The Tale of Zuko

The lunch rush has just passed but there were still a few customers loitering around, sipping their tea casually. Zuko finished cleaning the last table and was about to head to the back room when he felt eyes at the back of his head. He turned around and spotted a girl who quickly looked away, sipping her tea.

His eyes narrowed and he approached his uncle who was busy stacking the cups up on the shelves. "Uncle, we have a problem." He whispered. Iroh climbed down the ladder and leaned in to hear his nephew. "One of the customers is on to us. Don't look now, but there was a girl over there at the corner table. She knows we're Fire Nation."

The old man looked behind him, catching a glimpse of the young girl who had been stealing glances at his nephew, but he was pulled aside quickly. "Didn't I say 'don't look'?!"

Iroh chuckled at his naivety. "You're right, Zuko. I've seen that girl in here quite a lot. Seems to me she has quite a little crush on you."

"What?!" Zuko looked at him like he had grown three heads.

"Thank you for the tea..." They both turned around to find the girl they had been talking about was right behind them. She handed Zuko her payment and tucked her hair behind her ear. "So... what's your name?"

"My name's Lee... My uncle and I just moved here."

"Hi Lee, my name's Jin..." She smiled up at him. "Thank you, and..." Zuko noticed a moment of hesitation before she continued. "Well... I was wondering if you would like to go out sometime..."

Zuko stared at her, her words barely sinking in before his uncle had answered for him. "He'd love to!" Iroh butted in with a wide grin.

"Great! I'll meet you in front of the shop at sundown!" She turned around and left quickly before Zuko could get a word in. As the doors of the tea shop closed, he gave his uncle a death glare.

Iroh had bought him a new changshan and black pants. He even volunteered to fix his hair, fashioning it into a style that was attractive during his youth. He sent him off with a wide grin and an energetic wave.

He left with a grumble, looking out the tea shop for Jin. "Hey!" She came out of the corner. She looked like she was resisting the urge to laugh. "Well, look at you! You look so cute!" She reached up and ruffled his hair, messing it up back to its original style.

Normally he would have swatted her hand away harshly. No commoner would dare touch a Fire Nation prince, much less mess with his hair. But with an action that surprised even him, he just politely pulled away, patting his hair. "It took my uncle ten minutes to do my hair..."

Before Zuko could turn back and retreat to the safety of the tea shop, Jin had grabbed his arm with both hands and led him away. "So, I think we should have dinner first. I know this eatery in the plaza! They're famous for their noodles and dumplings. Also my friends work there, Aron and—"

Jin continued to talk as they walked slowly towards the plaza, but Zuko had zoned out quite a bit.

He had never been on an actual date before. Not unless he counted that night of the Fire Lily Festival...

"We're here!" Jin announced and she led the way to a vacant table.

Zuko looked around at the crowded eatery. It was quite rowdy, people talking left and right, shouting out their orders to the three servers who alternated between serving food and cleaning tables for new customers.

She called to one of the servers, named Amon. He approached with a smile. "So, what will you and your boyfriend be having, Jin?"

"I'm not her boyfriend." He clarified, giving Amon a sharp look.

The server got the message and looked to Jin, waiting for her order. "We'll have the uh... noodles and dumplings. Can we also have the grilled fish? And some tofu with pork." She looked to Zuko with a smile. "Do you want anything else?"

He shook his head and looked away in the streets. 'A boyfriend, huh?' He couldn't imagine himself as the boyfriend type. Considering all that he'd been through, getting banished from his nation, chasing the Avatar, suffering in exile, running away from his psychotic sister, losing Chiyo...

He was broken out of his thoughts as Jin had clapped enthusiastically. "Thank you, Lily! Fantastic as usual!"

Zuko had missed the little performance as the server named Lily bowed and turned away quickly to attend to other tables. "What happened?"

"Oh you didn't see it? Lily was balancing all of this on her hands and arms!" Jin gestured to all the plates and bowls. You should've seen it! Next time she comes out, I'll point her out." She turned her attention back to the food, wondering which one to eat first.

Their dinner was marked with awkward silence, with Jin trying to strike up a conversation and Zuko answering curtly. She held the cup of tea in her hands and sipped slowly. "So... How do you like the city so far?"

"It's okay..."

"What do you like to do for fun?

"Nothing."

"Excuse me, sir, would you and your girlfriend care for dessert?" It was Aron this time who approached, but Zuko couldn't tell the difference between the identical twins.

He snapped, slamming his clenched fist at the wooden table. "She is not my girlfriend!"

The diners of the eatery were silenced for a few seconds by Zuko's outburst, but resumed their usual chatter and noise after a while. He looked away biting his lip. 'What am I doing? I'm out on a 'date' and I've been nothing but inconsiderate towards her. She must think I'm such a miserable and pathetic—"

His thoughts were cut off by Jin slurping up the bowl of noodles. "You...You have quite an appetite for a girl..." He mentally hit himself in the head and he looked down at his hands, twiddling his thumbs.

"Ummm... thanks?" Jin took it as a cue to try and strike up a conversation again. "So, Lee, where were you and your uncle living before you came here?"

"Uh...well... We've been travelling around for a long time." He tried a longer response this time to be polite.

His answer piqued her interest. "Oh? Why where you travelling around so much?"

That's what he gets for giving her a vague answer. He had to think fast, wracking his brain for an answer that made sense. "We were... uh... part of this... travelling... circus!"

"Really?!" Her eyes lit up with excitement. "What did you do? Wait! Let me guess! You juggled!"

"Yes, I juggled." He nearly slapped himself at the careless remark.

"I've always wanted to learn how to juggle! Can you show me something?" Jin held out a couple of items in her hands while she looked at Zuko expectantly.

Zuko was about to refuse until he looked into her dark brown eyes, and suddenly he was transported back to his youth.

"I wish I could firebend like you and Princess Azula..." Chiyo sighed as she lay on the soft grass in the gardens, looking up at the clear blue sky. "It looks so cool when you both do it... And I bet my performances will be a lot better with fire."

Zuko chuckled as he turned his head to look at Chiyo. She had her slender arms extended out to the sky, her hand held out as she imagined herself firebending. He got up and took her hand to help her off the grass. "You really haven't had any formal training in firebending, so we aren't really sure if you could or couldn't. Come on! I'll teach you!"

She had looked up at him with her bright amber eyes shining with excitement. "Really? You'll teach me, Prince Zuko?"

"Of course! First, I'll teach you the basic movements and breathing techniques. My uncle told me that breathing is important."

"Just like in dancing!" She laughed and bowed deeply at the waist. "I am honored to have you as my teacher, Prince Zuko! Or should I say, Sifu Zuko?"

Her laughter was music to his ears and her smile shone brighter than the midday sun.

He took the various items in his hands and tossed them in the air, trying in vain to catch them but they all ended up falling on the floor, the last one hitting him in the head."I-I haven't practiced for a while." He said sheepishly.

"It's alright..." Jin giggled. "Hey, I want to show you one of my favorite places in the city!" She smiled as she stood up, reaching in her pockets to pay for the food.

He beat her to it; placing a string of coins on their tab. His uncle had insisted he bring money to pay for their 'date'. Jin thanked him with a smile and grabbed his arm as they walked out of the eatery. They had taken only a few steps away when a voice called out to them.

"Wait!"

Zuko stopped in his tracks. 'That voice...'

"You forgot your change!"

He wanted to turn around, but his feet felt like they were frozen in place. 'It couldn't be... If she had seen me, she would've known who I was...' His breath quickened, in pace with his heart that was threatening to jump out his chest. 'It couldn't be...'

Instead Jin had turned around and waved the girl off. "Keep the change, Lily! Thank you for dinner!"

He could almost see the smile in her voice as she thanked them. "Thank you so much Jin! Have a nice evening, both of you!"

He gathered his courage, clenching his fists as if trying to grasp his wits together, Zuko whipped his head around, only to see the retreating back of the server as she went back into the eatery.

'It's not her.'

Last he had seen her, she had her long dark curls falling past her waist. He also remembered that Lady Suiren had always made sure that her apprentice's clothes were never faded, always spoiling her with new kimonos and shoes.

That girl, Lily, as Jin had called her, had short cropped hair that barely grazed her shoulders, wore faded green robes and wooden sandals.

That girl, Lily, as Jin had called her, wasn't Chiyo.

She wasn't his Chiyo.

Jin tugged his hand and they wound through the dim streets and alleyways. "I'm so excited for you to see the Firelight Fountain! The lamps make the water sparkle and reflect in the pool in the most beautiful way!" She held his hand tight, leading him towards the fountain he had only seen once during the day.

The streets were alive with light, music and people. The young kids tried everything from eating fire flakes and gummies, to trying to catch goldfish with a paper net, and admiring the fire dancers in the plaza. All the while, Chiyo held on to Zuko's arm so as not to lose him in the sea of people, the fire lilies he gave her in her other hand.

Zuko happily followed the young Chiyo around. Tonight, they weren't prince and apprentice. They were just Zuko and Chiyo, going around the festival and enjoying it to the fullest. It was a good thing that the blue mask hid his flushed cheeks while she took him to several other kiosks.

Why was he thinking about her when he was here right now with Jin? He shook his head as if to clear his thoughts and he stopped when she did. He looked at her and saw her disappointed expression as she cast her eyes over the fountain.

The fire of the lamps were extinguished, making the water look dark and lifeless. "I can't believe it! They aren't lit."

Zuko was clueless as to why he was bothered by her expression as she looked down at the ground, embarrassed and disappointed.

"Close your eyes." Jin looked at him curiously. "And don't peek."

Jin nodded and brought her hands to her face to cover her eyes. Zuko moved forward, checking his surroundings for strangers who might be watching, lurking around. Satisfied that no one else was out there, he focused his chi in his fingertips and he began his work.

He sent short bursts of flames to the lamp posts as well as the floating lanterns in the fountain, bring them all to life. He made sure that everything was lit brightly before he turned to Jin. "Okay... now you can look." He said softly.

Jin opened her eyes and took it all in. All the lampposts and lanterns were alive, indeed, making the water from the fountain sparkle, bathed in the bright light. "Oh wow... What happened? How did they light? What did you-?" She had a ton of questions but her breath was taken away by the Firelight Fountain's beauty. "It's so beautiful!"

Zuko stared at her and couldn't help the smile that crept to his lips.

Suddenly, they heard a loud whistle followed by an explosion. The sky filled with colors and light. They both looked up and watched the fireworks, hand in hand. The red and yellow light of the fireworks took the shape of a giant fire lily, earning gasps of awe and amazement from the crowd watching below.

Zuko took off the mask and held Chiyo's hand tighter, he looked at her and smiled as he saw her bright wide eyes and carefree smile. "It's so beautiful..." she whispered as more fireworks were sent up to the night sky.

"Yeah... beautiful..." He whispered as he looked up at the fountain. He felt Jin's warm hand wrap around his and he turned to her. She was looking up at him expectantly, leaning in. "I-I brought you something." He pulled out a thin card with a green string attached. "I-It's a coupon for a free cup of tea."

"Lee, this is so sweet." She took the coupon and pocketed it.

"Don't thank me... It was my uncle's idea. He thinks you're our most valuable customer."

"You're uncle is a good teacher." Zuko had looked away from her, a slight blush forming on his cheeks. "I have something for you, too. And now it's your turn to lose your eyes."

He turned to her and did as she told, closing his eyes.

In the darkness of his closed eyes, he felt soft lips touching his own lightly.

And for the briefest of moments, he kissed her back, pressing his lips to hers hesitantly.

"You should know your place, apprentice!" His father, the Fire Lord, spat harshly. "He is a prince, a respected figure in all of the Fire Nation. He cannot be seen gallivanting around town like a commoner with the likes of you. Think of his reputation!"

The Firelord's tone suddenl changed, from loud and harsh, to low and frightening. "I will not give you lenience, even if you are Suiren's apprentice. Learn your place, or else I will make you learn it the hard way." He looked down menacingly at the Chiyo, as if she was a street rat in his presence.

"I-I'm so sorry, F-Fire Lord Ozai, i-it won't happen again." Chiyo's voice broke as she cried. "I-I promise." She had tears streaming from her face, but having bowed to the ground, no one saw her.

Zuko wanted to grab her and comfort her, but he was stopped by his father's glare as well as the guards forcefully taking him to his palanquin. As soon he was secured, the men lifted the palanquin and left, leaving Chiyo on the ground, still bowing after the royal procession.

He pulled away from the kiss, stepping back and turning away from her. 'Why can't I stop thinking about you, Chiyo?! No matter how hard I try to forget you, I'd always see you in my mind!'

"What's wrong?"

What will he say to Jin? How could he tell her that she reminds him of her? How could he tell him that he's not over her, and he probably will never be?

"It's complicated." Was all he could manage. "I have to go."

And like the pathetic, miserable coward and fool he thought himself to be, he ran away.

Author's Notes

Please, don't kill me.

-TheGreatestConWoman-