zuko x reader

chapter seventeen

(Y/n) pov

I had waken up from my short nap to see we were back with Mai and Tylee. Tensions were high as Zuko set me down. The cold breeze filling the silence, while Mai glared daggers at both Zuko and I.

"What were you three up to?" Tylee questioned us as azula smiled
"Burning useless memories" she stated.

Azula placed some things into a fire pit that was there and poor zuko began to be attacked with questions from the girls. Explaining he was angry at himself whereas azula believed that her mother saw her as a monster.

"I don't think you're a monster azula, I think everyone's great in their own way. We all just make bad choices here and there" as I was finishing my sentence zuko had snuggled up to Mai and they were back to being all lovey dovey.

Something in me broke as I saw them kiss, azula could see something was up.

"What about you? What's on your mind (y/n)?" She asked.

Everyone looked up at me, I felt uncomfortable with all the eyes. Zukos eyes felt sad yet worried whereas Mai just seemed cold and distant. I didn't want to speak because I wasn't sure how to word anything with sounding wrong.

I have feelings for zuko but I fumble on my words when it comes to him. Azula knows full and well how I feel yet she still pushed for Mai and zuko to be together. All of my thoughts were jumbled up as the ground got warm and my face got red. The tears started out of frustration.

"I can't say a word because it would ruin everything, I can't be who I want, I can't make one more step because I'm crumbling under the pressure"

I paused and looked around again as everyone's eyes shifted to concern. I didn't want them worried, I just wanted to keep everything in. Zuko got to explode earlier and I was ready to erupt.

"However, if I don't say this now I probably won't ever"

I looked at Mai who's hands were squeezed onto zukos. I physically couldn't hurt someone I cared about like the way I was about to. I stopped myself. Mai knew how I felt and I'm sure she knew what I wanted to say.

I had to figure out what else to say that wouldn't hurt anyone but I couldn't think of anything. The ground got hotter and hotter the more I waited to speak. Everyone else was silent because they were waiting for a response.

I took a deep breath and wiped the tears from my eyes.

"I can't"

The ground beneath me cooled as I had one more look at everyone and started to walk away. A tug stopped me while I was pulled into a hug. Mai whispered thank you into my ear. It was so unlike her to show affection but I truly needed that hug.

Azula looked rather confused which isn't something I'm used to seeing. She's calculated, I bet she wanted me to blow up. Honestly I wanted to, I wonder if anyone else felt the ground get hot or If that was just my imagination.

Everything seems so anticlimactic. As I continued to hold onto Mai I looked towards tylee who has a menacing smile to her face.

"You know what would make the night better?"

With that we all headed back to the frat boy disaster house to truly make it a disaster. We demolished loser boys place and left with smiles.

The feeling on my feet never went away tho, I wanted to figure it out more than anything at this very moment what that was.

A few hours go by as everyone had fallen asleep and I was still wide awake. I headed back to the beach, with no one around I could earth bend to clear my head. Sand isn't the easiest to bend but with enough training it's pretty easy. I am a professional sand castle maker.

After a few attempts to feel the heat again, there just wasn't anything. I looked up at the stars and heard someone approaching. In one swift motion I knocked all my hard work to pieces.

"Why are you out here at this time?" Zuko asked In a whisper.

I sighed at the fact it was just zuko and my beautiful castles were just boring piles of sand again.

"I couldn't sleep, something happened earlier that won't allow my brain to shut off. Earlier did you notice the ground was hot? Like almost burning?"

"You're awake because the sand was a little warm?"

"It more than that zuko! It was seriously hot but only when I was getting angry"

"About that, what did you not wanna say?"

My face got warm and I looked into zukos eyes

"Do you really wanna know?"

"If you don't wanna tell me that's fine"

"I want to, I've been wanting to. I just can't because Mai would probably hurt me"

"Did Mai do something to you?

"Well yes and no, it's something she's been doing but I don't want to be in the way, I don't want to mess everything up"

The heat begin to rise on my feet again, this time zuko felt it too.

"What the hell" zuko took a few steps back and it felt cooler. Then he went back n forth. The closer he got to me the warmer it got. He stood right in front of me and it got worse. I was frozen where I stood so he took my hand and dragged me away from the spot but the heat followed.

"I don't wanna sound rude but I think you're hot"

I paused wondering that'd be rude I looked at him dazed and he looked away

"Like the temperature, your cute sure but thats not what I meant"

"I'm cute?"

You bet the temperature rose even more, I was just at a loss that he called me cute. I know people call each other cute all the time but it was said by zuko to me! It's simple but my face flushed red and I had a little smile formed on my face.

Zuko paused for a moment to evaluate the situation and i could see in his eyes that he was coming up with an idea.

"I'm a bit confused with what's happening to the ground but the heats nothing I can't handle, can you earthbend in that direction?"

He pointed and I shrugged and threw some earthbending to the side. With me being distracted thinhs began to cool again then he looked at me and put his hand on my cheek and once again warmth.

"Earthbend that way and then that way" I did so without hesitation and for around 5 minutes I kept going in different directions then the cycle would happen again. I think things clicked for zuko but not in the way I'd hope.

"How are you feeling right now?"

I shrugged and just stood there with a blank expression on my face.

"The ground isn't hot anymore"

I hadn't noticed until he pointed it out, we both remained confused. As the sun began to rise my face began to get red again not knowing so much time passed and he was here with me this whole time.

"Zuko...can I be honest with you, like really really honest?"

"Of course, we're friends aren't we?"

"You have to promise me you won't tell anyone what I'm about to say"

He nodded in agreement, was I really ready to tell him how I felt. I know it's going to ruin things but it's not fair to myself if I keep it in for the rest of my life.

I stepped closer and stared into his beautiful dark eyes.

"I'm in love with you zuko"
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So so so so sorry for the lack of updating again. I'm trying my hardest. I'm back in school and college is a full time thing 🙃 enjoy your youth yall!! ~sincerely Ren