Play With Fire ~Zuko X Reader~

-12- Way to Ba Sing Se

"Look around. We're not tourists, we're refugees," Zuko took a bite of food and spit it out, "Ugh! I'm sick of eating rotten food, sleeping in the dirt. I'm tired of living like this!"

"Aren't we all?" A boy about Zuko and I's age approached us with two younger kids in tow, "My name's Jet and these are my Freedom Fighters, Smellerbee and Longshot."

"Hey."

The other one nodded.

They gave me a slightly uneasy feeling, but I smiled, "Hi, I'm Tani. This is Lee and his uncle Mushi. Refugees from the earth kingdom."

"Nice to meet you all," Jet smiled, "Here's the deal. I hear the captain's eating like a king while the refugees have to feed off his scraps. Doesn't seem fair, does it?"

Iroh but into the conversation, "What sort of king is he eating like?"

"The fat, happy kind," Jet looked at Zuko and I, "You want to help us 'liberate' some food?"

Zuko tossed the contents of the bowl overboard, "I'm in. Tani?"

I shrugged, "I'm bored. Might as well."

Jet smirked, "Okay. Let's make the plan."

Darkness fell. Zuko, Jet, Smellerbee, and I snuck up to the food storage area. Jet used his hook swords to break the door open. I followed him and Zuko into the storage room. We swiftly took the food.

"Guard's coming!"

We snuck out and slid down a rope that Longshot had fired up with his bow. Longshot pulled back the arrow so we could avoid detection.

We brought the food to a covered area where most of the passengers sat under the lights. We then passed out the food, leaving six bowls for the six of us. We brought a bowl to Iroh and we all sat down with him.

Iroh tried to make conversation, "So, Smellerbee. That's an unusual name for a young man."

"Maybe it's because I'm not a man..." They got up, "I'm a girl!" She stormed away.

"Oh, now I see," Iroh called out after her, "It's a beautiful name for a lovely girl!"

Longshot got up to go talk to her.

"Way to offend her Mushi," I nudged him playfully.

Jet spoke up, "From what I heard, people eat like this every night in Ba Sing Se. I can't wait to set my eyes on that giant wall."

Iroh took another bite, "It is a magnificent site."

"So you've been there before?"

"Once. When I was a... different man."

Jet took a bite of food, "I've done some things in my past that I'm not proud of, but that's why I'm going to Ba Sing Se: for a new beginning. A second chance."

"That's very noble of you. I believe people can change their lives if they want to. I believe in second chances."

I laughed, "I would be a very different person if I didn't believe in second chances."

The sun came up the next day. I followed Zuko to the edge of the ship, seconds later Jet approached us.

"You know, as soon as I saw your scar, I knew exactly who you were," Zuko tensed until Jet continued speaking, "You're an outcast, like me. And us outcasts have to stick together. We have to watch each other's backs. Because no one else will."

Zuko looked at me, "I've realized lately that being on your own isn't always the best path."

I smiled and looked over the side. The walls of Ba Sing Se were visible.

We got off the ship and went over to give a woman our tickets, "So, Mr. Lee, Miss. Tani and Mr. ummm... Mushy, is it?"

"It's pronounced Mushi."

The ticket woman got annoyed, "You telling me how to do my job?"

"Uh, no, no," Iroh sat our tickets on the counter, "But may I just say you're like a flower in bloom. Your beauty is intoxicating."

She stamped the tickets, "You're pretty easy on the eyes yourself, handsome. Raorr! Welcome to Ba Sing Se."

I tried not to vomit as I took my ticket. Zuko was equally disgusted, "I'm going to forget I saw that."

We waited for the train. Jet came over, "So, you guys got plans once you're inside the city?"

A tea merchant yelled out, "Get your hot tea here! Finest tea in Ba Sing Se!"

Iroh perked up and waved him over, "Ooh! Jasmine please."

The tea seller poured tea into a leaf cup. Iroh sipped the tea, and immediately grimaced at its taste, "Blaugh! Ugh, coldest tea in Ba Sing Se is more like it! What a disgrace!"

Jet directed his attention to Zuko and I, "Hey, can I talk to you two for a second?"

Jet motioned for us to follow him, Zuko reluctantly got up. I followed them a few feet over.

"We have a much better chance of making it in the city if we stick together," Jet looked us in the eyes, "Do you two want to join the Freedom Fighters?"

Zuko lightly grabbed onto my hand, "Thanks, but I don't think you want me in your gang."

I smiled, "I'm going to have to refuse. It sounds like fun, but I'd prefer to stick with my friends here."

"Come on, we made a great team looting that captain's food. Think of all the good we could do for these refugees."

Zuko tightened his grasp on me, "I said no."

He pulled me back over to Iroh.

"Have it your way."

We reached Iroh and Zuko let me go. He lashed out and knocked the now hot tea from Iroh's hand.

"Hey!"

Zuko whispered to his uncle with venom in his voice, "What are you doing firebending your tea? For a wise old man, that was a pretty stupid move!"

" I know you're not supposed to cry over spilled tea, but... it's just so sad!"

I laughed, "Don't worry. I'll make sure to get you a cup of tea once we're in the city."

"Train for Ba Sing Se arriving," The loudspeaker rang out.

We stood and started boarding the train. We sat next to an Earth Kingdom family. That had a baby that had to be less than a month or two old.

Iroh stroked it's head, "What a handsome baby."

The baby's mother smiled, "Thank you."

I talked to the mother, "How old are they?"

"Just a day or two. She was born on the way here."

I motioned for Iroh to scoot over and let me sit next to the baby, thankfully he complied, "She's so beautiful. What's her name?"

"It's Hope," She looked at her husband, "We wanted the name to be unique."

I smiled as the baby grabbed onto my pinky, "It's a wonderful name. I bet she's going to have a wonderful life."

"We can only hope."

I played with the baby as the train ran along the tracks.