#azutara is the answer

[firenaition]

[ragzonacamrencruise]

What do you think of an Azutara idea where Azula gets sick and Katara takes care of her?

oooohhhhh it could go smthn like . . . . hmmm . . . okay hear meowt-

***

The time Azula spent in the mental institution only solidified her deteriorating physical condition. Katara knew, that if threatened, Azula could easily take her down with a single blow. But that doesn't hold true when she's literally a walking skeleton, with the constant threat of dismantling and falling in a pile of weak bones.

She won't admit it though. Her bloodcells are fighting for their lives and Katara could practically hear Azula's muscles screaming out in pain when she goes around and performs exceptionally hard katas in the name of training and keeping her body fit.

It's only been two months since Azula was finally allowed out of the institution after two excruciatingly long years of torture with mirrors and chains. She was in no shape to even sit up properly without help when she first arrived.

A weak immune system is only one of the many gifts the institution provided her, along with nail scratches on random places of her body and her unevenly cut hair.

Azula is a morning person, Katara soon comes to find. She wakes up every morning to meditate and practice her katas. She knows it wasn't a luxury she had in the institution so Azula was adamant on continuing it to get back in shape. And Katara was adamant on keeping an eye on her every morning so that she doesn't do anything stupid. Like collapsing on the floor after a spinning kick like she did two days ago, or something like that.

Azula's better now though. She's gained a little weight in these couple of months and is slowly reverting back to her old self again. Colour is back in her face and the barber did an excellent job by cutting her hair in way that the uneven chunks were no longer odd but in place with the rest of her hair precisely. She has her hair up in a top-knot, the rest of it falling freely down her shoulder with her signature strands of hair framing the sides of her face. She looks . . .

Katara struggles to find the exact word to describe Azula as she watches her meditate facing her in an open courtyard built for training and practice.

Different.

Katara settles on that.

Somedays, she even joins her when Azula trained. Simply because she feels the need to get closer to the firebender in case she falls or . . . something Katara wasn't sure about. She just needed to make sure, up close that the princess was okay.

Azula lets out a gentle sneeze and that immediately brings Katara out of her thoughts. She frowns when the firebender lets out a follow up sneeze, but this time stronger than it's predecessor. She sniffs a bit before resuming her disrupted meditation session.

"Your Highness . . ." Katara trails off, worried. She never calls Azula by her name in open spaces like this. She simply cannot when Azula's posture oozes regal elegance. But she's always 'Azula' in her head. Especially during their healing sessions behind closed doors where no one was allowed till the session gets over.

"What?" Azula says softly, still with her eyes closed. Her tone has a hint of annoyance at the disruption to her meditation again, but nothing more.

Katara's face is riddled with worry. "Are you catching a cold?"

Azula scowls. Katara's not sure how she can do that even with her eyes closed. "No. And even if I am, it's no concern of yours."

Katara eyes her suspiciously. These past two months have been hard. Katara's sole job was to break down Azula's walls brick by brick so that the princess would allow herself to be taken care of. Azula's been reluctant in letting Katara do it for her. But Katara, being Katara with her stubborn, adamant self, would take none of the firebender's protests. Azula had given up on day four.

Katara rises up from her seat at the edge of the courtyard to go and plop down right infront of the princess. She runs her eyes over the perfectly chiseled face, looking for anything out of place. However, she gets distracted once with the firebender's full lips, but she steadies her eyes and thoughts, to the task at hand. Focus, Katara . . .

She does find something disturbing, though. "You look pale." She notes. "Have you been eating well?"

If Azula's surprised by Katara's voice sounding so close to her, she doesn't show it on her face. She still has her eyes closed. "Shush! I'm trying to concentrate here, peasant."

Katara's been with Azula long enough to know that that word isn't derogatory anymore. The princess just likes to call her that. Especially after Katara mentioned to her once that she's the daughter of the Southern Water Tribe's chief and the princess just replied, 'I know' with a shrug.

Smiling to herself at the memory, Katara raises her hand to Azula's forehead, intent on checking her temperature. But before her hand could make contact with the pale skin, Azula's jet-like fingers shoot out to her wrist, stopping her ministrations suddenly with a precise grip.

Katara gasps softly at that.

Her eyes are still closed. How did she . . . ?

When she looks up, Azula's dazzling golden eyes are trained directly on her and she feels her face getting warm under the princess's gaze. Her body might be weak; but her eyes still haven't toned down from their sharpness yet. And the waterbender doubts that it ever will. It's still piercing and . . . warm.

No, hot is more like it.

"You should know by now, that invading a fire royalty's personal space without their explicit permission is a crime punishable by solitary confinement for 5 years."

Katara can do nothing but let her lips fall open and shift her eyes between the princess's golden ones, cuz she can't seem to focus on one, cuz they're too damn close.

Then, she finds mirth dancing in those golden orbs and she lets out a sharp breath. "You actually had me there for a second."

Azula lets Katara's wrist out of her grasp and the waterbender immediately misses the warmth the hand provided her with. "I can still have you there for a second. It won't take me a minute to call the guards and let you rot away for 5 years."

Katara's eyes narrow. "You wouldn't do that."

"Wanna bet?"

Katara's eyebrows fall together as she notices Azula's voice getting scratchy. She raises her hand again and this time, the princess lets her, golden orbs watching her intently. She places the back of her palm on her forehead, and then on her neck before letting out a gasp.

"You're burning up!"

"I'm a firebender, peasant. In case you haven't noticed."

Katara wants to face-palm. She really does. But she resists the urge. "Your Highness, you're sick. We need to get you to bed."

Azula's face takes up a 'what-the-fuck' look. "I'm not sick!"

"Yes, you are."

"Move away before I punch you in the face. I need to get back to my training and you're turning out to be a nuisance."

"Your Highness." Katara tries again.

Azula doesn't answer her, closing her eyes and about to rivert back to her meditation. The waterbender rolls her eyes before catching hold of Azula's wrist, tugging it gently. "Come on . . . You know you're sick!"

"Leave me alone."

"Let's go." Katara tugs at her hand again, making a move to stand up. "I'll have the chefs make you some nice, hot, chicken soup with lots of fire-flakes, just the way you like it. Come on."

"No."

"Princess . . ."

"No."

"You're sick!"

"I'm no- a- A- AACHOO!!"

Katara gives her a look and she knows Azula's aware of it, now that her eyes are open from the force of her sneeze. "Your Highness-"

Azula snatches her hand from Katara's grip. "No. No. NO. I'm not sick!"

"You know you are!"

"No, I'm not!!"

"AZULA!!"

The firebender looks at her, stunned. Katara's yell echoes all around the courtyard. Thankfully, no one is there to hear it. Even Katara's a little taken-aback by her own little outburst.

She acts fast, trying not to lose her advantage. "Let's go. Now!" She commands.

She catches hold of Azula's wrist again and this time, the princess follows the waterbender without a word as she makes her way to the royal kitchens.

...

Katara finds herself feeding Azula her soup.

The firebender's neatly tucked inside her bed, leaning against the headboard with the support of a soft pillow. Not a single word was exchanged between them since Katara's outburst in the courtyard that morning.

The servants who popped up to help feed Azula were quickly dismissed by the waterbender who was determined to do the job herself. She avoids Azula's eyes at all costs, as she knows very well that if she ever looks at them, she'll drown.

The princess on the other hand, has no such restrictions as she openly stares at Katara, just as she's feeding her spoonfuls of hot soup. Katara makes sure to blow on them for a bit before placing it on Azula's lips, in case it burns her.

It's silent between them. Katara's well aware of Azula's eyes on her, but she fights like her life depends on it to not look up, and she forces herself to focus on the task at hand.

When the contents of the bowl reduces to only a few more spoonfuls, Azula speaks softly.

"My father used to train me and Zuko."

Katara's hand stills just for a split second, before she resumes her task. She feeds Azula one more spoonful. The firebender swallows it after savouring the taste, then speaks again.

"Zuko and I were not allowed to eat before completing our meditation, katas, training and meditation again, in the morning."

Azula opens her mouth for another spoonful, gulps it down, then continues. "I remember when one day, I hadn't eaten any dinner the previous night as I was mad at Zuko for something stupid he did. So my stomach was growling even before we were through with the first meditation session that morning-" Katara feeds her and Azula drinks the soup hurriedly to complete her story. "I took a chance to ask father if he'll allow us to eat before training that day."

Katara scoops up the last spoonful from the bowl and places the edge of the spoon on Azula's lips as she happily opens her mouth to recieve it. The waterbender then places the empty bowl on the dinner tray kept beside the bed. She bends the water inside the glass on the same tray and turns to Azula. She makes water droplets touch the firebender's lips and around her mouth to clean any soup that might've found their way to her cheeks or chin.

"He told me to silence myself and not speak another word."

Katara frowns as she turns around to the tray again to pick up a hot towel.

"He used the same tone to say my name as you did this morning in the courtyard."

Katara's whole body stills halfway to Azula with the towel in her hand. A pang of guilt grips her heart as tears form in her eyes in a flash. She wills herself to say something. Anything. Apologize. But her throat chokes up and she's unable bring herself to even make a sound as she completes the remaining distance between them slowly to wipe around the lips of the firebender.

She feels Azula's stare on her and yet she busies herself with the task.

"I liked it."

Katara's eyes betray her as they snap up to Azula, wide with shock. The hand wiping Azula's mouth slows down before dropping down to brace themselves on Azula's chest.

"Not in a weird, masochistic way." Azula continues with a soft smile. "I liked it because, you used that same tone to make me do the complete opposite of what my father wanted me to do."

Hot tears leak out from Katara's eyes as they stay helplessly locked on Azula's gentle, golden ones.

"I liked it because, I understood that you genuinely care about my well being and no one has ever done that before. Not even my mother." Azula says, as she rubs the pad of her thumb to wipe the tear on Katara's cheek.

"I liked it because, it showed what my father thinks of me is absolutely immaterial."

Katara blinks, her thoughts racing.

"I liked it because, it made me realise," The princess whispers, fixing her strong gaze on the waterbender, "that I like you . . ."

Katara's eyes widen.

Her mind struggles to wrap the idea around.

Azula likes her.

Azula.

She lets the towel fall from her hand. She doesn't realise what she's doing until she feels Azula's warm breath and an even warmer smile against her lips, pulling her close by the hips.

Katara's hand comes up to hold the firebender's delicate face as she plants her lips on hers again.

And again.

And again.

Until her brain catches up with what she's doing, and the waterbender lets out a raspy little giggle against the full lips that she was distracted by this very morning, overwhelmed with feelings, suddenly shy to look at the princess. "You should be resting, Your Highness." She says, her eyes betraying her to gaze up into those golden pools.

Azula looks at her with such gentleness, Katara feels like she's gonna explode. "Stay with me?"

"Of course."

...

Zuko finds Katara walking into the general meeting room that evening for their daily sessions with the Earth Kingdom officials to negotiate repurcussion terms, with a stupid little smile on her face.

"Someone's in a good mood." He says, eyeing her curiously.

Katara throws him a radiant smile. "Is it that obviou- a- A- AACHOO!!! AACHOOOOO!!!!"

Zuko's brows fall together. "Katara?"

She looks at him with horror. "Oh, no-"

***

i love this prompt sooo much ahhhhhhhhhh

lemme know what you think omg!!!!

[bunthebreadboy]

I saw that you were looking for atla asks, and I am obligated to send asks when I see people asking for them. I mostly ship Tyzula, so heres an ask:

If you were to name a common trope from tyzula fics, which would be your favorite, and which would be your least?

You can even answer the same question with Azutara since I can see you like the ship.

Though I'd have to request your answers to be specific compared to broad ideas like "They give azula therapy". I just like knowing how people think about certain things.

good question!!

for tyzula i’d have to say my favorite trope would probably be childhood best friends to enemies to hesitant friends again to “oh my god when did i fall for this dummy?”. tyzula as a ship (to me) has to include some sort of angst. i’d also like something that gives “good luck, babe!” vibes even though i do tend to stay away from overly angsty things. i really don’t like fics where ty lee and azula are depicted of having a healthy relationship in canon. azula needs to get herself together before the pairing can be healthy.

with azutara i’m very much a rivals to lovers enjoyer. like yes please feed me with all the content of katara and azula prodigies competing to be the best but somehow falling for each other on the way. i really, really hate fics where the main plot point is katara picking between zuko and azula. personally, i think they’re just really awkward (and i don’t like romantic zutara tbh. to each their own, but it’s not my cup of tea).

[akiizayoi4869]

What are your avatar ship ranks? Canon first, than non canon 👀

Canon:

Maiko and Kataang (these two are tied for me)

Jinko (does this count as canon? I mean, obviously, they didn't get together, but they did go out on that one date, so it should still count)

Yuekka

Non Canon:

Sokkla

Azulaang

Azutara

Zukka (I blame the fanart for this one)

Maizula

Jetzula

Jetko

Toko

Yuezula

[drpoisonoaky]

Let’s do it again because I should have put same height option. If this have less votes than the previous poll we should take the result from the previous poll.

Very important decision because I want to have clear a headcanon:

Previous poll:

Azula little difference: 31,4 %

Azula big difference: 20,3 %

Katara little difference: 26,8 %

Katara big difference: 21,6 %

153 votes

[gold-fire]

Azutara mafia AU when 👀👀👀

Hello my friend! ❤️

I was working on chapter 2 of the mafia au but got caught also working in chapter 6 of Azula’s Journey and I’m not gonna be able to finish chapter 2 in this weekend, and since I won’t be able to write again until the 25th of August it’ll be, luckily, before August ends.

[juniperhillpatient]

Hi, in Modern AU fics where Katara and Azula start a family, do you think they should have kids via adoption or IVF?

Hmm, it really, really depends. I'm not opposed to either option - or even the option of the two of them never having kids.

I think that I lean toward adoption because I like the idea that Katara is filled with compassion for all the children of the world who need homes & Azula wants to help a child feel wanted in a way that she didn't.

I can see a healed / healing Azula having trouble warming up to the idea of kids because of how she grew up & I think maybe the idea that she's helping a child who would otherwise be alone might soften her toward the idea.

[lazyveran]

In the political marriage au, I’m wondering about the possible problematic of having an heir for zuko and toph. As you said they’re more bestfriend than husband and wife and zuko is in a “relationship” (or whatever it is ahahahah) with mai.

So what if mai gets pregnant, are they gonna keep and fake that it’s toph and zuko’s child?

And also are katara and azula going to have kids?

so! in the context of the au it does get quite comical. zuko and toph are in full agreement that the marriage is a civil partnership. they're besties that care a lot about each other and the work they're trying to achieve through each other.

toph is actually fully aware zuko is having an affair with mai, and actively encourages it. she thinks mai is tough as hell and she makes zuko happy. (their sappy lovey dovey-ness also irritates azula to no end, and toph LIVES for annoying sparky) toph and mai are good friends by the start of the fic.

SO when mai does eventually get pregnant, they three just agree that they 'pretend' she's tophs and naturalise her as zuko's true heir. just as bastard children can be made legitimate through law, the three just agree to do the same and not really mention it. izumi gets three parents! as you can expect, the entire goddamn nation knows its mai's and not toph's, but its simply the worst kept secret ever, (just like maiko's affair is). also, and this is more gross elitist, the nobles are actually more pleased the next heir to the throne isn't half earth kingdom. it IS an insult to house bei fong and the EKs, but toph resolutely fights against that. mai's family also take it as an insult, but between azula making them chew their teeth and the simple fact mai is in a VERY powerful position, they keep quiet.

i think very hard about azutara having kids. i think it's a big thing for katara, part of her slightly miserable dreams about if the war ended and she was able to have a life outside of fighting again. and azula is. well. she'll have a journey about it. there's still many MANY issues she harbours (ala she literally killed her own father and the Ursa Complex). utlimately i think it may be a healing thing for azula, and probably the final thing that cements azutara's marriage. they'd have two :)

[theowritesfiction]

Do you think there would be a new interest in azutara ship when Netflix atla drops?

I don't think there will be any specific interest in azutara because of the live action show. Sure, there will be more general interest in atla and we'll see new faces joining the fandom, but most of these people will just gravitate towards the established and more popular boring ships.

Maybe one or two people will eventually discover the rare jewel that is azutara, but let's face it, this will always remain a niche ship with limited contributors, which is why I will always have the greatest appreciation for those who create azutara content in the shape of stories or art, as well as those who make the creators feel appreciated. :)

[the-badger-mole]

As someone who does not really vibe with Zutara (mainly because aroace katara is everything to me, and I like some zukka fic), I do not understand why people seem so fucking mad about it? Like, you reblogged one (1) post being slightly negative about Azutara and you got like... 3 hate anons in the span of 15 minutes, and that's just the ones you answered. My respect for you and the ship community at large has just doubled, how do you do it?

Also wanted to send some love your way, because the anons seem rough. I liked the fics of yours I have read, even as someone who doesn't really vibe with romance-centered fiction! You're really good at crafting dialogue, and I love the nuances and subtext in conversations when you write.

First of all, THANK YOU!! I love writing and I love hearing that other people connect with my work. Even if it's not your normal taste, I'm glad that you like it.

Second of all, thank you so much for thinking of me. I'm fine though. I'm mostly amused by that annon. It is hilarious how tight the booty cheeks on some people clench when you call them on their hypocrisy. I didn't even post that in the Azutara tag. That's someone I found posting in the Zutara tag, and I had time for them tonight. Truly, I don't care much what other people ship as long as they keep it cute, keep it classy and keep it over there. But if they do want to stir the pot, they can eat from it, too.

[blorboazula]

Mood

Prompt #043 from 100 Days of Azutara Drabbles Challenge | masterlist | modern au, established relationship, cw: implied mental health issues

Sometimes Azula had a mind-numbing bad day, followed by multiple unpleasant but bearable days. It could be tough. But not as exhausting as when she had days and days that she could almost bedrot. A couple of weeks in which there was nothing Katara could do other than try to make sure she was still drinking water and didn’t starve herself.

It was easy for Katara to feel like she was the worst girlfriend in the world even if it wasn’t something they couldn’t control. Trying to force help onto her would make it worse, a heartbreaking situation.

But Azula had been getting better, with the therapy and medication and a support system. (It also made it a little easier for Katara, knowing she wasn’t the only one that wanted nothing but Azula to heal, keep making progress). A slow process, it had downs, but still a process moving forward and Katara couldn’t help being proud of all the progress Azula has made recently.

The last few weeks had been tough, Azula had finally got enough energy to get off bed. She had been really talking again and last night, she even cooked them a simple dinner. Simple but it was still better than how she acted when her mood was down. So Katara decided to give her a little bit more help.

Something that seemed to cheer Azula up was one of their silly little dates in downtown Republic City. It was adorable, in Katara’s opinion, that Azula was all stoic and cold, but actually loved to do silly little things with her girlfriend. 

It was just a walk, getting an ice cream and maybe some flowers, nothing much more than that. Katara was aware that just being together in peace was special enough, Azula seemed to think all their time together was special. Adorable, lovely girlfriend. (Really, Katara would never get tired for calling Azula her girlfriend). It was really cute, Katara had expected that basically a princess would need more than just quality time together to be satisfied by their dates.

“Where are we going?” Azula had the cute little frown she always had when she was confused. 

“I know how last days had been… rough. So I’m taking you out,” Azula flushed red when she got a cheek kiss. “Is that alright?”

“Everything we do is alright.”

“Good answer, babe.”

It didn’t matter for how long they’ve been in a relationship, there was always a hint of surprised when Katara did this kind of simple, but nice thing for her. I twas sadder than adorable, but Katara could handle all heartbreak for Azula’s sake.

[waterfire1848]

Ohh I just had another AU-Idea for the headcanon ask :) How about Azula being a combustionbender like P'Li or Combustion-Man. Don't know if it could be Azutara or Sokkla :D

Hello, @subterraneanwatcher !!! (Thanks for the second ask!!😁)

1. When Azula is born, she isn’t born as the same strong bender we know her as in canon. She’s a good bender, but not a prodigy. For the most part, she grows up pretty much the same alongside Zuko but the Fire Sages start to notice something about her. She’s constantly complaining of headaches, says her head feels stuffy and she once sneezed a small blast came from her forehead. The Fire Sages discover what’s going on and, one day, while Ursa and Ozai are away, the sages take a five year old Azula and tattoo the third eye onto her forehead. Upon returning, Ursa is instantly greeted by her crying child who now has a third eye on her forehead and says the Fire Sages did it. Needless to say, even with their explanation, Ozai and Ursa aren’t happy. However, the truth is now out there: Azula is a combustion bender.

2. Azula covers her third eye constantly in school because she doesn’t want anyone to know. Her father says it's a rare talent but Azula can't help but feel like a freak. No one else in the royal family has a third eye and no one in her school does either. The one time she didn't wear her covering out into town, some kids made fun of her and called her a monster. Azula meets Mai and Ty Lee when she's six and accidentally bumps into them causing her to lose her covering. While she's trying to shield her eye, Ty Lee hands her back her covering and says her eye looks cool. (Ty Lee: You look amazing! That eye is so cool! Can you do stuff with it? Does it blink? Does it need sunglasses? Mai: Ty, she can only answer so many questions. Ty Lee: Right. Sorry....but I still want to know and then I have so many more!! *Happy jumping*) Azula doesn't wear her covering anymore in front of them after that (she never wore it at home anyways but now she can take it off at lunch and stuff)

3. Since there aren't any real combustion benders that are known enough to teach Azula, she learns on her own. She usually goes away from the palace (sometimes with Ty Lee, Mai and Zuko) and trains herself. On day, while she and Ty Lee are away from the city and training. Azula accidentally fires an incredibly big blast that neither of them were expecting. Ty Lee was too close to the blast and is caught up in it. When Azula finds Ty Lee, the girl is hardly breathing and can't really move. Azula gets her to a healer but it's too late. In grief, anger and heartbreak, Azula runs away. She runs as far as she can possibly go: into the Earth Kingdom city of Omashu to be precise. Of course covering her third eye. (I'd like to add on that Azula is 9 when she runs away)

4. Years later, Azula encounters the Avatar and his team in Omashu but doesn't interact with them much. The Avatar being back doesn't mean that much to Azula, who doesn't really care about the war one way or another. It's when the FN overtakes the city and Team Avatar returns that she starts to take notice. She sees them fight Fire Nation soldiers for Bumi and, in a split second decision, decides to help, sending a blast at the soldiers. (Aang: THAT WAS AWESOME! I'm Aang! What's your name! Azula: Azula. Aang: Wow! Are you a combustion bender!? I've read about that but I've never seen it! That's so cool! Katara: Aang. I think you're freaking her out a little. Azula: No. It's okay. I just...No one's been that excited about my third eye in a long, long time). Azula agrees to go with the Gaang and help eventually teach Aang firebending.

5. While they make their way through the EK, desert, and Ba Sing Se, Azula and Katara start to grow closer and closer. Katara tells Azula about the South Pole and what their group has been doing so far and Azula tells her about the Fire Nation (she might have forgotten to mention the whole princess element though). While in Ba Sing Se, after Long Feng wins, the man reveals to the Gaang that Azula is the missing princess of the Fire Nation. Azula doesn't really care what anyone else thinks except for Katara, who's mostly just pissed Azula didn't tell her. Aang doesn't die in this but the Gaang does flee to Hakoda's ships where there is clear tensions between Azula and Katara. Katara finally goes to talk to Azula and tells her that she's angry she didn't think she deserved to know but before she can finish Azula asks her to leave if she's going to leave (Azula: I...I can't lose another person in some long drawn out way, so if you want me to go or you want to leave please just go. Katara, pushing Azula's face towards hers: I don't want to go and I don't want you to go. I want you to tell me the truth. Azula: I...Okay) That's the night Azula and Katara officially get together.

[ragzonacamrencruise]

For the first sentence of a fic ask

Katara’s choking sound filled the room which gained the attention of her friends until Katara stopped and turned to face Azula with a shocked face.

hello bestie!

this is too funny . . .

okay so hear meowt-

***

THE PROPOSAL

Katara’s choking sound filles the room, which gaines the attention of her friends until Katara stops and turns to face Azula with a shocked face.

Azula, sitting closest to Katara in the enormous dining hall, is half way down slurping her noodles when she notices the racket. Her own eyes grow wide as she witnesses Katara holding her throat and gasping for air, but not getting any.

Now, for the people who've been following Azula around in the palace since she was a little kid, they know it's common knowledge that Azula, would quite normally, enjoy watching the person choke themselves into oblivion instead of rushing to help them.

And in this case, Katara being the one who's the traditional healer of the group, no one else knew what to do in this situation. They could only sit and watch their friend choke helplessly. The waterbender's eyes begin to water as she looks all around frantically.

So, it's safe to say that it comes as a surprise when Azula calmly places her chopsticks near her almost empty bowl, stands up, walks behind the now standing Katara and envelops the choking waterbender in a hug from behind.

Everyone's too shocked to speak as Azula places a fist right under Katara's now matured chest and pushes it into the waterbender forcefully. Katara jumps up high in her arms at the impact. But Azula simply does it again.

And again.

And again.

Until Katara coughs something out of her mouth and it comes flying out to hit Sokka on the head, who's sitting exactly opposite to Katara. The waterbender gasps in a lung full of air and then lets out a string of coughs, her hands desperately holding on to Azula's strong arms wrapped around her stomach, keeping her from collapsing.

Azula flattens one of her palms over Katara's back and rubs soothing circles. "There, there, peasant. We don't want you dying on us now, do we?"

Katara wipes around her mouth with the back of her palm, trying to calm down from the sudden adrenaline rush of almost dying. Sokka, being the naturally curious person that he is, bends down under the table to pick up whatever the hell hit him on his head. When he brings it out to the light, he gasps out loud.

"It's a Water Tribe betrothal pendant!!"

Katara looks at the round, blue, glimmering, piece of jewellery in Sokka's fingers. She immediately extends her hand to take it from him.

"It's not stone!" Katara exclaims, running her eyes all over the pendant. "It's some kind of . . ."

"Copper." Azula states as she removes herself away from Katara's person and takes back her seat, picking up her chopsticks non-chalantly to gobble down the rest of her noodles.

Katara turns to her immediately. "What?"

"It's Copper." Azula says with a roll of her eyes. "Clearly you peasants have no knowledge about this metal's existence. It's crystalized Copper. And very difficult to carve, by the way. I spent literally hours trying to get that thing carved."

The waterbender blinks, not believing what she's hearing. "Y- You made this?!"

"Yes."

"Why?!"

"For you, of course." Azula shrugs, filling her mouth with noodles.

Katara could only let her jaw hang.

"You're giving my sister a betrothal necklace?!" Sokka's voice is a high-pitched shriek.

Azula looks confused. "What are y'all yapping so much about? Isn't it traditional to betroth a girl when she's 16 in the Water Tribe? I know I'm an year late, but it still counts, right?"

"You're asking me to marry you?!" Now Katara's voice is an octave higher.

"Wow, you filths really are dense in the head." Azula wipes around her mouth with a napkin kept at the table like the proper royalty that she is.

"No!" Katara exclaims.

Azula looks at her with her brows furrowed together. "No, what?"

"No, I will not be marrying you! Are you crazy?!"

The princess stands up, having done with her meal. "I was three years ago. But not anymore." She says with a smirk, before bowing curtly and leaving a hall full of dumbstruck people.

....

Katara flips the pendant in her hand, deep in thought. She looks down at it, tracing the intricate carvings that adorn it with a finger. She's lying on her stomach, on the bed inside her room in the Fire Nation Palace, having had an eventful supper. She frowns when she notices something strange.

The carvings look exactly like her mother's betrothal necklace. Not even a single line out of place. She touches her mother's necklace and gasps softly.

Azula must have one hell of a brain if she can carve something out just from memory.

Then she thinks back to everything that conspired during their meal.

She must've slipped the pendant in my noodle soup when I wasn't looking, or something, to surprise me.

The pendant's beautiful. Too beautiful. She would've mistaken it for glass if it didn't radiate such a glossy blue glow, refracting candle light through it in a translucent haze. It's mesmerizing.

But the thing that nags her the most is, why would Azula of all people give her a betrothal necklace?! Does she like her, or something?!

Sure, Katara couldn't help but get lost in the princess's elegance from time to time, and blush like crazy whenever the firebender got even remotely close to her, thankful for her complexion hiding her flustered state, but that is beside the point.

Katara sits up. There's no way in hell she's going to sleep without talking something through with the very firebender that proposed to her. Determined, she gets up, wears her night robes and walks out of her room to the princess's chambers.

....

"Your highness?" Katara calls out softly, peeking inside a dimly lit, enormous room. Her eyes look all around before falling on the princess's frame by the table, sitting on a chair and reading a huge book by the candlelight hanging above her head.

The firebender takes a second longer to acknowledge Katara, her eyes hurriedly running over the last few lines on the page she's reading, before looking up. "I figured sooner or later you'll be here."

"Ha ha." Katara laughs humorlessly as she walks into the room and shuts the door behind her.

Azula places a peacock feather over the page she was reading and closes the heavy book. "State the purpose of your visit this late at night, peasant."

Katara scowls. But she's unable to hold it much longer when she spots the princess pulling out another chair by the table, gesturing her to take a seat.

The waterbender's bare feet make no noise when she walks up to the table, adjusting the chair a little bit, before sitting down, close to the firebender. It's the beginning of winter and nights, even in the Fire Nation, are getting pretty chilly.

When she finally settles down, with her knees almost touching the side of Azula's thigh, she looks up in contentment. The princess is still waiting for her answer, when Katara's eyes fall on her.

Katara takes in a deep breath. "I still haven't thanked you."

Azula frowns. "Whatever for?"

"For saving my life."

Azula clicks her tongue, in irritation. She turns back to the book before her. "Leave. I still need to complete this chapter and I need peace and quiet."

"No, I mean it. Thank you, your highness . . ."

Azula doesn't answer as she flips open the heavy book again.

"The remedy for choking is still not known by many." Katara says softly. "Where did you learn it?"

Azula's eyes find Katara, without ever turning away from the book. "I read about it somewhere." She explains before letting her eyes fall to the book before her again.

Katara hums. She unintentionally falls silent as her gaze finds itself helplessly drawn to the princess's perfectly crafted face. She traces curves and crevices sculpted in astonishing precision, even when the firebender is devoid of any make up. Her golden brown eyes shimmer in the candle light's flicker, and the sight puts Katara in a trance.

"You can stare all you want after you marry me." Azula says without turning away from her book, and that jolts Katara awake.

"Who says I'm marrying you?" The waterbender is quick to deny, her face getting heated rapidly. "I never said yes to your proposal, remember? If you can even consider that a proposal. You didn't even ask me properly!"

"Your father." Azula states.

"My father? What about him?"

"Yeah . . ." The princess looks up from the book. "He met with Zuzu to negotiate a stable course of action, considering the amount of overwhelming peasants from the Water Tribe opposing the idea of working together with the Fire Nation."

Katara's eyes are wide and attentive as she can almost predict where this is going.

"So," Azula continues. "They put their heads together and came up with this; a marriage alliance. And as Zuzu is already planning on marrying Mai . . . You're stuck with me. Personally, I think it's okay, considering how nothing really is satisfying you barbarians."

"Hey!" Katara exclaims. "If anyone's a barbarian, it's you people! You started the hundred year war and butchered an entire nation!"

Azula stares at her. "Out of all the things I said, that is what you choose to respond to?"

Katara pushes her chair back and jumps up, her knees bumping Azula's thigh. "Whatever! I'm gonna talk to my dad first thing in the morning to cancel this supposed 'marriage alliance'."

"Suit yourself." Azula says, turning back to her book as Katara storms out of her chamber in anger.

....

The next morning, Katara finds herself grumpily sitting in the dining hall for breakfast all alone, as all others have already had theirs. The meeting with her dad dragged on longer than she would've liked.

It's stupid, considering the fact that Katara never really entered her father's chambers to discuss the crisis at hand. She just paced outside his room, for a long time, contemplating what to say and how to say it. To be honest, she wasn't really that opposed to this marriage alliance anyway. She came here just out of spite. She was turning on her heels, already loosing her nerve and giving up, when her father came out, ready to head for breakfast. And it certainly did not help when she randomly blurted out 'I don't want to marry Azula' out of no where when he greeted her with a good morning.

Her father had just laughed it off stating it's just jitters and he's "seen the way you look at Azula".

Katara had then spent her whole morning contemplating living under a rock from embarrassment, but then her stomach growled and she dragged her feet to the dining hall reluctantly.

Her brooding comes to an end when she finds the object of her crisis walk into the hall, her hair up in a small topknot and the rest of it long and falling freely over her shoulders, her signature bangs still in place. Katara's eyes follow the princess as she takes a seat opposite to her, clad in a simple, light red, yukata with short sleeves.

The waterbender notices Azula's skin coated with a slim layer of sweat, making her glisten in the morning sunshine wafting in through the hall. She averts her gaze hastily.

She's not supposed to be feeling this way towards her! Even when she's supposed to marry her!

"Slept in?" The princess's mocking voice makes Katara look back up at her.

"Not really." The waterbender replies politely. Then she catches the drift of what Azula's implying. Didn't she tell her yesterday night that she was gonna call off the marriage alliance? It really is a slap in the face for Katara when she realizes that she never broke off the betrothal. And she's not ready to make peace with the fact that she doesn't really want to break it off.

Their breakfast arrives and Azula's upon it even before the servant places it on the table. Katara looks at her with amusement. "One would think you were starved for weeks." The waterbender teases at the way Azula gobbles up the food.

"Never go easy on breakfast." Azula swallows a mouthful as her manners of not talking while eating kicks in. "Especially after a good workout and training."

"Training?" Katara raises an eyebrow. That explains the sweat.

"Yeah. Every morning. You don't?"

"Not really." Katara chooses to say again, trying not to pay attention to the way the princess's arms flex when she's using them, fresh out of a workout.

They both fall silent, only opening their mouths to eat. When they're done, Katara wipes her hands and face in the hot napkin placed on the table and stands up to leave. So does Azula. The waterbender walks out of the hall, slowing down near the doorway to wait for Azula when she comes out.

But she never comes.

Instead, Katara hears someone speaking beyond the dining hall inside what she thinks is the kitchen. And because it's so quiet in the morning with only the chirping of birds to keep her company, she frowns softly as she follows through the kitchen to where the voices are coming from.

She hears Azula speak, so she braces herself against the wall beside the entrance to the kitchen, out of sight from anyone who might want to look outside.

". . . but the flavours were thick. Make sure you simmer down on the basil and lift up curry leaves. It would provide useful and time saving and, dare I say, delicious. And, Zata? We need to incorporate more from other nations if we're supposed to excel at anything we do. This goes to cuisine as well . . . And prepare stewed sea prunes for lunch, will you? I'm told it's the Water Tribe princess's favourite." The princess is saying.

"Yes, princess." Katara guesses it's Zata who agrees with the firebender.

"Keep up the work." Azula says finally.

Katara hurriedly makes herself scarce from the vicinity as she hears the princess's footsteps staring to echo out.

Katara's sure her blush is visible for miles when she makes her way to the royal gardens to cool off.

....

The lunch, as expected, fills the whole dining hall with the aroma of stewed sea prunes and Katara doesn't even have to look at the bowl before her to know it.

Azula's sat directly opposite to her and the waterbender can no way in hell meet the golden brown gaze annoyingly fixed on her. She struggles to make it through one spoonful of stew without blushing like a maniac.

This is so absurd! Get it together, Katara! It's not like she gave you the whole world! She just made you your favourite dish. It's not a big deal!

But . . . it's Azula we're talking about! When has she ever done something this nice to someone else?!

"Is it not to your liking?" She hears a voice in front of her and she has no other choice than to look into those scrutinising eyes.

Azula's eyebrows are merged together, deep in thought, watching Katara struggle to eat her lunch, unaware of the problem. The waterbender, however, is hyper-aware of it, the smell of the stew reminding her every second that it was because of Azula.

Katara offers her a small, nervous smile. "It's good, your highness."

Their friends are present in the dining hall, so Azula doesn't press the issue further. But her face remains thoughtful the entire duration of their lunch.

Katara is the first to leave the hall, having gulped down the hot stew directly from the bowl, in an attempt to get out of there soon. She can heal her burned tongue later. She just needs to . . . get out.

She hurries off to her chambers, plopping down heavily on the bed, shutting her eyes close.

....

The royal gardens, that evening, sees Katara watering the plants, temporarily trying to get a certain firebender out of her insistent thoughts. The setting sun casts a warm glow over the flowers and trees, beautiful and sophisticated. A cool breeze flows in the garden and the waterbender is grateful for it, given the way her body heat seems to rise up eveytime she thinks about the fire princess.

Katara bends the water from a nearby pond and lifts it up, gently letting it fall, spraying over the fire lilies. She smiles, feeling rejuvenated with such a simple act. When she's about to turn around to water the other part of the garden, something, or rather someone catches her eye as she looks up.

She almost has a heart attack when she realizes it's Azula, leaning against a courtyard pillar, watching the waterbender do her thing. Katara freezes, eyes locked on the fire princess helplessly.

Azula, realising her presence is no longer unnoticed, pushes herself away from the pillar and steps into the garden, her gaze never leaving the waterbender. She walks towards Katara, gaining distance by the second and the waterbender's no longer in control of her own breathing.

The setting sun hits the firebender's eyes, and Katara's put in yet another trace with the way it gleams, looking at her in a way that makes her stomach flutter.

When she finally does get close, close enough for Katara to feel her warmth, Azula lifts her hand up, gently moving a strand of hair away from the waterbender's shoulder to expose her neck. She eyes her mother's necklace already placed on Katara's delicate neck and shifts her gaze to the waterbender's sparkling blue ones again.

"Marry me, Katara." Azula says, ever so softly. It's a command, but it sounds so desperate and so loving, that the waterbender's heart starts raging against her ribs. Katara can only let her lips fall open in a silent gasp, dumbstruck with the way Azula's making her feel.

The firebender searches her eyes, waiting a second longer for her to answer, before letting out a soft, glum sigh of defeat, turning around and walking out of the garden as quick as her own lightning.

Katara finds it difficult to catch her breath, even after a few minutes of just standing there.

....

That night, Katara finds herself standing before the giant doors of Azula's chambers again. She thinks of knocking, but then decides to just screw it and opens the door.

She enters the room and shuts and locks the door behind her. When she turns around, she notices that Azula's sat in the same table over the same book. Her wide golden brown eyes fall on Katara as she watches her with a rare glimmer, completely uncharacteristic of her.

When Katara walks inside, Azula stands up to meet her halfway. The flicker of the candlelight hanging above right beside them, bounces off of something shimmering, catching the firebender's sharp eyes right away.

Azula lifts her hand to Katara's neck, an ecstatic expression filling her face. She touches the cool, smooth, carved, crystal Copper hanging from the necklace on the waterbender's neck, and lifts her gaze to the matching blue eyes looking at her with longing.

Their eyes stay locked for a moment longer, before Katara opens her mouth to gasp, "Yes."

Azula's hand immediately reaches out to grab the waterbender's waist, as she pulls her flush against her. Katara swears she can practically taste Azula's smile when she leans forward and kisses her, deep and long.

By the time they break apart for air, Katara's brain is stuck in one giant daze, blinking up at Azula, hanging onto her shoulders desperately, unable to form coherent words except, "Your highness..."

"Bed. Now." Azula's voice is deep, bathed in dark hunger, and the waterbender can do nothing but nod frantically.

Katara didn't know that almost dying would end her up with a fiancé, but she isn't complaining much now at all.

....

"You really didn't like the stew, huh?"

"No. I loved it."

***

butterflies. straight up butterflies when i wrote this.

this could've been longer. but i tried to make it simple 😭🖐🏻 its funny because i was already thinking of their dynamic in marriage proposals and BAM the perfect opportunity presents itself in the form of an ask inbox.

thank you for the ask bestie! @waterfire1848

[withgirl-sq]

Do you have any more azutara headcannons? Do you plan on writing more azutara in the future?

Hey!

So here is a couple that come to mind (sorry if I've said them before, I'm losing track lol):

I really believed that part of lightning bending includes preventing the lightening from scarring your skin, which Azula was always really good at. During Sozin's Comet, she wasn't in the right frame of mind for this so she ends up with extensive scarring over her arms. Katara is the first person to find out about this because she refused to show them to anyone else.

I think that Azula would be reluctant to get married because she can only model it on her parents marriage so she just associates it with duty rather than love. Hearing Hakoda tell stories about Kya changes her mind and is what sets her on her plans to propose to Katara.

To answer your second question, I think it will really depend on how I feel after finishing the Avatar Azula AU. I've literally been writing it for years so I don't think I can see myself writing something as elaborate again but I will definitely look to finish all of the prompts in my inbox (Sorry to anyone waiting for a prompt, I'm a lot slower in writing than I would like!)

[akiizayoi4869]

Thinking how Sokkla, Azuki and event Azutar fit Spy x Family as characters 🙈

I haven't looked at Spy x Family in a minute, but yes😂.

....and now I need this to be a fic XD

[drpoisonoaky]

I was thinking about doing an azutara/kazula q&a but like “Who is the weird one?” and do some dialogue between those two answering the question

(not sure if i should do some post or a fic or both)

anyways if someone has questions to ask “them” I'd be grateful to hear them <3

they don’t have to be elaborate they can be like “who’s the little spoon?” or “who’s more likely to laugh in inappropriate places?” stuff like that