knew Iroh had got us a job at Pao's across the road, it's the exact thing he would do. Zuko threw his hands up. I clasped my mouth shut but snorting laughter still escaped my nose.
When we arrived back at our apartment, Iroh set about flower arranging and Zuko routed out his Broadswords, which he had managed to smuggle in. I had lost my Ji at the first gate because of 'Safty Reasons ' - I missed it sorely.
"Come on, Princess, you really need those?"
Zuko scowled and hugged his swords (in the sheath obviously), "Yes, yes I do. And, don't call me Princess... especially any more."
I went across the room and carefully put my hand on Zuko's shoulder, "Sorry, force of habit. Just - try not to kill anyone. "
Zuko placed a kiss on my forehead and hummed in agreement. It wasn't like the previous kisses either - it felt somehow warmer and altogether more urgent. I stood there, paralysed from shock, as Zuko went from the room and joined his Uncle. Collecting myself, I brushed off my tunic and skittered after the two as they went off towards Pao's Tea House.
...
Pao clasped his hands by his face and gazed at each of us in turn. Our uniforms consisted of our normal clothes plus an apron, provided by Pao. Zuko slumped his shoulders and grumbled to himself. Iroh, to my right, was having trouble actually fitting the apron strings around himself. My apron was very fitting. It was tight around my waist and hips.
Zuko gaped at me in the uniform. I gritted my teeth and drew a finger across my throat. He corrected himself and wrung his hands. Pao spread his arms out.
"Well, you certainly look like official tea servers. How do you feel ?"
Zuko balled his fists, "Ridiculous. "
I tried to sort my apron out, "Wierd."
Iroh was still having trouble with his apron strings, "Uh, does this possibly come in a larger size?"
Pao scratched his head and jerked his thumb in the direction of the store room. He backed up slowly.
"I have extra string in the back. Have some tea while you wait!"
He poured us a cup of steaming tea each. It smelt like mint. Iroh carefully took a small sip. He stuck his tongue out and pushed the cup away from himself.
"Blech! This tea is nothing more than hot leaf juice!"
Zuko looked perplexed, "Uncle, that's what all tea is."
Iroh scanned his cup and gasped in horror, "How could a member of my own family say something so horrible?! We'll have to make some major changes around here."
He stalked over to the window. Outside, something blurred brown but I dismissed it as it was probably someone just in passing. Iroh threw the whole cup of tea from the window, then went and poured the tea pot dry. Zuko ran a hand down his face. I sipped the tea and shared Iroh's view.
"He's right, ya know, it tastes - water-er-ry."
"Because it was water in- I give up!" Zuko yelled.
...
"Would you like a pot of tea?"
We were allowed home for dinner before the evening rush. Pao had supplied us with a complimentary pot of chi leaves for our own tea at home. Zuko threw himself back on our shared sleeping mat.
"We've been working in a tea shop all day! I'm sick of tea!"
That made Iroh gasp in horror again, " "Sick of tea?" That's like being sick of breathing!"
I couldn't contain my laughter this time. I fell off of the rickety old chair again. I was starting to think it hated me. Iroh searched the cupboards and scowled at me accusingly.
"Have you seen the spark rocks to heat up the water?"
"Try in the wood pile," I suggested.
From outside, I heard someone whispering to themselves. It was getting late - the sun was setting, so the room was becoming darker. We also needed the spark rocks for lighting up candles (Iroh and Zuko were banned from Firebending unless life or death; as far as Iroh was concerned, Tea was life or death).
"I borrowed our neighbors'. Such kind people."
...
The evening rush was... rush-ier than expected.
It was such a haze of tea, voices and fa as that my brain was starting to cease to absorb anything. Iroh was receiving a great many compliments; as were Zuko and I. A girl took quite the fancy to Zuko. He backed from talking to her, instead giving me the job of serving her.
Then the whole mood changed.
"This is the best tea in the city!" A man held his cup up.
Iroh took it and nodded in appreciation, "The secret ingredient is love!"
Zuko looked after his Uncle with an odd mix of confusion and discomfort on his face. I giggled at him as he shrugged over at me. Pao patted Iroh's shoulder and chuckled something about a raise. I shot a smile ar Zuko - who returned it.
Then, from the doorway, a familiar voice yelled, "I'm tired of waiting! These two men are firebenders!"
He pointed his hook swords at Iroh and Zuko. Sweet spirits, how come he also managed to smuggle weapons in. My poor Ji! So many memories. Jet took a fighting stance.
"I know they're firebenders, I saw the old man heating his tea!"
A customer dead-panned, "He works in a tea shop."
Jet growled, "He's a Firebender! I'm telling you!"
Another customer raised his hands in an attempt to diffuse the situation.
"Drop your swords, boy. Nice and easy."
Jet slashed at him. I clutched my empty tray, prepared to fight. Jet took one step foward and yelled out at Zuko again. Zuko grabbed his swords from behind the counter.
"You'll have to defend yourself. Then everyone will know. Go ahead, show them what you can do."
The deluded boy ran at Zuko. A customer went to defend him but was beaten to it. Zuko blocked Jet's kick attack with his swords. Jet leaped back. He turned his attention to me.
"Have to Firebend to protect your girlfriend! "
"She's not-!"
He kicked down. I blocked using the tray and punched Jet's kneecap. He howled in pain and leapt back. I took the opportunity and smashed him in the face with my tray. He stumbled back.
"You want a show? I'll give you a show!"
Zuko brought his swords down. Jet hooked them with his swords and went to kick Zuko in the chest. I smacked Jet in the back with the tray. He roundhouse kicked towards me. I ducked and, when I popped up again, brought my elbow down onto his back.
He cried out and leapt up. Zuko tried to disarm Jet. It didn't work. Jet leapt to the side and stabbed at Zuko. The two stumbled back into the street. I frisbee-d the tray at Jet. It hit his right arm. He dropped his right swords and defended himself with a swish of his hook.
"You must be getting tired of using those swords. Why don't you go ahead and firebend at me?"
Ieoh ent to the door and called at Jet - "Please, son, you're confused! You don't know what you're doing!"
They were both staring to get tired. I took up a staff that acted as decoration on the wall, quickly sprayed to Kyoshi for strength, and went to help. A man attempted to stop me - I squirmed from his grip.
"Bet you wish he'd help you out with a little fire blast right now."
Jet slashed at Zuko's feet. He jumped and pinned the other hook-sword down.
"You're the one who needs help."
Annoyed, Jet ran at Zuko. He skidded under Zuko and grabbed his free hook. He would've knocked Zuko over, but I was there. I brought the staff down. Jet blockade at the last second and kicked at me. I leapt and yanked the staff up. Jet was jolted to his feet. I twisted the shaft and sent Jet flying at Zuko. The latter sliced. Jet ducked right in time. The top part of the grass was cut clean off.
"You see that?! The Fire Nation is trying to silence me. It'll never happen."
Zuko growled. He jabbed at Jet as the crazed boy flying kicked at Zuko. I launched my stick up and kicked it at Jet. It hit him square in the chest. He fell with a crash to the floor. He grunted and hooked at Zuko's feet in a last ditch attempt.
Three men in long green robes swept towards us. Da Li. Infamous throughout the Earth Kingdom.
"Drop the weapons."
Jet back flipped to his feet - pointing his hook at Zuko, "Arrest them! They're firebenders!"
"This poor boy is confused. We're just simple refugees," Iroh waved his hands from his post at the door. The Da Li agents showed no emotion as they glided to Jet. Pao pointed accusingly.
"This young man wrecked my tea shop, and assaulted my employees!"
The customers rallied around us, "It's true, sir. We saw the whole thing. This crazy kid attacked the finest tea maker in the city."
Iroh waved his hand at them, "Oh, ho, ho. That's very sweet."
The agents circled Jet and told him to come quietly. He swung his hook but it was intercepted by an agents rock glove. The two other bound their rock gloves around his weists as he struggled. He was dragged away to an awaiting Ostrich horse drawn cart.
"You don't understand! They're Fire Nation! You have to believe me!"
Zuko turned to me and a faint smile painted his lips. I took up the staff, twirling it above my head. Pao clapped his hands together.
"Sorry but we are closing for tonight, " He announced. The customers congratulated Zuko, Iroh and I as they went past. A girl bounced up to Zuko, opened her mouth, but thought better of it. She skittered away into the darkness of the alley.
"Let's get some sleep," Iroh concluded as Pao locked the Tea House door, "You two did very well."
He wrapped his arms around Zuko and I. I brushed some loose hairs behind my ear - Staff still in hand. The Blue Orchid was still stuck into my hair. As soon as I lay on my bed - Zuko beside me - I fell into a deep sleep.
