A Kiss in Ba Sing Se: Secrets and Promises

[A/N: There are times after the heat of Passion where life slows down, and truth can be spoken.

A simple talk can reveal much.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Avatar: The Last Airbender

Enjoy.

Comment if you wish. All feedback is welcomed.]

Chapter 79

Jin

Zuko sat with Jin at the small round table on the balcony overlooking the spectacular gardens of the palace. Though she had been working there, she never had time to appreciate their beauty before.

"Well Lee, I have to get to work, and I don't want to be late. Can I get a ride to the laundry? They'll be expecting me soon, and I have to change out of these nice things you gave me."

Zuko looked at the elegant lady sitting across from him with wonder and amusement. "What! You can't work anymore Jin. You have title, land, servants and all the money you could ever want for!"

Jin's pursed her red painted lips. "But they're expecting me. They're depending on me! When nobody would hire me because I was pregnant, these people did! No one wanted to hire an ash whore, but they didn't treat me any differently! Zuko, these people can't afford much, and they work hard every day. I just can't abandon them," she stressed looking directly into his eyes.

Zuko sat back in his seat and tapped his chin. "I see. It would be, dishonorable, to just strand them without help after they were so very kind," he agreed. "So, what if I went with you today. I could help with your work and explain to them why you wouldn't be continuing in that position after today," the Fire Lord offered. "Ask my uncle, I'm a pretty hard worker."

"Mushi, Uncle Mushi!" Jin almost screamed. "He was so kind and thoughtful to me. Is he still here in Ba Sing Se? I heard that he lead the fight to liberate the city!"

"Slow down Jin, you heard correctly," Zuko laughed holding up his hands. "Yes, he lives here in Ba Sing Se and owns a tea shop called the Jasmine Dragon. I'll take you there tomorrow. I've already sent word to him about you and Vahnijaya. We have a luncheon scheduled in fact. I'm sure he's gonna want to see you too."

Jin's eyes teared up, and she looked away. "After… after what happened, I went to look for him. I wanted to see that kind smile of his, " she exclaimed softly. "I saw so much of him in you, and that's what attracted me to you, Lee… I mean Zuko."

"That was my fault too," he confessed. "Mushi's real name is Iroh. He came to rescue the Avatar from a trap and I, well I betrayed him, just like I did you Jin. I had him arrested and taken to the Fire Nation. But he never gave up on me, and I eventually got my head on straight."

Jin smiled tightly. "I knew he was a good man… a very good man."

Zuko nodded. "He's the best. I don't know where I would be without him. Before he freed the city, I met with him and… and… he just hugged me, Jin. After all, I did to him! Locking him away and treating him like he was garbage! He forgave me and told me that he lov… loved me," he wept as his voice failed him.

She reached over and covered his hand with hers as the Fire Lord continued to weep. It took several moments for Zuko to regain his composure. She sat quietly, occasionally reassuringly squeezing his hand.

Finally, the Fire Lord stood and looked out towards the mid-morning horizon. "Please don't go into work today," he softly requested of her. "I'll pay them for your time and more! I'll send in 10 people to help them, free of charge until they can hire someone new! But Jin, please don't leave."

She smiled shyly at him. "But, how am I supposed to live now if I don't work and pay my way? Are you going to take care of me?"

Zuko knelt in front of her. "I know I said it before, and until I earn your trust back Jin, I'll say it as often as you need to hear it. You and Vahnijaya will never have to want for anything ever again."

Jin started to play with a loose strand of her brown hair. "Ten people and pay them for my time?"

Zuko nodded. "Ten people, free of charge," he reiterated standing to his feet.

Jin smiled brightly. "I think, they would like that a lot. Vahnijaya can be a handful, but they let her hang around while I work. I've wanted a way of thanking them."

"Then we have an agreement," Zuko said as he summoned an attendant. "Please bring a quill, ink, and parchment for her Majesty. Please follow her instructions to the letter," he ordered.

As soon as the servant left, Jin looked over at him in dismay. "Did you actually say… her Majesty, about me," she asked pointing to herself.

"Sure did. You're going to have to get used to people bowing to you and calling you all sorts of titles. You are officially a Duchess of the Royal Court here in Ba Sing Se, and in the Fire Nation, you're considered a Fire Lord Consort. So you're royalty in two countries!" Zuko informed her.

Jin sat back in her chair kicking her legs out in front of her, admiring the matching silk slippers. "I never expected you to even give a copper's care about me. I thought you would want to forget it all and just get on with your life. When Jaya caused you some much trouble, I was so afraid that I would be fired and we would get put out on the street."

Zuko shook his head. "I would never do such a thing, though I understand how you could think that about me. I was an awful person, and I caused you a lot of pain. I really want to make it up to you."

Jin sighed intensely staring at him. "Do you really mean what you're saying? I can see how you may want Jaya, but me? You're surrounded by so many beautiful women, Lee, and I'm so plain. You probably can have any one of them with a snap of your fingers. Isn't that woman I met who was throwing icicles at your head also your, uh, Fire, something or other, Consort too? You ran away together looking like all lovey-dovey."

"You mean Mai? Zuko replied. "Yes… huh, that girl you saw me within the market after the fall of the city and …

Jin's gaze became more focused on the young monarch. "We are talking about the one who put the fish on your head, right? Or do you have more women at your beck and call?"

Zuko's eyes flashed away. "I'm not Sokka! And, yeah, that's the same one. We've had this off again, on again relationship since then. You may know, or may not that she is with me here, but she has her own quarters."

"So which is it? On or off," Jin asked folding her arms.

Zuko rubbed his face trying to wipe away his embarrassment. "Off, if you count last night. I mean, a lot happened, but I think our relationship is kind of waning if you know what I mean? We fight more than we laugh, not that we ever laughed much," he sighed.

Jin turned away to hide her victorious smile. "That one was never right for you Lee. You're like the day, and she's definitely all about the night. It was only a matter of time before you two would drift apart, no matter how pretty she is."

Zuko looked off into the distance. "I use to think she was the perfect one for me, back when I was so negative. You know, we described ourselves as dark and dangerous, and we were. We both saw the world as a bleak and dismal place. We hated everything… maybe even each other, to one degree, though we never would admit it. We leaned on each other, and she even tossed away her career for me when she turned on my sister. In doing that, she saved my life, Jin. I owe her for that," Zuko sat back and looked up into the sky. "Do I love her? I think I still do, but I don't know if she loves me anymore."

Jin sat straight in her chair and swallowed hard. "Oh... I see. Then me showing up with Jaya, this whole situation, is, is kind of inconvenient, isn't it," she stated, wiping away the teardrops that began to form.

Zuko suddenly realized the gravity of his words. "Oh no!" he exclaimed standing to his feet. "Please Jin, don't get the wrong idea. Finding you two is like a dream come true. You don't know how much I longed for this day! I still have agents combing the city for any sign of you. I didn't know that you would have a baby too. You can ask Aang or Sokka. I'm always telling them about what I was going to do if I found you again, and I'm serious!"

"So you've been looking for me, even without Jaya?" she asked as her heart started to pick up its rhythm.

"I didn't even know I had a beautiful, blessed daughter who I wouldn't trade for the world!" Zuko exclaimed with a huge smile. "The moment I saw her, I loved her Jin!"

"That makes me happy to hear you say that Lee," she retorted, covering her wide smile.

"And I'm happy you're happy," he replied. "In fact, I'm going to tell Mai and everyone else in the Fire Nation all about you and how amazing you are. I'm proud of our baby, even though I'm ashamed of my actions."

"Are you going to tell everyone how she was conceived as well," Jin asked pensively.

Zuko shook his head. "At first I was, but then Iroh told me that repeating this type of wrong, except to a few close friends who would hold me accountable, would bring you suffering and harm. I've only told my closest friends. And boy was that rough. I still have the scar Mai gave me on my chest. Suki stitched up my wound, and I swear she found the dullest needle around. She kept saying, 'I wonder if that poor girl was also in pain.'

"Ouch," Jin said with a smirk.

Zuko could tell she was enjoying his punishment and so he continued to regale her. "Then Toph, your princess, blacked both my eyes and nearly broke my nose! That princess may look like a sweet, demure girl, but she hits harder than anyone I know!" he exclaimed as he checked the bridge of his nose. "Next there was gentle Katara. Do you know she threatened to kill me once, and I believed her? She had that same expression on her face as she silently... well, let's just say, I'm grateful for the one child I have. I may never have any more," he told her with a grimace. "SO COLD!"

Even Jin winced at his expression. "So you told only women?"

"No, I told the guys too. Sokka wouldn't speak to me for an entire month and told me to stay away from his sister. One day he walks up and knocks me the Agni out! When I came to, he just said, 'welcome back buddy'. Can you believe that? It was like nothing ever happened!"

"How about the Avatar, did you tell him as well?" she asked as she pulled her legs up under her.

"I told Aang first, well actually second. I told my uncle first, and he scolded me on the virtue of a woman and how they are to be cherished and treasured for over an hour. Considering how low I felt afterward, Sokka let me off easy," he recalled smiling her way."

"So what did the Avatar do and say?" she inquired eagerly.

Zuko's lips started to tremble, and once more she could see the tears welling up in his eyes. "The way… the way Aang looked at me… it was as if I had raped him. He backed away from me and shook his head. I asked him to say something, and he just walked, well flew away. Every day, every day for I don't know how long, he avoided me and kept it all about business. Every day during that time, I cried and thought about how I hurt you. Finally, he came and sat down with me, at uncle's request. He told me why he was so upset and that I should tell the others. Then we could be friends again."

"So, why was he so upset Lee?"

Zuko tilted his head as his amber eyes continued to glisten. "That's his story to tell Jin. Maybe he'll share it with you in time."

"I would be honored. And to think that you have such noble companions warms my heart."

Zuko found her statement intriguing. "Why do my friends warm your heart Jin?"

She smiled in a way he didn't want her to stop. It was so genuine and touching. "My father once told me that you can tell the worth of a man by those who cherish him. Though they were disappointed in you, they never stopped loving you. These are your true friends. Few people have them," Jin reminded him. "Keep them close... Zuko."

"I will, and I'm dying for you two to meet the GAang," he laughed.

Jin's brow lifted. "The, G-Aang?"

Zuko started laughing. "Its just a stupid title for our group Sokka came up with back then. It kind of stuck and so from time to time…"

Jin's jaw dropped open. "Oh, I get it! Gang combined with the Avatar's name, Aang. That is ingenious! I heard Sokka is probably the smartest man in the world, is that true?"

This time Zuko was just annoyed. "He has his moments."

"Is somebody getting jealous," she teased.

"That's ridiculous! I would never be envious of a bear-faced baboon, like him!" the Fire Lord scoffed.

Jin giggled at his reaction. "Lee, why do you find him's being smarter than you, a bother?" she asked letting her grammar slip. "You's are so handsome and strong and a King. Him's just smart," she stated.

Zuko shook his head. "Jin, it's 'he's not him's.' the Fire Lord corrected her. "Anyway, I may be a king, but apparently he has some strange kind of charm I don't have on women. You have never seen Sokka close up, but women just flock to him like barn-flies to dragon-geckos! They even laugh at his stupid jokes!"

"So you want them to laugh at your stupid jokes, Lee?"

Zuko growled under his breath, making sure to keep control of his temper and not to frighten Jin. "That's not what I meant. I know I'm not a good joke teller."

"Tell me one."

"One what," Zuko asked.

Jin grinned widely. "Well, a joke of course Lee."

"But I said I wasn't any good at them. Why would you want me to tell you a joke that I know I'm already going to mess up Jin?"

"Perhaps you've gotten better with time, Lee. Uncle Mushi would have everyone laughing until the tea would just shoot out of our noses," Jin recalled, chuckling the whole time.

Zuko found the light-hearted mood refreshing. "Okay, maybe one small one," he agreed to. "Now don't laugh if you think its bad or just dumb Jin. You don't have to spare my feelings."

She put on her most gracious face. "Okay, I won't. Shoot!"

Zuko took in a deep breath. "Uh, why did the… oh, no not that one," he mumbled trying to recall a better joke. "Ah, I have it. What did the tea leaf, I mean, the slow teapot, say to the teacup?"

Jin shrugged her shoulders with a grin. "I don't know, Lee?"

At that moment he smiled, starting to feel a bit more confident. "Steep it up, get it?"

To his chagrin, there was absolute silence. Jin looked to be in deep thought.

"Lee, wouldn't the teacup be telling the 'slow' teapot that?"

Zuko's bottom lip now jutted out in a pout. "I told you I wasn't any good at this!"

Jin couldn't hold back her laughter and almost fell out of her chair.