AtLA Modern: Year 1, Gen. 1

Chapter 23

Once Zuko returned, Avitus turned toward him. "How is your mother?"

"My mother!" Zuko responded to Avitus, slightly surprised. "You know her?" He dabbed at his mouth with a napkin. "Uh, she's good. Been spending a lot of time with my sister. I actually haven't been there in a bit, but she's doing well. It's good for her and Azula to hang out." He shrugged a shoulder, glancing down.

A satisfied smile crossed Avitus' face. "Well, I was the one who was in charge of your parents' divorce, after all."

"I figured," Zuko said, tilting his head slightly.

"Mmm, your sister, I remember her. Hoepfully she's doing... better," he said with a nod, taking a bit. Zuko shrugged. "Athlea." He turned his attention to his daughter, while Irene started collecting her things. "I've been keeping in touch with the headmaster of your school." He pulled his coat on and stood. "Make sure to keep your grades up. People from BrightCrown Medical have their eyes on you."

Athlea let out a sigh. "Right. Okay."

"We apologize for having to leave you like this. You're more than welcome to stay, of course. Everything is paid for," Irene responded, smiling. Zuko blinked.

"Glad to meet you, Zuko. Take care of our daughter, will you? We'll meet again. Have a good night!" Avitus walked off with his wife, arm linked with hers.

"Thank you," Zuko said, bowing his head for a half a second.

Athlea sighed again. "Now that was something." She smiled softly. "You were very polite."

He shrugged a shoulder. "I was taught to be polite," he pointed out. "...Yeah, it was something. Medical school, huh? Whose idea is that?"

She blinked and looked forward, playing with her tea spoon, clinking it in her cup. "Heh... Can't you tell?" She looked up at him. "My mother, of course. It's not that I don't like the idea." She leaned back into her chair, her eyes on him. "It'd be nice, I'm not denying it. But I'd also like the thought of being a professor," she admitted, shrugging.

He raised an eyebrow. "You should do what you want," he said simply. Then he grabbed her hands and pulled her closer, a glint in his eyes. Her eyes widened slightly, her blue eyes shining and her cheeks turning red. "So, a lawyer and a surgeon for parents? You're loaded, aren't you, Cinderella?" He looked her up and down for a moment.

Athlea smirked playfully. "You really like the way I'm dressed, huh?"

Zuko pouted. "You just look pretty...?" he said, scratching the back of his head.

She giggled. "And you look pretty good yourself." She grabbed his tie and pulled him closer. His cheeks turned red and he blinked, looking aside for a moment. "Hot, even."

She bit on her lower lip. "Anyways, we're not as loaded as you. We're just... well off, financially.

He smirked at her response. "So, little miss 'Zuko is too rich for me' is rich herself?" He raised an eyebrow.

She rolled her eyes, rubbing the back of her head. "I don't see myself as rich...?"

He shook his head, laughing softly at her response. A waiter came and set two pieces of fruit tart with rose petals on top down on the table before walking away. "Wow," he said, looking down at the dessert. "So romantic." He glanced at her and winked before taking a bite.

She blinked a few times, the redness on her cheeks intensifying as he winked at her. She bit on her thumb nervously before slowly turning her attention to the fruit tart and taking a bite. He smirked. "My dad's a romantic. After all, he did order everything on this table." She shrugged. "That's probably why my parents' marriage is still going. They're in their honeymoon phase still, after all these years. Kind of goals if you asked me." She smiled, clearly pleased.

.He shook his head. "I can tell." He glance at her, raising his eyebrows.

Athlea giggled and shrugged. "Yeah. I guess that kind of relationship is something I want." She glanced at him for a second, then her fruit tart.

He pressed his lips together, then grabbed her wrist. "Come on, let's get out of here."

She blinked, raising an eyebrow. "U-um... Alright!" She nodded, smiling as she stood. "Where off to?"

Zuko smirked at her, shrugging. "They're on the yacht... Maybe we could go back to your empty dorm and hang out," he said, pulling her closer and grinning down at her suggestively. He blinked nervously. "Or we could watch a movie? Or I could go home, uh, whatever you want..."

She blinked, giggling and grabbing his tie, pulling him into a quick kiss before releasing him. Her eyes shone, a playful smirk on her face. "My dorm it is, then. To hang out." She took his hand, leading him to the car.

Zuko bit his lower lip, taking her hand. "Right. To hang out."

They arrived shortly after, and as per usual, Zuko opened the door for her, walking her inside. Zuko closed the door behind them, taking off his coat, and extending a hand for hers.

She took her coat off, facing him after a moment. She dragged him to her room before tracing a finger along his chest, pushing him against her door, a playful smile on her face. "Let's hang out, shall we?" Her hands moved to his tie, slowly beginning to take it off.

Zuko's eyes went a bit wide, and he blinked down at her. "R-right," he laughed softly. "I like hanging out. With you." He put his hands on her waist and bit his lip, watching her eyes.

She looked up at him, giggling. "You're pretty nervous." His tie fell to the floor and she pressed herself close, leaning in and kissing his cheek, her hands undoing the buttons of his white shirt.

Zuko shrugged a shoulder, leaning down and kissing her neck softly a few times, her lips smiling against his cheek. "I don't want to push you," he pointed out, rolling his shoulders so that his shirt fell onto the floor. He made a face, straightening. "Are there boundaries we should discuss? Triggers? I think that'd make me feel more..." He grinned and winked. "...Outgoing."

The red on her face deepened and she bit her lip. "I mean... We can find out together." She blinked, silent for a second. "Lemon sorbet. It can be the keyword for 'stop', or 'let's take a break.'"

"Perfect," Zuko said quietly. 

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A/N MY BOY ZUKO ASKIN FOR A SW BOOOO YES SIR