Burning Bright
Part VII
Iroh woke up the next morning and noticed that Zuko had left his futon, which was sprawled out in the living room. He looked over to his nephew's room and saw that it was closed. He decided that perhaps Zuko had awoken in the middle of the night and that he decided to return to his own room for sleep. He felt slightly cheerful at the thought that his nephew might be feeling better. Although he did not admit it to anyone, the fever frightened him greatly. He went about his usual business and he started preparing their breakfast. He started pouring ladles of hot water onto the pot before stirring some rice in. Sadly, he did not get the creamy, white porridge he hoped to get. Instead, his porridge became lumpy and thick and it tasted too bland. Iroh sighed in annoyance as he tried to fix the rice porridge. He was so immersed with what he was doing that he did not notice Zuko groggily entering into their kitchen.
"What's that smell?" Zuko demanded has he scrunched his nose up.
Iroh smiled as he turned to look at his nephew. Zuko looked better. His cheeks weren't as pale as they were before and he seemed to be in a better mood.
Knowing his nephew's picky taste, Iroh doubtfully said, "It's jook. I'm sure you wouldn't like it."
Zuko bowed over the steaming pot and discovered that jook was actually a weird and thick white paste. It did smell awful and it looked disgusting but Zuko did not want to hurt his uncle's feelings. And besides, having a horrible breakfast was such a little thing to get riled up over.
Zuko looked up and smiled pleasantly at his uncle. "Actually, it smells delicious. I'd love a bowl, Uncle."
He held a bowl out. Iroh looked at Zuko suspiciously. On a normal day, his nephew would have already lost his patience and he would have had the whole pot set on fire. Iroh reluctantly ladled some jook into his bowl.
As Zuko took a spoonful a loud knock echoed through the room. Iroh hurried to the door and opened it where Jin stood cheerfully waiting outside. She was carrying a package that was neatly wrapped in brown paper and tied tastefully with a simple but elegant ribbon.
"Jin! What a pleasant surprise! My, you look lovely!" Iroh commented as he opened the door wider.
Zuko heard peals of laughter and Jin's voice saying, "Stop! You never seem to run out of compliments!"
Jin stepped inside and Zuko nearly choked on his breakfast.
She was wearing something entirely different then her usual ratty, everyday dress and her earthbending garb. Instead, she wore a beautiful silk dress that was intricately embroidered with Jasmine flowers. It was more fitted than regular Earth Kingdom dress and it accentuated her slim figure. Her hair was tied up in a neat bun although she still refused to tuck her side bangs in and it was garnished with a pure, white flower. Zuko decided that she must be going somewhere special. She wasn't wearing any make-up however, but that suited Zuko just fine. She looked very beautiful without make-up.
"Jin!" Zuko said as he enthusiastically waved at her.
Jin furrowed her brow in confusion before melting into a big smile. She said, "Hi, Li! You look better!"
"I feel better! What's with this? You look so beautiful!" Zuko laughed as he gestured at her fancy attire. Iroh smirked before nudging Zuko in his ribs. Zuko sent his uncle a murderous glare.
Jin blushed and twirled around before giving a little bow.
"Do you like it? It's for the opening of the Jasmine Dragon!" Jin cheerfully said as she waved a small, emerald-green paper in front of him. Zuko grabbed it and looked at it closely. It was an invitation, as well as a pass to the Upper Ring.
"The opening…" Zuko trailed off. The opening wasn't supposed to happen until three weeks had past.
"You were out for a very long time. You must have been very sick," Jin murmured as she took the invitation back from him. Zuko looked at her and saw that aside from the flower, a headpiece held her bun in place. It looked slightly old but it was very imposing. Zuko stared at it curiously.
"It is a good thing you feel better, just in time for the opening!" Iroh said as he clapped a hand unto Zuko's shoulder. He then turned to look at Jin, "You look very beautiful! Are your brothers and the rest still coming?"
"The rest?" Zuko said bewildered. He must've been out for a very long time to miss things like these.
"Your uncle also invited my brothers and Duan Jie and Shu! He even invited Pao!" Jin explained.
Zuko stared at his uncle in disbelief. "Pao? Pao! Pao!"
"Pao was the jumping stone to my career," Iroh good-naturedly said.
Jin shrugged and said, "He wasn't too happy when I gave him the invitation but I suppose that he'll still come considering your uncle had just given him a free pass to the Upper Ring!"
"That is a very nice dress. I hope that you didn't spend too much on it for an occasion as little as this," Iroh worriedly said. Zuko had to agree with his uncle. Jin's dress looked extremely expensive. It was made out of silk and the embroidery was much too exquisite for something that was cheap.
"No, I didn't buy this! I've actually had this in my closet for a very long time! Usually I just save it for very special occasions," Jin explained.
"I hope I have something to wear," Zuko said. Jin looked extremely lavish and important. In fact, she looked like royalty. He didn't want to look like a peasant next to her.
"Do not worry nephew. While you were sick, Jin's brother, He Shen, offered to help me pick out your clothes," Iroh said.
Zuko shuddered. He Shen was weird and he had unusual tastes in everything. He was curious and horrified at the same time to find out what his tastes in clothes might be. Jin, noticing the look on his face quickly re-assured him, "Don't worry. He Shen didn't choose anything too stupid for you."
Iroh invited Jin to sit down and he invited her to join them for breakfast. Jin declined saying that she already ate. She explained that her brothers and the rest of the others would arrive in the teashop when the shop is about to open. She just came in a little earlier than the rest of them.
"What's that?" Zuko asked. He pointed at the package that sat on her lap.
"Oh! This?" she laughed jovially before saying, "I almost forgot! I got this for you! It's a gift for the opening of your teashop!"
She handed the package to Iroh. Iroh beamed at her and bowed his head, "You are much too kind!"
"Not at all! You've been so nice to me and my brothers! It's the least I can do!" Jin said.
His uncle started unwrapping the package. Zuko looked over his uncle's shoulder. He was just as curious to see what Jin had given him. Iroh let out a long breath after seeing what was in the package.
In it were piles and piles of Pai Sho tiles. They all gleamed with sheen. Zuko took one and examined it. It was made of porcelain and the different flowers were painted on the tile with such detail that it made Zuko gasp in awe.
Iroh happily hugged Jin.
"I'm glad that you like it Mushi. I know how much you love Pai Sho," Jin said as she patted Iroh in the back.
"In all my years, I have never met a young lady who is kind as well as beautiful," Iroh said as he sat back. He began to examine each Pai Sho tile carefully.
"Where did you get them?" Zuko asked.
"Master Gong of the Potter's Place here in the Upper Ring made them as a favor to me. His wife really loves my flowers," Jin smiled.
Zuko tried to pick a tile up but Iroh slapped his hand away. He pouted at his uncle.
"Be careful, nephew! Each tile is very delicate! Your hands are much too heavy!" Iroh said as he started to arrange them in a box.
"Li must be a very interesting bender with his heavy hands and all…." Jin snickered.
Zuko and Iroh froze in their places before turning to look at each other in eye, their gaze filled with fear. They looked at each other questioningly before turning slowly to look at Jin with a shocked look in their eyes. Jin stared at them with a confused and incredulous expression. Did that mean that Jin knew that they were Firebenders?
"What are you talking about? I'm not a bender…." Zuko babbled nervously.
Jin gave him a shocked look before quickly smoothing out her expression.
"Oh….of course! I knew that! I meant that Li must have been an interesting swordsman. Sometimes I forget that I'm not talking to my brothers and—well I didn't mean it—I meant….I must have forgotten," Jin said. Zuko stared at her suspiciously but was relieved to find that she was smiling again. Zuko sighed in relief. She must've made a simple and honest mistake. That certainly didn't mean that she was on to them or anything. People do that sometimes. It was no big deal.
They continued to talk for awhile. Zuko noticed that Jin kept looking at him with a weird look on her face. Whenever he laughed or shared a joke, she would stiffen and look at him with a confused expression on her face.
"Are you okay?" Jin suddenly said.
"What?" Zuko said.
"Now that your fever is gone, you seem different somehow…." Jin said as she suspiciously eyed him.
Zuko beamed at her and he optimistically declared, "It's a new day. We've got a new apartment, new furniture, and today's the grand opening of my uncle's new tea shop. Things are looking up Jin."
Jin frowned. She didn't look ready to let this go.
"But you're smiling," Jin said.
"So?" Zuko said.
"You never smile."
"Weren't you the one who told me that it doesn't matter where you live or what your job is as long as you're happy?"
"Weren't you the one who told me that you want more out of your life than a job serving tea and having a nice apartment?"
"I don't know why you are being so suspicious. I'm smiling because I'm happy."
"But you're never happy," Jin said. Her brow furrowed deeper.
Zuko looked slightly annoyed but he continued to beam at her. He edged towards her and draped an arm around her shoulder.
"I have every reason to be happy. I have a new apartment, we're about to have the grand opening and…..I'm sitting here with you," Zuko said as he looked at Jin with the most peaceful smile she had ever seen him in.
Jin blushed and she looked away to hide her face. Iroh stared at the two of them happily. His nephew was right. Things were looking up. Zuko seemed to have a new outlook in life. Iroh wasn't too sure what had occurred during the time where he was in such a feverish state but he decided that perhaps that was exactly what Zuko needed. He smiled proudly at his nephew.
In an effort to hide her reddening face, Jin retorted, "You know the fever damaged your brain a lot more than I first thought."
Instead of snapping some rude comment like Jin expected him to, Zuko merely laughed.
"I'm just embracing life," Zuko happily said. He cleaned the last of his jook off his bowl before standing up, "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll start changing. Uncle, where did you put my new clothes?"
"It's in my room, on top of my tea table," his uncle answered.
"I'll be back shortly. You should start changing too uncle. You wouldn't want to be late for your own opening," Zuko cheerfully said as he started making his way to his uncle's room.
"Of course, nephew," Iroh nodded. He excused himself from Jin and made his way to his room. He looked back to study Jin's expression and was amused to find that Jin still looked extremely suspicious and even slightly confused. He shook his head and entered his room. Zuko had already taken his clothes.
He pulled his yellow tunic out and the green robes he would wear for today. He had never been so happy. His nephew was finally seeing things his way. He was finally embracing life and from the looks of it, he was warming up to the idea of settling down and living a life of peace and prosperity. Iroh chuckled. That was not his true destiny however. It would only be a matter of time before Zuko would realize what his true destiny was and by then his mind wouldn't be as clouded with thoughts of his father's love or his blind loyalty to their nation.
Iroh stepped out of his room as he tied the black belt around his waist. Today was a new day.
"This is so ridiculous. Why does everyone in here wear layers and layers of clothing?" Zuko scowled. Jin was fixing his collar. As it turned out, He Shen's taste in clothing wasn't too outrageous like he expected—he chose a simple but tasteful set of robes for Zuko. Zuko was actually impressed with He Shen's choice of clothing although he found the layers too annoying.
"Everyone wears layers and layers of clothing in the Earth Kingdom, genius," Jin snickered. Zuko suddenly stiffened out of nervousness.
"Um…yeah. I knew that. Of course, I would know that. Why wouldn't I? I've lived in the Earth Kingdom my whole life," he babbled nervously as Jin successfully finished fixing his collar. Iroh shook his head. Zuko was a bad liar. Iroh was just glad that Jin didn't seem to be an overly suspicious person.
She stepped back and examined him with a critical eye.
"Well…..what do you think?" Zuko spread his arms apart.
Jin smiled and said, "You look very handsome."
Zuko beamed at her. Iroh stared at his nephew happily.
"You two make a lovely couple," Iroh piped up from his place.
"Uncle!" Zuko hissed but Iroh ignored him. He picked his hat up and placed it over the balding spot of his head.
"And how about me? How do I look?" Iroh said.
Jin laughed and said, "You look very cute."
"Cute?" Iroh wrinkled his nose.
"I'm just kidding Mushi. You are very handsome," Jin said as they made their way downstairs. They stepped outside of the apartment complex and started making their way to the teashop.
Throughout their whole trip to the teashop, Iroh talked non-stop about The Jasmine Dragon. He kept on babbling happily about the news blends he planned to create and the function rooms he planned to build once their teashop was established. Zuko felt happy for his uncle. Although he didn't really want this, he was glad to see his uncle in such a jovial state.
"He's so happy," Jin breathed as she watched Iroh talk about his new teashop happily, his hands making wild gestures as he spoke.
Zuko smiled from beside her. In a proud voice he said, "He's living out his dream."
"Are you happy?" Jin asked him.
"I'm very happy for my uncle," Zuko replied.
"No. I meant are you happy with yourself. Right now?"
"Why are you asking?"
"I don't know….it's just that….I thought you had run off."
"Hm?"
"I mean….I knew that you were planning something and you did say that you didn't want to be stuck here—''
"I never said that," Zuko frowned.
"You did."
"I don't remember."
"The point is I thought that you would have been long gone. That's why I went to your apartment the day you became sick. I was worried that you left your uncle all alone."
"But I didn't," Zuko said.
"No, you didn't….and I'm glad that I was wrong. I would have been very sad if you left," Jin smiled.
"I'm very glad that you have very shoddy deductions. I would be very sad if I had run off too," Zuko said as he looked at her. He had a weird smile plastered on his face.
"Shoddy deductions? I see that even though you are 'embracing life'—'' Jin made quotation marks in the air. "—you are still rude."
Zuko scowled loudly.
Jin laughed and said, "Don't worry! I'm more used to the crankier Li! But I think I kind of like this version of you."
They continued to walk in silence for awhile, listening only to the sound of Iroh's excited babble. Zuko suddenly spoke.
"You are right. I was planning something. I was going to leave Ba Sing Se forever…..." Zuko trailed off. Jin looked at him worriedly.
"But?" Jin prompted, prodding him to continue.
Zuko suddenly broke out into a happy smile. He looked at Jin with an expression she could not understand and he said in a mysterious tone, "But something stopped me."
More and more of Iroh's invited guests started trickling in at noontime. He Shen was the first to arrive. Zuko had to admit that he looked very handsome; he was wearing a set of neat but elegant robes made out of pure silk. His usually unruly hair was tied neatly in a topknot and held by a headpiece that was oddly similar to Jin's although some tendrils escaped. He proceeded to enthusiastically greet Iroh and shake his hand before singing a song about his new teashop.
"This place is so cool, man!" He Shen said as Jin and him chose a table near the window.
"The kindest thing a man can receive is the support of his friends," Iroh said as he bowed humbly.
He Shen as it turned out bought Iroh a gift. He gave his uncle a very antique instrument called the Pipa. Zuko felt very irritated by Iroh and He Shen's loud voices as they sang another song together.
Jin's oldest brother came moments later. He looked very stiff and formal as usual; his hair was kept in a neat topknot held by a headpiece that looked similar to Jin and He Shen's, his clothes were also made of silk and they looked fancier than He Shen and Zuko's robes put together. He looked at everyone with a cool and condescending eye. He gave a low bow to Iroh before politely expressing his congratulations.
"Congratulations sir. Your teashop is truly admirable and worthy of your stature," Ge Jiang coolly said as he gave a low a bow.
He procured a porcelain teapot set saying that it was his gift to Iroh before taking his seat next to He Shen in the table.
Duan Jie arrived just as everyone started drinking their tea. He was very enthusiastic and hyperactive. He kept going round and round the shop, spouting compliments and congratulations as he examined every inch and corner of the teashop. His hair was still fashioned in the same weird way although he took the time to dress himself properly. His clothes however were made of cotton instead of silk. Nevertheless Zuko thought that he looked respectable enough to be in the Upper Ring.
"My congratulations, Mushi! This teashop is stupendous!" Duan Jie said as he vigorously shook Iroh's hand. He also bought a gift for Iroh which was a decorative sword for him to hang in his shop. Duan Jie took a long time in explaining every excruciating detail as to how he came to forge this. He sat with Jin and her brothers where he and He Shen immediately struck a conversation.
"I say, do you two want a job at the forge. I'll pay! Both of you have such a set of muscles….," Duan Jie exclaimed as he patted Ge Jiang's bicep.
Zuko didn't hear, but he was sure that Ge Jiang gave a polite reply.
Shu arrived next. He looked demure and calm, his hair pleated into a neat braid and he was wearing a good set of cotton clothes. He wore a cap similar to Iroh's and his shoes gleamed with sheen. He gave his congratulations to Iroh before giving his gift which was a scroll about tea. Zuko rolled his eyes at his uncle's delight in tea.Ugh. He was very sure that by then of the week he would drown in tea.
Shu sat next to Duan Jie where he and Ge Jiang immediately struck a conversation about books.
Everything was going extremely well after that. Pao had not yet arrived but that suited Zuko just fine. He hated that cranky, old, whiner-baby. His uncle treated them all to free tea. Everyone in Jin's table cheered. Duan Jie wanted a cup of his uncle's weird new blend, Ge Jiang wanted some black tea, He Shen some Jasmine and Shu ordered for a cup of green tea.
Finally, Zuko turned to look at Jin.
"How about you?" he asked. He readied the order slip.
"Surprise me," Jin smiled.
Zuko smiled back at her.
"What if I give you something horrible?"
"My stomach can take anything," Jin shrugged playfully. Zuko gave her a smirk.
"Then my uncle's new Dung tea would be perfect for you," Zuko teasingly said. Jin wrinkled her nose but she was laughing.
He looked around and saw that more people, aside from those that they invited, started trickling in. He looked at Jin's table and realized that they were very crowded in there. Jin had to tuck her elbows in so that He Shen and Duan Jie could fit. He was about to suggest that they move to a bigger table but saw that more and more people were arriving and they looked content enough. Zuko shrugged and decided to leave them to their own devices.
"Who would have thought when we came to this city as refugees that I'd end up owning my own tea shop? Follow your passion Zuko, and life will reward you," Iroh said as he clasped a hand on Zuko's shoulder. Iroh noticed that Zuko was mysteriously looking at Jin's direction.
"Congratulations Uncle!" Zuko cheerfully said. He had never been so happy over someone else's joy.
"I'm very thankful," Iroh said as he smiled at his nephew.
"You deserve it. The Jasmine Dragon will be the best tea shop in the city," Zuko confidently said.
"No, I am thankful because so many people have come to show their support," Iroh said as he looked at Jin's table. Everyone waved at him. Iroh waved back.
"But most of all, I'm thankful because you decided to share this special day with me," Iroh said as he put a hand over Zuko's arm. "It means more than you know."
Zuko smiled happily at his uncle and to Iroh's surprise, Zuko bent down and gave his uncle a warm hug. Jin smiled as she looked at the two of them from the table. She had never seen Li in such a happy state. It seemed as if he was really embracing life. Jin sighed. She didn't know what this was but she had a very weird feeling in the pit of her stomach. She shrugged it off. Why was she being so suspicious? Li was just like every refugee in the city. A man with a second chance at life. And he and his uncle had already done it.
"Now let's make these people some tea!" Zuko enthusiastically said.
Remembering Zuko's awful tea-making skills Iroh quickly said, "Er….perhaps you are better suited to attend to our customers."
Zuko's face momentarily fell before rising back up into an unperturbed smile. Suddenly the doorbell rang and a small but pompous looking man entered the shop. Zuko wrinkled his nose in distaste. It was Pao. Iroh looked at Pao worriedly at first, concerned that he might lash out. Pao however merely stepped forward and awkwardly held his hand out.
"Congratulations, Mushi. I'm very happy for you." The words came out stiff and forced but Iroh good-naturedly accepted them, just the same. Pao gave Iroh an antique painting (in Zuko's opinion it was just plain old and wrinkly) as a gift before proceeding to take his place in Jin's already crowded table.
"Get his order, nephew…." Iroh prodded. He pushed his nephew as Zuko unwillingly stomped towards Pao.
"Your order?" Zuko stiffly asked.
"One lychee please," Pao pompously said. Zuko sighed before stomping away but not before catching Pao muttering under his breath, "Traitors…."
Zuko stormed towards his uncle.
"That man is ridiculous!' Zuko snapped as he shoved the order slip in Iroh's hand.
"Now nephew…be polite. Every customer is treated as guest here in the Jasmine Dragon," Iroh chastised before heading to the backroom to make the tea.
Iroh came back with Jin and the rest's order. Zuko carefully loaded them up in a tray before heading towards Jin's table. Everyone seemed to be deep in conversation. Even Pao was talking with Jin and Pao hated Jin.
"Um…..your tea," Zuko awkwardly said. Nobody paid attention to him so Zuko simply gave them their order. He alternately listened to their conversation and placed their teacups in front of them.
"I hear they're going to put fireworks up…." He Shen said.
"I don't think so. The Dai Li are on budget cuts this year," Shu said.
"It won't be as fancy as last year but fireworks are definitely not out of the picture…." Ge Jiang added.
Zuko finally arrived in Jin's side.
"A cup of red tea," Zuko said.
"Oh thanks Li," Jin said as she took the cup from his hands.
"I know that you love sweet tea," he said. Jin took a sip.
"It's great," she absentmindedly said. Her eyes were focused on the table and on everyone around her. She seemed to be just as absorbed in their conversation.
"What's everyone talking about?" Zuko asked curiously.
"You didn't know? The Spring Festival is tomorrow," Jin informed him. Zuko felt so stupid all over again. Of course he must know that! During the three years he had travelled around the Earth Kingdom he knew a lot about this particular holiday. In some Earth Kingdom cities it was nothing important, in some it was a religious holiday and in others, the celebrations they performed were just plain disturbing. Apparently here in Ba sing se, it was a very big deal. Zuko unexpectedly found himself joining the conversation.
"I will probably take my dear daughters out for some rice cakes tomorrow. And perhaps I'll buy the little ones a new dress each," Duan Jie thoughtfully said.
"No one special Duan?" He Shen teasingly said.
Duan Jie gave a look of mock surprise before saying, "Goodness! I am much too old for those things! And besides I love no one but my dear Shai!"
Zuko looked at Jin questioningly.
"Shai is Duan Jie's wife. She died in the war," Jin whispered. Zuko suddenly felt sick in his stomach. Zuko looked over at Shu who looked slightly guilty.
"I'm spending the whole day with Fan. We're going to this new place I've heard about," Shu said.
"Well, I have no time for such nonsense! I'm opening up my teashop. Sales are at least twenty percent higher during this day," Pao snippily said.
"How about you youngsters? Any plans? The Spring Festival is also known as the festival of love…." Duan Jie said as he playfully elbowed He Shen.
He Shen sat back and said, "Well, I'm not working, man! I'll just wander the streets singing love songs ….now Jiang on the other hand…."
Ge Jiang turned his nose up in the air and said, "Me and Yun aren't doing anything special. Just the usual…."
"How about our little Jin? No plans?" Duan Jie said as he leaned forward.
Jin shrugged and said, "I'm afraid not. I'll probably be selling flowers. Sales are good during that time of the year."
"You mean there's no boy?" Shu asked. He pretended to look incensed.
"Not that I know of," Jin said as she started laughing. Zuko suddenly felt his stomach tightened and he felt weird.
"It's the Festival of Love! A young lady as beautiful as you should have no problem with finding a nice boy to be your escort," Duan Jie teased.
"Date," Ge Jiang corrected.
"Yeah Jin! You suck, man! I mean even Ming has a date! And she looks like a rhino-donkey! If she can bag one, why can't you?" He Shen said as he giggled uncontrollably.
"And how about you O great Wandering Singer of Ba Sing Se! You don't have anyone either," Jin pointed out as she slapped He Shen's arm.
"I'm a free spirit. I can't be tied down," He Shen informed her. Jin rolled her eyes.
"Well…Jin can always go with Jiao," Ge Jiang said. Everyone burst out into laughter. Zuko however was frowning. Jiao? That dimwit who constantly flirted with Jin? What do they have in common anyway? Zuko wasn't sure but he felt his ears burn.
Jin growled, "Ugh, you guys are such jerks…."
"I could take you," Zuko suddenly said.
Jin stiffened and everyone around the table looked at Zuko.
"I mean….we could go together—not as….as dates—what I really meant to say was—I mean you shouldn't really be alone….we could go as friends…but if you want you can tell other people that we're not exactly just friends…." Zuko was sputtering nonsense after nonsense and his words were running into each other until such time that he was babbling absolute incoherent idiocy.
"Dude, are you asking my sister out on a date?" He Shen suddenly said.
"No!" Zuko defensively said. Okay, it might sound like it but that's not what he meant. He just didn't want Jin to spend the Spring Festival alone and he kind of liked spending time with her. And why was this a big deal? They were just going as friends. Sort of. Zuko mentally cursed himself.
Jin was clouding his judgment. He was becoming more and more impulsive. He never meant to say that. The words just…..came out. He scowled. He shouldn't get too attached.
But shouldn't he?
He was never going home again. What was the point of trying to keep his identity? He'll disappear into Li the nephew of a great teamaker not Prince Zuko heir to the throne. Zuko hung his head in frustration.
"But your uncle's new shop…." Jin worriedly said.
Duan Jie slapped his thigh and threw his head back in laughter, "Mushi wouldn't mind! It's the Fetsival of Love! Why, I'll be surprised if that old geezer didn't have an escort—''
"Date," He Shen corrected.
"But my flowers…" Jin said. She was squirming uncomfortably.
"Flowers can wait Jin. Man, it's the festival of love! I mean I don't have anyone but I'm pretty sure that I'll be taking someone to dinner by the end of the night…." He Shen slyly said.
Jin looked reluctant. For some reason, that made Zuko nervous. He was sweating profusely and his hands started feeling clammy. Why was he so nervous? Who cares if she doesn't say yes?
"I mean you don't have—what I meant was…..if you don't want to you could say no…." Zuko babbled. Everyone around them was silently sniggering.
"Oh but I'd love to! I'd love to go with you tomorrow!" Jin quickly said before Zuko started babbling more stuff. She smiled at him. Things felt severely awkward.
Zuko internally groaned.
What had he done?
"Yeah….I'd love to go with you too…..as friends," Zuko awkwardly said.
"As friends," Jin repeated. She beamed at him.
Zuko felt extremely stupid for doing that. That was dumb. Why did he just add the "just friends" part? What is wrong with him? Was he really this socially inept?
He felt like slapping himself.
But at the same time he felt a strange sense of happiness wash over him.
Zuko looked at himself in the mirror and ran a hand over his hair. His uncle of course, found out about it even though he had taken great pains to conceal the fact that he was going around Ba Sing Se with a girl on the Festival of Love. Iroh had been very fussy and interfering so far, throwing tips and advices out of nowhere, fixing his collar for the hundredth time and combing his hair over and over again. He couldn't understand what the fuss was. It wasn't even a date. They were just going as friends.
"Uncle, stop!" Zuko snapped. Iroh was desperately trying to flatten his floppy, black hair. Zuko on the other hand knew all too well how extremely dorky he would look if Iroh was the one who would "fix" his hair.
"Remember to be polite, Prince Zuko! A girl loves a perfect gentleman!" Iroh said as he slapped Zuko's hand away.
"For the last time, uncle this is not a date!" Zuko scowled exasperated.
"And compliments! Lots and Lots of compliments! Girls love compliments!" Iroh said. Zuko shrank a little after remembering the compliment he gave Jin during their date. A big appetite? He really was socially inept.
"We're just going as friends!"
"I'm not sure what happened during your last date but I'm sure that you did something embarrassing. Try not to do anything stupid," Iroh said as he finished smoothing Zuko's hair down.
"I don't need your advice!" Zuko burst out.
Iroh finished fussing all over him and he stepped back to examine his nephew. Zuko looked very handsome but he also behaved awkwardly. He was fiddling with the hem of his sleeves and his face looked extremely nervous. Iroh chuckled. Before, all his nephew cared about was the Avatar. Now he was getting himself worked up over something as trivial as a date.
"You look very handsome, nephew. Where will you be picking Jin up?" Iroh inquired as Zuko stomped his way out into the living room.
"We're meeting at the Wu Yuan Square in the Lower Ring," Zuko mumbled.
"You mean you're not picking her up? What kind of date are you?" Iroh demanded.
"It is not a date!" Zuko yelled.
"Well, I hope you'll treat her nicely during your date—''
Zuko scowled.
"—did you bring enough money for dinner? I know this great Lobster Place in the lower Ring where you could take her," Iroh said as he fixed Zuko's collar again.
Zuko rolled his eyes as he forcefully removed Iroh's hand from his collar.
"Uncle, relax. It's no big deal. We're just friends," Zuko sighed as looked at himself in the mirror. Somehow 'just friends' felt wrong.
His uncle had flattened his hair again. But other than that, Zuko felt pleased with his own appearance.
He took a deep breath before opening up the doors. The cool afternoon air whipped his face.
"Well…..I guess I'll get going…" Zuko trailed off uncertainly.
"Be sure to bring her back before midnight. I know that she has no parents but her brothers are still strict when it comes to curfew," Iroh said as he placed his two hands on Zuko's shoulder. Zuko shrugged them off before muttering a quick goodbye.
Before he left however he said, "Thank you, uncle."
Iroh smiled and seriously said, "Don't screw this up, Prince Zuko."
Zuko nodded just as seriously.
As soon as Iroh closed the door, Zuko messed his hair up.
Zuko felt stupid as he stood awkwardly in the corner, watching people pass by. He was waiting for Jin in the Wu Yuan Square and so far he was having a very unpleasant experience. He felt nervous and scared about so many things and no matter how hard he tried to stop all these emotions they always bubbled back into the surface. What if he did something stupid or embarrassing to her or to himself? What if he would say something rude or offensive to her? What if tonight will end up being just as embarrassing and awkward as their date? Zuko sighed. He should stop this. This wasn't even a date.
Zuko scowled.
Where was she?
She was supposed to be here three minutes ago.
Zuko started to panic. What if she decided to ditch him? What if she was so incensed with his atrocious behavior in their previous date that she had decided to punish him by not showing up? Wait—this wasn't even a date. They were just going as friends. He knew a punishment was coming. She had to be angry over his awful behavior during their date. No sane girl wouldn't be.
"Li!"
Zuko sighed in relief as he looked across the sea of people. It was Jin and she was making her way towards him. She wore her usual everyday robe but her hair was tied in a ponytail.
"I'm sorry if I came a little late," Jin said as she brushed some dust of her dress.
Zuko looked at her as the green lamps reflected on her face, emphasizing her hazel-green eyes. She looked very beautiful, he grudgingly admitted. He had always known that she looked very beautiful every day. Tonight…..something was just different. And for some reason, he couldn't exactly pinpoint the difference.
"It's all right. I wasn't waiting that long…." Zuko muttered as he see-sawed on his heels.
"The traffic of people here is outrageous," Jin said. To Zuko's surprise, she grabbed his hand and started dragging him away from the square.
"You don't need a festival to get this kind of traffic of people. Ba Sing Se is overcrowded enough," Zuko said as he wrinkled his nose. He hated overcrowded places. Which was one of the reasons why he hated Ba Sing Se.
"I'm glad that you haven't completely changed from your usual grumpiness," Jin teasingly said as they weaved through the crowd.
Zuko pretended to look angry but he didn't really feel like snapping at anyone tonight. As their conversation progressed, he started feeling more and more comfortable. He wasn't even sure why he was so nervous before. Maybe it was because some part of him wanted to impress her.
It seemed as if all sorts of people had come out to the streets. There were twice as many vendors as there would usually be. Carts were stationed everywhere. People were shouting and yelling and singing. Some performed magic tricks and puppet shows. Zuko noticed many teenagers, people his own age on the streets too. Many of them were holding their hands or were tucking themselves into a dark corner.
Two lovers, forbidden from one another
A war divides their people, and a mountain divides them apart.
Built a path to be together.
They heard a very familiar voice from the corner. Zuko and Jin turned to find He Shen seated on a burlap sack his hands strumming his liuqin, his hair falling all over his face, with about dozen spectators crowding around him. A majority of them were girls who looked love-struck. He Shen gave a quick salute followed by a teasing smirk before turning back to his song.
"Does he ever get tired of singing?" Zuko said in disbelief. No one can sing that much.
"Why do you hate singing anyway? I think that it's fun."
"It's annoying."
"You think everything is annoying."
"And you think that everything is fun," Zuko retorted.
"Lighten up, Sir Crankypants. It's the Spring Festival!" Jin said. She was very enthusiastic and her eyes were twinkling with excitement.
Zuko merely stuck his bottom lip out and said, "This holiday is dumb! I don't know why everyone is making a big deal out of it! It's ridiculous and stupid and it's merely a deceitful way flower sellers and chocolate makers do to swindle people out of their money."
"I do agree with you on that part. They did over-commercialize it," Jin said.
They passed by Pao's teashop. It was slightly emptier than most of the shops. Zuko didn't feel like greeting Pao but Jin insisted. She opened one of the windows and enthusiastically greeted him. Zuko reluctantly waved from beside her. Pao just gave them a grudge nod.
They continued to walk, talking of different things. As they passed by an alleyway Zuko was sure he saw that usually calm and collected Ge Jiang giggling and laughing loudly with a girl. They were whispering and stroking each other's hair in the darkness of the alleyway.
"That's Yun," Jin said as she pried him away from the alleyway before Jiang could notice their presence.
"Who's Yun?"
"Obviously Ge Jiang's girlfriend," Jin said.
"Did they meet here in Ba sing Se?" Zuko asked.
"Not really. She's kind of a childhood friend. They just saw each other here again," Jin said.
"Childhood friend?"
"Would you stop staring? Jiang's going to notice!"
"It's just that….it's so weird," Zuko muttered as Jin steered him away.
"What's weird? That my brother is actually capable of having human emotions?" Jin asked playfully.
"It's just that he's so….he's always so cool and collected," Zuko said.
"Not around Yun," Jin snickered.
"I can see that."
"Well, you shouldn't have. He's very touchy when it comes to his love life."
"Why?" Zuko curiously asked.
"I don't know…..maybe it's because he has always wanted to be in control of everything. And being around Yun…..he has no control over anything," Jin said.
"So he hates not being in control?"
"Not around Yun. He's perfectly fine with Yun bossing him around. I think that when you meet someone so special…you just act different," Jin chirped.
They entered a street crammed with game booths. Jin's eyes lit up. All around them people were yelling. "Win something for your girl, men!" or "Don't leave your lady, empty handed!" Jin was particularly enamored by everything. She looked around.
Zuko felt uncomfortable. It was as if Jin was expecting him to win her something. Zuko wanted to go to a booth to win her something but that would mean giving other people the impression that they were in a romantic relationship. And as far as he was concerned, their relationship was strictly limited to a friendship. Someone however, managed to hook his hand with a cane and he was dragged towards a booth called "Hit the Sheep-Pig."
"Hey, fella! That's some girl you got there," the man manning the booth said. He gestured towards Jin who was making her way towards them.
"Um….she's not really my girl—''
"She's a beauty! You don't want to leave her empty-handed for the Festival of love!"
"But we're just—''
"Bet you forgot to give her a gift, eh? Big no-no on the festival of love!"
"Actually it's the Spring Festival not the—''
"Hey, doll! I was just telling your boyfriend here about a chance to gallantly win something for you. Name's Pianzi," the man said as Jin neared. He grabbed her by the sleeve and pushed her close towards Zuko. Jin lost her footing and so did Zuko. The two of them fell on the ground with Jin on top of Zuko's chest.
The two of them quickly sprang of each other in embarrassment.
"He doesn't need to win me anything…." Jin edgily said but the man had already shoved three knives into Zuko's hand.
"See that cute platypus bear? You could win your girl that if you could shoot the Sheep-Pig. If you lose, you pay two silver coins, eh? All you need is one shot fella to get your girl something," Pianzi said. Zuko scowled. He was getting annoying. Stupid man.
"No thanks," Zuko said as he attempted to give the knives back.
"Well….kid. You don't want to embarrass yourself in front of your girl, eh? Come on!" the man prodded. Zuko scowled.
"No….I don't really…" Zuko muttered.
"It's quite alright. We're not really dating," Jin tensely said. Zuko groaned. Things were turning way too awkward.
"Just shoot the stupid Platypus Bear, fella," Pianzi said.
"Oh…Li you don't have to. Come on…..we better get going," Jin said. She tugged at Zuko's arm. Zuko made a move to follow her but everything was once again disrupted by Pianzi.
"What? You scared, fella? You scared, Li?" he called.
Zuko's temper flared. Jin stubbornly tugged at his ahnd.
"Don't be stupid. He's trying to bait you. That's what all good swindlers do," she whispered.
But Zuko was no longer listening to her.
"Now I understand that you're scared, fella. Most people couldn't even make it past a meter, eh? You're probably scared that you'll embarrass yourself in front of your girl!" Pianzi expertly crafted his face into a most infuriating expression.
Zuko narrowed his eyes and he decided to show that dimwit exactly what he was asking for. He grabbed the three knives and felt them around his fingers. This was just like firebending. Only, he was shooting with knives. He threw the first knife. It narrowly missed the Sheep-Pig.
Pianzi laughed.
"It's all right fella. You got two more tries," Pianzi said as he patted Zuko's back. Zuko gritted his teeth.
He decided to concentrate better. He flicked his wrist and the knife sailed into the Sheep-Pig's eye. Zuko smiled triumphantly as the man scowled. He grabbed the stuffed Platypus Bear and grudgingly handed it over to Zuko.
"Here, fella," he muttered stiffly. Zuko took it and turned to look at Jin.
He suddenly felt really awkward.
"Um…here," he held it out for her.
"Thanks Li," Jin reluctantly took the stuffed animal.
Suddenly Jin was looking at him with a sly look.
He knew that look all too well.
"I'll take only if—''
Zuko wrinkled his nose and said, "Only if what?"
"I'll only take it if you let me win you a prize," Jin said as she edged closer to him. She stabbed a finger at his chest.
Zuko wasn't sure but he felt as if she was challenging him. And he was never one to back down from a challenge. He smirked at her and said, "You can try."
Jin shook her head and laughed before marching over to the man who had previously manned the booth. She took the three knives and readied herself.
"Oh-ho! So your girl wants to win you a prize, eh? So much for chivalry!" Pianzi howled. Jin ignored the man while Zuko tried his best to restrain himself.
"Careful, darling. You don't want to injure that pretty little face of yours, eh?" Pianzi said as he contined to laugh.
Jin felt the knife around her finger and she examined the Sheep-Pig. Finally, after a few minutes she flicked her wrist and threw the knife at the Sheep-Pig. The knife sailed across the booth, barely missing the man's head and into the Sheep-Pig's center. Zuko snickered as the man's jaw dropped. He handed another Platypus Bear to Jin.
Jin held the bear out, "For you, O Great Tea Server."
Zuko laughed. Although he was impressed with Jin, he insisted that she keep the two platypus bears.
"We had a deal," Jin pouted.
"There is no way I am bringing that Platypus Bear around."
"You're too conscious. Are you ashamed that a girl won a stuffed animal for you?"
"No!"
"Or are you jealous that I hit the Sheep-Pig in one try?"
"You are too confident," Zuko teasingly said as poked her in the ribs. Jin giggled and side-stepped away from him.
The two of them ambled towards a cart that was selling fried rice. Zuko insisted that he pay for the meal. After many protests, Jin finally gave in and allowed Zuko to pay ten silver coins to the man. They sat on a bench in one of the streets and they started to eat their fried rice.
Everything was fine at first. They continued to talk and bicker and tease each other about pointless matters. Zuko however, started feeling awkward after realizing that another couple was seated a bench next to them and the pair were kissing each other and stroking each other's hands. Zuko tried his best to keep his slowly flaming cheeks at bay. But then he realized that they were surrounded by couples, all kissing or holding each other's hands and he felt as if they were all pressuring him to do something with Jin.
Beside him, Jin seemed completely oblivious to anything that was happening around them.
Zuko began to fidget in his seat uncomfortably. He started to twiddle his thumbs and look around. Say something, he willed his brain. Just anything. Anything to make things less awkward.
"This fried rice tastes different," Zuko said in an attempt to distract himself.
"How so? They taste like they always do," Jin said as she took a big bite.
"Fried Rice tastes different from where I am from," Zuko said. His mouth involuntarily watered as he remembered the ample servings of spices and curry on the fried rice.
"Where you're from? I though you travelled."
"What I meant is the place where I was born…."
"Which was where?"
"Just a small village a few miles from here," Zuko automatically said as he remembered that little boy Lee. The boy he had saved from the village thugs.
"How do they do it there?"
"More meat," Zuko flatly said. That part was partially true. Meat was abundance in the Fire Nation.
Zuko suddenly realized his mistake. He quickly tried to erase it by quickly steering away from the topic.
"You know I never really knew what the Spring Festival was about," Zuko said.
"It's from an old Earth Kingdom folktale. It isn't really supposed to be important but I supposed everyone blew it up to such a big affair since, as you so eloquently put it, it gives flower-makers and chocolate-makers a chance to swindle people out of their money," Jin laughed.
"What's the myth?"
"It's not very interesting."
"I'm still curious."
Jin sighed and started, "There was once a warrior and a princess who loved each other very much but alas! He had to go to war. She made him promise to send her a sign that he would be alive. He said that he would send her a flower every month to prove that he was alive."
"Let me guess. He died," Zuko said. Stories like these were so obvious.
"Yup. He died but before he breathed his last breath he instructed his comrades to send a bloom every month to his love so as not to break her heart with the news of his death—''
"So she still thinks he's alive?"
"They say that she's still waiting for him. Even to this day," Jin said as she finished the last of her fried rice.
"That's pointless."
"I think that it's kind of romantic."
"Yeah? She's going to live most of her life waiting for someone that's never coming back."
"But the flower gives her hope."
"False hope."
"You are so negative."
"And you are way too optimistic," Zuko shrugged as they moved away from the street. He was itching to get away from all the couples.
Jin huffed but she was smiling so Zuko knew that she wasn't really angry.
They entered into a new district of the Lower Ring. This part of the city was more and crowded and it was louder. A group of people bringing an assortment of instruments stood in a little platform and they were playing something very lively. Some people sat on little benches but most were condensed in the center where they dance and sang and laughed loudly. Jin started laughing and swaying along with the music. She shoved the two Platypus-Bears in Zuko's hand. She started to move her feet and clap her hands.
Zuko felt uncomfortable once again. He didn't know how to dance. Back in the fire Nation Academy, dancing was not allowed. It wasn't even tolerated.
"I love this song!" Jin yelled over the din of the noise.
"Yeah….it sounds really….fun," Zuko muttered as Jin began to join in the dance.
To Zuko's horror, she grabbed his arm and tugged him forward.
"Dance with me!" she said.
"Um…..it's all right…" Zuko said. He clutched the two stuffed animals nervously.
"Come on Li! Let loose! Have fun!" Jin said. Her face was very warm and inviting. Zuko was almost tempted to actually dance. Almost.
"I'll just stay here and guard your Platypus-Bears!" Zuko said. He stubbornly hung back.
Jin much to his annoyance was just as stubborn and persistent as him.
"It's the Spring Festival! It's supposed to be fun and lively!" Jin said. She began to move her hips.
"It's okay….I'll just stay here…."
"No way!"
"What?"
"You don't know how to dance!" Jin said as she burst into laughter. Zuko scrunched his nose up.
His temper and pride got the better of him.
"Don't be stupid. Of course I can dance," he scoffed.
"No, you can't!"
"Yes, I can!"
"Then dance with me," she said in a much softer voice. Her eyes twinkled as she held her hand out. There was no way he's going to do this. He'll just end up embarrassing himself. Zuko shook his head but to his horror he found his hand creeping towards hers. What was he doing? It was as if he never thought things through whenever he was around her. This can't be happening.
He grabbed her hand, dropped the two stuffed animals and she pulled him into the center where many people their own age were dancing.
Jin hopped on one foot towards Zuko, alternating feet with each hop, passing her palms in front of her face as she does so. Zuko stiffly stood in front of her. He tried to dance but he found himself being as stiff as a board.
"What are you doing!" Jin yelled.
"What are you doing?" Zuko said as Jin began to move around him in a circle.
"I'm dancing!" Jin laughed. She began to spin and twirl and perform elaborate gestures with her hands and legs.
"I'm not sure I know this dance….." Zuko edgily said.
Jin held her hand out to him again.
"Take my hand," she said.
"I don't know….I just realized that my shoes aren't really for dancing," Zuko said. He kicked at his heels.
"Take my hand," Jin said a little bit more firmly.
Zuko reluctantly took her hand.
"It's very easy!" Jin said. She attempted to show him her footwork.
The moves were simple enough but they seemed complicated since Jin's feet were so light and quick.
"Now your turn!" Jin said. Zuko reluctantly followed her. He smiled triumphantly after realizing that he was able to copy her movements.
"That's great! Now your hands!" Jin said. She began to move her palms in elaborate gestures.
Zuko followed her.
"You're doing great, Li! Just follow the beat!" Jin said as she began to dance once again. Zuko couldn't believe it but after awhile he found himself dancing. And the most surprising thing was that it wasn't even as horrible as he imagined it to be.
"What next?" Zuko asked.
"We dance together!"
Jin took his hand and she spun, twirling into the right direction. Zuko awkwardly danced in his place. Jin seemed to notice that he still didn't know how to dance with a pair properly since she danced towards him.
"Dance with me!"
"I don't know how," Zuko finally admitted.
"It's very easy, Li! It's like Dual Dao swords! We're two parts of the same whole!" Jin said. Zuko smiled, encouraged. He took her hand, spun her around until she was two meter's length away from him.
He gritted his teeth and began to perform the moves she taught him. This was a little like bending. Only, there was no fire or breathing involved. Suddenly, he had an idea. Perhaps if did some bending moves….
Zuko crouched down and did a bending move Jin. He looked at Jin and saw that she was impressed. He stood back up and together they linked their wrists together.
"So you can dance," Jin said as they continued to move in a circle, their wrists still attached to each other.
"And you said Dual Dao not Double Swords," Zuko smirked as he spun. Jin laughed.
The two of them moved and dance with each other in a circle. Their dance with each other grew more and more elaborate. Jin started cart wheeling in the air and they began to kick over one another's head. It was as if they were fighting….but dancing at the same time. Zuko noticed that a few people had stopped dancing and they were now looking at the two of them.
Jin began to perform dance moves while crouching and Zuko followed her suit. For the begin finish they spun around each other on the ground until they progressed into a standing position with their wrists linked to each other once again. The music stopped and a wave of applause echoed through the whole center. Jin blushed. Zuko wondered if it because of the crowd or because of the heat.
Zuko was breathing hard and so was Jin.
"That was fun," Zuko said. He was excited for the next dance.
"And you didn't want to…" Jin laughed.
"When you were flying in the air I swore people looked as if they're socks had been knocked off the. That was amazing!"
"Not as amazing as you doing that crouch-thing! "
They continued to talk about the dance when the music played again. This time it was softer and slower. Zuko looked around and saw that everyone was now pressing themselves loser to their pairs. Zuko fidgeted in his place. He looked at Jin who was starting to look uncomfortable. She was looking around and she was see-sawing in her place.
She looked really pretty in the moonlight. Zuko fiddled his thumbs. Everyone was moving and dancing now. They were the only couple who stayed glued to their places. He should do something. Maybe he should say they should get going. No, that was too dumb.
"Wanna dance?" Zuko found himself saying. He mentally slapped himself as he held his hand out. Jin was making him think differently. He would have never said this under normal circumstances. Why was he acting so stupidly?
Jin broke out into a smile and took his hand. Zuko pulled her close and dropped his hands to her waist. They began to move with the rhythm. Zuko tried to avoid Jin's eyes but he found himself looking back at her.
She looked pretty, he was forced to admit in his head. The light from the lanterns cast a pale glow over her skin and it emphasized her hazel-green eyes. Her nose looked so cute too, Zuko grudgingly admitted. It was small and finely sculpted and so different from his pointed one. Zuko frowned. What on earth was he doing! He must say something.
The music became dreamier and Zuko unexpectedly found himself drawing closer to her.
"Dancing is pretty fun," Zuko said.
"Yeah it is…." Jin murmured. She looked distracted.
He felt very distracted too.
He wished the music would stop.
"There's something I want to tell you…."
"Yeah?" Jin said.
"I never got a chance to apologize for our date."
"Oh that! Never mind! It's no big deal," Jin said.
"It's not that I didn't like it .The kiss I mean—er what I meant was…..Actually I kind of liked it but I'm not used to stuff like that—''
"I kind of liked it too," Jin smirked.
The two of them burst into laughter.
Zuko twirled. She spun before landing back into his arms.
"I used to hate dancing."
"Oh, really?" Jin said.
"Yeah….but now I like it. I realized that it's not that hard. Dancing really is like Dual Dao. Two parts of the same whole," Zuko murmured.
"Two parts of the same whole," Jin repeated under her breath.
"Do you wanna maybe go out sometime?" Zuko blurted out before he could stop himself. He groaned internally. What had he just done? Why was he so stupid? Whatever possessed him to say that?
Maybe it was because she looked so pretty in the light. Or maybe it was her smile which was so disarming that it made him forget about his common sense or anything else.
Jin looked confused and she started at him quizzically.
"I mean you don't have to—if you don't want—you don't—we could go as friends….."
"I'd—I'd love to," Jin said stammering for the first time.
The music stopped. The two of them sprang away from each other as if scalded. Zuko began to twiddle his thumbs while Jin looked down.
"I know this great lobster place we could go," Zuko muttered.
"Oh…that's great! Tomorrow night?" Jin said without looking at him in the eye.
"Yeah….and I could pick you up to your house…." Zuko muttered
"That would be nice," Jin awkwardly said. Zuko groaned.
"Okay…."
"Okay…."
Jin broke out into a wide smile. Zuko found himself smiling back at her.
For some reason, he wasn't so mad at himself anymore.
Iroh nearly choked on his pudding when he found out that Zuko had a date the next night. Zuko was a bundle of nerves. He fussed over his clothes, he fussed over the restaurant, he fussed over his hair—and Zuko wasn't even a fussy person. Iroh watched in total shock as Zuko once again decided to change his outfit.
"I think this one is too formal. Maybe I should wear this one but with these pants…." Zuko muttered as he laid his clothes out.
"So is this a date," Iroh said.
"No! It's more like…..two friends going on a dinner…" Zuko muttered.
Zuko finally decided on what clothes he planned to wear. Iroh gave him advices all throughout the whole preparation. His uncle inserted a few winks and teases as he gave Zuko some advices. Zuko tried his best to ignore it all.
Finally once he was ready he stepped out of their apartment.
"Nephew! Nephew!"
Zuko scowled and turned to look at Iroh. Iroh was bringing a small bundle of flowers with him.
He thrust them in Zuko's hands.
"A girl loves little gifts," Iroh said.
Zuko solemnly nodded.
It was late in the evening when Zuko returned. Iroh sat on his couch excitedly.
"How was it?" he asked.
"I asked her out again. I have another date," Zuko said in disbelief. Iroh prodded Zuko for more comments but all he got were, "I can't believe it" or "I'm so dumb" before Zuko hurried to his room.
Zuko lay back in his bed and thought about what happened tonight.
It was very embarrassing to say the least. He gave her the flowers but as it turned out she was very allergic to that kind of flower. He spilled some sauce all over her dress while he was getting the food. Jin was very cool about it but that did not stop him from getting embarrassed. Then there were the awkward dinner conversations. He had no idea what to say. What was he supposed to do? He didn't even know what kind of relationship they had. Were they friends? Were they dating?
Why was he even thinking this?
The night ended decently however. They had eased into a conversation. They walked around Ba Sing Se, they fed pigeon-hawks and they sat in one of the lower walls. Jin looked really pretty that night. And her smile was so charming.
That made him ask her out again on the next nig
Zuko groaned and mumbled into the pillow, "What's wrong with me?"
Dates seem multiply, Zuko noticed. He soon found himself going on a date with her every night and they did just about anything. They went through the library, they had a picnic, they ate lunch, they watched puppet shows and they played some games. Sometimes they went to the coal mines to practice Dual Dao swords (although Zuko wasn't sure how that could be considered as a date).
He picked her up every night. Ge Jiang and He Shen were now accustomed to his presence every time at sundown. It was two train rides to the lower Ring so Zuko had to leave the shop early. Jin felt ashamed but Zuko told her not to worry about it. They agreed not to mention it.
He didn't know why he liked spending so much time with her.
Maybe it was the way she took his awkwardness and clumsy conversation with a smile. Maybe it was because she didn't try to kill him. Maybe it was because she didn't lie to him. Maybe it was because she just made him forget about everything horrible in his life.
On their twelfth date they ended up chasing each other in the dark alleyways. Jin tripped on the rock and she on top of him. For some reason he didn't feel as embarrassed.
Their noses touched and Zuko felt his arms tingle. Zuko laughed as he helped her up. He leaned against the wall and Jin drew closer to him. She placed her hands on his shoulders and Zuko found himself placing her hands on her hips.
"You look very handsome when you smile. You should smile more often," she murmured.
Their faces were in very close proximity now.
"I am? Oh—uh…thanks?" he awkwardly said.
He then found himself adding, "You're very pretty too."
They were drawing closer and closer towards each other. Zuko felt nervous but he wasn't afraid. Just as their lips were about to touch a Dai Li guard came and told them that he was doing some check-ups. Zuko found himself scowling in frustration.
"Stupid Dai Li," he muttered as he took Jin home.
When he entered the apartment he made up his mind.
He was going to tell her.
He just had to. He couldn't keep lying to her. Especially when things were progressing between the two f them. He wanted this to go further.
He told his uncle about his plan and Iroh was less than eager about ti.
"She'll hate you."
"No, she won't" Zuko stubbornly said.
"Prince Zuko, she has been hurt by the fire Nation. I'm sorry but you can't expect her to understand," Iroh said.
"I can't keep lying to her either!" Zuko snapped.
"How are you going to tell her?" Iroh sighed resigned.
"Um…"
"Start practicing. In front of me," his uncle prodded.
"Um…hi Jin. I just wanted you to know that I'm not from the Earth kingdom. I'm from the fire Nation—''
His uncle began to wail and cry.
"What are you doing!"
"She might be the crying type."
"Ugh! Stop it!" Zuko snapped.
"I'm just trying to help…."
"Forget it! I'll solve this myself!" Zuko said as he stormed back to his room.
The next day he had everything planned out. After dinner he started tugging at her sleeves and he started pulling her someplace.
"What're you doing?" Jin laughed.
"There's something I want to show you," Zuko said as they ran together.
He took her to the Firelight Fountain and as he expected they weren't lit. the earth king and his Dai li seemed to be in budget cuts. Jin's eyes lit up.
"The Firelight Fountain!"
"Yeah…"
"But they aren't lit," she said her face falling.
"That's kind of what I wanted to show you," Zuko muttered nervously. His heart was pounding at what her reaction might be. Would she hate him? Would she dump him?
"Will I close my eyes?" Jin asked. She was looking at him with an expression he couldn't decipher.
"No…..let them stay open," Zuko said.
"Step back," he ordered. He did a quick meditation before doing it.
Using his pointer and middle finger he lit all the lamps, one by one with small jets of fire. When all the lamps were lit he shut his eyes and waited for the screams and for the angry accusations.
There was silence.
He turned around slowly and was slightly shocked to see that Jin didn't look the least bit afraid. Instead, she looked happy.
"They're so beautiful Li!" she said as she clapped her hands.
Zuko slacked his jaw.
"What're you doing?"
"I'm appreciating the fountain," Jin serenely said.
"Shouldn't you be running in fear? Yelling at me? Trying to turn me into the Dai Li?"
"Why would I do that? They'll kill you for being a Firebender," Jin frowned.
"Wait—what? You knew? But…but…but how!" Zuko sputtered
Jin laughed as she neared towards him.
"Ever since you lit those lamps during our first date, I knew that you were a Firebender from the start. I mean what was I supposed to believe? That magical sprites lit those lamps for you?" Jin laughed.
"You knew…" Zuko said in shock.
"And being the circus? Please, Li! I'm not that dumb!"
"But—''
"Not to mention you know nothing about Earth Kingdom culture!" Jin snickered.
"So—''
"And you look nothing like a person from the earth kingdom! You're too pale!"
"You knew and you didn't tell me?" Zuko snapped remembering those times where he had severely embarrassed himself.
"It was fun watching you fall all over yourself as you tried to keep your cover. And besides, I wanted you to tell me when you are ready," Jin said.
"Does your brothers know?"
"I didn't tell them at first but Ge Jiang and He Shen knew right away when they saw you. They've had too much experience with Firebenders," Jin said.
"Are they mad?"
"Mad at what? That I'm dating a Firebender?"
"Yeah."
"Only, Jiang. But he'll get over it," Jin shrugged.
Zuko found himself laughing loudly. He pulled her close.
"So you know?"
"Yes."
"And you're not mad?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because you're just like everyone else in here. You want a second chance at life."
"You don't hate me?"
"I couldn't even I tried."
And he kissed her. He kissed her right then there. He was so happy that he could feel himself burst. Their lips locked with each other for what seemed like the longest time when they broke apart.
He felt so happy. He felt…peaceful.
She kissed him again.
And he completely forgot his past.
He forgot about the fire Nation.
He forgot about his honor.
He forgot about the avatar.
He breathed as they broke apart, "Agni…."
Zuko was in a very happy mood the next day. He served the customers with a happy smile. He didn't grump or complain. He told Iroh all about last night. Iroh was glad that Jin was very understanding. He was glad that Zuko had found happiness here in Ba Sing Se. Things were finally looking up.
"Uncle, I need 2 jasmine, one green and one lychee!" Zuko said as he served some customers.
"I'm brewing as fast as I can!" Iroh called back happily.
Unbeknownst to them, Katara stood in the corner, a look of pure shock on her face. Silently, she turned around and left eager to put the person who had caused so much damaged to her and her friends in his place.
She ran to the Earth King.
Zuko hurriedly swept up for the night. He and Jin had date tonight and he didn't want o be late. The shop was busier than most days so he had to stay for the afternoon. Suddenly a man entered their premises.
"A message from the royal palace," he said as he bowed. He handed the scroll over to Iroh.
Iroh looked shocked.
"I….I can't believe it…."
"What is it uncle?' Zuko asked as he hurriedly walked towards Iroh.
Iroh said, elated, "Great news! We've been invited to serve tea to the Earth King!"
I'm so sorry that it took me forever to update this. I had no internet access for two weeks. So there you have it. They're officially dating.
Thanks to those who read this or added this story to their favorites.
Special thanks to:
Alana C. Jones: Your review made my day.
SkorpionQueen012 and ArrayePL for the comments. Keep the reviews up.