Marty McNotSoFly

Now and Then III

So sorry this is late ish, I’ve written and scrapped like 2 ideas for this. I’ve been trying to work on spacing story wise and decided I like it being told like it is in this chapter. Feedback is always encouraged and appreciated though.

Warnings and Info: It’s still SFW, Angst if you squint, fluff, old reader and Zuko mentioned, Korra mentioned, bit of lore inaccurate stuff if you really get picky about it.

*****

“You’re telling it wrong.” Y/n let out a soft laugh before placing a plate of firecracker buns before the now ‘retired’ Lord Zuko and the new Avatar Korra. Zuko gave her a look she’d seen a million times. He’d scrunched his brow at the audacity of someone calling out THE Fire Lord but he had a smile that was as playful and charming as it had always been.

Korra looked between the pair, they’d definitely grayed and wrinkled since their portrait had been made after their wedding ceremony but the way they admired each other was the same.

“He was bold but he was also as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room of rocking chairs.” Y/n laughed as the patted him on the back. “We had met in Ba Sing Se and had went out a bit but he didn’t make a real move until we found each other again on Ember Island.” She said as she poured her tea.

“I had to psych myself up, it’s not everyday someone like you found interest in me.” He defended. Y/n smiled as he reached across the table to hold her hand.

*****

Zuko had left Ba Sing Se in a hurry and with a bang, though it was the proper goodbye he lacked. All be it Y/n had been a bit broken hearted after he left but she figured so is life. The world kept spinning and it wasn’t going to stop for some school girl crush.

She’d managed to find a way out of the city after the Fire Nation had taken over by hiding as a servant to an upper class family. It wasn’t too bad but it wouldn’t be permanent, she’d made it pretty far before sneaking off from them too as they went on a vacation to Ember Island.

Now she found herself sitting on the beach flipping the pages of a book she’d ‘borrowed’ from the family. It wasn’t a bad life she’d found here, staying with an elderly woman far to old to care about the deferences of the war and seeing her as a lost child and not a waterbender to be found. Her days mostly consisted of making sure the woman’s home stayed tidy and whatever other task she needed help with.

As she sat the book down to get a drink from the satchel she had set in her bag she felt a volleyball tap her leg.

“ZUKO!” A girl scolded. She was Princess Azula. Y/n’s eyes widened as she watched the girl almost glow with a competitive rage before she stomped off to join her friends.

She hadn’t noticed the boy until he was in front of her. When their faces finally met they both let out a small gasp of disbelief.

Before he could get in a word she had jumped up wrapping her arms around his neck as he stood in disbelief, the moment was short lived though as she pulled back giving him a questioning look.

“Lee?” She whispered. He nodded and scratched the back of his neck like it’d make a good answer to why he’d lied for so long.

“Yes and no?… I’m sorry, I had every intention of telling you but Azula showed up and I had to go with her. I didn’t mean to upset you.” He stumbled over his words as her hold loosened on him. The silence from her was deafening. She let go of him turning to grab her things to leave, he ran through every idea he could possibly imagine to explain himself but he kept coming up short as he watched her walk away from him.

*****

Zuko sat beside Mai watching Azula and Ty Lee try their best to fit in with the locals. He couldn’t stop thinking about Y/n and how she’d never forgive him, he knew she wouldn’t. He fidgeted with the bracelet she’d gave him tracing the corners of the stone. That’s when he’d heard it, a small laugh he’d know anywhere. There she was standing with a group of people laughing, smiling, having a great time. Before he could stop himself he’d excused himself from Mai and he began to make his way across the room to her.

Almost reluctantly Y/n had agreed and followed him outside onto the back deck of the house that overlooked the ocean. The pair stood in the quiet for a minute, the only noise coming from the music inside and the night of the seaside.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She asked as she looked out to watch the waves not giving him a glance.

This made his stomach turn. “I wanted to.” He admitted.

“Do you not trust me? Was I just a way for you to gain something from the water tribes to run back to Daddy?” tears began to prick her eyes and her voice had started shaking.

He reached forward grabbing her hand and shook his head. “No it was nothing like that.” He tried to explain.

“Then what was it Le- I’m sorry, Zuko.” She added emphasis to his name in an almost hateful tone but she hadn’t attempted to pull her hand from his.

“I thought… I thought you’d hate me if you actually knew me, if you knew ‘Prince Zuko’ and then I got so caught up in how much you seemed to like me when I wasn’t that, when I was just Lee.”

“I know it wasn’t right, I know I shouldn’t have lied to you. You were the first person who didn’t care about what I could do for you or your status.”

She looked up at him, her face was softer this time. “I was there because I was banished, my father drove me out and all I cared about was finding a way back, a way to restore myself in his eyes.” He was looking all across her face to see what she was thinking hoping she’d actually believe him.

“It’s the truth… I promise.” He held her hand to his chest as he waited for her reaction.

After taking it all in and thinking on it for a second she stepped forward and leaned her head against his chest as he pulled her hand back from him. He wrapped his arms around her as he let out a sigh of relief.

Time passed a bit slower for them, only for a minute as they stayed still in it.

*****

They’d agreed to meet again the following evening on the beach again. Y/n had done a bit of asking around and poking a bit to find out more about ‘Prince Zuko’ from some of the locals. The more they said the more she began to understand.

When he arrived he saw her sitting by the shore, drawing symbols in the wet sand as she waited for him. He smiled to himself before sitting beside her.

Without looking up she knew it was him and decided to joke “hello your highness.” Earning a groan from the boy.

“Please don’t call me that.” He rolled his eyes before admitting that it was a bit weird coming from her.

“Well what do you want me to call you?” She asked finally looking to him.

“Just Zuko, please.”

The pair talked well after the sun had settled for the night, it was nice catching up now that all the awkward and somewhat painful explanations were out of the way. They were now laying beside one another pointing out different constellations.

He’d walked her home hand in hand, happy as could be. He was grateful for finding her again, for getting the chance to be honest with her. As the pair arrived Zuko had stopped for a second behind her and in a moment of courage or just pure dumb luck he stepped forward, cupping her face with one hand and placing the other at her side. He leaned down to close the gap between them as he kissed her for the very first time, officially that is.

*****

Y/n laughed as Zuko pulled her hand to his face pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her knuckles.

Korra smiled at them, as she offered to help Y/n clean up after their afternoon tea together as Zuko went to find a few of his own scrolls on firebending for her.

******

Now and Then 11

Hi this is part 2 I will be updating every other day ish until I feel like it’s done. I’ve actually written this completely over and turned the original part 2 into part 3…that was a fun process. Also I am so sorry for any inaccuracies lore wise or anything.

Same Warnings and Info as the last :)

*****

Weeks turned to days and days turned into every little stolen moment the pair seemed to find.

Y/n stopping by more often much like she was today, though it was in efforts to steal ‘Lee’ away for an evening of teenage shenanigans.

“Oh we’re just going to feed the turtle ducks and watch a small theatre troop in the park” she flashed a grin that screamed ‘we are definitely not going to feed turtle ducks.’

Iroh saw right through it, Zuko had confided in his uncle about her ‘talents’ of the aquatic nature only after he’d so obviously caught her swooshing around the kitchen spinning dirty dishes to help Zuko finish closing quicker. She had undoubtedly earned the unspoken nickname of ‘sea glass’ from him.

Though it was nice to see how she had changed the boy in such a positive way. He was lighter with her, happier. It was refreshing in such a hard and confusing time, especially for a young boy.

He waved the pair off in acceptance. Y/n grabbed Zuko’s hand dragging the boy from the shop. Laughing and rattling off about the actual plans of the night.

*****

The pair had managed to sneak past some guards into the upper rings for their nightlife and festivities. Y/n and Zuko walked hand in hand through the crowds while she excitedly pointed at every little stall and booth, he smiled at how happy she could be in such a time. He wondered if she’d be just as happy if she knew she was really galavanting around with a fire bender let alone the heir to the nation.

He shook the thought from his head as she pulled him to a small booth where an elderly woman was selling handmade jewelry. He raised his eyebrow in question as she bartered occasionally glancing and giggling to check that he hadn’t wandered.

“Close your eyes.” She half heartedly demanded.

“This better not be some gaudy ridiculous-“

He was cut short as she placed a small bracelet, a silver one painted gold adorned with a small lighter blue gem.

He gave her a look as she went to clip it around his wrist. She shot one back saying “If you don’t want it I’ll take it back.” In a joking manner.

“No I kinda like it…or whatever.” He played off running his hand through his hair in an attempt to keep his broody boy credit earning a laugh from the girl.

*****

As the pair headed back well past any reasonable hour, Zuko had spotted a park much like the one they’d convinced Iroh about. They stopped for a moment to enjoy the evening air as well as each other’s company for the fleeting minutes of the night left.

Zuko fidgeted with the chain of the bracelet eyeing the jewel he’d already claimed as Y/n herself, it represented a true moment in the middle of a false life. She was his true moment.

He watched her as she pulled some of the midnight dew off a few plants from around the park before spinning it about much like a ribbon before taking her spot beside him.

In a bold fashion she’d taken an initial step and laid her head in his lap which earned a bright shade of red to decorate his cheek. Calming quickly though he leaned back and stroked her hair, careful not to let the bracelet catch in it. As the pair sat humming tunes and chatting about everything and anything. Zuko found himself truly at peace, he’d wished the world could stand still for a minute longer. The sun had other plans and had began lighting the skies ushering in tomorrow.

*****

Upon reaching the hostel Y/n had been staying at, Y/n found herself feeling so warm to the idea of staying here if it meant staying with him. Never one to stay still for too long it’d came as a shock but she couldn’t help it, his hand in hers and the way he brought her such an indescribable joy anytime he said her name.

Broke from her thoughts as Zuko stopped at the door with her. “What’s up Lee?” She questioned the suddenness of his action only for him to blurt out.

“ Close your eyes.”

She obliged giving him a laugh and closing them tight.

“Please tell me you aren’t gonna-“ she was interrupted by the small clip of a necklace he had so sneakily taken from the old lady’s stand. It was a small chain, some would call dainty, that held up a smaller fiery ruby pendent. It was perfect, but why red? She thought to herself.

All to caught in the moment and suddenly in fear of the truth that he was about to be caught in the falsehood of his own stories. He scrambled for a quick copout “Rubies are my favorite!” In an all too inconspicuous way.

It didn’t matter that he was somewhat of a bad liar, she loved it. Before heading inside to sleep off the magic of the night she wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him into a tight hug. His arms almost instinctively found her waist. Then it happened she planted a small sapling of a kiss, one of those blink and miss it kind, right on his cheek pressing to the edge of his scar. She pulled back giving him a quick smile before retreating into the building only to turn right back around before the door had a second to close.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” She asked.

“Oh me and uncle are going to the palace to serve tea for the king. I can ask and see if he needs me after.”

He grabbed her hand pulling it to his face and pressing a kiss to the tops of her knuckles.

******

Now and Then

It’s been a minute but I’m dusting off the drafts for this one.

Also vaguely proofread so if anything’s wrong it’s on me (in my defense I failed English comp twice)

Warnings and info: Reader is from the Northern Water Tribe and a bender, Sfw, old and young Zuko, Y/n used but I tried keeping the descriptive phrases very ambiguous (I don’t want anyone left out), minimal mentions of gaang and friends, very loose ideas of Korra and co because I didn’t watch all of it. Mostly fluff slight angst, maybe a bit suggestive later on.

Before

Zuko pulled the collar of the itchy earth kingdom “disguise” his uncle had made him take in efforts to hide the banished prince. He kept up the appearance of ‘Lee’ while wiping down a table after a customer had left quite the mess of tea leaves and cake crumbs.

“This is ridiculous, I am a prince.” He whispered through gritted teeth.

“That’s right my nephew, a prince of polishing don’t miss that spot.” Iroh chuckled, if only to annoy the boy further.

The pair were interrupted when a young girl stepped into the shop, she was to the untrained eye a simple earth kingdom dweller but to Iroh’s years around the world and Zuko’s suspicious nature a glass act they saw right through.

She smiled at the two and took a seat at a small table before looking over the menu settling on her order. Iroh watched as Zuko studied the girl with somewhat of a smile hiding on his face.

“Go take her order Lee.” He shoved his shoulder and sent him off before stepping back into the kitchen.

Zuko did his best to play waiter and continued his duties, cleaning, serving, and focusing on the girl’s every move.

At another table sat a woman and her small child, the woman all be it a bit inattentive sat distracted in a conversation she’d been having with another customer as the toddler was well on their way to knocking the practically piping cup of tea onto themselves.

Before a drop could topple onto their lap the girl flicked her wrist before pulling it all back into the small glass. She smiled to herself before sipping her own tea and looking around to make sure no one saw.

That’s when she saw him, her eyes went wide as she matched with Zuko’s. She looked at him with a pleading expression to not announce anything before she stood to leave.

Zuko stepped to her, grabbing her hand which caught the poor girl by surprise.

“You’re a water bender?” He practically shouted through a whisper.

Tears welled in her eyes as she frantically tried to shush him in efforts to not be outed. For a bit of privacy he pulled her into a small hallway towards the back of the shop, even if the remaining customers were too involved in their own affairs to care about theirs.

“Did the Avatar send you?” He questioned in a snap like tone.

She frantically shook her head before knitting her brows together as if to question his very logic.

“The avatar?” She stated in disbelief.

*****

He’d be lying if he said he didn’t develop a few feelings for her, after a couple weeks he’d gotten to know her and her story a bit as to why she was in Ba Sing Se in the first place though he wasn’t as forthcoming with his own story.

The pair sat atop the tea shop eating a handful of sweets they’d picked up from the market down the street.

“They don’t allow women to be waterbenders? That’s not really up to them is it?” He asked.

“We can bend, but it can’t be for anything more than fixing cuts and scrapes and… burns.” She trailed off a bit after the last word.

He could tell by the stare she had set miles and miles away that she was talking about the invasions his country had committed, but he’d remembered how Katara had once tried to help him heal the scar that brandished him a disappointment in the eyes of his father.

Subconsciously his fingers went to graze his face as she came back and asked, more of a statement actually.

“Why’d they do that to you?”

He was taken aback for a moment, his heart screaming to tell her the truth. It’d only been a matter of days they’d known each other but she was the closest thing to a real friend he’d ever had.

“I…. I can’t, I’m sorry.” He choked.

She offered him a knowing smile before placing her hand over his to provide a silent support.

“ ‘S okay Lee. I get it.” She said as she leaned against his shoulder.

He stiffened slightly at the sudden contact he looked down at her as she went on about a different story hoping to change the tone.

He watched how her hair fell almost perfectly to frame her face, how her eyes lit up while mentioning a few of her happier adventures and the odd people she’d met. He liked how soft her hand felt in his and the way her fingers laced with his almost as if they were made for them.

He rested his head on hers and they watched the way the colors danced across the sky as the sun set. The reds and blues mixing to make the prettiest shades of purple.

*****

"I just told you I liked you but now I’m shy and say “never mind, forget it” and why are you looking at me like that?" With Jimmy Darling X Female Reader, please 🤗🥰 @bluerose512​

Living in Jupiter isn’t all bad. It’s normally a pretty quiet town, well that was until they moved in. 

You didn’t really see them the same as the rest of the town did. They saw preformers to be dispossed after they fulfilled their entertainment purposes. 

You saw people. Living, Breathing, People. 

You’d managed to get a summer job at the diner on 3rd and Main as a waitress. 

You were pulled from your daydreams with the ring of the bell on the doorframe.

“Hey just sit anywhere I’ll be right with you.” You grabbed the plate for table six and a couple of menus.

No one knows if it was the bustle of people for lunch hour or the bottle’s worth of salad dressing your coworker Anna spilled in the floor but all of that double decker grilled cheese with tomatoes was flying and you were falling. 

When you came too you were greeted by an unfamiliar face. 

“Hey! you alright girly?” He asked.

You held your head and scrunched your face as he took off his glove.

“Hurry how many fingers you see doll?” He chuckled.

It was from that moment on you’d felt a type of way about that boy. Type a’ way you’d wanna feel forever.

__________________________________________

You sat on the stage twirling up ribbon streamers to hang from the banners on the walk in. 

“Hey Pretty Lady what’cha up to?” Jimmy quipped, leaning beside you as he picked up the blue ribbon.

“Wouldn’t you like to know Lover boy?” You jeered.

“Hey! Just cause I’m sweet on ya don’t mean I’m no Lover Boy...” His face turned pink and you perked up. 

“What was that Jimmy?” you teased.

He mumbled to himself and took off out of the tent. So naturally you chased after him and asked what was wrong.

“I just told you I liked you but now... I don- I’m shy or something and you know what...never mind, just... forget it. Forget I said something.”

Silence.

“What are you... why are you looking at me like that?” He asked.

You smiled before wrapping your arms around him and planting a small ruby red print kiss on his cheek.

“I like you too and HEY!-’

Jimmy picked you up and spun around before giving you a big ol’ kiss.

Richie Tozier x Reader

(Yes it will be young in a flashback and old for the majority)

1993

Richie had just been dumped by Gracie Marvelly and was absolutely crushed. Gracie only happens to be the 5th “love of his life” this week. So naturally the boy was in his post breakup state of crying on the dinner counter to his long time best friend (Y/N).

The teen watched as their friend was wallowing in pitty from the others and a little of his own. (Y/N) had none for the boy. Of course they were sorry that their friend was sad but he’d practically done this to himself.

“Richie baby I don’t know what to tell you. What did you think was gonna happen dating that?” They snarked picking up the boy’s head so they could wipe the counter.

Richie hates to admit it but his asshole of a friend was right.

“I just thought she loved me you know?” He sobbed.

The once snarky kid frowned at their buddy before patting his head and handing him a small porcelain China pink cup full of what one could consider coffee.

“Perk up babes you’ll find someone someday that’s got a whole lotta love for your dumbass.”

Richie scoffed and pushed the coffee back and remarked “You know this stuff makes you shit like crazy?”

2020

(Y/N) sat at a small table covered in a white cloth with Beverly and Ben watching Mike getting ready to take pictures of the newly wedded pair.

Richie rushes over to his best friend of decades and smiled before hugging them.

They laughed as they watched Eddie dance about blowing a kiss at Richie only to have him return it with a middle finger.