That's right! It's an update and it hasn't been two months! Whoo hoo! Slightly shorter than the last chapter but I think we get more into the reason I started this fic and it makes me very excited. Please read and enjoy ;)
"Lee," Jin spoke her boyfriend's name hesitantly and paused before saying in a rush, "Don't you think you're over reacting? Business has picked up since Mei Lin started selling in your Uncle's shop."
It was a beautiful day outside and the two teens were seated at one of the many fountains in the city. People milled around talking and laughing all intent and enjoying the day. Everyone but Zuko it seemed. Zuko forced a glare back and sighed before responding grudgingly, " I guess you're right about that."
A pleased smile crossed Jin's face and Zuko felt happy. Not that he'd ever admit it out loud but being with her made being exiled a lot easier. Jin's smile widened and she said, "Of course I'm right...I usually am." She reached over and placed her hand over Zuko's giving it a light squeeze.
Zuko turned his hand so that he was holding hers and sighed inwardly. He wanted to kiss her but they were in too public of a place. He settled instead for stroking the inside of her wrist lazily with his thumb and smiling back at her. Jin was right. The tea shop was prospering and it was in part due to the wealthy clients who came in to buy her pottery. Zuko was just worried about his Uncle. Iroh had always been levelheaded, the one you could turn to for advice and wisdom. Sometimes the wisdom was over powering but in the end it had always done Zuko well to heed the advice. But now...He sighed again. His Uncle was clearly infatuated with this woman and Zuko knew that nothing good would come of this.
Jin, who had begun chatting about something else realized that Zuko was no longer paying attention to her and frowned. She gave his hand a sharp tug and said, "Lee! Are you still thinking about your Uncle and Mei Lin?" Before he could respond Jin's mouth opened in a perfect 'o' and she continued, "Don't tell me you're...jealous."
"J-Jealous!" Zuko sputtered the word out and dropped Jin's hand in surprise. "Why on earth would I be jealous?"
The young girl forced back a smile and responded easily, "Well it's just been you and your Uncle for so long maybe you feel threatened by Mei Lin suddenly taking up so much of his time."
Face flushed Zuko shook his head in denial. "That's the silliest thing I ever heard Jin...No offense."
A serene smile, much like the one his uncle sported at times, crossed Jin's face. "No offense taken, after all I'm not the one jealous of a poor old woman." She leaned over and kissed Zuko's cheek before standing up. "I'll see you later Lee." Jin flounced off leaving behind a very disgruntled looking Zuko.
"Ah Mei Lin, there you are." Iroh smiled when Mei Lin looked up from the box she was rummaging in with a flustered expression on her face. She stood quickly and wiped her hands on the apron she was wearing, a shy smile crossing her face. Mei said sheepishly, "I had some new ideas for a design on some tea pots I'm planning to make and I was just looking through my paints to see if I had the right colours."
Iroh brightened. He loved tea pots and it would be interesting to see what Mei thought of next. "New teapots? You shall have to tell me more. I just wanted to let you know that I would be closing up the shop now." Iroh paused and continued hesitantly. "Perhaps you can join me on a walk once I've finished. We can pass through the market place if you are need of more paints."
Instantly Mei's face shone with pleasure, chasing away any doubts that Iroh had. "Oh Mushi that would be wonderful. It's such a beautiful day out! I'll meet you outside the entrance in a few minutes." She gave him one last smile before crouching back down beside the box humming softly. Iroh turned and left, a satisfied smile on his face. There had been no reason for him to be worried about asking Mei such a simple request. They were friends...and friends partook in simple activities like walks.
Even as those words flitted through his mind Iroh knew that they were lies. A proverb he had heard once followed close behind, You can close your eyes to the things you do not want to see, but you cannot close your heart to the things you do not want to feel. Simply put he was attracted to Mei Lin. She was a lovely woman and the more he spent time with her the more he knew it wasn't enough. Whenever she disappeared to go to her home it was as though the world became bleaker. Iroh shook his head ruefully. He was acting like he was a young boy instead of a man well into his golden years.
Setting aside his thoughts the older man quickly went about closing up the shop. Once finished he walked outside and breathed in the fresh air. Iroh smiled. Zuko had left early to spend time with Jin. It was good that his nephew no longer had any excuse to be cooped up inside. Iroh hoped that this relationship would help Zuko realize that there was more to life than finding the Avatar. Any further thoughts on the subject dimmed when Mei Lin appeared at his elbow.
She had discarded the apron and had a small bag hooked around one wrist. Iroh offered Mei his arm and when she took it the two began their stroll.
Jin sighed dreamily as she stood by the window in her room. She hadn't wanted to leave Lee earlier but she had to get home to do some chores. Now that she was done she was in her room thinking about Lee. Jin smiled. She was, without a doubt, in love with him. Lee was handsome and unlike the other boys she knew, he was a gentleman. He was kind and although he could be rather gruff at times Jin knew Lee cared for her. She could see it in the way he held her hand or the way he listened to her when she needed to vent. Jin could feel it in the way he kissed her and held her just before they had to part...
"Jin!"
The young girl blinked. She had been so caught up in her thoughts that she was actually hearing Lee's voice now?
"Are you ignoring me...?"
It took a few moments for Jin to realize she wasn't daydreaming. Lee stood just under her window an unreadable expression on his usually scowling face. Delight filled her and Jin leaned out and replied, "I wasn't ignoring you...I just didn't realize you were actually here. What are you doing?"
Lee smiled, a small one but a smile none the less, and admitted, "I'm not really sure. I just found myself over here."
Jin giggled. "Well that makes me feel special...hold on, I'm coming down." Instead of turning around and going through the door she clamored up onto the window ledge and swung her leg over. Ignoring Lee's sudden outburst to not be crazy Jin began to climb down the wall. It was easy, she had done it hundreds of times before. Besides it wasn't as if it was 50 feet. Her room was on the second story of the apartment she and her family lived in.
Her feet had barely touched the ground when Lee's arms were around her pulling her away from the wall. Lee turned Jin towards him and scowled down at her.
"Are you nuts? You could have fallen and broken your neck!"
Jin responded by slipping her arms around Lee and hugging him. "Don't be silly, I've been doing that for years. It's faster than the door."
Lee hugged her back and grummbled, "Well next time use the door, you'll give me a heart attack." He looked up and said frowning, "If it's so easy for you to get down wouldn't it be easy for someone to just break in?"
"Lee, don't be so dramatic! This is Ba Sing Se!" Jin paused to smile teasingly up at him. " It's not like we're in the Fire Nation or anything. You know, where all the real crazy people live."
"Ahh...right." Lee chuckled weakly at her statement and turned away abruptly, just before Jin could catch the flash of guilt on his face. He finally turned back and leaned forward, dropping a gentle kiss on Jin's mouth.
"...I'll see you later Jin." Lee walked away quickly. Jin stared at his departing form in surprise, feeling a little hurt. Why did his simple farewell feel like a real goodbye?
To say Mei was happy would be a gross understatement. In the past week her life had changed dramatically; first for what seemed like the worst and quite suddenly for the better. When Mushi had first presented his idea of her selling her wares in his shop she had been skeptical. After all there was no guarentee it would work and she could end up back on the streets. But Mushi had been so ernest and Mei Lin had no desire to keep working at the zoo, especially after that run in with elephant mandril. So she had decided to trust Mushi's judegement and thankfully, almost a week and a half later, all was going well.
Mei closed her eyes and lifted her face up towards the sun, relishing in the warmth of the man beside her. Her hand was tucked neatly in Mushi's arm and the two of them were walking through one of the public gardens enjoying the what was left of the warm day. Mei opened her eyes just in time to see Mushi nod over to a near by bench half hidden in an alcove. "Shall we rest for a few moments before going on?"
"That would be lovely."
The two of them ambled over to the bench and settled down on it. Mei sighed in relief. It had been a nice walk but after being on her feet most of the day it was nice to be sitting and resting. She stole a glance at Mushi and blushed. He was staring down at her; a peculiar expression on his normally cheerful face. His own face flushed at being discovered and clearing his throat Mushi said, "The flowers here are beautiful but all of them pale in comparison to you."
"M-Mushi!" Mei nudged him with her elbow and looked away, a warm feeling rising up in her. "Sometimes you say the most outlandish things!"
A slow smile spread across Mushi's face as he said simply, "The truth can be outlandish at times."
The blush refused to leave Mei's face and she rolled her eyes. She shifted, turning her back to him intent on the flowers in front of her. If Mushi wasn't going to behave then Mei would just ignore him until he did so. Besides, not facing him she'd have a chance to calm her nerves. Mushi chuckled and said teasingly, "Is it so hard to accept a simple compliment? Perhaps I should shower you with some more so that you may get used to it. In fact I will begin right now!"
Mei turned to face him quickly, a look of horror on her face. "Oh Mushi, you wouldn't!"
Mushi's face became serious but his eyes twinkled as he leaned towards her slightly and gently captured her hands. "Your hands are as marvelous as earth. Firm as rocks when need be but as soft as the ground after a rain storm." He paused and lifted one of her hands up. Mei's breath hitched in her throat as Mushi gently kissed it and continued solemnly, "Thank goodness I have not had need to experience the first part of that statement."
"M-Mushi! I thought you were complimenting me, that sounded very much like an insult." Mei tried to tug her hands away from him and calm her heart that was beginning to pick up speed.
Mushi ignored her comment and released one of her hands. Mei thought he was finished but found herself mistaken when he lifted up his free hand; Mushi used it to brush some of Mei's hair back from her face. "Your hair Mei Lin...A woman's hair is her crowning glory. Never have I seen a crown more glorious." Mushi's fingers continued to stroke Mei's hair.
After a few moments Mushi's fingers trailed over to Mei's face causing what felt like currents of electricity to run beneath her skin. Feeling weak with a sudden barrage of emotions Mei gripped Mushi's hand tighter. She was glad to have done so when he touched the edge of her mouth. A shaky breath slid from her and Mushi murmured, "And your lips. Beautiful like a pair of rose petals begging to be kissed by the warmth of the sun."
Mei opened her mouth to respond to all these comments but Mushi stopped her. He took hold of her other hand once more and drew both of them up. He said earnestly, " 'The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries or the way she combs her hair.' No Mei Lin, what makes you truly beautiful is what's inside of you. You are the kindest, most loving woman I have met and it is an honor to be your friend."
Tears immediately filled Mei Lin's eyes. They spilled over as she whispered, "Oh Mushi..." Overcome by emotion Mei leaned forward against Mushi and allowed him to hold her.
It was dark by the time Iroh returned back to his home. After their brief interlude in the garden he and Mei Lin had continued with their stroll as though nothing had passed between them. Iroh reached up to idly stroke his beard. They could pretend that nothing happened but the truth of the matter was that something had happened. The two of them had crossed a line in their relationship and sooner or later they would have to come to terms with it. The older man sighed as he stood in the doorway. Hopefully it would be soon.
Iroh was making his way to his room when Zuko poked his head out from his own room. The young prince narrowed his eyes and said sternly, "Uncle! I'm not going to bother asking where you were but I would like to ask you to have more...discretion. Mrs. Hyan down the hall told me she saw you and Mei...cuddling out in the front."
"Discretion? Perhaps you should consider your own words before you decide to...embrace Jin the storage room. Such acts are not becoming of a young prince." Iroh smiled as Zuko's face turned bright red. The older man continued cheerfully, "It's getting late and we have a big day ahead of us. Good night Prince Zuko."
Iroh disappeared into his room and quietly shut his door, a smile on his face as he listened to Zuko slam his own door. It was good for his nephew to experience these emotions that went along with first love. Iroh was passed that now, having experienced first love with his first wife. But she was gone, had been for many many years. Thankfully though, it seemed as if the spirits were granting him a second chance. This time with Mei Lin. Iroh closed his eyes and prayed to the spirits that he wouldn't do anything foolish enough to ruin this second chance.
..and there's the end! I really hope you all enjoyed this chapter, I certainly had fun writing all the fluffiness going on between Iroh and Mei Lin. And no, they DID NOT KISS. Trust me, you'll know when it finally happens. Anyways, that's the end. Please leave a review! They help motivate me into making each chapter the best it can be.