Chapter Text
“Calm down, Katara. It’s me,” a voice hissed as I thrashed.
The voice hit me like a bucket of ice water, and I froze mid-struggle. What was Jet doing here? He waited until I had stopped struggling before peeling his hand away from my mouth.
“Is that supposed to make me feel calm?” I hissed, the words edged with venom.
“Just—don’t scream.”
“Let me go!” I twisted again, but his other arm stayed clamped like a steel band around my waist, pinning my arms to my side.
“I will, if you promise you won’t attack me.”
“Why shouldn’t I?” I snapped, already picturing a wave slamming him across the marketplace. My earlier commitment not to use waterbending didn’t include anything about water whipping Jet into next week.
“Because I just want to talk.”
“Oh, is that why you grabbed me and dragged me into a dark alley?!” The shout ricocheted off the narrow walls, and somewhere nearby, a roach rat skittered out of sight.
“Look, I’m sorry.” His tone softened, but his hold didn’t loosen. “I just didn’t think you’d listen to me any other way—”
“You’re right, I wouldn’t!” My heart was still racing, not just from fear but from the way my mind was scrambling for water, for an escape, for anything.
“But you’re never alone, and this is the first opportunity—"
“You’ve been following me?” I interrupted. Just how long had he been stalking me?
“I’m worried about you!”
“Worried?” I nearly laughed at the thought.
“The last time I saw you, we were…” His voice dropped, and then I felt the briefest graze of his nose against my neck. I recoiled instantly, but his arm was still locked around me. He sighed. “And then you show up four months later, without your brother or the Avatar, with a husband? When did you even have time to find one? And who gets married that fast?”
I swallowed down the flare of panic at the sharpness in his tone. Don’t let him see it. Don’t let him think he’s found a crack.
“Let me go, Jet,” I said through clenched teeth, “And I promise I won’t hurt you.”
His arm loosened and finally released me. The moment I was free, I stepped forward and spun around to face him. My fingers twitched with the urge to unleash a tsunami at him, but I’d promised not to hurt him, and I kept my promises. He stood there, eyes scanning my face.
“It’s not your place to worry about me,” I said, forcing my voice into something cold and even. “You betrayed me. I never want to see you again.”
He lifted his hands slightly, palms out in surrender, though his body angled toward me like he was still trying to close the gap. “I’m sorry, Katara, I really am. I can’t change the past, but I came here for a fresh start. Me, Smellerbee, and Longshot all did.”
“I don’t care, Jet. There is nothing between us anymore. Leave me alone!”
“I still care about you, Katara.” His voice was steady, but there was a crack under the surface. “I know you wouldn’t just leave your brother and the Avatar and marry some random Earth Kingdom man. You can tell me the truth—did he force you to marry him?”
A sharp, humorless laugh escaped me. “As if I could be forced into marrying anyone. Did you forget I froze you to a tree?”
“Then why did you marry him?”
“Because I love him!”
He raised an eyebrow. “I don’t believe that.”
“Whether or not you believe it doesn’t matter! It’s the truth!”
Jet took a step forward, and I stepped back before feeling the brick wall press hard against my shoulder blades.
“I know you didn’t marry him because you love him,” Jet said. “I’ll admit that little display you put on while we were on the ferry was convincing, but I’ve been watching the two of you at the tea shop. You barely make eye contact. He never holds your hand or kisses you. You two act like strangers.”
The words hit deeper than I wanted them to…because they were true. Zuko didn’t love me—this marriage wasn’t real—but hearing it from Jet’s mouth made it feel even sharper. And if Jet could see it that clearly, then what else could he see? How long before he guessed the truth about Zuko and Iroh? The last thing we needed was someone like Jet digging around.
I shoved him back, my palms slamming against his chest. “Leave me alone! If I see you following me again, I’ll freeze you to the nearest wall!”
I didn’t wait to see his reaction—didn’t want to. I shoved past him, nearly knocking my shoulder into the wall of the alley. As I exited the alleyway and walked over to the spot where I’d dropped my bag, I saw that the roasted chicken was missing.
My lips pressed in a fine line and I closed my eyes, trying to keep my temper under control. Of course someone had stolen my roasted chicken while I was being held hostage. I turned back to see if Jet was still there—he owed me money for the chicken—but he was already gone.
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the few coins I had with me and counted them. Four bronze pieces—and not nearly enough for another roasted chicken. I snatched my bag up and saw that the thief had at least left the yellow tea.
I spun on my heel and headed back to the market. Maybe I couldn’t afford more chicken, but I knew Iroh liked fried rice, and I had just enough money for some vegetables. After I bought the necessary ingredients, I made my way back home.
I didn’t slow down. Not when I crossed the canal bridge, or even when I felt the ache building in my calves. I was too angry. My hands still itched for the pull of water and the satisfying snap I knew it would make as it slammed Jet into the wall. I’d keep my promise of freezing him to a wall if I ever saw him again.
By the time I reached the apartment, the sun had slipped low. I set the bag of groceries on the counter harder than necessary and yanked out the cutting board. The knife thunked into the wood as I started on the yellow onion—quick, sharp strokes, the rhythm almost violent.
Chop. Chop. Chop.
I was done with the yellow onions and almost done peeling the garlic when the door creaked open. Zuko stepped in with the smell of the shop still clinging to him—tea leaves and faint wood smoke. He paused just inside the door, eyes scanning me like he was checking for injuries.
“Are you okay?”
I nodded and turned my attention back to the cutting board as I finished peeling the garlic. “Of course.”
His gaze lingered. “You look…angry.”
I turned away as I began to chop up the garlic. I should tell him. I should tell him about Jet. But then I pictured Iroh’s face, still and quiet in mourning, and the way he’d probably mask it if he thought something was wrong. Today was supposed to be a day without worry for him. If he couldn’t have his favorite food, he should at least be able to have some peace. And if I told Zuko, he’d tell Iroh. I knew he would.
No. I could handle Jet on my own.
I took a steadying breath and turned back toward him. “I accidentally dropped the chicken as I was walking home and didn’t have enough money for another one.”
Zuko’s frown deepened. “Oh, well it’s just an accident.” I nodded quickly, relief loosening my shoulders when his suspicion seemed to ease. He walked over to me and looked at the garlic on the cutting board. “What are you planning to make?”
“I bought some vegetables with the money I had left. I was going to make vegetable fried rice.”
“I’ll help you.” He stepped closer, taking the knife from my hand without asking, and started chopping the remaining garlic. The steady scrape of the blade against the board filled the room.
For the first time since I’d left the market, the knot in my chest began to loosen. I pulled a wok from the cupboard and put it on the stove before lighting the fire. As I poured some oil into the pan, Zuko handed me the bowl with the first round of ingredients.
I put the yellow onions and garlic into the oil and then sauteed it as Zuko worked on the next round of vegetables. After all the vegetables had been chopped and added, Zuko grabbed the leftover rice from this morning and added it to the mixture. As it fried, I added some soy sauce to the mixture.
Once the fried rice was finished, I took the wok off the flame and turned to the small bundle of yellow tea I’d bought. The paper was thin and crinkled beneath my fingers, the inked instructions printed in careful strokes I could just make out.
I followed them exactly—measuring out the right amount, and letting the leaves bloom in the hot water until they turned the pale gold the package promised. The scent rose warm and bright, with a smooth undertone that made me think of sunlight on stone.
Zuko moved quietly around me, setting out bowls and chopsticks on the table, and filling the glasses with water. I heard the faint scrape of ceramic against the wood table and the low clink of utensils as he worked. By the time I poured the tea into a pot and set it on a tray with three small cups, the table was ready.
The front door creaked open, and Iroh stepped inside. His face was calm, but the weariness in his eyes told me the day had been heavy. He closed the door softly, as if not to disturb the quiet, and offered us both a faint smile.
“Welcome home,” I said, stepping forward before he could take a seat. “Here—sit. I made you something.”
He sank down onto his cushion, and I immediately set a large, steaming helping of vegetable fried rice in front of him. His brows lifted slightly, but before he could speak, I poured a cup of tea and set it beside his bowl.
“It’s yellow tea,” I explained. “The man who sold it to me said it’s rare. I thought you might like it.”
Iroh’s expression softened, and his smile deepened. “Yellow tea…I don’t think I’ve tried it before.” He lifted the cup, inhaled the steam, and then took a slow sip, closing his eyes briefly. “Thank you, Katara. That was very thoughtful.”
I felt a small swell of warmth at his words. “You’re welcome.”
Zuko settled across from him, and I took my own place beside him. We didn’t talk much at the table—not like we usually did, but I could tell Iroh appreciated the food and the tea. After dinner, Zuko and I offered to take care of the dishes so he could head to bed early.
As I bent the water to wash the bowls, Zuko cleared his throat. “Um, earlier. Did you…did you mean that?”
I looked up. “Hmm?”
He rubbed the back of his neck, not meeting my eyes. He opened his mouth, then closed it a moment later. “Never mind.”
He turned back to the bowl he was drying while I thought back to what he could be talking about. Was he questioning if I was telling the truth about dropping the chicken? Did he sense there was something I wasn’t telling him? But as I studied his face, and saw a faint flush spread across his cheeks, I instantly realized what he was talking about.
“Do you mean when I said you were the most handsome man I know?”
He looked like he wanted to disappear, but nodded. “Yeah.”
I felt my own cheeks flush. “Yes. I meant it.”
His eyes met mine then and his face turned red. There was something fragile in his expression, like he didn’t know what to do with those words. Like no one had ever said them to him before.
“Oh, ok.”
I went back to washing the dishes, but when I looked up at Zuko again, I could see the smile pulling at his lips. That smile stayed on his lips even after he fell asleep that night.
The teashop was always quiet in the morning right before it opened and customers came in. Sunlight streamed in through the front windows, spilling across the polished tables Zuko had just finished wiping down. I was ready to unlock the door and open the shop when Iroh’s voice came from just over my shoulder.
“Liling, a word?”
I turned, wiping my hands on my apron. “Of course.”
He motioned toward the far end of the counter, away from where Zuko was organizing the cups. I followed, my curiosity piqued.
“I spoke with Pao this morning,” Iroh said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “He told me he received several compliments on your tea yesterday.”
I blinked. “Really?”
He nodded. “Indeed. Customers said it was fragrant and full of flavor.”
A smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it. “Well, I’m just glad nobody hated it. I’m nowhere near as good as you, though.”
Iroh chuckled. “You might yet be a tea master one day. I’ve always wanted to pass down my knowledge of tea, and who better than my niece-in-law?”
The smile faltered before I could catch it. The words landed in a spot I wasn’t expecting, stirring up the memory of Jet’s voice in the alley yesterday—"He never holds your hand or kisses you.” And the way the truth of it had cut sharper than I wanted to admit. Zuko didn’t love me, and I knew he never would. Our marriage was fake, and Iroh knew that.
“You don’t need to say that when there’s nobody around to hear,” I said quietly. “We both know Zuko and I aren’t married. I’m not really your niece-in-law.”
Iroh hummed, but his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes this time. I caught the faintest crease between his brows before he nodded and let the subject drop. Turning back to the front, I crossed the floor and unlocked the front door to let our morning regulars in. The morning seemed to pass in a blur of the usual customers and orders, and before I knew it, it was nearly noon. It was just a couple of minutes before I was supposed to go out and meet Jin for lunch when Iroh approached me, smiling in that easy, unreadable way of his.
“Liling, could you watch the back for a few minutes? I have something I need to take care of.”
I blinked, surprised, but nodded. “Sure.”
He thanked me and slipped out the front door. I frowned after him. Usually, if he had an errand, he mentioned it in advance, or sent Zuko instead. But maybe it was something small.
I stayed in the back, checking the brazier in case any orders came through. I could hear Zuko out front taking an order, his low voice carrying over the quiet clink of cups. A minute later, the front door swung open again. I stepped out from the back to find a delivery man standing just inside.
“Hello,” he said, holding up a folded sheet of paper. “I’m here with the new shipment of teas. I just need a signature.”
I took the paper and signed it, then handed it back to him. “You can bring them around to the back entrance—it’s easier than squeezing through the shop.”
He nodded, and I moved to lead him outside. As I stepped out front, I automatically glanced at the spot where Jin usually stood this time of day…but she wasn’t there. I looked around but didn’t see her anywhere. That was strange, she was always so punctual.
I shook it off and headed down the side path with the delivery man, the wooden crate straps creaking under his grip. That’s when I heard it—faint voices drifting out from somewhere nearby. It sounded like Iroh and Jin.
“Um, the backdoor is over there,” I said quietly, pointing to the back entrance of the teashop. The delivery man nodded and walked off, while I headed towards the voices. They got louder as I passed the shop right to ours and looked down a narrow alleyway that bordered that shop and the one next to it.
I ducked back and hid behind the wall, listening to their conversation. Eavesdropping was impolite, I knew that, but what could they be talking about that they were being so…secretive?
“—so you knew?” It was Jin’s voice.
Iroh’s voice drifted out. “It would be hard to miss.”
I furrowed my eyebrows. What did Iroh know, and why was it hard to miss? Did they somehow know about Jet? Had Iroh caught Jet following us? But that didn’t explain why he would be talking to Jin about it.
Jin let out a small laugh. “Yeah, that’s true.”
“That is why I need your help,” Iroh was saying. “Can you get them for me?”
“Sure,” Jin replied. “But what are you planning?”
“A surprise for them both.”
My mind started to spin. “Them both”? The last time I’d overheard the two of them talking, Jin had arranged for us to spend a couple hours at the spa together—but this didn’t sound like that. It sounded more like Iroh was planning something. And if it was harmless, why were they out here being so sneaky? What did Iroh need Jin to get for him?
I jumped when a hand landed on my shoulder, and I turned to see the delivery man looking at me expectantly. Before he could say a word, I held a hand up to my lips. When I walked away, he followed me until we reached the back door.
“I just set them down in the corner,” he said.
“Right, good. Thank you,” I said absentmindedly, trying to figure out what Iroh and Jin were scheming this time.
I walked into the room and closed the back door behind me, glancing over at the boxes of teas. But the echo of their voices followed me in. Whatever Iroh and Jin were planning…I had the feeling I was about to find out.
A couple minutes later, Iroh slipped in as I was pouring the newest orders of tea. He took the cups from me and smiled. “Thank you, Liling. You can go on your break now. I saw Jin outside waiting for you.”
I narrowed my eyes and waited for him to say anything else, but he just took the cups and handed them to Zuko to deliver. As soon as I stepped outside, I saw Jin standing where she usually did—as if she hadn’t been whispering with Iroh in a dark alleyway.
“Hey, did you just arrive?” I asked innocently, as I walked over to her. “I looked outside a couple minutes ago and didn’t see you standing out here.”
She flicked a strand of hair from her face. “Yeah, sorry, I left the bakery a little later than usual.”
I hummed and narrowed my eyes at her. She was definitely plotting something with Iroh if she was trying to cover up the fact that she’d been talking with him. “No problem.” We started walking towards the market. “Is there anything you want to tell me about?”
Jin’s eyes darted nervously over to mine, but she covered it up quickly with a smile. “As a matter of fact, there is! Yejun asked me out yesterday, as I was buying some flowers!”
I felt a mixture of irritation that she was keeping something from me, and happiness that the boy she liked had finally asked her out. Shoving aside the negative emotions for now, I mustered a smile. “Oh, that’s great!”
“Yeah. We’re going to meet up later tonight after I get off work. He says there’s a really great restaurant he knows.”
“I’m happy for you, Jin,” I said, and I meant it.
I woke to the soft morning light filtering through the thin curtains, dust motes swirling in the air above the mattress I shared with Zuko. He hadn’t stirred from his side of the bed yet. I sat up quietly, brushing stray hair from my face, and gathered the folded pile of clothes I’d left at the foot of the mattress the night before.
I’d change, then wake up Zuko if he hadn’t awoken yet. He’d been diligent about our dual sword lessons, and although I no longer expected it to make him notice me, I had to admit I enjoyed them. Now that I’d been practicing for a few days, I was getting better. Zuko said that soon, he’d buy a set of wooden swords so we could work on my sparring.
I smiled at the thought as I padded across the bedroom floor, easing the door shut behind me with a careful click. I was halfway to the bathroom when I noticed Iroh sitting in the living room, cross-legged on a cushion, a steaming cup of tea cradled in his hands. What was he doing up so early? He was usually still asleep by the time Zuko and I started our lessons.
“Katara,” he said, setting his cup down with a deliberate gentleness, “I have something for you.”
I blinked. “Something for me?”
He smiled like he’d been waiting for me to ask. Reaching beside his cushion, he produced a small parcel wrapped in brown paper and tied with a neat bit of string. Curious, I crossed the room and settled on the cushion opposite him. The package was soft, yielding under my fingers.
“What’s this for?”
“To show my appreciation for keeping the shop from burning down on my day off,” he said with a chuckle.
“That was four days ago,” I laughed, shaking my head. “Besides, you didn’t need to get me anything. That’s my job.”
“Then think of it,” Iroh said, taking a slow sip of his tea, “as an uncle-in-law doting on his niece-in-law.”
Heat crept into my cheeks, but I didn’t correct him like I had a few days ago. Instead, I tugged at the string, letting it fall away before peeling back the paper. My breath caught.
Inside was a dress—silky, flowing, and dyed a soft green that made me think of polished jade. The sleeves were wide and belled, with the cuffs embroidered with curling gold-and-cream clouds in the Earth Kingdom style. A fitted, high collar fastened with frog closures ran diagonally from the neck to the shoulder, edged in fine golden thread. The fabric was patterned faintly with wave-like swirls, subtle enough to catch the light only when I moved it. I stood instinctively, holding the dress up to my frame. It felt almost too fine for my hands. I’d never owned anything so wonderful.
“It’s beautiful,” I murmured. “I just…don’t know when I’ll have a chance to wear it.”
“You can wear it today,” Iroh said, the corners of his mouth twitching upward.
“To the tea shop?” I laughed. “It’s too beautiful to just wear to work—”
“Oh, you’re not going to work today,” he interrupted, eyes twinkling. “It’s your one year anniversary!”
I opened my mouth, but before I could respond, the bedroom door creaked open. Zuko shuffled out, hair mussed from sleep, rubbing at one eye with the heel of his palm and holding a folded set of his work clothes in the other.
His gaze landed immediately on me, the green dress spilling over my arms, and then flicked to Iroh just in time for the older man to announce, “Happy Anniversary, Nephew!”
Zuko froze. “Anniversary? Of what?”
Iroh reached into his robe and produced a folded sheet of paper. I recognized it instantly: the fake marriage certificate we’d been issued before entering Ba Sing Se. Iroh held it aloft like a prized relic.
“It’s your one year wedding anniversary!”
Zuko blinked at him. My cheeks warmed. Before either of them could protest, Iroh set his cup down, crossed over to Zuko, and plucked the work clothes from his hands. In their place, he pressed another parcel, wrapped in the same brown paper.
“You’ll wear this today,” Iroh declared, “when you take your lovely wife out on a date to celebrate!”
Zuko scowled but untied the string, revealing a light green tunic with a mandarin collar and a matching set of trousers—striking, well-tailored, and very clearly not work clothes. The cut was finer, with subtle gold trim along the cuffs. Iroh had obviously planned for our clothes to match.
“Uncle,” Zuko said flatly, “we’re not even married.”
Iroh gave a scandalized tsk. “We must keep up appearances!”
“What appearances? Nobody besides you even know the date of our fake anniversary!” Zuko snapped. “Besides, you can’t run the shop by yourself.”
“Pao was kind enough to offer to cover for you two when he learned it was your anniversary!” Iroh replied.
My fingers tightened on the soft folds of the green dress. I had been planning to keep the encounter with Jet to myself—file it away as one more unpleasant thing I could handle alone. But now…if Jet really was still lurking somewhere, watching, this might be our chance to shut him down for good.
I stepped forward before I could second-guess myself. “I think it’s a good idea.”
Zuko’s head snapped towards me. “What?”
I drew in a deep breath. “Four nights ago, I saw Jet.”
Zuko’s expression darkened instantly, his brows pulling together.
“He cornered me on my way back home from the market,” I continued. “He was questioning our marriage. He said he’s been watching us at the shop, and he’s suspicious. If he’s still following us, and he sees us go on a date, it might convince him we’re actually married, and hopefully he won’t dig any deeper.”
Zuko scowled. “Why didn’t you tell me? Did he try to hurt you?”
I shook my head quickly. “No. He just…” I paused. Telling Zuko that Jet had grabbed me and pulled me into a dark alley was probably not a good idea. “He just talked to me and said he was worried. He asked if you’d forced me to marry you.”
Zuko’s jaw tightened, and for a second, I thought I saw fire flicker behind his eyes.
Iroh hummed. “Katara, you really should have told us that,” he said gently, then turned to his nephew with a little smile. “But, you see? Now you must go on a date. Don’t worry, I’ve already made the arrangements. I have two tickets for the zoo, and a dinner reservation at a very nice restaurant on the other side of the city.”
Zuko inhaled deeply, his shoulders rising, and when he exhaled, a thin curl of steam left his mouth. “Fine.” Without another word, he strode into the bathroom, the door closing firmly behind him.
I turned back to Iroh. “Is this what you and Jin were whispering about three days ago?”
Iroh’s eyebrows shot up. “You heard us?”
“Yeah, I was showing the delivery man to the back door and heard you and Jin talking.”
“She did help me by getting the zoo tickets and reservations,” Iroh said as he sat back down at the table and picked up his tea. “I think you two deserve to have a nice day out in the city.”
I knew exactly why Jin had done it—she was a meddling matchmaker, that’s why. It was probably why Iroh had done it, too. But as I stared down at the beautiful dress he’d undoubtedly spent his own money on, I softened a little. Still, it made me embarrassed to know that Iroh knew about my feelings for Zuko. I’d suspected, but this made it pretty clear.
I walked over to the table and sat down, lowering my voice so Zuko wouldn’t overhear. “Did Jin tell you that I…”
I couldn’t bring myself to finish the sentence, but Iroh seemed to know what I was asking. “That you have feelings for my nephew?” I looked down at the fabric in my lap and nodded, unable to meet his gaze. “She didn’t need to—I could tell from how you two interact.”
I dropped my head lower, feeling embarrassed. “Do you think Zuko can tell?”
Iroh snorted, but kept his voice low as he replied. “No, the boy is completely oblivious.”
I thought back to when Jin told me that I was giving up too early and that she was sure Zuko had feelings for me. I’d dismissed her then, sure that she was only seeing what she wanted to see. After all, she didn’t know him. But Iroh did. If Iroh thought Zuko had feelings for me…then maybe that was worth considering.
“Do you think he has feelings for me?” I asked, my voice soft.
Iroh took a long sip of his tea, as if carefully weighing his words. “I cannot speak for my nephew’s heart. Zuko rarely shares his feelings with anyone…even me.” My heart sank, but before the disappointment could take root, Iroh continued, “But this much I do know: for all the ways he tries to appear stoic and indifferent, he feels things very deeply. He is very passionate about the things he cares about.” Iroh leveled me with a gaze. “If he has given you any sign, however small, of his interest…then I wager he is already halfway in love.”
I felt myself blush as I turned the words ‘halfway in love’ over in my head, and nodded. “Okay,” I murmured, clutching the dress a little closer to my chest. I carried it into the bedroom, closing the door behind me.
The fabric slid like cool water through my fingers as I dressed, the bodice hugging my waist, while the sleeves brushing softly against my wrists. I couldn’t help but smile at how beautiful it was—and how different I looked in it.
Then the memory of Zuko’s scowl crept back in. The edge in his voice when he’d demanded to know why I hadn’t told him about Jet. The way he’d seemed reluctant to take the day off—like agreeing to go out with me was more a chore than anything else. What was I supposed to make of that? Iroh said that if Zuko had given me any hint at all, then he was probably already in love. But the only thing he’d given me that could be considered a hint was when he almost kissed me that night on the rooftop. But what was one small hint compared to the rejected that followed when he’d pulled away? What would Iroh make of that, if he knew?
I shook the thoughts away and moved over to the small mirror propped against the wall. My fingers worked quickly to arrange my hair, twisting it back from my face in a style that would keep it neat but still…nice. Something that might make me look the part Iroh wanted me to play.
A knock sounded at the door. “Are you ready?” Iroh’s voice was warm and amused.
“Just a moment!” I called back, slipping the last pin into place. I gave my reflection one final glance and lifted my chin. Then I opened the door and stepped out into the living room.
Zuko was standing there, tugging at the cuffs of his new tunic, looking like he was trying to decide whether he hated it or just mildly disliked it. When his eyes landed on me, though, they went a little wide—and I didn’t miss the faint flush that colored his cheeks before he quickly looked away.
My own gaze traveled over him before I could stop it. The light green tunic fit him well, with the gold trim catching the light every time he moved. The cut was simple, but flattering, and I felt my own cheeks heat at the sight of how handsome he looked. Handsome in a way that made me think, briefly, about things I shouldn’t be thinking about.
Iroh cleared his throat and broke through the moment. He stepped forward and took my arm, guiding me toward Zuko, as though presenting me. “You look lovely, dear! Don’t you think so too, nephew?”
Zuko still wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Yeah. You look, um…you look nice.”
It wasn’t much. And the fact that he sounded like he’d rather be anywhere else sent a tiny pang through me. But I pasted on a smile anyway and said, “Thank you.” Then, turning to Iroh, I added more warmly, “And thank you for the beautiful dress.”
Even if Zuko didn’t seem to care, I still felt beautiful. Iroh’s eyes twinkled as he rattled off directions—how to get to the zoo first, and then the restaurant where we had dinner reservations. Zuko nodded in all the right places, though his jaw was tight.
When Iroh finished, Zuko offered me his arm in a stiff, almost mechanical gesture. I slipped my hand into the crook of his elbow, trying to make it seem natural, and together we headed for the door.
“Have a good time!” Iroh called after us.
Zuko only grumbled in reply.