"Uncle, we have a problem. One of the customers is on to us. Don't look now but there is a girl over there at the corner table. She knows we're Fire Nation." Iroh looked at the girl, but was quickly pulled back by Zuko. "Didn't I say don't look?!"
"You're right, Zuko. I've seen that girl in here quite a lot. Seems to me she has quite a little crush on you." Iroh said.
"What!" Zuko and I gasped in unison. Said girl appeared behind us. She handed Zuko some coins, which he put on a table.
"Thank you for the tea. What's your name?" She asked.
"My name's Lee. My uncle, my best friend and I just moved here." Zuko said.
"Hi Lee, my name's Jin. Thank you and... well, I was wondering if you would like to go out sometime."
"He'd love to!" Iroh said before Zuko could respond.
"Great. I'll meet you in front of the shop at sundown." Jin said, beaming. Jin walked away, as Iroh threw his arms on a bewildered Zuko's shoulders, with a large smile as Zuko glared at him. I sucked in a breath and untied my apron.
"I'm taking this shift off." I said, walking away.
"What did I say?" Iroh innocently asked my retreating form.
I sat on the roof, hugging my knees. Good going Iroh, take away the only guy I've actually ever connected with. I rubbed at my eyes, trying not to cry. Jin was a nice girl, I could tell by her kelly green scent, but I didn't want Zuko getting caught up with her. Not only would it be dangerous, I'd lose my best friend and my crush to a stranger. I decided to head inside. It was sundown after all. I stood and saw Zuko leaving. His hair was ridiculous. Jin walked over from a shortcut through an alley and they spoke for a second, Jin ruining his slicked hair, and they headed out, Jin's arm wrapped through Zuko's. I bit my lip and headed inside. Iroh had closed the shop down for awhile on Pao's ordera and I sat at one of the tables, holding my head in my hands.
"Are you alright, Avery?" Iroh asked, sitting across from me. I looked up, my arms falling onto the table.
"No, no I'm not." I snapped. His eyes widened a bit at my tone.
"What's wrong?"
"Jin, that's what." I said, rubbing my forehead in a sign of stress. Iroh's eyes widened even further and his mouth formed an 'o'.
"You have a crush on Zuko?" Iroh said.
"You really haven't figured that out yet?" I said. Iroh sighed.
"I'm didn't. Okay, well, it's a simple crush, you can move on. Find a 'friend' of your ow-"
"Iroh, you don't understand. It's not a silly school-girl crush, like the one Jin has on Zuko. I love him. I mean, come on. A panda figured that out. That's why Hei-Bai convinced Chi to let me go." I said, hugging my knees. Iroh sighed.
"I didn't know." Iroh said.
"Yeah, you didn't, and now I'm about to lose my best friend to a complete stranger!" I said, closing my eyes and gritting my teeth to hold back tears. Iroh placed a hand on my shoulder. There was a sudden knock on the door and I sucked in a breath.
"We're closed!" I called.
"June, it's me, Jet." they said. I exchanged glances with Iroh before standing and heading to open the door.
"What do you want?" I asked, leaning against the door frame.
"I w- Wait, were you crying?"
"Nah, the tea leaves are getting to my sinuses. Go on." I lied.
"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to come out with me?" Jet asked. I blinked rapidly in surprise before smiling a bit.
"Sure, I've got some time." I said, standing up a bit.
"Let's go." Jet said with a smile. I looked back to Iroh.
"I'm going out for a bit." I said.
"Stay safe, June." Iroh said. I smirked.
"Of course, Mushi." I said. I closed the door behind me and nodded to Jet.
"What did you have in mind?"
"Firelight Fountain? Sounds like something out of a faerie tale." I said. Jet laughed and I grinned. We had gotten some sort of sweet from a vendor, and it was really good. And now we were headed to Firelight Fountain.
"Yeah, well, I hear it's pretty cool. Real nice looking and all." Jet said. I nodded.
"Well, with a faerie name like that I'd hope so." I said. And then I saw it.
"Damn, it's out." Jet said. Suddenly, small bursts of fire flew through the air and lit the lamps. My eyes widened and Jet grinned.
"I knew it!" He said. He turned as if to go tell the authorities, but I grabbed his shirt, eyes sparking.
"Going somewhere, Jet?" I growled. He smirked.
"You're right, might as well have some fun while we're here." He said. My eyes widened as he grabbed the hand on his shirt and bent it back, causing me to wince. He pushed me towards an alley and my eyes widened. So, it's that kind of fun that he wanted. He gripped my wrists and forced me against a wall. I turned my head away and shuddered in disgust.
"Not so tough as a girl, are you?" Jet mocked. I frowned and turned. I then smashed my forehead against his. He grunted and his grip loosened, allowing me to rip my hands away. I lashed out, my nails catching his cheek. He frowned and grabbed my wrists again, slamming me against the wall to shut me up. I cracked my neck and snarled.
"I'm not giving anything away to you, you sick-" He cut me off with a sharp slap to the cheek. I spat at his feet. "That the best you've got?"
"That's it." Jet grabbed both of my wrists in one hand and held them over my head. His other hand brought out a dagger. My eyes trained on the glinting metal. "So, now you shut up."
"So, you're a necrophiliac, huh?" I said. Jet smirked.
"Nah, I just like them bleeding." Jet said. I frowned. Jet held the dagger against my stomach and smirked. "Any last words, June?"
"Just two." I said, a plan forming in my mind. I sucked in a breath and screamed two words. "Pouty! Help!"
"See, that's why I don't want her in the mortal world!" Chi exclaimed. Lin whacked him upside the head.
"Pull it together. She'll be fine. See, Zuko's going to help." Lin said, directing their attention to another image. Jin was about to kiss Zuko when Avery had screamed, and Zuko turned to look for the voice. He stepped away and Jin frowned.
"What's wrong?" Jin asked.
"It's complicated. I have to go." Zuko said. "June's in trouble."
"See, I knew I liked this kid." Lin said, smiling.
Jet snarled in anger as I called out. He stabbed the knife into my hip and I hissed in pain. There was a sudden crash and Jet fell over, temporarily . I looked to see Zuko wielding a garbage can lid.
"Can you walk?" He asked. I nodded and took a step, wincing in the process. Zuko frowned. "Or not."
"I'm fine." I said. Zuko shook his head and picked me up bridal style.
"Do you have any idea how to get back to the shop?" Zuko asked. I nodded and gave him directions as he ran us back to the Pao's shop. Zuko bumped the door open and Iroh looked up in surprise. They had reopened the shop from the break and the customers looked up in surprise.
"Lee, what happene-"
"Quickly, June needs help." Zuko said.
"I'm fine."
"You can barely stand." Zuko said. A nearby man got up and picked his things off the table, gesturing for Zuko to put me on the table. He did and I hissed as the dagger shifted in my hip.
"Sorry." Zuko said. Iroh ran over and began assessing the injury. The door slammed open and in came Jet. My eyes widened and I gripped Zuko's hand.
"I'm tired of waiting!" He pointed an accusing finger at Iroh and Zuko. "These two men are firebenders! I know they're firebenders, I saw the old man heating his tea! And he lit the Firelight Fountain!"
"He works in a tea shop."
"He's a firebender! I'm telling you!"
"Drop your swords, boy. Nice and easy." A man said, standing, along with another man.
"You'll have to defend yourself. Then everyone will know. Go ahead, show them what you can do."
Jet slowly walked towards us with his swords. Just as one of the customers was about to draw his swords, Zuko stepped in front and grabbed them instead.
"You want a show? I'll give you a show!" Zuko said.
"Be careful." Iroh and another man carried me to the back where they cut my shirt off around the dagger before pulling it out. I screamed out, gripping the strangers hand. Iroh began cleaning the wound. I was in tears, the whole process extremely painful. I heard the crashing and clanging of Zuko and Jet fighting. Iroh applied gauze to the wound and began wrapping my waist in bandages.
"Thanks." I breathed once he had it wrapped. Iroh smirked.
"You really have a habit of risking your life to keep us safe, don't you."
"I can't help it." I said. I went to get up but Iroh pushed my shoulder to the table.
"You need to rest." Iroh said. I frowned.
"I'll rest when I'm six feet under." I said. I got up, ignoring the pain in my hip, and headed for the door that had been re-slammed open. They were fighting alright.
"Please, son, you're confused! You don't know what you're doing!" Iroh called. I huffed and followed the boys as they headed for the fountain.
"Drop your weapons." A Dai Li agent ordered. His comrade matched his steely gaze as they stared down Zuko and Jet. Zuko and Jet stepped away and faced each other. Zuko lowered his sword, as Jet pointed at Zuko and Iroh.
"Arrest them, they're firebenders!"Jet said. He then pointed at me. "And she attacked me!"
"This poor boy is confused, we're just simple refugees." Iroh said. I stepped forward and took Zuko's hand in mine.
"This young man wrecked my tea shop, and assaulted my employees!" Pao said.
"It's true sir, we saw the whole thing. This crazy kid attacked the finest tea maker in the city." The man from earlier said.
"Oh, ho, ho. That's very sweet." Iroh said.
"And, he stabbed this innocent girl." His friend added. The two Dai Li approached Jet.
"Come with us, son." The Dai Li said. Jet swung his hook sword at the agent, who caught the sword with his rock gloves. The guard then disarmed Jet, and both guards pulled his arms behind his back, binding his wrists together using their rock gloves' stones. The guards dragged Jet away towards a wagon designed for holding captured criminals.
"You don't understand! They're Fire Nation! You have to believe me!" Jet exclaimed. The crowd began to disperse. Jet in the wagon, on his knees, looked up as the doors are shut. The people left in the street watched the wagon roll away. I let out a shaky sigh.
"This is yours sir." Zuko said, handing the sword the the customer. "The other is in front of the shop."
"Thanks." The man said. Zuko turned to me and smiled a bit.
"C'mon, let's get you home." Zuko said.
"So, how was your date?" I asked, sitting on the couch with Zuko. Iroh had went to sleep a bit earlier, leaving us with an awkward silence to fill.
"It was... nice, I guess..." Zuko said. I quirked an eyebrow.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Well, she almost kissed me." My eyebrows shot up into my hairline. "But you got stabbed so..."
"Oh, sorry?" I said. "I mean, if you wanted to kiss her and all, ya know, sorry for rui-"
"Avery!" Zuko laughed. "You saved me from having to break it to her that I didn't like her that way."
"Oh... really?" I asked. Zuko smirked.
"I only just met her. Yeah, she's nice and cute, but no, I don't like her that way. I see her as more of a needy friend." Zuko said. I smiled.
"That's good..." I said. Zuko gave me an amused look and I blushed. "I mean, that you can still be friends!"
"Just a question, why were you and Jet in the same place to begin with?" Zuko asked. I sighed.
"Well, after you left with Jin, Iroh and I shared a pot of tea and talked. Then Jet came over and asked if I wanted to go into town with him, which I said sure because I had free time. Then he saw you light Firelight Fountain and went to go get the police, but I stopped him. And he attacked me."
"Wait, you went out with Jet?"
"You went out with Jin!" I said defensively.
"Jet's crazy! Jin is... Jin!" Zuko said.
"Geez, sorry to offend your girlfriend." I muttered.
"I heard that." Zuko said. I frowned and looked away. "Why are you so defensive all of a sudden?"
"Holy Spirit World! You seriously haven't figured it out yet?!" Zuko gave me a look. "I mean, for the love of tea, a panda was able to figure it out!"
"A panda? Figured out what?"
"Hei-Bai, it's why they let me go." I said. He gave me another confused look. "Do you really want to know?"
"Yes, I really do!"
"Fine then!" I said. I grabbed the collar of his shirt and yanked his head forward, my lips meeting his. I let him go and pushed his head away, crossing my arms, face on fire. "That's why."
"... I... er... uh... um..." Zuko stuttered, fingers at his lips. I covered my face with my hands.
"I'm sorry. Now everything's awkward!" I said.
"No no no! No, it's uh... it's... um..."
"See? You can't even finish a freakin' sentence!" I said.
"That's not why." Zuko said.
"Then why?"
"Do you really want to know?"
"Yes!"
"Fine then." Zuko said, smirking. He cupped my cheek and leaned forward, bringing together our lips. My eyes widened before I smiled and kissed back.
"Go to sleep!" Iroh called from his room. Zuko and I pulled back laughing.
"Yes! Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!" Lin, Chi, and Hei-Bai cheered together.
"Finally!" Chi said.
"Our girl's finally grown up!" Lin laughed.
"I told you it'd happen soon!" Hei-Bai said. The three spirits continued cheering about the two teenagers.
Haha, the three spirits are like FanGirls! So, due to the begging of my friend, Aveko is now canon.
What'd you think?
Disclaimer : I don't own ATLA, only Avery and Aveko