The Tale of Fire and Sun | Zuko x OC

Chapter 22

Author's Note: Hey y'all!!! I hope you guys are doing great... We're at the end of the year so I wish y'all a Happieee New Year and let's hope things will be better next year!!!

This chapter is by far the longest I've written!!! I hope y'all are enjoying the story as much as I do...

Also, things might get pretty *ahem* intimate here... So here we gooo...
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Zuko's POV:

Just when I hoped we could leave the awkward tension behind us, I realised it wasn't gonna happen any time soon... definitely not tonight!

I still couldn't believe the fact that I let uncle talk me into taking Yara on a date! But, well, there was no going back now. I had to be strong enough to leave those thoughts behind... for now at least.

I then turned to where Yara stood, only to see her missing! "Yara... Yara!" I shouted.

"Whoa there! I was just gone for a minute..." She drawled from behind me. I turned to see her wearing a mask covering half her face.

"What the hell is this?!" I narrowed my eyes at her.

"It's tradition that we wear masks during the festival, don't you remember?!" She exclaimed and handed me a mask. "Here you go!"

The mask had a grim look, and I scrunched my face. "I'm definitely not wearing that. It doesn't even look like me!"

"I think it's pretty perfect for you!" She doubled over laughing as she placed it on my face.

I couldn't help but smile looking at her. But I definitely wasn't wearing that. I grabbed the mask and put it back on the stall.

"Well, you're missing all the fun." She shrugged, still giggling.

I walked into the town with Yara absent-mindedly. The lanterns, fireworks, stalls, people... it all reminded me of the Capitol City... my home, from which I was banished. I felt a pang in my chest as those memories came rushing back.

That didn't last long as Yara looped her arm around mine and pulled me to a stall.

"What?" I asked in suspicion when she sat on a bench, tugging my arm to do the same.

"Let's sit for a portrait!" She beamed. "It's a shame that we don't even have one."

"This is not what I signed up for!" I grunted, crossing my arms against my chest.

"Zuko, don't be such a spoilsport." She retorted playfully. "I want to have something memorable from this trip! It won't take long... Pretty please... just-"

"Alright... alright!" I huffed and sat beside her.

Yara scooted closer and circled her arms around my waist. I groaned and put an arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer.

Yara turned to the painter with a smile. "Can you please do a portrait of us, Sir?"

"As you wish, my Lady." The painter replied, returning her smile and started working on the portrait.

"Make it quick!" I barked, and Yara huffed beside me.

"Did you even grow up?! Oh well... as a matter of fact, you did not." I drawled casually, teasing her height.

Yara was pretty short for our age, and she just reached up to my shoulder. It was something she hated to talk about and something I liked to joke about. As if on cue, she punched my arm, and I yelped in pain.

"Could you please stay still for a while?" The painter requested. I smirked as she mumbled something and sat in her previous position.

"That hurts," I whispered.