#/zuko almost made katara lose herself aang reminded her who she was/

[ofswordsandpens]

iswtg every time someone construes the Southern Raiders episode as if Aang was the angel on Katara's shoulders while Zuko was the devil a fairy loses its wings

[dawnwriterimagines]

Wrong side, Losing side: Zuko x f!Reader

Summary: When (y/n) chooses to help the avatar escape and betray her boyfriend Zuko, she is instantly a traitor to her home country, the fire nation.

- - -

You kicked off the cliff side, vaulting your body into the air, a flame manifesting with a concentrated swirl from your ankle down to your boot heel, with a swift flip in the middle of Azula's blue flame, the fire dispersed into loose embers as you landed in a crouch between Azula and the Avatar. The smoke around you all quickly dispelled as you came into view, Katara and Aang letting out synchronized sighs of relief.

Aang smiling widely, his heart leaping, "(y/n)!"

You spared the Avatar a comforting glance behind you, "You both need to keep going, the Dai Li can't be far!"

Katara tensed in alarm, shaking her head. "Not without you!"

The fire nation princess straightened from her attack, her brows raising in mild surprise before narrowing with an angered glare, "So, you've chosen to remain a traitor to your nation, have you? I expected more from you, (y/n)," her eyes narrowed deeply to slits, "That was my first mistake," she sneered, before raising a fist that quickly launched a flame your way, "And it won't happen again!"

You dived to the side to avoid the blistering heat, rolling onto your side and lunging to your feet then sprinting forwards. "Aang, go now!" You warned, backhanding a stray fireball before it could make contact with your face, directing a fire ball of your own towards the princess.

Aang and Katara reluctantly keep moving, running further into the cavern, but they don't get far, Azula kicks her foot out in front of her, sending herself backwards while blasting a plume of blue flames towards you. You gasp before bringing your palms up, your own purple flames materializing and splitting the fire apart, the heat licking at your bare arm's, you let out a fiery breath before tearing your way through the wall of flames as they dispersed and running towards Azula, who jumped off the side of a boulder to hurl two balls of fire towards the Avatar and Katara.

Luckily they were able to water bend a covering from the lake surrounding the cavern, as Azula lands, she grimaces in annoyance as she glances behind her to see you as well, it was three against one now. She wouldn't stand a chance.

You gasped as a rope of red hot flames tore through the steely glare that you and Azula shared, your eye's widening as Zuko lands as few feet away from you, his hands closed into tight fists directed at two people, Azula and Aang. He takes a few steps to the side, an equal distance between his two targets, he seems to be deciding.

His eyes link with yours, he seems to pause, his fists tightening as his jaw clenched from the decision he was about to make, his eyes close briefly and suddenly you understand. His eyes open once again with a vengeance, a menacing determination you hadn't seen since he had first found out the avatar was alive.

"Zuko, no--!" But, he's made his choice.

He fires two separate balls of fire, the first going towards Aang, the other hurtling towards you. You leap to the side, skidding before flicking your wrist outwards to produce a rope of fire as Zuko unleashes a fiery assault on Aang. You waste no time in flicking the fire whip his way, but he hasn't forgotten about you, quick to turn and sidestep it before materializing one of his own.

"What do you think you're doing?!" You snap the whip towards him, only for him to counter as you demand his answer.

"I'm fulfilling my destiny," his gaze hardens, before his own whip meets yours, the flames canceling as embers fly. Using your free hand, you throw out a fire ball towards his feet, his eyes flicker downwards and he rolls to his side before standing as you run towards him.

Aang rejoins Katara to help against Azula, swinging full force a violent wind that causes her flames to lose course, she sneers bitterly before raising her arms up, a wall of fire following before she pushes it forwards towards the two.

"How could your destiny be getting rid of the world's last hope?!" You swung a fire ball his way, to which he raised a flaming hand to extinguish.

"You wouldn't understand!" He grimaced, he gives a violent wave that produces a massive twisted flame towards you, you flip backwards, landing on your feet before tearing your hands through the fire wall as Zuko prepares another blast from behind it. "You never have!"

As you part the fire with a force of your own, your eye's widen in horror to see a massive fire ball, spinning like a vortex, violently hurtling towards you. You pull your hands up, raising a fiery barrier between you and it, but you're not fast enough, the wall fizzles out with the red flames and the two colors mix together. You would've found the mix of blazing flames as beautiful as you had always did, if it weren't for it hitting you point blank and throwing you back into the crystal cavern's side wall.

You hit the solid, jagged wall with an pained yelp before crumbling to your knees and onto your side, your hands burning from the flames, while you curled into yourself, sinking your elbows to your belly to ease the agonizing burns across it. You hissed with a cry, beads of tears springing up from the feeling, your eye's flicker up to look at Zuko.

He's stunned, although he tries not to make it too obvious, his hands open and close, clenching forcefully and his nails dig into his palms wondering if he had actually caused you pain or if this wasn't real. But, when he finally felt the first string of blood fall from his fingertips, he knew he had done the unforgivable. "(Y-y/n)--" he stepped forwards, taking an unsteady, almost hesitant step as if he'd scare you and himself if he moved too fast. "I didn't--" he starts, his eyes follow the first tear that slips down your face as you drop your head down.

Fire rains down behind the two of you, illuminating the cavern once again, Azula kicks her foot out towards the Avatar and whips her head around to glare at her brother. "Zuko!"

He turns, before giving you one last look. "No, please," you beg, trying to stand, only to fall. "Please, Zuko, don't do this."

You've never seen him as conflicted as he was now, it was almost painful to see him tear every single option, every choice in his head until one remained. He turned his back on you, your eye's widening, hurt and disappointed, "I have to do this, (y/n)," he breathed, before running off towards his sister.

"Zuko!"

He split apart Katara's attack towards Azula, the water bender nearly succeeding in her assault, but cutting in, the prince faced the water tribe girl with new vigor, as she only glared his way. Azula smirked, straightening before running forwards to throw a ball of blue fire hurtling towards Aang, who quickly dodged it and sent an attack of his own.

"I thought you had changed!" Katara forced the water to crawl up her limbs and quickly formed two water whips around her arms, "I believed in you," she sneered before flicking her wrists and throwing her arms down along with the bending water to hit against Zuko's own fire whips. "(Y/n) believed in you! And you betrayed her!"

Zuko frowned, “I have changed.” He fires another blast to the waterbender.

You stand to your feet, your hands shaking in agony from the burns across your palms, your face wet with sad, pained tears as you stumble before letting your hands ignite with flames, this time red in color. Your eyes catch Aang’s form as he attacks Azula encased in crystal from the cavern, Katara holds her own with Zuko as the two elements clash with one another. 

You run over to Aang as he rushes Azula, but the seasoned warrior princess is ready, halting in her movements and using her firebending to break Aang’s crystal armor and sending the young Avatar flying to the back wall. “Aang!” You gasp before charging forwards, faster, jumping up and firing off two blasts of fire to the prideful Azula. 

She turns in surprise, instinctively covering herself from the flames with her own, narrowly avoiding being burned. She straightens with a sneer as you land in your own stance to face her, “You disappoint me. Truly, (y/n). How your family must feel to see such a seasoned warrior reduced to this. You were once a pride of mine,” your gaze hardened at the princess as she glared at you heatedly, “Now, look at you, a fugitive of your nation and after today, a prisoner,” Azula’s hands lit up with blue flames as she got into a stance of her own, “That I will leave to rot.”

“Promises, promises,” You speak, tiredly, snickering lightly as Azula’s eyes turn to slits.

You dodge a blast of fire aimed at your feet, skidding to the side to kick out a flame soaring towards her. She pushes it away to embers with her own flames and rushes towards you, blue flames blazing from her fingers like lightning, she collides with you, purple and blue flames swelling around one another. The both of you exchanging fiery blows, one after another, your stumble as you tiredly deliver another blow to the princess with a cry. She dodges easily, her feet kicking up to sweep your legs right from under you, you fall with a gasp, using your hands to catch yourself only to scream in agony at the reminder of the burns across them. Azula gives you no time to rest as she raises her leg to stomp you down, rolling from under her, you use both your feet to send a wave of flames right into her chest. 

She stumbles back with a gasp, flames shrouding her gaze, she aims a flame to her front but she's stunned to see you’ve already moved as the flames part. She releases an angered, “No!” As she turns to see you using both your hands to create a tidal wave of fire that crashes down and towards the princess. “AH!”

Your eyes linking with the princess as she raises her arms to counter the move, you’ve never truly looked Azula in the face before, always reminded of your place. And even now, that look never ceased as she remained as proud as ever, even with a smile, conniving and evil, despite the situation, your brows furrow at her look as your flames clash together and fight for dominance. 

But as you feel another set of flames headed down towards you, you move away quickly, red flames crash down into your previous spot, giving Azula time to unleash a set of her own onslaught onto you. 

Katara groans as she sits up from the position, her hair having come undone from its braid, her back aches from hitting the crystal wall. Her eyes looking up to see the Dai Li agents surrounding the cavern as they jump from the top to land and prepare their attack on the remaining three. 

Katara stands to her feet despite her limbs screaming in protest as she aches all over, her hands moving up in repetitive movements as water moves to circle at her feet rising to make octopus like tendrils around her, daring any Dai Li to step up. The waterbender looks around, her eyes catching on familiar attire beyond her group of Dai Li enemies, her eyes widening as Azula steps away from your slumped form against the crystal pillar, “(Y/N)!” She screams in worry, glaring angrily at Azula, “You’re a monster!”

“That’s a compliment where I come from,” Azula snickers as she steps over your leg to walk towards the avatar, who was just beginning to notice the Dai Li piling to face him. Zuko hesitantly follows, his worried gaze lingering too long on your still frame to not feel the immense guilt that flooded him. 

With the fire lord’s children staring him down, trained earthbending guards of the earth kingdom’s royal guard ready to throw everything they have, Aang was face with a final decision. Fulfilling his final chakra, and letting go of love, “I’m sorry, Katara,” he whispers, squeezing his eyes tight before turning his back on the benders to create the crystal barricade. 

Your eyes open with the rough haul into someone’s grip, your eyes flickering to the side before throwing your hands up to wave a flamed hand to ward them off. It does the trick but it also sends a ripple of agony through your shoulder, to which you notice the large burn across your shoulder to your back, it burns horribly and you can feel the tears that had already been shed for the pain on your cheeks. But you still had a fight to continue. The dozens of Dai Li agents went for you again, but you sucked in a breath, releasing a fiery burst of fire from your throat, spewing the purple flames like a dragon, an angry roar manifesting.

A bright light ignites the cave eliciting everyone's attention, you stumble a little as you pause in your onslaught, flames dying out as you watch the Avatar rise into the air within a pillar of white light. Your eyes widening in awe, smiling faintly as he rises higher to stop the fighting finally. 

But then the loud shock of thunder in the air and the piercing of lightning interrupts the glow of the Avatar and the feeling in your heart is indescribable when you see Aang fall, the avatar’s eyes close and his body falls limp against the sky. Tears fall down your cheeks. “AANG!”

You can hear the sound of a wave behind you flushing out all the Dai Li, but it doesn’t stop you from running forwards, propelling yourself upwards with a short burst of fire as Katara washes over the rest of the tyrants below. You roll down in front of the two as Katara lands before you, catching aang in time with hopeless, miserable tears in her eyes. 

You lean down, reaching out to the young boy sadly, your hands stopping inches from his cheek, before balling up sadly as you crumble to your knees, exhausted and defeated. Katara shares your tears and the two of you reach for the others hand, holding tight as you turn back to see the Dai Li, Azula and Zuko standing, soaked but ready.

"You didn't have too..." you sniffled, groaning as you placed your hand to the ground, only letting the tips of your fingers touch the soiled cement beneath you. Katara reluctantly lets your hand slip from hers as you rise to protect them, "You didn't have to do this...you could've just--talked to me," you pushed yourself up to your feet, whimpering lightly as you clutched your side with your other hand. Zuko reached out, you glared at him instantly, making him tense before shamefully remaining where he stood. "Azula isn't the answer. Neither is betraying me or your uncle," your gaze softened slightly. "You don't need anyone to give you your honor, Zuko. You never needed anyone but yourself."

Zuko looks away from you. "None of that matters now.”

You frown, sadly. “You’re right. Because I could never forgive you for this.”

Zuko’s gaze drifts back to you, lips parting mournfully, oh how he wanted to beg you to join him, maybe run away from this mess, but he was too deep in and he was so close to restoring his honor. So, he keeps his mouth shut, even as Azula and the Dai Li start advancing.

A line of fire blocks them, aiming at their feet. Iroh lands before them, in front of you and Katara. “Go!” He yells in warning, throwing flaming punches skillfully, “I’ll hold them off for as long as I can!”

You turn from Iroh sadly, nodding before spinning around quickly, “Come on!” You help get Katara to her feet with Aang in hand, she stands on shaking feet and begins to bend water to encircle you all when you step out as she begins to go up. 

She gasps, “What’re you doing?!” She can’t lose concentration unless they’ll drop, she yells to your worriedly. “You can still make it, come on, please!”

“Go, Katara!” You yell to her, throwing a fire ball at an approaching Dai Li agent, “Be safe! Save him.” You turn to her one last time as she tearfully look you in the eye, you’re smiling. Before bursting upwards in her spiral of water with Aang.

They disappear from view and Iroh is encased in crystal as his attacks settle upon ensuring the escape of the two. He looks at you as you look to him, confused. “You were supposed to go, lotus,” he says softly, almost sadly. 

You smile faintly, fists dropping as your flames subside. “I couldn’t let you be alone,” You hum, tiredly. Iroh’s eyes glow in their love but in their sadness as well, until they meet his nephew’s and they burn with sorrow. Your body quickly encasing in crystals as you both give up to the fire nation.

Carried off to become prisoners of the fire nation, your eyes can never meet Zuko’s consumed with sadness and anger, tears come to your eyes upon each time he comes to your cell to speak with you. Tears fall when he begs you to say something. And you sob when he leaves with angry screams of the choices he’s made and the things that's led him here.

Zuko wasn’t sure of it yet, but he picked the wrong side.

[thinkingisadangerouspastime]

By the end of avatar it's pretty clear that the gaang have no problem with/are friends with mai (suki playing pai sho with her, katara watching, sokka including her in his picture) so I was wondering how you think mai and the gaang's relationship developed from the coronation to the end scene

“This is Mai,” Zuko said. “My girlfriend.”

The room was quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

Right. Mai kind of wanted to die. They were just… staring at her. She hadn’t expected a positive reaction, by any means, but no reaction at all…? Ugh. Little was worse.

“It’s nice to officially meet you!” Aang said, giving her a bright smile. The rest of the group followed with tentative waves and a few nods in her general direction.

The awkwardness might have gone on another five minutes if she and Zuko hadn’t been asked for by an advisor, cutting her introduction short. Well, Zuko had been asked for, and he’d slipped his hand into hers before pulling her along. So she hadn’t been given much say in the matter.

“They’ll come around,” Zuko told her later, when they were lying in bed. “You’ll see.” He chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “They took me in, after all.”

Mai wanted to believe him. “If you say so.”

Sokka was first.

Mai saw him struggling to walk down the steps of the palace, awkwardly attempting to maneuver his crutches but wincing every time his injured leg hit the ground.

“Let me help,” she offered, lifting his arm around her shoulders to help take the weight off his foot. Perhaps she should have waited for him to give confirmation, but in some ways Sokka reminded her of Zuko - rarely willing to accept assistance, even when he needed it. He let her take his crutches, though, and she interpreted that as a sign of silent cooperation.

Sokka gave her a crooked grin when they’d reached the foot of the steps. “Thanks.”

She nodded curtly, returning his crutches to him. “It was no trouble.” She turned to walk away, but stiffened and stopped in her tracks as Sokka placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I, uh… This is kind of random, but I just wanted to tell you how grateful I am for - for what you did at the Boiling Rock.” Sokka cleared his throat. “For saving us. Me. My dad. Suki. Zuko.”

Mai winced at the memory. The despair, the rage Azula’s eyes. The paralyzing fear that had ripped through her chest when she’d watched her friend - if Azula could ever be called that - drop into her lightning stance. And yet…

She’d do it again. A hundred times.

“I don’t think you should be thanking me for doing the right thing,” Mai said as she slowly turned around. “For doing the bare minimum, really.”

Sokka laughed. “Maybe you’re right. But from what I’ve heard, treason against the Fire Nation isn’t usually considered the bare minimum.” He hesitated, then offered her a grateful smile. “I mean it, though. If you hadn’t saved us…” Something akin to grief flickered in his eyes. An expression that was a little more raw, a little more tired. “I can’t lose anyone else,” he finally said. “So thank you, Mai.”

Mai stared at him in perhaps more shock than was necessary, because Sokka laughed again.

“Can I hug you?” he asked. “It’s kind of an official thing to dub you as part of my friend group.”

Mai hesitated, but nodded, and Sokka shuffled forward to pull her into a brief, tight embrace that Mai was surprised to find herself returning.

“I wouldn’t have pegged you as a hugger,” she said after releasing him.

Sokka chuckled. “For a long time, I guess I wasn’t.” He winked at her. “But things change, right?”

She supposed they did.

Aang was second.

Mai wondered, perhaps, if he would have been first, had his duties as the Avatar not taken up so much of his time, especially in those first days after the war had formally ended.

“Hi, Mai!” Aang said cheerily, waving at her from atop his bison. “Want to take a ride on Appa with me?”

Mai glanced around her, as if someone else named Mai would appear from behind a pillar to take him up on his offer. When none did, she responded with a hesitant nod.

She wished Zuko was there.

“Do you need help getting up?” Aang asked as she walked towards him, pausing when she reached Appa’s side. “I can provide a boost if you need it.”

Mai raised an eyebrow at him, a smirk unwittingly inching onto her lips. “Could you provide a boost even if I don’t need it?”

Aang returned her smirk with a wide grin. “Your wish is my command, Lady Mai.”

Mai was mortified to admit that a startled yelp escaped her lips as Aang airbended her up and onto Appa’s saddle, but he didn’t comment on it. She supposed he was probably used to that sort of sound being an instinctive reaction.

“Ready?” Aang asked. He didn’t wait for her to respond before gently snapping the bison’s reins. “Yip yip, Appa!”

He reminded her of Ty Lee in that respect - never waiting for an answer unless one was truly required.

Appa roared and took off into the sky. Mai kept her eyes squeezed shut for longer than she’d care to admit.

After the initial anxiety of flying higher than she ever had in her life faded, Mai found herself relaxing into her seat on the saddle, one elbow resting comfortably on the edge. Aang chattered aimlessly about post-war plans, and Mai commented every now and then if his ramblings had to do with Zuko. It was… strange. Everything about Aang caused a tiny smile to rest perpetually on her face.

No wonder her boyfriend was so fond of him.

“Wanna go higher?” Aang offered at one point, an excited twinkle in his eyes.

Mai didn’t respond at first, staring upwards at the endless pink sky. “Can you take me into the clouds?” she finally asked.

Aang laughed. “Let’s find out!”

Katara was third.

“I told you, Zuko can’t see anyone right now!”

Mai paused upon hearing the irritation that drenched Katara’s voice. She’d just turned the corner into the hallway that Zuko’s room was off of, and, trusting her better judgement, chose to hang back.

Katara was staring down a tall man in formal robes - oh. Ew. Mai recognized him as one of Zuko’s more annoying advisors. Her boyfriend hated the man, too.

“Kata-”

“Master Katara.” She glared at the noble, and respect bubbled in Mai’s chest.

“Master Katara.” Mai relished in the discomfort of the man’s tone. “I understand that you wish to allow the Fire Lord as much rest as possible, but he has responsibilities he cannot abandon -”

“Zuko can’t fulfill those responsibilities immediately after a healing session!” Katara snapped. “How would you like if someone bandaged your broken arm and expected you to lift weights afterwards?”

The advisor stared at her in confusion. “But my arm isn’t broken.”

Katara placed her hand atop the flask that rested on her hip. “Not yet.”

Mai bit her tongue to stop herself from laughing as blood drained from the man’s face. He gave Katara a hasty apology and took his leave.

That interaction had certainly raised her spirits.

But no visitors…

Mai’s grip tightened on the ceramic plate in her hands. The cup of tea resting atop it quivered. If Katara said Zuko wasn’t seeing anyone at the time, then she would respect that decision. She was no exception to the rules just because Zuko was her boyfriend.

Besides, Zuko was probably fine. She didn’t need to check on him, she was just letting her worries get the best of her again -

“Mai?”

Mai blinked upon hearing her name called. Blood rushed to her cheeks when she realized it was Katara who had spoken. “Yes?”

Katara gave her a warm smile, gesturing towards the plate in her hands. “Is that for Zuko?”

Mai hesitated, but nodded. “Tea,” she explained briefly. “I… tried to make it like Iroh does.” She took a step backwards. “But I can bring it back later, after more time has passed -”

Katara laughed, waving her hand dismissively. “Mai. Zuko would never forgive me if I didn’t let you in.” She tilted her head. “Besides. You know you’re always welcome.”

Mai’s grip on the plate slackened, and she found herself returning Katara’s smile.

Toph was fourth.

“Mai! Spar with me!”

Mai was startled by the sudden interruption, though years of practice prevented her from showing it. “Why?” She’d never been the earthbender’s go-to partner before.

“Because knives are made of metal,” Toph said, as if it should have been obvious. “I want to see if I can bend projectiles mid-air. Or at least better detect the path they’ll follow so I can earthbend a wall to block them.”

Mai raised an eyebrow. “And why would I agree to let you bend my knives?”

Toph grinned at her. “Who said anything about using yours?”

Mai’s eyes widened as Toph procured a large box from behind her back.

“We’ll practice with these. Don’t ask where I got them.”

Mai accepted the box from Toph, unable to stop the sharp gasp that escaped her lips as she admired the assortment of blades. “Alright,” she finally said, picking out a set of steel kunai. “I’ll spar with you. On one condition.”

“Name it.”

Mai spun one of the knives around her index finger. “Let me keep some of these when we’re done.”

Toph burst out laughing. “Oh, I knew I’d like you.” She smirked at Mai. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

Suki was last.

They’d run into each other. Literally. Mai spilled all the papers she’d been holding, and Suki had immediately apologized before offering to help her sort back through them. She’d almost turned the girl down, but…

“I haven’t seen you much,” Mai commented as they were putting the documents into piles based on their contents. “Compared to the rest of Zuko’s friends, I mean.”

Suki shrugged. “I’ve been spending most of my time with Sokka and the Kyoshi warriors. We’re thinking about heading back home soon.”

Mai nodded. She placed a document about the differences between crowning a Fire Lord and a Fire Lady in its appropriate stack. She hesitated, then asked, “Does… Do you know if Ty Lee plans to go with you?”

Suki blew air out her lips. “I’m not sure. Sometimes I think she wants nothing more than to get out of the Fire Nation, but there are other days where… where I don’t think she can imagine leaving you and Zuko behind.”

Mai’s heart seized in her chest. Spirits, she needed to talk to her friend. New responsibilities after the war had kept them apart more days of the week than Mai liked. “I see.”

Suki offered her a sympathetic smile. “Sorry I can’t be more specific. I think I just” - she shook her head - “I don’t know Ty Lee well enough yet to read her and her feelings. The other girls had a chance to connect with her in prison, but I’d already escaped the Boiling Rock and was on the run with Sokka at that point, so I just… don’t have the same level of experience with her yet.”

Mai clenched the scroll in her hand so tightly she was half-concerned she’d tear a hole through it. “Speaking of prisons…” She licked her lips, her mouth having suddenly gone dry. “I… I wanted to apologize,” she continued after a momentary pause. Mai didn’t like how her voice had dropped close to a whisper.

Suki tilted her head in confusion, though there was a keen recognition in her eyes that made Mai wonder if she was merely feigning puzzlement. “What do you mean?”

“I attacked you and your - your kinswomen. When you were protecting Appa.” Mai smoothed the scroll across the table before placing it in its appropriate stack. She didn’t dare meet the warrior’s eyes. “We got you arrested and sent to the Boiling Rock. And - I know an apology doesn’t make up for that, but…” She forced herself to look upwards. There was no bitterness, no resentment in Suki’s gaze. It was kinder than she deserved. “I’m sorry. I don’t deserve or expect your forgiveness, but - I’m sorry.”

Mai had hurt Suki the most among Zuko’s new friends. There was no changing that. And she knew she would never be able to make up for the months in isolation the girl had endured, either, no matter what she did. No matter how much she wanted to. Wished she could.

Mai didn’t blame her for staying silent.

Then Suki sighed, unfurling the paper in her hands. “I had mixed feelings about you. For a long time.” She skimmed something on the scroll before placing it aside. “On the one hand, you put me in prison. On the other…” She gave Mai a tentative smile. “You freed me from it.”

Mai’s heart skipped a beat. “That doesn’t make it fair -”

Suki laughed, cutting her off. “At this point, I don’t think ‘fair’ exists. Not after what all of us have been through.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “But like I said. I had mixed feelings about you.” She gave Mai a soft smile. “I know how Sokka thinks you’re the funniest person to walk the Earth since his father. How Katara lets you visit Zuko after their healing sessions, even though she’s probably not supposed to. And spirits, Mai, the way Zuko looks at you…” She shook her head, winking at her. “You won my friends over a long time ago. It was only a matter of time before you won me over, too.”

An unfamiliar warmth settled in Mai’s chest, and a tentative smile inched onto her lips. “Thank you.”

Suki waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t mention it. And with you around, at least I won’t be the only sane person in our group anymore.”

Mai snorted, recalling an earlier incident of Sokka daring Zuko to eat raw tart batter while Toph egged them on. ‘Egged’ in two ways - both very different, but both equally frustrating. “Will that really make much of a difference?”

Suki snickered. “Maybe not for them, but…” She handed Mai a scroll to be placed on a stack too far for her to reach. “I think I’ll appreciate the company.”

Mai accepted the paper, and she smiled at Suki. “I think I will, too.” She placed the smoothed-out scroll in its appropriate pile. “Care to join me for a game of Pai Sho later?”

“Oh, count me in! That sounds like a great cooldown.”

Well… Mai wouldn’t describe Pai Sho in exactly that fashion. But she figured Suki would learn that on her own time, and chose not to comment. “I look forward to it.”

That night, Mai slipped into Zuko’s bedchambers under the cover of darkness, as she’d been inclined to do ever since his return to the Fire Nation. Zuko’s eyes lit up upon seeing her, and he moved to make room for her beside him on his bed. She sat down, and rolled her eyes but didn’t protest as Zuko wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her into his lap.

“Did you have a good day?” he asked, nuzzling his face into the back of her neck. He asked her the same question every night, and every night she told him the same answer - no. Then she’d gripe about whatever little thing had irked her over the course of the day. It was foolish, yet cathartic, and she knew Zuko didn’t mind. He probably found it entertaining.

“You know what?” Mai mused, thinking back to the mixture of glee and exasperation that had crossed Suki’s face numerous times during their earlier Pai Sho game. “I think I did.”

Zuko raised an eyebrow. “Wow. What happened?”

Mai shrugged. Five faces floated through her mind, all people she’d grown to care for over the past few weeks. People who’d grown to care for her in return. “Nothing special. Just… spent a little time with some new friends.”

Zuko chuckled, and she had a feeling he knew exactly the people she was referring to. “I’m glad to hear it.” He pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck. “Don’t kill me, but…” She didn’t need to turn around to know he was smirking. “I told you they’d come around.”

Mai groaned. “Oh, shut up.”

“Make me?”

She sighed, turning around so she could properly face her boyfriend. “I guess I don’t have a choice, do I?”

(Mai made sure to silence him before he could answer.)

[the-last-cuddlebender]

Blood In A Blacklight

Katara has a criminal empire to run, a family to protect, and plenty of shadows from the past who want to tear it all down.

Part 1: The Wind Howls (1/2) - She has him back, and everything should be perfect now, but it’s not. She’s more worried than ever. And she hasn’t slept in days.

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A/N: Mafiosa!Katara and Gaang™ gang because I want it and am willing it into existence. Basically took “Sokka and I, we’re your family now” and made my take on a bending-mafia-families AU lmao

Words: 1,748

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Katara punished her book for the weather and nearly tore it when she flipped the page. The words blurred again. She glared, hoping to become a firebender and burn a hole through the damn thing.

The door opened without a knock, and the frame of her vision shook, bordering on crimson. Mercy was still a foreign concept, and nearly ninety-six hours awake had mutilated her ‘moral code’ into watery dough. A few twitches of her fingers closed her hand around veins and arteries, but her bending recognized her intruder’s old blood and fresh wounds before she could register why her power wasn’t listening. It was worse than a tranquilizer. Worse than chloroform in a black alley. Aang’s heartbeat pinned her to her seat and ripped out her fangs like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Katara remembered that time was a thing that would still pass whether or not she kept breathing. Fresh rain met the wall of windows behind her. Her thumb dragged over the ear of the page. She crawled into the dull thump of his heartbeat and sank into her chair, hiding in his rhythm like it was a cave.

The soft click of the door startled her like it was a strike of lightning, stuttering her breath and rallying her instincts to probe for the nearest skein of water. She shifted, impatient for him to be closer, waiting for enemies to burst from the shadows.

She re-read the same paragraph until he limped — badly, on the left side — to her desk. He paused, thinned Katara’s sanity, and sat in one of the leather chairs across from her. His silence filled the room with static. The full moon taunted her with power for all the wrong problems. The storm put a distance of hisses and low rumbles between them, bleating her pulse against the drums of her ears.

“What are you doing?” Aang gently asked.

Katara propped her head on her fist, her voice like paint peeling from the side of an old ship. “I’m reading.”

“You’ve been staring at that page for seven minutes.”

“I’m reading slowly.”

“You’re sulking.”

She almost looked up. “I am not sulking.”

“And now you’re lying.”

Something made a spark, and Katara slammed her book, still open, on her desk. “I am not lying.”

Her almost-shout did things that the thunder could only dream of, but before Katara could retreat, Aang leaned forward, onto her desk, mirroring her posture and leaving inches between their faces. It brought the smell of the wind in his clothes, and his element tickled her frayed hair from her cheek. His presence was warm. In every way. Warm hues, warm feelings, warm heartbeat, warm memories—

It took longer for the crimson to leave her vision this time. The thin wound wasn’t the worst, but it was the most noticeable, crawling across his face and over the bridge of his nose like a comet touching from beneath one eye to under the other. It was a bleach-white horizon that his eyes sat just above, but what he leveled her with didn’t allow her the freedom to consider her to-kill list in detail.

Katara had been shot, captured, tortured, ransomed, and used as a bartering chip far more times than she dared to remember, but even oceans would part for the look that Aang gave her when she tried to dance around the truth with him and win. She scowled, not that it helped her. Intensity clouded his eyes in a smokescreen, and grey irises darted in short, sharp glances that wouldn’t have been noticeable if he was any further away.

Katara’s finger itched to turn the page. Aang’s breathing had been steady, but when he exhaled again, closing his eyes, it took the strength out of his shoulders and kicked her in the chest.

“You promised you would stop looking into this.”

Katara snapped the book shut and set it aside. “I told you to stay away from the hospital.”

“I had to see her. And you went there, too.”

He didn’t mention a name, but still, Katara’s nails dug into her hands and threatened to draw blood. She seethed, but her fire didn’t phase him. Always him. Only him. Even in her office she was powerless.

Lips pulled into a tight line, she took a calming breath and held it, waiting for it to start working. Aang didn’t look away. His smokescreen was looking more like a storm and shone lightning like steel blades clashing.

She knew what her glare did to good men, and she knew it didn’t work on him, but she looked away all the same. Her eyes found the book, and the pins and needles from her held breath suddenly became the cold gasps of a child who couldn’t run fast enough. She saw the splintering of ancient wooden doors and the darkness that spilled from them. She felt the ice of new irons and the strain they put on growing bones.

And the screams. There should have been screams…

Katara blinked and was back in her office, greeted by the sheets of bullets on her windows and the warm heat of Aang’s attention. She looked at him. He was the same as her gaze had left him.

She didn’t mean to sound so defeated, but she was so tired of losing. “What were you thinking, Aang?”

“Katara, you’re scared and angry and hurt and I get it, but you don’t have to save me anymore. I’m right here.”

“I can’t sit by and do nothing. If I don’t fight for you, then no one will.”

She had seen men recoil from a bullet through the heart, but Aang caught himself just before the stage of crumpling to the ground. His gaze dropped, staggering to her necklace and then to her desk. “…I guess you’re right.”

Katara scrambled to pick up his pieces. “That’s not what I—”

“I know.” He splayed his palm, pretending to read the lines. “You didn’t mean it.”

Lightning lit up the room, like a picture being taken. Katara combed back her hair, fiddling with her low ponytail, and gave up trying to keep her empty hands occupied. “Can you just—” She grabbed the air like she could hold onto the problem. “Can you just promise me that you won’t do something like that again? Please?”

It was the closest she had ever — ever — come to begging, but Aang kept his eyes on his palm. “I can’t do that.”

“Yes, you can.”

“I’m not one of your goons to boss around,” he said, still without looking up, though his brow furrowed with a small crease.

“At least they know their limits. None of this would have happened if you had just let me handle it. This is my family, and that includes you, whether you like it or not.”

“I don’t belong to you.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

“Then why are you still here?”

“Because you need me, too,” he said, with a soft voice that could shake a stadium. “And I might just be a speedbump to knock you on your ass and make you think twice before you do it anyways, but you’re my family too.”

The silence yawned, hissing with a thick but fine sheet of rain. If it weren’t for her desk, Katara would have hugged him. Probably. Doubt opened a pit in her belly, and her throat threatened to seal shut. Instinct and intuition went to war and left her with the sinking feeling that touching him would just prove how far away he was.

Aang still didn’t look up from his hand. Katara tried to find the right words and, more importantly, how to say them, but all she could manage after so many years of lying was a tender inflection of his name. “Aang…”

“They made me forget your face,” he said, deflating like saying it out loud finally made the scars real. His voice was watery, broken on the last vowel, and took a sledgehammer to Katara’s chest. “And now you…” He gestured. “Now you’re there and I’m here and…” The word died. He paused, then dragged his eyes up to hers. “You think of them when you look at me, so I see them, too. They scare me. And now you scare me. And I don’t want to be scared of you because I don’t want to stop looking at you. But it scares me. A lot.”

“I…Aang, I’m sorry—”

“I know. I know,” he said as he stood. His eyes roamed her empty desk, trying to find something of hers and settling on the book, which broke what was left of him. “…You didn’t mean it.”

Katara stood, but the desk was still in the way. “Aang, wait—”

“I'm going to take a walk to…,” he trailed, more in his own thoughts than in her office. “…I’ll get Zuko so you don’t worry.”

She should have gone after him. She should have done something, but her legs were pillars of cement. The door bled fluorescent yellow light into her twilight and took him, in his red and orange robes from across the world, with it.

Something cold crawled out of the old attic of where her heart was supposed to be. It cracked, weaving thin white scars — like his — in a web across her vision. She braced herself on the desk. There was nowhere to hide. No heartbeat. Not even a wound to distract her with its pain. She closed her eyes and bared her teeth and wished she had the strength to cry without him. Just this once, without him. She was so full and so empty and on the verge of combustion—

Something broke, something small, like a cornerstone, and Katara plopped into her chair. She breathed just like he taught her and eventually rubbed her face. Her bones ached. Everything ached. She was so tired of losing. She just wanted to sleep without knowing that she would wake up, still stuck in her worst nightmare.

Thunder growled above the city. Katara picked up the book. It was blurry, no matter how much she blinked. She dragged her nail over the scuff marks, feeling the minute pilling of old leather like a topographic map of the past.

Aang’s absence reminded her why she was reading, but she wasn’t sure if she could anymore. The book took on the weight of a planet, her arms even moreso.

Realization dawned slowly, like a dog attack in slow motion. The thought was a shadow bleeding out of the tall grass to fill her stomach with ice.

She peeled open the pages, praying to whoever would answer.

It burned. It burned like fire never could. It ate her away from the inside out, like cinders consuming a dry leaf in the time it took to blink.

The raindrops became smaller, like a mist, and gently brushed the windows. Standing was a miracle, but Katara dragged her feet around her desk, falling into Aang’s chair.

It was warm, like his shadow always was. She crawled into the footprint his life left behind, imagining his heartbeat in the hug of plush leather and the smell of salt and sand that reminded her where home was. Katara told herself to breathe and sank into the reasons why. Her legs curled beneath her, like when she was a girl, back when she wore her mother’s dresses to imagine herself a hero and not in three-piece suits to mask bloodstains.

She read the book slowly, from the beginning again, trying to love even the words that hurt. When lightning struck, she held it closer, trying to protect it, even though she knew that she couldn’t.

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Don’t know if I described it well enough, but Aang’s ‘scar’ (quotes because it eventually seals up into a thin line) is supposed to be like the bottom arch of the Yu Yan archers’ tattoos.

[softluci]

atla hcs

i’ve been thinking about this for a minute, and i wanna do a set of headcanons for how i think the brothers (and eventually the undateables) would feel about certain avatar: the last airbender characters, or something along those lines. i actually just wanted to talk about lucifer and azula, so everything else here is a bonus. this doesn’t matter, but for what it’s worth: wherever the mc pops up, they will be gn, enjoy!

also: this kinda goes without saying, but there are most definitely spoilers in here. for which seasons? i don’t remember, i watched this show when i was nine, but proceed with caution if you have yet to watch it.

lucifer

if it’s one thing you are not gonna play with him about, it is princess azula. this man is an azula supremacist, and while he might not say those words exactly, anyone would be able to tell that’s the case if they talked to him about the show for longer than two minutes. he actually wasn’t even interested in the show until azula showed up, and he will readily admit this to anyone who inquires about it. what makes it funny is the fact that her first appearance is literally, like, ten seconds, so that means he saw her and immediately knew she was the best, which, like—real recognize real. is he projecting? am i projecting? yes, no. in that order. shut up.

he actually almost couldn’t hide how proud he was when azula almost killed aang, this man is deranged. the same way he takes her wins personally, he takes every loss of hers personally as well, so when she lost that agni kai? 🚶‍♂️ 

the average azula enjoyer believes azula should get a redemption arc, lucifer believes azula should simply get whatever she wants, and the difference between those two things is striking.

average azula enjoyer: i believe azula deserves to heal and redeem herself. it isn’t fair that she was left with her tyrannical, abusive father during formative years of her childhood, with no one to help her or show her what it means to be good. she cannot be blamed for the way she turned out. it especially isn’t fair that she gets no redemption for evil things she did at age fourteen, for a year, while the entire show is iroh’s redemption arc, and he was doing evil for decades—he is literally called “the dragon of the west” because of it. additionally—

lucifer morningstar, resident azula supremacist: everything azula did, she was right to do, because i would’ve done the same. there was never a point at which she was wrong, it’s just unfortunate that nobody could keep up with her, her father included. the only reason why she ended up losing, ultimately, is because this is a children’s show, and good is supposed to win out. it was plot armor. if this were realistic, she would’ve beaten everyone—at the very least, she would’ve beaten zuko in the final agni kai, it’s just that he broke the rules and brought backup. at the time of the agni kai, she was literally the strongest firebender in the show. that’s actually the only part of this lucifer is right about, but you can’t tell him that.

if you ask him what his favorite quote in the show is, he’ll immediately say, “i can see your whole history in your eyes. you were born with nothing, so you’ve had to struggle, and connive, and claw your way to power. but true power? the divine right to rule? is something you’re born with.” and he will do it so well that it’ll give you the chills. 

in actuality, his favorite quote is, “i’d really rather our family physician look after little zuzu, if you don’t mind.” it’s just that it doesn’t have the same chilling effect as the first one. 

does he like any other characters? does he even care about any other characters? he has a deep fondness for sokka because he reminds him of mammon.  yes, and they are katara and suki, with honorable mention to avatar kyoshi. 

does he hate any characters? no, but if you mention avatar kuruk or uncle iroh to him, he might get annoyed. is mildly frustrated by aang, but has the sense to cut him some slack for being twelve and the last of his kind. never speak of ozai.

mammon 

toph supremacist. frequent user of the phrase, “toph is just fucking class.” knows for a fact that toph is the best and strongest bender in the entire show, and no one has ever managed to convince him otherwise. mainly because nobody really disagrees. like, have you ever even seen toph slander?

just like lucifer with azula, he wasn’t invested in the show until toph showed up, which, once again, is funny, because technically her very first appearance is only a few seconds long, so that means he saw her for a literal second and just knew. you can’t even be mad at that, real recognize real. 

no one will ever see him more proud than when he’s talking about one toph beifong. he can’t get over her raw, unbridled talent, and he really never should. if you let him (so, if you’re levi), he will spend so much time analyzing her character and every single one of her strengths, from the fact that she’s the only one who knows when azula is lying, all the way down to the fact that even though she projects a tough persona, she can still be vulnerable, AND—

not only is she strong, but her personality is simply untouchable. this girl grows on literally everyone; like, even lucifer likes her, even though he’ll die before saying it out loud. 

he gets so smug whenever someone asks him who his favorite is and it’s because he knows his taste is top tier, and what makes it worse is that no one can even disagree because toph is just that good. 

will never admit it, but he was shaking and crying during the scene where it looked like toph and sokka were literally gonna die. was also gonna cry when toph almost drowned. basically: he is eternally grateful to suki. 

his favorite line in the entire show is, “i am the greatest earthbender in the world! don’t you two dunderheads ever forget it.” it’s just fucking class.

does he like any other characters? he sees himself in sokka, he’ll tell you that much. he also knows that satan and lucifer like sokka because of him, and he found out because he heard them talking about it. to their joint dismay, they turned to see him standing behind them, grinning like an idiot, and they couldn’t even scare him into leaving them alone when he hugged both of them at the same time because, one, they didn’t really want to, and two, they couldn’t turn off their fondness for him fast enough ^_^. did they reciprocate his hug? did they stay like that for a little bit? did lucifer kiss the tops of their heads? maybe so🤨

does he hate any characters? not really, but he doesn’t particularly like azula because she scares him and makes him sad, like lucifer and doesn’t see her appeal. once tried to make a case for why she shouldn’t have a redemption arc and felt painfully human from the way he almost died. do not mention toph’s parents to him. the name ozai should also never be on your tongue.

levi 

resident sokka enjoyer and suki appreciator. do not ever call sokka dumb in front of this man unless you want a proper lecture. unlike a few of his brothers, he doesn’t like sokka just because of his similarities to mammon. he also likes sokka because he relates to him on a personal level. 

levi absolutely knows what it’s like to feel inadequate and outshined by people younger than you. he absolutely knows what it’s like to feel like your competence is overlooked. while he might be unfamiliar with how it feels to strategize for a war and lose a battle, but it is one of his biggest fears and it absolutely crushed him to see sokka go through that. 

on a lighter note, levi has a deep appreciation for sokka’s comedic value, despite the fact that it can overshadow his intelligence. levi would actually venture to say that he likes sokka’s funnier side because it overshadows his intelligence to the point that it throws the opposition for a loop. this is the aspect of sokka that reminds him of mammon. 

it also seriously warmed his heart to see how everyone missed sokka while he was away for sword training; he especially liked that episode because it was just an affirmation of the fact that sokka is an integral part of team avatar, which he really needed to see. 

you know who else is an integral part of team avatar who needs to be recognized as such more often? suki. do you know how much pain levi is in every time he thinks about the lack of suki screentime . it’s a lot . suki is just too good for the amount of screentime she has, he’s sorry, but it’s true. this is evidenced by the scene of her literally running across prisoners’ heads to apprehend the warden of boiling rock. that scene speaks for itself—she and the other kyoshi warriors end up as zuko’s body guards for a reason. 

he will never let anyone forget that if it weren’t for suki, sokka would still be a misogynist. she was an essential element to sokka’s growth as a character and everyone had better remember it or so help him. also , he is a firm believer in the fact that suki was the best love interest for sokka, with zuko as a close second. don’t ask questions. rip yue but argue with the wall.

his favorite line in the series? 

“zuko’s gone crazy! i made a sand sculpture of suki, and he destroyed it! oh, and he’s attacking aang.” 

it’s not profound or cool or anything like that, but it makes him smile and giggle every time he thinks of it ^_^. 

does he like any other characters? he has a lot of love for toph and azula for the sole fact that the series improved exponentially after both of their introductions; he thinks both of them are in leagues of their own and seeing them in action just puts a smile on his face. he’s also inexplicably fond of king bumi. 

does he hate any characters? not particularly, actually! he pretty much respects and appreciates everyone, except the guy who mutilated his thirteen year old son for speaking out of turn.

satan 

just pick a girl. any girl. and from the way he talks about them, you’ll think they’re his favorite. he can and will go on about the girls of atla for the rest of eternity.

but since we’re being specific:

katara appreciator. azula enjoyer. basically, between him and lucifer, no tongue raised against azula shall prosper. he has a deep respect for each of their wraths. he also really must have a thing for angst because both of these characters just break his heart. 

if you let him (in other words, if you’re levi), he will go on about how it’s not fair that people call katara annoying when, in reality, she just hasn’t healed from the trauma of seeing her mother’s corpse at age eight, followed by having to take care of her village, meaning she got literally no time to grieve properly, and—

call katara annoying in front of him and you might actually have to meet god for your shallow views of such a deep, complex character. 

he will also go on and on about how katara would be the best bender in the show, if it weren’t for toph, who is untouchable. instead, he’ll talk about how katara almost killed pakku for being misogynistic and how she single handedly beat azula during sozin’s comet. you will frequently hear this man say, “katara aang’s master for a reason,” and he’s right. 

similar to if you call katara annoying, if you call azula scary in front of satan, he’s bullying you. he’s sorry, but it has to happen. no way you’re scared of a traumatized fourteen year old, what are you, eight? or do you have no understanding of azula’s depth? both are unacceptable. 

satan is the average azula enjoyer, times about seven. you simply won’t get away with speaking poorly of azula in front of this man, so if you’re like mammon and don’t like her, you better tread very carefully. 

one time mammon tried to be like, “azula is too far gone to deserve redemption anyways,” and satan literally reverted to his demon form as he said: “if i were abandoned with my terrible father as a child, with literally no one to help me, and then my friends betrayed me, and then, as i was about to be crowned ruler of my country, my dumb fucking idiot brother showed up with his dumb peasant friend for backup, which isn’t even allowed, i might be mad forever too, actually—” and then he threw the nearest chair at mammon for his criminally bad take.

another reason why satan loves azula so much is because he’s convinced she’s a lesbian and satan is the most “let’s go lesbians!!!” person you will ever meet. you actually can’t convince him that she isn’t a lesbian. forget chan. nobody gives a fuck about chan.

what’s his favorite line in the entire series? 

“trust me, zuko—it’s not going to be much of a match.” 

like, come on. katara is just too good. 

does he like any other characters (other than the girls of atla)? he’ll never admit it, but he has a lot of respect for sokka and a soft spot for him because he reminds him of mammon. he also has a lot of respect for aang because he reminds him of beel of how well he handled literally everything despite being twelve. 

does he hate any—yes. never speak of avatar roku. or iroh. or ozai. for good measure, don’t mention general zhao either. 

asmo 

what lucifer is to azula, asmo is to ty lee. like do i even have to say anything else. but for what it’s worth, he also love, love, loves azula because she reminds him of lucifer, from her strength and class, all the way down to her descent into madness. and even though she breaks his heart just as much as she does satan’s. he may or may not have cried over azula in satan’s room while they were talking about her. unlike lucifer and satan, he can respect it if you don’t like her, but it’ll make him so sad. 

but enough about azula. ty lee is where it’s at for him. her subtle strength and unwavering love is something to die for, and he will defend it against anyone, up to and including lucifer, and he’ll win too. asmo is not to be trifled with and neither is ty lee; he can make a strong argument as to why ty lee is the strongest character in the show, and you will have a very hard time trying to refute his points. (the main point being: it’ll be really hard to win a fight against someone who can paralyze you in a few seconds, bender or not.)

the fact that ty lee ran away from home because she was tired of the fact that nobody ever saw her as her own person is just something that tugs at asmo’s heartstrings. he thinks ty lee’s bravery is just something that can be so personal. 

also—he has a massive appreciation for the fact that, even though there’s a war going on and ty lee is in near-constant danger, she still has the sense to maintain her appearance and worry about the skincare of not just herself, but also people she’s close to. that is a detail he will never let anyone forget. 

never mentions it in front of lucifer but one of his favorite scenes is when she paralyzes azula to save mai. once again: ty lee’s bravery is just something that can be so personal. 

he doesn’t have a favorite line in the series, but his favorite exchange of dialogue is between ty lee and azula, wherein ty lee is trying to teach azula how to flirt. he thinks it’s the cutest thing in the world.

does he like any other characters? of course! he likes everyone ^_^ . you’d actually be hard pressed to find someone he hates. ozai. it’s ozai. he has a real soft spot for mai because she reminds him of belphie. something about their shared aversion to affection is just so cute to him!

beel

aang supremacist, will hold steadfast to the fact that aang is the best character in the show and you will struggle to figure out how to convince him otherwise. 

if you ask him why aang is his favorite, the first thing he will do is gesture to a picture of him and say, “look at the material,” like it’s the most obvious thing in the world, before diving into a ten minute in depth character analysis for this boy. 

come on. he shouldn’t even have to explain himself. not only is aang one of the strongest, most competent avatars to exist, ever, he also mastered all four elements in a year, when he was twelve—he’s literally a different breed. and he managed to beat ozai in his own way, without killing him, as a means of staying true to a culture that could have literally died with him at any point in the show. aang is just fucking class.

he also admires aang for his near unwavering kindness and lighthearted nature. and for never going berserk and killing everyone he sees, especially after finding out his people were killed while he was in ice.

you have no idea how much pain beel was in when he found out that the air nomads were just gone. seeing a child find out that not only their family is gone, but also the entirety of their people and culture, just absolutely broke his heart. and that guilt aang was feeling? hit way too close to home for him. 

he also thinks it’s really nice that aang was so quick to forgive zuko after everything, and the two of them ended up being really good friends. it just puts a smile on his face. 

after some reflection with levi, he would’ve liked to see the full scope of an airbender’s power in the series; as in, he would’ve liked to see someone suffocated, but it’s okay, because aang wasn’t like that.  and he heard it happens in the next series over.

anyway, beel’s favorite quote in the show...well, it isn’t really a quote, as much as it’s a dialogue between two characters. it’s the scene where toph asks, “do you really think friendships can last more than one lifetime?” and aang says, “i don’t see why not.” it could bring a tears to his eyes just thinking about it; and in the next series over when it’s proven to be true, he absolutely cried. 

does he like any other characters? he’s actually really fond of zuko and mai because they both remind him of belphie. he also likes sokka for the same reason lucifer and satan like sokka. he has a deep appreciation for katara because aang would literally be dead without if it weren’t for her.

does he hate any characters? well, he doesn’t really like azula. he feels bad for her, but he doesn’t like her. but as for who he hates? take a wild guess. 

belphie 

zuko makes him sob is his number one. yes zuko is his favorite because of his redemption arc, yes he sees himself in zuko, no he will not explain any further than that, what’s your point🤨

in actuality, he will never be able to properly articulate how important it is for him to see that redemption is, indeed, attainable, if you put the work in. in a similar vein, he will also never be able to give words to how important it is for him to see that forgiveness is also attainable.  it means the world to him. that is why it makes him cry. the feeling is overwhelming. i’m gonna cry if i think about it for too long.

he will cling to the fact that zuko is the best character in the show, and he will cling to it even when zuko embarrasses him by saying stupid shit like, “no lightning today?” and even when zuko is so awkward it causes him physical pain. that’s his number one and he’s not changing on it!

firm zukka supporter. will not argue. that’s all.

what’s his favorite line in the entire series? it’s one of the two you’re thinking of. make that decision for yourself.

does he like any other characters? he positively adores aang and will readily admit that it’s because he reminds him of beel. bonus points for aang because he also loves the dynamic between him and zuko. toph is a distant third, mainly because he just really likes her attitude. he looks at her and thinks, now this is someone who would not hesitate to kick lucifer’s ass. 

does he hate any characters? you better believe it. he hates iroh because he reminds him of dia. he can’t really bring himself to like azula because she makes him a different kind of sad. and if you know what’s good for you, you will never mention ozai. 

[flameohotwife]

'Til We Meet Again

Aang has passed. Katara is heading to the South to start anew without him, and finally begins to process her grief along the way. Written for the @kataang-week 2021 prompt: the sea & the sky

Read on ao3 or ffn

Everyone who remained was gathered outside at the dock on Air Temple Island. Saying goodbye to the gang was always hard, but this time was different. This time they were missing one of their own, and he wouldn’t be coming back. Not as they knew him, anyway.

They’d held a private sky burial almost a week ago, and the public memorial the previous day, so most of the dignitaries had finally gone. Katara looked out to Yue Bay and willed herself to keep it together just a little longer. The low hanging clouds were pale orange in the early morning light, reminding her of when they’d bent the clouds together a lifetime ago. A sob rose in her throat and she hastily swallowed it. Not yet.

Her friends and family huddled around her. Toph, Sokka, Suki, Zuko, and even Mai came in for one of Team Avatar’s notorious group hugs. She closed her eyes when a breeze blew by, trying to pretend it was him. That he was still there. If she could keep pretending, she might be able to make it.

Bumi, Kya and Tenzin came out of the house and down to the dock, bags in hand. “Everybody ready?” Bumi asked. He fidgeted uncomfortably with his bag, unsure what to do with so much negative energy.

“There’s been a change in plans,” Katara said carefully. All eyes sprung to her. She hadn’t mentioned this to anyone, yet. “You all are going on the ship as planned with Sokka and Suki. Tenzin, dear, I’m going to take Oogi. We’ll meet you in the South Pole.”

Tenzin’s eyes widened and his mouth fell open comically. He had inherited the need to intricately plan every detail of their trips from his uncle, and this was surely throwing a wrench into his itinerary. “Mother, please, come on the ship with us,” he begged. “Or at least let one of us come with you. Are you sure you’re…”

“I’m fine,” Katara snapped, cutting Tenzin off and assuring everyone there that she was anything but. Sokka stepped forward to put a strong hand on his nephew’s shoulder.

“She’ll be okay, buddy,” he said. “She needs some time in the sky on her own.”

Katara smiled thankfully at her brother. Of course he would understand her grief. He had been with her throughout all her worst times, after all. She obviously hadn’t taken to the skies when their mother died, but she knew he remembered the nights she spent out by the ocean alone, after the chores were done and the family in bed. She’d often returned to find him waiting up for her, a pot of tea over the fire. And now, after a week of being smothered by friends and family and strangers alike, all bringing condolences, Katara needed some air. She pulled her babies--now so much taller than her--in for a group hug of their own.

“You’re all so strong,” she started, fighting the tears pricking at her eyes. Just a little longer. “We’ll be together again before you know it. And I’m going to make you all go penguin sledding, since your Dad won’t be there to do it.” She pulled back with a twinkle in her shining blue eyes, kissing them each soundly on the forehead in turn before heading over to where Oogi had been patiently waiting to get on the ship with everyone. She nuzzled his face affectionately. “Ready, boy?”

Oogi grunted and licked her and a laugh escaped her throat. “Toph, Zuko, Mai,” she said, turning to face her friends who wouldn’t be joining them in the South Pole, “Thank you. For everything, especially this week. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.”

“Don’t be so sure about that, Sweetness,” Toph laughed, “I’m going back into hiding. That was too much people-ing for me. Maybe in another 66 years.”

“Well, you’re welcome at the palace anytime,” Zuko said. “We should get back to Izumi, though. Have a safe journey south, okay?”

“Yeah, don’t be a stranger,” Mai added dryly. Katara nodded, but Mai knew she wouldn’t be coming to visit the palace again. She and Aang had shared too many memories there. Maybe they’d see each other at smaller events, but it seemed Katara was going to retire from public view as well. She watched as her friend climbed up onto the giant bison’s head and Tenzin airbent her bags into the saddle for her. Her long hair, drawn up in a bun with her signature loopies, was more white than brown now, and Mai noticed far more wrinkles and worry lines on Katara’s face than she’d had the last time they’d seen each other, only a few months prior. Aang’s illness and subsequent passing had taken a physical toll on her, as well.

“Bye, everyone,” Katara waved one last time, sad eyes sweeping over each cherished face, and the place that had been her home for the majority of her life so far. That she had built with him. She could feel her heart squeezing in her chest, and knew she had to get out of there. “Yip yip!”

Finally, the wind whipped around her as they soared into the sky. It was such a familiar feeling, even though it had been months since she had left Air Temple Island while she tended to Aang, refusing to leave his side. But there was nothing tying her to this place--this home that they had dreamed of together and made so many memories in--anymore. Her children were grown and would be fine on their own, and her tether was gone.

Katara closed her eyes and just listened to the sound of the air moving against her ears. She had never felt as at home in the sky as Aang had, but after traveling with him so much throughout their lives, flying on a bison gave her a warmth in her chest that had been missing since he’d passed. She felt the walls she had built, trying to be strong for her children and friends, begin to crumble, and after keeping them in for so long, let the tears flow freely, sobbing to the sky.

Suddenly, she was 14, bending the clouds atop Appa with her best friend. She remembered being in awe of their ability to combine their elements to make something new, how much fun it had been; how it had felt like dancing, and how he had referenced that moment later, when they began to have children together, calling Bumi, Kya, and Tenzin their little “cloudbabies.”

She was soaring through the sky beside him on his glider to deal with the Harmony Restoration Movement. Learning to fly side-by-side on his glider with him had been something of an adventure, but when they did, it was like nothing she had ever experienced before. They were perfectly in sync, especially when they flew over the ocean. She remembered staring at the horizon, where the sea touched the sky, and the wispy clouds made from both of them coming together, and feeling so at home, like she had always been meant to be there, with him.

She was flying over the ocean with Aang, sitting back in Appa’s saddle and leaning into his warm chest. He was asking her to stay with him forever, and she was telling him she couldn’t live without him. Katara felt her heart shatter for the thousandth time since he passed, and he wasn’t there to glue her pieces back together again, like he always had been.

She knew she was resilient. That she had lost before, and would lose again, and that this pain--though it would never leave her--would become bearable with time. She knew her life didn’t revolve completely around Aang, and it never had, but she had spent so much of her life loving him so completely that now, with nowhere left for that love to go, she felt swallowed by it.

Alone, up in his element, without the people she always felt the need to be strong for (and the one person who had never made her feel that way), Katara let herself break. Again and again, as often as she needed to. The wind was comforting in an aching sort of way, and the crying was cathartic. She hadn’t felt this free since before Aang had fallen ill. Since the last time they’d flown together. She wanted to close her eyes and pretend he was sitting next to her, that the breeze was him teasing her, that this was all a dream. Instead she forced her eyes to the horizon, tears still streaming.

The sun had risen much higher in the sky since she’d left Air Temple Island. There was no more orangish-pink sky, but there was still a string of low-lying clouds that blocked her view of the sky and sea coming together. All of a sudden, that freeness she felt dissipated and an indignant anger rose in her. She was angry at those clouds and angry at the circumstances that caused Aang’s early death and angry that he wasn’t there to comfort her. It wasn’t fair. She felt cheated out of decades more time with him, of the chance to be grandparents together, or to really enjoy their golden years together. She erupted with a mournful wail, slashing at the clouds with her bending until they too exploded in a downpour.

Katara took some time then, to breathe, and to feel. To really, truly, deliberately feel everything she had been trying to avoid in the week since he died. Since he left her. She recalled another time her grief and anger had gotten the better of her, and how he had calmly, gently advised her, “let your anger out. Then let it go.” She could still hear his sweet twelve-year-old voice and see the concern in his grey eyes in the back of her memory. She took another centering breath, like he had taught her to do after the war when they were both haunted by nightmares and panic attacks, and as she exhaled, she tried to push out all the anger with the air. To rid her body and soul of any animosity surrounding her feelings about him.

She resolved to be at peace. To let her waves of anger and frustration flow like water, and let it go. She didn’t have a choice in the situation, after all; the only choice she had was how she responded.

“I love you, Sweetie,” she whispered to the sky. The tears were still tracing paths down her face, but it was calming, again like before. “I know you had to go. And...I know you would have stayed with me if you could. It’s just another Avatar trip--another Spirit World journey, only this time…” Katara paused, closing her eyes to allow the sorrow to pass through her in sobs before continuing. “This time, it seems so permanent. I know you said it’s not goodbye forever, that this will only last ‘til we meet again in the Spirit World, and then we’ll be together for eternity. But it just… it hurts so much more, being without you this time. I know I can be strong. I will be. I just miss you, is all.”

There was a gentle breeze that swirled around her hair and kissed her face. She opened her eyes in shock; it seemed so intentional, like bending, but he wasn’t there, of course. She smiled, though, and then she laughed, because she knew she would always find him. She had been destined to find him in that iceberg, and she would continue to find his spirit now in the playful air currents, or in the beauty of a field of flowers, or in the laughter of children, until she could find him in the Spirit World and they would be united once more.

She knew that as long as she could keep his spirit with her, she could get through this. That she could be happy again, for him, for their children, and for herself. She also understood that her decision to move to the South Pole was the right one, not only because it would be the best place to train the next Avatar in waterbending, like she had promised Aang she would, but because the open space would be perfect for her healing heart. Katara could live out the rest of her days there, surrounded by both their elements; by the sea and the sky.

[shortkingzuko]

title: love lines

relationship: mai/ty lee

no warnings that i can think of

summary: Mai tries not to think about how nice it was to feel Ty Lee’s hand against her own, tries not to think about how it would feel to have her press kisses against her palms or feel her eyelashes fluttering against her cheek. In some ways she feels nostalgic for when they were kids when Ty Lee was equally as touchy but before she learned to respect Mai’s boundaries. What a fool she was, to establish such firm boundaries in such harsh fashions. Mai hopes that Ty Lee will trip up, hug her for too long or too tight, press a kiss against her cheek in greeting as she does for so many others. Of course, Ty Lee never does. She’s too good, cares too much about Mai’s comfort, and tries so hard to make sure that she is never the cause of distress. Mai has never been described as touchy, and she made sure that everyone knew it. She wishes she could think of a way to tell Ty Lee that she might be the only exception.-- OR; Intricate Rituals Constructed To Allow Mai To Touch The Skin of Another Woman

this was a pinch hit that i fulfilled for @avatar-rarepair-exchange-2021 !! really fun to write :^)

read it on ao3 (and see all my tags and joshin around) or read it under the cut !!

“Mai, give me your hand,” Ty lee says, voice piercing through Mai’s concentration easily. She lets go of the edge of her book, languidly lifting it towards Ty Lee.

“Why do-” Mai’s question is cut off when a strong tug pulls her arm and her attention. “Ty Lee, what are you doing?”

Ty Lee holds Mai’s wrist, one hand pushing back her gently curled fingers, leaning over to eye at her palm closely.

“Stop moving!” Ty Lee says, wrestling Mai’s arm into a more convenient position. As quiet as they try to be, Mai can tell that other students are turning around in their seats, trying to get a glimpse of who’s breaking the silence of the library. “I’m trying to read your palm!”

Ty Lee finally has a grip she likes, cradling Mai’s now still palm like it’s something precious. One calloused finger traces over Mai’s skin, tickling it as the pastel pink nail follows some invisible shape. Mai swallows.

“Okay,” she says, trying to keep her voice even. She clenches her free hand into a fist and hopes that the hand that Ty Lee is holding isn’t getting as sweaty. Ty Lee studies the skin carefully, leaning in close at random.

Mai can feel her gentle breath on her hand, and against her best wishes, she finds herself leaning closer too, trying to see whatever is catching Ty Lee’s interest for so long.

After what feels like a thousand heartbeats, Ty Lee lets go. It takes a moment for Mai to realize that she can take her hand back.

“So, what’s the diagnosis, doctor?” Mai asks, trying as subtly as she can to wipe her hand on her jeans. Ty Lee giggles.

“Well the lighting in here isn’t great, so I didn’t get a perfect look, but it looks pretty good to me!” She grins, and Mai almost disagrees with her statement about the lighting, because the way her lip gloss shines and reflects in the fluorescent glow almost makes her brain short circuit.

Mai raises an eyebrow and looks at Ty Lee for a moment. Their staredown only lasts for a few seconds before Ty Lee laughs again.

“Fine! Fine! I’m still learning though,” she says, impassionedly, motioning to the various books and magazines that she’s spread out on their table, “but it looks like your success or money line was good-”

“It better be.”

“Yes, yes, I know, you’re in the sciences for the money. It looked pretty good, your lifeline looked  very  good, no breaks! And, uh,” Ty Lee almost looks bashful, with the way she looks away, cheeks going pink, “Your marriage line is pretty short, but your love line looks good.”

“Marriage is a sham,” Mai says, automatically. She doesn’t know why her heart is beating so fast at Ty Lee mentioning love. She always seems to feel nervous at the mention of love, or dating, or romance these days, though she tries hard to hide it. Ever since she came out as gay it  feels  like every mention is pointed at her, for some reason, like any whisper of love is meant to get a reaction out of her.

She knows it isn’t true, knows that Ty Lee of all people would never try to wind her up or make her uncomfortable on purpose. Mai’s certain that if she voiced these feelings to Ty Lee, armchair therapist that she is, that she would receive a long lecture about becoming more comfortable with herself and her desires, how she needs to stop repressing her feelings and ‘let her heart sing’ or something like that. Just the thought of it, makes Mai try to push the thought down even more.

“I know that you think marriage is a sham.” Ty Lee pouts and leans her chin on her propped up arm. The friendship bracelet that she forced Mai to make with her hands proudly on her wrist. Mai has to force herself to pull her eyes away from it and look back at the physics textbook that she should have been studying this entire time. “Maybe that’s why your marriage line is so much shorter than your love line.”

“I didn’t know that a marriage line existed,” Mai mutters, attempting to lose herself into equations and examples utilizing her ‘cousin Throckmorton.’ Ty Lee just hums in response, flipping back open a book of her own. They settle back into silence - a fact that those in their surrounding tables are surely thankful for - and it takes Mai a few more minutes to feel her heartbeat settle down too.

Mai tries not to think about how nice it was to feel Ty Lee’s hand against her own, tries not to think about how it would feel to have her press kisses against her palms or feel her eyelashes fluttering against her cheek. In some ways she feels nostalgic for when they were kids when Ty Lee was equally as touchy but before she learned to respect Mai’s boundaries. What a fool she was, to establish such firm boundaries in such harsh fashions. Mai hopes that Ty Lee will trip up, hug her for too long or too tight, press a kiss against her cheek in greeting as she does for so many others.

Of course, Ty Lee never does. She’s too good, cares too much about Mai’s comfort, and tries so hard to make sure that she is never the cause of distress. Mai has never been described as touchy, and she made sure that everyone knew it.

She wishes she could think of a way to tell Ty Lee that she might be the only exception.

Mai lets the thought swim around in her head as she waits for Ty Lee to finish her martial arts club. Other girls stream out of the practice room and changing room, and Mai does her best to sidestep all of them. She peers through the small crowd, trying to see the tell-tale high ponytail and pink scrunchy. The tea she’s holding is starting to burn her hand, and just as she’s about to turn to try and find a place to set it down, she sees a flurry of pink and then Ty Lee’s beaming face.

“Mai!” She cheers. Her cheeks are just as pink as her sweatshirt, and as she walks towards Mai she tries frantically to stab her dangly earrings back into her ears. It takes Mai a second to recognize them as the little daggers-earrings that she gifted her months ago. When Ty Lee gets close enough, Mai thrusts out her hand.

“I brought you that tea you like,” she says, hoping that her affection doesn’t seep into her voice. The way Ty Lee grins makes her think that maybe she failed. She doesn’t know if the thought upsets her or not.

“Aw, you’re so sweet!”

“No, I’m not!”

“Yes, you are,” Ty Lee teases, trying again to get her earring through its hole. She reaches out with one hand to save Mai’s hand from the hot cup, and Mai doesn’t allow herself to dwell on the feeling of gentle fingers brushing against her own.

“Want some help?” Mai asks instead. Ty Lee looks surprised for only a split second before she nods, passing her earrings to Mai’s outstretched hand.

A thrum of excitement courses through Mai’s body as she steps closer to Ty Lee. It isn’t cute or romantic, in fact, it’s kind of gross - Ty Lee still has sweat clinging to her neck and hair, and she smells vaguely of the university gym’s foam mats. Mai carefully pushes the earrings into each of Ty Lee’s ears, taking a moment longer than necessary to ‘make sure they’re both in.’

She steps back and sees that Ty Lee is smiling, but more softly, gentler than her usual beam.

“Thank you, Mai,” she says, soft enough that Mai almost has to strain to hear it over the ruckus of other students clamouring to get to their swim practice in time.

“Of course,” she chokes out, “Anytime.”

Mai is laying on Ty Lee’s laid out hoodie and is leaning her head on Ty Lee’s backpack. Her homework has been long abandoned as she watches Ty Lee run around with their friends on the unused field. Aang holds a frisbee, while Suki holds a baseball bat, and Katara and Sokka both seem intent to tackle each other and Zuko into the ground. Mai has long lost track of whatever game or objective they originally had but it’s still mildly entertaining.

She watches as Ty Lee jogs over, flopping dramatically on the grass next to her.

“Phew! What a game!” She says dramatically, not bothering to explain what the game is, and stretching in a way that reminds Mai of a cat. She turns to her side and props her head on a hand. “You doing okay over here?”

“Yes,” Mai says, flicking a piece of grass off her jeans. “I’m just resting. Class was… tiring.”

Ty Lee hums. “Well, make sure you don’t get a sunburn! It’s bright today, isn’t it?”

Mai looks up at the sky, the sun indeed shining brightly, occasionally intercepted by fluffy clouds that float lazily in the stratosphere. She looks down at her hands, curled loosely on her lap.

“Yeah, pretty sunny.” She purses her lips. “Since the lighting is good, want to take another look at my palm?”

“Huh?” Ty Lee says, and for a moment Mai wishes the ground would swallow her whole. Of course, Ty Lee doesn’t remember, she looked at Mai’s hand weeks ago. She’s probably moved on to a different hobby, has no clue what Mai is- “Oh, yeah! Totally!”

She quickly sits up and scooches over to press herself closely to Mai’s side, snatching Mai’s hand out of her lap, and cradling it.

“Oh, I can see all the lines much better!” She exclaims, tracing all of them gently with a manicured finger. Mai is thankful that Ty Lee is so preoccupied with her task because it allows her to close her eyes, bask in this closeness, trying to let herself feel okay with feeling. Her face feels warm, and though she knows that to a stranger she likely looks no different, she knows that if Ty Lee glances up she’ll be able to instantly see the faintest whisper of pink across her nose and ears.

She can tell Ty Lee is almost done with her examination when she hears her let out another hum. She snaps her eyes open and lets out a calming breath, tries to look nonchalant when Ty Lee glances back up at her.

“Money and life lines still look good,” Ty Lee says, smiling gently like she’s telling a long-con of a joke, “And look, your love line and life line are parallel to each other!”

Mai leans over and looks at her hand, eyes darting to Ty Lee’s sparkly nail polish. “What does that mean?”

“Oh, them being parallel means that you’re in control of your emotions, but since your love line starts  here-”  She taps just below Mai’s index finger, “It means that you’ll have a happy love life!”

“Oh… that’s nice,” Mai says.

“Totally nice! And look at your wisdom line, so clear! It says you're really careful and intelligent. Look at mine, all wavy. It tells you that I don’t focus on much.” She laughs and places a hand gently on top of Mai’s. Against herself, Mai reaches out, gently tracing lines on Ty Lee’s palm even though she can’t tell one line from another. She tries to look for a line that wavers, but the heartbeat in her ears distracts her.

All too soon, Ty Lee removes her hand and goes back to prattling away about different lines and their meanings. Mai can barely focus and doesn’t care much about the technicalities, but she enjoys the excitement that flows off of Ty Lee like an unpolluted stream and feels a warmth bloom in her chest as she cheats a few more minutes of comfort from her friend.

Ty Lee’s dorm is much messier than Mai’s is, and with anyone else, Mai would either bully them into cleaning or not bother entering. The pile of clutter, ‘mementos’, and undeniable garbage seems to lay claim to anything that leaves a person’s hand, hiding it away so that it takes at least a few minutes of searching to find anything. In contrast, Mai’s dorm is neat, orderly, minimalistic. Her first-year roommate once looked at Mai’s pristine desk and said it looked devoid of personality. It was easy for Mai to let people assume that no personality is her personality than explain every niche caveat of the point. The sheets she brings from home at black. She brings no posters, only hangs academic photos and graphs to help her study. Mai values privacy, values the protection that a blank face and dispassionate voice give her. It’s not that Mai lacks a personality, she thinks to herself, she lacks the need - or maybe the ability - to express it to everyone.

Ty Lee has none of those problems. Her personality drips off of everything she touches. Her room is a shrine to everything she loves in life. Ty Lee herself is a shrine to everything she loves. Mai sits at Ty Lee’s desk, shoving knickknacks to the side as she tries to make enough space for her hefty workbook. Ty Lee lays on her bed, legs kicked up in the air, staring boredly at her education textbook. When Mai can finally open her book without risking breaking any of the junk scattered on the desk, she starts working, sighing every once in a while as the work goes on and on.

They’re about half an hour into their work when Mai’s pen dies mid-equation. She furrows her eyebrows and tries to write again, getting nothing except a small rip in the cheap paper. She scribbles at the side of the page and only sees a faint indent. She groans.

“What’s up, buttercup?” Ty Lee asks, likely taking any excuse to push aside work for a few moments.

“Pen died,” Mai huffs, glancing around for where she put her bookbag. The number of blankets, sweaters, pillows, and scarves serve not only as a fire hazard but as excellent camouflage, even with the intense colour difference between their pink-to-orange-to-yellow hue and the dark, rich, burgundy of Mai’s bag.

“Just take one of mine,” Ty Lee says, “I have tons of ‘em.”

“Did you shoplift them?”

“Yeah.”

“Cool,” Mai says, reaching for the first pen she sees. Like many other things in the room, it’s pink, with a plastic star sticking on its end, bobbing with every movement. Mai does a test scribble and once she can tell it works, she dives back into her work, even as it becomes obvious that Ty Lee has gotten herself distracted.

After a few hours of studying and hanging out, Mai shoves her workbook into her now-found bag and walks across campus back to her dorm. When she takes everything out, she sees that she accidentally brought the pen with her. Walking all the way back seems pointless, and it’s not like Ty Lee would mind if she kept it.

She tosses her workbook on her desk, and carefully arranges the pen so that it’s square with the others.

Mai can feel her heart pounding as Ty Lee lays next to her, can feel her palms begin to sweat even as she rubs them nervously against her black sheets. Ty Lee watches the movie on the laptop screen while Mai keeps sneaking glances at Ty Lee.

She practiced what she wanted to say, how she was going to say it, but now it feels impersonal, cold, just as cool and bland as everyone thinks she is. She knows that Ty Lee would never think that, she somehow just  knows   how   much   and how   big  Mai’s feelings are even if she can’t show them.

Mai also knows that this won’t be a pointless venture. She’s repressed and scared but she’s not stupid. She knows that Ty Lee doesn’t spend the same amount of time with all her other friends, that she doesn’t try to reign herself in with anyone else, doesn’t try to wear black or burgundy or ‘edgy’ jewelry with the hopes of matching with anyone else, knows that she doesn’t send text messages with hearts for just  anyone.  Those are just for Mai.

As comfortable as  this  feels, as everything with Ty Lee feels, Mai knows that both of them want more. Ty Lee deserves more than just a friend with a crush. Maybe Mai deserves more too.

Steeling herself, Mai quickly leans over and flicks on the light, causing Ty Lee to blink rapidly and say, “Hey, what’s the big idea!”

“Ty Lee, can you read my palm again,” Mai rushes out, nearly stumbling over her own words. Ty Lee tilts her head.

“Why? Palm lines don’t really change, not like horoscopes or tarot cards or-”

“I want you to look at my love line again.” Mai can feel the tips of her ears warming and resists the urge to smooth her hair over them. She sees Ty Lee’s eyes - so calm and gentle - glance at the pinkening skin.

“Your love line?” Ty Lee repeats, a small smile appearing on her face.

Mai nods. “Yes.”

She holds out a hand, and Ty Lee gently takes hold. She takes her time to uncurl Mai’s fingers, to trace over the lines, pressing her body into Mai’s arm.

“Your love line looks good,” Ty Lee says softly, “Predicts a happy experience.”

“Any indication on when?” Mai asks, fingers twitching under Ty Lee’s gentle care.

Ty Lee pauses for a moment then shakes her head. “I think… that might be up to you.”

Mai nods. “Right, of course.” She takes a deep breath. “Yeah, that makes sense.”

Ty Lee looks disappointed for a moment, makes to pull her hand away when Mai reaches for it ever so slightly, lacing their fingers together. Ty Lee looks down at their entwined hands, looks back at Mai and smiles, gentle and warm.

It takes Mai another second to calm the short circuit of her brain before she turns her head and leans towards Ty Lee. She’s pleased when Ty Lee meets her partway, and Mai can taste Ty Lee’s strawberry chapstick on her tongue, can feel the tingling of sparkles in her lip gloss and the buzz and the flutter of Ty Lee’s eyelashes against her face.

She can tell Ty Lee is smiling. Mai thinks she might be smiling too. She surprises herself by chasing after Ty Lee’s lips when she pulls away for a moment and isn't surprised at the giggles she gets in response. Her face is warm, her heart is thudding in her chest, and she isn’t remotely in her comfort zone. Ty Lee’s hand is calloused and gentle and warm and soft, and Mai is  holding it.  

Mai thinks she can get used to expressing her wants a little bit more if this is the outcome she gets.

[imnotusedtobeingloved]

RIOT

(PLEASE DON’T REPOST/REBLOG)

Warnings: heartbreak, betrayal.

Pairing: Zuko x f!Reader

Characters: Zuko, Katara, Aang, Toph, Sokka.

Requested: I guess?

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, nor the gif. Credit to the owners.

Summary: Part nine of “destiny is a funny thing”.

previous part

A/N: Next part! Tell me what you think!

All prisoners mingled in the yard, where Sokka, Suki, Hakoda, Zuko and you finally met. “This is it! We have to start a riot,” Sokka said. His father claimed to be fit for the task, trying to get another prisoner angry by shoving him, but failed. “This isn’t working,” His son stated. But then Chit Sang appeared behind him, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Hey you! You’re lucky I didn’t rat you out,” He smiled. “but my generosity comes with a price. I know you’re planning another escape attempt, and I want in,” You raised a brow at him, but turned to Sokka when he had this certain look in his eye. He had an idea. “Actually, we’re trying to escape right now, but we need a riot. You wouldn’t happen to know how to start one, would you?” The man huffed. “A prison riot? Please,” He grabbed another prisoner, lifting him up in the air and lifting him up and down. “Hey! Riot!” And the people started chanting. “Riot! Riot! Riot!” And several blasts of fire went off. Hakoda looked shocked for a moment, before mumbling to himself. “Impressive,”

“Good, we have a riot, now all we need to do is grab the warden, and get to the gondolas!” Sokka said, pointing above. “And how do we do that?” Zuko asked from beside you. “I’m not sure,” The prince groaned at that. “I thought you thought this through!” “I thought you told me it’s okay not to think everything through!” “Maybe not everything, but this is kind of important!” He rubbed his forehead, while you looked between them, wondering if you should interrupt or let them solve it on their own. Eventually Chit Sang took the descision off your shoulders. “Hey, uh, fellas. I think your girlfriend’s taking care of it,” Your heads turned, as he pointed towards Suki, who hopped on the heads of the rioters, before jumping and flipping onto the tower. You all started running to get to her, while she easily defeated the first guard with a few quick jabs, taking out the rest of them with the same ease and finally grabbing the warden. Once you arrived, completely out of breath, Suki had already gagged him with his headband. “We’ve got the warden! Now let’s get out of here!” She said, and Hakoda raised his brows. “That’s some girl!” Sokka smiled proudly. “Tell me about it,”

“Come on guys, we’ve got to go!” You said, maing a run for the gondola. “We’re almost there!” You heard Suki call out from behind you, but already more guards we’re trying to stop your group. “Back off! We’ve got the warden!” You heard Zuko from behind you, and as you turned your head you could see him block the flames from the guards. “Let’s go!” You arrived at the door first, ripping it open. “Everyone in!” Suki said, jumping in. Once the group was complete, Zuko started the gondola, kicking the handle a few times, trying to break it. The guards rushed towards him, blasting fire, as he tried to reach you. “Zuko!” you yelled as he jumped. You leaned out of it’s window, gripping his hand tightly. You groaned upon lifting his whole weight, trying to get him up. Luckily, Sokka was there to help him, dragging him inside where he landed right on top of you with a gasp. “We’re on our way!” Suki cheered, while the two of you stared at each other, before quickly getting up. You avoided his gaze, reminded of the kiss you’d almost shared in the cooler. The atmosphere between you sizzled and hissed like a fire. You could only hope that the flames weren’t high enough to alert the others. The only thing that would resolve in, is endless teasing. He knew that as well as you did. And yet you could feel his burning stare at your profile. “Wait! Who’s that?” Hakoda, Sokka and Suki were all staring out of the windows. As the two of you joined them, you spotted new faces appearing on the platform. And to your dismay, you knew exactly who they were. “That’s a problem. It’s my sister and her friend,” You huffed, barely able to imagine that someone as vile as Azula could have any genuine friends. Looking up at your group, the princess snatched a pair of handcuffs froma guard’s belt and ran forward. Meanwhile Ty Lee jumped onto the cable, running along. After elevating herself to the line below her friend with a fire blast, Azula used the cuffs to attach herself to it and propelled herself forward.

“This is a rematch I’ve been waiting for,” Suki said in a determined tone, a grim look in her face. “Me too,” Zuko rasped, turning his head to look at you. You gave him a brief nod. Then you began climbing onto the roof with Sokka and Suki. Once she was within reach, Ty Lee flipped into the air, lading right in front of the Kyoshi Warrior, who growled and assumed a battle-ready position. Azula on the other hand, pulled herself up on the roof, facing her brother and the Water Tribe boy. You got caught up in the middle, switching your sight between both sides. The princess took her stance, performing a kick sending blue fire at her opponents, but Zuko blocked it. Now Ty Lee got active as well, trading blows with Suki. Your friend was able to block most of her hits, but soon you saw an opening in her defense, the circus girl was ready to take. You formed a whip of fire around you, lashing it into her direction and forcing her to the edge. “Thanks,” Suki grinned, before refocusing, once Ty Lee came back out on the other side. Behind you the two royal sibling were wildly blasting fire at each other, only barely interrupted by Sokka who managed to draw Azula back to the edge with his sword. As you turned, you could see Zuko going for a finishing blow, but his sister dodged, staying on the gondola and responding with a huge blast so wide, that it would’ve reached Suki and Ty Lee, had you not blocked it with your own.

But then the gondola started rocking back and forth, causing Sokka to lose his balance. He slid to the edge, which had Zuko sprinting to his rescue and Azula casting another blow. You covered the boys as they got back up, while ty Lee jumped up to the top of the wire, to see what was going on. “They’re about to cut the line!” And as the guards worked to stop your escape, you noticed another gondola approaching behind you, heading inbound. And apparently, so did Azula. “Then it’s time to leave,” She smirked, blasting herself up in the air. “Goodbye, Zuko,” She simpered, reaching the opposite rooftop. Ty Lee backflipped, landing next to her, but looked back at you with concern in contrast to Azula’s sadistic smile, much to your surprise. “The gondola’s about to go!” Zuko confirmed and Hakoda rubbed his neck. “I hope this thing floats,” You nibbled on your bottom lip, brows furrowing in concern. There was nothing you could do to stop them from here. You were completely out of reach. As you looked to your right you could see the gears in Zuko’s head turn, mulling over the possibility of a solution, just as you were, but then... then it continued in motion!

”Who’s that?” Sokka asked, leaning out of a window, as everyone joined him. Back down on the platform was a girl. A girl with raven hair and a red robe. “It’s Mai!” Zuko’s shock was evident on his face and a shiver ran down your spine. The daughter of a Fire Nation General and the princes former lover was helping you escape? But why? And by the look of your team mates, you weren’t the only one wondering about her intentions. You shook your head, banning the negative thoughts from your head, as you reached the top of the hill. “Well, we made it out. Now what?” Suki questioned and looked at Sokka, who noticed Zuko standing still. “Zuko, what are you doing?” He mumbled a response. “My sister was on that island.” “Yeah, and she’s probably right behind us, so let’s not stop!” Zuko shook his head. “What I mean is she must have come here somehow,” Your eyes widened in understanding and you joined him, walking up a hill by the sea. “There!” You pointed a finger, eyes lighting up. “That’s our way out of here!”

All of you reached the Western Air Temple by nightfall. Zuko, Sokka and you exited the ship first, once it was returned, where Toph, Katara and Aang already waited for you. “What are you doing in this thing? What happened to the war balloon?” Katara asked as soon as she spotted you. You bit your bottom lip, rubbing your arm. “It kinda got destroyed,”

“Sounds like a crazy fishing trip,” Aang smiled, holding his staff, before Toph chimed in. “Did you at least get some good meat?” Now a soft smile appeared on Sokka’s face. Sweet enough to make the corners of your own lips curl. “I did. The best meat of all. The meat of friendship and fatherhood,” He spoke as Suki, Hakoda and Chit Sang came out. “I’m new. What’s up, everybody?” The man said, waving. Katara teared up, overjoyed to be surrounded by her entire family once again. “Dad?” She ran to embrace him. “Hi, Katara,”

“How are you here? What is going on? Where did you go?” She rambled the next second, making you laugh, while Sokka grew sheepish. “We kind of went to a Fire Nation prison,” Hakoda pulled him into the hug, holding both of them close. “Seriously? You guys didn’t find any meat?” Toph complained, pouting slightly. Inching towards her, you wrapped your arms around her shoulders from behind, resting your chin on her head. “Don’t worry, sweet cheeks. We’ll get you your meat,”

tags:  @zvkonation​ @viva-la-millennia​ @randomness501​ @drheinzd​ @kaylove12​ @duh-dobrik​ @yeetscreetiwannaeat​ @ashnkamfeun    @hailkyoshi​ @shortmexicangirl​ @animexholic​ @sorrythatspussynal​  @mochminnie​ @ninadewitt​  @iamthecabbage​

[mycomfortblanket]

If I Lose Him Like This

Chapter 7

Sitting on the roof of the palace, Aang watches the sun rise. After speaking with Katara and they had decided to end things, he needed time to himself. The conversation between him and Katara plays over and over in his mind and whenever he gets a small break from that heartache, he remembers what Toph had said to him just before Zuko and Katara had walked into the room.

He drops his head into his hands and rubs them along his scalp until he is clutching the back of his neck. How did he manage to screw things up with the both of them? Thinking back on the past few days, he sees little opportunities to fix the whole situation by a simple act or choice of words, if only he had stopped and thought for a moment.

"Well, looks like someone found my hiding spot," a voice comes from behind him. Aang turns around and sees Azula walking carefully down the roof until she can sit next to him.

"Hey, 'Zula."

"So, Katara found out?" she asks.

Aang whips his head over to look at her, but she is carefully avoiding his gaze. "Who told you about that?"

She takes a deep breath and draws her knees up to her chest and wraps her arms around them. She takes in a deep breath, "During the war, Father would have me interrogate prisoners. Get information out of them about secret bases, battle plans, whatever," she pauses and a shaky breath comes out, "The things I use to do to people..." her voice cracks. She closes her eyes and inhales deeply before exhaling long and slow.

Aang can't take his eyes off of her. The gold in her eyes are illuminated by the rising sun and her skin is so white and clear of any blemish, but he can see the aging the war did to her in the set of her shoulders.

"Anyways, I learned things about people, about how they hide certain aspects of themselves. How they can make the worst parts of themselves completely disappear or cover their worst pain. I learned how to search for these aspects of people without even trying to, to see their worst fear or worst judgement of themselves without even tearing them apart." She visibly swallows but turns to him and smiles, "So, no one told me. You and Toph are just very telling."

Aang draws his knees up to his chest as well and rests his forehead against them, "You're not going to tell Sokka, are you?"

Azula waves her hand in the air as if to disperse the tension, "Of course not, it's not any of my business. Although, I do think you should talk to him about it. He's not going to like it and he's going to be mad, but as his friend, I think it would be better that he hears it from you rather than some of the gossiping maids," her voice is back to the sharp edge he knows so well.

He rolls his head on his knees to look at her. It's still so surprising to see how different she is compared to how she was 6 years ago. He never would have thought they would be friends or have any kind of intimate moment, but he is glad she is here.

"I really messed up with them," he whispers. She doesn't say anything but waits for him to continue. "I love them both so much. But, Katara was right. We had been breaking apart for months, and neither of us had wanted to face that fact. We just stopped working. And Toph, I started messing that up several years ago and I didn't even know."

"You slept with her?"

Aang hesitates, "Yeah. Years ago. I didn't know how she felt about me at the time, I just thought it was..." he trails off, not wanting to say what he thought it was. "We kissed at my wedding and then she disappeared for 3 years. You think I would've put all of this together."

"Ha, yeah, you'd think," Azula laughs a little and wipes at her nose.

"I'm losing them both," he mumbles and hides his head in his knees again.

She looks over at him for a moment and considers his situation, "I think you're being too hard on yourself about it. You're only human. Yeah, you're the avatar, stopper of the Hundred Year War, Master of All Four Elements, but you're still just human." She looks at him for a moment longer. She places a hand on his shoulder before standing up and walking back to the window she came through.

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

Toph feels him meditating in the garden and she mentally steels herself for this conversation. Katara had talked some sense into her and that she needed to talk with Aang about what all has happened between them and the futute. She had reminded Toph time and time again how she didn't blame her or Aang and that she shouldn't ever feel guilty about what happened.

So now, she just needed to talk to Aang. she takes a deep breath and walks over and sits beside him, keeping enough distance between them that they don't touch. Neither of them say anything for a moment, there's just too much to say to each other, that it's hard to find what to talk about first. His heart rate spiked the moment he realized it was her walking into the courtyard and it hasn't slowed at all in the few minutes she's been sitting here.

"I don't really know where to start," Toph mumbles.

"Yeah. I just really fucked up, T." his voice is low and sounds thoroughly exhausted.

She barely nods her head, "Yeah. I talked with Katara," she feels him wince slightly but she presses on, "She told me what happened between the two of you. She also told me that she doesn't blame you. That she doesn't blame either of us," she looks down at her hands and pulls a blade of grass out and twirls it in her fingers.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

Aang looks over at her and takes in the bangs covering most of her face and the dark circles under her eyes from staying up all night, "Do you blame me?"

Toph lifts her face towards the sun and moves the bangs from her face, "Well, you certainly didn't do this on you own."

"The monks taught us to live without regret, and I've done a really great job of doing that so far. I've done really well at now allowing a decision I had made to hang over my head like a knife. But now, the one thing I will forever regret is hurting you," he pauses, willing his voice to steady. "And, I know that I can't make it up to you, at least not right now, I'm just asking for one more chance to earn your forgiveness. Not even your forgiveness, I just want to make it to where you are able to look at me without your heart breaking all over. I want to try and make this better for you, because I'm- I'm so fucking sorry, Toph."

He sees a tear streak down her cheek and he so badly wants to lean over and wipe it from her face, to clear it of existence. "Sometimes, I wish you never taught me seismic sense, because I can feel it. I feel your heartbreak every fucking time you feel me near you."

Toph sniffs and laughs a little, and here she thought she was being slick in hiding her pain, but then, a thought comes to her, "How come you couldn't feel it before?"

"I don't know. I don't know if I didn't feel it or if I didn't want to feel it, but, now... it's just so fucking prominent." She expects her hear to ache at this confession, but it doesn't. Maybe she's reached the limit of her heartbreak for the year.

"Is this what it was like for you, all those years ago?"

She lowers her head and remembers the way his heart would almost skip a beat anytime Katara walked into a room, or the way they both soared their wedding day. It was hell and she wasn't ever able to not feel it. Most people, when they're in love with someone who is in love with someone else, they can look away- they can choose not to see it. But, she felt it every time.

"Yeah. Yeah, it kind of feels like that," Toph whispers.

Aang nods his head and inhales, " I can't even ask you to forgive me, it's not right. But, Spirits. I'm going to try and make this better, I swear to you." He turns to her and her face is as impassive as ever. His heart sinks lower and lower the longer she is silent.

But then, he sees a small smirk come onto her face, "This is going to be fun to watch."

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

Zuko finds her in the library curled up on one of the plus couches with her head down. The slouch of her shoulders is very telling of how upset she is and makes him hesitate just a moment. He doesn't want to go over to her and bother her, not when her whole world just came crashing down.

Straightening himself, he swallows his hesitation and makes his way over to Katara. Just as he is rounding the couch, she looks up at him and smiles. She seems like she is perfectly fine. Her head wasn't hanging down in defeat or heartbreak, but she was reading a book. There's no tear marks on her cheeks and the slump of her shoulders doesn't seem as dramatic up close. The smile on her face even reaches up to her eyes.

"Hey, how'd you know I'd be here?"

"Oh, uh. Lucky guess, I guess," he moves to sit beside her.

They're both quiet for a bit, both of them just staring into the flames. "Please don't ask me if I'm alright," Katara's voice is quiet. Zuko glances over at her from the corner of his eye. She seems okay, and even now, her voice doesn't tremble, and she shows no sign of the heartbreak he thought she would be suffering from.

"Wasn't going to. But, uh. I did want to ask you something," he clears his throat a little, suddenly becoming nervous. She turns to him, an eyebrow raised. "Would you like to be my date to the ball tonight?"

Read the full story on Ao3

[ezpezlemonsquez]

Okay, so basically I was in a mood for adult gaang reunion, so I wrote this. Here you are, hope you’ll enjoy ✨

“Just like old times”

“Suki, come on, we’re gonna be late!” called out Sokka, entering their hut. Again. “Everything’s ready but you two.”

His wife laughed.

“Relax, Sokka, they won’t start without us. And you know that Yue needs to have her hair done.” She raised her eyebrows, while she was running fingers through her daughter’s hair.

“Yeah, dad, you know that” she took up, making a face to him. Sokka shook his head both with disbelief and a smile. He sat down, watching his beautiful ladies.

“I’m not worried they’d start without us, though” he explained. “There’s no fun without Sokka, duh.”

Suki rolled her eyes, but didn’t say anything.

“I’m just concerned Katara’s going to get there earlier than I am.”

His wife even turned her head from Yue’s hair to him, only to see his priceless face expression.

“You didn’t bet with Katara again, did you?” she asked, lowkey already knowing the answer.

“Well, I couldn’t let her win just like that.” Sokka shrugged his shoulders. Suki sighed.

“You’re gonna lose, sweetie” she proclaimed.

“Not if we sticked to my schedule, I wouldn’t.”

“You didn’t make the time for mom to braid my hair, dad” slipped Yue. “You knew what you were getting yourself into.”

“Why excuse me, I assumed mom can braid your hair on ship” explained Sokka, extremely offended. His daughter shook her head as much as Suki’s hands in her hair allowed her to.

“Absolutely not possible.”

Sokka looked at his wife, seeking help. Suki shrugged with a smile.

“There’s nothing I can do. You knew what you were getting yourself into.”

Chief sighed and shook his head, defeated. This whole trip already started to go totally not as planned.

***

Sokka got off the ship and wasn’t even surprised that the first person who greeted him wasn’t neither Zuko, nor Aang, nor Toph and not even Mai.

“Hello, looser.” Grinned Katara. Sokka rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, yeah, shut up” he mumbled, hugging her in greeting. “It’s all Suki’s fault, by the way.”

Katara laughed.

“It kind of is” admitted Suki, also going for a hug. “It’s so great to see you, Katara, how are you doing?”

“I’m great, I’m really great. Tenzin is growing up so fast, you wouldn’t believe it.” She laughed. “I can’t believe it’s been almost a year.”

“I know, right? You’ve been out of the South for so long, we really missed you back there.”

“I didn’t” slipped Sokka teasingly, unpacking things from the ship. His sister hit him in the arm.

“Go back to carrying stuff, Sokka” she spat.

“Wait, honey, I’ll give you a hand” suggested Suki.

“No need, I’m doing great!” cried out her husband, taking three more boxes. “I mean, I definitely can see right now, so... tell me if I step on somebody, please” he puffed, trying to see the road.

Suki shook her head.

“Excuse me” she whispered to Katara and went to help out her husband. She took from him two boxes so that he could actually see something. He smiled to her gratefully. Katara grinned. And then she saw a little girl getting off the ship, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

“Are we there yet?” she asked, yawning and when nobody answered her, she looked around. Katara crossed her arms, waiting to be noticed. “Aunt Katara!” cried out Yue immediately after she spotted her. She ran towards her and before Katara knew it, she wrapped her little arms around her.

“Aunt Katara, I missed you so much!”

Katara laughed, hugging her niece back.

“I missed you, too, Yue. Look at you, all grown up! You’re a beautiful young lady.”

“Not as beautiful as you are, though.” Grinned Yue and her aunt shook her head. “Are Bumi and Kya here? And uncle Aang?”

“They are, you’ll meet them at the palace. And Tenzin’s with them as well.”

“Oh...” Yue made a face. “Is he still so squishy-looking?”

“I’m afraid he is” laughed Katara. “And you certainly are Sokka’s daughter” she added silently, shaking her head. Sokka walked up to them and took Yue’s hand.

“We’re ready, you’re coming?” asked his sister. She nodded and all four of them set off to the Fire Nation Royal Palace, where the rest was waiting for them. They saw Toph first, even though she didn’t exactly see them.

“Zuko” she started, before anyone was able to say something “needs to be put in his place. Who does he think he is, huh?”

“Uhh, try the Fire Lord” smiled Suki.

“Yeah, yeah, I don’t give a f...”

“Toph” interrupted her Suki, warningly. Toph seemed confused for a moment, but she finally understood when someone started to aggressively shake her hand.

“Right. Hi, kid.”

“Hey, aunt Toph” said Yue, very proud of herself for not giving Beifong a hug. “It’s nice to see you.”

“Yeah, I’d say the same about you but since I don’t actually see you...”

Yue grinned.

“I know. Hey, mom, dad, can I go inside and look for Bumi and Kya?”

Sokka nodded.

“Sure. But don’t forget to greet every... aaaand she’s gone already.”

“I don’t know why you sound so surprised, Chief Boomerang, you’d do exactly the same.”

“I know, right? It’s terrifying.” Smiled Sokka. “Anyways, it’s great to finally meet up. Man, I’ve been waiting for this whole reunion thing. We should do this annually.”

“We do” reminded Suki. “You came up with it.”

“Oh, right, I’m a genius.”

“You know, even with the inability to see, I can give you this look” said Toph, making a face to him, as if she’d been saying ‘really?’.

“And even with the ability to see, I can pretend I don’t get it” announced Sokka. “Come on, Toph, I’m sure Zuko has already repaired whatever you were mad with him about” he said, putting his arm around her shoulders and dragging her up the stairs.

“I am mad” spat Toph but let Sokka lead her inside the palace. “Present tense. And you didn’t even give me a chance to say hi to Suki.”

“I was pretty sure you did that.”

“What a detective” scoffed Toph.

“One more word and I’ll push you down these stairs and you know it” threatened Sokka. His friend just shook her head in response. Upstairs waited for them Aang.

“Oh, great, I was supposed to go after Toph, but I see this problem has been already resolved.” Laughed the Avatar.

“Who are you calling the problem, Twinkletoes?” tried to spit Toph, but she got quickly undermined, as no one reacted.

“Sokka, finally” sighed Aang, hugging his friend.

“Long time no see, huh, the fearsome Avatar?” Grinned Sokka. “I heard you’re doing pretty well by organising the world.”

“I am, thank you very much.” Laughed Aang. “Republic City is glowing.”

“I believe you. The South Pole is glowing, too.”

“I know. Just a little bit more and we’ll be there, promise.” Smiled Aang. “Suki, you look beautiful!” he called out, when he saw her. He held out his hands to hug her.

“Thank you, Aang, so do you.” Laughed Suki. “We missed you.”

“He promised they’ll be back soon” slipped Sokka, giving Aang a judgy look.

“Can we please move along?” Toph kicked her heels. “I gotta kick Zuko’s butt.”

“Toph, you cannot do this.” Sighed Aang, walking with her further to the palace. “We’ve been over this.”

Sokka and Suki smiled to each other. He put an arm around her waist and gently kissed her temple. Katara placed her hand at her brother’s shoulder and smiled.

“Come on” she encouraged. “Zuko and Mai are dying to meet up with you two. Besides, dinner’s almost ready.”

Sokka gave her a knowing look.

“Well, you should’ve started with that, sister!”

***

They met with the rest in the dining room. Everyone was there — Yue played with Bumi and Kya (and Kya’s waterbending), Mai was trying to calm down Izumi, who was somehow scared by Ty Lee and her tricks, while Aang tried to prevent bloodshed between Zuko and Toph. Sokka sighed.

“Just like old times, huh?”

“Just like old times” admitted Suki. She slipped out of Sokka’s arm and walked up to Ty Lee. The Kyoshi Warrior lit up immediately as she saw her.

“Hey, boss.” She smiled, bowing to her funnily. Suki shook her head.

“Hello, my dear warrior” she replied, bowing back. “Come on, bring it in.” She laughed as Ty Lee hugged her excitedly.

“It’s so good to see you, Suki. I wish you would visit us more often.”

“Me too.”

“We’re going to” assured Sokka, walking up to them. “This period of time was just super hard for both of us.”

“It was.” Nodded Suki.

“Hi, Ty Lee.” Sokka held out his hand to her and smiled.

“Sokka” greeted him Ty Lee, squeezing his hand. “Everything alright at the South Pole?”

“They’re certainly doing better than we are” replied Mai, before anyone else could answer the question. “I’d give you my hand but they’re both kind of busy.” She looked at her daughter suggestively. “It’s great you made it, though”

“We get it.” Smiled Suki. “You’re not getting much sleep, are you?”

Mai snorted.

“Much is overstatement.” She looked over her shoulder. “Oh, great, my husband’s coming. Well, Izumi, dad will put you to sleep.”

“Sokka, Suki.” Smiled Zuko and hugged both of them. “Yue’s greeted me like fifteen minutes ago, what took you so long?”

“Oh, see, she greeted him” said Suki to Sokka, smiling suggestively. Sokka made a proud face.

“She’s got great manners, she even addressed me Fire Lord Uncle Zuko.” Laughed Zuko.

“Speaking of” slipped Mai, handing his husband the baby. “It’s your turn to put Izumi to sleep.”

Zuko raised his eyebrows.

“No, I’m pretty sure it’s your turn now.”

“Nope” denied Mai, shaking her head.

The two of them looked each other in the eye for a moment, until Zuko finally gave up. “Damn it, why is uncle still in Ba Sing Se when I need him?” he mumbled. Mai smiled triumphantly. “Okay, sweetie, say goodnight to your uncle Sokka and aunt Suki and aunt Ty Lee, you’re going to sleep. I mean, I hope you are.” He gave his friends ‘I am so done’ look and was about to leave, when he reminded himself of something else.

“Oh, and of course make yourself comfortable, guys. Dinner will be ready in ten minutes.”

Suki smiled.

“Don’t worry, we won’t start without you.”

“We won’t?” groaned Sokka.

“No, we won’t, Sokka.”

Zuko rolled his eyes with a smile.

“Thanks, Suki” he said and left with little Izumi pulling his hair, which he was totally indifferent to.

“Wait, Zuko, you forgot...” started Mai, going after her husband. Ty Lee smiled to them and went back to the table. Suki hugged Sokka.

“Just like old times.” She sighed, repeating his words. Sokka smiled and hugged her tighter.

“Just like old times.”

[112aang]

Kataang Week 2021: Day 5- Hurt/Comfort

Hello and welcome to day 5 of Kataang Week, Hurt/Comfort. 

Words: 1,403

This one was tough to write; that’s all I’m going to say.

You can find my ff.net page here, where the entirety of my Kataang Week submissions will be, as well as my other stories.

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

Not a day went by when Katara didn’t think about that fateful night in Ba Sing Se.

They had been fighting for their lives against Zuko and Azula, and had just been surrounded by a plethora of Dai Li agents. Surrounded by the glowing green crystals of the underground catacombs, Katara was lucky that there was a stream of running water nearby.  

In the blink of an eye, she had been thrown against a wall by Zuko, and was having trouble getting back to her feet. She took a quick glance around the space and noticed Aang building a tent around himself with the green crystals. The waterbender smiled, almost gratefully, and rose from the ground. She pulled some water from the stream and set into her octopus form, surrounding herself with the water.

Just as their opponents were getting closer, Katara watched as a bright light emitted from the crystals surrounding Aang, and he emerged from the top. The airbender’s tattoos and eyes were glowing, and for the first time, Katara was thankful for the Avatar State. She could tell that this time, Aang was in control, and she was hopeful that they would make it out alright.

Then, out of nowhere, Katara watched as her friend’s body writhed and thrashed in mid-air, shocked by Azula’s lightning. As Aang’s lifeless body came crashing down, the waterbender composed herself enough, through flowing tears, to create a giant wave. She rode the large surge of water across the room, unsympathetic towards the Dai Li agents she would be drowning in the process.

All she could think about was Aang.

Katara had managed to catch him before he hit the floor, and held his motionless body close against her chest, unable to move herself.

For the weeks following that tragic day, the waterbender was beyond grateful for the vial of spirit water and her ability to heal. Katara had stayed beside Aang’s bed on the fire nation ship, healing him at every given opportunity.

There were moments while he was unconscious where she blamed herself. Not for what happened to him, per se, but more so because he hadn’t woken up. She began to doubt her healing abilities and wondered if she had been doing something wrong.

Seeing Aang, comatose on a bed for weeks, damaged her psyche more than she would ever admit to. In that time span, she realized how much she genuinely loved him, and prayed to the spirits daily to bring him back to her.

“Please,” she would plea, tears flowing down her cheeks. “I can’t lose him… I need to tell him how much he means to me.”

Katara would only speak to the spirits when she was either alone or with Aang, for fear of her friends knowing how she truly felt. She had been mulling over her feelings for the airbender for months but tried her hardest to push them down. The waterbender knew she had felt something for him, and until now, had brushed it off as nothing more than a crush.

When Aang finally awoke three weeks later, Katara was on top of the world. She had to contain her excitement, for fear of frightening him.

She was only glad that her best friend, and love, had finally woken up.

***

Every year on the anniversary of that dreaded night, Katara was reminded of the pain she had to endure. It was nothing close to the physical torture that Aang had gone through, but her metaphorical scars had not yet healed, nor would they ever.

The two had been dating for nearly 5 years and were happier than they had ever thought possible. Aang had brought Katara with him to meetings and celebrations all over the world, and she loved traveling with him. They had visited the South Pole at any given chance to check up on the renovations being made by Master Pakku, and to see her father and grandmother.

Aang had begun his own reconstruction of each of the Air Temples, with the help of the air acolytes. Katara assisted, as well, more as emotional support for Aang than anything else.

The airbender had been called to Ba Sing Se for a meeting with the Council of Five on the eve of the 5th anniversary of the fall of the city. As always, Katara traveled with him, although she was not looking forward to spending this time in the great city.

The flight to Ba Sing Se was silent, neither of them having to say a word; they knew it was going to be hard.

After arriving in the city, Aang immediately went to the Earth King’s palace, barely making it on time for the meeting. Katara waited outside with Appa, hoping that it wouldn’t be a long stay.

Later that evening, the couple found themselves at the same house in the Upper Ring that they had stayed in during the war, and were not fond of the memories it brought back. Aang had told Katara that the council wanted to continue with the meeting the next day, so they would need to stay the night. The waterbender complied, albeit a bit reluctantly, and started on dinner.

After their meal, Katara had practically vanished, and Aang found himself wandering the house looking for her. Finally coming to terms with that day it was, he mentally chided himself for not realizing what his girlfriend had been feeling.

Making his way to the balcony off the back of the house, he saw Katara sitting on a bench, staring into the night sky. He smiled sadly and walked over to her, sitting down quietly beside her.

Without looking at him, she spoke.

“It’s been five years- five years, and it still feels like it just happened.”

Aang studied her face, noticing the tears slowly falling down her cheeks. He turned his head to face the same direction as hers, now looking upon the star-filled sky as well.

“We don’t talk about it much.”

Katara nodded her head slowly, biting her lower lip to stifle a sob.

“What is there to talk about, Aang?”

She finally turned to face him, but he continued looking straight.  

“You were gone… gone. And I did everything I could to bring you back. Your body, unconscious for weeks, is embedded in my mind.”

Katara continued, her tears flowing more smoothly, “and I’m scared to death of losing you again.”

Aang looked at her with glossy eyes and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She buried her face in his neck and sobbed as she clung to him.  

His bodily wounds had long since healed, but the entire event had left behind scars- both physically and mentally. Katara would always be reminded of that day, as would Aang, but each in different ways.

This subject was not one that either of them liked to talk about, and even now, he hated that she brought it up.

He held her tighter and kissed her head softly.

“Katara, I know that day is not something you like to think about. Believe me, neither do I.”

Her sobs continued as she gripped his robes tighter and remained buried in his neck.

“But what matters now is that we are together; and I will try everything in my power to never leave you again.”

She sniffled and looked up at him, cheeks stained with tears.

“How can you promise that? You never know what tomorrow will bring. You’re the Avatar, Aang, and that means that there will always be someone coming after you- after us.”

He placed a hand on her cheek and wiped a tear with his thumb, smiling softly.

“I can’t promise that nothing will happen to me. This is the territory that comes with being who I am. But I can promise that I will do everything in my power to always make it home to you.”

Another tear escaped her eyes as he spoke, and his own had begun to sting. He looked into her eyes, love radiating from his, and tilted her head to kiss her.

She tugged on his robes, pulling him deeper into the kiss, and he held her face with his hands.

After a few moments, she pulled away and rested her forehead on his.

With their eyes closed still, she pecked his nose softly and he smiled.

“Always,” he breathed.

She repeated after him, softly, “always.”

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

I promise the final two days will be something with more fluff.

Next up, Family.

[avatarstories]

izumi’s birthday pt 1: bad memories

AN: I had to split Izumi’s birthday up a bit. trying to fit it all in one chapter would have been just stupidly long. I will say this starts sad, and the second chapter is also sad, though more angsty than sad, but part three will be much happier and have a good resolution. 

TW: character death in childbirth (in past, but mentioned), noblewomen being sucky to Izumi. 

Izumi was never particularly excited to celebrate her birthday. It was a day of mixed emotions knowing that while her family celebrated her coming into this world, they were reminded of the sharp pang of losing her mother on that day as well. Nonetheless, her grandfather Iroh had insisted on throwing a party to celebrate her 17th birthday. Nobles from the outlying islands, diplomats from the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes, and of course her father’s friends and their families who were essentially her extended family. The palace, usually quiet and peaceful (as she and her father preferred) was bustling with guests. Her father had been so busy  greeting guests and addressing some Republic City business with Sokka and Aang that she had barely seen him that day. So, she decided to take a walk to his office after she knew he had finished meeting with Sokka and Avatar Aang. 

As she walked down the hallway, she overheard two of the noblewomen, a governor’s wife and her daughter, visiting for her birthday festivities talking with each other in the portrait gallery. 

“I just hope she won’t be like her forefathers, with the Fire Lady curse,” the mother says. 

“Fire Lady curse?” the daughter questions. 

“Haven’t you noticed, dear, that all of the Fire Ladies who gave birth to bad Fire Lords have died in childbirth,” the mother answers. “Fire Lord Sozin’s mother died when he was born, as did Azulon’s. Lady Ilah died when she gave birth to Ozai. General Iroh’s wife died when Prince Lu Ten came. Princess Ursa barely made it through Princess Azula’s birth, and of course you know that Lady Mai died when the Crown Princess was born.” 

“It seems the spirits had it out for the Fire Ladies that brought bad men into the world,” the daughter replies. 

“Indeed,” the mother says “For our sake, let’s pray it’s not an omen about our next Fire Lord.” 

Izumi’s breath hitches. The mother turns and sees her. Izumi recognizes her as Lady Niko and her daughter Ichika. 

“Your highness, I hope you are well,” Lady Niko says with a bow. Izumi clenches her fists. What an asshole she thinks to herself.

“Good evening,” she says bitterly. 

“We were just off to retire,” Lady Niko states.  If she has any suspicion that Izumi overheard their conversation, she does not show it. Izumi says nothing. “Well, good evening then.” The women bow again before walking down the hallway. 

Izumi is left alone in the portrait gallery. Her father had the portraits of the imperial Fire Lords removed long ago, before she was born. Instead, they were replaced with paintings of more favorable parts of Fire Nation history. There was one of Avatar Roku, one of her grandfather taking back Ba Sing Se, of her father redirecting lightning, and most recently of her Aunt Azula discovering the true nature of fire and being gifted a dragon egg. Even still, there were not enough new paintings to replace the old, and black curtains hung in their place. 

Izumi finds herself reaching out to touch the heavy dark fabric and remembers the first time asking about them when she was maybe 8 years old.

"Why are there dark curtains on the walls in the portrait gallery?” Izumi had asked at dinner

“There used to be paintings there, but I had them taken down,” Zuko explained.

“Why were they taken down?” Izumi asked. 

“They were of bad men, and I did not want them on display,” Zuko explained. “I didn’t need the reminder of their poor examples. And I did not need them setting an example for you to aspire to,” he answered. 

“Well, I will not be bad. Girls are not bad like boys are,” Izumi said cheerfully. 

“Girls can be bad, Izumi,” Azula says. 

“But I’m a girl and I’m not bad. And so are Aunt Kiyi, and Aunt Katara. They are all very nice,” Izumi states, somewhat defensively. “You are not bad.” 

“I used to be bad, very bad,” Azula responds. 

Zuko looks at her across the table. “You don’t have to now-”

“She’s going to have to know sooner or later” Azula cuts him off. Azula didn’t talk much about her past, and for Izumi, Azula had always been one to chastise her for being mean. Izumi could not imagine Azula as anything other her stern and wise aunt. 

Azula and Zuko are having a conversation with just looks, like only people with secrets can. Izumi looks between the two of them. “Know what?”

“Izumi, I know we have not taught you much about the war yet, but during the war, I was a bad person,” Azula starts. “I hunted down your father and grandfather to try to bring them back to the Fire Nation as prisoners,  I chased Bumi and Kya’s mom and dad, Sokka, and Toph across the earth kingdom, I burned Uncle, I put Suki in prison, I tried to drill a whole in the walls of Ba Sing Se, then I actually took over Ba Sing Se, I killed the Avatar, well briefly, I had your mom and Ty Lee locked in the Boiling Rock, and then when my dad tried to take over the world and told me I could be Fire Lord, I tried to kill Zuko and your Aunt Katara when they tried to stop me. Even before the war, I was never nice,” Azula finishes. She sighs “Don’t believe anything is the way it is about you because you’re a girl, Izumi. Anyone is capable of destruction.” 

Izumi is quiet. She looks at her aunt, her fire bending teacher, her fiercest protector, the woman who walks her home from school every day, who brushes her hair every morning, who tucks her in at night when her dad has too much paperwork to do, who is the closet thing this motherless child has to a mother. She cannot reconcile Azula’s confession. 

“Dad is that true?” Izumi asks. 

“Izumi, where else would he have gotten the scar on his chest? That was from when I tried to kill him,” Azula responds before Zuko can.

Izumi does not want to believe these things about Azula. “Well, if you were so bad, then how did the family pass the People’s Approval every year?” 

“We did not have People’s Approval before me. That was something I created,” Zuko explains. 

“So there used to just be uncontrollably bad Fire Lords and Fire Families?”

“Yes” Azula and Zuko say in unison. 

“But we’re different, we learned from their misdeeds,” Zuko finishes. Izumi pulls her hand back from dark velvet.  A door opening down the hall pulls her from her thoughts, and she starts towards her father’s office. As she walks down the hallway, she cannot shake the thought that she might be predestined for destruction. 

“Is he with anyone?” She asks the guard at the door when she arrives. 

“No, your highness. Master Katara, Councilman Sokka, and Avatar Aang just left. Would you like me to announce you?” 

“Thank you, but no need. It’s just me,” she tells him. 

“Of course, your highness,” he says with a polite nod.

When she walks in her father is staring, with a wistful but melancholic look, at a small ink portrait of himself and Mai that was commissioned shortly after they were married. Her entrance pulls him from whatever thought or memory he was lost in. The thought of him sitting in here alone and thinking of her mother only augments her anger and unease, and it quickly settles in her as sadness.  

“Hey, turtleduck,” he says softly and with a smile when he sees her. 

“Hi,” she replies, her voice barely above a whisper. 

“Sorry, I missed dinner. Sokka, Aang, and I were working on something. And then Katara came in here to tell us off for working too late.” 

“That’s ok,” she says, trying to cover the sadness in her tone but Zuko notices.  

“What’s wrong, turtleduck?” he says walking over to her. 

“I’m almost 17, don’t you think I’m a little old for that?” 

“I don’t care how old you are, you’ll always be my little turtleduck.” 

Izumi smiles softly. Zuko was sweet father. “You were looking at that painting of mom when I walked in.” 

“I was, yes.” He pauses, "I was thinking about what I would tell her about you if I could.” 

“What would you tell her?” a few tears well up in Izumi’s eyes, and she tries hard to keep them in. 

“Well, I think she’d be happy to know you look just like her,” he starts. “And that you like to read and learn, and there’s nothing that you can’t teach yourself how to do. She’d be amazed that you can make your Aunt Azula laugh. And,” he says tipping her chin up so that she has to look into his eyes, “she’d want me to tell you that you could confide in your father with anything just like she did.” 

“I don’t want to celebrate my birthday,” she whispers. A tear rolls down her cheek, and Zuko wipes it away. 

“Why not?” 

“It makes me feel guilty,” she barely manages to get out.  She leans forward, and Zuko pulls her into an embrace. 

“Zumi, sweetheart, we’ve talked about this. You have nothing to feel guilty about.” 

“What if I just haven’t done the thing I’ll feel guilty about yet?” she strains. 

“What’s that supposed to mean, Zumi?” 

She doesn’t want to talk about what the noblewomen were discussing in the portrait gallery, and she diverts from her last question. 

“I took your wife from you. You’ve been lonely for a long time because I came into the world.” 

He holds her tighter against him. “That’s not true, Izumi,” he says firmly. 

“Yes, it is.” 

“Sit down, Izumi.” He guides her to the red and gold couch in his office and kneels in front of her. He takes one of her hands in her lap between his own, her gaze fixed downwards. 

“Look at me,” he says softly. 

She swallows and looks up, a tear rolls down her cheek.  

“It has been, and still is, the greatest privilege of my life to be your father. The first time I ever saw you, I didn’t think I could ever love anyone more. I would have rather died than see you get hurt.” He pauses and wipes a tear off his cheek with his sleeve, and then does the same for Izumi. “And you’re right, I am lonely sometimes, but it’s not your fault, Izumi. In fact, when I see you smile or do something that brings you joy, I wonder how I could ever have wanted anything else. So don’t you ever think that you took anything away from me because you are the greatest joy of my life.” 

She cannot stop the tears at his admission. She wraps her arms around his neck and he hugs her tightly to him. He doesn’t seem to mind that his robes are getting wet from her tears. Let’s pray it’s not an omen about our next Fire Lord plays again in her mind, and now with her father’s words, she only cries harder. He had so much faith in her, and she hadn’t proven anything yet about her ability to lead. 

A few minutes later when she had stopped crying, Zuko loosens his embrace. 

“I hate when my little girl is upset. You know Azula used to laugh at me because I’d cry when you got hurt or when you were sick. Then one time while I was in a meeting and Azula interrupted it clearly distraught because she found out someone had picked on you at school and she wanted the swiftest punishment imaginable, and I told her, 'now you know how it feels.'” 

Izumi lets out a little laugh against his robes. 

“Thanks, Dad.” 

“Want me to make some tea?”

“You’re turning into grandfather,” she quips, pulling out of the hug. 

“I’d consider that a very nice compliment, Zumi,” Zuko jokes. 

A short while later they are in the kitchens, each with a cup of tea in hand, but a darkness still sits heavy in Izumi’s heart. She knows she won’t be able to shake it off anytime soon.

AN: I love soft Dadko and protective Aunt Azula. I think it’s cool to explore Izumi’s understanding of her family and their past, especially in a way that it mixes with her own insecurities and fears. Next chapter, we get Bumi (who is actually of my favorite of the Gaang Kids, even though I tend to harp on Izumi.)

[foryoumyheroes]

Dekusquad reacts to ATLA

Izuku Midoriya: 

He loves this show. Loves it so much. It’s so near and dear to his heart, and it has such great messages and as he sees the characters progress, improve their bending, and mature from being just regular teenagers; the Gaang just screams “I am here!” to him. 

He has cried more than once. 

Favorite characters: Toph, Iroh, and Aang 

Toph is so inspirational to him in the way that she’s blind, but is so incredibly strong and has that power and confidence that he looks up to and sees in Kacchan. 

And his favorite color is green. 

Iroh kind of reminds him of his mom, because Iroh is easily one of the strongest characters in the series (and his mom is the strongest person he knows! Even over All Might!) and is gentle and kind like her. 

He wasn’t a major fan of Aang (but still liked him a lot!) in the beginning because he “didn’t want to be the Avatar” and Izuku didn’t understand that very much. 

But later on in the series, Aang becomes more mature and Izuku really came to love Aang when he refused to kill the Fire Lord. 

A person that values peace and well-being over all is a true hero to Izuku. 

Favorite Scene: the last one where everyone is happy and laughing at Sokka’s picture. 

Least Favorite Scenes: when Appa was kidnapped, and when Azula was chained to the grate. 

That scene shook him to the core, because while he never liked her it kinda made him realize that she was a human too. 

And when he found out that she was fourteen to sixteen like he was? He was so heartbroken for her even if she was a bad person. 

Todoroki Shouto: 

He’s never watched a lot of cartoons when he was younger, but when all of Class 1-A started to binge it during their free periods and classes, he watched it with them. 

Favorite Character: Katara 

Everyone wants him to like Zuko the most, and he does admire the Fire Prince in a way that they’re so similar: the scar, the parents, the fire abilities. He was just really turned off from Zuko’s character in the beginning. 

He didn’t like how Zuko went to such lengths just to get his honor back and to please the dad that scarred him, and he doesn’t like how Zuko treated Iroh on multiple occasions. 

They way Zuko is easily riled up and yells a lot makes him better for someone like Bakugou. 

He likes Katara because she values her mother, and is a strong character, and he can at least relate to her through her water/ice ability. 

He also admires how she uses her water ability to heal, and he wonders if he could use his Quirk to heal too. 

He likes Iroh, but doesn’t get the man’s silliness or jokes. 

Favorite Scene: Iroh’s Leaves From The Vine or Katara’s Painted Lady moments 

Least Favorite Scene: When Aang attempted to show off his new firebending and ended up hurting Katara. 

That’s the absolute worst thing that Aang did, Todoroki believes. 

After Class 1-A finishes watching it Kaminari and Mina occasionally tell Todoroki that his “scar is on the wrong side.” 

“I get that reference.” 

Uraraka Ochako 

Was OBSESSED with it as a child. 

Watched it ever since it was originally aired on TV. If an episode was playing, she wouldn’t be doing what she’s supposed to do and just watched ATLA. 

The type that woke up super early or stayed up super late when Nick was doing the reruns years later after the series finished. 

Definitely has an old Aang costume somewhere in her closet from her childhood. 

Pretended to be an airbender and an earthbender with her Quirk more than once. 

I headcanon that even though her parents are working hard and busy, they used to watch ATLA together on the couch and bonded over that, so it has a lot of good memories. 

Favorite characters: The entire Gaang, but especially Sokka and she likes Ty Lee and Suki. 

She loves how funny and silly Sokka is and his antics just bring a smile to her face. She also admires how talented and intelligent he is. Sokka’s the type that attempted to do everything for his family and the Southern Water Tribe, and she definitely some of herself in him. Uraraka wants to support her family too!! 

And she thinks Sokka >>>> Zuko 

Suki and Ty Lee are just so incredibly powerful and determined without losing their femininity. They’re incredible role models! 

Yes, when she was in elementary school and had to write down what she wanted to be when she grew up she put down Kiyoshi Warrior and cried when the teacher told her that it didn’t exist. 

Yes, being a Pro Hero was her second choice. 

Yes, she tried to do some of Ty Lee’s flips and handstands when she saw it for the first time and still has scars from it. 

Yes, when she was interning under Gunhead she got to finally live out her dreams. 

Favorite Scene: when Mai and Ty Lee betray Azula. It was an incredible moment of realization of what they truly wanted and what they valued. Also the cinematography and choreography was great. It was POWERFUL. 

And she loves every scene with the cabbage man in it. 

Also the Ember Island Play. She is one of the students that jokingly tell Todoroki that his scar’s on the wrong side. 

Least Favorite Scene: Every scene where Appa is struggling when he was kidnapped and when Aang yelled at Toph when she “lost” him. 

It wasn’t so much the actual scene where Appa was being taken away, but the aftermath of how hurt everyone was from his loss that go to her. 

And yes, the two longer strands of hair on the sides of her face are inspired by the ATLA girls’ hairstyles. She got to the hair salon and was like, you know Azula from Avatar? 

Iida Tenya 

Has never heard of it before he watched it with the rest of Class 1-A, but he has heard of the term “waterbender,” “firebender,” “earthbender,” and “airbender” before. 

Thought of the blue people if you said “Avatar.” 

Didn’t think much of it until later in the series, around the time when things got more serious like the scenes with Haru and the Northern Water Tribe. 

At first he watched it with his classmates because they chose it, but soon enough he was shushing everyone so that he could watch it. 

Favorite characters: Zuko and Haru. 

Haru was who originally got him hooked into the series and his story of finally standing up against the people who put him in prison is something that he admires. Even though Haru was scared to save the old man, he did it in the end because it was the right thing to do, even if the repercussions weren’t right. 

I headcanon that Iida secretly likes the more wild characters. People expect him to like the more strict, uptight characters, but I think that since this man was willing to just throw everything to go after his brother’s almost-killer to get his revenge, Iida likes the characters who freely do what they want if that is what they believe is right. 

He hated Zuko when the series started, but loved his long and tiring story of doing the right thing until he finally reached redemption. The scene where Zuko decided to spare the pregnant woman when he was out on his own just stuck with him. 

Favorite Scene: The scene where Iroh escapes from prison and accepts Zuko back after he left. 

The Day of the Black Sun was just a well-done arc that showed the intricacies of warfare and thinking out battles and the importance of planning things out. 

He also loves the scene when Iroh opens the Jasmine Dragon.  

Least Favorite Scenes: when Aang discovers that his people all died in a genocide, whenever Azula abuses her power, and especially when she struck Aang down with lighting. 

He was so stressed when he first saw the scene when it happened he stood up immediately and screamed, “WHAT?!” at the TV. Continually asks Uraraka if Aang’s going to live, if the Avatar line ends here, etc. when he’s going to know in a couple of minutes. 

He also hates Zuko’s origin and the story of how he got the scar. He got so enraged at Fire Lord Ozai for fighting and scarring his own son that you’ve thought that he was a real person. 

Before he watched ATLA, he thought that the line, “There’s no war in Ba Sing Se,” was a powerful piece of old Chinese Literature. Legit used it in one of his essays back in Soumei Junior High. 

[bellatrixobsessed1]

I Still Want To

Sokkla Saturdays: As If That Would Happen

“As if that would happen.” She says it to herself all the time. She says it to the doctors and therapists. To Zuko and her mother.

With Ursa it’s, “we can fix things, we can all be a family again.”

Zuko always says, “it doesn’t have to be this way, we can try again and you can be friends with Mai and TyLee again.”

And her therapists inist, “you can recover and get back to a stable, productive life.” Or, “you’re still very young, you can still accomplish amazing things.”

Her response is always the same, “as if that would happen.” She is an abhorrent person and she knows it, this makes the first two feats impossible. And she is incapcitated so she won’t be achieving anything worthwhile.

Eventually and unspokenly, they write her off as a lost cause and send her home. They can’t deal with her anymore and she is Zuko’s problem again, not theirs. Azula supposes that they can only handle so much screaming and so many insults. She is an angry person. She is a miserable person.

And being at home makes her doubly so. She spends most of her days either pacing in her room or self-confined to her bed. Eventually days of passing become fewer and most of her days are spent in bed either laying or sitting and staring off. Her mind does circles around itself trying to figure out what had gone wrong and when exactly it had. From there she tries to count all of the ways in which she could have prevented it. She hadn’t anticipated it going all the way back to childhood; if only she hadn’t set that damn apple on fire. If only she hadn’t convinced Ozai to get Zuko a ship. If only… She grips her head in her hands. If only she wasn’t a remarkable failure.

She can hear them telling her that it’s going to be okay. That her life will amount to something and that she will be loved. She screams it again to nothing and no one, “as if that would happen.” She doesn’t realize that she is crying until she feels Sokka’s arms around her. This time she doesn’t have the energy to shake them off.

She doesn’t know why he, of all people, has come to visit her. She thinks that maybe he isn’t here at all. She looks up and finds that she is right. She is alone. Of course Sokka hasn’t come to check on her, “as if that would happen.” She mumbles again this time adding a bitter and shaky laugh. She Gives another one at the notion that she is so desperate for help that she’d imagine him of all people.

She wonders if she should go downstairs. Part of her wants to, but all of her is afraid. She hasn’t seen another soul in weeks, they drop her meals off by the door and run. She doesn’t know if she wants to see people or to be seen by people.

Regardless, Azula picks herself off of the bed and heads for the door. Her footsteps are quiet, her posture almost timid. This is probably the only thing that keeps the palace staff that she passes by from passing out. They look at her as though she is a specter. With disbelief; Azula out and about…? As if that would happen.

For some reason she expected the dining room to be full when she got there. But it is two hours past noon, of course it is vacant. Vacant except for one person. “What do you mean, there are no snacks today!” He sulks.

“We forgot to make them.” Replies the serving boy, leaving Sokka to hunch over and pout.

After the boy leaves he straightens and throws his hands into the air. “No snacks!” He complains to himself before catching her eye. He goes rigid and she isn’t sure what to do either. So she just lingers, lingers like the phantom they see her as.

“You’re...not in your room?”

It’s a stupid observation, she won’t grace it with a reply.

“How are you doing?”

That’s a personal question. She won’t grace it with a reply.

“What made you decide to come downstairs?”

It has a lot to do with her vision of him. She won’t let him know that.

“Do you want to sit down?” He is terribly persistent and terrifically annoying. “Or we can sit in the living room, the chairs are more comfy.”

She still doesn’t speak but, with some reluctance she follows him into the living room. Rather she follows him into a large supply closet and then the servants’ sleeping quarters before taking the lead and showing him to the living room. He offers her a soft smile. “I guess it’s good that you’re out and about again. Zuko was getting worried.”

“Why?”

He furrows his brows.

“Why would Zuzu care what happens to me?”

“Because you’re his little sister. It’s kind of a big brother thing, ya know?”

She does not.

“He’s probably going to be happy to know that you finally left your room.”

She shakes her head, “as if he would be.”

Sokka’s expression dims. “He cares about you. I don’t know why, you’re kind of a mean person…”

“Correct.”

“Like the worst person I’ve ever met...”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“But he still cares about you.”

“And you were doing so good…” she mumbles. “Two out of three isn’t bad I guess…”

She can’t tell if he wants to laugh or if he looks horrified. “You’re not doing too good, are you?”

She wants to ask what had tipped him off first. She says nothing at all. She doesn’t expect him to squeeze her hand and ask if she wants to visit Zuko. But she declines. She actually would rather head back to the isolation of her room. She doesn’t expect him to hug her like the hallucination had. Really she ought to jerk away. Instead she lets him hold her; it is kind of nice to have real contact again.

He breaks the hug and pats her back. “I guess we can just sit here then. I don’t really have anything else to do today.”

That was the first day. There was a second and a third. And then she lost track of how many times she’d come downstairs to talk to him. She tells both he and herself that she only comes around because his stupidity is free entertainment and that it makes her feel better about herself.

He tells her that he thinks that she enjoys his company.

She tells him, “enjoy your company? As if that would happen.”

Eventually he starts to laugh when she says that. He says that she says it way too much. There was a day when she was feeling rather well. A day when he remarked, “maybe one day you’ll find a new catch phrase.” That day she responded with, “as if that will happen.” That was the first time she has made someone laugh. She supposes that his laugh is quite soothing.

In general Sokka is rather pleasant to be around, even if he lacks common sense half of the time. Even if he is quite a dolt. He kind of reminds her of a dog; dopey but loyal and loving. She tenses, noticing that she has just called him loving. She brushes it off, facts are facts; Sokka is kind and he is caring. He often makes gestures and expressions of care. That makes him the loving sort. She is not in love. Not with him especially. As if that would happen.

But it does. She isn’t sure when. But it does. He often helps her navigate social situations. Filling in for her when she begins to fumble and make herself look as dull as he. He helps her ease back into a friendship with TyLee and create new friendships with Aang, Toph, and Katara. He assures her that Mai will come around eventually. She coherces him to come with her when she speaks with her mother and Iroh. And she ropes him into dumb things that she does to mildly inconvinance Zuzu when she is feeling bored and petty.

Sokka is there when she takes it too far one day and everyone gets angry with her all over again. She thinks that he is the only reason she was able to salvage things. He always seems to put in a good word for her, even if she doesn’t deserve it.

More time passes and things start to grow comfy. Stable. She is starting to feel like herself again; well-groomed and even tempered. He notes that she is much more somber, quieter. He speculates that she’ll be more vibrant in time. She is certain that this is simply who she has become and who she will stay.

As much as she wants him to be right. He isn’t. She is. She finds that she is simply a quiet person now. Reserved and of a cold demeanor. But there is a difference; this time the people around her seem to accept it. They certainly don’t take it personally. And so she is able to smile every now and again. Every now and again becomes almost regularly. She is still a quiet person. Still difficult to talk to and more or less introverted. But she isn’t melancholy and spiteful.

A long time passes before he asks her if she’d ever consider marriage. Perhaps if she weren’t so socially inept she would have grasped just what he was asking. Instead she replies, “as if that would happen.”

He is more direct in his follow up, “what if the person proposing went by the name, Sokka.”

He has caught her off guard and she finds herself abruptly sputtering out a second, “as if that would happen.”

She sees hurt on his face. But he still smiles at her over dinner and he still keeps her company while she works, rifling through contracts and trade agreements, looking them over before Zuko officially signs anything. It is only after she pushes the final one aside that she looks at Sokka and says, “okay.”

“Okay, what?”

“I guess that we can do it, if you still want to.”

“Do what?”

“The…” she trails off. “The marriage. We can do that.”

He bursts out laughing and rubs his hands over his face. “Wow, that was overwhelmingly awkward!”

She turns her back to him, concealing a flushed face. She feels his hand on her back, a caring caress and then her wraps his arms around her middle and kisses the back of her head.

“I still want to.”

A small smile tugs at her lips.

It dawns upon her that it is over. That the worst part of her life is truly over and that it has been for a while. It dawns upon her that she was wrong, that she is okay. That she will be okay now.

For a moment, even with him holding her close, she dreads that she will relapse so terribly that she will lose him and everything she has repaired. For a moment she… She stops herself. Letting things get that bad again; as if that would happen.

[airiustide]

forver young. forver you.

also posted on AO3

chapter 4/day 4: celestial

A/N: i had no intentions of posting this so late after zutaraweek but due to an unfortunate tragedy on my husband's side of the family, i had to take some time away. i, of course, will continue with this fic, no worries. 

summary: Death is inevitable. Not everyone is meant to be saved. The world can end in just a heartbeat and for Zuko that was very much the case. Emotions take a turn. Katara comes to the conclusion on how she truly feels about Zuko and Zuko faces the horrible reality of his ordeal.

"I know I can be destructive and I can change the atmosphere. All I ask from you is patience. Some patience." - Lose Control by Meduza, Becky Hill, Goodboys.

Death is inevitable. Not everyone is meant to be saved. The world can end in just a heartbeat and for Zuko that was very much the case. That’s why he no longer wanted a single moment to be fleeting; to hang tight to the second chance the Spirits had so graciously bestowed upon him, disguising that blessing into the form of a master waterbender.

He grasped Katara’s arm, aiding her to the rooftop. The breeze blew through her long chocolate tresses. Swinging hair from her face, Katara flickers her gaze to Zuko with a smile in her eyes. It’s infectious, his lips curling into one of his own- she doesn’t see it but her being here gave him absolute joy.

A midsummer festival was taking place. Green lanterns lit the streets, vendors lined up with mouth-watering food and live music had the townspeople giddy; dancing about and enjoying the atmosphere.

A door creaked just below and Zuko’s features go stern, gold eyes flashing dangerously in the moonlight and he signals Katara to follow. She creeps next to him, staying hidden in the shadows until Zuko okays for her to come closer.

“It’s possible that the White Lotus might find out you’re here.” Katara warned. Tonight was the night. The raid will take place at thirteen locations, the main strike teams preparing for what could finally break these rings of murderers. “Aren’t you undercover?”

Zuko swings around, face so close to hers, Katara’s breath stills. “You don’t need to worry.” He tells her.

Katara narrows at him. “Why do I have the feeling you’re keeping something from me.”

He doesn’t reply, and she doesn’t like how inexpressive he’s being or the fact that whatever he’s thinking is hidden behind a mask. Why he’s avoiding her concerns or why he’s standing up and leading her to the middle of the rooftop with a teasing glint in his eyes, she couldn’t point her finger on it.

It’s when Katara realizes the music had gone from lively to a slow, steady beat that she concludes exactly what he’s up to. She’s pleasantly surprised to find herself enveloped in his arms, Zuko’s palm pressed flat at the base of her spine, bringing her close to his broad chest and draping her arm over his shoulder. One hand rests on her waist, the other, enclosing the master waterbender’s.

They sway to the music, catching Katara off guard. She hides her laughter in his shoulder as their feet shuffle on the rooftop floor. “Who would’ve thought, former angry-face zuko would be a good dancer.”

“Why is that a surprise?”

“It’s not exactly easy to see you willing to participate in dance...” Katara pauses. “You’re really good at this.”

“It’s not like I learned by choice. Princely duties require the art of dancing and my teacher advised me how impossible it would be to woo a future courtesan if I did not learn the proper steps. My feet paid for it severely and so did my bottom. Lady Pamu always kept an impossibly large ruler at hand.”

Katara pictured a smaller version of Zuko yelping every time a ruler came in contact with his bottom. “I take it that didn't fair well with Azula.”

“More or less. Azula didn’t have to go to lessons, considering Pamu’s eyebrows had yet to grow back.”

“That’s tasteful.” Katara chuckled. “What else don’t I know about you?”

Zuko pondered this, his eyes lighting up. “I can play the tsungi horn.”

“Really?”

“Uncle would make me play every night during my banishment. It was really annoying.”

“Please, I bet you liked it.”

“Actually, I did and I was quite good at it. At least, Uncle said so.” Zuko was glad his blush was hidden. “I miss Uncle.” He admitted.

“He misses you too. And everyone else. Even Aang.”

“That’s good to know.” Zuko chuckled, imagining how the young Avatar might react upon seeing Zuko again. “He’s okay with you being here?”

That irks her, how everyone truly thought of her relationship with Aang, as though he was the head and she just happened to be an attached limb. And though she knew Zuko meant well by the question, it was annoying all the same. Katara doesn’t blink when she tells him. “Why would his input matter whether I’m here or not? Even so, me and Aang are no longer together.”

She almost pulls away but Zuko’s gentle squeeze to her waist makes her waver. “It doesn’t. If I came across as though you aren’t your own person, who can’t make decisions for themselves, I apologize. I admire you Katara. Your determination, your consideration and most of all, your desire to help those who can’t help themselves. When everyone else was so willing to turn their backs, even me, you refused. Thank you.”

Katara’s taken aback. Zuko admire her? What exactly did she have to offer in her position compared to him, who carried more power in his tiny finger than her entire existence? “For what?”

“For reminding me why it’s important to live.”

They fall into a comfortable silence. Voices in the crowd grew quieter and quieter as it got later. The smell of food began to diminish and eventually, the music stopped; but not the swaying of Zuko and Katara’s feet. Even when the world went still, they remained linked to each other. The former Fire Lord hums a tune for them, showing Katara a side of him she was glad to have witnessed. The hand on Zuko’s shoulder slid their way to the nape of his neck; delicate fingers stroking, igniting sparks where skin met skin.

The stars above them shine brighter as the streetlamps below grow dimmer. The roof was their stage and the sky their orchestra. They’re gazes do not stray from one another, Zuko’s heart pounding erratically after Katara grazes fingernails along the back of his neck.

“I want to kiss you!” He blurts, the mood immediately going awkward.

Why was he such an idiot? What in his right mind made him say that out loud or remotely consider that Katara was attracted to him? That doesn’t come out nearly as shocking as Katara’s response.

“Then what are you waiting for? Kiss me.”

***

She had not seen Zuko since they separated, stealing Katara’s breath away with a parting kiss, their masks between them, before he turned on his heels and jumped from the rooftop with a mischievous glint in his gold orbs. It was after this that she joined the others in executing their plan and though they managed to round up almost all the criminals that were accounted for, there were still two missing.

Piandao pointed out that one that went by the name Li and former Governor Ukano were nowhere to be seen. It became apparent that an informant had tipped off the ex governor. Katara willed herself not to hyperventilate, knowing this ‘Li’ was, in fact, Zuko working undercover.

They were successful in raiding the facility, of course, trapping the Ozai Society members in place. A shocking reveal had everyone’s blood running cold when it was discovered that not only was there a hit on the Crown Prince Koji and Fire Lord Iroh but that major cities across the globe were being targeted for a massive terrorist attack. Battle plans and illustrated instructions of massive bombs were uncovered.

Her heart pounded in her ears, the anxiety of not knowing where Zuko or Ukano was weighed heavily on her. Dawn broke and it was clear the Ukano had gotten away. Piandao congratulated Katara and everyone else for their hard work, having received news via messenger hawk that the other locations had been successful and those involved apprehended.

Once cleared to go, the master waterbender’s feet never carried her faster. She arrived at Zuko’s apartment first and was stricken to find he had not made it home yet. Her mind raced with a million scenarios, with a million outcomes, and all of them ended with Zuko dead somewhere.

She should have gone with him. She should have been there when things went down. He’s always looked sickly but lately she had taken notice of his staggers and labored breathing. The walls seem to close in on her and it was getting late. She was suffocating, minute by minute ticking by with only one thought in mind; Zuko. Katara failed to find sleep. Not until he came home, she thought, not until he’s in front of me touching and kissing me again.

That kiss, that sweet kiss that did not meet skin to skin but left a fire where he placed his lips on hers- no kiss had ever made her senses come alive before. None. It wasn’t enough. Katara has always known she’s harbored an attraction for Zuko. He was handsome, yes, but so easy to talk to, easy to relate to. Well, after they had initially become friends. Falling for him? That in itself was unexpected, yet deep down inside, Katata felt as though her feelings regarding Zuko were more than attraction but genuine affection, and being here now proved she was indeed falling for him.

“I’m falling for him.” Katara whispered out loud, grasping the front of her tunic. She now needs him more than ever, she needs him here with her, clinging onto him for as long as the spirits will let her have him because, La, she was in love with him. Bring him back, she pleaded, if for just one last time, please bring him back to me.

*** He has blood on his clothes, eyes swollen and hair clinging to his forehead. He collapses at the front door, startling Katara, her first instinct to run by his side. Zuko quickly stops her, raising a hand and shaking his head, ignoring the concern contorting her lovely features.

He stumbles on his feet, slamming the door shut and leaning hard against it. His vision goes blurry.

“Zuko, you’re bleeding.” Katara reasoned and made a step forward.

‘Not mine.” Zuko managed to heave, jerking away when Katara tried to reach out for him. She pulls back, blinking back the hurt surfacing on her face.

He buries his head in his hands, both from shame of hurting Katara when she only cared about his well being and the realization of what truly took place the night before.

Katara stays still, twisting fingers in her tunic because Zuko has not moved, has not spoken since burying his face in his hands. He finally speaks and Katara swallows. She opens her mouth to ask what he had said but was silenced by his sudden declaration.

“I don’t want to die.” He sobs, falling to his knees and bowing low, hands covering his ears. “I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die!”

It was all too real now. All too real. Zuko couldn’t control the tears, the absolute agony of no longer existing, of no longer being alive. If only he had appreciated his uncle more, or had made an attempt to be a better brother to Azula, or hadn’t taken for granted his future, maybe he wouldn’t be here desperately crying, desperately wishing for just a little more time.

Katara wants to hug him, wipe his tears away and tell him everything will be okay. But it wasn’t. This will never be okay. Death was a terrible burden that laid fear on many people’s hearts but came face to face with it, it makes living all the more unbearable. Katara can only watch, hugging herself and witnessing for the first time Zuko curling into a ball and crying himself weak.

***

“I killed him.”

“I know.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

“No. But you had your reasons.” Katara replied, combing her fingers through his hair as he rested his head on her lap. If she had done the same to Yon Rha, no doubt Zuko would be comforting her just the same.

“You don’t find me vial? Disgusting?”

“I find a lot of things about you, but never vial or disgusting.”

Zuko closed his eyes and groaned, enjoying the light scrape of her fingernails on his scalp. “You’re too good to me. Why are you so good to me?”  She had been patient while he cried until he was pale and swollen, cleaning the blood from his face and readying clean clothes for him while he bathed before she aided him to bed. This was how he wanted to go; his head in her lap and Katara’s gentle hum as she stroked his hair.  

“Perhaps I like you or something.” She jested.  

“Or something.” Zuko remarks, his scarred eye peering at her and she was thunderstruck by how beautiful he was; dark shaggy hair exposing his scarred cheek, the sharpness of his jawline and the structure of his fine cheekbones. He had certainly grown into a man.

“Or something.” She repeats.

***

 “Prince Zuko.” Piandao nodded an acknowledgement, gaze stern and narrow.

“Master.” Zuko greeted in a mutter.

For a vigilante going undercover in enemy territory Katara thought Zuko being confronted by Piandao made him look like a toddler caught red handed in a cookie jar. Zuko asked for this meeting, also requesting Jee, yet somehow the two men didn’t seem all that surprised to find the former Fire Lord sitting nervously at the table of the inn's dining area where Katara was temporarily residing.

“So, you’ve been the one putting everyone, including yourself, in danger by infiltrating the Ozai society on your own?” Jee narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest.

Zuko deflated, bowing his head in shame. “Yes. I meant no disrespect, I only wanted to help. But I was sure to be careful so that no one would get hurt.”

“Foolish. Absolutely foolish. I’m only glad that Master Katara was not involved in this since the beginning.” Piandoa scolded. Then his face softens, sympathy shown in the old Master’s eyes. “When you told me what had happened to you, Zuko, I did not anticipate you being so reckless.”

Katara’s eyes widen. He knew? Why! Why did Piandao keep this from her? Not only that, why did he keep this from Iroh? It took her all, and the squeeze of Zuko’s hand on her thigh, to calm her.

“Is that why you brought Katara here?”

Piandao and Jee exchange looks, not denying in the least what Zuko accused.

“You had known I was following Ukano the whole time. I can hide a lot of things, even from Uncle sometimes- you and Jee, I bet it didn’t take a week before you knew who I was when you both arrived here.”

“You think I wouldn’t know the reckless teenage boy I spent three years under the thumb of?” Jee arched a brow.

“Piandao turned me down and refused to let me join the White Lotus.” Zuko snapped. “Of course I couldn’t sit there and do nothing while my Uncle and cousin were in danger!”

Piandao sighed, gently stopping a waitress and requesting four cups of tea. The older gentleman smiled at the couple, resting his hands on the table. “Tea lightens the tension. At least, your uncle always says. Zuko, I was simply refusing your services only because I wanted you to live the remainder of your life with ease and no regrets.”

Zuko slammed his fist on the table, kicking back the chair he was sitting on. “The biggest regret I’d have would be to sit around while the Ozai Society plotted to murder my only family!

“Zuko.” His rage is soothed over by the voice of his adoration and he’s immediately guilty for the outburst. Zuko frowns at the apprehending gaze Katara was shooting at him. “Enough. Sit down.”

He sulks when picking up the chair and announces an apology to the barkeeper shooting daggers at him. When the former Fire Lord settles again, Katara slips her hand in his, lacing them together and Agni, he’s so grateful to have her here.

“That doesn’t explain why you had intentionally brought Katara here.” Zuko pointed.

“Was there another motive behind this, Piandao? Jee?” Katara’s gaze flickered between the two men she had always trusted. She wanted answers too.

Piandao smiled admiringly at the Master waterbender, “We knew you could bring him to his senses. Prince Zuko was desperate to join the White Lotus despite his health, and I worried what would come of him once he was rejected. Coming here a year ago, we started receiving intel and evidence of all kinds at our doorstep. It didn’t take long to figure out it was you, Prince Zuko.”

Zuko shook his head. “I’m not a prince, not anymore.”

“Is that so.” Piandao sighed, pausing as the tea he ordered was brought to the table. “I was not aware of how fully involved you were until an informant told us you had in fact joined the Ozai Society under the guise of ‘Li’. Jee says you and Master Katara shared a deep...respect for one another-“ Zuko and Katara simultaneously blushed. “- I feared for your life and just how deep you had gotten yourself.”

Zuko nodded, yet displayed not an ounce of remorse for his actions. “I did what I had to do. I did what I felt was right.”

“Prince Zuko, where is Ukano?”

“Dead.” He says without a beat.

“Hmm.” Jee looks around the bar, making sure there weren’t other members of the White Lotus with prying eyes. Luckily, they were the only patrons this early in the morning and the innkeeper was informed to allow no one else entry. “You realize vigilante justice is not the same as holding a person on trial. The World leaders will not approve of this.”

“What do I have to lose?”

Zuko snaps his head at the sound of a chair creaking and an angry Katara stomping up the stairs of the inn.

“A lot, by the looks of it.” Jee remarked, bringing the cup of tea to his lips.

[soopersara]

@thecrazyone42​ I’m sorry I can’t answer your original ask because Tumblr is a hungry little jerk and ate it, but I finally got around to finishing this request for you!

Secret 

AO3 | FFN

Prompt #25 from this list, originally Day 4 of Zutara Week 2011

Katara doesn’t want to let anyone know that she’s been having trouble with nightmares, and when Zuko finds out on his own, she struggles to accept his help.

⁂ 

She paces from one end of the terrace to the other, heart in her throat. She is the strong one. She is the one they all rely on.

She can’t go back to them.

Not yet.

Not when it’s all so fresh, when she can still hear the screams, when she can still see Aang plummeting to the ground, lifeless. Not when closing her eyes, even for a second, brings it all rushing back.

It’s better for all of them this way. If she tries to sleep, the dreams will come back. If the dreams come back, she might wake them up. It’s too great a risk. The war is drawing to a close, and if they mean to win, they all need their rest.

It’s better if Katara faces this alone.

She keeps pacing. East to west and back again, measured steps and measured breaths. Twenty times, thirty, fifty—she loses count every time her mind twists the shadows into the shapes of her friends, her family in danger again.

She can do this. She can handle this alone, she has to.

Her throat stays tight and her eyes burn. It was just a dream. It was just a dream. It was just a dream. She’s checked on them all, she knows that they’re safe, but her pulse refuses to calm and her eyes continue playing tricks with the darkness, turning shadows into scenery and glints of blue-gray moonlight into lightning.

A shadow shifts, and Katara tells herself that it’s just another cruel trick of her mind, but this shadow is different. This shadow speaks.

“I don’t want your sympathy.” The words tear out of her, hot and bitter. “I don’t need your help.”

Though he is little more than a pale smudge in the dark, Zuko manages to look awkward when he runs a hand through his hair. “I—if you don’t want to talk to me, I can get one of the others.” The usual harsh edge of his tone is softened somewhat by fatigue and he comes a little closer. “The Avatar or your brother—”

“No. I’m fine on my own.” She folds her arms tight and plants her feet. She would keep pacing, but she knows better than to turn her back on him.

“Okay.” His rasp is almost gentle, and this time, he doesn’t come any closer. He hovers at the threshold of the terrace, half-lit by the moonlight.

“I’m fine,” she repeats. Her eyes still prickle and burn and a knot of dread settles in the center of her chest when her mind replays the dream again, but she is fine. “They all need their rest. I’m not going to bother the others over something this—this stupid.”

“You do this a lot, don’t you?” It isn’t a question, not really. Zuko’s gaze is steady, his expression unchanging.

Katara bristles anyway. “I do what a lot?”

“You don’t let the others know how much weight you’re carrying on your own.” His voice is soft as ever and he looks away.

She wishes it weren’t. Arguing with him, hating him is easier than whatever this is. “I do what I need to do. They need me to be strong, so I—”

“You pretend that you’re okay because the moment you stop, everything else falls apart,” Zuko finishes for her. Silence hangs between them for a moment before his eyes widen and he flushes a shade darker. He meets her gaze again. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

A harsh laugh claws its way out of her throat and she perches on a piece of a fallen column. She hates how easily he reads her, how he sees the depths she keeps hidden from all the others. As though the softness she saw in Ba Sing Se has been there all along.

“It’s your fault anyway.” Katara gives him a look fit to turn his blood to ice. “I wouldn’t be having nightmares about Ba Sing Se if you hadn't—” She breaks off. If he hadn’t offered her that threadbare truce. If he hadn’t been kind enough to convince her. If he hadn’t changed his mind and let his sister steal Aang’s final breath away.

Katara takes a deep breath. It’s okay now, she reminds herself. Aang is alive and safe and healthy, sleeping in the next room. They’re all safe. He doesn’t change that. She won’t let him.

Zuko steps a little farther onto the moonlit terrace and lowers himself onto what might have once been the base of a statue.

“In that case,” he rasps, “Maybe I should be the one losing sleep over it.”

For an instant, Katara agrees. This is his fault. He should be the one to fix it. But she sees that look in his eyes, that stupid, almost-sincere look, and she scoffs.

“Don’t act like you care.”

“I—” He stops himself mid-protest and something almost like sorrow flashes across his face. He rubs the back of his neck before he begins again, a little slower. “I want us to win this war. We can’t do that if we’re not all at our best.” His eyes, faded almost to silver in the faint light, pierce her. “I know how important you are. Without you—without you, we don’t stand a chance.”

An uncomfortable sensation settles in her stomach and she frowns. A small, nagging part of her thinks that he might have a point. A more irritating, insidious part thinks that he might even be talking about her rather than the endless support she lends the others.

“So—what? You want me to tell you all about my nightmares?”

Zuko nods. “If it helps.”

Katara takes a deep breath. The last thing she wants is to hand her secrets over to Zuko. He doesn’t deserve them. He doesn’t deserve her trust.

But she is tired, so unbelievably tired, and every time she closes her eyes, the dream comes flooding back. She can’t go on like this forever.

Her brow hardens into a scowl. “This doesn’t mean that I trust you.”

“I know.”

Another slow breath.

“I was in the catacombs again,” she begins, staring into empty darkness. “Fighting against Azula and the Dai Li—”

⁂

The next morning, she catches him watching her. While she serves breakfast to the group, his eyes follow her, even as he tends the cooking fire and serves the tea. Katara straightens her spine and tries to ignore him. He knows about her nightmares, but that means nothing. They aren’t friends. The secret he holds for her doesn’t change that.

By midday, even Sokka seems to notice the weight of their silence. He brandishes Space Sword and swipes at the air between them.

“Stop it, Sokka,” she tells him. “No swords around the cooking fire.”

Sokka waves Space Sword again. “Not a chance. Me and Swordy are doing a very important scientific study.”

Zuko’s sigh sounds nearly as irritated as she feels. “What kind of study involves waving that thing around like an idiot?” Zuko grabs Space Sword by the hilt and rams it back into its scabbard.

Sokka yelps and twists out of the way. “For your information,” he says loftily. “I wanted to find out if the tension between you two was actually thick enough to cut.”

Toph cackles and Sokka folds his arms, looking pleased with himself.

“Maybe there wouldn't be any tension if you all hadn’t decided to invite the enemy into our camp.” Katara levels a glare at Zuko and catches a glimpse of the same unreadable expression he’s been giving her all morning.

“Yeah, yeah, we all know what your problem is, Sugar.” Toph waves a dismissive hand in the air. “You’ve made that pretty clear. I want to know what’s going on with Princey-Pants.”

Zuko grunts at the nickname. Either he likes that one better than the others, or he’s becoming accustomed to Toph’s never-ending supply of them. “Not enough sleep.”

Katara expects him to go on, to explain everything, to claim credit for his flimsy “help"—anything to prove that his presence is worthwhile—but he stops there.

“Awwww, Hotpants misses his nice, fluffy royal bed.” Toph pulls her finger out of her nose and flicks what comes out into the fire.

Zuko’s fiery gaze flicks toward Katara, but his expression doesn’t change, and he turns back to Toph just as quickly. “More like I can’t stand the snoring. Seriously, you all put my uncle to shame, and that's saying something.”

Sokka lets out a stream of creative, high-pitched protests, and Toph cackles some more, her small face scrunching into a mess of gleeful creases. But Zuko doesn’t smile, and his gaze finds its way back to Katara once again.

⁂

“Katara?”

She isn’t surprised by his almost noiseless approach. She scowls at the ground, knees pulled to her chest. Why does it have to be him? Out of all the people who could have taken an interest in her nightmares, Zuko is her last choice by far. Too bad that doesn’t seem to dissuade him.

He pauses a few strides away and shifts his weight uncomfortably. “Are you okay? Did you have another nightmare?”

Katara scoffs and swipes a hand over her eyes. “Great guess, genius. How did you figure that out?”

She peeks up long enough to see his forehead crease and his brow furrow. But he doesn’t take her bait—he’s good at that. Or getting better, at least. She wishes he weren’t.

Zuko rubs the back of his neck. “Do—do you want to talk about it?”

She shrinks into herself even further. This time is even worse than the last. The moon is nearly full, and she can feel its power in her veins, calling her the same way it did that night with Hama. A bitter laugh forces its way up.

“Don’t strain yourself, Zuko. This one didn’t have anything to do with you, so you can go back to sleep with a clean conscience tonight.”

Zuko is quiet for a moment before she hears him move. She looks up, expecting him to leave, but instead he slides down against the wall, sitting a few arms’ lengths away. He doesn’t speak. He doesn’t watch her, he just sits alongside her, staring into the darkness and waiting.

The silence hangs heavy between them and Katara fidgets with the hem of her tunic. The darkness isn’t quite so unbearable when there is someone else with her. Even if it’s him. Even if it’s still too quiet.

She stares straight ahead and tries to count her pulse, but it’s too quick, and she can’t focus with the moon heightening both her bending and her senses. She can feel every drop of water, even the ones she wishes were still invisible. She can feel Zuko, the blood in his veins, his steady pulse, his even breaths. It calls out to her—she could take hold of his blood if she wanted and squeeze—

She jolts back to reality with a gasp, and Zuko leans forward, concern written across his face.

Katara lets out a shuddering breath. This is worse than last time. So much worse. If she keeps it bottled up, there is no telling who she might hurt.

“Do you know how much of the human body is made up of water?” she asks.

Zuko looks surprised and takes a moment to school his expression back to normal. “I guess I’ve never thought about it before.”

She shakes her head. “Nobody does. I mean, I always knew. But I never really—knew. Not like this.” Her hands tighten into fists. “I couldn’t feel it before. And now I can’t make it stop.”

Zuko doesn’t speak, doesn’t seem to react. He is quiet and watchful, and eventually, it is enough to pull out the words Katara has been holding back.

She tells him about the spooky night in the forest and how Hama frightened them at first, then took them in. She tells him about their discovery in the attic and how Hama took Katara on as a student. How Katara was elated to learn the bending traditions of her own tribe. How everything seemed perfect until the awful moment when nothing was right anymore.

She watches Zuko for a reaction, expecting shock and horror on his face. She is not disappointed. But when Katara tells him how she took hold of the old woman’s veins and brought her to her knees to keep the boys alive, he doesn’t leave despite his stricken expression. Instead, he leans forward.

“Are you okay?”

Katara swipes at her eyes with the back of her hand. “Perfect. Thanks so much for asking.”

Zuko frowns. “I know you’re not.”

“Then why ask?”

Zuko scratches behind his scarred ear and shrugs. “Isn’t that just what people say?” He sighs. “Sorry. I’m not good at this.”

“You’re really not.” Katara takes a steadying breath and stares down the empty corridor. “You’re probably scared that I’ll bloodbend you off the cliff by accident or something.”

“No.” His voice is quiet, almost gentle. “I don’t think you could ever do something like that by accident.”

She freezes. She is so used to—so sick of—the others telling her that she would never hurt them. That she could never cause any harm. But this—this is different. And as much as her mind rebels against anything that Zuko has to say, she can’t help but latch onto his last sentence.

“What was that?” she asks, barely over a whisper.

Zuko’s brow furrows slightly. “I’m not afraid?”

Katara shakes her head. “The other part.”

He watches her, expression inscrutable. “I don’t think you could do anything like that by accident.”

She swallows back the painful lump in her throat and looks away. “You really believe that?”

“You’re one of the strongest benders I’ve ever met. I’ve never seen you lose yourself to your element.” His tone is soft and certain. “Of course I believe it.”

The lump in her throat rises again and she swipes at her eyes. It’s silly that she is so relieved, but his certainty anchors her.

She manages a wobbly laugh. “So you’re just afraid that I’ll bloodbend you off the cliff on purpose, then?”

Zuko shrugs. “Maybe a little.”

Katara laughs again, and a weight lifts. Her shoulders lighten, and all at once, she can breathe again.

“I’m not going to bloodbend you off the cliff.”

“Thanks.” Zuko’s voice is soft, with no trace of his habitual dryness.

Silence hangs between them for a few long minutes, and it is easier, more comfortable than she expects. She can still feel Zuko’s pulse, the quiet ease of his breath, but with his words echoing in her ears—I’ve never seen you lose yourself to your element—its call is gentler. She can match her breath to his without the crimson glow blinding her.

Slowly, her eyelids slide closed. When they open again, she finds herself in her own bed, a blanket tucked around her shoulders, and Zuko making a silent retreat out the door.

She thinks she smiles.

And in the morning, he finally smiles back.

⁂

It isn’t the first time she’s heard him jolt awake in the dead of night, but after he waits outside her tent and follows her across the sea on a quest for justice, she can’t ignore it any longer. After he stands at her side in silent support, after she finds relief and safety in his embrace, she doesn’t want to.

His strangled gasp rouses her and by the time her eyes manage to focus, he is seated upright, fighting to control his breathing. His hair sticks up a little in the back and clings in jagged streaks across his forehead. His shoulders heave, and by the faint light of the waning moon, she thinks she can see patches of sweat on his tunic.

She sits up, but before she can say his name, Zuko bolts, the airy draperies trailing in his wake.

She finds him a few minutes later, perched on the steps overlooking the beach. His shoulders are hunched and she thinks she can see him shaking ever so slightly.

“Zuko?”

He starts and jerks around to face her. An almost feverish sheen glistens on his forehead, and his jaw clenches and unclenches.

“How—how long have you been there?” His voice is strained and he refuses to meet her eyes.

“Not long.”

He gives a stiff nod and turns back toward the ocean.

It isn’t an invitation, but Katara sits beside him anyway.

“Are you okay?”

He lets out a shuddering breath. “Not exactly.” His hands clamp on the top of the step and he closes his eyes as if steadying himself. “I’ll manage. You might as well go back inside,” he says after a pause.

A few days ago, she would have obliged. A few days ago, she wouldn’t have even made it this far. But now she can’t force herself to entertain the thought. She turns her gaze out to sea and times her breath against the lapping of the waves. She can feel the roar of his pulse, the frantic rush of blood in his veins. She could take hold of it if she wanted, could slow its beating back to normal, but instead she only listens.

Gradually, Zuko’s pulse evens, and Katara feels his gaze flicker her direction a few times. She keeps her eyes on the water, waiting.

“Why are you still here?”

Katara wraps her arms around her knees and refuses to turn his way. She knows exactly what he means, but she doesn’t have an answer yet. Not even for herself.

“It’s even more beautiful here at night.” She draws in a deep breath of cool salt air.

The weight of Zuko’s gaze doesn’t lift. “That’s not what I meant.” His voice is a soft, small rasp.

“I know.”

“You don’t have to sit with me just because—” He lets out a puff of air and waves his hand in the air. “You don’t have to help me.”

Katara chances a look in his direction. “Neither did you.”

He freezes, his lips slightly parted. For a second, she loses track of his pulse before it roars back, a little quicker, a little louder than before.

“That—” He pauses to clear his throat and turns his eyes back toward the sea. “That was different.” “How?” She watches him now, the tension in his shoulders, the set of his jaw. “You came to sit with me when I had a nightmare. How is this different?”

He pulls his knees up, mirroring her, and crosses his arms on top of them. His hands clench and unclench. “Because I—” He swallows and doesn’t finish.

“Because you felt guilty?”

“Not just that.” His voice drops so low that she scarcely hears it, but he can’t hide the way the blood rushes to his cheeks.

Briefly, Katara wonders if this is anything like the way Toph sees the world—the inner workings all laid bare, even in the dark. His pulse quickens, but there is something softer than panic beneath it.

He runs a hand through his hair, a few damp strands standing on end. “It—it’s nothing. I’ll be fine.”

“Good.” She leans back on her hands and stares up at the stars. She is almost near enough to rest her head on his shoulder, and part of her wants to. Very much.

She feels him watching her, his gaze nearly as warm as his touch.

“You really don’t have to stay with me.”

She turns toward him. There is a familiar look in his eyes, a thread of loneliness that runs clear down to his core. He expects her to leave. He must expect everyone to leave.

“And what if I want to?”

His eyes widen, and she can feel his pulse skip. For a moment, he struggles for words.

“Then—” he finally begins, “—I think I should at least make you some tea.”

Katara smiles and lets her hand brush against his. “I think I’d like that.”