#CATCH IT OZAI

[zukosbangtan]

sorry but can we take a second to acknowledge just how impressive and iconic this scene of zuko redirecting lightning for the first time is please??

like hello??? can we talk about how he did not only redirect one lightning bolt but TWO LIGHTNING BOLTS?? at the same time!!! and again, this is his first time redirecting lightning okay i need yall to keep that in mind cause girl what.

(and while i hate to praise a bitch i don't like i must say it's crazy that ozai is even able to shoot two lightning bolts within a second like phew okay girl i'll give u that i guess)

like that's insane!! and ozai was literally out for blood like he wanted zuko DEAD yall. and he managed to redirect it in the blink of an eye without any preparation and still walk away after that in one piece. and he was like? just fine afterwards??? the longer i think abt it the crazier it just gets liiike this is seriously so impressive.

[hyacinths-in-a-storm]

Iroh’s gaydar isn’t actually broken he just grew up around gay people and thinks that everyone is like that.

[bluerasberry-friend]

Thinking about Zuko is just so sad. Like my boy is a theatre nerd trapped in an abusive household, let him do theatre nerd stuff and stop making him feel embarassed of his dramatic, nerdy, awkward self 😭😭😭

[batclownerd]

i do not understand why atla writers still didn't make azula happy/gave her redemption/made her heal, it doesn't make any fucking sense why people that made atla, that made so many good deep heartbreaking stories didn't do the same with the traumatized 14 YEAR OLD

i know they wanted to do that, i know they didn't had enough time after the show, but they made comics, they made books and I dont understand why they keep doing other things then writings the healing of azula, they can do this, they showed it with different characters in atla and tlok so why not azula? almost everyone can agree that the comics are a disappointment but the biggest one for me is the lack of azulas redemption, we have the fundaments for it (the search comic and azula in the spirit temple) so do it.

its been 13 years. and you only made the little steps with 2 comics

let her be happy, let her be healed

[beanghostprincess]

Niji: Well, yes, I guess you're right. I don't have sob stories like all of you. I could sit here and complain how our mom liked Sanji more than me, but I don't really care. My own mother thought I was a monster... She was right, of course, but it still hurt.

[lesbow]

Just spent time reading a 50k fic only for them to rewrite Aang killing Ozai at the end I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you (the concept not the author)

I do not understand why it’s so hard for people to accept that Aang removing Ozai’s bending was the greatest conclusion for their arcs. Could energy bending have been hinted at earlier? Yeah perhaps. But regardless, the whole point of Aang not murdering Ozai + not sparing him either, is to highlight him finally coming into his own.

Aang found a compromise between his monk ideals and the responsibilities of the Avatar. The Fire Nation tried to wipe out his people. Aang is their SOLE survivor, the only one who can preserve their culture. But no matter how different the world looks, he refuses to be seen as a relic of a forgotten people. He is here, now. The Air Nomads did not all die out because he is still here right now and he refuses to let the war say otherwise.

Aang’s arc is about accepting what it means to be the Avatar. He’s spent seasons running from his duties. But it’s not a coincidence the first time Aang ever ran away was from his temple home. Because he has duties as the Avatar but also to his people, and he fled from them both. Because thematically they are one and the same, they are both him.

This is why it’s so important the show ends with Ozai being taken out by unflinching and unapologetic Air Nomad ideals. Him not killing Ozai is a message to everyone that their philosophies are not extinct, even in wartime even after so many are gone.

I can’t stand people who view it as a cop out because it’s not even like Aang spared him. Ozai was a purist who used his extraordinary bending to reign terror and death. Without it, he is nothing because he chose for it to be all he was. Aang quite literally removed a significant chunk of what made up Ozai’s identity. Just because Aang did not maim him physically does not mean Ozai wasn’t served justice.

Ozai abused Fire Nation culture and his role as the Firelord. So in the end, he lost ties to both, and will have to suffer as he watches the world thrive without him. In contrast, Aang mended his own ties, to both the Air Nomads and his role as the Avatar. Ozai lost his sense of identity while Aang restored his.

Aang did his duty as the Avatar and eliminated a world conquering threat. Aang also did his duty to his people and maintained their ideals after the world tried to get rid of them.

Removing Ozai’s bending signifies that he finally, beautifully, learned what it means to be who he is. After seasons of running away, he has come home, to himself, his people, and his duties, and became Avatar Aang.

I, on the other hand, am not an Air Nomad, so the next person that tries to frame the finale as “Nickelodeon were cowards and just didn’t want to show a death” will be getting beat with a bat.

[woodlaflababab]

Anti Aang rhetoric: "Aang had everything handed to him."

Aang: Literally has to go dumpster diving for food.

[korrasamibottles]

new sapphic flag just dropped

Nothing but respect for MY flag. The only one I'll ever stand for🫡

[vegasvagus]

The live-action remake of atla (no I haven't watched it) but it did bring up conversation amongst my friends and I and two of them were talking about how (when the show first came out) they were all for Zuko and that one popular ship of his that people still argue about to this day...and if I was sober during that conversation (I was drinking) I knew I would be in the fucking TRENCHES defending Aang's character because while I don't really give a shit about either one of those ships in the show (still don't) but Aang is my bestie and they ain't gotta drag his character through the mud over fandom shit D:

[wileycap]

At the intersection of crack and tragedy, I have this fic idea about Zuko getting time looped during the day of his Agni Kai.

The first few loops are painful and traumatic. (Well, they're all painful and traumatic, but after the first fifty times... even getting half your face burned off by your own father gets old.)

After a while, he manages to stay awake long enough to hear Iroh crying at his bedside, begging for Zuko to stay. Pleading with the spirits, please, not him too.

(And then it takes more time for him to realize who visits him after Iroh falls asleep. She doesn't say anything.)

Zuko makes a Plan.

In the mornings, he tracks down Iroh or any experienced firebender, and he learns. So what if he isn't good? He'll make up for it the same way he always does: with hard work. He has the time.

(One of these days, Uncle won't have to spend the evening crying to the spirits.)

He gets better. Far better than he has any right to be. Iroh is thrilled on the days when he manages to catch him and not one of the other masters. Every time, the other masters barely tolerate him until he shows them. Iroh is always patient and kind.

Middays are reserved for Azula. A sister is a sister, and maybe... maybe Azula just needed somebody after Mom left.

(Zuko got that wrong, too. He's pretty sure he died the first time, and this is the spirits punishing him for being a bad son, a bad brother, a bad prince. He'll get it right, eventually.)

And at sunset, he still tries to plead with his father. Ozai will never hear him, but he has to try.

(A few hundred burns to the face can make you hate a man.)

But no matter how hard he tries, he can't beat Ozai. His skills improve, but his body doesn't - it will always be thirteen, with undeveloped chi paths he can barely break through to, and Ozai is a man in his prime.

Until one day he fights so well that Ozai halts the battle. He has the old general (after all this time, Zuko has completely forgotten the general) brought up, and orders Zuko to give him a mark of shame. To prove himself a good son and a good prince.

He stands above the general and looks at his tears and his shaking hands and his panicked eyes and he understands.

This time, Zuko earns his scar with pride.

(And when Iroh cries at his bedside, he reaches out and squeezes his Uncle's hand: I'm here, I'm not leaving.)

(And later, when Azula comes in with her soft steps and doesn't say anything, Zuko cracks open his good eye and gives her a smile.)

(And when he and Iroh set out the next morning, it is with purpose.)

(They leave behind a princess who knows that her father is not invincible.)

[lady-iskra]

The Southern Raiders: so, demon Zuko brought out the worst in poor, innocent Katara…

What did Zuko do to deserve this accusation coming from some people among the fanbase? I rewatched The Southern Raiders the other day and spend close attention to catch up on what they could possibly mean.

So, what does Zuko do to Katara after the Gaang flees from Azula?

He looks after her and is holding an appropriate distance while asking her, calmly, why she still can’t trust him.

After her response he realizes: Oh yeah, I wronged her the most. Followed by asking how he can make it up to her and understanding what she needs, even though she is giving sarcastic answers.

He offers Katara a chance to face the killer of her mother, so she will be finally able to receive closure and begin the process of healing. This is an exact parallel of Zuko facing Ozai on The day of the black sun. He could’ve just left and join the Gaang, but instead he chose to face his father first: because he needed this.

(Furthermore, he spared Ozai, the same way he spared Zhao even back in S1; that goes against the frequently used argument that he definitely expected Katara to kill Yon Rha coming from some people.)

As I mentioned before, I paid close attention during my rewatch

At no point is Zuko pushing Katara to do anything she doesn’t want, nor does he do anything else to release her dark side.

Am I the only one picturing an incubus-like Zuko whispering in Katara’s ear, every time someone claims that?

On the opposite: He is listening to her and is offering support while facing her biggest trauma. The same goes for the actual field trip: he is nothing but supportive, doesn’t push her to do anything and is standing aside, so that Katara can receive closure under her own conditions—which she did, and she forgave Zuko because of it. Not only that, she even gives him a tight hug out of deep gratitude. Would a person act like this towards somebody who brought out the worst in them? I highly doubt it.

But then why is Katara showing a dark side, some might even say, she is OOC?

I genuinely don’t get the OOC-part... She is very in-character, and her dark side has nothing to do with Zuko. It’s Katara being presented as an actual human being with feelings. Imagine that...

Why is Aang allowed to show a dark side? I never heard anyone complain about him in those specific situations. But Katara, despite raising her voice before and showing her rage in many situations during the show, is suddenly acting OOC when it comes to The Southern Raiders.

She is about to face her trauma and to meet her mother’s killer, of course she won’t be the happiest person in the world, more nervous and angry, lashing out if someone tries to stop her. Yeah, and even going as far as to use bloodbending when finally meeting the (wrong) man.

Doesn’t mean her feelings aren’t justified, and it wasn’t Zuko who brought them up, but the situation alone.

That’s all this is

A person facing her trauma, thus showing very natural darker feelings in this situation, after suppressing them for years. Of course, it was hard for Katara, but she agreed on this trip because she knew she needed it. It was the right thing for her to do—and Zuko is the one who gave her a chance on this, nothing more, nothing less.

[waterfire1848]

I just had another idea and had to share

Ursa teaching her kids how to fly is probably the most anxiety inducing thing for Ozai because Zuko and Azula are casually jumping off the roof (yes Ursa is there to catch them if they can't fly). He ends up having to go inside because if he stays outside any longer he's going to have a heart attack.

Dragon AU where Azula turns into a dragon for the first time and panics. Thinking she's a monster, Azula runs off but Ursa finds her hiding behind an old lighthouse. Azula tells Ursa to go away but Ursa doesn't and sits with her until Azula calms down enough to turn back human.

Ursa then tells Azula about her great grandfather Roku, the original dragon shifter.

Inspired by the lighthouse scene from Ruby Gillman Teenage Kraken 

[fujoshirat]

Please Please Please! ♡

𝓟𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮 𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮 𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮 𝓭𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓫𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓘 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓭𝓲𝓭 𝓶𝔂 𝓶𝓪𝓴𝓮𝓾𝓹 𝓼𝓸 𝓷𝓲𝓬𝓮

Summary: Born with a blue flame, it is to your family's dismay that your body cannot withstand the extreme heat. In order to save the family's face, you're put in an arranged marriage with the crown prince of the Fire Nation. Unfortunately, the crown prince and your fiancé doesn't seem to happy with that...

Warnings: small mention of blood, asshole jerk Zuko pre-character development, afab reader, angst, unrequited love (I haven't watched ATLA in a while so I don't know the timeline so don't come after me if it isn't completely accurate (╥﹏╥)), reader can sing!

Word Count: 4k...

Inspired by "Please Please Please!" by my queen Sabrina Carpenter!

The sickeningly sweet smell of the fire lily perfume burned your nostrils. You had no choice but to breathe it in as you sat in the regal carriage, the multitude of layers of the elaborate robe reminding you of the burden you were “gifted.” ‘A gift,’ you thought, ‘yeah right.’ In your heart, a single blue flame burned. It burned a beautiful blue, like the ocean. But it was only a single flame, nothing more.

It was the chief cause of your current situation: drowning in expensive robes, gagging on the stuffy perfume, all dolled up and being taken to the Fire Nation capital to meet your fiancé. Apparently, the royal advisors and fire lord himself seemed to have no issues with wedding you off with the soon-to-be-crown prince. Why? not only were you the eldest daughter of an important general in the fire lord’s army, but you also possessed a trace of a blue flame. The flame was present since you first tried to fire bend in your childhood. The catch? Your body was naturally too weak to be “comfortable” with the powerful flame. The blue flame would scorch your pretty skin badly, leaving nasty burns and scars. That meant that you couldn’t overexert yourself, you couldn’t push yourself to your limits according to your father’s standards. You couldn’t be a strong fire bender like they wanted you to be.

And then, your mother had an idea.

In order to give you a good life (you suspect that she just wanted to save face for both her and your father), she proposed to wed you to the prince, Prince Zuko. Using that shrewd tact and calm voice, she convinced his majesty the fire lord himself to arrange the marriage.

A pebble that the carriage must have hit snaps you out of your thoughts because finally, the carriage stops. Looking out the window, your eyes widen slightly at the breathtaking building before you: the palace. The driver opens the door for you, holding your hand softly to help you down. You take a deep breath in order to clear the heavy scent of fire lilies from your nose, mentally thankful for the fresh air. At the top of the stairs, you notice two servants waiting, as well as your parents already ascending up the steps. Your gaze trails back to the ocean in the horizon before you also walk up the stairs, unwanted destiny awaiting you.

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡

Thank the spirits and the ancestors for somehow persuading the fire lord to have the decency to provide you your own room. Meeting the crown prince was… eventful. Once you had entered the throne you, you immediately caught sight of Fire Lord Ozai, Princess Azula, and Prince Zuko. The young prince was probably also your age, based on his youthful features. However, it was evident that he was certainly skilled in fire bending and most likely excelled in training. What puzzled you the most (other than his frown), was the large burn mark on the left side of his face. Was it from his training? An accident? Not wanting to seem rude, you tear your eyes away from him and bow courteously. The fire lord seemed to have liked that, because as he was talking with your parents, he wore a smile on his face the entire time. Similarly, Princess Azula had a condescending smirk painted on her face, as if she was proud of it. No doubt was she thinking, ‘So this is who my brother is going to marry.’ She made you nervous, and no doubt did she take pride in that. The entire conversation, you stayed quiet. ‘Y/N, you must keep your mouth shut and stay silent unless spoken to, and you remember the lesson on manners and proper responses of a noble, correct?’→that was what your godforsaken mother had told you. You didn’t feel like talking anyways, so you were thankful that the first lord never addressed you.

And Prince Zuko? You were sure that no one would ever want to be in an arranged marriage, but the crown prince made it known that he didn’t like this. His arms were crossed the entire time, eyebrows furrowed and sharp, piercing gaze watching you and your parents. It felt like he could see through you. He was handsome (besides that awful haircut), but his demeanor screamed hate and a nasty temper. Finally, after what seemed like hours of talking, a young servant quietly led you to your room.

Now, you sat on your bed, the expensive silk nightgown hugging your skin. There were 5 days until the prince’s birthday, meaning that the advisors would officially announce the engagement. It was a day you knew you would dread, though you did not realize how much you would dread it.

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡

It felt like you couldn’t breathe. Your mother instructed the servants to doll you up and good gracious do they do their job well.

A little too well, because your corset was waaaaaay to tight. Not enough to suffocate you, but enough to give you discomfort. Not to mention the gorgeous maroon dress that made you itchy. You had to fight the makeup lady not to overdo the makeup, eventually settling for mascara, blush, and lip tint, no doubt the finest in all of the land. It was already a quarter to 7, almost time for Prince Zuko’s birthday ball and the event that you’ve been anxious about. It wasn’t your first time attending a ball—due to your father’s status, he would take you with him and your mother to the multitude of balls held by other nobles, generals, and dukes. However, a ball held by the fire lord himself in his very own palace ballroom was cosmic. There would be way more people than there usually are at the smaller balls you’ve attended. More eyes watching you, judging you, peering into your soul: Who are you and what makes you worthy of being arranged to marry the crown prince? One of the servants clears her throat and smiles. "Miss Y/N, you look absolutely stunning.” The other maids also clap, as if you accomplished something. Not used to the compliments (all of the compliments you received from your parents were fake), you smile shyly and bow your head. “Thank you.”

A knock on the door—a butler cracks the fancy wood open. “Miss Y/N, are you ready? You must make your appearance with Prince Zuko soon.” Stomach twisting in knots, you bow to the servants before following the butler to the private foyer leading to the entrance of the ballroom. There, the crown prince stood, watching his sister process after the fire lord and your parents. The butler clears his throat, gaining the attention of the prince, elaborately dressed in fine robes, hues of scarlet and maroon.

“Prince Zuko, Miss Y/N is here.” Turning around, Zuko glances at you, a scowl on his face. Politely, you curtsy and smile.

“Prince Zuko, good evening.”

Not expected a scoff, you tweak when he seems to mock you, his expression never softening. “Let’s go.” ‘Wow, I tried to be nice and polite, and yet he seems to lack basic manners and social skills.’ You link his arm with his, trying not to let your nerves show, and the two of you exit the dimly lit foyer and enter the ballroom. Right as you walk in, you’re blinded by the dazzling diamonds and lights reflecting off the numerous chandeliers. With a smile, you wave your free hand as your mother taught you: daintily with a gentle touch. You sneak a quick glance at your fiancé’s expression, an unamused face.

‘Geez, even if you don’t like me or this arrangement, at least pretend.’

His actions and entire demeanor baffle you. As someone in such a high position, he was rebellious, and he made it known. Suddenly, shiver bolts down your spine when you realize that everyone’s eyes are on you as the two of you reach the elevated throne platform. Young ladies with envious expressions, judgmental gazes of elder nobles, and all eyes of the elite peering into your soul. You seem to know the question that they’re all thinking:

Who are you and what makes you worthy of being arranged to marry the crown prince?

—

Quite frankly, that ball was shit. The guests seemed quite shocked when the fire lord himself announced the engagement. Thankfully, when Lord Ozai called you up to show your bending, their minds seemed to be put at ease. When the blue flames formed at your nimble fingertips, slightly burning them (not that they could tell from the distance), they were at awe and even applauded. That wasn’t the end of it, however. When you joined Zuko at his side, he walked away, leaving you standing like a statue.

‘What?’

You watched him walk over to a noble lady and man, no doubt his friends. They were his age and seemed to be close, because his expression visibly softened.

Instead of moping about the stupid prince ('get a grip, Y/N!’), you decided to busy yourself with greeting the guests and thanking them for coming. Greeting strangers and exchanging pleasantries, all crucial in the game of house that you were forced to play. Forced to smile, forced to sit pretty, forced to marry the rude crown prince just because you weren’t strong enough.

And what about the crown prince? What did he do all throughout his night? You watched Prince Zuko stay with his friends, doing “normal” teenager things with his friends—clearly having more fun than you’d ever see him have with you.

And it hurt.

Sure, the arrangement sucked and the both of you hated it, but at least you tried to start things off right. Prince Zuko? He hadn’t done anything, hadn’t acknowledged you or your presence. It was like he denied your existence in his world. It hurt both your ego and your heart.

He did that the entire time, the entire four-hour duration of the ball. Ignored you, said nothing to you, and did not even bother checking up on you. You were on the verge of tears the entire time. Swallowing your bruised ego, you continued to make small talk with the elite. Finally, you were relieved when you were allowed to return to your room. You would have run if your heels weren’t hurting your feet so much. Locking the door, you stumble out of your shoes before collapsing on your bed. Pulling at the laces of your corset, you take off the suffocating dress and toss it to the floor, not caring anymore. Once in your nightgown, you tuck yourself in, the used sheets still foreign to you. This wasn’t home and it’ll never be home. You felt your throat tighten as your eyes began to water, reality truly sinking in for you.

You were to be wed to a boy who didn’t even acknowledge your existence in an unfamiliar “house.”

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡

As the months went by, you began getting used to the life you now lived. Your parents returned to their home a month after the ball, leaving you alone in the palace all this time. The servants, your only friends, always checked up on you and seemed to be the only welcoming people there. The fire lord was always busy, especially with the increasing reports of the Avatar returning. The Avatar? You had heard of the man in stories and myths. You heart about how he disappeared a long time ago and of reports of his presence prior to your move to the Fire Capital. But was it true that he was back?

It must be so, because he was driving your fiancé insane. He was tasked to capture the Avatar since before you arrived and based on the sound of breaking ceramics and the unhealthy amount of glass scattered on the floor around the palace, you could quietly assume that things were not going well. Prince Zuko still had that temper that he oh so graciously greeted you with on your first day and it certainly hasn’t gotten better. Maybe that was why he was so unapproachable? Thankfully, it hasn’t made him scorn you more. Sure, he still refuses to acknowledge you as his fiancé and existing in his world, but at least he doesn’t beat or hit you.

However, the servants were not immune to his temper tantrums.

It was already near 1 am, and you had awoken to the sound of shattering and a shrill yell. You quickly get up, running out of your room to check the sound. Opening the door, you see one of the female maids on the ground. Around her, shards of glass and ceramics that no doubt made the noise. And to your surprise? Prince Zuko standing by her, fists clenched and a noticeable amount of blood coating his right fist. Instinctively, you stand between the terrified servant and your fiancé.

“Prince Zuko!” you hiss as quietly as you can as to not wake anyone up, “What the hell are you doing?” You tense up at his sharp gaze turning to your face, jaw visibly tightened and chest heaving.

“This doesn’t concern you,” he spat out. You notice a spilled tray of water near the glass, probably the maid’s own. With a comforting smile, you turn to the maid. “Go on and get some rest for the night. I’ll handle this.” She hastily gets back on her feet and bows graciously, “Thank you, Miss Y/N!” before scurrying off into the dark hallway and back to the servant quarters. Looking down, you sigh and push the broken shards of glass into a pile with the tray. Not bothering to look up at the prince, you start talking again.

“You know, she was just doing her job and being polite.”

“I don’t need her pity,” he snapped back, and you frowned even more. Standing up, you dust off your nightgown.

“She wasn’t pitying you, Prince Zuko, she was just offering you water. That’s her job and it’s good that she offered without being asked.”

You point your hand towards the glass pile and let a small blue flame melt it down.

“Instead, you scared her half to death and probably won’t be able to look at you for the next week. What’s wrong with you?” Your question must have snapped him out of his trance because prior to his now irritated expression, he was watching you melt the glass in awe. “What’s wrong with me? Well, Miss Y/N,” his tone was almost mocking, ouch. “I just got off a stupid ship after a stupid mission trying to capture the stupid Avatar! And guess what? He slipped through my fingers again! So, I think it’s reasonable that I be the ‘tad bit’ upset!”

His words hurt, and his tone made it worse. Not faltering, you let the melted glass cool off as you looked back up at him and tried to remain calm despite the rapid thumping of your heart.

“Prince Zuko, I understand your frustration, but it’s no excuse to take your anger out on others—especially those who are supporting you.”

Zuko’s irked expression seemed to have faltered, perhaps because no one had ever talked to him in such a calm and understanding tone. Unbeknownst to you, it brought up memories of the joyful little old man who’d “laze” around and make invite him for tea. It brought up memories of a beautiful, sweet woman whose absence brought sorrow and rainy days. And, he seemed to be coming to his senses as you watched him examine his bloodied hand and the glass “puddle.”

“I…” His voice trailed off, and for the first time, it didn’t seem like he hated you. A soft smile finally making its way to your face, you grab the hardened glass blob and open the door to your room.

“Come in, I’ll patch that up for you.”

The crown prince follows you in and quietly closes the door behind him. You lead him to the rocking chair by the large glass window covered by red, regal curtains and usher him to sit. Putting the hardened glass down, you open the drawer of the study desk and pull out a roll of bandages and tissue. “You have bandages?” You nod, “I always try to have because I get injured often when I fire bend.” As you clean his wound, Zuko sneaks glances at you. You’re much shorter and smaller than him, yet you look and act so mature. He then notices the small burn marks on your hands, ‘Were those from your fire bending?’ When the cotton tissue is pressed down a little harshly, the boy lets out a hiss, causing you to let up. “Oh! Sorry, was that too much?” You watch him wordlessly nod before tossing the bloodied cloth to the side and begin wrapping his hand in the bandages. Like second-hand nature, a familiar tune bubbles up in your mind and a hum slips from your throat. Singing eases your mind, so maybe it’ll clear the tension in the room. The soft melody of your humming fills the quiet room like the wind.

“You sound… nice.” At the sudden comment, you nearly drop the bandage as warmth rushes to your face. When was the last time that someone complimented your voice? Glancing up at him, your tired eyes meet his own tired amber ones. “Oh, um, thank you but it’s really nothing,” you stammer embarrassedly from the slip up and sudden praise. His gaze lingers on you as you go back to finishing up the bandage as an effort to distract yourself. No longer humming, the room becomes silent again.

…

.

.

.

It’s awkward… so awkward. In trying to start a conversation amidst the deafening silence, Prince Zuko speaks up again. “So… do you sing often?” “Hm? Oh,” you rip the edge of the bandage with your teeth to cut it, “I used to, but not that much anymore. Singing is what I did to pass the time while growing up.”

"Why’d you stop?”

The question caught you off guard, and you pause. Why did you stop singing? Looking down to tie off the bandage, you start speaking again, voice softer. “I don’t know, I guess my passion for it left me when I got a little older.” You can't remember the last time you sand in front of people, when you had confidence in your voice and not a care in the world. When you got a little older, it must have been the reality of the world that you lived in, your situation and crushing expectations of your family that made you stop. No longer did you find joy in it. Then, it became frowned upon.

Zuko is quiet for a moment, his frown deepening and face deep in thought. Inspecting his now bandaged hand, he stands up and looks at you.

“I meant why’d you stop humming just now.”

His words catch you off guard yet again, leaving you racking your fried brain for an answer. “Oh, I thought you didn’t like it.” You nervously play with a stand of your hair, cheeks heating up. You completely thought of the question wrong! The prince’s face softens, “You sounded nice…” You notice him trail off in hesitation before talking again.

“You should continue.”

You’re effectively rendered speechless at his words, cheeks flaring up again. Thank goodness that he was socially awkward, because your cheeks definitely gave you away. Desperate to shake off your flustered state, you laugh nervously. “Okay mister,” you tease daringly, “That’s enough for today. You should go to bed now.” As you push him towards the door, Zuko lets out a huff, brows furrowing and pout forming on his face. “I don’t need you telling me to go to sleep.” Even though his words were mean, they lacked their usual bite, as if he was playing along with you. A chuckle escapes your lips.

“Clearly you’re tired.”

“I’m not tired.”

You can’t help but laugh that his protest. “Prince Zuko, not everyone is a mighty fire bender that can pull all-nighters. I am such person who needs their rest—so out you go!” Playfully pushing him out the door, you grin at your fiancé. His face screams irritated, but he doesn’t say anything else and closes the door softly.

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡

The next morning, you skipped breakfast and stayed in your room. The events of the morning lingered heavily in your mind, casting a shadow of ambiguity. What was that? What did that mean? What did I mean? What does that mean for us? Sitting down to meditate, you fight the smile forming on your face when you recall the prince’s behavior. He didn’t seem to hate you as much after you calmed him down. He didn’t fight you when you wrapped his wound in a bandage and remained silent the entire time. You hold both of your hands out, little flickers of blue flames forming in your palms as you take a deep breath.

It was a good (who knows what) step, but a step is a step, and it was a step forward. Over the course of the next few months, Prince Zuko seemed to warm up to you a bit. The first time he mumbled a shy “good morning,” you almost collapsed.

Before you knew it and could stop yourself, you found yourself becoming captivated by him. You learned that he had a soft spot for turtle ducks (he threatened to kill you if you told anyone, a blatant but funny bluff) and that he enjoys making tea with his Uncle Iroh (a sweet man). He sucks at social interaction (that was obvious) but likes his friends.

And in turn, you began warming up to the palace and your reality. Prince Zuko had opened your heart amidst the arrangement, amidst the anger you held towards your parents. He made you feel like singing, and the small blue flame in your soul began to grow.

Like a stupid schoolgirl in love, you had begun hope that he would one day reciprocate, that maybe he’d get comfortable with you, too. You ignored the signs, both of the girl from the ball long ago and the reports of the Avatar breaking free again, and it was all to your own detriment.

Because before you knew it, he had a secret love of his own and was sent away more often, breaking your heart. You became quiet again and the flame in you slowly dimmed.

—

When you woke up one morning, you found the palace in chaos. Quickly putting on your robes, you notice the nervous glances and not-so-subtle whispers tossed around by the servants you grew to treasure. A sinking feeling pranced about in your stomach as you looked for someone who wouldn’t scamper off at your presence. Was it your hair? Your dress? You combed out your hair properly before leaving the room and chose a modest robe, so what was the problem? Turning a corner, you bump into the familiar butler. “Ah! My apologies Miss Y/N. Are you alright?” He thoughtfully scans you with his weary eyes, clearly worried about something. “I am! Thank you. Is everything alright? The palace is…” “A mess?” The older man let out a sigh and his expression became serious. You notice familiar female servants begin to walk to you. “Miss Y/N…” The butler looks at you with a solemn expression.

“The great Fire Lord Ozai has disowned Prince Zuko and banished him and his uncle.” Your jaw and heart drops at that statement.

“W-what? But… how? Why?” The butterflies in your stomach began to stir once more. What did that mean for you, his fiancé? You watch the maids all look down at the ground until one speaks up. “Miss Y/N, you should leave.”

Leave?

That made sense, no matter how hard you tried and could try, you’d never fit in here. You were a stranger in your own new “home” and unless a miracle happened, that status wouldn’t change.

But if you left, what would that mean?

Would that be considered running away from your “duties” entrusted into your hands by your parents? Would they find you? Scorn you? Kill you? All sorts of possibilities ran through your mind.

But,

running away meant freedom. You could do what you wanted as long as no one recognized you. It meant no more strict rules and stuffy, selfish elite.

You couldn’t delay your decision. It was only a matter of time before the fire engulfing the palace would burn you too. Without a second to waste, you quickly changed into more mobile clothes and packed only the bare essentials before slipping into the shadows of the darkening palace. You ran and ran without a thought. There was nothing left for you now, and it was only a matter of time before the fire lord and your parents would receive word of your disappearance, so you could only pray to the spirits to keep you hidden.

A/N: surprise surprise guess who it is (๑>؂•̀๑) Just finished Obsessed and now this? I must be on something! That's right everyone, I just published a Zuko x reader fic!! ("it's not a fetish I swear!" -Yoshikazu Miyano) Thank you for reading this and I hope you enjoyed my first one <3 I am not familiar with the ATLA series and lowkey only got into Zuko because of my brother ><. Even though my fics don't include angst, I actually have a love-hate relationship with the trope. It's a bittersweet concept that I eat up in fics. Guess what? Zuko is the perfect subject for angst ( ≖‿ ≖ ) Why not make an arranged marriage (already angsty topic) fic with Zuko (angsty man) and relate it to "Please Please Please"? Also I NEED more Zuko x reader fics (ᗒᗣᗕ) It'll take me some time to publish the second part to this, so thank you all for your patience and support 🙇🙇

[deusvervewrites]

I’ve been working my way through your stories and your lore posts. I’m also finally catching up to the end of the MHA manga. My thoughts on the endings of various character arcs is something you might vibe with. Sometimes, mercy to the guilty becomes cruelty to the innocent. It’s great writing when the villains are people you can sympathize with, but it’s weird that the heroes are this focused on saving the villains that are causing so much death and destruction. Your thoughts?

The entire point of My Hero Academia is saving people.

From the first page of the first chapter until now that has never changed.

I've seen people criticizing Midoriya for not going out onto the battlefield to personally and deliberately murder Shgiaraki and I wonder if they're the same people who think Aang should have killed Ozai.

The idea of mercy to the guilty leads to cruelty to the innocent is what caused the entire plot. Had the people at the Dawn of Quirks not immediately started murdering children for being born "wrong", All For One wouldn't have had to cope by doubling down on their propaganda to justify his own existence to himself. But those people were "guilty" of being born wrong, and if they showed mercy to them, then what? What if those people turned on them? No, no. Better to not take that chance.

If Kotaro had forgiven his mother, Shigaraki would never have happened.

If the Togas had accepted their daughter, Himiko would never have become a murderer.

Spinner never left the house because he was seen as "guilty" of the sin of being a mutant. People were massacred for that sin.

Civilians nearly murdered Ippan Josei, a civilian herself, because they believed that mercy to the guilty is cruelty to themselves.

The greatest flaw of the Hero System is that it dehumanized everyone under it. The Heroes were flawless paragons who could never live up to their own hype and swiftly abandoned for failing. The Villains were deemed to be inherently bad and punished for it.

Endeavor was allowed to abuse his wife and all four children and faced no repercussions. Because he's a Hero and Heroes are good. Touya wasn't born correctly enough and was punished over a one-sided feud a generation before him.

Nobody was seen as human. That's literally the point of the final battle. Midoriya, Uraraka, Todoroki, they all had to recognize the humanity of the people they were fighting and remind them of it.

The thesis of My Hero Academia, of every single arc of My Hero Academia, is that Heroes are not "good" and Villains are not "evil." That failing to recognize that fact leads to dark places, like a government that doesn't bat an eye at murdering its own citizens to maintain power. Laws that strip you of your own bodily autonomy.

During his battle against All For One at Kamino, All Might states the the reason Heroes never lose is because they have people to save. The chapter titled Bakugou Katsuki: Rising, his origin chapter, is about 300 chapters into the manga and the first time he saves someone.

All For One and the HPSC are both cruel relics of the past doing their best to manipulate their way to power, viewing everyone in their way as disposable pawns. They're the same. You could even make an argument that the laws against Quirk use means the HPSC is literally giving and taking away Quirks via licenses. And they both completely crumble in large part because of their refusal to see people when it is so much easier to see the enemy.

My Hero Academia is a story about extending your hand to those in need.

[muffinlance]

Extreme long shot, but looking for a fic I read years ago, that to my knowledge is NOT on AO3 or FF, just on someone's blog or maybe a small hosting site. It's a three(?)-part series.

Stuff I remember: Zhao kills Iroh pre-north-pole; he dies on a beach due to shrapnel, I think. Zuko wanders off in a daze, stays with a nice Earth Kingdom woman for awhile, then embarks on Messing With Zhao's Shit until Zhao catches him. Gaang rescues him (from Pohuai?) after whump.

Zuko leads them back to the Earth Kingdom woman for a safe place to rest, meanwhile Zuko's crew has found her and given her a letter+their location+tell our stupid prince he's not the only one who wants to Mess The Fire Nation's Shit Up. Zuko and the Gaang go to his ship, whose treason against the Fire Nation is already in progress (and they've gotten their families out of the Fire Nation to avoid reprisal, so Jee's wife is there). Katara bonds with the ship healer, who teaches her non-bending healing and is both salty and instructive. Ends incompletely right as Zuko and the Gaang are about to leave the ship.

Those parts of the series are a good read, but I am dying to re-read the part that's an Iroh POV of the royal family, including Ozai's strategic murdering of all of Iroh's children (he had more than Lu Ten in this AU), and Iroh's extremely chilling "maybe I should do the same to his" thoughts until baby Zuko wins him over. It is PEAK disfunctional Fire Family.

I thought I bookmarked this somewhere, but I can't for the life of me find it. Plz send help.

EDIT: FIC FOUND! See the reblog chain for the link, it's in the second post.

EDIT EDIT: This is. Even better than I remembered. My heart hurts, ow. <3

[phoenix-king-ozai]

@swan2swan @deadlyangelofpurity

Ozai doesn't truly hate Zuko but is mostly disappointed in Zuko’s behavior, personality and talent. 💯🔥⚡️☄️🌋

Ozai's cold harshness and brutal ruthlessness regarding Zuko have nothing to do with Ursa or Ikem's forbidden love! Cough Yang Cough 😒🙄 Ozai wants Zuko and Azula to both prove themselves! Ozai doesn't favor Zuko or Azula. It is about which child will succeed Sozin, Azulon, and his legacy as future Fire Lord. In fact, Ozai doesn't want Zuko or Azula to think that they are the “favorite” child. He wants Azula and Zuko to improve through competition. Because of the “only the greatest of pressures can forge and make diamonds” & “steel sharpen steel” mentality. Ozai has the mentality of an imperialist warlord. Ozai isn't trying to be the world's most loving and caring father but rather continue and build upon a powerful and dominant legacy that his forefathers had created before him. He wants Zuko & Azula to be cold, ruthless, heartless, vicious, and brutal imperialistic warmongers like him (Ozai), his father (Azulon), and his grandfather (Sozin).

Ozai's distaste and despisement of Zuko have NOTHING to do with Ursa and Ozai's arguments in ATLA Canon even in the Comics Ozai was simply saying that to hurt Ursa's feelings and gaslight her over bullshit letters. Fire Lord Ozai views Zuko as a disappointment of a son, firebender, and prince. His skills in Firebending are pathetic compared to his sister's and his morality from his mother and later uncle is out of line with Ozai and mainstream Fire Nation Elite Imperialists. If Zuko was a ruthless and cold-blooded killer like Azula and was at least just as good as his YOUNGER sister, then Ozai would NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM with Zuko as his son and heir! Zuko represents everything that Ozai was raised to hate and resent; compassion, morality, mercy, weakness, etc. Ozai resents his son for incompetence as a firebending warrior which is antithetical to Ozai as the strongest firebender in the series along with him being an Agni Kai champion along with the morality and softness that Ursa and later Iroh fostered in Zuko. The fact that Zuko doesn't conform to their society's warrior culture and morality bothers his father since Ozai was likely forced to conform since his own childhood under his father Azulon’s reign. Ozai probably resents that Zuko has his mother and uncle's affection whereas Ozai as a child probably didn't have his mother, Ilah's love to protect and care for him from Azulon's wrath due to her death in childbirth. Iroh got to experience his mother's love and presence along with his father's respect during his childhood, something that Ozai never had. Ozai resents his first-born Zuko and relates far more with his second-born daughter Azula who is neglected like him.

UGHHHHHHHHHHHHH it's so REFRESHING to have someone on the writing team who GETS Ozai and Zuko's relationship!!!