#Spirit Touched Zuko

[demaparbat-hp]

*pats Zuko's head* This bad boy can fit so many near-death experiences.

.

Read For the Spirits Chapter VIII here!

[leewiththegreatcupoftea]

Art for

By:

@on-my-zuko-shit-again

[escyn]

Old Wounds Reopened[flood]: Kyoshi Warrior Sokka | Blue Spirit

Zukka Week Day 3 (id in alt)

+some close-ups bc I love them so

other things from ZW2024: Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7

[stars4krios]

Spirit Blessed Zuko AU Fire Nation lore stuff!!

Back when the Fire Nation was still run by the fire sages it was actually fairly common for the members of the Royal family to be sprit gifted/blessed and the Fire Nation being well the Fire Nation, made crowns about it.

There are 3 sets of 8 crowns, each set has 8 distinct designs for each of the Original 8 Benders. The crowns were worn by the princes and princesses of the Royal family no matter how far away from the throne they were as long as they were spirit gifted/blessed, once a spirit gifted prince/princess became Fire Lord they'd add the Fire Lord's crown to the back of their top knot and keep wearing their spirit crown at the front. There's 8 versions of the Fire Lord's crown because each spirit crown is a different shade of gold so they obviously had to match the golds!

Some examples of the crowns:

The reason there's 3 sets of the crowns is that when the Fire Nation was at its peak spirituality it was so common to have spirit gifted royalty they simply ended up needing that many. I'm talking multiple generations packed full of spirit gifted/blessed people, family portraits used to be alive with so many shades of gold and red! But now, as the Fire Nation loses it's connect to the spirits less people are gifted. Crowns sit untouched in the royal vault for decades. Family portraits devolve into the same deep reds and yellow golds. It used to be a bad sign to have a whole generation be skipped by the spirits but now it happens so often that no one bats and eye at it. No one truly understands, or cares to understand, the reasoning behind why the spirits haven't touched the Royal family in 5 generations.

With the birth of Agni gifted prince Zuko and La gifted princess Azula, it seems the Royal family has finally regained the spirits good graces, but I don't think they'll like the reasoning all that much.

[suzukiblu]

excerpt from in-progress "timebending with Zuko" fic

Zuko wakes up and everything hurts.

Most specifically, his scar hurts.

That . . . doesn’t make sense, he thinks, and reaches for it automatically. A strong hand catches his wrist before he can touch it, which seems–fair, yes. Probably a good idea, anyway, because spirits does it hurt. Just . . . so much.

“Uncle?” he asks reflexively, attempting to open his eyes. It’s surprisingly difficult. And Uncle is in Ba Sing Se, of course, but he’s on his back on a futon or bedroll or something similar and someone’s sitting beside him and his head is swimming and he’s injured, clearly, so options for who said “someone” might be are limited, really.

So it’s not Uncle, obviously, but . . .

“Nephew,” Uncle says, very quietly, and Zuko . . . blinks.

At least, half-blinks. The one eye’s in too much pain to open.

The ceiling is metal, he notes absentmindedly. That’s . . . odd. He was in the palace, wasn't he?

“What happened?” he asks, vaguely bemused. Uncle pauses in a very concerning way, and Zuko has about three heart attacks about just how badly he doesn’t want to know what he’s about to say before–

“The Agni Kai,” Uncle says, very carefully. “Do you remember it?”

Zuko frowns–just with the one side of his face, because again, his scar hurts right now. To the point that his whole body feels wrong, does his scar hurt right now.

“Um–which one?” he asks, because there’s been about a dozen this month alone, and frankly he’s getting really sick of fighting them at this point but if the old guard of nobles are just going to keep dragging everything out like this–

“With your father, Nephew,” Uncle says, very carefully.

Zuko . . . blinks.

“Oh,” he says, vaguely perplexed. Uncle never talks to him about that. “Yeah, I remember that. What about it?”

“Do you remember what happened?” Uncle says.

“The part where I disgraced myself or the part where he burned my face?” Zuko says, because it’s so fucked up and awful and horrible that he can’t even get upset about it anymore, except when he’s really upset about it. But if Uncle’s bringing it up, presumably he has a good reason to be, so . . . “Or the whole ‘go find the Avatar who no one even believes exists anymore or you can never come home again’ part?”

“. . . all of that, yes,” Uncle says, still sounding very careful. Zuko frowns a little–again with just the one side of his face–and then looks over at him. His body still feels weird and wrong, but . . .

But . . .

They’re on a ship, he realizes. A Fire Nation one.

Well, explains the metal ceiling.

It doesn’t explain why Uncle is wearing red armor and a topknot like he hasn't in years, though, or why he looks so unspeakably sad.

“Um,” Zuko says, and attempts to sit up. His head immediately starts swimming even worse, and Uncle catches his shoulders and keeps him pinned against the . . . futon? Looks like a futon, yeah. “Where are we, exactly?”

“We are aboard a ship,” Uncle says. “I . . . may have slightly commandeered it.”

“. . . you paid for it, right?” Zuko asks, a little skeptical at that idea.

“Yes, Nephew, I did,” Uncle says, giving him a very tired, pained smile. Zuko doesn’t feel much better, seeing it.

“Is someone dead?” he asks, because he can’t think of anything else that would make Uncle look that way.

“Ah–no, no one has died,” Uncle says.

“Then what’s wrong?” Zuko asks warily.

“. . . you are injured, Nephew,” Uncle says, slowly. Zuko frowns, bemused. “And your father . . . I did not know he was going to do this. I am so sorry.”

Zuko . . . pauses. Looks around the room again, and then realizes: he knows this room, doesn’t he. He knows this ship.

This is the same ship he woke up on after the Agni Kai.

“Hold that thought, Uncle,” he says, then lifts his hands and looks at them. They . . . well, they are his hands, obviously.

But they’re not his hands, obviously.

“Huh,” he says, frowning in bemusement at them; turning them around like he half-expects them to stop being a thirteen year-old’s or something equally ridiculous. They don’t. They are very definitely a thirteen year-old’s hands.

Specifically, his thirteen year-old hands.

Huh.

“You don’t have to be sorry,” he says after a moment, putting his hands back down and glancing back to Uncle, who’s obviously the more important concern. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“I took you into that meeting,” Uncle says, his voice tight. “And I watched the Agni Kai. And I did nothing to stop any of it.”

“I know,” Zuko says. “But it wasn’t your fault.”

“It was,” Uncle says, his smile a sad and terrible thing. “You were there because of my actions. My mistakes.”

“You’re not the one who wanted to sacrifice all those soldiers,” Zuko says. “Or the one who decided to throw fire at my face.”

“You were there because of me,” Uncle repeats, his voice tight and his smile no less terrible. It occurs to Zuko, briefly, that Uncle must be thinking of Lu Ten.

He only ever looks like that when he’s thinking about Lu Ten, so . . .

“Uncle,” he says. “Really. It’s not your fault.”

“Nephew,” Uncle says, and his voice is somehow even tighter. Zuko tries to get up again, and his head swims again, and Uncle moves to stop him again. This time he grabs onto Uncle’s wrists and uses them to pull himself up, and then . . .

Well, then he’s sitting up, at least.

So that’s something.

He tilts his head and his hair slips into his eyes. It’s loose, and long. Not shaved on the sides yet, like he wore it the last time he was thirteen. He supposes he should cut it, but then again, why should he? He's not changing anything, after all.

Except for this conversation, he supposes, because that went very differently last time.

. . . hm.

"Uncle," he says one more time, and reaches out for him. Uncle doesn’t seem to understand what he’s trying to do, so he has to reach out a little farther, and then Uncle makes the connection and leans in and lets him wrap his arms around him and alright, yes: that’s better, Zuko thinks, and clings to him.

Just a little, perhaps, but . . .

Yes. He clings to him.

Uncle wraps his arms around him in turn, very carefully, and makes an awful sound.

“My boy,” he chokes. “I’m so–I’m so–”

“I forgive you,” Zuko lies, because of course there’s nothing to forgive.

But of course Uncle doesn’t understand that, does he.

[akiizayoi4869]

"How come you don't like comics! Ursa? She's a victim of abuse!"

Yes, and she's also a piece of shit. And stupid. The writers somehow succeed in making her worse as time goes on in every comic that she's in. Ursa being a not so good mother is pretty much established in the show thanks to Azula's view of her, something that at no point in time does the narrative try to paint as being untrue, not even in the comics. And before anyone comes at me, I'm not saying that Ursa never loved Azula or thought that she was a monster. She did love Azula. But I'm sorry, if your child feels as if you never loved them and thought that you saw them as a monster? YOU FUCKED UP SOMEWHERE. And you know what? I actually like this about Ursa's character. It shows that she has flaws, and that she's not the perfect mother that Zuko views her as. It makes her interesting. What's annoying is that in the comics, all of this gets wiped away. The writers have this mentality that Ursa has zero responsibility at all when it comes to how Azula turned out because of her horrible marriage with Ozai. They can never seem to touch upon their relationship (aside from Spirit Temple, where it's actually mentioned outright that Ursa did indeed fail Azula) and have Ursa acknowledge her mistake and own up to it and actually help Azula. She shows the bare minimum of concern for her eldest daughter. You mean to tell me that one of your children fucked off to who knows where, and you aren't trying to go out there and find her? Wow. Such a great mom. Mother of the year.

[huevotm]

@zukkaweek day three: kyoshi warrior/blue spirit

I had planned to do a whole thing for Zukka week this year, but work has been a nightmare, so i just managed this v rushed self indulgent mini comic about smudged makeup after battle >:)

I imagine them doing vigilante stuff on Ba Sing Se and sometimes running into eachother, so they sometimes team up maybe?? And ofc Sokka doesn’t know he’s hanging out with zuko and zuko gets a bit bold when he’s the blue spirit. (And also has definitely been wondering how it would feel to touch sokka bc he’s touch starved as hell, so once he gets a little bit, he just keeps sneaking little touches here and there)

ANYWAYS HAPPY ZUKKA WEEK EVERYBODY

[paishowhitelotus]

Rewatched book 1 after watching the live action and here is a list of everything that wasn’t in the live action that I think should have been :

Sokkas war paint

Saying the words “hair loopies”

Barely seeing the boomerang

Katara being able to calm down aang during the avatar state

The comet

Importance of mastering all 4 elements

Sokka dressing in kyoshi warrior clothing and learning the strength of women (removing and growing from his sexist beliefs)

Zukos honor /destiny (think it’s mentioned once?)

Mouthfoaming guy

Aang water bending

Roku manifesting and telling jeong jeong to teach aang firebending

Aang trying fire bending too soon and burning katara which leads to him being hesitant on learning firebending in book 3

Katara finding out about her healing abilities

Aang being selfish by keeping location of Sokka and kataras father from them

Aangs crush on katara

Aang doing everything he Can to heal his friends in the swamp

"Miyuki, did you get in trouble with Fire Nation again?”

Rokus dragon

Aang dealing with the guilt of leaving the southern air temple and all his people getting killed and not accepting his role as avatar

Sokkas intuition for recognizing Jets deceit

Sokka being a natural inventor (it’s barely even touched in the live action) Sokka is smart and creative

Katara’s dedication to learning water bending by stealing the scroll

Katara’s jealousy of aang being able to bend and learn faster than her

Kataras fierce determination and her take no shit personality

The cruelty of the fire nation by imprisoning earth benders into work camps (this is just one example)

Katara’s selflessness and bravery by getting herself imprisoned in the war camp and saving all the prisoners shows how much empathy Katara feels for people and always wanting to help those who can’t help themselves

Showing how master jeong jeong and others left the fire nations army because of its cruelty (fire nation people can be good and recognize the evil in their own ranks)

How aang feels upset about the disrespect and condition of the northern air temple/legacy of his people but accepts it in the end knowing they need this temple as their home

Using the fallen war balloon to create a fleet of airships in the final battle with Ozai

Appa being a badass and also fighting to protect aang multiple times

Iroh and his white lotus tile (this is important foreshadowing for later seasons)

The healer in the northern water tribe recognizing the betrothal necklace and realizing it belonged to her friend and kataras grandmother, kanna, who was engaged to master pakku of the northern tribe but left to live in the South Pole

Katara confronting pakku and telling him “I’ll be outside if you’re man enough to fight me” ( the challenge is off screen in live action, dumb choice tbh just glad we got to see the physical fight at least)

Pakku finding the betrothal necklace and talking about kanna and katara saying her gran left because “she wouldn’t let your stupid tribes customs control her life” which in turn makes pakku reconsider and start teaching katara waterbending

Pakku complementing kataras skill saying she’s has advanced faster than any other student he has trained (this shows how great and powerful of a water bender she truly is)

How strong the water benders are at night especially during the full moon

How the moon was the first water bender

Zuko kidnapping aangs body while he is in the spirit world

“You rise with the moon, I rise with the sun”

Not showing emotion to koh cause he’ll steal your face

Zuko talking to unconscious aang telling him how everything always came easy to his sister, she’s a firebending prodigy. Ozai telling Zuko that azula was “born lucky while Zuko was lucky to be born” (another instance of ozai’s cruelty as a father)

Talking about how iroh has been to the Spirit world

Zuko trying to challenge katara during a FULL MOON” “Here for a rematch?” “Trust me Zuko it’s not going to be much of a match” and then her kicking his ass in 5 seconds

Aang showing compassion to Zuko by saving him again despite Zuko kidnapping his body

Iroh staying with katara Sokka and yue after the moon spirit is killed (this shows his heart)

Yues body disappearing and her spirit kissing Sokka and her saying “I’ll always be with you”

The ocean spirit grabbing zhao and dragging him into the sea

Pakku wanting to help rebuild the southern water tribe

Pakku Calling her Master katara and saying she’ll train aang from now on

Azula appearing at the end and Ozai sending her on a task because Zuko is a failure and iroh is a traitor

[zukkaweek]

Day 1 - August 11th

Ba Sing Se or Jasmine Dragon | Fake Dating 

Day 2 - August 12th

Accidental Kid Acquisition | Zukka As Dads

Day 3 - August 13th

Kyoshi Warrior Sokka | Blue Spirit

Day 4 - August 14th

Culture Sharing | Arranged Marriage

Day 5 - August 15th

Zuko Joins the Gaang Early | Gay/Bi Awakening

Day 6 - August 16th

Cave of Two Lovers | Disability/Chronic Pain/Chronic Illness

Day 7 - August 17th

Boiling Rock | Touch or Touch-starved | Free Day

[asiriyep]

Fanart del fanfic "Spirits can be Cruel" de "Mikarkus" en ao3.

lksajdsjdfjsb, GOD this is so cute, sad because Zuko has to go through a lot, but very exciting and touching in the process. Azula has a great journey too.🥺💛.

[demaparbat-hp]

Zuko's eyes watered against his will when the ghost of a woman he did not know smiled at him like he was her child.

Zuko decided right there and then that maybe, just maybe, this too was something he came to find.

Ghost-Mother takes a look into Zuko's soul in For the Spirits Chapter IX: A Rider Alone.

More than a stranded soul, Kya holds all the love of the Old Tribe and the means to calm a coming tempest. Zuko won't ever forget her.

(He won't be allowed to.)

[ittsybittsybunny]

ATLA Live Action Series Review:

The Good

Aesthetically this show felt right. Sure sometimes the outfits didn't quite feel lived in, but I always felt like I was watching a fantasy world with decent effects and interesting design. Also, I really enjoyed the sets!

Bending: Yes some of the fights feel very quick, but the bending looks cool. It is certainly better than 10 benders lifting one big rock. I can honestly say the opening bending fight scene gave me so much hope for this show.

Kyoshi Warriors: I loved seeing them in live action, and I thought Suki's performance was great!

Omashu: I think the mashup of the mechanist made sense since that is an important character overall and I would hate to see him cut. However, both Jet & the secret tunnels felt sloppily thrown in.

Northern Water Tribe: I really loved the way it looked, and appreciated the two episodes we spent here. I think Yue gained more agency in this interpretation, and why shouldn't the moon spirit be a waterbender. Also, episode seven felt the most in tune with the original show's spirit.

Zuko: I think he was one of the most fleshed-out and best parts of the show! Dallas Liu really captured Zuko's spirit, and the scene between him and Aang in episode 6 was wonderful!

Soundtrack: Hearing the original soundtrack bits is always great, and when I first heard the ending music I was so excited.

Is the show perfect, no - but I wouldn't mind a season 2.

The Bad

Pacing: Turning 20 episodes into 8 was bound to lead to some cuts...but oftentimes times things felt too quick or disjointed. I think there were editing problems contributing to this for sure, but sometimes things skipped around too much without a clear purpose as to why. Also, why bring in plots from later seasons when you barely have enough time already?

Writing: This show definitely suffered from exposition dumping, though it did get better as time went on. I think the biggest example of this is actually opening in the past rather than the present. We do not get to learn along with Aang that the world has changed, instead, we get to learn that 100 years have passed....which doesn't hold the same tension or worldbuilding.

Clunky Dialogue: Along with exposition, clunky dialogue is another example of bad writing. I think sometimes I felt like the acting was kind of meh in the beginning, but then over time I began to realize it had far more to do with the lines characters were trying to deliver. The actors themselves are not bad, just cursed with awkward writing and lines that feel out of touch with the setting they're in.

Main Trio: I don't entirely know that I believe Katara, Sokka, and Aang are friends as opposed to 3 people stuck together to save the world. Aang feels a little too somber for a young kid running away from his responsibilities, Sokka is protective, but not exactly the heart of the team, and Katara is sort of just there until the last two episodes. Where is her struggle, her desire to learn so strong she steals from pirates? Also, while Gordon Cormier did a great job, Aang does zero waterbending on his own, is overly serious, and tells Katara not to fight. Where is his desperation to protect his friends? It feels like they all lost emotional depth.

Tension: Bringing Ozai, Azula, and Zhao out in the beginning immediately causes us to lose the realization there is an even bigger bad. Part of why Ozai is so terrifying is he is a primarily silent villain until the third season when we finally see the face of the "big bad evil guy" behind it all. Yes, they add to Zuko's backstory, but again, they are revealing the villains too early. Azula is the antagonist of season 2 and one of my favorite characters, so I hope they do more with her in the future. Finally, Zhao is supposed to be an example of the uncontrollable nature of fire unrestrained, instead, he comes off as vaguely threatening with the supposed true power being Azula.

Characterization: While all characters are bound to lose something in a shorter show, it still felt like certain characters were more mutilated than others. I am sure there are 100 different opinions on who, but I think the biggest victim was Katara.

Katara: Katara manages to go from a complete novice to a bending master in what feels like a matter of days. The journey feels short, and that makes the results feel largely unearned. Katara is one of the strongest personalities in the show, determined, kind, and fiery. In many ways, she is the unpredictability of water - equally dangerous as it is necessary to live. She is the child of a war who lost her mother, forced to grow up too soon, and even raised her older brother. Yes, Katara often gets stereotyped as the mom friend, but overall she feels underutilized in this show. We really don't see enough of her journey until the very end.

Iroh: Iroh was always comedic but most importantly wise. Even when Zuko is trying to give himself advice, he mimics Iroh. Instead, he seems to be used more as comedic relief without the underlying experience. He just doesn't feel right. Also, he kills Zhao instead of Zhao getting himself killed - which is less about Iroh and more about the writing than anything.

Ozai is weirdly a little too nice. Yes, he burned Zuko and pits his kids against each other, but he feels toned down in a show claiming to be more mature than the original cartoon.

Azula is perhaps more realistically worried about losing her status as the golden child, but she is also missing the cruelty she and her father share. I understand worrying about making your character cartoonishly evil, but the Fire Nation is currently a deeply nationalistic empire trying to control the world. Where is the deep-seated belief that they are better than other people, not just trying to bring balance to the world? There is a line between creating complexity and toning down the very real evil inherent in this plan.

Roku: I can only say what the fuck was that. He was barely there, and not the serious master to Aang's youthful exuberance.

The Ugly

Show, Don't Tell: The show's single biggest issue seems to be speeding through story parts by simply stating things. Instead of allowing the audience to discover, trusting that we are smart enough to understand, let's just blatantly say things like Zuko is the only reason the 41st division is alive to their faces. Even though in the context of the story Ozai literally already said that.... it's the division, the division for Zuko, Zuko's division.

Thematic Misunderstandings: I think this show makes several minor changes with major implications, such as airbenders actively fighting the firebenders, when airbenders are known for their pacifist nature and the lie of an Airbender fighting force is actively propaganda. Similarly, Aang very quickly accepts his role as the avatar and doesn't even run away in the beginning. Without this conflict between his desire to be a carefree child and the fact that the world needs him - the show loses a key aspect of Aang's character. Also, the obsession with downplaying the avatar state as something dangerous feels like a disservice to the tradition, connection, and strength of the avatar, which can be permanently destroyed as the trade-off for that kind of power. It's dangerous for the balance of the entire world, not just because it's powerful!

The Agni Kai: Zuko's fight against his father is one of the defining moments of Ozai's cruelty, not just because he is willing to fight his child, but because Zuko tried to do everything right. Zuko shows deference to his father, apologizes, and most importantly refuses to fight! The determination not to upset his father and still be grievously injured and banished is a hugely important theme for the fire nation and Zuko's life as a whole. He tries to do everything he is supposed to and only regains his father's acceptance after he "kills" Aang. Zuko's struggle between moral vs. social right and wrong in contrast to his family is hugely important to his character.

-----

TLDR: ATLA was a fantastical animated television show that was never afraid to show character development and flaws. When you turn 20 episodes into 8, you are bound to lose something. You hollowed out the middle, leaving the shell of important moments and events without ever wondering if all the times in between formed the true spirit of the show.

Rating: 6.5/10 It's perfectly fine and worth a watch. Not a disaster, but certainly falls flat of the original.

[sokkastyles]

I just read the post you reblogged by burst-of-iridescent where they mentioned that Zuko definitely thought about Katara while he was back in the Fire Nation in season 3. I completely agree, and I wanted to add to the thoughts in that post by mentioning that Katara also definitely thought about Zuko when she and the Gaang were in the Fire Nation in disguise. She was obviously rightfully angry at him, but I do think she thought about that moment in the cave a lot. The conversation they had. The way they connected with each other. The way she touched his scar and genuinely wanted to help heal it if that's what he wanted. I think this would really bother her too (in a romantic or platonic context, even though I prefer to think of it in a romantic context), and I think she would be really conflicted about why she's thinking of Zuko so much and why their moment in the cave matters so much. I just can't stop thinking about how delicious the angst and tension would be in all of this, and I think it's utterly hilarious that Bryke unintentionally gave this type of dynamic to characters they specifically said they do not ship.

I mean, it's clear from the way Katara talks about Zuko and ridiculously insists that he was "pretending to be a real human being" in the catacombs that she had thought about it since then.

I also love the angst of Katara realizing that she'd used up all the spirit water to heal Aang, the water she didn't use to heal Zuko, and the lingering thoughts over what might have happened if she had healed him. Could she have saved him? Was it too late? Is it too late now?

Everything in the Fire Nation reminds her of him, and try as she might to make him into a monster in her mind, being among his people only humanizes him more.

Man, people in the FN really put this much spice on their food? Does Zuko eat like this, too? That silk dress Katara can't help but love despite the deep red color feeling like a betrayal against her skin? Do all fire nation girls dress like this? Does Zuko like girls who dress like this?

Also, the tea. THE TEA. I love the headcanon that Katara loves tea and was purposefully looking for a tea shop when she ran into Zuko in Ba Sing Se. There are tea shops all over the Fire Nation and every single one of them reminds Katara of Zuko.

[frost-queen]

My mortal flaw // part 10 (Reader x Zuko)

Forever tag: @floatlosers, @harleyquinnswifeyfrfr,  @melsunshine, @venomsvl, @rosecentury,  @imagines-by-her,  @evilcr0ne, @vviolynn, @iixchloee, @cherrysxuya, @zhochikennugget,

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Summary: The blue spirit rises in the night. Searching for a bargain against the avatar. With Zuko suddenly gone, you go after him. Facing the Dai li in the streets. Taken captive, you meet a surprising figure. Helping them to make the right choice against the sky bison. [series]

Zuko slowly lifted his head up. Looking down as he tried to make his movements as minimum as possible. Carefully he lifted his arm up from on top of the body pressed against him. One arm free now, he looked at his other arm that supported your head. Expression twitching a bit between focus and furrowed brows he let his arm move gently back. Hearing you hum soft in your sleep and nudge your head up against his chest made him stop.

Silently cursing at himself for disturbing you. After waiting to make sure you weren’t waking up, he attempted once more. This time gently touching your head. Lifting it up as slow as possible so he could wiggle his arm from underneath you. His arm plopped to freedom. Making him open and close his hands to dismiss of the numbness that had settled in. Fingers tingling to the core. Carefully he laid your head back down. This time on the pillow instead of his arm.

Seeing you move a bit in your sleep to settle for a good position, he held his breath. He plucked some hair between his fingers. Moving it aside to reveal more of your face. Smiling warmly down at you. A part of him wished to hold onto this moment a bit longer, but he needed to do something.

He had not expect you to fall asleep in his arms. The warm embrace by the windows led to both of you snuggling for comfort. By the time the night had fallen, you still wanted that same comfort. Asking if he wished to stay. So he did. Sliding in on the matrass. Arms wrapping around you as you snuggled to a comfortable position in his embrace.

Exhaling soft, he moved himself further away from you. Leaving an emptiness beside you. The warmth he had left behind, settling for a coolness. Kneeling at the bed, he placed the blanket better over your shoulders. – “Forgive me.” – he whispered out. Getting up to his feet. Closing the curtains for you. Turning around to face the dark and empty room. Letting his gaze go briefly to his uncle’s bed.

Knowing he was sleeping peacefully behind his curtains. Zuko quietly went to his bed. Moving the curtains aside. Letting his hands slide under the matrass. Touching a vast item. Pulling it towards him. Zuko glanced once over his shoulder to be sure no one was watching. Once reassured, he fully pulled out the item. His gaze fixed on the blue mask in the palm of his hand.

The blue spirit. He closed his eyes, settling the mask against his face. Tying it up from behind. Opening his eyes once more. Seeing the world from a different perspective. Gaining something more. Taking out the blades, it felt complete. Stepping up to the door, the blue spirit looked one last time at the room. Disappearing into the night. As radiant as the darkness, he barely stood out. Easily making his way down. Hiding easily in dark corners upon the empty streets.

All still vast asleep. Claiming the rooftops as his playground. For a few men roamed the streets. Patrolling. The Dai li’s. Zuko knelt down on a roofing. Seeing two Dai li’s come together in an alleyway. Their voices hushed, barely a whisper. Their hats blocking out their faces from above. Zuko moved lower to try and catch a whisper. Hearing focusing on their words. Eyes suddenly widening at the mention of beast and white fur. – “The avatar’s sky bison?” – Zuko mumbled out in surprise.

He knew the avatar had lost his sky bison. It appears the Dai li had taken him. The two men parted as Zuko had to decide quickly. Who he was going to follow. Which one would lead him to the sky bison. If he found him, he’d have a bargain with the avatar. The sky bison for him. Zuko couldn’t help but smirk a bit at that. Quickly he chose one of the Dai li before they would be out of sight. Following him like a spirit into the night. For it was the only thing to restore his honour.

Breathing deep, you moved restless in your sleep. Expression pinched. Hand searching for a warmth, yet it only touched cold. Missing something, for something or rather someone was supposed to be there. Pulling yourself up by your elbow, you rubbed hazily in your eye. – “Zuko?” – you muttered out.

Giving yourself the time to wake up. – “Zu…” – eyes falling down at the empty spot on the bed. Letting your hand glide over the matrass, you felt the coldness. Hinting to you he had been gone for quite some time. Perhaps he had returned to his own bed. Curiously you moved the curtains open. – “Zuko?” – you whispered out, staring into the darkness. Blinking a few times for your eyes to adjust to the dark. Making out shapes and silhouettes.

Crawling away from the warmth of your bed, you stepped onto the open space. Shuffling towards Zuko’s bed. Kneeling in front of it. – “Zuko?” – you whispered out. Waiting for a response. There came none, yet your curiosity took over. Making you pull the curtains open. Expecting him to be there, but he wasn’t. Bed empty and unslept. Gasping soft, you turned around. Knowing he had gone out. You got up, putting on your shoes.

For a moment you thought about wakening Iroh up. Deciding not to, you left as well. Greeted by the moon high above. You smiled lovingly at it. Guided by the moonlight, you made your way down into the village. Hoping to encounter Zuko and bring him back home. A part of you knew he might be looking for the avatar. Knowing he was in Ba Sing Se as well. Hoping he wouldn’t do anything foolish.

You neared the streets of Ba Sing Se. Peeking around a corner to make sure it was all save. Nothing but quiet. Daring to step into the open. Heading down the path in search for your betrothed.  Looking into every alleyway.  Knowing it was foolish but you had to do something. Arriving at a town square, you could take several options. Each leading to another direction. You neared a street, ready to turn in if you had been startled.

Startled by the sudden cloaked figure walking. Jumping back in a matter of seconds, you hoped it hadn’t seen you. Before you could take another step someone jumped in front of you. Making you yelp loud. A firm rocked hand pressed your shoulder against the wall. – “State your business!” – he made clear. Head slowly lifting to reveal a face from underneath the wide hat. – “I am simply lost.” – you lied, observing the rock around his hand carefully.

The man pulled his lip up, raising his hand. He didn’t believe you. Quickly you slammed your arm down on his elbow, breaking the contact from you. You took a run for it. The man whistled loud before stretching his hand out to you. You cried loud when you saw a rocky hand fly towards you. From a barrel, you scooped up water. Sending a flood to wash down, interrupting the hand’s grip. It went straight through your water, making you jump aside.

The rocky hand crumbled to pieces against a wall. Stopping you spun around. Recollecting the water again. Letting it twirl around before guiding it towards the man. He was already reaching his other hand out to you. Making you act swiftly to knock him off his feet. Hearing more footsteps from behind you, you moved your palm up. The water freezing the man to the ground. Turning rapidly around you were greeted by two other men. Both holding a rocky hand forwards.

Taking out water from another barrel, you let it whip at them. A surprise attack from above made you jump back. Two other men wearing the same wardrobe had come jumping down. Landing right in front of you. They shot their rocky hands at you. 

Gasping loud, you let the water rise. Freezing it to a sturdy wall. The rocks crumbling to pieces at contact.  Two of them leaped away, coming to land somewhere behind you. Before you could fully turn around, you felt something keep your hand in place on your back. With a gasp, you looked over your shoulder at the rock wrapped around your wrist.

With one hand still free, you let a stream of water rise. Flicking your wrist as it whipped at one of them. The man got knocked back with a groan. Another rocky hand came your way, making you sway your leg in an arch to break it. It crumbled to the ground. Panting softly, you kept your hand in position. 

Whipping more water at a guy. Palm up it froze around his hands. His own bindings. Huffing and puffing loud, you put up a fight. More men came joining as it became too much. Another rocky hand strapped your hand to your back. You lost balance, falling forwards. The men coming closer. Surrounding you like vultures. Hands in the ready if you decided to be stupid. 

Two of them picked you up by the arm. – “No…no!” – you let out. – “Let me go!” – protesting with every might against them. But no one was there to help. Taken away through the streets like cattle. Unaware of where they might take you. Through darkness and depts you went to a location unknown. Hidden deep beneath the city. They tossed you in one of the cells with nothing but the darkness as your companion.

You waited for them to leave to get up. To force yourself up to your feet. Not wanting to sit and wait around for who was yet to come. Looking over your shoulder, you still saw the rocky bindings around your wrists. Walking a bit backwards, you neared the wall. Hardening your expression at what you were about to do. Smack. Wrists hitting hard the wall behind you. Taking a few steps forwards again.

Rushing backwards to increase the impact. Smack. Wrists slamming against the hard walls once more. Panting out some breaths, you went again. Feeling the pain in them, yet you refused to give up. Try after try you let rushed backwards, letting your wrists crash into the wall. In the hopes of breaking your bindings off. Again and again. Hit after hit. Pants filling the cell followed by a groan of frustration. Digging deep for that strength of yours to push on.

Hit. Hit. Hit. Hit. Hit. Hit. Hit. A loud gasp. Body stumbling forwards from the sudden release. Hands flinching to the side as the rock crumbled to the ground. Sinking to your knees, you need a moment to catch your breath. Hands on the ground to steady yourself. Gaze slowly marking something. Bruising around your wrist. A small sacrifice to pay.

Pulling yourself back up, you wiped some sweat off your forehead. Looking at the small droplets of water on the back of your hand. Curling up a smile, you let the back of your hand rub against your neck and throat. Catching all your sweat. With one strike the water slashed at your metal door like a sharp knife. Carefully you looked outside your door into the hallway. Seeing nothing. No one around. Picking a side, you took a run for it. Not wanting to stay any longer than needed.

A door slid open, the sound of a deep roaring bellowing in the cel. – “Expecting someone else?” – the blue spirit spoke. The sky bison turned more towards him, shackled to the ground. The blue spirit took out a blade, unsettling the bison. Making it angry. The bison became louder. Stomping his feet and roaring loud. Teeth barring at the blue spirit. – “Your mine now.” – the blue spirit responded, having not moved an inch.

Unfazed by the sky bison’s anger. The stone door opened again, making the blue spirit turn sharply around. Blades in the ready. Eyes widening behind the mask at the sight of you. – “Y/n?” – he let out. You slightly tilted your head, recognizing his voice immediately.  – “So the blue spirit. I wonder who it could be behind that mask.” – you spoke thinking dramatically to exaggerate. Zuko sighed loud, taking the mask off. – “What are you doing here?” – he asked.

“I was just about to ask you the same thing.” – you responded. – “What do you plan to do now that you have the avatar’s bison?” – you asked coming closer to him. – “Shall I make some more room at our temporary home for him?” – you said, crossing your arms. Zuko sighed loud, turning more towards the bison.

“First I need to get it out.” – he responded. – “And then what?” – you called out. – “You never think these things through!” – you finished. – “I’ll figure it out!” – Zuko shouted back. – “No! It’s just like at the water tribe, Kyoshi island!” – you responded loudly. – “Stop it Y/n! I have to do this” – Zuko called out, turning his back at you.

“I am begging you prince Zuko!” – you let out trying to control the emotion in your voice. – “It’s time for you to look inward and begin asking yourself the true questions. Who are you and what do you want.” – you scolded, having enough of him still living up to the expectations of his father. Zuko groaned loud. Blades and mask clattering to the ground afterwards.

The sky bison roared loud as it rose up high. You neared Zuko moving a hand to his shoulder. The first touch he brushed off. You attempted a second time. Your hand remained untouched. Settling on his shoulder. Watching as the sky bison flew off through the gap in the ceiling, high above. – “You did the right thing.” – you spoke, proud that he had chosen to free the bison.

Zuko groaned pained, turning himself around. Arms wrapping around you, settling for your comfort. You slowly lowered your hands on him, embracing him back. – “It is time for you to chose your own path.” – you told him, hands moving soothingly over his back. Zuko pulled away, sniffing loud. A saddened smile on his lips. You rose your hand up to wipe a tear away from his cheek.

Hand suddenly caught by Zuko. – “Who did this?” – he called out, looking at your bruised wrists. – “It’s… it’s nothing Zuko.” – you responded not wanting him to make a fuss over it. – “It’s them isn’t it?” – he filled in, glaring over your shoulder at the stone door.

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Read more of my fics on my Masterlists!

[rifari2037]

Zutara moments in the show :

Zuko : (grabbed Katara's wrist) I'll save you from the pirates! Also Zuko : (Making a gesture like putting a betrothal necklace on Katara)

In crystal catacombs similar to the cave of two lovers with romantic back sound. Zuko : (For the very first time willingly let someone touched his scar) Katara : (Willingly to gave him a spirit oasis water she had saved for something important and touched his face with compassion)

Sokka : What's on your mind? Zuko : Your sister. She hates me and I don't know why, but I do care what she thinks of me. Also Zuko : (Waited Katara all night in front of her tent)

Zuko : (Dramatically sacrifice himself and took Azula's lightning to saved Katara) Noo!!!!! Katara : (Recklessly saved Zuko when Azula could directing lightning to her anytime)

Zuko and Katara : (Reach each other hand and looked each other just like couple used do in TV show)

Characters in the show saw Zutara :

June : What happened? Your girlfriend run out of you? Also June : I see you worked things out with your girlfriend.

Zuko Player : Wait! I thought you were the avatar's girl. Katara Player : Ha ha ha, the avatar? Why, he's like a little brother to me. I certainly don't think him in romantic way. Beside, how can he ever find out about this...

Zuko Arc :

Trying to earn his honor and love from his father, also never showed he wanted to seek a perfect sister.

Antis : That's definitely siblings coded. Katara was sister Zuko always wanted.

Me in the corner : Okay, I will imagine it was Azula in those scenes no matter how cringe it would be as long as you are happy 😭😭

[roriaa]

When Sun and Moon meet - S1

Zuko x Fem!WaterBender!Reader Enemies to Lovers

As one of the Princesses of the Northern Water tribe, you were blessed with a gift by the moon. However you were permitted to be allowed to use the gift at all costs. From many hidden waterbending usages, the aftermath of the avatar visiting the Northern Tribe had led to your beginning journey, hiding yourself as a water bender as a princess from the Northern water tribe

Warnings: None

Masterlist

҉ * ‧͙ ⋆ ⁺ ༓ ☾ Prologue

“We announce the birth of a healthy girl…Princess Y/N!” Chief Arnook announced as the crowd cheered for their new princes alongside Yue. What the crowd didn't know was the difficulties of even keeping her a healthy princess. Once the baby was born, she couldn't stop wailing and crying. It was like every bone of her body was in pain. All the medical help didn't do anything, they didnt know why the Chief’s daughter was in so much pain. Yagoda suggests going to the Spirit Oasis, it's their only chance. Chief Arnook sweats as well as his wife, as if they're bound to be unlucky for every life they give. The royal parents of this princess used the same technique as they did with their previous daughter. Dipping her in the Spirit Oasis while praying for her life to the moon spirit, the color of the girl's hair turned from brown to a graceful white. Silent cheers and cries as they held their newest child close to them, happy the moon spirit gave another one of their daughters a second chance.

“Stop touching the edge of your coat” My mother instructed as she pulled my hand from the cuffs. I whined but one stern look from my mother stopped me. I huffed as I stood up straight leaning more so to my sister, Yue who took my hand graciously. In books and stories becoming a princess sounds like a dream. You have money, attention and you could do whatever you want. Everything is accurate except the last one, I couldn't do everything I wanted. I had to be restrained to the guards and my parents eye, even Yue doesnt get this treatment as much as I do. However I forgot to mention how I even got into strict confinement in the first place. “What are you doing?” My father grabbed my hand making the water orb splash at both of our feet. “She's a water bender…” My mom whispered as my dad's eyes widened. “Y/N…” He spoke softly as he held both of my shoulders in a kindly manner. “Do not water bend, it's not allowed for people like you”. I furrowed my eyebrows as I looked at him confused. He sighed as he took my hand. “Y/N, where we live only men are allowed to use waterbending, that's their job…to protect” My father shows me to the boys training their bending. “Especially people like you and your sister, you're both very important to this nation”. I didn't listen, it's not like I didn't understand what he was saying, I just didnt understand why it had to be like this. I zoned off as I saw the male benders. Envying that they can use their gift while I couldn't use mine. I snapped out of my zoned out space with a little pinch given by my sister. I flinched lightly as she slightly giggled earning a hush from our mother. I don't understand us needing to come to these royalty meetings, neither Yue and I are close to 16. Well she is closer to 16 by what? 6 years? That's still a whole 6 years till 16! I'm only younger than Yue by a year, however people treat me like a polar bear dog, cooing at me constantly for doing the littlest task while Yue gets treated so much more maturely. Some might say I have it easier but honestly I just feel dumb. Once the meeting ended we respectfully bowed and got up following our father. I held back my yawn as I saw the now night sky, looking how beautiful the moon is. ҉ ☾ I woke up in the middle of the night, groaning as I looked at the moon. I brush through my tangled hair with my hand while walking outside near the river. Is anyone there? I internally thought as I scavenged the area to see if there were any witnesses. I double checked and took a deep breath. Opening my eyes I hold the water orb, feeling the calming air around me. “You're going to get caught if you keep doing that”. I yelped and dropped my water orb. I turn around immediately with widened eyes meeting Yue. “Oh Yue” I sigh in relief as she glared at me. “You could've gotten caught by the guards and gotten in more trouble then you already have”. I sigh in understanding but also in annoyance. This isn't the first time I have snuck out to try out waterbending. Some days I have been caught but some days I haven't. “I'm going back to bed” I sigh with my head down “Are you?” “Yes, I am” Yue giggled as she patted me on the back. “I believe you can use it one day Y/N, I really you” She whispered sweetly as I nodded. “Thank you”

Next ->

a/n: This is my first fic im starting and im getting brainrott from avatar :) im still learning how to write so if there is any suggestions please share. Im like half asleep while writing this authors note so I know it wont make any sense when I wake up lmao Also feel free to tell me if you want to be added in the taglist!

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