#atla:identity shennanigans

[awanderingmuse-ficrec]

kintsug (Series)

Fandom: Avatar the Last Airbender

Author: discordiansamba, @discordiansamba​

Rating: Teen

Warnings: Strong Language, Violence, Child Abuse

Word Count:  95,014

Characters: Zuko, Toph Beifong, Lao Beifong, Poppy Beifong, Yu, Mai, Ty Lee, Iroh, Ozai, Azula, Xin Fu, Original Characters

Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, toph didn't get her field trip so she gets to hog zuko for three whole years, Ozai Being a Terrible Parent

au in which a banished for good zuko ends up being hired by the beifongs to watch over their daughter- or, zuko and toph never took that field trip in canon so now she gets to hog him for three whole years.

kintsugi

After his ill-fated Agni Kai, Zuko is cast out of the Fire Nation without even so much as a hope of returning. Dumped on Earth Kingdom shores, he's forced to come to terms with the fact that his father likely wants him dead- and that maybe the Fire Nation was never that great to begin with.

That's the painful part.

The weird part? The weird part is breaking into a nobleman's manor in order to steal food, getting caught and then being hired to protect (babysit) said nobleman's blind daughter. Then again... maybe it's exactly what he needs right now.

(or, toph never got her field trip so now she gets to hog zuko for three whole years)

of earth and fire

In which Zuko's first few days in the Beifong household are interesting to everyone involved, but none more so than to Zuko himself.

(or, zuko learns to adjust and learns toph's just as big a liar as he is)

those left behind

Iroh returns to the Fire Nation to unpleasant rumors, and makes a decision.

in which lying and acting are the same thing really

Zuko's never been a liar. That's always been Azula's thing. But now that he's living in enemy territory, he literally has no choice- and the guilt is starting to get to him.

Toph's never had a choice when it comes to acting- she has to, because the girl her parents think she is doesn't exist. She doesn't feel guilty about it at all, not really.

(or, sometimes a liar and an actor are exactly what the other needs)

two kids in an underground fight pit

What happens in the underground fight pit, doesn't always necessarily stay in the underground fight pit.

(in which Zuko and Toph spar with each other, go watch a Rumble, have their first fight, and figure out friendship on the way.)

two birthdays in the earth kingdom

Toph marks her first birthday since Li came into her life, which to her, is a gift enough already.

Zuko marks his first birthday since his exile with the fevered realization that maybe family has found him.

(or, toph and zuko grow a year older and maybe just a little wiser)

earth rumble five

It's time for Earth Rumble Five, and Toph Beifong has one mission- to prove that she really is the greatest earthbender in the world.

Zuko's just along for the ride.

turtleduck

While shopping in the market, Zuko spots something unexpected.

two kids loose in ba sing se (what will they do)

Before, Lao Beifong would have never considered bringing Toph with him to Ba Sing Se. It just wasn't safe.

It turned out your daughter having her own personal bodyguard changed things.

(or, long feng gets a headache)

[awanderingmuse-ficrec]

Culture Shock (Series)

Fandom: Avatar the Last Airbender

Author: constellayetion

Rating: Teen

Warnings: Suicide, Self-Harm, Violence, Child Abuse

Word Count:  34.337

Characters: Zuko, Sokka, Aang, Toph Beifong, Katara

Tags: iroh is mentioned in flashbacks, Culture exploration, Cultural norms, Light Angst, mentions of suicidal ideation, Mentions of self-harm, which is accidental and one-time but still, Child Abuse, Ozai's A+ Parenting, The Fire Nation's A+ Training Regiment, Slight Canon Divergence, set between The Firebending Masters and The Boiling Rock Part 1, Apologies, meant as a way of bringing about justice/sacrifice, as a cultural norm, Hurt/Comfort, Scars, Zuko's Scar, Sokka Hurt/Comfort, zuko comforting sokka bc he deserves it

Fire Nation Training

The Fire Nation has some weird cultural norms. When Zuko gets added to the group, they find a fun role for him to play. Fire Nation Fact Checker!

(Basically meaning, I wanted to explore the conversations the gaang would have about their separate societies, traditions, and worldviews)

Chapter One: The Gaang wonders, what does a Training Accident even mean? And why do so many Fire Nation recruits seem to have the mark of one?

Chapter Two: Sokka worries about what training methods Zuko will use with Aang and finding out the Fire Nation's way of 'training' the previous night. He didn't realize what kind of training Zuko was referring to though, and actual discipline is very different than he thought.

Chapter Three: Zuko reflects on what Aang said. Control...versus intent... How does one even not have ill intent?

Chapter Four: Zuko teaches Aang the new trick he learned: How to NOT burn things.

Chapter Five: Sokka sees Zuko practicing his new skill. He does not react...well.

Retribution & Reparations

Continuation of Fire Nation Training, looking at how to...fix something works in the nations. Chapter One: All Zuko wanted to do was apologize… however… the ways everyone does it is...a little different from how he was taught. Chapter Two: Toph & Sokka take Zuko hunting. When injuries happen there’s some disagreement over whether or not that’s suppose to happen. Chapter Three: Toph tries to fix things, Sokka tries to fix things, scars just make everything worse. But, maybe that's just for Sokka. Chapter Four: Post Boiling Rock: Sokka knows that Zuko's upset. He just doesn't know how to fix it and that's worse than anything else. He just...needs him to be okay. He just needs everyone to be okay.

[awanderingmuse-ficrec]

shu 

Two Drama Queens Loose on a Shirshu (Series)

Fandom: Aavatar the Last Airbender

Author: mindbending, 

Rating: Teen

Warnings: Child Abuse, Major Injury, Graphic Descriptions of Violence, Alcohol Use, Violence towards Animals

Word Count:  42,822

Characters: Zuko, June, Nyla, Original Characters, Iroh, Chit Sang, Combustion Man, Toph Beifong

Tags: Mental Health Issues, Zuko's Scar, Trauma, medical treatment, Hurt Zuko, Alcohol, Past Child Abuse, Hurt/Comfort, but june's doing the comforting, so it involves theft, and fistfights, and impersonation, june adopts zuko au, Podfic Available, Injury Recovery, Humor, Angst, now featuring arm wrestling, some light poison, and taxes, Animal POV, shirshu paws as security blankets, also?this fic is the angstiest one so far, there’s a full-blown tragedy going on in the background, though nyla wouldn’t know, nyla just wanted a snack, also, light references to humans being tasty, also!, there’s an honor jar, like a swear jar but for honor, Angst and Humor, Firebending & Firebenders, zuko: STOP TELLING PEOPLE I'M DEAD, azula: sometimes I can still hear his voice..., light references to underage drinking in that zuko shouldn't try it, he's bad enough sober, also featuring baby’s first attempt at makeup, emphasis on “attempt”, Libraries, saving the world one scroll at a time, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Presents, Cultural Differences, not pictured: zuko buys himself a thesaurus, Bounty Hunters, Secret Identity, Makeup, Detectives, Violence Towards Animals, violence towards nyla's poor nostrils, can you spot the memes, Circus, Animal Abuse, Excessive Drinking, june and kyoshi have the same voice actor and i think that’s cool

June (plus Nyla) adopts Zuko AU.

Like a Baby Shirshu

Despite the fever and the barely-healed burn scar, the boy’s fast. June avoids his blade, but still he jams his limbs into her, desperate to scratch and kick and bite off her hand…

(Just like a baby shirshu, spitting poison from behind the bars of its cage. The comparison shouldn't be so endearing.)

Or: the AU where Zuko flees the palace after his Agni Kai, running right into Nyla and June.

Biting Off More Than You Can Chew

“So,” the nurse says with a murderous smile, “you obtained a recently traumatized twelve-year-old child.”

“He really might be older than that,” mutters June.

“Then you gave him a long lecture on how the world’s full of dangerous opponents who might commit violence against him at any time.”

“That’s nothing he didn’t know already...”

“And then, to initiate combat practice, you tossed a knife at his face.”

“I said ‘catch!’”

Okay, so maybe someone should’ve stopped June from adopting a kid.

The Shirshu Adoption Process

Humans are a marvel. They come in a million different flavors.

(A shirshu’s viewpoint on adopting a firebender.)

The Firebending Masters

“So,” June observes casually, “you just waltzed in tonight and declared yourself king.”

Turns out Kuzon isn't a half-bad dictator.

Library Drama

Chit Sang didn’t lie to June, when he said he’d angered the Fire Lord simply by misfiling a library scroll. But under the neat words, there’s more to the story. There always is.

3 Times Zuko Gets a Gift (+1 Time He Gets One)

Kuzon doesn’t like his present.

June’s never giving anyone anything ever again.

She pulls herself off that cliff to inspect his expression more carefully. He doesn’t dislike it, necessarily; he’s just staring at it like it’s terrifying beyond his comprehension.

(Which is the reaction it should inspire in strangers, sure, but not in him.)

Dead Hawk: Do Not Eat

Kuzon's first hunt will be a safe, sensible affair. Really.

The Biggest Payday

When the Beifongs’ young, fragile daughter is kidnapped, it’s up to June and Zuko to stage a dramatic rescue.

Panda Dragons

June has good luck with strays.

[awanderingmuse-ficrec]

White Lotus Zuko Series

Fandom: Avatar the Last Airbender

Author: calcliffbas @calcliffbas

Rating: Teen

Warnings: Violence, Strong Language

Word Count:  585,207

Pairings: Kataang, Zutara, Yukaa, Sukka

Characters: Iroh, Zuko, Aang, Katara, Sokka, Zhao, Other Avatar Characters, Toph Beifong, Suki, Azula, Mai, Ty Lee, Jet

Tags: Alternate Universe - Pre-Canon, The Order of the White Lotus, Pai Sho, Iroh is a Good Uncle, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Book 1: Water, Friendship, Secret Identity, The Blue Spirit - Freeform, Identity Reveal, Precious Aang,  White Lotus Zuko, Protective Katara, Big Brother Sokka, Zuko Joins The Gaang Early, One-Sided Aang/Katara, Pre-Katara/Zuko, POV Multiple, Book 2: Earth, Sokka & Zuko Friendship, Toph Beifong and Zuko are Siblings, Minor Sokka/Suki, Minor Katara/Zuko, Book 3: Fire, Avatar Aang, Honorable Zuko, Toph Beifong Being Awesome, Badass Suki,  Eventual Katara/Zuko, Gaang as Family, Fluff, Post-Canon, Fire Nation Politics,  Poetry, Literary References & Allusions, Historical References

Seventy-two to nil

When Zuko is banished, Iroh decides to teach him Pai Sho. Zuko learns a few other things along the way, too.

No Reason You Can’t Do It

When King Bumi and his friend Iroh ask Aang to take Iroh’s grumpy nephew with him to the North Pole, Aang thinks it’ll be pretty cool. But when the Gaang's new friend Zuko turns out to be a firebender, that’s just the beginning of their problems.

Your Plans Can Change

The Gaang are making their way through the Earth Kingdom to look for an earthbending master, but it’s no easy task when Princess Azula is after them. As Aang struggles with keeping the balance, and Zuko struggles with keeping his secrets, how long will it be before the cracks begin to show?

You Have to Stand Firm

After fleeing Ba Sing Se, Aang and the others know that the Day of Black Sun is their last chance to defeat the Fire Nation and win the war. Meanwhile, Crown Prince Zuko has returned home in triumph, but it’s nothing like he’d planned it. Our heroes will face hard choices and impossible odds, but one thing’s for sure: they’ll never give up without a fight.

Who Knows What Happens Next

It’s been three years since the end of the Hundred Year War, and the Gaang are back in Ba Sing Se for peace talks, Pai Sho, and group hugs.

and the journey itself is home

A collection of scenes that spun out from my Avatar AUs.