RaDiDa

Imagine this poor man parks for five minutes because he just wants a coffee for once in his miserable little sleep deprived life and suddenly:

“BINARY STAR, THE CITY NEEDS YOU!”

And now he has to abandon his coffee dreams, fly across the city, punch some horrifying interdimensional creature into another zip code, save civilians, answer 37 reporters asking him how he “feels” and when he finally returns to his car two hours later...

He finds a ticket right on his windshield.

DAMN IT!

Okay, at least they didn't tow his car, so it is not the worst. Because I genuinely think that would have been his villain origin story.

But yeah, I personally see Ray as someone who would rather walk everywhere than own a car. Public transportation is even worse because having that many people around him at once is basically psychic warfare.

Imagine trying to sit peacefully on a crowded train while hearing:

“Did I leave the stove on?” “I should text my ex.” “Why is that guy eating tuna at 8 AM?” “Oh my God! I think I’m lactose intolerant!” “Would anyone notice if I barked right now?” “I need to pee so bad.”

Ray is sitting there trying not to launch himself directly through the train window.

Everybody's thoughts, it is so loud and obnoxious that he feels like he could kill himself right then and there 😭✋🏻

Anyway, I imagine that if he dated you, he would probably end up getting a car specifically because you seem like the type who enjoys late night drives together. Especially if you are the kind of person who randomly decides at 1:47 AM that you absolutely need mozzarella sticks or you will perish instantly.

And surprisingly, he actually grows to enjoy it.

Because before you, his nights were miserable.

Due to the fact that he cannot sleep much and barely gets any rest, he is used to staying up all night just to watch the city, gazing into the distance, burning holes in his lungs from the sheer amount of cigarettes he smokes at night. 

To him, nighttime is boring, lonely and cold.

There is nothing interesting about the city night, at least to him, and he always finds that the night is longer than the day. He wonders how some people can enjoy this late night thing when all he can hear in the empty, quiet night is his own consuming thoughts crawling all over his head.

But ever since he has been with you, that has changed quite a bit. He finds the night is somewhat more... bearable.

Because now the silence is constantly interrupted by your nonsense.

Maybe it is because it is no longer just an empty, quiet night. He can always hear your little giggles by his side, or the rambles you have about your work, the coworker you don't like, the dogs or cats you saw on the street today, what kind of food you had for lunch, or how annoying your boss is.

And even when you are just silently sitting by his side, he can still hear your thoughts loud and clear, running like this:

"Is that a star or a plane? Wait no, maybe my eyesight is just deteriorating. Do I need glasses? Oh my God, am I getting old?!"

"Ugh, I still have work tomorrow despite it being my day off. Should I make something for Ray? He likes to cuddle and sleep in on the weekend though. Better not wake him up with whatever catastrophe I might cause in the kitchen. Ughhhhhhh I don't want to go to work. Please, Monday, come slowly so I can spend more time with my baby!!!"

"Why is he so quiet tonight? Nah, Ray has always been quiet, but he is oddly quieter tonight, right? Can he read my mind now? I told him not to unless I say it is okay, so maybe no? Did he enjoy the last meal I made for him? He is always nice and praises me, but I feel like I trouble him a lot sometimes."

"What do I have to do on Monday? Right, the meeting for the new project, submit the report to Ashley, oh, and that plan I have with Jim in the afternoon…”

"Who is Jim?" he would ask instinctively, then immediately regret it, perhaps placing his hand over his lips slightly.

And you would just laugh at him and lean closer, teasing him silly.

"I knew you were listening, Ray."

And that earns his face becoming redder than any crimson shade you have ever seen before.

Oh, he is not the only one who knows how to tease around here.

You mentioned you like stargazing, but it is difficult to do that in a city this crowded, so he would take some days off to bring you somewhere with a bunch of stars to gaze at. A small camping place, perhaps?

Could he just fly you there in ten minutes? Yes.

But apparently “the journey is part of the experience” according to you.

Though it would be faster if he just flew you there, you said you enjoy the process of the trip, claiming it is more interesting, thrilling, and adventurous. And he would go along with whatever idea you have in your head, Star.

So now he is driving six hours into the middle of nowhere because you saw one cute TikTok couple camping video and decided this was your personality now.

But I would say in case Ray didn't own a car, you would be the one with the car, though he would always be the one to drive it. He would drive you to work, and then you both would head off to your respective jobs. In the evening, he would come pick you up and drive you home with him.

Anything else? Oh, right!

Passenger princess. Oh, little Star. I would say that none of y'all behaves well, so having you as his passenger princess is quite a challenge.

He has lost count of how many times you give him those puppy like eyes whenever he drives. When he asks what is wrong, because you don't like him reading your mind out of nowhere, you shamelessly say.

"Oh, you just look too handsome driving, RayRay.”

And he almost hits the brakes. He is still not used to taking compliments from you, Star. Be easy on him, he doesn't want to have a heart attack while trying to drive you home safely. Do you know how much your words affect him?

Anyway, that is just the surface of all your teasing, only the beginning of your nonsense.

Because he knows and you know, that sometimes he cannot control what he is doing and might unintentionally peek into your mind a bit.

At first it is very harmless.

“He looks pretty tonight.”

You would still look at him from the side of your seat, but rather than just thinking he is handsome, you would be bolder, as if you want to test his patience more each day. He really needs to discipline you a bit, doesn't he?

“I wonder what would happen if I grabbed his thigh right now...”

And when he hears all types of inappropriate thoughts you have about him, about what you could do with him in this car, you can see how his hands tighten around the wheel. He shifts his body a bit and might clear his throat before muttering one or two warnings about your naughty thoughts, about you needing to “behave.”

Well, whether you behave or not depends entirely on whether you like him to pull over at some random, secluded place and absolutely fuck your brains out in the backseat.

Though I would say Ray actually has insane self control, as he is still patient enough to wait until you two arrive home. 

But do you really, really want to go home?  Do you want Ray to give in?  Do you want him to completely wreck you right here in the car?

It is actually quite simple, quite easy. So follow the instructions closely!

𝐎𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐍𝐒𝐅𝐖 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰.

First, slide out of your seat and go down on him while he is actively driving. He is always flustered when you do that, breathlessly claiming it is dangerous while he is behind the wheel but secretly he loves, LOVES it. 

Why do you think this man decided to tint every single window of your car to a pitch black? It is for privacy purposes, obviously? 😈

Though if you swirl your tongue, lick him, and suck on his thick shaft hard enough, his knee might twitch and he might hit the brakes so suddenly that you almost choke on his length. There might be a little desperate coughing there because Ray can get very cocky, dominant, and possessive when he is horny. All that pent up frustration and all the times he has to hold himself back around you, why do you always find a way to test his waters?

Lowkey, I feel like he doesn't like you going down on him that much, mostly because his primal instinct prefers to pleasure you, and he prefers that you both melt into the process together rather than it being one sided. Though I would say if you love his dick that much, he would grow used to the indulgence and let you do whatever you want with your lips. He is your big, hard lollipop now.

Imagine a day you come home from a horrible, exhausting day at work. He has already cooked your favorite dishes, even prepared a steaming bath and laid out your favorite snacks, and all you do is order him to drop his pants so you can sink your mouth onto him for some stress relief. Now, that is unusual of you but he doesn't really have any complaints about being used.

He would only refuse when he is genuinely not in the mood or really tired. Because tbh you might have deeply corrupted him in some way. Now he craves seeing the helpless devotion on your face when you wrap your pretty, soft lips tightly around his cock. It turns him on even more when you have lipstick on and it smudges in messy strokes over his hot skin, or seeing the glistening slickness of his precum at the corner of your lip, and how heavy tears slowly form at the corners of your eyes when you are stretching your throat to take him so well.

He is also a massive fan of that deep, wet gagging sound you occasionally make because every time you go down on him, all he can hear running through your mind is just how big he is, how thick he is, how you like the heavy veins pulsing on his shaft, or how you love to swirl your tongue to kiss his leaking tip. You are so utterly shameless when it comes to praising him and he knows you do all that on purpose. Such a tease you are.

But despite that massive size, he rarely does anything genuinely rough to you. He would fist his fingers into your hair, but more to pull your head back to see your face clearer. It is such a beautiful, ruined sight to him, after all. 

He would not ruthlessly thrust his hips, though, afraid his density might hurt you. And you prefer it that way when he lets you take complete control, knowing exactly how well he can fucking take you and split you wide open if he wants, but his nature turns you on and makes you want to reward his patience even more.

Oh, and one more thing: 

It is actually really hard to make him cum with your mouth alone because he is ridiculously big, and your jaw gets hurt, tired and achy after a short while. Ray always notices that muscle tension and gently stops you. 

But if you have the blowjob skills of a fucking porn star, then you do you 😈

Suck him dry!!!

And what a beautiful tease you are. Every time you manage to break his control and make him cum, you kiss him immediately, capturing his mouth as if your lips cannot be left empty for even a second.

Ray knows you do that on purpose because every time you kiss him, he can taste his own thick cream on you, the heavy scent mixing intoxicatingly with your own sweet taste. And that turns him on even more because, wow, HIS taste on YOU. 

Cough it is because of his breeding kink cough

So best believe that after going down on him, you two always end up in an endless, desperate make out session. At least, it won't end until you notice how wet you have become just from the friction of his tongue and his hungry kisses alone. Nasty!

Anyway, back to the car thing.

He never lets you go down on him for too long because, well, Ray is impatiently patient. Can you guess it?

Like, yeah, he likes you sucking him as if he is a delicious meal, but his body also starves to do the exact same thing for you. 

But the driver's seat doesn't exactly provide that level of comfort, so you know what? He likes it when you ride his face. Yeah, adjust the seat to lean back a bit, with you hovering completely open above him.

That is such a perfectly beautiful, lewd sight for him to view from below. He can feel his own cock pulsing and throbbing hard against his zipper, matching the rhythmic throb of your slick, swollen folds right above his mouth. He hasn't even touched you yet, and somehow you are always this soaking wet for him. It strokes his ego just as much as when you worship his cock. He wants to worship you too.

But there is this one issue, if you ever consider it to be one. When Ray goes down on you, he never comes back up. 

Haha, I'm kidding! kind of

Of course he would come back up, but not until he is satisfied enough with teasing you, eating you out until you hit multiple, back-to-back orgasms and squirt all over his face. He absolutely loves when your hot juices run down his chin while he tries to slurp up every single drop.

Tbh, watching him eat you out so deviously, you understand why Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins ✋🏻😭 

Calm down, sir!

You become so hyper-sensitive you can barely feel anything, but at the same time, you feel every single ridge of his tongue all at once. By that time, even a single soft, warm breath from his lips against your clit could make you cum right away.

You know why Ray keeps his hair long? For his hero image?

WRONG!

It is for you to fucking grab onto when he enjoys his time burying his face deep between your thighs, duh?! So you better tug on that. Hell, you can even aggressively pull his hair, and the pain just makes his tongue become more eager, licking harder on you. Yeah, yeah, be a bit rough with him. He loves it!!!

He likes it when you ride his face better than anything because he knows how much you love it when his nose bumps against your tender, throbbing clit. And he takes full advantage of that positioning, wrapping his large hands around your thighs, keeping you locked firmly in place as he eats you out so fucking hungrily.

He is kissing you down there like he is making out with you, tender and soft at first. His tongue laps slowly over your slit, caresses your swollen folds gently and circles your clit because he knows you are sensitive and moving too fast might hurt you. He takes his sweet time to wet your folds until they are completely covered in his thick saliva before moving to the next part, dipping his tongue out and sliding it between your already soft, weeping folds. He finds his way to your entrance. 

Like his dick, his tongue is also ridiculously long and slightly pointy, which never fails to amaze you how well he knows exactly how to use it.

You leak and drip cream all over his tongue when he kisses and sucks on you so softly. It gets a bit sloppy and a bit dirty but Ray likes it that way. He loves making a complete mess out of you and drawing out all the lewd, sweet, melodic moans from your throat. Keep encouraging him like that. He is so fucking stiff just imagining how good you must feel from his tongue dancing inside you. 

Sometimes you wonder: is it your juices or is it his drool coating the corner of his lips?

You think you are so clever with all your teasing, don't you? 

Then prepare, because he always pays you back with interest at times like this. He constantly and relentlessly overstimulates you. Every single time you are nearly about to cum and break, he stops or moves his tongue elsewhere. 

You needily beg him like a fucking pathetic slut, but he won't give in just yet. Because he doesn't only want you to cum. He wants you to see stars, Star. So hold that in, because he won't stop until you are squirting all over the place, dirtying this fucking damn car and painting the interior with your fluids, making you feel entirely embarrassed to go to the car wash the next day.

Only then does he finally stop, hovering just out of reach, forcing you to endure the agonizing space between your bodies.

Do you want him? Yeah? 

Or do you want his cock? Both? 

He obviously knows that, but he wants to hear it pierce through the quiet of the car. 

You have to learn how to plead properly if you want him to give you what you are begging for.

"Tell me what you want, Star."

But Ray is a big softie underneath it all, so if you beg him enough, grinding your dripping heat against his stiff cock now leaking with precum, coating his thick shaft in your slick juices, he begins to crack. You kiss him desperately while doing it, making those sweet, soft moans, calling his name between your panting breaths and finally asking for what you want in the naughtiest way you can think of.

He would immediately give in to you. Fuck, you really want to ruin him, don't you?

He would squeeze your butt slightly, his long fingers digging deep into the meat of your thighs before giving you some sharp, stinging slaps, watching with darkened eyes how your skin jiggles and tenses under his touch. He finally gives you what you want because, just like you, Ray cannot wait any longer to sink his cock deep into your warm walls. He craves that tight, suffocating sensation when you clench around him, sucking his length in so greedily he feels like you could snap him right in half.

You both hiss when just the thick, blunt tip comes in, breathing heavily as he slowly, frictionally forces his way inside you, until about half of his massive length is nudging right into your soaked, trembling hole. 

He gently kisses your temper, his breath hitching as he asks if you are okay. He is always like that, he would not move an inch further if he knew you were genuinely uncomfortable. He gives you time to adjust as he distracts you from the overwhelming sensation, helping you relax and become less tense by playing with your boobs. Squeezing them and fondling your soft skin between the rough, burning palms of his hands.

"Look at you, stretching so beautifully for me," he murmurs against your neck, his voice vibrate slightly. "Just breathe, Star."

Ray has large hands, so every time he holds you, you can always feel the burning heat in every trace he leaves on your skin, even if it is just a lazy graze against your ribs. He twists your nipples softly, kissing and licking them, teasing you with his tongue a bit until they are completely hardened, swollen and coated in his saliva until he is finally satisfied enough.

Leaving wet kisses along your collarbone is also his favorite activity. 

It is funny because you were the one who started it. You leave not only deep scratch marks on his back but also purple hickeys everywhere around his neck area and his collarbone, as if you are obsessed with marking him as yours. And it rubbed off on him quite a bit when he started to mirror your actions. 

His skin is pale so it is easy for you to mark him, after all. 

But Ray, oh, he is not just kissing you, he is sucking and nibbling, and if he finds it is not enough, he bites you. Not hard enough to break the skin, but enough to leave a bruising mark that will remind you of him for days.

By the time he is done marking you, you have already adjusted to his size, comfortable and relaxed enough for him to continue. And he sinks deeply and completely into you, burying his shaft to the absolute hilt, whispering needy comments about how deep he is inside you, pressing on your belly so softly that it makes you gasp and almost yell at him.

He laughs, a low, wicked sound against your lips, and immediately kisses you to shut you up while slowly thrusting his hips, feeling you warmly wrapped tightly around his cock. Every corner of his body is heated up. And the way your arms wrap around his broad shoulders, burying your face at his side, breathing and moaning directly against his ear… 

You can nibble his earlobe or dip your tongue into his ear. It makes him shiver and would likely make him cum a bit too fast. You can feel him throbbing and twitching inside you every time you kiss his ear, every time you whisper how good it feels and how well he fucks you. He loses it completely and quickens his pace until he can barely hear your mind, but only the loud, wet, rhythmic slapping sound of skin against skin and both of your frantic panting and moaning.

He was never really that vocal during sex before. He was never really that interested in it until he met you, as if you can dig out all the hidden, feral parts in him, parts that even he didn't know existed, and ravish him in any way you want to.

He whimpers slightly if you start to take control, like moving your hips to match his rhythm, placing your hands on his toned abs, and beginning to buckle your hips, moving the exact way you love. You angle just right so the tip of his cock hits right at the sensitive, aching spot you love the most. You sing for him so beautifully that all he can do is look at you as if he is completely hypnotized, with his hands locked tightly on your hips to steady your wild movements.

When he feels you are close, he pulls you closer, cradling you securely in his arms as he thrusts his hips deeply into you, making you cry out a pathetic sound, begging him to slow down a bit.

"Too fast, Star?" he whispers against your lips.

Your vision turns entirely white the very next moment as he still sinks deeply into you, ignoring your protests.

He loves how tight you clench on him, how desperate you are when you cum over his cock, coating him in your lewd, wet fluids. It just helps lubricate the messy connection between you more. 

But he is not done yet, he immediately picks up his pace again after one or two seconds because you are the most sensitive at the moment. He won't stop even when you cry and beg, because he knows you are begging because it feels too good and your body is becoming completely overwhelmed. 

He cradles your head by his side as he turns your face to kiss him, sharing a sloppy, tender kiss while he drills into you like a madman below, using his weight to pin you down.

He can be so sweet but so fucking mean at the same time.

And he won't stop until you cum two more times, dragging every last sob and moan out of your throat. Only then is he satisfied enough to finally let himself come undone.

"Where do you want it, Star?" he pants, his chest pressing against yours, his cock twitching violently inside your soaked walls. "Tell me where you want me to cum."

He always lets you choose because you matter to him so much, he always places your desires above anything else.

Personally, he would love nothing more than to creampie you. Yeah, he loves to feel how greedily you suck on him, so he has no choice but to cum thick ropes deep into you, almost filling you up as you might scream out loud because every corner he paints with his heat feels like it is burning up from the inside.

And if you don't want him to finish inside? 

He likes to cum right onto your belly. He loves painting your skin in his color. It is such an ethereal sight for him to enjoy. He would rub his cock everywhere on your stomach, smearing his hot seed over your flesh as you needily kiss him. He softly pats your hair, whispering sweet praise as if he hasn't just wrecked you into an oblivious, trembling mess.

And then he cleans you up with some wet tissues he always keeps in the car compartment, gently wiping away the evidence. He dresses you back up neatly, and fixes your disheveled hair before going to grab some snacks, making sure you look perfectly presentable so that no one notices what you two just did.

Then you go home, take a long shower together, and he tucks you into bed right by his side, pulling you tight against his chest.

Good night, Star.

Thank you for coming to my Ray Talk!

You are an alchemist and an architect, and it has been the passion of your life since childhood.

Long before the war ended, long before peace treaties and reconstruction efforts, you had dreamed of building something that would outlast the pain and destruction that war had caused. 

And after the war, with the unwavering support of your mother, the chief of your tribe, that dream finally became reality.

With her blessing and with your siblings always so understanding and supportive, you founded your own team of architects and alchemists in your homeland. Together, you travel across nations, taking on commissions and missions wherever your skills are needed, helping rebuild what the war once tore apart.

It is exhausting work but also meaningful work.

The kind of work that makes every sleepless night of yours worth it.

Even so, no matter how far your journeys take you, one thing has remained constant.

Though your team often has to travel for long periods at a time, letters always find their way to you.

Even when he is buried beneath his duties as Fire Lord, even when entire weeks pass in a blur of work and travel, he has never once missed a single letter from you or to you. 

Sometimes his words are brief, written in the careful hand of a man writing between meetings and state matters.

Other times, the pages are longer, filled with little things he thinks only you would care about. 

A ridiculous argument between ministers. 

Uncle’s latest attempt at giving him “romantic advice.” 

A memory that reminded him of you.

And somehow, every letter seems to carry some pieces of him.

His voice. His scent. His heart. 

He even goes so far as to “sponsor” your team, sending equipment, resources, and even airships whenever possible.

Your team absolutely adores him for it.

Every new shipment from the Fire Nation sends them into a flurry of excitement, eager hands pulling apart crates to marvel over polished tools, rare alchemical supplies, and whatever else the Fire Lord has decided your work “absolutely needs.”

You suspect half of it is simply his way of taking care of you from afar.

And as close allies of Team Avatar ever since the war, your team was given the immense honor of helping construct Republic City and the Air Temple.

A task of that scale has demanded everything from you.

Ever since then, you have been traveling constantly, back and forth from your homeland to the city and then onward to other nations. There has been no rest for a while in your life, only maps spread across tables and assignments divided among your team so every task can be handled in time.

And then, on the very day you had just returned to your homeland from a commission, a letter arrived.

From Zuko saying that Aang had apparently run into some difficulty while away on a mission and help was needed in the city.

You may have to arrive there before him.

With a festival soon to be held in the city, your team cannot afford to be absent. Not when you have played such an important role in building it, and not when your bond with the Gaang runs so deep.

Zuko had promised he would arrive as soon as the Gaang returned from their journey.

Yet now, he has been gone for a day longer than the day he promised.

And there has been no word from the Gaang either. 

There is no messenger hawk nor letter nor any news.

It leaves a quiet unease settled deep in your chest.

Anxiety curls around your thoughts no matter how much you try to focus on work.

Even with your team making remarkable progress on the temple’s construction, your mind keeps wandering back to him.

໒໒໒

That evening, you found yourself seated in a restaurant in the central district with your teammates, listening as they chatted and reported on the day’s progress.

Blueprints and notes had long since been pushed aside for warm food and much needed rest.

“Good work, team,” you said, giving everybody a small smile. “We should be able to complete the temple soon, and until the Avatar returns, we can finally allow ourselves some rest.”

A chorus of relieved laughter answered you.

Glasses were lifted in celebration, the sound of cheerful voices and clinking cups briefly easing the knot in your chest.

For a moment, everything felt normal and peaceful. 

But then suddenly, a scream shattered the air outside, followed by many more bloodying screams. Sharp cries filled with panic make even your heart beat a bit faster than usual. 

Your team exchanged alarmed looks before immediately pushing back their chairs and rushing to their feet.

The moment you stepped outside, a violent gust of wind struck all of you, forcing you to brace yourselves where you stood.

People were running around you, their faces were all pale and eyes widened in fear. 

Panic spread through the central district like wildfire as citizens fled in every direction.

Confusion grips you as you turn, searching for the source.

“Look!”

Someone shouted, voice trembling as they pointed toward the sky.

The velvet night sky, once filled with scattered points of starlight, is now swallowed by the massive shadow of what appears to be an island.

It hangs above the city like a looming omen.

Or what you found worse. It seems to be falling right onto the city. 

The moonlight disappears beneath its enormous silhouette, plunging the streets below into a creeping darkness, an abyss that stretches over everything it can reach.

For a moment, uncertainty grips you because you do not know what it is.

You do not know how such a thing is even possible.

But years of war, rebuilding, and leadership have long taught you how to steady yourself in the face of chaos.

You force yourself to regain your composure and turn sharply toward your team.

“Evacuate everybody. I’ll check on the headquarters. Yue, Kon, you go with me.”

At your command, the others nod without hesitation before immediately scattering through the streets to help evacuate the citizens.

You and your two teammates rush toward the center of the chaos.

Breaking through the crowd of panicked people, pushing past terrified screams and bodies scrambling for safety, you finally manage to make your way toward the downtown district.

And then you see the Gaang are already fighting.

Your eyes narrow in confusion at the sight of the unfamiliar figures facing them.

“Are they… airbenders?” Yue asks from beside you.

You have no answer for that because this makes no sense to all of you. 

“That's not important right now. You two go help the others.”

You give them a quick nod and they immediately move into action.

໒໒໒

“Well, well, seems like those pricks have some aid support.”

Someone spoke as he jumped down from the roof to land in front of you, and you prepared to beat the crap out of him.

But before he could do anything, a sudden streak of fire flew past your side, and in front of you appeared the familiar long dark hair of someone you did not know how long it had been since you last saw.

“Zuko!” you called his name as you immediately fell in sync with him and helped him fight.

“Hello, love,” he answered, a bit breathless.

“Mind explaining to me why there is an island falling from above?” you asked as you kicked the bad guy in the face, while Zuko punched another one who was about to sneak attack you.

“Uh… long story,” he answered a bit awkwardly as you glanced at him slightly before launching yourself at the bad guy again.

“Let’s just say Aang’s new friend isn’t exactly a friend.”

You did not understand half of what he said but you still decided to focus on what was ahead.

“You gather up with the team. I can handle it here,” you told him, though he did not seem to approve of that.

“They’re the Denial and they are all benders right now,” he said, as if he did not like the fact that you were underestimating your enemies.

“Benders that have zero experience bending,” you corrected as Kon and Yue gathered at your side and joined in to help.

The three of you were able to wipe out the bad guys quickly and you urged Zuko once again.

“See? We can handle it, Fire Lord. You go with your team.”

You gave him some reassurance as he looked at you for only a second, and you could see the trust in his eyes as he nodded and immediately turned away in the opposite direction.

“Now, you’re all our problem.”

Your focus shifted back to those in front of you as your teammates stood right by your side.

Let’s just say, the Gaang won the battle, but… the destruction and damage to the city remained, which meant more work for your team to do.

So, you had to put the complete schedule for the Air Temple back in place while focusing more on reconstructing the city. Though, with your team and the help of the Gaang and the other citizens, it did not take that long until you were able to rebuild every damaged structure as well.

The festival was due in 3 days, so everybody did their best to rebuild and clean everything until they were able to decorate the city and begin preparing for the festival.

໒໒໒

As you reached for the towel hanging on the rack, a soft groan drifted from the tub, and your gaze shifted to the man sitting there.

“Does it still hurt that badly?” you asked softly, placing your hands gently on his shoulders.

His bare chest was fully visible before your eyes, warm skin glistening beneath the water and the lingering steam that curled around him. The faint frown between his brows slowly eased the moment your fingers began to knead his tense shoulders, his muscles gradually relaxing beneath your touch.

“No, I wasn’t hurt,” he answered, leaning into your hands as if he were melting beneath your caress. His golden eyes lifted, a bit half-lidded and heavy, to gaze up at your face.

The water rippled around him as he shifted slightly.

“I’m just annoyed by my hair.”

At his words, your eyes drifted to the state of his long dark hair. It was messy, tangled, and dusted with debris from the battle. It was unavoidable when he had such luscious hair and wore it down while fighting.

It was such an oddly intimate sight to see.

You had always loved threading your fingers through those dark strands, lacing them between your fingers whenever he kissed you so tenderly, or gripping them a little too tightly when he eat-

Snap out of it, will you?!

Your boyfriend was still worn out from the battle. You should be taking care of him, not letting your mind wander into dirty thoughts.

Though, it was terribly hard not to when he was sitting there, nearly naked in the bathtub, letting you run your hands through his hair.

You had always loved offering to wash his hair.

There was something almost addictive about the soft, fluffy feel of it once the soap lathered into rich bubbles, coating those dark strands in white foam. 

You loved helping him dry it too, because once it was done, it always turned so so so soft and silky beneath your fingers. And he always smelled so good whenever you helped detangle his hair afterward.

Zuko seemed to enjoy it just as much.

He never really said no to any of your offers. He let you do whatever you wanted with his hair. Even when you braided it for him, weaving in the symbols of your culture, he wore it without complaint.

Oh, even more than that.

He let himself bask in your touch as you gently brushed the stray strands away from his forehead.

His eyes remained on you the entire time you washed his hair, never once leaving your face. He only closed them whenever you carefully poured water over his hair, letting the warm stream rinse away the bubbles.

Other than that, his gaze was always on you.

You remembered the first few times you had offered to wash his hair.

He had been so embarrassed then that he could barely look you in the eyes. But slowly, he had grown used to it.

Now, he even shamelessly asked for your help, melting completely beneath your touch, every line of tension leaving his body whenever your fingers massaged his scalp.

And somehow, over time, you realized that you had become the nervous one.

Why did he keep looking at you like that?

With those soft, lovesick puppy eyes.

Your fingertips could not help but tremble slightly as they moved through his wet hair, massaging slow circles against his scalp.

And maybe it was just your imagination, but the quiet sigh that escaped him sounded almost like a purr.

How odd.

You never could have imagined that you and Zuko would end up like this when you were children.

The two of you had not exactly been bickering but you had certainly not gotten along either.

Perhaps fate was simply that strange.

It had a way of intertwining people who once stood so far apart and pulling them close enough to touch.

As you rinsed away the last traces of soap, you picked up the towel and began drying his hair.

But just as your hand moved to gently sweep his damp hair back into place, his larger hand suddenly caught your wrist.

The skin of his palm felt rougher than you remembered, calloused and warm from years of training and battle.

And without warning, he lifted your hand to his lips, a soft kiss brushed over your fingertips. And his eyes never left yours.

You froze and caught off guard, you nearly pulled your hand back, but he would not let you. His grip remained firm and persistent enough to keep you in place. 

Heat bloomed beneath his touch and a helpless chuckle slipped from your lips.

“May I continue?” you asked, your voice touched with teasing.

Zuko looked at you for a moment, droplets of water tracing slow paths down his face and neck.

Then he suddenly sat up properly, taking the towel from your hand and setting it aside.

“Join me.”

Ugh, such a tempting request.

And… How could you ever say no to that?

໒໒໒

As you walked downtown through the sea of people, everybody was chatting, laughing, and dancing around you. Music filled every corner of the street, its lively melody drifting through the night air, while rows of glowing lanterns lit up every path people wandered down, bathing the city in soft golden light.

The entire place felt alive.

Warm laughter rose above the music, mingling with the cheerful hum of conversation and the occasional delighted squeal of children darting through the crowd. The scent of sweet festival treats and flickering firelight lingered in the air, wrapping the whole city in a sense of comfort and joy.

You were just trying to mind your own business, or at least find some of your teammates and enjoy the festival atmosphere.

But a group of people nearby were dancing, inviting others around them to join in.

Before you could even protest, you were pulled along with them, swept into the flow of the crowd as everybody was far too focused on enjoying the night to care.

The atmosphere was lively, music ringing through the streets beneath peals of laughter.

You could not help but dance with them too.

With every movement, every spin and clap and joyful step, the circle of dancers seemed to grow larger, more people joining in as if drawn in by the warmth of the moment.

The lantern light swayed overhead like stars caught in motion, their golden glow flickering across smiling faces and spinning figures.

You found yourself laughing with a few children dancing beside you, their excitement contagious, until suddenly your back hit something solid.

You turned around, already planning to apologize to whoever you had just bumped into.

Instead, you were met with that familiar golden pair of eyes.

Dark strands of hair had fallen loosely across his face, catching the lantern light in soft amber highlights.

“Hello, beautiful,” you greeted him softly, a teasing note in your voice.

Zuko let out a quiet chuckle.

“Hello, gorgeous,” he greeted you back, his voice low and warm.

His arm slid around your waist so naturally, as if it had always belonged there.

He gently pulled you closer, shielding you from the other dancers so they would not bump into you.

“I thought you were with the gaang,” you asked while looking up at him.

His golden eyes glimmered with your reflection.

Behind him, the lanterns and festival flames danced in the background, their light painting his features in warm shades of gold and amber. The corner of his lips still held that soft smile and his gaze had gone so tender. Way softer than it had any right to be.

He lifted one hand and gently tucked a small flower into your hair, brushing away a stray strand as his fingertips grazed your skin with careful tenderness.

You remembered all of this. You yearned for it all. 

The warmth of his touch.

The softness of his smile.

The tenderness in his eyes whenever he looked at you.

The two of you had been so busy lately that you could barely see him, let alone spend a moment like this together.

You did not stop his gentle movements as the music continued to drift around you, blurring the laughter and chatter of everyone else until it almost felt as though the entire festival had faded away, leaving only the two of you standing beneath the lantern light.

“I snuck away when Toph and Sokka started bickering over some tanghulu,” he answered.

You could see the faint trace of tiredness behind his eyes when he mentioned the two of his friends.

You laughed, easily able to picture the scene.

“Was that a good idea, then? What if they try to find you?” you asked.

He shook his head slightly.

“They know my time is for you tonight.”

His tone was slow but firm, and you felt his arm tighten a little around your waist.

And then he leaned closer, his lips hovered right beside your ear, his warm breath brushing softly against your skin, and you could already feel heat rising to your face.

“So, do I have the honor of escorting my lady for a dance?” he whispered, his voice like honey melting into your thoughts.

You looked at him.

Could you really say no to that?

It was far too tempting and you almost bit the inside of your cheek just to keep your composure.

But of course, how could you ever say no to your boyfriend?

A soft smile curved across your lips as your hand slipped into his rough palm, and you pulled him into the circle of dancers with you.

He nearly stumbled at first, his feet quickly moving to follow your lead.

But the moment he saw your enthusiasm, and heard the music floating warmly between the two of you as people cheered and clapped around the circle, his expression softened into something almost helplessly fond.

He held your hand tightly as he stepped with you, letting you guide him through the lively melody.

Letting you pull him close.

Letting you push him away.

Letting you circle around him however you pleased.

Letting you tease him, toy with him just a little.

The lanterns swayed overhead, the music rose around you, and the laughter of the crowd became part of the rhythm.

And just before the song came to an end, his larger hand tightened around yours.

With just one smooth motion, he pulled you closer. You fell right into his arms. So perfectly on beat.

And the both of you broke into soft, cheeky laughs beneath the warm glow of the festival lights.

໒໒໒

It had been a few weeks since the festival, and you had to return to your homeland to continue another commission, while some of your team stayed behind to complete the Air Temple.

Apparently, Aang had decided to found a team of preservers to restore one of the Air Temples.

You were glad that he seemed to have found a new beginning. Though you could not exactly say you fully understood Aang, you understood enough to know that his journey had not been easy. Based on what Zuko had told you so far, you were also glad that you could help him by sending some of your teammates to visit the Air Temple, understand more about its structure and assist in rebuilding the place.

You were reading Zuko’s letter as your airship was about to land. It had been a while since you had returned home, and you really should pay a visit to your mother. She had been busy lately, so you had not been able to properly send her any letters.

“Cap, how long until we arrive?” someone from your team asked out of boredom.

“Soon,” you answered softly, only for someone else to chime in.

“Why does it feel like it’s taking longer to land today?”

You thought back to the route for today before answering, “Apparently, Chief has some visitors. Our usual route is blocked with airships, so Kon took a detour.”

Everybody began wondering who those visitors must be for them to block the entire route leading to the dock.

You found yourself wondering the same thing.

Sometimes your mother would have political figures come over for work. Sometimes it would be the day merchant and trader airships arrived, so it was normal for the route to be packed. But for you to have to take a detour was rare, which made you unsure who these visitors were.

Still, you were not really involved in your mother’s and sister’s political affairs. Not because you did not care, but because you were not really in the position to speak up. Your sister was the next heir and you had many other siblings.

Your role was no longer related to that.

As you continued talking with your team, the airship was finally able to land at your private dock, and that was when you realized someone was already there to pick you up.

One of the elders from your mother’s council stood waiting.

He had always been her right hand ever since the war until now.

You frowned slightly, wondering what could possibly make an advisor come to fetch you personally, because a man like him would never be here unless it was by your mother’s direct order.

“Advisor Akiak,” you greeted him with a small bow.

He returned it with the same composed expression as always. “Welcome back, my lady.”

“I suppose Chief has sent you.”

It was not a question and he did not answer either way.

“She wants you at the Great Hall as soon as you return.”

He turned and began walking toward the carriage and you followed immediately.

Although Akiak always carried himself with perfect composure, his back straight and his expression unreadable, today you could tell his pace was quicker. It was subtle but enough for you to notice that he seemed nervous and in a hurry.

Once you had settled into the carriage, you finally asked, “Did something happen? She rarely summons me the moment I return.”

You were indeed curious about why your mother needed to see you. You always visited her whenever you came back from a long journey, so she had never needed to summon you before.

Was it related to those visitors?

The fact that Akiak refused to answer any of your questions rubbed you the wrong way, especially when you were already exhausted from the long trip. Still, that was simply how he was, always quiet and always seeming to hide something up his sleeve.

Perhaps your mother wanted to tell you herself.

As soon as you arrived at the tribal hold, you stepped out of the carriage and walked inside with Akiak right beside you.

You barely paid attention to anything around you, wanting only to get this meeting over with so you could finally rest.

Once the two of you arrived at the doors of the Great Hall, the guards bowed and opened them for you.

The moment you stepped inside, you knelt and greeted the person seated at the center of the hall.

“I have arrived at your summons, Chief.”

But as you lifted your head, you realized the room was filled with people, and every pair of eyes seemed fixed on you. Whispers passed between them, and you had no idea what was going on.

You wanted to raise an eyebrow in skepticism but you held yourself still in front of your mother.

She lifted her hand, allowing you to stand.

“What have you summoned me for, Mother?” you asked, finally noticing the weariness in her strict expression.

You had seen your mother tired many times before. The duty of a chief was never light but today she looked genuinely burdened, her fingers pressing against the space between her brows as if nursing a headache.

“Was it because of those visitors you are having?” you asked immediately.

The whispers in the room seemed to ripple even more.

“Yes, that has indeed given me quite the headache,” she confirmed, the exhaustion in her tone still present beneath her usual strictness. “Unfortunately, that is not my guest, Lady”

The way she said your title made you almost gulp.

You could not quite read her mood. She wasn’t angry but certainly not pleased either.

You tried to think of anyone who might have come here and caused such unrest but no face really came to your mind.

At least not until the doors behind you opened once more.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the hall and then stopped right beside you.

Your mother pressed her forehead into the palm of her hand.

“Fire Lord Zuko, here to greet Chief of [Name bla bla bla].”

The familiar voice struck you like lightning.

Your head snapped to the side, you almost broke your neck. 

His back was straight and every inch of him radiated authority. Dressed in his Fire Nation regalia, he stood not as the man who danced with you beneath lanterns, nor as the boyfriend who let you wash his hair, but as the Fire Lord himself, carrying all the weight and dignity of his title.

His golden eyes remained fixed on your mother, his expression composed and resolute.

What in the world was he doing here?

Shouldn’t he be in the Fire Nation handling his duties?

Your mother spoke again, her tone edged with displeasure.

“Yes, so I have read in your letter, Lord Zuko, but may I ask why you have filled our docks with an army of Fire Nation airships?”

So that was why the route had been blocked.

You also wondered the same thing, because the last time anyone had seen Fire Nation airships in such numbers, it had not been a good sight.

Zuko finally answered and when he spoke, his voice carried the steady authority of a ruler.

“I came not as a threat, Chief, but as a man who understands the weight of honor and the gravity of what he asks. I brought my fleet not for war, but so that I may stand before you openly, with the full dignity of the Fire Nation behind my intentions.”

Only then did he turn toward you.

His golden eyes met yours, they seemed so steady and unwavering, and though there was a faint softness in them when they landed on you, the determination in his gaze did not falter.

“I am here,” he said, his voice calm yet firm enough to silence the room, “to formally ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”

The entire Great Hall erupted into whispers.

Your jaw nearly dropped to the floor.

What the hell did he just say?!

໒໒໒

Let’s just say you accepted his proposal far too quickly.

But truly, you could not help it.

Your mother did not seem entirely against it, even though knowing that her daughter was in a relationship with the Fire Lord was certainly not the kind of news she would have wanted to hear.

She knew there was someone in your life, but she never would have guessed that someone would be from the Fire Nation, let alone the Fire Lord himself.

She had told you that you were free to chase your dreams, not give her high blood pressure.

Still, seeing the sincerity in Zuko’s eyes, and the sheer number of betrothal gifts he had brought with him, made it very difficult for anyone to remain unmoved. Those army airships had not been there merely for show. They were truly carrying gifts, tributes, and offerings worthy of a royal proposal.

And the fact that he had the audacity to emphasize that he still had more ships on the way nearly made you want to march over and shake him right there in the middle of the hall.

Your siblings had mixed feelings. Some approved. Some… not so much.

Not because they doubted your love for Zuko, but because they worried about the possibility of you having to move away from your homeland and live somewhere else.

Yes, they were a bit overprotective.

But it was not as if you had never visited the Fire Nation before.

The negotiations lasted for quite a while, and of course, you also had a voice in the matter.

Though you had been more than a little caught off guard, because Zuko had never once discussed any of this with you beforehand.

You had not even known he would go this far for you.

Still, you stood by his side, your hand in his, gently pleading for your mother’s approval.

But perhaps what surprised you the most was that Advisor Akiak actually approved of the marriage.

In fact, he was the one who supported you and helped convince the others.

So that was how you ended up on the airship, returning to the Fire Nation with Zuko.

Standing at the front, you felt the wind breeze through your hair as you stood at the fire port.

It was a place where benders usually stood to defend the ship.

Normally, they would have to put on a safety belt, but you simply did not feel like it today.

You only wanted to enjoy the air and the scenery, though there was little more than clouds stretching endlessly around you and the soft orange glow of the evening light.

“I would not suggest you stand there without any belt on.”

The familiar voice came from behind you and you turned your head slightly to meet Zuko’s eyes.

His golden pupils seemed to glow beneath the warm sunlight, and from this distance, it was even clearer just how bright his eyes truly were.

The wind mischievously swept through his long dark hair, and you felt that same playful spark rise in you.

You took a small step farther toward the port.

Almost immediately, you saw Zuko’s expression tighten.

His eyes widened ever so slightly and he moved toward you at once, instinctively rushing to your side to stop you.

But when he saw that you were still steady, he halted himself, remaining perfectly still as though he feared that even one sudden movement from him would somehow make you fall faster than if you had jumped yourself.

“You really enjoy giving me a heart attack, don’t you?” he asked, his tone edged with mock reproach.

You only answered with a smile.

“Come down,” he called your name softly, trying to coax you back.

But of course, you did not listen.

“Why don’t you come here with me?” you asked instead, the teasing in your voice impossible to hide.

You could almost see the tired twist of his brows.

And yet, as always, he yielded to your antics.

He stepped onto the port as well and his hands reached for you, wrapping firmly around your waist as you stepped closer into his embrace.

Your arms slid around his shoulders, and the wind moved around the two of you, his loose strands brushing against your face and drawing a small giggle from your lips.

His hand rose gently to brush away the strands of your hair that danced across your face, as if even beneath such bright, warm light, he still wanted to see you more clearly.

You felt the back of his hand graze your skin so tenderly.

The warmth of him.

The strength in the way his arms held you.

Everything felt perfect in that moment.

His golden eyes had softened into the color of warm amber honey beneath the sunset as he pressed his lips softly against your forehead.

You closed your eyes, feeling the gentle linger of his kiss there before it traveled lower, brushing delicately against your eyelids.

He kissed you as if you were something sacred, as though he feared that pressing too hard might somehow break you.

As though he were trying to worship and memorize every part of you.

When you opened your eyes again, you could see your reflection so clearly in the amber warmth of his gaze that a soft laugh escaped you.

Yet you still found yourself unable to hold his gaze for long.

The way he looked at you made you feel strangely exposed.

Why did he always look at you as though you had drawn the sun and hung the stars in the sky?

You knew he loved you.

For the longest time you had known him, he had never been someone who was particularly good with words.

And he knew that too.

That was why he always used his actions to show how much he loved you.

And somehow, even that never seemed enough for him, because he always kept trying harder and harder.

Sometimes you wondered if he even realized that he did not need to say or do anything at all.

You had already known he loved you deeply just by the way he looked at you.

“Stop staring at me.”

You frowned slightly but he did not stop.

Instead, he only chuckled softly before answering in a low voice, “Can’t help it. You look really beautiful under the twilight.”

You really wanted to shove his face away.

But you could not.

Not with where you were standing, and certainly not with the way his strong arms were wrapped around you so tightly.

It suddenly occurred to you that you had placed yourself in the perfect position to be unable to run away from him.

“Ugh, since when did you become so cheesy?” you groaned, trying to deflect.

But in truth, heat was already burning its way from the back of your neck all the way to your face.

You were grateful that the warm orange light of the sunset helped hide just how flustered you were.

Though that certainly did not mean Zuko could not tell.

He said nothing more.

Instead, he simply kept you wrapped in his warm embrace as his hand smoothed over your hair, threading his fingers gently through your strands before pressing yet another soft kiss to the top of your head.

໒໒໒

When you decided to leave your homeland, you had already promoted one of your assistants to become the next captain, while the other had decided to go to the Fire Nation with you the moment she learned that you planned to found a new team there.

Of course, you would never give up on what you were doing, and Zuko had always been very supportive of that too.

At first, you thought he was only being supportive because he understood how much it meant to you to follow your passion.

Never, not even once, had you imagined that he would build an entire tower as the headquarters for your new team, proudly claiming that it was your working office.

A working office?

It was more like an entire palace.

Inside, it was equipped with every kind of thing you could possibly need, from the newest designs and instruments to carefully arranged workspaces that looked as though every single detail had been prepared with you in mind.

The moment he brought you there, excitement rushed through you so quickly that you immediately ran around to inspect everything.

You moved from one room to another, your eyes bright with wonder as you took in every corner, every polished surface, every carefully placed piece of equipment.

In your excitement, you nearly tripped over your own feet and pitched forward, only for Zuko to catch you just in time.

Everything was so new, so beautiful, that your eyes nearly bulged and your jaw almost dropped to the floor.

The tower was so tall that you could see the entire city stretching out below, the view unfolding beneath the soft sky, while light scattered beautifully through the glass windows above, filling the space with a warm golden glow.

And from the balcony, you could already imagine how breathtaking the city would look at night.

You turned to face Zuko, only to find the soft smile still resting at the corner of his lips as he watched your enthusiasm with quiet fondness, as though you were a child seeing a new toy for the first time.

You were far too excited to care about how much composure you were losing.

Unable to hold back your excitement any longer, you threw yourself into him.

As always, Zuko caught you with effortless ease, his arms immediately circling your waist and pulling you close, as though he had been waiting for you to do exactly that.

The warmth of his body surrounded you at once, steady and familiar, grounding all the dizzy excitement bubbling in your chest.

Your hands slid around his neck, fingers instinctively threading into the softness of his dark hair, feeling the silky strands slip between them.

And just like that, you found yourself unable to stop staring at him.

At the softness in his golden eyes.

At the fond smile resting on his lips.

At the way he was watching you as if your happiness alone was enough to light the whole room brighter than the sunlight spilling through the windows.

Your heart swelled so much it almost ached.

Rising onto your tiptoes, you leaned in and pressed your lips softly against his.

The kiss began so tenderly.

His lips were soft against yours, and the moment they met, you felt him tighten his hold around you, as if drawing you closer was simply his instinct.

He tilted his head just enough to meet you better, lowering himself so the kiss could deepen.

The warmth of him seeped into every part of you. Into your skin, your breath and your heart.

It was meant to be a soft kiss born from excitement and gratitude, but with Zuko, it never stayed simple for long.

There was always something in the way he kissed you that made your heart flutter harder.

You often wondered if it was because of you, or because of the fire that always burned within him.

But whatever it was, you knew it came from the way you yearned for his warmth just as much as he yearned for your love.

Your fingers curled more firmly into his hair as you kissed him again, slower this time, savoring the feel of his lips moving so tenderly against yours.

His hand rose from your waist to cradle the side of your face, his thumb brushing softly along your cheek in a touch so careful and affectionate that it made your breath catch.

You leaned into it without even thinking.

You did not know what else to do to show him just how much you loved what he had done for you. As though each lingering press of your lips could somehow tell him how much this meant to you.

How much he meant to you. And how happy you were.

Zuko answered every kiss with the same warmth, his lips moving with yours in a slow, unhurried rhythm that made the rest of the world seem to fade away.

His kiss felt so full of love that it nearly stole the breath from your lungs all over again.

When you finally pulled back just enough to breathe, your foreheads nearly brushed, and his golden eyes opened slowly to meet yours.

When you finally pulled away slightly, his eyes slowly opened, and the sight of those golden eyes, a little hazy as they rested on your face, made your heart swell so much that you could not help but kiss him again.

Your hand slid from his hair to cup his face, your thumb brushing gently along the line of his cheek as your lips lingered against his.

He responded by drawing you even closer, his arms tightening around your waist until you were almost lifted against him, as if he could not bear even the smallest space between you.

The warmth of his breath mingled with yours.

His lips parted just enough to steal another lingering kiss. And another.

Each one soft and full of feeling, as if neither of you truly wanted the moment to end.

You kissed him as though your life depended on it.

And Zuko did not stop you. Quite the opposite.

When you finally pulled away again, breathless and smiling, you could not help yourself.

You littered his face with kisses.

You kissed his cheek. Then the tip of his nose. His forehead. The space between his brows. The corner of his lips.

And all the while, you could feel that smile never leaving him, even as you kissed him so much it felt as though you might wear away his skin.

His smile only deepened with every kiss.

Until it finally broke into a soft laugh that echoed through the space, filling the warm light around the two of you.

Only then did you stop to look at him.

The sound of his laughter rumbled in his chest, and somehow it seemed to tickle right into your heart as well.

“Since when did you even build this?” you asked, and his smile remained.

Your hands were still cupping his face, your thumbs brushing gently against his skin.

His gaze lowered to meet yours, and something in his expression softened further, as though he were remembering something dear.

Then he leaned down even more, pressing his forehead gently against yours until you could feel the warmth of his breath lingering on your skin.

“You could say it was since the first time you answered my letter,” he answered.

The words caught you completely off guard.

Your hands almost slipped from his face as you stared at him.

“But… that was before we even…”

You could not even finish the sentence, because the more you tried to say it, the more heat began to rise across your face.

And there he stood, looking at you with that soft, knowing smile that always made you feel seen far too clearly.

You had to look away.

Because did that not mean he had liked you long before you had even realized your own feelings?

And that he had already begun building this tower before the two of you had even become a couple?

You did not know whether it was because he had simply been that confident that he could win your heart, or whether he had been that desperate to keep you close.

Honestly, you were not sure you wanted to ask.

It only made you more embarrassed to realize that you had never noticed just how early he had fallen for you.

As you got lost in your thoughts, you felt his hand lift.

His palm gently pressed over the back of your hand before wrapping around it, guiding it slowly to his lips.

He pressed a kiss against your knuckles.

His lips were still slightly damp from your earlier kisses, warm and soft against your skin.

The sensation, along with the warmth of his breath, made you tremble slightly. 

“You might think my actions are impulsive but they weren’t…” he said softly, answering the question already forming in your mind.

When you looked up again, his gaze met yours.

“I have thought about this for quite a while now, but…”

As he pulled you back into his embrace, you felt his lips nuzzle softly near your ear.

His voice slipped into your ear like honey, as though he were sharing a secret meant only for you.

“I was afraid you’d decline my proposal.”

You waited for him to continue, and this time his hand rose to caress your face with such tenderness that you instinctively leaned into it.

“After that journey, I don’t want to waste any more time apart from you.”

His tone grew firmer and more determined with every word, and you could hear the sincerity in every syllable.

He was pouring his heart out to you.

Laying it bare.

Letting you see every feeling inside.

Before you could stop yourself, your arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders as you hugged him close.

You buried your face against his shoulder, his long strands brushing gently across your cheek as though every part of him wished to cherish you.

To comfort you.

To hold you with all the tenderness he possessed.

You tried not to cry.

But already you could feel the dampness gathering along your lashes, tears slipping free before you even fully understood why.

Were they tears of happiness? Or something more? And why were they only coming now?

Zuko felt the slight shake of your shoulders and immediately began smoothing a hand over your back in soft, comforting strokes.

You lifted your face to look at him.

“I want to make you happy too, Zuko.”

That drew the deepest smile you had ever seen from him.

“I really look forward to it, my Queen.”

Then he kissed you again and you leaned into him, returning the kiss as the warm golden light shimmered through the clear glass windows around you.

The flicker of the two candles in the corner seemed to glow even brighter and warmer. As if the whole room itself was sharing in your happiness.