Chapter Text
The relationship you and Zuko had was…complicated.
You’d known each other for years, being a part of the “Gaang” back when it was still just a chaotic group of kids.
Until you ruined it.
At least, that’s how it felt.
You’d had a crush on him for years prior to actually telling him. Stolen glaces. Lingering touches. Quiet moments you convinced yourself meant something more.
So, you went looking for answers.
–
As you walk down the hallway, you feel the dark, warm, atmosphere of the Fire Nation enveloping you. Feeling that familiar uneasy feeling churning in your stomach as you’re inching closer and closer to his chambers.
Each step you take feels louder than the last.
This is stupid.
I shouldn’t be doing this
You feel your stomach turn.
What if Katara’s wrong? What if there’s nothing? What if-
Your thoughts are cut off abruptly as you hit something, something firm enough to cause you to wince as a result. You slowly open your eyes, hoping, even praying to whatever god may exist that whatever is in front of you isn’t a person. And perhaps sometimes God answers prayers, because you ran straight into the door leading to Zuko’s chambers. Embarrassing, but still better than the real thing.
Taking a deep breath, you ball up your fist, the uneasy feeling in your stomach becoming more intense as you finally knock on the firm door in front of you.
The knock echoes too loudly.
Too final.
Too late for you to back out now.
Seconds feel like hours as you await his presence, but only a few moments later do you hear the sound of the door hinge swinging open.
Zuko stands in the doorway. That same scarred face. Same guarded expression. Same intensity behind his eyes.
“What’re you doing here?” The confusion is evident in his voice as he stares at you with furrowed brows.
“Uhh.. I just.. I really needed to talk to you”
“Alright then, here I am.” He looks at you expectantly.
Fuck, I didn’t think this far.
How the fuck didn’t I think about what to say before now??
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
You brace yourself for impact, looking away from his cold stare.
Fuck it.
“Have you ever thought that there might be… y’know, something between you and I?”
Your words hang in the air immediately after you say them. You look up at his face, attempting to gauge his reaction.
“No,” he says.
A pause.
“ I haven’t thought of you in that way, before.” His tone was clean, final, unmistakable.
He parts his lips to speak again, but you don’t hear it. You’re already turning away, running. Tears brim your eyes as you round the corner, leaving the estate...swearing to yourself you wouldn’t see him again.
–
Well, never again until the infamous avatar, Aang, sends a letter to you via- pigeon? Dove? Whatever bird it was- 12 long years later.
“Hi,
Katara and I have been waiting for you to stop by again for dinner. Stop ignoring the letters please, she misses you. Anyways, I need your help collecting this really cool staff I heard about. Meet me ASAP. Thanks.
-Aang”
You stare at it for a long moment, letting out a deep sigh as you pinch your temples.
“..Of course.”
A few days later, you find yourself in Republic City, quite different from what you’re used to. Busier. Lighter. Changed in ways you still can’t fully comprehend. After settling down, you begin making your way to meet up with the others.
Along the way, you see a few people you’ve meant to check in on. Cabbage man seems to be doing well. You buy a cabbage from him. Thanking him for his consistency. After a few more irrelevant stops, you arrive at the meet-up spot.
You see Katara first, and immediately begin running towards her.
“Katara! It’s your favorite!”
Immediately, Katara’s face lights up as she rushes towards you, greeting you with a warm hug. “It’s been too long!”
“Katara, I saw you like two weeks ago. You came to my house and literally dragged me out here to eat with you.”
“We don’t need to get into specifics!” She takes your hand and brings you towards the others.
“You help save the world one time and forget all about me?” Toph teases, a faint smile evident on her face.
You can’t help but let out a laugh at her comment. “God, I’ve missed you, Toph”
“I’d miss me too, I’m wonderful.” Toph turns away, distracted by something Katara’s saying-
And that’s when your gaze finally drifts over to Sokka and Zuko, who are talking off to the side.
Sokka’s looking over guiltily while Zuko is seemingly trying to avoid eye contact.
You roll your eyes at the sight.
It’s been twelve years. How’s he still like this?
You begin walking over towards the pair, despite your better judgement.
Zuko’s demeanor shifts as you come closer, his posture stiffening as he notices that you’re approaching. You hear the remains of their conversation fizzle out more and more with each step you take.
“That doesn’t mean it’s not weir- Oh hey! Nice weather we’re having, isn’t it?” Sokka scratches the back of his head with a big grin on his face.
“You don’t need to show all 32 teeth, Sokka, you’re a terrible liar”
“Yeah,” he mutters underneath his breath. “I’m still working on that.”
Your gaze then shifts towards Zuko
“Long time no see”
He lets out a forced, awkward laugh- almost as if he’s not sure what the right response is. “Yeah, been a while”
There’s a lull of silence before he picks the conversation up again.
“How have you been?”
“Fine. Can’t complain.”
He nods at your response, as if he’s not sure what to do with it. You briefly look up to see his eyes tracing your features, almost as if he was seeing them for the first time. “You’ve.. changed.”
A genuine laugh slips out of you, “That tends to happen after twelve years.”
Your eyes can’t help but wander over his newly developed features. His broader frame, longer hair, and sharpened features that had somehow shifted into something steadier over the years.
“I guess you have too.”
“Are you guys coming or not?” Katara’s voice brings you back to reality.
You turn first, nodding your head before you begin walking over to Appa with the others.
Katara takes a seat near the front, while Toph and Sokka sit next to each other behind her. At the sight, you cringe a bit, recognizing what this means for the long ride you have ahead of you. You turn your neck ever so slightly, peeking behind you to see Zuko’s eyes burning into the back of your head before he quickly looks away.
He takes a seat next to you, stiff and hesitant.
Toph and Sokka are bickering as usual, while Katara tries- and fails- to quiet them down while she focuses on finding Aang.
And in the midst of the chaos in front of you, there’s complete silence where you sit.
You start picking at your nails, suddenly made aware of the roughness of your cuticles, when suddenly a voice pulls you out of your thoughts.
You turn your head towards Zuko, whose face looks slightly flushed, his breathing heavy and louder than usual.
“Uhm..”
He hesitates a bit. Your gaze lingers on him for a moment- just long enough.
“About what happened-”
“Save it. The words come off a bit more harsh than intended. “Don’t really think that’s something we have to talk about. Let’s not make this more awkward than it is..”
He nods slowly, turning to look away.
“Wow. Real friendly back there” Toph says aloud. Causing Sokka to immediately try to shush her before they return to their bickering.
After a while, the only sound is Appa’s steady breathing and the wind as it passes you by.
Until
A low rumble sounds.
You frown, glancing around, looking for where the sound came from.
“You guys heard that too, right?”
Before anyone can respond, the mountainside gives way, massive chunks of rock breaking loose and crashing downward. A violent gust of wind spirals upward from the fracture, pulling at your clothes, causing your balance to slip as Appa lurches violently. You feel yourself hovering midair, the unmistakable feeling of your heart dropping to your ass as you panic.
A hand clamps around your wrist.
“Watch it!”
Zuko yanks you back into place just as Appa dips to avoid a jagged slab of falling rock. The movement is rough, unsteady- more reaction than intention.
Another chunk of rock crashes past.
He lets go almost immediately, turning away to brace himself against the saddle.
“Stay down,” he mutters.
“Well, I wasn’t planning on jumping,” you shoot back.
Another strong gust of wind pushes forward as you finally spot Aang… along with someone else.
A boy- no, a man- definitely a man- arms raised as he swiftly bends the air. Wind spirals outward towards a falling rock, holding them back from being crushed.
Just as the man’s body was about to give out, Appa’s body quickly moved through the chaos, sweeping low beneath them.
You’re barely able to process what’s happened. Next thing you know, Aang and the man- who is definitely easy on the eyes now that you’ve gotten a better look at him- are sitting safely on Appa.
“Aang!” Katara shouts as she runs up to embrace him.
Toph crosses her arms, walking a bit closer to the pair. “Couldn’t wait a day before you ran off to get yourself killed, huh?”
Your gaze drifts from Aang’s figure to the unknown one sitting beside him.“I thought we were here looking for a staff,” You say, glancing at Aang. “At least that’s what your very detailed letter said.”
Aang hesitates, staring at the man for a while before finally uttering his next words.
“He’s.. an airbender.”
His words land heavier than expected. The man’s head tilts slightly at the mention, almost like he heard it but couldn’t bring himself to respond. His eyes flutter gently before he slumps forward, unconscious.
–
Eventually you make it back to the Kingdom, everyone’s gathered around the man as Katara works to heal him.
“He smells good for an old guy, my senses are telling me he’s pretty attractive” Toph says
Everyone's eyes cut towards her at the blunt comment.
“C’mon, just give me a straight confirmation”
“Yes, he’s attractive.” Zuko and you say it at the same time.
You’re met with some confused and shocked stares, Zuko with more than you.
Moments later, the group starts talking again, their overlapping voices filling the space.
But you stop following most of it.
Because Zuko shifts slightly beside you.
“You almost fell.”
His voice is quieter now.
You don’t look at him. “I didn’t.”
A pause.
“I had it,” you add.
“…Right.”
He doesn’t sound convinced.
“Yeah,” Toph cuts in. “You totally had it. That’s why Sparky here grabbed you like you were about to drop off a cliff.”
“Sparky?” Sokka snorts.
“Not helping,” Katara mutters.
You exhale sharply. “Can we not do this right now?”
Silence again.
Zuko doesn’t say anything after that.
But he doesn’t move away either.