#He loves katara bumi kya and tenzin with all his heart the same way he love his air nomad people

[the--firevenus]

Actually make myself cry to sleep just imagining aang hold baby bumi for the first time ever and he cries cuz it's his son, his boy, his baby boy in his hand, a family he start with katara is real and they are with him and and —

[sapphic-agent]

Rewriting the Gaang in LOK

Basically how I would have written the adult Gaang. Pretend the comics as they are don't exist.

Katara: Breaks up with Aang sometime post-finale to do some soul-searching. Travels the world on her own and sees how people are struggling after the war. After talking (beating) some sense into a few government officials, she realizes that the best way to help people post-war is through politics. She becomes an (unofficial) ambassador, helping and negotiating aid for small villages that tend to get overlooked and does this for a number of years. She joins up with Zuko and Aang after they found the United Republic of Nations and becomes Councilwoman Katara, representative of the Southern Water Tribe. She eventually gets voted chairwoman due to her passion to improve the lives of the citizens (and because her fellow council members are too scared to vote against her). She heals on the side when she needs to, but only out of obligation since she can't stand to see people suffer; she puts much more effort into getting raising funds for a hospital full of healers. A few years later, Haru moves to Republic City and is just as awestruck by her as he was the day they met (the pornstache has been removed by divine intervention). They meet up a couple of times; for drinks after work, walks around the city, and they even attend a few galas together. They eventually start dating and get married two years later. They have their first daughter Kya (who's an earthbender), a son- Tyro (who's a nonbender), and another daughter Suma (who's a waterbender). They live a happy, peaceful (if you could call Katara stopping the occasional criminal before the police peaceful) life together where their children are well-loved and as part of the Southern Water Tribe as they are the Earth Kingdom. Aang's death hits their family hard, but they all come together and support each other. Katara personally mentors Korra, even convincing her family move to Republic City so that the Avatar knows the people she's meant to protect (the White Lotus protests, they fail❤️). She teaches Korra Waterbending, but also teaches her empathy and appreciation for other cultures (and that sometimes, selfish world leaders need a good punch to the face, a lesson Korra took to heart even though she absolutely wasn't supposed to see it).

Aang: Is torn up after Katara breaks up with him. He's hurt and confused and doesn't know what to do with himself. He retreats to Ba Sing Se where he talks with Iroh and learns that he unfairly pushed his feelings onto Katara. Wracked with guilt at hurting someone he cares about so much, Aang realizes that he has a lot of growing up to do. He focuses on his job as the Avatar, working closely with Zuko, Kuei, and the other leaders to heal the world after the war. The first time he sees Katara again is when she arrives to help with the United Republic of Nations. He apologizes to her and Katara forgives him, promising they'll always be best friends. His role in Republic City is more or less the same, though at some point he develops feelings for Toph. But he fears doing to her what he had done to Katara, so he tries to ignore them. But Toph, never one to beat around the bush, point-blank asks him if he's ever gonna man-up and confess to her. They start dating, and Lin comes a few months later as a surprise. They have their hiccups- Aang especially needing to reconcile with the fact that there's a chance she might not be an Airbender- but they manage to resolve them. Lin is an Earthender, of course, but Aang loves his little girl to pieces (which is good, because Toph would kill him if she suspected otherwise). Tenzin is born three years later, an Airbender, and Su Yin is born two years after that as an Earthbender. Lastly there's Bumi, a nonbender. There's always the urge to favor Tenzin, but Aang knows he can't. They're all his children and they deserve to be treated as such. So he teaches them all about their culture, takes them all on trips. The kids fight, but Aang is always quick to help resolve it (as it turns out, getting Lin and Su to stop fighting is a lot harder than getting the four nations to get along, go figure). Aang loves his wife and kids and wouldn't trade any of them for the world. He dies peacefully at age 66, surrounded by his children and the love of his life.

Sokka: Fucking hates politics. He'll leave the negotiating and speeches to his sister, thank you very much. If the room of government officials isn't a war room, he wants no part in it. After the war, he spends most of his time in the Southern Water Tribe. He works with his father to rebuild and relearn their culture, and writes frequent letters to his sister. Though, something about his life in the south is unfulfilling. Maybe he misses Suki, but there's something about inventing that calls to him. He can't do much of that in the south pole, so he leaves for the Earth Kingdom, helping villages struggling with heat, agriculture, transportation, etc. In the United Republic of Nations, he becomes lead engineer of the city, utilizing bending to make quick technological advances. He and Suki reunite in Republic City where Suki becomes the police chief. They get back together and have a daughter, Lian. The three of them live a simple life together, until Suki gets gravely injured in the line of duty when Lian is twenty. They decide to retire to the Southern Water Tribe where Sokka takes over for Hakoda as chief and prepares Lian to take over for him.

Toph: When Toph hears that Twinkle Toes and Sparky finally started that fancy new city, she thinks it's the perfect opportunity to cause a little chaos. Closing her metalbending school, she decides to relive her days as the Blind Bandit by founding pro-bending (thanks @ecoterrorist-katara for the idea!). Zuko's a hater and tries to shut it down because "safety," but finds no help in Aang who really, really loves the idea. He goes to every one of her matches and Toph feels both smug pride and... Something else. But she tells herself it would never happen, Twinkle Toes likes girls like Sugar Queen and she was the furthest thing from that. But she isn't totally oblivious, she can feel his heartbeat pick up when he's around her and how he's started to stutter when he's talking to her. So she bites the bullet and they start happily dating. But the arrival of Lin uncovers issues she didn't even know were there. Lin cries loudly and for Toph who relies heavily on her sense of hearing, it's hell. She was also unprepared for how much her body would change. She finds herself not wanting to be around her daughter. But Aang realizes this and urges her to talk to someone. After some arguing, she does. Aang is attentive, so Toph can take breaks when she needs to and Katara and Suki are always ready to get her out of the house when she's overwhelmed. Things with Lin get better and when Tenzin comes around she doesn't suffer nearly as much. Su Yin is similar. It's hard with Bumi because she's older, but Aang and her friends are there to support her. Toph can be distant with her children- her closely monitored childhood always present in her mind- but sees how Aang can be doting and allow their kids freedom. She follows by his example, trying to find a balance between hovering and absence. Aang's death is the worst day of her life- she was there, she felt his heart stop- and she retreats into the swamp for a while to grieve. But she returns to Republic City when Katara begins to mentor the new Avatar. Not to be outdone by Sugar Queen, she becomes Korra's second teacher. It's hard to be around Korra sometimes, but she likes the girl's spunk and attitude, even if she is a brat.

Zuko: Zuko struggles after the war. The obligations of the Fire Lord are crushing and daunting and the fear of turning into his father feels like it's constantly looming over his head. Mai doesn't understand why he's struggling so much and he can't figure out how to explain it to her, so they break up. She goes to Kyoshi Island to spend time with Ty Lee and figure out what she wants in life. Stressed, burnt-out, and heartbroken, Zuko asks Aang to kill him if he ever starts to act like Ozai, but Aang steadfastly refuses, berating him for even suggesting it. Aang assures him that he'll never turn into his father and that he has his friends to rely on. He follows after Aang to Ba Sing Se, working in his uncle's tea shop as a much needed break. He opens up to Iroh about his fears and Iroh affirms that even having these worries proves that he'll never be Ozai. He spends time in Ba Sing Se working in the tea shop and negotiating with the Earth King when he meets Jin again. She's as carefree as she was back then and Zuko is both envious and in awe of it. But he knows he can't have a relationship with her, he can't burden her with his problems. But Jin is gently persistent, lending an ear when he needs one and assuring him that he isn't burdening her. When she asks him if he wants to be with her, he confesses that he does- more than anything- but also admits that he has no idea how it'll work. She tells him that if they want to be together no one should stop them. A year later, they're married and she's crowned Fire Lady Jin. There are some protests to their relationship from traditionalists, but Ambassador Katara (Zuko is so sure that she was never actually given that title, but he can't prove it) is quick to shut them down citing that the Fire Lord marrying an Earth Kingdom girl is a sign of unity. They have their daughter, Izumi, and she's Zuko's entire world. Zuko's greatest fear is that his children will end up like him and Azula, so he refrains from having more kids. Jin respects this, but urges him to talk to Azula. So he does; his sister curses him out, but seems to enjoy his company in her own way. They'll never have a good relationship, but Zuko doesn't want her to feel alone so he makes time at least once a week. It's shortly after Aang's death that Zuko relinquishes the title of Fire Lord to Izumi, his grief over his lifetime friend far too painful. Eventually, though, Katara and Toph bully him into training the new Avatar. It's not a role for a retired Fire Lord, but Zuko knows that the world needs Korra to be strong and it's his responsibility to make that happen as much as he can. And so, he becomes Avatar Korra's third teacher (if you told him 60 years ago that he'd become the Avatar's most sane instructor, he'd think you were high on cactus juice. But with Katara punching dictators in the face and Toph breaking every rule ever written, someone has to be a good influence).

Occupations if you missed them:

Katara: (Unofficial/Self-proclaimed) Ambassador of the Southern Water Tribe, United Republic of Nations Councilwoman and later Chairwoman, Healer (on the side), Waterbending Master to the Avatar

Aang: Avatar, United Republic of Nations Councilman

Sokka: Engineer and Inventor, Chief of the Southern Water Tribe

Toph: Pro-Bender, Manager of the Pro-Bending Arena, Earthbending Master to the Avatar

Zuko: Fire Lord, Firebending Master to the Avatar

Suki: Police Chief of Republic City (I'm sorry I didn't make a detailed background for her I got lazy, I promise I don't love her any less😭)

Defending my ship choices:

Harutara: Come on, y'all know what I'm about at this point. They're my everything, how could I not have them together? Plus, there's something really poetic about Haru falling for her as an adult the way he did as a teenager: watching her inspire those around her. I headcanon that he's enamoured with the sound of her voice because it's the voice that liberated him and his people and he attends all her speeches

Taang: I actually wasn't sure about this one. I'm not an active Taang shipper, but I do think they'd really balance each other out. Toph is the hard ass Aang needs to challenge him and Aang would bring out the softer side in her. Toph would never let Aang favor one kid over the other and Aang wouldn't let Toph neglect their kids. So looking at it like that, I felt them being together would be best for the story

Sukka: It's not as perfect in canon as people make it out to be, but I still love them. I wouldn't want any different for them

Jinko: This one actually made more sense than I would have thought. Jin is very different from Mai, so I can really see her being what Zuko needs considering where he would be mentally. I like Mai, but I feel Maiko really made her way more one dimensional so her living with Ty Lee and finding herself feels like a better end for her (and if they start dating, that's no one's business). And we've already seen Zuko go out of his way to make Jin happy so it's not like we're getting another Kataang situation. I'm happy with this for them

The Kids:

Yes, I purposely made Kya an Earthbender. And yes, Katara still gives her her mother's necklace. Because that's her firstborn daughter no matter what element she does (or doesn't) bend. One thing I hate is that Bryke made the Kataang kids primarily part of the culture that they bend. That's such a slap in the face to biracial kids, not to mention poor Bumi who doesn't seem to belong to either for some reason until he ends up an Airbender. So yeah, all of the Harutara kids are part of the EK and SWT. Suma is a name I made up because it sounded pretty

I know it's weird to think of Lin and Tenzin as siblings, I felt so odd writing it. But I love them both so I couldn't just not write them. I made Bumi the youngest so he could be spoiled because he deserved better in canon. Su and Lin have a better relationship, but they still butt heads because they feel the need to one-up each other due to them both being Earthbenders (and later Metalbenders). Lin still becomes a cop, but their big fight never happened because Su was never neglected to the point of becoming a criminal. All four kids are taught Air Nomad culture and traditions and taken on trips because Aang is a decent father

I named Lian partly after Yue, since Yuèliàng means moon in Chinese. One of my gripes with LOK is that Katara and Sokka's family are meant to be the leaders of the SWT. Kya or Bumi should be the chief in canon, but Bryke just... Didn't do that for some reason. So fuck it, Sokka's daughter is chief now

Nothing really changes about Izumi, although I'd say she's a little friendlier. I contemplated giving Zuko more kids, but I actually think his decision not to have more kids was one of Bryke's better choices. It makes sense, so I didn't feel the need to change it

Other notes:

The Gaang teaching/helping raise baby Korra is something I live for

The Red Lotus is swiftly dealt with by Katara, Toph, Zuko, Suki, and Sokka when Korra is a kid. They never stood a chance. I was actually going to have Sokka still die during the attack in the SWT and Suki kill Zaheer in revenge, but eh I decided not to off Sokka

The Civil War still happens, but differently. I don't have the patience to go into that, just know that Katara is HEAVILY involved

Welp, that's everything in my brain

[airteacher]

in regards to Aang being a bad parent,

//There's so much we don't know, and so much that we can only speculate on. So we should really focus on what we do know and form opinions on that.

We do know Aang is an incredibly loving person. He also loved to talk about his culture when the chance came. The fan clubs, for example. I can't imagine Aang not doing the same with his children. We have a very limited perspective on the matter.

Maybe Kya and Bumi as kids found the constant lessons in Air Nomad stuff annoying like they did in the show as adults. Aang may have taken that to heart. Who wants to be disliked by their own kids? So he respected that and stopped. The soil is innocently and unknowingly laid to sow a seed.

Then it all falls on Tenzin to learn this stuff. Annoyed by it or not. Tenzin doesn't get an option. And Tenzin takes this very seriously because Tenzin is a very serious guy. We know this as that is how Katara describes him in the first episode. He feels the weight of the world is on his shoulders. We know this from the event in the Fog of Lost Souls. Aang knows this feeling. He would probably want to show Tenzin that he can still have fun in the process of all this. Maybe Aang doesn't invite Kya and Bumi because they're doing their own things, and, based on the past, Aang assumes they're not interested. Those missed opportunities and all the special attention Tenzin gets and their already close bond becoming closer -- a weed grows in Bumi and Kya.

Silent resentment forms. Everyone dives deeper into their different life paths. And the weed gets to exist on the side and get comfortable in the soil and sun. The resentment probably didn't get properly addressed until in that very episode.

I don't think blame should be placed on anyone. Of course Aang wasn't perfect. There were things that Aang could have done better as a parent. That doesn't make him a horrible dad. I'm sure if he knew how Kya and Bumi truly felt, I believe it in the depth of my heart he would have done things differently. Children are still developing and Aang is gone a lot. They may not have been able to communicate this stuff with Aang even if they wanted to.

Wedges in families like this one happen despite our best efforts. It develops slowly, silently, over a long period of time and is easily overlooked. Until it bursts. But I don't think there's anyone to blame.

We can be mad at Aang or Bryke. We can vent our frustrations, but let's do it in a kind and compassionate way. Not with hate. Because when we do things with hate, we're feeding that weed. I hope that we can also think with our wise mind, not be quick to judge with so little information, and be patient with ourselves and others and even the fictional characters we hold dearly.

[flameohotwife]

Hey there, could you do some domestic kataang (maybe with a hint of cloudbabies)? I would really appreciate it.

I love your works, thank you for them and thank you in advance :)

Hi! This one got to be much longer than a drabble, with way more than a hint of cloudbabies. You can also find it on ao3 for ease of reading :) Thank you so so much for the ask--I hope you enjoy!

In Sickness and In Health (rated G)

Katara awoke with a start to the sound of Kya snoring loudly on the floor next to their bed. That’s right, she remembered, rubbing her face, she came in here because she couldn’t sleep. No wonder with that stuffy nose… She rolled over and found Tenzin curled up in Aang’s spot on the bed, snuggled into a blue blanket woven from Appa’s fur. His mouth was lolling open and there was a trail of drool hanging out. Scanning the dark room for Aang, Katara’s heartrate quickened when couldn’t see him anywhere.

Since having kids, Aang had sworn off leaving in the middle of the night for Avatar emergencies. He always waited until his family was awake and he could give them notice first. He said it was because they didn’t deserve to have their young lives interrupted like that, but Katara knew better. She knew that it was to say goodbye, just in case the mission went badly wrong, as emergency missions are wont to do. To make sure he gave each of his children a hug and told them how much he loved them one last time. 

Pulling on her robe, Katara slowly snuck out of the bed. She bent some water from a nearby pot and with a splay of her hands it vaporized, immediately humidifying the room. Kya snuffled in her sleep and rolled over. Katara padded down the hall to the kitchen with a smile, where she found Aang examining Bumi as they stood next to the table.

“I don’t think you’ll be going to school today either, Boom,” Aang was saying. Katara’s smile evaporated.

“But Dad!” Bumi protested. “I can’t miss today! I have my final presentation in World History and Uncle Sokka was gonna come talk to the class with me!” 

“I’m sorry, son,” Aang shook his head, putting a hand on Bumi’s shoulder. “You couldn’t even keep your breakfast down this morning and you’re burning up. If your mother was awake she’d tell you the same thing.”

Katara chose that moment to fully enter the room, placing the back of her hand gently against her oldest son’s head. She had to reach up to do so, now—he’d gotten so tall in the last few years. Her heart squeezed at the thought. He was in his final year of schooling, and then she was sure he would be off on new adventures without them. This little boy had been her entire world since the day she found out she was pregnant, and now he was almost a man. 

“Spirits, Bumi,” she exclaimed under her breath. “Your dad’s right. You definitely have a fever. I’ll make you some jook and then it’s back to bed with you—healer’s orders.”

Aang shot her a worried look as she started the rice on the stove and Bumi sat down, laying his head down on the table, defeated. He always hated when any of their babies were sick, and right now all three of them were being slammed with something. She looked out at the snow falling around Air Temple Island and sighed, weariness already seeping into her bones. She just hoped she and Aang could stay healthy.

This winter had been particularly hard on all of Republic City in terms of illness. The hospital she worked at had been overrun and she knew there had been many illnesses spreading through the school their older two children attended. It seemed like since the weather turned, every other week one of their children had been down with something, and now it was all three at once. 

Aang brewed them all some tea on the other stove burner. He pulled out some of Iroh’s special blend to help with Bumi’s stomach. Katara smiled sadly. They’d been through enough stomach bugs at this point that they had the response down to a science, though it never took the edge off of their parental worry. Aang had clearly woken up early to help Bumi this morning and already cleaned up whatever mess there was. 

The two of them worked together in silence, conveying their concerns in glances and pressed lips, gentle touches as they moved around each other in the small—but homey—kitchen. Soon the tea was ready and Aang passed Katara a cup before carrying two over to where Bumi sat. Aang passed his son his own cup and gently encouraged him to drink.

Now that Bumi was almost 16, there weren’t as many opportunities to still care for him the way they had when he was younger. He didn’t come to them for comfort as often. When Tenzin was upset, he would come toddling up to his parents for a hug or for them to “kiss it better.” Kya was six now and when she was sad, she waffled between wanting cuddles from her parents and wanting to prove her fierce independence. 

But right now, Bumi took a sip of his tea, winced, and buried his face in his father’s shoulder. Aang wrapped his arms around his son as best he could and stroked lovingly at his back. 

Katara stirred some miso and ginger into the boiled down rice, remembering the first time Bumi had been sick and how terrified Aang had been. They’d been so young when he was born, and Aang was still figuring out the many ways in which his trauma presented and affected him. The first time Bumi had caught a cold and his little body struggled to breathe, Aang had been positive that their child was about to die. While Katara had cleared the infant’s nose out as best she could (while Bumi screamed and coughed even more and tired himself out), Aang pleaded with Katara to save him. 

“Please,” he had begged, tears in his eyes and pain etched into every surface of his face. “I can’t lose him, too.”

Katara had known Bumi would be fine with continued treatment; she was a healer after all, and this was a typical childhood cold. But Aang had flown into a worry spiral unlike anything she’d ever seen from him. She knew how important their children were—to each of them individually and to the world—but to see how the unlikely loss affected her young, strong husband was jarring.

She had placed baby Bumi in his arms, then, under his sash so that they were skin-to-skin, chest-to-chest. Immediately, both of them relaxed into each other. Tears still streamed down Aang’s face as he hummed an old Air Nomad lullaby but Katara watched the tension drain out of his muscles now that he could physically feel their child breathing. Alive. Okay.

Katara watched as that same tension evaporated from Aang now. Cupping Bumi’s head against him and stroking his back. She scooped up a bowl of jook and brought it to the table, pressing a kiss into Bumi’s wild head of hair. 

“Thanks, Mom,” he mumbled weakly.

“I love you, Boom,” she cooed. Tears pricked at her eyes and she quickly blinked them away before pressing a kiss to the top of Aang’s head too, and going back to the kitchen.

Kya and Tenzin had been down with colds for the last two days, and the kitchen was a bit of a disaster as a result. Katara took a deep breath, willing herself the energy to get the dishes washed and the counters wiped down.

“I can get it in a minute,” Aang reassured her, but she shook her head. He was right where he needed to be in this moment; she could handle the dishes. Just then, Tenzin toddled in, coughing.

“Mama! Water, pease?” 

She smiled as he raised his arms up to her. This was the precise reason the dishes hadn’t been done the day before—she’d had two sick and clingy children who needed their mama. Aang had tried to stay home and help, but a messenger hawk called him away by lunch and then he’d been kept at the council late into the evening. Bumi came home after school, took one look at the pile of sick children resting on his mother on the couch and said he was going to Uncle Sokka’s to work on his report, not returning until bedtime.

Katara scooped up her toddler and poured him a glass of water which he guzzled down. Hopefully Kya would sleep late and feel better when she awoke. She was already a creature of the night—often feeling the call of the moon and asking to practice her bending after the boys were in bed. It wasn’t unusual for her to sleep until midday on the weekends even when she was healthy. She took after her mother so much already.

Katara ladled another few bowls of jook, then took Tenzin’s now-empty glass and set it down on the counter to refill later. Tenzin played with her hair as she bustled around, tidying the kitchen, allowing their meal a moment to cool. She saw Bumi take a small bite out of the corner of her eye and watched him anxiously. He swallowed, then returned his head to Aang’s shoulder. Aang returned her look, but gave a subtle nod. I’ve got this, he said, wordlessly. He’ll be alright. 

Breathing a sigh of relief, she brought Aang his own bowl, which she knew he wouldn’t eat until after Bumi was safely in bed and he’d reheated it with firebending. Then, grabbing the bowls for Tenzin and herself while balancing the wiggly toddler on her hip, she took them into the larger, more formal dining room that was really only used when they had guests. It had plush orange pillows on the ground and a low table. She didn’t normally allow her children to eat in there, but since Bumi was ill, she didn’t want to risk a very messy Tenzin slurping or spilling his food and turning his brother’s stomach even more. Eating with small children definitely wasn’t for the faint of heart… 

Tenzin absolutely lived up to her predictions, too. By the end of their meal, she even had jook in her hair. She reminded herself that Tenzin was the least rambunctious of her and Aang’s children at this age as she wiped food out of his pajamas and summoned water to clean up the cushions they were sitting on before the rice mixture hardened. It seemed as though he had hardly gotten any of the food in his mouth, finding more enjoyment in flinging his spoon or painting with it. Not that she was surprised—he was so congested.

Eventually, she heard hushed voices and the scraping of a chair. Aang must be helping Bumi back to bed, she thought. Or he’s been sick again… She knew Aang could handle whatever the situation was, though.

Once the mess was cleaned up, she set Tenzin in the living room with his toys and tried again to start the dishes. She could feel a headache coming on but tried to will it away—she could not be sick, too. She didn’t have the time.

Already it felt like she’d taken more time off work in the last month than she’d spent at the hospital. And the Republic City council was beginning to get frustrated with Aang as well for his frequent absences. Being a working parent had always been difficult, but it was another level of anxiety when the kids were sick.

Tenzin came in and tried to cling to his mother’s legs as she worked, scrubbing dish after dish and setting them to dry. As she went to set another plate down on the counter, she found it landed in Aang’s hand instead and she grinned up at him.

“Thank you,” she said quietly as he began to dry each dish and put them away.

“Of course,” he said. “Bumi’s resting, now. He’s got a bucket in there just in case, but I think he should be okay now. I sent a hawk to Sokka to let him know, too.”

“Oh Spirits, thank you,” she sighed. She truly was grateful for a husband who took on so much of the work when kids were sick and didn’t need to be told what to do. Suddenly, she sneezed, and Aang looked at her with concern.

“I’m fine,” she tried to insist, but Aang already had his hand up against her forehead.

“No, you’re not,” he said, taking the same tone he had with Bumi not an hour before. “You need to go lay down, too. I’ll finish the dishes and send hawks to the hospital and the council that neither of us will be in, today.” He bent and lifted Tenzin off the ground, freeing Katara’s legs.

Katara set the bowl she had just picked up back in the sink and leaned heavily over the counter. She knew Aang was right. Aang wrapped an arm around her and she rested her head on his chest, allowing him to walk them all back towards their bedroom. 

The sound of Kya’s snoring greeted them, though it wasn’t as loud as it had been earlier. Katara hugged Aang, then squeezed Tenzin’s hand before collapsing back into her bed. 

“I’ll bring you a glass of water and some tea,” Aang whispered. “Call me if you need anything.”

“I love you,” she murmured.

Aang lovingly brushed her hair away from her face. “I love you too, Sweetie. Get some rest.”

When Katara woke up again, her throat was throbbing, and she felt achy all over. She rolled over and saw that Kya had left the room at some point. Her tea was still there. She took a sip to soothe her throat, but it was cold. Outside their room, Kya and Tenzin were bickering about some sort of toy configuration. 

Aang either sensed her movement or had perfect timing, because at that moment he opened the door and brought her a steaming bowl of soup. 

“How are you feeling?” he asked hesitantly.

“Worse,” Katara croaked. “This should help, though. Thank you. How’s Boom?”

“He’s still sleeping!” Aang chuckled after he shook his head and the concern over Katara’s state faded from his face. “He hasn’t been sick again since this morning. Kya coughed so hard a few times I thought she was going to be sick, but we’ve been safe so far. Tenzin seems to be doing much better.”

“That makes sense, since he was the first one to get it. Hopefully that means Kya isn’t too far behind.” 

Aang nodded then, noticing that Katara hadn’t had any of her soup yet, bent a mouthful up to her. She smiled when she noticed, rolling her eyes at his playfulness that she loved so much. She finally opened her mouth and allowed him to bend it in. It immediately warmed and soothed her and she sighed happily once she swallowed. 

“Now you have to stay healthy,” she said sternly. “We can’t afford to have everyone down but the toddler!”

Aang full-out laughed at that. “No,” he said. “That certainly wouldn’t do. Can you imagine all the furniture he would paint?”

“Or the ‘soups’ he would make in the sink?”

“Or how many cushions would be used for forts? Do you think we would even be able to walk through the house when he was done?”

“Ha! Probably not.” 

“Speaking of which, I should get back out there before they find a way to overturn hot soup all over themselves. Will you be okay?”

“I’m good. Thank you again for the soup. And for everything. I love you so much.”

“Love you too, Sweetie,” he said as he closed the door to their room once more.

Katara grinned. She felt terrible, but she was so glad that if she and the kids had to be sick, Aang was the one they had by their side through it all. She couldn’t imagine a better partner in these moments. He had his flaws—it was not easy to be married to the Avatar—but he also knew exactly how to cheer her up when she needed it.

[hyperfixationisamust]

Sokka in LoK (Oldkka????)

We were all robbed of old Sokka so fuck canon I'm putting him in

Sokka moves like he's still in his prime, always full of energy

but sometimes the knee that he hurt during Sozin's Comet will lock up and he's down for the count

totally carves his own cane. or makes one idk mans made hot air balloons he probably finds some way to make his cane some kind of cannon or sword

absolutely treats Korra like his own kid; won't hesitate to snark or playfully punch her, but will also give her advice when she needs it

he teaches Korra how to fight with weapons or hand to hand, or at least teaches her to fight while thinking outside of the box

White Lotus member Sokka feels so right; he's like a more upbeat version of Piandao mixed with less cryptic Bumi. wicked smart and quick wits with a sharp tongue but goofs off a lot so people assume he's just an old wackjob

Sokka makes it so that there's a permanent nonbender councilperson position and/or a Water Tribe representative

though they've matured, Katara and Sokka still squabble but with more words and the occasional bending of water/snow into Sokka's clothes

loves to remind Zuko of his teenage, angsty self constantly

I firmly believe that Toph told him she was gonna go live in a swamp because Tokka friendship my beloved

fuck it Suki is also very much alive and retired on Kyoshi Island and is an instructor and Sokka will occasionally drop by to talk

Sokka definitely still fights, regardless of what people try to warn him about watching his health, he's still fit, thank you very much

never got over the thrill of travelling and goes wherever his heart takes him, but always visits friends when he's in the area

still loves art and writing, tho he has improved a lot lmao

when they were first building Republic City, he may have gotten a liiitle mad when there were no non-bender statues so he made Non-Bender Row, a street solely dedicated to statues of well-known non-benders and plaques of their achievements

always calls his friends to see how they're doing when phones become a thing

speaking of phones, Sokka loves seeing all these new inventions and definitely would like Varrick; reminds Sokka of a younger him, or so he likes to say

hates Amon with a passion and how he preys on the useless feeling of nonbenders; Amon doesn't get as much attention and followers with Sokka opposing him

when he first meets Korra's group, he thinks Mako is somehow related to Zuko

Mako: it's nice to meet you, Mr. So-

Sokka: are you Zuko's long lost son or something

Mako: ???

loves messing with Bolin and constantly teases him; very proud of him when Bolin learns lavabending

very impressed with Asami; I like to think Asami really looks up to Sokka as a non-bending inventor and when he finds this out: ego boosted, Asami is his new favorite

I have a whole separate wip of young Bumi II and Sokka bonding, but just know these two are very close and love to poke fun at their other family members together

Oh they also have the same connection to spirits so they can bond over that too

When Bumi gets airbending, yeah Sokka’s a little sad, and yeah maybe he cries a little bit, but it’s fine Bumi’s still his favorite

Sokka sees so much of Katara and Kya in Kya II; very supportive when she comes out and will hurt anyone who judges her for it

loves messing with Tenzin; sometimes will call him mini Aang; has a running bet with the rest of the family to see who can get him the most red (currently Meelo is in the lead)

Meelo and Sokka are a disaster together; the sheer chaos they can and will cause is through the roof

thinks of Ikki as a female version of Aang; also like to cause trouble together, but mostly through pranks

likes to poke fun at Jinora about her spiritual connection, but he's really proud of her when she gets her airbender tattoos

Sokka: jfdslkjh go Jinora fksdljg

Kya: Uncle are you crying

Sokka, sniffling: nO-

Give me Sokka interacting with his nieces and nephews he’d be such a good uncle spirits please

definitely thinks Kai is not good enough for his grandniece

very wary of Wu, doesn't like him at first

Sokka: he's an entitled royal brat with no manners

Katara: so were you, but without the royal part

Sokka: *offended noises*

Would absolutely be best friends with Pabu and Naga; jokes that he loves them more than their owners

Sokka would be super into probending and would probably even buy a team; but that's a post for another time

Liked the Black Quarry Boar-q-pines, but when Korra joined the Fire Ferrets, he started rooting for them

he's the first one to notice how close Asami and Korra are

Asami and Korra: *smile at each other*

Sokka: oh??? what's this????

when Mako goes through the awkward phase with Asami and Korra after that whole love triangle shitshow, Sokka tells him about his own love struggles

Asami and Korra: we're together now <33

Sokka: KNEW IT

[reinerispretty]

rotations. bonus! little izumi

your writing is so good! and rotations is amazing! may I request a little something about Zuko and reader practicing their fire bending together and then Izumi maybe realizes she’s not a bender and feels kinda sad but then they comfort her and tell her that she’s still very special? thanks!

hello!! and thank u so much for requesting this :) i hope u like it!! 

if you haven’t read rotations, you can read it HERE!

MASTERLIST

Birthday celebrations were a grand thing in the Fire Nation Palace. When (Y/N) and Zuko were young, their birthdays had been used as guises for the wealthy diplomats to exchange their own interests. They pretended to care about the children whose parties they were attending, when in reality they only cared about satisfying their own desires. (Y/N) had first met Zuko at his own birthday party, and even that had been a secret meeting between their parents to see if (Y/N) was good enough to be the future queen of the Fire Nation. 

(Y/N’s) own childhood birthdays had often been overlooked by her father’s war meetings. They usually entailed a fancy dinner with some of her father’s closest allies. She would receive a gift that was something her mother thought she should like, but she didn’t, and then she would be sent to bed at an early hour so the adults could talk. 

So, (Y/N) (and consequently, Zuko) had vowed that Izumi’s birthdays would always be a celebration. There would be no talks of war, diplomacy, or business until the next day. It was Izumi’s day, so it should be all about Izumi. Her ninth birthday was approaching fast, and (Y/N) had completely abandoned all hope of working on anything else. 

She left all of the formal work to Zuko. He was Fire Lord, after all, he should do his own job every once in a while. (Y/N) met with chefs, decorators, and entertainment constantly. It was a warm, summer afternoon when she was watching the firedancers rehearse their routine in the plaza. It was complex, intricate, and while (Y/N) had been hailed as one of the best firebenders in the nation, things like this were completely out of her realm. 

She hadn’t realized that Izumi had come to stand beside her until the skirt of her dress rustled. (Y/N) looked down to see her daughter staring solemnly at the firedancers. She pulled her close, giving her a tight squeeze. “How are you today, my little sweet pea?” 

“I’m doing alright,” Izumi said. Her daughter was incredibly straightforward for a child. “Uncle Iroh beat me in Pai Sho again.” (Y/N) chuckled. 

“Well, he’s had thousands of years to practice, and you’ve only had nine. Your father still can’t beat him.” 

“That’s because Dad’s too impatient to play Pai Sho.” (Y/N) laughed again. 

“You’re very right.” She turned Izumi around, walking her back toward the palace. “Are you excited for tomorrow?” Izumi nodded but her lips were pursed, a tell she had inherited from her mother. “Zumi?” 

The young girl stopped and looked up at her mother. “How old were you when you started firebending?” (Y/N) was stunned into silence, but Izumi continued. “How old was Dad?” 

“Izumi, what’s brought this on?” The young princess frowned, her eyes welling with tears. 

“Well, Kya and Lin are the same age as me and they’re already bending! Tenzin’s a dumb baby and he’s already bending!” 

“Don’t call Tenzin a dumb baby,” (Y/N) chided, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. Izumi stamped her feet onto the pavement. 

“I don’t understand why I can’t bend! How can you and Dad be so good at bending and I don’t get any of it! Who’s going to take a Fire Lord who can’t bend seriously?” She sat on the steps of the palace and buried her face into her hands, letting the tears flow freely. 

(Y/N) wasn’t entirely sure what to do. She tried to remember how Katara had told her she had dealt with Bumi, but Bumi and Izumi were polar opposites. Bumi was completely fine being a non-bender. But (Y/N) hadn’t realized how much it had affected her own daughter. 

She sat beside her on the steps and thought carefully about her words. When she was young, (Y/N) would say things without the fear of consequences. But now she had a child, someone whose mind was shaped by her parents’ words and actions. (Y/N) inhaled a deep breath. 

“Not being able to bend does not mean you’re worth less than people who can.” She rubbed her hand in circles at the middle of her daughter’s back. “I can’t pretend that I know what you’re going through. But your life won’t be less great just because you don’t have bending.” 

Izumi looked up at her mother, her golden eyes watery. (Y/N) smiled softly. “You might not be a bender, but you have other gifts! You’re the best strategist that your father and I have ever seen. You are smart, driven, and you will be an amazing Fire Lord.”

Izumi gave her a small smile. “Do you really think so?” 

“I know so! You’ve been headstrong since you were in my belly. You being Fire Lord is a long ways away. But I know you already have the adoration and love of all of our people. Bender or not.” 

“It would be nice to be able to toast my own marshmallows.” 

“What about toasting marshmallows?” Zuko walked down the steps to sit on the other side of his daughter, casting a smile to his wife. 

“Izumi and I were talking about how she’ll be a great Fire Lord even if she doesn’t bend.” She gave Zuko a stern look that read, ‘This is a sensitive subject so watch what you say.’ 

He nodded to show that he understood. “I think you’d be too perfect if you could firebend. I mean, you’re better than some of my top generals at strategy! You’re far more diplomatic in our royal meetings than your mother or I was at your age. Firebending doesn’t make Fire Lords great. Having a good heart does.” He poked Izumi in the chest, right where her heart was. “And you have the best heart of all.” 

Izumi beamed up at Zuko and wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you, Dad. And you too, Mom. Is it too late to ask for a water slide at my birthday party?” (Y/N) scoffed. 

“As if I didn’t already ask Uncle Sokka to cover it.” 

---

perm tag list: @beifongsss , @aroyaldarknessblr , @musicalkeys , @thefandomimagines , @blondie0458 , @kairiririri , @awesomelupe , @zukosvice , @tomshollandz , @lavendercrystals , @astralsaf , @realimbo , @mycollectionofnuts , @wingeddemonclub , @gingersnap126126 , @aangsupremacy , @marvel-ing-at-it-all , @davnwillcome , @someoneovertherainboww , @bigbuckyenergy , @breadqueen95 , @buttholland , @noodlesfluffy , @busyforkuvira , @error-loading-sorry ,

[penguinsledder]

Ayo headcanon???

Ok anon I know you asked for a headcanon and not a fic, but this just snowballed and sprialed out of my control lol

--

Almost Like Before

Rating: K+

Word Count: ~800

Genre: Romance, Family, Hurt/Comfort

ff.net | AO3

Katara never really looked old. People often complimented her on how she never seemed to age a day, and she’d even been mistaken as her little Kya’s older sister a couple of times. She was the talk of Republic City’s women—some said she had this special seaweed cream available exclusively in the South Pole, while others theorized it was due to a plant-based diet she’d probably adopted from living on Air Temple Island. Still, there were rumors that maybe it had to do with her healing prowess—maybe she had a special technique that kept her body from aging.

Little did they know, though, that her only secret to not looking old was nothing more than just having her goofball best friend-husband by her side. Aang just never lost that kid in him, and while it did frustrate her at times, it was also one of the things that just endeared him to her. It showed in the way he still grabbed every opportunity to impress people with his undying marble trick and in how he snuck around the kitchens for an extra slice of fruit pie. In the silly competitions to see who could round up the kids for dinner the quickest, and the playful way he spun her around when they danced, just like when they were in that Fire Nation cave.

Even though he had to carry the world’s burdens, he never lost that childlike sense of fun, and he made sure everyone around him didn’t, either.

That is, until he couldn’t.

Kya, Bumi, and Tenzin all saw it. Only weeks after their father's passing, Katara seemed to finally catch up with her age. And it was almost scary how quickly she did. 

She had gotten smaller as her back hunched a bit, and her wrinkles became more prominent. Her smiles never seemed to touch her eyes anymore, and they no longer carried the lively spark they once had. 

Tenzin and Bumi helped her move back to the South Pole, while Kya had volunteered to keep her company.  As hard as Aang's death had been for everyone, they knew their mother carried the brunt of it.

For the next few years, she busied herself with assimilating back into the Southern Water Tribe with Sokka’s help. He and Kya held her together on her bad days, and celebrated with her on the better ones. Her sons would visit when they could, breaking her usual routine every now and then. Life went on like this until the day the White Lotus knocked on her doorstep, saying that they found the one.

Of course, she immediately volunteered to be her waterbending master. From the moment they met, she felt a strong connection to the little girl, and the young Avatar reciprocated it. They were an almost inseparable pair, drawn to each other—after all, they had met before.

Slowly, things started to change. Kya and Sokka noticed how she brightened up around Korra, even laughing affectionately at the various troubles the child seemed to get into. Life became more than family visits and quiet meals at home. Renewed energy seemed to fill her, and she would smile real smiles again, the kind that touched her eyes.

The day Korra announced she was going penguin sledding, Katara knew she had to come with her. And from then on, she would watch her sled down the South’s snowy slopes, bending her ice ramps so she could soar a bit before landing.

She knew he loved soaring, after all.

Korra would squeal in delight before landing back onto the ground in a heap of snow. The poor penguin would waddle away while its earlier rider collapsed into a fit of giggles. The scene would always grip Katara’s heart with pure nostalgia.

Penguin sledding practically became a biweekly routine, and Katara looked forward to those days very much. Korra just seemed to have so much fun, and after many years, she was reminded of how infectious the feeling was. On penguin sledding days, she felt lighter, freer, and—dare she say it—she felt ... younger.

On those days, she would fondly think about how Aang was bringing fun back into her life yet again. Sometimes, it was almost like before, the only thing missing was—

“I love you, Katara,” Korra declared one day as she wrapped her little arms around the old waterbender’s knees. Big cerulean eyes looked up to her, and for a second, they seemed to flash silver.

She knew it was meant differently this time around. But she could see from the young girl’s eyes that the words held the same certainty and strength she knew. A single tear escaped her as she stooped down to return the hug. 

“I love you, too,” she whispered. 

[pizacat72]

cloudbabies/airkids headcanons

okay i’ve honestly got so many headcanons about these guys so i figured i’d put em all here. lez gooooo.

The reason Jinora enjoys reading so much is because Kya would read to her when she was little and she’d do all the character voices and sound effects and she loved it. She still asks Kya to read to her, even when she’s older because it always helps her to feel calm and safe, especially after what happened with Zaheer.

Ikki and Kya are super close because middle sapphic kids gotta stick together, am I right? Ikki is the official sky bison calf babysitter and Kya helps her take care of them when they’re sick. The sky bison mamas trust Ikki with their calves because she’s very good with them. The adults pretend to fight over who gets to have breakfast with Ikki and the calves next and it warms her heart to see them so genuinely invested in her interest in the sky bison!

Bumi and Kya always make a point to take each of the airkids on individual trips for some bonding time and the kids really appreciate that and enjoy it. (even if they do fight over who did the coolest thing with whom) Bumi and Ikki go to the Spirit World to have some fun with BumJu and the other spirit critters. Kya and Jinora visit the Spirit Library and read about Air Nation and Southern Water Tribe culture. Meelo and Kya spend a few nights with Toph in the Foggy Swamp just pranking the swampbenders and generally causing chaos. When the airkids get older, they frequently get together to reminisce about those trips.

Bumi figures out the marble trick quickly and comes up with a few variations of it to put on a show for the kids! They all enjoy it and even get in on it. He teaches them to the airbenders and encourages them to come up with their own versions because he loves creativity, just like his dad did.

Meelo gets it into his head one day that he can sneak up on Aunt Kya and scare her. The first time he does it, she doesn’t react other than a oh hi Meelo :) and he’s confused. So he decides to try again later and he gets the same result. He goes for another attempt and she’s just finally like I grew up with Bumi, do you really think I’m the type of person to be jumpy? and this only deepens his resolve to scare her and creates a somewhat one-sided rivalry that she finds amusing. She catches on pretty quick and just knows when he’s going to sneak up on her so before he can, she’s always like hi Meelo ;) and this frustrates him to no end. One time, he goes to scare her and she’s not there and he’s confused, until she creeps up behind him and scares him. He acts all annoyed but he’s secretly pleased he’s found a worthy opponent to do battle with. This evolves into a pretend hero-villain dynamic and they’ll roughhouse with each other.

When they were kids, Kya would make little flower crowns for her brothers. Bumi wore them proudly (and still does) and Tenzin wore them, just when Kya wasn’t around. She comes home from visiting the SWT with Katara and she catches him wearing multiple ones she’s made him and she’s just like awww you love me and he’s embarrassed, but he does love her.

Kya loves to embarrass Tenzin and she’ll coo at him and call him her baby brother because 1. of course he is and 2. just because he’s taller than her doesn’t mean she’ll let him forget it. He secretly doesn’t hate it bc it’s her way of expressing her love but he always hides it bc he’s got a reputation to maintain.

Kya drags Tenzin to her yoga sessions bc that boi is stressed out and needs to chill. He enjoys them and they talk about whatever’s on their mind during them. Bumi comes too and he’s not great at first but he eventually gets really good and helps her with them.

When Kya’s having nightmares about the Fog of Lost Souls or Zaheer, Ikki will come into her bedroom and curl up next to her to comfort her. Sometimes she’ll do silly things to help lift her spirits like pretending to be a kitten.

Meelo and Kya have such an excellent bond. They can talk about gross stuff like bugs and boogers and have burping contests and it’s completely normal. They can go from serious one moment to silly the next.

Jinora and Kya often spend evenings curled up with each other reading and Lin joins them once she marries Kya.

Ikki loves to tell Kya secrets and sometimes they make a makeshift tent in the living room and they spend time inside it, just telling each other secrets. Jinora gets in on it too.

[stitch1830]

More bc I’m bored! Zuko and Katara got married, pregnant and had Izumi in the same year. Two years later, they had Kya and two years after, they had Akiho. Sokka joked about how fast they were and Sokka threatened to throw him over a ship. Taang had Tenzin when they were 25 and two years later they had Pran and four years after they had Bumi. Sokka was surprised at this since Aang had a whole race to reproduce, but Aang just laughed and said that all good things take time

Hey Anon! I feel ya lol. Happy to chat about HC's while you're bored, though!

I definitely see Zuko and Katara having a very quick turnaround when it comes to marriage and then starting a family. I only switched mine to be a little slower just to add more 'exciting' topics (like, instead of them having a baby first, it's Sukka... and they're not married *GASP* lmao). But Zutara definitely have a few more things that would prompt them to have kids sooner rather than later, but whenever they do have kids I feel like they're ready. It's also really fun when siblings are spaced out evenly with age! The dynamic adds closeness I think lol.

I like the Taang kid spacing too! I have 4 kiddos for my dunebabies, and the spacing is pretty sporadic, which I think adds interesting elements their family. But yeah I have one or two of the kids older/younger by four years! Good age gap haha.

And of course Sokka is poking fun at his friends/family at the number of kids they have and how quickly... Oh Sokka, sometimes he's a butthead LOL ;)

Thanks for sending in the HC! I love a good Domestic Taang/Zutara chat! My next gen kiddos hold a very special place in my heart, and I'm sure you feel the same way about yours.

Send me questions, asks, or HC's about Taang, Zutara, or Sukka!

[nerdycanible1]

The Healing Plant.

This is a story of Kya's and Lin's past. Of who gave Kya her betrothal necklace and why Lin has issues. This is my own little story so of course I will not have the facts lol. Also please be warned as this has some explicit content of fire and burns. Along with death. Please don't read if you are sensitive to such things. Please enjoy.

All art is mine.

Lin squeezed her pillow as a tear glided down her cheek. "Her last breath will always haunt my dreams. The echoes of her breath bounce around in my head and I cannot rid of it." Her lip trembled. "How can you forgive me?" She whispered. "I lost the only person dear to you." She whimpered. "I failed you."

Kya looked at Lin with a wince as her heart was still numb. Losing her wife only a few days ago didn't make her feel right. Her hand clenched as the water near them began to freeze. The betrothal necklace around her neck felt as if a million pounds of anvils were on her chest. Lin couldn't save her. Lin couldn't save the only person she has ever cared about. The only soul mate.

Lin was wrapped in bandages as her burn wounds was still raw, tender and still needed a lot of healing. Her hair was disheveled as tears glided down her face, her eyes puffy. Why does she get to cry? Not like she's the one that lost a lover.

"You did fail." Kya says barely above a whisper, clenching her fists. The bright smile Zhi always seemed to save for her. the tender kisses and the affectionate laugh that always made her join in. "How can you let her get hurt?!"

Lin flinched and whimpered. She began to push herself up and winced. "Kya let me explain what h-"

"No!!! Zhi Ruo is gone because of you!! You let her get hurt... you let her die! You let my wife die!!" Lin sniffled and covered her face ashamed. "I thought you were a protector of civilians. Of everyone." The water in the pans, bowls and cups trembled as Kya was getting more and more angry. Her grief getting the best of her.

Lin had no idea Zhi was Kya's wife. She didn't know. She tried to save her but instead she let the woman get killed. Be my wife Kya. I'll always be there for you.

Kya growled as she raised the water above her head ready to hurt Lin. Lin squeezed her eyes shut ready to for the pain but it never came. Instead she felt the ice water plop onto her as she saw Kya's retreating form leave the room.

[11 Years Later]

Lin sat in her apartment drinking her bitter coffee. it was already 3 in the morning and Lin was wearing her tank top. Tenzin breaking up with her after 13 years and Kya never seeing her was a harsh world to be in. Lin was a bitter woman, being the age of 39 and no suiters was not a way to go. Her finger subconsciously running over her burned flesh. The scars were permanent and she still felt the death of Zhi pretty hard. Kya still hasn't forgiven her and it only dawned to her that she may never see the woman again.

She was just finishing her last cup of the night before there was a tentative knock on her front door. She frowned as she looked up at the clock and saw that it was 3:47 am. She stood up with a sigh and stomped her way to the door and opened it up. "What do you wa-" Her words dying in her throat when seeing the waterbender. Lin went rigid when she heard the others words bounce in her head. Your fault! Your FAULT. Kya looked up at Lin with a smile but only furrowed her brows seeing the bad fire wounds on Lin and the look upon her face. "Lin, spirits you chan-"

Lin let out a strained sob and slammed the door in front of her, leaving the waterbender on her porch. Lin stumbled back and her hands trembled as her arm began to burn. "Lin are you okay? Linnie?"

Lin held onto her arm and cursed under her breath. The hurried knocks from Kya was agitating her along with her arm. Her heart ached at the memory. She wanted to explain herself to Kya about the whole situation but all she got was the sad stares from the family. Kya had packed up in the middle of the night and no one knew where she went. Lin growled and walked to the door. She stood up and held her chest up and swung the door open. Kya almost fell forward but began to gather her balance. "Lin-" she breathed in relief but Lin crossed her arms over her chest.

"What is it?" She snapped. Kya flinched hearing the harshness of the of Lin's words. The last time they talked, Lin was goofy and had kinder words. Kya frowned as she gulped and looked at her. "Can I com-"

"No you may not. State your business so I can head to bed. I have a early shift in the morning. Now what is it?"

Kya frowned and looked up at the other as her brows furrowed. "We need to talk. I thought you'd want to see me after I came back." Her heart ached. Just what had happened to her best friend. Lin always had time for her.

"Came back?" She barked. "How long ago was it you were gone? How many letters did you write? How many years?" Lin glared down at the woman and kept her arm from view the best she could. The burn mark was from the mid of her forearm all the up to the mid way of her neck. I burned part of her back and her stomach.

Kya felt her brows draw down as her eyes watered. "I would have... I thought we were over this. Lin that was, I was still a k-"

"Save it. I don't need your words of pity. If there's nothing else then let me head back to sleep." How can I get over it when your words haunt my dreams. The tears and the hate in your eyes. "Lin wa-" Lin didn't give her another chance as she slammed the door in her face.

{TIME SKIP}

It was a few days later before Lin was heading to the island to talk to Katara and Aang. The kids and her may have gotten on the wrong foot but that doesn't mean her and her aunty and uncle were on the bad foot. And she also promised to help them build a new set of stairs to help be easier to go up to the temple. She also wanted to catch up with Bumi till he was deployed again. The two were an unlikely pair but they became really close and were practically best friends.

Once Lin arrived she was greeted by the same acolytes that always greet her. She began to make her way up the make shift stairs and jog up them as she wanted to greet Katara before she got to work. Once she made it to the house she opened the door and ran right into the Waterbender. Lin grunted as she stumbled back and she looked up and was ready to apologize to Katara for running into her until she saw who it was and she stayed quiet. Kya and her were in a stare down before an arm hooked around her shoulders and she was pulled into Bumi's side. Lin groaned as she began to pull herself away from Bumi. "BUMI!!!" She growled as he would chuckle and hold her in his arms.

Kya frowned seeing the two act so familiar to each other. Lin wasn't like that with her. Lin punched him in the gut and he huffed and bent forward with a obnoxious laugh. "Your punch is the same." He grunted.

Lin chuckled and stood there watching as Bumi tried to regain his breath.

Lin chuckled tapped the others shoulder. "As much as I like beating you up Bumi I wanna say hi to your mother." Bumi smiled at Lin and followed after her as if he hadn't got his guts mushed. "Mom made some apple tarts and breakfast."

Lin could feel the others icy glare though she ignored it. She didn't want to talk to her. Her burn was irritating her again, it seemed to always burn around the bad memories and now Kya. Lin was wearing a long sleeved shirt that was a little too hot to wear during the summer but it looked as if it didn't bother Lin.

Once inside Lin greeted her uncle and aunty and hugged them both, though it be a one sided hug it didn't mean any less than love.

Lin listened to them talk while Bumi hung back with Kya. "What's wrong with the both of you? Lin used to always greet you first?" He looked down at his little sister and Kya rolled her eyes.

"Things change Bumi. It's been years since the last we saw each other." Kya muttered as she looked at the police chief. Lin laughed with them and stole a apple tart. Lin always loved sweets and always was spoiled whenever she came over.

"Can you get me some water Lin, I wanna make some tea to go with this." Katara said holding a bowl out to her. Lin smiled and finished swallowing her food before she grabbed the bowl.

"Of course." She began to walk out of the house and Katara made sure the other left the door before Katara threw a spoon at Kya, hitting her squarely on the forehead.

"You were supposed to talk to Lin last night!!" She grumbled. She began to walk towards her. "Why didn't you two talk?!"

Bumi started laughing loudly and holding his stomach as he did so. Kya rubbed her forehead and pouted towards her mother. "Mom let me explain. She slammed the door in my face." Katara glared at her and placed her hands on her hips.

"That shouldn't stop you. You're a master waterbender and you let a door stop you? When I was your age-no younger than you I sliced through a wooden cage with only my sweat. And you let a door stop you." Katara shook her head and went back to cooking. "Now go out there and set it straight." Aang gave his daughter a sympathetic look.

Kya chewed the inside if her cheek before she sighed and walked outside. Leaving Bumi's boisterous laugh inside and went to the well.

Lin grunted as she looked down in the well saw the water. She frowned as she saw the bucket down in the water without the rope tied around it. With a heavy sigh Lin began to crawl inside the well and braced herself against the wall. She began to slowly make her way down into the dark well. "Lin? Lin?" Kya began to look around for the woman and frowned not seeing her. Lin had just grabbed the bucket while she was trying to keep her balance against the wells walls.

With one last look around her grabbed a bucket and used her bending to bring water out of the well. A yelp left the well as Lin got soaked in the ice water and a loud splash was heard as Lin fell into the water. The Well wall wasn't structured properly and the rocks were loose.

Kya dropped the water and ran to the well seeing Lin at the bottom. Lin was floating in the water and Lin was glaring daggers at Kya. "Spirits Lin. You ok-"

Lin grunted and grabbed the wall of the well before she began to earthbend her wait up. Her clothes were all soaked. "Here let me help y-"

Lin swatted her hands away as she crawled out of the well with a huff and stood there letting the water drip off of her. "I'm fine." She knew it was her fault but that didn't mean she wasn't mad. With a heavy sigh, Lin unbuttoned her shirt and pulled it off. Lin was wearing nothing but the wraps around her chest. Lin was muttering sweet words under her breath as she began to take her shoes off.

Kya's eyes raked over her body and brows furrowed. She had no idea how Lin could stand the scars. It must have hurt her so badly. Her fingers subconsciously ran over the wrinkled scars. Lin tensed and went rigid, her body had froze and trembled.

"Zhi!! This is no time for you to act like a hero!! Kya can care for herself!" Lin grasped her arm and began to pull her out of the temple. The smoke was building up in the room, the logs blazing with fire were coming down.

It was only supposed to be a damn house fire but the team got split up and were each ambushed and attacked. Zhi fought against Lin's grip and shoved Lin away. "Shes in trouble! I can feel it!" Lin growled as she grabbed her hand again but Zhi slapped Lin across the face and pointed upwards. Kya was being choked while the man was ready to stab her.

With the burning, stinging sensation on her cheek Lin was ready to slap the other.

The smoke was filling Lin's lungs and she could barely breath. With a quick flick of her arm a rock flew towards the man. Lin didn't see the non bender run off and she continued to distract him from the first floor.

A scream rang in her ears and just like in slow motion she saw the pillar give way and was slowly falling to the ground. Her heart ached as she had to make a hard decision. She knew Kya can care for herself and a second later Lin was using her metal from her suit to hold the pillar up along with her right arm. It felt as if hot boiling, blistering water was being poured on the right side of her body.

A blood curdling scream left Lin's lips as she held the pillar up. She soon saw Zhi under her. The woman looked as white as a ghost but she was still breathing. But what wasn't right was the blood pooling around her. Her breath was shallow and had a small wheeze to it.

Part of the pillar was broken and stabbed the other in the stomach. Even if she did manage to get out from under the wood, the burn Mark's and huge hole in her stomach wouldn't let her live.

Tears filled her eyes as she was losing a friend and there was nothing she could do. With the fire on her skin, cooking her alive she felt as if she was gonna pass out at any given moment.

She clenched her jaw, her breathing getting shallower and shallower. Lin took a deep breath and she clenched her jaw. With all her remaining strength she pushed herself to her feet and lifted the pillar as high as she could. She needed to get her out of here. She couldnt burn in here. With another growl she threw the pillow behind her and lifted the woman in her arms. Her skin felt as if it was melting away.

Shakey, jello-y legs began to carry the woman out. Tears gliding down her cheeks as she could see the light of the door way. The body in her arms slowly getting colder and colder. Her heart barely beating.

"Stay alive. Stay alive. Stay alive." Lin chanted over and over. "Stay awake." Her sight was growing dimmer and dimmer.

"Tell... Kya I love her." She wheezed. Lin had laid the other a good few feet away from the collapsing house. She smiled and brought her hand up to her cheek. Tears filled her eyes as she stared into Lin's eyes. "Take care of her."

Lin shook her head and clenched onto her hand with trembling fingers. Her hand couldn't even give her strength. "Y-You have to do that. Please. Z-Zhi... please."

Zhi gave her a lightlsmile and caressed her cheek but her strength gave out and her hand dropped. Her head began to lean to the side and her breathing was all she heard. Lin held her hand and stroked it. She couldn't heal her. The least she could do was be there in her last moments. With one last ragged, deep breath she was gone. Lin squeezed her hand as she was losing her best friend. Her tears dropping on her arm.

Lin smacked her hand away and glared at her. "Don't touch me." She didn't yell it, she didn't squeeze her hand. She didn't do anything except utter the words.

But Kya felt all the emotions hit her hard. Feeling her aura felt as if she were in the saddest place on the world. Kya stumbled back and tears filled her eyes.

Lin stared at the other and watched her step back. Her hand pressed against her forearm, feeling the ugly burn marks. "What happened? I-It couldn't have been that bad." Kya breathed as she seemed to have regained herself.

Lin felt her lip raise to a scowl and she grasped the other by the front of her dress and pulled her close. She stared up into her eyes, not even caring for the obvious height difference. "Not that bad? NOT THAT BAD?!" Lin growled as she felt her grip tighten, her fingers going white, the joints in her fingers screamed under the pressure.

"Maybe if you didn't run off in the middle of the night then you would have known what actually happened." She barked. She began to walk forward and Kya took and alternating one back.

"L-Lin."she grimaced as she was shoved back. The little push wouldn't have hurt but the strong fingers of Lin Beifong was no joke. "I was just a kid. I-I just had lost my wife. I-I was hurting." Kya defended herself.

Lin's eyes blazed, the ground beneath them trembled. "Just a kid?" She clenched her jaw and glared at her. "I was a kid too!" She growled. "She was my best friend!" She snapped. The rumble of the Beifong's anger made the stone split. "I... I watched her die." The rumbling suddenly stopped and the broken Beifong stood there. "We were friends before you were her wife." She whispered. "I knew her before you."

Lin took a deep breath and finally looked into her eyes. "It was my fault she died I know t-that." Her voice cracked and she ran a hand over her scars, her nails digging into the scar. The sight made Kya wince.

"I just.... the pillar fell... I ran as fast, as I could." She felt the tear run down her cheek. "She loved you." She whispered. Lin's heart ached as she hung her head and hid her pained face. "She said... she loved you... I-I." She gulped and squeezed her eyes shut. But not me. She didn't... she didnt love me. "How can I let her die. I held the pillar... I made sure it didn't crush her..."

Lin's gut twisted and she turned and looked out to the waterview. "Her last breath hangs in my head, her bright amber eyes are forever burned in my mind."

"Lin I'm so sorry." Kya whispered. She walked over to the other but Lin stepped back. "Lin." She grabbed her by the hand and Lin took a shuttering breath.

"Zhi died. The pillar I held up was on fire, the fire burned so badly and I couldn't even hold it up." Lin looked up at Kya with furrowed brows. "I've never seen someone hate me so much." She gulped and gripped her hand. "For the first time in my life, I saw someone hate me so much you were willing to kill me."

Kya opened her mouth the say something but Lin shut her up with a look. She didn't want Kya to speak. Not at all.

"I know I should've protected her but... it hurt so much." She looked into Kya's eyes and her brows twitched together every now and then. "Why did you blame me for her death?" She whispered. "She was a grown woman and... and she made her own decisions." She glared at Kya before she sighed and just let her emotions fall into a numb impassive face.

"I'm tired of this Kya." She stepped back and rubbed her shoulder. Kya grabbed her and pulled her into a hug.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't think my words would hurt you this bad." She closed her eyes and pulled her in close. "I'm so sorry."

All Lin could do was stand there. She made no move to hug her back, her mind wondered back to the temple. Every night she relived the same dream. With the smell of burnt hair, the smell of flesh and the small hint of blood.

The smell never left Lin's nose, she always smelled and tasted the fire.

[halfpint55]

A Defence of Kataang with regards to how they are portrayed in TLoK (it’s long but there’s headcanons at the end)

Note: This is not about shipping wars. This is a safe zone. This is not about Zutara vs Kataang. This is me defending Kataang and the characters themselves...from the writers. 

I initially wrote this as a response to a post that got me heated. My reblog just made it too long so here it is as its own post. 

Now this post ripped apart Kataang as a couple but more than that said some stuff about Aang himself that hurt my heart. I didn’t really want to pick on this post but its condemning of Kataang was based almost entirely in what we know of them as parents in TLoK and honestly it’s that lil nugget of canon that I take issue with. It has bothered me from the get go because it doesn’t make sense from a writing and story perspective, and it’s been pissing me off since I watched it.

TL;DR nice and early bc this post is gonna be a long one:

This particular condemnation of Kataang rests almost entirely on the SHITTY way they were portrayed as parents by the writers of LoK, and in all honesty, on this particular topic, canon should be ignored.

Overall Kataang parenting is of my biggest gripes with LoK because in terms of writing it’s totally incongruous - it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t align, and it makes zero sense for what we know of those characters, and I don’t know if I can ever forgive the showrunners for allowing it to be written it into canon.

I will also preface this by saying I like LoK - love it. I had a scroll through the comments and reblogs on this post, and a lot of the hate towards this portrayal of Kataang ended up being blamed on the “terrible writing of LoK” which is not where I stand at all. That being said I am so angry at the writers for this one.

The other portion of the concurring comments that were very hateful towards Kataang came from Zutara shippers and honestly for me, although I do ship Kataang, this not a just a Kataang issue. I’m of the belief that Zutara would’ve just as easily been written to have similar issues due to very similar dynamics - Zutara also would have been two powerful benders from very different cultures, and with Zuko/Aang (whoever you ship w her) having a massively important global leadership role that is embedded in who they are, and therefore impossible to ignore as a factor in their relationship.

Now let me be clear, my desire to reject canon on this front is by no means me wanting to believe the best of my faves, and not wanting to hear a word against Aang. It’s not even necessarily a defence of Kataang bc I ship it that hard (I mean I do but I can set that aside for the sake of argument if that’s what you need from me here). 

The first, and main issue people have with Aang/Kataang in Korra, is the first point of the original post:

So why in hell would [Katara] be okay with Aang ignoring TWO of their children’s complete existence once he found out they had an airbending son?

And I agree with the post on this front; Katara would not have allowed her children to each be treated differently by their father. I had the same initial thought when watching LoK, and it’s the reason I hate and want to ignore the canon of LoK so badly. 

As much as it hurts to think of, we have to accept that Aang wouldn’t have been able to stop his preferential treatment for Tenzin from bleeding through into his parenting just out of a desperate desire to save his culture (which is absolutely understandable - doesn’t make it okay, but it’s understandable; Aang suffered an incredible loss, a massive cultural trauma which he alone carries the burden of). So of course he wasn’t able to hide how excited he was, and forgot to be mindful of his attitude and behaviour towards Kya and Bumi. So this aspect of canon Kataang? Yeah, I’m with it. So far so good. EXCEPT the most unrealistic element of canon is now that Katara would let him. I simply do not believe for a second that Katara would’ve allowed Aang to be the kind of parent LoK painted him to be.

However, I do not think it would’ve been a point of contention between the two of them! Katara would pull him aside, Katara would gently (but firmly) point out what Aang mightn’t be able to see for himself - he’s focusing too hard on Tenzin.

And Aang would listen.

All throughout A;tLA the two of them often help the other sort through their stuff. Aang has a great track record of being receptive to Katara’s advice and help (calming him down when discovering Monk Gyatso’s body, The Desert when he Appa is stolen, Serpent’s Pass when he’s bottling his feelings about Appa being missing). He’s also just so receptive to others’ ideas - he just goes with it and trusts in his friends (think of his trust in Katara’s plan to rescue Haru, his trust in staying behind with Sokka in the library to get the eclipse info). Aang’s humility is one of the most incredible things about him and it’s at the core of who he is. He would absolutely be able to hear Katara telling him he’s focusing too hard on one child - he would be open, and he’d listen.

So to me now canon just does not make sense at all. it does not align with their established character traits. And yes, people change as they get older and grow into adulthood but honestly, the elements of their respective personalities that we’re talking about here are pretty core elements of who these two people are.

Katara has always been fiercely protective of those she loves, strongwilled, stubborn, and ready to (vocally or physically) fight for what she believes is right and that wouldn’t disappear as she gets older. She wouldn’t let Aang’s preferrential treatment slide.

Aang has always been, and chose to be despite his loss, an optimistic, kind, believe in the best of humanity kind of person. He’s open to all points of view, he’s a good listener, he always tries his absolute best to find solutions that are good for everyone. And again his humility, his willingness to love, is who he is.  He believes all humans (including fkn OZAI) and all life are sacred, he believes in the absolute right to life. The kid is a vegetarian for crying out loud.

Now the parts of the take in the post that hurt my heart to read about what OP thinks of Aang:

“Aang never made an attempt to establish anything resembling a real familial unit with Katara, basically just stayed around until she popped out an Airbender [...] she was treated like some trophy wife to give birth to airbenders and that’s it!”

I wasn’t going to address this in this post until I read the comments in the notes, because people seem to agree. They share the sentiment that Katara was reduced to “just a love interest” by the two ending up together.

However I do very much take issue w the notion that Aang “basically just stayed around until she popped out an Airbender” (and honestly that entire paragraph - we don’t actually know that Aang didn’t make an effort to establish a family unit). As much as the LoK writers fucked up in their portrayal of Kataang as parents, this is a much harsher judgement of Aang’s character as a husband and father than anything implied by Aang and Katara’s children. I just don’t buy that Aang would view Katara (or anyone he married, even if you don’t ship Kataang) as a trophy wife, whose only role is to have airbender children. He never has viewed her that way - he has always looked at her like she’s the sun, and the most important person to him after she pulled him out of the iceburg. He loves her the most of anyone on the planet. It does not align with his character, his values or beliefs that he’d think of her (or any partner) that way. He is so besotted with Katara for who she is it HURT me to read that part of your take. Aang simply would never. Look at how he looks at her! 

What’s more is the unwavering respect and deference he shows Katara as his waterbending master - he recognises and loves her as the whole, complete, three dimensional, TALENTED POWERFUL INCREDIBLE WOMAN that she is. She is NEVER “just” a love interest for Aang. (But ALSO, do we respect Suki any less for being Sokka’s obvious love interest??? No. suki is written to be so badass that Sokka is HER love interest and I think Katara has equally badass energy but I digress).

Moving on!

OP made an excellent point that there would’ve been culturally different values between the two but I don’t think it would’ve been family that was the clashing point. Yes the airbenders value spirituality and enlightenment. But they lived together in massive communities! They supported and raised one another. Their community and culture was strong, and they were bonded in their spirituality! They value love, as well as enlightenment, peace, and the lives of all.

Now, again the points they made about the cultural divides within the Kataang family unit are valid, but also again I dislike how they chose to portray this in LoK. It would definitely be a struggle they faced as a couple. However I think they really missed an opportunity here with where they took it. Because they do at one point in the comics have Katara bring up the fact that their family will be a blend of two cultures, and she brings it up because Aang is trying so hard to bring balance back to the world by means of seperation.

They’ve known from the get go of being a couple that they’re going to have to navigate being a culturally blended family unit.

So I find it so shitty that they wrote it so that Kya got to learn the waterbending culture, Tenzin got Air and bumi got…nothing? It’s dangerously close to the way Disney does the “the girls are carbon copies of mum, and the boys are carbon copies of dad” thing (think Lady and the Tramp). It’s lazy. Especially when we had that “separation is an illusion” episode, AND things like Zuko learning different nation’s styles and applying them to his firebending, and Sokka learning an element of strategy or fighting from every nation. 

So give us Kya using Airbending moves with her waterbending (maybe she invents the water scooter)! Give us Tenzin doing more grounded moves that Aunty Toph (or Lin, while they were together) taught him from earthbending.

There are much more creative ways to illustrate the bumps and troubles Kataang might have run into in trying to navigate incorporating equal parts of their cultures in their children and family unit. Even just smaller scale issues like food and meals - how do they figure out how to do mealstimes with Aang’s vegetarianism with Katara’s culturally significant Water Tribe meat dishes? And then even taking into account how picky little kids can be!

Give me a scene where they literally just ate moon pies for a week because toddler Kya would scream if you put anything else down in front of her.

Maybe Bumi demanded sea prunes over and over but Katara and Bumi are the only ones who like them, and Bumi bonds with his mother this way - they go on little one-on-one outings to water tribe restaurants in Republic City, searching for the most authentic sea prunes!

Kya maybe likes the water tribe fashions the most because it helps her connect with her namesake BUT Kya also has a playful sense of humour - not unlike Monk Gyatso - Aang sees how much she loved moon pies and teaches her to throw them with waterbending.

We know Tenzin was a calm, quiet, and possibly shy child. Maybe he loved to hole himself away learning crafts. Give me Tenzin learning to tattoo, Tenzin learning to carve (and carving his first glider - it crashes of course), but also Tenzin learning to carve water tribe adornments and necklaces. Katara tries at first but when she gets busy Sokka comes in and teaches Tenzin to break all the carving rules Katara has laid down (”it doesn’t need to be perfect my little pupil - let the creativity flow!”)

Tenzin may not be able to waterbend but that doesn’t mean he can’t learn other means of healing. As the littlest he spent a lot of time watching Katara work - she teaches him to tie splints, dress wounds, and yes deliver babies.

If you made it here I love you so much for reading. I love sharing my thoughts so HIGH FIVE YOU MADE IT, ur now my friend - the friendship is non-refundable sorry 😌😌

[sad3girl]

I have this idea stuck in my head for a canon divergent fic where Aang and Katara get divorced when Tenzin is around 7-8 years old, and since I couldn't find the year Bumi and Kya were born (if any of you know please tell me) I'll just say Kya's around 11 and Bumi's 14(?). They stay friends and co-parents, but they just weren't working out and they knew it, Bumi gets it because he's a little older and he realized his parents weren't happy, Kya doesn't totally get it at first but then she comes to terms with it and Tenzin doesn't understand at first, and when he does he absolutely hates everything about it and just wants his parents back together.

They have joint custody and Katara lives in Republic City, wanting to expand her horizons and try new things, and even getting a job as a healer because I know that she wouldn't want to just be a housewife. Meanwhile Aang stays in Air Temple Island, going over to Republic City a lot though, and still travelling around the world when needed of course.

I don't really know how but I would see Katara and a reformed Azula kind of starting a flirtationship, before actually starting dating, simply because I really got into that pairing recently but I also think that the concept of parent Katara starting to date socially inept Azula is just amazing (I had a couple of ideas like maybe Katara was already helping Azula adapt to Republic City as a favor to Zuko, and she realizes how much she’s changed and how fun she is to be around, or maybe they run into each other at the hospital, or at a coffee chop and have a ‘meet cute’ though not really because they already know each other, or maybe at a party and at first they’re still antagonistic towards each other, and they keep running into each other so they slowly start becoming friends and then girlfriends, I don’t know, I’m just not sure yet)

As they're still friends Katara would talk to Aang about it, because as we learned from the comics in the Southern Water Tribe same sex couples were not really talked about, and that was in 173 (?) AG (correct me if I’m wrong). And of course, we know that Aang would be totally chill about it since he’s a monk, he would probably be more concerned about the fact it was Azula and tell her so, encouraging her to follow her heart because he trust her judgement, but telling not to be careless.

A couple of months after that starts happening and Azula and Katara have gotten serious she introduces her to the kids. Bumi loves Azula instantly because she’s badass and she doesn't really know how to handle it (though honestly she doesn't really know how to handle any of her girlfriend’s children), Kya is skeptical but she thinks Azula is pretty and cool so by the end of the dinner she likes her well enough, but Tenzin is difficult as always. Now, we know Tenzin has a temper but I don't know if child Tenzin would be prone to temper tantrums and if he would be outwardly malicious to someone he just met, but he definitely wouldn’t be chummy with Azula, probably even glaring at her a lot, and Katara would be able to tell he didn't like her (though he just doesn't like her on principle because even though she's kind of weird he thinks she's cool, but he wants his parents together). Both Katara and Aang would try to talk to him about it and try to get him to give Azula a chance but it wouldn’t really change his mind at first.

Sokka would be incredibly suspicious of Azula, because he's Sokka, but Suki would keep him in check when they visit and are inevitably forced by Katara into a double date (which Zuko and Mai had warned them about, apparently Katara loved double dating since the divorce, even before Azula. Once, she forced Aang to go on a double blind date which ended in disaster, but became a very funny story after a while). With time he would lose his suspicions and actually come to like Azula, because of how happy she made Katara mostly, but he would never admit it to her face, their relationship mainly consisting of empty insults to one another, despite actually coming to care for each other.

I feel like the divorce would sort of give Aang a reality check and make him spend some more time with his kids, though I may be totally off base. But he would hang around Republic City as much as he could, because he already only gets to see his kids half the time (I picture them trying to divide their time with the kids as evenly as possible, even though ultimately due to work Aang spends less time with them). And by being in the city a lot it would give him more time to hang out with Toph when the kids were at Katara's.

Then their friendship would flourish into something more, but you know slowly. Aang would have lunch with her when the kids were at school, they would just hang around her house, with Lin and baby Suyin (because Su would be around 1-2 years old at that point), Aang would try to help the police force after hearing more of Toph's stories and realizing a lot of what he does lately are just meetings and wanting to help, but she would mostly be annoyed at him when he tried to help, like with Yakone, only sometimes letting him tag along.

Their feelings and attraction grow with time and they both know the other feels it too, but both of them don't really know if it's a good idea so it remains unspoken for a while. 'Uncle' Aang becoming a regular at the Beifong house during the week, unless it was one of his days with the children, or he had work. And 'Aunt' Toph and the girls sometimes tagging along on weekends at Air Temple Island. First time there Toph calls Aang out for spending too much time with just Tenzin and telling him to let him and Lin play in the mud for a while and to spend time with his other children. Which he does. After that they have a deep, long, conversation about parenting. I picture Katara and Azula also going to Air Temple Island on some weekends, just like I see Aang having dinner at Katara's on some nights when he doesn't have the children. Tenzin still doesn't totally warm up to Azula as his mom’s girlfriend, no matter how many times Katara or Aang talk to him about it, but he starts liking her more as an individual after some time.

Lin and Tenzin weren't really friends yet before, but with their parents spending a lot of time together they become best friends, becoming practically attached to the hip despite Lin being about a year younger than Tenzin. Though Tenzin sometimes gets jealous that Lin and Su get to see his dad when he doesn’t because he's at his mom's.

After getting a reality check from Toph, Aang starts analyzing his relationship with his children and realizes he probably has been neglecting Kya and Bumi quite a bit, even if unintentionally. Though at this time I don't think it was quite as bad, since he hasn't started travelling all around with Tenzin and leaving them in the dust. He starts to spend more time with his kids, not just all three of them or even just Kya and Bumi, but also time with each of his children one-on-one. Having a daddy-daughter day with Kya, and taking Bumi to watch his first pro-bending match, letting Kya paint his nails, going to Bumi's school events, teaching him non bending defensive fighting styles, playing with Kya with Waterbending, and of course always still paying attention to Tenzin and spending time with him as he always did. And just overall spending more time with all of them, bonding, even if they're doing nothing.

One night Toph and him get into an argument, because he got involved in some gang related investigation and he tries to 'protect' her, but she can protect herself and she doesn't need him to do anything for her, he of course knows this but watching the woman he's grown to love in danger didn't let him think straight in the moment, of course the realization that he was actually in love with Toph now doesn't come out of his lips. They fight it out with words, and they get pretty loud, they hope that the girls can't hear them since they're at Toph's house, but the fighting just gets worse and worse. And then he just kisses her and she kisses back and then, before they can do something they can’t take back, they break apart, knowing they're being stupid and impulsive and deciding to continue their conversation the next day.

They don't continue their conversation the next day, however, because Toph avoids Aang all day while he tried at every available moment to reach her, failing time and time again. That afternoon he has to pick up his kids so he decides to continue his attempts the next day.

He only manages to reach her at night, in her house, once the girls are already asleep. She still tries to deflect the conversation, and calling him names. But eventually they do talk it out, and they finally let out their feelings, being honest with each other. Toph says that they're too different to actually work, being blunt and cynical as always, telling him that he couldn't even stay married to his dream girl so why would they ever last. And Aang, ever the optimist, tells her that while there is no guarantee for the future, that he knows how he feels, and that it isn't the same childlike love he felt for Katara, that was too much, too soon, too idealistic and coddling and way too much like familial love and most of all just not what either of them needed. That their differences are what makes him believe they can work, because he feels free to get angry around her and he's not scared when she gets angry at him, he doesn't like it exactly but he knows it's because she cares. That she’s honest with him, and that he’s never kept anything from her. That despite not being the most emotional person, she’s the one he goes to when he’s feeling down, not because she fixes him, but because she is there for him and knows he doesn’t need encouraging words, but just someone to listen. He lists every reason why he loves her. Eventually, even Toph can't keep listing reasons why they're bad for each other, she knows realistically that they not. That they're actually a perfect match. So instead of arguing she kisses him, and he spends the night.

Nothing really changes, their routine is the same. Only that when he comes over to the Beifong residence he doesn't leave after dark, he stays the night and the next day he makes breakfast. And when the Beifongs join him and the kids at Air Temple Island, she stays in his bedroom instead of one of the guest bedrooms. They both let Katara know immediately, and she is delighted. She forces them to have a double date with her and Azula about a week after they start dating and only after do they realize that now, for the rest of their lives they have to live with the knowledge that Azula was at their first date, and it wasn't awful (double dates with Azula and Katara become an almost monthly thing after that). For some reason, I think reformed Azula, along with redirecting her energy into planning events (she's totally the event planner of the century) also redirects it into being a huge gossip, so within two more weeks all their other friends are informed of the new relationship.

They decide to tell all the kids after about seven or eight months, not wanting to rush anything and not seeing any reason for it either. They decide to break the news during Sunday lunch at Air Temple Island. Once they do, Lin is unimpressed saying she already knew, Bumi suspected but he's really happy for both of them, especially because he loves Toph already and always has, since she's family either way, Kya is completely shocked but happy regardless, Suyin doesn't really understand anything going on but Tenzin just flips and walks off. It's been a while since his parents got divorced but he's still young and he's hurt that someone he considers family is 'coming between his parents'.

Aang tries to talk to him but he won't even open the door. His siblings try as well, taking some time off of teasing him to try to talk to him but he won't budge. So, Toph volunteers to give it a shot. Aang is reluctant, knowing how blunt Toph can be and not being sure if that's the best idea but she convinces him. Surprisingly, she actually manages to break through to him a little. Not enough he's magically okay with it all, but enough he comes out of his bedroom and has dinner with everyone.

Toph won't tell Aang what she said or what Tenzin said, and neither will Tenzin. But, she does tell him that he and Katara should look into a therapist for him so he can actually start working through all his stuff, as clearly time alone hasn't helped.

Things aren't perfect, Toph and Aang argue and bicker a lot. About pretty much anything they could argue about; grocery shopping, work, spending more time with the kids, giving the kids more rules, being more affectionate with the kids, not coddling the kids so much, where they're going to live full time, if they're going to travel together or not, just, a lot of things. That’s just how communication and relationships work. Katara does get involved a lot in the fights about the kids, not only the ones about hers with Aang's but in the ones about Toph's girls as well, because Katara wouldn't let Toph be such a relaxed parent as she was in LoK, but let's be honest neither would Aang.

Azula moves in with Katara after Tenzin starts actually dealing with his feelings about the divorce, which helps him to finally start accepting the changes to his family, slowly, but he’s trying his best and he's getting there. And him and Azula start getting along better, she always tells off his siblings when they bother him, she likes reading books with him and she teaches him how to cheat in Pai Sho to beat Bumi. She also makes surprisingly good brownies which everyone loves (and when Sokka comes to visit he always asks if she poisoned them before eating them). She gets along great with Bumi because he loves hearing stories about her adventures and she always helps him with school. And Kya just adores her because she teaches her how to act like a princess. Azula is actually a really good step mom to all the kids, and it really warms Katara's heart to see them all getting along and playing board games, playing with dolls, reading, baking together, or in one particular instance plotting revenge against some girl who pushed Kya (which she had to intervene, but she thought it was cute nonetheless).

Toph herself is also a great sort of step mom, having already known the kids all their life and being their favorite ‘Aunt’, the only real change was she got to spend more time with them and further along she had to help educate them (which she hated doing). They all love her and think she’s the coolest because come on, she’s Toph. Tenzin still has trouble with her dating his dad, but just like with Azula it gets better after a while. It certainly helps that she teaches him and Lin how to prank his siblings. Kya especially loves having step sisters, even if Lin won’t let her play with her hair or do her make up. And Bumi always wants to know what cases she’s working on. Aang as a step dad is basically the same as he is as a dad after the divorce, Lin always loved him because he was incredibly fun to be around, and as a step dad who’s trying his best to be a good dad he’s always there for her even if she just wants someone to play with because Tenzin is at Katara’s and she’s bored. Su takes to him like a moth to a flame, being so young she loves playing dolls with him and being carried in his shoulders.

Toph and Aang (officially) move in together two months after Katara and Azula. They decide to live in Republic City during the week and go to Air Temple Island on the weekends since it's easier considering their jobs and the kids' school. Since Suyin was so young when they started dating, shortly after they start living together she starts calling Aang daddy. The first time it happened Toph didn't even realize it, since Aang wasn't even around and Kya had said it, so she just deduced she was parroting the older girl. The second time it happened with Aang, he had finished reading her a bedtime story and told her goodnight when she said 'goodnight daddy'. He assumed they were both just tired and it meant nothing but he couldn't help but feel extremely happy at the thought that that's what Su saw him as (because if you don't love your partners' children as your own then idk what to tell you), he decided against telling Toph though, thinking it was most likely a fluke and she'd be back to calling him Aang or her preferred nickname for him 'Toes'. The third time it happened Toph freaked out, she had just picked up Su from her school when the little girl told her 'I have a present for you and daddy'. Of course, she didn't let it show and just followed along with Su's conversation, but inside she was completely losing it worrying about what Aang was going to do if she said that in front of him. She didn't have much more time to worry about it or even tell him, because as soon as he got home she called him over with that very moniker. They both just went along with it, both knowing the other was tense and stressed and not knowing what to do about it. Toph was stressed about Aang's reaction, and Aang was stressed about Toph's reaction, but neither of them minded, if anything it filled their hearts with happiness. At night they talk about it and both realize with relief that they're both actually thrilled about it.

Not even a week after, the whole Gaang meets, Katara and Azula already knowing about the whole ordeal. Not even five minutes pass before Azula tells everyone else and Katara's already chastising her.

Azula and Toph become unlikely friends and give each other heads ups when one of the kids is in a particularly bad mood, and they just bond over being step moms and their conflicting relationships with their respective parents (Azula and her mom still have a very rocky relationship though it does improve more and more with time, especially after Ursa sees how good Azula is with the kids, in her own way. And Toph is getting along with her parents better, but I just can't see them being very content with her having children out of wedlock, being high society and all so they're also still working out a lot of things).

Aang still travels for work, but he tries his best to leave his long trips for summer, unless they are emergencies, that way he can take the family in a bit of a family trip even if he still has to work some. During the summer he and Katara make a schedule, letting him have the kids for the first month and a half while he goes in Avatar and/or diplomatic missions, at the end of which they will meet in Ember Island where she will he staying with Azula, Aang and Toph and the girls stay there for two weeks with the whole family, actually vacationing for once. Zuko, Mai and Sokka and Suki also make an appearance with their own kids during the last week Aang and Toph are staying and it is an absolute mess but also a blast. During the trip Toph suspects she's pregnant and doesn't know how to tell Aang, and is worried that the kids aren't going to be too receptive of the information.

She tells Katara first, as soon as she is in Ember Island and she is able to confirm Toph's suspicions. She tries to comfort her and tell her that it's all going to be fine and that Aang and the children are going to be ecstatic, but Toph isn't so sure. She knows Aang will probably be happy, but she's mostly worried about Tenzin and Su's reactions. That night she tells Aang and he's over the moon. They decide to tell all their friends before telling the kids, or Azula, knowing how she can be, so they wait one week for everyone to get there.

Zuko and Sokka tease Aang endlessly (like they did when they first found out they were dating), Mai and Suki are very happy for the couple and Azula claims her 'rightful role' as the child's godmother (which scares Aang a little but just makes Toph laugh). After getting that out of the way they tell all their kids together, and are pleasantly surprised to find out that even Tenzin is excited for a sibling, saying he wishes it's an Airbender like him. Kya just wants it to be another girl, Bumi wants it to be another boy claiming there are too many girls in the family and that the 'men' are outnumbered, Lin is sure it's going to be a girl and that she's going to be an Earthbender too, and Su just wants a baby sister to play with.

That's as far as my idea got, I may get more later but so far I'm not sure if I want the baby to be a girl or a boy, an Airbender or a non-bender or and Earthbender. Just, no clue. But I do know that a while after the baby is born Azula and Katara adopt a 3 year-old Firebender, both of them loving being parents and wanting one more kid (though I feel they could also later become foster parents because Katara definitely has the right gentleness to be a foster mother, and they both just care about these kids in bad homes so much). I really fell in love with this idea what can I say, I could actually go on and on until everyone in the Gaang is a grandparent but I'll just leave it here to (maybe) continue later.

[5lazarus]

Dragon Eyes: an Avatar-The Last Airbender Fanfic

Dragon Eyes

On a diplomatic mission to the Fire Nation, Katara leaves the children with Aang to have tea with Zuko and Mai. But the two of them have something they want to talk about. They've lived enough of fathers neglecting one child for the other, and they have seen enough.

Katara wishes they had propositioned her, rather than bring this up. Read on Archive of Our Own here.

Years of travel in the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation have not made handling the heat any easier. Katara rejoices in shedding her layers, showing off some skin. Aang is entertaining all the kids—all of them, not just Tenzin, and Zuko’s daughter, too. She is relieved to have them out of her hair, to have the time to sit down and comb through her hair. She twists her hair into her old Fire Nation fashion and grins at herself in the mirror. She loves her hair loopies, but it’s nice to shake things up a bit.

Aang is taking the kids through the palace and tormenting the tour guide Zuko sent them with Ty Lee. Katara is taking advantage of the break. Zuko told her he’ll be in the garden with Mai, doing a tea meditation. Apparently they do that every morning, to keep a finger on each other’s pulse. At first Katara was nonplussed, wondering if that was a euphemism, and was slightly alarmed when he invited her to join them. Aang has talked about how the Air Nomads practiced polyamory. The Water Tribe does not. Katara does not.

It is terribly, terribly hot, humidity a caress on the skin, and she bends it cooler around her limbs, swiping the sweat away. Barefoot she walks down the tile path into the courtyard. Mai and Zuko are sitting by the turtleducks, drinking tea. Mai sees her first and raises a small cup in welcome.

Zuko says, “I told you she’d come.”

Mai rolls her eyes. “Hot tea on a hot day? Only offer this to Katara, not any other officials from the Water Tribe.”

“Fair,” Zuko says. He smiles at her. “Aang’s got the kids?”

Katara settles down at the tea table, one of those elegantly-carved pieces of wood that look deceptively simple and thus cost a fortune. Zuko uses wooden prongs to place a small porcelain cup before her and Mai. She touches it, eggshell thin. It’s warm.

“The tea tastes better that way,” Zuko says. Mai looks at him fondly. “Easier now that I don’t have to hide the fire bending.”

Katara smiles. “I really am surprised we didn’t run into each other earlier. Your uncle’s tea shop was so popular!”

Zuko hides his face behind his hair, and Mai puts her hand on his arm. Iroh’s death is still raw on him. She takes the tongs from him and begins pulling thin, silvery green leaves from a jar. She places them in a scoop made from bamboo.

“Bai hao yin zhen,” Mai says. “Early spring.” An eagerness underlays her usual drawl. Katara raises an eyebrow. She really likes the tea. Mai says, “Here. Smell.”

Katara leans forward. “The things I do for diplomacy!” She grins, and takes a cautious sniff. Her eyes widen, and she inhales deeper, drunk on the scent. “That’s like the sun!”

Mai smiles, and Zuko shakes himself out of his reverie to say, “Uncle always said the tasting notes were honey and sun fruits, after the rain. This is the new buds of a tea tree. There are other white teas, just as exquisite, that include the leaves, but I’ve always loved this one. It’s a treat.���

Katara says, “Well, thank you for sharing with me. If it tastes anything like it smells….”

“Uncle always served you red tea, right?” Zuko takes an open pot and closes a hand gently around its handle. The water begins to bubble. “He thought you’d like a deeper flavor. It’s good for the cold. But white tea cools me down.”

Katara leans back on her haunches, raising her face to the sun. She listens to the burble of the koi pond behind her, where Zuko has placed a shrine to Yue. Reparations, she thinks. Not enough: Sokka and Suki broke up, of course, and he has never quite been able to settle down since. She’s there, silent in the bright sky, and while it is not enough, at least the world is whole.

The courtyard is gritty under her hands, and she wipes at them, wincing at the soreness in the joints. She’s been stressed. These family trips are always stressful. Aang, for all his meditation, never seems to be able to focus on packing and he makes Bumi’s inattention worse, and then Kya gets upset that Bumi is bothering her and kicks up a fuss, and then Tenzin of course cries, and Appa covers him in slobber trying to comfort him, which makes him cry worse, and then he needs a bath, and then Bumi and Kya get upset, because the baby is the baby and the Airbender and everything, as Kya once screamed. She sighs. It is good to have some time in the sun, while Aang takes care of the kids, and have some intelligent conversation besides when she was having her next baby. She wasn’t. Three and a husband were enough.

Mai says, apropos of nothing, “Dragon eyes.” She slides the tea from the scoop into a gaiwan, shaking the leaves to spread them on the bottom.

Katara opens her eyes. “What?”

Mai says, “It means the water’s boiling. When the bubbles are that large, like dragon eyes. It means it’s the temperature that’s good for this kind of white tea. Though some brew it cooler—with crab eyes, rather than dragon eyes.”

Zuko takes his hand from the pot and skillfully pours the boiling water into the waiting gaiwan. He places its lid on the top, and pours it swiftly into another exquisite porcelain pitcher, almost translucently blue. Like blood, Katara thinks, and then banishes the thought. Hama wouldn’t like her here. The honeysuckle smell fills the garden. Zuko pours the tea, almost silver-green, into her cup.

He says, “Don’t drink. Just smell.”

Katara looks at him doubtfully. It seems like such a waste of such wonderful-smelling tea. The Fire Nation court has always struck her as excessive, though she is leery of people who prattle on about decadence.

Mai says, “You can drink it. But it’s the rinse, you rinse leaves like this the way you do rice.”

Katara says, “You ever cooked rice?” Zuko laughs, and Mai rolls her eyes.

“Very funny,” she drawls. “When we searched for Ursa. Eventually I got it right.” Zuko grins in a way that makes Katara think that perhaps she never did.

He points to the figure, painted in blue, sitting serenely at the center of the tea table. “Or you can offer it to her.” Katara picks up the porcelain figurine. It’s of a woman, a mother, holding a child close. She catches Mai’s eye. Zuko still hurts for his mother, for his father, for his cousin and his sister and his uncle. It manifests in such obvious ways, how he grieves his family. She doesn’t even need to hear it, but Zuko says it anyway. “It was my mother’s. Noriko, I mean.”

“Have you spoken to her recently?” Katara says carefully. She places the figurine back onto the table and unceremoniously dumps her cup over it, hoping it scalds through the paint. Families are complicated, Zuko’s insanely so. Mai gives her an amused look and does the same.

Zuko shrugs. “I just wish she’d talk to Azula. She hasn’t visited her once. And I know it’s hard, and you never really know when the lucid period will end, but—“

Mai says, “Loving Azula isn’t easy. It might get better when Ozai dies.”

Then they are silent as Zuko picks up the pot again and flash-brews the tea. It is hard to be sour with such a sweet smell filling the air. They don’t need to say it. It would have been better if Aang had killed Ozai. It is easier to come to peace with the dead father than the living disposed king and his mad daughter.

Zuko pours the honey-sweet tea into her little cup. She sips it, lost in its clear light taste. This is what the dew hidden in a flower tastes like, she thinks. She tries to slow down sipping at this minuscule cup, but too fast, the tea is gone. Zuko is smiling.

“Another cup?” he says, and she nods eagerly. “This was one of my uncle’s favorites. One of the many things he loved from the Earth Kingdom.”

They drink, reveling in the sheer loveliness of it. It’s like drinking light, Katara thinks. Earth and fire and water, in one cup. The warm porcelain soothes her aching hands. A muscle relaxes in her neck, and she lets her shoulders down. She rolls them, happy in their mobility.

Mai looks at her with an acupuncturist’s eye. “Pinched nerve?” she asks. “I can look at that. If you’re comfortable.”

Katara stops, cup halfway to her mouth. She’s going back to her original thought that they were hitting on her, which is flattering, but no. Absolutely not. She’s got enough going on, even if Aang wouldn’t mind, or even be into it. No.

Zuko leans forward. “There’s something we’ve been wanting to ask her.”

Katara’s heart stops. She puts the cup down, a little too hard. “I—uh—“

“Have things been alright with Aang?”

Mai’s mouth twitches. “I think she thought we were going to ask her something else.”

“Everything’s fine!” Katara blurts. Mai can be such a troll sometimes. “I mean. Traveling with the kids is always…a lot, but—why?” She’s irritated now. She has not been pleased with Aang, but three small children take a toll on communication in a marriage. She’s embarrassed that it has been that obvious. She fiddles with the figurine on the table.

Zuko and Mai exchange a look. They look like they’re waiting for the other to speak. Finally, Mai heaves a sigh.

“Bumi wrote Izumi something in a letter,” Mai says. She folds her hands in her lap. “You know how they’re friends. And it made her very upset.”

“Well,” Katara says. “If he was nasty to her, I’ll speak to him, but I don’t see what this has to do with my marriage. Bumi is—“ She stops. Bumi is always in the middle of things, fussing around, crashing into walls just like his namesake. She loses patience with him too often, she knows that, but Kya’s easy to distract with a waterbending lesson, and Tenzin just sits with his scrolls when Aang isn’t putting him through his paces. He’s so much like his father, an absolute whirlwind of energy. She’s privately thought it’s a shame he didn’t inherit his father’s bending, rather than Tenzin, but that is something she can not let herself think for long.

“He says he doesn’t think his father loves him, because he’s not a bender,” Zuko says. “Which I know is not right. But I have been in that position before. And he told her that Aang is never around, that he just travels from temple to temple with Tenzin, and he and Kya are just left at home. And that he’s worried about you too. It was a very…” He trails off, and looks at Mai.

Mai finishes, “The ink was smudge. He’d been crying. So we wanted to talk to you, because it scared Izumi. Because we both know what it is like to be ignored by our fathers.” She smiles thinly. “And the toll it took on our mothers.”

Zuko says, “I’m sorry if we overstepped, it was just—hard to read.”

Katara says, “Why didn’t he tell me? It’s—he does his best to present for the kids, but Aang has his Avatar duties, and as the last airbender, there’s so much he needs to teach Tenzin, so it’s just easier for him to bring only him along. Have you tried to move three children around the world on bison-back?”

Zuko looks wry for a second. “Well,” he says. “It depends if you count Sokka as a child.”

Mai puts her hand on his arm: not the time.

Katara says, “I wish it was better, but I knew I wasn’t walking into something that was easy. From the start. He could be a better father, but what can I do? What can I do?” She’s furious now, tears rising to her eyes, and she looses a ragged breath, surprised at her own fervor. Wordlessly Zuko pours her another cup. She downs it, barely tasting it.

Mai says, “If he’s not being a good father to your children and a good husband to you, you can leave. We’re not our mothers, Katara.” Zuko looks at her warningly. “Sorry. I don’t know how it was in the Southern Water Tribe, but for my mother, she thought she had no choice. But there is always a choice. Even if it isn’t easy. I don’t—“

Zuko says firmly, “You deserve better. Bumi and Kya deserve better. And Tenzin too. That sort of resentment between siblings is poison. I should know.”

Katara would have preferred that they proposition her. She closes her eyes. “I don’t know what to do,” she whispers. Louder, she continues, “I know Bumi deserves better. From both of us. I know it hurts them. I can see it in the way they treat Tenzin. Kya already barely speaks to Aang. But. Tenzin is my son, too. And of course he and Aang would be closer. It’s just—if I take my children and go, I’m taking Aang’s family away. And I know the Air Nomads were different, he wasn’t raised to stay in one place, if you were a bender and a boy you’d be sent to the temple and that was it, but—“

“Bumi is Southern Water Tribe,” Mai says. “And even if his father is an Air Nomad, only his brother counts as one. Because of bending. And that isn’t fair for him. For Kya either, because they are both. And you know you need to do something about it.” Katara looks up, surprised at the emotion in her voice. Mai stares at her steadily. “Katara, you saved the world. You’re the hero of the Fire Nation, the Painted Lady, the chief of the Southern Water Tribe. You deserve a husband who is a coparent to all your children, not just one.”

Katara says, “You don’t—“ and then there is a crash and a scream and the sound of raucous laughter as Aang comes running in on an air ball, Tenzin nipping at his heels.

“C’mon,” he yells behind him, “faster, you snail sloths!” He and Tenzin pause, perched on the air they so effortlessly bend. Tenzin looks a little harried. Bumi comes running in, panting, then Kya, and Izumi at a more sedate pace.

“That’s…cheating,” Kya says. She grips at the wall. “That wasn’t fair!” She is genuinely angry, almost at the brink of tears, and Izumi bumps her reassuringly. Bumi throws himself on the ground.

Tenzin says pedantically, “You didn’t say no bending.”

Izumi snaps, “Maybe it didn’t need to be said!”

Aang jumps onto his feet, and Tenzin follows. Kya is crouching over Bumi now, muttering to him. Mai’s face is a stone. Zuko is blushing.

“What’s up?” Aang says, grinning. “Did I miss anything fun?”

Katara pours herself a cup rather than answering. She considered the heat and sweetness in the air. With a flick of her risk, she bends it over the mother figurine, washing her clean.

“Oh, you know,” she says. “Diplomacy. We’ll talk about it when we get home.”

[112aang]

Kataang Week 2021: Day 2- Home

Welcome to day 2 of Kataang Week, Home.

Words: 2,112

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

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

Growing up in the Southern Air Temple, Aang was always told that he wasn’t allowed any earthly attachments. The Air Nomads didn’t believe in tying themselves down with worldly possessions or people - they believed in freedom and spiritual enlightenment. So, for a while, he did too.

Until he met her: the Watertribe girl with deep, cerulean blue eyes and dark, chocolate colored hair. The airbender had never seen someone so beautiful, so captivating.

Aang knew what a physical home was, his being the Southern Air Temple; but something had always been missing for him, even at his young age.

His mentors had long since released their attachment to the world, achieving spiritual enlightenment. He had always been told to do the same, and until meeting Katara, had planned on doing so. Something about her, though -be it her caring nature, the way she spoke to him, or even just her smile- seemed to keep him grounded.

As they traveled the world together, his attachment to her appeared to grow- transforming from a simple crush into something more. Aang never told her, or anyone else for that matter; but he did speak to the stars.

The Air Nomads had been gone for one hundred years, but when Aang would sleep under the stars at night, he could feel them. It was as if they were always there, watching over him.

***

One night, when he couldn’t sleep, he looked up at the stars with glossy eyes, and spoke softly.

“I miss you all, more than anything in the world, and I will never truly forgive myself for leaving.”

He choked back his tears, knowing that if he started crying, he wouldn’t be able to stop.

“I just feel so lost, so alone. If I were at the Air Temple- if I were home… maybe I could stop feeling this way. But something, or someone, has been helping me to feel less alone recently.”

Aang smiled softly, looking in Katara’s direction, then turned his eyes back to the stars above.

“I think… I think I might love her- Katara. I know I’m not supposed to have any earthly attachments, but I just feel… connected to her. What should I do?”

Almost on cue, the wind began to pick up, swirling all around him. As he looked around, Aang smiled, watching as the leaves and loose flower petals danced in the wind. He knew it was a sign, a message from the Air Nomads, telling him what he should do.

As the wind died down, he set his gaze back upon the stars and smiled, bowing in respect.

“Thank you.”

***

After that night, Aang had decided to keep his feelings for Katara at bay, at least until he knew whether she felt the same. She had given him subtle hints, through kisses on the cheek, frequent hugs, and soft-spoken words. The waterbender had a rather tight grasp on her feelings, and often kept them bottled up inside. Although Aang wasn’t blind to the way she looked at him, or the stares they received from their friends, he didn’t try to push his luck with her, as he was scared of pushing her away.

It wasn’t until he met with Guru Pathik at the Eastern Air Temple that he knew the depth of his connection with Katara.

***

He had arrived at the Eastern Air Temple with Appa, in search of a Guru. This man had attached a note to Appa’s horn when he was lost, informing Aang that he had been awaiting him, ready to help him take the next step in his Avatar journey.

Nervous, but ready, Aang set his eyes upon the man and eventually began working through what needed to be done.

Guru Pathik had told him that in order to master the Avatar State, he would need to open all of his chakras. Aang agreed, and with the help of the older man, had opened the first three chakras rather easily.

However, when he made it to the fourth chakra, he made a realization.

“The fourth chakra is located in the heart,” Guru Pathik had told him. “It deals with love and is blocked by grief.”

Aang began to see a vision of the Air Nomads, lined up behind one another, appearing to be meditating. He felt his heart begin to swell at the sight of them and smiled, until they started vanishing, one by one.

He heard Guru Pathik’s voice, “you have indeed felt a great loss; But love is a form of energy, and it swirls all around us.”

Aang watched as the floating smoke that was once the Air Nomads began to swirl in the sky, transforming into something else. He was floating in the air, waiting for the smoke to settle.

He squinted, trying to focus on what the smoke had transformed into, when he saw her.

“The Air Nomads' love for you has not left this world. It is still inside of your heart, and is reborn in the form of new love.”

Aang listened and watched as the cloud of smoke formed a face- the face of Katara, the moment he first saw her after waking up in the South Pole.

He knew, in that moment, that he and the waterbender were connected, and that she meant more to him than he had ever known. The airbender began to shed tears, and gently wiped them away, opening the fourth chakra.

The fifth and sixth were simple and he was able to move through them quickly. But the last, and final chakra was the moment he had decided what his choice would be, forever.

They sat atop a platform under the stary, night sky. Guru Pathik informed Aang that opening the final chakra would grant him full power and access to the Avatar State, but once the process began, it must be completed.

Aang had agreed, until he knew what, or who, he had to let go of.

“The Thought Chakra is located at the crown of the head.” Guru Pathik explained, “It deals with pure cosmic energy, and is blocked by earthly attachment. Meditate on what attaches you to this world.”

Aang began to see visions and images of Katara, bringing a smile to his face, before the older man spoke again.

“Now, let all of those attachments go. Let them flow down the river, forgotten.”

The airbender’s eyes flew open, appalled. Angrily, he said, “What? Why would I let go of Katara? I... I love her!”

Guru Pathik shook his head, “Learn to let her go, or you cannot let the pure cosmic energy flow in from the universe.”

Throwing his hands in the air, Aang protested. “Why would I choose cosmic energy over Katara? How could it be a bad thing that I feel an attachment to her?”

He felt at a loss; just a month prior, he had received a sign from the Air Nomads, telling him that his connection with the waterbender was what he needed. But now, he was being told to let her go in order to master the Avatar State.

Conflicted, he weighed his options, eventually coming to the decision to let go of Katara, despite his connection with her. As he did so, he saw a giant figure of himself glowing purple, at the end of a long path. He followed the glowing trail, coming to a large orb and stepping inside. Before he could fully open the final chakra, a vision of Katara chained up clouded his sight, and he jumped from the orb, falling through the sky.

Despite Guru Pathik’s protests and admonitions, Aang left the Eastern Air Temple, choosing his attachment to Katara over the cosmic energy, locking the Avatar State.

***

That event had been some time ago, but had never left his mind. Before his battle with Ozai, the airbender had found himself in a strange place, and was at a loss of what to do.

Aang had decided to contact his past lives in hopes of receiving advice about whether to spare the firelord’s life. In the midst of doing so, he had met the Air Nomad Avatar before him: Avatar Yangchen.

After much talk of the Air Nomad ways, Avatar Yangchen had told Aang something that he hadn’t thought about in months, bringing him back to his choice at the Eastern Air Temple.

“Many great and wise Air Nomads have detached themselves and achieved spiritual enlightenment,” she said. “But the Avatar can never do it. Because your sole duty is to the world.”

Before having been through what he did with Guru Pathik, he wouldn’t have thought much about Avatar Yangchen’s words. But after choosing his attachment to the world, it became clear to him why he couldn’t let go of Katara.

To choose detachment and spiritual enlightenment would have kept Aang distant, separate from the world. As the Avatar, he needed something, or someone to keep him grounded- someone to keep him connected to the world. For him, it was Katara.

Aang kept this in his mind during his battle with Ozai, as he still was unable to reach the Avatar State. But during his lowest point, when he thought all was lost, he was able to reconnect with his Avatar Spirit, savoring his connection with Katara.

***

It had been almost 30 years since the end of the 100-year war, and Aang was celebrating his 43rd birthday alongside his friends and family. He stood on the balcony of the Jasmine Dragon, looking out into the sunset over the tops of buildings.

He had asked for a small get together with his closest friends and family, not wanting to make a large spectacle about it. He and Katara had been together for the majority of the 30 years, and had been married for 25 of them. He thanked the spirits every day for her, as she did for him.

They had three beautiful children: Bumi, Kya, and Tenzin.

He smiled, leaning his elbows on the railing. It felt just as it did all that time ago, where everything began.

Aang heard someone behind him and looked over his shoulder, not surprised as his wife made her way beside him.

She smiled at him, “feels familiar, doesn’t it?”

He chuckled softly, “yeah, it really does.”

They stood in silence for a few moments, watching the sunset with each other’s company. Aang was the first to break the silence. Turning towards Katara, he placed his hands on her waist and looked into her blue eyes.

“Did I ever tell you about my time with Guru Pathik at the Eastern Air Temple?”

She looked up in thought, “well, you told me that you chose attachment over cosmic energy, but nothing more.”

“Yes, well,” he nodded, and she placed her arms on his shoulders. “I chose my attachment to you over everything.”

She tilted her head slightly and raised a brow at him.

“Why would you have done that?”

Aang looked out into the sunset before turning his head to face her once more.

“Growing up as an Air Nomad,” he began. “We were always taught that earthly attachments would drag us down and keep us from spiritual enlightenment.”

She nodded, so he continued.

“Before I met you, I had every intention of detaching myself from the world, but that all changed the moment I opened my eyes and saw yours.”

Katara blushed and looked away momentarily before turning back to him.

“How did I change your mind?”

He pulled her closer and kissed her cheek softly.

“I’m afraid that’s a long story that I can explain another time.”

Katara started to speak, but Aang continued.

“The short of it is,” he smiled lovingly and placed his forehead on hers. “I felt a connection with you from the moment I laid my eyes on you, but it took me awhile to figure out exactly why.”

She returned his smile before placing a gentle his on his nose.

“And what did you figure out?”

Aang waited for a moment to answer, making Katara anxious.

“You’re my home, Katara. You always have been.”

Tears began to fill her eyes and she kissed him, pulling him closer. He returned the gesture in kind, wrapping his arms around her waist.

Katara pulled away after a few moments and smiled at him, love emanating from her eyes.

“I love you, Aang.”

He pulled her into another kiss, and she smiled before returning it.

The two benders remained on the balcony for what seemed like hours, reliving their first official kiss as a couple, in the arms of each other. In the arms of each other’s homes.

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

Next will be ‘Dance.’

Thank you to everyone who is reading, and I can’t wait until the next one!

[guileheroine]

Republic City's lights glittered on the night-washed surface of Yue Bay, mingling with the myriad of reflected stars. From the shore of Air Temple Island, Aang wondered at how the world had changed, how he had come to call this place home.

Home. A long time ago now, he had made his peace with the idea that he might never have a home again, that home had slipped and hurtled far out of reach while he slept and there was no use trying to strive for it again. It wasn’t such a bad thing. The air nomads, after all, got that name because they were wanderers, and if they did come to settle at one of the temples or some other preferred place, wanderers they remained at heart. It meant a new abode in their image never had to replace the lost nomads, to carry their elusive essence whole; no more than the old temples had for the itinerant monks Aang recalled, who only came to the Southern Air Temple to stock up on their frugal supplies. To some the temples were but waystations, and they didn’t need to aspire to more to be built.

 Yet somehow all this knowledge had never stopped the prospect of constructing Air Temple Island from feeling strangely leaden in the beginning, a burden Aang admitted to no one save Katara and Zuko. 

 As he gazed fondly across the bay, he reminded himself that a lot had changed in a few short decades. Now this place was his home, his family’s home. The air acolytes that were now being sent out to all four corners of the world were numerous and growing. Many would be here for the celebration tomorrow—including, in fact, an envoy of acolytes who were scheduled to set off for the Western Air Temple straight after to oversee the imminent restoration efforts there. 

 So it was strange for Aang to feel some of that old uncertainty, the one he now recognised as being borne of youth as much as of loss, simmer back up into his mind.

 There was a distant knock behind him. Aang turned to see Toph rapping her knuckles on the pillar of the pavilion in a gentle rhythmic beat.

 “Come on. Come on now. Weren’t you the one who said a little sleepover before tomorrow’s ceremony would soothe the nerves?” 

 Aang laughed, not as perfunctory as Toph probably thought it was, and turned back to the twinkling water.

 “Well?! It’s not my nerves that need soothing, you know, so—”

 He took another long look at the bay and then jerked to his heels, turning. “I heard you, I heard you.”

 Back inside, it was a strangely subdued picture, a waiting room. Kya was reclined on the divan, showing Zuko that insane card trick she had picked up from some fortune teller in the Si Wong Desert (allegedly). Bumi and Sokka could be heard having one of their regular midnight spars out in the yard, high yelps echoing all the way indoors at reliable intervals. Poor kid, Sokka always pummelled him when he was around, or at least he did when Bumi had been younger and scrawnier than his uncle, and without a couple years of his own military training. Still, Aang was always grateful for Sokka’s presence, for Bumi’s sake, especially on a day like this when all attention converged on—

 “Tenzin,” Katara sighed, entering the drawing room with a small damp towel wound around her wrist. All eyes went right to her, rapt. The towel was wrung dry, from stress it seemed, considering the way Katara dug her fingertips into it. “I thought the fever had finally broken, but he’s still chattering like anything.” 

 They had mediated for several nights, Aang and his younger son, in preparation for tomorrow’s tattoo ceremony. It was an obscure pre-tattoo ritual Tenzin himself had dug out from the scant surviving records of Air nomad tradition. Truth be told, Aang didn’t know what basis it had whose traditions, and thought it doubtful that it might have been written down accurately in the first place, but it wasn’t like he was ever going to find out. And if it helped Tenzin feel a little calmer about the whole thing then, certainly, it would be worth it.

 As it turned out, it did not help Tenzin feel calmer about things. That much became apparent shortly after lunch today when he threw up, burst into sweats, and admitted through tortuous embarrassment that the fear of the needles had been keeping him up every night of the past week. He went to bed not long after. Katara had been trying a new method of soothing him pretty much every hour since. But it was as though a damn had finally burst, and it rushed unrelentingly. Now at last on the eve of the occasion, when he couldn’t tamp it down anymore, the thought of the impending day had made Tenzin inconsolable. He looked and spoke like he was going to the gallows in the morning, except he was white as a ghost already.

 Once they realised the true extent of his anxiety, Aang made a mental note to tell Tenzin (when his wits were about him) that there was no need to keep fears this grave in for so long. It wasn’t good for him, he had to let go. That was one aspect of his study that he always had a lot of trouble with. Still, Aang would be lying if he said the whole situation didn’t shock him a little. They were all surprised; a little unsure how to tread around this new development. Katara had already taken Kya aside to have a stern word about not ribbing Tenzin about it, like they were young kids again. 

 “He’ll be fine,” Zuko said before the lull could stretch again. Aang got the impression that Zuko was speaking from experience, of his own fair share of inconsolable sweats. He got the impression that everyone else got that impression too, although he was keenly aware that Zuko’s assuring statement had been directed squarely at him. Toph snorted audibly, and Kya looked between them with gleaming curiosity in her eyes. In their own shared gaze, Aang found some of the anxiety in Katara’s face finally beginning to ease, the corners of her mouth turning slightly.

 “Well, he needs to sleep first,” she said evenly. But all she could do about it was state the fact, and the rawness of the concern in her voice did cut Aang a little. She sighed deeply as she sat back. Aang watched her as she scanned for a diversion, her eyes finding the outfit Kya had laid over the divan that she opted to sleep on over the hard beds. It was an unconscious process of self-distraction, though Aang knew what Katara was doing all too well.

 “You’re wearing that thing tomorrow? What about the robe? Kya, it’s important—” 

 Kya simply turned her head a smooth ninety degrees to Aang and said, “Dad—”

 Aang shrugged, it’s fine. 

 It was then that Kya came and sat by him, leaving Zuko’s personal space free for Toph to rest her legs up over his lap. Kya had sensed Aang’s pensive mood, and she bent to put her head on his shoulder. At her adult height, she was now taller than Katara, almost as tall as him. Aang let some of his weight rest against his daughter. She smelled of incense; she had been out helping smoke the wood, wire the lanterns, and all the rest for tomorrow—away from the house proper, which was choking with the fuss over Tenzin all day.  

 Tenzin’s phobia, his reluctance to bring it up—beyond that noncommittal, tremulous laugh last week when the acolytes making the inks offered to give a demonstration—weighed on Aang. Thinking on it now, Aang should really have picked it up before: was it for some selfish reason that his mind overlooked the signs? The sheer panic that had now bubbled from Tenzin, it was the last thing Aang would have wanted for him to feel. And yet, he understood why Tenzin had kept it from him the way he did. 

 The first tattoo ceremony of the postwar was a contentious occasion for some, as much as a momentous one. There were a few out in the city that liked raising Aang’s hackles whenever possible—a paper that circulated among the community of more recent Fire Nation emigres, the ones coming to help implement new development plans, sprung particularly to mind. Last month they were questioning the civility of subjecting a child to full body tattoos. Aang and almost everyone else he cared to discuss it with secretly wondered what the commentators, many of whom had not long ago been broadcasting oblique Fire Nation propaganda from their pages, really knew about civility. 

 It would have been easier to brush off if some of the very acolytes here on the island hadn’t brought up the same thing. It was innocuous enough, and that was the problem.

 “I was just ten when I got my tattoos,” Aang had explained, though it sounded more like a retort than we would have liked. It wasn’t ire, but a clawing helplessness, that he stemmed in his throat as the acolyte conceded reluctantly and went on. 

 Presently, Zuko was lighting one of Toph���s cigarettes for her with a lazy finger. It was a habit she had picked up not long after moving to Republic City, though she did it less now that her girls were around. She took a long draw and tapped her foot absently. 

 “Twinkletoes,” she announced. 

 It seemed like Aang was going to be subject to a few of these platitudes tonight. He hated feeling like they were sorry for him, having to handle him, acquiescing to some pageantry that no one but he could make sense of. That wasn’t really true, he knew that in his heart. But in a moment where it felt like Aang, with his poor son barking on a leash for him, was the only thing standing between everyone and a nice, easy time—it was all too easy to sink.

 “He’ll get over it,” Toph said. “And if he doesn’t, well, you know, a little tough love is okay sometimes.”

 Katara winced a little, though she didn’t move, and Zuko’s brow shot up. 

 Aang never thought he’d concede to Toph on that point. He still didn’t, because a grueling day-long tattoo session sounded like more than tough love to him. And if Tenzin refused to get his tattoos—well, that was tough love Aang didn’t know if he could take. He was never good at it.

 “If he really can’t do it—” When Katara spoke, it was with finality. She searched for Aang’s gaze, not asking for agreement so much as affirming a truth she knew he already knew. “If he really can’t do it, then he won’t. Something else will have to do.”

 Beside Aang, Kya was quite still, clearly trying to gauge his response.   

 “What I’m saying,” Toph continued, puffing, “is he’ll get it together when the time comes, if it’s what he really wants.” 

 “But what if he feels like I’m pressuring him?” Aang finally said. Then he sighed, while Kya lifted her head and regarded him with compassionate concern.

 “But are you?” Then it was Zuko—and he, with more magnanimity in his heart for Aang than he sometimes felt he deserved—posed it like a rhetorical question with the answer no. However, when Toph nodded along to the question, she was asking in earnest. 

 “I don’t want to,” Aang said, honestly. But that was avoiding the question. “I mean, I don’t think I am... but what if I am? I know he doesn’t want to disappoint me. And it is important to me, it would mean the world, I also know there’s nothing wrong with that.” 

 He said with a conviction he didn’t quite feel, but it was renewed when almost everyone nodded or hummed along. 

 “There isn’t.”

 “‘Course not.” 

 At the same time, he felt their reassurance almost heavily. Their love weighed heavy. 

 So did Tenzin’s.

 Aang could swallow the disappointment, if he had to; after all, it wasn’t like tattoos made a master airbender. In Tenzin’s case, a very great deal of hard work did. At worst, they would just have to use some face paint for the rites, it could definitely be arranged. “It’s just... I know how important he believes it is to me, because I’m the last airbender. I guess I’m just scared it’s too late to convince him that it doesn’t mean he’s gotta suffer for it.” 

 “Well, you’re not the only airbender anymore.”  Toph took another puff.

 Zuko and Katara regarded her curiously, one of Katara’s resting eyes opening.

 “You think it isn’t important to him? Come out of your head, Twinkletoes. That kid could give you a run for your yuans any day. Let him do what he’s gotta do.” After a pause, she gave him a sympathetic inch after that. “I know it’s hard to watch.” 

 Aang exhaled, concurring with that at least.

 Toph was trying to say that Tenzin was in the process of tough loving himself, honouring his own ideals. It wasn’t an easy burden, the love the air nomads, not in today’s world. Aang knew that better than anyone. He was the only one that knew it. 

 Until now. 

 Aang swiped his eyes. Having company in that love, it meant having to see his son take on some of that burden. Recast this way, it was the price of the erosion of the loneliness he once felt, the reason he now felt like he could call this city home.

 It would be a little easier for Tenzin, at least. Aang would make sure of it. He could talk his worries through first thing in the morning, and make sure he could hold his father’s hand, find any comfort in his presence that he might seek there, while he went through it. And if he found he couldn’t—well, Aang would be there to help him through the pain of that, too. 

 “You’re right. Thanks, Toph. We’ll see in the morning.”  

 “Yes, we will.” Toph stubbed out the cigarette, and went to pick up the cards Kya had left. “Now, who’s up for a round?”  

 “Just brace yourself,” Zuko warned, reaching out to pat Katara’s ankle sympathetically. 

 Kya had a more hopeful take on it, in more ways than one. “Anyway, there’ll be other airbenders one day, who aren’t huge wusses.” 

 She shared a grin with Aang, who gave her a playful clap on the shoulder.

[analysisofavatar]

On their anniversary, Aang takes Appa and flies all the way to Aunt Wu’s village and climbs up the same volcano he faced at 12 years old, just to pick a handful of panda lilies, fly back, and give them to Katara.

Aang makes Katara breakfast in bed, but he can’t cook, so Katara is forcing the uncooked dough and burnt meat down her throat all the while praising his none existent cooking skills because she doesn’t have the heart to tell him.

Sokka teaching Aang how to throw boomerang, but unfortunately Aang is not very accurate and happens to hit the jackpot in knocking his girlfriend Katara in the head with said boomerang, earning him and Sokka a mouthful of water and silent treatment for a week.

I just know that some nights Aang and Katara would be lying and bed and Aang would go “want to dance” and she’d smile stupidly and take his hand and they’d stand in the middle of the room and slow dance.

When one of them wakes up one day and feels under the weather the other commands them to stay in bed and takes care of them the entire day, not letting them move a muscle.

Katara secretly pulls out a special air nomad fruit pie recipe she got from one of their air temple trips, and tries to make them as a surprise for Aang, but fails miserably. So Aang walks into the kitchen early morning to see a fruit stained Katara and a mess in the kitchen, realizing what she was trying to do, so he helps her clean the whole thing up and teaches her how to make them right.

It’s Katara’s 18th birthday. She wakes up in the morning to see flowers and a note at her bedside. The note is from Aang and it writes happy birthday and everything Aang would say to Katara on such a day. But in it there’s also a hint to go find another hint that leads to another hint and so on. So basically he’s given her a sort of scavenger hunt, to which each place she finds, there’s a gift for her. It’s almost the end of the day and she hasn’t even seen Aang yet, but her last hint tells her to go to the Jasmine Dragon. The gift from this last hint was a dress, and the note left with the dress told her to wear it to the Jasmine Dragon. When she finally gets there, walking up the stairs, she sees Aang at the top, in the exact same spot they kissed years ago at the end of the war. He’s wearing nice and formal air nomad clothing and smiling down at her. When she meets him there comes the happy birthday and then the speech of how much he loves her and such.... and then he proposes.... she says yes excitedly. The rest of the Gaang comes out of the tea shop because they wanted to surprise her, and they all spend the rest of their night at the tea shop together after Aang and Katara get engaged on her birthday.

Aang crying each time one of his kids were born is something I believe in while not having to see it.

Aang arranging date nights for him and Katara often to take a break from life and kids and stress while Bumi, Kya, and Tenzin all stay with Uncle Sokka.

Katara secretly keeping the flower necklace Aang made for her... Aang finding it in the drawer of her desk and realizing she’s kept it all this time.