Chapter 3: Guest Room
"Next please," droned the voice of the ticket keeper. Zuko trotted up to the booth and smiled hello to the lady on the other side, who merely scowled back at him. Ba Sing Se had never cared much about being welcoming.
"Passport and papers, please."
Inside his travel bag, his fingers grazed two sheets of paper. One was a hard sheet of red card, lined in gold and stamped with the seal of the Fire Nation royal family, a passport which had the power to take him straight to the Earth Queen's palace if he so chose. He had no desire to have another conversation with that woman in his lifetime though, so he didn't do that.
The other was also a passport, one that he had arranged to be made without anyone else knowing. The simple sheet detailed the identity of some common Fire Nation citizen, name and life generic enough to get him lost in a crowd. It was a fake, illegal and not the sort of thing an ex-leader of a country should have, but that was the price of anonymity. If he was found out, well, at least he'd get to test the limits of diplomatic immunity.
He could've flown Druk above the clouds and slinked down at nightfall, sure, but Zuko had wanted the nostalgia of sailing on a rundown ferry that should have been taken out of commission when he was 30.
His hand closed around one of the sheets and slipped it through to the keeper. A few glances and a smudged ink stamp later, the paper was returned to him.
"Welcome to Ba Sing Se, Mr. Lee," her voice droned.
Ba Sing Se was as aweing and appalling as ever. Zipping by on an earthbender powered train, the majesty of the city flashed by at dizzying speeds. The train car was at full capacity, its passengers here to experience the fabled city for themselves. Green gabled rooftops, fields of gold stitched all the way to the horizon, city streets pulsing with life in a way he'd never seen anywhere else. It made him catch his breath.
Yet, no matter the majesty, there were things that could not be ignored. The slums were dark and littered, almost the same as they'd been half a century ago, except now with pipes gushing steam and electric wires hanging tangled. Buildings stacked upon each other, the bases old and almost ready to collapse. The streets, which were crowded on the slow days, turned to a river of bodies during rush hours.
Kuei had wanted to raise the Lower Ring to something more than a slum, he remembered, though the enormity of the city was too much even for him. His daughter was never keen on continuing his work.
The once Firelord stood staring sadly through the window, when he felt a light tap on his shoulder. A young man offered him his seat, which Zuko took with thanks. Thankfully, some things in Ba Sing Se hadn't changed at all. The rest of the trip sped along a little easier.
He stepped off the train and into the Lower Ring. The last time he'd set foot in the heart of Ba Sing Se, Zuko had been a badly tempered refugee. And now, he ghosted his past self's footsteps, reveling in the majesty of the city that he had refused to acknowledge in his youth.
He quickly faded into the crowd. Nondescript brown robes cloaked him and a conical hat kept the sun out of his eyes - a little out of fashion but what could you expect for an old man. It was for the best that he had gone for the local look; the times had changed, but Ba Sing Se was still lacking in diversity. The sight of red or blue robes were far and in between.
Following the sounds of hustling and bustling, Zuko found himself walking through a simple market street. Merchants sat back behind wooden stalls, their wares spread out for potential customers to inspect. He was admiring a bouquet of orchids when he caught sight of a young girl, no older than twelve, staring at him.
"Quit staring," the man in the fruit stand behind her said. He tipped his hat towards Zuko. "Sorry, about that sir."
"Not a problem. What's caught your eye, little miss?"
She studied him curiously. "You remind me of someone."
"Really? Who?"
"One of those… one of this fire guys in the papers! Don't you think, daddy?"
"Maybe a little," the vendor admitted shyly.
"I see," he mused, "Perhaps because I am one of those 'fire guys'."
A small flame burst to life in his palm. The girl's eyes shone with its reflection, and her face lit up in a grin. He flared the flame even bigger, letting it streak with blue and white.
"That's so cool," she said.
Zuko laughed. The world really had changed after all this time. The last time he revealed that he was secretly a firebender to a crowd of Earth Kingdom citizens, he'd been run out of town.
"There's not a lot of firebenders around here," her father explained, "And she's always been curious."
The girl turned to Zuko with a sparkle in her eyes. "You're not from around here, are you? I would have known if there was a firebender here!"
"You're right. I'm just visiting," he explained, "I'm only here for a few days and I'd like to make the most of it. You seem to know these parts, miss. Perhaps you could give me a tour?"
Her face shot up in a grin.
Zuko continued, turning to the vendor, "If that's alright with you, of course."
His face was creased with a bit of worry, but he couldn't say no with his daughter's grin in his face. Zuko knew that feeling well. "Just don't be out too late, alright?
...
"I'm Akemi. What's your name?"
"You can call me Lee."
"That makes you the third Mr. Lee I know," she said, "Follow me, I know exactly where we should go first!"
She ran off ahead, slipping through the crowd with the surefootedness of an fox-antelope. Zuko dawdled slowly behind, more like a lumbering komodo-rhino if anything. Between the masses of people, Zuko basked in the simplicity of Ba Sing Se's Lower Ring. It had changed much in the years he'd been away, but tones of the old days sang from beneath the cobbled stone and shining metal. Paper lanterns and wooden wind-chimes hung from the rooftops. Bards sat on the side of the street, singing songs for a pretty penny. A dirt path peeked out from between the cracks in the concrete. He could imagine walking through this same path 60 years ago.
When he finally caught sight of Akemi, she was bouncing on her heels waiting for him, the street behind her widening into a small plaza. Zuko caught his breath. A fountain trickled quietly in front of him, turtleducks floundering in the water and stirring around floating candles. Torch poles were set in a loose ring around the glistening water.
"This is the Firelight Fountain. It's prettier at night, but dad won't let me stay out that late," the girl said as he stared.
The citizens of Ba Sing Se must have been fond of the fountain, because it was well kept and cleaned, despite being older than Zuko himself. The fountain was exactly as he remembered it. It was as if time had stood still there.
Akemi tugged on his sleeve, calling him closer so she could whisper in his ear, "My parents met at this fountain."
"It's a beautiful place to meet," Zuko grinned. "Can I tell you a secret, too?"
She nodded eagerly.
"I had my first kiss at this fountain," he whispered in her ear.
She gasped. "Did you get married, too?"
"With the girl I kissed? No, I didn't marry her."
She frowned and crossed her arms, "Well, that's just rude."
"What, do I have to marry whoever I kiss?"
"Yes. It's the law."
"I've never heard of that law. And I've heard a lot of laws before," Zuko said, but she still was not convinced. "Well, she kissed me. I don't have to marry her then."
She humphed, but smiled nonetheless. She pulled on his sleeve again, bringing him to stand at the fountain's edge.
"I like to feed the turtleducks," she said, fishing out a stale piece of bread that she'd been keeping in her pocket.
"Really? So do I."
They scattered breadcrumbs, watching the ducklings dip their little yellow heads in the water until only their shells were visible. They floated by so close that Zuko could've caught one in his gnarled hands.
"Where to next?" he asked when the last of the bread disappeared down the turtleducks' throats.
She pondered the question, sinking her hands into the fountain. "There's so many places in Ba Sing Se. We could go to the music street by my house, or the badgermole caves, or maybe we can visit the zoo, or Little Fire Nation - I guess you've already seen the real thing, though."
"The zoo right outside the Lower Ring?" he asked, and Akemi nodded. "I've never been there. One of my friend's told me about that one. In fact, he helped make." Zuko chuckled. "At least, that's what he said. From what he told me, it sounded more like a happy accident."
"Then let's go. We have to hurry if we want to make it back in time!"
And off she skipped again, though this time only in short bursts, apparently realizing that Zuko could only walk at the speed of waddling turtle-seal. She navigated back alleys and main roads with a confidence Zuko wouldn't have had in his own capital city. They were at the gilded gates of the zoo and paying for entrance before he could even name a street.
With its pens of stone jutting out of the earth, Ba Sing Se Zoo stood out against miles of flat fields that stretched out around it. It had grown over the years, now housing over two dozen species in the best conditions you'll see in the world - or at least, that was what the noticeboard said.
They spotted a family of tigerdillos, half a dozen rabaroos and even a komodo-rhino that Zuko could confirm, lumbered much like him. Zuko didn't care much for the animals, but was glad just to watch Akemi enjoy herself. Soft wind and warm sun made being outside and out of the city enjoyable enough as well.
Akemi was leaning dangerously far over the railing of the hog monkeys pen when she gasped, "It's almost time! Hurry Mr. Lee, we have to catch it!"
She grasped his hand and all but dragged him out the zoo and tumbling into the city. Something must have been happening up ahead because the sea of people only got thicker, people craning their necks to see and propping up their children on their shoulders so they could get a better view. It was a good thing Akemi held his hand; Zuko would've been swept away after two steps without her. Instead of wading through the crowd, they glided through a narrow alley and up a flight of rickety stairs before they reached a lamp-lit balcony. They overlooked a plaza, where, in the centre of a sea of people, was a simple wooden stage where actors danced in choreographed chaos, a whirl of gaudy costumes and whimsical story. He listened to what he could over the noise below. It was a play he'd never heard of before, a story of queens and armies and spirits of the wind.
They'd shown up late to the show, but Zuko watched enraptured. Plays were a thing he indulged in less and less over the years. Once his mother had passed away, there was no one left to drag him out to one. And if he were being honest, he had avoided them for years, knowing he would miss her too much to bear. He's not sure he could name half a dozen plays he'd went to in the last 20 years.
Akemi pointed to an actress on the stage, a woman with a stern face, jewels in her hair, and dressed in tawny armor.
"That's my mom. She acts in the plays," she whispered.
He smiled, watching how the girl's eyes glowed as much as they did when she'd gazed at Zuko's fire. He whispered, "My mother loved to act in plays, too."
…
It was well past midday when the actors made their final bows.
As they walked down the staircase, Zuko said, "Thank you for everything today, Akemi. Join me for a cup of tea before you go home? My treat."
She stuck out her tongue, "I don't like tea."
"Then I'll buy you some of those little cakes. Anything you want."
Her eyes sparkled at that. "Alright. Where to?"
Zuko only knew one place of course, though it was a little far. Thankfully, they still had daylight, and after a short ride on the metro, the two were walking through the mahogany doors of the Jasmine Dragon.
The man behind the counter noticed him instantly. "L-Lord Zu-"
Zuko dashed forward and clasped a firm hand on the man's shoulder, half as a hello, half as a way to say you better stop right there. "Seunggi, it's been quite a while since I last saw you. You remember me, Mr. Lee, right?
Dark eyes stared at him, as if the man was trying to get Zuko's image in focus. "...Of course."
"Good. A table for two please."
Seunggi was settled enough to keep up his professionalism. "Orders?"
"A jasmine, please. And whatever the lady would like."
"Do you have mooncakes?" Akemi asked, peeking over the counter.
"We do. The best in the city."
"I want a mooncake. Two mooncakes. Please."
The store steward nodded and showed them to their table. Akemi kept herself busy with the complementary brew tastings the shop offered. She didn't like any of them, but she couldn't resist free samples.
When their order arrived, she settled back down at her seat. She wolfed down a mooncake before she started talking again. "This is a nice place Mr. Lee. How'd you hear about it?"
Zuko blew steam from his tea. "A long, long time ago, I used to work here."
"What were you doing in Ba Sing Se so long ago?" she asked.
Zuko laughed, remembering the circumstances that had brought him to the city. It might as well have been from another life with how long ago it felt.
"You end up in a lot of places when you're young and confused."
Curiosity shone in her eyes. So he reveled her in stories from long ago, tales of dragons and stormy seas and long journeys on ostrich-horseback. As best as he could without the names, for simplicity's sake. Maybe one day she'd be able to put a name to a face, but for now, he was just an old man with a some exciting stories to tell.
When they're done, they head for the counter again.
"Here you are, Seunggi." Zuko said, a small burlap pouch falling on the counter with a muted thud.
The man peeked inside and his eyes widened. "Lord- I mean, Mr. Lee, your bill was only a few coppers!"
"Pay it forward. Also, get me a dozen mooncakes to go."
The steward shook his head, appalled, but stepped to the back to get Zuko's order.
"I'll be back soon," he told Seunggi when the basket of mooncakes was in his hands. "Get another cup of jasmine ready for me."
Orange and pink washed they sky as he and Akemi rode the train back to her home. Before she stepped out to the Lower Ring again, Zuko passed the basket into her hands.
"This is for your family. Tell them thank you, and tell your mother the play was wonderful."
She took the basket in her hands and grinned, walking out with a spring in her step. A coarse beep rung through the station, signalling the doors were about to close.
"Thank you, Mr. Lee," Akemi said, and brought her hands together in an Earth Kingdom bow. "Visit again soon, okay?"
"I wouldn't miss it," he told her, and then the doors of the train car are closing, and he's speeding down the line once more.
With an infinitely refilled cup of jasmine in his hand, Zuko sat in the corner of the teashop, watching patrons flow in and out as the sky turned black outside. Slowly, the last visitors paid their tabs and the final employees said goodbye for the night, until it was just him and Seunggi, standing at the doors of the Jasmine Dragon. Seunggi, hair graying and brown eyes tired, locked the doors for the night with a worn smile.
"I didn't know you were in the city yet. Your letter was pretty… vague," the man said as they began their walk to his apartment.
"I wasn't too sure when I was going to show up. Every day has been going whichever way the wind blows, and I didn't want to keep you waiting."
"You should've given me more time to get ready. We haven't made anything special for your visit," the younger man said with a timid smile.
"None of that nonsense. I don't want you to go to any trouble for me, other than giving me the guest room key."
"I guess I can do that," he joked. "How have you been? I can't imagine that the last week hasn't taken a toll on you."
"I'm doing fine. I throw my back out sometimes but that's a normal thing," Zuko chuckled. "How's your mother?"
"Healthy. Not fit enough to be trekking across the Earth Kingdom, but still healthy."
"That's good to hear."
They came to the front of a white brick house with a green tiled roof, still well kept for its age. It was the apartment Zuko and his uncle had stayed at in those short weeks when they were hiding as refugees in Ba Sing Se.
After Iroh had died, he gave the teashop and his apartment over to Mei, a young woman from the Lower Ring that had worked for him. He'd called her the 'tea-loving child I never had', much to Zuko's, very petty, annoyance. It wasn't Zuko fault that he never got a taste for tea until his mid-40's. Or was it mid-30's? Either way, tea was always just something he tolerated, until age took hold and the drink's restorative properties became vital in everyday life. He never could say no to a cup of jasmine after that.
Mei had been an apprentice and a friend at the Jasmine Dragon. She had gifted uncle a white dragon bush, which became one of his most prized possessions. They'd tended to the delicate plant together, and now the plant wound across the arbors in front of the house, white petals folded up as if asleep. When Mei grew old, she passed the teashop's care to her son, Seunggi, who cared for it as tenderly as his mother and Iroh had tended to the dragon bush.
The mahogany doors swung open to a quiet night. The dark house and the soft snoring coming from across the hall told them that Mei had already gone to sleep.
Seunggi pointed to a closed door at the end of the hall, and said in a hushed voice, "The door's unlocked. I think it's too late for dinner, but there's food in the kitchen if you want something to eat. Call me if you need anything."
"Thank you, Seunggi. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
They split towards their separate halls, bare feet treading softly on the hardwood floor. A rusted hinge groaned as he opened the door to the guest room. Zuko's heart stuttered at the doorway. He'd thought he'd given it enough time, but the room still echoed the memory of its once owner.
Iroh had passed down his house as well as his teashop after he'd died. There had only been three people living in the house after that - Mei, her husband, and Seunggi - so Iroh's room was converted into housing for guests. Well, converted as in cleaned up and left alone, as most of the room was untouched from the time Iroh had resided there. Old photos and paintings hung on the walls, the same as it'd always been. An old ruby-eyed statuette of a monkey sat on the dresser, overdo for a polish. Old clothes were folded at the bottom of the closet. The mattress had been covered with a white tarp to save it from dust, but other than that, it looked like his uncle could still be living there.
The door groaned again as it closed.
He made himself busy, first setting his meager bag of supplies on the vanity. He sat before the mirror, searching for a few things to wash up with before bed. Before Zuko could escape the room though, he caught sight of something - a picture frame on the side of the vanity. A sheen of dust spoke its age, if the contents itself weren't enough - himself, dark-haired and posture straight, standing next to Iroh, face weathered though smile still bright, as they posed for a picture together. Their last picture together.
And Zuko couldn't help the tears welling in his eyes. Zuko had thought he'd grown old enough for it to stop hurting, but it seemed that age had no effect. Gazing around his Uncle's old room still pained him. The only difference was that he was old enough to admit it. There was no fear or worry to Zuko's pain - he was too old to still fear whether or not his uncle would approve of the paths he'd taken, and too old to still worry whether he should've done more while his uncle still lived.
He just missed him. And it seemed that no stretch of time could ever change that.
Zuko turned back to the mirrored vanity. White haired and stiff jointed, he was older than his uncle was when they'd left to sail the world, searching for the Avatar. He was older than his uncle had been when he'd passed.
What had Zuko done in that time? He didn't feel nearly as wise, or as balanced, or as fearless as his uncle. By all accounts, Zuko still felt like he was tripping his way forward at times.
Uncle had always seemed to know the way forward - at least, that was always how his younger mind had seen it. Perhaps that wasn't always the case. After all, a great majority of people would would look at Zuko today and say he was on an extensively planned journey of momentous mental and spiritual importance, where in reality, it was a spur-of-the-moment escapade with him crying out at fate to take the reins.
Perhaps it was the same for his uncle. Perhaps joining Zuko on his cursed search had been a cry out to fate as well.
Zuko breathed a sigh that rang through his bones. Body and mind ached for respite after a full day's travel. He pulled the tarp off the bed with little ceremony and lowered himself onto the mattress.
He tossed in the dark for a moment, stealing glances at momentos scattered through the room. Though he had long passed being haunted by the question, he wondered what his uncle thought of him now. He wondered if he'd be happy to see Zuko exploring the city he'd always loved. Zuko had enjoyed it, at the very least. He slept easy, with that thought in mind.
In the morning, he found a green apron in the closet and walked out to the living room, where Mei squinted at him from her rocking chair.
Her smile was still bright as ever. "You look so much like him, I thought it was Iroh walking out of the room just then."
She wrapped him in an embrace in welcome, and Zuko told her that was the greatest compliment she could have ever given him.
