martinetherese



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  1. Public Bookmark 79

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    Summary

    There was so much more he wanted than this dump of a district, with its dingy buildings and muddy ground and this girl with glimmering eyes that watched him.

    A tale of love among a pair of refugees. A lesson of learning the trauma that lies at the core of who you are. A story of Zuko, the exiled prince of the Fire Nation, and the girl in the tea shop that taught him that maybe he could be more than that. Maybe he could be happy.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    26,919
    Chapters:
    12/12
    Comments:
    76
    Kudos:
    382
    Bookmarks:
    79
    Hits:
    9,879

    29 Dec 2025

  2. Public Bookmark 27

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    After the fall of Ba Sing Se, Zuko can’t sleep. He goes for a midnight walk, ends up in the Lower Ring, and runs into an old acquaintance. Things spiral from there.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    15,547
    Chapters:
    7/7
    Comments:
    53
    Kudos:
    112
    Bookmarks:
    27
    Hits:
    1,779

    29 Dec 2025

  3. Public Bookmark *

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    Adjusting to the city of walls and secrets isn't easy. Neither is working his first minimum wage job. Some problems include nightmares, cursed aprons, impatient customers, and definitely-not-dancing. Drabble/ficlet series of Zuko's time at Pao's tea shop and the moments in between.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    28,630
    Chapters:
    51/51
    Comments:
    922
    Kudos:
    1,734
    Bookmarks:
    339
    Hits:
    31,389

    28 Dec 2025

  4. Public Bookmark *

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    Summary

    He kisses her back at the end of a date that's half a disaster, half an exercise in absurdity.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    2,548
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    60
    Kudos:
    796
    Bookmarks:
    148
    Hits:
    10,407

    28 Dec 2025

  5. Public Bookmark 19

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    “Welcome to the Fire Nation,” I say flatly. “I suppose this will be your new home. Though I wouldn’t get comfortable if I were you. I am not interested in concubines at the moment.”
    Gasps echo down the line. Hands fly to mouths. The sound scraping against my nerves.
    I move on. “You will be confined to the palace walls. Guarded by eunuchs wherever you go.”
    Then I add a bite to my tone. “And should I hear any trouble… There will be severe punishment.”
    The words taste like ash. They sound like him. I force myself to meet their eyes so they know I mean it. “This will be a harem in appearance only. I am far too-”
    And then I see her. The words die.
    Her gown is the colour of pine, patterned in threads of gold. It clings, then falls, loose trousers underneath. A jade pin glints in her black hair. My mouth goes dry. Jin.
    The girl I remember as sweet and soft and has been carved into something sharp. Her cheekbones hollower; her jaw an elegant line. Her eyes, distrusting and yet familiar and dark green, catch mine and widen. Surprise flickers across her face, turning to recognition, then something else. Her lips part.
    And I almost imagine the whisper of a name I hadn't heard in years. 'Lee?'

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    26,188
    Chapters:
    15/?
    Comments:
    41
    Kudos:
    125
    Bookmarks:
    19
    Hits:
    3,207

    27 Dec 2025