Firelord Zuko x Assassin Reader

Chapter 20: A Security Risk

(This week is finally over. Thank god. I was stressssing. 😭Next week is sushi and rock climbing with my hot coworker. Yay. maybe we'll end the night with another late-night movie/sexy massage at my place. 🥰

Oh, I apologize for not updating this series as much. Writing the Mako one just comes so easily to me, but Zuko always has a soft spot in my heart. Happy first full moon of the year my loves🖤)

[The Palace] - Thomas's office

"Is there...something wrong with being tried for treason?" Thomas teased, only to be met with Taro's irritated glare, "Oh god, lighten up will ya? I'm aware that means more than death for you. Which is why I told this imbecile he was an even bigger imbecile for recommending you pursue her in the first place,"
"Hey, it was just a thought," Pen shrugged, "I don't see either of you coming up with any bright ideas. You both claim you can't stand her, yet you bend to whatever pretty boy says,"
"There's a reason for that," Taro snapped, "He has the final say so for everyone in this nation. It's just my job to keep him from killing himself. Or worse, getting himself killed," he sighed in exhaustion, "Which he evidently will if he actually goes with her to send this idiotic message. He barely survived her attack. Had she not changed her mind at the last second, we'd be planning a funeral right now,"
"What if you went with them?" Thomas questioned,
"Where? On this death trip?" Taro scoffed,
"Exactly. You'd be able to protect him and maybe...find some time to convince him to reconsider being an accessory to multiple murders,"
"I haven't even been able to convince him to get up on time," Taro huffed as he paced the room, "What makes you think I can convince him to let this go when he's face to face with yet another assassin? Need I remind you, that I'm not exactly trained for a mission like that,"
"You're not?"
"What about me screams rogue killer to you?" Taro hissed in annoyance, "For your information, I grew up in a military family. My dad was a lieutenant," he breathed unamused, "So although I can handle a few swords and hand-to-hand combat, nothing about the military is stealthy. We're more of the barge through your front door loudly kind of type,"
"Well, you do have time to learn," Thomas smirked after lighting another cigarette,
"What are you getting at?"
"Her achilles. If she stays off her feet, rests, and actually ices it–she'll be out of that cast in about six weeks. So, like I said, you have time to learn,"
"You think six weeks of training is going to match her entire childhood of learning from a master swordsman?" Taro questioned in disbelief,
"She was trained by a master?" Thomas asked skeptically,
"She's the natural born product of a master. Her father trained her so hard into the ground that she's better than him," Taro sighed as he rolled his eyes,
"Does Firelord Zuko know this?"
"I would believe so, considering how much time he spends between her legs. You would hope that in between that, and making my life a living hell, they'd find a spare minute to have an actual meaningful conversation,"
"Caught a glimpse of the show, huh?" Pen teased,
"No. And thank god," Taro breathed in relief, "When I sent the maids in to clean the damn place, there were clothes and feathers everywhere. Pretty sure he ripped a pillow in half,"
"Hmph. I guess that's better than knocking her unconscious,"
"He did what?" Taro asked confused, completely stopping in his tracks,
"Relax. It was an accident,"
"How is knocking someone out cold an accident? He did that to me two days ago over her, on purpose,"
"According to him, he told her that he loved her while they were–y'know. And I guess when she heard how moronic it was of him to say that, she sat up and smacked her head against his,"
"He's known her for barely a week. I learned in one hour how good she is with a sword, but–good at that? He'll be hooked for decades,"
"Not unless you interfere," Pen grinned from across the room with half of his attention glued to a magazine,
"That's not gonna happen," Taro snapped at him, "Even if we do have things in common, she's not exactly my type,"
"You...have things in common?" Thomas chuckled, "Like what?"
"Well–
"And what exactly is your type?" Pen added, "It is...women right?"
"Ugh. I'm done speaking to both of you for today," Taro scoffed before marching out.

He hadn't realized just how late it had become entertaining Pen and Thomas's madness. He was behind on safety reports, council meetings, new security details, and he hadn't even gone over Zuko's schedule for tomorrow. Yet all he could think about was how ridiculous it was for anyone to suggest he get romantically involved with you.