*A few weeks ago, Ba Sing Se*
"Quite a day, huh?" I said as I plunged next to Zuko on the bed. "Yeah," he said and he chuckled, "I'm so happy for uncle, this is all he ever wanted." I laid my head on his chest and he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "Do you think you could live like this?" I asked carefully, looking into the beautiful bedroom of our new apartment. "Yeah, maybe," Zuko said, "you hear no one about the war, it's like it's not even here."
"Yeah, now you mention it..." I said, narrowing my eyes and thinking about it. "But I don't care where I am, as long as I am with you." Zuko whispered and he kissed me on the top of my head. I leaned on my elbow and looked down on him. "Do you really mean that?" I asked. "Yes," Zuko replied and he kissed me, "I mean that." He kept kissing me and he slowly tried to undress me. "What are you doing?" I asked nervously. "Just relax." He said as he started to kiss me in my neck.
"You want to do that now?" I asked confused. "Yeah, why not? It's a special day, right?" Zuko replied.
"Uh, I guess so... uhm, yeah, okay." I said shyly. After we were undressed, Zuko awkwardly tried to get me in position.
"Zuko - ouch - your elbow," I grunted, "is in my leg - ouch!"
"Well, then move over a bit." Zuko replied annoyed. "Okay, sheesh." I replied, moving to the middle of the bed. "Okay, you ready?" He asked me. "Yes, I am," I said and waited for him to do his thing, "okay no, I'm not." I said panicky. "I have never done this before!"
"Well, me neither. But there's a first time for everything." Zuko replied. "But-"
"Istari, please..." Zuko said annoyed and he smiled, shaking his head. "Just enjoy the moment, okay?"
I took a deep breath and sighed. "Okay."
Zuko rolled off me, panting and sweaty. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. "That was awesome." He said and smiled, kissing me again. "Very." I replied with a forced smile, trying to ignore the sore feeling down there and I sat up straight. "What are you doing?" He asked as he pulled the blanket up. "Getting a piece cloth."
"Why?" He asked confused. "To, you know," I said while making some hand movements.
"Oh, don't worry, it should be fine." Zuko replied airily. I frowned at him. "You know that this makes babies, right?" I asked him sarcastically. "Yes, Istari, I do, now come here and chill, nothing is gonna happen." Zuko said and he pulled me on his chest again. "I love you, Istari." Zuko suddenly said after a few minutes of silence. I smiled and buried my face in his neck. "I love you too." I whispered.
~
"Well, that was a bunch of baloney." I said with gritted teeth to myself, thinking back to that night. "What was?" My mother asked as she walked up to me. "Nothing, never mind." I replied and I looked over the railing to the rising sun. There was so many colors in the air. Red, pink, orange, yellow, with some streaks of blue and purple. It reminded me of something, something very nice.
"Remember when you'd wake me and Zuko up on Ember Island to watch the sunrise?" I asked, smiling.
"Oh yeah, you two cursed me for that." My mother replied, grinning. "Yes, we did," I said, thinking back to it, "but it's a nice memory, I always think back to it when I watch the sunrise."
"Me too." My mother replied. "Ree, about yesterday I'm-"
"- It's fine, don't worry about it." I interrupted quickly. "No, Ree, I am sorry. It was none of my business. I am your mother, yes, but I haven't been in your life for so many years, it wasn't my place to say something about it."
"Thanks mom, but sometimes it's good that someone tells me these things. It reminds me that I'm still a child somehow... That someone cares about me." I said quietly, thinking about Uncle Iroh.
"You are very mature for your age," my mother said, and she laid a hand on my shoulder, "and my little girl, helping the Avatar... I am so proud of you, Istari." She pulled me closer and hugged me tightly. "And today you will become Fire Lord Istari!" My mom said proudly. I slowly pushed my mom off me. "I can't be Fire Lord, if anyone should be Fire Lord, it's Iroh."
"Iroh is old, Istari... he doesn't want to be Fire Lord. But you... you are perfect. You have the strength, the brains, the claim. You can create a new nation. We all voted for you." My mother said hopeful, her eyes glistering.
YOU ARE READING
The Honor of Love (ATLA fanfic)
Fanfictie*ZUKO LS* Istari was born and raised in the Fire Nation. After her parents were murdered for betrayal, she flees to the Southern Water tribe, looking for her mother's family. After three years living with Sokka and Katara, the Avatar ascends and tog...
