A/n: man, this ATLA brainrot hasn’t left me at all since I laid eyes upon Fire Lord Zuko from the movie ughhhh this troubles my heart mannnn
Content: fluff | zuko x gender neutral reader | yes fire lord zuko | wc: 848 words
You and Zuko shared a private yet essential ritual when his Fire Lord duties led him to aid the Avatar in need or overseas diplomacy when international relations weren't exactly the best between the Fire Nation and the other nations. This ritual was absolutely mandatory - to assuage Zuko's worries that no harm would come to him, and to assure you that he would return home the same husband as you had wedded years ago.
When you first approached him with such a ritual, his thoughts were troubled: anxieties of assassins coming for his head, not ruling adequately for a Fire Lord of his station, and the mounting obligations to fix the nation inside out. When you held his hands and pressed your forehead against his, a warm sensation washed over him, his thoughts quieting for a spell.
All he felt was your presence, your warmth, even the scent of your perfume wafting about. At that moment, he wished to stay with you for a moment longer - how long had it been since he had last felt your touch? Yet time was a cruel thing as you broke away, eyes glancing over at your husband for a sliver of improvement.
"That felt nice." He admits with a blush dusting his cheeks - that reaction was exactly what you were looking for. From then on, that moment became a quiet ritual, a sacred yet profound routine between you and your husband; it wasn't just a simple goodbye greeting between husband and partner, but a meaningful blessing.
As time went on, your lips left blessings upon his cheek, his forehead, and his scar, each kiss fortifying your love. Though love alone wouldn't cloak him from the perils of the world, the lingering touch of your lips on his skin was enough to empower him, fueling his firebending to the zenith.
When word came to the Avatar's aid for Mount Baihu, you were already at the doorstep, ready to part your blessings upon your beloved husband. Years had honed his mind and sanity to the point where the shadows of his early reign as Fire Lord felt like nothing; your blessings truly working their magic, or so he had thought. Each time you bestow your blessings, he kept your well wishes to heart, all the while nursing the desire to linger by your side a little longer.
He whispers a promise to return home safely, carrying the weight of your kisses with the same gravity as his obligation to the throne. You cling to that promise, watching his silhouette, shaped by the weight of his duty to the Fire Nation and his friendship to the Avatar, depart for the world unknown.
Every time you gave your blessing, your husband returned home safely. Still, this time, to your understanding, he told a different story: upon your husband's arrival from Mount Baihu, there was a different man - his eyes landing on you at first sight, his feet carrying him towards you at a brisk pace; one would assume something was amiss.
You inquire about his ailment, seeing that he was in good shape and sound of mind. He assents, his answer, a hand caressing your cheek before he leans in, pressing his forehead against yours - a gesture reminiscent of the ritual you did before.
He pleads, his amber eyes peering into you in a way that felt like yearning; the time he had spent apart from you had changed him - in ways you couldn't fathom. You didn't seem to mind the multitude of eyes looking in your direction - any sliver of dignity you had left tossed to the winds as your husband, the very man who had just returned home after what seemed to be a perilous journey, regards you with loving eyes.
You nod quietly, letting a smile grace your lips before Zuko envelopes you in a kiss, a hand wrapping around your waist tightly, his body a blaze of heat that you wholeheartedly embrace, not minding the impassioned hums and sighs eliciting from your lips. All you knew was that your beloved husband was home, the warmth of his lips and body a poignant note of his presence.
You break away, collecting your breath as a thin line made from your passions connecting your lips splits. You thought of asking your husband what had transpired during his adventures, but your mind blanks - the kiss from earlier eradicating any rhyme or reason from your person. Was that an act of reciprocity from your husband, who had been away from home for too long, or an act of true, unfettered passion he had festering in his heart to the point where he couldn't wait to show it to his partner on the spot? Either way, you welcomed the gesture, heat warming your cheeks as your husband hoisted you up with his sturdy arms, a loving smile dancing upon his handsome features.