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Heyyy!! I heard you wanted requests, so here I am🙏🏻
What about....A Oneshot of Zuko with a Reader that is a Water-/Bloodbender who (like Katara and Sokka) lost their family by the hands of Firebenders. They didn't grow up with the Watertribes though, but lived in an Earth Kingdom Village until the Gaang found them [so they are dressed like an earthbender and their fighting style is more like Tophs than Kataras]. Reader hates Zuko at first and doesn't want him joining the Gaang but eventually opens up, when he talks about his mom and they bond over their dead mothers and shitty fathers.
You don't have to write it, if you don't want to! But I would be honored to see you turn my idea into a story🙏🏻✨️
Don't make me beg...
Synopsis: Synopsis: Zuko wishes to make amends. The only problem is...I won't hear him out. But he's never been one to give up easily.
Word count: 4.5k
A/N ~ I couldn't find Haru's mom's name anywhere, so i just gave her a random one. If yall can find her name PLEASE let me know. I went into a whole deep dive. Thank you for the request, my love! I hope i did it justice! (i tried to make it as gender neutral as possible)
Warning: !!!NOT PROOFREAD!!!
Water...
Earth...
Fire...
Air...
All important factors within the world we live in. For both benders and non-benders. The gifts given to the benders by the spirits were meant to bring harmony. It was meant to let us feel the elements that we use on a daily, feel them course through our veins.
But some people didn't see it as a way to connect with our Earth. Some people saw it as something to use against their fellow people.
Everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. The North Pole, as strong as it is, was hit pretty hard. They were able to ward off Fire Nation soldiers for a long time.
But not forever. Many smaller villages just outside the North Kingdom were hit pretty hard, not having as many benders or guards to protect them.
Many of the water benders stayed, fighting valiantly against the Fire Nation soldiers. But nothing good comes from water and fire mixing.
Only pain.
My father and younger sister were murdered when our igloo caved in. The ice blocks crushing their sleeping bodies. All i remember is hoping they felt no pain, but i know they did. I know they were buried beneath the stinging ice, shivering and numb until they went dark.
What i don't know, is what my mother had felt. The pain of not knowing always seems to haunt the narrative, doesn't it?
My mother forced me to flee the village with the elderly, while she stayed to protect and heal the people that were harshly injured. How could she not? She was the bravest, most selfless person i'd ever known.
Even with the Fire Nation soldiers there, she only cared about helping people. Even when they were there for her.
"I'll see you soon, my raindrop. Stay safe." She'd whispered in my ear just before i'd lost her forever.
How could that possibly be the last thing i remember her by? How could those be the last words she'd ever spoken to me?
My fingers clutched the necklace she'd slipped into my hand before disappearing from view. My tiny, young fingers. Holding the pendant, thumb tracing over the ridges in it. Her betrothal necklace.
I remember crying out for her, one of the older women carrying me, holding me back from my own mother. My only family left.
It wasn't hard to find a welcoming place. Earth benders, rough as they can be around the edges, are surprisingly amazing hosts. They took is all in. The older people that could no longer work went to the small home they had, while the younger people were split among the villagers.
As long as we worked for our stay, we were welcome as long as we liked. It didn't hurt that my home had a boy near my age. Fast friends, attached at the hip, like siblings. That's what everyone seemed to say about Haru and i.
His father was so warm and kind, unlike mine had ever been. And his mother made the most delicious lamb and spring stew. They made me feel so welcome, so loved. I'd found a new home. Though it never took away the ache, the longing, that i had for the cold tundra of the North Pole. Of my village. Of my family. Now all long gone...
I find myself staring at my reflection in the soapy water of my mop bucket, feeling a strange tug in my stomach just from being this close to water. A small smile claws its way onto my face, as the sight of my mother's necklace peaking out of my shirt looks right back at me in my reflection.
My fingers duck beneath the neckline of my shirt, tucking my necklace under the fabric as i hear the door swing open and closed. It's not until i hear Haru's soft, quiet voice that i feel the tension in my shoulders melt away.
I place the mop back in its bucket and push it to the side.
"Haru, how many times do miss Hikari and i have to tell you? Come home earlier. Now you'll be doing chores until dusk," I huff, scolding the boy. My eyes narrow in disappointment. Some might say i've mastered the art of "mom" glare.
Hikari sends the boy a glare of her own while she stirs the pot of soup she's making. Carrot and beet sprout soup. Its smell lingers in the air, filling the house with a warm, cozy feeling.
Haru opens his mouth with an annoyingly sarcastic retort, i'm sure, but he gets interrupted when the door opens yet again.
Who the—?
"Hey, you're that kid!" A girl's voice rings out into the house from the doorway. I turn along with Haru, both of us gasping softly. The silhouette of a short girl looms in the doorway, the sun glaring in my eyes and making it hard to see her.
"Why did you run away before?" There's her voice before. My brows furrow, confused.
Out of the corner of my eye i can see Haru shrug. Does he... Does he know this girl?
"Uh...you must have me confused with some other kid," Haru's voice comes out hesitant, unsure.
Hikari looks up from the soup, a brow raised.
Two other boys appear behind the girl, walking into the house as if they're not total strangers to us. Seriously, who do they think they are? Not even having the decency to remove their shoes. I scoff.
The smaller boy of the two pipes up, "No, we don't. We saw you earthbending." He has a childish grin on his face, and a hat too big for his head. It keeps sliding back, and the boy behind him keeps fixing it for him.
Those words make Hikari finally speak up, her eyes wide and demanding. "Earthbending?!"
I don't really hear much else of the conversation, though. Because i finally look at the girl now that she's no longer hidden by shadows. And Spirits, does it feel like my heart stops.
She's in Water Tribe silks. And not only that, but her necklace... It's a betrothal necklace, just like the one my mother gave to me.
I find my hand coming up to rest over my shirt, fingers tracing the outline of my necklace over top the fabric.
My little raindrop...
The words echo in my brain at the sight of the girl.
A loud knock vibrates the door. Rough and cool. Definitely Fire Nation sharks, but why? We'd already paid.
Hikari opens the door, everyone else in the house, including me, doing odd poses to seem more "natural". Spoiler, it didn't work.
One of the boys even fell into our rain barrel. Damn, that took all month to fill. He spilled at least a week's worth of water.
The Fire Nation soldier step into the house, holding his hands out towards Hikari in a threat. "Fire is so hard to control sometimes..." He'd said.
What a pri—
Hikari opens her chest, pulling out some of her wages to give to him. We'd barely even paid off their last tax, and now they're upping it? I can feel my blood boiling at that smug smirk on his face, but i refrain from saying anything. I don't want to give them any more reason to harm Haru or Hikari. They've already lost too much...
After they leave, and a stern talking to from Hikari, Haru and i take the three kids out to the barn, giving them a place to rest for the night.
While Haru speaks with them, my gaze is more interested in the big ol' bison eating our hay. He's absolutely adorable.
Then a big head with even bigger ears blocks my view of the bison. "Hey, i'm Sokka. Not sure we were properly introduced."
He introduces himself. He has this stupid smirk on his face, a mix of cocky and flirty. It makes me want to dump ice cold water on him and give him the worst frostbite of his life. But i restrain. (Mostly because i don't have any ice water.)
"I'm Y/n."
"That's a cool name. Sounds more water-y than earth-y, though." He says, his voice scratchy.
I roll my eyes.
"Anyways," I turn and begin walking out of the barn. Haru went off somewhere with the girl, Katara, i'd come to know is her name.
As i lied in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, i found myself thinking of the two Water Tribe teens. I wondered why they were away from their home. Were they forced from it like me? Were they attacked? Did they leave willingly?
I was soon dragged from those thoughts, however, when i heard a strange commotion coming from outside of the house. I get up from bed, wrapping an earthy green robe around my body. I take notice of Haru's empty bed, now even more concerned.
I walk out to see Haru being dragged away. Hikari is being held back by Fire Nation soldiers, calling out for Haru, tears streaming down her face. I stand there, feet glued to the ground, fists clenched. How did they find out?!
The next morning i walk into the barn, eyes almost glowing with anger, a storm raging within them. I hear them whispering among each other, managing to catch a "Haru" or "Break him out" here and there.
My voice is low, angry. "I want in. With all of it. I want to save everybody i can from the Fire Nation, avatar..."
That was that. I helped them save Haru and Tyro from the ship prison, along with hundreds of other prisoners, and i'd managed to learn a couple waterbending tricks from Katara so i could help them.
She was surprised to see our similar necklaces, as was i when i first saw hers. But we decided to talk about that later.
I parted from Haru, but not without a long, tearful goodbye. I squeezed my brother close.
When i had helped the gaang save those people, i felt a strong tug in my stomach. The way i felt when i was near water. It felt...good. It felt really good to help them. It felt good to work alongside the avatar's team.
It felt as though i'd found my destiny, my calling.
So, as anyone does when they find their long awaited passion in life, i followed it. I joined them and left my small village. I left my box. I left my safety.
The journey with them was tough. Especially the first few days when all we did was fly on Appa, over blank ocean.
But when we finally did make it to the North Water Kingdom, it seemed fine. All was good.
Katara, Aang, and I managed to convince Master Pakku to teach Katara and i, Sokka somehow managed to date a princess, and Momo and Appa were having a blast eating in their stables.
It was wonderful.
Until...it wasn't.
See, when i decided to join these three, hopeless teenagers in their journey, i didn't realize we would be hunted by the FUCKING FIRE NATION PRINCE!
He follows us pretty much everywhere we go. And i genuinely don't understand how. How in the hell is this ponytailed weirdo finding us?
The scarred boy arrived at possibly one of the worst times he could've, leaving Katara and i to fight and protect Aang, while everybody else was under duress.
As Katara tends to Aang, i try to fight off the scarred prince. I send shards of ice and water whips his way, the fullness of the moon above fueling my gifts.
My feet are planted firmly on the ground, the bottoms of my feet digging deep into the grass. The form i take is tense, tough. Like that of an earthbender. My hands form fists as i bend the water from my pouch and from the ice surrounding us.
I keep shooting icicles at him, over and over, until he's frozen to the ice behind him. Our faces are mere inches apart, my eyes meeting his blazing ember-colored ones. The two of us meet each other's glares head on.
Just i'm about to strike a final ice spear down on him, Katara calls my name in a panic. I immediately run to the girl, sliding to a stop by her side, following her line of sight.
Fire Nation soldiers. Damn, can't we just have one day without these human candles trying to murder us?
"I'll hold them off, you stand by Aan— Where's Aang?" My stomach drops.
Katara's eyes widen at my words, her head whipping around to where Aang once was. I can see the blood practically drain from her face.
In a panic, i turn to where i'd once had Zuko pinned by ice. He was no longer there, either.
Shit...
Being stuck in a cave with Zuko isn't exactly something on my bingo card for the year. And yet, here we are. Great.
"Why are you in here, anyway? Oh, let me guess. It's all part of your crazy plan to finally catch Aang. So that when he comes to save me, your can snatch him up and leave the rest of us for death by Fire Nation. Am i right?" I scoff, punching one of the walls of the cave angrily, still trying to find an escape.
Sure, our first meeting was violent. As were many of the times after that. And yeah, i 100% hate everything about him and the nation he's in line to inherit. And maybe i do currently want to use some of those bloodbending tricks Hama taught me on him.
But i won't. Of course i wont. Because I'm a good person that doesn't hurt anyone unprovoked. Unlike some people.
My butt hits the dirt roughly as i plop down in it. It's not my ideal prison. Too dusty, too cramped, too...Zuko infested.
Stupid Ba Sing Se corruption. The gaang seriously needs to work on their preparation skills. How do we always end up in these situations?
Glowing crystals protrude from the walls, illuminating the otherwise empty and dark space. Zuko's on the other side of the cave, his back to me, mumbling to himself like some kind of creepy madman.
I toss a pebble at the back of his head.
"Hey, shut up. I can't think," I mutter when his head whips around, his deep, blazing ember eyes glaring harshly at me. It's almost funny, how angry he gets. And so easily, too.
It's not surprising. I mean, Waterbenders are typically calmer people, Firebenders are, well, hotheads. Obviously.
Water is calm, and flows gently. It has the occasional rough tides or insane waves during storms. We're calm unless provoked. Rational until we allow our emotions to take the reins.
Whereas Zuko seems to live on just his emotions. His actions are solely based on how he, himself, is feeling in that moment. Like fire, he's wild, untamable, unpredictable. He can blow up in a seconds time.
That's why fire and water don't mix. Fire evaporates water. Water extinguishes flames.
Perhaps that's why we seem to despise each other so.
"Are you this annoying all on your own, or did you get it from your parents?" Zuko grunts out through gritted teeth.
My eyes narrow into slits, my jaw ticking at his words. "Don't talk about my parents."
My reaction only seems to egg Zuko on, though, because he continues. "Oh," he hums, thinking over his next words carefully, "Touchy subject? Huh?"
I face away from him once more. Every time i hear his voice, it feels like someone's stabbing my eardrum with a sword over and over and over and over—
"Dead parents. Big whoop. My father gave me this," He points to his scar.
My eyes skim over the scar that covers half of his face. The skin of it is rough, having never been properly treated, clearly. The burnt flesh is red, and still looks like it would cause him pain if i were to touch it, even though I'm sure it wouldn't.
"Yeah, yeah. your father sucks. I kinda already got that from the whole trying to take over the world thing," I scoff.
Zuko sends me a glare. Nothing new. His face always seems to be set in a scowl, so it's quite ineffective.
"Look, Zuko, your dad sucks, my dad sucked. But he was still my dad, and he died. My whole family died to your people. So i'm not going to feel bad for you." I say finally, keeping my back to him firmly.
I can hear shifting from behind my back, but choose to ignore it. I close my eyes and rest my cheek on my knees.
Suddenly, i feel a presence beside me, and then a hand on my shoulder. His hand is hot, uncomfortably hot. Like someone dripped melted wax onto my shirt.
"Stop touching me, or i'll slice your hand off." I glared at him.
Zuko scoffs, not removing his hand from my shirt. If anything, his grip tightens.
"I'm sorry about your family." He says, though his voice sounds reluctant and awkwardly firm.
"The fire nation stole my sister. They... They murdered my mother in cold blood. That's something i'll never forgive." I tuck my knees close to my chest, and hide my face in my knees. Tears spill from my eyes involuntarily.
Spirits, i hate how sensitive this topic makes me.
Zuko sighs. I can feel his hand gently rub up and down in my back. I resist the urge to push him away. Maybe i need this. Maybe...we both do.
The way his hand rubs my back feels almost hesitant, like he's guilty for touching me. Or maybe he's guilty for what his people have done.
That, i'm not sure.
"I don't enjoy seeing you in Earth kingdom clothing, when i know what you are." I mutter into the safety of my knees, my cheek pressed against the rough fabric of the pants Hikari had sewn just for me. It's comforting.
"Sucks for you, then." I hear him grumble under his breath, presumably thinking i can't hear him.
"I hope you d—" I get interrupted by a loud explosion, crystals shattering and dust sweeping through the air of the confined cave.
I cough softly, waving a hand in front of my face to clear the dust away from it.
I can hear Zuko coughing from beside me as well.
Aang soon comes into view, and a relieved grin breaks out of my face. "Thank the spirits!"
I run over to him and tackle the younger boy in a hug. I kiss the top of his bald head and hug him tight.
Zuko stands behind me, hugging his uncle.
Oh, if i'd only known what would happen next…
"You're joking, right?" I scoff, staring at the faces of my four friends in disbelief. "You're seriously considering letting him into our team? After everything he's done to us?!"
I can't believe this. After the chasing, the betrayals, the fights, they were just going to let Zuko join team avatar with a flimsy apology and puppy dog eyes?!
Aang sighs, offering me a kind smile. "He's proved—"
I interrupt him with an irritated groan. "Nothing. He's proved nothing but the fact that he's a liar. You can't actually believe that he's "changed". Come on!"
Zuko steps forward, and i can feel the pit of anger in my stomach rising with every step he takes.
"That was before. I... I know what my true destiny is now." He says, holding his hand out for me.
My glare ices over.
"I don't trust you." I begin to walk away. "And you guys shouldn't believe him, either!"
Zuko follows.
He really can't take a hint, can he?
"I'm here to help. I know what i did was wrong—" His voice is rushed as he walks behind me, clearly struggling to keep up with my fast pace.
"Do you, though?" I scoff. "Do you truly know how much it hurt me that you walked away? I thought we were friends."
"We still can be!" His hand grasps my wrist, pulling me to a stop. The movement causes me to trip over my feet, falling backwards into his chest.
My necklace slips out from my neckline.
"You have a necklace like Katara..." He hums, as if he's thinking of something. His hand reaches out to touch it.
I smack his hand away with my free hand, ripping my other wrist out of his grip and stepping away. "Just because they trust you doesn't mean i will. I don't believe for one second that you've had a change of heart."
Zuko pinches the bridge of his nose, his voice coming out rough. "Just listen to me."
I walk faster, pushing branches out of my way as i stomp over the thick forest floor. I stop walking suddenly, causing Zuko to slam into my back, the both of us toppling over.
I groan. My hand reaches up to rub the back of my head where a dull throb is, from my head hitting a branch.
Zuko sits up, his legs straddling mine, an awkward smile on his face. "Sorry." His apology is half-assed.
I roll my eyes. "I'm sure you are."
His apologetic gaze hardens into an irritated glare. "How many times do i have to tell you that i've changed? I'm here to help! Come on, don't make me beg for your forgiveness, Y/n!"
"Shhh." I whisper, looking up at where i heard a twig snap.
"No, you need to listen to me!" Hes pouting like a toddler. Spirits, this boy is an idiot.
I clamp a hand down over his mouth, my fingers digging into the plush skin of his cheeks. "Shut up. I heard something." I hiss in a whisper-quiet voice.
Zuko leans up, his head swiveling around to see if there's anyone around. Not a thing in sight.
"You're delusional." He mutters.
I shove him off of me with a scoff. "Shut your mouth."
He chuckles softly, the noise giving me pause. I stay sat in the ground, staring at the boy blankly. I didn't think he was capable of, well, amusement. Or laughter. Or anything revolving around happiness. And yet here he is, laughing.
He stops, brows furrowed in confusion at the look i'm giving him. "What?"
"You have teeth." I say, my voice teasing.
"I...know?" He looks at me like i'm weird.
I clear my throat awkwardly and stand up, dusting my butt off. "Whatever. Let's head back."
But just as i make a move to turn around and trudge my way back to our camp, Zuko grasps my arm and drags me back down to the ground roughly. A flaming ball of red whizzes over my head just as i fall to my on top of Zuko. The two of us grunt, but manage to scramble upright just as quick as we knocked one another over.
I reach my hand to my hip to open my water pouch, only to realize it's not there. Damn, i must've left it back at the camp.
Curse my need for dramatic exits...
I look at Zuko with wide eyes, before darting off. My feet hit the grass with a soft crunch as i flee the area, not exactly wanting to stay and meet our attackers. Yeah, i'm not exactly a welcome sign when it comes to people who are actively trying to kill me.
Aang, take notes.
"Looks like you're one your own, princey boo!" I call out to him, nearly tripping over my feet as i dodge another flame.
Zuko appears next to me, his hair whipping behind his head from how quick he's running. He's breathing hard. "Fuck you."
"Language." I mutter.
"How'd they find us? It always took me a good day or two to find you guys." He questions, pushing me out of the way as another burning red ball shoots between us.
"Hmmm... Good question. How did you usually find us?" I push him. Mostly for the fun of it.
Zuko ignores my question, instead opting to inform everyone of the fire nation soldiers following closely behind us as we begin to approach the camp.
I watch as our friends stand at the ready, while Sokka runs off to prepare Appa for our escape.
I hold a hand out. "Katara!"
She throws me my pouch and i catch it in my hand.
Just kidding. Her aim was way off and it ends up spilling on the floor. But that's okay, because i can just waterbend it out of the stone that's beginning to stain from the liquid.
I dig my heels into the ground and hold my hands in tight fists, beginning to pull the water out of the stone floors as Toph and Katara stand on either of my sides.
Zuko and Aang are in front of us, standing between me and the soldiers. Fire is shooting all over the place. It's a wonder nobody has been burned yet.
And no, Zuko doesn't count. That was already there before the fight broke out.
I glance at Katara, nodding towards the soldiers. The two of us share a look of agreement, before combining our water together and running in front of the boys. We bend the water to form a wall in front of us, before freezing it over. It's fairly thin, seeing as we aren't exactly abundant in our element, but it gets the job done.
It's enough to buy us some time. And with this extra time, we load everyone up onto Appa and take flight.
I sit beside Zuko, shoulders stiff.
He seems to be pretty tense, too. But i'm not sure if it's because we just almost died, or because he's sitting next to me. Who knows. I certainly don't. Alas... The hidden world of a teenage boy's mind.
Oh, just tell me what you're thinking already! Stop sitting like that!
I shove his shoulder with mine. "Shut up."
He looks at me confused. "I wasn't speaking."
"Shhh. Thanks for saving me. Twice." I mutter, clearing my throat loudly afterwards.
"A lot more than twice—" He begins.
I interrupt. "Don't ruin the moment, Zuko. I don't hate you right now, let's focus on that."
He nods.
His hand slowly slides across the saddle until the very tips of his fingers touch mine. I don't move away. Well, not until he gets bold enough to push his hand to rest atop mine.
I yank my hand away. "Don't push it. I'm tolerating you."
I place my hand back near his, allowing the sides of our palms to graze. I notice a soft pink hue coat his cheeks. I feel my own face grow a little warm, but i ignore it.
"Wanna teach me that bending style sometime?" He asks. "Y'know, if we have time during our mission ti save the world."
I nod. "I have time."
"Okay."
And somehow, without either of us noticing, our hands slide a bit closer...
Do not post, translate, or use my work on any other websites.
Summary: Zuko can be a bit territorial when it comes to his favorite people...or person.
A/n ~ MY WRITERS BLOCK HAS BEEN CUREDDDD!!!! Cute, short lil Zuko blurb for mah cuties <3
A soft breeze blew through the air, making the sand blow around like little glitter particles. Zuko's heavy breaths mixed with the sound of Katara mixing her homemade lemonade in a pitcher harmonize together beautifully.
Laughter. Not exactly Zuko's favorite sound. That is, until he hears that laugh. The laugh that could get him out of bed in the morning. The laugh that made his entire body tingle and feel alive.
You sit a few feet away from the fire nation boy, laughing along with Sokka. You two looked rather cozy. Cozier than Zuko would've liked. But he had to contain himself. He had no rights over you. You, as much as it pained him to think, were not his.
"So, Y/n, wanna spar? Don't worry, i'll go easy on ya." Sokka's voice cuts through the air like his boomerang, practically slicing and grating at Zuko's ears.
Zuko simply glares at the water tribe boy, walking up to stand behind you. He glowers down at Sokka, his presence intimidating, almost dark in a way.
You look up at him, smiling and oblivious. The look on your face made his heart melt. It made all of the tension in his body melt away in a moments notice.
Sokka continues, though. Clearly not taking Zuko's hint.
"So, about that sparri-"
"No." Zuko cuts him off.
"...No?" Sokka tilts his head.
"She'll be sparring with me."
Sokka scoffs. "I didn't hear her say that."
Zuko clenches his fist, resisting the urge to set Sokka's hair aflame.
"She doesn't have to."
"I'd actually like to hear what she has to say." Sokka says, a smirk on his face. He knows he's getting under Zuko's skin.
You look between the two boys. "I can spar bo-"
Just as you're about to finish your sentence, Zuko grasps your wrist in his hand, and pulls it to his mouth. His tongue pokes out from behind his lips, and licks a long stripe from your wrist to your knuckles.
"I call dibs." Zuko says, his eyes not leaving Sokka for a moment.
You and Sokka share the same shocked expression, your mouths hanging open and eyes blown wide.
Sokka stands up, walking away with a muttered "Whatever.".
You look up at Zuko, expecting and explanation, but all you get are small kisses to your hand and wrist.
"I'm sorry. He was getting really annoying."
You roll your eyes at Zuko's words.
"Did you really have to lick me?"
"I called dibs. You're mine now."
Zuko smirks, before leaning down to press a soft, loving kiss to your lips, which you of course reciprocate.
Do not post, translate, or use my work on any other websites.
Synopsis: Zuko's always loved staying up late. It's the only time he gets to relax and think and be alone. But...maybe having someone by his side isn't so bad, either.
Word count: 652
A/N ~ Don't worry, i haven't been ignoring any requests, it just takes me a while to bring your words to life in my own. So in the meantime i'll be making some short one shots for yall. Wouldn't want you to think i'm abandoning you again. This sucks ass. So, enjoy! :)
P.S. i made it gn!reader
Crickets can be heard chirping, the soft symphony of the insects mixing with the salty waves crashing against the shore. The soft, tan grains of sand squish between Zuko's toes as he lays back, an uncharacteristically calm expression overtaking the boy's face.
If anyone were to ask, Zuko would have to say he feels his calmest when he's at the beach. Ember Island has always been his home away from home, even if his family never made said 'home' feel safe.
He loves the calm of the night, the softness of the sand, the blue stretch of ocean that seems to go on forever. He loves it more than anything.
The crunch of feet against the sand break him out of his reverie, making him look up at the cause of the noise.
He smiles.
Not the cheesy, awkward smile he does when he doesn't really know what to say to someone in a conversation. Not the polite smile he used to do when his father would make the family parade through the Fire Nation villages. Not the angry smile he does when he manages to get his much awaited revenge.
This smile is soft. Kind, almost.
But how could it not be? How could he not be soft, and kind, and affectionate when it's them?
Y/n sits beside him, plopping right down in the sand with a small 'oomph!'. Zuko feels his heart flutter.
Their voice is quiet, careful not to break whatever atmosphere Zuko has created around himself. "Thought i'd check on you. Everyone else is sleeping."
He tilts his head.
"You should go to sleep, too. We have a long day tomorrow. It is not smart to stay awake this late." He says, and he can already feel a dark flush creeping its way up his neck.
Y/n laughs, and Zuko can't tell if it's that beautiful, melodic sound that makes him shiver, or the salty breeze that passes through the air.
"You're up now. Why can't i be up?" They tease.
Zuko shrugs simply. "I need to think of training tactics, and this is the only quiet time i have. You do not need to think. So...bedtime."
He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.
Oof, that was a rough watch, buddy.
Y/n sighs, leaning back on their elbows and sinking into the sand. Their voice carries through the tension between them casually, like Zuko's not overthinking his entire existence at the moment. "I'll go to bed if you go to bed. We can sleep together."
Zuko misses the smirk that spreads on their lips.
"I prefer to sleep in my own bed." His voice is unintentionally firm, his gaze locked on the ocean, as if he's not allowing himself anymore glimpses of Y/n.
He suddenly feels something warm against his hand. When he looks down to see what it is, he sees their hand on top of his. The tips of his ears turn a deep magenta.
"What are you doing?" He refuses to look at Y/n.
"Your hands are surprisingly cold for a firebender, Zuko." They say with a tilt of their head, "Want me to warm 'em up for you?"
Zuko nods, unable to respond, his throat feeling like a hundred butterflies are stuck in it.
Their fingers wrap around his, intertwining into a hold Zuko can only describe as the best thing he's ever felt in his entire life.
His heart pitter patters against his ribcage pathetically. He knew if his sister could see how he was acting right now, she'd never let him live it down. They could be in the afterlife and she still wouldn't be able to shut the hell up about it.
But she wasn't here, and it was just him, Y/n, and the comfortable silence they'd fallen into.
And maybe, just maybe, he did love something—or someone—more than he loved the beach.
Do not post, translate, or use my work on any other websites.
My HC is that since Zuko is royalty, the heir, and also commanded his fleet on his hunt for the avatar, he’s used to taking charge. But the way I’m thinking of it is him being casually dominant with the y/n. Things like using a soft but firm voice to make sure they eat enough, that they’re warm, putting his hand on their thigh to keep it from shaking, etc. the gaang would start to notice how it takes one look from Zuko and y/n complies. Wrapping his hand around their hips to bring them down to sit in his lap, subtly tugging their skirt down when it rides up, stuff like that.
Could I please request some of your amazing writing for casual dominance with Zuko?
pairing: Zuko x reader
notes: okay so this was actually pretty challenging to write just bc i had to be careful about not making zuko come off as too controlling while also still fulfilling the details of the request. however i think it came out pretty good !
summary: Zuko shows his love for you the only way he knows how to
To those on the outside, your relationship with Zuko appeared to be… odd.
No one could quite determine whether he saw you as an equal or as someone who needed to be taken care of. Everyone knew you could handle your own; you’d been a skilled swordsman during the war and a master at hand-to-hand combat. No one doubted your ability to fend for yourself, but it seemed once you began dating the Fire Lord there was no longer any need for you to do so. Zuko took care of you, and being with him meant never having to lift a finger and never having to worry again. You were his prized jewel, and he took it upon himself to care for you in the only way he knew how.
Growing up, the Prince had never properly learned how to show affection or lovingly nurture a relationship. His parents weren’t the greatest example, and his father’s coldness left much to desire. However, his upbringing as a royal and his time commanding a fleet during his search for the Avatar allowed him to grow into a leader. In his younger years he’d been hotheaded and impulsive, but with time he had learned to be firm yet fair. He was a benevolent leader who only wished to do what was best for his people, and this same thought process extended to you.
You’d missed dinner one night and left him waiting in the throne room, too engrossed in your studies to realize how much time had passed or just how hungry you were. Your stomach growled incessantly and your head was beginning to ache, but you were adamant about finishing your book. Having recently been proposed to by the Fire Lord, you took it upon yourself to read up on the history of the Fire Nation and your expected duties as Fire Lady. You were overwhelmed, and eating dinner was the last thing on your mind.
“Y/n,” he had called, startling you out of your focused state as you rested your gaze upon his figure in the doorway. “We were supposed to have dinner together, remember?”
“I’m sorry,” you uttered bashfully, using your book to shield your embarrassed features. “I must have lost track of time. Let me just finish this last page and then I’ll-“
“Y/n,” he repeated with a pointed look, one that had you slowly lowering your text.
“Yes, Zuko,” you had finally relented. You couldn’t ignore your growling stomach any longer, and so you’d tossed your book aside and taken the arm he’d offered for you before allowing him to escort you to the dining room.
Zuko wasn’t strict, wasn’t cruel, just firm. It was his way of showing he cared for you, and you took no offense to how he so often liked to be the one in charge. Whether it be in his actions or in his tone of voice, he took the lead and you followed. This wasn’t to say that you didn’t have a mind or will of your own, but often times Zuko took it upon himself to step in whenever he felt you weren’t taking care of yourself the way he believed you should be.
His love could be conveyed through mundane actions such as wordlessly slipping your shawl over your shoulders without you having to ask to ensure you won’t be cold during a stroll in the palace gardens or resting a comforting hand on your thigh to stop the nervous bouncing of your leg during an important meeting. Anyone and everyone could see the influence he held over you, the dominant role he’d taken in your relationship, and you happily fell into place with him.
“Don’t you think it’s just a little weird?” Sokka had noted once to his sister after watching Zuko carefully wrap his fingers along your hips and delicately pull your figure into his lap as if he were handling a porcelain doll. You looked radiant in your silk robes and ceremonial makeup, a look picked out by Zuko to ease your anxieties over your lack of knowledge of traditional Fire Nation fashion, and as the Fire Lord’s fiancé you were the talk of the ball.
“Maybe it does seem like Zuko is usually the one in charge,” Katara had agreed thoughtfully, her gaze carefully resting upon your features to search for any sign of discontent or restlessness. Of course, she found none. “But I know y/n, and if she had a problem with it she would have stood up for herself and said something about it.”
The siblings watched as you conversed with various guests, your smile sincere as you spoke with the people you would soon help rule over as Fire Lady. Shifting in your seat as you crossed your legs, Zuko took note of the way the slit of your skirt had partially opened to reveal your bare leg. Wordlessly and without interrupting your conversation, the Fire Lord shifted the fabric so that your skin was kept from prying eyes. He didn’t care in the slightest if anyone saw, but he knew you would be embarrassed if guests began to question your way of dress, so he took it upon himself to fix the problem for you.
“I think it’s a love language thing,” Katara had explained after removing her attention from the scene and returning it to her brother. “He’s showing he cares through actions instead of words. Maybe it’s the only way he knows how to.”
“I guess you’re right,” Sokka relented, though his features still displayed a mild sense of disgust. “But that doesn’t make it any less oogier.”
Maybe no one on the outside ever truly would be able to comprehend the dynamics of your relationship with Zuko, but it wasn’t for them to understand. He took care of you and loved you in the only way he truly knew how to, and you appreciated him endlessly. With Zuko as your soon-to-be husband, you knew you’d always have someone looking after your best interests. All the same, Zuko knew he’d always have someone to love and accept him for who he was.
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notes: this was originally requested by an anon but i also took inspiration from mitski’s song “your best american girl” while writing this. give it a listen during your read !
summary: as a peasant and servant girl for the palace, you should have known better than to fall for the Prince
The sun is warm against your skin and the grass is soft beneath you as you land on your back in a fit of giggles. Azula is unamused by your antics, but Zuko finds himself laughing right along with you. It’s a peaceful summer’s day in the palace gardens, and you spend it as you would any other day by playing with your friends.
“I caught you,” you tell him with a breathless laugh after turning your head to face him.
“No way, I was just going easy on you,” he argues with playful grin, his nose nearly brushing against your own due to your close proximity on the grass. Your heart beats fast in your rib cage as you try to ignore the rising heat on your face and play it off as a result of your exhaustion and not your nerves from lying with the Prince. You haven’t realized it yourself, but you have a crush on Zuko, a painfully obvious one that he hasn’t seemed to notice yet. What you also don’t realize is that he reciprocates the feeling, and he shares the thrill that comes with being your playmate.
“Are you two done yet?” Azula finally interrupts with a roll of her eyes as she offers you her hand and helps you up from the ground. “It’s my turn to hide this time.”
“I don’t think we can play anymore,” Zuko notes with a frown as his mother makes her way towards your group. You quickly bow in respect to the Fire Lady, but she waves you off with a smile.
“I’m sorry, y/n, but Zuko and Azula must attend their fire bending lessons now. I’m afraid playtime is over for today,” she informs you apologetically.
“Yes, Fire Lady Ursa,” you reply politely before turning to give both of your friends departing hugs. “Bye Zuko, bye Azula!”
“It’s too bad you’re not a fire bender,” Azula remarks after halfheartedly returning your embrace. “Maybe dad would let us play with you more if you were.”
Her words make your body hot with embarrassment and shame, and though you don’t voice your discomfort Ursa is instantly able to pick up on it. With a scolding glare, the Fire Lady quickly urges her daughter to apologize.
“Azula, that is not a nice thing to say to a friend.”
“But it’s true,” the girl mutters under her breath only to have her mother drag her away before she can get the chance to say anything else. Zuko hesitates then, giving you an apologetic look and promising to play with you tomorrow before rushing after Ursa and Azula.
You’ve never really cared about being a non-bender, but there’s something about Azula’s words that has you questioning your worth. As the daughter of a royal family servant with no title or money to her name, you knew you were lucky to be able to grow up in the palace and play with the Fire Lord’s children. However, you never once realized that you weren’t their equal. They were royalty, a Prince and a Princess destined to become powerful benders and ruthless leaders of the Fire Nation, and you were simply a girl who would one day grow up to live a life of servitude. You had no real future or purpose ahead of you, not like they did, and yet you were the only one unaware of your unfortunate fate.
Perhaps it’s because they never treated you in such a way, and your mother did her best to shield you from your true heritage. For now you could grow up blissfully unaware of the fact that your friends would one day outgrow you.
“Mom?” Zuko asks once they’re safe inside the palace. “Do you like y/n?”
“She’s a sweet girl,” Ursa notes with a faint smile, “and she makes you both happy. So yes, I like her.”
“Then why doesn’t Dad?”
The Fire Lady’s smile fades into a remorseful frown, and she simply ushers her son forward with a shake of her head. “Let’s not worry about that now. You’re going to be late for your lesson.”
Zuko isn’t satisfied with her answer, but he isn’t give a chance to discuss it further with her. For now, he remains content with the fact that he likes you, and his mother likes you.
That is enough for him.
~~~
The day is calm as you carefully hang the clothes to dry and enjoy the warmth of the sun basking on your skin. It’s rare that you get tasked with the outdoor chores, so you savor the opportunity for as long as you can. Doing the royal family’s laundry certainly beats scrubbing the floors of the palace, and you are grateful the spirits have taken mercy upon you today.
You’re freshly fifteen and the summer is just beginning. You’ve grown into a well-mannered young woman, and you’re old enough now to be able to take on some of the work that once fell to your mother. One day you will take her place and continue to serve the royal family until you’re no longer physically able. You’ll never get to leave, but you consider yourself grateful to live on the palace grounds. You will forever have a roof over your head, food on the table, and, most importantly, your friends.
You take great care to pin Azula’s dresses down without getting any creases or wrinkles in the fabric, and you’re so lost in thought that you don’t notice the figure carefully creeping up behind you. You’re too busy reciting the words to an old Fire Nation folk song your mother had taught you to pay any mind to your surroundings, and it gives Zuko the perfect opportunity to catch you by surprise.
“Y/n!” He exclaims with a grin as his hands land firmly upon your shoulders. You nearly jump out of your skin at the act, and your reaction has the Fire Prince laughing so hard his cheeks begin to hurt.
“Zuko!” You scold with an irritated scowl as you chuck a handful of clothespins at him in retaliation. “You need to stop doing that!”
“I’m sorry, you just make it so easy,” he teases with a light nudge to your side before taking it upon himself to pick up the pins you’d discarded.
“Shouldn’t you be getting ready to leave for Ember Island?” You ask him with a quizzical look as you resume your previous work of hanging the clothes.
“That’s actually what I was coming to talk to you about,” he admits with a sheepish smile. “I want you to come with us.”
“What? You’re not serious, are you?” You retort apprehensively, halting your movements to gauge his reaction for any hint of insincerity or humor.
“I am serious. You deserve to have fun once in a while too,” he notes with a careful smile. You’re too oblivious to notice the look of admiration on his face and definitely too concerned with finding a way to let him down gently to realize he’s inviting you because he likes you. Despite your own feelings for the Prince you’ve developed over the years, you’re much too self-depreciating to ever believe Zuko could possibly feel the same. If only you knew.
“I can’t just up and leave! There’s work to be done, a-and my mother would be so upset with me if I abandoned my chores and-“
“Azula will tell our father she wishes to bring you along as a personal servant so you can come with us, and someone else will be tasked with taking on your work while you’re away. There’s no way your mom could be upset with you for serving the Princess, could she?”
“Azula would really do that for me?” You question meekly, a hopeful glint in your eyes as you hang on to his every word. You’re trying your best not to get your hopes up, but you wish for nothing more than to leave the capital city to see the ocean for the first time and feel the sand beneath your feet. As the daughter of a servant and now a servant yourself, you know you’d never get a chance like this if not for the fact that the siblings had grown fond of you over your years of friendship together. You’re lucky, because you know without them you’d truly be nothing more than a floor scrubbing peasant.
“Of course she would, she wants you there just as much as I do,” Zuko assures you. Gently taking your hands in his own, he gives them a comforting squeeze and looks into your eyes with a loving smile. “We leave tomorrow morning. Bring enough clothes to last you three days and a bathing suit.”
“I don’t own one,” you admit with an embarrassed frown, but your friend doesn’t display any sign of judgement in the slightest towards your shortcomings.
“Then I’ll take you shopping myself when we get there.”
Your heart melts at his words, your gaze falling to the ground bashfully as you try not to dwell on the fact that he’s still holding your hands. You’re in love with the Prince, and the Prince is in love with you, and everyone but you has figured out just how much you mean to each other.
Even Fire Lord Ozai, who odiously watches the scene unfold before him from the top of the palace balcony.
~~~
The shores of Ember Island are beautiful.
The waves almost seem to sparkle underneath the moonlight as they crash peacefully against the shore, and down below the lively chatter of your friends carries through the air and fills your heart with contentment. You’ve had the most perfect time here at the beach, and it pains you to know that tonight will be your last night of freedom before you must return home and resume your life as a servant girl.
The wooden doors behind you carefully slide open and closed, and soon a familiar warmth joins you out on the balcony. For a while you say nothing, simply enjoying the closeness of him as you watch Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai practice tricks in the sand below. You don’t know how to thank the Prince for all he’s done for you, for always looking out for you since you were children, for never once treating you as less than for your heritage. You don’t know how to tell him that you love him with your entire being.
So he does it for you.
“I got you something,” Zuko says after a moment’s silence, waiting for you to turn your gaze to him so he may pull out a small clam from beneath his robes. You raise a curious eyebrow at his offering as he gestures for you to take it.
“A clam shell?” You note inquisitively as you turn the gift around in your palms, carefully feeling out its grooves and intricate ridges.
“Open it,” he directs you quietly, anxiously watching your movements with bated breath.
You smile curiously at your friend before delicately pulling the top half of the shell open to reveal the contents inside. Your eyes widen in surprise at the gift that greets you, and you immediately look up to Zuko to ensure this isn’t some kind of joke.
Inside the clam sits a beautiful gold necklace with a dainty sun pendant resting in the center that shimmers under the light of the moon. It’s beautiful, and it’s certainly worth more than your own life, which is why you immediately try to hand it back to him.
“I-I can’t accept this!” You hastily insist with a quick shake of your head as you struggle to return the clam to him. “It’s too nice!”
“You can accept this,” Zuko reassures you as he carefully pushes the gift back towards you. When his efforts fail due to your persistent attempts to give back the shell, he lets out a sigh and carefully removes the necklace from the clam. “Y/n, I want you to have it.”
“But why?” You demand apprehensively, almost flinching away when he moves towards you with the necklace. You’re completely overwhelmed by his gift and unsure of what it means or why you’d ever be deserving of such a thing. You don’t want to take advantage of his kindness or his status, and you feel like he’s done more than enough for you by bringing you along on this trip, so it just feels wrong of you to take it.
“Because you deserve nice things too,” Zuko explains, and after giving you a pointed look you finally allow him to carefully put the necklace on you. The sun rests daintily along your neck, and he thinks it suits you perfectly. “I brought you on this trip because I wanted you to have fun for once, but also because… well, because I love you, and I thought a romantic setting might make it easier to tell you that.”
“You love me?”
“You haven’t noticed?” He retorts with a meek smile. “I’m not the best at words, but I know that I’ve loved you since we were children feeding turtle ducks in the pond and playing tag in the gardens. You have the purest heart of anyone I know, the sweetest smile, you are everything to me. I hope that by accepting this gift, you’ll be accepting me as someone worthy enough to be your boyfriend.”
“Oh, Zuko…” you murmur softly, eyes full of tears as you throw yourself into his arms and hug him as tight as humanly possible. You’re still shocked by the fact that the boy you love will all your heart feels the same, but you try to remind yourself not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Zuko is right when he says that you deserve to enjoy what life has to offer just as much as he does, so maybe it’s time you finally start allowing yourself the chance to finally let your guard down. You can be more than just a servant girl from the palace.
You can be happy.
~~~
You sit quietly before the vanity mirror as your mother tediously brushes through your hair to ensure not a single strand is out of place. The wrinkles in her skin crease with her nerves as she carefully begins to pin your hair back into the perfect top knot. Immediately after your return home from Ember Island, you were informed that the Fire Lord wished to speak with you. You were expected to drop your chores for the day and make yourself decent before presenting yourself to him. His request to see you surprised you considering the fact you previously believed he didn’t even know of your existence, but it made you nervous all the same. If anything were to go wrong during your meeting, you’d be jeopardizing both yours and your mother’s jobs.
“Make sure to sit up straight and no slouching,” she reminds you quietly while stopping to admire her work. “Hold your tongue until he allows you to speak and thank him for all he has done for us. It is a great honor to speak to Fire Lord Ozai, so you must treat it as such.”
“Mother, what could the Fire Lord possibly want to talk to me about?”
She doesn’t meet your eyes at first, looking away as if contemplating carefully what her next words should be. With a sigh, she sets the brush down and looks at you through the reflection. “Word has spread quickly about you and Prince Zuko, and I think he knows.”
You swallow nervously at her admission, absently brushing your fingers against the sun that hangs around your neck. You never once considered what Zuko’s father would think about his son’s choice of a partner; Ursa had always treated you as one of her own, and Azula considered you to be a good friend, but what would Ozai say of the peasant girl who had stolen his son’s heart?
You don’t have much time to mull over it further as a guard arrives to escort you from your quarters to the throne room. All eyes seem to follow you as you walk through the palace, the gold and red hues overwhelming your senses as you do your best to remain calm. You have no idea what awaits you at the end of the hallway, but there’s no escape now as the grand doors open and you’re pushed inside.
Ozai sits on the throne with a wall of flames roaring behind him. His features are stoic but his gaze is menacing as his eyes watch your meager form approach. You immediately bow in respect to the man once you reach him and kneel before his seated figure. Just as your mother instructed, you say nothing until you are spoken to.
“So you’re the girl my son has chosen to be his partner?” He drawls with a raised brow, obviously not impressed by the person before him.
“Yes, sir. It is an honor to present myself to you, my Lord,” you profess as earnestly as possible while adding another bow for good measure. You need his approval not only to continue dating Zuko, but also to ensure you and your mother are both able to continue living behind the palace walls. Even if you are there as servants tucked away in the peasant quarters, it certainly is a better place to be than out in the streets.
“I know who you are, child,” Ozai scoffs callously as he peers down at you from his place on the throne. “You are the peasant girl who managed to worm her way into the lives of my children. You are a lowly servant with nothing to your name and nothing special about you, and yet you have managed to corrupt my only son."
“Fire Lord Ozai, I-I apologize if my actions have upset you,” you quickly try to interject, but he holds a hand up and signals you to halt your pathetic rambling. Ozai does not have the time nor care to hear your excuses or explanations. That’s not what this meeting is for.
“Do you know how poorly it would reflect on me to have Zuko galavanting around the palace with a servant? Do you know how poorly it reflects on him to be seen with you? It’s a disgrace, and it is something I will not tolerate.”
“I know,” you utter quietly, trying to make yourself appear as small as you feel on the inside. Despite what Zuko has told you, you know that his father is right. You are nothing compared to him. He is the sun, the Prince, the heir to the throne. His future ahead is bright, and there is much for him to accomplish. You have no future, no plans for your life, nothing as grand or important as him and Azula. You are not the sun or the moon or even the stars that hang in his sky, you are insignificant, and you will never be worthy enough to be his.
“A future Fire Lord cannot have a maid as a wife. You must break his heart so that he no longer wants anything to do with you, so that he can move on and find a girl more worthy of becoming the future Fire Lady. You must make it appear to be your own doing and not mine, otherwise it won’t work. Have I made myself clear, child?”
“Yes, Fire Lord Ozai,” you whisper softly, a single tear sliding down your cheek as you bow to the cruel man before you. “I understand.”
~~~
The clouds that hang overhead are gray as Zuko makes his way towards the servants’ quarters. It is unheard of for any royal to ever set foot on these grounds, and so all eyes watch the Prince curiously as he approaches your humble home and knocks gently on the door. Movement sounds from the other side, and after a moment he is met with the startled face of your mother. It’s clear that she hadn’t been expecting him, and he takes her by surprise when he bows to the woman in respect.
“I apologize for coming unannounced, but I was hoping I could speak to y/n,” he utters with a look of defeat on his face. His sullen features make his lack of sleep obvious, and his eyes are full of desperation. You’ve been avoiding him for weeks and he has no clue as to why, but he hopes to figure it out soon before he starts to spiral any further.
“She’s…” your mother begins to say, glancing unsurely behind her before looking back to him, “she’s not feeling well. You can come back another time.”
“But-“
“Please, Prince Zuko, we can’t risk you catching whatever it is she’s come down with. You must go.”
She gives him no time to argue before slamming the door in his face. Zuko is stunned, but his shock quickly turns to anger as he lets out a frustrated breath of flames from his mouth before stalking off to cool himself down.
His footsteps fade into the distance as he departs, and you can only sit by the window of your room and watch him walk away. There’s a tightness in your chest that makes you feel as if you can’t breathe, and once he finally disappears over the horizon you break down into an inconsolable mess.
You love Zuko with all of your heart, so it kills you to act as if he means nothing to you. You’re trying to do what Ozai has demanded of you, but it’s agonizing and difficult. You’re too much of a coward to face him and break it off for good, so you’ve resorted to avidly avoiding the Prince at all costs. You hope that by pushing him away he’ll take it upon himself to end the relationship; it would be much less painful that way, but he’s too stubborn for his own good, and he’s persisted despite your best efforts.
The days seem to blend together as you lock yourself in your room while your mother continues to turn Zuko away. You haven’t done any of your chores or worked in days, but Ozai has not faulted you for your incompletion of tasks. Breaking Zuko’s heart is your task, and so long as you keep your word he couldn’t care less what you did with yourself.
After another week has passed, suffocation finally catches up to you and you’re forced to leave your room in order to get some fresh air. You sneak out at nightfall when the palace is quiet and your mother is sleeping so that no one can detect your presence. You retreat to the well out in the back and stare contemplatively into the water below. Clutching the sun that hangs from the gold chain around your neck, you admire the moon’s reflection in the ripples and wish you could be anywhere else but here in the Fire Nation.
“I thought I’d find you here,” a voice utters quietly, causing you to jump in alarm at the intrusion. You turn to meet the solemn gaze of the Prince, and as your back hits the cool stones of the well you find that you are cornered. You can’t avoid him now, and it’s a fact both of you are aware of.
“Zuko, I… I was just leaving,” you stammer hurriedly as you try to push your way past him, but he catches you by the arm before you can get away.
“No, not until you talk to me!” He demands, his eyes full of desperation and despair. “You’re supposed to be my girlfriend, yet you keep avoiding me. Why? Was it something I did?”
“No, Zuko, you didn’t do anything,” you insist despite refusing to meet his gaze. You’re terrified that someone will see you both together and alert Ozai, and you wish he would just release you so you could go back to hiding away in your room.
“Then why won’t you even look at me?”
Slowly, you peek your head up to meet his exasperated face. It seems he’s not going to give up without a fight, so you’re going to have to resort to doing what you’ve been trying to avoid this entire time.
“I don’t love you.”
“W-What?” Zuko stammers in quiet surprise, his hold on your arm loosening slightly. He doesn’t believe what he’s hearing from you, and his mind is scrambling to process your words.
“I don’t love you. I want nothing to do with you,” you repeat firmly, your eyes hardening as you stare up at him and yank yourself free from his grasp.
“Y/n, you don’t mean that-“
“I do mean it! I feel nothing for you, Zuko. I never have. I just felt like I couldn’t say no to you because you’re the Prince, so I had no choice but to say yes to being your girlfriend.”
Hurt flashes across his features and you’re dying inside at having to be so cruel to him. The heart of your childhood best friend is in your hands and you crush it with every word despite how much it pains you. But it’s better for both of you this way, it must be. Ozai will never let you be happy together, but apart he still has a chance to capture the promised future ahead of him. You’re doing him a favor, and you hope one day he’ll be able to see it that way too.
“I don’t understand,” he murmurs weakly, tears beginning to well in his eyes. Then, with frustration clear in his tone, “This doesn’t make any sense!”
“Did you honestly think we could actually be together?” You retort in disbelief. “Azula always said you were a fool, but I didn’t think you were this naive. A servant and a Prince don’t belong together, and you’re the only one who can’t seem to get that!”
“Alright, fine,” Zuko mutters indignantly. His sadness has quickly morphed into anger, and you hate the way it makes you feel. “Can I just ask you one thing?”
You say nothing in response, and he takes your silence as a sign to continue.
“If you don’t love me, then why are you still wearing the necklace?”
Your eyes widen slightly as your hand immediately flies to your neck to clutch the pendant, and your heart slowly begins to sink to your stomach as you realize you’ve been caught in your lie. It’s your turn now to be at a loss for words, unsure what to say as you simply stare up at him with your mouth slight agape.
“You don’t mean what you’re saying,” Zuko says firmly as he moves closer to you. “Someone else is speaking for you, aren’t they?”
“I…”
“What’s going on, y/n?” He presses gently, carefully resting a hand upon your cheek. “Why are you acting this way?”
“I can’t tell you,” you argue weakly, your own eyes becoming full of tears as you allow yourself to melt into his touch. You’ve missed the feeling of his warmth and the comfort of his closeness, and despite your mind screaming at you to remove yourself from him your heart keeps you planted in place.
“That’s nonsense, of course you can. You’ve always been able to tell me anything, so why can’t you now?”
“Can’t you just believe me when I tell you it’s for your own good?” You plead emphatically despite the wavering of your voice.
“How can this possibly be for my own good?!” He retorts in exasperation. “I’ve been miserable without you. Life feels empty when you aren’t around, and I don’t know how to deal with the fact that the girl I’ve loved all my life can’t seem to stand me.”
“It’s not like that!” You cry defensively as the tears finally begin to fall.
“Then what is it?!” Zuko demands, and you can’t seem to take any more of this torture. The lies are killing you, and you can’t help but to finally crack under pressure.
“I’m not good enough for you!” You finally exclaim as you pull yourself away from his touch. You try to choke back your sobs but the ache in your chest makes the task difficult, and you can do nothing but let your words flow freely after keeping them bottled in for weeks. “I-I have nothing to offer you, nothing that makes me special, nothing ahead of me like you do. It’s an embarrassment to the Fire Lord for you to be with me, and it will be an embarrassment for you to have me as your Fire Lady.”
Stunned by your admission, it takes Zuko a moment to process your words. He steps towards you and you flinch, effectively breaking his heart in the process. It’s clear you’re frightened, but not of him. Your fear is geared toward someone else, and the culprit must be responsible for you now feeling this way.
“Who told you such nonsense?”
“Your father,” you admit quietly much to Zuko’s dismay. His eyes immediately harden and his chest is immediately tight with anger, but he does his best to keep his emotions at bay so as to not upset you further. “He spoke to me when we returned from Ember Island and told me we couldn’t be together. Ozai demanded I break your heart so that you can move on and find another girl more suited for this life than I could ever be. I didn’t want to, I still don’t want to, but I’m doing this so that you can have a better future. I’ll only hold you back, Zuko.”
After taking a moment to digest your words, Zuko carefully steps towards you again. You don’t reject his advances this time, so he allows himself the opportunity to carefully wipe away the steady tears that fall down your cool cheeks. Despite how much of a mess you assume you must look like, the Prince still sees you as the most beautiful girl he’s ever laid eyes on.
“I don’t care what my father says,” he assures you gently as he takes your hands in his own. “You’re not an embarrassment, and there’s no other girl that could ever compare to you. I love you, y/n, and I’m not going to let anyone ever get in the way of that.”
“You mean that?” You ask with a quiet sniffle, holding his hands tight as if he’ll leave if you let go.
“Every word. Let my father and anyone else who disapproves of our relationship say what they want to say. I want to be with you, and I hope you still want to be with me too.”
His looks to you with pleading eyes that seek your reassurance, and for a moment you hesitate. Being with Zuko is all you’ve ever wanted, and now he stands here before you professing his loyalty and his love to you. The boy from your childhood had stolen your heart, and you’d be lying if you said you wanted it back.
You know being with him won’t be easy, especially not with his father’s adamant disapproval of your relationship, but you trust Zuko, and so you have to trust that everything will turn out okay. You meet his desperate gaze and gift him a faint smile, and despite knowing you’ll regret this, you wordlessly lean in to meet his lips in a kiss.
You can worry about Ozai’s wrath later. But for now, you allow yourself to melt into his embrace by the moonlit well as you share your first kiss in weeks. It feels right being in his arms once more after spending so much time apart, and you hope you’ll never have to be without his touch ever again.
zuko confiding in sokka to be his wingman to try to get together with you?
a/n: sokka sharing his back bending skills with zuko we love to see it. also this takes place post-war
summary: Zuko isn’t sure how to tell you he likes you, so he looks to Sokka for guidance
Zuko watches longingly from across the room as you dance with Katara and enjoy the night’s festivities. Your eyes sparkle with joy and your smile is so infectious it has everyone around you beaming. Everyone seems to want your attention, and so he hadn’t been able to speak to you much since the party began, but he desperately wants to be near you.
“You know you look like a total creep when you stand in the corner and stare, right?” Sokka notes, interrupting Zuko’s sulking.
“I’m not staring!” The Fire Lord says defensively, but he knows he’s not fooling anyone.
“Come on, buddy, it’s a party! Lighten up! Go mingle!”
“I don’t want to mingle,” Zuko grumbles indignantly, “I just want to talk to y/n.”
“Then go talk to her!” Sokka encourages as if it’s the most easiest thing in the world. “It’s not like you haven’t talked to her before. She’s our friend!”
“I know that,” the boy bites irritably. Deflating, he sighs, “But it’s different this time.”
“What do you mean?” Sokka says, his demeanor morphing into that of a more serious tone.
“I… I think I have feelings for her.”
“You what?!” Sokka exclaims, earning a few puzzled stares from nearby partygoers. Zuko sends his friend a harsh look and urges him to be quiet.
“I know, I know. What am I thinking? She’s perfect, she’d never go for someone like me,” he admits in quiet defeat. “It’s stupid of me to feel this way.”
“What? No way, that’s not true,” his friend insists encouragingly. “You’re a great guy! You just need to work on your romance game.”
“My what?” Zuko retorts skeptically.
“Your romance game! Look, if you want y/n to like you then you have to work your charm.”
“I don’t have any charm to work.”
“Sure you do, it’s easy! Take it from your old buddy Sokka, the ladies love me. Just follow my advice and by the end of the night y/n will be dying for you to ask her out!”
Zuko is skeptical of his friend’s words and hesitant to take Sokka’s offer of help, but he knows he’s hopeless on his own and there aren’t many other options. With a relenting sigh, Zuko gives his friend an agreeing nod.
“What should I do first?”
“Just follow my lead,” the boy says with a wink before loudly calling you and his sister over. Zuko does his best to mask his embarrassment and puts on his best attempt of a smile as you and Katara saunter over arm-in-arm.
“Hi, guys!” You greet cheerily. “King Kue really knows how to throw a party, doesn’t he?”
“He sure does! Say, that’s a really nice dress,” Sokka compliments before harshly elbowing Zuko’s side. “Don’t you agree, Zuko?”
“Uh, yes, it is,” he stammers nervously, his face immediately turning red. “You look very beautiful.”
“Thank you,” you reply with a bashful smile. “You don’t think it’s too much?”
“Not at all,” he says earnestly. “You could never be too much.”
“You know, y/n, Zuko here was just telling me how much he wants to dance,” your friend informs you much to the Fire Lord’s dismay.
“What?! That’s not-“
“Oh, well, would you like to dance with me, Zuko?” You ask with a careful smile, delicately holding your hand out for him to take. His protests immediately die in his throat as he takes in your gentle features, the world almost seeming to come to a halt as he focuses on you before him. Your beauty almost physically pains him, and he wished he knew how to tell you this without coming off like a total creep.
Zuko hesitates before taking your hand, knowing that whatever happens next could alter your friendship forever, but the idea of physical touch is almost too tempting, and so he gently grabs hold of your hand and guides you back to the dance floor.
The musicians play a melody of traditional Earth Kingdom waltzes, and despite knowing nothing about dancing Zuko does his best to match your pace. His hands are suffocatingly warm against your skin, but you never once complain. You say nothing when he steps on your toes repeatedly or gets caught on your dress, and in spite of how awkward you both look compared to the other couples on the floor you seem to be having the most fun out of them all.
“You’re doing wonderful,” you encourage, giggling when he missteps and nearly trips over his own feet.
“I’m awful at this,” he argues exasperatedly. “I’m sorry you got stuck with such a lousy dance partner.”
“I don’t care about how good you can dance. I’m just happy you’re dancing with me,” you admit, looking away bashfully to hide your smile. “I haven’t really been able to speak to you much tonight, so I appreciate being with you now.”
Over your shoulder, Zuko spots Sokka from across the way. The water tribe boy waves his arms frantically and gestures for Zuko to make his move. The Fire Lord simply scowls before swallowing down his nerves and looking back to you.
“Y/n,” he calls faintly, gently guiding your face to look back up at him. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you all night, but it’s been hard. You’re so full of life, you draw people in with just your smile, and so I didn’t think I’d get the chance to finally be alone with you and tell you that- well, that I have feelings for you. I want to be the one that makes you smile, the one that dances with you at every party.”
“Zuko,” you murmur softly, taken aback by his confession. He takes your surprise as rejection and looks down with a dejected smile.
“I know, we’re friends. It’s strange of me to think we could be more, but I just needed to tell you.”
“No, that’s not it,” you quickly correct him, “I-I’m just surprised because I didn’t think you felt the same way I did.”
"You mean… you like me back?” Zuko asks in disbelief.
“Of course I do! What’s not to like?” You tease with a smile. “All night I was hoping you’d come up to me, and even though Katara said I should be the one to make the first move I was too scared to try. I’m glad you told me because I feel the same.”
You feel as if your heart could burst when he carefully tilts your chin up to meet your lips in a kiss. Ever since he joined your group you’d wanted nothing more than for him to see you as you saw him, and after months of what you thought was one-sided pining it seems Zuko has felt the same way about you all along. It took some time for things to come out in the open, but now that they are you couldn’t be any happier.
And unbeknownst to either of you, Katara and Sokka share high-fives behind your back in celebration of their successful plan.
Ok hear me out. Reader and Zuko go on a run for supplies .Reader makes a mistakes and almost gets seriously hurt/ near death experience. Zuko gets pissed at reader, maybe yells at her. Reader laughs it off and acts like she doesn’t gaf. Zuko later finds reader all shaken up and crying by herself. Love if you don’t, love if you do!
a/n: ty for requesting and hope you enjoy anon !
summary: zuko apologizes and receives something in return
What was meant to be a simple trip into town for supplies had quickly turned into a disaster, and Zuko believed it was your recklessness to blame.
You’d been too preoccupied in admiring a local merchant’s vast collection of sea shells to notice the Fire Nation soldier creeping up behind you, and if not for Zuko shoving you out of the way to take on the man himself you surely would have been burnt alive. Your failure to stay aware of your surroundings and lackadaisical attitude had almost gotten you killed, and the Prince made sure to point this out to you afterward.
“Are you trying to get yourself killed?!” He scolds you after dragging you out of the marketplace by the arm and back towards camp.
“I was looking at shells, actually, before you so rudely interrupted,” you correct with an impatient roll of your eyes, but the act only seems to annoy him further.
“This isn’t a game, y/n! We didn’t come here to mess around, we came to quickly get more food and go, and we couldn’t even do that because you were too busy looking at stupid shells to notice your surroundings! You could have been hurt or worse!”
“Relax, ‘your highness,’” you dismiss him defensively, harshly yanking your arm away from his grasp. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not dead. I’m fine. You need to stop overreacting and leave me alone!”
Zuko watches with a scowl as you stomp away from him and towards your tent, ignoring the quizzical looks your friends send your way as you shut the flaps closed.
“What’s her problem?” Toph asks with a raised brow from her spot beside the campfire.
“What did you do?” Katara snaps at the boy with an accusatory glare.
“I didn’t do anything!” Zuko exclaims defensively. “As a matter of fact, I just saved her life and now she’s mad at me!”
“Saved her life? What happened out there?” Aang questions with a worried frown. “Was anyone hurt?”
“A Fire Nation soldier snuck up on her while she was distracted and was about to strike before I pushed y/n out of the way and fought him myself.”
“So… what you’re saying is you guys didn’t get any food?” Sokka notes dejectedly only to receive a scolding smack upside the head from his sister.
“If you saved her life, then why is she so upset?”
“I may have been a bit harsh with her after,” Zuko admits reluctantly, awkwardly grasping at the back of his neck. “I didn’t mean to snap at her, but I was just frustrated that she wasn’t taking her own safety seriously.”
“Look, that’s just how y/n is sometimes. She’s too trusting of her surroundings sometimes, but you have to gently remind her to be careful,” Sokka explains to his friend. “Maybe if you hadn’t yelled at her she would have taken you seriously.”
“Just give her some time to cool off and apologize later,” Katara advises the fire bender. “She just needs her space.”
Frustrated, Zuko lets out a long sigh before ultimately relenting. Katara is right. He just needs to give you some space to process before bothering you again.
By nightfall the moon has risen in the sky and the rest of your group has called it a day, retreating to their tents to sleep and rest for whatever tomorrow may bring. You still haven’t set foot out of yours since Zuko yelled at you, and the Prince has spent the better half of his day groveling outside waiting for you to emerge. He’s beginning to grow impatient, but he’s also extremely worried. You missed dinner, and no one has been able to get you to come out.
Deciding enough is enough, Zuko takes it upon himself to barge into your tent and check on you. Better you be mad at him for invading your space without permission than for something to be wrong with you without anyone knowing.
When he enters your tent the last thing he expects to find is your figure curled up in your sleeping bag crying. Your body trembles under the blankets and your quiet sniffles are the only sound in the space. If you notice his presence you don’t acknowledge it, and Zuko hesitates before carefully sitting himself beside you.
“Y/n?” He calls out softly, gently pulling the covers back to get a look at your face. Water marks line across your cheeks from tears that had managed to dry off your skin, and it takes you a moment to finally meet his gaze.
“I’m sorry for making you mad,” you whisper meekly, voice cracking with effort after hours of minimal use.
“No, you don’t have to apologize. I should be apologizing for how I acted,” he assures you sincerely, carefully wiping away your remaining tears. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I was just worried about your safety- I’m not sure what I would have done if something bad had happened to you.”
“You really mean that?” You sniffle, looking up at him with doubt clear in your eyes.
“Of course I do. I know it probably didn’t seem that way when I was yelling at you, but I’ve come to care a lot for you, and I’d hate to see you get hurt.”
“I didn’t know…” you murmur quietly as you carefully sit up from your sleeping bag to reach eye level with the Prince. “I always figured you just saw me as some annoying girl you had to babysit.”
“Well, maybe at first,” he admits with a sheepish chuckle only to immediately stop when he catches your unamused glare, “but now I look forward to being sent to the market with you. I enjoy your company even if it means having to be more vigilant of our surroundings on your behalf. Can you just promise me that next time you’ll be a little more careful?”
“I promise,” you nod earnestly and, much to Zuko’s surprise, pull him in for a tight hug. He stiffens at first, unsure how to react to the close contact, but eventually he’s able to allow himself a chance to enjoy your warmth and reciprocate your embrace.
Only you could have the grumpy Prince wrapped so tightly around your finger.
zuko unintentionally saying something he doesn’t mean to reader (ex. ur clingy/annoying) and makes the reader like kinda distant cus they don’t wanna be annoying or clingy yk? then he comforts them and says sorry and it’s very much a angst to fluff moment!
a/n: i love this trope
summary: your sudden disappearance makes zuko reevaluate his behavior
The apartment is empty when Zuko returns from the tea shop. His bones ache from standing all day and his mood is sour from having to serve customers, but it doesn’t distract him from the fact that something is missing. The place feels dull and lacks its normal warmth, and the change unnerves him.
“It seems y/n has not yet returned home,” Iroh observes as he flicks on the lamps to rid the room of darkness.
“Where did she go?” Zuko murmurs, doing his best to mask his anxiety over your absence. It’s not like you to stay out late, especially considering your apartment isn’t exactly in one of the safer rings of Ba Sing Se, and it worries him.
“I’m not sure. She seemed to be in a hurry when she left this morning,” the older man recounts as he scans the room to look for any trace of her left behind. “She didn’t even have her morning tea!”
“She could be in danger. I’m going to search for her.”
“Would you like me to come with you?”
“No, one of us should stay here in case she comes back,” Zuko states before making his way out the door. “I don’t want her to come home to any empty apartment.”
“Be sure to watch your temper if you do find her, nephew. Y/n is struggling to adjust to this new life just as you are, and it is important you are patient with her.”
The Prince says nothing in response to his Uncle’s words, but he immediately feels the guilt and shame that they bring him. His warning serves as a reminder for his recent behavior, and Zuko is then able to figure out why you were nowhere to be found.
You’d been eating breakfast together that morning before he had to leave for work, and despite his irritable mood you seemed to be eager to start the day.
“I was thinking of visiting the market place to buy fresh groceries for dinner tonight. Maybe I could stop by the tea shop and bring lunch for you and your Uncle,” you suggested with a pleasant smile.
“Sure,” Zuko had grumbled in response before forcing another spoonful of bland porridge down his throat.
“And after dinner we can visit the fountain,” you had said with an excited smile. “I’d love to take a walk through the city and get some fresh air. We hardly ever leave the apartment.”
“This city is nothing but dirt. There’s nothing to see out there.”
“Oh,” you had murmured, your features deflating slightly at his negative comments. “I suppose you’re right. Maybe we can just stay in and play a game of pai sho instead. I’m not exactly sure how to play, but I bet you could teach me! It could be fun!”
“Don’t you ever get tired of hearing yourself speak?!” Zuko had finally snapped harshly, his patience finally having been worn thin by your ceaseless suggestions. He didn’t want to take a stroll or play pai sho or have any sort of fun, and he didn’t understand why you couldn’t get that. “This isn’t some little vacation. I failed to capture the Avatar and now we’re stuck here, do you understand? Go play pai sho with someone else.”
The room had grown deathly silent after Zuko’s outburst, and he was too annoyed to notice the way you kept your gaze glued firmly to the table to avoid him see the welling tears in your eyes. Without another word, you quietly excused yourself from the table and made your way out the door without an explanation or a goodbye. Zuko hadn’t seen you since.
“I’m such a jerk,” he curses himself as he roams the streets in search of you. You’re not in the market place and you’re not by the fountain, so where could you be? He’s beginning to worry, his mind conjuring up multiple scenarios where you’re in trouble and he can’t help you. It’s pure torture.
A familiar laugh floats through the air, and Zuko feels the hairs on his neck stand up at the soothing melody. He’s quick to follow the sound, and as he shoves his way through the crowded streets he finds himself coming to a stop at a small noodle shop. The shop is practically tucked into a corner and isn’t much to look at, but the inside is full of life as patrons eat and converse and enjoy the camaraderie. At the heart of the restaurant sits a table full of people focused on the game of pai sho before them, and at the center of the table you sit with a large grin and a white lotus tile in your hand.
“I can’t believe I won!” You exclaim with an excited clap of your hands before looking to the older woman sitting next to you. “Thank you so much for teaching me how to play. This is the most fun I’ve had in months!”
“Y/n?” Zuko calls, garnering the attention of you and your new friends at the table. The airy laughter and pleasantries die down at the sight of him and the room is suddenly filled with tension.
“Oh, hello, Lee,” you greet dully, your cheerful demeanor immediately disappearing when you make eye contact with the boy.
“What are you doing here? Why aren’t you at home?”
“You said to go play pai sho with someone else, so that’s what I’m doing,” you state bluntly, and Zuko looks away guiltily after hearing his own words repeated back to him.
“Can you please just come home? You shouldn’t be out on the streets this late, it’s dangerous.”
“Why do you care?” You retort harshly. “I’m having fun here. These people actually want my company.”
“Y/n,” Zuko says with an irritated sigh, doing his best to remain patient. “Please. If not for me then for Uncle. He’s just as worried for your safety as I am.”
You hesitate at his words, but after a moment of contemplating you finally excuse yourself from the table. You bid your new friends goodbye and promise to return for another game sometime before following Zuko out of the restaurant and beginning your walk back home.
“The moon is out tonight,” he notes quietly in an attempt to make small talk, but you don’t reply. You keep your gaze forward and maintain a respectable distance from him as you walk. “Maybe I was wrong about this place.”
“Congratulations for figuring that out,” you retort sarcastically with a roll of your eyes. Having finally had enough, Zuko grabs your wrist to stop you in your tracks and force you to look at him.
“Y/n, please talk to me,” he begs earnestly. “I feel horrible for what I’ve done.”
“Good, you should feel bad!” You exclaim angrily, harshly yanking your hand away from him. “You’ve been nothing but a jerk since we got to Ba Sing Se, and now that I’m finally giving you the space that you wanted you come and ruin my fun!”
“I don’t want space from you,” he insists desperately. “I was being an idiot! Y/n, I didn’t mean any of what I said. I was just feeling irritable and I took it out on you, but that isn’t fair of me.”
“I’m not going to be your punching bag for the rest of my life, Zuko,” you relent quietly, blinking back the tears that begin to form. “All I want is to start over, but you’re making it so difficult. Why did we even come here?”
“We came here because I realized you deserved better than to constantly live your life on the run,” he admits softly, carefully taking your hands in his own. “I know I’ve failed to make you happy or treat you the way you deserve, but you have to know that I care for you. The best part of my day is coming home to you after work, and I never want you to feel like a burden because you aren’t.”
“Thank you for saying that,” you sniffle with a meek smile, and when he pulls you into his arms for a hug you don’t protest. “I know this has been hard for you, but you have to understand that all I want is to support you and make the change as easy as possible for you.”
“I know, and I’ll forever be grateful for everything you do,” Zuko says before pressing a kiss to the crown of your head. “Now let’s get home before Uncle begins to worry.”
You say nothing more as he puts a protective arm around you and guides you through the streets of Ba Sing Se. The move has been tough, but he swears then that he’s going to do his best to improve his attitude and give you the support you need.
Hi! Could I request Zuko X reader where he comforts reader who doesn’t like thunderstorms?
a/n: some zuko comfort for the soul
summary: zuko helps you get over your fear
The rain falls hard on the Ember Island beach house, pounding against the roof and causing the shutters to clatter harshly against each other. Everyone has gone to bed for the night after a day of training for the comet, but you can’t seem to sleep at all. Your body trembles under the heavy blankets as the intensity of the storm increases, and despite how tightly you squeeze your eyes shut and try to distract yourself, you’re unable to will away the fear that ebbs away at your spirit.
You’ve never liked thunder storms. The sound is much too intense and it triggers old memories you’ve tried so hard to forget. Perhaps it’s just a silly childhood fear, something you should be over by now, but no matter how much you try to convince yourself of this the fear remains.
A gentle arm suddenly drapes itself across your torso in an attempt to halt your shaking, and beside you Zuko lets out a small groan before slowly opening his eyes to look at you.
“You’re trembling,” he murmurs groggily, his voice sounding raspier than normal. “What is it?”
“It’s nothing,” you whisper, too embarrassed to voice your fear to him. You were supposed to be a fierce warrior ready for battle, how could you admit to being afraid of a little thunder? Surely he’d find you childish for it. “I’m sorry for waking you, you can go back to sleep.”
“Not until you tell me what’s wrong,” he says, shifting in bed so that he’s lying on his side facing you. His eyes struggle to stay open and his hair is mussed from his pillow, and you can’t help but smile at the sight of a sleepy Zuko.
“It’s stupid,” you shrug meekly.
“Nothing you say could ever be stupid,” Zuko assures you, carefully reaching out to move a strand of hair out of your face.
“I… I’m scared of thunder,” you finally admit. Your voice is so quiet he almost doesn’t hear you, and you do your best to avoid eye contact with him. “You can go ahead and laugh. I know it’s silly.”
“I’m not going to laugh at you,” he promises earnestly. “It’s okay to be afraid. Everyone is scared of something. You just can’t let the fear control you. If you give it power over you, it’ll never go away.”
“I don’t know how to make it go away,” you admit in defeat only for him to pull you into his chest. His embrace is comforting and safe, and the warmth of his body chases away the chill of the storm and leaves you feeling content. Resting his chin atop of your head, Zuko lets out a small breath before closing his eyes and allowing himself to enjoy the closeness.
“I’ll help you. As long as I’m here, nothing is ever going to hurt you,” he vows protectively.
A clap of thunder sounds outside, but this time you don’t jump. It’s not as scary now that Zuko has you wrapped safely in his arms, and despite the lingering fear that still remains you’re eventually able to go to sleep.
Thunderstorms aren’t as scary when you have your boyfriend there to protect you, and you know you’ll never have to worry about being afraid so long as Zuko is there with you.
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hii i was wondering could you write a oneshot of how zuko's self cautious of his scar and reader just kisses his scar and reassures him and tells him that hes perfect and that she loves everything abt him. This is in a very like intimate and loving way ykyk
a/n: ah this plot is so sweet! had to rewrite this piece a few times before landing on something i liked so i hope you enjoy!
summary: zuko asks you to remove his bandages
“Are you sure you want me to do this? I can fetch Iroh instead.”
“No,” comes Zuko’s soft reply, his sullen features bathed in candle light. “I want it to be you.”
Sighing softly, you give him an understanding nod and press a careful kiss to his check. The Prince remains stoic in spite of your show of affection, simply signaling for you to proceed.
It’s been a week since the Agni Kai, and the healer has given Zuko the okay to remove his bandages. The wound should be healed by now, nothing but a painless scar with a painful memory attached to it. It’s not only your first time seeing Zuko’s new face but his as well, and neither of you are sure what to expect.
You were honestly surprised when the Prince had asked for you to be the one to remove his bandages. He’d been cold and standoffish with you since your departure from the Fire Nation, something you couldn’t blame him for considering all he’d been through, but you didn’t expect him to trust you with something so important so soon. It made you nervous, but it also made you relieved to know he still felt he could trust you with such things.
Your fingers work carefully as you unravel the white cloth around his head, doing your best not to cause too much discomfort for your Prince. He says nothing as you move and only watches you through the reflection of the mirror before him.
“Are you ready?” You ask him softly, hesitating as you reach the final layer of wrapping.
“Hesitation is a sign of weakness,” Zuko replies gruffly, and that’s all you need to hear before finally pulling away the last of the bandages.
The room is silent and tense as Zuko stares at his own reflection. The skin around his eye is angry and red, permanently damaged and forever serving as a reminder of his failure. He can hardly see out of his left eye, but he’s still able to make out your figure watching on silently as he assesses the damage.
“Go ahead and say it.”
“Say what, Zuko?” You murmur softly, carefully resting a hand upon his back.
“Say you’re disgusted by me. Say you’re repulsed,” he snarls bitterly. “Say that you’re too embarrassed to be seen with such a failure!”
“Is that really what you think?” You utter sadly, a pained smile on your lips as you carefully reach out to touch his face. His hand immediately flies up to catch your wrist in a firm grip before you can get any closer, and despite the discomfort it brings you make no attempt to move.
“It’s what I know.”
“Then you must not know me at all,” you counter with a small shake of your head.
Reality sets in and Zuko guiltily removes his ironclad grip on your wrist. He doesn’t mean to be so harsh with you, but there’s an amalgamation of emotions festering within him at the sight of his deformity. He was a Prince, he wasn’t meant to look like this, he wasn’t meant to be out at sea fruitlessly trying to find the Avatar so he could end his banishment. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
“You’re perfect, Zuko,” you console with a careful brush of your fingertips against the freshly healed skin. His eyes flutter shut at the comforting sensation, and you take it as a sign to continue. “I love you the way you are, and this scar doesn’t change that.”
He can’t help but gasp when he feels the softness of your lips pressing against his temple. How could you not feel sickened by him? How could you still love him after everything?
“Your scar is nothing but a sign of your strength, I hope you know that,” you tell him before pressing another kiss to his cheek just below his eye.
He says nothing in response, but you know that he understands you. With you, he doesn’t have to feel shame or guilt. Your love for him knows no bounds, and there’s nothing he could do that would ever make you turn away from him.
He sits in silence as you begin to apply a soothing balm to his skin. His eyes close in contentment and for the first time since leaving home he finally feels at peace.
He knows then that he made the right choice in having you be the one to remove his bandages. No one sees him like you do, and it’s more than he could ever ask for.
well since requests are open i wanted to request a zuko fic?
zuko x waterbender reader in which someone from team avatar walks in on them kissing?
i feel like it’d be funny idk lol 😂
a/n: i love this trope it’s so funny. also it’s like subtly mentioned reader is a water bender since i didn’t wanna just shove it in there awkwardly. anyway hope you enjoy!
summary: a private moment between you and your boyfriend is interrupted by your unsuspecting friends
“Are you sure no one saw you come in here?”
“Yes, I’m sure,” Zuko says with a huff after closing the flaps of your tent. “You know, I’m starting to think you’re embarrassed to be seen with me.”
“You know that’s not true,” you argue with a frown. “I just enjoy having some privacy. I know those guys are going to make a big deal about us being together, and I just want to enjoy our relationship without having to deal with any prying eyes.”
“I know,” he admits with a sigh. “I’m just tired of sneaking around. Do you know how difficult it is not to kiss you or check on you after a fight with my sister? It’s torture.”
“It’s just until the war is over. There’s a lot at stake right now, and it would be a weird time to come clean. It’ll be over before you know it.”
“I hope you’re right,” Zuko murmurs with a frown, one that immediately melts away at the feel of your arms wrapping around his midsection. It’s hard to be upset when you’re smiling up at him with the purest look of adoration in your eyes. Despite everything, all of his flaws and mistakes and cruelty, you love him, and it fuels the warmth inside of his heart knowing he has someone like you. Maybe he would have joined the Avatar and his friends sooner if he knew it would lead him to you.
“At least we’re finally alone,” he notes with a faint smile before leaning down to press his lips against your own in a long awaited kiss. He hasn’t been able to give or receive affection all day, and it isn’t until now with your chest pressed against his own that he’s finally able to truly feel relaxed.
Unfortunately, you’re both too engrossed in each other to notice the rustling of your tent flaps as Sokka and Toph let themselves in without a second thought.
“Hey, y/n, Toph and I are gonna head into town, do you want to- oh, gross!” He cries after catching Zuko and yourself mid lip lock.
You both jump at the intrusion, knocking your head together on accident and groaning in unison at the impact.
“Sokka!” You cry out in embarrassment. “Monkey feathers, don’t you knock?!”
“It’s a tent! There is no knocking!” He yells back defensively, equally as upset as you are. “I can’t believe you guys were kissing!”
“We weren’t kissing,” Zuko argues, his face red with embarrassment. “We were… hugging… with our… mouths?”
“Oh, spirits,” you groan, your palm hitting your forehead in embarrassment at Zuko’s horrible attempt at lying. For a Prince, he has a terrible way with words. You’d think all that time spent with his Uncle would make his vocabulary more eloquent.
“If Toph could see she’d be very upset right now!” Sokka scolds, but the girl beside him simply shrugs.
“Actually, this works out great for me. Katara owes me five gold pieces now,” she says with a grin.
“You guys knew they were dating and didn’t tell me?!” The water tribe boy says in offense.
“I had a hunch, but Katara disagreed, so we made a bet.”
“Enough already! This is mortifying enough as it is,” you groan impatiently. “Sokka, we’ll talk about this later. For now, I need both of you out!”
After getting the two to leave the tent, you shut it closed with an irritated sigh. You’re absolutely humiliated, and you don’t think you can show your face to your friends ever again.
“So much for keeping it a secret,” the fire bender mutters.
“You,” you say with an accusatory finger pointed at the Prince, “need to learn how to lie better.”
“I know,” he admits meekly, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. Sighing, you open your water pouch and tend to the growing bump on his head from your previous collision. You can’t stay mad at him when he looks so flustered and sweet, so instead you merely throw your arms around his neck and pull him back in for another kiss.
You can focus on coming clean later. For now, you just want to enjoy your moment of peace with the boy you love.
Can you please write jealous Zuko? It can be however you like😊
a/n: i love jealous zuko! however this ended up being more angsty than i intended😭 hope you enjoy!
summary: a party at the palace leads to a deep revelation for zuko
He was miserable.
The palace didn’t throw parties very often these days, but the recent conquering of another Earth colony was deemed a call for celebration, and so all of the noble families in the Capital City were invited to attend. A grand feast was held and praises were showered upon Ozai throughout the night. It was one of the rare times Zuko didn’t have to worry about his father’s wrath, and so he should have been enjoying himself.
But he couldn’t, not when he could see that across the way another boy was flirting with you right in front of him.
You were Zuko’s everything- his childhood best friend that he’d always held harbored feelings for. During his banishment he thought of you constantly, and upon his arrival he immediately asked you to be his girlfriend. You were sweet and friendly, easily approachable and always able to cheer him up despite his moodiness, you were perfect. And apparently this other boy could see this too.
You smile out of politeness and nod along to the boy’s rambling story about his fire bending skills and high IQ, not very interested in listening but too nice to brush him off. It infuriates Zuko to see someone else take advantage of your kindness, and he’s unable to just sit back and watch any longer.
A harsh hand lands upon the boy’s shoulder, startling both of you in the process. Zuko’s eyes are blazing with fury, his palm scorching the fabric of the boy’s robes and scaring the spirits out of him in the process.
“Can’t you take a hint? She doesn’t want to talk to you!” the Prince bellow angrily, prompting a few guests nearby to turn their heads curiously towards the commotion. A bit embarrassed at the sudden attention, you gently pull Zuko’s hand away and drag him out to the gardens before he can escalate the situation any further. The last thing you need is for him to cause a scene at his father’s party.
“What?” Zuko says defensively as you wordlessly walk through the palace hallways. “I was helping you!”
“You were acting jealous again,” you chide gently.
“No I wasn’t!” He argues defensively only to shrink under your pointed gaze. “…I was.”
“I love you, Zuko, but I don’t love how jealous you can get sometimes. I’m your girlfriend, don’t you trust me?”
“Of course I do!” He interjects quickly, almost offended at the notion.
“Then what is it? Why do you act this way?”
Zuko is silent, his eyes casted sullenly to the floor as you patiently wait for his answer. You take his hands in your own and give them a reassuring squeeze to let him know you’re there for him, and the act seems to coax him out of his stupor.
“I’m afraid you’ll change your mind about being with me, and once the right guy comes along you’ll realize you’re better off without me,” he admits quietly, almost ashamed to voice the thought out loud.
“Zuko…” you utter sadly, heartbroken at the fact that he could even believe such a thing.
“Why do you want to be with a boy who’s been exiled from his own country before? Whose own father burned his face? Who’s so messed up in every way possible?”
Gently carefully cupping his face in your hands, you tilt his head upward to meet your sincere gaze. His eyes are glossy with tears he refuses to let fall, and your heart aches for the poor boy before you. You wish you could take away all of his hurt in agony, but you can’t, so you do your best to take away his insecurity instead.
“I wish you could yourself the way I see you,” you tell him lovingly. “You are more than enough for me, more than I could ever ask for. You’re strong, you’re brave, you’re smart. You’re you. I love you, Zuko. No one’s ever going to get into the way of that.”
He says nothing in response but simply yanks you into his arms for the tightest hug you’ve ever possibly received. You know he isn’t the best at words or emotions, but his embrace conveys that he is grateful for every word to come out of your mouth.
He knows he may be jealous at times, but he also knows that he doesn’t have to be anymore.
Hiii i have read all of your works AND I AM IN LOVE WOTH ALL OF THEM<3, I was wondering if you can do a Zuko x Mute Earth bender Reader where reader is the older sister of Toph? Hehe, hope to see more of your works! Xoxo your fan<3
pairing: Zuko x mute!reader
a/n: this was a bit challenging to come up with since i don’t normally get requests for a mute reader but i had fun and hope you enjoy !
warnings/notes: pining, fluff, awkward zuko, italics means reader is using sign language
summary: Toph’s meddling breaks the ice between you and Zuko
Zuko enjoys the mornings. There’s a certain stillness that comes with the beginning of a new day, and for a moment he can allow himself to relax with his inhibitions resting comfortably at the back of his mind. Everyone is up completing their own morning rituals, but the one he’s most interested in is yours as he watches you practice your form across the way on the sand.
Your movements are graceful and disciplined as you morph the rocks in front of you into perfect spheres. One of his favorite pastimes is watching you earth bend, though he’d never dare admit it out loud. Zuko has been infatuated with you since the day he first met you. Not only were you breathtakingly beautiful, but you also were a powerful force of nature that terrified him in the most wonderful way. You certainly weren’t a fan of him at first, especially not after what he’d done to your little sister, but over time you’d allowed yourself to lower your walls around the fire bender and accept him into the group as a trusted friend.
As he came to know you, Zuko learned that you were very close with your sister Toph. Being raised in the same household, you’d both been forced to hide your true bending abilities from your parents while teaching each other new skills in secret. Your responsibility as the older sister had always been to take care of Toph. Though you may have grown to be nonverbal, Toph was considered to be much more fragile due to her blindness. You were her eyes and she was your voice, and together you found a way to navigate the world while growing stronger at each other’s side.
“There you are, Zuko!” Katara’s voice sounds from behind him, effectively breaking him from his contemplative state. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“What did you need?” He asks inconspicuously to deter her from questioning why he had been on the beach in the first place.
“I just finished writing today’s chore list. Toph and Sokka are in charge of collecting firewood, Aang and I will gather water, and you and y/n are in charge of making dinner tonight. We’re a little low on supplies so you might have to go into town for groceries.”
“Me and y/n?” He repeats apprehensively, shifting his gaze back towards you on the sand where you work effortlessly to dodge and redirect the boulders Toph throws your way. Mistaking his nervousness for fear, Katara lets out an amused giggle as she gives his arm a reassuring squeeze.
“You’ll be fine. She may not say much but she’s great company! Besides, it couldn’t hurt for the two of you to spend more time together.”
The water bender makes her leave back towards the beach house before he can ask her what she means by that, once more leaving Zuko to sit with his nerves. He’s never been alone with you before, either spending time with you alongside the group or with Toph close by to mediate your conversations. While a part of him is terrified of making a fool of himself, he realizes Katara is right about spending more time with you. It’s the only way to build the connection he so desperately wants to have with you, and with that in mind he swallows down his fears and makes his move.
Toph senses his approach before you do, halting her movements to prevent him from getting caught in the crossfire of your earth bending. The sudden disruption to your momentum has you flashing an irritated scowl towards your sister, but it quickly melts away at the sight of Zuko standing before you. Detecting your change in demeanor and the rapid beating of the fire bender’s heart, a knowing smirk quickly forms on the younger girl’s face as she discreetly shifts the ground beneath him and forces him to stumble closer towards you.
“Watch your step, sparky,” she warns him innocently only for you to let out a groan of annoyance towards her obvious meddling. You’re thankful Zuko seems to be none the wiser, sporting a sheepish grin on his face while awkwardly grasping the back of his neck.
“Sorry to disturb you, but Katara says we’re in charge of dinner tonight and I was wondering if you’d like to come to the marketplace with me.”
Your entire face seems to light up from the question, your pupils dilating in time with the smile that forms on your face as you happily nod your head in agreement. You want nothing more than to spend an afternoon alone with Zuko; it’s safe to say you’ve come to grow fond of him in the time he’s spent with your group, and though you won’t admit it Toph finds it very obvious you have a crush on the boy. Your heart always skips a beat when he’s around, and she can sense the nervousness that radiates off of you every time he’s near. Your secret is safe with her, but she still doesn’t spare you from her teasing.
“You guys take as long as you need!” She encourages while waving you both off. “Take good care of my sister, Zuko.”
You roll your eyes at her comment and quickly urge Zuko forward before she has the chance to embarrass you further, setting foot on the path towards the market as you begin your journey in silence.
“Uhh, so I saw your earth bending!” He stammers in an effort to break the silence, wincing at the harsh volume of his own voice. “You’re really good. I mean, not that I’m surprised or anything, because of course you’re good. I just mean-“
You rest a careful hand on his shoulder to cease his rambling and save him from embarrassing himself further. The sight of his reddened cheeks and wobbly smile has you giggling with delight as you motion for him to look towards you.
“Thank you,” you sign, making sure to keep your movements slow so he can comprehend what you’re saying.
Though you’d grown up without the ability to speak, you still found ways to communicate with those around you. You’d spent hours as a child learning sign language with the tutor your parents had hired for you followed by lessons in reading and writing. When you realized your sister could not see the movement of your hands or the words you scrawled on paper you’d developed your own language together involving taps on her hand or on the ground with your feet. You’d taught your methods to your new friends to allow them to communicate with you, and Zuko became your newest pupil after joining the team. He was still learning, but you were mindful and patient enough to slow things down for him.
“What do you think we should make for dinner?” You ask as you reach the marketplace, your eyes scanning the multitude of stands at your disposal.
“Well, I’m not the greatest cook, so maybe you should pick and I’ll follow your lead.”
You hum thoughtfully as you reach into your bag for the gold pieces Katara had lent you. You’re a little low on funds, and though you’ve grown tired of eating stews and rice you know your options are limited when it comes to picking your supplies. You have your heart set on fried noodles with grilled sausage, but you can barely afford a measly vegetable as it is.
“Let’s just see what we can find,” Zuko suggests after noting the disheartened look on your face. “Sokka and Toph alway haggle with the vendors. It can’t be that hard, can it?”
It turns out to be very hard. None of the vendors are willing to lower their prices, Zuko has made a complete fool of himself in front of you, and to top it off you still don’t have any groceries. You need to return back to the beach house soon, but he’s not willing to leave empty handed.
“I think we’re just going to have to cut our losses and make cabbage soup for dinner,” Zuko groans as you weave your way through the crowded streets.
You’re just about to offer a response when you suddenly collide into a sturdy force that nearly sends you sprawling onto the ground. Zuko’s arms find their way around you in an instant to keep you from falling down as you peer up to meet the scrutinizing stare of an older man. He’s visibly irritated by your lack of awareness and has no problem telling you so.
“Don’t you watch where you’re going?!” He scolds you as you shrink back helplessly in Zuko’s hold. “You almost made me drop my groceries!”
Your features are apologetic as you hang your head in remorse, unable to offer him a verbal apology for your clumsiness. The sight immediately tugs at Zuko’s heartstrings and ignites a fierce sense of protectiveness within him, prompting him to shift you behind him so he can confront the man himself.
“It was an accident,” he argues with a scowl. “We’re just trying to pass through.”
“If it was an accident then she should say sorry!”
“She’s mute, stupid! She can’t speak,” Zuko yells only for the man to falter in his anger. A clear look of embarrassment washes over his face as he shifts his gaze from Zuko to you before swiftly walking away with a grumble under his breath about nearly dropping his food.
Taking a breath to extinguish the anger from his outburst, Zuko turns to you with concern etched upon his features as he asks, “Are you alright?”
The fear you previously wore on your face is nowhere to be found now, and you catch him completely off guard when you shoot him a wink before holding up a bag filled to the brim with gold pieces. He’s dumbfounded as he takes the bag from your grasp and looks inside to ensure his eyes haven’t deceived him.
“How did you get this?” He gapes, looking up from the bag to meet your bashful smile.
“I normally don’t condone stealing, but he was being a jerk and we needed the money,” you explain with a simple shrug.
“I didn’t even notice.”
“That’s because I learned from the best! Besides, no one ever suspects the quiet girl.”
Your playful nature earns an amused laugh from the boy as he hands back the gold pieces for you to store safely in your bag. “You’re incredible!”
Your face grows hot in response to his compliment, and you find yourself looking away to hide the giddy smile that forms on your lips from receiving such high praise from the boy you’re so fond of. You’re grateful to Katara for pairing you together on the chore list, and you remind yourself to thank her when you return.
“Let’s get you your dinner,” he reaffirms with a confident smile, taking you by surprise when he clasps your hand in his own and intertwines your fingers together. Your heart stutters in your chest at the feel of his warm skin against your own, and when you falter he gives your hand a reassuring squeeze before continuing to guide you through the crowd.
Your hand never leaves his, not even when you finally return to the beach house with your bounty of supplies where your friend sit waiting for you return.
“You’re back! We were just about to go look for you guys,” Aang says cheerily after detecting your presence.
“I take it your trip went well,” Katara notes with a knowing smile after detecting your interlocked hands.
“Very well,” Zuko confirms as you nod in pleasant agreement. “If you’ll excuse us, we have to make dinner.”
The group watches you disappear into the house to begin preparations for the night’s meal, and it’s only once you’re gone that Toph says, “I told you pairing them up together would work. I know my sister, and she never would have made a move without a little push.”
“You were right, Toph,” the water bender agrees enthusiastically. “They seem really happy.”
You may not approve of your little sister’s meddling, but there are times where her unconventional methods seem to work in your favor, and this is certainly one of them.
pairing: strawberry shortcake x jack abbot. first part.
summary: after matching with your attending on tinder, you now have to spend an entire shift trying to avoid him. everything is going (almost) well until you get trapped in an elevator with him.
tags: fluff, joy is part of the night shift, langdon kinda too, er setting, workplace romance, age gap, coworkers to lovers, protective jack abbot, she falls first, he falls harder.
authors note: this is short and silly I KNOW. i just wanted to portray abbot the way I perceive him after that scene (in the gif). ALSO thank you so much for the reblogs and for asking to be added to the tag list. i never thought that was possible!! don't forget to reblog if you enjoyed it, please. 🙏🏻
@melissa66orion @rathatosy
The doors to the ER slid open once again, but this time you wished you could've stayed home.
You'd barely slept. Four hours at most, and ever since you woke up, you hadn't been able to think about anything except the mistake you made with your attending. You wondered if he'd slept well, probably he was sitting at home right now drinking coffee like nothing happened.
And here you were.
Technically your shift didn't start for another two hours, but the anxiety had dragged you back into the pitt anyway, which was funny because ten minutes ago you were seriously considering giving up and starting a new life somewhere in Alaska.
Your stomach twisted again just thinking about having to see him today.
Everything seemed calmer than usual, which honestly felt suspicious. You didn't even want to think too hard about it before you jinxed it. At this point you were convinced you personally carried bad luck around with you.
You nervously adjusted the sleeves of your oversized pink hoodie while scanning the station looking for the girls, and Whitaker.
It wasn't difficult to find Trinity. She was sitting beside Whitaker, aggressively stabbing at the computer keyboard before dramatically letting her head fall onto it. She quickly lifted her head again when Dennis touched her shoulder and pointed toward you with his head.
The second she saw you, her eyebrows pulled together in confusion.
"Why are you here?"
Not even a hello.
"What room is free?" You asked immediately.
"Okay… not even a coffee first?" Whitaker joked.
"This is serious."
Something in your expression must've looked genuinely unstable because Whitaker's smile disappeared almost instantly.
Both of them stood up immediately and started walking through the hallway looking for an empty room. Luckily you nearly ran straight into Victoria on the way there. She gave you a confused look but smiled anyway, though the second she noticed Trinity and Whitaker walking in front of you like bodyguards, she silently followed behind.
The moment they found an empty trauma room, they closed the door behind you. The silence didn't last long, but all you could hear was your own heartbeat while trying to figure out how to even begin explaining what happened.
"Are you dating Abbot?" Whitaker asked slowly, crossing his arms.
You stared at him with a deeply what the fuck expression before dramatically looking between all three of them and pacing once across the room. "This MUST stay here."
"Sure." Trinity answered casually.
"I mean it." You took a deep breath, trying to find the exact words. "I matched with Abbot on Tinder." You said it quietly, but loud enough for everyone to hear.
None of them spoke. Whitaker's jaw dropped slightly, Trinity closed her eyes like she was physically trying to process the information, while Victoria made a noise so high pitched it sounded almost dangerous.
"No you didn't." Santos whispered.
"YES I DID." A nervous laugh escaped you the second you heard yourself say it out loud. "It was an accident tho."
"Oh my GOD." Javadi grabbed your shoulders violently. "OH MY GOD."
Meanwhile Trinity was still staring at you suspiciously. "How is that an accident?"
"My phone slipped." You admitted embarrassed, rubbing your forehead while remembering the exact moment it happened.
"Wait, hold on." Santos started pacing too now. "So you swiped right and the match appeared immediately?"
"...Yes?"
Trinity slowly nodded while Javadi continued looking excited like she was personally watching the greatest romantic comedy of her life unfold in front of her. Meanwhile all you wanted was for somebody to tell you how you were supposed to continue existing after this.
"That wasn't even all of it... He texted me immediately after." You pulled your phone out and handed it to them.
Santos grabbed it instantly, holding it where all three of them could see the screen at once. While she scrolled through the messages, the only thing you could focus on were their reactions.
"No, because this is actually insane." Trinity finally said while handing the phone back.
You buried your face into your hands, already regretting everything that happened this morning.
Because it was insane.
Even though he'd always taken care of you, you'd never let yourself believe it could mean something else. That was exactly why having a crush on him always felt stupid and childish. Sure, he made your shifts better. Sure, your stomach flipped every time he looked at you too long. But it had always stayed harmless inside your own head.
Jack Abbot was supposed to stay safely inside your brain as your painfully attractive work crush. He was not supposed to flirt back, he was definitely not supposed to remember your favorite snacks, ask if you'd slept, or look at you like you personally softened something inside him every single shift.
"Why are we acting like this is a funeral?" Javadi asked, smiling. "He likes you. That's a good thing."
Her smile slowly disappeared when she noticed you still looked seconds away from cardiac arrest.
Honestly, you still couldn't process any of it correctly, and now you knew it was only a matter of hours before you had to see him again.
"Oh my god." You suddenly stopped pacing. "What if I say I feel sick and then pretend to faint, and you say you're coming with me so we can both clock out early?"
"That would be... amazing." Trinity admitted. "But no."
You genuinely considered throwing yourself through the nearest window. Or maybe walking outside and waiting in the ambulance bay long enough for somebody to accidentally hit you. But before you could answer, or even move, you heard Whitaker quietly go "Oh" then Dana saying hello to someone outside.
You could've died right there because the second you turned around, you saw Jack Abbot walking toward the nurses station. Coffee in one hand and backpack hanging from his shoulder, looking unfairly attractive for somebody who hadn't even finished his twelve hours of rest.
Maybe he was feeling the same way you were.
And almost like he sensed it, his eyes lifted immediately toward the trauma room. Toward you.
You were still wearing the bright pink hoodie that was impossible to miss but out of everything happening around him, you still couldn't believe the very first thing he noticed was you.
Abbot's expression shifted slightly with confusion when he noticed all four of you suspiciously crowded inside the trauma room. One eyebrow lifted with visible amusement before the corner of his mouth pulled into a small grin. It was subtle but you knew him well enough to know he wasn't stupid.
Your eyes followed him automatically as he got closer, and suddenly you completely forgot how breathing worked. Once he passed by the room, he lightly tapped two fingers against the trauma room window in greeting without even slowing down. Then he kept walking toward the lockers like absolutely nothing had happened.
The second he disappeared down the hallway, Victoria's mouth dropped open.
"This is the worst day of my life." You whispered weakly, still staring at the hallway where Abbot had disappeared.
"And your shift hasn't even started yet." Trinity replied while walking out of the room.
Not helping at all.
This was it now. There was no avoiding it anymore.
If luck was somehow still slightly on your side (which you seriously doubted) maybe this was just the calm before the storm. Maybe suddenly the ER would completely explode with emergencies and you'd spend the next twelve hours separated on opposite sides of the hospital. Maybe you'd get stuck in triage all shift and never have to leave it. But the second you clocked in, it felt like Jack Abbot was suddenly everywhere.
Every hallway, the bay, even somehow leaving the bathroom exactly when you were walking past it.
Maybe this had always happened and you'd just never noticed before. But now that you knew there was tension between you, real tension and not platonic, everything felt different. Worse.
And to make it even more unbearable, he clearly enjoyed it.
Every chance he got, he somehow ended up beside you. Like he was curious to see how nervous he could make you before you completely short circuited.
The first time happened barely twenty minutes later. You were restocking supplies into the tiny cabinet in triage, trying desperately to think about literally anything except him, when someone suddenly stepped beside you.
"You came in early."
The second you heard his voice, your entire body jumped, making a few gauze packets fall straight onto the floor. God, are you serious?
You crouched immediately to grab them while he casually leaned against the litter beside you, coffee still in hand, looking entirely too relaxed for somebody currently ruining your nervous system.
His eyes never left you. That was the problem with Jack Abbot, he looked at people too confidently, like he already knew exactly what effect he had on them and unfortunately for you, he was right.
You could feel his gaze following every movement while you picked up the gauze, and something about seeing him standing over you like that made heat crawl embarrassingly fast up your neck, making you quickly shook your head, trying to physically force the thoughts away before they got worse.
You didn't exactly have experience with this kind of thing. Honestly, you barely had experience with men at all. Most of your past attempts at flirting usually ended with you avoiding eye contact until the other person gave up and none of those guys had ever looked like that. None of them had been older either, which somehow made this whole thing feel even more dangerous.
"Are you okay?" He asked before taking another slow sip of coffee.
"Mhm."
"You sure, Shortcake?" One of his eyebrows lifted slightly.
Your head snapped toward him instantly at the nickname, and that little grin on his face widened just enough for you to realize that he knew exactly what he was doing. You stood up quickly nearly smashing your head directly into the metal shelf hanging from the wall but before you could hit it, Abbot's hand moved instantly above your head, stopping you from colliding with the sharp edge.
The gesture was small, almost automatic. Which somehow made it worse. He'd always been like that, like protecting you came naturally to him.
"Careful." He said softly.
Your eyes lifted toward him for half a second too long and the moment they met his, something in his expression shifted almost invisibly. Like he was watching every single nervous reaction cross your face in real time.
"Oh my god." You whispered under your breath before immediately escaping the room and leaving him standing there alone.
Within the next two hours, the entire ER somehow realized something was deeply wrong with you.
You dropped your pens constantly. Forgot to give the patients their stickers. Nearly handed someone the wrong chart. At some point you stress ate every single candy left in your pocket without even noticing.
"You dropped the blood pressure cuff three times." Shen whispered while walking beside you. "Is everything okay?"
"I'm just tired."
"Abbot said you came in early."
You stopped walking so abruptly Shen almost bumped into you. "I need to quit."
"You need a psychiatric."
Ellis suddenly appeared beside both of you like she'd materialized out of thin air. "What's wrong with the boss today?" She asked casually.
Shen shrugged, clearly not understanding what she meant, while you immediately kept walking before either of them could continue the conversation.
It was weird. Because it genuinely felt like something had suddenly snapped into place overnight. Like you'd become painfully aware of the invisible string that had apparently always existed between you and Jack Abbot.
And the worst part? Now that you knew it, you couldn't stop noticing it. Especially because he clearly wasn't helping.
If anything, he kept finding excuses to stay close to you. Whenever he handed you the tablet, his fingers brushed yours briefly before pulling away. Whenever he squeezed past you in crowded hallways, his hand would settle lightly against your back for just a second longer than necessary, guiding you forward while acting completely casual about it.
And every single time you looked at him, he was already looking at you first.
The hours dragged by painfully slow, each one bringing you closer to finally going home and sleep for ten consecutive years.
At least you were doing a decent job avoiding him until around five in the morning. That was when Lena sent both of you upstairs to pediatrics to deal with some transfer issue.
The second you heard your name attached to his, a long exhausted sigh escaped your body before you could stop it.
Jack appeared beside you a moment later, adjusting the stethoscope. Of course he looked good doing that too.
The two of you walked toward the elevators together in silence. Oddly enough, it wasn't awkward. Maybe both of you were too exhausted at this point to put actual energy into whatever this thing was becoming. Still, even without looking directly at him, you could feel him behind you constantly.
The elevator dinged open.
Jack stepped aside slightly and gestured for you to enter first with one lazy movement of his hand, just enough to make your stomach flip embarrassingly fast.
You stepped inside while he followed right behind you a second later, and the moment the elevator doors slid shut, your heart immediately started beating harder.
Suddenly you were very aware of the situation you were currently trapped in.
Small elevator. Jack Abbot standing directly beside you.
You focused aggressively on the glowing floor numbers above the doors instead of the man next to you, trying to force your brain to think about literally anything else.
The silence stretched for a few seconds. From the corner of your eye, you saw him open his mouth once like he was about to say something before stopping himself.
"Why are you avoiding me?" He finally asked, turning his head toward you.
"I'm not."
"You are." You could hear the grin in his voice before you even looked at him.
"I'm just tired."
"You can't even look at me." He said with a quiet laugh. Which unfortunately was true. "Did I do something wrong?"
"I did something wrong."
"You did?" He asked confused.
"You're my attending."
"Is that so?" He said, tilting his head. "I swiped right first, so..."
The elevator suddenly felt ten degrees hotter. You stared even harder at the floor numbers, silently begging for the doors to open already.
Jack leaned casually against the elevator wall beside you, arms crossed loosely now. Meanwhile you were one bad heartbeat away from passing out.
"Don't blame yourself." He said softly.
And against your better judgment, you finally looked at him properly. Huge mistake. Because he was already watching you with that same warm, entertained expression from earlier. Like he could practically see how flustered you were becoming and didn't mind it one bit. Maybe even liked it and somehow that made your entire face burn hotter.
You weren't used to this. You weren't used to men who flirted this confidently. While Jack Abbot looked at you like he already knew exactly what would happen if he got any closer.
The elevator suddenly jerked violently, both of you stumbled slightly before everything stopped completely. The lights flickered once and then the elevator went still.
Jack slowly looked up toward the ceiling and your stomach dropped instantly.
For a second, neither of you moved.
The soft hum of the emergency lights filled the elevator while your own heartbeat pounded so loudly you were convinced he could hear it too.
Nope. Absolutely not. You refused to get trapped inside a tiny elevator with Jack looking like that.
"This is actually my personal hell." You whispered, staring at the closed doors.
"You're being dramatic." A quiet laugh left him.
"I'm trapped in a metal box with my attending after accidentally matching with him on Tinder. I think I'm reacting appropriately."
That made him smile properly this time. You hated how much that worked on you.
He pushed himself off the elevator wall and reached toward the emergency panel, pressing the call button.
"Maintenance will reset it in a minute." He said casually.
Of course he sounded relaxed. Meanwhile you felt like your nervous system was slowly shutting down.
You crossed your arms tightly over your chest, trying to ignore how small the elevator suddenly felt. Or how good he smelled standing this close. Your eyes squeezed shut for a second and, for some reason, your brain immediately thought about that Trisha Paytas picture where she's choking herself.
That was literally you at that moment.
"You okay, Shortcake?" He asked again, quieter this time.
Jack was already looking at you again, like he was trying to read every reaction on your face until he finally got the truth out of you.
"Please stop calling me that."
"Why?" One side of his mouth lifted slightly. "You like it."
"I do not like it."
"Are you sure?" His voice dropped softer. "Every time I say it, I see something in your eyes."
You looked away immediately before he noticed the effect he was having on you.
Unfortunately for you, he definitely noticed.
His laugh slipped out again, low and tired and way too attractive for five in the morning.
Jack stepped a little closer then. Not enough to make you uncomfortable, but enough for your entire body to immediately become aware of it.
"You know." He said lightly. "Langdon told me you love it when I call you that."
"He told you that?" Your eyes snapped toward him in horror.
That cocky expression appeared again instantly, and the corner of his mouth twitched when he realized he got exactly the reaction he wanted from you.
You genuinely wanted the elevator to crush you alive.
He looked way too pleased with himself now, arms crossed too while watching you completely unravel in front of him. And the worst part was that your nervousness seemed genuinely cute to him. He clearly wasn't used to girls reacting like this around him. Most women probably flirted back confidently, meanwhile you could barely maintain basic eye contact.
"I hate you." You muttered weakly.
"No you don't."
The confidence in his voice should've annoyed you. Instead it made heat spread through places it absolutely shouldn't.
The elevator stayed silent around both of you for another moment. Neither of you looked away this time.
Your brain kept screaming at you to say something normal. Something professional. Anything.
But then his eyes dropped to your mouth. And the second you realized you were looking at his lips too, the tension inside the elevator shifted so hard it almost felt physical.
Jack's expression softened slightly, like he was thinking about it too now. About how close he was standing and the fact that there was nobody else around.
Your stomach twisted nervously when his gaze slowly lifted back to yours again, like he was silently trying to figure out if you wanted this as much as he did.
And for one horrible second, you genuinely thought he was about to kiss you.
Both of you breathing heavier now, like the air inside the elevator had suddenly disappeared. Your pulse was probably completely tachycardic at this point, which honestly felt embarrassing considering all he was doing was looking at you.
Then he took another small step closer.
Your breath caught instantly.
With his head tilted slightly down now, he searched for your eyes again before his gaze dropped back to your lips for half a second. And without even realizing it, you nervously licked your own lips.
The effect that had on him was immediate.
You stopped hearing everything around you for a moment. There was only him. Until the elevator doors suddenly slammed open with a loud mechanical ding.
Both of you pulled apart slowly, almost reluctantly, like it took actual effort to force distance back between you.
Joy and Shen stood outside the elevator staring at both of you in confusion.
"Oh, okay." Joy said slowly.
You immediately walked out so fast it almost counted as fleeing. Meanwhile behind you, Jack cleared his throat once before casually following after you like absolutely nothing had happened at all.
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fandom etiquette as a whole died when people who didn’t grow up on fandoms became stans during lockdown, yes, but why am i seeing people openly mocking fics on twitter. why am i seeing screenshots of fics with captions like “bro what is this 😭.” why am i seeing people mock fic writers for not knowing how sports or theater or college or any other organization operates in the real world.
“college is absolutely nothing like this” “why are we writing four people on the team scoring a hat trick in one game” “so tech work is nothing like this, hope that helps!”
if you don’t like a fic, and if you can’t suspend your belief enough to enjoy a fic that exaggerates or ignores real-world orgs, you don’t have to read it. you don’t have to screenshot it and put it on blast for twitter. you don’t have to post a link to it in the replies. the back button is literally there on your phone. it’s not giving baby’s first fandom anymore, it’s giving entitled asshole and it isn’t as cute as you think it is.
gamechangershow
romaincrisis
blakekathryn
2087
andulkaphoto
ellievsbear
turnnoffyourmind
yousharknotpass
