You are Everything that I've Been Searching for ~ a Zukka Fanfic

Chapter Fifteen, Leaves from the vine, Falling so slow

Chapter Fifteen, "Leaves from the vine, Falling so slow"

7th of June, that was the date in two days, 7th of June. What were the dates of the months but just days with context? Zuko nodded politely at the flight attendant as he got off the plane.

The flight had been fine, if not a little bumpy. Zuko didn't particularly like flying, he preferred to travel by car or train, and before he had been disowned, by private family yacht.

But it was a fast method of travel, efficient too. And it wasn't so bad as long as Zuko avoided the aeroplane food and he could just plug in his headphones and daydream until he got to his destination. One of his favourite pastimes.

His most recent day dream was him reminiscing about the previous day when he and the gang had taken a spontaneous trip to the city's museum, where there had been a special exhibit about the Avatar and its history. It had been a fun day, Zuko had enjoyed it very much, history always seemed to intrigue him.

According to the exhibit, the Avatar used to live back when there were still element benders. They had reincarnated into a new person many times, cycling through the different nations like clockwork. There were even a few stone statues of previous Avatars, excavated from a buried temple somewhere in the Air nation. The statues had incredible detail, from delicate hairstyles right down to soft veins and creases in their hands, one statue even looked a little bit like Aang. Zuko wondered what it would have been like back when the Avatar still existed and what they might have been like.

After touching down on the runway and navigating the highly tense and stressful maze known as "the airport" Zuko was outside getting into a Taxi with a chatty middle-aged lady. Zuko struggled through small talk with her as she drove him through the pretty streets of Ba Sing Se.

Zuko took a moment to admire the giant walls that surrounded the city. A long long time ago, during the hundred-year war, this city had been a fortified fortress. With brilliant strategic warfare, and cunning leaders, it used to be a safe haven from the fire nation during the war, often a place for refugees, if you ignore the blatant brainwashing the city used to do to its citizens. But despite its cool yet concerning history, it was still a very nice city.

"Where did you say you were headed again hun?" the Taxi driver asked again.

Zuko had already given the address to her before, did she already forget? Nevertheless, Zuko told her again.

"The Jasmine Dragon," He repeated.

"Oh that's right, it's that lovely tea place isn't it? Yes, I thought so," The Taxi driver said.

If you thought so, why did you ask? Zuko thought.

"That place's green tea blend is to die for. Did you know that the Earth King has been spotted dining there? I heard that he-" And then the Taxi-driver rattled off some sort of gossip about the Earth King.

Zuko didn't really care about where the Earth King had been seen or who he had been talking to. From what Zuko had seen and heard about the Earth King, he seemed like a nervous-looking young man who'd rather be left alone. Zuko could sympathise with that.

Finally, the Taxi stopped on the corner of a busy street filled with beautiful houses and a couple of cafes and shops. Zuko got his backpack and suitcase from the trunk. The Taxi driver wished him well and drove off, probably going a little faster than the residential speed limit.

Zuko turned and walked out the steps, passed a blue water fountain and stopped in front of a large dark green building with an orange brick roof. The sign above the door said in neat clean writing "The Jasmine Dragon" with a wooden carving of a red dragon next to it. Zuko smiled, it looked just like how he had left it.