#everything is zukaang

[woodlaflababab]

Zukaang Moments In Episode One: The Boy In The Iceberg

(There's A Lot)

-<>-

"Head a course for the light." The first episode and it is already foreshadowed that Zuko needs Aang and that Aang is his pathway to true happiness and peace. It's a literal angelic light that calls to Zuko that can be seen for miles around.

What does that sound like? A lighthouse and Zuko is literally in a boat trying to find a way home. Aang casts a light that calls Zuko home and represents finally finding the shore, an end to the perilous journey at sea for the sailor lost in the night.

Like, symbolic much? Zuko could've been clued into the idea that that was the avatar by a whole slew of ways, but it is a literal becon of light, almost like Aang is less an enemy/something to catch and more a savior/home.

Also, Yin and Yang #1: Zuko knows exactly where he's going and what he's doing, Aang has no idea where he's going or what he's doing.

Zuko angstily staring in the direction of Aang, being unable to sleep.

Iroh going on abt how there's no way Zuko could find Aang bc his ancestors weren't able to. Well. You see Uncle Iroh. Zuko's ancestors weren't soulmates with the avatar.

Yin and Yang #2: Zuko is talking about how he needs his honor, you know, in order to go home and be the prince he's supposed to be. Immediately after we see Aang lying and dying he's the avatar. Zuko is chasing his destiny. Aang is running away from his destiny. (And continues to do so even after accepting his role as avatar bc his destiny is Zuko ;) )

One of their obvious Yin and Yangs but since the scene focuses on Aang's tattoos I'll say it here. Aang has blue markings he accepted willingly as a sign of mastery and honor, granted to him by people who raised him and love him. Zuko has a red marking he had no say in as a sign of 'weakness and dishonor', granted to him by someone who raised him and hates him. Yin and Yang #3

Yin and Yang #4: Zuko is stressed and training, Aang is carefree and having fun. Zuko is stressing out the people around him, Aang is bringing fun to the people around him.

Yin and Yang #5: Zuko is seen practicing firebending and still working on the basics and the only purpose to his learning is to fight. Meanwhile we see Aang, a literal master, use his bending as second nature and for anything BUT fighting.

Aang finds a scary fire nation ship and shows no fear, despite it's obvious danger, only a desire to reach in and find what's inside it. A unique approach to it. Which already foreshadows his relationship with Zuko (and technically the fire nation but shut up this is abt Zukaang), specifically the Blue Spirit, where he shows no fear of Zuko, who's proven dangerous, and only wants to understand him and be friends. Reach in and find what's inside him. A unique approach to Zuko.

Zuko is once again called to Aang by a light, and this time it's a flare, something sent up when someone needs rescue. And like the last light he followed, this one is also foreshadowing the future.

Where the first light shows how Aang is important/needed by Zuko, this one shows how Zuko is important/needed by Aang. It foreshadows how Aang needs help and Zuko is often called to his rescue. (both with the blue spirit and him joining them in book three, and also that fight with azula, as examples off the top of my head, oh also the freeing appa thing, there's a lot.) Zuko is Aang's hero. @the ember island players were right

"Quite agile for his old age." Not Zuko already praising Aang and being Extra Aware of everything Aang does and everything Aang can do.

Also, 'his'. The avatar could be male or female, the world doesn't actually know. And yes, we could attribute Zuko automatically saying 'his' as him assuming based on internal sexism OR we could say Zuko inherently knows due to his cosmic connection with Aang. >:) There is more on this later, I swear this isn't as much of a reach as it seems.

-<>-

Okay so, Basically, the reason I did this was bc I saw someone list out the moments in the series for their ship and I started thinking about the zukaang moments from the series but like. They're all over the place. The series is about Zukaang, so I thought it'd be fun to list out all the Zukaang moments from just the first episode. (Thematic ones and relationship ones.)

I'm about to do The Avatar Returns, but honestly, I could keep going. I'm heavily thinking about it. The first (two parter) episode is heavily Zukaang, but even the second one, though they don't interact at all, has Zukaang moments. I might go through each episode and point out over-analyzed zukaang. Idk.

If you don't want the zukaang tag flooded by this over the next however long it takes me, speak now or forever hold your peace.

Second Part

[my-cabbages-gorl]

“Before you helped him save the world, he helped save you, my dear prince” - Iroh to Prince Zuko, Legacy of the Fire Nation

[breyito]

@zukaangweek

Day 4: Free Day

Everything is Lost AU

After weeks of building trust, feeding him and nursing his always present wounds from interrogation, Zuko begins to care really deeply for this slightly older boy; so powerful and yet so helpless. The almost man that greets him with a smile, even when he'd bleeding. Who is funny, and kind and treats him with soft touches and lovely words.

At the same time, the reality of the world, and how the people outside the Palace are affected by the war becomes more and more clear. It is not something he can ignore any longer.

Zuko is a Prince, he has a duty. And he loves his family.

He just also loves Aang.

After weeks trapped in this newest version of hell, Aang takes every bit of kindness he can get. Zuko is shy, stubborn, and beautifully gentle. He's starving for affection and quick to return it. So soft, with that core of steel. He's also the nephew of his sworn enemy, a favourite of the Main Royal Family. He is allowed things few others would even consider...and Aang needs that.

He grows to love Zuko. He wants to protect him from his father's cruelty and his sister's machinations and build a future together.

Aang just has to save the world first.

The first thing Zuko does to defy his family is teaching Aang how to reach his inner flame, to keep warm as the nights grow colder. Then, he gets the keys to free him from the chain on the walls while he's visiting, so Aang can keep training. He comforts the Monk when things get too difficult, feeds him when it's necessary.

He helps plan out and execute an escape for him and his friends on the Day of the Black Sun. He even manages to find him an earthbending teacher to go with them, the best in the world (who just happens to be his betrothed).

But things get difficult when they are spotted getting Appa, and Zuko stalls by fighting the guards. They manage to get on the Sky Bison and are taking off when arrows come flying. They hit Zuko.

He lets go and falls.

The red ones are Zuko's, the orange ones Aang's.

This AU won't leave me alone, I swear. And we're not even at the middle!

A couple of interesting things, just because I want to dive into them later:

-Ozai is a spy. He wants the throne so very badly he's working with King Bumi to "stop" the Fire Nation.

-Omashu is the last stronghold of the Earth Kingdom because King Bumi managed to create metalbending and reinforced everything in the city. (There's also an academy, so the weapongry doesn't work that well.)

-Ozai punishes Zuko in the same way as cannon. Iroh is furious because he did it without permission. He kicks Ozai out of the Royal Family and line of sucession and orders his arrest (Ozai manages to escape.)

-Zuko, for weeks, gives Katara more water than she ought to have, and walks her through waterbending scrolls that he found in the library (those end up packed with their supplies).

-Toph is Zuko's betrothed cause the Beigfons are not stupid. Lu Ten chose her for him, since they are both so shy and calm and quiet.

-Sokka gets assigned to the stables, since he's the only one Appa lets near (they don't kill Appa simply to avoid an Avatar State).

Feel free to ask me more! Right now those are the Main things.

[raayllum]

Would you say Rayllum is your all time favorite ship or do you have one you like even more? Where do would Rayllum rank in your top five ships?

Oh Rayllum is my all time fave, 100%. Nobody else even comes close in terms of like 1) got me right away (even before the season came out), 2) delivered beyond my wildest dreams, and 3) just has so much of the like, personalities and themes and like, dynamic stuff that I adore and am weak for every time, and so well executed. Then there's also the way they remind me of me and my partner (the Rayla to my Callum I think) and other aspects of how the ship has been interwoven into my personal life, and just... They literally have every aspect of every other ship I've ever loved in my life, it is incredible and I could not adore them more. #1 for life

That said, overall, I'm not that ship centric? Like there's a lot of media (Trollhunters my beloved) I adore that is primarily for the story or villains or found family, which is all true of TDP as well - I love everything about it as much as I love Rayllum - but in terms of fandom engagement, I suppose?

That said here are some of my other favourite ships which definitely show off a pattern, I think, of being a lot like Rayllum as well

Kaz/Inej from Six of Crows (just a far more heavily traumatized version of Rayllum + touch aversion + sweet thematic religious undertones)

Percy/Annabeth from Percy Jackson (childhood friends turned slowburn lovers, dorky and devoted, she has major abandonment issues + he's "to save a friend you would sacrifice the world" & "as long as we're together)

Jesse and Lake from Infinity Train (is probably the most Rayllum-esque dynamic on here and all 4 seasons of Infinity Train are Amazing)

James and Sarah from Liberty's Kids (because I know who I am as a person, and probably my most 'argumentative/bickering' ship)

Other honourable mentions: Kai/Jinora from The Legend of Korra; Patroclus/Achilles and Orpheus/Eurydice from just about anything, but especially The Song of Achilles and Hadestown, respectively; Jane/Peter Pan from Peter Pan 2: Return to Neverland because I unironically think that's where my standards of love came from; Zelda/Link from The Legend of Zelda (BOTW/TOTK in particular) and Corona/Hunter from Spider Riders (2006) (yes seriously) for those sweet goddess incarnate + loyal goddess' champion type vibes.

[bard-llama]

2 Updates: Wan Shi Tong's Uninvited Guests Chapter 6/9 and Action, Inaction, and Consequences Chapter 3

Wan Shi Tong's Uninvited Guests Chapter 6/9

Fic Summary:

After Uncle plays Pai Sho with some stranger in the desert and disappears into a closed door meeting, a spirit comes calling to ask Zuko for help. Wan Shi Tong was forced to take their library out of the mortal realm – and the Gaang did not escape in time. But now they’re running around the library and Wan Shi Tong wants rid of the pests. Who better to ask than the scholar who had visited the library previously searching for information on the Avatar, especially since he happens to be nearby?

Chapter Summary:

Now that Toph and Appa have found them, Zuko has a choice to make.

Read on AO3

Action, Inaction, and Consequences Chapter 3

Fic Summary:

In the aftermath of the war, the question arises of who should be held accountable for war crimes - and by who? There were crimes committed on all sides during the war, both through action and inaction. Are those who stood by and let genocide occur less guilty than those who murdered their own people for being collaborators?

Chapter Summary:

Zuko tells the Gaang how he got his scar. It's hard to talk about - but he doesn't want them to find out during Ozai's trial.

Read on AO3

[wilcze-kudly]

Aang is great because almost every ship you can put him in instantly becomes top-tier.

Like:

Kataang- they literally make me cry every single time I think of them. Their love story is wonderful and genuinely heartwarming. It symbolises healing and peace for both of them and the literal world. He showed her the world and he's her biggest supporter and she always defends him and they find solace in each other because they understand what it's like to be the last of their respective kind. And they're each other's hope and just... ahhh. They're so much more than the vanilla hero gets the girl ship people paint it as. Haters stay mad or smth.

Zukaang- the symbolism? They're the actual Ying and Yang of the show! The Rozin parallels? Them standing in a vortex of rainbow fire as two dragons (the blue one like Aang's tatoos facing zuko and the other one, red like Zuko's general colour scheme facing Aang) forming a heart shape around them? Zuko was literally searching for Aang and found his redemption in Aang and Aang made him a better person and Aang is literally the only person who genuinely experienced Fire Nation culture before the war and he clearly values it and he's helping Zuko bring peace to the world and the nation...

Taang- The og tomboy x soft boy dynamic. He's literally the person that helped her free herself from her parents and Air is the element of freedom? And she teaches him when to stand firm like the Earth? And I love when they do synchronised earthbending it's so satisfying and they work so well together. Toph having lost her face in one of Aang's nightmares is also a nice parallel to Ummi and Kuruk. (One caveat though: i hate taang being used as a "get Aang out of the way" side ship to Zutara)

Sokaang- they kinda come out of left field for me but the more I think about them the more obsessed I become. It's all about a teenage boy who has been forced into a role that demanded way too much of him finally learning to trust and rely on others. It's about Sokka finally living out the childhood that he was forced to grow out of. Sokka also has such a cute bond with Momo and more importantly, Appa, Aang's animal soulmate. The fics write themselves.

Sukaang- ok, I know Suki and Aang barely interacted in the show but like Hear me out.Suki is so connected to one of Aang's past lives. And she saved Appa, which would totally bond her and Aang (genuinely distressed that this was never discussed in canon). And they both value a sense of community so much, and Aang was one of the people who inspired Suki to leave Kyoshi to help others. Plus, there could be some amazing Rangshi parallels if Suki became Aang's bodyguard instead of Zuko's, which could be very plausible.

Azulaang- I adore this ship because I genuinely think Aang could really help Azula find her redemption. Hell, he was so nice to her in The Search and she literally killed him. Plus I've already laughed about how it would absolutely kill Ozai. The mental crisis Azula would go through due to fallingin love with Aang would be hilarious, and also the guilt over everything she's done, as Aang's kindness makes her realsie she was on the wrong side this whole time. He's one of the only people who can beat her at her prime and he doesn't seem to fear her at all, which is rare for her. Aang could give her the unconditional love she so desperately craves and needs.

Maiaang- genuinely adorable to me. Other than the obvious grumpy x sunshine trope, Maiaang has a lot of potential. Mai seems to genuinely like Aang in the comics, which is really cute. I also think Aang would be able to help Mai express her more positive emotions, other than just anger. Also something about the girl who was forced to remain silent and passive her whole life learning to finally let go and allow herself to just live with the help of probably one of the most active and expressive characters of the show has me by the throat. Plus, he got along great with her lil bro!

Tyaang- They're so similar and cute and bubbly! They'd have tons of fun together and I just know Ty Lee would teach Aang some gymnastics and he really enjoy it! I think he can also find Ty Lee's chiblocking very cool, since it is essentially a great way to deal with a conflict without causing permanent damage. Very airbendery. Speaking of which, Ty Lee is also very airbendry herself. I can genuinely see her finding herself in Air Nomad culture and be excited to help revive it.

Onjaang- i just find this ship so funny because imagine being a random schoolgirl in the fire nation and not only rizzing up a demigod but rizzing that demigod up successfully. This ship can also go so many ways depending on On Ji's reaction to that random cute guy who threw a cool dance party is actually the Avatar, so it's certainly interesting.

Yuaang- the ultimate cinnamon roll x cinnamon roll ship. But more than that, there's of course the Yue becoming the Moon Spirit and Aang getting lowkey possessed by the grieving Ocean Spirit. There's Yue appearing when Aang needed her most, while he's stranded in the middle of the ocean and helping him. They both understand sacrifice and responsibility, and maybe they could comfort each other through it. Also Aang being the bridge between the spirit worlds and Yue being a Spirit could lead to a very interesting romance, depending on how much the Avatar could interact with the Moon Spirit.

Jetaang- ok, Aang was just as infatuated with Jet as Katara was, right? And I think Aang was heavily affected by Jet's actions and behaviour. Also Aang really not wanting to hurt Jet while fighting him (twice!) was really cute. And Aang helping Jet snap out of the Dai Li brainwashing could be a really cool ship moment the more you think anout it.

Teoaang- Honestly their little one sided rivalry at the beginning of the episode was really cute. And I think there could be some interesting symbolism between them. Aang symbolising the old and Teo symbolising the new. They compliment each other like that. Teo comforting Aang by showing him that the critters of the temple are still alive and well is also sweet. And Aang admitting that Teo has the spirit of an airbender is so sweet.

Kuzaang- they're adorable. I loved the comic about them. Aang calling Kuzon "Hotman" is really funny. Aang helping Kuzon make a bigger flame with airbending is also really sweet. I especially like this ship in combination with Zukaang. It's such tasty symbolism.

Aang may just be the most shippable charater of this franchise, argue with the wall. He's so filled with love I have no choice but to multiship.

[biconickyoshi]

Been wanting to do some updated character model sheet thingies for my ongoing longfic The Avatar and the Fire Prince, so here they are! :) Up until now I'd only drawn Zuko and Aang, but I thought it was about time I added Iroh and the Water Tribe siblings to the lineup as well. Right now all I've done this for is Books 1 & 2, but I really want to get started on the Books 3 & 4 versions so I can add Toph and Suki (and possibly Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee) to the lineup!

As usual, for anyone who has not read my fic but is curious about the premise: this is an AU in which Zuko and Iroh discover Aang in the iceberg just 3 months after Zuko is burned and banished at age 13 in 96 AG, 4 years prior to the return of Sozin's Comet. It is also an enemies to best friends to lovers slowburn in which Zukaang is endgame (since Aang was released from the iceberg 3 years early in this AU, he is only one year younger than Zuko). This fic is heavily based in canon, so I try my hardest to ensure that everything is canon-compliant at least when it comes to lore and character behavior despite the different circumstances.

Book 1: Air's premise: after finding and capturing Aang, Zuko and Iroh are forced to escape with him on Appa when Zhao interferes with their plans to return to the Fire Nation. This Book focuses on Aang desperately searching the Air Temples for any remnants of his people he can find, dragging Zuko and Iroh along in the process. Eventually, Zuko starts to question everything he was raised to believe, while Iroh is forced to face the mistakes of his past.

Book 2: Water begins with Aang, Zuko, and Iroh traveling to the South Pole after Aang starts to have recurring nightmares about an impending attack on Wolf Cove (Sokka and Katara's village), and eventually follows my adaptations of several storylines from canon Book 1 before ending with the Siege of the North in Agna Qel'a. During this Book, Zuko begins to realize his feelings for Aang are more than friendship, while Aang remains oblivious (lol).

Book 3: Earth is the Book I am currently working on (the most recent chapter was my adaptation of "Avatar Day") and so far follows Aang, Zuko, Iroh, Katara, and Sokka as they search for an earthbending teacher for Aang - so far, it has followed the general canon plot of Book 2, though of course, as always, there are differences due to this being an AU. No spoilers, but I have some really interesting things planned for this Book, particularly as we get closer to the Ba Sing Se arc. I also have a lot of fun stuff planned for the Zukaang romance in this Book.

Book 4: Fire will be the last Book of the fic, and will of course revolve around the Gaang in the Fire Nation. This is all I will say for now since I don't want to spoil the plans I have for the previous Book (which will heavily influence what happens in Book 4, obv).

When I finally finish this fic (I'm about halfway through at 33/65 chapters), I plan to start writing a direct sequel that adapts the events of the comics, as well as a Korrasami-focused Legend of Korra rewrite fic that is set in the same AU as TAatFP.

[thethiefandtheairbender]

will say one of the only things the live action did that i enjoyed was how they made zukaang even gayer. aang stealing and reading zuko's diary. their extended talk post blue spirit (even if it was too soon). zuko and katara's reactions to losing aang in the ocean spirit being paralleled one after the other. the ribbon fight scene entangling them like a thread of fate in omashu, who are also gay enemies turned lovers. so many sentences out of zuko's mouth "you ruined everything. the avatar was mine!" "this isn't about zhao. this is about us." but also aang's, i.e. "that's why zuko's so hot to catch me?" and treating him already as an ally he wants to help (even if again, it's Too Soon). gay as hell. thank you goodnight

[gotticalavera]

ATL: Translation in English

Day 2: Stay close to me / Getting into trouble

They're both the important power figures who ended the war, but they're still somewhat silly teenagers.

And with this everything I had planned for ZukAang Week ended!!! This ended up being the last one, because I thought it would be nice to go back in time, since my first fanart of the ship was with a comic with Fem! Zuko, where she was considered unattractive because of her scar.

@zukaangweek

[zvtara-was-never-canon]

Not to compate siblings, but I wish the zutarians could be more like zukaangers, specifically with the incessant need to make Zuko/the fire nation seem less bad. It seems like they're constantly trying to justify Zuko's actions and paint the fire nation as just 'misguided'. Zutarians refuse to give Zuko guilt for the actual things he does.

And it's baffling to me because a big theme that zutara and zukaang share is guilt/forgiveness. Zukaangers lean into this so fucking hard. They will give Zuko guilt for everything he did, everything his forefathers did, everything his nation did, hell everything the world did, and have it juxtaposed by Aang's forgiveness and reminders that Zuko is not his nation nor his past mistakes.

It feels like zukaangers have Aang forgive Zuko because he can and wants to. Meanwhile, zutarian have Katara forgive Zuko because she should. If that makes sense.

Zukaang is everything Zutarians want their ship to be.

Based on a dynamic that is actually a central point in the story and that had a profound effect on these characters? Check.

Selfless hero that looks at the villain, picks up on all the sad vibes on that motherfucker, and confidently says "If not friend, why friend-shaped"? Check.

Hero's kindness living rent-free in the villains head? Check.

CONSTANT red and blue imagery that actually has a deeper meaning instead of just being the result of the show assigning colors to each nation to make it easier for the seven year olds to keep track of everyone? Check.

CONSTANT parallels, with entire episodes and full arcs dedicated to it, including one of the characters having a dream in which they are the same person because they're THAT alike? Check.

Romantic imagery?

Motherfucking check.

I guess that's why Zukaang shippers are much more sane. Even though Zuko and Aang's dynamic with each other in the show was clearly meant to be platonic, it is so important to canon and so throughly explored by it that it becomes IMPOSSIBLE to make the ship work if you mischaracterize either of them. It really wouldn't take much rewriting to make them a perfectly reasonable endgame - and I say this as someone who doesn't ship it and prefers Zuko to be an older brother figure to Aang.

Meanwhile Zutara has nothing beyond aesthetic and "enemies to lovers is a nice trope." The characters don't interact much until the end of the story, don't think of each other at all for most of it, and are openly, genuinely uncomfortable when people think they're dating. It's all about self-inserting as Katara to date an OC they attached Zuko's name and face too, or vice versa (more rare, but it happens).

OF COURSE it's out of character, OF COURSE it completely screws up the dynamic - it was never about "How would this pairing work?", it was about shilling the idea of one of the characters involved.

[terriblygrimm]

zvtaras and fantaras want firelady k.atara to happen so badly when you literally have aang; liberating an entire school of fire nation students, gaining their love and trust, leading them by knowing several classic fire nation dances already, who knows what the heart of the fire nation was before it was polluted by a dictator, who challenged the false historical teachings of their instructor in class with humor and sincere grace, and who is the only one who knows the blue spirit, the true self of the fire nation’s new firelord and leader. like bruh zukaang is RIGHT THERE and it’s everything you want zvtara to be and/or pretend it is.

not to mention - aang is zuko’s partner (“you knew avatar aang better than anyone”, “lifelong best friends”) not prize. they are friends due to mutual trust. aang got zuko to bend and grow (and vice versa) because he was shamelessly who he is. he would never compromise who he is as the avatar and an air nomad.

[my-cabbages-gorl]

@zukaangweek is in less than two weeks!!! Here’s a wip for Day 5 prompt: Safe

Sharing because I need someone to sob with me about elderly, free, and in love Zukaang. My precious old men you have my heart always

[breyito]

@zukaangweek

Day 2: Stay close to me

AU where...everything is lost. Lu Ten never died, so Iroh took Ba Sing Se and became the Fire Lord two years later. The Northen Water Tribe has been under siege for 10 months and Omashu is the last refuge in the Earth Kingdom.

Even waking up four-five years earlier and getting some training, the Avatar is no match against the Yuyan Archers and the Dai Li. Lu Ten manages to capture him and drag him to the Palace, along with the two Watertribe savages that protected him so much.

Azula, having aided their cousin in the capture, gives the task of taking care of the Avatar's needs to Zuko, to humiliate him. Zuko accepts with his head high, expecting to find the Avatar frightening and furious.

Instead, he falls in love with Aang.

Ooooff, I have a TON of headcanons for this thing, but not a single thing written *winces*. Feel free to ask!

(and in case you were wondering....yes, Zuko, in the eventual escape, is left behind.)

This took me so damn long because I couldn't decide on few enough pictures for a single moodboard...so you get all of them! And possibly more tomorrow, for Zuko's fate!

[earfgoddesss]

trying not to get into actual shipping discourse but I am getting really really really really sick of people spamming “literally brothers” on everything related to Zuko and Aang.

for comparison, imagine if people said “wow they’re sisters” on the clip of Ty Lee teaching Azula how to flirt, or “wow brothers” about the (classic) scene with Zukka on the air balloon. I’m not critical of either ship, but I know that the shippers would (rightfully tbh) push back. Yet if Zukaangers push back on “LITERALLY BROTHERS” it’s a problem.

If you don’t like Zukaang, it makes you uncomfortable, or just like them platonically (all of which is great and fine!) , please please just call them best friends. That’s what they LITERALLY are in canon. Neither ATLA or Korra did a “no homo” zukaang by calling them “brothers”. why is the fandom doing it?

[bard-llama]

(Going) Down and Out in Ba Sing Se Chapter 14

Fic Summary:

Secret liaisons in the City of Walls does not a relationship make, despite some of their best efforts. And, of course, the arrival of the Fire Princess only makes things more complicated. Who is Zuko supposed to choose? The Avatar – his goal, his lover, his enemy? Or the Fire Princess – his sister, his adversary, his blood?

Chapter Summary:

The Gaang + Zuko return to the palace for negotiations with the Earth King - but of course nothing ever quite goes the way they expect.

Read on AO3

[atla-confessions]

Aang is deeply empathic and works hard to be empathetic and kind despite how he has so much pain and anger that he has every right to feel.

Zutara shippers bending over backwards to demonize him, of all character, lacks empathy for others, is a huge testament to how they have to bastardize the entire series for any of their takes to work.

Especially since the character most touched by Aang's empathy and compassion was literally none other than Zuko himself. Zuko and Aang are so important to each other and key to their arcs that Zutara shippers have to rewrite everything about Aang to pretend he's not because they want to project their hatred and all their least favorite things onto him to get him out of the way, and in the process they cut away a lot of the depth and growth from Zuko's arc too.

But that's hardly a surprise, they mischaracterize Zuko and Katara into self-insert heterosexual cookie-cutter pride and prejudice stand-ins full of random tropes anyway, including projecting a bad guy for their het love triangle. Het shippers gotta be boring and destroy interesting characters along the way.

Anyway, teoaang and jiangtara so much better. Zukaang and Zukka are fun too, and katoph is growing on me.

X