|•|W I T 卄 E R||•| Zuko X Reader ⚠SLOWBURN⚠

♡ Orange Lights ♡

I could only imagine how much worse everything had been for her. Away from her family, her home... Just like I am.

I pulled her into a hug, allowing her to sob into my shoulder. In that moment, lightning staggered across the sky. I shut my eyes.

Underneath the sounds of the precipitation, I could hear something faint. A soft, slow, shaky breath. I peered out the window, confused.

"...!" I immediately took a step back when I saw who was outside.

She's here! She's outside! She's-... She's crying...?

I stepped up to the window once again. She... She's made her decision. I don't want her to get reminded of the time she was separated from the people she loves, so...

"Hey..." She stiffened, "Are... you alright?" The wooden casements which covered the window muffled my voice. "I-I... I'm-" Before she could utter the word "fine", I cut her off.

"Be honest. If I don't help you out right now, this is going to weigh on my mind."

She let a chuckle escape her lips, "I... I get that feeling." I raised an eyebrow. Has she been alright? "What... Do you mean?"

"Well, this one is really recent, but... I-I couldn't rescue someone I really wanted to." She whispered. "You said 'this one'. Is there another?" I questioned, resting my arms on the windowsill.

"One of my friends... My very close friend, he... We ran into each other again, and something... Something really bad happened, and-" She sighed, "And instead of helping him out, I just stood there. It's been on my conscience ever since."

She's referring to the fight with Azula...
That friend she's talking about... Is me.

"...How is it making you feel?" I asked.
"Huh?"
"Y-You know... Are you sad? Angry, upset...?" I muttered.

"Well... I guess the best way to describe it is... It made me really upset with myself. I felt horrible for a pretty long time. I... Really miss him."

I paused for a moment.

She misses... me?

"...It's not your fault."
I could feel her confusion.
"Huh? How would you know that?"
"Oh! Uh, just... Some motivating words?"
She laughed at my response.
"...Thanks for trying to comfort me."

"No problem. I'm sure you had your reasons for what happened." I said,
"Sometimes... We just freeze up. It's been happening to me quite a bit recently."

"Yeah... You know, that's the reason I didn't help him. I froze... I just stood there like a rabbit-deer in front of a fire!" She groaned, "Sometimes I truly hate myself."

"Same." I chuckled, a small smile making its way onto my face. She always does that... Even when she's the sad one, she somehow makes me smile...

...Maybe I could make her smile, too.

"Give me a second." I said.
"Hm? Okay..."

I entered the kitchen. "Oh? Is everything alright? You have a determined look on your face." My uncle said. "Is it alright if I make something?" I questioned. "What? We're already closed!" Pao stated. "Hmm..." My uncle glanced at me before turning to Pao.

"Technically speaking, my nephew is now a customer, correct?" He inquired. "Uhm... Yes...?" Pao replied. "And isn't there a rule that if a customer is inside the building right by the time we close, they can make one quick order?" I asked. "Hrmm... Well, you two are rather good employees. The tea shop has been booming with success thanks to you. Go ahead." Pao smiled.

I grinned, "Thank you sir."

I knocked on the wooden plates of the window, getting Y/N's attention. I slid a baked bun through, handing it to her. "Oh! You did this for me!?" She exclaimed. "Yup." I smirked.
"Well, now I have to do something for you." She shoved the entire thing in her mouth, consuming it in a matter of seconds.

I stared at her through a crack in the window, dumbfounded. "Yeah, I really like those..." She rubbed the back of her neck with an awkward smile. "...You should come in." I said, catching her off guard.

"But... You're closed." She stated.
"We are. But if you really want to repay me..." Her eyes widened. "Is this because of the way I ate that bun? Is that why you've been so kind to me?"

"No! That's not it at all!" An idea crossed my mind. "Hey... Do I really even have to have some big crazy reason?" I asked.
"W-Wait..."

I began to smile, "You seemed to be hurt. Badly. So... Why wouldn't I help you?" Tears began to fill her eyes. "No way..."

I swung the door wide open. There she was. The one I had been longing to see.

√|•|¥§€=°-<<《-^-》>>-°=€§¥|•|√

"Z-Zuk-" He pulled you into a tight hug. The coolness of the air outside melted away, replaced by a comforting warmth. You wrapped your arms around him, nuzzling your head into his chest and grasping his silky shirt, not daring to let go. You could hear the gentle drumming of his heartbeat.

He latched onto you, his left hand resting on your waist, and his right hand on top of the uppermost part of your back. You felt his smooth, warm fingertips brushing against your neck, lulling you into a state of comfort and security.

Every emotion you thought you had lost, every emotion you had tried to bury away, and every emotion you couldn't possibly describe gushed into your heart. "I'm so sorry...!" You sobbed.

"Wow, you're seriously crying after I worked so hard to make you smile?" Zuko asked, pulling you closer. You began to laugh and cry at the same time. "I'm sorry for that, too..."

Your hold on each other loosened, and you placed your ungloved hand upon his cheek. "No matter what...", He chuckled, "We always seem to find each other again."

"This time... Let's stick together, okay?" You smiled. He wiped away the remaining tears on your face, "Forever."

The orange Lights from the lanterns outside illuminated his face and shone in his golden irises. You were at peace.

The two of you gazed into each other's eyes. Those golden eyes of his... They always made all your worries fade away. Always...

You felt your cheeks heating up.

"Well, I certainly did not see this coming! Welcome back, Y/N!" Iroh grinned, giving the two of you a hug. "U-Uncle..." Zuko grumbled. You let out a laugh, "You'd better hug your uncle, you prick."
"You're the only one I'll ever allow to call me that.." Zuko smiled. The three of you embraced.

"...Excuse me? We're closed! I'm afraid you'll have to-" Pao stared at you in surprise. "Oh! Good evening, miss!" He walked over to Zuko, "How come you never told me she was the one you were giving the food to, Lee?"

You shut your eyes.

Even where darkness resides, there'll always be a home to wander to. Sometimes, you have to find it. And sometimes, it finds you.