#zuko and iroh

[ursa-majora]

I just finished my Atla rewatch and I wrote down everytime Zuko smiles

He smiles a total of fifty-two times, smirks eight times and laughs twice

2% of his smiles are in S1

23% in S2

75% in S3

He smiles the most in S3 E5 "The Beach"

His 3 main reasons for smiling are

#3 Joking/Laughing with the Gaang: 7 Smiles

#2 Speaking to or about Mai: 12 Smiles (and his two biggest ones)

#1 Speaking to or about Uncle Iroh: 16 smiles

EDIT: I SHOULD CLARIFY I DID NOT COUNT ANY FLASHBACKS BECAUSE ZUKO IS SO FAR REMOVED FROM HIS SOMEWHAT HAPPY CHILDHOOD

[feral-jackdaw]

I just think we don't talk enough about this iconic line:

Like, exactly, that's who they are. That's what I called them for the whole season from that moment on.

[clairepatroclus]

(not my original post)

[notsofriendlyfriendlyreminder]

rewatching atla realising that not only is uncle goofy, one might say silly, he is also a bit stupid

like yes he is a strong general but also

Iroh: To bend lightning, you need to have a calm mind.

Zuko: I see, so that's we're drinking tea, to ease ourselves.

Iroh: Oh that's true- I mean yes of course that was my intention.

LIKE

[punkeropercyjackson]

On a lighter note,we now have a quartet of this dynamic(made a spelling mistake but eh who cares.Also Batcesters and people who ship Jason with Roy or Ichigo with Grimmjow dni,this is an anti pedo zone)

[umossu]

So in the live action iroh is no longer shorter than zuko.

I think their entire dynamic changes because of this. A little. Maybe. Not in a good or bad way, but in a uhh different flavour way?

Like how zuko is not as aggressive with his uncle like he used to be. There's a lot more respect. The eye contact is different. Maybe iroh looks more intimidating at first glance. It becomes more obvious that zuko's just a teenager.

And while I always prefer the animated version, the live action does add extra bits (while simultaneously cutting off and taking away from the original plot) this height thing suddenly gave me uhh thoughts? apart from the other plus points of the live action like the range of expressions on the actors' faces,,, so this one thing made me look at iroh way more seriously and uh yeah that's all I have to say don't mind me I'm just thinking

[roseride01-blog]

Ya’ll think the Gaang/ Iroh would be disappointed if Zuko ended up marrying for political reasons rather than love?

Definitely not angry, but disappointed?

[darl1ng-rachel]

tea-time 🍵

sketches based on @derrahderonim headcanons, thanks bro! (and my thanks to everyone who gives feedback on this crossover)

[strrwbrrryjam]

knowing that when zuko was younger he wanted a closer relationship with his uncle but couldn't because his uncle had other responsibilities, but sent iroh letters as a way to try and connect, and iroh really took the chance to connect to zuko when zuko needed him most, but he didn't want his uncle makes the relationship in season one of avatar the last airbender sadder than it was

because before zuko's banishment, i'd hazard a guess and say that iroh really didn't know zuko all that well, his son did, all iroh really knew of zuko was information that his son (probably) discussed with him and the information that zuko sent in his letters-

but when iroh had the opportunity to connect with his nephew, the zuko who begged for paper dragons and got excited about the fire festival and who thought his uncle iroh was funny was gone, or at least, not gone, but repressed by the trauma and the rage that zuko developed after being burned and banished by his father

in those three years, how many times did iroh try to connect and heal his nephew? how many festivals did he bring zuko to as a way to let his nephew be a kid? how many times did iroh joke as a way to finally, finally see a smile on his nephews face? how many paper dragons did he give his nephew because he knew that 7-year-old zuko loved them? did he stop? did he ever stop? did he ever feel disheartened, and regret at the fact that he didn't try to connect sooner? was every negative reaction zuko gave him just another reminder that iroh failed?

and that the zuko who sent him letters was likely gone and would never come back? and that maybe, maybe iroh could have done something different, maybe if iroh had stepped in sooner, had taken the throne, and not been so swallowed in his grief that there was a chance, a slim chance, that things for zuko would be different.

that they could connect over the food, the jokes, the festivals, the music, that they could play a good game of pai sho together and that iroh would be able to see zuko smile, so freely and be the kid he is, everyday.

[kayray-art]

fire siblings arcane au (part 1)

“ Dear friend across the river / My hands are cold and bare / Dear friend across the river / I'll take what you can spare / I ask of you a penny / My fortune it will be / I ask you without envy / We raise no mighty towers / Our homes are built of stone / So come across the river / And find... ”

[feral-jackdaw]

Every dramatic angry boy with a troubled past needs an emotional support uncle

[thatgenderfluidmonstrosity]

Firelord Zuko Angst, set after ATLA, and before LoK I think?

It was storming, rain pelting at the windows harshly, as if threatening to break them. The thunderous roars kept the Firelord awake. He was aggravated, tired and on edge. Every time lightning struck, he felt himself flinch or shiver. He supposed it was something he might never quite get over.

It was that very same night that a servant had burst into his room. He wasn’t sure if he was glad to have been awake.

“Firelord Zuko! You’re Uncle Iroh, he-”

Those were the only words that Zuko could register before he was out of his bed, asking the servant to take him to his uncle.

He didn’t think he had made it across the palace so fast in his entire life.

As he entered the room, pushing past the healers and servants, he felt like a child again, as if he were the only one able to help his uncle.

It reminded him of when Azula had struck Iroh down in the desert all those years ago.

His uncle, lying on a bed, his eyes barely open. He had been sick for a while, but even with the best Water-bending healers, there wasn’t much they could do.

“It's close to my time.” Iroh had told him.

Zuko didn’t believe it- he didn’t want to. He’s as terrified now as he was in the desert. Yet now he knew there was little he could do.

“Iroh-” He choked out.

He didn't realize he had already started crying.

“Ah, Zuko…” Iroh gave him a weary smile.

Lighting struck outside as Zuko grasped for Iroh's hand.

“Uncle I-” Zuko tried to think of something to say to him- anything to his dying Uncle.

“Shh, Zuko. It will be alright…” Iroh looked into his eyes.

“How? How Iroh? I- I need you around- I still need your guidance…” Zuko stuttered.

“You’ve grown into such a fine lord. That's all I ever wanted for you, Zuko-” He took a moment to cough.

Both of them tried to ignore the blood that shot into his handkerchief.

“But I don’t know what I’ll do without you- I’m not ready for you to leave-” His voice breaks as thunder booms.

“I’ll always be with you, nephew. No matter what, my words will live in your brain, and my soul in your heart. You are no longer the young and solitary boy that I watched over. You have grown so much, and I am so proud of you.” Iroh finally let the tears stream down his face.

Zuko felt Iroh’s grip get weaker.

“I- I love you, Iroh. You are amazing- You’ll always be amazing.” Zuko says as quickly as he can get the words out.

He watches as Iroh smiles once more, closing his eyes for good.

Lightning strikes again, yet this time, Zuko has no other warm hand to hold.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This has also been posted on Ao3 and I would appreciate it if you could give it some love there!

[incorrectquoteslobby]

Zuko: Could you be anymore annoying? Iroh: Yes.

[merninja-marshmallow]

Idea for a Modern AU of Avatar the Last Airbender:

The Fire Nation Royal Family is a Mafia Clan.

Money? Check. Bodyguards? Check. Crime? Check.

Go crazy my fellow fanfic gremlins!!

[cienie-isengardu]

Iroh's "I looked away"

“The Storm” [s01e12] provided us a great insight into Zuko’s character, one that undoubtedly helps to understand his motives and anger but also how Ozai’s physical and psychological abuse influenced the banished prince. There are plenty of things to talk about, many little details that build layers of a complicated relationship between Zuko and his father, uncle, or even his crew and how perception of Zuko changes once we learn the truth behind the scar. But the episode also shows us a great deal of insight into Iroh’s character and though I do love how “The Storm” challenged our perception of those characters, rewatching ALTA makes Iroh’s “I looked away” much more devastating to me. 

Because it is not just about his guilt over abuse Zuko was forced to endure. A guilt that won’t disappear no matter if he could or couldn’t do anything to prevent it, but… Iroh truly looked away from Fire Nation as a whole, didn’t he? Understandably, he was grief-struck after Lu Ten’s death and he did not fight back Ozai for the throne, as I suspect he either did not care anymore for it or did not want a civil war to destroy Fire Nation from inside. But he still was The Dragon of West, a very respected general and powerful political figure that others weren’t willing to openly challenge, including Ozai himself.

And no, I’m not wondering why Iroh did not interference with Agni Kai before Zuko’s face was burned to “teach him respect” but about the fact that he did not say anything at all against using the division of new recruits as a bait - and from the episode alone, we know he agreed with Zuko on that matter. It wasn't the right strategy - even if it has merit from a military standpoint, it definitely wasn’t moral or good for Fire Nation’s wellbeing. Beside Zuko, who openly challenged the strategy and called it betrayal, the only person that questioned it at all was an old unnamed general (“But the 41st is entirely new recruits. How do you expect them to defeat a powerful Earth Kingdom battalion?) while Iroh simply kept quiet and this detail makes me think the “I looked away” is as much about Iroh looking away from Ozai’s cruel abuse toward Zuko as about Iroh’s passivity during the war meeting, and in greater scheme, Fire Nation’s politics. I doubt Iroh could change Ozai’s mind and sure, I do not have an idea how the relationship between Fire Lord and ex-Crown Prince looked like, but the point is, Iroh did not even try to question the strategy and choose to sit quietly and dunno, it makes me wonder, did Iroh give up at this point of his life? Was he so afraid of the consequences for speaking his mind that he allowed Ozai and Fire Lord’s court to subdue him so much? Because if he did, his words to Zuko “[...] But you must promise not to speak. Those old folks are a bit sensitive, you know?” is as much warning to Zuko as to himself. 

Iroh said to the crew that Zuko was right but it wasn’t his place to criticize the strategy, but who else was supposed to speak against this plan, if Iroh himself chose to stay quiet on the matter? If all generals - then and three years later - didn’t have any respect for life, whatever for their own subjects or civilians of other nations? And I think this is what truly kills me about this situation, that 13 years old boy had courage to speak against this dehumanization of Fire Nation’s citizens when Iroh, our good uncle Iroh, kept quiet and looked away again and again from what was happening until he couldn’t do that anymore because too great damage was already done.

(And isn’t it ironic that Iroh gave little Zuko a knife with the description never give up without a fight - words Zuko adapted as his life motto - but Iroh himself gave up? First at Ba Sing Sai, after Lu Ten’s death, now here during a war meeting and maybe, just maybe it is Zuko that unexpectedly pushed him back on the right track to actually do something, to make a choice and fight for what he believed was right instead of passively watching all the abuse done to an innocent child and young soldiers serving loyalty to their country. Was Iroh already a White Lotus then or did the travel with Zuko give him an opportunity to join it because he couldn’t anymore look away from how messed up Fire Nation became?)

[darkeeveeanimatesus]

"Beautiful scars"

A wip I'm probably never going to finish