#dragon zuko is no thoughts; head empty

[pyroraptordraws]

You know what! *Puts Zuko into a taffy stretcher and turns him into a dragon*

[melzula]

Break Apart

pairing: Zuko x princess!reader

notes: i know i’ve said previously that i don’t like going backwards with fire lilies but i feel like i didn’t do this scene justice the first time so i decided to rework the piece. plus i think revisiting this scene will be important before starting smoke and shadow

summary: your peaceful life with Zuko comes crashing down in the crystal catacombs of Ba Sing Se.

~ part of the fire lilies series ~

You pull the shutters apart and let the sun shine through your new home in Ba Sing Se. The morning is just getting started, and as Iroh begins fixing breakfast for your little family you take it upon yourself to begin the day’s chores before it’s time to head to work. It’s been a long week, what with Zuko’s sickness and the hassle of moving into the Upper Ring, and you’re beginning to feel worn out from the emotional turmoil, but you do your best to keep these feelings to yourself in order to not ruin Iroh’s excitement for the opening of his tea shop. At least one of you gets to live out the life you dreamed for yourself in the city.

You eventually end up outside hanging the freshly washed clothes to dry, brows furrowed in thought as you pin the fabrics to the clothesline and hum a song Iroh used to perform for you during your day’s on Zuko’s ship. You’re too engrossed in your work to notice you have company, and it isn’t until you hear someone gently clear their throat that you turn to see Zuko standing before you with a smile on his face and two bowls of pongi in his hands.

“You’re up early,” you note with a raised brow before accepting his offering of breakfast.

“I wanted to have breakfast with you,” he says with a gentle smile as the two of you seat yourselves on the steps of your apartment. “It’s a beautiful day out, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I suppose,” you reply carefully, unused to his positive demeanor. “You’re not still feeling sick, are you?”

He laughs at the way you press the back of your hand to his forehead and feel for his temperature before carefully lowering it down. “I feel better than I ever have before. I’m really starting to like it here, and I wish I could have realized sooner how peaceful life is with you in Ba Sing Se.”

“Uncle was right, you really have undergone a metamorphosis,” you note, half teasing and half serious as you take a bite of your pongi. “But I’m happy you’re finally deciding to give the city a chance, my love.”

“It’s something I should have done sooner, and I plan to make up for all the time I wasted being miserable instead of enjoying my new life with you. I love you, y/n, and I’m going to make things right for us.”

You’re pleasantly caught off guard by the sweet kiss Zuko gives you after tenderly cupping your face in his hands and pulling you forward to meet his lips. You easily melt at his touch like you always do, and for a moment you’re able to forget all the hurt and insecurity you’ve felt for the last few years. Your relationship had suffered a few rough patches recently, and you worried that you’d never be enough for Zuko no matter how hard you tried, but it seemed that things were finally beginning to fall into place, and you could live the life you’d always dreamed of since running away with Zuko.

Finally parting from the kiss, he gifts you a sweet kunik before pulling away and taking your empty bowl of pongi with him. “I have to start getting ready for the grand opening of the Jasmine Dragon. You’ll be there, won’t you?”

“Of course. Miss Tai is letting me leave my shift early today so I can be there,” you assure him with a smile. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“I love you,” Zuko utters earnestly in response, “and I’m happy you’re still here with me.”

You longingly watch his form retreat inside, already beginning to miss his touch. But you have work to do before your shift at the dress shop, so you rise from your seat on the steps and resume hanging the laundry to dry.

Life is going to be perfect now, you can feel it.

~~~

The opening of the Jasmine Dragon was a success, so successful, in fact, that the Earth King himself has invited Iroh to serve tea in the palace.

The Earth Kingdom palace is certainly different from the palace you grew up in, and though you yourself are technically royalty you feel as if you don’t belong in such a grand space. The dress Miss Tai had loaned you and the way she had styled your hair for you at least makes you look the part, and you make sure to be on your best behavior as you wait with Iroh and Zuko for the king to arrive.

You neatly set out the cups as Iroh begins pouring the tea with a pleased smile on his face while a restless Zuko surveys the room for any sign of the king.

“What’s taking so long?”

“Maybe the king overslept,” Iroh suggests, prompting you to raise your brow at his unlikely explanation.

“He’s a busy man, Zuko. I’m sure he’ll be here soon,” you assure him, but the former Prince isn’t convinced so easily. The sudden appearance of Dai Li agents only furthers his apprehension as they begin to close in on your little trio.

“Something’s not right,” he utters anxiously, and as your gaze falls upon the shifty eyes of the agents before you you find yourself slowly pulling the tea pot towards you in preparation for bending.

“It’s tea time,” a familiar voice chimes prompting Zuko to immediately rise to his feet. The mere sight of the Princess is enough to prompt you to bend the tea out of the pot, and though it isn’t much you’re able to close your fists and produce small blades of water that shoot sharply from your palms. It’s a move you’ve seen Zuko perform countless times with fire, and it’s a move that you’ve managed to perfect just as easily with water.

“Azula!” He scowls only for her to smirk in response.

“Have you met the Dai Li agents yet? They’re earth benders, but they have a killer instinct that’s so fire bender. I just love it,” she punctuates with a clenched fist before her eyes shift to your makeshift water daggers. “I see that’s something you’re trying to mimic, Princess. Such a cute little trick.”

“It isn’t so hard,” you reply with a relaxed shrug much to Azula’s dismay.

“But of course,” she sneers disapprovingly at your lack of fear for her.

Breaking the silence, Iroh suddenly says, “Did I ever tell you how I got the nickname the Dragon of the West?”

“I’m not interested in a lengthy anecdote, Uncle,” she scoffs with a bored expression, but Iroh merely smiles.

“It’s more of a demonstration, really,” he explains before taking a sip from his cup of tea. Before you can even process what’s happening, the man quickly pulls both you and Zuko behind him before exhaling a breath of fire around the room. With the Dai Li temporarily disabled, you’re able to make your escape out of the palace.

Using a blast of lightning to break through the walls, both Iroh and yourself make the jump through the hole and land down below in the the shrubbery. However, Zuko doesn’t follow behind, and instead you’re forced to watch him chase after Azula.

“We have to help him!” You cry only for Iroh to stop you.

“Even with our abilities combined we will not be able to outmatch both Azula and the Dai Li agents on our own,” he utters carefully.

“Then what are we to do? We can’t just leave him behind,” you express worriedly. You have no idea what Azula has in store for her brother, and you don’t want to leave Zuko in her clutches long enough to find out. You know Iroh’s right, but you can’t just sit and do nothing.

“We’ll have to get help,” Iroh notes thoughtfully, and you’re left with no choice but to blindly follow the man as he begins to head back towards the city.

“Help from who?”

~~~~

It’s safe to say Iroh and yourself are the last two people the Avatar and his friends expected to see at their doorstep, but you’re not left with many other options.

“Princess?!” Sokka exclaims in surprise at the sight of you as you gift him a meager wave of hello in return. The last time you’d seen each other had been during the siege of the North, so it was safe to say he was more than surprised to see you here in Ba Sing Se. “What’s going on? Have you finally come to your senses and decided to leave Zuko?”

“What? No!” You cry indignantly much to the boy’s disappointment. “It’s the opposite, actually. We came to ask for your help.”

“Princess Azula is here in Ba Sing Se,” Iroh explains gravely.

“She must have Katara!”

“She has captured my nephew, as well.”

“Then we’ll work together to fight Azula,” the Avatar expressed firmly, “and save Zuko and Katara.”

“Whoa, there,” Sokka interjects immediately. “You lost me at ‘Zuko.’”

“I know how you must feel about my nephew, but believe me when I tell you there is good in him,” Iroh insists earnestly, but Sokka doesn’t budge.

“Good inside him isn’t enough!” He insists. “Why don’t you come back when it’s outside him, too, okay?”

“Sokka,” you call gently, eyes full of sincerity and a hint of guilt as the Water Tribe boy meets your gaze. “Please understand. We just want him back safe. I need him back safe. I know Zuko has done horrible things to you and your friends, things I don’t expect you to forgive, but we don’t stand a chance against Azula and the Dai Li on our own.”

“Katara is in trouble,” Aang reiterates to a contemplative Sokka, your words swimming in his thoughts. The mere look of sadness on your face is almost enough to make him cave in, but not quite. “All of Ba Sing Se is in trouble. Working together is our best chance.”

After a moment’s pause, Sokka finally relents. Relief immediately washes over you now that you know the Avatar and his friends are going to help you get Zuko back. “Thank you, Aang. Your kindness means more than you know.”

“I’m just returning the favor,” the boy says with a sheepish smile, prompting you to recall fondly your first meeting with him on Zuko’s ship long ago.

With the Avatar’s help, you stand a chance now, and as your group heads to the crystal catacombs you once again feel that sense of hope grow in your heart.

Once this little bump in the road is over, you can resume your perfect life with Zuko, all you need to do is just get through the day.

And you will.

~~~

You journey underground with Iroh and the Avatar to the crystal catacombs, tuning out their conversation as your mind reels over your worry for Zuko. It figures that after having such a perfect day the universe would throw something like this at you. But that’s just the way your relationship was, and anytime a hurdle had been cast your way you’d always been able to overcome it. This time would be no different.

After finally arriving in the crystal cave, you’re quick to lift the skirt of your dress and sprint towards Zuko before flinging yourself into his arms.

“You’re okay!” You exclaim, voice coated with relief.

“What are you doing traveling with the Avatar?” He asks, almost as if he’s insulted by Aang’s mere presence.

“Saving you, that’s what,” Aang replies testily, prompting Zuko to lunge forward only for Iroh to hold him back.

“We wouldn’t have been able to find you without him,” you explain truthfully. “Please don’t be upset.”

Zuko had never really gotten over your little stunt back on his ship when you’d helped the Avatar escape, so seeing you by Aang’s side again felt like rubbing salt in the Prince’s wound. He was trying to be better for you, but the conflict within him still remained.

“Zuko, it’s time we talked,” Iroh says before encouraging Katara and Aang to move ahead without your group.

“Why, Uncle?” Zuko asks softly, hurt clear in his voice. Your gentle eyes meet his own and he looks away in shame, unable to return your gaze. He knows he’s disappointed you too many times to count, but he’s not sure how much longer he can keep up this charade of pretending to be happy in this dirt prison you now call home. He doesn’t want to admit this to you, but the conflict within him continues to fester.

“You are not the man you used to be, Zuko. You are stronger and wiser and freer than you have ever been,” Iroh says proudly. “And now you have come to the crossroads of your destiny. It is time for you to choose. It is time for you to choose good.”

A hopeful smile plays upon your lips at Iroh’s words, but it is quickly wiped away by the sudden rumbling of the cave. Before you can even process what’s happening, Iroh and yourself are encased in crystal.

“Y/n!” Zuko exclaims, but he isn’t left with time to free you once Azula appears with the Dai Li at her side.

“I expected this kind of treachery from Uncle and your little girlfriend,” she says sharply, “but Zuko, Prince Zuko, you’re a lot of things, but you’re not a traitor, are you?”

“Release them immediately!” He demands firmly, his hardest gaze focused on Azula. The crystals dig uncomfortably into your sides and pin your limbs in cramped positions, but you have enough movement in your wrists to bend should you need to.

“Are you sure? I think the crystals are quite flattering on y/n, don’t you?” Azula goads playfully to an unamused Zuko.

As his sister tries to fill his head with promises of redemption and honor in exchange for his help, and as Iroh tries to persuade him in the right direction, you focus your attention on looking for any source of water to help you. Your eyes land on a trickle of water that drops from the roof, but you don’t make your move until Azula has left the room.

“Zuko, you have to help Aang and Katara. If Azula and the Dai Li catch up to them they won’t be able to fight them off on their own,” you express urgently as you use your free hands to pull the droplets of water towards you. “Iroh and I will be right behind you.”

You’re too engrossed in your escape plan at first to notice that Zuko doesn’t budge, but when you lift your gaze to see he hasn’t moved at all a frown quickly pulls at your lips. “Zuko?”

A sense of dread washes over you at his lack of response, and for a moment you fear that perhaps Azula had gotten to him, but then he finally moves to meets your gaze. The green crystals of the catacombs reflect beautifully in your tired eyes, and Zuko can’t help but try to commit the scene to his memory. It will probably be the last good one he’ll be able to keep of you.

He finally gives you a silent nod in response, but not before urging you to stay behind.

“You’ll be safer here,” he says, and he doesn’t give you a chance to argue as he runs off in search of Aang, leaving Iroh and yourself behind.

After gathering enough water, you cover the crystal in ice until the intense cold prompts it to crack, and with a firm flick of your wrists the ice and crystal shatter so that you are finally free from the trap. You move to do the same for Iroh, but he quickly shakes his head to stop you.

“You must go and help the Avatar. I will catch up with you shortly,” he assures you. “There isn’t time to waste.”

You give him a firm nod before rushing after Zuko, hoping you’re not too late to offer your help. The crystals had ripped through the skirt of your dress, and though you felt guilty for ruining the clothes Miss Tai had lent you, you’re grateful for the range of motion the tattered fabric now gives you. Hopefully Zuko won’t be too mad at you for disobeying his request.

The commotion in the catacombs has you pushing yourself to run faster, but when you finally reach your destination you’re quick to skid to a stop at the sight before you.

Katara has Azula in her grasp, and it’s clear that the Fire Princess is at a disadvantage. Zuko’s back is turned to you, and at first it looks as if he’s about to help the water bender. But when his blast of flames cuts through her water arms and frees his sister you’re left with a dreadful conclusion.

Your heart sinks to your stomach as you realize Zuko hadn’t come here to help the Avatar- he’d come to defeat him.

“Zuko…” you utter softly, your features riddled with heartbreak and disappointment as he finally turns to look at you after hearing the sound of your voice. The eyes of the boy that stare coldly at you now are not the same ones that once used to look upon you with nothing but love and adoration.

There is no remorse or guilt on his features, but there is anger and resentment. He’s never looked upon you this way, fury blazing along his irises as if you’re the enemy, as if he hated you.

“How kind of you to join us, Princess,” Azula calls with a taunting smile. You swallow harshly and stand frozen in place, too in shock to move. But then she gestures to Zuko, and a sickness settles in your stomach as he slowly begins to approach you.

“Zuko, stop. This isn’t you,” you beg desperately, cowering away from his menacing figure. “Please, don’t do this.“

“This is me,” he says gravely. “You just didn’t want to see it.”

You can’t help but let out a scream as he shoots a blast of fire towards you, and you’re barely quick enough to form a wall of water to block his attack. His moves are relentless, but no matter how many times he strikes you don’t dare fight back. Your moves are defensive, for even though he’s turned against you, you can’t bring yourself to hurt him.

“I don’t want to fight you!” You insist, narrowly missing the fire he whips at you.

“Are you sure about that?” He retorts harshly, eyes hard-set on the water swirling in your palms. “You’re afraid of me, you always have been. You think I’m a monster!”

“That’s not true!” You cry desperately as you block another attack.

“You only stayed by my side to try and fix me so you could feel better about yourself. You’re no different than the rest of your people.”

“Zuko,” you gasp in disbelief. “How can you say that?! I love you!”

“You’re just a spoiled little Princess who thinks being a water bender makes her special.”

“Stop it. That’s Azula talking, not you.”

“You left your people to fulfill your own childish dreams of love. What a joke,” he scoffs harshly before hitting you with another blast of flames. “You’re selfish! You’re weak! You’re-“

You don’t want to hear anymore. It’s as if he has your heart in his hands, squeezing it apart with each insult he throws your way. Your Zuko is gone.

He isn’t able to finish his assault as the tsunami like wave of water you send his way sweeps him off his feet and throws him across the catacomb. The water roars deafeningly in your ears, drowning out the sound of the anguished sobs that wrack your body as you finally turning your bending on the one you love.

The rest of the fight seems to be a blur as you do your best to hold off Dai Li agents, but once Azula shoots Aang down with a blast of lighting it’s clear that the battle is lost. The fire siblings are beginning to close in on your group, and in a last ditch effort you find yourself standing protectively in front of Katara and Aang ready to fight for as long as you can. However, you find you don’t need to when Iroh swoops in and saves your group.

“You’ve got to get out of here. I’ll hold them off for as long as I can!” He insists before blocking the Dai Li from reaching you.

You hesitate in your tracks, unsure about leaving behind the man who had become family. As if reading your thoughts, he gives you a firm nod of encouragement. “Go, Princess.”

Swallowing harshly, you urge Katara to her feet and guide her to the waterfall. As she holds Aang’s limp body securely in her grasp, you use your bending to reverse the flow of the water so that it sends your trio upwards. Tears stream steadily down your face, but your gaze remains firm and set straight ahead.

Your relationship with Zuko is over.

~~~

The tide is calm as the Fire Nation ship sails towards the Capital City. After three long years, Zuko is finally returning home. It’s all he’s ever wanted, but for some reason it feels as if something is still missing. There’s a relentless ache in his chest that won’t leave him be, and he can do nothing but stare contemplatively out at the water.

“You seriously can’t still be worried about finally coming home,” a voice calls playfully as cold hands rest upon his tense shoulders. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, you’re practically a hero now.”

“I know that,” Zuko snaps irritably. Mai simply rolls her eyes in response.

“Then what is it?” She retorts only to be met with silence. Her eyes harden suddenly, and she yanks her hands away from him as if revolted by the Prince. “Don’t tell me you’re still hung up on that water Princess.”

“Of course not.”

“Sure,” Mai replies flatly, obviously unconvinced. “You don’t need her, Zuko.”

“I know that! She was just a distraction,” he tells her, trying to convince not only Mai but himself of it. “She never really meant anything to me.”

“I wish I could say I feel sorry for her,” Mai says unsympathetically with a bored wave of her hand, “but she must have been an idiot to expect you to live the rest of your life as a peasant.”

“Yeah…” Zuko murmurs quietly, remembering the way your eyes hard sparkled in the catacombs. They shined brighter when they were full of tears, and the image haunted him.

He’s pulled away from his thoughts by Mai’s hands gently guiding his face towards her own. A rare smile plays upon her lips as she pulls him in for a kiss. Zuko returns the gesture, but it’s empty.

He feels absolutely nothing.

~~~

Sokka is hesitant to approach you, unsure if his presence will make things worse for your emotional state. The tears haven’t stopped since you escaped from Ba Sing Se, but he feels awful just sitting there without attempting to comfort you. He never really understood just how someone like you could love Zuko or why you were ever with him in the first place, but all of it meant something to you, and he couldn’t ignore that.

“Hey, are you okay?” He asks gently, well aware of how stupid the question is. Obviously you aren’t, but he isn’t sure what else to say.

“I should have known I’d never be enough for him,” you weep miserably. “I was foolish to think he would ever put me before his need to restore his honor and please his father. How could I have been so naive?!”

“It’s not your fault,” the water tribe boy consoles while placing a comforting hand on your trembling shoulder. “It isn’t naive to want to see the good in people. You tried to find it in Zuko, but it just wasn’t there.”

“I gave up everything for him,” you murmur dully, exhaustion and defeat clear in your features. “And now I have nothing.”

“You have us,” Sokka corrects you with a careful smile. “Trust me, you’re better off without that jerk.”

You carefully wipe away your tears and give Sokka a meek smile in return for his kind words. “Thank you, Sokka. I’m more than grateful for your compassion. I promise to do all I can to help you and your friends defeat the Fire Lord.”

After all this time, after all the hurt and the guilt, all the running and the hiding, you’ve finally left Zuko. And you don’t intend to ever look back.

| atla tags: @sirkekselord @chronic-daydreamer-blog @niktwazny303

| zuko tags: @thebluelcdy @royahllty @the-firebender-girl @ilovespideyyy @yiyibetch @eridanuswave @lammello @a-monsters-love @knaite-solo @taeeemin

| fire lilies tags: @titaniafire @emberislandplayers @kikaninchen-2 @music-geek19 @thia-aep @thyunnamed @haylaansmi @nataliahaslosthershit @idkdude776 @aangsupremacy @thirstyforsometea @ihaveaproblem98 @brown-eyed-thang @xapham @misnmatchedsox @chewymoustachio @that-bucket-hat-gal @chilifrylizard2 @kyomihann @kaylove12 @kiwihoee @freggietale @noodlesfluffy @moon-spirit-yue @bubblegum-bee-otch

[l-starlight-l]

Forgiveness in the rain

A/n: switching it up and writing some atla. Enjoy!

Warning: Mention of burning

Description: You are surprised to see Zuko, the boy who you have a weird history with, working in a local tea shop. You don’t know how to feel, but confront him anyway.

Pairing: Zuko x Fem!Reader

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With Appa missing and the hovering Dai Li, the team was under a lot of tension. Ba sing sa was nothing like you thought it was going to be. The hope of getting the solar eclipse plan to the earth king vanished after the gala and now you had nothing. With no help from the earth kingdom winning this war would be a lot more difficult.

You’re usually an early raiser but this morning was different. You had slept way later than you meant to and had waste a good part of the morning hours. You quickly fixed yourself up and got ready for the day before exiting your room. When you walk out to the main area of your temporary home you see Sokka, and only Sokka which was unusual. He turned around hearing your footsteps and smiled. “Well good morning, you slept in late today” he warmly greeted you.

You let out a nervous laugh, “hey, where is everyone” you questioned while looking around the empty house.

“Well Aang was gone before I woke up, and Katara and Toph are have a “girls day”” he said making finger quotes when saying girls day.

Your heart hurt alittle, you were new to the group and they were still warming up to you but why would they not invite you out with them. Sokka could see what you were thinking and added “they wanted you to come but figured you needed your sleep”.

You just nodded trying not to think about it to much. “Aangs been going out so early, he’s going to tire himself out looking for appa” you were concerned about him, you knew appa meant the world to him. Sokka nodded his head in agreement. He was worried too.

There was a long awkward silence between the two of you. It not like you don’t like each other, it’s just that you don’t spend a lot of one on one with Sokka. So neither of you know what to talk about. Breaking the silence you ask Sokka if he would like to go to the market with you. He agrees, thinking he has nothing better to do and it may be fun. You two head off to explore the walled city.

After a few hours in the market you come out with necessary things like supplies and food. As well as unnecessary items like a hat to match Sokka’s purse and belt. You roll your eyes at his ridiculous purchase and decide to call it a day. You had over heard a shopkeeper talking about an amazing tea place and decided to try to find it.

After some searching you reach a small shop with a sign reading “The Jasmine Dragon” over the door. Sokka groans because ,as he’s mentioned multiple times on your way here, he hates tea and would rather go to a restaurant know for their perfectly cooked meat. You roll your eyes once again at this childlike boy. “Stop whining Sokka, I already told you we could go to the restaurant tomorrow” you try to silence his complaining as you walk into the shop.

The shop is pretty packet but lucky you find a table for two. The atmosphere is calming and fills you with serenity the second you walk in, which is much needed after the week you’ve had. A young brown haired girl comes up to take our order. You politely ask her for a cup of jasmine and order some pastries for the whiny baby across from you. When she leaves it becomes awkward again, you are horrible at making conversation and it seems Sokka just doesn’t know what to say.

A few moments later the girl comes back with your tea and explains that the pastries will be out soon. You can hear Sokka’s stomach from across the table. You laugh and take a sip of your hot tea. You eyes light up tasting what probably is the best tea you’ve ever had. Your mind drifted to when Iroh use to make you tea, it tasted just like this. You would have to come back often. You offer Sokka a taste, he makes a grossed out face and holds his hands out like the tea will attack him. He exclaims that he doesn’t want leaf juice, he’s learned his lesson drinking plants after the cactus juice.

You laugh and it goes back to silences, but it wasn’t awkward this time it was more comfortable. It seems that you two have started to warm up to each other a little more. You look around the small shop and take it all in. As your gaze drifts across a wall with a dividing curtain, you figure it leads to the kitchen. You’re about to move your eyes away when a farmilar face shows up. Your eyes widen as you watch the boy who has tried to kill you multiple times, go up to your sweet sever with a plate of cookies in his hand. Your heart races unsure of what to do as the sever points to our table. Your eyes met and he freezes. You look at Sokka who seems to be lost in his own world and then back up at Zuko. You drop your tea cup and it lands on the table. Sokka jumps up as his pant leg gets covered in hot tea. You also jump up still staring at Zuko who now looks more surprised. Sokka starts to look back to see what is distracting you but you grab his shoulder and it knocks you out of your trace.

“Oh my, Sokka I am so sorry like me help you” you say stressed. You raise your hands to the tea soaked area of his pants and bend the liquid out of the fabric and back into the tea cup. You then reach into your pocket and pull out a gold piece and leave it on the table. “You know what I think I’m feeling pretty hungry now, should we go to that meat restaurant” you say practically pushing Sokka to the door. He’s eyes light up and he rushes out the door leaving you behind. You stand there for a second looking at the floor then slowly turn your head to face him. He looks like the boy you knew so long ago. The boy you use to play with as a kid. He was lost after Zuko was banished, but now you can see he’s starting to come back. You can feel his change. He stares at you surprised, not knowing why you did that. Your eyes are sad and hurt, and you can tell he’s full with the same emotions. You hear Sokka call you and you rush out the door.

When you get back to the house later that night you see Katara and Toph dolled up and it makes you smile. Your glad they had a good time, even if you weren’t there. You look over and see Aang half asleep and you go over to him. “Hey, how are you doing” you ask. He looks at you, “I still haven’t found him, and the dai li are making it so hard”. You sigh and rub his shoulder in comfort, “why don’t you take a break tomorrow and I’ll go out and look for him”. Aang just nods and lays down to sleep. You hear the rest of the group saying their good nights and heading off to bed. You do the same but sneak out instead of sleeping.

You rush to the tea shop, your heart racing just thinking about what happen earlier. The lights are still on when you get there, you debate on going through the front door or seeing if there’s a back. As you creep closer you hear voices and laughter. An older man’s voice carries through your ears and you immediately recognize it as Iroh. You slowly opened the door and see a small group of men Sitting and drinking tea. They stopped talking and turned to you, one of the guys you didn’t recognize kindly let you know they were closed but Iroh got up and stood parallel to you. “Y/n?” He said softly, “oh I’m so glad to see your okay”. He holds out his arms for a hug and you run into his embrace. He holds you for a minute and you realize how much you missed him. You think he’s the only good thing that came from the fire nation. He lets you go and turns to the table, “this is my old friend y/n” he has a big smile and is so proud to introduce you. You shyly wave and say hi, then you realize why your here and look around attentively. “He’s in the back, why don’t you go say hi” he motions for me to go towards the curtain. You hesitate but go as he tells you. You pull back the curtain and see the back of a tall boy with dark hair scrubbing dishes, something old Zuko would never even think about doing. “Do you need some more tea uncle” he asks while wiping his wet hands off. As he turns you take a step back out of instinct, when he sees you his face goes white. “You” is all he can muster out. “Me” you try to hide the emotion on your face. You’ve always seen good in zuko, even when you were helping him hunt down the avatar. He was just a scared boy who wanted something he thought was taken from him. He starts to walk to you and you back up til you hit the wall. His hands are reached out to you in a concerned manner but in your head you see the hands that burned you months before. All you can think of to do is run, so you ran. You ran all the way back to the house, when you get there you sit on the steps trying to catch your breath. You couldn’t stop thinking about the last time you were that close to him. You had gone against his command and protected the avatar. You let aang and his group get away while trying to talk down Zuko. But that didn’t work and he ended up shoot a fire shot straight at you. He’s different now, you can feel he’s different you just need to get over yourself. You go inside quietly as to not get caught and try to get some sleep.

The next day you search for appa and it ends with nothing. You’ve searched the whole city and you’re sure aang has searched it more than fifty times. Appa is no where to be found. You wander the streets for a little before going back to the house. You walk past the Jasmine dragon and see Iroh out front. He spots you before you can sneak by. You go up to him and you can see worry in his eyes. “Yesterday you ran off without saying goodbye” he says. You just nod ashamed. “I understand why you may feel uneasy with Zuko but I also understand that you’ve forgiven him, even if you haven’t said it out loud yet. He wasn’t the same after what happened, he misses you but he’ll never admit it, I can tell”. you don’t know what to say, you just let his words resinate with you. “Thank you” you say quietly, and then look at the door and see it start to open. “Uncle what’s taking you so-“ he starts before seeing you and freezing. You look at him, you stare into his soul to try to see if he’s truely changed but you can’t tell just from a look. “Will you meet me later?” You mumble to him, he nods and you leave to go back to the group. When you get back it’s already dark, you have to deliver the bad news about not finding Appa but no one really seems surprised. Soon after everyone goes to bed and you sneak out once again. You begin to walk to a fountain you found your first day adventuring the city. Zuko is already there, you watch as he messes with his fingers and fixes his hair. He’s just as nervous as you are and it makes you smile. You walk up to him, and sit down on the edge of the fountain. He looks down at you with big eyes, you softly pat the spot next to you. He sits down trying not to be to in your space. There’s a moment of silence that feels both awkward and comfortable. “I’m sorry for running last night, I- I don’t know why I did” you apologize. He looks alittle surprised, “why should you be sorry I should be the one apologizing” he takes a breath and then let’s it all out, “I am so sorry for what happened that night, I’m a fool and never wanted to hurt you, it’s haunted me every since”. You don’t say anything at first, just to give him a hard time. You reach and touch his hand, “that wasn’t you Zuko, that was the rage you’re father has filled you with” you hover your finger over his scare. “You were so clouded by fulfilling a destiny that isn’t yours, I forgive you, I forgave you a long time ago” you raise his hands to your mouth and lay a light kiss on them.

He’s face lightens at the touch. “Thank you, I don’t deserve this” he says in a whisper. You just shake your head and look up at the stars. They’re so bright tonight and you see it as a sign. Suddenly rain starts pouring on the two of you, you laugh as Zuko pops up from his seat. “Let’s get under some cover”, he locks his fingers with yours and try’s to pull you under a near by roof. You don’t follow him and take both his hands. “why, let’s enjoy the beautiful storm” before he can say anything you run deep into the rain. “Do you remember those dances we learned in school” you ask eagerly. he nods, “good” you say with a smirk. You place your hands in the respected places and he does the same. You start to move, spin, and become in sync again. He isn’t the best dancer and steps on your feet a few times but you don’t mind. You laugh and he smiles, your eyes are glued together. He shifts his hands so that they are on the small of your back and you happen to be closer than you meant to. You’re eye contact breaks for the first time that night as you look at his soft lips. You lean up and kiss him. He’s taken aback for a second, but only for a second then he’s kissing you right back. He moves his hands to you face, cupping your cheeks and deepening the kiss. A widow opens in one of the near by houses and an old women yells out the window “get off my street you punks”. You both freeze and she goes back inside. You break and laugh, he takes your hand, “my apartment is close let’s go”.

When you get there you see a well decorated, clean little apartment. You see Iroh asleep, and quietly creep by into what you think is Zukos room. You’re both soaking wet. You bend the water out of your clothes, and go to bend his but he’s already taken off his shirt. You blush but dry off his pants. “it’s raining pretty hard out there” he say suddenly looking really awkward, “why don’t you stay the night”. He scratches the back of his head waiting for you to answer. You blush and a small smile grows on your lips as you respond, “I would love to”. He smiles and you both lay down in his bed. You drift off to sleep to the sound of the storm.

——————————————————————————

[the-badger-mole]

AU Bot Plots

Detention...

Zuko had detention.

He had never gotten detention before. And it was over such a stupid thing. How was he supposed to know that Zhao would hear him? Zuko had waited until his teacher's back was turned and he was walking away to mutter under his breath where Zhao could stick his constantly changing syllabus. Zhao could have let it go, but instead, he blew up at Zuko, berating him for his lack of respect and finally sentenced him to detention for the first time in his high school career. It was...annoying.

Still, nothing to be done about it. His uncle's slight disappointment that he'd have to find someone to cover Zuko's shift at the Jasmine Dragon that afternoon was worth the hilarity of seeing how many shades of red Zhao could turn over a mumbled, half-heard insult. He had enough homework to carry him through an hour of boredom. It looked like he was in for a quiet afternoon. The only other person in the detention room was some guy in a dark hoodie that Zuko didn't recognize. He was in the back corner, already sleeping heavily. He was snoring, so Zuko took a seat near the front, to be as far away from that noise as possible. No headphones allowed in detention.

Zuko pulled out his econ textbook, notebook, and pencils and set to work. Just as he had just gotten absorbed into his work, the door swung open and a girl stumbled in, out of breath and flushed from what seemed to have been a frantic run to the detention room. Zuko knew her immediately. Katara had made a big splash when she and her brother had arrived at the school at the beginning of the year. She was a consummate overachiever and immediately joined student government, the theater club, and the swim team within her first week. Then it came out that she and her brother Sokka were not twins as everyone had originally assumed, but she was actually a genius who had been moved up a grade. Zuko had been held back a year because of a medical absence, so they were now in the same grade. Although they didn't have the same classes, Zuko, like most of the school knew Katara by reputation. It wasn't her brain she was most known for, though. It was her quick temper and heightened sense of justice. It seemed that Katara had never found a cause except the ones worthy of fighting for. It tended to land her in trouble. Often.

"Imiq," grunted the detention monitor with a level of familiarity that would have caused Zuko to melt in humiliation.

"Kyoshi," Katara greeted her with a casual head nod. Kyoshi arched on delicately sculpted brow at her and motioned to the clock above the door.

"It wasn't my fault!" Katara said defensively.

"It never is." Kyoshi seemed more amused than angry, though. She waved Katara off to her seat. Zuko wondered if Katara would have to serve an extra day of detention. That was the typical consequence of being more than five minutes late. Then Zuko's thoughts came to a crashing halt when Katara turned towards him. He'd seen Katara at a distance before, and he heard people talking about her. He knew she was widely regarded as beautiful, but he'd never gotten the chance to see her up close. Beautiful was underselling her. She was stunning!

No one had ever told him about the sharp intelligence in her eyes, or the mischievous quirk in her pouting lips. Distance hadn't let Zuko see the confident swing in her walk, or her effortless grace when she tossed her long, dark curls over her shoulder. She caught his eye and she smiled, warm and friendly and inviting. Zuko knew he was in trouble. She ignored the mostly empty desks in the large room and sat next to him.

"Hi, I'm Katara," she said, favoring Zuko with a sardonic smile. "What're you in for?"

Zuko knew he was in serious trouble

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Skin & Scale (Part 18)

"You're lying!" Zuko accuses.

Ozai chuckles. "Is it so hard to believe that your mother is capable of horrible things. She rather readily killed your grandfather."

"You coerced her!" 

"Did I coerce her into hating your sister?”

“You tricked her into giving up part of her soul!”

“I didn’t trick her.” He shrugs. “I wasn’t given as many details as I had thought. The result was disappointing. Your mother did it wrong, she was selfish. Just a little sliver of a soul isn’t enough to make a real human with real emotions.”

Zuko grits his teeth. “That’s not true!” The word true rebounds off of the walls, carrying down the long hall of cells, drifting between bars. 

“Which part?” Ozai smirks. 

“Mother is not selfish and Azula has emotions.” He has seen most of them by now. And he has seen them raw enough to know that even if she hadn’t had a full range when she’d first hatched, she’d certainly acquired them. The fear, the sadness, the anger and the shame. And he has seen relief, affection, little touches of humor and sprinkles of joy when she is brave enough to express those. 

“Mother cared about Azula. She loved her.”

Ozai shakes his head. “Maybe for a few moments.” He admits. “At least until Azula took a part of her. She always resented Azula for that. She resented me. And she hated spirits beyond anything else.” 

“Where did she go?” He asks again as though that will implant the knowledge within Ozai to pass to him. 

“After murdering your grandfather she vowed to go looking for the dragons to remedy her great mistake. They probably killed her. I told her to stay well away.” Ozai shrugs. “She never liked to listen. She was always foolishly determined.” He stretches a leg out, the chain hooked to the shackle around his ankle rattles. “She wanted to take Azula but I wouldn’t let her. Azula is mine.” 

“I thought that you said that she didn’t care about…”

“Oh it wasn’t about saving Azula or reuniting her with her parents. It was about getting that piece of her soul back. But that’s the thing, the minute you kill another creature, wretched or not, a part of you dwindles. Why do you think that there are so many non-benders in the Fire Nation? Why do you think that the amount of benders across all nations has declined since the war began?” He shrugs. “Your mother hated that child with all of what was left of her soul. And that fragment of her soul isn’t enough to make a creature worth loving.” 

Zuko balls his fists. “You think that dragons don’t have souls of their own!?”

Ozai sighs. “If I wanted to talk to an Air Monk I would have visited one of the Air Temples and picked my favorite skull.”

Zuko’s lip twitches. A vein in his head throbs.

Even here. Even shackled, dirty, and dishonored. Even being looked down upon, the man can still enrage him so skillfully and thoroughly. “You think that dragons don’t have emotions!?”

“They don’t have emotional intelligence.” He waves his hand. “Can you look me in the eyes and say that you think your sister understands? Even my brother saw the emptiness there. She was born from death and blood. It’s in her nature.” 

Zuko swallows. 

For a second he almost believes. For a moment he remembers the cruelty. The coldness. The feeling that she had been born to destroy and hurt him. How she had always seemed to laugh at his torment. And it makes sense; she was born from suffering and she developed a taste for it. 

He remembers too that hatred had been fed to her where mother’s love had been withheld. 

But he remembers the first time she’d lost a tooth. How the facade crumbled and suddenly he was big brother Zuzu who she needed hugs from and reassurance. He remembers poking at snails and slugs in the palace garden and the crinkling of her nose when she came upon a worm instead. How they had clung to one another when a snake came slithering out from behind a rock. 

He remembers how her face would light up when grandmother sent a box of mochi. 

He remembers that she loves cherry and can’t stand lemon–not exactly because of the flavor itself but because of the faces that they have her making, the ones that she finds improper and embarrassing. The ones that Sokka likes to make fun of her for when he sneaks a lemon slice into her food bowl.

He remembers the banter that they have had recently.

He remembers her recent dread over the thought of losing her humanity. 

He remembers how much she seemed to relish in curling up by Ran and Shaw. By her parents.

These things that are so inherently human.

And these things that aren’t limited exclusively to humans.

“If that’s true, then why didn’t anyone notice that she wasn’t fully human?”

Ozai quirks a brow. “You mean to tell me that you never implied that you thought that there was something wrong with her? I know what you thought of her.”

Zuko swallows. “She never hated me until you started saying things. You made her a monster.” 

“It wasn’t difficult. It is in her nature.” He says again.

“It’s not! The dragons can love. They loved her enough to threaten the whole Fire Nation. They are emotionally intelligent. You aren’t and you tried to take that from her.” 

“And it worked.” 

Maybe for a while it had. Maybe Azula had danced with sinister apathy. Had set a foot onto the hateful path Ozai has been traversing for decades. Maybe she hadn’t entirely grasped what it meant to empathize. But he couldn’t have taken that away from her. 

He had seen it in her eyes after the spirit incident. 

She knows what it’s like to be a human.

She is a human.

And a dragon. 

At this point he thinks that she is more human than she will ever be dragon. 

And he isn’t sure if that is a good thing. 

For the first time, he thinks to worry that the dragons might get sick of her human habits and mannerisms. Get frustrated with how well she had adapted to the form she wasn’t supposed to have. 

“No. It didn’t work.” Zuko growls. 

However Azula was born or hatched, it has nothing to do with her and everything to do with humans who stole her for their own gain or out of fear. 

Whatever might be intrinsic to the manner of her birth or hatching, whatever her natural inclinations were supposed to be, Azula grew up to be Azula. Azula with her thoughts and her emotions and a developing sense of showing affection. 

The sort that she would have had from the beginning had she been left with her birth parents who could have nurtured her.

“I’m going to find mother.” He tells Ozai. 

“For what?” 

“Because I love her. And because I need to hear this story from her.” 

Ozai chuckles. “You mean that mine isn’t good enough? You want the coddled version so that you can assure Azula that she’s not a monster.” He clicks his tongue. “Believe it or not, if you find her, you’ll hear the same story. She’ll spare you the details but she will tell you the same thing.”

[zutarabender]

@zutaramonth day 27: Tea Shop

---

"Why did you decide to retire here, sir? Why not closer to Zuko?"

This had been bothering Katara for months, especially since Zuko and Mai's break-up. Zuko was lonely. He had made loyal friends and allies in his court, but his letters were still wistful and taciturn. Knowing this, Katara had jumped on the opportunity of representing her family in King Kuei's wedding, knowing that Zuko would be there, but her anxiety hadn't receded. She still hadn't gotten to see him. He'd been in the Royal Palace for hours in a meeting of heads of state.

Katara had come to wait for him at the Jasmine Dragon, and that was where she'd stubbornly stayed. The tea shop had long closed for the day, but old General Iroh was still kind enough to sit with her for a cup of tea before performing all of the closing duties, and was now pondering her question with the gravity it deserved.

"An old man has his dreams too," he said after a long pause. "My nephew has his own path to follow, and he won't think on his own if he expects me to do all the thinking for him. Unfortunately," the man went on with a sigh, "that old habit seems to come back whenever I'm around."

Katara shook her head. This wasn't about the Fire Nation, or honor, or anything royals and nobles concerned themselves with.

"I think he really needs you."

When the old man put down his cup of tea, Katara was surprised to discover that he was smiling.

"Do you wish for your father to be with you all the time, Katara?"

She wanted to say yes, of course she would, but the words got stuck in her throat. After having so much responsibility thrust upon her, after seeing so much of the world, going back to the role of a daughter hadn't been as much of a relief as she'd thought it would. Her father had been glad to make up for lost time, but Katara wasn't the little girl he'd left behind. His form of support, while welcome, wasn't always what she needed. Katara sometimes felt they got along better the more distance there was between them.

"No, I suppose not," she conceded, and decided to drop it. If General Iroh understood her point, he was deliberately avoiding it. Zuko himself never acted sad or resentful over his uncle's choices, so anything else she could say would be overstepping.

"My nephew would be a fool if he let you go. You could make each other very happy."

Katara choked on her tea, coughing furiously and feeling her face grow hot. Where did that come from, now? Had her true feelings been so obvious? It wasn't like she tried to conceal them, not particularly. Zuko was her friend, and deserving of affection. But having the truth so plainly out in the open was a whole new level of terrifying.

"It's not-I mean, sir, Zuko... your nephew... he's, well, great, and all, but..."

The door to the tea shop opened. Zuko stood there in his full royal garb, and Katara could do nothing but stare, her mouth still open from the sentences she'd struggled to get out. It had only been a few months, but his hair had grown longer, his posture more confident. He embodied his role as the Fire Lord with a naturality that astounded her. As focused on him as she was, it was hard to miss the precise moment in which he noticed her. Zuko's face lit up so vividly that Katara's heart melted, her senses tingling, and he walked toward her 

"Katara! It's so good to see you."

Anything she could have said was lost in his embrace. She just held him tight, hoping this gesture would get the right amount of feeling across. Had she dared to open her mouth, Katara would have had no chance of convincing General Iroh of her indifference.

"When did you get to Ba Sing Se?" Zuko was asking her, searching her face for answers to questions he wouldn't voice. "It's a long trip for you. Shouldn't you be resting?"

"No, I'm fine. Got here this morning, got plenty of rest. I... I just came here to see you." Wanting to gloss over after what she'd just said, she gestured toward the empty cups. "We were talking over tea."

"Right," he said with a smile. "Let me get that."

"No, no." General Iroh got up from his seat, cup in hand. "You sit down and rest, Fire Lord Zuko. I'll get back to work."

"Uncle, I-"

"If you want to make yourself useful, please walk Katara to her apartment when she wishes to go. Even in the Inner Ring, a lady cannot be too careful."

As General Iroh walked away, Katara and Zuko exchanged a glance. His cheeks were red, his expression mortified, and his eyes jumped away from hers as if they burned.

Katara's stomach clenched. Zuko knew exactly what his uncle was up to, and they were not going to see the end of it until the old man got his way.

[swimminginanunknownparadise]

Just a little rain

pairing(s): Zuko x fem!reader in modern!au

prompt: "We're in the middle of a thunderstorm and you want to feel the rain?"

a/n: so… sorry for pretty much dropping off the face of the earth- but I’m back now! Will I drop off the face of the earth again? Honestly, yeah probably. I wrote this at 3 o’clock in the morning, so if this is a little clunky I apologize in advance! But whoooo! First fic if the year y’all :)

They where driving down an empty Road in the middle of nowhere with fields on both sides of the road, they had been for what felt like hours. Normally they wouldn’t make the three day drive from BSSU all the was to Gaoling, however she insisted saying it would be nice to go somewhere new. She’d only visited there once, going there with Toph and the rest of their friends during spring break. That was a year or two ago and she’d been wanting to go back ever since. And so now, that’s where they were heading. They were of course, the odd men out, so they took their own car while Aang, Katara, Sokka, Suki, and Toph could car pool together. It ended up working out just fine, they were besties! What was the worst that could happen?

"Ugh," Zuko let out an irritated groan and squeezed the wheel a little harder until his knuckles turned white. The cause of his sudden outburst and soured mood? Tiny little rain droplets had started to fall down onto the windshield of their car, making a nice ambiance against the music he’d turned down thirty minutes back. His companion, who had been lost in thought and looking at the road ahead of then looked over and gave him questioning look, not really sure why he was getting angry over a little bit of rain. "Everything ok, Zuzu?" She tilted her head like a confused puppy, but he just shook his head and continued looking out onto the road.

Again, all was quiet aside from the soft music and rain droplets, but she didn’t seem to mind all that much. She loved the rain after all but Zuko on the other hand? Apparently not so much. But he kept his complaints to himself, occasionally glancing over at her and smiling as the watched some of the droplets on the window “race” to the bottom. Such a simple act made his stomach roll with that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you’re just simply happy. But after fter a few more seconds of rain he turned on the windshield wipers and huffed as the rain came down harder. She rolled her eyes and his dramatic actions then looked out of the window at the raindrops pounding on the glass.

She had always loved the rain, especially when it begin to fall after a long day of running around Jasmine Dragon, making teas and coffees and pastries and everything in between and then coming home to her nice warm bed and just listening to the pitter patter of it hitting the windows. She loved how the cold rain fell on her hot sweaty skin right as she ran around the track with Sokka, after all their cardio days were rain or shine. She wasn't really all that graceful. Maybe that's another reason she liked the rain. The raindrops never fell in one spot the same time, they were all different, like her. But she could keep thinking or more reasons why she loved it, his sour face right next to her made it difficult.

Zuko on the other hand hated rain. He was like a cat, at least that's what she said, in a teasing way of course! He didn't like rain at all, he didn't know why but he just didn't. Maybe it was because it always seemed to represent sadness and pain, basically his whole life in a nutshell. Now if she’d have been able to read his mind she’d probably have called him mellow dramatic, probably would have even told him that the good experiences outweighed the bad ones. She’d always been the optimist of the duo but that wasn’t a hard thing to accomplish. Zuko just seemed to hate everyone and everything, always a Debby downer. He didn’t understand why she put up with him but he certainly wasn’t about to complain or question why now. But

Speaking of her, she was one of the many things that he didn't hate. In all actuality, he was absolutely whipped for her, and he hated it and loved it at the same time. He would never admit it though, after all he was almost positive she didn't feel the same way. They'd been best friends for years, there was no reason for her to have even the slightest of romantic feelings for him. She never showed him any romantic affection, had she? If she had he’d never noticed and so he just tried his best not to pine over her. And so far it was going pretty damn well. After all she had no clue of his little crush, and so he was good to go on and be the bestie he would forever be. He’d been in airplane mode for a hot minute and he was finally pulled out of his thoughts when he heard her angelic voice from beside him in the passenger seat.

"Pull over." She had uncrossed her arms and was now grinning at him from ear to ear, and she looked like a dog that was overly excited to go for a walk or get a treat. Her eyes were ass big as dinner plates and sparkles like gems. Now, normal he’d smile and go along with whatever crazy plan she’d cooked up in her head but this time he thought she’d lost her damn mind. “I'm sorry, what?" He raised his brows at her and clutched the wheel again, then licked his lips as she pursed hers in what seemed to be annoyance.

"You heard me. Pull over!” She hadn't said it in a demanding way, kind of in a pleading way but not really. Ok, maybe it was a little teensie wheensie bit demanding but he didn’t see it that way. She didn't mean to sound so… whatever way she did. After all he would do whatever she asked, to an extent that is. And of course he did end up doing what she’d asked of him… but only after some serious puppy dog eyes and a stick out lip. He rolled his eyes and pulled over to the side of the road right beside an empty field. They were significantly behind the others already so it wasn’t that big of a deal.

He looked over at her again with an exasperated look, leaning back fully in the seat and raising a brow. “Why did I pull over exactly?" She grinned and took off her green BSSU hoodie and tossed it into the back seat. "I wanna feel the rain." He looked at her, dumbfounded at how simply she’d put it. He had no earthly idea why she would want to get out of the safe car in the middle of a thunderstorm. To him, she sounded mental. She gave him her most serious look, one she never really used, well unless she wanted something just like now. "We're in the middle of a thunderstorm and you want to feel the rain? You'll get all wet," he tried to reason with her but was having none of it.

"So?” She shrugged and unlocked the door. “Clothes will dry." After moment of silence and her puppy dog eyes once again looking into his soul he sighed and gave her one last “do I really have to do this?” look before ultimately giving into her request. He didn't know why he even tried, she always got her way in the end. Spirits he hated the look she gave him whenever he even tried to say no to her. It broke his heart to see her upset, so of course he was wrapped around her finger and he hated it, but again, he didn't complain. He loved her way to much to let her down, it was definitely the bittersweet side of their friendship.

"Fine, five minutes." He took the keys out of the ignition but made no move to get out of the car. On the other hand, she instantly jumped out and shut the door behind her, knowing he wouldn't like it that much if his precious leather interior got damaged. "Come on, Zuko! Get out here!" She had the biggest smile on her face as she twirled around, beckoning him out into the cold and windy weather. Her soaked hair flung water on him as she opened his door. He grimaced as a few water droplets got in his jacket but he hid it well, making sure to smile at her when she skipped over to him.

“Do I have to?" He said it in his whiniest tone possible, but she was unfazed by it and instead giggled and grabbed his wrist. Before he could even react she had pulled him out of the car and into the rain. He stood there stunned for a moment before glaring at her with his lips in a this straight line. "Yes, you had to!" She giggled again and grabbed his hands and forcing him to sway back and forth with her. She was smiling so big that her eyes were all crinkled up and her cheeks were going red. Just one Look at her face in that moment and he melted. He would do anything to be able to see that look on her face again. It was his favorite thing, the one thing that he would do anything for. Suddenly their mushy moment was interrupted by a loud clap of thunder that had ripped through the air. She jumped slightly, her arms wrapped around his neck and she let out a little squeak.

She looked up to his eyes and suddenly she became as red as a tomato, her smile becoming shy in only an instant. "Well, uh... sorry Zuzu." She took a step away from him and looked at her feet, though she didn't seem to regret her actions, she seemed quite pleased with herself actually. His usually pale complexion was now just as red as hers was, he could feel it all over his face and neck and ears. "No, it's fine," he muttered, not at all fine, because in fact his heart was hammering in his chest. Sure they had hugged before, but not like that. She nodded and looked at the darkening sky, a smile tugging at her lips. Spirits, how he loved her smile.

"Why do you like the rain so much?" He crinkled his nose as he looked at his soaked cloths. She looked back at him and wiped some of the water from off her face even thought it did virtually nothing for her. "I don't know," she srugged and then looked around putting her hands on her hips, now feeling a little bold. "Why wont you admit your feelings?" He froze, his heart now full on racing. He blinked at her a few times and she looked back at him, taking a step closer. "I'm sorry?" He must have heard her wrong. He had to have misheard her. There was no way his feelings where so obvious. No way at all, especially not with how much care he put into not making them known. He looked straight at her again, she had a smug look on her face now.

"You heard me. Why won't you just tell me you like me. And don't deny it because I know you do." She crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow. He looked away, not wanting to see the look on her face. “I don’t where you got that idea from,” he shrugged. She gave him an annoyed look and shook her head. "Come on, it’s not like everyone else in our friend group knows. Why won't you just admit it? It's not like I'm mad about it!" She took a step closer to him and put her hand on his shoulder. "Please, Zuko." She gave him those big puppy dog eyes again, after all she just wanted the truth from him. She felt the same way, she just never told him because it would’ve been awkward if her suspicions had been wrong.

He sighed and ran a hand over his dripping hair. Was he really about to admit all his feelings that he had been bottling up for at least a year? Probably, after all she was begging him to be honest and unless she felt the same way, why would she be pressing so hard? So, he took a deep breath and then finally said it. "Yea, I like you (Y/N). I like you a lot. Happy now?" He went to look at her but was knocked to the ground, arms wrapped around his torso. He groaned and let his head fall into the soaked grass with a gentle thud, wrapping his arms around her with an unbelieving grin. "I like you too," she grinned and he let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding.

"You give the best hugs." She said as she sat up, watching as he stood up and smoothing out his soaked jacket that he oh so adored. “I know, don't get used to them- Ow!" He huffed as she pinched his ankle before getting up herself to resume their driving. They definitely had a lot to tell their friends when they met up at the rest stop.

[raewritez]

for the want of the sun | chapter twelve: fugitives

“This one seems edible.”

I inspect the berry in my hand, soft and purple. It squishes between my fingers and I tilt it back and forth, looking for any signs of poisonous qualities. Not that I know what those look like. I sniff, but the berry has no smell. I’m sticking my tongue out, the fruit about to touch the tip, when-

“Cut it out, Y/n.”

I shoot Zuko a glare, dropping the berry to the ground. “Well, what do you want to do? I’m starving!”

He groans, rolling his head. “I am, too, but you can’t just go eating strange berries. Maybe…maybe there’s an animal somewhere.”

“Yeah, like that fire-ferret you tried to chase down earlier?”

“I thought we agreed not to talk about that.”

I sigh, looking at the ground and trying to ignore the rumbling in my stomach. I raise my eyes to find Zuko already staring, and he jerks his head to the side in a tired manner. I walk after him in understanding, brushing past the bushes to find his uncle.

“Uncle,” he calls. “We didn’t find anything to eat! I can’t live like this, I wasn’t meant to be a fugitive! This is impossible!” He shakes his fists at the sky in anguish and I smirk. I look over at Iroh who is sitting on the ground, finger brought to his chin in a pensive expression.

“Whatcha doing?” I ask. Iroh turns to me with a smile, beckoning me over excitedly.

“Ah, Y/n, you’re looking at the rare white dragon bush. Its leaves make tea so delicious it’s heartbreaking!” He clasps his hands together. “That, or it’s the white jade, which is poisonous.”

“Hmm. Yeah, maybe that’s not the best idea then.”

“Uncle, we need food, not tea,” Zuko speaks from behind me. He walks past me, brushing me with his shoulder. “Y/n and I are going fishing.”

“What?” I exclaim. “I’ll be doing all the work!”

“Oh, sorry to inconvenience you,” he deadpans. “I guess starving will be easier.”

I stick out my tongue at him but follow begrudgingly. “See you later, Iroh,” I call. “Don’t eat anything poisonous.”

“Yeah, yeah, see you later!”

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

“How are you so bad at this?”

I send Zuko a fiery glare, stabbing the sharp end of my stick into the water. “At least I’m trying, your highness. It’s not like you’re any help!”

“I don’t know how to fish! I’m a prince! What’s your excuse?”

I stare at him, confounded. “Do you think the servants at the palace hunted for their own food or something?”

He shuts his mouth abruptly, looking away. “Uh, no, I just-”

“Okay, whatever. Can you just help?”

“I mean, not really.”

“Ugh!” I drop my stick, grabbing my hair. “We’re gonna die out here, aren’t we.”

Zuko shrugs. “Possibly.”

I sit on the mossy ground, bringing my knees to my chest. I feel lightheaded and dizzy, and the emptiness in my stomach has grown into a painful gnawing. The sun is too bright, and it sends colors whirling in my vision. I shut my eyes, trying to find a moment of relieving darkness.

A hand on my shoulder, and a soft voice. “I didn’t mean it, Y/n, we’re gonna be fine.” I can’t bring myself to look up. Zuko sighs from above me. “We’ll figure it out soon, ok? Let’s go find my uncle, maybe he knows what to do.”

With my head still buried in my arms, I nod, and I stick out my arm. Zuko grabs it, hauling me up beside him. I rub my eyes, trying to banish the blinding sun. I feel a tug on my wrist, urging me to start walking. I walk next to him, the rushing of the river growing fainter with every step.

“I’m sorry I’m freaking out,” I say. “I’ve just literally never been this hungry in my life.”

It’s ok,” Zuko chuckles, his face shaded by the straw hat atop his head. “Usually I’m the one freaking out.”

“Well, at least you’re self-aware.”

We come across the clearing where we left Iroh, finding him seated in the same spot. His back is turned, and at the sound of our footsteps, he glances back. “Zuko,” he says. “Remember that plant I thought might be tea?”

A pit settles in my stomach, and Zuko shakes his head wearily. “You didn’t.”

“I did.” He turns around, his pale face blotched with marks of red, and swollen. My mouth falls open. “And it wasn’t.” Next to me, Zuko jumps backward, letting out a yell.

Iroh speaks calmly. “When the rash spreads to my throat, I will stop breathing. But look what I found!” He pulls a branch from behind him, small, red berries blossoming at the end. “These are bacui berries, known to cure the poison of the white jade. That…or they’re maka’ole berries, which cause blindness.”

“Alright,” I step forward, snatching the branch from his hand. “We’re not taking any more chances with these plants. We need to get you help.”

“But where are we going to go?” He asks. “We’re enemies of the Earth Kingdom and fugitives from the Fire Nation.”

Zuko stands beside me. “If the Earth Kingdom catches us, they’ll have us killed.”

Iroh rises from the ground, scratching vigorously at the blooming rashes on his legs. “But if the Fire Nation catches us, we’ll be turned over to Azula.”

Zuko and I share a look, nodding. “Earth Kingdom it is.”

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Zuko and I lead Iroh down the forest path, coming across a small house in the woods. It’s lit in the approaching gloaming, soft light cast across the ground. At the door, we are met by a young girl, about my age, who promptly gasps upon seeing Iroh. “Come in!” she exclaims and leads us to a back room where she begins mixing some sort of salve, seating Iroh on the small bed.

“You all must not be from around here,” says the girl. “We know better than to touch the White Jade, much less make it into tea and drink it.”

Iroh chuckles sheepishly, his attempt to smile only making his swollen face smush together. “Whoops!”

The girl turns to us with a smile. “So where are you traveling from?”

I open my mouth to respond when Zuko shoots up from beside me. “Yes, we’re travelers.” I send him a weird look.

“Do you have names?”

“Names? Of course we have names. I’m, uh…Lee, and this is…Ming, and my Uncle…Mushi?”

Iroh shoots Zuko a glare and I use my hand to hide my grin. “Yes,” he says. “My nephew was named after his father, so we just call him Junior.”

Zuko glowers, slicing his hand across his neck.

“Mushi, Junior, and Ming, huh? My name is Song. You all look like you could use a good meal, why don’t you stay for dinner?”

“Sorry, but we need to be moving on,” Zuko says, and I elbow him in the ribs. “Ow,” he grunts.

“That’s too bad,” Song says, smiling innocently. “My mom always makes too much roast duck.” She sends me a smile and Iroh perks up from the bed.

“Where do you live exactly?”

After finishing up with Iroh, Song leads us into the larger part of her house, calling for her mom to let her know they have guests. I can smell the roast duck Song was speaking of, and my head flushes with a rush of lightheadedness. Her mother welcomes us warmly, seating us at the small table near the kitchen. I sit across from Song, next to Zuko, and I am almost leaning on him from exhaustion by the time the food comes. When it’s set in front of me, I waste no time diving in.

Song’s mother takes a seat at the table. “My daughter tells me you’re refugees. We were once refugees ourselves.”

Song nods at her words. “When I was a little girl, the Fire Nation raided our farming village. All the men were taken away. That was the last time I saw my father.”

I slow my chewing, the food suddenly not seeming as appetizing anymore. The newfound fullness in my stomach is quickly replaced with coldness, and I find that I can’t meet her eyes. So many people, so many lives ruined at the hands of my nation.

Zuko clears his throat. “I haven’t seen my father in many years.”

“Oh, is he fighting in the war?”

I look up at him, his face shadowed even under the soft light of the candles. “Something like that.”

I finish my meal quietly, Iroh engaged in pleasant conversation with Song and her mother. When Zuko is done he rises from his heat, sliding open the paper door and stepping outside. I stand to follow him, thanking the family for dinner. I find him sitting outside, his feet swinging from the porch. I sit quietly beside him, feeling the warmth from his body seep into mine.

“What’s up?” I whisper.

“I don’t know,” he answers. “I’m confused.”

The door slides open again, light spilling onto the grass below us. Song steps outside delicately. “Can I join you?”

I nod, smiling gently. She closes the door, taking a seat next to Zuko. “I know what you’ve been through,” she says. “We’ve all been through it.” I see her glance at Zuko, eyes lingering on the crimson pattern of his scar. “The Fire Nation has hurt you.”

She reaches out, fingers ghosting the edge of his skin. Zuko grabs her hand, pulling it away, and she looks down awkwardly. “It’s ok,” she whispers. “They’ve hurt me, too.” She reaches for the end of her dress, pulling the fabric above her calf. I notice it for the first time: a burn, a crimson swirl crawling up her leg, not so different from my own. Zuko looks at her, surprised.

“I’m sorry,” I say. She smiles.

We are broken apart by the sound of approaching footsteps, the creaking of the door. Iroh’s voice breaks through the silence. “Thank you for the duck. It was excellent.”

Song’s mother follows him to the door. “You’re welcome. It brings me pleasure to see someone eating my cooking with such…gusto.”

He chuckles, patting his stomach. “Much practice.”

Zuko stands up, walking down the grassy path and into the shadows. Iroh calls after him. “Junior, where are your manners? You need to thank these nice people.”

Zuko turns and bows. “Thank you.”

I turn to Song and her mother. “Thank you so much for dinner, it was wonderful.” The woman smiles warmly. “It was my pleasure, sweetheart.” I smile and turn to follow Zuko. Song calls out from behind me. “I know you don’t think there’s any hope left in the world, but there is hope. The Avatar has returned!”

Zuko stops, a pace, then keeps walking. His face is dark as we stray further from the house. “I know.”

I turn back, waving at the two figures on the porch. They raise their hands in farewell and step back inside. Zuko walks ahead of me but stops when he comes across an ostrich-horse tied up on the fence. He walks over to the animal quietly, unfastening its reins and leading it away.

“Zuko!” I whisper-yell, shaking my head. “What are you doing?!”

Iroh levels him with a stare. “These people have just shown you great kindness.”

“They’re about to show us a little more kindness.” He hops on the animal, glaring down at us. “Well?”

I stare at him, guilt etched in my face. Iroh jumps on behind him, and I follow, feeling like my limbs are made of lead. Zuko urges us forward with his heels, the ostrich-horse trotting along the path. I glance back at the house, gasping when I am met with the sad eyes of the girl, Song, staring after us. I stare back, frozen, and she closes the door.

this was pretty short but hard to write for some reason. also Zuko has hair now! celebrate 🎉

taglist: @aquaamethyst96

[sokkastyles]

I’ve talked about this before, but I need to emphasize that Zuko working in the tea shop is a huge part of his arc and development. It wasn’t just something that lasted only a few episodes that he hated and then moved on from, it’s something that is threaded throughout his arc and into the finale. 

Of course he’s not happy for a large part of the time he’s working there in book two. He’s a traumatized teenager who is desperately trying to achieve the approval of his father so that he can go back to the home he was banished from. Iroh tries to make the best of things in part because Iroh genuinely enjoys it and making the best of a bad situation is just who he is, but he also wants Zuko to be happy and wants to make the best life for his nephew that he can, and he knows that Zuko needs positivity and security in his life, as well as tries to nurture in Zuko an appreciation for the small things in life and an attitude of service. It is hardly surprising that Zuko is resistant to this, though.

Zuko complains even more when he and Iroh are presented with new opportunities, because he doesn’t want to accept the possibility of growth in this new life.

Iroh: Did you hear, nephew? This man wants to give us our own tea shop in the Upper Ring of the city!

Quon: That's right, young man, your life is about to change for the better!

Zuko: [Sarcastically.] I'll try to contain my joy. [Walks outside, slams door shut.]

Zuko spends seven episodes working in the tea shop in a twenty episode season. It runs through his entire Ba Sing Se arc. He grumbles, groans, and complains through most of it.

Iroh: So, I was thinking about names for my new tea shop. How about the Jasmine Dragon? It's dramatic, poetic, has a nice ring to it.

Zuko: [Shows Iroh the flyer.] The Avatar is here in Ba Sing Se and he's lost his bison.

Iroh: [Grabs the flyer.] We have a chance for a new life here. [Cut to Zuko looking out a window.] If you start stirring up trouble, we could lose all the good things that are happening for us.

Zuko: [Turns to Iroh.] Good things that are happening for you! Have you ever thought that I want more from life than a nice apartment and a job serving tea?

Iroh: There is nothing wrong with a life of peace and prosperity. I suggest you think about what it is that you want from your life and why.

Zuko: I want my destiny.

Iroh: What that means is up to you. 

Zuko’s time in the tea shop is part of his arc of discovering that he can choose his own destiny, and although he didn’t choose to live as a refugee, he can choose what he makes of it, which is what Iroh is trying to teach him here. Part of that is choosing to accept Iroh’s love, choosing to appreciate the good things instead of wishing for something that he doesn’t have, and we know that Zuko’s desire to go back to being the prince of the Fire Nation and earn his father’s affection is ultimately empty, and part of a life where he was abused, as well as where he was a part of a system that was oppressing others.

Then Zuko refuses Iroh’s advice about accepting a simple life in favor of pursuing Appa as the Blue Spirit - an identity that represents Zuko’s internal conflict between his fractured self image, which in book two involves him using the Blue Spirit identity to steal, to get back a part of the old life which he’s lost. It is extremely painful for him to admit that trying to get back to who he was before his banishment is causing him to engage in self-destructive behaviors that are stagnating his growth. Iroh just wants him to be safe and happy but he also knows that Zuko has to confront this conflict within himself.

That’s why, after he frees Appa, he must throw away the Blue Spirit mask once and for all, symbolically letting go of his desire to go back to the Fire Nation.

Iroh: You did the right thing, nephew. Leave it behind.

Giving up the past is never easy. Especially giving up the ideas he’s held onto for so long, the idea of what he can one day get back that, as Iroh said in book one, had kept Zuko going through his banishment, that gave him hope. But part of creating your own destiny is realizing that you can find hope in places you didn’t think you could find it. Zuko has to find something else to put his hope in and that’s represented physically by the sickness he suffers after freeing Appa. His entire sense of self has been shaken to the core, because change, real change, is hard.

Iroh: You should know that this is not a natural sickness, but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying tea.

Zuko: What's happening?

Iroh: Your critical decision. What you did beneath that lake. It was in such conflict with our image of yourself that you are now at war within your own mind and body. 

Zuko: What's that mean?

Iroh: You are going through a metamorphosis, my nephew. It will not be a pleasant experience, but when you come out of it, you will be the beautiful prince you were always meant to be.

Tea even makes an appearance during Zuko’s “metamorphosis,” because the tea is symbolic, y’all. Then when Zuko wakes up from his sickness, we see an immediate change in him.

Iroh: Now that your fever is gone, you seem different somehow.

Zuko: [Optimistically.] It's a new day. We've got a new apartment, new furniture, and today's the grand opening of your new tea shop. Things are looking up, Uncle.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that Zuko has suddenly decided that he loves serving tea and working customer service, but the change he’s experienced is about choosing to find the good, to accept change into his life, to accept humility, and love. And this is the most happy we’ve ever seen Zuko be. We also see him emotionally supporting Iroh and working on his relationship with his uncle because he knows that seeing Zuko happy makes Iroh happy. Before, Zuko made a big show of his unhappiness, slamming doors and frowning and shouting and generally acting like a spoiled teenager with major authority issues, which made Iroh visibly upset. Iroh constantly tries to get Zuko to change his attitude but in the end it’s something that Zuko has to choose himself.

Iroh: Who thought when we came to this city as refugees, that I'd end up owning my own tea shop? Follow your passion, Zuko, and life will reward you.

Zuko: Congratulations, Uncle.

Iroh: I am very thankful.

Zuko: You deserve it. The Jasmine Dragon will be the best tea shop in the city.

Iroh: No. I'm thankful because you decided to share this special day with me. It means more than you know.

Zuko: Now let's make these people some tea! 

This is more than just Zuko being happy for Iroh or trying to be happy because Iroh wants him to be happy. We see the idea repeated here that you can choose your own destiny, and that those who do are rewarded by life. This is also echoed in Zuko’s conversation with Katara in which he tells her that lately he has realized that he is free to choose what he makes of the scars of his past, and his future. We also see him practicing what Iroh told him, he lets go of shame by letting go of pride. Instead of talking about what he thinks he deserves, he talks about what Iroh deserves. The dialogue also indicates that Zuko chose to be there.

This development is emphasized when Zuko and Iroh are invited to serve tea to the Earth King.

Iroh: I ... I can't believe it!

Zuko: What is it, Uncle?

Iroh: Great news! We've been invited to serve tea to the Earth King!

Zuko goes from “step aside, filth!” and complaining about doing work to smiling about serving tea to the king of a rival nation. That’s character development. And as I said before, it was essential to Zuko’s development in becoming the kind of Fire Lord that he is supposed to be.

The dramatic irony of Katara finding them and unintentionally ratting them out to Azula is that when Katara enters the tea shop, she finds not only a Zuko in a tea apron, but a happy one enthusiastically taking people’s orders.

Zuko: Uncle! I need two jasmine, one green, and one lychee!

Iroh: I'm brewing as fast as I can!

I love this scene so much because it’s like, imagine that you decide to go to Panera Bread and you find Kylo Ren working at the counter, cheerfully asking you if you want chips or an apple with that. It’s also hilarious that Katara’s immediate thought is they’re infiltrating the city when she knows that there’s an evil force of brainwashing government agents lurking about.

That Zuko genuinely found peace with his life in Ba Sing Se is narratively important because it makes what happens next even harder for him. “The Crossroads of Destiny” is a true crossroads because he’s fought hard to find happiness and hope in his new life, but then it’s all ripped away and he’s put to the test. That he fails it this time just emphasizes how hard it is to break free of old destructive habits.

This is why when he does go back to the Fire Nation, we’re shown his doubts, and how uncomfortable he is. He tries to be happy and to accept his role as prince, but he already knows that this is not the destiny he wants for himself. The excessive opulence of the Fire Nation is meant to show this. We see this in scenes like Zuko constantly being unhappy during the beach episode and becoming angry when he is told to relax and do nothing, and his insecurity at the party in a room full of rich kids. 

In particular, we see him being uncomfortable being waited on by servants in “Nightmares and Daydreams”:

Servant #1: Fresh fruit, Prince Zuko?

Zuko puts out his hand and shakes his head respectfully.

Servant #2: May I wash your feet, sir?

Zuko respectfully puts his hand out and shakes his head again.

Servant #1: Head massage?

Zuko shakes his head again.

Servant #2: Hot towel?

Zuko looks at the towels for a moment and takes one. He is seen wiping his forehead before walking out of the room. The two servants bow behind him. Zuko walks out the palace gates, with Fire Nation citizens waiting for him.

Servant #1: Prince Zuko, is something wrong? You didn't take the palanquin.

Zuko: I'm just going to Mai's house. It's not far.

Servant #1: It's not a prince's place to walk anywhere, sir.

Zuko looks to the distance, walks over, and gets into the palanquin.

We see him trying to fit in with Mai because he’s a sixteen year old who has a girlfriend for the first time in his life and he wants to impress her, but what this scene actually shows is their differing values.

Zuko: Tell me, if you could have anything you want right now, what would it be?

Mai: Hm ... A big fancy fruit tart, with rose petals on top.

Zuko: You know, being a prince and all, I might just be able to make that happen.

Mai: That would be impressive.

Zuko: [To the servants.] Do you think you could find a fresh fruit tart for the lady, with rose petals on top?

Servant: Excellent choice, sir.

Mai: I guess there's some nice perks that come with being royalty. [Pushing Zuko to lay down with her.] Though there's annoying stuff, too. Like that all-day war meeting coming up.

Zuko: [Sitting up, followed by Mai.] War meeting? What are you talking about?

Mai: Azula mentioned something. I-I assumed you were going, too.

Zuko: I guess I wasn't invited.

The two look away from each other.

Zuko asks Mai what she would want if she could have anything and what she comes up with is fruit tarts. This doesn’t necessarily mean that Mai is shallow, but what it does mean is that she’s never had to worry about what she wants in terms of the big picture.

“Who are you, and what do you want?”

She’s also never had to go hungry like Zuko has, and never had to serve others like Zuko has.

And then she brings up the war meeting, which to her is only an annoyance. Zuko doesn’t care about fruit tarts and palanquin rides, but this is something he cares about. It’s also funny to me that Mai is like “make out time,” and let’s be real, nobody would fault Zuko, a sixteen year old boy, for enjoying a little hanky panky, but Zuko is like “no, anxiety time!” Which shows how much he’s changed and how much he is struggling to be happy despite all the fruit tarts and hot towels and having a girlfriend who is all over him.

It is NOT a coincidence that when Zuko joins the gaang, we see him genuinely happy and among friends and making and serving tea.

Zuko had to go back to the Fire Nation to really understand how much he had changed and to really be able to choose his own destiny, but we know which one he chooses, between a life of empty riches and a life helping others. Even when we see him addressing the people as Fire Lord, his speech is all about service and humility. When the crowd cheers for him, he does this:

Zuko: Please. The real hero is the Avatar.

Which shows how far he’s come from the boy who so desperately wanted recognition, who was repulsed by the idea of serving others or lowering himself to the status of a “peasant,” who only thought of himself and what he deserved. His last scene is not his coronation, not his triumphant moment of standing in front of a crowd as Fire Lord, or even confronting his father, but a quiet moment, serving tea to his friends.

[flameohotfamily]

Maiko ask - who would fret more over a sick baby Druk? Mai or Zuko? And would they shoo the other away because they thought they knew best, or would they cooperate with each other for Druk’s sake?

Oh, please let me start from the very beginning!

When Zuko only just brought baby Druk to the palace everyone (including the gaang) was amazed and excited because “That’s a living dragon!” and “Look at him! He’s so cute!”

Mai only sighed, unimpressed “You cannot seriously expect from me to love this ugly flying lizard, Zuko!”

Zuko turned into a responsible-parent mode. All days he was spending in his throne room or in his office, busy with duties, and all evenings he was spending by playing and cooing with Druk. No need to say how much their gushing annoyed Mai.

When little Druk started to climb in their bed and curled into a ball beside Zuko, she only mumbled, irritated, “Your dragon is ruining our marriage!”

(Good for her that Druk usually woke up with the first sun’s rays, so as Zuko, and ran away. So, after Zuko’s morning firebending training Mai at least could spend some quality time with her husband though she hated to wake up so early!)

It got even worse when instead of interrupting Zuko’s council meetings and each meal, that little nasty lizard started to follow poor Fire Lady everywhere.

“Why is your dragon chasing me, Zuko?”

Zuko only shrugged and offered her a sheepish smile. “Sun Warriors mentioned that. The dragon and his rider are the one – one heart, one soul, one fire.”

“If you’re two are the one, why is he chasing me, then?”

“They said that he’ll take all my habits. Maybe he follows you because you’re my most favorite person in the world.”

“Oh, Agni.”

Then this ugly flying creature started to make big troubles, Druk turned into a small hooligan – he broke all vases, filled with smoke their chambers, burned one of Mai’s favorites dresses, chewed all important scrolls and even stole some of her knives (good he didn’t steal their crowns considering his love to shining things). Mai was just furious which was quite unexpected from her – after “the knives incident” Zuko and his newfound kid hid for half of a day.

But then Druk once interrupted one especially terrible tea hosting with court ladies, and released Mai from all day long boredom in those noble pig-chickens company. It was a great favor, so she thought for a second that maybe the nasty lizard is not that bad. Later Druk scared all turtle-ducks from the pond, and they ran throughout all gardens. Mai couldn’t help but laugh from Zuko’s horrified reaction when her husband heard it (honestly, Zuko’s obsession with these birds annoyed her a little). Slowly Mai’s walls began to break, and she found that she softened a little to Druk.

Everything changed when Zuko left for the diplomatic mission to Earth Kingdom (Mai hated Earth Kingdom), and they stayed alone. All day Druk didn’t leave Mai even for a moment, nudged her and demanded her attention. At the night he climbed in the big – empty  – bed in royal chambers, and curled on Zuko’s place, whining barely audible and blinking big crocodog tears. Mai reached to stroke his red scaled head and admitted with a sad sigh, “Yeah, I miss him too.”

From that night Druk became Mai’s absolute favorite. He continued to follow her everywhere and growled at noisy councilmen/prying noble ladies when they got too close to Mai, he tugged her dress and slept on her lap while she was working, he purred and curled beside her every night. When Zuko returned home he couldn’t believe it.

(Actually, Mai became Druk’s favorite too, and sometimes the dragon was even jealous of Zuko. Zuko got pouty because “Hey, buddy, I love her too. She’s my wife!”)

And then their baby got sick. At the beginning Fire Lord and Fire Lady fought, because:

“It’s your fault, you allowed him to eat cold meat!”

“He’s the dragon, Zuko! He breathes fire! It’s your fault, why did you walk with him in the rain?!”

“Because he’s the dragon, Mai!”

They were arguing and grumbling at each other all night, and tried literally everything, but poor Druk only got worse by morning. Without hesitation Mai and Zuko left the palace, sent a letter to Uncle Iroh to replace them a little, and went to Fire Islands. They both were on the edge from worrying, Mai threatened to stab Sun Warriors if they didn’t heal Druk.

Druk was too weak when they reached the ancient city, if they’d stayed any longer in the capital, they could lose him forever.

Sun Warriors calmed a worried royal couple, saying that Druk got the usual dragon’s illness which he could only heal in the dragon’s surroundings, so he should spend a few days with parents.

They had no choice but wait patiently, so the next few days Zuko gave Mai a tour at the ruins/Sun warriors city, and re-told in 10th time about their field-trip with Aang (besides, that forced “vacation” was a breath of fresh air after the dullness of the palace and all politics).

When Druk fully recovered, Zuko should’ve been to get up to the Masters and take him personally. For the first time in her life Mai saw real dragons, and that was terrifying (she just hoped they wouldn’t burn her husband to the ashes). But they deemed him worthy again, although they didn’t want to let Druk go, the baby dragon flew to Zuko on his own, and climbed on his shoulders – Druk chose his master.

They all returned home peacefully. Needless to say that Druk became an honorary member of Fire Nation Royal Family (and one of their favorite kids too).

(Thank you for the ask <3 That was a pure joy to write about them with Druk)

[melzula]

A New Battle Begins

pairing: Zuko x Princess!reader

notes: requested by anon

summary: Now that the war is over, Zuko and the Princess can finally live a life of peace together. Or so they think...

~ part of the fire lilies series ~

“Careful now, you don’t want to hurt yourself,” you chide gently as you help guide Zuko’s arms through the sleeves of his robe before neatly tying the sash around his waist. His wound is still tender from Azula’s lightning strike and limits most of his movements, so he’s grateful for your help in his preparation for the coronation. You work precisely and gracefully with no error and no faltering despite the hindrance of your freshly bandaged hands, and though the room is quiet a sense of calm and peacefulness washes over Zuko at your mere comforting presence. Today he will be crowned Fire Lord, and you will be right by his side just like you have been since you were children— Zuko couldn’t ask for anything more than that.

“Thank you for your help,” he says with a grateful smile. “I can’t imagine doing this without you.”

“We’ve come a long way,” you note thoughtfully, “and there’s no place I’d rather be than right here with you in this very moment.”

With the final piece of his wardrobe secured to his body, Zuko takes it upon himself to tie his top knot— you still haven’t quite mastered the hairstyle yet— and complete his Fire Lord ensemble. You smile fondly at the sight of him, leaning forward to grace his lips with a sweet kiss.

“You make a handsome Fire Lord.”

“And one day you’ll make a beautiful Fire Lady,” Zuko counters with a small smirk, one that sends you into an embarrassed fit of giggles.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, mister,” you say with a laugh. “I’m going to join the others out in the courtyard. I’ll see you shortly.”

You bid your love goodbye with a chaste kiss to the cheek before excusing yourself from his presence and making your way back outside. The palace is empty other than the few guards that line the hallways, and you have to remind yourself that they aren’t your enemies any longer. With Zuko on the throne and your status as his girlfriend no one will lay a single finger on you while you are here, especially not with your title as Princess of the Southern Water Tribe. It will take some time to break your habit of immediately going on the defensive in the presence of Fire Nation soldiers, but you have faith that Zuko and Aang will be able to restore balance to the world.

Your path to the outside is suddenly blocked by a woman who stands at the very end of the hall and gazes thoughtfully out the grand window before her. Her hair is graying but the lines that worry her face are kind and familiar. Seemingly sensing your presence, she turns to you with a tired smile, one you recognize immediately despite the many years you’ve spent away from home.

“Mother,” you murmur quietly, eyes welling with tears and breath catching in your throat at the sight of her.

“You’ve grown so much I almost didn’t recognize you,” she replies with a teasing tone. Her arms open to you then, warm and inviting, and with a small sob you gather the skirt of your dress before sprinting towards her.

“Mother!” You cry, melting into her bone crushing embrace as you weep into the fabric of her coat. “I can’t believe it’s you! How- What are you doing here?”

“The Fire Prince sent a messenger hawk to tell me of your bravery and requested my presence in the Fire Nation immediately,” she explains before carefully taking your hands in her own and assessing the bandages wrapped neatly around your wrists and extending all the way to your fingertips. It’s only one layer and it’s mostly just for protection, but it’s obvious that extensive damage has been done to your skin. “Does it hurt?”

“No. The healing took away the pain, but the scars will stay forever.”

“My brave girl,” your mother coos with a tearful smile, hand resting upon your cheek and cupping your face. “Your father would be so proud.”

“Thank you, mom,” you reply. A single tear slides down your cheek but you’re quick to brush it away before it can ruin your ceremonial makeup. “But if I’m being honest, I thought you’d be angry with me... I was afraid when I came back home you’d want nothing to do with me.”

“I was heartbroken when you left,” she admits thoughtfully, “you were my only child and I feared for your safety. I thought of you every day, and when I heard the news of your father’s death I worried that one day I might get the same news about you.”

You look closely at your mother as she explains, appreciating the details of her face and the change of her features. She wasn’t very old, but your absence and your father’s passing weighed heavily upon her through the lines on her skin. She was strong, but she’d also been through a lot these last couple of years, managing her grief while trying to run an entire tribe on her own. You could only hope to be as great of a leader as she was.

“But instead I received news of your bravery, your compassion, and your courage. I couldn’t be more proud to call you my daughter, y/n, and I can’t wait to see what you do next.”

She pulls you into yet another embrace before joining you out in the courtyard to meet your friends, and for the first time in a long time all is right in the world.

~~~

Zuko’s coronation goes off without a hitch, and after successfully establishing the plans for the Harmony Restoration Movement with King Kuei you and your friends decide to visit the Jasmine Dragon to celebrate before the announcement. It’s your last night away from home, and though you’re reluctant to say goodbye to Zuko and your friends you know you’re needed back in the south. You’ve been away for too long, and the Southern Water Tribe is in desperate need of a ruler. With your father gone and your mother growing older it will only be a matter of time before the tribe is left in your hands, so there’s no better time than now to start leaning how to lead.

“Your tsungi horn playing is beautiful as always, Uncle,” you compliment Iroh as Zuko sets your tea before you. He gifts you a chaste kiss to the cheek in passing, an act that has you shyly hiding your smile behind your cup and taking a drink of the jasmine taste you’ve missed so dearly. The last time you’d been in Ba Sing Se you were living under a false identity, settling down into your new life with a reluctant Zuko and trying to start anew. There had been obstacles of course, from the encounters with your midnight stranger to Zuko’s inevitable betrayal down in the crystal caves, but you don’t wish to take any of it back for a second. Because otherwise you wouldn’t be here now, surrounded by your friends as you critique Sokka’s drawing.

“You know the burns are only on my hands and not the rest of me, right?” You ask, pointing out the scars that weave around your arms like vines in the drawing.

“Yeah, but this makes you look cooler!” Sokka defends.

“Well I think you all look perfect,” Toph compliments enthusiastically, and you can’t help but laugh at yet another one of her blind jokes. You’ll miss those once you get back home.

The celebration will be starting soon, and so you join your friends on the back of Appa to fly through the skies and enjoy your time together before the night can end. You sit in the back with Suki who carefully adjusts the flowers in your hair and distracts you from the serious conversation Zuko holds with Aang.

“Are you excited to go back home?”

“Very, but I am going to miss you guys. I’ve spent a whole year with you all, it’ll be so strange being without you.”

“I’m sure we can visit you,” Suki suggests. “And don’t you have that tunnel thing with Zuko?”

“Yeah, we have a tunnel thing,” you nod, a faint smile playing upon your lips. A part of you is excited to see the tunnel again just because it’s been so long, and really it was probably the pivotal force on which your journey began. “I hope my people will be happy to see me.”

“They will. You are the Princess, after all.”

You don’t get to talk any further about the subject before brilliant bursts of fireworks begin to explode in the sky. They’re breathtaking, and by the looks of the crowd down below the Earth King has just announced the harmony restoration movement. Huddling close to Suki, you stare up at the display in awe and with a bittersweet sense of joy. Someone clears their throat from beside you, and both you and Suki turn to see Zuko smiling sheepishly at your pair.

“Mind if I steal my girlfriend away from you for a bit?”

“Not at all,” Suki smiles knowingly before scooting over and allowing you and Zuko some space to yourselves. His arm easily wraps around your frame and pulls you into his side, and already you can feel his warmth beginning to encompass you as you rest your head upon his shoulder.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” You murmur in quiet appreciation for the fireworks.

“It is,” Zuko agrees with a faint smile. You’re too engrossed to notice the uneasiness in his tone, but he doesn’t want you to anyway. If you were to find out about the promise Aang had sworn to you’d surely delay your return home just to try and talk him out of it, and Zuko couldn’t have the Princess of the Southern Water Tribe missing on his behalf.

(At least not again.)

Besides, he’d made up his mind and he didn’t plan on changing it any time soon.

He hopes it’ll never come down to that, so for now Zuko is simply content with holding you close and enjoying your last peaceful night together in Ba Sing Se.

Spirits know it will be quite some time before you ever share a night like this again.

~~~

It’s strange being back home. Everything is so... different. Your tribe had dwindled significantly in number what with the casualties of the war, and the smaller villages that resided outside of the palace walls had been reduced to practically nothing. You could feel everyone’s eyes on you as you walked off the ship alongside your mother, could hear their gossiping whispers about how much you’d changed and if you were back for good this time, and it made you anxious. You reach for a hand that isn’t there and have to remind yourself that you’re on your own now. Sokka, Zuko, and Suki are no longer around to provide you comfort, so you’ll have to rely on your own inner strength to make it through the day.

“Princess,” a snide voice you’re all too familiar with calls from front steps of the palace. “It is so wonderful to have you home again.”

“Thank you, Advisor Koa,” you reply calmly, bowing in respect to the man but never once pulling your gaze from him. The smirk that plays upon his lips has you fuming but you keep your emotions at bay and remain cordial.

Koa was your father’s most trusted advisor, but you yourself never found him to be very trust worthy. His eyes were always shifty and there was something in the way he carried himself that made it seem as if he had a big secret to hide. The way he talked to your father always came off aggressive and scheming, yet the chief said nothing. As unbearable as Koa could be, he had a bright mind and skillful war tactics, so he stayed in his position of power beneath the royal family. You were meant to marry his son Kai but had ran off with Zuko before the marriage could take place, and you were sure Koa must be bitter about the fact that he hadn’t managed to marry his way into your family.

“Did you enjoy your time galavanting with the Fire Prince while the rest of your tribe was left to fend for themselves in the result of your absence?”

“I helped the Avatar bring balance to the world which is more than you can say, Koa. Need I remind you you were the only man who chose to say behind during the war?” You snap back harshly, holding back a triumphant smirk at the man’s obvious annoyance with your insult. Two can play at that game.

“Always a joy,” he mutters with an insincere grin.

“Now if you’ll excuse me I have a tribe to run,” you say, but before you can even take a step towards the palace Koa is blocking your path.

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. You see, the Southern Water Tribe already has a leader: me.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” You retort harshly, features falling at the guilty look that forms on your mother’s face. “What is he talking about?”

“I couldn’t run an entire tribe by myself,” she admits desperately, pleading for you to understand. “With you and your father gone I had no choice but to accept Koa’s offer to stand in as Chief until one of you returned.”

“Well I have returned, and as the rightful heir of this tribe I am ordering you to step down!” You demand pointedly, blood boiling at the laugh that leaves Koa in response.

“You’re absolutely adorable,” he coos condescendingly, pinching your cheek before you harshly yank yourself away from his grasp. “Do you really think a little girl is capable of ruling?”

“I’m a water bending master and I helped the Avatar defeat the Fire Lord and end the war! I am not a little girl!”

“You were selfish and ran away from your duties. You left your people in their time of need. You’re lucky you were even allowed back here considering the treachery you’ve partaken in against the Southern Water Tribe.”

“Koa,” your mother interrupts timidly. “I may have put you in charge but I will not allow you to speak to my daughter that way.”

“My apologies, your highness,” Koa utters respectfully before returning his attention to you. A snide smile rests upon his lips. “It really was so lovely to see you again, Princess y/n.”

“Mother, you can’t-“

“Not now,” she consoles quietly, watching his triumphantly retreating form disappear behind the palace doors before glancing around at the small crowd that had gathered to observe the dispute. “If you want to get the throne back you can’t act irrationally.”

Your once hardened features slowly soften as you let out a defeated sigh, collapsing into the comforting embrace of your mother.

Restoring balance to the world hadn’t been enough to save face with your people, and now you found yourself entangled in a whole new fight. With your friends gone and your father unable to help you win the crown what were you to do?

So much for home sweet home...

| tags: @rainteslerrrr @oddment-niwit-blubber-tweak @thebluelcdy @royahllty @the-firebender-girl @coldlilheart @ilovespideyyy @yiyibetch @eridanuswave @lammello @a-monsters-love @knaite-solo @zukh03s @taeeemin @titaniafire @dekahg @emberislandplayers @kikaninchen-2 @lozzybowe @izzieserra @melacholy @music-geek19 @thia-aep @thyunnamed @haylaansmi @nataliahaslosthershit @idkdude776 @aangsupremacy @thirstyforsometea @ihaveaproblem98 @brown-eyed-thang @djskfkdkkf @xapham @yeetletzgetitjae @misnmatchedsox @chewymoustachio @that-bucket-hat-gal |

[quarantineddreamer]

Bringing you another update to this fun little AU fic. Hope you enjoy and thanks as always for the support <3 Excerpt below:

Zuko stared at the door as though it were guarded by a dragon.

Not a small, friendly dragon like Druk, but a fearsome creature from a storybook, with talons to shred a person to bits, and fangs that devoured. Something enormous and ominous and all kinds of evil.

Except there wasn’t actually anything between the door and Zuko’s hand. Just empty air and a voice in his head that screamed for him to turn around and leave.

But he couldn’t forget the sharp look of betrayal on Katara’s face as the guards pulled her away. It haunted him, appearing every time he shut his eyes, accompanied by the echo of her voice, shouting ‘Some hero you are!’ -- as though to challenge him to be the person she had thought he was.

Zuko found that, despite its disappointed tone, he preferred Katara’s voice to the screaming voice inside his head. It was the voice of someone he actually wanted to listen to.

He lifted his hand to the door, heart beating wildly, and pushed.

“Father?” he called, hating how his voice cracked with fear.

[bubble-tea-bunny]

pretty please

[zuko x reader]

author’s note: wowowow it’s been a minute. until this story, i literally hadn’t written anything since april. i really don’t like to write unless i’m in the correct headspace and it took about 4 months to get back into one ^^’ anyway, i’d been sitting on this idea since july, and i’m glad to have written it. hope you enjoy

word count: 3,341

The doors of the Jasmine Dragon are always open to welcome patrons and a cool breeze. Zuko marks the beginning and end of each day by the size of the crowd—which grows in the early hours and keeps him and Uncle Iroh decently busy until finally it begins to shrink—and by the crisp air which greets him in the morning and again in the evening, both instances when the sun is hidden by the horizon. Heavy rain has been pouring over Ba Sing Se as of late, but today is the first day where the clouds have cleared, and Zuko is once again able to gauge the time by the color of the sky: at opening, a wash of indigo with strips of pale yellow at the horizon like the sands of a faraway land, and at closing, reds and oranges like fire.

Dusk paints the rug in the center of the shop in a warm-toned light, the jasmine dragons embroidered upon it more like crimson dragons now. Zuko gently sets the tray with its empty pot and teacups down on the counter before turning around to wave at the last customers of the evening. They’d lingered to chat with Uncle Iroh, and Zuko had spent the time tidying the rest of the shop, so that once it’s just the two of them left, most of the cleaning is done.

Zuko yawns, feeling the fatigue catching up to him now that the place is silent but for the quiet clinking of ceramic dishes. Uncle Iroh chuckles.

“Tired?” he asks.

Zuko shrugs, a noncommittal answer. “A little, but I think I’d rather eat dinner than go to sleep right now.” As if on cue, his stomach growls. It had been busier than usual today, and as consequence, he’d decided to work through lunch.

“Did someone say ‘dinner’?”

A loud voice carries from all the way across the threshold, prompting Zuko and Uncle Iroh to see who it is. Sokka leans against the doorframe, arms crossed and crooked smile on his face. “Because I could do with some food right about now.”

Upon realizing who is standing there, Zuko smiles widely. “Sokka! You didn’t mention you’d be in Ba Sing Se.”

“To be honest, I didn’t really plan on it, but I was in the area, and you know how the saying goes: spontaneity is the spice of life, and yada yada.” Sokka waves a hand dismissively.

Catching up with a friend he hasn’t seen in a while makes Zuko look forward to dinner even more, but he stops short and glances to his right, where Uncle Iroh is already watching him.

“Go,” he encourages with a nod. “I’ll clean up here.”

“Thank you, Uncle.” Zuko gives a respectful bow, and then he’s traipsing across the teashop to join Sokka, and they descend the steps together into a dark and brilliant night.

The first subject of conversation is figuring out where to eat, and after tossing a few suggestions back and forth, they settle on a noodle bar that stays open late. If they get caught up talking for too long, they could remain there a while. The rest of the walk, then, is spent swapping stories of what they’ve been up to since last they saw each other. Zuko listens attentively, smiling absentmindedly, truly interested in the adventures his friend has been on.

It’s when the tables are turned and Sokka asks What about you? that Zuko heaves a sigh, shoulders sagging. He’d been so busy back in the Fire Nation with diplomatic affairs, talking to this person and then that person, visiting other regions and welcoming ambassadors to his own. By now, he handles his position as Fire Lord with grace and respectability, but he’s still human and gets worn out too.

“That’s why I came to Ba Sing Se,” he explains. “To get away from all that and just spend time with Uncle.” And sure, he gets tired after working at the Jasmine Dragon all day, but it’s mostly from being on his feet, going from the back of the shop to the front to serve customers, a route he repeats for hours. It’s a different sort of tired from fulfilling his duties as the Fire Lord, and is entirely worth it to him, to take a moment to be no one but Zuko, a guy who works at a teashop.

Sokka smiles sympathetically. “I’m glad I chose to stop by Ba Sing Se. I was wondering how you’d been doing.”

The stress slowly melts away as Zuko smiles back, his shoulders not feeling nearly as heavy as when he’d first arrived in the city. He misses his friends whenever they’re all apart, and he too has lingering thoughts about their wellbeing always in the back of his mind as he goes about his days, and now that he’s finally reunited with one, he’s beginning to feel more like himself again, pulled back down to the ground.

As they turn the corner, the Firelight Fountain comes into full view, yellow lanterns illuminating the ground and the nearby buildings. Though it’s dark, there are still people here, either passing through on the way to their destinations or choosing to congregate on the benches and the edge of the fountain itself. It’s in the latter location that Zuko spots you.

You’re seated a little farther away from the only other two people who have chosen the fountain as a place to rest, perhaps to afford you some quiet as you read a book. The gurgle of the water behind you serves as a perfect white noise, enough to fill the silence but not to pull your attention away.

“Ah… She’s pretty cute.”

Zuko blinks and glances at Sokka. “What?”

Sokka tilts his head in your direction. “I saw you looking at her.”

“Wha—I was not.” But Zuko’s avoiding eye contact and his cheeks feel warm, embarrassed to have been caught (even if he hadn’t exactly been attempting subtly to begin with).

“Hey, come on, nothing to be shy about!” Sokka playfully nudges him with his elbow, and they slow to a complete stop, finding themselves now under the lights of all the lanterns, stopped just on the inside edge of where the light meets the darkness it couldn’t quite reach. Zuko’s still not looking at him, and Sokka’s grin grows. He is thoroughly amused. “You should go talk to her.”

Zuko shakes his head. “No!” he replies hastily. And then, more slowly, “She looks busy anyway.”

Sokka raises a brow. “I bet she’d make time for you. Any girl would.”

The matter-of-fact way in which Sokka says this is flattering, truly, but it doesn’t convince Zuko that approaching you would be anything but a bad idea. “Forget about it. Let’s just get food.” He tries to continue walking but Sokka is quick to clap him on the shoulder, halting his steps, and he just barely keeps from stumbling backwards from the sudden stop in momentum.

“Oh no you don’t,” Sokka declares. Zuko brushes his hand off with a groan and twists around, a silent plea to let the subject drop inherent in his eyes, but Sokka easily ignores it. “What if she’s your soulmate? You can’t just keep walking!”

“My… soulmate?” Okay, now Sokka is starting to blow this out of proportion. He’d spared a glance your way because you were pretty and that was it. “There’s no such thing—”

“You don’t know that!” Sokka exclaims.

“And you do?” Zuko counters.

Sokka shrugs but it’s not a sign of defeat. “I’m just saying, when the soul knows, it knows. You didn’t pick her out of the crowd for no reason.”

It’s awfully dramatic and Zuko opens his mouth to respond but then closes it, deciding he wouldn’t win this debate. Sokka is persistent when he wants to be, and when it comes to the topic of love, Zuko’s on the losing side every time. He knows, however, that if he were really insistent, Sokka would let it drop and they would resume their walk to the noodle bar, but it wouldn’t be without a warning that Zuko was making a huge mistake and that he’d regret it, going to bed thinking about you and then dreaming about you but he’d never be able to find you again—

Even imaginary Sokka is hard to handle and Zuko takes a deep breath, momentarily diverting his gaze from the real Sokka in front of him over to you, and back again.

“So…” Sokka trails off, watching him expectantly.

“I’d mess it up,” Zuko offers weakly in the way of an excuse.

“You’re the Fire Lord,” Sokka says as if that solves the issue. “You got this!”

“I don’t… really see how that’s supposed to help me…” Zuko tilts his head, confused.

Sokka rolls his eyes. “Just go!” He gives Zuko an encouraging shove.

With a quiet huff, Zuko ambles in the direction of the fountain, where you still sit reading, none the wiser to the fact you were the subject of their conversation. Halfway through the walk, he looks over his shoulder at Sokka, who gestures enthusiastically for him to keep going and to stop looking over here because you’re over there and you’re what’s important.

Is it too late to turn around? Zuko thinks begrudgingly to himself as he sets his sights on you. He ruminates on the question with every step he takes, reasoning that perhaps he could deal with Sokka talking off his ear about how he will regret not doing anything, because surely Sokka couldn’t keep it up for that long, right? (The immediate doubt Zuko feels upon considering this point speaks for the contrary.)

But before he can make up his mind, suddenly he’s in front of you and though he’s said nothing, you sense his presence and your eyes slide up from the pages of your novel to him, the lower half of your face concealed by the hardcover. The few seconds of silence that follow feel instead like a few years, panic filling Zuko as he fails to say anything. Your eyes flicker to the side, which he assumes you do to check if he’d actually meant to approach someone else because, well, why would he be talking to you? You don’t know each other.

“That book seems really interesting,” he says finally, and he wants to crawl into a hole and hide. Five words in and it is already not going well. What kind of opening was that?

You blink and lower the book, using a finger to mark your place before closing it to get a better view of the cover. It’s blank.

“W-Well, I just thought it was really interesting there’s nothing on the cover!” Zuko rushes out. “Since, you know, you usually don’t see that, and… and…” His intention was to segue into asking you what it was about, having decided that to be his way into a longer interaction with you, but the words die in his throat the longer he looks at you now that your face isn’t hidden because you’re a lot prettier up close and he learns tonight that you’re what all those love stories must be talking about when they extol the levels of beauty which render a lovesick heart speechless.

If you’re bothered by the bouts of silence, this most recent one stretching longer than the first, you don’t say anything. In contrast, you continue to sit there, watching him steadily, waiting patiently, and Zuko feels bad that he’s so bad at this. Never has the act of talking come less easily than it does now, in a situation where the stakes are lower than any dialogues he has with diplomats or government officials. It really shouldn’t be this difficult talking to a girl, but maybe he has it backwards and the stakes here are higher, because if he entertains Sokka’s admittedly outrageous claim just a few minutes previous about what you could possibly mean to Zuko, and if in fact the hands which keep the world turning are also those which keep hearts beating with purpose to seek out their companion, then the stakes as he stands here are the highest of all.

He’s still scrambling for what to say next, entirely unsure how to salvage a conversation that hasn’t even taken off yet. Nervously he rubs the back of his neck. Sokka must be observing the whole situation unfolding with equal parts stress and exasperation because even if Zuko isn’t actually flailing his arms, helpless and drowning in an open sea called love, his awkward posture and anxious spluttering are enough of a metaphorical signal. Sokka’s on the shore, too far to come to his rescue right away, but maybe this will go the way of those romantic tales and it will be you who holds a hand out to save him instead.

However, you’re beaten to the punch by those aforementioned invisible hands of destiny as they, quite literally, push Zuko closer to his own. A couple of kids dash past the fountain, laughing loudly as they chase each other in a game, and one of them checks Zuko in the back, which causes him to stumble forward.

He manages to catch himself with a hand braced on the edge of the fountain, and luckily too, because if he hadn’t, he would’ve fallen on you and knocked both of you back into the water. But now the two of you are face-to-face, mere inches away, and your eyes are wide in surprise and he is mortified. This entire conversation (if one could call it that) he had been plagued with the urge to apologize for being so skittish and acting so strange and the urge multiplies now because he could’ve accidentally kissed you and he’s honestly not sure what would be worse—that, or the two of you tumbling into the fountain.

This close up, the top half of your face takes up most of his field of vision, but in his peripherals he notices the curl of your mouth, and his gaze briefly drops down to it, to the smile which has found its way there.

“Looks like you just fell for me,” you remark teasingly, the quip slipping from your lips so easily and in this moment he can think only of two things: one, that your voice is incredibly soft, like the first warm light of morning settling on his skin, and two, that you have no idea how right you are.

Zuko’s wrist begins to feel slightly sore from bearing the brunt of his weight and that’s when he realizes he’s stayed that way for too long, and he clears his throat and stands back up straight. “S-Sorry…” he says quietly. For being skittish and acting strange and, now, for almost falling on you.

Your smile widens and it reaches your eyes and in their depths are the reflection of the lanterns surrounding you both and Zuko can’t help but liken them to stars strung across the sky. “It’s okay.”

The tension has slowly ebbed away, your almost-collision the perfect ice breaker. It had been a shocking one, certainly, but that was what Zuko needed. Anything more subtle and he probably wouldn’t have felt relaxed enough to think clearly. From the few words you’ve said, he knows you’re far from bothered by him approaching you, and he’s able to calm down a little bit.

“So as I was saying, that book of yours…” Internally he cringes. Why did he have to go back to the book? This was the perfect chance to steer the topic elsewhere! What was he supposed to follow up to that?

“It is interesting,” you comment. Zuko’s cheeks heat up. You’d noticed his struggle. But he is grateful nonetheless that you’re helping carry the conversation along. The fact you’re seemingly in no rush to end it must be a good sign.

“I could explain it to you, the plot, since there’s no summary or even title on it or anything, so…” You trail off and he wonders if he’s imagining the nervousness suddenly inherent in your amiable grin, as you go quiet and look up at him and—oh. Oh.

This is the opening he’d been looking for, the one he’d been unable to find himself because he is completely helpless in scenarios like these. If the universe and its mysterious machinations had been the hand to keep him from drowning, you’re on the lifeboat checking to make sure he’s okay, the sun behind your head a halo and maybe heaven feels like a warm day and smells like salt in the ocean. And maybe it looks like you.

“That sounds like a great idea,” Zuko states. “Maybe over some tea?”

“I’d like that.”

Then, before he has the chance to change his mind, “Are you free right now?”

The question stops you short, and he’d completely understand if you said no. This is incredibly short notice, and there was no issue with making plans for another day. But you have no qualms about the sudden invitation, for you place your bookmark to save the page then stand, clutching your book close to your chest. “I am.”

Zuko grins lopsidedly. “Great.”

He guides you in the direction of the Jasmine Dragon, and as you begin to walk, while your focus is on the path in front of you, he glances quickly over at Sokka. He wouldn’t have made the split second decision to ask you out right now if he didn’t think Sokka would be fine with it. But he knows his friend well and Sokka is, indeed, perfectly okay with the unexpected turn in the evening. From across the way, by the lanterns farthest from you two, he is smiling proudly and giving a thumbs up. They would have time to catch up tomorrow (and Zuko is sure Sokka will want him to recount everything about his time with you).

At the teashop, he tells you to pick any table you’d like while he goes to prepare a pot of tea. You both lose track of time as you talk, for the conversation opens up to other avenues aside from your novel, and Zuko notes that the tea he’s drinking has never tasted so good. It reminds him of something he heard a while ago, hazy in his mind currently, and he wracks his brain trying to recall it. What was it that Uncle said?

The best thing to have with tea is a good friend. Yes, that sounds correct. Zuko can envision him as he says that, a teacup clutched in his hands and wise grin on his face, and at the thought, Zuko hides his smile behind his own as he takes another sip. But the move doesn’t escape you, and you catch the small smile. It makes you halt in the middle of your sentence to address it.

“What?” you ask, amused and curious.

Zuko shakes his head. “It’s nothing.”

Your eyes are sparkling and he knows that you know he’s lying, but for his sake you drop the subject, instead returning to your original topic. And he continues to listen and hang on all your words and he is the luckiest man in the world because he’s sharing tea with someone who is beginning to feel like so much more.

He’s left wondering if this is the feeling of finding the one, the right one, the one for him. He doesn’t want to give this to Sokka, to admit that okay, perhaps there had been substance to what Sokka had claimed and maybe the idea of soulmates is real, and not just written about in stories for the lovestruck and the romantic. But then you dazzle him with a large smile in response to something he says, and he doesn’t dwell on the question for long as he comes to the conclusion that honestly, the answer doesn’t really matter to him.

[ca-8]

Zuko x Reader Scenario: When You First Meet

She could get in so much trouble.

No disciplined, sane child would ever dare to sneak out at night, especially those with parents who act like the most important people to have ever existed. Parents who always expected their children to be well-behaved, respectful, quiet, and incredibly boring for every second of their life. Parents who don't have a clue of what relaxation meant, even if some sort of high-class professor gave them a month-long lecture about it.

Basically the kinds of parents (Y/n) was so sick of.

The nine-year-old bit her bottom lip as she ever so carefully pulled the door to the beach house shut. Once she was sure no one had woken up and was on their way to give her another five-hundred-hour lecture on her ‘ignoble’ actions (whatever that meant), she snuck down the stairs and dashed toward the direction of the beach. 

‘Is it this way? Or was it the other way?’ she questioned. She forgot, and her mind wouldn’t let her remember. Her heart was racing; she had never done something this audacious. If her parents had already woken up and discovered that the pillows under her covers were not her, she’d be better off being alone with a fully grown dragon while covered in the finest jewels. 

And yet, at the first sight of the moon just barely hanging over the ocean as its light painted a shimmering white streak over the water, she instantly abandoned the worry. Here, on the quiet, isolated beach, she was free.

(Y/n) took off her shoes, and her toes instantly sunk into the cool sand. Her eyes scanned the beach, from the giant rocks asserting an aura of dominance, the tranquil ocean reflecting the twinkling stars that partnered the moon, and instantly to the lone turtle crab. 

A wide smile spread across her face, and she quietly approached her favorite animal. It stood at the end of the ocean line, gazing up at the stars. Something tightened inside of her; it looked so...lonely. 

“Hello!” she greeted, perhaps a bit too loudly than she intended, when she bent over it, suddenly covering its view. The turtle crab jumped and shrunk back a little in its shell, though (Y/n) still could see its upside-down face. 

“Why're you by yourself? Where're your friends?” she asked, jumping down beside it and making sand fly all over her pajamas. It stared back at her, then ever so slowly emerged from its shell. (Y/n) gasped. “Do you not have any?”

The turtle crab only blinked in response. “That’s terrible!” she exclaimed. "Buuuut then again, I don’t have any either, so… Hey, why don’t the two of us be friends?” She got on her knees, and the turtle crab’s only view was her giant smile. It blinked again, not saying yes, but also not saying no. 

“Great!” she cheered, embracing her new friend. Though a turtle crab wasn’t really her original ideal friend, every single kid she met proved themselves to be the most stuck-up, boring, rude people in existence, so maybe this was the better option. “So what’s your name?”

She immediately felt stupid when it didn’t, or, rather couldn’t, respond. “Ehehe, right, uh, you can’t talk,” (Y/n) realized. “But don’t worry, I can give you a name! What abooouuuttt….” The young girl scanned the animal for a quick moment before saying, “Misterrr...Snapper?”

It stared right at her, the moonlight reflecting off of its black eyes. “I’ll take that as a yes.” She got up and bowed respectfully to the small creature, just like how her mother taught her whenever they approached someone important. “Nice to m-I mean, my name is (Y/n) (L/n), and I’m delighted to meet you, Mr. Snapper.”

She glanced at the turtle crab again and let out a soft laugh, then carefully picked it up and put it on her head. Her stomach flipped, and she couldn’t help but envision how loud her mother would be when she’d tell her to get it off her head. But, for now, she put the thought aside and focused on being glad it didn’t panic and run off. 

“You’re weird,” she giggled, “I like you, Mr. Snapper. Now, what should we play tonight?”

The night always seemed to last forever, so (Y/n) and Mr. Snapper could do whatever they wanted without anyone saying otherwise. When the moon would lose the war over the sky with the sun, it could be the second she’d stop running around the entirety of Ember Island. 

But doing that seemed pointless. And Mr. Snapper didn’t look like the type to enjoy marathons or running in general anyway. 

“I know!” (Y/n) abruptly exclaimed, making Mr. Snapper bounce on her head. She gazed up, expecting to see his curious eyes, but only obtained the sight of the twinkling stars. “What do you think about being the Dark Water Spirit?” 

~

“He...He’s gone,” (Y/n) whispered in the deepest voice she could make, staring dreamily at the ocean line where the moon had almost touched the water. She glanced back at her princess, Mr. Snapper, who stood silently with the white shell on his head. She didn’t know why she expected him to say his lines in a high-pitched, princess-y voice. 

“Yes, this glorious land is finally free from the Dark Water Spirit,” the young noble said, moving Mr. Snapper in a way that made him appear as if he were talking in the high voice she was doing for him. “And now, we can be together, Noren.”

(Y/n)/Noren picked him up and stared into her mortal girlfriend’s eyes as huskily as she could (she also tried not to burst out laughing when she thought about it). “I never thought I’d fall in love with a mortal, but I can’t seem to take my eyes off of you, Yua.” 

Mr. Snapper/Yua blinked, the moonlight reflecting off of his/her eyes. The shell began to fall off his/her head and (Y/n)/Noren fixed it quickly. “Does that mean you’re going to stay mortal? I can’t exactly marry a dragon, you know,” Mr. Snapper/Yua “said”. 

“Hm, let’s just say you’ll be seeing the best of both worlds. Now kiss me, Empress!” Yua and Noren gazed into each other’s eyes for a blissful eternity, and they slowly leaned into the moment of affinity. Their lips were close, even though Yua seemed to be pulling away for some reason, and then-

“Um, what are you doing?” 

(Y/n)’s soul was yanked out of Noren’s body and forcefully transported back onto Ember Island. Inches away from her face was no longer Empress Yua, but Mr. Snapper without his crown. And standing a few feet away from them was none other than Prince Zuko. 

The Prince of the Fire Nation was here. He was standing right there. Staring at the daughter of a lowly noble as she was about to kiss a turtle crab.

Had the air only turned unbearably hot and heavy to her or did something set the moon on fire? 

“Nothing,” she answered immediately in Noren’s voice. (Y/n) cleared her throat, mumbled an “I mean”, quickly held Mr. Snapper by her side, then put on the most innocent smile she could muster. “Nooothing,” she said in a voice much higher than it was supposed to be.

The Prince stared at her like she was standing on water and speaking three different languages all at once. “O...kay…” he said slowly. 

'Who taught you to talk in such an absurd way to the Prince?' her mother's voice suddenly echoed within her mind. 'Fix your posture and throw away that ridiculous smile. And please, dear, speak NORMALLY.'

“S-SO!” she yelled, making him jump and instantly breaking every one of mind mother's rules. “What’re you doing here? On this beach? That my, uh, family bought? I think? Cause you, uh, have your own beach, cause you’re a prince, a-and...um…” Her smile widened despite her infinitely growing urge to bury herself as deep into the ground as possible and hide there forever.

“This is actually my family’s beach,” he said with eyes knowing this was the dumbest girl on the planet. “You’re the one not supposed to be here.”

'Once again, you're acting like an embarrassment to our family,' mind mother muttered.

Everything inside her twisted and tightened and told her to run. Though there were tsunamis of embarrassment hitting her relentlessly, there were also tiny ripples of realization. “Huh, so that’s what that sign meant when it said ‘Prince Ozai’s Beach’,” (Y/n) commented. 

The Prince winced. “What? Are you-?”

Her eyes widened as they caught the animal he held in his arms. “IS THAT A TURTLE CRAB?” she shouted, then ran up to the boy and bent down to get a better look at the other turtle crab. Prince Zuko jumped back and hissed at her to be quiet, and her instincts told her to bring back the courtesy for him she had just thrown out the window. However, she only inched closer because LOOK AT THAT ADORABLE LITTLE FACE HOW DID SHE NOT NOTICE IT EARLIER?

"Awww, so cuuuute!" She reached out to pet it, but it sank back in its shell. Mind mother sighed, creating a tiny hint of guilt inside her. 

"H-Hey!"

(Y/n) looked up at the nine-year-old Prince, glancing back at the turtle crab every few seconds. "Keep your voice down or else you'll wake up the whole island!" Prince Zuko whisper-shouted. 

She stood up, cocking her head, then caught a glimpse of the turtle crab again. "What're you doing with it anyway?" 

"Um…" He glanced down at the turtle crab. "N-None of your business!" he insisted hurriedly with a hint of pink on his face.

She squinted her eyes at him, and the stern look in his onyx pupils faded away to the same confusion from earlier, then discomfort when more quiet seconds had passed. "You're...here because Miss Green broke into your room but you couldn't keep her there so you brought her back to shore because you wanted to make sure she made it back home safely!" (Y/n) took in a large breath, filling her almost-empty lungs.

The Prince stared back at her with widened, bewildered eyes. "...Who?" he said. 

"Your turtle crab's name! I named it that because it reminds me of my first teacher, Mrs. Red, but since it has a green shell, well, you know. Also, totally off-topic, but have you noticed that red and green go so well together? I've been getting into sewing lately, and I was thinking that Ms. Green and Mr. Snapper, that's my turtle crab's name, by the way, could have red and green sweaters! Wouldn't that be adorable?" 

He said nothing. He didn't exactly look angry, but not really pleased too.

Her smile dropped, then she giggled nervously. "Sorry, I'll stop talking. A-And you don't have to call it that if you don't want to! Or name it at all! I-I was just-"

The Prince went against his fear of being caught as he let out the loudest laugh (Y/n) ever heard.

Her entire body felt like it had been engulfed by every firebender's element. Her family might as well have formed a crowd around them with their disapproving gaze. 'Maybe Mr. Snapper can help me start a new life under my bed,' she thought as she gazed at her feet.

"You're weird," the Prince suddenly said, chuckling. 

(Y/n) snapped her gaze up at him and saw his weirdly relieved smile. "Oh, thanks!" she said, feeling her own smile curl upon her lips. She wasn't one hundred percent sure if he really meant that as a compliment, but his face didn't hold any signs of mockery. 

Her stomach did a backflip. Was the Prince, one of the most important people ever, being...kind of nice to her?

Prince Zuko laughed again, then after a quick moment, his face went back to being serious. "Um, please don't tell anyone I'm doing this, okay?" he said.

(Y/n) beamed and nodded. She stood in silence for once while Prince Zuko sighed, walked over to the edge of the water, then placed the turtle crab on the rolling water. 

Mr. Snapper wiggled out of her arms and crawled over to Ms. Green. Zuko stepped back until he was next to (Y/n), and the two animals stood together facing the moon with their claws just barely touching. 

"Ah, that's so adorable!" (Y/n) squealed. "It's like Yua and Noren!"

Zuko turned and raised an eyebrow at her. "You know about Love Amongst The Dragons?"

The girl gasped dramatically, swiftly putting her gaze on him. "Know it? I'll have you know that I've memorized every single line of that play!" she said, holding her head high with pride. "I can perform every character at any time! In fact, I was doing just that before you interrupted my final act." 

'You do realize you're still talking to someone much more important than you, right dear?' mind mother whispered. (Y/n)'s grin was wiped off her face along with most of her pretension. 

Surprisingly, he didn't look offended. "That's my favorite play, too," he said with a hint of enjoyment on his face. "Was that why you were about to make out with your turtle crab?"

She blushed furiously and pouted, averting her eyes. "M-Maybe…and his name's Mr. Snapper..."

Prince Zuko chuckled again and after a moment of weirdly comfortable silence, a frown appeared on his face. "Hey, I need to head back. And you should go in case the guards kick you out."

"...Th-There are guards here?" (Y/n) whispered. She ran over and fiercely hugged Mr. Snapper, then went back over to him, her voice slightly increased. "Why didn't you say so?!" 

He smiled the most carefree grin in the world. "I thought you knew, since you're on my dad's beach."

"Well, it was nice meeting you Prince Zuko, but now I need to figure out how to escape before my parents have to get me out of prison." She quickly bowed, her heart fluttering at the sound of the Fire Lord's grandson enjoying her joke (hopefully it stayed like that). 

"Wait!" he suddenly called.

She was beginning to run back to the beach house when he did. (Y/n) turned around and said, "Yes?"

"Um," he started, hesitating. The young girl cocked her head; someone like him shouldn't be nervous about talking to someone like her. If anything, she should still be the one hesitating and worrying about what to say. "What's your name?" he finally asked. 

She flashed a grin as the moon began to lower into the light pink sky. "(Y/n), Your Majesty." Before he could respond, she ran off the beach as fast as she could, hoping to see her parents still asleep within the beach house.

[rolandtowen]

Kiss It Better

Sokka builds a blanket fort. Zuko info-dumps about ADHD and chronic pain. Fluff ensues.

Read it under the cut!

"Sokka?"

A mess of brown hair and blue eyes peers out from underneath a carefully constructed cocoon of blankets. Zuko's standing in their bedroom doorway, holding Sokka's medication organizer.

"When was the last time you remember taking your meds?"

"Hmm... Thursday?" Comes Sokka's voice, muffled by the blankets.

Zuko flipped through the pill pockets. "No, looks like Tuesday."

"How bad is that? What day is today?"

Zuko sits on the edge of their bed, close enough to hold Sokka's hand but not close enough to disrupt his carefully crafted fort. "Well firstly, today is Sunday." Sokka groans and brings his free hand to his forehead. Zuko presses on, squeezing his other hand. "Secondly, taking your meds is morally neutral. Forgetting doesn't make you a bad person, it just means we need to find a routine that works better for you."

Sokka nods and Zuko can see the gears turning in his brain.

"Can I ask why you're in a blanket fort? Is it your knee?"

As a kid with ADHD, Sokka played a lot of sports: hockey, basketball, even tennis. But football is what did him in - in his senior year in high school, an unfortunate tackle tore his ACL, dislocated his left knee, and created hairline fractures in his calf bones. The Dancing Dragons won the game, but Sokka spent the rest of his senior year recovering. After almost five years, all it takes is one bad twist during a rush in the coffee shop and Sokka's down for the count.

"What gave it away?" Zuko looks up from their joined hands to see Sokka smiling at him, his bitterness at his body softened by Zuko's presence.

"Well, for one, the heating pad was mysteriously absent from our med drawer - and you're also in a blanket fort." Zuko squeezes Sokka's hand. "May I join you?"

"But of course, my love," Sokka pulls back the comforter, slapping the empty mattress beside him. "By all means, come on into Fort Chronic Pain."

Zuko laughs, settling next to his boyfriend and curling into him. "You're ridiculous."

"That's why you love me." Sokka starts combing his fingers through Zuko's long hair. "How were your classes today?"

Sokka knows that if he can get Zuko talking about school, he won't be so worried about Sokka's knee.

"Are you trying to get me to stop worrying about you? It won't work." Sokka sighs.

"Maybe, I think your med school classes are interesting."

Zuko, for all his worrying, had passed the MCAT, graduated summa cum laude, and was now studying for his M. D. at the prestigious Beifong Medical School. Sokka hadn't doubted him for a second. Zuko never gave up and never backed down. The man could grapple with the Sun and win unscathed.

"-oned?" Zuko's voice comes from below him.

"Huh?"

"I asked, 'are you zoned'?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry, I-"

Zuko waves him off. "What's the last thing you remember? I can start over."

"I remember asking you about classes, and you wrongfully accusing me of trying to distract you."

Zuko snorts. "My favorite class by far has been Mental Health and Physiology. I think it's highly admirable that med schools are starting to integrate mental and physical health, and not teaching them separately."

"What kind of things have you learned?"

"Like, people with anxiety may present with back pain that doesn't correlate to an injury; the excess stress can really do strange things to your muscles - and we should still holistically treat patients without just dismissing them and telling them to relax."

Sokka nods. "That makes a lot of sense, baby. You're so smart."

"Oh, shut up." Zuko can feel his cheeks warm at the compliment. "But, we also talked about ADHD and chronic pain, which I thought you might like to hear?"

"Of course, turtleduck. Amaze me." Sokka rests his hand on Zuko's hair, running his thumb across the curve of his head. "Info-dump away."

Zuko takes a deep breath in. "Okay, so, there are significant studies that show that people with ADHD experience chronic pain at a higher level than the average population - there are a few theories as to why this might be. Many people with ADHD experience hypertonia, or muscle overactivity. This can make it really difficult to fully relax tense muscles, and increases chance of injury. Additionally, low dopamine is considered to be one of the causes of ADHD, and dopamine regulates chronic pain signals. Most of the research has only been done in the last decade, so it's going to be really exciting to see what new treatments develop - previously, dopamine wasn't really known to be connected to pain regulation at all." Zuko turns to look up at Sokka. "You never know, there might be an effective treatment for your leg in the next decade."

Sokka wants to be hopeful, he does, but he's been trying to treat his chronic pain for five years, and he's had limited success. Going to a chiropractor helped a little, the physical therapist gave him some great exercises for strengthening the tendons supporting his knee, and cutting back on inflammatory foods lessened the pain level whenever he entered a flare - but he still got flares. A hike could knock him off his feet for weeks; a rainy day could be agonizing. He just wishes there was a simple solution - but as much as homeopathic Karens in the coffee shop try to convince him, there's no one-step solution. No, Janet, as good as your essential oil blend smells, it isn't going to take the place of physical therapy, preventative care, and lifestyle changes. Just like for his ADHD. It takes dedication to a process of self-care to make improvement in either arena.

And if the off-schedule pill organizer in Zuko's hands is any indication, dedication to a process can feel fucking impossible with ADHD. 

"Can I do anything to help?" Sokka looks down to see Zuko's amber eyes staring up at him, offering comfort no blanket fort could provide. 

"Can you..."

"Yeah?"

Sokka swallows. "Could you, maybe... kiss it better?"

Zuko's eyes practically sing his answer: "Of course I can."

Zuko gingerly moves the heating pad from its spot on Sokka's left knee. He tips his head down, pressing a featherlight kiss to Sokka's kneecap. He murmurs something under his breath. 

"Sorry, what was that?"

Zuko looks at him sheepishly. "I said, 'the patella'. 

Sokka can't hold back the laughter that bubbles out of his chest. "You're using me for anatomy study?"

"Seems like a fair trade. You get kisses and I get to study at the same time." Zuko drops another kiss to Sokka's knee. "Both the elbows and the knees are constructed with hinge joints." Zuko presses a firmer kiss to Sokka's thigh. "This is the femur, the thighbone - the longest and strongest bone in your body."

Sokka opens his mouth to make a joke, but Zuko beats him to it: "If you make a joke about your dick, I'm donating you to my cadaver class." Sokka's jaw snaps shut. 

Zuko drops another two kisses on either side of Sokka's calf. "Tibia and fibula," he whispers. "These are the ones you broke senior year."

"Only hairline fractures," Sokka corrects.

"Can you still feel it?"

Sokka shakes his head. "It's the ACL that still bothers me the most."

"Do you want some lidocaine?"

"Spirits, yes." 

Zuko rummages through their nightstand, pulling the blessed tub of Icy Hot out of the top drawer, and spreading a thin layer over Sokka's knee. He traces soft patterns into his knee as they wait for the lidocaine to kick in. 

"If you say 'patella' again, I'm going to smack you." Sokka eyes him from where he's leaning against the headboard. 

"Of course not," Zuko takes Sokka's right hand into his and presses a kiss to the back of it. "Metacarpals."

"You fucker-"

"Don't get riled up and undo all my hard work." Zuko massages the palm of Sokka's hand. "Is the leg better?"

"Much better."

"So we still have the original problem."

"The meds?"

Zuko nods. "So I know you've been trying to take them as soon as you wake up..."

"But?"

"I think you should task-stack it," Zuko says, running his thumb absent-mindedly over Sokka's knee. "You should pair with something you do everyday."

"Like what?"

"You make yourself a wicked pour-over every morning. What if you kept your meds by the kettle and then took them while you waited for the water to get hot?" 

Sokka face pauses, processing. "Huh."

"Would... would that work?"

Sokka smiles, beaming at him. "That's a brilliant idea, turtleduck." He opens his arms up, patting the space underneath him. "Come up here?"

"If you insist," Zuko quips. "Do you want me to make fried rice tonight? I can even bring it to you if you want."

"You're literally the light of my life."

Zuko laughs. "I'll take that to heart." He snuggles up under Sokka's chin. "Do you feel better?"

"So much better." Sokka pushes back Zuko's hair from his face and presses a soft kiss to his forehead. "Thanks to you."

"Frontal bone," Zuko murmurs. 

"Seriously?!"

Zuko cackles. 

[imnotusedtobeingloved]

NOT ENOUGH

(PLEASE DON’T REBLOG!)

Warnings: Self-depriciation, loneliness.

Pairing: Zuko x f!Reader

Characters: adult!Zuko, Avatar (mentioned).

Requested: No.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, nor the gif. Credit to the owners.

Summary: Zuko is so caught up in his work that he begins to neglect his wife, which leads to a drastic descision.

You'd known him to be many things. A waiter in a tea shop. A teacher to the Avatar. A banned prince. But since Zuko became the Fire Lord of the Nation, everything had turned upside down.

A few years back when the both of you traveled with the Avatar, you'd seen the positive changes he went through and the passion that grew inside him. He truly wanted to be good. And he was. The differences he had made in himself and in those around him were astounding. And he kept detecting more and more sides of him, that he never knew he had. Around the same time he also discovered another passion. You. The one person apart from his uncle that kept him going then, and kept him going still. Although now that you'd reached adulthood and reigned over thousands of citizens, there was still something missing... time.

Two weeks had gone by in Ba Sing Se until political issues had been settled with the Earth Kingdom. A relieved sigh left your mouth, as you settled into the carriage that would bring you back home. Back to Zuko. It was rare that you left the Nation without him, but this time he'd needed to stay because of negotiations with the Southern Water Tribe. It had been important, but so was the Earth King, so he sent the person that was most capable. Unfortunately that also meant spending a lot of time apart. Of course there was still the possibility to converse through the lovely letters you'd send each other. But in all honesty, they couldn't compete with the quiet moments you shared in person. Needless to say that it hadn't taken long for the distance to tug at your heartstrings. You yearned to hear his voice in the mornings, still raspy from the sleep. The touch of his calloused hands on the small of your back, when he guided you through the halls and the warmth of his hugs. But most of all? You missed his kisses. Even the smallest of pecks still managed to make your heart flutter and you felt yourself grow more desperate with each day to feel it again. So when the carriage finally arrived at the palace, you were ecstatic.

Usually Zuko would wait for you in front of the two large double doors that lead inside, but now the place was empty apart from a few guards who greeted you on your way. Still, the giddy feeling in your chest didn't subside. He must be waiting in our chambers, you thought. Your pace grew faster and faster as you neared your bedroom until you burst through the door with a large grin on your face. What greeted you were the the closed curtains hiding the sunlight, the smell of jasmine tea and the untouched satin sheets. Just like the entrance before, they were empty. You registered footsteps coming up behind you, but they did't match up with those you were hoping for. The guards proceeded to bring your luggage. "Can you tell me where my husband is?" The man pointed over his shoulder towards the door. "The Fire Lord is still in the middle of  negotiations with the Water Tribe, my Lady," your shoulders dropped slightly, but not all of your good spirits were broken. As you nodded the guard left with a traditional bow, before you sighed and sat onto the sheets.

Once again the Nation overruled it all. The days were filled with countless appointments, paperwork and concepts, while the nights were met with insomnia and bad dreams. You'd tried your best to help, but love and affection couldn't keep the paranoid thoughts at bay. They came with the attempts to take your lives, and they were here to stay. The amount of guards in the halls had been doubled and the kyoshi warriors now resided in your home. At first you'd tried not to let it get to you. Focusing all your attention on Zuko's comfort and the social matters of the Nation had been your way of dealing with things. But slowly... it crept up on you. The doubts and the fears that clouded your mind had always been relieved by Zuko's presence. But lately the time spend together shrunk to a minimum.

You shook your head, banning the dark thoughts from your mind. Instead you decided to spend the time unpacking your luggage, until your spouse would be out of his meeting. While you sorted your clothes back where they belonged, slowly but surely the sun went down, leaving a reddish sky in its wake, until it disappeared. Just like Zuko, it had left you standing alone in the dark. You decided to dress down into your nightgown. The air was chilly, making goosebumps rise on your skin, so you quickly slid under the warm sheets. The plan was to stay awake until Zuko finally arrived, but sometime in the midnight hours, you must've succumbed to your sleep.

When you blinked your eyes open the next morning, something had changed. A yawn passed your lips, as you moved to stretch your arms, bumping against something that hadn't been there before. Or rather, someone. Your eyes, still barely open, travelled up a defined chest and finally landed on a beautiful face, marked with a red burn. "Good morning, (Y/N)," Zuko said, his lips curling into a lovely smile. "Did you sleep well?" You hummed, snuggling into him. "I did," he was warm. He always was. The man had fire woven into his skin and ashes in his veins. "Just sad i couldn't get to see you yesterday," you confessed, lowering your gaze. "I'm sorry," he said. "The negotiations took longer than we thought. I couldn't leave. But... I'm here now," You lifted your head to look at him once again. This was it. This was what you'd missed the past few weeks. And now that you had it, you couldn't get enough. Not enough of his warmth, not enough of words, not enough of the pure sight of him. "You are," you confirmed, a smile spreading out on your face. You felt him leaning closer, so you craned your neck, desperate for his lips and then- knock, knock,

You drifted apart, a bitter taste left in your mouth. "Yes?" Zuko answered, pulling the blanket up to cover you both. You didn't need to turn your head, the rattle of armour exposing the intruder as a guard. "You have visitors, My Lord," the woman stated. You could hear your lover grumble under his breath. "Showing up unannounced," then he sighed. "Who?" You didn't care who it was. You didn't want to know. All you wanted was to have Zuko to yourself. You knew this was not the way a Fire Lady should think. It was selfish. But right now the need to spend some time with him was so great, that his next answer knocked the air out of your lungs. "Entertain them for me?" He rubbed his forehead. "I'll be right out," A sense of defeat came over you. One of you would need to leave. Again. "Do you really have to?" you asked, your tone sounding awfully thin. His eyes expressed genuine regret, even more so with the dark circles under his eyes. But still he gently lifted you off of him. "I'm sorry, love. I have to go, it's important,"  Then what am i? you thought, lips twitching into a frown. Though one second later the sentiment was gone. You couldn't expect him to put your needs above of the whole Fire Nation, could you? It wouldn't be fair. You were the Fire Lasy. You had to be ready to give everything and more for your homeland. So you gave him a small nod. "Of course," you managed a slight grin, but you couldn't quite hide the sadness in your voice. Zuko planted a quick peck on your forehead, before he got dressed and put the traditional Fire Lord headpiece into his bun. "I promise i'll make it up to you. How about dinner? tonight? by the turtleduck pond?" he proposed and tilted his head, which eared him a true smile. Sometimes he was still so adorably awkward. Just like when you'd first met. "Yes, i'll be there," You agreed and gave a small wave as he left you with a smirk in the large bedroom, all on your own.

It was clear that you wouldn't get so much as a glimpse of your husband until the promised dinner was in order. So you tried to spend the time getting pampered by the staff of the palace. A bath that lasted for hours, a carefully selected dress and a traditional Fire Nation hairstyle. Luckily you got to have a lot of fun with the maids at the same time. The good connections to the common people had come in handy in and out of the palace. It was needless to say that you treated especially the girls under your wing with special care. They rewarded you by trying to cheer you up with pointless gossip they'd heard in the halls. And for some time, it certainly worked. Before you knew it, the time for your date had come. And by now you were as excited as your maids. "You look beautiful, My Lady," Lizzy said as she fixed the last strand of hair into place. "Thank you," you breathed as the rest of them nodded eagerly. They granted you a few minutes to yourself, before it was time to go to the gardens. You looked at yourself one last time. The girls had truly done a formidable job. The dress was out of this world. The perfekt shade of red, decorated with beads of gold and emboidered dragons. A perfect fit for a Fire Lady. With a deep breath, your marched through the halls, two of the guards following you discreetly until you saw the pond.

The evening was chilly, but not cold enough to bother you. The smell of roses wafted through the air and the turtleducks quacked quietly. It was peaceful. Beautiful. You discovered a small table for two at your favorite spot. A single candle was lit atop of it and two plates of your favorite dish were in place. The only thing missing was your husband. "The Fire Lord will be here shortly," you jumped, shameful that you hadn't noticed the messenger earlier. "Of course, thank you," you replied, sitting down. The delicious smell of the food dared you to take a bite, but despite your grumbling stomach you decided to wait. This was supposed to be a perfect night. After a while you propped an elbow on the desk and rested your chin in your hand. The turtleducks had completely settled down and the food begann to grow cold. You had lost count of how often your stomach had demanded to be filled. And eventually the sun denied you her light. The meal in front of you was cool and goosebumps graced your skin. You tried your best to ignore the pityfull looks of the guards, when you'd grown sick of waiting. Even the hunger had disappeared. Not long after the messenger reappeared. “I’m sorry, my Lady, the Fire Lord won’t make it to dinner tonight,”

Soon you found yourself in front of the mirror again. The one you'd laughed and twirled in front, with the maids. But now you saw something else. Someone who wasn't enough.

At times you wondered it things would really be different of Zuko wasn't the Fire Lord, or if that was only wishfull thinking. All this time you'd blamed your titles for the lack of quality time between you. But what if it was something more? Something you'd denied acknowledging. Could Zuko have fallen out of love with you? Weren't you important to him anymore? Right now you didn't know. Didn't even care. All you wanted was to get rid of your loneliness.

The next month passed by in a flash. Almost unnoticed. Zuko was so caught up in his duties, that you often wondered if he even entered the bedroom at night. You hadn't seen him in weeks. But you'd realised an important fact about yourself. You were worthy to be loved, worthy to be held and your feelings were valid. The Fire Lady would no longer be treated this way. Not even by the Fire Lord. And the descision was final. "I need to speak to the Fire Lord," you stated repeadiately, as the guards stood in your way. "I'm afraid he's handling negociations right now, i'm sorry, my Lady, we can't let you through," With furrowed brows you pursed your lips. "Who am i?" you hissed. "Excuse me?" the guard said, rasing his brows. "Who am i?" you asked with more force, placing your hands on your hips. "...the Fire Lady," he answered reluctantly. "Right. I am. So you will follow my command. Let. Me. Through," you growled, which seemed to convince them. Zuko's voice reached your ears as you burst through the doors. "Of course we'd have to- (Y/N) ?" Your gaze was glued to him, paying no mind to the generals and war heroes around him. "I need to talk to my husband. Alone. Immediately," You declared, leading the assembly to turn and look at the Fire Lord. To your relief, he nodded, getting all the men to leave. When the two of you were alone for the first time in what felt like ages, he rounded the table until he reached you.

"What's wrong, my love?" he asked softly. He looked tired. Exhausted. The rings under his eyes had grown larger and his appearance was more dishelved as usual. Hairstrands were tumbling out of his bun, his speech sounded empty and his clothes were wrinkled. The molten gold in his eyes almost made you reconsider. "I can't-," your voice broke before you could continue. Unshed tears clouded your vision and you bit your lip harshly before they had a chance to escape. You lowered you head. You couldn't look at him. "I can't do this anymore, Zuko," It was silent for a few minutes. You didn't dare to get a glimpse of his expression. "Look at me," You couldn't. "Look at me," he repeated. And when you finally did, the tears flowed freely. All you could see was a broken man, trying to put himself back into a whole piece anew every day. Broken vows, broken promises and broken hearts. The pain had gotten to strong to bear. To strong for one poor soul to hold alone. There once was a time were you had held it together, but those times were over. They wouldn't come back. And you owed it to yourself to let them go. "What are you saying?" His eyes seemed clouded by fear, his hands shaking at his sides. Before you didn't stand Fire Lord Zuko, adored and feared by many. Instead you recognized the teenage boy, he'd once been. Full of fear to make a loss and burdened with the curse to save the world. "I want to end our marrige, Zuko. It's over."

A/N: This was my first x reader on here ever, so i hope you liked it! Thank you so much for taking the time to read it!

find part two here!