#awkward zuko

(Zuko x !WaterTribe! Reader)

Summary: Both the fire nation and the water tribe see the two idiots who have fallen in love but can't seem to say it out loud, so why not give them a little push and arrange them to a match?

Chapter One: A Blue Seal

Masterlist

"Your Majesty!"

A fast paced messenger rushes to the Firelord's study as he bursts through gold engraved doors. He kneels on the floors, his hands holding an envelope, "Your Majesty! A letter from the Water Tribe!" Zuko looks up from the piles of paper work for a moment, before going back to signing papers. "Thank you Oz, just add that to the other pile, I'll get to it in a minute." Oz hesitates for just a moment before speaking but not before the annoying chamberlain of Firelord Zuko interuppts him.

"You insolent fool! Only the Firelord has time for important correspondence. You just wasted two minutes of his time!" The sour tone of the Chamberlain rings throughout the palace hallways.

Oz attempts to gain his words back, "But this is important correspondence! It's from-" "Yes yes, we know the Water Tribe peasants want something, but I said important messages!" The shrieks back irritably, his face looks like a tomato. The messenger furrows his eyebrows. before shooting back.

"Your Majesty, the letter has a royal crest."

Zuko and the Chamberlain's eyes widen. Zuko's with intrigue, and the chamberlain's with sheepish feeling. The Firelord's thoughts swirled in curiosity. Had it been Sokka or Katara's letter, it would have been handled with personal and importance. Which meant only one thing.

The Northern Water Tribe.

Zuko picks up the light blue letter, his fingers delicately caressing the wax seal displaying three waves and the moon above it. A symbol of their eldest princess becoming the moon spirit.

And he pondered.

Which royal could have sent it?

After all, the relationship between the two nations haven't been well. Ever since their precious eldest princess had passed, transitioning into the new moon spirit. The people had been reluctant to reconnect with the Fire Nation.

He stares at it for a moment, thinking about his last encounter there.

It hadn't been peaceful. Back when he was operating on his honor, and the need to capture the Avatar. Before he learned that softness couldn't kill you, and he deserved friendship just as any normal teenager could.

His fingers ran again across the wax seal, looking at it. A princess's seal. One that had been specially crafted just for the lady of the nation. He reached for a small knife to open it, the cold metal slicing through it. The Chamberlain and the messenger look in curiosity, wondering what contents does the letter conceal.

But curiosity can kill a cat. The same way human nature can take over our mind and body, the same human nature that drives us to struggle to success.

He picks up the letter, and starts to read. His eyes looking across the letter before his lips curve into an awkward smile. His thoughts churning in his head.

"So. This is what the princess of the Northern Water Tribe asks for huh. Interesting."

He looks up from the letter, eyeing at his chamberlain before speaking.

"Chamberlain. Have the second princess of the Northern Water Tribe invited here for a talk. They have interest in making a truce."

Taglist: @kimsrie

Boiling Point: Zuko x You by Livi on Freeroam

Zuko x You headcanon

Zuko accidentally learns your tell (╥﹏╥)

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The thing about you was that you were impossible to read. At least, that's what everyone said.

As a healer, you could calmly handle injuries that would send other people into a panic. As a diplomat, you could sit through endless council meetings without ever losing your composure. You smiled when you were annoyed. Laughed when you were angry. Somehow, nobody ever seemed to know what you were actually thinking.

Except Zuko.

You didn't realize he'd figured it out until it was far too late. It started during a council meeting. One of the ministers was droning on about reducing aid to an Earth Kingdom village that was still rebuilding after the war. The entire room looked bored. You looked polite.

But your nose scrunched. Just a little.

The minister kept talking. Your nose scrunched again. Across the table, Zuko's eyes narrowed slightly. You didn't notice.

Unfortunately, he did.

After that, it became impossible to stop seeing. Whenever a noble said something stupid? Your nose scrunched. Whenever a merchant tried explaining healing to you? Your nose scrunched. Whenever someone made a ridiculous comment about waterbending? Your nose scrunched. And because the universe hated him, Zuko eventually realized exactly what it meant.

Whenever you thought someone was being an idiot...

Your nose wrinkled. Like an annoyed rabbit. The discovery should have been insignificant. Instead, it became a problem. Because now he kept looking for it.

Council meetings. Banquets. Diplomatic events.

Every time someone started talking, Zuko would glance over just to see if you'd do it. Which was exactly how you caught him.

"Why do you keep staring at me?"

"I don't."

"You do."

"I don't."

"You absolutely do."

His immediate refusal only made you more suspicious. For the next week, you demanded answers. You cornered him after meetings. You cornered him after training. You cornered him in hallways. Every single time—

"Tell me."

"No."

"Tell me."

"No."

"Zuko."

"No." Eventually, you reached your limit. One afternoon, while walking through the palace gardens, you stepped directly into his path.

"Tell me."

"No."

"Tell me."

"No." You narrowed your eyes. Then deliberately scrunched your nose. Zuko froze. The silence that followed was immediate. And suspicious. Very suspicious.

"...You figured something out."

"I didn't."

"You did."

"No."

"Zuko." He groaned. Then, before he could stop himself—

"You look ridiculous." Your jaw dropped.

"You noticed." The look on his face told you everything.

"You noticed!"

"It's not a big deal."

"You noticed!"

"You literally just did it!" You covered your face with both hands. This was terrible. Absolutely terrible. You were never going to recover from this. Meanwhile, beside you, Zuko was suspiciously quiet. When you finally peeked through your fingers, you discovered why. He was smiling.

Actually smiling.

The traitor.

Typically Zuko: An Awkward Zuko fancam

Hi! Zuko here.

he would be in his room while waiting and writing out flirty lines that he could say to katara

*before the pirate scene*

zuko: okay, i have to get her alone and say something smooth, how about 'we always seem to run into each other'

zuko: no no, that's stupid. maybe 'where's your avatar now?'

zuko: no that's mean. what about 'fancy seeing you here'

🌟Zuko not knowing how to handle certain situations and acting awkwardly funny🌟

Sokka sitting down next to him: Hey what's cooking good looking?

Zuko looking confused: uh...soup. Do you want some?

Sokka trying again: I'm more in the mood for a SNACK.

Zuko: ...well I'm not the best cook, maybe Aang has some leechy nuts you can have.