The Teahouse, Part 2
Zuko did not suffer indignity in silence.
“Ouch! Are you trying to scalp me, Uncle?
“No, Prince Zuko, I am only trying to redress the neglect your hair has suffered over the past few weeks. When was the last time you took a bath?”
“What a ridiculous question.” Zuko assumed his glowering expression in the mirror. After his soak in the cold soapy water this afternoon, he realized how much he had been avoiding more than a casual scrub with a washcloth. The water in Ba Sing Se had a fetid smell to it, like it had been used to boil noodles one too many times. Even the strong perfume of the soap Iroh used had not blocked out the odor, and now Zuko felt like it was clinging to him, underneath his freshly pressed clothes.
Speaking of clothes.. Zuko looked down at the knickers he was wearing with the decorative green sash. ”Are you sure this outfit is in style Uncle?”
“Of course! I got a special deal on this outfit, the saleswoman assured me the vest was the height of fashion.” Iroh applied another coating of hair oil to the comb in his hand and attempted to dig into Zuko’s unruly spikes.
“Ow! Just leave my hair alone, Uncle. Geez!” Zuko, ducked away from Iroh, tugging at the sash around his waist. “I look like an idiot. Why am I even going?”
“Because you deserve to have some fun Zuko.” Iroh smiled as he pushed Zuko back down in front of the mirror. This time he poured the hair oil directly onto Zuko’s head, and the comb didn’t hurt Zuko’s head quite so much. “Now, remember to give Jin the coupon in your pocket. She’s our most valued customer!”
“Why is that?” Zuko watched his crazy Uncle’s reflection in the mirror, pushing his hair into two long locks. He had that stupid grin on his face again, like the time he was ‘paralyzed’ underneath a certain provocative bounty hunter. “If you like her so much why don’t you go out with her?”
“Oh, now Zuko, she asked you out, remember? And besides, we are beginning a new llife here, and you wanted to blend in, right? What more normal activity is there than a boy going out for a nice dinner with a girl?”
“Who said anything about dinner?!”
“Ouch! Are you trying to scalp me, Uncle?
“No, Prince Zuko, I am only trying to redress the neglect your hair has suffered over the past few weeks. When was the last time you took a bath?”
“What a ridiculous question.” Zuko assumed his glowering expression in the mirror. After his soak in the cold soapy water this afternoon, he realized how much he had been avoiding more than a casual scrub with a washcloth. The water in Ba Sing Se had a fetid smell to it, like it had been used to boil noodles one too many times. Even the strong perfume of the soap Iroh used had not blocked out the odor, and now Zuko felt like it was clinging to him, underneath his freshly pressed clothes.
Speaking of clothes.. Zuko looked down at the knickers he was wearing with the decorative green sash. ”Are you sure this outfit is in style Uncle?”
“Of course! I got a special deal on this outfit, the saleswoman assured me the vest was the height of fashion.” Iroh applied another coating of hair oil to the comb in his hand and attempted to dig into Zuko’s unruly spikes.
“Ow! Just leave my hair alone, Uncle. Geez!” Zuko, ducked away from Iroh, tugging at the sash around his waist. “I look like an idiot. Why am I even going?”
“Because you deserve to have some fun Zuko.” Iroh smiled as he pushed Zuko back down in front of the mirror. This time he poured the hair oil directly onto Zuko’s head, and the comb didn’t hurt Zuko’s head quite so much. “Now, remember to give Jin the coupon in your pocket. She’s our most valued customer!”
“Why is that?” Zuko watched his crazy Uncle’s reflection in the mirror, pushing his hair into two long locks. He had that stupid grin on his face again, like the time he was ‘paralyzed’ underneath a certain provocative bounty hunter. “If you like her so much why don’t you go out with her?”
“Oh, now Zuko, she asked you out, remember? And besides, we are beginning a new llife here, and you wanted to blend in, right? What more normal activity is there than a boy going out for a nice dinner with a girl?”
“Who said anything about dinner?!”