#so that sokka could warn both the earth kingdom villagers AND the fire nation soldier

[devilofdots]

Well I have finally watched the first three episodes of Netflix’s ATLA…

Ugh.

[atlabeth]

everything happens for a reason part 7 - zuko x fem!reader

I think my ways are wearing me down

part 6 | masterlist | part 8

a/n: as said very astutely in my outline, "y/n just keeps taking L's"

i actually had to take breaks while writing the final scene and watching the episode LMAo i forgot how fucking sad this scene was!!

warning(s): you know what happens in this chapter. its siege of the north part 2. its so much more angst like SO MUCH ANGST. im so sorry i got so sad while writing this

wc: 4.0k

chapter title comes from brand new city by mitski!

Y/N adjusted her hold on the basket of clothes as she knocked on the door with her free hand, pushing it open after waiting a few moments.

“Prince Zuko?” she called in a whisper. They had gotten past the point of formalities, but it was a precaution she opted to take when they met like this. She spotted him sitting on his bed and he gave her a thumbs up, a sign she took to mean they were in the clear. Y/N closed the door behind her and bounded over, then set the basket on his bed.

“Alright. I brought you the book that you wanted to borrow.” She unearthed the novel from the pile of clothes with caution, taking care to not ruin the hard work that went into folding all of them. “I had to hide it so I could get in here — no one thinks anything of a servant bringing clothes around, but books are a little more suspicious. But here you go! My very own edition of ‘Keiko and the Koalaotter’.”

“Thank you!” The prince grinned as he took the book and examined the cover. “I’ve always been curious about Water Tribe culture, even more after you started teaching me about it. They don’t really tell us about it in our classes.”

“It’s not really accurate to actual Water Tribe stuff, but it is cute,” she laughed. “I remember begging my parents for a koalaotter for weeks after I finished it. They told me that there was no way to get one all the way in the Earth Kingdom, but I never listened to them.”

“Oh, that reminds me!” His eyes lit up as he ran over to the windowsill. “I got you a gift too!”

“Zuko, really? You shouldn’t have.”

“Well, I did. So don’t even think about not accepting it,” he joked. He picked something up from a vase and bounded back over, doing as good a job of hiding the flowers behind his back as his excited grin.

“What is it?” she questioned.

“They’re silver wisterias!” he exclaimed as he presented the bouquet. “They grow in the palace gardens. They’re really pretty, and so are you, and I know how much you love the gardens, so I thought you’d like it.”

She felt her cheeks heat up when she accepted the gift, twirling the stem in her fingers as she inhaled its sweet scent with a smile. “That’s really thoughtful of you, Zuko. Thank you.”

“Of course! You could wear one in your hair, pin one onto your uniform, put them in your room, whatever you want.”

As she carefully ran her fingers over the petals, she couldn’t stop the nagging question at the back of her mind from escaping.

“Why are you so nice to me?” she blurted out, causing Zuko’s brows to furrow in confusion.

“Because you’re my friend. Friends are nice to each other.”

“I know, but why are we friends?” she pushed. “You know that you could get in trouble for talking to me like this, but you still do it. Why?”

He pondered the question for a moment before he answered. “Well.. you don’t treat me like everyone else. I’m the prince, so everyone here has to do what I want and be nice to me. But you’re not like that. When it’s just the two of us, you treat me like anyone else, and I like that — I know that you always mean what you say, so when you’re nice to me I know it’s because you like me, not because you have to be. Why do you do that?” the prince asked as he turned the tables. “You know that you could get in trouble for talking to me like this, but you still do it. Why?”

She punched him playfully on the shoulder and giggled. “Someone’s gotta keep you humble.”

His cheeks flushed a bright red as he rubbed his arm shyly. “I’m really glad we’re friends. Sometimes it feels like you’re my only one in this whole nation.”

“So am I,” she beamed. “Always and forever, right?”

“Right.”

-

Y/N’s eyes snapped open and she gasped, immediately whipping her head around frantically to see if the Avatar was still there, but Katara shook her head.

“He’s gone,” Katara said miserably, confirming her suspicions. “I woke up a few minutes before you and I checked everywhere.”

“Great,” she muttered. She rubbed the back of her head and winced — she had a feeling she would be plagued by headaches for at least the next couple of days.

“So…” Katara began. “You and Zuko both recognized each other. He— he said he thought that you were dead.”

Y/N pursed her lips, wondering how to start that story, when Sokka and Yue burst into the oasis on Appa.

“What happened?” he questioned. “Where’s Zuko?”

“He took Aang,” Katara mourned. “He took him right out from under me.”

“It’s not your fault, Katara,” Y/N insisted. “It really looks like he’s improved since… since last time.”

“‘Last time’?” Sokka asked, prompting a sigh from Y/N. She looked to Yue for help, and the princess nodded supportively.

“We have… history.” She looked at her hands for a moment before continuing. “I’m not from the Northern Water Tribe. My mother is, but I was born in a small village in the Earth Kingdom. I told you that my village was invaded, Katara, but after it, my mother and I were captured for being waterbenders, and they took us to the Fire Nation to work as healers and servants in the palace.”

“I became friends with Zuko there. He was nothing like you saw today, or like anything you know from the past. He was kind, and caring, and passionate, and he made my dismal life a little bit brighter. And… we ended up falling for each other.”

“We went too far, the Fire Lord found out, and— well, he was going to kill me. My mother managed to get me out, but she stayed behind, and I haven’t seen her since that night. I haven’t seen Zuko since that night. I always held hope that I would find my way back and see them both again, but now that Zuko is like… like that?” She bit down on her lip and shook her head.

“Now I don’t know what to think. He’s completely different than anything I knew, than the boy that I fell in love with. And I can’t help but think about what happened to my mother if that is what happened to Zuko.” And I can’t help but think that it’s my fault for not being there for him.

A collective silence hung in the air for just a moment before Sokka broke it. “You had a thing with Zuko?”

Y/N let out a surprised laugh as Katara hit him on the shoulder. “Sokka, now is not the time!”

“No,” she chuckled. “No, it’s alright. It’s a lot, I know. It’s just… impossible. That the Zuko I knew turned into someone like this. I mean, you saw, Katara— he didn’t even hesitate to try and hurt me.”

Katara pulled her into a warm embrace before separating and looking her in the eyes. “I’m sorry, Y/N, for all that you’ve been through. And I know that fighting against Zuko hurts, so if you can’t come after Aang with us then I completely understand—”

“No,” she said once more, something hardening in her eyes. “I’ll help you find Aang, it’s the least I can do. Besides, I… I have to see him again. I have to see him again to know that this is actually real, that— that this is actually who he is now.”

Katara nodded solemnly; Sokka had already started walking back to Appa with Yue. “Well, Zuko couldn’t have gotten far. We’ll find him — Aang’s gonna be fine.”

Katara looked back hopefully at Y/N and she met her eyes with a smile, though slightly strained, as she jogged to catch up with them. But as she climbed onto Appa with her fellow waterbender, the anger in his eyes was all she could see.

The boy she fought might’ve been the Fire Prince, but it was not her Zuko.

-

Cold.

That was all Zuko seemed to know as he trekked through the frozen tundra, the blizzard around him threatening to end him at any moment. No more had he despised the Water Tribes than he did in this moment, but the weight of the Avatar on his back and the promise of his honor was enough to push him onwards.

The only thing on his mind that he couldn’t shake was her.

Zuko thought she was dead, honestly and truly. Few were lucky enough to escape his father’s wrath once it was incurred upon them — Zuko himself wasn’t even an exception — and though he wanted nothing more than for her to be one of the few, he knew that she was dead. There was no other explanation.

For years, the waterbender had been a staple in his mind — a memory of a childhood love, of a better time. He thought about her when he fought against his soldiers on slow evenings on the ship, her words of encouragement and joking retorts echoing through his ears as he went through every form. He thought about her when he talked to his uncle, his attitude often mirroring hers. The morning of the Agni Kai, he almost turned to her for reassurance before remembering.

Spirits, Zuko thought about her every time he looked at the water. And even all these years after her disappearance, he was still plagued by nightmares of her fate.

He had resigned himself to mourning her. Zuko truly thought she was dead.

But there she was, in the flesh, with the Avatar and his friends. Breathing. Alive. His enemy.

How the fuck was he supposed to deal with that?

She was even more beautiful than he remembered, but it was obvious the years since her escape had weathered her. He noticed a certain emptiness in her eyes, the brightness from their childhood a distant memory. It was obvious she had grown — she carried a certain elegance that he didn’t remember, and her skill in waterbending had improved so much since the days of their sparring sessions.

It felt like he had betrayed her. The expression she wore after his first blast was like a physical weight, the guilt of broken promises heavy over his head when he struck the final blow. So familiar to their friendly fights, yet such a far cry.

But they weren’t kids anymore. She had changed, and so had he.

It had been years. Any feelings he still harbored for her didn’t matter anymore.

Zuko had a mission, and he was going to complete it no matter what.

-

The tundra was treacherous, the blizzard making it difficult to see anything at all. Y/N had taken to holding Yue’s hand, something the princess had offered when she had seen how restless her friend was, as well as gnawing on the bottom of her lip. She feared for both Zuko and Aang, and she could only hope that they would be able to find them before something happened to either of them.

“Don’t worry,” the princess reassured. “Prince Zuko can’t be getting too far in this weather.”

“I’m not worried they’ll get away in the blizzard,” Katara murmured. “I’m worried that they won’t.”

“They’re not gonna die in this blizzard,” Sokka said as he gripped the reins tighter. “If we know anything, it’s that Zuko never gives up.”

Y/N chuckled softly and nodded. “You’ve got that right.”

Yue gave her hand a squeeze and a small smile, a sentiment that Y/N returned as Sokka continued. “They’ll survive, and we’ll find them.”

It took a few more minutes of riding and searching, but eventually a bright blue light streaked through the air. Katara gasped and pointed up. “Look!” she exclaimed. “That’s gotta be Aang! Yip yip!”

Appa groaned once more and Sokka turned to follow the light — it had stopped in a small cove before glowing brilliantly then disappearing — and sure enough, Zuko and Aang were down in the snow.

“Appa!” he cheered as they landed, causing Zuko’s eyes to flick up too. Y/N met his gaze for just a moment before he broke it, throwing Aang to the side and easing into a bending stance as Katara slid off of Appa’s back.

“Here for a rematch?” Zuko challenged, the undeserved confidence he spoke with a glimpse of the past.

“Trust me, Zuko,” Katara countered as she raised her hands, “It’s not going to be much of a match.”

She blocked his fire blast then sent a current of snow at him, launching him up into the air on a frozen column before letting him fall to the ground and knocking him out. Y/N couldn’t help but wince, and as Sokka jumped down to free Aang, she slid down as well.

She ran over the pile of snow and bent it off of Zuko, then knelt down next to him and pulled off her glove. She put two fingers on his neck and confirmed what she already thought, but it was still a relief. He was alive, but he wouldn’t be for much longer if he stayed out here.

“What are you doing?” she heard Sokka yell. Y/N turned to find everyone back on Appa already, staring expectantly at her.

“We can’t leave him!” Y/N protested.

“Sure we can!” he countered. “Now come on, let’s go!”

“No,” she insisted, pressing the back of her hand against his forehead. It was ice cold. “If we leave him, he’ll die!”

“She’s right.” Aang airbended himself off of Appa and helped her pick up Zuko; Aang bringing himself and the prince back onto the bison with his element and Y/N climbing back up with a hand from Katara.

Sokka rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Yeah, this makes a lot of sense. Let’s bring the guy who’s constantly trying to kill us.”

Y/N ignored the remark and met Aang’s eyes, mouthing a silent ‘thank you’. He smiled and nodded, then grabbed the reins and took off.

As they flew through the sky, Y/N glanced down at Zuko. He looked so much more peaceful now than a few moments ago, his features relaxed rather than tense. It was strange seeing him like this after all these years; angry, scarred, changed. Nothing like the reunion she had imagined.

She bent some of the snow falling down into water and molded it over the cuts on his face, the element taking on a slight glow as she started to heal him.

“Oh, Zuko,” she murmured. “What happened in those four years?”

As if her concentration had broken, the water previously under her control lost both its shape and glow as it pooled on his face. She frowned and attempted to bend it off, but none of the usual power she felt at night was flowing through her veins.

It was at that moment that Y/N looked up and noticed her surroundings.

Everything was cloaked in a veil of red, a crimson moon their backdrop as they continued through the air. “My bending isn’t working,” Y/N muttered, earning a curious look from Katara.

And to make matters worse, Yue winced and held her head, Aang doing the same.

“Are you okay?” Sokka questioned as he reached out to comfort her.

“I feel faint,” she muttered, the effort it took not lost on Y/N.

“I feel it too.” Aang pressed his palm against the side of his head and grimaced as his gaze shifted upwards. “The Moon Spirit is in trouble.”

Y/N’s eyes widened immediately as they flicked towards Yue, the princess choosing not to meet them as she began to tell them all the story of her birth and how she owed the Moon Spirit her life. By the time she was done the Water Tribe siblings were staring at her with disbelief, but there was no time for questions as they flew into the Spirit Oasis.

The sight that awaited them shocked Y/N to her core. A Fire Nation admiral — one she recognized from all the years ago, yet unable to place a name — held a bag with one clenched fist, the other posing the unsaid threat.

“Don’t bother,” he spat in response to their fighting stances, the two words overflowing with unearned confidence. But as cocky as he may have been, it worked — he knew that they were rendered helpless when he held the possibility of a dying spirit against them.

“Zhao, don’t.” Aang dropped his staff and held his hands up in surrender, an action Y/N and the others mirrored.

Everything after that happened unbelievably quickly. After General Iroh — a man she knew as both the ruthless general that laid siege to Ba Sing Se for six hundred long days and Zuko’s surprisingly kind uncle — threatened the admiral with his own firebending, Y/N foolishly believed it to be the end once he let the fish back into the pond.

But any hopes of peace were dashed with the slice of firebending the admiral sent at Tui, plunging the world back into shades of grey just as quickly as it had returned.

“NO!”

A bloodcurdling scream rang in the air; Y/N thought whoever produced it must’ve been insane. It took her a moment to realize the strangled sound had come from her, and that Sokka’s grip on her arms was the only thing stopping her from foolishly throwing herself into the raging battle that had started.

Did the admiral not understand what he had just done? To attack any spirit was to inflict the rage of many others, to kill a spirit was to sign not only one's own death warrant, but those around him as well.

To kill the Moon Spirit meant to destroy waterbending as the world knew it. To kill the Moon Spirit meant to disrupt the balance of the world. To kill the Moon Spirit meant to kill Yue.

The admiral should’ve considered himself very lucky that her waterbending was gone. With it, Y/N knew she would’ve done something she would regret.

As soon as the flames of Iroh’s onslaught disappeared, Sokka’s grip loosened on her arms and she all but sprinted over to the pond. A choked sob fell from her lips when she saw the dead fish in the water, palpable horror in the air as the rest of the group joined her.

Not even Aang’s feat of merging with the Ocean Spirit could help — it might’ve saved the tribe from the attack on the Fire Nation, but it could do nothing for the dead spirit. Y/N watched on mournfully as Iroh placed Tui back into the pond, the mortal body of the fish laying there unmoving.

“It’s too late,” Katara lamented. “It’s dead.”

Iroh looked up and met Y/N’s eyes, recognition flashing through them for just a moment before they moved to Yue’s. The blue hues of her irises were even more striking than usual — they were the only sign of color in the world around them.

His own widened with surprise as he gestured at her. “You have been touched by the Moon Spirit. Some of its life is in you.”

Yue seemed to understand what he was saying as she raised her head, her features taking on a mask of stoicism. “Yes, you’re right. It gave me life… maybe I can give it back.”

It was as if lightning had struck Y/N, the way that fear was jolted into her heart. “No!” she cried at the same time as Sokka, a reprise of her earlier plea. “Yue, you can’t!”

“You don’t have to do that!” Sokka reached out for her hand but she wrenched it out of his grasp — nothing they could say was going to change her mind.

“It’s my duty.” The princess stated it so plainly, carving the letters on her headstone herself.

“I won’t let you!” Sokka insisted. “Your father told me to protect you.”

“Yue, your duty isn’t to die for your tribe!” Y/N cried. She couldn’t think, spirits she could barely breathe. She couldn’t go through this again. She couldn’t go through this again. “Please, there has to be another way!”

She smiled sadly at Y/N and shook her head. “This was what I was born to do.” The princess glanced at the pond then took a step forward, wrapping Y/N in the tightest hug she could muster. She pressed her lips against Y/N’s cheek in a feather light kiss before she pulled away and continued forward and placed her hands against the koi fish.

The fish began to glow, Yue closed her eyes, she collapsed into Sokka’s arms.

And that was it.

The color returned to the world, but Y/N was frozen in place. She couldn’t do anything to save her friend, the girl that she was pretty sure she loved, as she died in front of her. Her cheek was still burning from where Yue’s lips had touched, and she wanted to bottle that warmth because she knew that was the last time she would ever feel it.

The first tear to fall snapped her out of her paralysis as she fell to her knees next to Sokka, her body cradled in his arms as he mourned for a lost love. Y/N wanted to scream, she wanted to sob, she wanted to do anything to get this anger and sadness out but she could do nothing but stare, eyes wide and shimmering with unshed tears.

Her body slowly faded away, and Y/N could’ve laughed at the irony. Yue gave her life for the spirits and all they could leave them with was the fleeting memory.

The fish in Iroh’s hands began to glow and he placed it back in the water, and almost immediately it returned to its natural rhythm. The oasis took on the glow of the fish and it formed the cruelest joke of them all.

Princess Yue. She was ethereal, both her hair and white dress flowing down her back and a peaceful expression on her face. She was more beautiful than ever, and her voice echoed through the oasis as she spoke.

“I will always be with you, Y/N. Thank you for making me feel alive.” A small smile, much like the one she gave her just moments ago, played on her lips. “I love you.”

Y/N could do nothing but stare, awestruck and heartbroken, as she whispered something to Sokka and kissed him.

And then she was gone.

Her gaze was trained forward, tears spouting and falling down her cheeks, some dim part of her still hoping that it was just a cruel joke by the spirits. She couldn’t go through this again.

How could they do this to her again? How could they introduce a light into her life and make her fall in love, then wrench it away from her grasp? She felt selfish for only caring about herself. She couldn’t go through this again.

Yue was gone.

She couldn’t go through this again.

Another strangled sob fell from her lips and Katara pulled her into a hug. That simple motion seemed to open to the floodgates, and suddenly she was choking on her own tears. Katara’s arms around her were the only tether she had to the world right now, she had to focus on it or else she would lose herself to the grief.

It felt like the minutes were hours with how long it took until Y/N was finally able to walk out of the oasis, but Katara and Sokka stayed by her side the entire time. When they finally stumbled out into the real world, Y/N felt weaker than ever. The constant go go go of the siege had finally caught up to her, and she was so damn tired.

“Always and forever.”

“You’re stuck with me.”

She was losing hope in promises.

-

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[jaceyneedsabetterusername]

I’ll Never Be The Moon

Pairings: Sokka x Reader

Summary: It’s hard to get someone to notice you when you’re competition is the moon but Aang’s always there to make you feel better.

Warnings: Talk of death, Aang says ass

Word Count: 2000

_________________________________________

Every night, there was always a little pocket of time when the camp was uncharacteristically silent and Sokka was sitting to the side, staring up at the night sky instead of cracking jokes and telling stories. It was your least favorite time of night because it was a constant reminder of what you’d never be. Katara, Aang, Toph, and you all usually talked amongst yourselves, used to this routine. Everyone knew why Sokka got like this, though, so nobody bothered him about it. Not even Toph. There were just some things that you didn't joke about and Yue’s death was one of them. 

But on some nights, like tonight, it got to you. Every single night, you watched the man you’d been crazy about for so long stare up at the moon, yearning for a lost love. He looked up at the moon like it held all the love and beauty in the world. He looked at you like you had mud on your face. 

You sighed and pushed yourself up from your seat by the fire amidst a story Toph was telling, “I’m getting warm. I’m gonna go get some air.” You excused yourself, ignoring the little comments of acknowledgement from the group. 

The view was beautiful here in this little piece of the Earth Kingdom. Camp was set up on the edge of a large pristine lake that was surrounded by a thick luscious forest. The mountains on the opposite side of the lake were reflected perfectly on the still surface of the water through the moonlight. 

Beauty always came back to the moon. 

You spotted a fallen log on the edge of the shore and found a home on it, just far enough away from the group to be allowed to have your own thoughts. But from here, you could see Sokka sitting there on the ground, his arms wrapped around his knees as he gazed up at the celestial being, mesmerized by her beauty.

“I’ll never be the moon…” You mumbled to yourself sadly. 

“Everything okay?” Aang’s voice asked from behind you. You spun around to see the boy walking up the path you took. 

“Hm? Yeah, I’m alright.” You lied, tucking your knees in and resting your chin on it. 

Aang walked around and moved to sit on the log beside you, “Are you sure? You said something about not being the moon?” 

You chuckled sadly. That must have sounded either psychotic or pathetic to him. “It’s nothing. Just talking to myself.” Were you even trying to not sound crazy? 

“About being the moon?” He questioned with a hint of humor in his tone. You didn’t know how to respond. All you’d done was make yourself sound dumb and you already felt inadequate tonight as it was. You weren’t exactly eager to continue that so you only responded with a shrug. “This is about Sokka, isn’t it?” Aang put the pieces together. But honestly, it wasn’t that hard to tell. Your crush wasn’t blatantly obvious or anything but if you paid attention, like Aang had found himself doing for the past few weeks, the signs weren’t difficult to see. 

You looked over at Aang with pleading eyes, “Please don’t tell anyone.” 

“Your secret is safe with me,” He crossed his fist over his heart with a confident smile. But when he saw that you were still down, he shrunk down to match your demeanor, “So I’m guessing it’s Yue, since you’re talking about the moon, right?” 

You nodded, cheeks squished up against the palms of your hands as you leaned over onto them, “I never had a chance compared to her. She was a princess! And she was absolutely beautiful and kind and selfless. I’d never seen Sokka so entranced by someone. I'm just me. A girl from a poor family in a small Earth Kingdom village. Sure, I can fling rocks but it’s nothing compared to being a beautiful princess. And who would want the Earth when you could have the moon?” 

“Y/N, you are beautiful, kind, selfless and more! And I really don’t think Sokka liked her because she was a princess. Yue wasn’t better than you; you two are just different people and that’s not a bad thing.” Aang comforted in his honest way. 

Crickets began to chirp around the two of you in the clearing. “I don’t know… I just… I know I’ll never be her.” 

“Why would you want to be her?” Aang asked, “I like you as you.” 

“Because she has Sokka,” You started before you chuckled and a small smile appeared on your face despite your down mood, “But thank you, Aang.”

Aang leaned back on his arms against the log, “Well, I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but she doesn’t really have Sokka anymore. I mean, she’s the moon. It’s kind of hard to date the moon.” He pointed out the obvious observation. 

“That’s what I don’t understand! I know how bad that sounds. But… she’s gone.” You finally allowed yourself to say that dark little point (well, honestly, it was a pretty big point). Gosh, why did you feel like such a monster for saying that? “I know how terrible that sounds but when it comes down to it, Yue is literally the moon now. They can’t be together unless Sokka pulls some stupid hero stunt and gets himself blasted into the spirit world too but that seems pretty unlikely. I completely understand that her dying doesn’t take away his feelings for her or the hurt that came with losing her but it just hurts. It hurts me to see him hurting but it also hurts me to see him pining for a girl he fell in love with after three days when I can’t get him to give me a second glance.”

Your gaze fell on where the moon was reflecting in ripples on the water and followed its light back up to its large celestial source with a small sigh, “Even in death she’s beautiful. No wonder he’ll always love her.” 

Aang stood up with a sense of finality, “No,” He crossed his arms before grabbing your hand and forcing you to stand up, “I won’t allow this. You don’t get to think you’re worth less than someone else just because she was a princess or part moon spirit. Come here and look in the water.” He led you to the shore and leaned over the water with you until you saw both of your reflections. “Now what do you see?” 

Your face twisted as you made eye contact with your reflection, “Me? You? Us?” You guessed, not sure what he was getting at. 

“No, I want you to look at you and tell me what you see.” Aang insisted, pointing at your reflection. 

This time, you really tried to see what Aang wanted you to see. Though the reflection was dark from the limited light, you could still make out enough of your image. You just looked like you. Your hair was actually in place for once, which you attributed to not flying on Appa for the last few hours. You did have a smudge of ash on your cheek that you must have accidentally swiped across your face after moving a burning piece of wood back into the fire pit earlier. A small splice at the tail of your eyebrow was healing up but still visible, a "trophy", as Toph called it, after a run in with some Fire Nation soldiers the other day. You wore a green top that covered your shoulders and crossed around the front, held together with a tan tie. The top of your dark brown pants were visible but those looked a little ragged too. The wrappings that started around your thumb and went around your forearms, up to your elbows were getting dirty as well, more tan than off white now. Coming from the outer villages that were run by Earth Kingdom "soldiers", if you could even call them that after all the extortion, it wasn't exactly like you joined the group with super nice clothing to begin with. 

"I see a girl with a busted eyebrow, a dirty face, and clothes that she needs to wash tomorrow." You huffed a little, beginning to pull away before Aang pushed you back to stay where you were. 

You rolled your eyes before he started talking, "I see someone who fights for what she believes in, someone who didn't come from much but is going to help change the world. Someone that doesn't need to be a princess to be awesome or beautiful. Sure, you got a little scuffed up and you got ash on your face but who cares? I know Sokka sure doesn't. Besides, Sokka needs to do his laundry tomorrow too… he’s starting to smell kind of bad." You snorted as you stifled a laugh. Aang wasn’t necessarily wrong though. 

Before he continued, he looked over your shoulder to make sure you two were still alone. When he ensured it was still just the two of you in ear shot, he leaned in close, putting his arm around your shoulders and whispered, "And between you and me, Sokka was practically drooling over you when you took out those Fire Nation soldiers the other day. He thinks the badass thing you've got going on is super attractive." 

You turned your head to him with a skeptical look on your face, unsure if he was just saying that to make you feel better but when you thought about it, you didn't think you'd ever actually heard Aang lie before. That probably meant he wasn't lying now, though. "Really?" 

Aang nodded, "Yeah, but don't tell him I told you. He'll kill me." 

You couldn't help but smile at your friend. All he ever did was try and help people, even it was just dumb stuff like making a friend feel better about a boy. "Thank you." You reached over and pulled him into a side hug. 

When you pulled away, you looked back over to camp to see that Sokka had returned from his nightly mourn. He now sat on top of his sleeping bag, a stick in his hand, as if he'd been poking the fire, but instead of doing that, he was actually looking at you. It was only for a brief moment that your E/C eyes locked with his brilliant blue ones because he quickly looked down at fire, a tint of pink rising in his cheeks.

"Told you," Aang hummed, "He's been looking over at you for the last few minutes."  

A small glimmer of hope rose up in your chest but it felt tainted somehow, "Maybe he just zoned out…" Defeat already laced your voice, "I mean, if he likes me, why doesn't he say anything? He's never been exactly subtle with girls he's liked in the past." 

Aang stood up and walked around the log to the other side of you, "I think he just feels conflicted. A part of him still loves Yue even though he knows he can't have her, but he really likes you too." He put a hand on your shoulder, "I'm gonna head back to camp. But just give him a little more time, okay? I have a feeling that things are actually going to work out between you guys and my feelings are almost always right." He gave you a wink with childish confidence. 

Your gaze followed Aang as he jogged back to the camp, ready to follow suit, figuring the gang would start pestering you about being moody if you didn't return soon. Though you started watching Aang, you couldn't help but allow your eyes to flick over to Sokka again, just out of curiosity (okay, fine, maybe just because you really liked to look at him). Sokka's bright blue eyes were already trained on your firm when you glanced over but this time, instead of pretending to be burning a stick, he made a big show of reaching behind him to grab his boomerang, trying just a little too hard to look 'natural (if you could call it that). A warm smile crept up on your face and you giggled to yourself as you finally stood up from the log to make your way back to camp. Maybe Aang's feeling could be right after all. 

[girlandthedarkness]

the avatar I azula x reader part II

what if azula will have a crush on a girl that turns out to be the avatar, what would she do? part one

a/n: this is a second part, thank you for everything, warning a very ooc azula and an evil!zuko, so if you don't like stuff like this don't read it

She won. The reign of the Ozai is over. To give him credit it was a rough fight, but despite her young age, Y/n wasn't worse, striking him without a hesitation, deadly. Y/n moves fast, the war is over, but the fight is not finished yet, she could see some devoted soldier who still keep attacking, but that's in vain. The ones deep red sky is now smoky blue and with a move that Katara taught her she rises the ocean's water to put down the fire who still burn. Y/n let a heavy sigh, she wants to pass out right here, forget about the war and what will happen after this. The girl almost let her body fall down when she remembered: Azula. The last time she saw her she was ready to fight along with Katara against Zuko, taking the flying bison. Y/n close her eyes and make her body to move again, the memories of the goodbye at the bay and her long road to earth kingdom still fresh in Y/n's mind like an open wound.

“She's in one of the village of Kyoshi Island, Y/n thought it's a good idea to hide from the fire nation under the protection of the order that one of her past lives created. She stayed here and tried to learn anything that will improve her bending, studying one by one the many Kyoshi's diaries and thanks spirits, there's a lot of them. Kyoshi was a fascinating avatar, her era was one of the most peaceful, so there's a lot that Y/n can learn from her, also she needs to learn everything about peacemaking.

In one of the days, where she was studying another old scroll she was interrupted. "Avatar Y/n, there are some intruders that we found at the beach, one of them claim to be an airbender." No one except a few Kyoshi's warriors knew that she's the Avatar, one of them was Suki, who's voice was fast and breathless, probably from running to her. "Take me to them."

Turned out it was indeed an airbender and also two people from water tribe, the girl, Katara, was even an waterbender. "Why are you here hiding?" Katara sounds hurt and her teary eyes prove it. "It's not like I have other options; I can't even learn how to bend. The only thing I'm good at is firebending." Y/n came closer to Katara and looking at her she addressed everyone. "Look guys, a year ago I wasn't even a bender and know look at me an firenation avatar, in the times when your own nation wouldn't hesitate to hunt and kill you." It was quiet while everyone perceived the story. "I can teach you airbending" Aang's voice is cheerful and you smile involuntary at him. "And I can teach you everything about waterbender, I don't know much, since, you know..." Katara fall silent, struggling to find the right words. "Since what? I don't know? What happened?" Y/n is panicked, what happened to southern water tribe? "Since they took all waterbenders from us" Sokka finished for her and this time Y/n fall silent, how can she assert herself as a good avatar, when her own nation has brought so much damage and pain? Training and traveling, that's how they spend the following months, hiding from the firenation, who mistakenly thought Aang was the Avatar. But keeping it a secret that she's the avatar was like a rock on Y/n heart, that's why when she found out the prison for earthbenders she decides to reveal herself, saving together with her friends everyone. That's it, it was the first step to bring the peace into the world, Y/n thought. Later alongside the road Y/n meet Toph Beifong, who became her earthbender master.

When Y/n and Azula finally meet, they were on different sides, Azula besides her brother, Zuko, and Y/n beside her friends. Y/n heart was beating so fast when she saw Azula, who changed so much during almost a year, but her hair was still proudly in a top knot and she's dressed in a perfect firenation clothes. Y/n couldn't help but smile, when she saw the face of the girl who hunts her both in nightmares and daydreams, but was only meet with a frown a stone cold face. Studying her, Y/n didn't notice when Zuko attacked her, fortunate she was saved by the earth that was bend as a shield by Toph. Y/n notice the quick mad glance that Azula throw at Zuko, until she attacked them as well, not actually making any harm, Y/n observe. 'Maybe she's not mad, she did say that she cares about you' Y/n though, dodging Azula's fire. It wasn't a long fight, two firebenders against three benders and the Avatar isn't the fairest battle, hopping quickly on Appa Y/n gaze one more time at the breathless Azula, engraving the princess image in her brain.

The next time they meet they were alone, standing on the same bay were almost year ago they split up, this time the weather is peaceful and sunny, with sea breeze. "How are you?" Azula's voice is calm as always, Y/n's voice on other hand is stuck in her throat and she can't speak anything. Azula takes this silent moment to look at the girl next to her, studying very careful every detail, feeling weak for the storm that is caused by Y/n in her heart. The last time they meet, Zuko was mad at her, claiming that she was too soft and that's the reason they lost. After that he didn't took her with him on hunting the Avatar anymore, finding thousands excuses, making Azula very mad. She knows Zuko do that deliberately to mess up her relationship with father, tending to win her and to became the father's favorite child. Azula don't care anymore, her father and family don't care about her, they never were, Azula's own mother hated her and father just use her. Her friends were the one who care about her, but after the story with Y/n being the Avatar she lost them as well. "Azula, I know you're loyal to your father, but he's evil, the firelord caused so much pain and destruction, but we can stop him, together. Please?" Y/n voice interrupts her endless thoughts again, like in old times. " I don't know if I can leave everything behind..." "No one here cares about you more than I do, join us, please." Azula will lie if she'll tell that she wasn't thought about leaving the firenation and join Y/n and her friend, but every time something was holding her back. But right now with the wind that cares softly her hair, she realizes, Azula don't have anything to lose anymore, everything she ever care about is gone and now she has a chance to return at least a piece of herself. "I'll join you Y/n, not avatar Y/n and not your friends, you."

That's how they found out the Ozai's plan about the Sozin Comet, that he wants to use it to destroy the Earth Kingdom. Together they come up with a plan how to defeat the firelord, training and strengthen themselves. Y/n knows that Katara and Azula have some disagreements, but she also knows that they best in their elements, that's why Y/n paired these two together. "Y/n, I don't want to fight alongside with some peasant, I’ll go with you." Y/n notice Katara's angry stare and how she's ready to reply something as well offensive. "You and Katara are the best fighters from our group, you'll go and fight with Zuko and his people and you'll take over the royal palace." Y/n quickly respond trying to avoid a quarrel before the battle. "And I'll became the firelord." Ends for her Azula.

Y/n found her with Katara near the palace stairs, while the waterbender was healing the unmoved body on the ground. That scares Y/n, until she notices Azula stating on other side, having a desperate stare and Y/n is sure, this sight will be tattooed in her brain forever. Y/n runs faster at the girls, fearing to be late, kneeling beside Katara, Y/n see Zuko, with a lighting mark on his chest, which rises slowly. "Is he alright?" Y/n knew that the siblings have a difficult relationship, but she just killed Azula's father, it was enough deaths for her to endure today. "He almost died, but I stabilized him, should be fine." Receiving the answer that she needed, Y/n hurried up to Azula, who sat silently on one of the stairs step. "Did you killed him?" Y/n don't need to ask who's him, she knows. "Yes" Azula slowly nods and stand up, giving Y/n the most bone crashing hugs that she ever received. This surprised Y/n, Azula was never for affection on public, choosing to keep everything private, she's still a princess.

The following weeks was the messed part of Y/n life. It's supposed to be a happy ending, Y/n overcome the firelord, won and end the one hundred war. But still so much destruction and pain that wouldn't heal over a small amount of time. Y/n is at her old house now, deciding to pick some honorable clothes that she left behind trying to save herself. Sitting here, in her old room it's weird now, Y/n grew up, but this walls still holds a part of her old, careless life, Y/n shakes her head as if to escape unpleasant thoughts. Soon enough Azula will be crowned as the new firelord, marking the new era for the firenation and she'll need to figure out a way to improve the world.

The coronation day is today and the spirits may be with them, because they blessed the day with a sunny and warm weather. Y/n takes a quick look at the large window, that revealed a big crowd, divided by clothes colors, she notices as well only one bright yellow spot, Aang, he's the only survivor of the air nomads. Y/n suddenly feels very selfish, she was worried about herself, that's why she decided to stay here, in palace, hiding in the dark halls. Not ones a thought about her friends flied through her mind. Also, Azula asked her to sit next to her, on the outside as the symbol that their nation started the path to the world healing, but Y/n was too afraid to meet the hope that people will put on her. She feels stupid now, she's the avatar and she needs to face the consequences, Y/n hurried herself to the hallway that leads outside, meeting here a certain nervous princess. "Did you changed your mind?" Azula asks with so much hope in her voice, that even if Y/n didn't change her mind prior, she would do it now. "Yes, I figured out that the world need their avatar and I'm willing to give them one." So together they start their walk to the crowd, ready to change the world side by side.

this is very god damn cheesy end, but i didn't wanted to do a sad ending, thank you for all supporting and kind words, I'm so excited to finally finish this, I work a few days, so I hope you enjoyed this!

[sokkasangel]

teach me

»»——— sokka x f!reader

»»——— part one

summary: as the gaang is travelling through a fire nation-infested earth kingdom village, they meet the reader — a servant — who takes a special interest in sokka.

warnings: none

word count: 1.3k

a/n: this is my first piece on this blog; i hope you enjoy reading! the second part will be up soon! <3 ella

»»——— masterlist

“let’s stop here.” katara pointed past appa’s dangling feet. “we need some more food.”

“you sure?” sokka opened his eyes, coming out a light nap. he peeked over the saddle, glancing at the earth kingdom town below. “it looks like there’s a lot of fire nation.”

towards the walls of the small town, sat red carts led by ostrich-horses. blobs of maroon could be seen moving through the streets periodically.

but this was no surprise. the gaang realized that most of the western earth kingdom cities would be inhabited by fire nation. whether it be small or large, military rushed into villages, taking & destroying what they wanted.

so many times, sokka & katara had to pull aang away from these places. he wanted so badly to help those in need: protect children, give food, & release taken servants.

“i think we’ll be okay. katara’s right about the food anyways,” aang chipped in, ever the optimist. he pulled on appa’s reigns, heading down to the ground.

—

after walking through the town, the gaang had a sack full of food & of course sokka bought a small totem of the town. as they made their way to the town gate, someone cried out behind them.

“hey!” you yelled as you crashed down on the dirt road.

you looked up at the man who had just thrown you out. he glanced up & down the street, waiting for fire nation guards to collect you.

“you’re not going anywhere, scum.” he crossed his arms, happy with his triumph. “i cant wait until the guards get you. i’ve been waiting for this day since my wife brought you here. i should have never allowed this.”

you got up & brushed off the dust on your clothing. you noticed that the guards had not arrived, so it was now or never. you darted for the gate, not paying attention to the civilians nearby. as you drew closer, you felt freer & freer with each step. but you suddenly hit something rock-hard.

“so you’re the fire nation traitor, huh?” you looked up at what you ran into. it was a man who stood tall, & who had a ugly look on his face. you could tell he was the chief of the guard pack behind him from his uniform.

you took some steps back. as you did, the group of soldiers in front of you drew their weapons. some had spears, while others had swords. outnumbered, you accepted your fate; however, you weren’t going to go without a fight.

your thoughts of what prison life would be life were cut short by a loud “hey! over here!”.

on your right, a group of teenagers stood. they looked ready for battle. the youngest looking, a small bald boy, yelled again. they all motioned for you to run over.

a smile bloomed on your face & you made a beeline for the group. but as you started, the chief behind you grabbed your hair.

“ouch!” you fell back with your scalp stinging. you pushed at his hand, but it was no use. he started to pull you away, not caring about tears welling in your eyes.

“watch out!” the girl of the group ran toward you with her hands extended. “sokka! grab her! make it back to appa!” the water trough on the house next to you started to rattle. all of the liquid rose out & wrapped around the girl’s hands.

a water bender? what is a water bender doing here? and who or what was appa?

with a whip of the water, the chief let go of you & spun around. before scrambling to your feet, you glanced at your savior. she had long dark hair, blue eyes, & a water tribe necklace.

the boy who had been standing next to the young kid now was helping you to your feet. nothing he was saying was registering to you. he looked like the girl, & you supposed they were related.

rolling his eyes, he grabbed your hand & started running. you looked at the guards flashing past you, who were preoccupied with the water bender & now the boy. you couldn’t tell what he was doing, but you could hear loud gushes of wind.

after a few minutes of running, the walls disappeared & trees grew taller. the boy suddenly stopped & looked around. you noticed he still had a hold of your hand. maybe it was because the air was warm or because you had just been running but you could feel your face heat up.

“appa!” he shouted. the trees to the left shook & got out of the way as a large beast came of out of the woods.

you gasped. “is that a sky-bison? i thought they were extinct.”

“yep. this is appa. don’t worry, he’s way nicer than he looks.”

he led you over to the giant fluff-ball. you held out your free hand, letting appa sniff you. after aquianting yourselves, the bison let you pet him.

“you okay?” the boy asked, averting your attention from appa.

“yeah i think so,” you smiled. “thank you for helping me.”

“of course. that’s what we do,” he smirked. “save people.”

you quirked your eyebrow, waiting for him to explain.

“oh i’m sokka by the way.” he went to extend his hand but realized it was in yours. you both let go, embarrassed.

“i’m y/n.” you didn’t look up from the ground. & you waited for your blush to subside before continuing the conversation. “what’d you mean by ‘that’s what we do’? & who’s ‘we’?”

“o-oh. well that boy back there, he’s aang. he’s actually the avatar. believe it or not.” sokka scratched the back of his head. you couldn’t tell if he was embarrassed still or uncomfortable. “me & my sister are helping him learn the elements.”

“oh wow. but you guys are so young. & you’re doing this by yourselves? that’s impressive.” sokka seemed to beam at your words. “it must be nice though, to travel everywhere.”

“yeah it’s really cool. you meet so many interesting people & see cool things. hey, uh, if you don’t mind me asking... what’s up with that mean mustache guy back there?” he pointed back towards the village with his thumb.

“oh, him? he was the guy i worked for, him & his wife. i originally lived with my family in the fire nation, but as they colonized the earth kingdom, they took people to help ‘keep earth kingdom civilians in line’.” you made air-quotes with your fingers, saying what the military had said months before. “i was brought over to live in a village, but now i’m a servant to these stupid fire nation couples.”

“so you were taken from your family?” sokka asked. his voice had gotten softer.

“yeah. in a way.” you shrugged, not wanting to dwell on it.

you now noticed how handsome sokka was. his eyes were as blue as his sister’s; some hairs had been pulled out of his wolf-tail & were now framing his face. you felt your face heat up again & pretended you were interested at the rocks near your feet.

“how about you?” you asked kicking a pebble away. “what about your family?”

“uh, well my dad is fighting in the war. & my mom... she, uh, she’s gone.”

“oh, i’m so sorry.” you put your hand on his arm & offered a sympathetic smile.

just as he was about to say something, footsteps approached you two.

“hey guys!” aang waved as he walked with sokka’s sister.

“how are you? are you okay?” the girl came up to you.

you nodded & looked to aang, wondering what was coming next. were you just going to go to the next village? go back home?

“hey, umm,” aang started. “you wanna join us? i’m sure we could use some fire nation information.” he had the biggest smile you’d ever seen.

“r-really?” your eyes widened. they wanted you to come along? “are you sure?”

“of course!” he replied. the siblings looked happy & offering also, almost as if they were waiting for someone to join.

“yeah, of course i’ll join you!” you said, maybe a little too loud.

[to be continued...]

[living-on-kyoshi]

scars and swords: chapter 3

Y/N had been a Freedom Fighter her whole life alongside Jet, her first love and closest friend. They had been together through thick and thin, no matter the circumstance. When they decide to leave the vigilante life behind and move to Ba Sing Sei, they’re reunited with the Gaang and things take an unexpected twist. 

ch. 2 

pairings: jet x f!reader, sokka x f!reader

warnings: still angsty lol

a/n: thank you all again for all the support on this fic, it means so much to me! i hope you all enjoy how the story goes this chapter, i tried to keep the angst up as always. now that i’m posting my work i’ve set myself on a higher standard so i may post chapters late, mainly because i’m starting to get more critical on myself and it takes me time to feel fully satisfied with a chapter. but again, thank you all so so much for reading and for all your feedback! enjoy!

The whole way back to the hideout Y/N couldn’t stop replaying her and Jet’s fight in her head. After the Fire Nation burned down their village, Y/N had no one else but Jet. They had each other’s support and love. And now, the one person Y/N had left had told her to leave his life. 

“Mom, dad! Where are you?” Y/N said as she walked into her Earth kingdom home. “I just got back from Jet’s house.” She walked further into her home. Y/N heard voices from the bedroom. She crept closer as she noticed Fire Nation soldiers interrogating her parents. Thankfully for her, they hadn’t noticed she walked in.

“We know there’s an Earthbender in this village. You can’t hide them forever.” The Fire Nation soldier said as he burst a flame from his fist and shot it slightly over her father’s head. Her mother and father sat on the small bed, fear in their eyes. Y/N’s father held up his hands in a forfeit.

“We don’t know who it is, we swear!” He said, “Just please, spare my family.” He put his arm around Y/N’s mother as they both bowed their heads. The Fire Nation soldier shot another flame, this time, directly towards Y/N’s parents’ feet, burning them. Y/N screamed when she saw this and quickly covered her mouth. The Fire Nation soldier turned his head to Y/N, smiling.

“Well, look what we have here.” He said as he walked towards the 7-year-old. Y/N started running away from him, but the soldier was able to catch up to her and stand in front of her. He pulled her arms and brought her to where her parents were. She sat next to her mother as tears rolled down Y/N’s face. The two Fire Nation soldiers stood in front of the family.

“Looks like we’re going to have to burn this village down. But at least the family will be together,” The soldier said in a mocking tone. They both laughed and shot fire blasts all around the room, running out. Y/N’s mother and father covered her with their bodies. 

“We’re going to get you out of here, Y/N.” Y/N’s father said as he lifted her up. He pushed her out the window. Right as she made it out of the house, the flames grew and caused the roof of her house to come down. Y/N jumped back, but her arm got caught by a flame, scalding her arm. She screamed as she realized her parents were stuck in the fire.

“Y/N move back!” Jet said as he pulled her up and away from the burning house. The two kids ran further into the forest, away from the fire. Y/N kept looking back at the village, crying.

“Our parents, Jet, our parents!” She said while trying to pull back from Jet’s grip. He held her back, putting his arm around her to calm her down.

“I know, Y/N but we can’t do anything about it now. Pull it together.” He said as he turned her to face him. Tears were rolling down both of their faces. He noticed the burn on Y/N arm.

“Did they do this to you?!” Jet said angrily. Y/N shook her head.

“I got it when I was climbing out of the house.” She said as she raised her arm to look at it. Her skin was peeling and red, but she couldn’t feel much pain. Nothing could distract her from what she had just witnessed.

“I’ll protect you from now on. No one and nothing will ever hurt you again. We will always have each other. You will always have me, Y/N.” Jet said with a serious tone. He wiped his tears as he pulled her into an embrace. The two of them stood at the edge of the forest, watching their village and their parents getting burned to the ground.

The sounds of traps going off startled Y/N as she looked around the forest. Pipsqueak and Smellerbee were caught in traps while Sokka ran away from them. Y/N ran towards Sokka.

“Sokka, wait!” She said as she wiped her tears from her face. He began running further away from her. Y/N didn’t hesitate to match his speed. 

“Get away from me!” He yelled as he pulled his boomerang out, threatening to throw it at her.

“I’m not going to capture you, Sokka.” She said as she ran closer to him. He slowed his running until he came to a stop. Y/N ran up and caught up to him, standing in front of him. He put his boomerang away.

“I don’t know if I can trust you enough to believe that.” He said, crossing his arms. Y/N sighed and rubbed her arm. 

“You have every right to say that. I was dishonest about Jet and this plan. I’m really sorry about it. I knew about the plan and I should’ve stopped Jet.” She paused for a moment and looked down. “I guess I just got caught up in my feelings for him. It screwed up my judgment. And because of that, that entire Earth Kingdom village is going to die.” She sighed. Sokka looked at her with pity.

“That’s not true, we still have time to save them. We can evacuate the village.” He said with hope. She looked up to him and smiled. They both headed down to the village, which thankfully wasn’t too far from where they were.

------

After evacuating the village, they headed back to the hideout. Jet, Katara, Aang, and the rest of the Freedom Fighters were nowhere to be found. 

“Looks like they’re still at the reservoir. I’ll be back, then we’ll head to the reservoir to meet them.” Y/N said as she began going up to her hut.

“I’ll get Appa,” Sokka said as he headed out of the forest. Y/N gave him a strange look, but before she could ask who or what Appa was he had left.

Evacuating the village gave her time to forget about her fight with Jet, but now she realized she had to leave. Leaving the Freedom Fighters and Jet was the last thing she thought she would ever do. They were all her family, and regardless of everything Jet would put them through Y/N still loved him and every single Freedom Fighter. 

When Y/N had gotten her stuff, she headed back down the treehouse. Sokka noticed how she was carrying her bag and gave her a confused look.

“Why do you need all your stuff?” He said. Y/N’s eyes widened at the sky bison before her.

“What is that?!” She said as she pointed to the fuzzy creature. Sokka smiled.

“This is Appa, Aang’s flying bison,” Sokka said as he pet Appa’s arm. Y/N walked up toward Appa. She reached her arm out to pet him when something jumped on her head. She yelped and moved back, which caused Sokka to burst into laughter. Y/N squinted her eyes at him.

“And this is Momo,” Sokka said as the winged lemur sat on Appa’s saddle. Sokka climbed onto Appa and reached his arm out to Y/N.

“Wait, are we getting to the reservoir on that?” Y/N said as she stared at Sokka’s extended arm.

“What? You have a fear of heights or something?” Sokka said, mockingly. Y/N rolled her eyes at him as she grabbed his arm. She put her stuff in the saddle as Sokka went up to the front to control Appa’s reins. Momo curled himself next to Y/N as she settled into the saddle. 

“Appa, yip yip,” Sokka said as he led the sky bison into the air. Y/N looked down from the saddle as they began to ascend. She was so amazed. Her awe was interrupted by Sokka.

“You didn’t answer my question,” Sokka said to her. Y/N sighed as she leaned into the saddle on her arms.

“Jet and I kind of got into a huge fight. He basically told me to leave, so.” She said as she shrugged her shoulders. Sokka furrowed his brows.

“Why did he do that?” He asked. Y/N was silent for a bit causing Sokka to realize he might’ve overstepped. “You don’t have to tell me, I don’t mean to overstep.” He continued. Y/N shook her head.

“No, you didn’t do anything wrong.” She said, reassuring him. “He told me about how you had found out about the plan and I kept telling him how the plan would have messed up. Jet got mad that I kept defending you. He thought I had feelings for you and basically got jealous.” Y/N bit her cheek to hold her tears back as she began reliving what had happened.

“He ended up telling me to leave and go with you guys, saying you would protect me better or something. So I said fine.” Y/N sighed. “Katara and Aang heard everything, but I left before anything else happened.” Sokka took a moment to take it all in.

“I’m sorry about how he got jealous, and I’m sorry I kind of caused that,” Sokka said as he scratched the back of his neck. 

“You don’t need to apologize. Jet’s the jealous type, if I talk to Longshot for too long he’ll assume something’s up.” Y/N said to try to lighten the mood. Sokka and her laughed. 

“If you don’t mind me asking though, why didn’t you stop Jet sooner about the village?” Y/N looked down in embarrassment. 

“Jet and I came from the same village. And when it got burned down, he was all I had. We took care of each other, you know? And for the most part, we both were angry at the Fire Nation.” Y/N winced in embarrassment. “So we kinda did reckless stuff. But as we got older, my mentality changed I guess. I started realizing how we were hurting innocent people. Jet never saw it that way. He still doesn’t.” 

“You said something about your feelings though. Towards Jet?” Sokka questioned. Y/N stayed silent for a moment, making Sokka feel like he had overstepped again. Before Sokka could take his statement back, Y/N spoke up.

“As I got older, I guess I also realized I do have feelings for Jet. I’ve always loved him, but now,” Y/N hesitated, then shook her head. “He doesn’t feel the same way though. I know he doesn’t. He constantly leads me on and I’m stupid enough to fall for it.” Y/N’s eyes widened as she realized that Sokka may have had feelings for her, remembering how he had seen her and Jet on the bridge that day and how he kept acting strangely after that. “Spirits, I didn’t mean to just throw all that on you. I know you saw us on the bridge that day and ever since then you had been a bit weird so I figured you had liked me or something.” She bit the inside of her lip. Sokka shook his head.

“No, it was nothing like that.” He said, reassuring her. “I was just intimidated by Jet, to be honest, I didn’t want him thinking I was stealing his girl or whatever.” Y/N let out a sigh of relief. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Sokka continued, “The reason why I stuck around with you so much was that you didn’t seem like Jet. The way you talked to me the first time when we were in the Fire Nation tent versus how Jet talks and acts. I was just kind of disappointed to see you supporting Jet’s ideas sometimes.” Sokka concluded. Y/N couldn’t help but feel hurt after he said that, knowing he was right.

“I know, I,” She paused. “I guess I just love Jet too much sometimes. I don’t want him thinking I don’t appreciate how much he wants to keep me safe and protect me. So I never speak up.”

“You don’t seem like the kind who needs protection though. If you and Jet were in a fight, I’d put my money on you.” Sokka said as he turned around and smiled at her. Y/N looked at him and smiled. 

“Thanks, Sokka. I’ve never really opened up to anyone so this helped a lot.” Y/N said to him. Opening up to people was always a challenge for Y/N, but something about Sokka was comforting and made it easy to do.

“Also, since you don’t really have anywhere to go, I trust you. You should join me, Katara and Aang. You’d be a great part of the team. And I know after today, Katara and Aang will trust you again.” Sokka said to her. Before she could respond, they heard a blast. Sokka led Appa above the reservoir. The dam had exploded and water flooded the village. They overheard Katara, Aang, and Jet fighting. Jet was frozen to a tree while Katara turned to face him.

“Jet, you monster!” She yelled to him as her voice began to break.

“This was a victory, Katara. Remember that. The Fire Nation is gone, and this valley will be safe.” Jet said. Before he could continue, Sokka led Appa to the edge of the cliff. 

“It will be safe, without you,” Sokka said. Aang and Katara looked at Sokka with relief.

“Sokka!” Katara shouted, relieved to find her brother okay. Y/N peeked her head out from the saddle. Jet was shocked to see her there.

“Y/N.” He said with shock. Y/N looked away from him. 

“We warned the villagers of your plan, just in time,” Sokka said as Momo jumped down to Aang’s embrace.

“What?! Y/N you could’ve gotten caught!” Jet said with an astounding look.

“I didn’t go down to the village, Jet. Only Sokka did.” Y/N snapped back.

“At first they didn’t believe me. The Fire Nation soldiers assumed I was a spy. But one man vouched for me, the old man you attacked. He urged everyone to trust me, and we got everyone out in time.” Sokka said. Jet looked to Y/N and back to Sokka. 

“Sokka, you fool! We could have freed this valley!” Jet said while Aang jumped onto Appa’s saddle with Momo. 

“Who would we free, Jet? Everyone would be dead.” Y/N said, defending Sokka. She looked at Jet in sadness and anger. Jet groaned in frustration.

“You both are traitors!” Jet said angrily, trying to pull himself off of the tree. Y/N looked away from Jet, holding back tears. 

“No, Jet. You became the traitor when you stopped protecting innocent people. You became the traitor when you hurt people for Y/N’s namesake.” Sokka spat back. Y/N bit the inside of her lip to prevent her from crying.

“Y/N, please, help me.” He said, giving her a look of helplessness. Y/N looked back at him in remorse and anger. She loved him and she couldn’t leave him like that. Sokka looked to her, her face filled with conflict.

“Y/N, I understand if you want to stay,” Sokka said to her, making sure Jet didn’t hear. She looked to Sokka as she frowned at him. 

“I’m sorry, Sokka.” She whispered as she grabbed her stuff off of the saddle, trading places with Katara. Y/N looked back at Katara, Aang, and Sokka. “I can’t just leave him like this.”

“I understand. Just know that if we ever meet again, the invitation still stands.” Sokka said to her, smiling. “Just take care of yourself, please.” With that, Sokka led Appa and the rest of the group into the sky, leaving Jet and Y/N alone on the cliff.

thank you for reading!

[willowdove]

Eyes Like Fire: A Soulmate AU

A couple months passed by.  The green in Katara’s eyes started to morph into a rich yellow-gold.  Kya found herself lost in them as she bounced Katara in her lap.  Perhaps it was temporary.  Maybe they would shift again, into a brown, maybe.  Brown eyes, at least, were potential allies.  Golden eyes, though- golden eyes were dangerous. 

Since there’s been some interest in this I’ve decided to post an update.  My work pace is slower than a snail- BUT I haven’t abandoned this WIP by any means.  This is not all of the work I have so far (please note that there are chapters in between that are missing) but it is what I’m happy with.  I’ve included the first couple chapters again because they’ve been slightly reworked.  Hopefully it’s not too much to put it all in one place here.

PROLOGUE

“Her eyes are darkening,” said Kya, watching her two children play nearby.  The eldest, Sokka, rolled a ball towards his sister Katara.  She scooted excitedly to grab it in her chubby little fist, then spastically hurled it at the ground between them.  She giggled with delight when this made Sokka toddle after it.

Kya’s husband Hakoda squeezed her shoulders and kissed her on the forehead.  “Sokka’s eyes changed about this time too,” he remarked.  When Sokka was born, he had possessed the crystal blue eyes of any Water Tribesmen.  But before he was a year old, they had lightened to a pale green.  Hakoda claimed this meant Sokka was destined to be an adventurer.  He would have to leave home if he wanted to find the person those eyes belonged to. 

Katara’s eyes were changing too, but they weren’t getting paler.  Green was blazing up from underneath the blue, vibrant and consuming.  Green definitely would point to an Earth Kingdom origin.  “Maybe they’ll go on their adventure together,” Kya suggested.  

Hakoda chuckled.  “They certainly do seem to get along,” he said.

***

A couple months passed by.  The green in Katara’s eyes started to morph into a rich yellow-gold.  Kya found herself lost in them as she bounced Katara in her lap.  Perhaps it was temporary.  Maybe they would shift again, into a brown, maybe.  Brown eyes, at least, were potential allies.  Golden eyes, though- golden eyes were dangerous.   

She must have been staring a little too intently, because Sokka seemed to pick up on her concern.  “Katara eyes pretty,” he declared.  He clambered up Kya’s knee to sit with his sister and hugged her tightly.  Katara popped her thumb out of her mouth to hug him back, babbling happily.  

Kya forced herself to smile, kissing them both on the head.  “Yes,” she agreed.  He was right, they were pretty.  But that didn’t stop a dark ache from tugging deep at the center of her being.

***

Kya was preparing sea prune stew for the family when her daughter asked the question.  “Mommy, why does everybody look at me funny?” she said. The spoon in Kya’s hand clattered into the pot as she quickly turned.

“Who said people were looking at you funny?” she demanded, bristling.

Katara seemed to shrink in the fur lining of her dress collar.  She looked down at her feet, mumbling, “Nobody said.  I just see them do it.  You look at me funny too, sometimes.”

The air went out of Kya and guilt pricked at her like a barb.  She knelt slowly, taking her daughter’s face in her hands.  Katara resisted the gentle tug at first, but quickly gave in and met her mother’s gaze with wide, golden eyes.  A stranger’s eyes.  “I’m sorry, baby.  We’re just… worried about you.”

“Is something wrong with me?” Katara asked, tears welling up on her thick lashes.

“Oh, sweetie, no,” she shushed, giving Katara a tight hug before holding her out by the shoulders.  She struggled to put together the words she needed. “…Has anyone told you what a soulmate is?”

Katara sniffled loudly, but managed to contain her tears.  “Gran-Gran said it was someone special who will love me forever and ever.”

A thankful smile quirked at the corners of Kya’s mouth as she nodded.  “Do you know that until you kiss your soulmate, you’ll have each other’s eyes?”

Katara’s brows furrowed in confusion for a second before she gave a little shriek, pressing her fingers into the top of her cheeks just under her lower eyelids.  “These aren’t my eyes?” she asked, horrified.

Kya had to laugh a little at the unexpected outburst.  “No, those are your soulmate’s eyes,” she reiterated.

“Why?!” Katara demanded.

“Well, it’s to help us to find each other, I expect,” she explained.

Katara considered that for a long moment.  She walked over to her mother’s bed furs and pulled out the mirror.  Her fingertips brushed lightly over the metal as she peered studiously at her reflection.  “My soulmate… isn’t from here, is he?”

“No,” Kya answered softly.

“Are people worried I will have to go really far away?” she asked.

Kya followed and kissed her daughter’s forehead fiercely, trying to blink away the tears that were welling in her own eyes before Katara could see them.  “They’re worried… you’ll have to go to the Fire Nation,” she replied.

“Oh,” Katara said, “Well, I won’t then.  I’ll just tell everybody I’m not gonna go.”

The ache in Kya’s chest was so great that she could barely breathe.  “Ok, baby,” she agreed, “I’ll try not to worry so much anymore.”

***

CHAPTER 1: THE SOUTH POLE

When the black snow began to fall, Katara felt her heart seize. The last time she had seen such snow fall was the first day Katara ever saw eyes like hers. It was also the last day she ever saw her mother.

 She ran to the middle of the village, to stand with her brother. He was the only man left in the tribe, and she was the only waterbender. They were only two, and untrained, but it didn’t matter. They were all that stood between their people and the enemy.

 The Fire Nation steamer that had carved through the icy harbor to their port was small compared to others that had come before, and alone. Still, it was formidable looming over the tattered remains of their village. Its stern detached with a metallic hiss, then slowly lowered to form a ramp. Sokka tensed beside her, his club raised.  A figure in red metal plate began to descend the ramp.

 Sokka gave a yell and charged forward as Katara started to gather water into her palms, but inexplicably he stopped midway up the ramp, casting a look of fear and confusion over his shoulder towards her. The armored stranger stopped in front of Sokka. Both boys were about matched in height, but the stranger’s position on the ramp allowed him tower over her brother. Sokka pressed his club into the center of the boy’s chest, muttering a low warning. The stranger growled something in return and pushed past him roughly, nearly knocking Sokka off the side of the ramp in the process.

 Once he got closer, Katara had to stifle a gasp.

 His eyes were as blue as the heart of a glacier. Water Tribe blue.

 She stumbled backward, reeling, reflexively bringing her hand up to shield her own eyes. He hadn’t looked at her directly yet. He hadn’t seen.

 “Where is the Avatar?” the stranger demanded. The villagers in the square shifted uneasily. Many of them were casting worried glances between him and Katara. She pulled the hood of her parka close to the side of her face.

 The stranger reached into the small gathered crowd to grasp her Gran-Gran’s wrist. “They’d be about this age-“ he started to say. Panic and fury spiked hot in the pit of Katara’s stomach, and she forgot herself. The ice beneath the stranger’s feet lurched upward like a living thing; twin maws swallowed his feet whole.

 He looked at her then. Her hood had fallen away and a few strands of hair had come loose from her hair loops. She was panting with exertion, the air in front of her fogging like smoke from a dragon’s mouth. Their gazes locked, and her eyes were like fire.

 The stranger’s brow furrowed. He had since dropped Gran-Gran’s wrist, and he brought the now free hand to his good cheek, as if he could feel the color of his eyes through the pads of his fingers. His other cheek was marred, a thick red scar beginning there, traveling over his left eye and ending just above where an eyebrow should have been. As she studied him, steam started to issue from the ice encasing his feet and rivulets ran down the sides as it melted.

 “Who are you?” Katara asked.

 The stranger frowned harder, his gaze dropping to the snow between them. His jaw ticked, but as it did, something in his demeanor seemed to fall away. When he looked back up at her, it was with such unguarded, raw hope that it took her aback.

 “I’m Prince Zuko,” he answered, finally. “Will you help me find the Avatar?”

 She was so startled by his vulnerability that she almost let it sway her.  A part of her was drawn into the depths of his too familiar blue eyes. But he was Fire Nation, and she was Water Tribe.

 So she said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Nobody’s seen the Avatar in over 100 years.”

 It was as the surface of his open soul froze over, suddenly, so that it hissed and popped and cracked. His face twisted into hard, angry lines, and fire burst from his clenched fists.

 “I know you’re hiding him. I saw the light!” he insisted.

 Katara took a wary step back, reaching for the snow on the ground and trying to pull it into her grasp. It shifted, turning to slush, but it did not flow up to meet her. She tried desperately not to let her panic show. More Fire Nation soldiers were descending the ramp, hands ablaze and ready. There were too many. She had shared a grim look with Sokka, who reached behind his back for his boomerang.

 And from out of nowhere, a powerful gust of wind guttered out all the flames. The Airbender had returned, and he landed himself protectively in front of her.

 The stranger- Zuko’s fighting stance faltered. “You’re the airbender?  You’re the Avatar?” he asked with disbelief.  “But you’re just a child!”

 Aang tilted his head to the side.  “Well, you’re just a teenager,” he pointed out. 

Zuko shook his head once, and then with a surging roar punched a fireball at Aang.  Aang spun his staff to disperse it.  The prince let loose a couple more fireballs, one high and one low, before launching into a torrent of blows.  Aang was able to dodge and deflect all of them, but Zuko’s soldiers started to draw in from his sides, and the villagers behind him started to press together in fear.

“Wait!” Aang said.  Zuko paused midform, his arms still flexed and ready.  Aang held his glider out to his side, his hands up in a gesture of surrender.  “If I go with you, will you promise to leave everyone alone?”  Aang asked.

Zuko looked over the villagers again as if he had forgotten they were there.  Straightening, he nodded.  

“Aang, no!  Don’t do this!”  Katara cried, rushing forward.  Zuko gestured wordlessly to his men with a jerk of his chin.  The soldiers encircled the Avatar, taking away his staff and roughly grabbing him to restrain him.  Zuko stepped around them in order to block Katara’s path to the boy.

“You can come with him,” he offered, almost quietly.  With me, he implied, unspoken.  His too blue eyes pierced into her, confusing her, beckoning her.  She had a kinship with those eyes.  They looked like… they looked like her mother’s.

“You should leave him here,” she countered.  A blaze of indignation was starting in her chest and clawing its way up her throat.  

“I’ll be okay, Katara,” Aang assured her.  The soldiers started dragging him up the ramp to the ship. “Take care of Appa for me while I’m gone!” 

Zuko held Katara’s eyes for another moment before he ripped himself away.  Her heart guttered with an inexplicable feeling of loss.  “Head a course for the Fire Nation,” Zuko called to his helmsman, “I’m going home.”

***

After Zuko finished doing the rounds to make sure his ship was in order, he retreated into his private cabin.  After three years of hard, fruitless searching, they were finally underway towards his true destination.  He was supposed to be feeling triumphant.  He was supposed to be feeling relief.  He had accomplished an impossible task after all.

But he didn’t feel that way.  Nervousness eddied around him like the tide washing over a rocky shore.  He felt unbalanced.  How would his father react when he brought the Avatar home?  What if something went wrong along the way?  What would be the young boy’s fate once he was taken from Zuko’s hands?

That last thought disturbed him most of all.  He leapt from his seat on the bed and began pacing, trying to force his mind to quiet.  Instinctively he reached out to the torches along his wall, connecting their energy to his breath.  In, and out.  Ebb, and flow.  Rise, and fall.

Panic crashed over him when he heard one of his soldiers call out, “The Avatar has escaped!”

Zuko began to rush for the door when he spotted the boy’s staff sitting in the corner of his room; he’d had that delivered to his quarters for safe-keeping.  The boy had used to fly into their first encounter.  There was a good chance he would come back for it, if not out of nostalgia, then out of necessity.  Zuko could use it as bait.  He hid himself behind the door and waited.

The Avatar child flew into the room without even looking.  It should have been easy to trap him; Zuko immediately shut the door after him.  But somehow the young boy had deflected all his attacks and wrapped him in a tapestry.  Zuko had to chase him up through the control room to the main deck, and only just barely managed to catch him by the ankle before he flew off.  He moved to pin his opponent, with a fiery hand raised in warning, but he was interrupted by a loud, guttural lowing.

Zuko and the Avatar both looked up.  “What is that?” Zuko asked in shock.

“Appa!” the Avatar cheered.  Two of the Water Tribesman were mounted on a giant, floating, furry… thing.  One was the boy who tried to rush him.  The other was his water-bender girl.

But Zuko wasn’t one to lose focus for very long.  The Avatar had shimmied his ankle out of Zuko’s hold and was moving to get up.  Zuko kept the newcomers in his peripheral as he blasted incapacitating shots at the Avatar.  The boy was able to deflect most of them, but the force of the last one sent the Avatar tumbling over the edge of the ship.  He hit his head on the way down.

The Water Tribe girl screamed.  Adrenaline surged in Zuko, who immediately began shucking off his armor in preparation to dive in after the boy.  He had tossed his shoulder guard aside and was reaching for the clasp on his breast-plate when a strange white glow came from the water.

A raging waterspout surged forth to tower over the ship, the Avatar at its top.  His narrowed eyes and tattoos were glowing with white light, and his face was crossed with a severe frown.  He was different than he had been before.  More powerful.  Angry.  The icy cold spray from the waterspout bit into Zuko’s skin.  He took a step back.

With a wide circle of his arms the Avatar flowed down to the deck, bringing the water with him in a great protective sphere.  Gathering his determination, Zuko made to advance, but a torrent of water was sent blasting into his chest and he was thrust backwards. His back hit the rail and suddenly he himself was spinning towards the Arctic water below.  

His outstretched hand banged against a protruding metal bar.  The service ladder.  He forced himself not to flinch away so he could catch the next one down.  Pain exploded in his shoulder as his fall was yanked to a stop, but he managed to haul himself into the curve of the ship, planting his feet on the ladder.  

On the deck he heard the water slosh to the ground and a soft thud.  The Water Tribesman jumped aboard, calling out to the Avatar in concern.  Zuko gritted his teeth and climbed.  

His waterbender appeared at the rail above him just before he was able to pull himself over.  He thought he saw relief flash in her eyes, but that emotion was quickly followed with concern and fear.

If it was anyone else he would have yelled at her to move.  Instead he simply requested, quietly, “Get out of my way.”

Her eyebrows creased.  “No,” she said.  They looked at each other.  Zuko reached across the rail and shoved her to the side.

She stumbled and he hauled himself onto the deck of the ship, now slick with ice from the Avatar’s water attacks.  Zuko turned to face the direction where he’d heard the Avatar fall.  The Water Tribesman was helping him fend off attacks from Zuko’s soldiers.  

“No!” his water bender repeated, planting her feet.  She siphoned ice from the deck to form globules of water that she suspended from her hands. 

Zuko growled at her in frustration. “This isn’t your fight, peasant!” he snapped, gesticulating.  Why did she keep trying to stop him?  “Get out of my way!”

She scoffed with clear distaste, saying, “My name is Katara!”

He found himself committing that to memory.  Katara.  Katara.

The Avatar and the Water Tribesman were able to retreat onto the giant fluffy monster.  They flew around the nose of the ship to Zuko’s side of the deck.  The Water Tribesman reached out his arm to scoop the water bender into the saddle.  

There was an odd look of regret on her face as she swung out of his reach.  

The fluffy thing was getting away fast.  “Shoot them down!” Zuko ordered frantically.  His soldiers coordinated together to launch a huge fireball after the fluffy beast.  As it arced through the air Zuko’s heart went into his mouth.  It needed to hit them.  But it couldn’t hit them.  He didn’t want to hurt them, not really, he-

At the last second the Avatar gusted it off trajectory, right into a cliff above the port-side bow.  Zuko barely has time to jump back out of the way before snow and ice came crashing down in an avalanche onto the deck.  

***

CHAPTER 2: KYOSHI ISLAND

Something compelled Zuko to look over the rock.

Katara hoped faintly that it hadn’t been the force of her eyes on him.  She and Aang had been smashed against the shore by the Unagi’s wake, beneath a large outcropping of rock.  Unfortunately the prince’s ship had landed just to the other side.  And he was headed this way, flanked by more komodo-rhino riders.

“Katara!” Zuko called.  Lightning shocked through her stomach at hearing him say her name.  She tamped it down, frantically shaking Aang’s shoulder to rouse him from unconsciousness.  The boy gave no sign of waking.  His head lolled to the side.   Katara‘s gaze flicked around with growing panic, finding only sand and rock and surf, before lighting back on Aang.  She started digging through his pockets.

“Surrender the Avatar!” Zuko demanded, his rhino just stepping around the rock.  The sun glinted off the tips of his metal helmet as his soldiers filled in around him.  Cloth, cold metal discs, slippery round marbles, fluffy lint... Katara‘s fingers closed over something smooth and wooden.  “Step away from him!” Zuko demanded again.

Katara gathered Aang’s unconscious body up in her arms, awkwardly heaving his arm over her left shoulder so that she could balance his head against her cheek. With her right hand, she brought the bison whistle to her lips, and she started backing up into the sea.

Zuko let out a sharp breath.  He tapped his heel into the side of his Komodo-rhino and it trotted dutifully into the rocky surf, its great feet kicking up big arcs of water.  “Get back!” Zuko insisted, “You have nowhere to run!”

The rocks were uneven underfoot, but Katara refused to turn around.  She strained her senses to map the terrain behind her, where the water flowed and caught and eddied.  She took another careful step backwards, and another, wincing as her ankle turned just the slightest bit.  The water was up to her knees now.

The other rhino riders hovered uncertainly at the edge of the beach.  One called, “Permission to engage, Prince Zuko?”

The prince’s eyes were locked with Katara’s.  “No! Stay back!” he said quickly.  Then, his right hand opening to produce a small font of flame, he added, “Hold your position.  I’ll capture the Avatar myself.”

Katara stumbled backwards further over the slippery rocks.  The water was lapping at her waist.  ”Not today you won’t!” she denied hotly.  

“You can’t swim with him like that.  Surrender,” Zuko pressed, advancing.

The adrenaline burning her veins was drying out her mouth.  She was out of options.  She was cornered.  She was going to do something incredibly, phenomanally stupid.  “I don’t need to swim,” she said, half as affirmation, half as prayer.  She tucked her knees, sinking her and Aang both in up to their necks, and pushed.

To her hysterical relief and dread the water flung itself away from her outstretched hand in a forceful jet, just as it had earlier, propelling them backwards towards the center of the lake.  Zuko swore, calling for his men to fetch the boats.  He dismounted and started shucking his armor.

She stretched and stretched her senses, deep into the water until the reaching wisps of her concentration felt taught enough to snap.  Fish wriggled thinly through the net she had cast, and seaweed brushed against it in a whisper. The Unagi was so deep it was almost out of her reach, undulating far below them in the water column, a vast yet smooth obstruction to its flow.  Katara sensed it’s head turn to track their movement.  It’s great muscled coils tightened beneath it in preparation to launch upwards.  The edges of a scream started licking up the inside of her throat.  She was going to have to dodge, somehow.  At the shore, Zuko was running into the surf.  He stumbled.  And suddenly, inexplicably, the Unagi’s great head turned towards him instead.  

A bellowing roar signaled the arrival of Appa.  He landed in the water with a huge splash, and Katara heaved Aang onto the bison’s leg so she could clamber up into the saddle.  Sensing urgency, Appa flicked his tail to launch himself from the water as soon as both passengers were aboard, still balancing Aang on his leg.  As they climbed, Katata reached down to pull Aang up the rest of the way.

“Back to the village Appa!” she urged the bison, “We have to go get Sokka!”

***

Zuko roared in frustration, slapping the water as the Avatar was carried away on his bison. He had been so close!  If his soulmate hadn’t insisted on getting in the way...

It was just his luck.  A Water Tribe girl, of course.  A stubborn, meddlesome, distracting girl for a weak, honorless, useless prince.  Was it too much to ask that she was at least a supporter of the Fire Nation?  Zuko had always assumed it would be someone from the colonies- with Water Tribe heritage surely, but a Fire Nation citizen nonetheless.  Someone loyal, and helpful, and kind...

Well, it didn’t do to dwell on that now.

“Riders!”  he called.  They snapped to attention.  “You’re letting him get away!  Follow that bison!”

Zuko hobbled to shore, blood trailing from a cut in his heel that he had sustained on the uneven rocks below the water.  Ignoring how each step ground more sand into his wound, he and threw his armor into a carry sack on his own mount before climbing on, figuring he wouldn’t bother with putting it on again.  It would take too long, and besides, it kept getting in the way.  

When the riders reached the village, they were met with a wall of female warriors, dressed proudly in green armored dress.  

“Halt!” called the one in the center. Her pale amber eyes glinted with mistrust.  “Foreign combatants are not permitted on Kyoshi soil.  This is neutral ground!” 

“I demand to be let through!” Zuko responded with fury.  Taking a breath, he ground out, “You are in defiance of the Fire Nation.”

The warriors took a ready stance, their golden fans sharp and gleaming in the sunlight.  Their leader continued, “We do not want to violate our peace with the Fire Nation.  Dismount and remove your helms, and I will take you to our governor for negotiations.”

Zuko’s scowl deepened.  “We don’t have time to talk.  You’re in my way.  Bring me the Avatar before his bison leaves, or I’ll go through you.”

“The Avatar is our guest,” the warrior hissed.

“Then you’re on his side!” Zuko replied, ordering, “Riders, engage!  Break the line!”

Fire surged forth, and the warriors burst into motion.  More seemed to pour in from above and the sides, dashing up the long torsos of the rhinos and vaulting over them to strike at their riders.  The leader zeroed in on Zuko, slashing at his legs in the saddle.  Zuko yanked the reigns to the side, his rhino dodging beneath him as he punched retaliatory fire at his attacker.  She followed, making a dash at the komodo-rhino’s side.  Zuko angled his foot so he could flick flames from the toe of his boot, unbalancing her approach, and in the same motion dug in his heel to urge the komodo rhino forward.  It surged beneath him.  But even as he streaked past the Kyoshi guards, a sky bison rose into the air.  

He had lost.

***

CHAPTER: THE NORTH POLE

“Are we there yet?” Sokka complained loudly, shaking Katara out of her reverie. They had not seen the Fire Nation Prince for several weeks now. The memory of his face was haunting her. The dark, severe eyebrow, the gaunt, angular cheekbones, the red, leathery scar, and the too blue eyes. She wondered if he was searching the sky for them right now. A shiver ran down her spine at the thought, though whether it was a pleasant or unnerved shiver it was hard to say.

 “We’re getting close!” Aang replied cheerily to her brother. “We should be able to see the walls soon.”

Suddenly, they were jolted off balance as Appa careened to the right.  Then Katara saw a battering ram of ice launch towards them from the sea on her side.

“Incoming!” she screamed, scrambling back to her spot so she could grab tightly onto the saddle.  

Bombarded with icy projectiles,  Appa was gradually forced lower and lower until he was snagged by the foot and slammed into the water.  The wave that formed from his hapless impact was frozen around his body, encasing him in place.  He roared in frustration, the sound reverberating through Katara’s body, and thrashed against his imprisonment.  Ships appeared around the icebergs on all sides, carrying waterbenders that hurriedly refreshed the cracks in the ice that Appa was making.

“I thought they’d be friendlier,” Aang said before hailing them.  “Hey!  We’re here to find a waterbending teacher!”

 One of the boats approached closer, headed by a severe old man with a thin mustache and pointed goatee. “Show yourselves, intruders!” he demanded.

Katara and Sokka stood up in the saddle by Aang, raising their arms.

 “It’s just me and my sister, Katara,” Sokka said slowly.  “We’re with Aang.”

 He looked searchingly past them for a moment before accepting that they were the only ones on the flying bison.  “I see.  I assume not all of you require a teacher?” the old man asked.  He looked dubiously at Aang, taking in his pale skin, grey eyes, and bright autumnal attire.

 “Well…” Aang began, trailing off as Sokka cleared his throat.

 “Aang is the Avatar.  My sister is the last remaining waterbender in the Southern Water Tribe.  I am not a bender- I came to protect them on their journey.”

 The other benders on the boat behind him exchanged an incredulous glance, but the old man appeared unruffled.  “And you are?”

 “Sokka, son of Hakoda.”

 At this he did seem surprised, his eyebrows raising just a fraction of an inch.   “The Avatar AND the Chief’s children.  Of course.  You can verify this?”

 The question silenced Sokka, who looked at once alarmed and perplexed.  Katara reached tentatively for her necklace.  Aang shrugged, then jumped off of Appa’s back towards the man-made ice sheet that extended a couple feet all around his bison.  In the span of an instant the old man dropped low, and as he came up, an ice spear flew forward from the water in the direction of his thrusting arm.  Wide-eyed, Aang produced a gust of air to propel himself backward.  The ice spear stopped just short of where he would have landed.  

 “I was only getting down to show you my airbending,”  Aang protested, clearly a little shaken.

 The old man retracted the ice spear, straightening.  “We don’t have many… pleasant visits here.  I have to assume that you’re attacking when you move that suddenly.  Next time, give some warning.  In any case…” he signaled to his crew members and to the boats around him.   “Chief Arnook will want to deal with this matter personally.  I will escort you."  He brought his arms together in front of his face, hands clenched into fists above his head and, exhaling, released them so his palms were open towards the ground in front of his hips.  With that release, the ice around Appa melted and crashed back into the sea.

 Katara tried to file away how he moved, and watched enraptured by the easy way the waterbenders propelled their craft through the sea.  The bending that had been displayed to apprehend them was more powerful than she had ever dreamed it could be.  Once they reached the city she would finally be able to find a teacher. She eagerly searched the horizon for a sign of the gate.  When it finally appeared out of the maze of ice, it took her breath away.

 The structure was absolutely immense, carved into a towering glacier at least 500 feet high.  Even with the aid of master waterbenders, the construction of this glittering behemoth must have been a massive undertaking.  And everything in the city beyond those gates had to be cut from the heart of the glacier itself.  Beholding it filled Katara at once filled with profound awe and profound loss.  THIS was what it meant to be Water Tribe. 

 They were waterbended into the city through a series of several draining lock chambers which emptied into a series of canals.  Inside was a glittering expanse of buildings that stretched so far it took Katara’s breath away all over again.  She watched with wonder as Appa floated them down current.  

 ***

Sokka had studied scrolls on the history and architecture of both the Southern and Northern Water Tribes, so he had had a fairly good idea what to expect when they passed through the gates.  Still, seeing the grandiose, glistening city in person was moving.  He had to admire the sheer craftsmanship of it all, particularly in the detail work.  It was while he was considering ways to replicate the building of a small tower they had passed that he saw her.

 The most beautiful girl that he had ever seen was riding in the back of a small rowboat, being guided along the canals by the smooth motions of a waterbender.  She had a rounded face and full lips which were quirked into a serene smile.  Her shockingly white hair was coiled in sections, one high atop her head and two in plaits that hung almost to her waist.  There was a regal bearing about her- her back was straight, her shoulders squared, her chin held high.  The most entrancing thing about her, though, was her wide, black eyes.

 Sokka had to shake himself out of a daze as they were finally brought before Chief Arnook.   

 The throne room was just as vast and dazzling as everything else in the city.  At its center sat the Chief upon a stark white, tall, crystalline throne draped in blue furs.  The Chief had a wide, open face and a strong square jaw.  His posture was entirely neutral as they were herded before him, his gaze appraising.  “I hear we have distinguished visitors,” he said by way of greeting, “The Avatar.  Sokka and Katara, children of Chief Hakoda.”

 “Uh, yes, that would be us-” Sokka confirmed as Aang zipped forward, holding out his hand enthusiastically for Chief Arnook to shake.

 “My name’s Aang.  Super nice to meet you.  Do you think you could help us find a water bending teacher?”

 The Chief seemed a little taken aback by Aang’s brashness, but he took his hand nonetheless, a smile stretching across his face.  “Indeed.  I will be happy to arrange adequate accommodations and tutelage for your group.  In fact, Pakku,” he addressed their escort, “As you are our best instructor, I will charge you with the Avatar’s instruction.”

 “Yes, Chief,” he replied.

 “Katara, you will report to Yugoda in the morning.  She will be notified that she has an honored guest joining her female class.”

[out-of-jams]

A Dance of Fire and Wind || (05) || jjk

↠ A Dance of Fire and Wind ↞ One year ago you were banished from the Fire Nation, branded a traitor and a coward by the scar on your face. The only way to win back both your throne and the respect of your father was to capture the Avatar, master of all four elements.

You’d be damned if you failed. 

Warnings/Genre: Avatar the Last Airbender!au. Female Prince Zuko!Reader. Avatar!Jungkook. Fluff. Angst. Explicit language. Smut. Light violence. Waterbender!Jimin. Sokka!Taehyung. Nonlinear drabble series. 

Word Count: 1.4k

A/n: These will not be posted in order, so you do not need to read them that way! However, they will each be numbered, so if you do want to read them in sequential order, you can!

All of my works are purely fiction. Everything I write is my intellectual property and therefore belongs to me. ©out-of-jams. Do not copy or repost without permission.

                              | Series Masterlist |

                                05: The Chase

“Catch me if you can!”

A grunt of annoyance left your lips, but that was the only response you gave to the obvious taunting. Not like the brat ahead of you would have been able to hear it anyway. The armor you wore was heavy, weighing you down as you ran through the dirt path streets of whatever small Earth Kingdom village you’d docked at an hour ago.

“Out of my way!” You bit out through clenched teeth. The older man who’d just been standing in your path met the side of the road with a thud with a harsh shove. But you didn’t care. Didn’t bother to pay any mind to the barely concealed disgruntled shout. Especially when whatever he’d been about to say died down in his throat the second he got a good glance at the color of your uniform.

The day had started out just like any other. You’d woken up at sunrise and did your morning exercises and meditation. It’d been right in the middle of said meditation when the door leading to the empty deck of your ship cracked open. Normally, the soldiers under your command knew better than to interrupt you and you knew for a fact that your uncle was still asleep.

When the presence had refused to disappear, a frown pulled at your lips and you snapped your eyes open in irritation. You ignored the flash of dull pain that licked at the harshly scarred, burned skin on the left side of your face, surrounding your eye and reaching all the way back your ear. One year later and the pain had still yet to cease. Not even the cool breeze drifting from the ocean was enough to cool the fire that itched beneath your skin. The heat that fluctuated with the rise of your temper.

“What?” You’d snapped, relaxing out of your meditative posture.

The soldier, whose shadow fell over your seated position, shifted. Whether in nervousness or caution, you frankly didn’t give a shit. You were known for many things, but your patience wasn’t one of them. His eyes dropped to the metal deck of the ship and the armored helmet over his head bobbed with the movement.

“I apologize for the interruption, Princess Y/n. But the ship is in need of restocking.”

A puff of breath, warmer than usual due to displeasure, passed your lips. “Then inform the captain that we’ll be stopping at the next port.”

“Right away, Princess.” He--you never bothered to learn the names of the peasant soldiers so far beneath you--bowed his head once again before making himself scarce.

Luck. That’s what your uncle would have called it when you’d happened to glance up in the middle of the village market just in time to recognize a familiar face. Your hand had been outstretched to place a few gold pieces into the palm of the tea vendor (your uncle had picked out an obnoxiously expensive tea set claiming that his last one had been damaged during a pirate raid two weeks ago) when you’d spotted him.

His bright yellow and orange outfit would have been a dead giveaway even if you hadn’t already noticed him standing there, frozen. Big brown eyes were wide with shock and you took a moment to acknowledge the fact that his two little lackeys weren’t by his side for once. Not that it mattered, you could’ve taken on all three of them in a fight easily.

One month. It’d been one month since you’d first laid your sights on the boy, the Avatar. Which marked one year and one month since your banishment from the Fire Nation. You’d never known what exactly to expect him to look like when you’d first begun your journey to hunt him down. But it sure as hell wasn’t a boy who looked barely even a year younger than you. Barely even eighteen. He was supposed to be the master of all four elements: Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and over a hundred years old. Not a teenage boy.

You’d managed to capture him once during that first month, when he’d voluntarily given himself up in exchange for the promised safety of the village he’d been taking refuge in. But the bastard was surprisingly and irritatingly slippery. From the moment he’d first escaped your ship and therefore your capture, the chase had been on.

So seeing him in that moment, across the market square, you didn’t even hesitate before shoving the gold pieces into the hand of the vendor. Your uncle, who’d been patiently awaiting his new wrapped tea set, had let out a sound of surprise when you bolted. The Avatar’s panicked squeak was audible even over the small crowd. You’d barely even cleared half of the distance between you before he turned tail and ran.

Whatever alarm the Avatar had been feeling seemed to have vanished and now he turned to childishly stick his tongue out at you from over his shoulder. His brunette hair, that clashed horribly with his outfit, fluttered around his head playfully. “Too slow! What do they feed you Fire Benders? Lazy cakes?”

A growl rumbled in your throat at the blatant taunt and you clenched your fist. It was anger that drew the fire from your stomach and down your arm. Fury that caused the air around you to simmer in warning right before you ignited it and sent a ball of fire flying straight at the annoying little shit.

The Avatar just let out a laugh, hopping into the air far higher than any normal person could achieve. He’d just barely managed to avoid the flames, but the vegetable cart that stood in the way wasn’t so lucky.

“My cabbages!” A male voice screeched as you sprinted by, but you didn’t care to spare a glance. 

“Oops. Sorry!” The Avatar called back casually, like he wasn’t in the middle of a chase. Like you were some kind of game that he’d just so happened to fall into. Like you were some kind of fucking joke.

“Get back here!” You shouted, sending another volley of fireballs that the Avatar just managed to dodge. Around you, peasant villagers fled from the scene, terrified at the sight of fighting.

“Uh,” the Avatar twisted out of the way of a stream of fire, sliding off the wooden staff hooked over his back to throw a gush of powerful air to clash with your next assault. “No thanks.”

His muscular back flexed with the effort it took to hold you off, biceps bulging with the power of his swings. Spotting the large, inhumanly sized flying bison that the boy kept as a pet and used as transportation up ahead resting on one of the rooftops, you gritted your teeth. Two familiar heads poking up from over the leather saddle, both dark heads of hair, urged you to move that much faster. If the Avatar managed to reach them, he’d more than likely escape before you could capture him.

One of his weak companions noticed you and his jaw dropped open, eyes widening at the same time. His blue Water Tribe--wasn’t it a little too warm to be wearing something so fluffy and padded?--stood out amongst the dull brown buildings. “Jungkook, hurry! She’s right behind you!”

“Obviously.” The other, his voice much deeper and less fitting to his appearance, grunted. He was thin, but not as petite as the other and climbed his way to the front of the saddle, picking up the long reins tied to either end of the animal’s horns with his hands. “Appa, yip-yip!”

With a crack! the reins snapped and the gargantuan beast let out an answering howl that had you leaping upwards to kick a stream of flame, right into the Avatar’s path the moment he took to the air. At the last minute, with another swing of his staff, he sent your own fire careening back towards you. You barely even had to flick your wrist to disperse it, but it was already too late.

The Avatar flew through the air, hair whipping around his head and wind tearing at his clothes, to land safely inside the bison’s saddle. Out of your range, you had no other choice but to skid to a stop right in the middle of the steadily emptying street. You craned your head back just in time to see the Avatar lean over the side of the saddle. A blindingly white grin stretched his cheeks, doe eyes scrunching as he waved a hand.

“Nice try, but better luck next time!”

Your hands clenched into infuriated fists at your side.

Next time he wouldn’t be getting away. 

[emletish-fish]

Worst prisoner: Zuko alone notes

ff.net

Ao3

Notes:

One million squillion thanks to the gorgeous Boogum. She is a gem!

Thanks to everyone who leaves feedback. It warms my heart to read that you are all enjoying this wild ride.

In these notes, I will ramble about:

Zuko's not stupid, but he thinks he is.  

Zuko's character in general.

Toph!

Sela and the Kyoshi warriors.

So I'm not touching the Blind bandit episode. That episode was gold. I love it and I don't think there's anything I could add to it. How the Gaang meet Toph would have still gone down the same, because it was awesome.

Instead this chapter picks up at the end of the blind bandit and covers the start of the chase and Zuko alone. I think these two episodes were happening concurrently, but focussing on different characters. I have given the Gaang a day or two travelling with Toph before the dangerous ladies catch up. Next chapter will cover when Azula gets into the mix – and there will be drama.  

I actually don't think Zuko's that much of a dumbass.  He's reckless and does dumb stuff when he's emotional, but he's not an idiot. His intelligence is something that is frequently mocked by mutliple characters throughout the series. Azula, Ozai, Sokka, Aang, Mai – hell, even Uncle Iroh, all take pot-shots at him about being stupid. Zuko internalises things and I think he has internalised this perception of himself.  He sees himself as a hard-worker, someone who has to struggle and fight to get things, not someone who is naturally clever and 'gifted'.   He always compares to himself to his sister, and  Azula has Machiavellian brilliance. No wonder he feels stupid compared to her.

Zuko blows up at his Uncle in this chapter. It's been a long time coming friends.  Lashing out at his Uncle is Zuko's coping strategy when he feels overwhelmed by the sheer amount of bullshit that is his life. Uncle's lies about the flower friends has been simmering away as a big issue for Zuko because it has very much undermined his trust in his Uncle. This secrecy has negatively impacted their close relationship. Zuko is also feeling very isolated, even before he runs off. He is missing the Gaang instead of his Fire Nation home, but him associated the Gaang with 'home' is still more on a subconscious level for him.  

I also think as Zuko leans more into the blue-spirit identity, and relies on his swords more, he would think more on the teachings of Piandao (My personal favourite original white lotus member). The swords are an integral part of blue spirit, the same as ninjitsu. Both these non-bending skills give Zuko a sense of achievement which firebending denied him. He is proficient at swords and ninjitsu, and I think he gains a certain sense freedom from using these skills. The blue spirit really helps Zuko feel more free from his old identity. It is also helping him work through some stuff with his dad, and how he really feels about bullying and abuse.

I think Zuko would be fuelled by righteous anger at injustice and desire to protect people.  There is still an element of anger, but it is more useful and positive anger, because he hates seeing people treated badly.  He's passionate about justice, honour and protecting people. Goodness, how do people get the idea that Zuko is a “bad boy” when all that boy is about is trying to be honourable?

Zuko's biggest motivation, even when he was little, was to take care of people and protect them. Think of Mai in the pond, or 'you can't sacrifice those soldiers like'.  This was an innate part of him, that he tried to suppress to please his father. It's also why people like Song with her burn scars have a big impact on him.  Zuko regaining his full bending when he uses it for the defence of the innocent felt right.  Hey hey, starwars reference: He's stronger protecting what he loves, than he is fighting what he hates. Even though firebending is more aggressive, I reason that Zuko's would be stronger when he is defending something he cares for.  He might actually be accidentally rediscovering other bending styles, which also relied on other sources rather than hate. Yay!  Now he just has to change decades long traditions in his militaristic homeland. I’m sure it will be fun for him.

So Toph. I love her. Toph to me is a miniature, ass-kicking Gina Linetti (from Brooklyn 99).

Toph doesn't tolerate pussy-footing, but she also isn't gentle or sensitive to other people's feelings. Especially in the beginning. See Toph was brought up both very spoiled, and very isolated.  Her noble status, from what we see of the Earth Kingdom society, meant that she never had to care about other's feelings, even if she did have a friend.  The only people she associated with, outside her privileged bubble, were rude, brash Earth Rumblers. Toph could live life like this iconic Gina Linetti gif.

Toph has never hung out with  kids her own age, before the Gaang. Going from relative isolation, to being surrounded by the Gaang 24/7 would be a big adjustment for her. Now she’s in the huddle.

Zuko never hung around with kids his own age that much and he was awkward. But Toph's response to the Gaang's persistent friendship is rudeness. I think this rudeness is partly fuelled by Toph feeling defensive, because she doesn't know how to react around the Gaang. She is constantly pushing them, especially Katara. No one said she had to set up her rock tent as far away from them as human possible – but this is where Toph chooses to camp.

 I thought that was interesting. She moves closer and softens her rough edges around them as the show progresses, but I still think some of her initial stand-offishness was a result of her finding her feet with people her own age.

The girl's fight is really because they have two very different world views which are clashing. Toph is an isolationist, everyone should be an island and carry their own weight. Toph is trying to prove her worth and that she doesn’t need help from anyone, but she is also struggling with interacting with the group on a friendly level.  Katara comes from a very communal upbringing where everyone needed to pitch in to survive.  She's sees Toph's refusal to help the ‘community’ as an affront to her whole way of life.  Toph and Katara completely misunderstand each other here, but their fight was an important part of them getting to know each other.

I think Toph's feeling of competitiveness towards Zuko would be a fairly natural reaction to being frequently compared to him. I also think it would be normal for the Gaang to compare them – not maliciously, they aren't trying to hurt her feelings. But Zuko is the only other person they've added to their group on a long term basis. He and Toph have some traits in common. It's only natural that they would make comparisons between their two belligerent badasses. I think this initial tendency to compare them would be one effect that Zuko joining the Gaang in season one would have on their relationship with Toph.  However Toph quickly sets them straight and establishes her own identity.

“That's what mums are like,” is such an important line for Zuko and such a character building line for Ursa. (Boo comics, boo. That woman wouldn't have just abandoned those kids to a psychopath so she could shag her high school bf). 

Anyway, I like this line and I wanted to work it in, just in a different context.  Thank you Sela.I'm always a big believer in fleshing out those background lady characters.

Sela was also a former Kyoshi warrior.  I have also always been puzzled about the Kyoshi warriors, because seriously, Suki is 16 and she is wonderful and well-spoken and  great warrior – but she is still a teenager. Why is she in charge? Where are all the old warriors?

I couldn't come up with anything satisfactory, so Sela is cagey about her past. I am assuming it is something bad, maybe something to do with the war, maybe something to do with Ba Sing Se, but nevertheless, Sela had a good reason to desert and choose to go live an anonymous life where nothing and no one would ever sneak up on her

Gosh, when little Lee said that to Zuko in the show, I just though “Thank goodness, that is what that kid needs. No surprises. Nothing sneaking up to pull the rug out from under him. Let him have a bit of warning for once.”

The lesson Zuko learns in the village is a different to the show.  He's grown much more since Makapu.  Instead, Zuko gets to learn from Sela. It was heaps of fun to write their chat, and I think she helped him just as much as Uncle Iroh helps Toph. She helps him start to let go of the bad things, in a way that all of Iroh's proverbs couldn't accomplish. I think because Zuko would feel a kinship with Sela's inability to talk about all the bad things that had happened to her, and her desire to move forward.   She also helps him come round to Iroh and the flower friends.

I had a couple of lines in Zuko and Katara's POV about how much they miss each other. Because I am a sap.  Katara tries not to think about it, and pushes her feelings down.  Zuko's a massive moper.   But they will see each other again.

But next chapter, some members of the Gaang will reunite with Zuko. Azula will be in the mix and there will be drama!

[headquartersforlievmuses]

► Sooka

Sokka was a Water Tribe warrior of the Southern Water Tribe and the son of Chief Hakoda and Kya. Following the death of his mother and his father's leave for war, Sokka was raised by his grandmother Kanna along with his younger sister Katara.

Hakoda left along with all of the other men in his tribe to fight the Fire Nation when Sokka was a young boy. Despite his desire to join his father, Sokka was not permitted to accompany the men on the mission and was left behind.[8] As there were no other teenage boys in the tribe, Sokka was the oldest male in the South Pole and, therefore, left as the leader of the tribe. He assumed responsibility for the tribe, haplessly training children to be future warriors, until his sister discovered an Air Nomad named Aang frozen in an iceberg.[8] When he learned that Aang was the Avatar,[9] he was at first skeptical that a child could really save the world. As he and his sister helped Aang on his quest, he began to believe that Aang really was the only hope for peace in the world.

Despite his inability to bend, Sokka became the strategist of the group, constantly trying to prove himself to be a great warrior like his father. He attempted to train the younger children of the Southern Water Tribe in fighting. Sokka was also the "matter of fact" guy in the group and did not believe in spirit magic, as he openly mocked it. His leadership skills improved during his travels with the Avatar, culminating with his masterminding the plan for the invasion of the Fire Nation on the Day of Black Sun. His humor and his ability to organize and plan became imperative to the group on their travels. By the conclusion of the Hundred Year War, Sokka became a master swordsman and a great warrior like his father.

After Aang and Zuko formed the United Republic of Nations, Sokka became the representative for the Southern Water Tribe and he also became the United Republic Council chairman.

Sokka was born at the South Pole to Chief Hakoda and Kya in 84 AG. Growing up as part of a minor tribe that lived in the remains of the Southern Water Tribe's ruined capital, Sokka was raised from a young age to be a warrior and possessed much knowledge of Water Tribe weapons and tactics. When he was ten, Sokka witnessed one of the last major Fire Nation raids on his tribe, during which his mother was targeted and killed, leaving him with great hatred for the Fire Nation.

When his father left with the other men of the tribe to fight in the Hundred Year War, Sokka was put under his Gran Gran's care and became his tribe's last defense. He took the task seriously, building a number of snow watchtowers around the village and even "training" the young children of the village as soldiers. Although Sokka had the spirit of a warrior and the courage to stand up to any enemy, he initially lacked the skills and techniques that would make him a formidable opponent. That would not stop him from trying, though, especially if his friends needed help. He was protective of his younger sister[8][16] and treasured the boomerang given to him by his father.

During his travels with Aang, Sokka improved his skills significantly, and had evolved into a skilled fighter with a sword forged from meteorite, a true leader, and a cunning strategic planner.

During the year immediately subsequent to the Hundred Year War, Sokka joined Katara and Aang in the "Harmony Restoration Movement" to disassemble the Fire Nation colonies in service of Earth King Kuei.

When Sokka was heading to Ba Sing Se with Team Avatar to inform Earth King Kuei about Yu Dao's situation, he decided to leave with Toph to her metalbending academy in order to avoid his "oogies" at Aang and Katara's relationship. The earthbender grabbed Sokka and jumped from Appa as they both made their way to the academy. Sokka inquired Toph about her initiative to start the school, getting a response he identified as a lie and proceeded to guess her real motive. When they caught the metalbending students leaving the academy, Toph stopped them and introduced them to Sokka. The students informed their sifu that they had been kicked out of the school by Kunyo, whom Toph went to face and demand her school back. However, Sokka interrupted before they could fight, stating that it would be a better idea to give the place to the most effective school thus letting the students fight. He made everyone agree to a "match to the sit", which consisted in the win of the team who could force the other one sit down first, and start it in three days.

When Sokka noticed Toph's students still were unable to metalbend, he offered to help them by being a "motivational bender". He began giving them a speech about metal and trying to make them bend metal coins, but unsuccessfully. After another disastrous attempt to inspire the three pupils by making them get emotional and scaring them with a metal monster Sokka made Toph bend, the earthbending instructor told her friend about her feeling of failure as she was expecting her students to become something they were not. The day of the battle, Sokka observed how Toph was surrendering at Kunyo and his students' arrival but was stopped by Ho Tun, Penga, and The Dark One, who demonstrated their ability to metalbend and defeated the firebending team with metal coins thrown by the Water Tribe warrior. He, impressed, congratulated the team for their successful result that lead to their final consolidation as metalbending students.

Sokka stayed with Toph at the metalbending academy until the day of the battle for Yu Dao, when Suki arrived in a hot air balloon. She greeted Toph and Sokka, telling them that she had found them through a complaint from Kunyo about a "dirt girl" and a "snow savage" taking over his school. Suki climbed back into her balloon, explaining that she needed their help with preventing Zuko from starting another war. Landing the balloon near the Fire Nation battle procession, Sokka began to formulate their plan of action. On his command, Toph earthbent a tunnel that led to one of the tundra tanks. With the aid of the girl's metalbending abilities, the trio hijacked one of the tanks. Inside, Sokka decided upon their next move. He ordered Suki to pull up alongside as many tanks as she could, so Toph could loosen the screws on the tank's wheels with metalbending. When the Fire Nation Army reached Yu Dao, Suki drove their tundra tank to Aang and Katara, who were standing with the Avatar's Yu Dao fan club members outside the walls. 

Aang and his fans prepared to attack the tank, but stopped when Toph and Sokka clambered out of the machine. Sokka expressed his frustration at Katara and Aang for not coming back to get him like they had promised, and Toph explained that they had been trying to slow the Fire Nation Army down. When Katara questioned this, as the army had still reached Yu Dao, Sokka commanded Toph to put the next phase of their plan into action. The earthbender struck the ground, creating tremors that rendered the tundra tanks useless by causing the screws in the wheels to pop out. While the tanks had been disabled, Zuko ordered the rest of his soldiers to attack General How's. Aang and Katara retreated to the top of the wall, and Toph, Suki, and Sokka followed suit with the aid of Toph's bending, where they decided to split up. Sokka agreed to deal with Smellerbee and the rest of the protesters. After the battle was over, he was seen running back to Aang and Katara, rejoining Team Avatar.[

Some time after the battle for Yu Dao, Sokka attended a meeting together with his friends and several government officials at the home of the governor of Yu Dao to discuss the future of the city. A professor gave a lecture on ancient Earth Kingdom philosophies regarding the four nations, though it was of little interest to him. Sokka was complaining about it to Aang, who also could not be captivated by the professor. The two friends were soon shushed by Katara who did want to pay attention. Sokka retorted however, that he was not surprised that his "boring sister" liked "boring lecture guy", earning him a waterbending-generated snowball to the face from Katara.

Meanwhile, Zuko had snapped back to attention when the professor had made a comparison between how one treats their family and how one rules. He took the comment seriously, thus Sokka tried to lighten his mood by stating that the professor was a "blowhard", who was only liked by people like Katara, earning himself another snowball to the face.

A week later, Sokka traveled to the Fire Nation Royal Palace together with Aang and Katara upon Zuko's inquiry. Upon arrival, they were delightfully surprised when they discovered Iroh there as well. Zuko explained that Iroh was there to act as interim Fire Lord while he would be gone, looking for Ursa, a journey on which he invited them all to accompany him. However, the amicable atmosphere quickly changed when Azula emerged from behind Zuko. Katara attacked the princess, with Aang and Sokka preparing to do the same. While Aang warned Azula to stay back as he did not want to hurt her, Sokka made it clear that he did not share the same sentiment, though his threat was met with laughter, as Azula did not perceive his boomerang as a danger. Before the conflict could escalate any further, they were halted by Suki and Ty Lee, who implored them to let Zuko explain the situation. While the Fire Lord did so, Sokka passionately reunited with Suki. As Zuko mentioned, however, that Azula was to come with them, Sokka called him out to be a "bad decision lord", though later complied regardless.

The following day, Sokka readily volunteered to take the first watch over Azula, much to Zuko's worry. He confidently walked over to the Fire Nation princess and threatened her again with his boomerang, though Azula shot the weapon out of his hands with a small lightning bolt, knocking him on his behind. As the princess was quickly overpowered by his friends and tensions calmed down again, he casually stated that it was perhaps better that someone else took the first watch instead of him.

Airborne, Sokka commented how the adventure felt like "old times", though much to his annoyance, Aang stated that it was better than old times since he could now kiss Katara whenever, something he deftly demonstrated. Aang suddenly had a gruesome expression on his face, caused by the presence of a spirit, causing Sokka to exclaim that it was already by enough that they had one passenger who stared "with crazy eyes" at them, referring to Azula who had a minor psychotic breakdown moments before. The Water Tribe warrior continued to mock the Avatar's expression, only to be stopped when Katara waterbent a snowball to his face. Their playful antics suddenly became serious when Azula dived off Appa and set fire to Aang's glider, who had swooped down to save her from plummeting to her death, subsequently sending him crashing down on the ground. As they landed, Sokka and Katara quickly jumped off to tend to the downed airbender, while Zuko went after his sister.

Sokka, Katara, and Aang caught up with the two firebenders at a nearby river, right when they were about to fight one another. Katara cut the battle short, encasing Azula in ice. The princess subsequently insulted Katara, though froze in horror mid-sentence as the wolf spirit appeared behind an unknowing Sokka, as he thought Azula's fearful look was caused by his boomerang. Sokka nearly evaded getting his head bitten off by the spirit and ran to safety. When the spirit snapped at Aang who was trying to reason with it, Sokka threw his boomerang at the creature, though the full hit on its head did not even faze it. He was taken aback by the spirit's ability to swallow Zuko's fire blast, burp, and eventually throw up moth wasps, deeming the creature to be the "grossest spirit ever". The spirit insects attacked the group, covering Sokka's arm in such density that he could not even see it anymore. They were eventually saved when Azula shot a lightning bolt away from them all, drawing the moths and the wolf spirit with it.

After the arrival of the Mother of Faces, he tried to prevent Azula's escape after she learned about her mother's new identity. He went after her, along with Zuko, taking a shortcut back to Noren's home. While Zuko went inside he stayed outside to defend the home. Eventually he ended up crashing through the roof of the home while battling Azula. After the battle he reunited with Katara and Aang, questioning Azula's motives for leaving the letter behind.

Sometime later, Sokka and Suki visited Seashell San's House of Shells in a Fire Nation marketplace, telling Suki that he had wanted to collect seashells since he was a little boy. He compared the sounds in the shells to a "teeny-tiny" Aang airbending and asked San how much they were worth. Being told they were worth fifteen ban for one but at a special of two for thirty, he grew excited, but quickly realized what the vendor was doing and grew annoyed. Suki called the warrior a goof, but he asked if she meant "handsome warrior with formidable biceps". After a girl, Giya, entered the store and San discouraged her from buying shells because she appeared to be a fake collector, Suki confronted him and his assistant, Jojan. Sokka tried to warn the men to not put their hands on her, unfazed by the vendor's order for the couple to leave. As Suki began taking down the men, Sokka asked if she needed help; he was told sweetly she did not though was thanked for the offer and kissed on the cheek. After the men were defeated, the couple left, with Sokka warning them their shells had been set on fire by San's firebending because of the lacquer that was on them.

When the peace talks in Yu Dao came to an end, Sokka and the rest of Team Avatar returned there to witness the introduction of the city's new coalition government. Although having witnessed a historic moment, he was more excited about the subsequent celebration banquet, during which he raved about the turtle duck dish, trying to get the vegetarian Yee-Li to try it too. When Toph informed everyone that her metalbending academy was doing so well that she was in need of expansion but lacked the necessary funds, Sokka suggested to charge her students tuition, figuring that she would end up being richer than the Earth King, though she rejected the idea. When Aang joined their table and announced that they were all going on a field trip the following day, Sokka was not immediately fond of the idea as he had hoped to peruse the local markets for a new bag.

Team Avatar later traveled to Ba Sing Se, but soon after, as Sokka and Katara prepared to return to the South Pole for the first time since the end of the Hundred Year War, Aang received a summons from Zuko, who requested his aid against dark spirit attacks in the Fire Nation. Agreeing to meet up with Aang later, Sokka and Katara took a ship back home.

When their ship finally arrived at the Southern Water Tribe, Sokka woke Katara from her bittersweet dream. Upon disembarking, they spotted a bunch of kids sliding down a slope on otter penguins, reminding Katara of when they first met Aang, to which Sokka claimed she thought him to be a Fire Nation spy. Soon after, they went penguin sledding themselves, only to slide right into a construction site. After conversing with a group of kids who snowballed Sokka in the face, they are accosted by a trio of construction workers who admonished the children for trespassing. The two waterbenders refused Katara's suggestion of peace and attacked but were defeated by her superior waterbending, much to Sokka's amusement.

Sokka and Katara soon arrived home and were shocked to see that their village had been transformed into a bustling city. Spotted by Aunt Ashuna, Sokka got to taste her seal jerky once more before being hailed as heroes by the entire tribe. Kanna appeared soon after, prompting her grandchildren to embrace her, before learning that she and Pakku had married. Upon learning that Pakku had started a school for waterbenders, Sokka offered to provide his so-called "motivational bending".

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