Zuko - Ceremony Escape
Summary: Where the firelord zuko and his firelady escape their noble ceremony.
WC: 1.1k
Genre/tag: fluff, sfw, firelord husband, firelady, ceremony, romantic dancing
The royal palace glittered with gold and crimson lanterns, their warm light reflecting off polished marble floors as nobles from across the Fire Nation filled the grand ballroom.
As Fire Lady, you had spent the entire evening smiling politely, greeting guests, and engaging in endless conversations.
Unfortunately, so had Zuko.
Which meant you hadn’t spoken to your husband in nearly an hour.
Every now and then, you’d catch a glimpse of him across the room surrounded by ministers, generals, and noble families.
And every single time, his amber eyes would immediately find yours.
The brief moments of eye contact were enough to make you smile.
Unfortunately, they were also enough to make him visibly impatient.
You watched him excuse himself from one conversation only to get trapped in another before he could reach you.
His jaw tightened.
You bit back a laugh.
Being Fire Lord had taught Zuko patience.
Only a little, though.
⸻
As the evening continued, musicians moved toward the center of the ballroom.
The crowd immediately quieted.
The traditional festival dance.
A beloved Fire Nation custom.
Partners were expected to switch throughout the dance as a symbol of unity among the noble houses.
You immediately saw the look on Zuko’s face.
He hated this tradition.
Not because of the dance itself.
Because it meant dancing with everyone except the person he actually wanted to dance with.
You.
The music began.
Noblewomen quickly approached the Fire Lord, eager for the honor of a dance.
Ever the diplomat, Zuko accepted politely.
But as he guided his current partner through the movements, his gaze constantly drifted across the room.
Searching.
Searching.
Searching.
For you.
⸻
Meanwhile, you found yourself paired with a nobleman whose name you had forgotten the second he introduced himself.
At first he seemed perfectly pleasant.
Then the dance started.
And he stepped far too close.
Your smile faltered.
His hand settled on your waist.
Too low.
Too familiar.
You subtly attempted to create distance.
He only moved closer.
“You look stunning tonight, Fire Lady.”
His tone made your skin crawl.
You forced a polite smile.
“Thank you.”
His grip tightened.
You immediately wished it hadn’t.
Across the ballroom, his smug expression never left his face.
The man clearly enjoyed making you uncomfortable.
⸻
And unfortunately for him—
Zuko finally saw it.
At first he simply caught sight of you dancing.
Relief flashed across his face.
Then he noticed your expression.
The stiffness in your posture.
The way you kept trying to move away.
The nobleman’s wandering hand.
The disgusting smirk.
The relief disappeared instantly.
Replaced by something much more dangerous.
The music continued.
But Zuko stopped dancing.
Completely.
His current partner nearly stumbled.
The entire ballroom seemed to part around him as he crossed the floor.
His expression remained calm.
Far too calm.
The kind of calm that made experienced generals nervous.
⸻
Your dance partner was still speaking when a familiar voice interrupted.
“May I steal my Fire Lady away?”
You looked up.
Zuko stood beside you.
Amber eyes fixed entirely on the nobleman.
The smile on his face didn’t reach his eyes.
Not even slightly.
The nobleman swallowed.
Hard.
Every instinct in his body seemed to scream danger.
“Of course, Fire Lord.”
Zuko’s gaze remained locked on him for several seconds.
Long enough for the nobleman to visibly regret every decision he’d made that evening.
Then Zuko offered his hand to you.
You took it immediately.
The relief was almost embarrassing.
⸻
The second you stepped into his arms, your entire body relaxed.
Zuko noticed instantly.
His hand settled gently against your waist.
Not possessive.
Protective.
The difference meant everything.
“You okay?” he asked quietly.
You nodded.
“I’m fine now.”
His jaw tightened.
That answer clearly wasn’t enough for him.
But he let it go for the moment.
Instead, he guided you into the next movement of the dance.
⸻
The ballroom seemed to disappear.
The nobles.
The music.
The politics.
Everything faded away until it was just the two of you.
Zuko’s gaze never left yours.
Not once.
The traditional dance transformed into something softer.
Something more intimate.
You found yourself smiling.
A real smile this time.
One reserved only for him.
The corners of Zuko’s mouth lifted in return.
A rare sight.
One that made several nobles gasp quietly.
The Fire Lord wasn’t exactly known for smiling in public.
Yet here he was.
Unable to stop.
Because of you.
⸻
As the dance continued, you leaned closer.
“Thank you.”
His hand tightened slightly around yours.
“For what?”
“Saving me.”
His eyes softened.
“You never have to thank me for that.”
You smiled.
He looked around the ballroom.
Then back at you.
A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes.
One that didn’t surface often.
“How about we escape?”
You blinked.
“The Fire Lord wants to abandon his own ceremony?”
“Absolutely.”
You laughed.
“Sounds tempting.”
“It wasn’t a suggestion.”
⸻
The second the dance ended, Zuko grabbed your hand.
And ran.
Well—
As much as a Fire Lord could run while maintaining dignity.
You both slipped through a side corridor before anyone could stop you.
Behind you, confused nobles searched for the missing royal couple.
Ahead of you, moonlight illuminated the palace gardens.
Finally.
Peace.
⸻
The gardens were quiet.
The only sounds were rustling leaves and distant fountains.
Zuko led you toward a stone bench overlooking a pond filled with glowing lantern lilies.
The stars shimmered overhead.
Without hesitation, he sat down and pulled you beside him.
You immediately curled against his side.
His arm wrapped around your shoulders.
You rested your head against his chest.
For several minutes neither of you spoke.
Neither felt the need to.
The silence was comfortable.
Warm.
Home.
⸻
Eventually, Zuko pressed a kiss against the top of your head.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get to you sooner.”
You looked up.
“You came when it mattered.”
His expression softened.
You could still see traces of anger lingering beneath the surface.
Not directed at you.
At the man from earlier.
You reached up and touched his cheek.
“I’m okay.”
His hand covered yours.
“I know.”
Then, after a pause:
“He’s never dancing with you again.”
You laughed.
“There it is.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know.”
“And if he even looks at you like that again—”
You started laughing harder.
Zuko rolled his eyes.
But a smile tugged at his lips.
Soon enough, the conversation faded again.
You settled against him beneath the stars.
His arm around your shoulders.
Your hand intertwined with his.
The palace searching frantically for its missing rulers.
And neither of you caring in the slightest.
For the first time all evening, you finally had what you’d both been searching for.
Each other.
