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#general iroh x reader
melzula · 3 months
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REQUESTS ARE OPEN !!!!! okay this has been a long time coming for me but would you be open to doing a general iroh and kya’s daughter wedding piece ? i feel like that’s the only part of their relationship we haven’t seen !
a/n: was so excited to get this request bc i love these two so much!!!
~ based off of these headcanons ~
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“You look beautiful.”
“I think I’m going to puke,” you utter with a nervous laugh, anxiously fidgeting with the ceremonial pins in your hair that you just can’t seem to get straight.
Sighing, Kya carefully pushes your hands away before adjusting the pins herself. The golden ornate pieces had been a gift from Zuko, said to have belonged to his late wife and worn on their own wedding day, and though you were grateful for the thoughtful gift you also felt that an immense amount of pressure came with them. Marrying Iroh meant you’d officially be part of the royal family now, and a part of you was worried you wouldn’t be able to live up to the expectations that came with that.
“It’s normal to be nervous,” your mother consoles, stepping back to admire her work once the pins are set. “Today is an important day and the start of another adventure for you, but it’s nothing you can’t handle.”
“I don’t feel like a real bride,” you admit in an almost defeated tone. You stare at your reflection in the mirror and find yourself carefully brushing your fingers against the crescent moon hanging from your neck. The coolness of the stone against your fingertips brings a sense of comfort to you, but it doesn’t relieve you of your nerves.
“Are you having second thoughts?” Kya asks with a worried furrow of her brows.
“Of course not!” You’re quick to interject. “I love Iroh, I can’t imagine a life without him anymore.”
“But?” Your mother prods.
“But… What if I’m not good at being a wife? What if I’m just not… not good at all. He’s the General and the son of the Fire Lord. What can I give him that he doesn’t already have or that he couldn’t get from a Fire Nation woman here?”
Smiling faintly, Kya gently takes your hands in her own and gives them a comforting squeeze. “That boy loves you more than you could ever know. I see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice when he speaks about you. I wouldn’t have given him my blessing if I wasn’t one hundred percent sure of this. Don’t compare yourself or waste your time wondering about all the what ifs. All you have to do today is focus on Iroh, and everything else will take care of itself.”
You let out a shaky breath and blink back your tears before throwing your arms around your mother in a tight hug. You know she speaks the truth, and her comforting words greatly ease your anxiety. You’d fallen in love with the boy from your childhood, and he’d fallen just as hard for you if not harder. Despite being apart for so many years you’d found your way back to each other and helped one another find the missing piece in your lives. You and Iroh are simply meant to be, and your wedding will be proof that.
A gentle knock on the door has you parting from your mother, and as Bumi sticks his head in the doorway you smile.
“It’s almost time, kiddo,” he says with a grin. “The general’s going to get his socks knocked off when he sees you.”
“Thank you, Uncle Bumi,” you laugh tearfully before allowing him to hug you tight. You don’t know this, but Bumi has always felt a sort of paternal love for you. He was the closest thing you had to a father growing up and you were the closest thing he had to a child, and like your mother he felt so much pride and love at seeing you so happy. He knew you were in good hands, and that was more than enough for him.
“Are you ready?” Kya asks with an encouraging smile. Sucking in one final nervous breath, you nod before taking her arm and beginning your walk to the palace gardens.
In the courtyard a handful of chairs are set up for your intimate ceremony. Only close friends and family are invited, neither you nor Iroh wanted to make a grand spectacle of your marriage, so you decided to hold your wedding in the gardens with his mother Izumi as your officiant.
At the end of the makeshift isle, Iroh stands in his uniform with a fire lily delicately pinned to his lapel. He shifts anxiously from one foot to the other eagerly awaiting for your arrival. He’s been looking forward to this day ever since he proposed to you, and he can’t wait to finally make you his wife after all this time.
“You make a handsome husband, son,” Izumi compliments from her place beside him. “It brings me great joy to see you so happy.”
“Thank you for agreeing to officiate the wedding, mother,” Iroh expresses gratefully.
“I knew it was a matter of time before you two fell in love,” she notes with a careful smile. “I know she’ll make a wonderful wife.”
Beaming with pride, Iroh’s gaze falls upon the garden gates where you finally emerge. Arm linked with Kya’s and with a bouquet of flowers in the other hand, you make the most radiant bride Iroh has ever seen. Your gown flows elegantly behind you as you walk, your hair sparkles from the sunlight hitting the pins, and your smile is enough to take his breath away. He can feel himself beginning to tear up, and it takes everything in him not to rush towards you and take you in his arms himself.
Kya hugs you tight once you reach the end of the isle, doing her best to keep her tears at bay before letting you go. Carefully tucking a stray strand of hair away from your face, she smiles before handing you off to Iroh.
“Take good care of my daughter,” she whispers before chastely kissing his cheek.
The butterflies in your stomach are quieted when you finally reach Iroh. Nothing else but him matters in that moment, and as his golden irises stare into your own you find yourself falling in love all over again.
“You look so beautiful,” he whispers with a tearful laugh.
“So do you,” you smile, carefully wiping your tears so as to not ruin your makeup.
Your ceremony goes without a hitch, and when Izumi officially proclaims you as husband and wife Iroh gracefully dips you before giving you the most passionate kiss you’ve ever experienced. Your family and friends cheer and applaud, but it all fades into the background as you grip his sleeves and melt into his touch.
“I can’t wait to spend forever with you,” he professes earnestly after parting from your kiss.
“Forever and always,” you agree breathlessly before pulling him down by his collar for another kiss.
| atla tags: @nataliahaslosthershit @sirkekselord @chronic-daydreamer @niktwazny303
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ariaroseloklover · 1 year
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So this is not requested but I saw one like this a while ago and can’t find it somewhere I’m making my own adaptation
Summery: reader is sue beifongs eldest daughter and iroh has always liked her but y/n being headstrong needs a little nudge from friends and family
Warnings- cheesiness, none I think let me know if I missed any , this is not spell checked I wrote this at 12:01 AM
You walk into the wedding dressed in a beautiful dress ready to witness the wedding that can only be described as oh so Varrick with little details obviously picked by Zhu Li. everything was going well until you saw opal, her being your sister you always knew when she was up to something but this time you weren’t quite sure what you go towards your seat at the wedding and see what your sister had been grinning about… she had sat you beside iroh, it wasn’t that you didn’t like iroh you actually had quite the history but every time he would start to get close you would shut him down, you hated to admit it but you were just as headstrong and your aunt Lin and the idea of being the wife of the future fire lord being limited to nothing more then the wife of a powerful man was less then thrilling to you
As you sat beside iroh you could not help but wonder what your wedding would have been like had you excepted his proposal all those months ago, your feelings for iroh never died you just pushed the back, but now iroh was all you could think about you breathed in the close proximity between you and iroh noticed hotpot your demeanor changed, taking advantage of the calm state you were in he raps his arm around you, you snuggle into him out of instinct you sit through the wedding until it’s time for everyone to leave for the after party but neither you nor iroh moves
“You can’t keep doing this to me y/n, I need to know if you really see a future with me you can’t keep giving me hope and tearing it away” iroh all but begs after everyone has left
You know his words are true but it stings to see how much you had hurt him you sigh
“I know, but I think I’m finally ready to talk about us about what this relationship means to me because it’s means every thing to me iroh.”
Iroh looks at you with adoring eyes and leans in to kiss you it’s a familiar sensation that you missed but it was cut to an abrupt stop when you hear clapping jumping back to see not only your family but irons to
He looks at you with a wide grin despite the intense blush covering both of your faces
“I guess we have some explaining to do.”
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majeoeje · 1 month
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Counting days
Zuko x reader
I hope you never know how much i cried that day
"Just how long has it been??" You giggled as you twirled Zuko around in your arms. Something you had promised to do three years ago as you bid him goodbye.
Well much to his dismay at least.
"Only 3 years, 5 months and 4 days" he said, you could only laugh in response because you weren't actually expecting a definite answer
Zuko looked embarassed not knowing if he gave the right answer, his awkward demeanor still holds up even to this day making an odd sense of comfort wash over you seeing how some parts of him still remains the same.
You guessed it was 3 years, 2 months and 4 days ago that you bid him goodbye. It was before he set sail for his banishment to a search for the avatar, like it was just another short adventure, you smiled and greet him like it was just an ordinary day at the palace. Like it will be a short trip he'll have to endure not for long. How awfully positive you were being gave him a sense of hope that the nightmare he will go through would eventually come to an end.
Your encouragement only fueled the ambition in his heart to burn brighter.
And the light would dim in your eyes watching him go. He may not see himself as talented or gifted. He told you that hard work and effort had made him strong. Though he fails to notice how he was always your light without even trying.
You wished you yourself believed your own words you said to him.
Because much to his knowledge you broke down only minutes after he left.
"Well it felt longer than that..."
You reminiced, trying to take in the moment. You're here on a mission once again in inner rings of Ba Sing Se when you saw him. You thought you were hallucinating again but upon closer inspection, you were right.
It is him.
Zuko. The banished prince of the fire nation. The fugitive. The honorless coward...
...
..Your best friend.
The sentimentality of this moment bear weight heavier than you could ever hold. Though he knows you'd never admit that
"Really? Lee? You can't be more creative than that?" you try to tease him once more
"So? There's thousands of Lees here in Ba Sing Se"
"You look more like a Chen to me"
"Well you're 4 weeks too late to tell me that" he rolled his eyes, looking away slightly. But not enough to hide the smile that had adorned his face
It was more than meaningful to see him smile once more.
You thought after being scarred so horribly by his father. It would took you mountains of blood sweat and tears to see the corners of his lips turn upwards once more. But Zuko always proves you wrong
Because what you didn't realize and never would, you could always make him smile with just existing.
The chilling air blowed past the two of you, signalling for him to bring you somewhere else.
He took your hand leading you somewhere
"Come on, you have to meet uncle now that you're here"
"Did you and uncle Iroh actually opened a teashop??" You perked up, curious at the smell of jasmine tea that lingered from Zuko's apron.
You could always tell that it was one of uncle Iroh's dream to open his own teashop seeing how critical he always of every cup of tea you served to him. Saying how "every tea is to be brewed with perfection" Making those tea lectures that he would go on about much more yawning. But still, you always appreciate it knowing how those tea brewing lessons were how he kept you company in your visits everytime zuko's not around.
"I don't think it's that surprising"
Zuko then went on a rant on how some men who came in their previous workplace just started offering a job, a building AND an apartment in the inner rings of Ba Sing Se to uncle Iroh
The whole situation would only bring you to giggle at how silly it was. Silly, but a blessing nonetheless.
One thing of note was something has tremondously changed in Zuko, was it his more positive outlook? Or was it his more carefree demeanor. Lacking of the boiling desire to prove himself. Perhaps he has truly let go the way of only pleasing his father and just live?
It does bring contentment. But you can't help but feel sorrow washing you away. Because now you guessed he won't feel the need to come back. Come back home to his country....His rightful place as the heir to the thrown.....His coldblooded father.....His dead silent home...
Or perhaps you just wanted him to come back to you.
You were remembered the days at the palace where he'd eagerly lead you to take a look at something he had took intrest to. Whether it was baby turtleducks, a new gift by uncle Iroh or even a new firebending move he learnt.
"Heyyyy, slow down!" You'd whine, feeling him tug at your hand as he ran
"Come on! We're almost there." He'd say, you were always a little out of breath trying to catch up to him as his grip on your hand never faltered.
These detour wouldn't last long however knowing how people would look for him, cutting your moments short. But you never minded. No mattrr how frequent or how short these little quest last. You were just so happy being with him.
Though as you grew up you noticed these little detour would only lessen as years passed. It was understandable really you two were growing up after all and it wouldn't be appropriate for the prince of the fire nation to be holding hands with his childhood friend to show them daily mundane things.
And you yourself were far too prideful to ask him to do it again so you cherish the memories you already had in your heart.
Still.. you never thought you'd miss how the warm skin of his palm would brush again yours. The question along the lines of 'how long has it been' would echo once more in your head, feeling how rough his hand were now....Different to the smooth small hands of little Zuko.
But the warmth still remained the same.
You bit your lip and stayed silent hoping he doesn't notice the tears that was pooling in your eyes, blurring your vision as you heard him rant about his uncle's new teashop filling in the silence.
The cold air of the inner ring of Ba Sing Se suddenly felt warmer. The illuminated night was engulfed in a glaze of sunset hues as your steps on the concrete streets of Ba Sing Se would ring a sound akin to a smooth tiled floor
It was as if you were back at that damned palace again..
It's as if you were kids all over again.
Though this time you didn't have to worry about catching up to Zuko's pace.
(A/N:not an exact timeline bc i was too lazy to do research)
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thethreeeyed-raven · 5 months
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i’m acc begging for zuko, zoro and iroh ii reqs
I NEED TO WRITE FOR THESE LOVELY MEN
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just look at them oh god🌊
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sugurusluts · 1 year
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Zuko x mercenary!reader -part one
Do people still read Zuko x reader fics?
Mostly for my own amusement bc Zukos adorable- longer than my usual stuff! ♡︎
Warnings: none
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They had followed our little gang around the world, so it wasn’t hard to imagine they’d track Aang here, but they didn’t seem in any mood to strike.
I couldn’t help but feel defensive of the kingdom, even if the two were doing nothing but serving tea. I worked as a mercenary for whatever town seemed to need assistance. Despite not knowing any form of bending, I had connections, and that made me an asset.
Having worked around this place more times than I could count, I knew almost everyone. Most of everyone around town were good people, the type to invite you over for dinner just for giving them a hand in the fields.
Knowing someone like Zuko was around them made me uneasy, that was until Iroh approached me.
“Ah, a mercenary! What mercenary wouldn’t want to help a poor frail old man?” He whined dramatically, from behind me.
“Iroh” my hand tightened on my sword, I assumed there was an unspoken rule that neither group would bother eachother if they truly wanted to live in peace. Maybe I misread this dynamic?
“Good to see you too Y/N, you can losen your grip, im not here to fight you. I couldn’t care less about the Avatar, you know that”
I tilted my head in confusion, what else would he be here for? I couldn’t bring myself to believe he was now a hard working humble business man.
“Would you mind talking to me for just a minute, I’ll make it worth your while” he grinned, holding out a few gold coins he scrounged out of his pockets.
I caved from curiosity, following him as he walked me through a crowd, far away from his new little shop, leading me to a small alley.
“So..why did we have to go to an alleyway for this? Are you gonna mug me?”
“No such thing, I actually have a job for you”
I scoffed, the fuck made him think I’d want to take work from him? I turned on my heel, disappointed at the lack of information he gave me.
“Zuko’s lonely!”
I stopped in my tracks, turning back to Iroh, dumbfounded.
“Zuko’s lonely?”
“Painfully so, you know how hard it is to watch my nephew be such an introvert at his age?”
I rolled my eyes, “what does any of this have to do with me exactly?”
“Well, you could possibly help the poor boy out, couldn’t you?”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m asking you to ask him on a date”
“…”
“…”
Jesus fucking Christ he can’t be serious right now.
“You want me to ask the guy who’s tried to kill my friend more times than I can count on a date?”
“Precisely!”
“…Iroh, I’m not a prostitute, I’m not asking Zuko out for cash. He wouldn’t even agree to it either, he’d recognize me.”
The man sighed, pulling out a fabric bag filled to the brim with gold coins. God Zuko was a lost cause.
“Lay on the charm, and maybe he will!”
He dropped the bag in my hand, holy shit was it heavy..
“…fine”
I never thought I’d end up asking Zuko, the fire lords son out on a date, but here we are.
I sauntered into the tea shop, greeting locals as I made my way to where Zuko was pouring.
Carefully filling the cup, he didn’t notice as I leaned against the counter he was behind. I rested my chin in my hands, looking him up and down.
It has been quite a while since I saw him last, longer hair suited him.
When he finally noticed me, he took a double take, stumbling while trying to hold the cup steady.
“…Y/N..?” He asked almost timidly, as if he didn’t want to believe I was standing infront of him.
“Hey, you remember my name, aren’t you sweet?”
He went quiet, still staring at me as if he was seeing a ghost. He pushed past me, going to deliver tea to a table. What a good little worker.
He returned to where I was standing, starting to wash dishes, ignoring my presence.
“What’s your name?”
“..what?”
“Your name, you’re not still going by Zuko here are you?”
He flinched as I used his real name, his eyes flicking between mine and his dishes.
“..Lee. Why are you here?”
“Can’t I visit my favorite prince?”
He stiffened at the praise. “…are you planning on fighting me?”
“No, the opposite actually”
He furrowed his eyebrows in a surprisingly cute fashion.
“Going from Avatar hunter to waiter must be a real boring change of pace for you, huh?”
He didn’t answer, still washing dishes.
“How about you let me make it more interesting for you?”
“..what?”
“I’m asking you out Lee”
He didn’t say anything to that. He simply blinked comedically, his eyes wide.
I gave him time, I wasn’t going to rush him. Iroh did not have the same curtsy.
“Ah welcome to our Shop miss, what tea do you fancy?”
“..I’m not the biggest fan of tea, I’m here because I fancy something else”
Zukos face turned an impossible shade of red, I thought steam may come out of ears if I kept this up.
“Oh? And what are you referring to?” Iroh couldn’t keep the smile off his face.
“Your nephew of course”
“Oh! Well a night out couldn’t hurt, right Lee?”
He whipped his head back and forth between his uncle and I in disbelief.
“Uncle, you know who this is don’t you?!”
Iroh studied me up and down.
“A humble mercenary looking for a date?”
“You’re exactly right” I smiled knowingly at Iroh, despite him technically being my enemy this exchange was a little fun.
“I don’t see why not Lee! Aren’t they cute?” Iroh gestured to me as if this was completely normal.
“Yeah Lee, aren’t I cute?” *i lean over the counter, invading his personal space.
Poor thing was absolutely floored as he whipped his head between me and Iroh trying to figure out if he was the weird one for being suspicious.
“If this is some sort of ploy to-“ he glares me, but it’s hard to take him seriously with such a red face.
“-I’ll pay for dinner, alright? All you have to do is have fun and look pretty. How about I come back at 7?” I didn’t know I had this much game until now. Why wasn’t I using this power for good before?
“The Shop will be closed by then, no reason to decline” Iroh looks up at his flustered nephew. How long would it take for the poor boy to crack?
“..fine..if you’re not here by exactly seven, I’m not going”
What a brat.. this was going to be an interesting date.
“I’ll be on time, don’t worry your pretty little head. I have business to attend to, I’ll be seeing you Lee” I wink at him, amused at how..affection starved he seemed.
He spun back around, his back facing me, but I could see the blush on his face starting to reach his neck..
Iroh was going to owe me much more than a bag of coins for this.
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melolord14 · 1 month
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“Be my guest it looks harder than it is”
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Y/N pov
I had just got up, I should've been up at the crack of dawn. I walked to the kitchen to see if there anything to eat or I could make when I hear Tenzin voice "That sport is a mockery of the noble tradition of bending" what are they talking about I wonder. "Come on, Tenzin! I've dreamed about seeing a pro-bending match since I was a kid and now I'm just a ferry ride away from" I hear Korra say. So this is about pro-bending I knew Tenzin would never agree to it. I walked into the kitchen so that I could get something to eat or cook as I walked the both of them turned their heads to see me waking in "good morning Y/N" Tenzin said, I nodded my head to acknowledge him that heard him. Tenzin than turned his head back to Korra and said "Korra, you're not here to watch that drivel. You're here to finish your Avatar training" I look at Korra and see her face is filled with disappointment "So, for the time being, I want you to remain on the island" "all right, you're the master" Korra said sadly as she looked out the window.
As the both of them got up and walked I followed I walked beside Korra and I knew than that Tenzin had something important to say "So, my mother informed me that you've never been able to airbend before" "Yeah, but I don't know why. The other elements came so easily to me, but every single time I've tried airbending, nothing" Korra said frustrated with her left hand on her hip. I put my hand on her shoulder to give her some comfort and it does she turned her head and gave me a smile as I gave her a faint smile of my own which I quickly replaced it with a neutral face.
Placing his right hand on her shoulder "That's perfectly all right. You just need to be patient. Often the element that's the most difficult for the Avatar to master is the one most opposite to the Avatar's personality. For Aang, it was earthbending" "Yeah. Well, I'm about as opposite an airbender as you can get." Korra say sadly, I just shook my head and it was true she was but thats doesn't define her and I told her the multiple times but she never listens. We started walking as Tenzin spoke "Let's begin your first lesson" Korra looked at the airbending master dumbfoundead about what he was saying as we walked up the stairs we saw the three airbending kids Ikki was jumping excitedly while screaming "Korra's gonna airbend! Korra's gonna airbend!" Jinora in the other hand stood there solemnly and than Meelo just doing his own thing.
"What is that contraption" Korra said slightly amused to see the spinning gates "A time honored tool that teaches the most fundamental aspect of airbending. Jinora, would you like to explain this exercise?" Jinora step forward and walk closer to the spinning gates and stared explaining "The goal is to weave your way through the gates and make it to the other side without touching them" "Seems easy enough" Korra confidently said I doubt that Korra. Now it was Ikki's truns to say something "Jinora forgot to say that you have to make it through while the gates are spinning" she say said with some much energy "sprites where does she get her energy" I think to my self that girl has a lot.
Tenzin step forward and took an air bending stance his hands above his head than he thrust his hand forward, releasing a bust of air. 'Well Korra good luck' I think to myself, as keep watching Tenzin coat is blowing behind him with the amount of he just airbent I switch my focus back onto the gates and it's spinning like a lot. Tenzin had a left in his hand, he than let it go of the leaf gently "The key is to be like the leaf." Tenzin said as I watched the leaf movements as the leaf want thought the gates it never touched the gate even once "Jinora will demonstrate" Tenzin said with a serious face and looking down at Jinora as she looked up at her dad.
Jinora stepped forward and airbent the gates than she step into the spinning gates her hand held up to her face as tenzin watched his oldest daughter. Waving her way though the gates switching direction each time a spinning panel came near her "airbending is all about spiral movements. When you meet resistance, you must be able to switch direction at a moment's notice" I already knew about as I studied and learn all forms of bending. Jinora exited in the other side of the gates the panels were now being to slow down. Jinora truned around than blow a gust of air making the panels spin rapidly again and here I am standing next to Tenzin as thinking I could maybe I cloud I have never done the spinning gates.
"Let's do this" Korra said determined to get through the gate without getting hit. I watch as Korra runs into the contraption the first panel was easy to get through but the rest was hard as Korra tried to get through the panels but hitting all of them Tenzin grimaced in pain watching Korra. As she got hit by two panels again and finally Korra makes it out of the spinning gates as she got knock down by the panels, Korra soon got back up on her feet and ran into the spinning gates again as me, Tenzin, three kids watched. "Don't force your way through!" Jinora shoted with her hand cupped so that Korra could hear her" I can hear korra getting hit by the panels
"Y/N has Korra ever been light on her feet?" I look at Tenzin and back to the spinning gates and answer while watching my sister fail to get through the gates "not much Tenzin but sometimes she has, she is able to dodge rocks that come to her but it look like it's not helping that she is learning airbending" "I see" Tenzin says I just nodded. "Dance! Dance like the wind!" Ikki shouted at Korra, Korra got knocked back by one of the panels "Be the leaf" Meelo told Korra while waving his arms to motion the leaf. Korra made it out the gates as we walked to her she feel to ground I look at my sister and than back to the gates maybe I could try.
"Tenzin do you mind if I try?" I asked "be my guest it look harder than it is" Korra say to while getting up. Tenzin noded his head and airbent the gates I watched for moment than walked in with my hand held up to my face and staying light in my feet 'When you meet resistance, you must be able to switch direction at a moment's notice' I hear Tenzin voice in my head as I switch directions and repeat again as I get though the last panel I look at the airbending master and my sister "well how did I do?" I asked tenzin looked shocked and surprised as well as Korra but I saw a hit of jealousy in Korra. "That was amazing" Ikki yelled as she jump "yeah that awesome Y/N" Jinora said to me I both of them a small smile.
"Yeah that was awesome you should do it again" I hear Meelo I chuckled at that. I tuned to see Tenzjn looking at me "that indeed was great Y/N I have never seen anyone go through the spinning gates in their first try" "yeah that was great" Korra said with a hit of jealousy I just smirked at that I knew her well enough for her to be so "thank you Tenzin it looks like my studies have payed off oh and Korra stop mopping it doesn't look good in if your want to airbend you gotta start thing like an airbender ok?" I say as I turn to Korra she look at me and gaves me a nod.
"I think that's enough of training for today" Tenzin told the kids and Korra. Tenzin turned to me " Y/N can I speak to you?" "sure" I said following him to his office. "What is that you wanted to talk about Tenzin?" I asked as I stood crossing my arms "Y/N I need to ask you a favor" we'll this strange "what is it Tenzin? spit it out" "well you know your sister gets into a lot of trouble" "yes, I know Tenzin" "well I was hoping you would keep her out of trouble" "Tenzin I do that already. I'm 30 Tenzin I've been this for a long time you don't need to worry about Korra. with the whole Amon thing you need to focus on that and training Korra I'll try to keep her out trouble" "thank you Y/N" "is that all? I would like to go practice some bending before dinner" I asked Teznin "yes that is all thank you again" I gave him a nod than left his office.
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"Airbend!" Korra said while punching forward I heard Korra so was frustrated that she could airbend but she need to be patient as I walk I see a newpaper with the picture of the chief of police Lin Beifong I think about her for a bit but I was bought back by korra "what is wrong with me? airbend" "you know that's not gong to work right" I say as I walk up to her. Korra was still sanding in the same position as she was before still trying to airbend but soon she became frustrated and impatient sighing as she sent a fire punch at the newspaper , I wanted to read that uhg guesse I'll go find a different one later.
"Aargh! Maybe I'm just not cut out to be an airbender, huh, Naga" Korra say frustrated "now don't say that Korra" I say as I put my hand in her right shoulder.
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"I think I'm doing it wrong" I head Korra as walked to where they were. "Mind if I join?" I asked as everyone look to where I was standing "you don't even have to ask Y/N" Jinora said I sat down next crossing my legs, hands relaxed on my legs, closing my eyes as I take a deep breath in and out. Tenzin opens his eyes "There's nothing to do. Let your mind and your spirit be free" I knew when Tenzin said that Korra look annoyed "for air is the element of freedom" Korra chuckled at that and waved her hands. "Is something ... funny?" Teznin asked in dismay "Yeah, you're telling me to embrace freedom, but you won't even let me listen to the radio. And forget about leaving this island!" Korra said her voice filled with a bit of angry 'yup that's my sister the avatar but she does have a point' I think to myself.
"Please, Korra" Tenzin said than points at his Meelo "Look at Meelo; he's able to meditate peacefully" by now I had open my eyes and started watching them "umm Tenzin I think he's sleeping" I say to him, me and Korra look at each other than back to Meelo "What? Well, at least he has the relaxing part down." "Whatever. None of this airbending stuff makes any sense to me" Korra say clearly annoyed "I know you're frustrated, but these teachings will sink in over time. Then one day, they'll just click" Tenzin than closed his eyes and took a deep breath than opens his eyes. Korra tried agian but than soon gave up with a sigh "Yeah, it's not sinking in yet" Korra got up and stayed waking away "I'm gonna go get a glass of lychee juice."
"Korra, the meditation's not over yet!" Tenzin told Korra sternly but Korra was already gone "Daddy, can I have some lychee juice too?" Ikki asked with a hopeful smile "No" Tenzin told Ikki sternly. I just sighed "come on Tenizn just let her get some lychee juice" "fine" Teznin said Ikki smiled and jumped up and she came to hug me than left. "I didn't know you had a heart Y/N" Tenzin said to me, I looked at him with my eyebrow raised "and what's thats supposed to mean Tenzin" I say in a dangerously low voice "no.... nothing" he say quickly I smirk at that. "Good, I do remember beating you in a sparring match before Teznin wanna rematch?" I say, he look at me and shook his head "no I don't think so, I'm not going to fight a battle I know imma lose" he say "alright Teznin" I say, I gave him one Final look than left.
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"Patience, Korra!" Tenzin told Korra as she tried to get through the spinning gates but failing at it. If she keeps up with this than well than the gates might be destroyed and I was right Korra firebended as she destroyed the panels. As Teznin and the three kids look at Korra with wide eyes especially Tenzin "That was a two-thousand-year-old historical treasure!" Tenzin closes his eyes in frustration "what ..." Teznin angrily shouts at Korra making his cape fluttered behind him "what is wrong with you?" "There's nothing wrong with me! I've been practicing just like you taught me, but it isn't sinking in, okay? It hasn't clicked like you said it would" Korra said angry angrily at Tenzin.
"Korra, this isn't something you can force. If you would only listen to me ..." Teznin said calmer with his eyes closed "I have been! But you know what I think? Maybe the problem isn't me! Maybe the reason I haven't learned airbending yet is because" Korra pointed at Tenzin "you're a terrible teacher" "enough korra" I told her sternly she knew not to mess with me I might be her sister but I was also her water bending master with master Katara. Korra looked at me as if she wanted to say something I narrowed my eyes at her, she quickly shut her mouth and left.
I sigh "I'm sorry Teznin about Korra's behavior" "it's alright Y/N it's not your fault your doing your best" Teznin told me" he say as he put his hand my shoulder I gave him small smile which I never showed anywho beside some people. He seem shocked to see me smile even if it was lilttle he smiled back at me. "Yeah! You're a terrible teacher, Daddy!" Meelo said as he pointed his finger energetically at his dad. The two girls just hugged there dad I smiled at that.
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Pema puts down the tray in the table "Okay! Everyone here?" Pema looked around to see if anyone was missing motherly instincts kicking in I guesed "Wait. Where's Korra" "Honestly, Pema, I am at my wit's end with that girl! I ... I don't know how to get through to her" that's all I heard before I zoned out think abt the chief 'spirits she's beautiful and yet no seem to notice that about her I wish that I could spend some time with her what I gave to know get to know her' I think to myself. I was only bought back when I heard Teznin "You must promise me that your teenage years won't be like this" "I will make no such promises" Jinora replied to her dad emotionlessly. Out of all the three kids I was closest to Jinora she was quite and intelligence but she was just a kid still so I let her be one when she's with me. I usually don't like people see this side of me which no will I hope.
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I was with Tenzin trying to find my sister as we found a group of guards "Pardon me, everyone, have you seen Korra this evening? She's not in her room" he asked the guards. "You've gotta be kidding me! She's the Avatar, folks! Playing in a pro-bending match!" Well Teznin Pisa's his face is all red and his eyebrows twitch in anger , I on the other hand was still neutral "Can you believe that" uhg I swear Korra if anything happens I'm going to water wip you all the way back home. "I'll get her myself!" Teznin angrily says as her turn around to go get Korra and I went with him.
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At the Arena
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I looked at Korra my arms crossed while she look up at me and Tenzin "Oh, hey, Tenzin. I thought you didn't like coming to these matches and Y/N what are you doin-" "can't it" I snap at her. "Once again, you have flagrantly disobeyed my orders. You were to stay on the island! Let's go" Teznin said to Korra as I just stared at the players that were in the podium i thoses were her teammates but I don't care I gave them a hard glare. "No! I'm kind of in the middle of something" Korra shots at Teznin ". I have tried my very best to get through to you by being gentle and patient" his voice getting anger "but clearly the only thing you respond to is force! So I am ordering you to come back to the temple right now."
Is this going to be often I think them fighting "Why? So I can sit around and meditate about how bad I am at airbending? You know, I'm beginning to think there's a reason I haven't been able to learn it! Because, maybe, I don't even need it! it! know, I'm beginning to think there's a reason I haven't been able to learn it! Because, maybe, I don't even need it" "What? That is a ludicrous suggestion!" Teznin say than points at Korra "the Avatar needs to learn airbending! It is not optional!" I've had enough of them yelling at each other.
"No! This is what I need to learn! Modern styles of fighting" Korra say while pointing at the podium. "Being the Avatar isn't all about fighting, Korra! When will you learn that" Teznin told Korra but Korra has already truned and started to walk away "I have a match to go finish". I sighed uncrossing my arm so they fall to my sides.
Ring announcer
"The Platypus Bears win round two! The moment Korra stands on the platform, it starts ascending." Round three over. The Platypus Bears come out of the gate and quickly go after the Ferret brothers! They're corralled in the corner, wedged in the edge of zone one, unable to come to the Avatar's rescue! And boy, does she need it" (okay y'all I'm getting tried of writing this part so imma skip I know I can't keep skipping but in my defense I'm writing some long chapters for y'all)
The opposing firebender look annoyed by this sudden change; he and his team mates attack again. Korra who nimbly dodges their attack. Korra's feet, moving like an airbender would. Teznin look surprised and so do I for a little bit but not for long "How about that?" Teznin said dumbfounded.
Ring announcer
"The Platypus Bears have no juice left, but Mako and Bolin are still fresh and juicy"
'So that's there names huh Mako and Bolin not bad.'
"Knockout!" The ring announcer says so this mean they win not bad Korra.
I looked to the side and saw Teznin "woohoo!"he yelled as he pointed at the arena.
Ring announcer
"The Fire Ferrets come from waaay behind and steal the win! What an upset, folks! The rookies, Avatar in tow, have nabbed a place in the championship tournament! I can not believe it"
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Teznin and me arrived at the island as we talked about the situation that's been going on in the city. We stop when we're near foot steps coming our way I knew it was Korra , Teznin glanced over his shoulder to see Korra. We truned around to see Korra as she started talking "I'm really sorry ... about everything I said" pointing to her self "I was really frustrated with myself" she than gestured toward Teznin "and I took it out on you" "I think I owe you an apology too. I was trying to teach you about patience, but I lost mine" "No hard feelings?" Korra asked hopefully "Of course not. By the way, you were really good out there tonight. You moved just like an airbender."
"Wait ... You stayed and watched" "yes we did Korra you really did a great job out there" I said to my sister she beamed at my praise not often do people get any praise from me . "We did. Pro-bending turned out to be the perfect teaching tool for you" Korra tuned around and started jogging in place "I'll see you tomorrow for airbending practice, bright and early" she said than turned around jogging away from us but not before she told us something "and, by the way, I kinda permanently joined the Fire Ferrets and we're playing in the tournament in a couple of weeks" finally now I can go to bed I deserves it. Before I left I looked at Teznin and asked "please tell me that you guys aren't going to fight anymore?" "well , I don't know about that" he said as he walked away "it better be a no Teznin. I am not dealing with you two fighting like kids" I shouted.
Feeling satisfied I turn around and went to my room I changed in my pajamas lay down on my bed. I stared at the ceiling for a while now thing about the chief. I can't stop thinking about her I wonder why. I sigh than close my eyes As feel the my eyes get heavy and so I drift off to sleep.
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a scene no one asked why? cause why not
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Lin pov
I found out what the avatars sisters name was after the speech that Korra gave. her name 'Y/N it's such a beautiful name' wait what am I thinking 'she's to young Beifong, she wouldn't want to be with you and you had your fair share of love' "I really need to do something about this" I say out loud as I pull up to my apartment. 'What am I feeling right now, why can't I stop thinking about her' I think to myself I didn't even realize that I was at my apartment door already.
Metal bending the door open I step into my apartment and went to my room, metal bending my armor off and putting it in my closet. I decided to take shower it's been such a exhausting day but my is flooded with the thought of the waterbender agian. I grabbed my towel and went to the bathroom taking off my clothes and turning on the shower. I step in under the the cool water I feel better but I still can't stop thing about
Y/N 'come on Beifong she's to young she would never want to be with you' "uhg why can't you just stop" I say out loud.
I finish off my shower and change into my Pajamas getting ready for bed. Finally I can rest I close my eyes but seem like I can't sleep, I stare up at my ceiling trying to think of something else besides of Y/N "uhg come on your a Beifong for fucks sake" I scold myself. I feel my eyes get heavy and I shut my eyes.
——————
The POV will change a lot I will be using 1st point of view but later on in my writing it will change keep that in mind.
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sun-snatcher · 2 months
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hello! i love ur work and i was wondering if u could do some live action zuko angst (that makes ur heart sink) and then it progresses to fluff (that makes ur heart swell) please? HAHA idk if it makes sense but i rlly love ur work!! hope ure doing well n no pressure!!!
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🐉・ HEARTBURN
summ.  Fresh from his banishment, Zuko faces the aftermath of his punishment in both his dreams and his waking hours. pairing. Zuko x f!reader (established relationship) w.count.  1k.  a/n.  A bit abstract on this one, but just typical dream logic. A glimpse at Zuko’s descent into madness, almost? Sorry anon if this is mostly angst than fluff! 🧎🏻‍♀️
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Zuko’s dreams manifest at the scent of burnt flesh and the sound of his own screaming.
He feels the molten sting of a melting crown upon his skin and the fantastical beast that is his father; something monstrous— something scaled, fanged, clawed, and too large an appetite, with a touch and breath of fire that lights the skies in a blaze.
( He wakes up with his voice hoarse from screaming. The 41st Division will eventually learn early on not to mention it. They just leave a hot pot of tea ready for him come the mornings, by General Iroh's orders. )
Sometimes, it transgresses. Sometimes, it’s his mother who burns while he watches from the sidelines of the Agni Kai; Or Azula. Their shrieks mix with his when he wakes. 
Sometimes, it’s Iroh who scalds him. Great Dragon of the West, jasmine-white with razor teeth and a flame that burns as hot as the sun; serpent eyes a shining gold and a sharper tongue that spoke of his disappointment for his nephew. 
Sometimes, it begins with you.
Please, you beg, at the foot of a winged beast. It speaks in the voice of his father; damning, all-encompassing. It warns the Prince the price of compassion, of mercies, and of weaknesses. Eliminate her, or I will. 
Rarely does Zuko ever move. He’d plead in your name, to spare your life. It never happens; he just wakes to the smell of smoke and the sound of your screaming.
( There are dreams he doesn’t speak at all to defend you. The shame devours him whole. )
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“I’ve killed you over a hundred times, in my sleep.”
In the aftermath of another nightmare, you turn to face Zuko. You’re not quite sure what to say. 
“Other nights, it’s the 41st, or Uncle,” he says, quietly. “Even mom, or Azula.”
You turn back to the small medical chest on the desk. The infirmary is quieter at times like these; the soldiers of the 41st know not to visit the usual haunts of their Prince. Tonight, Zuko will have to replace the bandages of his scar, and there are only two people on this ship he’d ever trust in his life to lay a hand on it.
You’re shifting towards where he’s sitting on one of the cots. “May I?”
( You ask. You always ask. Even when you’ve done this nearly fifty times, you ask. Zuko is glad; there’s a comfort in agency, especially when he’s gotten so used to losing it every time he sleeps.  )
He nods, and you make quick work to unravel the bandages. When the layers come away, you observe the way his left eye shuts and opens as he blinks, remaining half-closed into a permanent expression of pain. He looks away, downcast. 
The skin around is stretched taut, some areas rawer than others, marred with growing scar tissue that knots in twisting valleys. ( Zuko has only seen the scar once. He’s covered the mirrors in his room ever since; avoids glancing at his own passing reflections. )
The wound is still fresh; the memories fresher.
You don’t flinch at the sight or recoil like the other soldiers or dignitaries. 
He finds… solace in that.
( Something roils in his mind. It uncurls and hisses and growls. )
“Tilt your head for me,” you say, ready to replace the cotton on his eye with a new one. 
He stops your wrist just as you do. 
Your heart jumps at the contact. His hands are warm.
“Why?” he blurts.
You blink in confusion.
“Why’d you come with me?”
The reply is instant, and unintentionally drowned in affection. “Where else would I have belonged?”
Zuko almost answers instinctively: With me. By my side. He shakes his head.
“You should have never come,” he says, instead. He’d grown fond of you over the years. Too fond; over some Firenation colonel’s daughter, a force to be reckoned with and yet a childhood friend who he’d played and studied and fought with countless times. Fond enough that he’d been foolish to let you step foot into the ship of the 41st Division the day he’d been banished; fond enough to be foolish enough to allow you to put yourself in harm’s way. “You could’ve had a better future back home.”
“But a miserable one,” you counter. 
His nostrils flare as he sighs. You watch the way his brows weave to a frown, the way they always did whenever he’s tamping down his frustration. "Nothing is more miserable than being banished from home. Yet here you are walking away from it.”
“You and I both know the palace was never a home for me,” you say. “I’ve been by your side my entire life. I’m not about to break that streak over some punishment. You matter to me.”
Zuko’s heart stifles. 
( Compassion, he hears the wings of the blood-red dragon in his dreams unfurl. Compassion is a sign of weakness. )
“It was a stupid move,” he blurts, letting go of you. He had wanted it to be emotionless, but it comes out as distinctively bitter: “Sooner or later you’ll come to regret your decision. Then, you’ll see I was right all along.”
“Maybe,” you say, just to appease him. “But I doubt it.”
( Lies, jeers the serpent. You have only yourself to rely on in this world, Zuko. )
For the sake of conversation, you don’t provoke him further. You continue, instead, with replacing the dressings around his eye. He’s angry enough as is with the world— with you. For being stubborn. And strong. And steadfast. And loyal. And—
Zuko glances at your face in focus, your hands so careful in binding the gauze it’s nearly featherlight. “Tell me if it hurts,” you say, with gentle authority. 
The ire leaves his body. Zuko’s gaze softens at a realisation:
“Not once have you ever hurt me. Not even in my dreams.”
It’s a statement so frighteningly vulnerable that it has you stilling. Your breath staggers. Something swells in your chest. You let your hand rest on his cheek, thumb below his scar. The touch is reassuring. Zuko wants to lean into it.
“I don’t think I ever could,” you answer, honestly. 
( She can, sings the beast. She will. And once she does, know that it will burn tenfold than what I've done. )
Zuko's hand settles on top of yours. 
“You can hurt me,” he concedes, solemn, voice barely above a whisper. “You can if you must. I command it.”
( The dragon in his head hisses. For now, it retreats. )
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imagines--galore · 1 year
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Hey I was wondering if you could write a zuko x reader? Y/n is a water bender working for zuko while he travels(set in the first or second season) thank you !!!
Pairing: Zuko x Reader
Rating || Genres || Warnings: T. Romance. Mentions of injuries and such but nothing too extensive.
A/N: This is a separate entry from my other Zukoxoc fic The Thread of Fate. So please do not confuse them to be the same. Also you have to read between the lines to sense the romance. Like really between the lines. Thank you! Hope you enjoy!
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You may have be on the ship because of a debt you owed General Iroh, but it didn't mean you had to like any of the occupants.
And by occupants you meant resident Prince Pouty - Zuko.
You had kept your distance at first, keeping your head down and going about your job, but it didn't take long for your patience to snap and you began to talk back to the Prince. All because he just had to be rude to you and everyone else on the ship.
Sure General Iroh had explained the reason behind his behavior, it still didn't excuse him from being so rude all the time. Not to mention brash.
Your skills as a waterbender came in handy whenever he or any of the other soldiers aboard the ship would return with injuries. The soldiers had been wary of your at first, and you them, but in time they had accepted you as one of their own, and would often joke around with you, or seek out your help with an injury or a bruise.
Prince Zuko, on the other hand, had been entirely too stubborn to allow the enemy, his words, to see to his injuries. It wasn't until he had very nearly collapsed from ignoring his injuries, after several run-ins with the Avatar, that he had allowed you to come close and heal him.
Afterwards he had been somewhat civil towards you, and you him. Though there were times when you would berate him for putting himself in unnecessary danger and only coming to you when the pain would be too much for him to handle. He would justify his actions, saying he could handle it. Iroh was usually the mediator between the two of you, always there to make sure neither of you accidentally harmed the other. You had threatened to toss the Prince overboard on more then one occasion.
Funnily enough, he had never ever mentioned hurting you with his firebending.
Your transition from hostile shipmates, to hostile companions was slow-going and took months for the both of you to actually admit that perhaps you both could get along.
Of course, when you had just come to that realization, Zhao had commandeered Zuko's soldiers and ship, to be used to take over the Northern Water Tribe. Iroh had instantly dismissed you from your post, saying your debt had been paid. He had no desire to see you in the hands of the evil man.
Which was why you were now staying at the small inn where Zuko's ship had made its final port. You had no idea where to go from there. You didn't have any family to go back to. You had been saved by General Iroh out of the goodness of his heart. Which was the reason you had stuck to him with the claim that you owned him a debt.
Truthfully you had just felt safe with him, and now?
Where would you go now?
You were so lost in your thoughts, staring at the small cup of tea in your hand that you very nearly jumped out of your skin when the door to your small room slammed open and General Iroh stumbled in, supporting an unconscious and injured figure at his side.
Your eyes widened at who it was. "Zuko!" Your cup clattered to the floor as you ran to help the General lay the Prince down on your bed. A sharp gasp left your lips as you assessed the damage to his body. Burns, cuts, scraps, bruises, gashes. There were so many of them.
"What happened?" You demanded, even as you quickly began to gather supplies. A bucket of water, an old blanket to rip up for bandages and the bag that contained your own salves and pastes to help with the bruising.
"The pirates. They were in league with Zhao and they blew up the ship with Zuko onboard." The man explained, worry for his nephew evident in his gaze as he watched you do you work. Taking a small knife, you quickly cut open the shirt Zuko wore to assess the damage there.
You worked the entire night.
The more serious injuries were healed with your healing abilities and once you had tired yourself out from that, you began to apply the healing salves to whatever small burns and cuts you could find. You were almost out when your patient began to stir.
"Wh-" You reached out to gently grasp his shoulder to keep him from getting up lest he aggravate his injuries.
"Shh....just lie still. You're alright. You're safe." You told him. Pouring the concoction you had steamed a few moments ago, you held the cup to his lips. "Drink this. It'll help with the pain."
For once Zuko made no complaint, as he raised his head just enough to drink the warm liquid. His face grimaced at the taste but you made sure he drank every last drop.
"Your Uncle has gone to get some food. It's nearly afternoon." Outside the sun was high in the sky. Sleep hung heavy in your eyes as your gaze ran over his face. "Does anything hurt? I was able to cure most of the injuries, but I don't know if I missed something." Worry laced your tone as you fussed over the bandages that were wrapped around his forearm.
He pulled back his arm, only to grasp her hand tightly with his own. You were surprised at the strength behind the grip but you met his gaze with your own as he stared at you with an intensity that had never been there before. At least not the kind where you felt your face growing hot and had you averting your gaze after awhile and clearing your throat. His grip softened, allowing you to slip your fingers from his grasp.
"Thank you Y/N." Well that came as a shock. He had never once thanked you for when you treated him. He must've hit his head really hard on something.
Still you didn't say anything, the blush along your cheeks only intensifying as you nodded and cleared your throat. "It was nothing." But it seemed to mean something to him.
Thankfully Iroh returned just then, with food and provisions, and with the way your stomach had been growling, you all but wolfed down the soup and dumplings.
Of course you couldn't ignore the feeling that someone was watching your every move.
You simply focused on the food, too afraid to meet those intense golden eyes again.
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ozai-the-bonsai · 28 days
Text
Cry for the Moon
| Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 |
Pairing: Zuko x firebender!reader
Warnings: a few sprinkles of strong language i guess
A/N: I am really happy that you have enjoyed the first chapter! The updates may be generally slow, depending on how much free time I have (mainly at night). I hope this doesn't upset anyone ^.^
Taglist: @annonymatic @yoongiesstar @lost-inthe-v0id @lokigodofmyheart @4l3x1s @potato87123 @asciendo @angelruinz @unamused-boss
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Fixing the golden sash of your crimson robes, you leant the railings of the ship, your amber eyes focused on Azula. After verbally making the captain regret the day he was born, the Princess had moved onto her training. Not that she needed any more of it – you were sure that there was little to none she could improve further in her skills and techniques; however, Azula tended to get quite difficult when you shared this particular opinion with her. Hence, you kept your thoughts to yourself and watched the Princess train.
As Azula’s advisors, Lo and Li were there as well. Even the thought of having to interact with the sisters brought you on the verge of throwing out – you despised them both dearly for you could see how their so-called advisory was corrupting Azula day by day ever since Ursa left. Of course, your feelings were mutual. Lo and Li didn’t approve of you being tender to Azula, of you taking care of her as if she was your responsibility; however, they knew very well how good of an ally you were to the Princess, which didn’t allow them to speak ill of you.
Azula stood perfectly straight, holding her fingers in her hand. Then, she started to move her arms in a circular motion to generate lightning. Once the bolt was ready, she fired it into the sky.
“Almost perfect.” Lo said.
“One hair out of place.” Li finished her sister’s word.
You didn’t hide the way you rolled your eyes.
In an aggressive way, Azula pushed away that loose strand of hair away. “Almost isn’t good enough!” She wasn’t pleased with herself, leading her to generate lighting once more and fire it off into the distance.
Sending a warning look at the old women, you walked towards your best friend. “Have I told you before how much I admire the way you use lightning?” You told her with a warm smile on your lips. The strong wind of the open sea was messing with your hair which was already put in a neat top knot. “Perhaps these moments are the most that make me envy you.”
Azula shook her head. “As long as it is not perfect, it doesn’t matter how much you admire the way I use it.”
Over the years, you have learnt to be patient with Azula – it was very much like dealing with a broken child, one needed to hit the right notes at the right time. “Sweetheart, it is perfect.” You insisted, keeping your tone soft and tender. “You have never seen the way your posture stays still even though such powerful energy is using your whole body as a pathway. And you certainly don’t know how magnificent it seems when one gets to see the reflection of your own lightning in your own eyes.” You could see the edge of Azula’s lips curling upwards. “It is terrifying – yes, but it is quite hot, too.”
You had to be careful when you wanted to compliment Azula – she didn’t like it when someone complimented her just for the sake of flattery. You had to mean it and the chosen timing had to be precise – just like now. Her technique was excellent, she could generate lightning with little to no difficulties. At such a moment, further criticising her would only contribute to Azula’s already damaged inner self.
Sometimes, the little girl in her just needed to hear some genuine compliments coming from the heart.
Winking at the smiling princess, you started heading to the kitchen. “I am going to make tea – would you like some as well?”
Azula shook her head as a frown formed on her face. “You and your tea obsession sometimes remind me of Uncle Iroh,” she muttered with an annoyed tone. “And I don’t like it.”
You shrugged indifferently. “I love tea – you should learn to love me like that.”
In fact, it was indeed Iroh who was responsible for your appetite for tea.
[Time Skip]
You stood behind the Princess, as if you wanted to melt into the shadows. Upon reaching land and finding the Banished Prince’s place of stay, Azula insisted you accompanied her during her first encounter with Zuko after three long years. Of course, for you, it too was going to be first time seeing Zuko after all these years. On the way, you gave it your best to tune down your shivering. It wasn’t because you were cold – if that were the case, your breath of fire could get rid of the shivering – no, it was because you were too nervous to look into Zuko’s amber eyes one again.
When Iroh and Zuko came back to their place of stay, Iron placed several seashells onto the table, failing to notice you and Azula at first sight. “Look at these magnificent shells!” Iroh said enthusiastically as he held up a shell. “I’ll enjoy these keepsakes for years to come!”
Zuko was in simple, grey robes with red stripes on the edges. After losing the Agni Kai against his father, he had shaved most of his hair but hadn’t touched the top knot – just like every other person would do in the Fire Nation. “We don’t need any more useless things! You forget, we have to carry everything ourselves now!”
His temper has got only worse as it seems, you thought with an arched brow. Just like a hurt animal, he is barking at everyone around him.
Iroh and Zuko both turned their look to the table as Azula spoke calmly from the corner. “Hello, brother. Uncle.”
For a brief moment, time seemed to freeze as your amber eyes met that of Zuko’s. You tried to understand what he was feeling from the look in his eyes but instead, you found yourself being carried to a distant memory from long, long ago.
“I will be back before you know it,” Zuko said as he cupped your face – his face wasn’t healed so he had his left eye covered. “I don’t want to see you wasting your tears because of it.”
“Please, Zuko.” You muttered between your sobs. “Let me come with you!”
Hearing Zuko silently speaking your name made you come back to the present moment. Without speaking to him, you nodded at his direction and then placed your right hand on Azula’s shoulder. Upon seeing the emptiness in your eyes when they were set onto him, the longing expression on Zuko’s face disappeared, leaving its place to anger.
Using anger to drown everything else he might feel – he is going to regret this but it will then be too late.
“What are you doing here?” Zuko asked Azula with an angry tone.
Azula held up a shell in her hand. “In my country, we exchange a pleasant hello before asking questions.” She spoke with a sarcastic tone, causing the edge of your lips to curl upwards. Right now, you found yourself enjoying how Azula toyed with her prey.
Three years ago, you wouldn’t think twice as you interrupted during such a moment.
However, the only bit of affection you felt at the present moment was towards Azula and no one else in that room.
Azula stood up from the chair and walked towards Zuko and Iroh. “Have you become uncivilised so soon, Zuzu?”
“Don’t call me that!” Zuko glared at Azula.
Iroh was trying to establish a calmer environment. “To what do we owe this honour?” He asked with a clearly upset tone.
“Hmmm... must be a family trait. Both of you so quick to get to the point.” Azula said as if she wasn’t related to them both at all, which raised an urge to raise an eyebrow at her but you kept it to yourself. Azula broke the shell she was holding. “We have brought a message from home.”
You started walking towards the princess with small steps as you talked. “The Fire Lord has heard rumours of plans to overthrow him and thus, he has changed his mind.”
Azula nodded, taking the word from you. The two of you carried out this play as if it were a theatre piece. “Family is suddenly very important to him, being the only ones you can really trust.” Waiting for a reaction from the Banished Prince, Azula paused briefly. “Father regrets your banishment. He wants you home.” Upon not receiving any feedback, a frown appeared on her beautiful face. “Did you hear me? You should be happy. Excited. Grateful. I just gave you great news.”
Iroh responded instead of Zuko, which was apparently enough to irritate Azula. “I’m sure your brother simply needs a moment.”
“Don’t interrupt, Uncle!” Azula got loud furiously. You placed your hand on the small of her back gently, which caused Azula to turn her piercing glare to you.
“Azula, please, you are better than this.” You spoke with a soft tone, which seemed to baffle Iroh to a great extent. Little did you notice the shock inside Zuko’s eyes turn to longing and jealousy. “Controlling your temper should be a simple walk in the park for someone like you.”
Azula gave you a small nod as the fury in her amber eyes lessened slowly. Taking a deep breath, she turned to face her brother. “I still haven't heard my thank you.” She spoke with an annoyed tone. “I'm not a messenger. I didn't have to come all this way.”
Finally managing to look away from you, Zuko shook himself and then started stuttering. “Father regrets? He ... wants me back?”
“We see that you both need time to take this in, don’t we, Princess?” You asked as you looked at Azula from the corner of your eye. She nodded at you. “We will come to call on you tomorrow. Good evening.”
Zuko kept looking behind you even long after you and Azula left their place of stay.
[Zuko’s POV]
The turmoil he felt within was about to drive him mad.
He didn’t know what he needed to reflect on: the fact that his father finally wanted him back after three long years, how his great failure at the North had hurt his pride or the way her amber eyes didn’t shine with love anymore.
Of course, he had spent sleepless nights ever since he was banished, thinking about what she was doing without him, how she was going to welcome him the next time they met, whether she has already moved on…
Zuko knew it would be foolish to hope for her to have stayed at the same place he had left her; however, he couldn’t have been ready for the coldness and emptiness in her eyes. For all his life, those amber eyes would shine the moment they saw him. Her memory had always brought Zuko nothing but warmth and peace. Until today.
It was obvious that the way he left her had scarred her in a way Zuko hadn’t anticipated. It felt like she had ripped that special place in her heart – where their memories, their affection for one another would rest – and burnt it into ashes.
However, she was still capable of showing affection, showing compassion. It wasn’t entirely gone – no, there just wasn’t anything left for Zuko anymore. For Azula, on the other hand… Oh, the Banished Prince didn’t remember being surrounded by that green could of jealousy before. It tasted bitter and it left one longing – longing to be shown the love he was once oh so used to feel.
I want it back, Zuko thought as he sat on the hill, watching the sun go down, colouring the sky in its crimson shades. I want her to look at me the way she looks at my sister. I hate the coldness in her voice. We were meant for each other!
Deep down, he knew very well it was all his fault but he wasn’t ready to admit the truth just yet. It was there, a silent scream, reminding him of every terrible thing he had done that day, he had said that day. Deep down, he understood the reason behind her coldness, behind the distance, behind the lost feelings…
The truth, however, was more bitter than the jealousy. He couldn’t admit it, he couldn’t accept that he was alone responsible for losing her.
Zuko shook himself. No, I haven’t lost her. Not yet. Slowly, he stood up, ready to head back to the hut. Once I am given my rightful place – by my father’s side – I will make it up to her. It was promised that she will, one day, be the wife of the future Fire Lord. I intend to keep my part of the promise.
[Time Skip]
“I told you they would come,” Azula muttered under her breath, keeping her voice to a minimum as you both stood on top of the ramp leading up to the ship.
“I must admit, I am disappointed.” You spoke with an equally low voice. Your eyes followed the Banished Prince as he and Iroh approached the ship. “I would have expected Zuko to be smarter than that.”
You could tell that Azula gave it all not to roll her eyes at your remark. “Oh, please – as if you don’t know my brother at all.”
As Zuko and Iroh walked up the ramp, procession guards stood on either side of them, forming an aisle. You realised that Iroh seemed rather suspicious as he averted his eyes between guards – he probably knew very well that they both were walking into a trap.
The guards closed the aisle when Iroh and Zuko reached the ship. “Brother! Uncle! Welcome! I'm so glad you decided to come.” Azula spoke, keeping up her façade perfectly. You simply nodded at them. For a brief moment, your eyes met that of Zuko’s – he didn’t even try to hide the longing reflecting through his amber eyes. However, you couldn’t risk being distracted, hence you quickly turned your eyes away, keeping up the strict face.
“Are we ready to depart, Your Highness?” The captain asked Azula.
The Princess nodded with a sweet smile on her face – you didn’t remember Azula showing such a smile with an audience. “Set our course for home, captain.”
The urge to smirk was too strong, you had to try quite hard to keep it to yourself. She does know how to play, you thought as you fixed your eyes on Azula. I love it.
“You heard the princess!” The captain shouted to the crew. “Raise the anchors! We are taking the prisoners home!”
It didn’t even take a second for you to turn to the captain with a sharp look on your face, your beautiful features being darkened by the fury raising within you. You idiot! You had only one damn job to do – one single thing!
The captain widened his eyes in realisation at his mistake as he looked at Azula; Zuko and Iroh were taken by surprise. Azula, on the other hand, carried the same fury inhabiting your face. You knew that if it weren’t for the importance of keeping the prisoners on board without letting them escape, Azula would have already chopped off the captain’s tongue.
“Your Highness, I …” The captain stuttered nervously but he quickly lost his spotlight as Iroh started to send fire blasts at the guards. Zuko threw the captain off into the water, stomping furiously towards Azula and you.
“You lied to me!” Zuko shouted at Azula, angrily.
Azula smirked. “Like I have never done that before.” The Princess held you from your arm as you both walked away, leaving the Banished Prince behind. You were confused as to what Azula’s plan exactly was but it seemed like she trusted the guards to capture him.
“Azula,” you spoke with a low but strong voice. “The guards won’t be able to hold them back. Don’t underestimate your enemy.”
“Ah, please,” Azula’s voice was overmuch condescending. “It’s Zuzu we are talking about.”
Before you could start lecturing Azula, you both turned back upon hearing Zuko blasting off two guards off the ship. He charged at the two of you with fire draggers in his hands but you could easily tell that his main goal was to reach Azula.
Iroh shouted at Zuko, telling him to leave the ship, but Zuko being himself, completely ignored the only sane thing to do at that very moment. The edge of your lip curled upwards as Azula easily dodged all of Zuko’s attacks – you didn’t even have to intervene.
“You know, Father blames Uncle for the loss of the North Pole. And he considers you a miserable failure for not finding the Avatar!” Azula talked as Zuko panted for air and for the first time since the previous day, Zuko was seeing the true face of his sister. “Why would he want you back home, except to lock you up where you can no longer embarrass him?”
Zuko conjured up two fire daggers again and leapt into the air, sending a powerful fire blast at Azula. You extended your arms forwards, palms resting against each other as you jumped in front of the fire blast. The flames went by you, losing their strength as your body acted like a shield between the siblings, protecting Azula from the flames.
As the smoke drifted away, Zuko’s eyes widened with shock and disappointment when he saw you standing there. Taking a deep breath to disconnect your emotions from your actions, you punched forward a wave of flames. At first, it seemed like Zuko was frozen in his place, unable to move as your flames flew at his direction, getting closer by the second.
Then, at the last moment, the Banished Prince rolled to the side. He wasn’t even capable of dodging the attack. Not because he was too weak – he was anything but weak – no, it was because he had never known this you before. He didn’t know what to do.
You had never let your flames get this close to him before – even back then, when everything was different.
“You always go too easy on me!” Zuko protested as he helped you to your feet. “I have seen you regret others the day they were born while training – why do you always hold back when it is just the two of us?”
A small smile formed on your lips as you walked towards the table to grab a bottle of water. “Zuko, do you truly believe that you will have to fight me someday?” You asked and paused for a moment to drink the water. “I mean like out there, in the world.”
“Of course not!” Zuko answered without even thinking about it. “You… Why would I have to fight my future wife?”
“See, this is exactly why I use different methods.” You said as you took small steps towards Zuko, who had a confused expression on his face. “With others, I have to show them what awaits them if they dare cross me someday. But with you, I can simply focus on the training.”
Slowly, you cupped Zuko’s face, standing on your fingertips, and placed a small kiss on his lips. The Banished Prince carried the hints of pink on his cheeks. “Since you won’t ever get to stand on the other side of my flames, you have nothing to worry about.” Zuko wasn’t able to hide his smile. “I will always be by your side.”
You felt as if you shared the same flashback with Zuko – time seemed to freeze around the both of you. Memories from a distant past started to flow in front of your eyes. However, this shared state didn’t last as you were both drawn back to reality with Azula, shooting fire towards Zuko.
For a split second, you felt the urge to jump between Zuko and the blue flames but it disappeared as quickly as it came.
Zuko jumped to his feet and continued to duel Azula, the two eventually making their way up the stairway leading to the central control area of the ship. Before you could follow them up, Azula knocked Zuko to his feet with a blue fire blast, the Banished Prince landing roughly at the bottom of the stairwell.
Your eyes widened as you realised Azula was getting ready to generate lightning. However, you knew very well where you loyalties lied; hence, you took another deep breath to let the chains of the feelings go away. With enough attention, anyone could see the hints of humanity leaving your amber eyes.
Azula moved her arms in a circular motion, generating the lightning to fire the bolt at her brother.
Suddenly, Iroh stepped in – you didn’t even notice him going up there – and grabbed a hold of Azula’s right hand as if he could take away the lightning. Your eyes widened with shock when you saw Iroh literally redirecting the lightning, causing it to strike a far-off cliff side.
Holy shit, you thought to yourself, your mouth wide open. Iroh redirected the fucking lighting! I didn’t even know such a technique existed in the first place! Oh, I would give up everything to learn that!
Well, maybe not everything but a significant amount.
Admiration left your body when Iroh kicked Azula off the ship. “Azula!” You shouted and jumped after her into the water, without even thinking about staying on board to at least hinder Zuko from escaping. When it came to Azula, you tended to let go off everything just to be sure she was safe.
“The royal guards are nothing but weights,” Azula spoke angrily after arriving the shore. Quickly, she used her firebending to dry off herself. “Unnecessary weight needs to be gone.”
You raised an eyebrow at her while using the same technique, hot steam was radiating off your body. “What do you have in mind?”
Azula smirked, her clothes were already completely dry. “We will be paying some old friends a visit.”
As you followed her to the ship, you couldn’t help yourself but roll your eyes. “So I won’t get to see my boy for a while, eh?”
“Your dog,” Azula put an emphasis on the word dog while speaking, causing you to roll your eyes for the second time “could have made it to my list of useful people if he had used some of his time for training instead of fooling around.”
“No wonder he is intimidated by you.” You muttered under your breath. “Well, anyway – who are these old friends?”
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writermai05 · 1 month
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Arsonist's Lullabye
Prologue: All you have is your fire
Summary: Zuko’s bad day gets a bit better after an encounter with an unfamiliar face. 
Pairing: zuko x fem! reader (Live Action or Animated) 
A/N: I am delusional, and when I had the idea for a zuko x reader modern AU where he works in Iroh’s boba tea shop, I had to follow through with said idea. Let’s see if this goes anywhere, and feel free to leave comments or suggestions on how the fic could play out maybe :) 
Word Count: 773
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Avatar: The Last Airbender, I am merely a nerd who hyperfixates a lot.  This is a modern AU that takes place in the avatar world. Bending still exists. Zuko and the gaang are in college in this series !!
TW!: Physical abuse, burns, Ozai in general, Zuko’s backstory is so sad. 
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Zuko knew it was going to be a long day as soon as he opened the shop at 12pm. 
Within the first two hours, he had run out of tapioca pearls, dropped a container filled with matcha on the floor (which by the way, was a pain in the ass to clean up,) and slipped on the floors he had just mopped. Perhaps he was just born unlucky. Perhaps, most people in life didn’t have to struggle the way that he was, the way that he always had. It wasn’t all bad. He was lucky enough to be here, working in his uncle’s tea shop in the Earth Kingdom, rather than in his father’s company back in the Fire Nation. 
The Jasmine Dragon was beloved by many. People from all over the city came to have some of the shops' amazing teas and pastries. It wasn’t too busy, having only three people come in today.  perhaps because school at the University of Ba Sing Se hadn’t quite started up yet, outside of the students who had moved in early. The shop was particularly chilly today, but the atmosphere managed to maintain the same warm and cozy feeling, with the dim atmospheric lighting and the sage and emerald hued furniture. Zuko had a second to just relax in the stillness. 
 He appreciated these quiet moments the most.  The moments where he could stop worrying about the shop, and overthinking the worst things he had ever done in his life. Such as when he lashed out at his uncle, multiple times, or about the people he had bullied in high school. He was almost able to forget it all. Forget the fact that his younger sister, Azula, was still stuck in a house with his abusive father, or even forget the feeling of his father’s hand, burning the flesh of his face, leaving a scar in its wake, as well as a near complete blindness in his left eye. His demons may be restless, but boy did Zuko keep them on a tight leash. 
Zuko’s reverie was broken by the sound of the door’s bell chime. He immediately snapped out of his thoughts, waiting patiently for his assistance to be needed. 
“Um, excuse me,” 
A girl, who seemed to be around his age, was standing right in front of him. She wore a navy blue dress with a pale blue lining and detailing around the edges. A belt of the same color was around her waist, with a brown leather cord connecting a bag onto her hip. Her black jacket was cropped to about rib length, with brown leather cords fastening it closed, as well as matching black pants and brown boots. 
“This is my first time here…Is there anything that you’d recommend?” She asked politely. 
There was something about the way her kind eyes twinkled in the orange lighting that made Zuko fluster. He cleared his throat before opening his mouth to talk. 
“Well, Lychee juice is a customer favorite. But personally, my Uncle Iroh’s jasmine green tea is the best in Ba Sing Se.” 
“The best in Ba sing Se?” She raised her eyebrows inquisitively.
“The best.” he nodded. 
“I’ll take it.” She said, reaching to the tote bag slung over her shoulder. Zuko interrupted her actions with the wave of his hand. 
Zuko shook his head. “Don’t worry, It’s on me.” he said, as he began punching numbers, into the register. 
“Oh no! I can’t let you do that-” She protested. 
He shrugged, a blush beginning to warm his cheeks.  “For a first time customer.” 
“Thank you so much…” She trailed off, waiting for him to tell her his name.
“Zuko.”
“Zuko. I’ll be sure to come by again. And I fully intend on paying that time.” She said with a playful glare. 
The boy smiled slightly.
“Your tea will be ready shortly.” 
Zuko had Iroh bring the tea over to the girl. He wasn’t confident in his ability to steadily bring the tray of hot tea without causing more burns to cover his body. The older man made sure to give the girl a complimentary fruit tart to enjoy, but not before looking at his nephew with a teasing glint in his eyes. Zuko groaned. 
“Not a word, uncle.” He said as he walked through the staff doors into the shops’ kitchen. 
After about 20 minutes had passed, Iroh came into the kitchen, clutching what looked like a napkin and some paper Yuan bills. 
“Zuko! The girl left this on her table after she left!”
Zuko carefully took the napkin from his uncle’s hand, reading the message. 
“Thanks for the tea! - y/n.” 
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melzula · 2 months
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Hii :D since requests are open could u do a piece between iroh ii and kya's daughter? But this time maybe ab the first argument they had as husband and wife? Like what would they argue ab and who would apologize first!!
a/n: idk why but i struggled so much with this prompt LOL but i hope you enjoy! this is really the only argument i could see them having
summary: an important day for your marriage turns sour when your husband confuses his days
~ based off these hcs ~
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You check the clock with a sigh for what feels like the hundredth time before rising from your seat and blowing out the candles on the table. The food you’d spent hours meticulously preparing has now grown cold, but you don’t feel much like eating anymore anyway. Your bottom lip trembles but you’re too prideful to allow your tears to fall, so instead you resort to cleaning away the mess before retiring to your bedroom for the night.
It should have been a beautiful evening; you’d planned everything so perfectly so that nothing could go wrong. But you never thought it possible for your own husband to forget his wedding anniversary, and this was a detail you hadn’t accounted for when putting together the romantic dinner.
You knew Iroh was a busy man what with being a General and one of President Raiko’s best men, but you didn’t think he’d find himself to be too busy on a day that was meant to be sacred for you both. A year ago today you’d married the love of your life in the palace gardens in front of your closest family and friends, and a year later you now find yourself alone in your bedroom wiping away the rest of your makeup and removing all of your jewelry.
Your hand stops at your betrothal necklace, and you stare back at your sullen reflection in the vanity mirror as you clutch onto the crescent shaped stone. You haven’t seen or heard from Iroh all day, and your feelings are severely crushed by his abandonment. Were you a fool for thinking your marriage would hold priority over his duties as General?
You’re too engrossed in your sulking to hear his footsteps, and it isn’t until your bedroom door begins to creak open slowly that you’re alerted of his return home. You say nothing to him, acting as if he isn’t even there as you brush out your hair.
“Darling, I wasn’t expecting you to still be awake,” he notes with a fond smile, oblivious to your hurt. “I’m sorry I missed dinner, but I had to stay back and discuss my next assignment with Raiko.”
“Dinner isn’t the only thing you missed,” you mutter coldly much to his surprise. It’s only then that he notices the anger in your features, your furrowed brows and pursed lips and hardened eyes.
“I don’t understand?” Iroh says wearily, taken aback by your demeanor. He’d never seen you behave in such a way and it worried him.
“I don’t expect you to,” you bite back impatiently. “It’s not like we share the same values or put the same amount of importance on things.”
“Whoa, hold on. Why are you speaking this way? What’s upsetting you?” He urges gently, kneeling before you and attempting to hold your hand only for you to pull it away. “Talk to me.”
“How could you miss our anniversary?!” You finally cry out in frustration, startling your poor husband. “Did you not see it to be important enough to take a day off from being the General? Do I not matter to you?”
“Of course you do!” Iroh exclaims, clearly offended at the idea that he could ever see his wife as unimportant. “Y/n, I didn’t forget our anniversary. Our anniversary is tomorrow, and I made sure to clear my schedule so I could spend the entire day with you.”
“Our anniversary was today!”
“My wife, our anniversary is on the 6th. Today is the 5th,” Iroh tries to argue, but this only seems to infuriate you further.
“Iroh, today is the 6th!” You say exasperated. His brows furrow at your words, but after a moment you see his features begin to fall at the realization of his mistake.
“Today is our anniversary,” he murmurs quietly, almost ashamed to voice it out loud. “I completely missed it.”
“You left me alone the entire day. An entire dinner I cooked for us was left to grow cold because you didn’t come home,” you tell him sullenly, a fresh wave of tears beginning to form. “I spent our first wedding anniversary without my husband.”
“My love, I am so sorry and ashamed,” Iroh professes sincerely, and this time when he takes your hands in his own you don’t pull away. His own eyes are glossy with tears and full of regret, and the sight only makes you want to cry more. “You know I’d never forget our anniversary, I couldn’t. Marrying you was the greatest day of my life. I’ve just been so busy that I lost track of the days, and that isn’t fair to you. You deserve my attention and my time more than anyone else does, and I’m sorry to have failed you as your husband.”
“I’m sorry for being so cruel. I was just so worried that our marriage wasn’t important enough to you,” you confess with a sniffle. “I worry that being a husband is not as exciting for you as being a General or a traveler or-“
“Being your husband is the greatest honor I could ever have,” he interrupts you. “I mean this, and I’m going to make it up to you. We’ll leave tomorrow for Ember Island and have a vacation, just the two of us. We’ll have the beach house to ourselves and I’ll spend every minute making sure you feel valued and appreciated. Does that sound okay?”
“It’s perfect,” you nod with a watery smile, melting into his touch when he cups your face in his hands and pulls you in for a tender kiss.
Mistakes were made, but you know Iroh would never hurt you. He worships the ground you walk on. And in the end, he’ll always go out of his way to be the husband you deserve.
Because you are more than he could ever ask for.
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jettingtothemoon · 2 months
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Daughter of the Spirits; chapter 11
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➳ pairing: zuko x f!reader ➳ genre: a retelling of the show from season 2 onwards with a heavy focus and expansion on zuko’s story (canon divergent) ➳ warnings: violence, swearing, smut (underaged if your age of consent is above 16), spoilers for anyone who hasn’t seen the show ➳ word count: 3537 ➳ rating: 18+ ➳ summary: In which y/n comes across the fire nation prince during her stay in Ba Sing Se. ➳ tags: @harmlessoffering, @lammello (i’m sorry if i’m forgetting anyone, lmk if i am or if you want to be added)
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Chapters: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13,
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The Invasion
You found out from Mai and Ty Lee that there had been another war meeting — one Zuko hadn’t been invited to. He was furious, of course.
For the first time in years, he was finally starting to feel like a prince again. What with all the servants at his beck and call, insisting he take the palanquin when traversing the city, even if he was only out on an errand with you. People were by his side day and night, making sure he had everything he needed. It was exactly how it should have been, even if it was quite the adjustment for you both, yet he had still been excluded by his father.
He had told you about his banishment. How he had spoken up at a war meeting and disgraced his father, leading to the agni kai where he had to fight the very man that was supposed to protect him. The man who scarred and banished his own child.
Only this morning was he happy and smiling, simply enjoying the time he got to spend with you. Now, however, he sat staring out of the window, watching as the clouds passed over the moon in silent contemplation.
“Zuko,” you said his name and yet, he didn't move. Didn’t even flinch. It was as if he hadn’t even heard you, only you knew he had.
"Zuko," you tried again, this time wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
Wordlessly, he leaned into you. His scowl never once left his face but he was at least trying to control his temper for you, allowing himself to fall into your embrace.
"It's just a war meeting. I bet they're full of old, boring men."
Your attempt at amusing him seemed to fail as he leaned away from you and back against the window. "They're important. All the best advisors and the entire royal family attend. Even Azula is going."
"Just another reason that it won't be fun, Azula will be there."
Now that got a chuckle. A small one, but a chuckle nonetheless.
"Stop worrying about it and come to bed."
He hummed, turning away from the window and towards you. He wasn't happy and he probably wouldn't be for a while, but at least he could relax with you. Even when things weren’t going his way.
The next day, you sat with Zuko as you made a cup of jasmine tea. He sulked beside you with a frown on his face, thinking about the meeting that was about to start without him. You could tell how badly he wanted to be there, even if he did keep shrugging it off when you tried to comfort him. You thought making some tea would help but it only seemed to sour his mood further and you soon realised it was because he was missing his uncle.
You missed Iroh too. You had wanted to go and visit him but Zuko forbade you, expressing how dangerous it would be if you did. Azula had found out when he went to see him and if anyone were to find out you were visiting a traitor of the Fire Nation you would be hauled away and thrown into a cell of your own before either of you could do anything to stop it.
It pained you to think of the old man sitting in a dark, grimey cell. More so when the smell of jasmine tea reminded you as much of him now as it did your mother.
“Prince Zuko,” your attention was drawn to a servant as he entered the room with a bow, “Everyone’s waiting for you.”
Zuko looked from you to the man who now knelt at the floor with furrowed brows before getting up from where he sat. “What?”
“The high admirals, high generals, the war ministers, and the princess have all arrived. You’re the only person missing,” the servant explained, his eyes lifting to look at the prince as he spoke.
You stood beside Zuko with a heavily beating chest as he asked, “So my dad wants me at the meeting?”
The servant bowed again. “The Firelord said he would not start until you have arrived, sir.”
With a full smile, Zuko turned to you and, although he was going to a meeting where they would likely discuss the deaths of even more people you loved and knew, you couldn’t help but feel happy for him. This was all he’d ever wanted — to be accepted by his father. To be loved and wanted. For his opinions to matter. That alone brought you hope because if he could sway his father or even some of the generals, perhaps he could help save lives on both sides of the war.
You, along with Mai, waited outside the meeting for him, both anxious to hear how it went. She had offered to come with you so that you would not be alone in the palace for too long since she knew just how daunting that could be. Besides, she was still Zuko’s friend too, just as she was now yours.
When he finally emerged, Mai was the first to ask, “So? How did it go?”
“When I got to the meeting, everyone welcomed me. My father had saved me a seat, he wanted me next to him. I was literally at his right hand.”
His words almost sent a chill down your spine as you thought of the worst — that rather than Zuko swaying the Firelord’s mind about the war, that it would be his father who would sway him. You knew better than that, though, and as much was confirmed when you were met with nothing but a troubled expression on Zuko’s face.
“That’s wonderful,” Mai grinned, “You must be happy.”
The three of you stopped in front of a large tapestry, one displaying a large portrait of Firelord Ozai. You placed a reassuring hand on Zuko’s shoulder as he looked up at it and exchanged a worried glance with Mai.
“During the meeting I was the perfect prince,” he concluded, “The son my father wanted… but I wasn’t me.”
You ran your hand down his arm and slotted it into his, giving it a gentle squeeze. For a moment, he squeezed it back, but then tugged his hand free and began to walk away, leaving both you and Mai behind.
She sighed and became the one placing a gentle hand on your shoulder. “Give him time. This was a good thing, he’ll realise that soon.”
You hummed although you did not agree. The only good thing was that Zuko was starting to realise who he was and that the man he was wasn’t the man his father wanted him to be. He was not ruthless and cold. He was kind and strong and so many other things his father would never be. He was better than him and finally, you thought he was beginning to realise that.
When you returned to your room, you found him writing a letter.
“What are you doing?” you questioned, wondering what he was up to.
“Writing to Mai. I at least owe her a goodbye.”
“Goodbye?” you asked, your brows furrowed.
He hummed. “We’re leaving. I… This isn’t who I am. Not anymore. An invasion has begun, we can slip away in the chaos but I have to do something first.”
Whatever he had in mind, whether he just wanted to leave and find your parents or maybe, just maybe, hunt down and join the avatar, you knew you were going with him. After all the time that had passed since you left Ba Sing Se, he was finally ready to accept who he was. He was finally going to do the right thing.
He passed you the brush when he was finished, allowing you to write your apologies and goodbyes to your newfound friends. You addressed both Mai and Ty Lee directly, wishing them well and hoping you would not come to face them on opposite sides of the battlefield. The two of you then signed the letter and Zuko left to take it to her home, putting it someplace where she would see it long after the two of you were gone.
After he returned, as you collected what little things you owned, he knelt before a portrait of his mother and closed his eyes. “I know I’ve made some bad choices, but today I’m gonna set things right.”
He picked up his swords and a small bag of provisions, turning to the lighter side of himself once again, and pulled his hood up to conceal his face.
You stepped forward and pulled him into your arms, pressing a kiss to his lips as your thumb stroked the side of his face. “It’s going to be okay, you know. You’re doing the right thing.”
He smiled and leaned into your touch. “I know.”
He led you quickly through the palace and down underground. You could hear the fighting up above as you moved through the tunnels and Zuko explained that during the eclipse today, no one would be able to Firebend. It was the perfect time for an attack and, along with the invasion forces, would surely be the avatar. He had a plan and that plan was to join them, to help the avatar finally put an end to this war.
But he had to confront his father first and what better time was there to do that than when he had no bending?
When he finally came to a halt before a large, reinforced door, you felt your heart in your throat. How would Ozai react to the news of his son’s betrayal? Would he try to kill him then and there? Or perhaps he would simply try to imprison you both? Either way, you were prepared. You would use your bending — all of your bending — to fight. You were fighting for yourself. You were fighting for your family. You were fighting for Zuko.
You held his hand, squeezing it in reassurance as you had done time and time before.
“I’m ready to face you,” he spoke, as though his father could hear him through the door.
He did not protest as you walked to the door with him, nor did he ask you to remain behind as he walked inside. As dangerous as what he was about to do was, he trusted that you would be safe by his side, and that he would be safe by yours. Whatever was going to happen, you were going to do it together.
“Prince Zuko,” his father addressed him with a frown and lowered his cup of tea, “What are you doing here?”
Zuko walked towards his father, with you standing only a few paces behind. This was his moment and you wanted him to have it but if he needed you, you would be there to fight by his side.
“I’m here to tell the truth,” Zuko declared from where he stood, staring his father down.
The firelord furrowed his brows and signalled for his guards to leave, his eyes only once flickering from Zuko to you. “Telling the truth during the middle of an eclipse? This should be interesting.”
Zuko only spoke again when the guards were gone, the strong doors sliding shut behind them, “First of all, in Ba Sing Se it was Azula who took down the avatar, not me.”
“Why would she lie to me about that?” Ozai questioned.
“Because the avatar is not dead,” Zuko explained, “He survived.”
“What?” Only then did the firelord’s expression change. What was a calm and collected leader suddenly turned into an angry father. One who was clearly afraid of what the avatar could do if he was still alive.
“In fact, he’s probably leading this invasion. He could be on his way here right now.” For a moment, it almost seemed as though Zuko was warning his father, as though he had not really turned his back on him. He was still his father, after all, but you knew him better than that. He was changed and he was here for one thing and one thing only, to bid his father farewell.
“Get out!” the firelord snapped with a wave of his hand, anger boiling up in him, “Get out of my sight right now if you know what’s good for you.”
Although the firelord’s temper was continuing to grow, Zuko remained calm. From where you stood behind him, you could almost hear the satisfaction in his voice as he spoke, “That’s another thing. I’m not taking orders from you anymore.”
His father’s brows crossed in rage and you adopted a defensive stance as he began to walk towards Zuko. “You will obey me or this defiant breath will be your last!”
The prince unsheathed his swords, standing ready to fight his father as he demanded, “Think again. I am going to speak my mind and you are going to listen.”
To both of your surprise, the firelord sat back down as though he was ready to hear whatever Zuko had to say. The two of you still stood at the ready, prepared for a fight. You closed your eyes for a moment, focusing on the ground beneath you. You could feel the echoing rumble of machines coming from the surface, another sign of the battle above.
���For so long, all I wanted was for you to love me,” Zuko admitted, casting his eyes to the ground, “To accept me. I thought it was my honour that I wanted but really I was just trying to please you. You, my father, who banished me just for talking out of turn,” he pointed at Ozai with the end of his blade, “My father who challenged me, a thirteen year old boy to an agni kai. How can you possibly justify a duel with a child?”
It was like a weight off your own chest to hear him finally letting go of all that had burdened him, telling his father just how he felt after all he had done to him.
The firelord only scowled, looking at Zuko as though he was nothing but the dirt under his shoe as he spat, “It was to teach you respect!”
“It was cruel and it was wrong!”
“Then you’ve learnt nothing. This girl,” he gestured to you, “Has only made you weaker than you already were.”
“No! I’ve learned everything, and I’ve had to learn on my own. Growing up, we were taught that the Fire Nation was the greatest civilisation in history, and somehow the war was our way of sharing our greatness with the world. What an amazing lie that was, the people of the world are terrified by the Fire Nation. They don’t see our greatness, they hate us! And we deserve it. We’ve created an era of fear in the world and if we don’t want the world to destroy itself, we need to replace it with an era of peace and kindness.”
The firelord laughed out loud, mocking his son even now. “Your uncle has gotten to you, hasn’t he?”
There was a brief pause and Zuko smiled, actually smiled, in the face of his father’s taunts. “Yes, he has.”
“And this girl? She stands with you now, is she not of the Fire Nation too? Another traitor turned by your uncle’s tricks?”
Now it was you who stifled a laugh. “A traitor? Zuko isn’t a traitor and neither is his uncle. You are the one who betrayed the Fire Nation, you even betrayed your own blood because you’re so blinded by power you can’t see the bigger picture. My name is y/n and my parents were from the Northern Watertribe. They left their home and raised me in the Earth Kingdom to fight against your army! Even now, they fight against your cruelty, and now we do too!”
“You foolish girl,” Ozai glared at you with fire in his eyes, “What could you possibly do to stop me?”
“After we leave here today,” Zuko interrupted, answering his father’s question for the both of you, “We’re going to free uncle Iroh from his prison, and I’m gonna beg for his forgiveness. He’s the one who’s been a real father to me.”
The firelord only laughed again. “That’s just beautiful, maybe he can pass down to you the ways of tea and failure.”
“But I’ve come to an even more important decision,” he continued, ignoring his father completely, “I’m going to join the avatar and I’m going to help him defeat you.”
“Really?” Ozai smirked, “since you’re a full blown traitor now and you want me gone, why wait? I’m powerless, you’ve got your swords, why don’t you just do it now?”
“Because I know my own destiny. Taking you down is the avatar’s destiny,” he sheathed his swords and, although a part of you wanted nothing more than to strike him down now, you were in agreement with Zuko. It was not your place, “Goodbye.”
As Zuko turned and began to walk towards you again, ready to leave his father behind once and for all, the bitter man began to hurl more insults at his son, calling him a coward for confronting him during an eclipse when neither of them had their bending.
“If you have any real courage, you’ll stick around until the sun comes up. Don’t you want to know what happened to your mother?”
Those words stood Zuko in his tracks, even when you looked at him with pleading eyes. There was no time for this, the sun would be back soon and the two of you stood no chance against his father at his full power.
Without a second thought, the prince turned back around and demanded to know what happened the night his mother disappeared.
“My father, firelord Azulon, commanded me to do the unthinkable… to you, my own son, and I was going to do it. Your mother found out and swore she would protect you at any cost. She knew I wanted the throne and she proposed a plan. A plan in which I would become firelord and your life would be spared.”
It was awful, entirely diabolical, to think that a father would even consider murdering his own child but knowing what else the firelord had put Zuko through, somehow you weren’t at all surprised. It seemed in his very nature. You wondered what Zuko’s mother ever saw in the man.
“Your mother did vicious, treasonous things that night. She knew the consequences and accepted them. For her treason, she was banished.”
“So she’s alive...”
Cautiously, you moved to Zuko’s side, hoping to console him as tears began to spill across his face.
“Perhaps,” Ozai all but shrugged before raising his tone once again, “Now I realise that banishment is far too merciful a punishment for treason. Your penalty will be far steeper.”
In a flash, the firelord was moving, forming a stance you had only seen once before. The sun was back and he was drawing on its power to call lightning down. Lightning that he intended to use to put an end to his traitorous son once and for all.
“Zuko!” you cried, realising you had already missed your window to create a wall between the two of you and Ozai to block the attack.
Everything seemed to move in slow motion as you ran towards Zuko only to see him do the impossible. He redirected the lighting, sending it crashing back down on his father who was thrown into the air at the force.
He grabbed your hand and ran, pulling you out of the bunker before his father could get back to his feet. As you ran out onto the streets, you saw what looked to be the avatar launching an assault on the Fire Nation airships, giving his friends enough time to retreat. “Look!”
“Do you think you can get up there?”
You furrowed your brows. There was a chance that with your bending you could reach the airships and help the avatar but you weren’t sure if you could get there in time. They were fleeing, after all, they weren’t going to stick around for long. Besides, you had more important things to do.
“Maybe,” you shrugged, “but I’m not leaving you. Let’s go get your uncle.”
With a determined smirk, he led you into the prison. He ran so fast that he seemed to miss the cowering guards and singed walls.
“Uncle!” he cried out when he reached Iroh’s cell but his uncle was already gone. The bars to his prison cell were broken and battered, blasted through from the inside. Iroh had already escaped.
Zuko was quick to run to one of the guards, interrogating him about what happened in a matter of seconds, only to be told what you already knew. Iroh had escaped, busted himself out before you had had the chance to get to him. He was long gone now, all you could do was get out of there yourselves.
“Zuko, we have to go. We’ll find Iroh again, I promise, but right now we need to leave!”
Although disappointed, he nodded and followed you back outside.
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Chapters: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13,
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Heyyyy, I saw your requests open and wanna ask for oneshot Zuko x GN!Reader(who is really-really sweet for a firebender), but they're childhood friends(and Zuko had a crush on them) and reader ran away to Earth Kingdom. Then they meet in some village where Reader lives and make something romantic there!
Please and thank you!
Zuko Reuniting With Childhood Friend
Pairing: Zuko x Firebender!GN!Reader
Summary: You and Zuko are childhood friends who grew up together in the Fire Nation.
Warnings: Contain spoilers for some of Zuko's backstory if you haven't seen the show. Also contains badly written kiss scene
Type: Romantic ❤️
A/N: I decided to give the reader a bit of backstory to explain why they fled to the Earth Kingdom. The one shot takes place during season 2 episode 14, "Tales of Ba Sing Se." Hope you enjoy <3
Oneshot starts below cut
Avatar: The Last Airbender Masterlist
Main Masterlist
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You had been friends with Zuko back when you still lived in the Fire Nation. You had grown up alongside him and his sister, Azula, as your father was on of the Firelord's more trusted generals.
As a young child, you were never very interested in playing games with Azula and her friends. You preferred spending quiet time with Zuko around the palace.
Zuko never understood how he felt about you.. Of course he liked you. The two of you were friends, best friends even. But, did best friends make a fiery red blush rise from your face to the tops of your ears? Did a best friends cause your heart to stop beating every time you got lost in their eyes?
Even now, as his golden eyes met yours, his heart felt as if it would beat out of his chest. He carefully studied you as you sat in the corner of the tea shop. You had changed. Your hair was different, maybe a bit longer than he remembered, and you had swapped out your red Fire Nation clothes for a simple green dress -- an Earth Nation staple. Most notably, your bright eyes had remained the same.
You studied him as well. This Zuko was much different than the boy you knew as a child. His hair was much shorter, and his once warm golden eyes had grown dull. You wondered, how had he ended up in a Ba Sing Se tea shop of all places? After his banishment from the Fire Nation, you weren't sure if you would ever see him again.
"Uncle, we have a problem," said Zuko as he approached his uncle behind the front counter, "Don't look now, but over in the corner table, it's (Y/N)."
Iroh swiftly turned to glance at your table. He recognized you in an instant. His mind was flooded with the memories of you and Zuko growing uo together in the palace.
"Uncle!" Zuko scolds, "Didn't I say don't look? Now they're gonna know that we're onto them."
Before Iroh could respond, you walked up to the counter with a small bag of coins in hand.
"Thank you for the tea, Zuko," you said politely, "And you too general Iroh."
Zuko felt heat rise to his ears. He had always though you were pretty, and seeing you up close was starting to make him a but flustered. "But why?" he thought to himself. Were friends supposed to think of each other that way?
"You're welcome," said Zuko with red checks, "But you can't call us that here. I go by Lee. And my uncle is called Mushi"
"Sorry!" you said quickly, as your face flushed with embarrassment, "I didn't even think that you would go by different names here. Speaking of which, what are you doing here anyway?"
"Well," Zuko said, "It's not really something we can discuss here."
"My nephew is right!" Iroh said, jumping back into the conversation, "Why don't the two of you go out tonight and discuss how both of you came to be in Ba Sing Se?"
At Iroh's suggestion, Zuko turned even redder, if possible.
"I like that idea," you said shyly before turning back to Zuko, "I know a restaurant in the city if you'd like to go there."
"Yeah..that sounds...nice," Zuko said quietly, "I can meet you in front of the tea shop tonight."
"Yeah," you said with a grin, "See you tonight."
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After it had gotten dark, you stood outside of the tea shop waiting for Zuko. As you waited, you began to hear muffled voices from inside the shop.
"i'm not so sure about this, Uncle," said Zuko hesitantly "What if they end up hating me after I tell them. I don't want to lose them again."
"Do not worry Zuko. They have a god heart, and so do you. Now get going. You're going to be late."
"Hi," you said as Zuko walked out of the tea shop, "Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah," said Zuko, rubbing the back of his neck nervously, "Lead the way."
The two of you walked in an uncomfortable silence. The tension between you could be cut with a knife. After a brief walk, which somehow felt so much longer than the short 10 minutes, you came to a stop outside of a small restaurant.
"This is it," you said awkwardly, "Do you wanna go find a table?"
"Sure," said Zuko, before you fell into another uncomfortable silence.
"So," you said after you had settled in your seats, "What are you doing here in Ba Sing Se anyway? I thought you were looking for the avatar."
"I am!" Zuko said quickly, "But Uncle and I got a bit sidetracked. Azula's after us."
Your eyes widened in shock.
"Azula? But what could she want from you? She's already next in line to become firelord."
"My father," said Zuko quietly, "He sent her after me and the avatar. He doesn't seem to think my efforts to capture him are good enough."
"Of course," you said in a rare burst of anger, "I should have known your father would do anything to prevent you from returning to the Fire Nation. That's part of the reason I left, you know."
"Really?" said Zuko curiously.
He had always wondered what made you leave the Fire Nation. Although he had already been banished at that time, he had heard through letters from the Fire Nation that you had run away shortly after his father sent him to find the avatar. Selfishly, he couldn't help but think that you had left for him.
"I never really agreed with the Fire Nation's teachings," you said honestly, "I always wondered why we were taught that our way of life was better than everyone else, when, truly, each one of us should be seen as equals. But when your own father challenged you to an Agni Kai, I realized that we really weren't the heroes the Fire Nation said we were. We were the villains. I came out here to try and make a difference. I can't just stand by while our people destroy the world and everyone in it."
Zuko's gaze met you eyes and he saw the many emotions swirling inside of them. Most importantly the fiery determination that he hadn't seen since childhood. As your words sank in, he though about how he and his uncle had ended up in the city. Unlike you, who, through your unwavering need to help others, had worked the make life easier for the people whose life had been torn apart by the Fire Nation, he had spent the better part of a month terrorizing innocent towns on his hunt for the avatar.
"I always wished I could be more like you, you know," Zuko said ashamed, "I always thought I was doing the right thing by tracking down the avatar, but after seeing all the damage the Fire Nation has caused, maybe I've been doing a lot more harm than good."
You smiled at him before softly cupping his face.
"You're not a bad person, Zuko," you said quietly, "I know there's good in you. You just need someone to help you find it."
You felt Zuko's skin burn under your touch, as you look into his golden eyes, which are filled with hesitation. As you leaned closer, you could hear Zuko's breath hitch as his breath caught in his throat. Zuko began to lean in, hoping you couldn't hear his heart beating at a thousand miles an hour.
Your lips finally connected, for a brief second, before you pulled apart, faces flushed.
"You, know," Zuko said quietly, "I missed you a lot after I left the Fire Nation."
You smiled softly.
"So did I," you said before gently pulling him into another kiss.
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thethreeeyed-raven · 5 months
Text
requests are open!
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overtail · 23 days
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hii can i request you weite zuko x chubby/plus sized reader? specifically just general dating headcanons (and possibly some smut hcs if you feel like writing that). id prefer a gender neutral reader but im not very picky about that type of thing. i love ur writing btw!!
ONG TY FOR THAT! Exposing myself here but I'm actually a chubby person (lore drop im not a girl) so this is very heartwarming for me :33
...
Zuko Headcannons - Dating a Chubby/Plus-Sized Reader
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this is not meant to romanticize eating disorders
meeting you ִֶָ 𓂃⊹ ִֶָ
-when you walked into the tea shop, he thought you were the most beautiful person hes ever seen
-'hey uncle, i can serve them'
-immediately wanted to talk to you
-he was extremely nervous, acting like a lost turtleduck
-'what? jas..jasmine tea! oh yeah.'
-gave you an extra cookie
-always waves to you when you come in
-was excited when iroh told him that you asked where Zuko was when he was sick at home
-you're his favorite customer
-'Lee. My name's Lee.'
knowing you ִֶָ 𓂃⊹ ִֶָ
-after a while, Iroh hired you at the Jasmine Dragon when he got the shop
-you and zuko became very close
-you two had sleepovers at his and iroh's shared apartment
-iroh would make you guys sleep in the livingroom
-loved the way your waiter uniform hugged your curves
-would make you food all the time, even when you insisted you werent hungry
-protective whenever you served boys your age
-you came with him and iroh to serve tea at the palace to the king
-'zuko? you're the prince of the fire nation?'
-you werent as angry as he thought you would be
-you were locked up with him and katara in the catacombs
-came with him when he chose to fight alongside azula
dating him (royalty) ִֶָ 𓂃⊹ ִֶָ
-when zuko started living in the palace again, he immediately offered for you to live with him
-a week later, he confessed
-he told you how you were the most gorgeous person he's ever seen
-how you looked like a painting from the renaissance
-held you close at night when you two slept
-assigned a special place in the palace for your special interests
-noticed when you stopped eating much
-tried to offer you as much food as possible
-was confused when he saw you throwing up after dinner
-'(y/n)? did you get food poisoning?'
-consoled you when you started crying about your body
-'it's the one i imagined in my dreams.'
-🔞kissed your arms, your neck, your stomach and your thighs
-he loved seeing your stretch marks
-🔞seeing you naked for the first time was a dream come true
dating him (redemption) ִֶָ 𓂃⊹ ִֶָ
-you refused to let him go work with the avatar without you
-was there when he told ozai about wanting to be better
-comforted him when he learned the truth about his mom
-helped him create his introduction to the gaang
-'hello, zuko here!' *you laugh*
-fully defended him when nobody trusted him
-got angry when katara called you a traitor too
-cooked you lots of food while camping out
-always worshipping your body whenever alone
dating him (firelord) ִֶָ 𓂃⊹ ִֶָ
-immediately proposed to you after his coronation
-🔞got busy as soon as you guys got in your room on your wedding night
-loved getting clothes that hugged your body
-you were always there with him
-'what do mean they shouldn't be in this meeting?
-did anything to make you happy
-got you an extra cookie whenever you wanted a meal to remind you of when you guys first met
-very possesive of you
-beat the shit out of a soldier that made a rude comment about your body
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ghhoste · 2 months
Text
Title: THE LOVE I HAVE FOR YOU IS STRONGER THAN THE BEATING HEART IN YOUR CHEST…
TW: dead (nothing graphic)
Zuko x reader
The creation of heartbenders comes from my brain, please, no plagiarism or ask before copying (put my name, I would love to read your fics talking about Avatar <3)
English is unfortunately not my mother tongue, sorry if mistakes are present in this fic!
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Aang was the last airbender. He disappeared after learning that he was the next avatar. Completely reclusive from his old world. He did not know how to save the world. He could not have the courage to save the world from the destruction of the fire nation. But he remembered that he knew a family that could help him learn the power of the land. The Y/N family of the Earth nation.
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The group had just arrived in a temple of the nation of the Earth. It was rare for the people of this nation to accept strangers especially people who came from the fire nation. Zuko was uncomfortable but his uncle was even more so. He had been sent to this temple to destroy it in the early days of the war and the men of the fire nation had decided to remain in the vicinity of this temple. Iroh, Zuko’s uncle, had been sent to the land nation to capture and kill the heartbenders. For many, heartbenders were abominations of life and when he was younger, Iroh thought so too. But after the loss of his son, the rumors of the heartbender abomination had become untrue to him. He had seen the warmth and the angelism of the power of life, but the horrors committed by the nation of fire, could not be repaired. Indeed, the men of the earth nation from this temple had a secret: it had a different type of earth power. He had the power of life. He had the power to revive plants but also humans. Heartbenders had become increasingly scarce. Because of the war. But also the devastation done in this temple. The Y/N family, the most important family in this temple since this family had decided to protect the back of the different avatars that had been there for generations and generations. Aang knew a man named Yuan Y/N, the great-grandfather of the Y/N family. He had known the young avatar during his early years and Aang had decided to visit him so that heHere comes to help him master the power of the earth but with other than the basic ability, he wanted to learn the power of life and control the dead.
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Aang began to speak so that his friends would know what to know about this people. He was not like other people on earth. He remained reclusive to avoid war but also heartbender trafficking.
“Yuan was a child of the people of Kyoshi Temple. These people did not like strangers because the Y/N family was the last family of heartbenders.” He heard slight exclamations after saying this sentence, Aang smiled. Yes, the Y/N family was really great and he loved to have as a friend this frail boy yet so generous. “Heartbenders are increasingly lonely and Yuan was one. He could grow plants but also revive them. His power was one of the most beautiful, no one can make me say otherwise. I don’t even know how or why people are chasing them when their powers could bring peace to the land and allow us to get along with everyone on the land— But the heartbender hunt was declared shortly after I was promoted to my role as an air nation monk and I was no longer allowed to approach Yuan. We lost contact shortly after he had his twelfth birthday…I would like to know how he is now…”
“Aang, this man must be over 112 years now… And even more so if he was a heartbenders… These men and women were considered traitors among all the nations…. I’m sorry, Aang, but your friend has unfortunately passed away.” Katara looked at the young avatar and she saw the tears coming in her friend’s eyes.
“Hey… Whether he’s still alive or not, maybe he has grandchildren? Maybe he has a family that can help you?” Sokka looked at his friend trying to comfort him. "And even though he has no family, he is still here." The boy of the water nation pointed to the heart of the young avatar and he saw a slight smile appeared on the face of the air boy.
“Thank you Sokka, thank you so much for comforting me!” Aang sighed before turning his gaze to a mountain where a statue of Kyoshi could be seen from afar. "Here we are, friends!"
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The village was right in front of them. They had walked for long hours to reach this village hidden by a dense forest. The men and women of the nation of the earth knew how to hide in their element.
While Sokka was at the front of the group, a weapon dangerously approached his neck. He could not believe his eyes. He had not seen the weapon appear and fell to the ground. Katara approached his brother but he was forbidden to approach. Aang moved to avoid being seen, perhaps this village was with the fire nation.
Suddenly, a masked figure appeared in front of them. "What are you doing here? How did you find my village?" The man who spoke was slightly larger than Sokka and was much more muscular than him, he dominated them all.
Aang approached the man and began to speak. "My name is Aang. I am an airbender and I am also the avatar everyone was waiting for.” He was cut by an exclamation of the man who seemed septic. But who wouldn’t, the airbenders were all gone a hundred years ago now. “I came to see an old friend and his name is Yuan. That’s why I know the location of your village so precisely. We are not with the fire nation and we will never be.
“Well…” A voice was heard behind the masked man. “I didn’t expect to see the young boy who accompanied my father as a child again.” A woman stood and looked at the young avatar. His eyes looked like Yuan’s. Warm and full of joy. As if the war had not touched him.
“Mother…You had to stay in the village…” The masked boy took off his mask, revealing his face to the other people around him. He had a very beautiful face and his C/E eyes allowed to see all the horrors he had already seen.
“I know, my son! But…” The woman looked at her son and winked at him. The young man broke down on the spot.
"And do you know where she left?" The young man began to run towards the forest and disappeared quickly, so dense was the forest.
“I feel sorry for my son. He never liked it when people approached our village. War leaves irreparable scars for the men and women living on this land.” Aang’s group was completely charmed by the woman. "Oh, I didn’t introduce myself. My name is Y/M/N Y/N and the man you are looking for is my grandfather…and unfortunately he passed away over 50 years ago… He died for protecting our village…May his soul be at peace…” Aang felt his throat cut. He expected it a little, many of his friends had died but he felt more and more alone as time passed.
Katara, seeing that no one was answering the woman, decided to answer her. “Good morning, Madam… We wanted to find a heartbender-" The look on the woman’s face changed to show fear.
“Please…Don’t say this power too loud… The men of the fire nation may have followed you and if they know we are hiding heartbenders, they may kill us for treason…” Aang looked at the woman’s eyes and turned to where her boy had gone.
“One of your children is a heartbender?” Iroh watched the woman decompose. “We don’t want to harm your children… The young man needs someone to train him in this secret power of which your people are the last to know the characteristics of this power and thus form Aang.”
“My daughter is not here yet and the heartbenders were killed in one of the fire nation attacks…” The woman looked back at the group. “But we can wait for her, she will return as always. Let the feast begin for the return of the Avatar, our savior and our hope.”
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Zuko had decided not to participate in the party that had been organized for the arrival of the avatar. He did not feel comfortable with others and he did not want to participate in a feast with a people who had suffered death because of his nation. He saw people tired of this war, crying when one of the statues representing the soldiers of the nation of the earth became black which announced the death of the soldiers. His uncle had tried not to show himself too much. He felt pity for those men and women who lost family members because of his brother’s madness. The madness of his brother who had caused the death of thousands of people.
Zuko walked for long minutes when he heard two voices talking behind a tree. He recognized the boy who had faced Sokka, thinking he was a killer-archer. He was protecting the girl with Y/C/H hair who was with him and who never seemed to leave him.
The boy had just asked the girl beside him. Zuko hid behind a tree so that he could continue to listen to the conversation of the two young people of the nation of the earth.
“Well, one is the avatar, so it’s okay for mother to want him to stay here and learn a little bit more about the power of heartbenders…” The girl had just spoken and Zuko looked at the girl’s hand, whose flower magically appeared. He looked at the girl with incomprehension. The heartbenders had disappeared during the temple’s first attack, so how is it possible that a girl could have a power gone?
“Stop Y/N! I beg you to stop using this silly power. If someone finds out, they’ll throw you into a war you don’t need to be in. You don’t have to.” The boy had just pulled the flower out of the hands of the presumed Y/N. Zuko could not let go of his gaze of the girl.
“But N/A…My power is to protect people…I want to save…” Y/N started a sentence but stopped seeing his brother’s disappointed look. He never looked at her like that, and she knew that he only wanted her well. He wanted her to stay alive, he wanted to be crazy. He was selfish and N/B knew it. He prayed every day that the war would spare his younger sister. He wanted her never to have that stupid power. That cursed power.
The power of heartbenders was a power that many nations wanted to have. It allowed to control the life of the forests but also the life of the men who surrounded the heartbenders. Heartbenders could kill people who were around them but they could also heal serious wounds and revive people. This power was known to few but the leaders of the different nations knew that this power existed and that if they captured heartbenders, the war would end.
“Listen Y/N, I don’t want to lose you…” Suddenly, Zuko heard a cracked branch on his left side. He turned his head to the side but saw only flowers appear. He turned his face Y/N and Y/B but found no one. They had disappeared and Zuko did not know where he could have gone. As he decided to turn back, he felt a blade slipping on his neck. He turned his body to see his attacker and fell face to face with Y/B. The boy’s C/E eyes pierced his skull as the blade pressed harder and harder on his neck.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" The boy of the earth retreated slightly when he saw light flames appear at the fingertips of the boy whom he kept under his blade. “You’re a spy of the fire nation…What are you doing here? Your people have already done enough harm to the temple of Kyoshi, my people have suffered because of yours…” The young man’s blade clung even stronger to his neck.
“I’m not with the fire nation… I ran away from my life to help the Avatar Aang, I’m with him, you can ask him if you don’t believe me.” Zuko looked at the boy and he found a resemblance to the girl who was with him, before they disappeared.
"Are you with Avatar Aang? I don’t believe you." Y/B looked away for a few seconds to cross the eyes of his sister, Y/N. But these few seconds of exchange allowed Zuko to defend himself and sent him slamming on one of the trees behind the two men. The tree sucked the young man from the ground as if to protect him from the impact and thus afford to have a plan to protect his sister. The main person protected was his younger sister and he could not afford to lose her. He could not lose another family member and most importantly, Y/N had to stay alive to rebuild the forests destroyed by the fire nation. Heartbenders were born to accomplish this mission and until it was not fulfilled, heartbenders could not rest in peace. They were reborn endlessly, until life was calm and peaceful again for the people remaining alive.
"Why don’t you believe me? I wouldn’t lie about something so serious." Zuko couldn’t understand, he didn’t know how to do it. And if no one believed him when he said he was no longer part of the fire nation. "I hate the fire nation as much as you do. I hate her from the bottom of my soul. I betrayed my homeland to help Avatar Aang as your family betrayed the nation of earth to help Avatar Kyoshi… Your family is no longer part of the nation of the earth, that’s why no one stays with you and people want to capture you more and more. They want to take your sister, Y/N, right?”
“DON’T TALK ABOUT MY SISTER! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TAKE HER NAME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH!” Zuko had just hit a nerve. He had touched the rope that held the power of Y/B’s earth in perfect constant. The powers of the earth were connected with the feelings of the person and sometimes, when the people of the nation of the earth lost control of their powers, accidents could happen because no one could make them go back in the right way. When an earthbender lost control, it was difficult to regain control of his men. The land began to crack under Zuko’s feet and the fire nation boy began to panic, he did not want this to happen. He was not to upset a member of another nation, especially the land. Their emotional instability was far too strong for anyone to beat.
“I’m sorry…Stop…” Zuko begged the young man because he seemed really about to kill him. Suddenly, C/H hair appeared before his eyes and he let go a slight smile.
“Y/B. Stop, you don’t have to fight in front of the Kyoshi statue. She’s going to get angry.” The girl approached her brother and touched his cheek. She turned to Zuko to see if he was okay. "Are you all right, son of the fire nation?"
“My name is Zuko and I prefer you to call me that…” Zuko lowered his head but fingers touched his chin to raise his head.
“Raise your head. The men of the fire nation are not all the same. Many men have deserted the ranks of this nation. You don’t have to lower your head, you’re a strong person.” Suddenly, a bell rang in the forest and Y/B reached out immediately.
«THE VILLAGE IS UNDER ATTACK!» Y/N had just screamed and Y/B looked at her sister, making her understand that she had to go somewhere else. "To my Gods, the temple is defenseless."
The girl began to run as the trees closed in her path so that no one could pass into her lair and kill the young heartbender.
"Follow my sister! Protect her at the risk of your life! I beg you, she is the hope of my village. When the war is over, it can help our nations rebuild nature, but if it dies before, the omens made by the gods will be more and more present… And it is not war that will kill us, but nature around us…” Y/B rushed in the opposite direction of his sister and he disappeared, absorbed by the earth, so he was an earthbender.
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Kyoshi’s temple was one of the most beautiful that Zuko had seen. The wood and the mother-of-pearl color complemented the other colors that were present on the temple. The sunset reflected, giving yellow and golden colors on all the towers.
He arrived in front of the wooden door, with different flowers on top and it was slightly open. He chuckled slightly, realizing that the girl was extremely naive, thinking that no one would know that no one would be there. He thought back to the fire nation, to his family that he expected to wait impatiently while the reality was quite different.
Zuko whispered this sentence calmly, but this simple action reverberated against the walls of the temple. The phrase he thought harmless was ultimately something extremely catastrophic but whatever this simple resource could allow Zuko and Y/N to possibly postpone the war in the temple.
"Oh my gods!" Zuko turned and heard an insult behind his back. "Zuko, didn’t you?" The young man nodded and the girl gave him a slight, proud smile. “You have to watch the temple door while I collect the urns from the men and women of my village. To survive, I have to plant them in the forest but I never had time to do it because of the men of the fire nation who were spying on my family… I’m sorry you’re the one who has to put up with me, usually it’s -". She was cut by hot lips on hers, preventing her from continuing her rambling. She felt Zuko’s lips twist to form a smile and her breath became more erratic.
But there was no time for kisses in this war. Zuko promised to kiss him even harder when this battle was over.
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Zuko was fighting the men of the fire nation. He was trying to prevent them from entering Kyoshi Temple. If they came back, he wouldn’t forgive himself. The young heartbender had asked her not to bring anyone into the temple until she had removed the ballot boxes of the various men and women who had died during the first attack on the village. But the men of the fire were more and more numerous and Zuko could no longer fight, the wounds and burns became more and more painful and he could no longer bear it.
Suddenly, as he was fighting, an arrow fell on the torso of the man who was going to impale him with his weapon. He turned his gaze like the enemy men who were surprised to see a man with bad points with serious injuries on his upper body. Injuries that should have killed him. How is it possible that someone could survive such serious injuries? But his answer was quickly answered when he saw Y/N, black smoke surrounding him and he could see the urns of the men open, making him quickly understand that she had just used her power.
"Y/N?" Zuko looked at the girl who was in trance. The powers of heartbenders were likened to bad spells or black magic. But when Zuko saw Y/N trying to protect him so hard, he felt his heart beat stronger. No one had ever defended him and he had always been alone. When he saw a girl, whom he considered weak at the base, showing his power to people who wanted to harm him, he could not feel so confident. His flames mounted on his arm and he approached the girl of the earth.
"Are you okay?" Zuko asked the girl who was looking at him with fear.
“Are you asking me if I’m okay when you’re literally dying on me? Are you serious? I don’t even know what to say so that…” She was cut off by the young man’s loud laugh. “Stop mocking me, Zuko…”
“No one has ever worried about me…I don’t even know what to say…I mean, thank you!” Zuko looked at the girl with a bright smile and in his eyes he saw the hope he had been waiting for years now. He no longer needed to return to the nation of fire, he could stay with that girl who had become his beacon of hope and life.
“Well… I’m glad I could give you back your courage… I don’t know how I did it, but you’re a big guy and you don’t have to think otherwise…” The girl leaned towards the young man but was interrupted by a fireball, touching her left cheek. She looked at the young man with disbelief, her cheeks becoming increasingly red. She stepped back and got up, embarrassed by his behavior.
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The last soldier of the fire fell to the ground, face down. Zuko had just killed him with his flames and his shoulders relaxed when he saw no one standing. No one standing?
His eyes turned from left to right and his heart fell into his chest when he saw the body of the girl he was supposed to protect. His lungs could no longer give him the breath he needed and a cry resounded in the forest where only he could hear his purpose. Tears running down her cheeks making her breathing increasingly complicated…
pt2?
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