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slythergirlimagines · 5 years ago

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Don’t Call Me Princess Part 1- Zuko x Reader

Summary: Reader and Zuko can’t stand each other, so when they are forced to share a room, chaos ensues. Lots of angst and fluff! (GIF Not mine!! Please someone tag me in some Zuko gifs I’m struggling to find them) masterlist

Words: 2,470 Requested: Yes. I combined the requests for enemies to lovers and bedsharing

Don’t Call Me Princess- Part 1

You were exhausted. The past three days had been hell for you. The Gaang had gone to try and free a village from Fire Nation occupation, but it hadn’t gone half as smoothly as you��d planned. You’d been kidnapped halfway through, but luckily you were rescued before any harm came to you. It was who rescued you that was the problem.

Ever since he had switched sides and joined forces with Aang, Prince Zuko had been a thorn in your side. He was moody, antagonistic, and you were always fighting with him. He was so infuriating and always trying to get a rise out of you. Zuko had been the one to save you, and he hadn’t let you forget it.

“You know if you wanted my attention Princess, you didn’t have to go and get yourself kidnapped. Coulda just said so.” He had smirked when he’d found you. You would’ve decked him if you could’ve, but of course he made sure to mess with you when you were tied up.

“Get me out of here Zuko.” You’d demanded.

“I don’t know... I kinda like where you are.” You hated how the look he gave you made your stomach flip. Obviously it was your body trying to vomit.

“Get. Me. Out.” You had gritted your teeth.

“Sure thing princess.”

“Don’t. Call. Me. PRINCESS!” You had shrieked.

Zuko had called you princess from the moment he joined the team. He was always degrading you like that, and it made you want to throttle him.

You and Zuko managed to get out safely, and the Gaang freed the village. What should have been a victory for you was tainted by Zuko, who hadn’t shut up about saving you since it happened.

Currently, you were discussing where to go from there. None of you particularly wanted to camp after this experience. It was Katara who brought up the idea of taking a break. Toph had managed to scam you guys some money, and you had just enough to afford to stay somewhere and relax for a few days.

“Like a vacation?” Sokka asks excitedly, Toph nodding in agreement.

“Yeah, I think it could do us all some good.” Katara says, fingers combing through her thick dark hair.

Everyone sits digesting this idea for a while.

“So where do we go?” Aang asks. It surprises you that Aang actually wants to take a few days off. In the beginning he had acted his age, but the longer you all had spent on the road, the more dedicated to the cause Aang had become.

“We’re close enough to Hépíng.” Zuko says. “It’s a city of peace and relaxation. Maybe princess can avoid trouble there.”

“Shut up Zuko!” You snap before you can control yourself. You know this is what he wants, but you can’t help it when he goads you like that.

“I get it ok? You saved me. What do you want from me?” You cry.

“How about some gratitude?” He snapped back. “I’m always having to save your ass from something, and all you do is sit around and pout.”

“What?!” You demand. White hot rage flows through you. If you were a firebender you knew you’d be on fire.

“Just last week the Sea Monster knocked you off the boat, and I had to go get you. Then a few weeks before that, you were being nice to that man who tried to take you. Had to get you out of that one. And then there was that time-“ Zuko counts on his fingers.

“Enough!” You cut him off. He’s made you so mad that you’re shaking. “Newsflash Zuko, I didn’t need your help any of those times! I had them all handled. It’s not my fault you decide to prematurely step in!” You screech.

“Didn’t need my help?!” He says back. His amber eyes flash defiantly, and he balls his hands into fists. “Princess, please tell me what you would have done if I hadn’t stepped in any of those times!”

“What do you want an essay detailing my plans? I would have thought of something, you just never give me the chance!” You seethe.

“Right. Ok, sure.” Zuko says.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” You’re heaving now. Your fingers itch to slap him, maybe strangle him. You think that would feel really cathartic.

“You want to know what I mean? You really want to know?” He snaps.

So far everyone else has remained silent. They had learned early on to just let you and Zuko fight it out. If your fights were deadly against each other, you were even worse when you teamed up against one of them. Now they look uncomfortable, eyes darting between you two.

“Guy, maybe you shouldn’t....” Aang starts.

“No, let him say it Aang! I want to hear it.” You cross your arms and jut out your chin in defiance.

“Guys really...”

“Stay out of this Aang!” You both snap at the same time.

Zuko whips his head angrily back at you, locks of raven hair falling into his eyes.

“You know what I really think? I think you’re the most incapable person here!” Zuko snaps. “You’re always making stupid decisions that jeopardize not only yourself, but every one else on this team!”

His words hurt a lot more than they should. You and Zuko had fought every day, but never before had he said something so cruel to you. Angry tears well up in your eyes.

“You know what? Fine, maybe you’re right. Maybe I’m incapable and incompetent, but at least I’ve never intentionally done anything to harm this team. At least my nation isn’t destroying everything it touches, and oh yeah, at least my father isn’t behind it all!”

You’ve never said something so cruel either. You almost regret saying it, when you see hurt flash on Zuko’s face. Your eyes linger on his scar, the brutal reminder of his monster of a father. Zuko’s face falls, but then it solidifies into an even angrier expression. He opens his mouth to say something even worse, before Aang cuts him off.

“ENOUGH!” He yells. “All you guys do is fight and I’ve had it! You guys are so unnecessarily mean to each other it’s ridiculous! We’re a team. We only work when we’re supporting each other. What is wrong with you two?!”

Aang’s face is red and his chest is heaving. You’ve only ever seen him so torn up once. You clench your jaw and look away as you blink back the tears.

“We’re taking a much needed break, ok? Can’t you guys just be civil for a few days. Please?” Aang pleads.

Neither you nor Zuko says anything, and the silence hangs heavy for several moments. It feels like another challenge to see who folds first. Finally, you decide to be the mature one since Zuko clearly won’t

“Fine.” You say. “I’ll be civil. As long as he says the hell away from me!” You stand up and stomp off to the furthest corner of Appa’s saddle.

“Couldn’t agree more.” You hear him snark back.

You hear Aang heave a long sigh, and Katara mutter something to him. Slowly, they resume a conversation about travel plans while you sit and mope.

Zuko somehow always knew your biggest insecurities, and knew exactly how to strike at them. You had always felt like a burden to the team. You weren’t a bender, and truthfully you weren’t a skilled fighter either. You didn’t really know why they kept you around, and it haunted you enough without Zuko reminding you every five seconds.

Subtly, you turn your head and watch the team interact. Even Zuko had rejoined the conversation. They were fine without you, you noted sadly. Maybe Zuko was right.

——————————————-

Hépíng is a gorgeous city. It lives up to its reputation of peace. The city is flooded with tourists, and it makes it easier for you all to blend in. Zuko is vaguely familiar with this place, and leads you to the strip of land where all of the Inns are.

Sokka and you are the least recognizable of the group, so you briefly play rock, paper, scissors to determine who has to go book your rooms. You know Sokka always picks rock, so you go with paper. Sokka grumbles all the way into the Inn.

It takes him what feels like hours to come back out. He looks grim, and you feel your heart drop. You had just gotten excited about having a break from Zuko, you didn’t want to have to jump right back into saving the world.

“Ok so here’s the thing.” Sokka says, “I got us rooms, but there can only be two people in a room. So we’re going to have to split up.”

“Ok so what?” You ask, shrugging. You didn’t get why this was such a big deal.

“Because one of us is going to be unfortunate enough to share a room with you.” Zuko says, rolling his eyes. “Princess.” He narrows his amber eyes and smirks.

“That’s it!”

You’re about to start throwing punches when Sokka ends it.

“You know what?” He says. “I’ve made up my mind. Aang and I will share, and Katara and Toph will share. You two” he says pointing between you and Zuko, “are going to work out your problems. Now is the perfect time to do it.”

You can feel the color draining from your face.

“What?” Zuko asks at the same time you give an emphatic “No!”

“Does anyone object to that arrangement?” Sokka asks.

You and Zuko both raise your hands, but nobody else does.

“Come on guys it’ll be good for you.” Katara says. “You all have never gotten to properly bond, and the fighting has got to stop.”

“This is absolutely ridiculous!” You say, stamping your foot.

“You think you got the bad deal, Princess?” Zuko huffs. “If you’re so miserable go sleep on Appa.”

“Shut the fu-“

“Alright!” Sokka says, slapping his hands over Aang’s ears. “Let’s go find our rooms.”

——————————————-

The inn is nice and cozy inside, with a warm fire in the fire place. You used to love fire before you associated it with Zuko. Of course he had to ruin that for you.

Sokka leads you past the tavern, and into a back hallway with five rooms. Katara and Toph take the first one. You manage to get a peek of the inside, a spacious room with two beds and what appeared to be a chair and tables. The room next to their is occupied, so Sokka leads you and Zuko to the end of the hall.

“Our room is across from yours.” Sokka says, handing Zuko the key to your room. “Please don’t get us kicked out of here. We all need this.”

“This was your brilliant idea, chief.” You snark at him, flipping your hair over your shoulder. “Any casualties are on you.”

Zuko snatches the key and nods his agreement.

“You’ve brought this on yourself, buddy.” Zuko says.

Sokka slumps against the door frame as Aang throws open the door to their room.

“Sokka look! These beds are great for jumping!” Aang says, using his bending to propel himself higher.

Sokka’s face falls even further.

“Gotta go.” He says, and slams the door behind him.

You and Zuko are left standing in the hallway in tense silence.

“Well? Aren’t you going to let us in?” You huff.

Zuko rolls his eyes but unlocks the door. You purposely knock into his shoulder as you enter the room, causing him to stumble. You smile vindictively to yourself as you walk inside until you notice something’s wrong.

“Um Zuko?” You say slowly. “Now is the only time I’ll tolerate you calling me dense. Am I hallucinating?” You say taking in the room.

Zuko stiffens beside you as he also examines the room.

“I really, really wish I could say yes.” He says.

There’s a notable difference between your room and the others’ rooms. Where they had two beds, you only have one large bed.

It takes a moment for either one of you to say something. Your horror is reflected on Zuko’s face as you turn to look at each other.

“Sokka!” You yell, going over to pound on his door.

“Sokka open up right now or Zuko is going to fry your ass!” You yell.

“I’ll do it, Sokka.” Zuko threatens. It sounds more dangerous coming out of his mouth than yours.

A bleary-eyed Sokka pushes open the door.

“What are you guys-“ but before he can finish his sentence, you and Zuko are hauling him to your room to show him the offending bed.

“Oh.” He says when he sees the bed. “They didn’t tell me that.”

“You and Aang have to switch us!” You beg. “We can’t do it Sokka. You’re asking way too much.”

“Yeah what kind of vacation is this?” Zuko demands. “Just let us switch rooms, we’ll get over sharing if we have our own beds.”

“Yeah! You won’t hear a peep out of us the rest of the week.” You add on.

Sokka shakes his head.

“Nuh uh. No way. You’re just going to have to deal with it. Share it, sleep on the floor, I don’t really care. I don’t want to hear from either of you for the rest of the day.” He says. He turns to leave and then stops.

“How about we make a deal?” Sokka says turning completely back around.

“Anything!” You beg.

“Sokka please man.” Zuko says.

A huge grin splits Sokka’s face nearly in two. You don’t like the expression on his face one bit.

“Aang and I will switch you rooms, if you can go the first three days without fighting.” You open your mouth to protest, before Sokka shushes you. “Not one fight. You’re going to spend three days together. You are going to work out your issues, and then, if you manage to do that, Aang and I will switch for the remainder of our vacation. Can you do that?”

You make eye contact with Zuko, and try to read his expression. Sokka is asking for a lot. Three whole days of dealing with Zuko just to have four days of your own bed. Zuko’s eyes narrow at the challenge, and you find yourself mirroring him,

“Deal.”

A/N: Welcome to my new series;) I hope you all enjoy it. I think I got everyone who asked on my taglist, but if I missed you please let me know!

Taglist: @galacticamidala @a-random-queer-kid @taeeemin @realimbo @samsmultifandomblogs @fire1ordzuzu @shortmexicangirl @wingeddemonclub @mangoberry34 @marvel-ing-at-it-all

#slythergirlimagines #zuko x y/n #zuko x reader #prince zuko x reader #prince zuko x you #zuko x you #aang #zuko #katara #toph #sokka #enemies to lovers #bed sharing #atla #avatar the last airbender #atla fanfic

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retvenkos · 4 years ago

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beneath the snow filled sky | z.

ATLA - Modern! AU, Zuko x Reader, fluff

tw: none.

word count: 1.4k

prompt: We’re going out in the cold for a walk, and I know you don’t want to get wet, but I’m trying to convince you to make a snow angel with me.

Snow fell peacefully above, spiraling down from the night sky as though each flake was a dancer in a beautiful balet, flitting this way and that, whichever way the music took them. (Y/n) watched the snow from their place beside the front door, their mind vaguely aware of the music playing within Toph’s house, but their entire being focused on the icy beauty of winter.

There was no breeze, and the weather was slowly turning more mild with the hopeful onset of spring; it was a perfect night to sit outside, in nothing more than a sweater and appreciate the wonder that such cold brought.

They hadn’t been out for long when there was movement at the door, and Zuko stepped out. “Hey,” he said softly, rubbing his hands against his arms.

“Hey,” (Y/n) echoed, smiling at him gently before turning back to the night sky, clouded and dark, but with the most beautiful, pristine snow gracing them from above, falling delicately before kissing the ground. For a moment the two stood in silence, (Y/n) noticing the patterns in which the snow fell, and Zuko memorizing the look of wonder in their eyes and the steady manner in which they existed.

They both thought, for a moment that was beyond time itself, that if the world were to stop turning, they could happily spend eternity right here, in the mild cold.

“So,” (Y/n) broke the stillness with an ease unlike any other, “did the others ask you to come get me? Because no offense to them, but I’d rather not suffer through another game of Monopoly.”

“Oh—” Zuko cleared his throat, pulling himself out of his daze “—No, not yet, anyway. Sokka wants to play Uno, but Katara wants to watch a movie, so...”

“...They’re not going to figure it out for another twenty minutes or so.”

Zuko chuckled in a way that was mostly breath, something like a cheerful sigh that brought a contentedness into his eyes and a casual grin to his lips. (Y/n) stuck their hands in their pockets, only now starting to feel a chill.

“Do you want to go on a walk with me?”

“It’s one in the morning.”

“Yeah, but would you rather listen to their complaining?”

“You’re not cold?”

“Not if we get moving.”

Zuko looked out at the frozen world that surrounded him: the snow, the icicles, the slick patches of ice where even the best of shoes lost their traction, and the frigid air. How any of it could be the least bit enjoyable was beyond him, and yet, (Y/n) could never get enough of the winter months, and whenever they spoke of its beauty, there was an earnestness in their voice that made him believe in their sentiment. Part of Zuko wanted to just go inside, sit by the fire, and watch the room devolve into chaotic arguing. Toph and (Y/n) would sit on either side of him, and they’d make sarcastic remarks until Katara dragged Toph into the fighting and things would escalate until he or Aang eventually intervened.

But a nagging part of Zuko (smaller, but incessant nonetheless) told him to look at (Y/n) in the eye, knowing that once he did, he wouldn’t be able to say no. It was odd, knowing that part of him no longer existed for himself, and the fear of that knowledge was enough to convince him to go back inside, but then (Y/n) shifted beside him, asking him what he thought, and he looked.

And there they were, smiling in a way that would have been self righteously smug, had it not been for the hopeful question that swimmed in their gaze.

“Let’s go.”

(Y/n) smiled and the expression didn’t melt away but rather lingered as they set off down the snowy sidewalks, going nowhere in particular. Zuko rubbed his icy fingers together, wishing he hadn’t left his gloves in the pocket of his coat, back at Toph’s, and when (Y/n) noticed his fussing at a street corner, they stopped.

“Come here.” They offered their hands to him, and Zuko hesitated for a moment before putting his hands in their open palms. The rubbed their hands over his, and the warmth they generated was enough to send his cheeks ablaze. “You’re fingers are freezing! We really should have gotten coats or something before setting off - at least we both have sweaters, though.”

And Zuko couldn’t get anything out other than a strained “Yeah,” that made (Y/n) chuckle.

“C’mon, we’ll finish the loop around the block and then we can head back inside.”

(Y/n) continued to walk, but their hands never let go of his. Zuko found himself acutely aware of the feeling of their hand in his, warm and alive - squeezing his with care and something akin to... well, like the raging fire he felt in the pit of his stomach, but kinder, softer.

“What do you like about winter?” Zuko surprised even himself, and (Y/n) turned to him with an expression more warm than the last.

“Everything, I guess.” They turned their head to the heavens and a snowflake fell on their cheek. “Sure, the snow is beautiful and all, but it’s more than that, too. Winter it... it brings people together. I mean, when was the last time we all got together and played Monopoly?”

They had a point, there, but whether playing a three hour long game of Monopoly was for the better was debatable.

“The days just seem longer in the winter, and you find time for everyone you’ve been missing. Sure, it’s cold and most everyone is miserable” —(Y/n) eyed Zuko pointedly and he faltered— “but then you comes together to celebrate what little you have.”

They were back at Toph’s, now, and they faced the front door with a sense of reservation, as though neither wanted to break the moment, just yet. Zuko looked at (Y/n) from the corner of his eye, and they locked gazes. “You always have us.”

(Y/n)’s eyebrows shot up, their eyes lighting with something bright and pleasant, and eventually they settled. They squeezed Zuko’s hand. “That I do.”

Shouting erupted from the house in front of them, strong enough to rattle the windows, and Zuko and (Y/n) sprung apart. They both hesitated for a moment before laughing, the sound warm and from the belly.

“Do you think they’ll kill each other in there?”

(Y/n) rolled their eyes. “I’m sure they can sort it out themselves. Besides, have you ever made a snow angel before?” Zuko found himself caught between an exasperated laugh and some sort of stammered response, and (Y/n) snorted. “If you haven’t, then I demand to teach you.”

“I’ve made one before!”

“Then you won’t mind proving it?”

“(Y/n), I’ve made a snow angel before!”

“Then come make on again! I promise not to tell Sokka, if it’s that damaging to your pride.” (Y/n) sat down on the snow, a challenging smile in their eye. Zuko opened his mouth to speak, but (Y/n) cut him off. “And don’t say anything about getting wet, because we’re five steps from the house. We’ll be beside the fire before you even get cold.” (Y/n) laid back, spreading their arms out and fixing Zuko with a pointed look.

“I’ve made a snow angel before,” Zuko grumbled, laying down beside (Y/n) and eliciting laughter from them.

“You’re cute when you’re angry - y’know that?”

And Zuko was glad that they were both moving their arms enough to hide the way his face heated up at their comment.

(Y/n)’s arms slowed to a stop, they were quiet as they stared up at the night sky above, once again lost in the beauty of it all. Zuko brought his arms to a stop near theirs, so that their fingers were just barely brushing, and he looked at them with a fondness that made him look peaceful - happy, even.

“You really love the snow that much?” and it was barely a whisper, but (Y/n) heard anyway.

They turned to him, and fixed him with a smile that was more bashful than before, something that made Zuko’s heart beat faster in his chest, perhaps from the intimacy of it all. It was just them beneath the snow filled sky, after all, blanketed in the dark of night. “I love the company more than anything else.”

And Zuko felt his heart constrict in such a way that all he could get out was a strained “Yeah?” but it made (Y/n) chuckle as they caught his fingers in their own.

“Yeah.”

-- taglist: @coffee--writes // message me if you want to be added to the taglist!

#atla #avatar: the last airbender #zuko #zuko x reader #zuko x you #zuko imagine #zuko one shot #zuko fanfic #imagine #one shot #fanfic #fluff #holiday prompts #reader insert #gender neutral reader

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marvel-ousnesss · 5 years ago

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The one with all the theatrics (Zuko x reader)

Summary: Following your escape from the air temple, you and the rest of the gaang made it to Ember Island. This gave you and Zuko the chance to make up for lost times. More specifically, camping, training, and a night at the theater.

A/N: This was meant to be a shorter follow-up for this fic, but can be read on its own. As always, enjoy 💜💜💜

Word count: 3k (???)

masterlist

The group eyed you with curiosity as you sat down in front of the pot full of rice and water. Zuko and Aang settled by your sides and the others sat around, closing a circle. Zuko lit a small fire on his hand, and you stretched out a hand to transfer the hit to the pot, closing your eyes and enriching your breath. In a matter of seconds, the water had boiled and the simple meal had begun to cook.

You gushed about the nice weather for a bit, and told them about the few times that you and your father had gone camping as you grew up. You were about to tell them about the time you learned how to climbed, but were interrupted by Toph’s stomach roaring.

As if on cue, you took a deep breath and sniffed the main course, takin no time on announcing was ready.

Aang helped you fill the plates and Zuko took care of the tea department. When everyone was served, you began eating what was left on the pot.

“You know, I’m glad you guys are here,” Sokka spoke as he stuffed his mouth with rice. “Food had never cooked so fast.”

“Well, glad you found our talents useful,” you laughed, still with one of your hands under the clay dish.

“And Zuko”, he continued, “who would’ve thought you’d save us from Azula after continuously trying to snuff us out.”

You softly shoved him with your shoulder, noticing a light blush gracing his cheeks.

“I can't believe I'm saying this but, today, you're our hero! To Zuko!”

You put the pot down and grabbed your tea, happily toasting with the others.

“I’m touched,” he hummed, “I don’t deserve this.”

“No kidding.”

Zuko’s gaze fell immediately. He didn’t want to confront Katara, but you weren’t about to let her treat him like that any longer.

Afraid of making it shatter, you placed the cup in front of your crossed legs and boasted, “I’m sorry, last time I checked, none of us would be here right now if it wasn’t for him.”

“Yeah, who would’ve thought he could do more than just destroying people’s lives.” Katara stormed off before you could say anything else.

Defeated, your eyes followed Zuko as he went after her.

Knowing he was gonna need some space, you went to sleep right after dinner. A few hours passed and he still hadn’t entered the tent, so you headed out and ignited a small flame that began dancing on your right palm.

You closed your hand when you didn’t see him around camp, putting your fire out. When you were about to get in the tent once again, ready for another attempt of calling it a night, he dragged himself out of Sokka’s tent, awkwardly bumping into Suki.

You snickered at the awkwardness before approaching your friend.

“Wanna talk about it?” you offered. He just walked past you and into the tent.

You could only picture how difficult this whole redemption thing was being for him, so you didn’t push him. Instead, you followed him inside and laid down next to him, honey eyes meeting your own. “She’ll come around,” you whispered.

“It’s not just her, Y/N.” He sat up, letting the blanket fall off his upper body. His raven curls covered his face, and his shoulders fell lifeless and burdened.

You mimicked his posture, and leaned in to grab one of his hands with between yours. “You can talk to me. You know that, right?”

“I do,” he offered a smile, but it didn’t reach past the corners of his mouth. When you squeezed his hand, he exhaled and dropped his head further, ashamed.

“It doesn’t have to be now, if you don’t feel like it.”

As he remained silent, you gathered he was processing whatever had his head spinning. When he lifted his head, you could see the grief and remorse that radiated off him. He took a deep breath before he voiced his thoughts.

“Everything I believed in, how proud I was of being my father’s son. It- it was all wrong.”

You trailed off, “Zuko…”

“I believed all the lies that they implanted on my head. The war, the killings, the burnt villages. I can’t believe it but-”. He sighed. “-Katara’s right. The only good thing I’ve ever done is joining the Avatar and after tonight I know that even that won’t give me my honor back.”

You meditated over what to say, scanning the your surroundings while trying to chose your words. “She needs time to heal, and closure. You know, better than anyone, that honor can always be restored, but it has to be earned back. Maybe if you help Katara get the closure she needs-”

“The southern raiders,” he recalled.

“What about them?”

“Their commanding officer killed Katara’s mother. If she confronts her mother’s killer, she’ll get closure!”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, violence won’t help this time, Zuko. If she does anything, she’ll blame you for it when she regrets it.”

He thought about it for a moment, but shook his head. “It’s the only way I can think of earning her forgiveness. I have to take her to them.”

Zuko’s lips were purses and his brow was frown with conviction. There was no way of talking him out of this.

“Guess it’s settled then.”

They left the following night, so the rest of you decided to take that time to move into the fire lord's beach house on Ember Island. As you wandered through the halls, flashbacks of toddlers running around bragging about little fires and sandcastles flooded your mind and you smiled, wishing for better times to be back.

The first night at the house, you went to bed early, eager to get rid of the memories. Although you woke up early the following day, and took a look at the gardens, the kitchen, the library and the guest room that you used to call your own. When you had walked around the grounds for a bit, you decided to join the others, who —you assumed— were hanging by the porch.

The day had practically come to an end, as the sky was a tone of orange and the sun was laying on the sea. You crossed paths with Katara when you headed to the dock, offering a soft smile. You had seen her interaction with Zuko and Aang from afar, and couldn’t be prouder of both of them for coming to terms.

Aang followed her shortly after, leaving you and Zuko alone on the dock.

“I’m assuming it went well.” You stepped forward and sat at the edge, silently inviting him to do the same.

“She almost killed him, then did nothing.”

You shrugged, turning to face him. “For better, I guess. What’s important is that she got what she needed and that you were the one to help her.”

After a moment of contemplative silence, a smirk made its way to the prince’s face and you quirked a brow in question.

“Aren’t you gonna say it?”

“Say what?” You knew what he meant, but were eager to hear him say it.

With a huff and an eye roll, he granted your wish. “That you were right all along. “Violence was never the answer, Zuko; you have to forgive, Zuko; focus on your chi, Zuko; bla bla bla...”

"Why would I say it if you already know I'm right."

"We both know you wanna get it out, this is your moment. I'm all ears."

"Fine, then-." You cleared your throat. "-As always, Prince Zuko, I was right and you were wrong," you gloated teasingly. "And, not that it’s nice to hear you mock my wisdom,” you taunted, shoving his side, “but I'm really happy for you.”

————

Your eyes were glued to the Avatar as he mimicked your every movement. You had lost count of the times either you or Zuko had performed the basic bending sequence with Aang. In general, his steps were calculated as he crossed the beach house patio, and his technique was not bad. But his movement lacked precision; not to mention, the flames he shot were a vivid, airy shade of red.

After shooting a stream of fire with a straight kick, you bowed at each other and you grabbed your water bottle.

“Again.” you instructed, wiping your forehead with your arm. “Your form is sloppy and your fire needs more fuel.”

The three of you had woken up at dawn, ready continue with Aang’s firebending training.

Instead of repeating the sequence once more, he flopped on the fountain and took a huge gulp of water. “Can we just take a break? Like a really, really short one,” he pleaded.

Zuko, who had been practicing some forms based on the Dancing Dragon, took a sit beside him and wiped his brow with his discarded shirt. “I think Aang’s right, he can run it again in a few minutes.”

You quirked a brow.

Zuko had always kept up with you in training; maybe you had gotten carried away. Another glance at him confirmed how drained the three of you really were. Letting out a breath, you agreed. “I suppose we can slow down a bit.”

After you coached Aang through the sequence a few more times, Zuko and him ran a more advanced set and he flew off to take a bath, leaving the two of you. You got up from the stairs and walked up to Zuko, sporting a wide grin that, he knew, could only mean one thing.

“You know,” you tried to play it cool, needless to say failing miserably. “We haven’t sparred in ages.”

He grimaced at you, incredulous. “Y/N, we’ve been training for hours.”

“Oh come on, don’t be such a snail-sloth, flames for brains,” you taunted.

When the nickname left your mouth, his features contoured into a glare of annoyance which later morphed into a grin to match yours. He took a stance and lit his fists, challenging.

You laughed and got into position.

You glided around each other, studying every detail and making sure you could still read one another with only a glance. You mirrored the strike of a jab but lashed a whip with a spinning kick instead. You relaxed a bit, thinking he had been shocked by your attack, but Zuko effortlessly redirected your flames with a flowing movement.

He smirked, not once averting his eyes from you.

“Show off,” you scoffed. Your eyes widening when he dropped a fire lash that missed you by inches.

He chuckled at your expression and kept advancing on you, as you blocked his attacks with a shield. Zuko wouldn’t cave, so you augmented your flames into an arch, using a sweeping arm movement to try and knock him down.

His right leg hesitated so that’s where you blew next, but instead of dodging, like you expected him to, he disintegrated your flame with a roundhouse kick and equipped himself with a fire dagger. You advanced toward him, gaining space, and summoned two daggers yourself.

A few strikes were exchanged, but your simulated Agni Kai quickly morphed into a good old hand in hand encounter. You had to think fast, he had always been a better up close fighter.

With repetitive jabs, you made Zuko’s stance quiver and launched a kick to his ribs as a final blow. He fell on his back but got up with a quick motion, and advanced on you with powerful stomping.

Balancing your options, you walked backwards on an impulsive attempt to get out of his range, unaware of the fountain behind you. Before you could react, a stair took your balance away, making you fall into the water with a loud splash.

Moving a few rebel strands out of your face, you looked up to find a hand stretched your way. “Now I see what you meant. You’re sparring like a kagura dancer.”

You took Zuko’s hand and pulled yourself up, muttering in response.

“What the hell happened to you?” Sokka’s snarky voice made you both turn around to face him and Suki, who were standing by the patio’s gate with a scroll in their hands.

“Flames for brains happened.”

“She fell into the fountain.” You playfully hit Zuko for his response, but he brushed you off with a scoff.

“Anyway…” Sokka’s gaze drifted between the two of you. “We were, you know, out and about, walking around town and guess what we found.”

With a grin matching his, Suki lifted a scroll with familiar faces inked on it. “There’s a play about us.”

You exchanged a sneer with Zuko, but neither of you spoke up. Just then, the other three members of your group strolled into the patio with glasses of coconut water.

“Just in time!,” beamed Sokka, proceeding to read the poster out loud.

Katara immediately expressed her reluctance, to which you responded with a relieved breath. But your joy was short lived as the others coarsed the three of you into agreeing.

“Come on, theater? That’s the kind of saggy nonsense we’ve been missing,” pleaded Sokka.

"But… the Ember island players?" Zuko's voice was a pitch higher as he complained.

“I mean, how bad could it be?” you inquired.

The answer to your question was quick to come. So far, as Zuko had well said it during the first pause, the interventions had been the best part of your night at the theater. Aang had gotten up and left, upset about his portrayal; Katara was trying to convince herself of how inaccurate it truly was; and Sokka, he was just bitter about the way they had limited his sense of humor. As for the rest, you couldn’t help but enjoy the parodic representation of your friends.

Sans Aang, you were gathered by the entrance of the theater, looking up at Suki as you and Zuko sat on the floor.

“It’s like you barely make it alive after all big battles,” she noted.

“Yeah, no offense but you guys lose a lot.” You rested your head on your friend’s shoulder. It was something you did often, but he stiffened for a second.

“Like you two can talk,” huffed Sokka. “It's not like you got captured by Azula or anything. Oh wait, yeah... you did.”

“Asshole”, you snarled, but Sokka showed no remorse. Zuko’s body shook lightly with his chuckle.

“I’m just saying.”

Silence surfaced and, shortly after, Katara left to find Aang while the Fan and Sword Duo embarked themselves on a mission backstage.

“Geez, everyone’s so upset about their characters, even you seem more down than usual,” Toph decreed.

You snorted at her bluntness. “Easy for you to say, 6 feet-tall, ass kicking wrestler.”

“You’re right,” she sighed, “my character is pretty great. Still, it’s just a play.”

Zuko’s gaze fell on his lap. “For me, it’s a parade of all the mistakes I’ve made being shoved in my face. My uncle has always been there for me. He taught me everything I know and and, what do I do? Stab him in the back.”

Your arm looped around his, rubbing his bicep comfortingly. “We’ve all done things we’re ashamed of.”

“But I may never get to redeem myself. Uncle will never forgive me.”

“Zuko, I’m sure he will.”

“Yeah, Sparky, don’t you see it?” Toph sat down next to Zuko.

“What do you mean?” His brows frowned.

“I once talked to the guy. Like, really talked-.” You eyed her with curiosity as she disclosed, “all he did was gush about was you. He loves you.”

“That’s sweet.”

“Neh, more like sappy and annoying.”

You shot the girl an amused side glance. “Aren’t you a ray of sunshine.”

She just beamed proudly at your words. “Anyway, he said he only wanted you to make your own path. To find your destiny. That’s what you did and look where it has brought you… to us!” She punched Zuko, then got up. “That’s already way better than where you were before.”

“Thanks.” He looked up at her with fondness.

“Now, Sokka said something about fire gummies so, if you’re done sulking, I’m gonna go see what that’s about.”

Zuko had lightened up. He was now sporting a relaxed smile and his head rested atop yours. His breathing was serene as he took in Toph’s words. You hesitated, afraid to disturb his demeanor, but, after a moment of thought, let your hand fall toward his. You were gonna loop your fingers together but he beat you to it.

Your breath hitched as you mentally scolded yourself for looking up at him. You tried to say something but no words came out. His golden eyes bored into yours before briefly gracing your lips. Shyly, you leaned up, wanting to get closer. His nose brushed your own before he leaned even further forward, softly pressing his lips against the corner of your mouth.

As the other members of the audience began evacuating the halls and returning inside , Zuko moved to stand up and pulled you with him.

“Come on," he prompted, “I think it’s about to begin.”

Requests open!

tags: @writers-thoughts09 / @eridanuswave

#prince zuko #Zuko #zuko imagines #zuko x reader #zuko imagine #atla #atla imagines #Avatar The Last Airbender #avatar imagine #prince zuko x reader #zuko drabble #zuko drabbles #zuko blurb #zuko blurbs #prince zuko imagine

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the-badger-mole · 5 years ago

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Traditional Part 4

CW: Contains description of hunting

The wind shifted after sunrise bringing with it a cold blast in from the arctic ocean. The biting chill made progress slow and arduous. Zuko was able to keep warm enough to function, but he was clearly the most miserable of the four men. Fortunately, the cold was enough to make conversation a near impossibility, so Zuko only had to endure smug looks from Sokka instead of actual taunting.

“Not much farther now!” Bato called over the wind. “These tracks are fresher!” Zuko peered down at the tracks and noted that they did seem deeper and clearer than the tracks they’d seen the day before. He was glad. The sooner they found their prey, the sooner they’d be able to go back to the village. The sooner they’d be back to the relative warmth and shelter of Hakoda’s home. The sooner Zuko and Katara would be able to make their engagement official. The thought of Katara and of a warm bed preceded by a warm meal was more than enough to motivate Zuko to keep moving forward.

“This is it,” Sokka whispered at Zuko. “First one to spot the prey and get first blood wins!” The young Tribesman sounded excited, but Zuko found he couldn’t care less who won their bet. His prize for returning home with a fresh catch would be Katara’s hand, no matter whose spear pierced it first. Still...Zuko thought his new brother could stand a lesson in humility, so he kept his eyes peeled.

By midday, the tracks they had been following were joined by others. The sea moose they were following was likely a lone male looking to mate with some of the females of the nearby pod, Bato explained to Zuko. A few miles later, they heard the guttural barks of the large animals. Sokka shot Zuko a triumphant smirk before he started to charge up the icy hill.

“Hey!” Zuko protested. He didn’t have time to do much else. Sokka had taken three steps before his foot slipped on a patch of ice, sending him skidding back downhill. Zuko let out a laugh before scrambling to the top of the hill. Hakoda and Bato made their way sedately up the hill behind him ,and Sokka, having righted himself crested last. Below them was an expanse of frozen beach dotted with dozens of sea moose. Zuko had never seen one up close, and the four men were still tens of yards away, but even at that distance, Zuko could see that they were all massive. His eyes fell on what seemed to be a brood of baby sea moose, and he guessed that the smallest among them would have been about the size of a well-fed twelve year old child.

“Well, the jobs half-done,” Bato said, clapping Zuko and Sokka on their shoulders. “So, which one’s coming home with us?” Zuko and Sokka scanned the beach, and nearly simultaneously pointed out two different sea moose and cried,

“That one!”

“Are you kidding?” Sokka laughed. “That one is so small, it’d never feed the whole village! Clearly we have to pick the big one.”

“And how do we get it back?” Zuko demanded. “That thing is almost as big as Appa! And its tusks are as big as we are!”

“Fellas!” Hakoda’s voice boomed out over what was developing into a bickering match. “Neither of those will work. The little is too small to bring home. And that big one is the bull moose, and it’s mating season. We want to leave him alone.”

“Right,” Zuko nodded. “That makes sense. You want to make sure that there will be lots of moose born later.”

“That and you don’t want to mess with a bull that size in heat,” Sokka snorted. He sighed and held his hands up in surrender. “Alright. Alright. I got a bit ahead of myself with that one.” Zuko huffed and scanned the beach again. He had been enjoying this trip, but he really wanted to go home. His gaze landed on a large sea moose near the edge of the colony. It was lumbering eagerly around the outskirts, nosing at cows randomly, and getting barked and snapped at for it’s troubles. Zuko guessed it was an interloper. It was about half the size of the large bull, but much larger than the moose that Zuko picked first. He raised a gloved hand and pointed it out to the others.

“How about that one?” he asked. The others looked in the moose’s direction and considered it a moment. They exchanged grins and turned back to Zuko.

“Good choice!” Hakoda complimented him. “He’s trying to take over the harem, so either way, he was probably going to die today. Bulls don’t take too kindly to intruders.

“I’d have picked him next,” Sokka assured the group. “But since this is for your engagement dinner, I’m glad you spotted him first.”

“That point goes to Zuko,” Bato announced, grinning at the younger man. “That puts you ahead by two.”

“That basically means I win, right?” Zuko asked, smirking at Sokka.

“Hey, I could still win!” he insisted. “I could!”

“We still have to catch and kill it,” Hakoda reminded them. “Let’s focus.”

Hunting the sea moose was made easier by the fact that their prey had caught the notice of the giant bull moose. He hauled his bulky frame with surprising agility and speed at the intruder sending the smaller bull fleeing away from the harem and closer to the waiting hunters.

“We’ll flush him,” Hakoda told Zuko and Sokka. “You two make the kill.” With that, they split into two teams. Hakoda and Bato circled around behind the moose as it pulled itself along the ice and hid among the snow banks. It was heading in the general direction of the sea, but it was taking the long way around the outside of the colony. When it was far enough separated from the rest of the moose, Hakoda and Bato leapt out of hiding, weapons drawn and bellowing warrior cried, and rushed in on the moose. With a startled yelp, the moose scrambled away from the men, falling right into the snare Sokka and Zuko had set.

It had been caught off guard, but unfortunately, the beast had enough momentum to duck Zuko’s spear. He had just barely missed having his foot impaled on the sea moose’s tusk. The beast reared up to attack again, but Zuko rolled away.

“Keep it busy!” he heard Sokka shout. Zuko huffed in annoyance as he scrambled to his feet. Had he really been demoted to live bait? He reached out to grab his spear, but his hand only grasped an icy mix of snow and gravel. Where had his weapon gone?

The sea moose let a loud, angry bark, and Zuko spotted his spear. It was on the ground in front of the sea moose, between it’s flippers and guarded by a pair of ivory tusks as long as Zuko’s arms and nearly twice as thick. Perfect.

From far away, Zuko could tell that the sea moose was big. But up close, it was massive! He was easily 15 feet long and bulging fat that concealed, Zuko knew, solid muscle beneath. Zuko was suddenly grateful they hadn’t tried for the head bull of the colony. This one was enough of a challenge. It lowered it’s head menacingly, and Zuko prepared to dive away again.

“You’re doing great buddy!” Sokka shouted. It didn’t distract the sea moose at all.

“I dropped my spear!” Zuko said.

“Great!” Sokka crowed. “That means first spear is mine!” With a grunt Sokka hurled his spear at the sea moose, and for a moment Zuko thought he would miss, but the sea moose lifted it’s head to attack Zuko and spear sunk into it jugular cleanly. Sokka pumped his fist in victory, and then stepped away from the thrashing animal. Hakoda and Bato came in from behind the sea moose and stabbed the sea moose as close to it’s heart and lungs as they could get.

“Zuko!” Hakoda tossed a cudgel to him, and Zuko managed to catch it with minimal fumbling. “Hit it as hard as you can over the head.”

Zuko nodded once and turned his attention to the sea moose thrashing on the ground. It’s movements were erratic, but slowing as it bled out. Zuko considered the sea moose’s skull for a moment. It was thick bone, made to withstand fights with other heavy, tusked sea moose, but Zuko aimed carefully, and brought the cudgel down hard on it’s temple. The blow reverberated through Zuko’s shoulder and back painfully, but the bone crumbled under the cudgel and the sea moose went still.

For a moment, it seemed as if the entire world had gone silent, and the only sound to be heard was the heavy breathing of the four men as they stood over their kill. There was a slowly expanding puddle of blood. The still warm liquid steamed in the frigid air, and the coppery, briny smell of it hung over the hunting party. Bato broke the silence first, murmuring a prayer of thanks for a successful hunt. Then, with that ritual complete, the wind stirred again, and the distant barks and grunts of the rest of the sea moose colony brought them back to the present.

“Alright!” Sokka cheered. “First spear! That’s gotta be worth at least ten points!”

“You get one point for each task,” Bato said. “But it was a close one. The groom to be won, though. Congratulations, Fire Lord Zuko.” Bato reached out and clasped Zuko’s arm with a wide and warm smile. “Welcome to the family.”

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

#CW hunting #CW gore #zutara #traditional #atla #atla fanfic

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talks-refined · 5 years ago

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Why azula, in my opinion, shouldn’t have had a redemption arc

i know it’s a complicated subject in this fandom but i wanted to give my two cents on it! i promise this isn’t me just going “booh evil”

okay so here’s the thing. the reason this is so complicated to answer is because it needs to ask pretty existential and complex questions like, can everyone be redeemed? how is evil made? how much of you is really only your upbringing? is it possible to be inherently bad? what do we fundamentally deserve? can you separate yourself completely from what you’ve been since birth and if so, what’s left?

now if you walked up to me and asked those questions, my answer would probably be something along the lines of “i don’t know, i just got here”. so that’s not what i’m gonna try to answer here

notice how i said “shouldn’t have had” and not “deserved”. i can’t tell you what azula “deserved”— probably a nicer childhood and therapy— but i can also say azula didn’t “deserve” anything. she’s a character, she’s words on paper, animation and voiced acting. there isn’t a real azula, an actual 14 years old child soldier out there awaiting to turn good. characters are story arcs, development, goals... what makes their value isn’t morals but what they bring to the story. and azula brings so much that, in my opinion, being ultimately redeemed would cheapen

first off: zuko. i’ve seen people say azula shouldn’t get a redemption arc because then her story would just be the same as zuko. it’s... not true, obviously, they’re different characters for a reason, but there is a part of truth i wanna point out here:

zuko and azula’s stories are diametrical opposites. two siblings, a boy and a girl, a firebending prodigy and one who’s average at the very best, one favored by his mother, the other favored by her father, one impulsive and one calculating. At the beginning of the story, one angry and unstable, the other calm and confident, one banished, desperate and without honor, and the other a princess and leader, acclaimed by all, who radiates regal energy.

“(ozai) said she was born lucky. he said i was lucky to be born. i don’t need luck, though. i don’t want it. i’ve always had to struggle and fight and that’s made me strong. that’s made me who i am.”

( zuko, to aang, season 1 finale )

that first sentence was the hook that told the viewers azula would come in the picture in season 2 and it tells you exactly the opposite dynamics their characters would develop on. azula is perfect, zuko is a failure is the message we’re supposed to get, at least that’s how they view each other and themselves, because that’s what their father taught them. but here’s the thing: luck is by definition elusive, and perfection is by definition unattainable. azula spends her life building herself around the vision that failure is inexcusable. because she’s at such a high place, because she’s so perfect, she can never fail, because she can’t and because she’s not allowed to. that mentality is bound to doom her, it’s inevitable. it’s a direct opposition to zuko, who builds himself in the fact that he’s failed so many times, that he made so many mistakes, that each taught him lessons. when zuko fails once, he knows he can get up because he was miserable for so long that it taught him he can survive anything. when azula fails once, she crumbles. azula is a cautionary tale of perfectionism, and cautionary tales can’t have happy endings. zuko’s approach of life has to reach a happy ending, because he’ll always look for one, it has to reach a redemption arc because he’s not scared of the mistakes he’s made in the past and he is always trying to better himself (the redemption comes when he realises he was trying to meet the wrong standards). azula’s approach of life guarantees a downfall because she’s convinced that failure is the end.

both their stories mirror each other, backwards. when we meet zuko, he’s failing, always, and when we leave him, he finally won. when we meet azula she’s winning, always, and when we leave her, she finally (by which i mean that it’s inevitable, not that it’s good) fails.

and there’s another reason (let’s pretend this is structured, okay?), that’s a little more complicated, and it has to do with ozai.

you know how ozai is barely present in the series? i’ve seen some people argue that azula is a better villain because she’s scarier or because we see her more. here’s the thing:

when you’re trying to portray something that’s really, really awful, it’s easier not show it. when you show something, in it’s entirety (in that context that would mean making ozai a deep, 3 dimensional character that we see develop) it’s... small. to define is to limit (- oscar wilde). when you only show small things tho, details, in movies it can be shadows, think the beginning of stranger things when you don’t see monsters, but can feel a threat, that’s when it can get scary as shit. because whatever limited, physical (or character-ial? is that a word) form you chose for the villain isn’t there in people’s minds, it’s only their own imagination trying to comprehend what you made them feel. and what people imagine based on only fear, or anger, is easily scarier than any five headed monster you can put onscreen.

that’s what ozai is: a looming threat. hell, i’m not even sure we see his face until season 3. he only has a handful of scenes. but i hate him. i hate him so much i could scream into a pillow and he’s so vicious it sends shivers down my spine. you know why? because of what he did to zuko and azula.

when you wanna keep your main villain mysterious, it’s good to give the audience characters that he’s interacted with. characters that he’s close to enough to have had an effect on them, so they can perceive a part of him. and boy did he have an effect on his children

( to be fair here: that idea and most of what i’m saying about it came from Overly Sarcastic Productions video on minions as a trope. it’s really good i love their whole channel, red is amazing)

season 1: meet zuko. he’s a sixteen years old. he’s a bad guy, but written so that you sympathise with him to a certain extent. then comes the Tragic Backstory Episode and you learn that he was challenged to a duel as a thirteen years old by his father after he spoke without permission in a meeting, begged for mercy, got half of his face burned off at the hands of his father, and was banished from his home to search for the avatar, who was dead as far as anyone knew.

now you’ve seen very little of ozai after this episode, but you’re ready to fight that guy, right? i know i am.

it gains a level of depth with azula. after being introduced to a character who is starving for his father’s love and approval, we’re introduced to a new character, who seemingly has all of that. azula is zuko’s ever winning rival. she has everything he wants, her honor, her title, her father’s favors.

(i think it’s worth noting that making your children compete for your love is already a red flag for noticing pieces of shit)

but it’s not enough. azula has everything, she is everything ozai values (cunning, strong, ruthless) and even then it’s not enough to please him. nothing will ever be good enough. and you see two children fighting, breaking themselves to please a father that is seemingly incapable of love, but keeps baiting them, giving them impossible standards to reach so they’ll always keep trying to please him.

okay, now you hate him, right?

but here’s the thing: because azula was a firebending prodigy, she got a taste of her father’s approval. he saw himself in her, where he saw too much of iroh and ursa in zuko. he was proud of her.

he was never proud of zuko. too soft, not strong, or fearless enough. because of that, zuko was never close to his dad. all he got was disdain. because of that, he forms bonds with other people (with his mother and uncle, at first) that expose him to another vision of life. and in exile, after chasing relentlessly, part of him is pushed to the realisation that he can live without his father’s approval. because he had to.

azula on the other hand, quickly becomes all ozai’s. from flashbacks you can clearly tell each of them gravitates around one parent, zuko around ursa and azula around ozai. even in her other relationships (zuko, tylee, mai...) she behaves according to what her father taught her, how to manipulate and hurt others

and ursa has flaws, god i’m not saying she doesn’t. that deserves a post in itself. but she values things like kindness, softness and love. ozai values strength, power and cunning. childhood is a formative stage: you often build yourself on the way you were raised. zuko had those conflicting values, because ursa, and ozai more indirectly, both taught him. but ozai isolated azula from other (adult) presences. this is more speculation but i really think it’s true, for what it’s worth. we rarely ever see ursa and azula interact, and when we do ursa is i think always? reprimanding azula for something that ozai taught her. it doesn’t seem like they spend enough time together for her to teach her daughter a better way.

that’s the thing. ozai’s “love”, or at least approval, was azula’s curse. zuko thinks it’s something he has to aim for, and later realizes it’s only ever going to be conditional and manipulative and stops trying. because he knew another way. but azula always lived with it. it isolated her, prevented her from ever finding a better way. his “love” is what did this to her

so yeah. none of this is saying that azula could never have been good. she was 14, she had a whole life ahead, i’m not some psychology master that can tell you exactly if it’s even possible to unlearn so much manipulation and abuse- i want to believe it is. but this is a story, and to me it’s the more nuanced, more interesting, better story they could’ve written. i think having those two very different and very paralleled stories, for a show that doesn’t shy away from complexity the way atla does, was very important.

while i was writing this, i showed it to a friend, who can speak for toxic households better than i can, and gave me a new perspective and the best conclusion: when in an abusive parental relationship, there’s always a tearing hesitation between ‘breaking free’ and doing what’s best for you, and staying loyal to your parent, someone you’re supposed to love and who’s supposed to love you. zuko is a message of hope ; azula is a warning

#azula #princess azula #atla #Avatar The Last Airbender #azula redemption arc #please be nice

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under-sedationnn · 4 years ago

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zuko: warmth (pt. 1)

Please read! So, I generally don’t write for anything but Doctor Who since it is one of my favorite things in the world and I tend to have an easy time writing for it in comparison to other shows, books, etc. It is also what I tend to get requests for. :) However, to both challenge myself as a writer as well as give myself some leeway in terms of my creativity, I have decided to start a mini-series based around an OC, Yuu, and Zuko from “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” He is seriously one of my favorite characters ever and I am hoping that I can both show that through accurate and original characterization. I hope that I can also show a sense of recognition for people of all gender identities through trying my hardest to make Yuu seem gender neutral. This can be quite difficult at times, but I want each reader to be able to place themselves in the POV of Yuu with confidence and comfort if the desire so strikes them. All that being said, I am unsure as to how long this series will be but am genuinely curious as to whether to or not people want this series to be continued! If you find yourself interested, leave a comment to say that you want another part :) Thanks!

Warning: none for the meantime :) enjoy!!

word count --> 903

In a world where irresponsible and evil people can control the four elements at will, existing as a non-bender can be difficult and scary. As a child, I feared leaving my parents’ home some days, praying to some unknown force that maybe, just maybe, I would wake up changed. Wake up with the ability to control something, anything. The sense of power never came, however, and I was stuck in the Fire Nation capital of Capital City until I fled, sick of feeling as though I were an enemy to the entire world due to the complete lack of control over my own life and finally gaining my independence.

My father worked as a Fire Nation soldier, and since my mother was the adopted, younger sister of the Fire Lord, he allowed us to stay in the castle. Although we were treated well, I was demanded to uphold the honor of the Fire Nation and ultimately, I was miserable. During the height of the war, when Uncle Iroh and his son were also on the front lines, my father was killed in combat by an earth kingdom soldier. Although I could not bend, they thought I could be a valuable asset to the nation based on the ranking of my father. So, before I left, they decided they wanted me trained to fight on their side through hand-to-hand combat.

Little did they know, I had no intent on fighting on their side, ever.

Many years ago, on an early summer morning, I walked into an outside training area my mentor, Suji, had designated strictly for me to use. The way I remember it, it was actually quite breathtaking. In the slightly sticky warmth of the morning, the sun filtered through the tree branches as it shone from the east, casting shadows onto the training mat, the birds still singing their happy songs in the tops of the trees.

“Sit down, Yuu,” he said, quietly, from inside of a small, roofed sitting area to the side of the training mat. I bowed to him, then plopped onto the hardwood of the floor in front of the small table, my child size robes flowing upward. Suji had made us tea, and although a still a child at the time, I loved the feeling of comfort the hot, bitter drink provided as it slid down my throat. He poured me a cup, then himself, and we sat in silence for a moment or two as we enjoyed the warm morning breeze swept in from outside.

I broke the silence. “So, what are we starting with today?” I asked. He looked at me with an expression of admiration.

“Why, Yuu, if I didn’t know better I would say that you’re excited for today,” he responded with a chuckle. I rolled my eyes slightly.

“How else would I feel, Master? Learning basic defense will help me feel safer here.”

He gave me a look of confusion, seemingly perplexed by the thought of me feeling unsafe around my own people. “Not that I don’t love it here,” I lied, “but I think it would be extremely useful to learn self defense in this day and age, seeing as how I am living in the heart of a war.” Partly true.

He nodded. “That makes sense, my young pupil. However, to answer your question, we will be taking your lessons slow. You are only eight years old and I do not want to rush the process. There is no need, for you will be a great warrior on the side of the Fire Nation, one day.” He smiled at me, and I did not have the heart to grimace at him, although the thought of fighting for such an ignoble and morally challenging cause silenced any peace that I had felt that morning.

I held my tongue. “Will I be training alone, master?”

His eyes softened at the question, and a small smile played on his face. “Zuko will be training with you. That’s alright, isn’t it?”

I did not have time to respond before he looked past me and said, “Zuko, my boy, please, come sit and have some tea with Yuu and I.” I turned around and, sure enough, he was shyly walking up the path through the blossoming trees, the sun shining on his face, his eyes never making contact with mine. I had never met Zuko until this day. He spent most of his time with his mother, and I never bothered to try and play with any of the other girls. Azula was just too mean.

He bowed to Suji and sat down opposite him just as I had done, yet he had still not acknowledged my existence. Is he seriously this arrogant? The two of them exchanged a good morning, and silence fell again, this time a little more tense.

Suji must have noticed, because the next words out of his mouth was, “Have you two met each other before?” Zuko and I instinctually snuck a look at eachother, turning away as soon as we saw the other gazing back. Suji must have understood. “Well, you two stand up.”

As we stood to face each other, Suji came around the table to stand to the side of us, placing his hands on the shoulder closest to him and pushing us closer together. “You two will surely be lifelong friends. Let’s begin!”

Oh, how wrong he was.

To be continued :)

#zuko #zuko imagine #atla #atla imagine #avatar the last airbender #fanfiction #atla fandom #atla fanfic #avatar zuko #prince zuko

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azulafangligo · 5 years ago

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I know it's a bit late, but I wanted to share another story for @azulaweek . It's for day 4. I was happy to be part of Azula week for the first time and I'm looking forward to participating next year. Stay flamin :))

A mother's love

This story takes place about a week before the flashbacks in Zuko Alone

Everyone in the Royal Palace was sleeping at this late hour, except Ursa. She couldn't sleep a wink. She tried really hard to fall asleep, but to no avail.

It was a warm night in the Fire Nation. The moon shone high on a cloudless, black sky.

The princess left her bedroom with a candle in her hand, walking through the empty, dark corridors of the palace toward the kitchen to drink a cup of water. She could have ordered a servant to bring to bring her some water, but she didn't want to wake anyone up and start a commotion. Besides, she didn't like ordering others around. Ursa respected the people who served her and her family, but she didn't like relying on them for every little thing and exploit them, even though most would argue it was their job. It just didn't seem right and she wasn't comfortable with it.

As Ursa got closer to the kitchen, she entered the corridor with Azula's and Zuko's rooms. She passed by Zuko's room quietly, but when she was a few meters away from Azula's, she heard a creaking sound as the door was slowly opened. She stopped as she saw her daughter walking out of her room while rubbing her eyes and closing the door behind her. Azula spun around to see her mother after she noticed the candle light. She looked startled, but also tired, having small dark circles under her eyes which had been half open until she saw her mother. She was now facing Ursa wide-eyed.

"I was just going back to my room," Azula said after a few seconds, putting her hand back on the door handle.

Ursa looked at her, worried.

"Are you alright, Azula?" she asked.

"Yes. I just wanted to drink some water," she said, annoyed. Even though she was obviously tired, she seemed in a rush to get away from her mother. This saddened Ursa. She really loved her and cared about her, but she knew she wasn't always doing the best job of showing her that. She tried hard to be a good mother for both Azula and Zuko, but her husband made that very difficult.

She stepped closer to Azula and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Come on, tell me what's wrong," she said gently. "Did you have a nightmare?"

"No, I already told you, mom. I was thirsty. Now I'll go back to sleep," Azula said coldly. She looked away from Ursa and folded her arms. "Since when do you care about me anyway? Don't you have to worry about Zuko? Or you're here just because he doesn't need you right now and you want to make sure I don't get into trouble?" Azula said acidly.

"Azula, I love you and I care about you. I know I don't show it to you enough, but I'm doing my best for you and your brother. I want to help you if something's bothering you. You don't have to keep it to yourself. You can tell me. " Ursa smiled encouragingly at her, urging her to say what was on her mind.

Her mother didn't usually speak like this to her. She was always so busy giving Zuko all the attention that she neglected her.

Azula stood there for a second. She couldn't sleep all night. It was really frustrating and she wasn't sure what to do. She thought maybe a breath of fresh air and a few minutes in the gardens would help, but her mom came out of nowhere and she had to go back to her room now. Azula didn't have anything to say to her and just wanted to go to bed and be left alone. She'd be fine just by herself and she'd fall asleep eventually. It's horrible. I just want to sleep, but I can't. I hate this and I don't need her. I never did and I never will. She was about to go back to her room, but she thought how she'll stay in her bed for hours, struggling to catch some sleep, all alone. As much as Azula wanted to avoid her mother, she admitted trying again to sleep would be really hard and unpleasant. Maybe even more unpleasant than spending time with the woman that, no matter what Azula did, wouldn't appreciate her and would only criticize her and complain how she was mean to her favourite child. Azula didn't know why her mother pretended to care now and there was nothing she could do to help anyway, but it was better to tell her the truth instead of being all alone. This is probably a bad decision and I might end up regretting it, but here we go.

"I can't fall asleep. I've been trying for hours, but I can't," Azula told Ursa.

"It happens sometimes. I can't sleep either. Would you like us to go to the garden for a while?" Ursa said.

Azula looked away again. She still wasn't sure she wanted to be in her presence. It wasn't nice to be mom's least favourite child, but she had no trouble with that. Azula didn't need anyone. She did great just by herself. But maybe it wouldn't hurt to go for a walk outside, since she wanted to do that anyway. However, even though at first she would have preferred to be alone, perhaps it'd be good to have some company.

"Alright," she said.

Ursa smiled at her again.

"Come on," the princess said, a hint of joyfulness in her voice.

As they entered the garden, Azula felt the gentle wind on her skin. It was warm and pleasant outside. The bright stars were sparkling on the dark sky. She looked at the scenery overhead for a few moments.

"It's a beautiful night, isn't it?" Ursa asked.

"I guess," Azula replied in a neutral voice.

They walked a few meters to the pond and set down. Minutes passed without either of them saying anything. Azula looked at her reflection in the water. In the darkness, she barely saw the dark circles under her eyes, but they were there. She frowned. I ought to get some sleep, but the problem is I don't feel tired at all. She looked tired though, because she struggled to sleep and she could see it in her face.

After sometime, Ursa finally began speaking.

"I'm sorry I haven't been a good mother. I haven't given you enough attention and I haven't told you how much I love you enough times. It's just… It's hard to raise two kids at the same time-"

"Yes, because I'm so mean and horrible and Zuko is so great," Azula cut her off.

"Azula, I never said that."

"But you mean it," her daughter replied, looking her in the eye.

"I don't. I know I left you the impression I prefer him over you, but that's not true. You're both amazing children and I love you equally. I admit I spent more time with him, but that's because your father isn't giving him any attention."

"Don't blame father," Azula said infuriated. "If Zuko would be good enough to deserve his love he'd get it. He doesn't deserve your love either."

Ursa was surprised and outraged that Azula spoke like that about her brother. She opened her mouth to tell her how awful it was to treat Zuko that way, but stopped, feeling her anger dissipate. It was mean to say something like that, but Azula only thought these things because she didn't feel loved enough. That was why she wanted to be better than Zuko at everything-so she'd be appreciated by her parents. Ozai had a very bad influence on her. He turned her against Zuko and made her see him and everyone who wasn't perfect as a failure. Azula was a wonderful child and the only thing her father did was give her bad examples, cultivate negative thoughts and feelings inside her and turn her into a competitive and hateful person. He had too many expectations and put too much pressure on her and, to be honest, he didn't even love her. It hurt Ursa to admit this, but it was true. Ozai loved neither of his kids nor anyone else in his family. He didn't even love Ursa. They had an arranged marriage just so he and Azulon could be in control of Avatar Roku's bloodline. But this wasn't about her. It was about Azula. She needed to know her mother cared about her and was proud of her.

"Azula, I'm sorry your father has so many expectations and induces you to feel so much anger and hate. I know it's very frustrating, but I'm here for you."

"What are you talking about? Dad's great and he teaches me to be the best. How is that bad?" Azula said, but a hint of doubt made its way into her mind. She hated to admit it, but sometimes she got tired and it became hard to catch her breath struggling to be the perfect child. I am perfect, I shouldn't listen to her. Dad wants what's best for me. He wouldn't have so many expectations if he didn't think I am up to the challenge. It's his way of showing how capable he thinks I am to do anything I have to. Azula wanted to believe these things, she really did, but she couldn't dismiss the thought that her mother was right. No matter how hard she tried to convince herself mom just wanted her to be nice to Zuko, she couldn't. Something in her voice, in her eyes told Azula she actually… cared. She was angry to think this stuff about dad, but, deep down, she knew it to be true. This made her really angry and also sad.

"I shouldn't have let him influence you like this. I know you're suffering and it's exhausting to try to be flawless everyday. I let you down, Azula, but I'll make it up to you," Ursa said, putting her hand on Azula's.

Azula didn't want to say anything bad about her father. She loved him and he loved her, but, for the first time in her life, she felt the need to say what was on her mind. She just couldn't hold back her thoughts, regardless of how much she tried. She felt weak and miserable and she despised it. I… I've never seen mom like this. It's the first time she actually wants to talk to me and know how I feel. She actually seems to be honest…

Azula slid her hand from under Ursa's. Then, she put her head in her hands, staring blankly at the pond.

"Sometimes it's… really hard. I do my best to please dad, but it's never enough," Azula said.

Ursa than unexpectedly hugged her tightly. Azula stared in surprise for a couple of seconds before she embraced her mother as well.

"I think you're great the way you are. You don't need to prove anything to me. I love you so much and I'll prove that to you more often," Ursa promised.

"Thanks, mom," Azula whispered.

They let go and just sat there in silence. Azula didn't know how much time they spent at the pond. It might have been minutes or hours, she had no idea. However, as time passed by, Azula gradually lost awareness of her surroundings. She was unable to concentrate on anything as the sight before her eyes became blurry. Soon, it was very hard to keep her eyes open. Her eyelashes slowly closed, everything turning black as she finally drifted off to sleep. Azula propped her body against her mother's arm.

Ursa gently put her hands around her daughter's waist and placed her on her lap.

In the few remaining seconds of consciousness before Azula fell asleep, she felt her mother gently caress her on the top of her head. This brought a smile on her face as she felt really calm and relaxed, but also happy.

Mom loves me after all… she thought.

#Azula Week 2020 #Day 4 #Fanfiction

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secret-kkh-fics · 5 years ago

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Set Fire to the Rain | Chapter 1

Due to this not being posted anywhere else yet, please like but DON’T REBLOG my fics.

Chapter Summary:

Healing Scars - Your soulmate can heal your cuts and scars by literally 'kissing it better'.

Author Note:

This is the first oneshot written for my Zuatara soulmate AU challenge. I have a lot of fun writing these AUs, and it’s fun to imagine all the different ways they could find out.

This one, I wanted them getting together to be a mutual decision before finding out they’re soulmates.

I have also been making small changes to this one overtime.

Kiss Me Better

“Hey, Zuko, you coming in?” Sokka asked him from the doorway of his family’s beach house where he had stopped short of going in.

He looked at the boy, then back out into the darkness of the beach where he could faintly see a girl huddled up in the sand. He held great respect for Sokka. When he wasn’t acting like a complete dork, well, he was actually kind of a genius. But how did he not notice that his sister wasn’t in the house yet?

“I’ll be there soon. I just have something to do,” he told him.

“Okay, well don’t be out too late. Tonight was kind of rough. And I think we’re doing some training tomorrow?” He looked back inside before poking his head back out in concern. “Hey, have you seen Katara?” With a sigh, Zuko gave a small smile of relief and tilted his head out towards the beach. Sokka looked out to where he nodded, straining his eyes to see. Finally he seemed to spot the figure alone on the sand. He looked back at Zuko and something seemed to click. “Ohhhhh… Okay then. I repeat. Don’t be out too late. And please bring my sister back inside, would ya?”

“That was the intention,” he said. “I don’t think she took the play very well. I’ll go talk to her.”

“I don’t think any of us took it very well.” His expression darkened a little, and he went to close the door. “Good luck.”

“Thanks,” he said wryly.

With that, he walked down the steps and back towards the beach and the girl he could see tracing swirls in the sand.

He knew that the play had gotten everyone down, but he had a feeling there was something else wrong. He knew that the portrayal of her had bugged her. They had done everything they could to make her not look like a threat. Making her a crybaby who blubbered about hope, but could do nothing self, who dressed in skimpy clothing and threw herself at every man on stage except the Avatar (who wasn’t actually a man on stage). But it wasn’t just that either. She had been defiant about that. He had noticed that when they came back from the intermission she had seemed tense. She also refused to look at Aang, who had sat up behind them this time, the rest of the night and he wondered if something had happened.

As he got closer, he heard her sigh as she continued to draw patterns in the sand. Either he was stealthier than he thought, or she was too deep in thought because she didn’t notice him until he was right beside her. She jumped slightly as if she were startled, and he heard her sudden intake of breath.

“It’s just me,” he told her, sitting down beside her. It was a moonless night, and dark clouds had rolled in on their way back, darkening the sky to the point that anyone beyond the torchlight were little more than a person-shaped shadow with a few vague features. She turned to face him, him anyway, and he could just make out the brightness of her eyes.

“What are you doing out here?” she asked him. Her voice lacked its usual fire, and he frowned.

“I came to keep you company. Or talk, or whatever you want to do. Even if you just want me here to start a fire to stay warm and not say anything. I just… I don’t think you should be out here alone. And you looked like you needed someone to talk to. If - if you want to talk to someone else I could go get Sokka, or Suki… Maybe Toph? I don’t know, she’s very blunt…”

This make Katara giggle a little. “Thank you, Zuko. It means a lot.”

“It’s not a problem.” He shrugged. “I don’t think any of us are feeling all that okay after the end of that play… But that’s not what’s got you put out, is it?”

There was a moment of silence, and he could barley even hear her breathe. “How did you know that?” she asked, her voice quiet.

“I just… you looked tense when you came back from intermission. And-”

“And what?”

He hesitated a moment before telling her, unsure if he was overstepping any boundaries. “I noticed that you were sort of… avoiding Aang.”

“Was it that obvious?” she said miserably.

“N-no!” he was quick to say. “I, um… I may not be very good with people, but I am pretty good at reading them. Or, observing them. Weirdly enough. And um… No, I don’t think anyone else would have noticed. But you seemed tense and I was trying to figure out why. ...Did something happen?”

She sighed deeply but didn’t say anything. For a moment he thought that she wouldn’t and that they would just sit there in silence. So, he was surprised when she did speak.

“Aang kissed me!” she blurted out. His eyebrows rose in surprise, and for a moment a hot wave of jealousy swept over him. He managed to stifle it, feeling an anxious knot form in his stomach instead, but he didn’t get the chance to comment as she continued on. “I mean, it’s not the first time he’s done it. He kissed me right before the siege. I was so surprised I didn’t know how to react, and then he was gone. And - and tonight. During that scene in the crystal caves when they put in that scene with the two of us, he stormed out of the theater. So, when he didn’t come back I went to look for him.” She sighed heavily again, and he heard her move. She seemed to curl up on herself even more. “I found him outside and he seemed… I don’t know, just not okay. I asked if he was alright and… he snapped at me. He said he wasn’t and he sounded really angry. And that’s just not like Aang. Well, he does that sometimes when he’s stressed. But… not like that. Anyway, after he had his upset outburst he quietened down a bit and he - well, he asked me if I had meant what I said in there. I was really confused. He was saying something about me thinking of him as a brother and I realised he was talking about the play, so I told him that I’d never said that.” She paused her rushed explanation to take a deep breath, and he saw her anxiously tug at her hair. “He said how since we kissed at the invasion he thought that we were going to be together and he didn’t understand why we weren’t. And I… I told him I didn’t know. And he started demanding to know why I didn’t know and when would I know. And I was telling him that there was a war going on and we had other things to worry about. And that I’m - I’m confused. And - and then he just kissed me. I had just told him I was confused and he kissed me anyway! I don’t know, maybe he was thinking that kissing me would help me make up my mind, but…” She let out a growl of frustration, then her head fell forward to rest on her knees. “Was I… was I wrong to get angry at him?”

Her rant petered out and Zuko stared at her shape through the darkness. He sighed, not quite sure what to say to comfort her, or to help her fix her problem. “I know he’s just a kid… but Aang shouldn’t have done that,” he told her. She looked up at him sharply and he could see her eyes glint slightly. “No one should kiss someone when they don’t want to be. And I know he’s just a kid, but you telling him you were confused was a pretty clear no, and he should have understood that. You have every right to be upset about it.”

“Thanks.”

“And if it helps, knowing him, he’s probably feeling really guilty about it. I don’t know if he knows what he did was wrong. But he knows he upset you.”

“Yeah…”

“Do… do you want to talk about it more or…?” he said awkwardly.

“Well, what is there to talk about?”

“I don’t know, why are you confused? I mean, we’ve sorted the issue of what happened tonight, but the root of the problem isn’t resolved. He’s only going to ask you about it again, so… what’s got you so confused?”

“Um… like I said, we’re in the middle of a war. And I… never mind.”

“And?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

He rolled his eyes. “That’s not figuring out the problem, Katara,” he teased leaning over to bump into her playfully. “But, I guess I see what you mean. It’s not exactly practical to start a relationship in the middle of a war, especially if you aren’t sure if either of you are going to make it out of it… But it’s not something that would make you confused. It’s an excuse. I mean, look at your brother and Suki. We’re in the middle of a war, and they are doing everything they can to make me uncomfortable.”

“Uncomfortable?”

“Don’t walk into either of their tents at night.” He could feel his face burn as horrifying memories of Sokka surrounded by candles with a rose in his mouth came to mind.

“Oh,” she sniggered.

“So, what’s got you so confused?” Again, Katara was silent, and he got the feeling that she either didn’t know where to start, or how to explain it. “How about we ask the most obvious question, then. Do you have feelings for Aang?”

At this she was silent again, but he could see her fidgeting as she mulled the question over. “I don’t know,” she told him eventually. “I - I don’t know if I have feelings for him romantically. I’ve never actually thought about it. He’s a good, sweet kid, and I do love him… I just… don’t know in which way. It’s different to the way I love Sokka, so I don’t love him like a brother. But, I don’t know if I do love him that way. But I know that he likes me that way, obviously and… I don’t know. I don’t want to let him down…”

Zuko mentally smirked when he heard her call Aang a kid. She may not know how she felt about him, but he knew from that statement it couldn’t possibly be romantic. Aang was only twelve, after all. And though there was only two years age difference between them… biologically, just the same as between he and Katara, there was a much larger maturity diffence. Despite the severity burden placed on him, Aang hadn’t grown up yet. He was still pretty immature, often thinking selfishly, seeing things within his own rules, having outbursts and running away. Not that it was necessarily a bad thing, growing up too fast was a burden he and Katara knew of well and wouldn’t wish on anyone. And as she’d said, he was still just a kid. Of course, it wasn’t exactly for him to tell her that. This was something she had to figure out for herself, he was just there to help her along. “Okay, well… how did you feel when he kissed you that first time?”

“I… don’t know. That first time he kissed me I was just surprised. I didn’t know how to react. It was just… strange. And I didn’t really have any time to react or process it, because immediately after, we began the attack. And… and I don’t know if that’s because of how I actually feel, or what I know.”

“What you know?”

“Aang… Aang isn’t my soulmate,” she said, the statement rushed as if she were forcing it out. “When Azula hit him with lightning… I was so scared. And I wanted him to be okay. He was… kind of in and out of consciousness for weeks, but he doesn’t remember any of it. I was so desperate for him to be okay. And there was this huge scar in the middle of his back and I thought… maybe if I kissed it, it would go away. I could make him better. S-so I tried it, but nothing happened. I mean, I know that it takes a while to heal large scars with soulmates - I remember it taking an entire year for mama to kiss away the scar dad got from a sabertooth sealephant - but there was nothing. No change and… and I didn’t feel like anything had happened. So… I don’t know if I’m holding back because I know that or not. I know you can be happy with someone who isn’t your soulmate, but… I just don’t know.”

“Okay,” he said slowly, feeling as if his stomach were sinking. “Do you want to kiss him?”

Again, Katara stayed silent and his stomach twisted into knots as he anxiously waited for her answer. He wasn’t going to push, but the suspense was almost killing him. He kind of regretted bringing this up. He felt as if he were going to be sick.

“What do you mean?” she asked him. “Do I want to kiss him back or…?

“No, I mean… just kiss him. Do you look at him and just feel bumbleflies in your stomach, and your heart beats faster, because wow, he takes your breath away. And you want to just reach over and kiss her… I mean him!” he corrected as his thoughts began to drift away with him as he recalled the feeling. Visions of dark hair and blue eyes in the sunlight making him lose his breath a moment.

His slip up, however, made Katara laugh. “You got someone you want to kiss in mind, there, Zuko,” she teased.

He smiled, happy to hear her laugh. “Yeah, I kinda do.”

“O-oh.” He noticed that her tone dropped and she sounded a little sadder. The thought twisted his guts while also making him feel a little hopeful. “Is it that girl with the knives you said you were with? Mai?”

This threw him a moment. He doesn't think he ever actually had that feeling about Mai. They had kind of just happened, and he had enjoyed it. He really, really liked Mai… But he didn’t have the same feeling like his chest was about to burst with warmth every time he looked at her. Not like he did with Katara.

“No. Not her. I liked being with her… but I don’t think it was ever that… strong. I know it seems horrible to say, especially after what she did for me, but… as much as I liked her, I don’t think I loved her.”

“Oh.” There was a moment of awkward silence before Katara blurted, “I don’t think I feel that way about Aang. I… I don’t feel like there are bumbleflies in my belly. N-not with him.”

“Not with…” he faded out as he realised what she was getting at.

“I do feel them when I look at someone else, though. That was my ‘never mind’ before. I’ve been… I’ve been feeling like that about someone for a little while. And I’ve been trying to ignore it because… because it’s ridiculous right? It could never happen... And, to be honest, I initially thought it was something else entirely.”

“Oh,” he said, all the air in his lungs leaving him. He tried not to panic or get jealous as he thought about who it could be. If it wasn’t Aang, then… It couldn’t be Sokka, he was her brother. There were no other guys in the group. There were the girls, but Suki was taken. And like Aang, Toph seemed a little young for Katara. He thought back to when he had first joined them in the temple. There was that boy in the wheelchair, Tao. And there was that Earthbender, Haru. He had certainly seemed pretty interested in her. And Sokka had told him how she had helped Haru and that he thought she’d had a little thing for him… Even then it had stirred feelings of jealousy in him… Was there a reason she couldn’t be with either of those two?

“Zuko?”

“Huh?” he blinked as he snapped out of his reverie. Suddenly he was aware of another warmth near him and looked to see Katara very close to him. Her hip was brushing up against his knee, and he felt warm. He could barely make out her features in the darkness, despite how much his eyes had adjusted, but he knew she was looking at him in concern.

“Are you okay? You kinda zoned out a moment there.”

“Y-yeah. Sorry. What were you saying?”

He could see her shake her head ever so slightly and he could almost imagine that fond smile on her face. “I think I was so confused because I’ve been worried I loved two people… Because lately, I’ve been having feelings for someone else.”

“A-and who would that be?” asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

He felt her hand on his knee, and he knew he was gravitating towards her, even as his mind raged in conflict. Hope swelled in his chest like a warm pressure that made it hard to breathe, feeling as if it were going to burst from him, while his brain wouldn’t stop the internal debate.

She couldn’t mean him, could she? Because right now it really seemed like she did. She was leaning towards him and they were so close. But surely, she couldn’t. It was just wishful thinking. He could never be lucky enough for her to love him back. He’d always had to work hard to get anything he actually wanted, and he had intentionally not tried to pursue her, fearing she wouldn’t love him in return. And why would she? It wasn’t all that long ago that she was still shouting and scowling at him. He had hunted her down across the world. He had used her as bait. He had betrayed her trust. Earning her trust back had taken time and taken a lot of work. He’d never thought that she would ever…

His nose brushed her cheek and he felt her breath on his neck as they drew close together. Their hands were intertwined and Katara had moved so close she was one movement away from sitting on his lap. It took all he had to keep breathing. Instead he closed his eyes and nuzzled against the side of her head, breathing in the sweet, salty smell of her ocean swept hair. His other hand came up to tangle in her hair and her breath hitched.

And then his lips were on hers. He wasn’t sure who moved first, all he was aware of was the feel of her. Her soft lips moving against his, her body leaning into him, the softness of the hair gripped in his hands, her fingers tightening around his own, the small gasps and hums that escaped her…

He felt as if he were melting. Burning with desire and the urge to just hold her tighter. He wanted her and he wanted more. He wanted all she could give and he was rocked with the sensation that she wasn’t close enough. With a small growl, he took his hand from hers, wrapped an arm around her waist and tugged her to him. She gasped as she was dragged into his lap, her body pressing flush up against his. He used this moment to swipe his tongue against her open lip and she shuddered.

She pulled away slightly before peppering his face with kisses and then resting her forehead against his. They were both panting, and he could feel his heart pounding loudly in his chest. She was so warm against him, and his fingers dug into her hips.

“You,” she said breathlessly, placing another kiss to his cheek, just below his eye. “I like you.” She kissed him again. “I think I might love you.”

“Oh, thank Agni!” he groaned, claiming her lips again.

This time he drove the kiss, slowly leaning forwards until he was gently laying her in the sand. Her hair fanned out behind her, and their bodies pressed together. Their lips didn’t leave the other’s the entire time until Zuko dipped down to kiss her cheek and lower still to reach her neck.

“This was not the response I was expecting,” she laughed breathlessly. He nipped at her neck and her laugh ended in a sharp gasp, her body arching up towards him.

“Why not?”

“I didn’t think… I didn’t think you-” Zuko silenced her with a kiss, not wanting to hear what he knew she was going to say.

“I - have had - feelings for you - for - a very - very - long time,” he told her, kissing a new spot on her neck during every pause.

“You - you have?” she panted, managing to plant another kiss on his face.

“Mmhmm,” he hummed. He sucked at her ear gently, smirking as she gasped. “It took me a while to figure out,” he whispered in her ear. “But ever since that day in the catacombs at Ba Sing Se, I haven’t been able to get you out of my head.” He nuzzled at her neck, his nose gliding along the soft skin, and he smiled when heard her exhale a shaky breath. “I really couldn’t understand it. I thought I had everything that I wanted. I was home, I had my father’s approval, Mai… But I kept thinking about pretty blue eyes… and your smile… and your laugh.” He gently kissed her lips and looked down to see those large blue eyes staring up at him in awe, gleaming in the darkness. “And when I joined you guys I…”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, “for how I treated you. A-after Ba Sing Se I was angry and - and scared that you’d betray us again. Not because it was dangerous, but because of how much it hurt.” She chuckled softly. “You were my enemy, and somehow you got me to care for you in just one conversation.”

“You have a big heart,” he told her gently. “You care for everyone you meet, and you want to help them all. It’s one of the things that make you so amazing.”

“Thank you,” she said shyly.

“It’s one of the many things I love about you.” He smiled down at her and could feel her pulse speed up.

Katara chuckled. “So, was this all some sort of plan of yours to find out your competition?” she joked.

He grinned. “No, I was just genuinely concerned, but I do have to admit, talking you through your feelings for other people is something I never want to do again.”

She laughed again and leaned up to snatch another kiss. He smiled against her mouth before responding, a hand curing behind her back to pull him closer to her.

“Katara?!” a shout called out across the beach. The two teens froze when Sokka’s voice reached them, their heart hammering in fear and exhilaration. “Zuko?! Hey, you two out there?” There was a pause, and they stared at each other with wide eyes.

“Stay very still,” he warned. Katara gave an almost imperceptible nod.

“It’s kinda getting late… so… If you guys can hear me, you should probably come in now.”

They waited a moment longer before daring to move. Zuko stood up, brushing the sand off himself, and then held a hand out to help her up. He could still barely see her in the darkness, so holding her hand was a comfort he was not about to give up.

“Thank Agni he didn’t see us,” he muttered. “I would not want him to catch me making out with his sister.”

Katara giggled. “You’re probably right, but that would have been funny and frustrating to watch.”

Zuko grimaced. “Come on, your brother’s right. We should head in.”

She laced her fingers more firmly in his, and together they started walking up the beach towards the light of the house. They didn’t say anything. Honestly, after all, they’d said and been through tonight, they didn’t really need to. They could sort through more important things tomorrow. For now, they were content to just walk back to the house together in silence, their fingers intertwined and their shoulders pressed together.

When they entered the light, Zuko glanced down at her from the corner of his eye and saw her doing the same. She quickly looked away again, with a small, shy smile on her face and a light pink dusting her cheeks. It made him smile back, bumblefies fluttering in his stomach, warm and fuzzy. He was incredibly glad that she was standing on his good side, so he was able to see her in perfect clarity.

When they got to the door, however, she reluctantly let go of his hand. “We - we should probably…” She was looking at the ground, not seeming to want to meet his eyes.

“Yeah, probably best for now…” he said gently. Considering how close the battle was, it really wouldn’t do well to upset the balance. It wouldn’t do to have Sokka try to knock him out. And it really wouldn’t do to have Aang upset.

He sighed as he turned the handle and walked into the main room. The others were all gathered around the table, having a quick snack. They all looked up as he and Katara came in, and their eyes widened in surprise. He looked about, worry suddenly gnawing at him because of their expressions. What was wrong? Was… was it obvious that he and Katara had-

“Who’s this?” Sokka suddenly asked, standing and looking on his guard. He was aiming the question at Katara, but he was looking at him.

...Hang on, what?

He turned around and looked at Katara in confusion, then back at the others. Behind him Katara gasped in shock, and he really began to worry. Why was everyone looking at him like he was a stranger?

“What do you mean?” Toph asked. “It’s just Sweetness and Sparky.”

“Why are you all looking at me like that?” He asked, trying to hide the insecurity from his voice. “What? Do I have something on my face?” They all seemed to recognise the sound of his voice, and their eyes widened in shock. Sokka’s mouth actually fell open. “What?!” he demanded in annoyance.

He turned when he felt a soft hand on his arm, and Katara faced him with wide eyes. A tentative hand reached towards him, and he was shocked when she touched his scar, carefully running her hand along his face, her thumb tracing just under his eye.

He looked down at her, seeing her apprehensive expression in disorientating clarity. He was about to ask what she was doing when he was struck by the oddest sensation… sensation. But not just any sensation. He could feel her fingers on his face. Nerve endings that had been dead for three years had suddenly flared to life, and he could feel her touch.

“There’s nothing on your face,” she breathed in disbelief. “Zuko, there is nothing on your face.”

“O...kay?” he said, not entirely sure what was going on. The sudden sensation on his damaged skin and clarity in his bad eye gave him a hint, but he didn’t want to get his hopes up.

“Seriously, what’s going on?” Toph asked. “What’s the big deal with him apparently not having something on his face.”

“Toph…” Sokka said slowly. “Zuko has- had a scar on his face.”

“Had?” he breathed, still not daring to believe it.

Toph snorted. “So, what if he had a little scar?” Silence met her words.

“It’s not little…” he eventually said, his voice quiet. He wasn’t entirely sure he was breathing right now.

“It was a huge scar,” Sokka told her. “It covered at least quarter of his face, right around his left eye. Like… here.” He reached out and traced the spot on her face so she would know. “And it was bad. Third-degree burn. Like, his eye was badly impaired, and he didn’t have much range of movement in it. Made him look like he was scowling all the time.”

“I thought he was just scowling all the time,” she joked. Sokka snorted at this, and even Suki giggled. “But… so, what? It just disappeared?”

“Yeah, it has,” Suki said.

The air in Zuko’s lungs left him like he had been hit by a rampaging komodo rhino. A hand reached up to his face. Where there was once rough, bumpy skin, there was now soft, smooth skin. He could not only feel the skin on his face, but he could feel the tips of his fingers touching it. And under his touch, he could feel his muscles moving under the skin as his hairless brow crumpled in confusion and disbelief. His knees felt weak, as if they were going to give out under him.

“But… how?” Aang asked.

“So, who have you been kissing, Zuko?” Sokka asked cheekily.

“What?!” he, Aang and Katara cried out at the same time. He and Katara had stiffened and glanced at each other in worry.

“Well, come on. There’s only one way that scars can just disappear like magic,” he said as if it were obvious. “A kiss from your soulmate. Though, that must have been one supercharged soulmate kiss. It took mum months to heal that scar dad got from a sabertooth sealephant.”

His mouth fell open in shock, then closed again, and then fell open again as he looked helplessly down at Katara. Unsure what to say, or even how to react. Sokka was right. A soulmate’s kiss was the only way to heal scars. And he very vividly recalled her lips repeatedly pressing against his face. She met his gaze with wide blue, startled eyes and pink cheeks.

Sokka looked between the two of them, his eyebrows rising higher as the pieces fell together in his mind. Zuko cringed slightly, waiting for the outburst, waiting for the boy to run at him in an attack for kissing his sister. So, he was shocked when instead a wide grin plastered his face instead.

“Wow,” he grinned. “What do you know?”

“Uh…” He and Katara glanced at each other again, neither of them knowing how to react to the situation. Honestly, they were too stunned by the information themselves. It felt right, but it was still a shock. Still, a lot to realise that the person beside you was always destined to be the love of your life, one way or another - possibly even through multiple lives.

“W-wait, Zuko and… Katara?” Aang asked.

“Going by how hard their hearts are pounding, I am going to say ‘yes’,” Toph smirked. Both of them turned red at the statement and fidgeted nervously. He saw Katara bite her lip and her eyes darted towards Aang, and he knew she was worried about him.

“So, did you two kiss?” Suki pressed, looking like she was enjoying this way too much. “If you don’t answer, we’re just going to take your silence as a yes.”

“Ahh… yes,” he said, reaching behind himself to scratch nervously at his head.

“Oh,” Aang said quietly.

Sokka just smirked. “You know, when you said you were gonna go take care of my sister, I didn’t think you meant like that!”

“Sokka!” Katara cried in mortification.

“What? No!” Zuko cried. “I didn’t- We were just talking! She was upset, and we were just talking about… things, and then- and then, we just kinda…” He snapped his mouth shut before he could dig his hole any more.

“Ah-ha, sure you did, buddy,” Sokka teased.

“Sokka, stop it!”

“What? He’s your soulmate! I’m allowed to tease my baby sister’s soulmate!”

“No, you’re not!”

Zuko shrugged. “It’s okay. Honestly, I thought you were going to freak out… Maybe attack me.”

“Why would I do that?”

“You can be a little overprotective sometimes,” Katara told him.

“Well, yeah, if the guy’s an asshole. But this is Zuko! Guy’s an awkward, Firebending teddybear. He’s like Bosco!”

“Hey!”

“What, it’s true. Besides, you got me into a high-security prison, got locked in a freezer overnight, and got tied to a chair by your crazy, knife-wielding ex-girlfriend just to help me rescue my dad and girlfriend. Like, maybe a few months ago I would have freaked out, but you earned my respect pretty quickly. Also, I kinda noticed you making eyes at Katara for weeks now. I was wondering when you were gonna do something about it.”

“Oh yeah, they’ve had some crazy tension since he joined the gang!” Toph said. “I’ve been waiting for them to make out or something for ages! Who would have thought that you’d be soulmates, though?”

“Yeah, you’re really lucky to have found each other.” Everyone’s heads snapped towards the quiet voice, surprised that it was Aang who had said it. He was looking at the table, not meeting anyone’s eyes. He looked sad and his voice was small and quiet, but he was genuine. “The monks said that soulmates are the souls of people whose love is so strong that it spans lifetimes, and the reason they can heal each other is because of that love. They said that… having a soulmate is pretty rare, and finding your soulmate is even rarer. So… I’m glad you found each other. Soulmates shouldn’t be kept apart.”

“Thank you,” Zuko said, just as quietly. He could only imagine how hard it would be to let Katara go, knowing she was supposed to be with someone else. Just the idea of it made his throat tighten, and panic begin to rise in him.

Aang nodded in acknowledgement. “So, ah… how long have you two known? That you were soulmates?”

“Um, just now, actually,” Katara said. “You guys found out the same time we did. I mean, we could barely see anything out there. I didn’t even notice his scar was gone until we got inside.”

“This is so unreal,” he murmured, reaching up to touch the now unscarred skin again.

“Wait, wait, wait. You just found out?!” Sokka said, aghast. They both nodded. “Okay, no! This is unacceptable! Being soulmates is a big thing! You need to be spending time with each other!”

“Ah, Sokka-” Katara tried to say as he came around to them, placed a hand on each of their backs, and led them down the hallway.

“Talking, kissing, other things. Either way, you should be doing something together right now, not hanging out with us! Go! Do… soulmate-y things!” He opened the door to the room Zuko had been sleeping in and shoved them inside. “Just… try to keep it down.” His expression was way too sly as he wagged his eyebrows at them.

“Oh, like you do?” Zuko managed to snark, right before the door was slammed in his face.

“Goodnight!”

“I do not understand your brother,” he sighed, turning back to Katara.

She just shook her head in amusement and sat down. “Time will not help, trust me,” she smirked.

He smiled as he sat down next to her, inclining back on the bed, so he was sitting against the wall. Katara shuffled back, so she was doing the same. “So… soulmates, huh? Makes sense, I guess.”

“Oh yeah,” she grinned. “It totally explains why you chased me across the entire world for half a year.”

“What could I say, I knew what I wanted.” They chucked at the joke. They found that their hands had reached out towards each other, and once again, their fingers intertwined. They smiled softly at one another. “Really, though. I may have been hunting down Aang, but every time we met there was just something about you. Your spirit, your determination… and every time we met you got stronger. You were my enemy, but I respected you.” His thumb stroked across the soft skin of her hand. “And then that day in Ba Sing Se… you opened up to me, and I actually felt like I wanted to open up to you. I’d never really done that before. And then you touched me and I knew there had to be something between us.”

“I knew I had strong feelings for you,” she told him. “But honestly, I originally thought it was loathing.”

Zuko laughed. “I don’t blame you.”

“I wasn’t as mad at you as I pretended to be when you joined us. I mean, I was, but more… more because I was scared than angry. Scared that you were going to hurt me again.” He squeezed her hand, a silent apology for what he had done as guilt gnawed at him. “And then I realised I was starting to have feelings for you, which made it worse. Because if you did something when I liked you, that would hurt even more. Not that I didn’t trust you or anything at that point. I just… I guess I was trying not to let myself fall for you. I always… I kept my distance, partly because I didn’t think you’d like me back, or that nothing would come of it anyway, because you’re the Fire Prince and will probably be Fire Lord one day and I don’t know if you’d even be able to be with a girl who’s just a Water Tribe peasant, and…” She stopped, letting out a deep breath. “And partly because we’re in a war, and I know I usually think on the positive side, but what if something bad did happen. I never let myself love you because what if I do lose you? I couldn’t handle that Zuko.”

He moved closer to her, pulling her into his arms and using one hand to brush her hair soothingly. “We could drive ourselves crazy with ‘what if’s, Katara. There is so much that can go wrong in the battle, and even more, could happen afterwards. It’s going to take the world a good while to fall back into place and find true peace after this war. But we can’t dwell on that. Not now. And if-if something bad does happen to one of us in the next few days… I don’t think it would hurt any less if we were together than if we weren’t. I just want to be with you, no matter what happens.”

Katara nodded, smiling sadly, and rolled over so that she could curl into him. Happily, he drew her closer, fitting her into his side and wrapping his arms around her. It was comforting to feel her warmth pressed against him, and her breath against his collarbone.

“Do-do you, um… Do you want to stay in here tonight? With me?” She looked up at him, and he was quick to correct himself. “We don’t have to do anything. I just meant… this is nice… and I kind of want to keep doing it, if that’s okay with you. Falling asleep with you in my arms is something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”

He felt a small smile run through her, and she smiled. “I’d love that,” she said quietly, snuggling in further.

Zuko ran his hand up and down her arm, a smile on his face and pressed a kiss to her hair. “No matter what happens in the next few days… we’ll face it together.”

Author Note:

One thing that I’ve never figured out how to get in there, but would like to point out, is that Katara’s ability to heal large scars much faster than what most expect is because of her healing abilities. Many people in the Northern Water Tribe who have healing abilities also do this with their soulmate.

#avatar #set fire to the rain

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royaltealovingkookiness · 7 years ago

Text

30 Days of Zutara - Day 19: Dragons

“I hate you,” the little princess yelled at his brother and ran towards the house with tears running down her face.

“What’s going on, Ziyi?” Both children stopped at the voice of their grandfather who was watching them from the doorstep. The girl stepped closer and he crouched down to the level of the children, drying her tears.

“Iroh is telling me that only firebenders can be dragons,” the little princess cried.

“Is that true?” Zuko turned to his grandson with a stern gaze.

“Well, dragons are the original firebenders. That’s just how it is,” shrugged the boy.

“It’s true that dragons are firebenders, but they are so much more than that,” the former fire lord explained, “They are creatures of storm and lightning.”

“What do you mean?” the boy frowned.

“Have I ever told you the story of Druk’s birth?” Zuko asked his grandchildren.

A pair of golden and a pair of blue eyes looked at him curiously. “No, grandpa, you never told us.”

“Well, it started with the pirates,” he smiled as they sat on the steps of the small courtyard of the Ember Island summer house.

“You are telling it all wrong. It started before that…” Katara interrupted with a tray of cool watermelon juice.

“Who’s telling this story?” Zuko frowned.

“You are obviously not telling it right, Zuko,” grinned Katara.

“I’m telling it just fine,” he grumbled. “So there I was on the pirate ship, trying to find the stolen treasure, then suddenly I was surrounded by at least ten pirates.”

“What did you do?” asked Iroh, eyes wide with excitement.

“I pulled out my swords,” Zuko sprang to his feet, demonstrating the stance waving his imaginary dao blades.

“And then I saved you,” interrupted Katara.

“I was doing just fine,” he glared back at her.

-0-

Dragontail Bay, 35 years ago

Zuko crept along the ship, silently like a spirit. Well, he was the Blue Spirit again, even if for just one night. The voice of the pirates, drinking and singing echoed over the water. He crawled to the level below the deck, and sure enough, he found the treasures stolen from the sun warriors in the little storage room next to the kitchen. He pulled out his sack and packed the precious stones inside it. He used his sword to take the golden egg-shaped stone, remembering the glue-flood from the previous time he touched it.

He tied up the sack, and inched back up to the deck, trying to climb down to the small boat that he paddled out to the pirate ship. As he was about to lower himself with the rope, he found himself eye to eye with the ugly green lizard-parrot. The hideous creature screeched. Suddenly Zuko was surrounded by pirates. He dropped the sack on the floorboard and pulled out his dao swords, ready for action.

Before he could attack, a figure covered in black jumped in front of him, seemingly out of nowhere.

“I’ll save you from the pirates,” her voice was gently mocking, as a pair of big blue eyes shined at him through the slit of her mask. She raised her hands and two giant waves crashed over the pirate ship, sending the pirates into the water.

“I was handling them...” Zuko grumbled. “How did you know I was here?”

“I have my ways,” she grinned. “Suki told me.”

“I’ll fire her,” muttered Zuko. This was his chance to get out and do something other than tedious paperwork and endless grin-and-shake. He begrudged the women in his life treating him like some helpless damsel-in-distress.

“I guess that’s why they call you the Fire Lord,” Katara retorted.

Zuko rolled his eyes. “Leave the jokes to Sokka. Or you know what, you are both equally terrible…It must be that South Pole moonshine…”

Katara shrugged and looked around. “So what are we looking for?”

“I already found it,” Zuko motioned to the bag. “The stolen sun warrior treasure. Can you bend the ship northeast?”

“You see, you do need me,” she smiled, visibly pleased with herself as she started to steer the ship in the direction Zuko pointed at. “So what are these treasures?”

Zuko opened the bag. “I’m not really sure. But the sun-warrior chief was pretty worried. When I last touched one of them, I spent the night glued to a window with a very grumpy Avatar.”

“I’m sure that was an enlightening chat,” Katara laughed.

“Well, Aang complained that he had to pee the whole time.”

Katara made a face. “Eew, thanks for oversharing. I really didn’t need to know that.”

Zuko grimaced at the reprimand and pulled out the golden egg-shaped gem. “I think it was this one. It felt alive.”

Katara touched her hands to the stone, then her expression became puzzled. “Because it is alive, Zuko. I can feel a heartbeat inside.”

-0-

“So you returned the treasures, then what?” asked Ziyi.

“Then came the interesting part. Because as it turns out the treasure with the beating heart inside it was the first viable dragon egg in many many years.”

“But since your grandfather was the first…” Katara interrupted again.

“You are telling it wrong.” Zuko looked at her with a frown and turned back to the children. “Since I was the first one to touch it, I was the only one who could hatch it.”

-0-

Sun Warrior Island, 35 years ago

Zuko honestly expected a bit more fanfare as he returned to the sunwarrior island with the sack full of treasure. Ham Gao unceremoniously snatched the sack out of his hand, and peeked inside. He took out the egg-shaped gem with a frown on his face and handed it over to the Chief.

The Chief held it in his hand for a long moment muttering to himself and looking rather worried. Then he turned to Zuko. “You have to hatch it, otherwise it will die.”

“What do you mean hatch it? Like a turtleduck? Sitting on the nest?” he squeeked.

-0-

Katara imitated Zuko’s grimace and the children giggled.

“I did not say that,” Zuko protested.

“Oh, yes you did.”

“I thought, I’m telling the story,” he grumbled.

“Just continue, please!” exclaimed Iroh.

-0-

The sun warrior chief looked at Zuko like he was suggesting to dress the dragons in pink kimonos.

“No.” He said on his booming voice. “Dragons are born in storm and lighting.”

Zuko looked at the bright blue sky. “But it’s a clear day,” he said matter-of-factly.

Katara interrupted. “I can try to bend the clouds for you.” Zuko sighed. Of course, she could.

The sun-warriors for the first time seemed to notice her presence. Zuko muttered a belated introduction. “This is Katara from the Southern Water Tribe. She’s a friend.”

Ham Gao looked at them with a knowing grin. “If you say so.”

“There is just one problem,” Zuko stared at his feet, as if the black boots could reveal a solution to his dilemma.

“What?” He squirmed uncomfortably under the gaze of the Chief.

“I don’t know how to make lightning...” he admitted quietly, feeling horribly inadequate and cursing all the spirits that Katara was a witness to his humiliating defeat.

“Well, that’s just great,” Ham Gao sneered.

“Let me talk to him,” Katara told the sun warriors and pulled Zuko aside. “What do you mean you don’t know? Everyone in your family knows,” she whispered.

“Well, I don’t - OK?” yelled Zuko and all the sun-warriors stared at them. The Chief shook his head. “Actually, I know in theory, I could just never do it,” Zuko added on a lower voice.

“Have you tried?” Katara put her hand gently on his shoulder, her blue eyes looking at him with concern as if she was trying to calm down a toddler throwing a tantrum

“Of course I tried,” exclaimed Zuko again.

“Fine, just asking, don’t bite me. What does your uncle say?” she asked.

“He said that I had to get rid of the turmoil inside me. Which is ridiculous, because I don’t have any turmoil,” Zuko continued with agitation. “I mean, we ended the war, things are getting better, everything should be fine now. I should be able to do lightning, and still….” his voice trailed off.

Katara listened to his tirade then grabbed his hand. “I think I can try to help you with that.”

“How?” Zuko sighed.

“Do you trust me?” she asked and he nodded silently. “Then let’s go.”

They climbed the stairs all the way to the top of the bridge that connected the dragon lairs and laid down the egg in the middle.

Katara waved her hands around rhythmically, until dark clouds gathered over their heads. Zuko watched with amazement the dancing girl and the gathering clouds. She made it look so effortless and he couldn’t even make a tiny miserable lightning. Struggling made him stronger, but he wished lately that he didn’t have to struggle quite so much with everything.

“Ready?” Her voice interrupted his internal monologue.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” he grimaced.

She stepped closer to him and whispered, “Close your eyes.” Zuko obeyed. A moment later, he felt her lips brushing his softly, almost chastely. Zuko leaned into the kiss. It was sweet like mango and salty like sea prunes. It felt like home with warm fires and cool water, everyone eating dinner together and nobody challenging each other to agni kais. It felt like being complete.

“Do you feel calmer?” her voice filled him with confidence.

“I do,” he rasped, resting his forehead against hers.

“I believe that you can do this Zuko,” she whispered and squeezed his hands.

Zuko reluctantly broke the contact. He stepped back, took a deep breath and concentrated on her kiss, that suspended moment of complete calm, like the sea before the storm. Like the blue of her eyes.

“Bend the clouds,” he told her.

The moment he felt the raindrops falling on his face, he circled his hand and surrendered to the energy coursing through his veins. This was it - the collision of water and fire. The messy soup of creation. He watched himself almost from the outside, as a bright blue electric spark zigzagged from his fingertips, straight to the egg.

The eggshell broke, and moments later a little red scaly face peeked out from the golden fragments, blinking curiously with golden eyes.

Zuko smiled as he kneeled next to the baby dragon. “Hi, little one.” He softly caressed the scaly head with his fingertips. The dragonskin felt warm and dry, just like the rubbery surface of his own scar. Zuko felt exhilaration; if dragons could be brought back from the edge of extinction, maybe there was hope to undo the rest of his family’s dark legacy.

“He’s adorable,” giggled Katara. “Congratulations, you got yourself a baby.”

“You mean, we got ourselves a baby,” Zuko corrected her. It was both a question and a plea.

“I guess.” Katara conceded. “What shall we call him?”

“Druk. Thunder dragon”

“I like that,” she linked her fingers into his.

-0-

“So you see? That’s why dragons are children of both lightning and storm. Waterbenders have as much claim to them as firebenders.” Zuko finished the story.

“Especially when it comes to midnight feedings,” Katara injected.

“And since Ziyi is waterbender, just like your grandmother,” Zuko smiled at Katara, “she has as much right to be a dragon as you, Iroh. I don’t want any more arguments about it. You understand?”

The boy nodded solemnly. “I promise.”

Ziyi smiled proudly. “Grandpa, can we go dragon-riding tomorrow?”

“If your grandmother agrees…”

“Sounds fun…” Katara hugged her grandchildren. “More watermelon juice?”

Full collection - AO3

#atla #atla fanfic #30daysofzutara #zutara month 2018 #zutara #zuko #katara #druk #brusselssprout writes #post-series AU #mother and father of dragons

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tangygoat · 7 years ago

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whats up gang its time for art spams at midnight thats what howdy this is my funky guy miguel and some other chuckle fucks we play dnd online im super tired the filter is coming OFF

Miguel: paladin archetype: Dad + gay = *those really long baby leashes that tired adults use during shopping excursions* he’s an old irish talkin soldier who didn’t get recognized for shite lmao. Likes: cats, poetry, nihilist memes about death and surfing on straight tears if the internet existed, fantasy weed lmao 420 blaze it, saying “Eh” instead of “uh” like normal people, topping Dislikes: i dunno, getting pinned to anything by anyone, Travis Starborn’s Coin Surge Spell, topping, how one of the bloodhunters (travis) and rogue (fallen) are stronger than hiM BECAUSE DAMNIT I JUST HAD TO USE STANDARD SCORES HUH!

Honest/Sorrow: bard + gay = “Its cold outside but I’m still looking like a thotty because a hoe never gets cold!” a charming little bean that everyone is horny for i guess? miguel’s def confused. into him? *Miguel voice* “Eh, we’ll see.” Likes: Miguel, The Refreshing Taste Of Whole Milk Dislikes: drama, people giving half a shit about his ass lol challenge accepted you funky little tiefling, Travis probably

Vihaan: bard + gay pining = *slaps roof of car* This bad boy can fit so much Angst in it thERE ARE TWO BARDS AW SHIT. nah its cool this one’s goth. there’s a difference. Orphan drama? probably. got some zuko-ass scars up in this funky fella. Likes: Honest (aw beans who saw that coming), The Refreshing Taste Of Whole Milk Dislikes: Being Ignored (sorry bout that @jasamiemindrow i am not good at reading chat i am going to try harder also you did inspire this post good job gold star it is almost 1am), It should be a given that nobody likes Travis except Travis

Speaking of which..

Travis Starborn: a piece of newly minted gold + mollymauk but meAN = “Thank Travis for Travis” So the PLAYERS like travis…. can’t say the same for the CHARACTERS…. Likes: Travis, gold, peanut brittle, Jorge???? (Hi, its me, Miguel. The universe wants to speak to yo-STOP TRAVIS OH GOOD GOD STOP) Dislikes: You, Sex, Established Religion

Bonelle: angst + horny = HANGST *eyeshine* (its sucks but they had to leave the session bUT THEYRE HERE ANYWAY WHATS GOOD MOFOS) Whats good kids lets imagine the real-life real-world consequences of your devianart oc yknow the crazy one hahah you have made their life a miserable living burning burning burning hell (thats a reference to the character please call me cool?) anyway congrats your babu is suffering and its all your fault Likes: GIRLS boy hOWDY, cats aw thats good, sweet tricks *spaghetti western theme plays* Dislikes: anyone touching her guns, Travis, fire fire fire, strip truth or dare

Fallen: invisible + draco malfoy = STEALTH 100 ah yes, Miguel’s worst nightmare: an invisible kindergartener with a superiority complex and the stats to keep it up and running *insert shitty audience applause* Likes: being invisible, being royal or something idk, riddle me this batman if you cant see the boy than was he ever really there oooooooo Dislikes: not getting his dick wet in every fucking problem even if theyre not his issue damn boy u horny for drama chiiiill

Qin: warlock + angst = CRAWLING IIIN MYY SKIIIIIN it makes sense dont worry. This funky god fucker loves cats, cool swords and going shopping without telling anyone where they are. Likes: fantasy weed lmao 420 blaze it, cats, sweet flips, strip truth or dare Dislikes: lmao idk??? dudes’ up for whatever the fuck

Aidre: muscle + gay = *crushing watermelons between well-oiled thighs* i dont need to explain myself Likes: Girls, getting laid every time they show up Dislikes: idk probably something lol

Ganymede: horny + mollymauk = ANIMORPHS imagine mollymauk but hes now hornier and also an animorph and thats ganymede. yeah Likes: sucking dick lol, Strip truth or dare, sneaking up on parties of strangers in the woods blasted on ale Dislikes: TRAVIS FUKIN STARBORN LmAOOOO

#yeah #ok #dnd #anyway #goodnight #tangyart

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ljf613 · 4 years ago

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OOOOOHHHHHH, IT'S SISTER THEN?? THIS IS GETTING A LOT MORE INTERESTING EACH DAY!! Expect a lenghty review here when the new story drops, then!! And it will surprise you but i've already read all of your recs, i consider symbolism like a classic toko fanfic and i really enjoyed the sequel one shot that author did back in the day... About "A Simple Request", well it's not your typical arranged marriage trop but it's more like Iroh playing matchmaker and arranging their marriage kind of story (1)

I really enjoyed because i've always believed that if you make Toph and Zuko spend time together, they are gonna fall in love for each other at some point... So, that's why Arranged Marriage is a perfect trope for them, because it forces them to spend time to know together and to know each other in a deeply way. The other way is Uncle Iroh, but it works more like friends to lovers kind of story and slowburn. But regardless of if they’re in love when they get engaged, it still could be seen as an arranged marriage because of the political implications of their union. I mean, the Fire Lord marrying an Earth Kingdom's noble screams politics and rebuilding the trust between their nations. So, at the end of the day their relationship is beneficial to everybody, not only themselves. And it's a good topic to treat in fiction, like in this fanfiction called (Is there a line I’m missing?) If you don't want to go the Lin/Tenzin route, i'm all for it because it's very sad thinking about it and i love angst but i prefer the "life is not easy" type of angst you're going for in these series than romantic angst... like in my point of view, there are more heartbreaking and painful things than a broken relationship, i'm not trying to dismiss someone experiencing a heartbreak because it's also painful, but to me, if i'm very honest, losing a loved one is the worst hearbreak you could ever experience... Death is a really hard topic to deal with and you never get over it, truly, you only learn to live with it but like i said that's my approach to life... but i think whatever you is gonna be amazing because i love your writing and the way you've outlined this so far, so i can't wait for you to surprise us with more!!

-WonderBabe.

I did not say it was a sister, either! I refuse to reveal any identifying information about my OC lavababies until they crop up in my fics, so you shall have to wait and see!

And, wow, you’ve read all of them? Noice! Symbolism is definitely a classic (I should reread that one, it’s been a while), but I think my favorites are A Tale of Earth and Fire, @pigeonchest’s not supposed to come home (major inspiration for we all want love/we all want honor!), and @this-acuteneurosis’s Third Time’s the Charm. There’s one other currently updating arranged marriage Toko fic I haven’t had the chance to add to the list yet: @lone-star-ranger’s How to Scam Your Way into Marriage, which he wrote for the @avatar-rare-pair-ship-challenge and was kind enough to gift to me. (Thanks again, Lone Star!)

I did read A Simple Request, and I realized pretty quickly that it wasn’t actually an arranged marriage story, but I was not disappointed-- a 15k word Toko fic I haven’t read yet is still a Toko fic I haven’t read yet. I strongly recommend it to anyone interested in this ship-- the writer had a really good handle on Zuko and Toph’s character dynamic, especially considering that this one was written before season 3 aired (in other words, before the two of them had ever actually interacted with each other on screen). (TW for Iroh death.)

Arranged marriage is one of my favorite tropes in general, and it works really well with Toph and Zuko-- I’ll go into this in depth some other time, but suffice it to say that, politically speaking, Zuko’s best marriage option would be a minor Earth Kingdom noble, preferably one stubborn and thick-skinned enough to be able to handle the intrigues of the Fire Nation royal court, and Toph checks all of those boxes. (Did you forget to include the title of a fic you were trying to recommend?)

As for Lin and Tenzin I feel like I read their relationship pre-canon very differently from how most of the LOK fandom seems to. The story I put together while watching the show was not one of childhood sweethearts who were dating for nearly two decades before Pema swept in and broke them apart. No, my interpretation was that they were a pair of childhood friends who, upon entering their thirties and and realizing that they were still single, decided that they may as well try out a relationship-- which failed miserably and ended in disaster. In short, I don’t think that they dated for more than a few months, a year or two at most, and Lin is less upset about Tenzin “breaking her heart” than she is about how he broke up with her. (Maybe with some added bitterness that Tenzin, who she always considered to be “in the same boat” as she was, was able to find someone to settle down with while she wasn’t.)

Back to my writing; I’m a lot more comfortable working with that “life isn’t always easy” angst you’re talking about than your standard romantic angst plotlines. Broken romantic entaglements are hard, sure, but you can always find stories about those. I prefer stories about the struggles relationships experience that actually require effort to work through.

As always, it was really nice to hear from you, WonderBabe!

(PS: Do you have an AO3 account?)

#avatar the last airbender #avatar legend of korra #thoughts #toko #toph x zuko #otp: that's how i show affection #arranged marriage #zuko and toph #lavababies #fic rec #zuko #toph beifong #we all want love #we all want honor #tenzin and lin #tenzin #lin beifong #real love takes work #wonderbabe

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seyaryminamoto · 8 years ago

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Azula Ship Challenge: Day 3 - You Miscalculated

OTP: Sokkla ; BroTP: Azula & Mai

Rated: T

Weddings were supposed to be the most blissful events of all, where everyone was excited to see the happy couple committing to each other forever. There was dancing, drinking, feasting, as many wonderful things as there could be, in order to celebrate the happy union.

Some people were clearly enjoying this wedding. The Jasmine Dragon was the celebration venue, and Iroh was showing off his skills with the tsungi horn while excited couples danced to his beat. Toph was quite busy gobbling down food and showing her bending skills to any admirers who were star-struck by her talent and beauty. Zuko was red in the face, perhaps because he’d already had too much to drink, and beside him, Suki couldn’t seem to stop smiling as she draped an arm around his waist. She had convinced him to dance with her briefly, and while the Fire Lord had been embarrassed to do it, he had done it for her anyways. They were the epitome of a happy couple.

Hakoda as well was quite pleased, joking and laughing with his new son-in-law. Aang had never smiled more brightly, not ever, and Katara had been thrilled too that her father and husband would be bonding as they were. Ty Lee had snuck up on her, though, and the two girls were talking about all the efforts Katara had made to ensure the wedding would be just as she had dreamed of it.

Everything would seem perfect, if you didn’t account for the two moping, miserable people at opposite ends of the shop. Mai sat by the bar, sipping on sake silently and wondering if the drink’s effects would ever kick in properly. Maybe when it did she would stop feeling distraught at the sight of Zuko happily entangled with Suki.

The pair had only been together for a couple of months, and they were happier than Mai ever remembered being with Zuko. She didn’t really understand why, but she had the painful notion that somehow, Suki had always been better suited for Zuko than her. Maybe he had needed someone with a gentler heart, maybe Mai just wasn’t what he needed. Or maybe she was… but Zuko didn’t want her anymore, anyways. They had rekindled their love after the conflict with the New Ozai Society, but it had fallen apart all over again after years of struggling with the same problems that had always caused their break-ups. Zuko loved her, but he hadn’t changed: he still didn’t want to burden her with his problems, and Mai still had no patience for his reserved behavior.

It hadn’t been over two months after their final break-up that Zuko and Suki had told everyone they were an item. Mai had been shocked, having thought Suki and Sokka were still together. But as she gazed across the room at the miserable councilman, who had grabbed a bottle of sake of his own, it became apparent that the story between those two might have been eerily similar to the one between Mai and Zuko.

She never thought she’d feel bad for Sokka, of all people, but she found she did. Of all those in attendance today, he was likely the only one who understood just how depressing this large reunion could be.

“You should get even, you know. Hook up with him?”

Mai cringed at the sound of that voice beside her. She glared at Azula, who was smirking mischievously at her.

“No, thank you,” she snapped. “He’s not my type.”

“Which should be a good thing,” said Azula, her smirk widening. “Your type leaves a lot to be desired, Mai. First Zuzu, then that loser, Kei Lo…”

“Shut up,” Mai snapped. Azula smiled and looked at her sympathetically.

“Come on, Mai. You’re really going to spend all the evening drinking and doing nothing to get back at my brother for dumping you for her? Truly, your lack of initiative is baffling. Where’s the girl who betrayed me openly, risking death just to save that fool’s sorry ass?”

Mai sighed and shook her head. She glared at herself in the reflection of her drink.

“You have no idea how many times I’ve asked myself the same question.”

Azula frowned. Mai’s disappointment towards herself seemed to be eating at her. Maybe she was feeling worse than Azula realized…

“Do you want to… talk about it?” she asked, awkwardly. Mai scoffed.

“If I did, I don’t think I would talk about it with you,” she said, skeptical. “Not to mention, I’m dead sure you don’t care to hear this. If you do, it’s only to mock me for being pathetic.”

“Now, now, Mai, you know full well that I’ve always had high hopes for you,” said Azula, sitting beside her former friend. “I thought we would become sisters, in time. I hoped for it, even. Being sisters-in-law with the Kyoshi Warrior grosses me out more than watching the blind earthbender picking her nose.”

Mai sighed and shook her head.

“You don’t have a choice, though” said Mai “It’s Zuko’s life, and we don’t get to choose whom he dates. Not anymore. Truly, Azula, he’s hurt me enough that even if he wanted to get back together with me, I’d reject him for good this time. I’m done with being your brother’s wallflower.”

Azula gritted her teeth and lowered her gaze. Mai sipped her sake and finished the glass, pouring some more of the liquor for herself, without offering any to Azula.

“I can’t argue with that. I wouldn’t want you to be unhappy,” she said, with a sing-song voice that Mai interpreted as sarcastic. “Nevertheless… why not some payback, Mai? The water peasant is moping back there, so miserable… you really could get back at Zuko’s new wallflower this way, couldn’t you?”

“I don’t care to, Azula,” said Mai, huffing. “Unlike you, making other people miserable isn’t my hobby.”

“You say it like it’s such an awful thing,” Azula smirked. “Please. It’s just a bit of fun. Healthy, wholesome fun…”

“At the expenses of your brother? How is that healthy or wholesome?”

“How is it not?” Azula asked, raising her eyebrows. Mai sighed.

“Some things never change. Doesn’t matter if he forgave you, doesn’t matter if the Avatar thinks you’re trustworthy for some reason… you just won’t ever stop tormenting him, will you?”

“Well, in all fairness, I’m trying to convince you to be the tormentor this time,” Azula said. Mai snorted.

“So you can sit back and enjoy the show? What is it, are you that bored?”

“Possibly,” said Azula, glancing about herself and watching the many guests dancing, eating and drinking.

Air Acolytes were chatting with the Earth Kingdom boys who Azula recognized as former members of the Day of Black Sun invasion force, and the metalbending students from Beifong’s Academy were busy trying to make a demonstration for many wide-eyed spectators. Iroh was laughing now as an older woman, with some gold ornaments on her hair, complimented him for his singing. Aang and Katara were kissing, and Zuko was listening to something Suki was whispering in his ear. Azula huffed and shook her head.

“Truth be told, it’s all cringeworthy,” she said. “So many people, all of them the picture of absolute bliss… I can barely stand looking at them.”

“You want to make everyone else as unhappy as you are?” Mai asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe,” said Azula. “Or maybe what passes for entertainment for the lesser minds just won’t cut it for me. Dancing, watching as some rookies bend coins, sighing because the happy couple is oh so beautiful? Give me a break.”

“So you just hate to see people so carelessly happy, huh?” said Mai, smiling a little. “I suppose that’s one of the reasons why we got along in the first place. We were never the types to enjoy conventional socializing…”

“Which is why I’m aching to see you go for it, Mai,” said Azula, almost begging her now. “You know he deserves it…”

“I know I have better things to do with my time than piss off your brother, or listen to you,” said Mai.

“Sure. And that’s why you’re sitting here, alone, drinking sake.”

“That’s indeed a better thing to do, whether you realize it or not,” said Mai. Azula snorted.

“You’re just a coward. You don’t think he’ll go for it,” said Azula. “He’s a smart guy, you realize. I’m sure he would agree to it, if you conveyed your true purpose…”

“I am not interested, Azula,” said Mai. “Besides, if you’re so bored and so eager to see someone hooking up with Sokka, why don’t you do it yourself?”

“Me?” Azula asked, raising her eyebrows. “Well…”

“Are you still hopeless with men, perhaps?” Mai asked, a small smirk appearing on her face. Azula frowned.

“You should learn to hold your tongue once in a while, Mai. You never know when someone will cut it off, or burn it down, either way,” said Azula, shaking head. “Fine, if you’re that much of a coward, I’ll do it myself. It may just offer me some entertainment from this pointless party, after all.”

“Good luck,” said Mai, her smirk widening. Azula shook her head again and made her way across the room. Mai’s sharp eyes followed her as she took off.

The Princess of the Fire Nation strode confidently towards the man sitting on a windowsill. He was gazing outside with a wistful look on his face, and given that there was no one within three meters near him, it seemed nobody was going to bother approaching him while he was drinking his woes away. Azula stopped beside him, with a sly smirk.

“I do hope you’re not contemplating jumping from here. It’s only the second floor, you’d never die from just that.”

“Huh, came to give me advice on how to kill myself?” Sokka asked, looking at her skeptically before pointing a finger at her “I’ll have you know… I wouldn’t kill myself. I mean, I won’t. It’s just too noisy over there with everyone else, you know?”

“Oh, tell me about it,” said Azula, sitting at the other end of the windowsill, looking at him skeptically. “I’ve been trying to avoid most everyone for the same reason. I’m glad there’s still someone sensible around these parts… you always were the one with the brains, clearly.”

“Not brainy enough to end things with Suki when I should have, though…” he whispered. Azula raised an eyebrow.

“Did she… cheat on you?” she asked, tentatively. Sokka scoffed and dropped his head against the wooden window frame.

“Nah. Well… maybe. Might have cheated on me with her imagination, you know?” said Sokka, shrugging. “I could tell she fancied him, but I thought it was a passing thing. I figured she’d get over it, you know? She was with me, after all. But, heh, nah. No way. Zuko’s so much better than me anyways…”

“Better than you at what?” Azula asked, looking at Sokka skeptically. “Last I looked, he has half a face and half a brain, whereas you happen to have a decent-looking face and a surprisingly good brain, so…”

“Woah, woah, woah… are you flirting with me, Princess?” Sokka asked, a slow smirk spreading on his face. Azula tensed up, her cheeks reddening before she could help it.

“I… could be. If I were, would you go for it?” she asked. Sokka snorted and laughed before sighing sadly and shaking his head.

“Probably not. Wound’s still too sore. Come back in like, uh, a month or two?” he asked. Azula smiled and shrugged.

“If you want me to, I might. But alas… it’s kind of boring to wait that long when we can cause a scene right here and now.”

Sokka frowned and Azula smirked. He huffed and looked at her with disappointment.

“Yeah, I knew you couldn’t like me that much,” he said. “You’re just trying to have fun at everyone’s expenses, aren’t you?”

“Now, don’t be so dramatic, only at my brother’s,” she said, beaming. Sokka chuckled.

“Yeah, well… it’s still my sister’s wedding and she’s still going to be really upset if I do anything stupid with you. I don’t want to ruin her day just to piss off Zuko,” he said. Azula scowled.

“Really, first Mai and now you? What is it with you people and your morals?” she said, shaking her head. Sokka laughed again.

“Yeah, truth be told, I wonder the same thing sometimes,” he said, glancing down at the lights in the city during the nighttime. He sighed. “Why the hell do I even bother? No one’s sparing my feelings, so why do I spare theirs? But at the end of the day… I guess it’s just because I care about them. Even though Suki dumped me for Zuko, I still don’t want them to be unhappy…”

“Well, you’re a fool,” she said. Sokka smiled.

“Agreed,” he said, lifting his bottle towards her before taking another swig.

“You’re sentencing yourself to smiling awkwardly and sitting through weddings and weddings, pained by how everyone’s finding a significant other except for you, and watching how others go through several lovers, even, while you sit there wondering what on earth is wrong with you,” Azula determined, glancing out the window too.

Sokka frowned and glanced at her. He wasn’t quite drunk yet, so he was sharp enough to realize that Azula, the ruthless Princess, wasn’t the type to display this much empathy towards anyone. Was she being empathic at all? Or…

“That’s how you feel?” he asked. She cringed. “Well… now you’re not alone in that, I guess…”

“Heh, small comfort, the one fool who understands me is the one who refuses to do anything about it,” she said, with a small grin. She tried to steer the conversation away from her feelings, though. She didn’t come here to quell her loneliness, just to have a bit of fun.

“Come on, really… you just want to rile them up and it’ll cause a scene, and a scandal, and my dad’s right there, you know?” said Sokka, grimacing. “Things are bad enough as it is…”

“No, things are only bad for you, for me and for Mai,” said Azula, raising her eyebrows. Sokka’s eyebrow twitched. “They could get better for us if we make everyone else miserable, for a change.”

“What does Mai have to do with this?” he asked. Azula shrugged. “Azula?”

“I may have told her to do what I’m doing now,” she said. Sokka snorted. “What? It’s not my fault she didn’t have the guts. Kept saying you weren’t her type… well, you’re better than her type, seeing how her type is my brother, so…”

“You’re probably the only one who thinks that” said Sokka, smiling weakly. Azula smirked.

“Well, that’s exactly why you to take me into your arms right now and kiss me for everyone here to see. I assure you, the scandal will be most amusing…”

“You really are into this, huh?” said Sokka, chuckling. “Why? Been that long since you were last kissed?”

“That is neither here nor there,” she snapped. Sokka laughed.

“You really thrive off chaos, then,” he said, smiling at her. “Part of me is kind of intrigued about what might happen, I can’t lie. But…”

“But it might be messy, yes,” said Azula, truthfully. “Still… have you ever heard of a good party that didn’t have a surprising development? Predictable, boring parties like these… they aren’t memorable, are they?”

“Not really, I guess,” Sokka agreed, chuckling. “Goodness, am I really considering this? Maybe the alcohol is getting to me.”

“Or maybe your natural curiosity is,” said Azula, smirking. “Come on, what’s one kiss? We obviously won’t need to do more than that…”

“I know, I know…” said Sokka, sighing. “It’s still a little scary.”

“A brave guy like you, daunted by something as silly as kissing a girl?” she asked, with a mischievous smile. Sokka smirked.

“A girl, you say. You’re a woman, Azula, and a very dangerous one at that,” he said. She smiled proudly.

“Now, really, you flatterer… I’m already offering to kiss you, you don’t need to butter me up like that,” she said. He laughed as he set down his bottle, running his free hand through his hair and looking at her in disbelief.

“I do have fair reasons to be scared, but… really, what’s the worst they could do to us?” he said.

“People always do crazy things in weddings, after all,” Azula said, enigmatically. Sokka snickered.

“They do indeed,” he said.

They were leaning closer to one another on that windowsill. As they fell silent they grew conscious of the short distance between them, but they didn’t pull away. Azula’s smile waned, though, and she looked at him meaningfully.

“Well?” she asked. Sokka smiled.

“One kiss.”

She smiled again. He leaned closer, readying himself to kiss the lips of a new girl, for the first time in years.

He touched her softly with his mouth before pressing his lips to hers. Azula felt herself growing nervous momentarily, acutely aware of the fact that she was being kissed in public. That had never happened before. Her heart pounded in her chest as she responded almost shyly, wishing she weren’t feeling overwhelmed by the circumstances. That way she might actually do a good job at this…

Sokka pulled away, and Azula felt the urge to keep going. It had been far too brief, and she really wanted to do better. He would be disappointed, surely…

She opened her eyes to find him staring at her. His cheeks were red, and it didn’t seem to be because of his drinking.

“Uh…” he said, clearing his throat and glancing around them.

Nobody had noticed them. He grimaced, his face falling.

“Are we that easy to ignore?” he asked, his eyebrow twitching as he looked at Azula. She was blushing too, and she sighed in defeat.

“I guess?” she said, before smiling a little. “Well, it was worth the effort…”

“Oh, no, you’re not getting out of this just like that,” Sokka said, pointing a finger at her. Azula stared at it with raised eyebrows before looking at him.

“Come again?”

“Oh yeah, I sure am going to do it again,” he said. Azula’s eyes widened.

“W-wait, you are?” she asked. He blushed again, but nodded.

“You promised me a scandal. Well, a scandal it is!” he said.

He raised a hand and cupped her face with it. Azula’s face was burning by now.

“Unless you’re going to let this party stay boring, of course…?” Sokka asked. Azula gulped.

“Are you sure you don’t want another round just because you miss kissing someone?”

“Is that any reason to stop doing this?” he asked, looking at her with unease. “Sure, if you want to stop we can stop, but…”

“I’m just… surprised you’d do it again,” she admitted. Sokka chuckled.

“Well, maybe I did miss kissing someone. But I think I like that it’s you, I’ll admit… There’s something thrilling about it, somehow.”

Azula lowered her gaze but couldn’t keep from smiling. Well, if he liked kissing her so much, why not make the most of it?

“I felt the same way, but of course, it could have been just because we’re doing something so very wrong…” she said. Sokka chuckled.

“Well, I don’t mind doing wrong things with you. It’s certainly making this party a lot livelier,” he said.

She smiled with uncertainty as he leaned closer again, his head cocked to the side. He didn’t interrupt their eye contact even as their noses brushed again. Azula’s hand found its way to his neck, and she closed her eyes as she brought their lips together once more. Sokka hummed, and Azula sighed. It was strangely pleasant, closing their eyes and wandering into this crazy, light-hearted entanglement. At least they worked well together, it seemed. Sokka angled his head expertly, knowing just how to capture her lips with his own, allowing her breath to seep between the small gap them so he could breathe it in.

He decided to dare tease her with his tongue, letting it slip between his lips and to touch hers, not expecting her to imitate him, or to go further as she deepened the kiss fully. Her tongue was the one teasing his, and he responded by humming and changing his angle again.

He wasn’t surprised when she would bite him lightly: he couldn’t have expected otherwise from Azula. He responded likewise, and got a moan in return for his troubles. Her fingers were sliding over the side of his head, brushing the short hairs and reaching to massage his scalp gently. He allowed his hand to move to her waist, where it settled for now even as he felt the urge to touch her more daringly. The kiss was already all-consuming, though, and it was easy to lose himself in the way their mouths mingled together.

She had never enjoyed a kiss quite like this one. It wasn’t a kiss under false pretenses: she knew why they were kissing, and so did he. But they were completely into it, discovering in each other a remarkable kissing partner. Inevitably, Azula wondered if this could escalate any further: weddings were supposed to be the best way to find one-night-stands, from what many people had claimed. Was he going to be one for her? If he was as good at sex as he was at kissing, she wouldn’t mind that.

Her body started to burn with the longing for more. Wanting him to touch her in all her private places, to forsake all his gentlemanliness and take her as she was, filling her with himself and giving her his best performance… as those thoughts materialized in her mind, Azula leaned closer and closer to Sokka, soft and inciting moans leaving her throat. She wanted to feel him, to take this to new heights…

Her sounds were driving him mad, he realized, as his body started reacting to hers in all the right ways. He wanted more, too, and he dared reach for it. The hand on her waist slid further back, palming her lower back before moving to her bottom. Azula’s approving hum made Sokka smile between kisses, and he decided to caress her further, as she seemed to like it so much.

Her hand found his, the one at her neck, and she guided it downwards. Sokka gasped, knowing what the Princess was doing, and knowing he would gladly touch her breast, but here? Now? Sure, he was already touching her ass, but wouldn’t that be too much?

She didn’t seem to think so, though. Wherever he touched her, fire burned in the most pleasant of ways. She wanted more. She needed to feel him closer than this, with no clothes, no restraints, no irksome onlookers who might intrude…

“What the…? HEY!”

Katara’s voice barely fazed them, busy as they were with their lips locked. Sokka was shifting closer to Azula, his groin sending him a very specific message about what he ought to do next, but when a hand yanked him away from Azula he was forced to forsake his organ’s orders.

He fell inside the room, knocking over the liquor bottle and feeling a terrible sensation of loss when Azula’s delectable, full lips were no longer pressed against his. It took him a moment to register that he had bumped his head on the floor.

He grimaced and pushed himself up weakly as Azula stood from the windowsill, not knowing why on earth did she feel guilty when this was exactly what she had been going for. But Katara had pulled her brother back forcefully, and now everyone else had caught on to what was going on. A quick scan of the crowd told her that Toph was grimacing with distaste, Ty Lee had paled and was looking at Sokka as though she felt sorry for him, Aang was partially panicking, and Zuko and Suki were utterly shocked, even as they were making their way towards them.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Sokka?!” Katara bellowed. Sokka grimaced and looked at her nonchalantly.

“What people do in weddings, I guess…?” he shrugged. “I mean, damn, you got married and I’m supposed to be all alone? Seems unfair to me…”

“You don’t have to be alone, you just… don’t have to be with HER!” Katara exclaimed, as Zuko stopped next to her.

“What’s going on here?” he asked. Katara looked at him in utmost indignation.

“Your sister was…! She was making out with my brother!”

“Wait, what?!” Zuko exclaimed, as Sokka stood up and raised his hands defensively.

“You know, nobody was doing anything they didn’t want to do, there’s no need for…”

“Sokka, why would you…?” Zuko asked, eyes wide. Suki, beside him, looked at her ex-boyfriend with horror. Sokka grimaced.

“He needs an intervention, he had too much to drink!” Katara declared, grabbing her brother by the arm and dragging him away before he could protest.

“B-but Katara!” he stumbled, glancing back at the others.

His eyes could have found Suki, and he could have glared defiantly at her, showing he would move on, as she had. They could have found Zuko, too, to sneer at him for what he’d done: if Zuko could get together with Suki, why should Sokka stay away from Zuko’s sister?

Yet his eyes latched onto Azula’s, onto the blush on her face, and the unexpected expression on it. She seemed to be at a loss. It pleased Sokka to see that: it was how he felt, too. Something unexpected had sparked between them, and he felt hard-pressed to find out what it was.

“Why did you do this?”

Azula jumped when Suki asked her that question, her voice shaky. The Princess stopped following Sokka with his eyes as Katara dragged him downstairs, and instead she stared back at the Kyoshi Warrior with skepticism for a moment. Soon enough she was smiling and shaking her head.

“Why, you ask?” she said, raising her eyebrows. “Because this party was getting rather dull, don’t you think?”

She walked away just as confidently as she had earlier, no matter if her makeup was smudged now, her appearance mildly disheveled. It had been a hell of a kiss, really. She only wished it could have lasted longer, or that they would have done it for the sake of it, rather than to cause a scene in the party. The things they could have done if they’d had privacy…

She didn’t realize her feet were taking her right back to Mai. And her eyes widened when she saw her old friend smiling with a streak of pure mischief that Azula hadn’t seen in her eyes for a very long time.

“That was quite the scene indeed,” said Mai. “I truly didn’t think you had it in you.”

“You ought to learn not to underestimate me by now, Mai,” said Azula, raising her eyebrows. “It would seem you’re the one who miscalculated this time…”

Mai’s smirk became soft laughter now. Azula was surprised to find herself smiling, too. She couldn’t quite believe she had said those words again, after all this time, without feeling not even a pang of bitterness over them. Mai had spoken them to her for the first time so long ago, and unleashed fury Azula hadn’t known she could experience. This time, Azula spoke them and brought Mai to laugh in a way she had never seen her laugh before. It seemed those words were rather handy when it came to triggering unexpected reactions.

“Fine. You win” said Mai, smiling still and reaching back to grab a clean cup for sake.

As she poured it, Azula bit her lower lip and made to sit beside Mai once more. She accepted the drink, even though it was far from her favorite. But it was a gesture of peace from the most unlikely source: she’d be a fool to reject it.

“I’ll say, that was some fine entertainment,” Mai chuckled again, raising her cup as to toast. Azula smirked and met Mai’s cup with her own.

“You know boredom is never in my schedule,” she said, proudly.

The two old friends drank together, to old days and new ones, sitting side by side before the Jasmine Dragon’s open bar. Eyes still leered at Azula warily, for everyone wondered what on earth had she been up to with Sokka, but Mai was warmer than she had ever been. Sometimes rekindling a friendship could be just as satisfying as starting a brand new romance.

The Jasmine Dragon was still boisterous and loud when Azula and Mai took their leave, barely a half hour after the chaotic scene had unfolded. As they weren’t too close to either of the newlyweds, the two of them wouldn’t be needed for now. Chances were people would have more fun without worrying about what Azula might pull next, anyways.

“I would head to the inn Zuko is staying at, he had booked a room for me…” Azula confessed, as they walked down the stairs, on their way to the exit. “But I’m afraid I don’t care for hearing what him or his girlfriend have to say about the stunt I pulled earlier.”

“Here I thought you had pulled it just to hear what they’d have to say,” said Mai, smirking. “Was it that good, then?”

“It was… decent.”

“Oh, of course it was only decent. That’s why you were moments away from straddling him in front of everyone, no doubt.”

“I was not.”

“You were and you know it. I was watching it all along, Azula…”

“It doesn’t mean that I was…” the Princess rebuffed, but as they stepped out into the street, she found there was someone sitting by the small water mirror before the teashop.

It was him. Her eyes widened when she noticed he was soaking wet, surely because of whatever his sister had done to him. Despite Azula had mostly wanted to rile up Zuko, clearly the more upset sibling hadn’t been hers.

Sokka raised his eyes and saw them, noticing the almost apologetic look on Azula’s face. He smiled and shrugged.

“What can I say? My sister has a temper,” he said, gesturing at the water mirror behind him. “Tossed me in there, said I needed to cool down if I thought you were hot…”

“You… said I was hot?” Azula asked, as Mai’s smirk widened with amusement.

“I didn’t say it, she inferred I thought so. And… I usually hate saying my sister’s right, but she is. I do think so,” Sokka admitted, truthfully.

The blush on Azula’s cheeks was so strong Mai could only snicker as she looked at her. It earned her a glare from her friend.

“Well, I was going to offer you the chance to find a room in the inn I’ll be staying at…” Mai said, crossing her arms over her chest. “But something tells me he has a more indecent proposal for you.”

“I wasn’t…! W-well, I didn’t…! I mean, if you want to, I…” Sokka stuttered, blushing too, but Mai had no time for his bumbling.

“Cut to the chase, you two need to get it on and I won’t stand in your way,” said Mai, looking at Azula with a proud grin. “Go get him, Azula.”

“I… shut up,” Azula snapped. Mai laughed as she took her leave, and Azula rolled her eyes while wishing she weren’t blushing so strongly.

Sokka gulped as Mai walked away, but he looked at Azula nervously, his head slightly bent down.

“So…?” he said. Azula looked at him with uncertainty, before sighing and smiling weakly.

“Are you really going to proposition me?”

“Do you want me to?”

“That depends on how you do it, I suppose,” she said, smirking now. Sokka snorted.

“Well, what can I say?” he said, shaking his head “Truth is, you’re too good a kisser. I wanted more up there, and I just hope you did, too. So… if you’re willing, maybe we could do it without an audience this time.”

“Hmm, maybe,” said Azula, smiling and moving closer to him. “And maybe we could do other things that don’t require an audience, yes?”

“If you’d like that…” he said, smirking too. Azula laughed.

“Well… it would be too irresponsible to leave you in those wet clothes, now, wouldn’t it?”

Sokka laughed in agreement as she leaned closer and kissed him deeply, without restraint this time. He held her under the stars, the water mirror behind them calm again as it reflected the two lovers and the field of darkness spreading above them, that covered them like a mantle and kept their budding affair safely protected from any prying eyes this time…

#azulashipchallenge #sokkla #azula #sokka #mai #brotp #no lies this is one of my favorite Azula brotps #these two are fun #fixing their friendship makes me happy

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