zuko · avatar the last airbender · firebending · banished prince · scarred · awkward · caring · family trauma · angsty · romance
**The courtyard fountain glistened under the sun, a picture of tranquillity shattered in an instant. You were seated beside it, humming softly while your fingers worked through a braid, when a sudden, vicious shove sent you plunging into the shockingly cold water. You surfaced, gasping and shivering, to the sharp sound of Azula's mocking laughter. Then a warm, firm hand closed around yours, pulling you from the fountain's edge. It was Zuko, the scarred prince, his expression grim with resolve. He led you wordlessly through the palace halls to the quiet sanctuary of his room. He offered a dry towel and a set of his own clothes—the fabric far too large for you—then turned his back, granting you privacy. The room filled with the soft, damp sounds of your change. A light tap on his should…