A Second Flame: Zuko x Reader

Chapter 27

The room we were in was vast. Covered in stones and Earth Kingdom  tapestries. We waited patiently in line to get to the woman in charge of checking passports. Well "in line" was a bit of a overstatement since we were at the very very back. But after we get through her, we will finally be in Ba Sing Se! I could feel the tension building with every step we got closer.

Zuko looked down at me lightly brushing his arm against mine,
"You nervous (Y/N)?"

"I suppose a bit... I haven't been in a big city for a long... long time"

"Just remember that I'm here for you..
Right fiance" he teased showing a rare smile.

"Oh shut up! Are you really going to make me pretend to be your fiance again?"

"Well yeah, it's not like we thought of a better disguise. Unless you want to become my actual fiance" He said muttering a bit towards the end. I honestly couldn't tell if he was being serious or not.

"I-I... uhh! Do you forget we're just teenagers? I'm not exactly planning on getting married any time soon!"

"Yeah but one day we will be-"

"We? What makes you think I'll marry you?"

"Well I... I just always assumed that.." he murmured.

"That what? You're my only option?"

"Is... there someone else? Is it that Fai archer guy? I swear I'll-"

"Calm down you! I'm only joking. Besides the lady's going to be able to hear us soon if we don't shush up"

Iroh turned around, he had been slightly ahead of us this whole time. He made a wide grin towards his nephew following a wink.

"Oh be quiet Uncle.." Zuko grumbled in defeat.

~

We finally made it to the front of the line. The lady look down at us in disgust as we gave her are passports.

"So Mr Lee... his fiance Ms Huian and Mr emm Mushy is it?"

"It's pronounced Mushi" Iroh corrected.

"You telling me how to do my job?"

"Ahh no-no but may I just say you're like a flower in bloom. Your beauty is intoxicating!"

"Hmm your pretty easy on the eyes yourself handsome... rawr..." the woman flirted as Zuko and I cringed. "Welcome to Ba Sing Sa"

Iroh collected our freshly stamped passports and turned to his nephew,
"I'm going to forget I saw that"

"Agreed..."

~

The next step was to wait for the trains to bring us into the city.
"Oh finally someplace to sit!" I exclaimed spotting one of the many massive stone columns embedded in the heart of the train station.

Zuko and Iroh sat down next to me. I looked around at all the other soon to be passengers.

Zuko looked just as annoyed as usual with his typical crossed arms.
"Oh cheer up Zu-Lee will be in the city soon"

"I'm tired of waiting" he shot back.

I kissed him on the cheek,
"There... that make the wait better?"

His face turned scarlet red with no response.

"So, you guys got plans once you're inside the city?"

"Oh great this guy again?" I thought as Jet sat down next to Zuko. He was probably going to try to recruit Zuko into his freedom fighters gang which I was not about to let happen. Before I could say anything a salesman paced through the terminals boosting of fresh hot tea.

Iroh immediately grinned,
"Oh Jasmine please!"

The man poured Iroh a cup which he immediately spat out upon tasting,
"Coldest tea in Ba Sing Se is more like it! What a disgrace"

"There there Moshi I'm sure once we get in town the tea will be fresh" I comforted Iroh.

"Aye can I talk to you for a second?" Jet flashed at Zuko causing him to reluctantly get up.

They didn't move all that far away, but the conversation went basically as I expected. Jet offered Zuko a position with the freedom fighters and Zuko declined.

As soon as I turned my glance away as Zuko was walking back, I noticed steam was coming from Iroh's tea.

Frick.

Zuko slapped the cup away,
"What are you doing firebending your tea? For a wise old man that was a pretty stupid move!"

"I know you're not supposed to cry over spilled tea... but it's just so sad!"

~

"Last call for Ba Sing Se!"

I followed Zuko and Iroh onto the train. The train was just like the station, dark and filled with green hues and stone. I never thought I would miss the ambience of the Firenation palace but... here we are.

We quietly took the first empty seats we saw which happened to be next to a young couple with a baby.
"What a handsome baby!" Iroh exclaimed.

"Thank you!" The mother replied joyfully looking down upon her newborn.

I smiled.... maybe that was going to be Zuko and I one day.

The train began moving. I "accidentally" moved closer to Zuko as the train moved. His tired expression lightened a bit as he casually moved his hand on to mine.

"Ready for a new adventure turtle duck buddy?"

"Ready as I'll ever be" he replied gazing into my eyes. Somehow those eyes had made me want to go. No matter what I'd be leaving behind.

Maybe Ba Sing Se wouldn't be so bad. Besides... he's in it and I'm not planning on that changing any time soon.

Author's note okay first I just want to thank you guys for your support of my book! Seriously I am blown away by my reader's kind comments and generous votes! Y'all are the real MVP!!