#steambaby

Like father, like daughter.

Meet Saphira, the second child of Fire Lord Zuko and Fire Lady Katara.

Katara: Zuko.

Zuko, sensing he's in danger: Y-Yes?

Katara: Care to explain why our little turtleduck is covered in candy when I told her she could not have any after dinner.

Katara: *holds up Izumi with candy smear over her cheeks*

Zuko: I... um... I can explain. Our daughter... has good persuasive skills!

[Flashback]

Izumi: Papa, can I have those candies? The ones Mama said I couldn't have?

Izumi: Please🥺

Zuko: Yes, you can have all the candies you want.

[End of flashback]

Zuko, thinking: 'It doesn't help she knows exactly the things I can't say no to.'

Katara, cleaning Izumi: *sighs* This child learns fast.

Izumi, thinking: 'Wait, have I truly avoided punishment?!'

Katara: Zuko, our daughter has misbehaved. Take action.

Katara: Please🥺

Zuko: You're grounded for a week!

Izumi: 😱

---------

Katara made her way toward her husband’s office, her heart warm and steady. One hand trailed along the banister, and she paused when she noticed the small bouquet tucked in the alcove. With a soft flick of her bending, she lifted it gently, the flowers perking up as if greeting her.

Zuko didn’t notice her at first. He was hunched over his desk, brow furrowed, completely absorbed in whatever document lay open before him. His hand drifted up to his cheek as he thought, dragging a streak of ink across his skin without realizing it.

The sight made her smile — that familiar, helpless fondness she felt whenever he got so focused he forgot everything else. It tugged at her heart in a way she couldn’t quite hide.

She stepped closer, letting a thin thread of water lift from her pouch. It brushed the ink from his cheek with a gentle sweep, and her hand followed, cupping his face with quiet affection.

Zuko blinked up at her, startled, then softened instantly under her touch.

Katara leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. When she pulled back, his expression had melted. A second kiss drew out an amused, almost bashful look.

“What’s going on?” he asked, voice low, eyes searching hers.

Katara looked down at him warmly, her body drifting closer until his hand rose instinctively to rest at her hip.

“I just want to remember what your face looks like before I tell you something.”

“…Oh. Okay.”

Katara’s breath steadied. She kept her hand on his cheek a moment longer, as if memorizing the warmth of him, the way he always leaned into her touch without thinking.

Zuko waited, eyes soft, a little confused, a little hopeful.

She exhaled.

“Zuko… I’m pregnant.”

For a heartbeat, nothing moved. His hand on her hip went still. His eyes widened, not in shock so much as in the kind of awe that steals language from a person.

Then everything in him lit at once.

“Katara—” His voice cracked, and he stood so quickly his chair scraped back. Both hands came up to frame her face, almost reverent, as if he needed to make sure she was real, that the words were real.

“You’re— we’re—” He laughed, breathless, disbelieving, overwhelmed. “We’re having a baby.”

Katara nodded, her smile blooming, and he pulled her into him, forehead pressed to hers, eyes shining with a joy he couldn’t contain.

He let out a shaky laugh, full and bright. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy.”

The New Dragon of the West

a moment of respite

Chapter 5, Dragonkin : The Fire Lord rises with the sun and the moon.