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krastbannert · 3 years

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And one more for the ultimate ship meme. Zutara.

Ah, Zutara.

Just kidding - sorry, I couldn't resist. It's my responsibility as a Maiko shipper to regard your heathen lovely ship as my arch-enemy.

(Okay to those people reading this who ship Zutara, and don't know me: I actually am joking. Just having a little fun.)

General:

How long will they last? - So, the way I normally think about Zutara, it happens in one of two ways: a hard and fast burn with a less-than-stellar ending (I think them being exes-turned-best friends is hilarious), or they get together when they're older, after Aang and Mai are gone, and live out their golden years together. So, in canon, it's either a few months, or in the years until their death. I could see them working well together fairly well in an alternate universe, though. (The other sections of this ask assumes this AU version because fuck it, I can).

How quickly did/will they fall in love? - It took them a hot minute to get there; years post-war. I figure maybe in their early-to-mid 20s. They were best friends for years before that.

How was their first kiss? - Probably frustrated, mostly with each other. They're each dancing around their feelings and one of them just says "fuck it" and plants it on the other.

Wedding:

Who proposed? - Zuko would, eventually. He'd definitely give Katara a beautiful betrothal necklace, and make a lovely proposal under the Southern Lights, or maybe in the Crystal catacombs (first place they saw the good in each other).

Who is the best man/men? - Same answer as I did previously: Sokka, and Aang would be one but he's helping Zuko's former crewman Koji officiate.

Who is the braid’s maid(s)? - Probably Toph, Suki, and Mai (yes, I know this might sound strange, but think about it: Katara and Mai being best friends? Hilarious.)

Who did the most planning? - Probably Katara, she seems like the type to get really into it.

Who stressed the most? - Zuko. He knows that Katara loves him.

How fancy was the ceremony? - Same answer as my Maiko one: I figure they'd have 2, 1 public and 1 private. Back of a pickup truck | 2 | 3 (their friends, Hakoda & Ursa (are they dating? Maybe), Iroh, Gran-Gran & Pakku, and Zuko's old crew) | 4 | Normal Church Wedding | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Kate and William wish they were this big (they're royalty; huge wedding is required)

Who was specifically not invited to the wedding? - Um. Well. Ozai is pretty obvious. Other than that...I really can't think of anyone. Jet, maybe, if Katara and he never make up post-war (although I like to think they would, eventually).

Sex:

Who is on top? - Katara's often on top.

Who is the one to instigate things? - Hmm I feel like it would be Zuko. He can't resist; Katara's just beautiful.

How healthy is their sex life? - Barely touch themselves let alone each other | 2 | 3 | 4 | Once a couple weeks, nothing overboard | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | They are humping each other on the couch right now

How kinky are they? - Straight missionary with the lights off | 2 | 3 | 4 | Might try some butt stuff and toys | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 (they like to change things up a lot, keep it fresh, and with two benders...well, they have to put their abilities to use, you know?) | Don’t go into the sex dungeon without a horse’s head

How long do they normally last? - For some reason I get the feeling they'd do a lot of quickies, so that's the norm, but when they want to go all night? They really do go all night.

Do they make sure each person gets an equal amount of orgasms? - Okay, I feel like the answer for all the ATLA guys is the same: yes, they damn well do.

How rough are they in bed? - Softer than a butterfly on the back of a bunny | 2 | 3 | 4 | The bed’s shaking and squeaking every time | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Their dirty talk is so vulgar it’d make Dwayne Johnson blush. Also, the wall’s so weak it could collapse the next time they do it.

How much cuddling/snuggling do they do? - No touching after sex | 2 | 3 | 4 | A little spooning at night, or on the couch, but not in public | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | They snuggle and kiss more often than a teen couple on their fifth date to a pillow factory.

Children:

How many children will they have naturally? - I feel like they would have at least two (Izumi, because of course, and I like the common headcanon of Kya being one), and I could see them having 1 more.

How many children will they adopt? - I could maybe see them adopting a kid in a modern AU, but in the canon timeframe I don't think they adopt any.

Who gets stuck with the most diapers? - Zuko might be the Fire Lord, but the wife is still the boss. Zuko's busy but Katara makes sure he does his fair share. (He wants to do his fair share, he just gets lost in the work sometimes.)

Who is the stricter parent? - I feel like Katara would be, publicly, even Zuko's actually the strict one. Katara doesn't mind the kids getting into a little trouble, she just wants them to be safe.

Who stops the kid(s) from doing dangerous stunts after school? - Katara. Zuko's getting in trouble with them because he's doing them, too.

Who remembers to pack the lunch(es)? - Servants do it. Modern AU is probably Katara who does it more often; she's a night owl so she's up, anyways. Zuko does it, too, though, he just has to beat Katara there.

Who is the more loved parent? - Honestly, it's about equal. Katara and Zuko are amazing parents, and their kids know it.

Who is more likely to attend the PTA meetings? - Uh both, honestly.

Who cried the most at graduation? - No matter who you pair him with, it's gonna be Zuko, I swear. He can pretend to be a bad boy all he wants, but he's a softie. (Katara totally cried, too.)

Who is more likely to bail the child(ren) out of trouble with the law? - Zuko's the one who got them into trouble. They don't get caught when it's Katara leading them.

Cooking:

Who does the most cooking? - Probably Katara; she teaches Zuko a lot, but he just can't get Water Tribe food right (he inevitably adds spice to it), and Katara loves her WT food.

Who is the most picky in their food choice? - Katara because she can't quite handle Fire Nation spice. She doesn't mind low-to-medium levels, but Zuko likes the spicy stuff and Katara thinks he's out of his mind. (Azula agrees.)

Who does the grocery shopping? - Well, servants do it in-universe, but in a Modern AU it's probably Katara, and she brings Zuko out whenever she can.

How often do they bake desserts? - Katara has a sweet tooth, especially when pregnant.

Are they more of a meat lover or a salad eater? - Zuko is all about the meat (Sokka really approves of this), and Katara likes salads as a side, but she loves meat, too.

Who is more likely to surprise the other(s) with an anniversary dinner? - Zuko, probably, since he's a sweetheart.

Who is more likely to suggest going out? - Katara. She's not very familiar with the Fire Nation, especially at first, so she really enjoys going out and walking around.

Who is more likely to burn the house down accidentally while cooking? - Considering Katara is a waterbender and can pull water from almost anywhere, it ain't gonna be her. So, Zuko.

Chores:

Who cleans the room? - Servants, most likely, but they both clean when they can.

Who is really against chores? - They're both just kinda used to it, so they don't mind too much.

Who cleans up after the pets? - Servants, probably.

Who is more likely to sweep everything under the rug? - Between them, probably Zuko.

Who stresses the most when guests are coming over? - Katara; she wants to make sure everyone's taken care of. (Zuko's almost as stressed because he's an awkward potato.)

Who found a dollar between the couch cushions while cleaning? - Katara. She invested it. Made an absolute shitload of money. Now she's in charge.

Misc:

Who takes the longer showers/baths? - Hmm I figure it's probably Katara. She likes the water.

Who takes the dog out for a walk? - Katara, same reason as in "more likely to suggest going out".

How often do they decorate the room/house for the holidays? - Katara loves decorating, and she never got much of a chance to as a kid - life was always about survival in her tribe - so she decorates for every single holiday, Water Tribe and Fire Nation.

What are their goals for the relationship? - Grow old. Be happy. The usual.

Who is most likely to sleep till noon? - Katara, the resident night owl.

Who plays the most pranks? - Hmm between them, I get the feeling it would be Zuko.

#krast answers asks #@thesavagedaughter0627 #zuko #katara #zutara #(damn i haven't used that tag in a LONG time)#no seriously i don't remember the last time i used it - i've used it before but i have no idea when #sorry if any of these seem off - never thought much about the zutara dynamic before so #atla

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olivieblake · 4 years

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KSIGJICNRJCNEHCBD HELLO HELLO WELCOME TO THE HELL THAT IS KNOWING ZUTARA IS EVERYTHING AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN AS SUCH !!!! wow i love that you are as angry as i was (and am every rewatch? yikes) this is amazing i knew you're my favorite but yeah wow man this really. confirms it whew high five

yeah it’s pretty wild how I knew this was what happened and was already bracing for it and yet STILL got completely misled by the narrative??? MEN I tell you MEN. I’m also going to use this ask as a method to reply to some of the other commentary if you don’t mind since this seems like a good place for communal frustration (here is my original post for anyone scrolling around lost)

@meg-hemmings: I agree with all of ur thoughts and I would TOTALLY read anything you wrote for Zutara … your writing is among my absolute favorite ever and I think you would write the Zutara dynamic so beautifully!

@one-man-propaganda-machine: I am - begging - you to write it yourself.

I... am not going to make promises, but I may have to. I want something very specific and that never bodes well for me. I doubt it would be more than a one-shot, but there are multiple scenes that could have occurred between episodes that would flesh out what was there (and of course I’d cut the final 15 seconds of the show, much like another epilogue I loathe and ignore)

@deifiliaa: omg atla discourse in 2021; olivie, i’d love to see what your character tier list looks like now that you’ve finished the series 👀

I’m going to put azula at the top. not because she’s a good person obviously but she’s FULL. OF. HITS. every time she’s on the screen the narrative gets immediately more interesting. she’s savvy and self-assured and I love it. her ending depressed me although I like that it was kind of about the loss of her two best friends? if that had been more of a focus I think I would have enjoyed it more but yeah, losing mai and ty lee could have been rightfully devastating. who among us is not totally obliterated by friend breakups. I also really loved uncle iroh; if anything that’s why I wasn’t invested in zuko’s storyline until close to the end, because watching him disappoint his uncle was very difficult (I get it, he’s a teenager, he’s growing and evolving and whatnot, but also I am closer to being his uncle than to being him so like, yeah). I also hope the peter pan revenge guy (JET that’s his name, sorry pregnancy kills my brain cells) did hook up with both katara and zuko. I love that journey for all three of them. I wanted more time with mai than we got, so there wasn’t quite enough there to love... but I was very down with ty lee interfering on her behalf. what a pivotal moment

of the core characters I think I was quickest to love sokka; the episode where he apologizes to suki and asks her to train him cemented it for me. I think it’s a big deal to show boys apologizing on-screen and owning their misconceptions. I like katara a lot—she’s what a lot of people do with fanon hermione. toph is also great, and part of me feels there is a strong basis for a ship with aang that balances their opposing energy, though I also like the idea of them being platonic besties. aang is... twelve. pretty much every time he was on the screen mr blake (a teacher) was like “man, aang is such a seventh grader,” so it was nice how convincing that was for his emotional journey, but at the same time it was hard to forget he was in seventh grade. appa and momo are STARS. I am sure I have mentioned this before but mr blake really loves animals and he was devastated by appa’s kidnapping; he hugged our dog for about ten minutes after aang found appa. after he decided I was zuko, he speculated that he is closest to aang but he’s not happy about it lol. “ugh, aang and I are such boring pacifists” was I believe his take on the subject

@libbynico, who for some reason I can’t tag: so true! katara was literally something like a mother/older sister figure to aang the entire time, but whatever

yeah, I think it really sucks that katara, as the emotionally nurturing character, felt shoved into the role of love interest. it’s everything wrong with the distribution of emotional labor in male-female relationships but sure, WHATEVER, apparently nobody thought to ask me in 2008

@touslesnoms: I liked “such selfish prayers” by andromeda3116 if you ever decide to read zutara after the series; the worst prisoner by emletish is super funny too

thanks for the recs! I will take them. I do want something very specific so I will be accepting recs until I find it lol. or until I lose composure and write it (yeah this is me WITH my composure, no wonder mr blake thinks I’m zuko, “I’m never happy” indeed)

@gaeleria: THANK YOU!!! Ugh omg that “I’m confused” kiss scene made me actively hate the ending. I knew ahead of time they were endgame, so I tried to make myself accept it early on. Like, I really didn’t like the pairing, but I wasn’t going to be emotionally invested in the romance and it was just going to be like, whatevs. AND THEN THEY WROTE THAT SCENE??! 1000% no. What was even the point of that scene? If they had written it to make Aang have some introspection and realize it’s not all about him, Katara’s feelings matter too, or even apologize, or anything… but no, there was literally no point to that scene. No character growth, it was never mentioned again. Ugh.

this is in answer to both you and beloved @zabbini: yeah this was a fuck-up for sure lol. I think it may come down to editing for time; the series is very irregularly paced, what with the majority of the action taking place in the final three episodes of a 16 episode season. or maybe it’s just because MEN CAN’T BE TRUSTED TO WRITE ROMANCE but either way yeah this was a real misstep and just truly, truly reeked of a particular (white) male attitude about how women think and what they owe. had a bad day, dudes? buy a gun, kiss your forever girl, do whatever you want and it’s fine! (I’m exaggerating but barely)

in terms of what’s so angering for me: a character like katara who previously had tons of agency was robbed of it when it came to her romantic arc, which is just really upsetting. and to be fair, I was equally upset when zuko instantly agreed to the agni kai with azula because it was like okay well katara’s extremely valuable, as you know, but now you want her to just sit on the sidelines...? (more of a story flaw than a relationship flaw, but my chest sunk a little at the idea that katara was going to sit by and watch as an accessory to zuko’s story when she’s a crucial weapon in their collective fight. what a waste, right?)

it’s also especially hard to buy into the aang thing when zuko’s method of problem-solving on katara’s behalf is there for comparison. he asks her what she needs in order to find closure and then from there, does everything necessary to get it without having to be asked twice. versus aang, who is a twelve-year-old pair of rogue lips who never wins any of his fights without the aid of phenomenal cosmic powers...? ugh I’m getting off track but in the end there’s just a complete lack of understanding what female audiences want, though again, I don’t think they were really considering that at all. which I guess is... fair, it’s not the point of the show, but then why make the ending romantic at all? to show that their brand of hero gets everything he wants, I guess

in conclusion in 2008 I’m not sure the industry was capable of doing better, which sucks but isn’t surprising. still, it does fit the components of “stuff I write fics for,” which is I enjoyed most of it but find myself enraged by slivers I compulsively need to fix—WHICH IS STILL NOT A PROMISE but ugh I can already feel myself giving in

#avatar the last airbender #zabbini

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sol-tinyrayofsun · 4 years

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Zutara Week Day 7 - Rebirth: I´ll Save You From Forgetfulness

Title: I´ll Save You From Forgetfulness

Rating: G

Summary: Across multiple lifetimes, Zuko and Katara have always chased after each other. They’re destined to be together, but having a soulmate isn’t as easy as it might seem. Especially if every time they’re reincarnated one of them completely forgets everything about the other.

This time is Zuko’s turn to be the one who remembers. And he’s more than ecstatic when Katara finally comes waltzing into his life. The only thing left to do is find a way of telling her the truth.

Also on AO3!

--- I just couldn’t let Zutara Week go by without writing a Soulmates AU for it. They’re one of my favorite kinds of stories and I’m really happy with how mine turned out.

In all honesty, the writing process for it consisted of me loudly singing and getting overly emotional at my own darn words. I’m just too soft for these two, alright? Bear with me. I low-key refuse to believe this week is coming to an end.

I hope you like it just as much as I’ve grown to do. As always, thank you for reading! <3 --------- It was her. Zuko had no doubt. It was her voice that he was hearing. A rush of adrenaline flashed through his entire body. Twenty years, two-hundred and forty months, a thousand and forty-two weeks, and seven-thousand and three-hundred days. That’s how long he had waited for her this time.

But now, hearing her scandalous laugh all the way from behind the countertop of his Uncle’s tea shop, he felt alive. It was always like that, the moment when they found each other once again. So far, it was already the highlight of his current existence.

He quickly turned around, leaning his elbows on top of the counter and trying to look for her. The salon as crowded as usual during the afternoons but it didn’t take him long to find who he was searching for amidst the sea of strangers.

There she was. About to be seated with a group of friends in the table by the window. It was breathtaking to finally see her after so long. Zuko felt her heart skipping a beat - or a hundred, he wasn’t entirely sure - as she sat down on one of the comfy green chairs of the shop.

Anyone else would have probably thought it was too much of a coincide for Katara to come waltzing into the tea shop he worked at. But Zuko was already used to their little coincidences. The two of them have shared many different lives, and it had always started with fate bringing them together in the first place.

They had learned not to push it, even though it would be near impossible for them to find each other instead of letting destiny do its job. Because there was the extremely annoying detail of how only one of them remembered about their lives together. Each reincarnation, they would interchange places, taking turns regarding who would be the lonely memorious and who would score the blissful obliviousness. It was certainly unpractical, but they were both used to it. And now, they had found each other again.

The only problem was, Zuko hated to be the one who remembered. Not only it implied years of solitude and melancholy, but it came with the complicated burden of reminding the other one about their whole ordeal. And trying to explain to someone that they’re your soulmates and you’ve shared multiple life isn’t easy at all. In fact, it was the worst. She had always handled it far better than him. Though it was his turn now, he had to help her remember him. Remember them.

“Uncle!” Zuko exclaimed as he put down the rag he had been cleaning teacups with, heading to the back of the house. “You mind if I take care of the salon for some time? I could use a dynamic swap.”

His uncle looked at him from inside the kitchen, busy preparing an egg custard pie. “Sure, as long as the to-go counter isn’t too busy…. Lee should be able to handle it.”

“Perfect.” He couldn’t contain the energy that had taken over him. Even his voice sounded overly enthusiastic. “I’ll go wait the tables then.”

With that been said, Zuko sprinted to the salon. Not without making sure to check himself out in a small mirror that hung from the corridor’s wall. He looked decent enough. His scar was the only thing that could surprise her. Though, actually, it couldn’t surprise her since she wouldn’t even remember what he looked like without it. Taking a deep breath, he marched up to her table.

Oh Agni, how foolish of him had been to underestimate the moment his eyes met hers for the first time in years. It was her, Katara, with those ocean blue eyes and her ridiculously kind smile. He would’ve recognized his soulmate anywhere.

Alright, enough staring. Take their order once and for all.

Her friend group seemed nice, though perhaps a little loud. It consisted of two other girls and two other boys. The five of them looked like they were having a great time.

“Hello! My name is Zuko, and I will be taking care of your table this afternoon.” He made sure to put in his brightest, most charming smile. “Can I take your order or would you prefer to have a couple more minutes?”

“Guys!” Katara’s voice echoed in his ears. “Are you ready to order?”

Her four friends seemed to be caught off guard. Perhaps he had arrived a little to early at their table.

“Sist, give me a sec,” One of the boys said. “I’m helping Toph decide what to get.”

Zuko hadn’t noticed one of the girls was blind. She seemed to handle herself remarkably well. He also hadn’t even considered the possibility of meeting Katara’s family that soon. She had a brother, an older one from what he looked like, named Sokka. The guy seemed to be around his age, whether Katara was definitely one or two years younger in this new lifetime.

“I’m sorry,” Katara said to him, looking straight into his eyes. He felt his pulse racing like never before in his current life. “I swear they do this everywhere we go. It shouldn’t take more than a minute. We’ve just dropped our bags at the hotel next door, and they’re still jumpy from all that traveling.”

There’s nothing to be sorry for, Zuko thought, delighted at the fact that she was already addressing him, and sharing a bit of her life. Any progress was valid, no matter how little it seemed.

“Oh no, don’t apologize,” he replied, making a courteous smile. “I’ll happily take your order in the meantime. So you’re staying at the Ember Hotel, then?”

“Yeah, it’s got a nice central location, we want to explore the city all we can,” she replied. “Oh, and thanks, I’ll have a hibiscus tea and a blueberry muffin.”

Hibiscus tea? Katara must’ve been feeling adventurous because Zuko was certain chamomile and rose tea was her favorite one. But the news of her staying at the hotel right next door had been enough to have him almost jumping all over the place. What a marvelous coincidence. Just as always.

“Got it,” he said as he wrote it down on his notepad. “Anyone else ready to order?”

The girl whose name he didn’t know yet was the first to speak. “I’ll have a peppermint tea and a granola bar. Thanks.”

“And I would like a green tea and a portion of egg custard pie, please,” The other guy said.

Katara’s brother finally looked at him. “Sorry for the wait. I’ll have a ginger tea and a fruit cake.”

“And I’ll take the Puerh tea with a cheese roll, thank you very much,” Toph added.

“Alright, great, thank you. I’ll be sure to bring your order as soon as it’s ready.” He closed down his notepad and placed it into his apron’s pocket.

“Thank you, Zuko.” Katara’s voice was like music to him. “Sorry again for the delay.”

“Seriously, don’t worry about it.” He smiled at her as he started to walk away.

Not even ten minutes of finding her and she had already said his name, shared a bit about her plans and told him she was staying next door. Not bad at all. Zuko smiled, sprinting to get their order ready. He had a good feeling about this lifetime.

From what he was able to gather by their chatter as he brought their food and drinks to the table, the five of them were there as part of their summer road trip all the way from Omashu. The good news was they planned to stay for a few days at Ba Sing Se. But the downside was just how far away from him Omashu really was. He would have to hurry this time around and figure out a way to tell Katara the truth before she left.

The evening had fallen upon the city, with the sun going down on the horizon. Zuko looked at his soulmate from behind the counter, admiring her from the distance. She looked happy amongst her friends. Yet a couple of times her eyes wandered across the room, seemingly searching for something. He understood that feeling. Even when he had been the one who didn’t remember a thing, a sensation of loss was always there, creeping behind his back. That feeling was a constant reminder that there was something - someone - missing from their existence. That thing was each other.

Speeding up his pace, Zuko marched up to Katara’s table to bring her the credit card receipt. It hadn’t surprised him in the slightest that she had offered to pay for the entire group. Her kindness stayed intact no matter what lifetime. He was already scheming what his move could be to secure seeing her again soon.

“Alright guys, I have your receipt,” he said with a cheerful tone when he got there. “Was everything okay with your order?”

“Yeah, thank you,” the older girl said.

He smiled, trying not to stare at Katara. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”

“Actually,” Sokka rushed to say. “My sister here was just wondering if you were open early during tomorrow’s morning.”

For her? I could come here at the crack of dawn.

“I have a meeting at 9:00 am not so far away,” Katara explained. “I would rather have breakfast here before leaving.”

That was perfect. Way better than his very awkward options on how to get her number. If she came to the shop the next morning, he would definitely see her again.

“We open at 8:00 am sharp. I’ll actually be working the morning shift tomorrow, so I can assure you, the business will run just as usual.”

Her face lightened up. “That’s perfect, thanks.”

“Here are the credit card receipts, if you could please sign this.” He handed her the restaurant’s copy of the receipt.

Katara complied. Her friends were talking about their plans for the next day.

“There you go,” she said with a smile. “Guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He felt his heart skip a beat just by hearing her say those words. His eyes met hers, and he swore he sensed electricity in the air.

“Thank you,” he replied as he took back the bill folder. “See you tomorrow. I hope all of you enjoyed your meal.”

“It was very good, thank you,” the younger looking boy said.

“My pleasure. Enjoy the rest of your evening.” With that said, Zuko turned around and headed back to the counter.

He was seeing her again, in less than twenty-four hours. After twenty years of looking for her in every stranger, she had finally come to him.

————

Katara stood by the entrance of The Jasmine Dragon. It was an original name for a tea shop, she had to admit that. The entire structure of the place was beautiful. In comparison to the hotel she was staying at next door, whoever designed the place did a far superior job.

She checked the time on her face, 8:00 am sharp. Her habit of being early had extended even to breakfast with herself. A familiar face rushed to open the front door for her.

“Good morning,” Zuko greeted her. “Sorry if I kept you waiting, during the morning shift it’s only me and my uncle, at least until noon.”

A smile framed her face as she stepped into the shop. “It’s fine, really, it’s not even 8:01 yet.”

“Well, the good news is you can choose wherever you would like to sit at the most,” he said as he closed the door behind her.

She looked around the place for a minute. It would be a little too lonely to sit on one of the huge tables by the windows all by herself. The small ones weren’t too bad, but she still wasn’t feeling it. Then she set her eyes on the countertop, with a handful of stools to sit on right by it. Behind was the tea making station.

Staring for a split second at the guy who had welcomed her in, she knew where she wanted to sit. Something prompted her to make that choice.

“You mind if I sit by the counter? I could use a little company.” Her voice showed the considerable strain of nervousness that had suddenly taken over her.

But she was met with the warmest of smiles.

“How could I mind? Come in, please.” He guided her there, going behind the bar once she had comfortably sat on one of the stools.

Twirling around on the spot, she took a good look at the menu hanging from the wall.

“Anything you could recommend to me? I’m sure you’re familiar with the house’s specialties.”

“Mmm, let me see,” he made a playful smirk. “I have a feeling chamomile and rose tea is a good fit for you. And I would definitely eat a chocolate-strawberry macaroon if I were you.”

Hold up. Chamomile tea was actually her favorite. And Agni knew she loved anything that included chocolate and strawberries. His guess had been more than spot on.

“I love it! I feel like you’ve somehow read my mind,” she giggled. “Thanks, Zuko.”

“Who knows, maybe I did. You’re welcome…” the boy raised a brow, clearly waiting for her to tell him her name.

“Katara,” she rushed to say. “That’s my name.”

“Wonderful name if you let me say so,” he mumbled. “Well, Katara, your order is coming right up.”

Zuko got to work, meanwhile, she took out a small folder from her bag. She had to be ready for the orientation meeting at Ba Sing Se University. It wasn’t like every day one gets accepted to one of the most prestigious schools in the country. She went through her various notes that detailed every detail about the place. She was way too excited to start there in the fall.

Katara couldn’t help but shift her sight up from the pages and to Zuko. There was something a little too familiar about him. She wasn’t entirely sure of what but it was still there. His presence was reassuring, it made her feel safe, understood. Amidst the uncertainty of being weeks away from moving to a completely new city, alone, she felt enchanted to meet him.

“One chamomile and rose tea for the lady, with some chocolate-strawberry delight in the side.” His voice snapped her out of her thoughts. “Getting ready for the meeting, huh?”

Perhaps if anyone else had asked her, she would’ve felt uncomfortable. But him? She felt like they’ve already had a million conversations like that before.

She moved her things to the side, leaving room for her breakfast. “Yeah, I have the orientation session at Ba Sing Se University, just a few blocks away. I’m starting there in the fall.”

She noticed his eyes lightening like a bonfire. He chuckled, smiling.

“No way, I go there! Congrats on your acceptance, you’re going to love it there.”

“You’re kidding, right? That’s great, I feel like I’ve already made a friend.” She felt herself blushing at the warmth of her words. “Is the school everything it advertises to be?”

“Well, food and dorms could use some improvements, but the classes are amazing. I’ve learned more in two years there than I did during all my high school career.”

Katara just wanted to know him better, now. The coincidence that had settled upon them was extraordinary.

“What’s your major?” she asked, taking a sip of her tea. It was the best one she’d ever had. “Oh, this is great by the way. I think I’m going to be a regular around here.”

His cheeks turned red as his eyes glowed with excitement. “You’re more than welcome to claim that stool as your own from now on. I’m double majoring in English Literature and Creative Writing.”

“That’s great! Can’t wait to say I knew you once you’re a renamed author.”

A part of her couldn’t believe the way she was talking to him. Like she already knew him. In all honestly, she felt like actually she did.

“Um, hopefully, you’ll still know me?” Zuko fought a stutter. “And what about you? You’ve got your major picked out?”

She blushed a little while hearing his statement. “Yeah, I’m on the pre-med track. For now, I think I’ll major in Health and Human sciences.”

“Pre-med? Whoa, you’re in for the long run.” He leaned his elbows on the countertop, looking thoroughly at her. “What about your friends, any of them coming with you?”

She took a moment to savor her macaroon before answering. “Not really, though my brother and his girlfriend go to the Polytechnic University at Chameleon Bay, it’s not that far away. But Aang and Toph still have one year left till college.”

Zuko let out a slight whistle. “Really? That’s a top school, cheers to them.”

And so their conversation carried on, in between tea and macaroons. Words flowed effortlessly through them, never running out of things to say. Katara wanted to know everything about, to listen to all about his hopes and dreams. There was an unspoken connection between them. It was something she had never felt with anyone before.

The sound of the doorbell ringing made Zuko straighten up on the spot, looking ready to greet in the new customers. She watched him as he excused himself and approached an old couple sitting by the window.

Once he returned to the counter, he gifted her with an apologetic smile.

“I would love to keep talking to you if you don’t mind me running all over the place while we’re at it,” he told her.

Katara was about to tell him she didn’t mind in the slightest when her eyes set on the clock hanging from the wall. 8:45 am. How did the time go by so quickly?

“Zuko, I’m really sorry but I’ve got to run! My orientation starts in fifteen minutes.”

His face practically fell to the floor. “Oh, I see. No problem, I wouldn’t want you to be late.”

“How much is it?” she asked, taking out her wallet.

“Don’t worry, it’s on the house.” He smiled. “Take it as a ‘welcome to the neighborhood’ kinda thing.”

“You’re sure? I feel like it’s unfair, I shouldn’t,” she mumbled in response.

“Nonsense,” he said. “It’s the least I can do.”

The least you can do, for what? Katara thought, still not moving from her - because she had already claimed it as her own - stool. But she didn’t think about it twice. What was really worrying was the prospect of not seeing Zuko again.

“Will you be here this afternoon?” she timidly asked.

“Yeah, I get off at six.” His eyes acquired a new spark to them. “If you’re free… I was wondering… um, well - I could show you around town. You know, all your stereotypical college hangout places.”

She felt her heart skipping a beat. There was nothing she wanted more.

“I would love that! Any particular spot in mind for tonight?”

The smile on his face was priceless. “Well, if you’re in the mood for a good laugh, there’s this karaoke bar my classmates and I go to when we’re feeling adventurous.”

She was feeling adventurous, more than expected. “Karaoke bar? Count me in. Meet you here at 6:30?”

“Your friends won’t hate me for stealing you away from them?” Zuko asked.

“They’ll survive a night without me,” she shrugged. “Alright, I really gotta run now. I’ll see you tonight, right?” She started to get up from the stool.

“See you at 6:30,” Zuko replied, a triumphal grin tattooed on his face.

With that being said, Katara sprinted towards the entrance of the shop. Running to her orientation session, she already couldn’t wait to see him again.

———

Momo’s Karaoke Bar was jam-packed like any other Friday night. But there was something very different in the atmosphere, Zuko could feel it with every fiber of his being. He was with her. It was as if all of a sudden he had started to feel things with more intensity. Nothing unusual once you’ve reincarnated a handful of times, but the thrill of those first few moments with her was always the sweetest.

The two soulmates were sitting down on a table by the corner, listening to all the brave singers and laughing at some of the most grandiloquent performances.

Katara was absolutely stunning that night - not that it surprised him - with a royal blue dress that exacerbated the ocean of her eyes. Her staple hair loops were also there, framing her face just in the way he loved so much. Lifetime after lifetime, her hairstyle was something he could always count on to be able to recognize the woman he loved.

“Oh Agni, I can’t believe they’re actually singing this song!” Katara laughed, slowly humming to the beat of the music.

“Pop! Goes My Heart” was playing, and the performance a bunch of pretty drunk guys was going lived up to the expectations of such tune.

“You’ve seen the movie?” he asked. “I’m always here for a cheerful Hugh Grant film.”

“I love that movie! It kind of makes me wish I could have the ability to write a somewhat decent song though.”

If only Katara knew she had actually been quite the amateur songwriter just two lifetimes ago. Zuko had to repress a laugh as he remembered the way she chased after him all over their quiet downtown home, singing to him every single lyric she could think of. That life was amongst his personal favorites.

“What are you smiling about?” she inquired, a playful smirk lightening up her face.

Darn, he must’ve been too obvious. Agni, he was dying to tell her. But he didn’t want to risk her thinking he was some kind of lunatic. He remembered the way she had almost called the cops on him during his first time being the one who remembered. Yikes, that had been an awkward reunion.

“Nothing, I’m just wondering if you’re going to get up there and sing something,” he said as he took a bite from the pizza they were sharing.

Katara let out a soft laugh. “Are you challenging me?”

“Maybe. I’m still on the fence about it.” He was not about to let her coerce him into climbing up the stage and singing a tune. There was no way he would do that alone.

She raised a brow. “What if I tell you I’ll go up there in exchange of you singing one song with me?”

“You’re not going to make me sing all by myself?”

“I have a feeling you’ll never do such a thing.”

Agni, she already knew him too well for having no clue of their past lives together. Perhaps this time her memories had somehow started manifesting - in the form of hunches or gut feelings - before he even got the chance to tell her about it.

“Look at you, already reading my mind,” he teased. “Alright, one song. But I’ll pick the tune and you can definitely go first.”

She stuck her tongue out to him. “Perfect. You ready to hear me sing something really cheesy?”

Zuko had been ready for two decades.

He chuckled, marveled at how easy things had turned out to be in the current lifetime. “Go ahead, dazzle me.”

Once it was finally their turn, he watched Katara climb up the stage, smiling timidly at him. He threw his thumbs up in the air, showing her his support.

Much to his surprise, she started singing “Everything Has Changed” by Taylor Swift. She seemed to have taken the cheesy part very seriously. Still, it was sweet. He could feel his heart melting on the spot as he eased into the sound of her voice.

“‘Cause all I know is we said ‘hello’ and your eyes look like coming home”

Those lyrics had really started to get into his head. The song was a little too relatable at the moment. What if…?

“Tell me why I’m feeling like I’ve missed you all this time. Meet me there tonight and let me know that it’s not all in my mind”

Alright, he was getting the memo. She couldn’t have possibly chosen that song by a sheer coincidence, right?

“All I know since yesterday… Is everything has changed.”

Perhaps Katara was ready to know the truth.

The song ended, and Zuko was met by the tenderest of blue eyes. He started cheering and clapping, making sure everyone in the room knew just how much he cared for her. It was exhilarating to realize he could actually have a chance of explaining everything to her.

“Now I want to call up to the stage the person that made me come here in the first place. Get up here, Zuko! I hope you’ve got your song ready.” Katara’s voice worked like a charm.

He instantly knew what tune he wanted to sing. If her song had a hidden message to it, he might as well do the same. Climbing on the stage, he made sure to let the employee know “Everlong” by the Foo Fighters was his choice. Luckily for him, they had the duet version of the lyrics available.

“You ready?” Katara asked him.

“Always been,” he replied as he made a playful smirk.

The first riffs of the guitar started playing, and he started humming to the beat.

“Hello, I’ve waited here for you… Everlong.”

As Zuko sang those first words, he thought about how perfect that night was. Those lyrics would hopefully make Katara understand their connection was more than real.

“Tonight, I throw myself into and out of the red.”

Katara’s voice made his heart feel like it was about to explode. He wanted - no, he needed - to tell her the truth. They were ready.

“And I wonder when I sing along with you if anything could ever feel this real forever. If anything could ever be this good again…”

He needed her to understand. He needed to help her remember. They deserved better than the constant forgetfulness they had been doomed with.

“The only thing I’ll ever ask of you, you gotta promise not to stop when I say when…”

It was decided. Zuko was going to tell Katara they were soulmates. Tonight.

Walking down Primrose Park, Zuko was barely able to contain his excitement. Their date had been the greatest thing that had happened to him in all that lifetime. Well, but that wasn’t really a surprise.

The surprise was the way Katara seemed to be feeling the same way so easily. He remembered other times when things had turned out to be a little too complicated. But there, looking at the starry night sky, he felt like anything was possible.

Seeing they were approaching a bench, he decided to go for it.

“Hey, you mind if we sit down for a second?” he asked her. “There’s something I would like to talk to you about.”

Katara made a slight yet surprised frown. “Sure, what is it?”

They were sitting down, it seemed to be only the two of them at the park.

Zuko took one hell of a deep breath before speaking. “I know you’ve only known me for one day. Um, well.” He cursed himself for mumbling. “Don’t you feel like we’ve met before?”

“Well… Yes,” she hesitated. “I feel something like that. Crazy, right?”

“Katara, what if I tell you it’s not crazy at all? What if I tell you we’ve had this conversation before?”

“I would say there was something shady with that mocktail you drank,” she joked, yet the look in her eyes didn’t correlate with her words. “Why?”

“Because I think deep down you know we’ve talked about this before.” His heart was furiously racing on his chest.

“But how?” Katara whispered, looking concerned. “Zuko, that’s impossible.”

“It’s not impossible, not for us.” He brushed the back of her hands with his fingertips, trying to acquire the strength to tell her. “Are you familiar with the concept of soulmates?”

Her eyes showed that the word had rung a bell somewhere in the back of her mind. She looked mesmerized by his honesty. Still, she hadn’t moved her hand.

“Yes. Of course, I’m familiar with the concept, it’s all over pop culture.”

Oh, Katara, if you only remembered the adventures we’ve lived together… You would know I’m talking about something very different from that.

“Well… They are real… At least from our experience. And whenever soulmates are reborn into another life, they have a way of finding each other again. The only problem is, one of them doesn’t remember anything about the other.”

“Our experience?” Katara flinched. “Zuko, what are you even saying?”

He couldn’t keep running in circles, he had to tell her. There was no point in confusing her even more.

“We are soulmates, Katara,” he blurted out, gasping for air. “We’ve lived almost a dozen lives before, together. And each damn time we reincarnate one of us forgets everything. This life, that’s you.”

She stood up, looking preoccupied. “No, that’s insane. That’s impossible.” Despite her words, she didn’t walk away.

Zuko dragged himself to his feet, scared of having rushed into it. “Please, listen to me. I know you feel it too. How do you think I know your favorite kind of tea? How do you think you knew that I wouldn’t dare to sing by myself? We already know each other.”

He noticed the look of utter realization in her eyes. She knew.

“But…” Her voice was trembling. “How can I not remember? How could I forget about my own soulmate?”

He grasped her hand, softly caressing her skin. “It just happens, Kat, I’m sorry if I rushed to tell you. I thought you were ready.”

She interlaced her fingers into his, her eyes starting to turn a bit watery. “Zuko, I think I believe you. Don’t ask me why, but I believe you. Agni, this can't be happening.”

“Come on.” He tugged her hand. “Let’s sit down again.”

A moment of silence made its way around them. Fingers still intertwined and both of their hearts racing. Zuko wasn’t sure whether he should say something or not.

“Were we happy?” Katara’s voice cut through the night air like a blade.

“What?”

“In those past lives you´ve talked about…. Were we happy?”

“Oh.” He hesitated. “Yes, in most of them. Sometimes it took us longer to find each other, though we always managed. But yes, we were happy together. Two lives ago you were actually a songwriter like you mentioned earlier.”

Her cheeks turned red. “That’s what you were smiling about?”

“Well… Yes. That life was a great one. We lived down there at Gaoling, in a beautiful countryside house. We used to walk the kids to school every day.”

“... The kids?” She looked like she was about to cry. “We had a family together?”

“We’ve had many families together, Kat. And I’ve loved every one of them. I’ve loved you across many different lifetimes.”

A single tear ran down her face. “I hate not remembering anything,” she declared, with her voice trailing off.

“I promise you sometimes obliviousness is all I wish for. Though you’ve always preferred to be the one who remembers. But it’ll all come back to you eventually. Once I tell you, the memories seem to return.”

“Really?” She shook her head. “Even if I don’t remember what happened… I think I remember the feeling. How it feels to love you. How scared I was of losing you every single time.”

“So there you go,” he said, smiling. “We’re soulmates. I can’t believe this turned out so well. I mean, you’re going to move here in the fall. That’s a hell of a lot easier than the last time.”

Another beat of silence. Until Katara took his hand into hers.

“You said you’ve loved me across many lifetimes…”

He felt a lump on his throat. “And I did. I do, I love you, Katara.”

“I think I love you too, Zuko. Even if I don’t remember our past lives. I love you for who you are right now.”

His heart was pounding on his chest. It felt liberating to hear her say those words. Knowing he had done the right thing, Zuko allowed himself to just breathe.

They stared into each other’s eyes, sharing the bond between them with only the moon and stars as witnesses. They had grown increasingly closes, with their noses almost touching.

In a split second, Katara leaned forward and kissed him. Everything else inmediately stopped mattering to him.

————

She remembered.

Katara remembered everything.

In the middle of her kiss with Zuko, running her fingers through his hair, it had all come back to her.

The house by the countryside, their two kids, the way she chased after him all around their home to get him to listen to the newest lyrics she had written. One life they had spent at the South Pole together, living in a little hut and watching sunsets every single night. Another time - many decades ago - when they had met at the Fire Nation, where he was a crown king and she had been assigned as the ambassador for her village. Dozens of lives, dozens of first kisses, dozens of times they’ve had the conversation that had just taken place.

All of the sudden, Katara had remembered every last detail of their multiple existences together. Peace. That was all she felt. Utter and complete peace.

Yes, there were a million things she wanted to ask him about the current lifetime. But that could all wait. They had an entire life ahead of them.

“Zuko,” she exclaimed, breaking apart from their kiss. “I remember.”

“What?” He still had his arms around her waist.

“I remember everything.” Tears of joy started to stream down her cheeks. Still, a playful smirk lightened up her face. “I’m honored to be kissing you, Fire Lord.”

“Spirits, Katara!” He started kissing all over her face. “You remember.”

“I love you so much,” she cried. “Thank you for telling me sooner this time.”

“I’m not sure if I’m even going to let you go back to Omashu now. Twenty years without you were enough.”

“We can worry about the logistics later,” she said, smiling. “Now I think we deserve another kiss after managing to sort things out so quickly this time.”

“Yes, my lady,” Zuko complied, the warmest grin spread across his face. “I think we do.¨

With that being said, they went back to kissing each other. Just like they had done a dozen lifetimes before. Nothing felt sweeter or more regarding than being able to be in each other’s arms again.

------ “Everything Has Changed” accompanied me in every step of writing this story. When it came to deciding what to do for their date, I just knew I had to do the karaoke bar thing and include it on the narrative. I really hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Feel free to tell me what you think about it! <3

And thank you to everyone for joining me for Zutara Week! It was truly a pleasure to take part in such an amazing event. I can't believe it´s already over. I’m so happy I got to be a small part of it. Lots of love to everyone out there! @zutaraweek

#zutara #zutara week 2020 #zutara fanfiction #zuko x katara #every week is zutara week baby

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