#sukki

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The flowers in the palace gardens swayed in a warm breeze, their petals dancing under a midday sun that turned the reddish silk of your garments into a blazing fire. Behind you, the steady rhythm of footsteps echoed off the ancient, thick wood walls, breaking the midday stillness.

“My lady, the guest list for the wedding still requires your review; Fire Lord Zuko is waiting for you,” murmured Zuumi, your maid, gently interrupting your thoughts.

When you turned, you found her with hands folded neatly before her, the elderly woman’s subtle smile radiating a maternal warmth.

“Of course,” you replied, offering a small smile in return. Still, your gaze lingered on the pond where turtleducks drifted peacefully, waiting with practiced patience for a servant to toss them breadcrumbs.

It had been two years since you first stepped into this palace. You remembered it vividly: the suffocating weight of duty, the feeling of being a bird in a gilded cage after agreeing to present yourself as a candidate for the Fire Lord’s consort. You hadn’t come out of desire, but out of obligation to your family.

Two years into that residency, you had been standing in this very garden, lost in thought, until a voice startled you. Thinking it was a servant, you had turned with a careless remark, only to find the Fire Lord himself watching you.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he had said. His voice was deeper than you expected, carrying a surprising warmth.

“My sincerest apologies, Fire Lord. I arrived with the group of consorts, but I seem to have lost my way,” you whispered, keeping your eyes fixed firmly on his boots. A soft, genuine chuckle escaped him, sending a flush to your cheeks.

“Please, there is no need for such deference here.” When you finally looked up, his smile was small and private. He extended an arm cordially. “Come. I am also headed to the royal hall, and I know better than anyone how confusing these corridors can be.”

From that day, the trajectory of your lives shifted. Friendship turned to courting, built on a foundation of shared jokes and hard-won trust. You had even been folded into his inner circle—the people who ended the Hundred Year War. You found a kindred spirit in Katara’s quiet strength, an outlet for mischief in Toph’s chaos, and a mentor in Suki’s discipline. Even Aang had taught you the fluid basics of airbending movements to supplement your firebending and Sokka had drawn you with the rest of their friends a sight that always brought a genuine, relaxed smile to Zuko’s face.

 “My lady,” Zuumi insisted, her tone shifting to a soft, maternal warning. “The royal chamber.”

“Of course, Zuumi.” You smoothed the folds of your gown, blushing at your own distraction. “Forgive me.”

You gently adjusted the folds of your gown, making sure they wouldn’t hinder your steps as you moved forward.

Zuumi shook her head, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips. Having served since the days of Ozai’s reign, she wasn't used to receiving apologies from the royal family and their friends. She had watched Zuko grow up in the shadow of fear—and she had watched Azula, too.

“There is nothing to apologize for, child,” she said firmly. “Let us just not keep the Fire Lord waiting any longer.”

The wing leading to the royal hall was uncharacteristically quiet. Since Zuko took the throne, the palace had breathed easier; servants moved without fear, and the oppressive tension of the old regime had evaporated. But today, the silence felt heavy.

As you turned the final corner, you saw a silhouette standing before the closed doors. The guards straightened immediately, but their eyes weren't on you—they were fixed on the woman standing between them.

She was tall and slender, her dark hair pulled into two clinical, perfect buns. Her posture was the picture of relaxed indifference. As you approached, she turned, her pale features and dark, bored eyes taking you in with a single, sweeping glance. Her expression remained a neutral line, betraying nothing.

A vague memory flashed in your mind, but it was Zuumi who gave the stranger a name.

“Lady Mai,” Zuumi remarked, stepping up behind you. “What a surprise. It has been a long time.”

Your heart skipped. You felt Mai’s gaze move over you, analyzing every stray strand of hair loosened by the garden breeze. You felt suddenly, acutely unkempt.

“I’m here to see Zuko,” Mai said, her voice a flat monotone. “It’s an important matter.”

She turned back to the doors, expecting them to open for her. The guards exchanged a brief, uncomfortable look.

“I am sorry, Lady Mai,” Zuumi intervened with practiced steel, “But the future consort has an appointment with the Fire Lord.”

Mai paused. She turned her head just enough to look at you over her shoulder. “Consort,” she repeated slowly, her brow twitching in a way that made you frown. “Interesting word, Zuumi.”

The fire in your veins, usually a flicker, surged.

“Zuumi is right, Lady Mai,” you said, your voice steady and firm. “Zuko is waiting for me. But if your matter is truly urgent, I will ensure he hears it immediately.”

The guards looked at you with newfound spark of surprise while Zuumi stood a little taller, pride beaming from her. Mai looked as though she might comment, but the doors creaked open with heavy rhythmic precision. The Chamberlain appeared, his stern face instantly softening into a deep, reverent bowed the moment his eyes landed on Mai – a gesture of respect he hadn’t yet deigned to offer you.

“Lady Mai” he murmured, his voice thick with a nostalgic warmth towards Mai that felt like a slap to your face. “The Fire Lord has been… expecting you. It is good to have back someone who belongs”

He stepped aside, holding the door with a flourish usually reserved for important visitors. Then, his gazed shifted to you, eyes raked over your wind-mussed hair, his expressions flattening into a mask of tolerance. He didn’t bow like the rest of the guards or servants, didn’t even acknowledge your title, he simply gave a nod before pulling the doors shut with a sharp click that echoed through the hall. Leaving you standing in the corridor.

The silence that followed was deafening. You could feel the stares from the guards and Zuumi, making you feel like an intruder in the same place you now live.

“Zuumi,” you murmured while looking at the closed door. “You have the afternoon off.”

“My lady—”

“Please,” you insisted, already turning away. As you hurried through the halls, the whispers of the palace staff began to bleed through the walls.

“Mai is back...”

“The Fire Lord’s past lover...”

“And months before the wedding...”

“Poor Lady (y/n)...”

Poor (y/n).

Your steps didn’t falter; you could feel everyone’s stares on you, sinking under your skin as your breath caught, but you couldn’t stop—not now.

The hallways seemed to stretch on longer than usual, while the whispers never ceased. The heat began to build in your chest; the fire wanted to break free, to explode and burn everything, so your mind ordered your legs to carry you to the only person you knew could be honest with you.

The training court was filled with the rhythmic thud of feet and the distinctive snap of fans. The Kyoshi Warriors moved in perfect synchronization, a dance of deadly precision. At the center was Suki.

She was so focused that for a moment you hesitated to call out to her, but the murmurs echoing through the palace were louder than your thoughts. You raised your hand slightly, catching Suki’s attention. She made a quick note to the more experienced Kyoshi Warriors to take her place and, without wasting a moment, walked toward you.

She noticed your labored breathing and the tiny, involuntary sparks dancing at your fingertips immediately.

“Suki…” You took a deep breath. “Help me.”

Without a word, Suki took your hand and led you to the dressing rooms. You stripped away the heavy silks of the Fire Nation and donned the light clothes of green and gold of the warriors.

When you emerged, hair tied back and eyes fierce, Suki handed you a pair of fans. “Move with me,” she commanded.

The training was grueling. Suki pushed you, sensing the roar of the fire in your chest. When a plume of flame accidentally scorched your fan, Suki didn't stop; she shifted to more aggressive maneuvers, giving your anger a target.

You channeled every whisper, every look of pity, the image of Mai’s cold eyes and the Chamberlain’s remarks into your strikes. By the time the sun set and the training hall was bathed in starlight, you were breathless. The fans were charred ruins of silk and bamboo.

“You should go to dinner,” you panted, sweat dripping from your brow. “I’m not done yet.” You threw a punch, a fireball dissolving into the air.

“I know,” Suki replied softly. “But you shouldn’t waste too much of your energy, especially if you’re not used to firebending for so long” Pause. “And I’m not leaving you alone.”

You turned to look at her, breathless.

“I need to get this out, Suki. Go...” Your lungs ached in a way you didn’t know was possible. “I don't want you skipping a meal for me.”

“We’re friends,” Suki shrugged with a grin. “I’d even skip a date with Sokka for you.”

You let out a genuine breathless laugh—the kind your parents would have called 'unladylike.'

“I don’t want to be on the receiving end of Sokka’s complaints,” You told her, making her smile. She just shrugged, but the feeling didn’t go away, so you simply walked over to her and hugged her, surprising her but prompting a quick response. “Thank you,” you whispered, pulling her into a quick hug.

As you pulled apart, Suki took you by the shoulders and looked at you intently.

“I’m leaving but I’m also writing to the others,” Suki said as she headed for the door. “Katara, Aang, and Toph are in Republic City. If they’re free they’ll be here tomorrow. We’re getting you out of this palace for a few hours.”

“Suki…”

“I won’t take a no for an answer,” she smiled. “You need to get out of here, get away from the palace and its people for a few hours.”

You just nodded. You shared another hug before Suki decided to leave the training room and leave you alone.

Once the doors closed, you returned to the center of the room, practicing the spins Suki had taught you. Spin, strike, breathe. Spin, strike, breathe.

Each strike reminded you of the comments you’d heard, using them as motivation to keep going. Every whisper, every glance, the Chamberlain.

Mai.

The only sound you could hear was your breathing and the flames coming out of your hands.

“Should I be worried about the colors of your clothing?” Zuko’s voice startled you, making you jump slightly and lower your guard. “Or is it just a new fashion trend I’m not aware of?”

Zuko was leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed. He looked tired, but his eyes softened the moment they landed on you.

“You know? I was waiting for my girl at dinner” he said, stepping into the room. “When she didn’t show, I checked the pond, then our chambers. I was starting to lose my mind until a little bird told me she was here”

Zuko walked toward you while effortlessly shed his heavy royal robes, leaving only his light undergarments. He pulled his hair into a practical bun and raised his palms. “Go ahead.”

You blinked.

“Go ahead... what?”

“Hit me,” he said, planting his feet.

“…What?...” You looked at him in surprise. “I’m not going to hit you, Zuko.”

“You’re holding onto too much tension. Use me as a focal point.” He explained as he took your wrists with both hands and positioned them, so you’d be in the right stance to throw a hit. “Hit me,” he insisted.

You looked at him hesitantly, closing your hands and positioning them in a defensive stance. Zuko just nodded.

The first punch was weak. Zuko raised an eyebrow. The second was better. The third had speed. For a long time, the only sound was the muffled thwack of your fists against his palms as he expertly blocked and absorbed your frustration.

You didn’t know how long the two of you stood there in silence, Zuko taking the blows you landed on his hands, and you focused on not hurting him, though that was impossible.

Every now and then, Zuko shifted his feet to adjust his balance and change his stance; you just followed him obediently.

“Why didn’t you come today?” Zuko asked suddenly.

“I didn’t go to dinner with you because I was here with Suki,” you replied, throwing another punch, which Zuko caught, his hand completely enveloping yours.

“I meant this afternoon—we decided to have time together to plan the wedding” Zuko continued, taking your other hand in his to stop you. You looked at him for a few seconds before pulling your hands away.

“You were too busy, Zuko. I didn’t want to get in the way of... important matters.”

“I am never ‘too busy’ for you,” he murmured, a small frown adorning his face.

You were silent for a minute.

You looked at him, your heart hammering against your ribs. “Zuko... why me? Out of all the people in the world... why did you choose me? You had Mai...”

Zuko interrupted you.

“Yes, Mai and I had something… a long time ago.” His gaze didn’t waver from yours. “And losing her hurt” he admitted. “Because she was part of my life for years, and when she left, I thought I’d never have something like that with anyone else again.” His hands moved carefully up to your face, holding you gently. “And I was right.”

Your breath caught in your throat. But he gave a small smile and moved a little closer.

“Because what I have with you is so much better than what I had with her.” His thumbs brushed your cheekbones. “You didn’t see me as Fire Lord Zuko; you saw me as Zuko, even when I sometimes didn’t know who I was.”

He let out a soft sigh.

“When we started spending time together, I began to feel something I hadn’t felt in a long time, and before I knew it, I started looking for you everywhere. In the hallways, at meetings, with the Gaang, I wanted to know your opinion, your thoughts—I wanted to hear you.”

Your hands trembled.

“When you met my friends, I could see your eyes light up and how free you looked with them. I want to see you always like that, happy.”

Small tears began to fall down your face, stopped by Zuko’s hands.

“Zuko…” you murmured.

“I want to marry you not because it’s a duty to the nation, but because with you everything feels clearer and peaceful and happier. I want you to always be here safe with me.”

Your lips formed a little pout as you tried to stop a sob from escaping.

“I also want this to be your decision—not because of some obligation you have to fulfill, but because you want to be here,” Zuko whispered.

Despite your tears and your raw emotions, you managed to reply,

“Always, Zuko.”

Zuko let out a small sigh.

“I went to look for you everywhere you could be and when I couldn’t find you…” he paused to look into your eyes; you noticed the love and insecurity flooding his own. “For a moment I thought you didn’t want to be with me anymore.” He kissed your forehead. “If you leave, I couldn’t…” he murmured against your forehead. “I don’t want to be in a place where you aren’t.”

You looked into his eyes and could see the sincerity.

“Mai asked the Chamberlain to leave us alone” he said. You tensed instinctively at the mention of her name and the thought of both being alone. “Once he was gone, she told me exactly what happened outside the royal chamber. She was angry, not at you but for you. She was appalled by how the Chamberlain treated you” He finished, his voice dropping an octave with his own simmering frustration.

“What happened today…” you murmured, still close to him.

“What happened today was an insult to you,” he replied firmly, his forehead resting gently against yours. “And I promise you it will never happen again. We’re a team, always you and me.”

Your hands moved up gently, covering his, which were still cupping your face.

“I love you, Zuko,” you confessed. Zuko smiled as his cheeks flushed slightly.

“I love you more, (y/n).”

You took his hands and gently moved them away from your cheeks, only to wrap your arms around his neck and pull him closer to you. Your lips met his just as Zuko responded immediately, leaning toward you, deepening the kiss with a desire he no longer tried to hide.

His arms wrapped around your waist, pulling you against him, closing any space that existed between you.

You both pulled apart to catch your breath. His forehead returned to yours while his hands rested firmly on your waist.

“I owe Suki a new pair of fans” You mumbled, glancing toward the charred remains of the bamboo on the floor.

Zuko chuckled, his eyes following yours. “I don’t think she’ll mind”

“But I do” You insisted, though your eyes were beginning to flutter shut as the last of your adrenaline was leaving your body

Zuko caressed your face gently, his thumb brushing away the strays hairs plastered to your skin by sweat. “Then I’ll have a servant to go and get a new pair in the city tomorrow” he mumbled. “But right now my only priority is taking care of my future wife”

He pulled you into his arms, and you didn’t resist, letting your head fall heavily against his shoulder.

“Zuko…” You felt the low hum in his chest. “Do you think… you can help me train my firebending?” you wondered while crossing your arms around his neck.

“It would be my honor, love” he answered with a soft smile. “And if you’d like, I can ask Uncle Iroh to come and help, too. He’s been looking for an excuse to visit”

“That would be amazing Zu…” You whispered, your voice trailing off as you were falling asleep. “And I think…” You yawned. “Aang and the rest are coming tomorrow”

“Then I believe a trip to Ember Island is in order” Zuko decided, his voice dropping to a soothing low. “Spirits knows we all need a vacation”

You simply smiled and tucked your face into the crook of his neck. The steady rhythmic thrum of his heart against your ear became a lullaby. Zuko felt your arms slowly slide from his shoulders, a sign that you had finally drifted off.

He held you a little tighter, pressing a lingering kiss to your temple.