#-​which by the way would mean aang chooses power over happiness (in Irohs words)-

[all-inmoderation]

if aang wrong choose katara,,, why universe show katara in danger to Aang 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 unless ?? universe want aang save katara 🤔🤔🤔 universe want aang die and katara save 🤔🤔🤔 universe say aang right to choose love over power😠😠😠😠🤯🤯👊🏼

[azenkii]

 ATLA Fic Rec 

because I've been spending way too much time reading it. Btw, this is a rec for gen fics and zukka fics.

Note: an asterisk after the description means that the fic or series is incomplete. (Sadly, this is a lot of them, but I'm pretty sure most of these fics are still currently updating.)

GEN:

Anything by MuffinLance is a must-read. my personal favourites are Salvage (where Hakoda ends up with one (1) grumpy new prisoner/crewmate/adopted son) and Little Zuko v the World (where Zuko is 12, and it's adorable).

The Family You Choose by TunaFishChris is a god-tier platonic soulmate au about zuko and the gaang, so like...go read that right now

The kintsugi series by discordiansamba is an AU where Toph's parents hire Zuko-as-Lee to be a bodyguard for her, and I love it so much. It has some of the best Toph-and-Zuko sibling bonding I've ever seen. *

Dragon Moon by Satirrian is a Dragon! Zuko AU and it's incredible. It also features Bounty Hunter Zuko, so do with that what you will. *

The What We're Given series by Haicrescendo is *chef's kiss*. It's an AU where Zuko flipped his father off early on into his banishment and started living his best life with Iroh. Enter the Gaang. Shenanigans ensue. *

The Internment series by Hannahmayski is another Zuko breaks free from his dad early AU, and it's also really good. Basically, Zuko was never given the option to capture the Avatar, making his banishment indefinite. He sails around with his crew fighting the Fire Nation and it's great. *

The best way to solve your problems (is to help someone else) by hewwodarkness is an AU where kids start disappearing in Ba Sing Se during Book 2, and Zuko takes it upon himself to do a little vigilantism. It's fantastic. *

The Blue Spirit AU series by H_Faith_Marr is an AU starting from, surprise surprise, the Blue Spirit episode. The Gaang takes in Zuko without knowing who he is, and the Power of Friendship™ goes to work on Zuko. *

The the first rule of earth kingdom fight club... series by ohmygodwhy is an AU where Zuko, among other things, fights in underground cage matches, meets Toph early, and realises that his dad might be wrong. It’s pretty funny and really good. *

The The Non-Existent Twin series by FoiblePNoteworthy is hilarious. It's an AU where Zuko poses as his own twin, Li, and the Gaang buys it hook line and sinker. *

The Guilt (The Jet Adopts Zuko AU) series by FoiblePNoteworthy is also really good. Like the title says, it’s a Zuko joins the Freedom Fighters AU. *

The new ways series by blueseam is just a Zuko and the Gaang bonding fic, mostly set in the Western Air Temple, with a side of Zuko not taking care of himself and the Gaang stepping up to the job. If you’re like me and am an absolute sucker for Zuko and the Gaang, go read this.

The Family Matters series by WinterSky101 is a really good fic if you’re looking for Hakoda and Zuko. That’s all I have to say: Hakoda and Zuko.

a nation, held by snowdarkred is a GREAT Fire Nation & Zuko fic - set before and during canon, not after it. Go read it, right now.

Notable mentions: a lot of works by naggeluide are gen and pretty funny, though if you don't headcanon any of the characters as LGBT+ you might not like some of them.

ZUKKA:

anything by Haicrescendo and dickpuncher420. For Haicrescendo, my personal favourite is the Carry On For You series, and for dickpuncher420, it’s love language.

sirens & sleepless nights by Satirrian is a modern AU that just borders on dystopian. Ba Sing Se has been overtaken by the Fire Nation, Zuko is a soldier who broke away from the Fire Nation and got shot for it, and Sokka finds Zuko on the street and brings him inside. It’s amazing, go read it!

do you take this jerk to be (your one and only) by jatersade is a fic that I’m 90% sure is on every zukka fic rec list, and it deserves to be. It’s an arranged marriage AU where Zuko is engaged to Yue, and Sokka is his cultural guide. *

midnight runs and other things by isamagicdragon is a modern AU where Zuko keeps sleepwalking into Sokka’s apartment. Shenanigans ensue. Also, top-tier Zuko, Mai and Ty Lee interactions. *

Unchained Melody by avocadolove is another fic that I see a lot on rec lists, and it 100% deserves it. It’s a long fic (as of now, it’s at 63.8k) and is an AU where Sokka, after getting taken to the Spirit World by Heibai, ends up as a ghost that only Zuko can see. Ft. great enemies-to-friends-to-lovers and an incredible plot. *

Ozymandias, King of Kings by Think_of_a_Wonderful_Thought is SO good. It’s an AU where, instead of being banished, Zuko was sent to work in a coal mine/prison, which eventually becomes the target of a Water Tribe raid after Aang’s return. It can get pretty dark, so watch out for that, and it’s really long (as of now, 168.8k). But trust me, it’s worth it. *

Heart Beat Here by thefangirlingdead is an adorable Modern AU oneshot where Zuko, while shopping for engagement rings with Katara, freaks out when Sokka lies about where he is. It’s a happy ending, don’t worry. One of my favourite fics.

feels like we only go backwards by oldpotatoe and A Certain Slant of Light by JustGettingBy are both amnesia fics where Sokka loses his memory several years after the war. They’re both so, so good. A Certain Slant of Light is finished, but feels like we only go backwards is not.

reality strikes, so bring back the night by zukkababey is a time-travel oneshot where Western-Air-Temple Sokka wakes up in the future to find his older self married to one (1) Fire Lord Zuko. Fluffy and funny. 

maybe i just see you (in everything) by epicbubbles is a really cute Modern AU oneshot with love confessions and just fluff all around. 10/10 go read it!!

it’s the illusion of separation by argentoswan is a fic that has legendary status and it absolutely deserves it. God-tier Modern AU where Sokka ends up working at the Jasmine Dragon alongside his former high school bully, Zuko. (Kind of) enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, and it’s just...SO good. *

say you like your shirt soggy by crosspin is a reallyyy nice 5+1 fic. It’s Modern AU, and it’s pretty short (3.7k), but the amount of yearning that gets packed into that 3.7k,,,,*chef’s kiss*

and they were roommates by flydunes is another Modern AU where sokka puts up an ad for a roommate. Zuko moves in, and Sokka gets a crush. It’s just good vibes all around :) *

like blood from a stone by catalinacat is a Soulmate AU that took a completely different direction with the soulmate trope. The summary does a better job of explaining it than I can. *

absence of heat, excess of destiny by theycallmesuperboy is one of the best soulmate AUs out there. it’s not too long, only 4.3k words, but it covers the entire series and then some. Seriously, go read this.

it isn’t strange, but it’s true by theholyterror is a 5+1 post-canon fic with some of the best pining I’ve ever seen, ft. Ambassador Sokka and Fire Lord Zuko. The 5+1 is times Zuko went out of his way to touch Sokka.  *

like the sun inside of you by ofherlionheart is another post-canon fic, and it’s incredible so far. the first chapter alone is 23k, so it’s already a decently long read. *

the stemverse: earth science zuko au series by acezukos is a REALLY good Modern/University AU. So far, it only has one work (earth system history) but that work is already *chef’s kiss*. The series is incomplete, but earth system history is complete!

rebellion’s such a hushed affair by zeitgeistofnow is a fantastic Modern AU that, like sirens & sleepless nights, borders on dystopian. Actually, I think it is dystopian, but it hasn’t been tagged as such. Anyway, 10/10, go read it right now immediately

Mark Time by foil is a Modern AU where Sokka ghosted Zuko years ago, and they get brought back together by Aang and Katara’s wedding. It’s really good, but the fic has some pretty heavy content, so make sure you read the warnings. *

That birds would sing and think it were not night by HisMomoness is a Modern AU that has Zuko tutoring Sokka, with absolute top-tier pining. Like, seriously, the pining is insane. Superr good

this love burns so yellow (becoming orange and in its time, exploding) by meliebee is one of the best post-canon fics I’ve ever read. It features a civil war in the Fire Nation (that gets resolved about halfway through) and some great Toph and Zuko interactions, as well as some Grade A pining. 

boy problems by burnt_oranges is FANTASTIC post-canon and has sokka and zuko in an accidental arranged marriage, plus some attempted assassinations. It’s great.

zuko vs the homie sexual agenda by parmigiano has Zuko and Sokka pining for each other in Ikea. Do I need to say more?

Friendship Bracelets by peachcitt is a Modern AU best friends to lovers. Pretty short (4.9k), but the pining is immaculate.

isn’t this the vision that you wanted by nebulastucky is INCREDIBLE, I read it recently because it just got completed and it’s *chef’s kiss*. It’s post-canon ft. mutual pining and some reallyyy good ‘and there was only one bed’ scenes.

Real Slow and no one knows anything but us by surveycorpsjean and quidhitch respectively are two of my favourite post-canon Ambassador Sokka and Fire Lord Zuko fics. Go check them out!

The Duke’s a Hazard by naggeluide is a really nice AU starting from the Western Air Temple, where the Duke decides that Sokka and Zuko are now his new parents. They bond over coparenting, and the (kind of) enemies-to-friends-to-lovers is really good. Plus, it’s funny.

Those Who Favor Fire by CSHfic and VSfic is a really good fic of the Spymaster Sokka AU. If you don’t know what that is, it’s an AU where Sokka fakes his death and goes undercover in an organisation that wants to kill Zuko.

Fics I added after posting (so far, all Zukka):

The Road Between Action and Inaction by Donvex is a fic that I can't believe I left out the first time?? It's a modern hitchhiking AU and it's great.

Rituals of the Ocean Floor by Donvex is a nice one too. It's only around 2.2k words, but it's a Fox Spirit!Zuko and Sharkman!Sokka AU, and I just really like the writing style.

by the stars above, i knew we were in love by theycallmesuperboy and The Fate of Nations in Our Hands by sapphic_ambitions are both top-tier post-canon fics. Be warned: by the stars above is a liiiittle bit angsty.

blue's clues by parmigiano is a really good Modern AU where Sokka, a university student journalist, gets ahold of the phone number of the Blue Spirit, a new campus vigilante. He ends up talking to the Blue Spirit to get an interview out of him, and it's really cute!

Honourable mention: the Avatar Zuko series by the_cloud_whisperer is one of the best series I've ever read, and it's really long - it got completed about a month ago, with 493.6k words in total (415k if you ignore the extra work made up of author's notes). It develops all the characters really well, especially Lu Ten, but the main ship is Zukaang. Personally, my biggest problem with Zukaang is the age difference, and Aang is aged up to be Zuko's age (or older, I think? I don't really remember) in this. I kept reading it because the plot was too good to give up, and I do highly recommend it, but yeah.

I’ll add more fics if I remember them, but this is what I had bookmarked. Also, shameless self plug here because I also write ATLA fic @ azenki on ao3

[aangs-surrounding-love]

Perception in Avatar: The Last Airbender

From my various rewatches of the show and hours among hours of scrolling through the fandom, everyone has a set opinion and perception of this show and the characters’ actions. I’ve read countless opinions and heard many analyses about this show. And the thing I can draw from it? Is that this show relies on perception and what you get from others. But it’s more than that. Perception is how the world works in general, but I’m going to try to stay within the boundaries of the Avatar Universe.

First off, let’s start at what perception means. By dictionary definition, perception means the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses. Now, let’s break it down. Perception is, yes, becoming aware, but it’s also about understanding and connection. To become aware, we must develop an understanding. We do this by connecting experience and extending our feelings into what’s being shown. The main picture is that perception is understanding through our senses which creates an experience based on what we feel. However, this can be confused with opinions and emotions. But all of it comes together, the perception, links, connections, to create emotion and what we feel towards something.

Now, let's start with how it ties into the show.

Moving on, perception affects everyone in this show. It’s all based on perception if you think about it hard enough. Starting (Chronologically) from when Sozin wipes out the Air Nomads to get rid of the Avatar. To Sozin, he perceived the Avatar as a threat to his plans. Someone who would interfere with his expansions and power. So, when Roku told Sozin that his actions weren’t right for the world and basically saying it would throw off the balance, Sozin could have taken this as a drive to execute his plans. His perception led him to kill off the Air Nomads using Sozin’s Comet.

You see, that’s what perception leads to. It leads to actions based on our evaluation and decisions. 

Now, moving on to when Aang is broken out of the iceberg because of Katara. Immediately, Sokka is skeptical. I mean, who wouldn’t? They’re in the middle of a war that has caused their parents to either be killed or sent away to fight, leaving them alone to take care of each other and the village. So, Aang, 1. walks out of the iceberg, unharmed and not frozen. To Sokka, he hasn’t had enough interaction with a firebender to know all their talents and abilities, this includes not being able to succumb to the sub-zero temperatures in the south pole or inside an iceberg. To Sokka, this may cause him to think that Aang is a threat and there to harm him or Katara. Yes, yes, far reaching possibly but continuing... 2. Aang shoots out a beam, a very powerful one at that, that could alert the FIre Nation of their location and put them and the tribe at risk. 3. Aang’s tattoos and clothing. Again, Aang is unfrozen and to Sokka, who hasn’t met an Airbender or has barely heard anything about them and their culture, so Sokka might not know if Aang could get them into trouble. So pulling all this together, Sokka has seen a boy walk out of an iceberg, unharmed, seen this boy unleash a powerful streak of light at the sky, felt the strong winds of the iceberg breaking, and heard Aang’s somewhat sidetracked answers. All these things would make Sokka reasonably suspicious and threatened.

Aang visiting the Southern Air Temple for the first time in 100 years. His perception of the Air Nomads was a thriving, beautiful community that lived harmoniously at the temple. Only a flying bison could reach there to his knowledge. But now that 100 years have passed, he is met with a new reality. His new perception of the temple is in ruins, dead plants, rubble, abandoned, neglected, and lifeless. Perception changes how you look at it. When Sokka, Katara, and Aang arrive at the temple, Aang’s perception is mostly filled with memories he had with his friends and mentors. He knew a place that’s no longer there, so he points out the things that still made sense to him. “That’s where my friends and I would play airball and over there is where the bison would sleep...” that was still his perception that’s starting to change. But it fully changed when he finds Gyatso’s body, and that’s where Aang truly knows that his culture is gone and his old perception is diminished because this, all the rubble, ruins, Appa and Momo, is all that’s left.

During their travels, the original Gaang (Sokka, Katara, and Aang) meet various groups of people who all have their own perceptions of the Avatar. Some who don’t necessarily like the Avatar and some who cherish them. Since the Avatar hasn’t been seen in 100 years, before they met Aang, their perception was developed through tales and stories. That’s how a lot of perception works in their world and our world. But once Aang was able to meet some of those people and usually helping them, their perception of the Avatar may have changed. To the people, maybe Aang turned out to be beneficial and good to them, while others saw him as a nuisance. But that’s all they need. All they need is a story or interaction to have a perception develop, and in the Avatar Universe, it means a lot. 

Perception leads to many things. One of the most outstanding is the opinion. All it takes is a view of something or someone and formulating it into something bigger or smaller depending on how someone depicts it. This perception is the reason why opinions were made. And why some people interpret actions or words differently. With so many factors, there are many possible outputs or outcomes for a response. 

For example, when Aang goes to meet Guru Pathik, Aang has to learn to let go and unlock his chakras. It all relied on how Aang interpreted Guru Pathik’s words. And like I said before, Aang needed to gain a perception of Guru Pathik’s words to be able to interact in interpret his words. It’s a simple problem in investigative science. It’s a simple If... then... statement if you think about it. Into context, If Guru Pathik teaches Aang that chakras are swirling pools of energy inside their bodies by making a connection to blockages in a creek, then Aang can associate the swirling pools of energy to the pools in the creek. And that’s how most opinions are formulated. The “if” is the start of the perception and how it developed while the “then” statement is how something begins to interact with someone, formulating that perception and developing an opinion or fact. 

(Sorry for the mini investigative science lecture, just a little connection...)

I could go on and on about how every single action someone takes is caused by perception and how, but that would 1. take wayyyyyyy too long, and 2. no one will read that because that’s increasingly long when I could just squish everything into a shorter example.

However, despite this analysis getting quite lengthy, I’m going to throw in more influential examples. 

Advice is another major part of perception in ATLA terms. Uncle Iroh has many, many great lines and terms of advice. His wisdom comes from years of his own growth of perception and how he perceives the world. So with all his wisdom and a very confused and angry nephew, he gives his advice out, hoping that whoever is listening gains something from it. 

The advice itself isn’t really perception, however, what you take away from it is. Although, I suppose I’m sort of wrong there as well. Advice is also perception. To be able to give out advice, you need to have your own perception on a certain topic to be able to give it out. You need to have a stance and opinion to understand your own advice and give it out to help others. 

So, in the Crossroads Of Destiny, Aang seeks Iroh’s advice to which Iroh responds, “Perfection and Power are overrated. I think you are very wise to choose happiness and love.” Iroh experienced his own life to where he could come up with this wisdom and share it with someone in need. Then, Aang asks a question, “What if I’m not powerful enough?” To which, Iroh replies, “I don’t know the answer. Sometimes, life is like this dark tunnel. You can't always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but if you just keep moving, you will come to a better place.” Their conversation ends there. Like I said before, this is what Iroh can take out of his life and shares his wisdom with Aang, someone who is in need of this advice. Most importantly, it’s about how Aang, or rather anyone, interprets this. Because that interpretation would be their perception of Iroh’s advice. Their experience with Iroh, their interpretation, what they hear, what expressions Iroh is showing, and what they feel themselves are what formulates their perception of that piece of advice. 

This is true for the fans of the show as well. Iroh’s advice hasn’t only impacted those in the show because I know that it has impacted those who have watched the show. But that perception, the takeaway, how we perceive this wisdom is the most important. Using Iroh’s “Life is like a dark tunnel. You can’t always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but if you keep moving, you will come to a better place.” I can say I’ve found at least six different ways to perceive this. And I’m only one person with my own set of experiences and ideals, meaning that other people could find limitless different ways to perceive this. So, Aang as one person used his own experiences and thought process to develop his own perception and way to interpret Iroh’s wisdom. 

Education is another important aspect of perception. What we learn is an experience of its own. To become aware, people need a certain level of information to decide “what side” they’re on. In other situations, people are pitted on sides without a true chance to develop a sense of what’s right or wrong. For instance, in The Headband, Aang is put in a class where the kids have been fed false information. False information that has been bent to making one side, the Air Nomads, look wrong and misguided and the other side, the Fire Nation, looks superior and correct. A quote, “What year did Fire Lord Sozin battle the Air Nation army?” This is asked by a teacher during a quiz. Not only that, Aang knows that the Air Nomads didn’t have a formal military. To which, he raises his hand to express that this is wrong, thinking it could be a trick question. Though, the teacher questions how Aang could know this because that information she’s sharing was in the national history book. The Fire Nation has given its students information that is incorrect to make their stance stronger, maybe thinking that it would pit its own nation against Sozin’s actions. Another thing, Aang’s perception of the Air Nomads isn’t anything like how the Fire Nation has depicted them. So, when Aang was in the school, he found out that everyone in the Fire Nation’s perception of the Air Nomads is violent and the reason for starting the war.

The thing about perception is that it shouldn’t be shoved down your throat, it should develop through thought and experience if given the chance. The Fire Nation didn’t allow the youth to get this and most likely didn’t allow the people of the post-genocide to have a true perception of the Air Nomads or the other nations other than the stuff the school taught them. 

Perception is constantly changing based on new experiences or new stories. Take Zuko as an example. Zuko was sent out on the quest to hunt down the Avatar, although it was a task destined for failure, Zuko did find him and captured him many times. Even though Aang, escaped, Zuko kept trying to get Aang and restore his honor. In the very beginning, when Zuko sees the beam of light, he says, “Finally.” However, that’s not where his perception of the Avatar started. Before this, he was expecting a 100+-year-old, master of the elements to fight. He most likely expected an all-powerful being, and Zuko might’ve been willing to die fighting. That is a bit rash, but he would’ve done anything to restore his honor. Even before Zuko was sent on the massive goose hunt, he must’ve been told stories of the Avatar and their powers. So, when Zuko meets Aang for the first time, he rightfully says, “You’re just a child!” All of his previous perceptions are questioned and screwed with. After all, this was what Zuko had been training for, for a little more than two years, at the time. And each encounter with Aang, Zuko’s perception changed. He underestimated Aang, captured him, rescued him, fought with him (for a short time, pre-redemption), betrayed him, fought against him again. And each time leading up to his redemption, his perception keeps evolving and expanding. Until the Western Air Temple episode, they’ve been enemies. They’ve been on opposite sides of a war. So when Zuko was finally incorporated into the Gaang, he gains a new perspective by living among Aang, learning, and getting a new perception. As time passed and the war was won, Zuko is undeniably friends with Aang. Even more time passes and they start Republic City, they become lifelong friends. Even coming to the point where Zuko was often Aang’s counsel. 

For Zuko, every encounter he had with Aang changed his perception of him. It gave him a new side and interpretation of him. It evolved from thinking he was an old, all-powerful man to a silly, immature kid, to a friend to a lifelong, respected friend. 

When Aang is met with his most difficult task yet, his plan about how to defeat Ozai, and whether or not Aang should kill him, he calls upon the spirits and semi-consciously climbs aboard a Lion Turtle’s back. On the shell disguised as a forest, Aang calls on his past lives to figure out what to do. Aang’s only perception of Ozai is “the baddest guy on the planet”, whatever Zuko told Aang, and what acts Ozai has done against the world. It’s the same thing for the other Avatars as well. They know very little about Ozai, however, they’ve all had a situation on deciding on what to do. They offer Aang their advice and knowledge. They share their mistakes and what situation they got into along with advice that made Aang decide on his own. What I mean is Roku said, “You must be decisive.” Kyoshi said, “Only justice will bring peace.” Kuruk said, “You must actively shape your own destiny and the destiny of the world.” Yangchen said, “Selfless duty calls you to sacrifice your own spiritual needs, and do whatever it takes to protect the world.” They all gave Aang the choice on what to do. They offered advice that ultimately led to the interpretation of Aang should kill Ozai. But all of what they said relies on the perception of their words and what they meant. For Aang, they gave him plenty of contexts to decide what to do, even though it was basically saying that Aang should kill Ozai in their own way without specifically saying that Aang should kill Ozai. Anyway, Aang still looked for answers, looking for an alternative. He finds that he is in the presence of a lion turtle. So, with nowhere else to go and lost, Aang seeks advice from the Lion Turtle. 

The Lion turtle says, “The true mind can weather all the lies and illusions without being lost. The true heart can tough the poison of hatred without being harmed. Since beginningless time, darkness thrives in the void but always yields to purifying light.”

It’s all about perception remember? Anyone can take away anything from the Lion turtle’s advice. I’ve said before, it’s all based on how someone perceives this based on their own thought process and experience. To Aang, he is looking for an alternative that wouldn’t go against his principle and find a way to restore balance and punish Ozai for his crimes. Perceiving the Lion turtle’s words, Aang finds this alternative. He finds the art of energybending. He finds this solution that is a risk to him. 

Aang’s perception came from both his past lives and the Lion turtle. Aang was decisive. He did bring justice. He managed to shape his own destiny and the world’s. He did whatever he could to protect the world, even before this fight. He was able to “tough the poison of hatred without being harmed.” Aang was able to use his perception of what everyone said and used it to defeat Ozai. Without this deep analysis of perception, Aang wouldn’t have been able to defeat the Fire Lord, Zuko wouldn’t have had his redemption arc, these characters wouldn’t be able to grow. 

Yes, yes I’m missing a whole bunch of parts where perception came to play, but that’s not the point. I’m saying that perception is among the most important aspects of ATLA. You know the saying, “It’s not about what you take, it’s what you give”? In this aspect, it is about what you take AND it is about what you give. It’s important to process and perceive what is given. It’s important to ponder and take away from an experience or lecture or talk. It’s important to PERCEIVE. And for those who are the Uncle Iroh’s in this context, it’s important that you learn the first part before you give any life-changing advice. Everything comes from perception whether you like it or not. But in ATLA, it’s vital for the characters to be able to perceive and interpret advice and actions. It’s how everyone interacts with the world and is able to work as a show. Without perception, ATLA wouldn’t have gotten anywhere. Without perception, no one could grow and develop leading to blank emotionless lives.

And some of the best part of perception? In my opinion, of course, is being able to love and react to shows like ATLA and being able to connect to their characters and plot lines. My goodness I love this show.

[that-was-anticlimactic]

📂 hmmm let's see... how about Toph?

aw Toph Beifong, how I love you,

Okay. So. First:

Obviously, Toph can tell when people are lying, but much like how the gaang always forgets that she’s blind, they forget that she’s a living lie detector. After the war ends, the kiddos are all obviously traumatized and always ask each other how they’re doing and they usually always say “fine” and Toph can feel that they’re lying but she just... doesn’t do anything. Sometimes it’s obvious a person is lying, but sometimes they can really pull it off and Toph is the only one who knows. She just lets them be, though, because she would want to be left alone too. In her mind, if it was a big enough deal, they wouldn’t say that they’re fine (also because that’s the reasoning she gives herself to not talk about her problems). She doesn’t want to push them.

Eventually, and let’s use Aang here because poor kid suffers so much trauma and no one really talks about that much (myself included, I need to pay more attention to Aang), Aang’s mental health really starts declining and everyone is really worried but Toph always lets it go because she doesn’t want to push him or stress him out. One time, it’s so bad that they ask Toph to out Aang for lying and she just shrugs and says “he wasn’t lying” even though he definitely was.

After a week or two like this, Aang kind of just breaks down and Toph instantly feels guilty because deep down she feels like she could have prevented it, but she didn’t. It’s one of those times when she learns that letting people believe a lie, no matter how good intentions are, is worse and more hurtful than telling the truth.

It kind of starts making her more honest than before. She began by calling everyone out on every little lie until she realized it would probably be better to talk to people in private and I just... mmm... I feel like Toph wields so much power after the war because everyone will always say “I’m fine” and she knows, she knows, they’re lying.

And now for an angsty Toph-related headcanon because I said so:)

Toph’s parents. Mmmm. I have not read the comics and also I heard they were... iffy... so we’re disregarding comics here. Toph’s parents kind of suck. Like, once she talks to them after the war, they treat her like a helpless child again and not the LITERAL HERO she is. She doesn’t live with them, but she wants a relationship with them, even though she physically cannot make her say it out loud. So, eventually she blows up at them and Earthbends and her parents are like “okay, if you’re not a child, then start acting like an adult” and COMPLETELY misread the intention behind what Toph was saying. Ontop of that, they constantly complain about everything to her. Like trivial things. They complain about trivial things to a traumatized child (not to mention they did like nothing during the war smh, they just sat there and were rich). Like, they complain about each other to Toph say all of these things that she never wanted to hear ever and that no parents should actually burden their child with. Eventually she just... stops.

She just never answers letters, never returns to the city, much less the house. And it just... it kills her because she wanted to fix their relationship. She wanted to try and be a family again and she tried. She tried so hard but her parents never pit any effort in.

It was actually Zuko (or Azula...) who kind of made her realize. Like, I’m just gonna say: Sokka and Katara HATE Toph’s parents, like, with a burning passion. Toph offhandedly mentioned some of the terrible things her mom said about her dad and vice versa to the gaang and Katara was about to go give them the biggest lecture they had ever received. Katara lowkey got all mother hen (but sometimes Suki would have to drag her back and be like “you’re smothering her” so Toph wouldn’t feel like Katara was acting like her parents) (and again, Toph would never say it outloud, but she could never think of Katara in that way ever. She’s SUCH a better person than her parents could ever be) and would try and... not be the mother Toph never got to have, but give her the support she never had.

Anyways, Zuko or Azula talk to Toph and are like “take it from one abused child to another, your parents are abusing you” which just confirms the suspicions she had deep down but refused to believe. She was just filled with so much rage because it’s not fair and she was trying so hard but her parents really don’t care about her in the way that they should of and she gave them so many chances to be better but they never took it.

okay so, sadness over, let’s make Toph happy:)

Toph is asexual (and maybe aromantic, unsure as of right now) because I said so:))

Toph takes great pleasure in going to The Jasmine Dragon and just... listening to make sure no one is ever rude to Iroh or any of the other employees ever. If they are, she causes trouble so they can feel ashamed for being mean to people in food service.

no you know what? Am I going too overboard? Yes. Do I care? No. One friendship Toph headcanon for everyone in the gaang.

Aang: Toph and Aang both help remind the other that they’re children because they both forget sometimes. Toph is great at taking Aang away from work and making him take breaks and spend time for himself rather than others. Aang is great at giving Toph the “having friends as a child” experience she never had. He teaches her games he learned from all four nations as a child and sometimes they do really ‘childish’ things like playing bending tag or even like regular tag with each other just because it’s nice.

Katara: oooh the Toph and Katara friendship is one of my favorites in the show. The two are both ridiculously competitive. Like. Out of everyone in the gaang, they are the most competitive (let’s be real, Sokka is too petty and WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE GAMES RULES to be competitive and Zuko just gets angry and rage quits). But eventually, they learn that they’re stronger when they work together and make a competitive truce. So whenever people need to team up for games, they immediately go to each other and they destroy everyone.

Sokka: Sokka and Toph ahhhhh I love them so much. Sokka adopted Toph as his daughter-sister, as in he can’t choose whether he wants to replace her dad and be her dad or be the protective but not overly protective older brother she never had, so he calls himself “father-brother” and everyone hates it, but Sokka was never good at naming things. Also, one time they were really bored, so they decided to try and invent a language that is never spoken, but can be interpreted through Earthbending. Like, different methods of bending meant different things and stuff. It worked... kind of? Sokka likes learning and Toph likes kicking dirt and making people confused about what they were doing. They both have short attention spans, though, so they didn’t get far. They each still remember s=certain things and still talk through it (since Sokka is not an Earthbender, he taps his foot on the ground or kicks dirt a certain way. It’s kind of like morse code, bit different because only Toph can feel the taps).

Suki: Suki Suki Suki I love you! Suki is Toph’s go-to for fake relationships. Like. These two have been in a fake relationship with each other too many times to count. Toph’s parents invite her to a formal event but she needs to bring a date (and also she doesn’t want to go but she wants to repair the relationship)? Suki is her date. Suki needs to attend a royal event because she’s the highest Fire Nation palace guard (because I said so)? Toph comes as her date. A random person is hitting on either of them and they don’t know how to respond without unnecessary violence? Find the other and kiss their face.

Zuko: Zuko and Toph, what a pair. They both find beauty in nature (in different ways, obviously), so they’re walking buddies. They’ve gone on hikes together, like week-long hikes together. They’ll walk around the palace together... sometimes they’ll just sit together in silence because they don’t always need words to be friends.

Azula: (because yes, I am including the three girls): y’all. These two together can scare the entire world. Not just because they are actually insanely powerful, but because they make the most horrific self-deprecating jokes known to man and say it with intense seriousness that everyone has been genuinely worried at some point before they caught on (if it’s serious, they say it as a joke). One time, they both made these depressing jokes at lunch and Aang choked on his food. He didn’t die, but like. He was so unprepared that he choked. What I’m saying is, these two have a really weird relationship that takes place entirely through insults at each other, theirself, and everyone they love.

Ty Lee: Toph was actually scared of Ty Lee at first because of her chi blocking abilities. Not like terrified-scared, but like if you even take one more step towards me I will smash you with a boulder no matter your intentions-scared. Also, Ty Lee was so perky and kind of loud and Toph found that suspicious at first. It wasn’t like an Aang perky or loud, it was like... well, Toph couldn’t explain it (as in, I, op, cannot explain it), but it was a bit overwhelming? And then one time Ty Lee just. randomly visited her at her parents’ house even though they “weren’t friends” and Toph was just ????? but let her come in for dinner anyway because she kind of wanted to see how her parents would react to this peppy girl. Her parents ended up making a kind of snide remark at Toph’s expense during dinner (which was the usual but Toph didn’t realize it was a b u s e) and Ty Lee went off. That’s when Toph knew there were reasons to be terrified of this girl, but she would never be on the receiving end of her fury unless she really deserved it. They have very different family situations, but take pleasure in actually talking about it to each other. Because Ty Lee is a very open person and Toph is not. Toph thinks it’s nice to just let Ty Lee ramble on (kind of like Mai) and Ty Lee thinks Toph gives really good advice and has good insights (plus strives to help her feel more comfortable with her feelings). They become spontaneous buddies and randomly show up at each other’s houses when they’re living at home and it’s just nice.

Mai: last but never least, Mai and Toph! These two. feel for each other. so much. Rich kids, only children, parents who ignore them, ahhhhh, do you smell that? The repression of feelings:) Sometimes, they prefer to just be around each other because everyone else can kind of be overwhelming. They can communicate through few words and they both like throwing things, so they like sparring together a lot, It gives them a chance to throw things with another person who likes throwing things. For them, sparring is like this connection and it’s own method of loving each other (as friends do) and it’s just really nice for both of them.

Okay. I am done. Thank you, Grace, for fueling me.

I love Toph and I don’t give her enough attention.

[kuchee]

for zutaraang week day 4. a metaphorical take on the prompt ‘scars’. read it on ao3. 🍂

"I shouldn't feel like this."

The words make Aang stop in his tracks. He's halfway across the garden, hands outstretched for Zuko, standing there at the edge of the pond. Aang's mind reels with a thousand emotions, above all, sympathy. The ragged confusion bleeding from Zuko's voice is something he hasn't heard in a long time, maybe not even since before the war, before the comet. Back when they didn't even know each other. Back when they were sworn to be enemies, and Zuko's mind was poisoned daily by the same monstrous presence that has him frozen in grief now.

"Zuko," Aang begins. He doesn't know what to say. The stiff hunch of Zuko's shoulders in front of him betrays something worse than his voice does: that he doesn't want Aang to see him. He doesn't want anyone to see him. And that's painful, coming from a guy that's always worn his feelings on his sleeve.

To Aang's utter relief, there isn't going to be a public funeral for Ozai, which is what the council had decided in the morning, despite the rioting from a persistent dissident group. He isn't sure if weeks of meditation could do anything for the nightmares that might resurface from an event like that. But this is not about him.

He had sat at the Fire Lord's right hand in the meeting room, Zuko's nails digging marks into his palm under the table while the ministers around them discussed the decorum surrounding the announcement of the death in captivity of the previous Fire Lord. A surprising number of officials actually wanted some sort of ceremony. It was decided in the end that there would be a burial in the catacombs and an accompanying official notice from the palace. Zuko had spoken as little as possible during the meeting (Aang was counting). His only real input that he wanted to notify his mother in person beforehand, so the announcement was to be delayed.

Iroh is on his way from Ba Sing Se. Azula, to his surprise, didn't want anything to do with it.

And already here, is Zuko, alone in anguish. Watching him now, Aang allows himself to feel something other than pity for Ozai, for the first time in years: anger.

Zuko turns his head up in a sharp movement at the sound of his name. His voice is thick with feeling, enough to make Aang dizzy. "Why do I feel like this?"

The turtleducks continue to swim, unheeding of what's happening in the palace around them.

Aang takes long breaths, like firebending practice, in an attempt to steady himself. He has to be the one keeping a level head here. "You can't choose how you feel, Zuko."

Zuko makes a sound of frustration. "I've spent my whole life making sure I do everything different than he did, the bastard. Everything I've done in the Fire Nation is so– And if he just–" he cuts himself off.

Aang swallows and makes his voice as gentle as possible, though the more Zuko talks, the more sick he feels. "Don't be ridiculous."

"What?"

"You can't tell me that he was your only motivation."

Zuko wipes an arm across his eyes. "There's still so much I have to do."

It takes all of Aang's power to just walk up to Zuko's side – and not any further – because he knows what Zuko needs right now is clarity. Words.

"And what? You needed him to witness it?" Aang says evenly as he can, though he can't help the incredulity that seeps into his tone.

Zuko takes a sharp breath in. He's listening now. When he had defied all his advisors by sparing his father the death sentence in the post-war tribunals, Aang had stood by him with pride. He didn't think there could be a truly bad consequence of that decision. But the bewilderment in Zuko's eyes now reveals something more sinister than Aang has seen in a long time, a shackle to his heritage heavier than the ones Ozai wore for the final part of his life.

It shakes Aang to his core. "You–You've built a new country from the ashes of your father's crimes– and your grandfather's. That's what matters. The present. The future."

Zuko turns to face Aang. "But how could he–" His fists are clenched at his sides, mouth turned in a hard frown intended to prevent something worse. Aang hates the expression, if he can hate anything about Zuko's face. "How could he– just– it's just one harsh winter– all those people— He doesn't get to die like this."

Recognition grips Aang like a vice. This feeling he does understand. This is the very thing that's kept in him a dream-like state since the news reached him late last night, and he had left Republic City immediately, the Avatar's presence at the emergency council in his schedule and Zuko in his mind.

Aang grasps Zuko's arm tight, turning to face him directly. "I get it," he whispers. "I understand." Zuko's eyes are full of uncertainty, and Aang finds his own hollow mood reflected in them.

He's twelve again. The Fire Lord looms larger than life, a force of pure hatred, hellbent on destroying any peace in this world. A trail of pointless destruction; people, families, whole villages, left in his wake.

The same man is dead in his cell, from the complications of a common cold. Accepting that is like being knocked out of the air.

Zuko doesn't make any real attempt at holding his gaze, his eyes tired and watery. But he lets Aang press their foreheads together, which means they're on the same page at least. Aang cups the back of Zuko's neck and presses him close. If he could somehow project the depth of his care with that action, he would.

"You don't have to feel happy about this, Zuko. And you definitely don't have to feel nothing."

Zuko makes a noise that might have been an attempt at interruption but he stops himself with a heavy breath and a nod. Aang blinks hard and continues, "You can be sad that you didn't get closure. You can be sad because you deserved better. You really, really did." Unthinkingly, he lets his thumb trace over the ridge of Zuko's scar, but Zuko doesn't flinch. "But you can't define who you are and what you do by Ozai."

Aang almost jerks back at the feeling of wet tears dripping against his hands. He's never seen Zuko cry, but he does his best not to let the surprise show on his face, even as his stomach feels like it's careening at the sight. Zuko pulls away from him to wrap him in a proper hug.

After what feels like an eternity, Zuko speaks. Aang can feel the sadness of the smile against his neck. "Thank you. You're pretty wise, you know."

"It's in the job description." That gets a laugh out of Zuko, and Aang's heart glows for that tiniest of reactions.

"Uncle said he would be here in a couple of days."

Aang nods into Zuko's shoulder, "I know." He's still not willing to let go, rubbing circles into Zuko's back as he speaks. "Go be with him, after the announcement. I'll deal with everything else."

Zuko squeezes him in acknowledgement. He whispers his next words like they might disappear if spoken too loudly, "Katara?"

"She's coming as soon as she can," Aang says, longing for the respite of her embrace — longing so much at the mention of her name that he surprises himself. For someone far removed from the Fire Nation and its cruel history, someone that is the antithesis of all this pain. He can't imagine how much worse it is for Zuko. "She'll be here, when I have to go back. We're not leaving you."

The thought of Zuko going to bed alone this week is too much to bear, and he won't have to bear it, even if Avatar duties are dragging him to a different continent in a few hours. For the first time, he's deeply grateful for their arrangement in a way that has nothing at all to do with his own fancies.

[theotherace]

Day 17

“I think you are wise to choose happiness and love.” – Iroh

[Before reading this, please know that this is incredibly rough and at some points a little weird and mainly dialogue and cuts off very abruptly. It’s a very first, only almost finished draft of an OS, a dump of my thoughts on the matter, that I will almost certainly come back to in the future. Probably next month, when I’m done with all these prompts, because I like the premise, but this isn’t really it. Toph also isn’t in it, this is a talk between Aang and his youngest kid, so the Taang is somewhat implied in that Kavi is Toph’s son as well.  Then, I just have to say that I really hate that quote. I hate that Iroh says it. I hate that Aang gets to live by it. I love that boy so much, but his character developement in Book 3? Shitty. Don’t like it. Writing AU-Fanfic, because they botched it.  Also, slight criticism of Kata*ng (specifically of Aang’s treatment, for lack of a better word, of her), because it’s one of my NOTPs and I couldn’t help myself. I almost could see it working, but, like Aang’s developement, they ruined it. Sunk their own ship. (In my opinion. Everybody’s entitled to their own. I’m just tired and therefore cranky.) Draft under the cut.]

Aang lifted his gaze from the letters he'd began sorting through hours ago, and still the pile didn't appear to have shrunk at all – all enthusiasm to deal with his mail had left him quite a while ago, as it always did, and he mused once again that maybe, just maybe, a secretary wasn't such a bad idea, now that they didn't travel all the time anymore.

Now that they had chosen a home that wasn't Appa's back.

Kavi, leaning on the wall next to his desk, peaked at him from behind the book – The Extensive History of the Dai Li – he hadn't set down since Bumi had sent it to him last week, always scribbling in it and marking passages and making notes, a brush in hands, his fingers inky, and Aang quirked a brow.

"I can feel you staring. What is it, Kavi?"

The brush turned between the boy's nimble fingers.

"I don't wanna keep you from your ... correspondence", he said slowly.

"Keep me from my correspondence, please. I've had enough of it today; it's mostly just people telling me that it hasn't rained in too long or that it's been raining too much. Which I can do nothing about, anyway. What're you thinking about?"

He turned in his chair.

Kavi tilted his head, as if thinking it over again , before he asked: "What's the worst mistake you ever made? Like ... really the worst. I've been thinking about mistakes and regrets and all that a lot lately, 'cause, y'know, Avatar Kyoshi founded the Dai Li and that certainly wasn't a good decision. Obviously, they're not as bad anymore, but that's because they're back to what they were  supposed to be. They're protectors again, instead of ... a weird, brainwash-y secret organisation."

He painted a wet, black line on his face while gesticulating and ignored it in favour of drawing his brows together and adding: "Though I think I already know what you think your biggest mistake is."

"Do you."

"Yeah. You ran away. When you were a kid. I know you regret that. I would. Even though I think I would've run, too, if someone threatened to take me away from you guys. I'd rather leave on my own terms."

The brush twirled around, around, around.

Aang fiddled with one of the letters.

"That was ... is ... indeed my greatest mistake. And I will never not regret that I ran, but ... I have come to accept it as a part of my past that I can't ever change. I will never quite make up for what my absence ... the Avatar's absence ... did to the world, but ... I can try, you know? Try to make this world better place, a more peaceful place, not because that's my job or because I feel guilty, but because that's what's right. Try to be a good friend and husband and father. So that's what I've been doing, every day for the past fourty years ... Well, I haven't been a dad or married for quite so long, but I think you get what I'm trying to say."

Kavi nodded pensively, brows still furrowed.

"I think I do."

He lifted his free hand and rubbed over the ink on his cheek, smudging it.

"Kinda. I don't know if I'll ever really ... understand understand. But I ... understand."

"Hmm", hummed Aang. "My journey to becoming a fully realized Avatar was ... a rather rocky one, I suppose. I was stubborn. And I couldn't've possibly comprehended what fighting a war would mean before I woke up at the South Pole and ... fought a war. So I wouldn't expect you to fully understand. I don't want you to. It's bad enough Bumi's joined the Air Force."

"I don't really remember him not being in the Air Force. How old was I when joined up? Five?"

"Just about, yes."

"He's a Captain now. Aren't you proud of him?"

Aang sighed deeply.

"I am. I'm incredibly proud of all of you. Tenzin's about to become a father, Asha's teaching with your mother, Norbu's an architect, which I know nothing about, but I'm glad he's enjoying doing what he does. You're on your best way to achieve mastery. And Bumi is a Captain. Of course I'm proud of him. I just wish he would've chosen a different career. Something safer, that wouldn't result in him being on the frontlines of a war, should there ever be another one."

He shook his head.

Kavi pulled his knees closer.

"I lived through barely the last year of one, and it was terrible. I don't want any of you to experience what I did. The same goes for your mother. But you're your own people, you make your own decisions. We can't stop you from doing that and we wouldn't want to, either. I can just ... try to lead you a bit as long as you'll let me. Give you some advice, if you ask for it. You want to know about the worst advice I ever got, if we're already talking about mistakes and regret?"

"Oh. Sure", Kavi said, hesitant for just a moment.

"I met Guru Pathik – I've told you about him?"

"Yeah. The guy who helped you master the Avatar State. An old friend of Monk Gyatso. He must've been ancient when you met."

"He was ... a very, very wise man. A mentor when I was in desperate need of someone to look up to and guide me. Unfortunately, when I first met him, I wasn't very ... accepting of everything he tried to teach me. In order to control the Avatar State, I needed to open my chakras. And there were some ... minor ... hiccups, I had to confront myself, my mistakes, my shame, the ... the guilt I felt, ... like I'd ... never had before. And I did it. The problem ... was the seventh chakra."

"The Thought Chakra", Kavi mumbled.

Aang brightened a little.

"That's right. Do you remember how to unlock it?"

"By ... letting go of ... of earthly attachments."

The boy's frown deepened and his hand closed tightly around the brush that had stopped wandering over his fingers when he'd tried to remove the ink from his face – it was still blotchily staining his pale skin.

"I never really thought about that. That's terrible. And you still have attachments. You've got Mom and us. So, ... you haven't mastered the Avatar State?"

"I have full control over the Avatar State, don't worry. Letting go of attachments ... that's not about not loving. It's not about detaching yourself completly from everything. It would be, if you tried to reach true enlightenment, but that wasn't my goal. My goal was to not be controlled by my emotions. You need to be the master of your emotions, not the other way around. With something like the Avatar State at your expense, you can't afford that. Rage can end in a massacre. Grief could as well. No."

He looked at the ceiling for a moment, thinking about how to best continue, then said: "In this case, letting go of attachments meant to learn to not depend. To stand on my own. My friendships with Mom and Sokka weren't a problem; my crush on Katara absolutely was, because I depended on her too much. I relied on her to pull me out of the Avatar State when I couldn't control myself. I wanted her to be my forever girl, because ... well, she was the first girl. She became my everything much too quickly when she should've never been that at all. And that just wasn't fair to her. I placed her on pedestal when I barely even knew her name, and wouldn't let her step down. And when it came to make the decision between her and controlling this ... great power, ... I chose her. And she wouldn't have wanted that, but I didn't understand that, then."

Kavi chewed on his lip.

"So, who gave you bad advice, then?"

"General Iroh."

"Uncle Zuko's Uncle? The guy Iroh's named after? He's supposed to have given the best advice, though! Mom always talks about that and his tea and how he was the original owner of the Jasmine Dragon and stuff. He's supposed to be this super wise guy", he said. "I don't understand."

"Nobody's infallible. Not even Uncle. When I told him of my dilemma – we were on our way to safe Katara and Zuko, right under Ba Sing Se, he told me ... he said that power was overrated. And that I was wise to chose happiness and love instead. And I'm sure he meant well ... and I don't remember how well I explained what I was trying to master. We were also on a rescue mission, and I wouldn't have listened had he told me to go back to the Guru anyway. But this wasn't about taking power, choosing it over love. It was about controlling something dangerous that I already possessed ... His advice was quite dangerous, in retrospect ..."