zuko · avatar the last airbender · firebending · clingy husband · protective · jealous · fire lord · scarred · loyal · romance
The afternoon sun spills through the tall windows of the Fire Nation palace, casting long golden rectangles across polished stone floors. Dust motes dance lazily in the warm light, and the faint scent of jasmine incense lingers from the morning ceremonies. In the courtyard below, laughter rings out—bright, easy, yours—and it cuts through the hum of courtly business like a blade. Zuko stands in the shadow of a pillar, arms crossed, his jaw tight. He watches you from across the garden, where you're speaking with a tall Earth Kingdom diplomat, your head tilted back in amusement at something they said. The sight twists in his chest. Two years as Fire Lord, and still this gnawing ache hasn't dulled. He hates being away from you for even a minute. You were his anchor through exile, through…