#zume

 Finally figured out what to do - it became more domestic fluff that just so happened on their days off throughout the years rather than how they spend it per say, but I hope it gives an insight into what their days off look like regardless!

Words: 2, 517 Genre: Fluff. That’s it. Warning: Two mentions of pregnancy - not described in detail but mentioned nonetheless.

Can also be read on AO3

Comments are most welcome if you would like to leave one!

For a long time, the food industry has used cardboard or plastic packaging for food orders. However, these food packaging materials are not compostable or sustainable. Although cardboard or paper to-go boxes might seem like a great alternative to plastic, molded fiber is a much better option for numerous reasons. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many restaurants had no choice but to make the shift from dine-in to to-go orders only. This caused a considerable production increase in plastic to-go containers and led to much more trash filling our landfills. Plastic may be the cheaper option than other food packaging types, but is certainly not the best for our planet. 

Paper

You may be asking yourself, what do you mean by paper to-go boxes? When we refer to paper as a material for food packaging, we are mainly describing the Chinese food basket-shaped containers. While these containers are still better than plastic, they are often treated with chemicals to prevent leaking. Although they are easier to break down in landfills, they aren’t able to be used in your compost. 

Cardboard

Cardboard is often used at pizza shops, as we are all well aware of! When we think of cardboard, we usually think of a decent packaging option that can be recyclable without causing harm to the environment. However, pizza usually creates lots of leftover greases that seep through cardboard boxes, making them unable to be reused as a recycled material. 

Molded Fiber

Finally finished it lol. Probably weird paragraphing going on from copy and pasting oops. Anyways, maybe a smidge out of character for Zuko in particularly but I tried XD

2, 331 words.

No warnings I don’t think, and full fluff I think.

AO3 - here

Ume sighed, groaning as she laid on the bed. It was strange, being back on Ember Island within the residence of her parents. And it was weirder still to see it at night.

She had left the group for a couple of days with her Grandpa Qiu, intent on finding her parents. He had found a lead in his own search for his son and had collected her no sooner than Zuko and Katara had returned. Ume asked for permission, of course, not wanting to cause any trouble. And whilst the group looked at each other with uncertain gazes, Aang had given the all-clear. Though Zuko was… crestfallen, to say the least, he had wished her luck with the semblance of a smile and a hug. There was hardly the need to keep their romance hidden, considering she had blown their cover when Azula attacked the Air Temple only a few days prior.

Ume had suspected to see a couple of the group still awake at the royal residence on the Island when she arrived - Katara possibly, maybe Zuko. But she saw no sign when she returned. Without knowing which rooms were safe to use, or even where they were situated, she made the last-minute decision to head to her family’s residence, though she left multiple notes around the place in case they were awake before she had arrived.

Her mission was a partial success - her Father had been found, his small unit of deserters recruited to the cause, and he and her grandfather had gone to find the others - some kind of ‘calling’. Whatever that was meant to mean. But he was okay. Still, there was no sign of her mother. And her father had been searching for two years.

Regardless, one parent was safe and sound. She could rest a little easier. She could sleep with both eyes shut. Not that it was enough to have her relax - alone in a house that would be searched high and low for any sign of life.

She struggled to get comfortable, fresh cuts and bruises, the odd minor burn that would fade without a scar in a day or two, making it difficult to find a position that didn’t hurt to be in. Then there was the lack of bed sheets, the chill of the night as summer began to fade. The moonlight shining upon old pictures of her family that she couldn’t bear to look at without feeling remorse deep within her heart.

It had been so long. She had changed. She had killed in vengeance. Was that not against her upbringing?

She rolled from her back onto her left side with a huff at the ache from her muscles. Ume faced the doorway. Her eyes widened momentarily before narrowing at the form in the doorway, fist raised as if to knock. The sleeve of his left hung at his elbow, his right arm tense at his side despite his efforts to remain relaxed. His stance was with legs apart - no different to a commander issuing orders to his men.

Her lips curved into a tired smile.

“I’m awake, Zuko.” She sat up slowly, pushing herself further up the bed to straighten her back full. “Come in. You can sit here.” Ume patted the space of the bed at her thigh with an amused grin at the way his arm slowly fell. “Relax, it’s just me.”

The Prince stayed still for a few moments before approaching her, the years of walking quickly, purposefully, with authoritative strides still clear as day. Zuko was quiet, even after he sat. He swallowed, head hung low for a moment. His hands were grasping the edge of the bed, knuckles white.

Ume tilted her head in Zuko’s direction as if trying to see his expression without peering, being patient with her slowly growing concern that was, she knew, quiet in it’s expression. Rather than asking him what was on his mind, she placed her hand on his and ran her thumb over his knuckles.

“I’m sorry I’m a little later than we had anticipated - my dad was in the middle of blowing up a fleet.” Zuko’s head turned to look at her quickly, eyes wide in shock. “I made the same face! He wouldn’t come back with us until it had been destroyed -”

“Are you hurt?” Ume’s eyes widened momentarily in surprise, not expecting his hands upon her face. They were warm upon her cheeks, so different to the exhaustion in his voice, the quietness of his question.

“A few scrapes and bruises, nothing serious. For the most part, the pain’s faded. Muscles aren’t happy, but I’ll be fine after a couple of good nights of sleep.” She sighed softly as the surprise wore off, her vision adjusting to the night revealing how exhausted he looked. The moon softly illuminated his features in silver, even the bags under his eyes. “You haven’t been sleeping well, have you?”

“I never sleep well.”

Ume knew the blunt, matter-of-fact sentence shouldn’t have made her feel amused, but she had missed it. “You were worried, so you got even less sleep. Am I right?”

“Why wouldn’t I be worried?” He averted his gaze, but she could hear the bashfulness at the way he raised his voice. “Last time you went off finding someone, you were gone a year. Then you were taken away from me by a storm, you could have died in Ba Sing Se fighting Azula, she nearly killed you before the eclipse when you were looking for me of all people -”

Ume brought her right hand to his left cheek. She ran her knuckles down his temple, “Zuko,” then gently ran her thumb along the edge of his scar upon his cheekbone, “you are worth so much more than you think you are. Don’t talk about yourself like you are the most useless and worthless of all. Like you are pure evil, unforgivable and unwanted. I knew you would come around. The others told me to give up, but I do not give up on those that matter most to me.” Zuko’s eyes widened when she leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead, once again upon his scar. “I am just as surprised at you loving me, despite everything I’ve done, the same way you’re surprised about me loving you. Even though we had different views on honour at the time, there is something that never changed:” Ume softly pulled Zuko into a warm embrace, wrapping her arms around his torso and resting her chin awkwardly on his shoulder. Her words were quiet, spoken only for him to hear, quiet enough to be a whisper, “my love for you, Zuko.”

Ume felt Zuko’s smile against her cheek, felt the way his arms relaxed and found their way around her to hold her closer. “I know I’m not good at expressing my feelings but… I know that whenever you’re not near me, I… feel lost. I know you can take care of yourself, but I… “ Zuko fell quiet for a moment and Ume squeezed him a little tighter, encouraging him to try his best to find the words he wanted to say. “I hated missing you when Aang showed up. I hated you not being around, but I hated it when you were with me when I was away from my Uncle. I didn’t hate you, but I hated you being there. No, I mean, I didn’t hate your presence but I didn’t want you - “ He groaned in frustration before burying his face into her neck. “Why am I so bad at this? You’re so honest and open and I’m just…” He sighed again and Ume laughed quietly with her mouth closed. “Go ahead and laugh. It’s not like this is humiliating.”

“You’re much better than what you were last year, Zuko. You’re just used to suppressing your feelings. You’re racing through your word faster than you can think of them: take a breath…” she heard him take a deep breath, then release it. “Think about what you’re trying to say, then try again when you’re ready.”

A few more moments passed before Zuko spoke again, quieter than before, but sincere. “I realised when we met again, how much you… I need you in my life. “ Ume felt her eyes begin to water and she buried her face into his neck as he continued. “I was so worried when you didn’t come back this afternoon. I thought there was another storm, or something else had gotten you.”

“I’m sorry I worried you, Zu.” Ume lifted her head enough to kiss his cheek. “I’m worried about you, too. Especially because, chances are high you’d need to fight your sister for the throne, and I -”

“Promise me you won’t go head to head against her if I need to fight her.”

“But -” Ume sighed, letting her response end as quickly as it was forged. “Okay. But if he hurts you and I’m there, I make no promises that I won’t try to throw a punch.”

“Ume -”

“I need you in my life, too, Zuko. So, please, let me do what I have to do to make it safe.” She felt Zuko’s sigh on her shoulder. “I can’t lose you.”

“Then, we’ll both do what we have to to protect each other.” His hold loosened enough for him to press a chaste kiss against her lips. “I can’t lose you, too.”

________________

“What’s that?”

Ume froze. She’d been back for a few hours, the sunrise reminding her of how little sleep she had gotten. The bandage she had just removed was abandoned, fallen onto the floor, the small gash, that looked deeper than it was, freshly cleaned. Zuko was standing in her doorway - she had apparently left it open, rather foolishly, after the Prince had discovered her - with a tray of tea in his hand. What was he thinking when he saw her? Was it that she was sat on the floor with her legs straightened in front of her? Was it the sprawled items on the floor? Her collar halfway down her shoulder because she hadn’t readjusted her clothes after sliding off the bed? Was it - Her injury caught her eye.

Oh.

“It’s nothing really - might leave a scar but it’s really just a -”

As she spoke, Zuko had approached quietly with knitted brows and a disappointed look on his face. Ume hated that expression - twisting her gut from feeling disheartened at not being able to hide an injury to pure guilt at not being careful enough. He set the tray down gently on the desk next to her bed and knelt in front of her - she barely had time to cross her legs before he did so.

He took the bandage from her free hand and began to weave it around her wrist and up her forearm, where the injury lay. He worked quietly, fingers emitting a gentle heat whenever they brushed her skin. His gaze was focused, lips pursed only in concentration, whilst he still looked lost in thought. Warm oranges illuminated his features, the sun’s rays cast through the window panes dancing across the room. Its warmth was just as gentle as his hand now taking hers to finish the last of the bandage.

“Did you find them?”

Ume blinked momentarily, slightly confused at his question, before she finally twigged a moment later. “Dad’s with Grandpa, but my mother’s just as missing as yours right now. No sign, no hide nor hair of her. No clues to follow. Nothing whatsoever. Cheng and Ame are just as quiet. So my Father’s helping with our own war effort, taking down fleets on his way to The Earth Kingdom.”

“We’ll need as much firepower as possible.”

“Hm. Any change of plan will need to be made quickly so he has time to turn around. He’s managed to commandeer five of the Fire Nations best ships, taken down three of the best units. If Ozai sends his best naval fleet out, we’ll need my Father’s fleet.” Zuko remained quiet as Ume spoke, reaching up to take the cups of tea. She passed one to Zuko. “He’s the only one on our side who -”

The kiss to her cheek silenced her. “You’re talking too much.”

“Wha -” Her cheeks reddened. “Not fair, Zuko. You caught me by surprise.” She noted the slight raise of his brow, the smirk gradually appearing on his face. “Don’t look at me like that! How can I think straight when - no, wait, not what I mean. Hey, don’t laugh. It’s too early for thoughts to work.”

A softer kiss was pressed against her lips. Her face only reddened further, but the gesture, despite her embarrassment, made her smile and heart melt. “I meant what I said last night.”

“I know.” Ume sighed internally, not in annoyance - she found him endearing in his reawoken compassion and honesty, no matter how awkward. “And I guess I’ll try not to hide any more injuries from you. But the feeling is mutual. I can’t lose you either, and I… I want it to be as safe as possible for you, too.”

The redness that spread on his cheeks made her melt more than she had thought she had done already. “Just.. drink your damn tea.”

She giggled. “Yes, your highness. Of course, Zuko.”

@crqstalite wanted me to answer the whole question set for Zume (Zuko x Ume XD) so here it is! I probably didn’t answer a couple very well at all but I tried XD

How differently do they think of each other now compared to when they first met? When they first met, it was at Ember Island. Her family also had a place there, considering her family were nobles (of sorts) and big name generals for many generations. She thought Zuko was very brave and compassionate for saving a helpless animal from being eaten (she also knew of him from being on civil terms with Azula at the time - though mostly because she was sort of friends with Mai and Ty Lee - and her parents were friends with Ursa). Zuko was too busy wondering how she was on ‘good’ terms with Azula when they were so different to pay full attention to what she was saying, but he thought her to be, well, inspiring.  She stood up for herself - stood up for those who were afraid to stand up for themselves. Perhaps he was envious - her family all got along - but not in a mean-spirited way. He thought her to be... different than the others in the Fire Nation. Less rigid - and thought her to be pretty damn awesome at  two three things: firebending, helping him out with firebending and very observant.  He thought her lucky in her lot but kind to share it with him!

Skip quite a few years to latter Book 3 of ATLA: Ume still considers him to be brave and compassionate, though lost for a little while, whilst also being determined and sharp minded. How, even when the others didn’t trust him at first, he worked on it. He showed them the Zuko she saw and thought that was a very beautiful thing. He wasn’t the scared boy anymore, but someone who had found solace and confidence with his place in the universe. And she saw someone who was a true Firelord. Truthfully, she thought him to be the inspirational one. If he could find his way again, so could she.

Zuko thought her to be so mindboggling patient with him. Like, so patient with him it’s a toss between her and Iroh over who was the most patient. And somehow not-so-hopeless as she acted. As in, she doubts a lot over quiet a few things: if they would succeed or not. She said they would, but her eyes said she didn’t believe it. But there she was never giving up on Zuko and standing up for him in defense of bringing him into the group. He also thought her to be... a little lost like he was. She didn’t try so much anymore after losing her ability to bend lightning, but adored the way she visibly discovered herself again when he helped her get it back on a field trip to find her father. And whilst she was angrier than before, she was also wiser. Not in the Iroh sense of the universe, but in being able to form words of advice from her own experiences, no matter how terrible, to help everyone. And he thought her very strong willed for being able to pick herself up again after Azula ‘broke’ her mere hours before the eclipse.  

What do their friends/family think of their relationship? I know in the comic’s they find Zuko’s mum, so Ursa would be very happy about it. Ozai and Azula obvs not.  Now, with Ume’s family: her parents and her paternal grandparents are fine wih it. Her Grandpa Qiu (her dad’s dad) was probably th og Zume shipper and totally knew they loved each other but never said anything to tell them, but would have totally put them in a life altering situation just to get them to kiss. He didn’t need to, but he would have done. Her older brother, Cheng, is iffy at first - not because he doesn’t like Zuko, but because his sister being Fire Lady = damn weird - but he gets over it eventually. Her unidentical twin, Ame, is worried because it’s during a transition period but is generally happy. Heng would have been very happy if he was alive. Her maternal side is iffy - I mean, her mum’s dad is an earthbender. But he always understood that whoever took the throne of the Fire Nation would truly be the only person who could really end the war and start the path to peace. So there is no other person he would like to see on the throne, and no other person he’d like to see Ume with because he saw her feeling safe around him. That’s good enough for him.

EDIT: FORGET THE GAANG OOPS!

So I have three four situations where they could get together:

1. (my favoured scenario) During the invasion, after Zuko’s confronted Ozai. She’s been imprisoned at that point and Azula got. to. her. He breaks her out and that’s also when they get together (oops lol). In this scenario - no one in the gaang finds out until Zuko and Sokka have their feild trip, and then only Sokka knows. Toph may have an inclination that they are when Zuko goes with Aang on their field trip, but the others think it’s just because they’re seeing Zuko as a good friend and it’s weird. It’s only really something everyone knows when Azula attacks the air temple and Zuko goes to run to attack her and smooch happens that they actually know. Anf Katara’s not happy - but she’s not happy with either of them anyways so whatever. 2.  After Boiling Rock - because she propels herself off the gondala to the part with the rope and helps Mai. She nearly gets captured but Ty Lee and Mai both tell her to go, so she does and Zuko basically confesses in one of those ‘oh no I said it out loud’ ways. But really, it’s when they get back and everyone’s happy and she just kisses his cheek like ‘you did a good thing’. Again, Katara’s the only one not happy. 3. It’s during an intermission of The Ember Players where she’s all depressed. Everyone’s happy! 4. After his agni kai with Azula and she’s gone ape against his sister because how freaking dare she. it’s an anger that’s like...if she was an avatar, she would have gone kiyoshi plus roku against the sages in s1 plus aang when he unlocks the chakra fighting ozai against Azula. She races to Zuko whilst Katara’s finishing her off and she’s just cradling him and crying and all that cliche dramatic stuff I like. But anyways, Katara heals him and then a smooch or something. In which case everyone’s happy! 

How do their personalities/skills complement or contrast with each other?

He’s someone who emotionally reacts very easily, whilst she’s someone who takes time to boil (which is... probably worse actually). Zuko doesn’t enact revenge and is very merciful, whilst she did enact revenge on the person who killed Heng. She realised she didn’t want it anymore after she did it, but it never stops her from holding grudges. Zuko doesn’t plan everything through and doesn’t update his plan very quickly, whilst she plans whilst she goes with the flow (she has a rough plan, but makes it a flexible one) so it’s kinda joked that she has the bits of the plan he didn’t think about. They’re both socially awkward but in different aspects - when it comes to speaking his mind, off the cuff, Zuko’s great whilst Ume just... sits... needing some kind of courage to speak her mind. That’s until she’s had enough of something and then she’s flipping tables if it’s been building for a while. He’s determined to succeed, she’ll accept defeat and take a break - maybe try something else. They support each other. She trusts her instincts and when Zuko goes to Ozai for advice in the comics, she’s the one telling him to trust his instincts. When he’s struggling, she’s the one who says ‘it’s not an easy road, especially so soon after the war, but you’ll figure it out and we’ll be there to help you.’ And when she’s struggling, he’s the one telling her ‘believe in yourself and you can do anything you set your heart to’. He listens to her talk about her struggles, she listens to him talk about his. He’s better at leading the nation, whilst she’s better at getting him to actually rest. And eat! Both have scars from Ozai, both have been, well, broken by him in some way (albeit her’s was indirectly) and they pull each other up. But they love equally and whilst he may have suffered worse from his struggles for a longer period, and both doubt themselves, they believe in each other. Whole heartedly. And forgive easily! 

What is their favourite aspect of each other?

Ume’s favourite aspect of Zuko is his compassion and his love for those that love him - his honour when he thought he had none, kinda thing. Zuko’s favourite aspect of Ume is how patient she is with him. He knows full well he can be, well, tough to handle and be with, but she never pressures him or rushes him. Encourages, yes, but never raises her voice, even when she’s calling him out on stupid decisions like going to his father for advice, unless it is, truly, her being absolute terrified he’s falling backwards into his old habits. Which usually snaps him out of it.

Do either of them have pet peeves about each other?

Oh, oh, oh. Zuko, as much as he appreciates it, does find her level of restraint to be a pet peeve. Not because it’s bad, in fact it’s actually a good thing. But because he sees her getting walked over for far longer than she should have been if she had just... reacted. Even though he knows its her way of not blowing a fuse, he just doesn’t like seeing her grow increasingly annoyed or sad when specific people enter her line of vision. Also her determination to find out if she can bend energy beams because usually it’s her getting pretty badly hurt. Does it get to a point where he actively tell her she cannot do it anymore? Yes. And she does listen that time (never stopped her from making notes though).

Ume’s biggest pet peeve with Zuko to begin with is his inability to take advice. But then when everything’s said and done and he can take advice, there isn’t really anything? Minor annoyances that he doesn’t pay to much attention to, sure, but not pet peeves. Apart from possibly not telling her things aren’t going well because he doesn’t want to worry her, but she knows because she can see it? She doesn’t force him say it, but it might get to a point where she’s like ‘you are a terrible liar’. But it’ not gear grinding.

How would each reconcile with each other after a fight?

She let’s him have a little while on his own if he needs it, though she’ll check on him a few times to make sure he’s okay. If he’s ready, he’ll find her . She doesn’t pull the silent treatment, but she won’t mention anything about the argument either. If she needs some time alone, it’s not very long but if Zuko finds her and sits next to her, she’s leaning into him without a second thought. They never go to sleep angry - that was rule number 1 set in place when they got together - and usually they’re not angry with each other for long either. At this point, Zuko’s not angry all the time and better controls it. It’s rare they do fight, more like disagreements if anything, but if he calls for her as she’s walking away, she will always turn back to look at him to read his expression, body language and overall disposition. 90% of the time he’s the one who will walk to her. It’s only because they care for each other after all! 

What would be their ideal vacation getaway together? hm... camping possibly. Seeing their friend without worrying about work. When they start a family, it’s about being with them. Vacations to Ember Island become a thing again - replacing depressing memories with happy ones and all that.  Ume might decide to participate in a performance just for giggles. Also, of course, when Iroh’s still around, the first thought is to visit his tea shop! Where they serve folks tea! 

Think of a new way (AU, different situation, etc) they could have met for the first time.

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