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.
"What are you looking for?" I asked
"The spark rocks. Have you seen the spark rocks?" Iroh asked
"No" I said
"No." Zuko said
We hear a door open and close.
"I borrowed our neighbors'. Such kind people." Iroh said
I get up walk over the shutters and pull them closed blocking Jet from looking in if he was.
"Why you shut the shutters?" Zuko asked
"Jet saw Iroh heat up his tea, and is not following us. I bet he even took the spark rocks that way he could prove it to himself that Iroh is a firebender." I said
"Okay. I do not like it here." Zuko said
"You can't tell me that this is worse than the ship." I said
"No but, I want to go home. I want to take the Avatar and head back to the Fire Nation." Zuko said
"And what about me?" I asked
"What about you?" Zuko aske
I got up and left the room. Iroh who was in the door way shuck his head.
"Think about what she asked and then think about your answer." Iroh said
Time Skip to Next Day...
I had ignored Zuko all day. Iroh was pouring tea into a customer's cup.
"This is the best tea in the city!" the customer said
"The secret ingredient is love." Iroh said
Iroh waves a hand through the steam coming from the teapot and walks towards the back of the shop where the owner is.
"I think you're due for a raise." Pao said
The door is suddenly slammed open.
"Jet what are you doing?" I asked
"I'm tired of waiting! These two man are firebenders!" Jet yelled
Jet unsheathes his hook swords and prepares to fight. Zuko, Iroh, and I exchange a look, not knowing what to do.
"I know they're firebenders, I saw the old man heating up his tea.!" Jet yelled
"He works in a tea shop." A customer said
"He's a firebender! I'm telling you." Jet said
"Drop you swords, boy. Nice and easy." another customer said
That customer and another stand up.
"You'll have to defend yourself. Then everyone will know. Go ahead, show them what you can do." Jet said
Jet steps forward, and hooks his sword around my wrist and pulls me to him.
"Come on firebend, protect your little friend." Jet said
"I don't need his protection, or did you forget who I am." I said
I grabbed the arm that he had wrapped around me, and I let the ice crystals grow. I let me go, I turned around and kicked him in the side. I them stepped back so I back in line with Zuko and Iroh. The ice crystals are still there, but he steps up again. One of the customers is about to draw his swords, but Zuko steps in front of him and grabs them instead.
"You want a show? I'll give you a show." Zuko said
Zuko takes the customer's broadswords and enters a fighting stance. He pulls a table in front of him with his foot and kicks it at Jet, who slices the table with his swords and jumps over it. As he lands, he swings both hook swords at the Fire Nation prince, who deflects the attack and jump backward on to another table, which is sliced in half by Jet, swinging one sword through the middle of the table. Zuko steps onto one half of the table and balances on one foot. Jet continues his attack by cutting the legs on the half of the table Zuko is standing on. Zuko quickly jumps up, and as he lands, he swings both broadswords at Jet's feet, and Jet somersaults away and lands in a crouching position before charging forward at Zuko again. Zuko swings both of his swords at Jet. Just as both weapons clash together. Zuko bursts out through the door and tumbles onto the street. Jet runs after him and strikes at Zuko with both swords. Zuko defends the strike and both combatants lock swords.
"You must be getting tired of using those swords. Why don't you go ahead and firebend at me?" Jet asked
Zuko just stand in the doorway of the tea shop.
"Please, son, you're confused! You don't what you're doing!" Iroh said
Jet and Zuko are fighting. Zuko swings at Jet, but Jet stops Zuko's broadsword with the sends of his hook swords, spins around and deflects it to the side. Zuko spins with swords and tries to counterattack, but Jet hooks the ends of his swords together and begins to swings them at Zuko in large circular motions. Zuko retreats back a few steps to defend himself.
"Bet you wish he'd help you out with a little fire blast right now." Jet said
As Jet swings at Zuko's feet, Zuko stabs one of his broadswords through the hilt, pinning it to the ground. Jet looks at it with annoyance before focusing back on Zuko.
"You're the one who needs help." Zuko said
Both of them lose a sword, and continue fighting with only one. He turns in a circle and tries to swipe at Zuko, but Zuko quickly advances and swings his sword at Jet. Jet pulls his attack just in time to bend backward and avoid Zuko's blade, cutting the straw sticking out of Jet's mouth. Jet regains balance, and jumps backward onto the edge of a well.
"You see that? The Fire Nation is trying to silence me. It'll never happen." Jet said
"Does Ba Sing Se not have a police force?" I asked
"We do but I don't know where they are. They should be here by now." Pao said
Jet begins to attack again, hooking his word to the top of the well and sending a flying kick toward Zuko. Zuko growls as he swings his sword at Jet, who dodges the attack. He moves on to Zuko's side, and they end up back-to-back. Zuko and Jet attempt to strike the opponent behind thim, but neither can get past the other's defense.
"The Dai Li." Pao said
Two Dai Li agents walk towards the fight.
"Drop your weapons." Dai Li agent one said
Zuko and jet step away and face each other. Zuko lowers his sword, as Jet points at Zuko and Iroh.
"Arrest them, they're firebenders." Jet said
"This poor boy is confused, we're just simple refugees." Iroh said
"This young man wrecked my tea shop, and assaulted my employees." Pao said
"It's true sir, we saw the whole thing. This crazy kid attacked the finest tea maker in the city." the customer said
"Oh, ho,ho. That's very sweet." Iroh said
The two Dai Li agents walks up to Jet, who looks at them angrily.
"Come with us, son." Dai Li agent two said
Jet swings his hook sword at the agent, who catches the sword with his rock gloves. The guard disarms Jet, and both guards pull the boys, arms behind his back, binding his wrists together using their rock gloves stones. The two guards drag Jet away towards a wagon designed for holding captured criminals.
"You don't understand! They're Fire Nation! You have to believe me." Jet said
The crowd begins to disperse. I see Longshot and Smellerbee. I walk over to them.
"The Avatar, and my brother and sister are here in the city. Find them and they can help you get Jet back." I said
They nodded their heads. I then head back over to Zuko and Iroh. Zuko handed the swords back to their owner.
"I think we should call it a night." Pao said
"Okay, see you tomorrow." Iroh said
We headed back to the apartment, and then inside. I headed into Zuko's bedroom.
"Can we talk?" Zuko asked
"No." I said
I went to leave the room, but he stopped me.
"I'm not in the mood for this Zuko. It's been a long day." I said
"Fine we won't talk tonight, but we will talk." Zuko said
"Okay." I said
I go to leave the room, but he stops me again.
"Where are you going?" Zuko asked
"To sleep." I said
"Where?" Zuko asked
"The kitchen." I said
"You can sleep in here. I'll sleep on the floor." Zuko said
"You don't have to." I said