The Tea Shop-(Zuko x Reader)

The girl

Morning comes and my eyes flutter open. I slowly get out of bed and quietly walk to my dresser, making sure to not wake Lee. I grab a simple green dress with black accents and slip into the bathroom to change and get ready. A giddy feeling bubbles in my chest as I think about what the shop looks like. I haven't been in it since the first day I came to the upper wall when the building was completely empty. I twist my hair into a tall proud bun, pinning it in place with a small gold hairpin.

I look at the little jade necklace that Lee gave me, it lays daintily strung around my neck, just barely above the neckline of my dress. By the time I get out of the bathroom Lee and Mushi are both ready to leave, I look at their matching green outfits and laugh, they look perfect.

The moment we step in and start to work, the aroma of boiling tea leaves fill the air in a matter of minutes. We prepare beautiful ornate teacups and set them on the large mahogany tables. The shop looks better than I imagined, it's dressed in gold and green curtains, signs, rugs, and table cloths. The designers really knew what they were doing, The Jasmine Dragon is everything I hoped it would be and more. The moment we let the large, heavy doors open, a swarm of new customers come in, excited to try Mushi's tea.

Lee and I both let him have his spotlight, knowing how happy he is around people who care for him. Instead, we tend to the brewing, sweeping, straightening, and cleaning, making sure the tea shop looks spotless every time a party of people leaves.

It's therapeutic to be at work, so much that I lose myself in sudsy water as I gently scrub the fragile teacups with a wet washcloth. I think of the future, a future where Lee and I are still working at this very tea shop, married and happy. I'm not ashamed to imagine things like that anymore, it feels more and more like a reality every day I'm with him.

The waves of customers start to thin as we get closer to closing time. Soon there is no one, and we are minutes from closing, I start to close the large front doors before a dainty, pale hand wrap around the doors and push them open, I stumble back and look at them.

"I'm sorry miss, but the shop is closed for the day, could you please come back tomorrow-"

She dismisses my request and walks in, following her are what I can only assume are Dai Li agents. She walks with confidence, her chin held high, as if she owned the place, as if she owned us. Her ability to make me feel like I'm the one who shouldn't be here scares me. She stands and waits for Lee and Mushi to walk out of the kitchen, they both shoot her a nervous glance.

"Well hello, brother...uncle," She smirks

Before long they are sitting across from each other at one of the tables, I stand a few feet away, feeling out of place. My heart pounds out of my chest, I can tell Lee is in distress, if he is scared, then this must not be good. The long silence rings in my ears, making my anxious feelings worse. The girl glares at me.

"So who's your friend, Zuko?"

My heart drops, not understanding who she's addressing, Lee's face hardens.

"Leave her out of this," He hisses.

"My my, no need to be rude, it was only a question," Her grin widening, knowing what his reaction would be.

Zuko? I don't know any Zuko, yet Lee answers her and looks at me with guilt and sadness. Is he not...Lee?

**(A/N) Helloo~ I'm sorry for the short chapter, but the next chapter will be much longer!! ;)**