#because long haired zuko. how can i say no to that okay

[mountainshroom]

underrated duo 😔👊 were watching season 3 with my mom and guys the firebending masters-episode is SO GOOD

[iloveboysinred]

That zuko smut you wrote was SO good!! is it okay if i request some nsfw hc ??? but from keith kogane, idk how to be specific lol!! Thank you sm 💗💗

Thank you anon youre my second ask ever i’m super excited !!!!! I’m glad you enjoyed it! You are so kind🥰 & Ofc you can !! I love me some Keith Kogane. Top tier boy in red

Masterlist

cw; sexually explicit content, 18+ MDNI! Nsfw under the GIF kinda long!

GIF BY @/kin-of-the-sheep

- Okay so in my head i feel like after you and all the paladins get launched into space and learn about Zarkon and the war and everything, you and Keith definitely didnt have time to really “get it on” if you know what i mean. Things were moving so fast and you all needed time to adjust.

- But after a few days of training and getting used to the fact that you’re literally in space the switch is back on for sure.

- Keith isnt a patient man. So I feel like he definitely enjoys quickies here and there around the castle. They’re never planned. Sometimes the way you train in hand to hand combat gets a little too touchy, sometimes the way you looked at him made his stomach turn and his dick jump. Keith just needs you in that exact moment, and the way ya’ll be fucking its a miracle nobody has walked in on you yet

-or maybe they just stay away on purpose 😭

- he likes to be rough during these, slapping your ass, squeezing your hips, shit even tugging on your hair. Everything is moving so fast he wants to get a feel of everything.

- but when you guys have real sex, its like night and day.

- You guys would come home from a mission, tired and scared for each other, every time you guys go out there you run the risk of being captured or worse. So immediately you and Keith embrace each other, heading to the showers to clean off.

- It starts innocent, Keith washing your back, washing your hair. He was savoring every caress, just wanting to be in your skin.

- but then he starts getting touchy feely, ghosting his fingers over your nipples, leaving soft nibbles on your neck. You feel him starting to get hard, his body pressed to yours as close as he can be.

- knowing thats on his mind, you decide to take it to his room.

- it takes you a minute to get there, because Keith kept stopping mid walk to press you against the wall and kiss you and feel you up over your towel. He gets needy fast. Like i said, he’s not a patient man.

- So, when you finally reach the intended destination, his movements are in haste, wanting to get you bare and open for him as soon as he can.

- His kisses are slow as his hands wander, holding you close to him as if he’s never going to get the chance again.

- he’s greedy with your body, eating you out messily. He wants every last drop of you, whole time relishing in the fact that you’re all his.

- every sound you make, every reaction to his touch is reserved for him. In a world where everything was taken from him, Keith wanted something to himself. Something he could take.

- So, he took and took. Orgasm after Orgasm until he was satisfied with the mess he’s made of you.

- But even then he’s not finished with you yet. He likes to watch you closely when he enters you. Eyes half lidded as the tightness of your heat squeezes around him, its utter bliss for the two of you, and he doesnt hold back.

- I dont care what anybody says, Keith is vocal during sex. He grunts and moans right above you, thrusting into you with a passion that shocks you. He loves to ask you how he makes you feel, if you like what he’s doing, ect. Despite having been in the same predicament many and i mean maaany times and knowing just how to set you off.

- “like that, baby?” “Fuck…tell me you like this dick” “take it baby, fuck!”

- Very into eye contact during sex. You guys will lock gazes often. You love to drown in his purple iris while he fucks you, getting almost lost in each other, the only thing you can think of is the stuttering of his hips as he nears his end. He’s everywhere at once, his scent, his body, his voice. All you see is Keith.

- ngl Keith folds you up into so many different positions. He just wants to be as deep and as close to you as he can. He’ll have your legs on his shoulder while he basically folds you in half, beating down into you with his forehead pressed against yours, grunting out curses as his hips rock into yours. He loves the way your face contorts with every thrust. He’ll reach between your legs, playing with you just to watch you squirm.

- He loves when you scratch up his back. It lets him know that he’s hitting it just right, boosting his ego as well as adding to his pleasure.

- he doesn’t really do pet names during sex. He’ll call you “baby,” “hun”, “beautiful” maybe even “my love” if he’s feeling sappy & he loves when you call him “baby”, “honey” or even just his name sounds good coming from your lips. But as far as daddy, sir, master?? He will roll his eyes at you so fast and look at you so crazy, it actually makes me laugh thinking about it.

- When he reaches his peak, he smashes his lips onto yours, his hips jerking into yours as he spills into you.

- But when you reach your peak he takes his time to coax you through it, riding it out with you, whispering encouragement and littering your skin with kisses as you come undone.

- after care is a must. Once you guys are all cleaned up you lovebirds will lay next to each other and lock gazes. Kissing and giggling like lovestruck puppies.

- But all that lovey dovey shit aside Keith is a freaaaaak

- Its the little things you do that really gets Keith’s blood pumping.

- like when the team found out he was half galra and Allura was being cold and standoffish to him, you didnt hesitate to rip her a new one about your man! I know thats right

- while you were bickering with her, Keith was just smug as shit, getting turned on by your protectiveness.

- soon as he got you alone he was beating your walls loose, biting you, sucking marks into your neck.

- when you get angry like that he’ll happily bottom and let you ride him. He absolutely loves when you take control and throw him around a little bit. He reaches up to play with your nipples and leave hickeys all over you as you rock yourself down on him, letting you essentially get yourself off on him any way you wanted.

- Be rough with him. Grab his hair, bite him, mark him up. He’s yours and he wants you to prove it.

- teasing Keith is a dangerous game. If you’re in public doing it especially. You’re basically asking him to break you down as soon as he gets you alone.

- sometimes it gets competitive, Keith doesnt back down and he’ll make sure you’re nothing short of a wreck by the end of the night. But you’re his perfect match. The both of you essentially going tit for tat all night. When he thrusts into you, you throw that ass back on him. When he presses heated kisses to your lips, you suck his tongue into your mouth and turn it into a make out.

- When he came back from being gone for two years with his mom, you guys fucked like animals.

- Seeing him shed his angsty teenager phase into his angsty grown ass man phase was making you feral.

- his hair had gotten longer, he was taller, and his body had become more muscular, but still lean.

- when you got him all to yourself after everyone greeted him and he delivered his news and all that, you guys were just straight up nasty.

- you had two years of no sex to make up for, after all.

- He fucked you in just about every position in the book. Doggy, missionary, cow girl, full nelson, all of it. He missed your gasps, your hushed whispers of his name as he brought you to your high. It was sentimental almost, the way his thrusts showed how much he missed you.

- and it was when you reached your peak that it really dawned on him that he could never stray too far from you. Your boy in red was wrapped around your finger, bound to you. He gazed at you in new astonishment, almost childlike wonder as you fluttered around him. Forcing his own orgasm to rack his body. He moaned, low and drawn out. Pressing his lips to yours like he always did when you reached your climax, rocking his hips gently into yours to draw it out as much as he could.

- hushed “i love yous” between the two of you as you basked in the glow of having your Keith back.

Hope you like this Anon 💕 thank you for your request/ask :> notes and reblogs are appreciated, comments, asks and submissions are welcomed !

[bouncybongfairy]

I loved your fics with zuko, so I wanted to ask you if you could do another one? They were like training together and then he has her in a grip amd heavy smut ? You can change things if you want

🫶🏻

Hot and Heavy

Prince Zuko x Fem Reader Smut

Summary: After complaining about not feeling challenged enough in class, your teacher brings in Zuko for you to spar. He wins, not without throwing a couple of unnecessary jabs. Feelings bad, he finds you later for a rematch. Once he gets his hands on you for the second time, he finds it hard to let go.

Word Count: 1.0k+

TW: Smut.

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

Yesterday you’d complained to the bending instructor that things were too easy. That you didn’t feel challenged enough during class. You regretted this because it meant unknowingly sparing Zuko. There was something about him you couldn’t stand. Perhaps it was how cocky he could be or his uncontrollable anger. Whatever it was, it made your heart race whenever he was in your eyeline. The two of you were standing side by side in front of your teacher. 

“Since you’re wanting more of a challenge, Zuko is one of the best benders that’s your age,” he said. 

“Trust me if she was feeling invincible before this, she won’t after,” he said, looking you up and down before getting ready. 

Rolling your eyes before walking to your starting position. That little jab he made shook your nerves a bit, you trying to shake it off. Without waiting for the teacher to properly start the match, he just lunged. You jumped to the side and thought of a counter attack. The fire he was throwing towards you was so hot it burned your cheeks when it got close enough. He was trying his hardest to prove a point. That you didn’t have the physical merit to win. Dust and smoke were flying in the air, making it increasingly harder to see. No longer being able to see him, you were backing up trying to get distance. It wasn’t long before he shoved you onto the ground, pinning your body under him. You tried fighting back for a few moments but went limp after realizing there was no hope. 

“Challenged enough y/n?” your instructor asked as Zuko got off of you. Feeling embarrassed and prideful you dusted yourself off and walked away, saying nothing. 

“You’re welcome!” he called out to you aggressively. 

This comment stopped you in your tracks. Wanting to turn around and correct his arrogance but instead continuing home. Having enough confrontation for one day and not wanting to take on the daunting task of dealing with his anger issues. The walk home made you feel a bit better, the fresh air calming you down. Finally making it home and going to your room. Laying on your back and thinking about what happened; how you felt about it. Of course you were upset but the anger felt surface level. You knew he had a softer side because when he took you to the ground, he put his hand on the back of your head, in case it hit the pavement. There was something about that action that made your stomach twist and burn. Falling asleep while tossing these emotions around in your head. 

“Wake up! WAKE UP! The prince is here to see you, I don’t know why but get up and do your hair. He’s waiting, hurry!” your mother shook you awake. It didn’t register who was at the door as you sat half asleep fixing your hair. Your mom follows behind you, whispering things like ‘have good posture’ or ‘don’t bite your nails’ into your ear while approaching the door. 

“Hey, I was wondering if maybe we could talk?” Zuko asked. 

“About?” you asked, not sure where this was going. 

“Well, I just feel like I was a little too aggressive during our spar. I know how it feels to be unfairly overpowered. I shouldn’t have made those comments, I could have helped instead of just tearing you down. So I thought maybe I could show you a few corrections, if that’s okay… maybe,” he said nervously, which made you laugh a little. Staring at him for a couple moments to see if he was serious or not before responding,

“Do you wanna come in? Or did you have a place in mind?” you asked, trying to dull the grin on your face. 

He accepted your invitation in, complementing your mother on how well furnished the home was. She was on her way out to work, you were grateful for this. The last thing you needed was her watching from the window. He was standing before, in the exact same stance as from earlier. Your knees almost buckled from eye contact. He came at you slowly, walking you through how to block a certain attack. You weren’t really paying attention, he was grabbing your arms and showing where to put your hands. You were so flustered and this showed when he pinned you. 

“I’m starting to get the feeling you just want me on top of you,” he joked, tightening his grip on your wrists. While he was distracted, you flipped the two of you over. 

“So what if I do?” you asked, now straddling your hips. 

The tension was thick; so much adrenaline was running through your body, making your blood feel like it was buzzing. He grabbed you by the waist and brought you back to the ground. Pinning you to the pavement, grabbing your wrists so tight they started tingling. You were trying your best to free yourself but there was no escape. He was holding you down like you were about to evaporate into thin air. You press your lips against his which makes him loosen his grip.  

“Do you wanna go to my room?” you ask, both of you panting against each other's lips. 

He doesn’t verbally respond, instead he picks you up and has you navigate him to your room. Even as the two of you crawl onto the bed, he never lets go of you. Keeping at least one arm wrapped around you, pressing your body against his. Now starting to aggressively take the clothes off each other. Seeing how well defined his arms and stomach are was making your core melt. Looking down at you with such lush and need as your chest was exposed. He sits up on his knees and pulls his bottoms down. An involuntary moan escapes your mouth as you watch his length spring up against his stomach. 

“I’m gonna ride it,” you say, changing positions. 

“Not even a please?” he teased, pressing his back into your mattress. 

“I need it now,” you groan, climbing on top of him and sinking down. 

At first, stretching yourself around his cock caused a slight stinging. However being on top and being able to control the pace and depth made you feel more comfortable. Zuko was struggling to control himself, having to apologize every time his hips jerked on their own. As you started rocking your hips faster, he pressed kisses all over your face. Praising you for how well you worked himself on his cock. He wrapped his arms around your waist and held you against him. Your stomach was pressed against his, he took over and started frantically bucking hip. Pounding into you hard enough to make cum, clenching and tightening around his member. Grinding your hips down, trying to press his cock as deep as possible. Him following shortly after, jerking into you as your walls milked his cock. After the two of you rode out the oxytocin highs, he had to get back to the palace. Not giving you a quick peck and scheduling another ‘training session’ for tomorrow.

[discordiansamba]

was rotating another thought while making dinner about an idea in which, after being duped by azula at the start of season two, zuko makes a frustrated wish to not be so easily tricked by people's lies... which gets heard by a spirit that's a bit of a trickster.

or: zuko wakes up the next day and realizes he can now hear people's thoughts. this wasn't what he meant, THANKS.

zuko responds to something that iroh didn't say out loud. he just stares at his nephew- and then quietly asks zuko in his mind if he can hear him. zuko stares at his uncle in confusion. of course he can hear him. he isn't completely deaf. what kind of-

uncle why aren't your lips moving.

he cannot for the life of him shut it off. the more crowded an area, the more thoughts he can hear. it's headache inducing.

iroh helps zuko develop a few meditation techniques that help with the constant background noise of other people's thoughts.

he gets a. really rude wake up call when he encounters azula again, and can hear her laughing at him in her head. he knows she didn't even think twice about attacking uncle, because he could hear her think it- and then do it.

but he can also hear the genuine concern and desire to help in katara's thoughts. so when she offers to help heal iroh... he lets her this time.

(also, can they all stop thinking about how he has hair now.)

katara heals iroh. she says he'll probably ideally need at least another session to be certain he's free of any unexpected complications. zuko can hear that she's suspicious of him, but her concern for iroh outweighs it.

zuko tries to avoid them. they try to give zuko space. it's very awkward all around.

toph does not care about any of this. toph cares about the nice old man who gave her tea and good advice. zuko doesn't even need to read her mind to know about her conversation with iroh- she just tells him as much.

...and well. he's been hearing uncle's thoughts for weeks now. he knows beyond a a shadow of a doubt how much he cares about him.

long story short: zuko ends up tentatively joining the gaang here. mostly it's just for his own self-preservation at first. it's obvious azula doesn't care if he dies. he has better odds if he sticks with them. he still tries to keep his distance- but it's hard to do that while on the saddle of a flying bison, while you have mind reading powers.

(he goes with them to wan shi tong's library. he asks one of the knowledge seekers if they have anything about being able to hear people's thoughts. he doesn't really find anything conclusive. great.)

iroh makes the choice to part ways with him at ba sing se. his nephew has a chance to pass through the city unnoticed, but iroh cannot say the same for himself- at least, not if he's in the company of the avatar. zuko can hear for himself just how hard a decision this was to reach.

zuko: also. what's the white lotus.

(iroh sweats)

what's up it's round two of hearing your sister's thoughts. he hates it as much as the first time it happened.

zuko, meet joo dee. there's literally nothing going on in that woman's head. it's freaky.

(BA SING SE IS SO NOISY.)

at least the upper ring is a lot quieter. the gaang just watches zuko constantly get headaches and nod to themselves. yeah, that's zuko. he's just cranky.

how to find the avatar's missing bison: just read long feng's mind.

no need to figure out a way to tell everyone else this. just go get the bison yourself. also uncover a secret brainwashing facility?

toph knows something is up with zuko. she's just not sure what. his heartbeat just randomly went crazy when they were talking to long feng. and then when he comes back with appa and says he overheard the dai li talking? a total lie. spill it sparky. what's UP with you.

zuko: ...I could tell you, but none of you are going to like it.

sokka: try us.

zuko: I can hear everything you're thinking.

sokka: ...okay, yeah. I don't like that actually.

aang: zuko! you should come with me to meet the guru! maybe he can help you with the mind reading thing!

(he cannot, but zuko appreciates the offer.)

time to read your sister's thoughts! part three! she still makes zuko the offer to join her, but this time he can hear all of her underlying thoughts. she needs his help? more like she wants someone she can blame if things go wrong.

(but they don't. things always go right for azula.)

[hairmetal666]

Steddie Notes Part 4 (Welcome to Steve's POV)

CW//small instance that could be viewed as internalized homophobia

(Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3)

In the bottom of Steve’s closet is a Nike shoe box. It’s full of a year’s worth of torn notebook pages, paper menus, receipts, envelopes, sticky notes, notepad sheets, invoice carbon copies, discarded things from dnd, and whatever else they could find to write on.

It's this box that contains every bit of Steve’s heart. 

✏️✏️✏️✏️

Steve’s at the school to pick up Dustin, Mike and Lucas, but they don’t appear at 9pm on the dot like they promised. Grumbling and annoyed, Steve heads down to the drama club room.

He hears Eddie’s voice even before he walks into the room. The low baritone, all husky and threatening, sends shivers down Steve’s spine. 

Steve strides into the room, ready to berate his kids for their tardiness, but he stops literally in his tracks when he sees Eddie. Eddie looming over the table, all that long curly hair framing his face; his expression uncharacteristically dangerous, his eyes flat and promising violence.

He can’t do anything but stare, mouth shocked wide. Eddie lifts his gaze, locks it on Steve. Eddie’s looking at him with such intense command, such focus, that Steve knows he’d drop to his knees for that look, give Eddie anything he asked, everything.

He wants. So hard and so fast it makes him a little nauseous. 

Eddie’s gaze flicks away, while Steve reels from the striking clarity of feeling that rewrites the year of their friendship frame-by-frame.

Steve hardly listens, still trying to come to terms with his sudden realization, with how right it is, with how obvious it’s been this whole time. He remembers, after Starcourt, the way Eddie made him feel safe, cared for. The way Eddie calling him baby echoed for hours, days, weeks after. 

Of course Eddie doesn’t miss Steve's distraction. He leans into Steve's space, murmuring softly, “You okay, sweetheart? Sorry we ran late. Lost track of time.”

“Just tired, I guess.," he says. And he is distinctly not okay, because Eddie is calling him sweetheart and how did it take him this long to realize how much he loves the pet names? 

He tries to tell Eddie. Can’t. Too afraid of losing his friend.  He keeps going out with girls; nice girls, pretty girls, but wishes that Eddie was the one sitting beside him in the movie theater, in the passenger side of his car, across from him at the restaurant. 

Eddie…I think I really like you

You’re my favorite person in the entire world

Some days you’re the only thing I can think about

I want to wake up in bed with you everyday

I can’t stop thinking about what it would be like to kiss you

Do you like me? Yes or No

✏️✏️✏️✏️

Steve’s in the Wheeler’s basement, leaning against Eddie's shoulder, waiting for the kids to finish up.

“What are they talking about?” He scribbles at the edge of Eddie’s campaign notes.

Eddie scowls at the note placement, responds anyway. 

“Halloween costumes.” 

“Wanna dress up together, Munson?”

“No way, Harrington, I’m not dressing up as Danny Zuko for you.”

“…obviously you’re Sandy.”

Eddie makes an offended noise. 

“I could do end of the movie Sandy. But face it, baby, you’re the pretty, fresh-faced innocent and I’m the bad boy.” 

Steve strangles back the sound he wants to make when his brain supplies him with an image of Eddie in those black, skin-tight pants.

“I could be a bad boy.”

Before Eddie can reply, the kids start shouting, and Eddie climbs on the wobbling card table, clapping his hands for attention. 

“Jesus, Eds." He grabs Eddie’s ankle to keep him stable. 

“I think a trip to the pumpkin patch is in order, what say you?”

There’s a blip where the whole room stills, every single one of them, aside from Eddie, remembering rotted fields and fetid tunnels filled with Upside Down spores and demo dogs. 

“Oh, yeah, we don’t go to the pumpkin patch anymore. You know, since the tunnels—”

Steve shoots Dustin the most intense silencing looks he’s ever given anyone, which is really saying something. 

They’d agreed, back in July that they would never tell Eddie what really happened at the mall. Eddie is too good, too gentle, brimming with too much pure kindness for Steve to want him anywhere near the Upside Down.

Eddie cackles. “Tunnels, Henderson?” 

Lucas laughs, says, “He means the maze. Don’t you remember? They set it up one time a few years ago.”

“We got really lost. Took us hours to find the exit,” Dustin adds. 

“Mike cried,” Lucas says. 

“Hey! I did not!” 

Mike’s anger at fake crying about a made-up crisis is enough to have them all in stitches, even Eddie who doesn’t know it’s a lie.  

“What about that apple orchard?” Steve suggests.

Eddie pokes him in the cheek, excited. “Ooh, yes, apple orchard!?”

✏️✏️✏️✏️

The orchard is a mad dash of fighting over wheelbarrows, shrieking sprints into the trees, Steve stressing at the kids throwing themselves across branches with zero regard for personal safety. 

Eddie nearly sends him into a coronary at the ripe old age of 19 by walking down a branch like he’s doing a tightrope. 

“Munson! Get your ass down from there!”

“I’m fine, Stevie! I’ve got reflexes like a cat.”

“The hell you do!” Steve shouts as Eddie wobbles. 

“Don’t worry, baby, I know you’ll always catch me,” Eddie yells back. He winks and Steve blushes about all of it. 

“You’ll just get us both hurt,” he says right as Eddie shimmies easily back to the ground. 

“You worry too much,” he scolds. “All this beautiful hair is going to go grey,” Eddie shuffles his fingers through the strands.

“You’re a menace,” he growls. Pushes Eddie playfully away. 

They pick apples and drink cider and it’s the best time Steve’s had in a while. He kids are spread out around him, Eddie and Robin on the quest for an apple that’s perfectly red, like you could poison Snow White with it, and he’s content. Happy. 

He lets himself bask in the moment, but it’s cut short by a familiar whooping yell and the crash of Eddie Munson clinging to his back.

He groans, almost loses his footing, but quickly hoists Eddie’s legs higher against his sides.

He runs and Eddie screams, giggling, and clutches his fists into the fabric of Steve’s sweater. 

“Can’t believe you caught me, sweetheart,” Eddie says once Steve slows to a walk.

“I’ll always catch you, Eds,” he promises.

Eddie makes a little noise, almost like a whimper, pressing his cheek against Steve’s.

And for just a second, the barest hint of a moment in time, Steve swears he feels Eddie’s lips pressed against the sensitive skin right beneath his ear. 

It’s right then that Steve knows he doesn’t just like Eddie. No, he’s positively, totally, and completely in love with him.

(Part 5)

Thank you all so much for your comments and reblogs and likes! I appreciate it more than I can say and am still so honored that so many people like this little series. Please let me know if I missed you in the tag list, and I'll make sure to get you added for future updates (I think we're looking at 3 more)!

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[ekwolfwriter-blog]

WIP Zutara Month Challenge: Drunk (Part 2)

So here is part two. Again, as mentioned in the other one, this will be talking more mature themes. You have been warned!

As for the next idea is for a WIP I call: Thank you, Cactus Juice!

The premise of this is Zuko being a bit high/ drunk on Cactus Juice. I had an old set up of Sokka making it when they were older which I will share but I think I might rework to something else. (It gets into more mature themes to read at your own discretion!)

And yet again, I am splitting it into two more parts because as I was thinking of this idea I came up with something I really liked. But could not decide

Something like they are all older (obviously) and maybe Sokka managed to sneak some of the cactus juice - for some use in the future, Katara is livid, Zuko is on her side on this. But Sokka suggests just small sips to take the edge off. Toph is only allowed one small sip as she gets wild with her drinks and Aang makes sure everyone is just not causing trouble as he does not want to drink. And to no surprise of some people, Zuko is a bit of a brooding dragon, but is calm while Katara turns into a giggly and cuddly in Zuko's arms. Sokka is tripping out before he suddenly comes to to see them cuddling while Suki is smiling and smirking the whole time but definitely feeling it like "I knew it."

Eventually they wake up and Katara realizes that she braided one of her beads into his hair. And if you know the significance - like Sokka does, one can already tell what they might have been thinking about~

(Side note - I know there is debate about if it is actual a hallucinogen like shrooms from what I heard never had it before or a suppressant like alcohol . But for now, I am going to say it is kinda like both - maybe in a concentration, it could be more like a drink. But in it's raw form, it causes people to go high.)

As for the current iteration, Zuko comes back to the palace loopy drunk because Sokka made Cactus Juice wine - kinda the same effect. And it makes Zuko at first pouty because it hits him hard before he can process that it was taking affect but then when he gets to see Katara, his mood turns around. (Again all adults and Aged up) But here is a snippet:

“Of course, my precious waterbender,” Zuko said as he plopped her down but kept her close to him. He still had that huge smile from before as he was looking at her and swaying, using her as support in a way. His top knot was nowhere to be seen as his hair was dangling in front of his face and his long hair was tossed around, but Katara could tell he was still looking right at her with such loving eyes.

Katara was still blushing too from how affectionate he was being. “Thank you, but are you okay? You seem out of it.”

“I am perfectly happy!” He exclaimed as he then leans into her again and hugs her tightly again. “I finally get to see my favorite girl tonight and hold her close. Nothing beats having my Katara here in my arms! My precious treasure should not have been left for long.”

“Oh… I was fine Zuko, honest,” Katara affirmed to him as she is getting flustered. ‘What is with Zuko? Granted, I love it when he is affectionate, but this is a whole new level. What did Sokka give him?’

“Zuko, where did you go?” A voice echoed from the halls as Katara tried to peak over Zuko’s board shoulders that were keeping her in his embrace. She managed to lean over and see Sokka walking by, seemingly intoxicated with something as he was flushed in the face.

“In here,” Katara managed to say over being lovingly smothered by Zuko, and surprised by the deep breathing he was exhibiting that sounded like low growls that were making it hard to focus.

Sokka looked over into the open room and then blinked at what he was seeing. Katara managed to get her hand to a point to wave and then point to Zuko. “Care to explain this?” she asked, her voice muffled a little.

Sokka then sighs. “Should have known this was what he was pouting over, damn drama king.” He bemoaned, almost not answering his sister’s question.

“Sokka, what are you talking about?” she asked as she managed to turn Zuko enough to have her face Sokka. Katara was not going to break away from Zuko hugging her, but she was finding it difficult to adjust in his embrace. Especially as he would pull her back in each time she managed to pull a bit, and that deep growl in his chest still pounding in her ears.

“It was all fine and dandy. We were just talking and having a few drinks. And I will admit, I was curious to see what Zuko drunk was like.”

“Sokka, you know that Zuko drinks socially and has a high tolerance,” Katara commented as she looked on confused at why Sokka thought that was going to work. Katara’s face turned red as Zuko was nuzzling his face against hers like a fox cat and was making it difficult to concentrate and her heart racing.

“Well duh, that is why we tried something else. But Mister Fire Lord of Pouts over there stared acting like a drama king after we tried some new drink I made. And while Iroh and I were having a blast, he was sulking and pouting without any reason,” Sokka began as he leaned against the door for support.

“You should have seen him. The more he had, the more he huffed like a dragon. Undoing his shirt and running his hand through his hair, sprawling on the seats we had like he was posing for some adult news scroll and flicking his head back like he was so over it. At some point, he was starting to sulk on the same couch and was muttering about seeing ‘his waterbender’ and ‘missing her so much’ that it was all he could say until we got him back here.”

“Well, that doesn’t make any sense of this,” Katara pointed to as she managed to turn around in Zuko’s arms as he was now nuzzling into her hair while her back was to his chest. This prompted Zuko to pull her in more and make her bend forward as he tried to cuddle her more. Katara let out a bit of a gasp at this as she could feel how strong he was, and how wonderful it felt to be held like this. She made a mental note to have him do this more often.

“How should I know? Not like I know what Cactus Juice Wine will do to someone all the time,” he shrugged, taking another sip of it.

Katara’s eyes widened. “You gave him what?!” Katara began to panic a little over hearing this.

“Cactus Juice Wine. I watered it down a bit,” he said. “Relax sis. It’s safe.”

“Sokka, that thing made you loopy for a whole day when that was unrefined! I don’t even want to know what a bottle of that stuff would do to you or someone else that is new to it. Are you feeling okay?”

“I am totally…” Sokka stared to say then looked like he was seeing something as he giggled and pretended to swat at something.

Katara sighed as she should have known that it would end like this. She glanced up to a still affectionate Zuko as he was muttering things like ‘so soft’ or ‘my lovely waterbender’ that was making her heart pound out of her chest from excitement of being called those things. Zuko was taller than her, so he could rest his head on top of hers if he wanted; and from the look of his smile, he was content for now.

“And you seem to be fine with all of this. Where is this so-called pouting prince that Sokka was talking about?” she asked him.

“Hmm,” Zuko thought as he was being vocal to be obvious. Katara only has seen him like this when they are teasing each other. “How can I be pouting when my beloved waterbender is here? And she is warm and soft, which makes me happy.”

‘Damn it, why did Sokka have to get him this drunk when I am the only one sober here?!’ Katara was cursing mentally as she managed to free her hand from Zuko’s strong embrace.

Hope you enjoyed! I will try to get another one done soon!

[soopersara]

Union

Zutara Week 2023: Day 3

Read it on AO3 | @zutaraweek

Everyone seems to know that Zuko and Katara plan to get married someday. The only question left is when they'll finally get around to it.

For what feels like the dozenth time in a row, Zuko checks his own pocket. In his thick polar leopard fur parka, even a set of solid gold hair beads and combs is small enough, light enough to feel insubstantial. Still, he is aware of its presence. Almost too aware of it at times.

“I’m surprised the two of you haven’t gotten this all settled before now.” There is a familiar look in Hakoda’s eyes, the same one that Uncle gives him every time the subject of marriage comes up. A look of curiosity and impatience that usually comes just before another casual inquiry about when Zuko plans to marry Katara. But Hakoda isn’t quite as pushy as Uncle. “I wouldn’t have blamed you if you’d decided to elope before you made it back to the South Pole.”

Zuko offers a sheepish shrug. “Apparently that’s not the proper way to do things. I’ve thought about it every day for months now, and I doubt Katara would have minded, but I don’t need to make her life any more difficult by proposing the wrong way.”

“And what about my life?” Kanna thumps her walking stick against the floor. “I’m not getting any younger here. If you two don’t hurry up, I’ll never get to meet my great-grandchildren.”

Hakoda frowns. “Mother.”

“It’s a fact of life, dear. We can’t all be King Bumi and live as many centuries as we please.”

“I’m going to ask her,” Zuko says. “Before we go north again, I swear.” His pulse quickens at the sound of his own admission, and he checks his pocket for reassurance. The engagement gift itself is as close to perfect as he can ever hope, but he’s less sure about his ability to actually propose. “I’m not sure about kids yet, but you’ll at least know if she wants to marry me before we leave.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that part.” Kanna waves a knobby hand at him. “I’ve known my granddaughter long enough to know the look she gets in her eyes when she’s made up her mind. She’s decided what she’s going to say. And frankly, I don’t think she would have dragged you all the way down here if it was no.”

Though Zuko’s heart still races, he manages a smile before Katara bursts into the house, cheeks flushed with cold, and hair glistening with ice crystals at its tips.

“There you are,” Kanna says. “We were just talking about you, weren’t we, boys?”

Zuko feels his face flush, and Katara looks from him to Kanna and back again. “Well, that’s always reassuring. Thanks, Gran-Gran.” Before there can be any further response, Katara grabs his hand and pulls back toward the door again. “I think we’re going to leave before you fill my boyfriend’s head with any more embarrassing stories.”

He makes no effort to resist, and before he knows it, Katara has led him out into the snow and halfway down the street toward the burgeoning waterbending academy.

“So how bad is it?” she asks, looping her mittened hands around his arm. “Did they tell you about the time when I froze all my dad’s underwear to the side of the council hut because he wouldn’t let me keep an otter penguin in our tent?”

His eyebrow creeps ever so slightly upward. “You did?”

“Okay, I’m going to take that as a no, and also as a sign that I need to stop giving away my secrets.” Still walking, she buries her face in his arm. “Stop me the next time I try to embarrass myself, okay?”

A snort bursts out of him. “I would, but I know for a fact that Uncle tells you so much worse about me every chance he gets. Even Sokka is too busy to tell me any embarrassing stories about you most of the time.”

“I’d really like to keep it that way.” They make it only a step or two farther before her mood seems to lighten again, and she pulls just far enough back to steer him around a corner. “Maybe you can come with me to watch waterbending lessons tomorrow instead of spending the whole morning alone with Dad and Gran-Gran.”

He certainly isn’t opposed to the idea. Any excuse to spend more time with her is always welcome, even if all that entails is sitting quiet at the sidelines while Katara guides a group of noisy, energetic children through their waterbending forms.

He agrees, and as Katara leads him past the bending academy, pointing out all the practice space and sparring areas, he checks his pocket one more time. The combs and beads still rest there, exactly where they should be, and Zuko lets out a long, slow breath. Two opposing impulses battle inside his chest—on the one hand, he’s been waiting to find the right moment, the perfect moment for weeks now. If she’s going to remember this for the rest of their lives, the least he can do is propose to her properly.

But on the other hand, his patience with himself is running thin, and the brilliant warmth of her enthusiasm strains his resolve to its breaking point. If he doesn’t ask her soon, he might well lose his mind.

So when their winding path takes them to the far side of the village, he can hardly bring himself to stop alongside her.

“Oh, spirits, we should probably go back before you freeze out here.”

“What?” Though his face tingles a bit when a breeze passes by, though he’s certain that his cheeks are crimson from the chill, he doesn’t feel cold. Not enough to turn back, at least. “No, I’m fine. It isn’t that cold.”

Katara raises an eyebrow.

“It isn’t,” he insists. “I was just—thinking.”

“About what?”

Under the intensity of her gaze, his mouth goes dry, and it takes all his will to keep from checking his pocket again. Instead, he nods toward the path leading out of the village. “I was thinking that there’s probably a great view from the hill over there. Especially around sunset.”

Her lips twitch into a crooked smile, and the grip on his hand tightens ever so slightly. “You do realize that the sun isn’t really going to set for a few more days, right? If you want to wait out there until sunset, you really will freeze.”

“In that case, I guess I can settle for half an hour. But I think you’re underestimating my ability to keep myself warm.”

“I could never. You’re the one who keeps my feet warm every night.” She bumps him lightly with her hip before starting up the path. “But you might be underestimating the South Pole’s wind.”

It’s all that Zuko can do to keep his composure as they make their way up the sloping path. But he waits, and when they reach the crest of the hill, Katara stretches before turning a brilliant smile back on him.

“Okay, I’ll admit it. Freezing or not, this view is worth it.”

Though Zuko has trouble focusing on the landscape, he can’t help but agree with her. The afternoon sun paints shining bronze streaks through her hair, and her eyes shine as bright as he’s ever seen them before.

He grasps her hand before she can go any further. “Katara—I wanted to ask you something.” His heart sits in the back of his throat. Despite her family’s confidence, despite his own suspicion that Katara will say yes, he can’t seem to push the worry away.

“Oh?” She looks up, and her gaze pierces him.

Silently, he thanks the spirits that it’s cold enough to keep his mittens on so that Katara won’t know how much his palms are sweating. He fumbles in his pocket until at last his fingers close around the little box of combs and beads. “Being with you has been one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. Every day that we’re together, you mean more to me, and now—” He succeeds in extracting the box from his pocket and fumbles to turn it right side up.

Before he can finish, Katara lets out a squeak of surprised excitement and claps her hands to her mouth. “Yes. Yes, of course I will.”

Zuko blinks, and a surprising amount of tension leaves his chest and shoulders all at once. “You—you realize I haven’t finished the question yet. Right?”

“Oh! Right, I knew that.” She makes an apparent effort at bringing her expression back under control, then motions for him to continue. “Go on.”

Despite his best effort at solemnity, a smile breaks across his face. “I’m not sure I can remember what I wanted to say anymore. I swear I had this all planned out yesterday.” Looking down, he clears his throat and slides open the richly engraved lid so that she can see the beads and the combs lying in neat rows inside their case. “But I love you, Katara. And even if I can’t remember the right words, I would be honored if you would marry me.”

This time, Katara isn’t content to merely smile at him. This time, she springs forward and throws her arms around his neck. “Yes. Of course I’ll marry you.”

Zuko laughs, and as his arms close tight around her waist, the world seems to slow.

Right now, with Katara in his arms and the future opening up around them, all the urgency in the world is gone.

[zutaras-where-its-at]

One word prompts: Butterflies

Thanks 😊

it’s not that he’s never had a crush. he’s had plenty of crushes—for agni’s sake, he had a steady girlfriend for years!

by now, he’s very accustomed to the awkwardness of first dates and first kisses and first touches. if anything, he’s well on his way to being quite experienced in those areas, thank you very much.

he’s fucking twenty-five years old. he’s not some child, okay—

“it is bad for your health to worry so much, my nephew,” iroh muses beside him.

“i don’t know what you’re talking about,” zuko grinds out.

he tugs at the collar of his formal robes, feeling the silky material cling stubbornly to his neck. fuck, did it suddenly get hotter?

“though,” iroh continues, as if zuko hadn’t said anything at all, “i suppose it is natural to be nervous when experiencing the throes of young love.”

“uncle—“

“announcing chief sokka and ambassador katara from the southern water tribe.”

zuko stiffens in place, heart suddenly hammering a thousand times faster than before and slamming itself repeatedly against his poor ribcage. servants sweep the doors of the palace open and suddenly, suddenly—

“now this is what i call a welcome party,” a familiar masculine voice echoes into the vast hall. a second later, sokka strides into the throne room with the same wide grin he’s had since they were fifteen. “you fire nation folk sure know what you’re doing when it comes to all the fancy stuff.”

in spite of himself, zuko grins back and is just about to respond (because trust sokka to know how to bombard straight through delicate situations) when the air seems to get sucked right out of the room.

“katara.”

she looks even more beautiful than the last time he saw her six months ago. those huge, cerulean eyes blink warmly at him from across the room and he can’t tear his eyes off the cute scrunch in her nose she gets when she smiles.

“hey, zuko,” she says, a glimmer of something in her voice.

“what the fuck. i’m right here, man,” sokka whines, and zuko chokes on a laugh, because fuck, he can’t seem to properly breathe, and his cheeks feel flushed, and shit—

the butterflies in his stomach just won’t quit long enough for him to catch his damn breath.

before he even realizes it, she’s wrapping strong arms around his torso, and squeezing—and well, that—that definitely doesn’t help with the butterfly situation. he finally hugs her back, accidentally crushing her with the intensity of his embrace, but if it bothers her, she doesn’t show it.

he’s sure she can feel his heartbeat through their smushed chests, and he’s pretty sure they’re starting to get weird looks from the palace staff…but agni, he missed her. her hair still smells like salt and cucumber, her frame is still so solid and unwavering, her tinkling laugh is still the most perfect thing he’s ever heard—

and okay.

maybe he’s had a couple crushes before, and yes, maybe he’s done the whole ‘girlfriend’ thing in the past, but wow—none of them come even close to comparing to how absolutely, devastatingly, damnably in love he is with her.

his stomach flutters almost painfully.

this is really starting to get out of hand, he thinks.

[lupanaoflaminar]

Part 2 of Making My Parents Watch ATLA

“Is the earth king even alive?”

“Zuko looks better with short hair”

So I was legit concerned for the episode Appa’s Lost Days bc my mom is very sensitive to animal cruelty. But she was okay! Dad forgot who the Kyoshi warriors were XD

DAD SLEPT THROUGH TALES OF BA SING SE. Mom had nothing to say about Iroh’s tale. Sorry guys.

Loved that Appa got revenge and bit Long Feng.

“That’s not gonna be Suki. He said 3!

Mom: “How many seasons are there? What happens after that?”

They enjoy Toph’s blind jokes.

Dad correctly guessed Toph metal bending because “Metal comes from the earth!”

Mom thinks Zuko is going to turn good.

Season 3

About Mai: “oh geez what a little witch” (I didn’t ask for your whole life story!)

“Aang has hair now!” - Mom

More of “Sokka is a moron/idiot/dummy”

(About secret dance parties) Oh are they gonna do dance fighting? (Aka that scene from Jumanji)

“Long ago we decided to skip the intro, and then everything changed when we decided we didn’t care anymore.” - Dad

Dad: “He (Zuko) wants to be good, but he still wants to be daddy’s little Flameo!”

Iroh training: “Oh he’s pretending and training! Ha!” “Look at what you’ve become indeed! Now he’s all fit.”

I could tell dad enjoyed Sokka’s Master. He appreciated the meteor sword.

They loved Azula’s “Sharp Outfit Chan”

Also: “Yeah let’s just throw these 4 in a room and see what happens!”

S2 bonus: Azula asking if the tides command the ship.

Dad: OF COURSE THEY DO.

Which had the same energy as Sokka’s “can your science explain why it rains.””YES IT CAN”

[erisenyo]

for that prompt game how about

“I’m gonna be sick.” and jetko :]

For this prompt game!

(Slight warning for allusion to Zuko's canon-typical childhood in a modern setting)

There’s something about fear when it’s mixed with adrenaline mixed with the inevitable consequences being just far enough off to be able to say they aren't worth thinking about that turns it all into something exhilarating.

Being at the beach, at the boardwalk, when he’s supposed to be in school. When he’s supposed to be taking a final.

Riding there in a beat-up junker that wouldn’t even be allowed on his street, and then riding rollercoasters and the Gravitron and the Scrambler and the fucking spinning teacups he was always scolded were beneath him, were unseemly, were low brow and low class and dirty.

Screaming and drawing attention, because who’s going to tell him not to, and doing it all with a boy he isn’t even supposed to notice let alone associate with and shit, just, doing it with a boy.

And not waiting to be told what to do, not deferring to every adult, not saying sir and ma'am, and eating as much ice cream and funnel cake and corn dogs as he wants, because corn dogs are good and why has he never had one before and fuck his training diet and—

“I think I’m gonna be sick,” Zuko says, Jet barely managing to get out an “Uh,” before Zuko turns and heaves into the nearest trashcan, kind of making it, ignoring the looks from the passing people—and the voice in his head whispering that he’s a disgrace, a failure, disgusting, useless, making a scene—as he heaves again.

“Are you okay?” Jet asks from behind his shoulder, well clear of the line of fire from the sound of it, and Zuko just heaves again in answer.

Jet slurps up the last of his milkshake, straw sucking and bubbling for an obnoxiously long time, then, “Wanna go? Or like.” Another ridiculously long slurp. “Get some ginger ale or something?”

Zuko breathes heavy for a moment, clenching his abs to see if anything else is going to come out and finally glancing up, suddenly hyperaware that he’s sweaty and sticky and holding onto a trashcan, and he's been sitting on plastic seats that probably only get washed in a good rain all day, and somehow he doesn’t think ‘disheveled and disgusting’ is a look he manages to pull off quite as well as Jet does.

Corn dogs, it turns out, do not taste as good coming back up.

“Give me that,” Zuko snaps, grabbing the milkshake out of Jet’s hand and leaving the straw behind clenched between Jet’s teeth as he watches, bemused, as Zuko chugs the last of it—strawberry and mint, disgusting, of fucking course—before tossing it into the trash.

“I was going to finish that,” Jet drawls, chewing on the straw.

“After I drank from it?” Zuko challenges, shoving upright and pushing his sweaty hair back from his face.

"Hm. So," Jet says, smirking and giving Zuko a lazy once over, "Are we stopping?"

"You can stop," Zuko says, more baring his teeth than smiling and feeling a thrill in his chest as he breaks for the next coaster, as he ignores the shouts and cries as he dodges through the ground, as he rides the high of the challenge and the adrenaline and knowing he isn't supposed to be doing any of it and is doing it anyway, knowing Jet is right behind him every step of the way.

[seasideoranges]

❤: Which character do you think is the most egregiously mischaracterized by the fandom?

❤: Which character do you think is the most egregiously mischaracterized by the fandom?

Ask Game! OKAY SO I know this is asking for one specific character, buuuut I'm going to go through more than one character haha. To start;

Toph!

I was just talking about Toph in a server a couple of days ago, and I feel like people mischaracterize her a lot, but I kinda don't blame them! Toph is kind of a tricky character to write! But I read so many fics that just boil her down to "tough girl who doesn't take shit and bullies everyone" and like, yes, there is some truth to that, but she is also so much more! She's soft, she listens, she's genuinely a kind, good friend, despite her rough demeanor! There's a reason Sokka opens up for the first time about his mother with Toph.

Azula!

I adore Azula to bits, I love her, I want to see her get better and get another chance, but man, I hate how people lately have been woobifying the crap out of her lately (this happens to Iroh and Zuko too!!). I seen an argument on TikTok that Azula had a right to mortally wound Aang because it was SELF DEFENSE?! I thought OP was joking, but uh, nope, they were completely serious haha. You can't say you love 'problematic' characters only to try and make them 'unproblematic' as possible!

Aang!

I noticed that there's some people that hate Aang with a passion, so much so, that they'll try to paint him out as this sexist, abusive person/partner/father, and it bugs the hell out of me. Kind of makes me laugh a little too, seeing how powerful the haterism is towards this fictional 12 year old boy. This discourse especially gets worse when TLOK gets thrown into the mix and people try to paint him as a 'deadbeat' father, and some even try to compare him to Ozai?? It grosses me out, and the 'deadbeat' part is far from the truth! Words have meaning and weight to them, people!

Sokka!

Had to throw my fav in here of course. Here's the thing, people will either characterize Sokka as being nothing more than a dumb jokester, or they'll acknowledge that he's smart, but completely forget that he's incredibly grump, sarcastic, and skeptical which can lead him to be borderline cynical, especially in S1! There's also the whole "Sokka didn't really love his mom" discourse and, not to sound dramatic, but it makes me want to rip my hair out LMAO. I personally think that Sokka is one of the most interesting characters in ATLA and it kinda sucks seeing people gloss over him so much.

URSA!

Now this might be my most controversial take lmao. Before I start, I'm not saying Ursa was a perfect parent, and I wont be talking about the comics in this part, just strictly the show. But at this point, I almost feel like an Ursa defender because people greatly misinterpret her character and try to paint her to be just as bad as Ozai, especially when Azula is thrown into the mix. I'm sorry y'all, but I don't agree with the "Ursa was a 'boy' mom and favorited Zuko and abused Azula" takes. I don't think this was the case at all, and her relationship with Azula is so much more complex than that. People tend to forget that A) This was all Ozai's doing, he saw Azula as a weapon and put a wedge between her and the rest of her family (specifically Zuko and Ursa) and B) Ursa was also abused. She was an abused woman, trapped in a horrible situation, and wasn't left with a lot of great options or freedom.

Anyways I could talk about this all day with pretty much the rest of the Gaang, but I'll try and keep this from getting too long haha! AND AS ALWAYS, I don't want any discourse! I am always open for discussion! I love reading other peoples takes and I am always willing to change my views!

[ozaitheestallion]

You said you immediately saw Ozai as being played as a drag queen?? PLEASE elaborate I'm so interested in the way ur mind works 🙏

Okay so maybe I’m just incredibly fucked up and deep down the queer horror rabbit hole (I’ve been watching a lot of Dragula, American Horror Story and classic horrors lately), but the second you start looking at Ozai through a drag, camp, “classic Disney villain” lens, it’s hard to see him any other way.

Like I watched this show as a kid when I originally aired and like basically everyone, I was absolutely terrified and sickened by Ozai, the shitty dad and ultimate big bad villain who is also not even really the main villain, right? Like that’s Azula or Zhao or whoever. That’s how basically all of us original viewers saw him and how a lot of new viewers still do. Fair enough. Not inaccurate.

However, I didn’t do rewatches of the show again, not until the revival in interest over COVID. I hadn’t rewatched it even once since it originally aired and so therefore I expected my viewpoint to change…but nowhere near as drastically as my view of Ozai did.

I’m not saying Ozai is written to be viewed as a drag character, because of course he isn’t, but as I said, once you start looking at him through that specific lens, you won’t be able to see him any other way.

He’s kept in the shadows unless we need a dramatic scary reveal. He’s constantly making dramatic, prose-filled speeches for the benefit of…like…no one lmao like most his scenes are one on one confrontations. He has a very dramatic design, being a conventionally attractive man yet has that fuck ass goatee, the best eyeliner in the country and more detail put into his hair than any other character gets.

He does his whole reveal as the Phoenix King that goes off without a hitch, perfectly rehearsed. This was a surprise to no one but Azula. He got every damn person in the palace in on this stupid reveal. They already know he’s going to become a new ruler with a new title. They already know. This isn’t for their benefit. He did an entire reveal just for the benefit of his kid. If there’s one thing a queen loves, it’s a dramatic unnecessary reveal.

As he fights Aang, he just keeps making these speeches that a child will either not be interested in or too far away to even hear or appreciate, yet he keeps going anyway.

Right up until the end and then going into the comics, he’s dramatic, bitter and playing everyone against each other even though he has absolutely nothing to gain anymore. He puts Zuko and Azula against each other and antagonises Ursa even though it will gain him nothing and do nothing except kill time. Insults for the sake of insults and mess for the sake of mess. The fact insults of far greater power can be thrown back at him in his position is something he doesn’t even consider. Just messy for the sake of being messy and evil for the sake of being evil.

Ozai would fit nicely alongside classic queer-coded Disney villains like Ursula, Scar, Hades, Maleficent and Captain Hook.

He’s so dramatic and so over the top with his cruelty, his crimes and his villainous actions, yet is completely and utterly committed to the bit he’s doing. There’s no self aware clever jabs like Azula or obvious moment of “look at how ridiculous he is” like with Zhao. Ozai and his writing are completely committed to what he’s doing and burning down the entire world literally by hand, and at no point is it questioned. It’s like watching Divine in a John Waters film. This is simply what the character I doing and you’re the ridiculous one for questing them.

Ozai takes himself so seriously and so literally and is so very offended and genuinely surprised when he’s questioned and called out, (like why on earth would he think burning his son’s face is a valid teaching moment or burning the entire earth kingdom will in any way be a good start to his new empire), that it becomes camp.

This is…extremely long and meandering and tbh I don’t think there’s any way for me to really clearly define why I view Ozai as an example of a classic queer/drag coded villain. If you don’t agree and do take his portrayal as an abusive father and an imperialist tyrant seriously and that’s how you prefer to view the story, then by all means do that. I’m not trying to change your mind.

I’m just saying that sometimes our views of things can change dramatically as we ourselves change as people, and sometimes those changes are extremely entertaining, nonsensical and fun to explore.

Like the IT remakes, some unspeakable horrors can also be viewed and enjoyed as queer adjacent comedies if you look sideways and saying. And sometimes the unspeakable horrors are better that way.

[azure-firecracker]

ATLA Live Action Stream of Consciousness (Episode 6, Part 1).

ZUKO FLASHBACK?!

Is this the storm?

I still think it’s funny that Dallas Liu is here for 13 year old Zuko.

Iroh and Zuko continue to be sweet.

Okay that was a great transition from sweet past Zuko to angsty present Zuko

What is Zhao doing in this scene? Are any acting choices being made? At all?

See this is the downside of softer Zuko because these scenes where he has to yell are sliiightly less effective (but I love how moralistic he’s being that’s in character).

This actor playing the guy on Zuko’s crew is really good.

Roku’s volcano looks great! So does the inside of the temple.

Aang why did you think talking to the fire sages was a good idea?

June continues to be hot

“I will hold them off for as long as I can” says random fire sage that will not go well.

One if the good things about this Ozai is that I buy people thinking he will unite the world.

What are the audio effects on Roku’s voice? They are not working.

Another exposition dump?

Koh longs for family yeah him and everyone else in this show.

Not the destiny versus friends dilemma again. It’s so tired.

My dad predicted Koh’s totem being in the cabinet lol

June I love you (but I don’t like that she was flirting with Iroh).

Zuko’s swinging ponytail was a paid actor.

Okay that transition into Zuko’s backstory (with Aang’s dialogue) was a little heavy handed there.

Baby Zuko is so nervous it’s sweet. It’s a different take on the character but I think it still works (especially contrasted with later Zuko).

Can I date all of the Yuyan archers please?

Biggest tragedy in the show is Iroh getting his hair bun shot off /j

Zhao why would you tell Zuko where you’re keeping the Avatar.

I love that they’re letting Zuko yell more.

I miss animation when Aang was hanging in the air.

Aang is being so naive in this episode it’s sad to watch.

“It’s not my future I’m worried about” AANG JUST BREAK ME WHY DON’T YOU!

What are Zhao’s acting choices? I liked him until this episode but he seems like an office worker who’s kind of evil.

BLUE SPIRIT YAY!! (They did a good job adapting the mask to 3D)

My dad is begging me to remind him who the Blue Spirit is and I’m not telling him:)

Fire Nation guards are idiots what else is new?

Oooh nice dual swordsmanship!

Gordon’s face when he sees the Blue Spirit: perfection.

[a-thirst-for-dunmer]

My favorite things about all my Skyrim followers:

KAIDAN

-wicked ass armor and weapon with fucking tigers on it

-realistic cursing in life or death situations

-literally the most realistic male dialogue ever with his corny ass innuendos. ‘This monument, does it remind you of me, love? Just kidding.’

-so goated in battle. Mans can kill a dragon so easy and i don’t need to do anything but look pretty

-ACCENT.

CARYALIND

-his hair is so fluffy. I bet it smells like roses and vanilla bean, what’s your secret bb

-such a sweetheart all the time. No wonder he can’t be Thalmor, he has too much heart for it

-fucking backstory. It’s very Zuko without villain redemption arc, and the fact that he still worries about the LDB thinking worse of him for being Thalmor royalty is just *chef’s kiss*

-ACE REP. I really fucking love how he can dress like a hoe, flirt like a hoe, and look so hot but have no interest in sex. Mmm that’s my jam that’s what I like.

-boob window

-Kaidan interactions! Proving that Altmer can be kind and sweet and not lighting-shooting British assholes

INIGO

-the backstories for everyone are so damn tearjerking but this guy?? Don’t even get me started on this mans scars I will cry

-literally autism. Says everything on his mind. Sir you are me

-blue. And a cat. What else??

-Lucien and him have a bromance that hits so good

-suplexes Nazeem with only his vibes

-sings original songs, where’s his soundcloud

KHASH

-okay first off i was writing a character just like her for the daughter of my LDB and Revyn. Never knew about her but this is Leeta come to life and i crave it

-pottymouth

-Kaidan Big Bro protection dialogue

-so happy when she kills things

-literally exactly what I expected a baby Argonian to sound like. So cute. So grumpy

-her outfit is just on point. If i hadn’t transitioned i would be cottagecore peasant dress woman with cats

LUCIEN

-like Cary, he is just sweet himbo no brain

-kid in a candy shop vibes. He is amazed by the wonders of this world

-the nerdiest mans you know, would probably never shut up about shit with Auryen but i haven’t gotten that far yet

-bottom energy

-AUTISM once again

-also sings!! Can sing ‘Toss a Coin to Your Witcher’ parody!!

AURI

-she is the Moment

-eats people and only meat. Wanna see someone react to ThatVeganTeacher with her as a vtuber model oml

-bullies Lucien (affectionately)

-cool pod

-looks like she could kill you and could actually kill you

-slams ALL haters and unworthy into the ground with her dialogue. Faendal ily but you don’t deserve her

RUMARIN

-a sweetheart himbo

-very Skilled with magic, specifically bound weapons. As someone who uses conjuration as their main line of magic, because dremora and bound bow go brr, I LOVE THAT

-not really good at speaking poorly of anyone tbh

-like lucien, he’s optimistic and fun to be around

-very…earthy. Jank. Grungy. Not what you’d expect from an Altmer, to be living as an adventurer mercenary, and i like that for him

-eats in bed, brain too empty to clean for long periods of time

-polyamorous pansexual King

-says Z like zed, which makes linguistics in Skyrim lore interesting

NEBARRA

-literally me

-sarcasm to the max

-name means ‘foreigner’ or ‘scorned’ or something transgender. anyway, king nihilist shit

-only wants the good wines

-also, the Accent, very good very sass

-Shakespearean insults for days

-also regular insults

-just…insults

-mystery and striking fear into the hearts of all

TALIESIN

-i thought no one could top Revyn in vibes of what Elder Scrolls character i would kin but then ✨he✨ came along

-no idea why Altmer are Brits but with him, i can vibe with it he sounds so good

-giggles evilly in fights

-s a s s

-pansexual!! We are putting queer in the game! (Even tho all vanilla spouses are, in the most Basic sense, bisexuals)

-the spice he can add with Cary as a protector/snarky best friend. I Need their backstory

-afraid of dogs, cat person

-just an absolute bitch to the Dragonborn but like in a way my gay friends are to me

-eyeliner on fleek

HONORABLE MENTIONS FOR SKEEVER AND CROC

-silly voice go brrr

[wholesomefluffdaddy]

Azula has made no progress since she was sent back to the asylum. Ty Lee believes she can help her, with proper disciple. Tyzula.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

CH7: Her Aura

"Thank you for coming." Ty Lee said, setting down a tray of freshly brewed tea. "I'm afraid it's nowhere near as good as Iroh's though." She said with a small apologetic smile.

"No, this is fine. Thank you." Her guest said without smiling but accepted the tea. Ty Lee took her own and held it cupped between her hands. There was a long stretch of tense silence. Ty Lee tried to break it.

"So, she's made some progress." She began optimistically. She could feel her guest's mistrustful gaze upon her. "Really! She has!" Ty Lee pushed on. She tried to think of some examples. "She hasn't made a mess of her food, she only made one escape attempt since my last letter, and she uses 'please' now."

"I could say the same thing of a toddler." Came the curt reply. Ty Lee felt crestfallen but hid it. "But that's not the point." Ty Lee made to open her mouth but her guest continued. "Azula is a threat that was never properly dealt with."

"Okay but please understand she didn't choose to be like this." Ty Lee interjected. "Her life, her mind, was messed up so early on. Her aura is so tangled and knotted."

"And you think you can 'untangle' it?"

"I think anything is possible with enough time. I mean, think about it, Zuko and Mai finally got married and it only took forever." Ty Lee laughed. Her face fell when she saw her guest's grim expression.

"The summit-"

"Wants to take her bending. I know." Ty Lee said quickly.

"-was on the verge of sentencing her to death for all the crimes she has committed."

"…and you wouldn't argue with that, would you?" Ty Lee said darkly as she set down her tea. There was a pause.

"Aang and Zuko have argued enough on her behalf. Aang doesn't believe in taking another's life and Zuko… well, is Zuko. He's stubborn."

"Why would Azula be sentenced to death but not Ozai?" Ty Lee challenged. "Everything she did was because of his orders."

"Everything?" Her guest said, setting her tea down as well. Ty Lee grimaced and looked away.

"She's so screwed up but that isn't her fault." She said softly but defiantly.

"You still love her, don't you?" Her guest sighed. Ty Lee felt her heart skip a beat. "Suki told me."

"So what if I do? That makes me a terrible person too, doesn't it?" Ty Lee said, hugging herself.

"Ty Lee…"

"I tried to get over her, I really tried!" Ty Lee said desperately. "The other Kyoshi Warriors tried to help too but-"

"You're so kind and funny and talented. Why her?"

"Our auras are tied together." Ty Lee said, running a hand through her hair. "Tied so tight it's suffocating."

"I don't-"

"It's like her spiritual energy is drowning and I want to save it, but… it's just like trying to help someone who's drowning." Ty Lee said, catching her eye.

"They pull you down with." Her guest finished somberly.

"I have to help her."

"You don't."

"I love her." Ty Lee whispered.

"Why?" Her guest asked incredulously. Ty Lee took a breath.

"She loves me." She said, grabbing her tea. She stared into it with her eyes unfocused. "She never stopped either. But I doubt she even knows what she's feeling. She's so stunted." She took a sip and closed her eyes.

"How do you know?"

"She's always protected me, stood up for me, pushed me to be better." She said softly then opened her eyes. "But she's also hurt me." She chewed her lip. "I know she doesn't mean to. It just happens."

"That doesn't make it okay." Her guest said bracingly.

"But the funny thing is, as soon as she realizes she's hurt me I can see the fear and regret in her eyes. She apologizes immediately, albeit terribly, but she tries to fix it. She's not trying to be hurtful. She's just like a scared, feral, kitten owlet that has no idea what it's doing." Ty Lee explained.

"That's not a comparison I would make but I suppose you've known her longer."

"Yeah, I don't think she'd like that comparison either." Ty Lee laughed. There was a momentary peaceful silence as they both drank their tea.

"Why did you call me here?"

"I want to learn about spiritual bending." Ty Lee said seriously.

"For… yourself?" Her guest asked in confusion. "But you're not a bender?"

"No, not for me, for Azula." Ty Lee said simply. Her guest nearly spat out their tea as they started choking. "Are you alright?"

"Why would I teach Azula spiritual bending? She hates me. Not to mention having her bending removed is the most peaceful option the summit has agreed upon."

"Okay, well I'll admit she probably doesn't want to learn from you but if you taught me then I could teach her." Ty Lee said brightly.

"No."

"What do you mean no?" Ty Lee frowned.

"Firstly, I'm still a novice myself when it comes to that kind of bending. Second, waterbending and firebending are opposites so I doubt what I have learned would translate. Thirdly, and most importantly, it's Azula."

"Katara…" Ty Lee said seriously. "I wouldn't ask if I didn't think it would help." Katara grimaced.

"Ty Lee-" She shook her head and stood up. "-no." Ty Lee stood up too. "I know you're trying to help but some people are beyond helping."

"What if she makes more progress? What if I can prove she's getting better?" Ty Lee said determinedly. Katara looked at her.

"Fine. If you think you can help her more in a few months than the asylum has in years, I'll consider it." Katara said regretfully. "I'll see what more I can learn and if it's even possible to translate to her."

"Thank you! Thank you!" Ty Lee said, pulling her into a hug.

"Don't thank me yet." Katara groaned.

"I promise you won't regret it." Ty Lee said, pulling back. Katara looked at her doubtfully.

"Hey Azula-" Ty Lee began cheerfully as she entered her room.

"You're late." Azula hissed moodily as she sat curled up on her bed.

"I know." Ty Lee said, striding over and taking a seat on the edge of it. "And I know that inconsistency upsets you." She said lightly. Azula puffed herself up indignantly. "So I really appreciate you being patient with me." Ty Lee said, placing a hand on her arm. "Thank you." She smiled. Azula spluttered helplessly.

"Yes! Well!" She didn't know what else to say. "Don't let it happen again!"

"I can't promise that." Ty Lee said simply.

"Why not?" Azula demanded.

"Sometimes things happen. Things out of our control, and the only thing we can truly control is how we react." Ty Lee said, giving her arm a small squeeze before pulling her hand away.

"That sounds like something my sniveling uncle would say to Zuzu when he failed miserably at something." Azula said, taking Ty Lee's hand and putting it back. Ty Lee raised an eyebrow. "What?" Azula huffed. "He would."

"That's not-" Ty Lee began but shook her head. "We can tackle that later. Anyway, I was thinking about your firebending." Azula shivered involuntarily and glanced out the window. Was it really time for another chi blocking already? "Uh-?" Azula stuck her arms out. "No, no, it's not time for-" She frowned. Something was noticeably different about Azula's aura. It felt… vulnerable? Mailable?

Ty Lee took Azula's hands in her own and closed her eyes. She could feel Azula trembling ever so slightly. She could hear her breathing slow and uneven. Her pulse quickened. Ty Lee could pick up on all these subtle shifts. Azula was scared for sure but also excited and… submissive? Was that something Azula could even be? With her? She felt along her arms. They were incredibly tense.

"Breathe with me." Ty Lee said in a tone that was soft but firm. "Inhale." She inhaled slowly as she began to rub Azula's arms. She could feel the heat returning to them and cracked her eyes open. Azula had her's screwed shut. "Exhale." She breathed as her hands ended in Azula's.

"What do you feel?" Ty Lee asked curiously. Azula frowned, it was difficult to concentrate with Ty Lee holding her hands.

"…Warm?" She said, somewhat confused. She opened her eyes and pulled one of her hands away from Ty Lee's experimentally. She stared at it as she tried to focus. No fire came out but she could make her palm significantly warmer. She furrowed her brow. Did Ty Lee make a mistake? Was this intentional? If so, why? The uncertainty scared her. Her eyes flicked back to Ty Lee's. Ty Lee was watching her but it also felt like she was focusing on something else.

"What is the meaning of this?" Azula asked suspiciously. Ty Lee was fascinated as she watched Azula's aura shift in an instant. It had gone from curious and subdued to defensive and more tangled.

"I thought I'd give you a little of your bending back…" Ty Lee said, as she watched her aura continue to darken like a stormcloud.

"Why? For what purpose?" Azula demanded. She still held one of Ty Lee's hands but felt conflicted. What mind game was she playing with her?

"You seem upset to have them back." Ty Lee said, tilting her head to one side.

"Of course I'm upset!" Azula snapped.

"Why?" Ty Lee asked curiously. Azula stared at her in disbelief. Wasn't it obvious? Clearly Ty Lee was trying to trick her for some reason, but to what end and for what purpose?

"Why do you think?" Azula hissed. She wanted to pull her hand away but didn't want to lose the physical contact. Ty Lee glanced between Azula and her aura. She was scared but why? What things scared Azula?

"Oh!" Ty Lee said suddenly, making Azula recoil slightly. "Inconsistency! This is new and I didn't give you an explanation." Ty Lee smiled and shook her head. Azula had lived by strict rules and routines with explicit explanations. Everything was rigidly black or white, about gain or loss. To do something on a whim without a clear benefit to oneself was probably completely incomprehensible to her.

"Okay, so um," Ty Lee tried to frame it so Azula would understand, "I gave you back a little bit of your bending as a reward."

"Reward for what?" Azula asked suspiciously as she took Ty Lee's other hand again.

"For really trying and making progress." She said, gently squeezing her hands. She felt them heat up immediately.

"What a mockery." Azula said, narrowing her eyes. Ty Lee tried to think quickly as Azula's aura shifted again.

"Well, it's true, and also I get to feel how nice and warm your hands are again." She said, pulling one up to her face and pressing her cheek against it.

Azula flushed but started to calm. Ty Lee had clearly done this for personal gain, as she had so foolishly just admitted. She warmed them as much as she could as a smug grin tugged at her lips. Who wouldn't want to feel her warm hands against their soft beautiful… What was she doing? Why was she freely giving comfort to her captor? Why was she-? Ty Lee pressed her lips to Azula's palm.

Ty Lee's eyes widened slightly as she watched the pink that spread across Azula's face also spread across her aura. She repressed a giggle as Azula appeared too flustered to move.

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Vicarious (Part 11)

“I take it that things didn’t go well with Jin?” Toph mentions.

“What makes you think that?” Azula asks. 

“We’ve been at the beach for like three hours now and you haven’t tried splashing Katara while she tries to read yet. Which is kind of annoying because that’s usually the highlight of my beach trip.” 

“Pestering my sister?”

Toph nods. “It’s a hobby. I wait until you annoy her a bit and then I come in and completely agitate her. I thought that you were aware of our unspoken partnership.”

“I was wondering about that, but I wasn’t certain.” Azula replies. 

“So are we going to give her a good splash or what?”

“Not right now, Toph.”

“See! Something is bothering you, I knew it! What happened with Jin?”

“We broke up. I don’t want to talk about it.” Rather she doesn’t want to have to pretend to be heartbroken. Not over something so stupid. “We didn’t really have much of a relationship anyways.”

“Yeah, I could tell.” Toph shrugs. “Your heart wasn’t doing that fluttery thing that it always did when you were around Suki. It still probably sucked though.” 

Azula shrugs. “I’ll find someone else soon enough.”

Toph rams her fist into her bicep. Azula grits her teeth, frankly she hadn’t anticipating the woman hitting that hard. Hard enough to bruise even Sokka’s rock solid arm. “See that’s your problem, Sokka. You jump from one girl to the next. Maybe you should take a break. I’m single and I’m having the time of my life.”

“Maybe I should.” She agrees. 

“Okay, starting now!” Toph declares. “Instead of moping about Jin and women, we’re going to play kuai ball and pretend like it’s an accident when we nail Zuko in the back of the head!”

“While he’s trying to kiss Mai?”

“Exactly!” Toph leaps to her feet. “You get me, Sokka!” 

.oOo.

He catches her in the hallway. Her hair is wet and she is patting at it with a beach towel. She seems almost happy. Happy in spite of having lost Jin. Happy in spite, or maybe because of  their current predicament. He almost doesn’t want to pull her away from that. But he needs something to alleviate the uninterrupted distress that he has been feeling these days. “Hey, can I talk to you?” Sokka asks. 

“About what?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. I just want someone to talk to about anything.” Perhaps about trying to get their own bodies back. Or at least about how they had ended up in this situation. “You can pick the subject.” 

Azula sighs. “Fine.” She props herself up against the wall. “Talk.”

“Can we…?” He nods in the direction of her room. 

“We’re not going to be talking for that long, I can only tolerate you for a few minutes at a time.”

“I guess that I just wanted to let you know that I’m not mad about Jin.”

“You told me that already.” She shrugs. “You were using her.” Sokka opens his mouth but she raises a hand. “Look, I don’t really care. It isn’t as though I haven’t used my share of people. I just think that it’s funny how it’s fine when you do it…”

“It isn’t! It’s not fine when I do it. You were right! I should have just broken it off with Jin.” He is beginning to think that this is some sort of punishment. A punishment for taking his friends for granted and a punishment twice over for his open skepticism and constant mocking of the spirits. He had laughed in their faces so they have taken his laughter away. 

“Pathetic, Sokka.”

She fixes his blue eyes upon him and sighs. “What is the point of this? Why are you trying to appeal to me? You never cared how I felt about you before. Nobody particularly cared how I felt in general. So why should I care if you’re upset now?”

“Because you know what it’s like to be alone.” 

“Well I don’t have to worry about that right now.” 

And that’s it, that is enough. More than enough. He can’t say for certain exactly which aspect of her response has taken the feelings simmering inside of him to their highest boiling point. What compels him to shove her against the wall…“They’re my friends! They hate you, trust me, I know that now. And they’re going to be my friends again eventually once we switch back.”

“Perhaps I’m not quite as eager as you are to make that happen.” He hates the sound of his snickering when he isn’t the one laughing.

She may as well just strike him where he stands, slap his face until it is red and bruising. “Well then I’ll make it happen on my own. I want to fix my own problems, not yours!”

“Of course. Because mine her much harder to manage. You’re complaining and crying over some girl that you didn’t even like. Perhaps it stings, but you have your friends. They won’t let it sting for very long, will they, Sokka? They know what to say and what to do. They know how to help you. When my problems get to be too much people look the other way and pretend like they don’t see them.”

“I know!” Sokka shouts. “How do I get them to care?”

“When you figure that out, you can let me know. And then we can work on switching back.”

His lips curl into a snarl. “So that’s it, I’m supposed to solve all of your problems while you make my life harder?”

.oOo.

“I’m not making your life harder. I’m just not making it any easier.”

“You did make it harder!”

“By ending a relationship that just wasn’t working? You said it yourself, she didn’t mean anything to you. It’s better to just get it over with. If you don’t like someone, you tell them that you don’t like them or you can pretend to like them until you get angry enough to whip your knives out and chi block them and let them put two and two together, whatever suits your fancy.” Her head is throbbing. Absolutely pounding with frustration. 

Sokka rubs his hands over his face. “That’s not what I was going to do to Jin and she wouldn’t do that to me. Not every relationship ends on bad terms.”

“Maybe for you they don’t.” She shoulders past him, thanking the spirits that she is now taller than he. Big enough to shake him off of her. “Are we done talking?”

“No.”

“No?” She quirks a brow. 

“Believe it or not, I wanted to have a friendly conversation with you.”

“So now you want to force one?” She rolls her eyes. “You tried to force things with Jin and look how that turned out. And you’ve been trying to force some kind of friendship on me. That’s going to turn out just as well or worse. Jin actually liked you at one point…”

“Believe it or not, I did want to help you.” Sokka says quietly and she doesn’t believe it. Not at all. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I keep saying the wrong things. But I did want to help you. I wanted…I hoped that…”

“What?” Azula crosses her arms. 

“I did hope that this could help make us friends or something.” He pauses. “I thought that the whole bath thing was going to be a start”

“I said that I would consider being on good terms with you.”

“We were supposed to bond or something over a common struggle.” His voice cracks. She hates how it sounds. How she sounds when she is desperate and breaking.

“Stop it!” She shouts. “Don’t you dare cry on me.” She is such an ugly crier and she has no desire to witness it from the outside. 

“What else am I supposed to do. Nothing else works.” 

The sound of footsteps makes her regret her petty decision to have this conversation in the hallway. She grits her teeth. 

“I don’t know why you’re so angry at me about Jin.”

“Your idiocy frustrates me.” And it frustrates her that he can flounder and fuck up so many times and still have so many people doting over him.  

.oOo.

“You don’t even like her. Why do you care?”

“Don’t like her?” Azula furrows her brows. “I don’t even know her.” She pauses. “She might resent you, Sokka. But she…”

“She doesn’t have any history with you.” Sokka mutters as the footsteps grow closer. He allows himself a smile. “I can make a friend for you!” He can help Azula while putting an end to his loneliness. And maybe, just maybe, after they get their own bodies back he can explain to Jin that it had been him the whole time, that they are compatible. “Thanks, Azula!” Without thinking about it, he throws his arms around her. 

Her face bunches up in disgust. “For what?”

“For giving me an idea.”

“Does this mean that you are going to stop relentlessly pushing for my approval?” He could swear that he hears a faint hint of disappointment in her voice.

“I still want to be your friend, Azula. I just don’t think that the feeling is mutual.” 

She leaves just enough hesitation before replying, “because it isn’t” for him to say that she doesn’t entirely mean that. 

“Well, I guess that if you change your mind, the offer is still open. You might not need me though if things work out with Jin.” He forces a smile. 

“If they didn’t work out between…” she lowers her voice as Zuko and Toph round the corner. “You and Jin what makes you think that you can win her over while posing as me?” 

“Because Jin likes clever and witty people.”

Zuko looks between he and Azula. “Sokka?”

Azula stiffens in his arms and he is abundantly aware that neither of them have broken the hug yet. Without thinking he leans forward and tackles her to the ground. He holds a small blade of fire to her throat. “Looks like I win, peasant.”

“You’re lucky.” She mutters. “Very lucky.”

“I’m a quick thinker, that’s different than luck.”

Sokka stands up and brushes himself off as flippantly and dignified as he can manage for all of his fluster and all of the anxiety that is building up inside of him. Anxiety that spikes when Zuko’s hand yanks him back.

“Leave Sokka alone!”

“Relax, Zuko, it’s just a little sparring match.”

“A sparring match?” Zuko asks. 

Azula rises and nods. 

“I get board and he keeps saying stupid things that make me mad.” It isn’t a lie by any means. “So we decided to have a little match; since I won he has to shut up for at least a day, Katara can thank me later. If he would have won, I would have had to endure at least three hours of him chattering like a hog-monkey.” 

“I didn’t realize that the two of you talked.” Toph mentions. 

“Let alone enough to have sparring matches.” Zuko adds. 

“We don’t.” Sokka says at the same time as Azula grumbles, “well you know me, I can’t go for more than a few hours without pestering someone. One thing led to another.”

“And you have this beautiful friendship now?” Toph cracks a smirk. 

This time they are very much in unison when they reply with a firm no. 

“It’s more like a…” Azula begins. 

“Hostage situation.” Sokka fills in. “I keep telling him to go away…” he can just feel her rolling her eyes. “But he can’t take the hint. So I thought that I would humor him.”

“By sparring him for silence?” Zuko asks.

“Isn’t that what you Fire Nationals do?” Toph asks. “Challenge each other to Agni Kais to resolve arguments. Even the stupid ones.”

Zuko pinches the bridge of his nose. “Not all of us.” 

“You do though.” Azula, apparently, couldn’t resist. 

“I used to, Sokka!” 

She lifts her hands. “No need to get defensive.”

Zuko inhales sharply. “Just be careful, Sokka. Azula isn’t…” 

“She’s fine.” Azula cuts him off. “I’m fine. We had our match and that’s it. I’ll be quiet now and she can go back to…” 

“Being alone.” He slips. “Where I have some peace and quiet.” He adds quickly. 

“We’re all going on a walk? Why don’t you join us?” Toph asks. “I kind of want to hear all about how you kicked Sokka’s ass!”

He looks at Azula who shakes her head. And now he is torn; he had told her that he wants to help her make friends but he doesn’t want to go against her wishes. 

“Are you alright with her coming along, Sokka.” 

“No.” 

“Because you’re embarrassed?” Toph laughs. 

“I am not! I…fine she can come.” 

Sokka purses his lips as if contemplating the request. “I suppose that I can tag along for at least a little while but I won’t put up with any silly antics. And I…” 

“You can just say yes and leave it at that.” Azula says through gritted teeth. 

.oOo.

Agni, she has never met such an idiot! Such a complete and utter dolt! He has just opened up the door to making a complete fool of both of them and just after having avoiding exactly that so narrowly. 

She wants to ask him just what he was thinking, hugging her in the middle of the hallway. And then taking them up on their offer. She wants to know what exactly had gone through her mind in telling Toph that it was fine if he came along. She had opened that door and he wasn’t supposed to walk in. 

Him trying to befriend Jin on her behalf is daunting enough. 

For as much as she doesn’t want to be alone, she also has no interest in gaining friends that she won’t be able to keep when she is thrust back into her own body. 

Spirits, she wishes that she could just take Sokka’s life for her own. Spirits, she wishes that she could leap from one body to the next, a nomad soul that can jump from one body to the next until she finds one whose conditions are just right. 

She doesn’t want her life back. 

She doesn’t want to help Sokka on his quest to ‘fix’ this situation.