#you know you wanna put flowers in katara's hair

[babypandawrites]

Secrets, Pt. 2

The Cave of Two Lovers

Pairing: Sokka x F Reader Warnings: None, I think Word Count: 5,743 Summary: Secret tunnel! Secret tunnel! Through the mountains! Secret, secret, secret tunnel! Yeah! Being trapped in the secret tunnel isn't nearly as fun as the song is. But it can't be that bad when you get stuck with your crush, right? ...right?

Note: I'll be honest, this took so long to get out because I thought I posted the first part a week ago- Not like... three weeks ago. Oops. Also I forgot this last part, but it's basically the same outfit as in the end of Allies, just has minimal changes.

-Navigation- | -Allies Masterlist- | -Atla Masterlist- -Last Part- | -Secrets Masterlist- | -Next Part-

Taglist: Striked @'s I couldn't tag @boomeraangin | @brokennerdalert | @ashley-running | @alisslahey

Sitting on the ground with her legs stretched out in front of her, Y/n handled her sword carefully, looking it over for any nicks it might have gotten over the years. Even if it hadn’t been used for a while, you never know.

Currently she sat near a riverbank, the only one out of the group not in the water. They tried to convince her to join them, but she just waved them off saying how if she was going to start carrying her sword she needed to do some upkeep on it. It turns out that the sword was in perfect condition, it didn’t even need sharpening. She guesses it wasn’t too much of a surprise, it’d only been used on a small handful of occasions before she completely retired it.

Pushing herself off the ground, Y/n held the sword with both hands. For a weapon that she used so heavily in her training when she was younger, for one she’d used a couple months prior, it felt forgien in her hands. She gave it a few text swings through the air, getting her grips back with using a sword.

Back when she used one to fight alongside the Blue Spirit- alongside Zuko -her movements were smooth and natural. She had to guess adrenaline aided in her fight, because moving the sword now her movements felt stiff, rusty. The environment now was calming, relaxed, she didn’t have to move as if her life depended on it and without that factor she was a lot more rusty than she thought.

“You guys are gonna be done soon, right?” Sokka spoke up from where he lounged on a large leaf floating in the water. “We’ve got a lot of ground to cover if we wanna make it to Omashu today.”

Katara looked over at him from where she stood with Aang, dropping her bending stance. They must have been practicing. Putting her hands on her hips, she raised an eyebrow at him. “What, like you’re ready to go right now, naked guy?”

Snickering to herself, Y/n continued to practice with her sword, muscle memory kicking in pretty quickly leading her movements to be smoother.

“I can be ready in two minutes. Seriously.” He moved his hair out of his face to look at them, before lazily dropping his arm into the water. “Whenever.”

After the short conversation, Sokka continued his lounging while Aang and Katara continued their waterbending training. Y/n couldn’t help halting her motions with her sword to watch them. Seeing them manipulate the water in a way that mimicked an octopus reminded her of her mother and the water tricks she did when a bit of healing was necessary.

To her knowledge, her mother wasn’t trained to fight with her bending and part of her wondered if she ended up being a waterbender if the same would have gone for her. Would her skills also have been limited for healing? Would she have stood alongside Katara in the North Pole in the hunt for combative training? Would she have even lived long enough to meet Aang, Katara and Sokka? Or would she have met the same fate as her mother?

Hearing music in the distance, she was pulled from her thoughts. A group of travelers wearing colorful clothes and wreaths of flowers approached the beach area from a trail in the forest, one of them singing.

“Don’t fall in love with a traveling girl. She’ll leave you broke and broken hearted…”

The four of them watched the group, when Sokka’s leaf boat suddenly caved in on itself and dropped him into the water with a yelp. This seemed to catch the attention of the group.

The man who was singing before smiled and pointed at them. “Hey-hey! River people!”

“We’re not river people.” Katara said, as her brother resurfaced from the water behind her. She made an x with her hands, to really sell her point.

“You’re not? Well then what kind of people are ya?”

Tucking away her sword, Y/n watched the group cautiously. They seemed peaceful, but that didn’t guarantee they were and while it seemed unlikely they were actually dangerous she’d rather be on the safe side. “Do we have to be a kind of people?” She asked, while Aang offered a shrug.

“We’re just… people.”

He seemed pleased enough with the Avatar’s answer. “Aren’t we all, brother? Whoo.”

Sokka, who’d apparently gotten out of the water and had yet to put his clothes back on, walked up with Momo perched on his shoulder. “Who’re you?” He asked, pointing an accusatory finger at the man they’d been conversing with.

“I’m Chong, and this is my wife Lily.” He motioned to the woman on his left, who gave a small curtsey. “We’re nomads, happy to go wherever the wind takes us!”

Aang seemed to be happy at Chong’s words. “You guys are nomads? That’s great! I’m a nomad.”

“Hey, me too.”

Looking at him with a blank expression, Aang spoke flatly. “I know… you just said that.”

“Oh.” Chong’s attention wandered for a moment, before it landed on Sokka. “Nice underwear.”

Eyes nearly bulging out of his head, Sokka grabbed onto Momo and used the poor animal to cover himself, before rapidly slipping away.

Struggling to get past the forest shrubbery, Zuko found himself frustrated. He’d been outcasted from his Nation again, and after a nasty encounter with his sister was now a fugitive. “I didn’t find anything to eat.” He announced to his Uncle, angrily kicking at the ground. “I can’t live like this! I wasn’t meant to be a fugitive! This is impossible!” He kicked at the ground again, heaving a sigh. “I don’t understand how Y/n did it..”

With his most recent encounter with his childhood friend in the North Pole paired with his new lifestyle, he found it difficult to keep his thoughts from her for too long. She had been a fugitive, and was still one at that, but seemed to be doing perfectly fine for herself. This wasn’t easy, it felt impossible to get by for him- How had she managed when she was just a kid?

If he remembered correctly, Y/n left on her tenth birthday with nothing but a small bag, her weapons and the clothes on her back. Her swordsmanship was subpar and he’d never seen her use that bow she always insisted on having and it just didn’t add up to him how she could possibly still be alive.

For a long time he thought she was dead, he’d thought that until Zhao captured her and the Avatar. And when he thought that might have been a fever dream the wanted posters of her reminded him it wasn’t.

“I doubt it was any easier for her.” Iroh said, before inhaling deeply to smell the flower he was squatting in front of.

Zuko looked at him strangely. “Uncle… what are you doing?”

“You’re looking at the rare white dragon bush. Its leaves make a tea so delicious it’s heartbreaking!” He paused, speaking more gravely. “That, or it’s the white jade bush, which is poisonous.”

“We need food not tea. I’m going fishing.”

Iroh stroked his chin, as his nephew stormed away again. “Delectable tea? Or deadly poison?”

Deciding that Chong and his group were indeed harmless, Y/n settled herself on the beach a bit aways from everybody. She was close enough to hear their chatter and singing, but too far to be able to make out the words. Or maybe she just wasn’t paying close enough attention while her thoughts wandered.

“Hey.” Katara’s sudden appearance startled her a bit, the girl moving to sit down next to her. “Are you alright? You seem kind of out of it.”

Offering her friend a small smile before her gaze locked onto the water, Y/n nodded. “Yeah, just thinking.”

“About what?”

She shrugged softly. “My mother.” Absent-mindedly she fiddled with the bracelet she’d gotten from the North Pole. “She was a waterbender, but I don’t think she knew how to fight. Just heal.”

“What, was she from the North Pole?” Katara joked, a laugh shortly following her words.

Y/n chuckled quietly and shook her head. “I think my grandmother had left the south by the time she was born.”

With a flick of her wrist, Katara pulled a small stream of water from the lake. “What about your grandmother? Was she a waterbender too?”

“Yeah.”

“And you're sure you aren’t one? The odds seem pretty stacked in your favor.”

Katara must have still been holding onto the hope that there was someone else from the Southern Tribe who could bend- Even if that hope was in the form of someone who wasn’t directly from it.

Offering her a sympathetic smile, Y/n mimicked the motion her friend had made to manipulate the lake's water, to no result. “I think one of my attempts would have worked by now if I was, so I’m pretty sure.” She thought about suggesting to Katara that she could meet her grandmother one day, that she could meet who was probably the only other bender who was from the Southern Tribe other than her, but decided against it.

No matter what they did to her, that woman was too stubborn to leave the Fire Nation. ‘The best place to hide is in plain sight, my dear.’ She recalled being told as a child, and she didn’t want to explain that’s where her grandmother was. She didn’t need to reveal the threads that tied her to that place, especially not to her friends who- rightfully -disliked it so much.

“You're probably right, sorry.” Katara offered a tense laugh. “I guess I just got this hope that maybe you’d be a waterbender and just didn’t know it. It’d be nice to meet another Southern bender, you know?”

“It’s alright, I get it. I’m sure I’d be hoping the same if I were in your shoes.”

Before the conversation could continue further, Lily waltzed over and placed her hands on Katara’s shoulders. “Your hair is gorgeous, I’d love to braid it.”

Katara looked back at the woman with a smile. “Sure.” She got up, grabbing onto Y/n’s wrist to pull her to her feet. “Come on, maybe someone can teach you to make a flower crown.”

Before she got the chance to protest, Y/n was dragged back over to Appa and everyone else, sans Sokka, and was pulled down to sit next to Katara. While Lily started on her friend's hair, Moku- another one of the travelers -caught her attention.

“Hey, check this.” He started to twist flowers together by their stems to make a flower crown. When it was only half finished he passed it off to her. “Try it.”

She took the half finished crown with hesitance, only grabbing a flower to continue it because Katara and Aang looked at her expectantly. Shaking her head softly, Y/n breathed out a sigh, attempting to finish off the flower crown. It wasn’t hard to tell she’d never done this before, her half of the crown significantly worse looking than Moku’s.

He nodded with approval. “Nice.”

Even if her work wasn’t nice, the compliment still seemed genuine.

“Hey, Sokka,” Aang spoke up, as their friend finally decided to join them. “You should hear some of these stories. These guys have been everywhere.”

Chong, who’d been strumming his guitar, stopped. “Well, not everywhere, Little Arrowhead. But where we haven’t been, we’ve heard about through stories and songs.”

Sokka raised an eyebrow, skeptical, but didn’t say anything.

“They said they’ll take us to see a giant nightcrawler.”

“On the way there’s a waterfall that creates a never-ending rainbow.” Moku said, dreamily.

“Look, I hate to be the wet blanket here, but since Katara is busy I guess it’s up to me.” Katara looked up at her brother, slightly offended. “We need to get to Omashu. No sidetracks, no worms, and definitely no rainbows.” Sokka counted off said distractions on his hand.

Standing up, Y/n passed the flower crown she half made between her hands as she approached Sokka. “You need to relax.” She reached up to set the crown on his head. “It’s not a big deal if we get there a little later than planned. We all deserve a break anyways.”

He looked at her blankly, taking the flower crown off and moving it onto her head. “I already relaxed and we already had a break, now it’s time to get going to Omashu. Come on Y/n, I thought you’d be with me on this.”

She took the flower crown off her head, and put it back on his. “Then relax some more.”

“How about we relax more on Appa,” Again, he moved the flower crown onto her head. “While we’re going to Omashu.”

“Whoa… Sounds like someone’s got a case of ‘destination fever,’ heh. You’re worried too much about where you’re going.” Chong said.

Lily nodded in agreement. “You’ve gotta focus less on the ‘where’ and more on the ‘going’.”

“O. Ma. Shu.” Sokka punctuated each syllable, while hitting the side of his hand against his palm with each one as well.

“Sokka’s right.” Katara started. “We need to find King Bumi so Aang can learn earthbending somewhere safe.”

“Well, sounds like you’re headed to Omashu.” Sokka smacked a hand to his forehead at Chong’s words. “There’s an old story about a secret pass… right through the mountains.”

Crossing her arms, Katara looked at him skeptically. “Is this real or a legend?”

“Oh, it’s a real legend. And it’s as old as earthbending itself.” Chong strummed his guitar and started to sing. “Two lovers, forbidden from one another… A war divides their people, and a mountain divides them apart. Built a path to be together.” He paused to say, “Yeah, and I forget the next couple of lines, but then it goes..” Before continuing enthusiastically as the other travelers began to dance. “Secret tunnel! Secret tunnel! Through the mountain! Secret, secret, secret, secret tunnel! Yeah!”

Everyone but Sokka enjoyed the song, and clapped at the performance.

“I think we’ll just stick with flying. We’ve dealt with the Fire Nation before. We’ll be fine.” Sokka insisted through his annoyance.

“Yeah. Thanks for the help, but Appa hates going underground and we need to do whatever makes Appa most comfortable.” Aang offered a wide smile with his words, and the four got ready to take off on the bison.

At an intense attack from the Fire Nation, however, the group found themselves turning back and returning to the travellers dejected and covered in ash.

“Secret love cave. Let’s go.” Sokka said to them, unenthusiastically.

The walk to the cave revealed it wasn’t just one tunnel, but a large labyrinth that was apparently cursed. Which probably wasn’t a good thing for them. Definitely wasn’t.

“Hey-hey, we’re here!” Chong announced, as the group stopped in front of a large cave entrance. It was big enough to easily accommodate Appa’s size, and probably the size of several more Appa’s.

“What exactly is this curse?” Sokka asked.

“The curse says that only those who trust in love can make it through the caves. Otherwise you’ll be trapped in them forever.”

“And die.” Lily added.

“Oh yeah, and die. Hey, I just remembered the rest of that song.” Chong strummed a chord on his guitar, singing in a low and dramatic voice. “And die!”

Sokka threw his arms up, aggravated. “That’s it! There’s no way we’re going through some cursed hole!”

“Hey,” Moku spoke up cheerfully, pointing at a column of smoke. “Someone’s making a big campfire!”

“I don’t think so.” Y/n said, crossing her arms.

Katara nodded. “Yeah, that’s no campfire, Moku.”

“That’s Fire Nation, they’re tracking us.” Sokka clarified to the travellers who seemed painfully unaware of the fact.

Aang looked at Chong, with an unsure expression. “So all you need is to trust in love to get through these caves?”

“That is correct, Master Arrowhead.”

Trust in love, huh? Y/n caught herself looking at Sokka at the thought, and quickly averted her gaze. Digging the toe of her boot into the ground awkwardly, she shrugged. “Sounds easy enough.”

Aang nodded with a smile. “Yeah, we can make it.”

“Everyone into the hole!” At Sokka’s exclamation, the group slowly made their way into the tunnel. And while Appa groaned in protest, he still followed.

Shortly after their entrance, rumbling sounded as rocks toppled down and blocked them in. They stood in the darkness for a moment, before a torch was struck. With ten hours of light, and Sokka making a map they started their exploration of the cave in an attempt to find a way out. Unfortunately, they kept hitting dead end after dead end.

“Sokka, this is the tenth dead end you’ve led us to.” Katara commented, as the group once again found themselves stuck at another dead end.

He had his face basically buried in his map, before looking up at the cave wall with confusion. “This doesn’t make any sense; we already came this way.”

“We don’t need a map. We just need love.” Chong said, pointing at Aang and then at Y/n. “These two get it.”

“Yeah, but I wouldn’t mind a map, also.” Aang said sheepishly.

Y/n offered a nod of agreement. “Maps are nice.”

“There’s something strange here, and there’s only one explanation.” Sokka said, looking back at his map.

“The tunnels are changing?” Y/n questioned.

“Exactly.”

A low rumble sounded through the cave, startling everyone.

“The tunnels… they’re a-changin’. Ah, it must be the curse. I knew we shouldn’t have come down here.” Chong muttered, worried, prompting Sokka to roll his eyes.

“Right. If only we listened to you.”

“Everyone be quiet. Listen.”

The group fell silent at Katara’s words, something could be heard in the darkness ahead. Momo jumped off Sokka’s shoulder and flew into the darkness. He returned a moment before something flew at a high speed from the dark- A wolf-bat. It knocked Sokka down, before flying around the group.

“It’s a giant flying thing with teeth!” Moku corrected Chong in panic. “No! It’s a wolf bat!”

The wolf bat landed on the ground and snarled at them before launching itself back into the air. Sokka tried to burn it with the torch he carried, but only succeeded in getting Appa burned. The wolf bat knocked the torch from his hand, and it landed on Appa’s toe causing him to cry out in anguish, and crash against the walls of the cave in his panic. The roof started to collapse in, and in an attempt to protect his friends Aang sent a blast of air at them to get them out of the impact of the cave in.

Y/n hit the ground rolling with a grunt, hissing in pain as her quiver dug into her back and her sword’s sheath dug into her hip. It took a moment for the dust to settle, but once it did it revealed that they’d been separated from Aang, Katara and Appa.

Rushing to the obstruction that separated them, Sokka dug frantically to reach the other side. Chong walked up behind him, calm despite what had happened.

“Yeah, it’s no use. We’re separated. But at least you have us, heh heh.”

Sokka froze for a moment, before crying out. “Noooooooooo!” He started to dig frantically again, only resulting in some of the rocks to fall on his head.

Pushing herself up from the ground, Y/n shuffled over to them. “Aang?! Katara!?” She attempted calling out to them, to see if they were okay, but the rock pile must have been too thick for them to hear her because she didn’t get a reply. She sighed. “I hope they’re okay..”

“Oh, don’t let the cave in let you down. Don’t let the falling rocks turn your smile into a frown. When the tunnels are darkest that’s when you need a clown, hey! Don’t let the cave in get you down, Sokka!” Chong sang cheerfully, as Sokka and Y/n led Chong’s group through the cave, the former scowling all the way.

Sokka looked at the man sideways, before breathing out a sigh. “I’m not sure how much longer I can take this.” He muttered in a hushed tone, clearly annoyed at being stuck with Chong and his group.

“You’ll be fine.” Y/n said, looking at him with an amused expression. “Just pretend they aren’t there.”

“I would if they weren’t so loud!” He sighed again, looking at her blankly. “So glad you find my misery amusing.”

She gave him a comforting pat on the shoulder, as they came across another dead end.

“Oh, great! Your plans have led us to another dead end!”

Frustrated at their failure to find an exit, Y/n kicked the cave’s wall. Then she kicked it again for good measure, just to make sure it was aware how much she hated it right now.

“At least I’m thinking of ideas and trying to get us out of here, Moku.” Sokka spoke defensively, grasping Y/n’s arm to pull her away from the wall she was abusing. “Y/n, stop that before you cause another cave in.”

Crossing her arms, she kicked at the ground. “I’m not going to cause a cave in by kicking the wall, Sokka.”

“You don’t know that!” “Whoa, whoa, wait a minute. We’re thinking of ideas? ‘Cause I’ve had an idea for, like, an hour now.”

Y/n dragged her hands down her face. “Oh my spirits…”

Fed up with Chong and his band, Sokka exploded with anger. “Yes! We’re all thinking of ideas!!”

“Well, then listen to this: If love is the key out of here, then all we need to do is play a love song.”

Sokka smacked a hand to his forehead at the idea, as Chong started to strum his guitar.

“Even if you’re lost you can’t lose the love because it’s in your heart, ooooohhhh..”

Annoyance starting to pick at her, Y/n’s eye twitched as she glanced back at a singing Chong. Turning to look at Sokka, she spoke in a hushed tone. “Do you think it would be too obvious if I shot an arrow through his guitar?”

“Probably.” He muttered back, before snickering. “But I would love to see you do it anyway.”

She opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off by the cave shaking and rumbling. They all looked around in panic, to find the source of the rumbling.

“The tunnels!” Chong exclaimed in panic. “Oh they’re a changin’ again! The curse it’s a comin’ for us!”

Noticing a large crack forming in the cave wall, Y/n’s eyes widened. “Watch out!” She shoved Sokka out of the way, the force causing them to tumble to the ground as a new wall extended across the tunnel behind them. It slammed into the wall opposite of it, causing a few rocks to fall to the ground. Momo landed on the ground next to them as the dust settled.

Pushing herself up, Y/n went for the torch that Sokka had- It had skidded across the ground, causing the flame to die out. Picking it up she striked it against the ground to relight it, thankful that it did so with no problems. Dark disaster avoided, she turned to face him, passing him the torch once he was on his feet.

“Thanks for the save.” Sokka commented, taking the torch from her.

“Yeah…” She trailed off, looking around when she noticed a lack of music and stupidity. “We got separated again.”

He took note of the absence of Chong and his band, but didn’t seem bothered by it. “At least we won’t have to listen to them anymore.” He said with a shrug.

“That’s what you're concerned about? Sokka, we’ve been separated from everyone, only have one torch and have no idea how to get out of here!” Heaving a sigh, Y/n dropped her head in her hands. “Oh, this is just great! Spirits, we are so screwed, we’re going to die in here.” Turning aggressively, she kicked at the cave wall. “Stupid.” She kicked it again. “Cursed.” And again. “Cave.” And again… “We should have just dealt with the Fire Nation! We’d have a better chance of escaping capture than escaping this stupid!” Again… “Cave!”

Furrowing his eyebrows together, Sokka looked at her concerned. He could tell that stress was starting to get to her, but didn’t expect her to lash out like that. “Whoa, Y/n.” He grabbed onto her shoulder, turning her to face him. “Calm down, we’re going to find a way out of here, I promise.”

Breathing out a sigh, she ran a hand through her hair. “We’ve been looking for a way out for hours, Sokka, hours! I hate to be a pessimist, but our odds don’t look great right now!”

Okay, things weren’t looking great, Y/n was starting to lose it and they probably didn’t have much light left. They needed a plan, and while Sokka would like to figure out a plan to get out he knew that before that he needed to get Y/n back on track.

He was silent for a moment, thinking, before he let out a scoff. “So, what? You're just going to give up?”

“..huh?”

“Hey, I’m just saying. What's a couple hours stuck in a cave to what- A lifetime? Fighting against the Fire Nation? Pfft, here I thought you were a survivalist.”

Expression twisting into a mix of offense and shock, Y/n narrowed her eyes at him. “Wh- What’s that supposed to mean?!”

He offered a shrug. “You don’t seem like a very good one right now is all.”

She was absolutely baffled, not even knowing if she should be offended or just outright upset. Who did he think he was?! Settling into a glare she snatched the torch from his hand, before pivoting on her heel and storming further into the cave. “Oh I’ll show you..”

Satisfied, Sokka followed after her with Momo on his shoulder. That worked a bit better than he thought it would. “I didn’t mean that, by the way.”

“You di-” Y/n paused for a moment, heaving an annoyed sigh. “You! You’re terrible.”

“It worked, didn’t it?”

“Okay,” Shoving his map into his pocket, Sokka clapped his hands together. “We need to figure out a plan. The map is kind of useless with the walls changing so… ideas?”

Y/n breathed out a sigh, shrugging. “I don’t know. Maybe we just need to do what Chong said- Trust in love and let it lead the way.”

He looked at her blankly. “I don’t think he knew what he was talking about. I mean how would we even do that? It doesn’t make sense, I would rather trust in a plan.”

“Maybe we can find a soft spot and dig ourselves out.” She went back on her idea, shaking her head. “Actually nevermind, that probably wouldn’t work. If it did, it would take too long… The song said that the two lovers built a path to each other through the mountain, if it was a labyrinth then there had to be a way they navigated through to find each other, we just need to figure out what that was and we’ll probably find our way out.”

“Do you think they had markings on the walls or something?” Sokka suggested.

“That wouldn’t be very helpful since the walls change.”

“How about the ground? Or the ceiling? Those don’t change.”

“Possible, I just don’t know how we could identify them.” Y/n ran a hand through her hair. “This might just be a dead end though, the song also said a war divided their people so it could be something that only they would recognize, and depending on how long it’s been it could even be gone. Or I could just have the wrong idea, maybe they didn’t have anything to guide them. For all we know they were earthbenders who just bended the cave everytime they wanted to see each other.”

“Seems like an awful lot of work just to see someone.” He said before letting out an awkward laugh, rubbing at the back of his neck. “I guess I’m not one to talk though.”

Just like that, the feeling she’d become accustomed to in the North Pole was back. Yue wasn’t in the picture anymore, but yet her stomach still twisted in knots at the thought of how smitten Sokka was with her during their time in the North.

“Love makes people stupid sometimes.” Was all she offered in response, her pace quickening.

Sokka furrowed his eyebrows together, speeding up as well to keep up with Y/n. He wasn’t sure what flipped got switched in her head that made her bothered so quickly, but he didn’t think it would be good to question it. “Know from experience?”

She shrugged. “Something like that.”

He thought her answer was interesting, but before he got the chance to push it more, something sounded behind them. Their steps slowed to a stop as they turned to face the darkness and the ominous sounds coming from it.

Gulping, Y/n grabbed onto Sokka’s arm with her free hand, not wanting to fall victim to another separation. If she were stuck by herself she might just curl up on the cave floor and leave herself to the wolf-bats.

When a pack of wolf-bats darted from the darkness, they ducked down to avoid them. The animals didn’t bother them though, just flew right past them until they were out of sight again. Once they were gone, Sokka helped Y/n back to her feet, glancing around nervously.

“I think they were running from something.”

“That’s not g-”

She was cut off when something burst through the cave wall, shaking the tunnel around them and knocking debris everywhere- and when the dust settled it revealed a large badger mole.

Sokka looked at her, panicked. “What do we do?!”

“I don’t know! You're the idea guy, not me!”

The badger mole slammed its front paws onto the ground, jolting and knocking the two down. Sokka started to shuffle away from the large animal, which only prompted it to hit its paws on the ground again, this time causing rock to rise from the ground and surround him.

He yelped. “The idea guy is a little occupied!! Do something!”

“Okay! Just-” Y/n’s gaze darted between Sokka and the badger mole that was approaching him. For whatever reason it was targeting him, which she could use to her advantage. “Just keep distracting it!”

Again the badger mole hit its paws against the ground, using it’s bending to pin Sokka to the ground. Chewing on the inside of her cheek, Y/n looked around to try and figure out a plan. The badger moles were the original earthbenders, and must be the cause behind the changing walls in the cave.

Maybe... her idea from earlier about digging themselves out wasn’t totally useless, they just needed some help with it!

It seemed upset though, and the first idea that came to mind wasn’t exactly a plan to calm it down. Honestly she’d probably upset the badger mole more but if it got them out she really didn't care. Slowly, Y/n started to inch away to give herself a little distance before running at the badger mole so she could hoist herself onto it’s back.

Like she assumed, it certainly did not like that, but in it’s fit of earthbending rage freed Sokka. Leaning down she offered a hand to him, pulling him onto the badger moles back as it bended a hole in the cave wall. He looked at her, bewildered, as Momo landed on his shoulder. “I cannot believe you just did that.”

“Well it worked, didn’t it?”

Rolling his eyes playfully, he smiled softly. “You are something else.”

Thankfully the badger mole took them outside of the cave, right where Aang, Katara and everyone else had been waiting.

“Sokka!” He slid off the badger moles back at his sister's exclamation, running over to her. Sliding off the animal herself, Y/n gave it a small pat on the leg.

“Sorry for scaring you.”

It wiggled it’s nose at her, and she took it as an acceptance of her apology. She went to join her friends, just in time to catch Sokka asking how they got out.

Aang offered a small smile. “Just like the legend says: We let love lead the way.”

“Really? We let huge ferocious beasts lead our way.” Sokka turned to wave goodbye to the badger mole, Y/n doing the same, before it turned to tunnel back into the cave- Closing the hole it made behind it.

Momo flew over to Appa while Katara pulled her brother into a hug and Aang caught Y/n in one as well.

“Soooo…” He trained off with a grin, keeping his voice to a whisper. “You got trapped alone with Sokka, huh?”

She stared at him wide eyed, her gaze shifting to the siblings for a short moment. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Aang offered a small shrug. “I’ve noticed things.” He nudged her in the side with his elbow, wiggling his eyebrows.

Blushing, Y/n gently shoved him away by his head. “You have not!”

He let out a laugh, leaving her be to address Chong’s group. “So, are you guys gonna come to Omashu with us?”

Moku shook his head. “Nope.”

“Okay. Thanks for everything, Moku.”

“Yeah, thanks.” Y/n tipped her flower crown to him, before looking at Aang with a grin of her own. “Sooo… You got trapped alone with Katara, huh?”

“Wh-” His face flushed. “This isn’t about me!”

“It is now!”

After officially parting from Chong’s group, they continued their journey to Omashu. It was much later in the day, but the sun still shined as the group made their way up a hill.

“The journey was long and annoying, but now you get to see what it’s really about- The destination.” Sokka said, as they neared the top of the hill. “I present to you the Earth Kingdom city of O…” He trailed off at seeing the devastating sight in front of them. “Oh, no…”

The city was surrounded with siege towers, smoke rose from it as several places seemed to be on fire, and a large Fire Nation flag hung down from the main gate.

Y/n had never been to Omashu before, but she was very sure it wasn’t supposed to be like this.

[lunaastoir]

cute things i think the genshin characters would do

characters included: diluc, kaeya, venti, and albedo 

****minor lore spoilers for diluc!****

an: i’m thinking of making this into a series bc this was such an adorable concept to write so lmk if you’re interested 👀 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

diluc 

sorry kind of starting off with something a little sad 

i think diluc would have a habit of rubbing his vision 

ok seems kinda dumb at first but let me elaborate: 

after the death of his father, diluc was quite obviously devastated 

he basically withdrew into himself after letting all the grief, pain, and rage flood his senses

i think during this time of grieving, he would’ve developed this habit of running the pads of his fingers across his vision to calm himself down 

(v similar to katara from atla) 

since his father had always been proud of diluc’s vision, the thought of touching something that reminded him of his father has always been able to bring him some sort of relief no matter how short lived

it serves as a constant memory of his dad and i think being able to have that kind of connection - no matter how small would hold a significance to him 

stressed? you’ll see his fingers dance across his vision as the crease between his eyebrows gradually loosens 

ok here’s a bonus habit (bc the previous one was sad) 

whenever he’s bartending at angel’s share, he always flips the bottles in this cool bartending way before pouring the drinks 

like the whole shabang - flips in the air, shakes it in a way that the drink foams just right 

people are usually v surprised when they see this bc woah mans has got some sKILLS 

but also bc he’s known for being pretty serious and reserved so seeing a “trick” is kind of breaking the stoic image they have of him 

after he’s done pouring the drinks he’s also really precise about closing the bottles 

he makes sure that the caps are on tightly and that nothing is leaking (which ig is another reason why he does flips with them so he can make sure that the bottles are tightly closed) 

yes he’s rich but he also wants to make sure the drinks don’t go bad bc 1) kind of a loss if they do and 2) his customers deserve the best 

sweet man pls protect him <3 

kaeya

when he’s sitting down at his desk, he brings his legs up so he can sit on his chair criss- cross applesauce 

since he’s in his office and the only other person who’s in there with him is jean, he feels like he can drop the suave, charming cavalry captain facade he puts on when he’s in public and just dial it down slightly to who he really is in that moment 

jean doesn’t say a word the entire time even tho she quite obviously notices 

don’t get me wrong, he’s still the smooth talking kaeya but just,,, more relaxed and comfortable?? if that makes sense 

so since he’s a lot more comfortable in his office, he usually folds his legs into his chair bc damn they hurt from walking around all day

this is kinda dumb but i also think he has a lot of ink stains on his hands from writing so whenever he sees a fresh one he just likes to stamp it onto a piece of paper 

usually that piece of paper ends up being an unimportant report that goes to jean 

dw he also has a bunch of pretty small towels in his bottom drawer that he uses to wipe his hands on bc the public can’t see the pretty cavalry captain w ink stains!! the world would end!! 

oH kind of a side note but i also think he would keep a small folded up picture of something klee drew him in his pocket 

he thinks it’s very sweet and he periodically takes it out just to look at it soft for this man 

last one for kaeya but since he wears boots that have the little lip on the bottom (not really a heel but enough to make some noise) he makes sure to always try his best to walk quietly around the streets of mondstadt at night 

if anyone catches him doing it he’ll wave it off and say something like “oh me? i’m just practicing my stealth - it comes in handy when you have to sneak up on enemies you know?” but in reality that’s just bs 

he really just doesn’t wanna risk waking people up <3 

venti

this adorable man is obviously notorious for drinking 

he loves alcohol!! i mean he’s the anemo archon of the city of wine and freedom so is anyone really surprised 💀

anyways venti always jokes abt not having any mora (he really doesn’t he’s not wrong) but he always makes sure to pay his tab at angel’s share 

the only reason diluc lets him drink sm is because at the end of the day, venti always comes through w the mora 

he really is a talented bard so everything he makes in singing and composing music for other people to listen to always goes straight to angel’s share (debatable if that’s for the best or not but i’ll leave that one to you) 

so yeah <3 basically venti pays back his tabs even tho he’s an archon since he doesn’t want people to experience a loss bc of him 

it’s the archon nature coming out but also the venti nature bc he’s a sweet boy 

anyways getting onto the actual habit 🕺

he has a tendency to skip/hop regardless of wherever he’s going 

he uses his anemo elemental skill a lot while doing this just he can feel a light breeze whenever he skips around 

i also think he carries around extra bard strings in his hat bc he thinks it’s a cool party trick to take them out and be like tada i have extra strings no need to worry!!! 

people are usually not that amused but he does it anyway 

also yeah uh those strings sometimes fall out when he’s skipping 💀 

he’ll be hopping and suddenly bOOM they fall out, he loses them, a kitten by the name of prince takes them, and he has to ask for help to find his strings (i believe this is exactly how venti lost his strings to prince during the windblume festival and no i will not take any criticism and if venti says something different he is lying 🔪)

also has a habit of putting his hair into a bun sometimes!!! 

he loves his pigtails but he finds that he gets bored of them occasionally and his hair needs a break from its wavy tresses so he just plops it into a bun instead 

so so cute 10/10 hairstyle he can do my hair 

anyways love this man thanks for coming home <3 

albedo

i had a feeling i would kind of have a hard time w albedo since he is a little hard to read so i hope this is ok LMFAO 

he has paint stains. everywhere. no you cannot change my mind. 

they are subtle tho i will give him that 

you can’t notice that anything is amiss until you really pay attention and then you’ll start to see the pretty pastels and greens of the sunset he was painting up on dragonspine softly smeared across his clothes 

very rarely you’ll see a cute swipe of paint across his cheek or neck and it’s honestly adorable 

he was probably pushing his hair out of his face while he was painting and some excess paint on his finger landed on his cheek :,) 

he doesn’t really care tbh he thinks it’s just a part of him and it really isn’t that noticeable so he just leaves it 

also!!! since he is a big alchemist and he’s constantly working on labs and experiments i think he would accidentally misplace a lot of his written work 

he seems very organized but w someone as intellectual as him w his brain running miles a minute, i’m sure he has definitely forgotten where he’s put stuff away 

so!! in order to help him remember, he has little notes across his lab detailing where everything is 

if he was working on something and he immediately has to put it on hold bc something came up (klee came in demanding attention or sucrose needs help) then he’ll quickly jot down a note and stick it to his desk so he’ll remember when he comes back just in case he forgets 

sucrose as a result has noticed A LOT of notes across the lab and it’s simultaneously funny and endearing 

“started experiment with sweet flowers to try and turn them into a youth elixir: papers --> on the desk right next to klee’s photo” 

final point: he lets klee braid his hair sometimes if she wants to 

she doesn’t really know how given how young she is so she ends up messing up but albedo always walks her patiently through the steps again 

always makes time for klee no matter what bc he really does care a lot abt her :,) 

i love him sm pls 

[limit-list]

CONCEPT!! okay okay look but i wanna see a modern day zukka fic where zuko is a tattoo artist!! his uncle is a renowned tattoo artist, owns a parlor called the Jasmine Dragon, and zuko works for him there. his designs are absolutely killer, he studies a bunch of different styles (that i do not know the names of because i know nothing of tattoos and i’m too excited to do research), like the cool samoan ones and cartoon styles and he’s really good at photo realism, but his favorite is to just treat tattooing as any other art form and use his personal style.

zuko’s a growing name in the industry, and his uncle’s competitor shop is the Flying Bison (cause why not). the Flying Bison is just a couple streets over, and in it you can find aang (tattoo artist), katara (piercing person), suki (works the desk and manages everything for the owner, kyoshi), sokka (hangs out to bother katara when he isn’t in class at the law school), and toph (likes to hang out and make recommendations until people realize she’s blind and get really awkward. she works at the flower shop next door because we like tropes and flowers and tattoos just go together, okay??)

one day, suki is complaining about losing another customer to the Jasmine Dragon and katara is agreeing, and sokka is like “ehh they can’t be that great, the owner is some old guy!! i bet if i went and got a tattoo i could cause a big ol stink about it being awful and lose them some customers” and katara is like great idea you go do that and when it sucks aang can fix it!

sokka, who was joking in the first place, somehow ends up walking into the Jasmine Dragon and stopping just inside the door cause w o w that boy is hot. what the fuck why is he hiding in here when he should be a walking poster boy, those tattoos are nice.

(zuko has the burn on his face, long shaggy hair that he ties up in a bun when he’s working, a tattooed dragon that curls around his neck, a sleeve on his left arm that’s got some flames, some symbols, another dragon curled around his wrist, and on his right forearm he’s got a white lotus pai sho tile with writing around it)

(not relevant at the moment, but sokka has the moon between his shoulder blades, a boomerang on the side of his left wrist, the pattern from his mom’s betrothal necklace on his left shoulder, katara’s handwriting that says “hey loser” going up his right side, aang’s air symbol on his right shoulder, and appa on his lower back)

zuko catches sokka staring and blushes, obviously checking him out, before asking him if he needs any help. sokka’s like “yeah actually i’m here kinda as a representative of the Flying Bison, ya know, your rival. i’ve come to get a tattoo so that we can know that we’re better than you, but now that i’m here i’m kinda seeing that nothing could ever be better than you, oh fuck i just said that out loud”

...needless to say they’re both blushing now. that is, until zuko’s like “wait? you what?? what kind of guy wants to get a tattoo just to prove that you’re better than someone else???”

sokka’s like “uhhh actually i was joking when i suggested it but then my sister said i should do it and i can’t legally deny her anything so... here i am” and then they just kinda stand there in awkward silence. for a long while. somewhere between a minute and a century.

then zuko just kinda clears his throat and is like “so um where do you want it? what do you want?”

and sokka is like “???? i JUST told you i’m here to make you make me look bad and you’re just fine with it?”

and zuko just quirks his eyebrow and smirks and scoffs a bit and is like “i couldn’t make you look bad if i wanted to. and i wouldn’t let you make me look bad.”

which, the first part is CLEARLY flirting except the second part is so condescending and sokka has never been more attracted to someone since yue tattooed the moon on his back. sokka has never been known for his exceptional decision making skills. which might be why he decides to say “so about that tattoo. does me being attracted to you create a conflict of interest?”

and zuko blushes but the smirk turns into a grin and he goes “not unless you have an issue with me being interested in you too.” and sokka cannot believe he is LIVING THIS LIFE!!!!

they hammer out the details, set up an appointment for the next day. sokka goes home and refuses to tell katara anything except he’ll be getting a new tattoo tomorrow. zuko goes home and rants to his uncle about the boy from the Flying Bison that he definitely flirted the crap out of, is that a conflict and can i please tattoo this boy even tho he’s from our competitor shop? (iroh says yes of course, though he plans to send ty lee to check out the Flying Bison in retribution)

(unseen future: ty lee and suki start dating. iroh finds this hilarious)

sokka comes in the next day for his tattoo, asks zuko to do something like his dragons cause he thinks those look cool, but gives him free reign to do whatever else he wants. it takes forever, but when they’re done sokka has officially developed an actual crush on zuko beyond just his appearance. they’ve talked about their moms, hakoda and iroh, katara and the rest of the gaang, zuko’s development as a tattoo artist, and they’ve developed a comfortable silence as music plays lowly in the backround.

when sokka looks at the tattoo for the first time, he’s absolutely speechless. zuko’s added in koi fish around the moon, in a yin yang pattern, and between the moon and appa, he’s put the sun with a dragon curled around it, head resting on its tail at the bottom.

zuko’s watching him anxiously, terrified that he’ll hate it even though he’s tried to match the style that the moon was done in as much as possible. already he’s sputtering stuff like “it’s kind of too late if you don’t like it, you did tell me i could do whatever, did i overstep with the koi fish, oh my gosh here i’ll go get your money back—“ and sokka cuts him off by turning to look at him with affection just evident on his face and wtf who gave him permission to be that cute—

and then sokka is asking “hey, can i like kiss you or is that too much for the health guidelines?” and sokka’s honestly surprised that he could even ask that much, he loves these tattoos and if he doesn’t get to kiss this amazing boy soon—

and zuko is in shock apparently, but he snaps out of it with “okay let me get you wrapped up, oh god that sounds so bad, let me treat your tattoo and ring everything up and say all the precautionary health stuff that you already know so i can take my break and then we’ll see” and that’s what they do!!!

when zuko’s break is up, iroh exits into the back alley to find sokka has pushed zuko up against the wall and they’re making out, didn’t even notice iroh coming outside. of course, iroh is an embarrassing uncle and goes “ah zuko, i assume this is the competition?”

to which zuko draws back and thumps his head into sokka’s shoulder, not letting sokka back up more than an inch. “uncle go away i’m busy” “ah yes, i can see that. is this a new method of exchanging trade secrets?” “uncle.”

sokkas chuckling breathlessly as iroh hums and goes back inside. “trade secrets huh?”

(katara is infuriated that sokka loves his new tattoo, especially since it clearly shows that zuko’s an amazing tattoo artist. aang wants to meet him and learn from him like NOW, suki wants to recruit him, and toph thinks they’re dating. she isn’t wrong, but sokka bribes her to shut up so katara doesn’t find out)

[prismatica-the-strange]

Helpless (Bolin x Korra’s Adopted Sister) | Part 1

You’re only adopted if you want to be. This just gives people freedom to put their preference of origin.

This started off as a Helpless from Hamilton song fic, and you can kind of see that in the beginning, but it sorta took on a life of its own

Warnings:... None? I think

Words: 2,262

    Your parents always told you the ocean sent them their second child. Korra found you on the shore one day when they were out by the water when she was 2. You were so young and nearly dead from the freezing water, but Katara healed you and Korra's parents raised you as their own.

        "Where are you going?" You asked, not looking up from your book. Korra froze in her tracks.

        "No where?"

        "Uh-huh." You looked over the top of the book at her.

        "What?" She chuckles scratching the back of her neck.

        "You're going back to the arena, aren't you?" You sigh, going back to reading. 

        "Yeah."

        "If Tenzin finds out-"

        "Yeah well, Tenzin won't find out."

        "Are you threatening me, Kor?" You teased, turning to the next page.

        "No...." She looks around quickly, "Hey you should come with me!"

        "What?" You look at her incredulously. "No-"

        "Oh c'mon!" She tried.

        "Kor, that's your thing." You reasoned, "My thing is fuzzy blankets and a good book."

        "Just one night, please?" She pushed your book down and pouted, "I promise you'll have fun!"

        You pulled my book from her hands and got up to leave. Your mistake was looking back at her squatting figure, pouting up at you.

        "Ugh! Fine!" You give in, grabbing a jacket and tucking your book under your arm, "One night!"

        "Yes!" She jumped in the air, pumping her fist. "Let's go!"

        She grabbed your wrist and pulled you away.

        "And this is where you can watch the match." Korra smiled, reaching for the handle.

        "Korra! You're late," A tall boy, about your age, growled as he threw the door open.

        "Sorry (Y/n) here dragged her feet the whole way and I had to get my gear on-"

        "You can explain later," he snapped, pulling her along.

        You followed behind and watched as the platform they stood on extended towards the play area.

        "Here come fan favorites theeee "Fireee Ferretsss!" The announcer shouted and the whole building erupted in cheers.

        You scoffed leaned on the rail at the edge of the room.

        That's when one of Korra's teammates turned around to wave at the crowd. Your eyes met for a moment, he smiled and waved at you and your heart went boom.

        The match started and the Fire Ferrets kicked major butt. Korra was definitely in her element.

*Bolin's POV*

        "Yes! We won- again!" I cheered. Fist bumping Mako. I looked back at the team box and that girl was still there, smiling. Jeez, that smile could kill me.

        "What'cha looking at Bolin?" Korra asked, and I froze.

        "N-nothing!"

*Y/n's POV*

        The other boy, who you knew was Bolin from the announcer, Looked back at you again after they won and you smiled at him. A moment later, Korra grabbed his arm and the platform started shifting back towards the team box.

        "Bolin, This is my sister, (Y/n)!" She grinned widely as she pushed the poor boy towards you.

        "S-sister?!" He seemed shocked before clearing his throat, taking off his helmet, and holding his hand out to you, "H-hi, I'm Bolin."

        "Hi," you nearly giggled as you shook his hand. Looking into green eyes you were helpless, you had to look away before you started drowning in them.

        "What's with them?" Another voice asked, and both of you realized you were still holding hands. You quickly pulled away, your face bright pink.

        "Mako!" Korra growled before sighing, "Hey why don't we all go out to get some food?"

        "Oh, we ate before the-"

        "Great! Cause I know this great place!" Korra started pushing a red-faced Bolin toward the door, dragging you behind her.

~~~~~

        The atmosphere around the table was awkward, to say the least. Before you could say anything Korra shoved you into one side of a booth and Bolin on the other. 

        "So uh, (Y/n)," Bolin started as Korra ordered a surplus of Sweet buns, "I-I don't think I've seen you around before."

        "I spend most of my time on Airbender Island reading and... stuff." You reached for your water and went for a drink when it was knocked all over you by Korra.

        "Kor!" You exclaimed, flicking water from your hair at her. "You jerk!"

        You lurched forward, grabbing her drink (Also water) and dumping it on her.

        "Hey!" She laughed water bending the water out of her clothes and splashing you in the face with it, making you squeal. "You asked for it!"

        You were laughing when you caught Bolin watching you out of the corner of your eye, he had a dreamy smile and you felt your cheeks heat up.

        "A little help please, Kor?" You asked wheezing.

        "Fine," She sighed, being the water out of your hair and clothes, dumping it in a nearby mop bucket.

        Mako rolled his eyes, muttering about how childish you were, and Korra stuck her tongue at him.

        You chuckled, pushing the hair out of your face. You looked over at Bolin who had his elbow on the table, his cheek resting in hand. He wore a cute little smile and what you could only call heart eyes, but before you could say anything the waiter brought out your food.

        There was ambient chit chat as you ate, nothing important, but you and Bolin definitely caught each other staring.

        As the night wound down and you and Korra had to start home, you felt someone grasp your hand. You turned around to see a nervous Bolin.

        "I had fun, it was great meeting you (Y/n)." 

        "Me too, Bolin." You bit your lip before kissing his cheek and hurrying to catch up with your sister, leaving him standing there with this goof smile on his face.

        "Maybe we could do it again?" He called after you.

~~~~

        The next few days Korra's time was monopolized with Airbender training, and you couldn't stop thinking about Bolin. Even Tenzin, with the near-impossible task of getting your sister to pay attention, could tell you were in an extremely happy state. The look on your face was something he would compare to lovestruck.

        Korra was over the moon, she could see just how helplessly into him you were the moment the two of you locked eyes. Now you were twirling around as you walked around and humming happily as you read.

        Mako, on the other hand, was near the end of his rope. It's been three days and Balin hadn't shut up about you.

        "(Y/n) is so pretty," 

        "I wonder what (Y/n)'s favorite color is?"

        "Do you think (Y/n) like flowers?"

        Sure, Mako was happy his brother found someone (hopefully) but he was about to start pulling his hair out.

~~~~~~

        "Knock knock~" Korra poed her head into your room, "So the Ferrets and I have a match tonight and I was wondering-"

        "Yes!" You jumped to your feet and Korra laughed, making you blush. "I-I mean yes, I do want to go with you."

~~~~~

        "What are you doing?" Mako asked as his younger brother was fixing his hair in the mirror, again.

        "Fixing my hair, duh."

        "Why?"

        "What if Korra brings (Y/n) again?!" He whined, "I don't wanna look stupid."

        "Well then you should do something more like this," Mako launched himself at his brother and started messing with his hair.

        "Ah! Mako stop!" He tried getting Mako off him and the two fell in a heap on the floor.

        They froze when they heard laughing at the door.

        "(Y-y/n)!" Bolin exclaimed, face turning red as the got to their feet.

        "Hi to you too, Bolin," Korra teased.

        "Ah! Korra! Hi!" he awkwardly waved at the two of you.

        "You ready to kick butt and get to the Semifinals???" Mako asked and Bolin suddenly realized his hair was sticking in every direction.

        "Are you kidding? I was born ready!" Korra replied excitedly. You took off your jacket and folded it on your lap as you sat on the bench.

        "S-so (Y/n)," Bolin started, running his hand through his hair, "Do you maybe wanna-"

        Suddenly a little red animal jumped into your lap and started sniffing your face.

        "Uh! Pabu stop! What are you-" He stopped short when you started giggling.

        "Stop! That tickles!" You laughed, carefully picking up the little creature and holding him away from your face. "Who's this?"

        "His name is Pabu, he's a fire ferret," Bolin explained as Pabu wriggled out of your hands. He ran up your arm and sat on your shoulder, nuzzling your face.

        "It's nice to meet you, Pabu," You smiled. Bolin watched you scratch under Pabu's chin and, by the spirits, he knew he was in love.

        The words "Marry Me," fell from his lips before he could think.

        "Huh?" You looked at Bolin, confused.

        "Nothing! I said nothing! Oh look we're up! Talk to you later (Y/n)!" He panicked, pulling his helmet on and rushing to the moving platform.

~~~~~~~

        "Marry me," Mako teased as they moved toward the main platform.

        "I know! I'm such an idiot!" Bolin cried, "It just sorta slipped out! I probably sounded so stupid!"

        "Nah," Korra slung her arm over his shoulders, "Knowing (Y/n), she most-likely thinks it was adorable."

        "You think?" He asked hopefully.

        "Come on guys, you gotta getcha, getcha, getcha heads in the game."

~~~~~~~~

        "That's the Match folks! And The Fire Ferrets Advance to the semifinal round of the Pro Bending Tournament!" The man announced, "Hopefully by that time Bolin will be completely recovered."

        Korra and Mako help Bolin stay on his feet on the way back to the Team box.

        "Is he alright?" You asked, "That was a pretty nasty blow to the head that last round."

        "He's kind of out of it right now, but after some rest and maybe an icepack, he'll be fine," Mako told you.

        "Mako!" Bolin failed to whisper, "She's worried about me! Does that mean she likes me?"

        You stifled a laugh, covering your mouth with your hand.

        "She's laughing! Did I do something stupid?!" Bolin asked, upset. 

        You leaned toward Korra and whispered, "He so precious!"

        "What are you talking about-"

        "Bolin wait!"

        Then you were on the floor, Bolin on top of you. You stared up at him in shock, his bright green eyes gleaming.

        "You're even prettier up close," He said quietly before going limp.

        "I think he passed out!" You wheezed as you were crushed by his weight.

~~~~~~~~~

        "My head," Bolin groaned as he sat up.

        "Mornin' sleeping beauty," Mako called from the other side of the apartment.

        "What happened?"

        "Well, we won," He handed his younger brother a glass of water. "Then you tackled (Y/n)."

        "Ok, cool..." It took him a moment to process what Mako had said, "I DID WHAT?!"

        "Calm down!" Mako tried to get his brother to sit down, "It wasn't really a tackle, it was more like you tripped... and landed on top of her?"

        "That's not any better!" I slumped on the couch, his head in his hands. "Why can't I get anything right around her?"

~~~~~~~

        A couple of days later the four of you went out to eat again.

        "Hey (Y/n), how're you doing? I heard I tackled you in my confusion." Bolin asked when you guys met up at the restaurant.

        "I'm fine," You chuckled, waving him off, "My wrist is almost done healing...?"

        You looked at Mako who was vigorously signing for you two stop.

        "Your wrist? What happened you your wrist?!" Bolin asked, panicked.

        "Huh? Oh, I uh- when we fell I sprained my wrist," You showed him your wrapped wrist, "It wasn't bad though, so it's almost healed. I'm surprised Mako didn't tell you."

        "I swear I didn't mean to hurt you (Y/n)," He said earnestly, pulling you into a hug, "I am so sorry!"

        "It's okay Bolin, really," You tried to tell him, "I've definitely had a lot worse than a sprain. Right, Korra?"

        You squinted at her, remembering the time you broke your right arm and leg because of 'Extreme Penguin sledding' something you were assured was 'perfectly safe' and 'not dangerous at all' by your big sister.

        "Hey! I already said I was sorry!" She snapped, "And it's not my fault that you suck at penguin sledding!"

        You felt Bolin's head buried in your shoulder and you sighed hugging him back.

        "Seriously Bolin, It's alright," You gave him a squeeze, "Accidents happen."

        "You're sure you're okay?" He pulled away and reached for your injured wrist before hesitating.

        "Look, I'm starving, can we please sit and eat?" Korra whined, pushing you into a booth.

        Bolin sat across from you looking akin to a kicked puppy. While Korra and Mako were arguing what to order you offered your wrapped wrist to Bolin. He looked a little shocked.

        "You reached for it, right? I'm guessing you wanted to look it over?" You asked and he gulped before gingerly holding your wrist in his hands.

        "You're sure it's not broken?" He looked up at you.

        "Positive."

        "Does it hurt?" He asked quietly.

        "Only if I put weight in it," You shrug and his eyebrows scrunched like he was thinking about something. "You uh... You were gonna ask me something before the match the other day?"

        He looked up at you with wide eyes, you'd remembered that?! He put your hand down and cleared his throat.

        "Oh, that? That was, heh. That was nothing."

        "Okay...?"

        "He was gonna ask you out," Mako said before taking a drink of water.

         "What?!"

Part: Two   (Masterlist)

[missmorosis]

Aang S/O Headcanons!

from my matchups hehe!! they may not be v good lsdjfksdf

here’s the zuko version!

here’s the sokka version!

here’s the suki version!

here’s the toph, ty lee, and katara version!

this bby loves to give you hugs hehe <3

you would get a lot of physical touch!!

aang WILL prioritize you, even if you didn’t ask

HE LOVES YOU SO SO MUCH!!!

he’ll give you lots of attention~

aang hugs aang hugs aang hugs

aang kisses aang kisses aang kisses

IF YOU WANT CUDDLES HE'LL GIVE YOU CUDDLES :D

he'll also cuddle you with appa snuggling with the both of you~

appa kinda feels like a giant pillow so its real comfy dndjdj

⋄✧⋄

he’ll listen to you and try his best to give you advice!!

he’ll totally put up with your drama if you’re dramatic :D

I MEAN

he ended the war?? which is- drama

he tried to solve any toph-katara drama as well LKJDFLKSJ

⋄✧⋄

it’s okay if you’re a quiet person!!

at first, he’ll prob think you just don’t wanna talk to him slkdjf

but when you open up, he’ll be like

😮💕

aang doesn’t mind that you’re an introvert!!

he’ll set up dates privately

somewhere with just the two of you, if you would like it!

like movie nights, or picnics, or just chilling together :D

⋄✧⋄

he wants to share a common interest with you!!

he’ll ask you to teach him your interests!

he’ll workout with you as well!!

like how he trained w/ katara hehe

he’ll learn more stuff with you!!

he just wants to do what you enjoy <3

this baby loves you smmmm

⋄✧⋄

you guys can listen to music together!!

HAVE YA SEEN HIM PLAY THE HORN THINGAMABOB IN THE HEADBAND EPISODE

He'll ✨vibe along✨ with you to all the music you blast hehe

He loves to dance with you!!

⋄✧⋄

if you like to sing, he’s GREAT

HE LOVES YOUR ANGELIC VOICE JSJSJE

"WOW THAT WAS SO GOOD!!"

"SING IT AGAIN!!"

Sing for him till your voice is all gone 😎

"Sorry” mwkdjeieiie

He goes to every single one of your shows!!

He's always super supportive

Will not hesitate to yell your name from the audience

WILL bring the entire gaang and make them cheer for you as well

"YAY ELLIEEEEEEE" *millions of claps*

He'll bring you flowers at the end of every single performance

No matter how big or small the performance was

No matter now major or minor your role is

He's just really proud of you 😭💖

⋄✧⋄

He won't be super protective

Aang wouldn't mind your guy friends

Frankly, he's just happy to have new friends cuz YOUR FRIENDS ARE HIS FRIENDS

He trusts you completely 💕

Now DONT ruin it and do something bad eididuud

⋄✧⋄

He wouldn't mind when you’re being rude accidentally

He totally understands that it happens

He loves you anyways, and he thinks that you're the ABSOLUTE SWEETEST

⋄✧⋄

Aang def loves how much you love others 😘

He appreciates all the effort you always put in!!

⋄✧⋄

AND ITS OKAY IF YOU'RE CHAOTIC

Please he deals with the gaaang dkdjdjkeejjdjd

He LOVES YOU SO MUCHHH AHHH

⋄✧⋄

You would feel super comfortable with aang

He would do anything to make you feel comfortable with him sljdflkasl

⋄✧⋄

He loves how goofy you are, and he’s real goofy with you as well :D

"LOOK, A PENCIL MUSTACHE"

"AHH BRB I NEED A PENCIL FOR MINE TOO!!"

⋄✧⋄

He can totally deal with your stubbornness- *cough the gaang*

⋄✧⋄

You can talk to anything about him and he would listen with his whole heart <3

⋄✧⋄

He'll calm you down if you ever get too aggressive

Hold you back from fights if he absolutely needs to sjdjjd

⋄✧⋄

you guys can listen to music together!!

HAVE YA SEEN HIM PLAY THE HORN THINGAMABOB IN THE HEADBAND EPISODE

He'll ✨vibe along✨ with you to all the music you blast hehe

He loves to dance with you!!

He'll listen to all the songs you recommend

He trusts you, and he trusts your music taste!! 💕

"Take a listen to this one."

You two would share earbuds and chill on the couch together

While listening to music, you would read or write

Aang would braid your hair

He loves doing it, and you love the feeling as well

He's actually quite good at it skjdjjd

You'll finish what you were writing with some really pretty hair and an accomplished feeling 😎

ITS A GREAT FEELING EJKEJE

⋄✧⋄

he’s very open with his emotions and I feel like he has great communication skills!

although he’s a great liar, he prefers to be honest with you 😌

⋄✧⋄

aang will never judge you!!

he’ll support you 100%, even if he doesn’t approve

he believes you know what you’re doing, and he’ll be with you every step of the way

he’ll voice his concerns if he doesn’t like what you’re doing, but he’ll support you :D

“I don’t know… but okay, as long as you stay safe.”

like how he did with Katara when she went after the man who k*lled her mom-

⋄✧⋄

he loves talking about everything to you, especially since he knows you won’t judge :D

in return, he listens to you and he’ll give you advice!!

compassionate baby always looking for the best and most positive solution!

⋄✧⋄

star-gazing with aang 🥺🥺

“Look at that star!! It’s so bright!”

“yeah! that’s (this star)”

you would tell him all you know

he would listen as best as he can!

“that star is part of this constellation!”

yall would look for the stars together

getting excited when you find a constellation 🥺

you guys can study astrology together!!

you two can share bracelets!!

wrapping the chakra bracelets around each other’s wrists :D

⋄✧⋄

he would steal your funny t-shirts, he thinks they’re hilarious and he loves them

he’ll show them all to Sokka/Katara, who also finds them funny 🥰

⋄✧⋄

he’ll express his love for you all the time, and you will never doubt that he loves you 💖

hope you enjoy these!!

[f0xfordcomma]

re:union (kataang week 2021) DAY SEVEN

prompt: the sea and the sky

re:union

chapter seven: reunions

rating: T

words: 2529

summary: "He had fought hard for this unity. Had spent countless hours in courtrooms and offices arguing with dignitaries and representatives about the benefits of a United Republic. He had spent long nights drafting up documents and looking over contracts. He had dreamed of finally seeing this day, finally seeing this unity. All he could see tonight though, was a yellow flower drifting around the crowded room on an intricately braided head of ochre hair."

read it on ao3

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

chapter seven: reunions

By the time Aang had handled Councilman Zhu’s dumpling crisis, he had lost track of Katara.

“She went to get changed for the feast,” a familiar, though deeper than he remembered, voice sounded from behind him.

“Sokka!”

“Hey buddy! It’s good to see you.”

They squeezed each other in a bone-crushing hug. The first one, Aang realized, he had gotten since his return. Aang held on a little harder at the thought.

“Where’s Suki?”

“Getting ready with the rest of the warriors. They are playing a special part in the performance tonight.”

“Wow! I can’t wait to see that!”

“Heh—yeah, me too.” Sokka’s voice went somewhere dreamy. “But, uh, I think it’ll be hard to watch with your head buried in my shoulder like this…”

“Oh right! Sorry… just happy to see you.”

“I missed you too buddy.” Sokka squeezed Aang’s shoulder reassuringly. “Now, you should go get ready! Can’t have the guest of honor stinking up the place tonight.”

“Guest of honor…” Aang grumbled, rolling his eyes in exasperation at Zhu’s exuberance. Still, he broke away from Sokka, giving him a nod as he made his way towards the room’s egress.

“Oh, and Aang?” called Sokka from near the food tables where he was stealing an hor’s d'oeuvre from under a cloche. “She’s not seeing anybody, in case you were wondering.”

Aang stopped still, his ears burned, his head swam. He hadn’t realized how much the question was plaguing him until he had heard it vocalized. She’s still single. There’s still time. He had let her go once, had regretted it every day since. She’s still single. He had no idea if she still wanted him the way he wanted her. But she’s still single. He resolved to try and change that fact by the end of the night.

He opened his mouth to speak but only a low whine came out. He cleared his throat but ended up coughing around the words as he forced them out. “I—is that… is that so?”

“It is.” Sokka snorted.

“That’s uh… thanks Sokka!” Aang shouted in salutation as he rushed out the door, needing to hide his burning blush and, as everyone had insisted, finally get cleaned up.

⬭

He wore a new set of robes. The pants dyed a dark amber with northern saffron. The belt and sash a sunny terra-cotta color that complimented the blue of his tattoos.

He surveyed his face in the mirror, taking in the scruff along his jawline, the tan around his temples, the laugh lines near his lips. He hadn’t spent much time looking at himself over the past few years, hadn’t had a mirror at any of the temples. The only time he would look at his reflection was when shaving his head, and even then, the refraction of the water made it difficult to examine his countenance with any detail.

Aang had never much minded the way that he looked--hadn’t had much use for vanity when living with the monks, hadn’t had much time for insecurity when running from the fire nation, hadn’t had much need for self-consciousness when being loved by Katara--he’d always thought his face was friendly enough, his body was strong enough. Something about looking at himself now though, fully a man, strong and steady and serene in a way that he’d never seen himself before, made his chest swell with confidence.

“I look good, huh buddy?” He directed the question to Momo, who had joined him in his room after an afternoon spent swooping around Cranefish City in search, no doubt, of sweets from strangers.

In reply, the lemur flew over to perch on his shoulder, scratching through the stubble on Aang’s chin with a squawk.

“You really think she’ll like it?” He scratched Momo between the ears and produced a plum from the pocket of his pants.

Momo took the fruit eagerly between his paws and greedily gobbled it down.

“Aw buddy, you flatter me.”

“Well babe,” a feminine voice dripping with thinly veiled amusement sounded from behind him, “it looks like we’ve officially lost him.”

“You’d think so, but he’s been talking to the lemur like that for as long as I’ve known him.”

“So what you’re telling me is, he has always been insane?”

“Pretty much.”

Aang’s face was beet red (he had lost count, at this point, as to how many times this had happened today) as he spun on his heel to face the Firelord and Firelady, who were standing in his doorway in their formal robes and appraising him with mirth-filled expressions.

“Uh, hey guys… how, uh… how long have you been standing there?”

“Oh, long enough, hot stuff.” Mai shot him a wry smile with a raised eyebrow before turning and pecking her husband on the cheek quickly as she took her leave. “I’m going to go make sure the kids are ready. We leave in ten, boys.”

Once Mai was out of earshot, Zuko burst into laughter and walked over to throw an arm around Aang. “Anything you want to talk about there, Aang?”

“Yeah! Why is it that I don’t see any of you for three whole years, and the first thing anyone does is tease me.”

“That’s not true! The first thing I did was put you on babysitting duty.”

“You’re not funny, Zuko.”

“Hey! Now who’s teasing whom?”

Aang scowled. Zuko, trying to school his face into a slightly more serious expression, straightened up and stalked a few paces across the small room.

“I’m going to give you some unsolicited advice because Uncle isn’t here to do it for me.” Zuko pantomimed stroking his beard and affected a strong accent that, ultimately, sounded nothing like Iroh. “Follow your heart.”

“Follow my heart? That’s it? No tea metaphors? No floral imagery? You make a pretty rotten Iroh, Zuko.”

“Hey, I tried.” Zuko shrugged. “I don’t know, man. You’re still in love with Katara, right?”

Aang flushed but nodded his head, eyes fixed on the floor.

“Are you going to do something about it?”

Aang met Zuko’s eyes determinedly and nodded again.

“Good. You’d better.”

“Thanks Zuko.”

“Any time. By the way? I agree with Momo, the beard really suits you.” At that, Zuko strode out of the room, chuckling softly to himself.

⬭

“So, Sugar Queen,” Toph plopped herself on Katara’s bed with a huff, swinging her bare feet up to rest on the adjacent wall so she could still feel what was happening. “You seemed pretty cozy with our Prodigal Son back there. Locked that down yet?”

“Toph!” Katara spluttered, pulling her paintbrush away from her lips.

“That’s a no, then?”

“Wha--no, not a… he just got back! And I don’t even know if… it’s none of your business, anyway.”

“Right, right. So you guys haven’t talked about your feelings, like, at all, yet? What the heck was all that flirting on the beach then?”

“What flirting? We were just hanging out. As friends! Being friendly! We were friends before we were ever anything else, Toph. You know that!”

“Uh huh, uh huh. Good point, Katara. Your definition of ‘friendly’ has always been a little bit off when it comes to Aang…”

“Toph! I will kick you out.”

“No, you won’t. Want to know why?”

“I have a feeling you’re going to tell me anyway.”

“You know me so well, Sweetness. And you aren’t going to kick me out because I know you very well and if I’m not here in, oh, seven minutes when you inevitably start second guessing yourself, to give you one of my patented Toph Beifong pep talks, you are going to freak out.”

Katara grumbled something crass under her breath and scowled at Toph’s reflection in the mirror, but ultimately, she knew her friend was right, so she obliged the company while she finished putting on her makeup.

Katara rarely wore makeup. It hadn’t really been a custom among the women in the Southern Water Tribe growing up, and during the war there hadn’t been time to worry over such trivialities. Afterwards, though, she had been the victim of many a makeover by Ty Lee. Had been the guest at many formal galas that required a bit of dressing up. Had been gifted a set of Kyoshi warrior paints by Suki. Had spent an afternoon wandering around the market in Caldera hunting down the exact right shade of lipstick with Mai and learning everything that she could possibly hope to know about knife maintenance.

Aang had always gotten incredibly flustered around her when she wore makeup. That was, perhaps, her favorite part of the process.

It had been years since she had put any makeup on her face. Her face was different now. Her eyes crinkled a bit at the corners when she smiled, her cheeks were less plump, more defined, her lips were fuller—perhaps the lipstick made her lips look too full? Perhaps it wasn’t the same color that she had used that one night in Omashu when Aang had ended up wearing more of it than she had? Perhaps she should wear something pinker? Redder? What had Mai said about skin undertones?

“You look fine.”

“You really think so, Toph?”

“No idea.” Toph deadpanned. “But I’m sure that even if you look like an armadillo-hog, Aang will still forget his own name when he sees you. That is your goal with the facepaint, right?”

“Uh…”

“Of course it is, don’t try to lie to me, Sweetness. Listen, I know two things: that boy’s heartbeat has always only ever been impacted by you, and a lot of other men have also had hammering heartbeats when they talk to you. Wanna know what that tells me? You ain’t ugly. In fact, I assume you’re pretty hot. So, chin up, shoulders back, let’s go get you your man back.”

Katara spluttered and blushed. “Oh… uh, okay.”

“You don’t sound confident yet. You are still in love with him, right?”

“Yes.” She whispered.

“Obviously. Then get your pretty little butt out of here and go do something about it. Chop chop, girly!” Toph, still laying on Katara’s bed, started snapping at her while she squared her shoulders in the mirror and gave herself one more once over, nodding at her reflection and resolving to talk to Aang as soon as she had the chance.

“Right. Okay. I can do this. Thank you, Toph.”

“That’s the spirit.”

“Aren’t you coming?”

“Eh, yeah… I told Yugi to meet me here so we can head over together. Or wait… was it Satoru? Toklo? I don’t know, some guy is picking me up. Can’t show up to a stuffy formal function without someone to talk to all the boring people for me, now can I?”

“You do know all of your friends are going to be there tonight, right?”

“I said what I said.”

Katara rolled her eyes as she hurried past Toph and prepared to leave. “Whatever, just lock up when you leave, okay? Mrs. Shao is out tonight so I’m the last one in the house.”

⬭

The ballroom was lavishly decorated. The colors of all four nations draped around the room in every detail. Tapestries hung on the walls with the new seal of Republic City, flanked on either side by the insignias of the four nations. The tables were lined with dishes from across the world. The floral arrangements featured regional blooms from all over. In a ballroom in a government building in a sleepy corner of the Earth Kingdom continent, the entire world was united in one beautiful display.

He had fought hard for this unity. Had spent countless hours in courtrooms and offices arguing with dignitaries and representatives about the benefits of a United Republic. He had spent long nights drafting up documents and looking over contracts. He had dreamed of finally seeing this day, finally seeing this unity. All he could see tonight though, was a yellow flower drifting around the crowded room on an intricately braided head of ochre hair.

From his seat onstage next to Zuko, he watched her make her way around the room hugging and smiling and laughing and chatting. Her sleeveless blue dress was modern but carried traditional nods to her water tribe roots. Her lips were a dark cherry red. Her hair was braided. He had braided it. A yellow flower sat at her crown and winked sunshine at him whenever she turned her head. She was beautiful. Of course, he already knew that. But she was beautiful.

“Aang? Hello… Aang??”

“Huh, what?” Aang was drawn from his stupor when Zuko nudged him with his elbow.

“You’re up.”

“Oh.”

Zhu introduced him. He somehow made a speech. There was roaring applause.  Her eyes were blue, her lips were red, the flower was yellow. She was blushing.

He took his seat next to Zuko. Her eyes were blue . There were performances. Her lips were red . Suki shot finger guns at him in greeting as she and her warriors took the stage. The flower was yellow. Music started up and the gathered crowd dispersed to make way for dancing. She was blushing.

“Excuse me.” He rushed off-stage and into the crowd, chasing a glimpse of yellow in ochre, a swish of blue chiffon. She was pushing her way through the crowd, too. Her eyes were blue. “Katara, I--”

“Dance with me?”

She was offering him a hand. The tsungi horn rang out a familiar song. He took it. “Of course.”

They knew this dance by muscle memory. It was as familiar as their own names, as each other’s name. He flew around her in swirls. She swam around him on waves. They were the sea and the sky and there could not be one without the other. He lifted her, she spun around him. He dipped her, she glowed. She was the sun and he was the moon. She illuminated his sky. He compelled her tides.

The music ended. They were breathing heavy, faces inches apart, hearts still hammering the now silent drum beat.

“Can we go somewhere?”

⬭

The sound of the party flooded the streets of Republic City. Everyone seemed in good spirits, bustling about in a dance as they went about their evening errands. The cicada-crickets sang along to the Tsungi horn. The air was hot, heavy with humidity. They watched the waves from a rooftop. Their hands were intertwined.

Out across the bay, the sea and the sky collided in a canvas of colors. The green and yellow and red and orange of twilight reflected on the water’s dusky blue blue blue. The colors blurred together, obscuring the horizon line, obscuring the separation between their two elements. Out here, there was no sea, no sky. No air, no water. No Aang, no Katara. Just them. Just together. Just finally.

They made promises to each other. They held on. They did not let go.

“Sweetie?”

“Hmm?”

“I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.”

He had to lean every so slightly down to kiss her.

Her hands in his hands.

Blue. Grey.

Sea. Sky.

Their city had a new name.

They were here.

They were home.

⬭

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's done! It's done!

So sorry for the delay in posting this! I could've squeezed it out yesterday but didn't feel like doing so would wrap up all the things the way that I wanted to so I needed to take a bit more time on it and, obviously, this chapter grew to be quite a bit larger than the others.

I have had SO MUCH FUN participating in Kataang week this year and hope to do it again next year maybe? Also I /might/ have a little storm brewing for Maiko week so... be on the lookout for that at some point?

The love and support that I've gotten for this fic this week? OH MY GOD like wow it's been so lovely! Thank you all for reading.

And a million thanks to @foxy-knowledgeseeker for being an absolute angel and beta-ing this sucker for me. I'm gonna apologize for my choas just once more. (Sorry! Thank you!)

Bwah! Okay, time for a nap <3

@kataang-week

chapter one

chapter two

chapter three

chapter four

chapter five

chapter six

[koala-otter]

a little gaang modern AU

more (zukka!) prompts coming but for now have some modern AU silliness featuring the gaang as a bunch of goofy young adults on a road trip

might write another part to this but also might not :) (so lmk if you like it)

that’s all i have please enjoy 

2k words

Aang rings the doorbell of the small, white house only for the door to swing open as soon as he pulls his hand back. Katara stands in front of him with a dazzling smile, immediately grabbing his arm to pull him into the foyer. 

“I watched you walk up,” she explains. She lets him go and starts up the stairs to her room. “I just have to finish packing, and I’ll be right down. Two seconds.” At the top of the stairs, she turns and calls back down to Aang, “Sokka’s in the living room!”

Aang smiles as he watches her go and tugs on the straps of his backpack on his shoulders. He hears someone walking toward him, but where he expects to see Sokka, Hakoda appears in the archway leading to the kitchen and dining room.

“Aang,” Hakoda says warmly, coming forward to clasp the young man’s arm. “It’s good to see you.”

“You, too, Chief Hakoda,” Aang replies, grinning broadly. 

Hakoda stands back and looks down at the empty space next to Aang. “No Appa?” he asks of the dog normally at Aang’s heels.

“Appa hates long car rides, so Gyatso offered to take care of him for the week,” Aang explains. “Now that he’s getting older, we just want to do what’s most comfortable for him.”

“Makes sense,” Hakoda says with a sympathetic smile. “How is your grandfather?”

Aang shrugs, but keeps the smile on his face. “He’s managing. I keep asking him to lower his hours at the bakery, but he won’t let up.”

Just then, Sokka walks in bearing a duffel bag over his shoulder. “Hey, Dad, have you seen—Aang!” Sokka rushes over to rub his bald head, even though Aang has grown taller than him in the last year. 

“Hi, Sokka.” Aang laughs good-naturedly as he pulls away. “Are we ready to go?” 

“Almost.” Sokka turns back to his father and asks, “Have you seen my keys? I can’t find them anywhere.”

“Are they not on the hooks?” Hakoda asks, gesturing to where they’re mounted on the wall. 

“My car keys,” Sokka clarifies. 

Hakoda’s face betrays his complete ignorance of their location. “Maybe you should ask—”

“They’re in the pocket of your blue hoodie.” 

The three men look up to find Katara coming down the stairs, a large tote bag tucked under her arm, and her wavy hair loose and bouncing around her shoulders. She points out the hoodie in question, tossed on a bench under where the family hangs up their jackets, while she steps into a pair of white sneakers. 

“You left them after we got back from dinner last night,” she explains as Sokka fishes through the sweatshirt. 

He holds the keys up triumphantly. “Finally, men, our journey begins!” he cries. He lowers his arm, tossing the keys in the air and catching them, and then flinging the hoodie over his other shoulder. “All right, let’s go.”

They each take turns hugging Hakoda and promising him to drive safely, and then pile into Sokka’s car, a fifteen-year-old SUV, sporting big tires and a fairly high ride height, handed down to him by his father.

“Aang, you sit in front,” Sokka says as he pulls open the driver’s door and climbs up into the car.

“Why does Aang get to sit in the front?” Katara asks even though she’s already seated behind them.

“Because Zuko’s actually going to sit in front,” Sokka replies matter-of-factly, checking his mirrors, “and I don’t wanna fight with you when I have to tell you to get in the back.”

Katara scoffs. “We wouldn’t have to fight.” She grabs the backs of their seats and leans toward Aang. “Aang, trade seats with me.”

“Okay,” Aang says readily. He unbuckles his seatbelt.

Sokka puts his arm out across Aang’s chest to keep him where he is. “Aang, don’t move,” he says. “Katara, he’s 6’3”, you’re going to make him sit in the back where there’s no leg room?”

“You’re about to make him sit in the back where there’s no leg room!” Katara exclaims. 

“Uh, guys,” Aang says uneasily, “it’s really no big deal.” The fight is typical of the dynamic he’s been managing since they were all kids.

“See?” Sokka says, finally pulling the car out of the driveway and out onto the road. “Aang says it’s no big deal.”

Aang hears Katara retreat to the backseat with a little huff of breath. 

“Don’t worry, Katara,” he says, craning his neck to look back at her. “I’ll be in the back with you soon.”

Katara smiles back at him despite herself.

It doesn’t take long for them to arrive at Zuko’s house, and as soon as they do, Sokka gives two short blasts on the horn. Almost immediately, three figures emerge from the house. Zuko and Suki wave goodbye to Iroh and begin walking toward the car, while Sokka jumps out and runs over to help grab their bags.

“Hey, Iroh!” Sokka calls out to the older man. He kisses Zuko’s cheek and grabs his boyfriend’s black leather backpack. 

“How wonderful to see you again,” Iroh says kindly. His expression turns analytic as he scans the space between Sokka and the car. “Where is your sister? I thought she was going with you.” It’s no secret that Katara is a favorite of his.

Katara rolls down her window and thrusts her upper body through the new hole in the door. “Hi, Uncle Iroh!” she calls.

He waves at her enthusiastically. “Have a fun trip,” he tells her. “You must be very excited; you are practically glowing, like an early summer moon flower.”

Aang cannot help smiling and agreeing as he watches Katara brighten. 

“Thank you,” she says sweetly. “You look wonderful, too! I hope Zuko’s help at the shop is giving you the chance to get more rest.”

“He didn’t say I was glowing,” Suki hisses to Zuko. After going over to Zuko’s to wait for their ride, she’s just spent an hour bonding with Iroh herself.

“You don’t write your thesis and buy three pots of tea at the shop every day,” Zuko whispers back with a shrug. In a louder voice, he says, “We should hurry. We don’t want to be stuck in traffic.”

“Zuko, where are your manners?” Iroh stops him. “You haven’t asked your friends if they’d like any tea.”

“But, Uncle, we’re about to leave,” Zuko says in a slightly exasperated tone.

“So? It’s no excuse not to offer them a refreshment. You’re in for a long drive.”

Zuko turns to his friends with a sigh. “Would anyone like a cup of tea?” he asks, clearly conscious of his uncle watching expectantly from behind him. 

“I’d love one,” Aang says, popping his own head out of the car, “but Toph just texted me asking if we were on the road yet, and I really don’t wanna see what she’ll do to me if I tell her no.” He waves his phone in the air. “Sorry, Iroh!” 

Iroh raises his hand in the air as a greeting. “It is no problem,” he says with a smile. “You mustn’t keep her waiting.”

“We’ll come by the shop as soon as we get back,” Aang promises, gesturing between himself and Katara. 

“Well, you heard him, team,” Sokka says, leading the charge back to the car. “Let’s not keep Toph waiting.”

Aang gets out of his seat so Zuko can sit next to Sokka, and Katara moves into the middle so Suki and Aang can sit on either side of her. They all wave goodbye to Iroh as the car pulls out of the driveway and heads for the highway. 

“How far is it to Toph’s house anyway?” Suki asks after a while.

“Well, I wouldn’t really call it a house,” Aang says thoughtfully. “It’s more like an estate.”

“It’s the old Beifong summer home,” Katara clarifies, “built over a hundred years ago with their mining fortune. ‘Estate’ might not even cover it—it’s not quite a palace?” She looks to Aang for confirmation. “But it’s as close as you’ll get to one today.”

“And the real question,” Sokka adds, removing his hand from Zuko’s thigh to raise it in the air, his index finger extended to emphasize his point, “isn’t how far it is, but where it is.” 

He puts his hand back, and Zuko smiles contentedly.

“Wait, what?” Suki asks. “Did you just say we don’t know where we’re going?”

Sokka shrugs and glances in his mirror before moving his eyes back to the road. “Don’t worry, I put together the directions,” he says. “Zuko?”

Zuko pulls something out of the glove compartment and unfolds it to reveal a laminated map of the western Earth Kingdom. Roughly-drawn red arrows point to blue circles sketched on top of mountain ranges and lakes, and a looping dotted line has been thrown in, too, seemingly to throw the viewer off any sort of trail. Suki tries to study the markings. Katara sighs when she sees them. Aang takes one look and chooses instead to stare out the window.

“The Beifong summer home sits in a valley between two mountains an hour outside of Gaoling,” Zuko explains. He points to the map. “Here.”

He waits for Suki’s nod before continuing. 

“And we’re all the way over here,” he says, pointing again. “So, we have to go through—huh.” He studies the map. “Oh, we have to go through here. But wait, that’s not right. The Serpent’s Pass? Oh, no, what I meant was here. Or, hold on.” He stares at the map and its markings again, and the only sound in the car is the rush of the wind coming in through the windows. 

“Sokka, this is impossible to read!” 

Sokka gasps. “You called it ‘meticulous’ before,” he says with an accusing tone. 

“Yeah, before I actually tried to use it.” Zuko shakes the map. “How the hell are we going to get there with this?”

Suki leans in close to Katara to whisper, “Boy, am I glad it’s not me up there.”

Katara stifles a laugh into her hand.

“Look, I made the map, so I can read it,” Sokka says with finality in his tone. “It’ll take us right to the Beifongs’ front door.”

“But Sokka, you’re driving,” Zuko almost complains.

“So? I can look over if I need to.” Sokka starts craning his neck to view the map on Zuko’s lap. “I can even keep one eye on the road while I—”

“Sokka,” Katara says sharply.

“All right, all right,” Sokka says, focusing back on the stretch of road in front of them. “Sheesh.”

“Come on, guys,” Aang says cheerfully, “I’m sure we’ll figure it out.”

“I asked if you were prepared this morning, and you said you were,” Zuko continues arguing.

“I was! I made the map!” Sokka cries indignantly.

Zuko shakes the map once more. “How is this prepared?”

Sokka sighs in aggravation. “Look, if you’re so worried, Wan Shi Tong it.”

“What?”

“I said, just look it up!”

“Are you crazy? The Beifong summer home is not going to be on Wan Shi Tong maps,” Zuko says almost condescendingly.

A loud beep sounds from the backseat, followed by an automated, wise-sounding voice monotoning, “Starting route to the Beifong Summer Villa.”

Everyone but Sokka whirls around to look at Aang. 

“Hey, look at that,” he says. He holds his phone up with a grin. “They have it.”

Katara laughs out loud as Zuko begrudgingly looks up the address on his own phone. Everyone settles into companionable silence, allowing the sounds of the wind and the automated voice giving directions to replace any conversation. After a while, Suki even begins to drift off, her temple pressed against the glass of her half-open window. Aang watches the trees and the other cars on the highway pass by them, until he feels a tug on his arm. 

He looks down to find Katara looping her arm through his and leaning her head on his shoulder. She tilts her head up when she feels his eyes on her. 

“Is this okay?” she asks. 

Aang nods. “Yeah, of course.”

“Good.” She smiles lightly and lets her head drop back down to his shoulder. “It’s a good thing you’re here,” she says quietly to him, amusement in her tone.

A light blush rises in Aang’s cheeks, and he cannot help grinning. When Katara’s this close, he can smell the jasmine of her perfume. 

“Yeah, good thing,” he agrees. 

The smile stays on his face as he looks back out the window.

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Of Farms Fairs And Fame (Last Part)

The fact that I had started this one so long ago, makes me all the happier to know that I actually managed to finish it after all this time lol.

It wasn’t quite dark yet, the sky hung somewhere between a soft indigo and the black of night. At the very bottom of the horizon, Azula could see the last tinges of orange and gold. Soft pops and sparkles danced in various spots in the yard.

“Hey, over here! Pass me one!” Toph shouted.

Azula watched Jet rummage through a cooler and toss Toph a bottle of orange-cream pop. For the most part she had gotten good at sensing where objects were, but this time the bottle fell to the grass and she had to stoop down and feel for it.

Across the way, TyLee was weaving flowers into the hair of Zuko and Mai. Near the treeline Katara was waving a sparkler in front of Aang and waiting for him to try to imitate her motions. A little ways away, on the hill, her father and Iroh were working to set up for the firework display.

Azula herself was seated on one of the picnic tables in her yard with a plate in hand. Three attempts in--the first two being chilly in the middle--later she finally had an edible hotdog on her plate and a boyfriend sitting next to her looking entirely pleased with himself. “Not bad fer my first time on the grill.” He commented.

“Eh, coulda been better.” Azula shrugged.

“Hey!”

Azula smiled at him and picked a slice of watermelon off of her plate.

“I werked hard on them first two.” He added in a mumble.

“Ya sure did, but they still tasted mighty awful.” Azula replied with a shrug.

“No! No! You scram! Git!” She heard her dad hollar from the hilltop. She looked over to see Tom-Tom and a pack of rouge school children rolling down the hill giggling and squealing in delight. Noticing the commotion, Mai stood to retrieve her brother. The boy took off in a wild sprint, leaving Mai groaning as she tried to catch up to that human ball of energy. He darted about, nearly slamming into Zuko and shoving between Suki and Yue. The poor girl was so startled that she dropped her bombpop onto Suki’s toes. “I knew I shoulda worn sneakers, stead’a sandals.”  The girl muttered.

“I got ‘im!” TyLee shouted, darting in Tom-Tom’s direction

Azula wasn’t one for pictures or videos but she turned her camera to follow the mini-frenzy. She was going to miss this brand of small-town chaos. At least the videos would give her something to assure her that she would never lose the feel of it.

Tossing her father’s no pigs at the table rule to the side, she lifted Spade onto the wood. She supposed that picnic tables weren’t the same as dinner tables anyhow. She wondered if she could smuggle him onto the plane.

“Hey!” Chan called from by the picket fence, waving she and Sokka over. “Com’mer fer a moment.”

Azula took Sokka’s hand and led him to where Chan was leaning, plastic cup of pepsi in hand. “Just wanted ta congratulate you fer yer record deal. Yer gonna get to go to them big parties now.” He made a grand sweeping gesture. “You’ll have to invite me ta one a them one day.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Azula replied. Of course she had his request on camera so she would be forgetting it that easily.

She stared out at the rolling open field beyond her fence. She didn’t think she had ever seen so many fireflies. The critters were everywhere floating and drifting lazily like dust motes. They blinked on and off at random intervals. It was yet another thing she was happy to have caught in her lenses.

“Gochya!” She heard TyLee declare as Tom-Tom whined in disappointment and disbelief.

“Praise the lord.” Mai grumbled. “Lil’ demon, that one.”

“Aww, he ain’t no demon.”

“Wanna sip?” Chan offered, drawing her attention back.

“Got my own, thanks.” Azula replied.

“Hey, well, we’re gonna miss you over here.” Chan gestured between he, Ruon-Jian, and the rest of his gaggle of boys. “How ‘bout a toast? Yer dorky boyfren’ can join us too.”

“Dorky!?” Sokka sputtered.

“To makin’ it big.” Chan declared.

Azula tapped her cup against his, hoping that the toast wasn’t premature. Chan gave her a wide smile and a thumbs up. With that and a wave, she set off to meet up with Zuko. It was dark enough for her father to begin setting off the fireworks. She made her way through smoke bombs and dodged stray poppers that Toph was chasing Aang with.

“Get yer teeny butt back here Twinkle Toes, you ain’t afraid of a few sparks are ya?” She teased.

“I kinda am, actually.” Aang confessed as she tossed one at his toes. “Katara, help me!”

Katara tried to stifle a laugh.

“Should we…?” Azula started.

“Nah, Kat can handle Toph. She does it all the time.”

Azula dropped herself onto the blanket Zuko had spread out for he and Mai and patted the ground next to her. “Well. Sit.”

“But ain’t that Zuko’s blanket?” Sokka asked.

Azula thought for a moment, tapping her chin as Spade made himself nice and cozy in her lap. “If he wanted it so bad, then he shouldn’t have left it open.”

TyLee flounced up next them and laid herself, belly-down, on the blanket. “Gee, it sure were nice of Zuko to set up this here blanket for us.”

“I set that up for Mai and I.” He grumbled.

“Finders keepers.” Azula retorted smugly.

“Guess I’m sittin’ in your lap.” Mai declared to her boyfriend.

Ozai waited for the last few to acquire their snacks and gather around. As soon as Iroh and Kya got the children to settle, Ozai lit the first. It sailed into the air with a sparkling gold tail, upon reaching its zenith it burst into a twinkling rain. One after the other, roman candles and bottle rockets spit fire and sparks into the sky. Azula hoped that she would shine as bright as them once she took to the stars. Stroking, Spade’s fur, Azula gazed at her semi-crowded yard. Chan still leaned upon the picket fence, this time facing skyward, occasionally cursing as a scrap of firework floated down into his drink. Tom-Tom was snuggled up in his mother’s arms as she protective shield his ears from the blasts. A few of the older children paid the fireworks little attention as they tried to catch fireflies. And Toph was still chasing Aang all around the yard. Sokka wiggled his way closer, putting his left arm around her and leaned into to press the side of his head against hers.

Colorful flashes illuminated much of the backyard and she thought of how Chan and Jet used to tell ghost stories about wild and unknown creatures dragging party-goers and campers into the forest between sparkling burts. She recalled one summer where Suki had made it her mission to dress up as such a creature and steal Ruon-Jian.

With a gentle fluttering in her belly, Azula wondered if she was going to have another moment like that or like the one she was having now. She wondered if this was going to be the last real summer barbecue she was going to have with her friends and family.

She supposed that she best cherish the moment in full and keep that camera close.

After the firework display a few neighbors began their goodbyes and their promises to come back for the next barbeque. In spurts guests would depart until their crowd dwindled down to a few stragglers and their closest friends and relatives. Soon Mai’s mother left to take Tom-Tom to bed--being it was already far past his normal bedtime--with instructions to Mai to have a safe trip home.

For herself, Azula wandered onto the dock with Spade in her arms and TyLee and Sokka beside her. As always, she dipped her feet into the water, watching fireflies flicker between stalks of catkins. The pond had a more fishy smell even without the summer sun to make the scent worse. She knew that soon Iroh and Ozai would be using it to fish before going to bigger ponds and lakes. That they would soon begin planning their annual camping trip. The same one that allowed she and Zuko to always begin their summer shenanigans--it was just one more small little thing that she would miss.

“Congrats on making it to state.” Azula smiled.

TyLee offered a soft, somewhat somber smile in return. Azula wouldn’t be the only one leaving home for a good while. “I’m gonna miss it here, ya know?”

“Absolutely.” Azula replied.  

TyLee perked back up. “Thanks!” She declared. “For the congrats. I’m really excited, after the whole broken leg thing, I didn’t think I were gonna get anywhere. But now…” she paused. “I might be a professional horse racer!”

“You earned it Ty. You been practicin’ real hard.”

“I’m really gonna miss the both’a y’all” Sokka admitted. Azula could swear she heard his voice crack. She looks to the pond and its collection of fireflies drifting lazily over the water. She caught a glimpse of a toad croaking before it leapt beneath the surface. For a while they were quiet with only said croaking and the chirps of crickets to fill that silence.

“‘Bout that, Sokka.” Azula started. “I was actually hopin’ that you’d come with me. It’d be awful hard to try ‘n sing your parts on stage.”

Sokka’s face lit up, but fell almost immediately. “I don’t think I ken afford--”

Azula hushed him. “You better not say no, father already bought yer plane ticket.”

“Yer pops is a nice man. I outta give ‘im a hug.”

Azula punched his shoulder. “Don’t you dare. He ain’t like those.”

Zuko and Mai come to join them on the dock with Katara, Toph, and Aang following close. Even Chan, Jet, and Suki tagged along. “Got somethin’ for you, Azula.” Zuko greeted.

Azula turned to see them holding up a small cupcake. “We each added something to it.” Aang remarked. “I drew the icing smiley faces.”

Zuko pulled out a pack of sparklers. “I figered we could all light ‘em up tagether, one last time ‘for life goes on.”  Azula knew at once that he wasn’t just talking about her and TyLee’s new found stardom, but about his own plans for college as well.

Azula gave a small grin. “I think we can all do that.”

They each reached into the pack and picked out a single sparkler. “Do the honors?” Sokka offered to Azula. She took the lighter and lit her sparkler and used that to light Sokka’s. Sokka turned and lit TyLee’s and TyLee’, Mai’s. And then Mai lit Zuko’s, until everyone had a sparkler burning. It was a dazzling display that reflected in the pond.

In that moment, nothing had changed at all. They were just a large circle of long time, small town friends sharing conversation and laughs as midnight transitioned into very early morning.

Just long time, small town friends, on a typical summer night.

.oOo.

“I know you got your camera, but I want you to have this too.” Iroh handed Azula the small book. He observed her as she looked it over, turning to the page with the photo of she and her companions standing at the pond with sparklers.

Between the mighty sound of plans departing, Azula offered her thank you’s. Ozai listened to his brother and daughter converse.

With nothing else to do her turned to Sokka, “you best take care’a her, boy.” He narrowed his eyes. “If you ain’t take care’a her, I will steal every last cow your family owns.”

“I’m purtty sure she ken take care’a herself.” Sokka pointed out. “But I’ll help.”

“You better, boy. You better.” Ozai folded his arms over his chest. He didn’t doubt that the boy would, he had always seemed to look out for Azula in the past, but it didn’t hurt none to give him a good ol’ fashioned mild threat.

“Hey, thanks fer the tickets, Azula’s pops. We’re gonna have a great time.” Sokka spoke in way of a goodbye.

Ozai watched him dash to catch up to Azula. He allowed Iroh and Zuko to finish their conversations with Azula before coming to her side. He was just as little for cuddles and fluffy gestures as Azula was. But he didn’t push his daughter away when she wrapped her arms around him. He curled one arm around her and pat her head twice with the other. “Don’t you get into any trouble out there, you understand me?”

“I know, father.”

“There’s gonna be boys ‘n booze, ‘n I ain’t want you mixed up in none’a that.”

“I know.” Azula repeated, already looking tired of the conversation. But he was her father and it was his right to give her a well-meaning lecture every now and again.

“I ain’t wanna have to fly all the way over to wherever you are to come help you.” He would, but, lord, he didn’t want to. “So you stick to the music and you keep yourself out’a trouble. Also don’t get too close to that Sokka boy, if you know what I mean. You don’t know what I’ll do to ‘im if...”

“Dad…” Azula grumbled, her cheeks delicately flushed.

“Just…” He trailed off. “Just make your pops proud. Make your ma proud, I know she would be.” He squeezed her shoulder.

“I will father.”

He knew that she would. Still, it was hard to let her go. And harder still to watch her wave as she ascended the stairs to the airplane.

“You raised some good kids.” Iroh took a stand next to him. “Both’a them are gonna go far.”

Ozai sure hoped so. He watched the plane shrink into a small speck in the sky. He supposed that the next time he’d be seeing his daughter, it would be on TV.

“Wha’do ya say we start packin’ fer our own trip?”

“My fishin’ pole’s already in the truck.”