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Zuko finally made it back to the fire nation safe and sound after making sure Republic City didn't go under. With half his outfit gone and hair disheveled (yet still beautiful), his council insisted he go get treated and rest up.
Normally he'd refuse and shake off his injuries, acting like they're not nearly as severe as they really are, but ever since a new doctor was hired to the palace he hasn't hesitated since.
Why, you might ask?
Because he found out the new doctor was someone he knew. A friend from wayyy back when. Long before he was banished or his family life went to shit.
However, nobody else knows this.
Zuko was escorted to the medical room with--for some reason no matter how times he told them it wasn't necessary. He walked in with a cloth across his body, body and muscles overly defined by the candlelight illuminating the space.
You were kneeled before him with your eyes lowered when he came in. Once his guards left, he just stood there.
"...you know you can stop pretending, right?"
You looked up with a smile on your face as you jumped to your feet and into his arms. A solid, longing kiss on the lips to follow. He kissed back with intention as he held you close. Then came a wince. You stop abruptly and step back.
"Zuko! You're hurt."
"It's not that bad," he says with a whole bunch of bruises littering his entire upper body. The look you gave him made his heart skip a beat.
"C'mon," he continued as he grabbed your hand to pull you closer. "It's been a long couple of days and I'd like to spend the night with the love of my life before going back to Firelord duties."
"Zuko," you narrow your eyes at him, "the last time we got intimate while you were this injured, you were bedridden for three days. And I almost got punished. By death."
"That was one time," he pouted. The only time he ever pouts is when he's alone with you. It's actually quite bizarre. "And you know I'd never let anything happen to you."
His arms wrapped around your waist and his forehead rested upon yours with a soft sigh. He hasn't been able to show this side of him for a long while before another world saving trip with the Avatar.
"I missed you," he murmured. "And I only became bedridden cause I did all the work."
"You were drunk."
"Mmm, we both were-"
You shut him up real quick when your warm palm found the front of his crotch and gave a light squeeze. He grunted softly as he backed away an inch, and you just smiled at him.
"Apologies, Firelord, what was that?"
"You're unfair."
"Oh, should I stop?"
"No," he stopped you from pulling away with a shudder. "Please."
"Please what?"
"Touch me," he said, "please."
"I don't know, Zuko," you practically purr. "Will you let me treat you after if I grant your wish?"
"You could strike lightning directly into my heart if it meant having your hand down my pants right now."
A genuine chuckle couldn't stop from escaping as you backed him closer to the wall and ended up behind him. Hand trailing from his now bare chest to his abs right back to where he desperately needed you to be. You could feel him physically melt while your other hand lightly massaged his bicep.
"We haven't done this in a while," you whisper while toying with the band of his pants. "You might be more sensitive than last time."
"I don't care," he shuddered once more. You could feel the goosebumps rise on his skin for a moment. Zuko felt like he was willingly jumping into an abyss when he started to descend to the ground with you.
As he sat there between your legs, you just had to admire him from his side profile. The sight of him all flushed and panting softly before you even touched him the way he wanted only made you want to tease him even more, but you decided against it only because you really wanted to treat his minor injuries later.
His breath caught in his throat when you lips attached to his neck while simultaneously reaching in his pants and pulling him out. You hummed and shushed him softly.
"Don't be so loud," you whispered.
He leaned his head against yours after you spit in your hand and started stroking. Eyes real tight. Jaw clenched. Hips subtly bucking. Oh, he's so sensitive.
"Can you, uh," he began, his hands squeezing your thighs to focus. "Can you do that thing? Please."
"What thing?" You asked. Knowing exactly what he was talking about.
"With your hand," he said, "your palm. The warmth thing."
"Ohhh...you mean like this?"
When his head fell back into your shoulder, it was like instinct for your free hand to cover his mouth. You could hear him muffle "yes" repeatedly while nodding frantically. Breaths shaky and irregular.
"Someone had a long few days," you muse to yourself, but you know he heard you. He could only whimper and grunt in the same vain when he felt your thumb run over the tip. "And we haven't seen each other in weeks...you missed me, huh?"
"Mhm.." he nodded again. "Missed you so much..."
"How much?" You uncovered his mouth to trace his Adam's apple.
"So fucking much," he exhaled. "I thought about you everyday. Every waking hour. No wonder the Chamberlain keeps saying I zone out so much-"
You hear him gasp and strain his voice to keep himself quiet.
"Ooo," you muse, "you're getting close."
"Hotter," he muttered. You feel like you misheard him.
"What?"
"Hotter," he repeated, "make your hand hotter. I'm almost there."
"...that won't hurt?"
"Please don't make me say it- fuck."
"Say...what?"
"Just- I like the pain okay? Just, please, make your hand a little hotter. I'm right there, baby, please."
This genuinely caught you off guard. You knew he had his freaky tendencies every once in a while but you can't believe you haven't caught on to his rare masochistic desires as long as you two have been dating. And that makes him all the more hot. Pun intended.
His eyes open a little once you made your palm a little hotter. His chest rising and falling a lot quicker than before. The main sound in this little room being your incredibly warm hand jerking him off with your own spit had him about to see stars.
"Yes. Yes, like that. Gods-"
He grabbed the hand occupying his throat and slapped it back onto his mouth as he came. His hot seed spilling all over your fingers as you worked him through it. His hand rested on top of yours for extra security to prevent his array of deep groans from echoing through the palace. His eyes shut tight again as a single tear slides down his cheek. He hasn't felt this good in so long. Which was almost a month but to him it's a millennia.
After about a minute was when he started to really calm down. His heart wasn't leaping from his chest anymore but boy was he sweating. He moved his hand along with yours and took a few good breaths to center himself.
"Thank you," he finally said. Head still resting on your shoulder. "Thank you so much."
"Just doing my job," you lightly tease. Pulling the top of his pants back up and wiping his sweat with the other. "Just don't fall asleep yet. I still have to treat you."
Zuko just smiled lazily at that, lightly shaking his head.
"I love you."
You smiled back at him. He couldn't see it but he could feel it against his face. The side with his scar. Which made his heart flutter a little bit more than usual.
"I'm gonna marry you someday."
Now it's your turn for your heart to flutter. Skip a beat, even. He notices.
"I don't care how long it takes for me to make real changes around here," he continued on. "We will be together. In the open. And you won't just be my nurse anymore."
"...wow," you manage to say. "It's not like you to be this sentimental after we get intimate."
"I kind of almost died," he admitted. His tone very serious now. "One of my last thoughts before Katara helped us was that I didn't even get to marry you, so...yeah."
He sat up slowly and rolled his shoulder before shifting to get a good look at you in this gorgeously lit room. Falling in love all over again. He looked down at the hand he, uh... came on and cleared his throat while blushing.
"Um- sorry about that."
You laugh softly through your nose and grab a nearby little towel that was within reach and wiped it off.
"It's okay," you said. Copying the way he was sitting so that you were right across from him, leaning forward to give him a peck on the lips. "I love you too."