Chapter Text
Zuko hates Ba Sing Se. He hates living as a peasant when he should be living as royality. He hates serving tea to rude customers when he should get served with a clap of his hands. He hates fearing Jet could come in any moment to expose them when Jet should be the one to fear the fire nation.
Zuko is just daydreaming about finally capturing the Avatar, regaining his honor. It isn't a busy day in the tea shop, only a couple of customers.
He is taking some customer's order, not looking up. He's never been good at making proper eyecontact, especially not now.
"What can I bring you?" he asks with a monotone voice.
"I think I'd like-" the customer starts, but cuts himself off without explanation. Zuko looks up to find out what is wrong. "Zuk-" a young man in blue clothes starts, grabbing the boomerang on his back.
This time Zuko is the one to cut off the other boy, he quickly grabs him and drags him behind the counter making sure to hold his hand over the teen's mouth, trying not to cause a scene.
He finally looks into slightly familiar eyes. The watertribe warrior, from the avatar team. How could he find him so fast? What's his name again?
Zuko's thoughts are interrupted when he feels something warm and wet on his palm. "Ew!" he calles out and takes his hand off his enemy's mouth. Did the peasant just lick his hand?
"What kind of trick are you planning again?" The teen asks, looking angry, but not reaching for his weapon this time.
Zuko glares right back at him. "I'm not planning anything. I'm a refugee here in Ba Sing Se. And I'd like you to refer to me as Lee." He explains, trying to keep it down.
"A refugee? A fire nation citizen as refugee?" the teen raises his eyebrows, challenging Zuko with his loud words.
"Keep it down. Or I'll rip out your throat." Zuko threatens him, but his words don't seem to impress the boy before him.
"Is that how you treat all your customers, Lee?" he teases, knowing Zuko can't do anything against him in public.
Zuko pinches the bridge of his nose. Should he be grateful? Is agni sending that peasent to lead him to the Avatar? He has no chance to act on that matter right now. He needs to convince the boy that he's not a threat anymore, so they don't flee right away.
"I'm not here to chase you anymore. I'm hiding from the fire nation, as most refugees here do." he explains, turning to the side in an attempt to get some distance between the two.
"So you forged your papers and came here or did you just break in?" Sokka asks not waiting for an answer. "Why would you be on the run of the fire nation? I mean you're the prince." He asks, whispering the last part.
Zuko sighs. "I'm the BANISHED prince. If they get me I'm dead." He didn't lie, it is the truth. He is only lying about his intentions, a tiny bit.
"Oh. What about your uncle? Oh." The teen asks. His expression changes to one of compassion. "Didn't he make it? Why didn't you let Katara help you?" he adds.
Zuko is confused by the other man's words. Oh right, uncle Iroh nearly died the last time they met. Thinking of the moment when the lightning hit his uncle still gives him chills. "No, uncle is fine. He's here as well." Zuko explains, not knowing what to add.
"Oh that's great to hear. He seems like the most reasonable fire citizen, still not reasonable though." The water tribe warrior explains, shrugging.
The two just look at each other, making Zuko uncomfortable. He's trying to read his enemy's emotion.
"Lee, do you need help in the front?“ Zuko's uncle asks, walking out of the backroom, where he usually stays all day to prepare tea. "Sokka, what a pleasure to meet you again. I see you have already been welcomed by my nephew Lee.“ He adresses Sokka, that's his name, when he spots him. "Maybe you'd like to sit down and have a cup of tea, so we can talk about our plans here in the city." He continues.
Sokka just glares at Zuko, but soon sits down on his seat again.
His uncle must be feeling Zuko's tension. "Lee, calm down. Those things lay in the past. They aren't important for our lives anymore. We're here to live a humble life, without chasing the Avatar." Iroh explains, like he is reading Zuko's mind. However his uncle's words just make him tense up even more.
Maybe he could use this situation for his advantage after all. Zuko releases the breath he had been holding since he noticed Sokka.