|•|W I T 卄 E R||•| Zuko X Reader ⚠SLOWBURN⚠

Lanterns

Slowly, customers started to enter the shop. You popped your collar and exhaled through your mouth. You gave yourself an inner pep-talk and began working.

Surely, things wouldn't be too bad.

Surprisingly, things actually weren't going horribly. Aside from the weirdo who continually asked if you were related to any "cabbage-killers," You were having a pretty good time.

As the sky darkened, the number of people in the shop began to dwindle. Everyone who remained was either finishing their food, or staying to relax in the peaceful environment.

You walked over to Zuko, who was leaning against the counter which led to the Worker's Area.

"How come you seem so happy? You've been serving tea for like, six hours." He huffed.

"Yeah, but it's fun!" You beamed.
He gave you a look and scoffed, "Uh huh. Fun."

"I get to judge people's tastes in my head and figure out what the best things to eat are. Not only that but..." You grinned, "No one is touching my precious baked buns."

Zuko raised an eyebrow and smirked, "Then maybe I should do a bit of advertising."

You squinted at him with a moue, "Then I guess I should bring in some more customers for you to serve."

"Sure thing. I'd probably earn a gold piece or two for my outstanding service." Zuko chuckled, a tender smile on his face as he looked upon your's.

"Hmph! Let's compare wages when we get back to the apartments, you bald headed rat." Zuko's eyes widened at your bizarre statement.

"I'm... Not even bald." He muttered, patting his head as if he needed to confirm that he was indeed, not bald.

"You were bald." You hummed, shutting your eyes. "When was I ever bald!? Do I look like the Avatar to you!?" He inquired.

"85% of your head was absolutely-"
"That's still not bald!"

You began to giggle at his reaction to your words. "Okay, okay! You aren't as bald as you were before. You honestly have a cute hairstyle."

You expected Zuko to have some sort of reply to your comment, but he didn't. You looked at him in confusion, before realizing what you said.

"U-Um, I'd better... Make sure all the customers are enjoying themselves!"
You awkwardly waddled away from him, blushing with embarassment. You could practically feel Lso making fun of you in the back of your head.

Then, suddenly, the door was swung wide open, slamming into the wall. "I'M TIRED OF WAITING!"

A brunette with straw in his mouth barged into the tea shop. "Those three are firebenders!"

You looked around the room in confusion. "Are you talking about me?" You mumbled, genuinely perturbed about the lad's mental state.

"Stop pretending to be innocent! Why don't you take off your gloves and launch a fire ball at me, huh!?"

You noticed Zuko furrowing his eyebrows and clenching his fists.
You stepped in front of him.

"That girl's hands are burnt! If anything, a firebender was the one who hurt her!" A customer said.

The intruder unsheathed his swords. "Then you must be holding her captive!"

"I'm not being held captive. You don't even have evidence that they're firebenders!" You declared.

If you fought the intruder, then surely, those men who took away Lin would come for you, too.

"I do have proof! I saw the old man heating his tea!" The intruder yelled. "He works in a tea shop." A customer sighed.
"He's a firebender, I'm telling you!" The intruder shouted.