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

Intertwined

"You can never go to sleep during sleepovers. You'll wake up and find yourself as a human dartboard." Zuko stated.

"A human dartboard?" You giggled gently, intrigued and partially concerned. "Yes. A human dartboard." He replied.

"Either that or some girl named Y/N tries to shove me into a dress and make me wear a wig."

You smirked, "You're still bitter about that?" Zuko rolled over to face you with a strained smile, "As bitter as can be."

You let out a laugh, when you recalled your question from earlier.

"Hey, Zuko?" You muttered. He hummed at the sound of his name. "Do you remember those lanterns we saw in the Fire Nation?" You asked.

Zuko's eyes widened, "Y-Yeah? What about them? Is everything okay?"

"I want to learn about them." You said.
"You-... You want to what?" Zuko stammered.
"I-want-to-learn-about-them." You  repeated, only this time with a robotic voice.

"...Y/N, are you sure about that? Especially... Especially after you've been hurt by the Fire Nation for so long?" Zuko murmured.

You shut your eyes and hummed, "When I was in the Fire Nation, I met a few good people. I want to know why people like them chose to reside in the Fire Nation of all places."

You smiled, lowering the blanket from the bridge of your nose.
"I guess... I just want to learn more about your history and culture. So that way...
I can try to love the Fire Nation without associating it with those hard times."

"You..." Zuko stared at you in surprise before he began chuckling with a gentle smile. You could've sworn his cheeks got redder. "You should go to sleep."

"Wait! Is that a yes or a no!?" You whisper-yelled.
"Stop asking questions and sleep. We're going to have a lot to do tomorrow."
He smirked.

"Ah! Alright, that's an easy task. But you have to sleep too." You said.
"What makes you think I wouldn't?"
He quizzed, raising an eyebrow.

"I get the feeling that there's a lot on your mind, which all things considered, is most likely correct. If you feel too stressed to fall asleep, I'm right here."
You whispered, yawning mid sentence.

"Got it. Good night, Y/N." Instead of a response, all Zuko could hear was your quiet, faint snoring.

"Hah... I don't even know why I'm surprised." He laughed.

🌹

He took in your features.
The slow rise and fall of yor chest.
The calm expression on your face.
Your soft hums and the way you were always there for him.

It was true that he had a lot on his mind, especially after he learnt about the truth of that night.

That, and the fact that everywhere and everyone he had seen held an unwavering animosity for his nation.

"It's hard. It's hard to tell if what I've been told is right or wrong. If everything... If it's all been a lie, then-..."

Zuko grit his teeth, digging his fingertips through his loose strands of hair and covering his face with his palms.

"Then what does that mean about my father? And what about me, his son?"
...

...Was he even considered a son in his father's eyes?

"Mmm..." You began to shift around in the bed. Zuko's train of thought paused for a moment.

"I guess... You really were right about me being too stressed to fall asleep." He muttered, holding you close.

He rested his eyes, stroking your hair.

If you, someone who was scarred by the Fire Nation, were willing to look for the good in it...

Surely, there was hope.

As he drifted away into the land of dreams, Zuko smiled.

You were his hope.

"Lso, will I ever see you again?" Saiyaka questioned. I turned to her with a soft smile. "You will. In this timeline and the next, we will always be together." I hummed.

"I-I want to come with you! I want to stay by your side!" Saiyaka exclaimed.

"We must be apart for some time. You have to grow without me, and I without you." I muttered. "I need you, Lso! You're my best friend, and you've taught me so much...!"

I placed a necklace in her hands.
"And you will have the power to teach me, across many different lifetimes."

A tear rolled down my cheek.
"I will never forget our friendship, Saiyaka."

"I could never forget you either, Lso. After all..."

"You're my hope."

//A/N: Sorry for the slow updates, I've been busy with school!