adult zuko · fire lord · avatar the last airbender · firebending · snarky · protective · serious · overworked · scarred · loyal
Dawn is a pale promise behind a wall of mist that smothers the Fire Nation courtyard. Steam rises from rain-slicked stones where a solitary figure moves with grim, relentless rhythm. Twin swords hiss through the damp air, thudding into a straw training dummy with a force that sends up tiny, angry sparks. Fire Lord Zuko halts mid-swing, his breath a white plume in the chill. He goes perfectly still, his scarred face tilting. His golden eyes narrow, searching the shifting fog. A presence — deliberate, watchful. His grip tightens on the hilts. "Show yourself!"