Mylisz niebo z gwiazdami odbitymi nocą

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Masterlist:

Characters i've already written for:

Harry Potter ࣪ ִֶָ☾.

☆ Remus Lupin:

One shots:

▪︎ "Costume Party" ▪︎ "Jealousy, Jealousy" Part 1 ☆ Part 2

▪︎ "I love you, I'm sorry" ▪︎ "When i close my eyes"

▪︎ "Don't marry him" ▪︎ "Happy New Year, honey"

▪︎ "I could be a good mother" ▪︎ "Ruined Valentine's Day"

▪︎ "A new addition to the family" ▪︎ "Just a bad dream"

▪︎ "I'll leave the porch light on" ▪︎ "Don't go where I can't follow" part one ☆ part two ☆ part three ▪︎ "Endure" 18+ ▪︎ "Quietly in love" ▪︎ "The other woman" 18+ ▪︎ Untitled ▪︎ "Animal Shelter"

Series:

▪︎ "I'll wait until you come back" Prologue Chapter one

﹒⭒﹒⭒﹒⭒﹒

☆ Harry James Potter:

▪︎ "Lost match, mild concussion" ▪︎ "Make you mine" ▪︎ "It's not your fault" ▪︎ "To the ends of the earth would you follow me?"

﹒⭒﹒⭒﹒⭒﹒

☆ James Fleamont Potter:

▪︎ "Thank you for the music, for giving it to me" ▪︎ "Do you hate what you see like I do?" ▪︎ "Lights off" ▪︎ "You called, I came"

﹒⭒﹒⭒﹒⭒﹒

☆ Sirius Black:

Nothing yet...

﹒⭒﹒⭒﹒⭒﹒

☆ George Weasley:

▪︎ "Bony-limped, red-faced, teary-eyed"

﹒⭒﹒⭒﹒⭒﹒

The Last of Us ᖭ༏ᖫ

☆ Joel Miller:

▪︎ "Is it really over?" pt. 1 ☆ pt. 2 ▪︎ "I only pray, don't fall away from me" ▪︎ "Need someone"

﹒⭒﹒⭒﹒⭒﹒

Avatar: the last airbender ༄

☆ Sokka:

▪︎ "Delirious" ▪︎ "Morning practice" ▪︎ Untitled (Sokka loses your child)

☆ Zuko:

▪︎ Untitled (braiding Zuko's hair) ▪︎ Untitled (Zuko is afraid of having sex) ▪︎ "I was made to keep your body warm, but I'm cold as the wind blows, so hold me in your arms"

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Characters i might write for in the future (probably very far future):

Stranger Things ᯓ★

☆ Steve Harrington:

Nothing yet...

☆ Jonathan Byers:

Nothing yet...

﹒⭒﹒⭒﹒⭒﹒

The hunger games જ⁀➴

☆ Finnick Odair:

Nothing yet...

☆ Peeta Mellark:

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The night is warm. Warmer than expected. It's one of these nights when it is so hot no one can fall asleep, covered or not. You can hear Sokka's frustrated groans and Toph's annoyed whining even from far away, each one of them tossing and turning in their sleeping bags, trying to get some rest – of course, to no avail.

Though, hot weather and your friends being up can't stop you from sneaking out of the air temple and finding Zuko – if they won't hear him out, you will.

Banished from the fire kingdom yourself, you know how it feels to be always seen as the bad one, as the devil incarnate.

And Zuko, despite the atrocious things he did in the past, is still your childhood friend, someone who has always got your back. You're not going to abandon him if he has never abandoned you. Some might think you're naive or a fool, but neither of them has experienced what you and Zuko have.

And outcasts stay together, no matter what.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

You don't hear him. You don't see him. But you notice a campfire burning brightly in the distance and you know it's Zuko. It has to be.

You don't try to be sneaky – you don't want to scare the hell out of him, after all. You just want to talk, that's all. And if it all works out, convince him to try to join your team again.

However, always surrounded by your friends – friends who are ready to protect you no matter what – you've forgotten how reckless you can be sometimes.

And that lack of carefulness has lead you to your current position – on your knees, hands burned, trying to get away from Zuko as quickly as possible.

And Zuko, terrified beyond belief after unintentionally hurting you, tries to get to you as fast as he can.

"Wait, please." He begs. He takes big strides, trying to close the distance between you. It's working – with your skin almost raw, it's hard to get up from the ground. "I didn't know...i thought someone was trying to attack me...please."

"But you didn't have to shot fire at me!" You counter, your voice high pitched. Grass blades touch the tender skin of your hands and you have to bite down on your lip to stop yourself from crying out.

"I didn't do it on purpose!" Zuko tries to convince you. "It was pure instinct, okay?!"

"What the hell, Zuko?! You heard my voice, you knew it was me!"

Another attempt at getting up, another fail. The next wave of pain shoots up your forearms and this time you aren't able to stop yourself from whimpering in agony. Zuko's face twists in guilt.

"I didn't hear you, i swear."

You don't say anything, still trying to make your way back, to escape. Zuko, in the last desperate attempt to stop you, decides to jump on you. Literally.

His long legs keep you pinned to the soft grass beneath, his body sits heavily on top of you – gentle enough not to crush you, but hard enough not to let you escape – his hands keep yours in a tight grasp. Your eyes are wide when they meet his.

"Hold your horses, Zuko." You try to joke, but judging by the stern look in his amber eyes, you're not doing a great job. "Take me out for dinner first."

Zuko doesn't laugh. Instead, he asks, his voice soft. "Will you stop running away if i get up?"

"Will you attack me again?"

"I didn't–" Zuko huffs when he realises you're only teasing him. "I won't."

You nod. Zuko slowly, watching your every movement and every expression that crosses your face, gets up. He holds out his hand to you. You rise your eyebrows.

"Zuko, my hands are all in blisters." You show him his palms, still aggressively red. "I don't know how you want to help me."

Guilt crosses Zuko's face again. Then, an idea pops into his head.

He squats next to you. You observe him, confused, as one of his hands wraps around your back while the other goes under your knees and slowly, painfully carefully, he lifts you up.

"Wait, Zuko." You place your hand on his chest and he freezes. "What are you doing?"

He looks at you like a lost kid. "Helping you?"

"You could've just grab my forearm or something."

"Yeah and drag you?" Zuko asks, incredulous. "No, thank you."

You don't fight, letting him carry you over to the small camp he has created inside the forest. Campfire warms your feet as he sets you down nearby. He sits on the opposite side of it, far away from you.

"You're not gonna help me?" You ask.

"I'm not sure if i sh–"

"Zuko, please, just get your ass over here and help me."

Zuko gets up from the log he was sitting on. He hesitates for a second or two, looking incredibly unsure and conflicted – is he actually allowed to help you, to touch you in any way? – but you smile at him with so much warmth that Zuko finally caves in. He closes the distance between you before you can even say anything.

His knees hit the ground.

"I don't have the ability to heal your hands, Y/N, but I'll try to bandage them as best as I can, okay?"

You nod. Zuko takes your hands in his. The pain you feel is overwhelming, so you sink your teeth into your lower lip, trying not to scream. It doesn't do much but it's better than nothing.

"Don't do that." Zuko murmurs, glancing up at you.

Your eyebrows furrow. "What?"

"Don't bite your lip. It'll bleed."

"It's not the worst that can happen."

"Y/N, please." Zuko sighs. "I didn't do it on purpose, you know it. No need to torment me."

Your face softens. "Sorry."

Zuko just hums. His touch is gentle as he uncurls your clenched hands and takes out two small cloths.

"Water..." he murmurs under his breath. "I need some water..."

You bump your knee into his. Zuko looks up at you. There's a small crease between his eyebrows, a sign of concentration.

"I should have some water in my bag."

Zuko reaches for the bag you're wearing. His fingers brush your skin in the place where your shirt have ridden up, exposing your abdomen and a small patch of hair above the waistband of your trousers. He freezes for a second, his hand stiffening. Then, he breathes out – louder than necessary – and fishes out your waterskin.

He opens it quickly, trying to mask how flustered it makes him and how shaky his hands are.

"Okay, it may sting a little."

The moment cold water touches your skin, you feel instant relief. It doesn't last long but helps minimalize the ache a little. Zuko wraps the cloth around one of your hands. Then, he does the same thing with the other. Finally, he secures both of them with a thin strap. It looks nothing like a bandage but it does its job pretty well.

"Here. Done." Zuko says, letting go of your hands.

You murmur a quiet thanks as you put your now "bandaged" hands in the pockets of your trousers.

He's about to get up when you decide to say something.

"Zuko?"

"...yeah?" He looks at you, surprised.

"I'm sorry they didn't want to listen to you."

Zuko shrugs his arms, trying to play it cool. "It's not like I'm innocent."

He doesn't want to show how awful he feels with his past actions, how badly he wants to be forgiven – and the worst of it all – how desperately he wants to belong, to be accepted by the people he's impressed by.

"No, you're not." You agree. Zuko's shoulders drop, almost like he has expected a different answer. "But it doesn't mean you don't deserve a second chance, Zuko."

A hopeful glimpse appears in his eyes. "...you really think so?"

You shrug. "Almost everyone deserves a second chance. You're not an exception."

Zuko huffs. "I'm not sure if it's true. I've done some really bad things, Y/N." Instead of focusing on you, he focuses on kicking a nearby rock. He doesn't want you to see him when he's so close to an emotional breakdown. "It was a stupid idea to come to you, to even try. I should've known you'd never forgive me, let alone let me join your team or teach the Avatar. Idiot."

"I'll make them see your true self, Zuko."

His feet stops mid kick.

"...my true self?"

"The version of you before your dad convinced you that being soft and kind is wrong and you have to be brutal to be respected."

Zuko winces at the mention of the fire lord.

"Do you think they'll believe you? That i was different before?" Zuko gazes on his hands like they're not a part of his body, like they belong to someone else. "I can't even remember who i was before...my memories are all foggy."

You get up slowly, trying not to put too much pressure on your hands. Zuko watches you the whole time, his expression full of long suppressed vulnerability.

He doesn't flinch or take a step back once you get close. In fact, he does nothing, remaining completely still, waiting for your next move.

As you cup his face in your hands, your fingers moving gently over his scar, his eyes start glistening with tears.

This Zuko is real – you're more than sure of it.

"Then i'll remind you." You whisper. "We used to be friends. Do you remember it?

"I could never forget it." Zuko says with no hesitation. "You were the only one who comforted me after my mom left...the only one who actually believed in me. I think I'll remember you until the day i die."

"Good." You smile softly. "Because i don't think i could ever forget you either."

Zuko's shoulders relax, his face softens. More so, he gains enough courage to place his hands on your body. You don't protest as his fingers start caressing the sides of your waist, so feather-light you can barely feel it.

"You remember us." You say. "We can pick up from there. Forget all the bad things."

"I'd like that." Zuko smiles shyly. "I'm sorry for hurting you."

"I'm sorry for yelling at you."

"I don't mind it when it comes from you."

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── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

I wrote it at 16...originally it was in polish but i thought it had potential so i tried to translate/rewrite it as best as I could! I hope it's not too bad 🫣

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The war has ended. Voldemort is gone, once and for all. Hogwarts – its students and teachers – can finally breathe a sigh of relief, exhausted after hours of gruelling, never-ending battle.

Harry who has experienced more than ever in his life durning this battle, can finally relax. He looks at the faces of people, all of them tired and covered in dirt, as he wanders through the castle, making his way to the Great Hall where all his friends and you are meant to meet. You promised him and he promised you that you'll find each other after everything comes to an end. No matter what.

Harry, despite seeing things that no one – especially not a seventeen year old kid – should see, doesn't have any bad feelings. He's sure he'll find you there. Ron, Hermione and everyone else too. Why wouldn't he? You might be tired and bruised and so much more, but you'll be there, alive and okay. You are capable of defending yourself – you are a great witch, after all.

After a minute or two, Harry finally walks in the Great Hall. The wooden door are wide open and there's debris scattered everywhere. At that, Harry coughs. Only now he realises how tired he actually is. Painfully so.

He notices Luna and Neville in the distance. There's also Dumbledore's brother, Abeforth, talking with Seamus and Dean to his left. Harry expects someone to approach him, to start a conversation, but to his relief no one does. Surely they've already noticed how miserable and tired he looks.

So Harry continues walking, smiling at everyone who directs his gaze at him.

He's been in the Great Hall for a few minutes now and still hasn't found you, so when he notices Ginny and Molly sitting side by side on the bench, relief washes over him. They must know where you are. There's no other option. He can't remember if he saw you once he jumped down from Hagrid's arms and run straight into the commotion, sure, but it can as well mean nothing. Right?

"Ginny, have you seen Y/N?" He asks, anxiety taking over his features, as the redhead looks up at him.

"No. The last time i saw her..." Ginny pauses for a second or two. "...I don't remember, Harry. I'm sorry."

Harry waves his hand in the air. "It's okay."

Even though it's not okay. Even though fear has his stomach all in knots, his hands sweating and his head spinning.

Harry turns around and quickly moves towards the exit of the Great Hall. He has to find Ron and Hermione. They surely know more. Ginny and Molly might have not know anything, but it can be easily explained – they had other family members to find, not only you.

It is like universe or any other higher power that is out there has listened to his iternal pleas because just as he's about to walk – no, run – out of the Great Hall, he bumps into Ron and Hermione. Seeing the frenzy state he's in, she catches him by the arms to stop him.

"Harry, what's going on?" She asks, nervous herself. She can tell that something bad has happened. But Voldemort's gone, she thinks, looking at her friend's terrified expression, so what could it possibly be?

"Y/N." Harry says simply. Tears gather in his green eyes, but he quickly wipes them away. He doesn't know anything yet.

I shouldn't cry like she's already...no, he doesn't want to finish this thought. He can't. There's no time to lose, no energy to be wasted. Especially on a dwelling as unproductive as this.

Hermione, being her brilliant self, understands immediately what it is all about.

"Come on." She murmurs, grabbing Harry's hand.

All three of them – Ron, your twin brother, in a state of complete panic – run outside. There, they split, promising to one another that they'll give each other a sign if any of them finds you. None of them wants to believe that something awful happened, but they had to take this possibility into consideration. Using their wands, they begin removing the debris, each one of them in different part of the courtyard.

They do it for a few minutes, filled with so much anxiety that it feels like ages are passing. Eventually, a pained scream reaches Ron's and Hermione's ears. They run towards the sound of it, expecting the worst.

When they reach Harry, they see him with you in his arms, crying so terribly Hermione is sure she'll never get rid of this memory from her mind.

With your hair tangled, scratches littered all over your face and a torn robe, you lie there, completely limp. There are traces of blood on the white shirt you have underneath, all of them leading to a huge wound on your stomach. One glance at you is enough to tell it is Greyback's fault.

Hermione, overwhelmed by what she saw, drops to her knees and so does Ron. She tries to hug Harry, to console him but he quickly pushes her back, holding onto your body tighter, sobbing louder.

He has lost someone he loves again. First Sirius. Then Dobby and Dumbledore. And now you. Celebrating the end of the war and the ultimate victory of good is not an option anymore. All Harry feels is huge, all consuming emptiness – not even sadness. Just emptiness.

"Harry..." Hermione whispers, placing her hand on his arm. Her eyes start welling up with tears – she wants to be strong for her friend, but it's hard.

"I thought..." Harry hiccups a few times before regaining his ability to speak somehow clearly. "I-I thought i'd keep her safe if i let him kill me..."

Tears stream down his dirty face and sink into your hair, disappearing completely – if they only had the power to heal and save. If only...

Gripping tighter – Hermione wonders if it even possible to hold onto something or someone harder – Harry starts rocking back and forth, trying to soothe himself. It's almost like a trance.

She looks at the sight in front of her, completely helpless. Harry keeps murmuring your name, over and over again, hoping that maybe if he tries hard enough it'll help – that it'll take back time and you'll still be here, alive and okay.

But of course, it isn't possible. Even for such a powerful wizard as Harry.

His jacket gets redder with every passing moment.

"Harry, we have to bring her to the Great Hall..." Hermione murmurs, pulling away from Ron who she's been hugging for the past few minutes.

They can't just leave you here. They have to give you back to your family where you belong.

Harry lifts his head and nods. Wobbling a little, he gets up, still holding you in his arms, completely limp. Ron and Hermione stand up too, holding onto each other for support. Tears stream silently down both their faces.

As they head back to the castle, they don't say anything – there's nothing that can be said anymore. Screams and timid laughs can be heard from the inside of the Great Hall, everyone exhausted yet happy that the war ended the way it did – with a victory for the good side. None of them is aware of the fact that one of the most important people in Harry's, their hero's, life has ended at the young – too young – age of seventeen.

Hermione walks in the room first. So far, she's been holding on the best. She looks around and after a moment of searching she finds your family, all gathered on one of the more spacious benches. They look so exhausted, so heartbroken that Hermione doesn't know if she wants to be the bearer of the bad news.

Their heads turn towards them and that same moment all laughter and conversations die, replaced by sighs of surprise.

"Is that...?" Someone begins but quickly trails off, noticing the familiar face.

Ginny gets up immediately. This hair, so similar to her own – she could never mistaken it for someone else's.

Agony is the closest word for describing what she feels.

"Merlin, no..." Ginny murmurs as she comes closer and sees your face, so familiar yet so unfamiliar at the same time. It's weird to see you not smiling – you always smile. She lets out a pained sob and drops to the floor, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. Her whole body is shaking when Hermione crouches down and embraces her.

George and Molly follow.

Harry's knees buckle underneath him. All this pain – both his and your family's – is overwhelming and he can't bear it any longer.

He wants earth to split open and swallow him. He wants everything, including him, to dissappear. He'd give anything, even his own damned life, just to have you here.

Harry crouches down, almost knocking over Ginny, still tangled in Hermione's arms. Despite the pain consuming him wholly, he looks at you, the girl he hoped to marry one day, one more time – at your eyes that looked at him with so much love and faith it felt overwhelming, now misty and empty. Your delicate lips that kissed away all aches and brought comfort.

"My daughter..." Molly's ginger hair appear in Harry's field of vision, bringing him back to the grim reality. Your mom holds your face in her hands, her fingers moving over your eyes and lips, almost like she's trying to force them to open.

Soon, Arthur joins his family.

"Y/N..."

Molly lets go of your face and Arthur helps her get up. He leads her back to the bench where they sit down and embrace each other, one trying to comfort the other. They refuse to look in the direction of your body.

The silence in the Great Hall continues. Some people are whispering. Others are trying to see what is happening. But no one tries to come closer, to interrupt – this moment is too fresh, too intimate to do so.

Harry leans back, pressing your limp, already cold body to his chest. He hears someone's footsteps behind his back but he doesn't care enough to turn around and check who it is.

That is until a small hand lands on his arm and a quiet voice echoes right next to his ear. "Harry."

Luna reaches in your direction and slowly brings your eyelids down, closing your eyes.

"Give her back to her parents." She murmurs. Harry, clenching his jaw so hard it may break, shakes his head. "It's time, Harry. You don't have to be strong anymore."

His shoulders drop. He knows she's right.

Harry leans down and places a kiss on your cold, dirty from dust, debris and dried blood skin. He moves his hand down your hair, caresses your cheek, touches your chilly lips. Finally, he looses his grip on you. If it wasn't for Arthur who rushed to catch you, your body would've fallen to the floor.

For a moment, Harry looks at your dad as he lifts your body and carries it over to the place where the rest of the fallen people, including Fred, rest.

Then, he looks away.

It's over.

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You can barely hear the sound of Remus's cane hitting the floor through the loud barking and meowing of the pets in the shelter. You know he's right behind you, taking careful steps forward as you make your way through the narrow corridor to the room where animals wait for you, but you still glance over your shoulder from time to time to make sure he's there.

When you finally get there, with Remus' arm linked with yours – there's finally enough space to walk next to each other, sight that welcome you is beyond heartbreaking.

Thousands of cages scattered across the room. Inside them tiny, sad puppies and kittens. It tugs on your heart. How come no one wants to bring these small creatures home? To care for them, to love them? You can't wrap your head around it. If you could, you'd adopt all of them.

"So, honey..." Remus begins. "Which one should we take?"

You helplessly look around. There's a cage with three or four kittens to your left, all of them looking at you with their big, sad eyes. Another one, this time with a chocolate-coloured puppy, is located just to your right. You can feel the dog's eyes following your every movement, begging for your attention and it gets harder not to cry with every passing moment.

"There's so many of them, Remus...i-i'm not sure."

Remus lets out a quiet sigh. "We wanted an older cat, not a kitten, remember? So why don't we go look at some senior kitties, hm? I'm sure they're here somewhere."

You hum in agreement. "Yeah. Senior cats."

You look around again. This time, a cage with only one cat in it catches your eye. She, you're almost certain it's a girl cat, is laying in the back of the cage, clearly shying away from anyone who wants to talk to her or touch her – looking like she has completely given up on trying to find a forever home.

"Come on, Remus." You say, gently grabbing him by the forearm. "I think i've found a perfect cat for us."

When you get close, you notice an important detail and you're quick to point it out to your boyfriend.

"Remus...she doesn't have eyes. She's blind."

"...is it bad?" Remus asks hesitantly.

"No, not at all." You reply, your voice full of admiration. "Actually, it's perfect. Like it was meant to be."

"Like it was meant to be?" Remus questions, a bit puzzled.

"Yes. You can't see. She can't see. Isn't it a perfect coincidence?"

Remus shrugs. A small smile crosses his lips. "I guess it is."

When one of the employees opens the cage for you and you slowly stick your hand inside it, the sweet, gray cat you expect to be shy yet a total sweetheart hisses at you. Surprised, you retreat and Remus giggles as you bump straight into him. With his free hand – in his other hand he's holding his cane – he grabs you by the shoulder to stabilise you.

"Perfect fit, eh?"

"Not funny." You huff, pulling away from him. "You try then, huh? If you're so smart."

"You bet i will." Remus smirks. "Help me out a little, would you?"

You help him locate the exact location of the cage by giving him verbal instructions. You hold your breath in anticipation as he raises his hand and slowly and carefully reaches it towards the cat.

For a moment nothing happens – she just sits there. Then, she starts sniffing his hand, making him let out a tiny, breathless giggle at the tickling sensation of her whiskers on his skin.

You don't think anything more suprising will happen.

But of course, it does.

She bumps her head into his hand, demanding pets, and soon she's crawling into his arms and settling there like there's no better place to be.

Remus murmurs a quiet oh as he feels the warm, heavy weight of her in his arms. He can't see her, and neither can she see him, but it's safe to say they're enamoured by each other. She purrs and with that full of admiration expression on his face, Remus wouldn't be able to convince anyone that he doesn't love her already.

"Oh my God, you're twins." You murmur, taking his cane away from him so he can get a better grip on the cat. Remus adjusts her in his arms and she snuggles even closer to him, clearly making him melt.

"That is the most idiotic thing you've ever said." Remus shakes his head like a disappointed dad.

"But it's true!"

Remus smiles. "Whatever makes you happy, honey."

Remus turns to the employee who is still there, waiting for your decision. Finally, he speaks up and his voice is full of certainty.

"We're taking her."

"Great!" The employee claps his hands, smiling kindly. "What would you like to name her?"

Remus is quick to answer. "Cecilia." He turns back to you. "What do you think, honey?"

"Cecilia's perfect."

────୨ৎ────

﹒⭒﹒⭒﹒⭒﹒

I didn't mean to make it so long...

At first, it was supposed to be super angsty, but then i decided to do a happy ending instead. I sort of got inspired by Ed Sheeran's "kiss me" (hence the title), but it doesn't really reflect anything happening in the story lol. My thought process while choosing the title was

▪︎ warmth = fire = Zuko

▪︎ wind = air = Aang

I know it's totally stupid lol

Either way, it's a lovely song. I hope this whole fic makes sense (because I feel like it doesn't lol). Also, there are some descriptions of appearance, but feel free to change them! Same thing with pronouns, i use mainly female pronouns, but you can change them to any pronouns you prefer. I proofread it but really briefly. Reblogs and comments are very welcomed!

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Despite the strong desire to do it more, Zuko glances at you only once during dinner.

But it's enough to crush his heart into milion tiny pieces.

With Aang's arm thrown affectiontly around your shoulders, his hand rubbing up and down your bare skin, you look undoubtedly happy. Your head tilted to the side, your tongue poking out as you hang on his every word – it's like he's some sort of almighty God and you are the worshipper who got the chance to be close.

Zuko, as odd as it might sound, has always loved your hands. He'd shudder every time your hand as much as grazed his – accidentally, of course. You've never touched him just because you wanted to, out of affection.

But now, when it is intertwined with Aang's, he hates it. More so, he despise it. Your hands and everything else about you – your big, curious eyes. Your wide, sweet smile. Your long, silky hair.

Zuko tries so hard to look unfazed, like his world doesn't shatter every time he looks at you both, but he's failing. Terribly so.

Katara seems to share his feelings. Frankly, she and Zuko are like two sides of the same coin – in love with people they can't have. And both of them know about the other's affection. Neither of them is stupid. They observe and analyse. They just know.

Zuko isn't the man he used to be, but God, he wishes Aang just wasn't here. That you'd look at him the way you look at your boyfriend.

Once.

Just once, echoes in Zuko's head during the late nights when you sit next to him, helping him out with paper work, look at me like this just once.

But you don't.

You look at him the way you look at every one of your friends. At Katara, and Sokka, and Toph.

And it hurts so much. More than anything.

His mother leaving, his father dishonoring him, his sister being someone a sibling should never be – even this doesn't hurt as much as unrequited love.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

"Hey, Zuko!"

At the sound of your cheerful voice, Zuko's pace quickens. Panic surges through him, and he internally chides himself for it – Zuko, The Fire Lord, afraid of talking with a girl? Unbelievable.

But what can he do if it's you, a girl he has been pining after since he first joined the gang? Even before he became a Fire Lord, and you got with Aang.

You catch up on his behaviour quickly. "Zuko, wait!"

He doesn't, of course. He reaches the exit of the Royal Palace Garden and he's just about to walk out of it when a sudden feeling of coldness hits him.

But it's not just a feeling. It turns out, to Zuko's huge surprise, that you've used your waterbending power on him – you turned him into ice. Literally.

Zuko struggles against the ice for a moment, but of course, he is unable to get out of it. He tries and tries to melt it, but with you so close, he can't focus enough to do anything. The best he can master is a tiny spark of fire.

Really tiny. Miniscule.

"You can't run away from me anymore, eh?" You smile slyly.

Zuko huffs.

Your smile only grows wider. Zuko feels something in his stomach he definitely doesn't want to feel. Butterflies. "Now, tell me, why were you doing this?"

The Fire Lord closes his eyes. The image of you – in your water tribe outfit, with your beautiful hair pinned up in a neat bun and an adorable smile on your face – appears behind his eyelids instantly, and he shakes his head, trying to make it go away.

Just stop, Zuko scolds himself, don't think about her stupid hair and her stupid smile. Focus.

With a little bit of willpower, he manages to summon enough fire to free himself.

"Good job, Lord Zuko." You praise him mockingly as the ice melts, creating a huge poodle of water under your boots. Soon, thanks to you, it evaporates.

Zuko wishes you wouldn't call him this. Yes, it's his title and practically everyone calls him like this, but it's you. It's different coming from you.

"Very funny, Y/N." He says in a low voice, fixing his long hair that has became a one huge mess on his head. "If you're done with your tricks, would you please be so kind and tell me what is so urgent?"

"Me, Aang, and Katara are going on a little trip. With Appa. I was wondering if you'd like to join us."

No. The rational part of his brain protest. The one he definitely should listen to.

But it's an occasion to be closer to her the part of his brain that is in love, the one which he definitely shouldn't listen to if he doesn't want to torture himself, convinces.

"I..." Zuko hesitates.

"Come on, Zuzu, it'll be fun." Not the nickname, Zuko internally winces. "I'll help you with your fire lord job later, i promise." Not the puppy eyes, Zuko, once more, internally winces.

"I'm perfectly capable of doing it on my own." Zuko says coldly. And too harshly, judging by the wounded look on your face. His eyes soften. "But...okay, fine. I'll go with you."

You do a little ridiculous dance, and Zuko can't help but smile.

"You're the best, Zuzu." You exclaim with so much happiness one would think that going on a trip with Zuko is your biggest dream. "See you later!"

You turn on your heel and soon, you're gone.

If you could only be like this every time. So happy to see him.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The moment Zuko dreaded the most has finally came. He was pulled away from the paper work he was focused on for a diabolical amount of time, three or four hours, by you. Together, you made your way outside where the rest of the gang, minus Sokka, awaited.

Now, as he climbes on Appa's back, he looks anywhere but you and Aang. His gaze jumps between Katara and Momo, Momo and Katara. Constantly. He refuses to look in your direction. He can hear you and Aang laughing about God knows what, but he tries and obviously fails to tune it out.

Your laughter rings in his ears and it's simultaneously the most beautiful and the most horrible sound Zuko has ever heard.

Christ, he is an idiot. The biggest idiot in the whole kingdom. No, scratch that. On the whole planet. He should've never agree to this little trip, as you put it.

As Appa rises into the air, Zuko relaxes a little. The weather is great and after spending so much time in a dark room, slumped over various papers and maps, it's great to be outside.

But has life ever been kind to Zuko?

When he looks in your direction – accidentally, let's get this straight – you're and Aang are kissing. And it's not a very family friendly kiss.

Oh yeah, it definitely isn't.

Aang hands wander up and down your back, touching every part of your body they can reach. His shirt is open, his pale skin peeking out. Your hands are resting on his exposed chest. If Aang wasn't bald, you'd surely tug on his hair right now.

Zuko wants to die.

And when he looks back at Katara and their eyes meet, he knows she feels exactly the same.

Hopeless lovers, these two.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Zuko can't really pinpoint the moment something between you and him shifted. The more he rackes his brain for an answer, the more distant and unreachable it becomes.

Was it when you came to his office, insisting that you wanted to spend some time with him – not with Aang, which seemed odd, considering your relationship status – and he let you stay, despite the amount of work he had to do?

Or was it when he found you in the the garden, red-eyed and shaking, and you told him you and Aang fought?

Zuko really doesn't know.

But what he knows is that something has changed. And for the first time in a long time, it is a positive shift.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

"What are you doing?"

Zuko jumps at the sound of your voice right next to his ear. You move so quickly to sit down that papers fly in the air and fall to the floor, destroying Zuko's perfect order on the desk. He huffs in annoyance.

"Aren't you supposed to be with Aang?" He asks.

"Nope." You shake your head. "He's with Katara."

Zuko's head whips around in surprise. You lean back in your chair, caught off guard. You're so close now it makes your cheeks burn.

Why does it make your cheeks burn? Zuko's your friend. You're his friend. There are no feelings between you.

"...Katara?" Zuko inquiries further. His whole body is now turned towards you and he's so focused on you, hanging on to your every word, like you're a riddle he's trying to solve.

"Yeah. He wanted to go to the market, i didn't, so he went with Katara. It's simple, Zuko." You tap his forehead with your finger like it's the most obvious and natural thing in the world that Aang is with Katara. And maybe it is. But not for Zuko.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah?" Your eyebrows rise in confusion. "Why are you so suprised?"

"I don't know..." Zuko shrugs. He breaks the eye contact and turns back to his papers. He looks rather conflicted. "You're just always together."

You protest. "We're not."

Zuko presses. "Yes, you are."

A small smile crosses your lips. Is that jealously you notice in his behaviour? Is it even possible that great Lord Zuko, who catches attention of every girl in the kingdom, is jealousy about you and Aang? It's a ridiculous thought, something you shouldn't be so pleased about, but you weirdly are.

"You are very observant, Lord Zuko." You point out. You want him to look at you, but he refuses to do so, pretending to be extremely busy with his work – even though he haven't written a single sentence on the parchment that sits in front of him.

"I'm just stating facts." Zuko shrugs again. He decides to change the topic before your small investigation goes even further. "Why did you come to me?"

It's your turn to shrug. "I just wanted to spend some time with you."

"Wasn't Sokka free?" He questions, finally picking up the quill and jotting something down. You observe his fingers, long and slender, as he writes.

"I didn't want Sokka. I wanted you, Zuko."

Did you really say this?

Zuko's heart races.

And despite the churning feeling of confusion and uncertainty in his stomach, he smiles to himself. It's a small smile, but a smile nonetheless.

You wanted him. Not Sokka or Aang. Him.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

"Are you okay?" Zuko's voice brings you out of your thoughts.

You're sitting on the bench in the garden with your legs close to your chest, your hands protectively wrapped around your knees, crying.

Zuko's expression immediately goes soft at the sight of your tears. He takes a seat next to you. He wants to throw his arm around your shoulders and bring you closer, but he's not sure if he's allowed to do it.

You're not his. It's not his job to be so affectionate with you.

Instead, he observes the birds sitting on the branches of the high tree not so far away from your spot.

You break the silence. "We fought."

Zuko hums. He knows very well who you're referring to. "Do you want to tell me why?"

You shake your head. "No. But..." Zuko notices, despite how hard he's trying not to look at you, that your cheeks has gone slightly red. "Oh, screw it." You murmur to yourself. "Can you hug me?"

Zuko's eyes widen.

He wants to say no. He can't be so close to you. Not when he's trying so hard to suppress his feelings for you. He doesn't want to torture himself like this – for you, it's going to be a normal hug. It'd be exactly the same if Katara or Sokka hugged you. You wouldn't see a difference. Zuko definitely would.

But you look at him with so much hope in your eyes, he finds himself caving in.

"Okay. Come here."

Zuko wraps his arm around your back and brings you closer. You rest your head on his shoulder. He can feel the delicate scent of your perfume, as well as your skin, and it drives him crazy. The strands of your hair tickle his neck and it's an oddly pleasant sensation. He lets his head against yours.

Despite the guilt he feels, Zuko doesn't want this moment to ever end.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

"We broke up."

Zuko swears he has misheard you.

"What?" He asks, dumbfounded, searching for any signs that it might be a joke.

You don't look like you've been crying or that you are distraught in any way. Quite the opposite, actually. You look...calm, like you have already made your peace with your relationship ending.

You repeat. "Me and Aang broke up. Two weeks ago."

No, this can't be right. You and Aang? Not together? It seems impossible. You were inseparable – an image of a perfect couple. Always together. Always happy – or at least it seemed like you were.

"Are you...sad?" Zuko asks, even though he knows it's a stupid thing to ask someone who has just ended their relationship. But he is so shocked, so relieved even though he shouldn't be, that no better questions come to his mind.

You shrug. "Not really. We're still friends." Zuko's eyebrows lift in shock, which makes the corners of your lips rise in a gentle smile. "Our relationship wasn't working anymore. I guess we were just predenting to be happy for the sake of others. We didn't want any of you to worry about us. And..."

You pause, breathe in and breathe out, close your eyes for a moment. Zuko fidgets in his spot, so curious about what you're going to say that he just can't stay still.

Finally, you look at him again. His breath hitches at the intensity he sees in your eyes. "We realised we like other people."

"...other people?" Zuko echoes, taken aback by your unusual confession. "Like who?"

You smile. "Take a guess, Zuko. I'm sure you can work this out."

"Sokka?" Zuko asks hesitantly. He knows very well he's probably making a fool of himself right now. "Toph? I don't know, Y/N. Just tell me."

You start to feel bad keeping him in the dark for so long, so you finally admit. "It's you, Zuko."

If Zuko's eyes could open even wider, they surely would.

"...it's me?" He asks. He sounds like a lost child. "You like me?"

"At first, I thought it was just a momentary infatuation, that it'd pass if i focused on Aang hard enough." You start to explain. "But the more time i spend close to you, the more i realised it isn't. Even though I was with Aang, i couldn't stop thinking about you. And i felt horrible with it, trust me." You laugh, but it's a humourless laugh. "We fought. He thought i was constantly absent-minded. I tried to convince him that it wasn't true." You sigh at the memory of it. "But then Aang came to me. He told me about Katara. About his feelings for her. And suddenly, everything became clear."

Zuko stays silent even when you stop speaking. He just looks at you with the same surprised expression. Eyes wide, lips slightly parted. Completely caught of guard. One would think you told him that Appa suddenly learnt how to speak and not that you have fallen for him.

You swallow hard, suddenly unsure and anxious. Have you been wrong the whole time? Have you imagined all the glances and tiny gestures Zuko did towards you?

"It's okay if you don't feel it, Zuko. I just thought–"

But you don't have the chance to finish. Zuko grabs you by the waist and brings you closer. You gasp as you trip straight into his arms.

Though, he doesn't give you the time to compose yourself. Instead, he connects your lips in a passionate kiss. His arms tighten around your waist, your hands come up to his hair.

"I've loved since we were sixteen." Zuko murmurs between kisses. His lips travel from one corner of your lips to the other. His grip on your waist only tightens. Your fingers thread through his hair. "But i was too afraid to confess. What if you didn't want such a messed up man like me?"

"Zuko, you're not–"

"Shh." Zuko hushes you. His lips are now on your jaw. "I was devastated when you got with Aang. Don't get me wrong, Y/N, I was happy for you. No matter how strange it sounds."

"I tried to get you out of my mind. You're very hard to forget, you know?" You hiss as he bits down on your neck, hard. "I cried like a damn baby after every dinner, every party. I wanted you so desperately it was ruining me."

"I couldn't think logically around you. I wasn't acting like a lord i am. I was like a teenage boy who has fallen in love for the first time."

Zuko presses you against the nearby wall – hard enough so you can't escape him, but gentle enough not to hurt you in any way. You sigh as his lips travel even lower, down your neck and towards your collarbones and chest.

"So trust me when i say this right now, i would be a fool if i didn't feel the same."

You'd be a fool if you didn't trust him on this.

────୨ৎ────