Avatar Imagines

Zuko ~ Masked Thief

     You were fighting alongside Zuko when you were shot across the face with an arrow. The mask on your face cracked and blood started to run. When Zuko noticed this, he immediately put an end to the fight. He put a large fire barrier to separate the soldiers and yourselves. Once you two had a clearing, you both disappeared into the night.

     "What were you thinking Y/n!? I had that under control," Zuko shouted at you as he paced in front the fire between you two.

     "I was just helping your stubborn self! And it totally looked like you had it handled," you shot back as you sheathed your blades. 

     "Well, I didn't need your help! Nor did I ask for it! You could have been killed," he shouted over the fire. 

     "Well, I wasn't alright! And here's a fun fact for you Zuko, I can handle myself! I'm not a defenseless child so stop treating me as if I were one!"

     "I will stop treating you like a child when you stop acting like one! You are reckless with your life and it's almost like I have to constantly watch you!"

     "Well, I'm sorry that you feel that way! It's my life and I can do what I please! And you're one to talk; calling me reckless. You get upset over the smallest of things and blow up every time!"

     "You just don't understand!"

     "No I completely understand! You just don't understand the meaning of being grateful! You don't know the meaning of Gratitude! I mean look at what happened with your Uncle! You were selfish, rude, and an ungrateful child obsessed with his own delusions about his honor!" Zuko got quiet. He looked away from you. What you had said hurt him and it hurt you to say it. "Iroh merely tried to help you find inner balance. But you were too obsessed with your honor to see it."

     He glared at you for a moment before he started to pace again. You removed your mask and blood trickled from your forehead. When you were shot in the face, the arrow pierced the top of the mask. You looked at the cracked mask in your hand. Crap, you thought. You lifted your hand to your head and found the cut. Zuko looked at you and saw the blood. He walked around the fire and sat on his knees next to you. You both faced each other. He put a gentle hand on your cheek and looked over your wound. 

     "This is why I didn't want you near the fight," he said calmly as he grabbed a cloth. "I didn't want to risk you getting hurt," he said as he soaked the cloth and pressed it to your forehead. 

     "But how could I just sit and watch you fight a battle outnumbered a hundred to one? Especially when I knew I could help," you asked softly. You winced slightly at the sting of the water on your wound. Zuko put the cloth down and pulled you into his arms. 

     "I would rather lose a fight than to lose you in one. You fighting on my behalf isn't worth your life my love," he said. You looked at the ground. You loved Zuko more than anything. You couldn't stand the thought of losing him, which is why you put yourself into more danger than he wants you to. You put a gentle hand on the scarred side of his face.

     "And I would much rather give my life so you wouldn't have to suffer again," you said. Your thumb rubbed against the burned part of his cheek. He leaned his head into your hand with closed eyes. He kissed the palm of your hand before looking at you again.

     "Why do you have to be so stubborn," he asked. You grinned and leaned closer to him.

     "Because it is in my nature," you said; your lips brushed his as you spoke. Then Zuko closed the space between you and kissed you. You melted in his arms. He pulled away and kissed the nape of your neck, your jaw, your cheek, then your lips again. 

     "I promise that no one will ever harm you again Y/n," he whispered to you. You looked Zuko in his eyes and smiled.

     You gave him a quick kiss before saying with a grin, "I'm going to hold you to that."