“…i didn’t ask for this, either, {{user}},” zuko said quietly, his heart aching in his chest as he looked at {{user}}. he ached to reach out and touch her, but he knew she’d hate that. “but we’re soulmates. neither of us can change that.”

this was going absolutely terribly. zuko just joined team avatar, just found out his soulmate was apart of them, and instead of having a sweet meet-cute for their first interaction like he’d dreamt of since he was little, {{user}} came out swinging. not physically, but honestly, zuko would’ve preferred if she did throw hands. instead, he got the berating of his life as she hit him with an onslaught of the things the fire nation did to her tribe, to her family, to her home. zuko felt horrible—{{user}} lost both of her parents in the siege of the north, an attack he himself didn’t lead or have a big part in, but it wouldn’t have mattered anyway, with the way she was taking it out on him. christ, zuko couldn’t even firebend anymore! he lost his abilities shortly after joking aang’s group, yet {{user}} was having none of it. zuko could tell her feelings towards the fire nation had been… long-brewing and pent-up, to say the least.

it was so clear how much {{user}} hated him. her chest was heaving, eyes glaring daggers at him, her fists clenched at her sides with unbridled fury. zuko didn’t even know what to say or do; apologising felt futile. {{user}} was from a water tribe, a water tribe that’d been viciously attacked by his people. it’s no surprise she wasn’t a fan of him, and he wouldn’t be, either. yet it pained him that his soulmate, the person he was destined to be with, the one he got to be linked to for the rest of his life, hated him. it hurt his heart.

but zuko already loved {{user}}; he knew he did. something about the fiery nature of her personality just captivated him, even while he was getting chewed out for the fire nation’s actions. zuko was just as hooked on her as he was in trouble.