not from around here | Zuko X OC

| chapter thirty one |

"So, Mr. Lee, Miss Chihiro and Mr. ummm... Mushy, is it?" The woman at the desk asked as she raised a skeptical eyebrow.

The trio were lining up, trying to get tickets to Ba Sing Se. Saki and Iroh were stood with big grins on their face, trying to seem as charming and innocent as possible. Meanwhile, Zuko was stood behind them with his arms crossed and an angry look on his face as he looked around.

"It's pronounced Mushi." Corrected uncle.
"You telling me how to do my job?" The woman sneered at him, reminding Saki of Roz from monsters inc. Of course she kept this to herself, however was struggling to keep her giggles from escaping.
"Uh, no, no. But may I just say you're like a flower in bloom. Your beauty is intoxicating." Iroh smiled charmingly at her.

"Real smooth uncle, real smooth." Saki muttered, turning away from the receptionist in disgust.

"You're pretty easy on the eyes yourself, handsome. Raorr! Welcome to Ba Sing Se."
She stamped their tickets and Saki and Zuko shared a disgusted look.

"I'm going to forget I saw that." Said Zuko as Saki put a hand on his shoulder, leaning forwards to mime throwing up.
"I think I'm gonna be sick." She spluttered.

They grabbed their tickets and waited on a bench. Saki sat next to Zuko and put her head on his shoulder with a sigh. Zuko looked down at her in surprise before putting an arm around her and in her hair, ruffling it. Saki noticed Jet walking over to them and she let out another sigh as she nudged Zuko.

"Here comes trouble." Saki grumbled.
"Is that what people say when you walk past them too?" He playfully asked, smirking at his own comment.
"Shut up." Saki said, giggling slightly and leaning into him to give him a nudge.

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

A tea seller with a cart yelled from not too far away. "Get your hot tea here! Finest tea in Ba Sing Se!"
"Ooh! Jasmine please." Called uncle, quickly going over to the tea seller.

He poured the tea and handed it to uncle Iroh. He took a sip and grimaced as the man with the cart walked off.
"Blaugh! Ugh, coldest tea in Ba Sing Se is more like it! What a disgrace!" Iroh grumbled.

"Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" Jet gestured to Saki and she tried to stand, but Zuko grabbed her arm.
"You too, Lee." Jet nodded, seeing Zuko's protective behaviour.
Zuko nodded. They stood and Saki followed the two boys a few feet away from Iroh, who was still grumbling about his tea.

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

"Thanks, but I don't think you want me in your gang." Zuko told him.
"Come on, we made a great team looting that captain's food. Think of all the good we could do for these refugees." Jet pushed on, trying to convince Zuko. Saki raised an eyebrow, yet again witnessing how pushy Jet was.
"I said no." Zuko snapped.

"Chihiro?" Jet turned to her.
Saki looked up at Zuko and then grabbed his wrist defiantly. "Sorry Jet, well I'm not, but me and Lee stick together."
"Have it your way." Jet sighed, looking away from them, disappointed.

Saki and Zuko turned and walked away, back to uncle Iroh. Saki saw him with a steaming cup of tea in his hands.
"Wasn't uncle's tea cold?" She said, frowning.
Zuko noticed too and slapped the cup out of his hands.

"Hey!" Exclaimed Iroh.
"What are you doing firebending your tea? For a wise, old man, that was a pretty stupid move!" Zuko shouted through gritted teeth.

"I know you're not supposed to cry over spilled tea, but... it's just so sad!" Iroh sniffled, ignoring his nephews's rage.
"Here you go." Saki said kindly, picking up the cup and waving her hand over it to collect the tea.