Firelord!Zuko x Servant!Reader headcanons
a/n: you asked and i listened!! enjoy my sweets
Zuko steps into his royal chamber, powerful hands pushing at the door wide open till the hinges groan. Sweat beads at his temple, wet, clammy breaths escaping his parted lips. Hes so hot he could burn anything and everything within 10 meters vicinity from his internal inferno alone.
You flinch at his sudden burst, quick to look over your shoulders to gauge the situation. There stands Zuko in the middle of his enormous, pristine room – thanks to your excessive cleaning you were in the middle of preforming – clawing at his robes, fingers fiddling impatiently with the knots at his belt.
“My lord, may I be of assistance?” you flat servant-shoes plip plap over to a distressed looking Zuko, your fingers take hold of the stubbornly tight knots, slowly working them loose. The inner corners of his eyebrows pinch higher up than the rest, peeing down at you with that confusing expression of his.
Sighing shakily, he takes a slow step backwards, away from you. “Prepare me my ice bath. I-I’ll deal with the rest myself” His reassurance falls onto deaf ears, barely believable and too unsure to count as one.
Closing that minuscule space he created between you with a cautious step forward, you reach for his clothes again. Fingers gripping the edges of his robes he wears to the royal council, you tug softly, coaxing them off.
His breath hitches slightly; Zuko was quick to swallow up the rest of the sounds threatening to spill out of him as one side of his robe rolls off his shoulder.
“No-… I-I need you to go.” A loose hair strand falls out of place, sticking to his hot forehead, eyes equally as sticky in the way they track yours.
Hot blood pumps rapidly around in his system, confusing him beyond comprehension. Your touch is warm, hot against his even hotter – near flammable skin.
This is too dangerous. Hes a Firelord, for Gods sake.
Hes stopped wars, and solved the problems the royal council came with before. Hes faced his father himself before – yet he doesn’t know how to stay away from what burns him the most.
With a draw of hot, equally as clammy air as the one that currently fills his lungs, he manages to stumble a step backwards again, kindles of fire tingling his knuckles.
“Now” He may have meant for it to sound like an order. Instead, it came out more as a plead than anything commanding. A hot breath or a whisper at best. Something closer to ‘please’.
Smal, orange feet swim over to you where you’re sitting by the edge of the pond, Zuko closely by your side.
“Don’t be frightened. Hold your hand out for them” He demonstrates, three tiny turtleducks rushing their small, webbed feet towards his hand, prying at the crushed peanuts cupped in his palm.
You watch in awe, lips parting as your gaze flickers between the eager turtleducks and the serene expression falling on Zuko’s face. The way the sun catches his crown makes it glow like a live flame atop his head, further reminding you who you’re dealing with.
He notices your eyes lingering on the side of his face, turning to meet your eyes. Your gaze quickly falls to his long fingers clean of all duck food.
“Here, let me show you” He turns towards you, taking your hand in his some of the crushed peanuts he had the palace chef prepare in the other. Your face burns hot at the improper contact, silently watching him pour some in your palm.
Innocent and gentle; frighteningly sweet, albeit still improper between two of your social standings.
“Now, reach for them so they reach for you back” He guides with his hand, his voice melodic. You never see him this relaxed within the palace walls. Maybe that’s why he keeps stepping out to his private garden – requesting you along.
Shifting slightly so he’s closer beside you, he leans in, placing your hand above the water by a hairs width. You beam at the turtleducks tickling your fingers, their beak’s nipping at the food.
You giggle, leaning away, your shoulders brushing against his, the side of your body accidently pressing into his. But your too engrossed in the sweet moment to notice that and react to it yet.
Zuko seems to notice, however, and takes full advantage of it.
Leaning in, he forces you to stay close to the pond with his chest as a barricade behind you. “Don’t shy away, their beaks are gentle” He reassures, a hint of a smile dancing around in his tone.
You turn to look at him over your shoulders, his face far too close. “It tickles!” you giggle, his fingers tightening securely around yours, keeping your palm open for the turtleducks to feed at.
He’s basking in the warmth of your against him, enjoying the few moments he has last before you realize how close you’ve gotten and switch back to your ‘proper servant’ role once more.
Walking to a secluded area within Zukos private royal garden spanning acres upon acres, you dare enough to skim one, singular finger along the soft, new bristles of evergreens.Slow, savoring the feeling along your skin. The line of trees grew taller and denser the father you walked, until tall, soft walls of evergreen surrounded you like walls.
Until you were completely surrounded by impenetrable walls of evergreen. From all sides, like a maze.
“Oh?” Zuko didn’t seem to pause, just continued walking despite his initial intruige and confusion. You’ve heard about a maze the former Firelord had presented for his Firelady. It was rumored a way to prove devotion and deep love by escaping this maze together.
“My lord, where would you like to walk today?” You try your way at an indirect question wrapped as catering to the whims of royalty, eyes frantically moving around the place covered in all green with some occasional flowers in all various colors along the way.
“I intend to explore this place. I should know about the maze in my own garden, after all” the words slip out of him, all smooth – too smooth, even.
You walk along, your eyes on full alert to any possible exists. But all you see is green blurring into more green. At every twist and turn, you either circle back to the same spot you came from, or you hit a dead end.
“Hmm, this proved harder than I thought” His calm tone came again, his hands tucked int ohis long sleeves, posture too relaxed considering how much time you’ve spent inside this maze by now.
“I’ve seen this same fountain 9 different times by now, my lord” you huff under your breath, a complaint posed to the Firelord himself.
He only smiles to himself in response, proceeding to turn around into a different direction with you in tow. Completely carefree.
“You can handle a few more hours in my presence, right?” He says, looking over his shoulder at you, as if he didn’t just spot the orange flowers at the bottom of the maze walls. Turning away from where he was heading, he ushers you down a path with pink flowers instead.
One that will take a much longer time to exist out of.
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