#Zuko whump

[feral-jackdaw]

Is this anything?

[lnuns]

“You’re afraid of me,” Zuko says.

Sokka hesitates before nodding slightly.

“Yeah,” he says quietly. “Yeah, I am.”

Zuko smiles, lopsided. The flash of teeth and the flash of desire, sharp and nauseating.

“Good,” he says. “You should be.”

Alexa, play Who's Afraid of Little Old Me by TSwift

@sulkybender 's writing is just. Oof. Perfection.

[a-todd-illustration]

Zuko gets hurt while in the care of the Gaang and makes a run for it.

[hyperfocusthusly]

I can’t sleep so here is even more of this angsty little number

[jubilantmedusa]

Hi! I just wanted to say that I really like your fics <3 I re-read your latest Zukka one 3 times. Do you plan to write any more soon? What type of ideas do you have? I hope I don't sound pushy I'm just curious!

Aww, so glad you enjoyed it :)

I doesn't take much to get me to talk about ideas and WIPs so here you go!

I'm not sure how soon any of this will get done, just because life is very busy right now (which is the reason I've been focusing on short stuff - I prefer medium/long, but short is more achivable right now; and it is a fun challenge to stick to a word limit).

Actively working on:

Zukka HC Sketch + Fic: I have two other Zukka H/C-ish sketches that I need to write stories for. They should be a little less angsty then the last one, in theory, but still have some H/C element. Waiting for inspiration to strike. (1 - 1.5k each goal). I might do more of these, or I might switch to a non-H/C sketch/fic focus. Or I might stop when those two are done. IDK. Whatever's fun.

Iroh and Zuko Post "The Desert" Whump AU: Zuko and Iroh’s escape from "The Desert" is intercepted by an enemy who quickly surmises that the most effective way to torture Iroh is to torture Zuko. With Iroh literally losing his mind, can Zuko (who is not doing well) save his uncle and himself? (currently at 4k; estimated 12 - 16k)

If I can finish the above by the end of the year I'll be pleased.

Ideas that I really want to do and have at least done *some* pre-writing for:

Iroh's Second Spirit World Journey: An Iroh centric story that diverges after "The Earth King." When Zuko never wakes up from his angst coma, Iroh goes literally beyond the ends of the earth to try to save him (aka - Iroh's second spirit world journey). Could have a sequal (or even be a trilogy, potentially), but not required. I really want to write this but I'm not sure if it would have an audience. Estimate: long, over 25k

Escaping the Desert: Another "The Desert" divergence story - Zuko and Iroh are captured by the Rough Rhinoes. Unfortunately, so is Toph. Zuko will do anything to save his uncle, but what about the strange blind girl who was with the avatar? Estimate 15 - 25k. The problem with this one is it would more or less require a trilogy... but if I can keep all the stories to around 10-15k that may be achievable.

Zukka Iron Lung: There is a plague that only effect firebenders. This spurs the invention of the iron lung -- Sokka is one of the lead engineers. When Sokka goes to the Fire Nation to Save the Day, he catches feelings for the Fire Lord. Unfortunately, Zuko then catches the plague. Length TBD.

Zukka Post Series romance: Zuko was injured/disabled before the finale and never took the throne. Sokka hasn't spoke to him since. He has, however, developed PTSD. With his life seemingly falling apart. Sokka decides to run away and go to university at Ba Sing Se. He stops for tea at the Jasmine Dragon, which is now run by, you guessed it, Zuko. Angst and romance ensures. Bonus airbender field trip. Length TBD.

Ice Demon / Waterbender Hospital - This is something I'm not sure anyone would be interested in except me, but I do like medical whump. I've done some light worldbuilding for a waterbender hospital, and have a vague idea of sending Zuko there when he's attacked by an Ice spirit. For some reason. Maybe involving Aang and his quest to master the avatar state? or maybe not, because that would be a lot of story. Lots of more to develop here. Could be gen or Zukka. Season 3 somewhere. Length TBD.

Fire Demon story - I would love to write a longer form season one AU that shamlessly steals the premise of the excellent short fic Fire Walk by Sholio and makes it into a multi-chapter Zuko joins the gang early story. Length TBD.

Ancedotes: This is an idea for a series of short form slice of life/characters backstory fics (3 - 8k, lets say). So far they'd include - "Old Man " a story that answers the question 'how did Sokka learn about physics?' - coming of age/loss of innocence; "Losing at Pai Sho" a story about teen Iroh learning to not be arrogant; and "First Kiss" - the only idea I've ever had for an Azula story, featuring Ty Lee's first kiss and Azula's first... something else. I have an idea for Toph and Zuko, but not committed to them. Katara story has not come to me. I also wanted to pair these with exercises from The 3 A.M. Epiphany because idk the whim struck and the idea is in my head.

Aside form that, I'd like to write a few whumpy Zuko short stories (3 - 10k) that focus on the gaang relationships I haven't written about as much - friendship fics featuring Katara & Zuko, Aang & Zuko, or Toph & Zuko.

If I am ever to become independently wealthy, I'll write my season 3 AU.

And if I ever feel very, very silly - but still slightly angsty - I'll have Iroh commission a symphony in C.

Thank you so much for the question! I am flattered. It was very nice.

If there's an idea you (or anyone who stumbles across this) especially likes, let me know!

[galaxythreads]

Summary:

"Azula’s answering grin is bitter and horrible and broken as she leans in close to Aang’s face and says, ‘Listen Avatar, I can either join your group, or I’ll do something unspeakably horrible to your friends. Your choice.’”

OR: After Zhao’s failed siege, Zuko and Iroh are captured. A few weeks later, Ozai receives a ransom from the Northern Water Tribe signed in Zuko’s blood. Unfortunately for the Firelord, Zuko’s safety is all Azula cares about.

OR: Unfortunately for Sokka, that means the Gaang has not one, but two unstable, broken fire siblings to deal with. Y’know. Once they break Zuko out of prison. Because this is not a situation that calls for torture (probably. HE'S still on the fence about it, screw Aang and Katara and their stupid morals and how much he agrees with them)

Spoilers without context:

[claracivry]

Tags: Hurt Zuko (Avatar), Whump, Drowning, POV Katara (Avatar), Stubborn Katara (Avatar), she don't like Zuko, it gets a bit out of hand, zuko and aang are friends, Katara and Zuko are not, yet - Freeform, they take steps, After, Near Death Experiences Summary:

Ye olde what would happen if Katara followed through with her "if you hurt Aang again I will end you" fic

Katara thinks Zuko has burned Aang. She isn't in a great head space. Zuko ends up drowned.

Some Zuko whump, some Zutara feels

[evilwriter37]

I started a fic while in the ER. (Still there at the moment.) I plan on formatting it to my liking when I get on my laptop, but this is what I have so far.

[iriswords]

Febuwhump Day 16 - Semi-conscious

You can also read this on ao3 and find the rest of my febuwhump fics here

tw: blood and injuries

Fandom: Avatar the last airbender

Words: 1613

As they escape the Boiling Rock prison, Zuko gets injured during his fight against Azula. He decides that not telling anyone about it is the right way to act, and is quickly proven wrong.

--

As always, things go relatively well until Azula shows up. 

“Wait. Who’s that?” asks Hakoda, and Zuko’s heart freezes in his chest when he sees who the man is talking about. Of course she would come. Coincidence or not, Azula has always been good at finding herself precisely at the right place to make things difficult for Zuko. But this time, he won’t let her win. 

“That’s a problem,” he answers. “It’s my sister and her friend.” 

Azula and Ty Lee are as graceful and efficient as ever as they make their way onto the thick metal cables and toward the gondola. Zuko watches them with resigned determination, his blood pulsing forcefully in his temple. 

“This is a rematch I’ve been waiting for,” says Suki, and Zuko can only sympathize with her. 

“Me too,” he replies and thinks of all the times in the past when Azula beat him up just to be cruel. Of all the times she lied and tricked him. Of all the times she cackled while their father punished Zuko. And then, inevitably, he thinks of all the times she had no choice. Of all the cracks in her mask. Of the girl beneath the armor. As cruel and vicious as she is, as cruel and vicious as she has been made, this girl is still his sister. He will not harm her but he knows the opposite is not true. Azula will be aiming to kill, today. He wonders if she would let herself mourn his death, or if she would bury it like she does all her emotions. 

Suki and Zuko haul themselves up on the gondola’s roof, soon joined by Sokka. For an instant, Zuko wants to yell at the two others that this is not their fight, that it is too dangerous for them. But it is as much their fight as it is his, and he is not so delusional as to think he can beat both Azula and Ty Lee on his own. 

Azula lands on the gondola’s roof, and Zuko braces himself for confrontation. A strange calm washes over him. Whatever happens now is up to himself and his skills. To who he is and who he chooses to be. The dragon’s dance flashes before his eyes. 

The fight starts well enough. He and Sokka make a fine pair, understanding each other without a word, and watching for the other’s weaknesses. Azula is strong enough for it to be a match, but they have not lost yet. Zuko’s fire is certain and steady, a worthy opponent to Azula’s. 

It lasts until Azula takes out blades, short and sharp. The surprise makes Zuko pause. His sister has only ever used her fire to fight, an adept of the bending superiority their father swears by. The blades throw the fight off balance. Azula is wickedly good with them, as she is in everything she does, and Zuko has no blades of his own to counter them with. He can only dodge and deflect with his fire. Sokka’s blade is also a hindrance, too long for Azula’s daggers. 

Zuko tries to keep his sister at bay for as long as he can, playing with his fire and forcing her to respond with hers instead of with the blades. But the warden’s scream to cut the line draws his focus elsewhere. He does not notice the way Azula lunges, her daggers drawn out and ready to strike. 

The silvery blade tears through flesh as easily as if it were butter. Zuko doesn’t make a sound as piercing pain reverberates through him. Blood wells up as soon as Azula takes the blade away, her movement quick. The dagger shines with fresh blood. At the same moment, the gondola skids to an abrupt stop, throwing Zuko off balance. He rights himself at the last moment, pain shooting from his wound, but Sokka is not so lucky and slides off the gondola toward the boiling lake. 

It is only Zuko’s quick reflexes, honed by years of relentless practice and the moment’s adrenaline, that allow him to catch the other boy’s hand before he falls off. 

“She stabbed you,” says Sokka as Zuko hauls him back up on the gondola’s roof.

“It’s only a graze,” lies Zuko, even as his side throbs viciously. He is suddenly immensely glad for the intense red of the tunic that masks the fresh blood soaking it.

He isn’t certain how long it will last, but for now, it masks his injury efficiently enough. 

“They’re about to cut the line!” screams Ty Lee, and Zuko’s heart and hopes plummet. 

“Then it’s time to leave,” replies Azula, and propels herself off the gondola’s roof. “Goodbye Zuko.” 

Zuko watches, slightly stunned and refraining from holding his injured side, as she and Ty Lee get away on another gondola. His brain is working solely on adrenaline at the moment, and even that is seeping away, and he doesn’t have the slightest idea how to save their group. 

He doesn’t have to think of anything, in the end, because Mai takes care of everything.

 Zuko manages to pretend everything is fine until the air balloon departs from the island. Chit Sang offers to take the first shift alimenting the balloon, and Zuko lets him. He doesn’t have the courage to admit he will not be able to take a single shift, not with how quickly his condition is deteriorating. The solid, metal ground seems to shift under his feet, the world tilting around him. Pain scorches his nerves, pulsing and vicious. He dearly hopes Azula’s blades were not poisoned. 

He means to slink away to try and patch himself up in peace, but Sokka notices him as he leaves the room and calls for him. 

“Are you okay?” he asks, his bright, blue eyes shining with worry. A few steps behind, Hakoda watches the two of them interact with a careful, neutral expression.

Zuko forces himself to tear his gaze away from the man. He cannot think about fathers right now. 

“I’m fine,” he answers. His voice cracks on those two small words, and Zuko is acutely aware of how false his answer sounds. 

“Are you sure? Because even if it’s a graze, you should probably take care of it.” 

“I will, and I’m fine,” says Zuko more ardently. His head swims from blood loss. He just wants to be alone so he can pass out and die in peace. 

“Boy,” says Hakoda, taking a step forward. Zuko flinches back instinctively and trips on his feet. He falls onto his back, the impact making his wound explode in pain. He cannot bite back the strangled cry as it leaves him, or give a coherent answer when Sokka kneels next to him and asks him what is wrong; he is too busy panting through the pain. 

He does not fight when Sokka lifts his tunic to reveal his wound, and barely pays attention to the subsequent gasp or the curse coming from a deeper voice. 

“You told me it was just a graze,” says Sokka, his voice slightly hysterical. “This is not just a graze!”

“I lied.”

“Really? I hadn’t guessed.” 

Zuko turns his face away. The coolness of the metal against his cheek soothes some of the fire going through him. He doesn’t want to face Sokka’s reproaches. He’s too tired for that. 

 Hakoda watches, helpless, as his son lays his friend’s head on his lap after they move him somewhere more comfortable. He helps Sokka take off the prince’s tunic and bandage his wound, then takes a step back and simply watches. Sokka talks to his friend, chatters about everything he can think of. His voice holds a desperate edge to it that Hakoda wishes he never had to hear. 

“Just hold on, Zuko,” says Sokka. “Just a couple more hours and Katara will heal you.” 

Zuko hums, but Hakoda can tell he is halfway to unconsciousness. He does not know what to do, does not know what to make of the boy who so readily puts himself in harm’s way, who said nothing about his wound. Who flinched away from Hakoda, his face stricken with terror. 

When blood seeps through the bandages, Hakoda redoes them and keeps his hands firmly held against the wound, pressing down on it despite Zuko’s fear-tinged protests. Sokka calms the boy down when he panics because of Hakoda’s closeness, and Hakoda does not know what to make of this boy who is becoming a man. This boy he did not see grow up. Pride does not overcome his deep sorrow for those children who had to grow up far too fast, whose childhood and innocence were stolen by the war. 

Miraculously, Zuko stays awake the whole flight to the air temple. Well, awake is a big word for his semi-conscious state, but he does not give in to unconsciousness. Hakoda does not know what to make of this boy who is so stubborn he can keep even death at bay. 

Katara sets into motion as soon as Hakoda steps out of the balloon holding Zuko’s bloodied body. He puts the boy down on the ground, and after a quick hug to her father, Katara starts the healing process. Before long, Zuko is out of danger. An hour later, he is fully healed, if exhausted. 

That evening around the fire, Hakoda watches happily as all these children talk over each other, telling (and embellishing) the story of the Boiling Rock or asking questions. He watches as Zuko slowly slides into slumber and eventually slumps on Sokka’s shoulder, who barely bats an eye at the other boy but tones down his grand gestures anyway. 

@febuwhump

[sokkastyles]

King Rat, M, chapter 2/5

Katara stared at the basin with its bloody rag. Zuko had been wrong.

She was not a good person.

[longing-for-rain]

Hurt Zuko, my beloved ❤️‍🩹

He was doing something heroic, probably

[feral-jackdaw]

Into the Light

(late) day 7 of Zukkaweek @zukkaweek - touch starved

‼️tw captivity, malnourishment

--

“Appa!” Aang calls out, rushing to hug his friend. Katara and Toph soon join him.

After so many days of searching, they finally found their bison friend. Of course, Sokka is just as happy and relieved as everyone else, but something just doesn’t feel right. He looks around the room, the dark underground cell, and his eyes land upon something that looks like a curled up figure in the corner.

“Guys,” he says.

After everyone’s eyes turn to him, he just points to the end of the room.

Katara lets go of Appa and comes closer; the others follow.

“Who’s that?” she asks.

“I don’t know,” Sokka replies. “But it looks like Appa wasn’t the only prisoner here.”

“What should we do?” Katara asks.

“We can’t just leave them here,” Aang chimes in.

Sokka knows that he’s right. No matter who the other prisoner is, they most likely do not deserve to be left in this horrible place.

“You guys stay back,” he commands. “I’ll try to talk to them.”

He slowly approaches the corner, trying not to startle the person.

“Hey there,” he says softly as he approaches them.

The figure turns around and looks up at him. Even in the dim light, Sokka can clearly see a very prominent feature of theirs - a familiar looking scar on one side of their face. Zuko.

For a moment, their eyes meet. Sokka takes a few steps back, shocked and confused. Zuko buries his face in his hands, as if he was trying to hide.

“No, no, it’s okay” Sokka soothes as realization hits him. The person in front of him may be Zuko, but it’s not the Zuko he knows anymore, not after everything he’s been through. When Sokka looks at him, all he sees is a scared, traumatized person that needs to be saved.

“It’s okay, I won’t hurt you,” he assures.

Zuko reluctantly looks up at him again. He doesn’t even look like himself anymore; he’s pale, skinny, his weird ponytail is replaced with short, messy hair. Sokka can’t help but wonder, how long was he in there? Is that why they haven’t seen him around since the North?

“We’re gonna get you out of here, okay?” he says. Then he turns to his friends. “Toph, can you help with the chains?” he asks.

Zuko looks anxiously at the earthbender as she approaches him, but he allows her to work on the chains. Soon, they get broken and slip on the floor with a quiet clang.

Zuko looks up at Toph; he doesn’t say anything, but it’s pretty obvious what he is thinking. Sokka decides that now it's not the time for explanations; first, they need to get out of here.

“Can you get up?” he asks Zuko, offering him his hand. Zuko grabs it and tries to stand up, supporting himself against the wall with his other hand. But as soon as he is standing upright, he nearly collapses; Sokka manages to catch him and helps him sit back down.

“Okay, that’s fine,” he reassures. “I’ll help you. Just grab my neck and hold on,” he instructs. He wraps ne of his arms around Zuko’s back and slips his spare hand under the boy’s legs.

With Zuko clinging on to him, he slowly gets up; it breaks his heart a little when he realizes how little effort it takes to carry him.

“Alright guys, let’s get out of here,” he commands.

--

The outside world is bright, too bright. Zuko keeps his eyes closed most of the time; he can’t handle the light after spending so much time in darkness. At least it’s a bit warmer in here, though Zuko feels like he was in the cold for so long that it stuck to his skin, becoming a permanent part of him.

The escape was successful, and now he’s sitting on the back of a sky bison, surrounded by the Avatar and his friends, with no idea where they’re going or what is going to happen to him. He keeps clinging onto that Water Tribe boy. It feels like if he lets go, he will be back in the underground prison and the whole escape thing will turn out to be just a dream. But now, with the boy’s arms wrapped around him, it feels so real, he feels real for the first time in so, so long.

“It’s all over now,” the boy reassures. “You’re safe with us.”

Listening to his soothing voice, Zuko slowly drifts off to sleep.

The first thing he realizes when he wakes up is that they’re no longer up in the air; he can feel steady ground benath him. He can also feel the light weight of something soft draped over him. Someone must have given him a blanket.

“I don’t know, Sokka,” a female voice echoes in the distance. “He doesn’t have any serious injuries, but he’s malnourished, dehydrated and generally exhausted. He’ll live, but he’ll need really good care to make a full recovery.”

“So what should we do?” a familiar voice asks; the Water Tribe boy. “Can he stay with us?”

So his name is Sokka, Zuko realizes.

“I don’t see why not,” the girl replies. “But we need to be careful. We shouldn’t give him too much food at first. We need to have someone watch him all the time. And one more thing I’m worried about... we don’t really know what he’s been through and what effects it had on him. I mean, on his mind,” she enumerates. “The good thing is, he already seems to trust you.”

“Look, I’ll do whatever it takes to make him better,” Sokka replies.

Zuko tries to open his eyes and realizes, to his relief, that it’s gotten a bit darker outside. He starts looking around, until his eyes meet Sokka’s.

“Hey,” the boy says, smiling softly at him. “Did you sleep well?” he asks.

Zuko nods in response.

“Good,” Sokka replies. “Is there anything you need? Food, water, more blankets..?”

Zuko reaches out, gesturing at the boy to let him hug him. And Sokka does; he scoops Zuko, still wrapped in his blanket, up right into his arms.

“Can I just give you some water?” the girl asks. Zuko turns to look at her; it's the Water Tribe girl, the one that kicked his ass back in the North Pole.

He nods in response.

The girl starts to bend some water into small droplets, making it easy for him to drink. His throat is so dry that it hurts to swallow, but at the same time he is so, so thirsty; he just drinks and drinks until he can’t no more.

“You did great,” Sokka praises, rubbing his back reassuringly.

“Let us know when you’re ready to eat something,” the girl says.

Zuko nods in response. Then he closes his eyes and cuddles up closer to Sokka. He still feels too weak to move, his body is still hurting from being chained up, he still feels like he is going to wake up back in his prison cell... and yet, right now, for a moment, everything is okay.

[kabie-whump]

i just remembered i had this atla wip fic that was about zuko getting sick and it flashes between the gaang taking care of him and his uncle taking care of him after he got his burn maybe i’ll work on that someday

God, I love sickfics that cut between a Whumpee’s current illness, and illnesses they’ve had in the past. Before, being sick was traumatic and lonely. Maybe they were neglected or even ostracized for their illness. In the present day, they don’t know how to handle being loved.

[whumpypepsigal]

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024) s01e04 “Everything I need is on this boat.”

[hyperfocusthusly]

Did anyone else wake up at 4am, frantically write out 1,000 words of plot outline for a Zukka themed Zuko whump or are you normal

[gascreates]

seeby s1 dino gaang :)