Literal Joke
starter for @water-bending-queen
it was routine for Zuko to return home and come home to take a shower. It broke the monotony of being around food after dealing with it all day (and even if he was hungry, he desperately needed that break from cooking something) and just helped him to relax. The patter of water against his face helped to clear his mind while the steam from a very very hot shower soothed his nerves.
Zuko ran his hands through his hair, rinsing the rest of the shampoo from the strands. Through his distraction of a comforting shower, Zuko had missed the door to his bathroom open. And he missed the shadow that approached the shower. He only became alert when the curtain pulled back.
“What the-” His words were cut off as the stranger swiped at him, the knife connecting with the skin just above his hip. Zuko winced as he quickly turned towards the assailant, feet slipping on the wet plastic of the shower’s floor. His hand reached out as he fell, tearing down the curtain as he crashed into the shower’s tub.
Steam swirled around Zuko’s mind, and the shock of a surprise assailant had his golden eyes struggling to see straight. Droplets of crimson blood dripped from his side and mixed with the falling water, turning it pink as it swirled down the drain. His emotions got the best of him, and Zuko exhaled deeply. But when flames didn’t shoot from his mouth, he knew something was wrong. No, he thought. Concentrate. You’re not done! Hazily he blinked, and his golden eyes widened as he watched the stranger stab forward.
Instinctively Zuko reached forward with the shower curtain clenched between his fists and caught the knife in between the cottony fabric. His eyes widened and he twisted the fabric, causing the knife to fall from the man’s hand and narrowly missing cutting Zuko’s foot. The firebender glanced up for the first time at his assailant and saw the crazed mask he had heard about in the news.
The Killing Joke.
He shoved forward, throwing the shower curtain at the serial killer. “Get out... Get out!” he yelled, finally finding his strength as a blast of fire exploded from his hand. The steam became thicker as heat filled the room, fire crashing against the door frame as The Killing Joke backed out of the room.
Exhaustion of overexertion and the swirling heat finally caused Zuko to lean his head back and take deep breaths.