#BUT ITS STILL LIKE. ZUKO IS 16..... AND HES THIS /PISSED OFF/ OVER HIM

[friedchickenluver]

I feel like it takes a while for the general populous to warm up to Zuko as Firelord and that’s mainly because of the last 100 years + his fathers reign didn’t really do anything to help the situation but he later becomes the people’s firelord and that’s with the help of his wife he drags him to charity events and with the backing of team avatar.

Now, Zuko was raised around politics but there’s a period about 5-10 years within his rule where he staunchly disagrees with his advisors mainly because they’re still brainwashed and under the spell that Ozai started with “restoring the fire nation to its former glory.” He later ends up just starting over and picking a new cabinet making sure to have at least one representative from each nation to chime in for rebuilding efforts.

Let me tell you though Zuko hates celebrations for himself and his achievements but when it’s his wife’s birthday and don’t get me started on their children. It’s like a national holiday the parties for them are magnificent.

As far as how powerful he is? Behind every great man is a far greater woman. A lot of his plans he runs by his wife before taking it to the advisors because she just knows that they’ll peddle him bullshit and depending on the day Zuko will agree so he can leave but she’s here to shut that shit down.

Now I know we joke that Izumi, the twins, and baby boy are spoiled. But I’d like to think that Zuko does take the time to bring them up as humble as possible and that’s thanks to Iroh having a big part of raising him and when they were settled in the earth kingdom for a bit. -🧚🏽‍♀️

HEAVY ON THE STARTING NEW PART . he got fed tf up with those old dudes who cared not about the country, but power and Zuko was like “fuck this shit, these mfs are UNFIXABLE.” (😂) he fired everyone after the first years of his reign because they actually began to like piss him off . Except two, which are my OCs Midjair and Indy, who were both apart of Ozai’s secretary and Zuko ranked them both up to major advisors . At first they were so traumatized from Ozai’s serving time and had some of his ideologies engraved in their head . but eventually they both showed that they were fixable and so Zuko kept them .

He’s so hellbent on making sure everyone has a say in how things run between countries and within the Fire Nation itself . I feel like he would also renovate a good portion of the castle just to make it look less depressing and intimidating .

He absolutely despises his own birthdays, like everyone including his wife will like beg him to allow them to throw a party or something for him . she’s trying to loosen him up some because he’s such a hard ass it’s basically impossible to gesture him into having some type of fun . BUT FOR THEM, oh the whole nation is going to hear about it, you should’ve seen Izumi’s sweet 16, they had to plan it a year in advance because she’s so extra like her mom . Their birthdays or him and his wife’s anniversary will be like week long events the whole country is celebrating, including endless amounts of gifts and cards, etc .

And of course Zuko would have to run down over major decisions he makes with the advisors, because as politics is mainly still a male predominant occupation, he needs an intelligent women’s opinion to make sure all side sound fair and just . And if those men ever try to convince her that her opinion is wrong in any type of way , oh she WILL shut they ass down before they can utter another word . Zuko knows it’s best if you never try his wife like that . LMAO

The kids are definitely spoiled like they just so happened to born in the right family because they get almost any and everything they can ask for . But zuko will always be quick to teach them that life is beyond anything more than material possessions and wants and needs, he will take them on visits to hang out with iroh just so they can get a slice of his wisdom . Because it’s important that they learn all factors of life before they have to guide themselves on their own journey . (🥹)

At the end of the day, Zuko will always be regarded as one of the best looking Firelord history has seen for a while . And even in times of doubt his family will always be quick to reassure him that he’s doing great and they all love him .

[oflgtfol]

zhao is such a bitch but i cant help but love to hate him. like he’s just so.. it’s so fucking funny. like he’s just so.... like what is wrong with you dude UJYHGFD. the way he gets so bent up over literal children it’s just like TEHYRHG broooo what are you DOING it’s so fucking funny. he had a whole ass agni kai with zuko, a 16 year old. he hired a bunch of pirates to kill zuko, a 16 year old. and in the episode with jeong jeong, the way he acts with aang, like it’s so fucking funny. he’s so FURIOUS over literal children and he’s a whole ass adult it’s like goddddddd... modern atla au where zhao is an angry adult suicide baiting a bunch of 14 year olds online

[backhurtyy]

9, 16, or 51, whichever you want to do/haven’t done yet 🥰!

9. “You really thought I was dead?”

16. “I want you to be happy…even if its not with me.”

i guess warning for jealousy?? not possessive or anything, more nervous i-really-love-you-and-this-person-unexpectedly-came-back-into-our-life-please-don’t-leave-me jealousy

Returning to Ba Sing Se after the war always felt distinctly like coming home to Zuko. He loved the Fire Nation, he really did, but there were so many bad memories locked away inside empty rooms and shadows decorating blank walls to ever allow it to feel like home. But in Ba Sing Se, strolling into his uncle’s teashop with Sokka’s hand clasped in his and his crown tossed into the bottom of the bag on his shoulder, those memories and shadows slipped away. Instead, there were warm memories of lazy afternoons serving tea to his uncle and friends and the sounds of bright laughter filling the shop, and he felt like he was home.

“You’re awfully smiley,” Sokka laughed as they approached the Jasmine Dragon. “What’re you thinking about?”

“Just that it feels like I’m home, is all. We haven’t been here in a long time, and it’s... It’s really nice. I don’t know if that sounds crazy, but-“

“No, it doesn’t. I feel it too,” he said warmly. “It’s easier here, somehow.”

Zuko nodded, pressing a kiss to Sokka’s forehead as they crossed the threshold of the shop. His uncle was standing behind the counter, and when he saw them come in his face split into a wide grin.

“Zuko! Sokka!” he exclaimed, rushing towards them. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

He dropped Sokka’s hand to meet his uncle’s embrace, sighing at the familiar smell of jasmine tea that hung around him. “Hi Uncle. I’ve missed you.”

“Me too. It’s been too long.”

“I know, I’m sorry. I just got so busy with work and it was hard to find the time to come visit.”

“It’s okay to take breaks, Zuko. You don’t have to be Fire Lord all the time.”

Zuko wanted to say that wasn’t true- that the Fire Nation still had so far to go and that work couldn’t always wait, and also point out that he was the one to insist Zuko take this job- but before he could Sokka was hugging his uncle and proclaiming, “Yeah, that’s why he has me. To make sure he’s talking a whole bunch of breaks.”

His uncle laughed. “I knew he’d be in good hands.”

“Yeah yeah,” he muttered, though he smiled at Sokka fondly and began walking toward the kitchen, where the stairs leading to his uncle’s apartment were. “Can we just drop our bags off, the come back down?”

“Of course. Although this reminds me I have a new employee, and I think it’s someone you’ll be relieved to see! He’s in the back.”

Zuko furrowed his brow, wondering who he could possibly be talking about considering all the people he would want to see were very much not in Ba Sing Se. Well, except Sokka, but it wasn’t like he was his new employe. Still, he just shrugged and pushed aside the curtain to go into the kitchen- only to stop when he saw a tall figure with shaggy black hair, a persistent stalk of wheat sticking out of his mouth. Suddenly, he felt like he was on the ferry to Ba Sing Se all over again.

Sokka, not noticing that Zuko had stopped, crashed into him. “Zuko, wha-“ He stopped too, staring at Jet with his jaw hanging open. “Jet?”

He looked up them, one eyebrow raised and smirking. “Hey Sokka,” he greeted coolly. “And if it isn’t Lee... Or I guess Fire Lord Zuko, I should say.”

“I- What?” he stuttered, not entirely understanding how, much less why, Jet was in his uncle’s tea shop. The first because last he’d heard Jet was dead, and the second because last he’d checked Jet hated him and his uncle. “What are you doing here?”

“Uh, I work here? I’m the new hire,” he said, crossing his arms and cocking his hip out.

“You- How?” Sokka asked, his face wrinkled in confusion. “At Lake Laogai you died. I mean, you got crushed under the rock and you-“

“Wait,” Jet laughed. “You really thought I was dead?”

Sokka and Zuko shared a confused glance, then looked back to him. “Yes?” Zuko asked. “I mean, we’ve seen Smellerbee and Longshot since then and they never said anything so...”

“Yeah, I told them not too. I needed time after I recovered to figure myself out, and wasn’t sure I could handle seeing any old flames- no pun intended- or enemies,” he said, pointedly sliding his eyes from Zuko to Sokka. “But I didn’t think you’d actually think I was dead… I told Katara I’d be fine. That wasn’t a lie.”

Zuko... Zuko didn’t know what to do. He had spent the past five years feeling so guilty for being the reason Jet ended up in Lake Laogai and blaming himself for his death, that seeing him in front of him brought on an overwhelming onslaught of memories and emotions and confusion. But with it was also a huge sense of relief, and he smiled at him softly.

“I’m really happy to see you, Jet,” he said honestly. “I’m glad you’re alright.”

“Don’t think I’m not still pissed at the fact that you lied to me, or for the pain the Fire Nation has caused me and my friends,” he said evenly, though his mouth ticked up in a smile, the wheat jumping as it did. “But I’m glad to see you too. You look good.”

Zuko rolled his eyes but smiled and leaned into Sokka, who had shifted to stand at his side rather than behind him. Sokka grabbed his hand immediately. “Thanks. There’s a lot that’s happened, recently, and if you were willing to, I’d like to catch up and... Well, I know there’s a lot of history, but maybe we could try to be friends?”

There was a slight twinkle in Jet’s eye as he watched Zuko and Sokka, one that reminded him of sneaking around the ferry and running down the streets of Ba Sing Se, and Zuko knew he’d realized they were together. He didn’t say anything though, just smiled. “Yeah. I’d like that. And you too, Sokka. I think I owe you a few apologies.”

Sokka snorted, though Zuko recognized it as one of begrudging amusement rather than actual anger. “Yeah, whatever man.”

Jet nodded and turned away, apparently satisfied with that, and Zuko tugged on Sokka’s hand to lead him up the stairs.

“So…” Sokka said nonchalantly when they had shut the door to the apartment. “Jet. Your ex. He’s downstairs.”

“Yeah…” he hummed, setting down his bag and turning to grab Sokka’s. “That was not at all what I was expecting, gotta be honest.”

“How do you feel about it?” There was something odd to his tone, something curious but also apprehensive, as if he didn’t really want to know.

He shrugged, stepping into Sokka’s space to pull him into a hug- although Sokka would never say it, he knew his boyfriend. After what happened with the village during the war and then later seeing him die- so they thought- that Jet’s presence had to have shaken him. He wondered if that was why his tone of voice was so odd.

“I don’t know yet. But he seems… He seems alright. Happier than he ever was when we had our thing, at least. And I think maybe… Maybe I’d like to try to be friends with him.”

Sokka hugged him back tightly, nodding thoughtfully. When he spoke, it was careful and deliberate. “If you ever decide you want to date him again, I need you to just tell me, okay?”

He pulled back, staring at him in confusion. “Sokka, what?”

“I mean it! I want you to be happy, even if it’s not with me. So… If you ever decide you’re into him-“

“For spirits sake,” he rolled his eyes lightly, realizing what was up with his tone of voice- he was nervous that now Jet was back, Zuko wouldn’t want to be with him anymore. “Sokka, that’s not going to happen. I love you, and I’m going to keep loving you for the rest of time. I already know that you’re it for me, love. Plus,” he dropped his voice into a conspiratorial whisper, “when I kiss you it doesn’t taste like wheat.”

Sokka laughed, shoulders relaxing. “I love you. And you’re it me, too. I’m sorry for being weird about him, it’s just… I don’t know how to explain it. Seeing him and remembering you had a thing and just... I got jealous, I guess.”

“It’s okay, love, I understand,” he said as he smoothed his palm over Sokka’s cheek, before kissing him softly. “Now, come on. I’m sure Uncle is dying to make us some tea.”

[sasuhinasno1fan]

The way you had your hair reminds me- Zutara Week Day 1

My second Zutara Week though I hope I can actually finish it this time. I decided I really wanted to do something with Katara doing rhythmic gymnastics so I decided that since most of the prompts fit, I’ll do a sort of Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo AU. It’s a good kdrama if you’ve never heard of it. trying to fit 16 hour long episodes into 7 days is gonna be interesting. I’ll warn you now and let you know there will be onesided LuTara but for like a day maybe. I haven’t written that day yet so we’ll see. This will end in Zutara happieness, I promise. Anyway, enjoy. Hair

Zuko crawled carefully as he wiped down the windows. Most of his classmates didn’t want him anywhere near an open area, especially with his limited vision but he’d just gotten his bandaged taken off and he wasn’t about to let it hinder him.

Without them on, he didn’t see Mom flinch at the sight of them, though the massive burn wasn’t any better. The fights between his parents weren’t either and Azula’s teasing was starting to be hurtful more than playful. He wanted it all to stop. If he pretended that things were ok, maybe they would be eventually.

“Hey scarface!” Zuko looked over, 3 of his school bullies storming over. He tried not to flinch, already knowing what they were going to yell at him about. They’d been doing it all day. “We lost the race thanks to you!”

Zuko used to be more confident. But after the burns, a few harsh words and he’d start retreating back down into himself. These bullies took advantage of it. During their Sports Day yesterday, Zuko had dropped the baton in the relay race and ran in the opposite direction, away from the bullies yelling at him.

“Mr. Reversal, can’t believe you’re so stupid.”

“You need a walking stick, scarface? Huh?”

Zuko felt one of them shove him and he expected to hit the window frame. Instead, he went flying out the open window. Years later, Zuko would mostly remember him being caught by an older man with darker skin, most likely from one of the Water Tribes, with kind blue eyes, who held him as he burst into tears and two younger children. The boy patted his back, telling him not to worry because his sister would take care of it and the girl screaming up at the bullies from the ground floor. Her long braid swung back and forth as she shook her fists and threatened to do violent things to them. her eyes seemed bluer than her families, like the clearest ocean.

He didn’t know they’d slip back into his life years later. That the little girl who threatened bullies for a boy she didn’t know, would become so much more important to him.

                                             ________________

Zuko unlocked his bike, trying not to feel discouraged. It was hard not to when he’d been disqualified from another competition for having a panic attack. Every time he walked onto the mat, his hearing would go wonky and he’d start seeing double, not to mention his heart beating like it was trying to escape his chest. As a result, he’d always forget to sault his opponent and the referee.

Along with being propositioned to train an up-and-coming fencer to get onto the national Olympic team – which he refused because how was he supposed to help someone when he could even finish a match – all he wanted to do was collapse onto his bed. He could already tell that during training tomorrow, he’d have to deal with snide remarks from Jett. How that guy became captain, he’d never know. He knew if he just beat him in training like always, it would piss him off even more and with the school’s Sports Day coming up, he was not in the mood to do the worst event for the Fencing Department.

He climbed on his bike, adjusting his kit sitting on its place but stopping himself from peddling back to campus when his phone rang.

“What Sokka?”

“So, the results of the match went up. Jett wants to talk to you; says he’s got the prefect thing for you to do to make up for your loss. The rice lifting challenge.”

Zuko had to bite his lip to keep from screaming. The idea of the lifting challenge was to carry as many bags of rice and the industrial size, like the one the school cafeteria ordered and hold it for as long as possible. Usually, the Karate Department would be the one to win, fencing never even coming close.

“I’m not going.” Zuko said, making up his mind.

“What?”

“I’ll hang out at Lu Ten’s office or something, but I’m not going. Not to the crapshot of a meeting or to Sports Day. I don’t care what he threatens me with. I’m only coming back to drop my kit off.”

“Um, well I actually heard Mai was back. Didn’t make it past the preliminaries for the national team I hear.”

This day couldn’t get any worse.

“Screw it, I’m not coming back for the next few days. I’ll be with my uncle if you need me.”

“Wait! Ask Toph to do your event for you. it would put the Weightlifting Department in danger of losing but most of those guys don’t like her anyway. She’d love a chance to get back at them. come back to campus and ask her and then I’ll take you out for lunch. At my dad’s restaurant. You love his marinated salmon.” Sokka said, trying to entice his roommate.

Zuko sighed. “I want two orders. And you’re paying.”

“Done! Get here soon.”

Zuko didn’t bother answering, stowing his phone away and pushing off, heading towards Republic City Sports University.

                                     ______________________

Effortlessly, Katara grabbed her back leg and straightened it as she did her pivot. She kept her balance as she came out of it and continued to twirl her ribbon. Her coach nodded.

“Very good. You’ve been practising. Your balance is better. Now I want to see if your fouettés have improved as well. If you want a chance at placing first and getting noticed by our sponsor and qualifying for the national team preliminaries, your routine can’t have any mistakes. Ty Lee, pay attention. I’m testing your fouettés as well.”

Katara looked over at the girl dressed in pink, who was pouting down at her matching hoop, Suki patting her on the shoulder. While Katara and Ty Lee weren’t friends, it was hard to not bond over being singled out by their coach.

Katara stood at the ready, twirling her ribbon as she readied herself when the door burst open.

“Azula!” Ty Lee cried.

Azula Lung was the student with the most sway in the whole school. Her father was the Prime Minister of the Fire Nation and while he didn’t hold much power in Republic City, since all powers were equal, that didn’t mean much at the University. She got the best room, private transport to competitions and rules didn’t apply to her. She could boss around any coach, even though she was in the Karate Department. There’d been rumours that her place was bought, until her first competition where she creamed everyone. She was her department’s ace. In fact, she managed to take the Weightlifting Department’s old gym for the Karate Department, which started a massive feud between them. she was rude and arrogant and somehow, one of Ty Lee’s best friends.

Katara noticed a girl standing next to her. She was dressed in all black, the only colour being the red of her nails. She looked incredibly bored and only looked annoyed when Ty Lee launched herself at her.

“Mai, you’re back!”

“Mai has returned from her qualifying competition for the national team. We’ll be taking Ty Lee with us. Problem?” Azula announced.

“No of course not. Except, Ty Lee, you were supposed to show me your routine for Sports Day? Since you’re our department’s cheerleader.”

Azula scoffed. “Sports Day, waste of time. She won’t be attending. You, blue peasant.” Katara balked at that and narrowed her eyes. “You’ll be taking her place. Problem?”

Katara opened her mouth to say, yes big problem, but all the girls of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Department crowded around her, suffocating her with their hands.

“None at all.”

“Thanks Katara!” Ty Lee said, scooping up her bag and dashing off, Mai following and with a raised eyebrow that spoke of her superiority, Azula leaving as well.

“You can’t argue with her Katara.”

“She’d have you removed from the school. I heard she got a person’s whole family business shut down for pissing her off. Do you want that for your dad?”

“Her dad might be the Prime Minister, but he’s practically a mafia boss.”

Comments like this floated over her head, as well as ones telling her they’d help with making a routine for Sports Day, which was in a few days. All Katara could think about was how completely unfair this all was.

And she let it out too once training was concluded for the day.

“It’s completely insane how she can just lord over them like that!” she said, harshly untangling her hair from its bun.

“Easy, you’re gonna rip your hair out.” Suki said, stopping her from tugging at it more and helping to pull half of it into a bun like she usually wore it.

“She’s a student. A sophomore at that. Where does she get off acting like she’s the greatest thing in the world? Just cause her dad is a Prime Minister? So is mine!”

“I thought Water Tribe issues fell under Yue’s dad’s jurisdiction?” Toph, a member of the Weightlifting Department asked, her hand holding on tightly to her guide dog’s harness. She was just as well known as Azula, due to the fact that she was blind but was still one of the highest climbing Weightlifting competitors at the school. She beat all the senior’s bests within her first month.

“Yeah, only because the South is smaller. That’s not the point! The point is, she does whatever she wants and doesn’t get in trouble for it and it extends to her friends too. I have a competition coming up soon and instead of working on my routines for that, I’m going to be learning choreo for a routine for one of the dumbest traditions of Sports Day.”

“Oh,” Toph said, a massively mischievous smile on her face, “well you won’t think it’s stupid when you hear what I heard. Wanna take a guess as to who’s the Fencing Department’s cheerleader?”

Katara looked over at Toph, who’s smile was growing maniacal. Usually that meant someone was going to get embarrassed as hell. It usually tended to be Sokka.

“Wouldn’t it be one of the girls?”

“Nope.” Toph shook her head, popping her p.

“Is it-?”

“Katara, watch out!”

A guy on his bike and panicked look as he turned the corner, thankfully started the veer off course at the sight of her. She still stumbled over her feet and fell to the floor, her hands pricking in pain as they were scratched. Thankfully though, her jacket took most of the damage. The guy on the other hand, had to shove his bike off his feet, rubbing at his shin.

She took in the pale skin, paler than Toph’s and dark hair surrounding his face. It didn’t stop her from noticing the large burn surrounding his right eye. she noticed that his school jacket was the same one Sokka wore, meaning he was in the Fencing Department.

“You should be more careful.” She meant for it to come out a bit nicer, but the anger from dealing with Azula slipped in.

clearly the guy didn’t enjoy being yelled at as he snapped back. “I didn’t see you.” he seemed to rethink his anger and continued in a calmer voice. “Are you ok?”

ok, now she felt bad about snapping at him. “I’m fine.”

“Oh, what up Sparky?” Toph asked, seeming to brighten as she figured out who almost crashed into them. her guide dog Badger, lead his owner over and with surprising accuracy, Toph punch the guy on the arm.

It was a little scary how well she could do that.

“Stop calling me that.”

“Hey, tell me. Seen his skirt yet? I know he doesn’t shave his legs so please tell me he’s going all out for this.”

The guy sighed. “Thought Sokka told you not to tell anyone.”

“Sokka? He’s the Fencing cheerleader? That’s why he’s been borrowing my hair pins? Those things are expensive.” Katara interrupted.

Toph burst into laughter, clearly enjoying herself while Suki looked thoughtful.

“So that’s why he asked for makeup advice. Suddenly Sports Day is looking a lot more fun.”

“Speaking of which, I’m going back to my room before Jett finds me to let me know my event. Oh, Toph wanna annoying your department?”

“Always.”

“Take my spot for the Rice Lifting event. I’ve dealt with way too much to even put up with Jett today.”

Katara furrowed her brow, wanting to say something about the fact this guy wasn’t going to participate but then she noticed Toph’s smile dropped a little and her punch was definitely softer the second time she hit him.

“Done deal Sparky. Tell your old man I’ll see him later.”

“So who was that?” Suki asked as the guy finally took off.

“Zuko Lung, not related to the royal brat. I go to his old man’s tea house sometimes. He’s Sokka’s roommate apparently.”

“Oh yeah, he’s a pretty good fencer from what I hear. Weird though, I haven’t seen his name in the announcement of students placing.” Suki said.

She had a point. Katara never remembered seeing anything either. She also found it a bit strange Sokka never dragged his roommate to meet the rest of them. there was something about Zuko though that seemed familiar. It was on the tip of her tongue but nothing came to mind. Oh well, for another day then.

“Hey, let’s go find Sokka. Maybe if we catch him off guard, we can get him to agree to let us wax his legs.”

                                             __________________

“I hate you.” Sokka mumbled, hiking his cheerleading skirt up. Katara bit her lip to keep from laughing at the crop top he was in. apparently, he pissed off their department captain by telling him that Zuko wasn’t participating and Toph was taking his place, so his new uniform was worse than his last.

She tossed her braid behind her, trying not to think about how young she must have looked. She had her hair like this when she was younger since it was much easier to put it into a bun. Her own uniform was rather pink for her taste, but Ty Lee basically guilt tripped her into wearing it since it already been bought. She was still annoyed at this, even more so when she found out her new roommate was Mai. The dark and depressing girl was apparently in the Archery Department and Sokka, who’d been in that Department before transferring to fencing, said she was undefeated. Yet she didn’t get past the first round of preliminaries to get onto the national team.

“Hey Sokka!” Aang, a member of the Track and Field Department came bounding over, his own skirt floating around his legs. “Katara, you never told me how much fun a skirt can be. Took me a while to find boxers that weren’t too long but still.”

“I’m glad your having fun Aang. At least someone is.” She said, smirking at Sokka.

“You deal with 3 hours of having your hair ripped out and then come talk to me.” Sokka snapped. “Ugg, I’m gonna kill Zuko. This is all his fault.”

“Wow.” A familiar voice said. Zuko was in casual clothes, carrying a cooler. Next to him was a man, with a squarish face, the same gold eyes and dark hair as Zuko, though his hair was pulled back into a top knot. “See if I bring you anything ever again.”

“You know Jett will kill you if he sees you.”

“He can’t do anything. My uncle called to pull me out for the afternoon. This is work, we’re delivering ice tea for the Fencing and Track and Field Departments. Aang, next time, don’t put your order late at night.”

Aang looked embarrassed. “Sorry. You were already gone when I got back from training. I was going to order for the Rhythmic Gymnastics department, but I know how conscious your coach is about sugars and such.” He said, looking at Katara.

“It’s ok. I’m stealing one though, I deserve the extra sugar for being in this outfit.” She said, walking over to Zuko and opening the lid on the cooler. She noticed he was staring intently at her face.

“What elementary school did you go to?” he asked suddenly.

“Huh?”

“Did you go to Ba Sing Se Preparatory?” he asked.

“Yes?”

“You screamed at those bullies.”

Bullies? Wait. It hit her like a thunderbolt, why he looked so familiar. His burn was a bit more faded but she couldn’t believe he forgot him. He’d been pushed out the window by bullies and her dad, would come to drop off lunch for her and Sokka, managed to catch him before he hurt himself and she’d screamed at the bullies from the floor.

“Holy crap. That was you!” Sokka said, “you had like no hair then!”

“Sokka!” he’d disappeared from class for a few weeks and when he came back his hair was cut so far back that it made his bandages stick out more.

“Yours was in a braid then.”

She was confused for a moment when she realised, he was talking to her. Yesterday her hair had been out but now it was in the same style she had it in as a child.

She’d always wondered what happened to him when Zuko suddenly disappeared for good one day. She’d didn’t think she’d find out now.

[jaxsteamblog]

Longing

Click here to read the full fic on AO3

Katara had not done well in any of her creative writing projects. Flowery language didn’t come naturally to her and her public speaking engagements were riddled with awkward silences when she finished speaking far sooner than her audience anticipated. 

She worried her words lacked sincerity; Zuko often said such wonderful things about her as if he had put hours of thought behind it. Yet when she tried to reciprocate, she had situations like the time she told him he fought good after watching him practice. 

And worse still, Katara did think about him all the time.

As she walked out to her balcony, Katara gazed out over the wide ice fields. With the calm weather and the twilight midafternoon, the frozen desert looked like more of the sea. It was this empty expanse that thrummed the ache in her chest.

If she were a poet, she could describe the feeling better. But what came to her mind was the pitiful observation that longing just increased the distance between her and Zuko. Days stretched past its clock face bounds and the miles of ocean became leagues of doldrums. 

The time and space between them was long, and so her yearning was stretched painfully over the distance. 

And the wire between them, the red threads that bound her, were slowly being tightened by Arnook and her father. 

But it wasn’t going to be the threads that snapped. 

“Katara?”

She squeezed her eyes shut at the sound of her father’s voice. Rationally, she knew he would of course be staying in the North Pole until the coronation. Both as her father and the chief of the South Pole gave him reason enough to stay.

But oh how she wished Sokka was around.

“I’m out here.” Katara called.

Hakoda moved slowly through her bedroom and Katara took in a deep breath, feeling her lungs expand. As she blew out, her breath became a cloud and she watched it rather than looking over at her dad.

“How are you feeling?” He asked.

“I’m fine, dad.” Katara replied.

“You seem a little tense.” Hakoda said.

“I wonder why.” She said dryly.

Hakoda leaned against the railing and Katara glanced at him from the corner of her eye. 

She had always imagined him as broad shouldered and looming. Like he could cut icebergs in half with only a handaxe. 

But her father was as tall as Sokka, and almost as thin. His cheeks were carved deep into his face, a holdover from his imprisonment in a Fire Nation workcamp. He was not an imposing man and was often quiet, never drawing much attention in a room. 

He was only a man after all.

 “Katara, ever since the festival in the Fire Nation, I feel like you’re trying to avoid me.” Hakoda said.

“I was trying to avoid you before that.” Katara stated. “Now I just get pissed off when I’m near you.”

“What’s happened to you?” Hakoda demanded. “You were such a-”

He stopped and Katara turned, looking furious and curious.

“Such a, what? Toddler?” Katara asked. “But regardless of the whole growing up thing, I did fight in a war.”

“So did I.” Hakoda countered, his voice low and dangerous. “I was also trapped in a Fire Nation prison for years.” 

“I went out to look for you.” Katara said. “You and mom. All I wanted was for us to be a family again.”

“We can be Katara. Here and now, we can be a family again.” Hakoda said.

“You may not have noticed, but mom is dead.” Katara spat out. “We can never be a family.”

“I loved Kya and I miss her every day. But Malina is part of our family now and we can-”

“You can.” Katara interrupted. “Sokka can too for all I care. But I will never be part of a family that doesn’t include mom.”

“Except for the prince of the Fire Nation?” Hakoda asked. 

Katara glared at him, holding his eye and silently daring him to look away. 

“Zuko.” She clamped her mouth shut, feeling her emotions swirl up in her chest. Her chest was nearly heaving, as if she had run for miles, and her heart pounded adrenaline into her veins. 

“Zuko knows everything.” She started again. “Being the Fire Nation prince means he knows exactly what the war cost me personally, and he knows exactly how much blood is on my hands.”

Katara turned away from Hakoda, looking back out at the ice.

“Do you know how many men I killed? How many ships I sunk? How many bodies I took over in agnonizing torture?” She asked. “After Zhao, I thought I was a monster. After mom died, I willingly became one.”

“You are not a monster, Katara. You are my daughter.” Hakoda said firmly, but in a softer voice. 

Katara scoffed.

“You don’t even know who your daughter is. Haven’t you heard the whispers back home? Haven’t you talked with Hama?” She asked. When Hakoda didn’t answer, she turned to him. Examining his drawn face, she laughed bitterly.

“You met her.” She said. 

Hakoda turned his body away and Katara did the same. 

“She told you I was a Bloodbender.” She continued.

“It is forbidden. I know she was lying.” Hakoda said.

“She wasn’t.” Katara said. She turned away from her father to go back inside, but paused to address him.

“There is nothing forbidden to me. Not my bending and not Zuko.” She stated.

As she walked, she felt the thread pull at her. It dragged her heartstrings over the ocean and into the rich black soil of the Fire Nation. 

At the summit, when she watched Zuko circulate among dignitaries and journalists, Katara made her choice. She had sacrificed so much and gained so little in return. Every restriction she placed on herself, to make things easier, only resulted in her getting pushed around. 

There would be no more restrictions. She would not willingly shackle herself to weights that threatened to drown her.

This yearning, this longing, this distance, would be the only thing that would take her breath away and place this ache deep within her breast. 

Passing through her bedroom, Katara picked up her phone and opened her message app. 

She would see him soon.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

[megdonnellys]

what can i you you tell me about your atla ocs?

ahhhh so much! spoilers for all three seasons btw! (also under the cut because it got long)

ok so the one that i’m probably most excited about is hikari! she’s 16 and a waterbender from a small village that lived on the outskirts of omashu! it was originally like a “stop” for injured soldiers when the war first began but eventually progressed and turned into its own village! hikari’s father was fighting in the war, but was home for a few days as his troops moved, but unfortunately those few days were the same ones that the fire nation attacked. before taking over omashu they invaded the village searching for waterbenders and her dad and others managed to hold them off long enough for hikari and her mom to escape! sadly, her dad died in the fight.

her and her mom decide to head to ba sing se as refugees and this is when the story actually starts! they’d been in the city for about a month before the gaang & zuko and iroh show up, and her mom ends up getting really really sick. she helps heal her since she’s, you know, a waterbender, but her mom wants medicinal tea for the Comfort Factor, so kari heads out to get some and stumbles across the shop that iroh and zuko are working at! (of course she knows them as mushi & lee). her and iroh become friends over the course of her visiting the shop to pick up tea for her mom, and zuko kinda watches from a distance as they interact. her and zuko end up becoming friends too and date for a while! then uh... he betrays everyone in the catacombs lol. hikari then joins the gaang because if she stays in the catacombs she will literally be a prisoner of war and she spends most of season 3 worrying about her mom and then the later half being pissed at zuko. her faceclaim is brianne tju (my fancast for zuko is brandon soo hoo)

NEXT is my baby boy takashi, who is uh.... a fire nation soldier hehe. basically he grew up in the fire nation and when he was thirteen his family recieved a letter that his dad had died in the war and they were drafting takashi. my poor baby who did Not want to do that uh... refused to go to training and then him and his sister, akira, came home to find their mom dead and a soldier sitting in their living room. he basically threatened that if takashi didn’t join the war then they would kill his sister too and so... he joins lol.

he has a Lot of trauma bc he’s in a war that he doesn’t give a single shit about and just wants to protect his older sister. so, when he’s 16 and told that he was to go to ba sing se as a spy disguised as a refugee to gather information and help the fire nation take over... he does. i’m not super sure about how he meets everyone but he ends up running into jet and him and jet kinda have a lil.... Thing, ofc after takashi, who is just a repressed gay doing his best accidentally reveals that he’s fire nation, jet pushes him away so fast and runs off to go tell the dai li (ofc he’s brainwashed before that happens)

him and sokka end up meeting and ofc takashi knows exactly who he is but sokka’s a hopeless bisexual who thinks he’s hot and is constantly flirting with him and they form a nice lil friendship (while sokka def wants more) and takashi struggles with wanting to be with sokka and needing to protect his family! it’s a whole Thing that i haven’t figured out entirely but yeah! his faceclaim is ryan potter! (and my sokka fancast is booboo stewart)

FINALLY WE HAVE MY BABY princess niko! she is the niece of king bumi and her story is that her father was the king of a small earth kingdom called shin lao that was conquered by the fire nation when niko was still an infant. she was actually in omashu when the invasion happened because there were telltale signs that the invasion was coming soon and her parents were like “yeah let’s get her OUTTA HERE”. her parents do die when they refuse to just give up their kingdom and the fire nation takes over and basically turns this prosperous kingdom into ruins by the time niko’s six.

she’s an earthbender and bumi raises her and helps her master earthbending and teaches her how to be a princess and all that stuff because well... she is lol. they often visit kyoshi island to celebrate avatar kyoshi since she was the most recent earthbending avatar, and that’s where she meets suki! they fall in love and are cute and adorable but before the start of season 1 they decide to end it because niko’s a princess and she’s a kyoshi warrior and they’re both 15 and have responsiblities they have to focus on instead. it’s... very sad, but they remain friends and she’s actually with suki when she finds out that the avatar’s back!

she joins the gaang in season 1 when they go to omashu and is kind of just reassuring katara and sokka that her uncle bumi isn’t going to let them die, and at the end bumi’s like “don’t you think it’d be helpful to have a powerful earthbender on your journey?” and immediately they’re like “oh bumi we couldn’t ask you to abandon your kingdom-” and niko’s like “he’s talking about me” and shows off her earthbending like the kween she is!

her story is more about being a part of the gaang and the genuine love she has for the earth kingdom and how she copes with learning just how much the fire nation has damaged it! but, her love interest is suki and they do end up getting back together because being so involved in the war makes them realize how much they love each other and don’t care about how hard it might be anymore! her fc is lana condor! (my suki fancast is lulu antariksa)

[ill-be-istj-if-no-one-else-is]

In which I finally type the Belgariad

I reread this over Thanksgiving! Kind of because I couldn’t find the final book anywhere in my house! I’m sort of pissed off about that but I should probably just buy them all used on Amazon at this point.

Anyway:

I’ve already established that Durnik (reliable, moral blacksmith guy) is an ISTJ. The rest of the core party:

Belgarath: I used to think ENTP but he’s an ESTP. His use of intuition is very Ni, and also because (spoiler) he’s thousands of years old I think we can safely assume his inferior function is well-developed and he is more capable of patience and such. Even with that in mind he’s impatient and blunt but cares deeply underneath. He has a lot of trickster archetype in him (though not as much as some other characters) and tends to approach things from a very detached logical view after the initial visceral response.

Polgara: Okay so I’m actually leaning ESTJ over ESFJ in many ways. She’s definitely quite set in her ways and tends to, unlike her father, use intuition in a more ‘sense of possible outcomes’ rather than his convergent idea, so I’m confident in the Si-aux here. She’s also (spoiler) thousands of years old so again we can assume all functions are well-developed.

Here’s the thing: while she is introduced in a very caretaker role, she is one of the most brutally efficient characters in the series. Belgarath is impatient, but it’s Polgara who early on will go against him and speed things up. She’s not at all interested in harmony for its own sake, and her usual form of diplomacy is proving her competence. She also doesn’t show her father’s interest in more philosophical learning for its own sake, but is incredibly knowledgeable about things she uses. She also gets a dramatic speech to Garion (later) that I feel is just pure inferior Fi (strong and developed inferior Fi but still inferior Fi).

Barak: Giant fighter dude, doesn’t get a huge amount of characterization which is unfortunate because I do like him overall. He does get some good scenes. Anyway, I think also ESTP - a much younger (he’s portrayed as probably being late 20s/early 30s) more classic boisterous ESTP in a culture that lauds very hands-on, physical, immediate behavior.

Silk: Trickster/Spy character. Probably in his early to mid 30s? I say ISTP: Incredibly analytical, always aware of what is going on, sees a lot of what he does as a game more than anything (doesn’t care for recognition or even money really - he notably says that money’s just a way to keep score), obviously cares about people as well but tends to struggle to express it (more so than Barak); on the other hand, his intuition is pretty good.

Mandorallen: courtly knight champion archetype. Also doesn’t get a huge amount of characterization because his country is portrayed as, for the most part, kind of like Prince Zuko in the Ember Island Players (drama, HONOOOOOOOORRRRRRRR) and also not the brightest torches in the sconce. But he has a brief scene that leads me to believe he’s an ESFP, when he talks about not caring much about his reputation as long as he is ultimately true to his own values.

Ce’Nedra: ENFJ. There’s an explicit description of her always going for the meaning behind parables and stories, and she tends to jump to conclusions a lot too. She’s also quite clearly a dom Fe user - very concerned with social rank and how she’s liked by people, and quite attuned to how people work in general. She can be very manipulative when necessary, but also incredibly generous. Honestly she’s a great complex female character. Also her age is actually given as 15-16 and she fits the type at that age (Se is mostly in the form of being impulsive, not much Ti use at all)

Garion: I think INTP, actually. He’s very conceptual (there’s also some explicit scenes about how he’s very good at seeing difficult problems in a simple way and in particular making sense of complex concepts) but often struggles with the details. He also shows a lot of low Si (in a world with repeating patterns/prophecy he’s particularly bad at realizing when something failed and should be changed) but is overally pretty good at thinking on his feet. I thought INFP at first but the fact is he’s impulsive but tends to go about things from more of a logical standpoint. He’s definitely emotional, and he has some identity crises, but I don’t think they’re coming from Fi and he actually shows flashes of being pretty good at reading people in a high Ti-low Fe way, but more often than not goes for the reaction (or approval). He’s also around 16 during the series; in the sequel series he’s much better with people which makes me more confident in INTP.

I’m not as sure about a bunch of the other characters just because they don’t get as much ‘screen time’ (or because a lot of what I’d use was in book 5 which I couldn’t find - book 5 actually has a lot of characterization for minor characters earlier on in the books) though I have some ideas. In particular:

Hettar - in the core party but really quiet and given not much characterization other than ‘single-minded, has horse-related magic, good at fighting.’ He fits the lone-wolf badass ISTP stereotypes very well.

Relg - shows up later. The religious fanaticism could be coming from either Si or Ni; he doesn’t really show Fe at all and has a certain Te ‘do what needs to be done’ so I could go with either of the IxTJs and would have to review to be sure.

Lelldorin - Also probably ESFP. DEFINITELY Se-dom (super great with situational awareness in terms of fighting; impulsive as fuck; not very analytical; not good at implications). He’s in his late teens so his Te and Ni are pretty weak.

As always adventuring-based fantasy has a strong bias towards SPs in the party (this is true of most quest-based fantasy though weirdly LoTR is the exception); the political characters don’t get as much characterization but I think they are a much more mixed group.