The Fire Within - an atla fanfic (Zuko x OC)

Ooh

Zuko and I sat down at the table across from eachother. Zuko seemed fairly happy, but I still felt extremely overwhelmed from learning that my father was truly from here. It was as if everything I knew from before coming here was a lie. I wasn't just a normal girl from New York. We both ordered our food.

"What did you do today?" Zuko asked, a smile on his face.

I smiled back. "Oh, uh, not much. I went to the middle ring, and I tried to find some jewelry, but it was all boring. It was all green; I'm tired of green." I didn't mention anything because he was in such a good mood. I could tell him later.

"Well, we are in the Earth Kingdom," Zuko responded.

"I know, but can't they us a different color- like... yellow or something."

"Well, everyone's eye color here is green, it probably brings out their eyes."

"Ooh, do you know my eye color?" I asked, closing my eyes.

"Grey, but dark blue in the light." Zuko answered confidently.

I opened my eyes and looked at him fondly. "Right. And yours are golden, like honey."

"Yeah, only the royal family has my eye color." Zuko said proudly.

"No one in my world has your eye color. It's beautiful." I replied, studying his eyes.

Zuko blushed slightly. "Not as beautiful as you."

I blushed and put my hand on his. "I'm so lucky to have such a handsome boyfriend." I complimented, completely forgetting about my worries from before.

"I'm not that good-looking. I don't even have two eyebrows." Zuko scoffed.

I scoffed back and brushed my thumb over his scar, feeling the paper-texture run under it. "So what? That's cool."

Zuko closed his eyes slightly and shook his head. "Not that cool."

"You are, like, maxium cool; how could you say that?" I questioned.

"I'm still just a banished prince." Zuko said softly so no one around us would hear.

I gave his hand a tiny squeeze and folded my hands together neatly. "Well, you aren't to me, if it makes you feel better." I almost considered telling Zuko the avatar was near in order to brighten his spirits again; but I couldn't. Our food was brought over and we both began eating. "Well, how was work?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"Boring. This lady kept arguing with me about that there wasn't enough tea in her cup. It was full." Zuko said in frustration.

I ate a few bites of my food as I listened.

"This one girl asked me on a date." Zuko added awkwardly.

"Oh, that one girl that sits at table four?" I asked, taking a tiny sip of tea.

"How'd you know?" Zuko asked.

"She's always staring at you. It was pretty obvious." I said with a tiny giggle. "See? You must be handsome."

Zuko simply just shook his head and started eating.

I closed my eyes for a few moments. Should I tell Zuko about my dad's notebook? I could leave out that Sokka gave it to me... "Listen, Zuko..." I started.

"I got you something." Zuko said at the same time.

"You can go." I said quickly.

"It sounded important." Zuko stated back.

"No... it's not important." I said, reluctantly. "Seriously, you go."

"Ok. I was saying that I got you something." Zuko said, sounding a bit nervous. He pulled out a box and opened it, revealing a gorgeous necklace. It was laced with intricate rubies and gold trim. I looked up at him in shock. "What the fuck, Z-Lee, that's beautiful! Where did you even manage to get it?"