Blazing: An Avatar AU

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Ba Sing Se. 

The industrial capital of the world, and the capital of the Earth Kingdom. 

We stood in a line for what felt like forever, waiting for a woman to approove our passports and papers. 

Once it was finally our turn, Iroh handed the woman the papers. 

"So, Mr. Lee, Ms. Rei, and Mr.... umm Mushy is it? "

Iroh looked at the woman, "It's pronounced Moo-shee."

The lady looked annoyed, "You telling me how to do my job?"

Great, now Iroh pissed off the customs lady and she's not going to let us go inside the city. Thanks a lot.

"Uh, no no no," Iroh said, "But may I just say that you're like a flower in bloom, your beauty intoxicating."

Smooth. Real smooth.

The lady smiled, "You're pretty easy on the eyes yourself handsome," she made a cat-claw gesture with her hands, "Rawr," she approved our papers and handed it back to Iroh.

I turned away from them, facing Zuko instead, and stuck a finger in my mouth in a gagging motion.

Zuko shuddered and snatched the papers from his Uncle, "I'm gonna forget I saw that."

I laughed and we all walked passed the ticket gate. Soon, we found ourselves at a subway. Ba Sing Se has plenty of subways running through the city. 

We sat in the station and waited for our train. It was now 11:30 AM, and our train was at 12:00.

Zuko kept checking his phone for the time. I sighed, "Zuko. Constantly checking the time isn't going to make time go by faster, you know."

He groaned, "It was worth a try."

I laughed, "Was it?"

He laughed as well, "I guess not."

Jet casually sat down next to Zuko and I, "So, you guys got plans once you're inside the city?"

No one responded.

I watched as Iroh ordered tea from one of those food stands. He looked at the tea eagerly before taking a sip. He spit out the tea, his face distorted into an expression of disgust, "Ugh! This tea is so cold! Disgraceful."

I laughed, "We'll make hot tea when we get to our new apartment."

Iroh still looked disappointed. 

Jet sighed, "Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" He said to Zuko, getting up and gesturing for Zuko to follow him. 

Zuko got up and grabbed my hand, taking me along with him to follow Jet. 

Jet glanced at me with unease, "I meant alone."

Zuko squeezed my hand, "Anything you say to me, you say to her."

Jet sighed, "You and I have a much better chance of making it in the city if we stick together. You want to join the Freedom Fighters?"

"No," I said.

Jet glared at me, "I was asking Lee."

"Great, and I was answering for Lee. No."

Zuko put a hand on my shoulder, and I felt slightly calmer, he turned to Jet, "Thanks, but I don't think you want me in your gang."

"Come on," Jet said, "We made a great team looting that Captain's food. Think of all the good we could do for these refugees. Your girlfriend can join too."