This is basically where all my Zutara scraps will go. The little one or two-shots that strike my fancy from time to time but don't really deserve to be recognized as a "new story". So enjoy!
Entry 1. Story Time- This quick snapshot is based on the adorable pic called "Blood-Zutara Week 09" by Zar33n over at
It's also a little inspired by John Mayer's "Daughters" but mostly the pic :) Enjoy!
"Hap, hap, hap" chimes the pixie like voice of the little girl resting on top of his shoulders.
"And the price of cotton has been inflated by twelve percent in the last quarter," Zuko reads in a sing song voice as he absent mindedly bounces up down. "This is a result of reduced trading with the Earth Kingdom who recently demanded further war reparations." Zuko resists the urge to run his hands through his hair in frustration- a habit he'd never been able to break.
"Hap, hap," the girl chirps again. Her chubby legs pump up and down while her little hands bang against her father's head as she plays with his long hair.
"That's right, Kya. You're happy no matter what I read," Zuko says still speaking in his sing songy voice. "I just have to read it in the right tone of voice," he continues with a good natured smile. "Would you like to hear about how daddy solved the unemployment crisis?"
"Dadda," she says while she flops around slightly as Zuko stands. Lifting Kya off his shoulders Zuko pulls her up to his face so he can give her an Eskimo kiss while he continues his story.
"Everyone was sad because unemployment was soaring," he says and tosses his daughter lightly into the air. She screams with laughter until Zuko catches her and cradles her against his chest. "So daddy told everyone to calm down because he's Fire Lord and he knows everything."
"The problem was, I couldn't employ the people by creating government projects because the country had no money but I couldn't just abandon them either," Zuko starts dancing around his office with the girl in his arms as he enthusiastically tells the story. Passing his desk he picks up another scroll before heading over to the far window. "See this scroll? This says that four months ago twenty-six percent of the population was unemployed. Twenty-six percent!" he says with a smile as he emphasizes each syllable with a poke of her belly. She giggles in response.
Zuko sets Kya down on the window nook where she bounces up and down demanding to be returned to her father's arms. Zuko puts a finger in each of her grasping hands. "Don't tell mommy I told you this but even she didn't have any ideas."
Kya just replies with fussy baby chatter. "I know, I know," says Zuko, "but it's not her job to run the country. Now look at this Kya. The next month unemployment dropped twelve percent and the month after that it was down to seven percent. How do you think that happened?"
Zuko jumps backward dramatically and puts his arms out like they're his wings. "I told them to use the war balloons!" he exclaims. Flapping his arms he ducks his head and makes engine noises with his mouth. Then he runs around the office before swooping Kya up in his arms and swinging her around like one of his balloons. "We employed the returning soldiers on the war balloons they'd already been working on, but we restructured them to be courier balloons! They're now used for international mail and travel!"
Outside Zuko's office a pair of servants exchange a questioning glance as the sound of Zuko's muffled shouts and sound effects echo through the door. Suddenly a loud ruckus erupts from inside the office. Summoning the courage to disturb the Fire Lord in his private study a servant knocks on the heavy, wooden door.
"My Lord? Is everything alright in there?" he asks tentatively.
"What? Oh, er, yes everything's fine! Please return to your duties," is the rushed reply of the Fire Lord. Shrugging, the servant returns to his original route, albeit a little hesitantly. Inside, Zuko shoves a pile of scrolls off of his chest as he finds himself now huddled on the floor.
In their excitement he and little Kya had bumped into a poorly constructed shelf of scrolls. Upon the sudden jarring the tall shelf rocked backwards banging against the wall then proceeded to teeter forward until Zuko hurriedly stopped it. Unfortunately, the equally sudden stop sent the dozens of scrolls resting in it tumbling forward and all over Zuko and his baby girl.
"hap, hap!" laughs Kya as she looks at her disheveled father while sitting a safe distance from the mountainous pile.
"This is your fault, you know" Zuko says with mock seriousness. "You almost killed the Fire Lord. I ought to put you in chains."
Kya responds by plopping herself onto her haunches and giving a big yawn, which draws a smile from her disciplinarian father. Zuko reaches his arms out and Kya promptly crawls toward his embrace.
"It has been a long day hasn't it?" Not bothering to get up from the pile of scrolls Zuko reaches over and grabs a cushion of his desk chair and tucks it under his head before pulling Kya up to rest on his chest. The toddler rubs her eyes sleepily and Zuko finds himself yawning as well.
"Hap Dadda," mutters the girl as she buries her face into the nook of her father's strong neck. Zuko closes his eyes and listens to the unhurried breathing of the small ball of warmth on his chest. He can't stifle the overwhelming joy that spreads through him and tries not to hug the little girl too tightly. It doesn't bother him when he feels himself drifting off to sleep. Though he knows the scrolls relentlessly poking at his back will make him regret it later, he lets sleep claim him, cherishing the moment with his daughter.
Fourty-five minutes later, Katara knocks on the door to Zuko's study. When no one answers she let's herself in expecting it to be empty. Her initial surprise at the sight before her is quickly replaced with a mixture of humor and happiness. She tries to laugh as quietly as possible when she sees the two people she loves sleeping soundly on top of a heap of scrolls on the floor. It was in the moments like this she knew how lucky she was to have the love of such a man. She'd be sure to let him know later that night just how grateful she was…
A/N There is nothing more attractive than a man with a baby. Ask anyone. This shot is us getting to intrude in his private life and catch a glimpse of what a wonderful dad he is. Of course Zuko would be a good dad! He's trying his hardest not to become his Father. Thanks for reading!