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He’s trying his best

Summary:

You and Zuko go together on your first date together. [Gender neutral reader!!!]

Notes:

This was a fic I meant to finish a long time ago so now I’m Publishing it because my motivation went out the window and didn’t come back for a while. :(

Work Text:

Zuko coughed as his uncle sprayed a musky smell on him aka cologne it burned his nose even more than fire how was this supposed to smell good? It was burning his nose He thought to himself.“There you go that’s better” Iroh said with a smile before noticing Zuko’s frown “You’ll be fine, my nephew” It was his first date with Y/N, Mai and him had broken up but were still friends he didn’t want to lose a good friend even when their romantic relationship ended. “Now you will be fine Zuko, breathe

 

Flashback

 

Little beads of sweat ran down his hand his bangs sticking to his forehead “Y/N will you go on a date with me?” He asked his monotone voice cracking a bit from his thoughts that rushed through his head faster than fire burning through dry wood. Y/N nodded “I would love to” They smiled at him their H/C shining looking very lightly as it moved around in the wind. Zuko and Y/N planned a time and where they would go to a restaurant called the Burning Flame he knew it was simple but they didn’t mind they seemed ecstatic.

 

Back to the present  

 

He still cringed at how nervous he was he needed to act normal around them. After dressing up in red robes, a white shirt with black pants and boots he stepped out heading his way to Burning Flame.“Now stand straight and smile, Zuko” Iroh said in his soft voice before pushing Zuko out the door. “Have fun” Iroh winked at him before closing the door shut.It was dusk the sun was an orange fog as it hit the clouds covering some of the sun. The brownstone path led him to his date. 

 

Y/N was standing there wearing a casual outfit with some accessories even though it wasn’t much it made feel like Zuko was underdressed for this. Zuko walked up to Y/N before locking arms with her “Ready?” Zuko smiled at them Y/N “Yes but I think it’s more important if you’re ready?” They winked at him.

 

“I am ready” He said a bit louder that he intended to “I mean yes I am ready now come with me” Y/N walked in with him looking around the restaurant with a smile it was packed everywhere people, people people.Y/N felt like a fish in a small pond filled with other bigger fish trapped in now it was starting get warm really warm. They felt their throat run dry they need water right now. Zuko could feel some eyes on him he was the fire lord after all visiting his friends in the Earth kingdom but then he met Y/N and immediately felt attracted to them they were stunning.

 

A waiter lead them to their seats before handing them each a menu “Here I’ll be back with some water” She smiled before walking away the menu had different kinds of stews, teas, soups and steaks even though it wasn’t much it still felt like a lot for Y/N everything seemed so good maybe they would have to just choose one to get it over with. Y/N drank the water as soon as it was placed down on the table by the waiter before sighing and drinking the rest of it. “Are you okay?” “Yeah just a bit warm heheh” Y/N said fiddling with their fingers “Oh me too..” He coughed a bit into his hand.

 

Zuko just went with a beef stew and a cup of green tea to go with it, Y/N went with tomato soup with some crackers with it After ordering it they both sat in dead silence looking around for something to say or mention to the other.

 

“..You look nice tonight” Y/N smiled at him their hand holding their chin “Thank you” He said looking down at the table, rubbing his neck awkwardly.

 

Dot Dot Dot

 

 

“You look nice too tonight I mean you always look nice..” He stumbled over his words a bit before taking a breath “You know what I mean” Y/N snickered a bit under their breath “Thanks I appreciate it, Zuko”

 

“So how busy is it being Fire lord?” “Very much people still fear the fire nation I’m trying to change that image so yeah” “Well it’s nice to be able to spend time with the fire lord” Y/N teased with a light smirk on their face, Zuko pouted a bit before rolling his eyes with a fond smile on his lips. “You make it sound weird” “What can’t handle a little flirting?” Zuko’s face turned a bit red almost matching the colour of his scar “You know what I’m saying” The waiter came back with their food setting it down on the table, Zuko blew on his tea before taking a sip of it the bitter taste waking him up and was burning as it went down his throat his shoulders settled down. 

 

Y/N started eating their soup the sweetness of it resting on their tongue their hands loosened around the spoon. Different taste same feeling the stars were shining both of them took glances out the window the stars smiling at them both.

 

As they ate a warm feeling spread around them like sand on a hot day or a warm breeze rushed past Y/N.Y/N watched Zuko as he ate the way his lips touched the beef and started to eat it a bit of it dripping onto his lips then on to the table. Y/N blushed shook their head and put their focus back into their food.

 

Zuko noticed their look smiling a bit to himself 

“You look pretty when you blush like that,” He said to them They shook their head a bit bashfully “Are you trying to get me to kiss you?” “You make it sound like a bad thing, Y/N” He replied with a blank face. 

 

After finishing their food “Would you like dessert?” He asked them putting their bowl on his before pushing it away so the waiter could pick it up easily and nodded getting some lava cake to share.

As they ate it a sense of closeness made them feel tingly on the inside 

After dessert they went outside to look at the sky which was filled with stars the moon was coming out shining over them like it was watching them with curiosity.Y/N and Zuko stood under cover as it rained he placed his hand on their shoulder before leaning in a bit close “Can I kiss you?” “Yes, you can” They leaned in and kissed bodies pushing against each others a union of love.

 

Zuko walked back to the house he and his uncle had rented for the time being he opened the door and walked in before closing the door behind him Iroh got up and saw him before letting out a golly laugh “They have you around their finger, huh?” “Maybe” He sat down running his fingers through his wet jet black hair Iroh sat down next to him handing him a cup of water “Thank you, Uncle” Iroh nodded.