writtenbyaperson

[writtenbyaperson]

Dear Reader

If you have an idea for a Zuko x Reader send them to my inbox! It's not guaranteed to be answered but I may combine them to build lengthier plots, or if there's an itch you need scratched I'll see what I can do. xo

[writtenbyaperson]

"Touch Base" Zuko x Reader

Summary: You get to touch Zuko's hair and it means a lot more to him than he expected. Word Count: 872 Genre: Fluff, F!Reader

"Wow, soft."

Zuko's hair slides between your fingers. Your wish is being granted by him today. A lucky indulgent day.

"I expected the texture to be…" you form a claw and rake through his brown hair like a school nurse inspecting for lice "like Appa."

"…"

He's offended.

"Like Appa." Zuko repeats with a flat tone. Appa grunts, responding to his name.

"She means that in a good way, buddy." Aang says. Always the mediator.

"Don't make me regret this." Zuko says.

He crosses his arms. If he had eyes on the back of his head they would be staring at you pointedly.

"Sssorry" You whisper faintly. You shut up as to not cut this moment short with your marathon runner of a mouth.

Gingerly you pet and rub the new hair growing on Zuko's scalp with your finger pads. The strands are surprisingly healthy and thick. Does he take care of his hair? Your hands brush from the roots to the ends to even out the hair oil. Occasionally scratching down the back of Zuko's neck. The tension in his neck eases. His whole head even bending to the side a little as you pull back his sideburns with fingernails. Zuko closes his eyes, subdued by the massage. Be damned with how he looks. Every vibration cascades from apex of his skull to the base of his spine. He can't ever remember being given treatment like this at all. "Maybe I could braid-"

"T-that's enough hair touching." Zuko waves your hands off his head. A light pink colors his cheeks. You smile and apologize. At least he was nice enough to entertain you.

"Why don't you ever let me touch your hair?" Katara asks Aang. He mocks a laugh as he cracks walnuts into a bowl.

"You did have hair for a while there, Aang." You say.

"Yeah… it didn't feel right." Aang rubs the back of his head with a bashful toothy smile. Probably trying to forget about what lead up to that hair growth.

--

Cricketfish sit on the lillies in the lakes. Filling the night with incessant chirping. Zuko tosses and turns. It's stupidly loud for a peaceful building. Plus the bed roll fibers prick him at every angle. He grunts. Giving up, he gets out of bed. Screw sleeping again. The gaang already had dibs on the bedrooms that didn't cave in from being abandoned. So he was left with the depressing children's play room. Sokka made sure to take a jab at him when they gave him the room. There's no way to check the time, so he'll have to wait out the sunrise. Quietly as he can, Zuko leaves the room.

The straw door is permanently pried open. Walking out into the hallway he can see walls lined with rounded windows and the view is extravagant, he never noticed it before. Being too caught up in pointless chases. Tall mountainous islands covered in verdant moss peak through dreamy clouds. Rushing water and peaceful creatures add music to the background. A thin lining of trees surround the building.

"Zuko."

Zuko turns his head, his heart switching gears at being caught up roaming the temple. He calls your name thinking he recognizes the tone. There is no response. Maybe he misheard.

The southern part of the temple was coaxing him, he follows, despite resistance pulling at his stomach. On the way, carvings of Airbenders being jovial and participating in ceremonies lay in the weathered stone. Whimsical imagery by day is haunting at night. Laughing monks mock him as he lights a small flame in his hand to guide him the rest of the way.

He's closer to the source of what called him. Curiosity licks. "Hello?" Zuko whispers.

He pauses.

All of the noise disappears, he could only hear his breaths and the crackle of fire. The south end of the temple bleeds out into a balcony that overlooks the land. The rails thick and crumbling. A blanket is folded up off to the side. He lets the fire go out and goes to the edge.

The sun should come up in a few hours. Fresh moon light glazes the edges of leaves on the trees underneath. Dewy fog coats everything.

Zuko looks at the blanket. Unlike the architecture, it looks fairly new. Plush.

The past month dragged on too long, treacherously tiresome. After pleading his case to the group, the guilt still ate at him. If he didn't get any sleep he'll get sick just like last time.

Zuko's not sure if he would admit it to you, but when you brushed out his hair and massaged his head, he felt peace. A stillness from the turmoil inside him. Each breath was clear and refreshing. The tightness capturing his body let him go for that fleeting moment.

Zuko isn't one for conversation. You were so delicate with him. He'd been touched by people before but even when you were just gratifying your want of touching his hair, you were still so attentive to him. The care you gave satiated a hunger he ignored.

Moving to the middle of the balcony, he sits cross legged. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He manages a smile.

"Thank you."

[writtenbyaperson]

a/n | 7/10 dear reader,

thanks for the notes! whipping up a new zuko x reader, stay tuned. would love any comments in the tags or reblogs if you read it. xo

[writtenbyaperson]

"Peace" Zuko x Reader

Genre: Fluff, Drabble Length: 432 Words Summary: Zuko is meditating and you're making it difficult.

"Quit. Now."

Zuko is meditating and you're bending spears of water at the fire in his hands. It hisses.

"How do you know it's me? Your eyes were closed." Your mirth is testing him. His eyelids and brows fall and you smile back.

Iroh instructed him to prioritize meditation in the mornings, afternoons, and before he rested. Zuko struggled at first but he's gotten better each time. The others retired to their rooms a while ago when the campfire died out, just the embers simmered on. Coolness blanketed the temple.

"I have to do this. You can go to bed without me." His voice firm.

The playfulness stops. Zuko ignites a new flame and the other hand grounds him on a knee.

You shrink, shuffling and sitting a little bit closer. "I'll stop."

He couldn't see you, but you could see him and he was partly smiling. He goes back to focus on his breath and heartbeat and the minutes fly by. The longer he goes the higher his temperature climbs. Night plunges colder.

You're fidgeting. A heaviness wars on your body. The soreness from training blooms from your shoulders, legs, and core. Nerves scream at you to rest and replenish, but you can't. You can't sleep without Zuko.

The lack of sabotage should be making this easier but your impatience is prodding him. Scrapes of pebbles grind along the ground each time you readjust. Flaps of fabric brush together and echo. Steam comes out of Zuko's nose; breath and skin incredibly hot.

He looks at you. The blue fire in his palm turns back to red. "Come here." His voice raspy. The last word dragging.

You muster enough energy to settle into his arms and sit on his lap. His frame wraps around you. You hug his torso, drinking in the comfort. His head slots softly into the nook of your neck. Both of you regain your peace. You fit perfectly. Zuko breathes into the well of your neck and the embrace buzzes with ardor. Goosebumps travel up his neck and deafens his ears. He thinks you smell so good. His muscles melt into you. Zuko's hands slink tighter around your waist. He wants to absorb you until you became one, the contact soothes him like nothing else. He can get drunk off you. His hair tickles your exposed collarbone. He is so warm.

The firepits black ash whisper a final bellow of thin smoke that takes its carriage inside a passing current. Zuko decides that the session is over, you're getting cold. And so he takes you to your room.