Work Text:
Zuko loves these kinds of late afternoons. The kind where he can stand outside on the palace grounds and watch his daughter and husband run around. Chase each other, and be all happy.
He finishes his afternoon tea, letting out a small chuckle at the way Sokka lets Izumi tackle him down. She barely touched him! In Sokka’s defense, she is quite the young girl. Zuko gasps as Sokka flips her over— gently— but still.
“Sokka— be gentle with her.”
“I am!” Sokka calls out, as Izumi squeals, getting out of the “grasp”. “You’re gonna take me down?”
“Yeah!” Izumi says back, determined. She charges again, her small legs walking over to Sokka as the man kneels down. The five year old pushes Sokka’s shoulders ever so gently.
“Ah! I’m going down—“ Sokka says, flopping to his side before going to lay on his back. He feels Izumi crawl on top of him, and he laughs, “You’re too strong— my firecracker! Zuko, I’m done for!”
Zuko just nods, rolling his eyes at his husband’s antics. “Yeah yeah. Get him, Izumi!” He calls out to his daughter, laughing at the way Izumi just sits on Sokka’s chest and pats her hands gently all over him.
“I got you,” Izumi says through her giggles. That’s when Sokka tickles her sides, spiking her giggles into laughter.
“You sure did. Now let’s join daddy, okay?” Sokka says as he stands, holding Izumi’s hand as they walk over. Izumi lets go of Sokka’s hand once they’re close, rushing to hug Zuko by his legs.
Zuko smiles, ruffling Izumi’s black hair as she looks up at him. “Good job, Izumi. Papa will probably behave all day tomorrow now because you showed him a lesson,” He says with a snicker.
“Yeah, yeah.” Sokka rolls his eyes.
Izumi however, beams at the praise with pride. She nods her head, as if she truly was able to defeat Sokka in a proper sparring match. Maybe one day, maybe in the future. But not now.
“Okay, time for us to get ready for bed.”
Izumi is an immediate hater of that idea. “Beddd? Daddy— no!”
“Yes, bed, Izumi. Look, the sun said goodbye for the day. We have to start getting ready for bed because tomorrow you have academy.” Izumi whines at that response from Zuko. She forgot it was technically Sunday.
Which means tomorrow is school?!? “But I don’t wannnaaaaa..” Izumi drawls out, before she looks at Sokka with her big eyes. As if she’s trying to get him to defend her.
Zuko notices this, and he gives his husband a glare. “I— oh,” Sokka stammers, looking back at his husband’s face and then at his daughter’s— he’s so weak. For both of them. No— what is he going to do.
“We’re going to make papa’s brain explode, fire lily.” Zuko chides as the three of them begin to walk into the premises. “So the best result is for all of us to get ready, and go to sleep.”
Izumi pauses her walking, which makes Zuko and Sokka turn around. Stomp. Sokka stifles a laugh when he sees Zuko glare at him sideways.
“No!”
“Izumi—“ Zuko warns, “You have to go to academy, my love. It’s not negotiable, okay? You don’t want to be tired when we wake you up, yes?”
Another stomp. And another. Zuko feels a headache coming on. “Babe,” Zuko says lowly to Sokka, which makes Sokka stumble forward. Right, right. He’ll try and fix this.
“Izumi, look, tomorrow after academy, we can play soooo much. Yeah? We can even color, and perhaps make a few wooden ducks. Oh, just thinking about it is making me sleepy. Yeah?” He tries.
Izumi just whines, stomping her feet over — and over and over again. “No, no no no! Want to play now! Not later!”
“That’s it,” Zuko says as he pushes past Sokka. “Izumi, we’re going to bed. Now.” He says firmly, grabbing Izumi’s hand and beginning to take her away.
“Noooo! Daddy!” Izumi begs, and she tries wiggling away from Zuko’s grasp. Zuko notices this, before he begins to grab Izumi from her arm, practically yanking her towards her room.
“Honey I don’t think—“ Sokka starts as he follows them closely behind.
“I don’t WANT to!” Izumi screams loudly, and Zuko’s ears ring.
“Hey— HEY!” Zuko roars, looking down at his daughter who’s decided to throw this huge fit. “We’re not fighting about this anymore! Okay? We are getting ready for bed! You understand me?!?” He exclaims, his grip accidentally tightening.
Hard, his anger practically boiling over for a split second.
“Ow— ow!”
Zuko feels his heart fall when he hears Izumi let out a shriek. No.
His hand.
Zuko’s eyes widen when he realizes that his grip on his daughter — he had gotten so caught up on disciplining her— he didn’t think his fire bending would emit through his frustration. He drops his hand, almost immediately.
Sokka can see the way Zuko gasps, as if his breath has been caught in his throat. He kneels down next to Izumi, grabbing her small arm. “Oh, it’s nothing.” He reassures, “Just a pink mark. It’ll go away in a few minutes.”
Just a mark.
It looks so light— it’s the most gentle mark of heat ever. But it still makes Zuko freeze. He doesn’t know what to do with himself.
Izumi is crying, and Zuko is the cause.
He can’t even look at that small mark.
“Izumi— my fire lily— daddy is so sorry I—“
“No!”
“Let me see, Izumi. I’m so sorry, I just— I was—“ Zuko reaches, and Izumi flinches, looking at Zuko with watery eyes. She looks terrified.
And then, she lets out a cry, turning to face Sokka for comfort.
Zuko’s eyes widen, and he bites his lower lip. “It was an accident, baby.” Sokka tries to mediate, but Izumi shakes her head. She’s too upset, because she wants to stay up, her daddy didn’t let her, and now her arm is slightly warm.
That mark.
Zuko’s hand reaches before he closes his fist and puts his hand to the side. He clenches both of his fists, and Sokka looks up at him before his eyes widen at his husband turning around to practically rush out.
“No, Zuko, Zuko—“ Sokka sighs, holding their upset daughter. “Hey, shh.” Izumi sniffles, hiding her face in Sokka’s chest.
“Daddy left,” Izumi says in an extra sad tone, practically crying more. Sokka lets out another sigh, nodding his head.
“Daddy’s just a bit upset, firecracker. Let’s go to your room, and I’ll go find him. Okay?”
Zuko bursts into an empty room, and practically falls to his knees. He swears, if he had no restraint, he would have burned the rest of his face to bits.
What was he thinking? How could he? His emotions got the best out of him, and he couldn’t even control it. What if one part of his fingers leaves a small burn? What if Izumi is terrified of him now?
He covers his face with his hands, Izumi’s small, sad face filling his mind. That’s when his mind begins to wander, and when he peeks through his fingers, he feels as if he’s in that — position again.
It’s this exact room.
Why did he stumble into this one room?
“No, no.” Zuko says, shaking his head. He tries to stand up, but his body is glued to this floor. It’s like his muscles can’t move the more he looks at this room. He tries to avoid this room as much as possible.
His mind is back there.
He’s that young boy again. And his mother is gone. His mother— and his father— Azula so angry too.
Everyone’s eyes are on him and his father.
The Agni Kai.
Zuko covers his face again, letting out a shaky breath. Breathe, deep breaths. He cannot.
He absolutely cannot do deep breaths, because what was he thinking?! What was he doing— and— the Agni Kai— and the room, and Izumi— and his father— his father’s hand—
Ozai— the hand reaching towards him—
Ozai—
His father’s angry wrath towards him, just a small boy. Practically defenseless. Ozai, his Father, who reached his hand towards his skin and—
“No!”
Zuko practically screams when he feels something reach towards the left side of his face. He snaps his hands away, as if he’s ready to punch that away.
“Hey— it’s just me.” Sokka says quickly, putting his hands up. “Just— hey it’s just me.” Sokka says as he kneels down next to Zuko, seeing the way his husband just falls apart.
Sokka frowns, hugging Zuko close to him. Zuko practically melts, his sobs echoing in the otherwise empty room.
“Shh,”
“Oh Spirits, Sokka. Oh — oh my—,”
“Breathe.” Sokka says, rubbing Zuko’s back. Zuko shakes his head, each time he breathes is just wracked by another sob. “You didn’t mean it.”
“What if it was worse?” Zuko says through his sobs, not even caring how loud he is. He’s not worried about Izumi hearing. Her room is quite far— and he can’t contain himself. “What if— what if it became a second.. third degree burn?”
“Hey, it wasn’t. It would never.” Sokka whispers, rubbing Zuko’s cheek to try and ground him. “It was barely even a burn, honey.”
“But it was,” Zuko sobs. “It hurt her.”
“Not a burn. You didn’t mean it.” Sokka replies back, his voice still smooth. “She’s got sensitive skin, honey— I mean,” He sighs. That doesn’t help at all, does it? “What I’m trying to say is, you didn’t do it on purpose.”
Zuko sniffles, looking so broken. “You saw the way she looked at me. Like, like I’m a monster.” He says, his voice breaking again.
Sokka frowns, making sure both of them are sat against the wall. His hand goes to hold his husband’s, rubbing smooth circles with his thumb. Zuko is trembling, so bad in a way he’s never seen before.
“She doesn’t see you that way.”
Zuko looks like he isn’t convinced. Sokka’s heart breaks, and he swears, he wants to drag everyone who caused this just so he can beat their asses himself. “Hey, she’s upset—-“
“I know, and she has every right to be. I’m awful,” Zuko says in another voice crack. “I’m turning into my Father.”
“Hey— no. Absolutely not.” Sokka’s eyes widen, before he grips Zuko’s hand tight. “Zuko— your Father was a lunatic. He did the shit to you on purpose. This was an accident. Look at how much remorse you have for a small hue of pink on her skin.”
Zuko sniffles again, catching a deep breath as Sokka talks. He guesses Sokka is right. Ozai never cared. When he put his hand over his face, it didn’t matter how much Zuko screamed.
He looks down, remembering that moment. Sokka kisses his temple, grounding him back. “I guess you’re right.” He says in a sulky tone. “I just.. I cannot— I can’t even, upsetting her..”
“She’s more upset at the fact that you’re upset,” Sokka says, making Zuko’s head turn back up.
“What?”
“Yeah.” Sokka nods. “I had to calm her down before coming here. She’s worried about you. She said she wants you to not be mad. Happy.”
That makes Zuko tear up again. His daughter, truly the light of his life. So worried about him when he stormed off. “I couldn’t breathe.”
“I know.”
“I can’t breakdown in front of her.”
“I know,” Sokka replies again with a nod. “You don’t have to explain anything to her. Just.. go and see her. She’s practically ready for bed now.”
That makes Zuko’s eyes widen. “Seriously?” Sokka nods in response.
“Yeah. You’ll see. Come on.” Zuko stands up alongside his husband, holding his hand as he catches his breath and rubs his tears away.
When they walk into Izumi’s room, Zuko is caught off guard. Izumi is practically ready for bed. She’s wearing her pajama dress, sitting on the floor. Hearing the door close, she turns her head.
“Daddy!”
Izumi rushes to her feet, running over to Zuko to grab at his legs and wrap her arms around him. Zuko swallows another wave of sobs as he’s quick to kneel down and embrace her.
He buries his face in her soft hair, inhaling the scent of her flowery shampoo, and the way she clings to him. “My fire lily, I am so—“
“Daddy, I’m so sorry!” Izumi says through tears, clutching at Zuko’s clothes. Zuko’s eyes widen as he leans back to look at her, stroking her face.
He shakes his head rapidly. “No, no my fire lily. You did nothing wrong.”
“I said no to bedtime!” Izumi says, her voice practically panicked. “I’m so sorry daddy, I don’t want you to be mad!”
“Oh, Izumi, I'm not mad at you. I’m mad at myself.” He admits.
Sokka leans against the bed frame, before he quickly steps out. He would rather have Zuko and Izumi have this conversation without him looming over.
“Why daddy?” Izumi asks, her small hands going to play at the front of her pajama dress.
Zuko sighs, picking her up and gently sitting on the bed with her. “Just..” How can he put this in the least obvious, least heart breaking way to his five year old daughter. “Growing up, daddy’s — daddy’s papa wasn’t very nice.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah. He was a very, very bad man, honey.”
“I don’t like that daddy.” Izumi says, and Zuko holds her a bit closer.
Zuko sighs shakily, “Yeah, daddy didn’t like it either. And it’s just, I never want you to feel the way I did, okay? Ever. I let my anger get the best of me earlier. It’s not okay.”
Izumi turns, looking up at Zuko. She reaches her small hands out, and Zuko can feel her hands on both sides of his face. Especially on his left side, her tiny soft hands on his scar.
She doesn’t even know what she’s doing. She just wants to be close to Zuko. And she doesn’t even get the significance of his burn. It’s always been there. It’s been his beauty in her eyes.
“It’s okay daddy. I love you daddy.”
She’s so innocent. And so forgiving. Her fingers staying on his scar. She’s comforting him. His fire lily.
“I love you too..so much, Izumi.” He responds. “You have no idea how much daddy loves you.”
Zuko feels a few tears slip, but he swallows nervously again and composes himself. “You want to know something?” He asks quietly. Izumi nods her head.
“This is a secret.”
Izumi nods her head again, eager to know. “You’re the most beautiful thing in my life, my fire lily.”
“More beautiful than papa?” Izumi whispers, as if she’s trying to keep that intel extremely secretive. Zuko laughs softly, hugging her close again. Planting a kiss to the top of her head.
“Don’t tell him, okay?”
Izumi giggles, shaking her head. “I won’t daddy.” She says, her small finger going to her lips before she dives right into Zuko’s chest.
”Daddy, daddy— I think you’re beautiful too, daddy.” Izumi says happily, and so full of innocence and joy.
Zuko’s face breaks into a wide smile, holding his daughter close for a few more seconds. Feeling Izumi snuggle close to him makes him let out a shaky sigh.
“Did papa get you ready for bed?” He asks, directing the subject away from upset topics.
Izumi shakes her head. The matter of before is all forgotten— she’s so happy to have Zuko holding her. “All by yourself?” Zuko asks, smiling down at his daughter.
“Wanted to make daddy happy!” Izumi beams with pride. Look at her, already trying to be independent and make Zuko happy. Just another proof of a child’s innocence.
Zuko’s chest twists. “You always make me happy.” He quickly responded, kissing Izumi’s chubby cheek over and over.
“Ehehe, daddy!” Izumi squeals, clinging to him tight. “Can I sleep with you and papa?”
“Ah, in the big bed?” Zuko asks with a laugh. “Of course you can. In fact, let’s make sure we take away the whole blanket from papa.”
“Yay!” Izumi cheers as Zuko stands, holding her in his arms. “Daddy’s the best!”
Zuko’s chest swells with warmth. It doesn’t tighten in anxiety or— churn in absolute horror of being such a bad father anymore.
“No, you’re the best.”
“No, daddy’s the best.” Izumi pouts. He laughs, nodding his head.
“Alright, alright. You win.”
“Yay!” The little girl cheers again.
As Zuko carries her inside his and Sokka’s room, his husband is already there, laying. Sokka chuckles as Izumi climbs on the bed, giggling up at him. “Why hello, our special guest.”
“Yeah, I’m a special guest, papa.” Izumi responds, plopping right there in the middle.
“Very special.” Sokka agrees.
Zuko gets ready, letting go of his long hair, before leaning in and nestling in bed, their daughter right there in the middle. Zuko lets out a final, calm deep breath.
He’s at home. At peace.
“Goodnight,” Zuko whispers, moving Izumi’s hair out of her face as she sticks to his side like glue.
Sokka just smiles tiredly, holding an arm around Izumi and kind of around Zuko as they all close their eyes. Izumi’s small legs spread out wildly, kicking Zuko’s side. He grunts, but smiles to himself as his eyes remain closed.
Zuko could get used to more nights ending this way.