Blades and Fans

Tales of Ba Sing Se: Suki & Zuko Part 2

As Zuko trekked along walking over the narrow streets and the small bridges, he noticed a familiar face slouched over on a bench crossing his path. "Hey, Aikio... what are you doing out so late?" he inquired as he approached the older girl.

Aikio was slumped over on the bench, her head arched up to look at the sky. Her cheeks were flushed red as she tilted a porcelain bottle to her lips. Hearing Zuko's voice she paused her drinking, pulling the bottle from her mouth as she addressed him. "Nothing just... star gazing," she said as she wiped her mouth with her sleeve.

Zuko arched his brow at her slurred speech and saw the bottle in her hands. "Your drinking?" he questioned as he walked over to her.

"No, I'm playing music. Don't you think I sound great?" Aikio scoffed sarcastically as she rolled her eyes at Zuko. Just as she did he pulled the bottle from her grasp, snatching away her liquor. "Hey! Give that back!" she growled at him trying to grab the bottle back.

Zuko just ignored her as he looked over and read the label. "This is Fire Nation sake," he said surprised. "Where did you get it?" he questioned as he took a sniff of the contents to reconfirm his suspicions.

"Haha oh, that. Well a few days ago a man tried to smuggle a few crates of this stuff into the city," She explained with a mischievous grin. "So I did my duty... and confiscate them for the SAFETY OF THE CITY HAHA!" she laughed pulling out another bottle that was hidden next to her.

"You stole it?"

"Hey, I didn't steal anything!" Aikio argued. "I'm just doing my job and disposing of this... corrupting liquid," she said as she popped the top of a fresh bottle breaking the seal. "Now you can either stand there like a stick in the mud or you can join me and help me dispose of this... stuff."

Zuko sighed as he snatched the other bottle from her grasp. In truth, he hadn't had a drink in years. Taking another sniff of the liquor, he slowly brought the bottle to his lips and took a long swig. The sweet yet warm liquid poured down his throat as he kept it down. Barely a cough left his as he took a seat next to Aikio.

"Woo and here I thought you'd be a lightweight!" Aikio chuckled as she took the bottle from him to have a drink as well.

"This is nothing, I've had stronger trust me," he commented as he wiped his lips. "Now care to tell me why you are really here?" he questioned as he could already feel the warmth rising to his cheeks from the alcohol.

"Well... since this is our last night in the city. I paid... Naomi a visit," she said solemnly as she took another sip. "Tried to see if we could work things out," she sighed softly a small burp escaping her lips.

"How did that go?" Zuko asked although he figured he already knew the answer.

"Well I'm drinking with you aren't I," she shot back at him. "Maybe that'll give you a hint at how it went," Aikio said annoyed, although it was more to do her situation rather than his question.

"I'm sorry," he apologized not wanting to antagonize her.

"It's alright, it's my fault anyway," she admitted as she watched Zuko take another sip of the sake his face turning even redder. "I lied, and my lie freaked her out... she didn't want to see me again," she said taking the porcelain bottle from him. But feeling as it was nearly empty, she poured the rest of it down her throat before grabbing another sealed one. "Guess that's my life."

"That's rough buddy," he said softly earning him a nudge in the arm by the drunk warrior.

"Yeah, no shit haha," Aikio laughed before handing him some sake. "You know you surprise me. I honestly thought you'd be a lightweight, but you are drinking like a champ," she said impressed watching him take another swig of the fermented rice.