𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙵𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗

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Staring out the window from their lofty new Upper Ring apartment. La'kea was sipping from her bowl, when a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her from behind. In her surprise, the water in the vase on the table leaped into the air.

Zuko laughed lightly at her reaction before placing an affectionate kiss on her temple. "Good morning."

She just stared after him as he walked over to his uncle, "Good- Good morning?"

"What's the smell," The prince asked curiously.

"It's jook," His uncle explained, stirring a pot full of the porridge. "I'm sure you wouldn't like it."

Zuko leaned over the pot, inhaling deeply. "Actually, it smells delicious," He held a bowl out to Iroh, "I'd love a bowl, uncle."

The old man obliged, pouring a spoonful of the jook into his nephew's bowl with a suspicious glance. "Now that your fever is gone, you seem different somehow." La'kea just watched the two over the rim of her bowl, wondering how the prince would react.

"It's a new day," He replied happily, and she almost dropped her bowl at his foreign tone. "We've got a new apartment, new furniture, and today's the grand opening of your new tea shop." The prince took a seat right beside her, and smiled down at the islander. "Things are looking up, uncle."

La'kea shared a surprised and bemused look with Iroh, feeling suddenly shy under the prince's gaze as her face grew warm. She felt his chuckle brush against her cheek as he tucked a stray curl behind her ear, hand lingering on the back of her head.

"You look so beautiful," He whispered with a smile, lacing their fingers together, and it was an effort not to accidentally shatter the vase.

Her mind managed to string together a coherent sentence, "Thank you."

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The Jasmine Dragon was everything Iroh could have hoped for and more. The large shop was decorated in lavish green and gold's, and only accessed through a courtyard where two hostess' would greet the customer. La'kea watched from beside Zuko as the three of them looked over the shop.

"Who thought when we came to this city as refugees," Iroh commented, "That I'd end up owning my own tea shop."

"If someone could do it, you could, Iroh," She smiled broadly, genuinely happy for the former general.

"You're too kind, La'kea," He chuckled. "Follow your passion, and life will reward you."

"Congratulations, uncle," Zuko praised.

Iroh bowed his head with a serene smile, "I'm very thankful."

His nephew looked to him, smiling, "You deserve it. The Jasmine Dragon will be the best tea shop in the city."

"No," The old man corrected, "I'm thankful because you decided to share this special day with me. It means more than you know."

Zuko pulled his uncle into a tight embrace before gesturing to the shop, "Now let's make these people some tea." He placed a quick kiss on La'keas cheek before walking towards the back. She smiled after him with a wistful expression, a love struck smile on her face as she skipped after the prince.

Iroh just shook his head at the young adults with a smile, "Yes, let's make some tea!"

The first day of the grand opening went phenomenally well, there were no complaints, no accusations about being Fire nation, and no mishaps. It was going so well it was almost suspicious, La'kea could hardly remember a time her luck had been this good. She was sinking deeper and deeper into accepting the fact that she could build a life here.

The islander ducked under Zuko's tray, managing not to spill any of the tea she was transporting, "How are you handling everything?"

"I'm doing fine," His smile was contagious, "Everything is great."

She couldn't help but giggle as she walked towards her table and set down the teacups. The prince made her stomach flutter with nerves, she had the inexplicable feeling that she cared what he thought about her.

As the sun fell lower in the sky, and the shop began closing for the day. Zuko was sweeping the entrance, and she was wiping down the nearby tables when a royal messenger arrived at the door. Iroh quickly stepped forward to greet him and accept the note with wariness. She shared a concerned look with the prince as he stepped forward, "What is it, uncle?"

"Great news!" The old man exclaimed, rolling the letter back up, "We've been invited to serve tea to the Earth King!"

"The Earth King," She echoed in confusion as he ran towards the back. Zuko just shook his head with a smile as he continued sweeping the entry way.

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La'kea took in the sight of the expansive palace of Ba Sing Se as their carriage pulled in front of the grand steps. Iroh stepped out first, followed by Zuko who held out his hand to help her down from the carriage.

"You look beautiful," He breathed for perhaps the hundredth time that day, and he sounded like he meant it every time. And every time she felt her face get warm.

"Zuko," She murmured chidingly, lifting the hem of her new dress as they walked. It was only fitting to wear the very best to serve the only Earth King. Compared to her other wardrobe it was surprisingly loose, but the fine silk pooling around her feet made it hard to move.

"Many times, I imagined myself here," Iroh started, "At the threshold of the palace. But I always thought I would be here as a conqueror. Instead, we are the Earth King's personal guests, here to serve him tea. Destiny is a funny thing."

His nephew glanced at him with a smile, squeezing the hand of the islander gently. "It sure is, uncle."

The three of them were greeted by a servant that directed them to a separate and significantly smaller house on the palace grounds. Iroh wasted no time in setting up the tea on the table before the ornate throne before them. She briefly wondered what his main throne could be like if this was just a meeting room.

"What's taking so long," Zuko questioned as his uncle poured the cups of tea.

She fiddled with the dress tucked under her legs, "He's a king, I doubt he adheres to anyone's schedule but his own."

"Maybe the Earth King overslept," Iroh shrugged, but they couldn't help but tense as an unusual number of Dai Li agents suddenly filed into the room without warning.

Zuko glanced around as they formed a circle around their table, "Something's not right."

"It's teatime." La'keas stomach dropped as the princess of the Fire Nation strolled into the room with her arms folded behind her.

"Azula!" The prince leapt to his feet, throwing an arm out in front of the islander as she got to her feet at a much slower pace.

"Have you met the Dai Li," The princess gestured towards the agents surrounding them. "They're earthbenders, but they have a killer instinct that's so firebender. I just love it." La'keas mouth grew very dry as she scrambled to think of a way they could all escape.

Iroh just calmly picked up his tea, "Did I ever tell you how I got the nickname the 'Dragon of the West?'"

Azula just inspected her nails, rolling her eyes, "I'm not interested in a lengthy anecdote, uncle."

"It's more of a demonstration really."

Zuko shared a half smile with his uncle before pulling La'kea behind him and ducking behind Iroh. The old man suddenly breathed a stream of fire, causing the agents surrounding them to break rank. Allowing them to slip through the wall and dash through the hall of the royal home. The islander cursed her attire and her foolish choice not to wear a water pouch today as she ran.

Iroh blasted a hole through the wall with a lightning bolt, exposing the outside world, the old man leapt forward, landing safety in the bushes below. "Come on," He called up at them, "You'll be fine!"

Just as she was preparing to jump, Zuko suddenly shook his head, "No! I'm tired of running! It's time I faced Azula." The prince turned towards her, "You-."

"I'm staying with you," She insisted with an unmovable stare, and he just pressed his mouth together in a thin line before nodding curtly. Even without available water, the waterbender could do just as much damage. They turned to face the Dai Li agents marching towards them down the hall.

Azula stepped forward, "You're so dramatic. What? Are you going to challenge me to an Agni Kai?"

"Yes!" Zuko demanded, "I challenge you!"

"No, thanks," The princess just smiled haughtily, which was a poor move. Because without a sanctioned duel to prevent her from interfering, La'kea struck.

Ducking beneath the large rock aimed for her head, the islander rolled despite the heavy fabric of her dress. As she came to her knees, her hand came up in one swift motion. The unfortunate Dai Li closest to her gave one final shudder before collapsing to his knees. 

He didn't hit the floor before La'kea was up and swinging her fist around in one sharp move that sent the bodies blood erupting in a large frozen spike that impaled the next Dai Li. The islander dodged around another glove, shattering a knee cap with a twist from her wrist.

Azula and Zuko, standing to either side of the hallway, watched in rapt fascination and horror respectively. Until the princess cut through the air with her pointer finger, sending a bolt of lightning that connected with an arm of blood connected to the waterbender. 

La'kea screamed in pain before crumpling to the floor, and when Zuko surged forward after her. A rock glove collided with his temple, leaving him to join the islander in unconsciousness.