Summary: Three months into your relationship with Aang, the two of you have fallen into an easy rhythm, splitting your time between Air Temple Island and your cosy apartment. One night, he discovers your adorable habit of talking in your sleep and begins playfully responding whenever you mumble. But when a sleepy confession slips past your lips, Aang is left with a secret that only he remembers.
Warnings: none, just fluff
A/N: Memories are written in cursive.
Also note that English is not my first language. So I apologise in advance for any mistakes, I really try to proofread everything. But mistakes do happen. If you see some, I don’t mind if you point them out to me.
Please don’t copy my work. A lot of time and effort went into it.
Word count: 2.827
It had been three blissful months together. Three months since the day you met him in the busiest market in the city.
You had been weaving through the bustling stalls, your basket brimming with fresh fruit, vegetables and fragrant herbs, when you collided with someone coming the other way. The impact sent you stumbling backwards with a startled gasp as your basket slipped from your fingers. Time seemed to slow for a moment. You watched in horror as it tumbled towards the cobbled street, already picturing bruised apples and vegetables rolling in every direction. But the basket never hit the ground.
A sudden rush of cool air brushed against your face as you watched how your basket slowed. It hovered just above the ground before gently rising again, drifting through the air until it settled neatly into the waiting hands of the young man standing opposite you.
‘I am so sorry.’ He blinked, almost as surprised as you were, before offering you an apologetic smile. He held the basket out to you. ‘I wasn't looking where I was going.’ You stared at him for a long moment before accepting it, your fingers brushing his. His touch was warm despite the cool breeze that still lingered around him.
‘Wow…’ Your eyes darted between him and the basket. ‘How did you do that?’ A faint blush crept onto his cheeks. He rubbed the back of his neck, looking almost embarrassed by the attention.
‘Oh... that?’ He said with an awkward laugh. ‘I didn't actually move the basket itself.’ Your brow furrowed. ‘I bent the air around it.’ Realisation dawned on your face.
‘You are an airbender!’ A soft chuckle escaped him as he watched your expression light up with astonishment.
‘I am.’ As if to demonstrate, he lifted one hand, palm facing the sky. With the slightest flick of his wrist, the air stirred. A gentle breeze spiralled upwards, tugging playfully at your hair. A loose leaf skittered across the ground before rising into the air, where it hovered effortlessly above his hand. It twirled in slow, graceful circles, carried by a current you couldn't see, before settling delicately onto his fingertips.
‘When something falls…’ His eyes followed the leaf with an ease that suggested bending and breathing were one and the same to him. ‘I can create an updraft beneath it. That pushes against gravity and slows it down. Then I guide the airflow around it, almost like it is resting on a cushion of wind.’ He smiled, watching the leaf as it was floating back to the ground, before he looked back at you. You met his friendly eyes, unable to suppress the smile tugging at your lips.
‘So... what you are actually saying is that the wind did all the hard work.’ His grin spread instantly, bright and infectious.
‘More or less.’ His grey eyes sparkled with quiet amusement. ‘I just asked it to help.’ Something about the way he said it made it sound less like controlling the wind and more like befriending it. A laugh escaped you before you could stop it. He smiled even wider, clearly pleased he had managed to make you laugh. ‘I am Aang.’ He said, extending his hand and you slipped yours into his without hesitation.
‘Y/N.’ His grip was gentle, careful even, as though he feared squeezing too tightly. The touch sent an unexpected warmth rushing through you. A strange flutter settled in your chest and it was determined to stay. For the briefest moment, neither of you let go. His grey eyes remained fixed on yours, bright with kindness and quiet curiosity. Around you, merchants called to passing customers, children darted between the stalls and carts rattled over the cobbles, yet for one suspended heartbeat, it felt as though the world had narrowed to the space between your joined hands. Only when someone brushed past his shoulder did Aang seem to remember where he was. His eyes widened slightly, a faint blush crept across his cheeks as he seemed to realise he was still holding your hand, and with an embarrassed chuckle, he quickly withdrew his from yours.
‘I, uhm…’ He rubbed the back of his neck, his blush deepening. ‘Sorry.’ You couldn't help smiling.
‘For what?’ A shy grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
‘I don't know.’ A soft laugh escaped you, and judging by the way his smile widened, he decided then and there that accidentally bumping into you had been the best part of his day.
It had probably been the strangest introduction of your life. And, as it turned out, the beginning of the happiest three months you could have imagined. It wasn't long in the grand scheme of things, but it had amazed you at how quickly he had become part of your life. You wanted all your days to include his laughter, his hand in your, his arm around you or to hear the gentle knock on your door that always came a second before he poked his head inside with an eager ‘Are you home?’
Some evenings you found yourself following him back to the Air Temple Island, where he shared a home with his friends. The place was never quiet. There was always someone laughing in another room, the smell of whatever Sokka had convinced himself he could cook lingering through the corridors. More often than not, Katara was chasing him out of the kitchen before dinner was ruined.
Other nights Aang stayed with you instead. Your apartment was considerably smaller, considerably quieter, but he loved it just the same. He loved waking up in your bed. He loved sharing breakfast with you in the tiny kitchen. He loved how you always insisted on making tea before either of you spoke. He loved how naturally your lives had begun weaving together. Nothing ever felt forced. Somewhere between shared dinners, lingering kisses at the door and one evening simply deciding neither of you wanted to say goodbye yet, sleeping beside one another had become the most natural thing in the world.
But perhaps his favourite moments came after you had fallen asleep. It started during the fourth week of your relationship. The two of you had only been sharing the same bed for about a week. As always, your conversations had wandered far into the night, jumping from childhood stories to dreams for the future and everything in between. Eventually your replies had grown slower, your words softer, until silence settled comfortably between you. Aang had assumed you were fast asleep when he suddenly heard a quiet murmur beside him.
‘...No…’ He turned his head. You were asleep… Right? Your breathing was slow and even, your chest rising and falling in a gentle rhythm. Your eyes remained closed, and you hadn't stirred for at least half an hour. Your brows knitted together for only a moment before relaxing again. ‘...Too many turtles…’ Aang blinked. ‘...Need... bigger basket…’ He stared at you in complete confusion before a smile slowly spread across his face.
‘Were they turtleducks?’ He whispered. Your lips twitched.
‘...Mm…Yes…’ He quickly pressed a hand over his mouth to stop himself laughing.
‘Oh, they were?’ He whispered back with complete seriousness. ‘How many?’ A long pause.
‘...Seven…’
‘Seven?’ He gasped dramatically. ‘That is far too many turtleducks.’ You sighed in your sleep, as though you were carrying the weight of an impossible problem.
‘...I know…’ By the time Aang buried his face in his pillow, his shoulders were shaking with silent laughter.
The following morning, while the two of you were preparing breakfast together, he had casually asked you about last night’s conversation.
‘So…’ You glanced over your shoulder. ‘How did the turtleducks fit into the basket?’ You had looked at him as though he had completely lost his mind.
‘What turtleducks?’
‘The seven you were collecting.’ You frowned as you stared at him.
‘Aang…’
‘Hmm?’ Amusement visible in his eyes.
‘Are you feeling alright?’ His grin only widened.
‘You don't remember?’
‘Remember what?’ When he explained what had happened, your eyes grew impossibly wide before your cheeks turned a brilliant shade of crimson.
‘I talked in my sleep again?’
‘Again?’ You groaned softly, hiding your face in your hands. ‘So this has happened before?’ You peeked at him through your fingers, looking thoroughly embarrassed.
'Apparently I sometimes mumble in my sleep a little.’
‘A little?’ He teased and you sighed in response.
‘I am so sorry.’ His expression softened immediately.
‘Hey.’ He gently pulled your hands away from your face before leaning down to press a tender kiss against the top of your head. ‘Don't apologise.’ You looked up at him. ‘It was absolutely adorable.’ The embarrassed smile that spread across your face instantly became one of his favourite expressions.
From that day onwards, he discovered there was no real pattern to it. Some weeks it happened twice while other weeks, not at all. Whenever it did, though, Aang quietly welcomed the conversations. They were rarely coherent. Usually they consisted of sleepy murmurs, half-finished thoughts and little mumbles that barely resembled proper sentences. Sometimes you answered questions he hadn't asked and sometimes you complained about entirely imaginary problems. Once, with complete conviction, you informed him that Momo wasn't allowed to become Fire Lord.
Aang took every conversation very seriously. Sometimes he asked follow-up questions and sometimes he agreed wholeheartedly with whatever nonsense your dreaming mind had come up with. And every single time, he ended up biting the inside of his cheek to stop himself laughing.
The best part came the following morning. Without exception… You never remembered a thing. He found it impossibly adorable.
Tonight was no different. You lay curled against his side, one arm lazily draped across his chest, your hand resting directly over his heart while your breathing grew slower with every passing minute. Aang absentmindedly combed his fingers through your hair, smiling to himself. Your eyes were already closed and every now and then you let out a soft hum in response to his gentle strokes, but your words had long since faded into sleepy murmurs. Then, almost too quietly to hear...
“I love you.” His hand stilled and for a heartbeat, he wondered if he had imagined it. You shifted slightly, nestling closer against him without ever opening your eyes.
“I love you…” You murmured again, your voice barely louder than a whisper. Warmth spread through his chest so suddenly it almost stole his breath. But then realisation dawned on him… You weren’t awake, in fact, you were dreaming. For all he knew, you could have been talking to anyone in your imaginary world.
“Who do you love?” He whispered. Your answer came almost instantly.
“You.” His breath caught and his heart felt like it might burst. A grin spread across his face before he could stop it.
“I love you too.” He whispered, pressing the gentlest kiss against your forehead. You made a content little noise.
“...Mm…” Your breathing indicated that you had long found the slow, even rhythm of deep sleep. Aang let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head affectionately.
“You won't remember any of this tomorrow.” He murmured fondly as his fingers went through your hair again. You didn't answer. But he hadn't expected you to. Instead, he pulled you just a little closer, resting his cheek against the top of your head. Long after he had closed his own eyes, he could still feel the warmth that your sleepy confession had left behind settling comfortably inside his chest.
The next morning… Nothing. Not even the faintest flicker of recognition. You chatted happily over breakfast, completely oblivious to the fact that, sometime during the night, you had quietly stolen his heart all over again. Several times he almost told you. The words reached the tip of his tongue before he swallowed them again. For some reason… He liked carrying this secret with him. It felt like an unintentional gift that you had entrusted only to him.
For nearly two weeks, Aang carried the secret with him. Not because he wanted to keep it from you, quite the opposite actually. Every time he looked at you, he wanted to tell you. He wanted to tell you how much he loved you. Every time you laughed, every time your hand found his without thinking, every time you smiled at him from across a crowded room, the words rose to the surface. ‘I love you.’
But every time he was about to say it, he remembered the night you had whispered the words first in your sleep. He kept the secret because he wanted to give you time to say them again, but this time while you were awake. And so he waited. Until one evening…
The two of you had wandered out of the city after dinner, following one of the winding paths overlooking the sea. The sun had already begun its slow descent, painting the horizon in streaks of gold, orange and pink. The air was pleasantly warm, carrying the scent of saltwater and wildflowers as the breeze played with the loose strands of your hair. You walked hand in hand, neither of you in any hurry to reach anywhere.
“You have been awfully quiet.” You observed, glancing sideways at him.
“Hm?”
“What is going on in that head of yours?” He looked down at your joined hands. His thumb slowly traced circles over the back of yours.
“I have been trying to work up the courage to tell you something.” Your smile softened immediately.
“You can tell me anything.”
“I know.” He stopped walking. The breeze continued to carry a few strands of your hair across your face and without thinking, he reached over to tuck them gently behind your ear. His fingertips lingered against your cheek for just a moment.
“I have realised…” He began quietly. “...that every day with you somehow becomes my favorite day.” You felt your heartbeat quicken. “I look forward to seeing you before I have even opened my eyes in the morning.” His smile became almost shy. Your cheeks were already beginning to warm. “I didn't think it was possible to care about someone this much.” His grey eyes met yours. “But I do.” He took one slow breath. “I love you.” The world seemed to fall silent; the crashing waves below became distant, the breeze faded. For one long heartbeat, you simply stared at him. Then, color rushed into your cheeks.
“You…” You laughed softly, overwhelmed. “You love me?”
“Very much so.” Your eyes shimmered.
“I…” You ducked your head for a moment, suddenly fascinated by your shoes before you looked up into his eyes. “I love you too.” The words came out quieter than you had intended. His smile grew brighter than the setting sun in front of you.
“I was hoping you would say that.”
“Oh, were you now?” You teased, still blushing furiously.
“I had a feeling you would say it back.” He stated shyly.
“A feeling?” He hesitated for a moment.
“Well…” Immediately, you narrowed your eyes.
“What?” He scratched the back of his neck.
“So…” He paused.
“Aang…”
“Technically…” Another pause. “You said it first.” You blinked.
“What?”
“You just didn't know you did.” You stared at him in complete confusion.
“I definitely would have remembered.” He laughed softly.
“No.”
“I would have. It is quite a big moment in a relationship… The first ‘I love you’.”
“You were asleep.” Aang quietly confessed.
“I was what?” His grin became almost apologetic.
“A couple of weeks ago… You were already dreaming… And you whispered ‘I love you’.” Your mouth slowly fell open.
“I did not.”
“You did. But I wasn’t sure to whom you were talking, so I asked you.” You waited and he smiled. “And you answered…” He leaned in just enough for his forehead to brush yours. “You.” The heat that flooded your face was almost unbearable.
“And then you kept this to yourself?”
“I wanted to give you the time to say it again.” His admission quiet.
“Oh…” You buried your face against his shoulder with a groan. His laughter rumbled softly beneath your cheek. His hand came to rest at the back of your head, holding you closely to him for a moment. He kissed the top of your head before you moved away from him just enough to look him in the eyes. Your cheeks still flushed but there was more certainty and determination in your gaze now. “The next time I tell you I love you…” You slipped your arms around his waist. “I will make sure I am awake.” You rose onto your toes and kissed him, your lips soft against his. You cupped his cheek with one of your hands and held it there for a moment. When you drew away, your eyes locked again. And while being fully awake, fully aware, and smiling so much it almost hurt, you quietly spoke again. “I love you.”
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The waiting chamber outside the banquet hall was already crowded with some of the most influential people in the world. Beyond the large doors, hundreds of lower-ranking nobles had already been seated and were no doubt beginning the evening's favourite pastime: gossiping about everyone who hadn't entered yet.
[Y/n] stood among the Fire Nation delegation with all the enthusiasm of a man awaiting execution. Around him were ministers, generals, admirals, governors, and military officers. General Mak stood nearby, calm and composed as always, while Admiral Jee looked as though he'd rather be at sea than attending a formal banquet. Several ministers were quietly reviewing notes one last time, despite there being absolutely nothing left to prepare.
Across the room, Aang stood by himself, looking distinctly uncomfortable in formal robes. Nearby, Katara and Sokka were speaking with Chief Hakoda and Malina. On the opposite side of the chamber, Toph somehow managed to look completely relaxed while surrounded by several very important Earth Kingdom officials who seemed unsure whether they were supposed to treat her like a diplomat or a natural disaster.
Further beyond them stood the Earth King himself. Beside him was the same Dai Li agent who had accompanied him during the summit. The sight immediately made [Y/n]'s eyes narrow slightly. Not because of the Earth King. Because of the Dai Li. He still didn't entirely trust any organisation whose solution to a problem was usually "make people disappear."
Fortunately, before his thoughts could wander further, a familiar voice interrupted them.
"Chief Strategist." [Y/n] glanced sideways. Jee had shifted slightly closer. The Admiral's expression remained perfectly neutral. To anyone watching, it looked like nothing more than a routine adjustment of posture. Then Jee leaned slightly toward him. Just enough.
And whispered something quietly into his ear.
Nobody else heard it. Not Mak. Not the ministers. Not the guards. Nobody.
[Y/n]'s expression didn't change. Years of politics prevented that. His posture remained perfect. His face remained neutral. His eyes remained forward. Yet the effect of those words was immediate. A deep sense of satisfaction flooded his chest.
Not relief. Not excitement. Satisfaction. The kind that only came when a plan finally clicked into place. When a puzzle piece finally found where it belonged. When months of uncertainty suddenly became much clearer.
Slowly, his gaze drifted across the room, finding Aang almost immediately. The Avatar had clearly been waiting. Watching. [Y/n] met his eyes, then blinked twice. A simple signal. Nothing more. Across the room, Aang immediately straightened. The slightest nod followed. Small enough that nobody else noticed. Exactly as intended. Then both looked away. The exchange lasted less than two seconds. By the time it ended, [Y/n] was once again standing quietly among the ministers as though nothing had happened at all.
Nearby, Jee stepped back into position. Mak raised an eyebrow, not because he'd heard anything, but because he'd noticed the sudden shift in [Y/n]'s mood. The strategist looked calmer now. More focused. Unfortunately for everyone else present, none of them knew what that something was.
A few moments later, the great doors leading into the banquet hall began to open. The conversations around the chamber immediately quieted. A servant stepped forward. The formal announcements were about to begin. And somewhere beneath the growing anticipation, [Y/n] felt the amulet resting against his chest and thought of the conversation waiting for him after all of this was over.
Then he pushed the thought away. First, he had a banquet to survive.
One battle at a time.
The sound of music rolled through the palace as the great banquet doors opened fully. Every conversation inside immediately died. Hundreds of eyes turned toward the entrance. The assembled nobles rose from their seats as the highest-ranking guests and officials began to enter, filling the hall in a slow, orderly procession. Rich reds and golds reflected from polished marble floors while servants moved silently between tables, making final adjustments. To most of the guests, it was a grand display of prestige and power.
To [Y/n], it was a battlefield.
As he walked, his eyes never stopped moving. Every face. Every doorway. Every servant. Every guard. Every noble. His mind worked through its internal checklist automatically. Then, one by one, he began finding the answers he wanted.
Mai, standing near one of the side entrances. Their eyes met briefly. The teacher gave the smallest nod. [Y/n]'s gaze moved on. Suki and Ty Lee, positioned exactly where they were supposed to be. Both women caught the look and responded with tiny nods of their own. Further into the hall, he spotted Kenta and Hori among the guards. The two soldiers remained perfectly professional, though both subtly acknowledged him.
Good. Everything was where it should be. Exactly as planned. The satisfaction that had begun when Jee whispered in his ear only grew.
Meanwhile, several nobles had already noticed the amulet pinned above his heart. It was impossible not to. The royal crest gleamed beneath the hall's countless lanterns. More than one conversation immediately started. A few nobles had enough sense to hide it. Many did not. [Y/n] caught snippets as he passed. Speculation. Rumors. Assumptions. Political theories. Marriage theories. Succession theories. Some of them were so ridiculous they were almost impressive.
The strategist didn't react. Didn't acknowledge a single one. If anything, the gossip only made his job easier. Desperate people talked too much. And people who talked too much were easy to read.
By the time the procession reached the centre of the hall, most of the ministers, generals, governors, and military officials began splitting off toward the two massive tables positioned along either side of the room. Mak peeled away toward one, Jee toward another. One by one, the Fire Nation delegation dispersed.
[Y/n] kept walking. So did Aang, Katara, Sokka, Hakoda, Malina, Toph, the Earth King, the Dai Li agent and the leaders of the Northern Water Tribe. The handful of individuals important enough to sit at the head table. Together, they crossed the length of the hall until they reached the raised platform positioned directly before the throne. There, a long table waited. The most prestigious seats in the room. The seats everyone would spend the rest of the evening watching.
[Y/n] reached his place first. Without hesitation, he took the seat directly to the right of the throne; The Chief Strategist's position, the Fire Lord's right hand. Across from him, Aang settled into the seat on the throne's left. The seat reserved for the most important guest in attendance; the Avatar's place.
The remaining guests gradually filled the seats extending down either side. Toph looked entirely too comfortable. Sokka immediately began muttering about the room's design. Katara quietly tried to stop him. Hakoda and Malina exchanged amused looks. The Earth King greeted several people nearby. The Dai Li agent remained unreadable.
And through it all, [Y/n]'s eyes continued moving. Because the hall wasn't complete yet. The most important arrival still hadn't happened. And at the front of the hall, beneath the throne and surrounded by some of the most powerful people in the world, [Y/n] found himself waiting for one person in particular to walk through those doors.
Eventually, the last of the officials found their seats and the hall settled into silence. The music faded away until only the distant crackle of lantern flames remained. Hundreds of nobles, diplomats, merchants, generals, and foreign dignitaries sat waiting. Then the doors opened once more. The Grand Chamberlain stepped into the centre of the hall, every movement measured and dignified. Instantly, every lingering conversation died. The older man surveyed the room before offering a deep bow.
"Honoured guests..." He began, his voice carrying effortlessly throughout the banquet hall. "On behalf of the Fire Nation, thank you for your patience and your attendance this evening." He continued with the formal greetings and welcomes expected of such an event, acknowledging the foreign delegations, the assembled nobility, and the distinguished guests. Then, after allowing the anticipation to build, he straightened and raised his voice slightly. "Please welcome His Majesty, Fire Lord Zuko, and the Royal Family." The doors opened again. Every eye in the hall turned immediately.
Zuko entered first. Gone was the exhausted young man who had been slumped over a vanity an hour earlier. Now he looked every bit the ruler of a nation. His posture was perfect. His expression calm. His crown gleamed beneath the lantern light. And his dark hair, gathered neatly into its formal style, framed him with effortless dignity.
Behind him walked the rest of the royal family. Lady Ursa moved at his right with the quiet confidence of someone entirely unbothered by the attention. Beside her walked Kiyi and Noren, while Iroh occupied Zuko's left. Together, they crossed the hall in perfect formation. Around them, nobles watched with open admiration, political calculation, or simple curiosity. [Y/n] observed all of it from his seat. The whispers. The glances. The attempts to read the Fire Lord's mood. Most of them were wasting their time. Zuko had spent years learning how to hide behind the composure expected of a ruler.
At the head table, the royal family finally arrived. Ursa, Iroh, Noren, and Kiyi moved toward the ends of the table, taking the positions traditionally reserved for the ruling family. The placement carried its own message. They sat not separate from the foreign leaders and honoured guests gathered there, but around them, symbolically welcoming them into the Fire Nation's hospitality. Then Zuko reached the centre. For a brief moment, his eyes swept across the table. Aang sat on one side. [Y/n] sat on the other. The Fire Lord's gaze lingered for only a fraction of a second before he resumed his practised composure and took his place before the throne.
Instantly, the entire hall rose to its feet. Hundreds of nobles and dignitaries stood as one. The banquet could finally begin. Meanwhile, [Y/n] remained perfectly calm, though beneath his composure he felt the weight of the amulet against his chest and found himself thinking that Zuko had never looked more like a king. Every eye followed Zuko as he surveyed the gathered crowd. The Fire Lord waited a moment, allowing the room to settle completely before speaking.
"Thank you all for coming." His voice carried effortlessly throughout the hall. "Whether you travelled from elsewhere in the Fire Nation or crossed oceans and continents to be here tonight, I am honoured by your presence." A wave of approving murmurs spread through the crowd. Zuko continued smoothly, speaking of the friendships forged between nations since the war's end and of the prosperity that cooperation had brought to the world. He spoke of the Fire Nation's responsibility to continue moving forward and acknowledged the difficult history that still lingered behind them. "Our nation has risen from the ashes of its former injustices." He said, his expression unwavering. "Not through the efforts of any single individual, but through the dedication of those willing to build something better." More murmurs followed. Several nobles were already nodding enthusiastically. Others looked impressed. A few appeared suspiciously eager to be seen agreeing.
While the audience absorbed every word, [Y/n] was barely listening to the speech itself anymore. He already knew what Zuko was going to say. Instead, his attention remained fixed on the crowd. Every reaction. Every whisper. Every glance exchanged between tables. He watched which nobles applauded the loudest. Which ministers smiled a little too eagerly. Which guests appeared bored. Which foreign dignitaries seemed genuinely appreciative. His gaze never stopped moving. As Zuko's speech continued, he turned his attention toward the Earth Kingdom delegation. His gaze settled on Kuei, and a small smile crossed his face.
"I would also like to personally thank His Majesty, Earth King Kuei, for honouring us with his presence this evening." The room's attention shifted toward the Earth King, who looked momentarily surprised at being singled out before quickly recovering. Kuei rose from his seat, offering a respectful bow of his head toward Zuko.
"The honour is mine, Fire Lord Zuko." His voice carried clearly enough for the nearby tables to hear. "The friendship our nations have built is something I value greatly, and I am grateful for the opportunity to celebrate it here tonight." Warm applause followed from both Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom guests alike. Kuei smiled politely as he sat back down. Zuko nodded before looking further down the table toward the Water Tribe delegations.
"I would also like to thank the illustrious Chiefs of both the Southern and Northern Water Tribes for joining us." Hakoda immediately straightened with a grin while Malina offered a more diplomatic smile.
"The Southern Water Tribe appreciates the invitation." Hakoda called back, earning a few laughs from guests who knew him well enough to recognise his more casual nature. Beside him, Malina inclined her head gracefully. One of the Northern Water Tribe leaders stood next, speaking on behalf of their delegation.
"The bonds between our peoples grow stronger every year. We are honoured to be here." The response earned another wave of applause. Even several Fire Nation nobles joined in enthusiastically, eager to be seen supporting the continued peace between nations. Finally, Zuko's eyes moved to the seat directly beside his own. His expression softened almost imperceptibly.
"And, of course, I would like to thank Avatar Aang for joining us tonight." That earned perhaps the loudest reaction yet. Applause echoed throughout the banquet hall as hundreds of eyes turned toward the young Avatar. Aang immediately looked like he wanted to disappear into the floor. Katara covered a smile with her hand while Sokka looked thoroughly entertained. After a moment of obvious embarrassment, Aang awkwardly rose from his seat and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Uh... thanks." A few nobles laughed warmly. The Avatar glanced around the room before smiling sheepishly. "I'm really happy everyone gets to be here together." It wasn't a grand speech. It wasn't political. It was simply Aang being Aang. As he sat back down, still looking embarrassed by the attention, Zuko couldn't help smiling slightly while [Y/n] quietly noted that the Avatar's awkward sincerity had somehow won over an entire room full of nobles in less than ten seconds.
By the time Zuko reached the end of his speech, the hall had become thoroughly captivated. The nobles were eating it up. [Y/n] could practically see the political calculations happening behind some of their eyes. The Fire Lord lifted a crystal glass from the table, and the room immediately followed suit.
"To friendship." Hundreds of glasses rose. "To peace." The crowd echoed him. "And to a wonderful night." This time, the response was enthusiastic. Crystal chimed throughout the hall as the toast concluded. Zuko drank first, followed by the rest of the room. Then, almost immediately, the atmosphere shifted. Around the hall, nobles relaxed into their seats and began speaking amongst themselves. Meanwhile, [Y/n] finally reached for his own glass, his eyes never stopping their constant scan of the room. Because while everyone else was settling in to enjoy the evening, his job had only just begun.
As servants began circulating through the hall carrying silver platters and steaming dishes, the banquet's atmosphere shifted into something louder and more relaxed. Nobles resumed their conversations. Glasses clinked. Laughter spread between tables. It was exactly the kind of distraction [Y/n] had been waiting for. While most of the room focused on the arrival of food, he finally moved. From a distance, it looked completely innocent. The Chief Strategist leaned slightly toward the Fire Lord, one hand briefly reaching toward the edge of Zuko's sleeve as though adjusting a fold in the formal robes. It was the sort of small gesture nobody would question. Especially not after half the room had already spent the evening gossiping about how close the two of them were.
Without looking directly at him, and making sure his mouth was hidden from anyone in the crowd reading his lips, [Y/n] quietly repeated the information Jee had given him earlier. The words lasted only a few seconds, exactly the way sensitive information should be delivered. Across the hall, nobody seemed to notice. To everyone else, it looked like a minor adjustment to the Fire Lord's attire. Nothing more.
Yet despite the significance of what he'd just heard, Zuko's expression never changed. Not even slightly. Years of court life had made him far too good at that. The Fire Lord simply continued looking forward as though listening to the conversation taking place further down the table. Only the slightest shift of his eyes acknowledged that he had heard every word. Then, equally quietly:
"Understood."
A moment later, [Y/n] straightened again and returned his attention to the feast. Zuko did the same, as though nothing had been said at all.
The feast had barely been underway for fifteen minutes before the first noble approached the head table. [Y/n] almost admired the audacity. Almost. Traditionally, the dinner portion of a banquet was meant for eating, speeches, and polite conversation. The actual networking, political manoeuvring, and shameless social climbing were supposed to happen during the ball afterwards. Apparently, several nobles had decided waiting was for cowards. One by one, they began finding excuses to drift toward the head table.
Some approached Aang. Others attempted to speak with Kuei or Hakoda. Most eventually found their way toward either Zuko or [Y/n]. The Chief Strategist maintained a flawless professional smile through all of it. He listened politely while one noble spent five minutes describing a trade proposal so transparently self-serving that it bordered on parody. Another attempted to subtly suggest that a strategic partnership between their family and the Fire Nation could be strengthened through marriage. A third somehow worked his daughter's accomplishments into every sentence despite her not being present for the conversation. Throughout all of it, [Y/n] nodded at appropriate moments, offered diplomatic responses, and resisted the increasingly strong urge to launch himself through the nearest window.
Unfortunately, some conversations were worse than others.
One noble from a wealthy Fire Nation family leaned in with a laugh and remarked that it was a shame such a handsome young ruler had been "ruined by that hideous scar." The words were delivered with the casual cruelty of someone who had never been told "no" in their entire life. For one brief moment, [Y/n] forgot he was at a banquet. His hand tightened around his wine glass. Every instinct he possessed urged him to stand up and introduce the man's face to the nearest wall. Instead, years of political experience saved him from committing murder in front of several hundred witnesses. The professional smile remained exactly where it was. The noble never noticed the danger he'd been in. Across the table, however, Zuko's expression cooled noticeably. Aang looked disturbed. Katara looked mortified by the audacity. Sokka nearly choked on his drink. Toph looked seconds away from starting a fight. Meanwhile, [Y/n] calmly replied that the Fire Lord's scar was a symbol of survival, resilience, and strength before politely moving the conversation elsewhere.
Internally, he added the noble to a growing mental list titled People I'm Gonna Hunt Down Once This Banquet Shit Ends.
Despite the endless interruptions, his attention never stopped moving. Every time a conversation ended, his eyes immediately resumed their sweep of the hall. While outwardly engaged in the endless parade of nobles, [Y/n]'s attention remained divided in half. One part of his mind continued scanning the banquet hall, tracking movements, faces, entrances, and exits. The other remained focused on the head table itself. Years of strategy work had taught him how to listen without appearing to listen. It was a useful skill when seated among some of the most powerful people in the world. Hakoda and Malina were discussing trade routes with one of the Northern Water Tribe leaders. Sokka was trying to plan out his next invention before Katara intervened. Toph was tormenting an Earth Kingdom official for her own amusement. All perfectly normal.
The conversations involving Kuei, however, received considerably more of his attention.
The Earth King sat several seats down the table, looking considerably more comfortable than he had during the Southern Water Tribe summit. He was engaged in polite discussion with various diplomats and officials while occasionally directing questions toward members of the Fire Nation court. Beside him, the Dai Li agent remained almost unnaturally composed. The man rarely spoke unless directly addressed. When he did, his answers were concise, respectful, and carefully chosen. It was exactly the sort of behaviour that made [Y/n] suspicious. He'd met enough politicians to recognise someone measuring every word before speaking it. More than once, he caught the agent quietly leaning toward Kuei to offer advice or clarification. Nothing inappropriate. Nothing suspicious. Yet [Y/n] still found himself listening more closely whenever the man spoke.
As another noble approached the head table and began attempting to impress Aang, [Y/n] used the distraction to subtly shift his attention again. His eyes continued their steady sweep of the room while his ears remained tuned toward the Earth Kingdom delegation. Every so often, the Dai Li agent's gaze would travel across the hall, studying the crowd much the same way [Y/n] was. The observation did little to ease the strategist's concerns. In fact, it only made him pay closer attention. Either the man was simply doing his job and protecting his king, or he was looking for the same thing [Y/n] was. Considering the information Jee had delivered earlier and the preparations already quietly unfolding throughout the hall, [Y/n] wasn't entirely sure which possibility he preferred. So he continued listening, watching, and waiting, maintaining his calm professional expression while every instinct he possessed remained focused on the possibility that tonight's real event had not yet begun.
Eventually, even the longest banquet dinner had to end.
The final courses were cleared away. Conversations gradually quieted. The endless stream of nobles attempting to impress important people finally slowed as servants moved throughout the hall, collecting dishes and preparing for the next stage of the evening. Then, at precisely the moment everyone expected, the Grand Chamberlain stepped forward once more. The older man's appearance immediately drew attention from every corner of the room. Conversations ceased. Chairs stopped scraping against the floor. Hundreds of eyes turned toward the head table. Beside him, Zuko rose smoothly to his feet.
"Thank you all once again for joining us this evening." He began, his voice once again carrying easily through the hall. "I hope you have enjoyed your meals and your time within the Fire Nation." A polite murmur of agreement followed. The Fire Lord smiled faintly before continuing. "And now, I would like to invite everyone to join us in the ballroom for the remainder of the evening." His gaze swept across the crowd. "I know many of you have been eagerly awaiting it."
The response was immediate; laughter, smiles, excited whispers. Several nobles looked significantly more enthusiastic now than they had during the speeches. The Chamberlain looked personally vindicated. Around the hall, guests began rising from their seats, though etiquette dictated that nobody leave until the head table did so first.
Zuko stepped away from the throne and descended from the raised platform. Immediately, [Y/n] and Aang fell into step beside him. The Fire Lord, flanked by the two people most associated with his reign: the Avatar on one side and his Chief Strategist on the other. Behind them came the rest of the head table. Hakoda and Malina. Katara and Sokka. Toph. Kuei. The Northern Water Tribe delegation. Ursa, Iroh, Noren, and Kiyi. Together, they crossed the hall while the assembled guests respectfully waited for them to pass.
Once the head table had exited, the floodgates opened. Nobles, diplomats, merchants, officers, and dignitaries all began making their way toward the adjoining ballroom. The connecting chamber had already been transformed for the occasion. Music filled the air before most people even entered. Elegant lanterns bathed the room in warm gold and crimson light. Servants circulated with trays of drinks while dozens of small tables lined the walls.
At the centre stood an enormous open dance floor that seemed specifically designed to trap [Y/n] in his own personal nightmare. The strategist took one look at it and immediately felt his soul trying to leave his body. He already knew exactly what was coming. Endless conversations. Political manoeuvring. Nobles attempting to recruit him. Nobles attempting to recruit Zuko. Nobles attempting to marry off their children. More gossip. More smiling. More pretending to enjoy himself. Internally, he grimaced. Externally, not a single hint of it appeared on his face. The calm, composed mask of the Chief Strategist remained firmly in place as he followed the Fire Lord into the ballroom and prepared himself for battle. Just a different kind than usual.
As the final nobles filtered into the ballroom and found their places around the edges of the room, the atmosphere shifted once again. The musicians, who had spent the evening providing soft background melodies, smoothly transitioned into something more structured. The opening notes of a formal dance echoed through the chamber. This was another tradition everyone knew. The first dance would belong to the highest-ranking guests before the floor opened to everyone else.
Without hesitation, Lady Ursa stepped forward and offered her hand to her son. Zuko accepted it immediately. The pair moved toward the centre of the ballroom together, drawing countless eyes. Around them, other guests began finding their own partners. Aang offered his hand to Katara, who accepted with a smile. Sokka somehow managed to convince Toph to join him. Kiyi immediately attached herself to Noren. Hakoda and Malina stepped together naturally. Kuei found himself paired with one of the Northern Water Tribe officials.
[Y/n] was just beginning to wonder if he could somehow disappear into a wall when Mai appeared beside him. [Y/n] looked over. Mai looked back. Neither spoke. Neither needed to. After several seconds, Mai sighed. If they both had to do this, at least they could hate it together.
"Don't make this weird."
"I wasn't planning to."
"You look like you're planning to."
"I always look like this."
"Fair."
Without further discussion, Mai offered her hand. [Y/n] accepted it. The pair moved toward the floor together. Neither looked particularly excited about it. Which somehow made them one of the most relaxed pairs present. By the time they reached their position, the dance had already begun. Zuko and Ursa moved gracefully at the centre while the others formed around them. [Y/n] settled into the familiar rhythm of the steps beside Mai. The movements had been drilled into him since he'd returned after Zuko lifted Sozin's various bans on celebration, which resulted in the Grand Chamberlain insisting that every noble needed to know them. Unfortunately, that meant he was actually good at it.
"I hate this." Mai muttered flatly.
"Me too." [Y/n] agreed. The dance carried them smoothly across the floor while countless nobles watched from the edges. Around them, the rest of the hall began pairing off as well, lower-ranking guests joining the dance once the opening formation was established. Before long, the ballroom was filled with movement, swirling colours, and elegant music. Meanwhile, [Y/n] maintained his calm expression and continued dancing with Mai while quietly counting the number of political disasters he expected to happen before the evening was over. The answer was unfortunately higher than he'd like.
The dance continued to flow across the ballroom as it always did. The formal opening pairs lasted only so long before the choreography began, encouraging people to separate and rotate. Partners drifted apart, crossed paths with others, exchanged hands, and moved through the crowd in carefully practised patterns. Around the room, nobles eagerly used the opportunity to place themselves near whoever they wanted to speak with next. The musicians never missed a beat as the entire floor shifted and changed around them. At one point, Aang found himself standing opposite Zuko. Both paused for a fraction of a second before continuing the dance. The Avatar looked far too amused by the situation.
"Sifu Hotman." He greeted with a grin. Zuko immediately looked offended.
"Don't start." Zuko replied through a strained smile. Aang laughed as they moved through the next series of steps. Nearby, Katara was unsuccessfully attempting not to laugh at Zuko's suffering. Elsewhere, Sokka and Hakoda somehow ended up paired together for several moments, which resulted in both of them looking equally confused. Toph was clearly having the time of her life purely because everyone else looked uncomfortable. Mai rotated away from [Y/n] without a word. Meanwhile, [Y/n] found himself looking down in confusion as Kiyi suddenly appeared in front of him. Before he could react, she stepped directly onto his feet.
"There." She declared in victory. [Y/n] blinked. "Now I don't have to reach." The princess looked entirely pleased with herself. Several nearby nobles immediately melted at the sight. [Y/n] decided to let the professionalism drop for a moment and offered the girl a sincere smile. He carefully took her hands in his and continued moving through the dance while Kiyi stood on his shoes.
Across the floor, Zuko spotted them. The Fire Lord immediately failed to suppress a smile. Kiyi noticed. And waved enthusiastically. Unfortunately, that only made more people look. [Y/n] maintained his professional expression under their sudden gazes with the determination of a man fighting for his life while the dance carried them onward.
Around them, partners continued changing. The music continued. The nobles continued scheming. And somewhere beneath all of it, [Y/n] continued scanning the ballroom, never quite allowing himself to forget why so many preparations had been put into place tonight. Even while dancing with a princess standing on his feet.
The dance carried [Y/n] through what felt like half the ballroom. One moment, he was dancing with the daughter of a wealthy merchant who spent the entire time trying to subtly determine whether he was single while he felt the Fire lord boring holes into the back of his head until the partners changed. The next, he found himself with an elderly Fire Nation noble who somehow turned a dance into a discussion about shipping tariffs. After that came another noblewoman, then Sokka, who immediately greeted him with a grin and asked if he'd finally surrendered and agreed to marry one of the nobles yet. [Y/n] informed him that if he asked again, he'd feed him to Appa. Sokka seemed delighted by this answer. The next exchange left him opposite Admiral Jee, who maintained a perfectly serious expression while dancing and quietly remarked that this was somehow less stressful than military command. [Y/n] informed him that he strongly disagreed. Eventually, he found himself opposite Iroh, who looked entirely too pleased by everything happening around him. The retired general spent the entire dance smiling knowingly at him until [Y/n] became deeply suspicious and immediately rotated away before Iroh could say whatever terrible thing he was clearly planning.
The next turn of the dance brought him face-to-face with Kuei. For a moment, both men looked mildly surprised. Then they exchanged the polite smiles expected of two prominent political figures and settled into the dance.
"Chief Strategist."
"Your Majesty."
The greetings were perfectly cordial. Perfectly professional. And horrendously awkward. Kuei had never been difficult to speak with, but [Y/n] still found himself instinctively cautious around him. Part of that came from years of politics. The other part came from the fact that the Earth King was accompanied almost everywhere by that Dai Li agent.
"I must say, the palace looks wonderful tonight." Kuei praised, and [Y/n] inclined his head.
"A lot of people worked very hard to make sure of that."
"Including yourself, I imagine."
"Unfortunately."
Kuei laughed softly. The conversation continued as the music guided them across the ballroom. They kept the topics safe; the weather, trade, travel, the state of reconstruction projects in former war zones. Nothing controversial. Nothing dangerous. Yet [Y/n] couldn't help noticing the slight strain beneath it all; not hostility, just caution. Both men choosing their words carefully. Both aware of the political weight attached to almost everything they said. As they passed near the edge of the ballroom, [Y/n]'s eyes briefly flicked toward the Dai Li agent standing nearby. The man was watching the dance floor. Or at least appeared to be.
A moment later, [Y/n]'s attention returned to Kuei before the Earth King could notice the distraction. The conversation continued smoothly. The dance continued smoothly. And yet something about the exchange left [Y/n] feeling as though both of them were quietly waiting for the other to address something neither was quite willing to bring up first. As the dance carried them across the ballroom, [Y/n] offered the Earth King a small smile.
"I have to say, Your Majesty, it's good to see you looking so well." Kuei blinked before returning the smile.
"Thank you." For a moment, he seemed to hesitate. Then his expression became slightly more serious. "Actually... there is something I've been meaning to say." [Y/n] raised an eyebrow but motioned for him to continue. The Earth King cleared his throat. "I owe you an apology for my behaviour at the Southern Water Tribe summit." The admission caught [Y/n] slightly off guard. "The accusations regarding the Fire Nation and the attacks." Kuei shook his head. "I allowed my fears and past grievances to get the better of me." A faint look of embarrassment crossed his features. "You were attempting to help, and I made assumptions." [Y/n] was quiet for a moment before shaking his head.
"It's fine." Kuei looked surprised. The strategist's expression softened slightly. "Honestly, I understand."
"You do?"
"Of course." [Y/n] shrugged lightly as the dance guided them through another turn. "When something threatens your people, you're supposed to ask difficult questions." His gaze briefly swept the ballroom again before returning to the Earth King. "If there's even a chance someone might be responsible, you investigate." Another small shrug. "You protect your people first." For the first time since the conversation began, Kuei looked genuinely thoughtful. The words seemed to settle somewhere deep in his mind.
"Protect your people..." He repeated the phrase quietly, almost to himself.
"It's the responsibility of anyone who holds command." [Y/n] nodded. The Earth King was silent for several moments. Then, slowly, he nodded back.
"Yes." The answer came with more certainty than before. "I suppose it is." A faint smile appeared. Not quite relieved. Not quite happy. Just understanding. Then the dance shifted again. The choreography carried them apart as new partners rotated into place. Kuei offered a final nod of respect before moving on. [Y/n] returned it. And just like that, the conversation ended.
Yet as he stepped into the next sequence of movements, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. His eyes drifted toward the edge of the ballroom. Sure enough, the Dai Li agent was there. The man's expression remained as unreadable as ever. And yet [Y/n] could feel those eyes following him, studying him, measuring him. The sensation lingered even after he looked away. For a brief moment, the strategist considered approaching him directly later and asking what exactly his problem was. Then he remembered he was at a royal banquet surrounded by hundreds of nobles and reluctantly decided that perhaps starting a confrontation with a Dai Li agent in the middle of the ballroom would be considered poor etiquette.
So instead, he continued dancing, continued smiling, continued playing his part. While quietly making a note to keep an even closer eye on the Earth Kingdom delegation for the rest of the evening.
[Y/n] had barely escaped the last dance partner when the music carried him into the next exchange. The woman had spent the entire dance attempting to steer every conversation toward herself, her family, her accomplishments, and her very obvious interest in securing a position closer to the Fire Nation court. By the end, [Y/n] was seriously considering throwing himself into the refreshments table. So when the choreography finally separated them, he nearly celebrated. Outwardly, however, he simply offered a polite bow and moved on.
Then he met his next partner. The man looked to be a few years older than him. Dark hair. Orange eyes. Well-dressed. Perfect posture. And completely unfamiliar.
Immediately, every alarm bell in [Y/n]'s head began ringing.
Not because he recognised him.
Because he didn't.
[Y/n] knew the major noble families. The influential merchants. The governors. The military officers. The ambitious heirs. He had spent months studying dossiers and guest lists for this banquet. A face like this should have triggered a memory. Instead, there was nothing. Which was far worse. Still, his expression never changed. The professional smile remained perfectly in place as they settled into the next sequence of steps.
"Chief Strategist."
"My lord."
The exchange was entirely normal. Yet [Y/n] found himself studying the man's face. The sensation was familiar. Like recognising a piece on a Pai Sho board that had been placed one space wrong. The man introduced himself.
"Takumi." A slight inclination of the head. And suddenly the feeling crystallised. [Y/n]'s mind instantly flashed back to what Jee had whispered to him. [Y/n] knew Lord Takumi. Not personally. But he'd read enough reports, dossiers, tax records, family histories, trade agreements, and political summaries over the last month to recognise the name immediately.
The man in front of him was close. Very close. The same hair and eye colour. The same general features. The same noble bearing. But he wasn't Lord Takumi. Or at least, he shouldn't be.
Because Lord Takumi was older. Noticeably older. The man before him looked at least five years too young. Maybe more. Not enough for an ordinary person to notice. More than enough for a strategist who had spent months memorising the faces and biographies of every important noble attending the banquet.
The realisation hit instantly. And just as instantly, [Y/n] buried it. His smile never changed. His posture remained relaxed. His pulse didn't even quicken. If the stranger was pretending to be Lord Takumi, then the worst thing [Y/n] could do was let him know he'd been caught. So instead, he smiled politely.
"Of course." The lie came effortlessly. "I've heard of you." The stranger smiled back. And somehow that made him seem even more dangerous. "It's wonderful to finally meet you." The dance carried them through another turn. Takumi's eyes drifted downward toward the amulet pinned above [Y/n]'s heart. The royal crest gleamed beneath the ballroom lights.
"A lovely piece."
"Thank you." [Y/n] glanced down briefly. He already knew why the man had mentioned it. The same reason half the ballroom had been staring at it all evening. Not because of the craftsmanship, but because of what it represented. Takumi's smile remained pleasant. Almost friendly. Then he leaned in slightly. Just enough.
"The Fire Lord must be very attached to you." There it was. The first real probe. Not a compliment. Not an observation. A test. [Y/n] felt the threat hidden beneath the words immediately. A fishing line cast into dark water, waiting to see what surfaced. Still, his expression never changed.
"I wouldn't put it that way." The answer was deliberately vague, neither confirming nor denying anything. Takumi's eyes gleamed slightly. As though he'd expected exactly that response. Then, without warning, the man shifted, subtly taking control of the dance. The change was smooth enough that most people wouldn't even notice it. [Y/n] certainly did. And judging by the look in Takumi's eyes, he knew that [Y/n] had noticed. The man took control of the conversation just as effortlessly.
"I've heard quite a lot about you." His tone remained casual. Almost conversational. "The famous Chief Strategist." The smile widened. "And, of course..." His eyes never left [Y/n]'s. "Your family." For the first time since the conversation began, something cold settled in [Y/n]'s stomach. Not fear. Recognition. Because that wasn't the sort of topic someone stumbled into accidentally. Especially not here. Especially not after introducing himself as someone he certainly wasn't. And as the music carried them across the ballroom floor, [Y/n] found himself smiling politely back at the stranger while every instinct he possessed quietly shifted from suspicious to dangerous.
To anyone watching, it looked like nothing more than another noble exchanging polite conversation with the Fire Nation's Chief Strategist. The reality was considerably less pleasant. From the moment he'd introduced himself, 'Takumi' had controlled everything. The pace. The direction. The topics. Every attempt [Y/n] made to steer the discussion elsewhere was redirected with such subtle precision that most people would never have noticed it.
[Y/n] knew exactly what was happening. And judging by the faint amusement lingering in the stranger's eyes, so did he. The conversation shifted again. This time toward Zuko. The transition was so smooth it almost deserved praise.
"Your Fire Lord seems to trust you greatly."
"I would hope so." [Y/n] smiled politely, though he immediately felt his stomach twist the moment the stranger brought up Zuko.
"Of course." The stranger nodded. "Trust is difficult to earn."
"It is."
"And yet you've earned an exceptional amount of it." [Y/n] said nothing. The dance carried them through another turn. The man's smile never wavered. "Most rulers would kill for an advisor with your reputation." A compliment on the surface. Nothing more. The implication beneath it was considerably sharper. [Y/n] felt it immediately. Just as he'd felt every other probe since the conversation began. He responded exactly as expected.
"The Fire Lord values many people." A perfectly harmless answer. A perfectly useless answer. The stranger's eyes gleamed slightly. As though he appreciated the effort. Or perhaps simply enjoyed watching it.
"Your family has always been fascinating." The words were casual. Too casual. [Y/n]'s expression never changed. The stranger continued. "Their history. Their reputation. Their influence." The smile widened slightly. "Such a remarkable legacy." There it was. The real conversation. Not Zuko. Not politics. Not trade. Not strategy.
This.
[Y/n]'s family. His uncle. His name. His past. The thing half the nobility whispered about whenever they thought he wasn't listening. The thing the stranger had been circling toward since the beginning. And the worst part was that both of them knew exactly what was happening. Neither needed to acknowledge it. Neither needed to say it aloud. The dance floor itself protected the stranger. Because [Y/n] couldn't make a scene. Not here. Not tonight. Not in front of foreign dignitaries. Not with hundreds of nobles watching. And the stranger knew it.
The realisation sat coldly in his stomach. Not because he felt trapped. Because his opponent understood the board. This wasn't a sword fight. It wasn't an assassination attempt. It wasn't even a political debate. It was a conversation. And in a conversation like this, the first person to lose control lost.
So [Y/n] smiled. The same polite smile he'd worn all evening. The same calm expression he'd perfected years ago. And continued dancing. Because if 'Takumi' wanted to play this game, then he would play it. For now. But beneath the pleasant conversation and elegant music, both men were already measuring each other. And neither had any intention of being the first to blink.
The conversation continued. The dance continued. And beneath both, [Y/n]'s mind worked furiously. His attention remained fixed on "Takumi," but not exclusively. Every few seconds, his eyes found another face in the crowd. Another guest. Another noble. Another person who should have matched the dossier he'd spent months memorising but didn't. Not by much; a slightly different age, a different scar, a different build. Nothing obvious enough for most people to notice. Nothing obvious enough to raise alarms on its own. Yet there were too many. One discrepancy could be a mistake. Two could be a coincidence.
Eight wasn't a coincidence. Eight was a plan. The realisation hit him like a bucket of ice water.
Immediately, he knew exactly which one. Not because he'd seen it before. Because he'd helped dismantle versions of it. His uncle had always loved misdirection. False names. False faces. False targets. Create enough uncertainty, and people will stop trusting what they saw.
Eight replacements scattered throughout a crowded ballroom filled with hundreds of guests. Enough to cause confusion. Enough to position people where they needed to be. Enough to make identifying the real threat nearly impossible.
With each one he saw, he felt himself tapping his foot on the stone beneath him.
The moment the pattern clicked into place, [Y/n] felt something cold settle in his chest. Not fear; understanding. And understanding was often worse. Because now he knew exactly what kind of game he was playing. Unfortunately, 'Takumi' was still leading. The man guided the dance effortlessly, steering both the conversation and their position within the ballroom. At first, the movement seemed natural. Then [Y/n] noticed the pattern. Every turn brought them farther from the centre. Every exchange carried them closer to the edges. Closer to the walls. Closer to the quieter sections of the room where conversations couldn't easily be overheard. Closer to the back corner.
[Y/n] knew exactly what was happening. And more importantly, he knew exactly why. The music carried them through another rotation. Another step. Another gradual shift away from the crowd. Then 'Takumi' smiled. The expression never reached his eyes.
"Perhaps..." He said pleasantly. "Your answers are so cautious because of the audience." [Y/n] said nothing. The man continued anyway. "A conversation like this deserves privacy." There it was. Not a request. Not really. An invitation disguised as one. A threat disguised as an invitation. The sort of thing that allowed plausible deniability afterwards.
If [Y/n] refused, things became difficult.
If he accepted, things became dangerous.
And both of them knew it.
The strategist's mind immediately began searching for alternatives. Excuses. Interruptions. Anything. Then 'Takumi' glanced elsewhere. Only for a moment. A tiny movement. Barely noticeable. But deliberate.
[Y/n] followed it automatically. And immediately felt sick.
Kiyi.
Still dancing. Still laughing. Still completely unaware. And the man partnered with her; [Y/n] didn't recognise him. Another one. One of the eight. His stomach dropped. The message couldn't have been clearer if it had been written across the ballroom wall.
Come willingly.
Or we find another way.
Slowly, he turned back, meeting "Takumi's" smile once more. The bastard knew he'd won that exchange. Not the game. Just the exchange. [Y/n] hated him for it. Hated himself for understanding. Then he let out a slow breath. And sighed. His foot tapped lightly against the floor again. Once. Twice. Three times. A rhythm. A signal hidden within the dance. Tiny. Subtle. Easy to miss.
Unless someone was specifically waiting for it.
Then the professional mask returned. Not a trace of what he was thinking showed on his face.
"Very well." The smile he offered was almost convincing. "I suppose a private conversation couldn't hurt." 'Takumi' smiled wider.
"Excellent." The dance carried them through one final turn. Then, during the confusion of another partner exchange and shifting crowd, the two men drifted toward one of the ballroom's rear exits.
Nobody stopped them. Nobody questioned them. To the hundreds of guests still focused on dancing, music, politics, and gossip, it looked like nothing more than two nobles stepping away for a discussion. And so, with his expression perfectly calm and his stomach twisting itself into knots, [Y/n] slipped out of the ballroom alongside the false Lord Takumi. Leaving the music behind. Leaving the crowd behind. And walking willingly into a trap he had recognised from the very beginning.
The moment the ballroom doors swung shut behind them, the music vanished. The laughter. The conversations. The clinking glasses. All of it was abruptly muffled by thick palace walls.
One second, [Y/n] was walking beside 'Takumi' through a dimly lit corridor. The next, stone shot upward from the floor. His hands were ripped behind his back. A slab of earth snapped around his wrists before he could even react. Another surged toward his face. [Y/n] managed a startled grunt before it sealed over his mouth, turning the sound into a muffled noise. The entire ambush happened in less than a heartbeat. His foot caught on the floor as momentum carried him forward, nearly sending him sprawling.
For a split second, pure instinct screamed at him to fight. Lightning. Elbow. Headbutt. Anything. Then he forced himself to stop. Because the fact that he'd been grabbed so quickly told him something important. This wasn't an amateur operation. And acting too soon would only get people hurt. Especially if they still had agents inside the ballroom. The realisation flashed through his mind as he straightened and immediately found himself staring into a familiar face.
The Dai Li agent.
The same one who had spent the entire evening beside Kuei. The same one who tried putting suspicion on him during the summit. The same one who had been watching him throughout the dance. The same one who now looked back at him with none of the politeness he'd displayed earlier. Just cold professionalism. Nothing more.
And in that moment, [Y/n] noticed something else. Something he'd been suspecting since dinner. Something that instantly confirmed it.
Kuei wasn't there.
Not nearby. Not behind them. Not waiting at the end of the hallway. Nowhere. A quiet suspicion he'd carried since the banquet began finally settled into certainty: the Earth King had never been involved. Not knowingly, anyway. The Dai Li agent wasn't acting on Kuei's orders.
Beside him, 'Takumi' finally dropped the pleasant noble façade he'd worn all evening. The smile vanished. The posture changed. Even the way he carried himself shifted. Gone was the charming young lord. What remained looked considerably more dangerous. Without a word, he shoved [Y/n] forward. Hard. The strategist stumbled another step. The stone covering his mouth prevented any protest beyond an irritated sound. The false noble ignored it completely.
As they moved deeper into the corridor, [Y/n]'s eyes immediately began searching for guards. The hallways surrounding the ballroom should have been crawling with them. Instead, he found nothing. No guards. No servants. No witnesses. Beside him, 'Takumi' glanced down one corridor, then another, before a pleased smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Looks like we got lucky." The comment immediately told [Y/n] what he needed to know. This hadn't been a carefully secured route. They hadn't cleared the hallways. They hadn't infiltrated the entire palace security force. The man was simply pleased he'd managed to find a stretch of corridor that happened to be empty. Satisfied, he pushed [Y/n] onward. Bound, gagged, and unable to protest, the strategist allowed himself to stumble forward while his mind raced.
The corridor grew quieter. The music from the ballroom faded into the distance. Eventually, 'Takumi' stopped before a small side room tucked away from the main palace halls. And before [Y/n] could properly assess the interior, he was shoved inside. The strategist stumbled forward and caught himself before falling. A second later, the Dai Li agent entered. Then 'Takumi'. The door shut behind them. The click of the latch sounded deafening in the silence.
Silence settled over the small room. And despite the restraints digging into his wrists and the stone gag covering his mouth, [Y/n] found himself feeling considerably calmer than either of his captors realised.
Slowly, [Y/n]'s gaze moved between the two men. The false noble. The Dai Li agent. Neither looked particularly nervous. Neither looked rushed. Which meant they believed they were in control. That thought almost made him smile. Because if there was one thing [Y/n] had learned from years of strategy, it was that the most dangerous moment in any operation was when someone became convinced they had already won.
And judging by the confidence currently written across both men's faces, they were about to make that mistake.
For several long moments, neither man said anything. The Dai Li agent remained near the door, arms folded as though standing guard. 'Takumi' simply stood there, studying him. The silence felt deliberate, as though he was waiting for some kind of reaction. Fear. Panic. Anger. Anything. When none came, a faint smirk appeared on his face. Slowly, he crouched down until they were eye level. Then, without warning, he grabbed a fistful of [Y/n]'s hair and yanked hard enough to force his head upward. Pain shot across the strategist's scalp, drawing a muffled grunt from behind the stone gag. The man ignored it completely. He turned [Y/n]'s head slightly one way and then the other, examining him like a merchant inspecting a purchase before deciding whether it was worth the price.
"You know..." He mused, the smirk widening, "I've spent months hearing stories about you." His grip tightened again. "The famous Chief Strategist. The genius who keeps ruining operations. The man who somehow became the Fire Lord's right hand." Every title was delivered with increasing mockery. His eyes travelled over [Y/n] again, disappointment beginning to replace amusement. "Honestly, I was expecting more." He gave another sharp tug on his hair. "A monster. A mastermind. Someone worth worrying about." The false noble laughed quietly to himself. "Instead, I find someone who followed me out of a ballroom without putting up much of a fight." He leaned back slightly, still holding [Y/n] by the hair, his expression settling into something almost petulant.
"My boss was wrong." The words dripped with disappointment. "I expected better." He shook his head as though genuinely let down by what he saw. "For all the praise I've heard, this is it?" Another laugh escaped him. Meanwhile, despite the pain in his scalp, the restraints around his wrists, and the stone covering his mouth, [Y/n] simply stared back at him. Completely unimpressed. Completely unafraid. And somehow that seemed to irritate 'Takumi' far more than any struggle or protest ever could. 'Takumi' studied him for another moment before a knowing look crossed his face.
"Ah." The sound was almost amused. "I get it now." His grip remained tangled in [Y/n]'s hair as he leaned back slightly. "The strategist. The genius. The Fire Lord's trusted advisor." He laughed quietly to himself. "What a load of bullshit." The smirk widened. "You only got the job because that bastard has a soft spot for you." The words were designed to provoke. To get a reaction. To make [Y/n] lose his composure. Despite himself, the strategist felt something tighten in his chest at the mention of Zuko. Not fear. Not even concern. Just the instinctive reaction that came whenever someone dragged the Fire Lord into something. He forced himself not to react. Forced himself to keep staring back with the same unimpressed expression. Unfortunately, the slight narrowing of his eyes seemed to tell 'Takumi' enough.
The false noble's grin widened further. Then his gaze drifted downward. Immediately, it landed on the amulet pinned above [Y/n]'s heart. The royal crest gleamed faintly in the dim light of the room.
"Well, now..." He mused. Slowly, he released [Y/n]'s hair and reached forward. Before the strategist could do anything about it, his fingers hooked beneath the chain and ripped it free from his robes. The sudden absence left an unpleasant feeling in [Y/n]'s stomach. 'Takumi' examined it for a moment before letting out a low whistle. "Fancy." He tossed the amulet into the air. The gold spun twice before landing neatly back in his palm. Another toss. Another catch. The man seemed to enjoy every second of it.
"You know..." He said casually, watching the red gem flash beneath the light. "The Fire Lord is going to be so worried." His voice dripped with sarcasm. He tossed it again. Caught it again. "Imagine it." A laugh escaped him. "His precious Chief Strategist disappears. Then this turns up." He spun the amulet between his fingers before slipping it into his pocket. "Poor Fire Lord Zuko." The mock sympathy in his voice was almost unbearable. "I don't know how he'll cope." Meanwhile, [Y/n] simply stared back at him. Not because of the taunts. Not even because of the stolen amulet. But because the idiot genuinely believed things were going according to plan. And that, more than anything else, was about to become a very serious problem for him.
The complete lack of reaction clearly wasn't what 'Takumi' had been hoping for. His smug expression faltered for just a moment before irritation replaced it. He stared at [Y/n] for several seconds, as though waiting for fear to finally appear. When it didn't, he clicked his tongue in annoyance and stood.
"You know..." He muttered, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeves. "For someone in your position, you're disappointingly difficult to intimidate." The strategist merely stared back at him from behind the stone gag. Whatever expression he was making, it wasn't the one 'Takumi' wanted. The false noble eventually gave up trying to get a reaction and turned toward the Dai Li agent instead. "Make sure our guest is comfortable."
Without a word, the agent obeyed. His hands moved sharply. Immediately, the stone restraints around [Y/n]'s wrists constricted. The pressure increased enough to make the joints ache. Another movement caused a nearby stone sculpture to come apart and tighten into bindings around his arms, shoulders and ankles. The stone gag shifted slightly, making it even more difficult to move his jaw. 'Takumi' watched the process with visible satisfaction.
"There." His smirk returned. "Much better." He mockingly patted [Y/n]'s cheek, covered in stone, before he made his way toward the door, stopping with one hand on the handle before glancing back over his shoulder. "Try not to go anywhere." The mockery dripped from every word. "I'd hate for you to ruin things before the Fire Lord gets involved." His grin widened. "Besides, killing you without him present would spoil all the fun." With that, he opened the door and stepped through, his laughter echoing briefly down the corridor before the door swung shut behind him.
Silence settled over the room once more. Only the Dai Li agent remained. He stood near the wall, watchful and tense, clearly believing himself to be guarding a helpless prisoner. Bound. Gagged. Completely under control. [Y/n] slowly lowered his gaze toward the floor to hide the expression threatening to break through. Because despite the aching restraints and the stone still covering his mouth, he could feel a smile trying to form. The kind that appeared when a Pai Sho match finally unfolded exactly as predicted. The kind that appeared when an opponent confidently stepped into a trap they hadn't even realised existed.
By now, the pieces were moving. The signals had been sent. Every glance and tap of his foot within the ballroom was paying off. The others would be acting. Every second that passed brought the Burning Eye closer to the moment everything unravelled. And judging by how confident his captors still looked, neither of them had the slightest idea just how badly things were about to go for them.
~*~
Back in the ballroom, the music continued uninterrupted. Nobles laughed. Partners exchanged. Glasses clinked. To anyone watching, the evening remained as elegant and orderly as ever. Only one person in the room seemed unaffected by the festivities.
Zuko continued moving through the dance with flawless precision, his expression calm and composed as he rotated through partner after partner. The mask of the Fire Lord remained firmly in place. Nobody would have guessed anything was wrong.
Except it was.
Because [Y/n] wasn't where he was supposed to be. The strategist had vanished several minutes ago. Not unusual on its own. [Y/n] frequently disappeared to handle problems. Investigate concerns. Deal with ministers. But not tonight. Not after the information Jee had delivered. Not after the signals that had been exchanged throughout the evening. And definitely not without informing somebody.
Zuko continued moving through the dance exactly as expected of him. He smiled when spoken to. Exchanged polite conversation when necessary. Rotated through partners with practised grace. To every noble watching, the Fire Lord looked perfectly composed. Perfectly calm. Perfectly in control.
But every time the dance shifted, his eyes automatically swept the crowd. Every turn. Every rotation. Every change in partner. He searched for a familiar head of hair. A familiar pair of eyes. A familiar smile. And every time he failed to find them, a small knot of concern tightened further in his stomach.
The worst part was that he couldn't do anything about it. As Fire Lord, suddenly abandoning the ballroom to go searching for his missing Chief Strategist would be noticed immediately. Nobles would panic. Rumours would spread. Questions would be asked. And if something truly was happening, chaos was the last thing they needed. So instead, he kept dancing. Kept smiling. Kept nodding along to conversations he barely heard. His mind was elsewhere. He found himself remembering the look on [Y/n]'s face earlier in the day when he'd opened the amulet box. The way he'd smiled when he said he wasn't loyal to the Fire Lord, only to Zuko. The memory should have made him happy. Instead, all it did was remind him that the person he wanted to see most wasn't standing beside him.
By the time another song began, the pit in his stomach had become impossible to ignore. He trusted [Y/n] more than anyone. If there was a problem, he knew the strategist would handle it, but that didn't stop him from worrying. Zuko's gaze scanned the ballroom again. Still nothing. His expression never changed, but his fingers tightened slightly behind his back as he completed another turn in the dance. Wherever [Y/n] was, Zuko just hoped he was safe. Because if someone had actually managed to hurt him, there weren't enough spirits in the world to save whoever was responsible.
Zuko's eyes swept across the ballroom once again before finally landing on two familiar figures emerging from one of the side exits that led toward the palace gardens. Toph was brushing dirt from her sleeves with absolutely no concern whatsoever while Katara was busy fixing her hairpiece, which looked slightly more dishevelled than it had a few minutes ago. To anyone else, they simply looked like two guests returning from a brief walk outside. Zuko knew better. The sight immediately eased a fraction of the tension in his chest. As if sensing his gaze, Katara looked up. Their eyes met across the ballroom. She didn't smile. Didn't wave. Didn't acknowledge him in any obvious way. Instead, she gave the smallest nod. Once. Then a second. Then a third. A silent signal they'd agreed on beforehand.
Immediately afterwards, she and Toph split apart. Toph wandered toward a group of Earth Kingdom nobles as though nothing unusual had happened, while Katara casually crossed the ballroom in another direction, clearly heading toward her next assignment. Neither rushed. Neither drew attention. They simply melted back into the flow of the banquet like pieces moving across a Pai Sho board exactly as intended.
Zuko slowly released a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. The knot of concern in his stomach remained, but it loosened slightly. [Y/n] was still missing. That part hadn't changed. Yet the signals were still coming. The pieces were still moving. The plan was still unfolding. Somewhere in the palace, the strategist was almost certainly causing problems for whoever had been foolish enough to take him. The thought was reassuring enough to keep the Fire Lord's composure intact for a little while longer. So Zuko straightened his posture, returned his attention to the dance, and trusted the person who had spent months preparing for exactly this kind of situation. He only hoped that wherever [Y/n] was, he was proving just as difficult to deal with as usual.
The next partner exchange came and went in a blur of movement and music. Zuko barely registered who he'd been dancing with before suddenly finding someone new standing opposite him. The young man offered a respectful bow as they fell naturally into the next sequence of steps. Dark hair. Orange eyes. Noble attire. Perfect posture. At first glance, there was nothing particularly unusual about him. Then he smiled politely and introduced himself.
"My Lord. A pleasure. I am Lord Takumi." The name hit like a stone dropped into still water. Instantly, Zuko's thoughts flashed back to the dining hall. To [Y/n] leaning over under the guise of adjusting his robes. To the quiet information whispered into his ear. Outwardly, nothing changed. Years of court life kept every reaction locked firmly behind the mask of the Fire Lord. Inwardly, however, he knew. Still, he smiled. The same polite smile he'd given a hundred nobles already that evening.
"Lord Takumi." The dance carried them through the next movement while Zuko carefully studied him. The resemblance was close. Close enough that most people would never question it. But now that he was looking for it, the differences became impossible to ignore. Too young. The jawline slightly different. The posture subtly wrong. Not enough for ordinary guests to notice. More than enough for someone who'd spent months listening to [Y/n] complain about memorising noble family records. The realisation settled quietly into place. This wasn't Lord Takumi.
Unfortunately for the man standing opposite him, Zuko had no intention of revealing that he knew. So he continued engaging in polite conversation while the false noble attempted to play his role. If 'Takumi' expected suspicion, confrontation, or panic, he found none of it. Only the calm attention of the Fire Lord as they moved through the ballroom. Inside, Zuko was already thinking several moves ahead. If this was the fake, then where was the real Takumi? Where was [Y/n]? And more importantly, how long had the strategist known? The answer was probably longer than anyone else. It usually was. So Zuko simply followed the dance, listened to the conversation, and waited for the inevitable moment when the man in front of him realised he'd walked into exactly the same trap he'd tried to set for someone else.
'Takumi' settled effortlessly into the conversation as the dance carried them across the ballroom. His smile was warm, convincing enough that most people would have believed every word that came out of his mouth.
"I must say, Your Majesty, the Fire Nation has never prospered as much as it has under your reign." He gestured lightly toward the gathered guests. "Trade flourishes. Relations with the other nations improve every year. The people adore you." The praise continued as smoothly as the music itself. "The nation is stronger than ever." Zuko listened with the same polite expression he'd worn throughout countless diplomatic events.
"You're too kind." The response was exactly what the Fire Lord was expected to say. Internally, however, he could smell the lie from a mile away. Every compliment felt rehearsed. Every word carefully selected. The man wasn't speaking because he admired Zuko. He was speaking because he wanted something.
The dance shifted. Couples rotated around them. At some point during the movement, Zuko felt a brief impact against his back. Barely a touch. A single moment of contact before the dancers separated again. To everyone else, it was nothing. A harmless consequence of a crowded ballroom. To Zuko, it meant everything.
Aang.
The Avatar didn't even glance at him as he continued through the dance. He didn't need to. The signal itself was enough. One task completed. One piece of the board secured. Whatever objective Aang had been handling was finished. Zuko felt some of the tension leave his shoulders immediately. Not all of it. Not even close. But enough to remind him that the others were moving exactly as they were supposed to. Across from him, 'Takumi' continued speaking, seemingly unaware of the signal that had just passed behind him.
As the dance carried them through another turn, 'Takumi' smoothly redirected the conversation. The praise for the nation faded away, replaced by something far more specific.
"Of course, a ruler is only as strong as the people beside him." Zuko already knew where this was going. The shift was too deliberate. Too practised. Still, he smiled politely and allowed the conversation to continue. "Your Chief Strategist, for example." The false noble chuckled softly. "His reputation is remarkable. Everywhere I travel, I hear stories about him." Zuko nodded once.
"He's very good at his job."
"Very good might be an understatement." The young man laughed. "A strategist. A diplomat. A bender." His smile widened slightly. "You must consider yourself fortunate to have such a loyal follower." The choice of words immediately made Zuko want to correct him. [Y/n] wasn't a follower. Never had been. He was a friend. A confidant. The person Zuko trusted most in the whole palace. Still, the Fire Lord's expression never changed. He simply inclined his head and allowed the conversation to continue while every instinct in his body screamed that this was the moment the man had been building toward. Sure enough, 'Takumi' leaned in slightly as the dance brought them closer together. His smile never faltered.
"It would be such a shame for the nation if it lost someone like him." There it was. The threat. Hidden beneath polite conversation and diplomatic smiles. Every muscle in his body tightened. For a single dangerous moment, he imagined exactly how satisfying it would be to burn that smug smile off the man's face. The image was vivid enough to almost make him smile. Instead, he forced himself to remain calm. Forced himself to keep dancing. Forced himself to remember the signals from Aang, Katara, and Toph. The plan was still moving.
The smile never left 'Takumi's' face. If anything, it grew. The false noble guided them through another turn of the dance before casually slipping a hand into his pocket. Then he reached forward and took Zuko's hand as part of the next step. Something small and metallic was pressed into his palm. Instantly, before he even looked, Zuko knew. His stomach dropped. Every muscle in his body locked for the briefest fraction of a second. Years of training were the only thing that kept the reaction from showing on his face. Slowly, the dance carried them apart again. 'Takumi' withdrew his hand. Zuko lowered his eyes. And there it was.
The amulet.
The same gold amulet he'd handed to [Y/n] only hours earlier. The same crimson gem. The same royal crest. The same one he'd personally pinned above [Y/n]'s heart.
For a moment, the ballroom seemed to disappear. The music faded. The dancers vanished. The conversations became distant noise. All that remained was the weight of the amulet resting in his palm. Slowly, Zuko closed his fingers around it, like he was afraid someone might take it again.
Across from him, 'Takumi' watched closely, leaning in slightly as the dance brought them together once more.
"You know..." He said softly. "For all the praise I've heard about his abilities..." His smile widened. "I have to admit." He paused for the briefest moment. "I was so disappointed." The words hung between them. An insult. A threat. A challenge. And for one dangerous moment, Zuko genuinely considered setting the man on fire just to see what happened.
Instead, he simply looked down at the amulet once more, felt the familiar weight in his hand, and found himself thinking not about the threat, but about the strategist who had smiled when he'd pinned it over his heart. The thought alone was enough to stop his temper from winning. Barely.
For a brief moment, his eyes slid past 'Takumi's' shoulder, scanning the ballroom. Most of the dancers remained blissfully unaware of the silent battle taking place around them. Then he spotted them; Suki and Kenta were moving along the edge of the dance floor, blending effortlessly into the crowd despite their very different appearances. Neither looked toward him directly. Neither broke stride. Yet just before she disappeared toward one of the side hallways, Suki casually adjusted her fan and brushed two fingers against her wrist. A tiny signal. One that meant exactly what Zuko had hoped it would. The final piece was in motion. Seconds later, both she and Kenta vanished from sight.
Slowly, Zuko looked back at 'Takumi' and smiled. Not the polite smile he'd been wearing all evening. Not the diplomatic smile reserved for nobles. A smug, dangerous smile. Immediately, the false noble froze.
Zuko could see it happen. The hesitation. The confusion. The dawning realisation that something had gone horribly wrong. Because this wasn't how the Fire Lord was supposed to react. He was supposed to be worried, angry, frightened, desperate for answers. Instead, he was smiling. The confidence that had carried 'Takumi' through the evening began to crack, and for the first time since they'd met, uncertainty appeared in his eyes.
Before the man could recover, Zuko stepped forward and smoothly took control of the dance. He pulled 'Takumi' slightly closer during the next movement, close enough that nobody else could hear what he was about to say. The Fire Lord lowered his head slightly and spoke directly into his ear.
"You know..." His voice was calm, almost conversational. "When this is over..." The smile never left his face. "[Y/n] is going to be so glad you were stupid enough to underestimate him." The words landed like a hammer. Zuko felt the man go rigid. For a moment, neither moved. Then the dance carried them onward once more. But now, for the first time all evening, it wasn't 'Takumi' leading the conversation. It was Zuko. And judging by the panic beginning to creep into the other man's eyes, he finally understood that he wasn't holding the winning hand he thought he was.
~*~
[Y/n] counted the seconds in his head.
The Dai Li agent remained where he was, standing guard near the door with the confidence of a man who believed everything was proceeding exactly according to plan. Meanwhile, [Y/n] simply sat against the wall, bound hand and foot, stone covering his mouth. To anyone looking at him, he appeared trapped, entirely at their mercy. The strategist knew better. The moment his internal count reached twelve minutes, he started laughing. The sound came out muffled behind the stone gag, but there was no mistaking what it was. The agent's head snapped toward him immediately.
"Quiet." The order came instantly. [Y/n] ignored it. The laughter continued. The agent's expression darkened. "I said be quiet."
Still, the strategist didn't stop. If anything, the sound became more obvious. The agent found himself growing increasingly uneasy. Because none of this made sense. People who had been kidnapped, restrained, and isolated were not supposed to be laughing. Not when their allies had no idea where they were. The longer it continued, the more uncomfortable he became. Something was wrong. He could feel it. Every instinct he possessed told him that if the prisoner was this relaxed, then somewhere outside this room, things were not unfolding the way they were supposed to.
Finally, he'd had enough. In two quick strides, he crossed the room, grabbed the front of [Y/n]'s robes, and hauled him upright before slamming him back against the wall. The stone behind him cracked slightly from the impact.
"Listen carefully." The agent's voice had lost its calm professionalism entirely. "When I take that gag off, if you scream, you're dead." His grip tightened. The threat hung heavily in the air. Slowly, he reached up toward the stone covering [Y/n]'s mouth. Yet throughout the entire exchange, the strategist never stopped looking at him. Never looked away. Never showed fear. [Y/n]'s eyes were bright with amusement. Worse, the man could see the smile. Even through the stone.
For a moment it looked like the agent might hit him anyway. Instead, he ripped the gag away. The stone fell apart. And immediately found himself staring at a smirk. The moment the stone gag disappeared, the Dai Li agent snapped.
"What's so funny?" The question came out far more desperate than he'd intended. [Y/n] immediately laughed again, not loudly, not hysterically, just enough to make the man's eye twitch. The strategist shook his head and looked at him with the sort of disappointment normally reserved for someone who had just made an incredibly obvious mistake.
"Agni above..." He managed between laughs. "You're even stupider than you look." The insult landed perfectly. The agent's expression darkened immediately, his grip tightening on the front of [Y/n]'s robes.
"Keep laughing." The words came out as a growl. "Right about now, the Fire Lord has probably discovered his precious Chief Strategist has been taken." The man smirked, trying to reclaim some measure of confidence. "He's probably panicking. Looking for you. Causing exactly the kind of chaos we wanted." The certainty sounded forced now. Like he was trying to convince himself as much as [Y/n]. The strategist simply stared at him for a moment before another laugh escaped him. That laugh was somehow worse than the insults. Worse than the smirk. Worse than the complete lack of fear. Because it sounded genuinely amused.
"No." [Y/n] shook his head. "You've got it backwards." His smile widened. "Right about now, your little fake noble friend is probably realising that all of you just lost." The words hung in the air like a physical weight. The Dai Li agent froze. The confidence vanished from his face so quickly it was almost painful to watch. For the first time since entering the room, genuine uncertainty appeared in his eyes. Because there was no hesitation in [Y/n]'s voice. No bluff. No desperate attempt to scare him. Just the calm certainty of a strategist announcing the outcome of a match he'd already won. And suddenly, despite being the one standing free while his prisoner remained bound against the wall, the Dai Li agent found himself feeling very, very nervous.
"Let's see..." [Y/n] mused, as though mentally reviewing a checklist. "By my calculations, Mai has already dealt with the man assigned to Kiyi." His eyes gleamed. "Using a carefully concealed blade coated with nerve toxin." Another smile. "You know, the one everyone is currently assuming simply drank too much wine and collapsed." He didn't wait for a response.
"Toph and Katara have probably already finished with the three in the courtyard." The strategist tilted his head slightly. "Aang would have handled the two hovering around Lady Ursa." His voice remained calm, matter-of-fact, like he was discussing the weather instead of dismantling an entire operation.
The Dai Li agent said nothing. He couldn't. [Y/n] continued anyway.
"That leaves the last two." A small laugh escaped him. "The ones hiding in the hallway." His smile sharpened. "The hallway they thought had been left unguarded." The realisation hit the agent immediately. And judging by the way his expression changed, he knew exactly where this was going. "They saw an opportunity." [Y/n] nodded. "Which is exactly what we hoped they'd see." The strategist's eyes never left his. "Sokka, Ty Lee, and General Mak would have taken care of them three minutes ago."
A heavy, oppressive silence filled the room. The Dai Li agent suddenly became painfully aware of something he hadn't allowed himself to think about until now. The lack of communication. No messenger. No signal. No update. Nothing.
Twelve minutes.
Twelve entire minutes since [Y/n] had been captured.
And not a single confirmation had arrived. Not one. His stomach dropped. Because suddenly the silence didn't feel reassuring anymore. It felt terrifying. [Y/n] saw the realisation happen. Saw the blood slowly drain from the man's face. Saw him mentally retracing every assumption he'd made since entering the room. Then the strategist laughed again. Softly. Almost sympathetically.
"Yeah." His smile never faded. "You finally noticed." The agent stared. [Y/n] stared back. Bound. Restrained. Technically helpless. And somehow still the most confident person in the room. Because while the Dai Li agent had spent the last twelve minutes guarding a prisoner, [Y/n] had spent the last twelve minutes waiting for every piece on the board to move exactly where he wanted it.
"You know, it was actually a pretty good plan." [Y/n] let out a thoughtful hum, as though they were discussing a particularly interesting Pai Sho match instead of a terrorist conspiracy. The Dai Li agent stared at him in disbelief. The strategist shrugged as much as his restraints allowed. "Think about it. Any noble important enough to matter who didn't attend tonight's banquet would immediately become suspicious. Especially after everything that's happened recently." His smile widened slightly. "That meant whoever was supplying my uncle's plans to the Burning Eye had to be present in some capacity." He tilted his head. "The problem is that showing up personally would be far too dangerous. One mistake. One person recognises them. One question answered incorrectly. Suddenly, the whole operation falls apart."
"So instead..." [Y/n] continued, his expression almost impressed. "They sent someone else." He chuckled quietly. "Honestly, it was convincing at first glance." The strategist looked toward the ceiling as though replaying the moment in his head. "The resemblance was there. Same hair. Same eyes. Similar build. Close enough that most people wouldn't question it." His gaze returned to the Dai Li agent. "I assumed he was a relative. A nephew, maybe. A cousin." Another laugh. "Unfortunately, he was at least five years too young to be the real Lord Takumi." The strategist smiled.
"And the best part?" His smile sharpened. "Even if the plan failed, everyone would think they'd already caught the traitor. The fake Takumi gets exposed. Gets blamed. Gets removed from the board." He tilted his head. "And the real Takumi walks away untouched while everyone celebrates solving the problem." The strategist nodded slowly. "Honestly, it's exactly the sort of plan I'd expect from someone using my uncle's strategies." The Dai Li agent looked horrified. His eyes were wide. His breathing had quickened. And he hadn't denied a single word. [Y/n] watched the reaction for a moment before smiling to himself. There it was. The final confirmation. No confession. No admission. No dramatic reveal. Just the look on the man's face. And that was all the proof [Y/n] needed to know he had been exactly right.
"By now, I'm assuming the real Lord Takumi's estate is already being torn apart." [Y/n] looked almost thoughtful as he considered the situation. The Dai Li agent's eyes widened slightly. The strategist noticed immediately. "I doubt he was actually there, of course. Anyone clever enough to build this plan wouldn't stay at the most obvious location." He shrugged as much as his restraints allowed. "Still, people leave records. Correspondence. Hidden compartments. Financial ledgers. Something useful is probably waiting to be found." The words were delivered with the same calm certainty he'd maintained throughout the entire conversation, as though the outcome had already been decided and they were merely discussing the details. The agent's expression hardened immediately.
"That's impossible." The response came too quickly, too sharply. "There wasn't enough time." His glare intensified. "You couldn't have ordered a raid on his estate in the few minutes you danced with him." For a moment, [Y/n] simply stared. Then he laughed. A terrifyingly genuine laugh.
"You think the raid was ordered during the ball?" The strategist shook his head. "No." The smile became almost pitying. "The search party was sent before dinner even started." The Dai Li agent froze completely. [Y/n] saw the realisation hit him and continued anyway.
"I knew someone might try the old switching places trick, so every guest was checked against their invitation before entering the palace. Every noble. Every minister. Every military officer." His eyes gleamed. "We compared appearances. We compared descriptions. We compared records." The strategist smiled. "And the moment Admiral Jee noticed the discrepancies between your fake Takumi and the real one, he already had the search party ready." The Dai Li agent looked like the breath had been ripped from his lungs. Not because of the raid itself, but because of what it meant. The search hadn't begun after the deception was discovered. It had begun because the deception had been anticipated. Prepared for. Planned around. Before the operation had even started. Sometimes the most devastating part of a trap wasn't discovering it existed. It was discovering exactly how long you'd already been standing inside it.
"I spent the last three months planning every single second of this bullshit banquet." [Y/n] sighed tiredly, glancing down at the agent with a look of utter indifference. "Did you really think I was going to let a single thing slip through the crack?"He smirked, relishing every bit of panic on the Dai Li agent's face. "There's a reason I'm the Fire Lord's Chief Strategist." Before the Dai Li agent could recover from the revelation about Takumi's estate, [Y/n]'s eyes narrowed. "Actually, I should thank you."
"What?" He demanded. The strategist's smile widened.
"For answering the other half of the question." Instantly, the agent froze. His face went blank for a fraction of a second before panic started creeping back into his eyes.
"What are you talking about?" He snapped.
"You told me exactly who the leader of the Burning Eye is." The words hit like a hammer.
"No, I didn't!" The agent shouted. "I never told you anything!" The outburst echoed through the room, but [Y/n] just laughed again. It wasn't mocking this time. If anything, it sounded almost impressed.
"You didn't need to." He said. "You answered it the moment I found out you were involved." The strategist shifted slightly against the wall and tilted his head. "Think about it. Whoever is running the Burning Eye has a grudge. Not just against the Fire Lord, but against the Avatar too. A serious one." His smile never faded. "Serious enough to spend years building an organisation dedicated to hurting both of them. Serious enough to coordinate attacks across multiple nations and dedicate enormous resources toward pursuing them." The Dai Li agent's breathing had started to quicken. [Y/n] noticed immediately.
"Then there's everything else. Political influence. Planning ability. Intelligence. Leadership skills. The ability to recruit followers, manage cells, hide operations, manipulate information, and keep an entire network functioning without exposing themselves." Every connection seemed to make the man's expression worse.
"And now we know they have access to Dai Li agents." [Y/n] continued softly. "Which narrows the list considerably." The agent looked like he wanted to interrupt but couldn't find the words. The strategist didn't give him the chance. "Then there's Omashu. The drug Renji, Han, and Daro tried to use on Zuko. The same drug sourced through criminal networks connected to the city. The same drug I can still faintly smell on you." The Dai Li agent looked physically ill now. The colour had completely drained from his face.
[Y/n] watched him for a moment before his smile sharpened. Not because of what the man had said. Because of what he hadn't. Because every reaction, every look of panic, every widening of his eyes lined up perfectly with the conclusion [Y/n] had already reached. And judging by the horror growing on the agent's face, he knew exactly who the strategist was about to name. [Y/n] laughed softly. The sound was quiet now. Almost tired. As though he'd finally reached the end of a puzzle that had been irritating him for far too long.
"My life would've been so much easier if Azula had just killed him." The Dai Li agent visibly flinched. [Y/n] noticed. "Or imprisoned him." Another small laugh escaped him. "Instead, she banished him." His smile became sharper. "And gave him exactly what someone like him needed: time." The room felt colder somehow. "Time to disappear. Time to rebuild. Time to gather followers. Time to convince himself he was still the smartest man in the room." The strategist sighed. "Honestly, it was a remarkably unfortunate decision."
The Dai Li agent wasn't speaking anymore. Wasn't moving. Every trace of anger had vanished. Only fear remained. [Y/n] could practically see the realisation spreading through him. Because the agent knew exactly who the strategist was describing. Exactly who possessed the influence. The intelligence. The grudge. The connection to the Dai Li. The political skill. The patience. Every piece fit. Every clue pointed toward the same person. And neither of them could pretend otherwise anymore.
Slowly, [Y/n] lowered his head. For the first time since the conversation began, he looked directly into the Dai Li agent's eyes. Really looked at him. The smile never left his face. Then he spoke a single name.
"Long Feng."
Silence. The agent froze. Not a twitch. Not a breath. Not a single attempt at denial. And that was all the confirmation [Y/n] needed. His smile widened slightly as he watched the horror settle across the man's face. Because after all the plans, all the disguises, all the lies, all the hidden networks and years spent lurking in the shadows, the truth had come apart exactly the way every good strategy eventually did:
One piece at a time.
The game was over. And they both knew it. The instant panic truly set in, the Dai Li agent made one critical mistake. He stopped paying attention to his prisoner. The man's eyes widened as realisation crashed into him. His breathing quickened. His thoughts raced ahead toward Long Feng, toward Takumi, toward everything that had just gone catastrophically wrong. For a fraction of a second, all of his focus vanished from the bound strategist in front of him.
And that fraction of a second was enough. The earth restraints around [Y/n] loosened. Not much. Just enough. Immediately, he moved. The stone bindings exploded apart. Before the agent could even register what had happened, both of [Y/n]'s hands were already on his neck.
Lightning cracked. A blinding blue flash filled the room. The agent's eyes rolled back. His body seized. Then went completely limp. The entire exchange lasted less than a second. His body collapsed heavily onto the floor. [Y/n] stumbled slightly as the dead weight fell against him before shoving the man aside with an annoyed grunt.
"Finally." He rubbed his wrists, wincing slightly at the marks left behind by the restraints. A few stretches followed. A roll of the shoulders. A crack of the neck. Then he let out a satisfied sigh. "That's better." Casually grabbing the unconscious Dai Li agent by the back of his cloak, [Y/n] dragged him toward the door. He opened it and immediately found exactly who he expected waiting outside. Kenta straightened the moment he saw him.
"Sir." Without a word, [Y/n] shoved the unconscious agent forward. Kenta caught him with practised ease. The soldier looked down at the captive before grinning broadly. "I have to admit, sir, your plan worked perfectly." [Y/n] couldn't stop a small smile from appearing. Kenta shifted the unconscious man onto his shoulder. "The others are in position."
"I figured."
"General Mak already has the outside secured."
"Of course he does."
"Try not to have too much fun with the last one." Kenta laughed and began carrying the agent away.
"No promises." [Y/n] replied with a laugh as he dusted the remnants of stone off himself. A second figure stepped from the shadows once Kenta disappeared. Suki was still in her armour, looking completely at ease despite the operation unfolding around them. She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Done already?"
"He got emotional." [Y/n] shrugged.
"Rookie mistake." Suki laughed. Then she noticed the smile on his face and immediately understood. "You figured it out, didn't you?"
"Most of it." [Y/n]'s grin widened slightly. The Kyoshi Warrior shook her head.
"Poor guy."
"Which one?"
"The fake Takumi." That earned an actual laugh. Then [Y/n] offered her a hand.
"May I have this dance?" Suki immediately snorted. She took his hand anyway. Together, they stepped back toward the ballroom doors. Music drifted through the wood alongside a symphony of laughter, conversation and dancing. To everyone inside, the banquet continued exactly as planned. Neither of them bothered correcting that assumption. Side by side, they slipped back into the ballroom and onto the dance floor. Somewhere ahead, the final piece of the Burning Eye's plan was still moving. And [Y/n] intended to be there when the trap finally snapped shut around it.
~*~
Across the ballroom, 'Takumi' was still trying to understand what had gone wrong. Every instinct he had was screaming that something had slipped beyond his control, but he couldn't figure out what. The Fire Lord wasn't panicking. He wasn't demanding answers. He wasn't searching the palace. He wasn't reacting to the amulet the way he was supposed to. Instead, Zuko remained perfectly composed, guiding the dance with calm confidence while 'Takumi's' own certainty steadily crumbled. The longer it continued, the more uneasy he became. Somewhere, somehow, something had gone catastrophically wrong, and he could feel it.
Then Zuko's eyes shifted past him. For just a moment, the Fire Lord's expression softened.
"Looks like it's time to change partners again."
The words were delivered so casually that they almost didn't register. Around them, the dance was already shifting as couples rotated across the ballroom floor. 'Takumi' frowned in confusion, his gaze instinctively trying to follow where Zuko had looked. Whatever he saw made the Fire Lord seem even more amused. And suddenly that smile felt far more threatening than any display of anger could have.
Before he had a chance to react, the movement of the dance carried him away. Hands shifted. Partners exchanged. The ballroom rotated around him in a blur of music and motion. Then he turned. And froze. Standing directly in front of him was the absolute last person he wanted to see.
[Y/n].
Entirely unharmed. Entirely free. The strategist's formal robes were immaculate. He looked annoyingly healthy for someone who was supposed to be tied up in a side room. The royal amulet was gone, but somehow that only made the sight worse. Because the smile on his face told 'Takumi' everything he needed to know. Not only had [Y/n] escaped. Not only had he figured everything out. He had won. And judging by the look in his eyes, he had known he was going to win for quite some time.
The realisation hit all at once. The Dai Li agent. The plan. The operation. Everything.
Gone.
"How-?!" He immediately tried pulling away. [Y/n] didn't let him. The strategist smoothly guided him back into the dance as though nothing was wrong. "How did you get out?!" Panic was beginning to creep into his voice. "How do you know?!" [Y/n] ignored every question. Instead, he stepped slightly closer. Leaning in just enough that only one person could hear him. The smile never left his face. Then he whispered.
"So..." The false noble froze. [Y/n]'s eyes gleamed. "Still think I only got the job because Zuko has a soft spot for me?"
The words landed like a knife to the throat. The man's expression shattered completely. And before he could answer, before he could react, before he could even begin to process what had happened, [Y/n]'s finger brushed lightly against the back of his neck.
A tiny crackle of blue lightning appeared.
Snap.
The current surged through him. Perfectly controlled. Perfectly precise. The man's eyes rolled back instantly. His body went limp. The entire thing happened so quickly that nobody nearby even noticed. Suki stepped forward immediately. Right on cue. She caught the collapsing noble before he could hit the floor, then let out an exaggerated sigh loud enough for nearby guests to hear.
"Honestly." She shook her head dramatically. "Some people just don't know how to hold their liquor." Several nobles nearby laughed. One man nodded knowingly. Another muttered something about lightweight nobles. The explanation was accepted immediately. No further questions asked. Exactly as intended.
Suki adjusted the unconscious man over her shoulder, then glanced toward [Y/n] and Zuko. A knowing look passed between all three. Mission accomplished.
The Burning Eye's final piece had just fallen.
The two of them watched as Suki disappeared into the crowd with the unconscious fake noble slung over her shoulder. Around them, the ballroom continued exactly as it had before. Nobles laughed. Couples danced. Musicians played on, completely oblivious to the fact that a terrorist operation had just been dismantled in the middle of the floor.
"Your plans are terrifying." Zuko muttered through a smile, and [Y/n] laughed immediately.
"That's not even the first time you've said that."
"Because it's true." Zuko shook his head. "I don't think I've ever met anyone capable of turning getting kidnapped into part of the plan."
"It wasn't originally part of the plan."
"It looked suspiciously like part of the plan."
"I adapted." [Y/n] replied, his grin widening as understanding crossed Zuko's face. Instantly, he knew [Y/n] was referring to the first letter he'd sent after finding him.
You were right about adaptation, by the way.
The Fire Lord rolled his eyes but couldn't stop the fond smile from crossing his lips. [Y/n] continued.
"As soon as I realised what they were doing, they were finished." The confidence wasn't arrogance. It was a simple fact. And somehow that made it even more terrifying. Zuko found himself laughing despite everything. Only [Y/n] could say something like that after being kidnapped and make it sound completely reasonable. The strategist smiled back.
Eventually, Zuko let out a slow breath. The last of the tension that had been coiled inside him since [Y/n] disappeared finally seemed to ease. He looked at the strategist for a long moment before quietly speaking up.
"I'm glad you're okay." The words were simple, honest and completely unguarded. [Y/n] felt something warm tighten in his chest and found himself smiling back without meaning to.
The Fire Lord's gaze dropped briefly before he reached into his pocket. When his hand emerged, the gold amulet rested in his palm. For a moment, neither spoke. Then Zuko stepped forward. The distance between them vanished in an instant. Carefully, almost reverently, he took hold of the fabric of [Y/n]'s formal robes and secured the amulet exactly where it had been earlier that day. Directly over his heart. His fingers lingered there for a moment after he finished, smoothing the cloth unnecessarily as though making absolutely certain it wouldn't fall again. Then he looked up to meet [Y/n]'s eyes and let out a quiet breath.
"There." A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Back where it belongs."
Something inside [Y/n] finally gave way. Not his composure, not entirely, just the tension. The pressure. The constant awareness that everything could have gone wrong at any moment tonight. Slowly, he lowered his gaze to the amulet resting against his chest before letting out a long, tired breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. Relief washed through him all at once. The Burning Eye's operation had collapsed. Their people were safe. Kiyi was safe. Zuko was safe. And somehow, despite everything, the amulet had found its way back to him. When he looked up again, the smile on his face was softer than before. For just a moment, surrounded by music and nobles and politics and responsibilities, [Y/n] allowed himself to simply stand there and enjoy the fact that Zuko was standing in front of him, safe and smiling, with his hand still resting over his heart.
For a few moments, they simply stood there. The music drifted through the ballroom around them while nobles laughed, danced, and gossiped, completely unaware of the chaos that had unfolded around them. Zuko's hand slowly fell away from the amulet, though [Y/n] could still feel the warmth of where his fingers had rested. The Fire Lord smiled softly at him before letting out a quiet laugh.
"You know..." He said, glancing around the ballroom. "I think we can both agree that we hate everything about this banquet." [Y/n] snorted immediately.
"That's probably the easiest decision we've made all night." That earned another laugh from Zuko, one that sounded far lighter than it had at any point since the evening began. Still smiling, Zuko shook his head.
"The nobles are exhausting." He complained, and [Y/n] nodded. "The dancing is exhausting." Another nod. "The Chamberlain is exhausting."
"Especially the Chamberlain." [Y/n] teased. Zuko laughed outright at that. For a moment, they simply enjoyed the rare opportunity to complain about the same thing. Then the Fire Lord's smile softened. His gaze settled entirely on [Y/n].
"Despite all that..." He said quietly. "I'm not letting this banquet end until I get the one dance I actually wanted since the beginning." He declared, while [Y/n] blinked in surprise.
"The one dance-" The question died in his throat. Because Zuko was already moving. Slowly, carefully, as though giving him every chance to refuse, the Fire Lord extended his hand toward him.
The world seemed to go strangely quiet. The music was still there. The ballroom was still there. The nobles were still there. Yet somehow none of it seemed important anymore.
[Y/n]'s eyes dropped to the offered hand. Then slowly looked up, met Zuko's eyes, and found the answer waiting there. A smile spread across his face; soft, warm, and hopelessly fond. A smile reserved for exactly one person. Understanding hit him all at once. His heart immediately forgot how to function. For a moment, neither spoke. Without taking his eyes off him, [Y/n] reached forward and placed his hand in Zuko's.
"Well..." He said quietly, unable to stop the warmth in his voice. "It would be rude to keep my Lord waiting."
For a moment, neither of them moved. The music continued around them. The ballroom remained alive with motion and conversation. Yet somehow it all felt distant. Muted. Unimportant. Because Zuko's hand was still holding his. And neither of them seemed particularly interested in letting go.
Slowly, the Fire Lord stepped forward. [Y/n] followed without thinking. The movement brought them closer. Closer than any of the previous partner exchanges. Closer than protocol probably intended. Closer than either of them should have been comfortable with. Yet neither pulled away. Neither commented on it. Neither seemed capable of looking anywhere except at the other.
The dance resumed naturally around them. One step. Then another. Then another. And suddenly they were moving together as though they'd been doing it the entire night. The music guided them. Neither paid much attention to it. Not when there were far more distracting things occupying their thoughts. Like the way Zuko's smile softened every time their eyes met. Or the way [Y/n]'s pulse seemed determined to make a fool of him. Or the fact that, for the first time all evening, both of them felt completely at ease.
Around them, nobles were absolutely staring. They had to be. The Fire Lord dancing far more intimately with his Chief Strategist than he had with any noble lady was undoubtedly about to become the single most discussed topic in the entire nation. Not to mention the single most complained-about thing from the Grand Chamberlain for the next few weeks.
Neither noticed. Or perhaps neither cared.
[Y/n] certainly didn't. Not anymore. Not after the gift. Not after the amulet. Not after the conversation in Zuko's chambers. Not after the way Zuko had looked at him when he thought he was missing. And definitely not after the way he'd just pinned the amulet back over his heart.
The world seemed to narrow until it contained only two people: the strategist and the Fire Lord.
Or, perhaps more accurately: [Y/n] and Zuko.
Nothing else. The titles had long since stopped mattering. Zuko's hand tightened slightly against his. Not enough to hurt. Just enough to remind himself that [Y/n] was actually here. Safe. Standing in front of him. The realisation sent a wave of relief through him all over again. He hadn't realised how frightened he'd been until the fear was gone. And now that it was? All that remained was warmth. The kind he'd spent months trying not to think about. The kind that had become impossible to ignore.
Across from him, [Y/n] held his gaze.
The dance carried them through another turn. Another step. Another moment. The strategist found himself smiling. Not the professional smile. Not the diplomatic one. Not the carefully practised expression he wore for ministers and nobles. This one was real. And judging by the way Zuko's breath caught slightly, the Fire Lord noticed. Neither said a word. There was no need.
Not when every glance seemed to say enough already. Not when every step carried years of history with it.
Childhood games.
Lessons.
Letters.
Separation.
Reunion.
Arguments.
Late-night conversations.
Protecting one another.
Choosing one another.
Again and again and again.
The feelings that neither had managed to say aloud seemed to fill every space between them. Unspoken. Obvious. Terrifying. Wonderful. And for the first time all night, perhaps for the first time since they reunited, neither of them tried to run from them.
So they danced.
While the music played. While the banquet continued. While the world watched. And for a little while, they forgot about all of it. Forgot about the nobles. Forgot about the politics. Forgot about the Burning Eye. Forgot about tomorrow.
For just a few precious minutes, there was only the warmth of a familiar hand, the sound of music, and the person standing directly in front of them.
And despite everything, that was more than either of them could ever even dream of.
Pairing: Fire Lord Zuko x F Reader and Avatar Aang x F Reader
Chapter Prologue: For the first time ever, Reader steps into Zuko's bedchambers and they spend their first night together. Reader gets insecure when she is about to experience something new, but Zuko is right there to comfort and guide her.
Warnings this chapter: explicit smut, f*ngering, unprotected s*x, p in v s*x,
A/N: This is an 18+ story. So MDNI.
Also note that English is not my first language. So I apologise in advance for any mistakes, I really try to proofread everything. But mistakes do happen. If you see some, I don’t mind if you point them out to me.
Please don’t copy my work. A lot of time and effort went into it.
“What do you mean… Sokka knows?” I asked, blinking at him. “Did you tell him?”
“No.” Zuko rubbed the back of his neck, already looking guilty. I narrowed my eyes.
“But?”
“But…” A faint smile touched his lips. “Apparently we weren’t exactly subtle. So… he noticed.”
“What?” A beat of silence.
“He noticed.”
“Zuko…”
“I know.” With an exaggerated groan, I dropped into one of the chairs in his study and dragging both hands down my face.
“If Sokka noticed…” I peeked at him through my fingers. “Do you think everyone else noticed too?” Zuko leaned back against the edge of his desk, crossing his arms.
“Sokka doesn't think so.” I lowered my hands.
“That is not very reassuring.” Zuko chuckled.
“He said he only noticed because he had known about my feelings for you for a long time.”
“Wait.” I blinked again. “He knew?”
“He also knew about your feelings for me.”
“He never said. Not to me.”
“He has told me.” Zuko continued. “And because he knew about our feelings, he picked up on certain things.”
“What things?” He hesitated for just a moment.
“The staring.”
“I did not stare.” I protested.
“No.” His lips curved into a grin. “I did.” Despite the slight panic I was feeling, I laughed. “But mostly it was the smiling that gave us away.” I narrowed my eyes and wanted to speak. But Zuko pointed his finger in the air, stopping me as I opened my mouth. “Before you try to defend yourself… I wasn’t the only one smiling.” I raised my arms in defeat.
“Fine.” I giggled.
“He also suggested we show a little more restraint at breakfast.” I raised my brow as I was asking a question.
“Meaning?” His expression became wonderfully awkward.
“Less smiling.” He laughed quietly, shaking his head. “Or that we should skip it completely.” After a moment of silence between us, I spoke again.
“How did he react?”
"With great joy.”
“That does explain his smile to me just now.” He narrowed his eyes.
“His smile?”
“When we said goodnight, he gave me this look with a very mischievous smile.” Zuko snorted.
“And then he has the audacity to say that we are not being subtle."
“How dare he?” I tried to look as serious as I could.
“Indeed…” Zuko agreed. “How dare he.” Neither of us managed to hold the serious expression for more than two seconds before laughter filled the study. When it faded, he smiled softly. “He promised to keep it to himself.”
“He won’t even tell Suki?”
“Not even Suki.” I nodded.
“You can trust Sokka with a secret.” I started. “But at the same time… he is a terrible liar.”
“Not a great combination.” Zuko winced.
“No.”
“So that just means that we will have to do better.”
“We didn't even survive one dinner, without one of our friends noticing.” Zuko straightened and began pacing around the room as though he was planning a military strategy.
“We could…” He tapped his chin thoughtfully. “...not be around each other when our friends are close.” I blinked.
“Avoid each other, you mean?” I narrowed my eyes. “And that wouldn't be suspicious at all.” I stated with sarcasm.
“Do you have a better idea?”
“Yes…” A slow grin spread across my face. “Send them away.” He laughed loudly.
“We already established that we wouldn't send our friends away.”
“I know.” I sighed dramatically. “But maybe you had changed your mind.”
“I know you don't actually want me to send them away.” He stepped closer until there was hardly any space between us.
“No. I don't.” I admitted with a smile. Then, without another word, he wrapped his arms around my waist. I melted against him almost instantly, resting my forehead against his shoulder. In return he rested his chin lightly on top of my head. After a moment, I smiled into his shoulder. “But…” Zuko hummed. “If Sokka starts making kissing noises whenever he catches us alone…”
“I will make him scrub the palace courtyard.” I looked up. He smiled, eyes warm. His hand moved to my cheek, gently brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. He let his fingertips linger there, before it moved back to my cheek. His thumb traced the curve of it. His touch soft and gentle. “For the record…” He said quietly, his golden eyes locking with mine. “I don’t actually mind that he knows.” He smiled. “If anyone had to figure it out, I am glad it is someone who was rooting for us from the beginning.”
“So am I.” His gaze lingered on mine, warm and impossibly tender.
“You know…” He said after a moment, a sly smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “We are probably going to fail spectacularly at being subtle.” I huffed and dramatically placed a hand over my chest as though he said something offensive.
“I was hoping you would have more faith in us.”
“I have plenty of faith in us.” He smiled. “But not so much in myself. Because I don’t think I could ever stop smiling whenever I see you.”
“That is actually very sweet.” I felt heat rising in my chest.
“I am glad you think so, because it will most likely be the reason the secret comes out.” For a heartbeat neither of us moved. Then he closed the last inch between us and pressed a slow, lingering kiss to my forehead. When he pulled back, he was smiling. His thumb back on my cheek, caressing it again.
“You should probably get some sleep.”
“We probably both should.” Neither of us made any effort to let go. “But I don’t want to.” I whispered. I lifted my chin, my lips hovering over his for a moment, before I pressed them against his. He responded immediately, dipping his head farther down. His arms quickly sneaked around my waist, pulling me close to him. I slipped my arms around his neck. My fingertips settled in his hair, tugging at it ever so slightly. He quietly whined against my mouth, his lips slightly parted. I used the opportunity to let my tongue enter his mouth. Our tongues were dancing again, just like they had done before dinner. Back then I had felt a familiar warmth rising in my body. It was doing so again.
As we continued to kiss each other, he moved one arm away from my waist and his hand moved to the side of my face. He gently pushed my hair over my shoulder. He broke the kiss and slowly moved his face to my now exposed neck. He placed a trail of wet kisses from my neck up to my ear. I hummed and tilted my head back, giving him more room to continue what he was doing. He then nibbled at my earlobe. I whimpered at the sensation.
“You know…” His lips close to my ear. I could feel his warm breath on my skin. “You don’t have to leave.” My core tightened at his suggestion. His lips back on my neck, his tongue swiping over my skin. I felt the familiar throbbing sensation between my legs.
“Zuko…” I breathed out his name. His touch was warm and steady. He moved away slightly, just enough for him to lock his eyes with mine. His expression was a combination of something incredibly tender and longing.
“Do you want to stay?” The question was barely above a whisper. There was no pressure. He was giving me every option to say no, and refuse to what he was suggesting. But I had no intention of leaving him. Not tonight, not ever. I faintly smiled.
“I do.” His shoulders relaxed. I hadn’t even noticed that he tensed up after asking me to stay. I was so caught up in the moment.
“You do?”
“If you will have me.” A soft laugh escaped him.
“Oh… I will have you.” It almost sounded desperate. “Wait here.” He walked to the door, opened it, slipped out and closed it behind him. After a short minute, the door opened again. He glanced at me from the doorway, reaching out his hand. I closed the distance and placed my hand in his. He intertwined our fingers. “Follow me.” He spoke quietly. “My bedchamber… is this way.” All the guards that had previously stood watch were gone. The hallways were completely empty. Zuko must have dismissed them so none of them saw where we were headed together.
We walked together in silence, it was laced with so much anticipation, excitement and nervousness. After a short walk we reached his room. Before he opened his door he stopped and turned to me. “I…” He let out a quiet breath, his fingers tightened ever so slightly around mine. “I don’t want you to think I am expecting anything.”
“I know.”
“I mean it.” His golden eyes searched mine. His were vulnerable in a way I had never seen from him before.
“I know.” I repeated. I stepped closer until our joined hands rested between us. His gaze never left mine. With my free hand I reached up and gently gathered a few loose strands of his hair that were hanging loose on the side of his face. “Whatever happens behind those doors… Know that I want to stay. I don’t want this night to end.”
“Neither do I.” The admission lingered between us. Slowly, almost hesitantly, he lifted our intertwined hands and kissed my knuckles. It was such a small gesture. But it made my heart race nonetheless.
“So…” I whispered.
“So…” He echoed.
“Will you open the door for me to actually let me in?” A crooked smile spread across his face, soft enough to make me smile too.
He pushed the door open. Warm light spilled across the room. Instead of walking in immediately, he looked at me. With his hand he gestured for me to enter. I stepped past him. The room was quiet. Candles were burning. Something the servants probably did every night.
It was the first time ever that I stepped into Zuko’s bedchamber. At first glance, the room was larger than I expected, but not in a showy way. The ceiling was high, supported by dark carved beams. The walls were rich with deep reds and golds, but softened by age. His bed was large. Dark bedding, soft and folded with careful symmetry. One side of the room opened to a balcony. The curtains were light and slightly sheer, so that the morning sun could naturally wake him up.
There were no excessive luxuries on display. I looked at shelves filled with books, some clearly worn at the edges. A low table covered neatly in stacked scrolls and half finished letters. His cloak draped a little carelessly over the back of a chair. There were portraits on the wall of his mother and her husband, of Kiyi, of Iroh. The room was fit for a Fire Lord, but it was also unmistakably Zuko’s. I turned slowly, taking it all in.
“So…” He stood still in front of the closed door. “This is where you hide.”
“Whenever I can.” A faint smile tugged at his lips.
“It suits you.” He raised his brows.
“It does?”
“It feels…” I searched for the right word. “It is peaceful.”
“It is probably the only room in the palace, where I can find some peace and quiet.” He reached his hands up and removed the headpiece from his hair. He placed it on a small table next to where he was standing. All of his long hair was now down.
He stood a few steps away from me and it looked like he was uncertain whether to cross the distance between us. I solved the problem for him. I took three quiet steps forward and I stopped close enough that our hands brushed together once more. His fingers immediately found mine. It was almost instinctively. We simply stood there for a moment, hand in hand, scanning the other’s face. We were smiling like we still couldn’t quite believe we were allowed to do this. He looked down at our hands, this thumb absentmindedly brushing over my knuckles.
“We don’t have to rush this.” I closed my eyes for just a moment, smiling. When I opened them, they met his. They were tender and soft.
“No, we don’t.” I whispered.
“We always have tomorrow.” His voice was gentle. “And every day after that.” He looked away from me, not really knowing where to look. My hand moved to his scarred cheek, guiding his eyes back to mine.
“Zuko…” I spoke his name softly. “I don’t think anyone could accuse us of rushing this.” The corner of my mouth lifted. “If anything, we have done quite the exact opposite.” My thumb slowly traced the outline of his scar. “It took us long enough to get here. I have spent so much time wondering what this would be like.” My voice grew quieter, as my eyes quickly darted over to his bed. “I don’t want to wait anymore.” He looked into my eyes. He was searching for something. Maybe he was looking for any signs of hesitation, of doubt.
“Neither do I.” His hand slipped away from mine, and moved to my waist. It was slow enough that I could have stepped away if I had wanted to. I didn’t. Instead I stepped closer. Our bodies against each other. While he rested his forehead on mine, he closed his eyes. His hot breath on my skin. When he opened his eyes again, they never left mine. “May I kiss you?” Even though he had now kissed me several times before, he asked permission again. The question was so unmistakably Zuko that my heart ached.
“You never have to ask me that again.” He smiled. His hand rose to cradle my cheek, his thumb brushing lightly across my skin. I melted into his touch. His lips found mine in a kiss that was as gentle as our very first kiss. There was no urgency, neither of us hurried. Then, the kiss deepened. I slightly rose onto my tiptoes to add a bit more pressure to our touch, silently asking for more. He answered without hesitation, bending down to meet me. My heels settled back on the floor as he adjusted to me.
Our lips never parted. My fingers slipped into his long loose hair. It was soft and silky, I was easily combing through the dark strands. Slowly, my hands wandered lower, tracing his shoulders. He had already discarded his shoulder mantle and chest armor back at his study before I had arrived, leaving only the crimson tunic and robes between my palms and the warmth of his skin. Even through the fabric I could feel his solid muscles, strong and defined. My hands moved to his chest. I wanted to feel every inch of him. Like his shoulders, his chest was steady and broad. Beneath my fingertips, his heartbeat was rapidly rising and his muscles tensed ever so slightly due to my touch.
His hands had remained around my waist, holding me close. But I wanted them everywhere on my body. I covered one of his hands with mine, guiding it upward until it rested on my breast. He froze. By putting some more pressure on my own hand, I made his press into the flesh through my tunic. My action caught him completely off guard. His breath hitched and a sharp gasp escaped him. The kiss broke as he leaned back just enough to look at me. A warm flush spread across his cheeks, climbing all the way to the tips of his ears.
I brushed a kiss against his sharp jawline, I lingered for a heartbeat before pressing another to the corner of his mouth. Then I found his lips once more. When I pulled away, our eyes met. I gave the smallest nod, my fingers settling once again at the back of his neck, threading through his hair.
Understanding slowly replaced hesitation in his gaze. His hand stayed in place, before the touch became firmer. His fingers kneaded my breast gently. He wasn’t rushing it. He was savoring the touch. We kept our eyes locked. Tension was building up inside me. My pulse was thundering.
He dipped down again. His lips on mine. The kiss was hungrier than before. I hummed as he licked over my bottom lip and whimpered the second his tongue went inside. Our tongues weren’t dancing, they weren’t fighting for dominance; they were exploring, tasting.
His hand rose from my chest to my throat, then up to my chin. Our breathing was heavy due to the kiss, due to the tension building up. The anticipation almost bursting. His thumb swiped over my lower lip, before he tilted my head back. His lips were back on my neck. It sent a shiver through me. He kissed open mouthed and more greedy than before. Every lingering kiss drew another quiet breath from my lips. I closed my eyes, my hands finding his shoulders once more. His tongue was tracing my pulse, which was beating so fast. Then he sucked lightly at my skin and I let out a soft moan.
Without even really thinking about it, my hands reached for the thin red belt around his waist. This time he didn’t freeze, but he continued to kiss my skin, moving up to my earlobe. I unfastened his belt. He sucked at my earlobe, for a moment I didn’t move. My hands rested on his waist. I was enjoying the sensation. Another moan escaped me, when his tongue wettened the sensitive skin. Then my arms wrapped around him, pulling one tucked end free of his silk black sash. I unwound the fabric from around his waist until it fell on the floor. His lips were no longer on any part of my skin. He moved just far enough away for him to watch what I was doing. My hand rose up and clutched at his robes. I met his eyes. Without hesitation I pushed them down his shoulders. His chest was falling and rising fast. His breathing uneven. For a moment I placed one hand over his heart. I felt his pulse. It was thundering, like it could break free from his chest at any moment. My gaze followed my hands as they moved to the hem of his tunic. I lightly tugged at the fabric, before I looked up. His eyes were darker than ever before. He slowly guided his arms upward. I moved his tunic along with his movements.
Over the years I had seen Zuko without a tunic before. But I never got to watch it, really look at it from up close. Without thinking, I closed the distance between us once more. My fingertips lightly brushed over the skin of his chest, they moved over his collarbone. A few old scars visible; marks of battles, of survival and of a life that had never really been gentle to him. His breath quickened as my fingers were tracing over his skin. I looked at him through my eyelashes. My core tightened when I met his darkened eyes once again. I felt the familiar warmth between my legs growing more and more. We were both trying to be patient, taking the time to explore every new sensation. My hands moved from his chest to my belt. I loosened it and dropped it on the floor. Then, I grabbed the hem of my tunic, ready to pull it up.
“No.” Zuko suddenly spoke. He placed his hands over mine as he guided them away from the fabric. “Let me.” He whispered. He gently held the him of my tunic for a moment, giving me time to change my mind before he carefully guided it up. I raised my hands in the air and he discarded my tunic onto the floor. Now it was his turn to look at me, to touch me. His eyes first met mine, until they slowly and deliberately trailed down. They lingered longer on my bare chest. His hand moved to cup one of my breasts. His touch was impossibly soft. Then he started kneading my breast. His eyes darted between my eyes and my bare chest. His thumb brushed over my already hardened nipple. I whimpered at the sensation. He did it again, before he was continuously drawing circles with his thumb over it. His other hand rested on the small of my back. He bowed his head down. He kissed my collarbone. My eyes fluttered shut as his mouth traveled farther down. He kissed one breast while continuing to knead the other and play with the nipple. His hand on my lower back trailed down to my ass. His large hand covered one cheek and he squeezed it. A surprised hum left my lips. Then, he sucked at the swell of my breast, tongue moving over my hard nipple. I moaned louder than I had intended to. He jerked his head up. He leaned back in and kissed me deep and longingly. His hand on my breast moved to my waist as he pulled my flush against him. My lower abdomen rested against his lower body. I could feel the clear outline of his bulge. The sensation made me involuntarily roll my hips against his body. Zuko whimpered. And within a heartbeat, he slightly squatted down, placed his arms around my ass cheeks and he picked me up. I gasped in surprise, but before I knew it my thighs were hoisted up and wrapped around his waist. He had picked me up as though it was nothing. His arms on my back, steadying me. I kissed him again; hungry and deep. He walked around the room until we reached his bed. He turned around and sat down on the edge. My knees dipped in the mattress and I sat on his lap. I pushed his long hair over his shoulder. My lips moved close to his ear.
“Now it is my turn.” I whispered. I sucked at his earlobe. He whimpered again as his hands once again settled on my ass cheeks. My fingers tangled in his hair. I tugged at it, making his head tilt backwards. He hissed sharply. My lips trailed downward, every kiss lingering a little longer than the last. Ever so often he squeezed my cheeks. My lips rested at the base of his throat, just above his collarbone. At first, I softly sucked his skin, but then harder and bolder. He moaned and squeezed one cheek harder. I continued leaving little marks on his skin. Ones that would be hidden underneath the high collar of his tunic, but I would know they were there.
Earlier I rolled my hips at him involuntarily, but now very deliberately and consciously I did it again. I could feel all of him. He twitched at the contact and Zuko groaned loudly. I was dripping myself. He stood up, his hands on my thighs and back. And then he quickly turned around and he gently laid me on his bed. Before he joined me, he grabbed one of my ankles. He took off the first shoe and then he moved to the other. He took off his own boots. And then he joined me on his bed. The mattress dipped under his weight. He crawled over me, one leg between my legs. He kissed my breasts again. His hair falling on my chest. His lips trailed down and stopped at the waistband of my trousers. He planted one last kiss, just below my belly button before he looked up.
“May I?”
“Please.” I whispered as I lifted my hips. He hooked his fingers underneath the waistband, gave me one last look to see if there was any hesitation in my gaze, and then he pulled them down. My panties were drenched by now. He kissed the wet patches with a smile on his face.
“How wet you are for me.” He whispered against the fabric. The vibrations of his voice to my core made me buck my hips lightly.
“Zuko…” I breathed out. “Please…” My heartbeat pounding just as badly as my core did. “Touch me.” That stirred something in him. A sense of desire he was finally freeing. He reached for my panties, I barely had the chance to lift my hips or they were already sliding down my legs. He threw them across the room. He moved upuntil our bare chests touched, one arm next to my face. He kissed my lips as his fingers brushed from my knee to my inner thigh. I opened my legs a little more, desperate for his touch I had waited so long for. His fingers hovered over my heat for a moment. “Please, Zuko.” I whimpered against his lips. His fingers dipped between my folds, feeling how wet I actually was for him. He hummed contentedly. His finger slipped in me with ease. Curling just right and touching the right spot immediately. Like his finger had been in me a thousand times before. I moaned against his lips, my hips buckling against his hand. His thumb worked on my clit, drawing circles over it. My head fell back into the mattress as another loud moan escaped me. Zuko’s lips never left me. His teeth grazing over my skin, his tongue dragging over it. He pushed in a second finger, opening my walls even more. My clit was throbbing at the sensation of his circling thumb. I arched my back. He pumped his fingers in and out of me in a steady rhythm, continuously curling right and hitting the right spot over and over again. I was panting into his shoulder, resisting the urge to bite his skin. So instead my fingers dug into his skin. His fingers moved in even farther, reaching deeper than before. He sped up as he silenced my broken whimpers against his own lips. It didn’t take long before I felt everything tensing up. My walls clenched tightly around his fingers.
“Good.” He whispered, his breathing heavy. “Let go.” His voice was low and rough. It was unlike anything I had ever heard from him. He sped up his movements even more, putting more pressure on my swollen clit; it was merciless. He kissed my lips again, swallowing all the sounds I was making. My body tensed up familiarly and then it released all of that built up tension. I moaned loudly against his lips. My legs were shaking. “Good girl.” Zuko didn’t stop. He slowed down his movements as he let me ride my release out. When he finally felt my body relax, his fingers slid out of me. They were coathed thickly. He glanced at his own fingers, before he brought them to his mouth; sucking them clean. I followed his movements, our eyes locked. He briefly shut his eyes as he tasted me on his fingers. Humming contentedly, before he kissed me. I tasted a familiar bitterness on his tongue.
Then, suddenly he moved away from me. I propped up, resting on my elbows. Watching his every move, as my breathing was steadying. He moved to the little table he had previously placed his headpiece on. He picked up a ribbon. He placed the piece of fabric between his teeth and moved his hands up, gathering all his hair together. I just looked at him as he secured a loose bun with the ribbon. I bit my lower lip at the sight. He moved closer again, standing still at the edge of the bed. I sat up and moved. My legs now resting over the edge, with Zuko standing between them. I looked up at him as I reached for the waistband of his trousers. He gave me a singular nod. His breathing hitched as I placed a kiss just below his bellybutton, just like he had done before discarding me of my trousers. I pulled both his trousers and his underwear down. His length sprung free as the fabrics moved down. It was then I learned that not every length is the same. Zuko’s was less thick but longer.
Before I could do anything he spoke in the same low and rough voice as earlier.
“Lay back down.” I moved and did exactly as he told me too. “Spread your legs.” His voice made me clench my walls again. He placed his knees between my open legs. He lowered his body and placed his hands on either side of my face. We never broke eye contact. He bent down and kissed me slowly and deeply. Then, he moved his hand to his length, guiding it towards my entrance.
“Wait.” My breath hitched. Suddenly I became aware of everything around me; of my fingers tightly curled into his sheets, of my chest rising and falling far heavier than before, of the spiked temperature in the room, of his eyes on me. I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me again. I wanted this. I truly wanted him. All of him. But this was a new step for me.
“Is everything alright?” He asked with great concern. No longer were his eyes dark and laced with desire, but they were soft and filled with worry. “Are you okay?” For a moment I couldn’t speak. Words remained caught in my throat. “Are we moving too fast?”
“N-no.” A sound finally spilling out of me. “No. It is just that…” I bit my lower lip in hesitation. “I have never done this before.” The confession left me quietly. For a moment, I couldn’t look at him; feeling embarrassed and vulnerable. There was some confusion in his expression.
“I thought you and Aang…” I cut him off immediately.
“We never did… this.” The admission lingered between us for a moment before his slightly confused expression turned into something softer. His lips tugged up in a quiet smile. He seemed awfully pleased with this news, before he pushed that feeling away and became more serious and impossibly tender again. He caressed my cheek with sweet gentle swipes of his thumb.
“Do you want this?” He asked quietly and sincerely.
“Yes.” I met his eyes.
“Do you want this tonight?” I nodded my head.
“Yes.” There was no hesitation in my voice. His stare was intense. He was trying to see if there was even a flicker of hesitation in my expression. When he didn’t find any he spoke again.
“We can wait… I can wait.”
“I don’t want to wait.” I breathed out. “I want you.” He smiled faintly as he nodded slowly. “Do you want this?” I asked and his smile widened.
“Oh, Spirits… You have no idea how much I want this.” Then his face turned softer. “Are you sure?” I nodded and he nodded back in return. “I will go slow.” He whispered. “Give you time to adjust.” His thumb still brushing my cheek. Then his expression shifted as he briefly looked away from me. “I have understood that for girls the first time might hurt a bit in the beginning.” A short pause as he let the words linger. “So, I need you to tell me if it gets too much and you need me to stop. Okay?”
“Okay.” I nodded and swallowed deeply.
“Do you trust me?”
“I do.”
“Will you let me guide you through this?”
“I will.” A short pause. “Do you think I will like it?”
“Spirits...” A soft laugh escaped him. “I hope so.”
He lowered his body again, kissing me sweetly before he did anything else. I swiped my tongue over his lip and we instantly deepened the kiss again. One of his hands moved down again. But instead of placing it over his length, he moved it over my core again. He broke the kiss.
“I just want to feel how tight you are.” He spoke softly. One finger went in, slowly pushing in and out of me. My head fell back into a soft pillow as a whimper escaped me. Then, a second finger went in. I had already been soaking wet again. His two fingers worked to open me up again. His movements build up more and more tension within me. I clenched my walls around his fingers. “Not yet, dearest.” He whispered against my lips. I could have come just by hearing him say that; dearest.
He pulled his fingers out of me and grabbed his length. Again he guided it toward my core. He looked at me.
“Are you really sure?”
“I want you, Zuko.” I managed to say. He moved the tip of his throbbing length to my entrance. He rubbed it against my wet folds. It felt like it was begging to be granted access to the inside of my walls. As promised, he moved with deliberate slowness. He gradually moved forward until he withdrew a bit. The smallest of thrusts and afterward complete stillness just so to give me time to let my walls adjust to him. Every time he moved in a little bit farther, I whimpered. Not necessarily in pain, but more out of pleasure. I hoped every time he moved in farther, that more would follow. One hand was wrapped around his bicep and the other was clutching the sheets. I closed my eyes as I moaned, tightening my grip on his arm.
“Are you okay?” He froze. I opened my eyes again.
“Y-yes. Please move.” I sounded desperate, but I didn’t care. I needed more. I slightly rocked my hips against him. He responded immediately. This time, he pushed in even more. It was still careful, but his eyes were telling me a whole other story. They were as dark as they were before. I buckled my hips desperately this time. He looked down at where our bodies were connected before we locked eyes again. His tongue licked his mouth before he bit down on his lower lip. I could see him fighting to hold on to the last thread of his restraint. I dug my fingers in his shoulders, pushing his body closer to mine. I kissed him, hungerly. My hands moved to his hips and I tried to pull him in even closer. He broke the kiss and looked at me. “Please…” I moaned as he buried himself deeper into me. “Stop... Being… Gentle.” I managed to finally say the words between his slow thrusts. While I spoke the words, my eyes never left his.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes!” Then, I could see all signs of restraint slipping away from him. And with one thrust, deep and ferocious, he had me screaming out his name. He pushed in and out of me faster now. With smooth movements of his hips he kept pumping into me. Moans were leaving my lips. He dipped his head to smother my sounds. His tongue barged in, no longer asking permission to enter but demanding it.
“Spirits…” He breathed out between his own moans. “You feel so good.” He sped up even more. The stronger his thrusts became, the more I rolled my hips against him. And the longer he pumped into me, the more strands of hair escaped his loose bun.
Instinctively, I wrapped my legs around his waist. My legs pulled him closer, making sure he could enter me as deeply as he could. And immediately, I moaned louder as he hit the right spot over and over again. He moved in so deep I could feel his tip kissing my cervix. I clenched my walls tightly around his length. I hit the pillow hard as I rolled my eyes in my head. My fingers dug even farther into his skin, my nails grazing his skin. He hissed against my lips. My hands then traced his shoulders, warm skin slick with sweat beneath my touch. His mouth left mine and moved to the swell of my breast, sucking at the sensitive skin around my nipple. It added another layer of pleasure. He was making his way back up again, leaving wet kisses all the way to my ear. All the while his quick thrusts were making me feel weak. My legs started losing their strength as they started shaking. My breath kept escaping me. A wave of overwhelming pleasure coiled deep in my stomach, tightening with every passing moment as he started putting pressure on my clit. His thumb back to making circular movements.
“Ahhhh…” I whined loudly. “Zuko… I-I…”
“I have got you.” He whispered next to my ear, fanning his hot heavy breath on my skin. “Come for me.”
After a few more strong, directed deep pushes my release hit me like a physical blow. My entire body went rigid as I clung onto him. My eyes rolled back in my head. My fingers dug into the muscles of his shoulders as I came apart. My legs left his waist, they were shaking on the mattress. Pleasure swept over me in relentless waves, leaving me breathless and trembling beneath him. He tried to hold on long enough to let me ride out my own release, before his hit him. But I kept clenching around him so intensely that not long after he had to pull out competently. Leaving me feeling incredibly empty. He reached his own release, one he had held onto for so long. It hit him ferociously hard. He moaned out my name while long strands of thick white cum covered my stomach and breasts. He buried his face in the crook of my neck, his warm breath fanning across my skin as we both tried to steady our breathing. Our uneven breaths mingling in the quiet bedroom. He rolled over onto his back and laid next to me. He turned his head to face me. I did the same and we locked eyes. Most of his hair hung loose again, spilling across the pillow in untamed strands. Beads of sweat shimmered on his forehead, droplets gathering at his temples. His chest was rising and falling in rapid motions. Neither of us spoke for a moment. We simply looked at one another. I was trying to memorise the moment, the look of him after he had come undone. A smile spread across my face before I even realised it, but I made no effort to hide it. He smiled warmly in return. The moment carried a quiet tenderness that made my heart beat faster.
“What was amazing.” The words barely left my mouth. My breathing still unsteady. He let out a quiet breathless laugh. I could see a playful flicker in his eyes. I turned to my side, facing him completely.
“I was hoping you would say that.” He remained silent for a moment, then his eyes softened with worry. “Did I hurt you?”
“No.” I shook my head. “No, you didn’t.” His expression grew impossibly gentle as relief washed through him.
“I am so glad to hear that.” He placed his arm over me and pulled my body closer to him. He placed a tender kiss on my forehead. The hand that rested on my side started tracing slow circles across my skin. A faint blush returned to his cheeks. “It really was amazing.” He said as he locked eyes with mine. For a brief moment his eyes darted to my bare chest and his eyes widened.
“What?” I asked him.
“I am so sorry.” He quickly moved away from me. “One second.” He got up and disappeared in the adjacent bathroom. He returned with a warm damp cloth. “I made a complete mess of you.” I looked down at the white strands. Then I looked back at him. He looked flustered and awkward before he carefully moved the cloth over my chest and my stomach, removing every evidence of him on my body.
“Thank you.” I smiled at him. He gave me a shy smile in return and it softened his features. For a short moment he went back to the bathroom, discarding the cloth. In the meantime I had slipped underneath the silk sheets. He did the same when he returned.
As though it was the most natural thing in the world, he pulled me close once more. Then, he stretched out on his back and lifted his arm as a silent invitation. I settled against him, resting my head on his chest. Only then did I truly realise how warm his skin was beneath my cheek, as I listened to the steady beating of his heart. His hand rested on my waist, its heat seeping through me until I felt myself melt against him.
For a long moment, neither of us spoke. I traced idle circles over his skin before lifting my eyes to meet his, chin resting on the broad chest. He still had the ribbon in his hair, but it only held together a small section of it. Most of it had escaped. I raised my hand to his face. Smiling to myself as I gathered a few loose strands of his long dark hair and tucked it carefully behind his ear.
“Next time…” I murmured. “You really need to secure your hair better. It escaped the ribbon almost completely.”
“Next time?” His brows arched with unmistakable satisfaction and a knowing smile curved his lips.
“Yes. Next time.” I lifted myself onto one elbow so I could look at him properly, my other hand still resting over his heart. “Because I very much would like to do this again.” His smile deepened, softer now rather than triumphant.
“So would I.”
“You better.” I teased. “It would be very cruel of you to introduce me to all of this…” I let my fingers brush lightly over his muscles. “...only for it to happen once.”
“Oh…” He leaned forward and planted a lingering kiss on my lips. It was slow, as though neither of us wanted the contact to end. When he finally drew back, he remained close enough that his breath still brushed against my skin. Something mischievous flickered in his eyes. “But I can be very cruel.”
“Even to me?”
“Even to you.” He murmured against my lips, amusement seeping through his voice. “But only ever in our bedchamber.”
“Our bedchamber?” I echoed, unable to hide the smile tugging at my lips.
“Well…” His fingertips skimmed lazily along my side. “This room is mine.” He paused, his expression softened as all the teasing slipped away. “But now, it is yours as well.” He said quietly.
“So you are willing to give up the one place where you can find some peace and quiet?”
“No.” A faint smile touched his lips as his fingers found mine. “Not give up.” His thumb brushed gently across my knuckles. “I will share it with you.” His gaze lingered on mine, warm and soft. He held my hand a little tighter. “I told you I would share everything with you. And that means not just my fears, doubts, feelings or the thoughts I keep hidden from everyone else. It also means I will share everything I have.” I couldn’t help but smile as warmth settled in my chest. He spoke with so much certainty.
“I promise I will do the same.” My admission quiet. “I just don’t have as much to give as you.” He quickly shook his head in disagreement.
“You already gave me more than I ever dared hope for.” His hand rose to cradle my cheek, his touch impossibly gentle. “You gave me your trust. You gave me your heart.” His thumb brushed tenderly across my skin. “I promise I will cherish them and keep them safe for as long as you will let me.” His words settled somewhere deep inside me. My throat tightened, making it impossible to say anything in return. So instead of answering him, I cupped his cheek and leaned in. I brushed my lips softly against his. The kiss was slow and tender, carrying everything I couldn’t express with words. He gently tightened his grip around my waist. He didn’t pull me closer; he simply held me with the quiet certainty of someone who would never push me away again. When I drew back, he was smiling. First it was soft, but then it turned into something more dangerous. “I will make you another promise.” His voice dropped lower. “I promise there will be a next time. And a time after that. And countless more. Because I have no intention of this happening only once.”
“I will hold you to that.” I murmured. “I will hold you to both of your promises.” I smiled as I laid my head back on his chest. As my body relaxed completely against him, my eyelids grew heavier.
“Please do.” He replied softly. A moment later, I felt his lips brush against the top of my head; the touch was lingering, warm and unhurried. “Sweet dreams, Y/N.”
In which, you deal the same wounds as they had once in their life, either in burns or thunders.
Part one: The boys(you're here!)
Part two: the girls(coming soon)
Contains: Aang x Reader, Zuko x Reader, Sokka x Reader, Toph x Reader, Katara x Reader,Suki x Reader, Reader is gender neutral, Angst involved, maybe comfort?, Pain, wounds, and such.
Warnings: This will contain angst scenarios individually of burns and such. My apologies if I wrongly write each character wrong! no beta, we die like men, inexperienced writer.
Scenario:
It was supposed to be a small catch up between you two and the Gaang in ember island. Planned by Aang, obviously, just to...catch up with each other, see how life is being handled, and maybe to also watch that weird play about your adventure during the war(which had become tradition at this point)
So how did you all end up in this situation, ambushed by thousands of rouge fire benders and non benders that refused to live up to the peace of the new era?
And how is it...that by coincidence...you just got the same wound as him?
Aang
Spirits now that this wasn't what he had planned for the week. No...not at all.
This was meant to be the usual annual trip...well...the ones he normally does at this time to spend the time with the others, not as the avatar. Not as last Airbender or savior. But just as Aang.
An Aang that wanted to relax with his spouse and enjoy watching that cringy show that always got his manners and even gender wrong at times
But no...he was here, fighting. Swooping an pair of benders to the side with his air bending. Using earth bending to make the others distracted while he tried, so hard to defend and assist you. Keeping an careful eye.
But gosh. They kept coming.
Where did they all come from?
Why couldn't he have just one moment. One single moment of peace with you at his side?
He was focusing his best. Dodging the attacks. Defending himself. Knocking them out, making sure he doesn't hurt them too seriously.
That he had strayed his eyes off from you and left a weak spot for a second.
Just three seconds
So imagine the terror he felt when he saw thunder. Blue thunder. Coming from the sky and a scream mixed gasp that lasted only, barely, a few seconds.
Not Katara's scream. Not Toph's scream, or even Zuko or Sokka's.
Yours
That pure unadulterated agonizing scream cut through every single defenses or plans he had the moment he saw one of the rouge fire benders use lighting bending and struck you behind the back.
The worst of all. It felt like he had froze for a few moments.
And watched his world crash down like it was nothing more than the ashes of the most valued thing in his life.
Then he started to move.
Not walk. Not run, but rush using pure wind speed and catch you in his arms as you fell from strucked roughly in the back.
"Sweetheart? SWEETHEART!! oh no no no no no....what....no no. Please. Please keep your eyes open for me. Okay darling? Okay?... Just... Just... please!"
He pleaded, so...so much, analyzing how you looked. And spirits. Oh in the name of yangchen....he couldn't describe how terrified he was in the midst of his tears.
You looked half dead, and that horrified him to the extreme. You were barely conscious, you're eyes staring at nothing but the dark smokey sky above with dried tears marks. But you were breathing. He felt it.
He tried to gently, the best that he could. Try to make you stay conscious, even when his heart had dropped, or beat so hard agaisnt his ribs that he could barely even breath.
This was a nightmare. A nightmare that he couldn't wake from because it's reality.
He was the avatar. He was an master of all elements. Balance between worlds. Yet...did all of that even mattered when you, his beloved, his first love, was barely even awake in his arms?
His hands. No body trembled as he gently turned you over to see the damage. He needed to stay focus. He needed to access the wound.
....It was much more worse than his.
Azula lighting bending was focused, precise. A master, and she had one goal. To stop his heart and kill him. It is why the lighting scar wasn't as big.
But this? This was not a precise wound. It was large. Messy, and red. Oh it was red, all red. An action that was clearly taken from watching lighting bending from others.
He couldn't focus on the why. Or the how a firebender was able to learn lighting bending.
All his vision was on you.
His hearing? It was deafening with a ringing. His vision? It all tunnels to you.
In fact, it took all his control in his body to not explode into the avatar state and instead focus on getting the lighting out of the body.
His hands trembled seriously as he focused on shifting the lighting out, he wanted to focus, he really did. But it felt like he was that 12 year old kid again that ran away from the southern air temple.
He should thank Zuko. Spirits. He should've thanked him years ago. Because one moment. You were dead limp in his arms. The next he saw you gasping and coughing awake.
Oh thanks the spirits. Thanks goodness. Thanks everything. He grasped you close to his chest. His head moving to your shoulder and the crook of your neck. It took all of him. All of him. To resist tapping into the avatar State and attacking everyone.
"oh thanks the spirits sweetheart...oh thanks the spirits...oh sweetheart...I..I can't-"
He could only let out a choked breath. His eyes glimmering with tears. He was shaking. You felt it in your half conscious state. Or barely even stable state as he cradled you close to him.
You didn't know when he went to call Katara, or when you moved.
But he did, it was ingrained. And will always be on his mind.
-----------------
After the battle, and getting into safety, with Katara checking on you and the rest. Aang couldn't help but always look at your resting figure in your shared bed. At your bandaged back, covered by your sleeping robes and a thin blanket.
He couldn't help it. He felt guilty, and unfortunately, knew all too well what you dealt with. Even if he went unconscious immediately after he was struck.
He wished he could've stopped that lighting bender.
And he wished he could've protected you.
Spirits. He wished he couldve switched places with you.
He moved from his spot of the bed to gently cupped your cheek. His eyes shaky as he took in a heavy breath then, slowly moved to lean his bare forehead agaisnt the side of your face. Silent tears escaping him.
"I'm so sorry...I'm so..so sorry that I couldn't protect you"
He softly whispered. Meaning each single word.
Because yes. He was sorry.
He was the avatar.
And he had failed you.
Zuko
No
No.
No.
Who? Why? How
He was with you all this time. He promised to protect you afterall. He did, in his vows,during meetings, before bed, in the quiet moments. And right before this trip.
So how is it. How, That the moment he moved in a battle, just for a few seconds to defend Sokka from an brutal attack from two firebenders while Sokka ambushed them in a swift move-
Did he hear the most horrible familiar, and agonizing scream of yours.
....oh no.
He was terrified of that sound.
He hated that sound.
And he feared the sound that came after it.
The dreadful, traumatizing hiss of flesh being burnt...wait...
No.
He didn't just move. He snapped, quickly to see the sight.
And it call came flashing back to his mind about that day. That very day that had transformed his life.
Happening right before him more than 6 years later.
He was seeing it. Right before him, himself on you, and his father on a man that was grinning sadistically as he burned your face. That beautiful face that always brightened at the sight of him even in the hallways you shared.
But that brightness was gone. Only tears, and a cry.
A cry for him.
Spirits, he never moved so fast than he had done just now. He was sprinting. He was running.
He was flying full speed ahead, using his firebending as boosters to-
SLAM!
His smashed his feet against the mans face. Throwing him feets off of you. He wanted to fight him. To slam his hands on the man and show him what you dealt with. What he dealt with. But that visceral cry of yours broke him out of trance.
The moment you cried. He had immediately moved. Immediately going onto his knees as he accessed each single part of you, looking at your arms. Your legs then slowly to your face.
Oh that was the worse part.
Half your face, but on the right side. It was bad. No worse than bad. He couldn't even find the words to describe it.
His teeth chattered as he tried. Oh so tried to gently cupped your face to take a more closer look.
You had a handprint. He could see it. The fingertips reaching the side of your head. Burning the hair, your eye. You could barely see through it and you cried and broke before him. Lord those sounds coming from you is breaking him
Especially by your actions. Your were grasping onto him so tightly your shoulder shaking by each painful sob that you couldn't maintained when he moved you closer to him.
"It hurts- I can't..its...nnnghh"
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. His heart broke for you. His mind shattered at the moment. Your tears. Oh spirits. Your sobs. For the love of the two great dragons...oh spirits...he wished he could've protected you or done SOMETHING. oh god oh god-
"I know. I know baby. Oh spirits I know- shh shhh"
He didn't know what to do. He didn't know what to say. And that was the problem. He UNDERSTOOD your situations. For the Sun warriors- he BEEN in that situation.
So why can't he, for great dragons sake. Comfort you?
He could only hold you as tightly as you held him and cradled you so close to him, it was as if he was mending you two in one flesh.
He felt desperate. Oh he did. He did he-
He snapped his head towards Katara who had finished off with the last of the rouge members.
Katara. Oh thanks the sun for her being her. Oh thanks EVERYTHING She's here.
"KATARA! KATARA! PLEASE-...It's...it's them."
He never felt this desperate. He never pleaded. He was always the calm headed one, the one who was supposed to finish off that DARN man that dared get his hands on you.
But he can't keep his composure when his darling. His beloved. The one he had had married and had become his royal consort and partner in the fire nation. Is just....
He can't explain it without wanting to break down.
Everything was overwhelming, as much as for you, as for him, the smell of iron, of burnt flesh, of burnt hair. Lingered in the air around you. The sounds of you crying. Of that high pitch cry and whine mix. The feeling of you breaking each second and barely keeping yourself from falling off of him-
He couldn't handle it.
❤️🔥 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~❤️🔥
By the time that everything had settled.
Zuko just...never found the words. He was silent. More silent than he had ever been.
And he had never left your side.
Even after food was offered to him, or when Aang tried to comfort him. Or Katara tried to get him to even eat or drink anything.
His focus had been on you. Always on you. His eyes. Now red and puffy, just...stared at you like you were his life.
And you were. You were the flame of his life.
What would he be without you? When you were with him from the very start, even in his childhood. His banishment, the times he hid his identity.
You were there. So...what would his life be without you?
His hands gripped your hands like your were his living prayer. Each breath you took was just a sign of the tiny relief that sparked beneath his heart.
Instead of saying any words of apology. He just moved his head toward the hand that he grasped. The one with that signature ruby red ring he had given you as a promise.
"...I failed you. My flame.....and I...I will never forgive myself for failing you."
His voice broke as he just trembled.
He had broke his promise.
...and he doesn't think he can make up for it.
Sokka
(Special Headcanon! :In which Sokka has a side burn from during the war)
This day? Started out great, wonderful! You were laughing, elbowing him, enjoying his jokes too!
Spirits, it was so lovely.
But how it ended?...He's not going to talk on that.
Or joke. Because why would it be a joke?
Much like the others. He too was working extremely hard to keep up and defend himself and you from the ambush. His eyes were everywhere.
Who knew a small civilization would attempted to kill them all during this break?
Well...he probably did. He had a bad feeling. But your insistence in going had melted that worry down.
....he wished that didn't happen.
Oh...he wished it upon the spirits of Tui and La.
When the group diminished. Or when actual support of the fire nation soldiers came to arrest them. He was finally relieved of all worries.
"We finally did it! Oh we finally did! Isn't that right my lovely-"
He turned around. Expecting to see you, just exhausted as him, probably minorly bruised and sweaty.
Instead. He found you on the ground. Unconscious, the smell of flesh and clothing in the air. Not a single sound escaped you.
Oh did everything just crumbled like it was nothing but a house built on sand.
One second. He was here.
The other he was seeing his mother on the ground, burnt to the crisp with Katara screaming for her to wake up, as if she, by some miracle of the water spirit. Would.
He was seeing Yue in his hands. Souless. Cold. Like a corpse. He never felt a cold body before that day. He never felt his heart crumble like it was nothing.
But this...was different. It was...exactly like an situation he barely had remembered himself. Only the healing of Katara and waking up with you crying on his shoulder.
..this..
This...
This..
"...Darling?..." his words were barely even a whisper as he stepped closer, no. It couldn't be. It...it..please. Just let it be a joke.
Each step felt like lead.
Each breath felt like he was inhaling in a small airless closet.
That didn't stop him from rushing to you even if his body was telling him the signs that he had felt and seen on those days that marked his whole life.
Once he finally came to you. He collapsed on his knees and pulled you into his arms. His breathing wheezing as his face turned to every single crevice of your face and body.
"Hey! Hey! You...this is a joke right? Right? Darling! This isn't funny! Not funny at all!"
He wished he could've heard a single remark from you, which made him grow silent.
But he refused to let himself grieve when your chest was rising and lowering. You had a chance. Even when the burn.
Oh.
His eyes stayed on the wound, it was way worse up close. Charred, red. Deep. Right on your side, a side that he couldn't protect.
A sign that his plan during the fight failed. A side he had catalogue into his mind the moment the battle started.
He was a man of many great ideas, a strategist, a leader. So when one of his plans failed. He felt just as useless as he was when he was just a kid back in the southern water tribe.
But he wouldn't let this past when he felt you breathing. You weren't dead. Only horribly wounded.
He moved his arms. Pulling one under your knees. The other carefully raising your back, and pulled you into a bridal style carry.
He won't let this wound kill you. He can't let this wound kill you. He wouldn't dare it to. It didn't kill him. It WON'T kill you.
So he ran towards Katara, even through the pull of his exhausted muscles. Even when the adrenaline of his body was almost drained.
Because your life is as precious as everything he had ever had. And he didn't want to feel that mourning feeling he had with Yue again.
🪃 ------------------------🌊
When your wounds were treated and carefully tended to. He had went and checked around the place everyone was staying at. He didn't care if there were soldiers.
He won't deem it safe until his eyes said so. He wouldn't let his guard down, just like he did before. He won't.
But in the back of his mind. His guilt was speaking. It was speaking about his failure. His failed plan. It mocked him. His face didn't deem it. But the way his heart arched did so.
How could he call himself the great strategist if his ultimate plan failed? You were his primary goal, you were the one he needed safe first. Even if you proved yourself time and time again. He was stubborn on it.
He hated that he was right for once. He hated that a small part of his mind blamed it on his non bending abilities. He was capable.
But this failure moved him back to square one.
How could he be the most innovative one of the group when the one person that supported him throughout everything. Got injured in a way he could've prevented?
He failed and that's all there is to it.
A/N: well that's all there is to this! I couldn't remember any moments where Sokka had a personal injury so...I just went fuck it, did something. I'm sorry if its not that good, I'm not great at angst but that's all!
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a/n: thought 'homophobic fire nation banning same-sex relationships' and natla azula and my brain brained. enjoy!
.⋆˚࿔𖥔 ݁ ˖𓂃.˖✧˖.𓂃˖ ࣪ ⊹✶°⋆.
✶first rule; tell no one.
✶second rule, do not refer to her as your girlfriend. ever.
✶you are not in love. at least, not to Azula. it is merely a "mutually beneficial relationship", she'll say.
✶for the sake of your own sanity, you'll pretend, too.
✶it's less romantic and moreso didactic - she is more of an orator than a lover, more steel then softness. she was never trained in this, never educated.
✶..and yet, her icy gaze will soften whenever it locks with your own. after particularly taxing meetings, she'll give into your shoulder massages and warm words with a disgruntled sigh, though she never once complains.
✶life in the palace can be cozy, yes - you have 24/7 hour access to the spa, the best chefs, the best books, the softest bed to share.. the list goes on. but there's also tension, power struggles, manipulation and evil eyes around every corner.
✶when she's fresh from court, Azula is crabby beyond belief.
✶it's an unwritten rule that you have to listen to her badmouth those "utterly incorrigble" Generals & Commanders she so dislikes sharing the same air with.
✶"Commander Shiro considers himself an 'intellectual', you see.. and yet, he could not locate the Fortress of Hu Xin upon my pressing! Do you not find that absurd?"
✶kisses from the Princess are few and far between. yours make her feel stupid. a well timed kiss on her cheek - or, agni forbid, her collarbone - will have her steaming. she acts like she doesn't need them, that she is "above such trivalities", yet you kiss her goodbye during a full work-day (i.e; planning how to scorch out the last Earth Kingdom territories) and her ego is into the stratosphere.
✶you want her to kiss you? earn it. Complimenting her the entire day? Okay. Reorganizing all her books in the bedroom? Fine. Sparring until your joints ache and your knuckles bleed? Now that's more like it!
✶sparring is one of Azula's ways of loving you. she won't firebend, a mercy, but she'll come at you without mercy. one second you're on your feet, the next on your arse with her hand at your throat.
✶smirk. "too slow."
✶above all, Azula's love language are acts of service - incredibly subtle, nearly invisible, but there. When you wake up, tangled in her silky crimson sheets and grogged out, there'll be a single candlewick lit in blue flame, chasing the darkness away. Go to the kitchens and the chefs will've already made your favorite dish despite the lack of warning. "Is that so? How perculiar." She'll say innocently upon your next chat. "What a coincidence."
✶On her good days, the 'coincidences' pile up. Your pyjamas that need washing? Oh, already clean. That shelf you had to clean? Done and dusted.
✶Azula is a woman steeped in contradictions. she'll claim to serve at the pleasure of the Fire Lord while glaring behind his back. she'll say she misses Mai & Ty Lee while pitting them against each other. she says you are but a "ant in the scale of something much grander", but keeps you around anyway.
✶one particularly dark night, she'll say you are "ridiculous" as she rests her head on your lap, thick, inky mascara smearing and dribbling down her cheeks - hair tusseled in black, tangled hanks around her face. she'll say she "fell", but the large, reddened handprint against her swollen cheek tells a different story. Ozai's cruelty is never accidental. that was the first - and last - time you cuddled.
✶Azula isn't big on physical affection. Her version of a hug is grabbing your shoulder with one hand, patting it stiffly, before trudging off to whatever work awaits her.
✶Azula's posessive in the sense that she wants to be all you think about. In the morning, the afternoon, the night. Even when you're in a dingey, dirty tent deep in the Earth Kingdom, in the pipe dream of capturing the Avatar - she'll constantly ask what you think of her. If you even want to be here with her. If you're truly dedicated to the cause and this relationship.
✶It's controlling, it's manipulative, it's wrong. But damn, if it isn't intoxicating.
✶petnames are one-sided. Azula would rather die and be tossed into a volcano than ever call you 'darling', 'sweetheart', 'baby'- ..wait, what did you just call her?
✶azula.exe is malfunctioning
✶when the nights grow frigid and the wind howls, Azula becomes your heater. she's always running warm, and whenever you latch onto her like a drowning woman onto driftwood, she'll tense - before slowly but surely relaxing.
✶"When I become Fire Lord-" She'll say with absolute certainty, voice a low, confident whisper amongst the cruel shadows; "Which I will.. we will no longer have to hide, hm?"
The first time you ever met the gaang was when they were traveling through a rainforest. Your clan was a small group of plant benders who had been hidden for a long time. You never knew the outside world had changed since you had only ever lived deep in the forest. Of course, when you first saw Zuko, a firebender, you attacked. Had you known he was good now and that the war was over, you might have been a little less harsh. You had decided to join them on their travels to fix the world, since you really just wanted to use them to see the outside world. How could anyone not take the offer of flying on a bison?
You never thought of yourself as an actual member of the gaang since you had joined them a couple of years later. Little did you know how much they loved you. The first time you found out how far they would go for you was during a fight with a group of earthbenders in Gaoling. During the fight, you got knocked out by a rock flung your way. If you had been just a bit faster, you would've heard Aang telling you to duck. The last thing you remember is Sokka running towards you.
When you woke up again, you saw two of the men crushed beneath boulders, one man burnt to a crisp in what seemed to be a fire hurricane, and the last two men hunched in pain, groaning and pleading. Sitting up, you felt blood rushing to your head and your heart pounding as you saw Katara standing over them. You watched their veins twitch and muscles spasm before they inevitably slumped. Of course, you freaked out, you stood up so fast you fell back down. You could only watch as Toph and Aang used the earth to swallow them whole.
Apparently, Sokka saw you awoke and chose it was the perfect time to scoop you up and carry you to Katara. You tried to move away or do anything, but you felt weak, and your muscles seemed just to give up. You sat in silence as Katara healed you. “I can heal myself…” You mumbled out. She looked at you with a soft smile and replied, “I know.” As Appa took off, you stared down at the ground, the ground where your friends had just committed murder. That day was never mentioned again.
You began to miss your tribe dearly, but when you went back to visit two years ago, the whole place was empty except for burn marks on trees and rock chunks everywhere. You concluded there had been a raid, and you wished you could have been there to protect everyone. For some reason, when you went, the gang didn't want to really visit the place you were raised in. You guessed it's from their memories with Jet. Strange how Toph didn't want to go either…
Now you're staying in a small city near Chin village, you have spent your days writing and teaching kids about plant bending. You had quite a peaceful time watching these kids practice. You thought it was quite funny watching them try to make a vine grow. “Ms. Y/n..?” a little kid calls out to you. “Hmm? What is it, Ziibi?” You ask, walking over to the young girl before crouching to meet her eye level. “A bird is eating your white dragon bushes.”
