Chapter Text
Zuko POV
As I turn on the stove on to boiled the water, I looked around to see uncle chatting with the other elders while playing Pai Sho. I admitted, I have adapted to this tea shop and maybe my new life today, but I’m still bitter that I couldn’t take the avatar bison. If only uncle wasn’t interfering my plans.
But I guess it’s better to have uncle than leaving him. But if the avatar is anywhere near me, I won’t hesitated to captured him to regain my honour again.
I sigh in heavy silent as I continued to watch the water boiled more until it was on the right temperature.
I picked the boiler and brought it towards the bench as I poured the hot water into the cup as it held left tea.
Brewing the tea until I... think? was right.
I shrugged as I picked the tea, walking towards my uncle table and sat the tea towards an old man that uncle was playing against him.
“Here’s your jasmine tea sir.”
I said in a tired, rusty in a monotone.
“Thank you, kind boy, you have a nice nephew Mushi"
Compliment the old man as he looked at me, beaming in joy while also giving a sipped of the jasmine tea.
“Ah! Just right and delicious as always. Thank you!”
The old man said in a joyful tone as he gave a beaming nodded at me. I nodded kindly before leaving to do other customers orders.
“Lee!”
I heard my uncle yelled. I looked around and saw the uncle looking at me. I looked confused at first....until I realizes uncle was calling out to me.
I slapped my hand towards my forehead as I’ve forgotten that me and uncle changed our name. It was honestly annoying as I always looked a little suspicious when someone called out my fake name and people looked at me, seeing as I didn’t respond quickly.
Luckily, uncle took into his own hands...but he made people think that I’m deaf in my left ear.
......
Okay uncle wasn’t... particular lying about me being deaf...
well, I’m a little deaf but I can still hear, just forgotten about my new name.
I sigh in tiredness as I walked towards uncle, who is seemingly is still playing Pai Sho with the old man I serve.
“Yes Uncle?”
I said, already a little annoyed and impatience as I looked at uncle with displease.
“Good job today works my nephew; But would you please help your uncle to take these boxes out of the sidewalk Infront of the tea entrance please, I’m a little weak today. But I’ve already put the other boxes at the front last night.”
Uncle said, with upmost joy in his tone while smiling in delight...with worried expression too. I growled, not wanting any pity not wanting to be weak.
“And if you’re wondering what the boxes looked like, they should have a sign that colour is red and it’s a form of a panda please.”
Uncle said as he informs about the design. I sigh, still a little anger that uncle was giving me pity looks, but I did not bothered. I nodded as uncle resume to play Pai Sho with the old man and other customers.
I walked towards the benches were people order for some tea or any cookies, and then, I felt as I’m being stalked at. In which I looked behind me and saw about 6 woman’s giggling and staring at me with weird eyes when I went passed them (Girls crushing on Zuko).
I was feeling a little uncomfortable but shrugged it off as they saw my scar hideous (Boy! that scar makes you look hot). As I entered the backroom of the tea shop, I went to look around, trying to find the boxes, for whatever reason uncle wanted to leave them at the front.
“Argh! where is it- oh!”
I looked down my right and saw the boxes uncle descripted.
I gone down and picked the two boxes up. Standing up, as I realize that the boxes wasn’t heavy, but a very light. I just shrugged the boxes, and heard little equipment inside tinkering a bit. But I thought of it as glass and walked out of the tea backroom, went outside of the tea shop and looked at where uncle had putted the other boxes last night.
I walked and put the two boxes within the others. As I was going to go inside, ready to resume my worked and new life, I felt a bumped into me. I stopped and looked around to see no one.
“What the...?!”
I looked around to see anyone that bumped into me until I hear a groaned. I looked down and see a child.
Seeing a child frighten me, as I have no idea experience on how to confront a child, no less that it looks about five or six years old. Wondering what she was doing here. She seems to wear a white pale dress that went down to her knees. And... are those bandages.
I wanted to be wrong, like...so freaky wrong...but I guessed I pushed my luck. fucked, because those are bandages, her whole arms are covered in bandaging, same with her legs. I looked a little up, but to see her face covered by a long, ripped red cloaked around her body, covering her face and hair.
I was about to question on where is her parents, until I heard and big yelled.
“HEY YOU LITTLE BRAT! STOP RIGHT THERE!”
I looked up and see two earth-bender guards. I then looked down and saw the child trembling. I was about to walked away, leaving the girl to the guards so she can find her parents.... but seeing the two guards don’t seem friendly with her. But I shrugged off, it’s not my business. That’s until I heard a soft yet shaking tone.
“p-please sir! Don’t le-leave me...”
I looked down to see the girl eyes now.
Bright ruby eyes, filled with fear, and her tone. That was very shocking, as far as I know. None of the people, or any ancient time has red eyes, it was a little suspicious, but I stopped myself to see the child eyes again, this time, more closely to see the child eyes wasn’t filled of a child being in trouble.
No.... it was as if the child was going to be taking away from something else. And the way she has her hand out a little.
I knew she wanted to at least stop me from going away.
I groaned, not wanted to be in this situation since I’m also a fugitive, a traitor, a fire-bender AND Prince Zuko from a royal family towards the Fire nation. Now, hidden as a low-class civilian in Ba Sing Se, If I’m found out, me and uncle will be crushed to death by earth-benders.
But seeing the girl, who doesn’t seem to be around here, she might be a Fire nation. No wait, my people doesn’t have red eyes....
“Argh! damn it!”
I growled angry in also frustration. But I stopped walking away from the girl, as I turn around my whole body and glared at the two guards, who are now behind the little girl as she was in the middle between me and the guards. I groaned in wanting to go back into the tea shop and in tiredness. But I wasn’t going to be a monster and leave the girl.
I sigh heavily, knowing I have to explain my uncle why there’ll be a girl with us. I then immediately walked and stood Infront of the girl, as she trembles behind me.
“Good...morning guards?”
I said, not use to talking to the earth-benders, in which they gave me a confuse look before regaining and imitated look.
“Sir, sorry for the commotion, but that little girl needs to come with us.”
Declared one of the earth-bender guards, in a ruff tone.
“And I see, but what is it that the girl has done.”
I said, in a bored tone. Much likely be a stupide excuse.
“Well- “
“She looks weird and suspicious in that outfits!”
Yelled out the other guard as he interrupted the person who I was asking. And in which the person I was asking seem to be a bit embarrassed as his face was pink and seeming glaring intently at his friend guard.
There’s no use of lying as I could say the girl was suspicious, like, covering her body and face with the cloak.
“Well, there is no use, she seems to be in cold and terrified right now. Could I take care of her while you find her parents...please...”
I said in hesitation while also avoiding looking at the guards. In which both were equally looked confused yet doesn’t want to hand me the kid over. But they nodded and apologies me in interrupting (which greatly they did interrupt) and leave to find the girl families.
I greatly sigh, thanking heavens that over. But than I remember the girl. I looked behind me and saw the girl still lying down.
I slowly walk towards her, and putting my hands up, to be reminded that I’m not a threat. The girl still trembled in fear. But slowly walk more towards her and stop, just a few inches away from her. I crouched down, while also trying a more comfortable tone I could use.
“Hey...it’s okay...you safe now...do you know where your parents are...”
I whispered loudly yet softly towards the girl. But seeing as she didn’t respond, I talked, louder, but clearer.
“Would you...nod your head in a yes...if you understand me or a question...or shake your head a no if I’m asking a question.... okay.”
I action the nod and shaking my head to show which is which. I waited a bit. Before she nodded her head. I smile a little and continued to crouched down, to be her size.
“Now, first question...what’s...your name.”
I whispered softly. I waited a little more. Until I hear a faintest yet the softest voice I could hear from the little girl.
“.... Eri....”