Can I pleeeaaassee get a good zuko x reader gut Wrenching angst? I swear i havent found a good one in such a long time it actually hurts. Maybe you could do one where he microcheats/has an arguement with the reader, then with all the begging forgiveness trope and stuff! Anyw luv u have a great day!
What I Love: Zuko x Reader (angst)
Authors Note: Hi! I didn’t know whether you wanted me to respond to you via your anonymous or account request so I did anonymous to be safe. I really hope you like how this came out, this is my first angst fic so it probably isn’t that good but hopefully it gets better over time. Let me know how I did!
Content Warnings: Angst, micro/cheating, physical fighting, eludes to more mature themes but if you don’t understand I’m not going to explain, gn? Reader (I don’t think I described appearance), minor cussing?, not proofread, let me know if I missed anything!
You dream of your father every night, the dream is always the same. He was a fire nation general, second only to Iroh before the plot came into place. Zuko was meant to be killed but his mother came to his defense and killed his grandfather instead. The night of her smuggling father grabbed me out of my bed and cloaked me under him as we followed her down the halls. Zuko’s room doors opened and she said a rushed goodbye to him and your heart clenched even despite your young age. Your father told you to look because you would never see him again; your childhood friend and what you had hoped to be more.
“Bye.” You had whispered into the night as your father kept you tightly against his chest and loaded you and the queen up into a carriage. The queen entertained you and asked you questions about your life and your mother who was no longer around.
You dropped the queen at a small, quaint village at the edge of the earth kingdom. She knelt down to you and you’ll always remember the warmth of her hands as she grabbed your cheeks in her soft hands and pressed a kiss to your forehead.
“Promise me something.” She whispered and you could only nod, no matter what she would always be the queen in your eyes. “If you ever reunite with Zuko, look out for him please, he will be lost without guidance.”
“I will, my queen.” You tell her with the manners your father ingrained in you from a young age.
She stood up and bowed to your father before taking off her royal hair piece and handing it to him. She removes a braclet from her wrist and ties it on you before turning around and walking away into the night.
“Will she be okay?” You ask your dad looking up into the amber eyes you didn’t inherit.
“She has to be.” He tells you honestly and you don’t get it then but you know now.
Your mind always jumbles to years later, your father long passed in an assassination fleeing a village in the Earth Kingdom. You still remember the smell of his burnt flesh and the screams of the other villagers. You forced your legs to run only being able to take a piece of his shirt you ripped off, never using your bending per your fathers demand. Of course you still practiced in secret and met the gaang traveling north and they took you with them to the North Pole.
Another jump goes to when you were re-introduced to Zuko in the North Pole.
He stood there holding Aang’s lifeless body, his fist pointed at the ready; your heart almost stopped in your chest, looking into his amber eyes.
“Zuko?” You put your arms down and you could feel Katara’s eyes burning into me.
“Yes? Should I know you?”
“Zuko it’s me.” You said, pulling your sleeve up and showing the bracelet his mother gave you.
His face completely dropped and you were finally able
To take in his full face including the severe burn scar across his face.
“WHERE DID YOU GET THAT?! WHO ARE YOU?!” His voice holds pure rage but he won’t put Aang down.
“You know who gave it to me.” You say your voice cracking and you can feel the tears beginning to fill your water line. “I’m so sorry, Zuko I’m so sorry.” You’re full on crying now and his memory seems to give him his answer.
“(Y/n)?” You can see Katara and Yue staring at you both before Katara attacks Zuko and starts a fight. He overpowers everyone easily but you’re standing to the back and he approaches you quickly, his chest rising and falling in exertion.
“Why did she do it?” His breath stutters. “Why did she leave me?”
Your heart breaks further as you step on your toes and wrap him in your arms, unable to help the rush of emotions for an old friend. “For you.” You tell him honestly and you both turn hearing voices rushing.
“I’m sorry, I’ll find you later.” He says.
“What do you-“ your vision goes black with a blast of pain against the side of your head.
Once you left the North Pole mourning Yue and heading to the Earth Kingdom for a mentor you were interrogated.
“So are you going to tell us how you know Zuko?” Katara’s voice held nothing but malice’s
“Well you guys already know I'm of fire nation descent.” They all nod. “What I didn’t tell you guys was that my father was a general and I grew up next to Zuko, we were practically arranged to be married.” Everyone’s eyes widened. “One day he and his sister were forced to show how much they had trained and Zuko disappointed both his father and grandfather. His father had made the mistake of insulting Iroh who had just lost his son to his grandfather.”
Everyone scooted in closer as you all sat on Appa’s saddle, the cold breeze biting at everyone’s cheeks.
You inhaled deeply. “His grandfather told him he would pay for his words in a way that would make him feel the same as Iroh losing his son.”
Katara shook her head. “You don’t mean-“
“They were going to kill Zuko.” The tension rolled off of everyone in waves. “His mother refused to accept this and offered a proposition to the current Fire Lord, her exile and his fathers life for Zuko.”
Sokka pushed the pads of his fingers into his eyes. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
“The night she killed Zuko’s grandfather, my father was the one who delivered her to her exile village; in doing so he made himself a traitor to the fire nation and took me with him. We delivered her and she gave me this bracelet and made me promise if I was ever truly reunited with him I’d give him guidance as he’d be lost. I didn’t want to think he could ever truly be lost but he really is.” Your voice cracks again and you start crying again. “And the only thing I have left of my father is a piece of scorched cloth because someone reported him. I had to hide my bending since I don’t look like I’m from the fire nation.” You bury your face into your hands and you feel multiple sets of arms wrap around you.
“Well no matter what you’re one of us now. Until Zuko makes that choice himself, let's just focus on us.” You hear Aang say and you nod swiping under your eyes.
“We got you (Y/n).” Sokka says, patting your shoulder.
Months later after Toph, Zuko finally reunites with everyone after defeating the assassin he sent after us. He joins Sokka in rescuing his father and Suki his current girlfriend. You had long conversations catching up about his father and his Agni Kai, Iroh, the boat, his exile. You talk of your father, his mother, what you know. You laughed, you cried, the night ended in a kiss. Your lips intertwined and heated as your breaths mingled rapidly and clothes shuffled around.
I wake with a start and reach over to feel the other side of the tent missing. I frown and notice Momo snuck into the tent through the open flap. You shuffle onto your knees and open the flap to see Katara dressed in all black and Zuko wearing a disguise.
I remember earlier Katara talking about making Zuko go with her to find the man that killed her mother; not even offering for Sokka to come. Sometimes I feel like she forgets she was Sokka’s mother as well. I lost my father but I don’t go and drag someone else’s boyfriend to go murder him.
Days passed in which Sokka, Aang, and I just talked about nothing and I made Aang keep up on the exercises that Zuko had taught him.
“Your fire bending is awesome (Y/n)!” Aang says as we step in time and thrust our fist out feeling the heat leave my skin and result in an orange flame.
“Thank you Aang, you’re not bad.” I laugh and he laughs with me.
“Do you miss him?” I don’t have to ask to know that he means Zuko.
“I do but it’s okay, we were separated for a long time before what’s a little longer?” I smile but something deep in my gut is telling me that something has changed.
When they finally return I run to Zuko and pull him into my arms and notice the immediate hesitation before he wraps his arms around me. I look up and notice his eyes flick over to Katara and I know. Something happened but nothing that I could confirm.
“I missed you.” I hear Zuko murmur against my head, his long bangs brushing against my forehead and I smile despite myself.
“I missed you.” I tell him honestly and grab him tighter which he follows in suit.
I wake at night again and Zuko is there to embrace me and press his lips against mine. His rough fingertips brushing against the skin of my arm as he embraces me wholly.
The next day I can’t help but notice the way that Katara moves closer to Zuko while he’s helping me wash clothes in the fountain of the temple. Toph was once again insulting everyone as the other kids zoomed around doing kid things.
“Do you think we’ll have any?” I ask Zuko who looks at me puzzled.
“Kids?” I ask him. His face flushes a deep red and he sputters.
I laugh loudly and accidentally drop the cloth I was holding back in the water. “No Zuko! Oh my gosh. I mean in the future!” Zuko laughs with me then as he manages the small fire slowly drying the wet clothes.
“Oh this has a hole in it.” I say lifting up the small shirt and Katara rushes over and snatches it out of my hands.
“I can do it! All the women in my tribe were taught to be homemakers so I can stitch anything.” She says proudly and we watch as the piece of fabric begins to soak her clothes.
“Hope you know how to sew clothes while they’re dripping water.” I say neutrally and begin washing other pieces of cloth while Katara chuckles awkwardly before moving to hand the cloth to Zuko and I notice the way she intentionally brushes her fingers against his. His face flushes as well as hers and she twists her toes ointo the ground.
“Dang (Y/n) with the way their hearts are racing you’d think they were the ones together.” Any facade of happiness I had melted and both Katara and Zuko stilled at Toph's words. “Woah total vibe shift, am I missing something here?” She lifts her hands up and begins to back away.
Katara begins to open her mouth but I beat her to her rambling.
“No.” I say honestly and everyone’s eyes seem to be on me making me wish the ground could just open up and eat me. “There’s nothing here.” I say, more with a double meaning.
Zuko’s face falls as he seems to get what I’m implying. “(Y/n).”
“No.” I tell him and walk away not wanting anyone to look at me anymore.
I climb up the intricate stairs and ropes that take me to the mainland and I sit on a log. I look up into the sky and just watch.
I see birds rush by above me and listen to the breeze force itself through the confines of tree branches to make itself heard in the leaves. I hear the trickle and clinking of running water splashing and smoothing over rocks and pebbles in a nearby creek.
I hear the way the fallen leaves crunch under boots as familiar footsteps approach.
He sits down beside me but I can’t bring myself to look at him. “What Toph said I-“
I cut him off. “She’s only confirming what I already suspected.”
“Can you stop saying my name and just be honest with me?” I force myself to face him now. I look at him in his amber eyes which are glistening with tears.
“I don’t know what to say.” He croaks.
“The truth.” I say to him.
He exhales and shoves both of his hands through the dark tresses of his hair. “Ba sing se.” I raise an eyebrow at him. “Underneath Ba sing se we got to talking before everyone came down and Azula killed Aang.” I flinched at the memory flashing through my brain. “She offered me the spiritual water that ended up saving Aang’s life to cure my scar. We kissed for a second but it was enough. Then when we went on this most recent trip she confessed she had feelings for me.” He extends his fingers and clenches his fists and places them on his lap.
“And then?” I ask him and he shudders an exhale as tears flow down his cheeks.
“And then I told her I was with you.” He inhales shakily “but that I always noticed something about her and.” He gulps down a breath through his cracking voice. “And we kissed again but that’s it (Y/n) I swear, I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Do you promise?” I ask him.
“I promise. I swear to you. (Y/n) please.” He slides off the logs grabbing both of his hands in mine and pressing them to his forehead, his shoulders shaking with sobs. “I know what I did was wrong. Is there any way that you could forgive me?”
I pause for a moment, I already knew my answer but how am I to tell him? “I don’t know.” I tell him honestly.
He stops moving, he stops breathing and then he’s desperately clawing at my legs dragging me off the log and into his hold.
“(Y/n) please I’m sorry, I’ll do anything.”
“I don’t think there’s anything that you can do.” I say to him and his shoulders sloop.
“I understand.” He says and I stand up and walk back toward the air temple.
Once I reach the main pavilion and see everyone there standing around I catch Katara laughing and playfully slapping Aang’s shoulder. I feel anger that I shouldn’t and calmly walk over with my heart beating out of my chest.
“Hey (Y/- woah are you okay?” I hear Sokka ask but before anyone else can speak I rear my arm back and punch Katara in the jaw.
“What are you doing?!” She screeched trying to reach for me but I’m on autopilot pushing her down onto the ground harshly and punching her again.
“Why isn’t what you have enough?!” I shout at her. “Why do you have to take what I love too?!” I feel arms grab around my waist and Sokka’s familiar scent drifts around me as he pulls me off of her.
“Okay no fighting, what is this about?!” Aang shouts, slamming his staff onto the ground.
“I don’t-“ Katara begins to say but I manage to thrash out and kick hers.
“Don’t lie you traitor! I thought you were my friend! Friends don’t kiss other people’s boyfriends!” The entire room goes silent and I see Zuko coming in from the opposite end of the room.
“I am your friend! I can’t help how I feel!” She shouts.
“Yeah but you can control keeping your hands to yourself.” I growl.
“I should’ve known you’d react like this.” She scoffs and I pause.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
She walks towards me despite Sokka’s warning and leans in close. “You're fire nation, you’re scum. Did you think any man would want to be with someone like you?”
I read my head back and slam my forehead into her nose and gain satisfaction at the sickening crunch of bone and the small trickle of blood coming out of her nose.
“Fuck.” I spit at her. “You.” I break out of Sokka’s hold and walk to the tent I once shared with Zuko and pack my belongings quickly.
“(Y/n) no- come on!” I hear Aang say and I look back at him.
“I’m sorry.” I tell him but I don’t stop packing until I have all my most important things and I leave.
I wander through the forest aimlessly traveling east in hopes of finding a not overrun earth kingdom village. I walk until the sun sets and set up a small camp letting the fire illuminate the earth below me. I hear the birds change from small tweets to deep hoots as the time changes over. I set up my tent with the camp fire being my only light and just let my mind wander. To the gaang, to Zuko. Even in times like this he never seems to evade me.
“You lost?” I look up to see fire nation soldiers coming through the tree and I tense immediately. No need to be scared. I say nothing.
“Are you going to say anything?” I still remain silent.
“He asked you a question.” The other soldier said aggressively their red uniforms blended in with the orange light from the fire.
“What are you mute?” I use this as an excuse and nod to which they both scoff. Fire nation strives for perfection and anything less is scorned. “That makes more sense.”
They invite themselves to sit at my fire and talk as if I’m deaf not mute talking of their commander and most recent attack on a village about two miles east.
I begin to collect my things and I suddenly notice their silence. I look over and notice both of them staring at me with a look that makes my skin raise.
“We didn’t give you permission to leave.” The one to the left says his helmet is long gone and long hair flowing down his back.
I lift my arms in mock surrender and begin walking backwards but they both stand. I turn around and sprint hearing the both of them chasing after me; I don’t look back, my father taught me better.
I feel the fatigue crawling up my legs like spider legs and fire running through my veins but I force my legs to move ducking under tree branches and jumping over rocks. One rock I jump over wrong and I feel the way my ankle moves wrong and hear the crack. I tumble and roll hard with a grunt, I hear their rapid steps and try and get up but I gag at the numbing sensation in my ankle not allowing it to move.
“Thought you could run?” The one with a helmet laughs, grabbing me by my arm and hauling me up. The one without a helmet falls into sight right after laughing seeing my grabbed by his friend.
“Sorry, you know what they say.” I look at them both and feel a disturbing chill run down my spine. “Mutes can’t scream.”
I begin to thrash around harder and choose to reveal I am in fact, not mute by screaming. “Stop! Let me go!”
“Oh so you’re not mute, oh well it was too good to be true.”
I use my knee and force it into the stomach of the helmet wearing one who was holding my arm which forced him to let go. The helmet-less one jumped immediately and pinned me to the ground and I kept fighting and scratching any skin I could find while screaming at the top of my lungs.
Everything suddenly stops as a sound penetrates the woods.
“/n)!” A voice penetrates the woods with the end of my name.
“Here! I’m here! Help me!” I scream and the other man slams his hand over my mouth.
“(Y/n)?!” The voice is more clear now and you hear Zuko’s footsteps crashing through the air.
“Stay quiet.” The helmet wearer grunts from above means my mind flashes back to a memory of my father and his fire bending.
I focus taking in a deep breath through my nose and exhaling with flame out of my mouth which cause the man above to shout in pain and remove his hand.
“ZUKO!” I shout at the top of my lungs before inhaling and remembering watching Iroh’s fire breathing.
“Deep in your chest awaken your heart, remember who you are. You are fire nation, the strongest in the world you can do anything.”
I close my eyes and exhale feeling my entire body alight with the warmth and security that comes with fire bending. I finally feel the hands being removed from my body and when I open my eyes all I see is the beauty of the orange and yellow flames surrounding my body in a spiral. Once all the air had left my lungs I looked around to see both the fire nation guards knocked out and Zuko standing to my right.
“Zuko.” My voice cracks seeing his red robes fluttering in the wind.
“(Y/n), are you okay?” Zuko asks falling down to his knees and putting his hand against my forehead and checking for any other injuries.
“My ankle.” I tell him and he hisses through his teeth.
I chuckle, “of course it is.”
“What were you thinking?” Zuko’s voice is more harsh as he takes the brown satchel I hadn’t seen before off his shoulder and helps me sit up.
“I just didn’t want to look at you or her anymore.” I tell him honestly and he sighs through his nose. He silently opens his brown satchel pulling out long pieces of white cloth and taking off my shoe. He slowly wraps my endless tightly in the white cloth, the intense pressure from the wrap significantly helping with the pain.
“Zuko, you already apologized.”
“No, (Y/n).” Zuko begins. “You didn’t deserve what I did to you. I don’t even like Katara like that, I think I was caught up in the attention since I wasn’t used to it but that’s not an excuse.
You deserve to be the only one, you deserve someone who’s eyes don't stray. You deserve someone to love you wholly and completely. And with your permission I’d like another chance to be that person.”
You look at him, sitting on his knees baring his soul to you and you feel moved.
He looks you in your eyes. “Okay?”
“One last chance.” You say to him and he smiles so brightly it rivals the moon and stars.
He moves and wraps you in his arms and there you know that together you can conquer anything.
“I love you (Y/n) I’m so sorry.”
“I love you Zuko, it’ll be okay, we have each other now.” He moves his head into the crook of your neck and all the tension between the two of you is finally freed.
“I missed you.” He says and you chuckle.
“I was gone for less than a day.”
“What and I can’t miss you?” He teases. And you shake your head leaning back and looking at the stars in the sky.
You feel him move his head and you make eye contact and smile at one another before kissing each other, silently promising to stick by each other until the end.
