It has been a couple days since Zuko got better from his fever. "Are you sure you're okay? You were gone for a while." Zuko sat next to me, handing me a bowl of jook.
"I'm fine." I smiled, taking the bowl and eating as Iroh looked between the both of us.
As the days pass, there is an obvious distance forming between Zuko and I. "Talk to me." I looked at Iroh as he set down a cup of tea.
I smiled looking at my hands, "Just.. overthinking probably." I stared at the street below us. Seeing Zuko leaving the apartment with what seems like a list. "Apartment hunting?" I asked Iroh.
"Yes, we need some place closer to the new shop!" He smiled happily.
"You sure he can pick out a nice place?" I walked back into the apartment with my tea, placing it on our little table.
"We are talking about you today, not my nephew." Iroh looked at me.
"... I like him, a lot." I smiled, laying down on the floor, staring at the ceiling. "When he went out with that girl.. I followed them... They seemed to be having fun. He even used his firebending for her, just to make her smile." I turned my head looking at Iroh. "Then they kissed." I thought, my eyes wandering to my warm tea cup. "I'm satisfied with the way things are." I sat up, slowly cooling down my tea.
"I won't tell you how to feel, but.." I looked at Iroh as he sipped his tea. "Holding back your feelings, you're holding back yourself at the possibility of something real. Love and affection is not a weakness." He looked at me.
"Wouldn't you want your nephew, the future Fire Lord to marry someone more up to par? Or at least someone who doesn't know how it feels to take a life?" I smiled.
"Your past isn't a life sentence. I want my nephew to be with someone who can understand him but also knock some sense into him." Iroh reached out a hand, placing it on my shoulder. I couldn't help but laugh at the last part.
"Thanks." Iroh smiled at me.
By the time Zuko returned, it was nearly dark. He and Iroh started talking about the new apartment, and about buying furniture.
"Actually, I have a farewell Pai Sho game with some of the neighbors. You two, go out and buy some dinner for yourselves." Iroh quickly kicked the two of us out.
The two of us looked at each other. "What do you want to eat?" Zuko asked me.
"Anything is fine." I shrugged, as we both walked down to the street. "I'm not picky." I looked at him, "Do you have a preference?" I asked.
"Not really." He replied, not looking at me.
I looked around seeing a lot of other people walking around and randomly walked up to a group of people. "Hey sorry to bother." I smiled at them. "Do you know any good places to eat?" I asked.
"Well, why don't you come with us cutie? We were just on our way to the night markets!" One of the boys showed me a flyer.
"Night market?" I asked and his friend nodded.
"Food, drinks, souvenirs, all that stuff. Cheap too." one of the girls explained to me.
"Where is it?" I asked, getting curious, stepping closer to look at the flyer.
"Not that far." he flipped the flyer over, and it was a general looking map. "We are down here. Up this road is here, then just pass these buildings and there it is." He used his fingers to point out the route on the map.
"Thanks." I smiled at the guy.
"You sure you don't wanna come with us? Leave your lame date behind." They looked behind me. I glanced behind me seeing Zuko, arms crossed, obviously displeased.
"I'll be fine. Thanks again." I waved a quick bye to the group and told Zuko about the market. "Sound interesting?" I asked him.
"Yeah, let's go." He grabbed my hand and we began walking. I stared at our linked hands, then back at him.
"Are you not going to let go?" I asked him.
"Why? Don't like it?" he asked me.
"It's just.. my hands are um.. not the softest.." I let my voice trail off towards the end. He just squeezed my hand tighter, not saying anything.
~~~
We arrived at the busy market. "Wow.." every stall was selling something different, all with different cooking styles too. "Let's go to that one." I quickly found a stall that interested me.
We spent the time exploring the stalls, playing some games for prizes, eating more food and buying drinks then ending everything with dessert.
"Why! Why is ice cream spicy?!" Zuko complained after he had finished his treat.
I couldn't help but laugh. "Did you think their special chili ice cream wouldn't be?" I continued laughing into my hand as he tried to get the spiciness out of his mouth.
"I need water or something." he looked around at the long lines surrounding us.
"Come here." I smiled, holding his hand and pulling him away from the people staring or laughing at him. "Open." I told him, pointing to his mouth. He did so, and I scooped a large chunk of my ice cream and plopped it into his mouth, surprising him.
He quickly closed his mouth so it wouldn't drip out. The ice cream quickly melted away. "Feeling better?" I asked, as he licked the excess that spilled out.
"Yea, thanks." he smiled. I pulled my sleeve over my hands, and wiped his mouth. "Why'd you pull us away from the crowd?" He asked, looking at the market behind us.
"... Just cause." I looked up at him.
"Cause?" he asked, holding the hand I used to wipe his mouth.
"I don't know.." I replied, staring at his hand that was holding mine.
"(Y/n)..?" I looked up at him. I froze feeling a hand now on my cheek. His hands were rough, warm and shaking? "I ... what are we? What am I to you?" He asked me.
"Huh?" I looked at him as he stared at me. I couldn't figure out what he was feeling. His hand in mine, the other resting on my shoulder with his fingers lightly brushing against my neck and jaw.
"To me.. your.. of course my Prince.. why do you ask?" I knew the moment I said that I screwed up. He stared at me, frowning and I didn't know what to do. "Hey come on, don't do that." I whispered smoothing out the frown on his face.
"Stop, just stop." he stepped back from me. "We should head back." he turned and began walking.
I stared at my hand that he was holding. It felt cold now. "Wait, Zu- Lee!" I ran after him, easily weaving through the crowds.
We had left the crowds of the market. I had caught up with Zuko, but he wouldn't stop when I tried talking to him, or grab him. Frowning, I looked around seeing no one. Bending the water in my canister, I pushed Zuko into an alley, freezing him to the wall.
"Sorry. But if I release you, just... listen?" I asked him. He didn't say anything, but I unfroze the ice anyway. The water fell to the ground. "I'm sorry for what I said, I don't know why I said it." I frowned, not knowing how to tell him. "I just.. your- no that's not it." I held a hand to my head. "I like you." I blurted out, sighing. "I'm sorry." I kept my head down, not wanting to see what expression he might have on his face. Disgust? Happiness? Confusion? I didn't want to know. "I.. should go. Sorry." I turned, about to run when I felt his hand holding mine.
"Look at me. (Y/n)? Look at me." I turned back to him. Taking in a deep breath and looked up at him. "I also, like you a lot. Very much so." he told me.
I stared at him in surprise. "Me? really? seriously?" I asked.
"Yes." he leaned forward towards me, then paused closing his eyes. Staring at him, I stepped closer, filling the space, and kissing him. When we both pulled away, I stared at him and he also stared at me, smiling.
"Can I call you my girlfriend?" he asked holding out his hand to me.
Staring out his hand, I placed mine in his. "If your sure." I nodded.
"Definitely." he replied.
YOU ARE READING
Zuko x Reader
FanfictionI was abandoned by my parents, and taken in by Empress Ursa. Raised by maids until I was three, taken by Ozai for my water bending, tortured, interrogated and then put in his "Guardians." However... Everything changed during the Agni Kai.. ~~ I ow...
