Nex the Night Goblin

the heir to fire nation in his grasp. his child. his daughter. perched on his hip. her little arms waving around as zuko gazed.

round cheeked with his eyes and your nose.

her eyes pan over to you, where you stood to the side of your husband.

one hand fisting at the fire lords hair, unintentionally tugging— like babies do— as she looked around. her other hand, patting at his chest. she continued to stare at you, gummy smile appearing. she giggles. then looks to her father.

her smile drops just a little as she stares at dad. zuko glances at you. your eyes catch his.

a beat.

your daughter turns to you. eyes on yours before drifting back to zuko. her head tips.

his eye.

her chubby hand pats it. little fingers fiddling with the skin as she then turns to you again. her attention on the left side of your face before patting her own. assessing.

“I know. s’just me.” zuko says it softly. accepting. unashamed. a difference compared to how he used to think of it when he was younger.

she looks back to her father.

another beat passes.

Did I let her know?

.

Seventeen days. Eighteen pages. Twenty minutes.