Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Eri POV

Darkness

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Emptiness

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Yet...so...comfortable...so...peaceful...no shouting...no cutting...no staying in the room...all day...

...but...I feel.... neglected...from the...warmth?

...is that the...word...but...what about Kai Chisaka...will he be there with...me?

I shudder in fear and the coldness.

Everything felt right...yet...in my head...it felt wrong. But what felt wrong...no one is there to hurt me, no one to yelled at me for something that I didn’t do (even though it was my fault). No one to looked at me for what I did (no... it’s what I am) No one looking at me in anger (even though I curse them to take care of me).

What about mister Deku?

Where is he...where is everyone...did...did I killed everyone!

no... why does everything have to happen around me. Am I really doing this, hurting everyone and everything...I don’t want this...I want to...live in peace?

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(Out of POV)

Eri knew it was her fault, she wrapped herself, arms around her head, trying to keep the threats, whispers, and the promised...she wants those voice to leave her alone.

Shiver went up to her body as the coldness gulfed her as she continued to listen every word from her caretaker...especially his words....

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Just then, a spark of a light shine towards Eri, who wince from the light shining into her eyes. Opening her eyes, her eyes shine bright from the light, but she just curled up more to keep away from the light, wanting nothing but to disappear into the darkness.

But fate doesn’t seem to give her the hint as more light shine more into the darkness, the darkness slowly faded away, the bright light too much to handle from them.

Eri hissed once again as the bright light blinded her for a minute.

She silently wished that she wants this to end, until a called was heard.

It was very unfamiliar as she never heard this voice before.

It was mostly Chisaka voice she was use too, but this voice...it sounds very raspy...yet somewhat...very high-pitched, not the sound Chisaka use before. But still, she doesn’t want this person to come near her.

Fear of what she might do if he contacted to her curse, she wouldn’t want that, she doesn’t want to hurt more people because of her.

Eri, immediately tries to wake up, wanting to warn the person to not come near her, saying that she a curse. She feared he might disappear like before she first did it, but it was hopeless as she couldn’t, she desperately tries to move her body.

But for some reason, her body doesn't move from her command, her body remain unmoving as she was still in a curled-up pose, eyes close and arms holding her legs towards her chest, hands covering her head away from the light.

Panic filled inside of her, she tries moving her mouth, yet it also stay shut, she tries to at least scream...no movement once again.

Hell she at least tries say something in her mind like before, but she couldn’t, not anymore, she doesn’t know how she can’t say something in her mind, but she feels like she could feel her emotions, and it’s already scaring her, and more anxiety filled up.

Eri's anxiety manifested as a quiet, constant worry, her eyes trying to at least open to dart to every flicker of the light swallowing the darkness, every whisper of wind, haunted by the echoes of a past she thought she couldn't escape are now being silence.

Eri, for the first time stop trying to move now, her only focus is just listening to nothing but a warm sense of light, as if trying to help her.

She doesn't know this feeling, but she read books the caretaker gave her as a promise for doing the experiments on her blood. The book said,

"A mother hugs are like a huge bright light of warmth, feeling of comfort, peace, and love."  

Is that what it's supposed to feel like, but instead of a mother hug, it was actually a bright light, keeping her warm, comfort, and peace...but she doesn't feel love though...even then...she happy that she got to have those three feelings, new ones that is.

Just then, a loud, yet calm tone for her to hear properly.

'Hello?'

Eri eyes open at that tone.

Chapter Text

Ba Sing Se: The Jasmine Dragon Tea Shop

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A peaceful quiet City of Ba Sing Se, no war, no danger or enemies around the city, just a comfortable life to be in.

All excepted for one person that is struggling to at least fit in.

Down in Ba Sing Se, a tea shop located in the Lower Ring on Lantern Road, The Pao Family Tea House, or now known as the Jasmine Dragon Tea Shop, for both people of Ba Sing Se, or at least for the both of them refuge.

And inside of the Tea shop stand no other than Zuko and Iroh, who are peacefully working, worries fully gone...or so they thought.

Zuko and Iroh are living modestly, running the Jasmine Dragon tea shop in the upper ring. Zuko, or now, under the most common earth kingdom name Lee, mostly keeps to himself, avoiding everyone gazes or glare back at them as in which customers tend to stare more into him then his uncle, even though he knew why they are looking at him more.

Especially his...scar

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There is no doubt that Zuko hates this, personally, he would rather be a servant in a royal palace than being in a lowly class of a stupid tea shop that held no valuable importances of meaning.

.....

except for Iroh, who seems really happy to be here. While as for Zuko uncle Iroh, or under the alias, Mushi, in which Iroh really hated that name.

(Cough! Zuko was terrible at name in which he literally called his uncle Bug)

Iroh seems to be having a good time serving these...peasant! In which is very hard for Zuko, who was used to commanding his soldiers when pissed off or something got off his chart, but instead, he is serving. 

Zuko, while wanting to keep a low profile from his sister, he desperately wants to go back home, he wants to get his honour back, to his father respect, hell he wants to capture the Avatar, who once again got away again, with those water tribes. But even then, he still feels shame inside of him whenever Iroh would talk about his past and the actions.

Iroh even talks about what his destiny when he tried to capture the avatar by using the avatar bison.

Even then, He’s tired. Not just physically, but spiritually tired of pretending, tired of being angry, tired of not knowing who he is.

Zuko POV

I continued pouring tea with the grace of as I am a prince but also having a scowl of a street rat peasant. I finished pouring and walk away to serve other customers while avoiding eye contact with them.

Sighing heavily in tiredness, wanting nothing but to go back to bed or training with my Dual Swords.

And maybe my Firebending, as I realize that my fire is shortening.

This is now my life

My new, perfectly, horrible life!

"Maybe this is it," I think. "Maybe I'm meant to fade away in this city of walls and secrets."

I said quietly to myself, so the customers won't heard of what I said. But just then, a chuckle was heard, and I immediately turn to look at them with anger with an ugly scowl, to just see, uncle who is sipping the tea in his hand (and where in the hell does, he even gets tea?!?) 

"ha-ha! Well, my dear nephew."

Iroh said softly as he put his hand on my shoulder as he continued to speak in that same soft and warm tone that I listen to his words, even if my eyes aren't on him but rather the tea.

"Maybe one day, you might like this place at any time, as you should know of one of my tea quotes!"

Iroh said in the most bashful joy on his face and words.

“Tea is simple, yes, it is, yet it brings people together. Like you can, if you choose.”

Uncle Iroh said as he patted me should and left to another table to play Pai Sho with.

I scowled as I finished pouring the fourth cup, I mentally brushed off Uncle's tea wisdom. But deep down, he knew I was listening, every, single word.

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Night

I grunted as I carry two bags of trash as I walk out of the back door of the tea shop. I put the two bags into the trash bin, and then I heard a scream, in which I look back up and see the Dai Li, I immediately look away, avoiding looking at them and quickly went back inside.

Inside, I went towards the window to get a better view to see the Dai Li arresting two mans, who seems to not be in the low earth kingdom city. 

I watch a bit as they shouted out a War, but the Dai Li shut their mouth by using earth bending as they escorted them and telling the people they are very mental. I sigh as I watch the distance of the Dai Li leaving with the two mans and I quietly close the curtains; I don't want to draw attention to myself, attention from the war. I close the shop and tiding around the shop a bit before going up stairs into my room and then getting change out of my uniforms as I quietly yet quickly lay on my bed.

I groan in satisfaction, snuggling up more until I hear a soft tone.

"Goodnight Nephew..."

I didn't say anything, and it seem uncle gets it and went to sleep in his room.

"Goodnight...."

I softly said back, even though I couldn't see his face, I knew he was happy as he closes his door of his bedroom. Uncle then blew his candle and went to sleep very quickly as I hear his loud snoring.

I sigh in annoyance yet with more tiredness and I also blew my candle out as I sleep, wanting peace and a good rest until tomorrow.

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(Dream/out of Zuko POV)

Zuko sleeps peacefully, resting until a new dawn will awoke him.

Zuko dreamed of his mother again—her voice soft, her touch warm, the only light in the cold palace halls. In the dream, she smiled at him with sorrow in her eyes but continued to play and feeds the turtleducks he absolutely adored.

The dream shifted to ember Island, where for the first time in his life his father, Ozai, actually seem relax, calming. But what is so amazing that he wished he could see it again every night in the dream was to see father smiling, not to Azula, or a ferocious smirk, but an actual smile, towards Zuko, who was chasing Azula in the game of tag.

Azula was also different from Zuko current view, she uses to be kind, joyful of laughter whenever Zuko do something that would makes her laugh, it was definitely one of the greatest days of his life on Ember Island.

But then that dream turned and walked away, fading into the darkness like mist, leaving him alone.

Alone with Azula, whose Joy of laughter was kind and innocent, turns into cruel laughter, the one he was very much recognised, echoed louder than any silence, and with Ozai, his smile turns into anger as he, whose expectations were as heavy as his punishments were merciless.

Zuko felt small again, a boy standing before a throne, trying to be strong, trying to be enough, trying to please them, Ozai, even Azula.

But nothing is ever enough for the both of them from Zuko.

As the fire gathered in his father’s hand, Zuko raised his voice—not with fear this time, but with pain and desperation, trembling but steady, “Please, don’t burn me again.” But the fire always came, and the dream always ended in smoke.

Zuko starts to move around, sweat form on his forehead, to then his whole body, as he struggled to sleep more.

Zuko starts to whimper in pain as he moves around more aggressively, shaking as he turns his head.

He wants this pain to stop, tells his father to stop hurting him.

Zuko, now seeming to calm down, now see something in his dream, or... a vision?

Then, in the drifting fog of his dream, Zuko saw a small, trembling girl with wide, red eyes full of fear and bruises blooming like shadows across her pale skin, her white hair tangled and matted with dried blood, crawling toward him on shaking hands and knees, as the little girl whispering.

“pls... help me”

With a voice so broken it barely rose above a breath, and as her horned head tilted up to meet his eyes, Zuko felt the old fire in his chest flicker—not in anger, but in helpless recognition of a child who had been hurt the way he had.

Zuko, who wants a reason of why he was having this kind of dream is now pushing that thought away as he tries to grab her, wanting to save her of whatever is hurting her and protect her from anything dangerous until.....

ZUKO!

Morning (Zuko POV)

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I get up quickly as I see my uncle, who is smiling happily (while also looking quite concern) on his face.

Growling in annoyance as I realise that I didn't have a good night sleep.

As I tiredly rubbed both of my eyes and lay down as I quietly spoke in a monotone.

"What is it uncle?"

Uncle smiling brighten more as he brings out of...leaves...wait! No, they look more like...beans...but not the ones I recognised.

"Uncle...what...is...that?"

I spoke, a little loudly, and a bit wary.

"Oh Nephew, I don't know what they are, but they were right out of the tea shop and of course when I open them, they also have these slimly beans inside of them, look!"

Uncle then proceeds to show them and... disgusting I say, they were definitely slimly looking, and I wouldn't want to touch them.

"Nephew, you have got to try them too!"

Uncle said with joy.

...

...

But I look at him with horror.

"WHAT!"

I shouted at him as I got up from my bed and stare straight at him, in return, uncle got scared by my outburst and jumped when I got up from my bed and looking at in definition of disgust and horror at him.

"And why in the hell would I try one of those disgusting...things!?!"

I exclaimed, while also trying to low my shouting, but loud enough for uncle to hear me out.

Uncle look at me, like I was joking (even I'm not! Who in the hell would try those slimes!!)

"Well, dear Nephew, while I understand your words, these aren't disgusting as you thought they are, please. Have a try of them, they are very much harmless, but excepted for the slime on the beans, yes it might have a weird texture on your tongue, but they are incredibly tasty!"

Uncle said, as if trying to please me that it will still taste good.

In which I doubt it will be as good as those tasty fire flakes. God! I miss those.

I sigh and just shake my head, not feeling good nor in the mood to eat.

"Sorry uncle, but I'm not really in the mood to eat it right now and...um, could I have tea, like, normal tea pls..."

I said in the most desperate way for uncle not to let me eat it or at least talk to me right now.

Uncle looks at me for a moment, I knew he wanted to say something but goes against it and simply pulled out a cup (seriously, where does uncle even get these!) and handed towards me, which I gracefully accepted with a nod and hold the cup in my hand, thankful for the warmth.

However, I noticed the difference of smell (yes, I know what different tea smells) and the colour of it. It was a shaded light brown colour. I sniffed the tea and jumped back in shock, the smell is a scent of chocolate, one of my favourite sweets.

"Nephew~ notice the differences of the tea."

Uncle said with a smugness in his tone, yet it was filled with warmth.

I look at Uncle in shock, it been a while the taste of chocolate, I would always sneak inside the palace kitchens with Lu ten and would at least eat about five or ten pieces of chocolate.

It was definitely a good memory when I was little, I shaken a bit before clearing my throat and look at Uncle, who is looking at me knowingly.

"Thanks...uncle..."

I said warmly as I took a sip and widen my eye a bit in amazement of the taste of the chocolate. I didn't know when, but I realise that I finish all my chocolate drink in one go as my mouth will forever savour the taste of the chocolate.

Evening (out of Zuko POV)

The sun dipped low behind the walls of Ba Sing Se, bathing the upper ring in amber light. Zuko stood outside the Jasmine Dragon, arms crossed, watching the street with a scowl he didn’t realize he was wearing. The tea shop was nearly empty now, the clink of porcelain fading as Iroh tidied up inside.

It had been another quiet day. Too quiet.

He hated the calm. Not because it was dull—but because it gave him room to think.

The city was full of whispers. Whispers of a secret war, of a city that watched itself through smiling eyes. Of strange disappearances. Of lies piled on top of lies. And yet, here he was, the exiled prince of the Fire Nation, washing teacups and sweeping floors like a ghost.

Some nights, he almost forgot the feel of a sword in his hand.

“You’re not meant to serve tea, Zuko,” a voice from memory would taunt him—his father’s, sharp and seething.
“You’re a disgrace.”

His jaw clenched. He could hear his father saying that to him. He wanted to forget. But forgetting meant letting go and letting go meant accepting this new life. This aimless life.

He stared at the street, brows furrowed. People passed, some laughing, some lost in thought. All of them carried on like nothing was wrong.

(What am I even doing here?)

Behind him, the soft clatter of dishes continued. Iroh was humming, as always—some old Fire Nation tune dulled by distance and time. It used to make Zuko angry, that calm. Now, he didn’t know what to feel anymore.

He closed his eyes.

In the silence behind his eyelids, he saw fire. Blue fire. Screaming. A woman’s voice calling his name.

And then—

A flicker.

A child. Pale skin. White hair. Red eyes.

A single horn.

Zuko opened his eyes sharply, breath caught in his throat. The image faded like smoke. It was nothing. A trick of memory. Just a dream he had last night. Or stress. Or—

He shook his head. That didn’t make sense. He didn’t know any child like that.

Still, the feeling it left behind—the chill—didn’t fade.

He sighed, leaning against the doorway, watching the last sliver of sun melt behind the rooftops.

Maybe tomorrow will be different, he thought.

And it would be.

Because just around the corner, small footsteps were making their way up the stone street.

Alone.

Afraid.

And about to change everything.