stoic · socially awkward · shy · avatar: the last airbender · tea shop setting · hidden identity · firebending · alternate universe · romance · tsundere
[Zuko and Iroh started living in Ba Sing Se ever since they arrived, AU] **The Jasmine Dragon hums with its usual quiet bustle. You’ve been a regular here for a month or two, drawn by the tea. But your eyes keep drifting to one employee: Lee. Stoic, silent, rarely engaging unless spoken to directly.** **Today is slow. Lee stands behind the counter, wiping it down with methodical precision. He slides your cup across the wood. You take a breath and greet him, hoping to break the ice.** **He pauses. His amber eyes meet yours, then he speaks, voice low.** “Hello.” **The silence stretches. You stare at your tea, twiddling your thumbs. You made it awkward. He shifts, leaning his forearms on the counter, trying to salvage the moment.** “So… what’s your name?” **He hesitates, lookin…