A/N

This work was inspired by a Tumblr post, so the credit goes to cindy-potter07, konggodzuko, and strawberrymilkyumyum on Tumblr (I just came up with the classroom setting, the dialogs, and the actual letter). You can find the post on my Tumblr profile by searching 'siambre'.

Enjoy!

154 Years After the Hundred-Year War, in Ba Sing Se High School

"Alright, people. Please take your seats, and open your books to page 98."

The whole class grumbled, but obeyed their teacher. Nioma was the first to turn the pages, and she gasped when she saw what topic they would be learning about that day.

"It's Fire Lord Zuko! Oh my god, I just watched a movie about him the other day!"

"Was it the one where he faced a dragon and lived?" Rozu, seated a couple of rows beside her, asked.

She looked at him funny. "…No… It was about him and his wife! And it was so romantic!"

"Sweetie, I know Lord Zuko is famous for being romantic," their teacher said from the front of the class, "but we're gonna be learning how his actions influenced the end of the war and the subsequent peace we still have today, not about his romantic life or his adventures with dragons."

"But Mrs. Karru, wouldn't it be interesting if we learned something other than the war for once?" Nioma pleaded. "Ooh, I know! I read a letter Lord Zuko wrote to Lady Katara while she was away on some duties or something. Can I read it to the class?"

"No!" all of the boys shouted in unison.

"This is history class, honey, not poetry," the teacher said softly, "and we're already behind the other classes. Maybe another time."

"Please…" Nioma pouted. She knew no one could defy her puppy-deer eyes.

The teacher stared at her for a few seconds, obviously trying to reject her, but conceded at last.

"Fine, but only one letter. That's it."

"Yes!" Nioma exclaimed while the boys groaned. She quickly whipped out her phone and found the letter she was looking for. Then she cleared her throat and began reading off of her phone.

Katara, my air, my water, my fire, my sun and moon. I hope this letter finds you well.

Every day my heart aches to see you again, my love—to kiss you over and over until I am deprived of breath. I wish to drown in your eyes once more. I wish to be blinded by the gorgeous glow of your hair, your smile. I wish to perish in your passion. And just as my heart, I wish to burn under your cool touch and crumple to a pile of ashes.

Come back soon, dear. I have missed you.

Yours lovingly,

Zuko

Nioma sighed dreamily and put her elbows on her table, gazing up at the ceiling with her head resting in her hands. "I wish someone loved me like he loved Lady Katara. I wonder if he was really this romantic in real life…"

-o-

130 Years Earlier, in the Fire Nation Royal Palace

"...Yours lovingly, Zuko."

Crown Princess Kya looked up from the old letter, one brow quirked.

"Do you think it was really Dad that wrote this?" she asked her brother.

Prince Iroh laughed in response, remembering the time their mother had walked into the room with her finest robes and their father had turned beet red and yelled, "YOUR HAIR IS SHINY."

"No," he replied, still chuckling. "No, it wasn't."