repurposedmeatlocker · 2 years ago
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What is a video that you remember seeing on youtube (a youtube poop, an animation, a meme, an edit, a funny vid) that no matter what you can no longer find, leaving your faint memory as the only proof of its existence?
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sukifans · 4 years ago
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May I request a Zuko x Reader with prompt number 2 from the 50 cliché prompts? I'm desperate for some fluff
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SWEATSHIRT // zuko
WC: 1.8k
PROMPT: “your shirt/jumper was in the laundry pile and i couldn’t help but steal it”
WARNINGS: none
A/N: if you want fluff you came to the right place—tooth rotting fluff is my specialty. the title may or may not be a jacob sartorius reference. yall remember when tik tok was music.ly?
⇦ 𝘔𝘈𝘚𝘛𝘌𝘙𝘓𝘐𝘚𝘛
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Living with Sokka certainly had its ups and downs. On the one hand, he always kept things interesting—you never knew what you might come home to find, and he often made you laugh so hard you had tears streaming down your cheeks. He could also MacGyver just about anything that broke in your apartment (usually broken by him, however). You’d only had to call maintenance once, when you’d found him stuck under the kitchen sink, absolutely drenched, and shouting for help as water viciously sprayed from the pipes and the garbage disposal made some sort of ear-splitting shriek.
On the other hand, his mind moved a hundred miles a minute and he often forgot little things, like closing the kitchen cabinets or starting the dishwasher. One such thing he tended to forget was to finish his laundry. Often you’d find his still-wet clothes in the washer or his clean clothes in the dryer, having finished several hours ago. The two of you had worked out a deal: if Sokka did the dinner dishes and bought the snacks for Movie Fridays, you’d make sure the apartment ran smoothly despite his forgetfulness.
That’s how you found yourself dumping a load of his clothes onto his bed after finding them in the dryer while trying to do your own chores. You picked through the shirts and boxer briefs before settling on stealing a deep burgundy sweatshirt—an unspoken part of your deal was that if you found his clothes, you were allowed to steal a t-shirt or sweatshirt of your choosing because he knew you liked to wear the oversized tops on lazy days.
He came back later that night to find you standing in the kitchen, scrolling on your phone while you waited for your tea to steep. Your wet hair hung around your face and you wore the red hoodie with sleep shorts and thick, fuzzy socks.
“Hey,” he said, dropping his backpack on the ground by the door and kicking off his shoes.
“Hey.” You looked up at him as he bustled around the kitchen, tossing something into the microwave. “How was work?”
“Annoying,” he sighed in irritation, making you grin. He turned to you and frowned, reaching out to tug at the sleeve of your sweatshirt. “Where did you find that?”
“I stole it from your laundry, stupid. You left your stuff in the dryer again. I’ve never seen this one before, did you just get it?”
“Uh... yeah. Thanks for doing that for me.”
“Mhm.” You slipped your phone into the front pocket and cradled your mug. “Why do you ask? Do you want it back?”
“Nah, it’s okay. In fact, keep it. Red doesn’t suit me, I don’t know what I was thinking when I bought it.” He had a smirk on his face that made you very suspicious.
You raised an eyebrow while you slowly sipped your tea. “If you say so, Snoozles.” You flicked his arm as you passed him to retreat into your bedroom for the night. “Don’t forget to pick up your bag. And snacks for Friday night!”
“Yeah, yeah,” he responded through a mouthful of noodles.
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You and your friends were gathered in the living room like every other Friday, this week to watch Jurassic Park (yet another classic that neither Aang nor Zuko had seen, much to everybody’s disbelief). Katara and Aang sat together on the armchair, Zuko sat between you and Sokka on the couch, and Toph sat on the floor with her back against the sofa next to her service dog, Badger. You had your legs thrown across the guys’ laps and all eyes (except Toph’s) in the room were glued to the screen. Well, for the most part—Zuko kept looking over at you all night. You tried to keep your attention on the dinosaurs, but you could feel him staring at you. Eventually you caught his eye and raised your eyebrows expectantly. He simply flushed and looked away. You furrowed your brow and turned back to the movie, pulling your hands inside the sleeves of Sokka’s red sweatshirt and sticking them in the pocket.
“Did you guys know that Spielberg wanted the raptors to be taller for the movie and then a few months after they wrapped shooting, paleontologists found a new species of raptor that actually fit the movie portrayal really well? They almost named it after him,” Sokka said with his mouth full of popcorn.
“That’s nice, Sokka,” Katara responded absently, obviously not listening.
“Yeah, and they made the T. Rex sounds with an alligat—oof!” He wheezed when you jabbed your foot into his stomach. “Asshole!”
“Pack it up, IMDB,” you huffed.
“I just thought it was interes—ouch, Toph!” he yelped when Toph punched his shin.
“Stop talking, I can’t hear anything!”
“Just watch it!”
“I can’t!” Toph barked. Sokka crossed his arms and slumped down, grumbling to himself. You and Zuko glanced over at each other and broke out in grins, pursing your lips to hold back your laughter.
As the movie progressed, you noticed the tension in Zuko’s shoulders. He had his jaw clenched throughout the whole scene with the kids trapped in the car with the T. Rex attacking. You nudged him with your knee and he turned to look at you.
“You scared, Zu?” you teased in a low voice, leaning forward to squeeze his bicep. “You want me to protect you from the dinos?”
He rolled his eyes but still lifted his arm, inviting you sit up and tuck yourself into his side. As you leaned against him he seemed to loosen up, settling into his seat and resting his head against yours. Sokka noticed this and looked around Zuko to waggle his eyebrows suggestively and very conspicuously, making your face heat up in embarrassment. Unfortunately, the idiot had caught wind of your crush on his best friend and had been relentlessly tormenting you about it ever since. You glared at him until he sat back, looking disgustingly smug.
After the movie finished, everyone got up to stretch and refill their drinks before the next one started. While talking with Toph in the kitchen, you noticed Zuko standing outside on the balcony by himself. You excused yourself from the conversation and made your way out to him while all your friends hooted in the background. It seemed everyone knew about your attraction to the boy, except for the boy himself.
“Hey,” you said softly, stepping outside. He looked around at you and gave you a small smile that made your head spin. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” he sighed, “just getting some air. It’s getting hot in there with everyone in the room.”
You nodded and stood next to him to lean against the railing. After a few beats of silence, you could feel his stare on you again. You met his gaze curiously. “What’s up, Zu? You’ve been looking at me all night.”
“Nothing, it’s just—“ he narrowed his eyes and cocked his head to the side as if inspecting you “—is that my sweatshirt?”
You frowned. “No, I took it from Sokka.”
“Lying bastard.” His eyes widened at your offended look when you rounded on him. “Not you! I—um, it is mine. I gave it to Sokka the other day and when I asked for it he insisted he already gave it back to me. The fucker gaslit me over a sweatshirt.”
“Sounds about right,” you giggled. “I’m sorry. I’ll give it back before you leave.”
He pulled at one of the drawstrings. “You can keep it, if you want. It’s, uh—“ he cleared his throat “—it looks better on you.”
You stood facing each other now, barely a breath away from being chest-to-chest. “I can’t take your sweatshirt.”
“You take Sokka’s all the time.”
“Yeah, because he always forgets his laundry in the machine. He owes me.” Zuko laughed a little at that, still fiddling with the string. You could feel your heart racing at his proximity. He sucked in a breath and seemed to brace himself for his next words.
“I kind of like how you look in my clothes, though. Might have to start leaving my stuff around here so you stop wearing Sokka’s.” The confidence in his voice was betrayed by the rising blush on his face that surely rivaled your own as you stared up at him with wide eyes.
Your lips parted to speak, but no words came out. All you could squeak out was a soft, “Zuko,” when he raised his hand to brush a loose piece of hair back behind your ear. You felt frozen, rooted to the spot, when his fingertips grazed your cheekbone. His hand lingered there, palm radiating heat into your already flushed cheeks.
“I—“ he pulled his hand back and chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly “—sorry.”
“For what?” you asked.
“I don’t know.” You grinned at each other and in that moment it could’ve been just you and Zuko left on the planet and it wouldn’t’ve mattered; everything you wanted and needed was right there in front of you, if you were bold enough to take that final step toward it.
“Zuko—“
“Hey, we—oh!“ Both of you whipped your heads around when the door slid open to reveal Aang standing there. His whole face went red and he laughed in embarrassment. “Sorry! Just wanted to tell you guys we were gonna start the movie, but no rush! Take your time!” He started to back away and you felt yourself release from Zuko’s magnetic pull now that your small bubble had been invaded.
“It’s okay, Aang.” You smiled gently at your friend and started to make your way back inside. “We were about to head in anyways.”
Aang shot Zuko an apologetic look before nodding and hurrying away. Zuko couldn’t find it in himself to be bitter about the ruined moment when you reached out towards him and gazed up at him with those warm, bright eyes. “You coming, Zu?”
“Yeah, right behind you.” He took your outstretched hand and laced your fingers together, squeezing his palm against yours.
Maybe you weren’t the last people on Earth, and maybe you hadn’t taken that leap just yet, but something between you two shifted and finally clicked into place out there on that balcony. Everything would work out just fine—he knew it in the way you kept your fingers slotted perfectly between his as Jaws played on the television, and in the way you quickly rose onto your toes to press a kiss to his cheek in the hallway before he left. He couldn’t wipe the dreamy little smile off his face for the rest of the night, even as he laid awake in bed thinking about you.
Yeah; everything would be just fine.
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ATLA TAGS: @hotgirlazula @octophopi @simpinforsukka @protect-remus @akiris @sunflowerazula
ZUKO TAGS: @fiantomartell @avatarayeaye @hypercakeiii @sher-lockedmarvel @emeraldpotato @september-ctd
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By the end of avatar it's pretty clear that the gaang have no problem with/are friends with mai (suki playing pai sho with her, katara watching, sokka including her in his picture) so I was wondering how you think mai and the gaang's relationship developed from the coronation to the end scene
“This is Mai,” Zuko said. “My girlfriend.”
The room was quiet enough to hear a pin drop.
Right. Mai kind of wanted to die. They were just… staring at her. She hadn’t expected a positive reaction, by any means, but no reaction at all…? Ugh. Little was worse.
“It’s nice to officially meet you!” Aang said, giving her a bright smile. The rest of the group followed with tentative waves and a few nods in her general direction.
The awkwardness might have gone on another five minutes if she and Zuko hadn’t been asked for by an advisor, cutting her introduction short. Well, Zuko had been asked for, and he’d slipped his hand into hers before pulling her along. So she hadn’t been given much say in the matter.
“They’ll come around,” Zuko told her later, when they were lying in bed. “You’ll see.” He chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “They took me in, after all.”
Mai wanted to believe him. “If you say so.”
Sokka was first.
Mai saw him struggling to walk down the steps of the palace, awkwardly attempting to maneuver his crutches but wincing every time his injured leg hit the ground.
“Let me help,” she offered, lifting his arm around her shoulders to help take the weight off his foot. Perhaps she should have waited for him to give confirmation, but in some ways Sokka reminded her of Zuko - rarely willing to accept assistance, even when he needed it. He let her take his crutches, though, and she interpreted that as a sign of silent cooperation.
Sokka gave her a crooked grin when they’d reached the foot of the steps. “Thanks.”
She nodded curtly, returning his crutches to him. “It was no trouble.” She turned to walk away, but stiffened and stopped in her tracks as Sokka placed a hand on her shoulder.
“I, uh… This is kind of random, but I just wanted to tell you how grateful I am for - for what you did at the Boiling Rock.” Sokka cleared his throat. “For saving us. Me. My dad. Suki. Zuko.”
Mai winced at the memory. The despair, the rage Azula’s eyes. The paralyzing fear that had ripped through her chest when she’d watched her friend - if Azula could ever be called that - drop into her lightning stance. And yet…
She’d do it again. A hundred times.
“I don’t think you should be thanking me for doing the right thing,” Mai said as she slowly turned around. “For doing the bare minimum, really.”
Sokka laughed. “Maybe you’re right. But from what I’ve heard, treason against the Fire Nation isn’t usually considered the bare minimum.” He hesitated, then offered her a grateful smile. “I mean it, though. If you hadn’t saved us…” Something akin to grief flickered in his eyes. An expression that was a little more raw, a little more tired. “I can’t lose anyone else,” he finally said. “So thank you, Mai.”
Mai stared at him in perhaps more shock than was necessary, because Sokka laughed again.
“Can I hug you?” he asked. “It’s kind of an official thing to dub you as part of my friend group.”
Mai hesitated, but nodded, and Sokka shuffled forward to pull her into a brief, tight embrace that Mai was surprised to find herself returning.
“I wouldn’t have pegged you as a hugger,” she said after releasing him.
Sokka chuckled. “For a long time, I guess I wasn’t.” He winked at her. “But things change, right?”
She supposed they did.
Aang was second.
Mai wondered, perhaps, if he would have been first, had his duties as the Avatar not taken up so much of his time, especially in those first days after the war had formally ended.
“Hi, Mai!” Aang said cheerily, waving at her from atop his bison. “Want to take a ride on Appa with me?”
Mai glanced around her, as if someone else named Mai would appear from behind a pillar to take him up on his offer. When none did, she responded with a hesitant nod.
She wished Zuko was there.
“Do you need help getting up?” Aang asked as she walked towards him, pausing when she reached Appa’s side. “I can provide a boost if you need it.”
Mai raised an eyebrow at him, a smirk unwittingly inching onto her lips. “Could you provide a boost even if I don’t need it?”
Aang returned her smirk with a wide grin. “Your wish is my command, Lady Mai.”
Mai was mortified to admit that a startled yelp escaped her lips as Aang airbended her up and onto Appa’s saddle, but he didn’t comment on it. She supposed he was probably used to that sort of sound being an instinctive reaction.
“Ready?” Aang asked. He didn’t wait for her to respond before gently snapping the bison’s reins. “Yip yip, Appa!”
He reminded her of Ty Lee in that respect - never waiting for an answer unless one was truly required.
Appa roared and took off into the sky. Mai kept her eyes squeezed shut for longer than she’d care to admit.
After the initial anxiety of flying higher than she ever had in her life faded, Mai found herself relaxing into her seat on the saddle, one elbow resting comfortably on the edge. Aang chattered aimlessly about post-war plans, and Mai commented every now and then if his ramblings had to do with Zuko. It was… strange. Everything about Aang caused a tiny smile to rest perpetually on her face.
No wonder her boyfriend was so fond of him.
“Wanna go higher?” Aang offered at one point, an excited twinkle in his eyes.
Mai didn’t respond at first, staring upwards at the endless pink sky. “Can you take me into the clouds?” she finally asked.
Aang laughed. “Let’s find out!”
Katara was third.
“I told you, Zuko can’t see anyone right now!”
Mai paused upon hearing the irritation that drenched Katara’s voice. She’d just turned the corner into the hallway that Zuko’s room was off of, and, trusting her better judgement, chose to hang back.
Katara was staring down a tall man in formal robes - oh. Ew. Mai recognized him as one of Zuko’s more annoying advisors. Her boyfriend hated the man, too.
“Kata-”
“Master Katara.” She glared at the noble, and respect bubbled in Mai’s chest.
“Master Katara.” Mai relished in the discomfort of the man’s tone. “I understand that you wish to allow the Fire Lord as much rest as possible, but he has responsibilities he cannot abandon -”
“Zuko can’t fulfill those responsibilities immediately after a healing session!” Katara snapped. “How would you like if someone bandaged your broken arm and expected you to lift weights afterwards?”
The advisor stared at her in confusion. “But my arm isn’t broken.”
Katara placed her hand atop the flask that rested on her hip. “Not yet.”
Mai bit her tongue to stop herself from laughing as blood drained from the man’s face. He gave Katara a hasty apology and took his leave.
That interaction had certainly raised her spirits.
But no visitors…
Mai’s grip tightened on the ceramic plate in her hands. The cup of tea resting atop it quivered. If Katara said Zuko wasn’t seeing anyone at the time, then she would respect that decision. She was no exception to the rules just because Zuko was her boyfriend.
Besides, Zuko was probably fine. She didn’t need to check on him, she was just letting her worries get the best of her again -
“Mai?”
Mai blinked upon hearing her name called. Blood rushed to her cheeks when she realized it was Katara who had spoken. “Yes?”
Katara gave her a warm smile, gesturing towards the plate in her hands. “Is that for Zuko?”
Mai hesitated, but nodded. “Tea,” she explained briefly. “I… tried to make it like Iroh does.” She took a step backwards. “But I can bring it back later, after more time has passed -”
Katara laughed, waving her hand dismissively. “Mai. Zuko would never forgive me if I didn’t let you in.” She tilted her head. “Besides. You know you’re always welcome.”
Mai’s grip on the plate slackened, and she found herself returning Katara’s smile.
Toph was fourth.
“Mai! Spar with me!”
Mai was startled by the sudden interruption, though years of practice prevented her from showing it. “Why?” She’d never been the earthbender’s go-to partner before.
“Because knives are made of metal,” Toph said, as if it should have been obvious. “I want to see if I can bend projectiles mid-air. Or at least better detect the path they’ll follow so I can earthbend a wall to block them.”
Mai raised an eyebrow. “And why would I agree to let you bend my knives?”
Toph grinned at her. “Who said anything about using yours?”
Mai’s eyes widened as Toph procured a large box from behind her back.
“We’ll practice with these. Don’t ask where I got them.”
Mai accepted the box from Toph, unable to stop the sharp gasp that escaped her lips as she admired the assortment of blades. “Alright,” she finally said, picking out a set of steel kunai. “I’ll spar with you. On one condition.”
“Name it.”
Mai spun one of the knives around her index finger. “Let me keep some of these when we’re done.”
Toph burst out laughing. “Oh, I knew I’d like you.” She smirked at Mai. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
Suki was last.
They’d run into each other. Literally. Mai spilled all the papers she’d been holding, and Suki had immediately apologized before offering to help her sort back through them. She’d almost turned the girl down, but…
“I haven’t seen you much,” Mai commented as they were putting the documents into piles based on their contents. “Compared to the rest of Zuko’s friends, I mean.”
Suki shrugged. “I’ve been spending most of my time with Sokka and the Kyoshi warriors. We’re thinking about heading back home soon.”
Mai nodded. She placed a document about the differences between crowning a Fire Lord and a Fire Lady in its appropriate stack. She hesitated, then asked, “Does… Do you know if Ty Lee plans to go with you?”
Suki blew air out her lips. “I’m not sure. Sometimes I think she wants nothing more than to get out of the Fire Nation, but there are other days where… where I don’t think she can imagine leaving you and Zuko behind.”
Mai’s heart seized in her chest. Spirits, she needed to talk to her friend. New responsibilities after the war had kept them apart more days of the week than Mai liked. “I see.”
Suki offered her a sympathetic smile. “Sorry I can’t be more specific. I think I just” - she shook her head - “I don’t know Ty Lee well enough yet to read her and her feelings. The other girls had a chance to connect with her in prison, but I’d already escaped the Boiling Rock and was on the run with Sokka at that point, so I just… don’t have the same level of experience with her yet.”
Mai clenched the scroll in her hand so tightly she was half-concerned she’d tear a hole through it. “Speaking of prisons…” She licked her lips, her mouth having suddenly gone dry. “I… I wanted to apologize,” she continued after a momentary pause. Mai didn’t like how her voice had dropped close to a whisper.
Suki tilted her head in confusion, though there was a keen recognition in her eyes that made Mai wonder if she was merely feigning puzzlement. “What do you mean?”
“I attacked you and your - your kinswomen. When you were protecting Appa.” Mai smoothed the scroll across the table before placing it in its appropriate stack. She didn’t dare meet the warrior’s eyes. “We got you arrested and sent to the Boiling Rock. And - I know an apology doesn’t make up for that, but…” She forced herself to look upwards. There was no bitterness, no resentment in Suki’s gaze. It was kinder than she deserved. “I’m sorry. I don’t deserve or expect your forgiveness, but - I’m sorry.”
Mai had hurt Suki the most among Zuko’s new friends. There was no changing that. And she knew she would never be able to make up for the months in isolation the girl had endured, either, no matter what she did. No matter how much she wanted to. Wished she could.
Mai didn’t blame her for staying silent.
Then Suki sighed, unfurling the paper in her hands. “I had mixed feelings about you. For a long time.” She skimmed something on the scroll before placing it aside. “On the one hand, you put me in prison. On the other…” She gave Mai a tentative smile. “You freed me from it.”
Mai’s heart skipped a beat. “That doesn’t make it fair -”
Suki laughed, cutting her off. “At this point, I don’t think ‘fair’ exists. Not after what all of us have been through.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “But like I said. I had mixed feelings about you.” She gave Mai a soft smile. “I know how Sokka thinks you’re the funniest person to walk the Earth since his father. How Katara lets you visit Zuko after their healing sessions, even though she’s probably not supposed to. And spirits, Mai, the way Zuko looks at you…” She shook her head, winking at her. “You won my friends over a long time ago. It was only a matter of time before you won me over, too.”
An unfamiliar warmth settled in Mai’s chest, and a tentative smile inched onto her lips. “Thank you.”
Suki waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t mention it. And with you around, at least I won’t be the only sane person in our group anymore.”
Mai snorted, recalling an earlier incident of Sokka daring Zuko to eat raw tart batter while Toph egged them on. ‘Egged’ in two ways - both very different, but both equally frustrating. “Will that really make much of a difference?”
Suki snickered. “Maybe not for them, but…” She handed Mai a scroll to be placed on a stack too far for her to reach. “I think I’ll appreciate the company.”
Mai accepted the paper, and she smiled at Suki. “I think I will, too.” She placed the smoothed-out scroll in its appropriate pile. “Care to join me for a game of Pai Sho later?”
“Oh, count me in! That sounds like a great cooldown.”
Well… Mai wouldn’t describe Pai Sho in exactly that fashion. But she figured Suki would learn that on her own time, and chose not to comment. “I look forward to it.”
That night, Mai slipped into Zuko’s bedchambers under the cover of darkness, as she’d been inclined to do ever since his return to the Fire Nation. Zuko’s eyes lit up upon seeing her, and he moved to make room for her beside him on his bed. She sat down, and rolled her eyes but didn’t protest as Zuko wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her into his lap.
“Did you have a good day?” he asked, nuzzling his face into the back of her neck. He asked her the same question every night, and every night she told him the same answer - no. Then she’d gripe about whatever little thing had irked her over the course of the day. It was foolish, yet cathartic, and she knew Zuko didn’t mind. He probably found it entertaining.
“You know what?” Mai mused, thinking back to the mixture of glee and exasperation that had crossed Suki’s face numerous times during their earlier Pai Sho game. “I think I did.”
Zuko raised an eyebrow. “Wow. What happened?”
Mai shrugged. Five faces floated through her mind, all people she’d grown to care for over the past few weeks. People who’d grown to care for her in return. “Nothing special. Just… spent a little time with some new friends.”
Zuko chuckled, and she had a feeling he knew exactly the people she was referring to. “I’m glad to hear it.” He pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck. “Don’t kill me, but…” She didn’t need to turn around to know he was smirking. “I told you they’d come around.”
Mai groaned. “Oh, shut up.”
“Make me?”
She sighed, turning around so she could properly face her boyfriend. “I guess I don’t have a choice, do I?”
(Mai made sure to silence him before he could answer.)
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hello-yue-here · 3 years ago
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thank you @chiptrillino for tagging me in a wip game!
not quite sure what the rules are but based off of your AMAZING POST OF ART WIPS (check it out here yall chip is so talented) ive decided to just share some parts of my writing wips that i rlly like because i cannot draw whatsoever lmao
enjoy some lil snippets hehe
from heart don't stand a chance:
"Zuko couldn’t get over her eyes. She was looking past the camera towards the man who took it. Zuko could see clear as day the love she held for Sokka in her gaze.
It was a perfect moment that Sokka had captured. No wonder held it with him at all times. If someone had looked at Zuko like that, he’d never want to see anything again.
As he took in the photograph, Sokka sat next to him in silence. His hand was clutching the ring around his neck again in his fist, pressing it close to his mouth as he peered over Zuko’s shoulder to look. Zuko turned to him to compliment the picture and saw a sad fondness lingering in his eyes."
this is a scene i wrote a while ago thats gonna appear in a much later chapter. but yeah. more yue angst for you guys im so sorry.
from i love you (and that's all i really know):
"Mister Sokka," a little voice wishpered in his ear as he felt tiny pokes on his cheek, "Wake up Mister Sokka."
"Good morning to you too Izumi," Sokka responded wearily as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He looked towards the little girl who was standing on her tippy toes to see over the edge of the bed and poke his face until he rose.
She smiled at him once she realized he was awake.
"Can we have pancakes?" She asked shyly, hiding her mouth just below the edge of the bed as she looked up at him with hopeful eyes.
That look was going to be dangerous for him later on, he could aready tell.
"Sure thing, Izumi, just let me sleep for five more minutes, mkay?" He asked as he shut his eyes again. He was exhausted from last nights events, and the sun had barely risen. How did Zuko do this?"
this is a scene from the next chapter of this fic. so much sokka and izumi bonding you guys are gonna explode hehehe.
from cherry (the mailee fic i wont shut up about that is now a whopping 19 pages):
"Mai never had to guess with Ty Lee. She always knew when Ty Lee was happy about something because she would use an obnoxious amount of exclamation points. She would send gifs of people or cartoons making outlandish expressions whenever she wanted to react to Mai’s text with a specific facial expression. Sometimes Ty Lee would even send voice memos whenever her thoughts became too long, or she got too excited about a story that her fingers couldn’t type as fast as she could speak."
hehe i love mailee.
from yours (the mailee sorority fic that i promise i did not forget about):
"Mai lifted her head off the pillow again and met Zuko’s eyes. She studied his impassive expression, trying to figure out if he was joking or not. He did seem like he missed Mai and Azula, so maybe he did really just want to catch up with them.
But Mai wasn’t going to give up a golden opportunity like this.
“Tell us everything about the boy toy as well and you’ve got yourself a deal,” Mai said.
Zuko rolled his eyes and sighed, “Ugh, fine. And his name is Sokka by the way.”
“Nuance. You also have to wake up Azula.”
“No chance in hell,” Zuko scoffed, “You’re the roommate and her fellow ‘pong princess,’ wake-up duty is all yours.”
“If she murders me, it’s your fault. She’s a bitch when she’s hungover.”
“Whatever you say, Mai,” Zuko grinned before returning back to his phone."
i have decided that zuko is a little shit for this fic and no one can stop me.
from Where'd All the Time Go? (the yuekka fic that i have severe writers block with that i also promis i have not forgotten about):
"“Sokka I really think you need to take a moment and-”
“I am fine Aang, I don’t have time for a feelings talk right now. Right now I need to find the fucking chief of this damn place.” His words came out harsher than he meant, but he didn’t have the time to dwell on that.
Before Sokka could run off again to continue his search, a hand grabbed his arm. One of Arnook’s advisors, Malina, had started dragging him towards the podium.
“Do you not realize how late you are for this Sokka? The ceremony was supposed to begin with your speech nearly an hour ago-” she hissed at him as she pulled him along through the crowd.
“Malina I’m sorry but I really need to speak with Arnook it is urgent-”
“This damn speech of yours is what’s urgent right now Sokka, you can speak with Arnook later but the guests are getting antsy so you need to give your speech right. Now.”
“But-”
“Now.”
Maline shoved Sokka towards the podium and suddenly all eyes were on him. Every guest in attendance had their focus solely on Sokka."
homeboy is stressed in this scene. things are slowly going to shit in this chapter. i promise i will update this before the end of the year. i swear. im so sorry.
from a currently untitled jetko/sukka boiling rock fic:
"“Oh good, you survived after all,” She said in a mocking tone.
Jet didn’t answer. He knew anything he said would be used against him. He didn’t know where he was. He didn’t know what was happening. But he would be damned if he showed that weakness in front of the fire nation.
“I was told you were more talkative than this,” the girl mused. There was something familiar about her, “my informants were very detailed when discussing your little teashop romance.”
I knew it. Jet snarled in his mind, That bastard betrayed me."
i want this fic to be a little darker but idk how good i am at writing darker fics because i love fluff and humor too much. this could be good angst practice for me.
from a toph and sokka fic that i wrote a while back to help me cope w some shit that i dont know if ill ever post:
"“Sokka? Are you still there?” Toph asked, the slightest hint of concern began to slip into their voice
“Tell me a story,” he was trembling. Despite all of his efforts to sound calm, he knew his voice came out trembling and scratchy and pathetic-
“Is everything okay? You don’t sound too hot,” Toph said through the phone.
Breathe, Sokka, breathe. You don’t want them to be worried, you just need to calm down.
“Please, Toph, I just,” he said through shaky breaths that weren’t nearly deep enough for him to be getting enough oxygen, “I just need a distraction. I just need to hear your voice okay?”"
nonbinary toph anyone?
from a 10 things i hate about you kataang and zukka au:
"“What? Something on my face?” the guy asked deadpanned. He rubbed at his scar as if he were wiping off a smudge of mustard, and Aang’s face went pale.
“Stop scaring the sophomores Zuko, this one’s new. He won’t get your… humor… just yet,” Ms. Wu said as she waved Aang off again.
“I’m hurt that you’d imply I’m not funny, Wu. I’m hilarious,” the senior, Zuko, said as he walked past Aang.
Aang let out a sigh of relief knowing that this Zuko guy didn’t seem all that offended by his awkwardness, and darted out of the room."
zuko is a little shit part 2. the amount of sarcasm i have dripping off of heath ledger zuko is glorious. let zuko be a little shit. i havent added to this in months but when i finish some of my other wips i cant wait to get back to this.
i have more wips and drafts saved but none of them have anything juicy or funny or interesting yet because all of them are like less than three pages so far
but yeah, heres a good chunk of sneaky peakys from my wips!
I hope you liked them!
anyone who wants to do this can totally go for it. imma tag @ambykinns @lumities and @flowers-inthepieshop (only if you all want too!!) because this was fun :)
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passable-talent · 4 years ago
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May I please request a zuko fix where the reader is a huge flower buff (like knows the meanings and names) and is more graceful and peaceful rather than a fighter despite being a fire bender and zuko thinks she doesn't care or take the war seriously and when zuko joins the gang he doesn't see how much she contributes until he sees her taking care of everyone one night and questions the others and learns she in fact is a fierce fighter and he takes her up on a challenge to see for himself
playful fight? where there’s a lil pride involved? but there’s also a lot of pining? hmmmmm
also I love/hate writing fight scenes bc they’re SO FUN but also I’m such a perfectionist (and actually a martial artist so like... I see flaws u know?) that I actually have to get up and act them out and that’s time consuming but also a good workout so whatever ? I guess
you would not believe the amount of flower research in both the avatar and real world I did before going into this ask
this is too much to preface a story with gd I’m annoying but I hope u don’t mind that I was gender nonspecific. It’s a thing with me since there’s like never any male readers on tumblr. so even though you kinda asked for female reader I made it gender nonspecific because that’s what I do I hope it’s ok
anyway here we go!!
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Zuko simply did not understand.
The house where his family vacationed was big and beautiful, and a good place to hide until Sozin’s comet. What he never had noticed, until now, were the flowers growing all around the courtyard and the path to the beach. Over the years of disregard, the more exotic flowers had died and been replaced by native life, taking over much more than the flowerbeds he barely remembered the staff taking care of. There were fire lilies, those he recognized, but there were many other flowers that he had never bothered to learn the name of.
Y/N knew all of their names.
He didn’t understand you. He couldn’t figure you out. You were of the fire nation, and a bender, but he had never seen you fight. All you did, as far as he could tell, was pull the others away from danger, settle fights, and tend to flowers that seemed perfectly capable of survival all on their own. It’s not that it bothered him, but it did, because you seemed so absolutely noncommital. Nonchalant. Indifferent. How had another citizen of the fire nation come to the realization that the fire nation was evil, and gathered up the courage to join the avatar, and yet didn’t seem to care about the war at all?
When he’d first met you, he thought you didn’t have much use to the team at all. He thought you just another kid caught up in the war, like the others that were at the western air temple after the day of black sun. But after the brief battle with Azula, he came to see your worth.
“If only we had some Aloe,” you’d murmured as you passed him, on your way to Sokka’s side after he had complained of a sunburn, riding all day on Appa’s back.
“Can we get some?” Katara asked, leaning against the side of Appa’s saddle.
“No,” you replied, “too far away. It only grows near the Si Wong desert, and we definitely can’t go there right now.”
“So what can we do?” asked Katara again, and you shrugged, settling down beside Sokka, on his right while Toph clutched onto his left arm.
“The medical treatment for burns in the fire nation are less advanced then you’d expect. But there’s a few plants that can be soothing- even if not as much as Aloe. If there’s any banana leaf nearby our destination, that may help.” Zuko, though he’d remained silent, cocked an eyebrow in surprise. Medicinal knowledge of plants- that seemed extremely useful, especially given the group’s nomadic behavior. He briefly wished that you had been around while his uncle had had his quarrel with the white jade bush.
More so, though, in the following days he began to see your similarities to Katara- you were kind, and caring, and you made sure that the group was taken care of. You sat through worries and soothed fears the best you could, and that was admirable. You almost reminded him of his mother.
One question was left on his mind. If you were a fire bender- why did Aang need him to teach him firebending?
After you had gone to bed one night, he sat around a fire with Aang, Sokka, and Toph to pose that very question.
“Is it because they’re not a very strong bender? I’ve never even seen them use firebending, they must not be that good.”
“Oh, no,” Sokka said, “they’re actually really good. Probably better than you.” He laughed a bit after his words, earning a punch in the rib cage from Toph, which made Zuko think that Sokka was only trying to tease.
“Really?” He asked, looking to Aang, whose information he’d trust.
“Yeah,” Aang said, “they’re good. But they didn’t want to teach me- said that they didn’t have enough formal training. I think they just didn’t want to be that violent. They’re a pacifist, like me.”
“I could see that,” Zuko said, gazing into the fire. In his fingers he twirled an orange cyclamen, which you had given him before you’d gone to bed. When he’d asked why, you had responded that ‘it was a flower without meaning*, and the color reminded you of him’. He didn’t know what to do with it now, though, before he went to bed. He didn’t want to toss it in the fire, as that felt too heartless, but he knew it was dying now that it was picked. So, when he stood to return to his room for the night, he crouched by one of the overgrown flowerbeds and propped it up in the soil.
Maybe, from its turmoil, it would grow roots and live. Or maybe it would die surrounded by the beauty of the other flowers.
After spending all night wondering the true extent of your prowess, when morning came Zuko decided to find out.
“Spar me,” he said, catching you alone in the courtyard. “I need to be reminded what it’s like to fight a fire bender, and I’ve been told you’re quite good.” You let a little quirk of a smile onto your lips and turned to face him, tilting your head.
“You sure? What if it hurts your pride?” He shook his head, expression stoic as ever.
“It won’t. Either I’ll beat you or I’ll learn.” You took off an outer layer you’d been wearing and, carrying it, made your way toward the beach.
“Good way to think about it,” you said, laying down your jacket on a stone just outside the entryway. But as you straightened back up you planted your forward foot and flashed your other foot up and across, sending an arc of flame toward the prince. He quickly noticed that the game had begun and diverted the flame to his left, sliding his foot into a strong stance before punching flames toward you. By this time you had completed your spin and dove out of the path of his fire, rolling onto your feet and into a tight stance, your hands at your chest. You took them to your left, then swung them to your right to add momentum to your spin, lifting your feet from the ground for a round kick that sent another arc of flame toward him. He dove forward to get out of the way, getting closer to you, and sweeping one of your feet out from under you. You landed on your back, your fall cushioned as much as it could have been, and he pinned you down by hovering over you.
“You’re impressive,“ he said, and you gave him a look somewhere between pleading and fondness. His moment’s hesitation allowed you to swing your foot and use both its momentum and a shove from your elbows to flip him onto his back, your two foremost fingers creating a fire dagger at his throat, not close enough to threaten. This was only sparring, after all.
“Have you forgotten the rules of a match? It’s not over until the opponent yields.” He smiled, slightly, as he looked up at you.
“I yield.” You chuckled and stood up, giving him a hand to right him on his feet as well.
“You have more honor than I,” you told him, knowing that you only won thanks to trickery. A slight laugh rumbled from his chest and he tossed your jacket toward you again.
“How I’d love for my father to hear you say that.”
*a cyclamen a flower that, when given, expresses sincere feelings of admiration and romance. y/n was cheeky
-🦌 Roe
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thebakingqueen5 · 3 years ago
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KW 2021: Missing Scenes
Day 3 for Kataang Week 2021 hosted by @kataang-week with the prompt Missing Scenes!
This was arguably the most obvious way to go about this prompt but I wanted to write it anyways because if there’s one missing scene that should’ve been included in the series, it’s something to bridge the gap between EIP and Sozin’s Comet.
Links: AO3 | FF.net
Summary: Another year, another summer, another week of prompts celebrating our favorite couple. Kataang Week 2021 Day 3: Missing Scenes. Bridging the gap between the Ember Island Players and Sozin’s Comet Series Finale.
Word Count: 2.8K
It was another cool night on Ember Island. The moon was beginning to rise and was lighting up the corridors and central courtyard while the Gaang got some food to replenish themselves after a long day of training and preparations.
Sozin’s Comet was a mere few days away, and tensions were higher than ever. Earlier that day, the true plans of the Firelord had been revealed: that he was planning to use the comet to wipe out the Earth Kingdom entirely, which meant that Aang had to face him on the doomsday itself at the latest. It was a challenge he felt none too prepared for.
He thought that he was going to get more time to master his earth and firebending, but with this newest revelation, it was pretty clear this was not the case, and the stress was beginning to get to the young airbender.
The practice battle against Toph posing as the Melonlord had Aang’s stomach tied in knots. Before today, the final fight seemed so distant, almost inconceivable, something that he would only have to do when he was absolutely ready for it. But now? It was coming, and it was coming fast, and Aang had no idea how to handle it.
The boy hadn’t really thought about what he would do when he finally faced Ozai. He assumed that by the time he mastered all four elements, the solution would be obvious, but it wasn’t. Everyone else seemed convinced that killing him was the only option, but that went against everything Aang had been taught by the monks. It didn’t feel right. It didn’t feel like him. How was he supposed to do something so drastic when he didn’t even believe in it? There had to be another way, something he was missing, there just had to be!
“I have a surprise for everyone!” Katara called as she walked into the clearing, immediately snapping Aang out of his intense thoughts. He briefly glanced up from the plate of food in front of him as everyone’s eyes turned to the crimson-clad waterbender, a rolled up tan scroll in her hands.
“I knew it!” Toph exclaimed. She grinned devilishly as she looked up from her wooden bowl of rice. “You did have a secret thing with Haru!”
Sokka, Suki, Zuko, and Katara all blinked at her in confusion and gave the blind earthbender a bewildered look, unsure of where her supposed epiphany came from.
“Uh…” the waterbender responded slowly as the others returned to their meals. “No. I was looking for cooking pots in the attic and I found this.”
She unfurled the parchment in her hands, making a slight swish noise.
“Look at baby Zuko,” she cooed. “Isn’t he cute?”
The paper in her hands was in fact a painting showing a happy, bright-eyed cherub of a baby laughing as he played on the beach. He looked to be quite young, having only a tiny topknot on his head and a mere two teeth in his small mouth while a tiny shovel and sandcastle lay on the ground next to him.
Everyone except for Zuko laughed and “aww”d at the adorable picture while the firebender stared at the others gravely.
“Oh, lighten up,” Katara admonished when she noticed his lack of response. “I’m just teasing.”
“That’s not me,” the firebender said, opening his eyes to look at her. “It’s my father.”
The Gaang looked on in shock as Katara rolled the scroll back up. They were all wondering the same thing- how could such a precious baby have become the most cruel man on the planet?
“But he looks so sweet and innocent,” Suki frowned, her voice faltering.
“Well, that sweet little kid grew up to be a monster,” Zuko spat. “And the worst father in the history of fathers.”
“But he’s still a human being.”
Everyone turned to look at the source of the voice. Aang’s back was hunched over his tray of rice and beans a few feet away from them, and a deep frown rested on his normally cheery features.
“You’re going to defend him?” Zuko questioned.
“No,” Aang clarified. “I agree with you.”
“Firelord Ozai is a horrible person, and the world would probably be better off without him,” he said as he stood up and turned around to face them, “but there’s gotta be another way.”
“Like what?” Zuko deadpanned.
“I don’t know,” Aang shrugged. He turned his gaze down and away from the others, eyebrows tilted upwards in concentration, when an idea came to him.
“Maybe we can make some big pots of glue, and then I can use gluebending to stick his arms and legs together so he can’t bend anymore!” he said excitedly.
Zuko smiled sarcastically. “Yeah, then you can show him his baby pictures, and all those happy memories will make him good again.”
“Do you really think that would work?” Aang asked eagerly, oblivious to Sokka and Suki snickering behind the firebender.
“No!”
Aang sighed heavily and hung his head in defeat. He needed to find another solution, think out of the box somehow. He stared at the ground for a few moments in exasperation before hopping down the stone steps to pace under a hanging orange lamp in the courtyard.
“This goes against everything I learned from the monks,” he said, walking back and forth. “I can’t just go around wiping out people I don’t like!”
“Sure you can!” Sokka interjected from the sidelines. “You’re the Avatar! If it’s in the name of keeping balance I’m pretty sure the universe will forgive you.”
Aang’s arms and slumped upper body shook violently with rage.
“This isn’t a joke, Sokka!” he shouted. “None of you understand the position I’m in!”
How could they, after all? They hadn’t been at the Air Temples a century ago. They hadn’t been raised by the Nomads to be peaceful and treat every life as sacred. He was the last of his people, and somehow none of them could see that. To them it was the simplest decision in the world- just get it over with and save the world, but it wasn’t to Aang. It wasn’t as cut and dry as that.
“Aang, we do understand,” the waterbender frowned. “It’s just-”
“Just what, Katara? What?”
“We’re trying to help!” she said angrily, her temper also rising.
“Then, when you figure out a way for me to beat the Fire Lord without taking his life, I'd love to hear it!”
Aang raised his arms in frustration with the last few words and stormed off in the direction of his room, feet stomping loudly against the stone floor.
“Aang, don’t walk away from this,” Katara began as she made a movement to follow him.
Zuko put a hand on her shoulder, and the waterbender faltered, turning towards him.
“Let him go,” he said quietly. “He needs time to sort it out by himself.”
The waterbender huffed in indignation and began walking towards her own room.
“I’m going to turn in early tonight,” she muttered, arms wrapped around her torso. “Good night, guys.”
“Good night,” the rest of them mumbled back, all but Zuko turning their attention back to dinner. The firebender scrutinized her receding figure as Katara turned the corner and went down the left hall to her room. He knew she was likely going to talk with him anyways that night, but the least he could do was make sure she gave the airbender enough space to cool down.
After a few minutes of glaring at the corridor, Zuko turned back to the ragtag team of misfits and their lively voices. Though he had been traveling with Team Avatar for some time now, the way they managed to turn the subject of conversation to the Earth King’s bear Bosco in such a short amount of time would forever be a mystery to him, but nevertheless he listened attentively and heard from them all the latest exploits of what went on beyond Fire Nation borders.
Meanwhile, true to her word, Katara went back to her room and attempted to sleep, but it was an effort in vain. The last few days had been weighing heavily on her- she and Aang had never experienced such a tumultuous period in their friendship before, and between the kiss during the play and the past ten minutes, it was safe to say there was some tension.
She closed her eyes and groaned, tossing and turning to try and find a comfortable position to no avail. She just couldn’t take her mind off it. Katara stared at the ceiling and let out a short huff before sitting back up with a new fire in her eyes. She wasn’t going to sit around, no, she was going to face her problems head on like a rock!
“Toph would be so proud,” Katara chuckled as she wrapped her kimono on over her bindings.
With as much stealth as she could muster, Katara carefully opened the door from her room and crept down the hallway until she was facing the entrance to Aang’s.
She stared at the block of wood intently. It almost seemed like a cruel metaphor- the barrier between her and Aang not only physically, but emotionally as well.
Nevertheless, Katara was here to get things done.
The waterbender didn’t want to knock and alert everyone else of what she was doing, but she also didn’t want to show up unannounced and startle Aang. After a few minutes of careful consideration, Katara concluded that the latter was the lesser of the two evils, and she slowly pushed the handle and entered his room.
In the very back, she saw Aang’s silhouette in the partially open paper divider splitting the balcony from the main room. Katara walked closer to him, and she sat down silently at the opening of the divider when she saw him in deep concentration. He had been meditating with four small candles, some water, and some rice buns on a wooden board in front of him. The dim light of the candles highlighted Aang’s tense features, contorted in frustration.
“I know you’re there, Katara,” the airbender said after a few moments, apparently not as concentrated as she thought. “I could hear your footsteps from a mile away.”
The girl blushed furiously in embarrassment and promptly decided the floor was the most fascinating thing she had ever seen.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Katara apologized. “I just wanted to talk but I get if you’re busy-”
Aang sighed and bowed his head in reverence to the spirits before opening his eyes and turning to look at her with a kind expression.
“It’s alright. Meditating wasn’t really getting me anywhere anyways,” he said sheepishly. “What did you want to talk about?”
Katara twisted a lock of hair around her finger and scooted closer to him.
“I’m not here to lecture you or anything. I’m not here to tell you what you should or shouldn’t do because ultimately it’s up to you and only you. You’re under a lot of stress right now, and I get that. I just don’t want, well, us,” she gestured between them, “to be a part of that stress.”
The airbender laughed nervously and looked at the trees around them to avoid her gaze. He subtly wiped his growingly sweaty hands on his cotton shirt, praying to all the spirits that she wasn’t talking about what he thought she was talking about.
“W-w-what do you mean? You, me, we’re f-friends! Good friends! Th-that’s all there is to it, right?”
“I’m talking about last night at the play,” Katara responded quietly, fingers fidgeting around in her lap. “We should talk about it.”
“Thanks a lot, spirits,” Aang groaned internally. He sighed and tucked his knees into his body.
“I think we both made it pretty clear that we want different things, Katara. It’s alright, really,” he said with a sad smile. “I made a mistake kissing you, especially after you already said you were confused, and I’m sorry. You don’t have to worry about me- I’ll get over it. I just don’t want to lose your friendship. I’d rather we just pretend like it never happened.”
The regret in his eyes was as clear as a full moon against the backdrop of a cloudless night sky, and it killed Katara from within to see it.
“We both said a lot of things that night, Aang,” she frowned. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot the last day, and I didn’t explain myself very well.”
Aang looked at her hesitantly, silently pleading with her to continue. The waterbender tried her hardest not to grin when she saw his unintentional yet extremely endearing puppy dog eyes and instead threw her head back to look at the stars above them.
“I don’t want to lose your friendship either, Aang,” Katara murmured, gazing up at the sky. “You’re the first person I’ve known from outside my tribe, the first other bender I’ve met- you showed me the world. You were my first real friend, and... also my first kiss, first three actually.”
Heat rushed up to their cheeks while Aang became very invested in the wooden flooring, eyes fully concentrated on the patterns of the boards .
“...but more than that,” Katara continued, “you’re the first person I’ve cared for this much, and my brain, my heart, really, doesn’t quite know how to feel about that.”
She tilted her head to the side to look at the boy next to her, who was now also staring at her with newfound hope.
“So yeah,” she exhaled loudly, “I’m confused. But I don’t want to pretend like none of that night ever happened, because if I’m being honest, a part of me wanted all of the… all of our kisses to happen.”
The two sat in silence for a few moments while Aang tried to process her words and formulate his own response.
“So…” Aang trailed off. “Does that mean this, us, still has a chance?”
Katara looked at their intertwined hands and gave him a sad smile.
“Maybe, but that’s just it, Aang. We can’t, not right now.”
The airbender’s cautious smile immediately dropped and was replaced by a frown as he broke eye contact.
“We’re in a war,” she murmured apologetically. “No one, especially not us, can afford to do anything differently. In three days, you’re going to be facing the Firelord, which means in three days, one way or another, this war will be over, and sacrifices will probably be made.”
“Katara, you’re not saying-”
She shook her head. “I’m not saying that, but war means making hard decisions, and in that moment, with that decision, we can’t let emotions cloud our judgement. No matter what sacrifices might be made, we have to end this before it’s too late.”
“I’ll make sure it doesn’t come to that,” Aang said firmly. “I don’t care what it takes.”
Katara smiled at him and leaned in to gently press a kiss to his cheek.
“I know you won’t. I also know that whatever happens with the Firelord, you’ll do the right thing. Not because you’re the Avatar and you have to, but because you’re Aang. Because you’re my Aang, and my Aang always does the right thing.”
The airbender let out a breath of relief, heart practically glowing at her faith in him, and enveloped her in an embrace.
“Thank you, Katara. For everything. For being here for me the last few months, for getting me out of that iceberg, for coming here tonight telling me what I really needed to hear. It means a lot.”
Katara happily returned the hug and squeezed him tight. “Of course, Aang.”
She furrowed her eyebrows when she noticed the circles under his eyes as they broke apart.
“It’s getting late,” Katara whispered, her fingertips lightly tracing his cheeks.
“I’ll leave you to all this-” she gestured to the candles and food, staring quizzically at the contents of the board. “-Avatar business and whatnot. I wish you the best of luck.”
“Thanks, I’ll try my best,” Aang laughed softly as the girl stood up and began walking back to her room. “Good night, Katara. Sweet dreams.”
“I know you will, Aang. Good night and don’t stay up too late- you’ll need your rest.”
The waterbender quietly exited and Aang released a heavy sigh as the door closed with a soft thud.
The airbender turned back to his spread, closed his eyes once more, and resumed his meditation, hoping that somehow, by some miracle, there was another way waiting for him.
“I sure hope you’re right, Katara. I’ll need that luck.”
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gloves94 · 4 years ago
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Sunburn [Prince Zuko] 32
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Warnings:  Cursing Rating: PG-13   Pairings: Zuko/OC   Summary:   “You have everything you’ve always wanted.” “No.” He said softly. “Not everything…”  His golden eyes looked at her with a melting intensity she had never witnessed before. “I guess not.” She responded with glassy eyes as tears welled up threatening to break the dam of her eyes.
Sunburn Chapter M A S T E R L I S T
My fanfiction M A S T E R L I S T
Sometime later Zuko and Sokka fortunately managed to find Suki and Hakoda. Having found the three prisoners, they needed to save they hatched a plan to escape the Boiling Rock.
"We have a new plan," Sokka whispered as he punched the rolled-up mattress, Zuko grunting as if in pain whenever he struck, "But it's gonna need a big distraction. Be in the yard in one hour." The door suddenly began to open and Sokka lunged forward, grabbing Zuko's head in a chokehold and forcing him to drop the mattress.
"Alright," The male guard grunted, pushing Sokka off the former prince, "That's enough."
Sokka watched as the two guards lead Zuko out of the cell before leaving himself.
"What are you doing?" Zuko demanded as the guards dragged him down the hall and up several flights of stairs, "Where are you taking me?"
The guards didn't answer as they lead him to another room that was furnished with only a torture chair in the center of it. He grunted as he was shoved into the room, stumbling and landing on the chair. He turned to glare at the guards angrily, "I didn't do anything wrong!"
"Come on, Zuko." Zuko jumped and looked up in surprise at where Mai was leaning against the wall in a dark corner, her head bowed. He suddenly felt nauseous. She lifted her head and stepped into the light, dark amber eyes narrowed, "We all know that's a lie."
Zuko swallowed thickly, "Mai..."
“Sit down Zuko.” Mai ordered as she rounded around him. Slowly and unsure he did as instructed and took a seat in the only chair in the room. His elbows rested on his knees and his head was bowed. “How did you know I was here?” He sighed.
"Because I know you so well." Mai replied flatly from where she was leaning against the wall to his right, her arms crossed over her chest.
"But..." Zuko looked over at her in confusion, "How?"
"The Warden's my uncle, you idiot." She replied, looking off to the side as Zuko groaned and rubbed his forehead, "The truth is, I guess I didn't know you at all." She reached into her sleeve and unrolled the letter Zuko had left her, "All I get is a letter." She flung her arm out to the side and snapped at him.  
Zuko looked away uncomfortably.
Mai cut him off with a scoff then she walked around behind him, holding the letter up and beginning to read from it, "'Dear Mai, I'm sorry that you have to find out this way, but I'm leaving. Thank you for being a friend.'"
“I heard what you did,” Mai continued. “Stood up to your father, renounced to the throne. Why are you throwing your life away Zuko? For what? For her?!”Mai exclaimed with as much emotion as Zuko had ever heard her speak with in his life.
“Mai...” He ran his hands through his face in frustration as he sat up his back straightening a little. “This…” He trailed off. “Everything.” He shook his head weakly. “It’s-It’s not.”
“It’s not what?”She snapped in frustration.
“This is greater than her. Greater than us.” He explained in best of his ability. “This is about destiny Mai.”
“Zuko,” Mai began. “She’s ruined your life. You can still come back home. Apologize to your father. Take the throne. You and her together? It just… it doesn’t make sense. She’s taken everything away from you.”
Ironic. How ironic Mai’s words were. If only Mai knew that he had been the one to take everything away from her. From her family. Her brother’s raging words still stung when he thought of them.
“Because of you- I have lost my name, my future, my family, my sister! Everything!”
He shifted in his seat uncomfortably as he soaked in the guilt of the prisoner’s words. It really was no wonder the girl from the colonies wanted nothing to do with him.
“I know you don’t feel the same way, but you and I… We.We make sense. I would never ask you to renounce to the throne, turn against your family. Abandon-“
“Mai.” He said sternly interrupting her. “I did all of those things because Iwanted to. Because Ihad to do them. Because it’s mydestiny.”
The dark-haired girl looked as if she had been split by a bolt of lightning. She looked at him with disbelief. Her eyes clouded with hurt.
“This isn’t about you or her. This is about the Fire Nation. I have to do this to save my country."
"Ha." She scoffed at him again and crossed her arms over her chest, "Save it? You're betraying your country."
"That's not how I see it."
“Did you even really care about me?"
"I docare about you, Mai." Zuko protested, "You’re my oldest friend.”
It was then that the door opened both Zuko and Mai turned expecting to see a guard but instead saw a prisoner standing beneath the doorframe.
“Let’s go we’re rioting,” Mecha said casually to Zuko as he pointed out the door with his thumb. He stretched his hand painfully and popped the joints in his fingers. He then turned to look at the gothic girl that was also in the room.
“Woah,” He let out sounding as if he had been struck by a blinding light. It seemed that for a moment he forgot why he was there. “Who are you?”
Mai’s eyes narrowed as she looked at the rugged prisoner before her with antipathy. Zuko took this opportunity and rushed for the door moving past Mecha who stood dumbstruck still. Mai ran behind Zuko but the Mecha slid the door behind him and stood between the girl and the door blocking her way.
Zuko looked back at the two confused through the viewing slat.
“So…” Mecha asked running a hand through his wavy locks. “What’s your name?” Flashing the girl one of his heart-dropping grins. The type that would make all the girls swoon back in Yu Dao.
“Mecha,” Zuko banged on the door. “We have to go!”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’ll catch up,” He said dismissively keeping his eyes on the girl.
He didn’t have time to wonder if Mecha would be OK if left alone with her in a foul mood. He knew that she was more than capable of protecting herself. The prince rolled his eyes and shook his head lightly before turning away.
‘Go figure…’
Xxx
"Where's Tsai?" Katara asked as she poured some porridge into Theo's bowl.
It was lunch time and the waterbender was currently making sure everyone was well fed for the day. What were they having again? Some rice porridge flavored by some lemongrass herbs Aang had found nearby earlier in the day.
"I think she's upstairs meditating." answered Toph absent-mindedly as she finished her porridge.
"Still?"Katara said through gritted teeth. The girl had been upstairs all day long and had not even gotten around to doing the one task she had to do.
She practically stomped out of the courtyard and to the second floor where the girl was still sitting down meditating. For a moment she thought her eyes might've been playing tricks on her, but it almost looked as if the girl from the colonies was glowing.
Katara cleared her throat from a distance. Tsai opened her eyes and glared at her incredulously.
"Come for a rematch?" She said bitterly almost mockingly opening both of her eyes to see the smug look on Katara's face.
"Let's be real it wasn't much of a fight to begin with," Katara taunted cooly making the red-head's blood boil.
Ouch. Need some ice for that burn Tsai?
Fuming she rose to her feet abandoning her mediation as the last of her patience was shredded. Tsai knew that this was about more than just the laundry. Toph who had followed Katara up with Momo at her side took a seat at the edge of the courtyard.
"Alright," She sat ready to witness the entertainment. "My money is still on Katara," she said to Momo laughing wishing she had some popcorn.
"I have had it up to here with you!" Tsai snapped. "What do you want me to do? Beg for your forgiveness? I can't change the past. I can't change what my people have done, but we can change the future and I choose that change. I'm sorry the Fire Nation took your mother away, but we all lost something in this war. You weren't the only one. So, stop being a selfish, hypocritical-" She struggled to finish the last words. She didn't want to be crass. It seemed like a frog was stuck in her throat and was trying to jump out. "Selfish, hypocritical what?" Katara pressed with a scowl on her features. Hands on her waist as she looked down at the Fire Nationer.
"Bitch!" The other roared with an angry expression on her face. No longer holding her tongue back.
Tsai's eyes widened when a water whip struck in her direction. She ducked missing it by an inch and saw Katara's furious movements as she attacked. Her scowl deepened as she lunged forward ready to strike.
Katara smirked viciously as she for the second time in the day spilled the water turning the courtyard's ground into slippery ice.
Toph watched attentively waiting for the girl from the colonies to eat ice and fall on her butt. Instead this time she stopped mid run almost slipping and regained her balance instead bending her knees and sliding across the ice swiftly with grace.
Katara was taken aback and pulled her remaining water into a whip which struck her opponent. Tsai winced as she was struck with the water but continued moving forward pouncing when she reached Katara.
Toph's mouth went ajar she saw the two girls wrestling in the floor. Both pulling at each other's hair and scratching each other. The only thing worse than a bending fight was an actual cat fight.
Katara's loops had become undone and she clawed at the red-head's arm. The other pulled at her braid and bit her arm. Both of them shouting insults at each other as they struggled for dominance.
Hearing the commotion Aang and the rest of the children came upstairs to witness the horrific scene. The ice had melted already and both girls rolled around in the puddles as they continued fighting.
"ENOUGH!" Aang bellowed as a wild gust of wind came between them and tore the girls apart throwing them to opposing sides of the courtyard. Katara held on to her arm where the girl had bit her.
"I can't believe you bit me!" She shouted back. "What are you some kind of animal?"
Tsai ran a hand through her messy hair, her head hurt from the pulling that Katara had done, she noticed the scratches that were in her arm and groaned. They stung.
"Don't.Touch my hair!" The other shouted. Both of them glaring daggers at each other from the distance.
"Aren't you sick of fighting?" Aang began in an angry tone. "Don't you see what you are doing to each other? You should be working together. This isn't right. Tsai you should do your job and Katara there is a proper way of saying and asking for things and neither of you are right!" xxx
Zuko faltered slightly when he saw the chaos in the courtyard, looking around rapidly until he saw Sokka, Hakoda and Suki pressed up against one of the guard towers. He ran towards them, dodging other prisoners and guards that tried to attack him as he rushed towards his friends. He had almost reached the other four when a guard lunged at him in an attempt to subdue him, but Zuko grabbed him and threw him over his shoulder.
"Zuko, good." Sokka said in relief when the former prince ran over to him, “Wait-Where’s Mecha?” Sokka asked looking behind Zuko’s shoulders.
“He got… distracted?” Zuko said. “He said he’d catch up.”
Sokka face palmed and glared at Zuko. “You had onejob!” He shook his head.
"Fine. Now all we need to do is grab the Warden." He pointed at the top of another tower where the Warden was, "And get to the gondolas."
Zuko nodded and asked, "And how do we do that?"
"Uh..." Sokka frowned then shrugged sheepishly, having not thought that far ahead. "I'm not sure."
"Argh!" Zuko growled, throwing his hands up in the air in exasperation, "I thought you thought this through!"
"I thought you told me it's okay notto think everything though!" Sokka shouted back hysterically.
"Maybe not everything, but this is kind of important!" Zuko argued then groaned and grabbed his head, shaking it in aggravation while Sokka pursed his lips and touched a finger to his chin in thought.
"Fellas?" Hakoda called out, his attention riveted to what was happening in front of him, "I think Suki’s taking care of it."
"What?" Sokka questioned, peering around his father and staring in wide-eyed amazement as Suki ran towards the middle of the chaos, jumping up onto the head of a guard who was scuffling with a prisoner.
The leader of the Kyoshi Warriors quickly ran across the sea of fighting guards and prisoners, using their heads as steppingstones until she reached the tower and then leapt up, scaling the wall rapidly. She pushed herself off the wall and back flipped through the air, catching the bottom rail of the platform with feet. Swinging herself up from below, Suki somersaulted upward and grabbed the platform's upper railing just as a guard charged towards her. She front-flipped off the rail, narrowly avoiding the flames the guard firebending at her, and landed to his left.
Moments later and some soldiers facedown moaning in pain. Suki popped up in front of the Warden, who attempted to attack her, but she grabbed his arm in a deadlock, raising her other fist up and holding it dangerously close to his face.
"You wouldn't dare." The Warden hissed at her.
Suki smirked and spun the man around, bringing his hands together and using his red sash to bind them behind his back then she yanked his headband down and twisted it around, so the knot was in his mouth gagging him.
"Sorry Warden," She said cooly as she tightened the tie and let go, "You're my prisoner now." She slammed him against the wall and looked over at the others as they ran over to her, all of them out of breath. She smiled cheerfully, "We've got the Warden, now let's get out of here."
Hakoda, doubled over slightly and holding his stomach as he tried to catch his breath, commented in admiration, "That's some girl."
"Tell me about it." Sokka rasped, staring dreamily at his girlfriend.
“Hey guys,” Mecha added sheepishly as he caught up to the group. Sokka looked at him with a perplexed expression. Despite the chaos around there was a slight smile on his face. A very rare one. It was probably the first time he had ever seen the oldest teen smile. He noticed there were also several slight cuts on his upper arm. For the first time since Sokka had meet him he looked the most human he had ever seen.
“Where in the world where you? We almost left without you!” Sokka exclaimed. “Sorry,” he said sheepishly. “I got… distracted.” He cleared his throat and shook all daydreaming thoughts out of his head.
It’s not like that mattered anymore the five of them were finally together now ready to escape. Zuko looked over his shoulder expecting to see Mai. If Mecha had gotten out that meant Mai had too.
The group ran up the stairs to the gondola's platform, Suki and Sokka at the front while Mecha carried the Warden over his large shoulder between them and Zuko and Hakoda took up the rear.
"We're almost there." Suki called over to Sokka when the gondola was in sight.
Escaping the Boiling Rock was hard but not impossible. The group stumbled upon some major issues like Azula and Ty Lee chasing after them and almost the gondola almost collapsing into the volcanic boiling water, but the persevered and successfully made it through. It also helped that Mai came through to stop Azula from killing them all.
"I never expected this from you." Azula stated, glaring at Mai from beneath her brows
Standing off the side, Ty Lee clasped her hands in front of her and looked between her two friends with a frightened expression. Her eyes bounced back from one to the other as she struggled to see where her allegiances truly lay. Azula jerked her chin up and scowled, "The thing I don't understand is why? Why would you do it? You know the consequences."
"I guess you just don't know people as well as you think you do. You miscalculated." Mai replied flatly, not letting it show on her face just how scared she was. Her next words though, were brutally honest. "I love Zuko more than I fear you."
Azula's face twisted into an ugly snarl of rage and she shouted, "No! You miscalculated! You should have feared memore!" Shifting into her stance, Azula prepared to generate lightning Mai prepared to attack.
Lightning crackled at Azula's fingertips as she prepared to strike, but with a sudden change of heart Ty Lee leapt forward and jabbed her fists into Azula's back several times blocking her chi while Mai stared with a stunned expression.
"Ah!" Azula gasped as she fell to the floor, unable to move. Her eyes flickered over to Ty Lee as she ran over to Mai.
"Come on," Ty Lee exclaimed, pulling on Mai's arm, "Let's get out of here!"
She tried to drag Mai away, but guards surrounded them, preventing them from escaping. Whimpering slightly, Ty Lee huddled closer to Mai, glancing around fearfully.
"You're both fools." Azula spat from the ground, glaring at them furiously as two guards picked her by her arms and held her upright.
"What shall we do with them, princess?" A guard asked as several grabbed both Mai and Ty Lee.
"Put them somewhere I'll never have to see their faces again." Azula answered with snarl, staring into both Mai and Ty Lee's unreadable faces, "And let them rot."
Xxx
Crickets chirped loudly in the middle of the night. The skies were cloudy, yet the full moon shined brightly above the Western Air Temple.
Things had been rather quiet in the group since Tsai and Katara's fight earlier that day.
Tsai sat on the second floor of the courtyard facing the statues of the ancient airbender that inhabited this temple as she did a pretty lousy job at washing and drying everyone's clothes. She almost felt as if they were gazing down at her in judgement.
'What?'She felt lie sneering at one in particular. 'Why should I have to do everyone's laundry? Do you even know where kids get into all day?'
She frowned a little. "Stupid Katara…" She grumbled under her breath. She looked down at the small bandages that covered her body where Katara had hurt her.
"Hey," A voice said cooly.
Her hands stopped functioning. She dropped whatever garment she had been holding into the water and very stiffly turned around. She would know that voice anywhere.
Her eyes met her brother's forest green ones. Mecha stood before her. This time he wasn't going anywhere. He had changed. He was larger than how she remembered him. His wavy dark hair reached past his jaw and covered most of his forehead. However, his most striking feature was now the scar that covered his entire body. The red scars spread like vines covering his neck, arms, chest and even his face.
"Mecha!" She gasped and quickly moved tackling him into a tight embrace. They were finally reunited. Nobody would tear the little family that they had left apart now. He hugged her back just as tightly and couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at the force in which she tackled him.
A pair of eyes watched from the distant stairs. The prince leaned against one of the temple's walls as he observed the scene unfold before him. His arms crossed over his chest. The smallest smile playing on his features.
"What are you doing?"
A chill went up his spine and he jumped lightly embarrassed of having been caught witnessing such an intimate encounter.
Toph looked at Zuko with knowing eyes a shit-eating smirk playing on her features.
"Nothing!" He let out an angry scoff before skulking away.
"I can't believe you're here!" She said touching his messy hair. "You're so big!" She said looking at his muscles. "And your-your-" She looked at the scar that seemed to cover every inch of his body. She frowned a little. It didn't take a genius to know where or how he had gotten that scar.
"Azula…" She whispered.
"Hey! Chili Pepper! Flame-O!" They both turned to see Toph calling from the stairs. "We're all having tea! Come on!"  She called to both of them from a far.
Mecha raised his hand in a wave dismissing Toph and turned his attention back to his sister.
"I don't really feel like joining the others," She admitted. "I just want to talk to you."
The two siblings stayed up talking for what seemed to be hours. They talked about everything that had happened in the year in which they had been separated. Mecha told Tsai about how the Fire Nation officials came to Yu Dao and how he lied about a conspiracy so that his father and specially their mother would be spared from any consequences. He spoke about how their mother's heart broke and her father became livid at the news of their daughter being hailed a traitor to the Fire Nation. Mecha ran away after that and took shelter in the other Fire Nation colonies and later in the Earth Kingdom as he looked for his sister. On his journey he saw the same horrors or war that Tsai had seen and became scarred by them. He found his way as well and renounced to his title as a Fire Nationer.
After hearing that his sister was captured, he traveled to the Fire Nation which is where he encountered Aang and his friends just a couple of days before the invasion on the day of the Black Sun. The day in which they had briefly met, and he had stayed to hold Azula back who held no mercy and hit him with a bolt of lightning.
Tsai also told him everything. She did not spare a single detail about her journey with the Fire Nation's Prince and his Uncle. She told him about her spiritual awakening.
"Do you know anything about it? Me being a spirit and all?"
He looked at her as if she had just grown a second head. He had absolutely no clue what she was talking about.
Her plans for the future.
"So, what are you going to do now? Become some kind of government diplomat for the Earth Kingdom? You know now that we're Fire Nation exiles."
"No.." She answered softly as the two sat by the pile of now clean wet clothes that had been hung to dry. "I've been thinking. The things that I've been seeing lately... I've got greater things in mind." She answered in a focused tone as her mind racked all of the plans she had been internalizing for the future.
She only spared one…  very insignificantdetail from her tale.
"Like what?" He chuckled. Mecha was happy to finally be able to laugh. He felt like it was a privileged he had lost long ago. It felt refreshing to freely be able to do it again. "Becoming Fire Lady?" He joked just like he once had back home in Yu Dao.
Mecha laughed slightly at the ridiculousness of his joke. It took him a moment to realize that his sister wasn't laughing. He turned to face her with an arched eyebrow and his face contorted into one of raw shock when he saw that the color of her face and hair had blended into one. He had never seen his sister like this.
"Tsai!" He gasped. "Don't tell me-"
His shocked expression morphed into one of fury. Her red face told him everything he needed to know. Her brother jumped to his feet and she followed pulling on his arm holding him back. She repeated his name repeatedly and rounded his body pressing her palms on his shoulders holding him in place.
"You and-and- him actually!" His eyes went shot wide in fury.
To think that once he had been actually excited about the idea of his sister becoming the most powerful lady in the land and hitting it off with the scarred prince.
"Yes," She sighed. "We actually dated." She admitted feeling a little embarrassed she was actually confessing this to her brother.
"Dated?" He retorted in shock. It went over the girl's head that he was emphasizing the past tense of the verb. Not repeating the shock of the statement.
"Tsai, I was about to kill the bastard. I almost strangled him!" Mecha spat angrily. "He ruined our lives! Took everything away from us. Our names, split our family-"
"No," She shook her head lightly. "No…" She lowered her head her tone almost pleading. "We have to stop." She breathed.
"We can't blame every single horrible thing that has happened to us on Zuko. He's done bad, but he's also done good. He's changed and so have we. Look at how much we've grown from all of this." She explained softly attempting to keep the upbeat attitude she was known for.
"Zuko?"The other retorted his name as if it were a pest ignoring his sister's tone. "Since when do you call himby hisname?"
She was about to respond but he cut her off.
"Yeah! Maybe we've grown, but what about mom? What about dad? The colony? What about everything else? It's his fault that you were treated like a slave and after everythingyou forgive him?No- You defend him?" He looked at her with a bewildered look. The anger still lingering painfully in his eyes.
He looked at his sister's pained expression and then it dawned upon him.
"Look-" She bit the inside of her cheek as she began racking her brain for an explanation. It was almost as if he was on trial.
"Zuko he-he was there for me a lot. When I got your letter about what happened in Yu Dao he was there. We went through hunger together, we survived together. Got lost and found at sea alongside his uncle. We built our lives together as immigrants, and yes maybe it was his fault that I became a servant for the Royal family, but it was also mychoice to stay. I could've run from that life in the Crystal Catacombs, but I didn't. And when we were there, he tried to take care of me. Believe me he did and he's forever sorry for all the mistakes he's ever done."
Mecha's full brows furrowed at the horrible realization. Teeth clenching as he looked down on her. If looks could kill. It looked as if he was about to go on rampage. "You love him…" He almost growled out.
"How can you-" He still couldn't wrap his head around the idea.
Mecha had so much regret. So, so much regret of sending his sister on that ship. She had already made up her mind not to go and he- he had encouraged it. He blamed himself for everything that had happened since. If she hadn't set off on that journey this entire chain reaction of unfortunate events would've been prevented.
"You best not hurt him…" She said to him upset.
"Is that a threat sister?" Mecha couldn't help but laugh a little. "Do you hear yourself talk?" He laughed harder.
She bit her lower lip and tucked a stray hair over her ear. Her eyes met her brother's and he ceased his laughing when he realized she was dead serious. Mecha made a strangling motion as if he was choking an invisible body in front of him in comical frustration. Then he let out a sigh and lazily wrapped an arm around his sister. They had been separated for too long. This wasn't worth fighting over.
"I'm sorry," She apologized against his shoulder. She meant it. He rubbed her back gently and apologized as well.
"What-What about you?" She crossed her arms over her chest. Still standing with his arm hung around her shoulders.  Mecha was really popular with the ladies back at home. Tsai wouldn't have been surprised if he had left a trail of lovers all along the Earth Kingdom and colonies.
"Oh," He let out a dreamy sigh. "I met the most beautiful girl today."
"Really?" A smile grew across her face in intrigue. "She's beautiful, classy, her hair is as black as night. Seems like a real no bs kind of gal." He elaborated with a goofy grin on his lips.
"Alright, I'm liking this girl." The other added.
"Yeah, she's even named after my favorite month."
She looked at him expectantly.
"Her name's Mai."
It took a minute for all the dots to connect in Tsai's head. It was then that a loud scream resounded and echoed the Western Air Temple.
"WHAT?!"
xxx
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