#Izumi loves tea like her grandfather Iroh did.

[sound-under-the-sea]

Izumi after trying some tea in RC: This tastes like leaf juice.

Lin: Isn’t that what all tea is?

Izumi:

Lin:

Izumi:

Lin: What?

Izumi: I cannot believe you would say that to me.

Lin: But it is…?

[bigfan-fanfic]

Tea Cookies (Male!Reader x Iroh II)

Requested by anonymous for “Idk if you write about general Iroh ii, but if you do could you write some sort of head cannon of him and his husband (there ain’t enough of iroh ii x male reader😔) - dashing and decorated general Iroh II returns to his husband”

Your husband, General Iroh II of the Fire Nation, doesn’t get the chance to be home very much.

But he loves getting to be with you - he describes the hearth you share as his favorite place in the world, and he says that he always leaves a part of his heart there for you to take care of.

You tune into the Republic City broadcasts as much as you can - for one thing, they often mention your husband’s exploits, and two, Iroh likes to listen to the music they play and it makes you feel closer to him.

So you’ve heard of the injuries Iroh sustained in the battle against the Equalists and you’re eager for him to come home. Fire Lord Izumi appreciates your company on occasion, knowing you want her son home as much as she does.

After the military parade and all the pomp is over, Iroh makes his way through the Royal Household to the secluded set of apartments given to you and him when you married. 

You two have a ritual for getting him relaxed when he returns home, and it does not change here.

You have the radio tuned to Republic City’s swing station. They broadcast jazz and dance hall music from the city, and Iroh loves it - he tries his best to teach you all the Republic City dances, most of which are based at least in part on the traditional Fire Nation dances revived by Avatar Aang after the war.

When he arrives, you immediately help him take off his ceremonial garments. Iroh likes to suggest that you enjoy looking at him shirtless, and he’s not wrong, but the true purpose is so you can examine his injuries. He looks largely unscathed, except for the angry red discoloration along his arm. It reminds you of his grandfather, the old Fire Lord Zuko.

“It doesn’t hurt at all.” He assures you. “Avatar Korra healed it herself.”

You lean down to press a kiss against his arm. “As long as you come back to me.”

“I always will.” he promises. You both move then to the shrine in your apartments, a small portrait of the man Iroh is named after, Zuko’s uncle, and two small sticks of incense. You both give a silent prayer of thanks, bowing to the portrait, thanking the spirit of the man for bringing his namesake home.

Iroh puts on a loose silken robe of dark red material. He doesn’t bother to tie it shut, winking at you as you press a hand to his muscular chest. 

“I wish I could have come home sooner. I missed you.”

“So did I. I always miss you.”

You smile at him and kiss him. But then comes the next part of the ritual - dinner. A big meal set out just for the two of you to eat. You don’t bother with decorum. Iroh chuckles and leans back, head against your chest, and you eat from the same bowl, occasionally laughing as you fight over bits of food.

And afterwards, Iroh makes tea, and you unveil a surprise for him, showing him the tea cookies you made from scratch. They’re thin and tasty and sugary and absolutely delightful with the tea

You talk long after the sun has set and keep talking, never once breaking physical contact.

“I love you.” Iroh whispers just before you go to sleep. “I feel as though I am the most lucky man, that whenever I come home, I know you will be there.”

[imalwaysconfuzzled]

Iroh II Headcanons

Iroh II never got to meet his namesake and vice versa. When Iroh II was born, it was to great merriment and to lingering mourning from the recent loss of Uncle Iroh. It was one of the bigger factors that prompted Izumi to name her son after the beloved tea-maker.

When he got the news, Uncle was very excited at the idea of babies in the palace once more, especially in post-war times, but knew that he would never get to meet the new baby and so spent much of the time he visited the Fire Nation in those nine months speaking to the unborn royal in his mother’s belly. Neither expecting parent suspected anything but the usual doting Uncle.

Uncle wrote a letter to Iroh II before he passed. It is a treasured item as one of the only things Iroh II has from his namesake and helps him feel connected to the important figure in his grandfather and mother’s (and extended family’s) stories. 

Iroh II learned both lightning generation and redirection in honour of his great-uncle.

Iroh II has a very similar relationship with his grandfather, as Zuko did with Iroh (of course without the banishment, fugitive status, etc). Zuko teaches Iroh bending when he can using the teachings of his Uncle, he offers advice, love, support and most importantly tea.

Iroh II thinks the person who closest resembles his namesake is his grandfather. 

Iroh II grew up hearing about the feats of his grandfather and his friends, as well as the tales of their children, which inspired him to make name of himself and eventually joined the United Republic’s military later in life. 

He got a lot of teasing for looking and sounding like his grandfather by The Gaang as a teenager. When he got annoyed or grumpy it got worse. 

He and Bumi had a very professional relationship when they were working together, but outside of work they were a riot. Bumi dragged Iroh II to do some wild things and Iroh II dragged Bumi to do some even wilder things. They keep secrets about what to this day. 

Iroh II had an irrational fear of the palace turtleducks as a child; he refused to go near the gardens when they were around. He grew out of it as adult but remained wary.

Iroh II was better than Zuko was at understanding proverbs but not a whole lot more. Subsequently, Zuko got better a proverbs as he got older and likes to confuse his grandson on occasion (imagine the emperor from Mulan 1998, especially that last scene he’s in).

Iroh II liked to hide behind the curtains in the throne room to watch his grandfather conduct meetings when he was younger and would imitate what he saw later; thus developed similar habits. 

Iroh II and his sister were born with a larger age gap and he would go full big brother on her, even when she became and adult and didn’t need a protector anymore.

Iroh II genuinely likes the Ember Island Players.

Out of the two of them, his sister is the bolder one; but they both inherited some of their grandfather’s recklessness to the exasperation of their mother (who got her parent’s stubbornness).

[officially-a-bee]

It's common enough practice to leave a chair open for a deceased loved one.

After Iroh died, Zuko left him a chair at every ceremony, every banquet. He already did so when Iroh was alive in Ba Sing Se, because he never wanted there to be too few places if Iroh ever decided to visit spontaneously, so why should he stop? He does it out of love, respect, and remembrance. Everyone knows what it means, and respects the single empty chair.

Izumi continues the tradition, as the next Firelord. It's easy for her, he was her grandfather. She named her son after him.

So, of course, do Iroh II and his sister. He wants to honor his namesake, and she wants to continue the tradition. It's not even a choice for them, neither one ever has to ask the staff to do it. It's customary now. Not even a thought in anyone's heads.

They pass the tradition and stories down to the next generations, and they all make sure to keep it going. No one wants to forget the legendary Uncle Iroh, who saved the world from the metaphorical backseat by being a good dad to THEE Avatar's Friends, and also a badass. The country as a whole begins to integrate it into their own lives - everyday citizens, hearing of the Royal Family's custom and adding empty chairs of their own "for Uncle Iroh" at big gatherings and ceremonies like weddings. They don't always stay empty, though; at home, the people will occasionally let other, extra people come in and stay at the extra seat. They know the old man from the stories was incredibly kind and caring - they know he wouldn't mind. He's got a chair of his own at home.

But maybe one day, centuries have passed, and Zuko's 5-or-6-greats-grandchildren begin to understate Iroh's accomplishments. Other, "brighter" people have come and gone since the end of the 100 Year War. There are newer stories to tell, greater heroes. Not once do they falter with their tradition of leaving a seat open, they just. . . forget. . . to keep the stories as alive as they were the first few times they were told.

By now, the Fire Nation as a whole has integrated "Uncle Iroh's chair" into their spaces. Most of them barely know why it's called that anymore, but it's caused the country to earn a new reputation. One of hospitality and generosity. One of sharing tea with strangers.

Stories of Uncle Iroh may have fallen out of common use, outside of fun stories historians might tell about why they keep that extra chair in the dining room, and why they all call it Uncle's Chair.

And maybe things get rough again, where people can no longer trust the people on the street, but they always keep Uncle's Chair by the table, in case a friend or family member arrives unexpectedly and they have no room.

But long after he's gone, long after he's fallen out of popular stories parents tell to their children at bedtime, he stays in people's hearts.

His legacy becomes that of new friends made at unexpected holidays, of stories told over tea between strangers by the fireplace, of desperate people let in to share the food and warmth.

And I think that's the best lasting effect Uncle Iroh could ever have asked for.

[aprettyweirgirl]

Fire Nation's Royal Family HC (after war)

Mai is Izumi's mom

Zuko is the king of dad jokes

Zuko decriminalize same sex relationships so Azula and Ty Lee could get married

Azula and Ty Lee got married in their early 30's after Azula's hole therapeutic process (including all the time she spend rebuilding relationships, paying for everything that she did) that lasted 15 years

Azula loves baby Izumi but she doesn't know and she's scared of taking care of her so when she and Ty Lee had to watch her, Azula just played with her, make her sleep and tried to avoid to Izumi kill herself doing baby things. Ty Lee do the rest

Everyone in the family maked sure to teach something to Izumi

that's why: she's a pretty strong lightning and firebender, which she trained with Azula and Zuko, Mai teach her to use the knives, Ty lee teach her acrobatics and chi-blocking (but she doesn't use it) and Iroh teach her to make tea, this last one was because he couldn't just let other member of his family to thought that the tea was just hot leaf juice

Izumi is a single mom and she got pregnant for the first time at 21 the second time at 25

Izumi call her daughter Ursa II

the dad of Izumi's kids went away when Izumi was pregnant with Ursa II. When they ask her about him she didn't wanted to tell them who their father was (Iroh II can't remember him because he was a 3 years old), so Lin and Su had to convinced her to tell them

Ursa II is 4 years younger than Iroh II

when the father run away the only thing Izumi wanted was protect her children, part of that was teach them to protect themselves

Bumi was Iroh II father figure, he help him to enter to the United Forces and teach him to use the sword

Izumi is always refining to Ozai as "him", "he" or "Fire Lord Ozai", because she is incapable of seeing him as her grandfather. Iroh is her grandfather

I love the hc where after Izumi find out were Zuko's scars come from she went to visit Ozai in prison where she just was starring at him for hours. None of them said anything

at difference of her brother Ursa II is a non-bender so after Iroh II join the United Forces (when he was like 20), Izumi, Mai and Ty Lee spend a lot of time training her so she could protect herself and later she became her mother's right hand

Izumi loves always keep remembering Zuko his tea taste like hot leaf juice

Iroh told Izumi every atrocity their family (including her parents, aunts and him) did to the Fire nation and to the world

as a teenager (15-19) Izumi had a great resemblance to Azula, then when she started to became an adult she started to look like Mai

in her 6-8 years old Izumi wasn't in complete awareness that she was the princess of the Fire Nation, so once there were some boys bulling her and she said she was gonna tell her mommy and they still making fun of her, at the next day, Izumi arrives and tell them she bring her mommy and her aunties and then just at her back is Fire Lady Mai, Princess Azula and Lady Ty Lee that's were they realize that Izumi is the fricking princess and no one makes fun of her ever

[jessiewritesthings]

Saudade - Epilogue

Prince Zuko x Reader

Here she is!! Saudade is my baby and i’m so happy and so grateful for everyone that has taken the time to read this, i love you all! thank you thank you thank you x

Part I - Part II - Part III

168 AG

Izumi smiled softly, flipping through the pages of the family album. Black and white photos dotted the pages, documenting the life you had shared with Zuko for more than seventy years. Images of you and Zuko at the helm of numerous Fire Lily Festivals, visiting Fire Nation Citizens, meeting with delegates from all over the Four Nations. The images Izumi liked the most were the ones with all your friends in them – as a child she had thought it was just the coolest thing that her parents were best friends with the Avatar.

She also particularly loved the photos you would take on your vacations to Ember Island – loved how proudly you held yourself, scar and all. Most people would take to hiding away, a scar so bad as yours was enough reason to, Izumi had figured. She knew her father struggled with it every day – no matter how many times you tried to comfort him, he always saw it as a sign of his weakness, a reminder of the cruelty that Azula and Ozai, and the rest of his predecessors had put the world through.

Your life with Zuko hadn’t always been easy, though it had definitely been worth it. Numerous assassination attempts on the both of you had plagued your first few years together, and the backlash from Zuko’s advisors as he proposed and promptly married you, crowning you his Fire Lady, hadn’t gone down particularly easy. Nonetheless, you were stronger together, and in time the Fire Nation grew to love you, just as they did Zuko.

Izumi sighed, a tear rolling down her cheek as she closed the album, placing it on the corner table before joining her father on the balcony.

“Izumi, my dear,” Zuko murmured, reaching for her hand as she placed it on his shoulder.

Izumi stood silently with her father, watching as their guest’s ships began to depart. If she squinted, she could see Katara with Tenzin and Pema, waving as Pema wrangled with Jinora and Ikki, young Meelo clinging to his father. Raising his hand to wave in return, Zuko thought about how desperately he wanted Aang, or his Uncle Iroh around – someone that could help him come to terms with the most devastating blow he’d been dealt yet.

It had been two weeks now, since Zuko had woken to find you cold, yet soft and peaceful in his arms. Your arms had still been pressed across his chest, the same groove you always found yourselves sleeping in, legs pushed together like you were two halves of a whole – which, in a way, you were. Zuko had swallowed down his fear, and his cry for help, as he looked at you, softly brushing your white hair from your face, his fingers delicately running the beads along the strands.

“Oh, my sweet y/n,” he had whispered, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead, his tears starting to fall over your face. He stayed there with you, unable and unwilling to move, as if he stayed still forever you might open your eyes and greet him. His eyes didn’t move from your form when his attendant, Mira, entered the room, a tray of hot breakfast and steaming tea in her arms.

The tray was quickly placed on the side table as Mira rushed to the bedside, gasping in shock.

“Lord Zuko,” she started, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Mira, please.” He let go of you now, gently removing himself from your bed, as if trying not to rouse you.

Mira came to his side, placing an arm on Lord Zuko’s shoulder before he smiled softly at her and pulled her into a hug. Zuko continued to cry, comforted by Mira. You had been loved and admired by all of the palace staff, and many of them had requested to follow you and Zuko when you had moved to Ember Island following Zuko’s abdication as Fire Lord.

“The Lady y/n will be remembered fiercely, Lord Zuko. The Fire Nation’s most delicate flower.”

Zuko smiled, fondly remembering the first time he had introduced you to his dragon, Druk. Zuko had the utmost confidence in the dragon, and you had been positively terrified – not because he was a giant fire-breathing dragon – you’d proven yourself more than capable of handling fire by now – but he was just so big. Nonetheless, you had mounted Druk, and shrieked in surprise as Zuko leapt off the dragon, watching as you soared into the sky, your wild hair flowing as you clutched onto Druk’s scales. Zuko was positively enamoured – he’d already spent a lifetime loving you, but seeing you ride Druk with such tenacity and grit had sent him straight into the past, flying through all your history until you were both back in the Crystal Catacombs in Ba Sing Se. Zuko was enchanted by you, and he knew he would be until his heart stopped beating.

You were beaming as Druk had landed, your hair windswept and your blue robes loose, exhilarated. Leaping off the dragon, you ran to Zuko’s arms, flinging yourself to him as your arms found their natural home, your lips pressing to his scar.

“Zuko, that was incredible,” you’d exclaimed, astounded.

“Mmm, it certainly was.” Zuko smiled – watching you ride Druk was better than being in the reigns himself.

“My Dragon Queen,” he murmured, pressing soft kisses against your neck, the spot he knew you loved the most.

_____

Zuko sat with his daughter until the sun had entirely disappeared, and then they sat together for longer, watching the night as the stars began to dapple across the sky, the moon incandescent in its beauty as it graced the sky. They sat silently, hands clasped together, tucked into a patchwork quilt you had made for Izumi’s birth – a delicate, stunning piece of work that seamlessly incorporated both sides of you and Zuko, magical swirls of red and blue speckled with gems and beads.

Izumi twirled the blue beads adorning the quilt through her fingers, recalling the countless nights that she would rouse you both from sleep, claiming to be plagued by nightmares. You never complained, always opening your arms to pull her in, letting her nestle in-between you and Zuko where she would sleep freely. Sometimes, before sleep took her, Izumi would feel your fingers drifting through her hair, and she would fall asleep in such a tranquil, safe space.

Eventually Izumi heard stories about her grandfather Ozai – horrifying stories of what he’d done to the world, his nation, his family. She’d never asked her father about his scar – in-fact it never occurred to her as a child that it deviated from malicious intent, because her mother had one too. In Izumi’s young mind, she used to imagine that the two of you being scarred was just the spirits way of making sure you found each other, as if your scars acted as magnets that would bring you together wherever you were.

“I was so lucky to have her love me, Izumi,” Zuko hummed, voice raspy. “I always knew I would love her, after we first met. Your mother, she was magic. Ethereal. It has been the greatest honour of my life to love her, and that love brought me the greatest gift: you.”

Izumi smiled fondly at her father, leaning forward to press a kiss to his forehead.

“She was lucky to have your love, too.”

Lord Zuko turned to his daughter, a soft smile gracing his face. She was an excellent Fire Lord, and he recalled the time Ursa had told him that a Fire Lord producing a nonbending child was a disgrace in Ozai’s eyes. Of course, Ozai was wrong. Izumi was not a bender, but Zuko constantly found himself in awe of his daughter’s calm demeanour, and when he abdicated his throne, he had never been prouder of Izumi as she was crowned Fire Lord.

Izumi’s birth had not been easy for you – she was a stubborn babe, and you’d been in labour for hours – days actually, as you later found out. Katara was assisting you, and Aang had taken Zuko away to keep him distracted – it was awfully improper for a husband to be present at a birth of course. Naturally, that didn’t deter you, and you constantly pleaded with Katara and your handmaiden to please, please, please get Zuko. As Zuko and Aang returned to the palace, Fire Lord Zuko was informed that your child still had not been delivered. Anxiety consumed him, and to the horror of his advisors he’d dashed to your chambers, grasping your hand and whispering sweet nothings into your ear as you finally delivered a healthy, beautiful, precious baby girl.

Zuko was enamoured with Izumi immediately, and would often be found after a particularly highly-strung meeting with his advisors sitting on the balcony in Izumi’s nursery, holding his soft, sweet girl in his arms. Before Izumi was born, Zuko had confided in you that he wasn’t sure about his ability to be a father – he wanted to be a good father so much that it overwhelmed him, and he wasn’t able to comprehend it. He’d blurted it out in the middle of a game of Pai Sho, neither of you knowing that you were in-fact already carrying the Crown Princess of the Fire Nation. You’d reached your arm across the board, hand gently caressing Zuko as you gave him a reassuring smile.

“You will be magnificent, my love. Any children we have will grow to see their father the same way I do – brave, intelligent, loving and kind.”

Zuko took your hands, pressing them to his lips as he watched you, shadows from the flames flickering across your face.

“Have I told you that I’m madly in love with you?” he replied, a cheeky grin forming. Forgetting the game of Pai Sho, you crept over to his side, wrapping your arms around his neck.

“Not nearly enough,” you answered, your lips pressing together as Zuko put his hands in your hair, pulling his fingers through.

“I’m madly in love with you, y/n. Every minute of every day.”

175 AG

Lord Zuko stirred softly in his sleep, out on the balcony as usual – you had spent most of your time here curled up together, after all. He was smiling softly, thinking of you as he always did. It had been an interesting few years without you, but nothing could fill the void that was left inside Zuko after you left. He would often wake from a restless sleep, desperately clutching the sheets as if you were there, only to be disappointed every time. He played many games of Pai Sho with Mira, and she would sit with him each evening, enjoying a cup of tea on the balcony as they kept each other company. Most often, Zuko would sit on the loveseat in the balcony, your favourite blanket draped across him for comfort instead of warmth. He’d sit there with his tea, usually forgetting it as he would drift into a deep sleep, visited by you and your memories together.

“Come, Zuko. Let’s go down to the beach,” you urged.

The sun was setting on Ember Island, and you were due to return to the palace tomorrow, Fire Lord duties to be resumed. Iroh had graciously stepped in in place of Zuko to allow the pair of you to have on ‘official’ honeymoon, something you were both incredibly grateful for.

Slipping your hand into his, you’d made your way down to the beach, both barefoot and revelling in the soothing nature of the sand. You’d let go of him now, running through the waves as they crashed on the shore. Zuko couldn’t do much more than stare at you – your hair shined in the fading sun, the red hues making you look delicious and warm. Your gown wrapped around your waist, unravelled slowly, revealing your scar. Zuko grimaced, a flash of pain echoing on his face. Seeing this, you ran to his side, placing your hands in his.

“I just…,” he started, swallowing. “I just wish I could take it away, for you.”

“Don’t, my love. It is as much a part of me as yours is you. I am proud to have this scar. Proud of what it represents for us, for all that we’ve been through. I don’t want you to feel this way every time you look at me.”  

Zuko smiled softly, pressing his lips to your forehead.  

“I look at you, and I am alive.”

Zuko placed his hands on your waist as you wrapped yours around his neck.

“Dance with me,” you whispered. Zuko blushed – forever the one with two left feet – and the two of you danced, softly, delicately, holding each other as if all the love in the world had been given to only you both in that moment. Water rushed over your feet as you moved across the sand. A laugh escaped you as Zuko caught his foot on yours, accidentally tripping you up as you both fell into the sand, water lapping at your feet. Sighing, you ran your fingers through his hair as you rested on top of him.

“I think I loved you the moment I saw you. Even if I didn’t know it then,” you’d whispered, gazing into his eyes. Zuko had raised his head slightly, watching you carefully, almost as if he didn’t believe you. “We will be remembered, Zuko. For the right reasons.”

Pulling himself off the sand, Zuko lent back, allowing you to shuffle into his arms. You sat silently together, watching as the stars began to dot across the night sky, peaceful and content like neither of you had ever felt before.

Zuko woke slowly, the first rays of the new day dawning. You stood before him, hazy and radiant and celestial in your beauty, before reaching one hand out to him.

“Come, Zuko. There’s still so much more to see.”

Zuko’s eyes closed, a long, deep breath escaping for one final time. He was in his dreams now – dreaming his dreams with you.

_____

“Lord Zuko,” Mira called, unsurprised to find the elderly Lord had once again slept on his balcony.

Mira approached him, a gasp of shock leaving her as she realised just how peaceful he looked. In his hands he held a small, silver hair clip, adorned with white and blue gems and beads.

Ah. Together again.

_____

oddment-niwit-blubber-tweak

eridanuswave

coldlilheart

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[fireember345]

The Chosen prompt

An Avatar Prompt

Do not own Avatar

Anyone can use the Prompt

 Zuko x Jet formerly

Zuko x Mai formerly

Zuko x Sensu

Izumi x Bumi II

Iroh II x Mako

Mpreg

Chosen are men that spirits bless the ability to give birth

Chosen’s children develop more quickly in the womb, causing them to be born earlier

Chosens are treated as the greatest treasures in their nation since they could birth powerful benders

Air Nomads are all Chosen due to their connection with the spirits

Sozin despised Chosens for being the most loved of the nation and decided to hunt and exterminate them, placing the death penalty on them and were called vermin

Ursa and Iroh hid that Zuko was a chosen from the Fire nation and Zuko

Ursa gave Zuko her pendent the day she disappeared so he would never feel alone

Zuko would wear the pendent and rub it when he felt uneased

On the boat, Zuko fell in love with Jet when he told him he was beautiful, scars and all

Zuko waited for his uncle to sleep after stealing food for the passengers to sneak off with Jet

He woke the next morning, he found himself below deck in a janitor’s closet, naked with a torn blanket with Jet and realized what he done

Jet promised Zuko or Li that he would take care of him, making him feel love, and make all Fire Benders pay for what they did to them

Zuko knew he had to reject Jet’s offer since he knew his relationship would never work

Jet then realized they were fire benders when Iroh heated his tea and it broke his heart to learn the man he loved was a Fire Bender all this time

Zuko began to feel different and developed an appetite and grew more grouchy than usual

When Jet confronted Iroh and Zuko in the tea shop and began his duel with Zuko, Jet told him that he hated him and stole the pendent from Zuko before the Dai Li took him away

The next day, Zuko went into labor, unsure why he was in so much pain

Iroh brought a midwife to help his nephew as they spent the entire night bringing a new life into the world

The baby boy was premature and very small, the midwife believed the baby would not last the night

But the baby did survived the night and the day after that and the day after that

Iroh knew the baby would have his nephew’s strength as he helped care for the baby while Zuko heals

Zuko at first didn’t know how to feel until Iroh placed his son in his arms and then instantly fell in love, vowing to always love his son and let him know that

Zuko knew that he was vermin to the Fire Nation and needed to keep it hidden but Iroh told him that in the Earth Kingdom, he would be treated as a treasure

The midwife alerted the Dai Li that Zuko or Li is a Chosen and Long Feng knew that they were General Iroh and Prince Zuko

But Long Feng thought it would be best that they didn’t know that he knew and arrange Quon to arrive at the Tea shop after slipping that they had the best tea in the world

The entire Earth Kingdom soon learned about the chosen and send Zuko treasures and delights to earn his favor

Zuko vowed a better life for his son, more eager to capture the Avatar so his son could have a good life

He names his son Sekiryū, The dragon born from the Stone

When Jet was dying, he begged Katara to give the necklace to his lover named Li and apologized to him

Iroh told Zuko as he was about to kidnap Appa that this was their chance for a new life, for not just them but for Zuko’s son and that Zuko can be a father to his son and finally be happy

When Zuko freed Appa and fallen ill, Sekiryū stayed by his mother’s side as he stayed quiet for Zuko to sleep, knowing that Zuko needed sleep

When Zuko finally recovered, he made sure his son would have everything he needed as Iroh adored the change in him

Zuko brough his son with him when he and Iroh came to visit the Earth King for tea

Azula mocked Zuko for being vermin and for birthing an impure spawn, causing Zuko to give Sekiryū to Iroh to fight Azula

Azula offers Zuko and his son a return home where they would be greeted with love and honor

Zuko joins forces with Azula to defeat the Avatar and their uncle

After Ba Sing Se was captured, Sekiryū used the breath of fire in a sneeze, revealing to be a powerful fire bender

When Ozai heard that Zuko’s son was able to bend before he is one where Azula got her bending at five, he smelled an opportunity

Ozai told his son that he is proud of slaying the Avatar and learned about Zuko’s condition as a Chosen

He told his son not to worry and was in fact proud of that fact, believing that this was a sign that Zuko was meant to rule, bringing forth powerful Fire Benders to defend their home

Ozai told Zuko that perhaps Sozin’s jealousy of the Chosen blinded him to the possibility that Chosens can bring greatness and decided to declare Chosens as the most sacred and protected citizens in the Fire Nation

Zuko elated that his father accepted him and his son as Ozai arranged a nursery for Sekiryū

Ozai came to Iroh’s prison to mock his brother and to thank him for revealing Zuko as a chosen

He told Iroh his plan for Zuko, to make him a broodmare to powerful Fire Bending Generals and bringing forth an future army of powerful fire benders

Iroh was angered by his twisted plans for Zuko and his son to be used as pawns

Zuko took his son to Ember Island with him as people thought he was being a sweet older brother but Azula refused to let Zuko correct them, playing the act as normal teenagers

Mai agreed to help raise Sekiryū

During Black Sun, While Zuko confronted Ozai and the Gaang were fleeing Azula, Sokka took Sekiryū to be used as leverage without thinking before flying off

Ozai confessed that he planned to make Zuko and all chosen Broodmares for the Fire Nation

After Zuko redirect lighting and fled, he looked for his uncle but could not find him, then search for his son to find him gone, thinking his father killed his son

Zuko vowed to be a better person for the memory of his son as he fled the Fire Nation and followed the Gaang

When Zuko tried to join the Gaang and the Gaang were about to fight him, he heard his son crying

Fueled by instinct, Zuko rushes to see Sekiryū alive as the Gaang except Toph think he was going to kill the baby

But Zuko explained that he was a chosen and that this baby was his, Toph confirming it to be true

The Gaang tell him to leave but Aang fought to have Zuko keep his son since it was wrong kidnapping a baby in the first place

When Zuko finally joins the Gaang as Aang’s teacher, Zuko arrange his tent to suit the needs of his son

Zuko eats separately from the others, Katara fearing he was planning something and Aang thinking Zuko was isolating himself

When Aang and Toph offered Zuko a place at the campfire to eat, it became apparent that Zuko separated himself from the others to nurse his son, having the need to privacy and shocking Sokka that Zuko can produce milk

When Zuko is on a life changing adventure with a member of the Gaang, he makes sure someone looks after his son while he’s gone, leaving bottles of milk for Sekiryū

Zuko told Aang while finding the source of Original Fire Bending that Chosen were considered vermin and Sozin ordered their deaths, Zuko being lucky because his uncle hid it from everyone, including him

On the Boiling Rock, when Mai confronts Zuko, he told her that he was doing this for his nation and for a future for his son

Mai helped Zuko and Sokka escape, knowing he was right

After Katara and Zuko’s life changing journey, she noticed that Sekiryū was afraid of her, like how she was with her mother’s killer, making her feel like a monster

Katara tries her best to show Sekiryū that she was not going to hurt his mom

She finally gain his trust when she saved Zuko from a fire bender’s attack and giving Zuko the Pendant that Jet took, telling him that he was sorry

After Zuko is made Fire Lord and his son his heir, Zuko arranges the prisoners of war to be taken home, meeting Sensu and Gansu again

On the journey to Sensu’s home, the two began to connect and began to like each other

Sensu’s family were happy to see them again, thanking and apologizing Zuko

The two continued to date after Mai left Zuko and after Zuko brings his mother and her family back to the Royal Palace, Sensu purposes to Zuko

Sensu and Zuko get married and later Zuko becomes pregnant with triplets

Azula kidnaped the children and Zuko, planning to use Zuko like her father was going to

Kiyi helped everyone escaped with young Sekiryū

After Azula escaped and everyone was safe, Zuko became heavily protected

Zuko gave birth to three girls, Izumi, Rōzu, and Rirī

Zuko trained Sekiryū in blades and gave him Jet’s blades as an inheritance

Sekiryū decided to take over the Jasmine Dragon after his uncle died and giving the title of the crown to Izumi, who was made for this job

Sekiryū got married, had kids and grandkids at the teashop

Iroh II is a chosen like his grandfather

After the previous president of Republic City lost the race, Mako and Iroh II began dating

[jaxsteamblog]

Who dies first?

For weeks, Katara had felt the weakening of his heart. They didn’t discuss it, since Zuko knew the lines of her face so well and had known before even she had realized it. They were both so old, they had even begun to recognize the age of their children. This reality was, of course, inevitable.

Izumi was no longer Fire Lord. Iroh II had ascended the throne years ago and Takara was the Crown Prince, going on adventures with his cousin Yi. 

And so many had already died.

While Zuko went to rest one afternoon, Katara sat in the sitting room of the palace. Azula’s son Dante - Katara’s great-grandson - served her coffee in small, delicate cups. She tried to remember how things were before, when her own children brought her tea. They did not have electric lights back then, or air conditioning or television sets. The electric cars didn’t run so fast and not everything had come with a screen. Katara could go in the kitchen now, where very few servants - no, employees - worked, and she could press a hand to a cool screen. It would read her hand print and serve her favorite dessert without any words spoken. 

It was convenient, sure, but she missed talking to people. 

“Mother.” Katara roused, noting that she had drifted in her thoughts.

“Kya.” Katara said with a desperate warmth. She loved her children so much, and she panicked at seeing their age. Izumi bent down and kissed Katara’s cheek.

“Hello grandmother.” Dante said and lightly hugged Izumi’s thin frame.

“Go and check on the dragons boy. I’ve been waiting for Kyrek to hatch for days now.” Izumi said brusquely and waved Dante away. Dante, ever the long suffering teen, rolled his eyes but darted away. Izumi huffed and sat down, still holding onto the head of her cane.

“He looks so much like his father.” Katara remarked and Izumi made a noise.

“Unfortunate really. But at least Azula settled on the Firebender in the end.” She said.

“There’s nothing wrong with other Benders Kya.” Katara said.

“Other Benders are not the descendants of Avatar Roku and heirs to the Fire Nation throne.” Izumi quipped. Katara laughed but shook her head, drinking some of her coffee. 

They settled into a silence that was only achieved in age. They were both just breathing in the same moment and that was enough.

“Will father wake up today?” Izumi asked suddenly and Katara sighed as she set down her cup.

“I think so. But I don’t know when he won’t.” She said. Izumi, ever stoic, nodded.

“You can go, you know. We’ll all be fine.” She said and Katara patted her daughter’s lap. 

“I know. But your father and I.” Katara stopped and looked around the room. She didn’t even recognize the palace anymore. 

“You’re named after my mother.” Katara said.

“I know.”

“But you’re nothing like her.” Katara added and Izumi laughed.

“I know mother.” She replied. “And Azula is nothing like her namesake, nor Iroh his.”

“So what if we don’t come back?” Katara posited. 

“What do you mean?” Izumi asked.

“I always thought that one day I would come back, and your father and I would have more time. But perhaps only the Avatar comes back, and the rest of us simply fade away.” Katara said. “We love you children, but your father and I just want another day together.”

Izumi was stunned into silence and Katara picked up her coffee again.

“Grandfather is in the spirit world.” Izumi said.

“Zuko has never been able to do that. I could go there, I think, but not your father.” Katara said. “And I won’t go there without him.”

“Mother, I.” Izumi cut herself off and sighed. “I know I am not a warm person.” Katara didn’t respond, but busied herself with her coffee.

“Kya made so many decisions over her short life that were hard. But she met every difficulty with a spine of steel. You’ve been pushed over out of a desire to make people happy, but Kya made every choice that made life better for herself and her family. I think I am more like her than anyone wants to admit.” Izumi finished.

“Well-” Katara started, sounding affronted.

“If either you or father had any ounce of devious ambition, you would have married much earlier than you did.” Izumi interjected and Katara grunted her acceptance. 

“Azula is vainglorious and insecure, and Iroh is about fame and family. By the time we get to the next Zuko, he’ll probably be moody and overly righteous. You’re not even dead yet and Takara is full of confidence and sass.” Izumi continued.

“So you think we come back?” Katara asked.

“Don’t be absurd. This just proves that personality is inherited and neither of you will ever really be gone in the first place.” Izumi retorted and Katara chuckled. 

“But it will never be Zuko and me again.” She said wistfully. Izumi turned a little in her seat and the two women actually looked at each other. 

“Mama, if I know anything, it’s that you and Papa will be together forever.” She said and Katara’s eyes started to water. 

“I love you Kya.” Katara murmured.

“I love you mama.” Izumi said.

Over the past week, they had seen everyone. Children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, even Korra had stopped by. Perhaps the universe was telling them it was time, and they had all had a sweet farewell with promises to see each other again. So as Katara left the sitting room, she kissed her daughter and told her she would be down later for dinner.

Katara walked down the hall and nodded to the strangers she passed. The government was being handled more and more by the congress and so there were never any ministers hanging around the palace. Servants were long gone and the palace staff changed almost every season. Everyone carried passes with embedded chips, verifying identities and allowing privileged access. People talking to earpieces had to halt suddenly, bowing in respect as they finally caught sight of the old Fire Lady. The respect she garnered was less about her power - which was nonexistent - and more about her status as a relic. 

She missed Iroh; she missed Rin, and Sokka. 

Katara staggered in the hall and braced herself against the wall. A guard stepped out of the shadows, speaking urgently into an earpiece while coming to her.

“Are you alright ma’am?” They asked, gently holding her elbow. Katara looked at them and was almost shocked to see a bare face and not an iron mask. She felt their spirit, and was more shocked to know that they were an Airbender. 

How had things changed so much?

“I’m fine. But would you escort me to my room?” She asked. The guard smiled and nodded.

“Code Blue resolved. Escorting Painted Lady to her room.” They said into their earpiece and then offered their arm. When the guards started to integrate technology into their protocol, Lu Ten had suggested the code name and Katara had found it amusing. Now it seemed like a sad satire, as she tried to imagine herself back in the paint and dress. 

Katara made it to her room without another incident and she closed the door firmly behind her. Zuko was still asleep on their bed and she slowly moved toward it. Their bed had been lowered years ago and Katara easily slid herself up and onto the mattress. As she did, Zuko shifted and rolled over, opening his eyes.

“Hello my love.” He whispered as Katara laid down facing him.

“Did I wake you?” She asked.

“Yes, but you’re always worth the waking.” He said. Katara smiled and leaned in to kiss him. 

“Izumi says we can go now.” She said when they parted and Zuko put a hand to her cheek.

“Well, now that we have her permission...” He quipped and Katara laughed. 

“I think we’ll be okay Zuko.” She said. “I think everything will be okay.”

“I know we will.” He replied and they kissed again. “As long as we’re together.”

“Mmm. You’re warm.”

“All the better for napping.”

“A nap does sound good.”

“Come here.”

“I love you Zuko.”

“I love you Katara.”

The siblings had not been in the same place at the same time in a very, very long time. Izumi had gotten into a fight with the Fire Sages when they attempted to cremate both bodies and Iroh had only managed to pull her off after she had hit the head sage with her cane a good number of times. 

Then Lu Ten and Izumi had fought over what to actually do. The Water Tribes - all four of them - buried their dead, either at sea or under cairns. As the former Fire Lady however, Katara was given the right to be cremated. Lu Ten wanted to take her to the South Pole, while Izumi demanded that their parents be cremated together. 

Kozin and Riza stood back, watching as their older siblings started throwing things at each other.

“Mom can’t come back unless she goes to Sedna!” Lu Ten shouted. 

“Their bodies have to stay together!” Izumi shouted back. “I can’t split them up!” Izumi collapsed, sobbing, and Lu Ten rushed to her, cradling her as she wept. 

“Mama and Papa have to stay together!” Izumi cried. Everyone was quiet, awkwardly trying not to look at each other while Izumi’s wails filled the room. Finally Undine, Riza’s daughter, stood from her seat and cleared her throat.

“Okay so, I have kind of a gross idea.” She said.

Izumi looked hollow as they all sat on the jet flying to the South Pole. The box in her lap could have been filled with helium for how tightly she was holding onto it. 

The funeral at the Fire Nation had been massive. Kiyi’s descendants had shown up and stood with the family during the cremation. Korra, Lu Ten, Kozin, Iroh, and Azula did the actual ceremony, keeping the Fire Sages confined to the dais for the rest of the rite. 

The nation entered a month of mourning and the flags in Republic City were lowered to half mast. Black drapes were put over the windows of the Fire Nation and Water Tribe embassies and the South Pole museum was open to the public with free admission for the month. Hira’a set a large bonfire and fireworks went screaming into the night sky almost every day.

Before all of that, however, the family had another rite to attend. Undine had flown back to the South Pole immediately after the cremation and started prepping. When the rest of the family landed in Haida, it was packed with people. 

All of the high ranking people from the Swamp Tribe and the Island Tribe had made it, and the Chief of the North had brought a long a dozen other families. It was a tense political time, since Undine’s daughter was a Firebender and ineligible for the chiefdom, and the North Pole had been suffering a low birth rate for decades. Power had been shifting to the Swamp Tribe since the fracturing of the Earth Kingdom and no one had ever wanted to say anything publicly. 

Now, with the Matriarch of the United Tribes dead, all of the leaders recognized it was the time to address things. 

Izumi didn’t care about any of it. She had rejected this part of her life a long time ago. But the Water Tribe would never let go of her.

Lu Ten held onto her as they stepped down out of the jet and the gathered crowd started to cheer. The prodigal daughter had returned, and she had come to honor the Great Mother herself. 

It was ambiguous if they meant Sedna or Katara in that moment.

The large family of Zuko and Katara were given a clear path to the sleighs. The electric motors were silent and Izumi wondered when they had stopped using polar bear dogs to pull them. She was getting far too old for all of these improvements. 

It took five sleighs to seat all of the family. They were massive vehicles but they slid over the ice and snow with ease. The blades hovered under the sleighs themselves, using magnets to disperse the weight so there was no fear of cracking even the summer ice. Still, Izumi clutched the box like it was liable to fly away. 

It took two hours for everyone to situate themselves at the coast. Korra, Izumi, Riza, and Undine took over for this portion. Korra, Riza, and Undine brought up a pillar of freezing ocean water. The water shifted as they pulled it up and a dragon formed. The crowd gasped in awe, but as Izumi saw the shocked faces of the Benders, she knew this had not been planned. Izumi’s eyes narrowed as she eyed the dragon.

She remembered all too well the last time they had met. 

“Aivilayoq.” Izumi muttered darkly, but the water dragon didn’t respond. Without another word, Izumi walked forward and held out the box in her hands. The dragon lowered its jaw and Izumi placed the box inside the swirling maw. 

“This is for Sedna.” Izumi said loudly. “My parents are being returned to her.” 

The water dragon snapped its jaws shut and swirled over itself, diving back into the ocean. 

It had been a gross idea, and Izumi didn’t want it discussed. While her parents’ hearts had been burned together, their bladders had been surgically removed beforehand and dried. The Polar Tribes believed the bladders held the spirit and that they must be returned to Sedna in order for the spirit to return. 

Now, as was the macabre custom, there was a large festival. Everyone got stinking drunk at the feast and stories were told about the great heroes, including their children. 

As Izumi looked around the room, she was startled to see how right she had been when she had spoken to her mother. Sokka’s face was reflected in fragments among various people. Toph’s laugh was heard from the throat of an over eager Metalbender. Iroh had Zuko’s angular features while Undine had Katara’s round face. Seven people in the hall were Firebenders because of Zuko. A Kyoshi Warrior was part of the royal family. The Avatar herself looked more like Izumi’s grandmother than Izumi did as her namesake. 

Katara and Zuko would indeed live forever.