Fire Burns and Ice Freeze

City of Walls and Secrets

Unknown Time Skip...

We are walking down a street in a part of the Lower Ring. Zuko and I are walking next to each other, Iroh walks up behind us holding a large vase with several orange flowers.

"I just want our place to look nice, just in case either one of you brings home a friend." Iroh said

Zuko and I looked at each other.

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

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

I knew that Jet is following us, I didn't want him to know I knew. I also had to be careful because I didn't want to know that I knew that Zuko and Iroh were firebenders.

"Where did you get use jobs at?" I asked

"You will just have to wait." Iroh said

We head back to the apartment so that Iroh could put the vase in there then we headed to the location of the mystery job. One we arrive at the building that the job is located I start to laugh.

"I should have known." I said

"Yes you should of." Iroh said

"You got us jobs at a tea shop." Zuko said

We head inside, Iroh is talking to the shop owner Pao, while Jet is peeking through the window.

"Well, you certainly look like official tea servers. How do you feel?" Pao asked

We are wearing aprons, Iroh desperately attempts to tie the string behind his back, but his effort is in vain.

"Ridiculous." Zuko said annoyed

"Uh, does this possibly come in a large size?" Iroh asked

I look behind Iroh to see that the strings of the apron are not quite long enough.

"Do you have any extra string?" I asked

"Yes, I have some extra string in the back. Have some while you wait." Pao said

Pao pours some tea in three cups, and hands them to us, he then heads to the back of the shop. Iroh takes a sip from his cup, and his face contorts into disgust.

"Blech! This tea is nothing more than hot leaf juice!" Iroh said

"Uncle, that's what all tea is." Zuko said

"Yes, but all tea is different." I said

"How could a member of my own family say something so horrible?! I mean if Kida hadn't said what she said I would think all hope would be lost. We'll have to make some major changes around here." Iroh said

Iroh angrily takes the tea pot and heads to the window, which Jet is spying through. Jet gasps and moves away just in time as Iroh dumps the tea out the window. Jet slowly stalks around the corner of the shop and leaves.

The day went by fast and soon we were back to the little apartment. Zuko is lying in bed and I'm sitting next to him, while Iroh is standing in the kitchen.

"Would you like a pot of tea?" Iroh asked

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

""sick of tea?" that's like being sick of breathing!" Iroh said

We can hear him rummaging through drawers and the cupboards.