ATLA: Bonds Within Bending

Creepy Chamomile

Zuko's POV

The tea shop was quickly filling with people, nobody seemed to be bringing empty cups back to the kitchen so it was my job to clear up every five minutes. We've only been open an hour and the place is a dump.

I began to get bored with wasting time going back and forth for cups so I decided to stack every cup I found, hoping they wouldn't fall. But they were leaning and wobbling around on the tray. "C'mon stay there", I but my bottom lip and prayed for no more mess.

But tripped on a part of my costume that was lose, another thing I haven't paid too much attention to. "Crap!", I lunged forward to stop myself from falling and attempted to catch the cups, missing one by an inch. Watching it fall right in front of me.

Luckily someone leant forward and caught it in time, just before it touched the ground.

"Phew, that was a close one huh? Do you want me to take that tray of your hands so you can fix your outfit? Don't want that to happen again huh?", his voice sounded familiar, but I'm sure I haven't met this person, something about them was nostalgic?

"Yeah, thanks", I watched him place the cup on the side and carefully take the tray from me, he placed the tray on the top of the bar and returned to check on me. I grabbed the loose end of fabric and retied it around my waist, making sure it's secured on this time. 

"What have you come as? some creepy clown?", The guy spoke through his fake helmet as clearly as he could so he wouldn't sound muffled. I'm not totally offended by what he assumed I am but still it isn't the best feeling.

"Uh no, actually I'm the blue spirit, an evil water spirit from the play Love Amongst the Dragons. See the details on the mask and how it's streamlined so-", I began to explain to the guy that the costume is a lot more then just a random halloween clown. It means a lot more to me anyway. Mom used to love that play, that's one of the only things I can remember her talking about, the thing she was most happy to talk about.

"Okay so not a clown. Can you guess what I am?", He proudly posed in front of me, like it was completely obvious what he was dressed in, I know what he's wearing on his head is some sort of helmet, maybe he's an armoured ant or something? I don't want to offend him by rudely guessing the wrong thing like he did.

"Zuko! There are more cups to collect towards the back of the tea shop. If you don't move soon there will be a cup avalanche!", Iroh spoke loudly so his voice could reach across the crowded room, luckily when he raised his voice it's naturally booming enough so it doesn't strain at all.

"You're joking? nothing? I'm a soldier! Hey old guy, you know I'm a soldier right?", The armoured ant looking person yelled back at Iroh in response, like he was randomly involved in the conversation because he told me to do my job. I watched Iroh's expression quickly change.

"Yes you are boy", He sighed with a saddened smile before quickly turning away to serve another customer. 

"Okay, well nice meeting you. I better do what I'm told, enjoy", I excused myself to get away from the crazily confident and loud guy and grabbed some clutter before returning to my uncle's side. "Uncle, are you okay? Need a break?", I placed a hand on his shoulder seeing how sluggish he's suddenly become. He turned to me and took my hand off his shoulder, holding it in both hands and thanked me with a brighter looking smile then before.

"Woah, he looks exhausted", Mai was sat on a stool at the bar, she wasn't wearing a costume by the looks of things, I guess it's because Ty Lee usually is the one to force her to dress up every year. So without her Mai is her usually grouchy self.

"He is, but he's got some time to rest up now, could you give me a hand with the drinks?", I asked hopefully, knowing how much Mai hates to do anything. She groaned but managed to pull herself up and behind the bar, she grabbed an apron from the kitchen and began to serve a customer. She was doing something for me without anything in return? Spooky. "Thanks, I think Iroh must've felt a little upset when he saw that guy's costume over there. Personally I was more upset over how horrid his personality is", I pointed at the soldier boy.