*。☆。
★。＼｜／。★
˚ ₊ ♡ ❰ MIRACULUM ❱
*✧ ─── ❝ ❪ NINE TO FIVE...YAY ❫ ❞

⋆ 🌪. CHAPTER TWENTY THREE ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
˚ ₊ ♡ 112 a.a ─── book two: earth

UKI ADJUSTED THE BLACK SASH AROUND HER WAIST, TIGHTENING THE KNOT. IT FELT STRANGE, to see herself in the colours of the Earth Kingdom; the forest-green tunic she wore, with its single golden stripe running down the centre, was a far cry from the thick furs of the Water Tribe. It felt too thin, too foreign against her skin. Her loose pants brushed against her ankles as she shifted, the drawstrings barely keeping the excess fabric from getting in her way.

She caught her own reflection in a shop window, her blue eyes standing out sharply against the warm tones of her outfit. The only sign of her heritage was the blue necklace snugly fit against her neck, the carved out pendant glinting in the morning sun.

It made her uneasy. Like she was wearing someone else's skin. She tugged at the sash again, as if that would make it sit more comfortably.

A soft shuffle of footsteps behind her made her glance over her shoulder. Zuko appeared next to her—his scowl ever present on his pale face. "can't you stop the incessant fidgeting," he muttered.

Uki sighed, turning back toward the street. "It doesn't feel right," she admitted.

"The clothes?" He asked, gaze wandering over her figure—he agreed that the colours of the Earth Kingdom looked quite dreary on her. Too muted unlike the hues of blue that the Water Tribe prided themselves on.

He supposed though, that she still looked kinda beautiful with the sun shining on her tan face and the way her icy eyes gleamed.

For a waterbender that was.

He cleared his throat and looked away from her.

She frowned at his awkward behavior, then nodded. "The whole thing."

Zuko was quiet for a moment before he finally clearing his throat, his own Earth Kingdom disguise blending in effortlessly. "You'll get used to it," he muttered, though there was something in his voice that made Uki think he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

Uki hummed, shifting her weight from one foot to the other before reaching to adjust the sash once more—only for Zuko to slap her hand away.

"Hey!" she hissed, narrowing her eyes as she smacked his shoulder in return.

Zuko grumbled, rubbing his shoulder as he shot her a glare. "You're making it obvious," he muttered, glancing around as if Earth Kingdom guards were lurking in the crowd, waiting for a sign that they didn't belong. "We're supposed to blend in, remember?"

Uki rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Oh, right. Because the best way to blend in is standing around looking like you swallowed a lemon."

Zuko scoffed but didn't argue, which Uki considered a small victory.

The marketplace around them was alive with movement and noise. Merchants called out their wares, voices rising above the steady murmur of people haggling for better prices. The scent of roasted chestnuts and spiced tea filled the air, mixing with the dust kicked up by passing carts. Uki inhaled deeply, letting the unfamiliar scents settle in her lungs. It was different from home—the crisp bite of sea air, the damp cold of the glaciers—but there was a strange warmth to it.

She just wasn't sure if that warmth was comforting or suffocating.

Before she could dwell on the thought, a figure appeared between them.'

Taking note of Uki's curious glance and Zuko...well, scowl, Iroh held the vase a little higher. "I just want our new place to look nice in case someone brings home a lady friend!"

Uki barely stifled a grin as Iroh proudly held the large vase of bright orange flowers, his smile as warm as the afternoon sun.

Zuko's face twisted in mortification, and Uki had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing outright.

"This city is a prison," Zuko sighed. "I don't want to make a life here."

While she rather not agree with Zuko on, well, anything—she did think he was right about Ba Sing Se. She wanted to say it felt too still. Too contained. The towering walls stretched so high they blocked out the world, making everything inside feel too controlled, too artificial.

Not once had she heard anything about the war, or the Fire Nation—as if the large Earth Kingdom city had been contained in a small bubble.

He smiled knowingly, then clapped his hands together. "Now, come along! I found us some new jobs, and we start this afternoon."

Uki blinked. "Jobs?"

Iroh hummed, nudging her side playfully. "Yes! I managed to secure positions for us at a delightful little tea shop in the Lower Ring." His eyes twinkled, clearly pleased with himself.

Zuko groaned, running a hand down his face. "You've got to be kidding me. Tea, again?"

"I will not apologize for my passions, Lee," Iroh said with exaggerated dignity, puffing out his chest. Then, with a more serious tone, he added, "We must make a living somehow. A quiet life will keep us from attracting unwanted attention."

Uki narrowed her eyes. "And by 'us,' you mean me too?"

"Of course!" Iroh beamed, placing a hand on her shoulder. "A young lady like yourself would be a wonderful addition."

Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose. "I can't believe this."

Uki crossed her arms, letting out a long sigh. "I don't know the first thing about making tea."

Iroh chuckled, his grip on her shoulder firm yet warm. "Then you shall learn. And perhaps, along the way, you will find some joy in it."

Uki could only puff out a breath of air as she hurriedly followed alongside Iroh, who led them through the winding streets of the Lower Ring with the ease of a seasoned guide. She barely had time to take in the sights around her as he maneuvered through narrow alleyways and side roads, occasionally pausing to greet a vendor or admire a particularly well-crafted clay pot.

Zuko followed in sullen silence, arms crossed tightly over his chest, his jaw clenched as if bracing for yet another humiliation. Uki might have teased him about his dramatic misery if she wasn't too busy trying to keep up with Iroh's determined pace.

Finally, Iroh came to a stop in front of a small, unassuming teashop nestled between two contrasting storefronts: a butcher shop, its window lined with dried meats hanging from hooks that would have made Aang shiver in his air acolyte's clothes, and an antique store cluttered with old vases, scrolls, and trinkets.

A weathered wooden sign creaked slightly above the door, the paint chipped but still legible: Pao family tea house.

The building itself was modest, its exterior faded from time and exposure to the elements. The door looked sturdy but well-worn, the wooden threshold scuffed from years of foot traffic. A small, cloth-covered awning hung above the entrance, swaying gently in the breeze. Uki glanced through the front window and saw only a few tables inside, most of them empty save for a couple of elderly patrons sipping tea in comfortable silence.

Zuko, who had been quiet up until now, let out an unimpressed scoff. "This is it?"

Iroh beamed as though they had arrived at a palace. "Yes! A charming little place, don't you think?"

Uki tilted her head. "It's... small."

Zuko shot her a look. "That's one way to put it."

Iroh pretended not to hear.

With the enthusiasm of a man on a grand adventure, Iroh pushed open the door, a little bell chiming softly as they stepped inside.

The teahouse was cozy, though "aged" might have been a better word for it. The wooden floor was scuffed, and the scent of steeped tea leaves clung to the air, mixing with a faint hint of something floral—jasmine, maybe. A few small, round tables were set up near the entrance, each covered with simple green cloths. Shelves lined the walls, filled with clay teapots, ceramic cups, and neatly arranged tins of various loose-leaf blends.

"Ah! You must be the new help," a stout man greeted them with a small smile. Uki guessed he was Pao. His angular face was framed by a neatly trimmed mustache and a small goatee, while his dark hair was braided and tucked beneath an emerald green hat.

He looked them over quickly, his gaze lingering on Zuko's ever-present scowl before shifting to Uki, who simply raised a brow.

Iroh clapped his hands together. "Indeed! It is an honor to work in such a fine establishment."

The man nodded, happily and quickly duck behind the counter to retrieve three aprons. He held them out to the trio and Zuko and Uki reluctantly took them from the man, while Iroh eagerly reached for his.

"Well you certainly look like official tea servers." Pao mused as he looked them over. "How do you feel?"

Uki bit the inside of her cheek.

"Ridiculous." Zuko replied honestly while Iroh busied himself with trying to tie a knot at the back of his apron.

"uh, does this possible come in a larger size?"

"I have extra string in the back." Pao assured him. "Have some tea while you wait." He continued, pouring three cups.

The old man accepted the cup with a beaming smile, cradling it as if it were a long-lost treasure. He took a slow, deliberate sip—only to immediately sputter and spit it out with a dramatic shudder.

"Eeow! This tea is nothing more than hot leaf juice!" he exclaimed, his expression twisted in utter disgust.

Uki blinked, staring at him before hesitantly sniffing her own cup. Whatever scent wafted up to her nose had her wrinkling it in distaste. Yeah, she wasn't even going to try it.

Zuko, however, simply raised an unimpressed brow. "Uncle, that's what all tea is," he stated flatly.

Iroh gasped, reeling back as if Zuko had physically struck him. His wide, horrified eyes locked onto his nephew in sheer disbelief. "How can a member of my own family say something so horrible?" he uttered, sounding truly wounded.

Uki smirked, watching as Zuko scowled, his patience thinning. Before he could retort, Iroh snatched the teapot from the table with a determined huff.

"This will not do," he declared, shaking his head. "We'll have to make some major changes around here."

Without a moment's hesitation, he turned and unceremoniously flung the tea out of the nearest window.

UKI YAWNED, STRETCHING OUT HER TIRED LIMBS ABOVE HER HEAD, the glow of the lanterns in the trio's apartment soothing. She had been seated on a small cushion on the floor, her fingers mindlessly trailing the patterns in the wood, deep in thought. Behind her, Zuko was sprawled on the couch, his arms crossed over his chest, eyes closed, though she doubted he was actually asleep. Iroh busied himself in the kitchen, the familiar clinking of ceramic filling the space as he hummed softly to himself.

Uki let her gaze drift toward the window, watching the flickering lights of the Lower Ring through the thin curtains. Even at this hour, Ba Sing Se was restless. The muffled sounds of street vendors cleaning up after a long day and the distant chatter of passing citizens seeped through the wooden walls. The city never truly slept, but something about it still felt... lifeless.

With a deep sigh, she shifted her weight, resting her chin on her palm. "Today was exhausting," she muttered, breaking the silence.

Zuko cracked an eye open, scoffing. "It was just tea."

Uki shot him an unimpressed look over her shoulder. "Yeah, and apparently, we've all been doing it wrong our entire lives," she said dryly, mimicking Iroh's dismayed tone from earlier.

In the kitchen, Iroh chuckled. "Ah, but perfection in tea is an art, my dear. You cannot rush the process. It is much like life—patience and care bring out its finest qualities."

He turned his attention away the teapot and looked between Zuko and Uki, "Would you like a pot of tea?"

"We've been working in a tea shop all day. I'm sick of tea!" Zuko growled angrily.

"Sick of tea? That's like being sick of breathing!" Iroh exclaimed in disbelief, his eyes rounding before muttering to himself as he searched through the cabinets, "Have you seen our spark rocks to heat up the water?"

Uki frowned, brows pulled together, "they were there this morning." She mumbled.

Iroh, sighed, hands on his hips as he shook his head. "I'll be right back." He excused himself and disappeared through the front door.

Uki yawned once more before tilting her head to look at Zuko.

"What." He grunted out, eyes remaining close.

Uki raised an brow, biting her lip in contemplation, "so...uhm."

He huffed, opening his eyes to glare at her as he sat up. "Spit it out."

"Are you still going to look for Aang." She rushed out.

Zuko's expression hardened for a moment, his jaw tightening as he glared at her. The question hung in the air like a challenge, and Uki waited, almost nervously, for his response.

But there was no answer and Uki took this as a silent invitation—or maybe hopeful ignorance he wouldn't burn her to a crisp.

She pushed his legs to make room for herself on the tiny green couch, ignoring the way his face twisted with irritation.

She wringed her hands, internally scolding herself.

Since when did she have trouble stating her opinion!?

"I know we already talked—erh, argued, about it, but maybe this is a chance to change course?" She finally said, icey eyes peering up at the firebender.

His eyes narrowed, the amber glint dimmed with something darker that made her heart hammer inside her chest. "Stop trying to insert yourself in my business, you water tribe leech."

"Leech!" Uki straightened, scowling at the boy, "I'm older than you, show some respect!"

He scoffed, "I am a prince."

"Excuse me, banished prince, you mean." She jutted her finger against his chest.

"How dare you--!"

Uki whipped the water from her pouch at his face and the firebender spluttered, wiping the droplets from his face with indignation. "Why you—" he growled, bawling his fists.

Uki was sure if there were lit candles, the building would be going up in flames right about now.

Taking a steadying breath, "You're screwing up a great opportunity," She stated instead, eyes narrowed, "you can actually start over here, away from what is clearly a very toxic home environment."

"Don't talk about my home like you know anything about it." Zuko spit out, leaning forward with a ferocious glare.

"Phu-lease" Uki groaned, waving her hand, motioning to his scar, "That is not normal Zuko, far from it. And let's face it, everyone thought the avatar was dead—your father—" the way she spoke of the title with a mocking lilt made him scoff, "send you out on a hopeless, wild cricket-goose chase."

"But the Avatar is alive." He argued instead, "and I will capture him."

Fear spiked in Uki's heart as steam wafted from his nose, at the way his anger made his voice rough and dangerous. But she swallowed it, puffing out her chest instead. "I won't allow it." She hissed.

"Like you could stop me, peasant."

Uki growled, crossing her arms, "I am actually of noble standings you ignorant idiot, hah."

"Well you don't look it." He denied smugly and Uki clenched her jaw.

She huffed, opened her mouth to retort only to be interrupted by Iroh who returned with a gleeful expression on his face, completely oblivious to the rising tension. "I borrowed our neighbours, such kind people." He held the spark rocks proudly.

Uki huffed, and turned her body away from the firebender.

Zuko stared at Iroh as he placed the spark rocks on the kitchen counter, his face a mixture of annoyance and resignation. How dare she! His mind raged. He couldn't wait to rid himself of her suffocating presence.

Uki looked up at Iroh as he handed her a cup of tea, the ceramic warm between her cold fingers as fragrant steam wafted up.

The room went quiet for a moment and Uki leaned back against the cushion, exhaling slowly as she let the warmth of the tea seep into her hands.

"How is your wound Iroh?" Uki asked softly as she placed her cup down, the tea had settled some of her rising irritation—and she was in desperate need of a distraction.

Iroh's face lit up at the concern in her voice, something Uki would later probably toss and turn about in her cot—caring about firebenders? What had the world come to?

"It is doing better, my dear, you've helped me greatly."

"Let me check." Uki mused, "one last session might do the trick—I saw you flinching at the tea shop a lot today." She said knowingly.

Iroh almost looked bashful by her concern, and keen observation.

"Ah," he said with a small, rueful smile, "I've grown quite used to it, but perhaps... just a quick look wouldn't hurt."

Uki rose slowly from her cushion, her movements calm, deliberate. She set the teacup down on the low wooden table, its contents now cooling in the silence between them. The light of the lanterns bathed the room in a warm, golden glow, and as she approached Iroh, she noticed the way his posture shifted—how he instinctively tried to straighten, despite the pain.

Pushing his arm out of his sleeve, to reveal the clean with bandage still securely wrapped around his upper body and shoulder, Uki carefully unraveled it, keen eyes taking note of the fading discoloration and healthy skin.

Reaching for the water in her pouch, the waterbender moved with practise ease, the water glowing above the healing wound. "I just don't want you to overdo it," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she turned her gaze away from the wound and back to the older man.

The sincerity in her voice caught him off guard, and for a moment, Iroh simply stared at her. His smile faded slightly, replaced by a look of somber acceptance. "Thank you, Uki," he said softly, his voice full of something unspoken, something old and tender. "You've shown me that there is still much good in this world... and perhaps some hope for our nations."

Uki hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She could see just how much depth lay beneath. His warmth, his wisdom, was not just a facade—it was a gift he had learned to give to those who were willing to accept it—even if he was Fire Nation and she was not.

Was there hope for such things?

Uki felt guilt gnaw at her stomach when she realized, she wanted to belief in Iroh's words.

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