Disclaimer: Yeah, I TOTALLY own ATLA. SURE, I do. Are disclaimers needed? Because it's kinda obvious I don't own this.
A/N:
How did you guys like chapter 1?
Time Skip: 2 Years Later…
Zuko's POV
I stood outside the tall walls of Ba Sing Se, thinking of the last time I went here. We had to dress as peasants and make cover stories for ourselves. I had to work in a teashop. I thought I had no meaning in life.
"Why so quiet, nephew?"
I turned to face my Uncle. "Uncle, I'd rather you call me Fire Lord Zuko. It's not as… dignified when you say nephew."
He chuckled. "Think you're all high and mighty now that you're Fire Lord, eh? OK, then. Why so quiet, Fire Lord Nephew."
I smiled. Uncle never would listen to me. "Nothing," I said. "Just remembering the last time we were here."
"Ah, yes. Speaking of which, I want to see what happened to the Jasmine Dragon."
I rolled my eyes. Of course that was the first thing that came to mind. Tea.
Zuko's POV
"That's outrageous!" Uncle Iroh said. "Look, nepehew." Uncle pointed upwards at the sign that used to say 'The Jasmine Dragon'. Now, it said 'The Chamomile Monster'.
"That's… That's… That's plagiarism!" He cried.
I snorted. "Not really. Let's get some tea."
Uncle Iroh crossed his arms and grumbled as he walked in. As soon as he stepped in and saw that everything was the same, but the tiny blue dragons had been changed to yellow monsters, Uncle couldn't take it and flounced out the door. I rolled my eyes and sat down on a wooden seat.
I looked down at the plastic-covered menu and settled for a Jasmine tea. Something Uncle Iroh had made me before. "I'll have one Jasmine tea, please," I told the waitress. I felt her bow and leave.
Minutes later she set down a jade-green china cup before me. "Thanks," I told her, cupping my hands around the tea. She bowed again, and walked off. Then I felt a sharp tug at my back and hot tea spilled on my hands. A small thud and 'ow,' came from the floor. I looked down and saw that the waitress' long sleeves had caught on one of the silver links around the hems of my sleeves.
"Sorry," I said, reaching down to give her a hand. She looked up and her brows furrowed. Then her eyes widened. There was something very familiar about her face. Where had I seen it before? Big olive-colored eyes. Tiny nose. Scruffy pony tail and messy bangs. Then it hit me. The Firelight Fountain. My first date. Jin.
Jin's POV
I saw the recognition in his eyes and felt a little taken aback. He still remembered me? It wasn't surprising I remembered him. Posters of him with Avatar Aang and Lady Katara, Chief Toph and Councilman Sokka had been posted around the whole town.
I thought that I was seeing things at first. Lee? Teashop boy the Fire Lord? Couldn't be. But then everything fell into place. The burn mark on his face. His weird background. How the lanterns were lit at the Firelight Fountain.
"J-Jin!" He stuttered.
I bit my lip and closed my eyes. Then I ran out of the teashop. "Wait! Jin!" I heard him call. I didn't reply. He lied to me. Sure, I would've probably hated him if he told me that he was the Fire Lord, but he should have trusted me.
Zuko's POV
I ran after Jin, memories of our date running through my mind. A loud street parade suddenly cut through, and I had to stop. When the parade has passed Jin was nowhere in sight.
I closed my eyes. Jin's face was burned into my mind. Her smile and the her look of disappointment as she had run out of the teashop. I sighed. I wish it was like our first date again. Suddenly I knew where she was.
Jin's POV
I sat on the edge of the Firelight Fountain, dangling my feet in the cold, clear water.
I hated Lee – Zuko. He tricked me! I closed my eyes, my lips pursed and imagined his face. I had heard stories of the Fire Nation's Prince hunting down the Avatar, burning down villages, breaking families apart. I imagined Zuko in Fire Nation, longer hair (as most of the Fire Nation people had long hair), and an evil look. But it didn't work. I kept imagining him as Lee.
I suddenly smiled. 'It's complicated,' he had said. "I guess it really was complicated," I said aloud.
"It was," A voice behind me said. I'd know that voice anywhere. Lee – Zuko, I mean.
I stood up, pulling my feet out of the fountain. "Wait, Jin, before you run, I want to explain everything."
"Explain?" I laughed. "There's nothing to explain. You lied to me. And you left me there with nothing on our first date!"
"Wait, that's what you're angry about?"
"Yes!" I cried. "I was, like, fifteen! You know how embarrassed I felt? I thought you hated me!"
"No!" He grabbed my shoulders. "It's the opposite. I didn't want you to hate me."
"I don't think I would've hated you if you told the truth," I mumbled.
Zuko shook his head. "Let's go back to the teashop."
Time Skip: The Next Afternoon
Jin's POV
I was angrier at Zuko more than ever. Yesterday, he walked me back to the teashop, left me there, and walked away. Grrr…
The wind chimes attached to the door rang as someone stepped into the shop. He walked up to the counter. "Hey, I'm Zuko. What's your name?"
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously, but played along. "Jin."
"That's cute. So, do you want to go out sometime, Jin?" His eyes were hopeful, and I knew exactly what he was doing.
"I would love to go," I could feel the corners of my mouth twitch.
"Great! I'll meet you outside the shop at sundown."
Time Skip: After the Replay of their First Date
Zuko's POV
"Aww, they're not lit!" Jin's face crumpled, but a smile was visible in her eyes. I rolled my eyes. "Let your eyes stay open this time, kay?" she nodded and I entered my Fire Bending stance.
It was weird how alike everything was today. But it was the funnest thing I ever did.
We sat on the floor, looking at the lanterns and at the fountain. Jin put her head on my shoulder and I put my head on her head. This had to be the best day ever.
A/N:
I've changed this chapter a lot and I think it's a lot better now :) Thank you, Shade40!