Chapter Text
Jin ventures around the lower ring of the city to pick up some supplies for her father's bakery. She can't help but overhear the rumours of an amazing tea maker recently employed by the Pao Family Teahouse, so before she heads home, she decides to take a detour and enjoy some tea. The shop is small and busy, and she snags the last available seat located in a corner near the door. When she's done perusing the menu, a server around the same age as her approaches to take her order. She notices the large scar over his left eye, and despite his grumpy exterior, she sees a hint of sadness in his eyes.
It's very obvious he cares for the old tea maker, whom she eventually learns is his uncle. He’s such a kind and pleasant old man it seems almost impossible for them to be related, but one day she notices the nephew ushering in an old homeless man and serving him a pot of tea and some bread. This small act of kindness confirms that despite his cold, intimidating exterior he has a good heart, and it makes Jin wonder: has he himself had to go hungry before?
The more she goes to the tea shop, the more the young tea server intrigues her. Judging by his slight accent, she knows he must be a refugee. Where did he come from? What is his story? Why is he always scowling? He seems lonely. Has he not been able to make any friends since moving here? She decides that if she can show him a good time that perhaps it would cheer him up a bit, she'd love to see him smile just once.
She has tried getting his attention, often smiling and even subtly flirting with him at times, but he still hasn't asked her out. She notices that he seems to look at her often, so she suspects he likes her but he's probably just too shy to ask her out himself. That morning she musters up all her courage before leaving the house, wearing her nicest dress and making sure her hair looks perfect: today is the day she takes matters into her own hands.
Zuko hears the bell on the door ring signalling that a new customer has entered the establishment. When he turns around, he notices it's the same girl he's seen at the teashop almost every day for the past two weeks. She takes a seat at the same table in the right corner closest to the door, shyly glances his way and looks away again when she notices him looking at her in return. Why is she here so often? Why is she always stealing glances in his direction? At first he thought that she was too pretty to be a spy, but now he's wondering if that's exactly the point.
She smiles sweetly and thanks him as he brings her usual order of jasmine tea, and he concludes that that smile and kind nature of hers is exactly why she's so inconspicuous. He has to give credit where credit is due, she's really good. Anyone else would've fallen for it, but he isn't a fool.
“Uncle, we have a problem,” he says quietly, “Don't look now but there's a girl in the back corner. She's on to us, she knows we're Fire Nation.”
Uncle Iroh glances nervously over his shoulder, Zuko quickly intercepting him, “I said don't look!”
The old man relaxes, and smiles, “Ah yes, she has been spending a lot of time here lately. Seems to me she has quite the little crush on you.”
“What?!” Zuko exclaims, taken completely off guard by his uncle's take on the situation.
“Thanks for the tea.”
Zuko jumps as he hears a young female voice from behind him, and turns around to find the girl standing on the other side of the counter. She pays him for the tea, then asks, “So, what's your name?”
He turns around and answers nervously, “My name is Lee. My uncle and I just moved here a few weeks ago.”
“Hi Lee, my name is Jin. Thank you, and, well... I was wondering if you'd like to go out sometime?”
Zuko is stunned. Uncle Iroh was right? He's actually being asked out by a pretty girl? He never thought anyone would be interested in him romantically with his disfigured face, that no one could love someone so ugly. He knows if he was back in the Fire Nation with his honour restored it wouldn't be a problem, that he'd find a girl who would be interested in his status and wealth, but this girl has nothing to gain and she's still interested in him. This only causes his suspicion to grow, but before he can think of how to respond, his uncle answers for him, “He'd love to!”
“Great! I'll meet you outside of the shop at sundown,” she says cheerfully, then promptly exits the shop.
Zuko stares blankly after her, feeling a bit disoriented, then turns to scowl at his smiling uncle, “Why did you do that?!”
“My dear nephew, you are young. I worry that you are missing out on too many things people your age should be experiencing. You should enjoy your youth while you still can. The company of a lovely young lady can do wonders for the soul.”
He rolls his eyes and gets defensive. “But what if she's a spy? Why else would she ask me to go out?”
“Relax nephew, she's just an ordinary Earth Kingdom girl who finds you attractive. That's not so difficult to believe,” Uncle Iroh explains, patting his young nephew on the back before he continues brewing more tea for their customers.
But for Zuko, it is difficult to believe. So, so difficult. The closest thing to romance he ever experienced was having a crush on Mai when he was younger, but other than that he has been too busy chasing the Avatar to even think about romance. What does one even do on a date?