Kaida Queen Of Ice <<ATLA; Book two: Earth>>

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

   A day later we were walking through the little town looking around. We had just gotten to the part of the city we planned on staying at. Zuko rarely stopped to look at things in the market but that didn't really stop Iroh and I from it.

   "Look!" I pulled Zuko over to the flower shop. He sighed and followed me around. "These ones look nice don't they?"
   I held up a bouquet of sunflowers and other small wildflowers. He smelled them and took them to the vendor. I smiled as he bought them for me.

   "You're a very lucky girl!" The florist told me with a smile. "Such a sweet boyfriend."

   I glanced at Zuko who blushed but he looked annoyed. "Thank you." I bowed and we walked out, he didn't seem to smile or anything.

   "Does that mean you'll go out with me now?" He asked and I saw the corner of his lip curl up.

   "Maybe, if you properly ask me out." I teased.

   Iroh caught up to us with a jar of flowers. "I just want our place to look nice incase someone brings home a friend." He winked at both of us.
We both looked away. "Aah I see you got flowers aswell, for your room?"

   "Yeahh..." I sighed.

   "This city is a prison, I don't want to make a life here." Zuko said.

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

   We arrived at a tea shop and I wasn't even surprised. The man gave us aprons and we put them on.

   "Well, you certainly look like offical tea servers, how do you feel?" Our boss asked.

   "Ridiculous." Zuko muttered.

   "Uuh does this possibly come in a larger size?" Iroh asked not being able to tie his.

   "I have extra string in the back. Have some tea while you wait." he poured us a glass and left.

   "This tea is nothing more than hot leaf juice!" Iroh complained and I set my cup down. He was the tea expert.

   "Uncle, that's what all tea is." Zuko replied and I nudged at his rude comment.

   "How could a member of my own family say something so horrible?!" Iroh asked. "We'll have to make some major changes around here." He took the pot and threw the tea out.

⇢ ⇢ ⇢

   We worked for the rest of the day and then eventually got back to our small apartment. I sat down on the couch and Zuko laid his head on my lap.

   "Would either of you like some tea?" Iroh asked.

   "We've been working in a tea shop all day!" Zuko complained. "I'm sick of tea!"

   "Yeah Iroh, I love your tea but after working all day around it." I sighed and closed my eyes. "It's sickening."

   "Sick of tea?!" He looked at us. "That's like being sick of breathing!"
He looked around and asked. "Have you seen the spark rocks to heat up the water?"

   "I am hungry." I yawned as he left. "You know I kinda expected him to say he would make me some food."

   "I'll do it." Zuko said but he I knew was tired.

   I chuckled and ran my hand through his short hair. "Yeah right, does the Prince actually know how to cook?"

   "We could go get food." He suggested annoyed.

   "You should get some sleep." I said. "I can wait until breakfast." He sat up and we looked at each other, the both of us starting to lean in.

   "I borrowed some from our neighbors, such kind people." Iroh said and Zuko and I pulled away from each other. Iroh sparked up the top to heat up his tea.

   "I'm going to bed." I said and got up yawning. "Night guys."

*･☪︎·̩͙

   It had been a few weeks of living in Ba Sing Se. I never thought I would have liked working but this was actually really fun.
   Iroh made the best tea in the entire city and once word got out more people began to show up and we grew more regulars.

   "Another night busting tables." I fake cheered.

   "I hate it just as much as you do." Zuko said handing me a tray.

   "Nah, you hate it more than me." I chuckled and went to serve the other tables while he followed to clean up.

   "This is the best tea ever." A customer claimed to Iroh.

   "The secret ingredient is love." Iroh replied and I rolled my eyes taking the tea to the table.

   "Is it really?" The young man asked me. I looked at him, he was around Zuko's age with black hair and blue eyes.

   "No, he just really loves tea." I answered setting his cup of mango green tea down.

   "You don't like tea?" He asked curiously.

   "I loved it but now working in a tea shop it...well, you know.." I shrugged. "Enjoy."

    "My name is Zian." He quickly said before I could leave.

   "I'm Natsumi." I replied with a smile and walked back to the counter to get more tea.

   "You didn't have to tell him your name." Zuko said and I smirked.

   "Jealous, Prince Zuko?" I whispered and continued to serve tea.

   The door slid open and Jet walked in "I'm tired of waiting!" He ordered at Zuko.
   "These two men are firebenders" pointing to Zuko and Iroh and pulled out his hook swords.

   "Get down." Zian pulled me down. I looked over at him and he glanced at me.

   "I know they're firebenders, I saw the old man heating his tea!" Jet yelled.

   "He works in a tea shop." The customer said.

   "He's a firebender, I'm telling you!" Jet repeated and then his eyes landed on me. "Tell them the truth! Tell them who they really are!"

  "What are you talking about?" I asked, I should become an actress. I would be great.

   "Drop your swords boy." The police men stood up. "Nice and easy."

   "You'll have to defend yourselves." Jet said walking towards Iroh. "Then everyone will know, Go ahead show them what you can do."

   "You want a show?" Zuko asked walking up and pulling the swords out of the police mans grip. "I'll give you a show."
   He kicked the table at Jet who jumped over it and towards Zuko, he jumped on a table then Jet cut it in half, making Zuko jump dodging the hooks.

   "I'm sorry." I told Zian and ran over to Iroh as Zuko and Jet fought. "What do we do now?"

   "We wait for them to finish." Iroh answered and I frowned.

   This better end well.

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Edited; 11/05/20
Re-Edited; 7/10/21