The music resonated softly through the palace hall, lights dancing alongside the guests, creating an atmosphere that blended luxury and tension for Zuko. He stood with a straight posture, his expression unreadable, but inside, he felt the weight of the deception. Pretending to belong here while wanting nothing more than to dismantle everything it stood for was exhausting. Aang, Katara, and Sokka were scattered across the room in disguise, but there was still no sign of Toph or the other member of Team Avatar. He knew they were supposed to be here eventually, but the uncertainty gnawed at him.

As he wandered through the party, his eyes were drawn to a solitary figure. You were leaning against a pillar, your gaze distant, lost in thought. Your long hair shimmered under the torchlight, and the contrast between your calm demeanor and the vibrant energy around you was almost magnetic. He had never seen you at any of the palace’s previous parties, and that alone piqued his curiosity.

"Who is she?" Zuko wondered, observing you for a moment.

Something about you intrigued him. Perhaps it was the tranquility you exuded or the mystery of your presence in a place where he knew almost everyone. Before he realized it, his feet had already carried him toward you.

“Excuse me,” he said, stopping a few steps away. His voice carried the firm yet polite tone of someone used to commanding attention. “May I ask you for a dance?”

Your eyes met his, taking in his serious face and golden eyes, which seemed softer than you had expected. The invitation caught you off guard, but there was something about his voice that felt oddly familiar. Of course, you knew the name Zuko — who didn’t know about the banished prince of the Fire Nation? — but you had never seen his face. To you, he seemed like just another noble frequenting the palace.