We are finally in the city! Man, is it huge! I've never seen a city so large. If you were to stand on a high rise at one end, it would be extremely hard to see the other side. I don't know how I'm going to find those ingredients here. I could spend days looking!

Time to procrastinate.

Wow... there's a term I haven't been able to use here. Well, there's a first time for everything.

I saw Uncle running up from behind with a flower pot holding some sort of Orange carnations. I had been too caught up in the size of this place, I didnt even see him leave. Zuko and I gave the old man a questioning look. "I just want our new place to look nice, in case someone decides to bring home a lady friend." Uncle chuckled, nudging his nephew's side.

I burst out laughing. "Zuko? Get a girlfriend? That's a laugh. He's too grumpy all the time." Zuko glared at me. Whether it was playful, or he legitimately wanted to kill me for the statement, I have no clue.

"Even though I could, Aiko, I don't want to make a life here. This city is a prison." I rose an eyebrow at him.

"It really isn't. It's more of a hiding place. I mean, come on, we are hiding from a couple of morons who thought that they could try to capture you two, and not even give me a second glance." I mumbled.

Uncle and Zuko both rose an eyebrow at me. "So... you want to be a sought after refugee?" My brother chimed in.

"Yes... well, I don't want to be ignored. Seriously, why are you two wanted and not me? Am I not good enough to be captured?" I pouted like a child. I don't even know why I care.

I just feel left out. Aang, Zuko, and Uncle are wanted. "No, you're too annoying. After about ten minutes with you in custody, they'd beg someone to take you from them." Zuko cut off my train of thought.

I scoffed. "Oh, because you're just so much better. You're too egotistical for your own good, big brother." He frowned at my statement.

"Are you saying that they shouldn't want me?" I only nodded with a smirk, before being cut off by Uncle.

"Alright, you two. Let's save the quarrels for later. I've got us a job, and we start this afternoon!"

☆¤☆¤☆

That's what I hate about the obvious- missing it. I should have known Uncle wanted to work at a tea shop. I mean, I'm not complaining since his tea is amazing, but how did I not figure this out sooner.

"Well, you certainly look like official tea servers. How do you feel?" Our new boss, Pao, asked.

"Rediculous." Zuko complained while Uncle struggled to tie his apron. I just rolled my eyes while picking at the cloth around my waist.

"Does this, by chance, come in another color other than green and white? Like, perhaps, black?" I asked boredly. I'm so tired of green, brown, and white. I'm not an earthy girl. Those colors don't work for me. Now, black, on the other hand, is definitely my color.

I would have asked for red... but that probably wouldn't have been a good idea.

Pao laughed. "No, of course not."

"Does this happen to come in a larger size?" Uncle finally gave up on trying to tie it.

"I have some extra string in the back. Have some tea while you wait." The short man poured us three cups of tea and walked away. I rolled my eyes.

"I'm not meant to work. I'm only 14. Mom always said to wait until after high school to start working..." I smirked. "So, does that mean I don't have to ever work, since I'm never going to finish high school?" Zuko have me a deadpanned stare.

"Oh, no you don't. If I have to suffer through this, then so do you." He grabbed my wrist to keep me from walking away. I frowned at him.

"But, green is a good color on you, Princess. I think you should wear the apron all the time. I, on the other hand, can't pull off such a color." I smirked as he rolled his eyes and pulled me closer to him. He locked his arm around my shoulders. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was hugging me, but we both knew how he was and hugs weren't on the best of terms with him.

"You're no fun, Junior."

"Deal with it, Aiko." He shot back. "You have to work as much as I do."

I sighed, as Uncle took a sip of tea. His face twitched in disgust, before he pulled the cup away from his face, causing both of us to turn to him. "This tea is nothing more than hot leaf juice!"

"Uncle, that's what all tea is." Zuko stated the obvious. Uncle looked at him appalled, while I only smirked.

"How could a member of my own family say something so horrible?" He grabbed the pot angrily and stomped off towards the window. "We're going to have to make some major adjustments around here."

I continued to smirk at Zuko. "Oh, Junior, Junior, Junior. Keep that up, and Uncle might just have to disown you." He only rolled his eyes at me, but before he could say a word, I cut him off. "I know, I know. I'm impossible, insufferable, and annoying. It's a shame you love me."

He looked dead serious when he said his next words. "Who said I loved you?" The lack of humor in his statement only made me laugh harder.

"Then why are you hugging me?" I managed to get out. He immediately let me go and crossed his arms with a look of frustration on his face, grumbling about me being stupid.

I only rolled my eyes good-naturedly, when Pao came back in. Oh yay, work. How exciting....

☆¤☆¤☆

That night, after hours of working in that blasted shop, I walked into the room where Zuko was laying on the couch and Uncle was fixing something by the stove.

I walked over to Zuko with a serious expression on my face. "Move."

He only rose an eyebrow, but didn't budge. I mimicked his expression. "Move, or I'll make you."

He scoffed at me. "I'd like to see you try."

Without another moment's hesitation, I flipped his feet off the couch. Since he was caught off guard by the onslaught, he ended up falling completely off. I only smirked at him, and flopped onto the couch.

"Told you I'd do it. Lesson one of dealing with Aiko's tricks: Never let your guard down. I'm always willing to attack."

I could see Uncle rolling his eyes at us. "Would you two like some tea?"

Before I could answer him, Zuko cut in his opinion from the floor. "We've been working in a tea shop all day. I'm sick of tea!"

Iroh gasped. "Sick of tea? That's like being sick of breathing!"

I shot Zuko a look of playful frustration. "If it makes you feel better, Uncle, I'd love some tea right now."

He smiled at me. "Well, it's good to know one of my relatives has an appreciation for the better things in life. You could learn a thing or two from her, Junior."

Zuko shot me a glare. "Of course. You just have to show me up, don't you?"

I smirked. "That's my job, big brother. I'm sorry, but you'll have to deal with it."

Uncle looked through the cabinets for something. "Have either of you seen my spark rocks? I can't seem to find them."

Movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention. I turned to look out the window, but saw nothing there. Must have been my imagination.

"You alright, Aiko?" Zuko asked. Why was he still on the ground?

I nodded my head. "I thought I saw something. I have a wild imagination, you know." I could see him smirking devilishly.

Before I knew it, he was on the couch, and I was forced into an upwards position. "Don't let your guard down, Aiko. We're siblings, so we're quite similar in personality."

I snorted. "Not true. Just because we're siblings doesn't mean we have to act the same. For example, me versus my twin. Are they're any similarities? No. Well, I mean, I may be conniving, but I'm not evil!" I shoved him back off the couch. "Except maybe when you try to steal my couch."

"No worries. I borrowed our neighbor's. Such kind people." When did Uncle leave in the first place? I rose an eyebrow as Zuko shoved me off the couch once more. I sat up from my position on the ground.

"Would these people have the same level of kindness as that guy on the street that I told off, or, you know, actually kind?" I asked with a knowing smirk.

Zuko flicked me in the temple, causing me to glare up at him. "If they let him borrow their spark rocks, I'm sure they're actually nice."

Uncle Iroh shook his head at us. "That young man was nice. I see no need for you to treat him otherwise." I rolled my eyes.

"Whatever you say, Uncle."

After drinking tea, Uncle sent us off to bed like children. "We have much to do tomorrow" he told us. How exciting.

☆¤☆¤☆

After nine hours working in the tea shop, I was becoming desperate to get off of work. Zuko was wiping off some tables, while Uncle and I poured some tea for our guests.

I could make out the conversation Uncle was having with one of the officers. "This is the best tea in the city!" One of the guards complimented.

"The secret ingredient is love." Uncle smiled back as he waved the steam in front of his face. Something about how he did it reminded me of the hippies from the 1970's.

I could also see the look of pure horror Zuko gave our uncle. I had to hold back a chuckle at that.

Before much else happened, the front door of the shop slammed open to reveal a face that I could have gone the rest of my life without seeing. "I'm tired of waiting. These three people are firebenders!" Jet yelled from across the room, pointing at Zuko, myself, and Uncle with his hooked swords.

I kind of glanced at him funny. What tipped him off? Was it Zuko's temper? I knew I should have poured cold water on him when I had the chance. Well, better late than never, I suppose.

"I know they're firebenders. I saw the old man heating his tea!" He yelled angrily.

The guards Uncle had served not twenty seconds ago glanced at each other. "He works in a tea shop." They pointed out. I had to bite back a chuckle at that statement. True statement, sir. Very true.

"He's a firebender! I'm telling you!" He looked at the two guards defiantly. The officers- I'm still not entirely sure what they're called here- stood up. Attempting to look more authoritative.

"Drop your swords, boy. Nice and easy." The first man ordered.

Her moved towards us slowly. "You'll have to defend yourself. Then everyone will know. Go ahead, show them what you can do."

Zuko stepped forwards and took a hold of the dual dao swords that the officer was about to pull out. "You want a show? I'll give you a show." He prepared himself for a dual. Why can't he just let the authorities handle it? What? Does he have something to prove?

Zuko glanced at the table next to him, and with a single swipe of his foot he pulled it out and kicked it at Jet who sliced it in two to move it out of his way.

Hey quickly advanced onto Zuko, who had to call back, by standing on a table. Her cut the table in two with his right hook sword, leaving Zuko standing perfectly balanced on the edge of the right half of the table. Despite how much I make fun of him, I must say that he does have very commendable balance.

The fight quickly moved outside, and a crowd gathered around. I watched as the two attacked, dodged and countered each other's moves impeccably. They were very closely skilled combatants.

In the middle of the fight two robed figured that, for some reason, reminded me of the MIB, came through. "Drop your weapons." The first one ordered.

The fighting quickly stopped and Jet pointed accussingly at my brother. "Arrest them! They're firebenders!"

Uncle simply stood there calmly. "This poor boy is confused. We are just simple refugees."

Pao glared at Jet. "This man wrecked my tea shop and assaulted my employees!"

One of the guards spoke up. "It's true, sir. We saw the whole thing. This crazy kid attacked the finest tea maker in the city."

Despite the situation, Uncle blushed bashfully. "Aw. That's very sweet."

I only rolled my eyes. I wasn't going to lie. I was sort of upset that the closest thing I had to action all week had been stopped by a group of men in dresses. I wanted to see Zuko pummel him into a pulp.

"Come with us, son." Jet quickly retaliated with a sword swipe to the man, but he simply held up a rock clad hand to catch it. Jet's hand was twisted behind his back, and he was cuffed at the wrists.

"You don't understand! They're firenation! You have to believe me!" Jet yelled even as he was dragged away. Seriously, did he not know when he was beat?

The rest of the night followed eventlessly, and tomorrow would most likely be the same. I come into a world that was filled with adventure, and now I have to live a normal life. Hooray.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I am sooo sorry that I haven't updated! First person point-of-view had become really hard to keep doing. I've found that third person is way easier. That and I had lost motivation for this story for a while. I started a Danny Phantom Fanfic instead, to keep ideas rolling.

I will continue this, but updates may become slightly sporadic; although, I do want to make it to season 3 by Christmas. Season 2 is harder to write for some reason, though. And I can't wait to start on the next season.

I enjoy writing the banter between Zuko and Aiko, though. I find sibling quarrels really fun to write (Which is one of the many reasons I don't write romances).

Thanks for staying with me through this hiatus l, and I hope to get back to writing this piece.

Enjoy!😁