Zuko woke the next morning to the smell of eggs and bacon, and his uncle's jovial humming along to the radio. Emerging slowly from his room clad in his college sweatshirt and sweat pants, Zuko plopped down at the table and texted Mai.

Hey, sorry about last night. Just wanted to see how you are, I guess.

"Good morning. How did you sleep, Zuko?" came Iroh's voice.

"Like the dead," Zuko chuckled, his mood brightened by the smell of food. Miserable as he was to be here, he hadn't really eaten much yesterday, and this morning his stomach was keen on making him aware of this.

"Breakfast should be ready soon," Iroh said, "And once we are finished eating, I think we should head to the reserve, eh?"

Zuko's mood fell. The reserve. The reminder that he was stuck in Ba Sing Se while his sister got to go steal his glory from their father. "Do we really have to uncle," he sighed. He was answered with a chuckle.

"Zuko, I know you wish you were somewhere else, but you may as well take what you have and make the most of it," Iroh advised as he set a bowl of food in front of his nephew. Zuko brooded throughout breakfast, trying to figure out exactly how he could make the most out of his crap situation. Maybe he'd ask that girl at the reserve out, boost his confidence and maybe get a rise out of Mai as well. Almost as if on cue, his phone buzzed.

I'm fine… I miss you, Zuko. I'm sorry for what I did.

Zuko gave a low groan, the memory of Mai kissing Ruon-Jian leaping unbidden into his mind. He had been so furious with her, he was still furious with her. But he had to confess he missed her too, or at least, the comfort of their relationship. They knew each other's weak points and fed off of them, their negativity their main bond. He knew he couldn't keep doing this, going back and forth with her constantly, pretending not to know she still slips off to see her lover whenever she can.

I know. But Mai, I can't keep doing this. We can't keep doing this. I shouldn't have messaged you, I'm sorry.

He turned the buzzer off and resolved not to check it until they returned from the reserve. He was not in any mood to deal with the shit-storm he was sure was coming after that response. He excused himself from the table and went to get dressed. He returned wearing his zip-up, jeans, and boots and followed his eager uncle out of the door.

As they drove to the reserve, Iroh hummed along to the radio once more, commenting little things about the shops they passed. Zuko 'mmh'ed and nodded when appropriate, and then a thought came to him that had been popping in and out of his mind since they got there.

"Uncle, don't you own a successful tea shop? Why exactly do you come down here instead to push a tea cart all day when you could lounge in your office at the Jasmine Dragon?" he asked. Iroh scoffed at him.

"You have much to learn nephew. For one, I am old, and I find that too much lounging makes my body softer than it already is," Iroh chuckled. "Two, the fresh air is good for you Zuko!"

It was Zuko's turn to scoff. "Uncle, it smells like animal shit," he said seriously, his cheeks turning red as Iroh just laughed at him.

"I think," Iroh said, wiping a tear from his eye as he came down from his laughter, "that you will learn to become accustomed to it, Zuko. Besides, I hear that a very pretty vet student arrived today, perhaps you will meet her." A suggestive gleam had entered Iroh's eye as he winked at Zuko. Zuko rolled his eyes in response.

"Yeah, sure, okay Uncle," Zuko chuckled, waving him off as they pulled into the reserve and parked. The late morning sun hung high in the sky as Zuko helped his Uncle pull the cart around the reserve. It was almost 2 when they circled around to the main building, where Song was waiting for them.

"Hey, Zuko! I was hoping to see you today!" Song said, beaming up at Zuko and batting her long eyelashes at him. Zuko chuckled, a little uncomfortably, and waved at her.

"Hello, Song, how are you?" he asked. Mentally smacking himself in the forehead, he wondered where the Zuko from this morning had gone, so confident to ask her out. But that was when you were thinking of taunting your cheating ex his brain reminded him. He didn't really find himself attracted to her, pretty as she was. She seemed a little too peppy for his tastes, at least in his own opinion, one that he considered fairly important. Luckily for him, he didn't even need to ask.

"I'm doing well," Song replied, smiling up at him. "Listen," she continued, "We got a new extern for our veterinary program and I said I'd take her out on the town tonight. I figured since, you know, you're kinda new to town too, maybe you'd like to come with?" she asked, twisting her hands together nervously and flushing. "Not as a date, or anything," she added quickly at his look of uncertainty, "just to see some spots around town you might like."

Zuko looked back at his uncle, who was giving him two big thumbs up, and turned back to her. "Um, sure, I guess. What time are you thinking?" he asked.

Song's face lit up, "7 o' clock, there's a bar two blocks down called the Earthquake, it's got a sign with the name in big, lit-up letters out front, you can't miss it," she told him. "Dress casual, it's definitely nothing special. But anyway, I've got to get going. I have to go finish feeding everyone before I go get our new gal." She left them with a wave, climbing into her cart and heading down the pathway.

Iroh nudged Zuko, grinning. "Well, nephew, that should be fun!"

Zuko scratched the back of his head, taking a deep breath in. Well, he'd see about that. The rest of the day went by slowly. Around 6:45, Zuko walked towards the bar, wearing the same clothes he'd worn for the day. He arrived just before 7, and as he opened the door to the bar, the sounds of music and laughter reached his ear. For nothing special, it was definitely a packed joint. The tables were all full, and Zuko instantly regretted being early. He hated having to stand around like a jackass in a full bar by himself. Thankfully, he heard a familiar voice. "Zuko, over here!" Song waved him over to a table. He walked up and noticed two others at the table. A shaggy haired man with a toothpick hanging out of his mouth gave him a nod and a smirk.

"The Zuko Sozin, in the flesh," the man said, extending a hand. Zuko grasped the hand and nodded.

"Well, I'm glad you already know me, but I unfortunately can't say the same," Zuko said.

The man grinned, "Jet," he said simply. No last name, all right. And it was then that Zuko noticed the other woman sitting at the table, and he had to fight to keep his jaw off the floor.

His uncle was right, the new vet extern is a very pretty girl.