A/N

Just wanted to clear some things up - this takes place completely canon up to this point. The Gaang is in the Upper Ring getting into a number of different shenanigans, but for the time being, our story will only focus on Zuko, Iroh, and Nina. They also will get into a number of shenanigans in the near future Let me know how you like Nina so far! You will learn much more about her history...as soon as Zuko does! ;)

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except Nina. She's mine. No touchy.

I watched as the scarred server boy walked through the swinging doors to the main part of the tea shop with a slightly disgruntled look on his face. I chuckled under my breath when I realised he was trying to force his tense face into somewhat of a pleasant expression, failing wholeheartedly at it. As he made his way towards me I smiled slightly, trying to wipe the ever present sarcastic smirk from my face. He dropped the platter on the counter.

"Here you are." He said, looking at his hands.

"Thank you, Lee." I said as pleasantly as I could manage. As I began to pour my tea, I noticed a second cup. "Sit down." He blanched.

"What?"

"I said sit down. Your uncle put two cups on my tray. And, as starved as I may look, I highly doubt I could finish both the rice and all these moon cakes by myself." He floundered for a bit, seeming to look for a way out, and, seeing none, took the seat next to mine. I poured him a cup of the steaming tea.

"So," I said, bringing the cup to my lips and blowing on the hot brew, "how long have you been in the city?" I thought it was a harmless enough question, but he stiffened; I wondered if he was always as jumpy as a polar bear-dog pup.

"I - well, that is to say, we - have been here for about a month and a half." He looked away, seemingly shocked by his own admission at how long he had been residing in the Lower Ring. "And yourself?"

"About the same. I've been working for a local man and his wife in exchange for lodging and food." He seemed confused.

"What about your family?"

"Dead." I said with such a finality that it seemed to startle him. I grinned internally; there wasn't much love lost between my parents and I (spirits rest their souls).

"I'm sorry to hear that." He mumbled into his tea. I grimaced - pity was something I wasn't unaccustomed to receiving, however grudgingly received it was.

"Don't be. I hardly remember them anyway. It's been years." I sighed. I really didn't want to talk about the past with this boy. Man. Man-boy. Whatever. "How old are you?" I felt like I was going through a list of interview questions. It was usually second nature for me to make conversation and charm people, but Lee was different...and I wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing.

"Um. I turn eighteen next week." He said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Oh. That's nice. Any plans?" I asked, hoping I wasn't prying again.

"No...celebrating my name day isn't something I've done in many years." I huffed.

"And why not? Do you think your 'too old and mature' for such a silly thing?" I said, making hand gestures to show how little I thought of that excuse. Even in my self-imposed exile I made a point to celebrate my day of birth. It may not have included any party's with friends, but still, I managed with what little I had.

"No. I mean, sometimes my uncle would drag me around whatever town we happened to be in and try to get me to have fun, but it never ended...well." My curiosity was severely piqued; apparently this boy and his uncle also lived a nomadic lifestyle. I smiled genuinely. I would make it my personal mission to make sure Lee enjoyed his name day. Something told me it would take a lot of kicking and screaming on his part...hmm, maybe I could enlist his uncle's help. I was pulled from my musings by Lee shifting in his seat, obviously wondering why I wasn't replying. I changed the subject so he wouldn't get suspicious.

"How do you like living here?" I asked, and laughed lightly at the expression on his face. "Oh, come on, it has to be better than where you were before, otherwise you wouldn't have ended up here. The Lower Ring of Ba Sing Se is for the truly desperate." He scowled.

"I was perfectly...content before living here." I could tell he wasn't giving me the whole truth; a content existence wasn't necessarily a happy one.

"I had a life before this place. A purpose. A destiny. Now I'm here, serving to peasants." I narrowed my eyes.

"What does that make you then? If not a peasant? If not one of the lowly beggars haunting these desolate streets, then what are you? You don't know the story of any one of us. I could be royalty for all you know." I shook my head at his snort of disbelief. "You know nothing, Lee. Nothing about me or any of these people. And, I'll have you know, there are some damn decent people living here in squalor and working for a pittance. So be grateful you have your uncle, your home, and your job. It could be much worse." And with that I downed my tea, grabbed a mooncake - ignoring Lee's stunned expression - and swept out of the shop, with a parting gesture towards Mushi; he, at least, had my respect. His nephew...Damn he grated on my nerves.

...

"Well. I suppose that could have gone better. Just what did you say to upset the young lady?" Zuko hadn't noticed his uncle slide into the now unoccupied seat next to his, still staring after the girl with the sharp tongue and contrarily graceful gait. Zuko shook his head.

"I'm not sure. I think I may have offended her." Zuko was uncharacteristically confused, therefore telling his uncle exactly what was on his mind. "We were just discussing the lack of propriety in my serving peasants and she went into this tirade about 'decent people' and 'being grateful' and other nonsense before stomping off...Ow!" Zuko yelled, indignant, rubbing the sore spot where Iroh had swatted the back of his head.

"Lee, how could you be so crass? Have I taught you nothing? You certainly did not inherit my natural charm with the ladies." Zuko's lips twitched and Iroh chuckled. "Lee, my dear nephew. I don't know if it will take a slap to the back of the head," Zuko ducked instinctively, "or a raging young woman to make you understand that you are not so different from these people. Especially now, in our current state. Look around," Iroh swept his hand dramatically, from patron to patron, which included a couple of soldiers sharing in some epic story that necessitated wild hand gestures and odd noises that seemed to resemble war cries, to a couple holding hands in the very front corner of the shop, to a family - a husband and wife, with their two children - laughing about some private joke, and back to themselves. "Though we come from different parts of the world, though we are raised in different cultures, taught different histories, we are essentially all the same. We weep when we lose the ones we love, we embrace the warm comforts of home and family, and we cling to the traditions of our people. We live, we love, and we die, all the same. Strip away titles and nations and what are we? Human. Perhaps this young lady will be able to open your eyes, my nephew, to see that we are not so different. That is, if she ever decides to give you another chance." Iroh chuckled and patted Zuko on the back, before returning to his post in the kitchen. Zuko, stubborn as ever, crossed his arms and pursed his lips as he watched the patrons around him continue to enjoy their evening...and their tea!

Authors note -

WOW! I honestly didn't think I'd have much interest in my story...The only reason I posted was because I've had a fanfiction account for a while but I've never had the courage to post what I wrote. This chapter and its predecessor are the only full chapters I have written so far - I have an outline, backstory's, etc, but as for full chapters these are the only two completed. I am a huuuuuuge Zutara fan and I have read so many amazing epics about their should-have-been-I-mean-seriously-yo romance (and I may end up writing one, I have many many ideas floating around in my head), but I wanted to write my own to satisfy my burgeoning creative mind. This author's note is becoming far too long, so I'll see you off with a light warning: I am a full-time student with a part-time job and a part-time social life. I've not claimed to be and will never claim to be a professional writer. I write when I the creative juices flow and when I have the motivation to write. All the same, I thank you all for reading, reviewing, and simply giving me and my story a chance. I'll answer some review questions in the next update, so if you want your question answered (no spoilers!) simply leave it in a review. Thanks guys,

xx Charlotte