#zukki

8:00 am

“Zuko, your alarm has been going off for five minutes. Come, I’ll need you to open the store in an hour.” His uncle called from behind the bedroom door following a soft knock sounded on the cherry wood. Zuko groaned into his pillow, pulling his blanket over his ears.

Sighing, he rubbed the sleep from his eye and sat up. The warm sunlight filtered through the blinds onto his face. Zuko tapped his phone to check the time only to see 5 missed calls and 10 unread texts from Mai. “Another day.” He grumbled before yanking his blanket off his body.

The morning started off in a routine like every morning. It began in the bathroom where Zuko would shower, brush his teeth, comb his obsidian colored hair, and tending to his wounded eye. After he finished with his morning regimen, he’d return to his room where he would meditate for half an hour. Finally, he’d join his uncle, for the remainder of their time prior to opening the shop, for morning tea in silence.

Zuko recently moved into the apartment above the Jasmine Dragon, the tea shop his uncle Iroh owned. It was located in a bustling downtown area next to a vibrant university. The university happened to be where most of their business came from.

Iroh and his nephew walked silently down the creaky steps that led to the staff entrance of his shop. “How is your eye treating you, Zuko?” His uncle asked as he turned on the lights. Zuko’s hand grazed the bandage that wrapped around the marred half of his face. “Fine. The pain has started to fade.”

Iroh grinned at the good news. “I am happy to hear that it is healing.” While his uncle sorted out his apron, Zuko shuffled over to the front doors to unlock them and turned on the open sign.

11:00am

It was a slow work day.

This is how all Mondays went.

Despite Zuko challenging his uncle’s choice to keep the tea shop open on Mondays, Iroh always ended up leaving the open sign lit.

“Zuko, just because we haven’t gotten many customers in the past on this day, does not mean there are no customers to come.” Iroh cheerily said from the open kitchen as he prepped the hot water, loose-leaf tea, tapioca and popping pearls for the day.

Zuko scoffed, how could his uncle be this careless? “Uncle, that doesn’t make sense! This is a business. How will you keep it running if you leave it open when no one is around?” This was a college town afterall. Mondays left downtown barren until the end of the day, and those crowds aren’t even big enough to warrant staying open all day. To Zuko’s argument, Iroh just shrugged and began to hum with a smile on his face.

After losing yet another argument with his uncle, Zuko resumed work. Of course, there wasn’t much to do, they have only gotten 4 customers in the 2 hours that they have been open. So to keep him occupied, Zuko would check the trash, sweep and spot mop before returning to his post behind the register.

1:00pm

“I told you guys, this place is great for a pick-me-up!” Zuko’s uncovered eye looked up from cleaning a teacup to see a group of people enter through the bamboo doors. From what he could see from far away with his good eye, three people strode in with bubbly energy.

“I dunno, sis. I am not much of a tea guy.” The man next to the leader of the group said suspiciously. He had the same cappuccino hair color and shared a striking blue strand in his dark hair as the woman walking beside him. They were still a good distance away due to the decent sized dining room, and with Zuko being behind the counter, it was hard for him to make out faces clearly. Zuko couldn’t place it, but as the girl started to berate him, he felt as if he recognized her voice.

Just as the group made their way through the dining room to the counter, the woman’s face became clear. “Oh hey! Zuko, right? I haven’t seen you since freshman year. How are you?” Katara. He knew her from when he was in pre-law.

Zuko’s fake smile faltered at someone he knew before the accident recognizing him. He fought himself from having to run off into the kitchen with how fierce his emotions were starting to simmer. Memories of that night when the fight with his father took place tried to resurface.

“You know him?” The man that resembled her whispered not too quietly, but earned an elbow to the stomach. The violent “Agh!” the guy cried out and snapped Zuko out of it. He knew from experience and could tell that, by the way these two acted, they were absolutely siblings.

“I have been fine.” Zuko offered in response, his few interactions with Katara have always been nice, even before the accident. Though he was always a reserved person and wouldn’t tell her much else, he could tell that she was trying to keep her eyes from wandering to his eye covering, but the guy next to Katara didn’t try to hide his glances.

Not wanting the silence to become awkward, Katara turned to the man behind her. He was pale and wore what seemed to be loose fitting yoga clothes. “Aang, what would you like?” She asked the guy who Zuko now assumes to be Aang.

Aang was preoccupied with reading the menu, his eyes squinting as if this was a serious choice. “I don’t know, Kat. What did you get last time?”

“I believe I just got Matcha tea last time. But I think you would like Baojing Gold Tea.” She pointed to one of the items on the menu. Aang’s eyes twinkled. “Wow, is this actually imported?” He asked no one specifically but an all too happy Iroh chirped from the kitchen before anyone had the chance to answer. “Yes! From Hunan Baojing!”

Aang smiled. “I’ll have that please.” Before handing the menu to the guy next to Katara. Zuko clicked his pen and began to write down the order on his old notepad. “Hot or iced?” He asked the guy who now had his arm around Katara’s shoulders. “Iced would be good.”

“Sokka, do you know what you want?” Katara asked.

“Give a guy a second to read through this giant book of a menu!” He exclaimed as he rifled through the pages of the menu. Zuko thanked that there were no other customers queued behind this group, he could tell they may take a while because of this guy.

“How about you?” Zuko’s golden eye met Katara’s aquamarine eyes. “Do you know what you would like?”

“Oh! I’ve been wanting to try your Thai boba tea. Just regular tapioca pearls, please.” Her warm smile comforted Zuko a little as he continued to jot down the order. “Sokka, Aang and I are going to grab a table while you mull it over.” Katara chuckled at Sokka’s grimace at being abandoned for, what appeared to Zuko, her boyfriend Aang. He watched as his ex-peer left him to deal with Sokka.

Sokka quirked a brow and made a face. “What the hell is a oolong?” He said, in a not-so-quiet voice for the tranquil atmosphere of the teashop. In the background, Zuko could spy Katara face-palming.

Zuko took a deep breath as he prepared the lecture his uncle gave him on teas before he started to work at the shop. “Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea, the flavor we have is a fresh green tea.”

The guy behind the counter blinked. “Wow.” He thought for a moment. “Then why not just sell green tea instead?”

All the air nearly escaped Zuko’s lungs as he sighed. This man is being difficult to deal with. His sister finally jumped into the conversation. “You know what? Sokka I think you’ll just like some Korean yellow tea.” Katara, urged her brother out of the way. “Just get him an iced one of those.” She said with a sigh, clearly Sokka does this a lot.

As the two finished ordering and paid, Zuko could hear the guy with the ponytail say. “What happened to his eye-” Before being knocked on his head with a “Shh!”

Iroh worked alone in the kitchen. He always told Zuko that it was soothing to work alongside the teapots as they boiled or clean out the strainers after the tea settled, as if he was one with the work. Whatever that means.

In no-time, the order was ready and Zuko brought the beverages on a golden tray to the group. “Wow, are you sure this is just a tea house, Katara? This seems very fancy.” The bald headed man with his arm around Katara said with an excited smile.

Zuko gave a dry chuckle at his eagerness. “My uncle wants to ensure those who enter this shop enjoy their tea lavishly.” He handed the drinks to the customers who, when given their order, drank it vigorously which Zuko didn’t expect.

“This is amazing!” Aang cried out after a long slurp.

“Oh I have missed this!” Katara smiled.

Sokka gave the yellow tea a sceptical look as if it might be poisoned. “Try it, Sokka.” The girl beside him scolded. The group’s dynamic was very playful from what Zuko could tell. Finally, Sokka relented and tried the tea. After a beat he sat his teacup down and noticed everyone at the table staring at him in anticipation and nodded. “Okay, okay, maybe it isn’t bad.” He admitted, causing everyone to laugh.

After ensuring that they didn’t need anything, Zuko left his post at the register to grab more boba straws from the back. When he returned, someone’s back was to the counter, facing the front doors. “Hello, can I help you?” Zuko asked, wearing his customer service smile even though this person was acting strange.

“Father’s worried about you.” Zuko groaned; he knew that voice all too well.

“I am sure he is.” He responded flatly, and the girl turned around with a wicked grin. “Hello there, Zu Zu.” Azula cooed, her chin resting on her laced fingers.

“Order something or leave.” Zuko warned, but she began to nonchalantly check her long nails.

“Father doesn’t like how his money was wasted for you to study prelaw just so you could work a menial job,” She paused and made a disgusted face, “here.”

“Azula.” Iroh’s once calm, now stern voice called from the kitchen doorway. “I thought I had made it clear to Ozai that Zuko is to be left alone.” He was towelling off his hands as his eyebrows furrowed.

She merely shrugged and made a fake sad face. “Can’t a sister check in on her own brother?” Azula asked in a condescending tone, her bottom lip quivering mockingly.

Iroh joined Zuko at his side, eyes narrowing on his niece. “Leave, Azula. You are not welcome here.”

Azula pouted. “Why not? It’s not like I was the one who punched him.” Even though she had murmured that last bit, Iroh’s face turned red. “Leave. Now. Or I will have to call the police and my lawyers.” Zuko picked up on how her body noticeably stiffened, but only for a moment.

Zuko’s sister clicked her tongue at Iroh’s threat. Her golden eyes grazed Zuko’s before returning to her uncle’s. “Fine.” Finally, she turned on her heel and headed out. Azula paused on her way to the exit. “Oh and Zuko? Do respond to Mai. Poor thing keeps bothering me to check in on you.”

Zuko felt his fists clench as he watched her leave. The soft pressure on his shoulder pulled him out of his anger. “Maybe you should take your break now.” The gentle voice of his uncle anchored him.

“Yes,” Zuko started to untie his apron. “I think I will.”

10:30pm

The rest of the day droned on slowly. After Azula left, Zuko would catch Katara and her boyfriend’s sympathetic glances from across the shop until they finished and went on their way. When closing time finally arrived, Zuko aided his uncle in doing the nightly tidying up and locking the doors. To Zuko’s comfort, life with his uncle was predictable and nearly always followed a routine fashion.

Following closing, Iroh and his nephew retired to their apartment upstairs where they had the meal that he had been stewing all day.

After supper, Zuko cleaned the table up while his uncle started up the stove for his yixing teapot. Zuko never understood Iroh’s love for tea, he was surprised to no end that the man never got tired of that plant water. By the time he had finished cleaning the dishes, the hot water finished boiling.

Iroh silently took out a basket of various tea bags and handed it to Zuko to take his pick. He always chose Earl Grey while his uncle would try something new. Finally came the time to relax on the soft floor cushions around their low table in complete silence. The quiet wasn’t uncomfortable, in fact it was very welcome. It allowed the two to process the events of the day and unravel from the stimulation that came from work.

But tonight was different. Zuko’s breathing was hitched with tension, and his uncle caught on soon enough. “Nephew, what bothers you?” He asked in his calm tone as he cradled the warm teacup in his hand.

“Uncle,” Zuko cringed. “How did she find me?” The words that escaped his seething teeth were laced with pain.

Iroh’s smile faltered to adopt a face of concern. “Have you applied the medicine to your wound yet?” He asked, which took his nephew off guard.

“Uncle.” Zuko warned weakly, wanting answers.

Sighing, Iroh discarded his teacup carefully on the low table and rose from his cushion. “I don’t know. I thought your sister was studying in China.” His voice followed him into the kitchen where he looked through the cabinets before returning with a tin in his palm.

“And my father? Have you heard from him?” Zuko’s golden eye glared at the herbal liquid in his cup. His uncle stepped behind him to have a better angle in removing the bandage from his eye. “My brother?” Iroh chuckled. “No, I have not heard from him. I am unsure whether that is a good or bad thing.”

The old bandage fell into Iroh’s hand and he discarded it. He returned to Zuko’s front where he began applying the salve to the wound. “It does look better.” Iroh said as he tended to the wound with a smile. Zuko tensed at his touch, the skin was still tender.

“I just don’t know how she knew I was here.” He winced again as his uncle rubbed in more salve.

Iroh hummed. “Maybe Ozai knew you would come to me? My brother has known of my shop here in the states since I announced my retirement from our firm.”

Zuko contemplated. “That would make sense.”

Just as Iroh began to wrap clean dressings around Zuko’s eye, his nephew swiped the bandages from his hand. “I will do that.”

His uncle frowned but didn’t press. “Very well.” Zuko stood and afforded the older man a respectful bow before heading to his room.

“Goodnight, Zuko!” Iroh called out from the living room.

Zuko shut the door behind him softly. “Goodnight, uncle.”

11:30pm

Zuko had finished his shower, brushing his teeth, and his other tasks for the night and began to settle in his bed when he heard his phone ring with a notification.

New message request: Kat.ara2

He eyed the notification with scepticism. How did she know his account?

‘Hey! I hope I got the right account. Only one other account was followed by the tea shop account. This is Katara btw.’

Oh. That is how. Zuko rolled his eyes at Iroh’s decision in following him through his business account. Not to keep her waiting, he accepted her request and responded. ‘Hi. Yeah I did.’

‘Was that Azula Feng earlier? I saw her start trouble at the shop. I would think someone aspiring to be a lawyer would be more civil in public.’

‘One would assume so. She is my sister. She likes to start stuff.’

‘Right. I am sorry she was bothering you.’

‘It’s in her nature. I hope her behavior didn’t spoil your experience.’

‘Not at all. We gave the shop 5 stars afterwards.’

Zuko’s face was bathed in the ghoulish blue light that his phone gave off while he reread her text. “What am I doing?” He asked himself. Typically he would be obeying his schedule and have crashed out on his bed, but he finds himself to be engaged in an informal conversation with someone his age- a rarity. Zuko puffs some of the black hair out of his face and continues to text Katara.

‘Happy to hear it.’ Zuko responds, hoping that will be the end of this conversation. He was never really socially inclined and still rather prefers silence. After all, the only positive social interactions he ever had was with his uncle or his mother. Zuko’s grip on his phone falters slightly at the thought of his mother.

She had disappeared when he was about 10 years of age. One morning she had just vanished, when young Zuko tried to search Feng manor for her, Azula had caught him and taunted him about their mother’s disappearance which only infuriated him.

A notification brought him out from the depths of his thoughts. ‘You’re a student right? Would you like to study at the library with us for the first exam? We are a friendly bunch :)’

Zuko frowned as he read the message. He hadn’t been a student since the incident that took place when he was visiting his father in China. Ozai, his father, had asked him to stay over the summer for some training at the family law firm. But Zuko’s stay was interrupted by his father’s violent temper.

Hoping that this will end the conversation, his thumbs tapped the keyboard of his phone screen, as they created an honest yet firm answer. ‘I appreciate the offer. But I have been on gap year and do not plan on returning to the university anytime soon.’

A text bubble began to appear on the edge of their chat before disappearing. Zuko exhaled a breath of relief.

Finally.

He can be left at peace-

A beep rang from his phone.

‘Right. Well, you’re more than welcome to join us still! We could use the extra brain to pick! We will be there Wednesday at 6pm.’

Why is this woman so keen on talking with him? It is not like he knew her, she only knew of him because of his past presence at the university. Zuko closed his eyes. He wasn’t sure how to maneuver around this situation. Did she want something from him? Did Azula set her up to reach out to him? This was all too confusing and happening too fast and too late for him to continue the conversation.

After plugging his phone in, he laid in bed and allowed sleep to take him.

-

Katara’s dorm room was a cozy scene. Her boyfriend, Aang, and her brother Sokka both lounged in two bean bags as they played some sort of videogame. Sokka’s girlfriend and Katara’s roommate, Suki, was enthralled in one of her biology textbooks which she read on her own bed. While everyone was transfixed with their own activity, Katara was on her laptop.

“So…like…did you know that dude at the tea place?” Sokka asked in a flat voice from behind her, his ocean blue eyes glued to the tv.

Katara sighed at her nosey older brother. “No. But I invited him to study with us on Wednesday.”

Sokka sat up from his beanbag, which made Aang groan and pause the game. “You did what? What if the reason why he isn’t in school anymore is because he got expelled?”

Katara’s cheeks puffed in fury as she spun to Sokka in her rollychair. “He seemed lonely! Don’t you remember how isolating home was? We were the only people our age!”

“Well, yeah! But, but-” Sokka stammered. Aang leaned closer to his friend, holding the gaming controller awkwardly. “Uh, maybe you should listen to her.”

“Thank you!” Katara called out, spinning her chair back to her laptop. “Besides, he left me on read.”

“See?” Her brother exclaimed. “Vindication! He’s a jerk that goes around leaving people on read.” Sokka didn’t bother getting up from his game to argue with her.

“It is kind of late, Sokka.” Suki piped up from her bed. “Maybe he fell asleep?”

Sokka scoffed at his girlfriend. “Whose side are you on?”

Suki looked up from her book to give him a deep glare, which Sokka could sense and turned around to meet her uncomfortable gaze. “Sorry.” He said, turning to focus on the tv as fast as he could.

“If he doesn’t come, then it's fine! If he does, still fine!” Sokka’s sister exclaimed from her computer, now pulling up homework.

She heard a sigh from her brother. “Well I guess we will see.”