The Tea Shop-(Zuko x Reader)

A Confused Heart

                                           At Zuko's Apartment

"What was I thinking!?!" Zuko slams his fist against the wall as he bursts through the front door, making the room shake. Iroh looks at him with concern for a second.

"Uh-Is everything alright?" He looks at Zuko seriously, "I was wondering where you went, you had me a little worried...Why are you all wet?" Iroh asks and swiftly grabs a cup of tea, gesturing it towards Zuko.

"I don't want your stupid tea!" He grumbles angrily and walks to his room, slamming the sliding door behind him and flopping onto his bed. He lays there and stares at the ceiling, trying to figure out his emotions, but he quickly gives up and sighs in anger.

A small knock comes to the door, "Zuko, I know you think you don't want to, but I think it's in your best interest that we talk about what's going on," Iroh slowly slides the door open and walks in with two cups of tea.

"There's nothing to talk about." Zuko quickly turns away from Iroh, facing the wall. Iroh sighs and sits next to the bed.

"I remember when I was your age, I went through the same emotions as you, I think I can help you through your girl problems," Iroh smiles and waits for a response. His words trigger something inside Zuko, making him sit up and turn to Iroh.

"No, you can't! You don't understand!" Zuko yells angrily, but Iroh stays still.

"Then please help me understand." They sit there for a while as Zuko tries to collect his emotions and think of what's really bothering him.

"I...I don't know how to tell her anything...I just keep thinking about how she'll hate me, and maybe even get us caught." Iroh sits and strokes his beard in thought, "But I'm sick of lying...She doesn't even know my real name and she's my girlfriend!!" Zuko gets frustrated and slumps over, holding his face in his hands while he tries his best to force tears back.

Iroh takes a long sip of tea before saying anything, "You are very attached to her...Perhaps the best thing you can do is tell her your name. If she does reject you, then it wasn't meant to be," He puts a hand on Zuko's arm to get his full attention, "But Zuko, you need to tell this girl if you see a future with her, The longer you wait, the more likely that she will be angry."

Zuko stays in the same position, his hands covering his face. Iroh slowly gets up and walks to the door, leaving Zuko's cup. "Uncle," Zuko says, making Iroh stop and turn around, "Thank you." Iroh smiles and walks out of the room.

"Now get changed out of those wet clothes and get some sleep, it's not healthy to be up so late." Iroh closes the door.

Zuko can't get (y/n) out of his head. His cheeks flush red as single tears of frustration roll down his face, pooling on the ground in front of him. He watches the droplets get absorbed by the porous wood, making his mind calm. He lays back down and stares out his window, out at the twinkling stars lighting the purple sky. He thinks about (y/n), Her contagious smile, her perfect eyes and the way they look at him. The way that she accepts all of him with open arms. She's perfect to him in every way. Not a single flaw on that ray of sunshine.

"I just want to hear (y/n) say my name..."