Fire and Lace (Zuko x OC Fanfiction)

One: I Promise

I hurt my own feelings writing this.

Hope you enjoy my precious connamon bun, Sayomi. I use Sayomi as a main character in almost anything animation/anime related. And she almost always has white hair because I have an anime/animation type and it's dudes and chicks with white hair. Because DAMN.

Enjoy~

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The young alabaster-skinned man watched his reflection in the water, his eyes gracing ever so quickly to the full moon reflected there. The moon is what he happened to be thinking about at that very moment, at least partially. It was the moon-haired woman whose presence was always at the back of his mind and whose voice echoed through his thoughts.

"You know," came a wise voice from beside, "They say that those who lay awake at night are either in pain or in love. Which one are you, Zuko?"

Zuko looked over his shoulder to the form of his Uncle Iroh, who stood there contemplative in the starlight behind his seated form. He should have known that if anyone would be awake to find him here, it would be Iroh.

"A little of both I think, Uncle."

Iroh took a seat beside him on the ground, crossing his legs and placing his hands upon his lap, "This wouldn't happen to be about a gentle little water bender would it?"

Zuko got red and a little defensive, looking away from the man, "Oh no, of course not. Why would I be in love with a water bender?"

His uncle laughed, "You can lie to yourself Zuko, but you cannot lie to me."

Zuko looked back up at the sky and let his mind take him back to earlier that day.

"Zuko..." Mei had said softly, poking his face with her fan.

He had not realised that he wasn't listening until she whacked him with the same fan she had prodded him with.

"Oww, what?" he asked, rubbing the back of his head.

"Would you just go tell her you like her before I have to? Seriously?" she chided him, opening her fan back up and allowing it's smooth motion to cool her off in the midday sun.

Zuko just looked out across the garden and watched her sitting upon her cushion. A large umbrella was set up behind her, but a few rays of sun broke through to glint off of her snow-coloured braids. She had a dulcimer sitting in front of her where her fingers graced over the strings to make a beautiful tune that filled the courtyard and rustled in the trees.

When Sayomi felt his eyes on her, she turned to look at him and graced him with a sweet smile, her silvery green eyes washing over his body. He groaned inwardly, feeling himself grow flush and he threw himself back into the grass. Mei leaned over him with a frown, holding her fan aloft as if she was about to hit him again.

"Enough with the hitting already, I get it! Ugh. You can't tell me what to do, I'm the Prince."

She sighed, "Whatever."

"She plays the dulcimer very well, and she always serves the best tea..." Iroh continued, "And she's quiet and demure, intelligent... She's funny and kind, and.."

"Enough, Uncle! I get it, you love her. Okay."

Iroh hid his grin and shrugged with his eyes closed, peeking at Zuko under one of his lids, "I'm just saying, Zuko. She's a lovely woman."