Okay but imagine the staff at the palace when Zuko takes the throne. Theyâre probably terrified? In their perspective, he was a little rage-filled 13 year old, who got banished, but then came back and was even more angsty than before. The next thing they know heâs gone again, Ozai is declaring himself Phoenix King and Azula is firing half the staff on a whim. But then the formerly-banished-angsty-angry teenage prince just comes back and claims the throne??
Like. Based on the staffâs previous experiences with Ozai and Azula theyâre probably already terrified of the new Fire Lord by virtue of his family alone. Thereâs definitely a rumour going around that Zuko just usurped the throne cause he knew his father would be distracted by the avatar.
And when Zuko is Fire Lord, no one can still get a read on him because he abrupt and short and doesnât seem to appreciate all his staff do. (Cause, you know, after three years on a boat and then wandering through the Earth Kingdom for another few months before camping out with the Avatar, the last thing Zuko needs is someone whose job is to brush his hair for Agniâs sake)
But slowly the staff start to realize heâs just awkward as all hell and has no idea what heâs supposed to be doing, because up until Lu Ten died he was fourth in-line to the throne, and when he was banished he never expected the crown, so now heâs just fumbling around trying to make the world a better place but with no training on how to be the Fire Lord.
And, bit by bit, he starts to win them over. He remembers their names and their birthdays and asks about the guardâs mother and her hydrangeas. He checks in with the maid to see how her daughter is doing in school. He commissions a painting from the server.
In return they start to do little things to make his life easier. (The cook brings in a platter of snacks during a meeting that happens to include Zukoâs favourite food and Fire Sage Hiroâs fire flakes so the old sage isnât as grumpy. His tailor designs clothes in wonderful fire nation colours that are cut differently from Ozaiâs robes so people will stop whispering about how much he looks like his father. The cleaner always puts his notes for the day on top of his desk so he doesnât lose them in his disastrous library.)
And somehow, without really realizing it, they all come to have a fierce respect for Zuko. So much so that when a new servant comes in and is all âhey is it true that Fire Lord Zuko hates turtleducksâ the staff shut that shit down immediately
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