The Last Woodbender Chapter 35 (Firebenders in Ba Sing Se) (Patreon)

Morning

The Avatar group gathered around a round table, ready to break their fast. In a thoughtful gesture, Naruto had taken it upon himself to prepare a feast for everyone to enjoy. Mindful of Aang's vegetarian preferences, Naruto had also made a dish for him. The anticipation for the meal grew as the tantalizing aromas wafted through the air, filling the room with an irresistible allure. Toph found herself occupied with a peculiar task, diligently scratching an itch on her toes. Meanwhile, Katara was immersed in the pages of an ancient scroll, reading about waterbending probably.

Naruto delicately arranged the plates on the table, his movements soundless as a gentle breeze. The air hung heavy with an eerie stillness. Silence enveloped the room, enveloping the inhabitants like a suffocating shroud. Even Toph, known for her quick-witted remarks and sharp tongue, remained uncharacteristically subdued. Seated beside Naruto, she maintained a patient demeanor as she awaited the arrival of her meal.

Once the food was served, silence enveloped the room as each individual started eating amidst the symphony of clinking cutlery and the gentle rustling of napkins. His eyes momentarily diverting from his own plate, Naruto caught a fleeting glimpse of Aang delicately savoring his meal with a gleaming silver fork while keeping quiet. The only sound heard was the sound of birds chirping outside.

As Naruto's observant gaze swept across the table, his keen eyes locked onto Sokka, who appeared visibly perturbed by the prevailing absence of animated conversation. With an air of restlessness, Sokka aimlessly toyed with the succulent piece of meat on his plate, prodding it dispassionately with his fork. It wasn't long before the deafening silence grew increasingly unbearable for Sokka, his patience waning as he found himself incapable of enduring the heavy weight of the silence any longer.

"So, Katara, an hour ago I was outside and saw this beautiful flower shop," Sokka started, while using his fork to stab the piece of cooked chicken in the plate.

"Oh!" exclaimed Katara, her interest piqued as she savored a delectable bite of succulent sausage perfectly nestled between slices of warm, crusty bread. On her plate - a flawlessly cooked sausage, its savory aroma filling the air, accompanied by a chicken wing, its glaze glistening with a golden honey hue. A vibrant array of petite, freshly harvested vegetables adorned the side of her plate, adding a burst of color and freshness to the culinary tableau.

Toph's plate was adorned with a sumptuous feast fit for a queen. A trio of perfectly cooked eggs graced her plate, their whites firm and delicate, while the yolks danced with a tantalizing liquid gold. But the eggs were not alone; three succulent slices of savory ham accompanied them, their smoky aroma wafting through the air. Toph's plate was garnished with slices of warm, crusty bread, ready to be dipped and devoured alongside the eggs. To complete this morning's symphony of flavors, a glass of milk stood proudly beside her. With each bite, Toph savored the harmonious combination of textures and tastes, relishing in the simple pleasure of a well-prepared breakfast.

Before Sokka, a steaming bowl of perfectly cooked rice beckoned, crowned with a luscious, uncooked egg. As he savored each spoonful, his gaze shifted to the second plate, a vibrant mosaic of tender chicken breast and succulent chicken wings, glistening with a golden glaze. Adjacent to it, a tall, frosty glass of milk stood tall. To complete his feast, a medley of freshly baked bread adorned the edges of the plate.

Aang savored each bite of the fragrant rice adorned with an array of tantalizing ingredients that danced on his taste buds. The rice, adorned with vibrant vegetables, aromatic spices, and a hint of tangy sauce, offered a symphony of flavors. Aang's commitment to vegetarianism remained unwavering, and thus, he relished in the absence of any meat-based additions to his plate. Alongside his rice, he had a glass of creamy milk. Completing his feast were two perfectly cooked eggs, their golden yolks oozing with richness.

Naruto was eating oiled bread, complemented by the succulent flavors of a perfectly cooked fish and five delectably prepared eggs; being from Kyoshi island, his diet was mostly fish and eggs, and sometimes large birds that lived in Kyoshi Island. With every bite he took, the familiar taste transported Naruto back to the cozy warmth of his humble abode, evoking a profound sense of nostalgia and an overwhelming longing for a fleeting moment of homecoming.

"Indeed, it had all kinds of flowers, we have seen all kinds, but that one had some that I have never seen before," Sokka further added, attracting the attention of everyone around the table.

"Did you two have any kind of flowers back at home?" Naruto questioned with slight interest, earning a giggle from Toph sitting beside him.

"Not really," Sokka said with a pointed, annoyed look towards Toph, who giggled again. "Growing up, all we saw was snow everywhere. Our Gran Gran was actually the one who told us what a flower is, can you believe it? We had no idea whatsoever what the flowers are even used for," Sokka exclaimed with a dramatic voice, earning a burst of laughter from everyone around the table.

"When Gran Gran explained what a flower was, Sokka said that flowers sounded useless," Katara added, earning a keen look from Sokka, who looked at her annoyed.

"So why were you paying so much attention to those flowers?" Toph questioned with a teasing smirk as she lowered her feet down, touching the floor so she would know if Sokka was lying.

Sokka's cheeks flushed a deep shade of crimson, betraying his embarrassment. His hand instinctively reached for the back of his head. With a sheepish expression adorning his face, he mustered the courage to answer; his voice tinged with a hint of melancholy. "For Yue," he replied softly, his gaze dropping to the ground. Sensing his inner turmoil, Katara placed a firm yet comforting hand on his shoulder, a silent gesture of support. Meanwhile, Toph arched an eyebrow in puzzlement. She patiently awaited an explanation; she had no idea who Yue even was.

"In the North Pole, Sokka, our girl stealer seduced the princess, before leaving, our dear Sokka promised he will return, and now she spends every day waiting for his return," Naruto spoke with a theatrical tone, as though he were center stage performing for a captivated audience. His words, dripping with both intensity and playfulness, caused Toph to burst into a fit of laughter. Meanwhile, Sokka let out an exasperated groan, clearly irritated by Naruto's jesting at his expense.

"Sounds like a romantic tale, Sokka, the Hero, promises his return to a beautiful princess, and every time he feels like giving up, the promise gives him strength to keep going," Toph spoke dramatically along with Naruto, now both standing before the round table, their gesture earned the laughter of Katara and Aang, while Sokka gave Toph a pointed look.

"Hahaha, says you, don't think I haven't noticed the way you hold Naruto's ha-" Sokka's words abruptly as a gaping hole opened beneath his feet, that voraciously devoured his entire being, from head to toe, leaving only his eyes visible. Toph's eyes blazed with an unbridled fury. Meanwhile, Aang found himself overcome with uncontrollable laughter.

"Now, now, Sokka, we all know to not poke Toph unless you are ready to fight her," Naruto joked. With a frustrated scowl etched on his face, Sokka gazed upwards, his eyes darting between Naruto and Toph, each of them seemingly oblivious to his predicament. Desperate to extricate himself from the confining confines of the suffocating hole, Sokka contorted his body in a series of contorted movements, attempting to loosen the vice grip that held him captive. Toph made a stomp upon the ground beneath them, propelling Sokka with unexpected force, forcing him towards him. As if sensing Sokka's release, the very same earth that had captured him moments before sealed the hole shut.

"Hey, I just remembered something," Naruto suddenly said, earning the attention of everyone.

"We need to find Zuko and Iroh, Aang still needs to learn Firebending," Naruto added, pointing at Aang, who had an emotionless look on his face.

"That's true, Aang still needs to learn Firebending," Katara agreed right away with a thoughtful look, not knowing where to even look for them; they had no idea where Zuko might be the last time they departed; they told them to find a place somewhere, and rest.

"I still think you should train your earthbending a bit more, all you know right now is how to move some rocks, and throw them around, you need to get better at it," Toph added casually while using her fingertips to itch her soles.

"Yes, but we still need an audience with the Earth King, right now we are completely blind with barely any useful information," Sokka added; unlike the others, his voice sounded more serious.

"Well, Long Feng is the leader of the Dai Li, and we need to have a meeting with whoever calls himself King." Naruto stopped talking as he thought deeply, trying to come up with a useful strategy until he had a look of realization on his face.

"Right now, we need to find Zuko and Iroh; we will need their help as for meeting the King. I think we can do that during the carnival," Naruto explained with a commanding voice; his words caused Aang to raise an eyebrow in confusion, turning to face Naruto.

With a curious tilt of his head, Aang inquired, "Carnival! What Carnival are you talking about?" His eyes scanned the room, searching for answers until Naruto caught his attention. Naruto's finger extended, pointing beyond the window, where a poster adorned with whimsical characters and dazzling fireworks was plastered against the nearby wall.

"Huh!" Katara raised an eyebrow as Aang used his airbending, causing the poster to detach from the wall with a gentle swoosh. It soared through the open window, gracefully navigating its way into the cozy confines of their home. Landing precisely in Aang's awaiting hands. Aang's eyes eagerly scanned the vibrant words and captivating images without skipping a beat.

Impatience began to bubble within Sokka, his voice tinged with frustration as he questioned, "Well, what is it?"

"Apparently, the King is holding a feast, many important people will be there, including the King himself along with his pet bear," Aang answered as he looked up at his friends.

"Surely you mean his crocodile bear?" Naruto questioned.

"No, no, it's probably a hipo bear,"

"Maybe is illyktupus Bear!"

"It's just Bear," Katara insisted, looking at her friends, annoyed.

"Well, what do you know! This is a perfect opportunity for us," Aang said with a wide grin, looking at Katara, who nodded in agreement.

"Well, I'm not someone to ignore an opportunity, but this seems fishy," Sokka added while pointing at the poster that Katara was holding now.

"What do you mean?" Aang questioned, turning to face him, knowing his friend was most of the time right, and Aang knew there was something wrong with the city; he just didn't know how deep the problems went.

"This poster was placed right in front of our house and in front of an open window. I bet that whoever put that poster there wanted any of us to see it," Sokka explained as a look of realization dawned on Katara and Aang, realizing that Sokka was probably right while Naruto nodded in agreement.

"That's pausable, but we still need more information; sadly we have no choice but to go to this feast. Right now, we need to explore the city, probably find information, and locate Iroh and Zuko," Naruto commanded. Sokka and Toph nodded in agreement, while Aang seemed tense.

"I will try and locate Zuko and Iroh. I can fly so it's easier and faster if a I do it," Aang's words spilled forth with urgency as he unfurled his gliders, their vibrant colors catching the sunlight streaming through the window. With an agile leap, he propelled himself into the air, his body effortlessly slicing through the wind before anyone could say anything.

Naruto couldn't help but frown as he watched him fly away into the distance; Naruto knew Aang was avoiding him. While Naruto didn't really care much what Aang thought about what happened last night, Naruto remembered Kyoshi's words, reminding him that the world still needed the Avatar.

Naruto hoped his friend would sooner or later see the truth and know that the world didn't care about his worldview and that the world had suffered long enough. Aang, you have a second chance to do what is right, but if you don't, then I Will do what is right, whether you like it or not, Naruto thought as he opened the door, ready to chase after a few Dai Li.

Zuko

Zuko dreaded going to work that morning, just in case she happened to be there, sitting in that exact same chair at the exact same table in the corner that she had occupied every day for the last three days. He dragged his feet even more than usual when Uncle woke him up a few hours before dawn, stalling at every possible opportunity and walking as slowly as he could manage as they left the building and headed down the empty street to open up the shop. He nodded as Uncle kept up a running commentary on the way, but his mind wasn't on tea even as they opened the door and windows and lit the green lamps out front.

What am I going to do if she comes in today? Should I say something? What would I say? Should I just pretend like last night never happened? That seems like the easiest thing to do... He struggled to light a fire in the stove with spark rocks. Once the fire was crackling merrily and he had lugged a huge pot of water in from the cistern out back to start heating, his thoughts returned to what he would do if Jin walked into the tea shop and sat down at the far table that day.

She'd been happy to talk about herself last night. He knew that she worked at a bakery down the street and had a break in the middle of the day, which she spent drinking green tea. She always stayed for about an hour and left him a pretty good tip, even though he didn't really do anything special to deserve it.

"Lee, we're trying out a new blend today. If it sells, we'll add it to the menu."

"Yes, Uncle." Zuko went to the slate, erased yesterday's special with his sleeve, and wrote out Iroh's new blend in its place in purposefully rough characters.

The first customers started coming in before the sun had risen in the sky. Usually, regulars at this hour, night watchmen on their way home, and a few groggy people just heading off to their own simple peasant jobs. For a little while, Zuko was able to focus on taking orders and, collecting money and making sure that everyone got the tea they wanted, the mind-numbing routine that seemed to drag by even though the time passed much quicker than he thought it did. After the customers left, he collected their cups and cleared up any spills. Simple and boring, yet uncomplicated and free of Jin... so far.

Uncle continued to talk through their shift, alternately expressing his approval of his new tea blend and wondering if it wasn't very good after all. Then, when the sun had climbed higher in the sky, and the bell at the door had rung yet again, he stopped talking and placed a hand on Zuko's shoulder. Sharply, Zuko looked up from where he had been wiping teacups and felt a familiar chill of dread growing inside him as he noticed Uncle's conspiratorial smile. That look never meant anything good.

Very, very slowly, Zuko turned around to see a familiar round face and demure brown braids in the far corner.

"That young lady would like the special, Lee. A fresh pot is just about ready, but regrettably we have run out of rose hips. Can you handle the shop while I make a quick trip to the market?"

"What—I—Uncle, I don't really..." He sighed. "Yes. I can watch the shop."

That sneaky old man. Normally, he would have sent Zuko to the market if they needed something.

Zuko gritted his teeth and picked up the chipped pot once Iroh headed out the door. He couldn't put it off any longer, and there was no way he could invent an excuse to be otherwise occupied until Uncle returned. Let's get this over with. Just pretend like nothing happened.

His palms were damp as he approached the far table. She looked cute, he noted grudgingly. She had some flour on her terra cotta-colored robe and a little on her chin.

He looked at his own hands as he poured her tea. Was the silence as awkward for her as it was for him? When the cup was full, he lifted the teapot and prepared to leave... but hesitated.

"I'm sorry about last night," he blurted. Where did that come from? Why did I say that? Why did I say anything? What made me do that? "I actually had a good time. I just panicked. I'm not used to... stuff like that." And why do I keep talking? "And I'm not very good at—"

"Lee... it's all right." She smiled so disarmingly that Zuko fell completely silent once again.

"Do you want to go out again sometime?" Zuko's mouth said before he could stop it. No! Why did I say that? Why am I so stupid?

"Of course! How about tonight?"

"Oh... um... that's great. Tonight would be great." Not that he had any other pressing appointments that night, or the next, or the next... or ever... "So, um... see you then."

"See you!"

Uncle returned before long with a basket of rose hips. He gave Zuko a wink and nudged him with his elbow, which made Zuko run out back and try to control himself to keep from setting the counter on fire in frustration.

"I have a date tonight," Zuko muttered at his reflection in the mirror. He ran his fingers through his spiky black hair and wondered, for the hundredth time, what he had been thinking. No, he hadn't been thinking at all. He let his mouth do all the talking. He felt he should know by now that doing things like that only got him in trouble. So why did he just blab about how he actually enjoyed the ill-fated date and sealed it by asking her out? Stupid!

He rubbed his eyes and tried to imagine how he could get out of this. But no, that girl was ridiculously determined. Despite the fiasco at the fountain, she'd been determined to get a date out of him before, and she was determined to get her tea at the same coffee shop. He knew she would be determined to go on this date tonight and would probably hunt him down if he tried to stand her up.

Not that he would do something like that. It was unbecoming of a prince to treat a girl with such disrespect.

Resignedly, he changed his clothes, washed his face, and got a little comfort from telling himself that there would be no more dates after tonight. This was a one-time thing to apologize for the night before. At least he could try to not be a complete dolt this time. Before he left the apartment, he grabbed a flower from the vase on the windowsill and left Uncle grinning in his wake.

Flower in hand, he headed down the street, taking a right and, a left and another right until he arrived at the bakery where Jin worked. She was just wrapping some bread for an old woman when she saw him through the propped-open window and waved.

"Just a sec! I'm almost finished here!" When her customer had paid and left, she said something to the other girl working there before coming out of the shop, smiling as brightly as ever.

"I brought you a flower," Zuko said. He promptly sent a silent plea to every spirit he could name—please, just let me at least figure out how to talk to girls.

"Oh, thank you, it's so pretty!" And then she had him by the wrist and took off into the city, dragging him along like a particularly awkward but not quite unwilling puppy.

Later, when Zuko had returned to the apartment and Uncle's repeated winks, he tried to figure out just what had happened.

It started with some noodles from a noodle stand a couple of blocks over. They got to talking about noodles. Noodles were a safe subject. At least, they were until Zuko started thinking about how they served them in the Fire Nation, with heaps of chili and garlic and maybe some shrimp. "Noodles around here are different from where I'm from," he had said.

"Really? How do they do it there?"

Zuko was stuck. Everyone knew that they ate spicy food in the Fire Nation. "I'm from the colonies, sort of," he replied, hoping it would be enough. "They put a lot of spicy stuff in the food there. Chiles and spices and things like that. I guess they're trying to turn us into proper Fire Nation citizens, or something."

"Well, there's no danger of that here," Jin said with such a carefree smile that Zuko was slightly concerned. Everyone's worried about the war outside of the city. How can she say something like that?

"No... I guess not."

After Zuko had steered the conversation away from where he came from and how they ate noodles there, they went for a walk. There was a lot of talking about nothing in particular. He could hear his voice saying things, but he didn't seem to be able to control the words. He could only think of a few times in his life when he'd been more terrified, and none of them involved something as trivial as a date.

"Actually," he said when she asked him yet again what he did in his spare time, "watch this." He stood in front of her, took the three leather balls out of his pocket, and took a deep breath.

He juggled.

It was easier than it had ever been when he was practicing. Even though she watched him and made him nervous, he could do it. It wasn't too hard to go through the motions to keep each ball flying at the same speed in the correct direction. Her expression was totally worth it, too—she smiled brilliantly, and her big green eyes sparkled as she clasped her hands in front of her.

"You actually can juggle!" she said with a laugh once he had bowed at the end of his exhibition.

"I was just... nervous... before," he replied. He found himself smiling back at her, the first time in what seemed like forever, that he could smile so unguardedly and with so little effort. His stomach did a weird little flip-flop when she took his hand.

"You know, Lee... you're really cute when you smile."

"I am? I mean, uh, thanks. You're... really cute, too."

She was closer than he had thought. He could see faint dimples in her rosy cheeks and the light of the streetlamps reflecting in her green eyes. Maybe... just maybe...

Her hand was cool on his cheek. He shivered a little but didn't pull away when her fingers brushed his scar. She was even closer now, her little button nose barely an inch from his pointed one.

He didn't decide to kiss her. It just happened, a silent but mutual agreement that felt as natural to him as his firebending basics. Her lips were soft and warm against his, and he froze when they made contact, but melted after a moment. His heart thudded in his chest so loudly that he thought she could hear it as well—he reached up and put his hand on her shoulder after a brief, confused moment of wondering where he should touch her.

They separated after a few seconds, and neither of them said anything at first. Zuko simply couldn't think of anything to say, but Jin seemed fine with that. He felt warm all over, calm for once, and he didn't want to ruin it.

He kissed her again and felt at peace—no Fire Nation, no Avatar, no quest, no honor, just the two of them in the darkened streets of Ba Sing Se.

When Zuko returned to the apartment later, he had an unusual constant smile on his face; surprisingly, his uncle gave him a look, but not more than that, as if he could read Zuko's mind somehow and already knew everything that had happened.

Zuko sometimes wondered if his uncle could perhaps read minds; it was the only explanation he could think of. It would explain how his uncle knew just what to say to everyone to make them feel better, the many times Zuko could remember when he had felt down, only for his uncle to say the right words to give him hope for the future.

Zuko started doing his job the following morning with a bigger smile than ever; as Zuko started preparing tea, he heard footsteps from behind. Zuko expected his uncle to start teasing him about the date last night, but instead, his voice was serious, something incredibly rare.

"Zuko, we have a visitor," his voice, void of the warmth it usually had, echoed through the empty room. Startled, Zuko's expression immediately shifted from focused contemplation to sheer surprise. He pivoted around to face his uncle, who stood a few paces away, his normally serene countenance marred by a hint of concern. With a mere glance, the older man conveyed his unspoken message, urging Zuko to look towards the center of the room. Curiosity piqued, Zuko's golden eyes followed his uncle's gaze and landed on an unexpected sight, leaving him momentarily breathless. A gasp unconsciously escaped from his lips as he beheld the unexpected visitor.

"It's good to see you, Zuzu!"

I hope you enjoy the chapter, If we reach 40 Likes, there will be a double update the next time I update this Story