parallel lines

chapter xi

Another uproar came from the crowd and she was about to drink her own cup before Zuko grabbed ahold of her wrists, snarling at her and said, "Money isn't want a have on mind."

She shrugged and gave the drink to Natsuko before placing a hand on the small of her back and walking fast away from the two, grabbing another drink from the counter, "Bottoms up."

Natsuko wasn't familiar to any of this, sure she had heard of mankind fertilizing what they made out of the fruits they had, even rice water to make wine, what she had in her hand smelled strong enough to knock a person out but she still did it anyways.

After seeing what the other person did, she copied the gestures and heard June tell her "Good girl" before handing her another one. She was on her fourth when Zuko grabbed the drink from her and saw Natsuko already red from intoxication, "That's enough."

She was red all over and her face felt hot, which is what to expect on her first time. Her eyes were blinking faster than usual and she never felt more calm than ever. Long story short, she was shitfaced, not much, but shitfaced.

"Was that tea?" she asked the girl who was already laughing at her questions. The two men, however, were now thinking more that it was better if they left her at the ship. They exited the tavern and talked by the shirshu, "What do you want?"

"I need you to find someone." Zuko lifted what Natsuko had to double check what he was holding on his hands and recognized it as Katara's necklace, "What happened? Your girlfriend run off on you?"

Natsuko's eyes widen in shock, when did Katara and Zuko become a thing? Obviously he wouldn't have that if they weren't together together. Does that mean that she was the one Zuko's waiting back home or was he even telling the truth? Did he still want to find the Avatar?

She dramatically put her hands to cover her mouth and Zuko didn't like the idea of him and the Water Tribe girl together much more to let Natsuko think of it like that, "It's not the girl I'm after, it's the bald monk she's travelling with."

"If you find them, I'll consider the damage to my ship paid for." June didn't like that one bit, finding for a someone that had done something to rich looking people and not being paid for doing so? She was a bounty hunter and life didn't come for free, if you have money, you can make the devil push your grind stone. So she had to refuse their offer, "Plus, we'll pay your weight in gold."

"Also, I want the girl."

That was something that had shocked all of them, especially the girl being asked for. Natsuko, even when intoxicated, didn't like the idea of holding onto another person just to catch the Avatar, one was enough. She would've stood up for herself before Zuko pushed her behind him and she clutched onto him before she realized what she did.

June's eyes narrowed and looked at Iroh, pointing a finger to the old man's stomach, "Make it your weight and we have a deal."

She grabbed the necklace from Zuko who still had Natsuko behind him, putting it in front of her pet and climbing on when they found the scent. Iroh sat behind June as they departed towards the scent, Zuko had Natsuko in front of her while her head wasn't acting fine and her stomach as well.

"Are you okay?"

Iroh was surprised to hear his nephew ask about what someone else is feeling, it's certainly more surprising when he ask someone with concern in his tone, he didn't even ask him if he was okay. Natsuko was just a really special human being and she has proven it time and time again.

"I'm fine, I think."

And that her initial answer until morning came, Natsuko's head started pounding at the sight of the bright sun and they passed by an old town that reached the mountaintops but no sign of people except for one old lady and a cat who she called Miyuki. She saw Natsuko and gave one of the herbs that she was collecting around, "Chew on this, it will cure your headache."