𝔸𝕖𝕪𝕖𝕟𝕟𝕒 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝔸𝕤𝕤𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕟: ℤ𝕦𝕜𝕠 𝕩 𝕆𝕔

Chapter 25- City of Secrets

As the train finally pulled into the station in Ba Sing Se, Aeyenna stirred, feeling the soft sensation of fingers gently combing through her hair. Slowly, she opened her eyes, and they met Zuko's. His amber eyes watched her with an unfamiliar softness.

Zuko quickly averted his gaze when their eyes met, a slight flush coloring his cheeks. "Did you sleep okay?" he asked, his voice laced with a shyness that she rarely saw in him.

Aeyenna kept her head resting in Zuko's lap, not bothering to move as she stretched slightly. "How long was I out? It felt like I was sleeping for days," she murmured, her voice still heavy with sleep.

"Just a couple of hours," Zuko replied, his voice soft. "But we're almost here. The train just pulled into the station."

Aeyenna blinked her eyes open, her vision slowly adjusting to the bustling scene of the Lower Ring outside the train window.

As the train doors slid open, Zuko helped Aeyenna to her feet, and the trio stepped off the train, quickly becoming part of the moving crowd of people. The crowd swallowed them up, but they navigated the busy streets.

One moment, the group was walking together, and the next, Iroh had vanished from sight. Aeyenna paused, glancing around in confusion before turning to Zuko. "Where did Iroh go?"

Just then, Iroh hurried to catch up with them, a large vase of vibrant orange flowers cradled in his arms. The blossoms swayed gently as he walked.

Zuko turned to face his uncle, his expression cold as he eyed the delicate flowers that Iroh held in his hands.

"I just want our place to look nice for Aeyenna!" Iroh exclaimed, nudging Zuko playfully with his elbow.

With a bleak expression, Zuko remarked,"This city is a prison. I don't want to make a life here."

"Life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not. Now come on, I found us some new jobs, and we start this afternoon!"

Aeyenna tensed, an unsettling feeling creeping over her as if she were being watched. She turned to glance around, only to see the bustling crowd moving about their business. Dismissing the strange feeling, she shook her head and continued to follow Zuko and Iroh.

They arrived at a small tea shop, and Zuko let out an exasperated groan. "Seriously? You're making us work at a tea shop?"

Aeyenna brushed past him, arching an eyebrow. "Are you really that surprised?"

As they entered the shop, the manager greeted them warmly. After a brief interview, Pao smiled and handed them small aprons. "Well, you certainly look like official tea servers. How do you feel‌?"

"Could be cuter," Aeyenna remarked, eyeing her apron with a hint of disappointment.

"Ridiculous," Zuko muttered, shaking his head in disapproval.

Iroh fumbled with the strings of his apron, straining to tie them behind his back. "Uh, does this possibly come in a larger size?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration as he struggled to make the strings reach.

"I have extra strings in the back. Help yourselves to some tea while you wait!" Pao said cheerfully as he poured three steaming cups, handing them to his new employees before disappearing into the back of the shop.

Iroh took a sip from his cup, but his face twisted in disgust. He quickly held the cup away from him. "Blech! This tea is nothing more than hot leaf juice!" He examined it critically, shaking his head in disappointment.

With an annoyed tone, Zuko replied, "Uncle, that's what all tea is."

Fuming, Iroh exclaimed, "How could a member of my own family say something so horrible?! We'll have to make some major changes around here!" With that, he marched over to the window, grabbed the teapot, and dumped the tea out, watching it splash onto the street below.