Breaking The Cycle || Tyrant! Zuko x Wife! Reader
Warning: briefly mentions child neglect, mentions self exiting ideations, zuko does one good deed and acts like he’s on his deathbed
Will Zuko be a monstrous father like his own, or will he break the cycle?
A/n: art -> yvrenin on TT. Enjoy! (this feels a little boring sorry if it is)
You hated your life. You hated your husband. You hated waking up in the morning so much that you wished you would peacefully die in your sleep and wake in the spirit realm instead.
At least then you’d be free.
Zuko refused to take a wife for the first five years of his reign, deeming it a distraction. That was until your father—the royal treasurer was caught skimming money from the accounts and sentenced to death.
He only saved himself by offering up his only daughter.
Zuko refused at first and was prepared to get rid of both of you, but his advisors kindly reminded him that he needed heirs, and quickly. So, rather reluctantly, he agreed.
Which brought you to today.
Today was the day your entire family had to attend the war council meeting. Zuko insisted on showing your children how kings conquered and ruled over their subjects, just as his father once had.
You were terrified of this. More terrified for your children than yourself.
Your son, Azael, adored his father. He wanted to be strong and fierce just like him. Your daughter, Zarina, was more like you—reserved and observant. They were both good children with kind hearts, and that was what worried you most.
They were too kind for the life ahead of them.
You stared at yourself in the mirror, feeling as though you no longer recognized the woman looking back. If it weren’t for your babies, you would have taken the poison your healer gave you years ago.
“My lady, we’re finished.” Your servants bowed before leaving the room. You continued staring at your reflection, trying to gather enough courage just to sit through the dreadful meeting ahead. Reluctantly, you stood and stepped out of your chambers, servants bowing as you passed.
“My lady, the meeting has already started. Lord Zuko is waiting for you.” You sighed. Damn it, you hadn’t realized how long you’d delayed.
Slight fear buzzed through your body. Zuko wasn’t abusive, but he certainly knew how to make you pay for disobedience or disrespect.
“Where are the children?” you asked worriedly, quickening your pace.
“Out in the gardens. Would you like me to retrieve them?”
You shook your head. “No, thank you. I will.”
You found your twins in the gardens chasing turtle-ducks, mocking their waddles and quacks. Despite everything, the sight brought a small smile to your face. It was nice seeing them behave as children should.
Too bad you had to ruin the moment.
“Azael, Zarina, come. Your father is waiting for us.”
“Aww, do we have to?” they pouted simultaneously.
You shook your head, holding back a smile. “Yes, and hurry or he’ll be upset.”
They immediately straightened their posture and ran over to you. They had yet to face their father’s wrath, but they knew better than to push their luck.
You guided them inside with a hand on each of their backs. The walk to the council room was silent, your mind praying the meeting would pass quickly.
The soldiers stationed outside snapped to attention and opened the doors for you. Zuko’s attention immediately shifted toward the entrance. He watched as you and the children entered, the three of you bowing before taking your seats. You could tell he was irritated by your lateness, but that would be dealt with later.
You sat down and your children moved beside you, but Zuko beckoned Azael over with a small motion of his hand.
“Come. Sit here, son. It’s time you learned how to lead.”
Azael hesitated, glancing toward you. You gave him a slight nod of permission before he walked over to his father and carefully sat beside him.
The meeting continued, though it all blurred together. You barely paid attention, too focused on your som. He listened intently, his little eyes fixed on Zuko as though he were a god himself.
Eventually, one of the commanders stepped forward. You could immediately tell he carried bad news by the sweat forming on his forehead.
“There’s an earthbending village refusing to surrender. We sent troops, but Lord Zuko, I believe we underestimated them.”
An eerie silence settled over the room.
“Underestimated?” Zuko repeated coldly. “The Fire Nation does not underestimate peasants. Weak commanders do. Burn their homes and crops. Take those who surrender as prisoners, and the leaders…” His voice lowered dangerously. “Make an example out of them. Execute them on the spot.”
Your eyebrow twitched at the harshness of the order. Your heart ached for them, but there was nothing you could do.
“Father… what about the children?” Your son’s small voice echoed through the chamber.
Your heart began to beat so loud you could hear it. You looked at him desperately, silently pleading for him to stop talking.
“If they choose to fight,” Zuko answered evenly, “they too will perish.”
Azael looked dissatisfied with the answer. Slowly, he rose to his feet until he stood directly in front of his father.
“Father, you can’t. Mother says all children are innocent no matter where they come from. Give them a chance to defect. We can help them.”
Small gasps and whispers filled the room. The tension was so thick it could choke someone.
Zarina noticed the shift and scooted closer, you instinctively wrap an arm around her, but your eyes remained fixed on your son as you silently begged the spirits that Zuko wouldn’t harm him for speaking out. Then your gaze shifted toward your husband.
Normally, you could never read him. But today…There was conflict written plainly across his face. Why would he ever be conflicted? When Zuko made a decision, it was final. He never reconsidered, never doubted himself.
“Azael,” he said quietly, “you believe my decision is wrong?”
Azael glanced nervously toward you before looking back at his father, tiny hands fidgeting with his robes.
“N-no, Father, I—” Zuko’s hand rose to cup the side of his face.
Your heart plummeted. Without thinking, you rushed forward, pulling Azael out of the way before collapsing onto your knees.
“Please,” you begged desperately. “I beg of you, Lord Zuko, do not take what he said to heart. Forgive him, please. I myself will make sure he is dealt with. Please, my lord… have mercy on our son.”
Your hands flattened against the cold marble floor, forehead hovering just above it. You remained perfectly still, not daring to move until commanded otherwise.
“Look at me,” he ordered. Slowly, you lifted your head. His amber eyes burned with controlled anger.
“Is this the nonsense you teach our son?” he questioned, his voice rising slightly.
“Leave my presence. You are dismissed.”
You anxiously paced back and forth in your room. This is the most frightened you’ve ever been since marrying him, this time not for yourself but your son.
You’ve heard the rumors of what Ozai did to Zuko after he spoke out against him, it’s like watching history repeat itself.
Your pacing came to a halt after you heard your chamber doors slide open then closed.
“Where is he?” His voice was calm and demanding.
You straightened out your posture walking over to him, your fear was replaced with a wave of protectiveness.
“I sent them to their rooms.” You kept your voice strong unwavering, unwilling to back down even if that meant taking the punishment for your kids.
Zuko stared at you for a long moment before turning on his heels toward Azael’s chambers. You took in a sharp breath immediately following him, not because he told you to but because you were terrified of what he might do.
The palace halls were silent except for the sharp echo of his boots against stone. Servants lowered their heads as he passed, too afraid to even breathe in his presence. You kept a few steps behind him, heart pounding harder with every turn. Your mind raced on a million scenarios that could happen and what you would have to do to protect them.
You could run away changing their names, send them with your cousins far east, he’d never find them there. Or if worse come to worse…you’d have to kill him with the poison you kept hidden.
When he reached the children’s chambers he paused. You furrowed your eyebrows at his hesitation. Again? He’s never hesitated before this.
He let out a deep breath then slid the door open. Azael sat on the floor surrounded by miniature soldier figurines and turtle-duck carvings, though the moment he saw his father he scrambled upright so quickly one of the toys rolled beneath a cabinet.
“Father.” Fear. Your son was afraid, your heart sank you hated it seeing him so terrified.
Zuko’s gaze swept across the room before settling on the small boy standing rigidly in front of him. He was waiting for punishment. Waiting for his father to berate him for embarrassing him.
Instead, Zuko crouched in front of him. Your head tilted in confusion, the movement startled both of you.
“You embarrassed your mother today,” he said calmly. You raised an eyebrow shocked.
Azael glanced at you then lowered his head instantly. “I’m sorry, Father. I’m sorry for speaking out of turn, I know better. I know mercy makes you weak”
There was a pause before Zuko spoke. “But you were not weak.”
Your eyebrows furrowed, is this some joke? Why was Zuko behaving this way?
Azael blinked in confusion waiting for his father to continue. Zuko picked up one of the fallen figurines, turning it slowly between his fingers.
“A leader surrounded by people too frightened to challenge him becomes a complacent fool.” His eyes lifted toward his son. “You spoke because you believed it was right.”
“Oh, I am angry,” Zuko admitted his voice lowering an octave. “You questioned me in front of my generals.”
The child visibly shrank with shame. Then Zuko placed the figurine back into Azael’s hands.
“But I would rather have a son with conviction than one who bows his head to everything I say.”
Your eyes slightly widened, you didn’t know what to do or feel. This has to be a twisted game he’s playing.
Zuko rose to his feet once more, towering over the both of you.
“You will learn one day,” he said quietly, “that compassion and mercy are not the same thing.”
Azael looked up at him carefully, hanging onto every word.
“Mercy can make a ruler weak. Compassion tells him when to be merciful.”
Your son nodded despite not fully understanding, he was too young to understand. Too young to be sitting in war meetings. Too young to already fear disappointing his father.
Zuko rested a hand atop Azael’s head briefly before turning away. “Get some rest. Tomorrow you and your sister will resume your studies.”
He lowered his head bowing “Yes, Father.”
Zuko cut his eyes at you as he walk past. The chamber doors slid shut behind him and only then did you breathe.
Azael looked toward you with wide eyes. “Mother… Father wasn’t angry with me.” You forced a smile onto your face, though your thoughts were in complete disarray.
“No baby,” you answered softly. “No, he wasn’t.” But that almost frightened you more.
Sleep avoided you like the plague that night. You tossed and turn but could never fall asleep longer than thirty minutes. Every time you closed your eyes you saw the look on Zuko’s face in the council chamber. Not anger but conflict.
As though Azael’s words had struck someplace buried deep within him. You hated yourself for wondering what kind of man he would have become had Fire Lord Ozai never broken him.
The thought alone felt dangerous.
With a sigh you toss the quilt off of you. You rose from bed near midnight, unable to endure the silence any longer. You walked to your vanity wrapping a robe around yourself, you stepped into the palace halls intending to clear your mind.
Not too far in your walk, hushed voices stopped you. You’re not one to eavesdrop but they were speaking about your husband.
“The Fire Lord made the decision immediately.”
“He imprisoned Councilman Zhao himself.” Another servant gasped quietly. “For what?”
“I heard for suggesting the prince be punished.” Ice flooded your veins, you wanted to bust them for gossiping but something in you wanted to hear more.
“He said the prince’s behavior was disrespectful and dangerous. Suggested harsher discipline before the boy became difficult to control.”
Your stomach twisted with anger, Azael would never do anything to betray his father. He loved him too much.
“And what did Fire Lord Zuko say?” The servant lowered his voice further, though you still heard every word.
“He said no man would speak on how he disciplines his family again.”
“Then he ordered Zhao dragged to the lower cells.”
A gasp almost escaped your lips.
“He threatened anyone else who questioned Prince Azael’s character with the same fate.”
The servants eventually scattered, unaware of your presence hidden within the shadows.
But you remained frozen. You didn’t know how to feel, you should have felt relieved.
Instead you felt… confused? Because none of this made sense. This was the same man who ordered villages burned without hesitation. The same man who was feared throughout every nation. The same man who ruled with an iron grip so merciless even his own generals trembled before him. Yet the moment someone threatened his son— No not even threatened, questioned, Zuko protected him.
Your thoughts spiraled so deeply you nearly didn’t notice the approaching footsteps until a familiar voice cut through the hall.
“You enjoy wandering the palace in the middle of the night?”
You jumped turning sharply. Zuko stood at the end of the corridor dressed in dark robes, his hair completely loosened from the day. You noticed he looked exhausted. More exhausted than you had ever seen him before.
“I could ask you the same thing,” you replied cautiously. His gaze narrowed, lingering on you for a moment before he stepped closer. He didn’t have to say a word to appear threatening he just was.
“I…I heard the servants talking,” you admitted carefully.
His expression darkened instantly, “They forget their place.” He began to walk around you headed to punish said servants.
“You imprisoned a councilman over Azael?” He stopped for a moment then turned on his heel to face you again.
“He spoke about my son as though he were some disobedient animal to be beaten into submission.” His jaw tightened. “I will not tolerate that.”
The words stunned you silent. Not because they were cruel, because they weren’t. You looked up at him head tilted trying to understand this confusing man. One moment he wants to raise a tyrant who strikes fear in the hearts of the disobedient and willing to disown him if not. The next he’s defending him punishing anyone who speaks ill of him.
For a moment neither of you spoke. His strong stature not seeming any less intimidating as he stood in front of you. Then suddenly Zuko swayed slightly.
Your eyes widened as your hands almost go out to try and catch him. He caught himself against the wall, breathing sharply through clenched teeth.
“It’s nothing.” But it clearly wasn’t. Even beneath the dim firelight his skin looked pale, a thin sheen of sweat covering his forehead despite the cool night air.
“You’re ill, I will call the physician at once.” You turn to leave but a weak hand grips your forearm.
“I said it’s nothing.” His voice came harsher this time, though weaker too. “Walk me back to my chambers.”
He’s…asking for help? Without question you obeyed him, but that didn’t stop your mind from racing. For the first time since marrying him he felt human instead of this terrifying monster.
What could possibly be going on with your husband?
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