Paramount's absolute dog shit marketing is astounding. Multiple times now I have seen diehard fans say they had no idea there was a movie in the works, let alone being released this year until the leak. How is Avatar the Last Airbender, the show so widely and consistently acclaimed to be the best show of its generation as to be a set in stone fact, with the literal most iconic heel-face turn arc in television history, also the most consistently bungled by it's distributors???? Are they allergic to money???
the day had felt endless, so full of meetings and expectations that every ticking minute weighed on your shoulders like a modern form of torture — you'd been running on pure anxiety, spite and the thought of coming back to your bed and husband. you had already slipped into the fine silk of your robes, the fabric brushing against your skin when you noticed the untouched sheets.
of course, you sighed.
soft light peeked from the office he had made out of the small room attached to your shared bedroom. the crimson curtains hung low in the doorway, separating the two rooms from one another.
your steps barely broke through the wind's late song.
at first, it was a rare sight, but as time went by, you missed the picture of him resting right beside you.
zuko was once more slumped over papers and worries. one arm securely tucked under his unscarred side while the other loosely held onto a bleeding brush, dark ink already leaving its traces on unfinished documents. calligraphic words were scattered all over the oak's smooth surface, a sea of empty teacups resting amongst them.
you couldn't help but stare for a moment; how his shoulders rose and fell with each soft breath he took, eyelashes brushing against his skin. hair had fallen from his usually neat bun, framing his face until you reached out to tuck it away. touch lingering on the roughness of his scar — a gesture he used to flinch away from, now he leaned closer.
the tiniest of groans escaped him, your name slipping from his lips, feeling your presence rather than recognizing the silhouette. "did I fall asleep?" his voice came out groggy and low, blinking slowly against the candlelight.
he shook his head like a newborn puppy, trying to shrug off any fatigue clinging onto him like sand on wet skin. you caught a glimpse of the boy you once knew before burdens weighed his shoulders, and he refused to set them down, even for a moment.
your fingers grazed over his, setting the brush aside. "again." you smiled, more fond and tinged with concern than anything else.
"i didnt mean to," focusing took him a second, golden eyes struggling to concentrate on the needs of his nation all laid out before him, yet uncompleted. "I still have to—" he straightened up, or tried to.
his words caught in his throat, adam's apple bobbing in his throat as you draped your robe over his shoulders, stepping between his knees to cup his face in your hands.
"It's too late." you began, thumbs tracing every imperfection he had grown to hate until you showed him love differently, in ways he wasn't familiar with. "Come on. bed."
zuko didn’t argue, not this time. he just pressed his face against your stomach like the world's worries couldn't quite reach him when he had his arms wrapped around you — shelter was in your fingertips as they threaded through his hair until he could only breathe freely again, steady, safe.
( wc: 823, fluff, mention of children and pregnancy, reader is not pregnant they’re just talking, a bit of pouty aang, he’s adorable )
“How the hell do you have the patience to do this like every three days…?” you ask, a frustrated huff leaving your lips as you ran the sharp razor along his scalp. Aang only chuckled from his seat on a low stool, looking at the reflection of your adorably focused face in the mirror.
“I dunno, just got used to it… it’s not all that bad,” he mused, watching the shaving cream disappear from his head with every careful drag of the sharp razor held tightly in your hand.
“Honestly, can’t you just let your hair grow…? You looked nice… you know, as Kuzon.” you teased, a smug smirk tugging at your lips. His eyes widened, a little surprised sound leaving his lips. He would shake his head if you didn’t have a blade pressed flush against his scalp at the moment.
“You really remember that?” he whined, his large hands flying up to hide his flushed face. With an amused shake of your head, you put the razor down on the sink, admiring your hard work as the Avatar’s barber. With a teasing smile on your lips, you leaned down, your hands resting on his broad, muscular shoulders as your breath ghosted against his ear.
“Of course I do. It may have been like ten years ago, but I could never forget that adorable,” you pinch his cheek, making him chuckle, “smile on your face when you taught the Fire Nation kids how to dance in that musty cave… and I’d say your moves have gotten even better over the time,” you hummed, nuzzling your cheek against his as you looked at the both of you reflected in the mirror. “Gosh, you were such a cute kid…” you added with a dreamy look. He basically beamed at your words, he always was a sucker for your compliments.
“Mm, was I?” he asks, an innocent smile on his face, “I’m sure our kids would be even cuter…” he added, a teasing look in his eye as he pressed a chaste kiss to the side of your neck. You turned your face away from him and rolled your eyes, cheeks flushing as you fought a smile.
“Kids? Like, plural?” you asked, making him smile even brighter than before as he nodded his head enthusiastically.
“Of course! I was thinking at least five,” he hummed, smiling despite the serious lilt of his voice. Your face fell a little as you faced him with disbelief written on your face, the amount clearly shocking you.
“W—Well, I… I knew you were serious about kids, but… five? Do you want me dead?” you chuckled, your beautiful face still sporting a shocked expression.
His eyes widened, an offended and slightly concerned pout on his lips as he turned to face you properly. Never in a thousand years would he want that, you were the love of his life after all!
How could you even think such a thing?
“What? Baby, you know I’d never want that. You’re my forever girl, if something happened to you, I…” he started, trying to get the words out without a crack in his voice. Noticing the state he was in, you wrapped your arms around him, one hand holding his freshly shaved head and the other running soothingly up and down the broad expansion of his back.
“Hey, sweetheart… I was just joking. I’m not going anywhere, not now and not anytime soon, okay?” You hummed, feeling him go almost slack in your arms. Aang nodded slowly, an overdramatic sniffle leaving him as he looked at you with his grey puppy eyes.
“So… you’re not going to die because of my babies? We can have five?” he asked, soft sniffles leaving him every few seconds. He looked absolutely adorable, and even though you knew he was just playing around now, your heart couldn’t handle his big teary eyes and trembling pout. With a sigh, you nodded, observing how his face immediately brightened.
“Yes, but! I demand at least two years of rest after each baby. Let my body heal properly before destroying it all over again, okay?” you said, your voice playfully stern as you held a finger to his face.
“Yes, ma’am! Two years in-between, and I can throw in some additional foot rubs,” he said, voice serious as he suddenly stood up to a mock salute.
Seeing him like this — all serious, yet clearly playful — made you burst out laughing, a single tear running down your cheek. His big, yet awfully gentle hands immediately cupped your face, calloused thumb wiping the tear away. With a bright smile, he leaned down to press a lingering kiss to your forehead.
“No tears, my love. Now — let’s go make a baby!” he said, clearly excited as he threw you over his broad shoulder with alarming ease. Your eyes widened, face flushing a deeper red with his every step towards the bedroom.
“N—Now?!”
“Mhm. No take-backsies, beautiful!”
I honestly didn’t expect so many people to read my works, I’m so very very thankful! I hope you guys enjoy this one as well 💝
toph x fem! reader x zuko but toph flexes at how clingy she can get and you don’t mind towards a zuko who's been yearning.
warn. toph n zuko just silently fighting, fem terms used on reader || ~2k words || i'll make an nsfw continuation if this gets attention! -> part two here
being stuck on an island this big was both good and bad: first of all, how the hell did you all land on some deserted land?? but secondly, at least you all knew what to do and could fend for yourselves.
the only bad part was that bending here was very much so limited.
katara could only do splashes of water, aang could barely even boost himself up more than toph’s height. the biggest rock the earthbender could chuck was the size of your pinky; lastly the firelord’s body heat was the only heat he could emit.
god, even appa couldn’t lift himself up anymore than aang.
sokka was just living his life as per usual, coming up with a blueprint for a boat strong enough to lead them somewhere katara could sail them off to somewhere.
you were doing the same, helping out as much as you could; especially with bending being a question thrown out the window.
gathering wood alongside katara to add onto the makeshift camp you and sokka had built a little while ago, toph and zuko stayed behind to watch over said camp while aang went off with appa and momo for food.
“how much do you wanna bet i can hug her before you can even step near her?” toph interrupts the silence between her and the firebender not too far away from her,
zuko raises an eyebrow, “i could care less.”
the earthbender’s eyes roll as she stares off, “dude, everyone knows you’re in love with her. she’s not here, you can just admit to wanting her to be your wife and rule your little nation with her.”
receiving a small piece of wood thrown at her head, toph winces in pain for a moment. “ouch—hey! not fair!” throwing a rock over to where the firelord sat,
he hissed at her all the same. doing his normal stretches, he had taken his upper body’s robes off since earlier—not the first time he had worked out in the beifong lady’s presence anyway.
you had just started to walk back over with the waterbender as you shoved all the pieces of wood in your arms. sighing of relief,
that is until toph quite literally jumps onto you; “hi (name),” her strong arms wrapping around you as her head dove into your chest, making you silent for a moment before patting her head.
“hi toph, you hungry? me and katara managed out quite a few fish.” it seemed almost too natural in the eyes of the firebender, same goes for when he rolled his eyes; “yes, in fact i’m more than happy to grill them for you!” her voice uncharacteristically cheery, you briefly raise an eyebrow.
peeling herself off you, she has a stupid little grin on her face that makes zuko scoff.
you turn to where the sound came from as your eyes landed on the firelord, “you good with fish being breakfast for now? m’sure aang will find something better for lunch.”
taking a seat beside him while he tried to meditate unfortunately did not work out, not in his favor at least. a subconscious blush started to coat his cheeks as he opened his eyes for a moment to glance at you.
fuck, nature looked nice on you.
“it’ll do, as long as we get to eat.” zuko stated momentarily as you flashed a smile, the nice warm kind that made him feel fuzzy inside. you did not have to be this adorable at nine in the morning.
“where are the others? or… i guess where’s sokka? he’s the only one i haven’t seen.”
you look around your environment, leaves and trees cover almost everything, your shelter was directly under a large tree that rooted perfectly from forest to beach.
logs were set up as seats, you were sitting on the same one as zuko.
“i believe he’s…” — “guys! i found more food!”
aang interrupted as sokka trailed behind him, “yeah! at almost my expense!” dirt covered the non-bender’s face, making you laugh, gaining a snort from the firebender.
the duo continued to argue as the treacherous boar they had just hunted was placed on a wooden table elsewhere.
this scene made toph beifong curse under her breath. she didn’t want to lose to zuko who couldn’t even get the mere chance to have you close to himself.
not when you were just laughing with him—no, not like this.
your laugh was the sexiest thing you could ever do to her, how the fuck are you doing it in unison with the firelord out of everybody?
safe to say it wasn’t a nice feeling, not at all.
was this toph beifong actually feeling threatened?
no. obviously not.
but not like she can’t hate somebody with the requirement of being loud about it.
okay, just a wee bit threatened.
trying to catch your breath after laughing, you almost lean onto zuko as an instinct before toph—
“let’s go guys, me and katara finished cooking.” a bright smile on her face when zuko shook his head in disapproval. as everybody gathered around, the ma leaned in to whisper “cheater.” making the earthbender grin even wider.
you coincidentally chose a seat between the two oppositions, ready to poke and slice through the fish. feeling as though your mouth was starting to water when the aroma of the food already tasted amazing in your head.
that was before katara slaps your hand. “patience! first, we need to recap what happened so we eat properly and with logic.”
after thinking it over with your friends, fighting -> crash boat -> stuck on island that doesn’t allow bending
not much logic to begin with, but you all already had dug into the food as you all discussed. subconsciously when you reached out for another fish, it was already done,
your stomach grumbled; two of those little guys were definitely not enough to please you. not when you spent an ungodly amount of time with sokka dealing with the shelter when a huge storm hit.
but before you could get up and go fish for them on your own, zuko already had a skewer pointed in your direction, making your expression soften into a smile as you gladly take a bite.
that little grin that happened to be plastered all over you and your body language at how much you enjoyed his offer was enough to make him return it. taking a bite of his own as you poke at his side for more.
making toph seethe in her seat, mouthing the words ‘cheater’ to whatever direction she could hear your chewing in.
when you all go to stand up, zuko can’t hold back his smug face when he gets a chance to whisper something again—“that’s rough buddy.”
you all decided to split into groups of three to explore the island easier, not a good idea to split up but to be fair a group of three was pretty huge already.
you hated the silence that would occur every time you’d finish a conversation with either of the two.
“woah, that really all happened when i left?” a look of genuine surprise covered every inch of your expression when you spoke to toph. “surprisingly yeah, but we ended up alive.”
you kept a small smile on your face when you all continued to walk and look around. the tension only starting to make the air harder to breathe in.
“so um… yeah what were you guys doing before all this?”
…
…
…
“okay, what’s going on with both of you, you both have been giving each other ‘the stare’. what’s up?” turning to the both of them, and what do you know—they were indeed staring each other down.
they try to just walk past you, but your hands stop them, “you both better sit down on those rocks and listen to me!”
you helped toph over as zuko took a seat beside her. you dragged over another rock for you to sit in front of them with; “why are you guys mad at each other?”
…
…
…
“don’t silent treatment me!” — “it was toph.” — “hey!”
before either of them could lift a hand, you put your arm between them to stop anything from happening. “stop! look, we’re stuck here for how long—hating each other should be the one thing we should refrain from doing!”
they were quiet for another moment until letting out a sigh in unison.
“me and zuko had a big crush on you as kids, i’ve been… clingier to show off my dominance to the loser beside me.” the earthbender manages to scoff out as she picks up a small pebble, throwing it away at the distance behind you.
you were surrounded by trees and mountains larger than all of you, so it was impossible to see if toph was actually tossing anywhere—you simply raised an eyebrow at their reasoning.
“so you’re meaning to tell me… the firelord and the world’s best metalbender are fighting over me?” you laughed, the cause of their little dispute was you? but the more your chuckle died out, it felt as if the air only got thicker. the two benders just sat up and looked at you while you did,
...
"wait you're not joking?" feeling your heart drop to your ass when they both would nod in the most serious way possible in unison. suddenly the small pebble toph threw somewhere behind you had come back to hit her on the side, quite literally.
although you and zuko were witnesses to this—neither of you even realized she got hit in the first place. but to whoever chucked it; you're getting what you want, because toph throws a rock the size of one of your fingers,
"hey, what gives?" — "you hit me first, jerk!"
before the firelord could finish his snappy comeback, "hey! both of you stop! that rock came from neither me nor zuko, so quit your arguing!" but when you say that, it's as if she snaps back from the small trance from her jealousy. "if neither of you hit me, who threw it?"
all of a sudden a large beast snarled from behind you, instinctively zuko pulls you onto himself in order to make you dodge the vicious claw that tried to desperately to hunt for its next dinner,
you were still in shock when it was barely being held back by a few trees, its teeth nearly gnawing at the three of you. "bastard, let me carry her! fight off that drooling lion!" — "wh- no way, you're always flexing about how much stronger you are. go on-"
"hey! both of you shut up! if you guys can't stop arguing then neither of you get me!" you shouted as you threw a rock or two to try and make the rabid animal at the very least stop trying to bite you.
but it hit the two like a bison stampede in the head, and it felt like they locked in immediately.
placing you on the rock behind the two of them, the duo finally attacks something that wasn't each other. a blade makes quick work of the thick neck of the animal from zuko as toph jumps up from behind as she bangs the creature on the head with a rock.
effectively, and efficiently, this time you were in shock as you slowly pat invisible dust off your clothing. "so you were saying?" they both spoke to you unionized.
Summary: He immediately returned after he got a message of your disappearance. With a nation needing their queen, and Zuko needing you, he goes off searching for you. Yet, he and his friends don’t realize what they’re getting into.
A/n: oh we about to stretched this man— I mean stress this man out. Also very short, I’m sorry, the next chapter is 3k words dw dw. Also this time we’re purple!
1.4k words
—***—
"What happened?!" Zuko storms into his own throne room. He sees all the servants kneeling, frightened and confused. He came as soon as possible after getting a message from Azalea. Before coming back, he was at a meeting with the other three nations regarding what to do with the ancient city that Tagah was in.
7 months had passed since you two got married. 7 months after you told him before he had left on a mission that you're pregnant. Although he was joyed in having a child, the thought of you being heavily pregnant and gone left him spiraling.
Azalea walks beside him. "She retired and then the next morning, she wasn't in her room," she says calmly, but on the inside, she's panicking, worried for you.
"Did anyone see her leave our bedroom?" Zuko asked, looking from left to right at every servant. "Are any of you part of her disappearance?!" He demands.
His own people see something familiar in him, another man years ago. Yet, his anger harbored love and protection, not corruption.
There was a moment of silence, indicating, no one saw you leave. It meant someone must've taken you.
"U-um excuse me…" a young maid spoke up.
Zuko turns to that voice, quickly walking over to the girl. "What? You saw her?"
She shakes her. "No but…. I did see someone go into her room after she retired," she replied. "That maid was newly assigned… I just thought it was suspicious since…. She never left the queen's room after we heard about her disappearance."
Zuko's eyes widened and he turned to his advisors. "Go through the latest acceptance letters and this woman immediately!"
As servants scrambled back to work, and advisors went searching, Zuko went straight to the bedroom, looking for more clues himself. Anything, anything evidence of your disappearance. He was at the verge of tears, close to breaking.
Azalea follows close behind, a guilty look on her face. She feels guilty for not seeing anything suspicious or if you were being suspicious. Her only excuse, which she'll never say, is that you told everyone to take things slow and that she should take a break and rest.
Zuko opens the door and finds the bedroom surprisingly clean. Very clean, which is very odd because you usually leave stuff out. Like your paint and paint brushes, those stay out all the time. "The maid must've cleaned this room before she took (Y/n)…" Azalea commented.
Zuko's nose picks up an unfamiliar fragrance scent. It's not fire lilies, but Henbane. "Out of the room, now," he tells Azalea, him following behind.
Now both of them were out of the bedroom. "What did you see?" she asked.
"I didn't see it, but the air inside the room smells like Henbane." He grits his teeth in anger. "She must've drugged (Y/n) and took her somewhere." he huffs in frustration.
He turns to Azalea. "Spread word now, get guards to patrol the town, get as much information as possible," he orders. "I'll be going on my own search."
"My lord, it's best you don't leave, your people need you—"
"My queen needs me!" he states, pointing to himself. "And I need her! I can't take care of a Nation if I don't know where she is nor if she's safe!"
Azalea sighs. "It's late, you can start tomorrow. You're tired and you need rest. We can handle everything for the time meaning."
Although Zuko was told to rest, to be ready for tomorrow, his mind was only on you. What happened? Where are you? Are you safe? Is the baby safe? How come no one was looking? Or was it his fault? Should've he had stayed home?
Henbane. The maid. Your disappearance.
He sat down in his study room, having to stay and rest in there since the bedroom was contaminated with the drug flower. His leg bounces anxiously, his eyes glassy. "Fuck… where are you? Where are you?" his heart hurts for your safety.
Is someone trying to make him lose it and destroy the peace of all nations that he's been trying to rebuild. Is someone using you as bait? For what? To let them have what they want?
He had no enemies, he was sure of it. He was trying his best to not make any and to remain peace. So who could it be? And as for you, you didn't have much enemies. Not that he remembered. And your mother only pitied and would never go this far to do something like this to you. And besides, the suspect maid is young.
His only assumption was that someone doesn't want peace.
—***—
The next day, papers came back and they weren't good. "My lord…. Doesn't she look familiar?" Azalea asked, placing the information papers regarding the maid who took you.
Zuko immediately takes the papers and his expression is horrifying. "Mai?" he shuffles through the papers, simply losing his mind even more. "H-how can this be? She clearly didn't care— what is going on? Her name is changed, even her age…."
"Mai? As in your ex girlfriend?"
"Yes," Zuko cringes and sighs. "What does she want now?"
Azalea brings more papers. "I have more reports from our guards." she places those on his desk. "A child said that people in masks were carrying a pregnant woman into a carriage, though the child didn't follow."
Zuko ran his fingers through his hair in fright. "Oh god… what is she going to do with her? What is going on?"
Fear and confusion was consuming him. He never been so scared and helpless. His love, his queen is missing. You were kidnapped by Mai. He knows it's Mai, he was sure it was her.
He stands up. "We have to scout the area—"
Someone knocks on his study room door. He sighs. "Come in."
A guard comes in quickly. "My lord, the Avatar and a few others for here! They're— ACK!"
"Zuko! I got a letter!" Aang storms in, holding the letter. Katara follows close behind, even for someone who is also pregnant.
"From who?" Zuko asked, simply not caring if his friends barged in.
"It's from Mai," Aang replied.
Zuko snatches the paper, turning around to read it. His eyes darted from word after word.
Dear Avatar,
My master is wishing for your child and I must take it. See you soon
-M
Zuko turns back to the couple, his hands grip and tremble as he holds the letter. "She wants your baby?" he asked Katara.
Katara nods. "I don't know what she's up to, but if she's got (Y/n), she's planning to do something with yours as well."
Zuko gives the letter back to Aang. "We have to get the others."
—***—
Sokka and Toph showed up when they were needed. Along with that, Toph brought a shirshu. The shirshu is able to smell scent from miles away.
"Got any of her clothes?" Toph asked.
Zuko hands her some of your recent clothes, that were filled with your own scent and fire lilies. "Are you sure this animal can track her?"
Toph crossed her arms, letting her pet smell the clothes. "Sure he can, he was able to find Sokka when we were playing hide and seek," she jokes softly. "But in all seriousness, what's with Mai and her wanting to take high class unborn babies? Did she turn into a Krasue?"
The Krasue is a woman with only her head and her entrails connected to her. She was known for feasting on blood, fetuses and placentas. Yet it's all folklore, but everyone knows you can't be too sure. They live in a world with bending and such, so it's possible.
"Maybe not Mai herself, but her master that she mentioned?" Katara mentions.
Sokka rubs his chin, humming. "Her master being a Krasue?"
"Guys, he's got a scent!" Toph gasped, waving the others to hurry along. "We should get a move on now."
Zuko nods. "I got everything packed."
The gang gets onto Appa, following the shirshu. The shirshu starts running after your scent, while Appa flies close from above.
Zuko's friends see the heartache on his face and the now silence coming from him. Sokka placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll find her, okay?"
Zuko nods. "Yes, we'll find her," he repeats, as if saying it helps him a bit.
Pairing: Firelord Zuko x F! Reader
Note: There is no specific indication of whether the Reader is a bender or a nonbender, so you are free to interpret however you like.
Reader is an architect and alchemist.
Tags: Marriage Proposal, Established Relationship, Long distance relationship, Fluff only.
I have cried enough this year.
Words count: > 7,000
𝐀𝐓𝐋𝐀 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭
You and Zuko are together.
Or more specifically, you and Fire Lord Zuko are together.
It has been years since the war came to an end, since the world had finally begun to breathe again after generations of fear and fire. Peace had not come easily nor had healing, but little by little, the nations had begun to rebuild.
And so had the two of you. Still, your relationship is far from ideal. Distance has always been the cruelest part of your relationship.
While Zuko remains in the Fire Nation, bound by duty, council meetings and the endless weight of a crown he never truly asked for, your path has taken you far from him.
You are an alchemist and an architect, and it has been the passion of your life since childhood.
Long before the war ended, long before peace treaties and reconstruction efforts, you had dreamed of building something that would outlast the pain and destruction that war had caused.
And after the war, with the unwavering support of your mother, the chief of your tribe, that dream finally became reality.
With her blessing and with your siblings always so understanding and supportive, you founded your own team of architects and alchemists in your homeland. Together, you travel across nations, taking on commissions and missions wherever your skills are needed, helping rebuild what the war once tore apart.
It is exhausting work but also meaningful work.
The kind of work that makes every sleepless night of yours worth it.
Even so, no matter how far your journeys take you, one thing has remained constant.
Though your team often has to travel for long periods at a time, letters always find their way to you.
Even when he is buried beneath his duties as Fire Lord, even when entire weeks pass in a blur of work and travel, he has never once missed a single letter from you or to you.
Sometimes his words are brief, written in the careful hand of a man writing between meetings and state matters.
Other times, the pages are longer, filled with little things he thinks only you would care about.
A ridiculous argument between ministers.
Uncle’s latest attempt at giving him “romantic advice.”
A memory that reminded him of you.
And somehow, every letter seems to carry some pieces of him.
His voice. His scent. His heart.
He even goes so far as to “sponsor” your team, sending equipment, resources, and even airships whenever possible.
Your team absolutely adores him for it.
Every new shipment from the Fire Nation sends them into a flurry of excitement, eager hands pulling apart crates to marvel over polished tools, rare alchemical supplies, and whatever else the Fire Lord has decided your work “absolutely needs.”
You suspect half of it is simply his way of taking care of you from afar.
And as close allies of Team Avatar ever since the war, your team was given the immense honor of helping construct Republic City and the Air Temple.
A task of that scale has demanded everything from you.
Ever since then, you have been traveling constantly, back and forth from your homeland to the city and then onward to other nations. There has been no rest for a while in your life, only maps spread across tables and assignments divided among your team so every task can be handled in time.
And then, on the very day you had just returned to your homeland from a commission, a letter arrived.
From Zuko saying that Aang had apparently run into some difficulty while away on a mission and help was needed in the city.
You may have to arrive there before him.
With a festival soon to be held in the city, your team cannot afford to be absent. Not when you have played such an important role in building it, and not when your bond with the Gaang runs so deep.
Zuko had promised he would arrive as soon as the Gaang returned from their journey.
Yet now, he has been gone for a day longer than the day he promised.
And there has been no word from the Gaang either.
There is no messenger hawk nor letter nor any news.
It leaves a quiet unease settled deep in your chest.
Anxiety curls around your thoughts no matter how much you try to focus on work.
Even with your team making remarkable progress on the temple’s construction, your mind keeps wandering back to him.
໒໒໒
That evening, you found yourself seated in a restaurant in the central district with your teammates, listening as they chatted and reported on the day’s progress.
Blueprints and notes had long since been pushed aside for warm food and much needed rest.
“Good work, team,” you said, giving everybody a small smile. “We should be able to complete the temple soon, and until the Avatar returns, we can finally allow ourselves some rest.”
A chorus of relieved laughter answered you.
Glasses were lifted in celebration, the sound of cheerful voices and clinking cups briefly easing the knot in your chest.
For a moment, everything felt normal and peaceful.
But then suddenly, a scream shattered the air outside, followed by many more bloodying screams. Sharp cries filled with panic make even your heart beat a bit faster than usual.
Your team exchanged alarmed looks before immediately pushing back their chairs and rushing to their feet.
The moment you stepped outside, a violent gust of wind struck all of you, forcing you to brace yourselves where you stood.
People were running around you, their faces were all pale and eyes widened in fear.
Panic spread through the central district like wildfire as citizens fled in every direction.
Confusion grips you as you turn, searching for the source.
“Look!”
Someone shouted, voice trembling as they pointed toward the sky.
The velvet night sky, once filled with scattered points of starlight, is now swallowed by the massive shadow of what appears to be an island.
It hangs above the city like a looming omen.
Or what you found worse. It seems to be falling right onto the city.
The moonlight disappears beneath its enormous silhouette, plunging the streets below into a creeping darkness, an abyss that stretches over everything it can reach.
For a moment, uncertainty grips you because you do not know what it is.
You do not know how such a thing is even possible.
But years of war, rebuilding, and leadership have long taught you how to steady yourself in the face of chaos.
You force yourself to regain your composure and turn sharply toward your team.
“Evacuate everybody. I’ll check on the headquarters. Yue, Kon, you go with me.”
At your command, the others nod without hesitation before immediately scattering through the streets to help evacuate the citizens.
You and your two teammates rush toward the center of the chaos.
Breaking through the crowd of panicked people, pushing past terrified screams and bodies scrambling for safety, you finally manage to make your way toward the downtown district.
And then you see the Gaang are already fighting.
Your eyes narrow in confusion at the sight of the unfamiliar figures facing them.
“Are they… airbenders?” Yue asks from beside you.
You have no answer for that because this makes no sense to all of you.
“That's not important right now. You two go help the others.”
You give them a quick nod and they immediately move into action.
໒໒໒
“Well, well, seems like those pricks have some aid support.”
Someone spoke as he jumped down from the roof to land in front of you, and you prepared to beat the crap out of him.
But before he could do anything, a sudden streak of fire flew past your side, and in front of you appeared the familiar long dark hair of someone you did not know how long it had been since you last saw.
“Zuko!” you called his name as you immediately fell in sync with him and helped him fight.
“Hello, love,” he answered, a bit breathless.
“Mind explaining to me why there is an island falling from above?” you asked as you kicked the bad guy in the face, while Zuko punched another one who was about to sneak attack you.
“Uh… long story,” he answered a bit awkwardly as you glanced at him slightly before launching yourself at the bad guy again.
“Let’s just say Aang’s new friend isn’t exactly a friend.”
You did not understand half of what he said but you still decided to focus on what was ahead.
“You gather up with the team. I can handle it here,” you told him, though he did not seem to approve of that.
“They’re the Denial and they are all benders right now,” he said, as if he did not like the fact that you were underestimating your enemies.
“Benders that have zero experience bending,” you corrected as Kon and Yue gathered at your side and joined in to help.
The three of you were able to wipe out the bad guys quickly and you urged Zuko once again.
“See? We can handle it, Fire Lord. You go with your team.”
You gave him some reassurance as he looked at you for only a second, and you could see the trust in his eyes as he nodded and immediately turned away in the opposite direction.
“Now, you’re all our problem.”
Your focus shifted back to those in front of you as your teammates stood right by your side.
Let’s just say, the Gaang won the battle, but… the destruction and damage to the city remained, which meant more work for your team to do.
So, you had to put the complete schedule for the Air Temple back in place while focusing more on reconstructing the city. Though, with your team and the help of the Gaang and the other citizens, it did not take that long until you were able to rebuild every damaged structure as well.
The festival was due in 3 days, so everybody did their best to rebuild and clean everything until they were able to decorate the city and begin preparing for the festival.
໒໒໒
As you reached for the towel hanging on the rack, a soft groan drifted from the tub, and your gaze shifted to the man sitting there.
“Does it still hurt that badly?” you asked softly, placing your hands gently on his shoulders.
His bare chest was fully visible before your eyes, warm skin glistening beneath the water and the lingering steam that curled around him. The faint frown between his brows slowly eased the moment your fingers began to knead his tense shoulders, his muscles gradually relaxing beneath your touch.
“No, I wasn’t hurt,” he answered, leaning into your hands as if he were melting beneath your caress. His golden eyes lifted, a bit half-lidded and heavy, to gaze up at your face.
The water rippled around him as he shifted slightly.
“I’m just annoyed by my hair.”
At his words, your eyes drifted to the state of his long dark hair. It was messy, tangled, and dusted with debris from the battle. It was unavoidable when he had such luscious hair and wore it down while fighting.
It was such an oddly intimate sight to see.
You had always loved threading your fingers through those dark strands, lacing them between your fingers whenever he kissed you so tenderly, or gripping them a little too tightly when he eat-
Snap out of it, will you?!
Your boyfriend was still worn out from the battle. You should be taking care of him, not letting your mind wander into dirty thoughts.
Though, it was terribly hard not to when he was sitting there, nearly naked in the bathtub, letting you run your hands through his hair.
You had always loved offering to wash his hair.
There was something almost addictive about the soft, fluffy feel of it once the soap lathered into rich bubbles, coating those dark strands in white foam.
You loved helping him dry it too, because once it was done, it always turned so so so soft and silky beneath your fingers. And he always smelled so good whenever you helped detangle his hair afterward.
Zuko seemed to enjoy it just as much.
He never really said no to any of your offers. He let you do whatever you wanted with his hair. Even when you braided it for him, weaving in the symbols of your culture, he wore it without complaint.
Oh, even more than that.
He let himself bask in your touch as you gently brushed the stray strands away from his forehead.
His eyes remained on you the entire time you washed his hair, never once leaving your face. He only closed them whenever you carefully poured water over his hair, letting the warm stream rinse away the bubbles.
Other than that, his gaze was always on you.
You remembered the first few times you had offered to wash his hair.
He had been so embarrassed then that he could barely look you in the eyes. But slowly, he had grown used to it.
Now, he even shamelessly asked for your help, melting completely beneath your touch, every line of tension leaving his body whenever your fingers massaged his scalp.
And somehow, over time, you realized that you had become the nervous one.
Why did he keep looking at you like that?
With those soft, lovesick puppy eyes.
Your fingertips could not help but tremble slightly as they moved through his wet hair, massaging slow circles against his scalp.
And maybe it was just your imagination, but the quiet sigh that escaped him sounded almost like a purr.
How odd.
You never could have imagined that you and Zuko would end up like this when you were children.
The two of you had not exactly been bickering but you had certainly not gotten along either.
Perhaps fate was simply that strange.
It had a way of intertwining people who once stood so far apart and pulling them close enough to touch.
As you rinsed away the last traces of soap, you picked up the towel and began drying his hair.
But just as your hand moved to gently sweep his damp hair back into place, his larger hand suddenly caught your wrist.
The skin of his palm felt rougher than you remembered, calloused and warm from years of training and battle.
And without warning, he lifted your hand to his lips, a soft kiss brushed over your fingertips. And his eyes never left yours.
You froze and caught off guard, you nearly pulled your hand back, but he would not let you. His grip remained firm and persistent enough to keep you in place.
Heat bloomed beneath his touch and a helpless chuckle slipped from your lips.
“May I continue?” you asked, your voice touched with teasing.
Zuko looked at you for a moment, droplets of water tracing slow paths down his face and neck.
Then he suddenly sat up properly, taking the towel from your hand and setting it aside.
“Join me.”
Ugh, such a tempting request.
And… How could you ever say no to that?
໒໒໒
As you walked downtown through the sea of people, everybody was chatting, laughing, and dancing around you. Music filled every corner of the street, its lively melody drifting through the night air, while rows of glowing lanterns lit up every path people wandered down, bathing the city in soft golden light.
The entire place felt alive.
Warm laughter rose above the music, mingling with the cheerful hum of conversation and the occasional delighted squeal of children darting through the crowd. The scent of sweet festival treats and flickering firelight lingered in the air, wrapping the whole city in a sense of comfort and joy.
You were just trying to mind your own business, or at least find some of your teammates and enjoy the festival atmosphere.
But a group of people nearby were dancing, inviting others around them to join in.
Before you could even protest, you were pulled along with them, swept into the flow of the crowd as everybody was far too focused on enjoying the night to care.
The atmosphere was lively, music ringing through the streets beneath peals of laughter.
You could not help but dance with them too.
With every movement, every spin and clap and joyful step, the circle of dancers seemed to grow larger, more people joining in as if drawn in by the warmth of the moment.
The lantern light swayed overhead like stars caught in motion, their golden glow flickering across smiling faces and spinning figures.
You found yourself laughing with a few children dancing beside you, their excitement contagious, until suddenly your back hit something solid.
You turned around, already planning to apologize to whoever you had just bumped into.
Instead, you were met with that familiar golden pair of eyes.
Dark strands of hair had fallen loosely across his face, catching the lantern light in soft amber highlights.
“Hello, beautiful,” you greeted him softly, a teasing note in your voice.
Zuko let out a quiet chuckle.
“Hello, gorgeous,” he greeted you back, his voice low and warm.
His arm slid around your waist so naturally, as if it had always belonged there.
He gently pulled you closer, shielding you from the other dancers so they would not bump into you.
“I thought you were with the gaang,” you asked while looking up at him.
His golden eyes glimmered with your reflection.
Behind him, the lanterns and festival flames danced in the background, their light painting his features in warm shades of gold and amber. The corner of his lips still held that soft smile and his gaze had gone so tender. Way softer than it had any right to be.
He lifted one hand and gently tucked a small flower into your hair, brushing away a stray strand as his fingertips grazed your skin with careful tenderness.
You remembered all of this. You yearned for it all.
The warmth of his touch.
The softness of his smile.
The tenderness in his eyes whenever he looked at you.
The two of you had been so busy lately that you could barely see him, let alone spend a moment like this together.
You did not stop his gentle movements as the music continued to drift around you, blurring the laughter and chatter of everyone else until it almost felt as though the entire festival had faded away, leaving only the two of you standing beneath the lantern light.
“I snuck away when Toph and Sokka started bickering over some tanghulu,” he answered.
You could see the faint trace of tiredness behind his eyes when he mentioned the two of his friends.
You laughed, easily able to picture the scene.
“Was that a good idea, then? What if they try to find you?” you asked.
He shook his head slightly.
“They know my time is for you tonight.”
His tone was slow but firm, and you felt his arm tighten a little around your waist.
And then he leaned closer, his lips hovered right beside your ear, his warm breath brushing softly against your skin, and you could already feel heat rising to your face.
“So, do I have the honor of escorting my lady for a dance?” he whispered, his voice like honey melting into your thoughts.
You looked at him.
Could you really say no to that?
It was far too tempting and you almost bit the inside of your cheek just to keep your composure.
But of course, how could you ever say no to your boyfriend?
A soft smile curved across your lips as your hand slipped into his rough palm, and you pulled him into the circle of dancers with you.
He nearly stumbled at first, his feet quickly moving to follow your lead.
But the moment he saw your enthusiasm, and heard the music floating warmly between the two of you as people cheered and clapped around the circle, his expression softened into something almost helplessly fond.
He held your hand tightly as he stepped with you, letting you guide him through the lively melody.
Letting you pull him close.
Letting you push him away.
Letting you circle around him however you pleased.
Letting you tease him, toy with him just a little.
The lanterns swayed overhead, the music rose around you, and the laughter of the crowd became part of the rhythm.
And just before the song came to an end, his larger hand tightened around yours.
With just one smooth motion, he pulled you closer. You fell right into his arms. So perfectly on beat.
And the both of you broke into soft, cheeky laughs beneath the warm glow of the festival lights.
໒໒໒
It had been a few weeks since the festival, and you had to return to your homeland to continue another commission, while some of your team stayed behind to complete the Air Temple.
Apparently, Aang had decided to found a team of preservers to restore one of the Air Temples.
You were glad that he seemed to have found a new beginning. Though you could not exactly say you fully understood Aang, you understood enough to know that his journey had not been easy. Based on what Zuko had told you so far, you were also glad that you could help him by sending some of your teammates to visit the Air Temple, understand more about its structure and assist in rebuilding the place.
You were reading Zuko’s letter as your airship was about to land. It had been a while since you had returned home, and you really should pay a visit to your mother. She had been busy lately, so you had not been able to properly send her any letters.
“Cap, how long until we arrive?” someone from your team asked out of boredom.
“Soon,” you answered softly, only for someone else to chime in.
“Why does it feel like it’s taking longer to land today?”
You thought back to the route for today before answering, “Apparently, Chief has some visitors. Our usual route is blocked with airships, so Kon took a detour.”
Everybody began wondering who those visitors must be for them to block the entire route leading to the dock.
You found yourself wondering the same thing.
Sometimes your mother would have political figures come over for work. Sometimes it would be the day merchant and trader airships arrived, so it was normal for the route to be packed. But for you to have to take a detour was rare, which made you unsure who these visitors were.
Still, you were not really involved in your mother’s and sister’s political affairs. Not because you did not care, but because you were not really in the position to speak up. Your sister was the next heir and you had many other siblings.
Your role was no longer related to that.
As you continued talking with your team, the airship was finally able to land at your private dock, and that was when you realized someone was already there to pick you up.
One of the elders from your mother’s council stood waiting.
He had always been her right hand ever since the war until now.
You frowned slightly, wondering what could possibly make an advisor come to fetch you personally, because a man like him would never be here unless it was by your mother’s direct order.
“Advisor Akiak,” you greeted him with a small bow.
He returned it with the same composed expression as always. “Welcome back, my lady.”
“I suppose Chief has sent you.”
It was not a question and he did not answer either way.
“She wants you at the Great Hall as soon as you return.”
He turned and began walking toward the carriage and you followed immediately.
Although Akiak always carried himself with perfect composure, his back straight and his expression unreadable, today you could tell his pace was quicker. It was subtle but enough for you to notice that he seemed nervous and in a hurry.
Once you had settled into the carriage, you finally asked, “Did something happen? She rarely summons me the moment I return.”
You were indeed curious about why your mother needed to see you. You always visited her whenever you came back from a long journey, so she had never needed to summon you before.
Was it related to those visitors?
The fact that Akiak refused to answer any of your questions rubbed you the wrong way, especially when you were already exhausted from the long trip. Still, that was simply how he was, always quiet and always seeming to hide something up his sleeve.
Perhaps your mother wanted to tell you herself.
As soon as you arrived at the tribal hold, you stepped out of the carriage and walked inside with Akiak right beside you.
You barely paid attention to anything around you, wanting only to get this meeting over with so you could finally rest.
Once the two of you arrived at the doors of the Great Hall, the guards bowed and opened them for you.
The moment you stepped inside, you knelt and greeted the person seated at the center of the hall.
“I have arrived at your summons, Chief.”
But as you lifted your head, you realized the room was filled with people, and every pair of eyes seemed fixed on you. Whispers passed between them, and you had no idea what was going on.
You wanted to raise an eyebrow in skepticism but you held yourself still in front of your mother.
She lifted her hand, allowing you to stand.
“What have you summoned me for, Mother?” you asked, finally noticing the weariness in her strict expression.
You had seen your mother tired many times before. The duty of a chief was never light but today she looked genuinely burdened, her fingers pressing against the space between her brows as if nursing a headache.
“Was it because of those visitors you are having?” you asked immediately.
The whispers in the room seemed to ripple even more.
“Yes, that has indeed given me quite the headache,” she confirmed, the exhaustion in her tone still present beneath her usual strictness. “Unfortunately, that is not my guest, Lady”
The way she said your title made you almost gulp.
You could not quite read her mood. She wasn’t angry but certainly not pleased either.
You tried to think of anyone who might have come here and caused such unrest but no face really came to your mind.
At least not until the doors behind you opened once more.
The sound of footsteps echoed through the hall and then stopped right beside you.
Your mother pressed her forehead into the palm of her hand.
“Fire Lord Zuko, here to greet Chief of [Name bla bla bla].”
The familiar voice struck you like lightning.
Your head snapped to the side, you almost broke your neck.
His back was straight and every inch of him radiated authority. Dressed in his Fire Nation regalia, he stood not as the man who danced with you beneath lanterns, nor as the boyfriend who let you wash his hair, but as the Fire Lord himself, carrying all the weight and dignity of his title.
His golden eyes remained fixed on your mother, his expression composed and resolute.
What in the world was he doing here?
Shouldn’t he be in the Fire Nation handling his duties?
Your mother spoke again, her tone edged with displeasure.
“Yes, so I have read in your letter, Lord Zuko, but may I ask why you have filled our docks with an army of Fire Nation airships?”
So that was why the route had been blocked.
You also wondered the same thing, because the last time anyone had seen Fire Nation airships in such numbers, it had not been a good sight.
Zuko finally answered and when he spoke, his voice carried the steady authority of a ruler.
“I came not as a threat, Chief, but as a man who understands the weight of honor and the gravity of what he asks. I brought my fleet not for war, but so that I may stand before you openly, with the full dignity of the Fire Nation behind my intentions.”
Only then did he turn toward you.
His golden eyes met yours, they seemed so steady and unwavering, and though there was a faint softness in them when they landed on you, the determination in his gaze did not falter.
“I am here,” he said, his voice calm yet firm enough to silence the room, “to formally ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”
The entire Great Hall erupted into whispers.
Your jaw nearly dropped to the floor.
What the hell did he just say?!
໒໒໒
Let’s just say you accepted his proposal far too quickly.
But truly, you could not help it.
Your mother did not seem entirely against it, even though knowing that her daughter was in a relationship with the Fire Lord was certainly not the kind of news she would have wanted to hear.
She knew there was someone in your life, but she never would have guessed that someone would be from the Fire Nation, let alone the Fire Lord himself.
She had told you that you were free to chase your dreams, not give her high blood pressure.
Still, seeing the sincerity in Zuko’s eyes, and the sheer number of betrothal gifts he had brought with him, made it very difficult for anyone to remain unmoved. Those army airships had not been there merely for show. They were truly carrying gifts, tributes, and offerings worthy of a royal proposal.
And the fact that he had the audacity to emphasize that he still had more ships on the way nearly made you want to march over and shake him right there in the middle of the hall.
Your siblings had mixed feelings. Some approved. Some… not so much.
Not because they doubted your love for Zuko, but because they worried about the possibility of you having to move away from your homeland and live somewhere else.
Yes, they were a bit overprotective.
But it was not as if you had never visited the Fire Nation before.
The negotiations lasted for quite a while, and of course, you also had a voice in the matter.
Though you had been more than a little caught off guard, because Zuko had never once discussed any of this with you beforehand.
You had not even known he would go this far for you.
Still, you stood by his side, your hand in his, gently pleading for your mother’s approval.
But perhaps what surprised you the most was that Advisor Akiak actually approved of the marriage.
In fact, he was the one who supported you and helped convince the others.
So that was how you ended up on the airship, returning to the Fire Nation with Zuko.
Standing at the front, you felt the wind breeze through your hair as you stood at the fire port.
It was a place where benders usually stood to defend the ship.
Normally, they would have to put on a safety belt, but you simply did not feel like it today.
You only wanted to enjoy the air and the scenery, though there was little more than clouds stretching endlessly around you and the soft orange glow of the evening light.
“I would not suggest you stand there without any belt on.”
The familiar voice came from behind you and you turned your head slightly to meet Zuko’s eyes.
His golden pupils seemed to glow beneath the warm sunlight, and from this distance, it was even clearer just how bright his eyes truly were.
The wind mischievously swept through his long dark hair, and you felt that same playful spark rise in you.
You took a small step farther toward the port.
Almost immediately, you saw Zuko’s expression tighten.
His eyes widened ever so slightly and he moved toward you at once, instinctively rushing to your side to stop you.
But when he saw that you were still steady, he halted himself, remaining perfectly still as though he feared that even one sudden movement from him would somehow make you fall faster than if you had jumped yourself.
“You really enjoy giving me a heart attack, don’t you?” he asked, his tone edged with mock reproach.
You only answered with a smile.
“Come down,” he called your name softly, trying to coax you back.
But of course, you did not listen.
“Why don’t you come here with me?” you asked instead, the teasing in your voice impossible to hide.
You could almost see the tired twist of his brows.
And yet, as always, he yielded to your antics.
He stepped onto the port as well and his hands reached for you, wrapping firmly around your waist as you stepped closer into his embrace.
Your arms slid around his shoulders, and the wind moved around the two of you, his loose strands brushing against your face and drawing a small giggle from your lips.
His hand rose gently to brush away the strands of your hair that danced across your face, as if even beneath such bright, warm light, he still wanted to see you more clearly.
You felt the back of his hand graze your skin so tenderly.
The warmth of him.
The strength in the way his arms held you.
Everything felt perfect in that moment.
His golden eyes had softened into the color of warm amber honey beneath the sunset as he pressed his lips softly against your forehead.
You closed your eyes, feeling the gentle linger of his kiss there before it traveled lower, brushing delicately against your eyelids.
He kissed you as if you were something sacred, as though he feared that pressing too hard might somehow break you.
As though he were trying to worship and memorize every part of you.
When you opened your eyes again, you could see your reflection so clearly in the amber warmth of his gaze that a soft laugh escaped you.
Yet you still found yourself unable to hold his gaze for long.
The way he looked at you made you feel strangely exposed.
Why did he always look at you as though you had drawn the sun and hung the stars in the sky?
You knew he loved you.
For the longest time you had known him, he had never been someone who was particularly good with words.
And he knew that too.
That was why he always used his actions to show how much he loved you.
And somehow, even that never seemed enough for him, because he always kept trying harder and harder.
Sometimes you wondered if he even realized that he did not need to say or do anything at all.
You had already known he loved you deeply just by the way he looked at you.
“Stop staring at me.”
You frowned slightly but he did not stop.
Instead, he only chuckled softly before answering in a low voice, “Can’t help it. You look really beautiful under the twilight.”
You really wanted to shove his face away.
But you could not.
Not with where you were standing, and certainly not with the way his strong arms were wrapped around you so tightly.
It suddenly occurred to you that you had placed yourself in the perfect position to be unable to run away from him.
“Ugh, since when did you become so cheesy?” you groaned, trying to deflect.
But in truth, heat was already burning its way from the back of your neck all the way to your face.
You were grateful that the warm orange light of the sunset helped hide just how flustered you were.
Though that certainly did not mean Zuko could not tell.
He said nothing more.
Instead, he simply kept you wrapped in his warm embrace as his hand smoothed over your hair, threading his fingers gently through your strands before pressing yet another soft kiss to the top of your head.
໒໒໒
When you decided to leave your homeland, you had already promoted one of your assistants to become the next captain, while the other had decided to go to the Fire Nation with you the moment she learned that you planned to found a new team there.
Of course, you would never give up on what you were doing, and Zuko had always been very supportive of that too.
At first, you thought he was only being supportive because he understood how much it meant to you to follow your passion.
Never, not even once, had you imagined that he would build an entire tower as the headquarters for your new team, proudly claiming that it was your working office.
A working office?
It was more like an entire palace.
Inside, it was equipped with every kind of thing you could possibly need, from the newest designs and instruments to carefully arranged workspaces that looked as though every single detail had been prepared with you in mind.
The moment he brought you there, excitement rushed through you so quickly that you immediately ran around to inspect everything.
You moved from one room to another, your eyes bright with wonder as you took in every corner, every polished surface, every carefully placed piece of equipment.
In your excitement, you nearly tripped over your own feet and pitched forward, only for Zuko to catch you just in time.
Everything was so new, so beautiful, that your eyes nearly bulged and your jaw almost dropped to the floor.
The tower was so tall that you could see the entire city stretching out below, the view unfolding beneath the soft sky, while light scattered beautifully through the glass windows above, filling the space with a warm golden glow.
And from the balcony, you could already imagine how breathtaking the city would look at night.
You turned to face Zuko, only to find the soft smile still resting at the corner of his lips as he watched your enthusiasm with quiet fondness, as though you were a child seeing a new toy for the first time.
You were far too excited to care about how much composure you were losing.
Unable to hold back your excitement any longer, you threw yourself into him.
As always, Zuko caught you with effortless ease, his arms immediately circling your waist and pulling you close, as though he had been waiting for you to do exactly that.
The warmth of his body surrounded you at once, steady and familiar, grounding all the dizzy excitement bubbling in your chest.
Your hands slid around his neck, fingers instinctively threading into the softness of his dark hair, feeling the silky strands slip between them.
And just like that, you found yourself unable to stop staring at him.
At the softness in his golden eyes.
At the fond smile resting on his lips.
At the way he was watching you as if your happiness alone was enough to light the whole room brighter than the sunlight spilling through the windows.
Your heart swelled so much it almost ached.
Rising onto your tiptoes, you leaned in and pressed your lips softly against his.
The kiss began so tenderly.
His lips were soft against yours, and the moment they met, you felt him tighten his hold around you, as if drawing you closer was simply his instinct.
He tilted his head just enough to meet you better, lowering himself so the kiss could deepen.
The warmth of him seeped into every part of you. Into your skin, your breath and your heart.
It was meant to be a soft kiss born from excitement and gratitude, but with Zuko, it never stayed simple for long.
There was always something in the way he kissed you that made your heart flutter harder.
You often wondered if it was because of you, or because of the fire that always burned within him.
But whatever it was, you knew it came from the way you yearned for his warmth just as much as he yearned for your love.
Your fingers curled more firmly into his hair as you kissed him again, slower this time, savoring the feel of his lips moving so tenderly against yours.
His hand rose from your waist to cradle the side of your face, his thumb brushing softly along your cheek in a touch so careful and affectionate that it made your breath catch.
You leaned into it without even thinking.
You did not know what else to do to show him just how much you loved what he had done for you. As though each lingering press of your lips could somehow tell him how much this meant to you.
How much he meant to you. And how happy you were.
Zuko answered every kiss with the same warmth, his lips moving with yours in a slow, unhurried rhythm that made the rest of the world seem to fade away.
His kiss felt so full of love that it nearly stole the breath from your lungs all over again.
When you finally pulled back just enough to breathe, your foreheads nearly brushed, and his golden eyes opened slowly to meet yours.
When you finally pulled away slightly, his eyes slowly opened, and the sight of those golden eyes, a little hazy as they rested on your face, made your heart swell so much that you could not help but kiss him again.
Your hand slid from his hair to cup his face, your thumb brushing gently along the line of his cheek as your lips lingered against his.
He responded by drawing you even closer, his arms tightening around your waist until you were almost lifted against him, as if he could not bear even the smallest space between you.
The warmth of his breath mingled with yours.
His lips parted just enough to steal another lingering kiss. And another.
Each one soft and full of feeling, as if neither of you truly wanted the moment to end.
You kissed him as though your life depended on it.
And Zuko did not stop you. Quite the opposite.
When you finally pulled away again, breathless and smiling, you could not help yourself.
You littered his face with kisses.
You kissed his cheek. Then the tip of his nose. His forehead. The space between his brows. The corner of his lips.
And all the while, you could feel that smile never leaving him, even as you kissed him so much it felt as though you might wear away his skin.
His smile only deepened with every kiss.
Until it finally broke into a soft laugh that echoed through the space, filling the warm light around the two of you.
Only then did you stop to look at him.
The sound of his laughter rumbled in his chest, and somehow it seemed to tickle right into your heart as well.
“Since when did you even build this?” you asked, and his smile remained.
Your hands were still cupping his face, your thumbs brushing gently against his skin.
His gaze lowered to meet yours, and something in his expression softened further, as though he were remembering something dear.
Then he leaned down even more, pressing his forehead gently against yours until you could feel the warmth of his breath lingering on your skin.
“You could say it was since the first time you answered my letter,” he answered.
The words caught you completely off guard.
Your hands almost slipped from his face as you stared at him.
“But… that was before we even…”
You could not even finish the sentence, because the more you tried to say it, the more heat began to rise across your face.
And there he stood, looking at you with that soft, knowing smile that always made you feel seen far too clearly.
You had to look away.
Because did that not mean he had liked you long before you had even realized your own feelings?
And that he had already begun building this tower before the two of you had even become a couple?
You did not know whether it was because he had simply been that confident that he could win your heart, or whether he had been that desperate to keep you close.
Honestly, you were not sure you wanted to ask.
It only made you more embarrassed to realize that you had never noticed just how early he had fallen for you.
As you got lost in your thoughts, you felt his hand lift.
His palm gently pressed over the back of your hand before wrapping around it, guiding it slowly to his lips.
He pressed a kiss against your knuckles.
His lips were still slightly damp from your earlier kisses, warm and soft against your skin.
The sensation, along with the warmth of his breath, made you tremble slightly.
“You might think my actions are impulsive but they weren’t…” he said softly, answering the question already forming in your mind.
When you looked up again, his gaze met yours.
“I have thought about this for quite a while now, but…”
As he pulled you back into his embrace, you felt his lips nuzzle softly near your ear.
His voice slipped into your ear like honey, as though he were sharing a secret meant only for you.
“I was afraid you’d decline my proposal.”
You waited for him to continue, and this time his hand rose to caress your face with such tenderness that you instinctively leaned into it.
“After that journey, I don’t want to waste any more time apart from you.”
His tone grew firmer and more determined with every word, and you could hear the sincerity in every syllable.
He was pouring his heart out to you.
Laying it bare.
Letting you see every feeling inside.
Before you could stop yourself, your arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders as you hugged him close.
You buried your face against his shoulder, his long strands brushing gently across your cheek as though every part of him wished to cherish you.
To comfort you.
To hold you with all the tenderness he possessed.
You tried not to cry.
But already you could feel the dampness gathering along your lashes, tears slipping free before you even fully understood why.
Were they tears of happiness? Or something more? And why were they only coming now?
Zuko felt the slight shake of your shoulders and immediately began smoothing a hand over your back in soft, comforting strokes.
You lifted your face to look at him.
“I want to make you happy too, Zuko.”
That drew the deepest smile you had ever seen from him.
“I really look forward to it, my Queen.”
Then he kissed you again and you leaned into him, returning the kiss as the warm golden light shimmered through the clear glass windows around you.
The flicker of the two candles in the corner seemed to glow even brighter and warmer. As if the whole room itself was sharing in your happiness.
