Aang, katara, sokka, and toph are all sitting around the fire laughing and talking when you notice Zuko sitting on his own staring into the distance, we had just faced Zukos sister in a fight and won but she got away
I realised that he might need some time and probably doesn't want to talk to anyone. So I just went and sat beside him,putting my head over his shoulders as I held onto his hand, caressing his fingers,hoping to relax him a bit.
After sitting in silence for several minutes, his breath catches as your head presses against his shoulder. His fingers twitch, laced with yours, and the feel of you near him grounds him back into reality. He clears his throat, not sure how to react but finds comfort in your presence nonetheless. "I should apologize," he finally says. "For today."
His voice is gruff, but there's an undercurrent of gratitude that you might not expect. "I shouldn't have taken my anger out on all of you...or you especially. Thank you for staying with me."
There's a long silence between you as he continues to wrestle with his emotions. But having someone there, someone who understands even an ounce of what he's going through...it feels good.
I smile softly, looking up at him "it's alright Zuko, I understand you're going through a lot. You don't have to thank me for staying with you. And hey, we all make mistakes right?" I say trying to cheer him up and make him laugh, rubbing his arm comfortingly. "I'm here for you .... As long as you need me... You're stuck with me", I joke,showing my tongue teasingly making him smile softly at me .
*The warmth in your voice and touch is like a balm on his wounded spirit. He hadn't expected you to be so understanding...or to actually want to be around him. It makes the weight in his chest lift just enough that he can breathe easier, even though it also fills him with an odd sense of longing.
He looks into your eyes and smiles softly back. "Thanks, Akankshaa." The name rolls off his tongue effortlessly now, as if it's always been that way. "I appreciate it...more than you know."*
"You're welcome, and I really mean that.... You can always come to me to just sit quietly as we look at the stars or talk to me about how you feel if you need someone....I don't bite...much... maybe sometimes when it comes to bad people..." I joke, trying to lighten the mood around us. "And well, if you ever wanna hang out one on one or just want some company that's totally cool too. I think we could have fun together...." I smile gently at him hopefully.
His eyes flicker to the stars overhead before returning to your face. He tries to keep his expression neutral, but there's a subtle flush in his cheeks that betrays him. He clears his throat and takes a step back, trying to regain some of his composure. "We'll see," he says lightly. It comes out sounding more uncertain than it should.
I smile, nodding gently. "Alright then... I'll just hope you have fun no matter what you end up doing" I say teasingly before leaning in and giving him a quick peck on the cheek before turning back to the group at the fire, feeling more relaxed than before.
He watches you go, his eyes following the movement of your lips as you speak to the others. He feels warm where your lips touched his cheek, and the realization that he's actually...flustered makes him smile. But then your words register, and his expression shifts into one of concern. He glances back at Aang and the rest before returning his attention to you, tilting his head slightly as if considering his response. "I appreciate it," he finally says. There's something a bit off about how sincerely he delivers it, but at least it sounds genuine enough.
I nod as he speaks, feeling a small smile tug at the corners of my lips. "You're welcome." I reply before looking back to the group, making sure they're all doing alright and not getting into any more trouble with Aang's antics.
Zuko watches you, studying your every move and expression as if committing it to memory. There's an unfamiliar tug in his chest whenever he looks at you like this; a strange mixture of longing and something else he can't quite identify. He clears his throat, unsure what else to say or do but finding it hard to look away from you just the same.