Sunburn

16

Ba Sing Se was like flipping the fresh page of a new book. It felt clear, this new world was welcoming and lacked the violence that seemed to trail after the Fire Nation trio.

She had promised herself there would be no ill thoughts about the Avatar, her lost family, revenge or anything pessimistic of that matter. She took in a deep breath as she reminded herself that this was a clean slate. A place where she could make a life with no obligations and judgement. Yet there was a thought - no - it was more of an ambition that lingered in the back of her head. What about her dream of seeing an equal united nation and her future as a diplomat?

She raised her head to attempt to see the Upper Rings of Ba Sing Se but failed to, the walls and bridges were too high and blocked her view of the palace. In another life she dreamed she would've been welcomed as a guest. Then again she would've been a guest from the Fire Nation which was an obvious impossibility. With the war raging and the Nation of Fire consuming everything in sight she could bet this land would belong to the Fire Nation soon... She looked around the crowded streets and suddenly felt sad. She felt for all of the Earth Kingdom citizens. All of these people would lose their jobs, their homes, their nation, lives and maybe even their families...
It wasn't fair. But then again there was nothing she could do about it. There was no way to stop or end the war. It was just another one of those things that were out of her control.

Ba Sing Se was a clean slate! With a determined head shake she tossed those pessimistic thoughts to the back of her head and focused on the current scents of onions being fried, pork and bitter pickled goods wafting thought the air. Merchants shouted over each other as they negotiated and marketed their best offers.

The trio presently walked through the bustling streets of the Lower Ring of Ba Sin Se. The Lower Ring was were the most humble of the three. It was were the cities merchants, artisans and most of the serving class lived. It wasn't the best neighborhood to live in, but then again. They had slept in worse.

Tsai liked Ba Sin Se. Out of all the cities and nations they had visited it was the one that reminded her the most of home. The sun was welcoming and the weather was mostly pleasant . The people in the market were kind and smiled at her whenever she approached them.

Maybe it wasn't home, but it almost felt like it. Here she was with her new family Uncle Iroh and his nephew the banished, scarred prince of the Fire Nation, Zuko. Here she wasn't a vice-royal brat she was just another girl living and turning a page for a better life.

Never in a million years did she imagine spending her life here, like this and with such peculiar company. The street was busy and Zuko appeared to be in an even more bitter mood than usual as he waited for Tsai to stop bargaining with a merchant for the best price on some pork bao buns. His uncle had disappeared going off to god knows where.

The prince had been confused. Haunted by insecurities, confusion and disbelief he had gone into an emotional shut down mode after the train arrived to the city in an attempt to shut out the red-head that kept pestering him and knocking at the door of his heart.

It was never going to happen. There was no realistic scenario in which a creature such as her would ever notice him. Besides, he had already tried once and had gotten flat out rejected. It was best to let it go. To let her go.

"Want some?" The red-head approached him with a cheesy grin carrying a dozen or so buns around her arms before taking a large bite out of one of the chewy large white buns.

He ignored the tug he felt in his heart and instead crossed his arms over his chest a familiar annoyed expression on his features. "How can you eat that crap?"
He eyed the girl happily eating the cheap street food. "You're going to get sick."