#zutara week day 4

[mesencephaleisole]

Regular visit on mothers day

@zutaraweek

Day 2: familiar+day 4: meeting

[therogue704]

Day 4: Meeting

When the stranger arrived, he was half dead.

His eyes were amber, and a rough pink scar consumed the right side of his face.

When his eyes met Katara’s just before he collapsed at the village’s edge, she knew for certain that he was like them, a victim of the fire nation.

I am insanely late but I'm writing the prompts anyway just for fun.

[kayray-art]

Zutara Week 2022: Meeting

when your girlfriend is an ambassador so this is the first time you’ve seen her in a while </3

hosted by @zutaraweek

D1, D2, D3, D5/6, D7

[azehearts]

Zutara Week 2023 | Day 4: Jewel

I wanted to experiment on art styles, and I'm super inspired lately with mangas. I hope you guys like it ^^'

[eilishy]

Zutara Week 2022 - Day 4: Meeting

Fire Lord Zuko and Ambassador Katara are exchanging some lovey-dovey glances at a meeting hehe ;)

***Please DON’T use my art without my permission. *** DON’T repost my art

[weirdest-al]

enjoy a sweet little (wedding?) dance for zutara week days 3 union and 4 jewel

(jewel tones 100% count for this i'm good at prompts)

[soopersara]

Jewel

Zutara Week 2023: Day 4

Read it on AO3 | @zutaraweek

While searching the palace for bandages after the Agni Kai, Katara finds an old souvenir hidden away in Zuko's belongings.

The palace isn’t what she expects.

It’s enormous and lavish, of course. Gilded trims and flourishes adorn almost every surface, and the cavernous rooms seem to stretch on forever. The empty darkness, the copious ornamentation in red and gold, all of that suits her idea of his family perfectly.

But Zuko’s room, despite the opulence, is almost bare. After Katara helps him to his bed, she sets to work digging for something, anything, that she can use to bandage the wound in the middle of his chest. Still, though she opens one drawer after another and pokes her head into every cabinet she can find, there is nothing but more empty wooden shelves.

“Isn’t there anything I can use for bandages in this place?” she calls back to him. Even a clean tunic will do, but aside from the blankets on his bed and the curtains catching the gentle evening breeze, there doesn’t appear to be any usable fabric anywhere in his whole extravagant bedroom.

His face is pale and his breathing faint and reedy, but there is a strange sort of steadiness in his eyes when he looks her way. “Towels, maybe? In there.” With one arm still wrapped tight around his middle, he gestures vaguely in the direction of a second, slightly less ornate door.

A small, dim washroom greets her on the other side of the door, and though she is relieved to find that the gilded taps still produce twin streams of clear water, every shelf in the room is bare. Katara lets out a sharp breath. They’ve seen burned-out husks of houses less barren than this.

“Nothing,” she says, returning to his side just in time to steady him when he sways. He probably shouldn’t be sitting upright in his condition, but a not-inconsiderable part of her worries that if Zuko lies down before she can bandage his chest, he might not be able to sit up again.

“Hmm. Guess Father burned everything I left behind.” Though the words are somewhat indistinct, his tone still carries an unusual calm. Like this is normal. Like it’s expected for a father to burn all his son’s possessions in a fit of rage.

Katara squeezes his shoulder softly. “If you left anything important, I’m sure we can find it. He couldn’t have burned everything.”

“He could. But—” Zuko’s forehead creases, and it takes a few moments for him to resume. “I don’t think I left anything that matters.”

She hopes not. After all that they’ve been through, losing an important keepsake is the last thing she wants to think about.

“I’ll find something,” she says, half to reassure herself. “As soon as I get you bandaged up, you can get some rest.”

With unsteady hands, she tips out the contents of their packs and sifts through the jumble of clothes, washed and unwashed, until at last she comes across a fresh towel folded up at the bottom of his pack. Finally. There is a soft clattering sound when she shakes the creases out of the fabric, and although Zuko seems interested by the sound, she can’t bring herself to care. Until he is bandaged and comfortable enough to rest, nothing else matters.

Zuko, however, is either much more or much less focused than she is. As she sets to work tearing the cloth into strips and winding them snugly around his chest, he strains from one side to the other. “I heard something. Katara, what was that noise?”

“Something fell out of your pack. Hold still, would you? I don’t need you hurting yourself by squirming around.”

If he hears that, he pretends not to. “I need to see what it is.”

“Hey.” She flicks his forehead to get his attention. “I’ll find out what it was in a minute. Just let me finish this, would you?”

It takes some time, but eventually Katara finishes binding his wound and gets him settled back against his pillows. His cheeks are pale, his forehead glistening with sweat, and yet he grabs hold of her hand and squeezes with a surprising amount of force.

“Is it still there?” He cranes his head to the side as though he might be able to see his possessions spilled across the floor from the bed. “Katara, I need to see—”

With an exasperated sigh, she pushes him back again. “You’re impossible. Have I told you that before?” Then, before he can try to squirm past her and out of bed, she crouches to make a quick search of the floor.

It’s probably nothing, she tells herself. A hard sliver of soap, or a wooden spoon packed into the wrong bag. Zuko is probably just disoriented by pain and fever and too confused to realize that they’re alone here, that the Fire Sages are guarding the palace, and at least for now, they’re as safe as they can hope to be.

But when she searches the floor, nothing stands out to her at first. There are clothes spilled absolutely everywhere, but at first glance, there’s nothing hard enough to explain the clattering sound. Nothing, that is, until a strange distortion in the shadows catches her eye, and her fingers close around a translucent piece of stone roughly the size of her thumb.

Brows creased in bemusement, she perches back on the side of the bed and holds the stone up for him to see. “Have you been carrying rocks around in your pack for fun, or is Toph sneaking them in there?”

To her surprise, Zuko seems relieved, and he reaches weakly in its direction. “I thought I lost that.”

“You didn’t.” She presses the stone into his hand before smoothing a few strands of hair away from his eyes. “So—why have you been carrying a rock around?”

He is quiet for a few seconds, but when he speaks again, his words feel more considered, more deliberate than before. “Remember the crystal catacombs?”

Katara nods. Of course she does. She tries not to think about it too often, but forgetting would be all but impossible.

“I kept a crystal,” he rasps. “It still glows a little when it’s dark outside.”

In the fading evening light, it’s difficult to tell, but she thinks she can almost see it. Despite its milky translucence, the crystal casts almost no shadow at all, and where the shadow should be, there is a faint, blue-green cast instead.

“When I decided to leave, I had to take it with me. The crystal was there the first time we talked. I had to have it with me or I would never find you again.” He falls silent for a few moments, then frowns and shakes his head. “Maybe I’m delirious. That sounds silly now.”

Slowly, Katara shakes her head. “You might be delirious, but it isn’t that silly.”

Zuko rolls his head just far enough to the side to give her a skeptical look.

“I mean it. We’re both still here.” She closes both her hands softly around his. “And as long as you stay here with me, I don’t care if it’s because of the crystal or not. I can believe anything as long as you get better.”

[beealexageek]

Zutara Week 2023

Day 4

Prompt: Jewel

(2/3)

[ID: Do you think Zuko is the kind of partner who gives away jewelry because he thinks he has to overcompensate for something? I think so, but only at the beginning of the relationship, until Katara explains to him that she doesn't need those kinds of gifts and that she's happy with smaller things. Zuko will stop giving her lots of jewelry, but only a little, because he will give them to her on special occasions.]

@zutaraweek

🧡 Become a Patreon!

❤️ You can also support me on ☕ Ko-fi

Instagram | Twitter | Deviantart | Pillowfort | Facebook | Tumblr

[parkiebearr]

Zutara Week 2022- Day 4: Meeting

lmao this is rlly late i was too busy to finish in time 😭😭

This is them meeting again after Katara goes back to the SWT for a few months >:)))

+they def wrote to each other the whole time

1st slide-

Katara: “Zuko!”

Zuko: “Kat!”

2nd slide-

Katara: “You grew.”

Zuko: “I think you shrank.”

[ninazadzia]

AU in which Aang loses to Fire Lord Ozai. Zuko and Katara are imprisoned together in the Fire Nation. Zutara. E for smut.

It was so easy to forget sometimes, with everything that we’d been through, especially those last few weeks, and how I’d gotten to see such an adult side of her—she was only fifteen.

She had her whole life ahead of her, and if things had been different on the day of the Comet—if we hadn’t been thrust into a prison cell together, awaiting certain execution, if we’d hadn’t ever had sex, if whatever unspoken connection we’d had before had remained just that, unspoken, not something we’d acted on … who knew?

I knew what she’d told me, at least, our first few days imprisoned together. How Aang had kissed her, during intermission, when we saw the Ember Island Players. How it wasn’t the first time, and he’d kissed her before. How he told her he thought they would be together after the invasion.

She even told me the response she’d given him. That she was confused, that she had a lot on her mind with the War, that she didn’t know how she was feeling. 

And then came the Comet. 

I’d bit my tongue for weeks. I’d oscillated between wanting to know, and deciding that I would be better off leaving the question of Aang and Katara unanswered. It wasn’t like it mattered anymore, anyway—Aang was dead. It was a moot point.

But still—it lingered. 

Fuck it, I decided.

“What do you think would’ve happened between you two,” I asked, the words spilling out of my mouth before I could think better of it, “if things had gone differently that day?”

She didn’t say anything for a moment.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“If—if he’d defeated my father. If Aang was alive, if we weren’t in here…do you think…”

My words hung in the air, the implication obvious. Please, Katara. Don’t make me spell this out for you. 

You can read the full thing here.

[zutaraweek]

Zutara Week 2022 Dates + Prompts

Thank you so much for your patience and sweet concerned messages. The wait is over, here are our dates and prompts for the 15th Annual Zutara Week!

✨September 18th - September 24th✨

Day 1 - Tradition

Day 2 - Familiar

Day 3 - Hands

Day 4 - Meeting

Day 5 - Album

Day 6 - Closeness

Day 7 - Ink

🎉 this will be the first Zutara Week held in the fall! I can't wait to see what you all share in September 🔥

[fabdante]

@zutaraweek day 4: meeting

this one got slightly out of hand but i think i stopped it from getting entirely out of hand. but here’s a little comic about a subtle little au i’ve been drawing for a few zutara weeks now where the war ended early and kya lives (also is chief).

being a comic and having a short deadline (and also adding a page after I thought I was done), I may have taken a few short cuts and it could have been a little less messy structure wise but it’s fine

transcript, and brief image descriptions, under the cut incase it’s hard to read!

Page 1: Kya and Katara arrive to the Fire Nation, the four panel’s on this page show establishing shots of the Fire Nation. Kya: Oh it’s so nice to be be able to really stretch your legs, don’t you think? Katara: Maybe. Kya: Come on now, this is exciting! You’ve never been to the Fire Nation before! Katara: Am I even going to know anyone at the accords? Kya: Yue might be coming this year. And Fire Lord Iroh has a nephew and niece about your age. Maybe you can be friends. Kya: You’ll love the garden’s, I promise.

Page 2: Kya and Katara talk as they walk Katara: I don’t see why we had to come. The other nations rarely come to us. And the foods probably bad. Kya: The peace accords cycle through every nation every year, Katara. It’s how it’s always been done. Katara: You could have brought Sokka. Kya: My darling, you begged to come. And he wasn’t sure how he felt about raw Fire Nation sea slug tentacles. Katara: Do I have to eat that?

Page 3: We switch to Zuko and Ozai talking, presumably waiting to meet Kya and Katara at the gardens. Text at the top of the page reads ‘meawhile in the Royal Gardens’ Zuko: I don’t see why we had to come. This is supposed to be Uncles job, couldn’t he have sent Lu Ten- Ozai: Your uncle and your cousin are preoccupied doing something with the Earth Kingdom delegates this morning. This is an opportunity to do something above your status, be grateful I chose you.

Page 4: Kya and Katara continue talking Katara: It’s just that these talks always feel pointless. Everything’s still tense. And it’s warmer then you’d said it’d be and I…I already miss home. Kya: It’s natural to be homesick, we’re far from home. But the peace accords between nations are important if we intend to have lasting peace. We need to have a presence each year or else the Fire Nation will forget what stopped the last war. It’s important. Kya: And it’s late fall. The summers are much worse. Katara: There’s worse??

Page 5: Ozai continues to berate Zuko, who is uncomfortable about this. But they get interrupted as Kya and Katara arrive, and we get a shot of the turtle duck pond Ozai: Rarely do we get the opportunity to step from your uncles shadow. Especially you. You forget too easily because your uncle is kind. But not all of us are satisfied being third in line for the throne- Kya, interrupting: Prince Ozai. I wasn’t expecting you.

Page 6: Kya is less then impressed with Ozai but their conversation get’s tuned out by both teens as Katara waves at Zuko and goes to give him a Southern Water Tribe forearm shake as a greeting. Kya: I was told we would be meeting your brother, the Fire Lord, this morning. Ozai: Chief Kya! Iroh had unexpected business. How was your voya-

[cncozutarapoto]

fun. x ATLA

Idk if anyone else in the fandom listens to fun., but I'm a big fan of pretty much the whole Some Nights album. I was listening to it last week (yes, even the Some Nights - Intro, which I don't vibe with) because it was speaking to me in terms of ATLA characters (certain songs reminded me of certain characters).

"But Turtle, Nate Reuss wasn't focused on ATLA when he was writing this album"

Ok, and? I'm gonna have some fun with this!

So here's each song and the character I think it fits (not all are exact fits & not every song is included, but most are)

1. Some Nights - Sokka

"This is it, boys, this is war/what are we waiting for?" feels very Sokka to me, especially since he considers himself a warrior and is the protector of Wolf Cove after Hakoda and the other men leave to fight the fire nation. Also "I still see your ghost" could reference Kya, but more likely Yue, since Sokka says that he sees Katara's face when he tries to remember his mother. The line about the martyr reminded me of Suki. Ok also the "miss my mom and dad for this" line?? Come on. Ok BUT "my heart is breaking for my sister and the con she called love/and then I look into my nephew's eyes" is just SCREAMING a Zutara or Kataang fic of some sort. Come on, right?? It's just begging to be written. Overall, this is very existential crisis-Sokka to me.

2. We Are Young - Katara

Ok so I wasn't fully sure what song to give Katara and it just didn't feel right to leave her out so I deadass just gave her this one like 5 minutes ago, but it still works. It would also be AU-based, but hear me out. I'm assuming y'all are most likely to know this song out of all of them. So Katara's at a bar after breaking up with her boyfriend (Aang) and the Gaang's all here. "My seat's been taken by some sunglasses askin' bout a scar" would be Zuko asking about the scars on Katara's hands that she couldn't fully heal after Aang's firebending accident. "But between the drinks and subtle things/the holes in my apologies/you know I'm trying hard to take it back" feels very Aang to me, especially since he's immature. Then right after, I feel like it switches to a more Zutara vibe for most of the song. Also "the moon is on my side/I have no reason to run" with Katara is such a sick combo omg.

3. Carry On - Zuko

The lyrics are very angsty. "You swore and said we are not/we are not shining stars/this I know, I never said we are" feels like a very Zuko & Iroh interaction to me. And also "though I've never been through hell like that/I've closed enough windows to know you can never look back" !!!! Like that feels very Season 3 Zuko to me. Also, no matter what, Zuko is forced to carry on, whether it's with Ozai, Azula, the Gaang... Although don't get me wrong, Zuko does take back his destiny, but I'm referring more to how he can't give up. Also Ursa tells Zuko and he later says how he struggles and fights, even though it's hard. "And we talked and talked about how our parents will die/all our neighbors and wives" Zuko is very familiar with the concept of mortality, he nearly died and he loses his mother at a young age. I'm sure he worries about when Iroh will die, as well as his friends. I feel like Zuko has a line about people leaving him, but I can't find it. Ok next point "and it's nice to know when I was left for dead/I was found and now I don't roam these streets/I am not the ghost you are to me" is very reminiscent of Zuko's relationship (or lack thereof) with Ozai. Also "may your past be the sound of your feet upon the ground" feels like a very Iroh line. Last point, "on our darkest day, when we're miles away/so we'll come and we'll find our way home" is very reminiscent of Zuko's redemption arc and how he returns home and retakes his place in the line of succession and becomes Fire Lord.

4. It Gets Better - Katara?

Honestly the "yes, I know it hurts at first/but it gets better" reminds me a lot of Katara. I also liked the line about fire in the sky and snow on the ground. Not too much else to say.

5. All Alone - Mai

I really encourage you guys to listen to this song, it was really interesting. The lyrics reminded me of Maiko, especially how Mai seems to not care about anything. The girl's voice reminded me a lot of Mai throughout the series, especially her interactions with Zuko. "I gave her to you/I don't need a toy/I thought you might appreciate it/I don't like the way it moves" reminds me of their interaction when Zuko tries to give Mai the shell on Ember Island. "How do you cry with inanimate eyes/you're never gonna smile/with the way that you're wired" also reminded me a lot of Mai's character throughout the series.

(I really like All Alright, but wasn't sure who it would fit well with)

6. One Foot - Toph

"I put one foot in front of the other" is very Toph, she is a fighter first and foremost. "I don't need a new love or a new life" also feels very her, Toph doesn't care as much about the more material things compared to the rest of the Gaang. I'm sure there's more that can be said about this connection, but I didn't really vibe with the song so much. Sorry Toph.

7. Out on the Town - Aang

Okay, Aang fans, I'm asking you to stick with me here. "Cause I know I'll never take the time/to unpack my missteps and call all of our friends" feels very much like season 3 Aang, where he doesn't face consequences for his actions and Bryke kinda places him on this pedestal of sorts. Also, this is a kataang breakup song to me. The chorus really feels like Aang to me, putting his feelings before those of other people, causing a scene, there being consequences (that he somehow gets out of, but that's not today's discussion). "But I'm waiting for the day you come back and say/'hey maybe I should change my mind'" reminds me of the first 2 times Aang kisses Katara and how he expects her to change her mind on how she feels about him. Also the repetition of "open up your heart".

Overall, I found the entire album to be very Zuko-coded.

If you read this far, I appreciate you!

[seldomawriter]

Zutara Week Day 5: Respite

The rain kept falling as they returned to Appa.

“We should find shelter,” Zuko called, “get some rest before we fly back.”

Katara had stormed on ahead of him, but as he spoke, she stopped and turned around.

“Appa will-”

“You’re in no shape to pilot. He likes me-”

Katara started to say something, but Zuko spoke over her.

“-but he trusts you. I won’t be able to get us back to where we left the others. We should stay the night here, and set off first thing in the morning.”

She looked like she wanted to argue, but her tiredness won out, and she just nodded curtly.

They worked quickly and quietly to set up the campsite, making sure to cover Appa’s saddle to keep the rain out, before retreating to the one tent they’d packed for the night.

Katara was silent for a while, just staring into the small fire Zuko had made.

“Are you okay?” Zuko asked softly.

She gave him a cold look.

“Right. Stupid question.”

“I thought-” she gritted her teeth and looked back at the fire. “I thought this would be it. That I’d face the man who killed my mother, and I’d finally feel better. But I’m still so angry!”

The sound of rain on the tent increased for a moment. Zuko glanced up at the noise, and when he looked back at Katara, she was looking right at him, her blue eyes glowing in the firelight.

“I understand.”

“Figures.”

No that’s- well, yeah. I was fueled by anger for three years, after my banishment. I thought bringing Aang to my father was the key, that that would restore my honor, and my place in my father’s heart. But then I went home, and I was still so bitter and alone. I realized it wouldn’t be that easy, and that only made me angrier; angrier at my father, and at myself. I opened my eyes, and I knew I couldn’t live like that anymore. I had to find my own destiny. Like my uncle told me.”

“So… what do I do?” Katara asked in a small voice.

“I can’t answer that for you. The next steps in your journey are yours alone. You have to decide what you’ll do with how you feel.”

She nodded slowly, looking off into space. Her eyes filled with tears.

He shuffled over to her, and reached out his hand. She took it, and pulled herself in closer, tucking herself against him and laying her head on his shoulder.

Zuko didn’t say anything, just wrapped his arm around her as she shook with heavy sobs.

They sat like that for a while, until Katara sagged against his arm and raised her tearstained face towards his.

“Thank you.”

Zuko could only nod.

They pulled apart and went to their respective bedrolls. As they both laid down, Katara piped up.

“Aang and Sokka were right. Trips with you are intense.”

Zuko chuckled.

She flashed him a tired smile, and Zuko knew deep down she’d be okay, no matter hat she’d choose.

i had the idea for this story years ago, maybe for another Zutara week, but never wrote it. does it fit the theme of "respite" ? maybe, and maybe not. whatevs.

**4 feb: edited to correct spelling errors that took me 3 mos to notice 🤦‍♀️

[azehearts]

Steambaby Week 2023 (ft. Zutara & Iroh)

Surprise Birthday Picnic

Zuko looks up to Iroh, and will always think of him as a father. He and Katara would likely want their kids to grow up spending time with their grand-uncle. Their family would travel to Ba Sing Se to visit Iroh, and stay there for a couple of days. Iroh would be really happy about it and would dote on them so much.

The children love hearing funny stories from him (and embarrassing Zuko and Katara), telling him about their days back at home, letting him know how many turtleducks are in their garden, start tea parties, showing tricks from bending or sword practice, and even ask for advice (teenage crush advice).

Unfortunately, at this time, their vacation was cut short because Zuko and Katara are needed back in the Fire Nation. So, the four kids decided they want to have a small surprise for their grandpa's birthday before they return home on the next day.

I got lazy halfway from drawing food props 😆 but yeah, that's a family picnic 😆 Why 4 kids? Well, 4 times that Zuko called Katara by her name in the actual series hahaha (I learned this funfact from zkopm week quiz night).

EDIT:

I rechecked the old quiz night, it was 5 TIMES he called Katara by her name 😳🤦‍♂️fuq.....I forgot that it had correction

ah well, no wonder I originally wanted to draw 5 kids 🤣. Let's say they're expecting another maybe soon 👀

[geotheraider]

Zutara Week 2023 - Day 4: Jewel

Note: This prompt response takes place in a museum and is mostly written on a plaque for the exhibit.

Behold! The Jewel of Agni. 

Once thought lost to time and civilizations, the pure ruby Jewel of Agni is symbolic of Fire Nation strength and perseverance. This particular crimson gemstone’s origins lay within the belly of the very volcano that once formed Caldera city. Belched out in a great inferno, this jewel would eventually rest just south of the mainland.

Its many natural facets are intricate. Some have claimed to see the visage of Agni himself within the reflections, if inspected closely. Flames periodically dance within the gem, and reach their apex of activity during the summer solstice, and cease entirely on the winter solstice. Each major facet holds deeper meaning.

The Cloven Facet, located at the top left and is identified by the fracture running through the cut, signifies the fractured history of the Fire Nation, and how once we were once separated into warring tribes prior to unification.

The Sun Facet, located at the very top of the gem is near perfectly circular, and signifies our connection to the ultimate power above.

The Twin Facet, located along the right side of the gemstone is identified by the twinned crystal structure dominating this portion of the jewel. It portrays the nature of Fire Nation histories to wish for a partnership with one nation more than all others, acting as a twin during times of triumph.

The Flame Facet, located front and center is self explanatory. Shaped like a striking fireball, it shows the strength we all have within ourselves.

The Dragon Facet, pictured in the painting below, was lost in 35AG, to damage caused by an earthquake. It signified the glorious companionship our nation formerly had with the dragons. Hopefully one day in the future, we will once again rejoin their kind in union.

This sizable gemstone will be on display here, in the Grand Azulon Museum, until the end of summer, whence it will make its first journey outside the nation in over a century. You can see it at its future exhibit in Ba Sing Se’s Kuei Institute for gemology for the six months it will be on loan.

“As far as explanations go”, Zuko thinks aloud, “That’s roughly all correct.” 

A gemstone is preserved back in the royal palace, hidden beneath a floorboard in Fire Lord Zuko’s private quarters. It was gifted to him upon completion of his training with the Sun Warriors as an act of good faith, along with a golden egg shaped jewel that the young man could swear almost felt alive. He had commissioned a pendant be made that would allow the real Jewel of Agni to be placed within.

The museum exhibit certainly got one thing wrong. The Jewel was not fiery, nor was it even a ruby. The pure sapphire blue gemstone resides within the pendant Zuko plans to gift his future wife as part of their engagement in three weeks.The museum can keep the false gem; he and Katara will know the true history.

If you like my writing, check out my other works over on AO3!

@zutaraweek