Frozen in time- Zuko x reader

Chapter 6 - a waking nightmare

"Y/n come back to me." I felt familiar hand strokes on my shoulder and I turned around to find Wan. Happy tears filled my eyes as I pulled him close to me. My love.

He hugged me back. But something felt off. His grip became all the sudden tighter and tighter to the point I started to suffocate. "Wan-you're- hurting me."
I said whilst trying to reach him. Except I realized this definitely wasn't Wan I looked up into the creature's eyes and all I could see was a deadly abyss darkness replaced of the light that my love's brought, I tried to fight against it with all my might and break free before I jabbed it in the stomach.

Zuko's Pov

I was having a midnight stroll when I heard a commotion coming from Y/n's room. I knocked on the door, there was no reply. Then I creeped it open to see Y/n visibly in pain like she was having a struggle kicking and spinning she was even breathing out fire.

I saw flare of what seemed to be a spirit it payed no attention to me it was almost as if it was protecting her, in a panic I ran to Aang as I assumed it was spirit stuff that he could deal with better than me. He stirred quickly in his bed and I quickly explained what was going on he gave me an reassuring nod and we both ran towards Y/n's there we both saw a spirit entailing it self around her it seemed to be a giant golden bird. And Y/n was curling herself up against it as she seemingly started to calm down but was still shivering in a calm sweat and she still kicked but the flare of fire from her throat had started to subside, because she was getting weak from using so much chi without even knowing it.

I looked over at Aang as he looked at it jut as astonished as I was." Aang what should we do?" He looked down for a second his eyes started so glow, the light looked brilliant as it radiated from him and he closed his eyes he opened them but he seemed different , was as if he wasn't Aang, a swirl of fire consumed him and out came a man. This man was definitely not Aang. He looked over at Y/n and his eyes instantly softened with recognition whilst looking at her. He walked slowly toward her deflecting the fire balls easily with his hands which came from Y/n.She instantly became still and quiet as he started to stoke the bird that was started to be absorbed by Y/n. A gush of wind instantly consumed that man and out came Aang.

"Aang who was that?"

"That was the first avatar." He said before fainting in my arms I was able to carry him back to his room. I turned to go to my own room when I saw that I'd accidentally left Y/n's door open. I looked inside to find her still and peaceful. I saw that she had started to shiver from the cold. I looked over to find that the window was also left open. I walked into her room as quiet as possible as to not wake her up, I turned towards the window and I closed it and tucked Y/n back into her blanket.

She smiled in her sleep and grabbed hold of me. I smiled down at her and felt my anxiety fade away as I saw that she was safe. I brushed a piece of hair behind her ear. I caught myself in the action as I didn't know I was doing it and undid her grasp on my arm and walked away. I glanced back to see a sleeping Y/n snuggled comfortably in the blanket. I felt this unexplainable, intangible connection to this girl." I promise you Y/n even though we haven't known each other that well, yet I'll still will protect you." I whispered, I heated the room with my chi and felt the temperature rise. I finally headed into my room.

Your POV

I felt my heart rate increase as I started to attack the imposter, who pretended to be my Wan. I was about to kill it whilst I had it pinned down on the floor. When all of the sudden it's eyes shifted back into that deep copper that I've fell in love with. In that instant I could sense his aura beginning to surround me and keep me still, he sat up and got up of of him backing away cautious to if its really him or some sadistic trick conjured by my mind. He walked slowly toward me and cupped my cheek, looking intently into my eyes." My Y/n" he smiled.

I gasped and then a smile curled itself onto my face." Wan." I whispered. I felt my heart rate start to subside and was filled with this unrivalled joy to finally find myself inside his embrace." I thought I'd never see you again." I whispered. he held both my hand together and kissed them." I wish that I could stay but i'll have to leave soon."

"Why must you leave?" I said guiding his head to my eye level so I can look contently into them." I just got you back."

"I don't belong here Y/n"

"Neither do I was meant to die thousands of years ago but I'm here in this strange time, alone."

"My Y/n" he said wiping a tear from my cheek." It's odd i'm happy that you'll be able to live a full life now." his warm eyes looked into mine. I leaned into his chest trying to savour this precious moment." Maybe even fall for another start a family perhaps."

"I don't think I'll be able to love again."

"You will." he said urgency lacing into his voice." I want you to promise me that you'll live a full, happy life with someone you love." His voice started to shake I hugged him staining his clothes with my tears." Promise me my love that you'll do that for me."

"I promise my love." our foreheads began to touch." What I refuse to do is forget you, a love like ours can burn down cities. Remember you told me that."

He smiled at the memory his eyes shut to try to stop his own tears. "I'm so happy that I've finally found you, after all this time." he said tears of happiness, pain, sorrow- any emotion under the sun really. a brilliant light started to envelope him and I caught his lips. One. Final. Time.

"I'll love you forever." I said whilst he disappated out my arms.

I laughed. Then cried. And when the pain was more than what I could bare I kneeled silently in a feetal position as I saw the love that survived this long in thousands of years, the love of my relatively short life fade away.

A coldness went over me as I shook and thrashed and this warm presence started to fill the emptiness that Wan had left, it lulled me back into a stillness. I finally slept that night and it was, dreamless but finally restful.