#and he thinks zuko will be good by the end (obviously i neither confirm nor deny that for him lmao)

[thinkingisadangerouspastime]

anyways have i told y'all that im making my dad watch atla?

[jaxsteamblog]

Spirits

Click here to read the entire fic on AO3

The closer her wedding day got, everything got harder and harder. The nobility in Caldera weren’t happy, but kept to themselves because the Earth Empire also didn’t want the marriage to happen. And Arnook ramped up his sullenness to the point that they no longer took their weekly meal together.

For all of that talk about destiny, it seemed to Katara like the whole world was against her marriage to Zuko.

With a headache building, Katara headed to the oasis. True to her word, she had started visiting Yue more often, finding the trips less uncomfortable. The conversations were a lot better too.

Katara took her place next to the pond and focused her breathing on Tui and La. As Tui rose in her vision, she inhaled. When La rose, she exhaled. After a time, she closed her eyes.

Projecting her spirit felt similar to the falling sensation she’d get when laying in bed. She moved forward without moving, and when Katara opened her eyes, she was at the edge of the pond. Standing, she looked back at her body. That was always disconcerting.

Facing the pond again, Katara dove between the spirits. Without having to breathe, Katara swam down for longer than her physical lungs could manage. At some point, the swim down flipped to a swim up and Katara broke the surface of another pond.

It was a full moon, and usually Yue was waiting for her here.

But no Yue.

Pulling herself up, Katara looked around. The landscape of the spirit world fascinated her and some of the fauna approached her in curiosity. Being connected to La, Katara radiated with a dark light that was only possible in this realm. Some spirits kept their distance, whispering the phrase “vattu,” but neither Yue nor Thuy could tell her what that meant.

Regardless, she wasn’t threatened, wearing the scales of La, so Katara started to walk about. A breeze she couldn’t feel ruffled the long purple grass, making the sloping hills around her undulate.

In the distance, Katara saw the tiny figures of bipeds and she squinted. Iroh and Rohan explained to her that Airbenders were able to access the Spirit World easily, and a handful of others that could master their spiritual balance. Katara had yet to run into other humans in all of her visits, but Yue assured her that there were plenty around.

“Looking for me?” Yue asked, directly behind Katara. She laughed as Katara jumped, whirling around.

“I was beginning to think I was being stood up.” Katara remarked, making Yue smile.

“I had something take longer than I thought.” She said and Katara narrowed her eyes.

“So what were you looking at?” Yue asked, floating past her.

“Are those humans?” Katara asked, turning back and pointing to a far hill. The figures were gone.

“Hmm, always possible.” Yue said, rolling in the air like a seal. Becoming a fully-fledged spirit had relaxed her apparently. She was like this a lot of the time; ethereal and fluid.

“You now, I never asked, but what does being the moon spirit entail?” Katara questioned, continuing her aimless walk.

“Does it need to be something?” Yue questioned. “Is there something about being the ocean spirit?”

Katara scoffed, casting Yue an incredulous look.

“Of course. Blood, boats, and babies.” She retorted and Yue rolled her eyes.

“You’re really fond of your quips.”

“I’m serious. You know our people, we live and die by the ocean. Salt water runs in humanity’s veins, and amniotic fluid is salty. But boats sink, humans drown, and sea water is poisonous. Life and death exists in the ocean.” Katara explained, gesturing with her hands as she spoke.

“So what is the moonlight?” Yue pondered, tapping her lips with one slim finger.

“Yearning.” Katara murmured and Yue paused. Her hair and robes continued on for a moment, flowing in the watery air.

“Oh?”

Katara laughed and looked around.

“I don’t think I could ever get tired of being here.” She said instead.

Yue nodded and rolled over, flipping to look in the same direction.

“We just have to be careful. Time passes differently here, and we want you to have a body to return to.” She said.

“That’s alarming.” Katara laughed.

“Do you want to try to find the humans?” Yue inquired.

“What if they’re not humans?”

“We’ll be fine.”

They traveled on, moving in what they both assumed was an arc to keep close to the pond. While the thought of skipping the next few days was appealing, Katara didn’t want to go back to a grave.

“So what’s bothering you?” Yue asked and Katara sighed.

“There’s just so much. After the last lunar eclipse, I just don’t really have the energy to deal with it anymore.” She replied.

“Those are always scary for me. I can’t feel you or anything, and I don’t like being so helpless.” Yue said.

“At least you don’t have a physical body. I think that’s how I’m going to die.” Katara muttered.

“Oh, no, that was the same for me when I was alive. I had to stay in the oasis during an eclipse because I almost died each time.” Yue corrected and Katara winced.

“Sorry.”

“I forgive you.” Yue flashed her a grin and swam forward again. “So how’s Zuko?”

“He’s…” Katara drifted and looked away.

“What’s the matter?”

“How did it feel when you knew that no matter what, you weren’t going to be able to marry Sokka?”

When Yue stayed quiet, Katara looked back at her. Still floating in the air, Yue was looking off in the distance.

“I’m guessing you mean before I died.” She said.

“Yeah.”

Yue sighed and rocked backward, reclining in the air.

“There just wasn’t another option for me. There was a war going on, and my father needed the support.” She answered.

“I know you said that I should marry Zuko and become Fire Lady, but I don’t know if that’s what our tribe needs.” Katara said. “I love him so much, but every world leader is standing in our way.”

“Every single one?” Yue questioned.

Katara frowned and waved her away.

“Near about.” She muttered.

“There’s the two of you, and I think that should be enough.” Yue stated primly.

“On what authority?” Katara pushed Yue’s floating body and watched her lazily rotate.

“On my own authority, as the spirit of yearning.” She needled and Katara groaned.

“I just want to know everything is going to work out.” She said and Yue lowered herself, putting her feet on the ground. With her hair and robes, it still looked like she was made of silk, being pulled through the water.

“Katara,” Yue said and took her hands. “What does that even mean?”

Her flippant question, coming from a serene and godly face, made Katara laugh.

“No seriously.” Yue continued, sounding on the edge of laughter herself. “Things can work out, but how you feel about it depends on so many things. I mean, look at me.”

“You? Look at me!” Katara countered. “I’m some kind of Avatar knock off with this miserable little connection.”

“What are you worried about?” Yue pressed.

Lowering her head, Katara sighed again. She ran her thumbs over the backs of Yue’s hands, desperate to feel something.

“I just don’t want my desires to overcome me again. I want to know that I’m not going to hurt anyone and that this choice, this marriage, it’s not going to ruin anything.” Katara explained.

“Is that what you think happened?” Yue asked.

Katara shook her head.

“If it was fate, it’s not my fault, right? It was supposed to happen. But that’s so dumb.” Katara looked back up at Yue. “I chose that for all the wrong reasons. I want some confirmation that I’m choosing this for the right ones.”

“Well, we both know you’re not going to listen to me.” Yue said and swung their hands back and forth.

“What do you mean?” Katara asked, affronted.

“I’ve already told you my answer and you’ve obviously ignored it if you’re still being a baby about this.” Yue answered and released her hands.

“Hey!” Katara chased after her as Yue floated back into the sky.

“Wait, do you feel that?” Yue asked, pausing and rotating around.

“Yeah…” Katara murmured, also looking around. The air was warm, which was impossible since she didn’t have a physical body.

“The veil is thinner here. I wonder…” Yue drifted, in thought and body, and Katara watched her.

“It’s the solstice!” Yue chirped.

“What?” Katara exclaimed but Yue patted her hands in the air.

“Calm down. I told you time is different here. You’re still fine, I can see you at the pond.” She said.

“Well which solstice?” Katara demanded.

Yue regarded the empty space, rolling over to examine the patch of nothing from other angles.

“Definitely summer, and in the northern hemisphere. But I can’t tell if it’s a past one or future one.” She said.

“The past?” Katara stepped closer to the spot Yue regarded, trying to see what Yue did.

“Sure, why do you think so many humans are desperate to get here? The potential to see the future is too tempting to pass up.” Yue said and straightened. “It’s a good thing the monks and some very confused Waterbenders are the ones who usually manage to find their way.”

“Is someone trying to come through?” Katara asked, taking a step back.

“Maybe. Spots like this open up all the time and no one notices them.” Yue shrugged. “I mean, a lot of them are miles in the air or deep underwater, but eh.”

“I think we should head back.” Katara said.

The empty patch started to shimmer and she took a few more steps back.

A figure walked through the patch, making Yue yelp. He was tall and his long hair was clipped back. His topknot and pointed beard made Katara’s absent heart stop.

It took her a moment to realize that this man had a different face than Roku, and she recognized it just as the man recognized her.

“Katara?” Zuko asked.

He was forty years older than she had last seen him.

“Zuko.” Katara whispered as Zuko looked over his shoulder. He looked back at her, confused.

It made her laugh.

“What are you doing here? Why aren’t you in-” He started but Katara shushed him, waving her hands in the air.

“Ssh! I’m not there yet!” She said sharply. “I’m still, I mean, we haven’t… Spirits, we do end up getting married, right?”

Zuko stared at her before doubling over, laughing.

“Married? You look so young.” He wheezed.

“I’m twenty-five!” Katara balked.

“Hello Zuko, it’s been awhile.” Yue interrupted and Zuko stood, his chest still jumping as he contained his mirth.

“Yue, I know you’ve been busy.” He said.

“So you know!” Katara accused.

Yue gave another of her fairylike shrugs.

“I know sometimes. This hadn’t happened yet, so I didn’t know. But also, I’ve met you both over and over through the years. I can only tell you things linearly since that’s how your minds work.” She explained. “Once you ascend, you’ll understand.”

“Asce-” Katara squeezed her eyes shut and pinched the bridge of her nose. “No. Nevermind. That’s a tomorrow conversation.”

“Katara, I’m surprised to see you. But it’s...wow.” Zuko said and approached. Katara lowered her hand and found him right in front of her.

If she had a pulse, it would have thundered up her neck to make her blush to her hairline.

Spirits above and below he was still handsome.

“I always said you are as beautiful as the day I met you.” He said, taking her face in his hands.

Katara would have ripped the spirit world apart to have her body here.

“I probably look like my grandmother.” She mumbled.

The corner of his mouth hitched.

“Do you want me to tell you?” He asked.

Katara sputtered and he laughed.

“Blazes, I know you’re my wife but I feel like a lecherous old man.” Zuko said and lowered his hands.

“So we get married?” She asked meekly.

“We do. And so far, you’ve stayed married to me.” He replied.

“I want to ask about so many things, but that feels like it’s cheating.”

“It does take the fun out of things.”

“But can you tell me if everything ends up okay? I mean, you’re here, we’re still married, so everything works out, right?” Katara questioned.

Zuko stroked his beard, looking so much more like his uncle with that simple gesture.

“There’s a lot that happens in the forty-some years. A lot I’d love to change or avoid.” He mused. He shook his head and crossed his arms loosely at his chest.

“We’re all safe and happy. Everyone that you know and love is fine.” Zuko said.

“And us? We’re still, how we are now?” Katara questioned. Her tone caught him off guard and he looked surprised.

“Katara, if anything, you and I get better.” He said.

The empty patch behind him shimmered again and Yue clapped her hands.

“Well, time to go!” She said.

“But I want to see!” Katara pleaded as Yue grabbed her arm.

“Say goodbye to your husband.” She said and Katara pulled against her.

“Wait!” She said, but Yue pulled her up, launching them both miles into the sky.

As Yue dragged her back to the pond, Katara tried to keep the image of the woman who started through the portal. Her hair was long and curly, tied back in loops. She was so young.

~

“Who was that?” Riza asked.

Zuko patted her back and they started forward.

“Your mother.” He said.

“What?” Riza shrieked and Zuko chuckled, stroking her hair.

“She hasn’t gotten to that part yet, and you were absolutely meant to be a surprise.” He said.

“Da-ad!” Riza whined, pulling on his arm.

“You’re just trying to get out of finding Bumju. You lost him and it’s your responsibility to find him.” Zuko said.

“UGH.”

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[dancingkirby]

New ficlet!

Featuring: Happy Preggers Azula!  Ty Lee and Azula still being lowkey gay for each other!  And Tom-Tom being okay with that!

Today had been the day of Azula’s 36-week checkup.  These appointments tended to wreak havoc on the nerves of both her and Tom-Tom.  They’d been so excited about the first pregnancy…so soon after their marriage! Then came the day where Azula hadn’t been feeling well and sent Tom-Tom onto dinner without her, only for her husband to discover her unconscious on the bathroom floor in a pool of her own blood upon his return.  Although they didn’t talk about it much, it was clear that the incident had shaken him.

Oh well.  That was then, and this was now.  This time, both mother and baby had gotten a clean bill of health.  Azula and Tom-Tom had decided to celebrate the good news by spending some time out in the gardens.  They found an empty bench next to a jasmine bush and sat, Azula leaning into Tom-Tom in a partial reclining position.  It was a perfect spring day; the warm sunshine, combined with the scent of the flowers and the exactly right amount of breeze blowing through her hair and light maternity hanfu, started to make Azula drowsy.  She thought that she’d even nodded off for a bit, although neither Tom-Tom nor the sun had moved much when she opened her eyes again.  

The baby’s movements had been what had woken her up, she quickly ascertained.  She grabbed her husband’s hand and placed it on her belly.

“Feel that?” she murmured as she smiled up at him.  Wordlessly, he bent down and kissed her.

“Oh!  Um…I’m sorry!  Is this a bad time?”

They both shot their heads up to see Ty Lee, who was holding a bunch of flowers picked from the garden and sported a rather sheepish expression.

“Not at all,” Azula replied.  “Do you agree, Tom-Tom?”  When he did, Azula scooted over to make room for Ty Lee with quite a deal of effort.  

“We didn’t know you were at the palace today,” Tom-Tom remarked.  He knew, of course, of his wife’s past relationship with Ty Lee, and would have surmised by now that they still weren’t entirely without feelings for each other.  However, he seemed secure in the knowledge that Azula would never hurt him by acting on any of that, and appeared content with things the way they were.  

“I wasn’t, originally. But then Zuko said that today was your appointment, and I wanted to make sure everything went well.”

“It did,” Azula confirmed.  “Baby’s heartbeat is strong, head is down, and the healer thinks that it’s already close to full-term weight.”

Ty Lee beamed as she said, “That’s wonderful!  Isn’t it getting exciting, now that it’s so close to the end?”  She plucked a few flowers from the jasmine bush, and started to weave them together with the ones she had already collected.  

“Don’t let Ur–my mother see you doing that,” Azula warned.  Voice pitched up into a falsetto, she attempted an imitation of Ursa’s voice as she said, “Don’t hurt the flowers!  They’re screaming in pain!”

Ty Lee giggled. “She really said that?”

“Well, I may have been paraphrasing a bit,” Azula allowed.  For the next few minutes, there was a lull in the conversation, and Azula watched Ty Lee’s deft fingers at work with the flowers. ��(After all, she’d had plenty of experience with what else those fingers could do.)  Looking down, she noted that her own hand had drifted downward to rest on top of Tom-Tom’s, seemingly of its own volition, and had a mischievous thought.  

“Remember back when we were kids and Naoko was pregnant with Eri?” she asked Ty Lee.  “She had at least one hand on her belly at all times whenever there was an official court event; like anyone could forget.  We used to run back to my room after and mock her mercilessly.”

Ty Lee laughed again as she admitted, “We did do that, didn’t we?  I’d forgotten about that.  Wasn’t that other girl she was always fighting with?”

“Yes. Shiza.  She was pregnant around the same time.  Their rivalry…well, they obviously thought it was one for the ages, but actually it was just a couple of teenagers screaming at each other on a near-daily basis over a man twenty years older than them.  Hardly epic.”

“And wasn’t there one who just wanted to be a chef?”

Azula grinned wickedly.  “Yes. Mizuki. Mother of the twins. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with either of those idiots.  She’s still working at the palace, and I think she made it all the way up to head pastry chef.”

Tom-Tom ran his fingers through his permanently messy hair, having taken in this dialogue with a rather perplexed expression on his face.  

“Just so we’re all on the same page…those were your father’s concubines you’re talking about, right?  I think I’ve heard of Naoko before, but not the other ones.”

“Yes.  Although Father preferred to call them his ‘ladies,” Azula responded.  Her husband shook his head.

“I sure missed out on a whole bunch of weird shi…things,” he mused.

“Tom-Tom.  You are an adult and about to become a father. You are allowed to say the shit word,” Azula told him.  “But you’re right.  Although we all thought it was normal then.  Looking back now…”–she sighed–“it’s really just heartbreaking.”

“Well, that shows just how far you’ve come, to be able to gain that insight!”

“Ty Lee.  You are in Therapist Mode again.”

“Whoops…caught me!” Ty Lee answered.  Apparently, she was satisfied by the length of whatever it was she was making, and started to bend the two ends together.  She took a deep breath and added, “So anyway.  That sort of reminded me.  I had something I wanted to ask you, Azula.”

“Oh?”

“Well…you see…that first time, I feel like I failed you,” Ty Lee confessed.  “That first time…I know we weren’t exactly on speaking terms then…but we all figured out what had happened, and I wanted to be there for you, but the doctors refused to allow me in the delivery room no matter how much I begged them!”

Azula…hadn’t known this.  

“Even if the doctors had allowed you in, I wouldn’t have,” she pointed out, although she felt a lump in her throat while doing so.

“Anyway, I want to make it up to you now,” Ty Lee said in a rush.  “I know how much this means to you, and I want to be with you for it.”

“Your request is granted,” Azula said, her voice a bit more husky than she would have liked.  Ty Lee’s eyes were misted with emotion as she leaned over to put the finished flower crown on her friend’s head.

“Now don’t go crying on me,” Azula commanded, even as she felt pricking at the corners of her own eyes.  She turned to Tom-Tom, and even he had a sappy grin on his face.

“I guess it’s just the three of us then?” he asked.

“There will be other women present as witnesses,” Azula reminded him.  “But who cares about them?”

Ty Lee ended up making additional flower crowns for herself and Tom-Tom, and they all wore them for the rest of the day.