No Thoughts Only Heart Full Of Feelings From Reading The Grandest Book Shop In The World By Amelia Mellor

no thoughts only heart full of feelings from reading The Grandest Book Shop in the World by Amelia Mellor

Found a Penguin Classics cover generator

Is there anything better than accidental dads in fiction

That awkward moment when you feel an actual physical ache in your chest because of the romance of two fictional characters.

if you want another, "I wouldn't change a thing about you." for zukka?

"I wouldn't change a thing about you."

The day of the wedding was drawing nearer, and many things were still to be attended to. Often the happy couple found they were forced to be separated, attending to official court business and choosing china patterns and menus in turn, and today was no exception.

 When at last Zuko was finished with his many official responsibilities for the day, the afternoon was growing late, and the shadows long. He knew at this time, Sokka was meant to be with the royal dressmakers, having final alterations made to his wedding robe. Zuko let himself into Sokka’s chambers quietly, so as not to disturb their work.

 He knew his entrance went unnoticed, as the tailors continued flitting about Sokka’s feet like bees buzzing about their hive, pinning and sewing away without stopping to offer proper greeting. He preferred it this way. From this vantage point, he had a perfect profile of his groom-to-be, and what a treat such as sight was.

 Sokka’s robe was of the finest silk produced anywhere in the Fire Nation. Zuko had chosen it himself. The deep red fabric glinted in the light of the afternoon, woven delicately with patterns of fire lilies, and embroidered with grand silver and gold dragons that stretched across his shoulders and down his back. The long back and wide sleeves of the robe cascaded down to pool at Sokka’s feet, rippling and flowing like ocean waves. In his hair was a delicate and exquisite golden hairpiece, set with rubies and pearls that shone brightly against his dark hair.

 Sokka was cloaked in red and gold, and it looked wonderful on him. Robes like this were a statement all their own, and nothing needed to be said by their wearer, for it to be heard.

 “Wow,” Zuko said, breaking the silence at last. The breathless exaltation was all he could seem to manage

 At this announcement of his arrival the royal dressers and dressmakers scurried to bow and greet him, but Zuko waved them off, his only concern to be able to keep his eyes fixed on Sokka, who looked a perfect statuesque figure – eve, Zuko noted with dismay – his face was stony and serious.

 Sokka looked up at him then, and smiled. But then, Sokka always smiled when he saw Zuko, even at times when doing so would be considered most inappropriate. It didn’t take long before his troubled frown returned.

 “Would you like to see, Ambassador Sokka? We still need to finish this hem, but otherwise it is ready for your wedding day. Quite fine craftmanship, too, if I do say so myself.”

 Sokka turned to look as the large, floor-length mirror was angled towards him. He stared. And stared. And stared.

 “Would you mind giving us a moment alone?” Zuko whispered to the dressmakers, who abandoned their tidying in a heap as they hurried out of the room at his bidding.

 Sokka drew his hand slowly across the soft fabric that stretched over his chest, and lifted it to let the tips of his fingers rest on the intricate gilded headpiece that was tightly woven into his sleek topknot. He looked deep into his own sad eyes. The reflection that looked back at him from the mirror still looked more trapped than he was, but only just.

 In an instant Sokka had turned from the mirror, flying to the window and throwing it open, leaning out to let its warm scent flow over him. As he did, he wrestled with the hairpiece to no avail – the royal dressers had done a marvelous job securing it, and eventually he was forced to give up the futile effort.

 Zuko looked on helplessly. He took one step towards Sokka, but hesitated. There was a deep, painful moment of silence as Sokka’s breath heaved and Zuko waited. And waited. And waited.

 “I don’t know if I can do this, Zuko.”

 “Sokka…” He began.

 But what was there, that he could say?

 “I – I love you Zuko, and I – I want to marry you, spirits believe me, but I don’t know how much of this I can take. I don’t know if I can change like this, even for you.”

 His hands were lost in the wide sleeves of his would-be wedding robe as he gestured down at the ensemble. And suddenly, the whole thing seemed utterly ridiculous to Zuko.

 Sokka was many things. Many wonderful, wonderful things. But nowhere among them could the words delicate, poised, or regal be counted. Sokka was no ornament to hang off Zuko’s arm, looking pretty and perfect and nothing more. Sokka would not, and could not, be silenced, only to be seen and never heard. And Zuko would never have that anyways.

 It was certainly a beautiful costume. But that’s all it ever was, or would be.

 “Then fuck this.”

 “Zuko…”

 But Zuko wouldn’t hear any argument or objections. He seized a pair of tailor’s shears in haste from where the royal dressers had left them, and Sokka’s eyes went wide as Zuko took his arm and made wild, swift cuts until one long sleave was free, and drifted to the floor like spent flower petals.

 “Zuko!”

 “Listen to me, Sokka,” he said, taking his now freed hand in both his own, holding it tightly to his chest, “I never want you to compromise who you are because you think it’s something I need you to do. I don’t care what anyone else thinks, I wouldn't change a thing about you.”

 Sokka’s eyes were watery, but bright as he lifted his hand slowly from its place on Zuko’s chest to cup is cheek, grazing the carved face of the jade stone that sat in the hollow of Zuko’s throat along is path. Zuko’s hand trailed not far behind, pressed against the back of Sokka’s as he turned his head to place a kiss to the inside of his wrist. Sokka leaned in close, and Zuko felt the cool sensation of silk against skin as his other hand came up to brush his neck, and he leaned in to Zuko’s space and held there, afraid to take any more of him for himself.

 “After we’re married, I can’t deny that some things may change. But not you, alright? Not you.”

 Sokka nodded, and let his head fall against Zuko’s.

 “And not this,” he murmured.

 “Just promise me one thing?”

 “Anything.”

 “When you do show up on our wedding day, and marry me like you promised, that you’ll do it wearing your Water Tribe finest. Because you’re right – there is not a single piece of you to be found in this ridiculous robe. And I want every single piece of you I can get, for as long as you’ll let me have them.”

 Sokka smile, and tipped his head to fit his nose against Zuko’s as he pulled him in for a deep, wanting kiss, and Zuko felt that familiar pull on his heart like the tides. As their tensions eased, and Zuko fell back into the comfort of simply being with Sokka, who loved all of him just as he was, he let himself speak easily once more, giving little thought to what he said, knowing Sokka would listen regardless.

 “I mean, obviously literally speaking you are in it, but I meant more like, figuratively -”

 Sokka laughed, and pulled him back in for another kiss, soft and sweet. “Yeah, I got that,” he said in the smiles between kisses.

 “I promise.”

Emotion-based magic is just...10/10. Characters causing destruction in a rage, only to be horrified by what they’ve done? Excellent. Characters being ten times stronger when someone they love is in danger? Wonderful. Characters claiming they don’t care, yet their magic says otherwise? Perfect.