"Mr Yao"! Iroh welcomes my father with a warm hug. He turns to see me. "And little (Y/N), what a beautiful young lady. Last time I saw you, you were about this high!" He gestures a line at his belly with his hand.
"I haven't grown too much since then", I add playfully with a small bow. Though Iroh has been such a lifelong family friend, he's still royal, and I must greet him accordingly (though he doesn't much like it). "Thank you so much for the invitation. I'm looking forward to seeing what new flavours you've developed for your tea shop."
"Ah, some sweet, some fruity, and one a little spicy!" He exclaims. "I have to keep up the reputation of the fire nation and add chilli where I can."
He leads us through the palace to a beautiful dining area. A long dark wood table sits in the centre of the room, decorated with fine China and golden cutlery. Every set of plates has a crystal wine glass directly above it. Iroh gently pushes a few sets aside and sets down a few misshapen clay mugs instead. Despite his high rank, Iroh has never been much for the lavish lifestyle of the Fire Nation palace. He much prefers the quality of happiness over the flashy items that money can buy.
"Well, I suppose we should start with this! This is a sweet berry blend, of the most-"
"Sorry, I think I'm a little late! The meeting took a little longer to wrap up than we expected. I hope there's some tea left!" I recognised the deep voice immediately. Fire Lord Zuko entered the dining room, cape flowing behind him as he walked. His long hair was tied back in a small bun under his crown piece. He was wearing his full body-armour he usually wears to important events. His face was just as I had seen him in recent posters and newspaper articles. His brown beautiful eyes were sharp, his half-smile was kind and his scar (though I remember it fresh and red, it has faded to a more pinky tone) only made him look even more handsome. The man had been through a lot.
"Fire Lord Zuko, it is our pleasure!" My father welcomed him with a bow. I bowed too, feeling a little flush in my cheeks.
"Hello Mr Yao! It's certainly been a while." He smiled. He turns to me and falters slightly. His eyes fix on mine for a few seconds. It feels like the longest few seconds of my life. "(Y/N)! Wow, you look beautiful." My cheeks flushed even more at his compliment. "It's been a long time. Let's chat over some of my Uncle's tea!"
YOU ARE READING
Burning Temptations - A Zuko Fan-Fiction (Zuko x Reader)
FanfictionYou first met Zuko as a child and developed a beautiful friendship. After his banishment, you didn't see him for years. Now, he's back, and he's the new Fire Lord! After all this time, he's still as handsome as you remember. When you finally meet a...
