Sacrifice
Disclaimer: I own as much as Jon Snow knows
Zuko was no stranger to sacrifice.
He'd sacrificed a lot over the years, ranging from his pride when he joined the Avatar's group at the Western Air Temple, to his social life when he took over as Fire Lord, to his beauty sleep when the kids would wake up early in the morning and Katara would refuse point blank to get out of bed, to nearly his life, when he jumped in front of the lightning in his Agni Kai against Azula.
But if there was one thing that he wouldn't sacrifice for anyone, it was his dignity, dammit!
"For the last time," he sighed. "No."
Blue eyes blinked pleadingly at him, accompanied by a pout and trembling of the lips.
"I said no, Katara. You can't wear my crown, or pretend to be me, to one up your brother in whatever weird competition you two are having this time. Anyway, you've got your own crown."
"But it won't be the same," Katara whined. "Come on Zuko, it's the honourable thing to do! You wouldn't sacrifice your honour, would you?"
"That's not the point. And how is it honourable, anyway?"
"It'll make your wife happy," Katara amped the puppy-seal eyes up to maximum power, as if she could literally see his defences crumbling.
Dammit, that look she had could make him sacrifice everything he had. "Alright fine. Just this once." The things I do for love…
Katara smirked in triumph. "I knew I married you for a good reason."
"Oh gee thanks."
Her smirk merely widened, as she leaned in to press her lips against his, before removing his crown, and sauntering out of his office.
The now-crownless Fire Lord sank down in his chair, and rubbed his forehead.
Okay, so maybe there was one exception to his whole 'not-sacrificing-his-dignity-for-anyone' rule, especially if it affected his honour.
"My Lord? The princesses wish to know when you will, uh, be joining them for their tea parties."
…It was a stupid rule anyway.