summary. zuko travels with the gaang to a small island to celebrate a festival held in their honour, expecting little more than speeches, heat, and a few days away from court.
instead, he meets a dancer and finds himself feeling love, desire, and want in ways he never has before. the only problem is she wants nothing to do with men like him.
pairing. firelord!zuko x fem!oc ﹒♡﹒ genre. angst, smut , romance , post canon au ﹒♡﹒ wc:4.2k+ ﹒♡﹒ 18+ mdni! ﹒♡﹒ cw: tension, language , smut , racial discrimination, drinking ( alcohol) , mtba….. note: OMGGGG!!!! thank you guys sooo much for the love and support you’ve been giving this fic ilyguys alll sooo much i’m literally cryingggg!!!
xoxo , kiki
!!! disclaimer !!! the FMC is desi/brown girl-coded and heavily inspired by desi/brown culture. That said, you can absolutely imagine her however you like that’s part of the fun, and why we’re all here anyway. it’s also crossed posted on ao3
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The slight buzz of the early morning chirps woke me. The early morning sun entered my room in molten strips of gold, mirroring across the floor and filling the room. A restful yawn escaped my mouth as I stripped the bed covers off of my body.
I made my way quietly to the kitchen. Anika slept like the dead, yet somehow always had the nerve to complain if the floor creaked too loud in the morning—drama queen.
Still half asleep, I filled the kettle and set it aside before pulling out flour, milk, eggs, sugar, and the fruit I bought yesterday.
Pancakes with berries and honey—yum!
If I was going to be on my feet, running around all day, I at least deserved pancakes. And Anika,too, I guess
I poured batter into the pan and watched it sizzle, flipping each one before it browned too much. By the end, I had a stack of twenty. Ten for me and ten for Anika.
Though realistically, she’d eat twelve and pretend she didn’t. I sliced berries over the top because food too deservse to look nice.
Then I grabbed two mugs and reached for the spice shelf. Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves, Peppercorns and Ginger.
I crushed everything together while humming one of the songs my parnani used to sing whenever she cooked or cleaned or wanted everyone else to hurry up.
The beautiful smell alone woke me up. I tipped it into a pot, added milk, then pointed two fingers at the stove.
A small angular flame sparked from my fingertips which the burner caught instantly. And heated it up niccly, just enough to keep the the chai simmering.
While it brewed, I sat on the floor and closed my eyes. The sun warming my body sweetly.
I loved mornings for this exact reason—my body and mind enjoyed the glaze of warmth the sun gave. But today I had a lot to do, I have rehearsal, have to help my parents set up their stand, checking costumes and makeup for tomorrow, answering the tourists questions, and making sure everything’s perfect.
Oh and getting some necessities for the house.
But tomorrow, it would be the start of the festival.
Tomorrow, the avatar would arrive
I inhaled deeply, finding silence before the chaos arrived and ate at my brain.
Outside, the city was waking up. Vendors were already shouting in the streets below. Bells rang somewhere in the distance, and beyond all of it, the sea hit the cliffs in slow heavy waves.
I stayed there for another minute.
Then I got up, stretched until my joints stopped making thise disgusting sounds that made me think my body was older than it actually was, and headed to bathe.
When I came back out, I dressed in a rose-red linen skirt with embroidery near the hem, a cropped blue top, and enough jewelry to make noise every time I moved.
My belly chains rested low on my waist, bracelets stacked at both wrists, and my nose ring flashed whenever I turned my head towards the sun.
I rubbed scented oil into my skin and went to the kitchen feeling almost human again.
Anika was awake, with her hair sprayed everywhere. Half dead yet somehow fully awake enough to be evil.
Half of my pancakes and fruits were gone.
I stared at her, bobsmacked.
She blinked slowly once, gave me a smile, and said, “Morning, hotstuff.”
I shook my head and sighed, dragging my feet into the kitchen and taking the remainder of what I had left for myself before my shower.
Glaring at Anika, who just gave me a small smirk.
She reached towards the pot and poured the chai for me into a mug. And handed it to me and grabbed an apple and took a bit into it.
“I am so grateful that today’s a half-day.”
I raised my brows at her statement, a gulp of chai already warming my mouth, I gulped it down.
” What time will you be done with the little ones?”
I asked placing the mug down to take a bit of my pancakes.
“Hmmm I think at around 1 or 2, then I’ve got to come back home get changed for practice.”
I nodded,” Okay, cool I think I’ll open the studio at 2:30-ish but before I’ve got to check out Parnani’s place see if its ready for the tours and before that check up with our parents at mom’s.”
Anika cleared her throat and gave me a smile, “Hey, don’t worry about it Kaayvsa, the tour is going to turn out great—you know what seeing as it’s my half-day I’ll go check up on her—”
“No, you don’t need to, Annie, I’ve got it and enough your little break before rehearsals. Its just a quick check up to see if everythings in order, and if I need to get some things but other than that its going to be fine.” I reassured my friend.
That made her hum in agreement.
“Don’t overwork yourself,” she said, softer now.
I gave her a look.
“You’re literally saying that while working two jobs.”
She smiled. “Yes, but Its me and I’m better at it.”
I rolled my eyes, but there was no malice in it.
By mid-morning, we had split ways, with Anika dressed in a simple dress. I only did my hair and bits of makeup so that I’d be a bit presentable.
My hair tied into a low-messy with a middle part and loose face-framing strands. And a bit of rouge on my cheeks and lips and kohl lining my waterline.
The city outside was already louder, brighter, more chaotic in that festival-week way where everything felt slightly unhinged but also alive. People ive seen my entire life—shouting and waving as I made my way past towards my mother’s house.
The walk there was so peaceful, I almost immediately regretted wishing for peace that morning.
The moment I stepped inside, it was chaos—but the organised kind.
The kitchen smelled like spice, oil,something sweet burning and perfumes…. LOADS of it.
My mother stood at the stove, sleeves rolled up, completely focused on meal prep like shes about to find a starving army—well she is.
My father was at the table nearby, mixing body oils and face paints like a scientist.
Around them, my aunts moved like they had ten hands each—chopping, stirring, shouting instructions across each other.
My uncles were outside arguing over some mechanical stall setup. While my cousins were already fighting over who got to do henna first.
And somehow, everything was still… clean.
Just so fucking loud. Oh how happy I am to be home.
“Vysa!” one of my aunts called the second she saw me. “Come here, taste this, lovey.”
Before I could even breathe, I was handed something spicy, warm, and weird tasting.
I coughed, my lips puckering at the taste.
She nodded proudly, a smile on her lips. “Perfect, just the reaction I wanted.”
That’s when it started, barely a foot in, I removed my shoes and walked further into the kitchen moving towards the lemon water and pouring myself a drink.
“So,” my aunt said casually, far too casually, as she leaned on the counter. “I heard something interesting in the capital.”
“My friend went to trade in the Fire Nation the other day,” she continued, “and guess who she saw?”
My aunts and mom raised their eyes in question momentarily stopping their work, before one of them responded.
“What? Her imaginary rich noble man from the earth kingdom.”
And the room erupted into cackles, my lips twitching into a smile before grabbing a dishtowel and using it to lightly smack the culprits back, who gave me a naughty grin and shrugged her shoulders
She rolled her eyes at her sisters. ”No, you gossip. The fire lord was in the market centre—in a horrible disguise and she was telling me that there are rumors around in the capital that he’s looking for a bride.”
Silence.
Actual silence.
I felt her eyes before ours met. The way attention shifted from the food towards me. The way her eyes slid from her cutting board to her sisters… then to me.
Oh no.
Out of everyone in this house, she was the only one obsessed with the idea of me getting married. Not my siblings. Not even my parents.
Just her. Always her.
“…and?” I said slowly. My aunt’s grin widened.
“He’s very handsome.”
I froze as she continued, delighted.
“Like—very. Long dark hair, sharp face. Very intense. Very brooding. Very—”
“No,” I said immediately.
“Oh yes,” another aunt added.
“No,” I repeated, stronger this time.
My mother finally spoke without turning around.
“He’s probably your type.”
I turned to her so fast I nearly dropped my cup.
“Excuse me?”
The kitchen erupted.
“He is your type,” one aunt confirmed.
“Tall,” said another.
“Serious,” said someone else.
“Traumatised,” my cousin added helpfully.
I stared at all of them. “…I hate all of you.”
The kitchen erupted into giggles.
“He is so your type,” my aunt insisted, pointing at me like she had just proven something.
“No,” I said, shaking my head, already backing away like distance would save me. “No,no, agni, no!.”
“Come, lovey he probably has that long hair that you like,” someone added.
“Maybe a very serious face,” another added.
“He also probably stares off into the distance for no reason,” my cousin said.
I covered my face for a second. “That means nothing.”
“That means everything,” my aunt teased back.
I groaned. “You are all projecting.”
My mother finally spoke, calm as ever, not even turning around. “You said that last 5 times, sweetly. Should I tell everyone what your boyfriends used to look like?”
The room went feral.
I dropped my hands and stared at her. “You were supposed to be on my side.”
“I am,” she said simply, a smile gracing her face. “I’m just not lying.”
“Traitor,” I muttered.
Just then my uncle walked in like he always did, already reaching for food before he even greeted anyone.
“Oi—” my mother snapped without turning. “That’s not ready.”
He ignored her, of course, popping something into his mouth anyway.
Then he saw me.
“Vysa.”
He crossed the room in two steps and pulled me into a hug before I could even say anything, one hand coming up to the back of my head like he used to when I was younger.
“You came early,” he said against my hair.
“Yeah,” I mumbled into his shoulder.
He pulled back, giving me a once-over, then jerked his head toward the hallway.
“Come,” he said. “Too loud in here.”
That alone told me it was not just a casual check-in.
I followed him out, the noise of the kitchen dulling the second we stepped into the next room.
He shut the door halfway behind us, leaning against the table.
“What’s up?” he asked, quieter now. “You alright?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Just… festival chaos.”
He hummed, not fully convinced, but let it go.
“And Anika?” he added. “She still screaming the place down or has she calmed?”
I huffed a small laugh. “Worse, actually.”
“Good,” he said, deadpan. “Tell her I said hi, will you.”
That earned a proper smile out of me.
He pushed off the table then, reaching into the bag he had slung over his shoulder.
“I went by Nani’s place yesterday,” he said, pulling out the keys to her house. “Dropped off the robes you asked for. Hung them up for you as well.”
I blinked, a little caught off guard.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know,” he said simply, handing them to me anyway.
I ran my fingers over the keys.
“Thank you,” I said, quieter this time.
He watched me for a second. Really watched me.
Then his expression shifted.
“You’re doing this on your own this year,” he said.
Not a question.
I nodded.
“Yeah.”
He let out a slow breath, then stepped forward again, pulling me into another hug. This one tighter. Longer.
“I’m proud of you,” he said into my hair.
Something in my chest twisted.
“Yeah?” I tried, light, but it came out smaller than I meant.
“Yeah,” he said, pulling back just enough to look at me. “Not everyone could do that. Not like this.”
I swallowed, looking down at the robes in my hands.
“She’d be proud of you too.”
That one hit.
Hard.
I nodded before I could say something stupid, or worse, honest.
“Okay,” he said after a second, clapping his hands once, like he was physically resetting the mood. “Come on. Before they eat everything.”
The second we stepped back into the kitchen, the noise hit again like a wave.
My dad turned the moment he saw me.
“There she is,” he said, already grinning. “Our star performer.”
“Hi, dad.” I grinned back at him, going up to him to receive a hug and he places a kiss on my forehead.
His eyes crinkled with his smile as he looked down at me.” “What’s the plan for tomorrow?”
He wiggled his brows, “What are we giving the people this year?”
“Don’t,” I warned, already narrowing my eyes.
Too late.
He straightened up like he was about to step on stage, then started mimicking my dancing. Badly. Completely off rhythm, hips going in directions that made no sense.
I let out a giggle before I could stop myself.
“Dad stop—”
He didn’t.
“Oh, like this?” he said, doubling down, somehow making it worse.
The entire kitchen erupted into laughs and giggles at my father’s antics.
Even my uncle shook his head.
“I’m thinking Apsara’s Breath,” I said, laughing despite myself. “With my own little twist.”
My father froze dramatically.
“A twist?” he repeated like I had just insulted tradition itself. “You’re upgrading now,huh?”
“Relax,” I said, still smiling. “It’s not that deep.”
“It is that deep,” he insisted, placing a hand over his heart. “This is art.”
My mother didn’t even turn around.
“What it is,” she said, tossing a cloth straight at his chest, “is embarrassing.”
He caught it, offended. “You wound me.”
“I would burn you,” she replied, calm as ever.
He grinned anyway, tossing the cloth over his shoulder like he had just won something.
She didn’t even try to hide her smile this time.
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The airship hummed steadily beneath my hands as I steered us toward the island, following the route the captain had mapped out.
Behind me, the familiar chaos had already started.
With Sokka talking too loudly, Katara was correcting him, and Toph was making it worse on purpose while Suki just enjoyed.
I allowed myself a small smile anyway.
Movement outside caught my eye.
I glanced to the side to see Aang, riding alongside us on Appa, one hand gripping the reins while the other waved at me like he had not seen me in years. Momo clung to the saddle behind him, asleep, like an infant.
I lifted a hand in return.
Katara spotted them a second later and rushed to the window, lighting up immediately.
“Aang!” she called, already waving.
He tilted his head slightly to one side. And she leaned the opposite.
He mirrored her again, and she did the same in the opposite direction.
They repeated it like idiots.
I exhaled through my nose.
Then she blew him a kiss.
He caught it. Actually caught it. And pressed it to his chest like it was something valuable.
She turned back into the room, smiling.
Sokka looked like he had just witnessed something deeply disgusting.
“Ew,” he said immediately. “Katara, no one wants to see that.”
She rolled her eyes and shoved him lightly. “Your commentary is completely unnecessary, Sokka. As if I have not seen and heard you do worse.”
His expression shifted instantly. Embarrassment. Then pride.
“Well—”
Toph cut in, grimacing. “Do not even start. My poor feet.”
Sokka froze.
“Next time,” she added, “try not doing it in the middle of the day.”
Suki made a small, strangled noise, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Why am I getting dragged into this? I did nothing.”
“Guilty by association,” Sokka said quickly.
“That is not how that works,” Katara shot back.
“That is exactly how that works.”
Their voices overlapped again, louder this time.
I let out a quiet chuckle, shaking my head as I adjusted our course slightly.
Then—
Suki cleared her throat.
“Woah,” she said.
That got everyone.
They shifted toward the front windows almost at once. Their faces planted onto the glass, I need to clean that once I get home.
Everyone except Toph.
I stepped forward, resting a hand against the frame as the island finally came into full view.
For a good second, no one spoke.
Blue water crashed against dark volcanic rock, waves breaking white against the shore. Inside the ring of stone, the land opened into something… so beauiful.
A city.
Buildings clustered together, colour spilling between them, smoke rising in thin lines. Beyond that, smaller towns stretched outward, broken up by lakes that caught the sunlight and forests that moved with the wind.
It was… ethereal.
Sokka leaned closer to the glass. “Okay wow, just wow.”
“It’s so beautiful,” Katara said quietly.
“Very.” Suki added
Sokka said. “I think I just found my retirement spot.”
“That is one way to put it,” I said.
Near the edge of the city, something came at us.
I narrowed my eyes, before rapidly shifting the airship to the side.
Making everyone and everything inside the airship shift to the side.
Shouts of surprise echoed, “Hello! Warning next time, sunshine.” Toph growled
Fire.
But they were thin streams of it, arcing upward into the air.
Thankfully now not attacking, but they were signalling.
Or pointing towards the path to land.
“Those are for us,” I said.
Sokka blinked. “You are telling me they are guiding an airship… with fire?”
“Yes.”
“That feels very wrong.”
“It is working, is it not?”
“Uh, I guess.”
Outside, Appa let out a low groan, dipping slightly as Aang adjusted his direction to follow the same path.
I angled the airship down, lining us up with the trail of fire.
The closer we got, the thicker the air became.
The island did not just look alive, it felt alive too.
“Everyone ready?” I asked, not turning around.
“No,” Sokka said immediately.
“Good.”
The engines slowed as we descended, the deck vibrating beneath our feet before settling.
And we landed, I moved to open the doors.
And the second I did—Heat hit us.
Thick, humid air rolled in, clinging instantly.
Sokka was stunned. “Oh this is just great.”
Katara pushed past him, already scanning the space. Suki followed, steady as ever. Toph stepped out without hesitation, like she already knew exactly where she was going.
Infront of us, waiting stood at the edge of the landing platform stood a line of officials, dressed far lighter than anything worn in the Fire Nation.
Loose fabrics. Breathable. Silks and wraps that moved with the wind instead of holding shape. Bare arms, open collars, jewellery catching the light in small flashes.
Gold, beads, metalwork—ones that didn’t match just one nation.
At their centre stood a man, way younger than those behind him.
Watching us with a large smile, oh he was definitely our age just by his facial structure.
The Head Magister.
Arms open with a wide and welcoming smile.
“Fire Lord Zuko,” he said, voice carrying easily over the noise of the city behind him. “Avatar Aang. Masters Katara, Toph, Sokka… Captain Suki.”
He inclined his head to each of us, precise but warm.
“Welcome,” he continued, gesturing to the island behind him, “to Enjima.”
Sokka leaned slightly toward me. “Okay, this is way nicer than what I envisioned.”
“Oh hush,” Katara muttered under her breath.
“All things considered,” I said, meeting the Magister’s gaze, “this is a better reception than I expected.”
A flicker of something passed through his eyes. Amusement I recognised.
“We aim to improve upon expectations, Your Highness,” he replied smoothly.
I glanced past them, toward the city.
Toward the colour, the movement, the liveliness of just it’s buildings.
Aang stepped up beside me, softer, but certain.
“It is beautiful,” he said.
The Magister’s smile deepened, just slightly.
“Yes,” he said. “It is.”
next chapter →
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notes: i feel like this chapter is a little bit lacklustre idkkkk, buts it’s not edited AT ALLL and i will go over this….. just not rn hehehehehe
but ty for the love
xoxo
kiki 🩷🩷
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