Steam pours through the air as I poured the cup of fresh jasmine tea. Zuko and I had developed a system where Iroh makes the tea, Zuko cleans the tables, and I just kinda help where I'm needed, which mostly is helping Zuko since Iroh has mad tea game.

I picked up the teacup and delivered it to a back table. I noticed Iroh pouring a group of men their refills of tea. Upon drinking it, the men got up and headed toward Iroh. One with long braided hair stood in front of the others,
"So you're the genius behind this incredible brew! The whole city is buzzing about you. I hope Pow pays you well."

"Good tea is it's own reward." Iroh replied.

"But it doesn't have to be the only reward. How would you like to have your own tea shop?"

"My own tea shop this is a dream come true!" Iroh beamed his eyes brimming with excitement.

Zuko and I looked at eachother for a moment. Was this guy serious?

"What's going on here? Are you trying to poach my tea maker?" Pow urged using his arms to create a wall between Iroh and the men.

"Sorry pal, but that's business for you am I right?" The man said.

"Mushi if you stay I'll.. make you assistant manager. Wait! Senior assistant manager. "

"I'll provide you with a new apartment in the upper ring, the tea shop is yours to do whatever you want. Complete creative freedom!" The man explained as Zuko and I cleaned the tables.

"I even get to name the shop?" Iroh asked.

"Of course!"

"Senior executive assistant manager!" Pow tried one last time before Iroh handed in his kettle and bowed before the man who was offering the shop.

I guess this was actually happening. Zuko passed by Iroh,
"Did you hear nephew? This man wants to give us our own tea shop in the upper ring of the city!"

"That's right young man, your life is about to change for the better!"

"I'll try to contain my joy..." Zuko muttered slamming the tray he was holding on the nearest table before existing the shop.

"And that's my job." I sighed following Zuko out.

"Okay so first off-" I began saying before I noticed a piece of paper in Zuko's hands. I froze, it depicted the Avatar's bison. I looked closer carefully reading the print.

The Avatar's bison was lost somewhere in the city. Which could only mean the Avatar was in Ba Sing Sa.

"(Y/N), this is finally my chance, our chance. If we find him-"

"-we can finally go home." I stammered cutting Zuko off. I could barely believe that this was happening.

Zuko immediately dashed to a building, climbing up til he was at the top.

I should want this, what's wrong with me? My heart felt numb, everything felt numb. The Avatar was so close, why aren't I excited? I clung a hand on my stomach, this was our chance. Why do I feel like I don't want this?

"(Y/N) aren't you coming?" Zuko shouted down at me, but something was wrong. His eyes were a haze of greed and frustration. Just like they were back on the ship. Suddenly everything flashed back, the nights in prison, the fighting, the ship, Fai, everything!

"Yes.." I muttered following Zuko up on the building.

"I-I can't see anything!" Zuko yelled looking around.

"Zuko- he'll turn up. Ba Sing Sa is only so big. We should head back to your Uncle- we have to get ready for the move and-"

"Do you not understand how important this is? Who cares about Uncle's tea shop this is the Avatar we're talking about. Nothing is more important than that. My honor is on the line."

I froze my eyes narrowing. Had Zuko learned nothing? I wasn't just going to let him treat me like this,
"You've changed Zuko. I thought that we worked through this obsession! Is that all that matters to you? Your honor? Good day Zuko.. I'm going to the house. I'm sure that you think speaking to me is a waste of time anyway."

"(Y/N) wait I-I shouldn't have said it like that I-" he tried to grab my hand but I slapped it away. I just couldn't deal with this right now.

"I said goodbye Zuko. Besides, don't you have an Avatar to look for?" I muttered turning away.

~

"Hey Iroh..." I said shyly opening the door to our house. It was cluttered with our things ready to be stored for the move.

"Oh (Y/N) there you are!" You need to start packing. Our new house is waiting for us! Now where's my nephew? I think I've finally decided on a name for the shop! The Jasmine Dragon." Iroh exclaimed while packing up his things.

"He's... out. I'm sure he'll be back at some point."

"Did you two have a falling out? I can hear the sadness in your voice." Iroh frowned.

"Something like that" I muttered crossing my arms.

"I understand that my nephew is not easy to be with... trust me! But he cares deeply about you. He just gets misguided sometimes. Maybe you two need to give eachother some space for a while" Iroh smiled.

"You're probably right. I'll be in the outside if you need me." I said beginning to walk towards the door.

"(Y/N)!"

I turned around, Zuko stood there breathing heavily. Had he really ran to find me? Whatever it's not like I cared!

"What do you want? I thought you were looking for the Avatar and his bison."

"I'll, give you two some space." Iroh added slipping out the door.

"I just, I realized that I was being stupid and I got overwhelmed when I thought that this was finally my chance. But (Y/N) I need you... I know that I can't do this alone. I care about my honor but- I can't get it back without you. Please (Y/N) forgive me."

"I never thought I would live to see the day that you apologize for something. But of course I  forgive you. Honestly, I was just stressed by everything and snapped so it's not all your fault. I just-"

"-got worried that I was going back to my old ways" Zuko finished.

"Exactly. We've been through so much together that I didn't want to lose everything to your obsession. But, I know how much this means to you... finding the Avatar and all."

"(Y/N), I  don't want to regain my honor alone. You came with me all this way... you stuck with me. I want to regain my honor,  my throne,  everything.  With you. If you're willing... I was thinking we could look around the city tonight."

"Of course Zuko... I can never stay mad at you for long. If this is what you want I'll go." I replied. I thought I would give him one chance to look. I knew how important this was to him. So despite my fears I knew this was the right thing to do.

"Tonight we look for the Avatar and his bison. If we wear our masks we can blend in well enough. But I understand if you don't want to. The city at night will probably be heavily stationed with Dai Lee, they know everything that goes on in this city."

"-including where the bison is"

"Exactly, If we get one of them to lead us to the Avatar's bison. The Avatar will surely follow." He finished.

"Are you kidding! A chance to sneak around a huge city and get into fights with police while looking for a giant fluffy bison? That sounds amazing! I have been missing our training recently, so this should make up for it. And I get to do it with you... so of course I'll go." I stammered blushing towards the end.

"So your in." Zuko muttered his face tinted with a blush he awkwardly put his hand behind his head, "let's get ready then."

~

I stayed hidden like I always seemed to. Zuko dawned his blue spirit mask while I put a hood on to cover my face. The darkness of the night was thick and daunting, I could barely see a thing even under the streetlights.

I clenched my weapon tightly in my fist as a Dai Lee agent passed. Zuko nodded at me and charged. Zuko bumped into the guard shouting,
"Out of my way skinny!" before running into a nearby alleyway.

The angered guard chased after Zuko.  I quickly caught the guard in a chokehold putting my weapon up to his neck. Zuko stood in front of the agent while I held my weapon steady,
"If you don't want to end up dead, you'll do what I say."

"The Avatar is missing his bison. We know you know where it is. I would suggest showing us unless you want the last thing you see to be a blue spirit mask." I threatened my heart beating swiftly in my chest.

It didn't take long for the guard to show us where the bison was being held. Apparently the Dai Lee had a secret headquarters under Lake Laogai. The agent earthbended the entrance out from up the water,
"There, the bison is in the biggest cell down the hall to the left. Can you please let me go now."

Just as I was about to let him go, Zuko stopped me,
"How can we trust you won't tell anyone about this?"

"I swear I won't- I don't break promises." The frightened agent stuttered.

"Just let him go. Every moment we're out here is a moment the Avatar could come closer to finding the bison himself." I replied.

"Fine." Zuko muttered letting the adgent go who quickly ran in the other direction.

Zuko lead me down the tunnel to get into the headquarters. The first thing I noticed when we got in is how dull everything was. The entire building seemed to be made of plain grey stone  illuminated by green lamps.

We snuck around following the agent's instructions until we found the cell with the biggest door. Zuko slammed the door open,
"Expecting someone else?"

The bison was just as I remembered it, gigantic with fluffy white fur. But their was an unfamiliar sadness in it's eyes. It stomped around frantically as a warning. Zuko took out his sword and neared the creature. I grabbed his hand,
"Zuko I don't think that this is a good idea."

"I thought that you were with me (Y/N) and as for you," he turned his head to the bison, "you're mine now."

Suddenly, a light entered the room, I turned around to see Iroh standing at the doorway of the cell,
"Uncle?"

"So the blue spirit... I wonder who could behind that mask."

Zuko sighed taking off his mask,
"What are you doing here."

"I was just about to ask you the same thing... what do you plan to do now that you've found the Avatar's bison. Keep him locked in our new apartment? Should I go put on a pot of tea for him?" Iroh questioned nearing his nephew.

"First I have to get him out of here." Zuko mumbled.

"And then what? You never think these things through! And then you drag (Y/N) into your schemes! Do you not realize what your putting on the line! This is exactly what happened when you captured the Avatar in the North pole, you had him and then you had nowhere to go!"

"I would have figured something out!" Zuko argued.

"No! If his friends hadn't found you. You and (Y/N) would have frozen to death!" Iroh yelled.

"I know my own destiny Uncle... and (Y/N)..." he paused at my name. I stood between the two having no clue what to do.

"What would I have told her family if she died? Is it your own destiny you're worried about or is it a destiny someone else has tried to force on you?"

"Stop it Uncle! I have to do this!" Zuko screamed.

"I'm begging you Prince Zuko! It's time for you to look inward and begin asking yourself the big questions; who are you and what do you want?"

Zuko threw his sword and mask to the ground.

"Zuko... your Uncle's right- please just let this one go... for me."

~

Daylight beamed on my skin as we crawled out from under lake Laogai. Iroh looked with pride towards his nephew as he helped him up,
"You did the right thing nephew."

Zuko pulled out his blue spirit mask as Iroh layed a hand on his shoulder,
"Leave it behind."

I watched as Zuko threw the mask into the misty waters of the lake,
"I'm proud of you Zuko, I really am." I smiled at him.

"Thank you (Y/N), thank you."

Author's note- yo yo yo y'all! Hope you enjoyed the chapter :) question, I'm thinking about having the return of Fai- yay or nay?