Firelord Zuko x Assassin Reader

Chapter 17: Looks Can Kill

(All the new tea on me and my coworker is in my latest Officer Mako chapter - And Become Wind. At this point, I should just write a book about myself because the plot keeps thickeninggggg and I'm running out of theoriesssss. This man has me wrapped around his finger and I'm rooting for some hot, rich, and mysterious stranger to come and sweep me off my feet and leave him devastated. Uggggghhhhh. A girl can only dream. Regardless, I'm proud of myself because I wrote this entire chapter today with some breaks in between to scroll on tiktok. lmao. As always – enjoy my dearies🖤) -A

[The Palace] - dining room

"Do you have to stare at me like that?" you scoffed at Taro while he stood at the entrance and watched you fill your plate with eggs and bacon,
"I'm guarding you. So, yeah," Taro huffed,
"And you're sure this isn't stalking?" you teased as you took a seat at the large wooden table and dug into your mountain of food,
"Stalking would imply that you'd have no idea I was here. Guarding is the opposite," he corrected you sharply, "Though if you ask me, I'd consider what you do is stalking,"
"Hmph. How so?"
"You tell me. How long were you spying on him before you made your move?" Taro questioned, towering over you until you swallowed your bite,
"A week,"
"Impossible–
"It's true!"
"Yeah right. You expect me to believe you spent a week plotting when to strike without a single guard knowing of your presence?"
"Exactly,"
"Ugh. I'm done listening to this," Taro snapped before he marched away,
"Hey, you asked and I told you. Just because you're not as good of a guard as you thought you were–
"No. That's where you're wrong. I am that good. It's just..." Taro breathed in frustration, his voice trailing off in defeat,
"Just what?" you questioned softly,
"It's just. I had no idea you were that much better,"

[Town Square] - City Hall

"What are you doing here?" Zuko asked in annoyance when he slipped into his limo and found Thomas in the backseat,
"I just wanted to check on those stitches," Thomas nodded after opening up his medical bag and slipping into a pair of fresh gloves, "I noticed you seeping when you marched out of that office earlier with Taro. What was that about?"
"You should know, considering you can never keep your mouth shut around him," Zuko hissed once he pulled back his robes and exposed his chest, the blood from his wound now stained into his flesh, "Why'd you tell him about me hiring her?"
"Because he wanted to lock up her weapons," Thomas answered sharply, "Would be a fruitless crusade to do so, given the fact that you gave them back to her,"
"In good reason," Zuko winced as Thomas replaced his stitches,
"Really? Tell me, what good does putting another target on your back do?"
"It sends a message," Zuko snapped,
"Oh? And what would that be? More importantly, who are we sending this message to?" Thomas questioned frustratedly,
"Hmph. Every other assassin in the room with her that day,"

[The Palace] - dining room

"I was trained to be," you admitted flatly, "Probably better than a lot of other people, who do what I do,"
"By who?" Taro questioned calmly,
"My father. He was a master swordsman and a real...stickler for mercilessness,"
"You surpassed him," Taro nodded, knowing full well he didn't need to phrase his words as a question. Your skills alone were undeniably clear,
"I did. He wasn't happy about it though," you confessed defeatedly,
"Who would be?" Taro smirked, "Getting yourself killed by a face as pretty as yours? I guess that's what people mean when they say if looks can kill,"
"Certainly, that's completely incorrect," you chuckled,
"It is, but the longer you're here. The more I believe my definition,"

driveway

"There was more than one?" Thomas asked quietly when the car stopped at the Palace entrance,
"More than I can count apparently," Zuko informed him flatly,
"A-And you're sending her alone?"
"Not exactly,"
"Not exactly? What do you mean not exactly?" Thomas questioned in confusion,
It means I'm going with her," Zuko nodded before slipping out of the car and slamming the door, leaving Thomas sitting there in complete disbelief,
"You're going with her!?" he scoffed as he caught up to Zuko and followed him inside,
"You heard me," Zuko huffed as he stared Thomas down,
"Oh, I heard you. I just don't think you're hearing yourself. More assassins than you can count? A-And you expect to send each and every one of them a message b-by getting revenge?"
"So you're up to speed," Zuko breathed before marching away again,
"D-Do I need to have you admitted!?" Thomas shouted while he followed Zuko once more, "Surely, you're suffering from some kind of aneurysm, and you're now delirious,"
"Would a delirious man be able to choke you with his bare hands?" Zuko hissed,
"Yes! One might also add that only a delirious man would threaten his friends when they do nothing but try to help him," Thomas barked at him,
"Friends huh?" Zuko questioned angrily,
"Yes, friends," Thomas corrected him, "People who stop people from making stupid decisions when their other friends are too stubborn to see that they're going to get themselves killed!"
"Last time I checked, you're my physician. Not my friend," Zuko snapped harshly with his fists clenched, "If I wanted a psych eval I would've booked an appointment. At the end of the day, you work for me. And I suggest you get back to it,"