♡

He did not know he was taking his last breaths. Or maybe he simply refused to accept it. 

Either way, his lover’s smile was the first thing that came to mind. 

“I want to see you…” the words escaped from his purplish lips. 

As he laid on the grass covered field, eyes staring at the passing clouds. One hand rested on the helmet lying beside him. The other weakly clutched the arrow protruding from his left side. His vision slowly blurred, his eyes turning milky 

His ears picked up the sound of hoofbeats. He did not turn his head, he wanted to, but he could not. 

“...?” his lips parted, but only shallow breaths escaped. 

Slowly a figure towered over him, blocking out the sky above him. His lips parted again, but only a wet gurgle escaped. 

“What a painful sight.” the unfamiliar voice said. 

“...”

He heard the sound of a sword getting pulled out its scabbard.

“Any last words?”

“...miss…yo..”

⋆˚꩜｡

“Any last words before I take off tomorrow?” he asked, leaning into her palm. Nuzzling his cheek against her warm skin. Arms wrapped around her waist as he kneeled in front of her.

“Just…come back to me.” she cradled his face into her lap. 

Letting out a soft scoff. “Hmm?” he hummed, raising his head. “Your answer is always the same.” 

“Because I knew one day, you wouldn’t be able to.“

⋆˚꩜｡

zuko x reader

The whole palace was wrapped in silence. The moon shone brightly into the room of  Zuko, who was standing on his balcony. He leaned against the railing, staring straight ahead into the night. His heart felt heavy, along with his mind. He couldn't quite point out what was wrong, but he knew he needed some alone time. 

The chilly wind of the night ran through his long locks, making his skin shiver. It was getting cold, but for some reason you never failed to warm his heart up. 

“My dear,” he said softly, placing his hand on top of yours, which rested against his stomach. “where were you?” he asked as you rested your head against his back. Pulling him closer to you.

You did not answer right away, fingers curled slightly against the fabric of his robe, as if grounding yourself in his presence before speaking. “Just…walking.”  You murmured at last, your voice barely louder than the wind brushing past the balcony. “I couldn't sleep.” 

Zuko let out a slow breath, his hand shifting to cover yours more firmly. “Neither could I.”

For a moment neither of you said anything. The palace remained still and quiet, as if the entire world had decided to give the two of you this moment. 

“You are troubled,” you said quietly, lifting your head just enough to study the line of his shoulders. “I can feel it.”

He almost denied it, but the words died before they reached his lips. Instead, his shoulders sagged just slightly, enough for you to notice.

“I thought it would get easier,” he admitted, his voice low. “After everything. After the war… after becoming Fire Lord.” A bitter breath left him. “But some nights, it feels just as heavy as before.”

“You don’t have to carry it alone,” you said with certainty in your tone. 

Zuko turned his head slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse of you from the corner of his eye. “I know,” he said, softer now. “I just… forget sometimes.”

You stepped closer, resting your forehead gently between his shoulder blades again. “Then I’ll remind you.”

Her white silk dress was noticeable from a far distance. At least for him. She was out in the garden sitting on the edge of the fountain, which was built in the heart of it. Its soft murmur sheltered beneath tall trees whose branches bent toward one another, illuminating a leafy roof. Yet in the center, the canopy opened just enough for sunlight to spill through. 

To him, she felt like flame, and he could best describe himself as a moth. Always drawn towards her presence.

“Your Highness,” he greeted. Her head snapping towards the root of the voice. “I promised I would come back.”

He was still in armor, and judging by the dents and scratches, it had taken more than a few hits. Her, though, was already removing his helmet. Craving to see the face she adores so much. 

As the helmet struck the ground with a clang, her lover's gaze found hers, filled with longing. Damp strands clung to his brow. A few fresh scars stood out against his face. 

“Is this your first stop?” She asked, hands reaching out to hold his face in her palms.

“How could I not run to see you first?” He asked back, leaning into her touch. “Being away from you felt wrong.” His fingers wrapped around her wrist, keeping her hand in place. Kissing the inside of it.

“This place,” she says softly, tilting her head towards the heart of the garden. “feels right again with you here.” 

A knock on the door breaks the silence. “Come in,” I say. I can see the snake-shaped handle of my door turning before it opens. I can’t see the person clearly at first, but the flames from the fireplace illuminate his face. With heavy steps, he walks toward me. I stand up quickly, my book falling to the floor. 

“Your Highness,” he says, kneeling before me in greeting, his head hung low. 

“I told you to call me by my name,” I say, reaching down to cup his face in my hands. I raise his head so that he is looking at me. The dark circles under his eyes reveal that he’s not sleeping well. “Do you perhaps not sleep well?” I ask. Silence. 

In response, his arms wrap around my waist, pulling me even closer to him. His head now rests against my stomach. “Not without you,” he responds. “The nights feel endless when you are not around. It’s like I am lost, only waiting for the morning to come so I can feel whole again.” 

The knight remains kneeling, his hands trembling as he clutches my waist, as though afraid that if he lets go, I would disappear. My hand rests gently on the top of his head, trying to calm his racing mind. “You can always come to me,” I say softly. 

He remains kneeling before me, his hands still trembling as he keeps his gaze fixed on the floor. There is a heavy silence between us, the weight of unspoken words thick in the air, as though it could suffocate us at any moment. His heart pounds in his chest, torn between his deepest longing and the responsibility tied to his duty. 

After a long pause, he finally speaks, his voice barely above a whisper. “May... may I sleep with you tonight?” His words are filled with hesitation, a plea for comfort more than just physical. He is asking for something deeper, a moment of peace in a world full of turmoil and anger. 

My breath catches, my heart racing as I look down at him. I can feel the weight of his pain, his loneliness, and the exhaustion in his voice.