A gentle knock raps on the door to the home of team avatar, and the woman standing there waits patiently for it to be opened. It takes only a few seconds for it to be opened and for her to be greeted by Aang. "Uh... hello?" He asks, scanning the woman's appearance. Her long chocolate brown hair flows down her back and over her shoulders to rest on her chest. Her robes are a vibrant and shiny light green and gold, with a white lotus made of opal in her hair. "Hello, um... is Lee here?" She asks, causing Aang to stare at her for a few moments before it clicks on who is standing there. "Oh! You're Jin! He's told us a lot about you!" Aang exclaims before abruptly grabbing her wrist and pulling her inside. Jin is startled by the young airbender's enthusiasm but decides to allow him to usher her inside. "He's training out in the yard with Sokka and Katara. I think he'd want you to come watch." Aang continues, hurriedly leading her through the house.

Aang slides the back goji door aside allowing Jin to view Zuko training in the backyard against the brother and sister duo. A stream flows behind their home and the waterbenders are taking ample use of it as Jin is greeted with the sight of Zuko utilizing the octopus form. He stands in a squatting stance, his arms flexed outwards and held up with his fingers flayed apart. Around him eight massive tentacles of water lick back and forth with his movements as he waits for the two to continue their attack. "Are you going to just stand there or are you gonna try to hit me?!" Zuko yells before twisting his arm forwards and reaching out. This action causes a tendril of water to reach forwards before it catches Sokka by the leg. "Gaaaahhhhh!!!!!" Sokka screams as he is yanked into the air then tossed towards his sister. "I thought this was a training fight!" He protests before he's caught in a bubble of water by Katara and dropped gently to the ground.

"How long have they been at this?" Jin asks, causing Aang to look up towards the mid morning sun, he lifts his hand up before counting his fingers that span beneath the sun and to the horizon.

"A few hours." Aang answers, "We usually start off early in the mornings, the two of us meditate for a while, then go over the advanced forms of airbending then he spars with Katara, Sokka and Yue. After lunch we'll rest for a bit before he trains with Toph and Mr Mushi." Jin remains quiet for a few moments, watching as Katara retaliates by shooting icicles towards him but they're easily dodged.

"He's pretty enthusiastic about training." Jin says before her eyes widen and she screams "Duck!" as she takes cover.

"Where?!" Aang says excitedly just moments before Sokka is thrown into him and the two of them go crashing through the rice paper door and into the house. "Oh... not that kind of duck." He groans, causing Jin to burst out in laughter.

"Time out." Katara says, causing Zuko to drop the octopus form for a moment. "Was that really necessary? You took out both Sokka and Aang in the process!" She chastises but Zuko just shrugs. "Ugh, just. Fix this." She demands prompting him to drop his guard and walk over to where the two of them are. He pulls up a bit of water and coats his hands with it to prepare to heal the two.

"Sorry you had to see that, I kinda got carried away." Zuko says but Jin is still trying to regain her composure, laughing and giggling intermittently before trying to squeak out a response.

"You should'a heard Aang! When I told him to duck... he shouted "Where" pfft-ah-hahahahaha!" She manages to reply and Zuko himself starts chuckling when she says this.

"Sorry Aang, I didn't see you standing there." Zuko says as he reaches down to try to heal the young airbender. Aang lays flat on his back sprawled out on the floor, his eyes spiraling as if he was a knocked out pokemon.

"Raaaaaauuugghhhh!!! Sneak attack!" Sokka shouts as he springs up and tries to chop Zuko on the head with a knife hand strike, however Zuko is far too quick for him. The moment Sokka let out his war cry, Zuko had shifted his hand and flattened his palm to a point causing the water to freeze into a large ice spike. The spike of ice stops mere millimeters from Sokka's nose causing him to freeze in his tracks.

"Sneak attacks don't work when you announce them, doofus." Zuko says before melting the icicle then flicking him on the nose with the water. "Jin, what brings you here this morning?" Zuko asks as he begins to heal the bump that has formed on Aang's head.

"Well, you're that reason. I wanted to see if you'd like to go on another date today." Zuko perks up when he hears this, a little shocked since their first date was just last night.

"Of course, w-what do you have in mind?" Zuko replies with a slight stutter, causing Jin to sheepishly look away and dance her toe on the ground for a moment trying to find a reply. He finds his mouth running dry as his eyes are drawn towards the crease in her robes. The fabric stretches against the size of her massive bust, her exposed tanned perfect skin captivates his attention.

"Oh... I thought we could go to lunch, see a play and visit somewhere very special to me." She replies as Zuko finishes healing the bruise on Aang's head.

"Sure. I don't have to work at the tea shop today so we can spend all day together." Jin blushes at the thought as Zuko stands up to his full height. He stretches slightly and twists his back to alleviate some pain. The entire time Jin is mesmerized by the sight of his washboard abs, defined pecs and muscles. Katara smirks, seeing a slight nosebleed from Jin with a little bit of drool leaking down from the corner of her mouth.

"Why don't you and Aang play a game of Pai Sho while Lee can wash up and get ready for your date today. We've been training most of the morning so we're all a bit sweaty." Katara suggests, prompting Aang to spring up excited to play.

***

Zuko can't help but smile, feeling Jin pull his right arm tight against her chest, his grin is furthered by her resting her head on his shoulder as they walk slowly through the streets of the upper district. Pedestrians pay little mind to the two of them, despite the fact that the avatar is walking the same streets as they are. The sweet jasmine aroma of her perfume, her gentle hands against his skin, the warmth of her body against his arm, the way she wraps her hands around his bicep and arm teasingly squeezing his muscles. Everything about her is intoxicating, and despite all his power he finds it almost impossible to keep his eyes off her. He feels her massive breasts squish against his arm and side pulling his attention away from their little stroll. However when she coos his name she manages to catch his attention.

"Lee?" She asks, causing his attention to snap back to reality away from his thoughts of her body pressed against him. "Do you want to go to the noodle shop or the play first?"

"I think it'd be a good idea to eat beforehand, did you have breakfast this morning?" He asks as the pair turn down a side street and start walking towards one of the gates leading to the lower districts.

"Just a piece of fruit," She answers before the two show their passes to one of the gate guards. A few moments later the massive gates are spread open by the earth benders allowing them to head into the lower part of the city. "I grew up in the lower district, and as a little girl I always went to this little noodle shop for lunch."

"What's it called?" He asks, shooting a glance to some of the side streets noticing a few of the locals. Many are disheveled, destitute and impoverished, others are covered in burns and scars being victims of the fire nation's conquest. Despite wearing some clothes from the earth kingdom, he can't help but feel eyes filled with hatred lingering on him.

"It's a little place called The Bronze Ladle, it's usually pretty busy with all the refugees around." Jin replies, "I have to warn you. The shopkeeper Len Yi was from the colonies a long time ago, so he makes the noodles really really spicy." Zuko arches his eyebrow when she says this, it's been a long time since he's had a taste of home and he's greatly looking forward to it.

"Lead the way." He says and she excitedly takes his arm again and tugs him along the streets.

Jin and Zuko come to a stop at a four way intersection that stands between them and the humble little noodle shop. The air is filled with the smells of frying scallions, sesame seeds, baking broth and thick spices. The worn cobble stones almost cause Jin to trip as the heel of her shoe catches one of the cracks. Zuko's quick to stop her from falling, and thankfully she manages to right herself without rolling an ankle. Around them, the wooden buildings lean slightly from disrepair and age alike. The only indicator of a sign is a wooden post, half rotted and falling apart, with a worn bronze ladle screwed into it. It hangs low against the supporting wall and Zuko has to duck underneath it as they enter the small shop. Mixed conversations fill the air, as well as the rhythmic tapping of anvils and hammers from the cobbler and black smith that are nearby the noodle shop. "That broth smells intense... do they make it every day or?" He asks but she shakes her head no. "It's a forever soup, they started cooking that broth when the caretakers at the orphanage were kids and it's been there since. They just add stuff to it every day, more water, meat, bones and vegetables."

"Never heard of something like that before." He says as she leads them up to the counter. Ahead of them a long line of people stand waiting impatiently to be served but the ancient man behind the counter works at a steady pace to keep his customers happy.

The man standing behind the counter looks like he's been carved out of a block of wood. His sun-worn dark skin is accented with deep creases, wrinkles and scars. His short grey hair and bushy beard tell Zuko that he's at least Iroh's age, but the uncountable wrinkles and creases on the man's face make it almost impossible to guess how old he actually is. His caramel brown eyes are hidden slightly behind a pair of glasses and almost completely hidden by his bushy eyebrows. It takes them almost an hour to reach the front of the line, but his greeting is the same and pleasant nonetheless. "Hey Grandpa Yi." Jin greets Len Yi causing him to lift his eyebrows up in surprise hearing the voice. When he sees Jin, the old man smiles and chuckles. "Ah, Hello, little Jin. It's been quite some time." he returns the greeting before shifting his attention to Zuko. "And who might this be? You finally find a strong young earthbender to settle down with?" He asks, his grandfatherly tone is lively and eager to meet them.

"Y-Yeah, you can say that. This is Lee, and he's my boyfriend." Jin introduces and Zuko blushes at her calling him this. "What's on the menu today?" She asks, causing Grandpa Yi to just smile before replying.

"One of my boys suggested we do specials so we have a new noodle dish. Stonepot Glass Noodles, some of the locals have taken to calling them Stonepot Ember Noodles because of how spicy I make them." He replies, Jin takes a moment to look at Zuko seeing if he wants the dish she decides to place that as their order.

"I think we'll take that, but can you make one for me without all the chili oil but with extra scallions? Oh and can you bring us a pot of tea as well?" She asks and the elderly man writes it down before posting the little paper on a string so that the kitchen crew can see it.

"It'll be out shortly my dear, you two have a seat and we'll bring it out shortly." Grandpa Yi says causing the two to walk around the side of the shop to go find a spot to sit.

"How come you call him Grandpa Yi?" Zuko asks as she leads them over to an open air gazebo with dozens of crumbling wooden tables. Seeing this, Zuko shifts his weight and thrusts his arms upwards, erecting dozens of stone tables in their place. A few of the restaurant goers are thankful for the better chairs and others pay little mind to his bending.

"I grew up here, a couple streets that way." She says, pointing behind Zuko prompting him to turn and look down the side streets. "A little orphanage called The Sparrow's Nest. I never knew my parents, and from what Mother Roji said I was found as a baby in a basket left at their door. The only thing I owned was the blanket I was laying on. She was the one who named me."

"This war has split apart too many families, and the world needs more little nests like that." He says in a voice just above a whisper, and she sighs when he brings up the war.

"The world needs to stop breaking so many wings." She replies, and a short and uncomfortable pause hangs between them. Zuko opts to reach his hand across the table and interlock his hand with hers, gently rubbing his thumb along her hand. "For as long as I can remember it was just Mother Roji, Aunt Lien, Mister Tenzo. They were the caretakers of the orphanage, and it wasn't so bad. We got hot soup three times a day, had tatami mats to sleep on and we were near the shops. We got pretty good at stealing a few fruits that wouldn't be missed. What about you? What was it like in the colonies?"

"I was from a noble family, we were pretty well off so it wasn't as difficult of a life. I had my mother and father, as well as an older brother and a younger sister, but we lost my brother to the war. He was a firebender like me and died during the battle of Ba Sing Sei when I was nine." He begins, and for the most part his story is true but it pains him to lie to her. "I was thirteen when I discovered I was the avatar, and it happened by accident. Some soldiers came through the city, and their captain demanded he stay in our home which wasn't out of the ordinary. My mother had the servants prepare food for them but when the captain burned his tongue on the duck that was prepared and he lashed out. I tried to protect her, the servant girl, she just worked for us but the captain called her a traitor and tried to burn her... next thing I know my face is on fire and the entire front half of our house was destroyed by nothing. The captain didn't survive the fall, and we fled into exile."

"When did you group up with Aang and the others?" Jin asks, taking up his other hand in her free one.

"We met at the southern air temple, my father guessed that it would be the best place to start learning how to airbend. It was after three long years of traveling, but we came by a small village north of the southern air temple, one of the sherpas that lived there claimed he knew the way up the mountain. By that point, I had gotten separated from my parents so it was just me. It took us a week to climb the mountain and when we got there, low and behold Aang, Katara and Sokka were there exploring the ruins." Jin soaks up every word of his story, not breaking eye contact as she holds his hands. "Were you ever adopted?"

"N-"

"Y-You're the avatar!" The stunned voice cuts off Jin as she was about to speak, beside them a young boy in dirty clothes holding the small stone pots on a tray stares in awe of Zuko. "I knew it! I saw your pictures in the plaza! The Good Firebender!" The declaration that Zuko is the good firebender causes the surrounding conversations to cease all at once.

"Spirits bless... it really is you. Avatar Lee." An old woman approaches the pair, reaching out and placing her hands on Zuko's shoulder. Her dim green eyes wide and filled with tears but also life and hope for the first time in many years. "T-thank you, for saving my son from that prison."

"Uh... y-you're welcome." Zuko manages to spit out and as soon as he does so the voice of a man roars above the crowd as he points indignantly at his friend.

"See! I told you the avatar is a firebender! You didn't believe he was real, and here he is! The Dragon of the North!" The man declares before turning to face Zuko and bowing to him. On his hands and knees with his arms outstretched in reverence. "You saved my home from a mad man attempting to blow the dam up the river from us. Thank you, Avatar Lee."

One by one the customers greet, offer praise and thank him for the ways he's either helped them or given them hope. From the passengers he once healed on the ferry to the survivors of the firenation attacks each of them give thanks for his actions. Each time Zuko is recognized it's always a strange feeling, knowing that despite his heritage, despite being the heir of the nation that caused their pain he can still bring them hope. The cacophony of noise is stopped when Grandpa Yi roars over the crowd disciplining his grandson. "Bao! Let the man enjoy his meal! I raised you better than this!" He roars, the young boy shrinks hearing his grandfather yell but a few of the people in the crowd chuckle hearing him get chastised. "Well Lee, I think you're officially the most famous man in Ba Sing Sei." Jin says with a laugh. Zuko lets out the breath he didn't know he was holding and smiles.