ladymissnose

[gotticalavera]

ZukAang chibi moments in Aang's Unfreezing day

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[justsomewritingblog]

Avatar: TLA (Part 12)

Request:  None

Requested By:  Nobody

Pairing:  Zuko x reader

Summary:  The Avatar State

Warnings:  This one’s got some peril in it, guys.

A/N:  It’s an oofer.  Because it hasn’t been long enough since the last one.

Word Count:  2K+

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Katara, I want you to have this.”  Master Pakku said, holding out a vial.  “This amulet contains water from the spirit oasis.  The water had unique properties.  Don’t lose it.”

Katara stepped forward and gave him a small hug.  “Thank you, Master Pakku.”

“Aang, these scrolls will help you master waterbending.”  He said as the boy stepped forward.  He handed him a case, full of scrolls.  “But remember, they’re no substitute for a real master.”  Aang looked up at Katara and nodded, climbing the bison as well.

“Sokka.”

He stepped forward, a grin on his face.  Master Pakku patted his shoulder.

“Take care, son.”  He said, walking off.  Sokka frowned.  “Fly straight to the Earth Kingdom base to the East of here.”  He instructed.  “General Fong will provide you with an escort to Omashu.”

Sokka climbed Appa as well, and you watched, a small frown on your own face.

“There you’ll be safe to begin your earthbending training with King Bumi.”  He finished.  Aang picked up the reigns, turning to you.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?”  He asked.  You looked down.

“Aang, I’d love to, but you don’t really need me.”  You told him.  “Then again, no one ever does.”  You muttered under your breath.  “Besides, you already have a waterbending teacher.”  You said, gesturing at Katara.

Aang frowned.  “If you’re sure.”

You nodded.

“Appa, yip yip.”  Aang instructed, flicking the reigns.  The bison remained standing.  “Appa, yip yip.”  He said again.  Still no response.  “Appa?  What’s wrong, buddy?”

The bison walked over to you and ran his tongue up your body.  You smiled, patting his head.

“I think he wants you to come with us.”  Aang admitted.

“Are you sure?  Maybe he’s just tired.”

“You have to come with us.  If Appa doesn’t move, I can’t do my Avatar duties.”  Aang said, an impish smirk on his face.  You glared at him, though everyone could tell there was no anger behind it.

“Ugh.  Fine.”  You muttered dramatically.  “Just let me say goodbye first.”  The gaang nodded and you turned, facing Liam.  “I have to go.  You heard what he said.”

Liam smiled.  “Take care, Y/n.”  He wrapped his arms around you in a hug.  You pulled away and turned to Master Pakku, bowing.

“I didn’t have anything for you.  I didn’t expect you to leave.”

“Well.”  You shrugged, not finding an appropriate response.  “It’s alright.”  You concluded.

“Good luck, Y/n.”

You bowed again and climbed on Appa.

“Appa, yip yip.”  Aang said.  The bison leapt into the air and Aang grinned back at you.  You were unable to keep the grin off your face as well.  Katara leaned over the side of the saddle.

“Say hi to Gran-gran for me!”  She shouted at Pakku.  You did a double-take.

“Wait, what?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“There it is!”  Sokka shouted suddenly.  Sure enough, there it was.  Appa landed and you all climbed off, immediately being greeted by a man.

“Welcome, Avatar Aang!”  He bowed, as did the small army behind him.  “I am General Fong.  And welcome to all of you!  Great heroes!  Appa.  Momo.  Brave Sokka.”

Sokka puffed his chest out slightly at this.

“The mighty Katara.”

“Mighty Katara?”  She asked.  “I like that.”

“And Y/n.”

You kept a straight face, not at all impressed with your title.  Suddenly, fireworks went off.  You all turned to look at them.

“Not bad, not bad.”  Sokka mused.

You were soon led inside, where you all sat in a great hall, General Fong at a seat before you.

“Avatar Aang, we were all amazed at the stories how you single-handedly wiped out an entire fire navy fleet at the North Pole.  I can’t imagine what it feels like to wield such devastating power.  It’s an awesome responsibility.”

“I try not to think about it too much.”  Aang replied innocently.  You bit back a laugh.

“Avatar, you’re ready to face the Firelord now.”

“What!?”  Aang exclaimed.  “No I’m not!”

“Aang still needs to master all four elements.”  Katara explained.

“Actually, he’s mastered air, so technically-” You cut yourself off, seeing everyone’s faces.  You looked down at your hands.

“With the kind of power he possesses, power enough to destroy hundreds of battleships in a matter of minutes, he could defeat the Firelord, now!!”

“Someone’s delusional.”  You mumbled.

“But sir, the thing is, Aang can only do those things when he’s in the Avatar state.”  Sokka informed, ignoring your comment.  Aang started to speak as well

“See, it’s this special state where-”

“I’m well aware.  Your eyes and tattoos glow, and you’re able to summon unbelievable power.”   Fong said, cutting him off.  “Without you we’d be slaughtered before we even reached their shores.  But with you leading the way, as the ultimate weapon, we can cut a path right through to the heart of the firenation.”

“Right, but I don’t know how to get in or out of the Avatar state, much less what to do when I’m there.”  Aang defended.

“So it’s decided then.  I’ll help you figure out how to get into the Avatar state, and then you’ll face your destiny.”

You abruptly stood and pointed an accusatory finger at him.  “We didn’t decide anything!  And we will not have you telling the Avatar how he should go about this fight!”  You yelled.  Your friends stood as well.

“Y/n’s right.  We already have a plan.  Aang’s perusing his destiny his way.”  Katara added.

“Well.  While you take your time learning the elements, the war goes on.”  There was a moment of silence.  “May I show you something?”  He led Aang to a window.  “That’s the infirmary.  Those soldiers are the lucky ones.  They came back.  Every day the firenation takes lives.  People are dying, Aang.  You could end it.”

You crossed your arms.  “This is emotional manipulation.”

“This is war.”  He retorted.

“So if Aang goes in, unprepared, and dies, what happens then?”  You argued back, raising an eyebrow, challenging him.  He said nothing, only turned to Aang.

“Think about it.”

You burned holes in the back of his head as you watched him walk away.  You knew with one-hundred percent certainty that he’d definitely gotten to your friend.  He was gonna get himself killed.

~~~~~~~~~~~

They gave you all a place to sleep.  It was a room with four beds, one on each wall.  Your eyes cracked open when you heard the door.  Aang entered, sitting on his bed.  Katara and Sokka were already awake.

“I told the General I’d help him.”  Aang said quietly.  “By going into the Avatar state.”  You sighed, seeing this coming.

“Aang, no.”  Katara said, sitting up.  “This is not the right way.”

“Why not?”  Sokka asked.  You glared at him.  “Remember when he took out the fire navy?  That was incredible.”

“There’s a right way to do this.”  Katara advised, ignoring her brother.  “Practice, study, and discipline.”

“Or just glow it up, and stomp that Firelord.”  Sokka replied.

“If you two meatheads want to throw away everything we’ve worked for, fine.  Go ahead and ‘glow it up’!”  Katara yelled, walking out of the room.

“Katara, I’m just being realistic.”  Aang defended.

“Aang, this is suicide.  You do know just how powerful the Firelord is, right?”

“I don’t have time to do this the right way.”

“Aang, or you could die.  And make the world worse until you regenerate and by the time the next Avatar grows old enough to face him, it’ll be too late.”  You scolded, standing, now fully awake, and following Katara out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, they clearly didn’t listen to you or Katara, as you saw the three of them making their way outside to start trying things.  You rolled your eyes and followed, but parted from them to think.

You sat on a rock, not too far from them, only about the length of four rooms, you’d say, and watched the flow of a river below.  “Why are men so stupid?”  You asked yourself.  Your brain involuntarily flipped back to Zuko.  You wondered how he was doing.  You wondered if he was even still alive.  You were deep in thought when Aang zipped by you on his air-scooter, traveling in circles around you.

He was talking so fast you could barely understand him.  You managed to make out the words ‘Avatar state’, ‘can’t tell’, and ‘energy-boosting tea’.  You sighed, standing and walking away.

You had ventured down the cliff, where you now sat on a rock, its peak just above the water level.  It was getting late, but you couldn’t understand why Aang was being so foolish.  Well, you understood where he was coming from, but why he would risk everything still baffled you.  You sighed and looked down at your reflection in the water.  You saw your reflection, and placed your hand in it, the water’s chill immediately reaching your fingertips.  You quickly withdrew your hand as if you’d been burned, the sudden contrast reminding you of when you chased Aang and Zuko at the North Pole.

You weren’t sure why your brain liked to think about him so much, but you weren’t a fan.  You stared down at your reflection, seeing Zuko’s instead.  You gasped and spun around, seeing nothing.  You looked back down at the water and saw only your reflection.  Your eyes widened before narrowing, and you slapped the water, the image becoming hard to see.  You stood, seeing as it was sunset, and deciding that your mind needed a break, headed back.

~~~~~~~~~

You awoke early, for a reason you were unsure of.  You closed your eyes again, but not feeling the pleasant pull of sleep coming back to you, you sat up and ventured outside.  You groaned when you realized you were up before the sun was.  You could see a sliver of it peeking out of the ground.

You let out a sigh and climbed atop the railing, sitting there and watching it rise, seeing as you had nothing better to do.  You were enjoying the peace and quiet when you felt a push.  You let out a yelp and leaned backwards, bumping into a chest.  You craned your neck to look up, seeing Sokka’s smirking face.

“You’re up early.”  He commented.

“Where you trying to kill me?”  You questioned, ignoring his comment.

“No.”  He replied innocently.  “I was just testing your reflexes.”

“And if they weren’t quick enough?”  You asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I would have caught you.”  He assured.  You sent him a critical, unconvinced look, but let it be.  “Come on.  Aang’s going to talk to the General.”  He informed.  You swung your legs around, and hopped off, following Sokka.

~~~~~~~~~~~

“The thing is, I don’t think we’ll ever be able to trigger it on purpose.”  Aang explained.  “So I guess that’s it.”

“You sure I can’t change your mind?”

“I’m sure.  I can only reach the Avatar state when I’m in genuine danger.”  He clarified further.  Your eyes scanned the General’s face, practically seeing the gears turning in his head.  It made you uneasy.

“I see.  I was afraid you’d say that.”  He said.  Your eyes widened, having seen something bad coming.  Before you knew what was happening, his desk was flying at Aang, sending him backwards.

“Aang!”  You and Sokka shouted, attempting to go after him.  Guards grabbed your arms, keeping you in place.  You struggled, but they used earthbending to cement your feet in the ground.  You could only watch as Aang flew out of the building.  Your eyes widened in terror, and you let out a yell.  The General walked to the edge, where Aang had just disappeared from view, and shouted an order.

“Men!  Attack the Avatar!”  He instructed.  Panic took over every part of your body.  You struggled again, and head-butted the guards, knocking them backwards.  You summoned the water from your canteen and shot it at them, freezing it.  You then used the little bit of left over water to slice at the earth surrounding your feet.  Sokka knocked out his guards, and pulled his club out, helping you.

“Thanks.”  You said, once your feet were released.  “I weakened it for you, though.”  You added, running to the giant hole in the wall, Sokka close behind, just in time to see four guards shoot giant earth circles at Aang.  He jumped, dodging them.  They continued trying to weaken him, but he avoided everything they threw at him…literally.

“You can’t run forever!”  The General shouted, using his earthbending to pull Aang forward.

“You can’t fight forever!”  Aang retorted, dodging another blow.  He had a point, but there were a lot more of them, than there were of him.  You sighed, bending the water out of your canteen, freezing it so there was a slope to the ground.  You slid down it, as Sokka took the stairs, meeting up with Katara.

They joined you and Aang in the fight, helping to disarm some of the soldiers.

“Maybe you can avoid me,” the General started, “but she can’t.”  He was looking at Katara when he said it.  Katara shot water at him, but he raised the earth, collecting the water, before making Katara sink to her knees.  It was as if she was in quicksand.  She struggled.

“I can’t move!”  She alerted.

“Don’t hurt her!”  Aang pleaded, jumping down and sending a gust of wind that the General blocked.  Katara sunk to her waist.

“Katara!  No!”  You heard Sokka yell.  He rode the bird-thing (as he called it) forward, but the General sunk its feet in quicksand as well, sending Sokka flying into one of the circle shapes.

“Stop this!  You have to let her go!”  Aang said, taking ahold of the General’s arm.

“You could save her if you were in the Avatar state!”  He retorted.

“I’m trying!  I’m trying!”

“Aang!  I’m sinking!”  Katara informed.  She had sunk to her chest.  You shot water at him, but you were quickly trapped in a rock as well, rendering you immobile.

“I don’t see glowing!”

Katara sank till only her head was viewable.  “Please!”

“You don’t need to do this!”  Aang pleaded, sinking down to his knees as well.

“Apparently, I do.”

Katara disappeared.  Aang lunged at the spot where Katara had just vanished from.  He turned around, eyes and tattoos glowing, a deep scowl on his face.  To be honest, you feared for the General’s life.  The General, however, did not.

“It worked!  It worked!”  He yelled.  Aang stood, wind blowing around him.  Fong’s face went from one to victory and joy, to one of terror.  Aang shot a huge wind gust at him, sending him flying backwards, before he rose into the air.  The General stood, cupping his hands around his mouth.

“Avatar Aang!!  Can you hear me!!?  Your friend is safe!!”  Katara emerged from the ground, gasping for air.  “It was just a trick to trigger the Avatar state!!”  He informed.  “And it worked!!”

Aang slammed down on the ground, using earthbending to knock General Fong and all of his men backwards.  Your eyes widened.  Earthbending?  Already?  The earth around you sank back into the ground, letting you free.  The ground leveled, taking the buildings with it.  The glowing soon stopped, and Aang collapsed.  He looked around, noticing the damage.  By the time you shook yourself out of your shock and fear, Katara was by his side, comforting him.  You walked over to Sokka, pulling him out.

“Are you joking!?  That was almost perfect!  We’ll just have to find a way to control you when you’re like that.”

You turned, hearing the General’s voice.

“You’re out of your mind.”  Aang told him.

“I guess we’ll figure it out on the way to the firenation.”  He said, ignoring Aang’s comment.  Sokka rode over on the bird-horse, and hit the General over the head with the butt of his club, knocking him unconscious.

“Anybody got a problem with that?”  He asked.  The guards hurriedly shook their heads.  You smirked softly.

“Do you still want an escort to Omashu?”  One of them asked.  You all looked at each other.

“I think we’re all set.”  Katara informed.

“Thank you, though.”  You added, following your friends.  You all climbed aboard Appa, lifting in the air and setting course for Omashu.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/n:  I TOTALLY FORGOT I DIDN'T POST THESE YET!

[proxissima]

Least favorite Ozai take you know (you can also name more if you like too)

Even after taking a thorough break from the ATLA fandom in the past year, that Ozai "isn't the sharpest tool in the shed", that people seem to think that he's the dumbest member in the royal family is the take that came to my mind immediately, and it's the one that I still abhor to this day.

Dishonourable mention goes to Ozai being also the most talentless and/or weakest firebender, which tends to go hand-in-hand with the above-mentioned take.

People who spout this nonsense with such confidence make me wonder if they even watched the same show as the rest of us or if they transferred here from some parallel universe, because what part about Ozai shooting lightning like fireworks during Sozin's comet, what part about him sensing the end of a total eclipse in a bunker deep in the earth, from his inner fire alone (all while regular firebending soldiers hadn't even noticed that their bending was gone in the first place!!), what part about Ozai being the only person that was able to summon lightning from both hands simultaneously (in the OG show tbf), near instantaneously and with just a sliver of the sun (never mind that by this point there were only two other people in the world that were even able to generate lightning and neither were on his level), gave the impression that he's an unskilled or untalented fighter?

And that's just listing his feats regarding his lightning, not even his general technique and bending.

Ozai is both powerful AND capable of extreme precision, something people also just love to ignore when they're forced to admit that Ozai is no chump in the power department.

EOS Azula would absolutely NOT defeat prime Ozai and Iroh would at least have a hard time with him. Jeong Jeong, however, is decisively getting smoked, never mind anyone less than a master; some people need to come down from cloud cuckoo land.

On a side note, I like how in the bottom right picture, it looks like Ozai is bending blue fire when he's unleashing huge lightning bolts in reality.

Another take I despise is the common notion that Ozai wanted to have Zuko dead since his birth, or that he couldn't wait to kill his infant son, which is factually wrong. Even the comics, despite instigating this whole mess, made it clear that Ozai wasn't that bad.

Okay, further tonal whiplash incoming, but there's another topic on my mind. That's your warning.

I also used to hate the notion that Ozai is a rapist and that the relationship between him and Ursa was one of constant abuse. (I think it was a bold move of Bryke and generally everyone to portray Iroh, of all people, as the polar opposite and a demure character, considering his history with women... but Iroh is a whole different can of worms.) Let it be said that I still think the plot of the comics is complete horse-shit in that regard, so my opinion on that hasn't changed.

However, I won't lie and say that there isn't a certain, morbid appeal in Ozai using sex as a weapon to exert control over people.

There was a fic, I think it was called Queens and Consorts that portrayed Ozai's manipulative and subtle side quite well, where each chapter is written from a different woman's perspective that all are either in or have some business with the royal family. Ursa felt unloved, but when it turned out that she was the only one Ozai truly loved? *Chef's kiss*. The fic deals with the inner workings of not just the royal family but also the political intricacies of the royal court in a captivating manner. I remember it being worth a read, but I digress.

Back to my original point though, I do also have to give Dominion credit where it's due, because the particular chapter, chapters? where Ursa departs, written from her POV, were an interesting read that gave insight into Ozai's character and their toxic and abusive relationship. I liked that Ursa was actually in love with him, but turned to despise him all the same. One part that has stuck with me was, paraphrased, how Ozai would sometimes forcefully take her, but she would spread her legs for him willingly on enough other occasions.

The abuse, in general, is a touchy topic and it's a delicate balance to strike, between giving Ozai edges, without taking away from his humanity entirely, and avoiding making it grotesquely obscene, but if done right, it can add a whole lot of complexity to their dynamic. Needless to say, the comics busted it miserably. Like, so thoroughly, a twelve year old could come up with a more cohesive and interesting plot.

I think this type of characterisation of Ozai works best, when it's not just him, but also the rest of the family to be depicted to have extremely dubious morals that serve as a reminder why exactly no one was objecting to perpetuating a century-long war their ancestor started, but also why practically every member of the following generations was either willing to carry out a genocide/mass murders on their own, have successfully done so, or were actively endorsing it. (It's certainly noteworthy that we know nothing about Lu Ten's mother, and that any of Iroh's past in the military has been carefully tiptoed around in all official portrayals post-ATLA.)

All of this being said, I don't get it when Ozai is the one portrayed as this depraved, sadistic rapist, all while characters like Azulon and especially Iroh, out of all people, are treated as the bastion of moral superiority in the meantime, or something, like they'd genuinely be outraged by... (marital) rape and abuse. These two. It's a bold assumption at best.

It's just kind of a pointless endeavour, trying to apply modern-day (western) morals on the setting ATLA takes place in and pretending [favourite] characters would hold those same values and act accordingly, when it's more comparable to the late 19th century. (Yes, there's enough people on stan Twitter and Reddit who actually seem to forget about this)

Obligatory disclaimer that I've got nothing against modern AUs or whatever. I just don't like it when people are genuinely pretending that is how characters would be thinking in canon.

[loversamongus]

On Pink Clouds | Zuko x reader

a/n: so I watched Sleeping Beauty again the other night because that is my favorite Disney princess movie don’t @ me okay anyways I love the Once Upon a Dream scene when they’re twirling by the water and then at the end when they’re dancing on clouds and I couldn’t stop thinking about how Zuko would probably be a good dancer too and this is what happened enjoy. Also sorry what, did you say you wanted an Anastasia “maybe we should stop spinning” moment, too? You got it.

words: 1.9k

fic taglist: @spiritvines​ @protect-remus​ @emeraldpotato

The air was getting warmer. Which isn’t saying much living in the Fire Nation. But the air was getting heavier, the days getting longer, the sun shining brighter. The first day of summer was arriving and the palace was bustling with preparations for the annual Summer Solstice festivities. 

While this time of year is usually exciting, you could do without the superficial and overly posh advisor meetings that came with it. Discussion about educational reforms and foreign policy, your personal passions and areas of expertise, were suddenly sent to the back burner and replaced with talk of exquisite feasts and which foreign dignitaries to invite. Financially responsible as ever, you tried your best to argue for more budget friendly decorations considering the nation was still recovering from 100 years of war, but your older and more traditional colleagues remained adamant that it was in the nation’s best interest to host a genuine, all-out festival. 

You brought your complaints and concerns to the fire lord himself. Ah, the perks of being best friends with the fire lord. Of course, these complaints and concerns were usually filed off-the-record while enjoying what limited downtime the both of you had. After the final advisor meeting for festival preparations, you met Zuko in his room where a seamstress was finishing up his fitting for special Summer Solstice robes. Silently, you made yourself comfortable in an armchair and only quirked a mocking eyebrow in his direction.

“Not a word,” he said through gritted teeth.

“I’m not saying anything!” You threw your arms up in protest. The seamstress took out the last pin on Zuko’s sleeve and packed up her stuff before shuffling out of the room. “Although,” you continued. “If Advisor Ji were here, I’m sure he would say that ‘you look absolutely ravishing, Your Majesty. The very picture of a traditional Fire Lord.” You followed your impression with a gagging sound so that Zuko wouldn’t miss your resounding disgust for the uppity old man.

Zuko offered his arm to you which, standing up, you gladly took. “And what battle did you get into with him today?” he asked with a smile while leading you down the hallway.

“Ugh, we were confirming the seating plan for the feast tonight because Agni forbid we sit this old noble family next to that family, it just simply isn’t done.” Your free hand waved animatedly as you gave the recap of the past meeting. “But the worst part was, I had said weeks ago that we should consider opening up the feast to people from all walks of life in the Fire Nation, not just the nobility. Like the orphanage.”

You heard Zuko try to stifle a chuckle. “Oh come on! Just imagine those cute little innocent faces munching into all the food and running through the palace hallways and their faces lighting up with the fireworks! They would have so much fun, and isn’t that what the festival is all about?”

“Well, actually, it’s a tradition that was started—“

“Not you, too!” You turned sharply to look him in the eyes. “I am so sick of you old, rich people talking about traditions and manners—“

This time, Zuko couldn’t hold back his laughter. You watched with your mouth still slightly open after being interrupted as he tilted back his head to laugh. “I thought it was a great idea to invite the orphanage, which is why I personally invited them to the feast tonight.”

“You did?” you responded quietly but your lips turned into a bright smile.

“Yeah. I figured Aang could use the entertainment.”

The two of you continued to talk about the festival as well as the abhorrently outdated opinions of some of the advisors all the way to the turtleduck pond. The sun was getting lower on the horizon and once it was fully set, the feast would begin. Despite the setting sun, it was still a hot day, so you took your place sitting beneath the tree near the pond to get some shade. Zuko sat closer to the edge of the pond and took out some bread from where he had somehow stashed it in his robes. Leaning against the tree, you looked up at the sky and sighed.

“I love this time of day,” you said absentmindedly. The sky was illuminated by a soft golden glow and the clouds looked painted with a myriad of pastels. “Look at the clouds today, Zuko. They’re pink.” Zuko looked up for a moment and then glanced back at you to smile before feeding the small gaggle of turtleducks.

With the night’s festivities looming over your heads, the pond was the only place to get some peace and quiet for even just a moment. You’d need it anyways in order to gear up for the feast. The palace would soon be packed with Fire Nation nobles, the Avatar and his friends, and now the orphans and their caretakers, all waiting for the young Fire Lord to officially kick off the festival. Large crowds were never your favorite, which was why you had planned on retiring from the feast after dinner was served.

“But you have to stay for the dancing,” Zuko practically pouted when you told him this plan.

“No, no. I don’t dance. But I’ll tell you what,” you sat up from the tree you were leaning against. It was your favorite spot to get some shade as Zuko fed the turtleducks little pieces of bread. “I’ll stay long enough to watch you dance. That’s sure to be a sight to behold.”

Zuko scoffed. “I’ll have you know I am a pretty good dancer.” A turtleduck quacked. “See? He agrees.”

You laughed a little and reached for a piece of bread to offer to the little suck up. “What, did little Prince Zuko have to take royal dance lessons when he was little?”

“Yes actually!” Zuko rolled his eyes as if it was such an obvious answer. You half expected him to let the conversation go at this point and continue feeding the turtleducks. He could only handle your teasing for so long before starting to lose his temper. But he stood up abruptly and held out his hand. You placed bread in his open palm questioningly.

“Not the bread!” His voice revealed a hint of frustration. “Give me your hand. I’ll show you.”

You huffed and moved to cross your arms. You had just said you didn’t dance after all. Zuko’s pride certainly wouldn’t get you to dance. You were about to tell him that he was just fooling himself if he thought he could get you to dance when you felt his hand close on your elbow, pulling you up from your seated position.

“Zuko!” you whined.

“Would you just do this for me, please?” It was posed as a question but his apparent annoyance made it feel closer to a command. “And then you can leave early later if you still want to.”

He didn’t even wait for you to respond before he began straightening your shoulders and back. He took your left hand and held it out to the side and with a finger, tilted your chin up before resting that free hand on your waist. All other protests immediately seemed to die in your throat.

“Now, I lead. Think you can handle that?” He smirked and then began to step forward. After some hesitancy, you stepped backwards with him. You found yourself inching up on your tiptoes to better manage the height difference. But when he stepped again, and again, you felt forced to look down to see where you should be stepping next.

He stopped and adjusted your shoulders again. “Hey. Just look at me.” He gave your hand a squeeze and you looked up again. You couldn’t remember a time you’ve been this close to him. You could practically see each one of the thousands of golden flecks in his eyes. And you knew he was strong, being a master firebender and swordsman and all, but his grip on your waist felt so gentle and safe. He gave you a small smile before starting the dance again. This time, you moved a little better in time with him.

“See? It’s just little steps here and there. Ready to try a spin?”

Before you could say anything, you felt that gentle hand on your waist push you out a little bit while his other hand guided you under his arm. The sudden movement was not something you had expected and so your feet got tripped up a little. Zuko, however, caught your waist again and repositioned you upright before you could completely tumble over.

With a small laugh, he joked, “Okay, maybe we tried that too soon. We could just spin together instead.”

You started dancing again, taking small steps in slow circles around the pound. You were grateful that these steps felt much easier than the spin you had just been forced to attempt. The movement was repetitive and once you felt you’d gotten the hang of it, you went back to counting the flecks in Zuko’s eyes. You also made special note of the small wisps of his hair that had fallen out of his top knot, no doubt from the spinning.

“You okay?” Zuko checked in with you. Suddenly you realized you had not spoken since being pulled up to dance with him. You shook your head to free it from your thoughts in order to respond.

“Yeah,” you managed to breathe out. “I feel like I’m on clouds.”

“Pink clouds?” He smiled.

“Mhm.” The peace and calm you had felt when you looked up at the sky earlier settled in your chest. With a few more trips around the pond, you and Zuko held small conversations here and there. Your replies always seemed a bit hesitant though, mostly because you were concentrating on the steps. Without a doubt, however, you felt relaxed and at ease in his arms. You supposed that turtleduck really did know Zuko was a great dancer.

You lost count of how many spins the two of you did but you did become aware of the sky darkening as well as the spinning in your head.

“I’m feeling a little dizzy,” you said softly. Zuko shifted so that he didn’t lead you into another spin. Instead, you both settled into the small pattern of steps you had started out with before coming to a complete stop. Regardless, you still held his hand and he still held your waist.

“Probably from all the spinning. Maybe we should stop.” His gaze held yours for the entirety of your dance but only now did you notice the seriousness, an intensity, in his eyes. You urged yourself not to let your eyes wander anywhere past the tip of his nose.

“But we have stopped.”

“Y/n, I—“ You felt yourself begin to lean in with him.

“Fire Lord Zuko!” A man, coming around the corner onto the grounds of the turtleduck pond, interrupted. “Fire Lord Zuko,” he repeated again, this time followed by a bow. “The feast will be beginning shortly.”

Zuko did not turn to face the man but he dropped his hand from your waist. His hand still held you and his eyes remained fixed on your face. “Thank you,” he responded in his most regal voice. “I’ll be there soon.”

The man bowed again before exiting back around the corner. The spinning now gone from your head, you cleared your throat and stepped back from him. Zuko held your hand tighter in response.

“You’ll stay for a dance?” he asked hopefully.

“Okay.” You smiled.

[finmoryo]

Here are some Zukka fic recs in no particular order. This is part 1, I’ll post more later.

I think I fixed the links now.

Burnt Skies

Sokka is dating Suki, but likes Zuko and has to figure out what to do about it. One of the best fics I’ve ever read, it hurt me and made me feel things for once. Will probably make you cry and/or scream.

Guidance by jovialJuggernaut

Sokka and Zuko meet when they’re young in their dreams, but now that they’re older and Zuko is trying to catch the Avatar, things have changed. This is an amazing fic and I’ve enjoyed it very much.

Half A Heart by AvocadoLove

Sokka and Zuko are soulmates and their respective nations try to keep them from each other. A great story so far, it’s cute to see young Zuko and Sokka interact.

Unchained Melody by AvocadoLove

Aang may have saved the village and befriended He Bai, but Sokka was stuck as a spirit. Zuko was the only one who could see him. Once again, an amazing story by AvocadoLove. It’s an interesting perspective and I very much enjoyed it.

Fill Our Mouths With Cinnamon by callmecaramleh

Sokka writes letters to a kind baker while in Ba Sing Se and wants to find out what happened to him after the Fire Nation took over. Very wholesome and adorable.

How Zuko Maybe Starts Accidentally Dating The Water Tribe Peasant byAll_About_That_Ace

Zuko and Sokka start fake dating in Ba Sing Se, but it becomes real. It's a great crack fic and better than it sounds. The whole series is amazing.

Carry On For You by Haicrescendo

Sokka wants to challenge the next Pokémon gym leader, but ends up sticking around longer than expecting and making friends with him... and more. This fic is one of my personal favorites, I stayed up all night reading it.

Mass Time Acceleration by Haicrescendo

Zuko and Sokka go on a road trip and have some quality bonding time and realize they love each other. Very cute.

Thank The Spirits by callmecaramleh

Zuko doesn’t wake up for a while after Agni Kai against Azula. Gave me intense feels.

Stars && Skin by callmecaramleh

Sokka and Zuko are soulmates and have each other’s marks. Don’t remember much about this, but it’s cute. The bonus chapter is very nice.

keeps me up late at night by midnights

Sokka and Zuko are pining for each, but are oblivious idiots. 10/10 would recommend.

And I Feel Like An Oblivious Walnut In This Chili's Tonight by lysiabeth

Sokka has a problem with Zuko kissing guys, so he thinks he’s homophobic. Wrong. He has no problem with it if he’s the one kissing Zuko.

(do you take this jerk to be) your one and only by jatersade

Yue and Zuko are in an arranged marriage and Sokka must teach Zuko the ways of the Water Tribes. They end up falling for each other instead.

speak ill by lesbianophelia

Sokka shittalks about Ozai to make Zuko feel better.

Fireworks

Sokka meets Zuko at a festival, but doesn’t realize it’s him.

The Fun One by musicalsarelife

Zuko is the fun parent, Sokka is jealous.

With You? Always. by peanutbutterz

Sokka likes to admire his husband.

The Fate of Nations in Our Hands by Sapphic_ambitions

These idiots are in love.

Little Moments in the Ordinary by corgiles

Sokka used to hate Zuko, but after a misunderstanding, he had to pretend Zuko was his boyfriend for Thanksgiving. Then, they’re no longer pretending.

Tea and Love, The Best in the City by jasmine_sea

Zuko and Sokka meet in Ba Sing Se and go on a few dates. It’s really sweet.

A Father's Perspective by Kalira

Hakoda watches Sokka and Zuko during and after the war. Really cute and enjoyable.

For Want of a Phone Number by gunpowder_and_pearls

Sokka really likes the hot guy in the tea shop.

I also write Zukka fics on ao3, which you can find here

[jaxsteamblog]

Cherry Blossoms

Click here to read the entire fic on AO3

For dinner, the family stayed in the large estate near to the village. The festival had attracted the Air Nomads for years, and this time they brought along the workers from the oilrig for a well-earned reprieve. All that meant Katara and Zuko couldn’t always be out in public or else they’d be swarmed.

And Katara wasn’t keen on getting attacked or kidnapped again, especially when she was in such a good mood.

“So what do you think of the festivities, Zuko?” Malina asked as she and Hakoda brought out large platters of food. Sokka followed after them with a covered tureen that still couldn’t contain the smell of seaprune stew.

“It’s been amazing. I have a weakness for festivals like this though.” Zuko replied.

“The kind that won’t piss off the spirits if you do them wrong, you mean?” Sokka asked, setting the tureen down on the table.

Katara leaned over and plucked off the lid, breathing in the steam. It smelled right for once.

“Who made this?” She asked, looking around. Hakoda opened his mouth but, looking past her, quickly shut it.

“It’s Gran-Gran’s recipe, Kat. Don’t worry.” Sokka interjected, picking up a ladle and slopping a generous scoop into a bowl. She narrowed her eyes at him but took it.

“Do you have a favorite festival?” Suki asked.

“Does it have to be Fire Nation?” Zuko asked in return.

“No?” Suki looked confused and Zuko leaned over to look in Katara’s bowl.

“I only ask because my favorite is an Earth Kingdom one. But I do have one I like a lot in Caldera.” He said and started pulling the bowl. Katara shoved it over and returned to the tureen.

“Let’s hear the favorite.” Suki said.

“I can’t remember what it’s called because I only got to see it when I was a kid.” Zuko started, picking up a spoon. “I must’ve been really young because my cousin was…”

Zuko smiled sadly and focused on the seaprune stew.

“Anyway, my mother had taken Azula and I to visit my uncle and a festival was going on when we got there. My cousin took my sister and I out to attend, and it was a lot of fun. The cherry blossoms were in peak bloom and there were picnics and tea; I knew it was probably my uncle’s favorite festival too.

“But at night, the town had set up these lights under the trees and you could walk around this garden looking at them. When the sun had fully set, other lights went on and they made sculptures with them. It blew my tiny little mind.” Zuko explained.

“So, a colony.” Hakoda said.

Katara sat up, but Zuko nodded.

“Yes.” He answered and looked back at Hakoda.

“I think,” Malina said slowly, resting her hand on Hakoda’s arm. “We can all appreciate what Zuko went through to end up here with us.”

Hakoda looked at Katara’s face and grumbled.

“My favorite is Avatar Day.” Suki stated, loudly clattering food onto a plate. Katara relaxed, rolling her eyes.

“We’re lucky Thuy’s not here.” Zuko said.

“That’d only be a problem if Katara said it was her favorite.” Sokka corrected.

“Oh for sure.” Suki said, drawing out her accent for effect. “Zuko can never leave Katara or else Thuy will smack him down.”

“Like she did his dad.” Sokka quipped and Zuko burst with a laugh.

“What’s your favorite festival, Sokka?” Malina asked.

“Love Day.” Suki and Katara shouted together and started laughing. Sokka groaned with loud exaggeration and Malina laughed lightly.

“I don’t like most festivals if they have fireworks. Those bug me.” He did say, tearing his flatbread into shreds.

“I like the solstice stuff. I get a kick out of how serious everyone gets when in reality they’re talking about Yue and my bratty sister.” He said finally and Katara launched a seaprune at him.

“What about you, Malina? Hakoda?” Zuko asked.

“Anything with good food is the best in my opinion.” Hakoda answered gruffly.

“Mine is similar to Zuko’s, actually. But I lived in the northern part of the Earth Empire and I think what you were talking about is in the south.” Malina said.

“Cherry blossoms bloom all the way up there?” Zuko questioned.

“Not natively, but for a long time the trees were a common gift the kings would send to each other. You can find them dotted all over capitals but only in the south are they everywhere.” Malina explained.

“They’re really something.” Zuko said.

“Oh yes. They reminded me of the North Pole, or at least, how my parents talked about the North Pole.” Malina said in a rush.

“Flowers?” Zuko asked.

“What about them?” Sokka snapped.

“How are they at all like the North Pole?” Zuko asked, bewildered.

Sokka looked over and met Malina’s eye, making Katara frown.

“I mean, have you actually looked at snow?” Sokka asked, turning to Zuko.

“You are clearly Piandao’s favorite.” Zuko murmured and Sokka scoffed.

“My parents would always talk about the North Pole when it snowed. Maliq and I would go crazy seeing how little it snowed inside Ba Sing Se, and how quickly the snowplows would come through.” Malina laughed and tapped Hakoda’s arm. “We were not prepared for coming back home.”

“Did you know that some places pickle cherry blossoms and make tea out of it?” Sokka asked and Zuko choked on his soup.

“Oh spirits what.” Sokka croaked.

Katara patted Zuko’s back and shrugged.

“Apparently it’s a wedding sort of tea and Iroh gave it to Zuko and me a while back.” She said.

“I was trying so hard not throw myself at you at that point too.” Zuko said, wiping his eyes.

“Excuse me?” Hakoda interrupted sharply and Malina snorted.

“Well, turns out you’re married by swamp standards so we should probably go pick up some more.” Sokka said.

“Excuse me?” Hakoda repeated.

“We have to get married before them, really.” Suki said, looking at Sokka.

“We should probably elope then, because at this rate they’ll be married twice over.” He said.

“Now hold on…” Hakoda leaned over the table and Zuko put his arm around Katara.

“We’re going backwards through the Avatar cycle. We just have to figure out which temple Aang was born at so we can get hitched there.” He said.

“No.” Hakoda said firmly, and everyone turned to him. “Both of my children are getting married in the South Pole.”

“Dad, we were just kidding.” Sokka said.

Hakoda sighed and leaned back.

“I know.” He said.

“And Suki and I are getting married in Kyoshi.” Sokka added.

Hakoda sputtered and even Katara turned to stare at Sokka. Her brother took Suki’s hand and stared down at their rings.

“I hate being in the Poles.” He said softly.

“What?” Hakoda and Katara shouted.

“O-kay.” Zuko stood up, jostling the table. “I’m taking Sokka to show me the penguins.”

“I can fight my own battles!” Sokka protested, but Suki also stood and the two of them grabbed either of his shoulders.

“I love you man, but I am trying to keep my future wife and father-in-law from hating my guts.” Zuko muttered as he and Suki started dragging him out of the room.

“That’s not my problem! Hey wait the stairs guys wai-” Sokka’s voice was cut off by the sound of chaotic thudding.

“So, Katara, what do you want to do for your birthday?” Malina asked.

Katara lowered her face into her hands and groaned.

~

“Cherry blossoms, huh?” Katara asked, laying on her back and looking up at Zuko.

Zuko’s long hair acted like a curtain as he propped himself over her. He was doing what he normally did when they were able to sleep together; trying to see which parts of her were ticklish as he lightly kissed her.

“They’re pretty.” He said with his lips against her shoulder.

“And very dainty.” Katara added.

“I’m not in love with cherry blossoms, Katara.” Zuko murmured, moving down to her collarbone.

“I’m just saying.”

“And I’m just saying. Though it would be nice to see you in a bath with some cherry blossoms. Seeing them stick to your skin.” Zuko laid himself on her and went back to her neck. “Mmmmm.”

“You just constantly run hot don’t you?” Katara said with a laugh threading through her words.

“You should have seen me as a young man.” Zuko said, pushing himself up to look directly at her. “And when I was plagued with thoughts of a very mysterious spirit.”

“You’re still a young man.” Katara retorted, putting her hands on his chest.

“Did you ever think of me?” Zuko asked.

“The Blue Spirit?”

“Yeah.”

Katara paused then, trying to recollect. Her memory was shoddy at best, and some events were warped by time and trauma.

She remembered her first kiss with Haru before staging a prison break to rescue his father. She remembered seeing Yue in the moonlight and knew love and heartbreak in the same moment as she saw Sokka’s face. She remembered digging her nails into Jet as if she could mold him into something else.

And she remembered the vigilante that she could never figure out.

“I used to dream about running into you over and over again in the war. We’d fight the same villains, we’d tease each other because we are always suspicious, and you would unmask yourself while proclaiming your eternal love for me.” Katara said.

“Funny, I always imagined the same thing.” Zuko said.

“I would never have unmasked.” Katara scoffed.

“There’d be no need.” Zuko said with a smile and then lowered himself again. “I told you that you sweat your stripes off.”

“Zuko!”

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 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

[zutarawasrobbed]

Hesitant to Love

AO3

ff.net

Rating: T

Summary: Zuko loves his wife, but he doesn’t know how to tell her.

Happy Zutara week everybody! This story takes place a few years post canon. Special thanks to @markedmage​ for her wonderful beta skills

Zuko loves his wife. He knows he shouldn’t, but he does. This was never supposed to be about love. But how could anyone not fall in love with her the moment they looked into her eyes? The moment she revealed her smile to the world, her righteous fury exposed in the crinkle of her nose and narrowed eyes, he adores so much. The excitement she felt for every one of his, or her, bills passed. The prospect of bringing peace to the world by sharing her life with her best friend.

Best friend... friendship. That’s what this was supposed to be. Two best friends putting aside their individual futures to be joined as wedded loves, to bring about a new era of inclusion to not just the fire nation, but the rest of the world. But he was doomed from the start. He promised himself he would repress this feeling. As he looked at the sleeping face of his wife with a hand on her protruding belly- his child, a daughter, he was sure, even though she was adamant it was a boy- he knew he could no longer keep this secret from her.

Zuko loves his wife, but he doesn’t know how to tell her. How can he? Will she hate him for breaking this arrangement they made when going into this union? Their marriage was supposed to be a symbol, nothing more. She would bear his children and they would love them, but not each other... Well not the love he felt for her at least. He knew she loved him, she told him so even before marriage. But it was the love a friend shared with another, platonic and pure with none of the complications that came about from being in love with someone. He thought he could live with this. Keep this secret in exchange for having her in his life.

(There are many things Zuko would do for Katara. Follow her around the world, train a little boy the secrets of his people. Take her to find the man who cracked her heart and shattered her innocence in a matter of second. Take lightning to the heart for a girl like her. But keeping his love for her a secret? Not a chance.)

But now it felt wrong. Like maybe he was deceiving her, yet his mind was filled with words and promises to always be honorable. Words and promises that wouldn't let him get away withholding the truth from her any longer. He used to escape them by whispering softly in her ear as she slept.

But now she held a promise of a different kind. Promises of sleepless nights with crying children. He always knew it was inevitable. But the way it happened was still bizarre to think about but also so Katara he couldn’t imagine it any other way.

_______________________________________________________________________

It was early evening and they were having dinner in his quarters, a common occurrence to escape the gossiping maids and nobles, when it happened. He just finished his bowl of sea prunes when she spoke

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.” It was automatic. Her mouth was in a straight line, her fingers fidgeting with the table cloth sewn by her gran gran. In hindsight he should’ve known she was about to ask something serious, but as always his mind drew blank and simply responded the way he always did when she asked him anything.

“Well... it’s more of a request-never mind...” her voice faltered and deflated.

Zuko’s frown was evident on his face. He wondered if he said or did anything to make her feel as if she couldn’t tell him anything. His heart screamed at the prospect. His mind wanted to spill everything he wanted to say. I would give you anything you asked. If you asked for the moon, I would find a way to bring it to you. If you asked for the stars I would learn how to fly to pluck them out of the sky. He would give her anything she asked. She already had his soul.

“It’s just that...” oh! she wasn’t done. “I was thinking about our marriage-“

Shit

“And we’ve been married for almost three years...”

Three years next month- 34 days. But who’s counting? “Already?” Not trusting himself to speak he took a sip of the broth left in his bowl.

“I want a baby!”

If he could, Zuko would turn back time so he reacted better. Or at least not choke on his soup as his wife bent the liquid in his lungs... “what?” His voice cracked. He would also not do that...

Katara steeled herself with a look of determination he only ever saw when she dealt with stubborn nobles. “I want a baby.” She said simply. As if she didn’t just ask him to impregnate her.

“Now?” His voice was still high pitched, but at least he didn’t sound like that toad from the western air temple.

“I think it takes longer than a minute to have a baby.” She deadpanned.

That should be funny. But his laugh was devoid of humor. Instead filled with nerves. She noticed.

“Zuko.” She reached across the table to take his hand. “I want to have a child with you. I know you must be apprehensive at the prospect of sharing your bed with me-”

Not in the way you think his mind interjects,

“but I don’t think it would be so bad. But there are other methods if you prefer!”

Hmm let me think, would I prefer using your bending to you in my bed? That’s a tough one.  

“But I’d like to try the more natural way. If that’s alright with you...” her resulting blush forced a smile from his lips.

“Okay.”

_______________________________________________________________________

He wishes he could say their first time was magical with fireworks and moans of pleasure... not laughter and snorting. He wished he lasted more than a minute. Agni I’m never gonna hear the end of this for the rest of my days. My ancestors must be mocking me in the spirit realm as we speak ! “I’m so so sorry.”

Her laughter ceased, “I’m not. I heard from gran gran this was might happen. It’s totally normal. I just assumed you did this before.”

She did? Wasn’t it blatantly obvious how awkward he was? Where did she get that idea? “No, just you.” He embarrassedly admitted.

“Hey,” her smile in return filled him with warmth. “Don’t be embarrassed. How about this time you let me take the lead?”

_______________________________________________________________________

So he did. He was in control, one the throne, and she was in control in the bedroom. It wasn’t long before the news of her pregnancy was delivered to him. When she told him, he allowed himself one moment of weakness and kissed her deeply, as if she just gave him the most precious gift in the world. He supposed she did in a way. The gift of a child- their child, one part him the other half her. He hoped it was a girl, a girl just like her. Katara kissed him back and laughed as he broke away. He should have told her then. But her smile was infectious and the words died on his lips. He almost kissed her again, but one moment of excitement was justified, another was just selfish.

_______________________________________________________________________

Now, three month later he’s starting to see the evidence of her pregnancy in her stomach and he can’t pretend any longer. Taking a deep breath, he strips his shirt and goes under the covers and pulls her to him, covering her hand on her stomach with his own. She stirs awake and snuggles closer to him.

“Hey.” Her voice is raspy from sleep. But she’s awake and she turns to face him with a smile.

This is it. No going back.

“I need to tell you something.”

That gets her attention. Her eyes look into his with clarity and concern. “What’s wrong?”

“I- I’m in love with you.”

Silence is all he gets in return. Her eyes are wide in shock and his heart breaks from the fragile agreement he’s just broken.

“I,” she steels herself, but slowly a smile adorns her face and her hand rests gently on the scar on his chest.  “I’ve loved you since you jumped in front of that lightning meant for me...”

This, he thinks, is what happiness feels like. Not being crowned Fire Lord. Nor the moment he could finally create lightning from his fingertips. Holding her close, her back to his front, her hand in his laying atop her stomach, is happiness. It feels like the dawn of spring colored by the crimson of the sun reflecting in the pond of blue. Like the sky after its fight with a storm, exploding with colors of all sorts in the middle of the day. He thinks he’ll never love her more than in this moment…

_______________________________________________________________________

Six months later their daughter is born and the sounds of her wails fill the palace walls. One look into her golden eyes staring up at him with curiosity, from her mother’s arms, he’s proven wrong. This, he knows , is happiness. When his wife looks up at him with her tired eyes beaming with joy and pride she tells him, “I love you.”

They tell each other constantly since that night. But this time it feels different. This time he knows their hearts no longer belong to just each other but the little girl with her eyes the shape of her mother’s with the color of her father's gold, the heat of her darker skin confirming what type of bender she’ll be.

He loves his wife, she loves him, and they love their daughter.

_______________________________________________________________________

Notes: I’ve read many arranged marriage fic that have Katara and Zuko as either strangers or enemies. I love reading those AU’s but in this story, I decided to go in a different direction. A direction of mutual consent for mutual benefits.

[tev-the-random]

What it Ursa took her children with her? - Pt.2

As we were saying:

Little over year has passed since the family arrived in Hira’a, and fateful news gets to them: Ozai remarried. His new wife is someone who is honoured to marry the Firelord and doesn’t mind the fact that his head is so deep up his own arse- anyway, and they are expecting a child, who is to be the Firelord’s legitimate heir.

Azula’s hopes and dreams are shattered. At age ten, she is quite literally being replaced in her beloved father’s life. It’s like she’s never even existed, and she can’t help but wonder what she did wrong.

Zuko is also upset, of course. All those years when Ozai told him he was unfit and worthless come flooding back. But somehow, he already expected things to turn out like this. Unlike Azula, he wasn’t so deeply feeding on hopes that things would go back to normal. He sees it more as a situation that was out of everyone’s control.

He convinces Azula it’s not her fault, and these kids will still be trying to understand and defend their father later down the road. There must be a reason for all of this, right? They start thinking of a reasonable scenario…

Ursa just feels sorry for the poor woman who has to deal with Ozai now.

So we get a timeskip: about three years came and went. Zuko and Azula – treated as kids and not as weapons – lead a peaceful and happy life whenever they’re not thinking of their father and everything they could be doing out there.

They have become known local troublemakers in their spare time. Kids know better than to challenge them, people know not to leave flammable goods out in the open – a strict policy regarding fireworks has been established after a chaotic incident – and failure to keep an eye on them this one time led to… well, let’s just say that the town is still unsure of whether or not they’re is being haunted by evil spirits.

They aren’t allowed anywhere near Forgetful Valley, but bold of you to assume they never tried. In-jokes arise.

‘No, I’m serious: that tree’s face looked exactly like yours, Zuzu. You really should befriend it,’ Azula mocks, remembering a particularly ugly tree they encountered in their adventure.

‘Sorry, I wasn’t looking at it. I was busy looking for whoever it was that asked you,’ Zuko retorts. ‘Since Forgetful Valley has all the kinds of crazy stuff.’

‘Maybe we should go back and look for your impulse control, then.’

‘None of you are going back in there,’ Ursa reprehends. ‘It was very irresponsible of you. Forgetful Valley is a dangerous place, you could have gotten hurt!’

‘Your mother is right, you know?’ Noren comments. ‘I’ve been to that jungle before, and it’s definitely not a playground. But I swear…’ He makes a dramatic pause. ‘I once saw Ursa’s sense of humour in there.’

The kids burst out laughing while Ursa sighs. ‘Since you can find such amazing things in the valley, dear, why don’t you go back there and find yourself actual funny jokes? I’m sure my sense of humour will be around the same corner.’

*More laughter*

(IDK, I write crappy comedy, ok?)

They still have a bit of a hard time making friends. I wouldn’t say they are shy, but they definitely have a talent to say the wrong things at the wrong times, and it’s hard to make deep connections. Sure, they would play with other kids from time to time, but in the end, Zuko and Azula are each other’s best friend.

They’ve cleared an area by the beach that any Hira’a resident knows to stay away from when they’re training.

Azula discovered a great passion for theatre. Not only are her acting skills fantastic, she also seems to be naturally aware of what makes a good scene. People say she’s Noren’s Little Assistant.

She hates being called Noren’s Little Assistant. She would much rather be called Ursa’s Little Star, because goddamn is she a good actress and she needs everyone to know that.

Zuko is more of a plant-lover guy. Unfortunately, he hasn’t inherited his grandmother’s green thumb, and despite Ursa’s best efforts to teach him, it seems like everything he touches dies.

He has grown to show a way with animals, however. Any variety of frogs and toads love him; lizards of all kinds are attracted to him like he’s a magnet; furry animals big and small adore him and any type of bird-like creature seems to think he is the best human being in existence. But his favourite animals are still the turtleducks.

Back in the palace, Iroh eventually learns of Ozai’s bullshit and how he got the throne in the first place. And you know what? The time has come for Iroh to draw a line in the sand. He confronts his little brother, who confronts him back by telling him that, should he try to tell anyone in the Fire Nation the truth – that Ozai was a top-grade traitor who actually had no right to the throne –, no one would believe him. Since his brother won’t be sensible, Iroh decides that’s it: he’s fucking out.

Now a fugitive from the Fire Nation, he somehow winds up owning a lovely traveling tea shop called the Jasmin Dragon. Most people don’t even suspect he is the fearful Dragon of the West, because he’s just so nice?

You can bet he serves blends of tea from all across the nations.

The tea shop is also a good cover up for his exchanges with the Order of the White Lotus. He gives and receives information, and does his best to help villages to either defend themselves or evacuate during Fire Nation attacks.

One day a member of the White Lotus travels to Hira’a for one reason or another and finds Zuko and Azula. This person then sends a letter to Iroh.

Iroh comes to Hira’a to visit the family. He’s glad to see they’re ok, even if he can’t stay for too long. But long enough for some Quality Time – these kids have grown so much!

Iroh doesn’t know of Ursa’s part in Azulon’s assassination, and only assumes she knew of Ozai’s plan. But now, it’s time that her children learned a couple of things, and he is willing to teach them, so that when the time arrives for them to meet their destiny, they should be able to choose wisely and face whatever comes their way. So he asks the children to accompany him in his travels.

Ursa doesn’t want to let them go. They’re children, they should be here living a peaceful life, not meeting some grand, dangerous destiny! What if something horrible happened to them?

Iroh understands the pain of losing a child. He doesn’t want to make Ursa spend her time worrying about losing two, so he respects her decision and soon leaves the town.

But the siblings are not about to just sit here when they know they’re destined for something greater. What incredible knowledge did their uncle hold? Did their father have something to do with this? They always knew there was more to their fate than just living in Hira’a for the rest of their lives, and this is their chance; it’s now or never.

Zuko and Azula are about to sneak out and follow Iroh when Noren spots them. But instead of trying to stop them – he is well aware that he can’t – he gives them two masks and some advice about never forgetting who they were.

Why yes, I am saying that they eventually take the masks and become partners in crime, Zuko as the Blue Spirit and Azula as the Red Spirit, because parallels.

They catch up with their uncle and adventures and shenanigans issue as Zuko, Azula and Iroh cross the Earth Kingdom.

Now imagine this trio: two of the most awkward firebending teenagers travelling with their old tea-loving uncle, who spits proverbs like he’s made of them. The possibilities for both hilarious and heart-warming moments are endless.

Iroh thinks himself a matchmaker. Whenever he thinks he sees some romance going on, he encourages his nephew or niece to make a move. His flaming cupid arrows do more damage than good, yet he only has good intentions at heart. Teens all around the kingdom encourage you to stop, sir.

Their new life is even more humbling than in Hira’a, since they are constantly travelling. But they manage, and they know their uncle is nothing but wise… even if Azula is still quite arrogant and manipulative, and Zuko is impatient and hot-headed, which can lead to a lot of conflict.

Iroh teaches them both how to create and redirect lightning. Zuko is better at redirecting than Azula. Creating it, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated, and both of them get their fair share of explosions while learning. Neither of them really gets a hang of it – although Azula is better at it than Zuko, that’s not saying much – for they still have a lot of identity-related turmoil inside them that won’t let them grasp the energy.

Guess who else teaches them? Other members of the White Lotus. Both Zuko and Azula get some swordsmanship Skills™ from Piandao, some different (and somewhat unwillingly taught) firebending technics from Jeong-Jeong and a lot of things from Bumi, including but not limited to: creative thinking, the art of patience, strategic planning, dealing with pirates and a surprising amount of rocks-related knowledge.

Bumi adopted Zuko and Azula and gave himself the role of Second Uncle. You cannot convince me otherwise.

So one day, little over a year after the siblings joined Iroh, they wind up in a city where this big circus is performing. Uncle Iroh decides to take his niece and nephew to see it. And oh, aren’t they surprised by who they see performing?

Even though Ty Lee was essentially the only one between her sisters to befriend Azula – and consequentially, the only one to periodically spend time in the palace with her –, Zuko and Iroh still have a hard time distinguishing her from the six other girls who look exactly like her, uncertainly calling her all different names before Azula snaps ‘you idiots, that’s Ty Lee!’.

The acrobat is so glad to see her friend again, because damn: it’s been nearly four years since they last saw or even heard from each other! And Zuko, I thought you were dead? This is such a neat reunion, there’s so much for them to talk about! And sure, the circus has to leave soon and so do the siblings, but Ty Lee reassures them that, if they ever needed her, she wasn’t hard to find. This isn’t the last we’ll see of Ty Lee.

Azula doesn’t let it show, but she resents Ty Lee a little bit for choosing to abandon her noble life. She really wishes she could have had a choice.

Uncle Iroh tells the siblings stories about the war that would have some day mesmerized them. But now, his opinions about those events and what he did as a prince general have changed; that, along with what the family sees in their journey – all the horrors brought to innocent people – gives Zuko and Azula a new perspective on what they used to think was a greater good. It will still take a while for Azula to understand that no, these people are no lesser than her and for Zuko to understand why any of that matters.

Iroh eventually tells them the truth about Azulon’s death. Or at least, what he knows of it: their father killed Azulon, banished them, took the throne by force and planned to gain more power at the expense of everyone. This is a lot to take in, and the siblings don’t quite believe it.

After four years thinking about it, Zuko and Azula decided to take their mother’s early words – they went to Hira’a to be safe – and formulate what for them was a reasonable scenario. They believe that Ozai never actually wanted any of this to happen. The whole family had to have been in danger, be it due to some political, social or personal threat, and Ozai wanted to take it all by himself to protect them. So he sent his wife and children away, concocted a plan with Azulon to cover for them and, once Azulon died and left him the throne, remarried to keep appearances. To Zuko and Azula, this makes perfect sense. And they thoroughly convince themselves of that.

They initiate an argument, thinking that Iroh is jealous of Ozai.

Their uncle sees these children are starting to stray from their path, but he knows this is a necessary journey for them. They will never be able to deal with reality unless they face it.

The siblings leave Iroh, planning to head straight to the Fire Nation capital and find out what really happened. Maybe now that they are older, it would be a perfect time to come back home; they surely could defend themselves from any threats.

Of course, they’ll be very disappointed to know that Ozai was just a bitch and never actually cared for any of them.

I don’t have a full formed idea about how their reencounter with their father would go down, but I say Ozai would officially banish both his children from the Fire Nation for trying to cause a commotion – which could easily be perceived as a threat. Not only that, but Zuko and Azula are the children of a traitor; cue for Ozai revealing what happened that night four years ago, confirming that he was the one to kill Azulon with Ursa’s help.

I also think that, after that day, the Firelord would have discreetly helped spread rumours about Ursa that would drag her name through the mud in the Capital – was she cheating on Ozai? Was she selling Fire Nation information to the Earth Kingdom? Was she planning a coup against the Firelord? Her crimes change from mouth to mouth. In the end, no one would take Zuko or Azula back unless Ozai wanted it. But he doesn’t. Not now, at least…

But Ozai also decides to play with his options: he plants a seed of doubt in his children’s minds; should they prove themselves useful later on, it would only take pulling a few strings for them to come crawling back to him. So he tells them that they needed to prove themselves for everyone to see that they weren’t traitors like their mother. They needed to prove their worth so that he could accept them.

Ozai goes a step further with Azula and tells her that, before his demise, Firelord Azulon had a plan. A plan to bring her back and put her in the leading, prestigious role she was always meant to get. But they needed to wait for the right time. There is a right time, Princess Azula. Your hopes were right all along, they will come for you eventually if you prove yourself.

The siblings have a lot to think about while they’re leaving the Fire Nation. They idolized Ozai so much all these years. But the undeniable truth came crashing down on their heads, spoken by the man himself. What would they do now? They didn’t think it possible, but their harsh actions made things so much worse: they couldn’t come back to their mother, they didn’t have many hopes of running into Iroh again, they can’t even set foot in their homeland anymore; Zuko and Azula are all on their own.

Maybe it’s time to turn a new leaf. It starts with them being fairly neutral, not completely loyal to either the Fire Nation or to the rest of the world. During this period, they would argue a lot about what to do or where to go next, getting separated and going their own ways before destiny makes them stick together again, over and over.

They manage to get a few deals and own a few favours here and there, become known thieves as the Spirits, and maybe meet up with Ty Lee’s circus every now and again. Life is hard.

But there is one thing that is about to be a beacon in their darkness…

Time to catch up to the show. Oh, you thought I wouldn’t go there?

Part 3 coming right up!

(I know I said this would be a two-parter, but it got ridiculously long, so I split it again. Three-parter now.)

[hatsheep]

theodore nott x yuzuru hishigata | protection

warnings : cursing, a nosebleed

///

Theodore chuckled as he saw his girlfriend running to him after she had herbology. “theo!” She cheered, a wide smile displayed on her face. theo wrapped her into an embrace once they were close enough, enjoying the warmth she provided. They were atleast near the dungeons- so there would be quite a few people to bother them. Yet something wasn’t sitting right with him, maybe it was those comments again..but he didn’t know.

The brunette ruffled the japanese girls hair. He snickered as she grumbled to fix it quickly, she pulled away to stick her tongue out playfully. “so how was class?” theo asked, gentle smile on his face “it was okay, zacharias smith kept on trying to pull me into a dangerous plant but you know how he is” theo scowled a bit, he never liked that boy, messing around with people like the time he stole susan bones food or acted higher than other hufflepuffs. He was instantly calmed when the girl took hold of his hand and squeezed it. They started to walk to their next class, after realizing that free times almost over.

The two chatted on, some people would stare. Nobody would expect a slytherin to be kind to a hufflepuff of all people, due to stereotypes. They considered theodore nott to a be one of those “big bads” after being friends with draco. Theodore groaned as he heard somebody say that he was just using her for something. Yuzuru took notice of this and glared at the people saying it- shutting them up pretty quick. Though that didn’t really stop it from continuing. “are you okay?” the girl asked worriedly, she was always so careful to make sure he was comfortable. “it’s fine sunshine, i can ignore it, now what were you saying about...zuko? that’s who he is right?” Yuzurus golden eyes lit up like fireworks as she continued talking about it.

theodore dropped his girlfriend off at her transfiguration class. He pressed a kiss to her forehead as she gave him a quick hug. “bye honey!!” she chuckled as theo nodded his head. “good luck sunshine, make sure to not fall asleep again!” he said, smirk on his face as he walked away. Yuzuru only rolled her eyes in response before heading to her seat. As she sat in said seat, a tall gryffindor towered over her, brown eyes glaring into hers. If she knew who he was, he was one of the more..slytherin hating ones (even for gryffindor standards)

“what do you want, zackery” “well yuzuru, i was wondering when you were gonna stop hanging out with the snake” yuzuru looked at him bewildered “i’m sorry, what?” she couldn’t believe that anyone would actually say it to her face. “ya heard me love, he’s a SNAKE, he’s gonna end up hurtin you. Besides who would even love a stupid,worthless,asshol-“ He was never able to finish that sentence as the girl stood up, kneed his stomach and punched his nose aggressively- making him fall onto the floor. The boy was battered and hollering in pain, holding his bleeding nose.

“Ouch!! what the fuck chick?!” “no you shut up you ignorant prick!!”The hufflepuff hissed in anger. Professor mcgonagoll instantly head there. “ms hishigata, stop this isnsant!” “you think you’re better just because you aren’t wearing a green tie? the fact that you’re bullying this innocent guy proves to me-“ “Ms hishigata!” Yuzurus anger only grew. “that you’re the asshole, nobody deserves to be treated like trash!” “MS HISHIGATA!”

The hufflepuff finally stopped as ms mcgonagall hurriedly sent zackery to the medical wing. She crossed her arms as she faced yuzuru. “as much as it’s good that you’re telling him off for doing something bad...it’s not acceptable for you to do that, ever. 45 points from hufflepuff and you will have detention on tuesday” the professer shook her head as she heard yuzurus awkward “yes professer”

Theo quickly rushed to her the moment he heard what happened. He got into her common room and looked for her, she was sitting in a corner. Everyone was already used to him barging in the hufflepuff common room- so they sighed and let him be. “sunshine, darling- what were you thinking?!” he asked in a hushed manner, so delicate but at the same time so concerned. A neighboring hufflepuff placed a silencing charm to make sure that the conversation would be private. Yuzuru looked away from him, but he only placed a hand on her chin and gently made her look at him.

“i don’t want anyone to speak bad about you! it’s not fair that you have to face that...you get enough people annoying you about it” She declared sadly, but still felt all the love he was radiating. Theodore felt a little conflicted, he was happy that somebody loved him this much but at the same time he hated the idea of his sunshine hurt. He kissed her forehead and cupped her cheeks.

“sunshine, i appreciate that you did that for me. But i don’t want you hurt or in trouble, so please try not to do that. “ He asked gently, yuzuru nodded and pecked his lips. “...i’ll try, no promises” Theo sighed yet he still snickered a bit. “fine fine, that’s good enough you little protective badger you”

“i’m your badger though, can’t get rid of me” she stuck her tongue out. He kissed her on her cheek as he carried her bridal style. “would never even think of it”

///

written at like 11pm so don’t expect too much from this 😔

[evanstanwrites]

Followers cellebration drabbles #3

Bucky x reader smut

My favourite kiwi: @pawfect-melody

Request:

Yay!!! How about some smutty bucky, fancy dress party for new years and tony paired everyone off and told them coupley costumes are mandatory - @feelmyroarrrr

It was that time of the year again and with it brought an extra extravagant new years eve party hosted by Tony Stark. As every other  year the party had a theme and this year it was couple costumes. Which means you and your boyfriend or girlfriend had to dress up in matching costumes, but that was where the problem was y/n didn't have a boyfriend or girlfriend. That was an easy fix for Tony as he had said before giving her a wink and leaving her confused on the couch just when Bucky walked in looking down at his feet before taking an apple from the table and rushing out behind Tony. That's how Bucky always acted, he didn't talk much only when Steve was around he seemed like himself. If Steve wasn't there Bucky mostly hid in his room. Y/n wished she could talk to him like he did with Steve, she wanted to be there for him. It wasn't a big secret that she had a thing for him.

On the day of the party when she walked into her room she saw a big box on her bed and straight away she knew that would be her costume. When she opened the box the first thing she noticed was the bright pink jacket with the words pink ladies on it, it seemed like she was going to be Sandy from Grease. 

She loved the idea of finding her Danny zuko and riding off into the sunset together. 

She quickly changed into the costume and did her make up before making her way to one of the biggest ballrooms stark tower had. Once the doors of the elevator opened she was stunned by how many people were in there, how the hell was she supposed to find her date in here? 

She figured she would let him find her so she went to the bar got a drink and made her way to the balcony to get some air and get away from the crowd. As she reached the door she saw a man with a black leather jacket with white letters forming T birds looking over the city skyline. "So you must be the Danny Zuko to my Sandy" she joked with a laugh but as soon as the man looked up at her her laugh died down, this couldn't be true, Tony must be playing a trick on her because looking up at her was Bucky Barnes. And he definitely looked like he'd rather be somewhere else. "I don't have a clue who Sandy or Danny Zuko is but yeah I guess I’m your date for the night." He said clearly a bit uncomfortable "that is if you're okay with it." He quickly added taking a step closer to her.

"Yeah sure I’m actually really glad it's you, I feared Tony would set me up with someone I wouldn't like." She chuckles a bit nervous. "You like me?" The look on his face told her that this surprised him.

"Yeah what's not to like?" She asked a bit more sure of herself. Bucky just shook his head before pointing at her costume. " you look really beautiful " 

"Thank you Bucky you look really good too." She smiled back at him glad that he hadn't ran away from her like he used to. In fact they were standing really close to each other in the door opening. She watched as Bucky looked up and whispered softly "mistletoe" before looking back at her with a strange look in his eyes focusing on her pink lips " can I kiss you?" He asked her pointing at the plant hanging above them. Thinking that he would just kiss her on the cheek she nods but froze when she felt his lips not on her cheek but on her lips. As soon as he felt her freeze he quickly pulled back and went to turn away from her muttering an apology. Fearing he would run away again she grabbed him by his lapels and pulls him back into her kissing him deeply making him melt into her. After a while that felt like only seconds they broke apart. "I like you too doll."he smiles at her "that costume sure does things to a man." He tells her clearly turned on by their kiss. "Yeah, I know the feeling. Your costume is really turning me on." She said without thinking turning red when she realised what she had said but when she looked at Bucky she saw him smirking. "We could easily do something about that doll." He said before sweeping her off her feet and carrying her out of the ballroom and into the elevator where he placed her back onto her feet before kissing her without holding back. When she moaned into the kiss he ran his tongue over hers first just a swipe of his tongue but when she didn't protested he showed her how skillful he really was with it. Y/n loved this side of him and it surely turned her on even more. When the elevator opened at Bucky's floor before she knew what was happening he was pushing her up against the door of his bedroom with her legs around his waist. She could feel his erection through his black jeans pushing against her covered folds making her grind down on him as she moaned into his mouth. "Please Bucky." She moaned as he started to kiss down her neck. "Please what doll?" "Please fuck me, you can make love to me later but please fuck me now." She practically begged him as she tried to undo his belt which made him chuckle at her eagerness but still helped her out and undid his belt for her and pushed his pants low enough for his cock to be freed. Luckily y/n was wearing a skirt that was already pulled up around her hips so he only had to push her panties to the side. They both moaned loudly at the feeling of him filling her. Bucky gave her some time to adjust to his cock and he needed it too or he would blow his load right away. When he could feel her walls tighten around him he started to thrust his hips into her setting a steady pace as he sucked a mark on the skin of her throat.  "Harder, please fuck me harder." She moaned as she slipped one of her hands into his hair and softly pulled it making Bucky growl but giving into her request snapping his hips harder into her. This wasn't going to last long at this rate she could already feel the coil in her stomach tighten. But they didn't care they had the whole night and many nights to come.  

"God you feel so good around me doll squeezing me so perfectly." He moans into her ear as he starts drawing circles over her clit sending her over the edge with a scream of his name and Bucky followed her soon after with his head buried in her neck. Both of them were in a trance like state when suddenly she could see fireworks go off through the windows on the other side of the room. "Happy new year Bucky"

"A happy new year it is"

[hongyueg]

The Rejected Son

Zuko finally attends one of his private bending academy's dances and realizes something important. https://archiveofourown.org/works/27660980 ________________________________________________________________

The only reason Zuko was at the Spring Festival Dance was because of his uncle. He had skipped every single one of the thousand other school events that had been tossed at him. The Golden Dragon Dance. The Moon Spirit Dance. All those assemblies on bullying and mental health. It was humiliating enough being the rejected son of the Fire Lord. Zuko didn’t need his peers gawking at him as well.

The one good thing Zuko could say about the Spring Festival Dance was that it was outside. His fellow high schoolers were too busy gazing at the red, purple, and blue fireworks twinkling in the night sky above them to give him any attention. He could blend in with the other Freshmen of the International Bending Academy for once.

“Hey, Zuko.”

Or not.

He twisted to his right to see the pretty Earthbender Jin from his class striding over to him with a cup of tea in her hands. In the distance, he could see his uncle’s stand lit up by ruby lanterns and he could almost smell the sweet and bitter aroma of the leaves Iroh used in his drinks. As Jin approached, Zuko’s cheeks felt hot and he fought the urge to step back toward the school buildings behind him. It’s just Jin.

He gave the girl a curt nod. A slight breeze drifted over his skin and he felt glad for the moment of relief. It could get quite warm in the Fire Nation.

“Zuko,” Jin said. Thanks to the line of lampposts tracing the dance area, Zuko could make out a smile on her tan cheeks.  “You should come join in the dancing. It’s fun.”

He glanced at the large crowd of people swaying in front of him. He shook his head. “I don’t think anybody would want to see me dancing.”

Jin peered at him with sad eyes. He hated that she seemed to pity him. He suddenly felt self-conscious of the scar that striked the left side of his face and he turned his head away from the girl.

A boom shattered the silence as a red firework burst in the air, painting the people and grass below a pinkish hue. Beyond the crowds, the sparkling lights, the lanterns, Zuko could see the ocean murmuring in the background. The salty air stung his nose and he imagined that he could see the edge of the Earth Kingdom teetering before him. It had never made sense to him that the private bending high school he attended was in the Fire Nation. It made more sense for the international academy to be in the United Republic. It’s just another way my country is trying to regain the power it’s lost in the decades since the Hundred Year War.

“Your uncle’s tea is very good,” Jin said. Her light voice could barely be heard through the quaking of the fireworks.

Annoyance crept into Zuko’s mind. He didn’t understand why this girl wasn’t leaving and he definitely did not want to discuss his uncle with her.

“He’s a great guidance counselor, too,” Jin continued. “He helped me feel less homesick this year.”

The word “home” felt like a dagger twisting in Zuko’s gut. He was sure Jin had a lovely home in the Earth Kingdom that possessed a family who missed her, but wanted her to have the opportunity to attend the most prestigious bending academy in the six nations. She probably didn’t belong to a family that made money raging useless border skirmishes with other countries or trying to return to a time that was long gone. Jin didn’t have to worry about other people staring at her because her trauma had been made public.

A purple firework thrummed in the sky and rocked Zuko out of his thoughts. He focused on his fellow students’ laughter as they jumped around before him. He saw friends hugging one another with grins splashed on their cheeks. He cringed at the couples kissing along the fringes of the crowd. He smirked as teenagers’ stepped on one another’s toes and as his classmates snorted with exhilaration. The scene appeared beautiful in an amusing, chaotic way. Everyone was simply trying to dance and belong.

“You should go, Jin,” Zuko said. He made sure his voice was loud enough to be heard over the crackling of the fireworks. “Your friends are probably wondering where you are.”

Jim smiled at him and took a sip from her teacup. The sleeves of her mint green dress fell down to her elbows. “You know, Zuko. You can dance, too. I’m sure my friends wouldn’t mind.”

Zuko felt himself blushing again and he fought the urge to fiddle with the ends of the red dress shirt he wore. Why was Jin being so nice to him? She, like everyone else in this school, this whole world rather, knew that he was rejected, knew that his father had scarred him. Zuko was only here because his uncle had been the one person willing to care for a disgraced prince. He only came to this dance because that same uncle had requested him to be there.

His country was a mess disguised as perfection and everything about this school felt wrong. Still, as Jin beamed at him with his uncle’s tea in her hands, Zuko felt something. Something he hadn’t felt since he was eleven years old. He felt that he mattered. That somebody cared for him.

He shook his head at Jin. “Thank you, but I… I have to go. I have something to do.”

Jin nodded at him, her face slightly downcast. “Well, I’ll see you in class.” She gave a little bow to him before scurrying off in the direction of the crowd.

Zuko watched as the kind girl dashed away. Once she had disappeared into the masses, he turned around and headed toward the lone teastand at the edge of the grassy area. Another sea breeze tangled around his legs and the brimy air soothed him. A blue firework dazzled the night sky. After what felt like hours, Zuko arrived in front of his uncle’s stand.

His uncle looked up at him, his amber eyes welled with concern. A boiling kettle of tea wheezed on the platform between them.

“Hey, Uncle,” Zuko said. “Do you want help serving tea?”

Iroh grinned.

[asamisaht0]

A Series of Firsts

Here’s my piece for the Zutara Exchange! @zutaraexchange

My giftee is @beealexageek I hope you like it! I combined “pregnant”, “first kiss”, and a tiny bit of “wedding” for the prompts.

Wordcount: 2k

Pairing: Zuko/Katara 

Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/18808570

The first time Zuko kissed Katara -or, technically, Katara kissed him- they were in an alley behind some seedy Earth Kingdom bar. They were tipsy, too close, and still teenagers. Katara still held her cup in her hand, though she had long since lost interest in its contents. Zuko was just beginning to realize the full weight of being Fire Lord and he had desperately needed a break. Uncle Iroh, in typical Uncle Iroh fashion, had conveniently (almost too conveniently) invited the whole gang back to the earth kingdom for the grand re-opening of the Jasmine Dragon the week later. Something about a brand new tea recipe. Whatever. They managed to escape the group and ended up at a bar, watching the Earth Kingdom locals entertain themselves now that they were free of Fire Nation rule. They each had had a drink, maybe two, and Katara suddenly decided the bar was too stuffy. “I can’t breathe in here. Let’s go outside?” she had said. Something along those lines. They decided to loiter in the alley behind the bar, because it was close but secluded. 

Katara took one more sip of her drink, mostly because Zuko had paid for it and she didn’t want to waste his money. He seemed to sense that, and scoffed. “Don’t worry about it. The Fire Nation has more money than we’ll ever need.” His words seemed a little more slurred than usual. Maybe it was just the background noise. “Still. I appreciate it, Zuko. Thanks for everything.” She didn’t quite know what she meant by that. What did “everything” encompass? Thanks for helping Aang save the world? Thanks for turning the Fire Nation back into a respectable entity? Thanks for taking a literal lightning bolt to the chest for her? Somehow, “thanks” just didn’t seem like enough. He smiled. Their eyes met. He looked back down. Zuko sighed and brushed his hand through his hair. Katara was confused. “What’s wrong?”

Zuko looked back up at her, then frowned at the contents of his cup. “I just- um. I really want to kiss you right now.” She blinked. “So….what’s stopping you?” she meant to think, but somehow ended up saying it out loud. Oh well. His eyes shot back up. His head kind of tilted, like when a dog hears a noise they don’t quite understand. Katara’s brain took about .002 seconds to make up its mind. She lifted up on her toes and kissed Zuko before either of them could change their minds. Later, she’d say something poetic like “he tasted like smoke and spices” or whatever. But right now? He tasted like the bottom of whatever barrell their drinks came out of.

The first time Zuko realized he was in love with Katara, she was teaching him how to pack snow into the holes of his igloo to help keep the warmth in. “No, Zuko,” she had said. “You can’t just start a fire inside a house made of ice that’s literally the opposite of productive right now,” she had said. They were in the Southern Water Tribe, solidifying arrangements for Katara to be the official ambassador of the Southern Water Tribe and hold a seat on Zuko’s council.

Honestly, Zuko would have done anything if it meant he got to see Katara every day. The idea of her actually living in the palace made him downright giddy. Giddy enough that he was willing to spend nights in a house made of literal ice in order to ensure he got to spend more time with Karara.

She turned around to make sure he was comprehending her lessons. Spoiler alert: he wasn’t. “Zuko, what did I just say?” she asked, but her tone was way less condescending than her words. He coughed to buy time. “You, um. You said I can’t make a fire here.” She chuckled. “You realize you’re going to freeze tonight if you don’t make this work?” Zuko had not, in fact, realized that yet. He ran a hand through his hair. “So I’m just supposed to survive for an extended period of time in here by myself? Without my bending?” He hoped he sounded as incredulous as he felt. Apparently not, because she was laughing even harder now. "You wouldn't have to fight to survive if you'd just listen to me. Here, do it yourself." She gave him a handful of snow. He took it, and it immediately melted.

He wrinkled his nose.

“I think I might die if I have to stay in here alone tonight.”

“You know what?” she said, freezing the snow back. “I think you’re right. I’ll stay in here with you,”

Zuko’s breath hitched.

“-Just to make sure you survive the night. Would that be alright?” He could hear her smile in her voice. Of course that would be alright. That would be amazing. That would be-

“Perfect! Please! Yes- I.” he stumbled. “I don’t want to die tonight.” He still wasn’t completely convinced that he wouldn’t die, but if he did, he wanted to make sure it was by her side.

The first time Zuko told Katara he loved her, they were watching the fireworks on the first anniversary of the war’s ending. There was a huge festival in their honor, and it was the first time Katara had been surrounded by all of her closest friends in a very long time. The sun had just set, and the cool summer night was a relief from the sweltering heat Katara had endured for most of the day. She supposed she should start getting used to the heat. Just in case. They were alone for the first time that day, atop some hill Zuko knew about that awarded them the best view in the city, he’d said. She’d never admit it, but he was right. They could see the city capital for miles and miles. She could see each individual light from each house. The Fire Nation looked nothing less than gorgeous. The fireworks were just starting, and Zuko took it upon himself to name every type and how they were made. Katara honestly couldn’t care less, but she was happy just to hear him talk about something he enjoyed.

A particularly large firework burst, and spread beautiful orange lights over the sky. They could hear the crowd’s reaction far below them. Katara really, really wished this moment would last forever.

“Zuko, this is amazing. I love it!”

His hand found hers in the dark. He squeezed it.

“I love you, Katara.”

She laid her head on his shoulder. “I love you, too Zuko.”

The first time (yes, there were multiples) Zuko asked Katara to marry him, they were out by the turtleduck pond, watching the new baby turtleducks learn how to swim. It was a spring morning, and the breeze brought with it the scent of freshly-bloomed fire lilies. Katara was playing with the turtleducks, giving them gentle waves to splash in. Zuko had been drowning in work just a half hour before, Katara had had to drag him out of his office for a much-needed break. Zuko was leaning against the big tree in the garden, and Katara was leaning against him.

She was a well-seasoned ambassador for the Southern Water Tribe, and had managed to negotiate peace and trade not only between the Fire Nation and her tribe, but the Northern Water Tribe as well. She had carved out a place for herself on the Fire Nation council, and Zuko supported her through it all. She, honestly, felt at home here.

“I could honestly stay here forever,” she mused aloud.

Zuko grabbed her hand, stroking the back of it idly with his thumb.

“How would you like to?” he almost whispered.

She craned her neck to look at him. “What do you mean? I live here already.”

“No, like... forever forever. How would you like a permanent home in the palace?”

Katara narrowed her eyes. “Zuko, are- are you asking me-”

“Yes! I mean, yeah, I suppose so.”

“You suppose you’re proposing to me.” she deadpanned.

He cleared his throat. “Katara, I’ve loved you for years. I wish I could say I’ve loved you since we met but we both know that isn’t the case.” Katara chuckled.

He took another deep breath. “It would be my honor to ask you to be my wife.”

Katara felt her heart fill, and couldn’t stop the grin that spread across her face.

“Yes, Zuko. I’ll marry you. But you know your mother will be upset that she missed the proposal.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “I guess we’ll have to make sure she’s here next time.”

The first time Zuko and Katara kissed on their wedding day- way, way before they were supposed to- they were giggling like children, hiding from the prying eyes of the fire sages and Katara's ladies in waiting. It was still early morning; the sun hadn't risen yet. The palace was already bustling with servants preparing for the ceremony. Zuko should have been tired, but he wasn't. He was too excited. They met up in Zuko’s office, having judged it the last place anyone would look for them today of all days. Zuko got there first, and sat on his desk, idly playing with his hands. There were so, so many things that could go wrong today. He ran through a mental checklist of everything he needed to do. He was on his third run-through when the doorknob jiggled slightly, and Katara slipped in the door as quietly as she could.

They met eyes, and burst into quiet laughter. “I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Zuko said.

“I’m sneaking around my own palace.” He felt like a teenager all over again.

“You know the fire sages wouldn’t approve. It gOeS AgAinSt TrAdiTiOn” she said, mocking the ancient Fire Sages’ voices. That only made them both laugh even harder.

“Everything about this goes against tradition!” He grabbed her waist as he said that, bringing them closer. “That’s part of what makes it so great.”

He tilted her chin up for a kiss. The first of many, on this special day. They locked eyes for a moment.

“Honestly, you’ve been my wife for a long, long time. This just makes it official.”

She snorted. “It was official to me when you took that lightning all those years ago.”

The first time Katara realized she was pregnant, she was sitting at a long, long dinner table in between her husband and an old Fire Nation nobleman with a long, silver beard. She remembered his beard specifically, because the sight of a small crumb that had gotten trapped in the wispy hairs suddenly made Katara very, very nauseous. She excused herself politely, the picture of an ever-graceful Fire Lady. Ursa taught her well. Katara held her posture perfectly all the way until she rounded the corner and was out of eyesight- then she all but sprinted to the bathroom. Her handmaids shared a look with each other.

After Katara cleaned herself up, she looked at herself in the mirror for a long, long time. She thinks, deep down, she’s known for a while now. Being a healer, she had become very in tune with the details of her own body. She’s been noticing a change for weeks, at least. But she guessed it was finally time to acknowledge it. She knew her handmaids were probably wondering why she hadn’t asked for her monthly supplies yet. She’d better tell Zuko before the rumor spread faster than any of his flames would.

She waited until the night. They were in bed, but not asleep. Zuko was writing something down on a scroll, and the small candle he lit cast his face in a warm glow.

“So what are you writing? Is it names?”

His eyebrows furrowed. “Names? What? No, it’s-”

“Well you should start.”

“Start what?”

She smirked. “Start thinking about names.” “Names for what? Katara, I don’t un-” his mouth closed. Then opened again. Then closed.

She smiled. “I’m pregnant, Zuko.”

His face lit up. Zuko flung his arms around his wife, and she swears she hadn’t seen him smile this wide since their wedding day.

Katara took everything in, reveling in just how she ended up here. If you had told her at 14 that she’d be the Fire Lady, and carry the Fire Lord’s child, she would have definitely written them off as insane. But right now, in this moment, she couldn’t be happier with how her life turned out.

[bellatrixobsessed1]

I’ll Meet You At The Bottom (Part 29)

Two weeks had gone by and she hadn’t talked to him. Usually she would at least offer him a snide remark or two. At most her grudges usually lasted for a day or two. This time she held it. He started to think, then, that the princess only forgave him so easily in the past because she had no one else to rely on.  Now that she had four other people willing to engage with her, she didn’t need to forgive him. He was reeling all over again. Especially since in those two weeks and things were tense with the gang too. He had already been in a rocky place with Zuko. After his sister had lifted her shirt to display a trail of purple bruises over puffy, swollen ribs, it was over. To the surprise of Sokka and Azula both, Zuko refused to speak with him at all after that. Sokka was beginning to feel like an outsider, like the princess was taking his place. Katara was the only one who conversed with him like normal, but he found that he was no longer in the mood for conversation. After the first week of being side-lined and resented, he locked himself in his room. He hadn’t gotten far into his second painting at all but on a sort of overwhelming impulse, he slashed it up, she was no longer making him happy. He was willing to say that this time his misery was all her fault. He had done so much for her and she had taken everything from him. His friends, his support…those where the only valuable things. Yet he kept losing them in some way or another.

 He looked at the tatters of canvas on the floor.

She was one of those friends.

 Deep down he knew that his rage was rooted in hurt. Deep down he was certain that Azula’s grudge had the same core.

 Fresh out of fury to fuel him, Sokka threw himself onto his bed tossed his boomerang over and over and over again until the sound of knocking pulled him out of the pattern. It was probably Katara, come to deliver his meal. He didn’t have much of an appetite for it—a telltale sign that he wasn’t doing too well. He threw the door open—with a needless force—to find himself half right. “Here.” Azula thrust the food at him. He made no move to take it. “I didn’t have to bring this to you.”

 “Then why did you? You could have left it to Katara.”

 “Maybe Katara’s getting tired of hearing you complain.” Azula shrugged. “Things are dull without you. Zu-Zu’s well enough but he’s overprotective. Katara does a lot of coddling too. And they feed off of each other…”

 “So?” He asked.

 “You.” She started. “You know what to do. They don’t. I like you the most.”

 “That explains why you’ve been ignoring me.”

 “Well you’re completely infuriating and I hate you the most.” She set the platter aside and crossed her arms.

 “You only talk to me because you need me.” Sokka replied.

 “That’s not true, I don’t need you, I have other people now.” Azula shrugged. “But I want to talk to you.”

 Sokka could feel himself growing annoyed. She had been slighting him for two weeks and suddenly he’s her favorite. She wanted something and he wasn’t going to involve himself this time. He was ready to take her by the arm, give her a swift shove, and slam the door in her smug face. “Did you ever consider that I don’t want to talk to you.”

 “I did.” She replied, twirling her bangs around her finger. “And I decided that you did because you’re lonely.”

 He walked closer and she took a few steps back to accommodate. “You decided wrong.” With those steps she was no longer in his room and he was pushing the door shut. But she wedged her hand between the door and the frame, holding it open with the strength he forgot she had.

 “No, you decided wrong.” She forced the door open and squeezed inside, “you’re going to let me stay.”

 “This is my room!” He hollered.

 Undaunted she replied, “yes, and it’s in my palace.” She gracefully seated herself upon his bed and inspected her nails. She must have just had them done, they were filed nicely, clipped to the same length, and painted with a shimmery gold. She tapped one of those nails on his chin, “you need to shave.”

 “You need to get out of here and mind your own business!” He demanded.

 She gave a humored sniff, “I’m not the only person in this room who has a problem with that.” She stretched her arms and elongated herself on the mattress.

 “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” He asked.

 Azula shook her head. “Not until eight…” she was going to say more but he didn’t want to hear it.

 “Well then maybe you should get ready for that.”

 “I’m trying.” She replied.

 “In my room?”

 “It’s a festival and you’re coming with me.” She said it as if it were decided.

 “Take Toph or something.”

 She sat up and tilted her head as if she couldn’t fathom his rejection. Truth be told he wanted to say yes, but he wanted…what did he want? An apology? To hear her beg for it? No, he just wanted to be angry. He wanted to show her the cold-shoulder that she showed him. She wrinkled her nose, “I want to take you.”

 “Well I don’t want to go with, especially not with you.”

 He could see it in her eyes that she didn’t believe it. Not at first, not until she looked at the floor. The gold-orange dipped shreds that he hadn’t cleaned. He let her stare for a moment, watching a series of indistinguishable emotions flicker across her face. Without another word she left, slamming the door for him.

He slapped the heel of his palms against his hairline and fell back onto the bed. Why had he done that? He could have taken her to the festival and it would have been over then. Instead he kicked the dragon again and she had just curled her talons and stormed out.

 .oOo.

 Azula couldn’t place it at first what churned beneath the resentment.

 Rejection.

It wasn’t something she took well.

 She particularly wasn’t attuned to it coming from Sokka. Sokka who had always put up with her no matter how difficult she was being. And the torn up portrait on the floor didn’t do anything to soften the blow or help her self-esteem, something she was still working to piece together.

��“How’d it go?” Aang smiled hopefully. “Is he coming with us?”

 “Did you tell him that we’re not mad?” Katara asked.

 “I didn’t get that far.” Azula replied as Zuko muttered, “speak for yourself.”

 “Why are you mad, Zu-Zu?”

 “Look what he did to you.” He grumbled.

 “How about you get mad about your own problems instead of mine? For instance, Councilman Yano has been calling you ‘the Wussy Lord’ for the past three weeks.”

 “I’m dealing with him!” Zuko snapped. Clearly he was in a mood. It would seem like the last two weeks had been difficult for all of them. At least she could say that she had some high points, the morning beneath the red dragon maple stood out. It stood out and brought a fresh pang in her heart.

“I didn’t get to tell him that you’ve been all bothered because of the council. He thinks it’s his fault.”

 “It is! Partially.” Zuko grumbled.

 Azula couldn’t disagree, but she also had to admit that the other part had been her.

 “Well, maybe the festival will cheer him up.” Aang grinned.

 “Speaking of…”

 .oOo.

 She wasn’t used to having her hand held. In fact, Toph couldn’t remember a time when she allowed someone to hold it. But there under the festival lanterns she found her hand locked with Azula’s. She didn’t realize that the princess had such a sense of humor. “This festival won’t have fireworks, will it, Sparky?”

 Azula deliberately ignored the ‘pet name’. “All Fire Nation festivals have fireworks.”

 “Oh great.” Toph grumbled. “Looks like you’re going to have to cuddle me and protect me from the scary noises.”

 “Just take a lantern and get over it.” Azula shoved a lantern on a stick into her hand.

 “I’m sure I’d enjoy this festival a lot more if I could see it. Aren’t there any games.”

 “Well, this is a lantern viewing festival…”

 Toph threw her hands up, “why do you dullards even invite me to these things!?”

 Azula chuckled, “to hear your charming commentary of course.”

 “I’m expecting a very detailed description of every lantern that floats up.” Toph insisted.

 “I’ll do my best, love.” Azula stroked Toph’s cheek.

 Once again, the earthbender had to admit that the princess was good. If she didn’t know any better she’d almost say that Azula really was her lover. Much to Toph’s amusement, no one else seemed to know any better. The description of their faces that Azula gave would be better than any silly lantern imagery.

 “I smell cinnamon and hot icing.” Toph noted, she could go for a cinnamon roll or two. “Get me one?”

 Azula shrugged, “I might as well.”

 “Sweet.”

 By the time they left the stall Toph had a whole bag of cinnamon rolls, a box of mochi, and a fortune cookie to occupy her hands alongside the lantern. Agreeing to be the princess’ date was the best idea she’d ever had. She chomped on her cinnamon roll and, with her feet, scoped the area for something else to entertain herself with. A little way down the street she could hear excited whoops and frustrated curses. Her feet told her that it was some kind of festival game. “You’re good at things.” Toph looked at Azula.

 “Most things, yes.” Azula agreed. “What’s your point?”

 “Are you good at that?” She pointed at the stall.

 “Probably.” Azula shrugged.

 “I want a stuffed dragon.” Toph stated. “I actually need him.”

 Azula rolled her eyes, “you don’t even have the arm space for a stuffed dragon.”

 “But you do.”

 “I can go back to that stall and change that.” Azula replied.

 “I’ll give you a kiss if you win it for me, Sparky!”

 “I’ll win you three of them not to.”  

 “Really?”

 “No.”

 “Okay, okay but think of the possibilities!” Toph tried. “You see, if I have a stuffed dragon I can name it Zuko. And then when he starts going on one of his rants I can hold it up and bob it with each word and pretend like its talking. Do you know how annoying that would be!?”

 “That would be completely aggravating.” Azula answered. “I’ll have a stuffed dragon for you in a few minutes.”

 Toph smirked smugly and watched the firebender saunter up to the stand. By the end of the line of booths, Toph had not just a stuffed dragon named Zuko but a polar bear dog named Katara, a signing groundhog named Aang, and a penguin named Sokka. At first Sokka was going to be the polar bear dog but the penguin’s eye was sewn on lopsided making it look rather goofy. At once she knew that the penguin was Sokka. She convinced Azula to go back twice more and win her a wolfbat—which she named after herself—and another dragon that she started calling Sparky. She plucked a used sparkler stick off of the ground and put it in the stuffed dragon’s mouth. “Sparky, meet Sparky. He has a drug problem, see.” She pointed to the used sparkler. She could sense the princess staring at her. Toph howled with laugher, “any chance that’ll you’ll describe the look on your face right now?” She had a pretty good idea of it.

 “You’re hilarious, love.” She spoke flatly. Beneath that she could sense at least some amusement. Azula definitely had a better sense of humor than Zuko. One of these days she would remove that stick from his anus.

 Eventually the crowd began to thin as everyone migrated to the hillside for the firework display and the lantern release. Toph had little interest in it. The fireworks came first and, as much as she hated to admit it, she was jumping and starting the whole time until Azula found it in her fiery heart to start warning her when the next one was about to burst. The lanterns were awful in a different, duller way.Though Azula gave rather elaborate descriptions of the best lanterns, Toph still found herself bored, it was probably one of those things that she would have to see to actually enjoy. Catching onto her boredom Azula whispered, “You know what would really drive these people nuts?”

  “What?” Toph asked. As the lanterns began lifting around them Azula gave her a peck on the cheek, long enough to make onlookers do a double take, but short enough to prevent something ridiculously awkward. For the second time that night Toph nearly doubled over with laughter. Many of those who stared unblinkingly now rolled their eyes at the little prank. “Ah man, you’re a riot Sparky!”

 .oOo.

 Sokka could hear the bursts echoing across Capital City. Every now and again one would be mockingly bright enough to illuminate his room and remind him of what he was missing out on—what he could have been enjoying if he would have just accepted Azula’s peace offering. He flopped onto his side and tried to get some sleep but the continuous banging wouldn’t allow it. When it did fall silent between bursts the stark quiet of the palace was almost worse. Not a soul lurked in the palace, servants and guards alike were allowed the night off, after all the beginning of the summer solstice was a thing to celebrate.

 Eventually he gave up on sleeping and wandered aimlessly around the palace. At one point he stumbled upon the one other person in the palace. “Why aren’t you at the festival.”

 “Someone’s gotta guard this place.” Xanu sniffed. “Those new guards, they see a couple of pretty little fireworks and they’re chanting like kids for a day off.”

 “The older guards are there too.” Sokka pointed out.

Xanu grunted, “they’re lazy, the lot of them.”

 “I don’t think anyone’s going to break in here.” Sokka shrugged.

 “Even so, I don’t like festivals. Too much noise and not enough space.”

 Sokka could understand that.

 “Why are you still here? You don’t have a job to do.”

 “Too much noise, not enough space.” He lied.

 “It’s that princess isn’t it?” He asked. “I’m telling everyone, she’s trouble.”

 “She isn’t so bad.” Sokka replied. “Everyone here is trouble, have you talked to Toph?” Xanu’s cringe told him all that he needed to know. “I guess I’ll let you get back to guarding the place then.” Sokka left feeling no different, he didn’t know why he expected some deep and enlightening conversation from Xanu. At least he knew he wasn’t the only buzzkill around.

 Sokka couldn’t say when it happened but after a few more hours of pointless traipsing he found himself in Azula’s room. It smelled like her; cinnamon and pine, a touch of tea and the tang of smoke with a very faint trace of tobacco that still lingered. His heart clenched, he could feel butterflies swarming in his belly. He missed being in here. He missed talking to her. He sat on her bed, it had been made very neatly. He didn’t know if such was her doing or one of the serving personal. She still had a few books and scrolls scattered on the side of the bed she didn’t sleep on. Leaning against the dresser was his portrait of her. Suddenly he was unbearably tired. He curled himself onto her bed, only intending to rest for a few minutes. But the pillows had her scent too and it beckoned him to sleep.

 .oOo.

 Azula arranged her festival souvenirs upon her dresser. First set down a golden maneki cat-owl. Around it she arranged a few trinket coins (the ones she hadn’t spent on games), one of the lanterns that had fallen from the sky, a few sticks of sparklers that she and Toph had used, two intricate ruby and gold hair chopsticks, and a string of golden beads. She had made a point of buying a few new vases to both hold the other kick-knacks and replace the ones she had shattered during her fit. In the corner of her room, she set her lantern on a stick. A beautiful thing really; made of paper and with hand painted flames. All in all, she had a swell time.

She moved away from her new possessions and strolled to her bed, rubbing tired eyes. It had been a long day; she still longed for her tears. But at this point they weren’t consuming her every thought as they had been in the weeks prior. She still wished she had them though, at least a little something, she could only imagine how magical the festival would have been with the extra kick…

 Coming upon the bed, Azula narrowed her eyes. “Hey, dumbass, you have your own bed. Sleep in it!” He jerked awake with a surprised yelp. She almost laughed, but she had a feud to continue. Instead she crossed her arms over her chest. “Hurry up, I’m tired and I need to use that.”

 “Sorry.” Sokka mumbled, looking up at her with those puppy dog eyes. That look only worked for one person and that one person was TyLee.

 “You will be soon.” Azula didn’t budge.

 Sokka sighed, looking for all the world like she had just given him the worst verbal beatdown in Fire Nation history. She wouldn’t cave, not after he’d so blatantly picked at her pride. The sting of seeing the tattered painting still brought a flaming sensation to her stomach. Apparently, she wasn’t a subject worth painting after all. And after all of that pretty talk.

 “What are you doing in here anyways?”

 He rubbed the back of his head. “I don’t know. Nothing. It’s stupid.”

 “Yes, it is.” She agreed unrelentingly.

 He stood and hustled to the door, lingering to look at her lantern. “Did you have a good time?”

 “Lovely,” but it would have been better if you were there, “especially because I didn’t have to deal with you.” She didn’t know he was going to cry, if she did she might have spoken what was really on her mind. She rolled her eyes, “stop that, it’s annoying.”

 “Then make me stop.” Sokka hollered.

 Azula hesitated, “…I don’t know how.”

 Sokka laughed, the sort of laugh that chilled her. The laugh that so clearly resembled her own unhinged laughter. “Just—just talk to me.”

 “I am.”

 “Talk to me like you don’t hate me.”

 “I don’t hate you.”

“Then why are you still telling me to leave?”

 Azula shifted her weight, growing uncomfortable. She wanted to say something comforting but instead she reminded him of just who threw who out the last time.

 “I’m sorry.” He muttered.

 “Okay.”

 “Okay, it’s fine? Okay, you don’t care that I’m sorry?”

 “It’s fine.” She elaborated. “I guess.”

 His fingers grazed over her ribcage. “I didn’t want to do that. I just didn’t want you to have to start all over again.”

 Azula bit the inside of her lip and shifted again. “I don’t think I would have given it a second try…” So what was she trying to tell him? That she was glad he had manhandled her? “Maybe next time try throwing the pouch instead?” She couldn’t help the attitude that crept into her voice.

 “It was an impulse.” He ran his hand through disarrayed hair. Impulsive, she mused, that made two of them.

 “I suppose we’re a dangerous pair, aren’t we?” She half-smirked.

 Azula gave him the room to come closer. With visible reluctance he extended his arm, falling inches short of touching her until she indicated permission. He was hugging her tighter than usual, leaving her with the vague impression that maybe she should be doing the hugging. Tenderly, he caressed her ribcage, as though that could somehow take away the imprint of pain left there. For a considerable duration of time they stood like so. With the firebender awkwardly admitting to herself that she missed his touch. What that meant, was still just beyond her comprehension, but dancing much closer to it than ever before. “Why have you been so uptight lately?” She spoke, no longer wanting to dwell any further.

 The question caught him off guard, she could hear that much in his sputtering. “I-I don’t know. Because you…you’re feeling better and I’m not.”

��Azula furrowed her brows and cocked her head.

 “It seems like I’m the only one who’s completely fucked up anymore. You’re getting better…”

 “I’m not.” She cut him off. “Not completely.”

 “But you’ve been clean for what, eight weeks now?”

 “Do you think that the drugs were my only problems? What do you think pushed me to them Sokka?” She really didn’t mean to make it about her again, but Sokka was steering the conversation that way. He didn’t want to talk about his problems yet and if he was anything like her she’d have to claw it out of him.

 “You’re not alone anymore. Zuko cares about you. Toph has a lot of fun with you. Aang has always seen the good in you. Even Katara is warming up to you.” Sokka half-smiled.

 “People still think I’m a lunatic. People used to envy me, do you know how they look at me now?”

 “Do you?” Sokka asked. “Because I think that you’re projecting.”

 “Excuse me.” His bluntness had a way of taking her aback.

 “I haven’t seen one person snicker or laugh at you since you stopped taking Ruby Tears.” Sokka replied. “Except for maybe Xanu, but he complains about everyone.”

 “He’s just mad that I kicked him in the balls.” She muttered.

 “That was you?” Sokka exclaimed.

 She allowed herself a small yet smug laugh.

 “So it’s settled then,” Sokka decided, “you know that no one lowly of you.”

 She almost told him that she did. But even then she wasn’t sure of that. There were days, wonderful days when she didn’t hate herself—or maybe she simply forgot about that hatred in the moment. Other days though, she couldn’t stand herself and she didn’t know why. For that she wanted to go back to the Ash Pit, something about it allowed her to forget herself. To forget her own standards. “That’s not it, Sokka.” She mumbled, reminded of the other thing that had been clawing away at her.

 “Okay, what else then?” He asked.

 She wished he hadn’t because it all came tumbling out before she could stop it. From the first stumbling journey to the Ash Pit to the next and every ass kicking in between. She told him of the rumble and the initiation beat down—of how terribly small it had rendered her. She told him of getting wildly wasted and, with deliberately less detail, of her night with Minho and Chan and then once again with Chan. Up until then Sokka hadn’t cringed at all. “No one is going to love me like that.” Azula finished. “Like Chan or Minho…” She was quite for a moment, but not long enough to let him reply. “No one wants to.”

 He was shedding the tears she could not. “I can.”

 Azula wasn’t sure that she heard him right, or that he had spoken at all. But the thing, the feeling that danced so close to her comprehension was now within grasp. And the fingers that unfurled in her mind reached out. She supposed it made sense.

Why his scorn her so much.

Why his company meant the world.

 She didn’t know in the faintest, how to reply. Maybe the response wasn’t meant to be verbal at all. Even so she never imagined that she would be the one to reach out first. But when his eyes seemed to double in size, she knew that he hadn’t been the one to kiss her.

 No, like most all of their fights and disputes, she had initiated it.

 Azula felt his hand on her head, and then one slide up her back. His lips were on hers longer than she expected them to be, he seemed to lean into her, dipping her back slightly. Still, it was to short. He pulled his lips away. But they remained close. It must have been only for a few seconds, but it felt longer, that they had stood with their foreheads touching. She could feel his breaths on her lips.

 This time she heard him very clearly. “I can.”

I was good this time, can I leave the Denny’s parking lot?

[azuresquirrel]

OKAY FOLKS, MY INTITIAL HOT TAKES ™ ON STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, BEFORE I EXPOSE MYSELF TO ANY OF THE DISCUSSION OR DISCOURSE. UNLESS IT IS NOT CLEAR, THIS POST IS SPOILER-TASTIC.

Alrighty, before we get to the meat of the thing let me give ENTIRELY too many disclaimers:

-I would not consider myself a Star Wars Expert. I’d say I’m a fan and about a half-step up from the standard casual moviegoer. I love the movies, the original trilogy was a big deal in my childhood. I have encountered the EU in small bits – a novel here and there, an episode of a cartoon here and there. But I am decidedly not a person who is Keeping Up with the billions of Star Wars media out there so I want it clear that’s the perspective I’m coming from.

-Also my Overall Take on the movie is generally positive and I also think I will enjoy it more on a second viewing, whenever that may be. But I did go into it, given the non-spoilery rumblings I’d heard to either Love It or Hate It. I’d say neither is the case. I Liked it, which really is something of a disappointment, but perhaps that second viewing would move it up. Also I will likely be more detailed on the stuff I had problems with than the stuff I liked, but the stuff I liked did outweight the stuff I had issues with.

-As to “where” I would rank this movie in my personal rankings . . . bros, I don’t know. I have immense childhood built-in bias to Episodes IV – VI. Better than the prequels, OBVIOUSLY (which let’s be real, the prequels had SOME good stuff in the them but it sure is a lot of bullshit to wade through). I never really gave my Official Take on Rogue One because IT WAS THE DAY THAT CARRIE FISHER PASSED, and I honestly think it will take me a while to be ABLE to watch it again because I associate it so strongly with her passing. But here’s my Take anyway: it had good concepts and a goddamn killer third act, but the first two acts were a goddamn SLOG and I just could not find Jyn an investing protagonist for all that I tried. I’d rank The Last Jedi over Rogue One – I had a similar “when are we going to get to the fireworks factory” deal with it, but still the stalling period was more enjoyable in The Last Jedi than in Rogue One. And it falls short to The Force Awakens to me. The Force Awakens felt more focused, and it had more of what I personally was looking for – that “SHIT YEAH I’M WATCHING STAR WARS” feeling. The Last Jedi got there EVENTUALLY but it got there really really late. I pretty much enjoyed The Force Awakens the whole way through whereas I was feeling a good deal of FRUSTRATION a ways into The Last Jedi.

So, let’s get to specifics:

-Well, I mean I think it’s clear why I think a second viewing will improve my opinion on the film. I spent a LOT of it WAITING and FRUSTRATED and thinking “WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET TO THE FIREWORKS FACTORY/THE POINT.” I had Concerns about things, not knowing where they were going (AND I THINK VALIDLY SO AT THE TIME), so since it largely ended up in places that I LIKED maybe I’ll be able to enjoy the waiting period a lot more in the future.

-Look, I know that Star Wars movies are Events and are never short but fucking, this movie was still TOO LONG. Felt the same about Rogue One (but less so here), didn’t feel that way about The Force Awakens.

-Well let’s see, in my mind there were basically four plots in this movie – Rey and Luke, Finn and Rose, Poe and the Rebels, and Kyle Ron Bullshit (I suppose some would argue that Kyle Ron bullshit was pretty much a part of the Rey and Luke plot. Technically, they are probably correct. IN MY NON-TECHNICAL MIND, IT IS A SEPARATE THING GIVEN I THOUGHT “OH THIS SHIT AGAIN” WHENEVER HE CAME ONSCREEN). The overall: Finn and Rose was GREAT THROUGHOUT, THE MOST MOVIE-ISH OF THEM AND THE MOST ENJOYABLE AND I LOVE THEM AND ALSO BB8. Rey and Luke I ALSO LIKED A WHOLE, WHOLE LOT, THOUGH I IMAGINE THERE MAY BE ~CONTROVERSY~ THERE. However I also felt a good deal of Frustration and Concern thanks to all the Kyle Ron Bullshit inserted there. Poe and the Rebels . . . . . oooooooooooooof. Yeah. That was a thing.

-On a more shallow note: one thing that was uniformly good throughout was all the NEW STAR WARS CREATURES. Icicle-foxes on mineral planet (and actually being of MINOR PLOT IMPORTANCE), stupidly adorable giant rabbit-horses, JUDGEMENTAL FISH NUNS, and the godawfully adorable merchandise mandate of the porgs. We didn’t get that much in the way of exciting new Star Wars planets/worlds, but the creatures made up for it.

-Okay I don’t count it as new because we saw it at the end of The Force Awakens, but I was extremely appreciative of Ireland: Luke’s picturesque Cranky Jedi Exile Planet. THE SOUTHWEST COAST OF IRELAND, LAND OF MY ANCESTORS, IS BEAUTIFUL.

-I HAVE A LOT OF EMOTIONS ABOUT LUKE SKYWALKER: MY DEAD GAY DAD/SON (courtesy of spaceoperetta, that joke). I just . . . loved . . . my heart . . . .

-OLD CRANKY LUKE HAVING RETIRED TO HIS ANGRY GAY PICTURESQUE EXILE PLANET BECAUSE HE HAD THE HUBRIS ™ AND FAILED ™. JUST. RELATABLE.

-REY JUST FUCKING FOLLOWING HIM FOR ALL HIS CRANKY EXILE DAYS, BEING JUST A FUCKING STUBBORN.

-All the stuff Luke had to say about The Force and why the Jedi were crap was just . . . GOOD. I APPROVE.

-And Force Ghost Yoda ends up burning the damn tree anyway, what a troll.

-. . . why do I have the feeling that Luke in The Last Jedi is going to become my new AA4 Phoenix? I just have a HUNCH. YES HE MADE SOME BAD CHOICES ™ AND IS OLD AND BITTER BUT. I GET IT. FOLKS, I GET IT.

-And the whole END when he ASTRAL-PROJECTS AWESOMENESS ONTO MINERAL PLANET. BEING AWESOME AND OLD AND SASSY. PULLING SOME STRAIGHT-UP AIRBENDER MOVES ON KYLE RON.

-I was keeping the tears back throughout the movie but the Leia and Luke scene BROKE ME.

-And then he dies (as I expected), looking out at the double sunset just like in A New Hope fucking forty years ago. I CRIED SOME MORE.

-I HAVE A LOT OF EMOTIONS ABOUT LUKE SKYWALKER.

-Okay REY. Somehow felt like there was . . . less of Rey in this film than in TFA? Like probably actually not but it felt like she got to do more STUFF in TFA. And the CONCERNS did not help. BUT YES, REY WITH A LIGHTSABER, REY PILOTING THE FALCON, REY MOVING SOME FUCKING ROCKS. REY!!!!!!

-Also can the third movie NOT go back on the conclusion that we came to re: Rey’s parentage from this film? Her “coming from nothing” having just regular-ass junker parents, she DOESN’T have that ~special Skywalker blood~. PLEASE. PLEASE DON’T GO BACK ON IT, SERIES. BECAUSE I LIKE IT. She “doesn’t have a place in this story” in the Multigenerational Skywalker Family Drama. BUT SHE IS REY!!! SHE IS HERSELF AND CAN BE GREAT ANYWAY!!!! THE FORCE IS NOT “A POWER TO MOVE ROCKS” AND IT’S NOT MIDICHOLIRAN BULLSHIT, IT ISI WITHIN HER AS IT IS EVERYTHING! THAT STRENGTH COMES FROM HERSELF DAMMIT.

-(okay bad joke time, you all know I was totally thinking “YES REY, FIND YOUR GAY DESTINY IN THE GIANT SEAWEED VAGINA” re: the Empire Strikes Back ripoff cave that only shows you your own face).

-Before I get to The Issues – FINN AND ROSE WERE GREAT AND I LOVE THEM!!!! I AM GLAD THAT ROSE ARTICULATED THE REBELLION SO WELL!!!! THEY WORKED GREAT TOGETHER!!!! FINN CONTINUES TO BE A JOY!!!! BOTH OF THEM ARE THE HOPE OF THIS REBELLION!!!!

-AND SHE SAVED HIM AND I HAD THE EMOTIONS. AND I WORRIED SHE DIED BUT THANK GOD SHE DID NOT. AND THAT KISS WITH THE EXPLOSION IN THE BACKGROUND! FIGHTING FOR THE THINGS WE LOVE! EMOTIONS!

-ALSO SHOUTOUT TO FINN FOR HAVING MY REAL FIRST “SHIT YEAH I’M WATCHING STAR WARS” MOMENT WHEN HE GOES AT CAPTAIN PHASMA IN THE FUCKING BURNING DOWN SHIP. THAT WAS GOOD SHIT!!!!

-ALSO FINN RALLYING EVERYONE IN MINERAL PLANET BASE WITH HIS HOPE – YOU ARE THE TRUE FUTURE OF THE REBELLION!!!

-(okay but for the next movie can we have more than like two minutes of Maz Kanata? PLEASE?)

-Okay so circling back to Rey because of KYLE RON BULLSHIT. You can probably tell what my Concerns were. Like . . . I mean geez, I want to root for that hopefulness but CHRIST, COME ON HERE.

-I was happy that it turned out that their stupid ~connection~ was forged by Snoke, who is unimportant anyway and dies, that was frankly a bit of a relief.

-OKAY, BASICALLY I HAD WORRIES ABOUT THE SHIP I DARE NOT NAME, BUT LUCKILY REY IS GOOD AND KYLE RON CONTINUED TO BE AS HE IS, AS I EXPECTED. But can you blame me for the CONCERNS about their ~omg special Force connection~?

-But . . . . honestly it IS a problem with this new trilogy that I don’t care about Kyle Ron. So much of these movies are hanging on the fact that we have some investment in his decisions and his fate and I . . . don’t. Like when Leia was reaching out to him with The Force I should have Felt Something and I did not. I perhaps should have been slightly less “eh, can you really blame him” at the reveal that Luke did indeed for a moment consider offing him.  He is so important to so many of the characters but I just . . . . they’re trying to make him into a Zuko but he ISN’T. HE’S JUST SHITTY. I DON’T CARE ABOUT HIS SUPPOSED ~CONFLICT~. AND HONESTLY THAT’S A PROBLEM. HE *SHOULD* BE A COMPELLING VILLAIN THAT YOU FEEL CONFLICTED ABOUT. YOU SHOULD *WANT* HIM TO BE REDEEMED LIKE HOW YOU WANTED LUKE TO SUCCEED IN REACHING VADER LIKE IN RETURN OF THE JEDI. BUT I JUST. DON’T. CARE. HE’S JUST A SHITTY WHINY SPOILED MANBABY.

-So like on the one hand I was happy that SNoke and his stylish gold robe essentially ended up being UNIMPORTANT. He dies and it made little difference. Because I didn’t really care!

- . . . but then again, isn’t that similar to the Kyle Ron problem? Because like . . . if the whole dealio of this plot, that Kyle Ron was corrupted to the Dark Side and Sith Ways thanks to his Andy Serkis CGI fucker, then SHOULDN’T it matter a bit? WHO IS THIS GUY AND WHERE DID HE COME FROM? WHAT IS HIS MOTIVATION BESIDES “EVIL?” WHERE DID THIS SITH FUCKER POP UP FROM AFTER PALPITINE WAS OFFED? Like . . . I don’t personally care but for the story itself it SHOULD matter. Instead it’s just “and then Kyle Ron became Dark Side because The Evil Guy said so.” If you want something actually compelling you need to fucking put MORE into it.

-So then the part where we needed to care about the tracked and almost out of fuel Rebel Forces. One would think I would given that Leia was there (for like five minutes and also SHE USED THE FORCE TO SAVE HERSELF AND I HAD THE EMOTIONS) But. Well.

-Oh, and pausing to point out that Star Wars is getting BETTER with women as it has more women onscreen than ever but like – I was concerned about Rose dying with ALL THE DYING ASIAN WOMEN ONSCREEN. Yes the bomber ended up being her sister and important and it was a badass scene but like – could we not have killed her off IMMEDIATELY? Also was that Jasika (I’m not sure) who got unceremoniously blown up in her X-Wing? I’m just saying, STAR WARS STILL HAS SOME WAYS TO GO EVEN WITH REY AND ROSE.

-Also movie thank you for ultimately validating Purple-Haired Laura Dern as a good leader and a badass but I somehow doubt that will be the takeaway that most people have.

-BECAUSE I GUESS DREAMY POE DAMERON OF THE FORCE AWAKENS IS GONE AND REPLACED WITH A HOTHEADED CLONE WHO HAS A PROBLEM WITH WOMEN IN AUTHORITY OR SOMETHING.

-Like . . . why was it necessary . . . for this plot . . . for Poe to talk over and mansplain to and disobey orders from his fucking commanding officers who all just happen to be women.

-And I guess we’re not supposed to find him a rank hypocrite at the end when Finn disobeyed his orders to pull off from the Death Star But a Battering Ram (???) even though THAT’S WHAT POE’S BEEN DOING THIS WHOLE FUCKING MOVIE.

-Like god cutting back to those ships every time was TIRESOME and frankly I’m glad I did not have a ton of investment in Poe as a character before this or else I’d be RIGHT PISSED instead of just annoyed that the movie turned this character into a sexist and pretty much did not do ENOUGH to refute his ways. STILL ANNOYED THOUGH.

-Also is there any problem that the Empire/The First Order has encountered that they didn’t go “throw a Death Star” at it? I think a barked a laugh when they were like “IT’S MINIATURE DEATH STAR TECH.”

-Other disappointments – I THOUGHT KYLE RON WOULD STRAIGHT UP MURDER HUX AT LIKE TOO POINTS AND HE DIDN’T. I would’ve at least appreciated that ginger asshole getting murdered (especially when he slapped Finn I thought “M U R D E R”), but NOPE, KYLE RON MUST BE A DISAPPOINTMET IN ALL THINGS.

-THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE LEIA!!!!! AND NOW WHAT WILL THEY DO WITH THE NEXT MOVIE!!!!! BECAUSE CARRIE!!!!! I AM VERY UPSET!!!!!!!

-Oh Christ, this is so long and I’m kind of trailing off into shitpost territory, SO IF I HAVE MORE SHITPOSTY THOUGHTS I WILL HAVE THEM LATER.

-So good movie but I had FRUSTRATIONS.

-In conclusion: I LOVE LUKE SKYWALKER, MY DEAD GAY DAD/SON.

[youremyonlyhope]

Stranger Things 3

Episode 8. This is it!

It was originally going to be in a post with episode 7 like the rest of the episodes were paired up, but it got too long.

And seriously some people may pretend that Season 2 has only 8 episodes because they hated the Lost Sister so much, but 8 episodes did not feel like enough after 9 last time.

Update: I edited the post on mobile and apparently deleted the cutoff without noticing. So. I really hope for the hour or so it wasn’t there that I didn’t spoil anyone.

…So.

After that opening, I paused. Got up. Shakily walked down the stairs to tell my mom that this was one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen. I literally watched that opening with my hands half covering the screen. And then I drank a full glass of water and ate some mango. And now I’m back. I broke my rule of not writing while watching in order to write this. Now back to the episode. Ew.

Now that I’ve finished the episode, before I write down my thoughts scene by scene, I want to say. My final verdict is: Exit Wounds.

But let’s go through the moments in the episode first before I get into that. And I lied, I did pause a few times, but only to write a couple words to help jolt my memory later.

Yeah so that opening. Disgusting. But I already wrote what I thought. Hopper and El were holding hands with the little blue hairband around her hand and his thumb. My heart. I love it. Murray’s Russian plan was a good one. I guess Hopper’s was the faster solution though. At this point I wrote down “Family lesbian nerd mom collarless“ And I was basically trying to make a joke. “Sometimes a family can be a mom with great hair, a lesbian sailor, a black girl nerd, and collarless boy.” Or did Steve call Dustin boneless? I can’t remember. But yeah that was my joke. Oh poor El’s powers. I hope she’s ok. AANNNNNDDDD IT’S HERE. Can Terminator Dude just stop. Joyce and Hopper agreed to go on a date. This is important for my Exit Wounds theory that started to kind of form around now. The moment they agreed I was like oh god here we go. I love that they called themselves the Scoops Troop. Very cute. So much anxiety while they tried to run from the Mind Flayer. Steve to the rescue again!!!! It’s not a Stranger Things season if Steve doesn’t swoop in at the last second to save them. Usually from Billy. I think that Dustin and Suzie singing was cute, but also completely random. But it led to another instance of a girl saving the day. Which I love. (Also it was something I was spoiled for since YouTube suggested a video called something like “The meaning behind Dustin and Suzie’s song!” and I was like oh ok so now I’ve been spoiled that she’s real. Cool.) Can Terminator Dude just stop. I wrote down “Terminator wrists visible” when he started fighting Hopper. Because if he is a sibling of Eleven, which I think he is, then he’d have a number tattoo on his wrist. We haven’t really seen his wrists up until now (besides in the hall of mirrors). And I was convinced we were about to get a flash of a “001″ or a “002.” (Wait… if there was a number shown in the mirror and I missed it… I’ll be mad.) I wrote down “Billy sacrifice?” when he picked up El. Especially because he seemed kind of gentle when he transferred her from carrying her fireman style to bridal style. I was wondering if Billy was actually giving El over or if he was about to sacrifice himself to save them. The Billy memory scene was super emotional. And I was glad the fireworks came in handy. Once Hopper and Terminator ended up by the machine, I wrote down “Hopper=Exit Wounds” because I had a bad feeling it was gonna be an Exit Wounds situation. Or I guess more accurately a Reset situation. Joyce and Hopper finally agreed to go on a date, an actual date, and then one (or both) die. I realize now that even though I wrote down Exit Wounds, Reset’s probably more accurate. BUT the Exit Wounds still ends up fitting. We’ll get there. Both Billy and Hopper dying made my eyes get wet. But I didn’t cry. I did not cry. My eyes were just wet. And I was proud of myself at this point. OH THANKS A LOT DR. OWENS. RIGHT ON TIME TO COVER IT ALL UP BUT NOT TO HELP THEM STOP IT. THANKS A LOT. I mean, yeah fine it’s good to have you since this is hard to explain and you’re the one military person they can trust so yeah, thanks, BUT I STILL WISH YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN THERE EARLIER. COME ON. I did not cry over Eleven’s reaction either. I literally thought to myself “Oh, if they hold this shot of her starting to cry I’m gonna cry too” then it cut to black. And I was like ok cool I didn’t cry. Ha. Creepy arcade dude now has a job at the video store. Good for him. Look at these three Broadway Babies singing on Stranger Things. Yay. The other thing I’d been spoiled for was El saying I love you back to Mike. Oh well. I could have been spoiled for much worse things.

Now here’s where this becomes Exit Wounds. Message from Hopper from the beyond that he wrote before he died. Just like Tosh. And just like Tosh, it made me shed a tear. But then the full on crying started when I saw Will’s face and he was crying saying goodbye to everyone. Will is my child. If he cries then I cry. And then we got all the kids crying and I was like oh god this hurts and I kept crying. Then Mike hugged his mom like he did in Season 1 after seeing the body and I was like no this throwback hurts (HA. LITTLE DID I KNOW.). Max crying over Billy made me cry more. I didn’t even like Billy but I didn’t want him to die! I’m glad he got some sort of redemption. But I wish it didn’t cost him his life. He deserved better. Then Dustin and Lucas gave Erica all of Will’s D&D books and I just knew they were in the box before they opened it and I started crying even HARDER because encouraging black girls to be nerds! My heart. And Hopper called himself “your poor old dad” and I had just been thinking earlier when they held hands that she doesn’t call him dad yet he is her dad and now we know he considered himself her dad and everything was hurting ok!?!?!?

And then.

Netflix gave me the single most heartbreaking caption it could give me.

[“Heroes” by Peter Gabriel playing]

AND. I. LOST. IT. I thought I’d already lost it at this point. I really thought I’d already lost it. I didn’t know I could lose it more than I’d already lost it. Before then I was literally ugly sobbing but trying to stay quiet since my mom was home and hasn’t seen it yet. Once I read that caption and heard the song I literally started hitting my couch over and over again and rocking back and forth and crying even harder. Gasping sobs. Ugly sobs. I haven’t cried this hard in so long.

When the Uhaul truck closed, I heard my front door open and knew my brother was home so I started frantically wiping my face on my shirt and tried to stop crying since my brother hasn’t seen this either and I don’t want to spoil him that this finale is cry worthy.

And then the episode ended. And it was Exit Wounds all over again. A couple agrees to date, one (or both) dies, and one leaves behind an emotional note about how much they love the ones they care about. I am not ok.

The season may have started slow, but it’s the only season to make me cry so automatically I love it.

BUT I’VE BEEN SAYING SINCE DAY ONE THAT IF THEY KILLED OFF HOPPER I WILL RIOT. SO WHO WANTS TO JOIN ME. LET’S GO KILL THE DUFFER BROTHERS.

OH AND BILLY. WE WENT NEARLY FULLY ZUKO REDEMPTION WITH BILLY. SAD BACKSTORY. SELF SACRIFICE. I AM HURTING. WHY DID THIS SHOW MAKE ME CRY OVER BILLY?

My one complaint of this season: not NEARLY enough Will. What did we get to see Will do? Have his spidey sense go off a bit? Then he cried at the end? COMPLETE WASTE OF NOAH’S TALENTS. WE SHOULD HAVE GIVEN HIM AN EMMY LAST SEASON. But David Harbour has the Emmy secured this time so I guess that’s fine.

Yeah. So. I feel drained. I’m glad I didn’t force myself to stay up last night to finish the show because I would have been too tired to do it. Now I’m just emotionally tired. Help.

WAIT WHAT THERE’S AN AFTER CREDIT’S SCENE. WAIT A SECOND. I only noticed because my mouse hovered over the bar and I saw a frame. Ok gonna watch it.

“Not the American” BUT WHAT AMERICAN? COULD HOPPER BE ALIVE? I had thought to myself “I’m glad they didn’t show us Hopper exploding like the others.” BUT WHAT IF HE HADN’T EXPLODED? WHAT IF HE WAS TELEPORTED OR SOMETHING. No. I think I’m just in the denial stage and grasping at straws. Of course it’s a Demadog. Oh wait, I guess a fully grown Demagorgon. Great.

While watching the scene, I was scared it would show that Hopper was still alive and I was glad that I didn’t know it existed so I could put all my emotions over his death into writing before finding out he was alive. But he’s not alive. As far as we know. So all the emotions are still the same with maybe just a little hope that he’s the American.

Update: My mom heard me crying. She says "It better not be one of the three boys. Not the little black Lion King boy. It better not be Sheriff Dad." And I just laughed nervously the whole time she talked about who she didn't want to die.

[lykegenia]

Zutara Week Day 6: Soulmates

Only one day left of Zutara Week! Thanks for the amazing response so far on my ZKWeek story A Life, Together, which you can find in its entirety here.

@zutaraweek

ZKWeek Day 6: Soulmates Words: 2779 Summary: Katara and Zuko find themselves needing to get away from a party. After a year apart, they learn to reconnect. Read it on AO3

Yu Dao’s main plaza glittered under moonlight and the paper lanterns that imitated it. Every few heartbeats, the people gathered in the large, open space were gilded by vibrant flashes of colour as fireworks – developed especially from Fire Nation knowledge of gunpowder and Earth Kingdom familiarity with mineral dyes – exploded in bright, dazzling flowers that bloomed and wilted in the same instant. Toph’s metalbending students had constructed hanging sculptures for the occasion, and their abstract forms reflected the shine on the nobles’ jewellery and fine silks, while all around the low buzz of conversation reflected the easy-going nature of the gathering. One year on from the war’s end, and everyone who was anyone wanted to be seen celebrating the peace.

After almost a whole year with little company besides the avatar, however, Katara was finding the press of people a little overwhelming. The food was good, a mixture of cuisines from all over the world, but there were only so many canapes she could stuff into her mouth before it could be considered rude. King Kuei’s rice wine did a better job of relaxing her enough to mingle, but even the warm tingle it sent through her veins grew cold when she turned from a conversation with a handsome young Earth Kingdom noble to find Aang pouting at her over a plate of melon slices carved to resemble flowers.

“Why weren’t you watching me juggle with Bumi?” he asked.

“I thought I saw someone I knew,” she lied. “I wanted to talk to them.”

“You should have waited for me, we could have gone together.” He tried to reach for her hand but she found she needed to adjust one of her hair loopies instead. Truthfully, she had long since grown fed up of standing on the sidelines, watching him pander to his fans.

“I don’t need you to be with me every second, you know,” she told him uneasily. It had felt good to just get lost in the crowd. “And you’re not the only thing I think about.”

A year travelling with him, following while the rest of her friends got on with their lives – it was beginning to wear thin. She had indulged his crush when the world needed him to defeat the Fire Lord, but they had succeeded. That’s what this party was all about, a celebration of the world’s desire and newfound ability to move on, to achieve progress held back by a century of war. True, she had seen some wonderful things since the day Zuko was crowned and they set off pursuing rumours of other airbenders, but she regretted that Aang had mistaken her wanderlust for a desire to be closer to him, as more than friends. Spirits, he was still a child compared to her. Aunt Wu’s prophecy had never said anything about that.

“Katara,” Aang said, “You know you’re my forever girl. Let’s just –”

But the wine had gotten to her temper. “I need to get some air.”

And now she was stood at the edge of the plaza, lurking in the shadows like some would-be assassin, trying to unscramble her thoughts into some semblance of order. Everyone else seemed to have what they wanted – Sokka and Suki were rebuilding; Toph had recognition for her talents as an earthbender, and had even made amends with her parents; Iroh had his teashop. Why couldn’t she have what she wanted?

She huffed. What even did she want?

“Is it bad that I’m happy to find someone else not enjoying themselves?”

“Zuko!”

“Mind if I join you?” he asked. “This particular patch of shadows seems good for getting away from unwanted attention.”

She made room for him against the wall, trying not to stare. Even a year had made a difference to his appearance, filling out his shoulders, adding an inch or two to his height. His face had lost some of its roundness, too, as if the golden crown pinned to his topknot had chiselled it away, and with sudden force she remembered watching him train with Aang on Ember Island, when the sun baked everything so hot they had had to strip off their shirts to stay cool. She wondered if his muscles were still so defined under his layers of silk, or whether a year of politics had softened them away.

The thought made her cheeks burn and she turned away so he couldn’t see, suddenly self-conscious. Aang had said she looked pretty before stepping out tonight, but then, she often got the impression he complimented her because he thought it was what she wanted to hear, rather than because it was his genuine opinion.

She realised neither of them were speaking.

“It’s been a while,” she ventured.

“It has,” he replied.

“How’s Mai?”

“We broke up.”

“Oh.”

“I saw that argument you just had with Aang. How are things between you two?”

“Strained.”

“I see.”

He leaned back against the wall, running so hot she could feel the warmth of his body even across the careful distance that separated them.

“So,” she tried again, “what has you running away from the party?”

Zuko groaned and shot her a wry smirk. “Uncle has decided to play matchmaker on my behalf, and half the Earth Kingdom is indulging him. All that perfume was beginning to give me a headache.”

“You’re definitely safer here, then,” she teased, trying to squash the sudden squirm in her stomach that felt a lot like jealousy.

“Only as long as nobody finds us.” His eyes went wide, his cheeks darkening as a hand anxiously rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t think – I hadn’t realised what this might look like.”

It took her a second to catch on. “Oh!”

“Um… if you’d rather I go, I wouldn’t want to give anyone the wrong idea…”

Aang, she realised – he was talking about what Aang would think catching them alone together, as if they weren’t just two old friends getting reacquainted, as if she wasn’t a free person who could do what she liked.

“I don’t care what people might think,” she growled, giving into the impulse to grasp Zuko’s wrist. She was her own self. She could do what she liked. Anything she liked. The certainty of it bubbled into recklessness beneath her skin. “Let’s go somewhere.”

“What?”

“If we throw on a couple of cloaks nobody will know who we are,” she said. “We could go anywhere.”

“Maybe you can,” he replied, though he had yet to pry himself loose of her grip. “I’m the fire lord. I have dignitaries to meet, and foreign policy to talk about, and –”

“A raging horde of earth Kingdom noblewomen eager to get their claws into you,” she teased. “C’mon. We haven’t had a chance to talk for ages. I’ve… missed you.” She was almost too shy to say, to admit it out loud, but she had, sometimes more than she ever thought possible for the man who at one point had been the face of her enemy.

Zuko seemed just as stunned by her confession. His mouth hung open as if to say something, but when the words wouldn’t come he shook his head and sighed.

In what seemed like no time at all, they were ambling down a cobbled street far away from the glamour of the party, wandering without any particular destination in mind. There were few other people out so late at night, so they were free to talk and laugh about anything that took their fancy, without fear of recognition. Katara was amazed by how easily they slipped back into their old rapport, talking about everything from flying lemurs to the consequences of the Fire Nation’s late rainy season as if the past year hadn’t happened. She found it refreshing to air her opinions on politics and the state of the world’s recovery, and she appreciated the thoughtful way Zuko listened to her stories, the quiet giggle they shared when she told him about the adventure with the sandbender chief’s white poodle-pony.

Rounding a corner, they came upon a teahouse lit with green lanterns to show it was still open for business. Zuko pulled his hood lower over his face when the man standing by the door spotted them and waved them over.

“Perhaps you are looking for some entertainment this evening?” he asked jovially, thrusting a leaflet into Katara’s hands. “It’s going to rain later – better to be inside enjoying hot tea and a good show than to be caught out in the wet!”

Katara chuckled despite herself, knowing a little rain was no problem for a master waterbender, and looked down at the square of paper in her hand.

“Love in the Time of Badgermoles,” she mused. “What’s it about?”

“It is a timeless tale of love, loss, and revenge,” the seller informed her eagerly. “It’s a well-known Earth Kingdom story. Certain to not disappoint. And the tea’s good,” he added, beaming.

Katara turned to Zuko. “Well?”

He gave an exaggerated roll of his eyes. “We’ve come this far.”

After paying the seller for their entry, they slipped into the teahouse and found a couple of quiet seats at the back. The place had drawn a good crowd, many of them obviously locals, going by how they laughed and joked with the actors, who were putting the final touches to their elaborate makeup. A young woman bustled over to them to take their order (a pot of jasmine tea for Katara, oolong for Zuko, with a plate of sweet rice balls as a side. In the dim warmth of their corner, they were content to remain silent, enjoying the anonymity and the cosy ambience that let them take advantage of it.

The lights in the teahouse dimmed. The actors packed up their makeup cases and mirrors and took their place on the stage. One, dressed in a robe of white and red trimmed with gold to match her beaded headdress, perched on a stool behind a guzheng and plucked a chord with metal-tipped fingers. Whatever conversation was left in the audience stilled immediately.

“The misty bamboo divides two nations at war,” trilled the actress plucking at the strings. “Oh will this war ever end?”

The play was nothing like Fire Nation theatre, with its acrobatics and flashy special effects, but it had an understated elegance that kept the audience enraptured. The narrator playing the guzheng unfolded the story with a masterful combination of words and music, mesmerising to the point where it was easy to forget the stage was so small there was only room for two actors at a time.

“The girl sits and picks flowers on the mountainside,” the narrator sang. Another actress painted white with a pure pink blush across her cheeks danced an imitation of strolling through a meadow. “And then suddenly…”

Somewhere off-stage, someone banged on a wooden block, and a spotlight rose on an actor in youthful garb who appeared from behind a curtain. The two circled each other, talking, accompanied by wary notes on the guzheng, and Katara found a smile growing on her face.

“What is it?” Zuko asked in her ear.

“The Cave of Two Lovers.”

At his blank look, she explained about the cave they had found while running form Azula, and about the tomb she and Aang had found inside. On the stage, the two lovers parted to opposite sides of the room, looking back wistfully. She remembered the glowing crystals lighting the ceiling and couldn’t help but think of another glowing cave, a lifetime ago now, that might have had such a different outcome. Her head tipped against Zuko’s shoulder, succumbing to the soporific effect of the warm, cosy dark of the teahouse. Her heart fluttered when, instead of pulling away, he leaned in as well and settled his cheek against the top of her head with a sigh.

The play went on. Shu’s father forbade him to go to the mountain to see his lover, and Oma’s sister followed her to try and discover her secret.

“It’s becoming too dangerous for us to see one another,” Oma lamented. “I would run away with you but for the duties to our families.”

When the actors found the badgermoles and ‘built’ the cave, something familiar tugged at Katara’s heart. “And now no one will ever part us,” promised Shu.

Zuko’s hand found hers under the table, and gave a comforting squeeze. The rest of the audience was enraptured and didn’t notice, but Katara felt tears prick her eyes because she knew what came next. She squeezed Zuko’s fingers back.

The final act of the play came to an end with a heart-wrenching monologue from the actress playing Oma as she held the ‘dead’ Shu in her arms. In the play, he had refused to attack her village for fear of hurting anyone she loved, and had instead gone to find her. In a fit of rage, his father killed him just as he caught sight of his love.

“I will find you in the next life, my dearest,” Oma promised, rising to her feet, “and we will be free of this awful shadow of war. And until we meet again, I will end the conflict that has taken you from me.” She raised her arms, letting her long white sleeves trail their full length to the floor, and flicked them out in a show of pretend earthbending, while rattles played off-stage and drums banged to an impressive beat. All the other actors shuffled to the floor in front of the stage and pleaded with her to stop the mountains moving.

“Behold, on that mountain I will build a city,” Oma proclaimed, with a sweeping gesture behind her. “Never again will our two people fight each other.”

The stage lighting snuffed out, but none of the audience started to move, so Katara held in her need to stretch and kept watching. A spotlight rose on the narrator, still plucking her guzheng, and what followed was a lengthy epilogue about the bureaucracy of the new city, and Oma’s long years of good leadership being a model for what kingdoms should be.

When it was over, Katara clapped along with the rest of the audience, turning only to find that Zuko had been dozing, and that her movement jolted him awake. She felt her breath catch on the little grunt he made as he shifted into a better seating position, even though he untangled their fingers so he could rub the sleep out of his golden eyes.

“All those Earth Kingdom girls really got to you, huh?” she teased.

“Ugh, don’t,” he groaned, stifling a yawn. “Just thinking of all the apologies I’m going to have to make tomorrow…”

“Was this a mistake?” she asked, her heart clenching. “I should have thought – it was wrong of me to ask you to come.”

“Hey, no.” He laid his hand on her shoulder. It burned through the fabric of her clothes. “I enjoyed this, and I enjoyed the company more, so don’t be sorry. I’m glad you persuaded me to come.”

“I enjoyed it, too,” she replied.

The sound of a cleared throat startled them. The same waitress who had brought them their tea was standing by the door, politely impatient, a sweeping brush in one hand. All the other patrons had already filed out, and the other servers were starting to clean the room. With bashful smiles, Katara and Zuko stood up and gathered their things, though she noticed a dull clink of gold and the outrageous tip he left in the teapot before he followed her out.

It had started to rain.

“It’s a good thing I have you with me,” he joked, taking her arm in a courtly sort of way while she bent the water away from their heads. “Shall we get back to the party?”

“I suppose we should.”

Sokka would be wondering where she was. Aang would be, too. It was ironic, really, that the peace celebration had kept her so on edge, and that leaving it had the opposite effect. As they began to walk away, she chanced one last look at the teahouse, its lanterns now extinguished, its windows dark, and frowned. For a few hours, she had been free of all doubt, free to be herself, and in that time she had felt the most at peace she had since being a very small child. Now though, all the insidious voices in her head came crowding back. Why couldn’t she have what she wanted? Perhaps the better question, she thought as she glanced at Zuko, was why it was so difficult to ask for it.