He waited for her response, and as it came he was kind of surprised.
"You’re the Zuko…huh…”
'Has Uncle been talking about me?' Zuko wondered.
He felt embarrassed suddenly of what he might have told her. Uncle liked to tell embarrassing stories, even about himself if it got others to laugh.
Zuko watched the girl try and get a sense of herself. She had opened her eyes, but didn’t act as if she didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, didn’t even shift her gaze.
Zuko asked himself 'Was this girl used to waking up in strange places?'Â
"Yeah yeah…m’fine y’know…you don’t have to…bu-"
For a second he almost thought that she had answered his question, but quickly realized she was talking about something else. Zuko was surprised at how this girl didn’t seem to want to be helped. She was stronger than she looked. He was impressed, but she may have been a little too stubborn to admit anything was wrong and got too ahead of herself.
She had tried to sit up, but didn’t appear yet ready. Not that he could blame her, for trying or not just not being able. He was like her, he didn’t like others to help him if he was in need, even if something was too much to bear alone. He was too proud to admit things some times, especially when it came to being defeated.
"Stay right here…" He realized how stupid what he had just said was "I’m uh… gonna go see how Iroh is coming with the tea…."
Zuko stood up and walked out of the room.
'Real genius you are. Don't move… as if she was going anywhere!'
He walked into the kitchen where Iroh was making the tea.
"How’s it coming along, Uncle?" He asked.
"Good, good." Iroh responded. "It’ll be perfect soon."
Zuko could see the steam rising from the tea pot.Â
"Now…." Iroh grabbed two tea cups and poured them full. "Perfect!" He exclaimed happily.
"So I guess I’ll just get out of your way while you take care of the rest. I should probably head to my dorm anyways…." Zuko said.
"Now where do you think you’re going, Zuko?" His uncle asked.
"I was gonna-" Zuko started.
"No, you’re gonna stay right here and take care of our guest. I’ve got to go out and get some supplies from the market, and finish unpacking our luggage." Iroh smiled at Zuko.
"But Uncle-" Zuko tried again.
"Besides, it’ll give you a chance to get to know someone. It’ll be good for you, Zuko." Iroh said, handing Zuko the two cups.
"Now take care of her! She’s a valued customer!" His uncle laughed and turned back and walked out of the shop.
Standing there with two steaming cups in his hands and with no idea of how to help this girl, Zuko gave into the idea that the only thing he could do would be to give her the tea and maybe try and comfort her.
Zuko nervously walked back into the room with the girl in it.
"Um… I brought you tea my uncle made. He said that it should help. I know you’d probably prefer him but he had to go out…."
He awkwardly sat down next to the girl, not knowing what to do next, and held out the cup.
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